05022017 - IBORI RETURNS

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PAGE 2—SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 5, 2017 

The Founder of Oduduwa University,Ipetumodu, Ile-Ife, Chief 

Rahmon Adegoke Atobatele Adedoyin, the Maye of Ife, flanked by 

his wife, Iyabo, traditional rulers in Ile-Ife Kingdom and Senator 

Iyiola Omishore, during an occasion to celebrate his 60th birthday. 

Director, Chinedu & Sons Investment Nigeria Limited, Chief Chinedu Ezenyili, 

(right) receiving an award from the President, Dangote Group (Dangote 

Cement), Alhaji Aliko Dangote (GCON), as the South-south Best 

Customer of the Year of Dangote Cement, during the company's 

award in Lagos. 

FG to raise bond for federal roads rehabilitated 

by states •Ugwuanyi seeks refund of N25bn 

By Dennis Agbo 

THE Minister of 

Power, Works and 

Housing, Mr. Babatunde 

Fashola, says the Federal 

Government would raise 

bond to refund billions of 

naira states spent 

rehabilitating federal 

roads in their domains. 

He spoke in Enugu, 

yesterday, during a 

courtesy call on Governor 

Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi who 

appealed to the Federal 

Government to refund 

over N25 billion the 

Enugu State government 

spent on federal roads 

across the state. 

The governor, who was 

represented on the 

occasion at the 

Government House, 

Enugu by his deputy, 

Hon. Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo, 

told the minister that in 

the face of the dilapidating 

federal roads 

infrastructure in the 

South-East region, the 

people continued to suffer 

untold hardship. 

Fashola, in Enugu to 

inspect some federal 

roads, stated that the 

Federal Government had 

assessed claims by state 

governments and had 

concluded arrangements 

to refund the money 

through bond. 

The minister shed 

more light on the Enugu 

government intervention 

on federal roads. He said: 

“We have also been briefed 

about your intervention on 

certain roads that are our 

roads and I and your 

Commissioner have 

discussed about the 

outstanding claim from 

the Federal Government, 

and my message from the 

Federal Government is 

that we have completed 

the assessment of all 

these claims and the total 

amounts owed the states 

far exceed the total 

amounts as to the whole 

country. 

“The plan of the Federal 

Government is to issue 

bond to pay those money 

and then we pay the bond 

back overtime.” 

He urged Enugu State 

government to assist the 

contractors working on 

federal roads in the state 

to secure the right of way, 

informing that they had 

been re-mobilized to site. 

We did not kill patient, LUTH 

tells Health Minister 

By Sola Ogundipe 

FOLLOWING 

a 

directive by the 

Minister of Health, 

Professor Isaac Adewole, 

to the Lagos University 

Teaching Hospital, LUTH, 

to explain the death of a 

patient due to an alleged 

case of negligence, the 

management of the 

hospital has absolved its 

staff of blame, saying the 

patient’s condition was 

terminal even as it noted 

that the case has been 

referred to the Coroner for 

proper investigation. 

Adewole had 

demanded a detailed 

report from LUTH on 

Friday, February 3, 2017 

after receiving series of 

complaints on his twitter 

handle about an 

unidentified male patient 

that allegedly died at the 

federal tertiary hospital 

on January 29, 2017, due 

to what was described as 

negligence on the part of 

the nurses handling his 

case. 

Part of the allegation 

that originated from the 

Twitter handle of a 

sympathiser that 

described the deceased as 

“my madam’s friend’s 

uncle” was that he 

needed oxygen but the 

person with the keys to 

the oxygen control room 

could not be found. 

In its response titled 

“Preliminary Findings 

from LUTH on death 

claims as result of 

‘Negligence’ by a Twitter 

User”, LUTH 

management said there 

was not much that could 

Why I was elected as Senate Leader — Lawan 

By Joseph Erunke 

SENATOR Ahmad 

Lawan has 

explained that his 

election as Senate Leader 

was to ensure party 

supremacy and cordial 

relationship between the 

leadership of the All 

Progressives Congress, 

APC, and the executive 

and legislative arms of 

government. 

The explanation came as 

he reiterated his resolve 

to ensure harmonious 

relationship among the 

APC caucus and members 

of the opposition parties 

in the Senate. 

He spoke in Abuja 

during an interactive 

session with a delegation 

from Bade Emirate 

Council of the state, led 

by Engr. Buba Galadima, 

who paid him a courtesy 

visit in his office. 

The senator, who 

represents Yobe North in 

the National Assembly, 

said that, as the Leader, 

he would used his new 

office to make the Senate 

Chamber function 

optimally. 

While noting that there 

were “so many extrachamber 

responsibilities 

to handle,” the senator 

said with his emergence 

as Senate Leader, the 

relationship between the 

executive and leadership 

of the ruling APC, would 

improve in a bid to 

improve the well-being of 

Nigerian citizens. 

He thanked his 

colleagues for the 

confidence they reposed 

him and promised to work 

to justify the confidence. 

be done for the patient in 

view of the terminal 

nature of his ailment. 

According to LUTH: 

“The patient was a 55 year 

old man diagnosed with 

a terminal lung ailment at 

a peripheral hospital in 

2015. His medical records 

revealed a poor history of 

compliant with 

management protocols. 

“The poor prognosis of 

the patient was discussed 

with his relations who 

insisted they only wanted 

him stabilised in LUTH so 

he could be transferred 

abroad for proper 

treatment as they did not 

intend to treat him in 

Nigeria. 

“He was commenced on 

palliative care for the 

advanced condition. His 

blood pressure became 

controlled. However he 

remained oxygen 

dependent and could not 

even be transported 

around to undergo further 

tests such as CT scan. 

“He was reviewed by 

specialist doctors from 

Cardiothoracic Surgery 

Unit, Pulmonary 

Medicine Unit, Cardiology, 

ICU, Radio-logy, 

Oncology and 

Anaesthesiology during 

the three days of his 

admission in LUTH. 

“All confirmed there was 

not much that could be 

done for him in view of the 

terminal nature of his 

ailment. He eventually 

succumbed to the illness 

on 29th January 2017.” 

Stating that there was 

“no truth” in the 

allegation that the key to 

the oxygen room had been 

taken home by someone, 

the LUTH management 

said: “the relations were 

obviously upset at the 

death of this gentleman 

who had not sought 

treatment for a grave 

condition for almost 1 1/2 

years, who came to the 

hospital in extremis and 

whose poor outcome was 

discussed with them by 

our Specialists. The 

relatives even beat up a 

security personnel who 

only tried to pacify them.” 

Further, LUTH said: “We 

have since requested that 

the case be referred to the 

Coroner for proper 

investigation while the 

case of assault is to be 

handled by the police. 

The Hospital has also set 

up a panel to look into the 

allegations made against 

the LUTH and these 

findings shall be made 

public as soon as they are 

received 

by 

Management.” 

Meanwhile the Health 

Minister has 

commiserated with the 

family of the deceased 

and appealed to 

Nigerians to report to the 

nearest medical facility 

anytime they feel unwell. 

He urged Nigerians to 

abide by medical treatment 

plans noting that all 

medical conditions are 

either treatable or 

manageable if care is 

sought and accessed early. 

“We urge the public to 

continue to report service 

issues in our centers as 

they can be sure we will 

accord them utmost 

priority,” 

affirmed. 

Adewole 

Stop media trial of Nigeria Governors Forum, 

Okauru — Ajulo 

CONSULTANT to 

Nigeria Governors’ 

Forum on the refund of 

Paris Club debt to states, 

Dr Kayode Ajulo, has 

described as a hoax the 

alleged arrest of the 

Forum’s Director 

General, Mr Asishana 

Okauru. 

Ajulo slammed those 

behind the rumour on the 

social media and 

maintained that the 

Economic and Financial 

Crimes Commission 

(EFCC) did not arrest 

Okauru. 

‘’The EFCC, as far as I 

know in my legal practice, 

will conduct due 

diligence before arrest are 

made and will equally get 

arrest warrant from court 

of competent jurisdiction 

before effecting any arrest. 

Institutions like the EFCC 

are a creation of Nigeria’s 

laws. The least expected 

of those who are qualified 

to be appointed to head 

them is to be objective at 

all times in the discharge 

of their statutory roles 

without fear or favour and 

Kano DSS Director dies 

By AbdulSalam 

Muhammad 

THE Director of the 

Department of the 

State Security, DSS, in 

Kano State, Abdullahi 

Chiranchi, is dead. 

A source told Sunday 

Vanguard that Chiranchi 

died, yesterday, after a 

brief illness. 

The source said the 

Director had complained of 

stomach cramps and was 

rushed to Aminu Kano 

Teaching Hospital where 

he gave up the ghost. 

not allow their personal 

interests to get in their 

way of duty’, he said. 

Speaking further, Ajulo, 

also a lawyer, said, ‘’I 

read with utter disdain the 

misleading and 

damaging report that Mr 

Asishana Okauru who is 

the Director General of the 

Nigeria Governors’ 

Forum, was arrested over 

an alleged N19 billion 

fraud purportedly 

committed by governors. 

This is not only false but 

shameful, vicious and 

unfortunate.’’ 

‘’I implore all faceless 

hatchet men and fifth 

columnists to retrace their 

steps and allow Mr 

Asishana Okauru fair 

hearing, they should desist 

from dragging in the mud 

the good name and 

reputation he has built for 

himself over the years. This 

is an individual who had 

once worked as director of 

EFCC’s Financial 

Intelligence Unit (NFIU) 

and I think he should be 

treated with dignity and 

full respect especially now 

that no crime was traced to 

him.”

SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 5, 2017, PAGE 3 

Hussey College Warri at 70: Old students set endowment fund, scholarships 

HUSSEY College 

Warri Old Stu 

dents Association, 

yesterday instituted an endowment 

fund aimed at revamping 

the famous Delta 

state secondary school 

which is marking its 70th 

year anniversary. 

The decision was reached 

at the Annual General 

Meeting, AGM, of the body 

where scholarships were 

also instituted for the best 

graduating male and female 

WASC students in honour 

of late Chief Ogbemi 

Newe Rewane and Chief 

Elliot Nekapenami Begho, 

two founding heroes of the 

school. 

President of the association, 

Emmanuel Ogidi, said 

on the occasion held at the 

school premises in Warri, 

Delta state, that the endowment 

has become imperative 

to regenerate the school 

from its present poor state. 

“We have written to the 

Delta state government and 

its agencies who have also 

made some impacts. The 

situation at the school has 

been made better from what 

it were eights years back. It 

was that bad that one elderly 

old student literally wept 

when we visited at that time. 

“Obviously there is still a 

lot to be done. Government 

we know can’t do it alone. 

And let us keep at the back 

of our minds that the Endowment 

Fund we have approved 

is not for self help of 

old students. It is strictly to 

develop the school”, Ogidi 

stated. 

He added that, “In the 

past 70 years, products of 

Hussey College had proven 

the vision of the founders 

that our school remained a 

center for educational and 

sports excellence where 

great leaders with characters 

would be groomed for 

Nigeria in all fields.” 

Elected to form the board 

of trustees of the Hussey 

College Endowment Fund 

were Chairman of the 70th 

year anniversary, Maj. Gen. 

Orho Obada (rtd), Dr. Alex 

Ideh, Dr. Kingsley 

Nwachukwu, Prince Yemi 

Emiko, Dr. Omawumi Urhobo, 

Arc. George Oniomo 

and Anthony Nikoro. 

The event progressed into 

a Gala Night which featured 

excellence awards to 

various contributors to the 

development of the school 

including Governor Ifeanyi 

Okowa and His Majesty, 

Ogiame Ikenwole, The Olu 

of Warri and two other Royal 

fathers who are distinguished 

old students. 

Prof. Gabriel Yomere of FUPRE and Chief Fred Ogbe at the event. 

From right; Gideon Biu, Uliyemi Stella and Frank Metitiri at the event.during 

facility inspection yesterday by old students of Hussey College, Warri, Delta State 

as it marks 70th year anniversary. Photos by Akpokona Omafuaire 

Prince Yemi Emiko (right) and Irone Rita Begho, Fed. Commissioner, RMA- 

FC at the AGM of Hussey College Old Students Association, Warri, Delta 

State . 

From right: Emmanuel Ogidi, President, Hussey College Old Students Association, 

Prof. Gabriel Yomere of FUPRE and Dr. Alex Ideh.


Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State (middle) flanked from left by the 

Archbishop of Enugu Ecclesiastical Province (Anglican Communion) Dr. 

Emmanuel Chukwuma , Prof. Uche Azikiwe, wife of the Nigeria's first 

President, late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, the Anglican Bishop of Nsukka Diocese, 

Rt. Revd. Aloysius Agbo and his wife during the church service marking the 

70th birthday of Prof. Azikiwe at St. John's Anglican Church, Onuiyi, Nsukka, 

yesterday 

MAN laments economic situation 

By Chidi Nkwopara, 

Owerri 

The Manufacturers As 

sociation of Nigeria, 

MAN, says despite the 

promises and measures taken 

by the Federal Government, 

“the economic situation 

in the country remains worrisome”. 

The MAN President, Dr. 

Frank S. U. Jacobs, spoke 

while flagging-off the 29th 

Annual General Meeting of 

Imo/Abia branch of the body. 

“The economic situation of 

the country remains very worrisome 

and this calls for greater 

synergy between the government 

and MAN in order 

to pull the economy out of recession”, 

Jacobs said. 

He also expressed worry 

that the economic recession 

has made quite a number of 

industries to be recording 

lower capacity utilization and 

profitability, adding that some 

have downsized their workforce 

in order to remain in business. 

According to the MAN boss, 

“the manufacturing sector remains 

the most viable ally of 

government, as it creates 

wealth, generate employment 

and engenders skill acquisition 

among other things”. 

While asking Nigerian 

manufacturers to be creative 

and work out means of remaining 

in business, Dr. Jacobs 

also pleaded with his colleagues 

to key into the resources-based 

industrialisation 

policy, which the Federal Government 

has adopted. 

“Government should create 

attractive incentives for investors, 

who would engage in the 

processing of the abundant 

agricultural and mineral resources 

from primary produce 

to secondary or intermediate 

products”, the MAN President 

said. 

Continuing, Dr. Jacobs reasoned 

that government has to 

look for viable options of 

making foreign exchange 

available to manufacturers. 

Welcoming the participants 

earlier, the Chairman, Imo/ 

Abia MAN, Barr. Romanus 

Anyanwu, identified ever increasing 

input cost occasioned 

by the inaccessibility 

of foreign exchange for raw 

materials and spares, multiple 

taxes and levies by all tiers 

of government, as well as fake 

and substandard imported 

products, are some of the 

major problems facing manufacturers. 

Anyanwu equally grieved 

over the militarized form of 

collecting taxes by government 

and agencies, high cost 

of funds, inadequate long 

term loans to support Nigerian 

manufacturers and inadequate 

electricity power supply 

and exploitation of members 

through outrageous estimated 

bills. 

Why we are 

launching 

campaign on 

national unity 

— Owolabi 

Salis group 

The Buhari administra 

tion has been called 

upon to listen to the 

voice of reason by restructuring 

the country without delay. 

A group – Advance Action Alliance, 

led by High Chief 

Owolabi Salis, a former Lagos 

State governorship aspirant 

– said there can’t be peace 

and unity in the country without 

restructuring. There is 

need for diversity-based democracy 

in the country, the 

group said. Christening the 

restructuring as ‘One Nigeria 

Project’, Salis noted that Nigeria 

had been besetted by a 

myriad of problems since independence 

in 1960 because 

the country’s political structure 

was defective and lopsided 

and our former leaders refused 

to remedy the situation. 

Salis, a US-based attorney, 

listed the major problems afflicting 

the country to include 

ethnic, religious and racebased 

crisis like Boko Haram, 

IPOB, Niger Delta among 

others. 

Others are fraud, rigging, 

armed robbery, politically 

motivated killings, hate campaigns, 

human rights abuses, 

false election promises, disregard 

for equity and loss of 

confidence in the country’s 

political system. 

In view of the problems, the 

group explained that there is 

need to restructure Nigeria for 

stronger unity in the country, 

stressing that the problems 

could lead to war. 

The Advance Action Alliance 

noted that Nigeria’s current 

structure does not address 

all the problems. “Rather, the 

system is compounding them 

while the major victims are 

the less privileged people who 

constitute over seventy percent 

of the population. 

The group announced a 

nationwide campaign, 

through workshop, to foster 

national unity and make Nigeria 

a better place to live in.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 5, 2017 — PAGE 5 

Ibori returns 

•Inside story of his meeting with the DSS 

By Emma Amaize, 

Simon Ebegbulem, 

Festus Ahon, Akpokona 

Omafuiare, Perez Brisibe 

and Paul Olayemi 

SEVEN years after he 

left Nigeria, a former 

Governor of Delta State, 

Chief James Ibori, dressed 

in dark ash long sleeve 

shirt and navy blue jean 

trousers, arrived his 

country home, Oghara, 

headquarters of Ethiope 

West Local Government 

Area of the state, to a 

rousing welcome by his 

kinsmen, politicians, 

friends and top 

functionaries of the state 

government, at about 3.20 

pm, yesterday. 

Human movement 

literally came to a halt at 

Oghara after his arrival 

from Benin airport in the 

company of his associates, 

including his longstanding 

All Progressives 

Congress, APC, chieftain 

ally, Chief Ayiri Emami. 

His entourage could not 

disembark on arrival at 

Oghara because of the 

mammoth crowd until 

about 3.41pm, 21 minutes 

after he arrived, as not only 

the villagers, but political 

associates and friends also 

flooded the country home. 

At exactly 3:45p.m, Ibori 

came out of a black tinted 

Lexus Jeep in a whirl of 

screams and wild 

jubilation from the crowd, 

which had defied security 

blockade, to catch a 

glimpse of the man they 

refer to as the ‘father of 

politics’ in Delta State. 

He waved to the crowd as 

he sauntered out, 

meandering his way 

through the surging crowd 

and went straight into his 

apartment where political 

associates, friends and 

chiefs from Oghara had sat 

patiently awaiting his 

arrival. 

The former governor did 

not speak to journalists at 

Oghara, Benin and Abuja, 

probably following an 

understanding that he 

should not speak to the 

media to avoid 

overheating the polity. 

Session with the DSS 

Ibori, who returned to 

Nigeria aboard a British 

Airways flight, first landed 

at the Abuja International 

Airport and had a session 

with the Director General, 

Department of State 

Services, DSS, Lawal 

Daura, in the federal 

capital before he flew to 

Benin-City, Edo State. 

A security source told 

Sunday Vanguard that the 

plan was for the former 

governor to fly to the Osubi 

airstrip, Warri, enroute to 

Oghara before the meeting 

with the DSS altered the 

plan. 

The source said the DSS 

invited Ibori to its 

headquarers immediately 

after he landed in Abuja 

where one of his daughters, 

his successor in Asaba 

Government House, Dr. 

Emmanuel Uduaghan, 

and three other friends 

were waiting to receive 

him. 

Narrating the arrival of 

the former governor, the 

source said as soon as Ibori 

disembarked from the 

plane that brought him, he 

and those that received 

him moved to the domestic 

wing of the Abuja airport 

where a friend had made 

provision for a private jet 

to convey him to the Osubi 

airstrip. 

“While waiting, a 

message came from the 

DSS that the agency would 

like to have a chat with 

Ibori briefly”, the source 

stated. 

Sunday Vanguard 

gathered that a request was 

made that the meeting with 

the security agency be 

rescheduled but the 

authorities insisted the 

meeting must hold that 

same yesterday. 

On getting to the DSS 

office, it was explained to 

Ibori, Uduaghan and 

others who had received 

the former governor that 

reports from Osubi 

indicated that a mammoth 

crowd had gathered there 

to receive him. 

The DSS made it clear 

that such a situation with 

the crowd could easily get 

out of hand and be 

hijacked by hoodlums, 

thereby creating security 

challenge 

“The meeting was a 

friendly one”, Sunday 

Vanguard source said. 

A consensus was said to 

have then been reached 

BY ROTIMI 

OJOMOYELA 

Governor Ayodele 

Fayose of Ekiti State 

says he will challenge the refreezing 

of his account by 

the Economic and 

Financial Crimes 

that instead of Ibori flying 

from Abuja to Osubi, it was 

better to fly to Benin-City 

and sneak into Oghara 

That was how the flight 

arrangement was changed 

and that was how Ibori 

ended in Benin en route to 

Oghara. He left for Benin- 

City after the session with 

the DSS. 

Meanwhile, the crowd at 

Osubi, totally oblivious of 

the new plan, kept waiting 

for the arrival of Ibori by 

air. 

Surprise landing 

Meanwhile, as 

politicians, friends and top 

government functionaries 

were waiting for him at 

Osubi aiport, he arrived 

the Benin airport at about 

2:30 pm. 

Sunday Vanguard 

learned that the former 

governor’s arrival at the 

Benin airport was even 

concealed from airport 

staffers until the plane 

touched down. 

Before his arrival, seven 

black Prado jeeps and five 

Hilux vans and about 10 

Mobile Policemen arrived 

the airport to wait for him. 

Few of his family members 

were said to be around to 

welcome him. When the 

aircraft touched down, the 

former governor, it was 

learnt, waited for another 20 

minutes inside the aircraft 

to disembark with his 

luggage. Security operatives 

cordoned off the VIP 

Lounge of the airport where 

he was welcomed by family 

members. 

It was also observed that 

security operatives were on 

red alert against 

photographs being taken, as 

they warned journalists to 

stay away. One of his Ibori’s 

sisters insisted journalists 

they should not allow any 

photo even when security 

operatives tried to give 

journalists that opportunity. 

Tight-lipped 

Ibori alighted from the 

aircraft at 2:50 pm and 

From right: Principal Manager, Central Bank Nigeria (CBN) and Programme 

Accountant,National Housing Finance Programme (NHFP), Deputy Director, CBN 

and Head,Project Administration, NHFP, Mr Adedeji Adesemoye, Director, Other 

Financial Institutions Supervision, CBN and representative of the CBN Governor, 

MrsTokunbo Martins, Managing Director, Blake & Harper Nigeria Limited 

(CommunicationConsultants), Daniel Kure and Procurement Consultant, NHFP, 

Mr Austin Okwara at the contract signing of the World Bank supported national 

mass literacy campaign for increased access to mortgage and housing microfinance 

in Nigeria, held in Abuja 

Fayose kicks as EFCC re-freezes account 

•Makes case for N50,000 allowance for NYSC members 

Commission (EFCC) at the 

Ado-Ekiti branch of Zenith 

Bank Plc. 

Fayose, who decried what 

he described as the brazen 

disregard to court orders, 

said the action of the antigraft 

agency was an 

impunity taken too far and 

it would not go 

unchallenged. 

The governor, who spoke 

at the weekend during a 

dinner with journalists, said 

he was at the bank’s branch 

in Ado-Ekiti but was 

prevented from 

withdrawing money from 

his account despite the 

ruling of a Federal High 

Court which threw out the 

EFCC’s application for a 

stay of execution of its earlier 

judgment that his account at 

Zenith Bank be defrozen. 

Justice Taiwo Taiwo had, 

last December, ordered the 

EFCC to de-freeze Fayose’s 

account following which the 

smartly entered one of the 

bullet-proof Prado Jeeps 

and departed in a convoy of 

12 cars. The former 

governor, who smiled and 

waved to journalists around, 

declined to speak before he 

left the airport. 

At Oghara, he did not also 

speak to journalists . In fact, 

when he arrived, there was 

a stampede, as people 

wanted to see and touch 

him. It took minutes for him 

to come out of the vehicle 

that conveyed him. He 

waved to the crowd, after 

which, he went into his 

house with some friends, 

while the crowd sang and 

danced outside. 

Prayer session 

While inside his house, 

Sunday Vanguard learned 

that prayers were offered by 

political associates, led by 

a former PDP Chairman in 

the state, Capt. Pius Sinebe. 

Starch and 

Banga delicacy 

Immediately after the 

prayer session, he was said 

to have retreated into his 

bedroom, freshened up, 

came out dressed in white 

singlet and went to the 

dining table, flanked by the 

Speaker of the Delta State 

House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. 

governor went to the bank 

and was able to withdraw 

money from the account. 

However, the anti-graft 

agency approached the 

same court to stay the 

execution of the judgment, 

but the court threw out the 

application, saying the 

application lacked merit. 

Meanwhile, Fayose, in a 

statement by his Chief Press 

Secretary (CPS), Idowu 

Adelusi, said when he got to 

the bank, officials claimed 

they were acting based on 

an undated notice of appeal 

the EFCC claimed it filed. 

The governor added: 

“This is the impunity we are 

condemning. The bank and 

the EFCC got all the 

judgments of the court, but 

the agency still harassed the 

bank to act against the law. 

If I sent somebody with a 

cheque, they could give 

excuse but I was there 

myself and acts of impunity 

Monday Igbuya. The former 

governor and his guests then 

ate a meal of starch and 

Banga soup. 

As at 4:58 pm, government 

dignitaries from the state 

were seen trooping into 

Ibori’s residence to rejoice 

with him. 

The Oghara, 

Osubi ambush 

To say that Oghara was 

agog over the former 

governor’s return would be 

an understatement; it was a 

frenzy of sort, as villagers 

laid siege to his home as early 

as 9.00 am. 

But the wait at Osubi 

airport started around 10:00 

am and ,shortly after, the 

airport was bursting to 

seams with Deltans and non- 

Deltans alike wanting to 

catch a glimpse of Ibori. 

Crowd control could have 

been chaotic if he had 

landed at the Osubi airport, 

which was where many 

people, including the 

Secretary to the State 

Government, Chief Festus 

Agas; Hon Alphonsus Ojo; 

Chief Sheriff Oberovwori; 

Chief Pius Ovbije; 

Commissioner for Health, 

Dr. Nicholas Azinge; the 

Managing Director of Delta 

State Oil Producing Areas 

Development Commission, 

DESOPADEC, Chief 

such as this cannot continue. 

We will challenge them.” 

Separately, Fayose has 

called on the Federal 

Government to review the 

allowance of the members 

of the National Youth 

Service Corps (NYSC) from 

N19,500 to N50,000, saying 

the current allowance could 

no longer sustain the corps 

members following the 

economic situation in the 

country. 

The governor, who decried 

the deplorable condition 

of the Ekiti NYSC 

orientation camp in Ise/ 

Emure, promised 

immediate release of N20 

million naira for the 

renovation of the camp. 

According to his 

spokesman, Adelusi, Fayose 

challenged the Federal 

Government to live up to its 

responsibility by tackling the 

challenges confronting the 

NYSC, noting that corps 

Williams Makinde; Chief 

Lovette Idisi; Mr. Austin 

Ayemidejor, and Mrs. 

Philomena Oyarone, had 

converged. 

Deltans speak 

Speaking on the former 

governor’s return, an 

erstwhile governorship 

aspirant in Delta State, Chief 

Sunny Onuesoke, said: “I 

am overwhelmed with the 

arrival of the doyen of 

Nigeria politics and Delta 

State in particular because 

he is one man, who plays 

politics for the benefit of his 

people. And the best 

politicians in the world are 

those who play politics of 

development. 

“His return is more of 

interest to Deltans as a 

whole, whether PDP or APC. 

I do not ascribe Ibori arrival 

to the benefit of Urhobo 

alone, but the state as a 

whole. His arrival is proof 

that God is good,” he said. 

A former Secretary of the 

State Oil Producing Areas 

Development Commission, 

DESOPADEC, Chief Andy 

Osawota, said: “Ibori is the 

man on ground, either here 

or in limbo, he has affected 

all and takes everybody 

along 

without 

discrimination. He is just 

like Jesus Christ because he 

ticks, a man, who does not 

want anyone to suffer.” 

members’ welfare should be 

a priority. 

While addressing the corp 

members at the orientation 

camp during a tour of the 

camp to ascertain the state 

of facilities there, he was 

quoted by Adelusi as 

promising the immediate 

release of an official car to 

the State Coordinator of the 

NYSC. 

The governor promised 

also constant support for the 

scheme and encouraged 

corps members to be 

determined to break the jinx 

of poverty by being diligent, 

citing himself as evidence of 

hope for the poor. 

Fayose, who made a 

surprise visit to the camp 

kitchen where members of 

Platoon 9 were preparing 

dinner for the corps 

members, availed himself of 

the eba meal, sat down there 

in the kitchen and consumed 

it to the admiration of the 

corps members.

PAGE 6 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 5, 2017 

Journalists after a summit on cancer in celebration of the World Cancer Day in 

Lagos yesterday. Photo by Diran Oshe 

Navy destroys 40 illegal refineries, impounds two vessels 

BY JIMITOTA 

ONOYUME 

Nigerian Navy has 

destroyed 40 illegal 

refineries in its Operation 

River Sweep in 

the Niger Delta. 

BY HENRY UMORU 

A 

former Minister of 

Aviation, Chief Femi 

Fani- Kayode, has asked 

President Muhammadu 

Buhari to transmit the 

name of Justice Samuel 

Walter Onnoghen to the 

Senate for confirmation 

as Chief Justice of 

Nigeria, CJN, saying the 

action would ease 

tension in the country. 

The former Minister 

said the appointment of 

Onnoghen as 

substantive CJN would 

probably be the most 

important decision that 

the President may have 

made since he came to 

power almost two years 

ago. 

He warned that failure 

by Buhari to send 

Onnoghen’s name to the 

Senate for confirmation 

would portend long-term 

and far-reaching 

consequences, adding 

that it would be a 

weakening of what is 

already a fast-eroding 

spirit and ethos of 

national unity. 

The Supreme Court 

Justice started acting as 

CJN in November and by 

the end of this week, his 

tenure, if not confirmed, 

will lapse. 

Flag Officer, Commanding 

Eastern Naval 

Command, FOC,Rear 

Admiral James Oluwole, 

disclosed this yesterday 

at the NNS Pathfinder, 

Port Harcourt, saying 

the Operation River 

Sweep lasted 28 days. 

He said swamp buggy 

was used to mangle the 

refineries during the operation, 

adding that it 

was to ensure the opera- 

From left: Mrs Ruth Ode,Senior Brand Manager, The La Casera Company; 

Ehikuemen Samuel,1st Place Winner, La Casera Golden Moment Radio 

Campaign;Mr Tola Bademosi, Managing Director, BD Consult;and Mr Bello Yusuf, 

Marketing Manager, The La Casera Company during the presentation of prizes to 

winners in the La Casera Golden Moments Radio Show. Photo by AKEEM SALAU 

tors did not have facilities 

to resume illicit operations. 

Oluwole said two vessels 

loaded with 

5,240,000 illegal diesel 

(AGO) were also arrested 

, adding that four 

speed boats used by the 

oil thieves were destroyed. 

“In the last 28 days the 

participating units arrested 

3 vessels engaged in 

various maritime crimes. 

Also 40 illegal refineries 

, 60 large wooden boats 

each with capacity for 

5,240,000 litres of illegal 

refined AGO and 4 

speed boats were destroyed”, 

he said. 

Buhari’s confirmation of Acting CJN will ease tension —Fani-Kayode 

Fani-Kayode, in a 

statement, yesterday, 

said Buhari could not 

afford to get this one 

wrong if he really wanted 

to keep Nigeria as one 

indivisible country and if 

he had any respect left 

for the people of the 

south. 

In a statement titled, 

‘Justice Walter Samuel 

Onnoghen, Col. 

Abubakar Umar and the 

prospects of a Southern 

Chief Justice of the 

Federation’, the former 

spokesperson for ex- 

President Goodluck 

Jonathan’s Campaign 

Organisation, warned 

that if Onnoghen was 

not confirmed by 

February 10, his 

nomination would lapse, 

would cease to be Acting 

CJN and retire from the 

Bench, just as he said 

LEKAN BILESANMI 

Not fewer than 5,000 

persons drawn 

from APC, Labour Party, 

PPA and APGA defected 

at the weekend to the 

Peoples Democratic Party 

(PDP) in Onitsha North 

Local Government Area 

of Anambra State. 

that the next in line for 

the position of CJN after 

him would be a 

northerner, adding that 

once the northerner is 

nominated by the 

National Judicial 

Council, his name 

would likely be 

transmitted to the Senate 

for confirmation by the 

President. 

“To enhance the 

BY DAYO JOHNSON, 

Akure 

THE Joint Action 

Congress (JAC) of 

the Federal University of 

Technology, Akure, 

FUTA, yesterday, 

expressed concern over 

the National Universities 

Commission, NUC, 

confirmation or ensure 

the non-confirmation of 

the Acting Chief Justice 

of the Supreme Court, 

Justice Walter Samuel 

Nkanu Onnoghen, as 

the substantive Chief 

Justice of the Federation 

is probably the most 

important decision that 

President Muhammadu 

Buhari has to make since 

he came to power almost 

two years ago”, he stated. 

“If he gets it wrong and 

refuses to send the 

Acting Chief Judges 

name to the Senate for 

confirmation there will be 

long-term and farreaching 

consequences, 

the first of which will be 

a weakening of what is 

already a fast-eroding 

spirit and ethos of 

national unity. 

“If he gets it right and 

sends the name to the 

Senate for confirmation it 

will go a long way to 

ease the palpable and 

existing tension in the 

land and it will be a good 

first step towards 

restoring and enhancing 

national unity”. 

Unions blame VC for the poor rating of FUTA by NUC 

Addressing the crowd 

comprising of major 

stakeholders, the 

Chairman of PDP in 

Onitsha North, Chief 

Oraegbunam Anene, 

welcomed the defectors 

and assured them that 

the PDP was being 

restructured from the 

national level in order to 

rating which pushed 

the. institution to the 

15th position. 

The JAC comprises the 

Senior Staff Association 

of Nigerian Universities 

(SSANU), National 

Association of Academic 

Technologists (NAAT) 

and Non-Academic Staff 

Union (NASU). 

take over power at the 

national level and 

Anambra State in 2019 

and 2017 respectively. 

He described as 

unfortunate the incident 

that brought in APC at 

the national level to 

power but reminded the 

ruling party that 

Anambra would remain 

It’s Chairman, Dele 

Durojaiye, blamed the 

present leadership of the 

institution for the poor 

rating. 

Speaking in Akure, 

Durojaiye said: “Before 

the assumption of office 

of Prof. Adebiyi 

Daramola as VC, FUTA 

was the best university of 

Anambra: 5,000 members of APC, APGA, LP, others decamp to PDP 

Stop using Ojukwu’s name to deceive Anambra people, APC 

lawmaker tells APGA 

BY VINCENT 

UJUMADU 

The 

member 

representing 

Anambra East and West in 

the House of 

Representatives, Dr. Tony 

Nwoye, has accused the 

ruling All Progressives 

Grand Alliance (APGA) in 

the state of using the name 

of the late Dim 

C h u k w u e m e k a 

Odumegwu Ojukwu to 

deceive the people that the 

party belonged to the Igbo. 

Speaking at Nsugbe in 

Anambra East local 

government area, after 

registering as a member of 

All Progressives Congress 

(APC) in his ward, Nwoye, 

who was elected into the 

National Assembly on the 

platform of the Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, said 

such trick would not work 

in this year’s governorship 

election. 

He said: “They (APGA 

people) have been saying 

APC is not for Igbo people, but 

when we get to the field, we 

will tell our people that it is 

about the individual. Let 

them stop using APGA. 

They have used APGA 

enough to rob Igbo people. 

“If APGA is truly an Igbo 

party, why is it that, up till 

now, it is only in Anambra 

State that it has formed 

government? Why is it 

that in the National 

Assembly, only two are 

APGA and out of the 109 

senators, none is APGA? 

Why is it that since the 

time of Ojukwu, who is 

the symbol of APGA, they 

could not win one single 

state outside Anambra? 

They have been using it 

to hold our people down; 

we must stop it.” 

He said that his joining 

the APC was already 

bringing dividends of 

democracy from the 

Federal Government to 

the state, adding that 

keeping the state in 

APGA would continue to 

set the state backwards. 

a PDP state. He called 

on the state, local and 

ward executives of the 

party to commence 

aggressive mobilisation 

of electorate so that PDP 

can take over in the next 

governorship and other 

up coming elections. 

A legal practitioner and 

Chairman of the PDP in 

Anambra East LGA, 

Thompson Chikezie, 

recalled that the APGAled 

administration in the 

state employed every 

dangerous means 

including the use of 

Boko Haram insurgents 

to take over power from 

PDP, but has failed to 

bring the change 

promised Nigerians. Dr 

Alex Obiogbolu, a PDP 

chieftain, felicitated with 

the local government 

meeting, enjoining 

members both old and 

new to close ranks to be 

able to win the upcoming 

governorship election. 

technology in Nigeria. 

“But in the last NUC 

rating released in 

December, 2016. FUTA 

was in the 15th position. 

“Many of our courses 

are on interim 

accreditation. A good 

example is the School of 

Environmental 

Technology with six 

departments where only 

one department 

(Building Technology) 

got full accreditation due 

to lack of equipment in 

the laboratories. 

“Prof. Daramola 

embarked on global tours 

all in the name of signing 

MOUs which has not 

added any value to the 

university but rather, 

causing more harm to 

our foreign exchange as 

a nation. 

“As at today, there is no 

single foreign student or 

expatriate in FUTA again 

unlike before. 

Durojaiye asked the 

Economic and Financial 

Crime Commission, 

EFCC, to either clear the 

institution’s Vice 

Chancellor of alleged 

corrupt practices or 

charge him to court. 

He expressed concern 

over the slow pace of 

investigation which 

started three months 

ago.

IBORI RETURNS HOME 


Former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, returned to Nigeria, yesterday, seven years after he left Nigeria. 

His arrival as captured by NATH ONOJAKE in Oghara, Delta State 

Ibori (r)with his elder brother, Chief Williams Ibori 

Ibori aknowledges cheers from the mammoth crowd that welcomed 

him. 

From right: Chief James Ibori, Mr Champion Kpateghe and 

Senator Ighoyota Amori 

From right: Hon.Erhatake Ibori and others praying 

Ibori being greeted by friends and family members 

A cross section of crowd waiting to see the former governor 

A cross section of well wishers

PAGE 8 —SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 5, 2017 

OSINBAJO ACTING PRESIDENCY (SERIES II) 

When powers of an Acting President 

are neither executive nor absolute 

The powers to function as Acting President were transferred to him on January 19, 2017, by his principal, 

President Muhammadu Buhari, who proceeded on a 10-day vacation to London, United Kingdom, the same day. 

But for the10 working days he acted, he guarded and guided his own actions, creating an impression of a man 

without authority. This is the second phase of the series in the way Vice President Yemi Osinbajo ran Nigeria as 

Acting President in the absence of President Buhari. 

Just like the first week, his 

second week was also 

animated with meetings 

after meetings. Such has come 

to define the character of his 

office as no day passes by 

without one form of meeting or 

another. 

But for Vice President Yemi 

Osinbajo, there was no basking 

in the euphoria of being an 

Acting President. There was 

also nothing so exciting about 

the new office especially when 

the powers are ephemeral and 

un-absolute. 

It was the same office, the 

same motorcade. The same 

living house, the same 

personnel and the same 

meetings with no real executive 

powers. 

If there was anything new at 

all, it would be the meetings that 

sprawled and tripled in their 

numbers and Osinbajo, the 

Professor, would never be tired 

chairing. 

When power does not 

translate to authority 

Yet, in the estimation of many 

persons, he may have failed in the 

real issues of governance within the 

period he acted, well, may be 

because he did not have authority. 

In truth, few Nigerians expected 

some executive promptings from the 

Acting President. 

For instance, situated within 

Nigeria’s socio-political and tribal 

context, especially in the absence of 

President Buhari, not many would 

have expected a categorical policy 

statement on the dripping economy. 

The same was also expected in the 

case of the Southern Kaduna 

killings. 

In the wake of the buzz trailing 

the health status of President 

Muhammadu Buhari, many 

Nigerians also expected the Acting 

President to speak, even hold a 

national broadcast, at least, to douse 

the tension arising from the 

politicisation of the President’s 

present state of health. 

Whereas the story is seen as FAKE 

NEWS at its worst, such an open 

pronouncement would have laid the 

Many had also 

expected the Acting 

President to name 

persons for Board 

appointments, 

promote someone or 

even sack someone 

as the case may be. 

But that was far from 

happening. It should 

be understandable 

matter to rest when it was first 

raised. 

By that, Nigerians would have 

been introduced to the true picture 

of events rather than allow them 

feast and fester on a barrage of 

speculations and lies, which were 

very dangerous to the well-being of 

the president as well as cast 

aspersion on the collective dignity 

of Nigerians and the most exalted 

office in the land. 

Many had also expected the 

Acting President to name persons 

for Board appointments, promote 

someone or even sack someone as 

the case may be. But that was far 

from happening. It should be 

understandable. 

One issue many Nigerians had 

also thought Acting President 

Osinbajo, a Professor of Law, former 

University lecturer and former 

Attorney-General of Lagos State, 

would have given bite, was the fate 

of the Acting Chief Justice of 

Nigeria, CJN, Justice Walter 

Onegheon, as the counting down to 

his exit begins, having been 

appointed in November to just act. 

By February 10, the Acting CJN 

would have exhausted his days in 

that capacity and would not, 

according to the constitution, be 

Continues on page 9

SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 5, 2017 PAGE 9 

OSINBAJO ACTING 

PRESIDENCY (SERIES II) 

When powers 

of an Acting 

President are 

neither 

executive nor 

absolute 

Continued from page 8 

represented. 

A flurry of knocks have so far trailed 

the presidency for its loud silence 

on the matter. 

But then, Osinbajo still loves his 

job and, so, absolutely, has stayed 

away from it. 

An Acting President made for 

meetings 

But what did he do over the week? 

The Acting President, like just a 

Chairman of a company’s Board 

(without executive authority) 

superintended over a plethora of 

meetings. 

On Monday, January 30, he 

received the Speaker of the House 

of Representatives, Yakubo Dogara, 

who accompanied Rochas Okorocho, 

the Imo State governor, to the 

Presidential Villa to see him. 

The Majority Leader of the Senate, 

Mr. Ahmed Lawan, also visited and 

later at nightfall, Governor Samuel 

Ortom of Benue State made an entry 

into the Acting President’s office. 

The governor was to later tell State 

House correspondents that he was 

in the Villa to declare his solidarity 

for Osinbajo - whatever that meant. 

Tuesday, January 31, was yet 

another day that featured the Senate 

President, Bukola Saraki visiting in 

the company of, again, the Speaker 

Dogara. 

The Minister of Finance, Kemi 

Adeosun and her colleague in the 

Budget and National Planning, Udo 

Udoma were also seen around. 

Later, Saraki told Journalists that 

they were briefed on the economy 

and the 2017 budget. The new angle 

he added to his tacit response was 

the planned road show by the 

economic team which was disclosed 

to them. 

He said: “We are meeting on the 

economy and the budget, myself, the 

Vice President and the Speaker, 

Minister of Budget and Minister of 

Finance. We are aware that the 

But what did he do 

over the week? The 

Acting President, like 

just a Chairman of a 

company’s Board 

(without executive 

authority) 

superintended over a 

plethora of meetings 

economic team will soon be going on 

a road show and just to brief us and 

let us know the issues and just carry 

us along. 

“We have just started the defence. 

So, there are no issues. These are just 

consultations.” 

Meanwhile, the embattled Secretary 

to Government of the Federation, SGF, 

Lawal Babachir, was seen coming out 

of Osinbajo’s office shortly after Saraki 

and Dogara left the Villa. 

His presence swiftly created the 

impression that the meeting featured 

more than what the Senate President 

said. 

It will be recalled that Babachir was 

indicted by the Senate over 

mismanagement of the funds meant 

for the welfare of the Internally 

Displaced Persons, IDPs, in the North 

East and called for his sack. Calls to 

sack him by many Nigerians who are 

of the view that his alleged 

mismanagement of IDPs’ funds runs 

contrary to President Muhammadu 

Buhari’s anti-corruption posture, 

had reached a crescendo but the 

President was yet to heed it. 

It was not readily ascertained if 

the meeting strayed to discuss soft 

landing for the embattled SGF 

anyway. 

Similarly, Wednesday, February 

1, was another busy day although 

with a familiar ritual, the meeting 

of the Federal Executive Council, 

FEC. 

It was a long one for Osinbajo 

who swore in the five 

Commissioners of the National 

Population Commission, NPC, 

appointed some months ago by 

President Buhari. 

He also set up a Task Force 

Committee on Food Security and 

also caused the Council to 

approve the revision of the 

National Tax Policy to elevate VAT 

for consumption of luxury foods 

and drinks such as Champagne. 

Later that same Wednesday, he 

received the International 

Monetary Funds, IMF team on 

2017 Article IV consultation who 

paid him a courtesy visit. 

On Thursday, February 2, 

National Defence College, NDC, 

Abuja, beckoned and Osinabjo, 

the Professor, went for what he 

knew best how to do - present a 

lecture. At NDC, he delivered a 

lecture titled “Economic 

Dimension of the National 

Security: The Nigerian 

Experience.” 

Minutes after he returned to the 

Presidential Villa from NDC, the 

Senate President, Saraki, 

Speaker, Dogara stormed the Villa 

again. 

For Saraki, it was his second visit 

in the week while it was the third 

for Dogara. 

Just when their frequent visit 

was about eliciting concerns 

amongst keen observers Saraki’s 

smart taciturnity paid off again. 

“The Acting President briefed us 

on our troops in The Gambia and 

what the situation is like; and that 

the Navy and the Air Force will be 

coming back very soon. And that it 

is likely some troops will be left 

behind”, he said. 

For a man who loathes idleness, 

his diary can never be free of 

schedules and so, on Friday, 

February 3, the Acting President 

held the inaugural meeting of the 

Task Force on Food Security. 

Curiously, the meeting held at 

Aguda House, his official 

residence, which is tucked in the 

secure enclave of the Presidential 

Villa. 

Meanwhile, trust the “Lagos 

Boy”, Osinbajo, had hardly entered 

office when by 2:30pm his 

motorcade was prepared for the 

airport to jet him out of Abuja for 

Lagos, signaling the end of work 

for him in the weekdays. 

A new week begins on Monday, 

February 6 

Since his assumption of office on 

May 29, 2015, President Buhari has 

transferred the functions of his office 

to Osinbajo thrice. This may be 

politically deliberate, unavoidably 

circumstantial or constitutionally 

mandatory. 

But whichever way it goes, the 

non-usage of the executive powers 

in the absence of the President has 

somewhat resumed the debate on 

what powers there are for Vice 

Presidents and Deputy Governors 

whenever they are humoured to act. 

Are they just spare tyres or robots 

who can only be manipulated 

without their own creative 

instincts? Are they only paper 

tigers and meeting conveners even 

when executive powers have been 

transfered to them? 

But then, baring any last minute 

eventuality, Osinbajo’s acting days 

are over (for now) as President 

Buhari is anxiously expected to 

resume work tomorrow, Monday, 

February 6, upon the expiration of 

his 10-day vacation in London.

PAGE 10—SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 5, 2017 

By Emman Ovuakporie 

and Johnbosco Agbakwuru 

It was a rowdy session on 

Friday when a former Senate 

President, Senator Anyim Pius 

Anyim, and a former Minister of 

the Federal Capital Territory, Bala 

Mohammed, appeared before the 

House of Representatives 

Committee on FCT investigating 

the Centenary City Project initiated 

by President Goodluck Jonathan 

administration. 

Anyim, the immediate past 

Secretary to the Government of the 

Federation, SGF, was 

accompanied by his political 

associates to the one-day public 

hearing on alleged irregularities 

surrounding the Centenary City 

Project in which he played a 

prominent role. 

Drama started immediately after 

the Deputy Minority Leader of the 

House, Chukwuka Onyema, who 

represented the Speaker, Yakubu 

Dogara, finished reading his 

welcome address. 

The former Senate President 

asked the Speaker’ s 

representatives to wait because he 

wanted to make an observation 

before the investigative hearing 

could proceed. 

As soon as the national anthem 

was played, Onyeama said he 

would stay briefly before leaving 

the venue. 

At this point, the Chairman of the 

House Committee on FCT, 

Herman Hembe, yielded the floor 

to the former SGF to make his 

presentation. 

Anyim began his presentation, 

saying , “When the former 

Managing Director of Security and 

Exchange Commission accused 

you (Hembe) of demanding bribe 

from her, you pushed for her sack 

and I refused to sack her as 

Secretary to Government of the 

Federation.” 

This drew the ire of Hembe, who 

represents Vandeikya/Konshisha 

Federal Constituency of Benue 

State, especially as it was said he 

could not preside over the probe 

committee due to the allegations 

of corruption against him. 

But ignoring the interruption, the 

former SGF pointedly accused the 

Benue State-born politician of 

organising the investigative 

hearing as a way to get back at him 

for refusing to heed his plea for the 

sack of former Managing Director 

of Security and Exchange 

Commission, Ms Arunma Oteh, 

when she accused him of 

demanding bribe from her. 

Besides, Anyim protested the 

mode of invitation the committee 

extended to him as the Chairman 

of the Centenary City Project, 

arguing that, as a former Senate 

President, the letter inviting him to 

appear before the committee would 

have emanated from the Clerk of 

the National Assembly and not 

from the Clerk of the committee. 

He said, “When the former 

Managing Director of Security and 

Exchange Commission accused 

you of demanding bribe from her, 

you pushed for her sack and I 

refused to sack her as Secretary to 

Government of the Federation. I 

will not allow you to use the 

platform of this committee to 

victimize me.” 

But protesting to Anyim’s 

statement, Hembe shouted:”Point 

of order, point of order, point of 

order.” 

Some of his colleagues prevailed 

on him to allow the former SGF, 

who was still speaking, to end his 

speech but Hembe responded: “No, 

no, no, no, no. Hold on. The former 

Senate President cannot assume 

the Chairman of the committee. It’s 

not fair.Please sir, I have the 

privilege to be heard.” 

But members of the committee 

insisted that he should allow 

•Senator Anyim Pius Anyim 

Anyim to continue. At this point, Hembe 

said: “Hold on, I am going to allow 

him to finish but hold on.” 

“Let me just say that we are a House 

of free laws, we are a House of order. 

We are a House of due process. This is 

not an avenue.... Let me just say to the 

former President of the Senate and the 

former SGF that, in my opening 

remarks, I tried to show you courtesy. 

“Please, don’t interrupt, as far as this 

hearing is concerned, I’m Chairman 

here. I am Chairman and I would not 

allow you to usurp that position. I am 

here on no account. 

“I have shown you respect. I even 

made a comment in the beginning that 

you ought not to appear by saying 

clearly that it was brought to my 

attention by certain quarters, that we 

shouldn’t have invited the former 

Senate President to a hearing like this 

out of sheer respect. Out of nothing else 

but sheer respect. 

“There’s no law that says you can’t 

do it. It’s just respect for the fact that 

he’s been Senate President and I took 

note of that and spoke to my colleague 

Chairman in the Senate, Senator Dino 

Melaye, last night. 

“And I asked him to communicate 

with the former Senate President and 

ask if we will excuse him today. It 

doesn’t mean that if we excuse him, 

later, we won’t write to request for such 

information. 

“What we are doing here borders on 

his activities as Secretary to 

Government of the Federation. For Mr 

former Senate President to impute bias 

when he does not even know what we 

are doing here ... We have not even said 

a word and he’s already inputting bias. 

“Anyim fired back, a development 

Hembe took exception to, saying :” Do 

not interrupt me, do not interrupt me, I 

reject that. Let me finish. Sit down, you 

cannot, let me finish.” 

Then to the members of the committee 

he said, “Honourable members, let 

me say this to the former Senate 

President. Like I said earlier, we will 

allow everybody the opportunity to 

speak here but I’m a little dismayed that 

for someone, who was invited for this 

programme and felt he ought not to be 

invited, has already delved into the 

subject matter. I would allow Senator 

Pius Anyim an opportunity to go ahead 

and finish his statement. 

“When he finishes, we will rule and 

there’s no way he or anybody can 

attempt to disrupt this proceeding, this 

proceeding will conclude today. 

Nothing will change and so you can go 

•Herman Hembe 

Drama in House of 

Reps as Anyim, 

Hembe trade tackles 

But ignoring the 

interruption, the former 

SGF pointedly accused 

the Benue State-born 

politician of organising 

the investigative 

hearing as a way to get 

back at him for refusing 

to heed his plea for the 

sack of former 

Managing Director of 

Security and Exchange 

Commission, Ms 

Arunma Oteh, when she 

accused him of 

demanding bribe from 

her 

ahead and make your statement and 

make any imputation you want to 

make; when you are done, we will 

continue, I so rule.” 

Then taking the floor, the former 

SGF said: “Thank you, Mr 

Chairman, I think that’s what I 

expected you to really do. I should be 

able to state my position, then you 

rule. 

“Mr. Chairman, I said, one: That 

you have told everybody that cares 

to listen that when the former DG of 

Security and Exchange Commission 

accused you of demanding bribe from 

her, you pushed for her to be sacked 

and I refused to sack her while I was 

SGF and so this is an opportunity for 

you to pay me back. 

“Mr. Chairman, I would not allow 

you to use the National Assembly 

platform to pursue this personal 

vendetta, it’s not acceptable and I 

will not submit to it because it offends 

the rule of fair-hearing and all I’m 

asking for is fair-hearing. 

“Two, Mr Chairman, you have been 

threatening to conduct this public 

hearing for over a year now. In fact, 

you ended last year with it and, this 

year, you started again with it. You 

scheduled it for the 27th of January 

and you later moved it to the 1st of 

February and again moved it to 3rd 

of February. 

“Mr Chairman, we only discovered 

your game plan for all the 

postponements when you started 

sending messages to the Managing 

Director to come and see you privately. 

“It was after all your efforts to get the 

Managing Director to come and see 

you privately failed that you confirmed 

this date. I want you to know that 

nobody will see you privately and we 

are here for the hearing and we will 

have the hearing. 

“Mr Chairman, honourable members 

of the committee, ladies and gentlemen, 

I am convinced that Mr Chairman has 

a deep-seated personal interest and bias 

in this matter and so, he’s not in a 

position to guarantee fair-hearing to 

myself, the Centenary City 

management and indeed to the entire 

subject matter. 

“I, accordingly, demand that Mr 

Chairman should disqualify himself 

and let the Vice Chairman take over 

and let us continue. So Mr. chairman, 

you can hand over to your vice and 

excuse us to continue. And so, if you 

would not be able to disqualify yourself, 

there’s no reason anybody will submit 

himself to a system, an arrangement 

that does not guarantee fair-hearing. 

“So, we are here for the hearing, we 

are ready for the hearing but we should 

get fair-hearing”. 

Hembe, replying, said: “Thank you, 

this is a straight forward matter. Thank 

you very much Mr former Senate 

President.” 

As he wanted to speak further, other 

committee members in attendance 

suggested a postponement or at least 

brief suspension of the session but 

Hembe protested. 

He said, “No, don’t worry, we should 

not subject this matter to a break, we 

are here for this hearing and we should 

just allow this matter to proceed.” 

Turning again to Anyim, Hembe 

said: “Mr former Senate President, 

Senator Pius Anyim, we invited you here 

for the public hearing. And like I said 

in one forum and I remember it 

categorically, that if I had sent 

messages, messages are beautiful 

things, they are basically on phones 

and they remain there. Such a person 

is free to bring those kinds of documents 

forward and say this is how Hon. 

Hembe has contacted me or whatever. 

“My bottom line is this, thank you for 

your contributions. We have excused 

you at the beginning of this 

programme. The excuse is still open 

and, if you want to take the option of 

the excuse as a former presiding officer 

of the Senate, you are free. On the 

strength of that, my ruling here is that 

I’m going to preside over this public 

hearing and this public hearing will 

continue.” 

Even the former Minister of FCT in 

attendance at the hearing, Mohammed, 

also lost his cool, especially following 

the barrage of questions from 

committee members to the Manging 

Director of Centenary City Project, Dr 

Ike Odenigwe, on how the award of 

contracts for the project were awarded. 

Specifically, Hon. Ayo Omidiran had 

pointed out that”it was out of place to 

flout President Jonathan’s directive and 

they did what they wished.” 

But the former FCT Minister 

interjected: “I think at this stage I want 

to be sworn-in. Haba. I am not talking 

except when I am asked specific 

questions on this issue as it appears 

there is a communication gap in this 

whole gamut. You are behaving 

childishly”. 

Mohammed’s statement caused 

uproar as some of the lawmakers 

started shouting, asking him to 

withdraw the statement and even 

displayed the Constitution which gives 

them the power to ask questions that 

must be answered by government 

officials or former officials when 

summoned. 

The former minister maintained his 

position. “I will not take it back, take 

me to court, do your worst, my privilege 

is being impugned upon by this show 

of childishness”, he said.

SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 5, 2017, Page 11 

VIEWPOINT 

By Vincent George Uba 

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF 

The virtue the people must 

display 

WHILE the Catholic Church 

and other Christian groups 

were praying for a country free of 

corruption and a country out of 

distress, Muhammadu Buhari 

came. 

No sooner had Buhari emerged 

and assumed office as President 

than he swung into action and 

began to tackle the problem of 

Boko Haram. Compare the 

situation then with the situation 

today. Those cities, towns, local 

government areas captured by 

Boko Haram have been recovered 

and people who fled their homes 

are now returning. Boko Haram 

has practically been routed and 

defeated. The pockets of suicide 

blasts in few places today is nothing 

compared to those days of horror. 

If we Nigerians are honest, we 

should gladly acknowledge this feat 

achieved by the military under 

Buhari. Unfortunately some people 

in their dishonest disposition, rather 

than appreciate God for using 

Buhari to conquer Boko Haram, 

VIEWPOINT 

By Michael Tidi 

VIEWPOINT VIEWPOINT 

IN BRIEF 

The road to 2019 elections 

RIGHT from its inception, 

hardly any week has gone by 

without one form of destructive 

criticism or malicious attack on 

the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa led 

administration in Delta State 

appearing on print or social 

media. Some rather unfortunate 

developments of the last few weeks 

are the latest installment in this 

trend and have only served to 

expose the opposition in Delta as 

one utterly lacking in credibility. 

First it was a case of crucifying the 

Governor on account of a trip the 

Vice President made to Delta State 

in which the Governor was a mere 

passenger. Everyone conveniently 

forgot that the Vice President was 

at Opuraja in Okpe for a period of 

time longer than he spent either at 

Oporoza or Aghofen. No one 

averted their minds to the fact that 

they were not with the Governor 

or Vice President in their vehicle 

and that even if the Governor had 

pointed out to the Vice President, 

Why Nigerians should be patient with Buhari 

have resorted to making 

comments to the effect that that 

Boko Haram was not real- that it 

was a stage-managed affair. 

They even claim that the 

kidnapping of Chibok girls was a 

ruse. 

As the ongoing fight against 

insurgency begun, so also was the 

fight against corruption initiated. 

Revelations of massive and 

unimaginable proportion of 

looting began to emerge. Look at 

the manner the money voted to 

fight Boko Haram terrorists who 

were killing Nigerians was looted. 

The truth is that Buhari is 

fighting bribery and corruption 

which have long eaten deep into the 

fabric of the nation. He is also at 

the same time fighting Boko 

Haram insurgency and we are all 

seeing the positive effects. That the 

fight against bribery and 

corruption is selective is laughable. 

For God’s sake, common sense 

demands that when you embark on 

a problem solving mission, you start 

from the known fact to get to the 

unknown. It is a known fact that a 

certain political party and its 

members were at the helm of affairs 

of Federal Government and it 

stands to reason that if there were 

problems, it is those at the helm of 

affairs that will be called upon to 

answer to the problem. That the 

preponderance of those under 

probe are ex- political office 

holders of the immediate past 

administration is understandable. 

The probe cannot be said to be 

selective. At least cases abound 

where those who were originally 

not under probe were later found 

to be part of the problem, and they 

are facing probe as well, even 

though they were not political office 

holders. 

Much as I am appalled that we 

seem to close our eyes to the 

successes recorded in the fight 

against insurgency, I’m utterly sad 

we close our eyes to the successes 

that are being recorded in the fight 

against bribe and corruption. We 

ought to appreciate and thank God 

for the successes recorded within a 

year and a half and at the same time 

pray to God to grant our President 

more courage and steadfastness in 

the handling of the affairs of the 

nation especially the economy. 

About the state of Nigeria 

economy, I am also appalled that 

some Nigerians, even the educated 

ones blame Buhari for the poor state 

of the Nigeria economy. Some 

religious leaders to my surprise 

blame him too. I don’t know why 

any right thinking Nigerian will 

blame the President for what we 

are passing through today. The 

economy that has been 

mismanaged and looted for several 

years is now negatively manifesting 

its effect on us all, most especially 

the mismanagement of the crude 

oil revenue of several years running. 

Unfortunately, the price of crude oil 

in the international market has 

drastically come down, but people 

tend to ignore the effect of this fall 

of oil price, which is the mainstay 

of Nigeria economy as a major 

contributor to Nigeria economic 

problems. 

Another worrisome and ironic 

scenario is the fact that those who 

led us to this present condition we 

face are now the same people using 

the hardship they created to 

campaign for election victory. They 

are warming up to come back in 

2019. And Nigerians seem to be 

asking them to come back to drag 

The opposition in Delta wasting of time 

the need to stop over at Orerokpe, 

Effurun and Ughelli, there was 

absolutely nothing he could have 

done to ensure that this was the 

case, if the Vice President, being 

pressed for time within the limited 

timeframe of his visit, could not 

have acceded to the Governor’s 

request. No one bothered to place 

themselves in the Governor’s 

position to ask whether in such a 

situation, the Governor should 

have physically dragged the Vice 

President to visit all the places he, 

as Chief Executive of the entire 

state, would have wanted him to 

touch. 

Even more importantly, no one 

bothered to ask, how come the 

kingpins of the opposition All 

Progressives Congress, APC, in the 

state, who are always boasting of 

being closer to the Vice President 

than anyone else to the extent of 

claiming that they can always use 

their connections to undo their 

fellow party members in the state, 

did not ensure that while the Vice 

President was in the state, they 

impressed on him the need to visit 

their own traditional rulers. If, in 

the build up to the visit, some 

Itsekiris had been foresighted 

enough to lobby the Vice 

President’s office for at least a brief 

stopover at their own domain, why 

did the all-in-all of APC in the state 

not equally lobby for similar visits 

to their own traditional rulers, 

more so when they practically 

reside in Abuja always lobbying for 

lucrative posts which they then 

clannishly ensure they allocate to 

persons from their own 

hometowns? 

It has to be because these socalled 

leaders probably have no 

regard for their own traditional 

rulers that they didn’t bother to 

lobby the Vice President to 

stopover at their palaces. Yet as 

soon as genuinely patriotic 

Urhobos began to lament the 

oversight, they latched on to what 

was in fact their own shortcoming 

as a new opportunity for attacking 

Governor Okowa. It is not 

everything that one might expect a 

Governor to reveal in his 

interaction with the general 

public. Whereas, there is nothing 

the Governor could have done to 

force a Vice President to visit 

traditional rulers he wants him to 

visit, there is something the APC 

leaders and their cohorts could 

have done to ensure that at the 

planning stage of the trip, they 

ensured that a visit to their own 

traditional rulers was on the card 

and that enough time was created 

within the timeframe of the trip to 

carry out all necessary courtesy 

calls. 

Just when our beloved Urhobo 

brothers and sisters were 

beginning to ask themselves 

whether this is really the 

Governor’s fault or the fault of 

their own fellow Urhobo so-called 

APC leaders, the chief sponsors of 

rumour mongering and ethnic 

jingoism in the state, realized the 

game was up and simply 

manufactured another ridiculous 

rumour from thin air to divert 

attention from their guilt. That 

was how the online media 

suddenly became agog with a story 

credited to the Nations News 

which reported that a South-South 

Governor used his mistress to steal/ 

launder $10 million. Before 

us to a more damning state. 

I have faith that better days are 

coming for us in Nigeria. Things 

are going to be better. Fuel is now 

available at a constant price. Very 

soon we will begin to reap the gains 

of agricultural programmes and 

efforts put in place by this 


Certainly, the foreign exchange 

situation will improve. I pray the 

Niger Delta militants will not 

continue to sabotage the efforts of 

Buhari to revamp the economy by 

eschewing all acts of bombing and 

destruction of oil facilities which 

gives rise to the scarcity of foreign 

exchange in the country. 

All well meaning Nigerians will 

have to give full support to this 

administration and pray that our 

President doesn’t lose focus. 

Nigerians must display the virtue 

of patience, patience and patience 

because the task is enormous. 

•Uba lives at 7, Association 

Avenue, Ilupeju, Lagos and can be 

reached via 

08033280430 and 

vingeorge2000@yahoo.com 

anyone could say jack, the 

opposition shamelessly dragged in 

the name of Senator Dr. Arthur 

Ifeanyi Okowa, into what is at best 

a speculative story and at worst the 

job of paid hirelings. 

The story is one that any 

detective would find to be quite 

laughable while all the serious 

lawyers I have spoken with on the 

issue simply shook their heads in 

disgust. Little wonder then that 

even among the more intellectually 

oriented members of the 

opposition in the state, none have 

been seen weighing in on the 

matter, apparently having written 

it off as just another cock-and-bull 

story more appropriate to a motorpark 

or local village square. As we 

go forward, Deltans should brace 

themselves for more shameless 

falsehood from the stable of the 

opposition in the state. Since they 

are so fixated on 2019 that the 

telling of lies has become their 

chief manifesto, I can only say that 

come 2019 it is not how many lies 

they have told that will count but 

how many projects Okowa can 

point to. As for projects, he already 

has more than enough to point to 

with even more to come. 

•Tidi is resident in Warri 

BOKO HARAM: The military needs Nigerians’ support to clear 

the remnants of insurgency — Odeyemi, terror expert 

By Abel Kolawole 

Comrade Oladimeji Odeyemi is the 

President of the National Committee 

of Yoruba Youth (NCYY). A security 

expert, Odeyemi is also a member of 

Global Agenda Against Terrorism 

and a columnist with African Journal 

on Terrorism. In this interview, he 

lampoons the critics of the Buhari 

administration, especially on the 

fight against insurgency. 

WHAT is your assessment of 

the war against insurgency 

in the North-East? 

Let me first congratulate President 

Muhammadu Buhari and the 

military, particularly the Nigerian 

Army, on the victory over Boko 

Haram. The capture of Sambisa 

forest which was once the 

operational headquarters of the 

terrorist group is commendable. We 

cannot but also mention that these 

gallant efforts have led to the 

recapturing of our formerly lost 

territories by the Nigerian Army. 

Do you think the Nigerian Army 

has lived up to its billings in the 

fight? 

Definitely. You will agree with me 

that before this administration came 

on board, particularly the current 

Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant 

General Tukur Buratai, what we 

witnessed was near daily 

controversy on the military 

operations in the region, which 

practically made a very large part 

of the region deserted, with people 

having no trust in the capacity of the 

Army to protect lives and property 

against the insurgents. But, today, 

confidence has been rebuilt, the 

people, in droves, have returned to 

their towns and villages. Hence, I 

believe that the army has lived up to 

expectation. 

Governor Fayose recently said 

the story of the rescue of some 

Chibok girls by the military is a 

make-belief. What do you make of 

the statement? 

For those who have keenly 

followed the personality the 

personality of Fayose and his 

outbursts against the military, 

particularly the Chief of Army Staff, 

there is no doubt that he has merely 

been expressing his frustration based 

on his alleged role in the arms 

purchase scandal during the last 


What is the difference between 

the current administration and the 

previous one in terms of fighting 

insurgency? 

I think the fundamental difference 

between the military, more 

importantly, the Nigerian Army of 

the past and the incumbent, is the 

professionalism that Lt. General 

Tukur Buratai has promoted. This 

is a man that leads the Army from 

the front, as Nigerians have seen him 

demonstrated on several occasions. 

Today, we have an Army that is 

making the welfare of our men, who 

are sacrificing on the field, a priority. 

Today, we no longer hear stories of 

diversion of funds meant for 

equipment and machinery being 

converted into personal usage. I 

think the Army deserves 

commendation on this. 

After a period of break, there 

seems to be reports of pockets of 

attacks by the insurgents. What do 

you think is responsible for this? 

All over the world, based on my 

experience and studies, there is 

nowhere that insurgency has been 

completely defeated without the 

society, having elements of 

desperation to survive by these 

terrorists. Hence, the resort to 

isolated attacks and desperate 

actions like we are currently seeing 

•Comrade Odeyemi 

in the North-East. That, nonetheless, 

the fact that IDP camps are being 

closed and people returning to their 

abandoned towns and villages, 

shows that the war is almost over 

and what is important is that the 

citizens should work with security 

agencies to identify the remnants of 

these elements. By so doing, there 

will be no hiding place for the 

leftovers until their activities finally 

go into extinction. 

In what way do you think 

Nigerians can assist the military 

to end the war against insurgency? 

Eternal vigilance. The populace 

should have absolute trust in the 

capacity of the military to protect 

our territories, lives and property 

against any form of aggression, be 

it internal or external. We, as 

Nigerians, must provide 

information on suspicious activities 

to security agencies. We must also 

cultivate the habit of appreciating 

the efforts of our men who are 

spending their days and nights on 

the field. The media, I must say, have 

a critical role to play in ensuring 

that this is achievable. 

Do you think the Nigeria Army 

is being misrepresented on some 

of its activities? 

Military operations world over, 

are quite different from many of our 

regular day-to-day endeavors. 

There is information on the activities 

of the military that, when allowed 

to be in the market place, will 

naturally jeopardize operations, 

thereby on a larger scale 

endangering the security of the 

country. Often time, people take 

advantage of the social media, or 

go out of the ethics of journalism to 

publish stories on military 

operations. Some people from my 

experience, are not just being 

unprofessional but are deliberately 

aiding these terrorists. But the Army 

under this current leadership has 

been forthcoming, civilised and 

professional in its handling of issues 

around these misrepresentations. It 

is my belief that Nigerians must 

begin to look at the implications of 

these misrepresentations and 

misreading of realities on Army 

operations and how they affect the 

morale of our soldiers.

Page 12 — SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 5, 2017 

Defining New Paradigms in Nigeria’s Tourism Development 

VIEWPOINT 

By Sufuyan Ojeifo 

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF 

The potentials VIEWPOINT 

of a sector 

NIGERIA’S 

economic 

outlook is gloomy. Her 

over dependence on crude oil as the 

only veritable source of foreign 

exchange earnings has become an 

albatross due to vandalisation of 

crude oil pipelines by militants in 

the Niger Delta region. This has 

made it impossible for the nation 

to meet its projected 2.2 million 

barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil 

production, thereby losing big 

money. 

While immediate remedial 

actions have been launched, 

including Niger Delta region 

stakeholders’ consultations, to put 

an end to pipeline destruction and 

restore the nation’s production 

output to the 2.2 million bpd of 

crude, there is a national consensus 

that the federal government should 

urgently work towards diversifying 

the nation’s economic base in order 

to create multiple streams of 

earnings. 

This position is unassailable. 

Various options and propositions 

are receiving consideration from 

government. Some of the 

propositions that are primed to 

benefit from the diversification 

VIEWPOINT 

By Olatunde Aina 

TRIBUTE IN BRIEF 

Diagnosing a scholar par 

excellence 

SINCE his appointment over 

two years ago, this 

administrative colossus has 

embarked on projects that are not 

only visible but also beneficial to 

generations yet unborn. 

Known for his un-ending passion 

for excellence, Prof.Ibrahim 

Abubakar-Njodi, Vice Chancellor, 

University of Maiduguri’s 

accomplishment in just two years 

at the helm of affairs at this citadel 

of learning exudes nothing else 

except class. 

Even in the face of challenges 

such as insecurity, meagre 

resources, and insufficient 

manpower, he was still able to 

churn out success to surmount the 

myriad of bottlenecks confronting 

the institution. 

His uncommon exploits has 

proven that with sagacious 

service-delivery in the area of 

administration from our vicechancellors 

in Nigeria. They can 

enterprise are agriculture, solid 

minerals, and culture and tourism 

development. It is, however, baffling 

that government has not done the 

needful, over the years, to bolster 

investments in these sectors. 

While it is more surprising that 

government has not maximally 

explored the agriculture and solid 

minerals sectors, given the tangible 

yields derivable from them, with 

humongous potential to build the 

nation’s economy, it is 

understandable why the culture and 

tourism sector has been largely 

under-developed: lack of deliberate 

investments and structured 

development in the sector has been 

fingered; whereas, if properly 

harnessed, it can boost the nation’s 

foreign exchange earnings. 

The sector, especially the tourism 

component, has been adjudged, 

globally, as a money spinner. The 

World Tourism Organisation 

(WTO), an agency of the United 

Nations, which is mandated to 

promote access to tourism, not too 

long ago, published figures that 

showed that in the last six decades 

or thereabouts, there has been 

consistent global expansion of the 

tourism industry. 

According to the WTO, 

“international tourist arrivals 

increased from 25 million in 1950 

to 1.13 billion in 2014 while 

earnings moved from $2 billion to 

$12.45 billion in 2014.” Arrivals 

Abubakar-Njodi, a VC and worthy alumnus 

stand to gain tremendous mileage 

in terms of partnership and 

support from the international 

communities. 

Born on January 13, 1959 at 

Kaltungo in Kaltungo local 

government area of Gombe State, 

he attended L.E.A Primary School, 

Kaltungo from 1967- 1973 and 

later ECWA Primary School from 

1973–1975 all in Kaltungo. He 

later went to government teacher’s 

college Jama’are in Bauchi state 

from 1975–1980. He was offered 

admission into the University of 

Maiduguri from 1981–1985 where 

he obtained B.sc Physical and 

health education. He then joined 

the services of the University of 

Maiduguri as a graduate assistant 

in 1987 and later proceeded for his 

master’s degree from 1988 to 1991 

in the same University specializing 

in health education. He proceeded 

to the prestigious University of 

Nigeria, Nsukka for his Ph.D.in 

public health education from 

2000–2003. 

Njodi was appointed acting 

Dean, Faculty of Education (2008– 

worldwide, at the time the statistics 

were published in 2015, were 

expected to hit 1.8 billion in another 

decade or thereabouts. 

Significantly, emerging 

economies, which capture Nigeria, 

are expected to get 57% of this 

market share. This should 

interest Nigeria’s federal 

government. Appropriate 

ministry and agencies of 

government, especially the 

Nigerian Tourism Development 

Corporation (NTDC) should be 

concerned about how much 

percentage the nation can slice out 

of this 57 percent market share. 

The issue becomes more 

pertinent considering the fact that 

there is competition among African 

countries to position themselves for 

the immense economic benefits 

inherent in exploration of latent 

tourism potential within their 

domains. Nigeria, presently, 

does not rank among the first ten 

most tourism-ready economies in 

Africa. 

The World Economic Forum’s 

Travel and Tourism 

Competitiveness Report 2015 

ranking showed the following 

realities: South Africa was 48 in 

global ranking; Seychelles (54), 

Mauritius (56), Namibia (70), 

Kenya (78), Cape Verde (86), 

Botswana (88), Tanzania (93), 

Rwanda (98) and Zambia (107). 

Where was Nigeria? 

•Prof.Ibrahim Abubakar-Njodi 

2010)and was subsequently 

elected substantive Dean, of the 

same faculty in 2010, thereby 

emerging the first alumnus of the 

university to serve as Dean of the 

faculty. 

The VC was appointed Deputy 

Vice Chancellor(Academic 

Services) in 2010 and ultimately 

Vice-Chancellor from June 2014 

to date, therefore becoming the 

first and second alumnus to serve 

in these capacities respectively. 

As a refined administrator par 

Since the countries were ranked 

on the basis of factors and policies 

that were emplaced to enable the 

sustainable development of the 

sector, as well as to help countries 

adapt their policies towards 

achieving their travel and tourism 

potential, Nigeria has the task to 

rejig her tourism policies and retool 

the administrative infrastructure 

that will drive the development 

process through the sector. 

Retooling the administrative 

infrastructure entails putting an end 

to inconsistency and undue 

political influence in the 

appointment of outsiders or 

politicians to head an agency that 

should strictly benefit from the 

know-how of technocrats working 

within the sector to ensure 

consistency and organisational 

discipline. 

The acting Director General of 

NTDC, Mrs Mariel Rae-Omoh, a 

thoroughbred tourism sector 

professional, who has been a 

strategic player in the Corporation 

for more than two decades, is an 

asset and a round peg in a round 

hole to redirect focus in the sector 

that has incredible potential to 

generate growth, create jobs and 

spin mega bucks in foreign 

exchange into the nation’s coffers. 

The ball is, therefore, in Rae- 

Omoh’s court to come up with new 

paradigms that will help transform 

the tourism sector potential into 

excellence, his outstanding 

qualities have not gone unnoticed. 

He has been awarded 

several professional fellowships 

and awards; even from his home 

front, he is seen as a remarkable 

achiever in his native Kaltungo 

chiefdom. He was deservedly 

decorated with the traditional title 

of “Dan Rimin Kaltungo”, because 

his dexterous works have had a 

great impact from all and sundry. 

Ultimately, the highly revered 

Shehu of Borno has also awarded 

him with the traditional title of 

Shettimallmube of Borno. He has 

accomplished a wide varieties of 

achievement in just few years at 

the saddle in the university of 

Maiduguri, he has ensured smooth 

academic programmes on 

campus, he embarked on building 

new structures and rehabilitated 

old buildings to improve 

infrastructures, even in the face of 

dwindling financial budget 

accruable to the university. 

He explored viable investment 

mechanisms which has yielded 

great result in other to achieve set 

practical realities. She must 

define the scope of the paradigms 

that her leadership has packaged 

to make Nigeria a preferred 

tourism destination. 

Reports from the grapevine said 

her leadership is committed to 

reclaiming the lost glory of the 

NTDC as a formidable rallying 

point for coordination, direction 

and implementation of tourism 

policies. Many moribund and 

still initiatives are expected to come 

alive. The 2006 Tourism Master 

Plan, whose objective was to launch 

the sector as a viable economic 

alternative, is one of such 

initiatives. The “Tourism 

House”, that has purportedly 

gulped millions of naira in funds 

mobilisation and yet has remained 

in the realm of imagination, is yet 

another. 

The new leadership of NTDC has 

what it takes to generate funds for 

the nation from tourism sector 

development, considering the fact 

that the Corporation no longer 

enjoys the free rains of funds that 

President Olusegun Obasanjo 

made possible through the setting 

up of a Presidential Council on 

Tourism under the superintendence 

of a previous leadership at the 

Corporation. 

•Ojeifo, journalist and 

publisher, sent in this piece via 

ojwonderngr@yahoo.com 

goals in projecting the citadel of 

learning into a first-class university 

not only in northern nigeria, but 

africa at large. 

He also scored highly in the area 

of staff refresher courses and retraining 

programmes to maintain 

and sustain academic prosperity 

amongst the staff in continuation 

of their quality impactation on 

students in the university. 

Ibrahim-Njodi has become a 

reference point for other university 

administrators that have allowed 

challenges battling their 

universities to over-whelm them to 

see the pictures clearer that there 

is light at the end of the tunnel after 

all. If only they could imbibe and 

formulate top-notch policies that 

could bring their projections and 

blue-prints for success to the fore. 

Little wonder, accolades keeps 

pouring from far and near for this 

sagacious administrator, a 

scholarly icon with a knack for 

achieving excellence which has 

become his hallmark in all his 

endeavors. 

•Aina is based in Lagos. 

•L-R: Regional Marketing Manager, West Region, Airtel Nigeria, Tobi Biobaku; Zonal 

Business Manager, West Central; Omoyemi Tuga; N10 million cash prize winner, 

Kehinde Olaniyi and Regional Operations Director, West Region, Olusina Adegoke at 

the Airtel Red Hot promo prize presentation that held in Osogbo, Osun State. 

MARITIME CAPACITY: NIMASA seeks 

TETFUND partnership 

By Udeme Clement 

IN a bid to develop human 

capacity in the maritime 

sector of the economy, the 

Nigerian Maritime 

Administration and Safety 

Agency (NIMASA) has 

commenced the process of 

establishing partnership with 

Tertiary Education Trust Fund 

(TETFUND). 

The Director General of the 

Agency, Dr. Dakuku Peterside 

stated this during a meeting 

with stakeholders and Vice 

Chancellors of Nigerian 

Universities where the 

NIMASA sponsored 

Institutes of Maritime studies 

are domiciled in Abuja . 

Dr. Peterside who chaired 

the meeting restated the 

Agency’s commitment 

towards growing capacity in 

the sector and urged 

Universities in the country to 

include maritime related 

courses in their curriculum, in 

order to expand job potentials 

for Nigerian youths, to grow 

the economy, as maritime is a 

global business with vast 

opportunities. 

He explained that a virile 

maritime trade is an 

economic asset to any nation 

and therefore urged the 

institutes to continuously 

improve on their maritime 

curriculum for the economic 

benefits of Nigeria. 

He also called on public and 

private organisations to 

partner with the Agency in 

ensuring adequate funding of 

these institutes, stating that it 

would not be out of place for 

TETFUND to intervene where 

necessary in funding them, as 

NIMASA cannot do it all 

alone. 

According to him, “more 

than ever, we are open to 

partnership, in order to ensure 

that our maritime sector 

continues to thrive and impact 

positively on the economy in 

the long run” 

In remarks, the Executive 

Secretary of TETFUND Dr. 

Abdulahi Bichi Baffa, 

commended NIMASA for the 

initiative in establishing 

Institutes of Maritime studies 

in these universities, while 

announcing that TETFUND 

will look at areas of 

intervention.


C 

M 

Y 

K

PAGE 14 — SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 5, 2017 

Yes, sex is food, Nkechi Emmanuel 

tells married women 

Stunning Nollywood diva, 

Nkechi Emmanuel popularly 

known as Nurse Titi in the TV 

Series 'Clinic Matters' is down-to-earth 

and does unusual things most of her 

colleagues would feel too big to do. 

Recently, the actress organised a 

special session at the Sheraton Hotel, 

Ikeja, where she met with most of her 

fans. 

In one of her chats with Vanguard the 

actress confessed she's a very jealous 

woman when it comes to her man and 

also believes a man should be treated 

with kid gloves. It must be the same 

mindset when the actress shared a 

campaign, advising married women to 

see sex as food if they don't want their 

husbands to look elsewhere for it. 

“Sex is not all about making children. 

You must be a different woman to your 

husband every time. Seduce your 

husband, don't always allow your 

husband to ask for sex, there must be 

no timetable for sex. Be creative, don't 

be predictable. Give him what he 

wants. If you lose influence over your 

husband, you have lost womanhood. Be 

part of your husband’s plans. Allow your 

husband to check in and out anytime. 

When a man is sexually satisfied, he is 

emotionally stable. Stop saying, is it 

food? Yes, sex is food ”, says the 

broadcast she shared on her Blackberry 

messenger. 

“Pamper your husband, put his head 

Economy: Nothing like recession, 

Nigeria has been going through 

hell forever - Yinka Davies 

BY ROTIMI AGBANA 

Veteran multi-talented vocalist, 

singer, dancer, instrumentalist 

and lyricist, Yinka Davies, has doled 

out an eye-opener on the state of the 

nation and the appellation 

‘Recession’ that has been used to 

describe the current deplorable state 

of the nation. In her humble opinion, 

Yinka Davies believes that what 

Nigerians call recession is something 

that has bedeviled the nation for 

years. 

“Recession is an understatement! 

What is recession? Do you look like 

•Yinka Davies 

•Nkechi Emmanuel 

on your chest and pray for him. Give 

him unannounced kiss from the back.... 

mwahhhhhh, don't be too holy to kiss 

and appreciate him in the public. He is 

your "Baby" and you are his "Mother" & 

your husband for God sake. Be 

there is recession? Is it written on 

your forehead? Why give name to 

something that does not exist? 

What exactly is the impact that is 

felt that has not been felt before, 

that you people are making noise 

over spilled milk that has been 

spilled long before now? There is 

nothing much more intense that 

has not been more intense before! 

This is happening now because we 

are still not asking the right 

questions. They give it a name 

and Nigerians just jump at the 

name, why jump at a name that is 

already in existence? Nigeria has 

been going through hell forever, 

this is just another phase. The 

question is who are we as a 

people? Where have we been? 

When community was taking care 

of everybody, did you see riots on 

the streets? Did people not take 

care of their children and that of 

other people? Are they still not 

doing the things they have been 

doing even when they say all sorts 

of nonsense are going on? So 

what are you talking about? 

Nigerian Soul/Pop 

singer, Myoa, to 

perform at American 

Super Bowl 


soul/pop/reggae singer, 

Mayowa Sobamowo, better known by 

her stage name, ‘Myoa’, will be performing 

at a private event hosted by PEPSI for the 

Super Bowl event that will be held in Houston 

Texas. The Super Bowl is the annual 

championship game of the AFL; the highest 

level of professional American football in the 

world is also known for its entertainment 

performances. 

Though she currently resides in Houston, 

Texas, Myoa recently decided to come back 

to her home country to pursue her first love, 

music. According to her, she is fully equipped 

with the necessary tools to wade through the 

Nigerian music industry which has a funny 

way of frustrating artistes who lack patience 

and resilience. Her EP ‘Beautiful Journey’, 

produced by Cobhams Asuquo and cowritten 

by her, validates her hard work as an 

independent artist. Reflecting on her 

experience so far in Nigeria, the Texas-based 

singer expressed gratitude at the warm 

reception she has been given, and is looking 

forward to coming back more frequently. 

N 

igerian 

romantic joooo, it is good for the heart. 

Some people are not happy that you're 

happy in that marriage, proof them 

wrong that you love him and he is your 

crown, always feel good when you hold 

him,” she added. 

Actress, Georgina Onuoha, threatens to beat up, arrest 

Kemi Olunloyo 


Following a war of words on social 

media, Nollywood actress and 

health information specialist, 

Georgina Onuoha, has threatened to 

beat up and arrest controversial 

blogger/journalist, Kemi Olunloyo, for 

mudslinging her. This is not the first time 

the self acclaimed internationally trained 

journalist will be taking on an entertainer. 

Recall that she has once made 

defamatory statements about Olamide, 

Peggy Ovire, Angela Okorie, RMD, Tiwa 

Savage and a host of others. Recently, 

actress, Angela Okorie, threatened to 

take legal action against the hated blogger 

if she ever made derogatory statements 

about her again. But it seems she 

is unperturbed by all the threats she has 

been getting because she continues to 

defame entertainers. During the weekend, 

Georgina posted a photo of herself 

with a lengthy caption, threatening to 

beat Kemi Olunloyo, arrest and bundle 

her to a mental asylum because she is a 

threat to the safety of human lives and 

properties in the society. 

“Good morning lovers, heading to the 

beautiful city of Ibadan, waiting for the 

pussy journalist to come meet me there, 

I want to beat her to a pulp, venue is SS 

Peter and Paul, Bodija 

If you don’t show up then you are 

born by a bastard @hnnafrica, I am 

talking to you, meet me there, see you 

fugitive America most wanted; I will take 

you down. Delusional scum, you are 

what? I will beat you and personally 

arrest and take you to Aro psychiatric 

hospital Abeokuta. 

On behalf of your 

parents and for the 

safety of Nigerians, you 

are a danger to self and 

others. I will confine you to 

a 5250, which means 

mandatory hold of psychotic 

patients suffering from 

schizophrenia. I Georgina Onuoha 

Igwegbe will be the last celebrity or 

entertainer you will ever mess with or 

report false news about. You know what 

we call your type? Schizoaffective scum 

currently having visual hallucinations 

and auditory hallucinations. I can see 

you’ve not slept since last night; sorry 

darling not my prerogative that you are 

having suicidal and homicidal ideas. 

Someone please call 911, a lunatic 

has been let loose”, she wrote. 

•Goergina 

Onuoha 

•Kemi 

Olunloyo 

C 

M 

Y 

K

SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 5, 2017, PAGE 15 

2Face 

Idibia and 

the great 

uprising 

When Nigerian 

ace hip hop 

artiste, 

Innocent 

Idibia, popularly known as 

2Face, fired the warning shot 

that he would be leading a 

nationwide protest over the 

deplorable state of the 

nation, it sounded like one 

of his many hit songs, that 

would run its course as soon 

as it started. But it quickly 

began to sound like a song 

that would not die, at least 

not too soon, as the ‘African 

Queen’ crooner made an 

Instagram broadcast on his 

official handle on January 

25, 2017 to intimate his fans 

on why he’s taking such 

course of action. 

“I am blessed to have a 

platform that allows me to 

reach a lot of people at a 

time. I believe this voice 

also comes with a 

responsibility to use it to 

speak up for my people. So, 

when I received the 

broadcasts that had been 

going round for some days 

calling for protests against 

the state of the country I 

posted it in a show of 

support. 

My intention was never to 

take credit for the 

movement but rather 

amplify the voices of the 

organizations credited with 

the widely circulated 

message. 

To my colleagues who 

have joined their voices to 

this call, thank you for 

showing the Nigerian 

people they are not alone. I 

remain committed to 

contributing to the well 

being of my people in any 

•Charly Boy 

little way I can. One love! 

#WeWillmarch” 

How it all started 

The very idea of a 

nationwide protest didn’t 

start with 2Face Idibia, it 

was being muted by a 

group known as ‘Enough is 

Enough Coalition Nigeria’. 

Like the way everything is 

being sold to the people in 

Nigeria these days, the 

singer sort of became its 

brand ambassador, adding 

fuel to the fire already 

started by the Coalition. 

On their website, Enough 

is Enough (EiE) says it is “a 

coalition of individuals and 

organizations committed to 

instituting a culture of good 

governance and public 

accountability in Nigeria 

through active citizenship. 

We are non-partisan, 

neither are we a platform 

for the actualization of any 

individual’s political ambition.” 

According to more facts on 

their website, the EiE was 

instigated by former 

Finance Minister Ngozi 

Okonjo-Iweala who during 

the Future Awards of 2010 

challenged young people in 

the audience to take charge 

of their destinies. She 

underlined the population 

advantage in a way many 

people had never heard 

•2 Baba 

before and emphasized that 

change can only happen 

when young people say 

‘enough’! She didn’t define 

what form that action 

should take, but young 

people across the country 

were listening.” “This, 

essentially, was the birth of 

the EnoughisEnough 

Nigeria Coalition,” says an 

entry on the website. 

For 2Face Idibia, coming 

into the picture is 

something that must have 

taken some personal 

resolve, or so it will seem. 

But his taking the plunge 

headlong may not be 

unconnected to the 

massacre and mindless 

killings in Southern 

Kaduna. The singer was 

saddened by the turn of 

events and government’s 

perceived inaction. In one 

of his posts on social media 

he preached oneness, 

tolerance and unity in the 

land. 

“Two years ago I was 

made the Tafidan Kudendan 

by the Kudendan kingdom, 

not because I am Muslim, 

Christian, Hausa, Fulani or 

Idoma, but because I am 

Nigerian. It is tragic that 

things had to reach the 

point where innocent lives 

were lost, and my thoughts 

are with everyone hurting 

because of this crisis. “We 

should all promote respect 

and tolerance despite our 

differences, whether 

government official or 

citizen.” 

His official 

statement 

On Tuesday, January 31, 

2017 the former Plantashun 

Boiz lead vocalist was 

supposed to meet the press 

at Eko Hotel, Lagos on his 

next concert tagged 

“Eargasm”. But the 

expectation that hung in the 

air was everything but his 

next concert. Everyone 

wanted to know what he 

had to say concerning the 

planned protest, especially 

when questions are being 

asked of his true intent. 

Some tongues have been 

wagging that he has been 

compromised by some 

political inclinations. 

When 2Baba showed up, 

he didn’t disappoint as he 

released an official 

statement on the protest. 

“Since the idea of a 

nationwide march was first 

mentioned, the need for 

urgent solutions to the 

challenges facing Nigerians 

has become very clear,” he 

said in the statement. 

Continuing: “The people 

have hoped for a better 

Nigeria since 1999 but 

things are not getting any 

better for the majority. We 

are still where we are – 

poor and desperate. I will 

no longer be quiet. 

I want to thank EiE, The 

2face Foundation, numerous 

colleagues and countless 

fellow Nigerians for 

stepping up to partner with 

me. I am just a musician 

with a point of view and the 

ear of my fans. I have 

dedicated my time and 

resources to peace building, 

voters’ education towards 

peaceful elections and 

youth engagement in 

governance in Nigeria. This 

time around, my partners, 

colleagues and I have come 

together to present a 

platform for real Nigerians 

to communicate their real 

pains to government at all 

levels in a peaceful and 

articulate manner with a 

view to getting lasting 

solutions to our problems. 

This march is about 

demanding that all 

saboteurs of good 

government policies should 

hands off. This march is 

about encouraging positive 

minded Nigerians to 

continue to work without 

intimidation.” 

On the question of any 

political colouration of the 

protest, 2Face clearly made 

his position clear and 

succinctly asked politicians 

of any leaning to back off. 

“It is not a platform for 

politicians of any party to 

manipulate. I know you will 

still spin it but for one 

second leave your battles 

aside and just listen to 

people without trying to 

score cheap political points 

against one another. It is 

not a point scoring exercise. 

It is certainly not personal. 

It is not an organized 

labour platform. With all 

due respect to our 

comrades who have done 

much for Nigeria, this 

march is for the 

unrepresented.” 

C 

M 

Y 

K


Even before 2Face’s 

open declaration and 

unraveling of action 

plan for the protest, many of 

his colleagues have thrown 

their weights behind him with 

hashtag #Istandwith2baba 

raging like wild fire on all the 

social media platforms. First 

to jump in was Skelewu 

crooner, Davido, followed by 

Burna Boy. Soon after a horde 

of them joined the fray. 

The self-styled ‘Area Father’ 

and veteran entertainer, Charly 

Boy had nothing but praises 

for the lanky singer, saying 

what 2Face is doing will bring 

back the culture of agitation. 

“People should learn to 

speak out and I know that the 

only thing people are afraid of 

is not action. What Tuface intends 

to do is a very good 

thing and I will encourage 

other artistes to follow suit. It 

doesn’t matter who is taking 

the lead, I implore everyone to 

come out. I am not interested 

in those in leadership but on 

the followers now, we have 

kept quiet for long too. I am 

also organizing a massive mobilization. 

We need to be very 

strategic in this fight. I like 

and support this and everyone 

should follow suit,” he said. 

Ace comedian, I Go Dye, 

described the planned nationwide 

protest as a step in the 

right direction, declaring that 

he will support the cause. He 

said, “Social movement and 

societal development requires 

certain actions and inaction. 

The planned protest is a step 

in the right direction. Our 

leadership class in both political 

and religious circles 

have failed to defend the 

weak in our midst.” 

Another comedian, Seyi 

Law pledged his support to 

the Hiphop star from the perspective 

of criticisms that 

greeted his decision to champion 

the protest. 

“I have seen you come under 

serious criticism and I 

read some people who think 

your mistakes should be held 

on you forever, but I am here 

to tell you that I am with you. 

You didn’t start the movement; 

you only lent your support to 

the voice of the people.You 

have only proven that at a time 

such as this, Nigeria and Nigerians 

deserve to truly be 

served. 

Together with you, we will 

rise and march against those 

that oppress us. Today, I stand 

with you and as long as your 

stand is for the good of this nation, 

I will keep standing. 

Please don’t let us politicize 

the protest as some fools made 

us do with the fuel subsidy. 

God bless you brother,” he 

said. 

Artistes on the fence or 

against 

As 2Face’s rank was swelling 

with more and more support 

Other artistes’ connection 

•Fela 

from his colleagues and fans, 

so were the opposition. The 

first to become loud about it is 

his former group mate from 

the defunct Plantashun Boiz, 

Blackface Naija, who said he 

did not believe in the idea behind 

the protest. 

He took to his Instagram 

page to attack 2face by reposting 

the controversial article 

by Dr. Bunmi Awoyemi of 

D i - 

vinewealth, 

an alleged 

B u h a r i 

apologist 

who called 

2Face an illiterate 

. He 

also posted 

a comment 

from a don, 

Professor 

Akindele 

Adetoye 

who called 

2 f a c e , 

“Bloody illiterate” 

for 

planning to 

lead a protest 

against 

the FG. 

Actress 

F u n k e 

Adesiyan 

didn’t exactly 

go 

against the 

protest, she 

simply told 

2Face and 

his supporters it would be a 

waste of time and advised 

them to join in the political 

process instead. 

“When people ask me why 

I joined politics, I tell them 

from the truest part of my heart 

that it is because I got tired of 

•Stevie Wonder 

On the world 

stage, American 

folk singer, 

political activist 

and freedom 

fighter Joan 

Baez spent her 

nearly 60-year 

music career 

singing songs of 

protest and 

justice 

how things were being done in 

my country. It’s not enough for 

us to protest, it’s more important 

for us, youths of this beloved 

nation, to get involved 

in governance. You could try 

many times before you 

achieve it.” 

Another comedian, Bovi Ugboma 

also stated that he 

would not be joining the 

protest.”I am not joining the 

protest, and 

stop saying 

‘we’ and ‘us.’ 

You don’t 

belong…..my 

life is not governed 

by your 

opinions of 

me,” he wrote. 

For Timaya, he 

told Potpourri 

on phone, 

that, “I don’t 

have time for 

such things. I 

am too busy.” 

Grandfather 

of all Nigerian 

comedians, 

Ali Baba, 

is also on the 

fence. When 

Potpourri 

asked him if 

he would be 

joining the 

protest, he replied, 

“ I have 

not been properly 

briefed,” 

claiming he 

was just returning to the country. 

Police Intervention 

With the storm gathering 

momentum and everybody 

looking forward to the D-day, 

Monday, February 6, suddenly, 

things took a dramatic turn. 

The Lagos Police Command 

released a ‘bombshell’ that 

they have information that 

miscreants would hijack the 

protest to perpetrate lawlessness 

that they believe 2Face 

and partners have no capacity 

to contain. 

Addressing a press conference, 

Commissioner of Police, 

Lagos State, Fatai Owoseni, 

said the command wasn’t 

ready for that kind of demonstration 

and as such would not 

allow it to hold. 

“Information reaching us revealed 

that some hoodlums 

are planning to hijack the 

peaceful protest. And as such, 

we won’t allow it to hold in 

Lagos. 

“We know that Tuface do not 

have the capacity to contain 

such a crowd and we will not 

fold our hands and watch 

things go out of hand. The Civil 

Society had said that they 

do not need police permission 

to carry out any peaceful protest, 

but they should also be 

aware that there might be 

those who share an opposing 

view. This set of persons may 

want to disrupt the peaceful 

demonstration and would 

want to attack demonstrators. 

“This is why we advise individuals 

or group of persons 

who may wish to embark on 

civil demonstration to inform 

the police so that adequate 

security arrangement would 

be provided,” he said. 

This statement appeared ‘bizarre’ 

to many observers because 

the police boss had earlier 

promised to back the protest. 

“The Lagos State Police 

Commissioner, Fatai Owoseni, 

says the command is aware of 

a proposed demonstration 

which popular artiste, 2face 

Idibia, plans to lead on February 

5,”Premium Times and 

other media sources reported 

on Monday. 

The challenge 

In less than twelve hours the 

Lagos Police Command pronounced 

they would not allow 

the protest to take place , 

2Face again posted on his Instagram 

the action plan for the 

protest, adding Abuja to the 

list. In the same vein, the 

Enough is Enough Coalition 

Nigeria’s answer to the CP 

Lagos pronouncement is a 

tweet “the protest will go on” 

According to the action plan, 

the Lagos protest starts from 

the National Stadium, Surulere 

by 8am, with the procession 

expected to move on to 

the National Theatre in Iganmu, 

Lagos. The Abuja end will 

hold at the Unity Fountain by 

9am. 

It should be noted that the 

protest was formerly slated for 

Sunday, February 5, but 2Face 

moved it to Monday 6th when 

he issued the official statement 

on the action plan on 

Tuesday. 

Musicians and national protests 

Innocent Idibia aka 2Face is 

not the first musician to deck 

the garb of activism in Nigeria. 

In fact recently, Charles 

Oputa popularly known as 

Charly Boy led protesters 

made up of members of a civil 

society group called ‘Occupy 

Unlimited’ to the front gate of 

the National Assembly. The 

protesters led by the popular 

musician erected five tents in 

front of the Assembly’s gate, 

demanding that for crimes like 

stealing of public funds, all 

those guilty should be sentenced 

to death. They also 

called for a slash in the salaries 

of political office holders 

by about 70%. 

In the past, great musicians 

like Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Sunny 

Okosun, Bob Marley and a 

few others have through their 

music spoken to governments 

to listen to the cries of the people. 

In Nigeria, it is impossible 

to ignore the contribution 

of Fela to the national conscience 

of the people as he 

took on successive governments 

of his time, challenging 

their policies and asking 

people to stand up for their 

rights. 

During the military era in 

Nigeria and their unpopular 

governments, Fela never allowed 

them a moment of rest 

as he consistently doled out 

songs to psyche people to resist 

them. His famous hits 

‘Beast of no Nation’, ‘Army Arrangement’, 

‘Suffering and 

Smiling’, to name a few 

sought to mirror the ills in our 

society as well as antics of government 

. 

On the world stage, American 

folk singer, political activist 

and freedom fighter Joan 

Baez spent her nearly 60-year 

music career singing songs of 

protest and justice. She fought 

for civil rights alongside Martin 

Luther King Jr, sang with 

Bob Dylan and even appeared 

on stage with Taylor Swift 

Visually impaired American 

singer Steve Wonder has also 

used his music to impact on 

national issues. Stevie’s efforts 

to get a national holiday established 

for Martin Luther 

King Jr., arguably helped 

make that dream a reality. On 

April 8, 1968, Rep. John Conyers, 

D-Michigam, introduced 

legislation for a federal holiday, 

but the holiday didn’t become 

a reality until more than 

a decade later. 

2Face, his music and activism 

For most of his career, 2Face 

has done a bit of activism 

through his music. Songs like 

‘E be like say’, ‘For Instance’, ‘ 

Vote not fight’ call for justice, 

peace and equality. Though 

his focus as a hiphop artiste 

has been to produce danceable, 

feel good music which has 

gained wide acceptance. Perhaps, 

this is one of the reasons 

some people are raising questions 

over the purity of his intent. 

He had also spoken 

many times through his several 

social media channels to 

his fans on national issues, 

advising and enlightening 

them. 

The following are lyrics from 

one of his songs ‘E be like say’ 

See, all I want to say is that 

They don’t really care about us 

Because all they want to do is 

to get in touch with big bucks 

Because they think the money 

gives them the power 

But the power is nothing 

If your people cannot get quality 

education 

The power is nothing 

If your people keep on dying of 

disease and starvation 


If your people have no peace 

(no peace) 


If your people cannot live in 

unity (eh) 

See, why do you keep deceiving 

the people, my brother, my 

sister 

See, why you make all this people 

to dey fight one another 

Only God can judge you now 

[x4] 

Another year has come 

And now you want my vote 

once more 

Oh no 

C 

M 

YK

C 

M 

YK 

How the DSS got Buhari insulted 

by senators and Nigerians 

“Are you going to hang him 

anyhow and try him 

afterwards?” Mark Twain, 

1835-1910. VANGUARD 

BOOK OF QUOTATIONS, 

VBQ P 85). 

“The DSS, in its report, 

specifically said Magu was 

not fit for the EFCC 

chairmanship, alleging that 

his activities had made him 

ineligible to hold the office," 

a national daily, January 

25, 2017, p 7. 

President Buhari’s 

representation of 

Magu’s name, to 

the Senate, for 

confirmation, as well as his 

written defense of the 

Secretary to the 

Government of the 

Federation, SGF, Mr 

Babachir Lawal, had 

provoked 

an 

unprecedented avalanche 

of insults on a sitting 

elected President of Nigeria 

which could have been 

avoided totally. For now, 

the matter of the SGF 

would be left untouched. 

But, all the verbal and 

written maledictions 

Buhari had received for 

representing Magu to the 

Senate can be placed 

squarely on the door step of 

the Department of State 

Services, DSS – and more 

specifically its Director 

General, Mr Daura. 

There can be no dispute 

We must live together as brothers 

or perish together as fools 

“Everyone thinks of 

changing the world, but no one 

thinks of changing himself.” 

Leo MTolstoy 

any years ago, I was 

in a taxi with my 

nieces and son heading to the 

South of London and the taxi 

driver just happened to be a 

Nigerian (nothing new there, 

but it will all make sense as 

the story unfolds). We were 

more than halfway to our 

destination, I handed him a 

£50 note, he told me he had 

no change and he was not very 

pleased, in fact, he was 

indignant and he 

immediately stopped the taxi 

there and then and told us to 

get out of his cab, he was 

annoyed that I did not have a 

smaller denomination. 

I tried to remonstrate with 

the man but he was not having 

it, he was very abrupt and he 

insisted that we should vacate 

his vehicle. We had no choice, 

we came down and he sped 

away without getting paid. I 

couldn’t understand his logic 

by refusing to take the fare, he 

gave us a free ride and we had 

a short way to travel to our 

destination. I kept my money 

and the driver had gone on a 

that the President presented 

Magu’s name after 

deciding that the fellow had 

done a good job. There can 

also be no argument that it 

was expected that before 

presenting Magu’s name 

Buhari would have 

consulted all the security 

agencies requesting for any 

information about Magu 

before making his decision 

to have the man confirmed. 

The first question is: was 

the DSS asked to file a 

report on Magu and did it 

before the President placed 

his reputation on the line by 

nominating Magu? The 

answer can be either yes or 

no. If the President did not 

ask for security files 

reports, then he deserves all 

the insults and people like 

Professor Sagay and 

Falana now defending him 

had missed the boat 

completely. 

Something went wrong in 

the presidency at the 

beginning. 

If, on the other hand, the 

DSS had been asked to 

investigate and file a 

confidential report about 

Magu, only two things 

might have occurred. The 

report was either 

favourable or it wasn’t. 

Some questions logically 

follow from those 

observations. Were those 

reports favourable, 

meaning clearing Magu’s 

name to be presented, or 

round trip, without collecting 

the fare and he only has 

himself to blame. So what am 

I driving at? This behaviour is 

quite common among our 

people; they often cut their 

nose to spite their face. 

It always seems that we let 

our anger and frustration get 

the better of us and we do not 

achieve anything good by 

doing this. In fact, we have 

everything to lose and nothing 

to gain. So when I hear people 

say that they rather see 

Nigeria is divided and 

everyone go their own way, 

which way is that and who is 

going to pick up the pieces 

when this happens, because 

those people that say this, have 

not got the answer to what 

would happen after. Who will 

bell the cat? Who are these 

people relying on to rebuild 

the splintered outposts? 

Everyone has this idea that 

once they have their own land 

then utopian ideas will fall 

into place. I hate to break it to 

these people: that it is not 

going to be. We are the people 

who are going to sort out the 

mess, except everyone is 

relying on someone else to do 

it for them. This is why we are 

unfavourable, meaning 

that the DSS had 

reservations about Magu’s 

fitness for office? The 

presidency must tell 

Nigerians and Senators 

what really happened. Did 

the DSS file a damaging 

report and was overruled by 

Buhari instead of asking 

Magu to clear his name 

through 

an 

institutionalized 

evaluation process? If so, 

Buhari again deserves the 

insults. He should have 

ordered an independent 

investigation of the 

allegations made by the 

DSS against Magu before 

forwarding his name. Then, 

what the DSS did, writing 

a damaging report to the 

Senate, would have 

amounted to total 

subversion of government’s 

purposes. 

As matters stand right 

now, the DSS action is still 

subversive because it is not 

expected that any security 

officer would leak 

information to outsiders 

which would nullify a 

decision of the President. 

Whatever might be Mr 

Daura’s reasons, 

‘’patriotism’’, vendetta, selfinterest 

etc, he should never 

have written to the Senate 

without clearance from 

Buhari on a matter already 

decided by the Head of 

State. The current 

controversy about Magu 

had been the handiwork of 

the DSS whether deliberate 

or inadvertent. And, the 

damage can never be 

undone. With all due 

respects to Sagay and 

Falana, Magu’s position 

had already been tainted 

either with good reasons or 

in this mess, we want quick 

fix, instant gratification and 

a life of wealth without any 

struggle. It is a no brainer. We 

will all lose if this happens. 

Besides, if we do, what do we 

gain by it? 

Have we prepared the 

grounds, where are the 

infrastructure, healthcare, 

institutions, establishments 

and businesses or economy, is 

any of these in place to make 

every fraction self-reliant? We 

are not self-reliant when we 

are together and there is no 

evidence we can become 

reliant once we separate. The 

fact is, we need each other. And 

in whose best interests would 

it be when all our collective 

resources have been 

duplicated into small bits and 

then misappropriated. We 

tend to throw the proverbial 

baby away with the bathwater. 

This serves no one and it 

means that there are no 

winners, we will all lose 

because of our intolerance. So 

here we are and nothing has 

changed other than it is 

increasingly difficult to find a 

way forward unless, we work 

together to make Nigeria 

better for everyone. We are in 

this together and no one can 

make the change until we all 

buy in to make it better for 

everyone and the future 

generations. What do we tell 

our children and 

grandchildren that we failed 

because we cannot sort this 

out? We are what Nigeria is 


with malice by the DSS. Buhari’s image would be 

Henceforth, many damaged by the DSS. 

individuals charged by the The effectiveness of a 

EFCC will always point to national security 

the fact that the man in organization is 

charge had been “exposed” 

as totally untrustworthy by 

another agency of the 

Federal Government. 

To be quite candid, the 

President has one of two 

He can either decide 

that the DSS had been 

mischievous and had 

caused his 

government a major 

embarrassment – in 

which case the DG- 

DSS should go. Or he 

can admit that the DSS 

was right and Magu is 

unfit – in which case 

Magu should go 

choices to make. He can 

either decide that the DSS 

had been mischievous and 

had caused his government 

a major embarrassment – in 

which case the DG-DSS 

should go. Or he can admit 

that the DSS was right and 

Magu is unfit – in which case 

Magu should go. 

Without having all the 

facts at my disposal, I am 

inclined to think that the 

DSS is the villain in this 

matter. For evidence, 

reproduced below are 

excerpts from an article 

written in December 2015 

warning Buhari about his 

nephew DG-DSS. It has 

become prophetic and it 

might not be the last time 

waiting for and the inability to 

see beyond our noses has 

beclouded the moral 

judgement of so many people. 

We are willing to peddle fake 

news in the social media, false 

stories and false bravados, false 

news, many sadly, believe what 

they read even in the face of 

hard evidence. In the last couple 

Hatred has never built 

anything constructive 

other than destroy. What 

we need right now is 

tolerance, 

understanding and 

everyone pitching in 

of weeks, we have fake reports 

of the illness and demise of 

PMB. 

The trolls are out in force but 

they are faceless and cowardly. 

Tony Okoroji on his Saturday 

breakfast show said that 

“Nigeria is at war over the 

control of the minds of our 

young people and the millions 

of our vulnerable citizens. The 

war is fierce and there are no 

rules in this crazy war, religion 

is at play and tribalism is a 

major weapon and every crude 

propaganda tactics have been 

deployed and hatred let loose 

in the land. Everywhere you 

look there are new churches and 

mosques and if we love God so 

much, how come we hate each 

other that much?” Tony is right. 

determined by the 

accuracy of its reports. By 

the time the FBI breaks 

into any premises, it had 

gathered sufficient and 

reliable information to 

violate the fundamental 

rights of the occupants. 

Scotland Yard would 

never arrest first, on 

spurious charges, and 

later run around for 

evidence. That is standard 

operating procedure in 

any democracy. 

The Department of State 

Services, DSS, in Nigeria, 

especially since May 29, 

2015, still cannot 

understand that this is a 

democracy and there is a 

constitution and there are 

laws that must be obeyed 

by all – including the DSS. 

Its leaders seem to 

operate under the 

mistaken belief that since 

a former military Head of 

State is back in office, they 

have impunity. I have bad 

news for them. There had 

been a major change since 

May 29, 1999. We have 

been trying our best to 

practice democracy. We 

don’t want anybody to take 

us back to draconian 

governance. 

They have done it at least 

four times in the last seven 

months by arresting 

various individuals, 

detaining them, making 

exaggerated claims about 

alleged crimes those 

individuals were said to 

have committed. They 

have followed this up, each 

and every time, by going 

to court to oppose bail for 

offences that allow bail to 

the accused persons and 

refusing to release them 

when granted bail. The 

first question to ask is: in 

whose interests is the DSS 

Hatred has never built 

anything constructive other 

than destroy. What we need 

right now is tolerance, 

understanding and everyone 

pitching in. Change should 

begin with the individual. 

The writing is on the wall and 

for so long, the sails have 

always been adjusted and 

people move on from one 

crisis to another. This time is 

one crisis too many and it 

has been going on for far too 

long. 

The crisis has been decades 

long and it is going to take 

dedication and commitment 

to change direction. The 

government has to provide 

a sustainable program that 

can make the country and 

its people function not just 

for the rich but for everyone: 

free education for our young 

people, employment, 

regular payment of salaries 

for workers, zero tolerance 

with corruption, reducing 

poverty, equality of 

opportunities for everyone 

irrespective of your tribe, 

religion or gender; better 

standard of living, 

affordable food stuff, 

accessible health care, social 

and transportation, safe 

roads and amenities, 

introduction of solar power 

and regular electricity 

outage. The younger 

generation of Nigerians, 

should have the chance to 

thrive and not struggle all the 

time to survive and that they 

find their way in the world 

and not be judged by the 

failures of the older 

generation. 

The younger generation 

are leaving Nigeria because 

they feel they have no future, 

acting? 

That said let me list the 

four major assaults on 

individuals and buildings 

which have now become the 

subject of front page news 

nationwide – while creating 

tension everywhere. The 

first was the invasion of the 

Akwa Ibom State 

Governor’s Lodge. After 

which a spokesman for the 

DSS made an 

announcement that, acting 

on reliable information, 

they invaded the premises 

and discovered arms and 

ammunition, as well as 

stacks of money in foreign 

currency. The arms we were 

even told were in such 

quantities as to threaten 

national security. More 

than five months after, 

nobody had been charged 

to court and the matter 

died a natural death. Why? 

The answer is simple: it was 

a lie. If not the DSS should 

come out and prove its 

charges. 

“I disapprove of what you 

say, but, I will defend to the 

death your right to say it.” 

Francois Voltaire, 1694- 

1778. VBQ, p 218. 

The second is the ongoing 

drama about Biafra 

and the detention of the 

leaders of the agitation for 

self-determination. 

Personally, I think the 

agitation for Biafra is 

misguided and will not 

solve the Igbo problem. 

But, all my adult life had 

been spent insisting on the 

fundamental human rights 

of people. That includes the 

right to self-determination. 

It will be sad if Igbo people 

leave Nigeria, but, like the 

Israelites leaving Egypt, 

Pakistanis departing India 

and Southern Cameroun 

bidding Nigeria good-bye, 

it will not be the end of the 

world. If the majority of 

Igbos still want to go, after 

a referendum, Nigeria 

should let them… 

most are not happy at home 

and the fact is we are not 

appreciated abroad then, we 

have a massive problem. The 

national security is so 

important to the people and 

recently, the Controller 

General and the Federal 

Operations Unit (FOU) of the 

Nigeria Customs Service 

(NCS) seized 661 pieces of 

pump-action rifles from 

China, concealed with behind 

reinforced steel doors 

alongside other merchandise 

goods, that came through 

Lagos Port. We can only 

wonder the destination of the 

armament and the disaster 

that was averted due to the 

unit’s diligence. The controller 

said “Such deadly 

contravention of the law is 

even more unacceptable 

considering the fragile 

security situation in some 

parts of the country. 

Already three suspects have 

been arrested in connection 

with this illegal importation. 

What on earth is going on and 

what do people think would 

happen if war broke out. Do 

they really think that they will 

be spared? There has never 

been a just war and everybody 

loses. The sentiments of 

separatists is a bad idea and 

ill thought of. As it is evident, 

the life of refugees is not a 

happy one and being 

displaced is traumatic and 

people do not recover. 

We have borne witness to this 

and we should not wish to 

revisit this. We need 

restorative justice; a dialogue 

to improve the relationship of 

those who feel marginalized 

or who have been wronged 

through neglect and 

systematic discrimination.


people 

TOSIN ADEBOWALE 

Activist who shares the 

stories of abused, raped, 

physically assaulted women 

Mrs Olutosin Oladosu Adebowale, a gender transformation activist, had an experience 

of violence against women when she was growing up, following which she detested 

gender inequality with a passion so much so that she decided she was not going to live 

under any man’s roof, until her mother showed her the way out. Today, she believes the 

solution to violence against women is empowerment and hard work. With that mind-set, 

she has not only empowered over 2,000 women in communities across Nigeria and 

abroad with her Tosin Turns Trash to Treasure programme, she has also supported 

female orphans with school materials and reusable sanitary pads. Olutosin is recognized 

internationally and has received many awards since Stars of Hope Foundation started 

four years ago. 

By FUNMI AJUMOBI 

How did it all start? 

I am from Owo in Ondo State. 

My father died when I was three years old 

and my mother took the responsibility of a 

father and a mother together. My mother was 

a farmer and she weaved clothes and did 

everything just to make sure she fed us. 

I saw my mother struggle every day. There 

was a day my mother was weeping and, when 

I entered the room and I asked her why she 

was crying, she told me, ‘We have only one 

tuber of yam left and when we eat it, there will 

be nothing to eat tomorrow’. I didn’t 

understand because I was in primary school 

then. In fact I did not understand the situation 

until I got to secondary school and I saw my 

mother as a hustler. Anything that will bring 

food on the table, she was always doing it. 

Despite her struggle as a widow, I saw her 

being battered by her brothers because she 

was at their mercy and there was nothing she 

could do and I couldn’t do anything either 

because she moved into her father’s house 

after the death of my father. 

Aside this experience, I saw women in Owo 

then facing abuse as wives were always 

receiving punches from their husbands. As I 

began to grow up, I dreaded growing up to be 

a woman. I wanted to remain a girl forever 

but mummy was always telling me that I will 

grow up. But the way they beat wives, 

daughters and sisters there, I was always 

telling her I didn’t want to be somebody’s wife. 

My mother would tell me that I should read 

my book very well and that, if I ended up 

being able to speak English, no man will beat 

me because we didn’t speak English in Owo 

then and she said that was why their husbands 

beat them. I decided to study because I saw it 

as the way out. How I got to study in Lagos 

was a miracle because I wanted where I will 

meet a man who was educated enough not to 

beat me. I studied English so I can speak 

English to the man and I married a man from 

the same faculty at the University of Lagos 

and we did our masters together before we 

got married. 

I now realized that the only difference is 

that, an educated woman knows how to 

powder her violence. She will make everything 

up and look so beautiful but she will not say it 

out. Education helps us to keep a lot of secrets 

as well as psychological, emotional and 

financial abuses. When my own share of 

violence came, the doctor who took care of 

me said for me to remain in my marriage, I 

had to join women’s rights saying whatever 

‘you fight for, you don’t suffer from it’. If you 

are genuinely fighting against violence, 

people will know that you know your right 

and when you have genuine information of 

where to go to, where to seek help, you won’t 

suffer for long before you see solution to your 

troubles. 

That was when I began to write and I wrote 

a lot of poems about my experience, articles 

online for groups that are genuinely fighting 

for women. After that, I discovered I have the 

best marriage so far because my husband too 

believes in gender equality. 

Through the articles online, I had access to 

other opportunities to study abroad. I went to 

India to study gender transformation. From 

there I was recommended for scholarship to 

study at the Institute of Transformation in 

South Africa. So far, I have recommended 

more than 15 women to study there. After that, 

I went for further study in Canada and went 

back to the Indian Institute of Social 

Entrepreneur and Women Transformation to 

A man that was frustrated 

outside will come home and 

start beating his wife and 

they say its poverty, but that 

poverty that made him to be 

frustrated will not make the 

man kick his flat screen 

television or hit his beautiful 

car and break the windscreen 

but he can do that to the wife 

study social entrepreneurship, women and poverty 

so that I will actually understand these issues. 

In the course of my experience, I discovered that 

women are treated like trash. A man that was 

frustrated outside will come home and start beating 

his wife and they say its poverty, but that poverty that 

made him to be frustrated will not make the man 

kick his flat screen television or hit his beautiful car 

and break the windscreen but he can do that to the 

wife. People pity me because I have daughters as if 

they are not children. Psychological and emotional 

abuse that women go through made me think one 

day and I did see the correlation between women 

and trash. 

I just said enough is enough. I began to add value 

to trash. I will pick trash and add beautiful things to 

trash and call it treasure. I will pick tailors waste, 

make beautiful dresses from it. The more I make 

these things, the more I feel good about myself and 

the more I realize I am not trash. I am an asset that 

has not been discovered. I am a treasure that needs 

to be valued. 

I created so many beautiful things from old 

newspapers like mat, dustbin, etc. and I decided I 

was not going to stop at that. I decided to train 

abused women. I have trained women in 15 villages 

in India, women in more than 10 communities in 

Nigeria for free. The women I trained too have 

become trainers. We sent one of our women from 

Ibassa river to South Sudan in three different camps 

training women who were raped. Our training is 

not to create things and sell them. Before we start 

our training, we share our stories of abuse and in 

one of our training sessions, a victim of domestic 

abuse removed her scarf for all to see, and it was just 

plastic that was there because she had been battered 

with machete by her husband. So abuse comes in 

hierarchy. 

Our training starts with telling our stories. Then, 

counselling to make women see themselves through 

appreciative lens. During this time, we receive 

healing because there is nothing new; no matter 

what your husband has done, you can pick up your 

life again. After the healing, we try to draw a 

correlation between the trash which people think 

doesn’t have value and our wives or sisters who men 

feel are nothing. We just don’t pick trash and use it 

like that; we clean it up and make it beautiful. 

Galapagos furniture company in London saw what 

I turned trash into online and packaged fabric trash 

and sent it to us free. So we create beautiful things 

out of them and tell these women they can create 

beautiful things out of their lives. We also train them 

how to make sales and generate income from what 

they produce. I love online sales and that is why we 

went to train over 570 women in nine communities 

on how to use internet to generate income. They get 

•Some of the women undegoing training 

opportunities online because 

millions of people will see what they 

do. The online community has been 

also supportive. Then we advise the 

women to use trash in their 

communities to make beautiful 

things and we call it independence 

production. And they sell them. 

We also have programme for 

female orphans. We give them note 

book and biro that can last three 

years and those that have parents 

but are like orphans too. 

For abused women, we are four 

years old in training because we 

registered in 2013. 

You have trained more than 2,000 

women. In the course of training, 

what did you see in the abused 

women that is causing violence 

against them? 

I work with women in 

communities. It’s poverty. When they 

ask from men who do not want to 

give……there is the societal belief 

that women are below and you can 

do whatever you like to them. And 

most of these women have nowhere 

to go back to when they are violated. They 

have to stay there and when a man knows 

you have nowhere to go back to, he can 

do whatever he likes to you. But when he 

sees you are working and independent 

and also that you have a sisterhood 

solidarity that you can report to, he reduces 

violence against you or even totally stops 

it. Violence is not only from men to 

women alone, women’s bosses in the office 

violate their subordinates. Even brothers 

maltreat sisters because of that superiority 

complex built in them that makes them 

feel it’s their right. 

Does it mean educated women don’t 

suffer domestic violence or what? 

I work in rural areas and most of the 

women are not educated but it also 

happens to educated women but they will 

not want to say it out. They keep it to 

themselves and pancake everything. And 

for a husband to go out with women and 

tell the wife she can’t do anything about it 

is enough emotional violence. 

The percentage of educated women 

taking care of the home now is high and 

still women are not appreciated. A woman 

that has worked so hard for years and 

decided to build a house and the husband 

refuses to join in the prayer for the 

foundation. Women will have joint 

accounts with the husbands and the 

husbands will buy property and just put 

Mrs there and refuse to put the wives 

•Adebowale...I have been battered 

before 

names. Is Mrs a name? When the woman 

goes to the pastor, the pastor will tell her 

a good woman keeps her home and, as I 

always say, when we get to heaven there 

is no husband and there is no wife. Each 

person will answer for himself or herself. 

What advice do you give women 

because you said ‘what you fight for 

will not hurt you?’ 

I would say to women ‘you don’t even 

have to fight’. Our daughters don’t need 

to fight. I speak out against violence 

against women because I don’t want my 

daughters to face what I faced but we 

can stop it if we train our sons about 

equality, tell them women are human 

beings like them. Men are the head and 

women are the neck holding the neck 

because if the neck is not there, the head 

cannot stand. Tell them that just as the 

woman is not balanced if a woman does 

not have a husband, so it is with man 

who does not have a wife. Enough of bus 

conductors harassing ladies as if they 

don’t have women like them at home. Is 

every man the head of a woman? That is 

not what the word of God says. 

The man that is the head of the house, 

you will know him. It is better to be 

headless than to marry some men. When 

we train our sons and brothers, there 

will be less violence in our society. This 

Continues on page 19 

C 

M 

YK


people 


does not mean that we don’t have men that 

are compassionate, loving and supportive 

and make the home look like heaven on earth 

but some are hell on earth. 

My advice for women is to be empowered, 

become treasures. No man can beat me now. 

I won’t allow it to happen because I am a 

treasure. I am an asset. If your husband tells 

you not to work, you can stay at home and 

create beautiful things. Don’t be lazy, be 

online all the time for your business. Create 

beautiful things and display them online. 

Enough of display of pictures and your food 

online. Make beads, bags and other beautiful 

things and display them online. 

Not everyone is creative 

They can package ogi, they can package 

mushroom. I know a friend from Uganda 

that packages Pumpkin; last December, she 

won $100,000 as the winner of African 

Entrepreneur of the Year. Work with what is 

around you. Use cassava to make something. 

I started in my house very small with tie and 

dye on a plastic table and chair. I am not an 

artist. I studied English. The only creative 

thing about me is my poem and the way I 

write beautiful things. Star of Hope 

Transformation Centre also does Tosin Turns 

Trash to Treasure which I established to show 

women that it is possible to turn trash into a 

business and they can see it in what I use 

waste to do. I sell those things so that they 

will know it is possible to sell. 

It is not only about women, it is also about 

the environment. We pick waste and recycle 

it and we reduce waste in our environment. 

Part of our work through waste is reusable 

sanitary pad because we know how hard it is 

for poor persons to buy sanitary pad every 

month. We give it free of charge to women 

outside the country like Congo, Sudan, 

Rwanda and we teach them how to make it 

too. We use new materials for our pad and 

indirectly help the environment because if 

you count disposable pad a woman will use 

in her lifetime, it’s going to be thousands but 

with this you can wash and reuse. We give 

female orphans four which can last them for 

three years if they use it well. We also have 

‘Women should not be 

treated like trash’ 

•Olutosin 

styrophone we use to make bag for cooking 

food. We call it treasure cooking bag and we 

have trained more than 150 women on how to 

do it and it reduces the quantity of kerosene or 

gas they use in cooking. You bring your food 

into a boiling point, put the pot inside the bag 

and cover it and the bag will cook the food. We 

use trash to make school bags, food warmer, 

wall clock; newspapers for mat, bed sheet, etc. 

We sell online and they support our cause by 

buying our products and the proceeds from it 

is what we use to support the organization. 

Trash to Treasure is a business venture that 

supports the organizations. I have won awards 

most of which come with cash and we use the 

money to organize training in different towns. 

The recent awards money is what we use to 

As a woman who has 

been battered before, I 

can say everything is 

possible if you want to 

make a change possible. 

We can become 

transformed if we 

decide to be 

transformed 

rent this place we are in. We won the 

Women of Courage Award in the USA, 

Impart Leaders Award in the US, Change 

in Life Heroes Award, Global Change 

Award in Canada and the Social 

Entrepreneurs in the World Award in 

Sweden. 

As a woman who has been battered 

before, I can say everything is possible if 

you want to make a change possible. We 

can become transformed if we decide to 

be transformed. Nobody can stop us. We 

are the only one who can stop ourselves, 

not your husband, not your father, not 

government. If you want to make a change, 

as long as it is legal, everything is possible. 

The sky is just the beginning. 

The solution is not leaving your husband 

because you don’t know what awaits you in 

another place. Become empowered. Come 

out of your shell. Be the best you want to 

become in life. Tap into your potentials. 

Become an exemplary person that if you 

want to leave your husband, he will rather 

leave everything for you to stay with him. 

For me, if you lose me, you lose an asset you 

cannot easily get in the world. 

When my abuse happened, my baby was 

small and the doctor told me that when a 

man starts beating his wife in Nigeria, he 

doesn’t stop. ‘It is either you become 

empowered or you divorce’ but I told him I 

am educated and he said education is 

different from empowerment. When I got 

home I wanted to pack my things but my 

husband begged me, saying we should take 

care of our children together. I decided to 

fight for my right from home. I started typing 

on computer with one finger and I began to 

write my experiences online and I have more 

than 100,000 friends online in our community 

online and I am one of the board members. 

Then I began to apply for training but now if 

you want me to come to your country, you 

will have to pay for everything and you have 

to send my ticket at least 6 months upfront. 

That is what empowerment does. It is not 

about talking alone, it’s about learning. It’s 

about reading all the time. You cannot stay 

at home and be brooding over your pity party 

and you say you want to be empowered. It is 

not about running around for divorce. It is 

about working on yourself. When you are 

empowered, you become a beautiful role 

model for your sisters, daughters. You 

become a mirror for others. Empowerment 

is different from what we learn in the 

university, it is different from what our 

mothers told us. It is different from what most 

of our leaders in churches and mosques are 

telling us. 

My husband now sees me as his friend and 

I thank God I did not divorce him because of 

that singular act because I wouldn’t have 

known his other beautiful sides. There are 

some times when your life is at risk, run for 

your life but if it’s a case triggered by a 

particular thing, be empowered and forge 

ahead. 

Oil exploration destroying ecosystem of Niger Delta —— Tiemo 

BY LUCKY OJI 

Mr. Tiemo Pumokumo, is a peace advocate 

and founder/ facilitator of Initiative For Rural 

Communities Development, Niger Delta, IF- 

RCND. In this interview, he speaks on the challenges 

confronting the people of Niger Delta, 

particularly the oil bearing Communities of 

Egbema Kingdom and proffers solution to the 

restiveness and poor human/infrastructural 

development 

W 

in the region. 

hy did you form the Initiative For 

Rural Communities Development, Niger 

Delta, IFRCND? 

The Initiative For Rural Communities Development, 

Niger Delta, IFRCND, is a nonprofit, 

non-governmental organization incorporated 

under the laws of the Federal Republic 

of Nigeria. 

We are committed to elevating the Human 

Development Index (HDI), that is the basic 

dimensions of human development; a long 

and health life; access to knowledge and a 

decent standard of living for the people of the 

Niger Delta. 

In fulfillment of our mandate, we have observed 

that the sustained development of the 

Niger Delta region cannot be actualized in a 

vacuum, but same must be precipitated with 

social, economic and environmental developments 

as metrics. 

In almost a decade of our experience, we 

have been propagating empowerment to the 

most vulnerable members of society, through 

capacity building, promoting education and 

partnering with state and non-state actors in 

contributing to the development of the Niger 

Delta Region. 

The challenges in Niger Delta region are 

enormous, could you give an insight to this 

problems? 

We have a mandate to draw the attention of 

the federal government to these problems in 

the region, because it appears the federal government 

has no right information of the happenings 

in the region and this is making it 

difficult for government to actually come up 

with lasting solutions. 

A major problem in the region has been the 

•Mr. Tiemo Pumokumo 

It is very painful that the 

ecological disaster occasioned 

by the effects of oil exploration 

has wiped out the biodiversity of 

the listed communities along the 

Oloduwa River, and will also 

wipe out the entire ecosystem of 

the region 

continued contamination and degradation of 

the ecology of the Oloduwa River and the attendant 

deleterious effects on the coastal communities 

of Polobubou,Itsekelewu,Opuama, 

Ajagbene; Celestial Kiri; Pinakiri; Benmokiri; 

Ogono-ama; Beneokiri; Ebi-ama; Benkoro; 

Amatelemo; Opuoru-ita; Bennikoribor; 

Ojudor-ama’ Oke-kekere; Kpaku Atseuo; 

Lagaose; Amatebe and twenty eight other 

communities all located in Warri North local 

government area of Delta State. 

The effects of oil exploration has ravaged 

the environmental, social and economic fabric 

of these communities to the extent that 

transportation, agriculture and other meaningful 

economic ventures have all been stymied, 

the air stifled, the soil decimated and 

the water contaminated. 

We believe that with responsibility, urgency 

and dispatch on the part of the National Oil 

Spill Detection Response Agency (NOSDRA) 

and ministry of environment proper remediation, 

restoration and cleanup of these affected 

areas will be carried out, as NOSDRA is 

the only agency of the Federal Government 

charged with the responsibility of cleanup of 

any oil spill in Nigeria, undertaking surveillance, 

reporting, alerting and other responses 

and ensuring the compliance of all stakeholders 

in the oil sector to all existing environmental 

legislations and the coordination/implementation 

of the National Oil Spill Contingency 

Plan (NOSCI) as approved by the Federal 

Executive Council (FEC). 

It is very painful that the ecological disaster 

occasioned by the effects of oil exploration 

has wiped out the biodiversity of the listed 

communities along the Oloduwa River, and 

will also wipe out the entire ecosystem of the 

region as these communities are bounded in 

the North by the Ovia South-West local government 

area of Edo State, the Atlantic Ocean 

by the south, the Ondo State. 

Do you mean these communities are completely 

neglected by the government? 

Imagine there is no functional health care 

facility, there is no source of drinking water 

other than the one fetched from the Opuekeba 

well head many kilometres from the residential 

areas,no government presence. Dredging 

is done to bring in oil rigs without proper 

environmental impact assessment. More so, 

it is very unfortunate that some of the oil companies 

are operating in the host communities 

without any written and signed Memorandum 

of Understanding. For instance, the Nigerian 

Petroleum Development Company, 

that is operating in these areas has no MoU 

with the host Communities, it is very wrong. 

Again, what we see are poorly designed 

causeways and canals, constructed to bring 

in heavy drilling equipment, which had affected 

the hydrology of the seasonally flooded 

fresh water swamps and the brackish water of 

the mangrove forest. Canals disrupt the delicate 

hydrological system, especially when they 

are constructed on the border zone between 

freshwater and brackish water in the riverine 

areas; as such, they can disrupt the viability of 

long-established fishing grounds. 

In the study area, a canal dug by Chevron 

near one of the oil-bearing communities in 

Polobubou/Tsekelewu, Warri North local government, 

Egbema, has reportedly caused accelerated 

erosion near the sea and has destroyed 

the local hydrological system by allowing 

saltwater into previous freshwater areas, 

thereby creating a saltwater marsh in 

place of much higher biodiversity freshwater 

swamp. Since the canalization of the area, 

salt water from the ocean has completely altered 

their ecosystem and endangered the 

communities means of survival; specifically, 

the traditional fishing ground and source of 

drinking water have been wiped out. 

There are some identified environmental 

effects of Chevron activities on the oil-bearing 

areas. There are no measures taken by 

Chevron to address this negative environmental 

impact. Findings seem to indicate that the 

oil-bearing areas are left to bear the negative 

environmental impact without any support 

from the oil companies. However, these artificial 

canals not only allow saline waters of the 

Atlantic into freshwater sources, they also lead 

to the scarcity of drinking water and kill many 

species of plants, animals and fishes. Their 

construction has precipitously altered the entire 

ecosystem, as freshwater is destroyed 

C 

M 

Y 

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AGATU MASSACRES 

We can forgive but won’t forget 

how Fulani herdsmen killed 

6,000 of our kinsmen — Locals 

•Miyetti Allah regrets killings 

•Tsav 

sav, , youths reject Ortom/Al-Mak 

om/Al-Makur 

ura deal to readmit herder 

ders s to 

Benue communities 

•Diary y of attac 

acks 

By Peter Duru, Makurdi 

In a move to have Fulani 

herdsmen back in Agatu 

land, the governor of 

Benue State, Samuel 

Ortom, and his Nasarawa 

State counterpart, Tanko Al/ 

Makura, embarked on a peace 

shuttle to prevail on the natives to 

readmit the herdsmen. 

The peace initiative, which saw 

Al/Makura visiting Benue twice in 

less than two weeks culminated in 

the signing of a peace treaty by 

him and Ortom at Benue State 

Government House, in the 

presence of select stakeholders 

and security chiefs from both 

states. 

Before the pact, the Sole 

Administrator of Agatu local 

government area, Mr. Mike 

Inalegwu, had led a team to 

neighboring Loko in Nasarawa 

State where an initial agreement 

was entered into with Fulani 

leaders. 

That agreement was to pave the 

way for the pact which would 

readmit the herdsmen into Agatu 

land that had been left in ruins, no 

thanks to the herdsmen who, 

between 2013 and 2017, allegedly 

killed, maimed and ravaged the 

area in a manner pundits claimed 

was never seen before in the 

If you remember, my 

kinsmen were similarly 

killed and property 

including my 

ancestral home destroyed 

by herdsmen 

but the people of 

Guma have since 

forgiven the attack 

and moved on 

history of Benue. 

Speaking on the pact, the 

Sole Administrator of Agatu 

LGA, Inalegwu, said it 

provided that unarmed 

herdsmen from Nasarawa 

could return to Adapati Island 

in Agatu to graze their cows 

and not for the purpose of 

residency. 

Inalegwu indicated that over 

3,920 persons lost their lives in 

the Agatu massacres between 

2013 and 2017, noting that 

close to 2,000 others died at 

various Internally Displaced 

Persons, IDP, camps set up for 

victims in parts of the state. 

The Sole Administrator 

maintained that despite the 

number of casualty, the 

people of Agatu were willing 

to readmit the Fulani in an 

atmosphere of peace and 

mutual trust. 

He explained that the pact 

provided a caveat that the 

readmission could be 

withdrawn in the event of a 

breach, assuring that military 

personnel would constantly 

be on ground to monitor its 

implementation. 

That pact preceded 

penultimate Wednesday’s 

peace meeting at Obagaji, 

the Agatu local government 

headquarters which had in 

attendance Ortom and Al/ 

Makura, leaders of Fulani 

herdsmen from Nasarawa, 

traditional rulers, security 

chiefs and many other 

stakeholders from both states. 

Prior to the meeting, two 

governors had an aerial tour 

of the embattled communities 

to assess the devastation after 

which they proceeded to 

speak with the people. 

Addressing the gathering 

which included placard 

bearing youths and victims of the 

crisis, Ortom and Al/Makura 

vowed to implement peace pact. 

Ortom particularly lamented 

what he described as the massive 

and unprecedented destruction of 

Agatu and killings by herdsmen 

but said there was no alternative 

to peace for development and 

progress to take place. 

While restating his stance on 

ranching as panacea to the crisis, 

he urged Agatu people to “forgive 

and allow the indigenous Fulani 

return because vengeance belongs 

to God. 

“If you remember, my kinsmen 

were similarly killed and property 

including my ancestral home 

destroyed by herdsmen but the 

people of Guma have since 

forgiven the attack and moved 

on.” 

Al/Makura, on his part, said 

there was no going back until 

peace returned to Agatu land, 

assuring that the culture of 

impunity where a group of 

individuals entered other people’s 

land and began to kill them or 

attack others and their cattle must 

not be allowed to continue. 

Spokesmen for the Agatu 

people, including Inalegwu; 

member of Benue State House of 

Assembly, Alhaji Sule Audu; and 

Chairman, Peace and 

Reconciliation Committee, Mr. 

Akpa Idu, called for 

reconstruction, rehabilitation and 

reconciliation as well as extension 

of the Federal Government’s 

North East reconstruction plan to 

Agatu. 

Idu recalled the genesis of the 

crisis. He said, “For over five 

decades, there had been mutual 

co-existence until 2012 when the 

wind of change began to blow. 

“Previously, reports of 

destruction of farm crops by 

Fulani cattle were settled by the 

Gado or village head and 


C 

M 

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Protest as herdsmen return to Agatu 


sometimes at the police station. 

Suddenly the usually friendly 

atmosphere changed to one of 

lawlessness. Between 2011 and 

2012, the herders began to carry 

highly sophisticated weapons such 

as AK47 rifles as against their 

traditional swords and sticks. 

“May 5, 2013 was the day 

massacres and wanton destruction 

of property and threat to our 

peaceful existence by the Fulani 

invaders started in Agatu. 

“On this day, they attacked with 

petrol, explosives, swords and very 

sophisticated weapons as they 

descended on communities along 

the bank of River Benue including 

Olegoga, Olegadechono, Alogba, 

Olegotekwu, Olegogbeche, 

Olegodege, Olegeje, Adana, 

Imminyi, Abogbe, Ocholonya, 

Olegomakwu, Akpeko and 

Okokolo. All the buildings were 

virtually destroyed.” 

He continued: “The spate of 

killings and ethnic cleansing 

against Agatu people by the 

herdsmen took another dimension 

on May12, 2013 when a large 

number of Fulani warriors entered 

Agatu through Oweto and headed 

to Ekwo Okpanchenyi and Iwali as 

early as 7am. 

“The Fulani militia shot at 

defenceless women and children 

while others armed with machetes 

and hatchets hacked young people 

to death. The innocent and 

unarmed people ran frantically and 

were sprayed with bullets. The 

attackers then proceeded to Ikpele 

1 and 2, Okokpolo, Ogbayi and 

Ogwumogbo to do same.” 

He noted that after several peace 

meetings, a group of hoodlums 

went to Ocholonya and kidnapped 

one Hardo Mama, a Fulani, and 

killed him and also rustled about 

200 cows from Adagbo, leading to 

a breakdown of truce in the area. 

“Like locusts, Fulani herdsmen, 

in a reprisal attack, stormed the 

communities of Okwutanobe and 

Egwuma on August 16, 2013. 

October 28, 2013 was the turn of 

Ogwule Ankpa. The attackers 

killed so many people, looted 

property, burnt down houses and 

destroyed valuables. 

“November 9, 2013 was a black 

day for us when Okpagabi 

community had a share of the 

Agatu woes and the attackers 

proceeded to Ello and 

Ichogolugwu. And like whirlwind, 

they descended on Ogbagede, 

Enicha, Ejima 1 and 2. Ogbayi and 

Ogwumogbo also had their second 

round of attacks. 

On February 17, 2014, the 

herdsmen, who had declared total 

war on Agatu, attacked 

Utugolugwu and Oweto, killing 

and maiming the people while 

burning down their houses. In fact, 

six soldiers protecting the bridge 

construction across River Benue 

from Loko to Oweto were murdered 

in cold blood on that day. 

“April 12, 2014 was the turn of 

Obagaji, the council headquarters, 

where the herdsmen ambushed six 

young people and killed them. On 

the 26th of same month, eight 

•Some youths protesting truce terms 

Suddenly the usually 

friendly atmosphere 

changed to one of lawless- 

ness. Between 

2011 and 2012, the herders 

began to carry 

highly sophisticated 

weapons such as AK47 

rifles as against their 

traditional swords and 

sticks 

others were ambushed with six 

killed on the spot while two 

others were kidnapped and later 

beheaded. 

“Egba community had its turn 

on March 15, 2015 when 

Christian worshippers were 

murdered in cold blood. Over 100 

people including Sunday school 

children lost their lives. 

Idu narrated further, “On 

February 8, 2016, shortly after the 

Benue South senatorial re-run 

election, a full blown war was 

declared on Agatu by the 

attackerss who came in large 

numbers with sophisticated 

weapons. 

“This time, they were dressed 

in black attire. They disguised 

using their cattle as if they were 

actual herdsmen. They attacked 

Okokolo, Abugbe and other 

riverine communities in Agatu.” 

Responding, the Chairman of 

Miyetti Allah in Nasarawa State, 

Mohammed Hussein, apologized 

and appealed for forgiveness on 

behalf of Fulani herdsmen and 

pledged that his people would 

abide by resolutions reached at 

the meeting. 

Ortom, reading the peace pact, 

said, “The Agatu in Benue State 

and Fulani herdsmen agreed to 

make peace and forgive each 

other, while Oguto Adanyi – 

Ogumagbo - Bagana were 

carved out as dedicated routes 

agreed by both parties for 

movement of cattle in Agatu. 

“This privilege is only granted 

to indigenous Fulani herdsmen 

who were known to the Agatu 

people before the crisis. They 

will graze in Agatu land after 

the harvest season at the end of 

February 2017.” 

Meanwhile, angry reactions 

have continued to trail the pact 

with many describing it as a sellout 

and a back stab designed to 

further expose unhealed wounds 

of the Agatu people. 

Benue South Peace Network, 

an umbrella body of over 11 

socio-cultural and student 

groups, in a statement in 

Makurdi, vowed to challenge 

the pact in court. 

Signed by leaders of the 

groups, they noted that the two 

agreements entered into by the 

governments of both states could 

be a catalyst for further 

bloodshed in the area. 

The statement said, “Nothing 

has been done by the Federal 

and Benue State governments 

towards the rehabilitation, 

reconstruction and compensation 

of the victims of the bloody 

crisis. 

“Justice is yet to be done as no 

single perpetrator of the killings 

has been brought to book.The 

condition of the widows, 

orphans, the displaced and 

deprived; as well as lands taken 

over by the terrorists have also 

not been addressed. 

•Inalegwu...the peacemaker 

“Hence attempting to broker 

peace in the light of pending 

issues is indicative of gross 

contempt for the value of Agatu 

lives and the sensibilities of the 

entire Benue people.” 

Speaking on the matter,a 

former Lagos State 

Commissioner of Police, Alhaji 

Abubakar Tsav, who expressed 

shock at the manner the pact 

was sealed, said it was done to 

spite the people of Benue South. 

“I believe Governor Ortom 

ceded Agatu land to spite the 

people of Benue South whom he 

claimed never voted for him at 

the last general elections.” 

Tsav also urged the Federal 

Government to institute a 

commission of enquiry into the 

nagging issue of farmers/ 

herdsmen clashes in parts of the 

country in order to permanently 

address the matter. 

Reacting, the Chief Press 

Secretary to Ortom, Mr. Terver 

Akase, said the governor neither 

ceded land to herdsmen nor 

conferred indigeneship on any 

individual or group of persons 

as reports had claimed, adding 

that the decision to allow 

herdsmen to graze in 

designated areas in Agatu was 

jointly made by stakeholders in 

the two states. 

C 

M 

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Nigeria’s survival: Archbishop 

Akubeze got it right 

In these days of religious 

tension in Nigeria 

occasioned by a number of 

avoidable killings, many 

persons in leadership 

positions have been making 

inflammatory statements. 

The most disturbing of them 

is the call by some Christian 

leaders to their members to 

embark on killing Muslims 

against the perception that 

they are the ones killing 

Christians here and there. The 

killings are obviously 

senseless. But considering that 

such a tit-for-tat posture is 

ungodly, how come it is 

becoming an attractive stance 

for some of our men of God? 

It was thus refreshing to be an 

eye-witness at an event last 

Tuesday where the Catholic 

Archbishop of Benin City 

Metropolitan See, His Grace, 

Most Rev. Dr. Augustine 

Obiora Akubeze condemned 

the posture. The Archbishop 

spoke at the commissioning 

of a church hall at 

Eguaeholor-Isi, one of the 

many undeveloped 

neighbouring villages of the 

Edo State Capital. Akubeze 

who called for peace and 

tolerance among our people 

was thus substantially far 

away from our numerous 

exuberant Church leaders 

who are oblivious of the fact 

that no one - small, big, old, 

young, Christian, Muslim, 

Church or Mosque can 

survival in a dismembered 

Nigeria. 

Akubeze’s persuasive 

sermon is right in many 

respects as it teaches several 

lessons. First, the Archbishop 

unlike other commentators 

did not condemn the entire 

Fulani race or all its herdsmen 

as he recognized that there are 

no doubt peace loving citizens 

among them. One obvious 

advantage of avoiding 

generalizations is the 

difficulty of proving them. For 

instance, the argument that 

the killer herdsmen are not 

Nigerians is not true in all 

cases because of the 17 

suspects involved in the 

southern Kaduna crisis 

arrested by the Police some 4 

days back, there were some 

natives. As the Police says it is 

set to charge them to court, 

the common accusation that 

government has taken no 

action on Fulani lawlessness 

is inaccurate. Second, the 

Akubeze position shows that 

not all Christian leaders are 

making reckless statements. 

The nation’s 

recession was 

caused by the 

political class but 

while the rest of us 

are admonished to 

tighten our belts, the 

scarce resources we 

have, are still being 

wasted on political 

luxuries although 

many states have 

not paid workers’ 

salaries for months 

For example, Chukwuemeka 

Kanu, the Primate of the 

Methodist Church of Nigeria 

was on the same page on the 

subject during his condolence 

visit on Governor El Rufai of 

Kaduna State, on the recent 

killings in the State, in which 

case, the call by some 

Nigerians that hate 

preachers should be 

prosecuted can only be rightly 

directed at those who in this 

tense period are unwilling to 

let go their inclination 

towards divisiness. 

Against this backdrop, the 

argument against the law of 

sedition in Nigeria needs to 

be better articulated. It will 

be recalled that the Seditious 

Offences Ordinance was 

enacted by the British colonial 

government in 1909 to 

disallow anyone from 

bringing into hatred or 

exciting disaffection against 

the President or a State 

Governor as well as the 

administration of Justice in 

Nigeria. Those who think that 

the law has since outlived its 

usefulness in a democracy 

which guarantees freedom of 

speech have a point but we 

can hardly throw away every 

aspect of the law. This is 

because hate preachers 

should be made to face the 

aspect which seeks to stop 

people from raising 

discontent among different 

people in the country by 

promoting sectional and 

ethno-religious ill-feelings. 

As history has shown, 

heterogeneous societies must 

accommodate a multiplicity 

of centrifugal forces. This is 

particularly true of Nigeria 

where the fabric of solidarity 

which binds the society 

together is not only fragile but 

tends to tear apart at the 

slightest provocation. What 

this suggests is that Nigerians 

must heed the wise counsel of 

Archbishop Akubeze. 

Those who might think the 

sermon was not well served 

because the Archbishop spoke 

at a small hinterland 

community are wrong 

because Akubeze is not just a 

strategic leader, he is quite 

conscious of the power of the 

media and when to use them. 

The locals may not have heard 

or understood him but 

congregation at the 

commissioning had many 

media professionals who 

came at the instance of one 

them who happened to be the 

donor of the hall. It was 

therefore a good venue for a 

news conference. Accordingly, 

the archbishop used the 

opportunity to encourage the 

media to patronize good news. 

While reminding us of the 

importance of our agenda 

setting role and watch dog 

status, he called for responsible 

journalism based on 

development communication 

that can promote the 

centripetal factors of our 

nation. Again, the Archbishop 

got it right as the nation is in 

dire need of courageous 

media professionals who can 

say things as they are through 

investigative journalism. We 

cannot but agree. 

However, Nigerians must in 

unionism condemn the 

politicisation of every sector of 

the country. As the only thing 

that seems to matter today is 

politics. An uneducated 

politician earns higher pay 

and allowances than medical 

doctors etc. The nation’s 

recession was caused by the 

political class but while the 

rest of us are admonished to 

tighten our belts, the scarce 

resources we have, are still 

being wasted on political 

luxuries although many states 

have not paid workers’ salaries 

for months. Only last 

Thursday, the Bayelsa State 

House of Assembly approved 

a N3 billion loan request from 

the state government to 

purchase cars for legislators 

and other political office 

holders in the State. The 

Speaker of the House, 

Kombowei Benson, who 

confirmed this to journalists 

in Yenagoa, said the decision 

was taken at a closed door 

session of the House. 

Bayelsa is not alone in this. 

In Edo State where Dr 

Akubeze serves as the number 

one catholic leader, the House 

of Assembly some 3 months 

ago approved a pension 

benefit for a residential 

building worth N200million 

and N100 million for the 

immediate past governor of 

the state and his deputy 

respectively. The House also 

amended the Pension Rights 

Law of 2007 to enable the 

former governor enjoy 

pension for life at a rate 

equivalent to 100 percent of 

his last annual salary as well 

as the power to pick any officer 

not above grade level 12 as 

Special assistant and a 

personal secretary not below 

grade level 10 from the public 

service of the state. Amidst 

these inexplicable 

squandermania, what should 

journalists report and what 

happens to those who have the 

courage to function 

appropriately as the watch 

dog of society? Will they and 

our nation survive? 

Gratitude to the 

navigators in my life 

It is not gainsaid that the 

year 2016 was a very 

challenging year in 

Nigeria. The fundamental 

problem was that 

improvement in the lives of 

Nigerians promised by the 

President, Alhaji 

Muhammadu Buhari, and his 

party, the All Progressives 

Congress (APC), has yet to 

materialise. Of course, there 

is change alright, but it is 

mostly in the negative 

direction. For instance, the 

economy is anaemic, 

bringing in its wake severe 

consequences for the poor 

and the downtrodden. The 

cost of living has skyrocketed, 

which means that millions of 

Nigerians have joined the 

category of the desperately 

sick, poor, hungry and 

disillusioned whereas those 

who were already in that 

category before Buhari 

assumed power have sank 

deeper into the slough of 

despond. 

Buharimaniacs and fanatic 

supporters of the APC 

government are still blaming 

former President Goodluck 

Jonathan for Buhari’s 

inability to perform. When Lai 

Mohammed and Garba 

Shehu run out of excuses for 

the President’s manifest 

failures, they parade the socalled 

war against corruption 

as his outstanding 

achievement. However, aside 

from media 

trial and hasty conviction of 

members of Jonathan’s 

administration who 

purportedly stole billions of 

naira and dollars, genuine 

convictions have been 

PhD,Department of 

Philosophy, 

University of Lagos 

08116759758 

opuruiche2000@yahoo.com 

extremely rare: in fact, there 

are indications that 

corruption is still going on in 

an industrial scale under 

Buhari’s watch, particularly in 

the shambolic exchange rate 

regime and public 

procurement process. 

President Buhari and his 

subalterns, especially Prof. 

Itse Sagay, have been 

lamenting that corruption is 

fighting back to frustrate the 

onslaught on graft. This 

lamentation, in my opinion, 

is an indirect admission of 

defeat and lack of creativity 

in thinking through the 

complex aetiology and 

mechanisms of graft together 

with the methods of dealing 

effectively with the problem. 

Even so, the one-sidedness of 

Buhari’s war against 

corruption and his penchant 

to defend his loyalists even 

when there is prima facie 

evidence against them has put 

a huge question mark on the 

sincerity and capability of the 

present administration to deal 

squarely with corruption. 

In addition, although Boko 

Haram has been degraded to 

the point that 

it no longer posed a potent 

threat in the north-east as it 

did previously, the incidence 

of armed robbery, 

kidnapping, heinous killing of 

people in different parts of the 

country by murderous 

Fulani masquerading as 

herdsmen and other forms of 

insecurity is 

gradually getting out 

control. As a result of the 

worsening security situation, 

foreign investors are unwilling 

to invest in Nigeria whereas 

the ones already here are 

relocating to other West 

African countries, particularly 

Ghana. To worsen matters, 

the inclement investment 

climate is asphyxiating local 

manufacturers and 

discouraging those who 

intended to engage in wealth 

creation based on the belief 

that APC was serious about 

making the country an 

investor’s haven in 2016. The 

failures of President Buhari 

are also evident in the 

pathetic state of electricity. 

Media reports, and more 

importantly the concrete 

experiences of Nigerians 

nationwide, indicate that the 

power sector is generating 

and distributing less 

electricity than it did in the 

heydays of Jonathan’s 

government, which is contrary 

to APC’s boast during the 

campaigns that if Buhari wins 

his administration would put 

structures in place quickly to 

improve power supply. 

Overall, despite the modest 

achievements of the present 

federal government, its 

mistakes are so serious that 

most Nigerians are worse off 

now than they were when 

Jonathan was in charge. In 

this connection, I am 

convinced that time is ripe for 

patriots to move away from 

armchair and beer parlour 

criticism and engage in 

creative non-violent activism 

to make their voices heard. 

They must be courageous and 

willing to deploy all avenues 

permitted by law to impress 

on the ruling elite that we have 

had enough, that we cannot 

continue to suffer while top 

officials of government and 

their cronies live as if Nigeria’s 

resources belong to them 

alone. 

There is no doubt that last 

year was a very trying period 

for our people; which is why 

they have become easy prey 

for fraudulent religious 

preachers and ponzy scheme 

operators. Personally, I was 

more financially buoyant in 

2015 than I was last year, 

because prices of essential 

commodities were lower and 

I received honoraria for 

attending some important 

meetings and presenting 

papers at conferences, 

workshops and symposia. 

Now, most of my friends who 

assisted me in 2015 

Overall, despite the 

modest achievements 

of the present federal 

government, its 

mistakes are so 

serious that most 

Nigerians are worse 

off now than they 

were when Jonathan 

was in charge 

complain bitterly that there 

are no funds to organise such 

meetings and workshops and 

that productivity level has 

dropped as a result of Buhari’s 

medievalist approach to 

governance. 

In these trying times, we 

need the help of one another 

more than ever before. Since 

no human being can achieve 

anything without the help of 

others, it is imperative that we 

should be grateful to those 

that helped us navigate 

through the hellish conditions 

of last year. 

Consequently, I use this 

wonderful opportunity to 

express my deep appreciation 

for the great human beings 

who made life worth living 

for me in 2016. The most 

important of all are my wife, 

Ijeoma, and my two adorable 

daughters, Nwanyioma and 

Nwadiuto. To Ij baby, I 

cannot thank you enough for 

tolerating my oddities and 

frailties. I know that 

sometimes you might ask 

yourself what you are doing 

with this rascally atheist who 

habitually fails in some of his 

“husbandly duties” to you – I 

do too! But no matter what, 

you remain the most 

significant woman in my life. I 

deeply appreciate the fact that 

you are a wonderful mother to 

our children and that after 

seventeen years of marriage 

you are still with me, still 

cooking great meals for the 

family. You have weaknesses 

also; please work on them so 

that we can have a better 

marital experience in 2017. To 

my sweet daughters, 

Nwanyioma and Nwadiuto, 

watching you grow from tiny 

babies to what you are now is 

one of the most exhilarating 

experiences of my life. I wish 

both of you a brighter future 

as you mature into adolescents. 

To the hardworking Vice 

Chancellor of the great 

University of Lagos, Akoka, 

Professor R.A. Bello, and his 

able lieutenants, Professors 

Duro Oni (Deputy Vice 

Chancellor Management 

Services) and Oluwatoyin 

Ogundipe (Deputy Vice 

Chancellor Academics and 

Research) I deeply appreciate 

your advice and kindness to me 

last year. I wish you peace 

profound, excellent health and 

lasting happiness as you strive 

to make our beautiful 

university the bastion of 

knowledge indeed and in 

truth. My big sister Ihuoma 

and her husband Dee Sam; 

thank you immensely for 

being there for me. I am 

grateful to my colleagues in the 

department of philosophy, 

University of Lagos, notably 

Drs. Fatai Asodun, Chris 

Osegenwune, Peter Oni, Peter 

Osimiri, Modestus 

Onyeaghalaji, Debo Gbadebo, 

Surajudeen Owosho, 

Chiedozie B. Okoro, Professor 

F.N. Ndubuisi, Mr. Dan Ekere, 

Mrs. Philomena Egbe, and the 

graduate assistants. I thank all 

the administrative staff of the 

department of philosophy for 

their help. My sincere 

gratitude goes to the sagacious 

Dean, Faculty of Arts, Prof. 

Muyiwa Falaiye, the Sub- 

Dean, Dr. Boniface Igbeneghu, 

and Faculty Officer, Mr. Kelvin 

Ugwu. All my co-residents in 

C Block Highrise (except the 

occupant of flat 1 who decided 

to make himself an island 

unto himself) I hereby 

acknowledge you as good 

neighbours. 

Dee Tony, Professors 

Ademola Adeleke, Adeyemi 

Daramola, Aderopo Akinsoji, 

Hope Eghagha, Victor Ariole, 

Iwu Ikwubuzor, H.O.D. 

Longe, Ngozi Osarenren and 

Drs. Fadakinte, Isaac 

Nwaogwugwu, Patrick 

Oloko, and Augustine 

Nwagbara; my colleagues at 

the department of philosophy, 

University of Ibadan, 

especially Professors Isaac 

Ukpokolo, Christopher 

Agulanna, Bola Ekanola, O. 

Oyeshile, Francis Offor and 

Amechi Udefi – in various 

ways you were good to me and 

I am grateful. 

I cannot forget you, amiable 

Professor Princewill Alozie, 

and my latest intellectual 

daughter, Dr. Philomena 

Ojomo. I bear witness to your 

humility, kindness and 

diligence. Of course, Uncle 

Sam Amuka, publisher of 

Vanguard Newspapers, my 

good friend Fred Udueme, 

(AGM, Brand), and Jide Ajani 

(editor, Sunday Vanguard), I 

thank you for your kindness 

and for giving me a powerful 

platform to express myself 

every Sunday. 

To my wonderful friends 

Nduka Iheanacho, Chiefs 

Ralph Obiduba, Emmanuel 

Ofodile, Innocent Egwim, 

Johnson Ikube and Mr. Robert 

Obioha – you are wonderful 

people and I am glad to have 

known you. Ikemba Ogundu, 

Ninja, Dr. Rotimi Omosulu, 

Lugard, Matthew, Stanley, 

Hajiyah, Jude, Abiola, 

Judaism, Bunmi, Helen, NG 

girl, Stanley, Babatee, Azeez, 

Debo Adeleke, and Blackman 

– your assistance to me is 

hereby gratefully 

acknowledged. To my 

confidant, Queeneth C. 

Agbafor, I appreciate you so 

much. All the readers of my 

column, you are the main 

reason why I write every 

Sunday, thank you for the 

motivation.


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COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVEL 

VELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVER 

VERTORIAL) 

C 

M 

Y 

K 

A few weeks ago, my penis 

was discharging some liquid 

that I didn’t understand. It never 

really crossed my mind that I 

had a sexually transmitted 

disease because I never have 

sex without protection. But it 

continued so I went to the 

hospital. They did a test and 

told me I had Chlamydia, a 

sexually transmitted disease. 

They gave me antibiotics and I 

am okay now. My question is, 

how did I get this disease even 

though I always use a condom 

for intercourse? Benjamin 

Benjamin, condoms minimize 

the risk of infection but they 

don’t eliminate it totally. In 

other words, they will not give 

you 100% protection against 

sexually transmitted diseases 

and unwanted pregnancies. The 

reason is simple. Sometimes 

condoms slip up and sometimes 

they break without the 

knowledge of the user. Here is 

something else that adults never 

realize. Oral sex is not safe 

either. The bacteria and viruses 

that get into your body through 

the genitals also get in through 

the mouth. So did you get or 

give oral sex within this 

period? That is something for 

you to consider as well. Always 

use well lubricated condoms 

that have not expired and if you 

are going to give a woman oral 

sex, use a dental dam. A Dental 

Dam is a flat, square sheet of 

latex that is placed over the 

vagina before oral sex to 

prevent contact between the 

mouth and genitals of the lady 

receiving oral sex. So if you 

are going to get oral sex from 

a woman, wear a condom and 

if you are going to give oral sex 

to a woman, use a dental dam – 

Uche 

I have been married for eleven 

years and I am very 

depressed. I never enjoy sex – 

Bolanle 

That is unfortunate. But on the 

bright side, a vibrator, orgasm 

gel and some adult movies can 

work wonders for your love life 

even if you are stuck with a 

sexually clueless lover. The 

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that rotates in two different 

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simultaneous penetration, 

clitoral stimulation and 

internal G spot stimulation. I 

recommend it. And for the 

orgasm gel, take the Mini Love 

Orgasm Gel. Massage it on the 

clitoris minutes before 

intercourse or when using your 

vibrator. This will help you 

enjoy intercourse or your 

vibrator. And most of all, tell 

your husband that you don’t 

enjoy sex. That should motivate 

him to be better at it. And for 

the movies, ask for The One or 

Katsuni: Sexual Freak – Uche 

Can I combine the Vacuum 

Pump and Liquid Sex Dick 

Plumper? I have both and I am 

not sure how to use them – 

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Yes you can. The Liquid Sex 

Dick Plumper Cream is an 

instant penis enlarger that lasts 

for a few hours whereas the 

Vacuum Pump gives lasting 

penis enlargement – Uche 

I am writing you on behalf of 

my wife. There is a gel she said 

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Please deliver to my office – 

Francis 

You must be talking about the 

Jam Oral Lubricating Gel. We 

will choose a flavor for you. It 

comes in about six different 

flavors – Uche 

I will like to reorder the Power 

Zen Pills you recommended 

for my weak erection some 

time ago. Fantastic drug. My 

wife cannot stop talking about. 

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You are welcome. Yes we have 

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you last longer and grow a 

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Uche 

I saw this penis enlarger that 

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That is all for today. Adults in 

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Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual 

Media.


saving lives 

Prevention, early diagnosis are 

key to cancer survival 

By Sola Ogundipe 

OU can, I can” is the theme for World 

“Y Cancer Day 2017, today February 4, 

which takes a positive and proactive 

approach to the fight against cancer, 

highlighting that solutions do exist and that 

they are within reach. According to the World 

Health Organisation, WHO, over 100,000 

Nigerians are diagnosed with cancer 

annually, and about 80,000 die from the 

disease; this comes to 240 Nigerians every 

day or 10 Nigerians every hour, dying from 

cancer. The Nigerian cancer death ratio of 

4 in 5 is one of the worst in the whole world. 

The WHO reveals that cervical cancer 

which is virtually 100 per cent preventable 

kills one Nigerian woman every hour. Breast 

cancer kills 40 Nigerians daily while 

prostate cancer kills 26 Nigerian men daily. 

These three common cancers alone, kill 90 

Nigerians daily. This alarming death rate is 

mainly due to poor infrastructure to deal 

with the problem. 

Cancer is a class of diseases characterized 

by out-of-control cell growth. There are over 

100 different types of cancer, and each is 

classified by the type of cell that is initially 

affected. Cancer harms the body when 

altered cells divide uncontrollably to form 

lumps or masses of tissue called tumours 

(except in the case of leukemia where cancer 

prohibits normal blood function by 

abnormal cell division in the blood stream). 

Tumours can grow and interfere with the 

digestive, nervous, and circulatory systems, 

and they can release hormones that alter 

body function. Tumours that stay in one spot 

and demonstrate limited growth are 

generally considered to be benign. 

Malignant tumours 

More dangerous, or malignant, tumours 

form when two things occur: a cancerous 

cell manages to move throughout the body 

using the blood or lymphatic systems, 

destroying healthy tissue in a process called 

invasion that cell manages to divide and 

grow, making new blood vessels to feed itself 

in a process called angiogenesis. 

When a tumour successfully spreads to 

other parts of the body and grows, invading 

and destroying other healthy tissues, it is said 

to have metastasized. This process itself is 

called metastasis, and the result is a serious 

condition that is very difficult to treat. 

Cancer is one of the most common causes 

of death in Nigeria. 

Types of cancers 

There are over 200 different types of 

cancers. Every organ in the body may 

develop cancer, considered to be one of the 

leading causes of morbidity and mortality 

worldwide. The financial costs of cancer in 

Nigeria exceeds $500 million in medical 

costs and lost productivity annually. The 

most common sites of cancer among men 

It is believed that cancer 

risk can be reduced by 

avoiding tobacco, limiting 

alcohol intake, limiting UV 

ray exposure from the sun 

and tanning beds and 

maintaining a healthy diet, 

level of fitness and 

seeking regular medical 

care 

are lung, prostate, colon, rectum, stomach 

and liver. The most common sites of cancer 

among women are breast, colon, rectum, 

lung, cervix and stomach. 

How cancer spreads 

Scientists say cancer cells spread as a result 

of their adhesion (stickiness) properties. 

Certain molecular interactions between cells 

and the scaffolding that holds them in place 

(extracellular matrix) cause them to become 

unstuck at the original tumor site, they 

become dislodged, move on and then 

reattach themselves at a new site. 

Causes of cancer 

Cancer is ultimately the result of cells that 

uncontrollably grow and do not die. Normal 

cells in the body follow an orderly path of 

growth, division, and death. Programmed 

cell death is called apoptosis, and when this 

process breaks down, cancer begins to form. 

Unlike regular cells, cancer cells do not 

experience programmatic death and 

instead continue to grow and divide. This 

leads to a mass of abnormal cells that grows 

out of control. 

Genes - the DNA type 

Cells can experience uncontrolled growth 

if there are mutations to DNA, and therefore, 

alterations to the genes involved in cell 

division. Four key types of gene are 

responsible for the cell division process: 

oncogenes tell cells when to divide, tumor 

suppressor genes tell cells when not to divide, 

suicide genes control apoptosis and tell the 

cell to kill itself if something goes wrong, 

and DNA-repair genes instruct a cell to 

repair damaged DNA. 

Cancer occurs when a cell’s gene 

mutations make the cell unable to correct 

DNA damage and unable to commit suicide. 

Similarly, cancer is a result of mutations 

that inhibit oncogene and tumor suppressor 

gene function, leading to uncontrollable cell 

growth. 

Carcinogens 

Carcinogens are a class of substances that 

are directly responsible for damaging DNA, 

promoting or aiding cancer. Tobacco, 

asbestos, arsenic, radiation such as gamma 

and x-rays, the sun, and compounds in car 

exhaust fumes are all examples of 

carcinogens. When our bodies are exposed 

to carcinogens, free radicals are formed that 

try to steal electrons from other molecules 

in the body. Theses free radicals damage cells 

and affect their ability to function normally. 

Genes - the family type 

Cancer can be the result of a genetic 

predisposition that is inherited from family 

members. It is possible to be born with 

certain genetic mutations or a fault in a gene 

that makes one statistically more likely to 

develop cancer later in life. 

Cancer and other medical factors 

As we age, there is an increase in the 

number of possible cancer-causing 

mutations in our DNA. This makes age an 

important risk factor for cancer. Several 

viruses have also been linked to cancer such 

as: human papillomavirus (a cause of 

cervical cancer), hepatitis B and C (causes 

of liver cancer), and Epstein-Barr virus (a 

cause of some childhood cancers). Human 

immunodeficiency virus (HIV) - and 

anything else that suppresses or weakens the 

immune system - inhibits the body’s ability 

to fight infections and increases the chance 

of developing cancer. 

Treatment & prevention 

There are conflicting reports about cancer 

prevention. Sometimes the specific cancerprevention 

tip recommended in one study 

or news report is advised against in another. 

In many cases, what is known about cancer 

prevention is still evolving. However, it’s 

well-accepted that chances of developing 

cancer are affected by the lifestyle choices 

you make. 

Cancer treatment is a huge problem, so 

prevention is best. Nigerians spend $500 

million annually on treatment abroad. 

Unfortunately, the outcome for Nigerians 

who embark on cancer-related medical 

tourism is often poor, because of late 

detection. Cancer constitutes a preventable 

major drain on our human and financial 

resources. According to WHO, onethird of 

all cancers can be prevented; another onethird 

can be effectively cured with early 

diagnosis; whilst palliative care can improve 

the quality of life of the last third. 

Cervical cancer in particular, underscores 

the fact that cancer is preventable, and 

epitomizes the cost-effectiveness of investing 

in preventive health care. It is the easiest of 

all cancers to prevent. Cervical screening is 

the best cancer screening test in the history 

of medicine and the most cost effective of all 

medical screening tests. The screening is 

painless and takes only about 5 minutes. The 

tissue changes that lead to cervical cancer 

usually develop very slowly (over a period of 

about five to thirty years). Screening can find 

these changes before cancer develops. Precancer 

changes are easy to treat by an 

outpatient procedure lasting 15 minutes. 

Consequently, cervical cancer is now a 

disappearing disease in the western world, 

while it remains the number one cancer 

killer of African women. 

Screening & early detection 

One of the ways to reduce cancer mortality 

rates is to improve early diagnosis strategies. 

This is the message. There are two ways of 

improving cancer detection: screening and 

early diagnosis. While screening seeks out 

asymptomatic cancers or precancerous 

lesions without symptoms, early diagnosis 

is the identification of symptomatic cancer 

cases in the very early stages of the disease. 

Lifestyle changes 

Some simple lifestyle changes can make a 

big difference. Consider these seven cancer 

prevention tips. 

Don’t smoke - Using any type of tobacco 

puts you on a collision course with cancer. 

Smoking has been linked to various types of 

cancer — including cancer of the lung, 

mouth, throat, larynx, pancreas, bladder, 

cervix and kidney. Chewing tobacco has been 

linked to cancer of the oral cavity and 

pancreas. Even if you don’t use tobacco, 

exposure to secondhand smoke might 

increase your risk of lung cancer. Avoiding 

tobacco — or deciding to stop using it — is 

one of the most important health decisions 

you can make. It’s also an important part of 

cancer prevention. If you need help quitting 

tobacco, ask your doctor about stop-smoking 

products and other strategies for quitting. 

Eat a healthy diet - Although making 

healthy selections a the shops and at 

mealtime can’t guarantee cancer prevention, 

it might help reduce your risk. Eat plenty of 

fruits and vegetables. Base your diet on fruits, 

vegetables and other foods from plant 

sources — such as whole grains and beans. 

Avoid obesity - Eat lighter and leaner by 

choosing fewer high-calorie foods, including 

refined sugars and fat from animal sources. 

If you choose to drink alcohol, do so only in 

moderation. The risk of various types of 

cancer — including cancer of the breast, 

colon, lung, kidney and liver — increases 

with the amount of alcohol you drink and 

the length of time you’ve been drinking 

regularly. 

Limit processed meats - Eating large 

amounts of processed meat can slightly 

increase the risk of certain types of cancer. 

Women who eat a Mediterranean diet 

supplemented with extra-virgin olive oil and 

mixed nuts might have a reduced risk of 

breast cancer. The Mediterranean diet 

focuses on mostly on plant-based foods, such 

as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, 

legumes and nuts. People who follow the 

Mediterranean diet choose healthy fats, like 

olive oil, over butter and fish instead of red 

meat. 

Maintain healthy weight and be physically 

active - Maintaining a healthy weight might 

lower the risk of various types of cancer, 

including cancer of the breast, prostate, 

lung, colon and kidney. Physical activity 

counts, too. In addition to helping you control 

your weight, physical activity on its own 

might lower the risk of breast cancer and 

colon cancer. Adults who participate in any 

amount of physical activity gain some health 

benefits. But for substantial health benefits, 

strive to get at least 150 minutes a week of 

moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes a 

week of vigorous aerobic physical activity. 

You can also do a combination of moderate 

and vigorous activity. As a general goal, 

include at least 30 minutes of physical 

activity in your daily routine — and if you 

can do more, even better. 

Risk reduction 

It is believed that cancer risk can be 

reduced by avoiding tobacco, limiting 

alcohol intake, limiting UV ray exposure 

from the sun and tanning beds and 

maintaining a healthy diet, level of fitness 

and seeking regular medical care. Screening 

can locate cervical cancer, colorectal cancer 

and breast cancer at an early, treatable stage. 

C 

M 

YK


healthyliving 

Nigerians pay 

for cancer 

treatment 

with their lives 

BY CHIOMA OBINNA 

Yesterday, February 4, was World 

Cancer Day, a day set aside by 

the United Nations and World 

Health Organisation to raise 

awareness on cancer and 

encourage prevention, detection, and 

treatment. The day is part of the big war 

against global cancer epidemic. Just as 

cancer affects everyone in different ways, 

people have the power to take action to 

reduce the impact on individuals, families 

and communities. 

This is why the day, this year, took place 

under the theme: “We can. I can”. 

Sunday Vanguard looks at the pains 

cancer patients go through in the quest for 

treatment and how to stop the disease 

before it stops anyone. 

Cancer has been adjudged as the 

deadliest, the most expensive ailment to 

treat and the world’s No. 1 killer disease. 

Unfortunately, the management of cancer 

in Nigeria has remained a national 

scandal. According to the World Health 

Organisation (WHO) estimates, over 

100,000 Nigerians are diagnosed with 

cancer ever year, while about 80,000 die 

from the disease. Nigeria’s cancer death 

ratio of 4 in 5 affected persons is one of the 

worst in the world and, while 240 

Nigerians die of the disease daily, 10 die 

every hour. 

Statistics show that one out of every 

three persons will be diagnosed with 

cancer in their lifetime and the worldwide 

burden of cancer is set to double by 2020 

and nearly triple by 2030. And most 

worrisome is the fact that about 70 per 

cent of cancer deaths occur in developing 

countries like Nigeria. 

Evidence abound that cervical cancer, 

which is virtually 100 per cent preventable, 

kills one Nigerian woman every hour. 

Breast cancer kills 40 Nigerians daily. 

Prostate cancer kills 26 Nigerian men 

daily. These three common cancers alone 

kill 90 Nigerians daily. 

The sad statistics explain the earnest 

quest by the 8th National Assembly to 

urgently tackle the dire health challenge. 

The situation, 

according to 

victims, is a 

helpless one. For 

the rich, only 

palliative care is 

available in most 

cases of late 

presentation while, 

for the poor, there 

is little or no hope 

of survival. 

Everything about 

cancer is expensive 

But how far has the parliament gone? 

The plight of patients 

As you read this article, many 

Nigerians are dying of cancer either 

because they cannot afford the cost of the 

treatment or there is no functional 

treatment centre or they were 

misdiagnosed which led to late 

presentation. 

In essence, Nigerians pay for cancer 

treatment with their lives. Although 

cancer is no longer a death sentence in 

developed countries, it is one of the most 

expensive disorders to treat and manage 

and, with the N18,000 minimum wage, 

the total life time cost of handling cancer 

in Nigeria is colossal, perhaps 

unquantifiable. 

The situation, according to victims, is a 

helpless one. For the rich, only palliative 

care is available in most cases of late 

presentation while, for the poor, there is 

little or no hope of survival. Everything 

about cancer is expensive. Cost of 

treatment of cervical cancer, colon 

cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, 

prostate cancer and any kind of cancer 

for that matter is mind-boggling. Even 

routine cancer therapy is no more 

affordable in Nigeria. It is an expensive 

and impoverishing disease. 

To renowned oncologist, Lagos 

University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, 

Prof. Remi Ajekigbe, “the poor cannot 

survive cancer and even the rich do not 

always survive.” 

The reason, according to him, is 

because treatment is either unavailable 

or, where available, it is extremely 

expensive. “The cost involved in 

treatment, coupled with the impact of 

disability and loss of life, is significant. 

From the drugs, radiotherapy, and 

chemotherapy, the cost is prohibitive.” 

Currently, Nigeria has no 

comprehensive cancer centre, and lacks 

adequate treatment facilities hence 

Nigerians are compelled to spend over 

$200 million annually on treatment 

abroad. 

Even for the rich who have the option of 

going abroad, they travel and still die. An 

average cancer patient, on regular 

screening, clinical assessment and 

chemotherapy, over the course of a year, 

may accumulate closed to N20 million or 

more in medical bills depending on the 

type of cancer, the type of treatment and 

where the treatment is being accessed. 

Certainly many patients cannot afford 

costs like these. 

Today, an average Nigerian cancer 

patient is less likely to get regular 

screening tests, such as pap tests and 

colonoscopies, which catch the disease in 

its early, more curable stages. That person 

is less likely to be in good health 

generally in the first place and thus 

unable to fight cancer if it occurs. He is 

less likely to be on a health plan that will 

enable him to get to the doctor sooner 

when cancer symptoms first appear. 

Prognosis is worse as the cancer is more 

likely to have spread by the time they see 

a doctor and they are less likely to get 

high-quality cancer treatments and 

benefit from state-of-the-art technology. 

Right now, most of the cancer treatment 

machines are broken-down and one or 

two working are not performing 

optimally. The alarming death rate 

from cancer in Nigeria is not 

unconnected with poor infrastructure. 

One of the challenges of cancer care and 

management in Nigeria is the lack of 

Mobile Cancer Centres, MCCs. Most 

Nigerians have no access to basic cancer 

screening. Likewise, Nigeria has no single 

Comprehensive Cancer Centre; therefore, 

most Nigerians have no access to optimal 

cancer treatment. Many Nigerian 

cancer patients today go as far as to 

Ghana to complete their radiotherapy 

treatment. 

According to experts, cancer patients 

with no access to chemotherapy, 

radiotherapy or surgery constitute the 

bulk of those who inevitably die. 

Another area that is plaguing Nigerian 

cancer patients is the issue of drugs. Most 

cancer drugs are available in Nigeria but 

none is manufactured in Nigeria, thereby 

making the costs prohibitive. The 

distribution is inefficient, and efficacy is 

uncertain. Drug prices are so high in the 

first place due to the cost of researching 

the drugs. The average cancer drug costs 

an estimated N10 million to research. 

Worse still, cases of misdiagnosis 

abounds. If many victims were 

diagnosed accurately and early, most of 

the prognosis would have been better. 


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healthyliving 

Nigerians pay for cancer 

treatment with their lives 


Information by the National Cancer 

Control Programme, NCCP, showed that 

a Comprehensive Cancer Centre costs 

about $63 million, while a Mobile 

Cancer Centre costs about $600,000. 

Radiotherapy which is one of the essential 

equipment needed to manage cases of 

cancer is unavailable in most tertiary 

hospitals. 

Patient accounts 

A case in point is that of Mr. Williams 

O’Dwyer, a colorectal cancer survivor, 

who narrated his ordeal to Sunday 

Vanguard. 

According to Williams, most of health 

centres make a lot of assumptions. 

Williams claimed misdiagnosis could 

have ended his life, saying: “In my case, I 

started having the symptoms way back in 

2012; it could have been detected 

considering the fact that I sought medical 

attention on time but I was wrongly 

diagnosed and treated with wrong 

drugs. But If I had been treated rightly 

from time, probably I would not have 

gone for surgery. You can imagine 

how many other people have gone 

through this situation and they ended up 

with stage four cancers. 

“Fortunately for me, my cancer was 

detected at stage one but just at the nick 

of time because I went to a teaching 

hospital but there is overburden because 

the process before you get to see a 

consultant will probably take you over 

four weeks and, for someone suffering 

from cancer, that indeed is a lot of time. 

So, I was lucky but the question is how 

many people out there are as lucky as I 

am? How many people are fortunate 

to get the proper diagnosis? How many 

people can afford to go for the tests? 

The tests that you need to do to detect if 

you have cancer or not are not cheap 

and even centres that provide such 

services are few and far between and, 

wherever they are available, they do 

cost a lot; so if I wasn’t fortunate to 

afford it, what happens to the less 

fortunate ones in our society? Is it 

because we are in the society that 

doesn’t care for its people or we are in a 

society that doesn’t take health care 

insurance serious or capture a lot of our 

population in its health care net? It 

means you will die because, after all, 

most people end up dying because of the 

insensitivity of govt., the providers, and 

our society.” 

To Williams, dedicated centres for 

cancer screening are inevitable. “We 

need dedicated centres for screening 

cancer. We need fast-track treatment for 

those suffering from or diagnosed with 

cancer, especially colon cancer. We 

need more awareness, more exposure of 

people to what symptoms to look out for 

to avoid full grown colorectal cancer”, 

he stated. 

Stop cancer before it stops you – 

experts recommend tips 

Meanwhile, the economic toll of 

cancer is enormous on cancer patients 

and families. This is why cancer is 

now the world’s most expensive and 

deadliest disorder. 

The Chief Medical Personnel, Niola 

Cancer Care Foundation, Dr Adedapo 

Osinowo, said setting up a cancer 

screening centre is like acquiring 10 

brand new exotic cars. 

Although the message remains “early 

detection is key”, detecting and 

preventing cancer in the first place are 

two different things. According to 

oncologists, prevention involves finding 

out what causes cancer and minimising 

those risks but it is easier said than 

done in Nigeria. 

According to WHO, onethird of all 

cancers can be prevented; another onethird 

can be effectively cured with early 

diagnosis; whilst palliative care can 

improve the quality of life of the last 

third. 

Colorectal and cervical cancer, in 

particular, underscores the fact that 

cancer is preventable, and epitomises 

the cost-effectiveness of investing in 

preventive health care. Cervical 

screening is the best cancer screening 

test in the history of medicine and the 

most cost effective of all medical 

screening tests. The screening is 

painless and takes only about five 

minutes. 

But unfortunately, in Nigeria, most 

women are not aware of the need for 

cervical cancer screening; many have 

never had cervical cancer screening in 

their lifetime. And cervical cancer kills 

one woman every hour in the country. 

According to Osinowo, who is also a 

specialist laparoscopic and colorectal 

surgeon, anyone can be affected by the 

disease. 

“To prevent cancers like colorectal 

cancer (colon cancer), people should eat 

everything in moderation”, he stated. 

“People should reduce the intake of high 

fat foods such as ponmo, smoked fish, 

red meat, abodi and ifun among 

others. These can cause cancer 

because of the way they are prepared. 

When these foods are prepared, they 

According to WHO, 

onethird of all 

cancers can be 

prevented; another 

onethird can be 

effectively cured with 

early diagnosis; whilst 

palliative care can 

improve the quality of 

life of the last third 

tend to bring about harmful substances 

that can cause cancer. 

“The danger in colon cancer is that it 

could be silent. This is why people need 

to go for early screening because, with 

early screening, colon cancer can be 

prevented at polyps’ stage.” 

Another expert, Associate Director for 

Cancer Prevention and Control at 

Moffitt Cancer Centre, Tampa, 

Thomas A. Sellers, says as many as 70 

per cent of known causes of cancers are 

avoidable and related to lifestyle . 

Diet, exercise, and avoidance of 

tobacco products are first line of 

defense, but recent research has 

uncovered many small, surprising ways 

you can weave even more disease 

prevention into individuals’ everyday 

life. 

What you must do to prevent cancer 

Filter your tap water: You will reduce 

your exposure to known or suspected 

carcinogens and hormone-disrupting 

chemicals. 

Take plenty of water: Drinking plenty 

of water and other liquids may reduce 

the risk of bladder cancer by diluting 

the concentration of cancer-causing 

agents in urine and helping to flush 

them through the bladder faster. Drink 

at least 8 cups of liquid a day. 

Cut down cell phone risks: Use your 

cell phone only for short calls or texts, 

or use a hands-free device that keeps the 

phone—and the radio frequency energy 

it emits—away from your head. 

Check the use of folic acid: The B 

vitamin, essential for women who may 

become or are pregnant to prevent birth 

defects, is a double-edged sword when it 

comes to cancer risk. Consuming too 

much of the synthetic form (not foliate, 

found in leafy green veggies, orange 

juice, and other foods) has been linked 

to increased colon cancer risk, as well 

as higher lung cancer and prostate 

cancer risks. 

Increase your calcium intake: Studies 

have shown that people who took 

calcium faithfully for 4 years had a 36 

percent reduction in the development of 

new precancerous colon polyps. 

Pay attention to pain: If you’re 

experiencing a bloated belly, pelvic 

pains, and an urgent need to urinate, see 

your doctor. These symptoms may 

signal ovarian cancer, particularly if 

they’re severe and frequent. 

Avoid unnecessary scans: CT scans 

are a great diagnostic tool, but they 

deliver much more radiation than x- 

rays and may be overused. High doses 

of radiation can trigger leukaemia, so 

make sure scans are not repeated if you 

see multiple doctors, and ask if another 

test, such as an ultrasound or MRI, 

could substitute. 

Stop tobacco use: Using any type of 

tobacco puts you on a collision course 

with cancer. Smoking has been linked 

to various types of cancer — including 

cancer of the lung, mouth, throat, 

larynx, pancreas, bladder, cervix and 

kidney, oral cavity and pancreas. Even if 

you don’t use tobacco, exposure to 

second-hand smoke might increase your 

risk of lung cancer. 

Eat a healthy diet: Eat plenty of 

fruits and vegetables. Base your diet on 

fruits, vegetables and other foods from 

plant sources — such as whole grains 

and beans. 

Avoid obesity. Eat lighter and leaner 

by choosing fewer high-calorie foods, 

including refined sugars and fat from 

animal sources. 

Limit processed meats: A report from 

the International Agency for Research 

on Cancer, the cancer agency of the 

World Health Organization, concluded 

that eating large amounts of processed 

meat can slightly increase the risk of 

certain types of cancer. 

Maintain a healthy weight and be 

physically active: Maintaining a 

healthy weight might lower the risk of 

various types of cancer, including 

cancer of the breast, prostate, lung, 

colon and kidney. 

Physical activity counts: In addition to 

helping you control your weight, 

physical activity on its own might lower 

the risk of breast cancer and colon 

cancer. Moderate exercise such as 

brisk walking 2 hours a week cuts risk 

of breast cancer by 18 percent. Regular 

workouts may lower your risks by helping 

you burn fat, which otherwise produces its 

own estrogen, a known contributor to 

breast cancer. 

Protect yourself from the sun: Skin 

cancer is one of the most common kinds 

of cancer and one of the most 

preventable. 

Get immunized: Cancer prevention 

includes protection from certain viral 

infections. Talk to your doctor about 

immunization against: Hepatitis B. 

Hepatitis B can increase the risk of 

developing liver cancer. 

Avoid risky behaviours: Practice safe 

sex because another effective cancer 

prevention tactic is to avoid risky 

behaviours that can lead to infections 

that, in turn, might increase the risk of 

cancer. 

Get regular medical checks: Regular 

self-exams and screenings for various 

types of cancers such as cancer of the 

skin, colon, cervix and breast and can 

increase your chances of discovering 

cancer early, when treatment is most 

likely to be successful. 

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bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk 

08056180152, SMS only 

Why middle-class wives beat up their husbands! 

Disturbingly, it seems 

domestic violence 

against men has 

become a very middle-class 

problem. As women work. earn 

- and in many cases drink - as 

much as their menfolk, the 

dominant force in many 

relationships is no longer male 

and some women are lashing 

out. According to newspaper 

reports, “For nine years, Peter a 

47 -year -old IT expert was 

scratched, punched and slapped 

by his 42-year-old wife. A 

proprietress of a primary 

school, she showed compassion 

and patience with her young 

charges by day, but at home, her 

temper knew no bounds. 

“And her husband, out of 

shame and desperation to keep 

their family unit together for the 

sake of their young daughter, 

simply put up with it. To the 

outside world’, “ Peter said, ‘she 

presented a sweet, professional 

veneer, a smoke screen and I 

went along with it because I 

worried about the consequences 

if I didn’t.’ It was only after a 

shocking burst of temper. which 

saw his wife swing a hair-dryer 

at her husband, splitting his 

head open and causing a wound 

that required eight stitches in 

hospital, that he finally 

accepted he needed help.” 

“Ironically,” continued the 

report, “he was prompted by a 

phone call from their daughter’s 

school - the 11-year-old had 

confided in her teachers about 

what she’d seen Mummy do to 

Daddy and the school got in 

touch. In the end Peter had to 

face the bitter truth he was 

married to a monster and had 

to kiss his marriage goodbye.” 

In the dying hours of last year, 

a housewife who saw red when 

her husband gave her only 

N,000 for the family’s 

Christmas festivities, went into 

a wild brawl with him which 

resulted in her stabbing him to 

death. Over the years, 

newspaper stories and social 

media coverage of domestic 

violence where women feature 

prominently as the villains, are 

mind-bugling. There was 

violence, bullying and 

intimidation. A spouse being 

isolated from friends and 

family, having their confidence 

and self-respect destroyed and 

even sanity doubted. 

A police spokesman agreed 

that “Domestic abuse is no 

respecter of class or status. It 

crosses all social boundaries - we 

get calls from bankers, solicitors 

and medical doctors, as well as 

office workers, artisans and bus 

drivers.” A few months back, a 

solicitor’s wife, Sharon Edwards 

was jailed for life for murder 

after a Manchester Crown Court 

in Britain heard how he regularly 

beat and belittled her husband 

David, before she stabbed him 

with a kitchen knife. Sharon was 

said to have relied on the 

knowledge that her husband, 

whom she had met a year earlier 

would never hit back or call the 

police. After his death, his body 

was found to be covered in 60 

cuts and bruises. 

According to Professor Kevin 

Brown, Peter’s situation is far 

from unique. He saw it is time 

society woke up to the reality. “In 

a third of all domestic violence 

cases the women are violent to 

men, and the reason many men 

don’t report it is because they 

fear not being believed. Another 

reason why violence is creeping 

into middle-class marriages 

could be, at least in parts, due to 

the dramatic shift in women’s 

position in society over the past 

half century, with most now 

juggling work as well as family 

responsibilities, with the 

inevitable stress that entails. 

Women are also more likely to 

suffer from alcohol abuse than 

in the past and that might be 

contributing to them 

becoming more violent, as it’s 

a disinhibitor.” 

At 6ft 3in, Simon Smith, a 

Royal Navy Seaman in Britain, 

can testify that the masculinity 

and physical strength are no 

protection from domestic 

abuse. His ex-wife, Crystal, 

was jailed for nine years after 

she stabbed him in a drunken 

rage at the family home. 

According to report: ‘The 

Smiths married in October 

2010, following an 18-month 

courtship and have a five-yearold 

daughter. Although Simon 

was aware his wife had a nasty 

temper ,it wasn’t until early 

2011, when their daughter was 

a few months old, that she 

became violent towards him. 

`She told me she had zero 

tolerance to dirt nd if I left 

smear marks on a glass it would 

make her so angry she could 

become violent”, recalls Simon. 

“She was very good at making 

me feel I deserved the things she 

did, so the next day, I would 

apologise. I never hit her back, 

I would never hit a woman, no 

matter what”. 

“It is easy to see how Slmon’s 

perspecttve of the state of his 

marriage was further skewed as 

Crystal engineered his 

increasing alienation from his 

family, who knew nothing of the 

violence. When he phoned his 

parents or siblings Crystal 

would demand the call was on 

speaker-phone so that she could 

hear both sides of the 

conversation. Simon, was too 

ashamed to confide in friends. 

Nor did he contemplate leaving 

the family home. Crystal 

threatened that she would make 

it as difficult as possible for him 

to see their daughter. 

“Nothing could have prepared 

him for the events that unfolded 

after they attended a naval dinner 

two years ago. Crystal, who was 

very drunk, was heard by a 

couple, with whom the Smiths 

shared a taxi home, chanting: 

‘I’m going to make it rain with 

pain.’ Back home, after she 

punched and threw a knife block 

at Simon, he went to their 

bedroom to pack a bag, planning 

to spend the night with a friend. 

and give her time to calm down. 

“However, Crystal crept 

upstairs after him with a kitchen 

knife, which she plunged twice 

into his back and once into his 

arm. Simon lost six pints of blood 

and underwent life-saving 

surgery in hospital. He says: 

“There is a perception that men 

are stronger to put up with it, but 

that doesn’t allow for the 

psychological abuse. My saviour 

was a neighbour who alerted 

police after hearing my screams. 

She’d told me that if the police 

turned up to tell them that I’d 

been attached due to gambling 

debts, which is what I did. But the 

officer, who saw I also had many 

old injuries, took me outside to 

the police van. He said ‘Is the 

person who hurt you still inside 

your house.” I whispered ‘yes’ and 

then collapsed in the back of the 

van. I couldn’t believe it was all 

over ...” 

Closer home, in Ibadan about 

a year ago, Oyelowo Oyediran 

was stabbed to death on his bed. 

He’d earlier had an all mighty 

row with his wife Yewande, who 

couldn’t live with the fact that 

another woman, far away in 

France had a child for him. She 

was still looking unto the Lord 

and this must have fuelled her 

jealousy. The poor man’s bloodcurdling 

howls during the first 

attack alerted the neighbours 

who intervened. Assuring them 

that all was well, the wife was so 

convincingly contrite that they 

left Oyelowo alone with his wife. 

And the husband was so 

confident he was safe he went to 

bed with his eyes closed! That was 

when his tormented wife pounced 

on him and finished off what 

she’d started earlier by stabbing 

him to death. 

As a lot of men have discovered 

to their cost, either gender can 

be a victim or perpetrator of 

domestic abuse. Even a couple of 

past heads of states have been 

rumoured to have been battered 

by their wives! And as the 

number of women convicted of 

this violent clime continues to 

escalate. maybe it’s about time 

we all thought beyond the 

stereotype of the battered wife. 

YOUR column to express your loving thoughts in 

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

flow and let him or her know how dearly you 

feel. Write now in not more than 75 words to: The 

Editor, Sunday Vanguard, P.M.B. 1007, Apapa, Lagos. 

E.mail: sunlovenotes@yahoo.com Please mark your 

envelope: “LOVE NOTES" 

Dear Queen 

I doubt I'm saying "I want you and you alone for the 

rest of my life" but I am saying if you were a drink, you 

would be my favorite drink. If you were food you would 

be my favorite food. If you were a place, you would be 

my favorite place. Screw it! That's what I'm saying, All 

I want is you and only you, I can't have someone else. 

Prince Johnson 

09052570138 

When I look in there.... 

Staring at me right in your eyes 

Is the reflection of my fatal fate 

When I look in there twice or thrice 

With a hope to make you my mate 

My zeal seems a plague to my soul 

Since rejection on me you bestow 

Your rejections seem to me 

A bait rather than a hedge 

Against your thought and will 

I feel on a sword's edge 

Without you is to be cut 

From the living, I'm cut 

Your no is thunderous and makes me to weep 

Let the virtues of your yes lure me to sleep 

AKEGH U Jacob 

08186915871 

Akeghjacob@facebook.com08063819314 

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PAGE 28— SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 5, 2017 

• Masaba, some of his wives and children 

INSIDE THE HOME OF MYSTERY POLYGAMIST 

How Masaba died leaving behind 

130 wives, 203 children 

•Seven widows pregnant, youngest child one year old 

•His battles with Bida Emirate Council, Niger govt. on weird lifestyle 

life 

WOLE MOSADOMI 

THERE IS TIME FOR 

EVERYTHING IN LIFE. 

There is a time to be born 

and a time to die but, in 

between the two times, one has 

the opportunity to choose the 

type of life he wants to live. 

Some have passion to acquire 

wealth, some houses, some 

exotic cars, some clothes, some, 

especially women, jewelry, 

some shoes. 

On the marital side, some men 

have chosen to remain with one 

wife, some with more than one, 

while few others abstain from 

getting married either on 

religious grounds or on personal 

basis. 

However, for the late Malam 

Muhammad Abubakar Bello 

Masaba, he chose to marry dozens 

of wives and subsequently gave 

birth to scores of children. 

Masaba, as he was popularly 

called, came into limelight in 

2008 when his romantic lifestyle 

was exposed. 

As of that time, he was 88 years 

and had 113 wives out of which 

seven died and 20 divorced, 

leaving him with 86 wives and 

190 children. 

LIFE BEFORE 1980 

Our correspondent reliably 

gathered Masaba was a traditional 

healer and thus exposed to all 

kinds of people who trooped to his 

three-storey building located in 

Kota Woro Area of Bida, Niger 

State, seeking for one spiritual 

help or the other. 

Meanwhile, before relocating 

to Bida, Masaba, who was a 

Grade Two Teacher Certificate 

holder, had worked with the 

UAC and Bacita Sugar 

Company for several years. 

He lived in Lagos for about 39 

years from where he married 

some of his wives. 

LIFESTYLE AND TRAVAILS 

More than ten years on arrival 

in Bida after his relocation from 

Lagos, nobody seemed to know 

him until 2008 when he he 

narrated his lifestyle including 

marriage and the number of 

children he had to journalists. 

He also claimed to be very 

versed in Islam thus drawing 

attention from the Etsu Nupe, 

Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, and 

many other Islamic clerics within 

and outside Niger State who 

dissociated themselves from 

him. 

The Bida Emirate Council 

saw his limelight and lifestyle 

as a threat and, therefore, 

summoned him for a meeting 

held at the Wadata palace of 

the Etsu Nupe where he was 

rebuked and scolded for 

allegedly tarnishing the image 

of Islam and directed him to 

divorce 82 of the wives then 

and be left with only four, 

which is the highest by 

Islamic standard, and 

promised that the 82 divorced 

will be taken care of by the 

state Shariah Commission 

while the children will be 

taken care by the state Social 

Welfare Department. He 

rejected the overture. 

The state government, under 

Governor Muazu Babangida 

Aliyu, after studying the 

development, saw the action 

as a threat to peace in the 

state and, therefore, ordered 

his arrest on the 15th of 

September 2008 and was also 

arraigned before an Upper 

Shariah Court in Minna same 

day. 

He was charged with 

insulting or exciting to 

contempt of religious creed, 

deceitfully inducing belief of 

lawful marriage and marriage 

ceremony without lawful 

marriage as well as keeping 

86 women illegally against 

Islamic laws contrary to 

Sections 210, 383 and 386 of 

the Penal Code respectively. 

He pleaded not guilty to the 

three-count charge and it took 

over one month to secure his 

bail as he was detained at the 

Minna prisons but later 

discharged and remained in 

Bida with his wives children 

and numerous followers, 

despite the banishment order 

placed on him by the Bida 

Emirate Council. 

While still in detention and 

struggling for his bail, some of 

his wives and children, led by 

Hajiya Hafusat Bello, who is 

the daughter of First Republic 

Minister from Ilorin, Kwara 

State, stormed Minna and 

headed for Niger State House 

of Assembly and Secretariat to 

protest the detention of their 

benefactor. 

Hafusat, in an interview with 

our correspondent then, 

queried the arrest and 

detention. 

“Nobody in the family of 

baba is complaining; I have 

been married to baba for over 

20 years with four children 

and without any problem and 

I can also tell you that none of 

us the wives or children is 

complaining or lacking 

anything,” she said. 

“If we the wives are not 

complaining, if our children 

and parents are not 

complaining, why is the state 

government, the Shariah 

Commission or the Etsu Nupe 

is complaining. Some of the 

people complaining have only 

two wives and they have settled 

homes but here we are about 86 


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LIFESTYLE: Masaba’s many battles 

• One man, scores of wives 

•Mahmud, Masaba’s first son 


wives and over 100 children and we 

are not complaining; they should 

leave baba, we the wives and 

children alone”. 

One of the children involved in the 

protest then, Moroof Bello, 

described their father as a Godfearing 

man, saying, “As a Godfearing 

man and who has been 

keeping all of us under the same 

roof peacefully for many years, I 

don’t see any reason anybody, 

including government, should be 

worried about our family. They 

should leave us alone because 

nobody is capable of taking good 

care of us except baba”. 

The protesters stormed Minna in a 

32-seater bus, another Mazda bus 

and a Pony car. 

•Mutairu, the deceased’s PA 

That protest happened about seven 

years ago with Masaba wearing a 

larger than life stature. With his 

demise, last week, the expectation 

from many people was that the 

wives and followers would have 

started deserting the house in 

search of a better life. But the wives, 

children and followers have 

remained in Masaba’s three-storey 

building with the belief that their 

husband, father and leader is not 

dead and will continue to provide 

for them. 

LIFE AFTER MASABA 

At the last count, Masaba had 

130 surviving wives and 203 

children. The youngest of the 

children is about one year old while 

seven of the wives are pregnant. 

The first daughter of 

Masaba, a graduate 

of business 

administration from 

Federal Polytechnic, 

Bida, Fatima Bello, 

also spoke, saying 

their father had been 

talking to them in 

parable on his demise 

“but we never knew 

that it would be as 

sudden as it came 

Besides the nucleus family 

members, Masaba headed a 

religious sect called HALIHUMOT 

NABIYI ISLAMIC 

ORGANIZATION OF NIGERIA. 

However, it is very difficult to 

draw the line between the nucleus 

family members of the deceased 

and the followers. They are all 

working and presenting 

themselves as one, from the same 

family, but, beyond that, the 

question is, who takes over the 

leadership of the family and the 

sect? Who will now fend for the 

family? Will the dozens of wives 

especially remain in Masaba’s 

house as widows for the rest of 

their lives? 

Our correspondent reliably 

gathered that the house hold is 

temporarily under the control of 

Masaba’s Personal Assistant, P.A., 

Alhaji Mutairu Abubakar Bello. 

In an interview, the P.A., said, 

“Since the demise of Masaba, 

Allah has been sustaining and 

strengthening the wives and 

children, and He will continue to 

provide for their needs. Baba 

prepared for us ahead of his death, 

so no member of his family will 

suffer. 

“Baba prepared us for a time like 

this before he died. We believe that 

though he is late, he is still with 

us. He has only changed position. 

“On who succeeds him, that 

question does not arise now. Baba 

was Allah sent and so, at the 

appropriate time, Allah will choose 

who succeeds him”. 

On the possibility of the widows 

remarrying, Bello said, “That is a 

no-go area. Let us leave that 

aspect as it is because it is beyond 

anybody.” 

Some of the widows of Masaba 

were seen in their apartments in 

the large three-storey building 

looking robust, radiating and 

unperturbed. They were barred 

from speaking to Sunday 

Vanguard. They simply 

acknowledged greetings from all 

those who came on a condolence 

visit. 

The first son of the mystery 

polygamist, Mahmud Bello, in a 

brief interview, described his father 

as a man who gave all he had to 

Islam and mankind. 

“Our father was loving, Godfearing 

and was never a trouble 

maker despite several attempts to 

provoke him and he imbibed this 

idea into us, especially on how to 

live in peace with one another 

despite differences in religion, 

culture and tribe and we have been 

doing that,” he said. 

The first daughter of Masaba, a 

graduate of business 

administration from Federal 

Polytechnic, Bida, Fatima Bello, 

also spoke, saying their father had 

been talking to them in parable on 

his demise “but we never knew 

that it would be as sudden as it 

came”. 

“Even when I heard that he was 

dead, something continued to tell 

me that he was still with us and 

not dead. He dedicated his life to 

Islam and with the work he has 

done, the stars he left behind are 

still shining and the good works he 

did cannot perish”, she stated 

“On feeding the entire household 

after our father, I can tell you that 

we cannot starve. We believe in 

God. The God that helped our 

father to sustain us this far will 

never leave us”. 

One of the numerous followers 

and an in-law to Masaba, Malam 

Jibrin Musa Bello, said he was 

very proud to be related to the late 

Islamic cleric, adding that he came 

in contact with Masaba through his 

teaching before he developed 

interest in her daughter- Zainab. 

Another follower,Ojulari, who 

came with no fewer than eighteen 

people from Lagos to attend the 

Fidau prayers for Masaba, said he 

missed the Janizar prayers due to 

late information, saying, “I have 

lost a father, a mentor and a 

spiritual leader”. 

C 

M 

Y 

K

C 

M 

Y 

K 


The humiliation of being shoved out of the window when 'Megida' 

showed up! 

Ifirst met Jimi a few years 

back when he showed up 

with Labisi, a good 

friend, at a party in my house. 

Thinking he was his son, I 

promptly showed him where my 

younger siblings and their friends 

were. "No-oh," protested Labisi, 

'he's with me." The scrawny gangly 

thing pushed out his chest and 

draped his hand possessively 

around his date. It was so comical 

that I laughed hysterically until I 

saw the hurt on Labisi's face. 

Could she be serious? A few hours 

later, he was still glued to her side, 

knocking back the red wine. 

"Auntie", he slurred when I went 

to have a word, "Can't you see how 

young your friend looks?" I felt so 

irritated I wanted to throttle him. 

Only my friend had this silly grin 

on her face that I had to give them 

a sickly smile. What on earth 

possessed her to be seen in public 

with this lad? 

When I next saw him, it was at 

another party and he came over 

to introduce himself. I looked 

blank. "I once came to your party 

with Labisi," he prompted. What 

a nerve, calling her by her first 

name! Yet what had it got to do 

with me? gritting my teeth, I asked 

him where Labisi was. "I don't 

know auntie, "he said, pulling up 

a chair and plunking it next to 

me. 

"I've always liked the company 

of older women”, he said 

arrogantly, "they're more 

“experienced sexually, if you 

know what I mean. So when I met 

Labisi and I flirted with her, I was 

sure I was on to a good thing 

when she flirted back. She teased 

me that I was old enough to be 

her son. I said I was 28, and she 

said she was in her early 40s. That 

wasn't so bad. I thought, and 

within days, we were at it like dogs. 

Until I discovered she was years 

older than she let on". So how did 

he find out? "I was rummaging 

about in one of her drawers, 

looking for a bottle opener she 

kept in it when I came across one 

of her old passports. It had her date 

of birth on it - and she was over 50. 

Can you beat that? I was so 

shocked that I showed her the 

passport and she admitted being 

that old. I was stunned. Dating 

older women is one thing, but I'm 

definitely not into grannies! It was 

like sleeping “with my own 

mother! 

“Dating an older woman is okay, 

but I want the ones who still have 

all their own teeth." He was getting 

on my nerves, but I asked him why 

he hadn't thought of trying women 

of his own age? "They're the worst," 

he said. 

Before, I met Labisi, I had this 

model-like girl I was dating on a 

regular basis. I met her at a 

fashion show and we started going 

out together. She asked me how 

many women I'd slept with and I 

told her plenty. When I asked how 

many men she'd had she said she 

was keeping herself for the right 

man. That was a challenge, so I 

spent the next few weeks 

convincing her I could be the one 

for her. It worked. We bonked each 

other senseless for weeks. It was 

fantastic - I couldn't believe a 

novice could bonk so well, but I 

was already in love with her. I 

foolishly thought it was the start 

of a beautiful relationship until the 

“night I stayed over. 

I'd done that a couple of times. 

She had this one bed flat that was 

like a love nest. We'd had amazing 

sex after a boozy night and I fell 

asleep afterwards. Suddenly, I 

was being violently shaken by 

my girl who whispered furiously 

that I had to go to the toilet as 

her husband was around. Holy 

smoke! Husband? What 

husband? She pushed me 

hurriedly into the ensuit toilet 

and there I was in my “boxers, 

looking sheepish when this male 

voice boomed from the bedroom. 

My girl whimpered that she was 

glad to see him after being away 

for so long on business trip. That 

she had a terrible malaria and 

was just going to the kitchen to 

make herself a hot cup of tea 

when he showed up. She must 

have put on such a convincing act 

because the man asked her to stay 

in bed, he would help with the tea. 

"Whilst he was in the kitchen, 

my girl rushed to where I was and 

virtually shoved me out through 

the toilet window. I landed on 

what looked like very smelly 

heap of rubbish and I gave a yelp 

of protest. It was very dark and 

instead of her to peep out to find 

out what the matter was, she threw 

my clothes and shoes after me! I 

was in shock. There had to be a 

sane explanation to this 

nightmare I was subjected to. I 

don't even want to remind myself 

of the gunk that clung to my 

clothes and body when I got 

home. 

"The next day, when I went to 

her place of work, she just looked 

straight through me and walked 

on! It was then a colleague of hers 

that I was friendly with confirmed 

my girl had a sugar daddy they 

all knew was fond of her. So why 

did she make a play for me? She 

confessed they were all having 

girlie talks comparing different 

male physique at the party where 

we first met when I came in. It 

was then one of the girls joked 

that gangly men like me were 

usually well endowed. They'd had 

a bet to see who'd be the first to 

find out if I really was, and my 

girl had won. She'd given them 

blow-by-blow accounts of our 

sexual adventure and I felt cheap 

- like I was a sex object." 

I was very amused by his selfrighteousness. 

It was nice to see 

how men feel when the shoes were 

on the other feet. Women are 

constantly being used and 

dumped, but they seldom make a 

song and dance of it. I told him 

this and he agreed with me. He 

said he had this friend who was of 

the same age with him. 'He works 

with a sexy posh women who was 

their H.O.D.,' he recalled. "He was 

full of how sexy she was that I went 

to his office to have a look. She 

was a beauty but scarcely gave me 

a second glance. But it was 

obvious she'd taken a shine to my 

friend. My friend said colleagues 

had warned him that she always 

tried it with every new guy. I told 

him they were only jealous. His 

boss was only a few years older 

and attracted to him. What had 

he got to lose? 'Weeks later, my 

friend had cheering news for me; 

they'd started an affair and she 

was smashing'. 

I tried to warn him to make the 

most of it and not bank on being 

the love of her life. He shrugged. 

He had his eye on the promotion 

he thought he deserved. He'd been 

passed over a couple of times but 

with his immediate boss now in 

his corner, his promotion was a 

done deal. Well, it wasn't. Her boss 

didn't put in the much needed 

word. She looked out for her 

own promotion instead and got 

it. “Now she heads a larger 

department and Romeo is left 

licking his wounds!" 

08052201867(Text Only) 

Postures that help you to remain fit 

Taut Abdominals: The 

leg raise 

TECHNIQUE: Sit on 

the floor with the legs out- 

stretched in front of you, place 

the hands just behind waist 

level and a little away from the 

body. 

Inhale and raise both legs up 

diagonally, forming a ‘V’ with 

the trunk. Once you are in the 

posture breathe normally. 

Retain the position for five to 

seven seconds, rest and repeat 

a few more times. 

straight, turn the trunk to the 

left and begin spreading out 

the legs as you lower down the 

body. As you get closer to the 

floor invert the left foot and 

keep the right heel down. 

You may keep the hands on 

the floor so you can hold your 

body up a bit if the stretching 

effect gets too uncomfortable. 

As usual, regular practice 

makes the pose easier and 

easier. 

* The Triangle Pose 

The Triangle: Firm Thighs 

and Butt 

Technique: Standing with 

the feet apart, bend the right 

knee to waist level with the 

toes pointing forward, keep 

the left knee slanted with the 

knee locked. Keep the hands 

at shoulder level and the 

trunk erect. Count to 10 and 

repeat legs. 

Strong Arms: The Bow 

Technique: Lying on your 

belly, bend both knees and 

with the legs up in the air hold 

the feet with the corresponding 

hands. Lift up the chest 

and stretch out with the elbows 

straightened out. Hold the 

pose for a slow count to 10. 

Rest and repeat. 

Front to Back Splits amazing 

Technique: Standing up 

* The Bow 

Yoga Classes 

STARTED 

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08116759757 

• 

We can’t trace our families 

– Nigerians deported from United Kingdom 

BY BOSE ADELAJA 

41 Nigerians, deported from 

the United Kingdom 

(UK), arrived Lagos on 

Wednesday. 

The chartered Airbus 330 

aircraft that brought them landed 

at the Murtala Muhammed 

International Airport at about 

8am. It was learnt that they were 

deported for alleged 

immigration offences. 

Before their arrival, the 

National Emergency •The deportees on arrival at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. 

Management Agency, NEMA, 

had informed that about 83 

deportees were being expected, 

and that some of them who had 

not completed their prison 

put resources together to travel to the UK was 41 instead of 83. Also, he said 

sentences would be handed over 

but could not raise the money to process none of the deportees was a 

to the Nigeria Prison Service to 

stay papers. He then began to engage in prisoner as earlier stated by the 

complete the terms. 

illegal activities until he ran out of luck. United Kingdom authorities. “They 

However, eight females and 33 

Another deportee, Igbo, who said his told us that 83 were coming but on 

males, mostly Yoruba, Edo and 

parents were Lagos-based before he left for arrival it was 41. This is 

Igbo, were received by Dr. 

greener pastures, said he might not be able humanitarian evacuation and 

Bandele Onimode, Deputy 

to trace the parents because he learnt they many things could have happened 

Director, Search and Rescue, 

had relocated home. 

at the last minute that may lead to 

who represented NEMA Director 

An aged deportee woman, who claimed increment or decrease in the 

General. 

she left Nigeria some decades back, said number of the people. We work on 

On arrival, the deportees were 

he had lost touch with her relatives, information made available to us,” 

served breakfast and later 

including her children. 

said Farinloye 

interrogated to determine their 

Sunday Vanguard gathered that many Asked why the deportees’ names 

states of origin so that they can 

of the deportees had used fictitious names were not released, he said, “The 

be assisted to locate their 

in their documentation as they were Nigeria Immigration Service did 

relatives where necessary. 

ashamed to reveal their identities because the profiling and the names are not 

The Nigeria Immigration 

of stigma. 

made public because of their 

Service was said to have profiled 

Those who could locate their Nigerian security and social protection”. 

the deportees although their 

addresses were aided to return home while Apart from NEMA, the Nigeria 

identities were not disclosed. 

those who could not were taken to Immigration Service, Nigeria Police 

One of them, 37, and Yoruba, 

rehabilitation centers. 

and aviation security personnel 

said he left Nigeria about 17 

NEMA Information Officer, Ibrahim were on ground to receive the 

years ago and had lost touch 

Farinloye, said the agency was yet to deportees. 

with home. According to him, he 

ascertain why the number of the deportees 

Why, , at AAU, , we set t aside one day y ever 

very 

month to pray – Prof. Onimawo, VC 

BY WALE AKINOLA 

In this part of the world where many 

people believe that the best way to 

achieve results is by cutting 

corners, Professor Ignatius Akhakhia 

Onimawo may not be accepted by all. 

But those who value quality tertiary 

education will always hold the Vicechancellor 

of the Ambrose Alli 

University (AAU), Ekpoma in high 

esteem. 

Onimawo achievements, after just 

nine months at the helm of affairs at the 

Ekpoma based state university, 

according to education analysts, have 

continued to earn him the respect and 

love of the university’s management, 

staff, students as well as parents and 

guardians. 

But those who know about the vicechancellors’s 

academic pedigree, his 

professional experience, exposure and 

desire to always be an agent of positive 

change have never been surprised by 

his promises of yesterday which have 

become the reality of today.40 years ago 

when he was admitted to study 

agricultural biochemistry and nutrition 

in University of Ibadan UI), he was just 

one of the ambitious youths many of 

whom were yet to give proper definition 

to their dreams. Today, he is one of the 

few who have turned their dreams into 

reality. Onimawo is one of the 

outstanding Vice-Chancellors in Nigeria 

today whose exemplary character serves 

as a compass for undergraduates, most 

of whom are still seeking the route to 

genuine success. 

His contemporaries believe his success 

story is a product of the solid training 

he received at UI, his willingness to 

learn from others and diligence, while 

his kinsmen say his respect for tradition, 

culture and values is what has taken him 

this far in life. But those who are close 

to him know that all these and his desire 

to always use his wealth of experience 

and exposure for nation-building are 

those things that made him a fulfilled 

man. 

Born on July 20, 1957 in Afowa, Etsako 

West Local Government Area of Edo 

State, he attended St. James Grammar 

School, Afuze from 1972 to 1976 where 

he obtained his WASSCE (Division 

One), 1976. With this feat, he was 

admitted into the premier university in 

Nigeria (UI) in 1977 for B.Sc degree in 

agricultural biochemistry and nutrition 

and he graduated with a second class 

upper division in 1982. 

Onimawo proceeded for his master’s 

programme and thereafter a Ph.D. 

programme in human nutrition 

(nutritional biochemistry) in 1985 and 

1995 respectively, also in UI. 

In 2012, he 

bagged a 

certificate in 

Professional 

Development in 

Nutrition (CPD). 

The VC started 

his working 

career as 

Lecturer III in the 

Science Technology Department of the 

Federal Polytechnic, Idah, Kogi State 

in 1983 and rose through the ranks to 

the position of Chief Lecturer in 1999 

before he joined AAU as Senior 

Lecturer in 1999. In 2001, he left to take 

up an appointment with Michael 

Okpara University of Agriculture, 

Umudike and rose to the rank of 

professor in 2005. 

He rejoined AAU in 2005 and became 

the Vice-chancellor on May 11, 2016. 

The VC has distinguished himself in 

the areas of research and publication. 

His infrastructural revolution at the 

university has repositioned it as one 

of the best universities in Nigeria. 

Academic excellence, transparency and 

accountability are his watchwords. As 

an administrator with zero tolerance for 

criminal activities, he exudes 

unwavering determination to rid the 

system of corrupt practices and 

criminal tendencies. He made it clear 

Uduaghan promoted 

ethnic unity, peace 

among Deltans, says 

Johnny 

A 

chieftain of the All Progressives Con 

gress, APC, Chief Michael Johnny, 

has said that the former governor of Delta 

State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan promoted 

ethnic unity and peace among the 

people of the state, advising the current 

administration to build on the remarkable 

legacy. 

Johnny, who was reacting to the 

planned protest against former Governor 

Uduaghan, said it was a plot to 

cause a serious ethnic disunity among 

the people of Delta State. 

The Ijaw leader said “Uduaghan’s eight 

years in office witnessed remarkable 

peace and harmony among Urhobo, Ijaw, 

Isoko, Itsekiri and all other ethnic nationalities 

in the state, and there were human 

and infrastructural projects executed 

across the state. So, there is no justification 

for such protest against Uduaghan, 

the current administration led by 

Ifeanyi Okowa should ensure all tribes 

in the state continue to enjoy sustainable 

peace and unity” . 

Johnny, also chairman of Egbema 

Gbaramatu Communities Development 

Foundation, said “most politicians in 

Delta State today were made by former 

Governor James Ibori, thank God Ibori 

is a free man now and he is back to the 

country. The immediate former governor, 

Emmanuel Udughan, in his eight 

years in office, he touched more lives, and 

several developmental projects were executed, 

and now it appears some persons 

are planning to betray and bring Uduaghan 

down, it is unfair and wicked”. 

“ Let me sincerely advise the sponsors 

of the planned protest against Uduaghan 

to have a rethink because that was how 

some persons in Delta State because of 

jealousy and hatred ignorantly connived 

with outside forces against Ibori. Both 

Ibori and Uduaghan had served and contributed 

to the development of the state, 

Okowa should focus on governance and 

not otherwise”. 

on assumption of office 

that it would no longer be 

business as usual and 

has remained faithful to 

that policy. There is no 

secrecy in his 

administration as 

he runs an open 

Prof 

Onimawo 

door policy, 

encouraging all 

staff to be open 

and diligent 

in their work. 

There is still 

more to be 

done in order 

to make the 

university one 

of the best ten 

universities in Nigeria. His 

words: “We still have to build on 

what we have on ground by 

improving on our internally 

generated revenue rather than 

depending on government. We 

have introduced the monthly 

inaugural lecture and monthly 

prayer session for every member 

of the university which takes 

place every first Thursday of the 

month and every last Friday of 

the month. Health walk was also 

introduced by my administration 

to the members of the university 

to keep fit. We have to do more 

researches and contribute more 

to our national industrial 

development, while the 

management, staff, students, 

government and even parents 

have different roles to play so that 

AAU can continue to achieve its 

mandate.” 

C 

M 

Y 

K

IGWE ALEX NWOKEDI 

BLASTS RUMOUR MONGERS 

PAGE 32— SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 5, 2017 

‘Those wishing 

BY BASHIR ADEFAKA 

When the President of a country 

is wished dead, how does it 

feel to you as somebody who had 

been there before as Press Secretary 

to a Head of State? 

It is not good to wish anybody dead 

not to even talk of wishing the 

President of the country dead. 

Whoever wishes Buhari dead only 

wastes his time because it means he 

will live long. There is an adage in 

my area that says that when you start 

wishing somebody dead, it means 

long life for the person. Do you have 

that adage in Yoruba too? It is not a 

good thing to say that somebody is 

dead when the person is hale and 

hearty. But the President is the 

President of Nigeria and so all his 

movement must be known to 

Nigerians. 

Do you mean that the information 

that he was going on leave for 10 

days was not enough even with the 

handover to his vice as Acting 

President? 

Why not? That is enough. He must 

be given credit for not twisting the 

system as he did what was needful. 

Now, the President, who ordinarily is 

entitled to about 30 days as annual 

leave, is known for not spending all 

and during that short period 

governance is not suspended. 

Having worked as the spokesman 

for a Head of State and 

Commander-in-Chief in the past, 

what do you think is wrong when 

people say President Buhari does 

not communicate? 

Whoever says the President does not 

communicate is not saying the truth. 

However, this new year, whether such 

people are saying the truth or not, 

they are Nigerians and so he should 

adopt what I describe as CCC. 

What is CCC? 

CCC is Conversion, Correction and 

Communication. You see, people are 

funny. There are people that if you 

talk to them from January 1, 2016 till 

January 1, 2017, ask them, “Have I 

communicated?” You will be 

surprised they will say no you have 

not communicated. And in the context 

of this interview I want to put myself 

in the position of such people which is 

the reason I want everything about 

the President’s information and 

communication system to look like 

starting afresh. 

How do you mean? 

By CCC, the President should try to 

C 

M 

YK 

Buhari dead are 

wasting their time’ 

Igwe Ezeoba Alex Nwokedi, a veteran journalist, a sports man and Utokoneze Achalla, 

Anambra State, is also a former Chairman, Anambra State Council of Traditional 

Rulers and former Press Secretary to former President Olusegun Obasanjo during his 

time as military Head of State. In this interview, Nwokedi says those wishing President 

Muhammadu Buhari dead are wasting their time as, according to him, the wish 

means Buhari will live long. He also speaks on the need for the President to adopt 

Conversion, Correction and Communication tactics to boost his communication to 

enable Nigerians believe and understand his policies and programmes. 

But the 

President is the 

President of 

Nigeria and so 

all his 

movement must 

be known to 

Nigerians 

convert us to believe in what he is 

doing. And when we raise issues, we are 

not just criticising but we are pointing 

out some errors which he should 

correct. 

Could you let us into some of the 

errors that the President has 

committed? 

Communication. That is just the issue, 

nothing more. He is a human being. 

However, the President should 

strengthen his communication outfit. 

Femi Adesina, his Special Adviser 

Media and Publicity, is, no doubt, 

competent and he is a renowned 

journalist. He should be strengthened 

and given the facilities to improve the 

communication system of the Office of 

the President. That is what is wrong 

with the President, nothing more. 

So, he should empower Femi Adesina 

to improve his communication system 

because, no matter how well a President 

is doing, if his policies and programmes 

are not well or adequately 

communicated to the people, it can 

cause a disconnect between the leader 

and the people. That is why it is very 

important that it is done. And I will 

appreciate it if that happens: 

Conversion, Correction and 

Communication. 

But knowing many Nigerians for 

whom they are, no matter how you 

talk to them, they will still say they 

don’t hear. So, how much difference 

will improving the media office of the 

President make? 

That is not true. Nigerians are very 

competent and about the best in terms 

of people to interact with. Just let the 

President do what I have said and see 

whether people who are talking 

anything they like today will not change 

•Nwokedi...Not good to wish anybody dead 

and begin to sell his ideals and 

programmes tomorrow. And what I 

have said he should do is to convert 

us to believe in his policies, he should 

correct his mistakes and strengthen 

Femi Adesina with people and 

facilities required to up the 

communication system in the Office 

of the President. 

Communication is very important 

to the success of every government. I 

remember when I was Press Secretary 

to General Olusegun Obasanjo as 

Head of State and he would tell me 

his inner thought on issues and that 

helped me to communicate to the 

people. 

President Buhari should see 

communication beyond just 

gathering people around him. He 

should tell Femi his inner thought on 

issues, Femi will give his own advice 

which the President is bound to reject 

or accept. 

Apart from being a foremost 

traditional ruler, you are also a big 

farmer. What do you have say about 

diversification into agriculture? 

Yes, I am not just a farmer. I am a 

rice and yam farmer and our rice in 

Achalla, Anambra State is the best in 

Africa and one of the best in the 

world. 

By CCC, the 

President should try 

to convert us to 

believe in what he is 

doing. And when we 

raise issues, we are 

not just criticising but 

we are pointing out 

some errors which he 

should correct 

If you have the best rice in Africa, 

how come the impact is not felt in 

your area as the people still 

complain about high cost of rice? 

High cost of rice is good but 

should be reasonable also so that 

while the consumer finds it easy to 

buy, the farmer too will have the 

value for his labour. 

I will only appeal to the Federal 

Government to give Governor Willie 

Obiano of Anambra State support to 

take farming in the state up to the 

level that can contribute 

significantly to feeding the entire 

nation. Obiano is a performing 

governor and if the brilliant 

programme the Federal 

Government has put in place is 

extended to Anambra, like it should 

be extended to and embraced by 

other state governments in Nigeria, 

he will do better. 

And the area farmers of Nigeria 

particularly in Anambra State need 

assistance is in the area of 

mechanised farming. If that is done, 

we will not only have enough to feed 

but we will export to earn foreign 

exchange for Nigeria. 

The Emir of Surmi few days ago 

apprehended, with the aid of his 

vigilantes, three Boko Haram 

members and handed them over to 

the Nigerian Army, which is 

similar to what you did when you 

used your vigilantes to find and 

apprehend those who kidnapped an 

Igwe and brought him to your 

community to hide. How do you 

think this effort can go round? 

Leadership of the National 

Council of Traditional Rulers should 

take the meeting of the council 

beyond just presenting papers. It 

should be made practical so that 

monarchs who have this kind of 

experience you talked about can 

discuss how they do it so that other 

monarchs will go back home and 

use the ideas in their communities. 

I can assure you that this is a way 

traditional institutions can be made 

to play a role in securing lives and 

property across the country and, 

once every community is free of 

crime, the country will be better to 

live in.


AYO ONIKOYI 

08052201215 

Former minister 

er, , Awotorebo’s orebo’s son hooked 

L-R: Chief (Eng) Bashir Ishola Awotorebo and wife, Oye, groom's parents; 

Mr and Mrs Akinkunle Ayinde Awotorebo, the new couple; Mrs Bridget 

Okonji and husband, Austine, bride's parents. 

AKINKUNLE Ayinde 

Awotorebo, son of 

Chief (Eng) Bashir 

Ishola Awotorebo, a 

former Minister of State 

for Water Resources, has 

bid his bachelor friends 

farewell as he has 

walked down the aisle 

with his live-long love, 

Daisy-Sharon Obiageli 

Okonji, daughter of Mr 

and Mrs Austine Okonji. 

The lovebirds 

exchanged the nuptial 

oaths at St Charles 

Borromeo Catholic 

Church, 1004 Estate, 

Victoria Island, Lagos. 

Many prominent Ife 

sons and daughters 

graced the occasion as 

well as other highprofile 

Nigerians. 

Photos by Lamidi 

Bamidele 

Herbert t Onitiri laid 

to rest 

Family, friends and relations of the late Prof. 

Herbert Maurice Adebola Onitiri were all 

present to bid him final farewell. The eternal 

home-bound journey of the Late academician started 

on Wednesday, January 25 th and climaxed with a 

funeral service at The African Church Arch 

Cathedral Bethel, Lagos on Friday, January 27th 

followed a lavish reception at Shell Hall, Muson 

Centre, Onikan, Lagos. Photos by Sola Oyelese 

L-R: Temi Nunu, Rita Amuka, Otunba Wale 

Bello, Ursla Chibudu and Carol Okaroh. 

L-R: Mr Gbenga Adefaye, GM/Editor-in-Chief, 

Vanguard; Mrs Kofo Odeyemi and Chief John 

Odeyemi, the Obasewa of Ile–Ife. 

Chief Alex Duduyemi, the Aro of Ife, and 

Barrister Gbenga Omiwole . 

Lawani-Onitiri celebrates 70 in style 

L- R: Otunba Kunle Ogunade, Chief (Mrs ) Koworola Adenike Williams 

Lawani- Onitiri, celebrant, Mrs Funmi Eso- Williams and Chief Gani 

Oladiran. 

Woman of 

substance and 

of many parts, 

Chief (Mrs ) Koworola 

Adenike Williams 

Lawani- Onitiri proved 

without an iota of 

doubts that she wines 

and dines with the high 

and mighty as her 70 th 

birthday was graced by 

the crème de la crème 

of the society. 

At her residence at 

Anthony Village, Lagos, 

it was merry merry all 

the way for her and 

friends who came from 

far and wide. 

Photos by Diran Oshe 

L-R: Joyce N. Sanyaolu, Adenike Adetunji and 

Otunba Wale Bello. 

L-R: Sir (Chief) Olu Okeowo, Lady Olu Okeowo, 

Mr Osa Sonny Adun and Mrs Oyinkansola 

Adun. 

L- R: Mrs Folake Jones , Mrs Janet Momoh and 

Mrs Rose Obaze 

L-R: Chief (Mrs) Koworola Adenike Williams Lawani- 

Onitiri, celebrant; Mr. Jazino Williams, son, during the 

70th birthday celebration of Chief (Mrs)Koworola 

Adenike Williams Lawani-Onitiri at her resident 

Anthony Village Lagos 

L-R: Prince Adeyimika Ademiluyi , Otunba and 

Mrs Sunbo Onitiri


Only with Christ can 

we be fulfilled 

Brethren, let’s all give 

glory to God that has 

seen us through the 

month of January. The year 

2017 which God ushered us 

in barely forty days ago is 

gradually going. 

Do a bit of reflection and you 

will find out that the mercy of 

God over your household has 

been awesome. He has 

protected you from all evil 

and provided for you. There 

has been healing in your 

family. 

Recession or not, he has been 

your breadwinner. Why don’t 

you begin to thank God for 

his faithfulness, for his 

unlimited mercy toward us 

even when we really do not 

deserve most of the things he 

has done for us. 

This edition of Joyful homes 

is a little different from our 

usual focus but not completely 

unrelated. 

Brethren, 2017 is a journey 

which by the grace of God, we 

have witnessed the beginning 

but we do not know what is on 

the way or how it will end. 

But by the Grace of God, we 

shall end it joyfully in Jesus 

name. 

How do I know? My 

authority is found in the book 

of Jeremiah 29 vs 11 - The 

Good News Bible: “I alone 

know the plans for you, plans 

to bring you prosperity and 

not disaster, plans to bring 

about the future you hope 

for” . 

God says he alone knows 

the plans for you. The plan 

of God is to make you prosper. 

You are expected to be. 

cheerful and not sorrowful 

In the name of Jesus, disaster, 

tragedy will not come your 

way this year and beyond . 

However, there are certain 

things that we need to do as 

human beings. The first is that 

we have to appreciate that we 

are limited as human 

beings. Certain things are just 

beyond our control. 

For instance, you wish that 

your daughter who is over 40 

years should get married but 

you cannot provide a husband 

for her. When you tried to 

match-make it failed. 

Or yours is the case of your 

only son yet to make you a 

grandmother. For some 

others it is stagnation. You 

have been working for years 

but inadequately rewarded 

yet you cannot promote 

yourself. 

For some others still, it is a 

case of enduring your 

marriage instead of enjoying 

it. 

So many conditions that we 

wish would change for the 

better but just remains 

stagnant. This season, as the 

Lord lives, everything that has 

been stagnant in your life, 

your home, your business, will 

receive the touch of God in the 

mighty name of Jesus. 

What is common to all these 

situations is that help is 

needed. What kind of help? 

Divine help. 

Divine Help- Since we 

cannot walk the journey of life 

alone. We need divine help. 

Let’s take a look at Jeremiah 

29 vs 12&13 of the Good 

News Bible, “ Then you will 

call me. You will come and 

pray to me, and I will answer 

you. You will seek me, and 

you will find me because you 

will seek me with all your 

heart”. 

King James version states 

“Then shall ye call upon me, 

and ye shall go and pray unto 

me, and I will hearken unto 

you. And ye shall seek me, and 

find me, when ye shall search 

for me with all your heart”. 

Brethren, the help of God is 

available for those who seek 

him with the whole heart. 

Without Christ, life is empty. 

Those who seek the help of 

God, receive it and others see 

the glory of God in their 

lives. 

You have a choice. Continue 

to go through that challenge 

alone, depend on friends or 

relations or submit to Jesus. 

The choice is yours. 

No wonder it is written in 

Philippians 4 vs. 13 “ I can do 

all things through Christ which 

strengtheneth me”. 

We have a greater assurance 

in Isaiah 50 vs 7 - King James 

version “ For the Lord will help 

me; therefore shall I not be 

For every challenge 

that has caused 

people to insult you, 

the Lord will give you 

a result worthy of 

celebration in the 

name of Jesus 

confounded : therefore have I 

set my face like a flint, and I 

know that I shall not be 

ashamed”. 

Again I refer to the Good 

News Bible- same Isaiah 50 vs 

7 “ But their insults cannot hurt 

me because the Sovereign 

LORD gives me help. I brace 

myself to endure them, I know 

that I will not be disgraced, for 

God is near and he will prove 

me innocent”. 

That house that you have been 

building for over 10 years and 

you are unable to complete, this 

year, as you call on the Lord for 

help, your mockers will 

celebrate with you in the name 

of Jesus. 

When you start a project and 

you are unable to complete it 

and you are daily insulted 

by your landlord, the way 

out is to call on the Lord to 

break the yoke of 

tenancy. Many people do 

not realize that tenancy is a 

yoke but it is. True, we all 

start as tenants but by the 

time you find yourself 

paying rent for 30 years or 

more, you better ask for the 

help of God. 

For every challenge that 

has caused people to insult 

you, the Lord will give you a 

result worthy of celebration 

in the name of Jesus. 

Seek the help of God and 

you will not be disgraced . 

Brethren, let’s do 

everything to keep the peace 

in our homes. 

Notwithstanding the 

financial challenges, let’s try 

to maintain peace. 

These days, the rate of 

inflation is putting pressure 

on families. We are in the 

days that take home pay 

isn’t taking anyone home 

anymore. The middle class, 

the upper class, the lower 

class, every stratum in the 

society is complaining but 

once we embrace the peace 

of the Lord, we’ll be able to 

cope. This period will soon 

be forgotten in Jesus name. 

Couples must strive to 

maintain peace. By the 

grace of God, we shall live 

to eat of the goodness of this 

land in Jesus name. 

Testimony- I am about 

to share a testimony that 

every couple should learn 

from. 

A man gave his wife of 

many years; mother of his 

children a loan of N2million 

to boost her business. 

The woman got the goods 

and expected that her sales of 

December 2016 will write off 

the loan. Unfortunately, 

as a result of the recession, she 

didn’t make that much. Lest 

I forget, her darling husband 

who gave her the loan told 

her he would take an interest 

of N300,000. The woman 

was only able to refund one 

million Naira. Hell was let 

loose. Daddy threatened to 

send her and her children 

packing out of his house. 

Indeed, he locked them out 

and neighbours had to plead 

for him to allow them back 

but not without his vow to 

throw her and their children 

out if she failed to pay within 

a certain period. How does 

she pay back what she does 

not have? 

The woman cried unto the 

Lord and asked the church to 

help her cry unto the Lord and 

the congregation did. 

Barely a week later, she 

wrote a testimony that God 

had touched the man’s heart 

and all is settled. She will no 

longer be expelled from her 

home with her children. 

Did I hear you say, what kind 

of husband is that? The couple 

must have had a cordial 

relationship to be married for 

so long. It is the pressure of 

money. 

The economic situation has 

created a distance between 

friends, lovers and this is one 

reason why we have to always 

pray for our country that God 

should prosper our nation. 

With a blessed nation, we are 

sure of a joyful home. 

Do have a blessed week. 

Tunde 

Rahman 

on Sunday 

National Defence College, 

Strategic Leadership and 

Asiwaju Tinubu 

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu's 

lecture, delivered on 

Wednesday, January 

25, 2017 at the National 

Defence College, Abuja was 

still trending on social media 

even by last night. Apart from 

the reports on the lecture after 

it was given, some newspaper 

organisations published the 

text of the incisive lecture in 

bits and pieces. Others 

published it in full. Asiwaju 

Tinubu spoke to participants 

of Course 25 of the college on 

the topic: "Strategic 

Leadership: My Theory and 

Practise". The course 

participants from 11 

countries, including Nigeria, 

and a few invited guests were 

in that hallowed hall of the 

college that afternoon in 

Abuja listening to the All 

Progressives Congress 

National Chieftain, who was 

at his best as he gave the 

speech. Let me briefly touch 

on some highlights of the 

paper here. 

Asiwaju Tinubu 

emphasized the significance 

of vision in leadership, saying 

excellent strategic political 

leadership is based on 

commitment to a political 

vision, which is another way 

of saying a leader must stand 

for something, a leader must 

have a positive dream. “A 

leader must have a coherent 

objective in mind. Strategy 

and tactics are then fashioned 

to work toward that vision. 

This is an essential 

consideration. There cannot 

be strategic leadership 

without a conscious 

objective”. 

He lamented that political 

leadership in Nigeria had 

generally fallen short in this 

regard. “Leadership has been 

short-sighted and fixed on 

narrow, immediate objectives. 

Because of this, leadership has 

been more transactional than 

strategic in nature.” 

He advocated that leaders 

must focus on the “substantive 

results and long-term 

consequences of their policies 

and actions”. He said fixation 

on the details of numerous 

transactions could produce a 

mirage of control and order 

over every event and episode. 

“Excessive control over 

individual parts comes at the 

sacrifice of harmony of the 

whole. The parts do not fit well 

together because they were 

not created as a unified 

whole”. 

Some may ask: has Asiwaju 

Tinubu demonstrated he 

could do things differently 

from other leaders? Does he 

engage in strategic planning 

and implementation as he 

preached in the lecture? The 

answer may not be far-fetched. 

Just cast your mind back to 

his role along with others in 

chasing out the military from 

governance and, with the 

resurgence of democracy in 

the land, how he was the only 

Alliance for Democracy (AD) 

Governor standing after the 

2003 poll. How, as it turned 

out, he was the one who saw 

the bobby trap of the wily 

President Obasanjo and who 

survived the deception, and 

how he and a few others in 

2015 forged the opposition 

coalition that unseated a PDP 

incumbent from power for the 

first time in our country’s 

political history. 

He spoke in greater details 

about these events in his 

lecture. 

“During the 1980’s and 

1990’s, a progressive 

politician like me was at 

extreme odds with the military. 

This opposition was not 

against the military as the 

military. It was against 

military governance. Military 

governance was 

diametrically opposed to the 

democratic Nigeria I 

envisioned. The permanent 

aim was to attain democratic 

governance. 

“During this period, the 

strategic objective had to be 

the exit of the military from 

power. Tactics would be 

devised to meet the moment. 

The tactics ranged from 

cooperation with the military 

during the SDP/NRC aborted 

transition to outright protests 

at home and seeking 

international condemnation 

of the succeeding military 

regime when it sought to 

perpetuate itself in power”. He 

added: “When that regime 

became increasingly brutal, 

tactics changed. Some of us 

were arrested and detained; 

some of us went into exile. We 

could not contest muscle for 

muscle against the regime. 

Instead, we engineered a 

strategic retreat to be outside 

the regime’s strong reach. 

“From this distance, we still 

did an effective job 

canvassing the nation and 

international community to 

support democracy and 

freedom. Our words were 

akin to long range artillery or 

air power. The military 

controlled the ground but we 

held supremacy in the air 

waves. We were winning the 

battle for the hearts and minds 

of people.” 

He explained that he was 

opposed to the military not as 

an institution per se, but only 

because the hierarchical and 

centralized command inherent 

to the military was ill suited for 

democratic governance. “We 

worked to ease the military 

from the political arena. There 

would be no recrimination or 

backlash against the institution. 

Once the military was out of 

politics, my opposition to the 

And leading the 

vanguard of that merger 

of opposition forces, his 

eyes were fixed on the 

ultimate goal: cutting the 

PDP’s boast of ruling for 

60 years to just 16. That 

dream was achieved. The 

rest as they say is history 

military ended”. 

Talking about the 2003 

episode, when the PDP dangled 

an alliance before the AD, he 

said the proposal was that if the 

AD supported the PDP at the 

presidential level, the PDP 

would not oppose AD 

governors at the state level. 

“Because of my strategic 

perspective and the previous 

legal confrontations I had with 

the federal government due to 

its overreach, I rejected the 

proposal. It sounded too easy 

to be good. Sadly, some of my 

colleagues lost sight of the longterm 

objective; they were enticed 

to chase after short-term 

promises. Those promises were 

hollow. My friends chased 

themselves into a corner. Their 

non-opposition to the PDP at the 

presidential level would be 

repaid with deception. The PDP 

outflanked them in the 

gubernatorial race. Lagos was 

to be the only state with an AD 

governor”. 

Leading into the 2015 

election season, he said 

progressive politicians 

throughout Nigeria and 

across party lines 

recognized the nation was 

in deep trouble. “Corruption 

was rampant. The Boko 

Haram menace growing. 

The economy was 

unbalanced and 

government policy was not 

providing the right growth 

catalysts despite favourable 

oil prices. PDP governance 

had overstayed its welcome. 

The people were ready for 

change. And we must 

develop the strategic 

leadership and 

determination to achieve 

the change." 

He saw the imperative for 

opposition parties to form a 

merger and not an alliance 

as they tried unsuccessfully 

in 2011. 

“Standing as separate 

parties, we could not best the 

PDP. We had tried that path; 

it led to defeat in 2011. A 

strategic rethink was 

needed. To attain the goal of 

ousting the PDP and placing 

Nigeria on the road to 

progressive governance, the 

strategic linchpin would be 

the merger of opposition 

parties.” 

And leading the vanguard 

of that merger of opposition 

forces, his eyes were fixed on 

the ultimate goal: cutting 

the PDP’s boast of ruling for 

60 years to just 16. That 

dream was achieved. The 

rest as they say is history. 

Asiwaju Tinubu also 

pinpointed the dissonance 

between vision and strategy 

in our political economy, 

saying it is the bane of the 

economy. “We have so much 

talent in the nation but it has 

not been engaged and 

engineered to function in 

unison. Fiscal policy does 

not mesh with monetary 

policy. Trade policy 

undermined industrial 

policy, thus ease of doing 

business is inhibited. 

Overseas peacekeeping 

missions do not always 

harmonize with core 

foreign policy interests”. 

This is what some reports in 

some media platforms 

interpreted to mean a vicious 

criticism of the monetary 

policies of the Buhari-led APC 

administration, which he is a 

part of. But the seeming 

criticism was in a context. 

Even though he believes that 

as party leaders, they must 

speak truth to power, he 

admits no system is perfect. 

“In each, exist some 

contradictions. This is but 

evidence of the imperfection 

of human nature itself”. 

All that and more had been 

reported by the media. What 

has not been well captured is 

the way and manner Asiwaju 

presented the lecture. His 

delivery was as lucid and 

seamless as the lecture was 

fecund. He gesticulated left 

and right in synch with the 

cadences of the speech.The 

presentation was masterly, 

just like the high-pitched 

lecture. 

From the point he arrived, 

along with his entourage, at 

the premises of the National 

Defence College in the 

Central Business District of 

Abuja, the high premium 

placed on the lecture was 

easily discernible. As he 

arrived, Asiwaju Tinubu 

inspected a guard of honour 

mounted by a brigade of the 

college. The Commander of 

the college, Admiral Alade, 

led him to his office where they 

exchanged pleasantries. On 

the computer, he took him 

through the setting and 

arrangement of the college. 

From Admiral Alade’s office, 

he was led to the hall where 

the course participants and 

invited guests were already 

gathered. And then, Asiwaju 

rose, and in measured steps, 

he mounted the rostrum. He 

later took questions after the 

presentation. Point is the APC 

National Leader was again 

on the big stage and, again, 

he rose to the occasion. 

*Tunde Rahman is Special 

Adviser Media to Asiwaju 

Tinubu.


sam.eyoboka@gmail.com 

08023145567 (sms 

C 

M 

YK 

DSS VS APOSTLE SULEMAN 

Lessons 

from an 

encounter 

•The role of the IGP 

By Sam Eyoboka & Caleb Anyasina 

AFTER two consecutive visits to the 

headquarters of the Department of 

State Services, DSS, Aso Drive, in 

Abuja, both the primary domestic intelligence 

agency of Nigeria and the embattled founder 

of Omega Fire Ministries, Apostle Johnson 

Suleman, may now be counting their gains 

and losses. The DSS, like similar outfits 

responsible for intelligence gathering within 

the country, which had come under skating 

criticism after the midnight sting operations 

in the houses of judges, and the recent 

botched attempted arrest of Suleman in Ado 

Ekiti, the outfit should be restrategising on 

how best to engage what it perceives as 

potential threats to national security. 

The Government of the United Kingdom 

maintains intelligence agencies within several 

different government departments. The 

agencies are responsible for collecting and 

producing foreign and domestic intelligence, 

providing military intelligence, performing 

espionage and counter-espionage. Their 

intelligence assessments contribute to the 

conduct of the foreign relations of the United 

Kingdom, maintaining the national security 

of the United Kingdom, military planning and 

law enforcement in the United Kingdom. 

Mossad short for HaMossad leModi¿in 

uleTafkidim Meyu%adim, meaning “Institute 

for Intelligence and Special Operations”), is 

the national Intelligence agency of Israel. It 

is one of the main entities in the Israeli 

Intelligence Community, along with Aman 

(military intelligence) and Shin Bet (internal 

security). Mossad is responsible for 

intelligence collection, covert operations, and 

counterterrorism, as well as bringing Jews to 

Israel from countries where official Aliyah 

agencies are forbidden, and protecting Jewish 

communities. Its director reports directly to 

the Prime Minister. 

Whereas the roles of agencies across the 

globe are defined, it appears DSS is an 

organization whose activities appear to be 

open-ended and very often clash with the 

duties of Nigeria Police Force. Before the 

attempted arrest of Apostle Suleman in Ado 

Ekiti, sources told Sunday Vanguard that the 

Inspector General of Police had struck a deal 

with the leadership of Christian Association 

of Nigeria, CAN, to call the apostle to order. 

CAN had already set up a team to meet with 

Apostle Suleman with a view to finding an 

amicable way round the issues at stake. 

But the Lawal Musa Daura men would 

rather invade a hotel, laying ambush for the 

apostle who was, as at then, prosecuting one 

of his spiritual assignments in Ekiti State and 

the uproar that attended the botched arrest 

did not dissuade them from inviting him for 

questioning. 

For the General Overseer and ‘the Oracle’ 

of Omega Fire Ministries who was born in 

Benin, Edo State, to a Muslim father and a 

Christian mother (reports have it that the 

difference in faith, along with other issues 

eventually led to the separation of his parents) 

the central lesson to learn is his un-godly 

language in the purported recording which 

has since gone viral. Several provoked men 

of God have been calling on Christians under 

any form of attack to defend themselves. 

The Life Of Suleman 

He was destined to be a preacher: A few 

days after Suleman was born, some prophets 

from Warri, Delta State, visited the parents 

with a prophecy. The prophecy was that he 

would become a minister. 

His mother was a police officer and 

a disciplinarian. He revealed this 

in an interview with Encomium, 

saying, “My mother laid down the 

rule that you must be home by 6 pm. 

If you come home at 7pm, she would 

open the door for you. Then, she was 

in the police force. She would open 

the door and spray teargas into the 

room. That’s where you’d be locked 

up and you’d be battling till the 

morning to breathe. She was very 

tough. You can only think of getting 

out of the room if you can find your 

way to the door. It was a horrible 

experience. 

“But now, I am happy that I went 

through that training. She had 

instilled discipline in us but then I 

didn’t like my mother. When I went 

to my father’s house, we were free to 

do all sorts of corrupt things. As a 

young Muslim, I finished my Quran 

and did my Wolima.” 

Life As A Cultist 

He once belonged to a cult: 

According to The Cable, the preacher 

joined a cult because he was looking 

for acceptance. In his words, “I was 

a dignified cultist. I am from a home 

of separated parents. My parents 

had some issues. Any child from a 

home like that is bound to fall into 

the streets. So, I got into school and 

I wanted acceptance somewhere. 

Someone told me that there is 

something called brotherhood and 

that I would be accepted as a family 

member and I liked it. I didn’t know 

there was a beating part and being 

taken to the bush. I didn’t like that. 

But you have to go into it. What I 

•Suleman 

The central 

lesson to learn is 

his ungodly 

language in the 

purported 

recording which 

has since gone 

viral 

always avoided then was the 

assignments. I was just like a floor 

member. I would go to meetings and 

when assigned to do something and 

I couldn’t, I had to look for someone 

to do it and pay for it. I was not 

really happy but I was there.” 

Hatred For Christianity 

Thanks to his father’s influence, 

the younger Suleman thought all 

Christians were insincere, thus he 

disliked the religion. 

But he received his calling in 

1989. According to him, he had a 

divine intervention that changed 

the course of his life. “I went to bed 

that December 24, and I woke up 

on December 26. I didn’t see 

Christmas day. I slept all through. 

In the midst of that, I was seeing 

hell, heaven and a voice told me 

that I was going to be a preacher. 

I woke up and went to meet a 

Mallam and he said I should go 

and do some recitations. But when 

I went back, I felt beaten,” he said. 

This eventually led to the 

establishment of his church in 

2004. 

In an interview with Sunday 

Vanguard, he said, “As for the 

achievements, we have several 

daily, weekly, monthly, yearly 

achievements but the greatest of it 

all is that we have the Most High 

God with us in all our ways.” 

His biggest challenge is the flesh 

and the devil: He told Sunday 

Vanguard that “Men of God called 

to proclaim the Gospel of Christ in 

truth cannot be separated from 

having challenges in their various 

assignments as challenges are part 

of the call. The general challenge 

irrespective of the call is the flesh 

and the devil. If these two things 

are removed, there won’t be any 

challenge.” 

Apostle Suleman was recently all 

over the news for telling his 

security to kill Fulani herdsmen in 

a video that went viral. 

This was what attracted the 

attention of the DSS. 

CONTRARY to earlier reports 

that the embattled senior pastor of 

Omega Fire Ministries, Apostle 

Johnson Suleman had a smooth 

passage with the, DSS on 

Monday, Sunday Vanguard can 

now reveal that the ultimate deal 

was concluded Tuesday night 

when the fiery cleric was 

eventually left off the hook. 

According to our usually credible 

source, the eventual deal was 

struck at the DSS headquarters 

and he was released to the 

Chairman of Christian Association 

of Nigeria, CAN, in 19 northern 

states and Abuja, Rev. Yakubu 

Pam, who accompanied him to the 

DSS headquarters at about 8.25 

p.m.Tuesday night. 

The fiery preacher was part of the 

reconciliation party that paid a 

courtesy visit to the Inspector 

General of Police in his office with 

several of the IGP’s chiefs after 

some friction between the security 

forces and the controversial 

preacher, who was on the wrong 

side following some statements 

perceived to be hate messages, to 

his adherents. 

According to our source, the 

delegation then left the IGP’s for 

the DSS headquarters where the 

DG, Musa Daura, and his 

operatives took time to assemble 

all relevant documents including 

transcripts of the offensive 

message and an undertaking for 

both parties to sign to seal the 

deal. 

The source said: “Its all over 

now and I can tell you here and 

now that the whole wahala is 

now behind us. It ended a few 

moments ago and there is no 

more cause for alarm”, saying, 

the only thing that delayed the 

process was the monitoring of the 

TV videos and the 

documentation as well as the 

packaging of an undertaking 

which was signed by both 

parties. 

Pam hailed the role played by 

the IGP whose intervention paved 

the way for the easy settlement of 

the challenge, not forgetting to 

stress the importance for peace in 

the nation. 

“My joy is that the whole thing is 

now over eventually and all parties will 

now collaborate to work for the peace 

and tranquility of the nation,” he 

said, adding that the Church should 

also see the need to work in unity.


IN the scriptures, Jesus 

paid a visit to a General 

Hospital. The place was 

full of sick people. Some had 

been suffering of malaria for 

ten years. Some had been afflicted 

with flu for twelve 

years. Others had cough for 

fifteen years. 

Jeremiah wondered about 

this kind of situation. He 

asked: “Is there no balm in 

Gilead, is there no physician 

there? Why then is there no 

recovery for the health of the 

daughter of my people?” (Jeremiah 

8:22). 

John observes that: “A certain 

man was there who had 

an infirmity 38 years. When 

Jesus saw him lying there, and 

knew that he already had been 

in that condition a long time, 

he said to him, ‘Do you want 

to be made well?’” (John 5:5- 

6). 

He had been in church for 

38 years, nevertheless, his infirmity 

was so malignant it refused 

to obey the word of God. 

For 38 years, he had been a 

liar and yet he was regular in 

church. For 38 years, he had 

been a thief, and yet he was 

the chief usher. For 38 years 

he had been a fornicator, and 

yet he was the choir director. 

For 38 years he had been an 

alcoholic, and yet he was the 

pastor. For 38 years he had 

been a gossip, a cheat, a backbiter, 

and a lover of money. 

He remained covetous, malicious, 

quarrelsome, worldly, 

and proud. 

Sowing the word 

Jesus says: “Behold, a sower 

went out to sow. And as he 

sowed, some seed fell by the 

wayside; and the birds came 

and devoured them. Some 

fell on stony places, where they 

did not have much earth; and 

WHY DO YOU GO TO CHURCH? 

How many compliments did you 

get about your new dress? Was 

that fine girl in church? Did she 

notice you? 

they immediately sprang up 

because they had no depth of 

earth. But when the sun was 

up they were scorched, and 

because they had no root they 

withered away. And some fell 

among thorns, and the thorns 

sprang up and choked them. 

But others fell on good 

ground and yielded a crop: 

some a hundredfold, some 

sixty, some thirty. He who has 

ears to hear, let him hear!" 

(Matthew 13:3-9). 

The sower is a bad, indiscriminate 

farmer. He sows 

his seed on the bad ground as 

well as on the good ground. 

In effect, he wastes his seed 

on grounds where it will not 

bear fruit. The seed, of course, 

is the word of God. But there 

is something peculiar about 

it. The writer of Hebrews says: 

“The word of God is living 

and powerful, and sharper 

than any two-edged sword, 

piercing even to the division 

of soul and spirit, and of joints 

and marrow, and is a discerner 

of the thoughts and intents 

of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12). 

However, the truth is a little 

more complicated. The 

word of God is powerful, and 

yet it is powerless. It is only as 

powerful as we allow it to be. 

Confronted with the stonyheart, 

the word of God becomes 

powerless. Confronted 

with the graduates of the 

school of unbelief, even Jesus 

becomes ineffective. 

Matthew reports that when 

Jesus visited his own hometown: 

“He could do no 

mighty work there, except 

that he laid his hands on a 

few sick people and healed 

them. And he marveled because 

of their unbelief.” 

(Mark 6:5-6). It was not that 

he did no mighty work there: 

it was that he could not. Their 

unbelief made him powerless. 

Church-Hospital 

At the General Hospital in 

Bethesda, Jesus asked the 

man who has been sick for 

38 years: “Do we want to be 

healed?” He asks the same 

question of us today: “Are we 

interested in being healed at 

all?” 

That is the crux of the problem. 

We are sick and we keep 

coming to the hospital, but 

we are not interested in being 

healed. We are not interested 

in being changed. We are not 

interested in being transformed. 

We are dying of leprosy 

but we are not interested 

in being cleansed. So why do 

we keep coming to church? 

Don’t we know the church is 

a hospital? 

We go to church to see and 

be seen, rather than to hear 

and be healed. We go to 

church to fulfil righteousness 

than to be made wise unto 

salvation. We go to church to 

show off our latest clothing 

and our new hairstyle than to 

worship God. We spend more 

time trying to decide which 

clothing to wear to the church 

service and which shoes and 

bags to match than to secure 

the grace that is sufficient 

unto the day. 

Now that you are back 

home from that wonderful 

service, what have you 

achieved? What did you learn 

there? What did you receive? 

How many compliments did 

you get about your new dress? 

What did they think about the 

way you sang that special 

number? What was the reaction 

to your testimony about 

your new job? Was that fine 

girl in church? Did she notice 

you? 

Hearing ear 

But did we hear the gospel? 

If we hear we will be healed. 

The scripture cannot be broken. 

If you are not healed after 

all these years, it either 

means that you have not 

heard or have simply not believed 

or are simply not interested. 

Jesus says: “Take heed what 

you hear. With the same measure 

you use, it will be measured 

to you; and to you who 

hear, more will be given.” 

(Mark 4:24). "Behold, I stand 

at the door and knock. If anyone 

hears my voice and 

opens the door, I will come in 

to him and dine with him, and 

he with me.” (Revelation 

3:20). "Most assuredly, I say 

to you, the hour is coming, 

and now is, when the dead 

will hear the voice of the Son 

of God; and those who hear 

will live.” (John 5:25). 

So, what have you heard? 

Have you heard that if you 

sow 100 naira you will reap 

1000, or have you heard that 

if you sow righteousness you 

will reap mercy? Have we 

heard that the seed is money 

or that the seed is the word of 

God? 

Have you heard that angels 

drop bags of blessings before 

the praise worship? Have you 

heard that if you change your 

church you will be cursed? 

Have you heard that if you 

wear earrings or smoke cigarettes 

you will not go to 

heaven? Have you heard that 

if you are a Christian and 

don’t have a car it is an insult 

to God? What exactly have 

you heard? 

Have you heard that the 

soul that sins will die? Have 

you heard that fornicators 

and adulterers will not inherit 

the kingdom of God? Have 

you heard that drunkards 

don’t go to heaven? Have you 

heard that quarrelsome people, 

backbiters and gossips 

don’t spend eternity with 

God? If so, why do you persist 

in these things? Do you plan 

to continue in them for the 

next 38 years? 

Jesus says: “My sheep hear 

my voice, and I know them, 

and they follow me.” (John 

10:27). “Yet they will by no 

means follow a stranger, but 

will flee from him, for they do 

not know the voice of strangers.” 

(John 10:5), 

Do you go to church to hear 

the voice of Jesus or do you 

go to hear the voice of strangers? 

PERSECUTION: Defend yourselves, Catholic bishops urge adherents 

By Olayinka Latona 

PRESIDENT of Catholic Bish 

ops Conference of Nigeria 

(CBCN), Archbishop Ignatus 

Kaigama has sued for peace and 

stability as necessary ingredients 

for national development, arguing 

that wanton destruction of human 

lives, will not do us any good 

as a country. 

Kaigama said this at a 3-day 50 

years anniversary celebration of 

the Association of Sacred Heart 

of Jesus and Immaculate Heart 

of Mary at St. Mary’s Catholic 

Church, Maryland, Lagos. 

"Killing will do nobody any good 

from whichever side it’s coming 

from; so let us beware. Killing 

only creates more violence, more 

tension and only destroys the 

country that we are trying to build. 

"When we begin to engage in violence 

to solve violence we only 

multiply violence, and the Christian 

message is very key and very 

central. 

"If other people kill in the name 

of religion, our religion does not 

allow that as Christians. That 

doesn't mean that we should sit 

down and just allow anybody burn 

our house, our means of livelihood 

and even kill us. 

"You have a right to self defence; 

that somebody is threatening your 

life you have a right to defend yourself 

legitimately, even in law, even 

in human and divine law this is 

allowed," Kaigama said. 

The Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, 

Most Rev. Adewale Martins, 

who condemned the recent killing 

in Southern Kaduna, said life is 

sacred and should not be toyed 

*Madam Felicia Edirin Salubi (c) and some of the new members of the Association of Sacred Heart of Jesus 

and Immaculate Heart of Mary, (Benin Province) with their Provincial President after their solemn admission 

into the association in Lagos. 

with. 

"Every single human being has a 

right to life, a right to his life being 

protected and protecting his 

own life as well. 

"It is a fundamental right and 

therefore every Christian, every 

Muslim has a right to defend him 

or herself if he feels threatened," 

he said. 

National Spiritual Director of 

Association of Sacred Heart of 

Jesus and Immaculate Heart of 

Mary, Very Rev. Monsignor Philip 

Hoteyin urged political office 

holders in all tiers of government 

to fulfill promises they made to 

Nigerians during their campaigns. 

Hoteyin made the appeal in his 

homily at the closing ceremony at 

the Sam Ethnan Air Force Base, 

Ikeja on Sunday. 

He maintained that poverty has 

gotten to an alarming rate in the 

country, where most families at 

the grassroots level now find it extremely 

difficult to put food on 

their tables. 

In his words: “They promised that 

nobody would beg in Nigeria, but 

today most people are picking 

things from dustbins. They promised 

to recover all stolen money 

but we don't know where they kept 

the recovered loot. We are having 

economic challenges today because 

of the greed of some people." 

Hoteyin therefore charged new 

members of the society to be carriers 

of God’s peace wherever they 

are, irrespective of life’s challenges 

and impact positively the lives of 

those they come across. 

In his keynote address tagged: 

"Heart of Jesus, delight of all", 

national chaplain, National 

Council of the Association of Sacred 

Heart of Jesus and Immaculate 

Heart of Mary, Rev. Fr. 

Anthony Umoh, urged members 

to continually promote the perpetual 

adoration and enthronement 

of the sacred Heart of Jesus 

as the delight of the Saints. 

Cleric calls on 

Christian 

leaders to unite 

AN interdenominational 

prayer group known as 

Pastors, Leaders Interceding 

Network, PLIN has 

called on various Christian denominations 

in Nigeria to set 

aside their differences and be 

united as one Body of Christ, 

reports Olayinka Latona. 

Making the call at the group 

quarterly prayer programme 

tagged: “One spirit, one voice”, 

in Fagba Lagos, senior pastor, 

Apostle Dele Johnson described 

denominationalism as 

one of the challenges confronting 

the Nigerian Church. 

He urged Christian leaders to 

do everything possible to bequeath 

a more united Church 

to the young-er generation, 

adding that the power of unity 

will go a long way in solving 

most of the challenges confronting 

the Church and the nation. 

“Our fathers in the Lord should 

present a united front; three or 

five of them should meet and 

have one voice on issues of 

common interest in the Church 

and the nation. They should 

give room for appearance of 

unity; they must be seen as 

united. We are pleading with 

them to bequeath to us a more 

united Church than to leave a 

disunited Church for us. If the 

Church is united, if we sneeze, 

everybody will wake up,” he 

opined.

IKEMBA OHAEKE ABAM CELEBRATES 


In September, 1987, Tony Igboecheonwu Nwankwo, successfully recovered 536,604 hectares of Idima Ohaeke Abam in Arochukwu LGA, Abia State, 

community land, from a retired senior military officer. For the feat, the King, HRM Eze Atum Akwara, Onyerubi 1, pronounced Nwankwo, the Ikemba 

Ohaeke Abam. On January 7, 2017, the Ikemba joined his Ugbogu Age Grade to celebrate the Igboto Nma. The colourful event in pictures. 

Ikemba Tony Igboecheonwu 

Nwankwo 

Celebrant with wife, Lolo Cecilia, on the eve of event. 

On coronation ground: Celebrant with wife, Lolo Cecilia 

(middle); Mrs. Martha John Kalu () and Isabella Nkechi 

Nwankwo (daughter) (r). 

From left: Engr. Chidi Thomas Nwankwo 

(son); Mrs. Ozioma James (cousin) and 

Katherine Chioma Nwankwo (daughter). 

By Simon Ebegbulem, Benin-City 

Trouble broke at Upper Sakpoba Road, 

Benin-City, when a pastor, identified 

as Emokpae Great, was allegedly caught 

in an extra-marital affair with the wife of 

one Mr. Anthony Ehikioya, who is a 

member of the church. Emokpae 

allegedly ran away after angry youths 

stormed his church, penultimate Sunday 

morning, and destroyed property inside 

the place. 

Meanwhile, the husband said he started 

suspecting his wife was into extra-marital 

affairs after his wife refused to have sex The church after the attack 

with him for many months. Following the 

suspicion, he claimed to have planned conversations were recorded 

with his children and neighbours to put on her phone after which the 

the woman under surveillance and they children played back the 

did that by placing her phone on call recording to their father. 

record. Unknown to the woman, all her From the recording, 

The Nobles of Abam: Ikemba (l) with Chief 

Joseph Okoh Kalu. 

From left: Ugoma Comfort Nwankwo (daughter), Patience 

and Mrs. Victoria Nwabude (daughters). 

We caught our pastor after having sex with my wife … 

and begging for more – Husband 

•Mob attacks suspect’s church, dad defends him 

Ehikioya alleged: “The pastor 

was telling my wife how good 

she was in bed and pleaded 

with her to come again so they 

could have sex. It was very 

Igbo monarch’s corpse smuggled out for burial 

BY TONY NWANKWO 

The burial of the late traditional 

ruler of Ohaeke Abam, Arochukwu 

LGA, Abia State, Onyerubi Eze 

Atum Akwara, has been put on hold 

as impostors presented fake 

affidavit with which they claimed 

the body of the deceased king for 

collection and burial. Mortuary 

attendant, Charles Ekwueme, of the 

Madona Catholic Hospital, Aba 

Road, Umuahia said the suspects 

had claimed that they lost the tally 

given to those who deposited the 

corpse. Meanwhile, the tally was in 

the possession of the king’s son, 

Reverend Ngozi Atum Akwara, who 

resides in Aba. 

This followed the alleged sale of the 

king’s landed property called Worwor, 

an expansive fertile prime land, 

by some palace attendants, a land 

which allegedly had been the envy 

of a local politician who had sworn 

to acquire the property by all means. 

To this end, the politician allegedly 

plotted with the palace attendants 

masquerading as family members 

of the king and enticed them with 

money while allegedly inducing also 

some elders of the community to 

ensure he acquired the land 

measuring hundreds of hectares. All 

this was said to have happened 

without the knowledge of the king’s 

son, Pastor Ngozi Atum Akwara, and 

the family. 

However, when information got to 

the junior Akwara who took the 

corpse of his father to the mortuary, 

he presented the tally, an instrument 

that authorised him to retrieve the 

corpse. Responding, Rev. Fr. 

Anokwuru, a top official at the 

hospital where the corpse was 

deposited, said the authorities would 

report the suspects to the police after 

clearance with the Catholic 

Archbishop of Umuahia, His 

Lordship Lucius Ugorji, as, 

according to him, the corpse was 

stolen from the Catholic Hospital 

custody with fake affidavit, saying 

the incident must be investigated 

and culprits brought to justice. 

Meanwhile, unknown to the king’s 

family, arrangements had been put 

in place by the impostors to bury the 

monarch in the dead of night, to 

ensure that they legitimised the 

money the politician paid for the 

land, according to sources. 

The illegality came to a head as 

family members started 

uprooting canopies erected for 

the burial ceremony in the 

community. 

THE Managing Director/ 

Chief Executive Officer of 

EVOMEC Global Services 

Limited, High Chief Peter Esievo, 

has commenced the building of 

six classrooms in Ekpan 

Secondary School, Ekpan-Ovu, 

Delta State and renovation of two 

classrooms blocks and toilet 

system in Urhodo Secondary 

School, Urhodo-Ovu. 

Esievo, who is also donating 

books to pupils of primary and 

secondary schools across Ethiope 

East local government area of the 

obvious and that is why the 

pastor is on the run now”. 

Reacting to the incident, angry 

youths stormed the pastor’s 

church, destroying anything in 

sight. The irate youths, while 

ransacking the place, allegedly 

discovered charms, women’s 

pants, photographs of clients, 

among other items, in the place. 

Sunday Vanguard learnt that 

police men attached to St. 

Saviours Police Division, Benin- 

City arrested the assistant pastor 

of the church and took the 

alleged charms and other fetish 

items away. But the father of the 

accused pastor, Mr Robinson, 

said he was shocked to see the 

police asking after his son 

Group under the aegis of South 

South Political Forum has 

commended President 

Muhammadu Buhari on his 

achievements in the Niger Delta 

region despite the limited time 

he had been in office. 

The group in a statement by 

its president, Mr. Udorji James 

Chi-Ude and secretary, Precious 

Oruerakpo thanked Buhari for 

giving special attention to the 

region.. 

The group prayed God to 

grant Buhari wisdom, good 

health to enable him pilot the 

whom he said is a true man of 

God and could not have slept 

with another man’s wife. 

According to him, “I am 

shocked. My son is a prophet. 

Those charms were planted by 

those that attacked the church. 

There is no evidence of my son 

sleeping with the woman. That 

woman just came to ruin my 

son’s ministry. My son is being 

blackmailed. They said it was 

through phone calls. Anybody 

could have cloned my son’s 

voice. Those people took laws 

into their hands.”When 

contacted, Edo State Police 

Command spokesman, DSP 

Moses Nkombe, said the matter 

was being investigated. 

Youths laud Buhari on N’Delta 

affairs of the country. 

According to the statement: 

“On assuming office, Buhari 

ordered the cleaning up of the 

oil spill in Ogoni land, 

commissioned the Maritime 

School in Delta State. Again, he 

gave appointments to sons and 

daughters of Niger Delta 

region”. 

They commended Buhari on 

the transparent manner in 

which he had handled the 

militancy in the Niger Delta 

and Boko-Haram insurgency in 

the North-East. 

Philanthropist builds classrooms in Delta schools 

state, said he would soon be 

through with the building of the 

six classrooms and renovation 

in a short while. 

The philanthropist, who had 

earlier donated mattresses to 

the National Youth Service 

Corps, (NYSC) members and 

renovated their lodge in Ovu 

Grammar School, promised to 

provide decent toilets for two of 

the schools to stop the students 

going into the bush to ease 

themselves. 

Speaking at Ovu Grammar 

School, Esievo said the gesture 

was not political but out of the 

zeal to contribute to the society 

as he had indigent background, 

hunting to survive before God 

came to his rescue. 

He said, “During my time, we 

were not privileged to have 

books donated to us. In my own 

case, l was rejected, so, l was into 

hunting for animals and 

collecting palm nuts to survive, 

but today, my story has changed, 

so, this kind gesture is dedicated 

to God and all these have no 

political undertone’’.


•The intercepted 49 boxes laden with 661 pump-action rifles 

RED FLAG ON THE CLEARING OF DEADLY CARGO 

How container bearing 661 rifles evaded 

scanning at Lagos port – Customs Controller 

BY UDEME CLEMENT 

The on-gong investigation 

into the seizure of a 

container imported into 

the country with 661pump 

action rifles has taken a new 

dimension, as Sunday Vanguard 

while visiting Customs 

Commands for information 

about the condition of scanning 

machines at the ports and 

borders, gathered that the 

container bearing the arms was 

not booked for scanning by the 

importer. 

Speaking exclusively with 

Sunday Vanguard, the 

Customs Area Controller 

(CAC) of Apapa Command, 

Comptroller Jibrin Musa, 

disclosed that the container 

was not dropped by the 

terminal operator, for 

scanning. “The container 

was not booked, neither was 

it dropped for scanning, 

showing that this particular 

container was not examined”, 

he said. 

On how consignments 

coming into the country 

through the seaports are 

examined to check prohibited 

items like arms and ammunition, 

he said, “In Customs operations, 

risk management 

determines the type of examination 

to be carried out on 

goods. For example, high risk 

goods trigger 100 percent 

physical examination, while 

low risk goods are channelled 

through scanning.” 

Responding to question on 

how goods are examined 

when the scanning machine 

is faulty he explained, “In 

any event of faulty scanner, it 

slows down the process of 

scanning goods that are coming 

in, but they are still being 

scanned and well examined, 

only that it will slow down 

the process. At present, we 

have two scanning machines 

at Apapa port, the fixed scanner 

and the mobile scanner. 

All goods coming into the 

country through Apapa Command 

are not only scanned 

but also physically examined 

by our officers who are well 

trained on the job”. 

In the same vein, the Public 

Relations Officer of the 

Command, Mr. Emmanuel 

Ekpa, while responding to 

question on the assertion by 

CGC Ali Hameed, that the 

scanner at Apapa is faulty, 

said, “We have been told that 

all other scanners in the federation 

are not functioning. 

At Apapa Command for instance, 

we have two scanners, 

the fixed and mobile scanners. 

The mobile scanner is bad 

while the fixed scanner is the 

only one working now, but not 

optimally.” 

On how long the scanner 

developed fault, he said, “The 

mobile scanner has been down 

for about six months now. But 

we are still examining 

consignments coming into the 

country, only that the process 

is slow. The fixed scanner at 

Apapa is still active now because 

the officers manning the 

machine are well trained. At 

times, they go to other 

Commands where the scanners 

are not working to get spare 

parts for the one we have here, 

since Apapa is the premier port.” 

About the involvement of 

Customs officers declared 

wanted by CGC Ali, he said, 

“Since the case is under 

investigation, I do not want to 

pre-empt the outcome, but from 

the preliminary investigation 

carried out by the CAC of Apapa 

The scanner is down 

presently. It is a 

problem of software, 

which is something 

that can only be 

corrected by the 

manufacturer. This is 

because the software 

the scanner is using is 

not something that can 

be bought easily in the 

market, so we have to 

wait 

Command, it has been discovered 

that the container itself was 

not booked or dropped for 

examination by the importer”. 

On why Customs is not fixing 

the machines to fast track their 

operations, he added, “Well, that 

is a policy issue, which I do not 

want to comment on. The machines 

were bought by 

COTECNA, but are now under 

Customs, because they were 

handed over to Customs. CGC 

Ali has promised that something 

will be done to put the scanners 

in good shape.” 

On other challenges facing 

Apapa Command, he said, “Generally, 

we are doing our best, 

aside from this unfortunate situation. 

Equipment for 100 percent 

examination is needed. 

When officers are given a 

condusive operating environment, 

their work will be done 

efficiently.” 

Visit to Customs Commands 

When Sunday Vanguard 

visited Customs Commands in 

specific areas, it was discovered 

that some scanning machines 

were not in good shape. 

Seme Command 

The scanner at Seme, which is 

the largest border within the 

West African sub-region, was 

down as at Wednesday, February 

1, 2017, during the visit. All 

efforts to reach the CAC of Seme, 

Comptroller Victor Dimka were 

unsuccessful. Calls made and 

messages went to him were not 

responded to. 

Meanwhile, the officer in 

charge of the scanner who spoke 

at the scanning site explained 

that their machine was not functioning 

and will remain inactive 

until February 13, 2017, when 

the manufacturer comes to fix it. 

“He said, “The scanner is down 

presently. What we are 

experiencing now is down-turn. 

It is a problem of software, which 

is something that can only be 

corrected by the manufacturer. 

This is because the software the 

scanner is using is not something 

that can be bought easily in the 

market, so we have to wait”. Also, 

the statements signed and 

made available to Sunday Vanguard 

by the Public Relations 

Officer of Seme, Taupyen S.K, 

shows that the Command is 

working effectively and has 

raked in N594.1million in 

January 2017. The Command 

also made 43 seizures with the 

Duty Paid Value (DPV) of 

N92.3million, and the source 

of revenue generated is dominated 

by imported general 

goods and Baggage Assessment 

using the Passengers Baggage 

Entry System (PBES) platform. 

“The Command will con- 

tinue to perform its statutory 

functions of revenue generation, 

legitimate trade facilitation, 

combating smuggling 

acitivities across the frontier 

and securing the nation’s territorial 

integrity. The antismuggling 

unit of the Command 

is already frustrating 

attempt by smugglers who 

dare to try the might of government 

in smuggling fairly 

used vehicles through the land 

border”, he stressed. 

Idiroko (Ogun Command) 

A visit to Idiroko border, under 

Ogun Command revealed the 

same challenge. Their scanner 

is not functioning at the moment. 

The Public Relations Officer of 

the Command, Usman, who 

spoke on behalf of the CAC, explained 

that their scanner has 

been faulty since February 28, 

2014, but they were still carrying 

out their normal duties of 

curtailing smuggling and generating 

revenue for government, 

notwithstanding the 

condition of the scanner. “The 

current CAC of Ogun Command 

has stepped up our operational 

strategies, in order to 

tackle the menace of smugglers 

in the region”, he pointed out. 

FOU Zone A 

At the Federal Operations 

Unit (FOU) Zone A, Ikeja, where 

the arms laden container was 

intercepted, the Public Relations 

Officer, Jerry Attah disclosed 

that the Customs Officers 

previously declared wanted 

have reported themselves to the 

Customs management. He said, 

“Investigation on the case is 

still on-going and the officers 

have already surrendered 

themselves to Customs. They 

are being interrogated and investigation 

will continue, in 

order to unravel the syndicate 

behind the seized items.”


N25B FUND 

Why I am empowering MSME operators – Gov Ambode 

“By 2019, we hope to empower at 

least 100,000 Micro, Small and 

Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and 

create at least 300,000 direct and 

600,000 indirect jobs totaling 

900,000 jobs through the N25 

billion Employment Trust Fund 

(ETF) initiative.” 

the words of Lagos 

State Governor, Mr. 

Those were 

Akinwunmi Ambode when he 

made history on January 26, 2017. 

The day was indeed a great day in 

the annals of the State of aquatic 

splendor as the Governor disbursed 

about N1billion to 705 beneficiaries 

of the Pilot Scheme of the 

N25billion ETF, which is an 

initiative of his administration 

designed to drive the growth of the 

MSMEs in recognition of their 

critical role as the engine of growth 

and leading creator of jobs in any 

economy. 

The disbursement ceremony held at 

the LTV Blue Roof, Ikeja, Lagos, was 

greeted with fanfare from the elated 

beneficiaries and indeed many 

residents of the State, realizing its 

import on the economic well-being 

of the State. 

The successful implementation of 

the loan scheme was indeed an 

eloquent testimony of the readiness 

of the State Government to support 

the thriving youths and residents of 

the State as promised by Governor 

Ambode during the electioneering 

when he promised to set up a fund 

to address the difficulties MSMEs 

were facing to start and sustain their 

businesses. 

After the Governor announced his 

decision to commence the loan 

scheme, he initially set up a board 

comprising of individuals with 

proven track records to manage the 

fund, and same signaled the 

intention of the government to 

ensure the success of the initiative. 

Mrs. Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru, 

former Chairman of the Federal 

Inland Revenue Service was made 

the chairman, while Mr. Akintunde 

Oyebode was appointed the 

Executive Secretary. Other 

Executive members include- Mr. 

Dele Martins; Mrs. Bilikis Adebiyi- 

Abiola; Mr. Otto Orondaam; Mrs. 

Olufunmi Olatunde Daudu; Mr. 

Tunde Bank Anthony; Mr. Micheal 

Popoola Ajayi and Lagos State 

Commissioner for Wealth Creation 

and Employment, Mr. Tunde 

Durosinmi-Etti. 

Then, the board began by putting in 

place necessary procedures to 

ensure a solid process with 

transparency and impartiality as 

the key watchwords. 

To start with, the board engaged 

reputable and established partners 

to help with the selection, 

verification and disbursement of the 

loans to beneficiaries. The partners 

include Price Waterhouse Coopers 

(PWC), who verified all the 

applications and audit the 

processes, while others are Fate 

Foundation, LEAP Africa, Nigerian 

Association of Small Scale 

Ambode; Chairman, Lagos State Employment Trust Fund 

(LSETF), Mrs. Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru; Beneficiary, Mrs. 

Chinyere Rebecca Ezike of M.C. Becky Enterprise and Executive 

Secretary, LSETF, Mr. Akintunde Oyebode, during the LSETF 

cheque presentation ceremony to the beneficiaries of the loan 

scheme. 

Industrialists (NASSI), Women in 

Management, Business and Public 

Service (WIMBIZ), National 

Automobile Technicians Association 

(NATA) and Cooperative Societies, 

who provided applicants for the 

pilot scheme through their 

membership. 

Speaking at the presentation 

ceremony, Governor Ambode 

charged the beneficiaries to utilise 

the funds responsibly to grow their 

businesses, create jobs for the 

unemployed youths and contribute 

to the growth of the Lagos economy. 

Explaining the rationale behind the 

setting up of the N25billion ETF, 

the Governor said his 

administration identified 

unemployment as a major socioeconomic 

challenge facing Lagos 

State and Nigeria as a whole in the 

course of the electoral campaign, 

and thus prioritised job creation. 

He said the setting up of the ETF 

was a direct response to address the 

challenge of unemployment as well 

as provide support to the youths, 

entrepreneurs, artisans and other 

unemployed residents of the State. 

“We have kept our word. We created 

a dedicated Ministry of Wealth 

Creation and Employment, whose 

mission is to promote and sustain 

entrepreneurship and 

employment,” the Governor said. 

Governor Ambode, while 

commending the Board and 

Management of the Fund for 

embarking on a comprehensive 

review of the business environment 

and developing a strategic 

framework and operating 

guidelines to ensure the sustainable 

and successful management of 

these funds, said the successful 

disbursement was a product of the 

painstaking effort. 

He said the funds are targeted at 

small and medium scale businesses 

and individuals including 

carpenters, hairdressers, 

electricians, automobile parts 

repairers, block makers, bakers, 

fashion designers, cake makers, 

food sellers, kerosene retailers, 

mobile money agents, painters, 

plumbers, photographers and light 

manufacturers of liquid soaps and 

water, among others. 

“These beneficiaries are making 

history as the first set of beneficiaries 

of this Employment Trust Fund, and 

my charge to you is simple: You 

must use these funds responsibly, 

grow your businesses, create jobs for 

our unemployed youths and 

contribute to the growth of the Lagos 

State GDP. The idea is that for every 

N1million we disburse, we should 

Continue s on page 40 

Running advertising without APCON Chair is like a plane flying 

without control tower – Babaeko 

BY YINKA AJAYI 

Steve Babaeko, Chief Creativity 

Officer/CEO, X3M Ideas, is Publicity 

Secretary, Association of Advertising 

Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN) and 

Vice Chairman, Lagos Advertising 

& Ideas Festival (LAIF). 

In this interview, he discusses the 

expectations of clients from agencies 

despite their tight budgets, and how 

agencies can remain relevant in 

these trying times. 

How do you assess the 

business of advertising 

in 2016? 

Last year was the most challenging 

I ever witnessed since the beginning 

of my career, The reason is not 

farfetched. From an economy slow 

down, we went into recession. If 

clients are poorly affected, then 

invariably the marketing 

communications industry would. So 

it was a challenging year for our 

sector. A year most organisations 

found it difficult to meet their 

obligations to staff; companies had 

to cut salaries, and others deployed 

number of practical measures to 

survive the year. 

Following the challenges, were 

there any good sides in the 

marketing communications 

industry last year? 

The good side was that despite the 

low budget which characterised the 

year under review, a number of good 

creative works came out, not 

minding the challenged economy. 

As far as awards are concerned, 

Nigeria had better showing at the 

global level than previous years. A 

number of agencies including our 

X3M Ideas won laurels at the 

continental level. This gives the 

industry and clients, brighter rays 

of hope for the future that creativity 

still holds the key in the international 

arena. 

As most clients 2017 budget 

shrunk, what must agencies do to 

Technology is the engine 

room for everything that we 

do and it is going to get 

intensified. There is always 

going to be improvements 

in technology, the window is 

usually about six months. 

What you know now will 

probably get stale in six 

months’ time if you do not 

update yourself 

survive? 

For agencies to survive in this 

downturn, we have to think outside 

the box by being more creative. 

Beyond this, agencies must review 

their business models and ensure 

they evolve innovative product lines. 

We are not going to close business 

because clients’ budgets are drying 

up. I foresee agencies becoming 

more creative in terms of pushing 

out their own products line that will 

help them survive even if clients are 

not spending as before. Getting the 

agency products line up and 

running is just the obvious way 

forward, the vast opportunities in the 

digital space more than enhance 

this possible choice. This will ensure 

that the agency survives beyond the 

crushing recession. As 

practitioners, we travel a lot, we see 

what people are doing in other 

markets. So Nigeria can’t afford to 

lag behind for so long. 

You recently decried the spate of 

in-house agencies as a minus on 

the industry. What is the reason for 

this? 

•Babaeko 

I maintain a position that agencies 

cannot become manufacturers of 

the consumable products that the 

client produces. Similarly, some 

clients have shown that they are not 

also good at marketing 

communications. Therefore, it is 

only proper to give room for 

specialization - let the agencies 

focus on marketing 

communications - creating brands 

and marketing communications for 

clients’ products and services while 

the client focuses on producing 

quality products. It is better to keep 

these separate. For clients who fail 

to keep them separate, experience 

tells us that they are not any better 

than the clients who have the good 

sense to employ top-notch agencies. 

For almost two years, the 

Advertisers Practitioners Council 

of Nigeria (APCON) regulating 

advertising has been without a 

Chairman. How has this affected 

the industry? 

It has affected us in significant 

ways because this is like saying: the 

board of Nigerian Medical 

Association (NMA) is scrapped, who 

regulates the practice? Yes, the 

Registrar/CEO, Alh. Garba Bello- 

Kankarofi, is doing a good job, to 

have kept the place running but it is 

important to have a Chairman. The 

current president of the Association 

of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria, 

AAAN, Kayode Oluwasona, as an 

APCON board member, has 

unequivocally stated that the 

Council Chairman has to be 

appointed by the government to 

help us manage all the issues 

currently plaguing the industry. 

This current rudderless situation in 

the industry is like a plane flying 

without a good control tower. 

Being part of the jury at the New 

York (Advertising) Festival, what 

is your assessment of the Lagos 

Advertising & Ideas Festival 

(LAIF) in view of the last outing 

and what needs to be done to 

restore the growing the brand? 

We still have a lot of work to do in 

terms of ways to organize ourselves 

and being more transparent in the 

award, especially at the jury level. 

I am sure those are the issues the 

President is trying to address and I 

have confidence in the present 

leadership of the association to 

make sure that all the loose ends 

are tied up. For instance, for the Jury, 

the organizers could source people 

who are creative but are no longer 

actively working for any agency to 

fill the important positions. If this is 

done, partisanship can be reduced 

if not totally eliminated. There are 

a number of creative minds who no 

longer work for agencies, some may 

have even moved to clients side but 

they are solid creative regardless of 

the changing of garbs, so if you get 

them involved in this process, they 

should be fair and independent 

minded. Secondly, the idea of using 

self promo ad to win across several 

categories should be reviewed. 

These are just a few, when we take a 

more critical look at the issues, we 

will discover there are a couple of 

other areas we need to improve 

upon. 

There are people who say after 

the 11th edition of LAIF, it has 

proved a failure and should be 

scrapped? 

That will be like throwing away 

the baby with the bath water. As a 

people, there are things we’ve done 

that worked while we try to perfect 

others. Our experience at 

Democracy, for instance, is still 

flawed with so many issues. We won’t 

because of these challenges let go 

of Democracy and call in the 

military! As a people we will 

continue to improve the process. 

All the advanced countries became 

advanced by continuously 

improving on their processes. This 

is what we should be doing as well. 

Yes, LAIF award has challenges, 

there are issues surrounding it, we 

should keep improving on what we 

have, I am sure when the award is 

20 years, hopefully some will sit 

back and say, “yes, we stumbled but 

we finally made it”. 

Technology has taken over in 

media and advertising. What do 

you see in 2017? 

Technology is the engine room for 

everything that we do and it is going 

to get intensified. There is always 

going to be improvements in 

technology, the window is usually 

about six months. What you know 

now will probably get stale in six 

months’ time if you do not update 

yourself. More rapid changes will 

occur at an incredible speed. 

Technology is going to be at the 

centre of all we do, whether we like 

it or not. Take a look at the music 

industry, no one is talking about 

record sales, it’s now about 

streaming and downloads. The 

advertising sector too, is no 

exception. All the platforms and 

tools are becoming more digital. 

The print media too will have no 

option than to go digital. I am sure 

if you talk to some young people, 

they will tell you that they have not 

held a newspaper in their hands in 

the last two years. Now, every news 

is consumed on their mobile so if 

nobody is buying it, one has no 

choice than to change.


Gov Obaseki will boost Edo IGR without harassing the 

people or imposing multiple tax — Idahosa 

By Simon Ebegbulem 

Mr. Lucky Imasuen, 

a former Deputy 

Governor of Edo 

State, is the Chairman of the 

Forum of Deputy Governors of 

Nigeria. In this interview, he 

describes Governor Godwin 

Obaseki as a silent achiever, 

saying that though it may not 

be a good moment for 

politicians in the state, his 

policies and agricultural 

programmes will make the 

state the economic hub of the 

nation in the next two years. 

You are the Chairman of 

the Forum of Deputy 

Governors. What is 

happening with the forum? 

The forum is doing very 

well. It caters for members’ 

welfare and also helps to 

proffer solution to crisis in 

the system. The forum assists 

government to communicate 

its policies to our people. 

Even on the Niger Delta crisis, 

we have been very active by 

persistently calling on our 

brothers in the region to lay 

down their arms and embrace 

dialogue. That is why we were 

very happy to see the Vice 

President visiting the region. 

The visit, we believe, will help 

douse tension in the region 

and thus lead to increase in 

the volume of our oil export 

which is what we need right 

now as a nation in recession. 

Again, we have been involved 

in donating relief materials 

to IDP camps across the 

country. Above all, we have 

been intervening in the feud 

between Muslims and 

Christians in some parts of the 

country. We have been able 

to achieve all these because 

we have members who are 

well respected in their various 

states. 

You worked very closely 

with Governor Obaseki 

during the electioneering 

campaign. How do you 

view his activities so far in 

Why I am empowering MSME operators – Gov Ambode 


create a minimum of five jobs 

around that business value 

chain. 

“These loans have been 

provided at a very affordable 

rate of 5% per annum, far 

cheaper than the prevailing 

bank interest of 25% per 

annum. This is our modest 

way of reflating the Lagos 

economy, creating jobs and 

getting our youths gainfully 

occupied. Those of you here 

today, the first beneficiaries 

of this initiative, will be the 

agents through which our 

country can overcome its 

current economic 

challenges,” Governor 

Ambode said. 

The Governor also enjoined 

market women and female 

artisans to take advantage of 

the opportunity as his 

administration was 

particularly interested in 

supporting women in 

business. 

“I also implore the 

Employment Trust Fund to 

pay special attention to the 

Entertainment Industry and 

the Tech Hubs in Sabo, Yaba 

area. These are new areas 

with huge potential for 

growth and job creation,” he 

office? 

I give thanks to God for 

giving us Godwin Obaseki as 

governor. We also thank God 

for giving us Adams 

Oshiomhole who built the 

foundation that Obaseki is 

building on today. The people 

of Edo can see that we did not 

deceive them when we said 

Obaseki is the right man for 

the job, that he is an 

economist, a banker who has 

worked in different parts of 

the world managing 

financial institutions. The 

moment he was sworn-in, he 

hit the ground running. He is 

in office from 8pm-11pm 

every day dealing with 

governance and holding 

meetings with investors. He 

has brought in a lot of 

investors to Edo. And we are 

particularly happy over his 

effort to bring back the Benin 

Technical College which we 

believe will create manpower 

and skills in the state. He has 

asked the people who built 

the school years ago to come 

and revamp it and this will 

help solve the problem of 

unemployment in the 

country. This is part of his 

strategies to take our children 

off the streets. 

And in terms of using 

agriculture as a tool to check 

unemployment, Obaseki 

visited China recently to bring 

investors in that sector. He has 

nominated Chief Osaro Idah 

to head that committee on 

agriculture. I recall during 

our electioneering 

campaign, each time we 

travelled together and he 

looked at our forest, he would 

shake his head and he would 

engage our youths in 

agriculture and use 

agriculture to check 

unemployment. As we speak 

today, people are being 

trained in different parts of the 

state on the agricultural 

programme of the state 

government. He has equally 

said. 

Governor Ambode also 

expressed optimism that the 

target by the Board to 

empower at least 100,000 

micro, small and medium 

enterprises in due course was 

achievable and that the 

multiplier effect would be the 

creation of over 300,000 

direct and 600,000 indirect 

jobs by 2019. 

“Now the conversation is this 

and this is the most important 

aspect of it, the money we are 

giving to the beneficiaries is 

not Akinwunmi Ambode’s 

money. It is tax payer’s money 

and so, beneficiaries must use 

the fund for what it is meant 

for and pay back as at when 

due. That is my charge to you 

because when you pay back 

on time, we have money to 

give to others. By doing that, 

this initiative will get to as 

many as possible people and 

that is our target. 

“We want it to get to many 

Lagosians irrespective of 

your creed, colour or 

background, so far you apply 

and you are able to meet the 

requirements, then you have 

it,” the Governor said. 

In her opening remarks, 

Chairman, Board of ETF, 

• Imasuen 

gone in search of investors for 

Gelegele Sea Port which is 

another huge project in Edo. 

If that place is brought to life, 

that will hugely improve the 

lives of the people of the state. 

As a party leader, I am proud 

that we have a working 

governor like Obaseki in Edo. 

But there is currently 

unease among APC leaders 

who feel they worked hard 

for the governor’s election 

but they are not benefiting 

anything today. Don’t you 

think that is an issue that 

may cause problem in the 

party? 

There is no problem at all. 

But let me tell you, Nigeria is 

currently going through 

recession and it affects every 

body. The situation is worse 

than when Governor 

Oshiomhole was in power, 

therefore you do not expect 

the governor to take the same 

decisions Oshiomhole took 

then. Secondly, Obaseki does 

not act without taking advice 

from the party. Last 

December, he visited the three 

senatorial districts of the state 

to brief party leaders about 

his programmes. So I know 

We want it to get to 

many Lagosians 

irrespective of your 

creed, colour or 

background, so far 

you apply and you 

are able to meet the 

requirements, then 

you have it 

Mrs. Ifueko Omoigui- 

Okauru said the presentation 

of cheques to beneficiaries 

was in fulfillment of the 

promise made by Governor 

Ambode during the 

electioneering and a 

confirmation of many to 

come. 

She recalled that while 

canvassing for votes, the need 

to provide jobs was clearly on 

the mind of the Governor, and 

according to her, he wasted 

no time in setting up the ETF 

Board made up of people 

with proven track record, as 

The governor apparently 

banned the collection of 

revenue by private 

individuals because of 

the embarrassment they 

had been causing the 

people of the state, 

especially when you see 

touts harassing 

innocent citizens under 

the guise of tax 

collection 

that things may be tough for 

everybody but we should 

know that the man is reorganizing 

government for 

the benefit of Edo indigenes 

irrespective of party 

affiliation. He is focused now 

to come up with programmes 

that will benefit everybody. He 

wants to build institutions, 

groups and not individuals. 

He believes that when 

institutions are there, they 

will benefit the generality of 

the people. He invited APC 

leaders last Christmas and 

informed us about what he 

intends to do, he told us he 

intends to get the best hands 

from every nook and cranny 

of Edo to help him pilot the 

affairs of government. I want 

to appeal to our political 

leaders to be patient. I had a 

frank discussion with the 

governor recently and he told 

me that he made a lot of 

promises to Edo people 

during electioneering 

campaign. And that, 

unfortunately, the money may 

not be there and he has no 

intention to go back to them 

to start crying. Now he wants 

to make the funds available, 

well as transferring 

N6.25billion for the initiative 

to kick off, while the Board 

ensured that the process was 

fair and transparent with no 

favour as to party, religion, 

tribe or faith, and covered all 

the 57 Local Government 

Areas and Local Council 

Development Areas in the 

State. 

“While we were trying to 

come up with the necessary 

procedures, Governor 

Ambode kept telling us to 

hurry up to start disbursing 

the loans to residents which 

signified his good intention 

and he has also given us the 

mandate to make the 

disbursement a monthly 

affair to make the fund get to 

as many residents as 

possible,” Omoigui-Okauru 

said. 

Responding, one of the 

beneficiaries, Ahmed Ojikutu 

thanked Governor Ambode 

for the initiative, saying that 

it was gratifying to note that 

the process was very 

transparent. 

He assured that beneficiaries 

would reciprocate the 

forward-thinking gesture of 

the State Government by 

utilizing the fund judiciously 

to grow their businesses. 

he wants to make 

the people happy 

because the end 

of one election is 

the beginning of 

another. And he 

made it clear that 

if he performs 

well, future 

elections in the 

state will be 

easier because 

people will see 

what he has done. 

I have appealed 

to our party 

members to be 

patient. Obaseki 

is focusing right 

now on how to 

improve the 

socio-economic 

and political 

lives of our people. 

Unfortunately most of what 

he is doing is not in the media 

because he is not really a 

media person. He is one 

person who believes that his 

work speaks for him, though 

some of us are advising that 

he should use the media to 

showcase his work, otherwise, 

the people in Kaduna, Lagos 

or even Abuja will not know 

what he is doing. But he is a 

silent achiever. If you notice 

right now, most of the roads 

in the GRA Benin-City have 

been fixed and he has said it 

that by the next dry season, 

most of our roads will be 

tarred. He has great plans for 

the state and I believe he 

should be given the support 

to succeed. 

Ban on collection of 

government revenue by 

private individuals 

The governor apparently 

banned the collection of 

revenue by private individuals 

because of the 

embarrassment they had 

been causing the people of the 

state, especially when you see 

touts harassing innocent 

citizens under the guise of tax 

He said: “This is indeed a 

promise kept by the 

Governor. When next 

Governor Ambode tells us 

anything, we will believe him 

and I want to sincerely thank 

him on behalf of all the 

beneficiaries.” 

Another beneficiary, Mr. 

Chike Charles Obi expressed 

appreciation to the State 

Government, especially 

Governor Ambode for 

fulfilling his promise, saying 

that most of them did not 

initially believe that the offer 

was real, but just applied. 

He said the development was 

a confirmation that 

Governor Ambode has 

brought real change to 

governance, and thanked the 

Board of the ETF for being 

transparent and unbiased 

especially in choosing the 

beneficiaries. 

“When I heard the news of the 

plan of the State Government 

to make funds available to 

the people to grow their 

businesses, I felt it was just one 

of the gimmick of 

government. But then, I said 

let me just try to apply because 

it takes me nothing to apply 

and today, that bold step has 

become a reality. 

“I want to sincerely thank 

collection. Now the state 

government is compiling the 

names of those youths who 

were collecting revenue then 

and want to make them 

government staff so they can 

now collect for government. 

He wants collection of tax 

done in a civil and responsible 

manner and also stop 

multiple taxation in the state. 

By the time he completes the 

reforms in the area of revenue 

collection, our IGR will 

improve and it will be for the 

benefit of all of us. 

Political implications 

I know the people, 

including politicians, are not 

enjoying the moment due to 

the ongoing reforms but we 

believe that it is a sacrifice to 

make to secure our future. It 

is true that the people 

collecting the revenue before 

now were APC youths, but 

the governor has said they 

will not be jobless, it is the 

same boys that are being 

trained today to man the 

collection of revenue. And this 

new approach will improve 

their lives so that they will 

earn more money. It will not 

affect us politically because 

they will continue to support 

the APC government that 

improved their lives. I am 

aware that some PDP leaders 

are hoping that they will cash 

in on the current situation in 

future elections but it will not 

be so. By the time Obaseki 

who intends to improve the 

economy of the state right 

from the grassroots finishes 

his plans, there will not be 

PDP in Edo. Our people will 

live good lives, they will have 

jobs even in their localities so 

that they don’t need to come 

to Benin any more. That is the 

Edo Obaseki is building and 

he must be encouraged. In the 

next one or two years, Edo 

people will begin to see the 

fruits of what Obaseki is 

planting today. 

Governor Ambode because 

throughout the selection 

process, there was no 

discrimination as to tribe or 

religion. This is a good day 

for Lagos and I thank the 

Governor once again,” Obi 

said. 

On her part, Mrs. Modupe 

Shukurat Alausa, another 

beneficiary, urged her cobeneficiaries 

to encourage 

government by using the fund 

for the purpose meant, saying 

that it is in paying back as at 

when due that government 

will be encouraged to 

continue with the laudable 

initiative. 

Alausa, who is a petty trader, 

also thanked Governor 

Ambode for running an allinclusive 

government as 

exemplified by the 

N25billion ETF, saying that 

no doubt, the loan given to 

her would go a long way in 

boosting her business, as well 

as change her life positively. 

For sure, this move by a 

governor who is increasingly 

being pragmatic in his 

approach to governance, 

would go a long way in 

reflating the state economy 

and putting it in good stead 

to face the challenge of a 

global world.


ALLEGED N15M FRAUD IN ONDO HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY 

My story and the 

high-wire politics, by 

Speaker Akindele 

•’Lawmakers behind trouble want to prove 

their loyalty to incoming Gov. Akeredolu’ 

•Akindele... I am not the custodian of House funds. 

By Dayo Johnson, Akure 

RT. Hon. Jumoke Akindele is 

the first female Speaker of the 

Ondo State House of Assembly. 

Akindele survived two impeachment 

moves by the male-dominated 

assembly before the latest move to 

unseat her. In this interview, she 

speaks on her travails and how what 

she describes as the desperation of 

some of her colleagues to sack her 

on trumped-up charges is heating up 

the system, saying it is a bad pointer 

to a seamless transfer of power in 

the state on February 24 from Governor 

Olusegun Mimiko to the govelect, 

Oluwarotimi Akeredolu. 

The House of Assembly under 

your leadership has been on fire in 

the last one week. What really is 

the problem? 

I will tell the you one I know, because 

the people who are in the best 

position to talk about the genesis 

should be the one who feel aggrieved 

. Frankly speaking, I don’t know why 

they are aggrieved. I was in Lagos 

on Friday, January 27, when I got 

a call around 5:30pm that some 

activities were happening at the 

state House of Assembly and I said 

‘so what?’ I spoke that way because 

we are all members of the House and 

anybody could come there. They now 

said the Pay Master was caught with 

some funds and that I allegedly instructed 

him to bring the money to 

me in the house. That was weird because 

I didn’t have any communication 

with the PM about the destination 

of any funds whatsoever. 

Now, what happened is this: At 

some point last week, I knew I was 

going to travel and, usually, if I am 

travelling like that, I sign some 

schedule. I am not a signatory to 

any of the House accounts, all I sign 

is schedule, and I left for a function 

in Lagos. I also recall that I didn’t 

even speak with the Clerk of the 

House before leaving, because, ideally, 

the Clerk would have asked me 

what to do with the cheque. I am not 

the PM, and the PM is supposed to 

be the lawful custodian of all funds 

and how he went to get the funds is 

not something I gave instructions 

about except I sign the schedule and, 

in many events, these funds are made 

I wish to state that the 

reason for the problem is 

that certain elements 

within the PDP Caucus in 

the House seem more 

interested in proving their 

loyalty to the incoming 

administration in Ondo 

State instead of their own 

party and are actively 

working hand-in-hand with 

their APC counterparts to 

destabilize what would 

have been one of the most 

peaceful transition ever 

available for the use of the House. 

So, I really don’t understand what 

the problem is, even, as I speak, I 

don’t understand. It’s all politics. 

But 13 members of the Assembly 

announced your removal and that of 

other principal officers. Is there any 

political undercurrent? 

I wish to state that the reason for 

the problem is that certain elements 

within the PDP Caucus in the House 

seem more interested in proving their 

loyalty to the incoming administration 

in Ondo State instead of their 

own party and are actively working 

hand-in-hand with their APC counterparts 

to destabilize what would 

have been one of the most peaceful 

transition ever. They are desirous of 

becoming Speaker and Deputy 

Speaker at all costs and are, therefore, 

playing to the gallery to show 

the incoming Akeredolu government 

that they are ‘disenchanted’ with the 

outgoing governor, imagining that 

the erudite and insightful Senior Advocate 

of Nigeria would not see 

through them in the colors that they 

truly are. 

What about the allegation of 

N15m fraud hanging on your neck? 

I have decided to tell my side of 

the story of a purported theft of money 

as being unrighteously peddled 

by ill-wishers in public circles. I wish 

to emphatically place it on record 

that the funds in question are meant 

for some projects in the House as 

passed in the budget and okayed by 

the Approving Authority. Only the 

unfair ones who are hell bent on superintending 

the House funds have 

problems with where the funds are 

kept. I wish to place it on record that 

though I am the signatory to the 

schedule, I am not a signatory to the 

cheques of the House. 

I did sign the schedule in line with 

the budget passed by the House so 

that I would not hold up the business 

of the House in the likely event 

that I did not return from my journey 

early enough.The Pay Master is 

the lawful custodian of all unspent 

funds of the House and he was only 

acting in his official capacity as 

such. 

The other faction is insisting that 

20 members signed the impeachment 

notice and not 13 as your 

group is claiming. 

It is disheartening that some of my 

honorable colleagues allegedly 

forged the signatures of five members 

to make up their list. The 

members whose signatures were allegedly 

forged have stood by the 

leadership of the House since the 

beginning of the unfolding of this 

sad chapter in the annals of our 

state. T he removal of the principal 

officers is unconstitutional, illegal 

and therefore null and void. While I 

believe that change is inevitable and 

may even be desirable, it must be in 

accordance with the law. In our laws, 

the Speaker or Deputy Speaker can 

only be removed by the appropriate 

number of members prescribed. In 

the Ondo State House of Assembly, 

to purport to remove the leadership 

of the House by less than 18 members 

is a nullity and cannot stand. 

You have alleged that the opposition 

APC is behind the crisis in the 

Assembly. 

Well, from all developments so 

far, I’ve been proved right about 

that. We have only five members 

of the APC in the House of Assembly 

and there are 21 members of the 

PDP but the one problem existing 

right now is that people want to be 

Speaker and Deputy Speaker at all 

costs. The reality on ground in 

Ondo is that in a little while, things 

would change and I’ve signified my 

intention to resign anytime I’m 

asked to do so, but what I am doing 

there now is providing stability before 

the gladiators for the Speaker 

and Deputy Speaker sort themselves 

out. At some point, I was made to 

understand that APC members are 

desirous of also producing the 

Speaker and Deputy Speaker. 

Some of us are induced into believing 

that the PDP lawmakers causing 

trouble had the support of the 

APC and they are going about misbehaving 

, that’s the bottom line. I 

am not actually saying its the numero 

uno of the APC in the state or 

the incoming governor but I know 

many of the people around him are 

behind this and, unfortunately, we 

have a set of party members who 

are ambitious and this ambition 

thing is like a virus worse than Ebola 

attack. It has eaten so much into 

them and they would do anything, 

anything at all, including imagining 

there is a problem between the 

PDP and the APC, between the incoming 

governor and the outgoing 

administration and they think the 

best thing they can do is to prove 

to him that they are worthy of being 

used as Speaker, knowing fully 

well that our standing orders 

preclude the APC from being nominated 

at all. 

Do you foresee these PDP members 

that have joined the opposition 

APC members to wage this 

war defecting? 

Probably, they would not, but 

they have to be sure that all of them 

would have to defect so that we can 

have 13, 13 equal members and 

that is another ball game entirely 

in which case they would lose their 

edge. They won’t defect until they 

become Speaker and Deputy 

Speaker. 

One of your ‘sins’, according to 

the aggrieved lawmakers, is that, 

under your leadership, they were 

deprived their entitlements because 

you were not pushful. 

Did I push their case? I will be 

the first to admit that, Yes. Did I 

always get results? I will also admit 

No. That’s why we’ve always 

agitated for fiscal autonomy for the 

Houses of Assembly across the nation. 

As long as we have to cajole 

the executive to take anything that 

we are entitled to, we will always 

be in this kind of quagmire we have 

found ourselves in and I dare say 

that every Speaker in this nation 

has the same challenge that I have. 

It’s one thing to go to Mr. Governor 

to say my members need some 

things, even some things that are 

not statutory; the governor each 

time would complain about paucity 

of funds and, in all honesty, we 

live in this society, we indeed know 

there’s paucity of funds. But do I 

now get police to arrest him or 

charge him to court or begin to 

combat him everywhere I go to? I 

don’t think that is part of my mandate 

and I would not want to do 

that with the governor, the leader 

of my party; so I’ve been caught 

between the devil and the deep blue 

Continues on page 42


‘My story and the high-wire politics’ 


sea. 

With the Assembly now divided ahead 

of the inauguration of the incoming administration 

, what would be the relationship 

between the two arms of government 

from February 24? 

Unless we have God’s intervention, it 

may be turbulent, but we are praying that 

it does not get that bad. Those of us who 

are still in the PDP, on our part, we will 

work with the incoming administration. 

The truth of the matter is this, I and the 

entire Assembly, not just this session but 

in the seventh Assembly, have always 

been apostles of good synergy between 

every arm of government, particularly 

between the legislature and the executive. 

The reality on ground is that we are 

two big elephants and, if we decide to 

fight, we know who will suffer. 

We owe the people far too much to play 

with them and make their lives miserable, 

by making life miserable for Mr. 

Governor. I do not intend to be Speaker 

under Barrister Akeredolu and I’ve said 

this repeatedly and the reason is simple, 

Ondo has an age long tradition and 

things have shifted and, of necessity, the 

Speaker must come from the Central District, 

but I will be a member of the House 

of Assembly that intends to work for 

the people of Ondo and if that means 

I have to work with Barrister Akeredolu, 

so be it. Nobody is coming 

to play opposition to a government 

that was lawfully elected to lead 

all of us. I don’t know why the fear is 

so high and why the desperation is 

coming from APC, they don’t need 

it 

Ṫhe House of Assembly in this 

part of the world is generally regarded 

as the rubber stamp of the 

executive. Is this Assembly an exception? 

We have heard that before, that the 

House is a rubber stamp but what 

do we have to do? The House is supposed 

to bring out those things that 

are good in government and the 

things that are not good. At no time 

was any member of the House is shut 

up from saying anything he wants 

to say . The reality on ground is this, 

if the government has been working 

against the people, this House would 

have cried out. If there is nothing to 

fight the government about, why 

must I fight because I don’t want to 

be perceived as a rubber stamp? If 

there is no reason to fight government, 

why must I fight and the peo- 

ple will hail me that I am antigovernment 

. I will not join the 

multitude to do evil in my life. 

The 13 lawmakers opposed to 

you are insisting that the only 

way out of this logjam is that 

you throw in the towel? 

The truth of the matter is that, 

even if they say what they have 

to say, it doesn’t matter how long 

a war takes, we will still have to 

dialogue and they cannot stay 

out there and be giving us conditions. 

The people on this side 

too also have conditions, after 

all we are all elected members 

of the House under the same 

platform . At some point we have 

to have a meeting point, at some 

point we have to sit down and 

dialogue. I have said it again 

and again that I am not interested 

in being the Speaker of the 

Ondo State House of Assembly 

under Akeredolu, but I don’t 

want my name to be dragged in 

the mud because of some people’s 

inordinate ambition. I will 

say it again for the avoidance of 

doubt that the Pay Master is the 

lawful custodian of the funds of 

the House, particularly the physical 

funds. I feel embarrassed that 

any right-thinking person would 

think that N15 million is a problem 

for me. I don’t have money 

but I am not hungry, Everybody 

around me would know that I am 

contented. I have things in my own 

heart, I don’t want my name to be 

dragged in the mud. 

Is your insistence to remain as 

Speaker not a sign of desperation? 

Permit me to state at this juncture 

that I am not desperate to 

continue to sit as Speaker of this 

Assembly. I wish to place it on 

record and I have said to all that 

care to listen that I was actually 

set to resign because the geo-political 

configuration of the state 

has changed since the emergence 

of the governor from the North 

and the Deputy Governor from the 

South. We are a people with an 

age long tradition that demands 

that the Speaker must of necessity 

emerge from the Central. On my 

part, I have prepared myself for 

resignation since the emergence 

of Hon. John Mafo as the deputy 

governorship candidate of the 

PDP who is from the South where 

I hail from. So, I am not desperate 

one bit. It is God that enthrones. 

AFC invests $205m in Guinea 

Africa Finance Corporation, AFC, 

is to invest US$205m in Alufer 

Mining Limited to fund the development 

of Guinea-Conakry’s high grade 

bauxite reserves. 

Speaking at an event, Chief Investment 

Officer of AFC, Oliver Andrews, stated that 

as global demand for aluminium increases, 

AFC was proud to be the sole private 

sector African investor in the Bel Air Mine, 

developing a world class mine that adheres 

to best practise environmental principles. 

Perspective on Lagos State LGDA 

chairmanship race 

Even if you do not subscribe entirely Gov 

ernor Akinwunmi Ambode's vitriolic sal 

vos in the political sphere, you cannot the 

fact that the vibrant governor who holds the banner 

of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has 

certainly raised the bar of governance in Nigeria’s 

centre of excellence state. 

This will perhaps explain why Lagos residents 

have acknowledged the fact that since Governor 

Ambode took over the saddle, he has contributed 

immensely to the development of the state. 

Indeed, those who are familiar with the development 

of the state since the dawn of democracy 

in 1999 can eloquently testify that Governor 

Ambode has impacted positively on the lives of 

Lagos State citizens. From road construction, including 

the provisions of walkways and drainage 

system, buses, to the rehabilitation and building 

of schools, to healthcare delivery system, and 

the special interventions, such as the runaway father 

of three twins whose families he rescued from 

abject poverty etc. Governor Ambode has certainly 

improved the living standards of Lagos State 

residents. 

It is against this background that as the governor 

prepares to conduct local government election 

this year, the candidates should be properly 

screened to ascertain if by their antecedent, they 

can further lift Lagos State to the next level. 

Incidentally, since the historic victory of the 

APC in the 2015 presidential election which saw 

President Muhammadu Buhari ascend the throne 

in Aso Rock, Abuja, almost all the gladiators in 

Lagos State politics have become APC members 

and are jostling for its 2017 chairmanship ticket. 

Yet, given the anti-corruption war sweeping the 

political landscape of the country, being spearheaded 

by President Buhari himself, it is doubtful 

if these career politicians contesting for the 

LG chairmanship election will pass corruption 

text that will be a compelling imperative in the 

“We are encouraged to see that Alufer 

has been working with the local community 

to develop sustainable 

projects which assist in the provision 

of drinking water, as well as development 

of local infrastructure and job 

creation”, he stated. 

He continued: “AFC is developing 

African economies that have suffered 

conflict and crisis. For example, we 

were instrumental in the re-construction 

of Cote d’Ivoire, following the 

selection process at the APC chairmanship 

election. 

From this standpoint, it would appear that 

chairmanship candidates with clean record 

and have made tremendous success in their 

chosen field may as well find favour among 

APC leadership in the state. 

It is against this background that the candidacy 

of Mallam Ahmed Jaji is receiving a 

great deal of popular appeal among the rank 

and file members of APC in Ojodu LGA. 

As it is well known in Ojodu local government 

area, Mallam Jaji has proved his mettle 

having rendered meritorious service to 

Nigerians in general and Ojodu residents in 

particular as Executive Secretary for Ojodu 

Local Government Council Development 

Area in Lagos State between 6th January, 2015 

- 10th June, 2016. 

For instance, he served as transition committee 

member for Ifako Ijaiye Local Government 

Area (2002-2004), Officer, Century 

Merchant Bank Ltd (1988-1992, and moved 

to the position of Assistant Manager, Merryl 

Guaranteed Savings & Loans Ltd. 

Beyond all that, Jaji has been very prominent 

in social-political activities that uplifted 

and continue to improve the life of Ikeja 

LGA and Ifako residents, respectively, which 

will stand him in good stead as the race for 

Ojodu Secretariat intensifies. 

All things considered, the resourceful political 

analyst certainly stand a good chance 

of clinching the Ojodu chairmanship ticket 

under the platform of APC not only because 

he is a gem and has excelled in his chosen 

profession but more-so because he has a social 

vision that will further elevate Lagos to 

greater heights. 

•Charles Ikhaghe, 

is resident in Lagos. 

country’s civil war through investments 

such as Henri Konan 

Bridge and, in Liberia, we financed 

the post-Ebola rebuilding 

of certain fuel import and storage 

facilities damaged by the 

country’s long running civil conflicts. 

Equally, investment in Guinea’s 

infrastructure will help to rebuild 

and diversify the economy 

following the Ebola crisis”. 

He said the ideal would be one 

of the largest foreign investments 

in the country when completed as 

it would increase the production 

level which currently was greater 

than 6 per cent per annum 5-year 

growth forecast for aluminium 

consumption, primarily driven by 

Chinese demand. 

Meanwhile, he said, the shifts in 

supply and demand dynamics 

would create opportunity to ship 

high grade bauxite ore from Guinea 

to markets such as China on economically 

attractive terms, thereby 

boosting Guinea’s GDP, as presently, 

Guinea has a trade deficit 

ratio of c.20:1 with China. 

From left: Supervisor for Education and Agric, Itire and Ikate LCDA, 

Prince Yomi Laurence; and Executive Secretary/ CEO, Lagos State 

Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), Razak Balogun during a screening exercise 

at the ongoing recruitment of Neighbourhood Watch at Coker 

Aguda LCDA in Lagos. 

Former Miss Elena Stratsilova walking down the aisle with her 

father in Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, during her wedding 

with Junaid. Photo by David Bunuju.


By PRISCA SAM DURU 

MUSIC 

Ordinarily, the Ijaws are 

always associated with 

militancy and other vices, but 

what happened last Saturday, 

during the release of the musical 

video of Yawah Dey by Ijaw Breed 

Entertainers showed that apart 

from the vices, the people has 

something good to offer when it 

comes to entertainment. 

The artistes aka, Han-Izon, who 

hail from Ondo, are known to be 

committed to their objectives of 

selling the Nigerian brand 

through their kind of music that 

projects diverse heritage of the 

country. Their music produced in 

English, Yoruba, Ijaw, Pidgin, etc, 

languages is a combination of 

traditional and contemporary 

music which is simply called 

trado-contemporary music. 

Songs released by the group 

include ‘For Real’, ‘Iworiwo’, a 

remix from the late Jim Rex 

Lawson, which is about how 

people should behave in the 

society. ‘Edise’, which talks about 

the pains of woman hood and why 

they should be respected in the 

society. They also released Ijaw 

Praise gospel songs, which was 

also used to celebrate the second 

year anniversary of Ijaw Breed 

Entertainers. 

Explaining reasons for the 

release of this kind of music which 

is outside the usual genres, 

President of the Ijaw Breed 

Entertainers, James Useghan who 

is also the Convener, First Massive 

By JAPHET ALAKAM 

REVIEW 

Nigeria as a country was 

doing well with its 

agriculture and other products 

before the discovery of oil in the 

Niger Delta area. Since then, the 

fortunes of the country changed as 

all attention was shifted to oil to 

the detriment of other sectors. The 

multinational companies rushed 

in and in connivance some 

wealthy community leaders took 

the oil money and left the various 

communities to wallow in abject 

poverty. It works in a system, where 

community leaders are greased 

and consequently forget their 

people, the youths, mostly 

graduates roam the streets with no 

jobs and in search of a way to make 

ends meet, kidnapping, oil theft 

and others vices came up. 

This was exactly what Lawrence 

Amaeshi, who grew up in the Niger 

Delta region narrated in his new 

book entitled Sweet Crude 

Odyssey. 

What is the root cause of crude 

oil theft? What are the issues 

involved in this risky business, who 

are the actors, how is it operated 

and what are the risks involved. Is 

it worth doing, these and other 

issues associated with the crude oil 

black market are what Amaeshi 

highlights in the 342 page book 

published by Kachifo Limited, 

Nigeria. 

The story centers on the life of 

Bruce Telma, the major character 

and how he was lured into the 

illicit business. Spurred on by 

desperation and pulled by the 

allure of immense riches, Bruce 

plunges into this dark abyss of 

betrayal and destruction, striking 

illicit million dollar deals and 

battling security forces and rival 

militants. What was the end and 

was it worth it? 

Rebr 

ebranding Nigerian culture through 

trado-cont 

ado-contempor 

emporar 

ary y music 

Literati said, “We sing songs in 

different languages because the 

rhythm is melodious likewise we 

should sing unique songs that are 

different from one dialect or the 

other. When we do this, we will 

be able to export our culture to 

the international community 

when our indigenous songs are 

listened to in the world. This will 

enable us have an identity which 

is very important.” 

“Musicians are inspired by 

what happens in the society and 

they do this by releasing various 

songs. We sang Yahwah Dey in 

Pidgin English because we want 

to promote our local dialect. If 

you travel to countries like 

China or India, they always 

speak their indigenous 

languages likewise Pidgin 

English, which cuts across all 

classes of people in Nigeria. We 

Musicians are inspired 

by what happens in the 

socirty, we sang Yawah 

dey in Pidgin English 

because we want to 

promote our local 

dialect 

Amaeshi’s intriguing take on the oil war 

Set in the creeks in Bonny 

Island with intermittent trips to 

Lagos, Abuja and London, with 

a good story line that depicts 

different life scenarios, the 

author brings to the fore some of 

those things that were done in 

secret. 

Segmented into three parts for 

easy reading, the first part which 

serves as the introduction begins 

in chapter one and ends on 

chapter four. Here, the author 

introduces the reader to how 

Bruce was unknowingly enlisted 

into the business by his girlfriend 

Daisy and after his meeting with 

Steve and his group with the offer 

and its monetary attachment 

that follows, Bruce had no other 

choice than to capitalize on it to 

see whether he could change his 

fortunes. Once into the game, 

there is no going back. Though 

from a very humble family, Bruce 

abandoned his fathers virtuous 

path and plunged himself into 

the darker side of life. 

As someone who was once into 

cultism during his universities 

days, he was used to rough life 

associated with the business, so 

he went into game, embarked on 

Spurred on by 

desperation and pulled 

by the allure of immense 

riches, Bruce plunges 

into this dark abyss of 

betrayal and destruction, 

striking illicit million 

dollar deal... 

• Han-Izon on stage 

want to communicate to 

Nigerians at the grass root level 

because they understand what 

we are doing. 

A lot of things has happened 

in the last few years about 

governance in the country, things 

are really tough and the masses 

are suffering. Despite all these 

challenges, we were inspired to 

sing Yawah Dey because it 

focuses on the negative situation 

of things in the country.” 

his first trip and it was a success. 

The second part sub-titled the 

game begins from chapter five 

and ends in chapter 36. In these 

chapters, the author using the 

power of narrative highlights the 

intricacies that followed other 

trips. The business is illegal with 

many battles to fight, first the local 

militants who are out to 

undermine each other, the 

Sweet Crude Odyssey; Lawrence 

Amaeshi ; Kachifo Limited, 

Nigeria;2016; PP. 342 

government security forces 

monitoring activities of oil theft, 

the bargaining with the various 

militants for the supply of the 

crude and how to deliver the 

crude to the final destinations 

etc. All these are risks that involve 

loss of life, the crude and as such 

each party is fully equipped with 

sophisticated weapons that are 

used at all times with reckless 

abandon. Here, also the author 

narrates how the security agents 

tracked Bruce’s movements, the 

“ T h e 

musical 

video of 

Yawah 

D e y , 

produced 

by James 

a n d 

Michael 

Useghan is 

a song 

about the 

lamentations 

of the 

people, 

they are 

tired of the 

situation 

of things 

in the 

country 

and its 

high time 

the youths 

c o m e 

together 

and get 

things 

right. As youths, we are yearning 

for transformation in the 

country. We are seeking for the 

best and that is why we 

established First Massive 

Literati (FML) formerly known 

as National Youths Movement 

(NYM) where youths are craving 

for a change and wants the 

youths to take over the 

leadership in the country like 

some developed countries in the 

world.” 

different encounters that led to 

deaths of many and how he met 

and fell in love with Kathy, a 

young lady doctor that 

eventually embraced Christ,and 

was an influence on Bruce. 

Finally, the third part from 

chapter 37 to 45 tagged the end 

game. This part starts with his 

escape from a bloody war that 

took the lives of many. Here, he 

tries to re-examine his life, 

especially with the presence 

of Kathy who was in Nigeria 

for a workshop and his 

encounter with security 

agents who finally caught up 

with him. Then came, his 

father’s illness that took him 

to London, his meeting with 

his family members and the 

reappearance of Daisy and 

her demands. 

From the very first chapter 

to the last, the story goes with 

one encounter to the other 

and in it is embedded many 

lessons of life, the good, the 

bad and the ugly. Bruce 

made the money, but he never 

enjoyed his life. 

The Imo State born writer, 

in the book paints a perfect 

picture of the social ills 

caused by the inability of the 

government to do the needful. 

Apart from the story line, which 

is good, simple English is used 

for easy comprehension, the 

chapters though are 45 and 

make the reader keep turning the 

pages till to the end. A very 

interesting and emotional 

narrative with lots of messages 

for all classes. I recommend it 

for all, especially movie 

producers as it is a well written 

script begging to be adapted for 

a film. 

NANTAP elect 

interim national 

executive 

committee 

The National Association of 

Nigerian Theatre Arts 

Practitioners (NANTAP) has 

appointed a five (5) man Interim 

National Executive Committee 

(INEC) headed by Distinguished 

Thespian Israel Eboh to pilot its 

affairs for the next ten (10) 

months. 

This decision was taken at the 

emergency National Delegates 

Congress 2016 of the association 

held in the ancient city of 

Abeokuta on January 20, which 

brought to an end the three (3) 

years tenure of the Babatunde 

Obalana (fta) led National 

Executive Council. 

Israel Eboh a pioneer member 

of the twenty-six years old 

association who had served 

variously in such capacities as the 

National Director of Business, 

Secretary-General and of recent 

Chairman of the Constitutional 

Review Committee was 

unanimously elected to lead the 

National Caretaker Committee. 

Other members of the 

committee 

includes 

Distinguished Thespian Nifemi 

Richard-Bruce, a former 

Chairman of the Ogun State 

Chapter and thus an Ex National 

Vice President; Thespians Kevin 

Ushi and Lara Akinsola another 

former National Esecutive 

Council Member are, two veteran 

thespians from the Lagos Chapter 

and Thespian Tuoyo Edward, who 

is a serving secretary of the Ogun 

State Chapter. 

Dike 

Chukwumerije’s 

Made in Nigeria 

set for Abuja 

again 

L 

eading performance poet, 

Dike Chuwkumerije is set to 

excite Abuja audiences with 

another enactment of his critically 

acclaimed “Made In Nigeria” 

poetry theatre production. 

“Made in Nigeria is a fusion of 

different art forms into one 

performance,” Dike said while 

speaking to journalists ahead of 

the show which opens on February 

11 at the Congress Hall of the 

Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja. 

The show which is an artfully 

woven collection of 20 poems 

capturing 103 years of Nigerian 

history in 120 minutes was first 

performed in Abuja in September 

2016 and then in Lagos at the 

MUSON Centre in December of 

the same year. 

“We are bringing to life, the 

history of Nigeria from the 

Amalgamation to the current day 

using poetry, dance and drama. 

Part of our aims is to re-awaken 

national consciousness as well as 

to bring intellectualism into 

poetry. 

“Performance poetry is giving 

poetry a new lease of life and is 

steadily succeeding in breaking 

the stereotype with regards to what 

poetry is about. So far, we can see 

clear success because with each 

outing, we are recording even 

larger audience numbers,” he 

added.


Edited by EMEKA AGINAM 

Email: emekaaginam@yahoo.com 08057538314 

DIGITAL SWITCH OVER 

Learn from Kenya’s 

success factors, GSMA 

tells African govts 

The GSMA at the weekend 

launched a new report, 

“Digital Migration Process in 

Kenya”, to highlight the valuable 

lessons that could be derived from 

the country’s experience with its 

digital switch-over in the last 10 

years. With the rough road ahead, 

Shola Sanni , the Policy Manager 

Africa, GSMA, in this interview 

with Emeka Aginam said that 

actualising the digital switchover 

and using Digital Dividend 

spectrum for mobile broadband 

will be a massive step forward 

towards realising full digital 

inclusion as well as the national 

objective of the 80 per cent mobile 

broadband penetration target that 

the Nigerian National Broadband 

Plan 2012-2018 set for Nigeria. 

According to her, governments in 

the region should learn from 

Kenya’s success factors. 

Excerpt: 

What Nigeria can do to meet up 

with the June 2017 DSO deadline 

I think it’s important for Nigeria 

and other countries in the region to 

take learnings from Kenya’s digital 

migration experience. One thing 

that’s come out from the study the 

GSMA conducted there is the fact 

that digital migration is a complex 

process that requires consideration 

and implementation of a broad 

range of issues, from policy to 

market factors, funding and 

stakeholder engagement. It is 

important for any country 

undertaking this process to get it 

right so that the benefits of Digital 

Dividend spectrum can be realised. 

The GSMA’s report on Kenya’s 

digital migration process provides 

useful information and practical 

guidance to regulators and 

policymakers across the continent 

who, as in Nigeria, are planning or 

currently undergoing a similar 

migration. In terms of specific action 

At 2017 CES, LG expands IOT ecosystem with robot 

solutions 

At the just concluded Consumer 

Electronic, CES, show held in 

Las Vegas the United States of 

America, LG Electronics showcased 

lineup of intelligent robots, as part 

of the company’s innovations in 

artificial intelligence and 

developments in the internet of a 

thing, IoT, ecosystem. 

The lineup included a home robot 

that doubles as a smart home 

gateway and intelligent home 

notification center, enhancing 

convenience in users’ day-to-day 

lives. 

Speaking on the solutions, Song 

Dae-hyun, President of LG’s Home 

Appliance and Air Solutions 

Company explained that, “LG has 

been involved in smart technology 

and robotics for many years with the 

Hom -bot robot vacuum cleaner 

being our most visible consumer 

effort. 

“Here at CES, we’re 

demonstrating how we’re taking the 

knowledge gleaned from years of 

research and applying that to various 

situations inside and outside the 

home.” 

He said that LG is also taking the 

power of IoT and smart technology 

outside of the home with advanced 

areas, the report highlights key 

success factors such as developing 

a well-planned roadmap for digital 

migration, seeking and taking into 

account input from stakeholders, 

ensuring there is buy-in across the 

ecosystem and also addressing 

consumer issues such as the need 

for awareness campaigns and the 

affordability of set-top boxes. 

Lessons for Nigeria 

The majority of African countries 

missed the initial deadline of June 

2015 for completion of the 

migration, likely more as a result of 

policy, technical, funding or other 

challenges and presumably not for 

lack of willingness to migrate. 

For us, Kenya’s experience is 

particularly interesting because 

planning for the analogue to digital 

migration actually began in 2006. 

From the findings of the GSMA’s 

study, it was obviously not an easy 

process, but one critical objective, 

which was to free up digital dividend 

spectrum to support future mobile 

services, was ultimately realised. 

The key lesson from Kenya’s 

experience for countries planning or 

undergoing digital migration is that 

irrespective of what challenges the 

process faces, they can be overcome. 

Policymakers across the region need 

to step up efforts to clear the Digital 

Dividend bands and actually go 

further to license the freed up 

spectrum for mobile services. This 

would ultimately yield major social 

and economic benefits. 

Role of GSMA 

We have taken the first step by 

publishing the report on Kenya’s 

digital migration process, which 

provides a step-by-step guide on the 

strategies to adopt, pitfalls to avoid, 

stakeholders to engage, training to 

undertake and other measures 

geared towards successfully moving 

from analogue to digital 

broadcasting. Government can 

robots designed for use in airports 

and other public spaces. 

Hub Robot: 

LG’s eye-catching Hub Robot takes 

the concept of the smart home to the 

next level. By connecting to other 

smart appliances in the home, the 

Hub Robot uses Amazon Alexa’s 

voice recognition technology to 

complete household tasks such as 

turning on the air conditioner or 

changing a dryer cycle with simple 

verbal commands. 

The Hub Robot is equipped with 

an interactive display that can 

showcase a wide variety of 

information such as images of 

contents inside of the refrigerator and 

recipes, complete with step-bystep 

audio instructions. 

Additionally, the Hub Robot 

offers everyday consumer 

conveniences such as the 

ability to play music, set 

alarms, create reminder 

memos and provide weather 

and traffic updates. 

With its friendly, 

anthropomorphic design, 

LG’s Hub Robot can interact 

with the entire family in a 

variety of different ways. 

Airport Guide Robot: 

Shola Sanni, Policy Manager Africa, GSMA 

draw learnings from this report to 

achieve a successful migration 

process as in the case of Kenya. We’d 

also like to note that digital 

migration is only the first step. The 

reality is that spectrum has no 

intrinsic value, but can be a very 

valuable resource when put to 

productive use. So as important as 

digital migration is, it is even more 

important to implement the freed 

up spectrum from the migration for 

actual use by mobile operators after 

migration is complete. 

Addressing funding challenge 

The transition of an entire 

nation’s broadcast infrastructure 

from analogue to digital is an 

expensive undertaking and, in the 

GSMA’s experience, usually 

involves considerable funding from 

both the public and private sectors. 

In general, private sector funding 

has allowed for infrastructure 

development while government 

funds paid for public outreach and 

set-top box price reductions, though 

not always in the exact same splits. 

The important point to note is that 

funding the process should be a 

collaborative endeavour between 

the stakeholders. 

LG’s expansion of its intelligent 

services ecosystem reaches far 

beyond just the home. The Airport 

Guide Robot – soon to be seen in 

Seoul’s Incheon International 

Airport – is an intelligent information 

assistant for travelers, answering 

questions in four languages: English, 

Chinese, Japanese and Korean. With 

a simple scan of a passenger’s ticket, 

the robot can provide detailed 

information about a flight’s boarding 

time and gate location, and even the 

weather of a traveler’s destination 

city. The airport robot offers 

directions to destinations inside the 

airport, along with estimated 

distances and walking times, and 

can even escort lost or late travelers 

to their gates, or any 

other airport location. 

LG Hub Robot 

Airport Cleaning 

Robot: 

LG’s Airport Cleaning 

Robot is a super-sized 

robot vacuum equipped 

with a large-capacity 

dust canister as well as 

multiple brushes and 

motors. Capable of 

cleaning everything 

from tiles to carpet floors, 

this robot is 

Benefits of digital broadcasting 

The consumer benefits arising 

from digital switchover are widely 

recognised and happen relatively 

quickly. Consumers have a broader 

choice of programming and 

services at better quality than is 

currently available to them, 

interactivity with user-friendly 

interfaces and convenience through 

services like video-on-demand. In a 

ATB Techsoft solution to address 

gaps in education, ERP planning 

Information Technology and 

Software development firm, 

ATB Techsoft Solutions Limited, at 

the weekend unveiled market enterprise 

software solutions that cater 

for different verticals of the economy. 

Speaking news men at the unveiling 

of the solutions recently in Lagos, 

Abiodun Atobatele, the Chief 

Executive Officer of the company 

said that they have been in Vanguard 

of developing several software systems 

through evaluation, design, 

planning, developing and testing. 

The solutions which included Finultimate, 

Ultisure, Eduware and 

Ultiflux, according to him would 

addresses gaps in the Insurance 

industry, Education Industry and 

Enterprise Resource Planning for 

any organization. 

“We are very proud of what we 

have achieved with these solutions 

we are releasing to the 

market,which stands its own 

amongst any currently in the market. 

These solutions are a result of 

seven years of dedication, hard 

work, research and investment. 

Which could not have been achieved 

without our software architects, 

whom can be ranked amongst the 

smartest people in the World”. 

The software which is delivered as 

a cloud offering leveraging the Microsoft 

Azure Cloud Service, he said 

that, “What we have done is to offer 

software solutions of higher standard 

and functionality to the market 

as against what most organizations 

are purchasing offshore and 

at a much lower cost. This means 

Nigerian organizations do not have 

to spend hundreds of thousands of 

dollars to procure Software abroad. 

“ According to the National Office 

for Technology Acquisition and 

Promotion (NOTAP) official estimate, 

organizations in Nigeria 

spend over $1billion annual to procure 

Software. Our unique solutions 

are coming at a time to ease Nigeriansbusiness 

the demand for forex. 

The only way we can create thousands 

of technology jobs in Nigeria 

is when the government through enforcement 

of existing laws and regulations 

on Local Content that 

competitive multi-channel, multiplatform 

environment like Nigeria, 

digital television provides 

opportunities for terrestrial 

broadcasters to address the 

challenges posed by pay TV 

operators and over-the-top offerings 

through the internet. They benefit 

from spectrum efficiency gains and 

increased transmission capacity, 

improved signal quality and 

robustness, and lower energy 

consumption and maintenance 

costs. There are also the broader 

benefits to society of introducing 

digital TV including the potential 

to use digital broadcasting to 

narrow the digital divide, reach 

unserved areas, and to provide e- 

government and other digital 

services. 

Digital Dividend spectrum is ideal 

for mobile broadband because it 

consists of lower-frequency bands 

that can cover wider areas with fewer 

base stations than mobile 

broadband spectrum that relies on 

higher frequencies. This lowers 

deployment costs and allows 

operators to provide broader, more 

affordable coverage, especially in 

rural areas where connectivity can 

be a challenge. But beyond just rural 

areas, Digital Dividend spectrum 

also supports improved indoor 

coverage in urban areas, because 

these frequencies can more easily 

penetrate buildings. So looking at 

the bigger picture, utilising Digital 

Dividend spectrum for mobile 

services helps drive broadband 

penetration. 

makes it compulsory for companies 

to buy Software developed in Nigeria 

by Nigerians.”, he explained. 

While giving insights on the benefits 

and value proposition of these 

software solutions, the Chief Software 

Architect,ATB Techsoft Solutions, 

Patrick Anaih explained that 

Finultimate is their ERP solution 

that offers comprehensive portfolio 

of applications designed for organizations 

of any size to improve operational 

effectiveness, profitability, 

product innovation, distribution 

and delivery channel growth, customer 

relationships and enterprise 

information management. 

“Ultisure is our suite of software 

solutions for Insurance Policy Administration. 

With the flexibility and 

robustness that Ultisure ships with, 

customers are at liberty to create any 

insurance product irrespective of the 

complexity level and commence 

underwriting operations as quickly 

as possible. The solution handles 

core insurance processes and has 

additional features that compliment 

these processes and could be decoupled 

as independent systems”, he 

explained. 

Speaking on Eduware, he said 

that the solution is the company’s 

school management system application 

that could be used by institution 

of any category. 

He said that the solution was designed 

to enable schools to handle 

all their administrative and academic 

activities with ease and accuracy, 

whilst saving them lots of 

time and effort. 

The solution, he said connects 

each department to the school and 

the school to the student and/or parent, 

where necessary, to provide them 

with information sharing, easy retrieval 

of information for prompt 

decision taking and it is user-friendly. 

Throwing light on Ultiflux, he explained 

that the solution reduces 

work complexity, improves data 

capture and increases control 

through work flow and process automation 

that helps address these 

challenges., adding that the solution 

helps customers drive down cost and 

control the risk of process delays.

SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 5, 2017 — 45 

Zidane wants 

more goals from 

Ronaldo, 

Benzema 

ZINEDINE Zidane 

insists he is not 

worried about the 

partnership between 

Cristiano Ronaldo and 

Karim Benzema but has 

called on the Real Madrid 

duo to improve their 

goalscoring form. 

Both forwards have been 

subjected to jeers from some 

sections of the Santiago 

Bernabeu in recent home 

matches as a result of some 

less-than-convincing 

displays since the turn of 

the year. 

Ronaldo appeared to 

offer a pointed retort to fans 

who whistled him during 

the 3-0 win over Real 

Sociedad last week, in 

which he managed a goal 

and an assist, while 

Benzema was again 

targeted after an 

unconvincing 66 minutes 

on the pitch. 

Zidane admits that he 

would like to see more 

clinical displays from both 

players but says there is no 

reason to be concerned 

about their unconvincing 

partnership last Sunday. 

“Last time, we played 

with Benzema and 

Cristiano up front,” he told 

a news conference. “But 

Ronaldo’s best position is 

on the left. I think he’ll 

finish his career in this 

position. 

“We know that they can 

give more and we need 

more from them. 

“What you want as a 

coach is for your two or 

three forwards to score 

goals, but I’m not worried 

if they don’t link up so well 

in one game. It doesn’t 

Chelsea are powerful, Wenger concedes 

ARSENAL 

coach, 

Arsene Wenger 

admitted that Chelsea have 

powerful players, but 

refused to question 

Arsenal’s resilience 

despite their weak 

surrender at the hands of 

Chelsea yesterday. 

Wenger’s men were 

Huth roots for Leicester 

revival 

LEICESTER defender 

Robert Huth says the 

team need to up their work 

rate if they are to pull clear 

of the relegation zone. 

Last year’s shock Premier 

League winners are 

enduring a disappointing 

campaign this time around 

and have won just two of 

their last 14 in the league. 

Ahead of today’s tricky 

clash with Manchester 

United, the Foxes find 

themselves 16th in the 

table, just two points clear 

of the drop zone, without a 

Premier League goal to 

their names in 2017. 

Two seasons ago, 

Leicester produced a 

remarkable escape from 

seemingly certain 

relegation, winning seven 

of their last nine games, and 

Huth says they need to 

learn from that experience. 

“The majority of the 

squad were here when we 

were at the bottom of the 

league,” he said. 

“We do know how to deal 

with disappointment. 

“When some people 

might think it’s the worst 

thing in the world, it’s up 

to us as professionals to 

think that we’ve been here 

before and we know what 

it takes. 

“It’s almost like we have 

to shut out everyone and 

get on with the job. 

“The whole team, 

whoever plays, needs to 

get together and work a 

little harder and the ball 

will drop for us I’m sure. 

•Ronaldo 

beaten 3-1 at Stamford 

Bridge as Chelsea edged 

another step towards the 

Premier League title with a 

powerful performance 

which was simply too much 

for their London rivals to 

cope with. 

Marcos Alonso put the 

hosts in front with a goal 

described by Wenger as “a 

100 per cent foul” and 

“dangerous play” - the 

Spaniard towering above 

Hector Bellerin and making 

contact with his 

countryman’s face to nod 

home - before a sublime 

Eden Hazard strike made 

it 2-0. Cesc Fabregas 

rubbed salt in the Arsenal 

wound with the third against 

his former club before Olivier 

Giroud netted a late 

consolation. 

Wenger told Sky Sports: 

“We had the right attitude 

•FOX ALERT...Ahmed Musa and Wilfred Ndidi 

•Wenger...Facing another meltdown 

but our experienced players 

were not at their best. The 

team gave everything to the 

end but they lacked some 

maturity in the build-up. 

“They [Chelsea] looked 

more powerful but that is the 

impression you get when 

your team tries to make 10 

passes to be dangerous and 

the other team plays on the 

break.” 

Mourinho prays for goal rain 

JOSE Mourinho wants 

Manchester United’s 

misfiring stars to put a smile 

back on his face by blitzing 

troubled Leicester today. 

Mourinho has cut a 

frustrated figure in recent 

weeks as his side delivered 

one toothless display after 

another. 

His anger boiled over 

following Wednesday’s 

goalless draw with lowly 

Hull when he stormed out 

of a television interview, 

criticised the referee and 

claiming the authorities 

punish him more severely 

than his managerial rivals. 

United are unbeaten in 

14 league games, but 

seven of those have ended 

in draws, including the last 

Hull prolong Liverpool 

suffering 

LIVERPOOL suffered a 

shock 2-0 defeat to 

Premier League strugglers 

Hull City at the KCOM 

Stadium. 

The home side took the 

lead through Alfred 

N’Diaye before former 

Everton man, Oumar 

Niasse sealed all three 

points for Marco Silva’s 

side. 

And Jurgen Klopp has 

admitted he was baffled by 

the result which has seen 

the Reds slip to 13 points 

behind league leaders 

Chelsea. 

“At this moment obviously 

that was not enough. 

“The first half for sure was 

not enough. We gave both 

goals away easily, the 

overall performance as not 

like it should be,” Klopp 

three. 

Their 33-goal haul in the 

league is 12 less than any 

other top six side and 

Swedish veteran Zlatan 

Ibrahimovic is the only one 

of United’s forwards posing 

any threat to opposing 

defences. 

With United trailing four 

points behind the top four, 

Mourinho knows it is 

essential for his sixth placed 

team to find a significantly 

sharper cutting edge if they 

are to qualify for the 

Champions League. 

“I have to agree with you 

that we don’t score enough 

goals and some of our 

players from these 

attacking, creative positions 

they could - they should - 

•Klopp 

told BBc Sport. 

“It makes no sense for us 

to play like this. If we 

played like we did in the 

second half for the whole 

game no team can cope 

with us. But we need to 

wake up, that was not 

acceptable. 

“I have a lot of thoughts 

at the moment and I can’t 

even say a few of them right 

now because I really need 

to think about what 

happened. 

“We had a lot of 

possession, but what is 

possession? 

Lukaku runs 

riot 

ROMELU 

Lukaku 

scored four goals, his 

first after just 30 seconds, in 

Everton’s 6-3 demolition of 

Bourn-emouth in the 

Premier League on 

Saturday. 

Almost immediately after 

the opening whistle, Lukaku 

breached Bourn-emouth’s 

defense with the Belgium 

striker weaving past 

defenders to curl in a superb 

finish. It was the quickest 

goal scored by Everton at 

Goodison Park in the Premier 

League and also the joint 

fastest in the top flight this 

season. 

score more goals,” he said. 

“We attack so much and 

with so many players, and 

so many players have the 

freedom in our dynamic to 

reach scoring positions. 

“But when you see the 

number of goals we score, 

there is not a true relation 

between our attacking 

production and the number 

of players we put always in 

attacking positions and the 

number of goals we score.” 

Given United’s recent 

problems and Leicester’s 

current predicament, this 

weekend’s clash at the 

King Power Stadium offers 

an opportunity for one team 

to get back on track while 

plunging the loser into 

deep despair.

46 — SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 5, 2017 

2018 WC Qualifiers: Rohr confident 

Eagles will maintain form 

SUPER Eagles coach 

Gernot Rohr has 

expressed optimism that the 

World Cup 2018 campaign 

of the team will remain 

intact, despite not playing 

at the Africa Cup of 

Nations. 

Two of the Super Eagles 

group opponents, Algeria 

and Cameroon featured in 

the AFCON 2017 

tournament, which the 

Indomitable Lions of 

Cameroon’s are poised to 

win. 

“We are in good position 

to qualify. I don’t think our 

not participating in the 

AFCON will have effects on 

the team. 

“I sincerely believe we 

will do everything possible 

to qualify for the World Cup 

going by the commitment 

of the players,” he said. 

He said he was relying 

on his relatively young and 

success hungry team to 

keep the momentum. 

“It is an interesting 

challenge, to have a new 

team, a young team, to 

Pharaohs 

Continued from B/P 

style of play. 

“Cameroon is a very 

strong and an organized 

team. They’ve deservedly 

qualified to final,” the 

Argentine manager said in 

his press conference on 

Saturday. 

“I think that we have the 

same style of play and the 

game will be tough for both 

teams. 

“My players are 

exhausted, there have been 

short intervals between 

matches. We are now 

rehabilitating the players to 

find out who will be 

available for the game. 

“I hope to win the title, 

but that depends on luck 

build a team with players 

who really have the spirit 

of the country, who want 

to play, to fight, to give their 

all, who don’t want to 

speak about material 

things, but who are here 

because they want to play 

for their country,” Rohr said. 

and the players’ 

performance,” he added. 

The 61-year-old then 

spoke about the Italian style 

of play and the 

resemblance between it 

and his, revealing that he 

learned a lot during his 

time in Italy with Inter 

Milan and Parma. 

“I have spent a good 

managerial stint in Italy 

and learned many things 

there. The Italian football 

was at its best and and the 

Italian league was the best 

in the world,” Cúper 

added. 

“Mohamed Salah is 

there now and is one of the 

best players in the Italian 

league after he adapted 

quickly and improved his 

performance,” he 

concluded. 

“We have a good captain 

with experience, we have 

found some defenders to 

make us stronger at the 

back and I think the spirit 

and harmony of the team is 

very good. But we know the 

important times come now. 

The Super Eagles top group 

AFCON 2017: Rohr roars for 

Indomitable Lions 

SUPER Eagles coach, 

Gernot Rohr is rooting 

for Cameroon to beat Egypt 

in today’s Africa Cup of 

Nations final in Gabon. 

The Franco-German born 

coach believes that 

Cameroon will be worthy 

champions, having 

overcome the disappointment 

of missing some of 

their key players to beat 

highly rated opponents 

like Senegal and Ghana 

on their way to the final. 

Besides, he stated that 

Egypt was too defensive. 

Cameroon 


tournament following the 

withdrawal of key players 

including Joel Matip, Eric 

Maxim Choupo-Moting 

and Allan Nyom, but have 

defied expectations to reach 

their first final since 2008 

after beating Ghana 2-0 in 

their semifinal on Thursday. 

With coach Hugo Broos 

also deciding to axe 

defenders Aurelien 

Chedjou and Henri 

Bedimo, an inexperienced 

Cameroon side are only one 

game away from winning 

their first continental crown 

since 2002. 

“We haven’t been 

favourites since the 

beginning of the Nations 

Cup and that suits us,” he 

told Reuters. “We will take 

our role of outsiders and 

B with six points, having 

defeated Zambia 2-1 and 

Algeria 3-1 in their opening 

two group matches. They 

face a very tough tie against 

Cameroon on August 28 in 

Uyo, a match that could 

determine the fate of the two 

teams.” 

Navy introduces boat handling at 

11th NN Games 

By Solomon Nwoke 

IN a bid to keep its 

personnel physically 

and mentally fit apart from 

identifying and selecting 

talents that will represent 

them at future Armed 

Forces and comity of 

nations Games, the 

Nigerian Navy has 

introduced Boat Handling 

event to its 11th NN 

Games billed to hold from 

February 26 to March 

4,2017 at Uyo Akwa Ibom 

State. 

In view of this, the Naval 

“This is a very 

interesting final, it is 

difficult to say who will 

win. They are two teams 

who play different 

football,” the 63-year-old 

told DW in an interview by 

the beach in Gabon’s 

capital Libreville. 

“One team are playing 

very good collective 

football and the other team 

is based on the defensive 

block, so for the interests 

of the game it is better that 

the team who is attacking 

will win.” 

•Rear Admiral Babalola 

Chief of Administration, 

Rear Admiral Henry A. 

Babalola while addressing 

the Media at the Officers 

Mess at the Naval Air Base 

Ojo, Navy Town Lagos 

Friday said as part of the 

preparations to the 

Nigerian Navy Games, the 

Water Sports Events have 

been scheduled to take off 

from February 6-11 at the 

Teslim Balogun Stadium 

and the Navy Sailing Club 

in Lagos from February 7- 

10 starting from 10am daily 

while the Navy Sailing 

Club, Navy Town Ojo hosts 

the Boat Handling, Rowing 

and Sailing events from 

February 6-9 at 9am daily. 

The Water Games will 

include swimming, Boat 

Handling and Sailing. 

“The Boat Handling 

event is newly introduced 

into the 11th Nigerian Navy 

Games.” 

FACTS SHEET 

•Egypt and Cameroon are set to meet for the 10th 

time in the AFCON. The Pharaohs have won four 

games to Cameroon’s three in that time (D2 – including 

a penalty shoot-out victory for Egypt). 

•Regardless of who wins this game, we will see a 

manager lift the AFCON trophy at their very first 

attempt as this is the first AFCON for both Hector Cuper 

and Hugo Broos. 

•Cuper’s side are the only team yet to concede a 

goal in the first half in this edition of the African Cup of 

Nations. 

•Egypt have gone 24 AFCON games without defeat 

(W18 D6), last losing in the 2004 tournament (v Algeria) 

and have only conceded two goals across their last 10 

matches in the AFCON. 

we’ll play (the final) like 

we’ve played the other 

matches so far. 

“In this team, there are 

only eight players who 

have competed in a Nations 

Cup or a World Cup, so it’s 

a young group, a new 

group,” he said. “We’re 

forging our own little 

pathway, and it’s working.” 

In the absence of 

Cameroon’s more 

established names, 

unheralded players have 

been introduced to the team 

to great effect. 

Defender Michael 

Ngadeu Ngadjui has 

scored two key goals 

including the opener 

against Ghana, while 

forward Christian 

Bassogog, who also found 

the net in the semifinal, has 

been one of the 

tournament’s outstanding 

players. 

•John Obi Mikel and Austine Ejide training during a 

previous outing. 

Barca 


over Athletic Bilbao at Camp 

Nou on Saturday - a result 

that moved them a point 

behind LaLiga leaders Real 

Madrid, having played two 

games more. 

Paco Alcacer and Lionel 

Messi scored in the first half 

before Aleix Vidal struck the 

100th of their campaign with 

a bouncing half-volley that 

eluded goalkeeper Gorka 

Iraizoz. 

Monaco soon reached the 

Chelsea 


work and great ability of the 

players has shown you can 

change the situation.” 

Chelsea was in eighth 

after a 3-0 loss at Arsenal 

in September 2016, only to 

rip off a 13-match winning 

streak that put them in the 

history books and first place 

on the Premier League 

table. 

“To put the others 12 

points behind is very 

important for us. 

“In four days we have had 

two games against two 

great teams. I think we are 

Diouf 


to play for Cameroon at the 

African Cup of Nations was 

out of order, quoting Bob 

Marley in the process. 

Diouf told BBC World 

Service: “I don’t understand 

people turning down their 

country.” 

“And like the legend Bob 

Marley always said ‘if you 

don’t know where you come 

from, you don’t know where 

to go’.” 

100-mark themselves 

thanks to an emphatic 3-0 

victory over Ligue 1 title 

rivals Nice later on 

Saturday. 

Valere Germain and a 

double from Radamel 

Falcao took Leonardo 

Jardim’s side to triple 

figures with a win that puts 

them three points clear at 

the top of the table. 

Real Madrid are in third 

in those goal standings with 

98, with fourth-placed 

Arsenal a full 14 further 

back. 

showing we deserve to stay 

on top of the table. I am 

very pleased for my 

players. In every session 

they show me great attitude 

and great will to fight and 

win this league.” 

Meanwhile midfielder 

N’golo Kante has warned 

his team-mates that the race 

was not yet over. 

“It wasn’t the best we 

have played but it was 

important for us. “The title 

is not finished, a lot of 

things could happen.” 

Kante was central to 

Leicester’s shock title 

triumph last term and has 

been a key man since 

joining Chelsea. 

“Definitely they’ll regret 

not playing in the Cup of 

Nations. After your career, 

what are you going to do? 

Stay living in Europe? To 

do what?” 

“It’s always tough to be 

African, because you can be 

the best African coach but 

they’ll never give you PSG, 

Barcelona, Liverpool or 

Manchester United.” 

“That’s why I say to all the 

boys: don’t turn down your 

country because the future 

of this world is in Africa.”

SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 5, 2017 — 47 

Ekpo hunts for WBA title in Germany 

Saraki, 

Wike laud 

SWAN at 53 

SENATE President, Dr. 

Abubakar Bukola Saraki 

and Governor Nyesom 

Wike of Rivers state have 

congratulated the Sports 

Writers Association of Nigeria 

(SWAN) on their 53rd 

anniversary. 

In separate letters of congratulation 

sent to the association 

at the weekend, 

the two leaders recalled the 

role of sports journalism in 

the development of the 

country, even as they urged 

them not to relent in ensuring 

that Nigeria gets her 

rightful place in international 

sporting arena. 

Saraki, in a statement by 

his Special Adviser on Media 

and Publicity, Yusuph 

Olaniyonu, in Abuja, noted 

that SWAN has justified 

its existence through its 

numerous achievements 

and urged them to continue 

to be at the vanguard of 

advocacy to reposition the 

sports sector in the country. 

The Senate President 

equally charged SWAN to 

create awareness on the 

need for sports’ funding to 

be solely undertaken by the 

private sector while government 

should play the 

role of a regulator in the 

sector. 

“I am aware that SWAN 

is presently advocating for 

the establishment of a 

sports university in the 

country. I believe that this 

is the way to go as such a 

specialized institution 

when realized would help 

in no small measure to 

equip our sports men and 

women with cutting edge 

skills, orientation and international 

best practices 

that would help them excel 

both within and outside the 

shores of this country. ” 

Similarly, Governor Wike 

who wrote through his 

Special Assistant on Electronic 

Media, Simeon 

Nwakaudu lauded SWAN 

for her contributions to 

the development of 

sports in the country 

through professional reportage 

of sporting events 

and sports personalities. 

The governor urged 

SWAN to sustain its contributions 

to the development 

of sports in the 

country while assuring the 

leadership and members 

that the Rivers State 

Government will continue 

to support the association 

in any way it can. 

By Jacob Ajom 

FORMER national 

and World Boxing 

Organisation (Africa) 

Super-middleweight 

champion, Isaac Ekpo 

will return to the ring 

March 25 to challenge 

for the World Boxing Association 

title, currently 

held by Tyron Zeuge of 

Germany. 

The fight comes up at 

the MBS Arena, Potsdam 

Brandenburg, Germany. 

With an intimidating 

record of 31 wins(24 

KOs) and two losses, the 

Nigerian pugilist will be 

aiming for the top as his 

opponent who has 19 

wins and one draw will 

be no pushover. 

Before the Ekpo fight, 

another Nigerian, Abolaji 

Rasheed, a.k.a. Afonja 

Warrior will on March 

18, challenge Sam 

Ekpo: Getting set 

TRUE to its promise, 

Total Nigeria has 

taken fourteen lucky customers 

to Gabon to watch 

the final match of the 

2017 Africa Cup of Nations 

between Egypt and 

Cameroon coming up today 

in Libreville. 

The beneficiaries were 

presented with their 

flight tickets at the 

Church Gate Street secretariat 

of Total Nigeria 

on Friday and departed 

the country Saturday 

morning for Libreville. 

The General Manager- 

Sales and Marketing- 

Mrs. Adesua Adewole 

explained that an automated 

draw was conducted 

on the 25th of 

January, in the presence 

of the regulatory bodies 

and 14 lucky customers 

were randomly selected 

to win an all expense 

paid trip to Libreville, 

Gabon. 

“The 14 lucky winners 

spanned from several 

cities in Nigeria including 

Lagos, Abuja, Port 

Harcourt, Benin and Kaduna. 

These winners 

Sheedy of Britain for the 

vacant Commonwealth 

welterweight belt at the 

Ponds Forge Arena, 

Sheffield, Yorkshire. 

Abolaji Rasheed is the 

Current Nigerian/ West 

African Middleweight 

Champion with a record 

of 11 fights, 8 wins (4 by 

KO), 2 losses and 1 

draw. His opponent has 

amassed 17 wins and 2 

Losses. The title is va- 

AFCON 2017: Total 

sponsors 14 Nigerians 

to watch final 

departed Lagos, Nigeria 

on the 4th of February to 

experience the final 

match of the TOTAL AF- 

CON 2017 live,” she 

said. 

Speaking earlier, MD 

Total Nigeria, Jean-Philipe 

Torres explain why 

the company embarked 

on the sponsorship. “It is 

common knowledge that 

the Confederation of African 

Football, CAF and 

Total have entered into a 

partnership that will see 

Total as title sponsors of 

CAF’s 10 principal tournaments 

for the next 8 

years, beginning from 

the ongoing AFCON in 

Gabon. In this country, 

football is a unifying 

platform which breaks all 

barriers. Football is a 

universal language. 

“Total has been in Africa 

for 80 years and in 

Nigeria we have been 

here for 60.years. Even 

when the Super Eagles 

are absent in Gabon, 

knowing that Nigerians 

are so passionate about 

football.” 

cant so whoever wins 

between the two ring 

gladiators becomes the 

new Commonwealth welterweight 

champion. 

Confirming the fights, 

Secretary of the Nigerian 

Boxing Board of Control, 

Remi Aboderin said 

the development was an 

indication that Nigerian 

boxing has returned to 

global reckoning and he 

thanked the new executive 

board of the NBB of 

C and, in particular, Flykite 

Promotions, organizers 

of the GOtv Boxing 

Night for providing 

the platform that has 

made it possible for Nigerian 

boxers to showcase 

their skills. 

“I am honoured to 

work with the new board 

and Dr Rafiu Ladipo, the 

Flykite Promotions and 

GOtv for their continuous 

support to boxing in 

the country,” Aboderin 

said, adding that the 

NBB of C would do everything 

possible to support 

Rasheed and Ekpo 

in their bids for the Commonwealth 

and world titles, 

respectively. 

Rainoil stages 

tennis at Ikoyi 

Club 

THE Rainoil/Ikoyi 

Club Tennis Tournament 

is billed to serve 

off on Monday February 

7th at the Ikoyi Club. 

The annual event will 

feature Nigeria’s best 

eight male and best 

eight female tennis players 

in the Nigerian Tennis 

Federation’s current 

rankings. 

Rainoil has been the 

official sponsor of the 

tournament since 2014 

and has continued the 

tradition this year. 

The tournament’s 

draws begin promptly at 

3pm on February 6th at 

the Ikoyi Club and the 

event is open strictly to 

Ikoyi Club members and 

Rainoil staff. 

Speaking on the tournament, 

Gabriel Ogbechie- 

Managing Director 

Rainoil said: 

“Rainoil’s support for 

tennis stems from our 

commitment to address 

the issues of training and 

capital that has limited 

the successes of our athletes 

in international 

sporting events. The 

competition brings members 

together in a friendly 

atmosphere and gives 

them the opportunity to 

gain bragging rights and 

improve on their rankings.” 

The finals for the men 

and women’s teams will 

take place on Friday, 

February 11 while the 

tournament ends with a 

prize presentation dinner. 

Winners in the male 

and female categories 

will walk away with a 

grand prize of N250,000. 

Cameroon versus Egypt 

THE curtains for the 2017 Africa Nations Cup would 

be drawn in Gabon today with surprise finalist, the 

Indomitable Lions of Cameroon squaring up against another 

team not given any chance by pundits when the competition 

began, the Pharaohs of Egypt. Because Nigeria’s 

Super Eagles are not involved in the competition, Nigerian 

fans initially were less perturbed about it but as the 

tempo increased, their interest was aroused mainly for the 

fact that the country’s opponents in the World Cup qualifiers, 

Algeria and Cameroon, were involved. They heaved a 

sigh of relief when the Algerians, parading the most dreaded 

players in the competition failed to get out of the group 

stages, after drawing two matches and losing one. 

Focus then shifted to Cameroon who equally didn’t have 

a very good start, winning one and drawing two matches. 

Theirs was however, better than the Algerians as they qualified 

for the quarter finals. As the Cameroonian team progressed 

in the competition, Nigerians started pondering if 

the Eagles could maintain leadership and pick the sole 

ticket of their 2018 World Cup qualifying group ahead of 

both Cameroon and Algeria. 

After Cameroon dismissed Senegal in the quarter-finals 

and stopped Ghana in the semis, the frenzy increased with 

fears expressed by most people that the Lions were looking 

more impregnable and could be spoilers. 

However, Eagles handler, Gernot Rohr, who is in Gabon 

not only to work as an analyst but also to spy on his team’s 

opponents, is not as agitated about the new form of Cameroon 

in the Nations Cup, assuring that the Eagles’ non 

appearance in Gabon would not take anything from them 

in the World Cup qualifiers. 

Coming to today’s final, Rohr’s position may not be what 

some fans want. The Eagles manager believes that Cameroon 

play better attacking football and should win as 

against the Egyptians he described as being too defensive, 

which he said is not good for football. Rohr is talking 

technically. Egypt got to the final scoring four goals and 

conceding just one while Cameroon scored five and conceded 

two. He agreed that both sides play similar pattern 

but that the Cameroonians are more adventurous. 

On the side of Cameroon, the young players who are 

making their debut at such a stage are looking to making 

history for themselves while helping their country record a 

fifth Nations Cup win after the 1984, 1988, 2000 and 2002 

wins, the first three incidentally were against Nigeria. 

Egypt too are seeking to increase their record to an 8th 

win, more than any country in the continent. And this will 

rub off on their legendary goalkeeper, Essam El Hadary, 

who has already made history, becoming the oldest player 

in Afcon history at 44 as well as in international competitions. 

At present he is tied at four Nations Cup win with his 

old team-mate, Ahmed Hassan and if the Pharaohs go on 

to lift the trophy at the expense of Cameroon today, he will 

become the player with the most wins at five. 

This will be the driving force behind his remarkable performance 

so far, a performance that saw him stop the penalty 

that saw Egypt qualify ahead of hard fighting Burkina 

Faso after their semi final match had ended 1-1 after full 

and extra time. El Hadary, to me, is destined for this history 

considering the fact that he was a substitute coming 

into the Nations Cup. It was not too certain he would have 

had a chance to play in the team but as luck or ill-luck for 

his team-mate, Ahmed El-Shenawy who got injured after 

only 25 minutes in their first game against Mali which 

eventually ended 0-0, he was drafted into the squad. 

From then on he never looked back as he employed his 

vast experience as a veteran of the Nations Cup to propel 

his country on till they landed in today’s final. 

Coming back to the Nigerian fans, majority I spoke to 

about the final on who they think would carry the day, 

want Egypt to win. They opined that a win for Egypt would 

console them that at least the team that stopped the Eagles 

from going to Gabon actually won the Cup. They also 

believe that if the Eagles had qualified instead of Egypt, 

maybe they would have been in the final too and probably 

carry the day. This however, don’t always turn out so. 

Their second reason for preferring Egypt to win is that a 

win for the Lions of Cameroon would boost their morale 

in the World Cup qualifiers when they face the Eagles in 

the double header in August. Again I don’t thing it works 

that way. Losing the Nations Cup could spur the Lions to 

‘die’ in the World Cup qualifier as they wouldn’t want to 

lose out on both ends. Victory for them today could get 

into their heads, making them take the Eagles for granted 

in August. As a result they could get whipped by the Eagles 

who may want to make a statement that even though they 

were absent at the Nations Cup, they beat the African champions. 

No matter the calculation from both contestants 

today and even Nigerians, Africans and the world at large 

expect to see good soccer artistry from the Pharoahs and 

the Lions, at least to justify the increase in the number of 

slots for Africa in future World Cups as planned by FIFA 

president Gianni Infantino. 

On a last note, I want to digress and talk about basketball. 

I want to appeal to those who are ‘fighting’ the Nigeria 

Basketball Federation(NBBF) to sheathe their swords 

and join the Tijjani Umar-led Board to take the game to 

unimaginable height. If the NBBF could achieve so much 

with little support from the sports ministry, with the new 

dawn of sponsorship expected, the achievement henceforth 

can be imagined.

SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 5, 2017 

See solution on page 5 

AFCON 2017 

Pharaohs are 

battle weary, 

Cuper cries out 

PHARAOHS of 

Egypt, Héctor 

Cúper has 

revealed that his players 

are exhausted from 

playing tough games in 

the tournament. 

The Pharaohs 

qualified to the final 

game after beating 

Burkina Faso on 

penalties, while 

ACROSS 

1. Governor of Sokoto 

State (8) 

5. Assistant (4) 

7. Praise (5) 

8. Upright (4) 

9. Lantern (4) 

11. Tradition (6) 

13. Lagos masquerade (3) 

15. Exclamation (2) 

16. Pig’s nose (5) 

18. Agent (3) 

20. Glitters (6) 

24. Forward (5) 

25. Nigerian state (6) 

27. Boring tool (3) 

29. Ghanaian fabric (5) 

31. Perform (2) 

32. Oshiomhole’s 

state (3) 

34. U.S. currency (6) 

36. Vow (4) 

38. Musical quality (4) 

39. Inclination (5) 

40. Eager (4) 

41. Damages (8) 

Cameroon defeated the 

Black Stars 2-0 and 

Cúper thinks that both 

teams have the same 

Continues on Page 46 

•Mohammed Salah, Egypt striker •Benjamin Makounjdo, Cameroon 

ready for another run. 

captain set to weather the storm. 

Cameroon’s captain accepts 

underdog status 

Unfancied Cameroon 

CAMEROON captain 

B e n j a m i n 

Moukandjo said his 

inexperienced side are 

relishing their underdog 

tag ahead of today’s 

Africa Cup of Nations 

final and believes the 

lack of big-name players 

may give them the edge 

over seven-time 

champions Egypt. 

Rohr roars for 

Indomitable Lions 46 

were beset by selection 

problems before the 


DOWN 

1. Sample (5) 

2. Niger state town (4) 

3. Observe (5) 

4. Lecture (6) 

5. Everyone (3) 

6. Use (6) 

10. Inquires (4) 

12. Carpet (3) 

14. Colour (6) 

15. Resistance unit (3) 

17. Coax (4) 

19. Rollicked (6) 

21. Hatchet (3) 

22. Satisfied (4) 

23. Nigerian state (3) 

26. Cry of derision (3) 

27 . African country (6) 

28. Endure (4) 

29. Child (3) 

30. Spoke (6) 

31. Adorn (5) 

33. Baking chambers 

(5) 

35. Asterisk (4) 

37. Possessed (3) 

CRUSHING EFFECT...Arsenal’s midfielder Francis Coquelin (floor) tackles 

Chelsea’s midfielder N’Golo Kante (C) as Chelsea’s Spanish defender Cesar 

Azpilicueta (R) recycles possession during their EPL match at Stamford Bridge 

in London. Photo: AFP 

It’s crazy Chelsea are 12 

points clear—Conte 

CHELSEA 

coach 

Antonio Conte says 

it gives him a crazy 

feeling his team is 

leading with a wide 

margin considering their 

initial poor start to the 

season. 

The Blues extended 

their lead in the EPL 

Barca hit 

100 goals 

mark 

BARCELONA are the 

first team in 

Europe’s top-five 

leagues to score 100 

goals in all competitions 

this season. 

Luis Enrique’s side 

reached the milestone 

thanks to a 3-0 victory 


Diouf mocks absentee 

Matip, others 

FORMER Senegal 

striker El-Hadji 

Diouf has mocked 

Cameroon players who 

turned their backs on the 

national who are playing 

in the final of the Africa 

Cup of Nations. 

Diuof, a controversial 

figure during his 

playing days, stated that 

the players’ decision not 


with 12 points after 

beating Arsenal 3-1 

yesterday at Stamford 

Bridge. 

“I must be crazy to 

think this would be the 

situation now. Our start 

wasn’t good for many 

reasons. Only through 


RESULTS 

Chelsea 3 Arsenal 1 

Crystal Palace 0 Sunderland 4 

Everton 6 Bournemouth 3 

Hull City 2 Liverpool 0 

Southampton 1 West Ham 3 

Watford 2 Burnley 1 

West Brom 1 Stoke City 0 

Tottenham 1 M’brough 0 

Barcelona 3 Ath Bilbao 0 

Malaga 0 Espanyol 1 

Atl Madrid 2 Leganés 0 

AFCON 

Ghana 0 Burkina Faso 1 

TODAY'S MATCHES 

Man City v Swansea 2.30pm 

Leicester v Man. Utd 5pm 

AFCON Final 

Cameroon v Egypt 8pm 

Printed and Published by VANGUARD MEDIA LIMITED, Vanguard Avenue, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B.1007, Apapa. Advert Dept: :01- 7924470; Hotline: 01-4544821; Abuja Advert Hotline: 09-2921024. 

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

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

•Diouf 

•Lionel Messi...Firing Barca to greater heights

05022017 - IBORI RETURNS

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