24022017 Bank directors liable for 40% of N1.85trn bad loans— NDIC boss

Y 

K 

Mimiko hands 

over to 

Akeredolu in 

Ondo 

Gov. Mimiko of 

Ondo State 

handing over to 

his successor, Mr 

Rotimi 

Akeredolu, SAN 

yesterday. 

10 

CBN reintroduces 

cashless charges 

on bank deposits; 

takes off April 1 

CONVERSATION 

WITHAZU 

Ali Modu 

Sheriff not 

PDP's 

worst 

8 36 

demon 

** ** 

VOL. 25: NO. 63232 FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017 

Bank directors liable for 

40% of N1.85trn bad loans 

•MFBs, PMBs, record N139bn bad loans 

— NDIC boss 

Youths protesting xenophobic attacks on Nigerians living in South Africa, 

yesterday, in Abuja. Photos: Gbemiga Olamikan. 

XENOPHOBIC ATTACKS: 

Protesting youths storm South 

African firms in Abuja 

•NANS issues 48-hr ultimatum to S-African firms 

COLUMNIST: 

OWEI 

LAKEMFA 

The age of 

Mugabe and the 

age of ideas 

31 

DONU 

KOGBARA 

Centennial tribute 

to a great Rivers 

gentleman 17 

ONDO: Great 

expectations as 

Akeredolu steps in 

5 We've 

injected 

over $16bn 

SEE STORY INSIDE 

into 

Nigerian 

9 

operations 

— MTN Group 

By Babajide 

Komolafe 

THE Nigeria Deposit 

I n s u r a n c e 

Corporation (NDIC) 

yesterday revealed that 

bank directors were 

responsible for 40 per 

cent of the N1.85 trillion 

non-performing loans or 

bad loans in banks. 

The Corporation also 

revealed that directors 

Continues on Page 5 

PDP CRISIS: 

Makarfi's 

faction 

kicks as 

Sheriff 

takes 

over 

secretariat 

8 

Mr & Mrs 

C

2 —VANGUARD, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017 — 3

4 — VANGUARD, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017

Vanguard, FRI 

FRIDAY, 

FEBRUARY 24, 2017 — 5 

POCKET CARTOON 

CONFERENCE—From left: Minister of Power, Works and Housing, 

Babatunde Fashola; Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Stock Exchange 

(NSE), Oscar N. Onyema; Acting President Yemi Osinbajo and Minmister 

of Environment, Amina J. Mohammed at the Green Bonds Capital Market 

and Investors Conference at the NSE, yesterday. PHOTO: AKEEM SALAU. 

Bank directors liable for 40% 

of N1.85trn bad loans — NDIC boss 

Continued from page 1 

were responsible for 

about 40 percent of 

N139.45 billion bad 

loans in microfinance 

banks and mortgage 

banks. 

Managing Director/ 

Chief Executive, 

(NDIC), Alhaji Umaru 

Ibrahim disclosed this 

while defending the 

corporation’s 2017 

budget before the House 

Committee on Insurance 

and Actuarial Matters as 

part of its oversight 

function. 

During the budget 

defence, members of the 

House Committee had 

demanded for an update 

on the state of the 

Nigerian banking 

system, expressing 

concern over the 

increasing wave of nonperforming 

loans (NPLs) 

particularly delinquent 

insider related facilities 

in various banks and its 

consequences on the 

stability of the nation’s 

banking system. 

Responding, Ibrahim 

stressed that while the 

banking industry 

indicated strong 

fundamentals in 

regulatory assessment 

and rating, regulators 

were concerned about 

the rising tide of NPLs 

in the banking system. 

He said: “As at 

December 2016, the 25 

Deposit Money Banks 

(DMBs) had total loans 

portfolio of N18.53 

trillion out of which 

N1.85 trillion or 10 per 

cent were NPLs where 

N740 billion or 40 per 

cent constituted Insider/ 

Directors related loans. 

This was far above 

regulatory threshold of 5 

per cent for the DMBs.” 

Speaking about the 

state of other banking 

subsectors like the 

microfinance banks, 

(MFBs), he said: “That 

there were 978 MFBs in 

existence as at 

IT'S UP TO YOU 

BY AYO ADIO - 08104802192 

The world needs people like you, people who 

defy odds, break barriers and resist social 

conformity to give people hope that they also can 

dream. It’s up to you. 

TAKE HEART 

BY ELLA RANDLE- O8084919482 

In order for the light to shine so brightly, darkness 

must be present. 

The holiday seasons are great reminder of old 

memories and the making of new ones. Each of 

us has a story to tell in the journey of life. When we 

give and share with one another often never knowing 

the depth of the story that dwells within each other. 

How we share our story, how we use our lives in 

service is profound. There is more to life than 

striving and achieving, the intrinsic value is knowing 

your life is purposeful and you can find satisfaction 

in being and doing. All of life’s experiences come on 

the wings of love. Even those whose meaning is not 

apparent or revealed. So we take time to do 

something that uplifts from the heart and hopefully 

make a difference. 

SAYINGS OF OUR PEOPLE 

When a child is too wise to die during dry season, 

the father will be too wise to bury him by the sea 

side. 

December, 2016 with total 

deposits liabilities of 

N158 billion and total 

loans and advances 

amounting to N195 

billion out of which 

N87.75 billion or 45 per 

cent were NPLs where 

N68.25 billion or 35 per 

cent constituted Insider 

related/Directors loans. 

The NPLs indicated a 

classic case of overlending, 

accumulated 

interests charges and 

poor corporate 

governance. 

“The existing 42 

primary mortgage banks 

(PMBs) had total 

deposits liabilities of N69 

billion but with total 

loans portfolio of N94 

billion, which indicated 

another case of overlending, 

accumulated 

interests, poor corporate 

governance and high 

ratio of NPLs which stood 

at N51.7 billion or 55 per 

cent out of which N42.3 

billion or 45 per cent 

were Insider related/ 

Directors loans. The 

resultant effects of these 

negative trends would be 

poor earnings and 

erosion of shareholders 

fund. Ibrahim observed 

that this development 

had posed serious issues 

bordering on corporate 

governance which were 

capable of eroding public 

confidence in the 

banking system. He 

advocated for strict 

compliance with the 

existing code of ethics for 

bank directors and a 

review of the existing 

laws and regulations to 

proffer stiffer sanctions 

for Directors who exploit 

their positions and 

default in the payment of 

their credit facilities 

while still occupying 

Directorship positions in 

the banks. In response to 

the disclosures, the 

Chairman of the House 

Committee went down 

memory lane to recall the 

2008/2009 banking 

crisis. He requested the 

corporation and other 

regulatory authorities to 

come with ideas and 

advise the Honourable 

members on the ways of 

salvaging the financial 

situation. 

Towards this end, the 

Chairman called on the 

Corporation to bring 

forth credible proposals 

for the amendment of the 

NDIC Act, BOFIA as well 

as other banking related 

laws that would enable 

the Corporation to 

achieve greater 

performance in order to 

engender public 

confidence in the 

banking sector and 

ultimately guaranty 

financial system stability. 

Protesting youths storm South African firms in Abuja 

By Victoria Ojeme, 

Chris Ochayi, 

Emmanuel Elebeke, 

Favour Ulebor & 

Maranatha Ahiaba 

IRKED by the 

killings of 

Nigerians and 

destruction of their 

businesses in South 

Africa, aggrieved 

Nigerian youths, 

yesterday, moved to take 

on entities owned by 

South Africa in Nigeria but 

were blocked by armed 

security men. 

The protesters, led by 

the National Association of 

Nigerian Students, NANS, 

had taken their anger to 

the premises of MTN, 

DSTV and Shoprite, all in 

Abuja with the aim of 

registering their anger 

over the wanton killing of 

Nigerians in South Africa 

and to serve a warning for 

the immediate cessation of 

the attacks. 

However, as they arrived 

at the MTN and DSTV 

offices, both in Maitama 

District of Abuja, armed 

security men had taken 

strategic positions around 

the business premises, 

thereby preventing them 

from gaining access to the 

places and attacking 

either people or property. 

No fewer than 10 trucks 

with anti-riot policemen 

and one with soldiers 

were on hand on both 

sides of the MTN office to 

ward off intruders. 

The students, led by 

their President, Aruna 

Kadiri, moved from the 

popular Unity Fountain to 

MTN office in Maitama 

and MultiChoice in 

Central Area. They also 

issued a 48-hour 

ultimatum to South 

African nationals and 

companies to leave 

Nigeria. 

They equally asked the 

High Commission 

officials to cancel the 

dinner organised in 

honour of Regina Tambo, 

the co-founder of ANC 

Youth League. 

At the Ministry of 

Foreign Affairs, the 

students urged the 

government to take 

concrete action to protect 

Nigerians in South Africa. 

Kadiri, while 

addressing newsmen, 

said: “We are demanding 

that they should break the 

ties between both 

countries, if there are any 

because of the 

xenophobic attacks. We 

have decided to clear the 

madness with madness.” 

Kadiri explained that 

they burnt the South 

African flag at the High 

Commission to pass a 

message that “we don’t 

have relationship with 

them any longer. Within 

48 hours, all South 

Africans in Nigeria should 

leave or else, we won’t be 

able to guarantee their 

security anymore.” 

He said the last time the 

xenophobic attacks 

happened, nothing was 

done, no action was taken 

and no arrest was made 

and that was why South 

Africans repeated the 

attacks. 

“The government of 

South Africa is criminally 

quiet and they say silence 

is consent, and their 

police are folding their 

hands while they are 

killing Nigerians, this is 

conspiracy, enough is 

enough.” 

Responding, the 

spokesperson, Ministry of 

Foreign Affairs, Clement 

Aduku, urged the 

protesting students to be 

calm, adding that the 

Federal Government was 

engaging in talks with its 

South African counterpart 

over the xenophobic 

attacks. 

He also assured that all 

diplomatic means would 

be explored to stop the 

killing of Nigerians in 

South Africa. 

No compensation for 

victims of 2015 attacks 

– S/African envoy 

Meanwhile, as 

Nigerians continue to kick 

against the attacks, South 

Africa has ruled out 

payment of compensation, 

particularly, to victims of the 

2015 xenophobic attacks. 

South Africa High 

Commissioner to Nigeria, 

Lulu Mnguni, disclosed 

this during a joint press 

briefing with the Minister 

of State for Foreign Affairs, 

Khadijat Abba-Ibrahim, at 

the ministry’s headquarters 

in Abuja. 

“On the question of 

compensation, I clearly 

indicated that it is not on 

the side of our government 

to quantify the 

compensation because 

those people were not 

acting on instructions. They 

were criminals and, of 

course, have to be arrested, 

“Mnguni said. 

Reminded of the 

agreement of the binational 

commission to 

compensate the victims, the 

ambassador claimed not to 

be aware of the agreement. 

“Well, I was not part of that 

but I will follow up on that”, 

he promised. 

He, however, reiterated 

that his government would 

never condone killings 

done either by the police or 

individuals. 

He appealed to other 

countries to help find 

lasting solution to the issue, 

noting that it was not what 

his country alone could 

handle. 

No Nigerian died in 

latest attacks 

– Abba-Ibrahim 

Earlier, the Minister of 

State for Foreign Affairs 

dispelled rumours of death 

of any Nigeria in the latest 

attack and urged 

Nigerians, both within and 

in South Africa, to remain 

calm as both governments 

were already finding 

amicable solution to the 

crisis. 

“The ministry has not 

received reports of any 

death of Nigerians in the 

latest incidence of attacks 

against foreigners. The 

Nigerian High Commission 

in Pretoria is in constant 

touch with the Nigerian 

Union in South Africa, the 

Department of International 

Relations and Cooperation 

of South Africa, as well as 

the South African police. All 

these agencies have 

confirmed that no Nigerian 

life was lost in the recent 

incident." 

FG tasks S/African on 

safety of Nigerians 

during today’s protest 

Following plans to launch 

a massive protest today by 

a local group in South 

Africa against foreigners, 

the Federal Government 

has asked the South African 

authorities to ensure the 

safety of Nigerians.

6—Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017 

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

Gunmen 

abduct 2 

dredgers 

in Lagos 

•Residents 

call for 

marine 

police 

patrol 

S USPECTED 

kidnappers have 

abducted two sand 

dredgers at Eleko 

Village in the Ibeju- 

Lekki Local Government 

Area of Lagos State. 

Sources revealed, 

yesterday, that the 

victims were kidnapped 

on Tuesday. 

It was gathered that 

the gunmen, who came 

through the lagoon 

around 9a.m., shot 

sporadically before they 

took the two dredgers 

away in their speedboat. 

It was gathered that 

those abducted were the 

dredging company’s 

manager and the 

machine operator. 

According to a source, 

one of the workers was 

hit on the arm by bullets, 

while trying to escape. 

The source said: “We 

were in our various 

houses when we heard 

gunshots. After the dust 

had settled, we went to 

the 

scene. 

Unfortunately, we found 

one of the workers in a 

pool of his blood. 

“We took him to a 

private clinic in the 

community, after which 

we then reported the 

matter at the Akodo 

Police Division. 

“It was when we got to 

the clinic that we 

realised it was 

kidnappers that invaded 

the dredging site. We 

call on government and 

the security agencies to 

come to our aid.” 

It was further gathered 

that the dredging 

company was said to 

have started operation 

in the community in 

January. 

The Lagos State 

Commissioner of Police 

was called upon to 

deploy marine police 

personnel to the riverine 

areas of the state. 

“On that fateful day, if 

some marine police 

personnel were 

stationed in the coastal 

area, the gunmen would 

probably have been 

arrested,” another 

source said. 

NARROWLY: A motorist, with her three children, lost control at Berliet Bus Stop 

along Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, narrowly escaping being mauled by an articulated vehicle 

in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor. 

By Ifeanyi Okolie 

TWO members of a notorious 

kidnapping gang 

terrorising Rivers State, Patrick 

Koyi and Chituru Ferdinand, 

have been arrested by 

operatives of the Inspector 

General of Police Special 

Intelligence Response Team, 

IRT, for kidnapping and killing 

a lecturer of the University of 

Port Harcourt, Emmanuel 

Chinasa Obi, in September 

2016. 

Vanguard also gathered that 

a 24-year-old member of a 

dreaded cult group operating 

in Rivers State, Sunday 

Ogbonda, was also arrested by 

IRT operatives deployed to the 

state by the Inspector General, 

Ibrahim Idris, to track down 

high profile criminals. 

Ogbonda was said to have 

been arrested for allegedly 

taking part in the January 9 

murder of retired Deputy 

Superintendent of Police, 

Woman giv 

By Bose Adelaja 

IT was jubilation, Tuesday, at 

Sabo area of Ikorodu, a 

suburb of Lagos, when a woman 

gave birth to baby girl inside a 

commercial bus. 

The woman, who reportedly 

boarded the bus at Ijede, could 

not alight at the Sabo Bus Stop, 

as other passengers did, 

making the bus driver and his 

conductor suspicious. 

An eyewitness said in the 

usual manner in Lagos, the 

conductor started yelling at the 

woman to get down from the 

bus, but she could not utter a 

word as she had fallen into 

labour. 

It was said that the conductor, 

seeing that the woman was in 

labour, raised the alarm. But 

those around took to their heels, 

thinking a fight had started 

between the conductor and 

miscreants. 

Kidnapped, killed UNIPORT lecturer's 

phone leads to suspects' arrest 

Ikechi Dornata. 

The retired police officer was 

said to have met his demise 

when a gang of cultist attacked 

him in his home town in Kono- 

Boun area of Khanna Local 

Government Area of Rivers 

State and shot him several 

times before driving a huge 

nail into his head. 

Though the operatives, who 

were led by ACP Abba Kyari, 

were yet to unravel the real 

motive behind the killing of the 

DSP, who was said to be the 

officer-in-charge of the Rivers 

State Police Command 

Armoury, a position he held for 

10 years before his retirement. 

It was learned that Ogbonda 

was arrested when a mobile 

phone belonging to the late 

DSP was traced to him and he 

was allegedly tricked to a hotel 

in Port Harcourt, where he was 

eventually arrested. 

On the UNIPORT lecturer 

Meanwhile, Vanguard also 

Fatgbems Petrol Station at Mile 2, along Apapa-Oshodi 

Expressway, in flames yesterday, following a diesel tanker’s 

explosion. PHOTO: Lucky Nwanekwu. 

The suspects 

learned that the late 

UNIPORT lecturer was 

murdered by his kidnappers 

after a ransom of N1.1 

million was paid in two 

instalments to the 

kidnappers. 

Sources disclosed that the 

kidnappers received a 

ransom of N700,000 from his 

relatives, while he was still 

alive and they were paid 

additional N400,000 after he 

was killed. 

A source explained that 

relatives of the lecturer 

became apprehensive after 

paying the second 

instalment and the 

kidnapped lecturer was not 

released. They reportedly 

sent petitions to the IG, who 

drafted the IRT into the state. 

The source added that Koyi 

was arrested in Port Harcourt 

with a Techno mobile phone 

belonging to the lecturer and 

he confessed to the crime 

before leading the operatives 

to his home where 

Ferdinand, who he said was 

one of the masterminds, was 

also arrested. 

Confession 

Narrating how they kidnapped 

and killed the lecturer, 

Ferdinand said: “It was my 

friend Akika from Akwa Ibom 

State that suggested that we 

should kidnap the lecturer, 

who is building a duplex in my 

home town in Rumuji. 

“When we talked about it, I 

told him that we needed a gun 

and he invited Omega, who 

also called Koyi. But on the 

day they kidnapped the 

lecturer, I was not around. 

“I went to Port Harcourt 

Town, but when I came back I 

learned that the man was 

dead. 

“I was given N50,000. Koyi 

told me that it was Omega that 

was always beating the man, 

while they were in the camp 

and after the man died, Omega 

and Akiki took his corpse for 

burial. 

“I do not know how the police 

came in, but it was Koyi that 

brought them before I was 

arrested.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017—7 


es birth in Lagos commercial bus 

The eyewitness added that 

when the shout for help 

persisted, some officials of Lagos 

State Traffic Management 

Authority, LASTMA, and other 

sympathisers moved closer, only 

to discover that the woman was 

in labour. 

They rendered necessary 

assistance and the woman 

delivered a baby girl few 

minutes after. 

Both the woman and her 

newborn were taken to the 

Health Centre, Ita-Elewa for 

medical attention, while her 

personal effects were kept in the 

custody of one of the 

sympathisers. 

Fortunately for the woman, one 

of the good Samaritans was able 

to identify her and a message 

was sent to her husband, who 

also rushed to the scene. 

LASTMA officials and other 

sympathizers, who visited the 

health centre to catch a glimpse 

By AbdulWahab Abdulah 

Abusinessman and graduate 

of Mechanical Engineering 

from a university in the South- 

West region of the country, 

Suleiman Olalekan, is to die by 

hanging for killing his 22-yearold 

wife, Chika Egbo, by bathing 

her with acid. 

Olalekan bowed his head and 

remained expressionless when 

his sentence was pronounced 

before a crowded Ikeja high 

court, yesterday. 

Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo 

sentenced Olalekan to death 

after finding him guilty of a twocount 

charge of murder and 

grievous bodily harm. 

Lawal-Akapo ruled: “The 

defendant is found guilty of 

murder; the defendant, 

Suleiman Olalekan, will be 

hanged by the neck until you are 

dead. May the Lord have mercy 

on your soul.” 

Olalekan’s trial started at the 

high court on December 9, 2014. 

During the trial, the 

prosecution, led by Mr. Adeniji 

Kazeem, the Lagos State 

Attorney General and 

Commissioner for Justice, said 

Olalekan committed the offence 

on November 5, 2012. 

He said: “The accused at 

1.35p.m. on the said day at 

Bakare Street, Ikotun, a Lagos 

suburb, allegedly caused the 

death of Chika Egbo by bathing 

her with acid. 

“He also caused the grievous 

bodily harm of one Mr. Sunny 

Daniel, a commercial 

motorcyclist.” 

According to the prosecution, 

the convict and the deceased got 

married and had a daughter, 

The mother and her child at the health centre. 

of the baby, were to said to have A volunteer Traffic Mayor, 

provided the items used for the popularly called Baba Isale 

deliveries. 

Eko, who was also at the 

who is currently four years old. 

He added: “The accused and 

the deceased were having 

problems in their relationship; 

the accused lured the deceased, 

who had moved to Enugu, back 

to Lagos under the guise that 

he wanted her to visit his 

mother. 

“When she came to Lagos, he 

and the deceased hailed a 

commercial motorcycle, which 

was to convey them to his 

mother’s house. While the 

motorcycle was on motion, the 

accused brought out a container 

of acid and poured it on Egbo’s 

head.” 

According to the prosecution, 

Suleiman was caught by 

passers-by and sympathisers 

while trying to flee the crime 

scene. 

Kazeem continued: “The 

attack left Egbo’s head badly 

disfigured and unrecognisable 

as well as leaving severe burns 

on her shoulders, breasts and 

private parts. 

“Daniel, the commercial 

motorcyclist, was also grievously 

injured during the attack and 

almost lost an eye. Egbo 

succumbed to her injuries at the 

Burns Unit of the Lagos State 

University Teaching Hospital, 

LASUTH, on December 20, 

2014.” 

The offence contravened 

Sections 221 and 243 of the 

Criminal Law of Lagos State, 

2011. 

Convict’s story 

Suleiman, who pleaded not 

guilty during the trial on 

November 24, 2016, said that 

Egbo got doused in acid during 

a scuffle between him and her 

lover at a hotel room. 

According to him, “On 

November 5, 2012, a friend 

informed me that Chika was 

in a hotel room with a lover. I 

went to the hotel and knocked 

on the door and Chika 

opened the door and a man 

called Emeka was lying on 

the bed in the room. 

“A scuffle broke out between 

me and Emeka; Chika and 

Emeka brought out acid to 

pour on me, but Chika was 

injured in the acid attack. 

“Daniel, the motorcyclist, 

was injured while conveying 

Chika to the hospital.” 

He can’t be 

believed—Court 

However, Justice Lawal- 

Akapo, while pronouncing 

the verdict, debunked 

Suleiman’s claims. 

He said: “I closely watched 

the demeanour of the accused 

while he gave his evidence; 

he was panting and fidgeting. 

scene, said the delivery was 

easier compared with that of 

some women. 

Bizman to die by hanging over wife's 

death by acid bath 

I believe his testimony was 

filled with falsehood. 

“I believe he poured the 

acid on the deceased which 

led to her death and the three 

ingredients of murder have 

been established. 

“The defendant put up the 

defence of provocation and 

strenuously admitted it in his 

defence. However, in his 

statement to the police when 

the incident was still fresh 

in his memory, he did not 

raise the issue of 

provocation. 

“In his confessional 

statement, he admitted that a 

battery charger sold the acid 

to him for N1,500 after he told 

the battery charger that he 

needed the acid for an 

experiment. 

“A scenario of provocation 

did not arise while they were 

in motion on the motorcycle. 

He also did not bring up the 

defence of provocation 

during his oral testimony.” 

LASSA FEVER: 

UCTH 

confirms first 

casualty in 

Cross River 

By Ike Uchechukwu 

CALABAR—A 22- 

year-old lady, 

Christabel Itodo, became 

the first confirmed case of 

Lassa Fever casualty 

recorded in Cross River 

State, having died from the 

disease on Monday. 

The lady was reportedly 

married to a soldier based 

in Calabar before being 

posted to Maiduguri and 

then returned to Calabar, 

when she became ill. 

This was disclosed by the 

Chief Medical Director, 

University of Calabar 

Teaching Hospital, UCTH, 

Professor Thomas Agan, 

yesterday. 

His words: “The woman 

was married to a soldier, 

who was in Calabar but 

later posted to Maidugri. 

But she came back to 

Calabar. When the illness 

started, she was taken to 

Eburutu Barracks Clinic, 

where she was later 

transferred to Navy Clinic, 

before she was brought 

here when her organs were 

failing. 

“I got an SMS from one 

of my deputies, Sunday 

night, that there was a case 

which lasted for about 12 

hours before the patient 

gave up. The case was not 

a primary case of UCTH; 

we only tried to manage the 

kidney failure, which had 

occurred after she was 

brought from Navy 

Hospital and when all her 

system collapsed she gave 

up. 

“The Federal Ministry of 

Health has been informed 

the Cross River State 

Government and Centre for 

Disease Control. Also, the 

specimen that was sent out 

came back to prove that it 

was Lassa Fever and this is 

the first case ever to be 

recorded in the state.” 

WELCOME HOME: Nigerians deported from Italy, Belgium and Germany on arrival 

at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: Lamidi Bamidele.

8—VANGUARD, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017 


Makarfi 

faction 

kicks as 

Sheriff 

takes over 

secretariat 

By Ben Agande 

ABUJA— SENATOR 

Ahmed Makarfi’s 

faction of Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, 

has described the take 

over of the secretariat of 

the party by Senator Ali 

Modu Sheriff as “illegal 

and most unwelcome.” 

A statement signed by 

Dayo Adeyeye, reacting 

to the action, said Sheriff 

should be held 

responsible for any loss 

of party document and 

property. 

The statement read: “As 

far as we are concerned, 

the forcible entry of Ali 

Modu-Sheriff and his 

team into the party 

secretariat is illegal and 

most unwelcome. 

“We say this because 

the keys to the secretariat 

are with the Board of 

Trustees and we’ve 

checked with them, and 

can confirm that the keys 

were not handed over to 

Sheriff or any of his 

followers. 

“The implication of this 

was that he broke into 

the secretariat which is a 

criminal offence. We also 

expected that Modu- 

Sheriff should have 

waited for the conclusion 

of the appeal we filed at 

the Supreme Court 

before he forced himself 

in just like we held on 

when we got court 

judgment favouring us 

last year. 

“We are condemning 

his action in totality and 

we view it as an affront 

on the rule of law. Given 

his act of illegality, we 

stated clearly that he 

should be held 

responsible for any loss 

of documents or damage 

to the property within 

the party secretariat. 

“The administrative 

staff as accounting 

officers were not around 

to see the event happen, 

and as the custodians of 

the property of the party, 

they refused to 

participate in the illegal 

entry made by Ali Modu- 

Sheriff. 

“His action is 

provocative and is 

capable of causing 

another round of crisis in 

the party. We advise 

him, in his own interest, 

to vacate the secretariat 

immediately. " 

N5bn debt: Pay up or lose operating licence, 

NBC warns broadcast stations 

•To decommission defaulting transmitters 

•Moves against hate speech 

By Emmanuel 

Elebeke 

ABUJA — THE National 

Broadcasting 

Commission, NBC, has 

issued a three-week 

ultimatum to all 

broadcasting stations in the 

country to pay all their 

outstanding licence fees or 

face sanctions. 

Director-General, NBC, 

Is’haq Modibbo Kawu, 

issued the warning at the 

broadcast stakeholders’ 

meeting, in Abuja, 

Wednesday. 

He said it was regrettable 

that many broadcast stations 

operating in the country had 

refused to pay license fees 

amounting to N5 billion and 

threatened to invoke all 

relevant laws against erring 

stations to recover the debt. 

“There are very worrisome 

issues in our operations. The 

first is the situation where 

many stations have refused 

to pay their licence fees; 

even the statutory act of 

informing the NBC six 

months before the expiration 

of licence and signifying 

intention to continue as a 

licensee is ignored. 

“Our licensees carry on as 

if they have their licenses 

for keeps and the NBC 

cannot withdraw licences. It 

is important to remind us all 

that all licences are 

provisional, no matter how 

long you have held them. 

And for emphasis, I want to 

let you know that stations 

are owing over N5 billion as 

licence fees. 

“I will like to use this 

medium to inform you that 

the NBC would be invoking 

the relevant laws against 

erring stations. 

Consequently, all stations 

without exception are 

expected to complete all 

payments owed the 

commission by March 15, 

2017,” he said 

Defaulting 

transmitters 

Kawu said the commission 

was equally worried over 

illegal and rampant use of 

transmission power by 

stations all over Nigeria. 

According to him, some 

stations procure transmitters 

without respecting the 

stipulated and 

recommended transmitter 

power in city-based FM 

stations. 

“The consequence of this 

is that we have frequency 

clashes occurring all over 

Nigeria. As at yesterday, we 

have compiled a total of 69 

stations around Nigeria that 

have installed transmitters 

beyond the transmitter 

power stipulated in their 

licences, and that is not 

even exhaustive. 

“Henceforth, no 

broadcaster would be 

allowed to import a 

transmitter beyond the 

power allotted in the 

licences issued. Second, 

stations must ensure that 

their broadcasts are limited 

to assigned areas only; and 

where these areas require 

less than 2KW power, they 

must tune their transmitters 

below 2KW. 

“All stations that have 

installed more than allotted 

TX power are hereby put on 

notice, that they have six 

months to procure and 

install 2KW transmitters. 

After the expiration of this 

grace period, we will ensure 

the de-commissioning of the 

transmitters installed 

beyond the allotted TX 

power.” 

Hate speech 

On hate speech, he said 

the commission had taken 

steps to expose tendencies 

that could lead to hate 

speech in the Nigerian 

media in general, noting 

that there were too many 

stray dogs around the 

house promoting hate 

speech. 

He further warned all 

media practitioners in the 

country to promote decency 

and unity of the country. 

He said: “I will like to 

draw your attention to the 

dangerous trend of hate 

speech that has become a 

major problem in our 

country today. Broadcasters 

are beginning to abdicate 

our gatekeeping role; there 

are too many stray dogs 

around the house now; our 

stations must not be arenas 

for inciting and hate speech 

that can endanger the good 

order of our country." 

OPENING: From left, Chief Executive Officer, Old Mutual, West Africa, Zomunoda Chizura; 

Chairman, Prestige Insurance Brokers Limited, Feyi Soyewo; Managing Director, Old Mutual General 

Insurance, Richael Emenike; Director. NAICOM, Agboola Pius; and MD/CEO, Old Mutual, Keith 

Alford, during the unveiling of Old Mutual new business office, in Abuja. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan 

CBN reintroduces cashless charges on 

bank deposits 

•To commence April 1 in 6 states, FCT 

By Babajide 

Komolafe 

LAGOS— THE Central 

Bank of Nigeria, CBN, 

yesterday, reintroduced 

charges on cash deposits in 

banks, which would take 

effect at different dates in 

different parts of the 

country. 

Director, Banking and 

Payments Systems 

Department, Mr. Dipo 

Fatokun, announced this in 

a circular entitled: “Circular 

on nationwide 

implementation of the 

cashless policy.” 

The circular stated: 

“Charges for cash deposit 

by individuals are as 

follows: Less than 

N500,000, zero charge; 

from N500,000 to N1 

million, 1.5 per cent; from 

N1 million to N5 million, 

two per cent charge; above 

N5 million, 3 per cent 

charge. 

“Charges for cash 

withdrawal by individuals 

are as follows: Less than 

N500,000, zero charge; 

From N500,000 to N1 

million, two per cent; from 

N1 million to N5 million, 3 

per cent charge; above N5 

million, 7.5 per cent charge. 

“Charges for corporate 

cash deposit are as follow: 

Less than N3 million, zero 

charge; from N3 million to 

N10 million, two per cent; 

from N10 million to N40 

million, three per cent; 

above N40 million, five per 

cent. 

“Charges for corporate 

cash withdrawal are as 

follows: Less than N3 

million, zero charge; from 

N3 million to N10 million, 

five per cent; from N10 

million to N40 million, 7.5 

per cent; above N40 million, 

10 per cent. 

“The new charges would 

take effect from April 1 

2017, in the existing 

cashless states (Lagos, 

Ogun, Kano, Abia, 

Anambra, Rivers and the 

FCT). 

“The policy shall be 

implemented with the 

charges taking effect on 

May 1, 2017 in the 

following states: Bauchi, 

Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu, 

Gombe, Imo, Kaduna, 

Ondo, Osun and Plateau. 




August 1, 2017 in the 

following states: Edo, 

Katsina, Jigawa, Niger, 

Oyo, Adamawa, Akwa 

Ibom, Ebonyi, Taraba and 

Nasarawa. 




October 1, 2017 in the 

following states: Borno, 

Benue, Ekiti, Cross River, 

Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Yobe, 

Sokoto and Zamfara. 

“The income generated 

from the processing fees 

charged above the 

allowable cash transaction 

limits shall be shared 

between the CBN and the 

banks in the ratio of 40:60 

Existing exemptions 

remain sustained 

for: Revenue generating 

accounts of the federal, state 

and local governments 

(lodgements only); 

embassies, diplomatic 

missions, multilateral and 

aid donor agencies in 

Nigeria are also exempted 

from all processing fees 

relating to the cashless 

policy implementation. 

“In view of the above, 

branches of deposit money 

banks in the affected states 

are expected to commence: 

the enlightenment of their 

customers on the cashless 

policy, including the limits; 

on cash withdrawals and 

deposits for individuals and 

corporate bodies, as well as 

the available e-payment 

options; 

"Training of staff on the 

cashless policy, in order to 

provide answers to 

enquiries and handle 

issues/customers’ 

complaints, as well as 

provide advice on the 

policy; media 

communication, to 

complement existing 

CBN’s and Bankers’ 

Committee’s media 

campaign. 

“Engagement of key 

bank’s customers and other 

stakeholders. All banks are 

to ensure that their cashless 

teams in the affected states 

liaise properly with the 

cashless office in the CBN 

for necessary clarifications 

and further assistance, if 

required."

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017—9 

No padding 

in 2017 

budget 

—D-G, Budget 

Office 

•Explains 

repetitions of budget 

items 

By Emma Ujah, 

Abuja Bureau Chief 

ABUJA — THE 

Director-General of 

Budget Office, Mr. Ben 

Akabueze, has explained 

that repetitions of items in 

the 2017 budget were due 

to non-funding of such 

items in previous 

appropriations. 

He spoke at a media 

briefing yesterday in Abuja 

to clarify issues in the 

budget, some of which had 

attracted sharp criticisms 

from members of the public. 

He said: “It is not a secret 

that for a long time now, the 

Federal Government has 

not been able to fully 

implement its annual 

budget, especially the 

capital expenditure 

component. 

“It should be noted that 

capital budget 

implementation depends 

on resource availability. As 

such, MDAs’ budgetary 

provisions not fully funded 

in the 2016 Budget will be 

repeated in the 2017 

budget. 

“When we sent out the 

Call Circular, we told them 

(MDAs) clearly that those 

items that could not be 

funded in the previous 

budget should be represented.” 

Akabueze gave a similar 

explanation for the multimillion 

naira budget for the 

State House kitchen 

utensils. 

He said: “I believe that 

the Permanent Secretary 

has made a public 

statement about it and even 

when he appeared before 

the National Assembly, the 

fact that though it was in 

the 2016 budget, it was not 

funded because it was not 

classified as a priority. 

No padding in 2017 

He insisted that there 

was no padding in the 2017 

budget as, according to 

him, the process was very 

transparent. 

Akabueze asked 

members of the public 

accusing government 

officials to seek 

clarifications in order to 

more gainfully engage on 

the budget rather than 

arriving at wrong 

conclusions. 

“I can say without 

equivocation that there is 

no padding in the 2017 

budget. I would urge 

interested members of the 

society to ask for more 

constructive engagement," 

he said. 


We've injected over $16bn into 

Nigerian operations —MTN Group 

By Emeka Aginam 

LAGOS — DESPITE the 

challenges arising from 

the N330 billion fine 

imposed on it by Nigerian 

Communications 

Commission, NCC, last 

year, MTN Group said, 

yesterday, it had so far 

injected over $16 billion in 

its operations in the 

country. 

Chairman/Chief 

Executive of MTN Group, 

Mr. Phuthuma Freedom 

Nhleko, disclosed this 

when he led a high level 

delegation to NCC 

headquarters in Abuja. 

Nhleko, who was 

received by the Executive 

Vice Chairman, EVC, of 

the commission, Prof Umar 

Danbatta, and his team, 

said the group had faith in 

Nigeria and would be 

willing to invest more in 

the sector in the years to 

VISIT: From left, member, MTN Board of Directors, Col Sani Bello (retd); Chairman/Chief Executive 

of MTN Group, Mr. Phuthuma Nhleko; Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and Chairman, MTN Nigeria, 

Dr Pascal Dozie, during a courtesy visit by MTN team to the State House, in Abuja, Wednesday. 

CCT trial: Saraki pleads not guilty to fresh 

corruption charges 

By Ikechukwu 

Nnochiri 

ABUJA— 

THE 

F e d e r a l 

Government, yesterday, 

re-arraigned the Senate 

President, Dr. Bukola 

Saraki, before the Code 

of Conduct Tribunal, 

CCT, in Abuja, on an 

amended 18-count 

corruption charge. 

Saraki pleaded not guilty 

to the fresh charge, even as 

the tribunal headed by 

Justice Danladi Umar, gave 

the third prosecution 

witness, PW-3, Mr. Samuel 

Madujemu, the nod to 

narrate how the Federal 

Government uncovered 

discrepancies in assets he 

declared to the Code of 

come. 

“We had challenges in the 

past, during the period of 

the fine, and we are grateful 

for the role the commission 

played towards an 

amicable resolution,” he 

said. 

Nhleko, whose visit to the 

NCC management was a 

valedictory one as he steps 

down as Group Chairman 

in March, said: “We have 

a very long way to go and 

so ask for spectrum which 

is the oxygen and life blood 

to navigate this long and 

tedious investment journey. 

Without spectrum, the 

sector will suffocate.” 

Nhleko specifically 

solicited more spectrum 

allocation and a release of 

the one that belonged to 

Visafone, which equity 

shares MTN acquired in 

2015. 

In his response, Prof. 

Conduct Bureau, CCB. 

The witness is the Chief 

Admin Officer at the CCB. 

He was the head of 

investigation division 

under the Department of 

Intelligence, Investigation 

and Monitoring, that joined 

the Economic and 

Financial Crimes 

Commission, EFCC, to 

probe Saraki’s assets. 

It will be recalled that the 

Senate President was 

initially docked before the 

tribunal on September 22, 

2015, on a 13-count charge. 

He was later rearraigned 

on April 28, 2016 

after Federal Government 

increased charges against 

him to 16 counts. 

In the amended charge 

read to the defendant, 

yesterday, the Federal 

Danbatta said: “I like to 

state that our word is our 

covenant. When we take 

decisions, we are 

concerned about the 

stability of the industry and 

there is no way we can 

guarantee it without 

considering the dominant 

status of MTN and its 

obligations. 

"If the dominant status is 

becoming stringent, we are 

open to engagement, we 

will be guided by what is 

happening in the market to 

ensure the growth and 

development of the sector. 

“The sector has 

contributed very well to the 

National Gross Domestic 

Product, GDP, and has 

shown remarkable 

resilience in this recession.” 

Danbatta said the NCC 

made a case for relaxing 

fiscal policies towards the 

Government alleged that he 

had, while in office as 

governor of Kwara State in 

2007, failed to declare his 

interest in 15, McDonald, 

Ikoyi, Lagos, a property he 

acquired in 2006 through 

a company, Tiny Tee 

Limited, for the sum of 

N165 million. 

It said the defendant, on 

or about September 16, 

2003, while in office as a 

governor, made false 

declaration by claiming 

ownership of 15A & 15B, 

McDonald, Ikoyi, Lagos 

through Carlisle Properties 

Ltd in the year 2000, when 

the said property was in 

actual fact sold by the 

Federal Government to G 

& C Real Estate Properties 

and Investment Company 

Limited in 1997 for the sum 

sector to the Central Bank 

of Nigeria, CBN, adding 

that the CBN governor 

was favorably disposed to 

request and further 

engagement, especially 

towards major players who 

desired to import 

equipment to aid 

deployment of broadband 

infrastructure services and 

others. 

On spectrum 

assignment, Danbatta said 

MTN got six slots in the 2.6 

GHz auction, stressing that 

full utilization of that 

spectrum was envisaged. 

“We are open to further 

discussion on the areas of 

spectrum assignment,” he 

said, even as he advised 

MTN to put across request 

for spectrum of interest and 

“we will check its 

availability. 

of N12 million. 

Led in evidence by the 

prosecution counsel, Mr. 

Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, the 

witness told the tribunal 

that Saraki had in his 

capacity as a governor, 

made several cash 

lodgements running into 

billions of Naira into his 

personal accounts. 

He said the cash 

lodgements were in excess 

of Saraki’s salary as a 

governor. 

Asked if public officers are 

permitted by the law to 

operate private business 

ventures, the witness said: 

“My lord, public officers are 

only entitled to engage in 

farming. Governors are not 

permitted to engage in 

sales of rice and sugar.” 

Alleged 

N400m fraud: 

Court rejects 

Metuh’s bid 

to call Dasuki 

as witness 

•As defendant 

accuses judge of 

bias 

By Ikechukwu 

Nnochiri 

ABUJA— The Federal 

High Court in Abuja, 

yesterday, refused to 

summon detained ex- 

National Security Adviser, 

NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki 

(retd), to explain why he 

gave N400 million to 

former spokesman of 

Peoples Democratic Party, 

PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, 

prior to 2015 presidential 

election. 

Trial Justice Okon Abang 

dismissed as lacking in 

merit, the request which 

Metuh filed through his 

lawyer, Dr. Onyechi 

Ikpeazu, SAN. 

Metuh is answering to 

a seven-count charge the 

Economic and Financial 

Crimes Commission, 

EFCC, preferred against 

him and his firm, Destra 

Investment Limited. 

While dismissing the 

application, Justice Abang 

held that Dasuki was not a 

“compellable” witness. 

The judge said there was 

no evidence before the 

court to show that Metuh 

applied to the Department 

of State Services, DSS, 

which has Dasuki in its 

custody, and such request 

was turned down. 

He said it was not the 

duty of a court to compel a 

witness to appear and 

testify for a defendant. 

Defendant accuses 

judge of bias 

Meantime, Metuh who 

was visibly displeased with 

the ruling, accused Justice 

Abang of being biased 

against him. 

Reacting to the ruling, his 

lawyer, Ikpeazu, SAN, said 

his client had lost his trust 

on ability of the judge to 

handle the trial objectively. 

“We are not confident that 

the court will give us justice 

in this matter,” Ikpeazu 

added. 

Consequently, Metuh’s 

lawyer asked Justice 

Abang to disqualify himself 

from further presiding over 

the matter, a request that 

was also dismissed by the 

court. 

The matter was 

subsequently adjourned 

till March 20 for Metuh to 

call more witnesses in his 

defence of the charge 

against him. 

C 

M 

Y 

K

10 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017 

ONDO STATE 

Akeredolu to fulfil his 

electioneering promises to the 

people. 

The governor and the 

Deputy Gov. Agboola Ajayi 

would be sworn in today in 

Akure. 

Some of the residents, who 

spoke with NAN in separate 

interviews in Okitipupa, said 

that the incoming government 

should prioritise prompt 

payment of salaries, 

empowerment of youths, 

agriculture and provision of 

social amenities. 

They alleged that the 

outgoing government of Dr 

Olusegun Mimiko failed the 

people almost in every 

ramification which made them 

to vote for Akeredolu. 

*Dr Olusegun Mimiko handing over the baton of office to Chief Oluwarotimi 

Akeredolu as governor of Ondo State...yesterday. 

LAST BROADCAST AS GOV: 

Owing salaries, my greatest 

regret — MIMIKO 

•Bids the people goodbye; saying to everything there’s a season 

•Residents task Akeredolu on campaign promises 

•It won't be a tea party but ....— Akeredolu 

By Dayo Johnson 

IMMEDIATE past governor 

of Ondo state, Dr. Olusegun 

Mimiko, has said that one of 

the insurmountable 

challenges his administration 

faced in its eight years of 

administering the state, was 

its inability to pay salaries as 

at when due. 

At the last count, his 

administration owed workers 

seven months salaries. 

Dr Mimiko in his farewell 

broadcast to the people of the 

state pleaded with them to 

extend their full support to 

‘our incoming governor’, 

Arakunrin (Mr) Rotimi 

Akeredolu, SAN. 

He said: “We have recorded 

successes and also have our 

own measure of 

insurmountable challenges 

among which is the inability 

to pay salaries as at when due. 

“We have made friends and 

admirers, we have also 

attracted detractors. 

‘’We have not targeted 

anybody or institution for 

witch-hunt but have been true 

to our determination of 

ensuring that the interest of 

the greatest number of people 

is the determinant of all the 

decisions and choices we 

made. 

“My good people of Ondo 

State, to everything there is a 

season, so the holy book says. 

It is time now for me to go, 

having enjoyed the unique 

privilege of serving as your 

Governor these past eight 

years. 

“I thank you for your 

support. I thank you for 

believing in me, and standing 

by me through thick and thin. 

I value your support and 

friendship at all times. 

“By God’s own special 

grace, I will continue to repay 

the honour you did me by 

standing up in your support 

at all times. I pledge to remain 

a part of our communities 

even outside of government. 

“What remains for me is to 

enjoin you, in the name of God, 

and for the good of our State, 

to extend your full support to 

our incoming Governor, 

Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu, 

SAN. 

“ It is imperative we do this 

so as to keep our State firmly 

on the path of peace and 

progress on which it has been 

for the past eight years. 

“May I then commit you all, 

the entire citizenry of Ondo 

State, our Sunshine State, our 

Place of Pride, into the safe 

hands of the Almighty God, 

on whose shoulder the 

governance of our State has 

rested these past eight years. 

“To the glory of God, we 

made Ondo State the most 

peaceful State not just in the 

Niger Delta and the South- 

West, but arguably across the 

entire nation. 

“We enhanced the selfconfidence 

of students in our 

higher institutions, which has 

propelled them to the top of 

their game, either in the Law 

School, or the debating halls 

across the country. 

“Our women no longer cut 

the destitute image as they ply 

their trade having now 

modern, clean and inviting 

facilities and stalls built across 

the State for their use. 

“Our traditional institutions 

have been accorded their 

rightful place in the scheme 

of things as key players in the 

administration of our 

communities. 

“I cannot thank the royal 

fathers enough for the way 

they partnered with us these 

past eight years in the 

determination to make our 

State the safest in the nation. 

“Ondo State has not only 

done well, it has indeed 

become a benchmark across 

the globe in several of our 

well-conceived and welldelivered 

programs. 

“It is now time to go and turn 

over the baton of state to 

another governor.’’ 

Dr Mimiko recalled some of 

the programs that have in the 

past eight years has set the 

State apart. 

They include: Intervention 

in infrastructure like mega 

schools,the Abiye Safe 

Motherhood program, urban 

renewal, agriculture, 

independent power project, 

the Agbebiye program and 

investment in the Oil and Gas 

exploitation. 

Others according to him 

include the kick starting of the 

Ondo State Government’s 

exclusively owned Free Trade 

Zone; seeking a credible 

investor in developing a Deep 

Sea Port; securing of license 

for the exploitation of the 

state’s bitumen deposit and 

signing Memorandum of 

Understanding with notable 

bitumen exploration 

companies. 

Dr Mimiko said the State 

Government recently secured 

a $57million facility from the 

French Development Agency 

for reticulation, transmission 

and distribution of potable 

We have recorded 

successes and also 

have our own 

measure of 

insurmountable 

challenges among 

which is the 

inability to pay 

salaries as at when 

due 

water from Owena Dam. 

Ondo residents task 

Akeredolu 

Meantime, some residents 

of Okitipupa in Ondo State 

yesterday, reminded the 

incoming governor, Olurotimi 

It won’t be a tea party but... 

—Akeredolu 

Ondo state’s new governor, 

Rotimi Akeredolu SAN, 

yesterday lauded the former 

governor for all his 

achievements and concluded 

that he has done his best 

within human limitation. 

Akeredolu said that Dr 

Mimiko has left his imprint in 

the sand of time and history 

will judge him well. 

He commended the 

transition team for their 

cooperation and the success of 

the whole exercise . 

The new governor who said 

that the former governor 

should take a deserved rest 

after a tortuous eight year 

service noted that it was not 

going to be a tea party. 

He was however optimistic 

that despite the curves, 

mountains, he will not give up. 

Akeredolu said the new 

administration would still refer 

to the former governor 

because of his experience. 

Meantime, the immediate 

past governor, Dr Olusegun 

Mimiko, last night said the 

state is in good hands with 

Rotimi Akeredolu as the new 

governor . 

Dr Mimiko spoke at the 

handing over ceremony which 

took place at the governors 

office in Akure. 

He pointed out that the 

people of the state should be 

rest assured that the new 

governor will perform well. 

While appealing to the new 

governor to sustain the 

existing peace in the state, 

Dr. Mimiko said he would 

continue to assist the new 

administration whenever he is 

called upon. 

He thanked God for seeing 

him through all the 

insurmountable challenges in 

the past eight years 

The former governor prayed 

that the spirit of cooperation 

will continue and that 

subsequent governments will 

transmute seamlessly. 

Dr Mimiko wished the new 

governor the best as he 

assumed office. 

market stalls and help to 

modernise our markets too,” 

she said.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017 — 11 

By Daud Olatunji 

A BEOKUTA— 

SCORES of the 

Sango-Ota rice sellers, 

whose shops were 

allegedly raided by men of 

the Nigeria Customs 

Service, Federal Operation 

Unit, Ikeja, Lagos on 

Wednesday, stormed the 

Governor’s Office, Oke- 

Mosan, Abeokuta, 

yesterday, to continue their 

protest over the invasion of 

their market. 

The rice sellers led by their 

coordinator, Alhaja Wakilat 

Salako, took their protest to 

the Governor’s Office, 

chanting songs and 

carrying placards bearing 

inscriptions like ‘Customs 

bring back our rice,’ ‘Our 

rights are being trampled 

upon by Customs officers of 

FOU, Ikeja’ among others. 

The traders had on 

Wednesday barricaded the 

Sango-Ota axis of the 

Lagos-Abeokuta 

Expressway for more than 

12 hours, to protest what 

they termed highhandedness 

by the 

Customs operatives. 


CUSTOMS' NIGHT RAID: Traders storm gov's 

office; Amosun promises to intervene 

The protesters stormed 

the office around 8.00am 

and began another round 

of protest. 

They said, the FOU team, 

led by one Jude, stormed 

the rice market in the 

midnight of Tuesday and 

broke over 60 shops to cart 

away hundreds of bags of 

rice and kegs of vegetable 

oil in 15 trucks. 

However, the traders 

recanted that the number of 

bags of rice taken away 

were 4,200 as against 

18,000 bags they claimed 

on Wednesday, while 478 

kegs of vegetable oil were 

taken. 

Salako said: “After the 

Area Commander, and the 

Divisional Police Officer 

calmed us down 

yesterday(Wednesday), 

they told us to go back to 

the market and take 

proper inventory of our 

goods confiscated by the 

Customs operatives, and 

we later discovered that it 

was not 18,000 bags but 

4, 200. 

“But we are here this 

morning to tell the 

governor, Senator 

United Capital posts 

N6.37bn profits 

By Nkiruka Nnorom 

UNITED 

Capital 

Plc, an investment 

banking group in Africa, 

has announced N6.37 

billion as profit before tax 

for financial year ended 

December 31, 2016, 

showing 95 per cent 

increase over N3.27 billion 

posted in the previous year 

in 2015. 

The profit after tax also 

grew by 169 per cent to 

N6.9 billion, up from N2.57 

billion in posted in the 

same period in 2015, while 

the gross earnings for the 

period rose to N9 billion 

from N6.15 billion in 2015, 

representing a 46 per cent 

increase from the previous 

year. 

Also, the company’s 

Earnings Per Share (EPS) 

rose from 43 kobo in 2015 

to 115 kobo in the review 

period and dividend per 

share of 50 kobo as against 

35 kobo last year. 

According to the 

company, the impressive 

performance in a year 

characterized by high 

volatility and uncertainty of 

key macro-economic 

indices, was driven by the 

Group’s growing market 

share, efficient execution of 

key mandates and effective 

cost management driven 

by improvements in 

operations and IT 

capabilities, ‘thereby 

ensuring that we optimize 

value and retain a 

significant proportion of 

earnings.’ 

in her comment, the 

Group CEO, United 

Capital, Oluwatoyin Sanni, 

said: “We continue to 

pursue our clear and 

consistent strategy, which 

has delivered a strong 

performance for 

shareholders, and we 

remain positive about our 

future opportunities within 

the Nigerian and African 

market, not withstanding 

the challenging macroeconomic 

environment.” 

Protesters in front of Governor Amosun's Govt House office at Oke Mosan, Abeokuta. 

EDO, RIVERS POLLS: Fayose accuses 

INEC, police of subverting peoples' will 

By Rotimi 

Ojomoyela 

A DO-EKITI—EKITI 

State Governor, Mr 

Ayodele Fayose has 

accused the Independent 

National Electoral 

Commission, INEC, 

security agencies, 

especially the police of 

subverting the rights of 

Nigerians to choose their 

leaders in free, fair and 

credible elections. 

“While we continue to 

Airtel offers relief to abused children 

By Gbenga Oke 

D IRECTOR- 

GENERAL of 

Nigerian Maritime 

Administration and 

Safety Agency, 

NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku 

Peterside, has said that 

the agency and Nigerian 

Customs Service, NCS, 

are partners in progress. 

He also said a synergy 

between both agencies 

will bring about desired 

growth and development 

in the Nigerian 

Maritime Industry and 

by extension the 

Nigerian economy. 

The DG made this 

statement when he led 

NIMASA top 

management on a 

courtesy visit to the 

Comptroller General of 

the Nigerian Customs 

Service, NCS, Col. 

Hameed Ali (Retd.) at 

the Customs 

Headquarters in Abuja, 

saying both agencies are 

sticklers 

for 

transparency. 

According to him; “The 

Nigerian Customs and 

NIMASA are both 

working to accomplish 

one purpose, which is to 

facilitate trade to our 

country, enhance the 

revenue of government 

and ensure that those 

who do business with us 

respect the laws of our 

land and ultimately they 

don’t take advantage of 

our people”. 

According to him, 

NIMASA in the course of 

doing its work, had 

realized that it is 

inevitable to work with 

the Customs, which 

prompted the visit. 

‘’The proposed areas of 

partnership we are 

looking forward to 

include; Nigerian 

Integrated Customs 

Information System, 

NICIS, the National 

Single Window Project 

and Maritime Security 

all geared towards 

enhancing productivity in 

the sector, transparency, 

plugging revenue 

leakages and ensuring 

maritime security among 

others,” he said. 

Responding, 

Comptroller General of 

the Nigerian Customs 

Service, Col. Hammed 

Ali (Retd.) expressed 

optimism that the 

renewed partnership 

between both organs of 

Government will bring 

about the growth of the 

sector and the economy 

as a whole. 

AIRTEL, through its 

Touching Lives 

philanthropic programme, 

has come to the aid of a 

struggling nongovernmental 

organisation, Child Rights 

Brigade (CRB), whose 

purpose is to rescue 

abandoned and abused 

children in Lokoja, Kogi 

State. 

In the second episode of 

Airtel Touching Lives 

season three, Esther 

Aniagwu, a victim of child 

Ibikunle Amosun, to help 

us retrieve the 4,200 bags 

of rice and 478 kegs of 

vegetable oil from the 

Federal Operation Unit, 

Ikeja, Lagos.” 

Attempt by the Chief of 

Staff to the governor, Tolu 

Odebiyi to placate the 

angry traders failed as his 

one-hour address to the 

protesters did not yield 

fruitful results. 

Odebiyi had described 

the development as sad 

and urged the traders to be 

calm. 

He added that the state 

government will look into 

the matter to determine 

what actually happened. 

The protesters, not 

abandonment and 

domestic violence, 

suddenly finds herself 

homeless, motherless, and 

helpless. But in an unusual 

lucky break, a total stranger 

rescues her. This Good 

Samaritan, Destiny Adejo, 

is the founder of CRB and 

a victim of sexual abuse. 

For three years, the 

charity organisation has 

provided a sanctuary for 

molested children and, so 

far, it has helped 10 

children. According to 

satisfied with the 

submission of the Chief of 

Staff, blocked the main gate 

to the Office of the Governor 

and demanded to see him 

in person. 

They also stripped halfnaked 

and disrupted traffic 

flow for over two hours, after 

which the Commissioner 

for Commerce and Industry, 

Otunba Bimbo Ashiru, 

came to address them. 

The government however, 

gave them an option to 

present six representatives 

to hold a closed-door 

meeting with the governor 

which they agreed to. 

The governor, who held a 

closed-meeting with the 

traders representatives said 

watch with keen interest, 

revelations coming from the 

Edo State Governorship 

Election Tribunal, the open 

display of partisanship in 

the Rivers State rerun 

elections has made it so 

obvious that INEC and 

police have become so 

shameless in their open 

display of support for the All 

Progressives Congress, 

APC,” he said. 

Governor Fayose’s 

Special Assistant on Public 

Communications and New 

Destiny, six of these kids 

have become “very 

successful.” 

So for her indefatigable 

work in social advocacy and 

entrepreneurship, Destiny 

becomes a perfect 

candidate for an Airtel 

Touching Lives 

intervention. At the end of 

the episode, she receives 

exactly that, becoming an 

extremely grateful 

beneficiary of the Airtel 

Corporate Social 

Responsibility project. 

he had started the 

intervention process since 

the day of the incident. 

The Commissioner for 

Commerce and Industry, 

Otunba Bimbo Ashiru, 

emerged from the meeting 

at exactly 3.02pm and 

related the governor’s 

message to the traders who 

had laid siege to the 

entrance to his office. 

According to Ashiru, 

Governor Ibikunle Amosun 

had since the incidence on 

Wednesday, approached 

the Customs headquarters 

in Abuja. 

He urged the protesters 

to exercise patience 

assuring them that 

government would 

investigate the matter 

thoroughly. 

Media, Lere Olayinka, 

quoted the governor as 

saying in a release issued 

in Ado Ekiti yesterday 

that it was worrisome that 

INEC and the Police are 

no longer hiding their 

alliance with the APC 

against Nigerians. 

His words: “We have seen 

the police and INEC going 

back and forth on Rivers 

State rerun elections and 

I wish to ask the police; 

what happened to that 

suspect, Christian 

Chukwuemeka Ejikeme, 

who reportedly confessed to 

the complicity of some APC 

top-shots in the murder of 

DSP Mohammed Alkali? 

“Shouldn’t the police be 

more interested in bringing 

those who allegedly killed 

its officers to justice? 

“Also, what has 

happened to that Yobe 

State INEC Resident 

Electoral Commissioner, 

REC, that the Economic 

and Financial Crimes 

Commission (EFCC) 

established to have 

received N15 million 

bribe to rig the Yobe 

State election?” 

NIMASA, NCS 

are partners in 

progress 

—PETERSIDE

C 

M 

YK 



VALEDICTORY SESSION: From left Mr. Justin Okonoboh, Speaker, 

Edo State House of Assembly; Mr. Edgar Okpozo (son of deceased); Mr. 

Monday Igbuya, Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, and Mr. Friday 

Osanebi, Deputy Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, at a joint valedictory 

service for late Senator Francis Okpozo, by Edo State and Delta State Houses 

of Assembly at DTHA, yesterday. Photos Nath Onojake. 

From left: Mr. Edgar Okpozo, Mr. Harrison Okpozo, Mrs Onome Okpozo- 

Agbola, Evelyn Okpozo Esedafe, children of late Senator Okpozo. 

Obaseki begins defence at Edo Election Petition 

...insists election was credible 

Tribunal 

By Simon Ebegbulem 

& Gabriel Enogholase 

B ENIN—GOV- 

ERNOR Godwin 

Obaseki of Edo State, 

yesterday, opened his 

defence before the 

Governorship Election 

Petition Tribunal sitting in 

Benin City, as the 

witnesses, who testified in 

favour of the governor, 

insisted that the election in 

which he emerged 

victorious was free, fair and 

credible. 

The witnesses produced 

by Obaseki before the 

tribunal elicited fierce 

arguments as counsel to 

Obaseki, Olatunji Oyeyipo, 

SAN, that of All 


APC, Kayode Olatoke, 

SAN and counsel to 

Independent National 

Electoral Commission, 

INEC, Onyinye Anumoye, 

engaged the lead counsel 

to Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu 

and Peoples Democratic 

Party, PDP, Yusuf Ali, SAN, 

during the cross 

examination of the 

witnesses. 

The legal fire works 

commenced after the first 

witness, Osagiede Justice, 

from unit 24, Ward four, 

Oredo, told the tribunal that 

the election in his unit was 

free and fair and that INEC 

did a wonderful job of 

ensuring that the election 

was credible. However, 

tension rose when counsel 

to Obaseki, Oyeyipo SAN, 

asked the witness to tender 

APC-led Fed Govt failed to meet its campaign 

promises —WIKE 

By Jimitota 

Onoyume 

PORT 

HAR- 

C O U R T — 

GOVERNOR Nyesom 

Wike of Rivers State has 

described the All 


APC-led Federal 

Government as a failure, 

stressing that the 

government had failed to 

meet its campaign 

promises to the people. 

The governor spoke, 

yesterday, at Afara 

C-River partners UK firm for 

construction, fabrication 

academy 

WORRIED by the 

dearth of manpower 

in the construction and 

fabrication industry in the 

country, Cross River State 

Government, in partnership 

with a United Kingdom-based 

firm, Schools 

Company, has concluded 

plans to set up a construction 

and fabrication academy. 

Known as Royal Academy 

for Construction and 

Fabrication, the institution 

will be the first of its kind 

in Africa that will focus 

mainly on hi-tech and 

heavy industrial fabrications 

and constructions. 

Speaking shortly after 

sealing the deal with the 

UK firm in Calabar, the 

state governor, Prof. Ben 

Ayade said: “The Royal 

Academy will be the first of 

its kind in Africa that will 

focus mainly on hi-tech and 

heavy industrial fabrications 

and constructions.” 

his party agent’s card so as 

to ascertain that he was the 

authentic agent of Obaseki 

at the election. 

But counsel to Ize-Iyamu, 

Yusuf Ali, SAN, objected, 

saying that the card was not 

tendered before the 

tribunal. “It was not 

pleaded, not listed and not 

frontloaded. Therefore, it is 

not relevant in the case,” he 

argued. 

community, ahead of 

tomorrow’s Etche/Omuma 

federal constituency 

elections, adding that 

Rivers State was among 

the few states in the country 

with functional 

governance. 

Meanwhile, the 

Independent National 

Electoral Commission, 

INEC, has mobilised over 

700 staff members for the 

conclusion of the 

outstanding 2015 election 

in Rivers State tomorrow. 

But counsel to APC, 

Olatoke, countered, saying, 

“The agent card is 

admissible. You don’t plead 

evidence, you only plead 

documents and facts. This 

party agent's card is already 

listed as item 14 in the 

second respondent’s list of 

documents. So, it is not as 

if it is a new document, 

therefore it is relevant to be 

handed over as an 

INEC’s National 

Commissioner in charge of 

Edo, Bayelsa and Rivers 

states, Mrs May 

Agbamuche-Mbu, made 

this known yesterday in Port 

Harcourt, Rivers State. 

She said the election 

would hold in Etche Local 

Government Area to fill the 

Etche State Constituency II 

and Etche/Omuma Federal 

Constituency seats. 

Agbamuche-Mbu 

described the decision by 

the National Youth Service 

evidence in this case.” 

Counsel to INEC, 

Anumoye, agreed with 

Olatoke, urging the tribunal 

to admit the witness’s 

agent card as an exhibit. 

Ruling on the matter, 

Justice Ahmed Badamasi, 

agreed with counsel to 

Obaseki, saying, “The 

agent card was listed in the 

2nd respondent’s 

deposition, therefore, it is 

relevant to this tribunal and 

it is admitted.” 

Corps, NYSC, not to 

participate in the election as 

unfortunate. 

Continuing, Wike said 

the Peoples Democratic 

Party, PDP, was the only 

political party campaigning 

for the election in the state, 

accusing the APC of 

allegedly plotting how to 

rig the elections in Abuja. 

He said the PDP was 

firmly on ground in Etche/ 

Omuma area, stressing that 

the people should protect 

their votes on the election 

day. 

Osinbajo summons IGP over kidnap of 

German archaeologists 

ACTING President 

Yemi Osinbajo, 

yesterday, summoned the 

Inspector-General of Police, 

Mr Ibrahim Idris, over the 

kidnap of two German 

archaeologists, Prof. Peter 

Breunig and Mr Johannes 

Behringer, in Kadarko 

Local Government Area of 

Kaduna State. 

It was learned that the IG 

briefed the Acting President 

on efforts so far made by 

police to rescue the victims 

unhurt and apprehend the 

kidnappers. 

The police had since 

dispatched a team of 

Special Police Forces and 

Police Investigators to work 

in synergy with the police 

command in Kaduna State 

and indigenes of towns and 

surrounding villages 

where the archaeologists 

were kidnapped. 

The Special Police Forces 

comprise the Intelligence 

Response Team, IRT, the 

Technical Intelligence Unit, 

TIU, the Anti-Kidnapping 

Unit, the Counter Terrorism 

Unit, CTU, the Police 

Mobile Force and Police 

Surveillance Helicopters. 

The Special Investigation 

Team on Kidnapping and 

Terrorism Cases under the 

command of the Deputy 

Inspector General of Police, 

Department of Operations, 

is also participating in the 

rescue operation. 

The kidnapped 

archaeologists, working in 

collaboration with National 

Commission for Museum 

and Monument on the 

relics of NOK Culture in 

Nigeria, were kidnapped 

on Wednesday morning at 

an excavation site in 

Kadarko Local Government 

Area of Kaduna State. 

Two members of the local 

community in company of 

the Germans were killed 

during the kidnap. 

Reps probes 

$17bn 

undeclared 

oil sales 

ABUJA 

—THE 

House of Representatives 

ad hoc 

Committee investigating 

the alleged stolen 17 billion 

dollars oil and gas 

sales on Thursday ordered 

Governor of Central Bank 

of Nigeria (CBN) Godwin 

Emefiele, to appear before 

it within one week. 

The money was allegedly 

stolen through undeclared 

crude oil and liquefied 

natural gas export. 

The committee threatened 

to issue a warrant of 

arrest on the governor if he 

failed to appear within the 

period. The Chairman of 

the Committee, Rep. Abdulrazak 

Namdas said 

the international oil companies 

allegedly involved in 

the deal had provided the 

committee documents required 

to commence the investigation. 

Namdas expressed concern 

that full investigation 

could not begin because 

of the failure of CBN to 

give the required details. 

He alleged that CBN provided 

conflicting responses 

to its inquiry on the matter 

and as such the governor 

must appear in person to 

clarify issues and provide 

necessary details needed to 

facilitate the probe. 

“We have sent two different 

letters to the CBN and 

the bank has provided two 

conflicting responses to our 

inquiry. In response to the 

first letter, the apex bank 

pleaded for time due to the 

volume of documents required 

but in response to 

the second letter, CBN indicated 

that it has no record 

of undeclared crude,” 

Namdas said.



Judge’s absence stalls Lori-Ogbebor's suit against 

Okowa, Chevron, Ayiri, others 

By Egufe 

Yafugborhi 

W 

A R R I — 

HEARING in 

the suit by Itsekiri nation 

against Governor Ifeanyi 

Okowa of Delta State, 

Chevron Nigeria Limited, 

Chief Ayiri Emami and 

other Itsekiri leaders, 

seeking to compel them to 

account for the N10 billion 

commonwealth of Itsekiri 

oil producing communities, 

yesterday, suffered an 

adjournment due to the 

absence of the trial judge, 

Justice Onajite Kuejubola. 

Mr. Olukunle Edun, 

counsel to claimant/ 

applicants, the Igba of 

Warri, Chief Rita Lori- 

Ogbebor and four others on 

behalf of Itsekiri nation, 

explained that, “The court 

did not sit because of an 

emergency meeting the 

judges were having with 

the state Chief Judge.” 

Meanwhile, further 

hearing in the matter was 

adjourned till March 30, 

2017. 

Lori-Ogbebor and others 

had approached the court, 

under the FOI Law, seeking 

to compel Governor 

Okowa, Chevron and nine 

Itsekiri leaders to account 

for an estimated N10 billion 

Itsekiri oil communities 

development vote they 

allegedly appropriated 

unilaterally since 2005 

without the consent of 

benefiting communities. 

Speaking on the aborted 

case, yesterday, Chief Lori- 

Ogbebor said that the 

Itsekiri people were very 

angry and determined to 

pursue the case to its logical 

conclusion because those 

being accused of 

shortchanging the people 

have also tried to rubbish 

the efforts of His Majesty, 

Ogiame Ikenwoli, the Olu 

of Warri, at remedying the 

situation. 

She said: “When His 

Majesty ascended the 

throne, his first 

responsibility was to ask the 

present leaders who have 

been squandering Itsekiri 

money to give way for a new 

set of Itsekiri leaders to run 

the GMOU and 

agreements from which oil 

communities get 

development. That became 

a big war between him and 

them. 

“They even took him to 

court. That is why the whole 

Itsekiri nation is angry. 

They took him to the state 

High Court sitting in 

Sapele, completely out of 

his domain. And when 

Itsekiri nation tried to 

retrieve the case from 

Sapele, they beat up all 

ADP cedes 2019 presidential ticket to the North 

By Simon 

Ebegbulem 

B ENIN—THE 

South-South zonal 

coordinator of the yet to be 

registered Action 

Democratic Party, ADP, and 

former Chief Whip of the 

Senate, Senator Rowland 

Owie, has said that the 

party has concluded plans 

to cede its 2019 presidential 

ticket to the North and vicepresidential 

ticket to the 

South-East. 

He said that the recent 

Appeal Court ruling which 

returned Alhaji Ali Modu 

Sherriff as the national 

chairman of Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, has 

shown that Nigerians were 

tired of impunity and 

lawlessness. 

He said: “I congratulate 

the judiciary for that 

landmark judgment. It has 

shown that from now on the 

political class should avoid 

impunity and lawlessness 

in its behaviour. 

“However, all those who 

do not have blood of 

impunity in the two factions 

(of PDP), those who will not 

turn primary elections to 

bazaar, who believe in 

fairness, justice and equity, 

will be admitted into ADP.” 

Owie, who spoke in an 

interview with Vanguard, 

said that the ADP was 

formed due to the failure of 

the All Progressives 

Congress, APC-led 

Okowa reshuffles cabinet 

By Festus Ahon 

A SABA—DELTA 

State governor, 

Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, 

Wednesday night carried 

out a minor cabinet 

reshuffle, moving the 

Commissioner for Lands 

and Survey, Chief Dan 

Okenyi, to the Directorate 

of Arts, Culture and 

Tourism. 

Okowa, in a statement by 

his Chief Press Secretary, 

Mr Charles Aniagwu, said 

Mr Ernest Ogwezzy, 

formerly of Arts, Culture 

and Tourism, will now take 

charge as Commissioner, 

Bureau for Special Duties. 


statement, Mr Chika Ossai, 

formerly of Bureau for 

Special Duties, will now 

Itsekiri people that went 

there. 

“That case was 

transferred, not back to 

Warri, the jurisdiction of His 

Majesty, but rather to 

Asaba, again, because 

government is also 

interested in the 

communities’ money as 

well. From Asaba, we hear 

they are transferring it to 

Ughelli. This is your 

VISIT: Governor Ifeajyi Okowa of Delta State (left), and Assistant 

Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Zone 5, Mr Adamu Abubakar when the 

AIG paid him a familiarization visit in Asaba. 

government and what he 

described as the “demise of 

the PDP,” adding that the 

party when registered will 

take over the helm of affairs 

in the country. 

“So, for 2019, we have 

zoned our presidential 

candidate to the North and 

...creates six special courts to try kidnappers 

take charge of the Ministry 

of Lands and Surveys, 

adding that “the reshuffling 

is with immediate effect.” 

Meanwhile, the state 

government has created six 

special courts as part of 

efforts towards ensuring 

speedy trial of kidnap 

suspects in the state. 

Okowa, who made the 

disclosure when the 

Assistant Inspector General 

Ex-LG bosses lament non-recognition by Emmanuel 

By Chioma Onuegbu 

UYO—FORUM of 

Former Appointed 

Chairmen of Local 

Government Areas in 

Akwa Ibom State, has 

lamented the nonrecognition 

and inclusion 

of its menbers by the 

country. This is your Delta.” 

Lori-Ogbebor and co are 

asking the court to compel 

the defendants to recall, 

refund or recover N2 billion 

or all such money paid by 

Chevron to persons or 

corporate bodies, pursuant 

to the purported GMOU 

2006 and 2012, till date and 

same paid into an interest 

yielding account to be 

opened and operated by 

zoned our vice presidential 

slot to the South-East 

because where there is no 

justice, there can be no 

peace. In 1987, it was to be 

the turn of the South-East 

to produce the president 

after Shehu Shagari, but it 

was aborted. The south 

of Police, AIG Zone 5, Mr 

Adamu Abubakar, paid him 

a familiarization visit in 

Asaba, assured that his 

administration will 

continue to support the 

Police and other security 

agencies in tackling 

security challenges in the 

state. 

He said: “We are aware 

that all over the country 

today, the issue of 

Governor Udom 

Emmanuel-led 

administration. 

The forum expressed its 

grievance yesterday, in 

Uyo during an interaction 

with the Special Adviser, 

Bureau of Political/ 

Legislative Affairs and 

Water Resources, Ekong 

the host communities of 

Chevron or their nominees. 

They are also prayung for 

an order compelling the 

defendants to provide to the 

claimants, within seven 

days from the date of 

judgement in this case, a 

comprehensive account of 

all sums and beneficiaries 

thereof paid pursuant to 

provisions of the GMOU 

2006 and 2012 (for onshore 

and offshore operations). 

easterners have been the 

bedrock of development of 

this country, so their rights 

must be given to them. 

“After the North has 

finished its slot and 

presidency returned to the 

South, it will go to the 

South-East," he added. 

kidnapping is becoming a 

challenge. There is no 

doubt that in this state, we 

are tackling the challenge. 

“A lot of kidnappers have 

been arrested and I have 

been informed that six 

special courts have been 

created by the Chief Judge 

to try kidnappers who have 

been arrested. This is to 

ensure speedy trial because 

we have a robust law that 

deals with kidnappers and 

those who assists them.” 

Sampson. 

Chairman of the forum, 

Obonganwan Effah, 

appealed to the Udom’s 

government to see reason 

for the proper and equal 

recognition of both 

appointed and elected 

chairmen of the councils 

in the state. 

Rights activist 

wants Delta 

excluded from 

APC 

mini-congress 

By Perez Brisibe 

U GHELLI—A 

rights activist and 

member of the All 


APC, in Delta State, Mr 

Robinson Ariy, has asked a 

Delta State High Court 

sitting in Warri to exclude 

the state chapter of the 

party from arrangements 

towards the conduct of state 

congresses, pending the 

determination of a suit now 

adjourned till March 16. 

Ariyo, who was the APC 

candidate for the 2015 

House of Assembly election 

for Warri South 

Constituency I, also 

warned the national 

leadership of the party that 

“extending the planned 

mini-congress to the state 

would constitute a 

disrespect for subsisting 

court judgment and 

undermine the pending 

suit before the court.” 

Speaking on the 

congress, Ariyo said: 

“Mini-congresses cannot 

be applicable to the Delta 

State situation since there 

is no legal State Executive 

Committee in the state. The 

option open to the party is 

to set up a caretaker 

committee that is 

representative of the 

stakeholders of the party in 

the state." 

Grazing 

reserve'll 

trigger 

national 

crisis —Cleric 

By Jimitota 

Onoyume 

PORT 

HAR- 

COURT—A cleric in 

Rivers State, Pastor Simeon 

Afolabi, has kicked against 

the call for grazing reserve 

to be allocated to Fulani 

herdsmen round the 

country, saying it will trigger 

off national crisis. 

Speaking in Port 

Harcourt, Rivers State, 

Afolabi who is founding 

Pastor of First Love 

Assembly, said that the 

reserve will create 

incessant clashes between 

natives and the Fulani 

herdsmen, adding that 

government should spare 

the nation a repeat of the 

crisis in the South-South. 

“Fulani herdsmen will be 

a time bomb in the country 

if you give them grazing 

reserve, it will create a 

problem of settlers," he 

said.



Infrastructure 

development 

will drive 

economic 

growth, 

create wealth 

— ADEOSUN 

By Favour 

Nnabugwu 

A BUJA—THE 

F e d e r a l 

Government has, 

yesterday, said 

infrastructure 

development would 

boost the country’s 

economic growth, create 

wealth and jobs for the 

populace 

Minister of Finance, 

Ms Kemi Adeosun, who 

stated this at the United 

Capital launch of its EU, 

Robond and Wealth for 

Women Funds in Abuja, 

said infrastructure 

development would play 

a fundamental role in 

unlocking Nigeria’s 

economic potential, 

laying a foundation for 

e c o n o m i c 

competitiveness and 

long-term future growth. 

Adesoun stated that 

investment in critical 

infrastructure across the 

country would unlock job 

and wealth creation and 

strengthen economic 

development across all 

states in Nigeria. 

While speaking on the 

outlook for the Nigerian 

economy, the Minister 

noted that government 

was committed to 

increasing spending on 

critical infrastructure 

across key sectors, 

including power, rail, 

roads and water, which 

would underpin growth 

in priority sectors, 

especially Agriculture 

and Agro-Allied, Solid 

M i n e r a l s , 

Manufacturing, and 

Power. 

According to her, “we 

will now target 30 percent 

of government 

expenditure on 

infrastructure, up from 10 

percent”. 

Adeosun said the 

Federal Government 

would mobilise private 

capital to complement 

government spending on 

infrastructure. 

“We recognise that 

government spending 

alone will be inadequate 

to bridge the 

infrastructure gap and 

we have started 

engaging the private 

sector through our 

housing fund and the 

road trust fund for which 

fundraising is in 

progress,” she said. 

NORTH EAST: UN, Germany, Norway, others to raise 

$1.5bn for urgent food assistance 

By Victoria Ojeme 

THE international 

community have 

gathered in Oslo, Norway, 

to raise funds for 

humanitarian assistance to 

over seven million people, 

especially in North East 

Nigeria and Lagos Chad 

region, where there is 

urgent need for food. 

Norway, Nigeria, 

Germany and the United 

Nations who are in the 

forefront of the Oslo 

Humanitarian Conference, 

are hoping to raise at least 

$1.5 billion to support the 

most vulnerable people in 

the region. 

In a joint statement 

issued by foreign ministers 

of Germany, Norway, 

Nigeria and the 

Emergency Relief 

Coordinator of the United 

Nations, the entire world’s 

being urged to take urgent 

steps to save lives of people 

currently threatened by 

drought and famine in the 

region. 

“One of the largest 

humanitarian crises of 

today is currently unfolding 

in North-Eastern Nigeria 

and neighboring regions of 

Niger, Chad and 

Murray-Bruce urges PDP members to unite 

By Soni Daniel, 

Northern Region Editor 

ABUJA—AS 

the 

crisis rocking the 

Peoples Democratic Party, 

PDP, takes a new twist with 

the recent Appeal Court 

judgment recognising 

former Borno State 

governor as its national 

chairman, Senator Ben 

Murray Bruce has asked 

members to bury personal 

interest and work for the 

overall interest of the party. 

The senator, who 

represents Bayelsa East 

Senatorial District, told 

Vanguard in an exclusive 

interview in Abuja that the 

crisis now rocking the party 

could lead to its 

annihilation, if not 

nipped in the bud. 

Cameroon. 

‘’The brutal violence of 

Boko Haram has raged for 

years, terrorizing people, 

forcing millions to flee their 

homes, as well as in some 

cases their countries, and 

disrupting local 

economies,” the statement 

read. 

It added that as more 

areas were becoming 

accessible for humanitarian 

organizations, the full scale 

of the suffering of the 

people was being revealed. 

The statement read: “In 

Nigeria alone, 26 million 

people live in the affected 

areas. 11 million people in 

the region rely on 

humanitarian assistance 

and among them more than 

7 million people are in need 

of urgent food assistance. 

“These numbers 

represent millions of 

individual tragedies. 

Women, men, girls and 

boys, elderly people, young 

people and infants require 

assistance to survive. The 

United Nations estimates 

that more than 1.5 billion 

USD is required for 2017 

alone to support the most 

vulnerable people in this 

region.’’ 


statement, the fund raised 

will be channeled towards 

provision of food, increase 

protection of the most 

vulnerable, women and 

children, and education for 

millions of children and 

youths who have been 

away from school since 

crisis broke out in the 

region. 

The foreign ministers 

emphasized the need to 

address the root causes and 

break the cycle of terror, 

•Asks Osinbajo to dislodge cabal destroying Nigeria 

FACILITY TOUR: From left: Mr.Tunde Adelana, Director, Monitoring and Evaluation, 

Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board; Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabot, 

Executive Secretary of Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board; and 

Mr. George Onafowokan, MD/CEO, Coleman Wires and Cables Technical Industries 

Limited; during the facility assessment tour on Coleman Wires and Cables Technical 

Industries Limited ultra-modern cable factory in Ogun State...on Wednesday. 

Nigeria needs $1bn annually to reverse medical 

tourism — MINISTER 

By Gabriel Olawale 

& Gloria Orogun 

THE Minister of 

Health, Prof. Isaac 

Adewole, said yesterday 

that the country would 

require $1 billion annually 

to reverse medical tourism. 

Over 100 vehicles missing in Agric Ministry 

— MINISTER some government 

By Gabriel Ewepu 

A BUJA—THE 

Minister of State 

for Agriculture and Rural 

Development, Senator 

Heineken Lokpobiri, 

disclosed yesterday that 

over 100 vehicles were 

allegedly taken away by 

He said his support was 

not about Modu Sheriff but 

the survival of the PDP as 

a veritable opposition party 

that could chase out the 

ruling party in 2019. 

The lawmaker drew the 

attention of those 

advocating an appeal 

against the Appeal Court 

ruling on Modi Sheriff to 

the Supreme Court, to a 

similar situation in Ondo 

State where an unresolved 

court case denied the party 

a chance to field a 

governorship candidate on 

time and be able to prepare 

for the election. 

Murray-Bruce said it was 

imperative to bury personal 

interest in the matter and 

work for the revival of 

PDP to be able to battle 

the APC out of power in 

officials. 

Lokpobiri made the 

disclosure during the 

inauguration of National 

Technical Working 

Committee on Agroexport 

Standard and 

Certification in Abuja. 

He did not, however, 

reveal those behind the 

act, but stated that the 

the next two years. 

He said: “My position is 

not about Sheriff but about 

the overall interest of our 

party-the PDP and I make 

no pretensions about it. It 

is about the future and 

interest of our party. 

“We have been in crisis 

for about two years now and 

we have been fighting 

Economic and Financial 

Crimes Commission, 

EFCC, was on the 

matter. 

He also did not give 

details on the stolen 

vehicles, but promised to 

get a brief from the 

Permanent Secretary of 

the Ministry in order to 

know the latest 

development on the matter. 

fragility, displacement, 

poverty and development 

deficits. 

“We must do more in the 

area of prevention and 

stabilization to set the 

conditions for political 

solutions. Without stability 

and development, human 

suffering will not come to 

an end”, they stated. 

“While preparing for this 

important conference, we 

are also mindful of the grave 

humanitarian situation in 

each other and we don’t 

have a leadership for the 

party. We have lost four 

senators to the opposition. 

‘’They have defected to 

the APC and we cannot 

declare their seats vacant 

because they cite the 

current crisis in the PDP as 

the basis of their defection. 

My position, therefore, is to 

preserve the party from 

destruction. 

Taking a look at current 

issues in the country, 

Murray-Bruce asked the 

He also said N11.7 billion 

had been set in 2017 

proposed budget for 

revitalisation of seven 

tertiary health institutions in 

the country. 

Adewole, who spokes at 

the commissioning of the 

permanent secretariat of 

West African College of 

Surgeons, Yaba, Lagos said 

though the country was 

currently passing through 

tough times, government 

was committed to halting 

medical tourism. 

He said plans were 

underway to upgrade 

some tertiary health 

institutions to enable 

them render services for 

which Nigerians were 

going abroad. 

“In our 2017 budget 

other parts of Africa. 

Displacement continues to 

rise in some regions of 

Africa as a result of armed 

conflicts and severe 

drought. 

“Together, we must 

increase our efforts to end 

this spiral. The Oslo 

Humanitarian Conference 

offers an opportunity to 

save lives and support 

millions of people in need 

in North-East Nigeria and 

the Lake Chad Region. Let 

us all seize this 

opportunity,” they 

beckoned on the world.'' 

Acting President, Prof. Yemi 

Osinbajo, to take charge of 

the country by dealing with 

those he referred to as a 

‘cabal’ trying to derail 

Nigeria for their personal 

gains. 

According to him, the 

recession in Nigeria is not 

caused by declining oil 

prices but multiple mistakes 

and wrong policies made 

by the cabal for their 

personal aggrandisement 

to the detriment of majority 

of Nigerians.'' 

proposal, we have 

committed N11.7 billion 

to upgrade at least seven 

tertiary health 

institutions, in which 

each one will receive 

N300 million and 

medical centres will 

receive N120 million. 

Fistula Centres will receive 

N50 million so that they can 

have water and electricity 

and function well. 

“Then the strategic 

intervention will be to 

provide equipment to 

render services for the three 

main reasons Nigerians 

travel abroad, such as 

cancer, renal disorders and 

cardiac cases.” 

Adewole said states 

across the country had been 

supported through $500 

million loan they acquired 

from World Bank.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017 — 15 


10 wounded, 20 houses destroyed as 

hoodlums sack Anambra community 

By Chimaobi 

Nwaiwu 

N NEWI—TEN 

people were 

injured, 20 houses 

destroyed, 11 vehicles 

damaged, five motorcycles 

stolen, while house-hold 

items like plasma television 

sets, standing fans, music 

sets, clothes and shoes were 

carted away by yet-to-be 

identified hoodlums 

numbering over 50 who 

attacked Umusiome 

village, Nkpor, Idemili 

North Local Government 

Area at about 4.30 pm on 

Wednesday. 

According to an eye 

witness, the hoodlums 

were said to be shooting 

sporadically into the air, 

into houses and on people 

returning home after the 

day’s business and work, 

making many to scamper 

for safety while those who 

were already at home were 

scared away from the 

streets. 

When Vanguard visited 

the area Thursday 

morning, most of the 

residents were either 

packing out of the area or 

leaving with their most 

important belongings, 

while more than twenty 

women were taking their 

children away to other 

places considered safe in 

Nkpor and Onitsha, as 

according to them, the 

hoodlums boasted that they 

will strike again. 

Addressing newsmen 

after an emergency 

meeting, Chairman of 

Dynamic Landlords 

Association, Umusiome, 

Nkpor, Chief Humphrey 

Aghuna surrounded by 

other landlords and 

stakeholders including 

Chief Arthur Udoh, said he 

was returning home when 

he heared sporadic 

shootings, and on coming 

closer to his house, he saw 

some residents running on 

the streets. He said he hid 

somewhere until the arrival 

of the police and the army 

from 302 Artillery Regiment 

Onitsha. 

“As I am talking with you 

now, I will not be able to give 

an account of what is the 

bone of contention, but with 

the houses destroyed, 

vehicles damaged and 

people wounded, it is not 

unconnected with the 

protracted land dispute 

between Umusiome village 

Nkpor and Ikenga village 

Ogidi all in the same L.G.A. 

“We are just people who 

bought land here in 

Umusiome. We do not have 

any business with Ikenga 

Ogidi people. They have 

collected money from us in 

the past claiming they are 

youths that must be settled 

and yet they cannot allow 

us to live here peacefully. 

Government should come 

Etisalat empowers subscribers 

with free Facebook connectivity 

NIGERIAN telecom 

munications company, 

Etisalat, is treating 

its customers with another 

innovative service to 

stay connected with their 

friends and families on 

Facebook and access to 

other basic internet services 

at absolutely no cost. 

This new feature, Facebook 

Flex, provided by Etisalat 

in partnership with Facebook, 

allows subscribers 

on the Etisalat network to 

switch seamlessly between 

free and data modes thereby 

making it possible for 

them to chat, post, comment, 

like or share content for free 

with friends and families. 

Commenting on the latest 

offering, Director, Digital 

Business, Etisalat Nigeria, 

and save us here." 

The Divisional Police 

Officer, DPO, in charge of 

Ogidi Police Division, 

Mr. Hassan Musa 

confirmed the incident 

and advised both villages 

to abide by the judgment 

of the Supreme Court 

over the boundary 

demarcation between the 

two villages and the 

decision of the National 

Boundary Commission 

which did the demarcation. 

“The Supreme Court and 

the National Boundary 

Commission have given 

their verdicts on the 

boundary between the two 

communities. It is criminal 

for anybody to jump over 

the boundary demarcation 

and start selling or 

claiming land that does not 

fall into your area. We warn 

those doing that to stop or 

face the wrath of the law. 

“I slept there yesterday 

with my men to ensure 

protection of lives and 

property and to ensure that 

there is no further shooting 

of people and carting away 

and destruction of their 

properties. However, no 

arrest has been made but 

we are still investigating 

the matter,'' he said. 

INDUCTION: From Left; Chief Adenike Oyagbola, 1st Lady Cabinet Minister of 

the Nigeria; Chief Olutoyin Olusola Olakunrin; Prince Julius Adelusi Adeluyi, 

Chairman Board of Trustee, Professional Excellence Foundation of Nigeria (PEFON) 

and Sir Dr Dipo Bailey, founder, PEFON at the foundation's induction & investiture 

ceremony of Professional Fisrt Ladies president'' of Institutes and Chosen Careers 

as honourary fellows in Lagos yesterday. Photo by Akeem Salau. 

IMPEACHMENT: Obiano, 28 parties trade 

words 

By Vincent Ujumadu 

A WKA—TWENTY- 

EIGHT political 

parties under the umbrella 

of Inter Party Advisory 

Council, IPAC, in Anambra 

State have given the state 

House of Assembly, five 

days ultimatum from 

yesterday to commence 

Adia Sowho, said the introduction 

of the new service 

was borne out of the company’s 

firm commitment to 

continually develop innovative 

solutions that can 

improve the lives of Nigerians 

by leveraging the 

power of technology. 

“We are happy to announce 

that we now offer 

our subscribers free access 

to Facebook any time so 

they can stay in touch with 

their friends and family 

members 24/7. The service 

is available through the 

Facebook app or web 

browser and is flexible and 

user-friendly. 

''The new feature, Facebook 

Flex, gives real time 

access without having to 

pay data charges”, she said. 

investigation into alleged 

unlawful activities and 

allegations of offence of 

breaches and grave 

violation of the Nigerian 

constitution against 

Governor Willie Obiano as 

contained in an earlier 

petition written by the state 

chairman of the Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, 

Prince Kenneth Emeakayi. 

Emeakayi had weekend 

accused the governor of 

grave violation of the 

provisions of the 

Constitution of the Federal 

Republic of Nigeria, 1999 

(as amended), breaches of 

the peace and unlawful 

assemblies prohibition law, 

2015 of Anambra State and 

the Local Government Law 

of Anambra State, 1999 (as 

amended). 

At a full house meeting 

of IPAC members in the 

state in Awka yesterday, the 

political parties warned that 

in the unlikely event that 

the House of Assembly 

failed to direct an inquiry 

into the alleged unlawful 

activities of the governor, 

members of all political 

parties in the state would 

occupy the Anambra State 

House of Assembly until 

justice was done. 

According to them, the 

governor and members of 

the state legislature should 

be held responsible should 

there be any breakdown of 

law and order during the 

occupation of the House of 

Assembly complex from 

Monday. 

Essentially, the IPAC 

members were 

complaining that: “The 

plans by Governor Obiano 

to illegally and 

unconstitutionally appoint 

caretaker/transition 

committees and/or liaison 

officers in whatsoever 

named called, to manage 

the affairs, including the 

finances of the 21 local 

councils in Anambra State, 

is totally unacceptable to 

members of all the 

registered political parties’ 

in Anambra State; and 

“Any attempt by the 

governor to continue in the 

unlawful act of diversion 

and misappropriation of 

monies accruing to the 21 

local government council 

areas in Anambra State 

from the federation 

accounts, and any attempt 

also to further usurp the 

duty and functions of 

elected councilors, 

Chairmen and Vice- 

Chairmen, through the 

illegal and unconstitutional 

appointment of caretaker/ 

transition committees and/ 

or liaison officers in 

whatsoever named called, 

to manage the affairs 

including the finances of 

the 21 local governments." 

Obiano reacts 

But Governor Willie 

Obiano last night reacted 

to the endorsement of his 

impeachment by 28 

members of IPAC in 

Anambra State over alleged 

constitutional breaches, 

saying their action negated 

the reason for their 

existence. 

Speaking through his 

senior special assistant on 

media, strategic 

communication and 

legislative matters, Prince 

Oliver Okpala, Obiano 

said: “We are surprised that 

members of IPAC in 

Anambra State should join 

the call for the 

impeachment of a state 

governor when it is aware 

that IPAC is not a political 

party and should never be 

partisan because their 

adoption of a call from a self 

proclaimed state PDP 

chairman calling for the 

impeachment of a governor 

negates the aim of INEC 

for setting it up as an 

advisory council on inter 

party welfare and 

organization.'' 

INEC fixes 

Anambra 

gov poll for 

Nov 18 

...Moves to 

overhaul 

Commission’s 

Rivers office 

By Omeiza Ajayi 

A BUJA—THE 

Independent 

National Electoral 

Commission, INEC, 

has fixed Saturday 

November 18 for 

Anambra governorship 

election. 

INEC’s National 

Commissioner in 

charge of Information, 

Publicity and Voter 

Education, Prince 

Solomon Soyebi 

announced this at a 

press conference 

yesterday night in 

Abuja. 

While the notice of 

election would be 

published on July 21, 

campaigns by political 

parties would 

commence on August 

18. 

The tenure of the 

Governor of Anambra 

state expires on March 

16, 2018. By the 

provisions of the 

electoral act, the earliest 

date for election into the 

office is October 18, 

2017 and the latest is 

February 14, 2018. 

...to overhaul 

Rivers office, 

sanction 28 Staff 

According to Soyebi, 

INEC is also set “to 

carry out a total and 

major overhaul of its 

state office in Rivers”. 

He said the 

resolution was reached 

after hours of meeting 

to consider the report of 

its administrative panel 

on the Rivers rerun. 

The commission will 

also sanction 25 staff 

who are already slated 

to face criminal 

prosecution by the 

police. 

In addition, Soyebi 

said the commission's 

three other officials 

would be made to face 

administrative 

sanctions. 

While INEC singled 

some adhoc staff and 

security operatives for 

commendation, the 

commission said it 

would grant automatic 

employment to two 

members of the 

National Youth Service 

Corps NYSC, scheme 

for their exemplary 

conduct during the 

Rivers rerun.


By Elizabeth 

Uwandu 

BENIN CITY—THE 

Edo State government 

has urged the people of the 

state to key into the 'Project 

Clean-Up Edo', by making 

deliberate effort to keeping 

their environment clean. 

This appeal was made in 

Benin City during a 

sensitization campaign 

organized by the Technical 

Team, Project Clean –Up 

Edo, headed by the 

Secretary to Edo state 

government, Mr 

Osarodion Ogie, to 

educate, inform and 

instruct the people on the 

need to desist from all 

LAGOS—THE Economic 

and Financial Crimes 

Commission, EFCC has 

been asked to desist from 

media trial of former Group 

Managing Director of 

Nigeria National 

Petroleum Corporation, 

NNPC, Mr. Andrew 

Yakubu and ensure that his 

trial is fair. 

At a press conference in 

Abuja, yesterday, the 

Coalition of Civil Society 

Groups, COCSG said it 

had noticed the way media 

trial was undermining 

constitutional provisions for 

prosecuting such cases, 

adding that due process 

By Gabriel 

Olawale 

LAGOS—THE President 

of Gionee’s 

smartphone, Mr. William 

Lu has said that the recent 

research carried out by 

Gionee into consumer 

needs in India and Africa, 

revealed that handsets with 

a better selfie performance 

and seamless user 

experience have become 

increasingly popular with 

:Vanguard :@vanguardnews :@vanguardnewsNEWS HOTLINES: 

IGP calls for Police Trust Fund 

By Emma Ujah, 

Abuja Bureau Chief 

A BUJA—THE 

Inspector- General 

of Police (IGP), Mr. Ibrahim 

Idris, has called for the 

establishment of a Police 

Trust Fund. 

He said during a chat 

with the media in Abuja that 

establishing the fund which 

should be financed as a first 

line charge was the only 

way to adequately fund the 

Police in the country. 

He said a Bill for the 

establishment of the Fund 

had been with the National 

Assembly for several years 

but regretted that it 

remained unpassed. 

The IGP said: “The 

Nigeria Police as an 

organisation is faced with 

many challenges. 

“I can say that the 

greatest challenge if 

funding. The organisation 

is poorly funded and that 

is why we are seeking the 

establishment of the Police 

Trust Fund. 

“A bill for the 

establishment has been 

sent to the National 

Assembly many years ago, 

unfortunately nothing 

Key into Project Clean-Up Edo, govt 

urges citizens 

activities that generate 

waste in public places. 

Speaking at the event, the 

Acting General Manager, 

Edo State Waste 

Management Board, 

Prince Aiyamenkue 

Akonofua, said it is the 

responsibility of every 

responsive government to 

remove chaos, and disorder 

from the society, saying it 

is the reason why Governor 

Godwin Obaseki led 

administration is taking 

necessary steps to sensitize 

the people on the need to 

clean up the environment. 

Prince Akonofua said, 

“everyone is captured in 

this exercise including 

YAKUBU: CSOs task EFCC on fair trial 

and fair hearing must be 

adhered to at all times in 

the quest to administer 

justice. 

Secretary General and 

Publicity Secretary of 

COCSG, Usman 

Mohammed and Akinjo 

Babatope, respectively, 

while calling for Yakubu’s 

immediate release decried 

prosecution of such cases 

in courts that do not have 

jurisdiction. 

“Section 45 of the Federal 

High Court Act does not 

give the High Court in 

Kano the powers to hear the 

case to the extent the 

hearing is inconsequential. 

Gionee A1 set tone for Africa's 

mobile market 

local consumers. 

Lu, who made this 

known in a press statement 

released to Vanguard 

recently, said: “The 

younger generation, 

especially millennials, 

regard selfies as an 

expression of themselves 

and they tend to share their 

photos through various 

social channels whenever 

and wherever they are. 

Gionee has noticed this 

increasingly popular trend 

much has been done on it. 

“We believe that with the 

establishment of that Trust 

Fund all tiers of 

government will contribute 

to the funding of the police. 

“Both federal, state and 

local government areas will 

contribute as a first line charge. 

Even the private sector operators 

will also contribute and by so 

doing, we will enough resources 

to adequately equip the police to 

discharge their reposibilities.” 

Mr. Idris also appealed to 

Nigerians to join hands with the 

police to make the nation safe for 

all members of the public. 

traditional rulers , and what 

is being done is 

mainstreamed into the 

Clean-Up Edo 

programme.” He said the 

team will be working with 

a number of magistrates, 

state counsels, 

environmental health 

workers from local 

Government council, and 

members of the Nigeria 

Police Force. 

Prince Akonofua 

remarked that after creating 

the needed impression in 

the minds of people, to be 

responsible for keeping 

their environment clean, 

anyone found wanting 

thereafter, would be 

summarily sanctioned. 

To avoid waste of time and 

other valuable resources, 

the case should be 

transferred to Abuja that 

has the jurisdiction, “ the 

group stated. 

It asked that the 

fundamental human rights 

of all accused be respected 

pending 

the 

pronouncements of the 

courts. 

“ We observe with dismay the 

negative publicity of this matter 

which has instigated the general 

public against him, stigmatized 

members of his family without 

opportunity for fair hearing in 

grave disrespect of his person, “ 

the group stated.” 

and has devoted itself to the 

evolution of the selfie 

experience. 

It is based on these 

findings that Gionee 

designed its new A1 

smartphone which will be 

launched at this year's 

Mobile World Congress, 

MWC, holding in 

Barcelona, Spain. 

According to Lu: “the A1 

combines Gionee’s 

traditional long-life battery, 

with outstanding selfie 

features 

and 

performance."

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017 —17 

CHIEF Godfrey Kio Jaja 

Amachree – fondly 

addressed as “GKJ” by his 

many friends – was born 100 

years ago, on February 27, 

1917, to Chief Sekin Jaja 

Amachree, a pioneering 

colonial administrator of 

Kalabari extraction who was 

widely known as “Pa Sekin”. 

Pa Sekin, a staunch 

disciplinarian, advocate of 

quality education and 

perfectionist, enabled Chief 

GKJ, his eldest son, to become 

the first-ever lawyer from their 

ethnic group. Remarkably, this 

same family also produced the 

first female graduate in the 

entire Eastern Region, Mrs 

Christiana O. Graham Douglas 

(nee Amachree). 

When he retired from the 

civil service in 1950, Pa Sekin 

became a passionate and 

fearless minority rights 

crusader and was elected into 

the Eastern House of 

Assembly, where he 

distinguished himself on the 

opposition benches. 

Definite 

independence 

In 1958, he was invited to 

join the Nigerian delegation to 

the Constitutional Conference 

in London at which a definite 

independence date was 

decided upon. 

And when the UK 

government established the 

Henry Willinks Commission of 

Enquiry - to focus on the 

injustices Niger Delta people 

faced even then – Pa Sekin felt 

partly vindicated. 

Everyone agreed that Chief 

GKJ was a chip off the old 

block. Having attended 

various top secondary and 

tertiary educational institutions 

at home and abroad - 

Government College 

Umuahia, Kings College 

Lagos, Higher College Yaba 

and University College 

London – he was called to the 

British Bar in 1948. 

(Later, he added another 

string to his bow at Pembroke 

College Cambridge, where he 

did a course in Colonial 

Administration). 

Centennial tribute to a great Rivers gentleman 

•The late Chief Amachree 

In 1949, he became a Pupil 

Crown Counsel. Within a 

decade, in 1958, he rapidly 

rose through the ranks of the 

Legal Department in Lagos 

and became the first 

Nigerian Solicitor-General of 

the Federation. When the 

Legal Department morphed 

into the Justice Ministry, 

Conflict 

resolution was 

another of his 

interests. During 

the Biafran civil 

war, Chief GKJ 

served on Federal 

Government 

delegations that 

sought a peaceful, 

negotiated 

settlement 

Chief GKJ also 

(simultaneously) 

became a 

Permanent 

Secretary. 

Not one to 

complacently rest 

on his laurels, he 

continued to 

achieve and 

achieve and 

achieve. In 1960, 

he became one of 

the first Nigerians 

to be admitted to 

the British Inner Bar as a 

Queens Counsel, QC. He 

also sometimes acted as 

Attorney-General and Legal 

Secretary of the then British 

Cameroon (a position that 

entitled him to a seat in the 

Executive Council and 

Legislature of the British 

Cameroon). 

When he retired from the 

civil service in 1962, Chief 

GKJ was appointed as the first 

Nigerian Under-Secretary of 

the United Nations…where he 

assumed responsibility for 

Trusteeship and Non-selfgoverning 

Territories and 

Special Civilian Operations in 

the former Belgian Congo. 

In 1966, he left the United 

Nations and went home to set 

up a law firm that became 

immensely successful and still 

exists today. 

Described by his numerous 

admirers as “dedicated to 

duty”, “incorruptible”, 

“diligent” and “a courageous 

champion of justice” who 

“traversed the length and 

breadth of the 

Federation prosecuting 

‘sacred cows’ whom 

lesser mortals would 

shudder to confront”, 

Chief GKJ didn’t mince 

words or suffer fools 

gladly. 

•Map of Rivers State 

But despite his intellectual 

rigour, bluntness and low 

tolerance for mediocrity, he 

was also famed for his 

kindness, generosity...and 

fun-loving streak. 

A talented sportsman, he 

was a member of the 

University College London 

cricket team and Captain of its 

football team. He later became 

the first Nigerian Chairman of 

the Nigeria Football 

Association and served as 

Secretary of the Nigeria 

Cricket Association for years. 

Chief GKJ also loved horseracing 

and was a popular 

member of the Lagos Polo 

Club. 

Conflict 

resolution 

Conflict resolution was 

another of his interests. 

During the Biafran civil war, 

Chief GKJ served on Federal 

Government delegations that 

sought a peaceful, negotiated 

settlement. 

One of the many honours 

he earned was a Certificate 

of Merit from the Rivers 

State Government and 

Honorary Doctorate degree 

by the Rivers State 

University of Science and 

Technology. 

Legal icon. 

Brilliant 

bureaucrat. 

Skilled 

entrepreneur 

(he was 

chairman 

and director 

of several 

reputable 

Nigerian and 

multinational 

companies 

and a 

pioneering 

indigenous 

investor in 

the oil 

exploration 

and air 

charter 

economic 

sectors). 

H e r o . 

Nationalist. 

Internationalist. 

Philanthropist (he made 

substantial contributions 

towards the renovation and 

furnishing of St Michael’s 

church in Buguma and was 

involved in myriad local 

fundraising activities on an 

ongoing basis). 

Chief GKJ will never be 

forgotten. 

He is survived by my dear 

friends, his children: Kio, 

Tonye, Dateme, Kaine and 

Datta. They have always been 

and will always be extremely 

proud of their outstanding 

paterfamilias. They echo the 

views of many Nigerians 

when they say that his death 

has left a vacuum which 

cannot be filled. 

May he continue to rest in 

peace in the bosom of the 

Almighty. 

Responses to: 

donzol2002@yahoo.co.uk 

or to 0802 747 6458 OR 

0811 675 9752 (texts 

only). PLEASE KINDLY 

NOTE THAT UNLESS 

YOU REQUEST ANO- 

NYMITY, YOUR COM- 

MENTS MAY BE PUB- 

LISHED, WITH YOUR 

NAMES AND CONTACT 

DETAILS ATTACHED. 

C 

M 

Y 

K


THE high prevalence of Non- 

Communicable Diseases 

(NCDs) in Nigeria originates 

primarily from cardiovascular 

diseases (CVDs) such as High Blood 

Pressure (HBP) or hypertension, 

diabetes, stroke, coronary heart 

diseases, and chronic obstructive 

airway diseases including asthma, 

among others. Hospital records survive after three months die 

show that hypertension is the within a year, with 12 per cent 

leading cardiovascular disease in developing severe disability. NCDs 

the country, with one in five were once erroneously believed to 

Nigerians being hypertensive and be the problems of the affluent, but 

at risk of stroke and premature the reality is that both the rich and 

death. Sudden deaths are poor are affected. 

commonplace in the country. It is the poor that actually bear 

Majority of recent deaths in the greater brunt because of 

Nigeria are related to heart attack, poverty and ignorance. One of the 

strokes or diabetic complications. major contributors to the 

Most people who are development of NCDs in the 

hypertensive or diabetic are country is unhealthy diet, spiked 

unaware of their conditions which by widespread low consumption of 

accounts for the high sudden death proteins, fruits and vegetables, and 

rate. Death rate from stroke in the increasing patronage of fast food 

country is 40-50 per cent within outlets. Large-scale promotion of 

the first three months of diagnosis, sweetened products such as 

while 39 per cent of those who carbonated drinks, pastries, candies 

Curbing sudden deaths in Nigeria 

and other refined sugars add to the 

problem. Worse still, excessive 

intake of salt is promoted by food 

additives such as Monosodium 

Glutamate (MSG) commonly 

utilised in seasoning local 

delicacies such as suya, kilisi, isiewu, 

ngwo-ngwo, among others. 

Other NCD risk factors are the use 

of tobacco products, unhealthy 

diets, harmful alcohol intake, 

physical inactivity and air 

pollution. To tackle this menace, 

Nigeria has developed national 

targets and indicators in alignment 

with the WHO Global Action Plan 

for the Prevention and Control of 

NCDs 2013-2020. 

Even as the primary objective is 

to target unhealthy diets, physical 

inactivity, tobacco and alcohol 

abuse, air pollution and other 

contributors to NCDs, government 

and its partners must seek to 

ensure better screening, 

prevention, and treatment of NCDs 

among the generality of Nigerians. 

To stem the rising tide of NCDs, 

all Nigerians should be 

encouraged to adopt healthy 

lifestyles. The National Tobacco 

Control Act of 2015 which bans 

smoking in public places should be 

enforced. 

The division of the Department 

of Public Health responsible for 

coordination of all NCD- focused 

activities should be more 

responsive in dealing with the 

threat to citizens posed by NCDs. 

It is hoped that the proposed 

nationwide survey on NCDs for 

early 2017 will help push the 

national strategic plan of action 

aimed at providing a framework for 

effective control and management 

of NCDs in the country. 

Edo land properties: Ending forceful entry 

By Dan Owegie 

W 

" HEN the righteous is on the throne, the 

people rejoice" is a popular saying from 

the Bible. Initially, it came as a speculation 

that the new Oba of Benin was deeply 

concerned over the activities of land 

speculators and Community Development 

Associations and was prepared to end the 

travails of land developers and investors in the 

state. The associations which composed mainly 

of youths are known for using all 

unconventional means and brute force to ply 

their trade as they intimidate, harass and extort 

developers in Edo State. True to the 

speculations, Oba Ewuare 11 of Benin started 

his reign on a very positive note with the 

outlawing of activities of land speculation 

carried out by the various Community 

Development Associations, CDA, in Benin 

Kingdom. 

With his pronouncement, all activities of CDA 

chairmen and Youth chairmen ceased, 

including collection of development fees, sales 

and marketing of community land. The 

directive was handed down during a homily 

delivered by the Priest of Holy Aruosa 

Cathedral, Benin, Ohenosa Harrison Okao, at 

the thanksgiving service by Oba Ewuare II as 

part of activities marking his coronation as 

the 40th Oba of Benin Kingdom. This was 

welcomed by all and sundry in Edo State and 

beyond. Thousands of residents poured into the 

streets rejoicing in praise of the Oba. 

It would be recalled that activities of youths 

as land speculators had been a source of worry 

to residents of Benin City in the past. They were 

involved in community land grabbing and 

seized powers from the Enigies who held the 

land in trust for the Oba. Traditionally, all land 

in the kingdom belongs to the Oba. Obanya 

oto! 

According to the directive of Oba Ewuare 11 

as announced by Ohenosa," henceforth, sale 

and management of community affairs and 

land shall be better managed by the Edionwerein-Council 

and the Enigie (Community Head). 

As it stands in Edo land today, powers have 

The Edo State House of 

Assembly should expeditiously 

consider the pass age of the bill 

that seeks to prohibit forceful 

entry and illegal occupation of 

people's land 

been returned to the Enigies and elders of the 

various communities whom the youths had 

virtually blighted in their domains. 

The directive was very clear and without 

ambiguity as it urged all patrolmen, pointers 

as well as other Community Security 

apparatus including lawyers to strictly 

ensure compliance by abstaining from 

writing Deeds of Transfer with the concerned 

persons or Transferors. But what did the 

people see thereafter, some of them attempted 

undermining the authority of the Oba and 

they are currently regretting their actions. 

Some of them resorted to changing their 

executives as a sharp way of escape. Some 

OPINION 

changed their nomenclatures but remained old 

wine in new bottles. 

Weeks into the directive, the Oba, it was learnt 

got several distress calls and reports from 

victims of these unscrupulous land speculators 

and CDAs necessitating his reaffirmation of 

his directive and no true born Benin man or 

woman can disobey the Oba. For some days 

now, the Oba has been visiting communities 

in his kingdom appreciating them for their 

various roles during the activities leading to 

and his coronation. The Oba is also 

reaffirming his ban on forceful entry into 

people’s landed property by these characters 

everywhere he went. It shows his seriousness 

over the matter. But the community youths 

and CDAs are still operating and harassing 

developers with impunity. 

Recognising the advantages the Oba's 

decision has to bear on the generality of the 

citizens of the state and as it relates to making 

the state investors-friendly, the State 

Government has since keyed into the Oba's 

lofty plan. It was to give legal teeth to the 

Oba's directive that the State Governor, Mr. 

Godwin Obaseki recently sent a Bill for a 

law to prohibit forceful entry and illegal 

occupation of landed properties by CDAs to 

the House of Assembly. 

Speaker of the Assembly, Mr. Justin 

Okonobor, announced the receipt of the Bill at 

a plenary session of the House. He said that the 

Bill was accompanied by a letter signed by the 

governor. The speaker referred the bill to the 

Committee on Rules and Business for processing 

for debate on a later date. 

Governor Obaseki since assumption of office, 

has been preparing the ground for effective 

implementation of his electoral promises to 

citizens of the state, part of which is to transform 

the state from its Civil service status to an 

industrial giant. 

Not too long ago, Governor Obaseki 

embarked on a special trip to China with a 

sole aim of wooing investors to the state. While 

in China, he held several meetings with 

potential investors, inviting them to co-invest 

in the state in the area of building industrial 

and agricultural parks in line with the vision 

of his administration. 

Aside getting Investors to invest in building 

Industrial and agricultural parks in the state, 

Governor Obaseki also wooed other investors 

to co-invest in the area of power plant in 

Gelegele where he is planning to establish a 

sea port that would open the state up for import 

and export businesses. 

However, the governor and the Benin 

monarch in their various capacities cannot be 

busy wooing investors to come and invest in 

the state to boost the state's economy, create 

wealth and jobs for our teeming youth while 

some unscrupulous youths under any guise 

scare same investors away. 

This is why the Edo State House of Assembly 

should expeditiously consider the passage of 

the bill that seeks to prohibit forceful entry 

and illegal occupation of people's land or 

investors’ property in the state. 

The law should criminalise such activities. 

Once the bill is passed, the State Governor 

should not waste time in enforcing the law. 

Government must go after all the youths still 

disturbing land owners and extorting them. 

They should be arrested all over the state and 

prosecuted. Government should ensure that 

they completely short down the illicit trade in 

the state. 

*Mr. Owegie , is a chieftain of the APC 

in Edo State.


FG to float N20bn Green Bond for environmental sustainability 

CURRENCY BUYING SELLING 

US DOLLAR 

POUNDS 

EURO 

FRANC 

YEN 

CFA 

WAUA 

RENMINBI 

RIYAL 

SDR 

$150.35 0.00 

$2,028.00 0.00 

20.60 -0.11 

$56.92 0.26 

$54.36 0.77 

304.25 304.75 305.25 

378.3045 378.9262 379.5479 

319.5234 320.0485 320.5736 

300.1381 300.6314 301.1246 

2.6901 2.6945 2.6989 

0. 4695 0.4795 0.4895 

410.0161 410.6899 411.3637 

44.2247 44.2978 44.371 

81.1225 81.2558 81.3891 

410.6767 411.3516 

KRONA 412.0265 42.9792 43.0499 43.1205 

CBN Exchange rate as at 23/2/2017 

BUDGET DEFENCE: From left, Director of Finance Department,Nigeria Deposit Insurance 

Corporation (NDIC) Ms. Diana Okonta; MD/CE, Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim and Executive 

Director, Operations, Prince Aghatise Erediauwa, during NDIC 2017 budget defense before 

House Committee on Insurance and Actuarial Matters at the National Assembly. 

projects 

By Peter Egwuatu & Nkiruka 

Nnorom 

THE Federal Government 

yesterday said that plans 

are under way to launch a N20 

billion Green Bond in the Nigerian 

capital market, the first 

ever in the emerging markets. 

The Bond will fund emission 

projects such as solar power 

systems and transport so as to 

achieve environmental 

sustainability goals of the government. 

It will also be used to fund 

part of the infrastructure 

projects outlined in the 2017 

budget. Typically, a Green 

Bond enables capital-raising 

and investments for new and 

existing projects with environmental 

benefits. 

Speaking at the Green Bond 

Capital Market & Investors 

Conference themed “Green 

Bonds: Investing in Nigeria’s 

Sustainable Development” at 

the Nigerian Stock Exchange, 

NSE, to herald the launch of 

the bond in Lagos, the Acting 

President, Prof. Yemi 

Osibanjo, described the 

launch as historic, saying that 

it signifies an alliance between 

finance and environment, 

two sectors in which 

even a few years ago one 

would not imagine would 

speak the same language. 

He said the Green Bond 

would provide an opportunity 

to deepen the capital market 

and act as value accretion to 

the market’s instrument funding 

portfolios. 

“The Green Bond process is 

an attempt by the Environment 

sector to contribute to 

this Administration’s efforts to 

diversify the economy, create 

jobs, improve security, provide 

a framework for Sustainable 

Development and deliver on 

the Paris Agreement. 

Under the Paris Agreement, 

developed countries reaffirmed 

their commitment to 

mobilise $100 billion by 2020 

to support developing countries 

to enhance the implementation 

of their climate change 

actions with respect to both 

mitigation and adaptation. 

This objective will remain in 

place up to 2025,” he stated. 

Continuing, he said “A recent 

World Bank report shows 

that climate change is an 

By Franklin Alli 

SUGAR manufacturers in 

the country are still struggling 

with their backward integration 

programmes amidst 

likelihood that the massive 

drop in the volume of output 

three years ago may sustain a 

recovery trend began in 2014. 

Output rose to 15,000 metric 

tonnes (MT) per annum in 

the latest report up to 2015 

after a huge plunge three 

years ago from 35,000MT they 

had recorded five years 

ago. Top operators in the 

industry are Dangote 

Sugar, BUA Sugar and 

Golden Sugar, a subsidiary 

of Flour Mills. 

Vanguard learnt that 

the specific incentives 

government had put in 

place for investors in the 

industry include zero 

per cent duty on machinery 

and spare parts imported, 

five years tax 

holiday for sugarcane 

acute threat to poorer people 

across the world with a capacity 

to push more than a hundred 

million people back to 

the poverty line and the poorest 

regions of the world, Sub- 

Saharan Africa and South 

Asia, will be hit the hardest. 

The floatation of the Green 

Bond is one which proceeds 

will be applied to climate and 

environmental friendly green 

value chain, outright 

ban on the importation 

of refined sugar 

in retail packs and 30 

per cent tax credit on 

the cost of provision 

of critical infrastructure 

by sugar-caneto-sugar 

project investors. 

It was further gathered 

that under the 

National Sugar Master 

Plan (NSMP) the target is 

to produce an annual volume 

of 1.8 million tonnes of 

sugar; 161.2 million litres of 

ethanol, 4000MW of electricity, 

1.6 million tonnes of animal 

feeds, 37,378 permanent 

jobs and 79,803 seasonal jobs; 

save the economy $416 million 

(N68.6 billion) in foreign 

exchange over a ten-year period. 

However, a five-year data 

(2011-2015) obtained from the 

National Sugar Development 

Council, NSDC, revealed that 

local production which peaked 

at 35,000MT in 2011 dropped 

significantly to 10,000MT in 

2013 before rebounding to 

12,345MT and 15,000MT in 

2015. The 2016 figures are still 

being collated. 

In a communiqué, 

stakeholders in the sector 

noted that the risk associated 

with investment in the 

projects.” 

Earlier in her welcome address, 

Amina Mohammed, 

Minister of Environment, reiterated 

the government’s resolve 

in diversifying the 

economy, creating Jobs, improving 

security and improving 

quality of life. According 

to her, Green Bonds provides 

a new product with new credentials 

that investors could 

sugarcane to sugar valuechain 

is very challenging and 

requires a conscious partnership 

with Nigeria Agricultural 

Insurance Corporation 

(NAIC) to reduce the loss due 

to natural disasters such as fire 

and flood. 

The communiqué further 

called on lending institutions 

like Bank of Industry and 

Bank of Agriculture to create 

friendly financial support 

schemes that would address 

the challenges being faced by 

investors in terms of high interest 

rate, untimely release of 

funds and other associated 

bottlenecks that slow down 

farm and factory operations 

which are time specific. 

buy into, which has gone 

through a vigorous process to 

ensure transparency, accountability 

in use of funds and is 

environmental friendly. 

“Our domestic market needs 

to rally around our own domestic 

issuance,” she said, 

adding that the recently issued 

Euro Bonds are a testament 

that the Nigerian market 

is still viable. 

“Greening our economy and 

financial systems will, in the 

long run, support our 

sustainability efforts and improve 

the economy as it will 

open new avenues for new 

types of jobs, innovation and 

skill. Improved partnerships 

and collaboration with private 

sector is key and we must continue 

to encourage it,” Mohammed 

stated. In a presentation 

titled, “Introducing 

Green Bonds: An Opportunity 

for Nigeria’s Capital Market, 

Mr. Haruna Jalo-Waziri, Executive 

Director, NSE, observed 

that Green Bonds, globally, 

are usually over-subscribed, 

and incidence of price 

volatility is reduced because 

investors buy to keep. 

He explained that asset under 

management by signatories 

to UN-supported Principles 

for Responsible Investment 

in Green Bonds rose 

from $4 trillion in 2006 to $60 

trillion in 2016, and now 

stands at $120 trillion. 

Sugar refineries struggle with backward integration 

…Output recovery in the horizon 

The Savannah 

Sugar, owned by 

Dangote Group, 

has been able to 

produce about 

13,000 metric 

tonnes this year 

In a statement, Mr. Samuel 

Kwabe, the Acting Executive 

Secretary of NSDC, said I 

can tell you that the two functional 

sugar companies we 

have- the Golden Sugar Company 

in Niger State and the 

Savannah Sugar Company 

in Adamawa State –have provided 

jobs for about 13,000 

Nigerians. 

I am happy to tell Nigerians 

that the Savannah Sugar, 

owned by Dangote Group, has 

been able to produce about 

13,000 metric tonnes this year. 

The company is undergoing 

expansion. As a matter of fact, 

they are in the process of acquiring 

a brand new mill, 

which is about three times the 

size of the present one,” he 

said. 

NDIC records N53bn operating 

surplus in 2016 

By Babajide Komolafe 

THE Nigeria Deposit In 

surance Corporation 

(NDIC) said it recorded N53 

billion as operating surplus for 

the 2016 operating year. Managing 

Director/Chief Executive, 

NDIC, Alhaji Umaru 

Ibrahim, disclosed this while 

defending the 2017 budget of 

the Corporation before the 

House Committee on Insurance 

and Actuarial Matters. 

He said the Corporation in 

line with the Fiscal Responsibility 

Act (FRA) will transfer 

80 per cent of the surplus into 

the Consolidation Revenue 

Fund of the federation. 

Ibrahim called the attention 

of the Honourable members to 

the delay in the approval of 

2016 budget which contributed 

to the modest execution 

of the budget. He restated the 

Corporation’s commitment to 

performance based budgeting 

system (PBBS) the essence of 

which is to ensure efficient 

allocation of resources to 

enable the Corporation 

achieve its strategic mandate.


Mercedes-Benz goes haywire, unleashes 4 new models on Nigeria 

M ERCEDES-BENZ, 

represented in Nigeria 

by Weststar Associated Limited, 

on Wednesday, made history in 

Nigeria as the first luxury car 

maker to unveil four new models 

into the market at the same time. 

The world leading luxury automobile 

manufacturer took the 

market by the storm when it unleashed 

the all-new E-Class, GLE 

Sport Utility Vehicle, the V-Class 

multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) and 

GLC models, with the promise to 

unveil more exciting products into 

the market. 

“The new models, which are the 

latest edition of Mercedes GLE 

400, V 250, GLC 300 and E 200 

would be followed with the introduction 

of other “exciting products” 

to meet the specific needs 

of the market, Managing Director 

of the organisation, Mirko 

Plath said at the unveiling. 

After sales 

strategies 

Plath believed that the design 

language of the brand, the determination 

to satisfy customer, the 

confidence in the firm as well as 

its sales and after sales strategies 

would continue to position the 

brand as a leading automaker 

across the world. 

The new SUV GLE, formally 

known as the M-Class has witnessed 

commendable changes, 

particularly with an alluring front 

fascia that comes with new headlights, 

bumpers and grilles. 

The transformation has led to the 

introduction of a coupe version 

which has a seductive and sporty 

look. While the rear features redesigned 

LED stripes for an improved 

look, Mercedes Benz said 

the spacious car saw it fuel consumption 

and CO_2 emissions 

reduced by 17 percent on average 

compared with the predecessor 

model series. 

The variant is powered by a direct-injection 

twin-turbo V6 engine 

with spray-guided combustion, 

new piezo injectors and MSI 

multi-spark ignition, the company 

said. 

•Mercedes-Benz GLE coupe, one of the new arrivals. 

Elizade commences production of JAC 

The model, got completely revised 

chassis to deliver better 

driving dynamics and agility, 

especially for Nigeria road. 

It also received two new steering 

wheel designs, one of which 

is reserved for the AMG versions, 

while, new material colors and 

trims are available options to contribute 

to a more upscale atmosphere. 

The new V-Class MPV offers top 

class comfort, style and design to 

prove that it is a real eye-catcher 

perfected down to the very last 

detail for multiple purposes. Built 

with E-Class chassis, the V-Class 

performs more like a passenger car 

catering for the need of families and 

business class. It is very elegant 

•L-R: Dr Pereira Sheteolu, Programme Manager/CEO, Lagos State Agriculture Development 

Authority; Engr. Luqman Mamudu, Director, Policy and Planning, National Automotive Design 

and Development Council; Chief Michael Ade Ojo, Founder, Elizade Nig. Ltd; Mr. Demola Ade 

Ojo, MD/CEO, Elizade Motors and Eng Eze Obasi, Director, Special Procurement, Bureau of 

Public Procurement at the commencement of JAC Motors Assembly plant by Elizade Nigeria 

Ltd in Lagos. 

FOREMOST automobile 

marketing company in Nigeria, 

Elizade Motors Nigeria 

Limited, has finally ventured into 

automobile manufacturing in Nigeria 

with the production of Chinese 

brand, JAC. 

Elizade is the authorised distributor 

of JAC Motors in Nigeria and 

is targetting to produce 15,000 

vehicles annually, including, passenger 

cars, SUVs and light 

trucks. 

The plant, which is currently 

operating on a single shift is a 

multi-brand plant where the company 

would also assemble the Toyota 

brand in Nigeria. 

Speaking to journalists at the plant, 

the Managing Director, Elizade Nigeria 

Limited, Mr. Ademola Ade-Ojo 

said that the plant would have commenced 

operations earlier than now 

but for their inability to source foreign 

exchange for production. 

“It is difficult getting forex. We are 

supposed to have opened the plant 

since last year but it has been idle 

most of the time,” 

Ade-Ojo said the plant, which 

would assemble JAC models, including 

passenger and light duty vehicles, 

may not venture into the assemblage 

of Complete Knock 

Down (CKD) until government 

addresses key challenges of local 

content in automobile production 

which should be at least 30 per cent. 

According to him, the organisation 

commenced operation despite 

the economic shortfall in order 

to deliver affordable products 

that would assuage plights of Nigerians 

and support government’s 

efforts in the sector. 

Locally sourced 

material 

Continuing he said: “We are 

the largest automotive group in 

the country in terms of units. It 

will be irresponsible of us to sit 

down and fold our arms. We need 

to do everything to introduce 

cheaper products to the market. 

What we are doing today is the 

demonstration to ensure that we 

support the government and 

have something that the customer 

can buy.” 

“Moving our production to 

CKD depends on how government 

ensures that the other factors 

key into ensuring that CKD 

strives. CKD cannot strive unless 

you have a minimum of 

about 30 per cent locally sourced 

material. 

“If you can’t source 30 per cent 

local content, there is no point in 

doing CKD. It depends on how 

government structures the auto 

with array of month-watering features. 

The V 250 variant, which 

is available in Nigeria comes with 

190 horsepower, and 325 poundfeet 

of torque. Both the exterior 

and the interior received super 

twist to make it fit for all class high 

end luxury. 

The V-class is available with 

seven seats though it can be upgradable 

to eight seats if you need 

even more room for passengers. 

The GLC is an improved version 

of the GLK, its predecessor. 

Its boasts on luxury competent 

crossover features, which may 

make it a great choice for singles 

and families as it is as sporty as a 

coupe. 

market and the industry.” 

Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer, 

Lagos State Agriculture Development 

Authority, Dr. Pereira 

Sheteola, who said he converted 

the agency’s budget meant to purchase 

another brand of vehicle last 

year to buy a JAC T6 pick up because 

of the price differences narrated 

that the vehicle offered satisfaction 

beyond his expectation. 

He believed the ruggedness, fuel 

efficiency, security features, reverse 

sensors and the driving capacity 

placed the model as of the most affordable 

and durable in the market. 

In his remarks, the founder of 

Elizade Group, Chief Michael 

Ade Ojo, explained that the Group 

will produce the Toyota and JAC 

brands from the plant. 

According to him, “one side of the 

plant is for Toyota and the other is 

for JAC production,”Ade Ojo said. 

Describing Toyota as the elder 

brother of JAC in Nigeria, he 

said when you go round the assembly 

plant, you will be very 

impressed with what we have 

done. 

He disclosed that very soon, 

the company will also commence 

production of Toyota brand at the 

plant. 

“The Toyota SKD are yet to be 

here but in few months time, we 

shall commence production, 

very soon you will return to see 

the Toyota line.”


By Theodore Opara 

Peugeot models poise 

for 2017 

PEUGEOT vehicles are 

known world-wide for their 

resilience, comfort, durability and 

safety. For these reasons Peugeot 

has continued to improve the 

quality of its products and the 

Nigerian planthas not been left 

out. The Kaduna based factory 

has passed through thick and thin 

and after witnessing different 

phases, is currently poised for the 

market with different models in 

spite of the harsh economic 

terrain. 

Though the company looks 

forward to beef up its line-up, 

chief among its current models 

are the 301, which won Car of the 

Year last year in Nigeria, 508, 

3008, 4008 and Partner Tepee. 

Coming in three trims-Access, 

Active and Allure, the Peugeot 

301 comes in two engine variants 

including 1.2 and 1.6 litre power 

plants. The 1.2 litre engine comes 

standard with manual 

transmission, while the 1.6 litre 

engine version is equipped with 

automatic transmission. 

Its 15 inch alloy rim, and 

reinforced suspension, it fits 

perfectly on the Nigerian roads 

and delivers unbeatable ground 

clearance. Other outstanding 

features of the car include rear 

parking sensor, touches of 

chrome, electronic windows and 

dual air bags, ABS, radio/MP3/ 

CD player/USB Bluetooth etc, 

Then comes the 508. It is 

THE luxury SUV was 

created in 1970 when 

Land Rover launched the 

original Range Rover. Almost 

half a century later that spirit 

of innovation continues with the 

introduction of the fourth 

member of the Range Rover 

family, to be unveiled on 1 

March 2017. 

Elegant simplicity, a visually 

reductive approach and 

pioneering consumer 

technology are the hallmarks of 

the new Range Rover Velar. 

“We call the Velar the avantgarde 

Range Rover,” said Land 

Rover Chief Design Officer, 

Gerry McGovern. “It brings a 

new dimension of glamour, 

modernity and elegance to the 

brand. The Range Rover Velar 

changes everything.” 

Refined for every occasion, 

for every terrain, Velar uses 

unique sustainable materials 

and advanced engineering to 

continue Land Rover’s drive to 

go Above and Beyond. 

The origin of the Velar name 

(pronounced vel-ar) dates back 

to the first Range Rover 

prototypes of the Sixties: the 

pioneers of the luxury SUV 

landscape. 

probably one of the most powerful 

cars in its category, yet the 

engine capacity is 1.6 litres. It is 

fitted with a 1.6 litre turbo engine 

that delivers more power than 

most 3.0 litre engines. Peugeot- 

508 The turbo engine in the 508 

means that it delivers twice the 

power of a 1.6, making it more 

powerful than most cars in its 

segment. And we have 

the Peugeot 3008, which was 

earlier launched as an MPV. 

It made its debut at the Paris 

motor show in October as a full 

blown Sports Utility Vehicle 

(SUV). By the first look, the car 

looks great with a raised ride 

height, long bonnet body 

cladding and roof bars. All these 

constitute that the car is more 

practical than before. 

Futuristic 

design 

The interior of Peugeot 3008 

looks like a futuristic design with 

Peugeot’s latest i-Cockpit design. 

The new cockpit is easily 

accessible by Driver as well as 

the passenger. There is an 8- 

inch high-resolution screen 

compatible with both Android 

auto and Apple Car-Play. 

Peugeot has also the 4008. For 

many auto enthusiats, especially, 

those with preference for Peugeot 

vehicles, the wait is over, as their 

demand for a Sports Utility Vehicle 

Range Rover family welcomes Velar March 1 

When development 

engineers needed to hide the 

true identity of the 26 preproduction 

Range Rovers, they 

•One of the Peugeot models. 

(SUV), commonly known in 

Nigeria as Jeep, has been met by 

the renowned auto maker. The 

Peugeot 4008 is here to answer all 

the questions about off-road and 

chose the name Velar, derived 

from the Latin velare meaning 

to veil or cover. 

off-road drives. 

The new Partner Tepee comes in 

two trim levels - Active and 

Outdoor. The entry-level trim 

equips the Partner Tepee with 15in 

Thursday at about 8:00 pm, hit a 

concrete demarcation on the road 

early Friday morning at Owode 

and ran into the nearby river 

resulting in the death of three 

passengers. 

The rest of the occupants of the 

59-seater vehicle survived with a 

few rushed to hospitals for the 

treatment of injuries. 

Reacting to the incident, the 

Managing Director of GUO 

Transport, Mr. Maduabuchi 

Okeke, expressed the company’s 

gratitude to the first responders 

at the scene, for the efficient and 

professional manner they 

handled the situation. 

Adequate medical 

attention 

“Prompt response by the 

agencies, including the Federal 

Road Safety Corps, FRSC, the 

Lagos State Emergency 

Management Agency 

(LASEMA), the Police, National 

Emergency Management 

Agency (NEMA), and other, 

agencies, helped in the rescue of 

many of the passengers”, Okeke 

remarked. 

The Managing Director 

disclosed that as soon as the 

company was informed of the 

steel wheel, front foglights and 

LED day-running-lights outside, 

and inside there is air conditioning, 

Bluetooth, USB connectivity and 

cruise control inside. 

OWODE CRASH: GUO comforts passengers, lauds FRSC, LASEMA 

THE management of 

G.U.O. Transport Services 

Ltd, has reacted to the accident 

involving one of its luxury buses 

recently at Owode-Elede in 

Lagos, saying it was unfortunate 

and saddening. 

The company said it 

sympathizes with the affected 

passengers and their relations for 

the inconveniences and losses 

suffered in the crash. 

A survivor of the accident 

recounted that the Lagos-bound 

bus which departed Aba 

NISSAN Motor Co. 

Limited, has announced 

financial results for the ninemonth 

period to December 31, 

2016. 

“In the first nine months of the 

fiscal year, Nissan generated an 

operating profit of 503.2 billion 

yen, which represents a 6.1% 

margin on net revenues of 8.26 

trillion yen,” said Carlos Ghosn, 

Chairman and Chief Executive 

Officer. “Although these results 

reflect continued currency 

incident, it mobilised a team 

which joined the agencies to 

ensure that the injured received 

adequate medical attention. 

“We at G.U.O. Transport wish to 

express our utmost sympathy and 

regret for the distress experienced 

by the passengers and their 

families as a result of the accident 

involving our luxury bus”, the 

Managing Director stated, 

appealing to them to “bear with 

us during this sad period”. 

Okeke said it was premature to 

comment on the cause of the 

crash, preferring to rather wait for 

“the report and updates from 

investigations by the agencies” 

However, a survivor of the 

accident, Mr. Kenneth 

Aaron, who spoke to the News 

Agency of Nigeria, said the 

accident may have been caused 

by a slippery surface. 

His account: “I entered the bus 

in Onitsha with four of my 

brothers. The bus passed through 

Ikorodu because of the ongoing 

construction on Lagos-Ibadan 

expressway. 

“It seemed an accident 

happened in the area before 

which spilled diesel onto the road. 

By the time our bus got to the spot, 

it skidded, hit the culvert and 

plunged into the river.” 

Nissan reports 9-month results for 2016 

headwinds, we remain 

confident of achieving our fiscal 

year guidance.” 

“On a constant currency basis, 

operating profit rose 30.1% to 

764.6 billion yen, equivalent to 

an 8.1% profit margin. Our 

underlying performance was 

enhanced by solid product 

demand in the US, China and 

Western Europe, along with the 

continued benefits of our strict 

cost controls and synergies from 

our Alliance strategy.”


Rosaline Again! 

...as Tonto Dikeh’s estranged hubby 

signs singer, Praiz 

By Benjamin Njoku 

DESPITE the crisis rock 

ing his marriage, Tonto 

Dikeh’s estranged hubby, 

Olakunle Churchill, shocked 

many critics, Tuesday, when 

he unveiled popular singer, 

Praiz Adejo, as one of his 

foundation, Big Church 

Foundation, ambassadors for 

the 2017 project year. 

The signing of the deal was 

done at the Ikoyi, Lagos 

boardroom of the foundation. 

At the unveiling board conference 

was the current Ambassador 

for Women and 

Child, actress Rosaline 

Meurer, who has been at the 

centre of Tonto Dikeh’s marital 

mess, the Foundation Executive 

Manager of Abuja 

branch, Tomiwa Yebo, Foundation 

coordinator/ PR, Mr. 

Raphael Cudjoe, Head of IT, 

Clay-Multi Media Department, 

Maureen Cyril of 

GoodGirl Foundation, Ivy 

Cypriel of Crown and Glamour 

TV among others. 

Speaking at the event, Dr. 

Olakunle Churchill said, they 

needed a new Ambassador for 

the Big Church Foundation to 

spearhead the Agriculture and 

Mining project which is targeting 

the Nigerian youths. 

He described the choice of 

Praiz as a worthy one, as he 

has worked with the Big 

Church Foundation during 

charity campaigns in the 

past.’ 

On his part, Praiz said in a 

post, ‘It gives me great pleasure 

to be part of this great 

team @bigchurchfoundation, 

empowering the youth, helping 

the less privileged and 

physically challenged persons!! 

Thank you 

@bigchurchhaven for having 

me on board.’ 

Meanwhile, the presence of 

the light-skinned beauty at 

the event raised a lot of unanswered 

questions. Recall 

that Dr. Churchill in a recent 

interview denied having any 

relationship with Rosaline 

who was then called his personal 

assistant. Mr Churchill 

had claimed that he didn’t 

have a female PA. However, 

this would be Praiz’s first 

major endorsement this year, 

which will see him pilot the 

empowerment of 36,000 

youths in Nigeria through the 

36 states. 

Grammy Award winner, 

Lekan Babalola, Biyi Bandele 

sign deals with TMC 

RENOWNED percussion 

ist, Lekan Babalola, and 

award-winning film maker, Biyi 

Bandele, have shown no signs 

of slowing down their acts as 

they penned new deals with 

wave-making talent agency, 

Temple Management Company. 

The two-time Grammy 

award-winning musician as 

well as the Half of A Yellow Sun 

filmmaker signed their deals 

separately in London where 

they are both based. 

Widely travelled Lekan Babalola, 

who has been described 

as a “wizardly percussionist” 

by The Washington Post, is 

one of Nigeria’s biggest music 

exports. 

Biggest music exports 

He has worked with many 

renowned acts such as the late 

Prince, Cassandra Wilson, Ernest 

Ranglin, Branford Marsalis, 

African Jazz All Stars, Roy 

Ayers, David Byrne, Damon 

Albarn and Tony Allen. 

Since it set up shop in 

March, last year, the Temple 

Management Company has 

positioned itself as one of 

the foremost players operating 

in the creative sector 

in Nigeria and 

Africa. Mr. Idris 

Olorunnimbe, 

CEO/ Founder, 

noted 

Temple Management 

Company 

that 

Lekan Babalola 

will work with Lekan Babalola 

and Biyi Bandele to put Nigeria 

on the map of the international 

jazz and film circuit respectively. 

While signing the 

deal, Babalola said, he had 

spent many years looking for 

an indigenous company that 

shared his values. 

On his own, Biyi Bandele 

described his new deal with 

TMC as a strategic synergy 

that will raise the bar in the 

African creative sector. “I have 

been looking for representation 

not only for my film work 

but also to engage in commercial 

opportunities across Africa. 

Temple is the perfect fit and 

I believe we can export world 

class entertainment from the 

continent to the rest of the 

world,” he added. 

•Dr. Olakunle Churchill, Rosaline Meurer, Tomiwa and Praiz at the event 

Segun Arinze to host ‘G ‘n’T’ lottery 

game show 

VETERAN actor, 

Segun Arinze, has 

been unveiled as the 

brand ambassador of 

Give’n’Take lottery business. 

His appointment 

was announced by the 

company’s Managing 

Director/ Chief Executive 

Officer, Mr. Jolly Egbe 

Enabulele, at a brief ceremony 

which held, 

Wednesday, at Yellow 

Chilli Restaurant, GRA, 

Ikeja,Lagos. 

Arinze, according to 

Mr. Enabulele, would 

bring his wealth of experience 

to bear in promoting 

the image of G’n’T 

even as he assures numerous 

players of the 

company’s lottery games 

of fair play, and prompt 

payment of all winnings 

irrespective of the 

amount. He will also, in 

addition to being the company’s 

brand ambassador, 

be hosting the novel 

and unique lottery game 

show tagged “G’n’T National Lottery Jackpot” which 

will be broadcast live on national television every 

week. Speaking further, Enabulele said “Segun 

Arinze’s appointment is a further testimony of our resolve 

to conduct lottery business in the most transparent 

manner and bring Nigerian lottery industry at par 

with international best practices. 

We are delighted to have him and look forward to a 

fruitful and exciting relationship.” On the appointment, 

Arinze said, “One could not be happier being 

chosen among several popular celebrities to be the 

ambassador of the Nigerian’s prestigious lottery brand, 

G’n’T and to crown it with my hosting the unique 

national lottery game show is gratifying. 

I look forward to hosting the 

show and using the platform 

to reach out to thousands of 

people who will play the 

game and win the jackpot 

and other prizes”. The 

company, which currently 

operates in 24 

states of the federation, 

hopes to 

launch its unique 

national lottery jackpot 

game show in 

the second week of 

March with the 

hope of making lottery 

players win in 

billions for the first 

time in Nigeria. 

•Segun 

Arinze


Foreign airlines refusal to go to Kaduna 

revenue loss to us —SAHCOL MD 

Stories by Lawani 

Mikairu 

M ANAGING 

Director of 

Skyway Aviation 

Handling Company 

Limited, SAHCOL, Mr. 

Rizwan Kadri has said the 

refusal of foreign airlines 

to use Kaduna Airport as 

alternate airport to Abuja 

during the proposed 

closure of Abuja airport 

for six weeks will make 

SAHCOL lose much 

revenue. 

While commending 

federal government’s 

plans to close Abuja 

Airport runway for repairs 

he, however, said wider 

consultation should have 

been done before final 

decision was arrived at as 

some of the stakeholders 

who will be affected were 

not carried along. 

According to Kadri, “We 

are happy for the repairs 

Nigeria needs airline managers to curb 

early death of airlines, says Akinfenwa 

M ANAGING 

Director of Merchant 

Express Cargo Airlines, Capt. 

Shina Akinfenwa has blamed 

the non-existence of 

specialized airline managers 

for the early death of most 

airlines in Nigeria as aviation 

is a technical sector and 

running of airlines requires 

specialized training which 

being just a pilot or 

aeronautical engineer does 

not confer that competence on 

the person. 

Speaking with some select 

aviation journalists in Lagos, 

Akinfenwa decried a situation 

were over the years the 

domestic airlines owners 

think they can run them like 

NiMet to make improved staff welfare a 

priority 

THE new Director 

General of the 

Nigerian Meteorological 

Agency, NiMet, Professor 

Sani Abubakar Mashi, has 

revealed that improved staff 

welfare will be his priority 

as that is the only way the 

agency can attain world 

standard. 

Mashi who was 

accompanied by the out 

going DG, Dr. Anthony 

Anuforom, made the remark 

during the agency's facility 

tour at Lagos Airport. While 

confirming that he was 

impressed with the amount 

of development and 

infrastructural facilities at the 

agency, Mashi said he would 

hit the ground running in 

three basic areas, especially 

but many loopholes were 

not taken into 

consideration because of 

stakeholders, especially 

ground handling 

companies. We are going 

to lose a lot. If we realise 

between N70 million to 

N80 million from Abuja 

in a month, then we are 

going to lose that, we are 

going to pay staff too, it’s 

a huge burden on us. 

SAHCOL will definitely 

lose a lot because many 

of the foreign airlines 

have refused to fly into 

Kaduna.” He also said 

the company now 

handles 17 airlines, and 

lost Emirates and United 

Airlines, not to nonperformance 

but for 

scarcity of dollar which 

made United Airlines to 

leave Nigeria, adding 

that Emirates promised to 

come back. The 

SAHCOL chief also 

called on the federal 

family business, instead of 

bringing experts to manage 

them while they remain at the 

background. 

According to him “People 

with little or no knowledge of 

the industry just pump their 

money into the business and 

just start flying. 

Aviation is a specialised 

area. If you don’t have your 

eyes on the ball, you will 

never be successful. Aviation 

is a specialised area and 

we have been making 

same mistakes all the time. 

The fact that you are a good 

pilot, successful captain or a 

perfect engineer, doesn’t 

mean you can make a 

successful airline administrator. 

workers’ welfare, saying that 

once the workers are happy, 

the agency will be catapulted 

to a world class standard. 

He said that during his 

tenure, the agency will be 

mindful of what eventually 

goes to staff on monthly basis, 

especially this time of 

dwindling economic 

condition. “I will do whatever 

is possible within the limits of 

the law to get something 

added or introduced to 

whatever they take home, and 

then the entitlement that goes 

to them, from time to time will 

encourage them to work. For 

instance, shift duty and 

hazard allowances because 

like you know, we work on 

equipment, we work on very 

difficult times of the day”, 

Mashi said 

The Nimet DG said that 

government to support 

agro-allied export as 

Nigerian economy is 

mono-export with crude 

oil as the major export 

commodity. He said that 

there is need for 

government to 

immediately encourage 

agriculture by 

supporting farmers with 

grants and facilities, 

adding that Nigeria is 

losing export business to 

Ghana because the 

country offers competitive 

freight charges and does 

higher level of export 

compared to Nigeria. 

His words, “In terms of 

encouraging export, 

especially perishable 

goods, we are ready to 

align with government's 

vision. We are ready to 

support that plan; we are 

ready to go the extra mile 

to support the farmers but 

government has to do a 

lot in that direction”. 

This is a degree course in the 

university abroad. We don’t 

have such people in Nigeria. 

There is no Nigerian that is 

capable of managing an 

airline successfully for now as 

the requisite training is 

lacking." 

Akinfenwa further argued 

that no airline in the country 

can be successful, considering 

the way they were set up by 

their sponsors, stressing that 

most promoters of airlines set 

them up for ego sake. He 

maintained that airline 

industry is capital intensive 

and requires in-depth 

knowledge of the industry for 

such a carrier to be 

successful. 

there are some levels of 

allowances that need to be 

introduced, adding that 

“these are areas that I would 

need to bring in. And then 

there is the issue of training 

and retraining, I would want 

to make sure that these 

things are introduced very 

well. Even though there is 

embargo by the federal 

government on international 

training because of the 

situation of the country, 

nonetheless that cannot stop 

us, in exceptional 

circumstances, we will try 

and make case to the 

government so that they will 

give us a little window 

because of the essential 

services we are rendering, 

if it means bringing in 

people from outside to come 

and train them.

24--- VANGUARD, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017 --- 25


C 

M 

Y 

K 

50% of hotel operational 

cost in Nigeria goes into 

diesel — Mr. Otagba 

Stories by Gabriel 

Olawale 

THE Country Director 

of Elmeyor Premier 

Hotel group, Mr. 

Kenneth Otagba, has 

called on the government 

at different levels to 

remove the several 

bottlenecks confronting 

the hospitality sub sector 

of the tourism industry if 

they are sincere about 

diversification of the 

country’s economy. 

Speaking at the ground 

opening ceremony of 

Leawood Hotel in Lagos, 

weekend, Otagba said 

that epileptic power 

supply, lack of 

infrastructure and 

ambiguous tax have not 

really made it possible for 

hospitality industry to 

enjoy the desired 

enabling environment to 

grow. 

He explained that out 

of the total operating cost 

of some of the hotels in 

the country, power 

generation alone 

consumed 50 per cent 

without factoring in 

series of taxes by various 

DUBAI, 

the 

commercial 

capital of the United 

Arab Emirates, UAE, has 

remained one of the 

favourite destinations not 

only for Nigerians but 

travellers across the world. 

Its world class hospitality 

has made it a preferred 

destination for Nigerians 

travelling out of the 

country either for leisure 

or business. This is 

attested to by the volume 

of flights from Nigeria that 

terminate in the city either 

directly or indirectly. In 

recognition of this, Dubai 

Tourism has held the 

second edition of its Lagos 

Roadshow to further 

establish its hospitality 

brands in the minds of 

Nigerians. 

The Roadshow which 

had in attendance the 

office of General 

Directorate of Residency 

and Foreign Affair- Dubai, 

Emirates, Nikki Beach 

hotel, Rep Apple Travel, 

Grand Hyatt, North tours, 

Dubai Parks & Resort, 

Hyatt Regency, Dubai, 

DTCM, Prime healthcare 

group among others offers 

mutual deliberation 

between those in the travel 

government 

agencies. 

“Hospitality in 

itself is key to tourism 

and for tourism to 

thrive we need an 

e n a b l i n g 

environment, a few 

key issue that affect 

tourism in the country 

which invariable affect 

hotel industry is security, 

most people find it 

difficult to trust the 

security level of this 

country.” 

“Another thing is 

infrastructures such as 

electricity, road network 

among others. Power is 

one of the reasons why 

some hotel rooms are 

very expensive and in 

many hotels 50 percent 

of operational cost goes 

into purchasing of diesel 

and at the end of the 

month you will still pay 

for the electricity that you 

didn’t consume. 

“As a country we are 

gifted with water ways, 

vegetation and land 

mass but these are not 

put to use to better serve 

the country in term of 

tourism.” 

trade and the public some 

of the products and 

services Dubai has for 

Nigerian tourists. 

Speaking during the 

event, Regional Director, 

Africa for Dubai Tourism, 

Stella Obinwa, said that 

the positive feedback 

received from the first 

edition prompted them to 

make it an annual event. 

“We had a very good 

turnout in the first year we 

did this road show and the 

feedback from Dubai 

companies that came for 

the road show is very 

positive that is why we 

have decided to make it 

an annual event in 

Nigeria. 

Investment 

programme 

“We also want to show 

our commitment to Nigeria 

because we know that the 

country is going through 

some difficult financial 

time, and some other 

external challenges, but we 

want to stay focused. Africa 

is number one investment 

programme for UAE. As I 

continually said, more than 

50 percent of the work that 

need to be done, the UAE is 

doing it, now we need 

Nigeria businesses and 

•Kenneth Otagba 

He, however, urged the 

government to put in 

place tax policy that will 

encourage newly set up 

hospitality services in the 

country, “Hospitality 

pays series of tax, if 

government can 

subsidize the tax for 

newly set up hotels it 

will really help.” 

Otagba pointed out that 

Leawood hotel which is 

situated along Lekki-Epe 

expressway, offers a 

unique blend of style, 

trendiness and local 

flavor that compliment 

with fine dining, exotic 

bars and a five star 

services. 

“Leawood hotel is the 

perfect base for our 

valued guests to explore 

the rich culture and 

heritage of Lagos and is 

ideal for business and 

pleasure,” he explained. 

Dubai tourism roadshow gains momentum 

travelling agent to do their 

part. 

“The positive feedback 

we got from travelling 

agencies, that a lot of their 

customer are find it difficult 

to get medical visa, a lot of 

customer do not know the 

medical services in Dubai, 

while some are tired of 

travelling a long distance 

to India or Europe that what 

can Dubai do, this 

prompted us to introduce 

Dubai hospital to travelling 

agencies and Nigerians. 

“This year we are going 

to do a full boom medical 

tourism where people will 

be enlightened on series of 

medical services rendered 

in Dubai with world class 

equipment and expertise. 

We exceeded our 

attendance expectations for 

this event and as you can 

see, several of the guests 

have stayed back to speak 

with the participants and 

build a relationship that is 

encouraging.” 

She revealed that though 

more than 250,000 

Nigerians travel to Dubai 

every year, Dubai Tourism 

would like to see that 

increase by 15 to 20 per 

cent. 

Union decries foreign 

seafarers’ dominance 

in Nigerian waters 

By Godfrey Bivbere 

THE Nigeria Merchant 

Navy Officers 

and Water Transport 

Senior Staff Association 

have cried out over 

dominance of foreign 

seafarers sailing on 

Nigerian waters resulting 

in the lost of accruable 

revenue running into 

millions of dollars. 

The Union therefore 

called on the management 

of the Nigerian Maritime 

Administration and Safety 

Agency, NIMASA, to 

constitute a taskforce to 

check alleged proliferation 

of fake certificates 

obtained by foreign 

seaferers. 

The Union charged 

NIMASA to scrutinize 

Certificate of Competency, 

COC, being paraded by 

the foreign nationals. 

Secretary General of the 

Union, Comrade Julius 

Efokpor disclosed this in 

Lagos during a meeting 

with the Executive 

Director, Maritime Labour 

and Cabotage Services of 

NIMASA, Alhaji Gambo 

Ahmed. 

The union scribe 

alleged that some of the 

foreigners cannot 

discharge simple 

instruction by their 

Captains which according 

to him, indicated lack of 

competence and inability 

to work. He alleged that 

the practice is 

prominent with 

Philippines, Croatia 

and Pakistan nationals. 

FG must assist refinery license 

owners to stop petroleum 

importation 

—Capt Iheanacho 

By Godfrey Bivbere 

CHIEF Executive 

Officer of Genesis 

Worldwide Shipping and 

former Minister of Interior, 

Capt. Emmanuel 

Ihenacho, has called on 

the Federal Government 

to assist serious refinery 

license owners to 

actualise the construction 

of such private refineries. 

Ihenacho, who made 

this known in an interview 

with Vanguard in Lagos, 

said it is important for the 

privately owned refineries 

to come on stream as 

this is the only way to stop 

importation of petroleum 

products. 

According to Ihen-acho, 

“Then again that is where 

the government has to 

come in, the government 

has to come in because if 

we can have so many 

modular refineries, government 

will reverse this 

polarity we have, where 

we are depending on imported 

oil all the time. If 

you look at the total value 

of import, you will see that 

oil actually constitutes 

about 70 or more percent. 

So if we are able to develop 

a local refining capacity, 

we will absolutely 

By Godwin Oritse 

THE Nigerian Importers 

Integrity Association 

(NIIA) has opposed 

the transfer of overtime 

cargoes to Ikorodu 

Lighter Terminal following 

the under utilization of 

spaces in seaport terminals. 

Disclosing this to newsmen 

in Lagos, Mr. Godwin 

Onyekazi, said that the 

nation’s seaports were operating 

well below capacity 

and should not transfer 

reverse that dependency 

and we become exporter 

of finished oil. 

“So government should 

not just read about it (efforts 

by private refinery license 

owners) and say 

alright go and develop it 

but should put motion in 

place to go and find out 

people who have been 

given licenses and have 

done all the things that we 

have done and say we 

want to lend you money 

and in 18 months we want 

to see it working and see 

whether it will work or not. 

“It is our prayers that 

something positive be 

done to achieve this 

laudable objective and 

we want to note very 

sadly that there are 

disparities in placement 

and the wages of 

Nigerian seafarers and 

their foreign 

counterpart” 

“Indeed the foreigners 

have taken over our jobs 

and waivers are not 

acceptable”, he told the 

ED. The scribe further 

urged the agency to 

partner with the two 

unions in ensuring strict 

compliance with the 

Cabotage act. 

Importers kick against 

transfer of containers to 

Ikorodu terminal 

long-standing (overtime) 

containers to offdock facilities 

especially the Ikorodu 

Lighter Terminal (IKLT) in 

Lagos. 

Speaking against the 

backdrop of clamour by 

some clearing agents at 

Ikorodu for the Nigerian 

Ports Authority (NPA) to 

transfer long-standing 

containers from the main 

port to IKLT, Onyekazi 

said such transfer was unnecessary 

“since there is 

ample space in the main 

ports.” 

He stated further: “Congestion 

in the terminals 

has always been cited as 

the reason for transfer of 

containers but the present 

economic downturn has 

resulted in less than 40 per 

cent yard occupancy for 

most terminal operators; 

effectively undermining 

the reason to transfer overtime 

cargo to Ikorodu.” 

The NIIA president said 

the maritime sector suffered 

a huge blow in 

2016 with ever increasing 

foreign exchange rates 

and a sharp decline in 

cargo volume. 

According to him, 

“Businesses, banks and 

social institutions surrounding 

the ports have 

closed down as an extension 

of the reduction in 

business faced by the 

ports. 

NIMASA board vows to 

resuscitate maritime resource 

centre 

By Abigail Ezeh 

THE Governing board 

of the Nigerian Maritime 

Administration and 

Safety Agency, NIMASA, 

has promised to resuscitate 

the dilapidated Nigerian 

Maritime Resource and 

Development Centre, 

NMRDC, and ensure that 

it is up and functional, 

Chairman Governing 

board of NIMASA, Major 

General Garba Jonathan 

(rtd), has said. 

Gen. Jonathan who 

stated this in Lagos, yesterday 

after taking a tour 

of the Centre, at Kirikiri, 

Lagos, however, expressed 

disappointment at the level 

of dilapidation at the centre, 

saying that past management 

of NIMASA 

failed to make use of the 

centre for the purpose it 

was created. After interacting 

with staff of the agency, 

he assured that the board 

would put policies in place 

to tackle all the challenges 

identified on the tour. He 

also promised that staff welfare 

and promotion would 

be tackled frontally by the 

board in collaboration with 

the management led by 

Mr. Dakuku Peterside.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017 --- 27



MR. Rotimi Akeredolu, 

SAN, is today being 

inaugurated as the sixth 

civilian governor of Ondo State 

with huge expectations. 

Expectations of economic 

revival are stirred by the fact 

that the new governor is a 

technocrat who will play less 

of politics with the fate of the 

people he will be leading. The 

day will mark the beginning of 

a new political journey in the 

state as the former opposition 

All Progressive Congress APC 

takes over the reins of power 

from the Peoples Democratic 

Party, PDP, led by a onetime 

invisible political strategist, Dr. 

Olusegun Mimiko. 

Mimiko had achieved the feat 

of being the longest serving 

governor of the state since the 

creation of the state but his 

desire to pass on the political 

baton to a successor was 

derailed by the results of the 

last governorship election. As 

Akeredolu is sworn in today, 

the focus will be on the Akure 

Sports Stadium as dignitaries 

from far and wide throng the 

venue to witness the occasion. 

APC national chairman, 

Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, is 

expected to lead other party 

chiefs, National Assembly 

members, ministers and no 

fewer than twenty APC 

governors to grace the 

ceremony. 

Tinubu's 

presence 

One person that many will 

look out for today is Asiwaju 

Bola Tinubu. The APC leader 

was reported to have opposed 

the emergence of Akeredolu as 

the APC governorship 

candidate putting his presence 

at the inauguration in doubt. 

Akeredolu has, however, 

dismissed such insinuations 

saying that Tinubu would be 

at the inauguration if he is in 

the country given that he has 

been invited. 

Akeredolu’s journey to the 

Government House was laced 

with controversies, and he 

would need divine 

intervention to unite the party 

which unarguably is 

factionalised. The first runnerup 

during the APC 

governorship primaries, Dr. 

Olusegun Abraham is still in 

court to “reclaim” the mandate 

he alleged was taken by the 

new governor. 

Sources around Abraham say 

he is sure of unseating 

Akeredolu through the court. 

But political observers see that 

as a tall dream. As if that was 

•Akeredolu: New governor of Ondo State 

ONDO: Great 

expectations as 

Akeredolu steps in 

not enough, many members of 

the APC state executive 

perceived to be aligned to 

Tinubu have been sidelined by 

Akeredolu’s lieutenants. 

However, while Akeredolu 

The time of 

reckoning for 

Akeredolu has 

started and how he 

puts his name in 

history will over 

time be determined 

by his actions 

battles to heal the state chapter 

of the party from the internal 

bruises that preceded the 

election, the expectation of the 

people is high that he should 

deliver as he had promised 

during his campaign across the 

state. 

After today’s inauguration, 

the new governor would have 

to grapple with outstanding 

issues left by his predecessor 

including the unresolved strike 

by doctors and nurses; and 

most painfully, the outstanding 

seven-month salaries of civil 

servants. 

Campaign 

assertion 

The magic of how not to owe 

workers' salaries would be an 

important lesson for the 

governor, especially given his 

campaign assertion that “We 

will not even be afraid to go into 

debt to ensure that our civil 

servants get paid." 

The joy of the people in the 

state would know no bounds if 

Akeredolu builds on the 

achievement of his predecessor 

in office and not abandon them, 

especially in the health and 

education sectors. Another 

expectation is how the governor 

will manage the proliferation of 

tertiary institutions in the face 

of dwindling resources. At 

present, the state has three 

universities and one 

polytechnic. 

Also, the deplorable state of 

roads in the northern senatorial 

district of the state would 

require urgent attention from 

the new governor who 

incidentally hails from that part 

of the state. How Akeredolu will 

manage the divided legislative 

arm would also interest 

stakeholders given the fact that 

the 26 members of the State 

House of Assembly are divided 

into two equal factions of 13. 

Before the factionalisation, the 

PDP had 21 members while the 

APC had five. However, some 

PDP members had in view of the 

inauguration of the new 

governor started hobnobbing 

with the APC and played key 

roles in the crisis that led to the 

sealing off of the legislative 

chamber. It is, however, not clear 

if the PDP members would 

finally jump ship now that 

power has changed hands. 

Akeredolu may draw the 

wrath of his party members with 

his submission that he would 

appoint only nine 

commissioners. His vow to have 

a compact administration may 

set him on a war path with the 

party faithful who have been 

waiting in the wings for political 

patronage after staying in the 

cold all the while that the PDP 

held sway. Akeredolu had 

affirmed that he was under 

pressure on appointments but 

said he was yet to make up his 

mind because of the desire to 

be thorough about in the 

selection of his team. 

The people of the state would 

nevertheless remember Mimiko 

for some achievements he 

recorded besides his personal 

triumph of being the longestserving 

governor in the history 

of the state. He would be 

remembered as a man of 

political strategies who always 

kept his opponents guessing. 

Mimiko fulfilled many of his 

promises among which were the 

completion of 51 mega primary 

schools across the three 

senatorial districts, the 

provision of free shuttle buses 

for students across the state. 

Waste of 

resources 

Critics, however, see the 

projects as a waste of resources 

and would have preferred the 

huge amount is used on 

existing public primary schools 

across the state. 

Mimiko’s administration was 

globally recognised for its 

achievements in the health 

sector, especially in making 

maternal mortality levels the 

lowest in the country. 

Mimiko’s eight years were 

dotted with many 

achievements, but the 

nonpayment of seven-month 

salaries to workers will remain 

a sore point. No doubt, workers 

in the state are not happy with 

the development which 

observers believed contributed 

to the PDP’s loss in the last 

governorship election. 

The new governor has 

promised not to probe the 

former governor, describing 

such as a distraction. Like him 

or hate him, Mimiko has 

become an ex-governor after 

over three decades of being a 

political factor that was initially 

often ignored in the Sunshine 

State. The time of reckoning for 

Akeredolu has started and how 

he puts his name in history will 

over time be determined by his 

actions.


AKURE — WHY is the 

traditional ruler of Akure, 

the Deji, Oba Aladetoyinbo 

Aladelusi, fighting many battles 

at the same time? This is the 

question that is begging for 

answers across the state. Many 

are of the view that the Oba may 

be biting off more than he can 

chew while others believe that 

recalcitrant subjects need to be 

whipped into line in the interest 

of peace in the community. Oba 

Aladelusi, according to some 

traditional chiefs, needs to stamp 

his authority to avoid being seen 

as a toothless bulldog who can 

only bark but can’t bite. 

They said that the town is in 

support of the Oba’s bold move 

to assert himself unlike before 

when everybody used to do 

whatever he or she pleased about 

the traditional stool. While his 

“fight” with the Igbo’s in the state 

still rages, the supremacy of the 

traditional ruler is being 

questioned in some Akure 

communities. 

His opposition to Eze 

Ndigbo title: Only last week 

Oba Aladelusi wielded the big 

stick when he issued a month's 

notice to the erstwhile title owner, 

Gregory Ilohehika to consider 

accepting the title of “Igbo 

Leader” or “Onyedu Ndigbo” as 

against the proscribed title. 

Leadership 

of the Igbo 


Before now, the Oba and the 

title owner Ilohehika have been 

at loggerheads over the 

leadership of the Igbo in the state 

and this had led to bad blood for 

months. To show that he is in 

charge, the Oba “derobed” the 

owner of the Eze Ndigbo title and 

this further angered the Igbo who 

insisted that Ilohehika was elected 

and would remain. 

Oba Aladelusi went further 

during the week to stamp his 

authority by issuing the month 

notice to the erstwhile title owner, 

Gregory Ilohehika to consider 

accepting the title of Igbo Leader 

or Onyedu Ndigbo as against the 

proscribed title. To make it official, 

a letter has been forwarded by the 

Oba to Ilohehika to acquit him of 

the vestiges of his title. 

To show his seriousness, the 

traditional ruler said in the letter 

that; “It should be noted that this 

is the newly approved traditional 

title for any Igbo leader within 

Akure and its environs. According 

to a statement by the Oba's Chief 

Press Secretary, Micheal 

Adeyeye, he said “a month notice 

has been communicated to Mr. 

Gregory Ilohehika to accept this 

in good fate, taking effect from 

February 1, 2016. 

“Based on the amendment, Mr. 

Gregory has been advised to 

apply in writing for this new title 

if he is still interested. Failure to 

comply with this directive shall 

amount to rejection of the new 

title. In view of the possible 

rejection of the new title, the Igbo 

community shall produce another 

•Oba Aladelusi: Deji of Akure 

Leader from among them at the 

expiration of the ultimatum. His 

Majesty remains committed to 

ensuring a peaceful and 

harmonious relationship with the 

Igbo community and all other 

non-indigenes in Akure 

Kingdom. 

However, the Igbos have rallied 

round their leader, Ilohehika, 

insisting that the Deji has no right 

to change the nomenclature of the 

Igbos in the state under any guise. 

Some Igbo leaders who spoke 

with Vanguard in confidence said 

that the Oba “seems to be biting 

more than he can chew on his war 

against the Igbos in the state.” 

They wondered why the Oba 

would not soft pedal on his 

“hatred” for the Eze Ndigbo in 

the state insisting that he can’t be 

removed until he completes his 

tenure. 

His Majesty remains 

committed to 

ensuring peaceful 

and harmonious 

relationship with the 

Igbo community and 

all other nonindigenes 

in Akure 

Kingdom 

According to them the title of 

Eze Ndigbo is in existence in 

other states across the country and 

wondered why the Oba would 

want to rename it in the state. 

Reacting officially, the President 

and the state Secretary of 

Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chiefs 

Okechukwu Okorie and Alloy I.K 

Anoliefo respectively said, “We 

have considered the title of Eze 

Ndigbo as adopted by the Igbos 

outside Igbo land as sacrosanct 

and non-negotiable and that the 

title is widely recognized and 

used both within and outside 

Nigeria as approved by the 

association of Ndieze Ndigbo 

N’uzo Ije and Ohanaeze Ndigbo 

worldwide which are the parent 

bodies. 

“It was unanimously agreed 

that the Igbos in Ondo State, as a 

body, is standing by the position 

of the parent bodies on the use of 

the title as adopted by the Igbos 

in diasporas, and that Sir Gregory 

Iloehika having been installed 

remains the only recognized Eze 

Ndigbo.” They said the leadership 

of Iloehika as the Eze is not 

limited to Akure, the state capital 

but to all the 18 Local Government 

areas of the state as he was duly 

elected in keenly contested 

elections by the entire Igbo across 

the state. 

The use of the title of ‘Eze’ 

outside the South-east 

geopolitical zone is not to rival 

monarchs in any state but to 

preserve their culture and 

traditions. “We have resolved to 

live peacefully with our host 

communities without tampering 

with the culture and tradition of 

the people." They said that “the 

By Rotimi Ojomoyela 

IT was a home coming for 

several old students of 

Eyemote Comprehensive High 

School, ECOHS, Iyin-Ekiti in 

Irepodun/Ifelodun Local 

Government Area of Ekiti State 

as they stormed their alma mater 

to celebrate 50 years of its 

establishment. Days preceding 

the week long activities which 

enlivened the serene community, 

witnessed a complete make-over 

of the institution, the rustic school 

gate was rebuilt by the 1978 and 

the perimeter fencing was 

constructed in 1979 giving the 

school a new look from the 

DEJI OF 

AKURELAND: 

Another Oba 

fighting 

chieftaincy 

battles 

choice of the title was in conformity 

with the agreement reached by 

the Igbos in diapora in order to 

preserve the culture and tradition 

of the people who are living 

outside the Igboland." 

According to them the 

“Ohanaeze, being the apex Igbo 

socio-cultural organization like 

the Arewa and Afenifere would 

want to preserve the language, 

culture and tradition of their 

people wherever they may find 

themselves. 

Culture and 

tradition 

They, therefore, warned the 

Igbos wherever they may be living 

to respect their host communities 

and not engage in any act that 

can bring the Ohanaeze Ndigbos 

name into disrepute." 

The Isinnigbo community Oba 

controversy: However, as if that 

was not enough, another 

communal crisis is looming 

following plans by the same Oba 

to impose a traditional ruler in 

Isinnigbo Community which is in 

another council area of the state. 

Communal violence: An 

unconfirmed source said that one 

person was feared dead during 

the exercise while many others 

were injured in a melee that 

ensured during the exercise last 

weekend. The Oloba of Oba-Ile 

and Chairman of Akure North 

Local Government Chieftaincy 

Committee, Oba Joseph 

Oluwadare Agunbiade and 

Isinigbo community last week 

raised the alarm of impending 

communal violence and called on 

security agencies to wade into the 

matter prevent bloodbath. 

Oba Agunbiade called on 

security agencies to prevent the 

looming communal violence if the 

plan of the Oba is allowed to 

suffice. They alleged that the Deji 

plan to impose one Sule Ojo as 

Olu at Isinigbo community and 

vowed to resist such action with 

their last blood. 

Unnecessary breakdown 

of law and order 

The Oloba and the Asinigbo of 

Isinigbo, Oba Samuel Adeniji has, 

therefore, asked the state 

Commissioner of Police to stop 

the plot by the Deji to upgrade a 

quarter at Isinigbo to an 

autonomous Ayetoro community. 

The traditional rulers in a 

petition written by their lawyer, 

Femi Emmanuel Emodamori & 

Co Chamber, addressed to the 

state Commissioner of police, Mrs 

Hilda Harrison, said urgent steps 

should be taken in the interest of 

peace in the two communities. 

They advised the Police and the 

DSS to stop the Deji’s move to 

avoid unnecessary breakdown of 

law and order because the Akure 

monarch’s action was a clear 

violation of Section 18 of the 

Chiefs Law, Cap 27, Volume 1, 

Laws of Ondo State, 2006. 

Chieftaincy laws of Ondo State: 

“The prescribed authority 

approved by the government to 

appoint and install any minor 

chief in Isinigbo, Igoba, Oba-Ile 

and Owode Communities which 

are all within Akure North Local 

Government Area under the 

chieftaincy laws of Ondo State, is 

the Oloba of Oba. The Oloba who 

is now the Chairman of Akure 


Chieftaincy Committee, His 

Royal Highness, Oba Joseph 

Oluwadare Agunbiade, NOT the 

Deji of Akure whose chieftaincy 

domain is Akure South Local 

Government”. 

50 years of Eyemote Comprehensive High School, Iyin Ekiti 

outside. 

The beginning: Eyemote 

Comprehensive High School, 

located on the outskirts of Iyin- 

Ekiti Community, was founded on 

February 6, 1967 with about 57 

students (boys and girls) in a block 

of three classrooms. It was a 

product of the efforts of Iyin 

indigenes at home and diaspora 

with the Ekiti Anglican Diocese 

being a co-founder. 

It was initially known as 

Eyemote Secondary Commercial 

School when the school 

curriculum was based on 

commercial subjects but it was 

later changed and expanded to 

include sciences, technology 

and vocational subjects. 

Mother luck smiled on the 

school from inception, as the 

former military governor of the old 

Western Region, Maj-Gen. 

Adeyinka Adebayo (retd), who 

was an indigene of the 

community gave an express 

approval for the establishment of 

ECOHS, the late Oluyin, Oba 

Julius Owolabi assisted the school 

to move from its two previous 

temporary sites at St. George’s 

Modern School and All Saints 

Primary School to the current site. 

To be concluded


OGUN STATE 

Ogun Assembly is no rubber stamp 

for Amosun — SPEAKER 

HON Suraj Adekunbi has been the Speaker of Ogun House of 

Assembly spanning the 7th and current 8th Assemblies. Since 2011 

when he became Speaker, the Assembly seemed to have run on autopilot. 

He got re-elected after the 2015 election, returning as the Speaker 

of the Assembly to continue to paddle the canoe of the legislative arm. 

He vehemently denied the allegations that the House has been reduced 

to a rubber stamp of the executive, saying the Assembly could not resist 

good governance and growth of the state as provided by Governor 

Ibikunle Amosun. He spoke on national issues particularly those 

affecting Ogun State directly. Excerpts: 

•L-R: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode; Secretary to the State 

Government, Mr. Tunji Bello and Chairman, Lagos State Economic Advisory 

Committee, Mr. Olabode Agusto, during the inauguration of the 12-Member 

Committee by the Governor at the Lagos House, Ikeja. 

•Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti during a tour of the NYSC members 

Orientation Camp to ascertain the state of facilities there. 

•Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi (right), during a sensitisation 

and awareness campaign on the state's environmental sanitation and urban renewal 

programmes at Oja Oba Market, Ibadan. 

EDITOR: 

Adeleke Adeseri 

CORRESPONDENTS: 

Dapo Akinrefon 

Ola Ajayi 

Gbenga Olarinoye 

Dayo Johnson 

Olasunkanmi Akoni 

Daud Olatunji 

Rotimi Ojomoyela 

Monsuru Olowoepejo 

THE TEAM 

08054682557 (sms only) 

Lagos 

Ibadan 

Osogbo 

Akure 

Lagos 

Abeokuta 

Ekiti 

By Daud Olatunji 

ON the belief that the House has 

been rubber stamping the bills by 

the Executive 

So far so good, I need to appreciate our 

people for following what we are doing 

in the government, because we are given 

the opportunity to govern them through 

election. And for them to be reacting to 

issues regarding activities of the 

government, really shows they are up and 

doing, they are alive with what we are 

doing. I believe by the special grace of 

God, if by now people are still saying that 

we are rubber stamping, that the current 

legislature is a rubber stamping 

legislature, may be they are just doing 

that to challenge us. And I believe that 

with the little we have done since we came 

in the second term, they could see that 

we did not really have one difference from 

the first term. 

All we are concerned was the welfare of 

our people, if the executive brings 

anything to us, they could see that what 

is important is the diligence and if they 

bring anything to us we always follow that 

process that will give us that eligibility. 

And you could see that so far so good, we 

have been operating within the ambit of 

government, and if we have done 

anything contrary as citizens of the state, 

they have right to challenge us. Because 

we believe that the only way the people 

can feel the effect of good governance is 

for the three arms of government to be on 

the same page. 

Political 

affiliations 

The executive in their own wisdom 

would come up with ideas and bring to 

us innovations that will facilitate 

development and growth. And for us in 

the house of assembly, we are 26 in 

number, without considering our political 

affiliations, we believe that what is 

important for us is to do our bit by giving 

a legislation that would aid whatever the 

request. And also before we come up with 

anything we always follow due process. 

Passing the bill granting approval for 

another N65 billion loan to the state 

government: The money in question was 

N64billion and not N67billion; we had our 

2017 appropriation passage on December 

29, 2016. And at the moment, we are happy 

that we have in place the appropriation 

act, and in that appropriation estimate, 

there was a provision for loan. The totality 

of the loan was in the tune of N65billion. 

And Mr. Governor put it to the house for 

the approval of the loan. 

Because of the current realities, the loan 

request was based on some factors and 

you could see that we had numbers of 

banks that would probably have granted 

the loan if they had the requirements. 

Because of the situation of things, almost 

80% of the debt we are having in the 

country today is domestic debt and does 

not give room for lending. And since there 

•Adekanmbi: Ogun Speaker 

is a global approval for such, the executive 

or system can always make their request. 

We just did that for convenience sake and 

nothing more. We believe that people are 

complaining about the on-going project, 

there is no way we could do that without 

adequate funding and one of the 

provisions that we have made in the 

budget was that N65billion. Of course, 

we must do that to hasten the governance 

process. 

On the peace in the House: I believed 

that since we don’t have anything to hide, 

we are always on the same page and 

matters for discussion are always about 

Ogun State and not about any political 

party. When it comes to the issue of our 

responsibility, everybody is being alive, 

because the primary responsibility is just 

for us to give to our people that legislation 

that enhances their social economic wellbeing. 

The socio economic well-being which 

includes on-going projects across the 

state, we have wages and some other 

areas to touch, and nothing could be done 

without doing the needful, so far so good, 

what is important to us as members of the 

assembly is about Ogun State, not about 

any party. If they have any issue regarding 

that, of course, we could have our moment, 

it is normal in any setting, because the 

way we perceive issues differ. 

And if we are having an issue, we always 

disagree to agree in the issue and 

everybody understand that unity will 

always have a positive impact, we always 

ensure that everybody is keyed into what 

we are doing. We have been able to 

achieve that by providing information that 

is verifiable to them, which they confirm 

or get their information somewhere and 

they know they will see it the way I put it. 

We believe that we are privileged to serve 

our people, and we must ensure that we 

deliver our mandate that is given by them. 

We are doing all we can to have good 

impact. The executive in their own way 

have been alive to their responsibility, and 

we must complement each other. When it 

comes to issues that borders on the wellbeing 

of our people, I think we are doing 

our best.

The age of Mugabe and the 

age of ideas 

ROBERT Gabriel Mugabe, 

the Pan Africanist and 

internationalist who was elected 

Zimbabwean Head of State thirty 

seven years ago, was 93 this Tuesday 

February 21. He had for decades 

championed the slogan “Zimbabwe 

for Zimbabweans.” Under this, he 

got the economic control of his 

country transferred from the 

minority White racists, to the 

majority Black population. This was 

more impactful on the land issue 

which his neigbours in the Region; 

Namibia and South Africa are still 

grappling with, without any 

solution in sight. 

Having being heavily criticised 

and vilified over the years for not 

allowing the mythical market forces 

to take over Zimbabwe, this week, 

as he celebrated his birthday, he 

praised American President Donald 

Trump who has a similar policy: 

"When it comes to Donald Trump, 

on the one hand talking of American 

nationalism, well America for 

America, America for Americans - 

on that we agree. Zimbabwe for 

Zimbabweans". 

However, the more concrete issue 

is that of succession as Mugabe 

reiterated his resolve to contest for 

the Zimbabwean Presidency in 2018 

when he would be 94. Ahead of his 

birthday, he had said: "They want 

me to stand for elections, they want 

me to stand for elections everywhere 

in the party ... The majority of the 

people feel that there is no 

replacement, successor who to them 

is acceptable, as acceptable as I am". 

Perhaps, in a moment of self-doubt, 

he added: "Of course, if I feel that I 

can't do it any more, I will say so to 

my party so that they relieve me. But 

for now I think I can’t say so”. 

The run-up to this was the ruling 

Zimbabwe African National Union, 

Patriotic Front, ZANU-PF, 

Conference on December 16, 2016 

in Masvingo, Southeastern 

Zimbabwe, some three-hour drive 

from Harare through breathtaking 

countryside. For me, my most 

memorable recollection when I 

visited Masvingo in 2013, was that 

a street in a former White 

neigbourhood was named after 

General Josiah Magama 

Tongogara the guerilla fighter who 

led the Zimbabwe African National 

Liberation Army, ZANLA, the 

military wing of ZANU-PF while 

Mugabe was the political head. 

Tongogara had died in a motor 

accident on December 26, 1979, four 

months before independence. 

At the Masvingo Conference 

attended by about 9,000 delegates, 

the party had declared Mugabe “as 

the sole candidate for the 

forthcoming 2018 elections". 

Perhaps, the most ridiculous and selfserving 

pronouncement on 

Mugabe’s ill-advised decision to run 

at 94, came from his 51-year old wife, 

Grace, who declared: "One day when 

God decides that Mugabe dies, we 

will have his corpse appear as a 

candidate on the ballot paper …You 

will see people voting for Mugabe 

as a corpse. I am seriously telling 

you - just to show how people love 

their President." In truth, Mrs. 

Mugabe may just wish to preside 

over Zimbabawe in the name of her 

husband, so in reality, she may be 

the “corpse” appearing on the ballot 

paper. First, let me clarify that 

fundamentally, it is not the age of a 

man that matters, but the age of his 

ideas, and I consider the ideas of 

Mugabe quite vibrant and young. 

Telecom sector and essence of competition 

By Nwobodo Chidiebere 

“Competition is not only the basis of protection 

to the consumer, but is the incentive to progress.” 

–President Herbert Hoover 

COMPETITION is a state of centrifugal 

market forces that produces gains for 

the overall economy, thereby encouraging 

consumer sovereignty and stability of the 

market. Nigerian telecommunications sector 

has been one of fastest growing telecom 

market in the sub-Sahara Africa. Successes 

recorded so far in the Nigerian telecom sector 

can be assertively attributed to the regulatory 

prowess of the telecom industry watchdog— 

Nigerian Communications Commission, 

NCC, which has been able to stamp out 

monopoly through healthy competition and 

protection of interests of both service providers 

cum investors and subscribers simultaneously. 

At the advent of GSM revolution in Nigeria, 

many (then) prospective foreign investors, 

consultant firms, bankers and their Nigerian 

partners underestimated opportunities cum 

potentials in the sector. The Chairman of 

Etisalat Nigeria enumerated it all in his recent 

inspiring speech delivered at University of 

Cambridge Judge Business School, United 

Kingdom. He was quoted as saying that: “one 

of his biggest mistakes in business was when 

he was part of a losing bid for the first mobile 

network licences in Nigeria. 

At the time some of the world’s most 

reputable consultancy firms advised that the 

Nigerian mobile phone market could not 

exceed 20 million subscribers. Based on this 

figure, Belo-Osagie’s partners decided not to 

bid more than US$265 million. Today, Nigeria 

has more than 100 million mobile phone 

subscribers, and in hindsight, Belo-Osagie said 

that the actual value of the licence was probably 

closer to $800 million.” Juxtapose Belo- 

Osagie’s confessional statement with an 

introspective one made by one of the retired 

CEOs of Vodafone, who said that his worst 

business decision as CEO of Vodafone was not 

investing in Nigeria’s telecom market. He 

wrongly assumed that Nigerians were too poor 

to afford mobile phones. The million-dollar 

questions are: what change the story? What 

magic wand turned Nigerian telecom market 

from a less attractive to lucrative industry? It is 

called competition! This is where NCC should 

be adequately applauded for maintaining 

I can vividly recall 

that MTN Nigeria 

held Nigerian 

subscribers by 

jugular via its perminute 

billing 

system, until 

Globacom came to 

our rescue 

healthy competitive energy in the industry, 

invariably increasing the quality of service 

offered by Mobile Network Operators, MNOs. 

The NCC’s regulatory acumen ensured that 

the first set of licenced service providers did 

not become complacent cum monopolist both 

in expanding their telecom infrastructure, 

Quality of Service (QoS), which ensured 

protection of consumers’ interests. Competitive 

forces in the sector being propelled by sound 

polices of the regulatory commission, forced 

down price of telephone lines across the market 

from hitherto N30, 000 per SIM card in the 

year 2000 to N50 in 2015. The drastic fall of 

price of GSM lines made mobile phone 

services—which were exclusively reserved for 

Although a man can 

symbolise a country 

and become its 

vibrant voice, he 

cannot replace that 

country; like soldiers 

come and go while 

the barracks 

remain, so do 

leaders come and go, 

but the country 

remains 

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017—31 

However, aging makes our bodies 

less able to carry out routine 

functions. With age, our reflex or 

reaction time slows down and 

muscles become lax. It is not for 

nothing humanity has retirement 

age. Even hereditary rulers 

sometimes give way as happened in 

July 2013 when Belgian king Albert 

stepped down as Head of State for 

Crown Prince Philippe. 

Many developed countries have 

put their future in the hands of the 

young. Barack Obama was 48 when 

he became American President in 

2009 and left office at 56 after two 

terms. Canadian Prime Minister, 

Justin Pierre James Trudeau was 44 

when elected in 2015. 

I agree that neither the United 

States nor Canada face the kind of 

external challenges Zimbabwe faces 

including punitive and ruinous 

sanctions by the West and their 

seeking a pound of flesh for the 

audacity of Zimbabweans to 

repossess their ancestral lands. I 

know that the dignity of the average 

Zimbabwean in relation to the 

Whiteman and in contrast to the 

mindset of many Namibians and 

South Africans, came at a high cost. 

I know that even where the ZANU- 

PF has primarily, retained power 

through free and fair elections 

including the 2002 one in which I 

was part of the Africa Union 

Observer team, the West continues 

to subvert and pooh-pooh the 

electoral process in that country. I 

am aware that maintaining political 

stability and coping with years of 

drought, come at a high cost. 

However, no matter its contributions 

to the liberation struggle or how 

glorious its reign has been, the 

Mugabe era has to come to an end. 

It is a matter of when it will, and I 

think it is better for both Mugabe 

and the ZANU-PF to begin the 

transition. 

the rich, affordable to the downtrodden in the 

society. 

Affordability of GSM lines vis-à-vis massive 

deployment of telecommunication network 

infrastructure across the length and breadth 

of Nigeria, together with eagle-eyed regulatory 

checks and balances provided by the NCC, 

saw the astronomical rise of the Nigerian 

telecom sector from 400,000 active lines in 

2001 to over 100 million functional lines in 

2016. These landmark achievements in the 

telecom industry, contributed a lot in the 

growth of the nation’s economy. It made 

Nigeria investment haven for foreign 

telecommunication operators. This would not 

have been possible if normalcy was allowed to 

degenerate into complacency in the market— 

thereby destroying the spirit of competition par 

excellence. 

I can vividly recall that MTN Nigeria held 

Nigerian subscribers by jugular via its perminute 

billing system, until Globacom came 

to our rescue. To the chagrin of MTN Nigeria, 

Globacom introduced the per-second billing 

template. This singular act of competition 

from Globacom altered the business game in 

the market. MTN Nigeria was persuaded by 

exigencies of market forces to adopt per-second 

billing system just to remain in the business. 

Nigerians became winners; our telecom 

industry prospered and created wealth for 

millions of the citizens. Those foreign investors 

and their partners in Nigeria like Hakeem 

Belo-Osagie, who hitherto underrated 

potential of Nigerian telecom sector at advent 

of the GSM revolution, were compelled to 

invest massively in the industry, thereby 

creating job and wealth for millions of our 

youths. 

In furtherance of its quest to keep providing 

options for subscribers and sustains 

competition in the industry, the NCC, 

conceptualised and launched Mobile Number 

Portability, MNP. MNP was introduced to the 

Send Opinions & Letters to: 

opinions1234@yahoo.com 

Mugabe must not be taken in by a 

sense of indispensability nor should 

the illusion be created that he is the 

only person who can lead Zimbabwe. 

There will be a successor whether he 

plans for it or not; that is the law of 

nature. In Nigeria, our elders say 

nobody can wear out the world ; it is 

the world that wears out people and 

discards them. 

He needs to learn the basic lesson 

Nelson Mandela taught the world. 

Mandela was imprisoned for 27 

years and became the first 

democratically elected President of 

South Africa at independence in 

1994 when he was 76. Despite his 

cult-like following both inside and 

outside his country, he declined to 

have a second five-year term which 

would have been his for the asking. 

He preferred the younger, more 

youthful generation took over. 

If after about four decades, 

Mugabe cannot produce worthy 

successors, then it is a failing of his 

leadership. Also, if after thirty eight 

years of unbroken leadership of 

Zimbabwe, the ZANU-PF cannot 

find a worthy successor to Mugabe, 

then the party needs a rebirth. 

Although a man can symbolise a 

country and become its vibrant voice, 

he cannot replace that country; like 

soldiers come and go while the 

barracks remain, so do leaders come 

and go, but the country remains. 

The enthusiastic Zimbabweans 

shouting ‘Tongai, Tongai Baba! ’ 

(Rule, Rule Father!) remind me of 

John Pepper Bekederemo Clark’s 

poem “Streamside exchange”. In it, 

a child asked the River bird that was 

‘Sitting all day long On hook over 

grass’ “Will mother come back 

today?” The bird answered: “You 

cannot know And should not bother; 

Tide and market come and go And 

so shall your mother.” Mugabe 

came and will go; for that matter, so 

shall you and I. 

market on April 22, 2013. It was aimed at 

enabling a subscriber to change his Mobile 

Network without losing his identity—phone 

number. Since its debut, it has recorded myriads 

of gains in the sector. It has also encouraged 

many subscribers—who were not satisfied with 

poor quality of service being provided for their 

previous network providers, to migrate to other 

platforms with better alternatives of services. 

Similarly, it has motivated new entrants MNOs 

to offer better services to the subscribers, which 

made them magnets of attraction to unsatisfied 

telecom consumers. The MNP scheme has 

reduced anti-competitive practices by the 

MNOs and created a level playing field—that 

can be defined as true essence of competition. 

The recent hullaballoo created by the botched 

data tariff hike, otherwise known as price floor 

and price cap, is one of the regulatory policies 

of the NCC used in maintaining effective 

competition and protection of smaller 

operators in the sector, with sole mandate of 

stabilising the industry via effective 

competition. Those who vehemently rejected 

the policy failed to understand the nitty-gritty 

of market forces dynamics in the telecom 

sector. Some critics even erroneously 

progressed to the extreme point of labelling 

the initiative and its promoters as anti-people, 

while reverse is the case. 

The new Price Floor and Price Cap were not 

introduced to impoverish Nigerians through 

exorbitant data tariffs as the general public 

were made to believe, but was initiated to 

prevent Predatory Pricing. According to the 

NCC, it is the practice of providing services at 

prices that are low enough to drive out 

competitors out of the market, so as to 

monopolise the market. As much as Nigerians 

yearn for lower cost of telecom services, 

protecting the market against monopolist 

MNOs, should also be at the back of our minds. 

And the only avenue of achieving such feat is 

to ensure healthy competition in the industry. 

*Mr. Chidiebere, a public affairs analyst, 

wrote from Abuja. 

C 

M 

Y 

K

32 ---Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24,2017 

YOUR LUCK TODAY 

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 

LIBRA; Full-Moon across Leo/Aquarius axis today ; Trying 

to influence matters-of-the-heart with money will not 

give you the desired result. Any way it is a day you will 

need to be more careful with money. 

SCORPIO; Full-Moon across Leo/Aquarius axis today ; 

It is important you are more careful while trying to pass 

judgement on people within your base of operation because 

you too may be wrong. 

SAGITTARIUS Full-Moon across Leo/Aquarius axis; today 

; Taking a pleasure drive or movement may bring 

more than anticipated responsibility. Keep away from 

whatever can not be placed above board today. 

CAPRICORN; Full-Moon across Leo/Aquarius axis today 

If you allow friends to force their ideas on you financially 

or on matters-of-the-heart, you would be the loser. 

Express yourself gracefully. 

AQUARIUS; Full-Moon across Leo/Aquarius axis today 

; Unless you are more careful matters-of-the-heart may 

cause avoidable trouble the way your career/business can 

suffer temporarily. 

By Richard Eromosele 

YES, one more 

time, one more 

trial and a little 

more effort, this is 

all it takes to be 

a success.Make it a 

point of duty to 

interview some 

achievers you will 

discover that they 

L E I S U R E 

THOUGHT FOR TODAY 

One more time 

were at the point of 

giving up when 

they discovered 

t h e i r 

breakthrough.They 

had given up 

somehow and 

something in them 

will just snap telling 

them to try one 

more time and lo 

and behold,they 

come face to face 

with the much 

elusive and sought 

after success.What 

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye” 

are you working on 

now?Go ahead and 

work on it one more 

time.Remember, 

great and 

enduring success 

is a product of great 

failure.Try it one 

more time again 

and again and 

again... 

By Kola Fayemi 

PISCES; Full-Moon across Leo/Aquarius axis today ; It 

is important you don’t exhibit aggression unnecessarily. 

Here is a day when secret love is capable of bringing 

serious pressure. Try to be very diplomatic. 

ARIES; Full-Moon across Leo/Aquarius axis today ; Your 

concentration level is not perfect and if you take bad advice 

from friends you would be misled. The more practical 

you are the better for you. 

TAURUS; Full-Moon across Leo/Aquarius axis today ; 

Unnecessary aggressive approach on your part along your 

career/business lines will back-fire more than you imagine. 

Graceful expression is what you will need. 

GEMINI; Full-Moon across Leo/Aquarius axis today ; 

Happenings within your working arena can bring minor 

provocation but it is just a passing trend. Travelling for 

love will bring more challenges than expected. 

KAPTAIN AFRIKA in “Pretty Lunatic’ By Andy Akman 

CANCER; Full-Moon across Leo/Aquarius axis today; 

Male members of this Star sign will need to watch their 

libido while female must not ignore their sex-life. Beware 

of joint ventures with those you don’t know. 

LEO; Full-Moon across Leo/Aquarius axis today ; It is 

not compulsory you take to aggressive re-action to those 

within your base of operation who are not as perfect as 

you. Protect your spouse. 

VIRGO; Full-Moon across Leo/Aquarius axis today ; 

Watch what you eat and drink today. This is the wrong 

time to engage in unnecessary heated argument.. Romance 

at work may bring disappointment. 

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING 

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

trological 

Counselling, P.M.B 100 

007, 7, Apapa, Lagos 

What should I know? 

Dear Joshua, 

Kindly tell me where the Moon was placed when I 

was born and other things I should know about my 

star. 

Salam, Ibadan 

Dear Salam, 

What space can take will be given here-under. Your 

natal Moon was in Aries. 

ANALYSIS OF YOUR HOROSCOPE DATA 

Preponderance of cardinal quality in your chart is 

an indication of GREAT LEADERSHIP QUALITY together 

with innate ability to attain prominence on 

one hand, on the other hand, exaltation of intellectual 

related Mercury in Aquarius at positive angle 

to both lucky Jupiter and Uranus (the planet of genius) 

in Libra pointed to a person with higher pitch of 

intelligence. 

Action loving Mars as the final depositor of your 

horoscope ( that's most influential planet at home 

when you were born) will most times induce you to 

strongly desire importance with likeness for quick 

results; actually long promise without concrete action 

will bore you easily. Equally 60 percentage of 

push-full influence in your chart means that the best 

for you is to go after your needs and wants. 

Combination of all the placement and aspects formed 

within the planets when you were born are pointers 

to you as a person with balanced personality with 

little bias for good spiritual life. And you believe in 

disciplinarian life style. 

Placement of your natal Sun and Moon in compassionate 

Pisces and self conscious Aries respectively 

are indications of your being mainly a Piscean and 

partly an Arian, however as Aries is also your Stellium 

sign, both basic characteristics of Pisces and 

Aries are highly pronounced in your inner-self. 

VIRGINIA 

HOME & ABROAD 

dadadekola@yahoo.com 

By Lawrence Akapa



NESREA officials visit Koko over alleged toxic waste 

dump ....As Warri North chair says there's no fresh toxic waste dump in Koko 

By Emma Amaize 

KOKO—A team of 

N a t i o n a l 

Environmental Standard 

Regulation and 

Enforcement Agency, 

NESREA, has visited 

Ebenco Global Link, an oil 

waste management 

company in Koko, Warri 


Area, Delta State, over a 

report that the company 

dumped toxic waste in the 

area. 

The NESREA officials, 

who came on Wednesday, 

declined to make comment, 

saying their findings would 

only be made known to the 

Director-General of the 

agency. 

One of them cornered by 

our reporter, said: “We are 

satisfied with the 

documents shown to us, 

which indicate that the 

company sourced its 

materials from Nigeria.” 

Head of operations of the 

company, Mr Bawo 

Orighomisan, dismissed 

the allegation as “untrue, 

an act of wickedness and a 

calculated attempt to tarnish 

the good image of the 

company built over the 

Soldier imprisoned with hard labour for molesting civilian 

By Jimitota 

Onoyume 

PORT 

HAR- 

COURT—THE 

Nigerian Army has 

sentenced a soldier, Private 

Suleiman Olamilekan, to 28 

days imprisonment for 

molesting a civilian, Miss 

Ebere Ohakwe, at a 

checkpoint in Omagwa, 

Ikwerre Local Government 

Area, Rivers State. 

Col. Aminu Ilyasu, 

spokesman of 6 Division of 

the Nigerian Army, in Port 

Harcourt, said the soldier 

would also forfeit his salary 

for 28 days to the Federal 

Government, stressing that 

there was no room for acts 

of indiscipline in the Army. 

Urging the general public 

not to hesitate to bring to 

the notice of the Division 

any act of misconduct by 

soldiers anywhere in 

Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta and 

Akwa Ibom states, Col 

Ilyasu said the Army had 

however, put measures in 

place to avoid repeat of such 

ugly conduct. 

He said the General 

Officer Commanding the 

Division, Major General 

Enobong Udoh, 

immediately ordered an 

investigation into the 

years.’ 

Meanwhile, Chairman of 

Warri North Council, Mr 

Francis Maku, has said 

that there was no fresh toxic 

waste dump in Koko 

community, headquarters 

of the council, and its 

environs. 

Maku stated this when he 

REMEMBRANCE: From left: Rev. Father Stephen Dumbiri, Bro. Peter Ogu, Mr Michael Idah, 

Chief Osaro Idah (Obazelu of Benin Kingdom and State Secretary, APC Edo State); Igbinovia Idah and 

Mrs Osayenwen, at the 25th year remembrance prayers, yesterday, for their father, Late Eng. George 

Idah, former Chairman, Oredo Local Government Area, who was assassinated in 1992, in Benin City. 

incident when it got to the 

notice of the Division that a 

soldier maltreated the lady, 

Miss Ohakwe at a 

checkpoint. 

He said the Army will 

continue to maintain its 

dignity as a disciplined 

body with utmost respect for 

justice and fairness. 

“The 6 Division, Nigerian 

Army, has charged, tried 

and found Private 

Suleiman Olamilekan of 6 

Division Garrison, Port 

Harcourt, guilty of the 

maltreatment of Miss 

Ohakwe. He was 

accordingly sentenced to 

28 days imprisonment 

with hard labour and the 

forfeiture of his salary 

for same number of days 

to the Federal 

Government of Nigeria. 

“It will be recalled that 

there was a report in the 

social media that the 

soldier maltreated one 

Miss Ohakwe at Omagwa 

checkpoint on January 30, 

2017,” he said. 

Delta govt partners firm to establish power plant 

By Festus Ahon & 

Ochuko Akuopha 

OLEH—AS part of 

its efforts to boost 

power supply in the state, 

Delta State Government 

has concluded plans to 

partner Thames Vpower 

Group, a power generating 

firm, to establish a power 

plant in Ozoro, Isoko North 


Area of the state. 

The state Commissioner 

for Urban and Rural 

Development, Mr. Karo 

Ilolo, who disclosed this at 

a stakeholders meeting 

with representatives of 

Isoko nation at Oleh, Isoko 

South Local Government 

Area of the state, said that 

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s 

administration was 

determined to improve the 

living standards of all 

Deltans. 

At the stakeholders 

meeting, chaired by the 

carried out an on-the- spot 

assessment of Ebenco 

Global Link Limited, an oil 


company in the area, 

alleged to have dumped 

industrial wastes in Koko. 

On its part, the company 

also denied the claim, 

saying: “It is an attempt by 

President-General of Isoko 

Development Union, Chief 

Iduh Amadhe, Ilolo said 

that the project aimed at 

generating 20 mega watts 

of electricity for the various 

communities in Isokoland 

would derive gas supply 

from the Ogini flow station. 

Noting that the project 

was very dear to Governor 

Okowa, he said modalities 

had been put in place to 

ensure that “Isoko nation is 

lightened.” 

He disclosed that Chief 

Amadhe and the Chairmen 

Isoko North and South 

Local Government Areas, 

Mr. Emmanuel Egbabor 

and Sir. Ithiako Ikpokpo 

respectively, have held 

series of meetings with 

Benin Electricity 

Distribution Company, 

BEDC, Thames Vpower 

Group among other 

stakeholders to ensure that 

Isoko has uninterrupted 

power supply. 

OMPALAN to negotiate with FG, oil firms, 

others for remediation 

By Gab Ejuwa 

OIL 

Mineral 

Producing Areas 

Landlords’ Association of 

Nigeria, OMPALAN, has 

said that it was poised to 

negotiate with the Federal 

Government and oil 

companies in the country 

on behalf of owners of lands 

where oil, gas and solid 

mineral exploration and 

exploitation are carried out 

in the country. 

Delta State chapter 

some persons to hoodwink 

the government and 

unsuspecting members of 

the public in a calculated 

plan to extort money from 

the company.” 

A top official, Francis 

Akintunde, told Vanguard 

on phone: “Ebenco is an oil 


chairman of OMPALAN, 

Dr. Austin Okonji, who 

made this known at an 

enlarged meeting of the 

executives of the body held 

at Ejeme-Unor in Aniocha 

South Local Government 

Area of Delta State, said, 

“The landlords are the 

direct sufferers of the 

immediate and long term 

effect of oil, gas and solid 

minerals exploration and 

exploitation in the country. 

OMPALAN is set to rescue 

them across the country 

company licenced by 

relevant regulatory 

agencies. The so-called 

analysis purportedly 

carried out was not in the 

presence of appropriate 

regulatory agencies, 

representatives of Ebenco, 

Koko community and 

stakeholders.” 

through legitimate and 

intellectual approach and 

negotiation with 

government, individuals 

and corporate bodies 

involved in oil, gas and 

solid minerals exploration 

and exploitation in the 

country. 

“We hope to achieve this 

objective with our highly 

experienced intellectuals 

who have distinguished 

themselves in the various 

fields of human 

endeavours." 

Seaport 

truckers 

demand 

dissolution of 

JCOST 

By Ifeyinwa Obi 

THERE is tension in 

the fold of the Joint 

Count of Seaport Truckers, 

JCOST, as members of the 

body have called for the 

dissolution of the body 

and its executives over 

allegations of nonperformance. 

At a meeting of the 

Committee of Truck 

Owners on Traffic 

Management and 

Rescue, held in Apapa, 

Lagos, the truckers said 

that JCOST was 

established to be a 

rallying point for all 

haulage associations to 

speak with one voice. 

They alleged that the 

leadership of the council 

has failed to achieve the 

purpose it was meant to 

serve which according to 

them includes defending 

truck owners against 

unpleasant policies. 

Convener of the 

meeting, Alhaji Ishola 

Salami, said the truckers 

were summoning the 

JCOST leaders to a 

meeting to give account of 

their stewardship. 

NYSC 

acquires 35 

hectares of 

land in Delta 

for skills 

acquisition 

By Festus Ahon 

A 

S A B A — 

NATIONAL 

Youths Service Corps, 

NYSC, has acquired 35 

hectares of land for the 

building of Skill Acquisition 

and Entrepreneurship 

Development, SAED, 

centre in Issele-Uku, Delta 

State. 

Delta State NYSC 

Coordinator, Mr Ayodele 

Omotade, stated this 

during the flag-off of the 

2017 sports and cultural 

festival with the theme 

‘Harnessing the Youth 

Potential for Sustainable 

Development,’ at Issele- 

Uku. 

Welcoming the 

participants to the 

competition, Omotade said 

they have ensured massive 

construction and 

expansion of the 

orientation camp to 

effectively accommodate 

any number of corps 

members posted to the 

state.


Anambra 

pensioners 

demand 11 

months 

arrears 

By Enyim Enyim 

ONITSHA— Nigeria 

Union of Pensioners, 

NUP, in Anambra State, 

yesterday, demanded, 

among other things from 

Governor Willie Obiano, the 

payment of 11 months 

arrears of pension to 

pensioners in some 

primary schools in the 

state. 

Chairman of the union in 

the state, Dr Anthony 

Ugozor, made the demand 

when the union visited a 

mentally retarded home at 

Nteje, Oyi Local 

Government Area with food 

items and clothes estimated 

at N300,000. 

Other demands included 

harmonization of pension 

and payment of gratuity of 

pensioners at the local 

government level who 

retired between 2014 and 

2016. 

He said: “We are 

expecting to hear from the 

governor on whether 

arrangements were being 

put in place to address this 

vexed issue. Besides, we 

want the governor to invite 

us to a meeting at least for 

20 minutes because we 

have written severally and 

nothing has happened till 

date.” 

Items donated to the 

mentally retarded home 

included bags of beans, rice, 

cartons of noodles, biscuits 

and cartons of assorted 

juice and other drinks. 

MWUN scribe 

for burial 

today 

THE late Secretary 

General of the 

Maritime Workers Union of 

Nigeria, MWUN, Mr. Sam 

Aham Ubani, will be buried 

today, at Obuodo, 

Ogbuelle, Oboro, Ikwuano 

Local Government Area of 

Abia State. 

A statement by President, 

MWUN, Anthony 

Emmanuel, said a wakekeep 

took place yesterday 

at Obuodo, Ogbuelle, 

Oboro. 

Ubani died in Lagos on 

January 24 after a brief 

illness and is survived by 

wife, six children and 

grandchildren. 


MASSOB backs national census, regrets 

action during 2006 exercise 

By Vincent 

Ujumadu 

AWKA— 

THE 

Movement for the 

Actualization of the 

Sovereign State of Biafra, 

MASSOB, said, yesterday, 

that it would support the 

2018 national census, 

regretting what happened 

in 2006 when MASSOB 

prevailed on the people to 

boycott the exercise, 

which led to low turnout 

in all Igbo-speaking states. 

Enumeration exercise 

has already begun in parts 

of the country 

preparatory for the 

exercise, with the National 

Population Commission, 

NPC, appealing to MASSOB 

and other pro-Biafra 

agitators to allow the 

people to be counted 

because the exercise was 

mainly to ensure proper 

national planning. 

MASSOB leader, Mr 

Uchenna Madu, said in a 

statement in Awka that it 

was unfortunate that 

Ndigbo misunderstood its 

position during the 2006 

national census, adding, 

however, that MASSOB 

used the action then to 

showcase its strength, 

popularity and acceptance 

in Igbo land. 

According to Madu, it 

was also the primary aim 

of MASSOB to use the 

opposition to the 2006 

census to draw the attention 

of the international 

community, including the 

United Nations, to the 

plight of Biafrans. 

Madu said: “Though the 

low turnout of South-East 

during the last census 

exercise was used by our 

enemies and Nigerian 

LAUNCHING: From left, Global Director, Mobile Partnerships, Facebook, Mr Francisco Varela; 

Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr Matthew Willsher; Director, Digital Business, Etisalat 

Nigeria, Ms Adia Sowho; EMEA Regional Lead, Growth and Operator Partnerships, Facebook, Mr 

Matias Sillanpaa and Growth & Mobile Partnerships, Middle East & Africa, Facebook, Mr Vikas Menon, 

during the launch of Etisalat Facebook Flex in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi. 

Find solutions to recession, Ekweremadu tells 

chambers of commerce 

By Joseph Erunke 

A BUJA—DEPUTY 

Senate President,Ike 

Ekweremadu, has tasked 

the Chambers of 

Commerce, Industry, 

Mines and Agriculture in 

the country to look inwards 

and come out with 

innovations that will help 

move the country out of 

the present economic 

recession. 

This was even as he 

expressed the readiness of 

the National Assembly to 

provide adequate 

legislative structure to move 

the economy out of 

recession and help to ease 

the suffering of Nigerians. 

Ekweremadu issued the 

challenge when he 

received a delegation from 

the Enugu Chamber of 

Commerce, which was on 

a working visit to his office 

at the National Assembly, 

yesterday, ahead of the 

forthcoming 28th Enugu 

International Trade Fair. 

He said: “The situation we 

have found ourselves now 

as a country is such that we 

are the only people who 

can save ourselves.” 

He, therefore, 

emphasised the need for 

government agencies and 

the private sector to work 

together to diversify the 

nation’s economy to 

provide alternative sources 

of income other than oil. 

He said: “The 28th Enugu 

Trade Fair could not have 

come at a better time in the 

history of our country than 

now that we are in recession 

and most of our friends are 

turning their backs on us. 

Some are moving their 

industries and businesses 

out of Nigeria and 

investors are no longer 

confident in our system. 

“So, this is time for all of 

us, particularly the 

Proposed Imo media law'll only benefit 

politicians — CSO 

By Chinonso 

Alozie 

OWERRI— A nongovernmental 

organisation, Citizens 

Centre for Integrated 

Development and Social 

Rights, CEDESSOR, 

yesterday, said the 

proposed media bill, by 

the Imo state House of 

Assembly, “suggests that it 

will only benefit 

politicians.” 

Director of CEDESSOR, 

various chambers of 

commerce to look inwards 

to be able to provide for 

ourselves those things, 

which we had expected 

others to provide or do for 

us.” 

Ekweremadu said only 

economic diversification, 

propelled by fiscal 

federalism and initiatives 

by the various chambers of 

commerce could take the 

country out of the woods, 

permanently. 

Earlier, the leader of the 

delegation and President, 

Enugu Chamber of 

Mr. Emeka Ononamadu, 

stated this, while speaking 

to Vanguard in Owerri. 

He said he was surprised 

that the bill was never 

discussed with the 

members of the public 

before it passed the second 

reading and is currently at 

the committee stage. 

Ononamadu said: “This 

proposed bill has gone to 

committee stage. No one 

knows when it started the 

journey to get to 

committee stage. But now 

that Imo people are aware, 

Commerce, Ugochukwu 

Chime, said the successful 

hosting of the Enugu trade 

fair would go a long way 

to provide the needed 

buffer for the nation’s 

recessed economy, and 

engender growth and 

prosperity across board 

for Nigeria. 

Chime also commended 

the National Assembly, 

especially the Senate for its 

emphasis on made-in- 

Nigeria goods and urged 

the National Assembly to 

appropriate funds for the 

completion of the Enugu 

Trade Fair Complex. 

we will be vigilant until the 

death of the bill." 

He also gave reasons why 

the bill, sponsored by the 

Deputy Speaker, Mr. 

Ugonna Ozuruigbo, 

should not see the light of 

the day. 

He said: “The bill does 

not have any provision 

that shows how citizens 

will benefit from its 

application. All the 

contents suggest that it will 

only benefit politicians and 

politically exposed people 

who fear the power of 

mass media." 

government to undermine 

and shortchange Ndigbo in 

Nigeria, it was part of our 

sacrifice for Biafra. 

“As every revolutionary 

struggle for independence 

has its methodology and 

can adopt any measure that 

would help yield positive 

results, MASSOB is 

considering allowing next 

year’s national census 

because of the 

intervention of some 

prominent Igbo leaders 

and with the conditions 

MASSOB will outline, 

which includes the 

inclusion of religion to 

ascertain the actual 

number of Muslims, 

traditionalists and 

Christians. The inclusion of 

religion will also enable us 

to know the number of 

oriental sects and religions 

in Nigeria. 

“Another condition which 

MASSOB is giving is the 

inclusion of ethnicity, which 

will immensely assist in 

knowing the total number 

of indigenous people and 

their tribes in Nigeria, 

which will also help to put 

to rest the ethnic arguments 

of the largest Nigerian 

ethnic groups, or the major 

and minor tribes. 

“MASSOB is also 

insisting that during the 

2018 census exercise, every 

citizen residing outside his/ 

her state of origin must be 

allowed to travel to his/her 

state for the counting to 

enable us know the exact 

population of each state as 

it is done internationally.” 

Meanwhile, the 

MASSOB leader has 

lambasted the leader of 

Biafra Independence 

Movement,BIM, Chief 

Ralph Uwazuruike, for 

saying that Biafra would be 

actualized 

gunshots. 

Apology 

without 

IN the Vanguard of 

Friday edition of 

August 26, 2016 on page 

51, we published a news 

item, entitled: ‘Electoral 

offences: Why Maurice 

Iwu, 130 others must be 

punished,’ in which 

some unpleasant 

statements and 

insinuations were made 

concerning the person of 

Professor Maurice Iwu. 

We have since 

discovered the said 

report to be false and 

hereby retract the 

publication. We 

apologize to Professor 

Maurice Iwu and regret 

the inconvenience the 

said publication may 

have caused. Once 

again sir, accept our 

sincere apology. 

—Editor



By Evelyn Usman 

THE 

INSPECTOR 

General of Police, 

Ibrahim Idris, has deployed 

six special police units to 

Kaduna State, aimed at 

rescuing the two German 

archaeologists abducted, 

Wednesday, at an 

excavation site in Jenjela 

village, Kagarko Local 

Government Area of the 

state. 

The police boss, Idris, 

mandated the Deputy 

Inspector General of Police 

in Charge of Criminal 

Intelligence and 

Investigation Department, 

CIID, to coordinate the 

operations. 

Recall that the 

kidnappers stormed the site 

at about 8.55a.m., where the 

German archaeologist, 

Professor Peter Breunig, 

who led a four-man team 

from the University of 

Frankfurt, Germany, was 

working in collaboration 

with the National 

Commission for Museum 

and Monuments on the 

relics of Nok culture. 

The identity of the other 

victim was given as 

Johannes Buringer. 

Two local guards, who 

Late James Ocholi honoured 

By Soni Daniel 

ABUJA—ONE year 

after the death of 

James Ocholi, former 

Minister of State for 

Labour and Employment, 

his wife, Blessing and 

son, Joshua, on Abuja- 

Kaduna highway, a 

public lecture and presentation 

of his biography 

is scheduled for March 1. 

The biography, by Dr. 

Dan Ogun, a lawyer and 

were with the expatriates, 

were shot dead by the 

abductors before whisking 

the Germans away. 

Describing the incident as 

unfortunate, Idris, in a 

statement yesterday, 

through the Force Public 

Relations Officer, Jimoh 

Moshood, explained that 

policemen were deployed 

to protect the foreigners for 

the period of time they 

would work at the NOK 

Archaeology Research 

former Special Political 

Adviser to the late 

minister, will be 

presented at the NAF 

Conference and Events 

Centre, Jahi, with 

Professor Kabir Mato as 

the special guest lecturer. 

A statement by Dr. Ogun 

said proceeds from the 

event would be used to 

fund Ocholi James Trust 

for Good Governance and 

Value Orientation and 

subsequent lecture series. 

Project centre. 

He, however, stated that 

they (foreigners) did not go 

with the policemen to the 

excavation site, where they 

were kidnapped. 

The special police units 

deployed to Kaduna, 

according to the statement, 

comprised the Intelligence 

Response Team, IRT; the 

Technical Intelligence Unit, 

TIU; Anti Kidnapping Unit; 

Counter Terrorism Unit, 

CTU; Police Mobile Force; 

Police Surveillance 

Helicopters and Special 

Investigation Team on 

Kidnapping and Terrorism 

Cases. 

The statement read: “The 

Special Forces and Police 

Investigators deployed are 

in contact with the 

colleagues of the victims 

and have provided 

additional security for their 

safety. The team is already 

on the ground working in 

synergy with the Kaduna 

NACCIMA: From 

left— National Vice 

President, Mrs. Margret 

Ndoma-Egba; First Deputy 

National President, Iyalode 

Alaba Lawson; National 

President, Dr. Bassey 

Edem, all of Nigerian 

Association of Chambers 

of Commerce, Industry, 

Mines and Agriculture, 

NACCIMA; representative 

of the Federal Capital 

Territory Minister, Mr. Obi 

Okonkwo, and 

NACCIMA’s Second 

Deputy National President, 

Hajia Saratu Aliyu, during 

unveiling of the 

Foundation for the 

NACCIMA Trade and 

Investment Centre in 

Abuja, yesterday. 

6 special police units deployed to 

Kaduna in search of abducted Germans 

GOVERNOR Kashim 

Shettima of Borno 

State has said it is only 

insanity that can motivate 

anyone to be talking about 

succeeding President 

Muhammadu Buhari at a 

time he is addressing his 

health issues. 

Reacting to a purported 

call made to this effect by a 

deputy speaker of a state 

house of assembly, Shettima 

said: “It would amount to 

moral insanity for anyone 

to be discussing succession 

of President Buhari at this 

time.” 

Isa Gusau, his 

spokesperson, in a 

statement, said: “I saw a 

story credited to a 

lawmaker over issue of 

succession. Governor 

Kashim Shettima was 

deeply angered by that 

report and he has tried 

reaching the lawmaker to 

clarify if he granted that 

interview or he was 

misrepresented. 

“In the meantime, 

Governor Shettima feels it 

would amount to moral 

insanity for any Nigerian to 

be discussing issues of 

succession at a time a very 

popular, highly 

experienced and capable 

sitting President is 

managing his health. 

“We have a sitting 

President, a popular one 

that we are all proud of for 

Sokoto NULGE gets new excos 

State Police Command and 

the locals. 

“The Nigeria Police 

Force, while assuring all 

Nigerians and foreign 

nationals in the country of 

their safety, wishes to 

implore them to always 

request and obtain police 

escort to protect them any 

time they are embarking on 

research, mining and 

related endeavours 

outside the towns and 

cities across the country.” 

It’s insane to talk about Buhari’s successor 

now—Shettima 

By Abdallah 

el-Kurebe 

S OKOTO—THE 

Sokoto State Council 

of the Nigeria Union of 

Local Government Employees, 

NULGE, yesterday, 

inaugurated executive 

councils in the 23 local 

governments in the state. 

Represented by the 

Permanent Secretary, 

Malami Ladan, the 

Commissioner for Local 

Governments, Alhaji 

Mannir Dan-Iya, said the 

state government was 

committed to the welfare of 

workers. 

He said: “Governor 

Aminu Tambuwal has left 

nobody in doubt as to his 

fairness and sympathy to 

workers’ welfare. All 

entitlements and 

emoluments that are due to 

retired staff of the local 

governments, primary 

school teachers, serving 

and former council officials, 

have been paid.” 

While urging workers to 

reciprocate the gesture by 

being disciplined, law 

abiding and productive, 

Dan-Iya called for the 

sustenance of the cordial 

relationship existing 

between unions and the 

working more than 

anyone would have done 

in fighting the Boko 

Haram insurgency, which 

is our number one problem 

in our state, the north-east 

and the Northern region. 

“How can any rightthinking 

person be talking 

about succession, when a 

cherished President is 

dealing with his health? 

What has gone wrong with 

our moral values?” 

state government. 

Chairman of the state 

chapter of Nigeria Labour 

Congress, NLC, Aminu 

Umar, represented by its 

Secretary, Suleiman Dikko, 

commended the state 

government for paying 

outstanding pensions and 

gratuities of retired workers 

in the state. 

Speaking earlier, Sokoto 

State NULGE President, 

Shehu Dange, said: “We 

are indebted to the state 

government for the prompt 

payment of salaries as well 

as the centralisation of 

payment of the salaries of 

the local governments.” 

Kogi First 

Lady 

advocates 

support for 

Akeredolu 

By Boluwaji 

Obahopo 

LOKOJA—WIFE of 

Kogi State 

Governor, Mrs. 

Rashida Bello, has 

called on the people of 

Ondo State to support 

Governor Rotimi 

Akeredolu to fulfill his 

campaign promises. 

Mrs Bello said the 

support for the new 

executive governor will 

give him the strength 

to move the state 

forward in good time. 

According to a 

statement, yesterday, 

in Lokoja by Mrs. 

Bello’s Senior Special 

Assistant on Media, 

Mrs. Olamide 

Adesoro, the Kogi First 

Lady noted that Chief 

Akeredolu’s victory 

was not just for All 

Progressive Congress, 

APC, alone but victory 

for democracy. 

She said: “This 

victory is not for APC 

or Owo or even Ondo 

State alone. It is a 

victory for change in 

Nigeria. I also 

congratulate and 

welcome the new First 

Lady of Ondo State, 

Mrs. Betty Akeredolu, 

on board the change 

agenda train of Mrs. 

Aisha Buhari. 

“While looking 

forward to working 

with the wife of the 

newly-elected 

governor towards 

empowering Kogi 

women in their 

number, who resides in 

the neighbouring 

Ondo State, to enable 

them occupy their 

rightful position on the 

economic ladder in the 

society.” 

TACGSOSA 

celebrates 

anniversary 

THE 

Apostolic 

Church Grammar 

School Old Students 

Association, 

TACGSOSA, will, 

tomorrow, celebrate its 

25th anniversary in the 

school’s premises at 

Irishigun, Ketu, Lagos. 

The event, scheduled 

to begin at 9a.m., will 

feature facility tour, 

novelty games, 

awards, among others.


THE Peoples Democratic 

Party is dying of 

numerous self-inflicted wounds 

and may not recover for as long 

as it thinks that Ali Modu 

Sheriff is its deadliest poison. 

From the headlines, you 

would think that Modu Sheriff 

is the beginning and the end of 

the problems of the PDP; that 

once you feed him to the sharks, 

all would be well with the party 

again. 

That’s fine. Modu Sheriff, 

who has tried unsuccessfully to 

distance himself from Boko 

Haram, is probably one of 

Nigeria’s most dangerous 

politicians. He is rich, well 

connected and ruthlessly 

strategic – all of which, 

ironically, are regarded as 

assets in politics. 

If there was a shred of 

honesty left in PDP, however, 

the party would admit that 

there’s nothing about Modu 

Sheriff that should come to it as 

a surprise. 

This was the same Modu 

Sheriff that a godfather of the 

PDP, former President Goodluck 

Jonathan, engaged when he 

thought Nigeria needed help 

from Idriss Derby of Chad to 

contain Boko Haram. 

At the time, Paul Biya of 

Cameroun was fed up with 

Abuja’s shenanigans and ruled 

out any direct contact with 

Jonathan on Boko Haram. 

With our tails between our 

legs, we turned to Derby for 

help. Only Jonathan can 

explain why he thought that his 

entourage to Ndjamena would 

be incomplete without his 

talisman, Modu Sheriff. 

If that was a mistake, Modu 

Sheriff’s influence did not wane 

after Jonathan’s defeat and 

PDP’s catastrophic loss at the Modu Sheriff 

2015 polls. 

Regrettable but 

expedient 

Instead, after the fall of its two 

chairmen Adamu Mu’azu and 

Uche Secondus, the PDP 

machine, comprising the 

national caucus, governors, 

members of the national 

working committee and the 

party’s leaders in the National 

Assembly, all lined up behind 

Modu Sheriff. Femi Fani- 

Kayode was the notable 

exception. 

Modu Sheriff is a symptom of 

the problem with the PDP but 

the party’s demons go much 

deeper and way back. 

Some might say it started with 

the injustice sown at the party’s 

first national convention in Jos 

in 1998 when Alex Ekwueme 

was brazenly cheated out of the 

party’s presidential ticket in 

favour of Olusegun Obasanjo, 

a latecomer and an outsider. 

Others might argue that in the 

context of the post-June 12 

national crisis the cheating was 

regrettable but expedient. 

Neither side can deny that 

the consequence of that brazen 

act has haunted the PDP in all 

its conventions afterwards. 

Once it got the foundation 

wrong, it’s not been able to get 

it right since. 

That first wrong move has not 

only remained a template, it has 

Modu Sheriff not PDP's worst demon 

produced a litany of bad habits 

infecting the party’s vital 

organs. In Jos, PDP transferred 

the letter and spirit of the party’s 

constitution to the custody of its 

godfathers, who thereafter 

It will take more 

than a court ruling 

for or against Modu 

Sheriff to fix the 

PDP. If the party 

does not return to its 

roots, to deal with 

the problems of 

where the rain 

started beating it, it 

will one day 

discover that Modu 

Sheriff is its own 

Donald Trump 

began to do as they pleased, 

once the price was right. 

The height of it was the 

infamous case of Ndudi 

Ahmed Makarfi 

Elumelu who actually admitted 

paying N750 million to the 

party’s godfathers in Delta 

State to secure the party’s 

governorship nomination. The 

godfathers swindled him of the 

money (actually part of an 

unsecured loan of N2 billion 

from a major bank) and he cried 

out publicly for help until the 

scandal was squashed. 

Once elected, you monetised 

power for yourself and for the 

godfather. Citizens who had no 

hand in it in the first place, 

could go to hell. 

This practice was not 

exclusive to the PDP. But the 

party behaved in a way that left 

no one in doubt that it was the 

official headquarters of 

corruption. Regardless of its 

odious reputation, it boasted 

that it would rule Nigeria for at 

least 60 years. 

Ruling Nigeria 60 years: Well, 

the party continued for 16 years; 

and except for those who had 

their beaks in the trough, most 

could see after Obasanjo’s first 

term that PDP was largely on 

steroids. 

The Obasanjo-Atiku warfare, 

intra-PDP resistance to the fight 

against corruption, Obasanjo’s 

third term agenda, the 

emergence of Umaru Yar’Adua 

as president and his untimely 

death, exposed the deep 

weaknesses within the PDP – 

weaknesses that were beyond 

Jonathan. 

It was only a matter of time 

before the party would collapse 

under the weight of its own 

hubris. 

This, of course, is not the 

convenient version. Party 

leaders like Jerry Gana who 

should know better insist on the 

single narrative that the 

problem with the PDP is 2019: 

Modu Sheriff is the spoiler paid 

by the All Progressives 

Congress to damage the 

opposition. 

It’s not untrue. Inside sources 

told me of three key persons – 

one former governor (South- 

South), one serving (North- 

West), and an arrowhead in the 

North East – who would stop at 

nothing to finish off the 

opposition. 

In light of Modu Sheriff’s 

shameful role in the 

governorship election in Ondo, 

Gana appears to be on point. 

But Modu Sheriff is not new 

to the sale of party flag. That 

was how a major rump of the 

ANPP ended up in the PDP’s 

belly under Obasanjo. So, why 

is Gana complaining? 

Four fingers pointing back at 

Gana also insinuate that former 

Vice President Atiku Abubakar 

is preparing the Makarfi faction 

– which Gana supports – as a 

shell under which the former 

Vice President could contest the 

presidency in 2019. 

Hostile takeover 

of the party 

Apart from Gana, others have 

their own schemes. Ekiti State 

Governor, Ayodele Fayose, for 

example, knows that a hostile 

takeover of the party would 

complicate his exit and 

succession, given what 

happened last year in Ondo. 

And this is precisely where the 

PDP’s problem lies: the party is 

so obsessed with returning to 

power that it is prepared to tip 

over a cliff, blindfolded, to grab 

it. PDP was voted out because 

it had lost touch with its base. It 

had become a party of impunity, 

a trading post where the only 

currency was power for its own 

sake. 

It was neither obeying its own 

rules nor did it care about the 

integrity of public institutions 

under its care. The party was 

rotten to the core. 

After 13 years between 

Obasanjo and Jonathan, the 

party is shrinking. It has 

downgraded from a national 

party to a South-South/South 

East party, and from that to a 

South-South party, with 

Governors Nyesom Wike and 

Fayose as its new face. 

The maggots are within. 

It will take more than a court 

ruling for or against Modu 

Sheriff to fix the PDP. If the party 

does not return to its roots, to 

deal with the problems of where 

the rain started beating it, it will 

one day discover that Modu 

Sheriff is its own Donald Trump. 

Just like it happened to the 

dinosaurs of the Republican 

Party, Modu Sheriff will chase 

them out of their own party, one 

by one, leaving them out in the 

cold and the party in complete 

ruins. 

Ishiekwene is the MD/Editor- 

In-Chief of The Interview 

magazine and board member 

of the Paris-based Global 

Editors Network


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Kelvin Omoghene. All 






Fyneman Erihjigwe 

Beauty, now wish to be 


as Mrs. Uduoborie 

Erihjigwe Beauty. All 






Florence Ojenima, now 



Florence Afuevuno 

Akoko. All former 




MOMOH EYEREGBA LESSON EDIRI SONNEY FREGENE 


addressed as Grace 

Ilamosime Momoh, 



Agbamu Grace 

Ilamosime. All former 






Eyeregba Elizabeth, 



Alexander Elizabeth 

Omonigho. All former 





addressed as Lawyer 

Lesson, now wish to be 


as Nelson Lawyer. All 





addressed as 

Enamejewan Ediri 

Glory, now wish to be 


as Enamejewan Glory. 





addressed as Ani 

Tochukwu, now wish to 

be known and 

addressed as Okorie 

Tochukwu. All former 




I, Sunday Eture 

Egbareluke hereby 

confirm that the name 

Sonney Egbareluke 

Eture as it appears on 

some of my documents 

refers to one and same 

me. All former 


valid. Delta Steel 

Company and general 



addressed as 

Omoregie Joshua 

Ehosa, now wish to be 


as Amansowomwan 

Joshua Eghosa. All 

documents bearing my 

former name still 

remain valid. general 


My correct name is 

Fregene Lilian Unokan, 

but it was wrongly 

written as Unokan Lilian 

on some of my 

documents. Fregene 

Lilian Unokan remains 

my correct name. All 




CHRIS-IYABI 

ONAIWU KORMENE PRAISE AYERITE IBOI 



Chris-Iyabi Nengi 

Biobaragha, now wish to 

be known and 


Opiah Nengi 

Biobaragha. All former 


NYSC, Medical and 

Dental Council of 

Nigeria and general 




O n a i w u 

Osatohanmwen, now 



O g i d i k p e 

Osatohanmwen. All 





addressed as Kormene 

Nuka, now wish to be 


as Kormen Nuka 

Precious. All former 


valid. First bank and 


take note. 


addressed as Owolabi 

Omotayo Praise now 


addressed as Owolabi 

Omotayo. All former 


valid. Skye bank, 

Access bank, Sterling 

bank and general public 




Thelma Inara Ayerite, 



Thelma Inara 

Youdubagha. All former 


Bayelsa State Civil 

Service Commission, 

Ministry of Transport 

and general public 


I , formerly known and 

addressed as Miss Iboi 

Itua Sonia, now wish to 

be known and 

addressed as Ijie Sonia 

Eromosele. All former 




NNAMANI NWAEZUOIKE AKPOTOR AZUBUIKE OGBEMI AKUNNE 



Nnamani Amaka 

Getrude, now wish to 

be known and 


Mba Amaka Getrude. 





addressed as Diana 

Nnena Nwaezuoike, 



Diana Nnena Ruha All 






Valerie Tega Akpotor, 



Valerie Tega Tiemo. All 





addressed as Gabriel 

Ebubechidike 

Azubuike, now wish to 

be known and 

addressed as Rev. 

Gabriel Azubuike 

Ebubechidike. All 





addressed as Ogbemi 

Bright, now wish to be 


as Mene Kay Bright. 






Akunne Enderline 

Nwakaego, now wish to 

be known and 


Uzoma Enderline 

Nwakaego. All former 



please take note.

OLUWABUNMI 



Alagbo Oluwabunmi 

Mercy, now wish to be 


as Mrs Bunmi Alagbo 

Osadebe. All former 




FRIDAY 


addressed as Okpilolo 

Friday now wish to be 


as Okpilolo Edward. All 



public take note. 

IGWILO 

OWHE 

CHANGE OF NAME 

DAMA 

ESENE 

ONOMUEFE OBARO NNOLI 


addressed as Ufuoma 

Onomuefe, now wish to 

be known and 


Ufuoma Joshua 

Jigbale. All former 




ORUBU OGHENEOVO OLOKPA 



Orubu Marion now 


addressed as Mrs 

Odukudu Orubu 

Marion Elohor. All 




NWAKA 


addressed as Nwaka 

Eze Lawrence, now 


addressed as Harrison 

Eze Lawrence. All 






Agatha Chinenye 

Igwilo, now wish to be 


as Mrs. Agatha 

Chinenye Amajuoyi. 


remain valid. Heritage 

Bank, Ecobank and the 


take note. 



Owhe Majirioghene 

Destiny now wish to be 


as Mrs. Majirioghene 

Destiny Emeotu. All 





addressed as 

Emmanuel Obaro 

Ofomor, now wish to 

be known and 

a d d r e s s e d 

as Emmanuel 

Origben Ofomor. All 



public please take 

note. 



Oyovwodiorotu Beauty 

Ogheneovo, now wish 



Beauty Oyovwodiorotu 

Fejokwu. All former 




ESQUIRE 


the names Esquire 

Edhebe Fego, Fego 

Edhebe Esquire and 

Fegoh Zion Esquire 

refer to one and the 

same person. I now 


addressed as Esquire 

Edhebe Fego. All 





addressed as Ayomah 

Dama Daniel, now 


addressed as Adaino 

Ayomah Jonathan. All 






Esene Nafike Alisia 



Alisia John Otono. All 






Nnoli Jane Ukamaka, 



Ekpunobi Chigozie 

Jane Ukamaka. All 






Olokpa Oghenenyore 


and addressed as Mrs 

Efe Oghenenyore 

Caroline. All former 




OKONT 

ONTA 

This is to certify that I, 

formerly known, called 

and addressed as Miss 

Fortune Okonta, now 

wish to be known, 

called and addressed 

as Mrs. Fortune 

Eyemi. All former 




JOSHUA 


addressed as Joshua 

Friday Babalola, now 


addressed as Nwite 

Friday Babalola. All 




OPARA 



Okpara Erutogho 

Sandra, now wish to be 


as Mrs. Arawore 

Erutogho Sandra. All 





the 

names 

Ngwumaohaike 

Ihiechukwu Gerald and 

Ngwumaohaike 

Gerald, refer to one and 

the same person, but 


as Ngwumaohaike 

Ihiechukwu Gerald. All 




This is to notify the 

general public that 

Akpebe Fineboy and 

Akpebe Paul Fineboy is 

one and the same 

person now wish to be 


as Akpebe Paul 

Fineboy. All former 




This is to certify that I, 

formerly known and 


Efedue Ochuko 

Weyinmi, now wish to be 


as Mrs. Ochuko 

Weyinmi Aghomi. All 





OFFOR 


addressed as 

C h i d i n m a 

Stella Offor, now wish 


addressed as Mrs 

Chidinma Stella 

Emeka-Okeke. All 




SIDI 



Christabel Sidi, now 



Christabel Oromoni. 




This is to certify that the 

names Onasa Lucky 

Edafe and Emoghene 

Lucky refer to one and 

the same person, but now 

wish to reconcile all my 

names to bear Onasa 

Lucky Edafe. All former 



take note. 

This is to notify the 

general public that 

Ovurume Ufuoma and 

Esohwode J. Ufuoma is 

one and the same 

person now wish to be 


as Ovurume Ufuoma. 


remain valid. Ecobank 

PLC, Keystone and 


take note. 


the name Eze 

Maduabuchi 

Ogechukwu and 

E z e k w o n n a 

Maduabuchi 

Ogechukwu refer to one 

and the same person, 

but now wish to be 


as Eze Maduabuchi 

Ogechukwu. All former 




DIORU 


addressed as Festus 

Erute Dioru, now wish 


addressed as Festus 

Bob Dioru Uriah- 

Hart. All former 




UKERI 



Ukeri Deborah Ufuoma, 



Awona Deborah 

Ufuoma. All former 




IHIECHUKWU ONASA IDOGUN 


addressed as Idogun 

Ejuvwevwia Maria now 



Ojogho Idogun 

Ejuvwevwia Maria. All 




AKPEBE OVORUME OKONKWO 



Okonkwo Edith Nkem, 



Nwabueze Kelvin 

Nkem Edith. All former 




EFEDUE EZE OGOEMEKA 



Ogoemeka Ogonna 

Hannah, now wish to be 


Mrs. Christian Ogonna 

Hannah. All former 



take note. 

OWE 

These names, 

Ighomena Ufuoma 

Owe and Ufuoma Owe 

belongs to the same 

parson but now wished 



Ufuoma Ighomena. All 



public to take note. 

UJU 


addressed as Mrs. Uju 

Efobi, now wish to be 


as Mrs. Uju Esther 

Efobi. All former 




ONWUKEME 


addressed as Obianuju 

O g o c h u k w u 

Onwukeme, now wish to 

be known and 

addressed as Obianuju 

Ogochukwu Nnadozie. 




AGBO 



Angela Agbo, now 



Angela Ojobo. All 




AKUSU 


addressed as Akusu 

Philip, now wish to be 


as Iroje Philip 

Aghoghovwia. All 




MBAHAR 



Sewuese Bertha 

Mbahar, now wish to 

be known and 


Agbendeh Sewuese 

Bertha. All former 

Documents remain 

Valid. Genera public 

take note. 

AKPUDI OMOLOGE 



Beauty Ajiroghene 

Akpudi, now wish to be 


as Mrs. Beauty 

Ajiroghene Onoseraye. 




ISAAC 


addressed as 

Okwuchukwu Isaac 

Anene, now wish to be 


as Isaac Okwuchukwu 

Anene. All former 






Rachel Eta Omologe, 



Rachel Eta Brown. All 




OKOR 

ORO 


addressed as Maryann 

Nneka Okoro, now 


addressed as Maryann 

Nneka Okoro Ogbede. 




SPACE 

FOR SALE

40 --- 

---VANGUARD, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017 

Jumadal Awwal 19, 1438 A.H. 

NAHCON hammers 45 hajj operators, 

approves 131 others 

FOLLOWING 

the 

determination of the 

National Hajj Commission of 

Nigeria (NAHCON ), to rid the 

industry of quacks and faceless 

operators, the commission has 

has released the list of 

successful Hajj licensed 

operators for 2017. Out of the 

176 companies that had applied 

for licence to carry out hajj 

operations this year, only 131 

were approved by the 

commission. 

This decision followed the 

pre-qualifications exercise and 

investigations carried out by the 

Commission in December 2016. 

According to NAHCON, the 

45 disqualified companies have 

up to February 28 this month to 

appeal their disqualification to 

the Commission. While Amco 

Travel & Tour Ltd, Pyramid 

Travel & Tour Ltd and Qualitex 

Travel & Tour Ltd were 

disqualified for violation of 2016 

hajj operation rites, several 

others were refused licence for 

non submission of form and 

payment of mandatory 

N5million. 

Approved 

companies 

Some of the qualified 

companies are Adson Travel 

And Tours Ltd, Africano Global 

Links, Agaji Travelling Agency 

Ltd,Al- Faozan Travel And Tour 

Ltd, Al-Fatiha Travel And Tour 

Ltd, Al-Gazal Travel And Tour 

Ltd. 

Others are Al-Halal Travel 

And Tour Ltd, Al-Haqq Travel 

And Tour Ltd, Al-Hujjaj 

Internetional Ltd 

All-State Travel And Tour Ltd, 

Labbaik Hajj Services Ltd, 

Land Air Sea Services 

Libra Gold Travel And Tour 

Ltd, Luday Travel And Tour Ltd, 

Madinah Travel And Tours Ltd. 

Others include Maqbul 

International Ltd, Masanawa 

Travel And Tour Ltd, Matasa 

World –WIDE Travel Ltd 

Mecca Medinah Travela Nd 

Tour Ltd, Med-View Travel 

Konsult Ltd, Meeqat Travel 

And Tour Ltd 

Memelad Tour Ltd, Mishkat 

Travel And Tour Ltd, Modern 

Travel And Tour Ltd, Moslima 

Travel And Tour Ltd, Msl Travel 

And Tour Ltd, Mubsh-Shrin Air 

Services Ltd, Mumtazam 

Travelling Agency 

Murna Travel And Tours Ltd, 

Namira Umrah And Hajj 

Services, among others. 

The airlift operations, the 

accommodation arrangements, 

the feeding, luggage and Holy 

sites activities are the major 

issues that hajj operating 

A 

QURAN recitation 

competition in honour of 

the former President of the 

Ahmadiyya Muslim jamaat 

Nigeria, Late Alhaji Abdul 

Azeez Abiola will hold on 

Sunday, February 26 at the 

Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat’s 

mosque, Ota Housing Estate, 

Ogun State. 

The annual évent is 4th in the 

series to remember the unique 

and mémorable contributions 

of Late Alhaji Abiola to the 

growth of Ahmadiyya Muslim 

Community in Nigeria and 

West Africa as a whole . 

Among the achievements 

recorded by Late Abiola was the 

acquisition of vast land for 

companies embark under the 

guidance of NAHCON every 

year. 

In November last year, 

NAHCON met with the 

leadership of the Association of 

Hajj and Umrah Operators of 

Nigeria (AHUON) on the need 

to play by the rules and 

regulations guiding the holy 

trips. AHUON President, Alhaji 

Abdulfatai Abdulmajeed 

expressed joy with the 

leadership of the commission for 

their services. 

Last year, there was 

Presidential directive over the 

implementation of some 

recommendations contained in 

2015 Hajj report, where 

NAHCON was directed to 

collaborate with security 

agencies to stem the tide of 

fraudulent activities in Hajj and 

Umrah. 

Ahmadiyya holds Quran recitation 

competition in honour of ex-leader 

Ahmadiyya Missionary 

Training Institution, the 

establishments of the 

Ahmadiyya Muslim 

Community, in Ilaro and Ota, 

Ogun state among others. 

According to the Centenary 

History of Ahmadiyya in 

Nigeria and its expansion to the 

West African states of Benin 

Republic and the Gambia , Late 

Alhaji Abiola was a successful 

business tycoon, who combined 

business and missionary 

activities together and 

introduced Ahmadiyya Muslim 

Community to the Gambia in 

West Africa. 

Eminent personalities in 

Islam will grace the occasion. 

Recession: Lagos introduces part 

payment plan for pilgrims 

By Olasunkanmi Akoni 

LAGOS State Government, recently disclosed that it had 

introduced a new payment plan for its residents willing to 

embark on pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia and Israel, as part of 

measures aimed at cushioning the effect of the current economic 

realities in the country. 

The state’s Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dr Abdul-Hakeem 

Abdul-Lateef, who disclosed this while briefing journalists at 

Alausa, Ikeja, said that government came up with the initiative to 

reward religious leaders who are able to mobilize up to 50 members 

of their religious organizations for pilgrimage with one slot each. 

He said in view of the existing harmonious relationship among 

the religious bodies in the state, government has also approved 

pilgrimage to Israel by any Muslim willing to do so. 

Abdul-Lateef said, “Today, we are commencing the sale of forms 

for the Christian Pilgrimage on a new note. In response to the 

economic recession, the State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode 

has approved the payment for pilgrimage to Israel, Rome and 

Greece on installmental basis. So, Lagosians can begin to pay for 

pilgrimage with any amount. 

“The price for Israel is N580, 000 but if anyone intends to combine 

Israel with Greece and Rome, the price is N720, 000. With the 

commencement of the ‘Pay Small Small’ we expect that Lagosians 

will take advantage of this opportunity to ensure that most of the 

things they have read in the Bible, they go to Israel and see. 

“We also urge Muslims that from this month, we will be 

accommodating Muslims who intend to visit Jerusalem because 

Jerusalem is home to the third holiest Mosque.” 

Harping on the partnership with religious leaders on slots for 

mobilization of their members, Abdulateef clarified that the 

initiative was not a negation of the No-pilgrimage Sponsorship 

of the state government but a modern trend in marketing designed 

to reward business partners. 

Muslim alumni raises alarm over threat 

to peace on campus 

THE Obafemi Awolowo University Muslim Graduates 

Association (UNIFEMGA) has raised the alarm over threat 

to peace on its alma mata following the activities of illegal Muslim 

group on OAU campus. 

In a petition letter signed by its National President, Engr. 

Abdulwaheed Odeyimka warned on the dire consequences of 

allowing such dreaded muslim group using the name of MSSN 

to operate on campus. The two-page petition was addressed to 

the Acting Vice Chancellor of the University and copied to the 

Minister of Education as well as the Chancellor and Pro 

Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University. 

Others copied were the Secretary-General, Nigeria Supreme 

Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Chairman and Members, 

Board of Trustees, MSSN and its National President as well as 

the security agencies. 

Odeyimka who recalled the strategic partner with the University 

in its pursuit of excellence as a tertiary institution, said it was 

concerned about untoward development in the institution that 

they care so much about. 

“We are greatly disturbed by developments in the university in 

the last few weeks regarding a group of Muslim students trying 

to usurp the identity of MSSN-OAU.”, he said. 

From left: Imam Abdul Fattah Adeyemi, Chief Imam, Ike Oluwa Central 

Mosque;Yodo, Oke Aro, Lagos; Sheikh Sulaimon Sodiq Ayinla, Guest Lecturer 

and Imam Mohammed Jamih AbdulAzeez during the first year anniversary 

of Jumaat service in Ike Oluwa Mosque 

Guest Lecturer, Sheikh Sulaimon Sodiq Ayinla (middle) and other Imams and 

Alfas during the first year anniversary of Jumaat service in Ike Oluwa Mosque 

C 

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THE ability to learn, 

protect and preserve the 

rights of your spouse is one of the 

ways of ensuring a happy home. 

Most crashed marriages could have 

been as a result of disrespect to each 

other especially when dealing with 

tough situations. 

Every marriage, no matter how 

stressful, boring, or happy it may be, 

can be given a boost. The first thing 

to note is that you have to take 

cognizance of your spouse’s rights 

as obligated on us by Allah and His 

prophet (peace be upon him.) What 

married couples often forget is that 

“Muslim marriage”, just like the 

entire life of a Muslim, is governed 

by the laws of Islam. These divine 

laws were communicated, 

commanded, and taught to us by 

the prophet (peace be upon him) 

through the Quran and the 

traditions of Hadith. 

Islamic 

teachings 

So, the first reminder is nothing 

more than to become ever conscious 

that the moment you entered your 

marriage, you became obligated to 

respect your spouse’s rights as 

defined under those divine laws. 

Claiming ignorance about those 

rights or your lack of resolve in 

upholding those rights therefore is 

not a valid excuse. 

The problem in this regard is 

usually two fold. First, many couples 

simply aren’t even aware and 

knowledgeable about the rights that 

both husbands and wives have over 

each other. It’s not uncommon for 

many to rush into marriages with 

all the fanfare but neglecting to learn 

Islamic teachings regarding 

marriage and the rights that 

husbands and wives have over each 

other. It’s only when they hit 

roadblocks in their marriages that 

they start seeking those answers. 

Problems surface because each 

Jumadal Awaal 19, 1438 A.H. 

Muslim marriage and laws of Islam 

spouse assumes certain rights over 

the other and each spouse’s personal 

interpretation of what’s right or 

wrong complicates relationships 

even further. The second problem is 

that while many of us may take the 

time to understand how their partner 

is not meeting their individual rights, 

they often neglect to learn their 

obligations toward the other spouse. 

Driven selfishly, each spouse gets 

preoccupied with how their partner 

isn’t contributing to the relationship 

rather than realizing how one is 

deficient in fulfilling their own 

obligations. In the daily routine of 

give and take therefore, if your 

relationship is hitting hurdles, both 

of you ought to invest the time and 

We should 

recognize that Allah 

created us humans 

and has codified 

dignity and respect 

part of our being 

effort to learn about those rights and 

obligations. Use this reminder to 

make a permanent mental note to 

help you become conscious of how 

knowingly or unknowingly you 

transgress and violate your spouse’s 

rights. Remember, you will be 

questioned about them. Again, 

every relationship is bound to have 

disagreements, day to day 

challenges pertaining to a family life, 

or your spouse just having a “bad 

day.” These shouldn’t be mistaken 

for a bad relationship. When 

relationships go sour, it means 

couples don’t respond to situations. 

When response to such situations 

involves disrespect for the other 

individual, cracks start appearing in 

relationships. This “disrespect” 

includes but isn’t limited to putting 

down the other individual, disregard 

for the others opinions, raising one’s 

voice disrespectfully, etc. This then 

leads to a communications 

breakdown where disagreements 

turn into full fledged disputes, small 

mistakes by one are perceived as 

crimes by the other, and just an 

ordinary “bad” day turns worse by 

spouses ending up in major fights 

– sometimes climaxing to points of 

no return. 

We should recognize that Allah 

created us humans and has codified 

dignity and respect part of our being. 

Therefore, when we trample over 

partner’s rights leaving him or her 

feel disrespected, we are bound to 

invoke an equal or worse response 

from our spouse sowing in their 

hearts the seeds of animosity, hatred 

and mistrust. Every action begets 

reaction. 

So, remember that a happy 

marriage is one in which couples 

find ways to tackle and resolve 

challenges without being 

disrespectful to the other. You can 

have your tough talks as long as you 

don’t cross the lines in disrespecting 

each other. Remember that Islam’s 

teachings never sanctioned to 

denigrate human dignity even in 

times of war. The Prophet (s.aw) said: 

“The entire world is full of resources, 

and among them the best resource 

is a RIGHTEOUS WIFE.” 

(Reported by: Abdullah ibn Amr (r) 

Source: Sahih Muslim, Vol. 2, 

#3465) Again, he said:”The most 

complete believer is the best in 

character, and the best of you is the 

BEST TO HIS WOMENFOLK.” 

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017---41 

Barka Jumah 

Corrupt, thieving leaders 

Allah intends for you ease, and He does not 

want to make things difficult for you. (Quran 

2:185). The harsh times in Nigeria derive its 

strenghth from our leaders who are thieving 

Masterminds and corruption baroons. There is 

reckoning! Put your trust in Allah, and complain 

of your grief and sorrow to Him only. As mercy 

abscond from thieves of our common wealth, 

joy and fulfilment shall match our lives here with 

reward of eternal bliss in the hereafter. 

Happy Jumah —Adewale Adeeyo, OON 

Halal & Haram 

About treasury looters, wealth acumulation 

THE person who does not fear Allah does not care where 

he earns his money or how he spends it. His only concern 

is to swell his bank account, not minding if it is haram and illgotten. 

By all means, he wants to be rich, super rich and 

accumulate money for the children unborn. Most people do this 

by theft, bribery, looting the treasury, extortion, forgery, usury, 

rituals among others. 

This ill-gotten wealth, is used to provide the daily needs of 

members of his family, feeds his children, pays school fees and 

also corrupt the minds of others. The Prophet (peace and blessings 

of Allah be upon him) said: “Any flesh that grows from ill-gotten 

gains is more deserving of being touched by Hell-fire . . .” 

(Reported by al-Tabaraani in al-Kabeer, 19/136; see also Saheeh 

al-Jaami’, 4495). 

On the Day of Resurrection, each person will be asked how he 

earned money and on what he spent it, and there will be doom 

and loss. Anyone who still has our common wealth stored in his 

house or toilet, should hasten to return it just as any one of us 

who feeds on haram wealth should stop it immediately. If you 

are in possession of what does not belong to you, return it and 

seek forgiveness before death overtakes you when all the wealth 

will be of no use to you and will come against you. 

Muslim SoulMates 

Profile 98: A Muslim male, 45, hails from Kogi State with 

knowledge of Quran and hadiths, a practicing and devout 

Muslim needs a Muslim lady, single or divorced between 40-42 

years of age. She must be literate and ready for marriage. 

Profile 99: A Muslim male, trader, single and 38 years of age, 

desires a Muslim lady not more than 35 years of age for marriage. 

She must be literate and enterprising. 

Profile 100: A male Muslim, 44, from Osun State, genotype 

AS, fair complexioned wants a female Muslim between 28 to 35 

years for marriage. She must be fair complexioned with 

genotype AA. 

Profile 101: Muslim male, 41, 6ft tall, dark and working as a 

civil servant, desires a Muslim lady who is ready for marriage. 

she must be literate and ready for marriage. 

Profile 102: A Muslim male, from Osun State, 43 searching 

for a Muslim lady between 20-35 as second wife, preferably 

from the South West. 

Coordinator, Social Advocacy Project (SAP), Sherifah Yusuf-Ajibade (middle), 

presenting books to the State Executive Councillor and Chairperson, Women, 

Family and Welfare Development in Kelantan, Malaysia (left) at the ongoing 

International Muslim Women’s Union (IMWU) in Khartoum, Sudan. With 

them is Alhaja Risikat Bola Usman of Islamic Green Hub Nigeria. 

Representative of Bornu State Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation, Alhaji Ali Umar Wulgo 

(2nd left) presenting a laptop to Abubakar Muhammad during Jaiz Zakat and Waqf Trust Fund 

(JZWTF) Zakat distribution exercise in Maiduguri, Borno State capital. With them are Branch 

Manager, Jaiz Bank Plc, Maiduguri, Alhaji Baba Bukar (left) and JZWTF Executive Secretary/ 

Chief Executive Officer Imam Abdullah Shuaib. 

C 

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42 --- VANGUARD, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017 

By Emmanuel Aziken, 

Political Editor, Vincent 

Ujumadu, Chidi Nkwopara, 

Anayo Okoli, Peter Okutu 

and Denis Agbo 

IT was a convivial meeting 

of sorts for selected 

Southeast chieftains of the All 

Progressives Congress, APC, 

convened by Governor Rochas 

Okorocha in Owerri to ponder 

on how the party could further 

penetrate the region that has 

been most resistant to the 

ruling party. 

Asserting his preoccupation 

with state duties, Okorocha 

said he had decided to 

relinquish the leadership of the 

party in the Southeast to 

Senator Ken Nnamani, a 

former President of the Senate. 

While the appointment galled 

some, foundation members of 

the party were quick to note that 

it was not the first time that 

Okorocha would make such 

unilateral appointments. 

Remarkably, Okorocha had at 

a similar meeting of Southeast 

stakeholders in July 2013 just 

after the formation of the party 

appointed Ogbonnonya Onu 

as the leader of the party in the 

region. Just as he did in that 

last month, at that 2013 

meeting, Okorocha did not 

consult with anyone and 

appointed Onu unilaterally. 

Nnamani who joined the 

party a week just before the 

Owerri meeting convened by 

Okorocha, by his entry became 

the highest ranking former 

office holder from the region to 

have joined the party. 

High profile 

politicians 

Among high profile 

politicians who recently joined 

the party are Senator Jim 

Nwobodo, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, 

Chief Emeka Wogu, Senator 

Chris Adighije, Senator Andy 

Uba, Dr. Tony Nwoye among 

others. 

All of them who were former 

members of the Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP entered 

a party that already had such 

high profile politicians like Dr. 

Ogbonnonya Onu, Senator 

Chris Ngige, George Moghalu 

among others. The unilateral 

appointment has generated 

strong responses from party 

stakeholders across the region. 

ENUGU 

The deputy chairman of APC 

in Enugu and member 

Constitutional and Electoral 

Reform Committee, Comrade 

Alphonsus Udeh said that 

Governor Okorocha did not 

need to announce Senator Ken 

Nnamani as Southeast leader 

given what he claimed as the 

former Senate President’s 

ranking as the highest ranking 

stakeholder in the State. 

Udeh said: “Nnamani is a 

from our zone and he 

automatically fits into the 

position. We have so many ex- 

Governor in the zone but 

Senate President is higher than 

a Governor. Governor 

Okorocha didn’t need to 

announce it for us to accept him 

leader of the zone. He is the 

leader is he is acceptable to 

us,” said Udeh. 

On his own account, the 

Enugu state Publicity Secretary 

of Buhari Support 

Organization, BSO, Mr. 

Chibueze Eze, said the 

appointment of Senator 

Nnamani as the leader of the 

party in the South East is a 

welcome development. Eze 

stated that it does not matter 

when Nnamani joined the 

I decline the 

leadership of Ndi- 

Igbo in APC. With 

Ken Nnamani, the 

question of who is 

the leader of APC 

in the South-east 

has been 

answered. 

Nnamani is the 

leader of APC in 

the South-east 

party but that what is at stake 

is the soul of the party. “That is 

2015 coordinator of Buhari 

campaign Organization in the 

SOUTH EAST APC LEADERSHIP: 

THERE is a vacuum of leadership in the South-east APC. I 

am a governor. My brothers Chris Ngige and Dr. 

Ogbonnaya Onu are ministers, hence the importance of 

Nnamani coming to the party at this time. I decline the 

leadership of Ndi-Igbo in APC. With Ken Nnamani, the 

question of who is the leader of APC in the South-east has 

been answered. Nnamani is the leader of APC in the 

South-east — OKOROCHA 

state, Hon. Ejike Eze said “The 

discordant tune is not good for 

the zone. They should forget 

whether Ken Nnamani is 

joining the party today or not 

but he stands shoulder high. 

“He has the moral character 

and because of his impeccable 

character and national outlook, 

he deserves it. It is high time 

the south east began to have 

somebody who can speak for us 

and that person should be a 

reputable character and he has 

displayed such character 

traits.” 

Mr. Osita Okechukwu, the 

director-general of the Voice of 

Nigeria, VON, and a leading 

chieftain on his part said that 

Okorocha did the right thing 

saying that the announcement 

of Nnamani was of strategic 

value to the regional caucus. 

According to him the premise 

of the nomination was to lift the 

party in the zone given that 

Muhammadu Buhari scored a 

miserly six per cent of the total 

votes in the region 

Erstwhile chairman of the 

state chapter of the PDP in Abia 

Our reasons for paying half-salary in Bayelsa — OBUEBITE 

IT was five years ago, yesterday, that former member of 

the House of Representatives and erstwhile commissioner 

of justice, Henry Seriake Dickson was sworn in as 

governor of Bayelsa State, with its moniker, Glory of All 

Lands. That date, February 14, 2012 has now come to 

signify Democracy Day for the people of Bayelsa State. The 

state commissioner for Information and Strategy, Jonathan 

Obuebite, in this interview spoke on the strides and 

struggles of the Dickson administration 

By Samuel Oyadongha 

IT is a year into Governor 

Seriake Dickson’s second 

term. How far has it been? 

One year, how far? Ordinarily, 

because of the recession that we 

are into, governments across the 

states have been affected. But, in 

Bayelsa State, we have fared 

well. Within the one year, we 

have been able to complete so 

many projects. The good thing 

about the governor’s style of 

administration is that we made 

provisions for project funding 

and also for recurrent 

expenditure. Government 

decided that, based on the 

current realities, we had to cut 

our emoluments as government 

•Okorocha: Annointed Nnamani as leader •Nnamani: The New Leader •Onu: Th 

appointees. 

What we are getting now is half 

of what the commissioners used 

to get. That cut across all political 

appointees. Through that, we 

have been able to save some 

money which should have been 

used for personnel cost for 

political appointees and we 

channeled the money into project 

funding. That has reduced the 

recurrent expenditure. 

That’s a drop in the ocean. 

How much has the government 

been able to save through that? 

I think we have not saved 

enough from that. But, the 

number of political appointees 

has drastically reduced. That is 

the beauty of it. When you know 

you don’t have, you have to cut 

your coat according to your size. 

Now, we cut our coat according 

to the material available. So, in 

the last one year, we have been 

battling with a lot of issues and 

we are able to get it right in the 

sense that we were able to 

complete important projects. We 

were able to complete the new 

Governor’s Office, a multi-billion 

naira project. 

Also, we have been able to 

complete the Government House 

Hospital Complex this year. It 

has both the private and the 

public wing. It can be accessed 

from two frontiers. Also, we have 

been able to complete the House 

Officers’ Quarters, and the 

Federal Medical Centre, which 

is not a state project, but a Federal 

Government Hospital. But, since 

it is Bayelsa State and there is 

the need for that accommodation, 

we had to build it for them. 

We were able to complete the 

Diagnostic Centre; furnished and 

functional. We also have the 

forensic equipment within the 

same complex. 

What is unique about the 

Forensic Centre? 

It is unique. It is about the 

sixth we are going to have 

all over the country. 

Nigerians don’t need o 

travel out again for it. It is 

even good for security. It 

helps in curbing fraud and 

perjury. 

The centre can uncover 

the cause of the death of a 

person, if someone wants to 

attribute it to another cause. 

It is highly needed. The 

police work with it. It is very 

helpful to society. It is very 

important. It helps the 

society. 

Why is the government owing 

salaries to workers? 

When you talk about salaries, 

indeed, it was sad that it 

happened. We had challenges 

paying our salaries. We had to 

work with labour leaders in the 

state. 

As at 2015, between October 

and December, our allocation 

dropped to N2 billion. From

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017 --- 43 

e Former Leader said to be busy 

Motions and Murmurs 

State, Chief Tony Ukasoanya, 

on his part described the media 

uproar over the issue as 

unnecessary saying that 

Okorocha did not appoint 

Nnamani the party’s South 

East zonal leader as the party’s 

constitution does not make 

provision for such. “No, it is not 

correct. Governor Okorocha did 

not announce Senator Ken 

Nnamani as the leader of APC 

in South East. What happened 

was that there was a meeting 

of South East stakeholders 

conveyed by Governor Rochas 

Okorocha. 

“And when Gov. Okorocha 

was making his speech, he said 

that he has been handling the 

office of Governor of Imo State 

and at the same time leading 

South East APC; that he wants 

to relinquish that of the 

leadership of the party job to 

Senator Ken Nnamani. It was 

not debated and nobody spoke 

about it after Governor 

Okorocha ended his speech. 

“But the issue is that 

Okorocha’s parlance may not 

be right; however the truth is 

that there is nothing like zonal 

leader in the constitution of 

APC. What he made was just a 

suggestion. But coming to Sen. 

Nnamani, as a former Senate 

president, the number three 

man, in order of protocol, he 

has the reach to lead the South 

East APC.” 

“What is important to APC in 

the South East is to popularize 

the party and win elections. 

There is need for us to have one 

voice and cooperate with one 

another to achieve our goal”, 

Ukasoanya said. 

Great Division in Ebonyi: 

Pastor Eze Nwachukwu Eze 

and Hon. Ben Nwobashi who 

are both laying claim to the 

chairmanship position of the 

party expressed divergent 

, COMMISSIONER FOR INFORMATION 

•Obuebite: 

Things are good 

again in Bayelsa 

January 2016, it dropped to N1.7 

billion. We had to resort to the 

payment of half salary. We 

negotiated with labour unions. 

Outside January, from February, 

we were paying half salary to our 

workforce. We actually paid only 

October, November, December 

when we had this issue of Paris 

and London Club Fund. In 

January, we started paying full 

•Ngige: Busy in Abuja according to Okorocha 

salaries and paying the 

outstanding half salaries. 

Outstanding 

half salaries 

We have reversed back to the 

payment of full salaries. That 

reversion was because the 

governor committed himself, 

irrespective of the condition of 

the economy. Within six months, 

we will clear the half salaries. 

Because of the openness in our 

financial transactions, the 

Transparency Briefing that the 

governor initiated, the Bayelsa 

Watch Website dedicated to that, 

our people are aware of our 

income and expenditure. It was 

easy for us to negotiate with 

labour. 

The labour leaders are aware 

of what the government was 

doing. Our books are open. We 

are always engaging the labour 

leaders. The governor has not 

made any policy decision without 

involving the labour leaders. 

That’s one thing I want to 

commend him for. It makes my 

job very easier as commissioner 

for information. I relate them more 

than any other person. 

Sometimes, we have informal 

discussions on issues before we 

come to the open. So, they took 

that wise decision of not 

disrupting the system. 

They are working with the 

system to succeed. Before on the 

25thof every month, we pay 

salaries. 

What are the challenges facing 

the Dickson administration 

now? 

Basically, we have the 

challenges of resources; the 

challenges of fund. As a 

government, we need money. We 

have a war to fight; the war of 

infrastructural development. If 

we are able to defeat the war of 

infrastructural development, 

then, there will be peace in the 

Niger Delta. 

So, we need a lot of resources. 

Bayelsa is a virgin state. Yenegoa 

was a glorified local government 

without a tarred road before the 

state was created. 

views on the nomination of 

Senator Nnamani as Southeast 

leader of the party. 

Eze, in a statement issued in 

Abakaliki described the 

development as a huge joke 

adding that the development 

was intended not only to 

ridicule the status of the party 

within the South East zone but 

also caused unnecessary 

disaffection in the party. 

Observing that Okorocha will 

stop at nothing to embarrass the 

party in the zone, Eze said: 

“His recent adoption of 

distinguished Senator Ken 

Nnamani as his leader in the 

For avoidance of 

doubt, we state 

unequivocally that 

Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu 

remains the number 

one APC leader in 

Igboland. He not 

only founded the 

APC but has 

remained resolute in 

building on the 

gains of the merger 

that brought the 

party into existence 

South East is an attempt to give 

what he does not have which 

amounts to a joke and APC 

Ebonyi state disassociates itself 

wholly from the charade. 

“For avoidance of doubt, we 

state unequivocally that Dr. 

Ogbonnaya Onu remains the 

number one APC leader in 

Igboland. He not only founded 

the APC but has remained 

resolute in building on the 

gains of the merger that 

brought the party into 

existence. Senator Ken 

Nnamani, a leader in his own 

right, should be wary of the 

likes of Okoroacha who seek to 

destroy him. 

Eze’s assertions were 

immediately dismissed by 

Nwobashi who in a statement, 

said the party was not in 

support of Pastor Eze’s views 

on Senator Ken Nnamani. 

Contradictory 

reactions 

He noted that Eze was not 

authorized to speak on behalf 

of the party and any statement 

made by him does not stand the 

test of time and should be 

regarded as a side talk. 

Nwobashi thus urged 

Governor Okorocha and 

Senator Nnamani to disregard 

the views of Eze. The 

leadership of the party in 

Anambra State is yet to take a 

final decision on the issue 

given the contradictory 

reactions by divergent interests 

in the state chapter of the party. 

The chairman of the state 

chapter of the party, Mr. Emeka 

Ibe told Vanguard: “We held a 

meeting last week and directed 

that the decision on that matter 

should be kept in abeyance, 

pending a final directive by the 

leadership of the party." 

However, not all stakeholders 

are able to swallow the issue. 

The party’s national auditor, 

Chief George Moghalu had in 

the past opposed Okorocha’s 

action. 

Even in Imo, Okorocha’s 

political base there is hardly a 

convergence of views on the 

issue. While most party 

stakeholders who spoke on the 

issue opposed their governor’s 

unilateral action, they all spoke 

on the condition of anonymity 

mainly on account of what they 

claimed were fears of reprisals. 

They faulted him for 

supposedly “taking the law into 

his hands. 

A female politician from Isiala 

Mbano, described Okorocha’s 

appointment of Nnamani as 

APC leader in the South East 

as “most unacceptable, 

extremely insulting, 

uncharitable and a 

pronouncement from the wrong 

quarters and for the wrong 

reasons”. 

She pleaded with Okorocha 

to distance himself from 

anything that would breed 

tension and anger within the 

party. “Such pronouncements 

can engineer acrimony and 

rancour within the party. 

Granted that Okorocha is our 

Governor, this should not make 

him to believe others are his 

slaves”, the woman said. 

The Imo State Commissioner 

for Information, Tourism and 

Public Utilities, Engr. Obinna 

Nshirim, however, stoutly 

defended his principal. “The 

Governor was very right in 

choosing Nnamani as APC 

leader. Nnamani has all the 

credentials that qualify him for 

the position. His achievements 

as Senate President are not in 

doubt and his love for Ndigbo 

is unprecedented. I do not 

know why anyone would 

oppose the appointment”, 

Nshirim said. 

Answering another question, 

the commissioner said that 

Okorocha did not want to 

double as party leader, 

stressing that he preferred 

being led by another fellow, 

who should be seen as the 

party’s arrowhead in the South 

East. 

In his reaction, Chief 

Ugochukwu Nzekwe 

wondered why Ndigbo are 

worried that one of their own 

was named APC leader, instead 

of working hard for a brighter 

tomorrow in the Nigerian 

project.


Ex-IMF Chief gets 4.5 years for 

embezzlement 

FORMER IMF chief 

Rodrigo Rato has 

been sentenced to fourand-a-half 

years in jail for 

embezzling money from 

two Spanish banks he 

used to run. 

A court in Madrid 

found him and more than 

60 other former bankers 

guilty of using 

undeclared corporate 

credit cards to finance 

lavish lifestyles. 

About €12m (£10.1m; 

$12.7m) was spent from 

Caja Madrid and 

Bankia in 2003-12. Rato, 

67, had denied any 

wrongdoing. 

Bankia was rescued in 

2012 at huge public 

expense. 

About 200,000 smallscale 

savers - who had 

been persuaded to 

convert their savings 

into shares before 

Bankia’s flotation in 

2011 - lost their money. 

During the trial, Rato 

argued that the corporate 

credit cards were part of 

his pay package. 

All the card purchases 

during that period were 

not declared to the tax 

authorities. 

Rato resigned as head 

of Bankia shortly before 

its near-collapse in 2012. 

He led the 

International Monetary 

Fund in 2004-07. Before 

that he served as Spain’s 

economy minister. 

A boy, who just fled a village controlled by Islamic State fighters cries as he 

sits with his family inside a bus before heading to a camp at Hammam Ali 

south of Mosul, Iraq. Photo:REUTERS 

Malaysia requests Interpol alert to find N/ 

Korean suspects 

MALAYSIA has asked 

Interpol to put out 

an alert for four missing 

North Korean suspects 

wanted over the death of 

Kim Jong Nam, police 

said Thursday. 

Speaking to reporters, 

Malaysian Inspector- 

General of Police Khalid 

Abu Bakar said police 

had also formally 

requested an interview 

with the North Korean 

embassy’s second 

secretary, who is wanted 

for questioning. 

Kim, the half brother of 

North Korean leader 

Kim Jong Un, died last 

Monday after a 

suspected poisoning 

while on his way to 

catch a flight to the 

Chinese territory of 

Macau from Kuala 

Lumpur. 

North Korea has 

furiously denied any 

involvement in Kim’s 

death, publishing a 

strongly-worded article 

on Thursday in the 

country’s state media, 

KCNA. 

It quoted a spokesman 

for the Korean Jurists 

Committee who said 

responsibility for Kim’s 

death lay with Malaysia, 

as he had died on their 

territory, and criticized 

the investigation. 

“If you look at 

Malaysian police’s 

investigation from crime 

investigation perspective 

and legal perspective, 

everything is full of weak 

points 

and 

contradictions,” it said. 

Iraqi forces take control of Mosul Airport 

US-backed Iraqi security 

forces closing in on the 

ISIL-held western half of 

Mosul have stormed the 

city’s airport and a nearby 

military base, state television 

said. 

Counterterrorism service 

(CTS) troops and elite 

interior ministry units known 

as Rapid Response forces 

descended on the airport 

early on Thursday and the 

nearby Ghazlani military 

complex, CTS spokesman 

Sabah al-Numan told state 

TV. 

This is one of the major 

achievements that the Iraqi 

forces were hoping to get in 

the first phase of going 

towards the Western side of 

the city. The area is about 

30 kms away from the 

western edge of the city, and 

Iraqi forces now say that 

they are in full control. 

“They say that the two main 

buildings of the city have 

been destroyed by ISIL 

The airport and military 

complex, which includes 

barracks and training 

grounds and sprawls across 

an area close to the 

Baghdad-Mosul highway 

was captured by ISIL 

fighters when they overran 

Mosul in June 2014." 

Russian military admits significant 

cyber-war effort 

RUSSIA’S military has 

admitted for the first 

time the scale of its 

information warfare effort, 

saying it was significantly 

expanded post-Cold War. 

Defence Minister Sergei 

Shoigu said that Russian 

“information troops” were 

involved in “intelligent, 

effective propaganda”, but 

he did not reveal details 

about the team or its 

targets. 

The admission follows 

repeated allegations of 

cyberattacks against 

Western nations by the 

Russian state. 

Nato is reported to be a 

top target. 

During the Cold War both 

the USSR and the West 

poured resources into 

propaganda, to influence 

public opinion globally and 

sell their competing 

ideologies. 

UN seeks $4bn to avert famine in 

Africa, Yemen 

MORE than $4 billion 

is needed by the 

end of March to help 

nearly 20 million people 

who risk starvation in 

Nigeria, Somalia, South 

Sudan and Yemen, 

United Nations Secretary 

General Antonio 

Guterres said on 

Wednesday. 

Citing armed conflicts 

and climate change as 

part of the reasons for the 

food emergency, Guterres 

led a call for $5.6 billion 

in funding for 

humanitarian operations 

in the four countries this 

year, of which $4.4 billion 

are needed by the end of 

next month "to avert a 

catastrophe." 

"Despite some generous 

pledges, just $90 million 

has actually been received 

so far," said Guterres, 

about two cents for every 

dollar needed. 

"We are in the beginning 

of the year but these 

numbers are very 

worrying." 

Armed conflicts are 

having devastating 

humanitarian 

consequences, said 

Guterres, calling climate 

change a “key enhancer” 

of the humanitarian 

problem. 

Last week, the U.N. 

World Food Programme's 

chief economist told 

Reuters more than 20 

million people in the four 

countries were at risk of 

dying from starvation 

within six months. 

U.N. chief Guterres said 

Wednesday women and 

girls 

are 

disproportionately 

affected by the crisis and 

nearly half a million 

children are suffering 

severe acute malnutrition. 

"Famine is already a 

reality in parts of South 

Sudan," Guterres said. 

"Unless we act now, it is 

only a matter of time until 

it affects other areas and 

other countries. We are 

facing a tragedy." 

Hundreds of protesters demand departure of 

Guinea Bissau President 

HUNDREDS 

of 

people marched 

through the capital of 

Guinea Bissau on 

Thursday demanding the 

departure of President 

Jose Mario Vaz, a day 

after parliament rejected 

a programme submitted 

by his prime minister. 

Vaz appointed Prime 

Minister Umaro Mokhtar 

Sissoco Embalo in 

November after months of 

regional talks seeking an 

end to an 18-month 

political crisis that has 

paralysed the institutions 

of the poor West African 

nation and stoked fears 

that drug traffickers 

might profit from the 

power vacuum. 

However, according to 

the constitution, the prime 

minister has already 

missed a 60-day deadline 

to present a government 

programme and budget 

that have to be accepted by 

parliament. 

"The party ... voted 

against the programme of 

the PM because his 

government is illegitimate," 

said Seidy Ba Sane, a 

spokesman for the country's 

ruling PAIGC party. 

Protests are relatively rare 

in the former Portuguese 

colony where instability has 

typically taken the form of 

military coups, led by 

officers drawn mostly from 

a narrow military elite 

drawn from an ageing 

batch of soldiers who 

fought for independence in 

1963-1974. 

The crowd on the main 

avenues of the capital 

Bissau repeatedly chanted 

"Jomav get out", using the 

president's local nickname, 

and called for fresh 

elections. 

Sissoco told reporters his 

party would continue 

ruling without the 

confidence of parliament. 

Residents say the failure 

to pass a budget has 

begun to affect their daily 

lives and that salaries for 

civil servants were 10 

days late in January. 

S/Africa targets illegal foreign workers 

SOUTH African offi 

cials will inspect 

workplaces to see if firms 

are employing undocumented 

foreigners, the 

home affairs minister 

says. 

Malusi Gigaba added 

that more than 60 employees 

of retail chain 

Spar "without documentation" 

had been arrested. 

Mr Gigaba warned that 

firms would be 

"penalised" if they 

breached the law, and 

said they should not fuel 

tensions by "playing locals 

against foreigners". 

His comments come 

amid concern that xenophobia 

is rising in South 

Africa. 

Many unemployed 

South Africans accuse foreigners 

of taking their 

jobs. 

n the past week, Nigerian 

nationals have been 

attacked in the capital 

Pretoria; on Monday, 34 

foreign-owned shops 

were looted in parts of 

Pretoria, and a local 

group has called for a 

march for Friday to protest 

at immigrants it says 

are taking their jobs. 

The attacks triggered 

condemnation by the Nigerian 

government and a 

call by MPs for Nigeria's 

ambassador to South Africa 

to be recalled. 

But South Africa's foreign 

affairs department 

dismissed claims that Nigerian 

nationals were targets 

of xenophobic violence. 

Spokesperson 

Korea grants Nigeria 

$500,000 to fight VVF 

By Dotun Ibiwoye 

KOREAN Republic 

International 

Cooperation Agency 

(KOICA) has given 

$500,000 grant to the 

United Nations Population 

Fund, (UNFPA) Nigeria, 

to scale-up support for 

fistula repairs and 

emergency obstetrics care 

in Borno State. 

KOICA released the 

grant and further 

requested UNFPA to 

submit a multi-year 

proposal of $5million to 

scale-up humanitarian 

work in Borno State. 

Governor Kashim 

Shettima of Borno, 

Clayson Monyela said 

the attacks were nothing 

more than sporadic criminal 

incidents. The government 

also said inflammatory 

social media statements 

by South Africans 

and foreign nationals 

against each other were 

unnecessary. 

yesterday commended the 

Korean Republic for the 

$500,000 grant to the state 

for obstetrics care. 

Governor Shettima 

requested that the funds 

should be invested more 

in 

providing 

infrastructure, schools, 

health facilities and 

shelter for internally 

displaced persons and for 

the host communities. 

He also urged quick 

intervention to meet lifesaving 

needs of affected 

communities, early 

recovery, and resilience in 

the building of social 

services, economic 

infrastructure and 

livelihood support 

programmes.


VISIT: 

Deputy Governor 

of Edo State, Mr. 

Philip Shuaibu 

(left) and 

Chairman/CEO, 

The New 

Diplomat Multimedia 

Group, 

Mr. Oma Djebah, 

during a visit to 

Edo State 

Government. 

EMPOWERMENT: From left—Assistant Secretary, All Progressives 

Congress, APC, Mr. Femi Saheed; Senator representing Lagos East, Senator 

Gbenga Ashafa; Mr. Denge Anifowose and Mr. Samuel Adeleke, APC leaders, 

at the three-day Agricultural Entrepreneurship Training Programme for the 

Senator's constituents in partnership with Small and Medium Enterprises 

Development Agency of Nigeria, SMEDAN, at Magodo Phase 2, Lagos. 

PHOTO: Bunmi Azeez. 

VCONNECT/NOLANDS: From left—Public Relations & 

Partnership, Vconnect Global Services Ltd., Mr. Ayodele Akinsiku; Senior 

Manager, Tax and Financial Advisory, Nolands, Mr. Taslim Salman; Founder, 

Silton Africa Kitchen, Anthonia Ojenagbon; Director, Nolands, Ms Helen 

Ijewere, and Director, Growth and Monetisation, Vconnect, Naveen Luthra, 

at the Vconnect and Nolands tax business forum for SMEs in Lagos, yesterday. 

PHOTO: Akeem Salau. 

MEETING: From left—Senior Manager Marketing, Miss Ogechi Odigbo; 

General Manager, Marketing, Mr. Anietie Udoh, both of Marketing Edge 

Publications Ltd.; Chief Executive Officer, Loeries Durban, South Africa, Mr. 

Andrew Human; Publisher/CEO, Mr. John Ajayi, and Editor, Mr. Joseph Asuquo, 

both of Marketing Edge, at a breakfast meeting in Ikeja, Lagos, yesterday.

46 —VANGUARD, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017


2017 NPA Lagos Int’l Polo tournament: Kano 

Hago, La Mansuri, Lagos Utd win in Low Cup 

KANO Hago edged 

Lagos Balmoral 

International 6 1/2 - 6 in 

the Low Cup as the final 

week of the 2017 

NPA Lagos International 

Polo Tournament 

sponsored by GTBank 

commenced on Tuesday. 

Lagos La Mansuri also 

got off to a flying start 

in the Low Cup with an 

8 - 3 1/2 win over Ibadan 

Oluyole with Ibrahim 

Musa Dantala, the MVP 

of the Silver Cup during 

the first week, influencing 

an impressive win 

for the home side. 

The last match of the 

day saw Lagos United 

defeat Kano Nakudu 8- 

4 to enhance their 

chances of progressing 

to the knock-out stage. 

In the Balmoral-Hago 

match watched by the 

Managing Director of 

GTBank, Segun Agbaje, 

the visitors - formed by 

Sarki Waziri (0), Tata 

Alikura (+2), Baccha 

Mustapha (+2) and Yusuf 

Ibrahim Katako (+2), 

took initiative and won 

two penalty kicks but 

were missed by Katako 

and Alikura, and they 

were made to pay for 

their .wastefulness by 

Isa Kwame, who scored 

the opening goal with a 

low shot from about 12 

yards. 

NFF 

Action recorded from the 2017 NPA Lagos International Polo tournament. 

2017 Standard Chartered Trophy 

‘Road to Anfield’ begins 

Continued from B/Page 

the Federation’s mandate 

to its President, 

Amaju Melvin Pinnick, 

with regards to the 

forthcoming election 

into the presidency of 

the Confederation of African 

Football. 

“The issue of which of 

the two candidates the 

NFF should support 

came up during our last 

Board meeting in Abuja, 

on Tuesday 7th February 

2017. Every single 

member of Board 

spoke on the issue and 

expressed support for 

the NFF President, Mr. 

Amaju Melvin Pinnick, 

to use his discretion 

and vote for that candidate 

who will best serve 

Nigeria’s interest during 

the election. This 

support was given 

based on the fact as the 

NFF President and a 

Member of the CAF Organizing 

Committee for 

the Africa Cup of Nations, 

he is fully in tune 

with the political play at 

that level and knows 

what would be best for 

Nigeria. 

“There was not a dissenting 

voice in the 

room that day. Everyone 

agreed that Mr. Pinnick 

should go ahead and 

cast his vote for the candidate 

he feels would 

support Nigerian Football 

to grow the way we 

want it. It is not correct 

for anyone to say the 

matter was not discussed.” 

“The Board spent 

good time discussing 

the CAF elections and 

the importance of Nigeria 

having someone 

on the CAF Executive 

Committee, considering 

the huge role that our 

nation has always been 

playing in peace –keeping 

and sundry noble 

programs on the continent. 

“There is no division 

in the NFF Board. We 

are giving full and unconditional 

support to 

Mr. Pinnick to stand for 

the elections and for 

him to cast his vote for 

that candidate whose 

presidency of CAF 

would serve the interest 

of our great nation.” 

Yahaya-Kwande, who 

is a ranking member of 

Nigeria’s House of Representatives, 

stated that 

the Federation remained 

grateful for the 

support that the Federal 

Government continues 

to give to the body 

towards the execution of 

its programmes and activities. 

The 39th Ordinary 

Congress of CAF, at 

which the elections 

would take place, comes 

up in Addis Ababa, 

Ethiopia in exactly three 

weeks’ time. 

STANDARD Char 

tered Bank Nigeria 

Limited has launched 

the 2017 country edition 

of the football tournament 

tagged ‘Standard 

Chartered Trophy: Road 

to Anfield 2017’. 

It is an international 5- 

a-side football tournament 

organized by the 

bank in partnership with 

Liverpool FC. It offers 

football fans from around 

the world a once in a life 

time opportunity of playing 

at Anfield, the home 

of Liverpool FC The 

tournaments commenced 

in 2010 when 

the bank took over the 

sponsorship of Liverpool 

Football Club. 

The tournament will 

hold in three phases; the 

local, the regional and 

finals. The first phase 

will be the national qual- 

Rooney 


paid player. 

Paul Stretford — credited 

with being the financial 

brains behind Rooney’s 

glittering career — is 

holding talks with Chinese 

Super League clubs willing 

to offer his man £1million 

a week. 

SunSport understands 

Stretford flew to China a 

few days ago and spent 

time in Tianjin, home of 

Tianjin Quanjian. 

He checked out of the 

Renaissance Hotel in the 

city on Tuesday and is believed 

to be holding talks 

with other possible suitors. 

When contacted by Sun- 

Sport on Monday, a 

NNL 


unanimous decision of 

the congress of the NNL 

in Abuja. Addressing the 

congress, the Independent 

Chairman of the 

NNL, Hon. Chidi Offo- 

Okenwa assured that his 

committee will do everything 

necessary to ensure 

that the clubs get 

their due. 

Meanwhile, a communique 

issued at the end 

of the congress among 

other things adopted a 

four year tenure for the 

management board of all 

clubs in the NNL. 

Similarly, the congress 

said it has prohibited all 

forms of direct interference 

in the management 

and administration of 

ifier holding February 

25 in Lagos. 

The second phase 

which is the West African 

regional finals will 

hold in Accra, Ghana on 

March 11 where winners 

from Nigeria, Ghana 

and Cameroon will 

lock horns. The winner 

from the West African finals 

will proceed to represent 

West Africa at the 

finals in Liverpool, UK. 

spokesman for Tianjin 

Quanjian said “We have 

no official news about 

Wayne Rooney at this 

stage.” The club’s manager 

Fabio Cannavaro 

admitted he had approached 

Rooney. 

Meanwhile, Rooney 

has confirmed he is 

staying at Manchester 

United despite reported 

interest from the Chinese 

Super League. 

In a statement released 

to the Press Association, 

Rooney said: “Despite 

the interest which has 

been shown from other 

clubs, for which I’m 

grateful, I want to end 

recent speculation and 

say that I am staying at 

Man United.”. 

NNL clubs by government 

officials and agencies; 

adding that their 

role should only be supervisory. 

Also the League Management 

Company 

(LMC) was applauded 

for its support to the 

NNL as well as other 

leagues in the country; 

even as it tasked the 

body not to relent on its 

quest to transform and 

sustain the successes 

recorded by the premier 

league body. 

The congress equally 

adopted the immediate 

and full implementation 

of the Domestic Transfer 

Matching System 

(DTMS) and National 

Transfer Certificate 

(NTC) by mid season to 

allow all clubs to fully be 

abreast of the system. 

Winners Golden Bet splashes 

N3m on agents, clients 

By Providence Emmanuel 

FAST growing sport 

betting company, 

Winners Golden Bet 

(WGB) has rewarded its 

business agents and clients 

with cash prizes 

worth over N3million and 

gifts. 

The award ceremony 

was held at Classique 

Event Centre, Ikeja, 

where the long serving 

agents were rewarded 

with N2.8 million, including 

certificate awards to 

the best agents of different 

states. 

Executive Director, 

Herrera 


suffered a disappointing 

2-0 defeat by the Italian 

giants in the first leg of 

their Champions 

League last-16 clash. 

And they suffered more 

misery when the extent 

of Herrera’s injury was 

Wenger 


world to his potential 

availability. 

The Chinese Super 

League have already 

made discrete overtures 

about adding Wenger to 

their high-profile roster 

of managers that already 

includes Manuel 

Pellegrini, Luiz Felipe 

Scolari and Andre Vil- 

Amuneke 


The Teranga Lions of 

Senegal and the Stallions 

of Burkina Faso 

featured at the 2017 AF- 

CON tournament which 

was won by the Indomitable 

Lions of Cameroon 

and they have always 

been difficult opponents 

for the Super Eagles. 

However, Amuneke, 

who was an integral part 

of the team that won the 

1994 Nations Cup and 

the Atlanta Olympic 

WGB, Mr Olabisi Sulaimon 

commended the 

agents and the clients for 

their continued support 

and patronage over the 

years, disclosing that the 

company had to adopt 

different policies in the 

face of stiff competition in 

the industry. 

“We introduced a 

unique strategy which 

our competitors have not 

been able to exploit, that 

is paying straight commission. 

We realized that 

nobody in the industry 

was willing to take full 

risk in the market." 

Ahmadu Bello House wins 

Princeton Chikki sports meet 

By Sylvia Anikwe 

TEAM Leke defeated 

Team Charles 2-1 in 

the final of Princeton 

School Inter-house sports 

competition held at the 

main bowl of Teslim Balogun 

Stadium, Surulere, 

Lagos February 21, 2017. 

It was a six aside novelty 

match by Princeton’s best 

12. Forty events were 

competed for at the sports 

meet sponsored by Chikki 

Instant Noodles in 

which Ahmadu Bello 

House emerged winners 

with 11 gold, 9 silver and 

11bronze to beat Obafemi 

Awolowo House 

which had 11 gold, 9 silver 

and 7 bronze medals 

to second place. 

Nnamdi Azikiwe with 9 

gold, 10 silver and 2 

bronze medals finished 

third ahead of Mary Slessor 

House which had 2 

gold, 6 silver and 11 

bronze medals. 

Ige Peace of Nnamdi 

Azikiwe House was decorated 

as the overall best 

athlete of the sports meet. 

The blue house captain 

also won the best male 

athlete honours, while 

Oporo Thelma of Obafemi 

Awolowo House was 

awarded best female athlete. 

revealed on social media, 

showing two large 

gashes to his left foot. 

The 26-year-old Mexico 

international was the 

victim of a heavy tackle 

from defender Lichtsteiner 

in the 50th 

minute, with the Juventus 

man booked for the 

challenge. 

las-Boas. 

Similarly, Wenger, 

whose current deal expires 

at the end of the 

season, is also attracting 

interest from cash-rich 

clubs in the Middle 

East. 

Any move to China or 

the Middle East would 

see Wenger offered deals 

worth considerably more 

than the £8million-peryear 

he already earns at 

the Emirates Stadium. 

Games in 1996, pointed 

out that Burkina Faso 

and Senegal will serve 

as true tests for the senior 

national team. 

“The Nigeria Football 

Federation has really 

done well by putting together 

such grade ‘A’ 

friendly matches that 

will help the team. 

Burkina Faso and Senegal 

are two of Africa’s 

strongest teams and I 

strongly believe they 

will give the Super Eagles 

a tough time,” 

Amuneke said.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017 

Rooney’s agent in China 

WAYNE Rooney’s 

agent is in China 

in a bid to make the 

Manchester United captain 

the world’s best- 


CAF Elections: Pinnick has 

mandate to dump Hayatou 

– NFF 

CHAIRMAN of the 

Media and Publicity 

Committee of the Nigeria 

Football Federation, 

Hon. Suleiman Yahaya-Kwande 

on Thursday 

cleared the air on 


Herrera 

shows off 

gruesome 

foot injury 

PORTO midfielder 

Hector Herrera has 

revealed the gruesome 

cut to his foot sustained 

after a nasty challenge 

from Juventus defender 

Stephan Lichtsteiner on 

Wednesday. 

The Portuguese side 


Herrera has revealed 

the gruesome cut to his 

foot 

TODAY'S PUZZLE 

Sudoku 

How to Play Sudoku 

*GOING SEPARATE WAYS: Hayatou Pinnick 

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

have two of the same number). 

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

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

bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 

through 9. This means that no number can appear twice 

in any block, column or row. 

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division 

or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination. 

YESTERDAY'S ANSWERS 

NNL 

begins 

March 17 

B/Faso, Senegal tests good for 

Eagles – Amuneke 

E X-INTERNA 

TIONAL Emmanuel 

Amuneke has 

applauded the Nigeria 

Football Federation for 

organizing grade ‘A’ international 

friendly 

matches for the Super 

Eagles to strengthen the 

team ahead of their August 

28 World Cup qualifying 

clash against African 

champions, Cameroon. 

The encounter which 

has been slated for the 

Hive Stadium in London 

on March 23 and 27 respectively, 

will also 

serve as dress rehearsals 

for the team before their 

Africa Cup of Nations 

qualifying match against 

the Bafana Bafana of 

South Africa in Uyo. 


By Jude Opara, Abuja 

BARING any last 

minute change of 

arrangements, the Nigeria 

National League 

(NNL) will kick-off on 

March 17 across the 

country. This is due to a 


ACROSS 

2 Permit (5) 

7 Go by (4) 

8 Use (6) 

9 Slumbered (5) 

11 Mouthful (3) 

13 Era (3) 

15 Ripped (4) 

16 Nipped (3) 

18 Grating (4) 

19 Check on (7) 

20 Rant (4) 

22 Argument (4) 

23 Ascertained (7) 

25 Loan (4) 

27 Sorrowful (7) 

28 Secure (4) 

30 Consume (3) 

31 Guided (3) 

33 Instrument (5) 

36 Hat (6) 

37 Group (4) 

38 Figure (5) 

Wenger 

DOWN 

1 Wireless (5) 

2 Donkey (3) 

3 Untruth (3) 

4 Damp (3) 

5 Inclined (3) 

6 Dog (5) 

10 Ache (4) 

11 Frighten (7) 

12 Stop (7) 

13 Coming (7) 

14 Instructed (7) 

16 Premium (5) 

17 Weary (5) 

18 Obtained (3) 

21 Finish (3) 

24 Temper (4) 

26 Relaxed (5) 

29 Foul (5) 

32 Crowd (3) 

33 Rotter (3) 

34 Record (3) 

35 Abroad (3) 

QUICK CROSSWORD 

ACROSS: 1, Spur. 4, Dam. 6, Alas. 9, Met. 

10, Mackerel. 11, Ball. 14, Ass. 16, Crash. 19, 

Practice. 21, Event. 23, Endorsed. 24, Demur. 

27, Tap. 31, Last. 33, Regulate. 34, Due. 

35, Seer. 36, Tor. 37, Pure. 

*ROONEY: Ready for the far east? 

Wenger to snub huge 

China mega offer 

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS 

ARSENE Wenger is 

prepared to reject 

a mega pay-day in China 

to stay among Europe’s 

elite if he leaves 

Arsenal this summer. 

As revealed by Sportsmail 

last week, Wenger 

is giving serious consideration 

to his future after 

watching his side’s 

season implode once 

again. 

The uncertainty surrounding 

the Frenchman’s 

future has alerted 

a host of clubs across the 


DOWN: 2, Plan. 3, Rake. 4, Derisive. 5, Male. 

6, Amber. 7, Lea. 8, Atlas. 12, Spend. 13, Harem. 

14, Ate. 15, Scent. 17, Abuse. 18, Hardy. 

20, Endanger. 22, Top. 25, Evade. 26, Utter. 

28, Fret. 29, Clap. 30, Stir. 32, Sue. 

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

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

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

24022017 Bank directors liable for 40% of N1.85trn bad loans— NDIC boss

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