29042017 - Kanu regains freedom

2 — SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 29, 2017

SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 29, 2017 — 3

4 — SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 29, 2017

SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 29, 2017 — 5
Leader of Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB),
Nnamdi Kanu with his family members and friends after
meeting his bail condition in Abuja yesterday.
Jubilation as Kanu regains freedom
•How South-East Senate Caucus, Abaribe, Jewish high priest, others secured his release
•Kanu, Igbo, Biafran agitators must learn from this — Chekwas Okorie
By Emeka Mamah,
Clifford Ndujihe,
Ikechukwu Nnochiri &
Johnbosco Agbakwuru
ABUJA – EXACTLY
563 days after his
arrest and detention,
Leader of the Indigenous
People of Biafra, IPOB,
Nnamdi Kanu, regained
his freedom around
6:40pm, yesterday, after
he perfected all the bail
conditions handed to him
by trial Justice Binta Nyako
of the Federal High
Court, Abuja.
Kanu, who arrived the
high court premises
around 6:20pm in a black
Toyota jeep with registration
number ABC-46-
MU, was formally released
to Senator Enyinnaya
Abaribe; a Jewish
High Chief Priest, Immanuu-El
Shalom and a
Chartered Accountant residing
in Abuja, Mr. Tochukwu
Uchendu, the
three sureties who signed
his bail bond. Kanu’s lawyer,
Mr. Ifeanyi Ejiofor
and the three sureties
were at the high court
registry earlier in the day
to sign the necessary bail
documents.
However, in line with an
order of the Judge, the
IPOB leader was brought
back to the court from
Kuje prison to sign an
undertaken that he would
be available to answer to
the five-count charge the
Federal Government entered
against him.
Immediately he was formally
released by the
prison officials, Kanu was
received by a jubilant
crowd including his relatives.
Some people struggled
to take photographs
with him at the court
premises.
“I feel good that at the
end of the day we were
able to effect his release
from incarceration and we
believe that going forward,
we will be able to
properly address and resolve
issues behind his
agitation”, Senator Abaribe
told newsmen.
Kanu, who had been in
detention since October
14, 2015, secured bail
from the high court on
April 25.
Justice Binta Nyako
said her decision to release
Kanu who is the 1st
defendant before the
court, on bail, was based
on health grounds.
She cited an affidavit
that was attached to the
bail application Kanu
filed through his lawyer,
Mr. Ifeanyi Ejiofor.
Specifically, the court
held that Kanu must produce
three sureties, including
a “highly respected
and recognised
jewish leader.”
According to the court,
aside a jewish leader,
Kanu must also produce
a “highly placed person
of Igbo extraction”, as
well as “a highly respected
person who is resident
and owns landed property
in Abuja”. Each of the
sureties must deposit
N100million.
Justice Nyako had in
the course of the ruling,
asked Kanu to tell the
court the religion he believes
in, considering
that one of the bail conditions
would include his
production of a highly
placed religious leader.
“My lord I believe in
Judaism”, Kanu replied
from the dock. So you are
a Jew then?”, the Judge
queried. “Yes I am a Jew”,
Kanu maintained.
“Good. In that case, one
of the sureties must be a
highly respected and recognised
Jewish leader,’’
Justice Nyako added.
As part of his conditions
for bail, Kanu, was expressly
barred by the
court from attending any
rally or granting any form
of interview.
“I must stress it here
that the defendant must
not attend any rally. He
must not be in a crowd
exceeding 10 persons”,
the Judge warned.
Justice Nyako equally
held that Kanu who was
arrested by security operatives
upon his arrival to
Nigeria from the United
Kingdom, must sign an
undertaken to make himself
available for trial at
all times.
Kanu was ordered to
surrender his Nigerian
and British international
passports, even as the
Leader of Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB),
Nnamdi Kanu (right) with Senator Eyinaya Abaribe.
court compelled the Federal
Government to return
to him, his wedding ring
and reading glasses.
However, Kanu’s codefendants,
Chidiebere
Onwudiwe, Benjamin
Madubugwu and David
Nwawuisi, were denied
bail by the court which
described the charges
against them as “very
serious”.
Justice Nyako said the
fact that she earlier struck
out terrorism charges the
Federal Government
slammed against the defendants
did not waterdown
the seriousness of
the treason charge
against them.
How Kanu met bail
conditions
Speaking to Saturday
Vanguard after signing
the bail bond, Senator
Abaribe said as the representative
of the people,
he would always come to
their rescue in time of
need even as he advised
them not to sacrifice their
lives in whatever agitations
they are embarking
upon. “I came here to sign
the bail bond for Nnamdi
Kanu. You recall that one
of the conditions for his
bail is that a Senator will
have to sign for him and
that is why I am here. I
just signed the bail
bond,” he said.
In his message to
youths from South East,
Senator Abaribe said:
“What I am telling the
youths from the South
East is that they don’t
need to sacrifice their
lives for any agitation they
are doing. We will support
their decisions, we
will also in some way be
alive to our responsibilities
as those who are representing
them at the
National Assembly and
the larger national polity
of Nigeria. They should
have trust that we have
their interest at heart.”
Also speaking, Tochukwu
Uchendu, an Accountant
and an entrepreneur
said that he was
optimistic that after fulfilling
the bail conditions,
the IPOB leader would be
released.
“We are here to sign a
bail bond for Nnamdi
Kanu and I have signed.
The cost of freedom is
high, but the important
thing is that the condition
is being met, that is what
is important. People have
offered to secure his freedom.
We are working to
ensure his release today.”
Another person and a
Jewish High Chief Priest,
Immanuel-El Shalom
Oka-Ben Madu, who
also signed the bail bond
said, “I am here because
there was a message
across to bail my younger
brother. As a religious
organisation leader, they
requested my attention
that is why I am here. I
am a Jewish man. I have
fulfilled the bail process.
By Yahweh’s grace I believe
he will be released
as soon as possible because
nothing is more
than our creator in heaven.”
Roles played by South-
East Senate caucus
Saturday Vanguard reliably
gathered that the
South-East Caucus of the
Senate, met on Thursday
and agreed to bail the
IPOB leader.
At an emergency meeting
held at the Apo Quarters
residence of Deputy
Senate President, Senator
Ike Ekweremadu,
sources said the lawmakers
discussed the stringent
bail conditions
granted Kanu by Justice
Binta Nyako of the Federal
High Court, Abuja
on Tuesday.
Said the source: “First,
the Caucus agreed to
work as a team to secure
Kanu’s release. It was
agreed that the leader of
the Caucus and Senator
representing Abia South
Senatorial District, Senator
Enyinnaya Abaribe or
the Senator representing
the IPOD leader’s Abia
Central Senatorial District,
Senator Theodore
Orji, should take him on
bail.”
The source said that the
South East Senate Cau-
Outrage over FG’s appointments
Why Katsina got 51 DSS slots – Presidency Source
Condemns report of lopsidedness in appointments
BY Charles Kumolu,
Simeon Ebegbulem,
Gabriel Enogholase,
Levinus Nwabughiogu,
Johnbosco Agbakwuru,
Emmanuel Una & Bello
Bashir
Nnamdi Kanu with friends and a family member.
Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan
OUTRAGE spread in
some parts of the
country, yesterday, following
revelations of lopsided recruitment
into the Department
of State Service, DSS
reflecting what many Nigerians
described as a continuing
effort by the President
Muhammadu Buhari administration
to stamp a
northern character on all
strands of the federal bureaucracy.
The outrage over the lopsided
appointments by the
Buhari administration was
heightened yesterday after
it was reported that the latest
DSS recruitments were
heavily skewed in favour of
the north and in particular,
Katsina, the home state of
President Buhari and the
Director-General of the DSS.
In the revelations published
by the online newspaper,
51 of the 479 new recruits
came from Katsina,
which is more than the 42
new cadets recruited from
the six South-South states.
Whereas Katsina had 51
new cadets, the distribution
in the six South-South states
is as follows: Rivers 7, Delta
8, Edo 6, Cross River 9,
Bayelsa 7 and Akwa Ibom,
5.
Lagos, the state with the
highest population had 7
while Kano which follows
had 25 and was closely followed
by Kaduna with 24
and Bauchi, 23 cadets.
However, a presidency
cus had also made contact
with Nnamdi’s lawyers
on the decision to
ensure that his bail is perfected.
The Ohanaeze
Ndigbo and the Igbo
Youth Movement, IYM,
and the Eastern Consultative
Assembly,ECA, expressed
excitement over
Kanu’s release from prisons
after perfecting his
bail conditions saying
that it was a good step
forward. They however,
asked the Federal Government
to drop the
charges against Kanu.
President General of
Ohanaeze and Founder
of IYM, Chief Nnia Nwodo
and Evangelist Elliot
Ugochukwu-Uko spoke
during separate telephone
interviews while
reacting to Kanu’s release,
last night.
Nwodo said: “Although
it is just a bail, we are
very excited. We hope
they will ultimately drop
the charges against Kanu
and other members of
IPOB. We are indeed
happy that he was able to
meet the stringent conditions.”
Ugochukwu- Uko said:
“We thank all those who
signed the bail forms for
Nnamdi Kanu. They
have written their names
in gold. We particularly
commend Benjamin
Madubugwu, Chidiebere
Onwudiwe and David
Nwawuchi who allowed
Kanu to leave them behind
in prison. They
asked Kanu to step out
and we commend them
for their sagacity and nobility.
Continues on page 41
source justified the recruitment
quota, yesterday and
said there is no lopsidedness
in President Buhari’s appointments.
However, Senator Ekweremadu,
the highest ranking
Igbo political office holder
said the reality on ground
for the people of the Southeast
was that of exclusion
from the Buhari administration.
He spoke against the
background of controversies
surrounding the replacement
of the board of the
National Pension Commission,
PenCom where the
former Director-General,
Continues on page 43

6 — SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 29, 2017
How EFCC probed me — Obasanjo
By Emmanuel Aziken
Political Editor and
Charles Kumolu
AMIDST an out
pouring of commendations
from some of
his political associates
former President Olusegun
Obasanjo last night
disclosed how the Economic
and Financial
Crimes Commission,
EFCC probed him and
unearthed a foreign account
long used by his
late wife, Stella Obasanjo.
Obasanjo said the account
which was opened
by the late Stella in her
maiden name before they
got married was the
nearest to what the
former EFCC chairman,
Mallam Nuhu Ribadu
could find against him
just after he had been
appointed by him.
Ribadu who praised
Obasanjo’s steadfastness
as president said that
contrary to claims by Gov.
Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State
that Obasanjo begged
him to go softly on Fayose
in the period when the
commission laid seige on
him. Ribadu also swore
that Obasanjo was not
privy to the arrest of
Globalcom chairman,
Chief Mike Adenuga.
Obasanjo at the occasion
also disclosed how
he gave former Police
boss Tafa Balogun a 30
minute ultimatum to resign
or be dismissed.
Associates of the former
President had converged
in Lagos to celebrate him
on the occasion of his
80th birthday.
The associates who
converged as “Learners
of the Olusegun Obasanjo
School of Nigerian
Politics” included former
office holders in the
Obasanjo administration
and some of the country’s
leading names in the
economy and
Nollywood. As the get
together commenced at
UK to Jonathan: We didn’t aid Buhari to defeat you
By Soni Daniel
THE British Govern
ment has washed off
its hands over allegation by
former President Goodluck
Jonathan that its former
Prime Minister, David
Cameron, connived with
other world leaders to edge
him out office.
Jonathan in a new book
launched on Friday, accused
Cameron, former
United States President,
Barak Obama and other
world leaders of aiding his
rival, Muhammadu Buhari
to win the last general election.
But in a quick reaction,
the British Government in
a statement issued by its
High Commission in Nigeria
and signed by the Press
and Public Affairs Officer,
Mr. Joe Abuku, said that the
election was a Nigerian
8.00 p.m. a jovial President
Obasanjo charged
his political disciples to
make it a hearty evening
and make it “a reunion,
of reminiscences that will
make us laugh, laugh
and laugh.”
Among those present
were Otunba Gbenga
Daniel, former Governor
of Ogun State, Chief
Olangusoye Oyinola,
former governor of Osun
State, Otunba Oyewole
Fasawe, Dr. (Mrs.) Dere
Awosika, Mallam Nuhu
Ribadu, Mr. Akin Osuntokun,
Mallam Ahmed
Yayale, Mallam Uba
Sani, Dr. Doyin Okupe.
Also present were Mr.
Tonye Cole, Mr. Aigboje
Aik-Imoukhuede, AIG
Ogunsakin, Senator Kola
Bajumo, Mallam Yayale
Ahmed among others.
Some of the political disciples
who took turns
praising Obasanjo’s political
steadfastness in the
line of duty.
Mrs. Awosika particularly
praised Obasanjo’s
reputation in the international
community.
She said that there was
no better way to market a
country than through a
leader respected by the
international community.
“I travelled with Baba
project and that the British
Government did not interfere
with the polls in any
way.
It said, “Prior to the 2015
elections in Nigeria, the UK
engaged with Nigerian political
parties and their leaders
to urge them to run a
fair, non violent campaign
and allow Nigerian voters
to decide who their future
political leadership would
be. We congratulated President
Jonathan on having
handed over power peacefully
in 2015 having lost the
Nigerian Presidential elections.
“The elections were a
credit to the Nigerian people
and a truly historic moment
for Nigerian democracy.
This process further
strengthened Nigeria’s
democratic tradition.
“The UK welcomes the
assessment of independent
observers, including the EU,
several times and I can
tell you that he was well
respected and courted
everywhere.”
Otunba Daniel, Dr.
Okupe also praised him
but affirmed that he was
a man who was strict and
could punish severely if
anyone fell out of line.
Dr. Okupe said President
Obasanjo could often
be misunderstood but
that he always had the
best intentions. Mallam
Uba Sani commended
him as the most detribalised
Nigerian leader ever
saying that Obasanjo’s
successors surrounded
themselves with friends
and family noting that
Funeral Service for Late Mrs. Lebi Loretta Okudu
was held at Trinity House Zion Center ,Trinity Avenue
by Water Corporation V I Lagos , yesterday. Pix from
left Brig-Gen. Sunday Tuoyo (Brother in Law) ,Mrs
Tsaigbe Tuoyo (Sister to deceased), Mrs Maureen Boroh
(Eldest Daugther), Dr . (Mrs.) Keji Okudu (daugther)
and Mr. Jamie Okudu [Grand son] Ptoto Shola Oyelese
Funeral Service for Late Mrs Lebi Loretta Okudu was held at Trinity House Zion
Center ,Trinity Avenue by Water Corporation V I Lagos on 28042017 Pix from left
Mrs Ete Ambah , {Last daughter], Brig Gen Sunday Tuoyo , (Brother in Law) , Mr
John Tuoyo, (Nephew) and Comdr Paul Boroh Ptoto Shola Oyelese
that Nigeria’s elections were
largely peaceful and conducted
in accordance with
recognised international
democratic norms, and that
there was no evidence of systemic
manipulation of the
process,” the UK government
said.
In a new book presented
to the public in Lagos yesterday,
former President
Goodluck Jonathan said he
lost the 2015 elections to
local and international
conspiracies. He named the
United States, Britain, and
France as the conspirators.
He blamed it all on
former United States President
Barack Obama, ex-
British Prime Minister David
Cameron and French
President Francois Hollande
for aiding President
Muhammadu Buhari’s victory.
Dr Jonathan also said he
that is “why we are here
today.” Mallam Ribadu
in his comments said that
his success in life can be
traced to the support he
had from President Obasanjo.
Ribadu moved Obasanjo
when he reminded
him that the promise of a
wrist watch the former
president made to him
while he was in office
was yet to be fulfilled
prompting Obasanjo to
give him the wrist watch
he was wearing.
Following the words of
commendation Obasanjo
flanked by his wife, Bola
and associates cut a birthday
cake.
was disappointed by the
conduct of the immediate
past Chairman of the Independent
National Electoral
Commission (INEC), Prof.
Attahiru Jega, in the weeks
preceding the elections.
He said he conceded defeat
to avoid bloodshed in
view of a similar experience
after the 2011 poll.
He said: “President
Barack Obama and his officials
made it very clear to
me by their actions that they
wanted a change of government
in Nigeria and we’re
ready to do anything to
achieve that purpose. They
even brought some naval
ships into the Gulf of Guinea
in the days preceding the
election.
“I got on well with Prime
Minister David Cameron
but at some point, I noticed
that the Americans were
putting pressure on him.
End-time pastor strips married
woman, fingers her in hotel
By Emma Amaize
POLICE in Delta State Command are investi
gating a 34-year-old Anglican Church pastor
from Anambra State, who allegedly tricked a 23-
year married woman that had a matrimonial problem
to a hotel in Asaba, where he took-off her clothes
and caressed her.
The cup of the pastor, also in the habit of obtaining
money from his victims, ran over recently after
one of his victims exposed him.
Commissioner of Police, Delta State, Mr. Zanna
Ibrahim, confirmed the arrest of the randy pastor.
Mock JAMB Exam: FG urges state
govt to allow free movement
THE Federal Government has urged all State
Governments to allow free movement of people
on Saturday, 29 April 2017 to enable students to
participate in JAMB’s Voluntary Mock Examination
fixed for that date nationwide.
In a statement issued in Lagos on Friday, the
Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai
Mohammed, said the mock examination is being
conducted ahead of the 2017 UTME to enable interested
students to familiarize themselves with the
Computer-Based Test (CBT) test environment.
Buhari absent at Jummat prayer
in Aso Villa
PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari yesterday
failed to worship at the Presidential Villa,
Abuja mosque. The reason was not known as at
press time.
But the State House had on Thursday issued a
statement that the sick President was recuperating
at his private residence, a reason why he is rarely
seen in the public. However Governors Ibikunle
Amosun (Ogun State); Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara
State) and Abdulahi Ganduje (Kano State) were
amongst those that worshiped at the Villa Mosque.
GUILD OF EDITORS' BIENNIAL
Photo: Bunmi Azeez
CONVENTION
Mrs. Funke Egbemode, President, Nigerian Guild of Editors
and Mr. Bayo Onanuga, MD, NAN, during the arrival of Members
of Nigerian Guild of Editors, to the 2017 Biennial Convention,
Themed: "A Nation in Recession: Whither the Nigerian
Media" at Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, yesterday.
From left: Mr. Steve Osuji of The Nation Newspaper and
Member, Mr. Ken Njoku,Member, Mr. Bonnie Iwuoha,
Commissioner of Information, Abia state, Mr. Biodun Akinbusuyi,
Dr. Jacob Nwachukwu and Mrs. Dupe Ajayi at the event.
From left: Victoria Ibanga, General Secretary, Nigerian
Guild of Editors, Azuh Amatus of Daylight, Mrs.
Funke Egbemode, President, Nigerian Guild of Editors
and Mr. Ayinde Soaga of NTA, during their arrival.

I was instructed to pay money into Ajumogobia’s
account — Customs officer
By Abdulwahab Abdulah
and Jane Echewodo
AN Assistant Comptroller
of Customs, Mr.
Omale Ujah, the fifth prosecution
witness in the ongoing
trial of a Federal High
Court judge, Justice Rita
Ofili-Ajumogobia yesterday
told a Lagos State High Court
sitting in Ikeja how he was
instructed to pay money in
tranches to the company account
of the embattled
Judge.
Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, is
being tried by the Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission,
EFCC for alleged
bribery and unlawful enrichment.
Led in evidence by the
prosecutor, Mr. Rotimi
Oyedepo, Ujah informed the
court that he was instructed
by one Musa Tahir, who was
the Deputy Comptroller-General
of Customs to pay the
sum of N12m to the account
of Nigel and Colive limited,
a company owned by Justice
Ofili-Ajumogobia.
“In the course of my duty
in 2014,the Deputy Comptroller-General
that I was
working with, Musa Tahir,
came down from the office of
the Controller-General of
Custom and gave me the
account number of Nigel and
Colive limited.
“Saying that the CGC said
we should liaise with 12 commands
and they should pay
N1m each to my account and
I should transfer the whole
sum to Nigel and Colive limited.
And that instruction was
carried out,” Ujah said.
Ujah further explained
that he paid the money in
three tranches; N4m, N3m
and N5m. He also stated that
no services in his knowledge
was rendered by the company
to Customs before those
monies were paid.
Under cross-examination
by Ofili-Ajumogobia’s counsel,
Chief Robert Clarke
(SAN), Ujah said in Customs,
you obey the last order
and he was not trained to ask
questions, so he could not
ask what the monies were
meant for.
Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia is
standing trial alongside a
Senior Advocate of Nigeria,
Chief Godwin Obla, who
was accused of bribing her
with N5m.
Meanwhile, the anti-graft
agency called on their sixth
witness, Mr. Robinson Emafidon,
the Head of Regulatory
Liaison in the United Bank
of Africa.
Emafidon informed the
court that his bank got a letter
from EFCC asking them
to provide the statement of
account of Obla.
“Sometimes in November,
2016,we received a letter from
the EFCC asking us to provide
them the account opening
documents and statement
of account regarding the subject
customer. “Our response
in line with my duties, I got
copies of those documents
from the archive and printed
the account statement which
were entries made as transactions
of account.
•Read more online.
www.vanguard ngr.com
Autonomy for local governments will free states from
financial burden — Gov. Amosun
By Emmanuel Elebeke &
Joseph Erunke
THE Ogun State
Governor, Ibukunle
Amosun has said heeding to
the clamour for Local
Governments’ autonomy in
the country will free the states
from financial burden.
Governor Amosun made
the declaration while
responding to the conferment
of outstanding achievement
award in governance by the
Nigerian Union of
Journalists, NUJ during its
62nd anniversary lecture
held on Thursday night in
Abuja.
The Governor said Local
Governments in his state
have become a burden to his
government as they cannot
generate enough revenue to
run them contrary to public
perception that state
governors divert their
allocation into other uses.
He said his administration
will support the clamour for
the autonomy of Local
Governments in so far as
they can be self sustaining
without state governors
augment their expenses as
he is currently doing in his
state
“I clearly support the
clamour for Local
Government autonomy, yes,
if they can be self sustaining.
But if they cannot, there will
be no need. People will not
know what we are passing
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige(2nd left) flanked by
Nigeria Charge deAffairs in Algeria, Musa Nuhu and Director of Productivity
Measurement and Standards,Dan Nebragho at the 2nd Ordinary Session of the
Specialized Technical Committee on Social Development, Labour and Employment
taking place in Algiers, Algeria.
through to pay salaries and
wages of Local Governments.
I can tell you that Local
Governments in Ogun State
are burden to my
government, I don not know
for other states.
"One thing that gladdens
my heart is that we have
nothing to hide. These days,
governors are endangered
species. But for me, he that
cannot be cancelled cannot
be saved. It is when criticism
like this come that one can
take a deep look and make
corrections.
“It is a learning process;
we will look at it and see
where we can make our own
contribution. The National
Assembly will play its part
and we will play our part
also. I want to assure you
that all of us know that it is
not the way it is.
“Even the money we
receive for Local
Governments in Ogun State
this month cannot pay
primary school teachers.
When people say governors
NICON BUILDING COLLAPSE:
take local governments
money, I wonder where the
money is. Yes, I know there
may be some imperfections,
but we will get there.
“The Local Governments
do have any money as
people think. The N2 billion
allocation we received this
month for instance cannot pay
teachers salary, not to talk of
political staff and others. Last
month we had to augment
local governments with over
N2 billion. So, you can see
that Local Governments in
Ogun States is like a burden
to us.”
Lagos seals structure, orders integrity test
THE Lagos State
Government on Friday
sealed off the building that
partially collapsed at Nicon
Town Estate on Admiralty
Way in Lekki on Thursday
which reportedly killed two
persons and left one other
severely injured.
The State Government has
also ordered integrity test to
be conducted on the
structure.
Speaking to reporters after
carrying out on-the-spot
assessment of the incident,
the State’s Commissioner for
Physical Planning and
Urban Development, Wasiu
Anifowose, said the building
would remain sealed till the
completion of investigation
by relevant government
agencies, while the report of
the investigation would be
made public in due course.
He said officials of the
Ministry immediately
moved to site after being
alerted of the incident, while
the workers at the scene were
evacuated.
He said: “Yesterday, I was
in my office when I had a
call that there was a partial
building collapse in Lekki
and I immediately mobilized
my officers to site. They have
given me their report and the
onus is on me to ascertain the
situation of things and that is
why I am here."
SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 29, 2017 — 7
Ambode unveils Lagos digital library
•Says access to education is a must for all
THE Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode
yesterday formally unveiled the State Digital Library,
reiterating his administration’s commitment to providing
access to education for all.
The Governor, who was represented by Secretary to the
State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello, said the decision to unveil
a first-of-its-kind digital library is to provide access to
educational materials through the collection of digital content
via the online portal.
He emphasized that it would complement the quest for
achieving the Lagos dream of becoming Africa’s model
megacity and a global economic and financial Hub.
“The digital library will provide a repository of contents
which include 2,000 study aids on core subjects from primary
to senior secondary school curriculum, over 1,600 tutorials,
instructional videos and selected e-books for primary to SS3
approved texts, brief history of Lagos State, online forum,
podcasts and exam-mate (A Test Resource)” he said.
Governor Ambode also stated that “the contents also include
quality research papers from Lagos State tertiary institutions
covering a wide range of topics digitized for the platform in
various forms such as vocational videos, entrepreneurship
contents, creatively presented history lessons and online
courses on coding.”
Empowerment: Japanese, Nigerian groups
partner to groom Nigerian youths
By Grace Udofia
AN international non-governmental organization (NGO)
Ashinaga Africa Initiative (AAI) has commenced the
consolidation process with its Nigerian partner, Utin Destiny
Achievers Foundation (UDAF), for the sake of the lessprivileged
in Nigeria.
Both organizations have agreed to empower young and
vulnerable people in the country and across West Africa by
increasing access to higher education.
The Ashinaga programme coordinator for West Africa,
Hector Bagley, who met with the management team of UDAF,
in Abuja, disclosed that the group was funded from Japan
and was launched in 2014.
Bagley, who was accompanied by another member of AAI,
Yuka Yamada, said his organization decided to initiate the
process of working with UDAF because it shares similar vision
and mission of developing skills of vulnerable young people
and empower them to secure their future through education.
“This partnership is aimed at helping many vulnerable
people in the year to develop skills, acquire key leadership
training in Japan and on their return to Nigeria, West Africa,
they will have significant impact on the society, government,
economy as well as help their countries to resolve burning
issues as they develop,” Bagley explained.
Bagley, who commended UDAF for sharing similar mission
and vision with Ashinaga urged it to reach out to both private
and public organizations and individuals by making creating
awareness on its activities as this would go a long way in
moving the organization forward.
He advised youths and the less-privileged in Nigeria not
to stop trying; stressing that life is filled with challenges and
difficulties. “If you work and prove yourself by working hard
on your purpose, you will surly achieve whatever you want
to achieve.”
The president and chief executive officer of UDAF, Pastor
Peter Utin, an airline engineer, commended the AAI team
from Japan for finding his organization the best partner to
work with.
Memorial service for late Iyabosola
Adesegun holds May 1
AMEMORIAL service in honour of late Deaconess
Olabisi Iyabosola Adesegun will hold on May 1, 2017
at United Apostolic Church in Ikorodu area of Lagos State.
The deceased died on May 1, 2015 at the age of 67.
A statement issued by the family yesterday said the memorial
service would hold by 10am at the church’s auditorium
located at 14, Suberu Ogunsanya Street, Ikorodu.
The statement added that reception would follow immediately
at Caritas Events Centre by Voice of Nigeria, Ibeshe
Road, Ebute in Ikorodu.
The late Adesegun (Nee Idris) is survived by many children
and grandchildren including the presenter of popular
television show highlighting the giant strides of the Lagos
State Government on local and foreign investment drive,
Lagos Global On TV, Mrs Temitope Oluseyi-Oshin.

8 — SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 29, 2017
$43m Ikoyigate: Osinbajo’s panel quizzes
Emefiele, CBN Governor; NIA officials
*Committee to submit report next week
By Levinus
Nwabughiogu
FOR several hours on
yesterday, the 3-man
Presidential panel
investigating the
suspended Director-
General of National
Intelligence Agency, NIA,
Ambassador Ayo Oke over
the recovered $43 million at
Osborne House, Ikoyi,
Lagos grilled the governor
of Central Bank of Nigeria,
CBN, Godwin Emefiele.
The panel headed by Vice
President Yemi Osinbajo
with the Attorney-General of
the Federation, AGF,
Abubakar Malami and the
National Security Adviser,
NSA, Babagana Monguno
as members also quizzed
other unnamed top officials
of the nation’s security
agency.
Oke’s NIA claimed
ownership of the huge cash
that the Economic and
Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC located
and seized after a tip off from
a whistle-blower.
Apparently miffed by the
claims and its attendant
embarrassment, President
Muhammadu Buhari
placed Oke on an indefinite
suspension from his office
penultimate week.
The Secretary to the
Government of the
Federation, SGF, Babachir
Lawal was also suspended
alongside Oke for his
alleged unpalatable role in
the management of the
N200 million grass cutting
contract in the Boko Haram
infested North Eastern
Nigeria through the
Presidential Initiative for
North East, PINE under his
control.
“You know that in that
kind of transaction, it is only
one person that can give
approval and that person is
the President. The president
must give approval and that
must be in exceptional
cases.
“The CBN governor gave
his own account. You know
it is one thing to secure
approval and another thing
to release cash, that kind of
cash for that matter,” the
source told Saturday
Vanguard.
It was also learnt that some
other officials of the NIA also
appeared before the
investigative panel to
answer relevant questions.
Meanwhile, the Paper
gathered that the Committee
which was given 14 days
within which to conclude
their investigations and
turn in their report would
meet up the deadline.
By next week
Wednesday, the life of the
panel would have elapsed
but the source stated that it
was most likely to finish and
submit its findings according
to schedule.
“What I can tell you is that
the Committee headed by
His Excellency, Professor
Yemi Osinbajo is working
diligently to not only meet
the deadline but do a
thorough job Nigerians
would be very proud of,” the
source added.
Nigeria needs a president who
sees every part of the country as
his own — Ekweremadu
*Says Igbo Marginalisation, a reality
that borders on exclusion
By Henry Umoru
DEPUTY Senate Presi
dent, Ike Ekweremadu,
yesterday, said that
the bitter quest for the presidency
by the various ethnic
extractions of the country
would continue until Nigeria
has a President who
sees every part of the country
as his or her constituency
Ȧccording to him, a President
who is committed to
reuniting what he described
as a highly polarised nation
and reawaken the giant in
all parts thereof will end the
recurring cries of marginalization
among various
ethnic groups of the country,
adding that the President
Nigeria needs must
ensure that people are not
mistreated on grounds of
their electoral choices or
where they come from.
Ekweremadu spoke in
Abuja at the public presentation
of the book, “The Audacity
of Power and the Nigeria
Project: Exclusion of
the South East in Nigeria’s
Power Politics and the
Spectre of Biafra” authored
by Godwin Udibe and Law
Mefor.
The deputy Senate President,
who was represented
by Hon. Dennis Amadi,
representing Ezeagu/
Udi of Enugu state in the
House of Representatives,
said to address Igbo marginalization,
there must be
true restructuring and federalism
because if there
had been a normal federal
arrangement, the hue and
cry over marginalisation by
Ndigbo and other parts of
Nigeria would not have
arisen.
Stressing that marginalisation
of the Igbo is real, he
said, “the cross of Ndigbo in
the Nigerian state is heavy;
Igbo marginalisation is real;
and as the authors argue,
now borders on deliberate
exclusion.”
Ekweremadu said the
worst disadvantages suffered
by Ndigbo are not just
those imposed by structural
imbalances such as fewer
number of states and local
governments or the lesser
revenue accruals, political
representation, federal employments
and political appointments
arising from the
imbalances and willful injustice.
Edo Govt reconstructs 30km of
roads in Benin City
By SIMON EBEGBULEM
THE Edo Government yesterday disclosed that over
30km roads within Benin City, the state capital
have been reconstructed between December 2016 and
April 2017.
The roads include most of the bad portions in the
Government Reservation Area (GRA) such as 1st Ugbor,
Nekpenekpe, Oni street, Jemide/Akhiobare, Wire Road
and others.
The Director of Construction in the state Ministry of
Works, Mr John Obanor, who disclosed this to
journalists yesterday during an on-the-spot inspection
of the roads, explained that from the total 29 roads of
over 50km earmarked for rehabilitation, 15 have been
completed with either flexible pavement or rigid
pavement.
According to him, the decision to use rigid pavement,
was to ensure durability of the roads, especially in areas
that are prone to flooding. “We have done quite well
as regards reconstruction and rehabilitation of the
roads, in fact, we are sure of completing all these roads
before the rains set in proper.
“As you may have noticed, we adopted quite a number
of measures to ensure these roads last longer. These
measures are the combination of rigid pavement and
flexible pavement. Areas that are prone to
environmental condition, we use rigid pavement while
we use flexible pavement for the areas that are not
prone to flooding.
DSS parades kidnappers, vandals
By Abdallah el-Kurebe
THE Department for State Service (DSS) has paraded
a gang of seven syndicate that has been kidnapping
and terrorising villages in Goronyo, Isah and Sabon Birni
local governments of Sokoto State.
The Director, Tijjani Kaffa who paraded the suspects
at the Command headquarters yesterday advised them
to surrender their arms and embrace Sokoto State
government’s Amnesty programme.
“There are incentives and other necessary support for
them to be readmitted into the society’s fold for the better,”
he said.
Kaffa who disclosed that the suspects specialised in
kidnapping, armed robbery and cattle rustling, also said
that the gang was led by Abdullahi Mohammed (a.k.a
Hanaswa) of Zangon Arab with other suspects as Shabi
Danmusa, Abdullahi Boka, Isah Aliyu, Sule, Tukur and
Ibrahim Maye all of Taloka village in Sabon Birnii. Also
paraded were three suspected vandals of cables, solar
panels and water supply equipment worth N8 million.
Kaffa said the arrests were made in separate joint
operations with the military between April 15 and April
19, 2017 as a result of the abduction of one Nasiru Aliyu
Maigoro of Tolaka village after collecting a ransom of
N1 million.
Journalist’s wife missing
THE wife of a Lagos based Journalist, Mr Victor
Alofoje, publisher of Top Celebraties online,
is missing. The 58 years old woman, Mrs Winnifred
Alofoje left their new residence at Hand- of -Fire
City , Igando , at about 9 am , for Yaba to renew her
Nurse and Midwifery licence at the Nursing and
Midwifery Council, Yaba Lagos on April 10.
Winnifred Alofoje works at Blue Sky Hospital
,Egbeda , Lagos State as a matron.
Efforts to trace her has been fruitless as her name
was said to be missing in a register for people who
visited the centre for licences on the day in
question.
Though Alofoje said he learned there was an
accident in the Maryland area on the said Friday the
wife left the house but noted that they visited Gbagada
General Hospital as well as went to the Lagos
University
Teaching Hospital, Idi Araba but could not get any
useful information about his wife.
The Lagos State Police
Public Relations Officer
, ASP Olarinde
Famous- Cole has
confirmed the incident.
However, Alofoje says
the police needs to move
fast to get information
about his wife
whereabouts while
calling on the media to
disseminate the
information concerning
his missing wife in the
public domain.
•Mrs Winnifred Alofoje

SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 29, 2017 — 9
Militants give FG 14-day ultimatum to
tackle 5-point demand
*Threaten to resume hostilities if
rebuffed
By Emma Amaize
THE Niger Delta
Revolutionary Crusaders,
NDRC, a militant
group, yesterday, threatened
to call off its existing
ceasefire and restart
hostilities in the Niger
Delta region if within 14
days, the Federal Government
disregarded its
five-point demand, including
inauguration of a
panel to negotiate with
the Pan Niger Delta Forum,
PANDEF.
NDRC in an email
statement by spokesperson,
WOI Izon-Ebi, to
Saturday Vanguard, said:
“After 14 days, if these
very important concerns
are not addressed, we
shall have no choice but
to call off our ceasefire
and start hostilities because
we only respected
the plea of our eminent
royal fathers, chiefs and
leaders of the Niger Delta
region to give room for
sincere dialogue in finding
a lasting solution to
the Niger Delta question.”
It asserted: “The federal
government should as
a matter of urgency con-
stitute a federal government
delegation to liaise
with PANDEF to start implementing
all demands.”
“Oloibiri should be a
priority of development
like the Federal Capital
Territory because that is
the first place oil was discovered
in commercial
quantity in 1959, but after
sucking the oil dry, the
community called Oloibiri
is in shambles. No
Niger Delta youth of this
Labour berates lawmaker over
anti-minimum wage bill
By Victor Ahiuma-Young
AHEAD of Monday
workers’ day celebration,
Organised Labour,
yesterday, berated a
member of the House of
Representatives, Ayeola
Abayomi Abdulkadir,
over a bill he sponsored
seeking to remove wages
from the Exclusive
Legislative List and put
it under the Concurrent
Legislative List. Speaking
through the Association
of Senior Civil Servants
of Nigeria, ASCSN,
Labour urged his constituency
to set necessary
machinery in motion to
recall him, claiming he
had lost touch with reality.
In a statement issued in
Abuja, ASCSN President,
Comrade Bobboi Kaigama,
and the Secretary-
General, Comrade Alade
Lawal, lamented that at
this period when Nigerians
were clamouring for
upward review of National
Minimum Wage,
NMW, which came into
effect in 2011, Hon Abdulkadir
had elected to
21st century that happens
to visit Oloibiri
would accept the current
reality of things in the
Niger Delta. “The Vice
President that is saddled
with the affairs of the Niger
Delta should immediately
call SPDC to order
as it would annoy you
to note how SPDC is enslaving
Odoh family (the
host family to Opomu
West drilling location,
since 1971 to date, a dime
has not been given to the
owners of the land for the
destruction of their ancestral
fishing lake). This issue
should be addressed
immediately as Akologben,
Brass creek manifold
and Benisede/Akonu/
Tunu gas pipeline would
be our first casualty,” the
group warned.
It asserted: “The good
and peace- loving people
of Gbaramatu kingdom
have suffered too much
and are currently under
siege, and we, the NDRC
and the 21st century agitators
will not accept this
type of inhuman treatment
meted out on the
people of Gbaramatu
kingdom.”
stay on the wrong side of
history by advocating that
the NMW should be
scrapped.
According to the statement:
“It must be admitted
that some State Governors
have always campaigned
that there
should be no National
Minimum Wage so that
they can begin to pay any
amount they wish as salary
or nothing at all even
though they as Governors
collect the same salary.
Since some lawmakers
themselves were sponsored
by State Governors
and, therefore, are their
surrogates, it may well be
that these self-serving
politicians are now using
some legislators including
Hon Abdulkadir to
reopen the issue of abolishing
the National Minimum
Wage, a matter that
was resolved as far back
as 2014 by the National
Assembly itself after a
public hearing..”Most
countries of the world
guarantee enhanced
NMW for their working
population to ensure
quality standard of living.
Argentina pays a minimum
wage of 6,370 dollars
per month; Algeria
2,145 dollars; Botswana
652 dollars; Brazil 3,660
dollars; Chad 1,217 dollars;
Republic of the Congo
1,826 dollars; Ecuador
5,124 dollars; Equatorial
Guinea 2,618 dollars; Estonia
6,534 dollars; Gabon,
3,043, etc while
NMW is 59 dollars less
than Chad, Gabon, Republic
of Congo, etc.
Even though Nigeria’s
National Minimum Wage
is one of the lowest in Africa
South of the Sahara,
some renegades masquerading
as politicians
have continued to campaign
that the Minimum
Wage in the country
should be abolished.
This is very unfortunate
because while most Nigerians
live below one dollar
per day, these politicians
loot public funds
without qualms, living
like oil sheikhs in the
midst of poverty.”
Lawmaker urges Buhari to declare
state of emergency in Ekiti
By Simeon Ebegbulem
THE Chief Whip of the Edo State House of Assembly,
Mr Kabiru Adjoto has called on President
Muhammadu Buhari to declare a state of emergency in
Ekiti State, asserting that the recent actions of Governor
Ayodele Fayose was a great threat to the nation’s democracy
and corporate existence of the nation.
The lawmaker posited that the governor’s solidarity visit
to the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB),
Nnamdi Kalu and his statement encouraging the latter to
continue to fight a secessionist war against the Federation
has made the governor unfit to continue to occupy the
position of the governor of Ekiti state”.
Stressing that Governor Fayose’s continuous stay in office
will pose as a great security risk for the nation, Adjoto stated
that “his action is already sending wrong signals to the
younger ones that the struggle for secession is good, that
Nigeria should be divided since the support is coming from
a governor.
“He has crossed the red line. As a governor there are
certain things you should not do. If you are paying solidarity
visit to somebody who wants Nigeria to break up, he wants
the Igbos to leave Nigeria and a governor of a state is
supporting such an idea, such governor does not warrant
to be in office.

10—SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 29, 2017
you.”
As confirmed by David Mark, “Tambuwal
and Ihedioha, who were actually working
with him to promote the Jonathan
Presidency, were seen as political enemies
and in the war of attrition that ensued, the
presidency unwittingly sowed the seeds of
opposition in the National Assembly. Since
the PDP was pushing Tambuwal away, the
opposition began to embrace him”.
“The problem arose because the first lady
kept alleging that Tambuwal had
presidential ambitions and for that reason,
could not be relied upon to support her
husband.
“I guess she had the same fear about me
even when she never said it to my face. She
once accosted Senator Joy Emordi to say,
‘Joy, I hear you are the manager of David
Mark Presidential Campaign
Organisation’, which was a baseless
accusation
“I had to meet the President to clarify
issues with him, So, I would say it was
President Jonathan and his wife, who
radicalised Tambuwal and turned him into
a political foe,” Mark pointed out in the
book.
Recalling another potential political ally,
2015 poll:
The problem arose
because the first lady
kept alleging that
Tambuwal had presidential
ambitions and
for that reason, could
not be relied upon to
support her husband
which Dame Jonathan drove into the hands
of the opposition and unconsciously helped
to work against Jonathan, Adeniyi captured
how the former first lady started attacking
the then Rivers State Governor, Rotimi
Amaechi, over land matters in Okrika,
where she hails from, embarrassing the
governor before her natives. This was barely
six months in August 2010 after Jonathan
had been sworn in as President following
the death of YarÁdua in February of that
year.
The author says, “In the course of a twoday
visit to Rivers State, Dame Patience
Jonathan engaged then Governor Amaechi
in an open altercation in Okrika, her home
town. The governor was explaining why
there would be some demolitions in the
town to make way for new schools proposed
by the state Government when Dame
snatched the microphone from him and
shouted, “Listen, you must listen to me!
“A clearly embarrassed Amaechi stood
still while Dame Patience Jonathan railed
at him, “I want you to get me clear. I am
from Okrika, I know the problems of my
people. So, I know what I am talking about.
I do not want us to go into crisis. We are
preaching peace and we must maintain
peace at any time. But what I am telling
you is that you always say you must
demolish. That word ‘must’ you use is not
good. It is by pleading. You appeal to the
owners of the compound because they will
not go into exile. Land is a serious issue”.
Soni Daniel,
aggressively to win their hearts to do the
By the time the first lady was done, she
Speaker at the time, Aminu Waziri
needful.
had whipped up sentiments within the
Northern Region Editor
Tambuwal, and the then Rivers State
However, a new book, “Against the Run
community against Amaechi’s plan.
Governor, Rotimi Amaechi.
of Play: How an incumbent President was
“From that day, the battle-line was drawn
If all the people who worked for
On a simmering note, Dame also had
defeated in Nigeria”, written by Segun
between the two as Mrs. Jonathan made it
President Goodluck Jonathan were
altercations with the then Senate
Adeniyi, Editorial Board Chairman of
clear she would not tolerate a governor from
to be assessed for the roles they
President, David Mark and the Deputy
Thisday Newspaper, which was unveiled
her state who would not bow to her. And it
played prior to and during the last
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
in Lagos on Friday, faults the strident and
was not in Amaechi’s nature to be easily
presidential election in 2015, his
Emeka Ihedioha among others, over
deft roles played by the former First Lady,
muzzled.
wife, Dame Patience, would certainly get a
suspicion they were eyeing the Presidency.
blaming her for unconsciously arming
But President Jonathan tried to downplay
top prize for campaigning rigorously for
Adeniyi quotes Dame Jonathan as
the opposition to defeat her husband.
the rift between him and Amaechi,
her husband to emerge victorious.
telling Tambuwal: “You this Hausa boy,
According to Adeniyi, the President was
contending that he did not have any trouble
She did not only criss-cross the length and
you want to bring down the government
hardly one year in office when the First
breadth of Nigeria mobilising women and
of my husband; you want to disgrace him
Lady had an explosive encounter with the
men to vote for Jonathan, but also spoke out of power? Una no fit! God no go allow Continues on page 11
How Patience
Jonathan aided
Buhari’s victory
•New book chronicles her many fights, gaffes, troubles
that alienated the North, made her husband look weak
and ill-suited for the office of President

SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 29, 2017—11
2015 poll: How Patience Jonathan
aided Buhari’s victory
Continues from page 10
with Amaechi and that the disagreement
was rather between his wife and the former
governor.
Jonathan declares, “Amaechi’s problem
was not with me but with my wife and at one
point I tried to reconcile them”.
Amaechi retorted, “I am happy that
President Jonathan told you about my
problem with his wife but he apparently did
not tell you the whole story. The question
you should ask yourself is, why should a
governor have problem with the wife of the
president? The simple answer is that I could
not surrender my mandate to a woman in
Abuja, even if such a person was the wife of
the president. Also, I could not possibly grant
questionable demands that would make me
betray my oath of office. I won’t say more
than that for now since I am also writing my
memoirs but that was basically my sin with
Dame Patience Jonathan.
As if this was not enough, Mrs. Jonathan
stoked further fire of alienation against her
husband in the North shortly after the 279
Chibok girls were seized by Boko Haram in
April 2014. Contrary to the sympathy
expressed by the world towards the kidnap
of the school girls, Dame rather gave the
impression that the event was stagemanaged
to embarrass Jonathan and his
administration.
“After the kidnap of Chibok girls, Dame
Jonathan also threw spanners into the works
while the military was battling to find the
missing girls and further drew opium for
the Jonathan administration rather than
add electoral value to him.
The book reports: “While the management
of the crisis by the military had begun to put
credibility in serious doubt, the bigger
problem for Jonathan came from the home
front.
“In what she framed as a plot to discredit
her husband, Dame Patience Jonathan told
a group of visiting women led by the PDP
National Women Leader, Mrs. Kema
Chikwe, “We the Nigerian women are saying
no child is missing in Borno State. If any
child is missing, let the governor go and
look for them. There is nothing we can do
again”.
“Holding court, the first lady denounced
the wife of the Borno State Governor and
she said the Borno authorities should be held
accountable for what happened. She then
launched into a monologue.
“I told the governor’s wife to call the
parents of the abducted children; she did
not honour it till today. The next thing I saw
was women demonstrating on the streets.
Now again, before Friday, my protocol
officer called her and she gave 100 percent
assurance that she will be here on Friday.
Now again, she is not here. Because she is
the mother of Borno, she is the mother of
those children and I am the grandmother.
“She should feel more concerned. But she
is not. I and the Nigerian women are calling
her but she is not here. It is left for you. If you
tell me you are not pained, why should I cry
more than the bereaved? If I do so, the world
will ask me questions.
“You people are playing games. This thing
will not help us. After today, if these Borno
people say we should not help them, you
Nigerian women should not go out to
demonstrate because they are playing
games. You can keep it in Borno and let it
end there. The police came with their own
people; the army came with their own;
WAEC came with their own people but the
Borno government came with a few. No
parent is here to tell us that a child is missing.
They cannot produce whose child is
missing...”
The author goes further: “ The tirade
climaxed in a bizarre mix of self-pity and
contrition that had Mrs. Jonathan dabbing
at her tears while uttering the infamous
refrain that immediately went viral, “You
want to kill my husband; you want to make
me a widow before you go and rest. My God
•Goodluck Jonathan
will never make me a widow. Diaris God
o! Diaris God o!”
“Apart from Dame’s mangled attestation
to the existence of God, she also widened
the lexicon with a phrase that became an
instant sensation, “Na only you wake
come?
“Shortly after the tirade by Mrs.
Jonathan, Boko Haram leader, Abubakar
Shekau, released a video, admitting
abducting the helpless girls.
“In this ‘stranger-than-fiction’ situation,
the opposition didn’t have to do much to
shape the narrative against the Jonathan
administration.
Latching on the gaffes committed by the
former first lady, the opposition party
spokesman, Lai Mohammed and current
Information Minister, descended heavily
on the first family apparently to score some
political points.
Mohammed said, “Apparently, the first
lady believed, as she revealed on public
television and as it has been insinuated in
certain quarters, that the girls’ abduction
was a ruse aimed at embarrassing her
husband, hence neither she nor her
husband took the whole tragedy seriously.
That explained their delay in acting,” Lai
Mohammed, the APC spokesman at the
time, said.
“Now that the Boko Haram terrorists
have claimed responsibility for the
abduction and even threatened to sell the
girls, the nation hopes that the first lady
and her husband now believe this is no
politics,” Mohammed added.
Warning that the melodrama
highlighted by the shedding of made-fortelevision
tears would not bring back the
girls to their parents, Mohammed
cautioned that, by usurping the President’s
constitutional role, Dame Patience
Jonathan was making her husband look
weak and ineffective in conducting the
affairs of state, and also making Nigeria
the butt of jokes in the international
community.
The book also alluded to the defeat of
Jonathan at the 2015 poll to the utterances
to those close to the former president, chief
among them being his wife, Patience.
It quotes the former Niger State
Governor, Babangida Aliyu, as accusing
the former first lady of insulting the North
with incendiary language, thereby
alienating them from Jonathan during the
election.
According to the Chief Servant, Mrs.
Jonathan made sneering remarks against
the north, by saying “Our people no dey
born children wey dem no dey count. Our
men no dey born throw way for street; we
no dey like people from the other side”, an
apparent reference to the concept of
Almajiri common in the region.
Beyond the negative things she
•President Buhari
reportedly said about the North, Dame
Jonathan is also quoted by the book to
have done little to help the perception of
her husband’s presidency through her
activities and utterances.
It says, “Yet, the failure to control his
household was not only a big negative
for Jonathan, it was lending credence to
the 2012 WikiLeads report that his wife
has a more forceful personality than him
and that he “ has little or no control over
her.
It also pointed out that Jonathan did
not rein in her wife despite knowing the
limit of her educational and social
standing.
“Despite being conscious of the
educational and social deficits of his wife,
Jonathan failed to insulate her from
making a mockery of his position. For
instance, in the course of a PDP rally in
Jonathan is also
quoted by the book
to have done little
to help the perception
of her husband’s
presidency
through her activities
and utterances
Calabar, Cross River State, on 2nd March
2015, Dame Patience Jonathan urged PDP
members to stone anyone that promised
change, which was the APC slogan.
“Anyone that come and tell you change,
stone that person, “the First Lady could be
heard telling the crowd in a video clip that
immediately went viral. “Anybody that tells
you change, tell that person, carry your
change and get away,” she added.
To worsen matters politically for
Jonathan, most of the provocative speeches
by her wife were made a few weeks and
months to the general election, which really
offended voters, particularly in the North,
where her husband needed support most to
coast home with victory.
One of such provocative speeches, which
did little or nothing to Jonathan’s support
base, was delivered by Dame Jonathan at
the PDP Women Presidential Campaign
Rally in Kogi State, a northern town, a few
days to the presidential election, when she
described the then APC Presidential
candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, as being
brain dead.
She said poignantly in Pidgin at the rally
attended by thousands of people in Lokoja,
the state capital, “Wetin him (Buhari) dey find
again? Him dey drag with pikin mate. Old
man wey no get brain, him brain don die
pata pata” (What does Buhari want again?
He is jostling for power with someone young
enough to be his son. Old man whose brain is
completely dead!).
Apart from that speech, which left some of
the attendees at the rally confused, others felt
bad and confused.
The author compares the provocative
speech by Dame Jonathan to that given by
Aisha Buhari, who, according to him, was
persuaded to enter the political field to
campaign for her husband and how her
message resonated with everyone because of
calmness, beauty and poise.
“While Dame Jonathan was provocative,
Mrs. Aisha Buhari’s emergence on the
campaign trail had won huge support for
her husband. In a riposte to Dame Jonathan,
she said, “The wife of the President is
supposed to be a mother to all Nigerians,
regardless of political affiliation. So, for her
to say northerners are almajiris who beg for
alms is sad. What is disturbing Patience is the
large size of the north and we thank God for
our population,” Aisha Buhari replied Dame
Jonathan.
Summing up the feeling within Jonathan’s
camp and the PDP just before they went into
the crucial election in 2015, Adeniyi submits:
“ In hindsight, many PDP leaders believe
Jonathan’s wife did incalculable damage to
the aspiration of Jonathan through her
utterances in the course of the campaigns. As
the former Niger State Governor, Babangida
Aliyu points out, “the way Dame Patience
Jonathan kept insulting the North made it
difficult for people to openly identify with
the PDP for fear of being attacked. For
instance, three weeks to the election, Dame
Jonathan said people from the region usually
dump children on the streets,” the former
governor fumed.
In summing up, the author concluded that
a combination of factors unconsciously
orchestrated by both Jonathan and his wife,
Dame, cost him the presidency.
Adeniyi says: “From the manner in which
he handled his failed bid to install a Speaker
of the House of Representatives in June 2011,
to his inability to discern how much
Nigerians detest leaders tainted with the
brush of corruption, to futile attempt to
dabble into the Nigerian Governors Forum
Chairmanship election and how that
eventually led to ill-will and a split within the
ruling party, to the unfortunate Chibok
‘Waka-Come’ theatrics and several other
gaffes by his wife, Jonathan gave ample
ammunition to the opposition to define him
in a manner that left many to conclude that
he was ill-suited for the job of President and
Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed
Forces.
Azubuike Ishekwene, outstanding
Nigerian journalist and one-time Editor of
The Punch, who reviewed the book, had this
to say about the defeat of Jonathan: “To
make matters worse for Jonathan, his wife,
Dame Patience, seemed to have a talent for
courting controversies and behaved, almost
from the beginning, as if she and her husband
were on a joint ticket.
Would it have been possible for those close
to the first family to avoid or better manage
the actions and inactions of Dame Patience
Jonathan to give the Jonathan government
a better image and solid footing to complete
its terms? Perhaps, history and time, the
ultimate judge, will provide the answer in the
near future.

12—SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 29, 2017
By Clifford Ndujihe
FORMER Head of State,
General Abdulsalami
Abubakar and former
Secretary General of the
Commonwealth, Chief Emeka
Anyaoku, have asked journalists to
write more books on burning
national issues especially the Boko
Haram insurgency and abduction of
the Chibok schoolgirls, to help
Nigerians know what happened and
fashion solutions on the way forward.
Specifically, General Abubakar
said it is sad that three years after the
abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls
no book has been written and none
also has been written on the Boko
Haram insurgency that started in
2002 but blossomed in 2009 after the
killing of its founder, Mohammed
Yusuf, in Police custody.
General Abubakar and Chief
Anyaoku spoke, yesterday, in Lagos,
at the presentation of the book,
‘’Against the Run of Play: How An
Incumbent President was defeated in
Nigeria,’’ written Mr Olusegun
Adeniyi, former spokesman to late
President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua
and chairman, Editorial Board of
This Day.
General Abubakar, who chaired the
event, told a galaxy of media guru,
who came to honour Adeniyi that
more books on Nigeria are needed.
But for Adeniyi’s new book, the
former head of state regretted that
no book has been written on any of
the previous presidential elections
since 1999 as opposed to the series of
books that have been written on the
US presidential election held six
months ago.
He also lamented that there are no
books on the Boko Haram insurgency
and the abduction of the Chibok
schoolgirls three years after.
Averring that often times, foreigners
write about us with their biases and
understanding of what is happening
in our country, Abubakar said it will
be good for Nigerians to tell their own
stories.
His words: ‘’The book is coming at
the right time given our
understanding of what happened
during the 2015 general election,
which was a defining moment in our
history. The two years spent in writing
the book is worth it and I commend
Segun Adeniyi for writing the book.’’
Noting that journalists have the
duty to inform, educate people and
change the way things are done in
the country, he said: ‘’We need more
books from Nigerian journalists. We
are blessed with many talented
journalists in Nigeria. Let’s tell our
stories instead of allowing foreigners
do so with their biases. The Bring
back our girls group, two weeks ago,
marked three years of the abduction
of the Chibok girls. Up till now, there
is no book on the Chibok girls. We
need books on the Boko Haram
insurgency and insecurity in the
North East.’’
Apart from the books, General
Abubakar urged journalists to
exercise caution when reporting
violence to avoid heating up the
country and causing more bloodshed.
‘’Tell the story as it is to help national
security and unity. Ensure that the
story does not fan the embers of
hatred and discord,’’ he charged.
Speaking in like manner, Chief
Anyaoku said: ‘’Segun Adeniyi is one
of the writers I enjoy reading. His
treatment of issues are well-thought
out and incisive. I commend him for
writing this book and I call on
journalists to write more. No book
has been written on the Chibok girls.’’
Welcoming dignitaries, the author
said he wrote the book to answer the
questions of why and how an
incumbent president lost an election
in Nigeria, an election that it was not
supposed to lose.
The dignitaries included former
Minister of Communication, later
Transportation, Cornelius Adebayo;
From left; Senator Tunde Ogbeha; Chief Emeka Anyaoku, former Commonwealth Secretary General; Chief Cornelius
Adebayo, former Minister of Communications; Mr Segun Adeniyi, Author; General AbdulSalami Abubakar, Chairman
of the occassion and Mrs Onari Duke, Chief presenter during the launch of the book titled 'Against the Run of
Play' by Mr Olusegun Adeniyi held in Lagos. Photo Lamidi Bamidele
Write books on Chibok girls,
Boko Haram, Abubakar,
Anyaoku task journalists
•Hail Segun Adeniyi on 2015 election book
•I will write my memoirs —Tinubu
According to him,
the book showed
that the Jonathan
regime was its
own worst enemy,
adding that it took
a lot of hard work
to lose the election
but not from
the opposition
Mrs Onari Duke, wife of former Cross
River governor, Donald Duke;
Senator Tunde Ogbeha; Senator
Tokunbo Afikuyomi, Mr Femi
Adesina, Dr Reuben Abati, Chief Akin
Osuntokun, Mr Yinka Odumakin, Mr
Dele Momodu, Ambassador Joe
Keshi, Dr Yemi Ogunbiyi, Mr Gbenga
Omotosho, Tunde Rahman, who
represented Asiwaju Bola Ahmed
Tinubu, Tony Uranta, Barr Vincent
Ezenwa, who represented Mr Peter
Obi and Tony Chiejine, who
represented Alhaji Aliko Dangote and
Rep EJ Agbonayima, who represented
House of Representatives Speaker
Yakubu Dogara.
Reviewing the 204-page book, Dr Okey
Okechukwu said the book clarifies and
reconciles various aspects of the Dr
Goodluck Jonathan presidency and a
team that managed to lose a game it ought
to win.
According to him, the book showed that
the Jonathan regime was its own worst
enemy, adding that it took a lot of hard
work to lose the election but not from the
opposition.
Specifically, he listed some of the
reasons Dr Jonathan lost the election to
President Muhammadu Buhari as:
mismanagement of political forces,
seeing former House of Representatives
Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal as an enemy
instead of as a power centre, fighting many
PDP governors and leaders and forcing
them to leave the party, obstacles mounted
by former President Olusegun Obasanjo,
a litany of unforced errors and spat with
Rev Father Ejike Mbaka, a wave of
conspiracies, and too much visibility for
Mrs Patience Jonathan among others.
I will write my
memoirs — Tinubu
Also speaking at the event, Mr Tunde
Rahman, who represented the All
Progressives Congress, APC National
Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu,
picked holes on the emphasis being laid
on how Tinubu lost the vice presidency
slot, adding that soon the former Lagos
State governor will write his memoirs to
tell the story of the roles he played in the
2015 polls.
His words: ‘’Tinubu is not in town now
but he knows about the book. One of the
major characters interviewed in the book
is Tinubu. The account of what transpired
is not about Tinubu losing the VP slot as
the reviewer said. If you said Tinubu lost
the VP, how did the VP emerge? Who
nominated the VP? The VP himself has
told us how he was nominated. Tinubu is
working on his book to tell us how he
helped found a party that defeated an
incumbent president.’’
Gathering of
presidential spokesmen
At a stage, the event panned out as a
gathering of presidential spokesmen –
Akin Osuntokun (Spokesman for
Obasanjo), Olusegun Adeniyi
(Spokesman for Yar’Adua), Reuben
Abati (Spokesman for Jonathan) and
Femi Adesina (Spokesman for Buhari).
Osuntokun, who was the master of
ceremony, told General Abubakar,
jocularly, that he would not write a book
on Boko Haram because the
government said that Boko Haram ‘’has
been technically defeated.’’ Rather, he
applied to write General Abubakar’s
biography,which the former leader
rejected.
Femi Adesina said as spokesmen, he
and the author faced similar challenges
when their principals became ill.
However, unlike Adeniyi, he said he
did not go underground and switch off
his phones when President Buhari went
for medication in United Kingdom,
recently.
He said: ‘’Segun passed through a
path as Special Adviser, Media to the
President, which I have passed through.
When late President Yar’Adua was ill,
Segun switched off his lines. His
secretary, who is also my secretary, said
that Segun went underground. When
President Buhari was on medical
vacation I wanted to switch off my
phones but I was advised that it is a
mistake to go underground. So, I never
switched off my phone. I put the message
across, according to the information at
my disposal.’’
Also speaking, Dr Reuben Abati
commended Adeniyi for being a
pacesetter in doing such books and
added that he has been inspired.
However, he jokingly threw some jabs
at the book reviewer, Dr Okey
Okechukwu, saying: ‘’Dr Okechukwu
worked for the Dr Jonathan government.
I am surprised about some of things he said.
He was in our team. Maybe he was doing
his job as a reviewer.’’

SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 29, 2017—13
•President Buhari
•Goodluck Jonathan
•VP Yemi Osinbajo
•Ambassador Ayo Oke
What the NIA N13b Slush Fund Was Meant For:
Following the money trail
By Tony Eluemunor
Little by little, droplets of information
concerning the N13 billion uncovered
in an Ikoyi luxury apartment seems to be
seeping onto the public space. Yet, instead of
the public being enlightened more and more
by the bits of information that come through,
the waters actually appear to be muddied
up the more. No, this is not about the
outlandish claim that the money belongs to
Rivers state government where a former
State Governor was alleged to have diverted
it from.
Some folks have even gone to the way ward
extent of accusing the Federal Government
of conjuring out the sum just so that the
populace could be diverted from the hardship
and ills unleashed on Nigerians by the
economic recession.
Yet, since this immediate past Monday,
some little drops of facts have been coming
in. Unfortunately too, some persons have
made it to appear that the stashing of the
money was as normal to a security agency
as breathing is to man. To put this in proper
perspective, Mr. Segun Adeniyi encapsulated
the thinking pattern of this group when he
wrote on Thursday April 27, 2017 in his
THISDAY newspaper column: “I want to
reserve my comments on how Nigeria has
suddenly become “treasure island” where
huge sums of money that have no owners
are now being found almost on a daily basis.
I will also keep the powder dry on the
controversial N13 billion (in local and
foreign currencies) belonging to the
National Intelligent Agency (NIA). While the
suspended NIA Director General,
Ambassador Ayo Oke bungled what
ordinarily should be a simple covert
operation (moving cash), I also believe the
EFCC should have been discrete in handling
the matter given the important national
security projects involved.
What I find most reprehensible is the
attempt to drag in the name of President
Goodluck Jonathan to score a cheap political
point. I have it on good authority that
President Jonathan indeed approved the
projects and directed the release of the 289
million Dollars to the NIA in February 2015.
But those claiming that President
Muhammadu Buhari is not aware of the
money (including the balance of more than
30 million Dollars that is still in NIA custody)
and the projects involved don’t know what
they are talking about.
Well, if we take Mr. Adeniyi seriously, those
“who don’t know what they are talking
In fact, this entire
controversy shows
the failure of the
Nigerian media
and security
agencies to follow
the money trail
about” include all the members of the
House of Representatives, who have
resolved to: “ascertain the owner of the
money which was discovered by the
Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) courtesy of a whistleblower.
The resolution followed the
adoption of a motion sponsored by Hon
Gabriel Kolawole who said ‘There is need
for thorough investigation into the matter
in order to ascertain the source of the
money given the claims on its ownership,
purpose and the damaging effects it is
having on Federal Government’s anticorruption
drive,’”.
Here, already, Representative
Kolawole’s perspective is more allencompassing
than Segun Adeniyi’s
which left out the question of what the
money was meant for. I take it for granted
that from the tone of Mr. Adeniyi’s article,
he may have seen the documents
Ambassador Ayodele Oke used in briefing
President Mohammadu Buhari.
Even then, what has been left unsaid is
where the money emanated from, and
what it was approved for. Was it
appropriately budgeted for the usage of
the NIA (National Intelligence Agency)?
Enough of the preamble: I begin by
saying that as the budget of the NIA in the
year in question, 2015 (an election year)
was all of $160m then why would the
government make an extra-budgetary
allocation of all of $289m to the same
agency? It is from this point that every
attempt to unravel the facts must begin. Also,
the problem of what the money was meant for
becomes clearer when one remembers that this
extra-budgetary allocation to NIA was made at
the same time with the money that was supposed
to buy arms to combat Boko Haram insurgency,
the handling of which is still being looked into
by the courts as the government has alleged
that the former National Security Adviser (NSA)
Col Dasuki (rtd) used the money for other
purposes. It is on record though that Dasuki has
denied any wrong doing.
Yet, as allegations go, the nation has heard
tales of how the money meant to fight Boko
Haram was diverted to aid former President
Jonathan’s 2015 re-election bid. So, too, this
emolument to NIA was meant to prepare some
security outfits for some civil and non-civil
battles that some folks close to government were
sure would result from the election that they
had thought Jonathan would win. On the civil
front, the NIA money was to be used in acquiring
the services of some top-flight PR agencies in
the Western World to paint the Nigerian
administration of 2015 in illustrious light
and defend the outcome of the election to
high heavens. Also, as the disregard for the
Jonathan administration in the US, Britain
and other leading capitals of the West, NIA
would was to use part of the money to obtain
the services of uncommon lobbyists and
opinion leaders to advance the course of
the Jonathan administration and get the
Western nations to see its point of view and
see it in good light. In the third leg of the
civil action, some Nigerians were supposed
to be sent to various capital cities to defend
the Jonathan administration before the
press and to win over foreign opinion
leaders . Yet, it is the uncivil aspect of the
war that would shock Nigerians if it ever
officially comes to light; this is because the
NIA was supposed to equip some armies -
both private and certain cells of Nigerian
official security agencies - to arise and
contain the bloody uprising that they feared
would have arisen had Jonathan won the
election and some parts of Nigeria decided
to oppose him.
It is no secret that the money came from
the coffers of the Nigerian National
Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). The money
found in the Ikoyi flat is what remained of the
$289, 222, 382 that was disbursed in 2015. In
fact, this entire controversy shows the failure of
the Nigerian media and security agencies to
follow the money trail. If they have been doing
this duty, they would have paid attention to the
American Public Broadcasting Service (PBS),
in one of its special reports on Boko Haram
and corruption in Nigeria; it publicly
exhibited the document bearing the signatures
of an Oil Minister and a Permanent Secretary,
in the transfer of money to NIA. Part of the
money was wired to New York City
headquarters of a U.S. multinational banking
and financial services holding company;
JPMorgan Chase & Co. The date therein is
February 2, 2015!
In that same expose where injured Nigerian
soldiers uncovered how their commanders
would tell them that they lacked even bullets
or petrol to get their vehicles to take them out
of harm’s way and would leave them to survive
any way they could, even an Adviser to Buhari
Professor Bolaji Owasonoye was interviewed.
It is instructive that Owasonoye complained
that the money given to NSA’s office and the
NIA were not spent in ways that would benefit
the country.
So, the question crops up: why did the Buhari
administration not swing into immediate
action to either recover what remained of the
money or to rein in those who had the authority
to spend it?
The answer is simply this: the members
of the administration did not know what
the money was meant for and whether
any amount of the money that was
disbursed in February 2015 would have
still been lying fallow somewhere. In fact
the existence of such funds somewhere in
Osborn Road, Ikoyi, Lagos flat, after two
years, would have seemed implausible.
So, how was the money found? The
Segun Adeniyis made it appear that the
suspended DG may have briefed the
President but a cunning Buhari dipped the
information in controversy by making
EFCC to have made a dramatic find in
that Osborn apartment – all in a bid to
demonise former President Jonathan,
under whose presidential watch the NIA
slush fund was actually and
incontrovertibly created. But the general
belief out there is that a whistle-blower
for a fee was at work.
The truth is that a former NIA officer
wrote a petition against Ambassador Oke,
and the rest, they say, is the history that is
now being written. And that is why this
matter is weighty, no matter how lightly
some newspaper columnists and sundry
commentators may make it appear. It is
from such slush funds that private armies
are funded.
*Tony Eluemunor is Editorial Adviser to
QUEST PPIJB (Public Policy and
Investigative Journalism Bureau) Abuja.

14—SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 29, 2017
Enough lives
have been
lost for Biafra
Ohaneze Chieftain warns
•Absolves Buhari on
recession, speaks on Nnamdi
Kanu, Biafra agitation
•Says he would cane Igbo
governors if he had his way
By Emeka Mamah &
Nwabueze Okonkwo
Dr Dozie Ikedife is a former President
General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and
Presidential Liaison Officer, PLO,
during the President Shehu Shagari era in the
old Anambra State. Currently, the medical
practitioner is the deputy Chairman of the
Elders’ Supreme Council of the Indigenous
People of Biafra, IPOB.
In this interview with Saturday Vanguard,
he spoke on agitation for Biafra by IPOB and
other groups, restructuring, the trial of the leader
of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, and concluded that
he would give Igbo governors 12 strokes of the
cane for not coming together develop the South
East among other issues
Excerpts:
How has it been with you since you left
office as President General of Ohanaeze
Ndigbo?
I installed my successor Ambassador Ralph
Uwaechue who also installed his own
successor, Enwo Igeriwey and Igariwey handed
over to his own successor, Chief Nnia Nwodo
who is on seat now. Since then I have not been
sleeping. I have been a member of Anambra
State Elders’ Council and later, chairman of
same Anambra State Elder’s Council. I was a
member of National Conference in 2014.
Since my relinquishing office as President
General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo I have received
a national honour of OON. I have received
some other honours from the state; The
Achievers’ Award and things like that. I have
also received an honorary Doctor of Science
Degree from UK. And currently I am the
Convener of Incorporated South-East Elders’
Forum.
That body met recently in Enugu and we
deliberated on the state of the nation including
the agitation for State of Biafra in South-
South and South-East. We also discussed the
question of detention and trial of Nnamdi
Kalu the director of Radio Biafra, London and
leader of Indigenous People of Biafra IPOB.
It is high time his case was brought to
conclusion. After long prison incarceration,
if he is finally acquitted of the charges, his
incarceration will amount to unjust
punishment.
What is the relationship between the
Supreme Council of Elders of IPOB and the
Kanu-led IPOB?
The bodies started out together for the
agitation to restore Biafra. In fact, there were
no two bodies at the first time but down the
line, Nnamdi Kanu who at that time or early
stage, was the Director of Radio Biafra,
London, went with some people and registered
IPOB in London as a Limited liability
company. And there had been a little bit of
confusion in the whole scenario because they
both answer IPOB. The Supreme Council of
Elders of IPOB took the Federal Government
C
M
YK
to the Federal High Court sitting in Owerri,
Imo state to contest some issues regarding
Biafran restoration. The Supreme Council of
Elders has its President or Chairman as His
Royal Majesty, HRM, Justice Eze Ozobu (retd),
a former Chief Judge of Enugu State, while
my humble self, Dr Dozie Ikedife, is his deputy,
just as General Joe Achuzia is the secretary.
This body has traditional rulers, religious
leaders, some professors in the universities and
some legal luminaries as members.
So, are you saying that both the Council of
Elders of IPOB and other groups of Biafran
agitators co-exist?
Of course. They co-exist. I told you the genesis
and when this one led by Nnamdi Kanu
branched out.
But at a stage, did they disagree
somewhere in the pursuit of their Biafra
agenda?
Both of them are pursuing the selfdetermination
agenda but it is a question of
method. The one led by the Supreme Council
of Elders believe in legal process, diplomatic
process, consultation and dialogue without
ever using hot words, not to talk of insults and
abuse of anybody. They believe in proper civil,
diplomatic and legal process and there is a
window that they are about to succeed by the
enactments of the United Nations, adopted and
accepted by African Union and by extension
the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This is the
position. Both of them of course now talk of
peaceful process and the one led by the
Supreme Council of Elders has never talked of
anything other than peaceful process. It is not
worth it to lose the life of one more Biafran in
the process or pursuit of self-determination.
Enough lives have been lost. No more question
of fighting a war with Ogbunigwe or rocket
launcher or bombing or air strike. No. It is
now a question of going to the courts and
pursuing diplomatic channels. That is what
the Supreme Council of Elders of IPOB believes
in and that is what they are pursuing.
Do you support restructuring of the country?
Is there anybody who does not support
restructuring? Except some people who are
enjoying the inequality and unjust system! Of
course, there is need for restructuring. It is not
a question of if I believe. Anybody who is fairminded
must believe in it. Anybody who does
not believe in restructuring is not fair minded.
Let me give you an illustration. Kano State has
a population comparable with Lagos State but
Kano alone has 44 local government areas
recognized by the Federal Government, while
Lagos has only 20 or 22 local government
areas recognized by the Federal Government.
Local governments are the bodies through
which allocations are sent to various states…
Now, when 20 or 22 LGAs receive allocation
for Lagos and 44 receive for Kano that has
comparable population with Lagos, is it fair?
Then even nearer home, incidentally, both
Kano and Jigawa state which was recently
Is there anybody
who does not
support
restructuring?
Except some
people who are
enjoying the
inequality and
unjust system!
carved out from Kano have about 70 local
government areas put together, while the
five states of South East have just about 90
something local government areas with
each receiving federal allocation. Is it fair?
The answer is no. Lagos State has a
population of about 20 million, Osun state
has a population of about five million. Osun
has 33 local government areas and Lagos
has only 20 and they receive allocations
through these local governments as those
recognized by the Federal Government. Is
it fair?
Lagos wanted to create more local
governments to 52 but the Federal
Government refused and withheld its
allocations. Lagos now said okay, don’t call
them local governments but development
areas and they are still using the system to
administer Lagos state, even though they
still receive allocation based on the number
of local governments recognized by the
Federal Government, as opposed to Osun
that receives 33 units, and Kano that
receives 44 units. Is that fair? Even at geopolitical
zones, which is another way of
receiving allocations and dispensing
patronages, North West has seven states,
South East has five, while all the other zones
have six each. Does that show fairness or
equity? Can it ever represent equity? The
answer is no. Finally, in restructuring, we
should be talking about real fiscal
federation. Recent publications circulating
in the country have it that people of Okrika
land and Kalabari area, the Amanyanabo
of Opobo do not have any oil block, whereas
people from Kano and other parts of the
North have about five oil blocks in the area.
An individual from the North has oil
blocks even more than he required.
Similarly, other areas and towns in the
Niger Delta have oil wells on their door
steps but none of them from there has
any oil block allocated to them. The
blocks are allocated to people from
North East, North Central, Northwest
and so on. Individuals from the North,
as they published in some national
dailies have so much money that they
don’t know what to do with it, to the
extent that they are even embarrassed
about the size of their wealth. How can
that be equity? Some people wake up at
3 a.m. in the morning and start working
till 1 a.m. the next day to be able to eat at
least two square meals in a day, while
others are sleeping in the comfort of their
homes without working because they
have abundant money at their disposal,
yet people mistake it for equity, justice
and fair play. Certainly, there is dire need
for restructuring. Look at admissions
into federal institutions. Cut off points
are lowered for people from certain
areas. Distribution of patronages and
amenities is also disproportionately
done. That is unfair. So, certainly,
restructuring may even be too late for
some people and that is why some people
are saying, let us go our various ways;
because in the amalgamation,
nobody from Biafra land was
consulted before it was done.
They started the process in
1913 and concluded in
January 1914. Even though
Nigeria tied its future to a
republican constitution in
1963 we are now running
a unitary structure. Our
constitution can still be
amended and if you look at what is going
on in the world today, the United Soviet
Socialist Republic, USSR has
disintegrated, leaving out 11 new
countries. Even the United Kingdom,
UK, doesn’t sound comfortably united
now. Scotland last year did a referendum
and narrowly lost it by 48 percent to 52
percent. Britain voted to opt out of the
European Union, EU. Now that Britain
has voted to exit from EU, Scotland are
pushing for another round of
referendum and nobody is shooting at
anybody or killing anybody or locking
anybody up. Self- determination is being
done diplomatically, legally with civility
and behold, why can’t we copy that and
allow referendum?
After all, the amalgamation is not a
success story.
Today, many people are saying that
they are not Nigerians. That they are
Oduduwa people. That they are
Zamfara people. That they are Biafrans.
That they are Bini. You can’t kill them
for that because they are suffering as a
result of the way they are being treated
with ignominy.
Buhari said he would take care of
those who gave him 95 percent of their
votes first before looking at those with
only five percent and he has been
behaving as such. How do you react to
it?
Well, my reaction is that once a
president, governor or local government
chairman is elected, he should accept
the whole constituency as his own,
whether one segment voted for him or
not. He has actually won and he should
not expect to get 100 percent votes
because if he does, then it ceases to be
democracy.
Political parties are enmeshed in
crisis, what do you think is the cause?
I am not a member of any political
party but I know that the Peoples’
Democratic Party, PDP, as a party is
quarreling about leadership. I don’t
know if All Progressives Congress, APC
has greater dissidents. It is not to my
knowledge but even if they are, that is
the essence of democracy.
Don’t you think that the north is
opposed to separation because of the
oil deposits in Southern Nigeria?
Well, I cannot speak for the North. I
don’t know their reasons. I am sorry I
cannot answer that because I have never
consulted them, even though I have
friends in the North, we have not
discussed it to say why are you are doing
this or that? So, it will be unfair to give
any opinion.
Continues on pg 22

SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 29, 2017 — 15
C
M
Y
K

16—SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 29, 2017
BOOK Serialisation
Mountain of Yesterday
Udoka’s battle against tradition
children to gods
and goddesses, so
be it. But they
must not come
near us,” he
fumed and
stamped past her
to the sitting
room.
She peeked at
the plate now
abandoned on the
kitchen table and
scurried after him.
“Are you no
longer taking
your dinner?” she
asked.
“Sorry, I’ve lost
my appetite,” he
said and hurled
himself into the
middle of the
chair.
“Haba! You
better eat your
Continues from last week
However, a man never
copes with the food jointly
prepared for him by the
entire community,” he said.
Udoka sat and glared at
the carpeted floor as his
uncle exited the house.
Although Amina did
express worries about the
idea of kpakpando incision
following her discussions
with Nkiru, Udoka never
gave serious thought to it.
He believed it was a practice
that had long been
abandoned by his people.
He had told Amina that
Nkiru was probably
recounting the varied
experiences of the
community in the distant
past. He left Amina in no
doubt that he would never
allow such violence to be
inflicted on their only child,
more so when, as a young
boy in the village, he had
seen the several infections
and deaths that resulted
from such traditional cuts.
He rose and moved toward
the kitchen for his dinner.
He picked up the plate he
had kept on the table and, as
he paced aimlessly about the
place, Amina pushed the
door open.
“Akwai matsala . . . what’s
the matter? I thought I heard
you discussing a moment
ago with Uncle Madu. Is he
gone?” she asked in Hausa.
They spoke more in her
native tongue when they
were alone.
He turned and placed the
plate back on the table. “Yes,
he was the one. Dakata
minta daya . . . wait a
minute. Can you believe he
came to tell me about putting
the mark of the star on
Amuebie’s shoulder?”
“You see! Did I not tell
you?”
“But that’s impossible.
They can’t do that with my
family. Definitely not when
I’m still alive. They should
put their kpakpando on some
other people. If other parents
are willing to dedicate their
food, my dear, and don’t
allow them to weigh you
down. Simply tell them what
you think about it and stick
to your position.”
“I can’t believe they’re still
doing this.”
“Meet with them tomorrow.
I’m sure the king may not
even know some families are
still practicing it.”
“Arrhh, don’t even go
there. He’s the worst of them
all. You’ve forgotten my
encounter with him the last
time I came?”
She came close and
crossed her arm lovingly
over his shoulder. “Sorry,
dear. Try and take your mind
off it . . . I wish you had
millet in this village, it’s a
day like this I would have
prepared your kunun zaki,”
she said and smiled.
Udoka stared at the P&T
calendar on the wall. How I
wish my office had posted
me to some other location.
He had always imagined
that he would at some point
encounter difficulty fitting
into the outdated patterns of
his people. He had thought
of the many ways he would
discreetly moderate his
beliefs and values so as to
adjust to the reality of living
in a village that was still
romanticizing its
conservative traditions.
But the insistence on
putting kpakpando on his
only child was just too
extreme for acquiescence. As
he reflected on the matter, it
occurred to him that rather
than sit and agonize over
the situation, he would
prepare for the proposed
meeting with the elders of
his family, which was an
opportunity to enlighten
them on the implications of
such bodily cuts. He rose
and went to the kitchen to
conclude his dinner.
*********************************************
Uncle Madu returned
home and sent for his first
wife, Isioma. Both Isioma
and Nkiru lived in their
separate mud houses behind
his apartment. He could not
reconcile the seemingly
rebellious disposition of
his young nephew with
the fond memories he had
of Udoka’s father. His
brother, Udoka’s father,
had been a vocal and
uncompromising advocate
of the traditions of their
fore fathers. Why would
his son now be the one to
overturn all he did to
consolidate the values of
their kindred? he
wondered.
“Nna anyi, you sent for
me,” Isioma said as she
came into the house,
tweaking at one of the
strands of her plaited hair.
A light-skinned woman of
hefty frame, she had a
gray wrapper around her
chest and it draped to her
ankle. Although she had
long gone into the other
side of fifty, the wrinkles
had not dimmed the
kpakpando on her
shoulder.
“Yes, my dear. Please
sit,” Uncle Madu said and
pointed to the opposite
chair.
She took out the
chewing stick from her
mouth. “I hope all is
well?” she asked, with a
grin on her round face.
“I cannot understand
what has come over
Udoka,” Uncle Madu
said.
“What happened?”
“He has refused to put
kpakpando on his
daughter.”
She adjusted the
wrapper across her chest.
“You see! I was worried
when Nkiru told me the
way his wife reacted when
she mentioned it to her.”
Uncle Madu sat up and
looked at his wife. “Her
reaction does not matter.
She has no say in the
matter. Ome na ala bu
ome na ala. It’s a
tradition we must follow.
Is Amina better than Chief
Obodo’s young wife, who
recently put the mark on
her daughter?”
He had told
Amina that Nkiru
was probably
recounting the
varied
experiences of
the community
in the distant
past
“I wonder how they hope to
go against the whole village.
How could Udoka have
forgotten everything about
our traditions? But what am I
even saying? With the way
they have been moving about
with Father Akaduchi I knew
that anything was possible
with them.”
“You see? That is how he
keeps wearing Hausa clothes
all over the village.”
“But did Nkiru not prepare
their mind for it? What was
she doing all the while she
was with them? Odi kwa
egwu.”
He turned and flashed a
questioning look at her. “I
wonder . . . where is she? Go
and get her!”
She sighed, resumed with
her chewing stick and walked
out the door. Nkiru was at the
backyard, sitting inside her
shed of thatched roof held up
on four edges with long
sticks. She and her daughter,
Ego, were busy cracking palm
kernel on stone slabs.
In two minutes, she and
Isioma stepped in to meet
with their husband. He stood
and went into the inner room.
The two wives cast a worried
glance at each other. In no
time, he returned with his
snuff, tapped twice on the
snuff box, then scooped a
little of the tobacco with his
right thumb and inhaled.
With eyes reddened from
the pungency of the tobacco,
he turned toward Nkiru,
whose white gown had cast
a distinctive image at the
dark side of the room as she
sat with her arms folded.
“How come you didn’t get
this Hausa woman and her
husband to understand what
happens when Ubo is
mourning her queen?” he
raged.
“I did o,” Nkiru spluttered.
“You did?” He said. He
turned to look at Isioma
before refocusing his gaze
on Nkiru.
“Yes,” Nkiru replied.
“Then I don’t think you
did a good job of it. Why are
they acting as if they’re just
getting to know about the
practice?”
“Mba o, Nna anyi, I tried
the much I could to make
her understand not only the
culture of kpakpando but all
other aspects of our
customs,” Nkiru said.
She knew that the case of
Udoka was a little more
complex because, apart from
Udoka having stayed away
from the village for so long,
the fact that Amina was from
a completely different region
and ethnicity further
complicated the matter.
She tried to draw the
attention of her husband to
the peculiarity of the
situation, but it was to no
avail—he dismissed all her
arguments. Isioma, too, did
not help matters. She kept
emphasizing the need to
uphold the traditions of the
land.
“Let them not make me to
start regretting loaning them
that sum of two thousand
naira,” Uncle Madu said.
He turned toward Nkiru and
added, “I hope the money
reached them early
enough?”
Nkiru winced and put on a
bemused expression, “Nna
anyi, I handed over the
package to Udoka the same
day you gave it to me. Much
Continues on page 17

BOOK Serialisation
SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 29, 2017—17
Mountain of Yesterday
Udoka’s battle against tradition
Continues from page 16
of it was used to settle the
hospital bills,” she said.
“When is this boy going to
change and start behaving
like a human being? That
was how he refused to
dance with the king at the
village square at our Aji
festival,” Uncle Madu said.
Isioma frowned and
clasped her fingers. “Ihe
nka dikwa risky.
Let’s hope they
understand they have to
repay the money, Nna anyi.
That’s our life’s savings,”
she said.
Nkiru gave a grimace. “Of
course, they will,” she said.
“I believe that in no time
Amina will settle into her
tailoring trade. Udoka is
already adjusting to his
work at Akeh. They’ll pay
back.”
Isioma sat back and
hissed. She turned to her
husband with a
disapproving look. “I have
my fears o, Nna anyi. I
mean, if they cannot respect
our traditions, is it their
debts to you they’ll
honour?”
He glanced thoughtfully
around the room and turned
to the two women. “It’s OK,”
he said. “Let’s see how it
goes at tomorrow’s meeting.
You may return to your
huts.”
As his wives rose to exit
the room, he picked up his
snuff box, scooped some
more of the tobacco into his
nostril and let out a loud
sneeze. “Hmmm, Ikezue’s
tobacco this time is just too
strong,” he mumbled and
stood to shut the door.
**************************************************
Chief Obodo’s residence
was an old brown bungalow
with a cluster of huts behind
the building. The bamboo
fence around the big
compound stretched some
two hundred meters from
the backside to the outer
reaches of the entrance.
Obodo was the head of
Umunze quarter of Ubo, the
larger unit of Udoka’s family
lineage. The elders were
seated at the ogwa, a mud
hut with thatched roof and
open sides situated in front
of the main house—it was
the regular venue for formal
meetings of the elders.
Their bicycles and
motorcycles dotted the open
space of the front yard. They
were all arrayed in red caps
and various shades of long
shirts and dark trousers, and
had been waiting for Udoka
to join them so the meeting
could commence. Although
Obodo had welcomed them
with the traditional
presentation of kola nut and
palm wine, they occasionally
shuffled their legs and
murmured in muffled protest
over the delayed meeting.
Their disquiet was only
tempered by their delight in
the quality of the palm wine.
“Ichie Obodo, this must be
from Elendu,” Chief Edordu
said.
“That man gets better by
the day,” Chief Abala said.
“But what did you expect?
He’s clearly the best palm
wine tapper in the village,”
Chief Ikuku said as he
drained his cup. A smallish
man whose deep-set eyes
sat in the socket like the
eagle’s. He could pass for a
black version of Gandhi,
without the round-rimmed
glasses of the Indian .
They had started debating
whether to call off the
meeting when Udoka
walked in, sporting his
embroidered Hausa cap and
red caftan.
He bowed to greet them in
their traditional form.
“Amakea o! Amakea o!
Amakea o!”
They sneered at him and
looked away.
Uncle Madu placed his
cup on the stool and
adjusted his cap. “Why did
you have to keep everybody
waiting for so long, Udoka?”
he asked.
“I’m sorry, my fathers.
There were no bikes to
convey me from Akeh,”
Udoka said. His eyes ran
briskly across the assembly.
“Since when did it become
impossible to find
motorcycles from Akeh to
Ubo?” Ikuku shot in his
naturally tiny voice.
“Sorry, my people. There
was a political rally
somewhere at Akeh today
and all the bikes were taken
there,” Udoka said and
flashed a look at Chief
Obodo.
“OK, yes, I think I heard
about that rally. They said
Senator Ibezim was going
there today on a thank-you
visit,” Abala said. All eyes
turned toward him while
conflicting opinions
continued to rent the air.
Chief Edordu’s eyes
darted about the place as he
shook his legs impatiently.
Dark-skinned and thickset,
he was generally known for
his mien that seemed to
suggest he was permanently
in a state of haste. “But he
Isioma sat
back and
hissed. She
turned to her
husband
with a
disapproving
look
should have sent a message
across to inform us about the
situation,” he said.
“Aaah haaa,” the elders
chorused in concurrence.
“Yes, how could you keep us
all here waiting?”
“Who do you think you
are?”
“You have no respect!”
“Is this what you learnt
from the hilly North?”
They lashed out at Udoka.
Abala picked up his
walking stick and wobbled
to his feet. He raised his left
arm and said, “Please, my
people, there was no way he
could have sent a message.
You forget that the people he
could have sent to us would
also need motorcycles to get
here.” He returned to his
seat and placed his walking
stick on the floor. “Let’s not
be too hard on him. Anyone
could have fallen victim of
same thing. Remember that
he who is cracking the head
of a chimpanzee uses his
other hand to have a feel of
his own head,” he said.
The assembly was
momentarily calm. The burst
of tirades paled into hushed
expressions of disaffection.
Obodo’s eyes swept across
the assembly. “It is OK. O
zu go. It’s OK. At least
we’re still here. He’s here
and we’re here. Let’s hear
what he has come to tell us.
It is in the presence of bitter
kola you speak of its
bitterness. And, by the way,
young man, when next you
are coming to address us try
dress like a true son of your
father,” he said and
beckoned Udoka to sit in the
vacant chair that had been
reserved for him.
“You see! I just can’t
understand. He keeps
wearing Hausa clothes all
over the village,” Uncle
Madu said.
“It’s OK. Take your seat,
Udoka,” Obodo said and
pointed to the calabash on
the floor. “Pull the drink
closer, let him have some
palm wine,” he said.
“Hoosai! Uncle Madu
exclaimed. “He does not
drink. I doubt if there is
anything he does in
common with us. Only God
knows what Father
Akaduchi has been telling
him,” he said.
When Udoka was called to
speak, he stood for about
twenty minutes and
explained his objections to
the culture of inscribing the
kpakpando mark on girls
born when the community is
mourning the king’s wife.
He reminded them about the
several infections and
deaths that had resulted
from similar mutilation, and
the fact that it would remain
a permanent scar on the
innocent girls.
“You’ve spoken like an
educated man, my son. But
are you ready to confront the
backlash of anger from the
gods of our land?” Edordu
said.
The assembly roared in
support.
“Do you know the
consequences of what you’re
saying, Udoka? Look, Uju,
my last wife, was also
recently delivered of a baby
girl. The child has long
been given the mark. Do
you think I am a madman
for allowing it?” Chief
Obodo said.
Uncle Madu’s eyes darted
about the place. “Even
Isioma my wife has the mark
. . . you all know she was
born when the previous
queen died,” he said. He
turned to Udoka. “Well, I’ve
warned you. When a child is
going astray, he begins to
hasten his steps,” he said
and sat back. He pulled out
his snuff box, scooped a
little and inhaled.
For a moment Obodo
stared at the floor. He shook
his head repeatedly. Then
he turned toward Udoka.
“Young man, are you really
insisting you will not put the
kpakpando mark on your
daughter?”
With an unaccustomed
sense of recalcitrance,
Udoka shrugged his
shoulders. His broad eyes
unblinking. “I’m sorry, my
fathers. I’m not going to
endanger the life of my only
child by subjecting her to
such horror,” he said with a
note of finality.
A gale of protests swept
through the gathering.
“Udoka! What has come
over you?” Uncle Madu
shouted. He stood and
glared at his nephew.
“Remove the monkey’s hand
from the soup. It looks too
much like human hand,” he
said.
Obodo picked his walking
stick, sat up and turned
toward Uncle Madu. “Madu
. . . hmmm. To see and not
speak is the destruction of
the old. To hear and not
heed, is the death of the
young.” The octogenarian
coughed, cleared his throat
and continued, “We shall
give you the next two days
to talk to your son again and
get back to us. If he
continues to maintain his
stand then we shall be left
with no option but to bar
him from all association with
our people. Of course you
know what that means. He
would be completely
excluded from all
entitlements and privileges
due a son of the soil.” He
finished speaking and
brought the meeting to an
end.
*************************************************
In the days that followed,
Udoka remained true to his
cause. All efforts by Uncle
Madu to get him to
capitulate to the elders
failed. After a while, the
elders excommunicated
Udoka from the ranks of the
community. Only few
sympathizers sneaked into
his residence at night for
short visits. Uncle Madu
limited his contacts with him
and would only ask after the
well-being of his family
during their few chance
meetings on the road.
Continues next week

18—SATURDAY Vanguard, , APRIL 29, 2017
Concerns, fears over Buhari's
health condition in Katsina
By Bashir Bello
THERE is no doubt that the
state of health of President
Muhammadu Buhari is fast generating
growing concern and fear among people
of his home state, Katsina.
Abdulrasheed Funtua, a lecturer in
one of the universities in Katsina, urged
prayers for the president.
He said: "Mr. Presidents state of health
is destiny and sickness is not death. Take
Senator Isiaka Adeleke, for instance,
he was not sick but he died. So, it is
destiny. And there is nothing we can do
than to keep praying for President
Buhari."
A resident of Kankia, Ustaz Idris, said
there is palpable fear over the state of
health of the President because of succession
issues given the immediate past
experience following the death of late
President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua which
created room for Goodluck Jonathan to
become the next president.
"Already we have a bitter experience,
talking about the scenario which brought
in President Jonathan. And the fear as a
Nigerian is, do we know who Vice President
Osinbajo is? Are we not going to
have the experience we had with
Jonathan where people who are rich
were busy enriching themselves at the
expense of the poor and others were losing
their lives? "During Jonathan, instead
of finding lasting solutions to the
insecurities, some people were making
money from the situation.
"We are only praying that President
Buhari should complete his tenure and
complete the good work he has started.
For instance, fight against insurgency,"
Idris said.
Chairman, Accountability and Good
Governance Initiative, a pressure group,
Lawal Saidu Funtua, shared a similar
view, noting that the development is sad
particularly because Katsina State lost
one of it illustrious sons, late President
Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, in a similar scenario.
He prayed for good health to enable the
president complete his tenure so that his
good works like the Anti-corruption crusade
will not suffer a set back.
On his part, Chairman, National Conscience
Party, NCP, Katsina State chapter,
Abdulmumini Shehu Sani, said due process
should be observed and lamented that
those playing games with the president's
health condition are neither helping the
nation nor the President.
His words: "In whatever situation of life,
health matters and you cannot lead without
proper health. You cannot be a dictator
or mentor without proper and adequate
health. And you cannot think and
do the right thing without health. A good
health is what gives one the courage and
determination. Health they say is wealth.
"Let's look at Nigeria as a whole that
comprises over 180 million people, inasmuch
as the leader is incapable based on
his health status, let us follow the rule of
•President Buhari
law constitutionally for him to resign.
His incapacitation cannot take us anywhere.
It is better for him to resign. I
can call him my father because he was
a school mate to my late father, Shehu
Sani, at the Government College,
Katsina. But the truth is the Nigerian
constitution should not be manipulated
to favour one person.
"If we want to be fair to ourselves, he
should resign, he is not the only one
that can lead Nigeria to the right direction.
Let him resign and go back to
his family so that he can receive proper
medication so that he will be free from
the burden of tension from Nigerians
and recover," Sani said.
In Daura, home town of President
Buhari, one of the conveners of the special
prayers for President Buhari, Engr
Malam Abba Mato, said they decided
to hold the prayers as prescribed by
Islam to pray for the sick.
Asked whether the prayer was to avert
a repeat of the Yar'Adua scenario, Engr
Mato said the circumstances surrounding
the health of President Buhari are different
from that of Yar'Adua.
"The case of President Buhari is different
in the sense that this government is
open government. When Buhari was going
out of the country, he wrote to the National
Assembly notifying the lawmakers
that he would be going for vacation and
from there he would see his doctor.
"Again, his sickness is normal considering
his age - over 70 years. You have to
thank Almighty Allah for a President of
this age to be performing well. It is not
surprising that some people are peddling
rumours that President Buhari is dead.
Even in your community or home, you will
see people who wish you good and those
who wish you bad," Malam Mato said.
The Treasurer of Buhari Youth Congress
for Change, BYCC, the group that carried
out a rally in support of President Buhari
in Daura, recently, Yawalle Musa Kallah,
is also one of those who expressed mixed
feelings over the state of health of President
Buhari.
"The condition of health of President
Buhari is something that came with a lot
of concern but again why we are not worried
is because it is bound to happen to
any human. Today, you are healthy and
tomorrow you are sick," he said.
On his part, former Chairman and pioneer
member of APP in Daura, Alhaji Sani
Kilishi said: "It's sad to hear that today
one of your own is sick. You will definitely
not be happy. This now makes it binding
on one to pray for such person and that
was why we pray for him."
In spite of the concerns, a host of
Katsina people are keeping their hopes
in God that all will be well with the President
and he will remain at the helm of
affairs of the nation till the end of his
tenure.
Anambra 2017 and alibi of defectors
By Okechukwu Anarado
The buildup to Anambra 2017
aptly exposes the
unpredictability and the
unreliability of many Nigerian
politicians whose missions in politics
are driven by no conviction other than
voracious hunger to either amass
wealth or covet power. This explains
the unrestrained, if not
unrestrainable, osmotic shuffles by
many influential politicians in
Anambra to political parties that
suggest protection of the defectors’
interests. The capacity of a party’s
chieftains to self-protect, and more
importantly the loud influences and
allurements of any incumbent
Presidency determine the choices
available to these politicians. For
instance, when People’s Democratic
Party, PDP, had a grip of the
Presidency (1999 to 2015), despite
the poverty of its trajectory in
Anambra politics, it was still
fashionable for it to present
unprecedented numbers of
gubernatorial aspirants against
APGA’s highly rated government in
Anambra. While other parties,
including defunct components of the
current All Progressive Congress
conglomerate (ACN, CPC, ANPP
etc), posted meager displays at
gubernatorial electioneering in the
state, PDP paraded no less than thirty
gubernatorial aspirants each election
season; and lingered in the courts
on election matters after losing to
APGA, each time hoping to use
Presidential fiat to rob APGA of the
people’s mandate. That was PDP in
Anambra State!
In Anambra 2017, majority of those
who nursed hard impressions of APC
before it chanced upon presidential
powers now gravitate towards it for
an embrace that was considered
leprous before now. Indeed, most of
those clamouring for APC’s ticket
for the November 18, 2017 election
lacked the boldness to call the
party by name in Anambra until
very recently when the delusions
of their past and illusions of selfpreservation
exposed their
ideological ineptitude and
insincerity to any genuine political
cause. But for phantom
assurances of the Presidency to
reward them with Obiano’s seat,
probably, why, for instance, would
acknowledged PDP high chiefs
suddenly clamour to ingratiate
themselves with the leadership of
APC? Some suddenly forgot the
humongous destruction their
private interests caused Anambra
State when they chose to insult the
sensibilities of Ndi-Anambra by
taking the people’s sense of
history for granted.
But come to think of it: Of what
electoral value is APC in Nigeria
today that Ndi-Anambra would
What has any
state in the South
East, whensoever,
gained from being
run by the party in
the Presidency?
Glaringly nothing!
•Gov Obiano
risk trading in their trusted home
grown APGA-government for a
faltering concept that gladly ignores
the participatory impulses of the
people of the South East? What would
the class of emergency apologists of
APC tell Ndi-Anambra to sell the state,
when the owners of the party
contemplate no remedies for the
unprecedented exclusions the south
easterners suffer in APC? Could there
be unspoken underhand bargains
between the party and its Anambra
governorship aspirants to gain the
state’s Seat of Power beyond the
legitimate electoral mandate of Ndi-
Anambra? What has any state in the
South East, whensoever, gained from
being run by the party in the
Presidency? Glaringly nothing!
The shenanigan about the
advantages Anambra would gain if
run by APC is a hoax. Professor
Chukwuma Soludo calls it ‘an elite
talk, an elite game for the elite
interest!’ He further admonishes that
‘some might join a political party so
that the federal authorities might
deploy the armed forces and INEC
to write election results for them. It
has nothing to do with the people
and their welfare.’ APC in Anambra
is a sure recipe for erosion of the
tempo of development the state has
known for about twelve years of
APGA government.
Observably, the temper of majority
of residents of Anambra State over
the political sophistry of most of the
politicians now in circulation is
suggestive of anxiety and
reprehension driven by the singular
constant element characteristic of
Igbo success in their legitimate
pursuits: Stock taking! Hind
sighting! The people’s suspicion of
the political buildup to November,
2017 stems from their due recourse
to history. Disgusting memories of
trodden paths and fears of their
pernicious relive confront Ndi-
Anambra. And the people would not be
cajoled into any gloomy political
misadventure; not by whatever
repackaged niceties the exponents of
past missteps recommend. The people
would not be intimidated into lavishing
a cherished political heritage that does
not only bear Dim Chukwuemeka
Odumegwu Ojukwu’s imprimatur but
increasingly offers them safety,
dignity and functional development.
The stellar achievements of Gov.
Willie Obiano in the past three years,
in keeping with APGA tradition,
have further entrenched the party in
the people’s consciousness, and
Ndi-Anambra eagerly await
November, 2017 to boldly
demonstrate their overwhelming
faith in Obiano and in APGA.
•Okechukwu Anarado writes
from Adazi-Nnukwu

One of the features of news,
we were taught in school,
is oddity. In illustrating it,
the commonest example then was:
when a dog bites a man, it is no
news, because it happens every
day. But when a man bites a dog, it
is news, because it is rare and
unusual. It is no longer news that
many older men marry much
younger women. The difference in
age can range from an innocuous
15 years to an outrageous 60 years.
Yet, it is still no news. But when
news filtered in that the man who
could become the next president of
France, Emmanuel Macron, is 39
years and his wife, Brigitte
Trogneux, is 64 years, the social
media went into frenzy. A
particular slant of the story was
sent to me over 20 times on
WhatsApp and other social media
platforms. It was a classical case of
a man biting a dog, even by the
liberal and “civilized” Western
standards.
According to the story Macron
started having a crush on his
former teacher, Trogneux, when he
was 15 years and clearly a minor.
By the time he was 17 years, he
vowed to marry Trogneux. That vow
came to pass when he married
Trogneux at the age of 29 in 2007.
Trogneux was 54 years then and
had divorced her former husband.
But the relationship goes way back.
Exactly when, Troneux says,
“Nobody will ever know at what
moment our story became a love
story. That belongs to us. That is
our secret.” But do not rule out the
possibility that it started while
Macron was still a minor or when
Trogneux was still married to the
father of her three children. When
And the man bit the dog
it comes to matters of the heart,
anything is possible; emotions take
the central stage, while rationality
recedes.
The relationship did ruffle
feathers at the initial stages. Both
families were ill at ease and it took
A section of Nigerian
women are
happy. They say it
is not only men
who know how to
enjoy younger
blood, the women
also do
time for them to accept the
inevitable reality. Lover boy
Macron did something
gentlemanly though before going
ahead with the marriage; he
sought and got the consent of
Trogneux’s three grown up
children. Parts of the larger society
were, however, not so welcoming;
they made snide remarks and gave
them hostile looks in public.
Predictably, a section of Nigerian
women are happy. They say it is not
only men who know how to enjoy
younger blood, the women also do.
As if it is new. We know that many
young men in their 20s “service”
much older women, some of them
old enough to be their
grandmothers. It is just that they
have not had the courage, like
Macron and Trogneax, to formalize
the liaison; while some are into it
strictly for the sex (the mamas) and
others strictly for the money,
connections and probably the free
sex ( the young men). We have
also seen some young Nigerians
marry much older white women,
but that is for US or European
citizenship, unlike Macron’s which
oozes love all the way.
Funny enough, some of the
women applauding Macron and
Trogneux vowed not to allow their
sons go into this kind of marriage.
In a culture where procreation
takes precedence over
companionship in marriage, it is
not surprising. But it also shows
SATURD
TURDAY Vanguard,
anguard,APRIL29, 2017—19
the hypocrisy and selfishness of
humankind. As long as it is
somebody else’s head being used to
break coconut, it is okay. These
women should just pray that
Macron’s kind of love bug does not
bite their sons. If it does, they
would have to accept reality like
Macron’s parents or die of high
blood pressure. I hope not, though.
Since the news broke out,
younger generations of Nigerians
have also latched on to it for
different reasons. They are
complaining that their
contemporary in France is about to
become president, while some of
them are still staying with their
parents. I advise such youths to
stop the lamentations and learn
some valuable lessons from
Macron’s love story. Macron, at 15,
had a crush on his teacher and
followed it up with a vow at 17
years to marry her and it came to
pass 12 years later. Macron is
focused, single-minded, tenacious
and knows what he wants. Macron
is also a patient bird. Many of
today’s youths lack these essential
ingredients for success.
The only other little matter that
troubled me was Trogneux’
husband; what does it feel like to
have one small boy steal your
wife’s heart first and subsequently
take possession of her? It must be a
very humiliating and traumatizing
experience. But then, we have had
worse cases here; young men, who
stole their fathers’ younger wives
and concubines. Sometimes, these
matters of the heart look like some
prides of lions’ meal time: No
rules, no regulations, no
orderliness.
The rectus
Technique:
Stand with the feet a lit-
•The rectus
Reclaim proper alignment
tle bit apart. Place the hands the world”, tones the muscles of the
on the corresponding thighs. Bend abdominal region. It is also an aid to
the trunk just a bit. Breathe in deeply
and out forcefully, and then draw
thorough bowel movement.
in the abdominal muscles and contract
them; this should lead to the iso-
Technique:
Triangle Pose
lation of the column of muscles known
as the rectus. Do This excercise
should lasts for about 10 minutes.
Benefits:
The nauli dubbed: “India’s gift to
•Triangle pose,a variation
Standing with the feet
rather wide apart, turn the
trunk to the left and lowering it
place the palm of
the left hand
flat down on
the Moor on
the outside of
the left leg
while raising
up the right
hand and
straightening
it at the
elbow.
Fix your
gaze on the
palm of the
raised hand.
Breathe normally
and retain
the position
for
•The triangle pose
about 10 or 11 seconds.
Benefits:
The triangle stretches the leg, spine,
and trunk muscles.
It promotes flexibility of the hip spine
and legs. It tones the nerves of the
spine and the abdominal organs. It reduces
pain in the lower back and invigorates
the circulation.
C
M
Y
K

20—SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 29, 2017
Biafra was essentially freedom.
Hunted and massacred, with
nowhere to go, Biafra was flight to
safety. Biafra was a sanctuary, made
sacred by the blood of freedom fighters.
The cost was monumental. Millions of
lives cut short, a nation decimated.
Biafra must therefore invoke sobriety.
Biafra should be kept out of the reach
of children and charlatans. The images
of widespread kwashiokor should still
haunt. But Biafra was also ingenuity.
Biafra evokes nostalgia, of what could
have been. It was a proliferation of
enticing possibilities. But it was not
mere huff and puff, not the work of
rabble rousers. Biafra’s ghost has knew that a prolonged detention would
lingered. The injustices that birthed it legitimize him and his Chukwuabiama.
have not been banished. That Years of calling Yorubas goats and
notwithstanding, Biafra shouldn’t Fulanis rams wouldn’t catapult him to
become a tool for political opportunists, where he desperately wanted to be.
trying their hands at new tricks. He came back to Nigeria and walked
When Nnamdi Kanu came with his into confinement. President Buhari took
version of Biafra, it was a conspicuous the bait and blatantly refused to obey
counterfeit. It was all too glib, too court orders. The Army cracked down
shallow. To gain a foothold in the on indignant and energized IPOB
market, he had to rouse the rabble. So members. Nnamdi Kanu’s coronation
Fulanis became rams and Yorubas was complete. Initial doubts and
became goats. Hate was his gospel. frustrations had subsided, he was now
2015 proved calamitous for many a prisoner of conscience. Politicians
politicians from the southeast and clandestinely maintained a relentless
fortuitous for Kalu, the adventurer. The stoking of the embers of Biafra. The
politicians had myopically put all their base became intoxicated. The prevailing
eggs in one porous basket. Kalu’s harsh economic circumstances helped
Biafra became a face saving, relevance to sharpen the nostalgia of the Utopia—
seeking, alternative to the wilderness Biafra. Trump won in America, and
of opposition politics, to which they politicians in Igbo land, frantically,
were not accustomed. Nnamdi Kanu started recalculating. They started
latched on the emotions of the courting the IPOB. Buhari made it
marginalized and the grieving. The exceptionally easy, even virtuous. They
masses who had been told the APC was didn’t have to defend their flirtation
an Islamic anti Igbo party listened, and with secession, they were simply
Buhari’s omissions didn’t help their fighting tyranny in the unlawful
disillusionment. A man who detention of an Igbo son. Kuje prison
abandoned a university degree, was besieged by politicians, who
unfinished, and eloped to London to flocked there with commercial ideas.
hustle, must have the mindset of a Threading the line between remaining
gambler.
in trenchant condemnation of the antics
When Nnamdi Kanu went to the of Nnamdi Kanu and clamouring for his
World Igbo Congress in 2015 to openly release can be very difficult. The field
solicit for guns and bullets to defend is filled with loud, colour-blind,
Igbos, he made his opening gambit. He ‘Otimkpus.’ And they all believe that
had a game plan. He knew President the door of the gold mine of Biafra,
Buhari wouldn’t let a mosquito buzz which they have opened, must be shut
in his ears and go unattended. And he very quickly against all Igbo
Biafra and the menace of
political pickpockets
Complex refineries as Nigeria’s economic
fulcrum
A
fortnight ago the NTA in its
breakfast programme: Good
Morning Nigeria featured some of us
to discuss modular refineries as
expounded by the Federal
Government. Most discussants on the
conference programme were of the
view that modular refineries would
promote community participation in
the petroleum industry. An
acquiescence of colleagues on the
programme was that the government
plan was a goodwill gesture for the
Niger Delta. Government’s plan is to
bring and support those called illegal
refiners from the creeks to form
consortia of modular refinery
operators.
But reflecting on the programme
were the panelists mawkish in their
feelings? One has a dim view of
governments approach on the issue of
modular refining because it may not
have been well thought out. Petroleum
refining is a very complicated and
capital-intensive industry. It costs at
least US$100 million to assemble an
average size modular refinery and it
would involve joint venture
participation. From the feasibility study
stage through the front end
engineering design to the final
investment decision and then the
engineering, procurement and
construction phase would the
government be there to lend support
to community participants?
Oil producing communities can be
part of any meaningful petroleum
investment the government or any
private investor should embark upon.
Oil communities can be made
genuine stakeholders or shareholders
in complex refineries, the NLNG, the
Eleme Petrochemical plant as well as
the international oil companies, IOC
operating in communities. The
incorporation of oil communities in oil
operations would be the greatest
security for Nigeria and it is not
rocket science to attain.
On this column in October 2015,
one reported that the present
administration issued 23 Licences to
establish modular refineries which
one doubts if any took off. Two years
on since the licences were issued our
petroleum resources managers are
planning on how to engage the
licencees on the way out. The issues
are that they need government
assurances on petroleum feedstock
and generous government incentives
to set to work. Many Nigerians that
acquired marginal oil fields are mere
speculators that cannot go into
modular refining. Most marginal oil
fields allottees through successive
administrations either sold them or
are planning to do so to become
crowned or togged billionaires.
As an oil producing nation, Nigeria
should not brandish modular refining
that does not have global appeal. Let
us leave modular refining to private
investors that can take the risk. Many
who have fund may not have the
passion to invest in this type of
blasphemers. Under every breath of
these hyperventilating folks is the
idea that, on Biafra, you are either
an IPOB supporter or an Igbo traitor.
Traitors, of course, would at the
fullness of time be slaughtered
publicly at Ochanja market and their
carcasses left for vultures.
The Biafra they conceive won’t be a
market place of ideas and freedom.
They have in mind a little Jewish
Biafra’s unzipped pockets
are full of political candies,
and pickpockets are
circling
North Korea. Nnamdi Kanu, they now
project, is the next Kim Jung un. And
many smart foresighted intellectuals
have started positioning themselves
for a political grab of Igbo land. And
like pickpockets stealth is the watch
word. So they have joined in fanning
this totalitarianism and calling it
Biafra. A pickpocket can be seen but
his ‘take’ must be invisible. In making
themselves so obscenely visible, these
intellectuals, defenders of the rule of
law, make the Ochanja bound traitors
so conspicuous, so identifiable. You
prod them a bit and they would say
project that has little prospect to
progress to maturity. A broader
engagement is necessary for an
understanding of the dynamics to
use petroleum to develop the nation.
Nigeria’s diversification strategy
should be in the area of fuels,
synthetic fertilizers and pesticides
for agriculture. Other direct linkages
are lubricants, medicines, plastics,
synthetic fabrics, asphalt, synthetic
rubber, cosmetics among others.
Nigeria has comparative and
competitive advantages that with
complex refineries we have many by
We have a riotous exchange
rate and the solution is get
dollar from our reserve to
shore up the Naira value
products and derivatives numbering
6000.
With these we diversify the economy
along vertical linkages to create
wealth, induce savings and
investments, create employment,
increase GDP and increase revenue.
Value additions in the industry are
strategic for energy, technology and
skills. That is where we can
accommodate the illicit refiners in the
creeks.
For exigency, we should not develop
the obsessive interest in just one way
out of problems. Emerging and
developed nations find solutions to
complex problems but ours is
becoming a sad one to reminisce. Just
a little reflection on these: There is
no gasoline and the solution is
modular refinery. There is subsidy
fraud and the solution is scrap
subsidy. Investors have not invested
in our downstream and the solution
“Oh no, the focus now is the release
of Nnamdi Kanu.” And the army of
perversely indoctrinated youths is
allowed to blossom.
That high court judge knows the bail
conditions are stringent. If a variation
becomes absolutely necessary, two
more Fayoses may join the crew at the
next sitting. Everywhere is now a
theatre. Members of the political
opposition have found a very resonant
vent in Biafra. Amongst those playing
the roles of hired mourners are people
who have made a career of branding
Igbos insufferable prigs. Fayose didn’t
have to eat amala at the bus stop this
week. Fani Kayode will make himself
much more visible at the next sitting
regardless of Bianca Ojukwu. He
doesn’t like being outshone. Many
more will come. Every confused
opposition leader is now an adopted
Biafran.
Biafra’s unzipped pockets are full of
political candies, and pickpockets are
circling. Every self absorbed charlatan
who comes in the name of Biafra is
worthy of veneration. Curiously no
Yoruba leader wants the South west
secede. Even the South-South where
all the crude oil is found , and who is
the chief mourner of 2015, isn’t keen
on secession.
“Afia k’ana azu.” That is the refrain
that allows anything, just anything ,
to happen in markets. In the market
you are warned not to rely on any
moral principles. The repugnance of
this shallow chameleonic acts should
be prohibitive. But we have many
selfish and desperate pretenders to
leadership and an abundance of the
impressionable. Biafra has been
appropriated.
The average Igbo man wants equity
and fair play, not violence. The Igbo
is the most dispersed and the most
entrenched group in Nigeria. The
overall interest of the Igbo is not
served by an acrimonious divorce and
not by any instigation of widespread
violence. The Igbo can flourish in an
equitable Nigeria.
Pickpockets have gathered to prey
on the emotions of the Igbo.
is increase the price of petroleum
products to attract foreign investors.
We have a riotous exchange rate
and the solution is get dollar from our
reserve to shore up the Naira value.
There is a failure in government
running a corporation and the
solution is privatizing it. There was
militancy in the Niger Delta and the
solution was constructing a 1000 km
pipeline to import crude from Niger
Republic to a dead Kaduna refinery.
Tanker drivers threatened to go on
strike and the solution was increasing
their rates.
William Halsey said: ‘’ All problems
become smaller if you don’t dodge
them, but confront them. Touch a
thistle timidly, and it pricks you;
grasp it boldly, and its spine
crumble.’’ Until we ask the questions
of whom, why, what and how about
our petroleum products scarcity we
may be failing as a nation. These are
all issues in the realm of normative
economics where we make value
judgments and prescribe what should
be done to solve our economic
problems.
Refining in complex process plants
is needed to jumpstart our economy.
Until we do that we may be
nonstarters. At optimum capacity
performance the four refineries could
give us the pre-May/June 2016
products consumption which was over
35 million litres of PMS per day. It is
known that about US$700 million or
less can bring back these refineries
to life. They can equally be upgraded
or debottlenecked for higher capacity.
The Vice President, Professor Yemi
Osinbajo has gone round the Niger
Delta trying to calm nerves which we
hailed for steeling himself. One
implores him to visit the four
refineries to see the potentials
Nigeria has in them. With our
refineries on stream there are
potentials for budgeting more than
US$100 billion as against the US$24
billion budgeted for 2017.

The news that accompanied the
quarter final match between
England’s Manchester United and
Belgium’s Anderlecht Football Clubs was
sad and shameful. It was a news of death
in a place of fun, entertainment and—
life. To the stoic, death will come when
and where it must. I agree to that; but it
should not be a ‘yeye die’ to quote an
advert of the 80s. What happened in
Nigeria on that literally and figuratively
dark Thursday night two weeks ago could
aptly be described as ‘yeye die’ because
it was so avoidable. To start with, I don’t
know how many Nigerians—in the
country or in the diaspora—that would
have been proud of the ‘viewing centre’
that became a house of death. Stalls for
horses are better and more decently
constructed in other parts of the world.
Yet, that was the picture that flashed in
the news media all over the world and
would be etched in the minds of people
as the sort of ‘home’ the inhabitants of
the world’s sixth largest oil producing
country dwell in. Death occurred
primarily because a transformer blew up.
According to an eye-witness report, it was
a normal occurrence for transformers to
blow up in their area. In other words,
what should have been fixed by the
power people was not fixed until it led to
multiple deaths. Yet no electricity
distributing company official has to the
best of my knowledge, been arrested for
homicide. This type of negligence has
happened and will continue to happen
in many aspects of our lives until people
are held responsible for professional
negligence.
Again, we learnt through eye witness
accounts that some deaths occurred
through the ensuing stampede. I hope
relevant authorities will take a cue from
this and ensure crowd control procedures
in halls and shopping malls. We should
not wait for another fire or stampede to
do what is right. Then the time between
a distress call and professional response
is way too long in Nigeria. It needs to be
addressed to prevent avoidable deaths.
And finally, the hospital. Some of those
young people unfortunately died at the
hospital where health care professionals
were supposed to have taken over. I
titbits2012@yahoo.com
Trapped money y and avoidable deaths
would not be surprised if the usual
refrain became the cause—no light,
no doctor on duty and no
emergency equipment available.
These youths died because the
system failed them; pure and simple.
The earlier we recognised this the
earlier future occurrences could be
averted.
About this time, a billionaire from
Kaduna State was reported to have
died on his way to the hospital. As
expected, the elite was united in
expressing its heart-felt sorrow at
Let’s not limit the trapped
money to stolen funds
alone. What about the
religious organisations. I
often wonder what the
churches do with their tithes
his passing. Then just last week,
another billionaire, a flamboyant
one from Osun State this time, died
suddenly. Again, he died before
medical help could reach him. As
usual, the elite was united in
expressing its heart-felt sorrow.
These expressions of sorrow and
grief have become clichéd. And as
far as I am concerned, the tears are
crocodile tears. Nigeria has the
capacity and resources—human
and material—to at least minimise
SATURDAY Vanguard, , APRIL 29, 2017—21
avoidable deaths if she truly wants to.
In many countries, the waiting time
between a distress call and
professional help is often not more
than 30 minutes. It is usually less. In
Nigeria, it often not available and if
you decide to self-help, you could be
tossed from one hospital to the other
in a callous and cavalier manner.
These two billionaires were Muslims
which meant they had to be buried
immediately and in simplicity. No
jewellery followed them to the world
beyond. They would not need foreign
currency in their new homes. They
didn’t even have the luxury of a casket
of gold. Or of silver. Or even of wood.
They were wrapped naked in a white
shroud. Vanity upon vanity as they say.
In other countries, very rich people use
a considerable part of their estate to
help humanity by funding the very
things they fell victims of. That is how
world-wide cures are found. In the
case of these two billionaires, building
two world class hospitals in their
respective states to research into and
treat the ailments that killed them
among other things would not be amiss.
But it is not likely to happen. What will
most likely happen is that extended
families would descend on their
estates—will or no will—like vultures.
Humanity loses and death wins
because any message passed on from
the newly dead to the living about
inordinate acquisition is fleeting at
best. And so we keep acquiring and
we keep accumulating. And when the
banks become uncomfortably limiting,
we resort to farmlands; or septic tanks;
or safe houses. And we explain these
acquisitions which are far beyond our
earnings as business gifts from
generous patrons. The amount of
money that has been recovered from
airports, malls, bureau de change,
decrepit homes and luxurious flats in
the past year alone is simply mind
boggling. What boggles the mind more
is the fact that it is just a tip of the iceberg.
It is money on the surface. Were
we to dig deeper, the sheer volume of
cash in different currencies trapped in
the system doing nothing would be
awesome. I am sure Nigeria would be
a different country if only half of this
money was to be employed in
productive ventures. I am talking about
hospitals, schools, research centres,
skill-acquisition facilities or even
business ventures. This is why Dangote
is to be emulated because he has
chosen to use money to create
employment and opportunities for
others.
Let’s not limit the trapped money to
stolen funds alone. What about the
religious organisations. I often wonder
what the churches do with their tithes,
daily collections, harvests and bazaars
apart from building bigger churches
and more outstations which the
irreligious might irreverently call
collection centres. I know the Catholic
Church intervenes in war-torn areas
and places where people are
persecuted on account of their religion.
But I believe the churches can do more
with the money in their vaults; not just
to provide fish, but to facilitate the
catching of fish.
Just as I was concluding this article,
news came of an ex-minister who died
in a London hospital after being
rushed abroad in an air ambulance.
Without speaking ill of the dead, I
wonder if he did anything to influence
the setting up of an international
hospital when he was in a position to
influence decisions. People in power
or great wealth today must realise that
the road you refuse to tar; the boy you
refuse to send to school who becomes
an armed robber; the hospital you
refuse to build might be your undoing
on the day of reckoning.
The faceoff between the police and
Senator Danjuma Goje, chairman
of the Senate Committee on
Appropriation is another episode in the
series of intriguing power games in
high places that have enthralled
Nigerians.
When the police operatives raided the
Abuja home of the senator penultimate
Thursday, they announced that they
carted away several files and a cache
of money estimated at N18 million.
The story became more interesting
when Senator Goje revealed on the
floor of the Senate last Wednesday that
files dealing with the 2017 budget of
the Federal Government were among
those carted from his residence by the
police.
Pronto the police went into reaction
mode and on Thursday listed all that
they took from Goje’s house. Among
the files which they claimed to have
taken was a file with the title
“Executive Briefs on how to fight
opposition in Gombe State—Strategies
and Tactics.”
Whether the police truly found such
an interesting file in Goje’s house may
remain in the imagination of some.
The former governor’s capacities to
engage the opposition are, however,
not in any doubt. As governor, Senator
Goje was lord over Gombe, and political
opponents were held at bay.
The story is told of how in the heat of
the Obasanjo – Atiku feud in 2007 that
the Gombe State government pulled
down the roof of the Presidential Lodge
in Gombe upon news that Atiku was
coming to the state to campaign.
Fouled whistles in town!
Claims that the police raid
interrupted the processing of the
2017 budget were echoed in the two
chambers of the National Assembly
where resolutions slamming the
police for derailing the passage of
the budget were adopted.
The action by the two chambers
apparently discomfited the police
which on Thursday quickly returned
The story is told of how in the
heat of the Obasanjo – Atiku
feud in 2007 that the Gombe
State government pulled
down the roof of the
Presidential Lodge in Gombe
upon news that Atiku was
coming to the state to
campaign
the money and the files it claimed to
have taken from Goje. It was one
incident of police returning ‘bail
money.’
Yet, the police have not said that Goje
committed a crime. The police raid on
Goje apparently on the prompting of a
whistle blower was only one case of a
security agency acting against the
interest of another arm of government
on the prompt of perhaps wrong
information.
The still unsettled issue of the raid
by the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC on a safe house of
the National Intelligence Agency, NIA
during which it “recovered” N13
billion in foreign and local currencies
has continued to puzzle many.
Why the EFCC took cameras along
during the raid even after its officials
were told that the house belonged to
the NIA has also continued to puzzle.
Another puzzle is why such a massive
amount of money should be found in a
local safe house of an intelligence
service and not within its secured
office in Abuja?
These are issues that should be
uncovered by the three-man panel
constituted by President Muhammadu
Buhari on the issue.
The EFCC raid as it now appears was
the result of a whistleblower who could
only have come from a rival security
service. This reinforces claims of
inter-agency rivalry within the security
system of the government. Or as some
have suggested, was the EFCC set up
so as to embarrass its acting chairman,
Mr. Ibrahim Magu?
The massive haul of cash has been
referred to in some circles as a black
budget of the agency; referring to
covert funds earmarked to be used for
clandestine operations that should not
be traced. Despite claims that the funds
were disclosed to the National Security
Adviser, the worry for many is why was
it not kept in its major safe house, at
its Abuja headquarters?
Did the NIA in any way offend
another security service that now
decided to rubbish the agency by
exposing the black budget?
If the Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo
Committee determines that the money
was fund belonging to the NIA, then
the logical step would be to uncover
the whistle blower who blew a foul
whistle that may have irreparably
harmed the nation’s intelligence
operations.
Whistle blowing took a funny turn last
Thursday when Senator Thompson
Sekibo practically blew a whistle on the
floor of Senate last Thursday and
followed up to say that the NIA cash
belonged to the Rivers State
government!
C
M
Y
K

22—SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 29, 2017
Time for handshake across the Niger
The days of acrimony should be over,
there is so much to give when the Igbo
and Yoruba ethnic nationalities put aside
the extraneous wedge between them. Our
country cannot move forward in the face
of rancour.
Those of us who know history must not
stand aloof and watch the younger
generation degenerate to the vile
language that has taken over the social
media. It is like there is an undeclared
war going on. Every comment is twisted
to paint either the Igbo or the Yoruba in
bad light.
We cannot continue like this. Besides
politics, there is so much between the Igbo
and Yoruba. They forged positive links
during the days of British Imperialism and
worked together in the push for
independence. All these cannot be washed
away by this bunch of uninformed, foulspeaking
boys and girls of the computer
age.
Let us not take away the fact that Lagos,
as the then capital of Nigeria, was bound
to attract people from all over the nation.
The Igbo in their usual nature, found
favour in the Federal Territory. The First
university, located in Ibadan , also
enjoyed a large concentration of Igbo
brains.
It is therefore no accident that the
Chinua Achebes, Emeka Anyaokus, the
Chris Okigbos, the Emma Ifeajunas ,
attended the premier university. While
there, they bonded with men like Wole
Soyinka, Bola Ige and Olu Akaraogun.
That friendship will never wane, those close
to them know it. What some critics see is far
from reality.
The Yoruba also found the East alluring.
Alhaji Alade Odunewu, veteran journalist,
attended Bethel College, Onitsha. Joseph
Oyeleye Adeigbo, Clerk of the Federal
Parliament in 1964, began his secondary
education at Government College, Umuahia
and finished at Christ the King College,
Onitsha.
Professor Oladeinde Ogunbi was at Dennis
Memorial Grammar School, Onitsha while
Bankole Oluwatuyi spent time at Zik’s
Institute in the same town. Lam Adesina, Sam
Ajayi, Olajide Idowu, Abisogun Leigh and
Kehinde Obanla, all members of the
Constituent Assembly, 1988/89, graduated
from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Igbo professionals worked in the Western
Region just as there were Yoruba workers in
the East. My uncle, Dr. Nathaniel Obasi, was
a Dentist in Ibadan. Festus Oladapo Shadare,
began his career with the Eastern Region
Information Service in 1952.
Two Igbo heroes, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, and
Chief Emeka Ojukwu, grew up in Lagos and
spoke fluent Yoruba. Zik’s children bear
Yoruba names. In fact, some of his best friends
were from the West. One of them, Chief
Adeniran Ogunsanya, died in November 1996,
shortly after the Owelle was laid to rest.
Benjamin Adekunle, son of an Ogbomosho
father and a Bachama mother, was good in
Igbo. He picked it from his Igbo childhood
friends in the North and perfected it when he
was in Enugu as Aide de Camp to Eastern
Region Governor, Sir Akanu Ibiam.
He also met his Ijaw wife, Comfort
Akie Wilcox there. Michael Adelanwa
and Sunday Adewusi, were at different
times, Zik’s ADC.
Ibiam married a Yoruba lady. And
that is part of the partnership between
the Igbo and Yoruba. The third
military governor of the West, Oluwole
Rotimi, had an Igbo wife. The
wedding reception was chaired by
Ojukwu. The first civilian governor of
Oshun State, Isiaka Adeleke, had
maternal roots in Abia State. That
implies that entertainer, Davido’s
grandmother was an Igbo woman.
The First Lady of Ondo State has
Anyanwu as maiden name.
Not many know that Achebe had
Yoruba in-laws. Anyaoku, and Prof.
Vincent Ike have Yoruba wives. Ike as
a traditional ruler does not have an
Igbo woman by his side. The First Igbo
Four-Star General, Paul Dike’s wife
is from the West. Philip Asiodu’s better
half is Olajumoke Pereira.
Asiodu lived comfortably in the
West, no Yoruba harmed him as the
civil war raged. His brother, Sidney,
great athlete, was executed in Asaba
by Nigerian soldiers. Many Igbo
footballers stayed put in the West.
‘World Two,’ Tony Igwe, Austin
Ofuokwu and Sam Opone played for
the Green Eagles. Obisia Nwakpa
lived in Lagos too.
In Biafra all through the crisis, lived
Kofoworola, First daughter of Oba of
Lagos, Adeyinka Akinola Oyekan.
She was married to a Biafran naval
officer, Nicholas Ohiaeriaku of
Ogwuagga-Abba, in Imo State. What
an irony that her husband was
captured in Bonny by the Nigerian
Navy led by Akin Aduwo, who like
Adekunle, had an Ijaw wife. The
Biafran remained a Prisoner of War
until 1970. The Commander of Biafra
School of Infantry was Captain
Ganiyu Adeleke.
Those who want the Yoruba and
Igbo to remain in perpetual
Those who want the
Yoruba and Igbo to
remain in perpetual
separation know they
are destroying Nigeria
separation know they are destroying
Nigeria. These two groups must come
together. There is a lot to share and much
more to gain. Back to History.
The First Northerner to qualify as a
lawyer was indeed a Yoruba from Ilorin;
Ganiyu Folorunsho AbdulRazaq. Can you
beat this? He was born in Onitsha in 1927,
and attended CMS Primary School there
before proceeding to Kalabari National
College, Buguma.
Chief Ogunsanya was so much in love
with the Igbo that as Commissioner for
Education in Lagos, he offered
scholarships to Igbo students. And his
house address was No. 5 Godwin Okigbo
Street , Surulere.
In the past we had F. Ebubedike in the
Western House. Today, there are more in
Lagos.
I have a lot to say personally. In 1983, I
worked for Chief Awolowo’s Unity Party
of Nigeria. My dad belonged to the
Nigeria Peoples Party and was a local
government chairman. I used his vehicle
to carry UPN Party agents. He did not
scold me for once.
Dr. Obasi bought property in Ibadan in
the 1950s and due to the war, forgot about
that investment. He died in 1999. Much
later, his children went to Ibadan,
discovered the land which was still
untouched and sold it.
These things have to be exposed. Igbo/
Yoruba ties are deep. It is time to come
together. Onward Nigeria.
Continues from pg 14
The North said they won’t support
restructuring.
It depends on who said so, whether it
was an individual or group opinion.
Individuals have the right to express their
opinions and a group of people also has
the right to discuss issues. If that is the
opinion of Arewa Consultative Forum,
ACF, so be it. But I know that ACF is not
the only component of Nigeria. There are
other groups which may have their own
opinion too and their opinion may be
contrary and that is why some of us are
saying: “let us go to the round table and
dialogue.”
Do you think Ndigbo will survive if they
secede?
Yes of course. If Ndigbo secede, they can
manage themselves properly and survive.
Take a look at the map of Africa; at least
13 newly created countries are surviving.
The population of Taiwan is about seven
million and they are doing very well to
the extent they now have strong economic
power in the world even though China is
still trying to colonize them. Therefore,
any situation we find ourselves, we can
survive it. Other countries in existence are
not as big as Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo, Abia or
Anambra states, yet they are surviving.
There is oil in the field and there is gas in
Biafra land and the people are geniuses.
They will certainly survive. They are
technically very clever. There is no country
or continent in the world where you cannot
see somebody from Biafra land.
Some people are saying that Ndigbo
are selfish and that they don’t love
themselves
I don’t like hearing that insult. If I hear
anybody saying such a thing, I will tell
him to go to hell. Tell me any ethnic group
that gathers their money and then goes
and burns it inside a bush. Saying such a
thing is just like giving a dog bad name in
order to hang it. Don’t insult Ndigbo
anymore.
Is it true to say that the current
recession in Nigeria is Buhari’s fault?
How can you say it is his fault? Many
Says he
would cane
Igbo governors if
he had his way
things caused the recession, one of which is
the drop in oil prices. The fall in the oil
prices is worldwide and the reduction in
the production as agreed by OPEC is also a
worldwide affair. How can you blame
Buhari for that? Another area that is killing
the economy is inadequate power
generation and supply. If you have a factory,
you have to use self-generated power
supply which is diesel plant. You
will be buying diesel at N220
per litre. This situation is
forcing investors out of
Nigeria to places like
Ghana where there
is public power
supply at a cheaper
rate.
•Dr. Dozie Ikejife
Are you happy
with the way Igbo
play their politics?
There is nothing wrong with the way
Ndigbo play their politics. In the west, they
had Action Group, UPN, AC, ACN then APC.
In the North, they had GNPP, PRP, NPC,
CPC, ANPP and now APC. Here, there was
NPN, NPP, APGA, PDP, PPA and UPP. They
are not peculiar to Igbo land. There is an
Igbo adage which says that: “You don’t
watch masquerade from one place alone.
You have to follow the masquerade from
place to place in order to get a clearer view
of it. So, if you ask me, I will tell you that
there is nothing wrong with the way Ndigbo
play their own politics.
Shouldn’t the whole of Southeast have
belonged to one party; say like APGA
instead of APGA PDP and APC as is the
situation now?
No, there is no problem with that? What I
find repulsive is the way the Igbo
governors play their politics. First
and foremost, they were Igbo before
they joined their respective political
parties. If I had my way, I will give
each of them 12 strokes of the cane
for not thinking of Igbo first before
their various parties. They should
work together to develop Igbo land.
Are you in support of conducting
another round of the national
census?
Yes, there is need to have a census
to correct the lingering accusations
and counter-accusations of inflated
figures. An accurate national figure
will surely help to distribute our
nation’s resources equitably without
cheating any section of the country.
In fact, I am of the view that the census
should hold sooner or later to correct the
imbalance in the system.
What is your reaction to the
introduction of custom duties on old
vehicles and Hameed Ali’s refusal to
appear before the Senate over
uniform?
I think the Senate got it right in one
aspect and chased shadow in another
aspect. So long as Ali dresses decently,
the Senate should have spoken with
him. So long as he did not go there
naked like a mad man, I don’t see the
need of making noise about uniform.
On the aspect of his introducing duty
on old vehicles, I must say that I think
the Ali of a man is over stepping his
bounds.
As a medical doctor, how do you see
the health sector in Nigeria?
The health sector is in shambles. There
is inadequate equipment in our
health sector. Why can’t we
import gadgets that will
enable us to take care
of our health needs
here in Nigeria? Not
everybody can
afford the money to
travel to countries
like India, Britain,
Germany, France or
Italy for medical
treatment.
When I was President of International
College of Surgeons, Nigerian national
sector, after seven years of my regime, and
while I was leaving office in 1995, I
lamented the lack of sufficient investment
in medical gadgets and medical
technology. That lamentation is still valid
till date. There is need for more education
to understand human anatomy.
Sometimes, patients will come to my
hospital and after due consultations and
diagnosis, frustrations will becloud their
faces and they will begin to talk about
reincarnation. A woman I found out had
cancer of the breast told me that it was
their native shrine that beat her spiritually
with a broom on the breast and refused to
be treated because she wanted to go back
to the shrine. It is unbelievable.
C
M
YK

SATURDAY Vanguard, April 29, 2017—23
JULIET EBIRIM
08137897935
What would you do if your
spouse/lover suddenly
becomes impotent?
Though every relationship has its ups and downs, successful couples/
lovers have learnt how to manage the bumps and keep their love and
sex life going, but what happens when the man suddenly becomes
impotent? Find out what our celebrities have to say.
Nkechi
Emmanuel
BY ADERONKE ADEYERI
Such a case calls for wise
thinking - Belinda Effah,
actress
There are two sides to this
issue. If we are married with
children, I will pray to God
believing he will be
restored. Moreover,
marriage is for better, for
worse. But as lovers, I will
pray to God to lead me to
make the best decision.
Such a case calls for wise
thinking.
There are many other ways
to get my satisfaction
- Nkechi Emmanuel, actress
This is an issue that can mar
a relationship especially
when not treated maturely. I
will stand by my man to
solve the problem. We will
seek every medical help
available to correct the
situation because I would
want our relationship to
regain its fire in the
bedroom. I will not be weary
of the fact that his impotency
will have an adverse effect
on his self esteem but I will
always try to reassure him of
my true love and
commitment to the
relationship. Also, his
condition will lead him to
suspecting
me but
it
should be in my place to
assure him that nothing will
change my love, commitment
and devotion to our
relationship. Having said all
this, I would need my man
to satisfy me as well and
there are many other ways
to get my satisfaction ( I
won't say how because
that is our little secret)
and it will be his duty to
ensure that I get what I
deserve in the bedroom.
I can't risk my sexual
satisfaction - Patt
Attang, actress, model
and vixen
I am an only child,
meaning I must have a
child of my own. That is
to say, I won't mind
other ways of getting
pregnant without
cheating on my
husband. But come to
think of it, marriage
without sex, I don't
think I can manage
that. I can't risk my
sexual satisfaction.
I don't want to
imagine it
- Allwell Ademola,
actress and
musician
I don't
want to
imagine
Patt Attang
it, God forbid. But if I can
love a man enough to
marry him, impotence
shouldn't break our
home. We will work it
out physically,
emotionally, and
spiritually.
undergo
treatments in the
hospital and I
will help him
with fasting and
serious prayers.
But pending the
time he would
be able to
perform again,
there are series
of things we can
enjoy in bed
without having
sex.
It is nothing to worry about
- Mary Adufe, actress
If I have kids, I mean three
kids like I have always
dreamed of all my life, I will
not be bothered about sex
nor think of having extra
marital affairs. I will ask him
to go to the hospital since he
wasn't like that when we
met. He could be suffering
from one disease or infection
which are curable (most
times ). In a matter of time,
he would surely perform
well on bed again. So, it
is nothing to worry
about.
I don't know
what I would
do -Ijeoma
Aniebo ,
actress and
OAP
Impotent? I
don't know
what I would
do until I
find myself
in such a
situation“.
Ijeoma Aniebo
Titi Adeoye
Allwell -Ademola
We can enjoy other
things in bed without
having sex. - Titi
Adeoye, actress
This is where the
true test of love
comes to play.
I don't even
want to
imagine
it but
nothing
is new
under
the sun.
He would
have to
Belinda Effah
Mary Adufe

At 18 there
was a funeral
party for me
as doctors
said I would
not live
beyond that
year
But I’m in my
40s, still
strong and
married with
children
Sickle Cell Anaemia
Cannot Stop Me
24—SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 29, 2017
Morenike Taire
& Anino Aganbi
Sickle cell anaemia activist
Princess Rachel Iyetunde
Guobadia was born into
the Guobadia Family of Edo
State more than 40 years
ago. A proud Edo whose mother is from
the Iyasere, Amadasun and Obaseki
families, she nonetheless makes much
of the fact that her grandmother- who
raised her- is daughter of late Oba
Kayode of Ijero Ekiti.
A graduate of Computer Science from
the University of Benin, she was head
hunted by Lloyds TSB Bank in 1998
C
M
YK
and then went to Deutsche
Bank through the 1999
millennium roll over to 2000.
Having worked in IT by
starting from support to
service desk, from service
desk to support analyst,
from support analyst to
business analyst and
then to project
management she now
has a training school partnering with
the London School of Economics (LSE)
at weekends.
From IT in the banking industry, she
was drafted in 2014 to work as a
business analyst on a project with
Oxfam on behalf of the British Ministry
of Justice; after which she was drafted
last year to work
with her Majesty,
the Queen to work
as head of “Project
Wi-Fi Migration”.
It has been
successfully
executed.
When did you
discover you had
sickle cell anaemia?
My family
discovered I had
sickle cell when I was
two years old. I fell
quite ill so they took
me to a specialist
hospital, that was
when they found out
I had sickle cell by
the doctor in
charge who passed
away last year.
Because my
mother could not
handle my
sickle cell life
my family
decided I
should live with
my grandmother
in Benin.I was in
and out of the
hospital and people
didn’t think I would
make it up till today.
You like to say that “sickle cell
anaemia has nothing on” you- what
is that about?
When I was growing up I was like
the black sheep of the family. I had
that I- don’t- care attitude right from
when I was young because, the time I
can remember was going in and out
In Nigeria, the stigma of
sickle cell was like if you
have got sickle cell, they
have already put a
death sentence on you
of specialist hospital. Almost every
weekend I saw people die. I saw people
come in for the same treatment. They
died while I was there. And sometimes
when I was on admission it would seem
as if the ghosts would come at night.
There was that trauma of having to be
with that corpse till dawn when the
mortuary opened at 10 a.m. So I had a
mind-set of living my life for today. If it
is partying, I am good. If it is having
fun, I am there. Sickle cell anaemia
cannot stop me because I would break
down again with crisis. I might get to
specialist hospital and might be among
those people that would die that night.
In Nigeria, the stigma of sickle cell
was like if you have got sickle cell, they
have already put a death sentence on
you. They always have that look of pity
and I tell them not to pity me. It does
not limit me. In University of Benin, I
could be having crisis and would not do
some of my exams, sometimes I would

eak down from UBTH and my friends would
carry me to the hall to write my exams and as
soon as I am well I am out again.
It didn’t adversely affect your education?
It did affect my education. There are two
things that could cause sickle cell crisis:
emotional stress, which could be triggered by
the heat, dehydration, family stress, boy friend
stress, children stress, and physical stress for
example, overdoing exercise, or you are doing
a job that you are not meant to do. But for me,
the physical stress was not exactly what was
bringing me down, it was more of the emotional
stress. In pain you have to attend lectures. If
you do not attend lectures you now have to rely
on hand-outs. In the UK, I went back to do
business management in 2008 but I did not
finish it completely because I was having crisis
during exams and in the UK, the exam method
is mostly done by assessment.
What did that mean to you?
Nobody will really sit down and give you
questions. It is two different ball games but it is
the best education I have ever had. For example
I read computing in Uniben and I did not see a
keyboard one day but I am a graduate of
computer from the University of Benin. It was
when I went to England and told them I had
done programming language, they asked me
to write a programme and I went blank and
that was when I knew my university years in
Benin were just a waste of time. I had to start all
over again to learn everything about computing
and got my certifications. I was very lucky
because when I went to the UK Microsoft
certified just started. So I did all the exams.
One thing about sicklers is that we are very
intelligent. We can read in 24 hours and pass
exams. I was one of the highest paid analysts in
the UK.
You were telling us about when you were
two years old…
If your mum is AS and your dad AS, you get
the S syndrome so I was the lucky one that took
the S from both parents. My Mum said I was
two years old when they rushed me to the
hospital and found out I had sickle cell and
they did not have a clue of what that was because
the awareness wasn’t there.
Luckily they had a specialist, a doctor
consultant who knew about it. They
didn’t have blood banks. So luckily for
me, my dad came down to Benin from
the site where he worked and found out
I was short of blood and there was no
one who matched my blood, so they
checked my dad’s blood and it matched
with mine.He saved my life when I was
two years old.
I faced this stigmatisation of being
an ‘Ogbanje’ because I was very light
skinned. It is now I do not blame them
because it boils down to awareness.
Then I took a lot of offence but when I
was growing up I had to understand.
In Africa when you are not well
and are constantly in and out of the
hospital, they can tag you anything. We
were sickle cell born through no fault
of ours but we can still live a normal
life, we are not different from the AA or
the AS. And there is no cure so nobody
should allow himself or herself to be
deceived.
There is a new thing I was reading
about…
That is ‘stem cell’. I knew about it in
2012 when I came to Lagos. I went to
have a meeting with Doctor Akinyanju
with Nigeria football legend Segun
Odegbami, to find out if I qualified for
the stem cell and from what he said it is
from the age of 16-35 and I had passed
that age.
So there is a 50-50 chance from 0-
35, but that doesn’t mean it will be
successful. I found a way of managing
myself, so I take plenty of fluid, rest and
live stress free. Anybody who stresses me
I cut off. If you have financial stress, try
to resolve it but for every issue you must
have a plan B.
Was becoming a mother frightening
for you?
I got married in 1999. My UK
consultant didn’t believe I should have
children. He felt sickle cell was enough
stress. I was actually on contraceptives
to prevent me from getting pregnant and
I went to Italy to celebrate my
My husband and I
started dating when
we were both in
Uniben. He was
always the one sitting
by my side in UBTH
when I was in and
out of crisis
anniversary with my husband
believing that I was still safe. I
came back a week later and found
out I was pregnant. It was a shock.
I booked an appointment with
my consultant and told him I was
pregnant. He told me I was going to
get rid of it and booked me for a
D&C. I had a crisis that very week
before I was to go into theatre. So
he sent me to do a scan and that was
how they found out I was expecting
twins. I started crying because I felt
I could not cope with one, talk less
of two.
My doctor then got together his
team and said he had never given
birth to twins on a sickle cell patient
before so he needed to make it work.
He assured me of giving me
whatever support I needed. From
that day till I was seven months
pregnant, I never had crisis once. I
went in every two weeks for blood
test. All through those seven months
I did not take panadol one day. I
only had crisis when I went into
labour.
You don’t regret it obviously
The best things that happened to
me are my identical twin boys. I
remember my mum having a funeral
party for me when I was 18 because
the doctors told my mum I would
not make it past that year. But I am
still here, in my forties and still
strong. I have a successful career;
my children have grown.
When your husband was advised
that you should not have children,
how did he take it as an African
man?
We started dating when we were
both in Uniben. He was always the
one sitting by my side in UBTH when
I was in and out of crisis. Coming
from a senior consultant, we
believed what he said that it would
be too much stress for me to have a
child.
A lot of people believe that it has
something to do with the
environment…
It is not the environment per se but
the negativity that comes from
Nigeria can kill you emotionally.
They believe you are disabled
already. You have got a deadly
disease and nobody marries a
sickler. I try now not to blame
anybody because it is ignorance that
makes Nigerians have that attitude
towards sicklers. All sicklers are as
strong as the AA person.
What’s your philosophy of life in
general
In Nigeria, I was babied. They did
not allow me do things on my own
even till the point I entered the
SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 29, 2016—25
university. My grandma especially, just
believed if I picked up that bucket of
water, the crisis would come and I
believed it. And as soon as I actually
carried that bucket I had the crisis.
When I got to the UK, I had my first
crisis and was taken to the hospital.
They were just trying to understand
what sickle cell was all about. We got
talking and I told my doctor about my
history. He then asked if I had hobbies
or had started a job. I told him I hadn’t
started working because I believed I
could not do anything. He asked what
I would like to do and encouraged me
to go back to school. So I did my
training in the mornings and worked
in the evenings. They injected skills into
us and sent us out to get jobs like
normal people. As soon as I finished
that, I ran into the IT market and have
never looked back since.
You talked about the society, but a
lot of families in Nigeria still do not
know how to handle sickle cell
anaemia?
There is a group on Facebook that I
joined. I put my life out there. I told
them I am a sickler and a mother of
two. I do not allow anything stop me. I
advised them not to allow anybody tell
them they cannot amount to anything.
What I have noticed especially from
my own experience is that our parents
carry sicklers like eggs. They think we
are fragile but we are not. To them if
we do anything outside our comfort
zone we are going to breakdown and
die. No one wants a child to die.
I told all the parents who in boxed
me that all they need to show their
children is love. Do not let them know
they are different from all your other
children. When I was here I accepted
my life that I was a sickler but when I
travelled abroad the doctor told me it
is just a sickness. Everything in life is
about the mind. If you accept you have
got a disability then you do. It’s either
you accept it and run with your life or
don’t accept it and keep hating your
parents for the rest of your life. We are
passing a message that regardless
sickle cell, we can go to school and
graduate, have a career. I have people
in-boxing me who did not use to reveal
to their colleagues that they are
sicklers but are doing so now. I wear
my sickle cell at work. If I have a crisis
I am in the hospital and the next day I
am back at work. They hug me and do
not treat me differently. We do not need
the pity party.
I do my charity effortlessly. If not for
Homerton hospital I won’t have had
my children. And I won’t have been
where I am today. I ask myself if I can
climb that mountain, I access the
area and when I get to that
mountain I take a picture and post it. I
then give myself other goals. Nothing
stops me.
I recently visited the one in Benin.
Bought drugs for those I could and did
other things I could afford.
How do we fight stigmatization of
sickle cell anaemia?
I am a mother of twins, have a career
and I am working in the UK. I have
worked for the past twenty years of it. I
have had crisis in between. When it
comes I sit back and rest. When I am
well I go back to work. Don’t remind
us of what we are. It happens, so help
us become people that matter in the
society by loving us. The negativity
and stigma need to stop. Sickle cell is
there and it pains me that the
government is not doing anything
about helping sicklers in Nigeria. I
was at the sickle cell centre in Benin in
2010 and they were in a bad state.
I tell my friends not to give any
money to the Doctors but to go there,
check what they can provide, donate it
and take a walk. Sickle cell Society
has been doing a lot especially in
Lagos but a state like Edo state people
still die on a daily basis. The stigma is
still there and awareness is not there.
People do not know they now have to
do a test before they marry that
partner. Unfortunately the people who
still die of this are the poor people
because they do not know what “AS”
genotype is until they have that child.
I believe God sustained me till now
for a purpose. I can go to the end of the
world to help sicklers. If I can only save
one life then I am okay with it.

26—SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 29, 2017
BY ROTIMI AGBANA
08137741609
rotimiagbana@gmail.com
CDQ names Wizkid,
Davido kings of
Nigerian music
Nigerian indigenous
rapper, Sodiq Abubakar
Yusuf, popularly known
by his stage name ‘CDQ’, is one
Nigerian entertainer who rarely
follows the bandwagon. Though
simple, humble and receptive,
he is not the type who associates
with every Tom, Dick and Harry
in the music industry. Since his
break into limelight, Showtime’s
•Davido
DJs are richer than artistes
in Nigeria — DJ Shabzy
Kiss Daniel’s official DJ, popularly
known as DJ Shabzy, has declared that
DJs are richer than artistes in Nigeria
because DJs save more than artistes, who
on the other hand spend fortunes off their
income to live extravagant lifestyles. DJ
Shabzy who is the official DJ to Kiss Daniel
and his G-Worldwide label mate, Sugarboy,
who launched his debut album titled
‘Believe’ at an album launch concert which
recently held at the Oriental Hotel, Lekki,
Lagos, told Showtime in an exclusive chat
that unlike DJs who get to save more of
their income, Nigerian artistes spend
extravagantly to maintain their
identity and status but DJs have no
reason to do so therefore they save
more of their income. He believes
DJs live a simple lifestyle unlike
artistes.
“As a matter of fact when you
talk about the revenue in the
music industry; DJs get to
save much more than the
artistes, I’m not talking
about the A’list artistes
now, I’m talking about
the average artistes
that are known. I
can tell you that DJs
probably earn
much more and
save more than the
artistes because
careful observation and
investigation has revealed that
though the music industry requires
that an artiste frolics with industry
mates at all levels, CDQ is a nonconformist
to this principle.
In an exclusive chat with
Showtime, he spoke on why he
hardly associates with just
everybody in the music industry,
naming Wizkid and Davido kings
•Wizkid
•DJ Shabzy
DJs get to go for shows back to back;
our standard of living is less to what
the artistes will have to live on.
Artistes want to change clothes
every minute but DJs don’t really
have reasons to go into that kind
of lifestyle, because we have the
name out there but less is to the
identity, so it saves us much than
the artistes. We are doing better
than them, I’m not top notch, but
I’m doing fine.”
He pointed out a key area the
music industry needs to urgently
address before it erodes the very
essence and credibility of the
creative craft. He told Showtime
that in his experience in the
music industry, some
artistes personally pay
people to pirate their own
songs, just to spin a web of
controversy that will
promote it. He said;
“One thing I think
artistes in Nigeria
are doing that is
not so cool and
needs to be
addressed is
going to the
extent of
paying people
to pirate their
of the music industry.
“There has to be this chemistry,
and what will generate that
chemistry is the ‘dopeness’, few
are the kind of artistes I’ve had to
work with in Nigeria. Like
recently, I shot a video with
Davido, I already have one with
Wizkid, those are like the two
main Lions we have in Nigeria.
I’ve one with Banky W also, which
actually means he is a very skilled
artiste in the RnB genre.
For the Indomie rapper, he
must see something very unique
in a fellow artiste before deciding
to collaborate on a song with him/
her. “Before I do anything with
you I need to certify that you’re
very good. When I listen to good
music, irrespective of the kind of
language you used to do it, music
is a universal language, it doesn’t
matter if it’s Igbo or Hausa, when
I listen to the delivery, the kind of
sound, I’ll know if it’s good
music.” He declared plans for
his debut concert scheduled
to hold in December. “I’m
actually working on
organizing a ‘Woss’
concert by December, but
I’m starting from my
hometown which is
Ilorin. After that I’ll
decide on what
next I want to
do”, he
revealed.
•CDQ
own songs all in the name of
promotion.” In his opinion, he
strongly believes artistes should
allow their works speak for
themselves instead of cutting
corners.
My mom has no
influence on my music
career — Mayorkun
Up till now, not many know that Eleko crooner,
Adewale Mayowa Emmanuel, popularly
known as Mayorkun, is the son of veteran
Nollywood actress, Toyin Adewale. The reason
is not far from the fact that the fast rising singer
has struggled to create a unique identity of his
own, devoid of his mom’s influence. Since his
debut single, Eleko, shot him to limelight after
signing on to Davido’s record label, DMW, Mayorkun has
battled to isolate himself from his mom’s influence on his
music career because he needed to prove to the public that
hard work is what has been responsible for his success so
far. According to Mayorkun, it irks his ego whenever news
goes to town that his mom’s influence is what has helped
his music career.
In an exclusive chat with Showtime, he explained that
contrary to what the public thinks, his mom hardly knows
any hip-hop artiste. He boasted that she rides on the
wings of his success in the music industry and not the
other way round.
“First, no disrespect, but my mom has no impact on
my entertainment influence. My mom is in fact the
person who wants me to go into banking other than music so
she never spoke to anybody, she never had any influence. To
be happen. By the way, my mom is not even in Nigeria, so I do
my things myself.”
Why I’m still energetic
on stage at 58
— Shina Peters
For lovers of indigenous music, Juju Music maestro,
Sir Shina Peters, is arguably one of the most
talented and energetic entertainers of his generation.
Surprisingly, at 58, the Juju music maestro who has
made a name for himself in the entertainment industry
with his creative indigenous musical compositions,
brilliant display of energy and eclectic dance steps
during stage performances, still has the same kind of
stage energy he exploited back in the days to dazzle
his fans.
He revealed to Showtime in an exclusive chat that
at his present age, love and passion for his craft has
sustained the kind of energy characteristic of him while
performing on stage. Asked what gives him so much
strength on stage even now that old age is setting in,
he said; “Because I love what I’m doing, I love what
I’m into; that’s why we always advise these upcoming
artistes, don’t go into the music industry because of
material things, money or fame, no! Ask yourself, if the
other side of the industry comes, how are you going to
handle it if you don’t love it? Love will conquer them all
though”.
Speaking on the credibility of awards in Nigeria, he
said; “Well, things are falling into pieces, we don’t even
know the real awards, we don’t even know the genuine
ones, but we are always grateful to God because we
are still relevant that’s why they always nominate us,
we thank God. Soon, I’ll be 50-years on stage; I started
my career at the age of 10 years old, so what more?”
He declared full support for young artistes currently
ruling the waves of the music
the help of God and with our
support I don’t have fear for
them, music is music, and
music is the food of love. Just
like the Yoruba adage that
says Oba mewa, igba mewa,
our time will pass but we
have to encourage
them; we don’t need
to put fear into
them, we just
need to give
them words of
encouragement.
Lyrically, as a
role model,
children must
be able to listen to
your songs and pick
one or two things”, he
said.
•Shina Peters
•Mayorkun
industry. “With
C
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Y
K

C
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K
SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 29, 2017—27
By AYO ONIKOYI
08052201215
onikoyi68@gmail.com
Asa returns
with Asa Live in
Lagos concert
BY ROTIMI AGBANA
AFTER a sold-out concept dubbed “the best
concert of 2016” by many music critics, media
houses and fans of good music, Nigerian soul
singer, Asa returns with ‘Asa Live in Lagos Encore’ due to
popular demand.
Last year Asa ended her ‘Bed of Stone’ tour in Lagos with
the ‘Asa Live in Lagos concert’. This year, she starts the
tour in Lagos. 2017 is symbolic as it marks 10 years since
the release of her critically acclaimed, multi-platinum
selling, self-titled debut album ‘Asa’.
Bringing all the elements, sounds, lights, emotions and
lyrics that have made up her life these past 10 years, Asa
will be performing with her band and a 30-piece Lagos
Orchestra today, the 29 th of April, 2017 at the Eko
Convention Centre, Eko Hotel and Suites. She intends
to share her musical journey through her songs with
her friends and fans that have made up her life these
past 10 years.
Tope Alabi and SLK for 9th
Magodo Zonal Rally
TOPE Alabi and popular
comedian, SLK popularly
known as Boda Wasiu are set
to perform at the forth coming
9th Zonal Rally of Foursquare
Gospel Church , Magodo Zone
of taking place between
Thursday 4th May 2017 and
Sunday, 7th May 2017.
The ace gospel artist, known
for her powerful music and the
popular Instagram comedian,
popular for his Instagram skits
and heavy use of rhythm
are two out of other guests
expected to grace the event.
According to the Chairman
of the Rally Committee, Mr.
Samuel Olatunji, “This rally is
the 9th of its kind in this zone,
and it will be a great one. Just
as the theme, ‘On Eagles’
Wings’ indicated, we are going
to be empowering people with
knowledge on
how to stand
out like
Eagles. We
have many
anointed
ministers of
God and
•Tope Alabi
•Asa
speakers who will be speaking at the different
days of the programmes. Tope Alabi will be
ministering live at the rally. We will also have
SLK Comedy (Boda Wasiu) present to
entertain everyone with his brand of comedy.
He further stated that “There are many
programmes planned for this Rally. There
is a medical outreach which is free for all
and also a Dinner for couples and one for
singles and teens. Everyone who attends will
have an awesome time.”
Other ministers of God slated for the event
are, Pastor Alex Unuadjefe who doubles as
the Zonal Superintendent of Magodo Zone,
Pastor Anetor, Rev. Mrs. Mope Oluwole and
Sister Bosun Bankole.
•Yaw and Cossy
Africa’s funniest comics
Basketmouth, Salvador,
others shake Abuja at
Glo Laffta Fest
The funniest of Nigeria and Uganda’s comedy
stars descended on Nigeria’s posh capital city,
Abuja last Saturday night for the nation’s biggest
comedy show, Glo Laffta Fest, which held at the Old
Parade Ground, Abuja.
The crack team of Basketmouth, Bovi ( both Globacom brand
ambassadors), I Go Dye, Gordons, Dan the Humorous, MC
Tagwaye and Salvador from Uganda teamed
up to rain down humour on residents of
the federal capital territory from 6pm to
about 10pm. And there was no dull
moment.
The show drew a large mix of fun
seekers under one roof, ranging from
youths to adults, working class to
politicians, business persons to socialites.
Among the audience were Nollywood stars
like,
Richard Mofe-Damijo, Kanayo O. Kanayo
and Patience Ozokwor popularly known as
Mama G.
On stage, the show opener was the
Jos-based comedian, Osama, who sent
the audience reeling in laughter as
he shared funny stories from his life
in the now militarised city.
MC Tagwaye, the comedian who
mimics President Mohammadu
Buhari picked it up from there and
raised the decibel of laughter
higher as he made jokes around
the socio-political condition of the
country. The high point of his
performance was the question
and answer session wherein a few
members of the audience got into
the role and asked ‘His
Excellency’ questions. His
quick witted responses drew a
loud ovation. A guest had
sought his view on how his
administration would address
the issue of witches and
wizards flying at night and he
responded that the matter
would be addressed by his
•Basketmouth
Comedian, Yaw gears up
for 9th edition of Yaw Live
On Stage tagged #Apere
Award-winning comedian, actor and OAP
Steve ‘Yaw’ Onu has announced the 9 th
edition of his annual “Yaw Live on Stage” comedy
show titled ‘APERE’ set to hold on Sunday, May
28, 2017 at Eko Hotel Convention Centre, Victoria
Island Lagos.
This year, the show’s highlight is an amusing
stage play titled ‘Apere’ (meaning basket) featuring
Yaw and musician Sound Sultan as they take a
completely satirical and holistic view at the issues
surrounding Nigeria.
Speaking on his plans for this year’s edition of
the critically-acclaimed comedy show, Yaw
remarked, “I couldn’t be more excited that we are
at the 9 th edition of the show. I am grateful to
everyone for the support so far and I can only say
that “Apere” is going to be the most entertaining
performance Nigerians have ever witnessed yet. I
will be joined by my brother Sound Sultan and what
we have in store for you is very fantastic!”
Apere is a follow-up from last year’s show titled
“Shalanga” which also had a stage play featuring
Yaw and top-rated comedian Ayo ‘AY’ Makun.
Minister of Aviation.
Port Harcourt-oriented
comedian, Dan the Humorous
picked the baton and treated
the audience to fast-paced
jokes mostly centering on
health and care-giving
institutions, especially teaching
hospitals.
Then it was the turn of
Salvador from Uganda to
serenade the audience with his
own style of jokes. He
humorously compared the
reactions of the authorities to
suicidal people in the advanced
countries and in his home
country, Uganda. Bovi, I Go
Die and Basketmouth
completed the fun and showed
why they were called masters
of the game. It as a night of
humour to remember.
The next destination of the
much sought-after show is
Enugu in South East Nigeria.
Those wishing to attend the
show are expected to use up to
N2,000 credit within one month
and text LOL and preferred
location to short code 240.

28—SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 29, 2017
By BENJAMIN NJOKU
Xerona Duke:Stepping
into her father's shoes!
'What I share with my dad'
Xerona Duke, the eldest daughter of ex-governor of
Cross River State, Donald Duke may not be your
favourite singer. But the international lawyer-turnedguitarist
and singer is sure to put on a performance that will
not only shame many of our pampered pop stars, but indeed,
will blow your mind away.
The fair-complexioned beauty, who's also a skilled
saxophonist is one of the few daughters in the country to follow
the footsteps of a politician-turned-jazz musician father.
Xerona believes that music is a second nature to both herself
and her dad. As a child, she developed a strong passion for
music, learning how to play the guitar, piano and saxophone
alongside her siblings. “I started playing music right from
when I was a child. Myself and my siblings took music classes
while growing up. Music has been my first love. -I studied
Law but now, I am taking music much more seriously,” Xerona
enthused in a recent chat with Sidebeat.
Xerona says, even though they have different taste in terms
of music, she owes her love for music to her dad, whom she
describes as her first “rock star.”
Is she influenced by her dad's kind of music? “Definitely
yes, she replied, adding “ but I think I'm moving in a
completely different direction from my dad. Musically,
we have different tastes.”
She continues, “The kind of music that my dad
likes; the old school stuff, highlife and so on.
That's what I grew up with. So, it formed
t h e
foundation of my music, but I like to expand and grow.
Now, if you ask me what genre of music do I play? I
can tell you, I just make music . If you like call it
Afrobeat, Jazz or RnB, you may not be wrong. I just
make music. My father enjoys some of the new sounds,
but he is very much at home with the old school stuff.
But I belong to the new school.”
Talking about how her dad
perceives her music, Xerona
replies, “He likes it, he has
been very supportive of my
music. And that's because
he thinks I have
something to offer to the
world. I am looking
forward to performing
one of my songs with him
at the Runway Jazz
festival, holding
tomorrow.”
On what it takes
to be Donald
D u k e ' s
daughter,Xerona says, one must be
smart, a good listener and at the same
time, outgoing. “I learn from my
parents; always ensure that you are
putting your best foot forward because
you are not just representing yourself,
you are also representing your parents
and the country.”
For Xerona, what she shares with her
dad is music. It's very much a fatherand-daughter
enterprise, with each
redefining the sound of African music.
Last December, Xerona debuted in the
Nigerian music scene, performing at
EME’s Niyola ’s 2016 concert, 'Yours
Truly’, which held at The Bridge in
Lekki, Lagos. Before then, she has
worked with top Nigerian artistes
including Ice Prince, Niyola and some
international artistes.
So far, she’s recorded songs like; ‘Free
Falling’, ‘Intangible’ and cover versions
of songs by Jon Bellion and Jimmy
Nevis.
Xerona says, she's working toward
releasing her EP next month. “We have
finished recording and I'm trying to tie
up all the loose ends before releasing
the EP,” she hinted.
Just like his daughter, Duke is equally
planning to release a full album to
announce himself to the world. At the
moment, he’s said to be in the studio
working on his album.
Interestingly, both father and daughter
will share the stage , this Sunday, when
they will be performing one of Xerona's
songs,at this year's Runway Jazz
festival,holding at the Convention Hall
of Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos. Their
performance will not only be the
highpoint of the jazz night, but it will
definitely leave a lasting impression that
fathers and daughters can actually have
meaningful musical collaborations on
stage.
•Xerona
I want to revolutionize
Fuji music---Igi Aruwe
Talented singer, Ibrahim
Abdujabaru, popularly known as
Igi Aruwe Superstar, may not be
a familiar face, but certainly not
new to the music scene especially
Fuji.
The 'Igi Aruwe' superstar and son
of Jabaru says he's out to change
the face of the Fuji music and
give value to the audience.
The up and rising star of
Fuji exponent who has
performed in many
shows says, he wants
to revolutionize Fuji
music.
“I want to
revolutionize the
•Igi Aruwe Awere
Fuji brand of music
Superstar
to a higher level.
•Xerona
Music has been an integral part of me
by the grace of God. My dreams of
taking Fuji to a new level has
propelled me into music.
Greatness start by taking
a step”.
Asked what his targets
are, he said a
thousand steps
begins with one.
“My music
preaches love and
togetherness; to
impact on the lives and
make the world a better place
to live in. My debut album is
receiving finishing touches in the
studio.
AXA Mansard Partners partners
Terra Kulture on Launch launch
of Terra Kulture Arena
Driven by its passion for art
and the development of the
Nigerian culture, leading
Nigerian insurance provider,
AXA Mansard Insurance plc
has thrown its weight behind the
launch of a world-class modern
arts theatre ‘Terra Kulture
Arena’ launched by Terra
Kulture.
Located in Victoria Island and
first of its kind privately owned
theatre in Nigeria, the 400-
seater state-of-the-art theatre
was conceived out of the desire
to fill a significant gap in the
theatre industry. With this
achievement, Terra Kulture has
proven to be the one-stop
destination for culture and art
enthusiasts
Over the years, Terra Kulture
has developed and maintained
its reputation as the hub for
stage productions by both local
and international companies.
This initiative of the company
not only gives the theatre
industry a boost but also
reinforces the position of Lagos
as the leading destination for
premium entertainment in
Nigeria.
Upon commencement of full
operations, the theatre will also
double as a movie screening
venue and will be set to host a
range of shows, plays and
musicals. It will also play the
challenging role of providing
Nigerians with a wide schedule
of theatre, comedy, music and
dance.
Speaking on the decision to
support the initiative, the Chief
Marketing Officer of AXA
Mansard Insurance plc, Mr.
Kola Oni noted that, “Nigerian
Arts provide everyone, a
beautiful platform of expression.
Our culture and heritage are our
pride as a nation and we must
do well to propagate it.
The Terra Kulture Arena, is a
positive sign of the rebound in
appreciation for Nigerian Art &
Culture and AXA Mansard is
glad to be a part of this legacy.
Promoted and driven by Terra
Kulture CEO, Bolanle Austen
Peters, there is no doubt of its
ability to deliver on its purpose.”

Ttdalk in double
celebration
BY OBA MICHAEL SOYEBO
Nigeria’s foremost luxury fashion leather accessory
creator, Temilade Osinfade popularly known as
Ttdalk is presently basking in the euphoria of double
celebrations.
Recall that the Osinfade household was thrown into wild
jubilation as the news of his adorable wife putting to bed in
far away Maryland USA broke weeks ago. Family and friends
who adorn his social media pages to felicitate with the fashion
entrepreneur were elated at the news of the arrival of the bundle
of joy. Investigations revealed that the managing Director of
TTdalk International days ago also had a superlative dinner
to mark his birthday as his customers and associates gathered
in Maryland, USA to celebrate the fashion enigma. The event
took place at an upscale restaurant in the states and his guests
were adequately treated to a 5Star dinner which turned into a
networking event.
Ttdalk has within its over 8 years of existence changed the face
of indigenous fashion with stylish designs that are second to
none in Africa. The store at Silverbird Galleria has become a
mecca of sort for top business executive and other A-class people
all over the country.
Adogan by Lee lights up Lekki
I
ndeed,
it’s a season of celebrations for Lydia Babatunde who
is the brain behind Lee Entertainment, as the Island big babe last
weekend sprouted a classy African restaurant to light up the Lekki area
of Lagos known as Adogan by Lee.
The restaurant which caters ready to eat local cuisines with a prompt
home delivery packages is gradually turning to a favourite for Lekki
residents due to its affordability and unique taste.
Lydia Babatunde who recently launched a reality Tv show tagged ‘No
Limits’ is on an aggressive drive to give back to the society as forms for
her talent hunt is out for pick up.
The ‘No Limit’ Talent Hunt and Reality Show is an initiative that is
designed to house over 20 physically challenged people who have talents
such as singing, painting, dancing, comedy and instrument playing. It
will also train participants in various skill sets which will be put to
weekly test, television showcase and audience voting while at the end of
the four weeks competition, five top winners will emerge to win the
grand prize.
BY JULIET EBIRIM
FOLLOWING the success
of the debut of Lagos
biggest architectural weekend,
British Council and Open
House Lagos Board is proud to
present the second edition of
Open House Lagos which
holds today and tomorrow, 29 th
and 30 th of April 2017
respectively.
The first edition which took
place in 2016 was the first of
its kind in Africa. It recorded
an outstanding success which
was reflected by the extensive
press coverage, over 1500
volunteer applications, positive
feedback from the visitors and
building owners, as well as the
number of buildings that
signed on.
This year, with 30 buildings
and 12 tours spread across two
days, Open House Lagos
presents an opportunity to see,
explore and learn about Lagos’
architecture all for free. Hence,
presenting a platform for Lagos
citizens and tourists to find out
more about issues that are
relevant to their local area - from
the design of homes to the
impact of climate change, and
the role of architects and
contemporary design in
revitalizing a city.
Speaking about the event,
Ojoma Ochai, Director Arts,
British Council Nigeria said the
continuation of this festival has
been fueled by the passion
and drive of the Open House
Advisory Board, the Open
House team, generous partners
and collaborators and the
willingness of the building
owners to grant access to their
buildings.
Open House Lagos tells the
Juliet Ebirim
08137897935
juliet.ebirim@gmail.com
Open House Lagos kicks off
•Ojoma Ochai
•Ttdalk
•Jide Ipaye
story of progressive growth of architecture
in Lagos, exploring the diverse historical
buildings protected for years, while
unraveling contemporary designs.
BY OBA MICHAEL SOYEBO
Super stylish celebrity woman, Stella
Obinwa is perhaps the hottest
intellectual commodity in the tourism world at
the moment. Prior to her joining Wakanow, as
Director of Operations & finance she
contributed immensely to the successful strings
of Wyndham Vacation Resorts in the USA,
which pride itself as the largest vacation resort
company in the world.
The highly enterprising amazon who was the
Chief Marketing & Business Development Officer
of Wakanow.com, Nigeria’s leading online travel
company also positioned the company to
international recognition.
Presently Stella Fubara Obinwa is the Director
Dubai tourism and ever since she took the mantle
of leadership she had further showcased her
ingenuity in the tourism sector. For those who don’t
know currently, Nigeria made up 60 per cent of
clients of Time Hotels and Arabian Falcons, a
leading property company in the United Arab
Emirates, a feet attributed to her laudable giant
strides.
SFO as some close friends call her, despite her
SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 29, 2017—29
Lagos Surveyor General and
siblings throw classy one year
remembrance for mum
BY OBA MICHAEL SOYEBO
ALL roads led to the Ijebu-Ode, Ogun East area of Ogun
state, last Sunday, April 23, 2017 as the Surveyor General of
the Lagos state, Suryv. Tomi Sangowawa and his beautiful siblings
threw a classy one year remembrance for their late mum.
Their mum who got married to a renowned medical
practitioner trained in the UK, Dr. Olufisan
Sangowawa was honoured with a
memorial service at the prestigious
Emmanuel church, Isonyin close to
Ijebu ode, Ogun state.
A Classy reception was held at the
Sangowawa family house situated on Ashafa
Street, Abeokuta road, Ijebu Ode. Relatives,
friends and associates were treated to different cuisines and
drinks as they gathered to celebrate the woman known for her
rare qualities of kindness and meekness.
She is survived by her husband who is the Medical Director
of Joy Clinic Ijebu Ode, Engr Biyi Sangowawa, a successful
engineering aficionado and business mogul, Yinka
Sangowawa, Suryv Tomi Sangowawa and other adorable
kids doing well in their various chosen fields.
Jide Ipaye to
launch Ibile
BY JULIET EBIRIM
Jide Ipaye’s Keexs, an African inspired unisex
footwear brand is set to launch its latest
collection, Ibile in a one of a kind arts and style
exhibition. Themed ‘’Style and Culture”, the
exhibition will showcase never seen before
footwear concepts as created by the brands
founder, Jide Ipaye.
As the name depicts, Ibile means local, native
or heritage in Yoruba and is also an acronym for
the 5 founding regions in Lagos - Ikorodu,
Badagry, Ikeja, Lagos Island and Epe. The event
is expected to attract fashion and arts enthusiasts,
as well as indigenous designers across the
continent.
Inspired by different aspects of the Yoruba and
Lagos culture; Ibile promises to bring a fresh
urban feel to any outfit and evoke nostalgic
feelings brought by the typical traditional, western
designs infused with epic colours and prints. The
event will feature elements of music, dance and
drama by the renowned Ronya Man Arts
Company as well as a live art showcase making
it the perfect environment for culture, lifestyle
and art lovers.
Keexs was successfully launched through a
global crowd-funding campaign in 2015. Since
inception, Keexs has been featured on numerous
platforms such as Origin Africa (Madagascar),
The African Fashion Week Nigeria, Heineken
Lagos Fashion Week, Ebony Life TV, South
African Fashion Week and CNN African Voices.
Rise and rise of Stella Fubara Obinwa
very busy schedule takes quality time out to unwind
with her old friends and associates.
She is adjudged one of the biggest female pace
setters with unexplainable detailed fashion sense.
And she also commands respect from all and sundry
due to her enormous exposure and brilliance.
•Stella Obinwa

C
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30—SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 29, 2017
I could have been married
a long time ago -Rita Dominic
Nollywood diva, Rita Dominic has broken
her silence, revealing why she’s still single.
In a recent interview with the newly launched
lifestyle and fashion magazine, Schick, owned
by Simi Esiri, Rita Dominic revealed that she
could have been married a long time ago, but
things didn’t work out.
The multiple award-winning actress, however,
is hopeful that God will present the right man
to her at the right time. “ I believe that God is
in charge of my life and will present the right
man to me at the right time,” she said.
When asked whether social pressure don’t
get to her, Rita replied, “ I am a human being
and I would be lying to say that it doesn’t
Nollywood Comedy
Club ready to
debut with TV
series
Ace comic actor,
Victor Osuagwu and
his
partner,
Silas Ugochukwu have
revealed plans to embark
on talents hunt in order to
give budding talents in
the country the
opportunity to announce
themselves to the world.
The duo intend to
accomplish this onerous
task through their newly
formed Nollywood
Comedy Club, which
currently boasts of more
7,000 membership strength.
Osuagwu and Orikoha
made this known, recently
while unveiling the official
logo of the club in Lagos.
According to the humour
merchant, the club which was
formed last December to
provide a platform for aspiring
stars to showcase their
talents is growing in leaps and
bounds.
Osuagwu said,”Trying to
make a name was quite tough
for many of us back then
because not many people
wanted to give us the
necessary support. Having
experienced this and seeing
what many of today’s youths
are passing through, we
decided to create this platform
to address that problem.
“At the moment, we have
created a television series
with shooting going on in Port
Harcourt, Rivers State. Over
the next few weeks, we shall
be going round the country
to hunt for new talents. It is
our own little way of giving
back to the industry that has
made us stars.”
Co-founder of the club,
Silas Ugochukwu, said they
have erected proper
structures to ensure that the
initiative operates without
hitch while striving to achieve
its main targets.
•Osuagwu
sometimes. More so because it’s something
I sincerely want to do but the feeling passes
when I remember that society will not live
with the person. She continues, “I will live
with the man, so it is very important that I
do it because I want to, not because society
wants it for me.” On the myth that sex,
for women, gets better with age, Rita
opined that sex at 40 is what you make
of it. “If you ordinarily don’t enjoy it,
age won’t make a difference. I find that
when a woman embraces her sexuality,
many Nigerians equate it go being
Ashewo , as if we should act like sex
is not pleasurable,” he argued.
Rita described dating, as a
nightmare, “especially in this days of
social media where with one click you
are all over the internet.” Though she
admitted that “ I do date when
someone special comes around.” So,
what is it like when she’s in a
relationship? “ I love being totally
drawn to someone ad doing all
those loving things couples do,
but I am also wary of liars and
bullies, “ the beautiful actress
muted. Rita said, she’s passionate
about giving back to society and
she does so at any opportunity
she gets. She works with an
organization that support the
physically challenged people,
with the aim to provide them
with facilities that will
improve their well being.
I married early to avoid distraction
—Nollywood hunk, Nosa Rex
•Nosa Rex
It’s a general perception that celebrities marry late
as it’s might affect their career. But Nollywood
hunk, Nosa Rex proved it otherwise
when he walked down the aisle
about two years ago with the
love of his life, Deborah, at
a much younger age.
The handsome dude
believes that getting
married at a young age
is no big deal even
though he followed the
footsteps of his father.
Nosa revealed that
apart from being
influenced by his father,
he married early in
order not to be
distracted by his
female admirers.
“ Before I joined
Nollywood”, he
began, “I have always
had this idea of
settling down on time.
The thought came to
my mind because of
the relationship I have
with my father. If you
see me walking hand
•Rita Dominic
in hand with father, you will
probably believe he’s my
elder brother.”
“He gave birth to me at
the age of 24. I like my
relationship with him and I
have always wanted that
kind of relationship to exist
between my kids and I.
This is because I know
what I’m benefitting from
it,” the Edo State-born
actor enthused.
Nosa who started acting
way back in 2010, after he
graduated from the
Ambrose Ali University,
Ekpoma, as a Mechanical
Engineer , married his long
time girlfriend, Deborah
about two years ago.
Their union has been
blessed with a beautiful
daughter and the
handsome actor is better off
for it. He’s telling whoever
cares to listen that getting
married early is not a bad
idea.

SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 29, 2017—31
Edited By AYO ONIKOYI
08052201215
onikoyi68@gmail.com
•Feyisara Hassan
By AYO ONIKOYI
What was your encounter
with acting like?
It all started back in my
secondary school days, at Victory
Progressive College where I
always participated in the
Cultural and Dramatic Society
activities. It was there I discover
there’s something in me that
loves acting. Even my Yoruba
teacher noticed the talent and
she advised me to go into
acting full time. But I didn’t
know how or anybody that
could connect me with anyone
in Nollywood. The break came
when I saw Damola Olatunji
advertising an acting academy in a
movie. It was Demolat School of
Performing Arts. All I did was call the
number on the screen and my acting
journey began. With hardwork and
dedication I graduated as one of the
best students of my set. Please note
that the school is not owned by
Damola Olatunji, he only did the
advertisement but he was one of the
people that trained me. Since then,
Damola Olatunji has been my mentor
and he has directed all the movies I
produced. He is a fantastic man.
How do you remember your very first
time in front of the cameras?
Being the first time it was kind of
challenging and a bit difficult but I
guess the talent in me weathered it all.
In fact, at the end of the day everyone
was happy with my performance. It was a
small role where I played the part of a very
prayerful church girl. The title of the movie
is Orisa Bi Iya Osi and when it was
Being a babymama is
better than being a wife
— Feyisara Hassan
•Explains why she doesn’t wear bra
Beautiful and petite Yoruba actress, Feyisara Hassan only just turned 24
on Wednesday, April 26, 2017 and already has produced five films of her
own while featuring in so many more. In this interview as our star of the
week, Feyisara talks about her journey as a teenage movie producer,
and makes her view known on why many Yoruba actress (women in
general) are becoming babymamas: Enjoy.
•Feyisara
Hassan
released into the market I
was very proud of myself.
Even my parents who had
misgivings about my taking
up acting as a career were
impressed and encouraged
me to go on and do better.
When did you
produce your own first
film and how many
have you produced till
date?
I produced my first
movie in 2011. It was
even my boss that
encouraged me,
saying I should put
myself to the test
and see how perfect
my acting was. The
film was ‘Rokun Rosa’
and it was directed by
Afeez Owo. I was only
18 then and my mum
gave me the money to
produce it.
Unfortunately, I did
not make money from
it. In fact the
marketer is still
owing me till today.
But that has not
detered me from
forging ahead to be
an accomplished
actress and a
producer as I have
produced 4 more
movies after that.
They are Fikayomi,
Ipinle Ese, Aye
Asan, Aisan and
Aisan Ife (part two
of Aisan).
Is it true that
Yoruba actors and
actresses date one
another a lot?
Well, I can’t confirm
that. Anybody can
find love anywhere.
It’s a free world, an
actress can date an actor
but for me, I can’t marry
an actor. Please, don’t
misunderstand me, it is
not that I find anything
distasteful in them but
I just don’t feel
comfortable
marrying anyone
Medium
boobs are
sexy and
more
attractive
than the big
ones
in the same business with
me.
What kind of men do you
like?
I love dark, tall and
handsome men. I don’t like
skinny guys. I love my guys
to be medium in built. I hate
liars,drunkards, lazy men
and ones that are not
supportive
Why do you think every
actor or actress wants to be a
producer?
First, I don’t believe every
actor wants to be a producer.
No doubts, almost everyone
of them are producing their
own films these days. And it’s
getting funny that some
produce up to 20 movies per
year. I think this crop of
producers are just simply
greedy and don’t know what
they want. If you ask me, I
believe for the men is all
about money and identity
while the women go for it to
promote themselves.
Many Yoruba actresses are
babymamas; what can make
you become a babymama?
What most people don’t
know is that being a
babymama is even better than
being a wife. Frankly, I am
not against any woman
opting to be a babymama, in
fact I believe it is good and
more peaceful. Being a
babymama you enjoy the
father of your baby more than
if he were your husband. You
can have access to him
whenever and wherever you
want without any family
pressures or restrictions.
When you are a wife, there
are limitations and
restrictions and there’s little
room for heartaches. More
women are opting to be
babymamas because their
lives are more peaceful and
enjoyable.
You once said you don’t
wear bra, can you explain
why?
Yes, I don’t wear bras
because I don’t feel
comfortable with it but I do
wear it now because my man
is not comfortable with my not
wearing it. I guess it is
because of my sexy boobs.
But they are not big?
They may not be big but
they are very special. They
are one of the most beautiful
parts I love in my body.
Medium boobs are sexy and
more attractive than the big
ones. All kinds of boobs are
good though but mine are
more attractive and sexy.
What’s your take on sex
generally?
In my opinion and
experience, sex is best
experienced within a
committed relationship where
two people have agreed to be
exclusive with each other and
to explore their sexualities
together. This doesn’t have to
be within marriage. However,
in my opinion, relationships
should not exist solely to
provide a means for sex.
Relationships should be a
beautiful tapestry, of which
sex is one piece. And within
that relationship, sex should
only exist with an incredible
amount of communication.
The communication should be
about when people are ready
for different stages of sex,
what people like and dislike
in sex, and at the core of all
this communication should be
consent. Our society talks
about and does consent very
poorly (which is why we have
such a high rate of sexual
violence).
Why are Yoruba films so
poorly subtitled?
It depends on the editors;
we have good and bad ones.
Another reason is that some
bad producers find it difficult
to pay editors good money.
So, what they got is what they
paid for.
Finally, what are your
biggest dreams as an
actress?
One of my biggest dreams
is to become a musician. But
all in all my biggest dream is
to do what nobody has done
in the industry.
C
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C
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32—SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 29, 2017
Edited By AYO ONIKOYI
08052201215
onikoyi68@gmail.com
Until his demise few years back, not many knew that Dr Sid, born
Sidney Onoriode Esiri is the son of legendary actor, Justus Esiri.
The reason is not far-fetched. Dr Sid wanted to create his own
unique identity that is not incubated by his father’s larger than life
image. He delved into music to achieve his dream after
training as a Dentist. Even though his dad did not
welcome the idea of him going into music initially, he
was bent on building his own brand outside of his
dad’s. And today, Dr. Sid is not only a big brand to
reckon with, in the Nigerian music industry,but
also, he’s one of the powerhouses of the
reputable Mavin Records owned by Don
Jazzy. He shares the story of how he
struggled to build his own brand,
declaring, however, that he’s not
planning to step into his father’s shoes
any time soon.
BY BENJAMIN NJOKU
How were you able to create your
own brand successfully without the
influence of your late father?
It’s the grace of God. Honestly, I
have achieved a lot as an artiste
without the influence of my father. His
hard work and accomplishments were
enough reasons for me to be
successful in my musical career.
While growing up, what was it like
being the son of Justus Esiri?
My father was a very strict man, but
very hard working. He was a man
who believed that you got as much as
you put in. He was a perfectionist and
one who wanted everybody around
him to be the best they could be. That’
the kind of man he was. He was hard,
he was loving,he was famous and
principled. If you did anything
wrong, he would be angry with you
and at the same time, he would give
you an opportunity to express
yourself.
Did he object to your decision to go
into music?
Definitely, he hesitated. But he
understood the ups and downs of life.
Honestly, caring for his son, he was
worried about the downs than the
ups. He told me, he didn’t like this
idea of going into music. But I think
he said that to test how I was
prepared to take my destiny into my
own hands. But later, he saw the
series of efforts I put in and he
decided to give me his full support.
He was one of my biggest fans before
he passed on.
How did the idea of going into
music come to you?
I used to dance for a dance group
way back in school. Later, I started
doing choreography for the group and
stage management before I started
singing. I released my first single in
1998, after I graduated from the
university. I have come a long way,
and that’s one of the good things that
have happened to me in the industry.
Did your father’s fame and
influence affect your social life while
growing up?
Not that I noticed. I have always
lived a very quiet life. That’s why this
so called celebrity thing doesn’t really
affect me because ever since I was a
child, I have always remained Justus
Esiri’s son; The Village Headmaster’s
son. It’s something I have always
been used to all my life. I grew up
with it.
Many people thought your hit
song, “Pop Champagne” featuring
D’banj actually announced your
My father
and I were
two worlds
apart
— Dr Sid
I have always lived a
very quiet life. That’s
why this so called
celebrity thing
doesn’t really affect
me because ever
since I was a child, I
have always
remained Justus
Esiri’s son; The
Village Headmaster’s
son. It’s something I
have always been
used to in my life. I
grew up with it
presence in the
industry?
My first
single,”Something
About You” announced
me and not “Pop
Champagne. But
“Pop
Champagne
was a great
song as
well. I
even
performed
the song
last
night(last
weekend).
What
informs
your kind of music?
Sometimes,it’s life experiences,
emotions at a particular point in time.
Different things can inspire different
songs.
But there is something about your
hit song, “Surulere” that is peculiar
to you?
It’s a point in my life where I have
been in the industry for so long.
Certain things went wrong and
certain things happened. It’s just a
song that describes my journey into
the world of showbiz. It inspires you
to push and keep working harder. You
have to be patience and at the same
time, work hard in order to get what
you want. So, it was a point I was
trying to make headway. But
fortunately, I have had wonderful
people around me like eLdee, Don
Jazzy and many others.
What’s your take on the idea of
collabo that is currently the in thing
in the music industry?
It is a normal thing in music.
Artistes collaborate for different
reasons. I think collaborations are
good, we get into new market and
share it together. It also brings artistes
together as well as breaks cultural
boundaries.
Can you recall that particular
moment in your career where you
think you have come of age in the
industry?
My new single is called, “Up
Something,”meaning that I am still
growing. I don’t see myself as an
artiste who has made it. I always
tell myself I am like an up and
coming artiste. I am constantly
moving and evolving and
growing as the industry is
growing too. I am an artiste
on the move. I don’t think I
have made it and if I do,
there is nothing again to
challenge me.
What would you say has
changed about you since
you joined Mavin
Records?
Mavin is a family. I
have been with Don
Jazzy since the days of
the defunct Mo’ Hits.
Nothing has really
changed about me. De
Prince has been there,
so also Tiwa Savage.
New acts like Kerode
Bello, Iyanya among
others are there. We
are one big family.
There is nothing
wrong with our
relationship. I have
had an awesome
relationship with Don
Jazzy.
Are you not thinking of
setting up your own record
label?
I am the President of Mavin
Films. I attended a film
school,where I studied
producing and directing. I
provide content for the
company, and also, I’m heading
a production arm of the
company. So, there no need for
that.
Have you produced any film?
I produced a short film. I am also
shooting and directing another short
film. I have acted in some films as
well. So, I am everywhere.
You are gradually stepping into the
big shoes of your late father?
I’m not taking after my father or
stepping into his shoes. My father
had done his bit, I am building my
own brand.

SATURD
TURDAY Vanguard,
APRIL 29, 2017—33
Tok
okunbo Thomas’ wife, Evelyn, celebrates es 40
L-R; Mr Patrick Doyle, Dr Matthew Eshalomi, Chief Olatokunbo Thomas;
Mrs Evelyn Elo Oghene Thomas, celebrant; Mrs Bodun Doyle, Aji Rone-
Orugboh and Sir Murphy Atsepoyi-Akpieyi.
IT was merry-merry
galore at the Lekki
home of one-time Vice
President of Nigeria
Olympic Committee
(NOC), Chief
Olatokunbo Thomas,
when his wife, Evelyn
Elo Oghene Thomas
celebrated her 40 th
birthday. The celebrant
and her husband, were
the consummate hosts,
as they made sure
everyone in attendance
was given the kid’s
glove treatments,
including the residents
of Lekki Garden Phase
2, Lagos who turned
came in droves. Photos
by Akeem Salau
Late Moriliat Ajayi
buried
The final burial ceremony of Late Alhaja Moriliat
Abeke Ajayi, held at Alake Palace ground Ake,
Abeokuta recently. Many high-profile
dignitaries graced the occasion. Photos by Wunmi
Akinola
L-R: In-law of the deceased, Alhaji Fatai Bodunrin
welcoming Hon. Ladipo Adebutu .
L-R;Mr Bode Aboaba; Edwin Obaseki; Rafiu
Jawando and Ade Duro Emanuel.
The celebrant, Mrs Evelyn Elo Ogehene Thomas
cutting her birthday cake with resisdents of Lekki
Garden Phase 2.
L-R: Sister of the deceased; Alhaja Serifat Adunni
Bodunrin and her friends, dancing during the
burial.
The celebrant, Mrs Evelyn Elo Ogehene Thomas
cutting her birthday cake with family: Success
Okelezo,Chief Olatokunbo Thomas; herself and
Jezreel Odape Okelezo.
OLX bags award again
L-R; Mr Emmanuel Agege; Emmanuel
Onobigba;Chief Olatokunbo Thomas and Mr
Blessyn Okpowo,GM; Oriental Energy.
The Braimohs and
Adeba
debayos unite
Former Miss Winnie Braimoh wedded Wale
Adebayo in Ibadan, Oyo State penultimate
weekend.
Cross section of traditional rulers at the burial.
Frank Ilaboya’s
a’s
daughter weds
*The wedding took place in Lagos on
Saturday, April 15, 2017.
L-R: User Operations Manager, OLX Patrica Duru;
Business Development Manager, OLX; Mayokun
Fadeyibi; (far right) Marketing Manager, OLX Fife
Aiyesimoju being presented the BOICT award for
the Best Online Classifieds Advert Website of the
year by Sunday Dare Commissioner,
Stakeholders Management, Nigerian
Communications Commission in Lagos over the
weekend.
Couple, Winnie and Wale, with Mr. and Mrs.
Braimoh, bride's parents and Col. and Mrs.
Adebayo, parents of the groom.
The couple; Mr & Mrs Osaje Ikhile, flanked by (Lr):
NFF first Vice President, Barr Seyi Akinwumi,
Supporters Club Worldwide President, Dr Rafiu
Ladipo, bride's father, Frank Ilaboya, wife of Brila
FM CEO, Mrs Bridget Izamoje & Chairman of the
occasion & CEO of Brila FM, Dr Larry Izamoje.

34—SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 29, 2017
Separating Faithful and Favour
teaches us to get our act together
—Dr Ade Tinubu
IN 2003, conjoined twins,
Favour and Faithful Shobowale-
Davies were born at the Island
Maternity in Lagos. They were
later taken to the Johns Hopkins
Children’s Center in Baltimore,
USA, where they were
successfully separated free of
charge.
In this exclusive chat,
facilitator of the entire process,
Dr Ade Tinubu, recounts the
challenges and successes of the
whole process. Tinubu, who is
the Director, Critical Care Unit
(CCU) at the Lagos State
University Teaching Hospital,
LASUTH, Ikeja, proffers the
way forward for Nigeria to
cope in future when such
incidents occur. Excerpts:
Iremember in 2003 when I
came home from the United
States of America and I
visited the Lagos State University
Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, for
the first time. It was around the
time the Shobowale-Davies twins
were born. I never imagined that
I would end up working there
because I felt it was
substandard. I got involved with
the Shobowale-Davies twins by
default.
I had come home for my
mother’s birthday, and one of my
big brothers here called me that
there was this set of conjoined
twins at the hospital. He invited
me to join them, and I did. There
were few other American based
Nigerian doctors that also joined
the team and a decision was
made that they should be sent to
the US.
The Governor (Asiwaju Bola
Tinubu) approved and asked me
to be involved. I couldn’t say no.
When I got back to the US, I made
enquiries. I contacted my
colleagues and I was so glad that
I was able to get the Johns
Hopkins Medical Centre to
agree to do the surgery without
charging anything. It was zero
cost. That got me very excited.
When I called the Governor and
told him, even he was shocked. I
told him I had made all the
necessary arrangements and that
all government needed to do was
to get the twins and family down
to the US because everything
was going to be free.
In reality I had not expected
that everything would go so
smooth, however, things happen
for different reasons. Sometimes
things happen because when
people know you, they do things
to help you out. Sometimes it’s
simply because of God. I spoke
to Dr. Paul Columbani at the time
and he said they would take the
children, and would speak with
the Johns Hopkins Foundation to
•Conjoined twins:Favour and Faithful before separation
find out if they would agree
to do the surgery free of
charge, and when they
agreed, I was elated.
The Governor did not
believe even on the day of the
surgery when I called to
inform him that the surgery
had been completed and was
successful. He was still
asking how much we were
paying. I repeated that we
weren’t paying anything.
The Shobowale-Davies
family was living with me at
that time and was overjoyed
about the success of the
surgery. When God gives
you certain opportunities it’s
not meant for you alone. You
should give out whatever you
can give to other without
expecting to get something
from in return. All this was
in 2003, 14 years ago. I still
see the twins and talk to their
parents.
I probably do not foresee a
replication of what happened
during the Shobowale–
Davies incident. The
economy is a lot poorer now.
I recall Asiwaju Tinubu
asking me about the parents
of the Favour and Faithful.
They were still in the US with
me at that time.
I told him how nice their
father had been. He was not
exhibiting any sense of
entitlement or acting as if
government owed it to him to
bear his burden. By the time
I woke up in the morning, he
would have been up, washed
my car and was all over the
place. It was his own way of
showing appreciation.
There was a day that they
were being given a house in
Lagos. I happened to be
Sometimes things
happen because
when people know
you, they do things
to help you out.
Sometimes it’s
simply because of
God
around at that time and
Asiwaju invited me accompany
him to the event. He related
this story there.
But whether any other
government would do that
again, I cannot really say.
There have been other
conjoined twins after Favour
and Faithful and I was invited
to see a couple or so, because
of the history we have in
Lagos.
There was one that was born
in a State in the northern part
of the country. I travelled
there, met with the Governor
and Commissioner for Health.
We agreed that when I got
back to the US, I would begin
making arrangements for their
separation.
Unfortunately, the grace was
not there for them to get the
same type of assistance the
Shobowale-Davies twins got.
So much time had been
wasted putting everything
together that the children
ended up dying.
I had another experience
around the same time. There
was a set of conjoined twins
delivered in another State
and I found out in the papers
after the surgery had been
done. I just picked up a
newspaper and saw the big
headlines that conjoined
twins were separated at a
Teaching Hospital in Nigeria.
I started reading through
the story. A friend was with
me at that time and I
exclaimed that the children
had been killed
unnecessarily,
My friend did not
understand why I made that
statement, because in the
story it was stated that
everything was okay. I
explained to him that if
indeed, what I was reading
in the paper was what had
actually been done then the
children had certainly just
been killed.
Sure enough, the next day,
the newspaper headlines
reported that the separated
conjoined twins had died.
The surgeons were saying
the surgery was successful,
unfortunately the children
died, and to me, that surgery
was not successful because if
your patient dies within 24
hours of surgery, it is
considered to be an operative
death. It is the same thing as
the patient dying on the
operating table. Such cases
deserve investigation to
determine what killed the
patient. That is the way it is
all over the world.
Three things were wrong.
One, they operated on the
children without doing all the
proper pre-surgical
investigations. Two, they did
not have the proper
equipment and facilities.
They required intraoperative
stage to carry out do the
surgery successfully. To top it
off, they did not have the
facilities to take care of the
children after the surgery was
done. They shouldn’t have
carried out the surgery.
Part of the making of a good
surgeon is to know when not
to carry out surgery. When
you know you do not have the
equipment or facilities to care
for the patient, send the
patient to where the surgery
can be done successfully.
The point is that we need
to put things in place so that
we do not keep going cap in
hand. We have the resources
to do that.
I’m sure you heard about the
Nigerian scientist that carried
out surgery on a baby while
it was still in the uterus in the
US and the mother carried
the pregnancy to term
successfully. Somebody like
that is not likely to come back
home because the facilities
are not there. What is he
going to do when he comes?
The skills he has gained
would be wasted.
One of the things to be done
is to provide the enabling
environment that would
encourage investors in health
care to come into the country.
We should continue to invest
in healthcare not just in
buildings, but making sure
the buildings are constructed
by people that have
knowledge in design of
medical facilities and
training of care givers so that
they will know the right thing
to do.
We should also invest in the
medical schools and the
Teaching Hospitals so that
there will be places where
people can acquire
knowledge in the science and
art of medicine. We need
progression in governance.
Governance should be a
continuum. We should invest
in healthcare, come up with
the right policies.
I wish that we developed
our healthcare system to the
point where at least the not
so complicated types of this
kind of surgeries can be done
here locally.
Then it will make it easier
for government to be able to
support. We would then not
have to take somebody to the
US and pay $500,000 for
surgery. If the surgery is
going to be done locally, it
would make a world of
difference.

Dear Julie,
My guy and I have dated for
over a year and a half and from
the beginning, I was very
attracted to him and had deep
feelings for him. Lack of
emotional intimacy and
communication seemed to be the
major problem. I was open,
honest and patient with him, but
no matter what I did to try to
understand him and build the
friendship, he always seemed too
afraid to let me really know him.
He lied repeatedly about
everything it seemed and
everything in his life was
secretive. It seemed the slightest
thing would be taken the wrong
way and create anger in him. He
would be kind and loving and
then cold and distant over
nothing. He did not seem to be
able to keep his word and said no
repeatedly when I made the
smallest request. I felt something
was seriously wrong with him
from the beginning and felt a
deep fear inside me. It was
always “I want you, no I don’t.”
When things got good, he would
then make distance and be cold,
repeatedly. This created constant
confusion. I felt I was being
destroyed emotionally .
Irene, Abuja
Aunty Julie,
My husband is hopefully a
recovering alcoholic. He has gone
through treatment 3 times. He has
been sober almost 30 days. He is
on the drug that makes you very
ill if you drink. He says this time
he is going to stay sober. My
main concern is, he has done a lot
of damage to our marriage. Now
that he is sober, I have asked him
for some very basic needs, like a
hug a day, taking me out to places
I would like to go to. Things don’t
seem to be properly fit. Am I just
wasting my time? I know when I
ask for so little and get absolutely
nothing, I get angry. Should I just
give up?
Bubu, Benin city
Dear Bubu,
Modeled on confusion
The photographer was positioning my new
husband and me for ( our wedding photos when
he asked, “Have you ever modeled?”
My cheeks instantly turned red. “No, I haven’t,”
I said. “But I always thought …”
The photographer interrupted me: “I meant
him.”
Wearing husband goggles
The party’s host paid me a great compliment.
“You are a good-looking woman,” he said.
“Honest—I’ve had only one beer.” My glow was
only slightly dimmed when my husband
juliecoker100@yahoo.com
He seemed too afraid
to let me know him
Dear Irene,
What made you attracted to him
and have deep feelings for him
from the beginning? And the
importance of this question is
clear when you write: “I felt
something was seriously wrong
with him from the beginning and
felt a deep fear inside me.
I find people who have been
subjected to abusive or
abandoning relations often only
know dysfunction. They tend to
seek out partners who are
ambivalent and hostile. These
individuals fear and reject
closeness despite their dependent
My husband is an alcholic
It is very certain that your feeling
have been burned several times.
Can you trust his recovery process?
In fact, as you likely know, you can
only take it one day at a time. His
sobriety is very new; caution needs
to be high.
Maybe, before he can be a more
loving and giving partner, he has
to acclimate to his non-drinking
status, to have further mind-body
adaptation to his changing
biochemical and psychological
makeup. He also needs to confront
his shame and make amends for
the damage he’s done. At the same
time, you need the opportunity to
express your hurt and anger both
with him and, perhaps, with
yourself if you enabled his problem
drinking in any way. All this is best
My life revolves around dad
Aunty Julie,
I am a 62 year old retired civil
servant. My husband died many
years ago and I live with my
father, who is 82. Until he suffered
stroke nine months ago, we
led a good life together. We went
for walks, read, listened to music
and shared the household chores.
I have no close friends but I enjoy my
own company. I love travelling by
train and used to do so regularly here
and abroad. Although my father has
made a good recovery, our lives now
consist of shopping and watching
television. I do all the house work
and I'm too tired for any hobbies. My
father and I quarrelled recently and
longings. Only a distant or detached
partner provides enough challenge to
prove her worthiness as a desirable
woman who can capture the elusive
love object. A more emotionally healthy
and open person would want to get
close. There must be something really
wrong with him. And finally, I want to
place the focus on you. If you have
been struggling with depression,
recognized or not, psychological or
biochemical, then you’re even more
vulnerable when it comes to standing
up for yourself and setting healthy
boundaries.
As for your partner, he fits quite
nicely the profile of a battering spouse!
Out of control of his rage, a fear of his
handled with a counselor
trained in substance abuse.
When things are getting out
of hand , you will need
someone to help you do an
intervention with your
husband’s friends and family
members. People close to your
husband gather to share their
concerns and confront your
husband’s self-defeating and
hurtful behavior.
If your husband refuses an
intervention, won’t go for
treatment, then consider
individual help as well. These
actions will help you clarify
next steps in your life: you’ll
be more clear and confident of
your needs and wants, goals
and direction with or without
your husband.
he accused me of being
selfish. I have plenty of
information about help
services but they are not my
kind of thing and my father
would never countenance
them. I cannot see an end to
all of this. I just wanted to tell
someone how I feel.
Widow, Lagos
Dear Widow,
C O C K - T A L E S
interjected, “Imagine how great she’ll look after two.”
A woman shoots her husband for stepping
on the clean floor…
A police officer jumps into his squad car and calls the
station. “I have an interesting case here,” he says. “A
woman shot her husband for stepping on the floor she
just mopped.” “Have you arrested her?” asks the
sergeant. “No, not yet. The floor’s still wet.”
Why you should make love once a year
A therapist has a theory that couples who make love
SATURDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 29, 2017—35
own hurt and humiliation, likely past
abuse, a rigid need for control,
especially of you, apologizing or
being nice after a round of abuse, a
deep sense of inferiority behind a
macho swagger, that is often
projected onto inferior others.
He lied
about his
love for me
Dear Aunty Julie,
My guy claims he loves me but its
all lies. He hardly calls me and
when he does, its only twice a week
. He puts his friends and work
before me and would rather hang
out with the boys and go drinking
with them than being with me.
Should I continue with this
relationship?
Nnedi, Lagos
Dear Nnedi
I need to know how long you two
have been going together and
what’s an example of his putting
friends first. Don’t forget, they may
well have come first; he may know
them a lot longer than he knows
you. Is he gradually increasing his
shared time with you in his social
and emotional world? Relationships
often start hot and heavy and sticky
, but then you need to get back to a
realistic sense of closeness and time
apart. Even couples married need
space.
Perhaps the key for now is
whether the two of you can talk
about and negotiate these kind of
tough issues. Do you share laughs
and good times or do you mostly
feel unappreciated. Have you ever
felt neglected in your family? If so,
don’t expect your boyfriend to fill
completely that emotional gap.
Again, in a healthy relationship,
there’s always a need to strike a
balance between time together and
time apart. Make sure you have a
balanced life.
Try to see it this way. Your father is lucky to
have you there looking after him. Sometimes,
you need to put yourself first and this is not
being selfish. You should continue the train
travelling that you love, both here and abroad.
So be a little firmer with your father and say
that you would like to still do this.
Sometimes, you can arrange for someone to do
the cooking, cleaning and shopping while you
are away. Don't see outside help as not your
thing, but as something you both need. It's
important that you have your own life.
once a day are the happiest. So he tests it at a
seminar by asking those assembled, “How
many people here make love once a day?” Half
the people raise their hands, each of them
grinning widely. “Once a week?” A third of (
the audience members raise their hands, their
grins a bit less vibrant. “Once a month?” A few
hands tepidly go up. Then he asks, “OK, how
about once a year?”
One man in the back jumps up and down,
jubilantly waving his hands. The therapist is
shocked—this disproves his theory. “If you make
love only once a year,” he asks, “why are you so
happy?” The man yells, “Today’s the day!”
C
M
Y
K

C
M
Y
K
36 — SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 29, 2017

SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 29, 2017 — 37
C
M
Y
K

38—SATURD
TURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 29, , 2017
MEN. There are different types of
them under the sun. There are
the little boys who just don’t want to
grow up and face the world. There are
the sort who’d almost always rather be
with their mates, guzzling beer and
pepper soup at their local ‘joints.’ Then
there are the mature ones, the kind who
reckon there’s only one head in every
household and it’s got to be them. There
are the fun ones who know just how
to keep us amused, and the charmers
who can melt an icy moment with a
look.
There are the romantics too, who
are not embarrassed to give surprise
presents or send mushy love notes
on landmark events and Christmas.
And there are the men, who really
believe that chores sharing should
be on equal terms and who don’t
mind changing nappies or rustling
up tasty meals to prove it. Little
wonder most star prizes in cooking
competitions are carted away by the
men!
There are also men who may love
success in their work, who reckon
family life is the most important thing
of all; the kind, caring sort who can’t
wait to get home at the end of
the day. But, if women find men
hard to understand, they find it
even tougher to understand
women! They think women love
them for their muscles, when
nothing attracts a woman more
than a great sense of humour.
Men think women will fall for a
chat-up line and show-off,
when a bit of gentle wooing
melts a woman’s heart. “Yet
despite their faults (and ours)
and the many mysteries we’ll
never solve about men,
marriage has never been more
popular,” observed a
But, if women find
men hard to
understand, they
find it even tougher
to understand
women
psychologist. “The number of
couples heading down the aisle
is going up every year. A lot of
things may have changed over
the years, but togetherness
clearly never goes out of style.
You could write a book, or two,
or three, about men and you’ll
probably still never understand
them!
She then gave four trouble
spots that today’s man could
encounter and offered some
sound and practical advice on
how you could cope: If your man
suddenly becomes unemployed:
Sympathy is in order, but not
pity or blame. Treat the jobless
as a stroke of bad fortune that
involves the whole family
bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk
How your marriage can
survive recession pitfalls
rallying round to cope. Bear
in mind that he’s lost more
than a job; he’s now minus
his status as a worker, his
colleagues, his routine, his
earning capacity and, most
of all, his self-esteem. Take
care not to rob him of his role
in the family. He’ll need lots
of love and encouragement.
Don’t let him drop his
interest, hobbies and mates,
or sink into despair. Keep
him on the go and in
circulation. Encourage him
to look for employment as
soon as possible. Look
ahead and start discussing
the options. Maybe he can
start his own business or go
freelance.
He won’t make love any
more? There are hundreds
of possible reasons for your
partner’s impotence and
only one of them is that he’s
sexually interested in
someone else. So don’t start
by suspecting infidelity—
leave that till last. What ever
the reason, he probably
won’t want to talk about it.
But talk you must, it won’t
solve itself. And the longer
the impotence continues, the
more he’ll fear repeated
failure and simply give up.
Persuade your partner to
check with his doctor for any
physical cause. But
impotence is nearly always
emotionally based and
you’re his best therapist;
show him you understand
and that you know it’s only
temporary—then be patient,
tender and matter of fact.
Make a point of discussing
with him any pressure he
feels he’s under. Even if this
uncovers a conflict between
you. It is always better in
the open, rather than
hidden. Take more of the
initiative in love making,
and keep it undemanding
and relaxed. If frustration
sets in, explore ways of
satisfying each other without
penetration.
He goes off with other
women: Don’t panic. Many
husbands seek a brief fling
but few want a major
upheaval in their lives—it’s
too costly and wearing. If you
feel angry, rejected, jealous
or afraid, let him know it. Try
to stay in communication
with him somehow. The
important thing is to find out
his reasons for straying. It’s
time for some home truths
between the two of you, and
no flinching. Let him know
that you love him and want
him back, but you won’t wait
for ever. Meanwhile, find out
where you’d stand if it comes
to divorce. A talk with a
solicitor who won’t commit
you to anything. Start
building up your own
resources. If he doesn’t come
back, this will help you to
cope on your own. And if he
does, your marriage will be
all the stronger for having
overcome, this crisis.
He treats you as his
inferior: This is his problem,
not yours. Anyone who treats
someone else, as a second
class citizen has doubts about
his own adequacy, so what
he’s doing when he puts you
down is shoring himself up.
You can do one or two
things—fight back. Stick up
for yourself, pointing out your
strength and his weaknesses.
This may make you feel better
but it could possibly wreck
your relationship. Accept that
this is the way he is (and so
are a lot of other men). If all
else in the marriage is loving
and good, it might be worth
tolerating this prop to his
confidence, tiresome though
it is. But don’t start believing
you’re inferior.
time to talk after a meal, an
outing or love-making.
“Why won’t you talk to
me?” is a threatening and
negative approach. Instead,
make a more positive appeal.
“This hurts/worries me so
much, I need your help to
sort it out. “Stress that you’re
not asking for decision or
action, only to think things
over. Don’t pound away with
your view of the problem.
Ask him what he feels about
it and listen to his views. It
may be a welcome relief for
him to let it all out.
Love in six easy stages?
He refuse to discuss
problems: He says, “Not now
we’ll discuss it later,” but
“Later” never comes. Or he
says: “Don’t keep dragging
that up—forget it,” as if
ignoring a problem will make
it go away. This attitude is
frustrating and blocks
solutions. So, somehow, the
channels of communication
must be opened. Some useful
tactics are: don’t tackle the big
problem onto a row about
something else—it will get you
nowhere. Choose a relaxed
Conventionally,
a
husband is the bread
winner, the provider, the
decision maker, the strong
back and arms. And the
shoulder to cry on. He gets
hot meals when he comes
homes in the evening and
sex on demand. The wife,
on the other hand, is the
housekeeper, the baby
maker, the cook and the
nurturer. If she’s
appreciated, she gets cash
gifts and presents and
tenderness. Even if he is
unable to find work and
she brings home the
income, her husband takes
charge of the relationship
and plots its course. Even
with these set rules, all
marriages have their ups
and downs, and a popular
psychologist Kohlberg has
checked out the word,
‘love’ and came up with the
six stages of love.
Stage one-He calls the
flimsiest bonds where sex
equals an individual’s
pleasure with no thought
for the victim. This can be
predatory or manipulative
in nature and is devoid of
interpersonal exchange.
Rape would fall into this
category.
Stage two-uses as
economic exchange only,
and at this level is mutual
first benefit derived.
Prostitution and
pornography buy and sell
sex and it is claimed,
reduce women to such
sexual essentials.
Arranged marriages,
dynastic or cultural, allow
gender differences to be
marketed.
Stage three-sees sex as
an expression of ‘Love’
with the focus on feeling.
The conventional good guy
or girl’ are assumed to be
trapped at this stage by the
line “if you love me you should
not to do this” (marry me, have
sex, etc).
Stage four-is called legal
where social order is
predominant. Responsibility
for sexual misdeeds are
referred to prevailing codes of
right or wrong. This can be
Bantu or New York society,
punk or white collar lovers.
Sexual experimentation may
be encouraged in one and
frowned upon in the other.
Stage five-Mutual
Contractual Obligations
suggest that right or wrong
(sexually speaking) is
applicable only between the
two involved. Therefore this
code would suggest that
adultery is wrong less because
of economic, (stage 2) feelings
(stage three) or legal, (stage 4)
considerations but because it
violates a trust. Loyalty is the
linchpin of this second highest
order with stage six as fidelity
to conscience which transcend
interpersonal considerations.
Kohlberg then explains his
observations further by saying
that: “Early on in a
relationship, this sexual
reasoning is not obvious but
later, when a conflict arises, the
way a person reasons about
fidelity, (from getting away with
an affair at stage one, to ‘can’t
help it’ at stage three where
feeling is more important,
breaking up the family unit at
stage four to family destroying
the partner’s trust at stage five
can be important in
understanding breakdown in
marriage and the trauma one
person feels to another’s
apparent indifference.
“A, more jaundiced view of
commitment sees marriages (or
similar) as a romantic
investment. Commitment is a
function of (one) what a
relationship gives; (two) what
alternatives are available and
(three) the size of investment
in it.

C
M
Y
K
Vanguard, SATURDAY, APRIL 29, 2017 — 39
Twitter: @yetundearebi
yetty5050@yahoo.co.uk
08054700825
Yetunde Arebi
Let’s just say that I am still
smarting from Malam Salisu
Mogaji’s torture of his seven
month old step-daughter and last
week’s article. Something however
keeps me going back to us as women
and the need to take motherhood more
seriously. A woman I’d been
acquainted with for over four years
shared her story growing up with me
last Mothering Day (Mother’s day to
some), and I walked away almost in
tears after our long discussion. “Ma,
is it right for a mother who abandoned
a child at a tender age to expect that
the child will love and care for her in
her old age? Is that type of mother
worth celebrating today?” she’d asked.
We have been talking ever since and I
am trying to get her to let go of her
pain. Her story is summarised below.
Do have a wonderful weekend!
I hold my mother responsible for my
situation and I will never forgive her.
I have vowed never to have anything
to do with her until she departs this
world. If they are calling for mothers,
my own mother does not qualify to
answer to that title.
I was a little girl when my mother
left me and my two younger brothers
with our father. She left to marry
another man. Before she married my
father, she had been married to another
man and had two children for him.
Making a total of five children and two
fathers. She left them to marry our
own father too. It was after our mother
left us that our father began telling us
about all her bad behaviours and how
she loves money and men so much she
would never be able to take care of her
children.
He told us that he met her through
one of his friends who is also a cousin
to my mother. He had accompanied his
friend to a party in their village where
he met my mother. Though she was
married, his friend told him that my
mother had been forced to marry the
old man because she got pregnant by
him. The man was said to be a farmer
with two other wives and my mother
became the third. My mother told my
father that she did not love the man
and that he was also not taking care of
her. If he really meant to marry her,
she would not hesitate to leave her
husband and two children to marry
him. At that time, my father had no
woman living with him as his wife had
died during child birth. So, one thing
led to another and my mother came
from the village to live with my father,
leaving her two children with their
father. She never bothered to imagine
the kind of suffering those children
would be exposed to.
All my mother cares about is her own
enjoyment and happiness. According
to my father, she began fighting
with him after the birth of my brother.
Everything went well between them
at the beginning, especially after she
gave birth to me. This was because
everyone was happy that she had
finally made him a father after many
years of living without a child and wife.
But their happiness did not last long
because my father could not provide
my mother with all that she wanted.
Maybe Lagos life opened her eyes to
the good things that she did not know
were possible. But my father always
blamed it on the women’s club that she
joined. She would leave the house
almost every weekend on the pretence
that they were following one of their
members to a function somewhere. I
remember that she would always ask
my father, who would accompany her
to her own village or attend her own
party when she had one, if she refused
to attend other people’s parties.
They also fought about money all the
time. It took me a long time to realise
that she was just being wicked. My
father was a vulcanizer when they met,
so, how could he have so much money
to lavish on her especially with the
Don’t call me until
she dies, a woman
says of her mother!
All my mother
cares about is her
own enjoyment
and happiness.
According to my
father, she began
fighting with him
after the birth of
my brother
kind of lifestyle she wanted to live?
After my birth, he assisted her to start
a trade selling, Ponmo (cow hide). But
my father said she would always
complain about the smoke from the fire
and the hot water and she was very
scared that an accident on the job could
leave her permanently scared. So she
decided to move to selling vegetables.
My father said she was doing well from
his own appraisal and had even
started buying straight from the
farmers. Still, money was never
enough for my mother. Her women’s
club provided her all the excuse she
needed and maybe through her parties
she met the man she left us for.
On the day she was leaving, she did
not pack much. It became obvious that
she must have been packing her things
long before then, only we never
suspected. She just told me that she
would not be coming back that day.
That I was old enough to take care
of myself and my brothers. That I
should make sure to prepare food for
them and that my father
would be giving us money.
Though she said she
would be back soon,
something told me she
would not. And that was
what my father confirmed
to us when he returned
home that night. I was just
a child of about 10 years at
the time. I remember that
my father went to her
village to report her. Her
cousin who is his friend
also came around several
times. He spoke with their
club president and
everyone he could. He told
us he even promised her
that he would not disturb
her or expect too much from
her as a wife but that she
should just stay to help him
take care of us. But she did
not change her mind. Later
we learnt that she was living
in Mushin area with one Alhaji
who already had two other
wives. That the man was rich
and already had two children
living abroad and that he was
taking care of her better than
our father would ever be able
to do in two life times. Already,
the Alhaji owned his own house
and had set my mother up in a
room and parlour apartment.
My father did not own a
house, we lived in a rented
one room. That was how my
mother left us, began a new
life with her new, rich Alhaji
and forgot about us. She went
on to have two boys for the
old man and was his last wife
before he died.
I can’t recall us having any
problem until my father
married another woman.
Though the woman was nice
to us before she eventually
moved in, she made life
really difficult for me
especially. She would force
me to do all her work and
still have something to say
against me to my father.
That one would beat us mercilessly for
her sake. After she had a child, a boy
for him, we moved into a room and
parlour and by then I had started
secondary school. I was the boy’s
mother for everything except to breast
feed him. Even when he cried in the
middle of the night, she would wake
me to back him while she slept with
my father who saw nothing wrong with
all the bad treatment his wife was
giving us. It was only natural that I
would become rebellious. I started
hanging out with some girls and with
their help, I first travelled from Agege
to Mushin to see my mother after
almost five years. She was no longer
selling vegetables. The Alhaji had
opened a shop for her in front of the
house where she sold cold drinks and
provision, like a mini neighbourhood
supermarket. I will never forget that
day for as long as I live. My mother
who had not set eyes on me and my
brothers for several years just sent me
off as if I was a ghost or something
terrible from her past that had come to
disturb her. She just started shouting
“ta le le yi”? meaning, who is this? “Ki
lo fe? Ki lo nwa? Ki lo de?” (What do
you want). Many questions all at once.
She was shaking with anger as she
fiddled through her purse, threw some
money at me and shooed me away. It
was N200,00. The girl that
accompanied me there was worried
and kept asking if she was really my
mother.
I had thought that my coming to look
for her would be an indication to her
that something was wrong with us and
she would come to check on us. But I
was wrong. She was not moved. Life
at home became more difficult for my
brothers and I. I started following one
boy, a conductor on my route to school.
Shortly after, I discovered I was
pregnant and my father sent me out.
That was how I began struggling to
stay alive. I went with the boy to live
in a room he shared with another boy.
The boy was the owner of the room, I
later learnt. Life was difficult and he
would beat me and throw my things
out too. One day, his friend raped me
and when I informed him, he threw
me out instead of fighting with his
friend for my honour. I later went to
my mother’s cousin’s house and they
took me in and cared for me till I had
my baby. Whatever I am today, I owe it
to that man.
My mother at the end of it all did not
get the kind of life she probably
thought she would. She had two male
children for Alhaji but Alhaji died
when they were young. My
mother got the least from the man’s
estate as she had only two children
for him. She ended up practically
raising them alone. Neither of them
made it abroad and even one of them
who turned out a thug died last year.
Two of my other brothers are dead too
meaning that three of her seven
children are dead. I am the only female
of the seven and here I am. I have
disowned her and will only see her
when she is dead.
Last year after one of her precious
sons died and she was sick, she
connived with some people to come and
inform me that she had died. I went
there only to discover that it was a lie.
I left there in anger warning them
never to call me again until she dies.
A mother is supposed to be a care
giver. She is supposed to stand by her
children no matter the situation. No matter
the circumstances surrounding the birth
of her child, the fact that she bore that
child in her body for nine months and
went through great pain during labour
to give birth to the child should count for
something. This separates her from the
father. A father is merely a donor of the
seed of life, a mother is the one that gives
life to the seed by nurturing it. Her place
in the life of the child is different from
that of the father.

40—SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 29, 2017
ISHAWO MASSACRE
Six-month-old baby cries at the
mention of her late father’s name
•Emotions as deceased, surviving policemen are honoured
By Evelyn Usman
As the day goes by , news of the
killing of four policemen , an
Army Captain and two
residents, three weeks ago in Yewa
Ishawo community in Ikorodu, by
militants who attempted to abduct
residents, is gradually fading away
from the memories of most Nigerians.
But same cannot be said about the
immediate family members of the
slain security agents, who are
devastated and are still wallowing
in grief, pain and sorrow.
This was evident in their forlorn and
crestfallen expressions, as the widows'
children and relatives of the four slain
policemen made their first official
appearance at the Lagos State Police
Command, Tuesday.
The deceased policemen were:
Inspector Godwin Ogbalechi,
Inspector Francis Pemi, Sergeant
Mamuda Kembo and Sergeant Idor
Ikoro. But late Ikoro’s widow could
not make the outing as she just
delivered a baby.
Crime Guard gathered that she
spends her days alone with the baby,
apparently ruminating on how to
forge ahead with the responsibilities
saddled on her by the demise of her
husband.
Another widow , Mrs Kembo ,
cuddled her six-month -old baby girl ,
trying hard not to betray her emotion
.The purpose of their gathering at the
command was to receive a post
humous award on behalf of the
deceased policemen. In addition to
the Commissioner of Police
Commendation , was an undisclosed
cash donation which was contributed
by men and officers of the command.
As if acting on instinct, six-month -
old baby Kembo , let out a shrill cry
immediately her late father’s name
was announced. Her mother had to
pacify her as she stood up with some
members of her family to receive her
late husband’s posthumous award and
cash.
I miss my husband-widow
When Crime Guard approached
the widows, their relatives declined
any interaction with them, saying they
were yet to come to terms with the rude
shock of their spouses’ demise.They
only allowed this reporter to exchange
pleasantries with them.
During the brief chat, the widows
said they had resigned themselves
to fate. They described having
security agents as spouses as one
major marital risk that spurred
them to pray for the safety of their
spouses. They said that each time
their husbands went to attend to
distress call , they would be on
their knees praying until they
returned.
But the Ishawo incident took
them unawares as their husbands
were on night duty when they got
the distress call. They added that
news of the incident did not get to
them until hours later, when
friends and close relatives of the
deceased policemen were assigned
to break the news to them.
During a brief interaction with
Mrs Kembo, she said “ I will
forever miss my husband. He was
a good man who never wanted me
to work but insisted I stayed at
home to take care of our children.
• Widows of slain policemen, survivors, CP Owoseni and other police officers
•Master Ikoro being presented his late father’s post humors award
• Sergeant Igadu
• The Kembos
He was not rich but he ensured
we were okay . We were together
as a couple for nine years, until
death came calling. We had dreams
we intended to actualise together but
death denied us the opportunity. I
heard the news of his demise from a
friend of his. I was shattered no doubt
but Allah knows the best."
Mixed reaction
While families of the fallen policemen
were in grief , their colleagues who went
on the same mission but escaped death
by the whiskers are, on the other hand,
thanking God for sparing their lives.
They also benefited from the award of
the CP's commendation letter, for their
act of bravery , in addition to an
undisclosed amount of money .
Information at Crime Guard's
disposal revealed that the militants
outnumbered the security agents during
the operation. While eight policemen
including the Divisional Police Officer
in-charge of Owutu division, Ejiofor
Okpara, raced to the scene when they
received the distress call, personnel of
the Nigerian Army who went to assist
them were said to be six. But their
enemies were over 30 .
War theater
The militants , who were clad in
military camouflage , stormed the area
at about 1am in 10 speed boats. While
some of them positioned themselves
strategically around the creeks, others
marched into an estate in the
community where they broke into
buildings and abducted occupants,
amidst sporadic gun shots.
Security agents who stormed the scene
reportedly succeeded in rescuing the
abducted residents but on their way back
from the creeks, they were ambushed.
It was gathered that the security agents
were overwhelmed . Although they put
up an act of bravery but their enemies
capitalised on the terrain to have an
upper hand. A member of the Odua
In addition to the
Commissioner of Police
Commendation , was an
undisclosed cash
donation which was
contributed by men and
officers of the command
peoples Congress, OPC, identified
simply as Osaze who volunteered to join
the operatives,was set ablaze with a
police patrol van when bullets aimed
at him could not fell him.
The survivors
The lucky policemen who are alive to
relate their ordeal includes; DPO
Owutu, Ejiofor Okpara, a Chief
Superintendent of Police,CSP , Sergeant
Olatunji Gbadebo , Sergeant Alexander
Igadu and Sergeant Orumo Awhari .
The DPO and Sergeant Awhari
sustained minor bullet wounds and have
since resumed duty. Sergeant Gbadebo
is, however, still nursing his wounds as
both hands which were riddled with
bullets are still in bandage. But the
situation of Sergeant Igadu seems to be
the most severe among the surviving
policemen, as he was reportedly shot in
the head, jaw and waist during the
encounter.
He was discharged from the hospital
on Monday, having spent over two
weeks. But he is unable to walk on his
own, except he is assisted.
In spite of the excruciating pains , he
still came to pat the back of his deceased
colleague’s five year-old son who went
to receive his late father’s award from
the CP. Thereafter, he muttered in pigin
English “ him papa na brave man”.
Presenting CP’s commendation letters
to the beneficiaries, the command’s
boss, Fatai Owoseni described every
policeman who participated in the
operation as "brave and dedicated who
paid the supreme price by sacrificing
their lives for the safety of Nigerians."

Your tenure has expired, court tells CCB boss
By Ikechukwu Nnochiri
ABUJA —The Federal
High Court in Abuja,
yesterday, held that the
tenure of office of Chairman
of the Code of Conduct
Bureau, CCB, and nine
other members had elapsed
since 2015.
The court, in a judgment
that was delivered by Justice
Binta Nyako, held that the
CCB boss, Mr. Sam Saba,
ought to have vacated the
office in April 2015 in view
of section 155 (1) (c) and
Paragraph 1, Part 1, Third
Schedule of the 1999
Constitution, as amended.
The verdict followed a
public interest suit that was
lodged by a non
governmental organisation,
Kingdom Human Rights
Foundation International.
Though the court refrained
from ordering Mr. Saba and
other nine members of the
CCB to vacate their
respective offices with
immediate effect, it however
directed the Attorney
General of the Federation
and Minister of Justice, Mr.
Abubakar Malami, SAN, to
bring the judgment to the
attention of President
Muhammadu Buhari.
The plaintiff had in the suit
marked FHC/ABJ/CS/411/
2016, prayed the court to
among other things,
determine “Whether or not
the tenure of office of the
Chairman and nine other
members of the Code of
Conduct Bureau has
elapsed since April 2015, in
view of section 155 (1) (c)
and Paragraph 1, Part 1,
Third Schedule of the 1999
Constitution (as amended).
“Whether or not the
Chairman and nine other
members of the Code of
Conduct Bureau has illegally
and fraudulently perpetrated
themselves into office and
thereby illegally collected
salaries and emoluments;
and illegally and unconstitutionally
performed
the functions of the offices they
illegally occupy, contrary to
constitutional provisions.
As well as, “Whether or not
the Attorney General of the
Federation has failed to
perform in his responsibility
by failing to advise the
President on the expiration
of the tenure of the Chairman
and members of the Code of
Conduct Bureau and for
taking the position that
section 155 ( c) of the 1999
constitution is not applicable
in determining the tenure
of office of members of CCB”.
Upon determination of the
questions, the plaintiff urged
the court to among other
things, issue “An order
directing/compelling the
Chairman and nine other
members of the Code of
Conduct Bureau to vacate
their offices, which they
illegally occupy with
immediate effect.
“An order of mandamus
compelling Chairman and
nine other members of the
Code of Conduct Bureau to
return to the Federation
account, all salaries,
allowances, and emoluments
they illegally collected
between the April 2015 to
June 2016; and from June
2016 till the dependency of
this suit. “An order of mandamus
compelling/mandating
the President Federal
Republic of Nigeria to perform
his constitutional mandate
of appointing new
Chairman and members of
the Code of Conduct Bureau
in accordance with constitutional
provision.
Likewise “An order of mandamus
compelling/ mandating
the Independent Corrupt
Practices and other Related
Offences and the Economic
and Financial Crimes
Commission to immediately
arrest, investigate and prosecute
the Chairman and nine
other members of the Code
of Conduct Bureau for knowingly,
intentionally and
fraudulently conspiring to
perpetrate themselves into
office, by pretending that
they are ignorant of section
155 (1) (c) of the
Constitution.”
Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State (middle) with the Catholic
Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Callistus Onaga (left) and the
Principal of College of the Immaculate Conception (CIC), Enugu, Rev.
Fr. Nnamdi Nwankwo, at the ground breaking of the ultra-modern
dormitory complex, and commissioning of the multi purpose building,
built by the school's Alumni, yesterday.
Jubilation as Kanu regains freedom
Continued from page 5
Also, in her reaction, the
Deputy Leader of Eastern
Consultative Association,
ECA, Chief (Mrs) Marie
Okwo, also thanked God
that Kanu would now enjoy
some air of freedom
after long incarceration in
jail and asked the Federal
Government to release
the rest of IPOB members
being tried along with
him.
These are the worst bail
conditions ever given in
Nigeria – Chekwas Okorie
Speaking on the issue
yesterday, National
Chairman of the United
Progressive Party, UPP,
Chief Chekwas Okorie,
said he is happy over
Kanu’s freedom but lamented
that the bail conditions
were unprecedented
and the worst
ever in the history of the
country.
He also said Biafra agitators,
who ask Igbo people
to boycott elections
and other civic activities
in Nigeria must learn
from the episode because
it would have been difficult
to meet the stringent
bail conditions without
Igbo senators like Abaribe.
His words: ‘’I am very
excited about Kanu’s
freedom from incarceration
but the bail conditions
are the most wicked,
obnoxious and stringent
that we have ever
had in the history of Nigeria.
I thank all those
who rose to meet the bail
conditions. The Igbo and
those agitating for Biafra
have a lesson to learn
from the episode. The
struggle for Biafra is for
all- the politician, businessman,
civil servant
and religious are all important.
Some people
used Radio Biafra to canvass
that Igbo people
should boycott elections.
If Igbo people boycotted
the elections how would
they have filled the gap
that Senator Abaribe
filled?’’
His release is long over
due – Ankio-Briggs
Human Rights Activist,
Mrs Ankio-Briggs, said
Kanu’s freedom is long
overdue and hoped that
there are not behind the
scene moves to re-arrest
Kanu because saying that
he must not be with more
than 10 persons at a time
is a landmine.
She said: ‘’Kanu’s release
is long over due
because his matter went
up to the ECOWAS court,
a lot of judges gave orders
that he should be
released but the government
disobeyed the orders.
His release should
be the beginning of this
government obeying
court orders and the Judiciary
living up to the
elevation the common
man placed it.
‘’I hope there is no behind
the scene plan to rearrest
Nnamdi Kanu. We
must be alert to tell ttem
that, that cannot be accepted.
The case should
begin, there are three
other people with Kanu
that should be bailed. I
am proud of Kanu as a
leader of his people because
of his insistence
that those detained with
him should be released
and glad to know that
those people prevailed
on him to accept the freedom.
There are many
prisoners of conscience in
Nigeria. We must begin
to agitate that they must
be released.’’
SATURDAY VANGUARD APRIL 29, 2017 — 41
Herdsmen have invaded my
home – Soyinka
SUSPECTED herdsmen have invaded the Ogun
State residence of Nobel Laureate and renowned
playwright, Professor Wole Soyinka.
According to The Cable, Professor Soyinka disclosed
this, yesterday, while speaking at a forum in Freedom
Park, Lagos.
“My home is under invasion… From Imeko to
Abeokuta is under invasion by herdsmen. The
trespasses have been frequent and reported but
government is taking security lightly,’’ he said.
Soyinka, who said the mentality of herdsmen had
changed, advised government to use drone in tracking
them. In April 2016, Soyinka raised the alarm over the
invasion of his residence at a time he was abroad.
Ife Crisis: Traditional ruler, pastor,
others remanded in prison for
alleged murder, arson
BY GBENGA OLARINOYE
A
traditional ruler in Ile-Ife, the Alapoje of
Apoje, Oba Ademola Ademiluyi and a Pastor,
Mr Taiwo Fakowajo and four others who were
arrested in connection with the March 8, 2017
communal crisis between the Hausa and their Yoruba
host community in Ile-Ife were yesterday arraigned
before an Osogbo High Court.
The suspects were arraigned on a 14-countcharge
of murder, armed robbery, arson, stealing,
conspiracy, illegal possession of firearms,
disturbance of public peace, and assault.
Others arraigned before Justice Kudirat Akano
were Eluwole Akeem, Jimoh Sakiru, Daniel
Olarenwaju and Bamidele Elurisanmi.
Justice Akano however ordered all the suspects
to be remanded in prison till June 14 2017 to enable
the defence counsel apply for their bail.
At the commencement of the case yesterday, the
Prosecuting Counsel, Mr Simon Lough told the
court that the accused persons allegedly conspired
to murder 46 people on March 6, 7 and 8 2017 at
Sabo area in Ile-Ife, Osun State.
According to Lough, the accused persons also
allegedly conspired to inflict injuries on 96 people
with the use of knives, cutlasses and broken bottles.
The accused persons were also accused of
committing arson by setting shops and police vans
on fire. The shops belonged to 21 people, according
to the prosecutor. Lough alleged that the suspects
robbed 27 people and stole properties worth millions
of Naira during the three days mayhem.
But the accused persons pleaded not guilty to all
the 14 charges levelled against them.
Warri bye-election: I didn't give
money to APC— Uduaghan
By Perez Brisibe, UGHELLI
IMMEDIATE past governor of Delta State, Dr.
Emmanuel Uduaghan has denied funding the All
Progressives Congress, APC as well as its candidate in the
just concluded Warri Constituency I bye-election.
The former governor also reiterated his earlier position that
he has not defected from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP
to the APC, saying, “I am not in APC.”
Dr. Uduaghan on his Facebook page yesterday, said: “I
did not give money to any APC member during the Warri
Constituency I House of Assembly elections. I am not in APC.”
Giving reasons for the clarifications, the former governor
said, “So many rumours go on in our State. I ignore a lot of
them. I only react when they become deadly and I notice that
certain respected individuals in the society start to believe
them.”
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC
declared the Accord Party, AP, candidate, Princess Shola Daibo
winner of the election having scored 5, 546 to defeat her
closest rival, Stanley Emiko of the APC who scored 2, 010.
Lagos retirees get pension benefits
By Fredrick Okopie
ABOUT two hundred and ninety retired civil servants
in Lagos State, yesterday, received their retirement
benefit bond certificates in the 38th batch of contributory
pension scheme from the representative of the state, the Lagos
state Pension Commission, LASPEC.
Addressing the retirees, the Lagos State governor, Mr.
Akinwunmi Amobode, ably represented by the Commissioner
of Establishments, Training and Pensions, Dr. Akintola Benson
Oke, said the Lagos State government, through the
instrumentality of LASPEC, has demonstrated its virtuous
moral compass, unlike the pass experience of the Defined
benefits Pension Scheme. According to the commissioner,
the administration of Mr. Ambode has never failed to remit
monthly contributions into the Retirement Savings Account
of workers, adding that as at March 2017, about N78, 592
billion had been credited into employees’ Retirees Saving
Accounts by the State’s 10 Pension Fund Administrators.

42—SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 29, 2017
Stories by Moses Nosike
How did you develop your
business idea/concept and
mission?
My idea of The Agile Advisor as
a business came from a place of
need for individuals and business
owners. Personally, when I started
my career path, I did not find any
institution to support me with the
kind of help I needed. Presently,
there are not enough
organisations providing practical
hands-on workshops for
practitioners to get the knowledge
required for the workplace and for
business owners. As a result, I
decided to create a solution to
meet the needs of individuals and
business owners expecting to start
or improve their knowledge at the
workplace or business
environment.
My initial mission was to help
and support individuals with the
necessary tools needed for a
thriving career, but along the line
a lot things unfolded as business
owners began to ask for the same
level of support to improve their
businesses. With that a lot of
businesses have been transformed
both in Nigeria and in diaspora.
What is unique about your
business?
We provide practical hands-on
solutions to businesses growth as
well as individual career
development to reposition them to
compete globally in their areas of
specialisation. Such solutions
empower them to build
confidence to excel at the
workplace anywhere.
What made you choose this
type of business?
I believe I have been called to
empower others and I enjoy doing
that. I chose this type of business
because the solution has helped
Abiodun C. Osoba is another Nigerian woman who advocates women
empowerment, arguing that when you empower a woman you empower a
nation economically. She is an entrepreneur and founder of Globally Igniting
Africa, CEO, Bayberry Global Consulting Inc. and Agile Advisor with over 12
years of experience, which has translated into leadership development, training,
organisational management and business branding.
In this interview with Moses Nosike, she discussed girl and women
empowerment as a tool to nation building as well as training which she argued is
the best way to build a career and business development in developing countries
of Africa. Excerpts:
empower others and be a blessing
me tremendously to a point where
to them so that they can empower
it has taken me to a higher level
others. Through the Agile Advisor,
in my career and because I have
many people who were
been blessed by it, I will like to be
unemployed for a long time, have
a blessing to others and empower
been able to start a new career path
them to do the same.
and have gainful employments
Does your company help the
and their lives transformed.
community where it is located?
We are constantly making things
The Agile Advisor currently
better, faster, smarter and less
sponsors a community event in
expensive. We leverage on
Mississauga, Canada called Agile
technology to improve processes.
Mississauga Meetup. It is here
In other words, we strive to do
that Agile Practitioners are able
more–with less.
to meet locally, learn and network
How can women be
for free. We have also set up
empowered for nation building?
another one called the Agile
Women can and should be
Nigeria Meetup in Lagos so that
empowered for nation building. A
those who choose to continue to
famous quote says “ if you train
learn and network within the
and empower a girl, you educate a
community can benefit freely as
•Osoba
whole village”. Imagine when
well.
millions of girls and women are
Which area do you consider
trained and empowered! The organization with the objective to
most important as an
whole world will be educated and
entrepreneur?
empower young girls and women.
saved. When I was not working as Women can be empowered by
An area I consider most
the Founder and CEO of The Agile
significant in business as an
giving them the right
Advisor, I was running a non-profit opportunities to thrive in
entrepreneur is the ability to
NB displays ys resilience amidst economic
recession
*approves es 100% dividend payout
out
The economic recession that
weighed down business
operations in Nigeria since 2016
met some resistance from the stables
of Nigerian Breweries due to the fact
that its management has enshrined
innovation as a character with
strong business strategies that
handle unforeseen certainties in any
environment it operates. This the
company has leveraged on since
June 1949 when it recorded a
landmark with the first bottle of
STAR lager beer rolled off in Lagos.
However, marketing high quality
brands to deliver superior customer
satisfaction in an environmentally
friendly way also add to its image
and business success.
Following that, the N314 billion
revenue it recorded in the 2016
financial year can attest to it and that
hinges on its twin agenda of cost and
market leaderships, according to
the Managing Director, Mr.
Nicolaas Vervelde.
In a media briefing in Lagos
ahead of its Annual General
Meeting, Vervelde said that the
analysis of the audited results shows
that the N314 billion revenue
represents a 6.7% growth from the
N293 billion it recorded in 2015. The
declared total dividend of N3.58 per
share is also a 100% earnings pay
out.
Continuing he said, “when all
factors are considered, our results
have been positive and creditable
over the years. Despite the
deterioration in consumer
purchasing power, our robust brand
portfolio which covers a broad
spectrum of consumer needs
enabled us to protect revenue and
profitability.”
Economy will develop
elop
faster with more women
entrepreneurs —Osoba
“The operating environment in
2016 was very challenging
especially from an input cost,
FOREX and purchasing power
perspectives. Our volume growth
was in the mid-single digit region,
coupled with the price increases that
we implemented positively
impacted our revenue growth, “he
added.
Meanwhile the Board of the
company has recommended a total
dividend of N28, 386, 181, 179
(Twenty Eight Billion, Three
Hundred and Eighty Six Million,
One Hundred and Eighty One
Thousand, One Hundred and
Seventy Nine Naira only), for
approval at the forthcoming Annual
General Meeting which holds on
May 3, 2017. The total dividend
amounts to N3.58 (three
Naira fifty kobo) per
ordinary share of fifty kobo
each for the 2016 financial
year.
It would be recalled that
the company had earlier
paid an interim dividend of
N7.9 billion that is, N1.00
(One Naira only) last year
to its shareholders. Thus, the
final dividend will be N20.
5 billion that is, N2.58 (Two
Naira fifty kobo) per share.
According to Vervelde,
the operating environment
in 2017 is expected to be
similar to 2016, but the
company is confident that
it is well positioned to adapt
to the operating
environment as required.
education, achieve their dreams,
develop their talents, speaking,
taking on roles, and leadership in
the community, nation and many
more avenues.
Stanbic IBTC pledges to change perception of insurance industry
Stanbic IBTC Insurance
Brokers Limited, member of
Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC, has
announced its plans to deploy
trust-building measures that
would plug major gaps in the
insurance value chain in
Nigeria.
With the ultimate aim of
enhancing insurance
penetration in the country, the
company said given the low level
of trust in the industry, strategic
steps are required to restore
public confidence and put the
sector on a stronger footing.
Speaking during a media
interactive forum recently in
Lagos, Chief Executive of
Stanbic IBTC Insurance Brokers
Ltd., Mr. Anselem Igbo,
identified some of the perceived
gaps in the industry to include
inadequate support to clients to
help them effectively manage
their risks and claims
management process.
He said, “through effective risk
transfer mechanisms, seamless
insurance cover payment and
impeccable quality of service, the
customer will have peace of
mind, and subsequently provide
the testament required to
convince the insuring public to
embrace insurance and deepen
participation. This will in turn
empower the industry to play its
catalytic role in economic
development by mobilizing
savings for investment,
mitigating loss, ensuring
PLAN calls for joint effor
orts to end
malnutrition and farm wastages
Driven by vision of a world without
malnutrition, the Global Alliance for
Improved Nutrition through Postharvest
Loss Alliance for Nutrition (PLAN) has
concluded a one day cold chain diagnostic
workshop tagged: “The Problem: Global
Loss and Waste of Nutritious Foods’
recently in Lagos.
According to the organisers, “the essence
of the workshop is to identify and proffer
solutions to malnutrition. It was gathered
that two billion people worldwide do not
consume enough of the micronutrients
critical for proper growth and
development. Women and children in
South-East Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa
are the most vulnerable with over 40% of
women suffering from anaemia and 84%
of children Vitamin A deficient.
Speaking at the event, Senior Project
Manager, Agriculture and Nutrition,
GAIN, Dr. Augustine Okoruwa said that
PLAN as a project identifies three key areas
of intervention in the agricultural value
financial stability and
promoting trade and commerce.
“Public trust and integrity are
the bedrock of the insurance
business. By applying global
best practice and corporate
governance, what will result is
transparency and openness,
which are instrumental in
building trust,” Igbo stated.
According to Igbo, “global
best practice, including
facilitating prompt payment of
claims, will underline the
operations of Stanbic IBTC
Insurance Brokers Ltd. as it aims
to become one of the top five
insurance brokerage firms in
Nigeria in the next 10 years. The
company commenced full
chain for fresh foods and vegetables
that if properly handled, would
reduce the high loss of cabbages. We
also identified that transportation
of farm produce to the market place,
warehousing are key areas that must
be addressed along side packaging
and food processing.
Okoruwa said, “we are looking
at how best cold chain operations
can be implemented by businesses
as a means of prolonging the shelve
lives of produce and thereby
reducing post harvest losses and at
same time run the business at a
profit”.
“So we gathered several
companies and organization
together today to look at the
challenges and then what potentials
do we see in some businesses that
needs to be assisted to develop their
coaching businesses into a proper
operation”.
operations in February 2016
following the granting of a
licence by the National
Insurance Commission
(NAICOM), paving the way for
the firm to offer the full spectrum
of insurance brokerage services
in Nigeria.
Part of the company’s goal,
Igbo said, is to introduce microinsurance
products targeted at
the informal sector in order to
expand coverage of more
Nigerians. In addition, rather
than focus exclusively on
corporates, as currently obtains,
the company will extend its
services to all strata of society
as practically everyone is subject
to loss and uncertainty.

SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 29, 2017 — 43
Outrage over FG’s appointments
Continued from page 5
Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-
Amazu from Anambra State
was sacked two years into
her statutory five year tenure
and replaced by Aliyu
Dikko from Kaduna State
against the provisions of the
Pension Reforms Act, 2014.
Section 21(2) of PRA 2014
provides that ‘In the event
of a vacancy, the President
shall appoint a replacement
from the geo-political zone
of the immediate past member
that vacated office to complete
the remaining tenure’.
Mrs. Anohu-Amazu took
over after Mohammed K.
Ahmad from Gombe State
had served two terms of eight
years under the old pension
law. The fury even from some
Northern elements put the
blame on the administration
with Dr. Junaid Mohammed
describing the present administration
as nepotistic
and the chairman of the
National Conscience Party,
NCP in Katsina State saying
that even in picking people
from Katsina that appointments
have been
skewed to favour people
from Buhari’s Daura region.
Concern over the appointments
by the Buhari
administration flowed from
the first appointments and
had continued to resonate.
Why Katsina got 51 DSS
slots
However, Saturday Vanguard,
has learned that the
recent Cadet officers recruitment
by the DSS where 51
slots were allocated to Katsina
State was a corrective
exercise.
The Service has come under
heavy criticism for allocating
such a number of slots
to Katsina State while allocating
only 5 to a State like
Akwa Ibom.
Also, the Service has got
several bashings for awarding
25 slots to Kano State
and gave only 7 to Lagos.
A look at the list gave favourable
high position to the
North compared to the
South. For instance, while
Abia got 7 Cadets Officer positions,
Adamawa State was
given 19.
Evidently, the recruitment
slots run thus: Anambra 10,
Bauchi 23, Bayelsa 7, Benue
9, Borno 16, Cross River 9,
Delta 8, Ebonyi 7, Edo 6,
Ekiti 12, Enugu 9, FCT 7,
Gombe 14, Imo 11, Jigawa
14, Kaduna 24, Kano 25,
Katsina 51, Kebbi 16, Kogi
11, Kwara 13, Lagos 7, Nassarawa
11, Niger 11, Ogun
8, Ondo 9, Osun 10, Oyo
11, Plateau 9, Rivers 7, Sokoto
15, Taraba 16, Yobe 12 and
Zamfara 20.
To this end, the Service
had been accused of abandoning
the Federal Character
Principle which is obviously
stated in Section 14,
subsection 3 of the 1999
Constitution of Nigeria.
The Sections provides
that: “The composition of the
Government of the Federation
or any of its agencies
and the conduct of its affairs
shall be carried out in such
manner to reflect the federal
character of Nigeria and
the need to promote national
unity, and also to command
national loyalty thereby
ensuring that there shall
be no predominance of persons
from a few states or
from a few ethnic or sectional
groups in that government
or any of its agencies”.
But in a swift reaction, a
source in the Presidency
who does not want his name
in print told Saturday Vanguard
that the situation was
sequel to an effort to correct
the imbalance that had existed
over the years.
The source said that the
case was not peculiar to
DSS, hinting that such also
obtained in the Army, Navy
and Air Force.
The Source stated that
there was no ulterior motive
to fill the Service with people
from Katsina, the home
State of President Buhari or
from the North alone and
sidelining the South.
According to the source,
the report of the lopsideness
was untrue.
“In an organization that is
very sensitive and an important
one for national cohesion
and stability such as the
DSS, there is always the
need to ensure balance in
recruitment and manning.
This is also true of institutions
such as the Army, the
Navy and Air force. Where
such balancing in line with
Federal Character is
breached, the need arises
from time to time, to find a
way of redressing such inequity.
This is the true story
of the recruitment, about a
year-and-a half ago in the
DSS, states that were shortchanged
in previous recruitments
were awarded slots to
enable them achieve a fair
representation. This is what
happened.
“It is important to emphasize
that it is in the interest
of peace, stability and the
general well-being of the
nation that all component
units are fairly represented
in organizations such as
this. Where this comes short,
efforts must be made to correct
such lop-sidedness as
the DSS did between 2015
and 2016”, the source explained.
We now have Northern
Republic of Nigeria – Ankio-Briggs
Commenting, Niger Delta
Activist, Ms Ankio-
Briggs, said: “I think this is
unacceptable. It is not surprising
because that is what
this government has done
since it came. Its appointment
has favoured the
North. Some of us now refer
to the federal government
as Government of the Northern
Republic of Nigeria.
They have changed from
federal character to northern
character.
“The government of the
day is not listening to what
Nigerians are saying, Nigerians
are complaining everyday
against nepotism in
the system. They have taken
more employment for
themselves. Everything
about Nigeria is skewed
against us. We begin to wonder
what exactly binds us
together if it is not the oil and
gas.”
Buhari has been fair to
Cross River – Henshaw
Mrs. Fila Henshaw, a onetime
governorship aspirant
in Cross River state under
the PDP, said: “It is unfortunate
that some people when
given position of leadership
fail to understand that they
have become the fathers of
all.
“However, the President
should be given some time
to redress some of the decisions
he has taken which
some see as unfavorable. In
Cross River State, we have
seen more appointments
than at any time, and we are
grateful to the Presidents
and ask that he gives us
more.”
Remarkably, even from the
north criticisms have also
trailed the appointments
with minority groups and
critics from all tribes and religions
flaying the spread of
the appointments.
Among the leading critics
are Dr. Junaid Mohammed
and Col. Abubakar Umar
(retd).
Dr. Mohammed, who
served in the Second Republic
House of Representatives
had accused the president
of putting family and
friends at the front of his
appointments.
Chairman, National Conscience
Party, NCP Katsina
State chapter, Abdulmumini
Shehu Sani said President
Buhari administration has
continued to breach the principles
of the Federal character
in his appointment and
recruitment exercises.
He cited instance with
appointments made by
President Buhari where he
appointed only from Daura
zone, his hometown about
three of his kinsmen. A Minister,
Hadi Sirika (Aviation),
Director of Department of
State Security, DSS, Lawal
Daura.
According to him, “President
Buhari has not been
abiding by the principle of
federal character. He has
ignored the rule of law. He
violated the rule of law. He
should put into consideration
other people from other
areas and that way nobody
will cry foul. And by doing
so, he would be just to all.
The issue of ethno-religious
crisis will be addressed,”
Sani said.
It’s condemnable – Mitee
To Ledum Mitee, former
leader of the Movement for
the Survival of the Ogoni
People, MOSOP, the lopsided
DSS recruitment is condemnable.
‘’You cannot allocate
more slots of the secret
police to a section of the
country. It portends danger
for national security because
the secret police is a very
key component of national
security. When you structure
it in a manner that it is populated
by those from a section
of the country then it is
unfair and unacceptable.’’

44— SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 29, 2017
Fanfare as
NIPOGA 2017
revs off today
AFCON Qualifier:
Mikel out of Bafana
Bafana clash
The agent to John Obi Mikel, the captain of the Super Eagles has
confirmed that the 30 year old will not be fit for Nigeria’s AFCON
2019 Qualifiers against South Africa on the 10th of July in Uyo.
Responding to the exclusive news posted on this portal, Mikel’s new
intermediary who took over from long term agent John
Ola Shittu told Owngoalnigeria.com in a telephone chat,
that his client won’t make the tie against South Africa.
“ It’s true, he will most likely not be fit for the
game against South Africa. He told me yesterday
after I called him to confirm, if it’s true that he
has suffered a setback in his quest to be fit”, he
t o l d
Owngoalnigeria.com.
“ He is in London as
we speak, and seeing
doctors who are familiar
with his health case. The
initial news is not
pleasant. These things
happen, so we have to
take it the way it is. will no doubt worry coach
The absence of the Gernot Rohr, who
Tianjin Teda midfielder although has options in
Sand Eagles
lose to Italy
at Beach
World Cup
.Battle Mexico
today
The Super Sand Eagles have started their quest
for a maiden FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup on a
poor note, losing 12-6 to Italy Despite not having
the best preparations in the weeks leading up to the
•Mikel
the middle regards the
experience of the
captain as invaluable.
Eagles get Enyeama’s boost
Lille goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama will undergo an arthroscopy of the left knee next
week and will probably not play a competitive game for the French Ligue 1 club until
next season. With the ex-Super Eagle expected to spend a minimum of two weeks
on the sidelines, Nigeria manager Gernot Rohr can still add the goalkeeper to his
roster for the training camp in Corsica if he manages to convince him to rescind
his decision to retire prematurely from the national team.
‘’His knee is swollen. The time he recovers after this examination takes
two to three weeks, so it seems compromised for him to play,’’ “
explained Franck Passi to reporters at Thursday’s press
conference.
Enyeama, 34, sustained a knee injury versus Rennes
on April 15, which led to his substitution in the 65th
minute, and sat out last weekend’s 3-0 win against
Guingamp because of the ailment. Nigeria begin their
training camp in France on May 23, around the same
time the experienced goalkeeper is expected to resume
full training.
•Enyeama
Godspower Igudia
of Nigeria during
the FIFA Beach
Soccer World Cup
Bahamas 2017.
competition, coach Adamu Adamu’s team put up a brave showing against the Europeans in
the early hours of Friday at the National Beach Soccer Arena, Nassau, Bahamas. Abu Azeez
(hat-trick), Victor Tale, Godspower Igudia and Emeka Ogbonna were the scorers for Nigeria,
while Italy’s Gabriele Gori was the star of the show with six goals to his name.
The Super Sand Eagles started well and went two goals up through Igudia and Tale in the
first period before the Italians rallied back to ensure the first period ended in 2-2 draw.
Okemiri was yellow-carded in the first minute of the second period for a foul, but the resultant
penalty kick was saved by Nigeria’s goalkeeper Dami Paul, who also made two more brilliant
saves before conceding the third goa
There was injury scare for Nigeria in the seventh minute of the second period as captain
Isiaka Olawale went down clutching his leg, but he managed see the match out.
Next up for Nigeria will be Mexico on Saturday, while Italy face Iran in the second round
of Group B matches.
By JUDE OPARA, ABUJA
All is now set for the
commencement of the
2017 edition of the Nigeria
Polytechnic Games (NIPOGA)
at the Federal Polytechnic,
Nasarawa,
Rector of the school and
President of the 2017
NIPOGA Council, Prof.
Shettima Abdulkadir Saidu,
said the host institution has
put everything in place for a
successful hosting of the
Games tagged ‘’Nasarawa
2017.’’
In a statement issued
yesterday and made available
to Sports Vanguard, Prof.
Saidu said that contingents
were already arriving from all
the polytechnics across the
country.
‘’We are hosting NIPOGA for
the first time, which is the 19th
edition of the games. The
fiesta will be hosted from 26th
April to 7th May, 2017 and
contingents are already
arriving from all over the
Nigerian Polytechnics. The
opening and closing
ceremonies of the event are
slated for 29th April and 6th
May, 2017 respectfully.
‘’We have put everything
needed in place for the
contingents. Sporting
facilities, medicals,
accommodation, banking and
particularly security
provisions are ready, including
other basics that would enable
contingents compete
comfortably.
‘’In addition to our own
security, the DSS, Police, Civil
Defence have been contacted
to ensure the safety of
contingents throughout the
period of the games. Our
school is ready to host the
Games. All the events will be
played at the school’s sports
complex,’’ he added.
Elite athletes cheer Warri-
Effurun marathon
By Ben Efe
Nigerian elite athletes, participating in the Warri-Effurun Peace Marathon
holding in Warri today have expressed satisfaction with the
arrangements for the event. The 10km race, meant to promote peace and
friendship in the Niger Delta region, is entertaining the national elite
runners for the first time. According to one of the athletes, Rigim Timothy,
the organization far exceeded their expectations. This is even as the race
promoters are contemplating a full blown marathon in subsequent editions.
“We are very happy to be in Warri for the race. And we appreciate what
we have so far seen. “It is good that we are having a series of races in the
country with prize money attached. With this, we the long distance runners
can look forward to something in the season. This will also aid our efforts
to catch up with our East African counterparts,” said the athlete from
Plateau State. Also Secretary to the Delta State government, Festus
Ovie Agas called on the Athletics Federation of
Nigeria to pay
closer attention to
the development
of the event as it
has potentials to help
groom Nigerian athletes.
“It is the expectation
of the Delta State
Government that the
Athletics Federation of
Nigeria (AFN) will
leverage on this
important sporting event
by ensuring appropriate
contributions to its
development,” said Hon.
Agas in a message to the
athletes and participants.

Messi inches
hes
closer to Golden
Boot, Pichic
hichi
hi
double
With his two strikes in the
7-1 win over Osasuna,
Leo Messi confirmed
he’s the most inform goalscorer in
Europe this season, closer and closer
to the golden boot and the Pichichi
The Rosario born genius has 33
strikes in La Liga, which allows
him to stay a long way ahead of
any rivals. Next is Luis Suarez with
23 and then Cristiano Ronaldo with
19.
PICHICHI CHART
Leo Messi (FC Barcelona) 33
goals
Luis Suárez (FC Barcelona) 23
goals
Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
19 goals
Antoine Griezmann (Atlético) 16
goals
Iago Aspas (Celta) 16 goals
Aritz Aduriz (Athletic Club) 14
goals
Álvaro Morata (Real Madrid) 13
goals
Willian José (Real Sociedad) 12
goals
Sandro Ramírez (Málaga) 12
goals
Massimiliano Allegri plays
down talk of a Juventus
treble - “at this point we’ve still
won nothing”.
The Bianconeri are eight points
clear at the top of Serie A, and
have already qualified for the
Coppa Italia final.
On Wednesday they face Monaco
in the first leg of the Champions
League semi-final, leading
to suggestions they could emulate
the Inter side of 2010 in winning
all three competitions.
“Look, a lot of things have been
said and written this week, and
Gerard Moreno (Espanyol) 11
goals
And then here is the Golden Boot
ranking chart, which Messi is top
of too, ahead of Bas Dost and
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. If he
does it, it will be the fourth time
he’s done this double - to go with
09-10, 11-12 and 12-13.
GOLDEN BOOT CHART
Leo Messi (Barcelona) 33
goals - 66 points
Bas Dost (Sporting Portugal) 28
goals - 56 punts
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
(Borussia Dortmund) 27 goals - 54
points
Robert Lewandowski (Bayern
Múnich) 26 goals - 52 points
Edin Dzeko (Roma) y Andrea
Belotti (Torino) 25 goals - 50 points
Luis Suárez (FC Barcelona),
Mauro Icardi (Inter) y Romelu
Lukaku (Everton) 24 gas - 48
punts
Edinson Cavani (París Saint-
Germain) 31 goals- 46,5 points
Gonzalo Higuaín (Juventus) y
Anthony Modeste (Colonia) 23
goals - 46 poinys
Dries Mertens (Nápoles) 22
Confederation Cup
goals- 44 points
Harry Kane (Tottenham) y Ciro
Immobile (Lazio) 20 goals- 40
points
Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
19 goals- 38 points
Alllegri: Title race not
yet over
rightly so,” Allegri told
journalists.
“I think it’s normal and
right because otherwise
you’ll live with too much
equilibrium. You need balance,
but you also need moments
of ‘euphoria’, in quotes.
“At this point we’ve still won
nothing, in the end only the facts
count, words don’t matter
much.
“So at the moment Juventus
haven’t won anything,
we haven’t won
the Scudetto, we still
need to play the Coppa
Italia final and we haven’t
yet reached the Champions
League final.
“We still need to go one
step at a time. We can’t allow
Roma to think that we’re going
to slip-up.
“Why are Juventus the only
team that can win a treble? This
blessed treble… we’re thinking
about winning one, then we’ll
think about winning the other
and at the end trying to win the
third.
“To win the third we have to
get there, at the moment we’re
on course for the Scudetto but
we’re close, not very close.
“The final of the Coppa Italia
•Messi
is still to be played, and in the
Champions League there are still
two games until the final.
“What we’ve done is partial,
because what counts is the end
result when we stop on June 4.
“So we have to think about
working this month, an important
month where we need to
work calmly, approach our training
sessions in the best way and
above all deal with the games
without thinking about what will
happen in 20 days time.”
Roma face Lazio in the Derby
della Capitale this weekend, before
visiting Milan in Week 35,
could those games decide the title
race?
“It’s not up to us to decide, to
get to the Scudetto we need eight
points. That means winning three
or drawing two and winning two.
Then we’ll see what the others
do.
“We need to bring home the
title, it’s not over yet and there’s
still a long way to go. Then we’ll
think of the Champions League.
“It’s an objective to win in Europe,
but before that we have to
try and win the League.”
Allegri said that Juve will stop
on June 4, does that mean he’s
already planning for the Champions
League final?
SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 29, 2017 — 45
Juve net 19m from
Coman
Juventus
re
leased a statement
confirming the
financial details of
Kingsley Coman’s
move to Bayern Munich,
netting a €19m profit.
Today Bayern announced
they had
agreed to activate the
option on the striker, who
has been in Germany on
loan for two seasons.
“Juventus Football Club
S.p.A announces that FC
Bayern Munchen AG has
exercised its option right
for the definitive acquisition
of the registration
rights of the player
Kingsley Coman for a
consideration of €21
million to be paid in
2017-18 and 2018-19
financial years.
“The economic
effect is positive
for about €19
million, net of
auxiliary expenses
and solidarity
contribution.”
Coman was
poached as a free
agent from the Paris
Saint-Germain youth
academy, one of the main
reasons why the two clubs
rarely do business now.
This means Coman’s fee is
practically all profit for Juventus,
despite barely playing in
Turin.
Bayern Munich had also
paid €7m for the two-season
loan deal.
Balotelli attacks Cassano
•Balotelli
Mario Balotelli replied to
Antonio Cassano’s
claims he is “over-rated” by
noting “there really are few
friends and none of them at
work.”
The pair had been close and
bonded during Italy’s doomed
World Cup campaign in Brazil
•Coman
in 2014.
In today’s edition of La
Gazzetta
dello
Sport, Cassano spilled the
beans on more or less
everyone, not holding
back on criticism.
“Three over-rated players?
Pogba, James Rodriguez
and Balotelli,” said
FantAntonio.
“Is Pogba really
worth 120m?
Not for me, no.
Rodriguez
80m? No. If
he’s worth that,
how much
would [Andres]
Iniesta have
been worth at
his age?
“As for Balotelli,
I wish the
best for Mario
and he’s doing
pretty
well in France
but both he
and Pogba
have had great
fortune in life:
they’re managed
by a very good agent, Mino
Raiola.
“He’s given both of them incredible
opportunities.”
Balotelli appeared to hit back
at Cassano via Twitter this
evening.
“The genius exploded…”
wrote the Nice striker with a
series of laughing emojis.
“It is true, there really are few
friends and none of them at
work.”

46 — SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 28, 2017
WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE FIGHT
Olufemi Joshua
ready to rumble
with Klitschko
.Vows to end Klitschko’s career
Heavyweights Anthony Olufemi
Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko
meet tonight in a bout which pits
the young and seemingly
invincible champion against the ageing and
deposed former title-holder.
The Briton’s International Boxing
Federation title and the vacant WBA, IBO
belts will be disputed in the most significant
heavyweight fight ever to be held in Britain,
which will reportedly earn the pair upwards
of $13 million each.
Joshua, 27, has shown no signs of strain in
dealing with the scale of Saturday’s bout.
A crowd of over 90,000, Britain’s largest
attendance for a boxing event since 1939 —
is expected at London’s Wembley Stadium,
with millions more watching on television in
over 140 countries
“It’s a military mindset,” said Joshua, the
2012 Olympic gold medallist. “I’m a fighter.
I’m not caught up with the entertainment.”
Joshua does not even see this as being the
most important fight he will ever have.
“I don’t think so, because it won’t be the
end of my career,” he explained.
“When he (Klitschko) gets beat
that could be the end of him, that’s
why it could be defining for him.”
Milan ‘all out’
for Fabregas
Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas
reportedly remains Milan’s top transfer target
for this summer, but there is also Sassuolo’s Lorenzo
Pellegrini.
According to Corriere dello Sport, Milan will
“give everything” to sign Fabregas as the Rossoneri
consider him to be the midfield player that helps
“transform and even revolutionises” the team.
If a deal is not struck then the Diavolo will target
Pellegrini, adds the newspaper.
•Hart
Mourinho eyes Hart
If the realisation that David
De Gea wants to move from
Manchester United to Real
Madrid hasn’t already
shocked United’s loyal support
enough, Jose Mourinho’s
insistence on hiring Joe Hart
might send them over the
edge.
England keeper Hart
has been on loan at
Torino from rivals
Manchester City, but his time
in Serie A has been
characterised by a series of
high profile errors
With a world record
booty expected from
the sale of the
Spaniard, custodians
such as Atletico
Madrid’s Jan Oblak would be
warmly received as a
replacement
The fact that the Special One
wants to bring in Hart will leave
many scratching their heads
Joshua believes he
will be too young and
sharp for his 41-yearold
opponent, who has
not boxed for 17
months.
“He will probably
start fast because he
won’t be able to keep
the pace,” Joshua
said. “Father Time is
something no one
can deny. Father Time is
genetic.”
Meanwhile England-born Joshua, whose parents
are from Nigeria, said he would be able to cope with
the biggest crowd seen in British boxing for decades.
“Don’t get me wrong all of us face nerves when
we fight and this is a stage I haven’t faced before,
the attention, amount of people,” said Joshua,
who has knocked out all 18 of his professional
opponents.
“But when it boils down to it, you get
lost in the fight. I don’t think it becomes
an issue that there are so many
people there, once you are well
engaged with your opponent,”
he explained.
•Fabregas
•Pillars
•Costa
Spurs to play in Wembley from 2017
Tottenham have confirmed they will move to Wembley for the 2017/18 season
while their new stadium at Northumberland Park is completed.
The club said: “We can confirm that, following a board meeting today, we’ve
taken the decision to activate our option with Wembley National Stadium Limited.”
Pillars name Yaro Yaro acting Coach
Former Nigeria international Ahmed Garba ‘Yaro
Yaro’ has been appointed as acting Chief Coach
of Kano Pillars, the club announced on Friday.
Yaro Yaro’s appointment is as a result of a recent
shake-up in the coaching crew of Kano Pillars
following the exit of Kadiri Ikhana. On Thursday, the
club appointed Ibrahim Musa as the new acting
Head Coach pending the arrival of a new Technical
Adviser.
“Ahmed Garba (Yaro Yaro) has been elevated to the
Senior Team of Kano Pillars as the Acting Chief
Coach,” the club wrote on Twitter.
Pillars have not had the best of seasons as they are
currently 13th in the Nigeria Professional Football
League table, 11 adrift of leaders Plateau United.
Sharapova one win from French Open
Maria Sharapova needs just one more win to book her place
in French Open qualifying after beating Anett Kontaveit to
reach the semi-finals of the Porsche Grand Prix.
The 30-year-old is yet to drop a set in Stuttgart following her
return from a 15-month doping ban and saw off the spirited
challenge of Estonian qualifier Kontaveit 6-3 6-4. The ranking
points Sharapova has collected mean she is already close to rejoining
the top 250 on Monday, and victory in the last four on Saturday would
guarantee a spot in the top 200.
That would be enough to earn her entry into the qualifying tournament
at Roland Garros without the need for a wild card. The French Tennis
Federation will announce whether the two-time French Open champion
has been awarded a wild card into the main draw on May 16.
•Sharapova
C
I w
Co
Anton
Chelse
but pra
Sports
Chelse
sign th
But,
boss a
w
t h
“We
same.
for pla
the oth

Pochettino: My aim is to
finish above Chelsea
Mauricio Pochettino has
insisted Tottenham have
bigger ambitions than finishing above
Arsenal and claimed he will be “very
disappointed” if they don’t win the
Premier League title.
Spurs are four points behind leaders
Chelsea but can confirm a higher
League placing than the Gunners for
the first time in 22 years with victory in
Sunday’s north London derby at White
Hart Lane.
“My feeling is now when we are so
close, only four points - but it’s massive
with five games to play and I will be
very disappointed if we don’t win the title,” he said.
“My challenge and my aim is not to be above Arsenal.
My challenge and my aim is to be above 19 teams and
be on the top. That is my challenge, my aim, my dream.
I don’t care what happens with Arsenal, with all my
respect. What I care is what happens with us.
That’s our big, big challenge at Tottenham”, he
added.
onte:
ouldn’t swap
sta for Lukaku
io Conte refused to be drawn into answering whether
a target Romelu Lukaku is a better player than Diego Costa,
ised the Everton striker for his goalscoring return this season.
Vanguard understands Conte wants to bring Lukaku back to
a this summer to bolster his attacking options after failing to
e 23-year-old at the start of the current campaign.
head of Chelsea’s clash with Everton this weekend, the Chelsea
voided comparing Costa and Lukaku as he insisted he is happy
ith his current crop of players.
“For me, my players are the best in the world,” the Italian
said on Friday.
“I don’t change my players for others.”
When then asked how Chelsea plan
on stopping Lukaku from
scoring at Goodison Park this
Sunday, Conte replied:
“Lukaku is a really good player
and he is scoring a lot of goals
i s season.
must pay great
attention [to him]. It’s always the
We study the opponent and try and find a solution to stop them
yers and the team. We must pay attention to Lukaku and also
er players. They have a lot of good players.”
Rohr to invite Onyekuru
Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr has once again left
out the three active members of his team who are
plying their trade in China, in the list of players
who are to camp in France. Rohr first omitted
the trio last month when the Eagles converge
in London for two friendly games against
Senegal and Burkina Faso, but the team
could only play one game as the full
compliment of the squad of Burkina
Faso were not given entry visa into the
United Kingdom.
The reason for omitting the trio back
then, was to allow them settle in their
new surroundings, and this time
around the coach left out the trio of Odion ighalo,
Brown Ideye and John Obi Mikel who is the captain
as they will be having club commitments when the team
open their camp in France.
Although Ideye and Ighalo are yet to really get going
for their respective teams with the latter having one goal
to his name, while the former has two, Mikel has found
the back of the net and was largely man of the match
for his team in their first three games before picking
up a thigh muscle injury.
Their absence has opened the door for the manager
to hand first time call up to KAS Eupen forward, Henry
Onyekuru, who has 18 goals for the Belgium side in his
first season in the top flight.
However, the bulk of the team which the manager has used
in previous games and camping exercise will be called up as
well to make up the numbers for the team, who are going to take
on Burkina Faso during their camping exercise in France.
The essence of going to France for the camping is to allow the
players prepare adequately for the June 10 AFCON 2019 qualifiers
against South Africa in Uyo.
Man U to honour Nigerian
fans tomorrow
Manchester United will have their
players wear black armbands
tomorrow when they face Swansea City
at Old Trafford in honour of Nigerian fans
who died last week Thursday in Calabar.
The fans lost their lives after a high
tension cable fell and electrocuted
them while watching the Europa
League match between Manchester
United and Anderlecht at a football
viewing centre.
•Rashford “The #MUFC players will wear
black armbands on Sunday in
memory of the seven fans who lost
their lives recently in Calabar,
Nigeria,” the club tweeted.
The 20-time premier league
champions had earlier released a
statement to show support to victims
of the family affected immediately the
incident happened.
“Our thoughts go out to the United fans,
their friends and families affected by the
tragedy in Calabar, Nigeria, yesterday,” Man
United wrote.
Conte hails Aina
SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 28, 2017 — 47
Former Cardiff City forward,
Osaze Odemwingie
scored his second goal in
three games for his new sid,e
Madura United in their 2-2
•Odemwingie draw against Mitra Kukar.
Odemwingie joined the team
last month on a free transfer,
and after scoring in his debut
game last week against Bali
United, he fired blank against Persela before scoring
as early as two minutes into their game against Mitra
Kukar. His team were however unfortunate as a late
goal eight minutes from time helped Mitra Kukar
snatched a point to leave the home fans of Madura
United disappointed.
Aside the two goals he has scored, the 35 year old
has also picked up a booking after he was shown a
yellow card against Persela, the only game he has
failed to score so far.
His team are currently 8th on the log in the
Indonesia Ligue 1, following a not too perfect start to
the season which has seen them win just once, with a
draw and a defeat in their other games leaving them
on four points.
Speaking at yesterday’s press conference, ahead of the
visit to Everton, Chelsea boss Antonio Conte says he is
delighted with the progress being made by Nigeria target
Ola Aina. Aina joined The Blues at Under 11 level and
•Aina
rose through the ranks before he was handed his first team
debut by the Italian manager in an EFL Cup clash against
Bristol Rovers last August.
Conte was at Stamford Bridge three days ago to watch
the FA Youth Cup final between Chelsea and Manchester
City, and one of the top U18 stars on parade was Nigerian striker Ike Ugbo.“It
is very important for Chelsea the work in the academy,” said Conte. “It is
working very well, I think in this team I saw four or five players with a good
prospect for the future.“It is not easy for them to become a Chelsea player
for the first team. It is not simple just at Chelsea, but lots of teams.
“We must be proud of the academy, Ruben, Chalo, Ake, and Aina.”
Aina has been included in Chelsea’s match day squad for competitive
fixtures 14 times this season, and tasted action in five of those games.
I’m sorry for Serena’s pregnancy remarks
—Nastase
•Onyekuru
•Serena
R
omanian tennis great Ilie Nastase apologised
yesterday for derogatory comments about Serena
Williams and for a foul-mouthed Fed Cup tirade that
saw him suspended by the International Tennis
Federation.
He did, however, have another pop at Britain’s
number one women’s player Johanna Konta, who
was left in tears during last weekend’s combustible
Fed Cup tie with Romania, and said his behaviour
“has been exaggerated by all”.
“My words during the Fed Cup have rightfully
caused controversy and upset the audience, the
press and, most painfully for me, the tennis world,”
the former world number one, 70, said on Facebook.
He said that his comments last Friday about the
pregnant Williams - he was overheard by a journalist
talking about her baby being “chocolate with milk”
- was a “spontaneous” reaction to hearing she was
expecting her first child.
“I am fully aware that nothing can truly excuse
my statements - not the tension of a high-stakes
game, not my traditionally irreverent attitude, not
the unfortunate escalation of the situation,” he said.
“My life remains dedicated to tennis and its
audiences, so please accept my apologies, for
whatever they may be worth right now.”
Aguero: My days
are numbered
SERGIO AGUERO knows his days are numbered at Manchester City –
but says he is not ready to give up his place
just yet. The Argentina forward had a rare off night in
the derby against United on Thursday after scoring
12 in his previous 12 matches.
Brazilian ace Gabriel Jesus - who took Aguero’s spot
in January - is now fit again and made his return from
the bench. He said: “Of course Gabriel is a very good young
player, which is why he’s at City. I know there will come a
time when I have to step aside.“Other young strikers like
Gabriel Jesus will be brought in.
“When you reach a certain age the youngsters start
putting pressure on you and you have to be even better.
“I’m happy he’s back now and that means I’ll have to
be much more focused and alert when I play. If i have
to start on the bench once again, I’ll have to accept it.
•Ageuro
That’s football, I always respect my coaches and I
certainly respect Pep. I just want to play and give my
all until the end of the season.”
Odemwingie
on target
•Alli
Wenger:
Arsenal scouted
Dele Alli
Arsene Wenger has
revealed Arsenal
were keeping tabs on
Dele Alli before he joined
Tottenham.
Wenger will tomorrow
contest his 50th north
London derby – having
won on 22 occasions and
lost just seven – against a
Spurs side featuring Alli,
who a number of managers
have admitted regret at
missing out on signing
prior to Tottenham’s
£5million swoop in
February 2015.
The 67-year-old has
previously revealed
Arsenal were close to
signing some of the world’s
most celebrated players at
a young age – Zlatan
Ibrahimovic, Cristiano
Ronaldo and Lionel Messi
among them – and he
confirmed Alli was another
prospect the Gunners
scouted.
“We watched him many,
many times because we
watched Milton Keynes a
lot,” said Wenger. “He
played at Milton Keynes.
It’s down the road from here.
“You have to say that he
has done extremely well,
and he has developed very
well into a very complete
player. He is dangerous
and scores goals - I think
he’s scored 16 or 17 goals
this year, so it’s absolutely
marvellous at his age.
They’ve done well to buy
him and give him a chance.
They deserve credit for
that.”

C
M
Y
K
SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 29, 2017
AFCON Qualifier:
Mikel out of Bafana
Bafana clash
Pg 44
Messi inches closer
to Golden Boot,
Pichichi double
Pg 45
Conte: I wouldn’t swap
Costa for Lukaku Pg 47
WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE FIGHT
Olufemi Joshua
ready to rumble
Enyeama to resume
training before
Eagles camping
Pg 44
with Klitschko
•vows to end Klitschko’s career
Pg 46
TIME
10pm
Today’s Fixtures
EPL
West Brom v Leicester 3pm
Southampton v Hull City 3pm
Stoke City v West Ham 3pm
Sunderland v Bournemouth 3pm
Crystal Palace v Burnley 5:30pm
LA LIGA
Real Sociedad v Granada 12pm
Real Madrid v Valencia 3:15pm
Las Palmas v Atlético Madrid 5:30pm
Espanyol v Barcelona 7:45pm
BUNDESLIGA
RB Leipzig v Ingolstad 2:30pm
Darmstadt 98 v SC Freiburg 2:30pm
Dortmund v Cologne 2:30pm
Mainz v Mönchengladbach 2:30pm
Werder v Hertha 2:30pm
Wolfsburg v Bayern Munich 5:30pm
SERIE A
Torino v Sampdoria
LIGUE I
Monaco v Toulouse
Guingamp v ASSE
Bastia v Rennes 7pm
Nantes v Lorient 7pm
7:45pm
4pm
7pm
Metz v Nancy 7pm
Montpellier v Lille 7pm
CROSS WORD PUZZLE
ACROSS
1 Democratic Republic of
Congo “Leopards”
Striker, Junior – (9)
5 Carpenter’s Tool – (3)
7 Destroy – (3)
8 Former Chairman,
North Atlantic Treaty
Organisation (NATO), Mr.
Knud – (7)
10 Minister of State for
Power, Mr. Mustapha
Baba – (7)
11 Country in Africa – (7)
13 Former United States
President, Mr. George –
(4)
15 Colour – (6)
18 Former Lagos State
Governor, Chief Bola
Ahmed – (6)
20 Part of Wheel – (4)
22 Abia State Capital –
(7)
24 State in Nigeria known
as the “Land of Beauty”?
– (7)
25 The First President of
Ghana, Dr. Kwame – (7)
27 Vehicle – (3)
28 Greek Alphabet – (3)
29 Traditional Ruler of Nembe
– (9)
DOWN
1 African Waterbuck – (3)
2 Belgian City – (7)
3 Bahamas Capital City – (7)
4 Minister of Transportation,
Mr. Rotimi – (7)
5 L.G.A in Kebbi State – (5)
6 Former Franc “Les Bleus”
Striker, Peguy – (9)
9 Everything – (3)
11 Director-General, Bureau of
Public Enterprise (BPE), Mr.
Vincent – (9)
12 Mountain Goat – (4)
14 Gravvy – (4)
16 Burkina Faso “Stallions”
Midfielder, Florent – (7)
17 Kenya “Harambee Star”
Striker, ~Edwin – (7)
19 Former Liberian Foreign
Affairs Minister, Mr. Augustine
– (7)
21 Angolan Capital City – (6
23 L.G.A in Osun State – (3)
26 Vietnamese Currency Unit
– (3)
SOLUTION ON PAGE 41
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