16062017 - N-Assembly, Osnbajo clash over 2017 Budget

Nigeria 

moves 

Cameroon 

match 

Dasuki, to testify 

from Uyo 2 

47 

Court okays 14 

witnesses against 

behind screen 

FG rules out 

complete 3 

deregulation 

of oil sector 

** ** 

VOL. 25: NO. 63313 FRIDAY, JUNE 16, 2017 

N-Assembly, Osinbajo 

clash over 2017 Budget 

By Henry Umoru & 

Emman Ovuakporie 

•SARAKI •OSINBAJO •DOGARA 

There are times we have 

a number of 

consultations... These 

consultations we do 

with the executive will 

not at any time mean 

that we will give up the 

powers we have in line 

with the constitution. 

“Now, there are these 

two broad issues about 

who can do what... Do 

not introduce entirely 

new projects and all of 

that or modify projects... 

It now leaves the 

question about who is 

supposed to do what?” 

“The executive is only 

one man — the 

President... All of us 

here represent different 

constituencies. The 

House cannot be a 

rubber stamp of any 

executive arm under our 

watch. 

I was once kidnapped, but 

quickly released —Evans 

4 

ABUJA — THE 

Senate said, 

yesterday, it 

would not concede its 

constitutional powers to 

the executive arm of 

government. 

The declaration came 

on a day Speaker of the 

House 

of 

Representatives, Yakubu 

Dogara, also said the 

House would not serve 

as a rubber stamp to the 

executive arm. 

Both arms of the 

National Assembly were 

reacting to a statement 

made by Acting 

President, Prof. Yemi 

Continues on Page 5 

CBN to mop 

up N200 

billion with 

special TBs 

5 

Mr & Mrs 

Inflation eases to 16.25% in May 

•As high cost of food persists 

COLUMNISTS: OWEI LAKEMFA 31 DONU KOGBARA 17 AZU 36 

Osinbajo meets 

Emir of Kano, 

Sanusi, behind 

closed doors 

Senate lauds Zenith Bank for full 

remittance of Customs collections 14 

14 

2 

SEE 

INSIDE

2—VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JUNE 16, 2017 

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

Court okays 14 witnesses against 

Dasuki to testify behind screen 

•Fixes Sept 20 for trial 

By Ikechukwu 

Nnochiri 

ABUJA — THE 

Federal High Court 

in Abuja, yesterday, 

okayed request by the 

Federal Government to 

shield identities of 14 

witnesses billed to testify 

against detained former 

National Security 

Adviser, NSA, Col. 

Sambo Dasuki (retd). 

The court, in a ruling 

delivered by trial Justice 

Ahmed Mohammed, 

granted leave for all the 

prosecution witnesses to 

give their evidence 

behind screen. 

Justice Mohammed 

anchored the ruling on 

section 232 of the 

Administration of 

Criminal Justice Act, 

ACJA, 2015, which he 

said permits the use of 

screen in the prosecution 

of cases involving 

economic crime. 

The judge noted that 

one of the charges the 

Federal Government 

levelled against Dasuki 

before the court bordered 

on money laundering. 

Dasuki, who served as 

the NSA under ex- 

President Goodluck 

Jonathan, is facing fourcount 

charge bordering 

on money laundering 

and his alleged illegal 

possession of firearms. 

Federal Government 

had in the charge before 

the court, alleged that 

Dasuki was on July 17, 

2015, in his house 

situated at 13, John 

Khadiya Street, Asokoro, 

Abuja, found to be in 

possession of various 

firearms without 

requisite license, an 

offence punishable 

under section 27 (1)(a) of 

the Firearms Act Cap F28 

LFN 2004. 

He was accused of 

retaining $40,000, N5 

millon and another 

$20,000 in the same 

house and same date, 

contrary to section 15 

(2)(d) of Money 

Laundering Prohibition 

Act 2011. 

FG further alleged that 

the ex-NSA had on July 

16, 2015, in his 

residence at Sultan 

Abubakar Road and 

Sabon Birni Road, 

Sokoto State, retained 

another $150,000 and 

N37.6m, being part of 

proceedings of unlawful 

act, contrary to Section 

15 (3) of the Money 

Laundering Act 2011. 

It listed the alleged 

illegal arms it found at 

Dasuki’s residence in 

Abuja as five Tavor 

Assault Rifles, one 

Macro Uzi with serial No 

60244 (rifle), 20 

m a g a z i n e s 

(ammunition), one 

packet of MOD (Ministry 

of Defence) APG calibre 

gun, Luger No 033375 

(gun), a small magazine 

containing 16 rounds of 

ammunition, and a 

bigger magazine 

containing live rounds of 

ammunition. 

Meanwhile, Justice 

Mohammed has fixed 

September 20 and 21 for 

Federal Government to 

open its case against 

Dasuki. 

Inflation eases to 16.25% in May — NBS 

•As high cost of food persists 

By Yinka Kolawole 

L AGOS—THE 

National Bureau of 

Statistics, NBS, 

reported, yesterday, that 

annual inflation rate 

dropped by 0.99 per cent 

to 16.25 per cent in May 

2017 from 17.24 per cent 

recorded in April. 

This represents the 

fourth consecutive 

decline in the rate of 

inflation since January 

2017. 

NBS, however, added 

that inflation increased 

month-on-month by 1.88 

per cent, compared to 

1.60 per cent in April, the 

highest monthly 

increase since May 2016. 

The sustained decline 

in annual headline 

inflation followed slower 

year-on-year increases 

in core inflation and 

food inflation to 13.0 per 

cent in May (from 14.8 

per cent in April) and 

19.27 per cent in May 

(from 19.30 per cent in 

April). 

The report shows that 

pressure points still exist 

despite the general 

slowdown in inflation on 

year-on-year terms, 

stemming from higher 

agro commodity prices as 

a result of higher global 

food prices, increasing 

exports. 

The NBS report 

showed that food 

inflation is largely 

responsible for the rising 

month-on-month 

inflation. Food inflation 

From left; Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State; former Editor-in-Chief of Tribune 

newspapers, Mr. Felix Adenaike; and former Director of Programmes, Broadcasting 

Service of Oyo State, Chief Bamiji Ojo, when media chiefs broke fast with the governor 

at Government House, Ibadan... on Wednesday. 

moderated only slightly 

to 19.27 per cent yearon-year 

(as against 

April, 19.30 per cent) 

and inched up 

significantly in monthon-month 

terms to 2.54 

percent (April: 2.04 

percent). 

Imported food inflation 

inched up significantly 

on month-on-month 

terms to 1.34 per cent 

from 0.85 percent in 

April. NBS further noted 

that core inflation 

continues to decelerate 

sharply, at 13.00 percent 

year-on-year in May 

compared to 14.80 

percent in April, 

although on a month-onmonth 

basis it increased 

marginally to 1.17 

percent from 1.10 

percent in April. 

According to NBS, the 

average prices paid by 

consumers for diesel 

decreased by 5.65 

percent month-onmonth, 

while the 

average fare paid by 

commuters for intra and 

inter-city bus journey 

decreased by 2.72 per 

cent month-on-month 

and 1.39 percent 

respectively. 

Expectation 

Analysts at WSTC 

Financial Services 

Limited, said: “The 

downward trend in the 

general price level has 

further reinforced our 

outlook on inflation in 

the current year. 

"However, the monthon-month 

surge in the 

food sub-index is 

indicative of existing 

inflationary pressure on 

food prices, and signals 

a possible downside risk 

to inflation in the 

months ahead. 

"Additionally, we 

believe the Central Bank 

of Nigeria's, CBN, 

inflation target of 10 -11 

per cent at the end of 

2017, is largely 

optimistic, particularly 

considering mounting 

pressure on food 

inflation. 

"We note that such a 

target implies an 

assumption of no 

adjustment in the official 

exchange rate of N305/$ 

and the retention of the 

price of PMS at the 

current level in H2 

2017.” 

Banks earmark N26bn for 

investment in agric, SMEs 

By Babajide 

Komolafe 

LAGOS—BANKS have 

set aside N26 billion for 

equity investment in 

agriculture, small and 

medium enterprises, 

SMEs. 

Meanwhile, the Bankers 

Committee has directed 

banks to stop charging 

customers of microfinance 

and mortgage banks for 

Biometric Verification 

Number, BVN, 

registration. 

These were highlights of 

the 333rd Bankers 

Committee meeting held 

in Lagos, yesterday. 

Addressing a press 

conference at the end of the 

meeting, Managing 

Director/Chief Executive, 

Standard Chartered Bank, 

Mrs Bola Adesola, said 

banks had set aside five 

percent of profit after tax for 

equity investment in 

agriculture and SMEs, as 

agreed at the last Bankers 

Committee retreat. 

She spoke in company of 

Director, Banking 

Supervision, CBN, Ahmad 

Abdullahi; Managing 

Director/ Chief Executive, 

Fidelity Bank Plc, Mr. 

Nnamdi Okonkwo; 

Managing Director/Chief 

Executive, Stanbic IBTC 

Drama as senators 

disagree over equality of 

Senate, House of Reps 

By Henry Umoru 

ABUJA—THERE was a 

mild drama, yesterday, 

as senators disagreed on 

the equality status of the 

Senate and House of 

Representatives. 

While some senators 

argued that the Senate was 

higher in order of seniority, 

others contended that both 

the Senate and House of 

Representatives were 

equal in status. 

Those who rated the 

Senate higher in status 

particularly argued that the 

1999 Constitution as 

amended, gave more 

powers to the Senate than 

the House of 

Representatives, 

contending further that 

senators represent larger 

constituents than members 

of the House of 

Representatives. 

The argument was stoked 

at plenary, yesterday, as 

Deputy Senate Leader, 

Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah 

(APC, Kebbi South), said 

the Senate and House of 

Representatives had 

similar powers of 

legislation, stressing: 

“There is nothing like the 

upper and lower chambers 

Plc, Mr. Demola Sogunle, 

and Director, Corporate 

Communications 

Department CBN, Mr. 

Isaac Okoroafor. 

Adesola said: “After the 

audited results of the banks 

have been published, we all 

contributed five per cent of 

our PAT to a fund in CBN 

towards contributing equity 

to agric and small and 

medium enterprise. As you 

know, many companies 

cannot just survive on debt 

because of the cost of debt. 

So, long term capital is 

required to catalyse the 

growth in SMEs and make 

them more viable and 

sustainable. 

"We are doing our own bit 

to support them. Right 

now, we have N26 billion 

in the fund and we are 

working on the framework 

for the investment. We are 

looking at partnerships, we 

are looking at co-investing 

with private equity firms as 

well and the objective is to 

catalyse growth in SMEs 

to ease access to finance to 

build capacity in the agric 

and SME sectors, to create 

jobs and ultimately to 

improve prosperity." 

Okonkwo, on his part, 

announced the decision of 

the committee directing 

banks to stop charging for 

BVN registration. 

in the constitution.” 

Senator Na’Allah spoke 

through a point of order 42 

of the Senate Standing 

Rule to condemn a 

statement credited to Acting 

President Yemi Osinbajo, 

that the National Assembly 

lacked powers to insert 

projects in the budget 

prepared by the executive. 

Reacting to the equality 

status argument by his 

colleague, Senate Minority 

Leader, Senator Godswill 

Akpabio (PDP, Akwa Ibom 

North-West), said the 

Senate was superior to the 

House of Representatives 

as recognized by the 1999 

Constitution. 

But Senate Majority 

Leader, Senator Ahmad 

Lawan, APC, Yobe North, 

agreed with Ibn Na’ Allah 

on the equality status of 

both chambers, stressing 

that they were equal and 

symbolized democracy in 

the country. 

In his reaction, Senate 

President Bukola Saraki, 

who ruled Lawan out of 

order, said it was a 

controversial matter, 

stressing that the point of 

order under which the 

Majority Leader was 

speaking, was not for such 

matters.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JUNE 16, 2017—3 


MEDICAL CHECK UP: From left, Consultant Physician, Reddington Hospital, Dr. Misbah Oleolo; 

Guest Speaker, Professor Rasheed Arogundade; Head Radiology, Dr. James Ogunshina, and Group 

Medical Director, Dr Olatunde Lalude, both of Reddington Hospital Ltd, at the official inauguration of 

the LIFESCAN medical check up programme by the Reddington Wellness Centre in partnership with 

GE Healthcare, in Lagos, yesterday. 

FG rules out complete deregulation 

of oil sector 

•Host communities to get stakes in proposed 

modular refineries 

•Gives reasons for refineries’ failure 

By Michael Eboh 

ABUJA — The Federal 

Government, 

yesterday, ruled out total 

deregulation of the 

downstream sector of the 

petroleum industry. 

The government added 

that it was aware that any 

attempt to deregulate and 

effect an increase in the 

prices of petroleum 

products, especially 

Premium Motor Spirit, 

PMS, would have serious 

negative consequences for 

the country. 

Acting President Yemi 

Osinbajo stated this at the 

2017 African Modular 

Refinery Discussion, 

organised by the Modular 

Refiners Association of 

Nigeria, MRAN, in Abuja. 

Osinbajo also blamed 

government’s involvement 

for the failure and near 

collapse of Kaduna, Warri 

and Port Harcourt 

refineries, adding that in 

the new modular refineries’ 

initiative, oil producing 

communities would be 

made to acquire stakes in 

refineries set up in their 

locality, while the federal 

and state governments 

would have some stakes in 

it as well as private 

investors. 

Osinbajo said the Federal 

Government was 

committed to creating an 

enabling environment for 

private sector participation 

and investments in modular 

refineries, noting, however, 

that it is aware of the 

challenges and 

complications posed by the 

non-deregulation of the 

sector. 

In spite of the challenges, 

he stated that the Federal 

Government cannot afford 

to undertake a complete 

deregulation of the sector, 

as it would bring untold 

hardship on a vast majority 

of Nigerians. 

He said the government 

had reached a conclusion 

that it would focus on 

moderating the sector and 

would continue to 

intervene to ensure it 

creates a balance. 

He said: “There are those 

who are saying we need to 

deregulate fully. Why are 

they saying that? It is 

because if we do not 

deregulate, it is not cost 

effective for those who are 

producing PMS to sell. At 

the same time, if you 

deregulate completely, 

prices of everything else is 

going to go up." 

Gives reasons for 

refineries’ failure 

On the failures of the 

country’s existing refineries 

in Kaduna, Warri and Port 

Harcourt, Osinbajo said the 

Federal Government had 

also ruled out building and 

managing refineries, 

declaring that it would only 

create the atmosphere for 

private players. 

He said: “Government 

cannot just go and be 

setting up refineries. If 

government sets up 

refineries and uses its 

people to run it, it won’t 

work. We have good 

examples in all the 

refineries that we have 

seen. If you look at the 

refineries we have today, 

Warri, Port Harcourt and 

Kaduna, the primary 

reason they are not working 

today is that they are 

government-run. 

“Government cannot do 

business. Government 

business is to create the 

enabling environment for 

business. And then 

government would put 

some investment into it. 

Government should not be 

in the business of setting up 

refineries all over the place; 

that is just a waste of time 

and resources.” 

Also speaking, Minister 

of State for Petroleum 

Resources, Mr. Ibe 

Kachikwu, stated that at 

present, the country had a 

refining gap of about 

900,000 barrels per day to 

meet the daily national 

consumption. 

Kachikwu, who was 

represented by Mr. 

Olumide Adeleke, Deputy 

Director, Engineering and 

Standards, Department of 

Petroleum Resources, said 

to close the identified gaps, 

the Federal Government 

had set out some incentives 

to encourage investment in 

private refineries, while 

more was being done to 

actualize modular 

refineries in Nigeria. 

Senate probes protracted blackout 

•Says it's bane of North’s industrial growth 

•Disagrees with FG on bill to establish NIHOTOUR 

By Henry Umoru 

ABUJA — THE Senate 

has begun a probe into 

the protracted blackout in 

the country, especially in 

the North. It also mandated 

its Committees on Power, 

Steel Development & 

Metallurgy and Gas to 

urgently investigate what it 

described as an anomaly 

and report back 

immediately. 

Also, yesterday, the 

Senate raised the alarm that 

the protracted power 

shortage in northern part of 

the country had led to the 

shutdown of the industrial 

sector in the region. 

The upper chamber 

equally lamented that over 

N4.7 trillion was expended 

by the Federal Government 

on importation of 

petroleum products in 2016, 

adding that 40 per cent of 

foreign exchange demand 

in the country was due to 

importation of the products. 

The resolution of the 

Senate was sequel to a 

motion by Senator Bassey 

Albert Akpan (PDP, Akwa 

Ibom North-East), entitled, 

“The urgent need to save 

the 215 mega watt Kaduna 

Power Plant.” 

In his presentation, 

Akpan said: “Senate notes 

that the protracted power 

shortages in the northern 

part of the country has led 

to the shutdown of the 

industrial sector in the 

region." 

Senator Akpan noted that 

“lack of gas pipelines from 

the southern part to the 

northern part of the country 

had hindered power 

generation by the 215MW 

Kaduna Power Plant.” 

In his presentation, 

Akpan observed that the 

Federal Government, 

through the Nigerian 

National Petroleum 

Corporation, NNPC, was 

on the verge of awarding 

the contract for the 

construction of the 40 X 

614km Ajaokuta-Abuja- 

Kaduna-Kano, AKK, gas 

pipeline. 

FG initiates nationwide 

tax awareness campaign 

•To recruit 7,500 CTLOs, targets 

70m tax payers 

By Emma Ujah, 

Abuja Bureau Chief 

ABUJA—THE Federal 

Government has 

initiated a nationwide tax 

awareness campaign to 

capturing 70 million more 

tax payers in its net. 

Briefing the press, 

yesterday, in Abuja on the 

initiative, Minister of 

Finance, Mrs. Kemi 

Adeosun, said 7,500 young 

graduates would be 

recruited for that purpose. 

According to her, those to 

undertake the campaign 

will be engaged for a fixed 

term of two years. 

She said those to be 

recruited, who would be 

christened Community Tax 

Liaison Officers, CTLO, 

would be trained and 

deployed to communities to 

raise awareness and 

educate citizens at all levels 

on the tax system in 

Jonathan congratulates 

Abubakar at 75 

FORMER President 

Goodluck Jonathan 

has congratulated ex-head 

of state, General 

Abdulsalami Abubakar 

(retd) on his 75th birthday, 

describing him as a patriot 

that planted the tree of civil 

rule which gave birth to the 

Fourth Republic. 

In a message of 

felicitation issued by the 

ex-president’s media 

adviser Ikechukwu Eze, 

Jonathan prayed God to 

continue to protect the 

“General of the people.” 

The message reads: “Our 

current democratic 

experience would not have 

been possible if General 

Disagrees with FG 

on a bill to establish 

NIHOTOUR 

Meanwhile, the Federal 

Government and the 

Senate, yesterday, 

disagreed over a bill for an 

act to provide for 

establishment of National 

Institute for Hospitality and 

Tourism, NIHOTOUR. 

While the Federal 

Government kicked 

against moves by the 

Senate to establish the act 

on the premise that if 

passed into law, 

NIHOTOUR would 

become both a trainer and 

regulator and endanger the 

growing tourism sector, the 

Senate said the 

government could not 

condemn the bill in its 

totality. 

The Senate described 

Nigeria and why they 

should pay their taxes. 

Specifically CTLOs 

would: “Increase tax 

awareness to raise 

compliance; educate all 

citizens on the tax system; 

tax outreach to increase the 

number of tax payers; and 

enroll new tax payers.” 

The minister explained 

that the CTLOs would not 

act as tax collectors, as their 

mandate would be to only 

educate the public on the 

nation’s tax system and the 

benefits of taxation. 

Justifying the CTLO 

initiative, Mrs. Adeosun 

said: “With a tax to GDP 

ratio of only 6 per cent, one 

of the lowest in the world 

and 14 million tax payers 

out of 69.6 million 

economically active people 

(20 per cent), there is a lot 

of work to be done in 

creating awareness and 

bringing people into the tax 

system." 

Abdulsalami Abubakar had 

not surrendered himself to 

be used by God as a pencil 

in the Hand of the Creator. 

All Nigerians owe a debt of 

gratitude to this democratic 

icon and as you celebrate 

your 75th birthday, my 

family and I join millions 

of Nigerians and lovers of 

Nigeria to wish you a 

happy birthday. 

“It is fitting that your 

birthday comes two weeks 

after Democracy Day. Just 

as you planted the 

democracy tree that is now 

giving us shade, may God 

in His infinite mercy 

continue to shade you with 

good health, long life and 

pleasant experiences." 

tourism as one sector that 

Nigeria had not fully 

explored, taking into 

consideration the 

landmarks and historical 

sites Nigeria. 

Minister of Information 

and Culture, Alhaji Lai 

Mohammed, kicked 

against the bill. 

The rejection by the 

Federal Government was 

at the one-day public 

hearing held by the 

Senator Matthew 

Urhoghide (PDP, Edo 

South) led Senate 

Committee on Culture and 

Tourism. 

According to Urhoghide, 

all the agencies in the 

Culture Ministry have no 

defined objectives, hence 

the need to put them in 

proper compartment to 

make them defined 

agencies.

4 — VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JUNE 16, 2017 


LECTURE: Mrs. Chinyere Nnabugwu, Coordinator, Science Ambassador Foundation, 

SAF (middle); Prof. Toyin Ashiru, GMD/CEO, TRICONTINENTAL Group (4th right); Prof. 

Adedotun Adekunle, Dean, Faculty of Science, University of Lagos (3rd left); Mr. Dele 

Adeniji, Deputy Director, Min of Science and Tech, Lagos State (left) and others, during the 

Science Ambassador Foundation, SAF 2017 Annual Lecture and Conference, tagged: 

Developing STEMPRENUERS for Bridging the Gap between Town and Gown in an Emerging 

Economy, at Multipurpose Hall, UNILAG, Lagos, yesterday. Photos by Bunmi Azeez. 

Students at the event. 

I was once kidnapped, but quickly released — EVANS 

•As detectives recover $75,000 gold ring in his mansion 

By Emma Nnadozie, 

Crime Editor & 

Ifeanyi Okolie 

L 

A G O S — 

SHOCKING 

revelations emerged, 

yesterday, as the 

dreaded kidnap kingpin, 

Chukwudubem 

Onwuamadike a.k.a 

Evans, narrated to police 

detectives how he was 

abducted in 2015 by 

another gang of 

kidnappers operating in 

the eastern part of the 

country. 

This is also as 

detectives succeeded in 

recovering a gold ring 

worth $75,000 from his 

house. 

In what looked like the 

falcon not able to 

recognise the falconer, a 

gang of desperate 

kidnappers trailed Evans 

from Nnewi, his home 

town sometime in 2015, 

while he was cruising in 

his brand new black 

latest G-Wagon towards 

the commercial city of 

Onitsha in Anambra 

state. 

That was the era when 

he was terrorizing the 

east with his criminal 

contemporaries like late 

Ngwu Ekere Omu, 

Vampire, Osisikanku 

and others. 

He disclosed that 

when he got to a spot 

close to Onitsha, the 

gun- totting young men 

intercepted and bundled 

him into their car and 

zoomed off towards 

Enugu– Onitsha express 

way. 

According to him; 

''When they ended up at 

a hidden spot which I 

later knew was inside 

one of the riverside areas 

in Anambra State, they 

brought me out for 

interrogation. I boldly 

introduced myself as 

Evans. Initially, they 

were shocked but later 

they started looking at 

me with scepticism. 

“I then asked them the 

name of their leader and 

after they reluctantly 

told me it was ND, short 

for Ndubisi, I informed 

them that he was serving 

a prison term at the Port- 

Harcourt prisons. 

That was when they 

started believing that I 

was the notorious Evans, 

widely known in crime 

circles. Nevertheless, 

they put a call to their 

leader in Port-Harcourt 

prison and as soon as 

they mentioned my 

name, he ordered them 

to take me back to where 

they picked me without 

delay.” 

Vanguard learned that 

ND, their leader, who is 

still serving a long 

sentence in Port- 

Harcourt prisons, 

masterminded the first 

kidnap incident in Lagos 

state in 2011. 

Also, police detectives 

have recovered a gold 

ring worth over $75 from 

the house of the kidnap 

kingpin after carrying 

out another thorough 

search in his mansion at 

Magodo phase 2, Lagos. 

Documents discovered 

inside the house also 

showed that just four 

days before his arrest, he 

sent N20 million to his 

wife in Ghana through a 

Bureau de Change 

which was delivered to 

her in Ghanaian 

currency, Cedi. 

This is as they were 

said to have also 

recovered another 

mansion belonging to 

him in Ghana, making 

three, the number of 

mansions he has in the 

West African country. 

In 

another 

development, Vanguard 

gathered that detectives 

attached to the 

Inspector-General of 

Police Intelligence Team, 

IRT, led by Abah Kyari, 

have commenced 

inventory of all the 

landed and physical 

properties owned by the 

arrested kidnap kingpin, 

Evans. 

This is as they are also 

investigating all the 

transactions he carried 

out with banks in the 

country within the 

period he was terrorising 

Nigerians. 

Reliable sources 

informed that they will 

spread their dragnets to 

every part of the country 

where he operated and 

even neighbouring 

countries where he was 

reputed to always run to 

after collecting huge 

ransoms from his 

victims. 

Sources said Ghana 

and South Africa will top 

the list of countries 

where they hope to liaise 

with International police, 

Interpol, in tracking the 

suspect’s assets. 

According to the 

sources; another vital 

area the detectives will 

focus on is 

telecommunication. 

"This is because, we 

would like to find out 

how he was able to knock 

out our intelligence 

Lagos arrests notorious Omo onile 

By Olasunkanmi 

Akoni 

L AGOS—EFFORTS 

by the Lagos State 

Government to curb the 

activities of land 

grabbers popularly 

known as Omo onile 

received a boost 

yesterday as the Special 

Task Force on Land 

Grabbing set by the 

Governor Akinwunmi 

Ambode arrested one 

Kamorudeen Lamina, 

alias Sir K Oluwo, a 

notorious Omo onile 

kingpin, who has been 

terrorising the people of 

the state, especially 

residents of Ikorodu. 

The Omo Onile, who 

was arrested yesterdday 

by men of the Special 

Taskforce on Land 

Grabbing, who had been 

on his trail for a very 

long time, fell into the 

waiting hands of the 

Taskforce when he was 

tricked out of his hiding in 

a well-orchestrated 

operation carried out in the 

Alausa area of the state. 

Chairman of the Lagos 

State Special Taskforce 

on Land Grabbing, Mr. 

Jide Bakare said his 

office had received tons 

of petitions from 

innocent residents who 

have been deprived of 

their legitimate 

investment in landed 

property by the 

unscrupulous gang led 

by Lamina. 

Bakare, in a statement, 

said that the arrest of Sir 

K. Oluwo by his team 

was a clear indication of 

L AGOS—THE 

lawmaker 

representing Lagos 

Central Senatorial District 

in the Senate, Sen 

Oluremi Tinubu would 

hold a town hall meeting 

with her constituents in 

order to evaluate, 

highlight and discuss her 

activities in the Senate. 

A statement by Mr. 

Tunde Rahman, Media 

the commitment of the 

A m b o d e - l e d 

administration to ensure 

that the lives and 

property of residents 

across the State was 

secured and protected 

under the law. 

He said the state 

government had made its 

zero tolerance stance 

against land grabbing 

offences very clear, just as 

he assured that every 

legimate investment made 

in the state would be 

protected by government. 

efforts towards arresting 

him for so long. If not 

that the Inspector- 

General of Police 

equipped us with the 

latest communication 

gadgets, it would have 

been impossible to arrest 

Evans. 

"So far, Evans, has been 

trying to recant all the 

confessional statements 

he made earlier during 

interrogation but I 

assure you that very 

soon, he will open up 

and we will nail him 

finally,” police sources 

stated.’’ 

The Chairman, further 

assured residents that 

information given by 

them against the 

nefarious activities of 

land grabbers will be 

treated with utmost 

confidence. 

According to him, the 

State Government would 

immediately begin the 

prosecution of the 

arrested Omo Onile 

Kingpin, to serve as a 

deterrent to others that 

no one is above the law 

in Lagos State. 

Sen Tinubu holds 22nd Town Hall meeting 

aide to the National 

Leader of All Progressives 

Congress, APC, said the 

quarterly event is geared 

towards promoting 

transparency and 

accountability. 

The forum which is the 

22nd in its series is 

scheduled to hold on 

June 20, 2017, at Lagos 

City Hall with the theme: 

The Road Less Trodden. 

Also, the success of 

schemes like Women 

Economic Empowerment 

Scheme, WEES, Post- 

Secondary School 

Scholarship Scheme, 

PSSS, Post-Elderly 

Citizens Assistance 

Scheme, ECAS, and 

Youth Empowerment & 

Skill Acquisition Scheme, 

YESAS, would be 

examined at the event.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, 

JUNE 16, 2017—5 

POCKET CARTOON 

From left: Mrs. Modupe Babalola; Aare Afe Babalola; Ooni of Ife, Oba 

Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi and Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, at an 

annual lecture by the Faculty of Education, Obafemi Awolowo University, 

Ile-Ife, Osun State, yesterday. PHOTO: Dare Fasube. 

N-Assembly, Osinbajo clash 

over 2017 Budget 

Continues from Page 1 

Osinbajo, that the 

National Assembly had 

no powers to introduce 

new projects into the 

budget. 

Osinbajo had alleged: 

“This last budget, the 

President presented it 

last December. Despite 

the assurances that it will 

be passed by February, it 

was not, until May. 

“As it turned out, we 

were quite disappointed 

that it took a bit of time 

before it was approved. 

And thereafter, we had to 

go into negotiations with 

the National Assembly in 

order to get it right. 

“Now, there are these 

two broad issues about 

who can do what. The first 

report is about who can do 

what. When you present 

a budget to the National 

Assembly, it is presented 

as a bill, an appropriation 

bill. 

“Secondly, do not 

introduce entirely new 

projects and all of that or 

modify projects. This is 

something that we 

experienced last year and 

this year again. It now 

leaves the question about 

who is supposed to do 

what?” 

The Senate, however, 

yesterday, warned the 

executive not to mistake its 

consultations with it on 

important national issues 

to mean that it was 

prepared to cede its 

constitutional powers. 

Responding to a Point of 

Order by the Deputy 

Senate Leader, Senator 

Bala Ibn Na’Allah, APC, 

Kebbi South, Senate 

President, Bukola Saraki, 

noted that the Acting 

President must have been 

quoted out of context on 

the 2017 budget. 

He said: “I am sure the 

Acting President must 

have been misquoted 

because there is clearly no 

ambiguity in the 

Constitution of the 

responsibility of the 

National Assembly. 

‘’This matter has been 

cleared and settled. So, I 

don’t think there are any 

issues here that are 

vague.” 

Saraki, who assured 

that the Senate under his 

watch would not cede any 

IT'S UP TO YOU 

BY AYO ADIO - 08104802192 

Standing up for the truth might pose a temporal 

inconvenience but it guarantees peace that 

endures for a long while. It’s up to you. 

TAKE HEART 

BY ELLA RANDLE- O8084919482 

Do something for love, the doing out of love is 

what makes the difference —Take Heart Quotes 

You may think life needs to change 

dramatically for you to be the person you 

want to be. That you can’t be giving unless you 

make more money or be adventurous until you have 

more money. The truth is, you can be those things 

at any point in time. So you don’t have money to 

share but your presence is valuable. Be generous 

with your compassion, and listen when your 

friends have problems. Create adventure in your 

day by trying new things. 

SAYINGS OF OUR PEOPLE 

You don’t measure the strength of a woman by 

the size of her buttocks. 

of its powers to the 

e x e c u t i v e , 

notwithstanding the 

desired consultations and 

cooperation between the 

two arms of government, 

said: “ I believe that as 

responsible statesmen, 

there are times we consult 

and do our best to work 

with the executive and 

assist them. 

‘’But as we bend 

backwards, I don’t think 

that should be 

misrepresented that 

powers given to us in the 

constitution do not exist. 

“That is not the case, 

and this Senate will 

continue to defend the 

Constitution and ensure 

that anything we do is in 

line with the laws of the 

land. 

“I want to say that there 

are times we have a 

number of consultations 

and I want to make it clear 

that these consultations 

we do with the executive 

will not at any time mean 

that we will give up the 

powers we have in line 

with the constitution. 

“I want to reassure our 

members on this because 

it is very important. 

Based on what we have 

heard, you may be 

concerned that one way or 

another, the leadership 

had given up some of 

these powers. That is not 

the case.” 

Senator Na’Allah who 

spoke under Order 43 , 

drawing the attention of 

senators to Osinbajo’s 

alleged statement, said he 

was disturbed about the 

declaration, just as he 

wondered whether the 

Acting President, being a 

Professor of Law, was not 

misquoted having worked 

with him as a lawyer in 

Lagos. 

Senator Na’Allah, who 

quoted various sections of 

the 1999 constitution as 

amended, however 

maintained that the 

Acting President goofed in 

his claims and in quoting 

from Section 80 of the 

constitution. 

He said: “For the 

avoidance of doubt, this 

same Constitution we 

operated from 1999 to date 

has section 80, and the 

title of Section 80 is ‘Power 

and Control over Public 

Funds’. With your 

permission Mr. President, 

I read: All revenues or 

other monies raised or 

received by the Federation 

not being revenues of 

other monies payable 

under this Constitution or 

any Act of the National 

Assembly into any other 

Public Fund of the 

Federation established for 

a specific purpose shall be 

payable to and for one 

consolidated fund of the 

Federation.”Section 2 

says: No monies shall be 

withdrawn from the 

Consolidated Revenue 

Fund of the Federation 

except to meet 

expenditure that is 

charged upon the Fund 

by the Constitution or 

where the issue of those 

monies has been 

authorised by an 

Appropriation Act, 

Supplementary 

Appropriation Act or Act 

passed in pursuance of 

Section 81 of the 

Constitution. 

“Three, no money shall 

be withdrawn from any 

public funds of the 

Federation other than the 

Consolidated revenue 

fund of the Federation 

unless the issue of those 

monies has been 

authorised by an Act of the 

National Assembly. 

“Four, no money shall 

be withdrawn from the 

Consolidated revenue 

Fund or any other public 

fund of the Federation 

except in the manner 

prescribed by the National 

Assembly. That is the 

provision. 

“The reason for this 

provision is that the 

Constitution recognises 

that Nigeria operates a 

federal structure, and it 

further goes on to 

recognize that it is 

multilingual, multi-ethnic, 

multi-religious. 

“Therefore, in the 

constitution-making 

process, a lot of issues for 

domination and fear for 

domination were raised. 

That is why the framers of 

the constitution provided 

for representation on the 

basis of population and 

land mass and on the 

basis of equality of states. 

This is what gave birth to 

a bicameral legislature, 

the Senate and the House 

of Representatives. The 

House provides 

representation based on 

population and land mass 

while the Senate is based 

on equality of states. 

“So, I know that the 

Acting President who is a 

Professor of Law is 

sufficiently trained in law 

to know that the National 

Assembly has powers to 

tinker with the budget. I 

am not making a case for 

him and I do not want to 

believe that he said what 

has been alleged that he 

said. 

“I also want to assuage 

the fears of my colleagues 

that what was alleged to 

have been said does not 

represent the spirit of the 

framers of our Constitution. 

This explanation is 

necessary so that we put 

this matter to rest.” 

Also reacting to the Acting 

President’s statement, 

yesterday, Speaker of the 

House of Representatives, 

Yakubu Dogara, said 

House would not be a 

rubber stamp to the 

executive arm of 


Dogara, who stated this 

at yesterday’s plenary, said 

the constitution clearly spelt 

out the duty of each arm of 

government, noting that in 

the event of a conflict, the 

executive was not the 

appropriate arm to interpret 

the constitution. 

The speaker said: “In the 

United States of America, 

where Nigeria copied the 

presidential system of 

government, once the 

President submits the 

budget to the legislature, it 

is considered dead.’’ 

He said it was only when 

the parliament worked on 

the budget and come up 

with an Appropriation Act 

that it could become a living 

document. 

“I don’t want to believe 

the acting President said 

that. When it comes to the 

budget, the worst the 

executive can do is to 

NAIRA WATCH 

withhold their assent. After 

30 days, if we can muster 

two-third we will override 

the veto,” the speaker 

stated. 

He added that in the 

event that executive refused 

to comply with Acts of 

parliament, they know what 

to do. 

Dogara said further: “The 

executive is only one 

man—the President. The 

relationship between the 

president and other 

members of the executive 

arm is at best, a masterservant 

relationship. 

“All of us here represent 

different constituencies. 

The House cannot be a 

rubber stamp of any 

executive arm under our 

watch. 

“Budget is the document 

of the people and there is 

no way a budget can take 

on a life of itself by mere 

pronunciation of the 

President. It is only when it 

has passed through the 

legislature that it can be said 

to be a living working 

document supported by the 

constitution which vests 

powers on the National 

Assembly to enact it. 

“So, I don’t think we 

should waste our time 

belabouring this issue at all, 

because if the contest is to 

be held, we all know who 

the obvious winners will be. 

We all know where the 

power lies.” 

CBN to mop up N200 billion 

with special TBs 

*Naira stable at N364/$ 

By Babajide Komolafe 

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday said 

that it will issue special treasury bills today to mop 

up N200 billion from the banking system in order to further 

rein in inflation. Meanwhile the naira remained stable at 

N364 per dollar in the parallel market. 

Acting Director, Corporate Communication Department, 

Mr. Isaac Okoroafor disclosed this yesterday. He said: 

“The CBN plans to mop up a total of N200.322 billion 

from the Nigerian banking system through a special Open 

Market Operation (OMO) at the rate of 16 per cent per 

annum. The decision to mop up liquidity was in reaction 

to the maturity of N206 billion on Thursday, June 15, 

2017.” 

He further explained that the apex Bank decided on 

the rate of 16% per annum due to the falling rate of 

inflation, which he noted will continue to fall. 

It will be recalled that the Bank on Monday, June 12, 

2017 released its Treasury Bills Issue Programme for the 

third quarter of 2017 in which it disclosed that the maturity 

dates for the various tenors will be June 15, June 22, July 

6, July 20, August 3, August 17 and August 31, 2017, 

respectively.

6—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 16, 2017 


Benue Police 

burst kidnap 

gang led by 

Gana's 

associates 

By Peter Duru 

M AKURDI— 

BENUE State 

Police Command has 

busted two kidnap 

syndicate of eight in 

Makurdi and Katsina-Ala 

including a gang of four 

allegedly led by a woman 

believed to be an 

associate of the wanted 

militant leader, Terwase 

Agwaza, also known as 

Gana, who a week ago 

abducted a Katsina/Alabased 

businessman. 

The police operation 

also led to the arrest of 

three women whose 

responsibilities were to 

provide food for the 

victims, who was rescued 

alive. 

The arrest is coming few 

days after Governor 

Samuel Ortom assented 

to the anti-kidnapping 

bill, which prescribed 

death penalty for 

offenders. 

Parading the suspects 

yesterday at the 

Command Headquarters 

in Makurdi, the state's 

Police Commissioner, Mr. 

Bashir Makama, said the 

businessman was 

kidnapped alongside his 

son, who was later 

released to source N20 

million as ransom for his 

father. 

Makama said: “We 

tracked them from 

intercepts; that case gave 

us sleepless nights, but 

we got them in their 

hideout after a gun battle 

at Abaji in Katsina/Ala 

and the notorious 

criminal, Bem Uga, alias 

Jugas Jnr, and one 

Oraondo, alias Bishop, 

were also nabbed without 

any ransom paid for the 

releases of the victim, who 

was rescued alive. 

“During investigations, 

we discovered that the 

lady, who was arrested 

had the responsibility of 

pencilling down those to 

be kidnapped and those 

to be killed by the gang. 

“They are all associates 

of Gana, the wanted 

militant leader. Among 

them is the driver of 

Gana’s wife, Queen. 

They are all giving us 

useful information. 

“Also arrested, after 

reliable information, is 

one Victor Ayanngor, 

who conspired with 

Ordue Abraham, Kelvin 

Dankor and Emmanuel 

Terver to kidnap his 

girlfriend and collect 

N200,000 ransom.” 

FLOODED: Herbert Macaulay Road, Yaba, Lagos State, yesterday. PHOTO: Bunmi Azeez. 

Couple back in custody over woman bathed 

with acid 

By Josephine 

Agbonkhese, Onozure 

Dania & Elizabeth 

Uwandu 

LAGOS—AN 

Igbosere 

magistrate’s court in Lagos, 

yesterday, extended a remand 

order given against a husband 

and wife, Chidi and Nkiru 

Ubochiadinjo, charged with 

pouring acid on 26-year-old 

Ogochukwu Nwosu. 

Chidi, 39, and Nkiru, 40, 

were first arraigned on March 

15, on a four-count charge of 

conspiracy, attempted murder, 

threat to kill and grievous 

bodily harm. 

The accused, who pleaded 

not guilty, were remanded in 

custody for 30 days, pending 

the legal advice of the Director 

of Public Prosecutions, DPP. 

When the case came up 

yesterday, Magistrate J. O. 

Adepoju extended the remand 

order for another 30 days. 

The magistrate said that the 

report on the case file forwarded 

to the court from the office of 

the DPP contained a different 

case number from what was on 

the charge. 

She directed the prosecutor to 

ask the DPP for another report 

bearing the correct charge 

number. 

Mr. C. C. Echemazu, counsel 

to the accused, thereafter 

moved an application for his 

clients to be released on bail. 

He stated, among other 

things, that the accused had 

been in detention since their 

arrest, for a period of six 

months. 

The prosecutor, ACP 

Ochogwu Ogbeh, however, 

opposed the bail application 

and argued, among other 

things, that “the victim is still 

critically ill, battling for her life 

in hospital.” 

According to the charge, the 

duo, on October 6, 2016, at 

Ilasamaja Bus Stop, Ilasamaja, 

Lagos, attempted to murder 

Nwosu by bathing her with 

substances suspected to be 

•WARDC kicks against DPP's advice, as victim’s brother 

laments N1.2m surgeries bill 

Ogochukwu Nwosu before the attack (left) and after the attack. 

acid, thereby causing her 

grievous bodily harm. 

The charge also stated that 

on October 7, 2016, one of the 

accused, Nkiru, threatened to 

kill the complainant, Nwosu, 

through a text message. 

It stated that the offences 

contravened Sections 230, 

232, 245 and 411 of the 

Criminal Law of Lagos State, 

2015. 

The case has been 

adjourned until July 14 for 

ruling on the application and 

DPP’s advice. 

WARDC 

Meanwhile, reacting to the 

adjournment of the case, 

Founder, Women Advocates 

Research & Documentation 

Centre, WARDC, an NGO, 

Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, 

who spoke through the 

NGO’s Legal Adviser, Miss 

Nkechi Obiagbaoso, said 

WARDC will challenge the 

DPP’s advice that Mrs Ubochiadinjo 

be granted bail on 

the grounds of lack of evidence, 

while her husband, 

who the victim saw on the day 

of the incident, remained in 

custody pending the final 

verdict on the case. 

Victim’s brother’s 

reaction 

Recall that Peter Nwosu, 

brother to Ogochukwu, 

victim of the acid bath, told 

Vanguard that his sister’s 

ordeal started when she 

refused the marriage 

advances of Mr. 

Ubochiadinjo to be his 

second wife. 

His words: “Immediately 

Nkiru got information of her 

husband’s intention, she 

began to make calls and send 

text messages to my sister, 

5 docked in Katsina for 

kidnapping 8-yr-old boy 

THE Department of State 

Services, DSS, yesterday, 

arraigned five persons before 

a Katsina magistrate’s court 

over the kidnap of an eightyear-old 

boy. 

The accused, Ahmad 

Muhammad, 20; Auwal Nura, 

20; Mustapha Abdullahi, 20; 

Aisha Nasiru, 50 and Habiba 

Nasiru, 24, were said to have 

Man kills lover 

By Davies Iheamnachor 

PORT HARCOURT— A 29- 

year-old man, Ugochukwu 

Arugo, yesterday, disclosed 

before a bewildered crowd at 

the Rivers State Police 

Command that he killed his 

landlady and lover, Mrs. 

Ngozi Igwe, with a pestle in 

Aluu community, Ikwerre Local 

Government area of the state, 

because she was jealous of his 

new wife. 

The suspect, who hails from 

Isiala Mbano in Imo State, was 

paraded alongside 80 

suspects arrested by the 

command between May and 

threatening to make her life 

miserable. 

“A day after the incident, she 

called Ogochukwu’s number 

and I picked the call. She said 

that the acid poured on my 

elder sister was the beginning 

of her woes.” 

Meanwhile, Nwosu has 

lamented that justice for her 

sister might be denied if the 

court kept adjourning the case 

and suspects were to be 

granted bail. 

According to him, “if this case 

continues like this, my sister, who 

has undergone seven surgeries, 

where each cost N185,000, might 

be denied justice.” 

conspired and kidnapped the 

boy on his way to school in 

November 2016. 

The prosecution counsel, H. A. 

Al-Sadiq, told the court that the 

offence was committed in 

Funtua Local Government Area 

of the state. 

He said DSS operatives 

apprehended the five accused 

persons after rescuing the boy.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 16, 2017—7 

June in the state in connection 

with cultism, robbery, killings, 

kidnappings and other crimes. 

Arugo explained that Ngozi, 

his landlady, whose husband 

died some years ago, was his 

lover. 

He said trouble started 

between them when he got 

married and brought the wife 

into the compound. 

Arugo narrated: “I am here 

because I committed a crime. I 

am 29 years old. I did it 

unknowingly and I never knew 

it will end like this. It was my 

landlady, who I was dating in 

Aluu community that I killed. 

“When I went to my village 


-landlady in quarrel over new wife 

By Egufe Yafugborhi 

W ARRI—SAMSON 

Omagbemi, nephew to 

Super Falcons’ Chief Coach, 

Florence Omagbemi, declared 

missing Monday with his 

schoolmate, Darlington Taire, 

have both been found dead in a 

hotel in Effurun, Uvwie Local 

Government Area of Delta state. 

Both victims, aged 15, students 

of Challenge Secondary School, 

Kolokolo, another Uvwie suburb, 

reportedly died at the hotel 

where they had gone to 

celebrate successful completion 

of their Junior Secondary 

School, JSS, examinations with 

other classmates and a teacher. 

Delta State Police 

Commissioner, Zana Ibrahim, 

confirmed yesterday that “at 

10a.m. on Wednesday, one 

Collins Nwose, General 

Manager of the hotel, reported 

that at about 5:30a.m., two male 

corpses were found floating 

inside the hotel’s swimming 

pool. 

“Scene was visited by a team 

of detectives led by DPO CSP 

Ibrahim Shuaibu. 

“Two students, Muntari Sidi 

and Feargod Edafe, who 

accompanied the late students 

and the pool attendant, are 

helping the police on their 

investigations.” 

The police were, however, 

silent on the alleged role of the 

school teacher, who was said to 

have collected N500 each to lead 

some of the students for the 

to marry and brought my wife 

to the yard, my landlady 

started quarrelling me. She 

asked me why I married 

without informing her. 

“I started having problem 

with her because of my wife. I 

did not let my wife know about 

it. When we were quarrelling I 

used pestle to hit her head and 

she died.” 

However, the state’s 

Commissioner of Police, Mr. 

Ahmed Zaki, who paraded the 

suspects, disclosed that six 

vehicles, 386 life ammunition, 

1,275 cartridges and 20 pistols 

were among the items 

recovered from criminals. 

party held at the hotel. 

Henry Omagbemi, uncle to 

late Samson, described the 

incident as “mysterious,” 

alleging foul play from the 

manner the incident is being 

handled by the hotel 

management and the police. 

He said: “We went to the 

mortuary and saw the two 

students. They did not look like 

people who were in the pool 

because their mouths and faces 

Ugochukwu Arugo 

Missing Super Falcons coach’s 

nephew, friend found dead in hotel 

WHILE the kidnappers of 

the former Director of 

Press in the Kogi State House 

of Assembly, David Ehimoni, 

are allegedly demanding for 

N40 million ransom, the police 

have advised the family against 

paying. 

A family source told newsmen 

in Lokoja yesterday, that 

Ehimoni was kidnapped on 

Ayere-Ikare Road on 

By Kingsley Omonobi 

ABUJA—THE Nigerian Army 

spokesperson, Sani Usman, 

yesterday, said troops from 1 

Division in Kaduna State have 

apprehended Sani Ibrahim, the 

alleged leader of a gang of 

bandits. 

Mr. Usman, a Brigadier- 

General, said the suspected 

bandit, fondly called Burtu, had 

been terrorising travellers along 

Kaduna-Abuja Expressroad. 

Mr. Usman added that the 

alleged bandit was shot in the 

leg before he was arrested. 

“The suspect was picked up on 

Wednesday, when the troops 

cordoned off the armed bandits 

camp at Rijana forest,” he 

added. 

According to Mr. Usman, the 

culprit had been on the wanted 

list of the security agencies in 

were bleeding, but the legs 

were intact. 

“If somebody drowned in a 

pool, you will see some signs 

of swelling and paleness, but 

there is nothing like that. And 

before we finished, the two 

people that went with us 

disappeared on Wednesday. 

We want justice to be done.” 

Morrison Taire, father of 

Darlington Taire, denied that 

any teacher took his son and 

Kaduna State for a long time. 

He stressed that due to the 

overwhelming resurgence of 

armed banditry and 

kidnappings along Abuja- 

Kaduna Highway, the troops 

carried out clearance 

operation to dislodge the 

bandits at Rijana Forest. 

He said: “One motorcycle 

the other students to the hotel, 

saying “I was not informed.” 

Morrison’s concern was 

corroborated by a management 

staff of the hotel, who, 

on condition of anonymity, 

claimed that the students 

drowned in the swimming 

pool, but that no one was 

brought in by a teacher. 

“The students paid money 

on their own,” the hotel staff 

insisted. 

Army nabs wanted Abuja-Kaduna Road 

‘notorious kidnapper’ 

Wednesday. 

He was said to be going to 

Ikare, Ondo State, to pick two of 

his children from school for the 

midterm break. 

The retired director was taken 

away in his car along with his 

younger brother, who was 

driving. 

Ehimoni is the current 

National Deputy Secretary of the 

Youth Sports Federation of 

Sani Ibrahim 

Kidnappers of ex-Kogi Director want N40m 

Nigeria, YSFON. 

The family source said the 

abductors, in the early hours 

of yesterday, made a 

telephone call to his wife to 

demand for N40 million 

ransom for his release. 

The source added that 

Ehimoni, who retired from the 

Kogi civil service in 2015, had 

not received his monthly 

pension for the past 18 

Bizwoman uses fake UK visa, 

Heathrow stamp to apply for US visa 

By Evelyn Usman 

ATTEMPT by a 34-yearold 

woman to use a fake 

United Kingdom, UK, visa 

and Heathrow immigration 

stamp to procure a United 

States of America, USA, visa, 

has been foiled following her 

arrest. 

The international passport 

of the Osun State-born 

suspect, identified as Afolabi 

Olubunmi Modupe, as 

gathered, was also found to 

have fake Chinese visa and 

departure /arrival stamps of 

various African countries. 

Preliminary investigation 

and 25 goats were recovered 

from the camp. In a similar 

attack, troops mounted 

ambush on Zamfara border 

with Kebbi, where they 

neutralised three armed 

bandits and recovered 134 

cows and 13 sheep.” 

He added that operations 

were still ongoing. 

months. 

The Police Public Relations 

Officer in Ondo State, Mr. 

Femi Joseph, who spoke to 

newsmen on phone, 

confirmed the abduction of 

Ehimoni yesterday. 

Joseph also confirmed that 

the abductors had called to 

demand for N40 million 

ransom. He advised the 

family not to pay the ransom. 

revealed that the suspect had 

applied for the UK visa twice, 

but was refused for allegedly 

procuring fake document. 

During her second 

appearance at the embassy, 

she was reportedly barred 

from applying for UK visa, for 

10 years. 

Her story 

The suspect, who was 

paraded before newsmen 

yesterday at the Police Special 

Fraud Unit, Lagos, confessed 

to have employed the services 

of one Olawale, a document 

vendor in Ibadan, the Oyo 

State capital, to procure the 

fake documents for her. 

Speaking with 

journalists, the single 

parent admitted to be in 

the know that the visas 

were fake. 

She said: “I am a 

business woman. I deal 

in textiles. Due to the 

nature of my business, 

most times I make my 

order online. 

“However, I thought 

that travelling down to 

get what I really wanted 

would be better than 

placing order online. 

“I was introduced to 

someone, who said that 

the US embassy does not 

give visa to an applicant 

with a virgin passport. 

“But he assured me 

that he could boost my 

passport in order to be 

given a visa. I have not 

travelled to any of the 

countries before. 

“I only allowed the 

agent to boost my 

passport so as to be 

given a US visa.” 

Police warning 

Briefing journalists, 

the Unit’s Public Relations 

Officer, Audu Lawal, 

called on members of 

the public to desist from 

patronising visa vendors, 

informing that visas 

were obtained from 

embassies and high commissions. 

He added that 

investigation was still 

ongoing, adding that the 

suspect would be 

charged to court soon. 

Afolabi Modupe

8 — VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JUNE 16, 2017

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JUNE 16, 2017 — 9

10 — VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JUNE 16, 2017

EfDI, ExxonMobil train women 

on how to run NGOs 

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JUNE 16, 2017 — 11 


Ademola Adeleke never a member of APC 

– OYATOMI 

OSOGBO—THE All 

Progressives 

Congress, APC, in Osun 

State has said that the 

brother of late Senator 

Isiaka Adeleke – Ademola 

Adeleke, the candidate of 

the Peoples Democratic 

Party in the Osun West bye 

election slated for July 8, 

was never a member of the 

APC. 

The party was reacting to 

a letter sent to it by 

Adeleke, conveying his 

decision to withdraw from 

the primaries conducted 

on Wednesday, in which 

he was slated to contest 

as a candidate for the 

position of Senator for the 

Osun West Senatorial 

District, on the platform of 

the party. 

In its response, the 

party, through Director of 

Research and Strategy, Mr 

ENTERPRISE for 

Development 

International (EfDI), with 

funding support from 

ExxonMobil held a 

hands-on training 

workshop with the theme: 

Enhancing effectiveness 

and efficiency of women 

run Non-Governmental 

Organizations (NGOs) in 

Nigeria. 

The workshop, which 

held at Best Western 

Starfire Hotel, Lagos 

aimed to empower women 

to enhance their capacity 

to develop and run 

sustainable NGOs that 

can seek funds from 

reputable organizations. 

Participants at the event 

were drawn from the six 

geopolitical zones of 

Nigeria. While some 

already had operating 

NGOs, other participants 

needed a boost from the 

workshop to get 

Kunle Oyatomi, a lawyer 

said; ‘’Otunba Ademola 

Adeleke is not conversant 

with the processes for the 

nomination of a 

candidate to contest an 

election in the party. 

’Contrary to his 

erroneous claim of obvious 

manipulations and 

interference, paragraph 

16(d) of the 2014 

Guidelines for the 

Nomination of Candidates 

for Public Office makes it 

clear that the National 

Working Party (NWC), 

acting on behalf of National 

Executive Committee 

(NEC), is the ultimate 

authority on the 

qualifications of candidates 

to contest a primary 

election. 

He also said that; ‘’The 

claim that the primary is not 

being held at the Senatorial 

QUIT NOTICE: Afe Babalola 

canvasses restructuring along 

ethnic lines 

By Gbenga 

Olarinoye 

OSOGBO—A legal 

luminary and the 

founder of Afe Babalola 

University, Ado-Ekiti 

(ABUAD), Aare Afe 

Babalola, SAN has charged 

the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan 

Adeyeye Ogunwusi Ojaja 

11 to extend his peace and 

unity advocacy to other parts 

of Nigeria. 

He also said the only 

solution to solve the 

country's multi-various 

problems is to restructure the 

nation along all the ethnic 

nationalities. 

Chief Babalola spoke 

yesterday in Ife against the 

backdrop of hate speeches 

and quit notice issued by 

Northern youths to the 

indigenes of South East, 

resident in the North, 

According to him, Ooni's 

intervention become 

imperative, with a view to 

protecting Nigeria's unity 

and corporate existence. 

He said drastic measure 

must be taken by the Ooni 

as the leading monarch in 

Yorubaland to galvanize 

peace and tranquillity in 

the country. 

themselves up and 

running. 

The sessions, which 

were facilitated by highly 

regarded resource 

persons, covered NGO 

Start-Up, Fundraising 

and Proposal 

Development for 

Programs and Projects, 

Effective Use of ICT for 

Running NGOs & 

Stakeholder and 

Partnership. Case studies 

aided participation and 

enhanced understanding 

of the subjects covered. 

The keynote address 

was delivered by the 

senior contracts engineer, 

ExxonMobil, Mrs. 

Patricia Opene-Odili. 

She emphasized that 

ExxonMobil is passionate 

about women and actively 

promotes opportunities 

for women to network and 

build capacity through 

initiatives such as this. 

District headquarters is 

baseless. 

‘’For one thing, there is 

no such thing as a 

senatorial district 

headquarters in the 1999 

Constitution. As such, there 

is no provision either in the 

Constitution of the APC or 

the 2014 Guidelines for the 

Nomination of Candidates 

for Public Office that the 

WORKSHOP: Participants at the Enterprise for Development International (EfDI) 

training workshop with the theme: “Enhancing effectiveness and efficiency of women 

run Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Nigeria at Best Western Starfire 

Hotel, Lagos. EfDI received funding support from ExxonMobil for the workshop. 

Yoruba elders back Senate call for confab 

report implementation 

By Ola Ajayi 

IBADAN—TO douse 

the mounting tension in 

the country, the Yoruba 

socio-cultural group, Yoruba 

Council of Elders, YCE, has 

backed a call by the Senate 

that the report of the 2014 

National Conference held 

during the last 

administration be 

implemented. 

The call was made at the 

end of a meeting of the 

Elders’ Council which took 

place in Ibadan yesterday. 

In a communiqué read at 

the end of the meeting, the 

apex Yoruba socio-cultural 

group also hinted that the 

national Executive 

Committee of the council 

had confirmed Chief Idowu 

Sofola (SAN) as its 

President General and Dr 

Kunle Olajide as the 

Secretary General following 

the death of General 

Adeyinka Adebayo some 

months ago. 

While reading the 

communiqué, Dr Olajide 

restated the call for true 

federalism which he said 

was the only antidote to 

various challenges 

confronting the country. 

He said, “The YCE 

commends the Senate of the 

Federal Republic of Nigeria 

for its resolution and we 

urge the executive to forward 

the report of the 2014 

National Conference to the 

National Assembly as an 

Executive Bill.” 

“The YCE urges all 

primaries must be held at a 

particular venue. 

‘’For example, the 

presidential primary in 

2015 was held in Lagos. It 

could have been held in 

Osogbo or anywhere else 

in the country. 

‘’Third, available records 

now reveal that Otunba 

Adeleke was never a 

member of APC in the state, 

Nigerians to support the 

initiative of the National 

Assembly in its decision to 

work on the report. The 

YCE also commends the 

efforts of the Acting 

President Yemi Osinbajo in 

holding consultation with 

By Abdulwahab 

Abdulah 

S OCIO-ECONOMIC 

Rights and 

Accountability Project 

(SERAP) has described the 

acquittal of the Senate 

President Bukola Saraki at 

the Code of Conduct 

Tribunal, CCT, of corruption 

charges as serious 

shortcomings in the 

criminal justice system. 

In a statement issued in 

Lagos, SERAP said what is 

needed now is a 

complementary and 

supportive mechanism in 

the form of a UN-backed 

commission against 

corruption and impunity in 

Nigeria is urgently needed 

to achieve President 

Muhammadu Buhari’s oftstated 

anti-corruption 

agenda.” 

The organization said: 

’’The Acting President, 

Professor Yemi Osinbajo, 

should urgently and proactively 

pursue the 

establishment of a UNbacked 

International 

as there is no evidence of 

his registration as a member 

in his Abogunde/Sagba 

Ward 2 in Ede North LGA. 

‘’There are also no 

records of his involvement 

in party meetings at all 

levels. Rather, there is a 

petition, dated June 9, 2017, 

which is to the effect that 

Otunba Adeleke is not a 

member of the APC. 

the leaders and elders of 

the six zones of the country. 

We assure him of our 

support” . 

The YCE scribe also 

vowed that calls for 

restructuring of the country 

would continue until the 

needful was done. 

SARAKI’S ACQUITTAL: SERAP seeks 

UN support in anti-corruption fight 

Commission Against 

Corruption and Impunity to 

assist our criminal justice 

system to effectively and 

efficiently investigate and 

prosecute high-level 

corruption cases in the 

country, like it happened in 

Guatemala, for example. 

This government needs 

help in its fight against 

corruption, and strong 

leadership is now needed 

to urgently design a 

complementary and 

supportive plan.” 

The CCT yesterday 

dismissed the 18-count 

charge of false asset 

declaration against Saraki 

following his no-case 

submission. 

But SERAP in its 

statement by its Deputy 

Director, Timothy Adewale 

said: “The acquittal of Mr 

Saraki has exposed deep 

flaws in the country’s legal 

framework against 

corruption, and seriously 

weakened any notion of 

accountability of highranking 

public officials 

accused of corruption.” 

AKEREDOLU: 

Anxiety 

mounts over 

delay in 

constituting 

cabinet 

By Dayo Johnson 

A KURE—ANXIETY 

is mounting across 

Ondo State as the state 

governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, 

seems not ready to constitute 

a cabinet more than three 

months after his 

inauguration. 

This is as the State House 

of Assembly gave him the 

approval to appoint 10 

Special Advisers. 

The approval follows a 

request through a letter by 

the governor, signed by the 

Secretary to the State 

Government, Ifedayo 

Abegunde and read on the 

floor of the House by the 

Clerk, Bode Adeyelu. 

Majority Leader of the 

House, Olusegun 

Araoyinbo, moved the 

motion to grant the request 

which was seconded by 

Chairman House 

Committee on Finance and 

Appropriation, Sunday 

Olajide. 

The Speaker, Hon. David 

Oloyelogun then put the 

motion to a voice vote which 

got the consent of members. 

The lawmakers expressed 

confidence that the Special 

Advisers will bring their 

wealth of experience to bear 

on governance in the state. 

The initially delay in 

forming the cabinet was 

attributed to the crisis 

rocking the Assembly 

which had since been 

resolved. 

Vanguard gathered that 

the list of the nominees is 

ready and would be 

forwarded to the assembly 

before month-end. 

Those that may make the 

list and possible portfolios, 

according to Vanguard’s 

finding, include the son of 

the late former governor of 

the state Gboyega Adefarati, 

former Chief Press Secretary 

to the late governor Segun 

Agagu, Yemi Olowolabi 

(Information), former 

finance commissioner 

under the immediate past 

governor, Wale Akinyemi- 

Budget and planning and 

Timehin Adelegbe- 

Finance. 

Others include the brother 

to late governor Agagu who 

doubled as his Chief of Staff, 

Femi Agagu, former 

commissioner under the 

immediate past government 

Yetunde Adeyanju, a 

member of the state 

executive council of the 

party Saka Yusuf, Sam 

Erejuwa who may represent 

Ilaje council.



PIB passes 2nd reading in House of Reps 

...as members bicker over merger of 3 bills 

By Emman Ovuakporie 

ABUJA — THREE 

bills relating to the 

Petroleum Industry Bill, 

otherwise known as PIB, 

yesterday scaled second 

reading before the 


after a robust debate 

with little opposition 

to the bills. 

However objections 

were raised via points of 

order when the acting 

Majority Leader of the 

House, Mohammed Tahir 

Monguno, (APC Borno), 

was asked to move 

for the commencement of 

debate in the general 

principles of the bill 

which was listed among 

three other bills of similar 

subject matter on the 

order paper. 

While moving for the 

debate, Monguno only 

moved for the debate on 

the “bill for an Act to provide 

for the governance 

and institutional framework 

for the petroleum 

industry and to establish 

a fiscal framework that 

encourages further investment 

in the petroleum 

industry, while increasing 

accruable revenues 

to the Federal Government. 

The move prompted the 

leader of the opposition, 

Leo Ogor, (PDP, Isoko 

federal constituency, 

Delta), to quickly raise a 

point of Order 3, wherein 

he insisted that there 

were three other related 

bills which were supposed 

to be consolidated 

before the commencement 

of debate. 

He argued that “Failure 

to consolidate the 

bills for a holistic legislative 

exercise on the 

PIB would make the others 

lose their essence 

and a much longer period 

of debate. 

But the presiding officer 

and Speaker of the 

House, Yakubu Dogara, 

felt otherwise, noting 

that the House had 

reached an agreement 

with its Senate counterparts 

to take the PIB in 

two tranches, the first, 

being the Petroleum Industry 

Governance Bill, 

PIGB, which had been 

passed by the Senate, 

requiring concurrence. 

He said: “We had a 

gentleman’s agreement 

with our counterparts in 

the Senate and I think it 

is incumbent upon us to 

act the way they separated 

their own.’’ 

Dogara thus called on 

the chairman, Rules and 

Business, Emmanuel 

Oker-Jev,( APC, Benue), 

to guide the House, with 

the latter concurring with 

Dogara’s position. 

Daniel Reyenieju, 

(PDP, Warri Fed Constituency, 

Delta), who 

raised another point of 

order in support of the 

Minority Leader, said it 

would be a fruitless effort 

to try to separate the 

bills and pass them 

piecemeal, leaving other 

vital issues unattended 

to. 

Reyenieju said: “Giving 

priority to the Senate 

version of the bill at 

the expense of members’ 

efforts at raising various 

issues vital to the development 

and governance 

of the oil industry, especially 

the aspect of host 

community fund, would 

make the House appear 

unserious, more so that 

the House passed the 

same bill in the 7th Assembly 

and the Senate 

failed to concur with it.’’ 

Again, Dogara countered 

him, saying the 

House will proceed with 

debate on the PIGB 

based on an agreement 

with the Senate, which 

was to debate what the 

Group threatens to declare Sovereign 

Republic of N-Delta October 1 

Senate had already 

passed . 

He called on the acting 

leader, Monguno, to proceed 

with the debate, 

ruling both the minority 

leader and Reyenieju out 

of order. 

Monguno in his lead 

debate, called for the 

immediate scrapping of 

the Nigerian National 

Petroleum Corporation, 

NNPC, which he said 

had become an untamable, 

hydra-dreaded octopus 

which sucks water 

from the ocean without 

giving much in return.” 

He said: “The bill if 

passed, will automatically 

take care of issues 

concerning the petroleum 

industry and its governance.’’ 

He added that it will 

also repeal the NNPC 

Amendment Act of 2004 

to give way for the creation 

of the other autonomous 

entities which will 

enhance more transparency 

and productivity in 

the oil sector. Victor 

Nowkolo (PDP, Ika North 

Esat/North South Fed 

Constituency, Delta), 

who chairs the House 

Committee on Petroleum 

(downstream), expressed 

satisfaction with the 

prayers of the bill. 

He said: “It’s high 

time government divested 

it’s interest in the 

NNPC; there’s no where 

in the world where government 

succeeds in involving 

itself in the dayto-day 

running of the oil 

sector which has been 

liberalised and opened 

to the private sector. 

“It’s important that the 

office of the minister is 

separated from anything 

regulation as it is meant 

only to formulate policies 

for the governance of the 

sector.’’ 

COLLATION: From left: Justice Opeoluwa Ogunade, Chancellor, Diocese 

of Lagos West; Mrs Folashade Olupitan, wife of new Archdeacon; Rt. Revd. 

James Odedeji, Bishop, Diocese of Lagos West; the new Archdeacon of 

Christ Anglican Church, Bariga, Lagos, Ven. Oludamilola Olupitan and Rt. 

Revd. Babatunde Adeyemi, Bishop of Badagry, during the service for the 

Collation of Ven. Taiwo Olupitan as Archdeacon, in Bariga Lagos Photo: 

Diran Oshe. 

By Jimitota Onoyume 

PORT HARCOURT 

— A group, Niger 

Delta Watchdogs, has 

threatened to declare a 

sovereign Republic of 

Niger Delta on October 

1, this year. 

A statement, yesterday, 

in Port Harcourt, 

Rivers State, by selfstyled 

'General' John 

Duke and eight others, 

also handed October 1 

this year as deadline for 

Notherners to quit the 

Niger Delta region. 

“We are fully prepared 

to declare the Sovereign 

Republic of Niger Delta 

on October 1, 2017. We 

want to sound this as a 

warning to all Northerners 

living in the Niger 

Delta to quit our land 

before October 1, 2017, 

as this is not a threat. 

“We also warn oil companies 

to shut down operations, 

PENGASSAN 

and NUPENG to withdraw 

their members from 

Niger Delta before October 

1, 2017. Our next action 

will surprise you,” 

the group said. 

They further called for 

restructuring of the country 

along the lines of fiscal 

federalism if the nation 

is to remain one. 

The group condemned 

the meeting the acting 

President, Professor 

Yemi Osibanjo, had with 

some Northern youths 

and elders, saying that 

he should have arrested 

them for overheating the 

polity with the quit notice 

to Igbo to vacate the 

North by October 1 this 

year. 

“We condemn in totality 

the meeting held by 

the acting President, Professor 

Osinbajo with 

some Northern elders 

and youths. 

"Any responsible government 

should have arrested 

those traitors but 

it turned round to meet 

with them and pleaded 

for peace. Does the Nigerian 

government see 

people from other zones 

as second class citizens?” 

the group queried. 

Ogoni hopes on indigenous 

oil company for devt 

By Davies 

Iheamnachor 

OGONI nationality 

in Rivers State, 

yesterday, disclosed that 

the hope of its people for 

the development of their 

communities lies with a 

new indigenous oil firm, 

Ogoni Hydrocarbon 

Company Limited, 

expected to commence 

operations in the area soon. 

The Ogoni Supreme 

Council of Traditional 

Rulers, OSCTR, stated this 

in Tai Local Government 

Area of the state, when the 

management of the indigenous 

oil company paid 

them a courtesy call on their 

planned investment in the 

area. 

Speaking, Chairman of 

OSCTR, His Royal 

Majesty, Chief Godwin 

Gininwa, condemned oil 

companies that operated in 

the area for failing to 

develop Ogoniland, 

regretting that the oil 

companies exploited the 

people and left them 

devastated. 

Gininwa said: “I am very 

pleased with the intentions 

of the firm for the 

development of Ogoni and 

creation of employment for 

our youths. We have everything 

but we are suffering 

in poverty. Our youths 

should be patient, we are 

trying to work out ways to 

ensure that they do not suffer 

in the midst of plenty. 

“We want this company 

coming to help Ogoni in 

development. We will give 

you the needed support, 

what we want is just 

development. It has been 

difficult for us to live here 

as a people. We don’t want 

our children to continue in 

poverty. If there is any 

money you have to develop 

anywhere, please bring it 

and develop Ogoni." 

Vice Chairman of Ogoni 

Hydrocarbon Company, 

Chief Mike Nwidobie, said 

that the company will soon 

commence over $10 billion 

investment in Ogoni, 

adding that it will provide 

employment for over 

150,000 youths of the area. 

I’ll ensure Ika's inclusion among 

oil producing comminities —Okoh 

By Festus Ahon 

A SABA—THE 

m e m b e r 

representing Ika South 

constituency in Delta State 

House of Assembly, Mr 

Festus Okoh, yesterday, 

said he had not abandoned 

his pursuit for inclusion of 

Ika nation as an oil and gas 

producing area in the state 

despite the rejection of his 

motion in that regard on the 

floor of the House. 

Speaking with journalists 

on his two years 

achievements as a member 

of the state legislature, 

Okoh said that his interest 

in ensuring that his people 

get quality representation 

and were not shortchanged 

in the scheme of 

things has remained paramount 

in his heart, adding 

that his constituents 

have never had it so good. 

“Pan Ocean Company is 

seriously exploring oil in 

Obiayima and other 

neighbouring communities 

in Ika South. I sponsored a 

motion on the floor of the 

House for inclusion of Ika 

nation as an oil and gas 

producing area but it failed 

because what is being 

produced in the locality has 

not been linked to the 

Forcados Trunk Line," he 

said. 

Eko Support Free Zone to be 

operational this year —OGFZA MD 

THE Oil and Gas 

Free Zones 

Authority, OGFZA, is to set 

up the structure that will 

help Eko Support Services 

Limited, an Apapa, Lagosbased 

oil and gas free 

zone, to fully function as, 

and enjoy the complete 

benefits of an oil and gas 

free zone as provided for 

in the extant regulations of 

OGFZA and its 

establishment Act of 1996. 

Making the plan known 

while visiting Eko Support 

, Managing Director of 

OGFZA, Mr Umana 

Umana, said that OGFZA 

will help Eko Support to 

take full advantage of its 

free zone licence and 

exercise the full authority of 

its free zone status by 

adopting a standard 

operating procedure that 

has been fully tested at 

Onne Free Zone and keyed 

into the Executive Order of 

the Federal Government on 

the Ease of Doing Business. 

“A licence is a piece of 

paper, what you make of the 

licence is the issue,” 

Umana told the 

management team of Eko 

Support led by Seni Edu, 

the General Manager of 

the free zone, who received 

the OGFZA team.



N290bn unpaid salaries: Industrial unrest 

looms in Defence Ministry, others 

By Victor Ahiuma- 

Young, reporting 

from Geneva, 

Switzerland 

INDICATIONS have 

emerged of a looming 

industrial unrest in the 

Ministry of Defence, MoD, 

Education, and others 

following workers’ 

restiveness over unpaid 

salaries and other benefits 

including promotion 

arrears, totaling N290 

billion. 

Secretary-General of 

Association of Senior Civil 

Servants of Nigeria, 

ASCSN, Mr. Bashir Lawal, 

told journalists at the 

ongoing 106th session of 

the International Labour 

Conference, ILC, in 

Geneva, Switzerland, that 

labour leaders could no 

longer calm the workers’ 

restiveness. 

He contended that the 

situation in the ministries, 

especially Defence and 

Education, was getting out 

of control, lamenting that 

the N10 billion released by 

the government was grossly 

inadequate, judging from 

the fact that the total 

indebtedness was N290 

billion. 

According to him: “If you 

look at the entire problem, 

you will agree with me that 

government is not sincere 

with the workers. This 

indebtedness dates back to 

2007, and you want to 

imagine that workers who 

are working are being 

promoted as at when due 

but government is refusing 

to pay them their 

promotion arrears. 

Somebody that has been 

promoted from level 8 to 9, 

from 9 to 10, from 10 to 12 

and so on, is still earning 

level 8 salary because the 

employer, which is the 

Federal Government, has 

refused to do the right 

thing. 

“So, this has brought the 

Okowa tasks FG on laws to check 

herdsmen menace 

By Festus Ahon & 

Egufe Yafugborhi 

W ARRI—GOVE- 

RNOR Ifeanyi 

Okowa of Delta State has 

said that the menace of 

herdsmen will continue to 

be a challenge to state 

governments unless the 

Federal Government comes 

up with appropriate laws to 

check the trend. 

He also said that he had 

chosen not to deceive 

Deltans but to lead them on 

14 candidates jostle for UBTH CMD job 

B 

E 

By Simon 

Ebegbulem 

N I N — 

FOURTEEN 

persons, including the 

former National President 

of the Nigeria Medical 

Association, NMA, Dr 

Osahon Enabulele, are in 

the race for the position of 

Chief Medical Director, 

CMD, of the University of 

Benin Teaching Hospital, 

UBTH, as the tenure of the 

incumbent CMD, Prof. 

Michael Ibadin, expires 

today. 

Meanwhile, the outgoing 

CMD of the hospital, Prof 

arrears to N290 billion. And 

the insincerity of the 


demonstrated in the first 

instance, when the Federal 

Government gave out the 

bailout funds to states 

totaling about N734 billion, 


took 52.2 percent of the 

amount as a result of the 

revenue sharing formula. 

Then, the states took their 

shares. 

“The Federal 

Government is asking the 

states to use their share to 

pay arrears of workers' 

salaries. But the Federal 

Government took its share 

and diverted it to other uses 

without using it to pay 

salaries. That is the height 

of insincerity. So, now the 

Federal Government has 

accepted that there is a 

problem. As I speak with 

you, the situation is very 

tense. Workers are very 

restive and no labour 

the path of truth. 

Speaking during a 

separate town hall meetings 

with the people in Effurun 

and Otu-Jeremi, Uvwie 

and Ughelli South Local 

Government Areas of the 

state, respectively, Okowa 

noted that the state was 

passing through 

challenging times due to 

the economic recession in 

the country. 

Lamenting that with the 

indices on ground, the 

current economic situation 

leader can guarantee that 

the situation will not get out 

of hand. 

“We are just trying to 

manage the situation, 

knowing some of the other 

challenges facing the 

country. Now we have 

come together, including 

the National Assembly on 

the issue of this 

N290billion, the National 

Assembly has offered a 

window that we should 

utilise what is currently in 

PRESENTATION: From right: Zonal Head, First City Monument 

Bank, FCMB, Calabar, Mr. Ime Ette; winner of N1 million at the first draw 

of the FCMB Millionaire Promo Season 4, in South-East/South-South Region, 

Mr. Effiong Asuquo; Zonal Service Manager of the bank, Mr. Inibehe Nya 

and Retail Head, Calabar Zone, Mr. Mfon Benson, during the cheque 

presentation ceremony to the winner in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. 

Ibadin, has boasted that his 

tenure was very fruitful and 

transparent, saying that 

the institution recorded 

more human and 

infrastructural 

development under his 

tenure than those of 

previous administrations. 

Vanguard learned that 

majority of those vying for 

the position have served in 

various capacities in the 

institution while few are 

from outside the institution. 

Prof. Ibadin served his two 

terms of four years each. 

Those in the race include 

Prof. Sylvester Idogun, Prof. 

Gabriel Ofovwe, Prof. 

Ernest Omoti, Prof. Alfred 

Ogbemudia, Prof. Moses 

Momoh, Dr Darlington 

Obaseki, Prof. Godwin 

Bazuaye, Prof. Anthony 

Okonkwo and others. 

Prof. Ibadin, who will be 

leaving today, said: “I want 

to be remembered as 

somebody who came, had 

a clear vision of what to do 

and strived to achieve 

them. At the beginning, the 

targets I set for myself, I 

think I have exceeded 

them. I don’t think the 

history of this hospital will 

be written and I will not be 

remembered." 

may not be over soon 

except God does wonders, 

he said that the price of oil 

has been down in the past 

three years, and urged the 

people to be prayerful and 

embrace peace to enable 

them build the Delta State 

of their dream. 

At the town hall meeting 

in Effurun, Okowa 

wondered why some 

groups from a section of the 

country would be free to 

carry AK 47 rifles to kill with 

impunity while others are 

not allowed to even carry 

anything. 

“We are aware that the 

National Assembly is doing 

its best, but we know that 

this has gone beyond 

legislation. We have lived 

with herdsmen before but 

what we are experiencing 

today is not what we used 

to see in the past and we 

are very worried. 

“The legislation we are 

trying to put in place will 

soon come. But I will tell 

you that we do not have a 

strong policy because the 

Federal Government needs 

to find appropriate 

strategies as it still has full 

control of the security 

agencies." 

Court adjourns ruling on 

Nwaoboshi's application till Oct 4 

By Innocent Anaba 

A 

Federal High 

Court sitting in 

Lagos, yesterday, 

adjourned till October 4, 

to rule on an application 

by Senator Peter 

Nwaoboshi (PDP Delta 

North), seeking to vacate 

the order for the temporary 

forfeiture of his property. 

It will be recalled that the 

Economic and Financial 

Crimes Commission, 

EFCC, had alleged that he 

laundered part of N1.5 

billion, which he allegedly 

fraudulently obtained from 

Delta State Government, 

through a company, 

Suiming Nigeria Limited. 

The commission, which 

had earlier secured an 

interim order made by 

Justice Abdullazeez Anka 

forfeiting a 12-storey 

building belonging to the 

senator, and which he 

allegedly bought with the 

money, yesterday asked 

the court to refuse 

Nwaoboshi’s application. 

Meanwhile, arguing an 

application seeking to 

discharge the forfeiture 

order, Nwaoboshi’s 

counsel, Chief Anthony 

Idigbe, SAN, contended 

that the said commission 

concealed material facts in 

obtaining the order, and did 

not comply with the EFCC 

Act, which he said robbed 

the court of jurisdiction. 

He argued that said the 

temporary forfeiture 

violated his client’s right to 

own property as 

guaranteed by Section 43 

of the 1999 Constitution, 

adding that the suit was an 

abuse of court process. 

“It becomes dangerous for 

citizens if the state can seize 

citizens’ property without a 

criminal proceding against 

them,” adding that mere 

suspicion of crime was not 

a valid reason to attach a 

property, as “There is 

nothing linking money 

from the contract to the 

property.” 

A-Ibom Assembly confirms justice 

Abraham's appointment as CJ 

By Chioma Onuegbu 

UYO—AKWA Ibom 

State House of 

Assembly has confirmed 

the appointment of Justice 

Godwin Abraham as the 

substantive Chief Judge of 

the state, urging him to use 

his position to decongest 

prisons and enhance 

timely dispensation of 

justice. 

The ratification of Justice 

Abraham’s appointment 

followed the unanimous 

adoption of reports of the 

House Committee on 

Justice, Judiciary, Human 

Rights and Public Petitions 

by members of the House 

at yesterday’s plenary. 

Justice Abraham, who 

was appointed a few 

months ago by Governor 

Udom Emmanuel, has 

been on acting capacity 

until his confirmation as the 

substantive Chief Judge, 

yesterday. 

The report, which was 

read earlier by the Deputy 

Chairman of the 

Committee, Otobong 

Akpan, on the floor of the 

House, had urged the 

House to clear the nominee 

based on the fact that he 

was found qualified for the 

position. 

The committee had 

described Abraham as a 

person of integrity with the 

requisite skills and 

knowledge and therefore, 

qualified for the position. 

PDP Delta Central holds 

mega rally June 23 

THE Chairman of 

Delta State chapter 

of Peoples Democratic 

Party, PDP, Olorogun 

Kingsley Esiso, recently 

inaugurated the central 

working committee of 

PDP Delta Central mega 

rally. The event will take 

place at the Sapele 

Township Stadium on 

June 23, 2017. 

Executive Assistant to 

the Governor of Delta 

State on Communication 

and member of the Mega 

Rally Publicity 

Committee, Mr Fred 

Oghenesivbe, quoted 

the Chairman of Delta 

PDP as saying that the 

event is to test-run 

certain weird but 

superlative political 

strategies ahead of 2019 

general elections in the 

state. 

He said: “The entire 

PDP structures in Delta 

Central shall on that day 

come under one roof to 

politically enlighten 

Sapele and its environ 

and in the same token 

send signals to the 

moribund major 

opposition party, the 

APC, that PDP still and 

will continue to dominate 

and control grassroots 

politics in Delta Central 

senatorial district."


Nigerians 

ordered out of 

South African 

communities 

THE Nigeria Union 

in South Africa on 

Wednesday accused two 

communities in the country 

of asking Nigerians to quit 

their territories. 

President of the union, 

Ikechukwu Anyene, said 

the Kuruman community in 

Northern Cape province 

gave Nigerians till 

Thursday to leave the place. 

Anyene also said the 

Klaafontein community, 

extension 5, Johannesburg, 

has also directed landlords 

not to renew the rent of 

Nigerians in the area. 

He said the grievance of 

the South Africans was that 

Nigerians were responsible 

for some social vices such 

as illicit drug trade and 

prostitution. 

Anyene said a Ugandan, 

who allegedly raped a girl 

in Kwazulu Natal Province, 

was described as a Nigerian 

in the media. 

Jibrin expelled 

from APC 

...They are hired 

hacks — Jibrin 

A 

By AbdulSalam 

Muhammad 

suspended 

member of the 


Abdulmumin Jibrin was 

yesterday expelled by the 

local chapter of his party, 

the All Progressives 

Congress, APC in Bebeji 

Local government area of 

Kano State. 

Jibrin’s expulsion was 

communicated to newsmen 

at a press conference in 

Kano yesterday by the 

chairman of the Bebeji local 

government area chapter of 

the APC , Sani Ranka. He 

accused the embattled 

legislator of anti-party 

activities. 

Jibrin in a sharp reaction 

said: “This is yet another 

round of character 

assassinations from career 

political antagonists who 

are perpetually threatened 

by our advocacy for 

transparency in public 

service and political 

leadership.“ 

Addressing journalists in 

Kano, Ranka said: 

“Before taking this final 

decision, we formed a 

disciplinary five-man 

committee and they went to 

him on 11-4-2017, he saw 

them briefly but without 

any tangible talks and 

they went back on 13-4- 

2017 he then refused to 

see them,” he said. 


Osinbajo meets Emir of Kano, Sanusi behind closed doors 

By Johnbosco 

Agbakwuru 

A BUJA—ACTING 

President Yemi 

Osinbajo, yesterday met 

behind closed doors with the 

Emir of Kano, Malam 

Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, in 

the Presidential Villa, Abuja. 

The meeting which took 

place at the Vice-President’s 

mini conference room, 

lasted for about two hours. 

When accosted by State 

House correspondents, the 

Emir declined to comment 

on the outcome of the 

meeting. 

However, it was reliably 

gathered that the Emir was 

on a “Thank You” visit to the 

acting president, who 

recently joined other well 

meaning Nigerians to stop 

the Kano State House of 

Assembly from its 

investigation of alleged 

misappropriation of funds 

and other infractions 

levelled against him. 

The House resolved to 

drop the probe, following a 

plea through a letter by 

Governor Abdullahi 

Ganduje of Kano State. 

The letter was read by the 

speaker, Kabiru Rirum, on 

the floor of the House. 

In his letter, Ganduje said 

he was calling for the 

investigation to be dropped 

as a result of interventions 

by highly-placed 

personalities in the matter. 

According to the letter, the 

MEETING: The CAN President, his eminence, Rev Dr Samson Olasupo 

Ayokunle during a meeting with the Acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo 

when the CAN Leadership pays him a courtesy call on Wednesday. 

EU announces 143m Euros support 

package for North East crisis 

By Omeiza Ajayi 

A BUJA—THE 

European Union 

(EU) Commission 

yesterday in Brussels, 

Belgium, announced a 

support package of €143 

million to help the early 

recovery and 

reconstruction needs in 

the North East of Nigeria. 

A statement signed by 

the Media Adviser to 

Budget and Planning 

Minister, James 

Akpandem said “the 

package is for the 

provision of basic services 

including energy, 

education and health, job 

creation, strengthening 

monitoring and evaluation 

systems as well as public 

financial management 

systems”. 

Minister of Budget and 

National Planning, Senator 

Udoma Udo Udoma who 

signed the package 

agreement on behalf of 

Nigeria said the support 

shows yet another positive 

effort in the collaboration 

between the EU and the 

Nigerian Government to 

collectively work towards 

ameliorating the sufferings 

of the victims of Boko 

Haram insurgency. 

The Minister noted that 

the Financing Agreement 

signed on Thursday was for 

the sum of €20 million from 

the EU Emergency Trust 

Fund for Africa. “A total sum 

of €143 million is now 

secured from the EU under 

this framework for 

ameliorating of the 

sufferings of the affected 

population estimated at 

more than 14 million 

people,” he added. 

He said that since the 

resurgence of the 

humanitarian situation in 

the North East, the 

Nigerian government has 

personalities include the 

acting president, Prof. Yemi 

Osinbajo; party leaders; 

former military President 

Ibrahim Babangida; 

former head of state 

Abdulsalami Abubakar; 

Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad 

Abubakar; and 

businessmen and 

indigenes of the state, 

Aliko Dangote and Aminu 

Dantata. 

It was learned that the 

Emir’s visit to the 

Senate lauds Zenith Bank for full 

remittance of Customs collections 

THE 

Senate 

Committee probing 

the Customs N30 trillion 

banks remittance 

infractions has given the 

Central Bank of Nigeria 

(CBN) seven days to 

recover all monies collected 

by banks on behalf of the 

agency. 

Among banks directed to 

make refund are Access 

Bank, N42bn; Diamond 

Bank, N75bn; GTB, 

N290bn; FCMB, N14bn; 

Stanbic IBTC, N13bn; First 

Bank, N27bn, even as the 

Committee gave Zenith 

Bank a clean bill of health. 

Committee chairman, 

Sen. Hope Uzodinma, 

noted that following its 

investigations, the 

Committee found that only 

Zenith Bank had complied 

with 100 percent 

remittance. 

The Senate Committee 

on Customs, Excise and 

Tariff, which recently 

completed a successful 

work on the review of 

Customs Act, gave the 

matching order to the apex 

bank at an investigative 

meeting with the CBN, 

Ministry of Finance, 

Federal Inland Revenue 

Service (FIRS), Corporate 

Affairs Commission 

(CAC), commercial banks 

and other stakeholders. 

Sen. Uzodinma, 

threatened that the senate 

would involve the 

Economic and Financial 

2019 ELECTIONS: INEC turns down NASENI electronic voting 

machine •Leaves Science & Tech Ministry disappointed 

By Emma Elebeke 

A BUJA—DESPITE 

the euphoria that 

greeted the invention of a 

solar-powered electronic 

voting machine by the 

National Agency of Science 

and Engineering 

Infrastructure, NASENI, 

indications have emerged 

that INEC is not very 

enthusiastic about its 

deployment for the 2019 

general elections. 

INEC chairman, Prof. 

devoted substantial 

resources to bring the 

situation under control, 

meet the humanitarian 

needs of the victims and 

restore normalcy to the 

area. 

However, in spite of the 

efforts, the Minister said 

there is still a huge funding 

gap, which is why the 

Nigerian Government 

appreciates the support of 

the EU and the United 

Nations systems, which 

have been very useful in 

leading the other 

development partners in 

the support process. 

Yakubu Mahmood, 

according to sources at the 

meeting, which was held 

behind closed doors, 

expressed fears that the 

machine could fail in the 

middle of the exercise and 

cause problems, including 

litigation against the 

commission. 

Mahmood’s fear came, 

despite the use of the 

machine to demonstrate 

that it could accommodate 

five elections at once and 

produce results within 

minutes. 

Presidential Villa might be 

part of the ongoing 

consultations by the acting 

president with stakeholders 

which began with foremost 

Leaders of thought from the 

Northern and South East 

States of the federation. 

The consultation was 

sequel to the calls for 

secession by youth from 

different ethnic groups in the 

country resulting in some 

asking others to vacate their 

region before Oct. 1. 

...directs other banks to make refunds 

The machine was 

formally presented to INEC 

National Chairman, Prof. 

Yakubu Mamoud, by the 

Minister of Science and 

Technology, Dr. 

Ogbonnaya Onu, and his 

team, led by the Director 

General of NASENI, Dr. 

Mohammed Haruna, at 

INEC headquarters in 

Abuja yesterday. 

An insider source, who 

witnessed the presentation, 

told Vanguard on condition 

of anonymity that INEC 

Chairman, Prof. Yakubu 

Crimes Commission 

(EFCC) should the CBN 

fail to recover the money 

within the given time. 

The committee had 

established during the 

hearing that of the over N30 

trillion being investigated 

by the committee, over 

N536 billion was 

terminated at the various 

banks but not remitted to 

CBN. 

The Senator representing 

Orlu Zone of Imo State 

averred that “There are 

various infractions 

regarding import and 

export duties and we have 

carried out detailed 

investigation into the matter. 

Today, we will address the 

non-remittance of revenue 

collected on behalf of 

Customs. 

He made it clear that “The 

only bank that is free of this 

infraction is Zenith Bank,” 

stressing that “We must 

recover what we are able to 

and moving forward, we 

must stop this infraction that 

is affecting our economy 

negatively”. 

However, the Committee 

gave the banks two weeks 

to clarify the observed 

infractions relating to 

utilised and unutilised 

‘Form M’ and Simple 

Goods Declaration (SGD), 

and others, including 

abandoned assessment of 

Customs Duties and foreign 

exchange allocation 

manipulation. 

Mamoud, and top officials 

of the commission were 

shocked that NASENI 

could produce such novel 

technology but were not in 

the mood to adopt it for the 

next general election. 

The source said that in an 

indirect move to outrightly 

reject the machine and 

appease the Science and 

Technology Minister, 

Mahmood opted to raise a 

‘technical committee’ to 

further brainstorm on the 

workability of the voting 

machine and submit its 

report on July 29 this year.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 16, 2017 — 15 


Igbo marginalisation now in front burner 

— OHANAEZE PRESIDENT-GENERAL 

By Dennis Agbo 

E 

N U G U — 

PRESIDENT 

General of Ohanaeze 

Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo 

has said that the recent quit 

notice on Igbo residents in 

the north has brought about 

renewed focus against Igbo 

marginalistion in Nigeria. 

Nwodo said the 

misgivings about Igbo 

marginalisation and 

treatment as second class 

citizens will now be put in 

the front burner of the ongoing 

dialogue between the 

East and Northern Nigeria 

being mediated by Acting 

President Yemi Osibanjo. 

Abia community petitions 

IGP over planned herdsmen 

attack 

By Anayo Okoli 

U MUAHIA—THE 

traditional ruler of 

Ndi Uduma Awoke in 

Ohafia Local Government of 

Abia State, Ezeogo Kalu 

Uduma Nchonwa has 

raised alarm over alleged 

planned invasion and attack 

on his community by Fulani 

herdsmen. 

Consequently, the 

community has petitioned 

the Inspector General of 

Police (IGP), Mr. Ibrahim 

Idris over the alleged plan 

by herdsmen to attack them. 

According to Ezeogo 

Nchonwa, the herdsmen 

threat and planned attack 

was on account of allegation 

by the herdsmen that the 

community killed one of 

them, two cows and burnt 

two motorcycles belonging 

to their kinsmen by the 

people, an allegation the 

community denied. 

Nchonwa denied that 

such incident occurred in 

Nwodo made the 

disclosures at Akanu Ibiam 

International Airport 

Enugu, yesterday, when 

he returned from Abuja 

with other Igbo leaders who 

met with the Acting 

President on Wednesday 

over the Arewa youths quit 

notice to the Igbo residing 

in northern Nigeria. 

Nwodo further disclosed 

that Acting President 

Osinbajo will next week 

convene a joint meeting of 

leaders of Northern 

Nigeria and their Igbo 

counterpart in continuation 

of the efforts to resolve the 

impasse and tension 

created by the recent quit 

•No cause for alarm — POLICE 

the community, and 

expressed worry that since 

the rumour of the planned 

attack filtered into the 

community, his people had 

been fleeing in large 

numbers. 

“The truth of the matter 

is that we don’t know the 

perpetrator of the incident. 

Secondly, it neither 

occurred in our community 

nor farmland. All efforts to 

explain this to the 

authorities have fallen on 

deaf ears”, the monarch 

lamented. 

But the State Police 

Command said that the 

police and military have 

been alerted and that 

tension in the community 

has doused. 

A statement by the Police 

Public Relations Officer, 

PPRO, DSP Geoffrey 

Ogbonna urged the people 

to remain calm and go 

about their legal businesses 

and assured them of 

protection of the security 

agents. 

Okorocha pardons sacked 

2,000 workers 

By Chinonso 

Alozie, 

O WERRI— 

GOVERNOR 

Rochas Okorocha of Imo 

State, yesterday, 

announced that he has 

pardoned and lifted the 

suspension of 2,000 local 

government workers over 

alleged irregularities. 

Okorocha stated this in a 

release issued to newsmen 

in Owerri, through his 

Chief Press Secretary, Mr. 

Sam Onwuemeodo. 

The release was sequel to 

the rumour that Okorocha’s 

government had sacked 

over 2000 local government 

workers in the state. 

As captured by 

Onwuemeodo’s release, 

“This is to inform the people 

of the state and the general 

public that the state 

governorin his usual 

compassionate manner, has 

pardoned and also 

announced the lifting of the 

suspension order on about 

two thousand local 

government workers across 

the state. 

“The governor also 

directed for the immediate 

payment of their five 

months salary arrears, from 

January to May, 2017.'' 

notice on Igbo. 

Nwodo, however, 

appealed to Ndigbo to 

remain calm and patient in 

the face of the tension 

created by the development, 

informing that the Acting 

President has allayed their 

fears and assured them that 


would be fair to all. 

He was accompanied by 

some Igbo leaders, 

including the former 

Governor of the Central 

Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Prof. 

Chukwuma Soludo and 

Bishop of the Catholic 

Diocese of Nsukka, Most 

Rev. Prof. Godfrey Onah, 

among others as they 

arrived Enugu Airport. 

The Ohanaeze President 

General said that the acting 

president copiously offered 

explanations to the Igbo 

leaders on the areas of 

concern they had raised, 

including their perceived 

feeling that Ndigbo were 

being treated as secondclass 

citizens in their own 

country. 

Nwodo said: “The 

meeting is still on, we would 

continue with it next week. 

We had the opportunity to 

present our problems, our 

apprehension about the 

safety of our people in 

Northern Nigeria, the 

grievances of Ndigbo as it 

were and the factors that 

culminated in this impasse 

that we have in the nation. 

”He made copious 

explanations to us and he 

announced to us that he 

had met with the leaders of 

Northern Nigeria and that 

he was going to meet with 

the traditional rulers over 

the weekend. He was 

going to meet with us in a 

joint meeting with leaders 

of Northern Nigeria next 

week.” 

He gave assurance to all 

Igbos living in Northern 

Nigeria that the Federal 

Government is doing 

everything within its power 

to ensure that their lives 

were not under threat. 

AGM: From left, Managing Director of Julius Berger (Austrian) Engr. 

Wolfgang Goetsch, Company Secretary, Mrs. Cecilia Ekanem Madueke and 

Chairman, Mr. Mutiu Sunmonu addressing shareholders at 47th Annual 

General Meeting of Julius Berger held in Abuja. Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan. 

Enugu traders endorse Ugwuanyi for 

2nd term 

E NUGU—TRADERS 

in Enugu State 

under the auspices of 

Enugu 

State 

Amalgamated Market 

Traders Association 

(ESAMATA) yesterday 

unanimously endorsed the 

re-election of Governor 

Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi in 2019, 

saying that the governor has 

performed creditably in just 

two years in office despite 

the daunting economic 

challenges in the country. 

The traders took the 

decision at a well attended 

solidarity rally they 

organized to appreciate 

Gov. Ugwuanyi for 

entrenching good 

governance in the state 

and his support especially 

in assisting them grow 

their various businesses. 

In his address, the 

president-general of the 

market association, Hon. 

Temple Ude, stated that the 

traders are very happy 

and at home with the 

governor for his visionary 

leadership and the 

empowerment programme 

initiated by his 

administration, where 100 

lucky traders win N50,000 

each every month, saying 

that the vision “is most 

favourable to traders doing 

business in Enugu State”. 

Hon. Ude added that the 

idea was to stimulate the 

economy of the state as well 

as alleviate the sufferings of 

the people, stating that 

the cordial relationship 

existing between the 

governor and traders in 

the state “is equal to none 

when compared to other 

states in Nigeria, 

especially in the south east 

states. 

“No government in the 

past has ever attempted to 

establish the existing 

relationship between 

traders and government. 

Traders in Enugu State 

have resolved that if tenure 

elongation is democratic, 

they will sponsor a bill that 

Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi 

should be cleared for third 

term in office. We are 

committed in showing 

loyalty and sacrifice to your 

government, hence you 

have done much to traders 

in Enugu State”, the 

president- general said. 

MAKERS of Peak 

milk, 

FrieslandCampina Wamco, 

says the Global World Milk 

day celebration was an 

avenue to foster creativity 

and versatility in children. 

Managing Director of the 

company, Ben Langat, 

disclosed at the company 

commemoration of the 

celebration in Lagos, saying 

that the cooking competition 

built into the celebration by 

the company was to foster 

creativity and versatility in 

children. 

He said: “This concept is 

to encourage versatility in 

everyday Nigerian foods 

that children eat and can 

prepare themselves. This is 

an evolution in terms of 

APC crisis 

deepens 

in Imo 

By Chidi 

Nkwopara 

O WERRI—THE 

current fight for the 

soul of Isiala Mbano branch 

of All Progressives 

Congress, APC, has 

deepened as the factional 

heads now hold parallel 

meetings. 

Vanguard checks revealed 

that the party loyalists in the 

local council area have 

broken into Ifeanyi 

Araraume and Rochas 

Okorocha camps. 

An APC chieftain in the 

area, who spoke on strict 

condition of anonymity, 

lamented that they have not 

only refused to work as a 

family, but also held a 

meeting simultaneously on 

the same day and time. 

He further revealed that 

while the Okorocha loyalists 

held their meeting in the 

Obollo country home of 

Chief Tony Black Nduka, 

those favourably disposed to 

Araraume met at Engr. 

Chima Akuzie’s Umuneke 

Ugiri family home. 

The party chieftain traced 

the crisis to the alleged 

leadership tussle in the local 

government area, between 

Nze Obinna Onuegbu and 

Mr. Julius Asagwara. 

Addressing his faction of 

the party, Onuegbu said his 

position and that of Nduka 

“is not in dispute”, pointing 

out that there was no division 

in the party. 

“There are no two APC 

chairmen in Isiala Mbano. 

Those who believe 

otherwise, are only ignorant 

of the fact and rules of the 

party. 

“I cannot be shaken. I 

believe in the growth, 

formidability and success of 

our party and nothing can 

change that”, he said. 

‘World Milk Day aimed at fostering 

creativity in children' 

children coming up with 

their own concepts. 

“Children are very creative 

when it comes to recipe 

development and also in the 

multiple ways of using Peak. 

Hence, FrieslandCampina 

Wamco has provided a 

platform to encourage this 

versatility campaign which 

we have tagged 

PeCaDoMO, urging them to 

do more with Peak and 

furthermore boost the 

nutritional benefit in every 

meal with the addition of 

Peak. 

Langat said of the huge 

turnout of the children: “I 

am delighted about the 

huge turnout by the kids, 

noting that by that action, it 

has shown how much Peak 

Milk is valued.”


DIGITAL PAY EXPO: From left— Chief Digital Officer, ALAT by Wema 

Bank, Mr. Dele Adeyinka; Deputy Governor Operations, Central Bank of Nigeria, 

CBN, Mr. Adebayo Adelabu; and Managing Director, Intermarc Consulting, Mr. 

Adeyinka Adeyemi, at the Digital Pay Expo 2017 in Lagos. 

NB @ ARSENAL FC: From left (back row)— Senior Director, Supply 

Chain, Africa, Middle East and Eastern Europe, Heineken NV, Henk de Bruin; 

Finance Director, Mark Rutten; Marketing Director, Franco Maria-Maggi; Sales 

Director, Hubert Eze; Technical Director, Henk Wymenga; Human Resources 

Director, VictorFamuyibo; Logistics Director, Henk Van Rooijen, all of Nigeria 

Breweries; and President, Africa, Middle East and Eastern Europe, Heineken 

NV, Roland Pirmez. Front row: Corporate Affairs Adviser, Kufre Ekanem; 

Outgoing Managing Director, Nicolaas Vervelde; Company Secretary/ Legal 

Adviser, Uaboi Agbebaku, all of Nigerian Breweries, and Partnership Manager, 

Arsenal Football Club, Gordon Tannock, during a visit to Arsenal FC in the UK. 

WORKSHOP: From left— Former Delta State Head of Service/ resource 

person, Sir Okey Ofili; current Head of Service, Mr. Reginald Bayoko, and 

Chairman, Administrative Officers Forum/ Permanent Secretary, Government 

House, and Protocol, Mr. Eddy Ogidi-Gbegbaje, during a two-day workshop 

organised for the newly-converted admin officers, at the Government House 

Press Centre, Asaba. PHOTO: Nath Onojake. 

HONOUR: From left— Chief Executive Officer, The Oil & Gas Council, 

Iain Pitt; Executive Director, Sahara Group, Tonye Cole, and Partner, 

Streamsowers & Kohn, Chiagozie Hilary-Nwokonko, at the Africa Energy Awards 

in Paris, France, where Cole received a Lifetime Achievement Award for his 

individual role and Sahara Group’s corporate role in promoting provision of 

energy across Africa, economic growth for poverty eradication, capacity building, 

food security and access to potable water in Africa.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JUNE 16, 2017 —17 

PROFESSOR 

Yemi 

Osinbajo, currently the 

Acting President, is acquiring 

an almost heroic status in 

many circles because he is so 

polished and oozes integrity, 

erudition, competence, 

humility, courage, objectivity 

and compassion. 

The man is, in a nutshell, a 

Class Act who also has a 

Common Touch. He is an 

elitist when internationallevel 

high standards are 

called for…and a populist 

when it is necessary to come 

down to earth and sincerely 

empathise with ordinary folks. 

Last month, he amazed 

everyone by embarking on a 

foray into Garki Market, to 

find out for himself what basic 

commodities cost and interact 

with the traders. This goodnatured 

willingness to 

descend from the gold-plated 

ivory tower that most VIPs 

occupy was impressive, to put 

it mildly, and won him many 

new fans. 

Security 

reasons 

Last week, a Northern 

Muslim friend called me from 

Maiduguri to marvel at the 

fact that Osinbajo - whom he 

admiringly described as “the 

best type of Christian” - had 

taken the trouble to leave the 

cosy cocoon that is Abuja and 

fly to the embattled North- 

East to visit a camp for 

Internally Displaced Persons, 

IDPs. 

According to my friend, 

Osinbajo had been urged to 

totally avoid that part of the 

country for security reasons - 

i.e, because Boko Haram had 

just brutally attacked a local 

community - but had ignored 

the warnings and was now 

being widely hailed across 

the North as a fine gentleman 

who cares deeply about ALL 

Nigerians. 

According to my friend, 

Osinbajo has been raising 

hopes and spirits all year. 

Meanwhile, I have spoken 

to several senior Niger 

Deltans who have met 

Osinbajo whenever he has 

visited South-South states. 

He of course is an APC 

stalwart and President 

Muhammadu Buhari’s loyal 

running mate and deputy, 

From left: Acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo; Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and Governor Okezie Ikpeazu 

of Abia State during a meeting between Osinbajo and South East leaders at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja. 

Photo: Abayomi Adeshida. 

A great asset to public life 

while most of the Niger Deltan 

leaders are PDP members 

who staunchly support ex- 

President Goodluck Jonathan. 

But none of the Niger 

Deltans I’ve talked to - not 

one! - has had anything bad 

to say about Osinbajo, 

presumably because he 

possesses impeccable 

manners and has jettisoned 

“ 

partisan pettiness whenever 

Osinbajo is a 

Class Act who also 

has a Common 

Touch; he is an 

elitist…and a 

populist when it is 

necessary to come 

down to earth and 

sincerely empathise 

with ordinary folks 

he has been a guest on their 

terrain, treating his hosts with 

respect (in Port Harcourt, for 

example, he acknowledged 

the work that Governor 

Nyesom Wike was doing and 

nicknamed him “Mr. 

Projects.”) 

The Igbos with whom I’ve 

discussed Osinbajo also 

respond positively to his 

statesmanlike personality and 

respectful utterances, even if 

some of them don’t share his 

firm commitment to the One 

Nigeria “ideal”. 

When he gave the keynote 

speech during a colloquium 

to commemorate the 50th 

anniversary of Biafra, he 

pointed out that “no country 

is perfect” and that “around 

the world we have seen and 

continue to see expressions of 

intra-national discontent. 

Indeed, not many Nigerians 

seem to know that the oftquoted 

line about Nigeria 

being a ‘mere geographical 

expression’ originally applied 

to Italy.” 

He went on to poignantly 

reminisce about an Igbo 

primary school pal called 

Emeka and his Auntie Bunmi 

who had married an Igbo. The 

former and latter fled Lagos 

for the East when civil war 

hostilities commenced; and 

he never saw them again. 

My mother is Igbo and my 

late father was the Biafran 

Representative (Ojukwu’s 

ambassador) to the United 

Kingdom; and my early 

childhood was spent singing 

defiant little ditties that 

contained lines like: “We are 

Biafrans, we are Biafrans, we 

will NEVER NEVER be 

Nigerians!” 

I remember myself weeping 

copiously when Daddy came 

into my bedroom in 1970 and 

told me and my sister that we 

had lost the war. And, sure, 

I’ve gotten over the 

disappointment (!); and there 

are times when I like Nigeria 

as it is. But scepticism about 

the whole One Nigeria thing 

is my default setting when 

things go wrong. 

However, I find it hard to 

identify with Nnamdi Kanu 

and this new generation of 

Biafran activists who are so 

very different from my father 

and his colleagues. 

Ethnic 

nationalities 

Meanwhile, some of 

Osinbajo’s comments at the 

Biafra Anniversary event 

struck a chord and were real 

food for thought. For instance: 

“Today some are suggesting 

that we must go back to the 

ethnic nationalities from 

which Nigeria was formed. 

They say that secession is the 

answer to the charges of 

marginalisation. They argue 

that separation from the 

Nigerian State will ultimately 

result in successful smaller 

states. They argue eloquently, 

I might add, that Nigeria is a 

colonial contraption that 

cannot endure. This is also 

the sum and substance of the 

agitation for Biafra. The 

campaign is often bitter and 

vitriolic, and has sometimes 

degenerated to fatal violence. 

Brothers and sisters permit 

me to differ and to suggest 

that we’re greater together 

than apart…. 

“…The truth is that many, if 

not most nations of the world 

are made up of different 

peoples and cultures and 

beliefs and religions, who 

find themselves thrown 

together 

by 

circumstance….The most 

successful of the nations of the 

world are those who do not 

fall into the lure of secession. 

But who through thick and 

thin forge unity in 

diversity…[We are] presented 

with a great opportunity to 

combine all our strengths into 

a nation that is truly, to borrow 

an expression, more than the 

sum of its parts…There is a 

solid body of research that 

shows that groups that score 

high on diversity turn out to 

be more innovative than less 

diverse ones.” 

Anyway, Igbos have quite a 

few legitimate grievances and 

Osinbajo was, as usual, 

conciliatory rather than 

offensive; and thoughtprovoking 

rather than brash. 

But, though he’s a pastor, no 

mere mortal is a saint; and I 

have one reservation about 

him. I’m told that most of his 

aides are fellow Yorubas or 

members of his church 

(Redeemed). And I don’t 

approve of clannishness or 

religious bias. 

I think he should aim for a 

more inclusive workplace. 

Responses to: 

donzol2002@yahoo.co.uk 

or to 0802 747 6458 OR 0811 

675 9752 (texts only). 

PLEASE KINDLY NOTE 

THAT UNLESS YOU 

REQUEST ANONYMITY, 

YOUR COMMENTS MAY BE 

PUBLISHED, WITH YOUR 

NAMES AND CONTACT 

DETAILS ATTACHED. 

C 

M 

Y 

K

18 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 16, 2017 

While Cross River State is still 

trying to come to terms with the 

Calabar football viewing centre 

tragedy that claimed some lives, 

the capital city was recently 

caught in the negative spotlight 

again. A traffic light tiff between 

some naval officers and Police 

traffic controllers degenerated 

into loss of lives and mindless 

destruction of public property. 

The Naval officers wantonly 

flouted the red light on a road in 

the Akim area of Calabar and 

assaulted the policemen who 

attempted to stop them. The 

incident, which occurred about 

5pm on Tuesday, May 30, 2017, 

snowballed into a bloody 

encounter three hours later. A 

divisional police headquarters 

was razed, two policemen, a 

Sergeant and a Corporal, as well 

as a naval rating lost their lives 

while two others sustained 

gunshot wounds when the naval 

men struck. Two vehicles were 

Navy, Police bloody clash in Calabar 

also torched. Dangerous weapons, 

including a General Purpose 

Machine Gun (GPMG), were freely 

used. 

Both the Navy and the Police are 

Federal Government’s security 

agencies which are expected to 

cooperate in maintaining peace and 

order. Their conduct ought to reflect 

the time-honoured culture of 

discipline which the military in 

particular is known for. Besides, 

officers and men of the two 

institutions are guided by codes of 

conduct. There are official channels 

of communication for resolving 

misunderstandings where they occur. 

They are not expected to be 

associated with lawlessness of any 

kind, including the disobedience of 

traffic rules. 

Security agencies in uniform or 

plain clothes are not above the law 

and are bound to comply with traffic 

controllers on legitimate duty 

enforcing the law. Challenging their 

authority is a grave affront and we 

strongly condemn this. The unruly 

public misconduct of the two 

uniformed services is as disgraceful 

as it is unworthy of emulation by 

others. Military personnel should 

stop regarding one another as 

“inferior” as they are all deployed to 

serve specific purposes, maintain 

order and safeguard the populace. 

The Naval and Police authorities 

must investigate the circumstances 

that led to the bloody clash as the 

Director of Information, Nigerian 

Navy, Navy Captain Suleiman Jahun 

has promised. The alleged use of 

high calibre weapons against 

policemen and the prevention of firefighters 

from putting out the police 

station inferno must be thoroughly 

investigated. Such an unfortunate 

incident that claimed lives and 

property built with taxpayers’ money 

must be handled with seriousness 

to prevent future re-occurrence. 

We condemn the sporadic 

eruptions of lawlessness among the 

security and uniformed agencies, 

which appear to have become a daily 

occurrence. More must be done to 

instil discipline and professionalism 

among the armed and uniformed 

forces, and those found unfit to serve 

in these agencies should be shown 

the way out. 

By Paul Ojenagbon 

RATHER than celebration, this writer felt 

a sense of trepidation at the recent 

declaration of a whooping N71billion net 

profit posted by Dangote Cement Plc for the 

first quarter of 2017 juxtaposed with the high 

prices of cement in the market. For just three 

months,which is even more amazing when only 

a few banks in the country can boast of 

something in the neighbourhood of that 

amount for their‘annual profit’. Cement, a 

major component in building and construction 

works currently sells at about N2,800 per bag 

in the market, yet Dangote Cement Plc could 

post such a fantastic amount net profit for just 

a quarter during a recessionary period such as 

the present economy. This is despite the fact 

that their sales dropped during the period under 

review which only means their prices were 

heavily padded to attain that level of 

performance. 

It is difficult to accept any explanation that 

justifies the continued oligopolistic hold of 

Dangote Cement Plc, Lafarge Cement WAPCO 

Nigeria Plc and to a lesser extent, Bua Cement 

over the production and supply in the country. 

Accepted that cement manufacturing is a highly 

capital intensive business that cannot be left to 

every Dick and Harry company to operate, one 

finds it unacceptable that a rein of oligopoly 

could be allowed to dominate the market so 

much that the operators can determine the price 

at any moment and force it down our throats. 

At a time in the country, there were dozens of 

cement manufacturing companies which 

allowed some leverage of competiveness in the 

industry relating to pricing but virtually all the 

cement companies in the country now fall 

OPINION 

Affordable housing and cement politics 

within these three groups either by merger or 

outright acquisition. While it makes some 

business sense because of the economies of 

scale they stand to enjoy, such co-operations 

should also allow the mutual survival and 

existence of other parties especially the end user. 

Even if any other cement manufacturing 

The present oligopoly 

should not be allowed any 

longer and the regulatory 

agency should do the 

needful 

companies were to co-exist alongside these big 

three today, they will be choked out of 

competition because they do not have the 

wherewithal. 

With the national housing deficit estimated 

at about 18 million units and increasing each 

day, the situation requires urgent federal 

government attention. It is a vicious cycle that 

does no one any good because a rational 

property developer will transfer his cost of 

production to the home buyer and landlords 

will charge higher rents to recoup the costs. 

Even those who choose to build their own houses 

on their own are just as badly affected.Cement 

is a major component in building and 

construction and thus should attract the 

concern and immediate attention of the federal 

government and not be left to chance or 

corporate monopoly or oligopoly as such. 

The importance of housing in any nation 

needs no emphasis. Even the early men, 

according to history, lived in caves lit around 

with fires to keep away wild animals.A man’s 

home is his fortress, a metaphor of his survival 

from danger and the elements. A man without a 

home is a drifter, with no purposeful existence; 

he is a man very likely to be unstable in all his 

ways. He is often perceived as posing a great 

threat to the lives and property of others in the 

society. If he takes to crime, it is difficult for the 

authorities to track and apprehend him since 

he has no fixed address. Even when a young 

man or woman has been able to eke out a means 

of livelihood to gain the financial capacity to 

rent an accommodation of his own, his housing 

need is only temporarily secured to the extent of 

the tenancy period he has covenanted with his 

landlord (in most cases one year) and he is 

subject to the whims and caprices of the property 

owner. Nothing is certain, anything can happen 

from day to day as it happens on a daily basis 

especially in a soulless, rat race of a place like 

metropolitan Lagos. 

No matter how small the home, it is only when 

a man has been able to put a roof over the heads 

of his family members to shield them from the 

storms of the world, can he be said to have 

arrived. Many cultures acknowledge this. 

In several countries of the world, social and 

financial structures are put solidly in place for 

the citizens to acquire houses of their own. They 

can access mortgage opportunities and obtain 

facilities based on their ability to pay back. The 

worst scenario is for them to live in low cost 

homes provided by the local councils. 

In times past, even though it was still a tip of 

the iceberg, a lot of Nigerians had opportunities 

to own homes in low cost housing schemes built 

by the government, federal or state through 

the housing agencies which explains the 

preponderance of several government housing 

estates all over the country during that 

dispensation in the seventies and eighties. 

The situation is very different now, even when 

government agencies build, they have the same 

motives as private developments which is to 

maximise profit. Thus, strictly speaking, the 

hapless citizen is on his own as far as this matter 

is concerned. He has to grapple with a tall 

order of issues and unfortunately this is at a 

time when the naira value has been literally 

shredded. 

Can you imagine how many Nigerians are 

being denied the opportunity to build their 

own homes because of this problem? Agreed 

that the federal government has a lot on its 

hand at the moment, priority should however 

be given to this crucial one because it can lead 

to the country having more homeless citizens. 

The regulatory agency should meet with the 

cement manufacturers with a view to exerting 

some control on product pricing and arriving 

at reasonable price levels. To achieve this, the 

government should conversely work out a 

sustainable policy that will reduce cost of 

production to manufacturers. 

Tax reliefs is one such example, provision of 

the necessary infrastructure especially power 

is another as well as sustaining the ongoing 

efforts to shore up the value of the naira which 

will reduce importation costs of the foreign 

components needed for cement production. 

Whatever happens, the present oligopoly 

should not be allowed any longer and the 

regulatory agency should do the needful. 

Mr. Ojenagbon, a an estate surveyor, 

wrote from Lagos.


Cooking gas price up by 31.96% in May 

...Kerosene by 30.49% 

By Udeme Akpan, Jackline 

Oshiokameh 

THE average price for the re 

filling of a 5kg cylinder of Liquefied 

Petroleum Gas, otherwise 

known as cooking gas, increased 

by 0.75 per cent Month-on- 

Month, MoM, and 31.96 per cent 

Year-on-Year, YoY, to N2,446.57 in 

May 2017 from N2,424.38 in April 

2017. 

According to the latest National 

Bureau of Statistics’ report, states 

with the highest average price for 

the refilling of a 5kg cylinder for 

cooking gas were Gombe 

(N2,600), Akwa Ibom (N2,590) 

and Rivers (2,585.00), while states 

with the lowest average price were 

Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Ogun 

and Sokoto (N2,300), Ondo 

(N2,294.44) and Osun 

(N2,268.75). 

The report stated, “average 

price for the refilling of a 12.5kg 

cylinder for cooking gas increased 

by 2.64 per cent MoM, and by 

33.11 per cent YoY to N4,957.88 

in May 2017 from N4,830.22 in 

April 2017. States with the highest 

average price for the refilling 

of a 12.5kg cylinder for cooking 

gas were Kebbi (N5,375), Cross 

River (N5,330) and Borno (5,300). 

States with the lowest average 

price for the refilling of a 12.5kg 

cylinder were Lagos (N4, 621), 

Oyo (N4,615) and Katsina 

(N4,600).” 

Other states with the lowest 

price, according to the report, included 

Ondo and Osun with 

N2,294.44 and N2,268.75 respectively. 

The report also put the average 

price per litre paid by consumers 

for national household 

kerosene increased by 8.01 per 

cent month-on-month and by 

30.49 per cent year-on-year to 

N303.29 in May 2017 from 

CURRENCY BUYING SELLING 

US DOLLAR 

POUNDS 

EURO 

FRANC 

YEN 

CFA 

WAUA 

RENMINBI 

RIYAL 

SDR 

$125.80 + 0.25 

$2,026.00 -14.00 

$13.50 -0.12 

$46.87 -0.13 

$44.48 -0.25 

304.7 305.2 305.7 

388.0964 388.7332 389.3701 

341.3249 341.885 342.4451 

313.7679 314.2828 314.7977 

2.762 2.7665 2.771 

0. 5017 0.5117 0.5217 

421.3697 422.0611 422.7526 

44. 8172 44. 8911 44. 9651 

81.2447 81.378 81.5113 

421.461 421. 7478 422. 8442 

RAND 23.898 23.9373 23.9765 

CBN Exchange rate as at 15/06/2017 

N280.80 in April 2017. 

It indicated that states with the 

highest average price per litre of 

kerosene were Anambra 

(N334.52), Kwara (N323.81) and 

Bauchi (321.67). It stated: “States 

with the lowest average price per 

litre of kerosene were Osun 

(N273.96), Oyo (N271.15), Sokoto 

(N261.90) and Abuja (N902.00). 

Similarly, average price per gallon 

paid by consumers for kerosene 

decreased by 10.10 per cent 

month-on-month and increased by 

45.11 per cent year-on-year to 

N1,036.71 in May 2017 from 

N1,153.12 in April 2017. 

“States with the highest average 

price per gallon of kerosene were 

Adamawa (N1,212.50),, Borno 

(N1,208.33) and Sokoto 

(1,157.14). States with the lowest 

average price per litre of kerosene 

were Akwa Ibom (N920.42), 

Anambra (N915.77) and Abuja 

(N902.00).” 

The Nigerian LNG Limited 

stated that the domestic LPG price 

is based on an international price 

index plus 50 per cent of the shipping 

cost of delivering the product 

to receiving facilities in Apapa- 

Lagos. It indicated that the price 

is invoiced in naira at the prevailing 

official interbank exchange 

rates, contrary to erroneous assertions 

made in parts of the 

media. It said: “The reality of this 

is that although LPG is produced 

and consumed locally, the product, 

like crude oil, is an internationally 

traded commodity with 

an international price benchmark, 

open to global demand 

and supply pressures. 

Infrastructure deficiency, hindrance to 24 

hours port operation order –SIFAX Group 

By Godfrey Bivbere 

GROUP Executive Vice Chair 

man, SIFAX Group, Dr. 

Taiwo Afolabi, has said that infrastructure 

deficiency at the 

Nigeria’s seaports would be a hindrance 

to the recent order by the 

Acting President, Prof. 

Yemi Osinbajo, to government 

agencies to 

commence 24 hours 

port operations. 

The Sifax boss explained 

that though 

the Ease of Doing 

Business initiative by 

the government is a 

welcome development 

due to the needless 

bottlenecks encountered 

in the service delivery 

process, the 

problem of infrastructure 

deficiency should 

be urgently addressed 

to complement the executive 

order. 

Afolabi, citing the 

case of the Apapa access 

roads that have 

literally broken down 

and has been 

a source of concern for 

all stakeholders, 

stated, “Fixing the roads would 

not only aid the initiative but also 

bring relief and order to one of 

the country’s economic gateways. 

The Ease of Doing Business executive 

order is good and brilliant 

initiative to improve the customer 

experience, particularly at the 

nation’s points of entry. I want to 

commend the government for it. 

However, I want to submit that 

the initiative should be an allencompassing 

one, where other 

hindering factors, especially 

critical infrastructure, are attended 

to without delay. 

“Take for instance, the Apapa 

ports. There is no way a 

customer’s experience can be 

improved when the importers and 

exporters find it extremely 

difficult to transport their goods 

in and out of the ports because 

the roads are in a sorry state. 

Containers fall on these roads on 

a daily basis with attendant losses. 

Workers, residents and business 

owners in the area are not finding 

things easy as well. 

“My appeal to the government 

is to do a thorough review of other 

inhibiting factors to doing 

business in Nigeria and immediately 

tackle such issues with the 

urgency with which the Abuja 

airport’s faulty runway was fixed. 

Only then we will truly improve 

the customer experience in the 

country.” 

15000 farmers 

to benefit from 

WASIL, BIF 

collaboration 

By Jimoh Babatunde 

FIFTEEN thousand maize and 

soy farmers in Katsina and 

Kaduna States are set to benefit 

from a five year Business Innovation 

Facility (BIF)’s systems 

development programme in 

collaboration with the West 

African Soy Industries Limited 

(WASIL). 

The BIF is a five-year (2014- 

2019) DFID-funded market 

systems development 

programme that aims to improve 

the lives of the poor in three 

countries: Malawi, Myanmar 

and Nigeria, through the 

enhancement of maize and soy 

farmers’ productivity. 

Speaking during the signing of 

a Memorandum of 

Understanding between WASIL 

and BIF in Funtua, Katsina State, 

General Manager, Corporate 

Affairs of TGI Group, Mr. Sadiq 

Kassim, disclosed that WASIL 

was currently working with the 

Federal Ministry of Agriculture 

and Rural Development and the 

Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, 

under the Food Security 

Programme of the Federal 

Government. 

He stated: “The company has 

commenced the setting up of a 

large oil milling facility in 

Nigeria which will provide offtake 

of soybeans from out-grower 

farmers while its affiliate company, 

CHI Farms will procure 

maize for its feed milling activities 

from the out-grower farmers as 

well.WASIL is targeting to reach 

14,000 farmers in Katsina and 

1,000 farmers in Kaduna State in 

both maize and soy value chains. 

Shareholders raise concerns over 

Lafarge Africa’s financial restructuring 

By Peter Egwuatu 

A 

SECTION of sharehold 

ers group under the aegis 

of Nigerian Shareholders Renaissance 

Association, RESAN, 

has expressed concern over the 

recapitalization plans of Lafarge 

Africa Plc to raise about N140 billion 

in a Rights Issue and restructure 

its finances. 

The Board of Directors of 

Lafarge had at its 58th Annual 

General Meeting (AGM) held 

on June 7, 2017 requested shareholders 

approval of the debt restructuring 

by means of a rights 

issue, where LafargeHolcim will 

convert its debt into equity. 

A first step of the restructuring 

has been executed with a refinancing 

covered by a Hedge on 

the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign 

Exchange Fixing (NAFEX). 

The Directors stated that the 

transaction will have no impact 

on the company’s Profit and Loss 

account, adding that the intention 

was to merge United Cement, 

Calabar (UNICEM) into Lafarge 

Africa Plc. 

RESAN in a statement signed 

by its President and Secretary, 

Ambassador Olufemi Timothy 

and Mr. Raph Ogedengbe, made 

available to Vanguard said, “We 

have reasons to believe that, this 

Rights Issue if executed without 

a clause(s) and, or Memorandum 

of Understanding , MoU, that our 

company shall not contravene the 

NSE rule of listing requirement, 

and that our company shall maintain 

at least minimum 20 per cent 

public float as required by law, 

abide with it, guarantee same, 

interest, investments of retail, minority 

shareholders may be at 

Risk and in Jeopardy.”


By Theodore Opara 

PAN tasks NADDC to fast-track auto industrial devt 

MANAGING Director 

of PAN Nigeria Limited, 

Alhaji Ibrahim Boyi has 

asked the Director General of 

National Automotive Design 

and Development Council, 

NADDC, Mr. Jelani Aliyu, to 

fast-track the pace of automotive 

industrial development 

including local components 

manufacturing in Nigeria. 

Alhaji Boyi, who led the 

management team of PAN Nigeria 

on a courtesy visit to the 

newly appointed director general 

of NADDC stressed the 

urgent need for the NADDC 

boss to enforce “strict and rigorous 

implementation” of the 

Nigerian Automotive Industry 

Development Plan, NAIDP, in 

order to achieve its set goals 

of solving the transportation 

need of the citizenry. 

“We are most delighted to 

have somebody of your pedigree, 

knowledge and vast experience 

in the auto industry 

being brought to head NAD- 

DC.” 

Other areas which he wanted 

Mr. Aliyu to give necessary 

attention were the enactment 

on NAIDP into law, introduction 

of affordable vehicle finance 

scheme, development of 

cluster parks for local components 

manufacturing and prevention 

of vehicle smuggling. 

Vehicle 

smuggling 

•Mr. Jelani Aliyu, DG, NADDC, discussing with Alhaji Ibrahim Boyi, MD, PAN Nigeria, during 

a courtesy visit to new DG office in Abuja. 

parts; promote drive for increased 

local content and invest 

continuously on manpowcialised 

products; upgrade and 

expand network of aftersales 

services for enhanced and 

The rest are, imposition of 

high levy on imported used 

vehicles, stable macro-economic 

environment, migration 

of assembly operations from 

SKD to CKD, enforcement of 

uniform standards and introduction 

of additional incentives 

to promote local production. 

Alhaji Boyi described NAIDP 

as a “life-line” for all auto assembly 

plants in Nigeria. 

“Honestly, we would not have 

been able to restart our factory 

operations if not for the auto 

policy that created a new environment 

and tariff measures 

to promote local manufacturing, 

greater prospects for local 

components and parts manufacturing, 

significant change 

in the competitive environment 

that made locally assembled 

vehicles more competitive 

and more affordable in the 

market space,” he said. 

Speaking on the growth plan 

on PAN, he stated that the 

company would rebuild its industrial 

and commercial structures 

and restore its status as 

the nation’s leading automotive 

plant; rapidly grow commercial 

vehicle business 

through local production of 

vehicles and adoption of spestandardised 

products support 

across Nigeria; ensure 

steady availability of genuine 

Ford committed to growing Nigeria auto industry 

•Assembles 500 Ranger Pickup in Lagos 

MORE THAN 500 units of 

the all-new Ford Ranger 

have been assembled by Coscharis 

Motors at the Ford plant 

in Lagos in the last one year. This 

was disclosed by Mr. Babarinde 

Abiona, Group General Manager, 

Marketing and Corporate 

Communication, Coscharis 

Group, during the just concluded 

Journalist Driving skill training 

by Ford Motors,in Lagos. 

Speaking during the training, 

Mr. Babarinde noted that a huge 

investment has already been 

made by the group to produce 

Ford vehicles in their Awoyaya 

Lagos plant. He explained that 

all the vehicles produced at the 

plant were according to Ford 

standard worldwide. 

He pointed out that both Ford 

and Coscharis are committed to 

growing the automotive industry 

in Nigeria, and this type of 

training form a major part of the 

brand’s work in Nigeria. We are 

particularly happy that we can 

collaborate with Nigeria Auto 

Journalits Association, NAJA, on 

an important project such as this 

aspect of improving road safety. 

According to him,“road safety 

is a topic of global concern and 

particularly important here in 

Nigeria where our deaths and injuries 

from motor vehicles accidents 

are far too high. Motor journalists 

can play a vital role in educating 

Nigerian consumers on 

all things motoring but most importantly 

on road safety and telling 

them about vehicle features 

that support safety. We hope that 

you all share the knowledge you 

learn today with your readers. 

Besides the general training on 

distracted driving we have incorporated 

a 4x4 trail requiring the 

use of four-wheel drive, as well 

as a special presentation on child 

safety in the car. 

You will have the opportunity 

to learn about the features that 

the Ford Ranger offers such as 

safety, departure angles, brake 

distance on gravel and anti-lock 

braking system (ABS) and how 

to use other four-wheel drive 

functions such as traction control, 

locking differential and the drive 

train. 

Drinking and driving will be 

under the spotlight with the use 

of the drunk-driving goggles. 

These goggles imitate a drunk 

driver and simulate how alcohol 

actually impairs driving skills. 

The Ford Ranger is our flagship 

nameplate here in Nigeria, locally 

assembled and the current 

2016 NAJA ‘Pick up of the year’, 

we hope you people take the opportunity 

to drive in a Ranger. 

We will also have other nameplates 

to drive as part of the DSFL 

er development through technical, 

vocational and entrepreneurial 

trainings. 

In his response, the NADDC 

director general, assured the 

PAN management team of his 

resolve to pursue with vigour 

the successful implementation 

of NAIDP for the benefit of all 

Nigerians and with the active 

involvement of all relevant industry 

stakeholders. He emphasized 

that NADDC would 

continue to work very closely 

with PAN Nigeria and assured 

the stakeholders of his commitment 

to team up with them in 

moving the economy of Nigeria 

to great heights. 

It should be recalled that 

NADDC had declared a renewed 

commitment to 

strengthen the implementation 

of the Nigerian Automotive 

Industry Development Plan 

(NAIDP) in order to make 

serve the best interest of all 

Nigerians. This was made 

known by the NADDC boss 

when he received stakeholders 

in the auto sector recently. 

training including the Focus, 

Figo amongst others. 

Ford, through its sole distributor 

Coscharis Motors, offers Nigerians 

a range of SUVs, including 

the new Edge and popular 

Explorer, as well as the wellequipped 

Ranger and F150 pickup 

trucks and sedans such as the 

Taurus, some on display for your 

delight to view. We would like to 

applaud NAJA for taking on this 

annual training initiative. It’s an 

excellent opportunity for the local 

automotive industry as it 

brings like-minded people together. 

•L-R: Motebang Mokoena, Ford - DSFL Trainer; Abiona Babarinde, General Manager Marketing 

& Corporate Communications, Coscharis Group; Derek Kirkby, DSFL, Director; and Felix 

Mahan of Coscharis Group, during the Ford Driving Skill for Life Training for Auto Journalists 

in Nigeria held in Lagos.


By Theodore Opara 

Experts seek stricter enforcement of road safety rules, 

bailout for auto firms at NAJA forum 

TO successfully curtail 

injuries, loss of lives and 

properties associated with road 

accidents in Nigeria, road 

safety experts have canvassed 

stricter enforcement of laid 

down rules and regulations. 

Speaking at the 2017 Nigeria 

Auto Journalists Association 

(NAJA) annual training workshop 

in Lagos, the experts 

challenged all Nigerians to 

contribute towards safer road 

culture across the country. 

In his presentation, the special 

guest of honour, Corps 

Marshal and Chief Executive 

Officer of Federal Road Safety 

Corps (FRSC), Dr Boboye 

Oyeyemi, described road accidents 

as one of the major causes 

of deaths worldwide. 

Dr. Oyeyemi, who was represented 

by the Assistant Corps 

Marshal and the Zonal Commanding 

Officer, Lagos and 

Ogun, Sheu Zaki, challenged 

motorist and members of the 

public to contribute to safer 

road culture by adhering to 

existing rules. 

He explained that FRSC’s 

response was 15 minutes depending 

on the distance, adding 

that the agency successfully 

rescued 401,000 accident 

victims between 2011 and 

2016. 

Speaking in a similar vein, 

road safety expert and founder, 

Safety Beyond Borders, Mr. 

Patrick Adenusi, called for 

more resources to support 

FRSC activities. According to 

him, FRSC was under funded 

and that this has hindered their 

ability to deliver and carry out 

their duty of saving lives on our 

roads. 

Adenusi advises FRSC and 

other relevant agencies to partner 

Nigeria Postal Services as 

part of measures to ease challenges 

associated with drivers 

licence renewal in the country, 

stressing, “There is no need to 

go to FRSC for licence renewal. 

Since the data is with them, 

applicants should pay and fill 

KIA Motors has concluded plans 

to introduce its new B-Segment 

Crossover in the second half of 2017. 

Kia’s Crossover will be named ‘Stonic’ 

and will be the most customisable 

Kia ever. An eye-catching and confident 

compact crossover with true European 

design flair, the Stonic is inspired 

by the form and function of larger 

Kia SUVs. 

The name ‘Stonic’ combines ‘Speedy’ 

and ‘Tonic’, which refers to the first and 

last note in the musical scale. Thus, 

‘Stonic’ suggests that the vehicle is 

agile and offers something new and 

fresh in the compact SUV segment. 

A sweeping roofline and uniquely 

designed roof rack add a sporty look 

relevant information online. On 

its part, FRSC should send the 

processed licence through 

NIPOST”. 

Meanwhile, Oyeyemi has 

explained that the price for 

three years duration driver’s 

Thread softly on psychiatric test for traffic offenders, FRSC told 

MR. Patrick Adenusi, a 

road safety crusader, and 

Dr. Oscar Odibo, automotive consultant 

and senior lecturer at Covenant 

University have called on 

the Federal Road Safety Corps, 

FRSC, to thread softly with its recent 

pronouncement to send traffic 

offender to Psychiatric test as 

from July 1, 2017. The experts who 

reacted to FRSC recent ultimatum 

warned that Corps should use 

advocacy rather than punitive 

measures in tackling the traffic 

problems on our roads. 

According to Mr. Adenusi, who 

is also the founder of Safety Beyond 

Boarders, “As good as the 

pronouncement sounds, they 

have forgotten that in other climes, 

they have road signs that caution 

on the dangers and consequences 

of dangerous driving and traffic 

offences. Yes, see these signs 

are boldly written, ‘drive now, text 

later,” ‘use of phones while driving 

is prohibited.” But in Nigeria, 

there are no such signages. 

“I agree Nigerians don’t know 

how to drive but the signages are 

not there. I am in support of sending 

people who drive against traffic 

to psychiatric test as well as 

people who engage in dangerous 

driving. I agree Nigerians 

don’t know how to drive but there 

are no signages on our roads too.” 

He, however, urged the FRSC 

to clarify what the law says on use 

of phone while driving. “Is the law 

saying, people can use handsfree 

or not? But the two can cause 

distraction because when you are 

talking, your attention is divided.” 

He also urged them to extend 

their sanctions on other Nigerians 

who use phones while walking 

on the road. The same distri- 

Kia targets more market share with new 

Stonic Crossover 

bution, a driver encounters is the 

same with those who are walking 

and using the phone on the road. 

He recalled that the FRSC is always 

coming up with pronouncements 

of this nature but would 

abandon them midway. 

One of the challenges is that 

they will come up with something 

and in the next few months they 

will drop it. “The moment someone 

takes them to court, they will 

jettison the idea like in the case 

of number plate which we now 

have three categories, the helmet 

issue, etc.” Although, he said the 

FRSC is underfunded, he warned 

that they should do more of advocacy. 

In his response, Dr. Odibo noted. 

“It is looking like the way to 

go. But, it seems they have abandoned 

what they were known for 

in the past. They need to upgrade 

their information 

dissemination. 

Back in the 

day they use to 

run campaign 

and carry people 

along instead 

of coming 

up with something 

they can’t 

execute. They 

will make 

money out of 

it. Instead of 

making punitive 

pronouncements, 

they should 

make it an advocacy 

and 

carry the society 

alone. 

They can apply 

society 

licence remains N6,350. He 

said: “The official rate of driver’s 

licence as set by the Joint 

Tax Board (JTB) is N6,350. People 

should endeavour to fight 

for their rights.” 

Vice-Chancellor, Caleb Unito 

the vehicle. The unique tail lamp 

graphics amplify Stonic’s young and 

futuristic appearance. The car blends 

sharp horizontal feature lines with softer 

sculpted surfaces, and brings compact 

dimensions and a low centre of 

gravity to the class. 

The European-designed cabin echoes 

the appearance of the exterior, with 

straight lines, smooth surfaces and geometric 

design forms. The Stonic’s interior 

places technology and ergonomics 

at its heart, with smart packaging 

maximising space for all occupants, 

and a ‘floating’ HMI (human-machine 

interface) seamlessly blending smartphone 

access with the car’s many functions. 

friendly advocacy.” 

He further argued that before 

you send someone to psychiatric 

hospital, you must 

have your evidence otherwise, 

the agency could be sued. The 

cameras should be able to 

pick when the person was 

making the call, otherwise it 

would be difficult to prove. It 

should be recalled that the 

Federal Road Safety Corps 

(FRSC) said that it will resume 

enforcement of psychiatric 

tests on traffic law offenders 

in the country with effect from 

July 1. 

According to Bisi Kazeem, 

FRSC ‘s Corps Public Education 

Officer, in a press statement 

in Abuja, Corps Marshal, 

Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, stated 

this at the opening of a fiveday 

training programme for 22 

versity, Prof. Diji Aina, in his 

paper on Political Economy of 

Automotive Crisis, emphasised 

the need to give adequate priority 

to the sector. 

Represented by Director, Academic 

planning of Caleb University, 

Dr O. Ayorinde, Prof. 

Diji called on the Federal Government 

to grant bailout to auto 

assembly plants in the country. 

Also speaking at the event, 

Coscharis group general manager 

in charge of Marketing 

and Corporate Communications, 

Abiona Babarinde, said 

the company was delighted to 

be part of the annual even now 

in its second edition. 

FRSC officials on traffic safety 

for non-motorised transportation 

(NMT) in Abuja. 

Oyeyemi said the test would focus 

on four areas of violations 

namely, use of phone while driving, 

traffic light and route violations 

as well as dangerous driving. 

The move, according to him, is 

necessitated by continued violations 

in the identified four areas 

despite efforts by the Corps to 

change the behaviour of motorists 

through education and enforcement. 

“We are worried about 

the continuous use of phone while 

driving, traffic light violations, 

route violations and dangerous 

driving. We will give them full 

directives to resume the referral 

of all these class of offenders to 

various government hospitals for 

check of their mental state.”


AMAA 2017: Our plans, our 

expectations 

AS countdown to this year’s 

edition of the prestigious 

Africa Movie Academy Award, 

AMAA, begins, founder of the 

body, Peace Anyiam-Osigwe has 

revealed plans by the organizers 

to host a free screening of the 

flicks nominated in the Best 

Movie category. The screening 

of the movies which will last for 

three days, will take place at Terra 

Kulture, in Victoria Island, Lagos. 

Peace who disclosed this while 

in a chat with journalists in 

Lagos, said, “This year, we are 

planning to show all the movies 

nominated in the Best Movie 

category at Terra Kulture so that 

people can 

relate with 

these movies 

and see why 

they are in that 

•Peace 

•Phyno 

•Pia 

category.” 

Movie short-listed in the best 

film category include, “The Last 

of Us”, “A Mile in my Shoes”, 

“76”, “Vaya”, “93 Days”, 

“Queen of Katwe”, “Felicite”, 

“Wulu and Call me Thief.” 

“This year, we are going to have 

one of the biggest events 

because of the kind of films that 

have been nominated and 

because of the people that are 

likely to come. It’s not 

something we can do alone 

because some of these people 

want the government or tourism 

guys to show that they in a way 

committed to this because of the 

security issues,” she said. 

“Media are coming in from 

everywhere because of the 

kind of movies that have 

been nominated. Even 

Lagos State needs to 

understand that AMAA is for 

them that this is a way to show 

what we have to the world. I 

want to pass a message to 

states this year, if you are 

going to host AMAA, then 

understand what it is for 

your state, make sure 

you can show them 

places with potential 

for shooting a movie 

and other tourist 

attractions.” This 

year’s AMAA is 

scheduled to 

hold 

Saturday, 

July 15, at 

t h e 

National 

Theatre 

complex, 

Iganmu, 

Lagos. 

on 

Unending search for the owner of 

‘I’m a Fan’ song 

By Juliet Ebirim 

ACOUPLE of weeks ago, news broke about 

the alleged theft of the single, “I’m A Fan” by 

rising American pop star, Pia Mia. The song, released 

on May 26, 2017, featured on Phyno’s most recent 

album, “The Playmaker.” It featured Jeremih under 

Interscope. 

However, torrents of reactions have since followed 

the alleged theft on social media with many observing 

that there are striking similarities between the two 

songs, in terms of the beat, chorus, hook and other 

visible elements. Last Friday, songwriter, T Cole, to 

whom the credits of “I’m A Fan” originally belonged 

to, tweeted that only Pia Mia has the authorised version 

of the song. 

“I wrote the original demo of “I’m A Fan” and pitched 

I have been stereotyped in 

movies, says Mary Uranta 

•as she stars in ‘Sandcastle’ 

By Rotimi Agbana 

SULTRY actress and CEO of 50th Film Academy, 

Mary Uranta, was happy beyond words 

recently as she starred in Sylvia Edem’s new movie, 

“Sandcastle.” 

Expressing her joy, beautiful Uranta said, “I was 

very excited when I got the script of ‘Sandcastle’ 

from Sylvia because Nollywood producers 

like to stereotype people a lot. This movie 

will give people a chance to see the 

other side of me. I’m versatile but I have 

been stereotyped. So for me, I want 

people to come out and see this movie 

because it lends a voice to the 

physically challenged.” 

The movie, which Uranta’s 50th Film 

Academy is producing in collaboration 

with actress, Sylvia Edem, makes case 

for the physically challenged and less 

privileged people in the society. The 

advocacy movie which is scheduled to 

premiere on July 9, 2017, stars awardwinning 

actors; Wale Ojo, Charles 

Okocha, Shirley Igwe, Mary 

Uranta, Sylvia 

Edem, Bassey 

Okon Bassey, and 

others. 

Directed by 

Edward Ukah, 

‘Sandcastle’ lends a voice to the plight of the 

physically challenged in the society. Speaking on 

t h e movie, Sylvia Edem said; “We plan 

t o take this movie to every state in 

•Patrick Doyle 

VETERAN actor and ace 

broadcaster, Patrick Doyle, has 

frowned at Davido’s hit song, 

ÏF”which is currently ruling the 

airwaves, saying ‘the song is 

causing a serious harm to the 

Nigerian youths.’ 

Speaking on HipTV about 

entertainment and their impacts 

on Nigerian youths, the veteran 

it to various artists. I worked with Pia Mia and Jeremih 

on the track and their song is the only version 

authorized,” he revealed. T Cole has refuted any 

claims that Phyno originally owned the song “I’m A 

Fan”, stating that he actually pitched the demo to 

various artists. 

Meanwhile, firing back, Nigerian rap star, Monday, 

posted receipts of his chat with T Cole to set 

the record straight. As a matter of fact, Phyno retorted 

with screenshots of his WhatsApp chat with T 

Cole which implies the songwriter knew about the 

song which is contained in Phyno’s ‘The Playmaker’ 

album. 

The rap star released his version of the ‘disputed 

song’ in November, 2016 while Pia Mia dropped 

hers in May, 2017. Now, the question on the lips of 

many is, who is the original owner of ‘I’m A Fan’? 

•Uranta 

Nigeria because it’s not just a movie, but one that 

rekindles hope. Through this movie, the physically 

challenged needs to know that they are not different 

from any other persons.” 

Davido’s ‘IF’ song causing harm to the 

Nigerian youths, says Patrick Doyle 

actor faulted Davido’s “30 billion” slogan 

from his “IF” song. 

According to him, most people don’t 

understand that money doesn’t come 

easily and might do anything just to get 

such money after listening to the song. 

“Patrick Doyle faults thirty billion lyrics, 

saying it’s causing harm to the youths,” 

HipTV tweeted on its official Twitter 

handle.


House Committee commends 

INTELS, pledges support 

By Godwin Oritse 

THE House of Repre 

sentatives Ad-hoc 

Committee on Shell Petroleum 

Development 

Company (SPDC) Relocation 

has commended 

the management of 

INTELS Nigeria Limited 

for building and sustaining 

high standards in its 

operations. 

Chairman of the House 

Ad-hoc Committee, Hon 

Ibrahim Isiaka, who led 

12 other members of the 

Committee on a tour of 

INTEL’s facility at the 

Onne Free Zone in Rivers 

State, said he was 

impressed with what he 

saw. 

Commenting on the 

pace of infrastructure development 

and equipment 

acquisitions, he 

stated: “I am highly impressed 

with the facility 

on ground, the newly 

acquired Big 

Mama Crane, the 

mother of all cranes you 

have, the lifting operations; 

so all we need do 

is to gain back the confidence 

in the oil and gas 

industry in Nigeria so 

that all these idle vessels, 

idle hands, idle facilities 

will become operational 

again and people will 

have one or two things to 

do.” Hon. Isiaka said the 

Ad-hoc Committee was 

set up to prevent the relocation 

of SPDC from 

Rivers State because of 

the potential negative 

impact such move could 

have on the Niger Delta 

region and on the national 

economy. 

“I can assure you that 

with the confidence we 

have gained back from 

Shell and those that were 

gained from other 

stakeholders, by the grace 

of God, we should not be 

talking about any major 

oil company leaving Rivers 

State. The consequences 

are grave; they 

are high. The implication 

is there, so no one should 

think about it,’’ he said. 

While conducting the 

lawmakers round the expansive 

facility at the 

Onne Free Zone, Head of 

Administration and General 

Services of INTELS 

Nigeria Limited, Mr. 

Chibuisi Onyebueke, 

said the oil and gas logistics 

giant has developed 

a “One-Stop-Shop” 

concept to enable it provide 

top class logistics 

services to industry operators. 

He said the Onne Free 

Zone, which was developed 

by INTELS, provides 

a wide range of 

services needed for all 

drill and exploration 

projects in the oil and gas 

industry in sub-Sahara 

Africa. These services, according 

to him, include 

pipe coating and modifications, 

sub-sea installations, 

logistics, accommodation, 

catering, helipad 

and a proposed airstrip. 

THE Director Gener 

al of the Nigerian 

Maritime Administration 

and Safety Agency (NI- 

MASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside 

has said the ongoing 

construction of the 

multi-billion dollar Egina 

Floating Production Storage 

and Offloading 

(FPSO) project will increase 

the knowledge 

base of NIMASA as a 

safety Administrator and 

enhance its regulatory 

capacity. 

Peterside who made this 

known during a meeting 

with the Executive Vice 

President of Samsung, 

Mr Younsang Won, Representatives 

of Total Nigeria 

and the Vice President 

in charge of Egina 

project, Yongho 

MEETING: NPA Managing Director, Hadiza Bala 

Usman (right); Comptroller General of Customs, Col. 

Hameed Ali (retd.) during the stakeholders meeting on 

the implementation of the Executive Order of the Federal 

Government on Port Operation at NPA, Western Ports in 

Apapa, Lagos. 

Egina FPSO set to arrive 

Nigeria in August 

…NIMASA boss commends 

Samsung, Total 

By Godwin Oritse & 

Godfrey Bivbere 


company operates with 

the highest global safety 

and security standards 

obtainable in the industry. 

He said all INTELS’ 

facilities are fully compliant 

with provisions of the 

International Ship and 

Port Facility Security 

Code (ISPS Code) of the 

International Maritime 

Organisation (IMO). 

INTELS, he said, has 

an edge over other oil 

and gas free zones on the 

African continent because 

of its wealth of experience 

that spans over 

three decades, proximity 

to concessioned blocks 

for oil and gas exploration, 

strategic location to 

serve as a regional hub 

and its highly trained 

and skilled workforce. 

He said Onne is the 

only port in the country 

capable of providing series 

of oil and gas logistics 

service all at one 

place. He listed the services 

to include clearing 

and forwarding, drilling 

support, support vessels 

and working boats, tubular 

stocking and machine 

shop, pipe coating, cement 

and drilling fluids 

services, wellhead and 

subsea equipment, environmental 

services, dry 

dock/ship builders, machinery 

and catering 

services, among others. 

According to him, 

INTELS implements the 

most reputable international 

standards such as 

ISO 9001, ISO 14001, 

OHSAS 18001 and ABS 

Quality, which are unmatched 

in the maritime 

and oil and gas industries. 

Mr. Onyebueke also 

told the visiting lawmakers 

that INTELS Nigeria 

Limited is fully committed 

to maximizing the use 

of Nigerian human resources, 

materials, equipment 

and services in its 

operations without compromising 

the company’s 

values, quality, health, 

safety and environmental 

standards. 

He said INTELS has 

continued to enhance the 

participation of Nigerian 

businesses and local contractors 

in its operations 

in compliance with the 

Nigerian Oil & Gas Industry 

Content Development 

Act 2010.


PROPOSED TOURISM BILL: 

Tourism stakeholders take on NIHOTOUR 

By Jimoh Babatunde 

STAKEHOLDERS in the 

tourism industry rose in 

unison for the first time in 

a long time to express reservation 

on a proposed bill of the National 


Tourism (NIHOTOURS), 

presently before the National 

Assembly that seeks to confer on 

the institute the sole authority to 

regulate the industry. 

The ‘Bill for an Act to Provide for 

the Establishment of the National 


Tourism for Training of Personnel 

and Regulation of Professional 

Personnel Practices and Services 

of Hospitality and Tourism 

Activities in Nigeria and other 

related matters,’ seeks to 

effectively extend the control of the 

institute in industry practice. 

The public hearing of the bill 

sent to NASS by the National 


Tourism (NIHOTOUR) held 

yesterday in Abuja continued to 

generate contempt within the 

tourism industry as stakeholders 

flay the move by NIHOTOURS to 

establish the institute as 

regulatory and registration body 

for tourism establishments across 

the country. 

Leading the onslaught is the 

Nigerian Tourism Development 

Corporation (NTDC) that gave 

birth to the institute in 1999. 

The NTDC Director-General, Mr 

Folorunsho Folarin-Coker, 

disclosed that NIHOTOUR would 

be going beyond the mandate for 

which it was established if the bill 

is passed into law by NASS. 

He said that NIHOTOUR was 

established, principally, as a 

training institute for personnel 

and stakeholders in the tourism 

and hospitality industry. 

“The bill will be giving 

NIHOTOUR the position of both 

a trainer and a regulator of 

everything relating to tourism; 

thereby disregarding the legality 

of other parastatal agencies.’’ 

Folarin-Coker said that the 

country’s tertiary institutions 

should be allowed to establish 

departments that would be 

training personnel in tourism. 

He said that encouraging 

several tertiary institutions to be 

part of it would enhance the ease 

of doing business as enunciated 

by Acting President Yemi 

Osinbajo recently. 

“It’s time for change and we all 

must embrace change,’’ Folarin- 

Coker said. 

Former chairman of the Tourism 

Maste Plan Committee, Dr. 

Franklin Adejuwon that described 

the institute as a lame institution 

operating like a ship without 

rudder, said NIHOTOUR is an 

institution which should have 

been headed by a qualified 

educationist, but not so now. 

“Ministry of education should 

step in and put that establishment 

right, it is an institution for 

learning , for developing cadres 

and not a regulatory institution . 

We should stop mocking 

ourselves within the committee of 

nations.” 

He wonders if the institution is 

that of learning or a regulatory 

institution competing with the 

Federal Ministry of Education or 

even NTDC which ab initio was 

the parent institution to nihotour.” 

Adejuwon noted that when the 

institute was set up by the United 

Nations Development Programme 

(UNDP) and the International 

Labour Organisation, “it was 

established as a training ground 

for different levels of cadres in 

tourism, travels and hospitality 

industry in Nigeria and West 

Africa sub region.” 

The one time minister of State 

for Agriculture said parallel 

institutions in the world initiated 

by ILO /UNDP in other sub 

regions of the world like Utali 

college, Kenya has delivered in 

their mandates, but regretted 

NIHOTOUR has failed to deliver, 

instead it is seeking for more 

power. 

“Have they checked the 

operational status of such 

institutions vis-a-vis the proposed 

bill and has anyone gone beyond 

the limits for which they were 

established in any country? I will 

answer NO 

What now makes Nigeria 

different? Nihotour is a lame 

institution operating like a ship 

without rudder.” 

The tourism writers under the 

aegis of the Association of 

Nigerian Journalists and Editors 

of Tourism (ANJET), who joined 

other stakeholders in condeming 

the proposed bill, said ‘Nihotour 

has completely gone beyond its 

brief and what is expected of it’ 

The body while describing the 

proposed bill as ‘death knell of 

hospitality and tourism.’, 

maintained that the proposed bill 

further compounds the precarious 

situation of tourism regulation in 

the country, as the agency itself 

should rather be seeking to grow 

its capacity in the field of training 

of industry practitioners. 

“If it is a training institute then 

it should restrict itself to that 

regardless of the NOC/NOS/ 

NBTE provisions. What it is 

seeking to be with the full 

provisions of this bill is become 

omnibus body and ombudsman of 

tourism, which shouldn’t be. 

“If the bill is allowed to scale 

through, what then becomes the 

function of the NTDC and other 

agencies in the Culture, Tourism 

and Information Ministry, and by 

implication the value chain of 

tourism and other training 

institutions in the country?” 

ANJET said “For instance, under 

the ‘Powers of the Institute,’ the 

institute wants to ‘set conditions 

and standards for institutions or 

organizations offering courses in 

hotel, catering, travel and tourism 

management or skill in Nigeria.’ 

This, ANJET believes this 

segment is ‘as ambiguous as it is 

conflicting,’ considering that other 

agencies also perform the same 

function, just there is a vast divide 

separating all four sub-sectors of 

tourism practice, as well as its 

practitioners. 

Similarly, a hospitality expert 

and scholar, Dr Wasiu Babalola 

called for the outright rejection of 

the proposed NIHOTOUR bill by 

the National Assembly. 

The outgoing Managing 

Director - Africa, Swiss 

International Hotels and 

The Director General , Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) , Mr. Folorunsho Coker 

flanked by the President, Hotel & Personal Services Employers’ Association of Nigeria (HOPESEA) , 

Ugbor Vincent (Right); Member, HOPESEA, Ebi Seimodei (2nd Right); Executive Secretary, HOPESEA, 

Adeniyi Ologun(3rd Right) and Member, HOPESEA, Omorinsola Sofola (Left); Member, HOPESEA, 

Obinna Ijoma during a courtesy visit to the Director General by HOPESEA on collaboration and partnership 

for sustainable tourism development held at the corporate headquarters of the corporation in Abuja 

NCAC to partner traditional rulers on cultural revival — Runsewe 

General, National Council for Arts and 

Culture (NCAC), Otunba Segun Runsewe 

has assured that Nigerian traditional rulers 

as custodians of Nigerian tradition, history and 

culture will play prominent role in the strategic for 

the revival of Nigerian culture under his watch. 

Runsewe stated that NCAC believes in the enduring 

capacity of Nigerian traditional rulers to help change 

the present downturn and nose diving of Nigerian 

cultural and moral values particularly among the 

youths, regarded as leaders of tomorrow. 

Addressing the mammoth crowd at the closing 

ceremony of the Nzem Berom festival at Rwang Pam 

Township Stadium, Jos recently, Runsewe noted that 

there are no denying the impact of effectual capacity 

of our traditional rulers to help arrest the growing 

incidence of crime, and other communal dislocations, 

hence NCAC’s determined efforts to make the royal 

fathers as central figures to revive the love of Nigeria’s 

culture and arts. 

“It is my candid opinion that our royal fathers 

are key to any government effort to relaunch our 

culture and traditional value system to the front 

burner of national economic and political 

development, particularly at this time when the 

government is determined to make our way of 

life as key economic issue. “ Runsewe 

explained”. 

The NCAC DG said that change in Nigeria 

cultural narratives must begin with the 

custodians of our tradition and culture whose 

grass-root cultural outreach cannot be over 

emphasized. He commended Plateau state 

governor, Simon Lalong, Gbong Gwon Jos, Da 

Jacob Buba and all the traditional rulers and 

people of Plateau state for restoring peace to the 

state without which there would not be any 

meaningful socio-economic and political 

development in the land noted for its temperate 

weather and beautiful landscapes. 

incumbent Honorary Secretary, 

Institute of Hospitality UK in 

Nigeria said: “The bill should be 

rejected for the agency aiming 

beyond its mandate. Why should 

it try to define who a professional 

is? 

“When did government starts 

deciding who should be president 

/chairman of council of 

professional bodies? Why should 

the agency want to take over the 

powers of NUC and NBTE? The 

proposers of the bill are surely ill 

informed.” 

Hoteliers 

call for tourism 

devt. fund 

The President of the Hotel & 

Personal Services 

Employers’ Association of Nigeria 

(HOPESEA), Mr. Ugbor Vincent, 

has called for the establishment of 

Tourism Development Fund. 

He said such fund will help 

enhance the standards of facilities 

and services obtainable from 

tourism companies in the country. 

Speaking during a visit to the 

Nigerian Tourism Development 

Corporation’s headquarters in 

Abuja recently, Ugbor said there 

is need for a little direct plough 

back from tourism and hospitality 

taxes and fees paid by his 

members . 

“While governments are not 

obliged to utilize the proceeds 

from the taxes and fees mainly on 

the sector, making a reasonable 

part of them to be of direct benefit 

to employers and employees in 

the sector will be a morale boosters 

to the payers” 

“A case is the establishment of 

Tourism Development Fund which 

will provide soft loans through 

Bank of Industry for renovation 

and refurbishment for members 

requiring upgrading or to meet 

short term financial needs. Such 

loans will help enhance standards 

of facilities and services 

obtainable from our tourism 

companies”, he said. 

The HOPESEA President also 

requested for a quick intervention 

in the provision and maintenance 

of Street Lights, Street Cameras 

and Improvement in road network. 

“This will not only reduce crime 

rate but boost night-life and 

promote leisure and tourism in the 

Federal Capital Territory which is 

your direct domain”, he stated. 

Responding , the Director 

General of the Nigerian Tourism 

Development Corporation 

(NTDC), Mr. Folorunsho Coker, 

said “We at NTDC are ever ready, 

not only to market and promote 

tourists’ sites but also to 

restructure and reposition our 

tourism industry.” 

He added that there is need to 

create all-inclusive holidays, 

business or religious trip that will 

be easily accessible for tourists in 

the country to develop domestic 

tourism. 

The NTDC boss sought for a 

strategic working partnership 

between the HOPESEA and 

NTDC as the Corporation is set to 

grade hotels according to 

international standards as is in 

other parts of the world.

EDITED BY EMEKA AGINAM 

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 16, 2017 —25 

25 

Jonathan wasn’t competent to continue as 

president — Oshiomhole 

Hon Blessing Idedemise 

Like it or leave it, Oshiomhole 

has said the bitter truth. 

Mikapower 

APC is competent in creating 

hunger, unemployment, 

herdsmen killing, bad 

economy, and ethnic tension, 

among others. Any 

government that places food on 

the table of its citizens and 

invest in human capacity is 

competent, therefore, former 

President Jonathan was 

competent. 

Emma-Mabe yanze! 

mikapower 

There are no moral grounds 

for Mr Oshiomhole to talk 

about competence and better 

government service delivery! A 

man that publicly told a 

Nigerian citizen to go and die 

against all odds as a sitting 

governor of Edo State! Is that 

what you call competence? Or 

were social amenities present 

as a result of his hard work and 

•Jonathan and Oshiomhle 

policies in government in time 

time as governor? 

Emma Peters Ezekiel 

Is either you are not in 

Nigeria or you lacked 

information or you are biased. 

We are yet to see performance 

of APC before we can compare 

with the past government. For 

now, there has never been a 

failed government like APC. 

Selemo eno_Obong 

Former President Jonathan 

should come back. I love that 

man. If I were a lady I would 

have approached him for 

relationship. He is technical. 

•Ndigbo 

Ebuka Waxy Oguno 

This is not the governor’s 

voice, especially the Yoruba 

part, the conversation shows 

the acclaimed Kunle has very 

poor knowledge of what the 

other Hausa man is saying, 

even his acclaimed Yoruba 

plans. The hatred is so 

enormous that it can only turn 

to blessing. Check your history. 

Citizens and settlers: Between a stay-at-home and 

a go-back-home order 

Balarabe Musa Lara 

Igbo must go by our deadline. 

Solomon Uwakwe Onuegbu 

There is inherent danger in 

the latter and needs to be taken 

more serious. The second was 

more unfriendly and threat to 

lives and properties. The 

second was entirely opposite of 

what the first is not. 

Chym 

Very important to note, those 

who we are better off that will 

make mouth against us. Our 

unity is their problem. Only one 

show of unity among us the 

camp of our enemies is on fire 

and they are now telling us to 

carry our trouble and go. Many 

things are yet to come. 

ObioraSEven 

We have asked our people in 

the north to return. 

Abbeyboy 

It is important to make clear 

that the order to stay at home 

affected everyone resident in 

Eastern Nigeria, including 

Nigerians and foreigners who 

do not support Biafra or 

identify as Biafrans. 

Brown 

•Osinbajo meets leaders of thought from the North 

Plot on Igbos: Shettima, 

Amosun deny leaked audio 

Another write up by a Yoruba. 

They will never write anything 

without ending it with 

condemnation against Igbos. 

Holmes 

These are just stories 

from columnists, by 

October 1, the fate of 

Nigeria will be 

decided. Period. 

Remember none should 

be caught in the web 

because a word is 

enough 

New Nigerian 

Well reasoned 

argument. Too many 

people have been using 

the Biafra issue as a 

political weapon. The 

northern youths have 

just rendered it 

impotent by taking the 

“agitation” out of the 

Biafran dream - by 

totally supporting or 

even accelerating it. 

Soaga Ibrahim Abiodun 

Anyone who knows Ibikunle 

Amosun’s voice will know 

clearly that the recorded voice 

attributed to him is far not his 

voice. I may not be able to 

recognize that of Shettima but 

I am sure of that of Amosun. 

Again, the trend of the 

conversation doesn’t reflect the 

claim of the news title and it 

doesn’t look like a 

conversation between two 

governors 

Chinedu Cletus Nnaeto 

I heard this video 

immediately after 2015 

presidential election. I 

thought it was a joke, but the 

government monetary policy 

that unfolded left me with no 

doubt that the story is true. One 

thing is certain. Anything that 

goes around comes around. 

Nigerians are still groaning 

because some people hate 

others. God will see Nigeria 

through. 

Austin Okwy 

Their problem is that they fail 

to understand where we come 

from. Look, we come directly 

from heaven, we are children 

of most high God and Abraham 

is our father, no weapon 

fashioned against Biafran shall 

prosper. No Biafra, no peace 

T2 

This is authoritatively an old 

audio of 2015. I first heard it 

immediately President Buhari 

won election in 2015. It has 

nothing to do with the recent 

Northern quit notice to Igbos 

Prof Yemi Osinbajo 

Every stone thrown in the 

market place will hit targets 

that are not even intended. 

We must address hate 

speeches that show 

intolerance. 

Ben Murray-Bruce 

On June 12, I can only say 

that Nigeria must honour 

our own version of Dr. Martin 

Luther King, Chief MKO 

Abiola of very blessed 

memory! 

John McCain 

For eight years, US strategy 

in Afghanistan was simply: 

Don’t lose. We need a 

strategy to win in 

Afghanistan and we need it 

now. 

TRENDING ON THE TWITTER 

Femi Fani-Kayode 

For every mujahadeen 

there is a crusader. For every 

tyrant there is a freedom 

fighter. For every Goliath 

there is a David. Fear not. Be 

strong! 

Dr Joe Oduma 

The story that ended the 

military chapter, and started 

our new political freedom, is 

still unfolding. 

UN Peacekeeping 

Did you know #UN 

Peacekeeping has justice and 

corrections components? 

Women of Faith 

“A woman’s heart should be 

so hidden in God that a man 

has to seek Him just to find 

her.” 

Nedu Ekeke 

Wealth is in the waters. 

The five South Eastern 

states are landlocked. We 

want to run a landlocked 

country? Niger-Delta wants 

out of Biafra.

26 


By Wahab Abdulah 

ISLAM is meant to be 

practiced and not to reside 

in the pages of Quran and 

Hadiths. If these books are 

properly understood, then Islam 

will remain a practicable religion 

forever that can guarantee 

success both in this life and the 

hereafter. 

This was the position of 

ClearPath Islamic Center at the 

N500million fundraising 

ceremony to build a place of 

worship and Multipurpose 

centre. 

The Executive Director/CEO, 

Imam Abdurraheem Ahmad Sayi 

said that there is no choice other 

than to fully submit to the dictates 

of the Quran and Hadiths, 

vowing that its leaders would 

never compromise the originality 

of Islam. 

According to him, “this is the 

best way to go because Islam is 

not only rational, it is also natural. 

But where people cannot get the 

link between what they get in 

terms of Islamic knowledge and 

the rationality and naturality then 

they fall into two main camps. 

Ramadan 21, 1438 A.H. 

Islam not only rational, it's also natural — ClearPath 

•Launches N500m Islamic Centre 

Understanding 

the context 

The first is those who believe 

“that is what Allah and the 

Prophet have said without 

properly understanding the 

context in which these thing were 

said, then they commit sin. That 

is why some pick on some verses 

that were meant for isolated 

circumstances and be destroying 

lives of people and properties all 

in the name of Islam. 

“We are not going to re-write 

the Quran but those verses should 

rather be put in the right 

perspective. We will not comprose 

the originality of Islam. 

"The other extreme will be those 

who will say why identify 

ourselves with these horrible 

things. Rather, we are going to 

draw a margin and not go 

beyound this level of Islam, 

saying once you can pray five 

times a day, that will be all. A 

whole lot other fundamentals are 

also omitted, they don't want to 

grow because they have a phobia 

already. “They think the more you 

grow in Islam, the more you grow 

to extremity and fundamentalism 

or may be the farther you go in 

Islam, the more destructive you 

become. This is the delusion that 

must be corrected. 

“Alhamdullilah, we will say 

people who have been 

participating in the ClearPath 

dawah in the last three years can 

attest to this fact that we have not 

in anyway been dogmatic about 

our teachings and that it is indeed 

taking people from one level to 

another. 

The N500million fund-raising 

which was held last Saturday at 

the Lagoon Restaurant, Lagos 

attracted captains of industries, 

high net-worth individuals and 

eminent personalities including 

the Vice President, Nigeria 

Supreme Council for Islamic 

Affairs, NSCIA, and President, 

MUSWEN, Alhaji Sakariyau 

Babalola among others. 

According to the Chairman, 

Board of Trustees, ClearPath 

Islamic Centre, Kamar Bakrin the 

centre was poised at equipping 

people with the ability to read and 

understand Islam better in order 

to avoid dogmatism and 

extremism. The scope of Clear 

path is not limited to the young 

THE Governor of Edo 

State, Mr Godwin Obaseki, 

has said that his administration 

would expedite the constitution of 

a Hajj Committee and a Muslim 

Welfare Board to facilitate the 

creation of a structure for Muslims 

intending to travel for Hajj this year. 

He made this revelation during 

iftar with eminent Edo Imams at 

the Government House in Benin 

City where he also declared that 

his government would build a 

strong and united state, and 

engender safety and security to 

contribute to the economic 

development of the state. 

Addressing the religious leaders, 

he said: “This is a night of fellowship 

with our Muslim brothers, as we 

join them in prayers during this 

period. I thank you for taking time 

out to come and break your fast here 

in Government House. We are 

happy to receive you and we will 

continue to join you in prayers. 

Know that Allah in his infinite 

ones, the older ones have the 

opportunity to learn and 

understand Islam better. He 

stated that the centre will be 

located along the Lekki corridor. 

Imam Abdurraheem Ahmad 

Sayi 

Edo to set up Hajj c'ttee, Muslim 

Welfare Board 

mercies will speedily answer our 

prayers”. 

Meanwhile, he called on them 

to pray for the Nigerian President, 

Muhammadu Buhari, as well as 

for the sustenance of the nation’s 

peace, and above all, for the 

continued peace of the state while 

the Chief Imam of Benin Central 

Mosque, Alhaji Abdulfatai 

Enabulele, thanked the governor 

for the warm reception accorded the 

delegation. 

The religious leader thanked the 

governor for the food items 

distributed to Muslims as 

Ramadan gifts across the state. 

"We appeal to you to approve a 

space for us here in Government 

House where we can observe our 

five times daily prayers.” Enabulele 

also expressed satisfaction with the 

Obaseki-led administration’s 

performance, while praying for 

more development under his 

leadership. 

Chief Imam of Benin Central Mosque, Alhaji Abdulfatai 

Enabulele (left) with Governor Godwin Obaseki at the Edo 

State Government House during iftar with the governor on 

Wednesday. 

Barka Jumah 

Ramadan cleanses body, soul 

Ramadan would surely change your life by its rigorous 

regime of ceaseless prayers. Ramadan cleanses the body 

and soul. It restores wellness and fastens us to pristine moral 

truth. Caution, none must fast and lie at the same time! Ever 

be in fear of Allah. “In the remembrance of Allah do hearts 

find rest.” Quarn 13:8. May Ramadan lend us all wind assist 

that capture joy and peace of mind. 

Be Ramadan strong! Happy Jumah —Dr. Adewale Adeeyo, 

OON 

Computer Village Muslim Ummah Ramadan lecture 

From left: National President, Computer and Allied Products 

Dealers Association of Nigeria, CAPDAN, Mr Ahmed 

Ojikutu; guest lecturer, Sheikh (Dr) Muyideen Bello and Chief 

Imam, STD Barracks, Imam Y. O Giwa during CVMU’s 

Ramadan lecture held in Computer village, Lagos. 

Be fair, truthful in biz dealings 

— Shiekh Bello 

By Kazeem Ategbeshe 

RENOWNED international preacher, Sheikh Muyideen Bello 

has advised traders at the Computer Village, Lagos to be above 

board in their daily business transaction, saying that some traders in 

different markets in Lagos hinge their business dealing on falsehood. 

Sheikh Bello who was the Guest speaker at the 3 rd Ramadan lecture 

organised by the Computer Village Muslim Ummah, (CVMU) 

recently charged traders on fair dealings, adding “traders are 

distorting or suppressing the truth about their wares, deceive 

customers in order to maximise profits. He stated that lies, fornication, 

alcholism and gambling were four basic factors that causes set back 

for people in the market. 

The chairman of the ummah, Mr Ahmed Ojikutu, thanked traders 

for their contributions for making the 2017 Ramadan lecture a success. 

Highlights of the event were quiz competition and iftar with members 

and non-members of the association. 

Quotes from Quran 

Do not avert your face from people out of pride 

and do not strut about arrogantly on the earth. 

Allah does not love anyone who is vain and 

boastful. Be moderate in your walking and 

lower your voice. The most hateful of voices is 

the braying of asses (Qur’an 31:18-19) 

MMPN Abuja Ramadan lecture 

From left: Dr Garba Abari, Director General, National Orientation 

Agency, NOA; Abdurrahman Balogun, Chairman, Muslim Media 

Practitioners of Nigeria, MMPN, Abuja; Malam Sani Salisu Idris, 

member MMPN; Malam Nuhu Ribadu, Former Chairman, EFCC 

and Alhaji Adamu Abdullahi, representing NAHCON Chairman, 

Alhaji Abdullahi Muhktar during 12th annual Ramadan lecture held 

the national mosque, Abuja. 

C 

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VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JUNE 16, 2017---27 

Island Club Ramadan Lecture in pix 

Ramadan 21, 1438 A.H. 

Observing I’tikaf 

By Kazeem Ategbeshe 

WE are now in the last lap 

of the month. The most 

important part of Ramadan is said 

to be the last 10 days. The 

revelation of the Qur’an, the night 

of majesty, the blessings, among 

others, had been perfected in it. 

The last 10 days of Ramadan 

should be spent in prayer, seeking 

His mercy and asking for 

forgiveness, doing I’itikaf, 

searching for Layalat-ul-Qadr, good 

deeds, reflecting on your actions 

and reading of Holy Qur’an. 

I’tikaf means to stay in the 

Mosque with the intention of 

abiding in it for the sake of Allah 

(SWT). What is important in this 

period is to obey the 

commandments of Allah (SWT), to 

THE chairman of Island 

Club, Lagos, Mr Olabanji 

Oladapo has said that there is no 

better example of religious 

tolerance and peaceful coexistence 

as exemplified in Island Club, 

urging leaders at various levels to 

eschew all forms of religious and 

ethnic prejudice. 

He stated this at the 33rd 

Ramadan lecture organised by the 

prestigious club last Sunday in 

Lagos. 

Oladapo, a Christian who was 

decked in Muslim regalia at the 

occasion was renamed 

Muhammed by the Guest lecturer, 

Dr AbdulKabir Paramole who 

spoke on “Family Values – Islamic 

Perspectives.” 

Speaking at the occasion, 

Oladapo said: “...let me reiterate 

that there is no better example of a 

peaceful religious co-existence as 

exemplified in Island Club, as we 

have here with Muslims and 

Christians. This has been a long 

standing tradition and it is worth 

UNIFEMGA to renovate OAU hall of 

residence Mosques 

FOLLOWING the closure of 

the hall of residence's 

mosques in Obafemi Awolowo 

University, Ile-Ife by the 

university authorities for alleged 

misuse, the Muslim Alumni has 

promised to carry out 

comprehensive renovation of all 

the affected mosques. 

The assurance was contained 

in a statement issued by the 

President, University Muslim 

Graduates Association 

(UNIFEMGA) by Alhaji 

AbdulWaheed Odeyimka and 

Alhaji Mohammed Buari, Public 

Relations Officer. 

While calling for restraint of all 

parties involved, UNIFEMGA 

welcomed the handover of the 

refrain from the things which He 

has prohibited and to be in His 

service. 

But before you embark on this 

seclusion, there are some 

conditions that must be considered. 

These are: 

Sound state of mind: Thus, the 

person must not be mentally 

unstable; 

True Faith (Eeman): Belief is the 

only thing that distinguishes the 

non-Muslim and the Muslim 

performing Itikaf. 

Permission: I’tikaf could infringe 

on the man’s marital rights with his 

wife and other members of the 

family if their consent was not 

sought. It becomes necessary for 

the Mutakif to seek permission from 

his spouse or family before 

embarking on it. Similarly, if one’s 

Island Club, an example of religious tolerance — Chair 

emulating in view of its impact-fullness. 

You can see also that Archbishop 

Magnus Atilade as well as 

many christian members were here 

for the Ramadan lecture. As the 

Chairman, I am a Christian and 

we don’t discriminate. We always 

say, Island club comes first in everything. 

Again we are totally detribalised 

in terms of culture. 

“Most of our leaders come from 

here. I remember ex-President 

Shehu Shagari once said that if our 

leaders can behave like the Island 

Club members do, Nigeria will be 

better in all our activities. 

On the biting recession, he 

advised Nigerians to be inward in 

their approach to life. “Our major 

problem is that if you are not in a 

Don’t buy dates to break fast, it’s a gift from 

S/Arabia— Ag Ambassador, Mugram 

THE Royal Embassy of 

Saudi Arabia in Nigeria 

has cautioned Nigerian 

Muslims not to buy nor sell 

Mosques in the halls of 

residence to the Chief Imam of 

the Muslim Community by the 

OAU Management. 

“UNIFEMGA will in 

conjunction with the Muslim 

Community urgently embark on 

the renovation of the Mosques 

and put in place proper protocol 

for the use of the Mosques and 

appointment of the Hall Mosque 

officials”. 

“We urge all members of the 

Muslim Community of OAU 

including all our Muslim 

Students that in the spirit of the 

on-going fast of the month of 

Ramadan to continue to work for 

the peace and well-being of the 

Ummah”, the statement added. 

parents are not happy about his 

absence for days, then the Muslim 

is not permitted to go forth for this 

act of worship. One must have the 

permission of the person or family 

whom he is responsible to. 

Intention (Niyyat): I’tikaf must be 

performed for the purpose of 

seeking closeness to Allah and not 

to show off or due to societal, family 

or peer pressure. 

Fasting (Sawm) during I’tikaf: 

The person who is not able to fast, 

for whatever reason, is deprived 

from this act of worship. Therefore, 

if a person is a traveler or one who 

is not able to fast due to some 

impediments, he cannot partake in 

I’tikaf. 

Place: One must stay inside the 

Mosque for the entire period for 

his I’tikaf to be correct. 

position to use bicycle, you want to 

buy a car. We should be contented 

with what we have.” 

“Without doubt, the topic for this 

year’s Ramadan lecture “Family 

Values – Islamic Perspectives” 

could not have been better chosen 

in view of the obvious decay in our 

family core value system. A 

generation where parents are no 

longer setting the noble pace for 

their children to follow and 

emulate. “A generation where 

family names/linage are no longer 

protected and respected for selfish 

gains. Our youths who are meant 

to be leaders of tomorrow no longer 

believe in the entity called Nigeria 

as a result of the absurd and 

obnoxious avarice of our leaders 

Dates to break fast from anyone. 

The embassy clarified this in 

a statement issued in Abuja by 

the acting Ambassador to 

Nigeria Dr Yahya Ali Mugram. 

Mugram stated that the 

embassy noted that the Dates 

that were packaged and 

circulated as gifts from the 

government of Saudi Arabia to 

Nigerians are being sold by 

some narrow minded and 

voracious Nigerians. 

The statement read: “It has 

come to the notice of Saudi 

Arabian Embassy in Nigeria 

that Saudi Dates packaged and 

distributed as a gifts from the 

government of Saudi Arabia are 

being sold by some people. 

Members of the public are 

hereby notified that the Dates 

are strictly gifts to the Nigerian 

Muslims and under no 

circumstances should they be 

sold or bought by anybody. 

Necessary measures shall be 

taken against perpetrators of 

this untoward act.” 

From left: Alhaji Musliu Anibaba; Alhaji Tajudeen Owoyemi, 

Chairman of the day; Olabanji Oladapo, Chairman, Island Club; 

Alhaji Abubakar Olasewere, guest of honour; Alhaji Chief Rabiu 

Oluwa, father of the day and Prince Lana Adesida, Vice 

Chairman, Island Club during the 33rd Annual Ramadan lecture 

held at Peacock Hall, Island Club, Onikan, Lagos last Sunday. 

From right: Archbishop Magnus Atilade; Alhaji Chief Musliu 

Anibaba and Olabanji Oladapo, Chairman Island Club (2nd right) 

presenting a plaque to the guest lecturer, Ustaz AbdulKabir 

Paramole at the event. 

Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat 

From left: Naib Amir, South West, Barrister Abdul Azeez Alatoye; Amir, 

Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Nigeria, Dr. Mash’hud Fashola and Chief Imam 

Oyo Central Mosque, Fadilatu Sheikh Mosh’uud Adebayo, at the 1st Grand 

Ramadan Lecture (Tafsir) of Ahmadiyya Oyo Circuit in Oyo. 

Ansar-ud-Deen Ramadan Lecture 

From left: Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru 

Obasa; Managing Director Folawiyo Groups, Mr. Tunde Folawiyo; 

National President, Ansar-ud-deen Society of Nigeria, Alhaji Femi 

Okunnu and Chief Imam, Ansar-ud-deen Society of Nigeria, Sheik 

Abdul-Rahman Ahmad, during Ansar-ud-deen Ramadhan lecture 

in Lagos. 

C 

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•Gov Aregbesola 

•Ademola Adeleke 

•Senator Hussein 

•Late Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke 

ADELEKE: 

The last 

chapter of 

his death 

narrative 

By Gbenga Olrarinoye 

OSOGBO — EVEN in 

death, Senator Isiaka 

Adeleke continues to elicit 

interest in the political 

firmament of Osun State 

which he governed as the first 

chief executive between 1992 

and1993 on the platform of the 

defunct Social Democratic 

Party, SDP. 

Senator Adeleke remains an 

enigma. A grassroots 

mobiliser, he was a great 

philanthropist of high repute, 

not only to the people of his 

constituency, but the entire 

state. 

Several attempts by the late 

Adeleke to govern Osun state 

once again in the wake of the 

Fourth Republic's emergence 

have been futile due to one 

reason or the other. 

Senator Adeleke was 

consistently seen as being an 

asset no matter what political 

party he joined. 

This reason is not far fetched 

because whether there is 

politics or not, Senator 

Adeleke was always oiling his 

political machinery scattered 

all over the state. 

So, it was not surprising 

when after Adeleke’s death on 

April 23, 2017, all his 

supporters converged and 

resolved to present his 

younger brother, Ademola 

Adeleke for the July 8, 2017 

Osun West Senatorial byelection 

on the All 

Progressives Congress, APC 

platform. 

Among the strong 

contenders for the vacant seat 

on the ticket of APC, are the 

national ex-officio of the APC, 

Hon. Akintola Omolaoye; the 

state secretary of party, 

Ayobami Salinsile; Ademola 

Adeleke, Alhaji Tiamiyu Bello, 

Mr. Tijani Adekilekun, Alhaji 

Sule Alao and Senator 

Mudasir Hussein. 

Aspirants on the platform of 

Peoples’ Democratic Party, 

PDP, included the former 

speaker of Osun State House 

of Assembly, Hon. Adejare 

Bello; Hon. Bamidele Sallam, 

Hon Ajibade Falade, Senator 

Olasunkanmi Akinlabi, 

Colonel Olayiwola Falabi 

(retd.)among others. 

However, at a time when 

Adeleke’s camp was thinking 

the coast had been cleared for 

his younger brother to be 

presented as the party's sole 

candidate for the primary 

election, other aspirants who 

withdrew from the race and 

Senator Hussein, disqualified 

from the race, suddenly kicked 

against Ademola's emergence. 

The revolt came a few hours 

after the national secretariat of 

APC cleared him for the 

primary. 

Senator Hussein had earlier 

been disqualified by the 

There was however 

wild jubilation at 

the Osun West 

senatorial 

headquarters in 

Iwo when Adeleke 

picked the ticket to 

contest for the 

vacant seat on the 

platform of PDP 

party’s screening committee 

to participate in the election, 

but the national secretariat of 

the party was said to have 

cleared Hussein at the last 

minute. 

Chairman of the screening 

committee, Hon. Sanusi Rikiji 

said Hussein's disqualification 

from contesting in the primary 

election was due to noncompliance 

with the 

provisions of the party 

guidelines and constitution. 

The committee, in a letter, 

said it disqualified Hussein for 

being a cabinet member in 

Osun State contrary to the 

APC 2014 guidelines, which 

provides that “aspirants 

seeking public office on its 

platform shall not have 

remained an employee of the 

public service within 30 days 

proceeding.” 

However, at the eleventh 

hour, Adeleke defected from 

the APC to the PDP. He had 

earlier been screened and 

given clearance by the APC 

screening and election 

committee while Ssenator 

Hussein, who was the 

preferred candidate of 

Governor Rauf Aregbesola was 

disqualified. 

Adeleke opined that the 

decision of the screening and 

appeal committee by the 

National Working Committee, 

NWC, of the party to upturn 

Hussein's disqualification was 

suspicious and which might 

make the primary lack 

credibility and transparency. 

At this point, Ademola 

Adeleke approached PDP for 

screening and was cleared 

less than twenty four hours to 

the party primary. 

There was, however, wild 

jubilation at the Osun West 

senatorial headquarters in Iwo 

when Adeleke picked the 

ticket to contest for the vacant 

seat on the PDP platform. 

Adeleke's emergence 

became possible when two 

other contestants for the ticket, 

Senator Akinlabi 

Olasunkanmi and Mr. 

Olayiwola Falabi stepped 

down for him. 

At Iwo, where the PDP held 

its primary, Senator 

Olasunkanmi and Falabi 

stepped down for Ademola 

Adeleke after addressing the 

delegates. 

The announcement brought 

about wild jubilation at the 

venue of the PDP primary 

election. 

Olasunkanmi, in his 

concession speech, said other 

PDP aspirants decided to step 

down for him but he had to 

step down after calls from 

various quarters. 

He said the party was 

promised that Osun West 

would produce the 

governorship candidate for 

the party next year. 

This he claimed was why he 

stepped down in the party 

interest, and not for Ademola 

Adeleke.


EKITI STATE 

•From 

l e f t : 

Ambode, 

O b a 

Akiolu, 

Aremo 

Osoba 

Lagos, 

Speaker 

at Lagos 

History 

Lecture. 

Pandemonium 

as Muslims, 

masquerades 

lock horns in 

Ikun-Ekiti 

•Gov Fayose of Ekiti State 

• From left, Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, wife of former Ekiti 

State Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi and former Deputy Governor, Prof Mrs 

Modupe Adelabu, during the coronation of the Onisan in Isan-Ekiti. 

• Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun (2nd left), Commissioner 

for Commerce and Industry, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru (right); Managing Director, 

Mr. Hakan Misri (left); Chairman, Mr.Yahya Kigili (3rd left) during 

the commissioning of a 100 million dollar Turkish industry at Atan/Agbara 

axis of the state. 

EDITOR: 

Adeleke Adeseri 

CORRESPONDENTS: 

Dapo Akinrefon 

Ola Ajayi 

Gbenga Olarinoye 

Dayo Johnson 

Olasunkanmi Akoni 

Daud Olatunji 

Rotimi Ojomoyela 

Monsuru Olowoepejo 

THE TEAM 

08054682557 (sms only) 

Lagos 

Ibadan 

Osogbo 

Akure 

Lagos 

Abeokuta 

Ekiti 

By Rotimi Ojomoyela 

IKUN-EKITI, a hitherto peaceful and 

obscure community, home to an 

obsolete and moribund dairy farm, 

gained notoriety in recent times because 

of the clash between the Muslim 

Community and the Traditional 

‘Egungun’ Masquerade worshippers. 

The last week of May to the first week 

of June every year is very significant to 

the people of Ikun-Ekiti, in Moba Local 

Government Area of Ekiti State, because 

it is the period set aside for the 

celebration of Egungun festival and 

virtually everyone in the community 

participates in the ceremony. However, 

that of this year was ill-fated because it 

fell within the same period of this year's 

Ramadan, a period Muslims worldwide, 

including those at Ikun are observing it 

being one of the pillars of Islam, which 

is fasting . 

How it all began: On the ill fated day, 

which was on May 30, 2017, the 

Muslims, had converged at the Ansarud-Deen 

Central Mosque in the 

community, the same place where the 

shrine of Ajagunmole was located, just 

about 20 meters away from each other, 

this was just as the procession of the 

masquerades was also making for the 

shrine. 

Absolute silence 

and solemness 

It was gathered that the fasting 

Muslims had converged at the central 

mosque in the community to break their 

f ast, while the masquerades were 

heading to the shrine of Ajagunmole for 

propitiate the Egungun deity. 

A source in Ikun claimed that “in the 

community, the tradition is that when the 

masqueraders, which appear once in 

three years, hold their procession, any 

form of noise is not tolerated. It is done 

in absolute silence and solemness, but 

the Muslims’ call to prayer was done at 

about the same time and this, I believe, 

caused the clash.” 

Vanguard gathered that it was the 

Muslims' loud call for prayer that irked 

the masqueraders, and prompted a 

violent reaction from them. 

They descended on the Muslims with 

cudgels, stones and metals, resulting in 

varying degrees of injuries among the 

Muslims, just as the mosque was 

vandalised. Windscreens of two vehicles 

parked at the mosque were also smashed 

just as the panes of the mosque’s 

windows. The Imam of the mosque, 

Alhaji Abdul-Rasak Abubakar-Bello, 

received a head injury and was treated 

at the Ekiti State University Teaching 

Hospital in Ado Ekiti (EKSUTH), while 

five other worshippers were also injured. 

Abubakar-Bello said they were held 

hostage at the mosque for hours by the 

masquerades, who he said threatened to 

kill them, saying “there was no way we 

could escape because they laid siege 

outside the mosque after initially attacking 

us inside the mosque with iron and wooden 

rods. When we succeded in locking 

ourselves inside the mosque, they started 

throwing stones at us.” The Muslim 

community alleged that the Monarch of the 

Community, Oba Olatunde Olusola 

orchestrated and physically supervised the 

attack. They also alleged that the police 

ignored their distress calls. 

Monarch’s reaction: The Onikun of Ikun- 

Ekiti, Oba Olatunde Olusola, who denied 

complicity in the allegation level against 

him, said he was the father of all and the 

custodian of all religions in the community. 

Oba Olusola said that it was not true that 

he orchestrated the attack, pointing out that 

“I have been fair to all faiths and the ugly 

incident happened in the full glare of a large 

crowd of people in the town.” 

He said he had written a letter to the 

Muslim community in Ikun, dated May 26, 

2017 entitled “Appeal for Cooperation,” 

saying he had done that to avoid any kind 

of trouble as this had always been the 

situation even before he became the 

traditional ruler. In the letter signed by his 

secretary, Akinwumi Jimoh, Oba Olusola 

had asked the Muslim community to grant 

the traditional worshippers Tuesday, May 

30, 2017 for the grand finale of their triennial 

masquerade celebration. Part of the letter 

read: “This is to inform the congregation 

that this year’s ongoing Egungun festival 

will come to an end on Tuesday, 30th May, 

2017. And as part of our culture, women 

are to be kept indoors in the evening of the 

final celebration rites on the said day. ”You 

have all the year round, please grant the 

Egungun celebrants this one day in three 

years." 

Oba Olatunde said “there has always 

been a crisis between them because the 

shrine is very close to the mosque; that is 

why we took the step of informing the 

various bodies before hand, to avoid 

trouble. Because they have to go to their 

shrine, there’s always trouble that is why I 

wrote a letter to them to ask them to do 

their thing and it takes less than one hour.” 

He said the Muslim community had met 

with the traditional council and they had 

agreed that there would not be noise during 

the procession, pointing out that “I gave 

them another option of using the other 

mosques in the town instead of the one 

close to the shrine, all in a bid to avert 

trouble." 

According to him, “in the full glare of 

everybody, when the Egungun procession 

was coming at about 6:35 or 6:40, the call 

for prayers began to ring out and it was a 

surprise to everybody. They even threw a 

missile from upstairs which smashed one 

of the vehicles parked at the mosque."

30--- Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 16, 2017 

NAMA: Raising the bar of air services 

Stories by 

Lawani Mikairu 

IN spite of paucity of 

funds that has affected most 

of the aviation agencies in 

Nigeria due to the general 

recession of the country’s 

economy, the Nigerian Airspace 

Management Agency, NAMA, 

has been able to keep the 

country’s airspace safe for flight 

operations by both domestic and 

foreign airlines. The recent on 

time complete calibration of 

Kaduna Airport navigational 

aids is a pointer to efforts of 

NAMA to make Nigeria 

airspace safe. 

The six weeks closure of 

Nnamdi Azikiwe International 

Airport, Abuja for complete 

reconstruction of the runway led 

to Kaduna Airport being chosen 

by the federal government as 

the alternate airport for all Abuja 

airport bound flights. The flight 

navigational aids at the Kaduna 

airport were below 

internationally acceptable 

standards and they had to be 

upgraded within a month to 

allow international flight 

operations there. 

NAMA was called to task to 

upgrade these navigational 

aids within a short time frame. 

The agency, under the 

leadership of Captain Fola 

Akinkuotu, the Managing 

Director, accepted the 

challenge. 

NAMA completed the routine 

calibration of the Very High 

Omnidirectional Radio Range/ 

Distance Measuring Equipment 

(VOR/DME) and the flight 

commissioning of the 

Instrument Landing System/ 

Distance Measuring Equipment 

(ILS/DME) of the Kaduna 

Airport ahead of the March 8 

closure of the Nnamdi Azikiwe 

Internatinal Airport, Abuja. 

According to the Calibration 

Manager, NAMA, Engr. Akeem 

Ogunmola, the calibration 

exercise was done in a bid to 

ensure accuracy, reliability and 

efficiency of facilities at the 

Kaduna airport, 

Ogunmola said “the 

component parts of the facilities 

which include Two VOR 

transmitters, two DMEs colocated 

with the VORs, two 

localizer transmitters, two 

glideslope transmitters and two 

DMEs co-located with the 

glideslope all passed the flight 

calibration test. The flight 

calibration was handled by 

Omni-Blue Aviation Ltd along 

with their technical partners 

(FCSL of United Kingdom) in 

collaboration with NAMA 

engineers who carried out the 

installation, alignment and 

parameter adjustment during 

the exercise.” 

He further said “the flight 

exercise which started from 

Kaduna will extend to Kano, 

Katsina, Sokoto and Bauchi. In 

Bauchi , the calibration team 

would be commissioning three 

systems which include ILS/ 

DME, VOR/DME and Nondirectional 

beacon. Also to be 

calibrated are facilities in the 

Port Harcourt and Lagos 

international airports.” 

Commenting at the end of the 

calibration exercise, the Director 

of Safety Electronics and 

Engineering Services, Engr. 

Farouk Umar who led the 

NAMA team of engineers in 

the installation of the facilities 

The relative air 

safety witnessed 

in Nigeria in the 

last couple of 

years is an 

indication that 

NAMA has been 

able to keep the 

country’s 

airspace safe for 

flight operations 

in Kaduna described the 

calibration exercise as very 

successful, saying that “Kaduna 

airport is on full components of 

navigational aids, functioning 

at optimal levels. We can gladly 

report that Kaduna airport can 

now safely land aircraft even in 

critical weather conditions as far 

as Navaids are concerned.” 

In a bid to further boost the 

efficiency of NAMA, Captain 

NCAA says it will not compromise requirements for AOC 

THE Nigerian Civil Avia 

tion Authority , NCAA, has 

said it will not compromise the 

internationally accepted requirements 

for obtaining Air 

Operators Certificate, AOC, by 

prospective airline operators. 

The regulatory authority added 

that it insistence on strict procedure 

of issuance of airline licences 

is one of the processes 

to ensure that no airline cuts 

corners in compliance with the 

International Civil Aviation Authority 

(ICAO) regulation. 

According to the spokesman 

of NCAA, Mr Sam 

Adurogboye: “it is laughable 

when people who do not know 

how the system operates to say 

that airlines borrow aircraft to 

deceive NCAA into issuing 

them AOC licence. That is not 

possible. 

“For clarification purposes, 

Omni Blu Aviation limited got 

her AOC certification in 2015 

and as at today, referencing the 

•Captain Fola Akinkuotu - NAMA MD 

Akinkuotu recently set up a 

committee to commence the 

immediate review of the 

nation’s Aeronautical 

Information Procedure, AIP. 

Aeronautical 

information 

The Nigerian AIP is a state 

document that contains all 

aeronautical information that 

relates to the services, 

procedures, facilities and 

personnel at all Nigerian 

airports or within the Nigerian 

airspace. 

The NAMA managing 

director further said, “the AIP 

review became necessary 

NCCA Document and Omniblu 

Operational Specification, 

Omniblu has five helicopters 

and three aeroplanes on her 

AOC. - HS123-850XP (5N- 

SPL); Challenger 604 

(N880ET); and Boeing 737 

Freighter (5N-IZB). For 

Helicopters, Omni Blu Aviation 

has, Two Agusta Westland 139 

(5N-BTR) and (5N-BQB), Two 

Bell 4125 (D-HIPP), (D-HAFW) 

and One Bell 212 (D-HBZT)”. 

Adurogboye also revealed 

that there are five processes for 

granting of AOC to any 

interested persons. “These 

requirements are pre-application 

phase. This entails initial 

enquiry or request about 

NCAA’s certification; obtaining 

of CAR and advisory; provision 

of forms to prospective 

applicants’ NCAA receives and 

review PASI for acceptance and 

completeness.” 

“The next stage is document 

compliance phase which 

following the ongoing 

certification of Nigerian 

international airports by the 

International Civil Aviation 

Organization (ICAO). The 

review intends to capture 

facilities that have been 

upgraded at the airports 

including fire cover, lighting 

systems, aerodrome layout, 

airfield lighting facilities, 

navigational facilities and 

visual aids.” 

He added that the “safety 

critical information to be 

captured in the review include 

landing and takeoff distance 

available, runway end safety 

area (RESA), flight approach 

procedure for all airports, 

involves certification team 

reviewing applicant’s 

documents for compliance 

acceptance/approval. This also 

includes formal application, 

letter of compliance, training 

and acceptance”. 

The others are “ Demonstration 

and Inspection Phase 

which involves evaluation by 

certification team, and applicant’s 

demonstration of compliance’ 

evaluation of management 

effectiveness, inspection 

of station(s) facilities, flight 

operations, maintenance and 

records”. 

“The next is called certification 

phase which allows the 

intending operator for approval 

of AOC and OpSpec with 

coordination with Director for 

Safety Oversight and DG 

NCAA.” The NCAA Spokesman 

said. He added that not a few 

believe that the tough conditions 

for acquiring AOC have 

made over 26 airlines to stall 

processes for their licenses. 

state weather minima for all 

airports and aerodrome 

characteristics”. 

The committee set up to 

undertake this review is headed 

by NAMA General Manager, 

Safety Management Systems/ 

Quality Assurance, Mr Mathew 

Lawrence Pwajok. The 

committee’s review exercise is 

being conducted as a 

collaborative effort by NAMA 

with the support of the Federal 

Airports Authority of Nigeria 

(FAAN), towards the attainment 

of successful certification of 

Nigerian international airports 

by ICAO. 

The training of manpower to 

handle air traffic control both for 

civilian and military flight 

operations have been given 

priority by the agency. NAMA, 

has pledged to continue to 

support the Nigerian Air Force 

in the training of its critical 

manpower especially in the 

area of air traffic control. 

Akinkuotu made the pledge 

while receiving students and 

instructors of the Department of 

Air Warfare of the Armed Forces 

Command and Staff College, 

Jaji at NAMA headquarters in 

Lagos. 

The NAMA Boss noted that 

the safety and security of the 

nation’s airspace depends 

largely on the capacity of critical 

personnel of both the Nigerian 

Air Force and NAMA, hence the 

collaborative effort in training 

and retraining of staff by both 

agencies over time. 

Seamless air 

navigation 

He also stressed that “this 

civil/military synergy and 

cooperation over the years has 

ensured that we have a robust 

capacity to manage our airspace 

which has remained safe and 

secure for efficient and seamless 

air navigation by both civil and 

military authorities.” 

He further commended the 

Nigerian Air Force for 

providing security around the 

agency’s navigational aids in 

airports nationwide saying this 

has ensured that the nation’s 

critical assets are not vandalized 

or destroyed. 

Responding, the leader of the 

team, Air Commodore, 

Abubakar Liman, said their visit 

was to expose students of the 

college to “ the practical 

application of the basic 

management principles they 

acquired in the classroom in 

order to make analytical 

comparison between a typical 

military unit and a civil 

organization performing 

complementing roles with the 

aim of making the military better 

organized and the nation more 

secured”. 

Liman also said the quality 

of operational exposure 

participants would get from 

NAMA, the students who are 

basically middle class officers 

(Captains and Majors) will be 

better equipped to handle 

higher responsibilities after 

graduation from the college.

There was a country called Libya 

SAIF al-Islam Ghaddafi, 

Ph.D,London School of 

Economics, and the best known 

son of Muammar Ghaddafi was 

set free this week. He had been 

detained for six years since 

November 19, 2011 when 

following the Libyan ‘Civil War’ he 

was captured by the Abu Bakr al- 

Sadiq Brigade while attempting to 

flee to Niger Republic. 

Announcing his release, the 

Brigade said “We have decided to 

liberate Saif al-Islam Muammar 

Gaddafi. He is now free and has 

left the city of Zintan” where he 

was being held. 

Saif is released into a country 

with at least five factional 

governments. The Government of 

National Accord, GNA, or ‘Unity 

Government’ led by Fayez al- 

Serraj, is recognised by the 

‘international community’ and 

ensconced in a Naval Base secured 

by an armed militia it does not 

control. The Islamist National 

Salvation Government led by 

Khalifa al-Ghawi shares Tripoli 

with the GNA where it controls 

strategic places including the 

airport. A third government, led by 

Aguila Saleh, has capital in 

Tobruk; the Islamic State with over 

6,000 armed fighters has its 

headquarters near Sirte, 

Ghaddafi’s home base, while 

renegade General Khalifa Hafter, 

calls the shots in Benghazi. 

He is released into a society 

where his father was cornered like 

a rat and executed like a stray dog. 

A society in which his brothers, 

Mutassim and Khamis were killed 

and his youngest brother, Saadi is 

still held in Tripoli for alleged war 

crimes. He knows another of his 

brothers, Hannibal is in exile in 

Lebanon, with his mother, Safia 

and sister, Aisha in Oman, on exile. 

With these, his losing some fingers, 

and his experiences in detention 

and the circumstances of his 

release, it will be difficult to 

conclude if Saif still holds to the 

fierce patriotism and spirit of 

service he was identified with. We 

cannot now know if he is still 

dedicated to the reforms he was 

spear heading - including the 

release of political prisoners - 

before the uprising. 

Also, his reactions may be 

determined by the actions of the 

West which had set his country on 

fire; armed thugs, bandits and 

Islamists to overthrow his father; 

bombed the Libyan military into 

submission; and today, under the 

International Criminal Court, 

Tambuwal in the eye of the storm 

By Saifullahi Abubakar 

IT is normal for a public figure, a 

successful one for that matter, to attract 

occasional sneer, derision or outright envy. But 

it is abnormal when such a thing is turned into 

an organised mob of muckrakers with a 

mandate to smear the target personality by 

every available spit they could get. This is the 

case with an on-going mudslinging against 

Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, using the 

free passage of all garbage offered by the handy 

social media. 

A recent example of such trashy offerings; 

one that went viral on account of the key words 

deliberately used to attract curious readers and 

to easily smear is titled “Tambuwal and the 

politics of Buhari’s illness,” penned under an 

obvious pseudonym of Mamman Abdullahi. 

The mudslingers got a lot of people there: 

Tambuwal, politics and the ill health of 

President Muhammadu Buhari. Ordinarily, 

people would want to find out what links a 

respected personality like Governor Tambuwal 

with the health condition of the president and, 

more still, the alleged politics of it. 

However, from the very first sentence of the 

piece, the emotion of the hatched men is laid 

bare. The intent, as the opening line crudely 

puts it, is to paint Tambuwal’s 30 years of public 

life as one characterised by “betrayals and 

treachery”. The rest of the malignant article 

rode along this line. Lies upon lies are lined 

up; spun from contemporaneous events and 

purported historical antecedents of Tambuwal 

to paint him – as the agenda setting first line 

puts it – a betrayer and treacherous person. 

The instinct initially was to laugh this off 

and move on, as one of those things politicians 

often encounter. However, on a second thought 

one is tempted to put out a response because 

the professional liar who authored the faceless 

hogwash presented tissues of lies in a way that 

may look factual to the unsuspecting public 

who knows not. First, let me say that I am an 

innocent bystander in this issue. I am 

intervening because I am knowledgeable 

enough about most of the issues raised in the 

initial article. I am not holding brief for 

Tambuwal, and the fact that he knows nothing 

about this work gives me the pleasure to state 

what I know without inhibitions or guidance 

from him. The said article stands on no factual 

ground. It is sheer concoctions. At best, it is not 

more than a spectacular fictional narrative 

skewed together by a fertile mind with agenda 

Tambuwal’s brand 

of politics is one 

that embraces 

friends and foes 

alike 

for grave mischief. To accuse Tambuwal of 

selling himself to be appointed as vice 

president – a vacancy that does not exist, is not 

only funny but a clear assault on truth, and on 

the man’s personality and intelligence. In 

truth, chasing shadows (which is what vying 

for a non-existent post is) is the least thing that 

can be inferred in Tambuwal’s dealings as a 

public servant. 

Additionally, from the searchlight some of 

us have kept on him over the years, Tambuwal 

is a man of faith with a strong sense of gratitude 

to the almighty who elevated him from being 

a legislative aide to first, Nigeria’s Number 

Four position, and now the first citizen of his 

state. This has never been lost on the Tambuwal 

that I know. For him, and all people of faith, 

chasing after another thing when you are not 

half-way into what God almighty blessed you 

with is some mark of ingratitude. For emphasis, 

Tambuwal has never had divided attention 

since assuming the position of the Governor 

of Sokoto State. He has executed his mandate 

declares him wanted for alleged 

‘war crimes’. His release is by the 

Tobruk government which 

declared amnesty as part of 

reconciliation moves; moves not 

backed by the two rival 

governments in Tripoli that may 

still want to arrest and send him 

for trial. 

Whatever may be the case, Saif, 

Doubtlessly, the 

NATO powers that 

sunk Libya would 

not want to see the 

country refloat 

under Saif; but if 

faced with a choice 

between him and 

the Islamic State, 

they may prefer the 

former 

given his father’s legacy, his own 

force of character and the anarchy 

in the country, is a force to be 

reckoned with. Many of those who 

knew peace under Ghaddafi, had 

perhaps the best social security in 

the world and the joy of being able 

to carry out basic human activities 

like going to the market, taking 

children to school and family on a 

picnic, might be nostalgic for the 

old era. Many in the middle and 

upper classes who could go to the 

airport and take an international 

flight rather than risk a road 

journey to neigbouring Tunisia, 

might yearn for the return of the 


Ghaddafi days. Many of those who 

lived in a secured and peaceful 

Libya would long for the days they 

had a country worthy of its name. 

Therein lie the appeal of Saif. 

A freed Saif may be crucial in 

national dialogue, restoration of 

peace, national reconstruction 

and unity; a country with multiple 

governments cannot be said to be 

a country. But in a large sense, his 

role will be determined by the 

forces on the ground, the logic of 

the Libyan trajectory, his 

perception of the various armed 

groups in the country, and of 

course, the extent of the 

intervention of Europe and 

America in the internal affairs of 

Libya. 

It was these international 

policemen from Brussels and 

Washington who setup Libya for the 

kill. It was they and their agents 

who for decades sold the crap to 

the world that President Ghaddafi 

was a lunatic seating on huge oil 

wells that they can put to better use. 

They were the forces that isolated 

Libya and were alarmed that 

Ghaddafi was not only 

bankrolling African unity but also 

wanted an international monetary 

medium of exchange independent 

of the NATO countries. They are 

the forces that cooked up the lie 

that Libya agents planted a bomb 

in the Pan Am Flight 103 which 

on December 21, 1988 exploded 

over Lockerbie, Scotland killing 

all 259 on board and 11 on 

ground. These are the same people 

who accused Libya of sponsoring 

terrorism and on April 14, 1986, 

without a declaration of war, 

bombed Tripoli killing over 70 

people. They are the same gang 

that imposed a No-Fly-Zone over 

the entire country threatening to 

shoot down any aircraft that 

violated the ban, until the 

in such a way that today, midway into his first 

term of four years, the consensus in Sokoto is 

for him to carry on for additional term. 

It should also be stated that as someone who 

has been actively involved in politics since the 

beginning of this dispensation, Tambuwal has 

developed extensive network of friends, 

associates and admirers, so it is foolish and 

mischievous for any of his engagements with 

such associates to be interpreted in any narrow 

manner. From his time in the National 

Assembly, it is clearly evident that it is in his 

nature not to abandon his friends because of 

the trappings of power. 

Will Tambuwal work to undermine Buhari? 

Certainly not! Recently, a story of Tambuwal’s 

2012 visit to the then opposition leader, Buhari 

in Kaduna was shared online. That year, Buhari 

had returned from a medical trip and 

Tambuwal, as Speaker, led some of his 

colleagues to Buhari’s house for a sympathy 

visit. Not a few in the Green Chamber, 

especially those of the ruling party, raised 

eyebrows at the visit. Their thinking was that 

as a member of the PDP, Tambuwal should not 

be seen publicly hobnobbing with Buhari. But 

Tambuwal stood his ground and insisted that 

politics aside, Buhari, being a former Head of 

State, deserved respect and recognition. 

As if sensing the little controversy the visit 

would elicit, Buhari asked Tambuwal why he 

wasn't afraid to visit with a full compliments 

of reporters. "We're here to see how you are 

feeling and to pray to Allah for bringing you 

back home safely," the Speaker told him. At 

the end of the visit, Buhari thanked Tambuwal 

profusely; saying for identifying with him when 

it was risky to do that, Tambuwal had shown 

genuine concern for his well-being. He also 

prayed for him as he departed. 

I brought this issue to show the bond, and 

respect between the two leaders. While the 

writer and his sponsors ignorantly dropped the 

name of Abubakar Shehu Tambuwal in a bid 

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unforgettable Nelson Mandela 

flew into Libya daring them to 

bring down his aircraft. It is these 

same forces that engineered the 

February 2011 uprising from 

Benghazi and provided the 

insurgents massive air power to 

smash the Ghaddafi government 

and impose the present chaos. 

But for these forces of 

colonialism and neo-colonialism, 

Libya might not today, be a basket 

case. But for them, tens of 

thousands of Libyans might not 

have died in half a dozen years of 

chaos, and the over five thousand 

Libyans who perished in the 

Mediterranean Sea trying to reach 

Europe, might still have been alive. 

Libya was prosperous and selfsufficient, 

today, thanks to the West, 

2.5 million Libyans are in need of 

humanitarian aid including food. 

Saif ’s transformation since 2011, 

might be for good. On the other 

hand, he could have become a 

battle axe cutting both ways and 

returning with a vengeance 

against those that destroyed Libya. 

Doubtlessly, the NATO powers that 

sunk Libya would not want to see 

the country refloat under Saif; but 

if faced with a choice between him 

and the Islamic State, they may 

prefer the former. For Africa and 

the rest of the underdeveloped 

world; it is a shame that we 

allowed Libya to be destroyed, 

adding to our litany of woes. The 

fall of Ghaddafi triggered the rise 

of the Islamists in Mali, and is 

partly responsible for the renewed 

flow of illegal arms across West 

Africa including to the Boko 

Haram who continue to terrorise 

Nigeria, Niger, Cameroun and 

Chad. Tragically, it does not 

appear we have learnt useful 

lessons from the Libyan 

experience. 

to deceive the readers, we were all living 

witnesses to Shehu’s directive to his supporters 

to support the candidature of Tambuwal 

during the last electioneering campaigns in 

Sokoto even though they don’t belong to the 

same parties. If Abubakar Shehu Tambuwal 

has issues with Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, 

would he have supported him against his party 

in 2015? Tambuwal’s brand of politics is one 

that embraces friends and foes alike. It is in 

public domain that the current Speaker of the 

House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, was 

one of the staunchest opponents of Tambuwal 

when he aspired to lead the lower legislative 

House in the year 2011. But immediately he 

won the election, Tambuwal made Dogara the 

chairman of the all-important House Services 

Committee. His opponent in that election, 

Mulikat Adeola-Akande, was made the 

Majority Leader, the first time a Female would 

hold such an important position in the country. 

Do I need to remind us of Tambuwal’s 

relationship with former President Olusegun 

Obasanjo? After kicking against against 

Tambuwal’s emergence as Speaker, Obasanjo 

eventually became one of Tambuwal’s mentors. 

One is entitled to disagree or even hate 

Governor Tambuwal for whatever personal 

reason, but the allegations labelled against 

him is almost the zenith such malicious 

undertaking could attain. 

It is not just because Tambuwal’s name is 

smeared but also because of the dangerous 

namedropping and dragging of the names of 

very important and responsible personalities 

just to achieve the sinister aim of portraying 

Tambuwal – who from all indications, is 

minding his business – in a very bad light. 

Abeokuta: “Mr Governor, I would 

apologize that I am going to embarrass you 

small. When you emerged as the Speaker (in 

2011), you know I was not satisfied; because 

that was not the arrangement of the then PDP. 

It was the former administration and the then 

leadership that did that and I expressed my 

view. 

*Mr. Abubakar, a Quantity Surveyor, wrote 

from Abuja.

32-- Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 16, 2017 

YOUR LUCK TODAY 

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 

YOUR LUCK TODAY FRIDAY JUNE 16, 2017 

SAGITTARIUS: Lucky Jupiter makes an ingress 

into your positive angle today with good luck to you. 

Financial success is closer to you than you can 

imagine. Give big push. 

CAPRICORN: Here is a good day when influential 

personalities around you will be willing to assist you 

but you will need to take the initiative. Take good 

advice. 

AQUARIUS: This is your day. The more ambitious 

you are along your career line the better for you. 

And friends are willing to give the needed supports; 

you’ll be lucky. 

PISCES: Your mind is truly active and if you’re 

more practical about it success’ll crown your efforts. 

Reason with your tried and trusted friends. 

ARIES: Coming of Lucky Jupiter into a positive 

angle to your Star sign is a big plus. On a day like 

this the more ambitious you are the better. It’s good 

to be loving . 

TAURUS: The more willing you are to listen to your 

partners and/or spouse the better for you today. 

Friends are trying to convince you that they are 

reliable. 

GEMINI: Here is a day you are not meant to ignore 

new ideas that come suddenly. It=s good to take 

matters of the heart more seriously. Listen to your 

spouse please. 

CANCER: Success is boldly printed on your cards 

today. The more push-full you are along your career/ 

business lines the better. Embrace new method at 

work. 

LEO: Lucky Jupiter is joining mighty Sun and 

romantic Venus bringing you to the fore for collection 

of well deserved honour, glory and LOVE. Certainly 

you’re becoming more important in many ways. Be 

more ambitious. 

VIRGO: Another lucky day for you is here. Although 

your being co-operative can enhance your scope, 

your personal ideas and initiative are guarantee for 

bigger do. 

LIBRA: Those of you who are more consistent will 

have more to gain. Good ideas on monetary issues 

will enhance your finances. Be more family minded. 

SCORPIO: Entrance of lucky Jupiter into 

Sagittarius is meant to enhance your finances. The 

more willing you are to take good advice the better. 

Be loving. 

L E I S U R E 

THOUGHT FOR TODAY 

There is no shame in having fallen. Nor any shame in being 

born into a lowly estate. There is only shame in not 

struggling to rise. And also shame for not wishing to attain 

the better. Or not dreaming about it and praying for it. 

—Samuel Amalu 

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye” 

By Kola Fayemi 

KAPTAIN AFRIKA in “Pretty Lunatic’ By Andy Akman 

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING 

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

trological 

Counselling, P.M.B 100 

007, 7, Apapa, Lagos 

What is my Horoscope? 

Dear Joshua, 

I am a young man willing to go higher in life. 

Kindly tell me everything I should know about my 

horoscope. 

Adeola. Oshogbo, 

Dear Adeola, 

Here-under are what space can take. 

ANALYSIS OF YOUR HOROSCOPE 

Preponderance of fixed quality within the heavenly 

bodies when you were born pointed to you as a 

person who always find it relatively difficult to 

change his mind once you made up your mind on 

very important issues. And as ambitious Saturn was 

the final dispositor (that is the only planet at home) 

when you were born, CAREER&IMAGE always take 

precedence over all other things when taking 

important and final decision. 

From distance others will see you as a tough and 

aggressive person but with less than 50% of pushfull 

influence in your chart you are actually not as 

difficult as others thought you are. Truly you are 

loving, caring and your sympathy can easily be 

aroused. Most of the time you prefer to attract what 

you want rather than go after such in straight 

aggressive way. However because you are an 

Aquarian nobody can take you for granted 

especially about your personal FREEDOM.. 

Placement of the Sun (the indicator of everybody’s 

inner-self and/or conscious self) also Moon (an 

indictor of emotion/sub-conscious self) in AQUARIUS 

and SAGITTARIUS respectively are indications of 

your being mainly an Aquarian and partly 

Sagittarian. Meaning that basic characteristics of the 

two Star signs, are highly pronounced in your innerself. 

VIRGINIA 

HOME & ABROAD 

dadadekola@yahoo.com 

By Lawrence Akapa



C-River Assembly probes alleged diversion 

of Bakassi relief materials 

By Emma Una 

C ALABAR—CROSS 

River State House of 

Assembly Committee 

investigating allegations of 

diversion of relief materials 

is to summon Senator 

Florence Ita-Giwa and 

other Bakassi leaders to 

give details of how 

materials supplied to the 

Internally Displaced 

Persons, IDP, in Bakassi 

were distributed. 

This follows allegations 

that some of the materials 

supplied by the National 

Commission for Refugees 

to the IDPs for the 

reconstruction of some 

houses razed in a fire at 

Atabong in January this 

year were diverted by some 

leaders of the area. 

A joint Committee of 

Health and Local 

Government Affairs set up 

by the House of Assembly, 

chaired by Mrs Regina 

Anyogor , the member 

representing Yala 1, to 

investigate the alleged 

diversion of the materials 

supplied by the National 

Commission for Refugees 

to the Bakassi refugees said 

that Senator Ita-Giwa has 

to explain how she 

distributed the items in her 

custody, even though she 

was the one who blew the 

whistle on the alleged 

diversion of some of the 

items. 

Anyogor said: “Senator 

Ita-Giwa took delivery of 

some relief items which 

were brought by the 

National Commission for 

Refugees three weeks ago 

and she and other leaders 

of Bakassi who also took 

delivery of materials would 

have to explain how the 

materials were distributed 

to the Bakassi IDPs for 

whom the items were 

meant.” 

She said that the 

committee was set up 

following a petition by three 

IDPs that some materials 

meant for the renovation of 

their buildings affected by 

fire outbreak in January 

were allegedly diverted by 

some leaders of the area. 

“This committee will 

ensure that every item is 

recovered from whoever 

may have misappropriated 

or diverted any of them and 

hand over same to the 

A-Ibom ex-Deputy Speaker's murder: 

Judgment fixed for August 4 

By Emmanuel 

Ayungbe 

U YO—JUSTICE 

Okon Okon of the 

Akwa Ibom State High 

Court sitting in Uyo, has 

adjourned till August 4, 

2017, for judgment in the 

case of the four persons 

charged with the murder of 

Okon Uwah, a former 

Deputy Speaker of the 

persons whom they are 

meant for,” she said. 

The Committee Chairman 

said that the Director- 

General of the State 

Emergency Management 

Agency, SEMA, Mr Jon 

Inaku had informed the 

committee during 

preliminary investigations 

that the items were 

delivered to the agency in 

Calabar and shared into 

three portions with Ita- 

Giwa taking some while 

Akwa Ibom State House of 

Assembly. 

The four accused are 

Effiom Jacob Abai, who was 

Vice Chairman of 

Ukanafun Local 

Government Area in the 

state at the time the former 

deputy speaker was killed, 

Simeon Udoikpe, Godwin 

Udo, aka Utip Udosip and 

Akaniyene Brown, aka 

Ekomobong Benson 

Udong. 

Warri South LG poll: I’ll improve on IGR 

if elected —Tete 

By Onozure Dania 

W ARRI—CHAIR- 

MAN, House 

Committee on 

Environment in Warri 

South Local Government 

Area, Legislative Arm, 

Delta State, Mr. Augustine 

Tete, has assured that he 

will improve on the 

Internally Generated 

Revenue (IGR) profile of 

the council to avoid overdependence 

on federal 

allocations if elected 

Chairman of the council in 

the forthcoming council 

elections in the state. 

The lawmaker, who is the 

current councillor 

representing Ubeji Ward in 

the council’s Legislative 

Arm, gave the assurance in 

a chat with newsmen at his 

Ubeji, Warri country home. 

Tete, a businessmancum-politician, 

stated that 

it was time for the rural area 

of Warri South council to 

produce the next chairman, 

hence his suitability as one 

who represents a rural 

ward in Warri, which has 

not had the opportunity to 

occupy the chairmanship 

position since the creation 

of the LGA. 

Promising to continue on 

the environmental 

sanitation legacy of the Mr. 

Matthew Edema 

administration in the 

council, the chairmanship 

hopeful, who is running on 

the Peoples Democratic 

Party, PDP, platform, 

disclosed that his priorities 

will be peace and security, 

efficient service delivery, 

youth empowerment, 

agriculture, skills 

acquisition and care for the 

aged. 

He affirmed his belief in 

party supremacy and 

pledged to always seek the 

wise counsel of party 

leaders in taking critical 

decisions so as to sustain 

the prevailing peace in the 

council. 

some were handed over to 

one Chief Udeme Okon 

for onward delivery to the 

people of Atabong, who 

reside in the water area. 

“Chief Udeme kept those 

items in his house at Ekpri 

Ikang and tried to get in 

touch with Senator Ita-Giwa 

but several efforts proved 

abortive until the Senator 

got wind that some items 

were with the man and 

went there and carted the 

items to the police station 

for safe keeping.” 

AWARD: From left: Mr. Gbenga Kolawole, Deputy Marketing Manager, 

Visibility and BTL, Tecno Mobile; Hamzat Quadris of Community Primary 

School, Ilupeju; Alfred Ogar, Coordinator, Talent Boom Initiative; Tom 

Divine, of Ilupeju Primary School; Saliu Sakayawu, of Majokolate Primary 

School and Attai Oguche, Deputy Marketing Manager, Offline Events and 

Sponsorships, Tecno Mobile Nigeria, at the TECNO Foundation scholarship 

award ceremony for public primary school pupils, marking Children's Day 

celebration as part of the Foundation's annual CSR initiatives, in Lagos. 

Uwah, who was the 

Ukanafun State 

Constituency candidate of 

the All Progressives 

Congress, APC, in the last 

general election, was killed 

in broad day light on 

March 18, 2015 while on 

house-to-house campaign 

along with other party 

faithful in Nkek village in 

Ukanafun. 

The murder was alleged 

to have been carried out by 

thugs sponsored by Abai, 

the 1st accused person in 

the case. 

At the moment, seven 

persons are being 

prosecuted before the 

judge over the murder as 

three other accused 

persons are standing trial 

separately, while judgment 

in the case had been 

adjourned to August 4. 

The state government had 

in 2015 slammed a threecount 

charge of conspiracy, 

murder and inflicting of 

grievous bodily harm on the 

four accused persons. 

The trial judge adjourned 

for judgment after the 

prosecuting team led by 

Friday Itim and defence 

lawyers led by Ekpenyong 

Ntekim, closed their cases. 

Ex-militants to FG: We’re 

running out of patience 

By Innocent Onoja 

B OMADI—NIGER 

Delta ex-militants 

have urged the Federal 

Government to, as matter 

necessity, clear backlog 

of all unpaid monthly 

allowances owed them, 

as well as housing 

allowances promised 

them during the 

disarmament segment of 

the amnesty programme, 

saying they were 

running out of patience. 

National chairman, 

Phase II ex-militants, Mr 

Stephen Ebisinte, who 

spoke with newsmen, 

noted that the exagitators 

had worked 

hard to ensure 

sustainable peace in the 

region for the well-being 

of the nation without 

being fairly treated by 

FIRS seals off Warri hotel 

over alleged tax default 

By Egufe 

Yafugborhi 

WARRI—IT was a 

show of shame for 

the management and 

embarrassment for guests 

at the Golden Tulip, Warri 

Airport Hotels, Effurun, 

Delta State, as the Federal 

Inland Revenue Service, 

FIRS, on Tuesday sealed off 

the hotel over alleged tax 

liabilities. 

Anita Erine, who led the 

tax body’s enforcement 

team on the exercise, said 

that the four-star hotel had 

accumulated Value Added 

Tax, VAT, liabilities of over 

the Federal Government. 

He noted that their 

monthly stipends had 

not been paid in the last 

six months which was not 

welcome by them and 

urged government to 

clear all outstanding 

arrears without further 

delay as such was not a 

good omen to the peace 

building process. 

He called on the 

Minister of Finance, Mrs 

Kemi Adeosun, to release 

approved funds to 

enable the Amnesty 

Office effect payment of 

the over-delayed 

outstanding arrears, 

stressing that such act of 

mistreatment “was not 

supposed to occur” when 

ex-militants have been 

working assiduously to 

maintain the peace in the 

region. 

N15.6 million through 2014 

to 2016 years of 

assessment. 

“The chairman of FIRS, 

Dr. Babatunde Fowler, had 

signed a warrant to seal this 

company and the only way 

we can do otherwise is for 

you to pay up what you owe 

or show proof that you have 

paid,” Erine told the hotel 

staff on ground. 

Efforts by one of the 

management staff on 

ground to explain that the 

hotel had not been in 

operation for the said 

assessment period proved 

abortive as the enforcement 

team insisted on 

documented proof. 

Delta community lauds LG boss 

for suspending youth activities 

By Ochuko Akuopha 

O 

L E H — 

INDIGENES 

of Emu-Ebendo 

community have 

commended the 

Chairman of Ndokwa 

West Local Government 

Area, Delta State, Mr. 

Chris Osakwe, for 

suspending youth 

activities which they said 

led to the leadership 

tussle that had torn the 

community apart. 

Rival camps in the 

community had been at 

loggerheads over who 

should control proceeds 

from a multinational oil 

company operating in 

the area. 

Lauding the council 

Chairman on behalf of 

the community, Mr. J. 

Enegide emphasized 

that the prevailing peace 

in Ebendo came as a 

result of the indefinite 

suspension of youth 

group activities. 

Burial 

SQUADRON Leader 

Godwin Atsimene 

who died on May 17, 

2017, at the age of 79, 

will be interred at the 

Military Cemetery, Ojo 

Barracks, today. He is 

survived by six children, 

grandchildren and 

siblings, among several 

other relatives. 

Late Sqn Ldr Atsimene



Quit Notice: Defend your oath of office, Northern youths tell 

political leaders 

•Call your youths to order, ASETU tells ACF, NEF 

•Don’t blame Uwazuruike for seeking peace—BIM 

•IPOB faults composition of Igbo leaders that met Osinbajo 

By Michael Eboh, 

Emmanuel Elebeke, 

Nwabueze 

Okonkwo & 

Ugochukwu Alaribe 

ABUJA: Youths from 19 

northern states under 

the aegis of Oil & Solid 

Mineral Producing Area 

Landlords’ Association of 

Nigeria, OMPALAN, 

yesterday, condemned the 

quit notice by a coalition of 

northern youths to citizens 

of Igbo extraction living in 

the northern part of 

Nigeria. 

This came as the 

Association of South East 

Town Unions, ASETU, 

urged the Arewa 

Consultative Forum, ACF, 

and the Northern Elders 

Forum, NEF, to call their 

youths to order, as the 

position of the youths is 

capable of worsening the 

fragile security situation in 

the country if not handled 

with care. 

OMPALAN in a 

statement signed by its 

Secretary, Mr. Steve Ogebe 

warned the sponsors of 

the controversial quit 

notice fronting as ‘coalition 

of northern youths’ to 

retrieve their treasonable 

statement immediately and 

let sleeping dogs lie. 

He said: “It is to be noted 

that Nigerians have built 

solid bridges of peace 

across ethnic and religious 

divides over the years, 

cementing age-long 

fissures that were generated 

by ethnic and religious 

bigotry. Nigeria is far from 

1966, making the success 

of ethnic war in 2017 very 

remote. 

“This means that an Igbo 

man will protect a 

northerner if threatened in 

the east and vice-versa. 

Mistakes have been made 

in the past by our political 

leaders and we cannot 

continue to live in the past 

as a progressive nation. Let 

us throw the bitter past into 

the trash can of history and 

forge ahead into the future 

as a people with a common 

destiny impelled by the rule 

of law.” 

Ogebe called on all 

Nigerians to unite across 

political and ideological 

divides in order to build the 

desired momentum to 

defend the country’s hardearned 

democracy from the 

common enemies of 

progress, who are working 

hard to control the levers of 

power for purely egocentric 

goals. 

He noted that it is the 

constitutionally guaranteed 

inalienable right of every 

citizen of Nigeria to live 

and work in any part of the 

country without any form of 

molestation or threat. 


orchestrated action by the 

so-called coalition of 

northern youths can 

provoke a dangerous 

domino effect across the 

length and breadth of 

sovereign Nigeria with the 

concomitant effect of 

plunging the country into 

an irreversible trauma if not 

confronted head-on. 

Ogebe cautioned 

aggrieved ethnic 

nationalities in Nigeria to 

exercise maximum restraint 

and avoid unguarded 

statements in order to 

sustain the polity. 

Call your youths to 

order, ASETU tells 

ACF, NEF 

On its part, Association of 

South East Town Unions, 

ASETU, described the 

ultimatum to Ndigbo as 

unwarranted, stressing 

that they did not commit 

any offence by observing a 

day of mourning in 

remembrance of over three 

million people of South 

East origin who were killed 

during the civil war, and 

ought not to be threatened 

with violence. 

The union commended 


and the security agencies 

for taking immediate 

actions to douse tension 

and forestall the execution 

of the threat, and urged 

them to do more to protect 

lives and property of all 

Nigerians living in the 

north. 

Addressing a press 

conference in Aba, 

chairman of ASETU, Chief 

Emeka Diwe, explained 

that the town unions being 

the democratic identity of 

Ndigbo, have been 

engaged in consultations 

with various groups in 

respect of the quit order 

and resolved to appeal to 

northern leaders to call their 

youths to refrain from 

utterances that could cause 

crisis. 

He said: “The South East 

Town Unions urge the 

Arewa Consultative Forum, 

Northern Elders, the 

President, northern 

members of the national 

assembly and all northern 

Houses of Assembly, to call 

these youths to order. Such 

a declaration is 

unwarranted. No one 

stands to gain from the 

unimaginable 

consequences of such 

threats if eventually 

executed. 

"Any misgiving held by 

the ethnic nationalities of 

Nigeria can be sorted out 

amicably. This moment 

provides us with an 

opportunity to come 

together on a nongovernmental 

platform to 

dialogue and brainstorm on 

options that make for 

lasting peace, 

development and national 

cohesion. A peaceful 

solution, no matter how 

expensive, is cheaper than 

the smallest war.” 

Don’t blame 

Uwazuruike for 

seeking peace, BIM 

tells critics 

Also, yesterday, Biafra 

Independence Movement, 

BIM, urged critics to stop 

blaming the founder of 

BIM and pioneer leader of 

Biafra agitators, Chief 

Ralph Uwazuruike, for 

trying to broker peace in the 

country instead of allowing 

another civil war to break 

out. 

BIM expressed concern 

that rather than praising 

Uwazuruike for his efforts 

so far in wanting to 

actualise Biafra in a 

peaceful manner, the critics 

are accusing him of 

compromising the 

struggle, which he initiated 

after Ojukwu fought and 

lost the war. 

BIM leader in Anambra 

State, Chief Arinze Igbani, 

who stated this in Onitsha, 

yesterday, while speaking 

to newsmen, said it was 

better to make peace with 

Ndigbo in the north than 

to stir violence against 

them. 

According to Igbani, 

“Uwazuruike is the father 

of all freedom fighters in 

Nigeria and founder of 

BIM, which is the main 

stream of freedom fighting. 

"I condemn the rumours 

making the rounds that 

Uwazuruike has sold 

Ndigbo or sold Biafra. 

“ I must emphasize that 

all other agitators in the 

country now are his offsprings 

and for 

Uwazuruike to travel all the 

way to the north to canvass 

for peace instead of 

violence does not mean a 

sell-out." 

IPOB faults 

composition of Igbo 

leaders that met 

Osinbajo 

Meantime, the 

Indigenous People of 

Biafra, IPOB, has 

condemned what it called 

a futile gathering of a few 

compromised political 

jobbers in Abuja, 

Wednesday, to speak about 

its activities and the quit 

notice given by northern 

youths to the Igbo. 

IPOB in a statement by its 

Media and Publicity 

PRESENTATION: From left, Compliance Officer, Lagos State Lotteries 

Board, Mr. Rowland Samuel; first set of winners of the Lagos Mega Raffle, Mr. 

Anaele Chinedu, Mr. Izekor Isaac, and consultant, Lagos Mega Raffle, Mr. 

Ayodele Soyombo, during the presentation of cheques to the Day 1 set of winners 

of the Lagos Mega raffle, in Lagos. 

Secretary, Comrade Emma 

Powerful, said the meeting 

was convened by the 

Acting President, following 

the political fallout from the 

hugely successful IPOB 

sit-at-home order of May 

30, 2017. 

“With one or two 

exceptions and with the 

greatest respect to the 

attendees to this Nigeriasponsored 

gathering in 

Abuja, the so-called South 

East delegation is in no 

way a true representation 

of the views and the 

leadership of IPOB 

worldwide, neither can 

they claim with any degree 

of sincerity to be speaking 

for the masses. 

“Therefore, all Professor 

Osinbajo has succeeded in 

achieving with this meeting 

is to waste scarce resources 

that could have been 

channelled towards more 

useful purposes. None of 

those that attended this 

meeting with Osinbajo 

gave the order for people 

to sit at home on May 30. 

So, we don't understand 

the justification for their 

invitation to the meeting to 

discuss something they 

know nothing about. 

“From time, we firmly 

resolved that nobody 

among the governors or 

politicians can set an 

agenda for IPOB except 

our leader, Mazi Nnamdi 

Kanu. The sooner Nigerian 

government understands 

this, the better. 

"Therefore, any meeting 

without the consent of our 

leader or those nominated 

by him in a representative 

capacity, is a complete 

waste time, exercise in 

futility and unacceptable to 

IPOB.” 

Anambra, one of the safest states in Nigeria — Obiano 

By Vincent 

Ujumadu 

AWKA— GOVERNOR 

Willie Obiano of 

Anambra State has 

described the state as one 

of the safest in the country, 

saying his administration 

had battled criminals to 

such a point they were 

forced out of the state. 

The governor, who spoke 

in Awka as part of activities 

marking the 50th 

anniversary of the Law 

Teachers Association of 

Nigeria, recalled that the 

state was a safe haven for 

criminals, particularly 

kidnappers, before he 

became governor, adding 

that he was able to cleanse 

the state of such characters 

because he placed law 

and order as precondition 

for growth and 

development. 

He said: “Anambra State 

stands out today as a 

shining example of what a 

people can achieve if they 

make unrelenting efforts to 

place law and order and 

national security as a 

precondition for national 

growth and development. 

“Anyone who is familiar 

with the Anambra narrative 

would remember that for 

decades, our beloved state 

was held down by 

lawlessness and insecurity, 

which made all efforts at 

meaningful development 

totally impossible. 

“At a point in time, 

Anambra could almost pass 

for a postcard of disorder 

and insecurity, but our story 

has changed in just three 

years. 

“We have made rapid 

progress from being an 

address for lawlessness to 

an oasis of peace and a 

destination for wise 

investors.” 

He said the idea of 

holding the law teachers 

conference in the state 

would have been 

inconceivable in the past, 

noting: “But we have 

changed our story and if 

we can do it, then Nigeria 

can do it even better.” 

Nigerians warned against unregistered 

packaged water 

NATIONAL President, 

Association of Table 

Water Producers of Nigeria, 

ATWAP, Dame Clementina 

Chinwe Ativie, has called 

on Nigerians not to 

patronise package water 

not registered by National 

Agency for Food, Drug 

Administration and 

Control, NAFDAC. 

Dame Ativie, who made 

the call in Lagos during 

ATWAP election where 

Alhaji Isa Adeoye emerged 

Lagos chairman, said a lot 

of unregistered water now 

flood the country and 

urged NAFADAC to help 

tackle the menace. 

She said unregistered 

packaged water producers 

are giving the association 

a bad name, adding: “Ours 

is an association that 

respects the rule of law. Our 

members, I make bold to 

say, are registered and also 

do our business as duly 

registered NAFDAC 

members. We call on the 

body to intensify its effort 

in ensuring that illegal 

packaged water producers 

are stopped.” 

She urged all registered 

members to see themselves 

as one big family 

irrespective of who won 

and lost at the election.



30 UNILORIN professors jostle for VC's post 

By Demola 

Akinyemi 

ILORIN—NO fewer than 

30 professors at the 

University of Ilorin, 

UNILORIN, have signified 

interest to contest for the 

office of Vice Chancellor of 

the institution. 

The current Vice 

By Ben Agande 

K 

A D U N A — 

YESTERDAY, the 

inability of counsel to 

Nigerian Army and the 

Chief of Army Staff to 

identify and argue against 

abuse of court process in the 

suit filed by leader of the 

Shiite sect, Sheikh Ibrahim 

El-Zakzaky, over abuse of 

his rights, following the 

destruction of his 

headquarters in Zaria and 

the death of three of his 

children, forced the Federal 

High Court, Kaduna, to 

adjourn the case to June 30, 

for definite hearing. 

The Nigerian Army and 

the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. 

General Tukur Buratai, are 

the two respondents in the 

case. 

The counsel, Hussein 

Oyebanji, told the 

presiding judge, Justice 

Saleh Shuaibu, that he was 

not familiar with the case. 

He stood in for the lead 

defence counsel, Biola 

Oyebanji, who was absent 

in court. 

At the resumed hearing 

yesterday in Kaduna, 

counsel to El-Zakzaky, 

Femi Falana (SAN), 

moved an application for 

the regularisation of the 

processes that he had 

filed out of time. 

However, when 

Oyebanji, counsel to the 

Nigerian Army and the 

Chief of Army Staff, was 

invited by the presiding 

judge to identify and 

argue the motion of 

objection earlier filed, he 

told the judge that he was 

not conversant with the 

case. 

The following exchange 

ensued between the 

judge and the counsel: 

Judge: Can you conduct 

this case? 

Counsel: We will wait for 

the substantive counsel. 

Femi Falana: I have 

never heard that one 

before. 

The judge then 

adjourned the case to June 

30 to enable the defence 

identify and argue his 

motion. 

Chancellor, Professor 

Abdulganiyu Ambali, will 

vacate the office by October 

16 when he would have 

completed his five-year 

single term tenure. 

Some of the aspirants are 

the current Deputy Vice 

Chancellor, Management 

Services, Professor 

Adedayo Abdulkareem; 

former Dean, Faculty of 

Business and Social 

Sciences, Professor Hassan 

Saliu; Dean, Faculty of Arts, 

Professor Ahmad 

Abdulsalam; Professor 

Adebayo Lawal of Faculty 

of Arts; former Vice 

Chancellor, Al-Hikma 

University, Ilorin, 

presently, Director of 

Laboratory to Product 

Centre of the university; 

Professor Sulyam 

Abdulkareem. 

Vanguard gathered from 

sources that the powers 

that be in the university 

want the new VC to emerge 

from outside Ilorin Emirate 

this time, since Professor 

Ambali is from Ilorin. 

El-Zakzaky: Nigerian Army 

counsel fails to identify motion 

EL-ZAKZAKY vs NIGERIAN ARMY: Lead counsel for Sheikh 

Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, Femi Falana (SAN) (right) and Festus Okoye, at the 

hearing of Zakzaky vs Nigerian Army and Chief of Army Staff at the Federal 

High Court, Kaduna, yesterday. PHOTO: Olu Ajayi. 

Falana's reaction 

Speaking after the 

adjournment, Falana 

cautioned against footdragging 

in the case, 

noting “we cannot 

challenge a violation of 

human rights that occur in 

a particular state outside 

that state, because the 

destruction took place in 

Kaduna and it shall be 

determined in the state 

where the violation of 

human rights took place.” 

He said since the 

government has pledged 

to operate within the 

confines of Rule of Law, it 

must uphold orders of a 

competent court, arguing 

that it was Zakzaky today 

and might be another 

person tomorrow. 

His words: “This 

government has pledged 

to operate under the Rule 

of Law, so for that reason, 

by virtue of Section 387 of 

the Constitution, all 

authorities and persons are 

bound by judgement. 

“So a government that 

goes to court everyday to 

ask for justice cannot go 

there to justify disobedience 

to court order. This is 

barbaric and primitive. We 

are not going to allow that.” 

Constituents move to recall Kogi 

Majority Leader over ‘insensitivity’ 

•We'll investigate—APC 

By Boluwaji 

Obahopo 

L 

O K O J A — 

MANY people from 

Kabba/Bunu State 

Constituency of Kogi State, 

yesterday, disowned the 

member representing them 

at the state Assembly, 

Matthew Kolawole. 

The protesters, who 

moved from All 

Progressives Congress, 

APC, secretariat to the 

Resident Commissioner, 

Independent National 

Electoral Commission, 

INEC, Kogi State and 

Resident Electoral Officer, 

Kabba/Bunu Local 

Government of Kogi State, 

requested INEC to provide 

recall forms for Kolawole’s 

removal. 

In a letter by the 

protesters, presented to 

INEC, signed by their 

spokesman, Michael 

Adekunle, read: “Pursuant 

to Section 110A and B of the 

1999 Constitution of the 

Federal Republic of 

Nigeria (as amended), 

which empowers mandate 

givers to recall their 

member of House of 

Assembly whose activities 

fall short of expectations 

and not a promise keeper, 

we write to request for forms 

to initiate process to recall 

Mathew Kolawole, 

member of Kogi State 

House of Assembly, 

representing Kabba/Bunu 

constituency. 

“Some of the reasons 

responsible for our 

intention to invoke the 

recall clause bordered on 

insensitivity, lack of 

constant report of activities 

of the House to its 

constituency, failure on 

oversight functions and 

sundry behaviour 

unbefitting of a 

lawmaker.” 

At the party secretariat, 

the state’s Chairman of 

APC, Haddy Ametuo, said 

the action of the legislator 

will be fully investigated 

by the party, adding that 

“we will act as requested 

by thousands of the 

constituents.” 

Kaduna loses 37,000 

fowls to Bird Flu 

By Ben Agande 

THE Kaduna State 

government has 

disclosed that poultry 

farmers in the state lost 

more than 37,000 birds to 

Avian Influenza (Bird 

Flu) between January 

and May this year. 

While 21,400 of the 

birds died as a direct 

result of infection, 16,300 

were culled by officials of 

the state Ministry of 

Agriculture to stop the 

spread of the disease to 

other farms. 

Director of Veterinary 

Service in the state 

Ministry of Agriculture, 

Dr. Samuel Dogo, who 

was represented by the 

Avian Influenza Desk 

Officer in the Ministry, 

Dr. Abel Williams, told 

Vanguard the ministry 

By Demola 

Akinyemi 

I LORIN—RETIRED 

police officers in Kwara 

State, on the platform of 

Association of Retired 

Police Officers of Nigeria, 

ARPON, have called for 

their exclusion from the 

Contributory Pension 

Scheme, saying it is 

detrimental to their 

interest. 

Chairman of the group, 

CSP Yakubu Abdul 

(retd.), made the call in a 

statement in Ilorin, 

yesterday. 

He said: “We are using 

this medium to express 

our willingness and 

desire as police 

pensioners under this 

scheme, to be excluded 

from the Contributory 

was embarking on massive 

sensitisation campaign 

across the state to 

enlighten poultry farmers 

and live bird sellers on 

early signs of Avian 

Influenza and how to stop 

its spread. 

He said after the first 

outbreak in January, the 

state government 

approved funds for 

disinfectant that would be 

used to decontaminate the 

affected farms. 

He noted that the 


supposed to compensate 

farmers whose birds were 

killed, but for the backlog 

of compensation this 

administration inherited. 

He added that the 

Acting President 

approved N1.7 billion for 

the backlog of payments 

to be made. 

Policemen seek exclusion 

from pension scheme 

By Marie-Therese 

Nanlong 

JOS—THE Joint Union 

of Plateau Stateowned 

Tertiary 

Institutions, JUPTI, 

yesterday, staged a 

peaceful protest at the 

premises of the state 

House of Assembly, 

demanding that their 

members be exempted 

from the proposed 

contributory pension 

scheme bill pending 

before the House, and 

the Treasury Single 

Account, TSA, being 

implemented in the state. 

The protesters, who 

came out in their 

numbers, also kicked 

against what they 

described as ‘secret 

Pension Scheme. 

“We, police pensioners, 

know where the shoe is 

pinching us. The scheme 

is seriously dealing with 

us. The much-anticipated 

benefit of the contributory 

pension scheme we 

(police pensioners) are 

operating now has turned 

out to be a mirage.” 

He commended 

members of the House of 

Representatives for 

passing the bill for an Act 

to amend the Pension 

Reform Act 2014, to 

exclude members of the 

Nigeria Police Force, 

Nigeria Security and Civil 

Defence Corps, Nigeria 

Customs and Immigration 

Service from the 

application of Contributory 

Pension Scheme and other 

related matters. 

... Plateau workers, too 

recruitment’ going on in 

the state. 

It warned the Assembly 

against the dangers of 

introducing the 

contributory pension 

scheme to its members. 

Leading the protest, 

JUPTI Chairman, Mr. Paul 

Dakogol, explained that the 

said bill gave protection to 

the government at the 

expense of workers, 

adding that workers would 

not risk their money being 

deducted without 

government living up to 

expectation. 

Responding, Speaker of 

the House, Mr. Peter Azi, 

commended the union for 

being peaceful and 

assured that the state 

government was a workerfriendly 

one.


FOR nearly two weeks 

now the entire news 

space has been filled with 

what a LEADERSHIP editorial 

correctly described as “the 

valorisation of secessionist 

hubris.” 

The purveyors, sponsors and 

foot soldiers must immediately 

stop this nonsense. 

In apparent reaction to the 

irresponsible and unrestrained 

comments of the leader 

of the Indigenous People of 

Biafra (IPOB), Mr. Nnamdi 

Kanu, some clowns, under the 

umbrella of the so-called coalition 

of Arewa youths, held 

two press conferences last 

week in Kaduna, during 

which they gave Igbos a ridiculous 

ultimatum to leave all 

parts of the North by October 

1 and also for all Northerners 

in the South East to return to 

the North. 

Since then, virtually every 

ethnic champion has spoken 

in the name of one ethnic 

group or another for, against 

or in-between. Secession is 

the new demand for states and 

local governments. 

Rubbish. 

Video game kids 

For too long, post-1967/70 

children who didn’t experience 

Nigeria’s civil war have 

been playing with fire. They 

have been behaving as if war 

is just another video game, in 

which contestants can score 

points without bloodshed and 

Biafra, quit notice and all that 

nonsense 

real-life consequences. 

War costs more than data 

plan on a digital device; it’s 

more than virtual experience 

on a console. Nigeria’s civil 

war cost more than one million 

lives, displaced and disrupted 

the lives of millions more, 

and left even a greater number 

stranded with permanent 

scars. 

Forty-seven years after the 

war ended, the country has yet 

to recover and both the Igbo 

and non-Igbo political elite 

have been hand-in-glove in 

betraying any hopes for genuine 

progress. 

No lessons have been learnt. 

This is largely because the older 

generation whose responsibility 

it is to shine the light 

and call the rascals on all sides 

to order prefer to play politics 

with the country’s future. 

Those who are not playing 

politics are maintaining criminal 

silence, which is just as 

reprehensible. 

Tail wags the dog 

It’s time to call a spade by 

its name. When Kanu was released 

on bail on April 28 most 

well-meaning Nigerians 

across ethnic lines who had 

called for his release, genuinely 

believed that he would respect 

his bail bond by disciplined 

and restrained conduct, 

especially in his public utterances. 

But no. Not only did 

he dishonour 

his bond, he 

persisted in 

making inciting 

and vexatious 

comments 

and behaved as 

if the installation 

of the Republic 

of Biafra 

at which he 

would be 

crowned the 

new potentate 

was only days 

away. MAS- 

SOB leader, 

Ralph Uwazuruike, 

has also 

been trying to 

out-trash 

Kanu’s war 

and secessionist 

rhetoric. 

On May 29 

IPOB/MAS- 

SOB organised 

and led the 

shutdown of 

many parts of 

the South East, 

with mobs subjecting 

those 

who wanted to 

continue their 

normal lives to 

violent attacks. 

Police and 

fishwives 

Strangely, 

the police and 

the entire security 

apparatus 

looked on. 

Strangely, too, 

the governors 

of the entire 

South East and 

their political 

leaders, including Senator 

Enyinnaya Abaribe, who posted 

Kanu’s bail bond, turned a 

blind eye. Are we a serious 

people? 

Kanu’s conduct and utterances 

since his release on bail are 

deplorable; but no less deplorable 

are the so-called Arewa 

youths and their “Kaduna Declaration.” 

The fellows have no right 

under the constitution of the 

Federal Republic of Nigeria to 

deploy a traffic sign, much 

less order fellow citizens to 

leave their places of residence. 

That ultimatum was an insult 

on our collective sensibilities 

and must be condemned. 

If the current feeble political 

leadership had not infected 

our security services and 

Kanu’s conduct 

and utterances 

since his 

release on bail 

are deplorable; 

but no less 

deplorable are 

the so-called 

Arewa youths 

and their Kaduna 

Declaration 

turned the police into fishwives, 

Uwazuruike, Kanu and 

the Arewa youth jokers will all 

be in custody by now; they 

have become a danger to themselves 

and to the society. I 

laugh when the Inspector 

General of Police and his men 

pretend not know where the 

fellows are. 

Bad examples 

I’m also appalled by the 

mushrooming of ethnic groups 

whose singular purpose appear 

to be how to break up 

Nigeria and leave with their 

own fragments of the whole. 

From Yugoslavia to the Soviet 

Union to Sudan, breakups 

have hardly ended in the romantic 

tales canvassed by the 

instigators. 

Of course, diversity and 

multiculturalism have their 

challenges, but there’s not a 

single one of the countries 

mentioned above that was not 

better off and more prosperous 

together than they are today. 

To put it bluntly, all the 

countries are worse off. 

It’s been said in some quarters 

that after watching the 

South West produce a president 

on the heels of the OPC 

terror; the South South getting 

the same chance after 

Niger Delta gangs held the 

country hostage; and the 

North using Boko Haram to 

pave the way for Buhari, 

South East youths want to 

take the same violent route to 

power. 

The subtext is more complex 

than it seems; yet there are 

those who think that if two 

wrongs don’t make a right, 

we might as well try a third. 

Tough times 

There’s no point living in 

denial. The country is facing 

difficult times: millions of 

youths cannot find meaningful 

jobs, while millions more 

cannot get a decent education. 

The few who get it cannot 

get a fair chance to compete, 

while infrastructure is 

breaking at the seams. 

Families across the length 

and breadth of this land are 

eking out a living with increasing 

difficulty, while the 

government grapples with a 

telling recession. It’s tough; 

and the harsh times appear to 

have made Nigerians more 

vulnerable to exploitation by 

ethnic and religious chauvinists 

and bigots. 

Yet, in spite of the odds, 

there is strength in Nigeria’s 

diversity and promise in its 

vibrant market of 180 million 

people. 

The conflict resolution mechanism 

is flawed; and because 

of the lack of transparency at 

the centre the states are getting 

away with murder. 

Power to the people 

Should there be more devolution 

of powers and responsibilities 

to the states? Yes. 

But you only need to inspect 

the havoc in many of the 

states to understand that until 

citizens themselves begin 

to hold governments at all 

levels to account, 180 million 

countries out of Nigeria will 

produce the same result. 

We’ve seen it play out in fallen 

nations: those who valorise 

secessionist hubris or who 

cannot tolerate others that are 

not like themselves will ultimately 

replace one form of 

tyranny with another. The 

nonsense must stop. 

Ishiekwene is the MD/Editor-In-Chief 

of The Interview 

magazine and board member 

of the Paris-based Global Editors 

Network

Cc: 

GM/EiC, Editor, Admin Manager 


OGBEBOR 

I, formerly known and 

addressed as Ogbebor 

E. Nancy, now wish to 

be known and 

addressed as Mrs. 

Asoore Nancy. All 

former documents 

remain valid. General 

public please take note. 

KALU 


addressed as Miss 

Kalu Nnenna Stella 

Oma, now wish to be 

known and addressed 

as Mrs. Hunga 

Nnenna Stella Oma. 

All former documents 



NDUKWE 


addressed as Ndukwe 

Christian, now wish to 

be known and 

addressed as 

Nduchukwu Christian 

Ndubuisi. All former 

documents remain 

valid. General public 

please take note. 

MARYANN 

ANN 

Correction of Name 

My name was wrongly 

written as Uzoma 

Maryann Chinwendu, 

instead of Uzoma 

Mirian Chinwendu. 

My correct name is 

Uzoma Mirian 

Chinwendu. All former 


valid. First Bank and 

general public please 

take note. 

NGOZI 

Confirmation of Name 

This is to confirm that the 

names Marcillina Ngozi 

Oguikeakamady, Marvis 

Ngozi Akamady and 

Mercillina Ngozi Akamady 

refer to one and the same 

me. I now wish to be 

known and addressed as 

Mercillina Ngozi 

Akamady. All former 

documents remain valid. 

First Bank and general 


UWAGA 



Uwaga Joy Ego, now 

wish to be known and 


Nsoha Joy Ego. All 




ARUSU 

USUAYINE 



Franca Arusuayine, 

now wish to be known 

and addressed as Mrs. 

Franca Christopher 

Ejoh. All former 




ELETU 



Eletu Munirat 

Olamide, now wish to 

be known and 


Oyewole Munirat 

Olamide Eletu. All 




IFEANYI 


addressed as 

Okonkwo Ifeanyi 

Valentine, now wish to 

be known and 

addressed as 

O k o n k w o 

Ifeanyichukwu 

Valentine. All former 




JEREMIAH 


addressed as Jeremiah 

Hope Aneju, now wish 

to be known and 

addressed as Onoja 

Hope Aneju. All 




ESOBHAWAN 



Esobhawan Bernadette 

Iziengbe, now wish to be 


Mrs. Unuigbe Bernadette 

Iziengbe. All former 


Michael Okpara 

University of Agriculture, 

Umudike and the general 


DIKE 



Violet Chimezie Dike, 



Violet Chimezie 

Ezeonyeikedi. All 




ESEOSA 


addressed as 

Iyengunmwena 

Eseosa, now wish to be 


as Mrs. Isarue Eseosa. 




ANI 



Helen Ani, now wish 



Helen Ngozi 

Okonkwo. All former 



take note. 

ATIB 

TIBA 



Feyikemi Temitayo 

Atiba, now wish to be 


as Oluwakemi 

T e m i t a y o 

Adetokunboh. All 



public take note. 

ADEDEJI 


addressed as Pastor 

Israel Olushola Adedeji 


and addressed as Pastor 

Shola Adedeji-Fesojaye. 

Christ Apostolic Church 

worldwide, Olabisi 

Onabanjo University 

Religious Studies Dept 

and Life Theological 

Seminary Badagry 

campus take note.. 

EKAMA 



Ekama Emejero 

Loveth, now wish to be 


as Mrs. Ewhubare 

Emejero Loveth. All 


remain valid. Banks 

and general public 


NWABUISI 



Susan Nwadinma 

Nwabuisi, now wish to 

be known and 


Susan Nwadinma 

Okoh. All former 




OLATUNDE 


addressed as 

Monsurudeen 

Olatunde Ismaila, now 


addressed as Ismaila 

Monsuru Tunde. All 




MAINA 


addressed as 

Mohammed Maina 

Ma’aji, now wish to be 


as Mohammed Ma’aji. 




FAB 

ABUL 

ULOUS 


addressed as Fabulous 

Ita Essien, now wish to 

be known and 

addressed as Uwem 

Ita Essien. All former 




EKPONG 



Margaret Ekpong 

Ashape, now wish to be 


as Mrs. Margaret 

Friday Ashape. All 




ADEGBOLA 


addressed as 

Adegbola Nofiu Lekan, 


and addressed as 

Agbenuagbo Nofiu 

Lekan. All former 




IYIP 


addressed as Iyip 

Dolyn Akrasi, now 


addressed as Dolyn 

Essienta Emma Akrasy. 




SOYOMBO 

OMBO 


addressed as Doris 

Kofoworola Soyombo, 



Doris Kofoworola 

Johnson Obanikoro. 




ADESEUN 


addressed as Adebola 

Abosede Adeseun, 



Adebola Abosede 

Temitope. All former 




AMEH 


addressed as Erico 

Joseph Ameh, now 


addressed as Ameh 

Joseph Anone Erico. 



public please take 

note. 

AMRAYE 



Amraye Charity, now 


addressed as Mrs 

Charity Sodje. All 




EGURE 



Egure Henrietta 

Arimibinu, now wish 



Atibere Henrietta 

Arimiyo. All former 



take note. 

JACOB 



Jacob Blessing 

Ejomafuvwe and 

Blessing Isodje, now 



Isodje Blessing 

Egbeta. All former 



take note. 

AGWU 


addressed as Daniel 

Chukwu Agwu, now 


addressed as Daniel 

Chukwu. All former 



take note. 

OSAYI 

YI 



Nancy Osayi 

Enenikhare, now wish 



Nancy Owie Johnson. 




OKONJI 

ONJI 



Okonji Nwakaego 

Mary, now wish to be 


as Mrs Okocha 

Nwakaego Mary. All 




ATUL 

TULUKU 

UKU 



Ojunugwa Christy 

Atuluku, now wish to 

be known and 


Pekis Christy. All 




FAL 

ALODE 


addressed as Anthonia 

Veronica Uje Falode, 



Anthonia Veronica Uje 

Ajayi. All former 




AMUZIE 



Chidinma Lynda 

Amuzie, now wish to 

be known and 

Addressed as Mrs 

Chidinma Lynda 

Ezewusim. All former 



please take note.


AUDU OLALI SABI 

NORA KANOS ADE 


This is to confirm that the 

names Alhaji Ahmed 

Audu, Alhaji Audu 

Ahmed Tijani and Alhaji 

Ahmed Shehu Tijani refer 

to one and the same me. I 


and addressed as Alhaji 

Ahmed Shehu Tijani 

Audu. All former 


General public please take 

note. 



Juliet Inie Olali, now 



Juliet Inie Omo- 

Oyiboh Russia. All 






Sabi Seiyefa 

Christiana, now wish 



Ikoli Seiyefa 

Christiana. All former 





addressed as Payee 

Filese Nora and Payee 

Filese Erekere, now 


addressed as Feboke 

Erekere. All former 





addressed as Kanos 

Ebizimor, now wish to 

be known and 

addressed as Kanos 

Dorathy Ebizimor. All 




AYUBA KEVWE ALI OFEIMU WOKO 

Addition of Name 


addressed as Ayuba 

Princess now wish to be 


Ayuba Princess Agovwe, 

that my name Ayuba 

Princess Agovwe was 

wrongly written as Ayuba 

Princess Auyowe in my 

voter’s card. All former 


First Bank PLC and general 



This is to notify the 

general public that 

Emuobosa Justice 

Kevwe, Emobosa Gift 

Oghenekevwe and 

Emuobosa Oghenekevwe 

Gift now wish to be known 


Emuobosa Justice 

Kevwe. All former 


General public take note. 



Rose Ali Emeyi and 

Caroline Emeyi, now 



Rose Israel Sandy. All 


remain valid, general 




Omonefe Patience 

Ofeimu, now wish to 

be known and 


Omonefe Patience 

Alegbe. All former 


valid, general public 




Mary–Ann Ejiuwaka 

Woko, now wish to be 


as Mrs. Mary-Ann 

Ejiuwaka Opusunju. 


remain valid, general 




Ade Rukevwe 

Augustina, now wish 



Eguridu Tina. All 




TYOUGH 


addressed as Tyough 

Faith Sewuese, now 


addressed as Isah 

Faith Sewuese. All 




ODUARAN HASSAN OVWIE OREKEVWIE OWHEFERO OGBOBORE 


addressed as 

Oduaran Queen, now 


addressed as Uje 

Queen. All former 


valid, any authority it 

may concern and the 

general public to take 

note. 


addressed as Naomi 

Adamu Hassan, now 


addressed as Naomi 

Solomon. All former 


valid, any authority it 

may concern and the 


note. 


addressed as Mr 

Ovwie Alex, now wish 


addressed as Mr 

Ovwiere Alex. All 






Orekevwie J. Tejiri, 


and addressed as Mrs 

Tejiri Jane James. All 





addressed as 

Owhefero Christiana 

Oghenekome, now 


addressed as Okrotor 

C h r i s t i a n a 

Oghenekome. All 


remain valid. First 

Bank PLC and general 




Gloria Adjarho 

Ogbobore, now wish to 

be known and 


Gloria Adjarho 

Agadagba. All former 



take note. 

CHIMA UDALOR OKWOCHI AGBADA EDEVWIE OGUNSOLA 



Chima Loveth 

Onyinyechi, now wish 



Diweke Loveth 

Onyinyechi. All former 






Udalor Chioma, now 



Ilechukwu Nicole 

Chioma. All former 






Okwochi Ezinne 

Chiamaka, now wish to 

be known and 


Ugwu Ezinne 

Chiamaka. All former 




Confirmation of Names 

These names Dennis 

Agbada, Agbada 

Divine.D.O, Agbada Okezi 

Dennis, Divine Agbada, 

which appeared on my 

documents belong to the 

same person, now to bear 

Agbada Divine Dennis 

Okezi.all former 

documents remain valid 

and general public to take 

note. 

I, formerly known as 

Miss Edevwie Elohor 

Florence, now wish to 

be known and 


Ashegba-Edewor 

Elohor Florence. All 


remain valid and 


note. 

I, formerly known as 

Mr. Ogunsola Samuel 

Sunday Olajide, now 


addressed as Mr. 

Oluwasola Samuel 

Sunday Olajide. All 


remain valid and 


note. 

OGUNSOLA OGUNSOLA OLANREWAJU NWAGWU OSUDO EGWUOM 


addressed as Juliana 

Oluwatoyin Ogunsola, 



Juliana Oluwatoyin 

Oluwasola. All former 


valid and general 

public to take note. 



Emmanuel Oluwaseun 

Ogunsola, now wish to 

be known and 


Emmanuel Oluwaseun 

Oluwasola. All former 


valid and general 

public to take note. 



Olanrewaju Christy 

Bosede, now wish to 

be known and 


Okafor Christy 

Bosede. All former 





addressed as Prisca 

Kechinyere Nwagwu, 



Prisca Kechinyere 

Maduh. All former 






Osudo Florence 

Oghenewairhe, now 


addressed Mrs. 

Aseroraye Florence 

Oghenewairhe. All 






Egwuom Blessing, 



Oakhena Blessing. All 




ONUWUMERE ODUMA ONOWOTU IKHALIA THOMAS OFUA 


addressed as Bright 

U g o c h u k w u 

Onuwumere, now wish 


addressed as Bright 

U g o c h u k w u 

Emerieonwu. All 





addressed as Oduma 

Jacinta Oghenekevwe, 


and addressed as Mrs 

Jacinta Oghenekevwe 

Matthew. All former 






Oghogho Freda 

Onowotu, now wish to 

be known and 


Oghogho Freda Fueta. 






Mary Ikhalia, now 



Mary Ikhalia 

Ayankele. All former 





addressed as 

Erivradhe Thomas, 



E r i v r a d h e 

Oghenebrozie 

Thomas. All former 






Ofua Afure Josephine, 



Alabi Josephine 

Olajumoke-Afure. All 




EVABETA YAKUBU EMUNEMU ADIBUA OKONKWO UVWERHI 



Evabeta Yenrhovbo 

Vivian, now wish to be 


as Mrs. Evabeta 

Vivian Oladele. All 





I, Ebuesomhi Abdul- 

Rahman hereby confirm 

that the names Yakubu 

Abdulraman and 

Abdulrahman Yakubu 

Ebuesomhi refer to one 

and same me. I now wish 


addressed as Ebuesomhi 

Abdul-Rahman. All former 


General public please take 

note. 



Emunemu Stella 

Erhuvwu, now wish to 

be known and 


Okpako Stella 

Erhuvwu .E. All former 





addressed as Adibua 

Samson Uzochukwu, 



Joseph Samson 

Uzochukwu. All former 





addressed as Onyema 

Lucky, now wish to be 


as Onyema Okonkwo 

Lucky. All former 





This is to confirm that 

the name Uvwerhi 

Stella, Uvwerhi 

Udemebraye Stella and 

Okoro Stella, refer to 

one and the same 

person, now wish to be 


as Okoro Stella. All 



public please take note.


OMONOSEH 



Omonoseh Onoriode 

Theresa, now wish to 

be known and 


Atobamrere Theresa 

Onoriode. All former 




EDENO 



Edeno Sarah, now 



Obrogo Sarah Edeno. 




NWASI 


addressed as 

Chukwuemeka 

Anselem Nwasi, now 


addressed as 

Chukwuemeka 

Anselem Nwasinachi. 




ANIWHERE 

Correction of Name 

This is to inform the 

public that my name 

Aniwhere Rukevwe 

Elizabeth was 

wrongly spelt in my 

documents. I now 

wish to be known as 

Erhirhie Rukevwe 

Elizabeth. All former 




EGHWUBARE 



Abigail A. Eghwubare, 



Abiagail A. Obiazu. All 



public to please take 

note. 

IGWE 

I, formerly known 

and Address as Miss 

Igwe Adaora Ifunanya, 



Anigbo Adaora 

Ifunanya. All former 




SPACE 

FOR 

SALE 

GLO: From left— Oyo State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Abayomi 

Oke; Glo subscriber, Hanafi Mohammed, and comedian, Kenny Blaq, at the 

Ibadan edition of the ongoing mega comedy tour, Glo Laffta Fest. 

CONFAB: From left— President/CEO, Bervidson Group, Mr. Joseph 

Ebata; CEO, Ruff and Tumble, Mrs. Adenike Ogunlesi; Consul-General of South 

Africa in Lagos, Mr. Darkey Africa; and Creative Director, Xclamations, Tomi 

Rotimi, during the Retail Leaders Conference in Lagos. 

AWARDS: From left— Marketing Director, Mrs. Ronke Osho; Commercial 

Director, Mr. Dimeji Osingunwa, both of Mouka Limited; and CEO, Rosemary’s 

Soft Furnishing Company, Mrs. Ezinne Kufre-Ekanem, al holding plaques 

and certificates at the African Brand Leadership Merit Awards 2017. 

AGM: From left— Honourary Treasurer, International Chamber of 

Commerce Nigeria, Mrs Dorothy Ufot; Chairman, International Chamber of 

Commerce Nigeria and Regional Coordinator, Sub Saharan Africa, Mr. 

Babatunde Savage; Secretary General, Mrs Olubunmi Osuntuyi, and Chairman, 

International Chamber of Commerce Nigeria, Arbitrations &ADR Commission, 

Professor Gabriel Olawoyin, during the Chamber's 18th Annual General Meeting 

By Joseph Erunke 

A 

B U J A — 

INTERNATIONAL 

human rights 

organisation, Amnesty 

International, yesterday, 

dismissed the outcome of 

report of the Nigerian 

Army Special Board of 

Inquiry on alleged 

killings of innocent 

people in the North East, 

protesters in the South 

East and other forms of 

rights violations levelled 

against Army personnel 

involved in internal 

security operations in the 

country. 

The agency, however, 

called for the 

establishment of a 

presidential commission 

of inquiry to probe the 

allegations. 

Reacting to the Army 

report, Director of 

Amnesty International, 

Nigeria, Osai Ojigho, 

said in a statement: “We 

stand by the findings of 

our research and our call 

for an investigation that 

is independent, impartial 

and thorough; criteria 

that this panel clearly did 

not meet. 

‘’We maintain that the nine 

senior commanders named 

in our report should be the 

subject of an effective and 

independent investigation. 

“To this end, we welcome 

the panel’s recommendation 

:Vanguard News 

Amnesty International 

faults Army panel report 

•Seeks establishment of presidential probe panel 

ICDU in US donates 

furniture to schools in Ibusa 

By Elizabeth 

Uwandu 

IBUSA—MEMBERS of 

Ibusa Community 

Development Union, ICDU, 

in Dallas, United States of 

America, have donated 

more than 1,000 tables and 

chairs to all governmentowned 

primary and 

secondary schools in Ibusa, 

Oshimili-North Local 

Government Area of Delta 

state. 

Making the donation at 

the premises of Omu Boys 

Secondary School, on 

behalf of the union, the Vice 

President of the association, 

Dr. Michael Esedebe in 

company of the Patron, 

Mrs. Caroline Esan, said 

the donation was part of its 

contribution towards 

educational upliftment of 

the community. 

Esedebe stated that the 

vision was the collective 

efforts of members of the 

union in Dallas, as well as 

including donations from 

friends and well wishers of 

that there should be a 

presidential commission of 

inquiry into these 

allegations of horrific war 

crimes and crimes against 

humanity committed in 

North-East Nigeria.’’ 

Amnesty International 

asked the Federal 

Government to set up an 

independent investigation 

into its allegations, insisting 

that those suspected of 

committing human rights 

violations must be brought 

to book. 

“President Muhammadu 

Buhari promised an 

independent investigation 

into our allegations of 

human rights violations 

and crimes under 

international law two years 

ago. This is a vital step and 

must be implemented as a 

matter of urgency by the 


“Amnesty International’s 

priority is justice, human 

rights and the dignity of 

human life in Nigeria. We 

maintain that those 

suspected of committing 

human rights violations 

and crimes under 

international law on all 

sides of the conflict must be 

brought to justice in fair 

trials before civilian courts 

without recourse to death 

penalty. 

‘’We also urge the military 

to make the whole of this 

report public,” the 

statement added. 

the union and commended 

specifically, some indigenes 

of the community among 

them, Mr. Emmanuel 

Nwadei and the 

coordinator of the project, 

Mr. Frank Nwabudike. 

The Obuzor of Ibusa, Obi 

(Prof.) Louis Nwoboshi 

represented by the 

Odogwu of Ibusa, Chief 

Nwanze and the palace 

secretary, Nzele Austin 

Abuah, while handing over 

the chairs and tables to the 

state government through 

the state commissioner for 

Education and Basic, Mr. 

Ebie represented by a 

director, Public Private 

Partnership, Dr. Moses 

Bragiwa applauded the 

donors, describing the 

gesture as worthy of 

emulation 

Moreso, a Principal in 

one of the schools, Mr. S. I. 

Nwanji and the Chief 

Inspector of Education, 

CIE, Oshimili North, Mrs. 

Marian Oju, commended 

the members of ICDU in 

Dalla for their kind gesture. 

:@van


The difficult march toward educational security in Nigeria: 

Law, Policy and Gorvernance Imperatives 

By Afe Babalola, SAN 

Introduction: I consider it an 

honour to be invited as the Guest 

Speaker at the 2017 edition of the 

Annual Lecture of the Faculty of 

Education of Obafemi Awolowo 

University (OAU) and to be 

conferred with the Faculty Award 

for Excellence for “my Exemplary 

Contributions to Nigerian 

Education”. 

Mode of Delivery of Invitation 

Letter: When the Dean of the 

Faculty of Education, the well 

respected and erudite Prof. B.I. 

Popoola, led a team of 12 

Academic Giants, including the 

Immediate Past Registrar of 

JAMB, Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, to 

Ado-Ekiti to personally deliver the 

letter for me to be your Guest 

Speaker today, I was not only 

humbled and honoured, it was 

imperative in the circumstance for 

me to accede to their request 

despite my very tight and busy 

work schedule. I am glad I am 

here with you this morning. 

Apart from that, let me say right 

here that I accepted to be here for 

several reasons, but I will 

mention only three, viz: 

•This university, Obafemi 

Awolowo University, a prestigious 

university by any standard, is well 

respected globally for maintaining 

a consistently high standard of 

comprehensive learning and 

human development since its 

establishment in 1962. 

Impeccable 

infrastructure 

•Here is a university that is well 

known for its expansive and 

impeccable infrastructure and 

cutting edge human and physical 

resources. 

•And most importantly, here is 

a university that is named after 

one of Africa’s visionary and most 

respectable leaders, Chief 

Obafemi Awolowo, SAN, the First 

Premier of Western Region, the 

progenitor and brain behind the 

establishment of this University 

for whom I have tremendous 

regard for his sterling and selfless 

contributions to education. Every 

student, graduate, Faculty or 

anyone for that matter that is 

associated with this University has 

reasons to be proud of its 

distinguished history and track 

record. 

Legendary contributions of 

Chief Awolowo: Chief Awolowo’s 

contributions to education were 

legendary. Of particular 

importance in this respect was his 

introduction of Free Primary 

Education in the Old Western 

Region way back in 1955 and the 

deployment of as much as 52% of 

the Region’s resources on 

education to make total men and 

women out of the indigenes of the 

Region then. This paid off with 

the monumental development of 

the Region ahead of others, even 

till today. 

His vision in spearheading the 

establishment of this University 

was to promote quality University 

education, character 

development and Spartan selfdiscipline. 

This could be gleaned 

from one of his famous quotes, to 

wit: “Any system of education, 

which does not help a man to have 

a healthy and sound body, alert 

brain, and balanced and 

disciplined instinctive urges, is 

both misconceived and 

dangerous” 

The sage also once remarked 

that: “Any people that is starved 

with books, especially the right 

type of books, will suffer 

intellectual malnutrition, 

stagnation and atrophy”. 

Between OAU and Afe 

Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti: 

These lofty ideals and visions 

of the founding father of OAU, 

which is to reform and promote 

qualitative education in Nigeria, 

are strikingly the same visions and 

ideals that I have passionately 

championed and dedicated the 

latter part of my life to. Like Chief 

Awolowo, I work tirelessly to be, 

and will hope to be remembered 

as the father of University reform 

in Nigeria and an ardent 

defender of the rights of the 

Nigerian people to qualitative, 

affordable and accessible as well 

Education has long 

been recognized as 

both a human right 

and an indispensable 

means of realizing 

other human rights. 

Education is also a 

principal tool for 

unlocking prosperity 

and eradicating 

endemic poverty 

as functional education. 

Dwindling Quality of 

Education: For many years, 

Nigerian Universities have at a 

geometric rate waned in quality, 

substance and prestige. Those of 

you here who attended and 

taught in any Nigerian university 

in the sixties would easily 

appreciate the extent of 

dilapidation of necessary physical 

structures and facilities in many 

of our universities today. A 

combination of infrastructural 

decay, lack of adequate funding, 

dearth of qualitative practical 

training curriculum and inability 

Afe Babalola, SAN. 

to attract the best teaching minds 

have all combined to stagnate our 

Universities to the current 

appalling point whereby QS 

World University Ranking and 

Webometrics Rankings that rank 

Universities based on facilities, 

programme and instructional 

content, perennially fail to rank 

or mention a single Nigerian 

university in the top 1,000 

category. For many of us, this 

situation was an unbearable 

dishonor to the legacy of Chief 

Obafemi Awolowo that required 

urgent and aggressive turn 

around. 

It was the commitment to play 

a role in reforming Nigerian 

educational system that spurred 

me to initiate diverse reforms 

during my tenure as the Pro- 

Chancellor and Chairman, 

Governing Council of the 

University of Lagos. Many of the 

achievements we recorded 

during that period have been 

lauded globally and remain a 

reference point till today as a 

result of which the NUC voted me 

the “Best Pro-Chancellor in 

Nigeria” twice in succession. 

Hope Not Lost 

Ladies and gentlemen, the 

hope of a rewarding education 

system in Nigeria is not lost. My 

personal commitment and 

aspiration is to do all that is 

humanly possible to make the 

Nigerian university system one 

of the best in the world. I am very 

confident that we will get there. 

Today’s event presents another 

opportunity for all of us present 

here to brainstorm and rub minds 

on how we can get there. Based 

on my experience as a former Pro- 

Chancellor and now Founder of 

ABUAD, I hope to share with you 

my practical suggestions on how 

our educational systems can be 

strengthened to deliver quality, 

accessible and affordable 

education for the people of 

Nigeria. 

The Three As: I intend to offer 

some practical suggestions on 

how “the three A’s” of 

Accessibility, Affordability and 

Availability of quality education 

systems can be attained in 

Nigeria. In particular, I will divide 

my talk into three distinctive 

areas. First, I will outline the 

dimensions, scope and content of 

what I mean by educational 

security. Second, I will discuss 

the threats to educational 

security in Nigeria, 

particularly how lack of 

robust constitutional and 

legislative safeguards 

on educational right 

continues to hinder 

educational security in 

Nigeria and finally, I will 

outline how Universities 

could be at the forefront 

of reversing educational 

insecurity in Nigeria 

through innovationdriven 

programs and 

education that is 

relevant, sustainable 

and functional. 

EDUCATION AND 

EDUCATIONAL SECURITY 

I perceive education as the full 

development of the human mind, 

cutting across cognitive, affective 

and psychological domains. 

Education goes beyond 

schooling; it transcends classroom 

teaching and the attendant 

certification. It is the process of 

inviting truth and acquiring allround 

knowledge, skills, values, 

beliefs, and character, needed to 

become a better citizen. 

Education is the birth right of 

human being: Education 

throughout life is the birthright of 

every human being on earth. The 

right to education is one of the 

most basic rights recognized in 

International Law and in the laws 

of every civilized country of the 

world. Education has long been 

recognized as both a human right 

and an indispensable means of 

realizing other human rights. 

Unlocking 

prosperity 

Education is also a principal 

tool for unlocking prosperity and 

eradicating endemic poverty. 

According to the United Nations, 

every year of formal education 

increases an individual’s earning 

capacity by up to 10%, the higher 

the level of education, the greater 

the chance of escaping poverty. 

Education and eradication of 

diseases: Education also has a 

role to play in eradicating 

diseases and premature deaths. 

This is why life expectancy rates 

in highly literate countries is often 

very high, 88 years in Australia, 

87 years in Canada, 85 years in 

the United States, while 

unfortunately the life expectancy 

for an average Nigerian is 47 

years. For example, United 

Nations statistics suggest that a 

child born to a mother who can 

read is 50% more likely to survive 

past age five. This is 

understandable because in our 

current highly polluted world, 

education provides mothers with 

the tools to make proper choices 

in nutrition, sanitation and water 

consumption, all of which can 

reduce infant mortality. The UN 

also notes that each extra year of 

a mother’s schooling reduces the 

probability of infant mortality by 

5-10%. No wonder the US 

Philosopher, Brigham Young, 

stated that: “You educate a man; 

you educate a man. You educate 

a woman; you educate a whole 

generation.” 

Education – Passport to the 

Future: Example of 

Transformation Power of 

Education 

Education is undoubtedly the 

passport to the future with each 

page filled with limitless 

opportunities. With all modesty, 

my life is an example per 

excellence of the transformative 

power of education. From 

modest and humble beginning 

in Ado Ekiti, my Standard Six 

Certificate from Emmanuel 

Primary School, Ado-Ekiti, I was 

able to obtain a Bachelor’s 

Degree in Economics from 

London University in 1959 and 

an LL.B in 1963 from the same 

University of London both by 

Private study. All of these have 

afforded me the opportunity of 

serving as Pro Chancellor and 

Chairman of Council of 

UNILAG, the Chairman of the 

Committee of Pro-Chancellors of 

all Nigerian Universities and 

now the Founder of Afe Babalola 

University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), 

This is why that Chinese adage 

states ”If you are planning for a 

year, sow rice; if you are planning 

for a decade, plant trees; if you 

are planning for a lifetime, 

educate people”. Investment in 

education is the only sure way to 

the liberation of human minds. 

As I tell my students, education, 

especially quality education 

breeds discipline, discipline 

breeds character, character 

breeds faith and faith never fails. 

This my view was complemented 

by the inspiring wise words from 

the throne when in 2013 His 

Royal Majesty, the Alaafin of Oyo 

described ABUAD in the 

following words: 

“The greatest benefit that 

education confers on an 

individual is character. 

Character is determined by three 

important factors; heredity, 

environment and training. For 

the first time in this country, we 

have seen somebody put into 

practice these parameters of 

character moulding. We have in 

this environment, a conducive 

atmosphere that will sustain and 

encourage learning, well 

stocked library, professionals of 

high quality, all from the 

singular effort of a single 

person”. 

Given the intrinsic value of 

education to human life, 

environment, prosperity and 

survival in general, International 

Law has emphasised the right of 

every individual on earth to 

quality education. 

Text of Personality Keynote 

Lecture delivered by Aare Afe 

Babalola, OFR, CON, SAN, 

LL.D (London), LL.D (Lagos), 

LL.D (Jos), FNAILS, FCI. 

Arb, FNSE. 

Founder and Chancellor, 

Afe Babalola University, Ado 

Ekiti, President, Institute of 

Arbitration of Nigeria at the 

Distiguished Annual Lecture 

Series of Faculty of Education, 

Obafemi Awolowo University, 

Ile Ife, Osun State. 

To be continued.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JUNE 16, 2017 — 41

42 --- VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JUNE 16, 2017 

SARAKI: 

What next? 

•Saraki: What happens next? 

AFTER being discharged from an apparently 

politically inspired charge of false assets 

declaration, the sights of the Senate President may 

have been raised towards lifelong political 

aspirations. However, his political rivals and foes 

are not resting on their oars. 

By Emmanuel Aziken, 

Political Editor 

THE gist in Abuja 

yesterday that senators 

were heading to Dubai and 

Saudi Arabia to celebrate 

Senator Bukola Saraki’s 

triumph in the courts was being 

seen as another political arrow 

aimed at the Senate President. 

After surviving what was an 

apparent political plot to 

annihilate him, perceived 

political rivals and foes of the 

Senate President were said to 

have quickly rehashed the 

rumour of a Dubai/Saudi party 

in an apparent aim at showing 

him as ostentatious. 

Even more it may have been 

aimed at portraying the Senate 

President as anti-Islam given 

that during the month of 

Ramadan, devout Muslims are 

expected to deescalate revelry. 

“How can he be doing that 

when he is fasting, and that 

means you don’t know oga,” a 

bemused senior aide of the 

Senate President said 

yesterday. 

Willy-nilly, Senator Saraki’s 

legal victory on Wednesday at 

the Code of Conduct Tribunal 

where he had been under trial 

for more than a year on the 

charge of false assets 

declaration was received with 

much relief among the 

associates of the Senate 

President. 

The victory followed a similar 

victory last October when the 

presidency withdrew the 

charge of forgery that was laid 

against Saraki and the Deputy 

Senate President, Senator Ike 

Ekweremadu. That charge of 

forgery of the 2015 Standing 

Order of the Senate like the 

case of false assets declaration 

was believably instigated as a 

way of clipping Senator 

Saraki’s wings and if not, 

politically destroying him. 

Saraki’s contribution to the 

victory of the All Progressives 

Congress, APC in the last 

general elections were 

generally acclaimed to be 

significant. Besides helping to 

forge the alliance that helped 

to overthrow the former ruling 

Peoples Democratic Party, 

PDP’s dominance in the 

Middle Belt, he was also said 

to have made financial 

sacrifices to the APC’s 

campaign in the Middle Belt. 

Financial 

sacrifices 

It is not for nothing that the 

PDP which before now had 

held sway in the Middle Belt 

lost all the states to the APC, a 

development that inevitably 

helped to swing victory to the 

APC. 

Besides, Saraki according to 

sources had also prior to the 

APC November 2014 

presidential primaries tacitly 

withdrawn from the APC 

presidential race throwing his 

support behind Buhari. At that 

time, he was reported to have 

claimed that he preferred the 

office of Senate President. 

However, some other persons 

in the APC felt otherwise even 

after Saraki’s sacrifice forcing 

the former two time governor 

of Kwara State to seek the 

unusual collaboration of the 

PDP and hence the emergence 

of Ekweremadu as his deputy. 

That inevitably further 

provoked animosity that even 

went to the extent of quizzing 

his wife by the Economic and 

Financial Crimes Commission, 

EFCC. 

The import of the trials which 

Senator Saraki described as 

persecution according to 

political pundits was to distract 

him from his alleged plot to 

contest the 2019 presidential 

election. 

Remarkably, the 

plot against 

Saraki was 

generally believed 

to have been 

instigated from 

within his own 

party and from 

those who 

benefited from his 

politics 

Remarkably, the plot against 

Saraki was generally believed 

to have been instigated from 

within his own party and from 

those who benefited from his 

politics. 

Yesterday, as the reality of 

Saraki’s freedom dawned on his 

associates many preferred to 

just as their principal lie low. 

However, the import for the 

2019 contest was very glaring. 

Though Saraki has not told 

anyone of any presidential 

aspiration, few are ignorant of 

his capacity especially after his 

2010 gambit. Even more, his 

capacity is reinforced by the fact 

that he has successfully 

weaved the support of the 

Senate in a way only Senator 

David Mark before him as 

Senate President has been able 

to do. Few would forget the 

ignominious treatment that was 

given to Senator Ali Ndume, 

the immediate past Senate 

Leader when he raised issues 

about vehicles supposedly 

purchased by the National 

Assembly for the Senate 

President. 

The immediate consequence 

was the prospect of Saraki and 

his long time political 

collaborator, Atiku Abubakar 

clashing over the presidential 

contest. 

Atiku is believed to have 

supported Saraki’s emergence 

as Senate President against the 

desires of many others 

including Southwest political 

leaders and the cabal in the 

presidency. Not surprisingly, 

Atiku’s associates such as the 

fiery Timi Frank, the deputy 

national publicity secretary of 

the APC were at the forefront 

in the defence of Saraki during 

his trials. 

Though Saraki has not told 

anyone of his intentions, it is 

generally believed that he 

would throw his hat into the 

contest in the event President 

Muhammadu Buhari does not 

contest for a second term. 

The expectation that Saraki 

would contest for the 

presidency obviously flows 

from the political impressions 

he has made in the polity. 

Political pundits make 

inferences to the fact that he 

survived the heavy guns of the 

presidency and the party, a 

development they claim has 

refined him for whatever battle 

may come his way. 

Heavy guns of 

the presidency 

However, the attitude of Atiku 

and his associates as the 2019 

race heats up would determine 

what happens to that particular 

relationship. 

Even more, few believe that 

those who were ranged against 

Saraki would at this point leave 

him especially after he had 

successfully wormed his way 

into the heart of the president. 

Before the president departed 

the country on his latest medical 

vacation, Saraki was one of the 

last persons he requested to 

see and Saraki according to 

sources was the one who 

prevailed on the president to 

also interact with the chairman 

of the Nigerian Governors 

Forum, Alhaji Abdulazziz Yari 

and Speaker Yakubu Dogara as 

a way of showing the seamless 

working of the various organs 

of government. 

Undoubtedly, the trial may 

have humiliated the Senate 

President, especially the fact 

that he was taken to the dock, 

but his upward trajectory is now 

his own to chart.


•Tinubu: Holds the ace in Lagos APC 

LAGOS LG PRIMARIES: 

APC leaders in new 

peace moves 

By Olasunkanmi Akoni 

ALL seems not well in the 

Lagos State chapter of 

All Progressives Congress, 

APC, as agitations and 

petitions have continued to 

trail the outcome of the local 

government election 

primaries. These kinds of 

reactions are also trailing the 

submission of names for the 

chairmanship and 

councillorship positions to the 

Lagos State Independent 

Electoral Commission, 

LASIEC. 

Aggrieved members of the 

party had claimed that 

LASIEC guidelines for the 

conduct of the primaries were 

not followed, adding that it 

gave room for the imposition 

of unpopular candidates. It 

was learnt that the decision of 

the Tokunbo Afikuyomi-led 

Election Committee to send a 

list of candidates, who 

emerged from the exercise is 

still generating controversy in 

the party. 

Chairman of LASIEC, 

Justice Ayotunde Philips 

(retd), while receiving the 

list expressed dissatisfaction 

over the conduct of the primaries. 

Afikuyomi, while 

submitting the list to LASI- 

EC, defended the processes 

employed to pick the party’s 

candidates. He explained 

that in line with the party’s 

We are using this 

medium to appeal to 

Tinubu and the state 

APC Chairman, 

Ajomale to come to 

the people’s rescue 

in Iru-Victoria 

Island LGA. The 

only person, who 

can resolve this 

matter is Tinubu 

constitution, which recognises 

direct and indirect primaries, 

the consensus option 

was employed in picking the 

candidates. 

He further added that APC 

leadership opted for a 

•Afikuyomi: Submitted APC list 

combination of primaries and 

the consensus option in 

compliance with the 

provisions of Articles 20 (ii)a, 

(iii)a and 21(xi) of the APC 

Constitution. In reference to 

agitations that had greeted 

the exercise in some areas, 

Afikuyomi said they were 

normal in any democratic 

system adding that the crisis 

had been resolved through 

the conflict resolution 

mechanism put in place. He 

commended the party 

leadership for the feat 

achieved. 

However, it was gathered 

that to avoid more crises, the 

Election Committee, gave 

forms to successful candidates 

at secret locations. This has 

raised fear among candidates 

yet to be called to collect their 

forms. Some of the aggrieved 

groups have even resorted to 

radio jingles as a way of 

seeking redress. There are 

reconciliatory meetings 

currently ongoing across the 

state aimed at dousing 

tension generated. Plans are 

also ongoing to arrive at how 

•Ajomale: State chairman 

best to compensate aggrieved 

party members. Efforts 

to get the comprehensive 

list of candidates from 

LASIEC were unsuccessful. 

Petitions: An aggrieved 

aspirant, Mr. Bayode 

Akinwunmi in Iru-Victoria 

Island Local Government 

Area, under the umbrella of 

Concerned Indigenes has 

threatened to sue the party 

over an alleged imposition 

of a candidate allegedly being 

sponsored by one of the sons 

of a traditional ruler. 

Appeal to 

Tinubu 

The leader of the group, 

Akinwunmi, who said this at 

a media briefing in Lagos, 

said he had petitioned the 

National Leader of the party, 

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and the 

state Chairman of the party. 

Chief Henry Ajomale. 

His words: “We are using 

this medium to appeal to 

Tinubu and the state APC 

Chairman, Ajomale to come 

to the people’s rescue in Iru- 

Victoria Island LGA. The only 

person, who can resolve this 

matter is Tinubu. He does not 

tolerate injustice and 

undemocratic processes. “We 

believe in dialogue and if 

dialogue fails after exploring 

all means of resolution, we 

will be forced to take a legal 

action against the party.” 

Also, some councillorship 

candidates in Ward C Amuwo- 

Odofin LGA, in a petition 

dated May 16, 2017 to Tinubu 

and Ajomale, accused the 

party leaders in the ward of 

choosing the wrong 

candidates. The petition 

partly reads: “We write to state 

the injustice which took place 

in Ward C, Amuwo Odofin 

LGA during the selection 

process of the councillorship 

candidate of Ward by some 

leaders. APC, a party built on 

justice and peace will be 

victorious in Ward C, Amuwo 

Odofin LGA if the right 

candidate is fielded for the 

election. 

“PDP is seriously 

strategizing and we believe 

that our party, APC will record 

a landslide victory in the 

election. Unfortunately Mr. 

Hammed Olanrewaju 

Mohammed’s name has been 

forwarded to the state as the 

party’s councillorship 

candidate in Ward C, Amuwo 

Odofin LGA. This is not a true 

reflection of the reality on the 

ground. It is alarming 

therefore, that some leaders 

approved and forwarded the 

name of Mr. Hammed 

Olanrewaju Mohammed, who 

only scored 60 points.” 

PDP forms 

alliance with LP 

Meanwhile, following the 

leadership crisis rocking the 

Ahmed Markarfi faction of 

Peoples Democratic Party, 

PDP, the Lagos State chapter 

led by Mr. Moshood Salvador 

has formed an alliance with 

Labour Party ,LP. 

Speaking to supporters in 

Surulere, Salvador said the 

smooth running of the party 

in Lagos had become 

impossible. 

He said, "I refuse to be 

distracted. The Makarfi group 

of PDP under the leadership 

of Hon. Moshood Salvador 

has refused to allow their 

teeming members to be 

disenfranchised. If a legal 

solution is being delayed, we 

have resorted to a political 

solution. 

“I am now appealing to all 

lovers and sympathizers of the 

PDP in Lagos State to cast 

their vote for Labour/PDP 

Alliance. We never decamped 

to any Party. We never 

declared for another Party and 

we never dumped our dear 

PDP. In this Pre-election 

alliance, we have 342 

councillorship candidates and 

52 chairmanship candidates.”


Trump being investigated for 

obstruction of justice 

PRESIDENT Donald 

Trump is being 

investigated by special 

counsel Robert Mueller for 

possible obstruction of 

justice, US media reports 

say. 

They say senior 

intelligence officials will 

be interviewed on 

whether Mr Trump tried to 

end an inquiry into his 

sacked national security 

adviser, and about the 

firing of FBI chief James 

Comey. 

Mr Trump tweeted that 

the move was the latest 

action in a “phony story”. 

Mr Mueller is leading 

an FBI inquiry into 

Russian meddling in the 

election. 

Brexit negotiations to start on Monday 

FORMAL 

Brexit 

negotiations will begin 

on Monday, the UK and 

EU say. The announcement 

by Brexit Secretary 

David Davis and EU 

negotiator Michel Barnier 

follows preliminary talks in 

Brussels between officials. 

The formal negotiations 

were already due to start 

on Monday but doubt was 

cast by the general election 

result and ongoing talks 

between the Conservatives 

and the Democratic 

Unionists. 

The Queen’s Speech was 

delayed and will now take 

place on Wednesday. 

The UK is due to leave 

the EU by the end of March 

2019. 

Prime Minister Theresa 

May invoked Article 50 of 

the Lisbon Treaty, which 

President Trump has 

repeatedly denied any 

collusion with Russia. On 

Thursday, he described 

the ongoing inquiry as a 

“witch hunt” that was “led 

by some very bad and 

conflicted people”. 

The latest development 

was first carried in the 

Washington Post. Later the 

New York Times and Wall 

St Journal reported the story, 

citing their own sources. 

The Washington Post says 

the decision by Mr Mueller 

to investigate President 

Trump’s own conduct is a 

major turning point in the 

investigation, which until 

recently focused on the 

Russian angle.Russian 

President Vladimir Putin has 

started the clock on Brexit, 

in March. 

Mrs May had hoped the 

general election would 

increase her Commons 

majority before the start of 

talks - but it created a hung 

Parliament, and she is 

joked about Mr Comey’s 

testimony, saying the fact 

that he had admitted 

leaking details of his 

conversations with President 

Trump to the media put him 

in the same category as US 

whistle-blower Edward 

Snowden, who was granted 

asylum in Russia. 

“What’s the difference 

between the FBI head and 

Mr Snowden then?” Mr 

Putin asked during a live 

phone-in with the Russian 

public in Moscow, 

adding, “By the way, if he 

is persecuted in this 

respect, we will be ready 

to give him political 

asylum in Russia too.” 

Russian President 

Vladimir Putin has joked 

seeking the DUP’s backing 

to win key votes. 

Key subjects to be 

negotiated include the 

status of EU nationals and 

Britons living elsewhere in 

the EU, the size of any 

“divorce” bill and how the 

about Mr Comey’s 

testimony, saying the fact 

that he had admitted 

leaking details of his 

conversations with 

President Trump to the 

media put him in the 

same category as US 

whistleblower Edward 

Snowden, who was 

granted asylum in 

Russia. 

“What’s the difference 

between the FBI head 

and Mr Snowden then?” 

Mr Putin asked during a 

live phone-in with the 

Russian public in 

Moscow, adding, “By the 

way, if he is persecuted 

in this respect, we will be 

ready to give him political 

asylum in Russia too.” 

Director of Oval Office Operations Keith Schiller, Vice President Mike Pence and White 

House Senior Advisors Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner listen as President Donald Trump 

delivered a statement following a shooting at a Congressional Republicans. 

UK will trade with the EU 

once it leaves. 

Since last week’s general 

election, there have been 

calls for a new cross-party 

approach to talks, but 

Downing Street has said its 

strategy will not change. 

Qatar signs billion dollar arms deal with US 

QATAR has signed a 

$12bn deal to buy F- 

15 fighters jets from the US. 

The sale was finalised at 

a meeting in Washington 

between US defence chief 

Jim Mattis and his Qatari 

counterpart. 

It comes days after US 

President Donald Trump 

accused Qatar - a major US 

ally - of funding terrorism 

“at a very high level” - a 

charge Qatar denies. 

Other Gulf countries 

recently cut ties with Doha, 

accusing it of destabilising 

the region through its 

alleged support of extremist 

groups and links to Iran. 

Qatar is home to the 

biggest US air base in the 

Middle East, Al-Udeid. It 

houses around 10,000 

troops and plays a key role 

in the US-led operations 

against the so-called 

Islamic State (IS) group in 

Syria and Iraq. 

Mr Trump’s comments 

appeared at odds with the 

US Department of Defence, 

which had praised Qatar’s 

“enduring commitment to 

regional security” just days 

earlier. Saudi Arabia, 

another key US ally, has led 

moves to isolate the gas-rich 

emirate since earlier this 

month. Riyadh sealed its 

border, closed its air space 

to Qatari Airways and - 

along with Bahrain, the 

UAE and Egypt - severed 

diplomatic relations. 

Incoming Lesotho Prime 

Minister’s wife shot dead 

THE wife of incoming 

Lesotho Prime Minister 

Tom Thabane was 

shot dead late on 

Wednesday, two days 

before her husband’s 

inauguration, raising fears 

of another wave of political 

violence in the southern 

African mountain 

kingdom. 

Police spokesperson 

Clifford Molefe said 

Lipolelo Thabane, 58, was 

travelling home with a 

friend when both women 

•Thabane 

where shot by an unknown 

assailant in the town of Masana, just outside the 

capital, Maseru. Molefe said Lipolelo died on the 

scene while her friend was taken to a nearby hospital. 

Molefe said the motive of the shooting was unknown 

and that investigations were ongoing. 

Lesotho, which has been on a political knife-edge 

since an attempted coup in 2014, held elections last 

week, the third in five years, after then-prime minister 

Pakalitha Mosisili lost a no-confidence vote in March. 

London fire: Prime minister 

orders full public inquiry 

PRIME Minister Theresa May has ordered a full public 

inquiry into the fire that engulfed a west London block 

of flats, killing at least 17 people. 

That figure is expected to rise, as fire chiefs do not expect 

to find any more survivors in the burnt-out Grenfell Tower 

in north Kensington. 

The PM said people “deserve answers” as to why the 

fire spread so rapidly. 

The first victim has been named by the Syria Solidarity 

Campaign as Syrian refugee Mohammed Alhajali, 23. 

In a statement, the organisation said the civil 

engineering student was in a flat on the 14th floor when 

the fire broke out, and spent two hours on the phone to a 

friend in Syria. 

He was trying to get through to his family while he was 

waiting to be rescued. 

The group said: “Mohammed bid his friend goodbye, 

saying that the fire had reached him. He asked his friend 

to pass on the message to his family... 

“Mohammed undertook a dangerous journey to flee 

war and death in Syria, only to meet it here in the UK, in 

his own home." 

Israel: Anti-occupation NGO 

welcomes Man Booker donation 

AN Israeli human rights group working on issues in 

the occupied West Bank has welcomed the donation 

of prize money from one of the Man Booker International 

Prize winners. 

Amit Gilutz, the spokesperson of B’Tselem, said on 

Thursday the NGO was thankful to the donor, adding 

that the group was determined to continue “to resist the 

occupation until it ends”. 

Israeli writer David Grossman, 63, won the prize on 

Wednesday evening for his novel “A Horse Walks Into a 

Bar”, along with his US translator Jessica Cohen, with 

the two splitting the £50,000 ($64,000) award. 

Cohen announced at the awards in the British capital 

of London that she would donate “half of the award 

money” to the Israeli human rights group B’Tselem, 

which campaigns against Israel’s occupation of 

Palestinian territories. 

Libya: Smugglers broadcast 

abuse of African migrants on 

social media to demand ransoms 

PEOPLE smugglers and criminal gangs in Libya are 

using social media to broadcast the abuse and violence 

they inflict on African migrants in their captivity and 

demand ransoms from their families back home, according 

to the United Nations. In a video posted on Facebook, 

hundreds of emaciated Somalis and Ethiopians, including 

several children, are seen huddled in a concrete room in 

an unknown location in Libya. The migrants and refugees 

being filmed say they have been beaten, tortured and 

held in cells without food, and that their parents and 

relatives have received video clips via social media asking 

for up to $10,000 to spare them from being killed. 

“They broke my teeth ... they broke my hand ... this 

stone has been put on me for the last three days,” says 

one man in the video posted last week, explaining how 

his captors placed a concrete block on his back as a 

punishment after his family refused to pay up $8,000. 

At least 20,000 migrants are being detained in Libya, 

the main gateway for those attempting to reach Europe 

by sea, according to the International Organization for 

Migration (IOM).


By Tare Youdeowei 

OF all the operating sys 

tems currently in the 

market, Android operating 

system has a record of being 

the most purchased and sadly, 

the most hacked. Applying 

this to Nigeria, any smart 

phone that is not Nokia, Apple 

or Blackberry, is running 

an Android Operating System, 

AOS. Yes, if you are not 

using any of the listed phone 

makers that run different operating 

systems, you are in 

risk of being hacked. 

Fortunately, there are solutions 

or safety measures as 

AOS being susceptible to being 

hacked does not take 

away its flexibility and ease 

of use. Another consoling fact 

is that AOS users need not be 

tech experts to carry out these 

safety measures. 

Be wary of everything on 

the internet:This is the very 

first step. Read mail headings 

and words and be sure you 

know and trust the sender 

before clicking or following 

links in emails. Roughly 99 

percent of emails, even those 

that the sender’s name and 

surname are in full, that offer 

fast money making schemes, 

are scams that have links that 

lead you to being hacked. 

Clicking links in untrustworthy 

emails can also get your 

phone infected with a virus 

that copies all your data and 

hands it over to hackers. 

Registered 

phone dealers 

You also need to ensure that 

you do not expose your phone 

to sites and apps which can 

have a negative influence 

on your privacy. No matter 

how trivial some apps seem, 

always research on how secure 

they are. Even upon installing 

or updating apps, 

read all the things that the 

app has access to before clicking 

on allow. 

Gather information about 

hacks: Do well to gather information 

about hack. You can 

top cap it by seeking advice 

from professionals in android 

mobile phones or registered 

phone dealers, on steps to 

take to prevent hacking. They 

can also guide you on what 

to do in case your phone gets 

hacked. Visiting forums is 

also a good source of information 

because you can encounter 

people with similar 

problems and find out how 

they deal with them. 

Password strength: You 

know how some email platforms 

tell you to improve 

password strength? They have 

very good reason to, and you 

should borrow a leave from 

their book. Ensure you have 

strong passwords that have 

letters, numbers and if possi- 

How to safeguard your android 

phone from hackers 

ble, symbols; for example; 

tare123@7 or in reverse order. 

It is of note that using 

the same password or the 

same system to generate 

passwords is not 

advisable, if you want to be 

safe from attacks on your 

phone, your personal details 

or business data. 

Make sure you enable 

screen lock. When you do 

this, use all that you have at 

your disposal in your Android 

settings, from passwords, patterns, 

pins, fingerprint to 

face unlocking, to enhance 

the safety. 

Apple finally breaks silence on technology for self driving cars 

By Emmanuel Elebeke 

CHIEF Executive Offic 

er, Apple Inc., Tim 

Cook has revealed that he 

sees three vectors of change 

in the automotive sector, in 

the shape of autonomy, electrification, 

and ride-hailing. 

Combined, he said, they 

will bring about a major disruption 

in the industry with 

the technology behind the 

imminent self driving cars. 

"Apple is specifically focusing 

on autonomous systems for 

cars. It is a core technology 

that we view as very important. 

We see it as the mother 

of all Artificial Intelligence, 

AI projects. It is probably one 

of the most difficult AI 

projects actually to work 

on," Cook said. 

In the past, Apple has been 

considered to be foot-dragging. 

It failed to capitalize 

on its early successes with 

Lock applications: Another 

thing you can do is to pass- 

Clicking links in 

untrustworthy 

emails can also get 

your phone infected 

with a virus that 

copies all your 

data and hands it 

over to hackers 

Siri, and most of its later consumer 

products to use AI still 

play second fiddle to those 

produced by Google and Facebook. 

But the recent appointment 

of the firm’s first 

word sensitive applications 

like emails, mobile banking 

applications, text messages 

(particularly for those who do 

mobile banking), by using 

Android application, AppLock. 

This is recommended 

because screen lock is not a 

magical protection and it can 

be bypassed, so it is best to 

have a second layer of protection. 

Avoid WiFi: Hackers can 

access you while you are using 

WiFi, particularly public 

WiFi. Nonetheless, WiFI cannot 

be completely avoided so 

Tim Cook 

AI director, Ruslan Salakhutdinov, 

suggests that could 

change. 

Cook’s description of Apple’s 

work on autonomous 

systems 

in the 

the key is not use WiFi for 

banking transaction. If you 

must use WiFi try installing 

some apps for encryption of 

your outgoing connection and 

enhancing the security, like 

WiFi Protector or SecDroid. 

After all said and done, don’t 

let yourself lag behind in technological 

changes, try to keep 

up with security improvements 

that are happening and 

ensure your smart phone is 

safe by regularly updating 

safety protocols. 

automotive sector appears to 

be deliberately vague, he further 

stated that the technologies 

that Apple is working on 

may include self-driving cars, 

but he also said that there are 

others he opts not to expand 

on. 

Nonetheless, Apple indicated 

that it is clearly working 

with sensors and AI software 

for autonomous vehicles. 

‘‘Though, I do not commit to 

what the result of all this secretive 

work from Apple 

might look like. We are not really 

saying from a product 

point of view what we will do," 

Cook explained. 

He however scorned other 

tech firms for selling futures 

rather than real products. "We 

are not going to go through 

things we’re going to do in 

2019, ’20, ’21. It’s not because 

we don’t know, It is because 

we don’t want to talk about 

that," he said.


Garlands 

for SP Oyin 

Giese-Adamu 

Stories by Tony Ndukwe 

BEFORE she joined the Nigeria 

Police Force, she had made 

up her mind to make a positive 

impact on the society. Currently, 

Superintendent of Police, Oyin 

Giese-Adamu, is keeping to her 

words and she is being 

rewarded for it. In the course of 

the celebration of Lagos @ 50, 

Hall of Fame Award, Oyin who is 

the Divisional Crime Officer (DCO) Isolo Police 

Division had the rare privilege of being 

honoured with ‘Excellence in Security Service 

Award’ (Alternative Dispute Resolution –ADR). 

Popularly called, ‘The Peacemaker,’ the case 

which won her the award among others was •Mrs Oyin 

the one brought before her by a married couple 

Mr. and Mrs. Kayode Dare who were seeking 

a divorce. Instead of allowing the couples 

have their ways, as a wife and mother, she 

used her personal money, time and wisdom to 

settle the grievance between the two parties as the couples 

are back joyfully all thanks to the amazing SP Oyin. It pays 

to do good! 

Vincent Enyeama and wife celebrate 

11th wedding anniversary 

•Vincent and wife 

Where is Liyel Imoke? 

UNLIKE some governors 

who after completing 

their tenure sought solace in the 

upper chamber of the National 

Assembly, Liyel Imoke, former 

governor of Cross River State is 

not in that category. In fact, after 

handing over to his successor, 

Professor Ben Ayade, he moved 

out of the public radar. He has 

neither been heard nor spotted 

at social gatherings. Some say 

he is somewhere abroad 

hibernating and probably 

hatching a plan to stage a 

comeback to active politicking in 

2019. We are waiting! 

•Liyel imoke 

FORMER Super Eagles 

captain, Vincent Enyeama, 

and his sweetheart, Promise, 

were in high spirits earlier in the 

week as they celebrated their 

11th wedding anniversary. It 

was a moment of re-bonding and 

renewal of their vows for the 

couple. Enyeama hardly believes 

they have come this far, as he 

blesses the day he came across his 

wife, who he adorably refers to as 

an angel. 

Expressing his love for her and 

their three children, the 34-yearold 

Kaduna-born number one 

Super Eagles goalkeeper took to 

his Twitter handle to share their 

memorable photos, writing, “11 

years since we said ‘I DO’ and 

it’s just like yesterday. God 

bless the day I found you my 

Angel.” And so shall it be! 

*Bishop 

Samson 

By Benjamin Njoku 

HE believes in the axiom, “practice what you 

preach” and from all indications he is doing 

just that regardless of whose ox is gored! This 

seems to be the philosophy of the firebrand prosperity preacher, Bishop 

Tom Samson. The General Overseer of Christ Royal Church International, 

who used to be known for wearing military camouflage, has seemingly 

‘arrived’ as he now goes about in designer wears aside being guarded by 

a retinue of body guards and in exotic wonders on wheel. 

His penchant for the good things of life knows no bounds as he made 

headlines on social media not too long ago when he celebrated his 50th 

birthday with a customized limousine-this was before he acquired a Bentley. 

By the way, his ministry is worth over N7 billion. It will not be a surprise if 

the Edo State-born stylish pastor acquires a jet as some of his billionaire 

colleagues in the ministry currently flaunting theirs about. 

Mrs. Obiano’s strides with CAFE 

DETERMINED to make her mark in her state, 

Mrs. Ebelechukwu Obiano, wife of the 

flambouyant governor of Anambra State, Willie 

Obiano, has continued to woo the populace with her 

Caring Family Enhancement Initiative (CAFÉ). 

Her latest effort is the market toilet project built at Oye- 

Olisa Ogunike, facilitated by her non-governmental 

organization. Though the commissioning of the market 

drew the ire of indigenes who thought it was another 

political maneouvering with the closure of the market, Hi 

Society learnt, the project was geared towards reducing 

any form of health hazard as the market usually attracts 

traders from neigbouring communities. 

So far, at the last count, there are over 20 boreholes and 

seven toilets which are situated at different communities 

aside other projects the Anambra State First Lady is 

currently undertaking. 

Olamide Adenuga 

honoured with trail 

blazer award 

IT’S a new dawn for seasoned trainer and 

Public Relations Specialist, Olamide 

Adenuga as his hard work has started paying 

off. He was recently honoured with the “Trail 

Blaizer award” by the National Association 

of Nigerian Students, NANS, in Diaspora, 

Benin Chapter on May 26. 

This was in recognition of the many good 

things he has been doing, his contribution to 

the development of society, particularly in the 

area of youth development through his 

conferences and seminars on leadership 

development, human capital development and 

entrepreneurship development. He inspires 

people to see the good in 

themselves, make the most of 

their lives, and get in touch with 

the greatness within them. 

A speaker at university 

campuses and secondary 

schools, writer, T.V host, 

blogger, Olamide believes that 

the right mentality can power 

anyone to success; an 

ideal young man 

who is out to 

transform 

people and 

places he 

comes in 

contact with. 

This, he has 

demonstrated 

even as former 

personal 

effectiveness 

columnist in Ovation 

International 

Magazine, and the 

Publisher •Adenuga of Plush Magazine. One hopes, he 

will continue to soar high and higher. 

Bishop Tom Samson: 

Marching words 

with action 

•Mrs Obiano


2018 FIFA WC Qualifier: Nigeria moves 

Cameroon match out of Uyo 

FOLLOWING poor 

results recorded 

by the Super Eagles at 

the magnificent Godswill 

Akpabio stadium in Uyo, 

the Nigeria Football 

Federation, NFF may 

have decided against the 

future use of the ground 

as Eagles home ground. 

The recent 2-0 home 

loss to the Bafana Bafana 

is said to be the final 

straw that has given 

fillip to the argument 

that the team be moved 

out of Uyo and the World 

Cup 2018 qualifier 

between Nigeria and 

Cameroon later in the 

year could be moved 

from the Godswill 

Akpabio Stadium in Uyo. 

Sources at the Nigeria 

Football Federation 

(NFF) revealed the game 

will now be played in 

Port Harcourt as the 

football house are no 

longer comfortable with 

the spate of bad results 

in Uyo. 

Super Eagles have 

won just two games at 

the magnificent 

Godswill Akpabio 

Stadium. 

Although there are 

reports that the stadium 

is under a spell, it was 

gathered that, the 

reason for moving the 

World Cup 2018 

qualifier against 

Cameroon from the 

stadium was purely on 

logistics. 

Transportation to the 

stadium factored as part 

of the reasons, as it 

takes 45 minutes to 

drive from the hotel of 

the Super Eagles to the 

stadium, while the none 

presence of vocal home 

support also played a 

role. 

The choice of Port 

Harcourt is yet to be 

fully agreed as 

renovation works at the 

ground is yet to be 

completed, so Ahmadu 

Bello Stadium in 

Kaduna and the 

National Stadium in 

Abuja have been placed 

on standby. 

AFN elections: NAWIS disowns Obajimi, calls for 

Collins’ reinstatement 

BY BEN EFE 

N 

I G E R I A 

Association of 

Women in Sports (NAWIS), 

has disassociated itself from 

the sports ministry officials’ 

replacement of Rosa Collins 

with Gloria Obajimi on the 

board of the Athletics 

Federation of Nigeria. 

The body reiterated that 

Collins was the duly elected 

candidate, and has called on 

the Sports ministry to desist 

from sowing seeds of 

disaffection among the 

women in the group. 

Collins was shocked to find 

out that her name had been 

erased from the list of 

qualified candidates for the 

AFN election on Tuesday, 

however, she was allowed 

to contest but in the poll, 

which appeared to have 

been predetermined by the 

officials of the ministry. 

In a statement signed by 

Prof. Marian Suleiman, the 

NAWIS secretary-general, 

the association said it was 

against the unilateral 

decision by the sports 

ministry officials to 

expunged the name of Rosa 

Collins. 

“This is the handiwork of 

those provoked by the 

enthusiasm and willingness 

of Rosa Collins to make a 

positive impact in AFN. 

Hence they attacked and 

battered her during the 

National Sports Federation 

Elections. 

“But it is instructive that 

NAWIS had held the 

election of her 

representative on the 

National Sports Federation 

Boards as stipulated by 

Federal Ministry of Youths 

and Sports Development 

guidelines. 

“The election was 

supervised by Bode 

Durotoye, a Deputy 

Director in the Ministry, 

who was assigned to do 

that by the Ministry. 

“It was Rosa Collins who 

won the election and her 

name was forwarded to the 

Ministry. But, to our 

dismay, Rosa Collins’ 

name was substituted with 

that of Gloria Obajimi who 

was out of the country 

when NAWIS held its 

election of representatives 

and therefore did not 

participate. “Moreover, she 

(Obajimi) was however, 

very much aware of the 

election, but she did not 

participate,” Suleiman said 

in the statement. 

Double tragedy hit Nigerian sports 

•Onyenwenwa passes on, Omagbemi loses son 

•NFF commiserates with the Falcons coach 

ANOTHER pall of 

darkness 

enveloped the Nigerian 

sports scene following the 

passing on of Lizzy 

Onyenwenwa, a former NFF 

Women Football Secretary 

and the loss of Samson 

Omagbemi, a 15 year old son 

of former Super Falcon 

player and now coach, 

Soccer action between Oghenekaro Etebo and 

South Africa's Ranti. 

Florence Omagbemi. 

Lizzy Onyenwenwa was 

reported to have passed on 

at the National Hospital in 

Abuja on Thursday. 

Until her death, she was an 

acting director of planning at 

the Federal Ministry of Youth 

and Sports. 

Samson Omagbemi 

Atamako reportedly got 

CAMEROON will 

be driven by the 

memory of Marc Vivien-Foe 

when they contest the 

Confederations Cup for the 

first time since the 

midfielder’s death. 

Foe died after collapsing 

on the pitch during the 2003 

drowned in a swimming 

pool at a hotel in Effurun, 

Delta State, where he along 

with classmates, had gone for 

an after exams party. 

The Super Falcons coach 

has cried out for justice and 

asked the Nigeria Police to 

carry out a thorough 

investigation to expose those 

behind her son’s death and 

his friend, Darlington Taire. 

Confeds Cup: Cameroon driven by Foe memory 

semi-final against Colombia 

in France. 

The 28-year-old was later 

found to have suffered from 

a heart condition called 

hypertrophic 

cardiomyopathy. 

The Indomitable Lions 

will end their 14-year 

SUPER EAGLES LOSS TO SOUTH AFRICA: 

NUJ/SWAN decry campaign of calumny 

T is unfortunate 

''I 3.that while laudable 

appraisals are being done by 

Coach Gernot Rohr and the 

Amaju Pinnick led NFF to 

bring the Super Eagles back 

on track after a disastrous 

outing in Uyo, a few persons 

have elected to fan embers 

of disunity by raising 

spurious and misleading 

issues in a bid to misguide 

the public and influence a 

change of venue for 

subsequent Super Eagles 

matches.” 

This is the kernel of a press 

statement released in Uyo 

and jointly signed by the 

Akwa Ibom Chapter of the 

Nigeria Union of Journalists 

M ANCHESTER 

City’s 

Brazilian star striker 

Gabriel Jesus says he will 

not need surgery on his 

right eye socket which was 

fractured by team-mate 

Nicolas Otamendi. 

The 20-year-old Brazil 

international had to go off 

Iwobi set to trade tackle 

with Moses, Aina 

ALEX Iwobi will put 

his friendship with 

Ola Aina to one side for 

at least ninety minutes 

when Arsenal tackle 

Chelsea in the Community 

Shield. 

The English Football 

Association have announced 

that the annual 

absence from the 

Confederations Cup when 

Fifa’s World Cup dress 

rehearsal kicks off this 

weekend. Cameroon open 

their Group B campaign 

against Copa America 

winners Chile on Sunday 

18 June, in Moscow. 

and Sports Writers 

Association of Nigeria 

(SWAN) Akwa Ibom State. 

The bodies argued that 

while nobody may contend 

with the NFF as to where 

matches of the Super Eagles 

or other national teams may 

be held, …it is however 

distasteful to see how 

political, non sporting and 

mischievous dimensions 

have been introduced to 

blackmail Akwa Ibom State 

and in particular the World 

acclaimed facility that is the 

Godswill Akpabio 

International Stadium from 

being used as the venue of 

Super Eagles home 

matches. 

Jesus avoids surgery on eye socket 

TURKISH giants 

Fenerbahce 

have made Ahmed 

Musa and his Leicester 

City teammate Jamie 

Vardy their primary 

transfer targets, 

according to DHA. 

Fenerbahce are 

looking to boost their 

attacking ranks, with 

Dutchman Robin van 

Persie set to leave the 

club in the European 

summer and West 

Africans strikers 

Emmanuel Emenike and 

after the accidental 

collision with Argentina 

defender Otamendi in a 

match in Melbourne, 

Australia, last Friday. 

However, he felt 

sufficiently cheered by the 

assessment of the medical 

staff to go public with the 

news on Thursday. 

Fenerbahce target Ahmed Musa 

Moussa Sow also 

expected to depart. 

DHA claims that the 

Turkish club will make 

an offer for the Foxes 

pair soon and hope that 

the promise of European 

is enough to attract 

them to Istanbul. 

Musa, 24, signed for 

Leicester last season but 

struggled to make a 

major impact at the King 

Power Stadium. The 

Nigerian scored four 

goals in 29 appearances 

across all competitions. 

curtain-raiser to the new 

season will be staged at 

the National Stadium 

(Wembley) on Sunday, 

August 6. Traditionally the 

Premier League champions 

and the FA Cup kings 

face off a week before the 

start of the new season. 

Nigeria international 

Victor Moses and defender 

Fikayo Tomori 

could be involved for 

Chelsea while Chuba 

Akpom is also in line to 

play for the Gunners. 

Moses was a second half 

substitute in Chelsea’s 1- 

0 loss to Arsenal in the 

Community Shield in 

2015, Hale End Academy 

graduate Iwobi was a nonplaying 

substitute.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 16, 2017 

Jesus avoids surger 

gery 

Iwobi 

set to 

trade 

tackle 

with 

Moses, 

Aina 

Details 

Inside 

Confeds Cup: 

Cameroon driven 

by Foe memory 

•Jesus 

Fenerbahce 

target 

Ahmed 

Musa 

on eye e socket 

UYO O STADIUM: 

NUJ/SWAN AN decry y campaign of calumny 

NFF moves 

Cameroon 

match out of 

Uyo 

•Rohr 

TODAY’S PUZZLE 

Sudoku 

YESTERDAY’S ANSWER 

QUICK CROSSWORD 

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION 

How to Play Sudoku 

Across 

1 Aim (7) 

5 Squander (5) 

8 Smallest (5) 

9 Perfumed (7) 

10 Humble dwelling (7) 

11 Attempted (5) 

12 Hit (6) 

14 Instructed (6) 

18 Small tree with white 

flowers and purple fruit (5) 

20 French bean (7) 

22 Section of book (7) 

23 Calm (5) 

24 Release (3,2) 

25 Cradle-song (7) 

Down 

1 Royal residences (7) 

2 Respond (5) 

3 Australian wilderness (7) 

4 Less burdensome (6) 

5 Cereal crop (5) 

6 Surroundings (7) 

7 Finished (5) 

13 Glowing (7) 

15 Can containing a spray 

(7) 

16 Completely (7) 

17 Of a choire (6) 

18 Surpass (5) 

19 Proportion (5) 

21 Asian country (5) 

Place a number (1-9) in each blank cell. 

(No line can have two of the same 

number). 

Each row (nine lines from left to right), 

column, (also nine lines from top to 

bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold 

block (nine blocks) contains number from 

1 through 9. This means that no number 

can appear twice in any block, column or 

row. 

No mathematics is involved – no adding, 

subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain 

logic and your imagination. 

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

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

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

W

16062017 - N-Assembly, Osnbajo clash over 2017 Budget

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