17062017 - I want to die, I've seen it all - Evans

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2 — SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 17, 2017

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SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 17, 2017 — 3

4—SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 17, 2017
Governor Willie Obiano
– Fit To Continue
CHUKS ILOEGBUNAM
Anambra State has hit a
consensus on the matter,
notwithstanding the few
loudspeakers blaring stridently. It all
started from deep doubts. People
had asked, Willie Who? People
wondered what a non-career
politician would bring to the table of
governance. Some thought they had
been sold the short end of the stick.
But, within months, the doubts
began to disappear. The man
selling abada cloth inside the
Onitsha main market soon
discovered to his delight that true
leaders are born not made. He did
his sales, locked up at nightfall, got
back home to dinner and sound
sleep, returned to his stall the
following morning, to see that it
hadn’t been plundered. The primary
school teacher quickly discarded the
longstanding belief that her reward
was in heaven. She received her
salary promptly. If she got posted to
some remote school in rural
Anambra, her salary was upped by a
significant 25 percent. The same
bonus was hers if she taught science
subjects or mathematics or Igbo.
When she exchanged her chalk for
retirement, her entitlements –
gratuity and pension – promptly
followed as a matter of course.
These are some of the reasons why,
today, the chorus in Anambra State
is that Willie Obiano Is Fit To
Continue with his good work. In
three sharp years Ndi Anambra have
seen at the helm of their affairs a
compassionate leader, a listening
•Gov Willie Obiano
The intangible sector
refers to Governor
Obiano foregoing salary
and emoluments for the
upkeep of society’s less
privileged
administrator, a dependable
ally, and an empathetic son
with hands outstretched in
order that his people would
stand, not to fall. Professor
Chukwuma Charles Soludo
summed it up graphically: “If it
isn’t broke, why mend it?” The
market associations, the town
unions, the professionals, the
students, the religious, the laity,
all-comers have since queued in,
chanting, “You can’t change a
winning team!”
But, in every 12, there is a
Judas. Anambra’s judases are on
the Internet, spewing falsehood.
Despite the high decibels of their
din, they constitute a miserable
minority of frustrated losers and
would-be political failures. One
Governor-sponsor of the rabble
came from a South East State and
announced that they were set to
“capture” Anambra State. Why did
the villain view the electoral
process through the prism of
violence? This is a man that owes
his state retirees 24 months in
unpaid pensions! Does he intend
to capture Anambra and deliver it
to the throes of work without pay
and retirement without benefits?
Ndi Anambra know that a recent
State-by-State survey of payment
of salaries threw up Anambra as
one of only five states that owed
no arrears. Ndi Anambra are
unlikely to forget this on election
morning.
The Internet prowlers called
one of their sponsors an
“industrialist”. Yet, people are yet
to set their eyes on any of his
fabulous industries. There’s no
record of any employees on the
man’s payroll. It is not even
certain that he ever paid any taxes
in Anambra. But he wants to
capture Anambra State! One man
whose governorship was sacked by
the courts for illegitimacy reared his
head to promise a destruction of the
Awka flyovers once they captured
power! He also vowed to dissuade
the Federal authorities from
refunding the N43 billion committed
into Federal roads by the Obiano
administration. Such are the
characters eyeing Anambra’s
Government House!
A recent article by Ejike
Anyaduba entitled The humanity of
the Obiano administration
underscores why Governor Obiano is
set to continue with governing
Anambra State: “If the Obiano
government is standing on a
pinnacle today it is not because it
fixed security of the state hitherto in
a whirl. It is not because it gave the
state’s infrastructure that existed in
outline some uplift. It is not because
it resuscitated investments, which
had hit the nadir. It is not because it
boosted agriculture until then in
active decline. It is not because it
gave healthcare a shot in the arm
and sustains the progress in
education. No, not in the least! It is
because, in addition to all these, the
government has shored up effort in
the intangible sector.”
The intangible sector refers to
Governor Obiano foregoing salary
and emoluments for the upkeep of
society’s less privileged. It refers to
the sanatorium he built to giving a
meaning to the lives of the sick and
wretched of the earth. It refers to
scores of prisoners who, on
completion of their terms, received
N1 million each to start life on a
fresh, clean slate. It refers to the
disabled who are automatically
employed in the State’s Civil
Service. It refers to limbless folks
issued with prosthetics. In short, it is
all about running government with a
human face.
On Election Day, Ndi Anambra
will turn their eyes from the
noisemakers that prefer to remain
numb and dumb even as the leaders
of their political parties have issued
a three-month ultimatum for Ndigbo
to quit northern Nigeria.
•Iloegbunam is the Chairman of
Governor Obiano’s Media Team.
How Obaseki saved Edo Speaker, Okonobo from impeachment
•As Okonobo’s supporters finger ex-Speaker, Edoror
SIMON EBEGBULEM,
BENIN CITY
The Edo State House of
Assembly was scheduled to
resume from its recess on
Monday, 22nd of May 2017 but an
attempt to impeach the Speaker of
the House, Mr Justin Okonobo
truncated it until Governor Godwin
Obaseki intervened following which
the House resumed the following
day. The incident caused fresh
tension in the state particularly as it
occurred barely two weeks after the
Speaker of the Delta State House of
Assembly, Mr Monday Igbuya was
impeached. Before the House
proceeded on its two months recess
towards the end of March, some of
the lawmakers were said to be angry
with the Speaker over the manner
some contracts were awarded. It was
alleged that some of the contract
awards did not pass through the
Tender’s Board.
Saturday Vanguard however
confirmed that the contracts awarded
passed through the Board but some
of the lawmakers were just unhappy
with the style of leadership of the
Speaker. They therefore mooted the
idea of bringing back the former
Speaker, Victor Edoror who was
impeached early last year. Okonobo
and Edoror are both from Edo
Central senatorial district of the state
•Gov Obaseki
where the seat was ceded to.
The tension however heightened
on Sunday 21st May, 2017 a day
before the resumption of
proceedings when the Principal
Officers of the House met to
prepare grounds for the
resumption of the whole house.
The meeting became rowdy when
the news filtered that some
members were already collecting
signatures to impeach the Speaker.
It was learnt that the group
backing the ex-Speaker Edoror
had already collected 18
signatures and planned to effect
the impeachment the following
day. But unfortunately, the
planned coup leaked, and the pro
Okonobo forces contacted the state
government and leaders of the
party who pressured some of the
members who had earlier signed
to withdraw their signatures. There
was therefore confusion on
Monday morning when newsmen
went to the Assembly complex to
confirm if the House would sit. It
was later learnt that the lawmakers
were holding marathon meetings to
save Okonobo from being
impeached. The Speaker, in his
reaction, tried to play down the
attempted impeachment and
attributed it to part of the
skirmishes always experienced in
Houses of Assembly which
according to him, was normal.
“Regarding what you are referring
to as division in the House, there is
no House of Assembly in the world
where you cannot find division. In
a gathering of a 24- member
House, we cannot think or reason
the same way. But what we do is to
struggle to present a common front
before the people of Edo state. In
the House, minorities will have
their say but the majority will have
their way. What is being
experienced is normal in the
House”.
However, it was gathered that
pressure from party leaders and the
state government forced some pro-
Edoror lawmakers to withdraw
their signatures but at the end he
had 11 lawmakers as against 13
now backing Okonobo. The
lawmakers were said to have
moved that Monday to government
House on the invitation of
Governor Godwin Obaseki who
frowned at the attempt to impeach
the Speaker. Obaseki was said to
have told the lawmakers not to
plunge the state into a fresh crisis
as he was focused on how to fulfil
his campaign promises and not
change of leadership in the
House. His position strengthened
the pro-Okonobo camp and that
saved the day for the Speaker.
After meeting with the lawmakers,
the governor directed his Deputy,
Comrade Philip Shaibu to further
resolve the burning issues since
he is more experienced in
legislative matters being a former
two time Majority Leader of the
House and House of
Representatives member. The
meeting between the lawmakers
and the Deputy Governor
Wednesday night afforded the
warring parties to bare their mind.
The Deputy Governor who
delivered the governor’s message
to the lawmakers, said the
governor desired to have a
peaceful state so as to fulfill his
campaign promises to the people
and not a change of leadership in
the House. He urged them to
embrace the House leadership led
by Okonobo just as he urged the
Speaker to carry his members
along and avoid actions capable of
brewing suspicion and
unnecessary bickering. Following
the peaceful resolution of the
crisis, the House resumed sitting
on Tuesday, May 23.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 17, 2017 — 5
The burial service for the late Hon. Justice Omotayo Onalaja was held at the St
Agnes Anglican Church, Molete Ibadan, yesterday. From left: Mrs Akinkugbe,
Prof. Olu Akinkugbe and Mr. Segun Awolowo. PHOTOS: Dare Fasube
From left: Chief Agboola Alausa, Chief Alade Shote representing Awujale
of Ijebu and Chief (Mrs.) Abbah Folawiyo.
Mega Party, ADP gets INEC’s nod
By Henry Umoru
THE Newly registered
Mega Party, the Action
Democratic Party, ADP
yesterday got its certificate of
registration from the
Independent National Electoral
Commission, INEC, giving the
ruling party, the All
Progressives Congress, APC
quit notice ahead of 2019
general elections.
The ADP described the
separatist agitations in the land,
especially the ultimatum by the
Arewa Youth group to the Igbo
to quit northern parts of the
country within three months or
be forced to do so as a reflection
on bad leadership and failure
on the part of the ruling APC,
which the newly registered
party would correct.
Addressing journalists
yesterday at ADP’s national
secretariat in Asokoro, Abuja
after receiving the party’s
certificate of registration from
INEC, the national chairman,
Engr. Yusuf Yabagi Sani who
noted that the new party with
its registration was on a rescue
mission against the backdrop
that Nigeria as a country, was
on the verge of total collapse,
said that the ADP was fully on
ground and that members were
waiting for this moment
(registration/collection of their
certificate).
According to him, the ADP
was sure of winning the
forthcoming gubernatorial
elections in Osun, Ondo, Ekiti
and Anambra states.
He said, “We are prepared for
the forth coming Governorship
elections. Even before the
INEC Chairman said it we were
prepared; our members in those
states are just waiting patiently
for this day which has come,
God Himself has established it
and now that we have the
certificate nobody will be
disenfranchised.
“We are ready because
Nigerians are ready for the real
change and not the cosmetic
change that you have been
seeing that have plunged us
into what we are seeing today.
We believe that all Nigerians
have been waiting for is today
as this is the beginning of the
journey to greatness, a great
nation, a safe place where you
can live anywhere and do
business anywhere. In Anambra
and other elections that are
coming, you will see wonders.”
•Gives APC quit notice ahead of 2019
•Says secession threat, a reflection of bad leadership by APC
The national chairman who
noted that the party will not
allow impunity to grow and
destroy the party like it did to
the Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP) and is now happening to
the APC, said, “the constitution
does not recognize persons, but
the Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC)
and the political parties. We will
make the party supreme and
above everybody.
“Political parties as institutions
have been taken for granted.
FG spent N1.2trn on capital projects in last I2 months
—Finance Minister
•Signs Global Convention Act on base
erosion and profit shifting
•Contribution of tax to GDP is 6%
By Peter Egwuatu
THE Federal Government has
spent over N1.2 trillion in the
last 12 months on capital projects
in the country and pledged to
continue to prioritise
infrastructure spending. The
Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi
Adeosun, disclosed this yesterday
at the Nigerian Stock Exchange,
NSE and Bloomberg CEO
Roundtable Session in Lagos.
While commenting on the topic
“Innovating out of Nigeria’s
recession: Exploring new
paradigms for Nigeria’s economic
growth,” she said, “We will
continue to prioritize
infrastructure spending. In the
last 12 months, we have spent
approximately N1.2 trillion on
capital projects. On our road,
spending was N200 billion in
2016 which compares to N19
billion in 2015 while transport and
aviation received N143 billion
compared to N6 billion in 2015.
We intend to revive Public
Private Partnership (PPP) in
Nigeria and trying to revive
existing and failed PPP projects.
Nigeria’s private sector is
extremely efficient, creative and
resilient but it needs predictability
in policy. We will introduce new
assets clause of guaranteed
instruments that will provide
adequate safeguard for the
protection of private capital.”
According to her : “ For the past
Before, we believe it is just a
platform that people use when
they want to run for an election
and then put it aside and do
whatever they like. We have
realized that it is unthinkable
to talk about democracy without
talking of political parties. If
you look at the constitution and
the electoral law, no person or
other institutions are
mentioned, but INEC and
political parties which means
that political parties have the
responsibility to make sure that
two years, the road has been
rough but the worst is over and
we have an opportunity to make
sure we don’t go back to where
we are coming from the way we
did in the past.
“Oil is only 10 per cent of our
economy but it represents up to
60 per cent of our revenue which
is why when the price of oil fell,
we had a double impact. We lost
revenue and government found
it difficult to really meet its needs.
The minister also said that the
Federal Government has signed
Global Convention on base
erosion and profit shifting Act,
which do not allow companies that
generate profit in Nigeria to evade
democracy is entrenched and
managed professionally. You
don’t leave political parties in
the hands of lay men or dropouts.
Educated and enlightened
people should manage political
parties because whatever they
do, affect everybody. Let all
Nigerians come and join us and
let’s rescue Nigeria together.”
The chairman who promised
that the new party would
provide purposeful leadership
as that was lacking presently,
said that the ADP will be
taxes by shifting this profit to
countries or jurisdiction where
little or no tax is payable.
She said that Nigerians do not
pay tax as expected, stressing that
revenue mobilization was critical
to the success of Nigeria’s
economic reform agenda.
According to her, “To do this,
we must amend Nigeria’s low
level of tax compliance. Our tax
to Gross Domestic Product, GDP
of 6 per cent suggest widespread
ignorance of our tax laws. We
have just 14 million active tax
payers out of an estimated 69.9
million economically active in
Nigeria. Out of that 14 million,
majority are Pay As You Earn,
P.A.Y.E. Among those paying tax,
there is widespread malpractice
that results in only half of the
actual income being subjected to
tax.”
Continuing, she said “On
Wednesday, Federal Executive
Council, FEC granted permission
transparent, accountable and
responsive to the people. “ADP
is a party of necessity; a party
borne out of genuine desire to
make Nigeria secure, stable
and egalitarian; a country where
democracy and rule of law shall
reign.
Our mission is to provide a
responsive leadership that will
be transparent and accountable
to the people and in living up
to the moto of the party which
is Action-forward; the interim
leadership of the party has
undertaken researches into
various aspects of Nigeria’s
socio-economic existence and
our findings revealed that our
teaming youth population
would be encouraged to be
more of entrepreneurs than job
seekers.
to the Ministry of Finance to sign
the Global Convention Act on base
erosion and profit shifting which
does not allow companies who
generate profit in Nigeria to evade
taxes by shifting these profits to
countries or jurisdiction where
little or no tax is payable. These
practices harm Nigeria and they
must stop. Nigeria’s tax to GDP
is one of the lowest levels in the
world. We need a sustainable
revenue base that will deliver. It
is well documented that in the
entire nation, only 214 people pay
tax of over N20 million and they
are all in Lagos State.
“Our low tax to GDP compares
negatively to other countries such
as Ghana which is 16 per cent,
and South Africa 27 per cent .If
we want to grow, we must
address these issues and do so
aggressively and to do that we
may have to step on big toes
because we really have no
choice.”
SOUTHERN KADUNA: Gunmen amputate herdsman’s
hand, Meyetti-Allah claims
By Ben Agande, Kaduna
THE umbrella body of
herdsmen in Nigeria, the
Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders
Association of Nigeria
(MACBAN) has alleged that one
of its members, Abubakar
Muhammad was attacked by
unknown gunmen in the volatile
Southern Kaduna region had his
hand amputated.
Addressing a press conference
in Kaduna yesterday, the chairman
of MACBAN in the State,
Haruna Tugga, warned that
such attack without any provocation
and with no word of condemnation
from leaders of the region
would put the relative peace in
the region in jeopardy.
According to Tugga, the victim
was migrating from Panda village
in Nassarawa State to Kachia, in
Southern Kaduna, when the
gunmen attacked him.
“To be specific, Abubakar
Muhammed who was migrating
from Panda, Karu LGA of
Nassarawa State to Ladduga in
Kachia LGA was attacked by
youths from Maho village under
Mazuga district.
“They attacked him along a
migratory stock route for reasons
best known to the attackers and
amputated his left hand and left
him bleeding in pool of his blood.
“He was picked by Good
Samaritan to a Private hospital in
Kachia town where he is presently
receiving medical attention.
“We condemned this inhuman
and barbaric act, we are also
calling on our people to be calm
and law abiding.
“We call on the security agencies
to investigate matter and the attackers,”
he said.
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6 — SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 17, 2017
Kaduna govt denies alleged
slaughter of Igbos
By Ben Agande,
Kaduna
THE Kaduna State
government has described
as false an audio
message being circulated
on the social media in
Igbo language that some
Igbos travelling to the east
from the Northern part of
the country were ambushed
and killed in Kaduna
State.
Addressing a press conference
in Kaduna Friday,
the senior special assistant
to the governor on Media
and Publicity, Samuel Aryan
said “some dark forces
were bent on sowing
and creating panic in our
communities” but vowed
that the Kaduna state government
would not allow
them have their ways.
Aruwan, who was
flanked by the president
General of the Igbo community
in Kaduna, Barrister
Chris Nnoli as well
as the leaders of Igbo community
in Zaria and Kafanchan
assured that the
Igbo community and every
other Nigerian that
chose to make Kaduna
their home is safe.
The statement reads:
“The attention of Kaduna
State Government has
been drawn to an inciting
picture and audio message
stating, that some
Igbos relocating to Eastern
Nigeria were ambushed
and killed in Kaduna
State.
According to the audio
being circulated in Igbo
language, the Igbos in
question were ambushed
in a luxurious bus conveying
them to Eastern Nigeria.
“The man behind the
mischievous narrative,
who also claimed to be at
the scene, went further to
lie, that the attackers
slaughtered Igbos, including
women and children
and that their corpses were
burnt along with the luxury
bus.
“The so-called eyewitness
then appealed to all
Igbos residing in Kaduna
and rest of the North to
relocate to their states of
origin. And to also avoid
travelling enmass considering
mass killings that
Amaechi, Abe’s clash in APC
consumes 4 caucus leaders
By Jimitota Onoyume
THE feud between
Chibuike Amaechi
and Senator Magnus Abe
over who controls the
mainstream machinery of
Rivers State chapter of the
All Progress Congress,
APC, deepened yesterday
as the Minister of
Transportation , Mr
Amaechi announced
removal of his former
Chief of Staff, Chief Tony
Okocha and three others
as leaders of the party’s
caucus in their various
local government areas.
Others affected by the
shake up announced by
Amaechi yesterday at
different meeting with
stakeholders of the party
in the state was his former
Attorney General and
Commissioner for Justice,
Mr Worgu Boms, who lost
his seat as leader of the
party’s caucus in his local
government, Hon Chidi
Wihioka, member representing
Ikwerre/Emohua
federal constituency who
was replaced as leader of
the party’s caucus also his
local government area.
Hon Alwell Nyesoh was
also removed as leader of
the party’s caucus in Etche
local government area.
Amaechi as leader of the
party in the state allegedly
took the action because
those removed were
accused of working to
install Senator Magnus
Abe as governorship
candidate of the party for
the 2019 general elections.
Saturday Vanguard
gathered that at the
awaits in the North.
“It is clear that some
dark forces are bent on
sowing and creating panic
in our communities.
Our Stand
“As you can see, we are
here with the leadership
of the Igbo community in
Kaduna State. The story is
entirely false and mischievous.
The Igbo community
in Kaduna is safe, like
all our communities. Nobody
is being attacked and
nobody is relocating in
fear.
“The Kaduna State Government,
under the leadership
of Governor Nasir
Ahmad El-Rufai, will continue
to uphold and defend
the right of every resident
of the state to live in
peace. Our state is a safe
place for all that choose to
call it home.
“The government vigorously
condemns the use of
social media for purposes
of incitement, falsehood
and to cause distress to
citizens” he said. In his
remarks, the President
General of the Igbo community
in the State, Barrister
Nnoli debunked the
report of the alleged killing,
saying there were no
such report at the disposal
of Igbo leaders in the
State.
meetings Amaechi vowed
to ensure that Senator Abe
did not get the party’s
gubernatorial ticket for the
2019 general poll,
insisting that as leader of
the party he would
determine who flies the
party’s flag in the state.
Amaechi who is the
immediate past governor
of the state said he
appointed Abe secretary of
his government in his first
term , adding that he also
supported him to be
Senator in his second
term.
Amaechi reportedly told
the gathering of party
stakeholders that he felt
betrayed by Senator Abe,
vowing to ensure he never
got the party’s
gubernatorial ticket.
Stop those making hate speeches
—Obaseki tells Muslims
By Simon Ebegbulem
G
OVERNOR Godwin Obaseki of Edo state has called
on Muslims to pray for the quick recovery of President
Muhammadu Buhari and stop those making hate speeches,
saying the unity of this nation must be sacrosanct.
The Governor who said that his administration would soon
constitute a Hajj and Muslim Welfare Board with a view to
have a properly organized Hajj committee that will ensure
the welfare of intending Hajj members this year, expressed
joy that the Imans in the state came to Government House to
broke their fast with him Tuesday urging Nigerians to discuss
issue that will unite the nation rather than those capable of
destabilising the country. “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 mercies will speedily answer our prayers.
“We must continue to pray for the quick recovery of our
President and distance ourselves from those making hate
speeches. We must sustain the peace we are enjoying in the
country and Edo state in particular because we can achieve a
lot as a united nation or state than a divided one. Let us
preach peace and love and not hate because this nation must
survive no matter what the enemies of democracy are doing”
he declared.
Quit Notice: I don’t believe in Biafra,
but true federalism — Lagos Lawmaker
By Ebun Sessou
AMEMBER of Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr.
Jude Idimogu has said the unity of Nigeria is not negotiable.
Idimogu representing Oshodi/Isolo II, in an interview
with Journalists in Lagos, urged the Igbo to continue their
legitimate business in all parts of the country, dismissing the
eviction notice given by the Arewa youth groups.
His words: “I don’t believe in Biafra, I believe in a unified
Nigeria because that is the only thing that will pay all of us.
“My position continues to remain that we are one Nigeria
and all Igbo wherever they are should continue to work for
the unity of the country. Nigeria belongs to all of us and we
are all stakeholders in this country.”
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Igbo youths want Nigeria restructured into
6 regions
By Emeka Mamah
THE Igbo Youth
Movement, IYM,
has called for the restructuring
of Nigeria into six
regions to ensure fiscal
federalism. Founder of
the IYM and Secretary,
Eastern Consultative Assembly,
ECA, Evangelist
Elliot Ugochukwu- Uko,
made this known in a
statement yesterday.
The statement reads:
“The planned joint meeting
on June 22, 2017 between
Northern and Eastern
leaders with Acting
President Yemi Osinbajo
in search of solutions
sounds good and needful.
The truth is that the meeting
will not address the
truth about the Nigerian
situation.
“Millions of Easterners
had affirmed their loss of
faith in Nigeria as presently
constituted through
a successful stay at home
on May 30, 2017.
“The whole world was
shocked beyond words,
when some Northern
leaders through certain
youths, dazed by the stay
at home order, played the
last card left. An untidy
attempt to blackmail Easterners
burning desire for
freedom from oppression,
with the threat to harm
them and their properties
in the North.
“Eastern youths called
their bluff, thanked God
for their reaction and
changed gear to a demand
for an early referendum
to decide the fate
By Johnbosco
Agbakwuru, Abuja
AS Nigeria joins the
rest of the World to
celebrate the 2017 International
Day of the African
Child, about six persons
from Nassarawa and
Kaduna States have been
dragged to court by a
Non-Government Organisation,
NGO, El-meela
Heritage Support Foundation,
for allegedly defiling
minors.
President of the Foun-
of Nigeria. A hurried cosmetic
makeover is in the
brew, to paper the cracks
and postpone the evil day.
“The elite clap, Nigerians
ponder, the naive and
the gullible are deceived
as usual, while the discerning
mourn. The political
class is excited at
the opportunity of using
the blood of these agitators
to achieve political
accommodation and the
beat goes on.
“As the leaders gather
on June 22nd to prevaricate
with platitudes, as
usual, the divide gets
only deeper, the anger
spreads wider, and the
elite club congratulates
themselves for another
choreographed deception
successfully pulled off.
“The crack in the foundation
of the country
would only continue to
get worse until we stop
lying to ourselves. The
malignant tumour has
grown so big that only a
surgical operation can remove
it now. “The militarily
-inspired constitution
cannot move Nigeria
forward. The structure
created by military rulers
cannot take us any further.
The suspicions have since
given way to hate and the
misgivings to anger.
“Only a fundamental
restructuring of the polity
back to true fiscal federalism
can save Nigeria
now. Everybody knows
that.
“Continuous deception
would only make matters
worse. Devolving powers
to the 36 states is not
enough to return the souls
of millions of young people
(especially from my
region) who no longer
believe in Nigeria.
“Only an early return to
regionalism would save
the situation now. The
elite are only pushing
their luck too far, perhaps
because they believe the
large army of angry
youths can always be deceived.
“The political class
BURIAL — From Left: Grandson, Master Jolomi Ine; Son-in-law, Mr. Tolani Ine;
Grandson Master Tuoyo and deceased's daughter, Mrs. Magdalene Ine, at the Funeral
Mass for late Squadron Leader Godin Christopher Atsimene (rtd), held at
Catholic Church of the Annunciation, Festac Town, in Lagos yesterday.
PHOTO: AKINWUNMI IBRAHIM
African Child Day: 6 persons in court over defilement of
minors
dation, Jamila Isa who
disclosed this in Abuja
yesterday called on the
government to ensure that
there is stringent punishment
for those engaged in
rape or defilement of minors.
She said the incidents
happened in Kaduna,
Mararaba and Masaka in
Nasarrawa state and another
one in Niger state
and that the Foundation
has a team of lawyers handling
the matters in court.
She wondered why children
should be described
as the future of tomorrow
but they were being raped
and defiled on daily basis,
stressing that with the
rate in which children
were being defiled, she
was not sure whether
there would be future for
the children.
She explained that it was
the abominable act of violence
against children by
some men that made her
to start the foundation,
pointing out that the United
Nation Convention on
the Rights of the Child
(1989), particularly reflect
Children’s right to participation,
right to be protected
from all forms of
violence, likewise the
Child Right.
She said, “This special
Day also provides an occasion
for governments
and all relevant stakeholders
to renew and
unite their ongoing commitments
to combat the ills
which plague the daily
lives of the children.
“The theme chosen by
the African Committee of
Experts on the right and
welfare of the child for the
Day of the African Child
this year is ’Accelerating
Protection, Empowerment
and Equal opportunities
for children in Africa by
2030.’ On her passion for
children, she said, “Today,
in our society the children
are just there, they are not
using their time for
schooling and there are
also hoodlums outside
there, both men and women
who use them to perpetuate
crimes and evil”.
SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 17, 2017 — 7
FG moves to end A/Ibom,
CR’S boundary dispute
By Chioma Onuegbu, Uyo
THE Federal Government has put measures and
modalities in place to bring an end to the agelong
boundary dispute between Oku Iboku in Itu Local
Government Area of Akwa Ibom State and Ikot
Offiong in Cross River State.
A government team led by the Director General of
the National Boundary Commission (NBC) Dr. B.
Ahmad yesterday, met with the Akwa Ibom State
Boundary Committee, chaired by the Deputy Governor,
Mr. Moses Ekpo to discuss the matter.
Ahmad in his remarks said the decision of the government
to demarcate the boundary was aimed at ensuring
lasting solution and peace to the warring communities.
He assured that the federal government
would be impartial and transparent in the demarcation
process. He solicited the full support of the state
government as well as the cooperation of the affected
communities in the state towards the planned demarcation
exercise.
Also, Ekpo commended the efforts of the Acting President,
Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and the commitment of the
governments of Akwa Ibom and the Cross River States
towards ending the protracted boundary dispute.
W/Bank pledges assistance to
States Fiscal Sustainability
By Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief
THE World Bank Group has pledged to assist
Nigeria’s State Governments to improve their
fiscal management by strengthening and consolidating
the Fiscal Sustainability Plan (FSP).
The bank made the pledge at a meeting with the
Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, in her
office, in Abuja, at the weekend.
The proposed intervention by the World Bank
would involve financing capacity building and providing
technical support for officials in the 36 States
of the federation with a view to equipping them with
the requisite knowledge and skills to effectively
manage the components of the FSP.
The objective was to ensure that the States were
put on the path that would lead them out of the
situation in which they have to be bailed out or fail
to meet their financial obligations for the well-being
of the citizenry.
Enugu govt spends N27bn on
roads
BY DENNIS AGBO
ENUGU State government said it has spent more
than N27 billion on intra-state, inter-state and
federal roads in the state since the state governor,
Mr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi assumed office.
The state Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure,
Mr. Patrick Ikpenwa, while briefing newsmen
yesterday, said the roads totaling 142 kilometers
include Abakpa Nike Road, Nike Lake Road, 9th
Mile Bypass, Amankwo-Ameke-Amah Breweries,
Opi-Nsukka dualization and Udenu Ring Road
were done within the period.
The commissioner stated that the state government
intervened on some federal roads where major failed
sections posed dangerous traps for the citizenry.
He said the state constructed more than five new
bridges and rehabilitated more than six others.
Ikpenwa said the state was able to achieve a lot
despite being classified among states that receive
low federal allocation, attributing the feat to the prudent
financial management of the governor.
He said the federal government was indebted to
the state to the tune of N22.8billion.
Emefiele to chair Ika economic
summit
THE Ika Village Square, a socio-cultural group of
Ika people has said that the Governor of Central
Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, would
chair the maiden economic summit of the Ika nation
scheduled for June 24, 2017.
Chairman Organizing Committee of the summit,
Delta State Commissioner for Economic Planning, Mr.
Kingsley Emu, who disclosed this in Asaba, said the
summit was part of efforts to showcase the potentials
of the Ika nation.
He said the summit which is to hold in Ika National
Hall tagged ‘Exploring the Economic Potentials of Ika
Through Strategic Investors Partnership for Development’,
would have the Delta State governor, Sen Ifeanyi
Okowa as Special Guest of Honour.
He said other prominent sons of Ika including, Major
General Iyo Irabor, Prof P.C Egbon, Prof Eric Eboh,
Prof. Stella Chiemeke, Dr. Jude Obala, Prof. Egban,
Mr. Nduka Irabor, Mr. Tony Obuh, Mr. Victor Nwokolo,
Mr. Anthony Elekeokwuri, Mr. Festus Okoh and
Mr. Chiedu Ebie among others would also grace the
ceremony.
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8 — SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 17, 2017
Lover kills girl-friend, dumps corpse in
bathroom
By Simon Ebegbulem
THERE was pandemonium
at the early hours
of yesterday around 2nd
West Circular road, Benin
City when residents woke up
to discover the corpse of a
lady in her thirties deposited
in a bathroom by her alleged
lover. The yet to be identified
lady was said to have passed
the night in her lover’s house
at 17b Akugbe Road where
Uwa market is located, off TV
Road, Benin city.
Some residents who spoke
on condition of anonymity
recalled that the victim and
her lover identified as
Anthony, a driver working
with a popular Transport
Company in Edo state, had
a fight till 4am yesterday.
Saturday Vanguard learnt
that the lady said to be in her
thirties, died in the process
and in order to conceal his
evil act, the lover carried the
corpse through a fence and
depositedit inside a
bathroom in a neighbouring
compound.
When the occupants of the
house woke up in the
morning and discovered the
corpse, they took to their
heels and alerted the police
at Textile Mill Road. The
policemen came and took
away the corpse but the
Have faith in Nigeria—Uzodinma urges Igbos
•Calls for technology village for south-east
IGBOS have been
implored to have faith
in project Nigeria and
work relentlessly for an
equitable country where
they can optimize their
talents and actualize their
destiny.
Making the call in
London on Saturday, the
Senator representing Imo
West in the National
Assembly, Sen. Hope
Uzodinma also called for
Time for Igbo presidency in Nigeria is
now—APC Chieftain
By Rotimi Agbana
FORMER Lagos State
chairman of the
defunct African
Renaissance Party, ARP,
and a chieftain of the All
Progressives Congress,
APC, Chief Charles Udo
Udeogaranya, has called
on other ethnic groups in
Nigeria to support Igbo
presidency come 2019.
He however declared
his intention to run for
presidency in 2019,
noting that ceding the
position to the Igbos
would douse tension in
the land.
Udeogaranya said the
Igbo no longer have to
wait to produce the
TRADITIONAL WEDDING: Mr. Emmanuel Okpotu formalizing his union
with his wife,Joy in a traditional wedding in Ughelli, Delta State.
occupants of the house ran
away for fear of being
arrested by the police.
However, luck ran out
against the suspect when
president of the country,
50 years after the end of
the civil war, adding that
allowing the South East
take a shot at the
presidency, “is an action
that will speak louder
than words if the post
civil war policy of
reconciliation,
rehabilitation and
reconstruction
implemented by the Gen.
Yakubu Gowon regime
should be retained.”
Udeogaranya, who
spoke during an
interview session with
journalists, yesterday, in
Lagos, added that if the
South East produces the
president, the class
system in the county will
be eliminated. He
some soldiers got
information that he was
hiding in a nearby
compound.The soldiers
therefore stormed the
lamented the state of
affairs in the country,
saying: “The nation
seems to be clamouring
for a young president. If
you seek the opinion of
majority of Nigerians,
President Muhamadu
Buhari has given his best,
but Nigerians are
clamouring for more.
President Buhari had said
he would have wished the
presidency came to him at
a better time than this. In
other words, the
President underscores the
need for youthfulness at
the presidential level in
delivering the kind of
quality leadership that
Nigerians are yearning
for.”
Udeogaranya faulted
calls for the restructuring
of the country, stressing
that the problem
bedeviling the nation has
nothing to do with its
structure but with the
leadership.
compound, broke the
door and found the
suspect inside the room
at about 3pm yesterday
and handed him over to
the police.
the establishment of a
technology village in the
South-East insisting that
in a strong united Nigeria
Igbos using technology
and innovation as their
compass can build a
secure and prosperous
South East where their
“abiding worth as equal
players and partners in
the great Nigeria project
will become more
unassailable.”
Uzodinma whose
speech to Imo West
Association UK, was
titled, “Imo West, Igbos
and Project Nigeria,” said
he was confident that
using the compass of
technology and
innovation, Igbos can
actualize the grand vision
of her foremost political
icon, Dr. Nnamdi
Azikiwe, who believed
that Igbos have the
capacity to spread their
wings and be the Ndigbo
of Africa and beacon of
hope for their African
brethren.
He traced the history of
Igbo enterprise and
recalled that they
dominated the intellectual
and inventive world
before and immediately
after independence,
citing the feats of great
Igbo intellectuals such as
Prof. Kenneth Dike, first
black VC of University of
Ibadan; first Nigeria
Professor of Mathematics,
Prof Chike Obi, who
solved Fermat’s last
Theorem; first Nigeria
professor of anatomy and
physiology, Prof. Chike
Edozien and current Obi
of Asaba, and Prof.
Kodilionye, the first
Nigeria Professor of
Medicine, among others,
to drive his point home.
Security expert warns against
unguarded utterances
By Ishola Balogun
A
renowned security analyst, Ambassador Abayomi
Nurain Mumuni has expressed concerns over what
he called ‘uncoordinated utterances from many Nigerians’
regarding the eviction of the Igbos from Northern Nigeria.
Ambassador Mumuni also called on the South East
elders (Ohaneze Ndigbo), including South East Governors’
Forum to be bold enough to come out openly to
redress the IPOB’s agitation of Biafra Republic and declaration
of secession from Nigeria.
The author of “the two most read books globally on
terrorism:Global Terrorism and its Effects on Humanity
and Demand by Terror” described the developments as
very disturbing and unpatriotic, calling on government
at all levels to take proactive measures before it gets out
of hands. He similarly faulted the actions of the Arewa
Youths Forum as well as the pan-Yoruba group who are
also calling for Oduduwa Republic.
Mumuni said Nigerians must not vilify or punish the
entire Igbos who have contributed to the development of
Nigerian communities, including the Northern states
because of a single man, ‘who is obviously championing
a sponsored and unwarranted cause.’
One person can’t solve Nigeria’s
problems —Jonathan
By Chidi Nkwopara, Owerri
DESPITE myriads of opinions on how to bail Nigeria
out of its numerous problems, the immediate past
President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, has said, “no one
person can do it. Dr. Jonathan made this known through
the former Secretary to the Federal Government, Senator
Anyim Pius Anyim, at the 5th Memorial Lecture of late
Professor Celestine O. E. Onwuliri, at Nnarambia Mbaise.
‘’People have said a lot of things about the problems of
Nigeria. There is no point joining issues with anybody,
but all I can say is that no one person can solve the nation’s
problems,” Dr. Jonathan said.
In his speech, the former Imo State Governor, Chief
Ikedi Ohakim, lamented that the fellow who flew the illfated
Dana Airline that claimed the life of Professor
Celestine Onwuliri and other Nigerians, was not certified
as a pilot.
Police arrest teenage robbers, fake
military personnel in Makurdi, Gboko
By Peter Duru, Makurdi
MEN of the Benue State Police Command have
arrested three teenage robbers who allegedly
specialize in breaking into the homes of their victims
during the day in Makurdi, the state capital.
Parading the suspects yesterday at the state Command
Headquarters, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Bashir
Makama said the robbers were arrested in the Wadata
Area of Makurdi town.
Makama said “the gang comprising, Aondokura Terngu,
15, Denen Tyonenge, 14, Tersoo Jigba,14, and Emmanuel
Onaji, 16 years were arrested by men on township patrol.
“The suspects have confessed to be responsible for
breaking into people’s homes during the day and carting
away valuables when the owners were not around.
“In the course of the operation at Pika Mbasur village
in Gboko, also our men arrested a 28-year-old Mbajime
Magh who was parading himself as a military personnel
in uniform. Further search was conducted on the suspect
and some items including one camouflage, pair of black
military boot, a pair of Tetron uniform and one camouflage
vest. were recovered from him.”
Glo Mega Music Tour hits Lagos today
FTER successful outings in nine cities across the
Acountry, the Glo Mega Music Nationwide Tour
packaged by the national telecommunications network,
Globacom will this weekend be held at the Eko Hotel
and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The show which comes up on Saturday will treat
residents of Victoria Island and indeed, Lagos State and
environs to an evening of fun and entertainment. Ten
weeks ago, the show kicked off in Awka, the capital of
Anambra State and has been held in other eight cities
including Oriental city of Owerri, Imo State, Ajah, Lagos
State; Delta State Capital, Asaba;Aba in Abia State,
Calabar, Cross River State; Port Harcourt, Rivers
State;Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and Edo State
capital, Benin City.
Globacom, in a statement in Lagos on Wednesday, stated
that 10 top rated artistes will entertain guests at the show.
They include Globacom’s latest brand ambassador,
Innocent Idibia, aka Tuface, Nabania crooner, Flavour;
Peter and Paul Okoye of PSquare, queen of Afro-Pop,
Yemi Alade; the duo of Marvin Records music sensations,
Reekado Banks and Korede Bello; Igbo ethno-rapper,
Phyno; hip-hop, raga & afro-beat exponent, Timaya and
dance hall master, Runtown.
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Osinbajo to declare open the first Made-in-Nigeria
Goods Campaign Carnival
•We’ve no business importing goods — Adegboyega Ojuolape,
Coordinator, Brands Carnival Project Limited
By Henry Umoru
ACTING President,
Yemi Osinbajo will
declare open the first made
in Nigeria goods campaign
Carnival, designed to give
Nigerian Manufacturers,
service providers and
brands, the opportunity to
show case their products and
services as well as for
participants and partners to
share their success stories.
The Acting President is also
to deliver the key note
address to kick-start the
carnival where a network
would be created for patriotic
Nigerian Manufacturers,
over 200,000 participants
daily for the carnival which
would hold for seven days
as well as participation of 774
brands from across the 774
Local Government Areas of
the country.
Addressing Journalists
yesterday in Abuja, the
project Coordinator of
Brands Carnival Project
Limited, Adegboyega
Ojuolape said that the event
which would hold in October
this year in Abuja, would also
create a national
collaboration system for the
promotion of Nigerian
brands as well as a platform
for national agenda setting
for Made in Nigeria and
National recognition for best
practices in social investment
and entrepreneurship
development. He added that
if Nigeria and Nigerians
harness the available
potentials in the country, we
have no business importing
what we consume.
Ojuolape called on the
Federal government to take
the lead in the campaign for
the made in Nigeria products
by making it a policy that no
foreign product should be
given a higher consideration
above Nigeria products. He
argued that if Nigeria must
succeed as a country, its
citizens must consume more
of the products and services
that are locally produced,
adding “No nation can attain
greatness unless it consumes
what it produces. We have
the population, the
knowledge and the capacity
to feed ourselves and grow
the economy to a great
height.”
Also calling on the media
to rise to the challenge of
making Made in Nigeria
Products an important issue
in the public space, by taking
the campaign to the door
steps of Nigerians, he said,
“It is therefore in this regard
that we call on the media to
take this campaign into the
home of all Nigerians.”
The project coordinator
who noted that the programe
is to sensitize Nigerians on
the need to celebrate and
patronize Nigerian brands,
said that the event would
feature made in Nigeria
conference charity soccer
match as well as exhibition
and musical performance
award. According to him,
“our focus is to deliver a
Nigerian brand carnival that
truly reflects possibilities in
the country for all its people
by leading the call to action,
celebrating and rewarding
those who have Blazed the
trail, whilst delivering a world
class event to the
enchantment of all
stakeholders.”
TELL names Ooni, Sanusi joint Man of the Year
THE Executive Directorate
of TELL
Communications Limited,
publishers of Tell magazine
has named the Ooni of Ife,
Oba Adeyeye Enitan
Ogunwusi, Ojaja II and
the Emir of Kano, Alhaji
Muhammad Sanusi II as
the joint winners of the
TELL Man of the year,
2016.
According to a statement
signed by the President/
Chief Executive Officer of
the communications outfit,
Mr Nosa Igiebor, the First
Lady, Mrs Aisha Buhari
has also been chosen as the
TELL Woman of the Year
while former Lagos state
governor, Asiwaju Bola
Ahmed Tinubu will
receive the special Award
of National Icon of
Democracy in Nigeria.
Also, Governor Kashim
Shettima of Borno state and
Governor Ben Ayade of
Cross River state were
named as the joint winners
of the Governor of the Year.
The maiden edition of
TELL Awards for
Excellence which will
feature awards categories
in which persons and
institutions deserving of
such honours will be
celebrated will hold on
June 17 2017 at the Civic
Centre, Ozumba Mbadiwe
Avenue, Victoria Island,
Lagos.
Mr Igiebor, in the
statement said, “the TELL
Awards for Excellence is
our latest patriotic initiative,
designed to promote and
celebrate excellence in all
spheres of human
endeavour, as part of efforts
to accelerate national
growth and development.”
VANGUARD, SATURDAY, JUNE 17, 2017 — 9
Rep tasks FG on Ajaokuta Steel completion
BYBOLUWAJI
OBAHOPO, LOKOJA
THE
Chairman,
House of Representatives
Committee on Steel
Development, Mr. Lawal
Idirisu has called on the
Federal Government to
ensure the quick completion
of Ajaokuta Steel Company.
Lawal, who stated this
yesterday in Ajaokuta while
giving an account of his two
N/Delta Ministry to fish out ghost
workers in NDDC, orders staff audit
BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME
MINISTER of Niger Delta, Pastor Usani Uguru has
ordered a staff audit in the Niger Delta Development
Commission, NDDC, in order to fish out ghost workers.
The Minister, handed down the order yesterday at the
commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt, saying that staff
of the Commission should submit their details through their
departments to the Managing Director, Mr. Nsima Ekere
within seven days.
His words: “Submit to your Managing Director your nominal
roles, date of recruitment, current status. I want this done
within seven days.”
He also warned against 10 percent syndrome, stressing
that any staff caught collecting ten percent from contractors
would be severely dealt with, adding that steps should be
taken to change the poor image of the commission.
His words: “10 percent syndrome must stop. No file should
stay on any table for more than 24 hours. Contractors should
not be encouraged to hang around the commission struggling
to see that their files are attended to. This is only possible
when you don’t delay files. Don’t make money by delaying
files. Shun things that give NDDC bad image. “, he said.
Continuing, he said the Ministry would soon commence
an audit of projects in the commission.
Earlier, Managing Director of the commission, Mr. Nsima
Ekere said the commission was in the process of deleting
stalled projects running into about N200 billion from its balance
sheet.
StarTimes doles out gifts to
subscribers in “Ramadan Lucky Dip”
AS part of its desires to reward loyal subscribers,
pay TV Company, StarTimes, has set aside
mouthwatering gifts items for give away in “Ramadan
Lucky Dip” for Lagos subscribers during the fasting
period.
To qualify for the lucky dip, which is meant for Lagos
subscribers only, a subscriber will have to recharge his
decoder in any of StarTimes Lagos business halls starting
from the Basic bouquet of N1300 upwards and will stand
a chance to win different gift items.
Acting Brands and Marketing Director, StarTimes, Mr.
Qasim Elegbede said the more a subscriber recharges
the more the chances of winning in the ‘Lucky Dip’.
“The higher you recharge the more valuable gift items
you stand to win”, he said.
Elegbede explained further that new subscribers are
also not left out in Eid-el-Fitri gift splash as they stand to
win gift items based on the product purchased starting
from Decoders to the Digital TV.
Elegbede noted that StarTimes aggregates various
exciting and top-notch channels on its platform to offer
millions of digital TV subscribers a rich blend of
entertainment - be it movies, sports, news, drama, series,
and music.
years stewardship at the
National Assembly stated
that the giant steel company
situated in his constituency
had remained moribund for
too long.
He said, in the last two
years, he had raised motions
on the need to avoid the sale
of the steel company and
also presented a motion on
the need for the government
to renegotiate the completion
of the Ajaokuta steel with its
original builders.
Police nab fake
soldier in Abia
By Ugochukwu Alaribe
THe Police in Abia
State have arrested a
fake soldier identified as
Okezie Chukwuebuka with
a female member of his
gang, Gift Johnson in
Umuahia.
Police sources told Saturday
Vanguard that one
Stephen had lodged a complaint
that he was robbed of
his Gionee M2 phone valued
N28,000, along Uzuakoli
road, Umuahia by three
men and a lady, one of
whom was dressed in military
uniform.
Acting on a tip off, the Police
arrested Chukwuebuka
with his accomplice, Gift, at
their hideout. When a
search was conducted on
them, 2 pairs of Army camouflage
uniform, 2 Itel
phones, Cash of
N23,000,UBA cheque
leaves belonging to Uwajumogu
Ikechukwu and Fidelity
Bank and Skye Bank
cheque leaves belonging to
Eni Virginia Enyinnaya
were recoveed from them.

10—SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 17, 2017
EVANS
PROLOGUE:
ONOCHIE ANIBEZE, SATURDAY EDITOR
About 20 minutes after Chukwudubem Onwuamadike, a.k.a
Evans was arrested last Saturday, Ifeanyi Okoli, our crime
reporter called me to break the good news. Few minutes
later I spoke with crack police investigator ACP, Abba Kyari
whose team did the great job. We were all elated. I congratulated
him for a job well done and he too congratulated Vanguard Newspapers for
the role we played. Force PRO, Moshood Jimoh was also to commend
Vanguard during the week on Channels Television.
The prelude to the end of Evans as a kidnap kingpin could be said to have
started with our publication on April 22, capturing his exploits – his operations
and huge sums of money he has collected as ransom. Some were paid
in dollars. Evans had raked in millions of dollars from kidnapping.
Our Crime Editor Emma Nnadozie anchored the story. Our story
turned a lead to some members of his gang who didn’t know
Evans was collecting that much from victims. Evans was very
smart and Abba Kyari alluded to that while we were celebrating
his arrest.
The team that went to kidnap their preys was always
different from the team that kept them in their hideouts.
The team that collected ransom was also different. They
didn’t know each other. He communicated with each group
with different telephone numbers. He didn’t take calls as
he always switched off after contacting his members.
Evans, in many cases, lead the team that did the
kidnapping. And when on April 22 Saturday Vanguard
published the huge sums he was collecting acrimony
developed among his gang. This led to the escape of
one of his victims and the police discovered their Igando
hideout in Lagos. Many other things followed and last
Saturday the Abba Kyari team nabbed the most wanted
criminal in Nigeria. This goes to prove the HARD FACT
that no bad thing lasts.
The stories of Evans have been most revealing and
Nigerians are craving for more. We serve them today
and hope to continue. We went to his village in Nnewi
in Anambra State to talk to his parents. We searched for
some of his victims and their story will amaze you. We
spoke with Evans himself and what he said is a MUST
READ. We have pictures of his houses and a story on his
lifestyle. His wife called our Crime Editor from Ghana
yesterday and cried while telling her story. She said she did
not know that her husband was into crime and suggested that
his wealth should be sold off and given to his victims. She
said she called Vanguard because it was the paper that gave
more details. We have her pathetic story and more. It is a package
meant to wow you in our usual refreshingly different manner.
Ifeanyi Okoli interviewed Evans and has been with the police
before and after the big arrest. Emma Nnadozie spent some time
with some of the victims of Evans, Vincent Ujumadu got his father
to speak in Nnewi. Your weekend is made here. Enjoy it.
•Chukwudubem
Onwuamadike

SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 17, 2017—11
EVANS
I want to die, I
have seen it all,
Evans declares
•What am I living for?
•Wants govt to prevent his children from becoming criminals
BY IFEANYI OKOLI
“I want to die. I can’t stand
this humiliation’’ he
emotionally said in a chat with
Saturday Vanguard a few days
after his arrest.
Being overcome by emotion
was the least thing anyone
would expect from someone,
who lived in his own world with
a larger than life image.
But for notorious kidnap
kingpin, Chukwudubem
Onwuamadike, aKa, Evans,
who was arrested last Saturday
at his Magodo Estate
mansion, Lagos, the end is not
just near but had come.
The 36-year-old suspect, who is
a native of Akamili in Umudim
Quarters, Nnewi, Anambra
State, told Saturday Vanguard at
the Lagos State Police
Evans and
Command, amidst tears, that he
members of
was being humiliated beyond
his gang
limits, noting that he preferred
dying than to continue living in
pains.
to end his life that moment, he
looked at this reporter and
an orphanage home where
I knew Police’ll not be
asked: ”What am I living for?
they would grow to become
When I saw the policemen dash
better persons in the society. I
fair to me
towards me I ran inside. I was not
have been diagnosed with
Evans said he knew the Police
running to escape. I ran to see if I
Colon Cancer and I wish could
would not treat him fairly when
could end it before they could
die now” .
he was caught, given the kind of
take me. But time was short. They
atrocities he committed over the
followed me into the room.”
About his wife
years.
I want the government to train I want the
Asked about the exact
It was based on this
and educate my children
location of his wife and
assumption that he told Saturday
Not done, he added thus: “I government to children, Evans said he sent
Vanguard that he made up his
have seen it all, I want to die
them to Ghana four days
mind to end his life the moment
and have some rest. The only train and educate before he was arrested, adding
the Police gained access to his
thing I want now is for the
that they had planned to
house.
government to take care of my
relocate to Canada, where he
my children
He stated that the Police officer,
children, educate them and
said he wanted his children to
who pursued him as he ran into
don’t allow them to become
school.
his house when he sighted them
criminals. I have begged Abba
He further disclosed that he
at his gate, prevented him from
Kyari, to do this for me and he
gave his wife the sum of
completing his mission.
assured me that the Lagos State
Regretting that he was not able
government would take them to
Continues on pg 12
C
M
YK

12—SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 17, 2017
EVANS
‘My wife doesn’t know I’m a kidnapper’
•His wife
•His family
Continues on pg 11
N20million for her upkeep, stating
that he did not know their location
at the moment since the day he was
arrested.
Evans also revealed that his wife,
who he has been married to for 11
years only knew he was a
kidnapper a few days before his
arrest.
How my wife knew
I am a kidnapper
He said: “My wife didn’t know I
am a kidnapper. I kept all my
kidnapping activities away from her
and she thought I made my billions
from importation and illicit drug
dealings. We didn’t allow visitors
to visit our house for any
reason. If she must receive any
visitor, I usually ask her to take
them to a hotel. But a few days
before I was arrested she
discovered I was worried and
restless. My blood pressure went
very high and she asked what was
happening. I opened up to her and
also told her that security agents
were everywhere looking for me.
Initially, I thought it was the
Department of State Security, DSS,
that was hunting for me. I also told
her to be very careful with her
phones and to be mindful of the
people who call her. I also told her
to always switch off her mobile
phones. While I was still
contemplating on what to do, I got
information that one of my
girlfriends known as Ijeoma had
been arrested and taken to SARS,
Ikeja. That was when I knew that
the people hunting me were
policemen. I called my second in
command, Felix and warned him to
be careful that the Police were closing
in on us, but before I knew what was
happening, I learnt that Felix had
been arrested in Ojota.
I sold my cars, stopped my
children from going to school
‘’I immediately moved my family
out of my house and we relocated to a
hotel in Agidingbi Ikeja. My children
stopped going to school, then I
started making preparation for them
to travel to Ghana where I have three
houses. A few days later, I got news
again that my younger sister, Nzube
had also been arrested by the Police.
•His houses in Accra
•Another house
I heard they were trying to use
her to lure me. I then sent words
to one of my friends in Nnewi
to take my mother to Bayelsa
State where I felt locating her
will be difficult. Then I sold
three of my cars, leaving just a
Grand Cherokee SUV. Four
days before my arrest, I sent my
wife and children to Ghana and I
paid the sum of N20million to the
account of a bureau de change
operator in Ghana. She collected
the money in Cedi. I was
planning to join them the day I
was arrested. “
•Class staircass
•Inside the house
•Another house in Accra
•His house in Lagos
•One of his cars

SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 17, 2017—13
EVANS
KIDNAPPER EVANS FATHER ALLEGES:
My wife destroyed
my son and ruined
my family
•Evans father, Mr.
Stephen Onwuamadike
in his sitting room at
Nnewi
BY VINCENT UJUMADU
UNKNOWN IN NNEWI
THE lifestyle of Evans Onwuamadike ,
the 36 year –old Nnewi, Anambra State
–born kidnap kingpin arrested last
weekend in Lagos, is different from that of
most kidnappers who hailed from the state.
This is because unlike his contemporaries who
exhibit stupendous wealth in their
communities and built mansions and business
empires, which were demolished by
government on discovery of the source of such
wealth, Evans has nothing to show in his
Akamili, Umudim, Nnewi village, or even
anywhere in Anambra State.
He is not even known in the area as he left the
community as a teenager soon after dropping
out of junior secondary school. In fact, his last
visit to Nnewi was in 2006, one year after he
got married. His wife and children have not
even been to Nnewi for the first time and it is
therefore not surprising that he is hardly
known in the community.
HIS FATHER WAS ONCE WEALTHY
As this reporter was searching for the
Onwuamadike family compound, expecting
to see a mansion owned by Evans at Akamili
–Umudim, none of the people asked even
knew the name. Most people approached said
they were taken aback when they heard that
the kidnap kingpin arrested in Lagos hailed
from their community. As Mr. Ikechukwu
Nwafor from the community said, the
Onwuamadike they knew was Stephen, who
was once rich, but suddenly went bankrupt
and has been residing in the village.
Mr. Stephen Onwuamadike, 58, Evans’
father and once a member of the famous
Peoples Club of Nigeria, made money at young
age and built a mansion that could be
described as an architectural masterpiece in
the early 1980s when the house was built. In
fact, the house was built between 1982 and
1984. That house has become a shadow of
itself because Mr. Onwuamadike can no
longer maintain it. He also built a magnificent
warehouse inside his massive compound,
which served as distribution center for vehicle
spare parts in Nnewi. In fact, many of the
current Nnewi –born millionaires were said
to have begun their business with goods
supplied by Onwuamadike. That warehouse
is now totally empty. Today, while his
contemporaries are making waves in the
business world, poverty has confined
Onwuamadike permanently to the village
where he is nurturing just few pigs as a source
of his livelihood. His once flourishing business
has collapsed and he can hardly afford three
square meals.
Onwuamadike said his misfortune in life,
after he was unarguably one of the richest
people in Nnewi in the early eighties, was
caused by his wife who, he added, used
unconventional means to bring up Evans and
eventually succeeded in ruining his life.
He said: “All the problems that had befallen
me were caused by my first wife, the mother of
Evans, who was also responsible for the wrong
path Evans toed. What makes me cry always is
that I was warned by one of her relations not to
marry her, but I was blinded by physical
appearance.
“Her relation actually told me that the woman
would destroy my home and in fact told me some
negative things about her, but I felt they were
only being jealous of her. Because I did not want
to live the life of a bachelor after serving my
master, I married her just four months after I
started my own business.
“This woman pushed me to the wall and
succeeded in destroying my family. I stopped
eating her food many years ago because I was
afraid she might poison me.
I also ensured that my mother did not eat the
food prepared by her. I suspected that she was
manipulating Evans through diabolical means
and unfortunately she succeeded. She would just
disappear from the house and for months, nobody
would know where she was, except that some
people might say they saw her in Lagos.
“I had 30 cars, but today I don’t have any because
I sold all of them when life became very difficult.
All my cars were bought brand new and the only
second hand car in the fleet was a Volkswagen
Beatle which someone who borrowed money
from me deposited as collateral.
“I furnished this house to a very high taste but
due to hardship, I sold everything, including the
air conditioners and other very important items
in this house. As you can see, my roof is leaking
and I can’t repair it. To eat is even a big problem.
“At that time, I was among the only eight persons
that had land line in Nnewi. I was also one of the
first Nigerians to buy Santana car when it came
out in Germany. I saw it in a shop in Germany
and paid for it and it was air freighted to Port-
Harcourt a week later. If my business was still
flourishing at the time Evans was in secondary
school, there was no way he would have been in
this mess because I had the resources to send him
to any part of the world to study.
All the problems that
had befallen me were
caused by my first wife,
the mother of Evans,
who was also
responsible for the
wrong path Evans toed
•Evans mother
“When Evans was very young, it was my
mother that took care of him when his
mother abandoned our family house and
was jumping from one place to the other.
When my business ran into murky waters,
Evans could no longer continue with his
education at the Merchants of Light
Secondary School, Oba and he dropped out
at JSS 3. Since then, it was his mother that
took charge of his wellbeing and the result
was what he eventually landed himself into.
I decided not to divorce her because of the
vow I took with her during our wedding.
“When Evans dropped out of school, I
arranged for him to go and serve someone
from Nnewi who was living in Lagos, as I
did, but his mother discouraged him. Rather,
she started giving him money which I
suspect, came from questionable sources
and I decided to withdraw from their
activities.”
According to Onwuamadike, Evans’ road
to destruction began when his mother took
him out of Nnewi and for many years,
nobody knew where they were. It is now
that I have realized that it was she who
turned Evans into a bad human being.
He said further: “For several years,
nobody knew where he was and when, in
2006 he surprisingly came back, I asked
him the kind of business he was doing and
he said he would tell me later. . He never did
before he left home and that was the last
time I sat together with him to discuss as
father and son. Though I suspected that my
son was not doing genuine business, I never
imagined that he was a kidnapper because
such a thing is not in our family.
Trip to T.B. Joshua
“In 2012 when I went to T.B. Joshua’s
church where I am an active member, I
visited my second son who also lives in Lagos.
Without my knowledge, my second son
invited Evans to his house without telling
him that I was around. When he came, I
repeated my earlier question which was that
he should tell me the nature of his business
and again he brushed it aside. I reminded
him that I asked him that question in 2006,
but he still did not give me any answer. I was
not relating with my son Evans because of his
mother. I never knew his movement; I never
knew what he was doing.
“I don’t even know where he lives in Lagos
and I was taken aback at the magnificent
house shown on television as his house. Most
people in Nnewi do not know him because he
does not come home. He got married in 2005
but I have not seen his wife. The question is,
why should the wife I married with my money
put the family into this condition? Worried by
what I was noticing in my family, I had to
report the matter to elders in his mother’s
relations; that is my in laws, for them to
intervene as it is customarily done in Igbo
land when such situations arise, but nothing
came out it.”
GOVT SHOULD TAKE HIM TO T.B.
JOSHUA OR OYEDIPO FOR
DELIVERANCE
Onwumadike said he decided to speak out to
know if government should take pity on his
son, Evans because he did not know when he
was doing it. He said further: “My son had
no problem until his mother started
manipulating him and I plead with
government to take this boy to T.B Joshua or
to Pastor Oyedipo for deliverance because I
believe that God can still use him for the good
of the society. His mother boasted to me that
she has her children on her palms and that I
have no powers to stop him, which shows that
the boy does not know what he is doing. I
believe that if the man of God handles him, he
will turn a new leaf.”
EVANS UNCLE MURDERED IN LAGOS
Looking back at his life, Onwuamadike cried
that his family had been destroyed by someone
he brought into his life as a wife. Sobbing like
a child, he said: “My only brother, now late,
was murdered in cold blood in Lagos in 1990
at the age of 27 years. I was overseas then
but something told me that a bad thing had
happened in my family. I thought that it was
my father that died, but it turned out to be my
only brother who was murdered in his
bedroom in Lagos.
QUERIES THE MEANING OF
ONWUAMADIKE
“Our father’s name is Onwuamadike (Death
does not know a brave man) and I don’t know
whether it is the name that is responsible for
the negative things happening in this family.
My only happiness is that they have not linked
any killing to Evans, which is why I say that
with the help of government, he can still be
turned into a better human being.”
He said that one of the greatest tasks facing
him was how to break the news of what had
happened to Evans to his grandmother, who
took care of him when he was a toddler.

14—SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 17, 2017
EVANS
BY IFEANYI OKOLI
EVANS in this part of his gripping
story, tells Saturday
Vanguard about his life from the cradle
to the point he became an inter-state armed
robber.
With specifications on the phases leading to
his notoriety, he indicted his father and
exonerated his mother from being responsible
for what he eventually became in life.
This narrative vividly captures his sojourn into
marital life, experience in South Africa and first
robbery operation among others.
His words: “I was born in the year 1981, to the
family of Mr. Steven Onwuamadike of Akamili
Town, Umudim Quarters, Nnewi North Local
Government Area of Anambra State. My
father is a trader, who sells auto spare parts in
Nnewi, and he is married to three wives. He
has 11 children. My mother, Chinwe
Onwuamadike, who is my father’s first wife,
had six children before they parted ways. I
dropped out of secondary school in class two
because my father, who had taken a second wife,
refused to pay my school fees.
“He gave me out to a businessman, who I
served for five years but I was chased out
without any settlement. My father later
accused me of being a thief and subsequently
disowned me. Thereafter, he chased me out of
his house.
“I adopted the name Evans while in
secondary school. My best friend was the one
bearing the name in school and I liked it.
In the year 2002, my mother raised some for
money and I relocated to Lagos State where I
started selling diesel at Alafia Bus Stop
on Lagos/Badagry Expressway.
“While there, I made so many friends
including armed robbers and drug barons, but
my ambition then was to travel out of the
country.
The turning point in my life
“I met a man, who promised to take me to
Holland and the man asked me to pay N800,000
for my visa, air ticket and international
passport. I borrowed money from my friends
and relatives in Nnewi and I gave the money to
the man and he ran away with it. That incident
marked a turning point in my life. I also met one
Kinsley, who was an armed robber. I was
able to raise some money and rented a shop at
Ladipo Market and I started selling spare parts.
In the year 2006, I met my wife, Uchenna during
one of my visits to Nnewi and we started dating.
She was a 15-year-old girl at that time and was
in her final year in secondary school when I
impregnated her.
“I went to her family, who were also from
Nnewi and asked for her hand in marriage and
her family said that they must know what I do
for a living before they could allow me to get
married to their daughter. They said they didn’t
want to have any relationship with a criminal.
One of her brothers came to my shop in Ladipo
market and inspected it, and he went home and
told his family that I had a shop in Lagos. I
was allowed to marry their daughter. I left her in
the village with my mother.
I sold drugs in South Africa
”I traveled to South Africa, where I started
selling drugs. But I had issues with some
South Africans who didn’t like paying for
drugs. In 2007, one of my customers pulled out
a gun and shot me. I was lucky the bullet hit
me on my shoulder. I was admitted in a
hospital in South Africa and I went through
surgery to have the bullet removed. I came
back to Lagos in the year, 2008. I was advised to
also get native treatment to see if my hands
could heal completely. I had two children at
that time and after my treatment, I brought my
wife to Lagos. We rented a three-bedroom
apartment, along Marwa Road, Satellite Town,
with the little money I had from my trip to South
Africa. I called my friend Kingsley, who I met
at Alafia while I was selling diesel and told him
my experience in South Africa and I also told
him that I was ready to do anything that would
fetch me money.
My first operation
“He subsequently linked me up with one of
his gang members known as Too-Much-
Money in Abia State. Too-Much-Money
asked me to come to Aba the next day for a
bullion van robbery operation. I traveled to
Aba and we went for the operation. We got
information that a bullion van carrying huge
cash was traveling from Portharcourt to Aba
through Aba-Portharcourt Road. We hijacked a
tipper we found on the expressway and when
the bullion van came close, we rammed into
it. The driver of the bullion van ran into a bush
but we seized him and his police escort. We
My life as drug dealer,
family man, armed
robber —Evans
•Why I adopted the name, Evans
•My father refused to pay my fees after his second marriage
•I impregnated my wife when she was 15
•Evans
carted away N80million from the van and I was
given N1.8million as my share after the
operation.
The women I slept with
“I made some contacts after the operation
because we were over 20 boys from different
locations, who came for that operation. Two
weeks after that operation, I got a call from one
of the boys I met at the Too-Much-Money’s
operation and he told me that his boss, whom he
identified as ND was planning another bank
robbery in Enugu. I called ND and he asked
me to meet him in Enugu. He lodged me in a
hotel and told me that the job was still at its
planning stage. I spent two weeks in Enugu
and ND was the one paying for my
accommodation and he was also the one paying
for my drinks and women I slept with.’’
I was given N200,000 out of N200m loot
“On the day we carried out the robbery we
also attacked the Bullion Van with a tipper and it
fell off the road. We also attacked its driver and
the policemen attached to it. We stole the money
in the van. When we got to the place where we
would share the money we discovered that ND
made over N200million from the operation but
he asked his boys, who were all members of the
same cult group in Enugu to collect our guns
from us and he gave us N200,000 each and
asked us to go home because he wanted to
make use of the rest of the money. We couldn’t
do or say anything. If you think am lying you
can c ask ND, he is alive and he is the prison. I
went home with the little money I got and I kept
hustling for money. Luckily, one other guy
known as Nwangwa, who I also met during the
Aba operation informed me that one Obele was
also planning a Bullion Van robbery on
Umuahia Road and the wanted my presence. I
came down to Umuahia and we attacked the
Bullion Van using a tipper. The driver and police
escort opened the Bullion Van and handed over
the money in it to us. The money in the van was
over N200million and I got N7million as my
share. I brought the money to Lagos and rented
a shop at Trade Fair Market. My friend,
Kingsley later introduced me to one Ehis, who is
a kidnapper based in Edo State.
I inherited Uche’s guns and I
became the boss. I got
information about James Uduji,
who resides on Seventh Avenue
Festac Town and I kidnapped him
and got $1million from him
How I started kidnapping
“ I joined Ehis, who had just locally made
guns and we kidnapped several rich persons.
Ehis linked me up with his gang members
known as Omo, Harrison, Igbo Papa, Benin
Papa, Biggy, Beke, Ehere, Kingsley, Papa Twins,
Prince Joe, Alhaji Igbo and Baba Kekere. We
carried out several kidnappings and also invited
one of my friends, Henry Hunch-Man, who had
assault rifles and we kidnapped several persons
including the owner of Kings Paint, who we
collected the sum of N7million from. Randeki
paid us N11 million. Our last job was a joint
kidnapping of Dan Odiete and owner of Uyi
Technical. We kept them at the same location
and my friend Hunch-Man was the person,
who collected the ransom which was around
N150million and he ran away with the money.
He gave the guy in whose house we kept the
victims, N15million and he allowed him to go.
That incident tore our gang apart in Edo State
and the police came in and started looking for
us. My wife and children were in Ghana at that
time and I was left with no choice than to flee
Edo State to Ghana. I learned that Hunch-man
was in Ghana but he wasn’t in Accra, he called
me and told that he was going to quit
kidnapping because the money he had was
enough for him.
“I came back to Nigeria in 2013 and rented an
apartment in Lake View Estate, Amuwo Odofin
and teamed up with one of my friends known as
Uche. We started kidnapping. Uche knew I
was big in the business with plenty contacts. He
welcomed me and our first operation was the
kidnap of a businessman, Raymond Okoye,
who sells generators in Alaba International
Market. We kidnapped the man in the evening
after he finished drinking in a bar. We were
five, who went for that operation and I didn’t
know where the man was kept. Uche, who
owns the house and the arms didn’t allow me to
follow them to their den. The man paid around
N30million as ransom before he was released
and I got N3million as my share, that job was
brought by one of Uche’s girlfriends.
Attempted kidnap of the owner Young Shall
Grow Motors
“One of my informants known as Baba Eko
also brought the job of another businessman
known as Ucheson, a trader at Alaba market
and we kidnapped the man on his way back
from the market. We got a ransom of $1million
from him before he was released. My share
from that operation was N30million and I rented
an apartment in Brooks area of Magodo Estate.
We then kidnapped another victim known Okija
victim and we collected a ransom of N60million
naira from him. Our next operation after that
was the kidnap of the owner Young Shall Grow
Motors. One Uche brought the job to me and I
called Uche, who had arms and the vehicles we
were using at that time. Hunch-man had also
joined me from Ghana and we were five that
went for that job. At the end, Uche and Hunchman
were killed in that operation.
How I became the boss , my last exploits
“I inherited Uche’s guns and I became the
boss. I got information about James Uduji,
who resides on Seventh Avenue Festac Town
and I kidnapped him and got $1million from
him. We trailed him from his factory in Agbara
on the day we kidnapped him and we caught
him at his gate in Festac Town. I rented three
houses in Ejigbo and two in Igando. When we
kidnapped Uduji he got himself injured and
almost died before we took him to our den. He
lost so much blood and I searched Google
where I found drugs that could heal his wounds
very fast. I gave the drugs to him and some
food supplements. Our next victim was
Ojukwu Cosmos and Francis Umeh. We got
$1million from each of them. I wasn’t the
person who kidnapped Alias Unachukwu, it
was Doctor and his boys that carried out the
kidnapping and they got 30million from it. The
man did not have money and I told the boys that
kidnapped him to take what they could get from
him and let him go. My last operation was the
kidnap of a pharmacist, Donatus Dunu. Baba
Eko also brought the job. We kidnapped the
man and were expecting to get more money
from him when he escaped. I felt angry about
the development because my men
compromised. Uche, who was the man I kept in
charge of that den failed me. I threatened to kill
members of his family but that was just a
threat.”
Evans: His taste, style, panache
Ifeanyi okoli
ONE thing that even his victims can’t fault is his preference for anything classy.
His looks, steps, and even comportment speak of grace and elegance.
That’s not all about the lighter side of the notorious Kidnap Kingpin, Chukwudubem
Onwuamadike, a.k.a Evans, whose activities had unleashed eternal pains on many.
Beyond his physical attributes, which set him apart from the everyday kidnapper,
Evans loves good things money can buy.
Unlike Winston Churchill, who said: “My tastes are simple. I am easily satisfied
with the best,” Evans’ tastes are not simple and he is never satisfied with the best.
Consider this: His women, choice of abode, houses, cars, household items, are
all super impressive.
His love for exquisite things the way he loves big money reflects in the quality of
the aforementioned acquisitions.
With choice Sport Utility Vehicles, SUVs, like G-Wagon, Grand Cherokee, houses
that are simply architectural masterpiece, designers clothing, and expensive mobile
phones among others, the Nnewi-born kidnap suspect’s taste is awe-inspiring.
Little wonder, he tearfully described his Police cell as demeaning for someone of
his ilk. What an illusion!
A detailed observation of his residence by Saturday Vanguard showed that just like
his habit of going for super-rich victims, Evans spent money on glitzy household
items. Virtually everything in his apartment is not just beautiful, but alluring
Of course, many may wonder why someone of his type could have such appetite in
a society where criminal proceeds are often lavished on women and wine.
Perhaps, his background as the son of someone, who had affluence in the past, may
be a factor. Indeed, the picture of his father’s Nnewi home, which obviously may
have been a cynosure in the 1980s, says much about the origin of Evans’ stunning
appetite.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 17, 2017—15
EVANS
My miraculous
escape from Evans
cell —Kidnap victim
I ESCAPED ON THE NIGHT
THEY WERE TO KILL ME
Chief Donatus (as he preferred to be identified in this heart-rending
story for security reasons), is an ardent Christian who believes that
God’s will must manifest, no matter the situation. A wealthy owner of one of the most flourishing
pharmaceutical companies in Nigeria with outlets in major cities of the world, he was forced to pass
through the eye of a needle after being abducted near his office on the celebrated lover’s day of
February 14, 2017. At the end of the 90-day gruelling and shocking experience in the hands of his kidnappers
led by the arrested notorious kidnap kingpin, Chukwudubem Onwuamadike a.k.a Evans, he miraculously
escaped from their hideout. In this exclusive interview, the first since his freedom, with Emma Nnadozie and
Joseph Unduu, he gave a vivid account of the hair-raising ugly encounter.
Chief Donatus would not want his pictures published as police have not offered him any protection and he is
still afraid of the Evans gang
Excerpts;
On the 14 th February, 2017, at
about 7:30pm, while I was going
home from my office at Ilupeju, I
suddenly saw an SUV opposite me.
I wanted to reverse but somebody
in the front came down with a long
gun and dragged me out from my
car. He pushed me inside the SUV.
Immediately they moved away from
the street, they transferred me to
the back of the SUV and covered me
with a car mat while one of them sat
on top of me. They drove me to an
unknown place but before we got
there, the one at the back with me
now put iron (chain) on my hands.
There were about five of them in the
SUV. I was carried away and didn’t
know what to say. I was afraid for
my life and was thinking whether
they were assassins or kidnappers
because I have some cases in the
court. So, I thought maybe those
people are the ones after me.
Trip to hideout
When we got there, they asked me
to come down but remain faced
down, which I did. The house was a
bungalow with a parlour and their
generator was on. They asked me;
are you Chief Donatus, I said yes,
what’s your wife’s name? I told
them. They now told me that they
were not going to harm me, that
what they wanted was their own
share and that I should corporate.
After that, they brought out one AK-
47 and a pistol with live
ammunitions and showed me that
this is not a child’s play. They now
brought out a locally made iron like
chain and put on my legs,
blindfolded me, then pushed me
into one dark room. It was a selfcontained
room with bathroom and
toilet inside. There was a standing
fan, one high rise foam with bed
spread and curtains on the widow
but throughout my stay there, it was
not opened even for one day. I was
there till the following day. There
was no food for me through out that
night, but in the morning, they
brought Indomie for me after
brushing. I took my bath and ate.
They asked me not to look at them
any time I wanted to bath so when
There were times they would
be beating me so that my
brothers would hear and know
that I was suffering. That iron
was on my leg throughout my
stay in the place except when I
was going to bath. They used
to serve me indomie twice a
day or some times, Semovita
with one meat. They used to
cook in the house.
the time comes; I raised the blindfold up a bit,
making sure that they did not see me.
Familiar voice echoes
After about two days, I heard a voice that sounds
like my pharmacist, Emeke and it was while I was
eating, normally while eating, I used to raise the
blindfold up small to enable me to see. He asked
them where they kept me. As he was talking, ours
eyes met and he shuddered. He now withdrew, but
before he left, he asked them whether they have
contacted my brothers and they said no. I was
hearing everything they were discussing. They even
asked how they could get to my wife but he told them
that my wife doesn’t usually come to the office. What
I noticed was that, in the first one week, they were
not harsh but that changed all of a sudden. I used to
brush every morning but it became once in a week. I
noticed that, any time they wanted me to bathe, they
would come to my room early morning with one small
bucket of water and asked me to get up and take my
bath. Then after that, everywhere would be so quiet
as if nobody lived in that compound. So, in the night
before they put on their generator, it used to be
around 8:30pm so that the neighbourhood would now
think that they have come back from their home
while they were inside the house all through without
any music and no television. I noticed also that,
whenever their boss called them, they would put on
one small radio so that neighbours
would not hear whatever they were
discussing. After five days there, I
started getting weak and I asked
them how much I have to pay. Their
manager now called their chairman
and they discussed. Their chairman,
as they called him, was not
discussing with anybody except the
manager, they were three. The
manager now came to me and said
his boss said my bill was two
million dollars. I asked where I
would get that kind of money. We
don’t usually keep money at home;
we do borrow from banks to do
business. After much pleading, he
reduced it to one million dollar. But
after two days, he said, he has
gotten more information about me
and it’s no more dollars again, it’s
one million Euros. At exactly two
weeks of my hostage, they
contacted my brother through the
phone number I gave them. When
he called my brother, he asked his
manager to connect me, I think it
was a conference call because he
was hearing the conversation but
whenever he wanted to talk to me,
he would put it on pause and would
tell me what to tell my family.
Negotiation starts
Initially, I was telling my brother
that, they said it was one million
Euros but he said, “No, that I’m a
mad person, that I should tell my
brother that I have agreed with
them that it is one million Euros”
and I did so. My brothers were
crying because where would they
get such an amount of money. There
were times they would be beating
me so that my brothers would hear
and know that I was suffering. That
iron was on my leg throughout my
stay in the place except when I was
going to bath. They used to serve
me indomie twice a day or some
times, Semovita with one meat.
They used to cook in the house.
There was a lady that used to come
and cook for them. The lady used to
come with a small girl. My brother
called and said that there was no
money but they managed to gather
fifty million and he said my
brothers were all mad, that
if they did not complete the
money, he was prepared to
keep me for the next one
year and that they were
not paying rent and that
they were the owners of
the house. For one
month, I was there
because gathering that
money was not easy. I did
not know whether I was the
only victim there or not
because throughout my 90
days incarceration, I was
only in that one room.
He vowed to
collect the
ransom
complete.
My
brothers
went
to
collect
a lot
of
money from our relatives. I know
when it was one hundred million,
but he still insisted. I knew there
was a time the exchange dropped,
so, he now asked them not to
change the money. When he said
one million Euros, the Euro was
about five hundred and thirty naira
per Euro. So, when the rate was
dropping, he asked them not to
change, that it was now naira they
wanted because he thought naira
was gaining value, which would
have been five hundred million.
When my brother now told them
that he was not able to get one
hundred million, they said he was
talking rubbish. It was Tuesday
before Easter; my brothers were
doing everything to get me out to
celebrate Easter with them. He
now called my brother and said he
should bring whatsoever they had;
my brother now told them what he
had. He told my elder brother that
he was going to be the one that
would deliver the money and that
he would shoot his two legs if he
tried to joke with them. They were
all quarrelling. The manger now
took the phone from me and
started insulting my brother that,
he was very stupid, and very
wicked, that he wanted me to die
so that he could go and inherit my
property. On Thursday, before
Easter, I asked the manager about
their chairman. I used to chat with
them, and I was trying to be
friendly with them. Then the
manager told me that the chairman
travelled to America. He came
back the next Sunday after Easter.
I now asked; can I talk to my
brothers? Because it was like I
have already been cut off from the
real world.
Effect of Vanguard publication
So, the first publication about my
abduction in Vanguard newspapers
was on Saturday, then, the
chairman (Evans) called his
manager and was speaking with
anger saying that my brother
wanted to kill me. After the call,
his manager now came to me to say
that, “your brother doesn’t want
you alive. He went to do a
newspaper publication while he
has been begging that he doesn’t
have money. Now, where did he
get the money to do the
publication?” On Sunday, the
chairman called to say that I
should thank my God, that if they
had published that story in
Vanguard before now, there was no
way he wouldn’t have collected
one billion naira from me. Then on
Continues on pg 16

16—SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 17, 2017
EVANS
I escaped on the night
they were to kill me
Continues from pg 15
Tuesday, the story was everywhere on
Facebook. The chairman now called the
manager again complaining bitterly
about the publication on Facebook. But
again, I pleaded with them that my
brother didn’t have Facebook account
just like me. He doesn’t have time for all
these things, maybe it could be women
that did that. They were very angry
about that newspaper publication. After
that, there was no communication from
the chairman even my brothers again.
Calls for change of
negotiator
Exactly one month after Easter, he now
called again that he didn’t want to
discuss anything with my brothers
again, that I should call another person.
I now called my cousin and the manager
asked me to tell chairman whenever he
called that, my brother wanted to kill me
so he should hands off this case. One
day after that discussion with the
chairman, I heard Emeka, my
pharmacist discussing with them.
Normally, he did come there every day.
Sometimes, he stayed till late night. And
I was overhearing his voice. At a point I
thought, he was no longer living with
his wife because he stayed late there.
Decision to kill me
I heard Emeka discussing with
manager but what drew my attention
was when the manager said “….ehh…for
that reason, we don’t have choice than to
kill him, we would kill him. We don’t
have alternative than to kill him. I
overheard Emeka calling my staff from
there. He was complaining that I was
very wicked, that this was what I have
done to some persons. He was
complaining that one of my pharmacists
was not cooperating. When I now heard
that they would kill me, I now
encouraged myself that, maybe it’s not
me. There was a day Emeka came again
and said, “If you want to kill him, kill
him, in fact, kill him” until that week
that I escaped from them on Wednesday,
Emeka came again and asked them
whether they have killed me. They said
no…that it is going to be on Friday
night. I said to God, that it has been said
that nobody knows when he is going to
die but it is like I know when I’m going
to die. Even the first day that they made
up their mind to kill me, the manager
now called the one that travelled to
come back so I thought it was going to
be that night. I was counting the days
because I did not know when my end
would come. I didn’t even know that this
was even almost two months after
collecting ransom from my brothers. I
didn’t know that they collected it. I was
told this when I came out. When their
Chairman travelled, I thought he
travelled to America like his people said
or South Africa maybe; he went to save
the money. Throughout that Wednesday,
I wasn’t myself even when they brought
the Indomie, I couldn’t eat.
Mysterious escape from the dark room
It was on Friday night that my miracle
happened. Way back, for the 90 days
period of my captivity, I was trying to
remove that iron from my leg without
success, but that night around 2:00 am to
3:00 am, something asked me to get up
and I got up and prayed. After that, the
voice said to me that I should try
opening that padlock which I did. I
squeezed small size of the bed spread
and passed it through the padlock and
pulled it with little effort once, and the
padlock opened. I said to myself, God, if
I go and these people catch me, I will
die, and if I remain here till
daybreak, I would also die. So, the
best thing is that, let me go and try it.
It was God that opened this padlock,
because I know that it wasn’t my
personal power. That God will lead
me out. Before then, I had begged
them to be leaving the door linking
my room to the parlour open so that
I will be getting fresh air from
there. Luckily, there was
light that night and
there was
curtain and
linen, so I
made
sure
that
the
inside
of my
room
was darker than the palour so that,
even if they opened the curtain and
look inside, they would not see me.
There were two of them sleeping at
the palour and because there was
light that night, I couldn’t step on
anyone of them. I said to my God, I
will go; I will go. I left for the palour,
from there to the kitchen. There, I saw
another burglary at the kitchen door
and I concluded that I could not open
it and had to go back through the
palour to my dark room again while
those people were still sleeping. I
carried the iron and put it back on my
legs but didn’t lock it again. One
mind said I should go again, I should
go and try, I got up again went
through the palour yet, they did not
notice, then I closed the back door.
Luckily, the wooden door that leads
outside was not locked while the
burglary was locked at the middle.
The upper bolt and the down ones
were just held down. When I pushed
the upper bolt and the down one, the
burglary opened and I now went
outside their compound. I saw their
gate, I turned the other side and I saw
something like ladder resting on the
fence. Their fence had broken bottles
on top of it but at that point where the
ladder was, the broken bottles were
not there. That was where I climbed
the fence, stepped my foot and
jumped to the other compound.
Escape route.
While inside that compound, I
knocked at the door of a flat, one man
and a woman came out. I told them
that, I was a kidnap victim being kept
in the other compound; I just
managed to escape now, please help
me. The man said, “Mr. Man get away
from this compound before I call the
police or vigilante for you” and I
responded, please call the police. The
man and his wife went back to sleep
leaving me there alone. All of a
sudden, everywhere became quiet
again. One mind told me that I should
go somewhere and hide till day break
which I did. Not up to ten minutes
that I left to hide, my abductors now
opened their gate looking for me
everywhere with their motorcycles. I
was in my hideout praying to God to
save my life. I was there till day
break. I was looking like a mad
person. For three months, I had not
shaved, everywhere was white, and I
was only putting up a dirty boxer that
I had worn for the past 90 days
without washing. When those couple
woke up and saw me, they were
surprised and as he wanted to raise
alarm, I said no, these people there
don’t let them know I am here. I said
to him, “please sir; can you just put
I heard Emeka
discussing with
manager but what
drew my attention was
when the manager
said “….ehh…for that
reason, we don’t have
choice than to kill him,
we would kill him. We
don’t have alternative
than to kill him
me inside your booth and drive me
away from here?” He said no …he
was not going to do that, that I
should wait here. He now said he
was going to call the chairman of
the estate. After about 45 minutes,
they came back.
Rescue at last
One young boy that should be
above 20 years came with
something like a plastic conduit
wiring and started chasing me
away that, I should go out of the
compound and he continued
calling me a thief. There was this
uniformed security personnel
there, he hit me on the leg and I
fell down. I was injured while
jumping down from the fence. I
now walked out of the compound
to one school very close to my
abductor’s gate. I was there as
people gathered. I told them that,
if these people come and see me
here, they would kill me, this is
how much I have offered them,
that I’m not a thief but they
insisted that I should wait until
the estate chairman came. I asked
what if they come with gun and all
of you will run away and they will
kill me. Luckily, one young guy
came and listened to me and
asked if I could give him my
wife’s number? I gave it to him, he
called and the number did not go
through. I then gave him my
cousin’s number and he got him on
phone. So, my cousin told him my
story and he was now convinced.
From there, we took a bike to the
express from where we entered a
bus. While inside the bus, people
were just staring at me. What they
used to blind fold me was a singlet,
for ninety days, there was nothing
like seeing the sun, so my body
turned white. When we got to Idimu
police division, we did not spend up
to 20 minutes when my brother
came. They now contacted Ilupeju
police division where they first
made the report. From there, we
went to command headquarters
where we wasted a lot of time
before going to Anti-
Kidnapping unit at
Surulere. After that, we
went to Igando.
While going there, I
could not recognize
the road but the
young man that
took me out of that
place led us to the
place. So, when
we got to the
estate, I was able to recognize the
school where they asked me to sit
down which was not too far from the
place where I was kept for 90 days. I
recognized the house by the coconut
tree there and I told the security
operatives, that this was the house.
When we came to the gate, it was
locked with a padlock and they have
all run away. They had to break it
and go inside where their cars,
motorcycles and all their properties
left behind were there. The security
operatives went inside and collected
all the weapons they left behind.
Reminiscences
When I heard that they were going
to kill me, I said is this how my life
was going to end? I was calling my
wife, my son and my daughter in my
mind, thinking that was the end.
Emeka joined me in 2013; he joined
me as a sales representative but
later became a superintendent. I
used to give him goods to sell and
return the money. After sometime he
stopped retuning the money and I
asked them not to give him goods
again. I never expected to hear his
voice there. Before then, something
happened. They started telling me
things that I did, it’s like they had a
lot of information about me. I was
told that I gave 40 Toyota Corolla
cars to my staff and I said yes, I had
40 marketers and I gave them cars.
Everything including my
warehouses, they knew. One Sunday
in April, I heard Emeka telling them
they should go and start working,
and that they shouldn’t talk about
money which I suspected they were
transferring goods from my stores to
where they would take them out of
Lagos. I heard him requesting for
form M which could help him out in
case of police.
My plea
Now that they have arrested their
king pin, Evans, I plead with the
police that did this good job to
ensure that justice was done in this
case. It is obvious that many of his
gang members are still on the loose.
They should all be rounded up
because although I have been freed,
I am still not only traumatized but
also afraid of my life. It is
unfortunate that since I came out of
this ugly experience, the police did
not deem fit to provide security for
me. I have since relocated with
members of my family to an unknown
place. It is worse even now that I have
no means of livelihood. I have been
wrecked after borrowing money from
banks to pay the ransom. What we are
trying to do now is to start paying debt
to the banks.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 17, 2017—17
EVANS
Evans promised to
attend my
thanksgiving service
Chief James Uduji, another
victim tells his story
The day of the kidnap
On September, 2015, as I was
coming back from my factory
in Agbara to my home in
Festac, arriving Seventh Avenue, I saw
four gun men. They stopped in front of
my vehicle and started shooting while I
was with my two drivers in my Hilux
pickup. I was sitting at the back,
thinking they were policemen. I was
wondering why they were shooting and
charging at us not knowing that they
were kidnappers. In the process, they
shot us, me and two of my drivers but
luckily, nobody died. I still have a
bullet in my body. By the time I
realized they were kidnappers, they
dragged me out of my vehicle to their
own Lexus 470 Jeep. Inside their Jeep,
there were lots of arms and ammunition
inside a box. They had another box at
the back where they put me in. Four
guys were inside that Jeep, well-armed,
even the driver had his own AK-47
riffle. They drove past Festac Link
Bridge to Amowu-Odofin, around 4:3o
pm as if they were going to Okota.
Later, they came out to Oshodi -Apapa
Expressway. By this time, they had not
blindfolded me but they pushed my
head down, lying bare on the floor of
the car. One of them just held me as I
was seriously bleeding. I never knew I
would survive this. I couldn’t remember
the places they took me to because I
was lying down.
Change of baton
After a long journey, they stopped at a
particular area, those guys jumped
down and another group came on board
and zoomed off again. As we were
going, we got to one house, they called
the security guard who came and
opened the gate, and they brought me
out, gathered water, changed their
cloths and called one doctor, whether he
was quack or not, I do not know. They
told the doctor they had emergency. The
doctor came, washed me and treated
my wound. That was the first thing they
did. Though, when we were about to
get to where they wanted to take me to,
they blind folded me. They were
administering two injections on me
daily. When I asked them the kind of
injection they were giving me, they said
it was anti tetanus injection and pain
reliever. They refused to give me water
saying that if you have bullet in your
body, you don’t drink water. The second
day, Evans came there with the doctor
and said to me that, he came there
because of me. Yet, I did not set my eyes
on him. Maybe, the person that asked
them to kidnap me told them that they
should not let me die. I said this
because of the kind of treatment they
were giving me or maybe, it could be
because of my wound. But, I was
seriously bleeding. At a point, they
were thinking of exchanging me. They
called my brother to come and let me go
out and treat myself of the bullet
wound. My elder brother accepted to
come but backed out at the end because
those people, you never know what
they planned. May be their plan was to
capture the two of us before they would
kill us.
It was an ugly situation.
They injected me for seven
good days. From that
Monday till the next
Sunday, every two days, there was a particular guy that
came there to treat my wounds, dress it and put the
bandage again. After some days, Evans called.
How they operate
How they operate is that, they keep a hostage keeper,
which is someone that would be guiding kidnap victims so
that any time their boss wants to call, he would call that
person. When he calls the person, the person would bring
the phone to the victim and hold the phone for you talk to
him. They were always communicating. They did not
maltreat me because of my condition but I heard them
maltreating the victim in the other room with hot iron and
the person would be crying. Before they start that, they
would go and put on their generator so that their
neighbours would not be hearing. That guy was a terror.
Feeding pattern
They were feeding me with one useless Indomie. I was
just managing to eat to keep my life moving. They asked
what kind of drugs I was taking but I told them I was not
on drugs. I did not make trouble with them but there was a
day I tried to escape. I was scared whether all the
neighbours were their gang members or not. Again, even
I knew that, nothing would
happen to me but they would
charge me more money.
You know, I paid $1.2 million
if I would have escaped, I would have been
naked because before you go to the
bathroom, they take away your boxers. When
you finished, you knocked at the door and
turned your face to the wall as they gave you
your boxer to wear.
They would blind fold you and put you in
chains again. Early morning I used to hear
siren and I thought, that it was police that
were coming to rescue me. At the end
nothing would happen. They would go. What
were they coming to do there around 4:00 am
to 5:00 am? I noticed that five times and I
asked myself, “what the police are coming
there to do?”. I also noticed there was a
construction site nearby where people were
working. One particular day, one boy came
in and asked “mummy, who is this uncle?”. I
was listening and waited to hear what the
woman would say but she did not say
anything. So, that couple that was paraded
were there. I was praying every minute of the
day, waiting for anything that would happen
the next day. It was traumatising . So many
things happened. I knew that, nothing
would happen to me but they would charge
me more money. You know, I paid $1.2
million. We paid it in three instalments. We
paid two hundred thousand dollars, eight
hundred thousand dollars and another two
•Chief
James Uduji
hundred thousand dollars. He claimed
that, the first two hundred dollars we
paid had been cancelled because we
set them up by inviting security agents
to be tracking them. That’s how we
were accused and that the payment had
been rubbished. He bargains with the
victims, he doesn’t bargain with the
families. Whatever he asked for that is
what the family would pay. A person
that is under chain, what would he say?
Anything they asked you to do, you just
had to do it because of your life. That
was not joke, they meant business. If
you refused to corporate, they would
kill you. I am sure; they have killed
some people there. I stayed there for
six weeks. I was abducted on the 7th
of September and I was released on the
19th of October, 2015.
What led to my release?
After I had finished paying the
ransom, they still kept me for another
eight days. My people were worried,
and I was worried too because I did not
know what was going on outside. They
had cut off communication with
everybody. Immediately, he collected
his ransom, he travelled abroad. He
goes outside to keep his ill-gotten
wealth, which was obvious. I now
asked the hostage keeper, how long it
takes them to release a hostage. He
said four days, I now asked again, but
why am I still here? He then said I
should not worry, that the chairman
travelled and that I would be released
as soon as he returned. He said that I
should see myself as a free man and
relax. The man was a greedy man. Of
all the money we paid him, he didn’t
feed us well. His duty, I observed, was
to collect money and drop victims.
When he came back to Nigeria, he
came to me where I was detained by
his men and said to me that, today, you
will go. He ordered his boys to bring all
my belongings. My Rolex watch, my
bag, my golden ring and my sandals
were nowhere to be found. Not to talk
of cash because all of them were
criminals. All other valuables were
gone. They only brought my cloths,
bank cheque books and seals and a
polythene bag. And for my sandals,
they bought one bathroom sleepers for
me. Just imagine someone coming
back from his office. Then, he asked
me to hold on till the road was free; it
was about 5:00 pm.
How Evans promised to attend my
thanksgiving in church
As I was waiting, he came back and
called me, Nnwa which is my title
name. Any time he wanted to talk to me
he first called me Nnwa. When he saw
my wound, he said, I was a lucky man.
That, my God is a great God. He said
that, I would live up to hundred years
for surviving that gunshot. I asked him
why they were shooting us like that. He
said in war all was fair. I then asked
“you and who were fighting?. Did I
have gun with me?”. Evans now asked
who was the person in front of my car.
That was when they thought I was a
policeman. In fact they would have
killed my driver if he were a
policeman. When he came down and
they asked him, he told them he was
just an ordinary driver. That was when
they left him. He advised me to buy a
lot of drinks because many people
would be coming to sympathize
with me. He stressed that people
were already waiting for my
arrival. He said: “Any day
you are going to do
thanksgiving, we are
going to be there.” I
now asked him, how
would I know you
will be there? He
replied that, I
shouldn’t worry; he
would come and
follow me to thank
God. “Nnwa, but
your God is great
oh”. All these things
he was talking, my mind was
not there because I knew he was
wicked. That evening, he brought ten
thousand naira that I should take it.
That if, they drop me anywhere, I
should use it to enter taxi to my house.
Or if I wanted, they could drop me in a
nearby hotel so that, I could call my
people to come and carry me. But I
told him to just drop my anywhere he
wanted. When it became dark
everywhere, they took me out of that
house and moved me round the city
before finally dropping me around
Lagos State University (LASU, side in
Iyana Oba. Even to walk was a
problem because, I had been in chains
for long and all my bones had grown
weak. I almost fell down while trying
to cross the road because of my
wobbling legs. I lost so much energy
that, I became weak, lean and tired.
Suya was the first thing I ate after
my release from captivity
I called a motorcyclist to take me to
any nearby bus stop, which he did.
When I turned the other side, I saw
one man selling roasted meat (Suya), I
went to him and bought the meat for
one thousand naira and started eating.
My action was to soften the ground for
me to start asking question that would
let me know exactly where I was as by
this time I never knew where I was
exactly. I asked the man, how I could
get to Mile 2, and he said before you
get to Mile 2, you first of all get to
LASU. I asked again, how I could I
get to LASU, he told me to cross the
road to the other side and enter any
bus that was going that way. As soon
as I entered the bus, I switched on my
phones and there was no single credit
on my phones except the one we used
as a company group. That one doesn’t
need credit because we pay once in a
month. I now used it to call one of my
managers. Immediately he saw my
call, he knew I was out and asked me
where I was so that he could come and
carry me. I told him to come to LASU,
I got there and was waiting for him.
He was coming from Agbara axis.
While there, I strolled down a bit to
buy orange, one man just came to me
that I should give him money in spite
of my tattered appearance. I took two
thousand out of the ten thousand
Evans gave to me and gave to him. I
was kind of hiding so that people who
knew me before would not notice me
until I got home. When my manger
came, he took me straight to the house
after that, I went to report officially to
the police. Even the commissioner of
police came to my house after that.
After that incident, I requested for
police protection which I was later
provided with. I was so happy when I
heard that, the guy has been arrested.
I thank the Nigeria police for doing a
great job. That shows that, if the police
want to work, they could work.

18—SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 17, 2017
EVANS
Have mercy on us, Evans
wife begs Nigerians
•I didn’t know he was into crime
•He took part in our daily prayers and always prayed Psalm 23
•His wealth should be sold off and given to his victims
•I didn’t know he was this rich, the highest he gave to me was N200,000
•Please, forgive him for the sake of myself and the children
By Emma Nnadozie,
Crime Editor
The call was a surprise. And in the words
of our Crime Editor, Emma Nnadozie
“it was shocking but revealing and
even pathetic.” The caller had said “hold on
for Evans’ wife.” The female voice quickly
pleaded to Mr. Nnadozie to call her back as
she did not have enough credit. Nnadozie
returned the call from Ghana and the caller
told her story. Excerpts:
My name is Uchenna Precious
Onwuamadike, the wife of the Chikwudubem
Onwuamadike who you call Evans. I am 31
years old. I got married to Evans at the age of
17 at Oraifite, Anambra state in 2004. He met
me while I was coming back from lesson as a
student of All Saints Secondary School,
Oraifite and I was in class 6 going to take my
West African Examination. After we met, I
agreed to go with him because of my poor
background. He told me his father married
three wives when he was six years old and
threw his mother out of his house. He said that
one of the wives influenced his father to drive
them out of his house also and they were forced
to stay with outsiders. Evans was taken to his
grandmother who trained him. He told me
his father accused the mother of being
adulterous before driving her out of his house.
Our marriage is blessed with five children.
Our first issue is 12 years plus and her name us
Udochukwu. After we got married, he said I
should stay with his mother in his village at
Akanmiri, Umudim, Nnewi to teach me how
to be a good housewife. I was there for three
years before he took me to Lagos. We were
living at Satellite town in 2006 and after one
year, he relocated us back to the village
because he could not pay house rent. While in
the village, he normally came to see us. We
spent three years in the village and relocated to
Ghana. On our way to Ghana, we passed
through Lagos and stayed at Benny Hotels in
Festac where we spent two days before
travelling to Ghana. He spent a month with
us in Ghana before coming back to Lagos. I
was pregnant with our fourth child in 2010
when he left for Nigeria to come back in two
months time. After I gave birth, he came back
four months later and was able to clear the
accumulated bills we kept for him because I
borrowed money from friends to clear hospital
bill. When he came back, he complained
bitterly that things were rough for him in
Nigeria and that customs seized his goods.
I was not aware that he was into kidnapping
and all the criminal acts he is being associated
with now. All I know about his business is
that he was into haulage, buying engine and
Evans wife, Uchenna and their children
crying yesterday as she spoke to Vanguard
They said he is rich but I have
only N13, 000 in my Diamond
bank account. He does not
give me money. He told me
he will be paying N40, 000
into my account every month
but after two months, he
stopped, claiming that he was
penniless.
spare parts for trucks and imports exhaust pipes.
That was what he told me. The reason he kept
me in Ghana was because he said our children
should get quality education. I have spent six
years here and after I stopped hearing from him, I
called and complained bitterly but he said I
should stay for some time. I then called his
friend, Okechukwu, who now lives in China.
He told me that he has not been seeing him and
that he spends most of his time with a girlfriend
in Festac. When I called him to complain, he
was angry with me and warned that I should stop
listening to gossip. He said that If I should
return, I should go to his younger brother’s house
in Lagos until he is ready to get accommodation
for us. The brother was formally living in Lagos
but he is in Brazil now. So, when it was
impossible to pay my children’s school fees, I
packed my bags and baggage and came back to
Lagos with our children. We stayed at his
brother’s house at Agric, close to Trade Fair until
he took us to a house in Magodo where he
claimed he owed rent pending the completion of
his own house there. We have spent just one
year in that house in Magodo. I have no idea of
the type of business he was into but he told me
that his friends overseas used to buy phones and
jewelries for him. While in Lagos, i was idle and
I pressured him to find something for me to do
and he promised to do that. Several times, I
asked him to take me to his office but he said they
move from place to place to offload goods in
haulage business and share profits. I can’t
remember having any visitor in our house. It is
only the agent called Sunny that helped us to
pack into our house that I know. At times,
artisans come to do one repair or the other, that’s
all. I don’t know any of his friends and if
we were invited to parties, he would not
allow us to attend. He told me that he
has no friends and that he hates
associating with people. I was always
indoors because he warned me to beware
of Lagos women that they are wayward.
I was staying indoors and it was only
when I was sick that he took me to a
hospital in Ikeja. I always have BP and it
makes weak. We went back to Ghana
on the 6th of this month and he promised
to join us in no distant time. On the 9th, I
called him to know when he would be
coming and even the youngest of our
children was crying, begging him to come
as soon as possible and he promised to
come. In the afternoon, I called but he
was not picking. I called again, there was
noise in the background and the line was
switched off. I then called the driver that
took us to the motor pack when we were
going to Ghana and he told me that there
was a problem, that police came and
arrested Oga and that they came with a
fair complexioned lady. When I heard
all the allegations against him, I called
his brother in Ghana, his mother, father
and other relations but I could not get
them. I then called their last born, a
student at Oko Polytechnic but he said he
had not spoken with him for long. I was
confused until I opened Niger news and
Vanguard Websites. That was how I got
the shocking news about my husband. I
collapsed and later called my kids to
inform them what I just read about their
father. Since then, I have not eaten, I am
still in shock. Our children could not
believe what they were reading about
their father. They are saying that he
cannot do all the things they said he did.
In fact, while we were in Nigeria, he
had never slept outside our house. My
children were crying when they saw his
bloody eyes and swollen face. Our
condition was worsened when I saw my
picture with him and our children on the
face book. I don’t know where they got
it. I have not been receiving money from
him, I have never seen his money. The
only thing I know is that there was a time
he bought an expensive watch in Dubai
and I wanted to know why he bought it
when he could not open any business for
me. He kept on teasing me, claiming it
came from a friend. It was only when we
wanted to travel to South Africa last year
Christmas where we spent two years that
he gave me N200, 000 for the trip. I have
never seen him as a rich man. While with
him, we made sure we had all we wanted
to eat and that’s all. I can’t remember
seeing any sign of affluence in him. He
is not a proud man and he has been
wearing one sandal and slippers for long
now. He does not go for parties. In
fact, I have never suspected him as a
criminal. If I have been seeing any
strange things, I would have suspected
him. We have three cars, one Hilux, one
grand Cherokee and an SUV.
The N20m they said he sent to me
through transfer was given to one Hausa
man to pay into an account in Ghana to be
used in paying our rent and furnish the
house in Ghana. I know he banks with
GTB only. Their staff used to visit us in
the house. I am not aware that he has
five girlfriends and I have never
suspected him because he did not keep
late nights. It was shocking to hear
about his girlfriends. He did not answer
calls in my presence. I uses to see his
phones being charged but he normally
switched them off. I always asked him
why use pin code to lock his phones and
that he lived a secret life but he threatened
to beat me if ever I touched any of his
phones. I didn’t even know the security
pin. He would leave the house
sometimes in the evenings with his phones
and would come back between 8pm and
9pm. Most of the things I read about him
are strange to me. As his wife, I should
have seen the signs but I have not. He
has cancer and does not drink alcohol nor
smoke anything. I have never seen gun
in our house. I don’t know where they got
those frightening guns. He has never told
me he has another house at Igando. Any
time he went out, he always called to ask
after the children and reassure me that he
would be back soon.
I am suspecting that whatever happened
to him must have come from his father’s
second wife. I don’t know what he did to
him when he was young but he told the
story. He said that after their mother was
driven out of the house, he was with his
brothers playing outside one day when the
second wife called him to pick a bucket
and collect water for her. He was four
years then, he picked the bucket, collected
water and when he came back, she
removed her dress and she was wearing
only a bag made from animal skin on her
waist. She brought seven small stones
from the bag, gave to Evans and ordered
him to pour the stones into the bucket to
know if the gravel would rise (sail) on top
of the water or not. Evans said he did
as she directed but the only thing the
woman did was to take the bucket back
and ordered him to go back and play with
his brothers. He said he told his father
later but he said he was telling lies.
I feel very bad because I did not know if
he was doing all these or not. Even if he
was into all these, why did he not stop
because of me and his children? All the
time when we pray, he used to promise
God that he would tell Him his story later
in life. Here reads psalm 23 a lot.
Even his phone, he sets alarm for 12 noon
to read psalm 23. He took part in our
daily prayers in the morning, evening and
night. He used to lead us in prayers. We
attend Anglican Church. He has never
given them money to show off. We used to
give N5000 or N10,000 and the highest we
have given so far was N50,000 when we
baptised one of our children.
I am appealing to the powers that be to
spare his life (crying), as I speak now, I
am kneeling down with my children,
crying and begging for forgiveness. Have
mercy on us. He did not know what he was
doing. He did not know what came over
him. I am ready to come back to Nigeria
and plead on his behalf. What I am
reading in the news is shocking. Though,
I have not heard that he killed anybody but
all those he injured or took their money
should please forgive him because me and
my children. They should kindly forgive
him, he will repent. God knows I will not
be alive and see my husband doing bad
thing and keep quiet. All his wealth
should be sold off and given to his
victims.
Evans is a good man. He takes care of
all his relations including the children of
the second wife we are suspecting did this
to him. He has just two houses in Ghana
but I have never seen them. I saw the
house on his phone. Since I have been
living with him, he has never injured
anybody or beat me. He has milk of
human kindness in his heart. He has not
been harsh or wicked to anybody. He
always advised us to be prayerful I (starts
crying again) and complains bitterly any
time I failed to pray. His neighbours also
know him as a kind and generous man.
Members of my family are worse hit by
this ugly development. They said some
people brought newspaper publications to
show them about their in-law and they
have been wondering if he actually did all
that because he has been good to all of
them. I am from a very good, God-fearing
family and if any of us had suspected this
in him, they would have forced me out of
his house for long. I am ready to come
back and testify on his behalf. I will also
like to see the Governor of Lagos state and
explain the whole thing to him.
They said he is rich but I have only N13,
000 in my Diamond bank account. He does
not give me money. He told me he will be
paying N40, 000 into my account every
month but after two months, he stopped,
claiming that he was penniless.

Safety nest for breadwinners
nsurance is based on utmost good
Ifaith (uberrima fides); unlike other
contracts that are based on let the
buyer beware (caveat emptor). So I
will start by observing good faith. I am
an insurance practitioner and make a
living partly from insurance, but
today’s article is driven, not by the
insurance part of me, but the
journalist’s role to inform and educate.
Only a selfish person sees what will
benefit the mass of the people and keep
it to himself.
Insurance is life and ordinarily you
cannot avoid insurance anymore than
you can avoid eating. Insurance deals
with uncertainty and we are in very
uncertain times, which makes
insurance imperative. There is a new
product in the industry which is tailormade
for people in paid employment,
especially breadwinners and that is my
focus today. It is the salary protection
insurance scheme. This insurance
protects employees who may lose their
jobs suddenly due to the current
economic situation. In the last few
years, millions of Nigerians have lost
their jobs across all sectors of the
economy. Recently, a financial
institution sacked hundreds of workers
and proudly told the world that it paid
the sacked staff three months salary.
How far can they go with this? For how
long can they feed their families, pay
children’s school fees, pay rents and
sort out other expenses before they run
out of cash?
Salary protection insurance enables
an employee to insure his salary to a
particular limit (N1m limit per month
for a particular insurance company).
You can insure the full salary or part
of the salary, but you cannot insure
above your salary because insurance
operates on the principle of
indemnity, that is, placing you back
in the financial position you were
before you suffered a loss. Insurance
is not betting, wagering or gambling
where you can make profit. In the
event of losing your job, the
insurance company will pay your
salary for 24 months in the following
order: First six months, full insured
salary, 75 per cent of the insured
salary for another six months and 50
per cent for another six months. In
the last six months, you get 25 per
cent of your insured salary. Before
the benefit lapses, many people
would have secured other jobs or
found other sources of income. The
policy covers only sudden and
accidental loss of job; it does not cover
voluntary resignation. It is also not
operative if you are sacked due to
fraud.
I consider this policy very useful,
especially for breadwinners. This
policy, like other insurance policies,
gives you peace of mind; it provides
immediate relief after the occurrence
of a destabilizing event. There is
nothing as traumatizing for a parent
as seeing your children hungry and
no money for food; seeing your
children ill and no money to get
medical care or buy drugs; having
your children sent home from school
with no hope of getting money to pay
the fees. This policy takes care of all
that. It brings certainty within an
uncertain environment.
Distrust is also
understandable because the
early insurance agents who
sold life policies did not do
the image of insurance any
good
Now, let me anticipate and answer
questions some readers might want to
ask, based on my experience. One, what
if I am not sacked, what happens to the
money (premium) I have paid? Insurance
is a pool and what insurance companies
do is to pool the money of all those
exposed to a particular risk together and
those who suffer losses are paid
(indemnified) from the pool. A straight
answer is that if you do not suffer a loss,
others who did would be indemnified
with your money. Incidentally, you never
know who will suffer a loss. Which is
better, living a good life (insuring) and
dying only to find out there is no heaven
(not suffering a loss), or living a sinful
life (not insuring) and dying (suffering
a loss) only to find out that hell is real
(no insurance remedy)?
Two, insurance is technical and I do not
understand how it works. Insurance
professionals know this, which is why the
industry is divided into insurance
companies and insurance broking
companies. While insurance companies
are the risk bearers, insurance broking
companies act as advisers to the insuring
public. An insurance broker will help
you shop around underwriters (insurance
companies) to get competitive rates,
restructure your insurance needs to
achieve minimal cost while at the same
time guaranteeing maximum cover, give
professional advice to help reduce your
risk exposure and lower your premium,
SATURD
TURDAY Vanguard,
JUNE 17, 2017—19
help you to understand your policy
and ensure your claim is not avoided
by guiding you against stepping on
mines (conditions and exclusions) and
help you to process your claim and get
your payment out promptly. The good
news is that all these services are
rendered free of charge. It does not
cost you an additional kobo to engage
an insurance broker. Insurance
brokers get their payment
(commission) from underwriters they
place businesses with. The implication
is that if a proposer (somebody who
wants to procure an insurance policy)
will pay N100,000 premium, if he goes
straight to an insurance company, he
might even pay less if he goes through
a broker, due to the broker’s
professional advice. The list of
registered insurance companies and
brokers can be obtained from the
websites of the National Insurance
Commission, The Nigerian Council of
Registered Insurance Brokers and the
Nigerian Insurers Association.
Three, insurance is 419; they take
your money and tell you stories later.
The average Nigerian, including the
educated, is either ignorant of
insurance or distrusts insurance.
Insurance is technical, so some level
of ignorance can be tolerated. Distrust
is also understandable because the
early insurance agents who sold life
policies did not do the image of
insurance any good. Many of them
were under-dressed, underfed and
underpaid and some also made away
with people’s life premiums. There
have also been many cases of unethical
practices in the past, but all that has
changed. Strict regulation by the
National Insurance Commission, selfregulation
by professionals within the
industry, automation of operations and
improved technology, coupled with
competition, have sanitized the
industry, so there is no need for
distrust any more.
Are there still any doubting
Thomases? Please send a mail and
your issues will be taken up with the
appropriate body. Any professional
advisory service will be rendered pro
bono (free of charge).
Combining posture and deep breathing
Combining posture and deep breathing
•Deep knee Bend
Supine Deep knee bend
Technique:
Bend your knees and sit on the heels.
Bend backwards as you place your left
elbow on the floor followed by the right
elbow. Move the arms forward and
slowly lower your trunk till your entire
back is flat on the floor with the feet on
the outside of upper part sides of the
legs.
Stay in the posture for five seconds
and gradually increase the duration for
as much as half a minute or a bit
longer.
Benefits:
The supine Deep knee Bend tones the
quadriceps—the muscles of the front
upper thighs, the knee and ankle joints
are made supple.
Spread Eagle
Technique:
Sit down and spread
the legs out as much as
possible. Holding the
legs just below the
knees, lower the trunk
while sliding the hands
down to the ankles and
resting the chin on the
•Spread Eagle
floor. Remain
very still and
breathe
normally for a
few seconds
and then
straightening
up the trunk,
bring the legs
together and
lay on your
back for a
brief rest.
Benefit:
The Spread
Eagle
stretches the
spine,
rejuvenating
the nervous
system.
Legs Raise
Technique:
Lie on your back with
the feet raised up and
placed against a wall.
Interlace the fingers
and resting the back of
the head on them,
breath in deeply for
about 10 times in this
position.
When you're done, the
next step is to lie flat
down and remain still,
quite and relaxed on
your mat for a few
minutes. This is to allow
the body to soakup what
you've just done and
also afford the body a
bit of proper rest of body
and mind.
It also rejunates your
nervous system.
•Legs Raise
C
M
Y
K

20—SATURDAY Vanguard,JUNE 17, 2017
The police are celebrating.
Notorious kidnapper Evans has
fallen into their hands. They pumped
bullets into the air, and sang victory
songs of football fans. They are
winners, they chanted. They need all
the encouragement they can get. They
are poorly funded and poorly
equipped. Their efforts are often not
well appreciated. The public no longer
holds them in high regards. So their
self- congratulation may not be too
obscene. Evans may be a routine
criminal but he had left them chasing
shadows. Let them sing, and dance.
When the euphoria settles, let them sit
and reflect, and mourn.
I was privileged to have seen the
disruptive and corrosive effects of
Evans from close quarters. We mourned
and gnashed teeth at the sheer
ineptitude of the police then. I met one
of the victims after his release, last year.
He was held for almost 6 months. He
described the depravity of the abductors
graphically. They kept his legs chained
with heavy metals for 6 months. He was
blindfolded most of the time. The
small cell was dark, dingy, dirty and
lacked ventilation. He went some days
without food. When food came, he ate
without seeing the food. I closed my
eyes and tried to imagine it, I couldn’t.
When he was released, he was all
bones and withered muscles and warty
skin. He could barely walk. He was
abducted close to his home by men in
military and police uniforms. He
weighed 95kg then. His family paid
hundreds of millions in ransom. He
barely slept all those months. Death
seemed always at the door.
They loosened him and dropped
him on a lonely road one night. One
full month after he had paid his
ransom. His family thought he was
dead. It was 6 months in the valley of
the shadow of death. He came back a
ghost. He weighed 60kg. He had been
a businessman for almost 45 years.
They took all he had worked for. His
family kept the news of the ordeal from
the children. They feared, they would
Last Monday June 12 means many
things to many people. The
dream of a good year that was waning
was manifestly rekindled with the
Acting President Professor Yemi
Osinbajo giving the presidential
assent to the 2017 Appropriation Act.
The ceremony orchestrated
camaraderie for the executive and
legislative principals in the
Presidential Villa Abuja. Many
Nigerians were frenziedly emotional
that at last the pregnancy of the
belated 2017 budget was given a
meaning.
On the African political turf June 12,
1964 commemorates Nelson
Mandela’s sentence to life in prison
in the defunct apartheid South Africa.
Back home in Nigeria government’s
activities tend to ignore June 12
democratic history. Celebrations have
been localised with holiday and
fanfare in the six south western states.
But it has not diminished the
popularity of that day Nigerians in
1993 voted for Moshood Kashimawo
Olawale Abiola popularly called
MKO. The annulled election by the
General Ibrahim Babangida military
government was devoid of religious
and ethnic sentiments, without ballot
box snatching or stuffing. There were
no ballot papers and ballot boxes to
be snatched by hired thugs,
characteristics of many discredited
elections in Nigeria.
The day June 12 might have been
deliberately chosen believing that the
rainy season in Lagos and other parts
of Nigeria would disrupt the election.
But as nature could have it there was
no drop of rain in any part of Nigeria
on that day. With a clement weather
there was no confusion to reign and
discredit whatever result that emerged.
Police, Evans and the cheers
have been scarred forever. I asked him
three months after his release if he had
recovered. He confessed that he was no
longer alive. They took his soul, he said.
He called Igbo a bad race.
No one knows when Chukwudi
Onwuamadike, alias Evans, took to a
criminal career. But those who live in
Amuwo Odofin know when they started
living in fear of him. It’s been five long
years. It’s good to praise the police, but
it’s also good to tell them some bitter
truths, sometimes. Criminals can
remain elusive for long. It happens in
It’s good to praise the
police, but it’s also
good to tell them
some bitter truths,
sometimes
the United States. But a routine criminal,
engaged in high profile crimes, should
not be allowed to become a mythical
figure. This is 2017 and not Oyenusi’s
1971.
The police have reeled out the rich
criminal resume of Evans. Evans isn’t
an ex soldier or policeman. He isn’t well
educated. He is a secondary school
dropout. He had no access and no
social reach. He wasn’t an El
Chappo, and didn’t have a mafiaso
network. Yet Evans killed policemen
and remained free for so long. Evans
collected million dollar ransoms,
many times, effortlessly. Evans and
his resume are an indictment on the
police. Evans wasn’t a petty car
snatching thief like Shina Rambo. He
should have been given attention
and stopped long ago. The Vanguard
Newspaper deserves commendation.
Evans ruined the lives and hurt
many more with dread. He seemed
omnipresent and omnipotent. Many
ran away from their homes. Others
went around with their hearts in
their hands. Evans succeeded too
easily, too often. Stories of his
ruthlessness and invincibility
choked the peace of many families.
The police were there, everywhere.
But the people were dying in
helplessness.
The police are happy to recount
his exploits to paint a picture of the
magnitude of their success. For
many who didn’t come in contact
with the terror, Evans is a social
media spectacle. The truth is that
the pain and anguish of families of
victims and those who felt
themselves potential preys can’t be
fully told. Nothing can capture and
publish the effect of those evil,
nightmarish, intrusions. Every time
he struck, fear and sorrow filled
everywhere. Now I see jubilant
We celebrate Junetw
twelf
elfth
As a senior editorial staff member of old
Daily Times in 1993, we were all
mobilized to monitor the election. The
Humphrey Nwosu led National Electoral
Commission, NEC option A4 was hailed
by the Daily Times June 16 editorial
describing the election as the “people’s
triumph.”
Many Nigerians including the electoral
umpires may have undermined the
activities of the infamous Association for
Better Nigeria, ABN led by Francis
Arthur Nzeribe. He had on Thursday,
June 10, 1993 secretly procured a court
order in the dead of the night restraining
NEC from conducting the presidential
election. The candle light court ruling of
Justice Bassey Ikpeme was that the
election must not hold but that the NEC
was free to ignore her order. Justice
Dahiru Saleh relying on Ikpeme’s order,
on June 15 granted the ABN’s petition
and declared the June 12 presidential
election null and void on the ground that
it was conducted in violation of a
restraining order. By moving heaven and
earth a state of play result declaration
was scuttled through machinations of
state.
The June 12 episode among other
political issues heralded the misfortunes
of the petroleum sector still on a
cliffhanger. We started importing
petroleum products on a massive scale
in 1993. With a turbulent political
situation, increased local demand
and corrupt practices we became net
petroleum products importer.
Unbelievably refined products
exported from the new Port Harcourt
refinery earned Nigeria US$280
million in 1992.
As many have celebrated it was
time for one to celebrate. Two years
ago, my good friend and colleague
The June 12 episode
among other political
issues heralded the
misfortunes of the
petroleum sector still on a
cliffhanger
Onochie Anibeze, whose imprint on
this paper as Editor encouraged me
to start this column “Oil and Gas
Summiteer.” The column’s debut was
on June 12, 2015 when the
Muammadu Buhari’s administration
policemen, I see pictures of mansions
in Magodo and I hear Nollywood
action movie stories of Evans, and I
almost forget.
Evans tore lives to shreds. The
police must sit down to find all his
accomplices. They must find out how
they failed to get such a routine
criminal until he had done so much
damage. Evans didn’t take his victims
to the creeks. Victim after victim said
they always heard the sound of
aircraft. Evans didn’t live in a forest,
like Shekau. He was luxuriating in
plush Magodo. Evans wasn’t a
recluse. The story is that he kept loads
of girls friends. How did he remain
elusive for such an atrocious length
of time? We will celebrate with the
police. Those who pass JAMB
examinations at the tenth attempt
often celebrate more than those who
passed it at first sitting.
While Evans terrorized Amuwo
Odofin the police didn’t not
communicate with the public about
this criminal. The police provided
neither a photograph nor a sketch.
For all those years, neither the police,
nor the government, placed a bounty
on his head, not until two months ago.
Where else can this happen? All the
while Lagos State government sat
astride and was not heard.
The police must find out why the
families of victims did not trust them.
The public wants to know why the
Inspector General’s special response
team must be involved before high
profile kidnappings can be resolved?
What equipment and training do they
have that an Area Command should
not have? But it is not always about
equipment. I know some of the
victims. I don’t know how many of
them were properly debriefed. Lagos
police commissioner says that some of
his officers are rogues. Perhaps there
is another DSP Iyamu waiting to be
discovered in this case as in the
Lawrence Anini case.
Let’s celebrate. But we must not miss
the scandal waiting to be studied.
was just 14 days old. It is ones belief
that the Vanguard Media could pride
itself as hosting the first and only
column on oil and gas in the Nigerian
media industry.
It has been a journey of campaign
for transparency, accountability,
building capacity and competences in
a riotous and chaotic petroleum
industry. The column delved into the
protracted and intractable problem of
local refining capacity in Nigeria. It
has campaigned for environmental
rights and justice in the blighted Niger
Delta. The issue of the tea party in the
Lake Chad Basin has also been
canvassed as Nigeria appeared to
have been left out in exploration and
production, E&P there.
The Summiteer has kept tabs on
conferences that discuss the economics
and geopolitics of global petroleum as
well as the politics of technology,
renewable energy and climate change.
We have had discourses on legal and
regulatory frameworks that would lead
to improvements in doing oil and gas
business in Nigeria. As we enter
another year, the Summiteer would
continue to further the cause of critical
thoughts on how best to utilize our oil
for the greatest number. The issues
discussed here have elicited reactions
to hold our petroleum resources
managers accountable, within the
ambits of established professional
norms without deliberately infringing
on their rights.
Who owns the oil and who has right
to explore and produce it in Nigeria?
At two one pours libation using Crude
Oil in honour of subsidy that would
never die globally. One celebrates our
teeming readers that have kept faith
with me. Let’s celebrate Junetwelft!

The ‘youths’ seem to have taken
the initiative in our country,
pushing us slowly towards the
precipice. At the end of May, when the
rest of the country was looking forward
to Democracy Day and the temporary
respite it would bring from routine
chores, the ‘youths’ of the South-East
under the aegis of IPOB decided to
flex their muscles and dare constituted
authority. They called for a shut-down
of all activities—economic and social—
in the entire South-East zone.
According to news accounts, they
succeeded. And they gloated at the
extent of their success. They refused
to acknowledge the fact that not all in
Igboland are Igbo and not all Igbo are
on the same page with their
declaration. They willfully suppressed
the rights and movements of
everybody in the zone. The elders
who should have felt uneasy at the turn
of events and the increasingly
dangerous dimension of the agitations
largely acquiesced; the leaders who
should have put a stop to the shutdown
surrendered to the emotive but
popular will. And so, emboldened by
their success, they continued their
rhetoric of insults, abuses and hate
speeches against the rest of the
country.
Yet, in all of Africa, the counsel of
elders during momentous occasions is
always heard and revered. One of our
proverbs says that an elder cannot be
in the market place and a child’s head
will be askew on the back of his mother.
Our elders failed on this occasion to
right the lay of the child’s head. It is
the duty of the elders to tell these
‘youths’ that we have been down this
road of boasts and division before and
it led to nothing but death and ruins.
After all, it is said that a young man
looks forward when he falls down
while an old man looks backward. This
means that the enthusiasm of the
young must be tempered by the
wisdom of the old. This means that the
dreams and visions of the future must
be weighed against the history and
realities of the past. This means that
for history not to repeat itself, the elders
must speak out; forcefully if necessary.
The question over who between a
senator and a member of the
House of Representatives is superior
is one that has regularly rocked
Nigeria’s political class.
That perennial argument resurfaced
last Thursday in the Senate chamber
with senators themselves
embarrassingly divided over the
matter. The dispute arose after the
deputy Senate leader; Senator Bala Ibn
Na’Allah countered assertions by the
Senate Minority Leader, Senator
Godswill Akpabio that the Senate was
superior to the House.
Senator Na’Allah was supported by
Senate leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan.
Remarkably, both men were former
members of the House of
Representatives.
Until now senators had with
unanimity almost always positioned
themselves as superiors to the
representatives.
Their argument was primed on the
fact that a senator’s constituency in all
cases covered that of multiple House
members. They also cited additional
constitutional roles foisted on the
Senate. One of such notable superior
assignment is that of confirmation of
ministers and others executive office
positions as stipulated by law.
It is a privileged job senators have
often guarded jealously. It was
sometime in the second term of the
Olusegun Obasanjo presidency when
members of the House of
Representatives Committee on Niger
Delta made an attempt to jointly screen
nominees of the president to the Niger
Where are the elders?
The ‘youths’ of the North picked up
the gauntlet thrown by the ‘youths’
of the South-East by giving a quit
order to all Igbo living in the entire
North. It was to my mind, a reaction
to their action. But it was an ill
advised reaction which only
heightened the tension in the
country. There are many southerners
in the north who do not know any
other home. They have no problem
with their Hausa neighbours and do
not believe in the separatist movement
of IPOB. The ‘youths’ in the North-
Central countered by saying the
coalition of Arewa Youths did not have
the mandate to speak for them. They
reiterated that they have no problem
with their Igbo brothers and urged
them to stay. As to be expected, the
Niger-Delta ‘youths’ always restive
at the best of times, weighed in with
their own abuse against the North
and against Nigeria. They asked all
southerners to leave the North
arguing, rightly, that nobody writes
Igbo on his head. Then finally like a
child born after his due date, the OPC
‘youths’ came out with their own
rhetoric. They were willing to serve
the divorce papers if the Igbo wanted
a divorce so badly. And the caveat
was that the Igbo would also have to
quit their land. They also served
notice to the rest of the country. And
without consulting with me or people
who think like me, they virtually
declared an Odua Republic. And so,
as at the last count, we had four or
five different potential countries. All
supposedly mapped out by ‘youths’
who have no ‘fire power’ literally and
SATURDAY Vanguard, , JUNE 17, 2017—21
figuratively and have chosen not to
consult the elders.
It was at this point that our so called
elders and political leaders started
finding their voices. My conclusion is
that they are either impotent or
irresponsible. They must be impotent
if their sons and daughters indict them
so openly and they are unable to do
This means that for
history not to
repeat itself, the
elders must speak
out; forcefully if
necessary
anything about it. They must be impotent
if their children openly disrespect them
and they cannot call them to order. They
must be impotent if momentous
decisions like the break-up of the
country into satellite states are taken
without consulting them. They must be
impotent if they are so out of touch with
their youths that they don’t know when
things are getting out of hand. On the
other hand, they must be irresponsible
if they are aware of what is going on
and rather than douse the fire of hatred
and division, they are fanning it. They
Why Senators and Reps will
always debate on superiority
Delta Development Commission,
NDDC board. The move by the
House members was in their reading
of the NDDC Act stipulating that the
Senate shall confirm the nominees
of the president to the NDDC board
in consultation with the House of
Representatives.
Senators who had gathered in the
Senate Hearing Room 2 to screen the
nominees, however, balked at
suggestions of the House members
The House members
insisted on co-chairmanship
between the Deputy Senate
President and the Deputy
Speaker who had in the past
been the vice-chairman
speaking and asking the NDDC
nominees questions. To the senators, the
House members could only observe and
if they had issues or questions channel
them through the senators.
In anger, the House members walked
out of the hearing.
A few years later, House members took
their comeuppance when they
sabotaged the Joint National Assembly
Constitution Review retreat in Minna
in 2008. As the retreat was about to
commence, the House members playing
a script reportedly written by the
Yar‘adua cabal insisted that the deputy
president of the Senate, who had
traditionally been the chairman of the
committee would not play that role. The
House members insisted on cochairmanship
between the Deputy
Senate President and the Deputy
Speaker who had in the past been the
vice-chairman.
Miffed by the apparent
insubordination by the House members,
senators refused to yield ground even
must be irresponsible if they are the
unseen drummers behind the macabre
dance of secession or quit notice. They
must be irresponsible if they choose to
sacrifice the health and future of their
people and country on short term
political gains. They must be
irresponsible if they fail to adequately
advise their youths on the dangers of
their impetuosity.
Morning they say shows the day.
What our morning is showing so far is
that no zone has pulled away from the
others in terms of visionary leadership
and competence. No zone has weaned
itself from the largess of the centre. No
zone has optimally used the resources
at its disposal for the benefit of its
people. So the claim of a superior race
or tribe is yet to be proven. But more
importantly, no zone has managed to
unite the different ethnic groups in its
conclave. The Itsekiris and the Urhobos
with so much in common are still
fighting themselves and the Ijaws.
What is worse is that even those who
share the same language are
distrustful of themselves. The Asaba
Igbo is not all that comfortable with the
Imo Igbo and so on. As we speak, the
Imo Catholic priests and faithful are
resisting the appointment of an
Anambra Bishop. That should be food
for thought for those who think. What
this means is that should the four or
five countries emerge the possibility
of their splitting into more ‘countries’
within five years is very strong.
Our elders should wake up from their
slumber and begin the task of pulling
the country together. Our youths
should be able to live together
wherever they choose; they must be
able to follow their hearts and marry
whomever they wish irrespective of
tribe. They must be able to trust
themselves and form business
partnerships across the country. This
hatred based on tribe and religion must
stop. This indoctrination of persecution
and marginalization must stop.
Nobody can make you a second class
citizen without your acquiescence.
It is time to begin the urgent tasks of
healing the land and uniting the
people.
if Senator Ike Ekweremadu, the DSP
sought to mollify them. In the end, the
retreat was sabotaged, and since then
the synergy between the Senate and
the House that came through the Joint
National Assembly Committee on
Constitution Review disappeared. It
was only later that it emerged that the
House members unknowingly played
a script written by the cabal in the
Umaru Yar‘adua presidency that was
targeted at ensuring that the “crafty”
Ekweremadu was not allowed to
rewrite the constitution in a way that
would endanger the interest of a
particular section of the country.
Remarkably, Senators Lawan and
Na‘Allah, who challenged Akpabio’s
claim of the superiority of the Senate
over the House to the obvious
discomfort of several colleagues
insisted that there is nothing like lower
or upper chamber of the National
Assembly.
Indeed, insinuations of the
superiority of senators over House
members is, however, one claim that
the senators dare not take too far given
the yet to be tested constitutional
advantage the House has over the
Senate. The Constitution provides that
in the event of a deadlock in the
process of the budget that the Senate
and the House should resort to a joint
sitting where whatever difference
should be resolved by a simple
majority.
It is a venture the 109 Senate would
not attempt against the 360 House
members.
C
M
Y
K

22—SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 17, 2017
Sultan and his Igbo friends
The heat is all over the country.
There is smoke, no fire yet and I
have to commend prominent
compatriots who rose in unison against
the threat of kicking out every Igbo from
the far North.
One voice that will cool frayed nerves
is Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar,
III of Sokoto. I am so sure that because
of the prompt response of responsible
Northern leaders, the Sultan has the
situation under control.
While many of us, Southerners, call for
restructuring and bewail the
marginalization we are going through
especially under the present
dispensation, I make bold to say that
there are very wonderful Hausa and
Fulani in our midst who feel our pains as
well.
Not all Hausa-Fulani are out to
colonise the nation. Many of them are
very reasonable and accommodating.
This blanket condemnation is as result
of the greed of a few. And because the
greedy few seem to have a way round
some collaborators down South, we all
vent our spleen on all core Northerners.
Sultan Abubakar, III, is a true son of
his father, Sir Siddiq Abubakar,
III,[1903-1988], the 17 th Sultan of
Sokoto. He has also shown that he is a
blood brother of his predecessor, Sultan
Muhammadu Maccido.
The present Sultan did not mince words
in condemning the activities of killer
herdsmen who have held several parts of
the country to ransom especially since
the beginning of the present
BY NWABUEZE OKONKWO
Dr. Philip Atanmuo, the
erstwhile General Manager/
Project Director of the
moribund Ajaokuta Steel Complex,
Ajaokuta, Kogi state has revealed how
tribal sentiment, corruption and
financial recklessness killed both the
multi-million naira Ajaokuta and
Delta Steel Complex, Aladja, Delta
state. Excerpts:
administration. He described them as
terrorists from outside Nigeria.
There is something like a strong cord
holding the Igbo and these three
sultans together. Sultan Abubakar, III,
it was who honoured Mamman Dike
and made him a powerful voice in the
Sokoto Emirate. I think he had a title,
something like Bada Mafarawa.
Dike was from Asaba and followed
the United African Company
[UAC].That job exposed him to Lord
Frederick Lugard who employed him
as driver. For 46 years, he drove the
colonial master.
When Lugard left, Dike joined the
Sokoto Emirate council. Some of his
friends could boast that he was like a
kingmaker since he was very close to
the ruling class. He lived up to the age
of 130.
Sultan Siddiq Abubakar,III, was a
man of peace and very liberal too.
Under him, the Women’s Training
College, Sokoto, was established. In
those years, it was not common to
allow muslim women imbibe Western
education.
Under him, many Igbo established
business in Sokoto. There was the
Universal Hotel, owned by Ogbunuga
Afor. This same man from the then
Eastern Region, was the first Eze
Ndigbo of Sokoto.
Of course, while Universal Hotel
thrived, there were other hotels owned
by Igbo business men in the North.
In Kano, there was Premier Hotel, set
up by C.D. Jones Okpala, from Aguata.
How Ajaokuta
steel complex
was killed, buried
—Ex-GM opens up
What is the position of Ajaokuta
and Aladja at the moment?
Their positions are nothing to
write home about. While Aladja is still
functioning on a shaky ground,
Ajaokuta died a natural death
immediately after the government
board of directors who were mainly
northerners forced me into retirement
and replaced me with their anointed
son. I came back from the United
States of America in 1977 where I
studied engineering up to doctorate
degree level and obtained many years
of working experience. In 1981, I
joined Aladja as Acting General
Manager but along the line, I
discovered that tribal sentiment from
government functionaries was
weighing down the complex.
I also discovered then that our
leaders were not devoted to the
people’s welfare. Developed countries
do not allow their steel industries to
die because it gives them employment,
helps them to train people and above
all, help them to produce vehicle
components and other components.
In the first place, the Ajaokuta
steel complex was originally proposed
to be sited in Onitsha, Anambra state
but due to ethnic sentiment and
political motive, it was moved to
Ajaokuta. A steel complex of that
nature could be regarded as a school
Developed countries do
not allow their steel
industries to die
because it gives them
employment, helps
them to train people
and above all, help
them to produce
vehicle components
and other components
Race Course International Hotel, Maiduguri,
belonged to one Nwofor.
Historic Hotel, Damaturu was the property
of Chief George Anyaegbunam, from
Ogbunike. His wife owned a bakery which
was patronised by people from as far as
Potiskum and Biu. Another prominent Igbo
was Chief Okafor from Nnobi.
D r. Ngozi Anyaegbunam, former
University don, Pioneer Woman Editor,
Champion Newspapers and Media
Consultant, is one of the children of the
Ogbunike Chief who also lived in Jos.
Sir Saddiq Abubakar, 111, once had
differences with the Sarduana of Sokoto, Sir
Ahmadu Bello, over tax issues. The
Sarduana hired an Igbo lawyer, Ernest
Egbuna, brother of Justice Willy Egbuna,
Chief Arthur Mbanefo’s father-in-law. That
did not in any way pitch the Sultan against
the Igbo.
His son, Sultan Muhammadu Maccido,
rose to prominence as a Prince when he
supported his father’s resolve to protect the
Igbo in Sokoto during the May 1966 pogrom.
Maccido and brother-in-law, Marafa,
succeeded in stopping their kinsmen from
setting a Roman Catholic Church on fire. It
was no surprise the senior Sultan eventually
became Chancellor of the University of
Nigeria, Nsukka.
Sultan Maccido kept in touch with his Igbo
friends and would even visit them in Lagos. It
touched many that when he died in an air
crash on Sunday October 29, 2006, with his
son Senator Badamasi Maccido and
grandson, another victim was an Igbo
woman, Dr. Nnennia Mgbor.
Dr. Mgbor, was West Africa’s first Ear, Nose
and Throat [ENT] surgeon. Her father was
the great Dr. Mbonu Ojike, first Republic
politician, better known for the phrase:
’Boycott all boycottable.’ He died in a car
crash.
Following Maccido’s death, one of his
brothers, became Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad
Abubakar, III. Till date, he has not departed
from the ways of his father and older sibling.
The present Sultan trained as a soldier and
is member of the Nigeria Defence
Academy[NDA] Regular Course 18.
Prominent course mates include Hama
•Philip Atanmuo
which needed time to break even. We
established Aladja first and it went to 10 to
25 percent production capacity.
In Aladja, somebody was supplying us
certain quantity of raw materials at a
cheaper rate of N600 per ton and after using
the material to produce a certain quantity of
iron rod, we would sell it at about N1,100.
But at a stage, some government officials
went and negotiated with someone else to be
supplying the same quantity of raw material
at a cost of N1,000.
I kicked against it but I was only a lone
voice in the wilderness and eventually, the
government officials dropped the contractor
who supplied us the material at N600 and
handed it over to the one who supplied at
N1,000. It was when I expressed my
disappointment about such a decision that
the officials redeployed me to Ajaokuta.
As an obedient servant, I went to Ajaokuta
with an open mind and settled down for work.
By then, we were importing bloom and
working at a low capacity with the
expectations that in time to come, we should
have 20,000 direct employees and 150,000
or close to 200,000 indirect employees.
Based on such an expectation, I assembled
some senior staff and led them on a delegation
to General Ibrahim Babangida, the then
The present Sultan did not
mince words in condemning
the activities of killer
herdsmen who have held
several parts of the country
to ransom especially since
the beginning of the
present administration
Bachama, Honest Irmiya Stephen and
Capt. Bala Shagari. Col. Stephen once
acted as governor of Lagos State during
the Buba Marwa years.
But the highest ranking officer of Course
18 is Lt. Gen. Onyeabo Azubuike Ihejirika,
former Army Chief. Other Igbo officers
include Gens. Eugene Nwanguma[Gw
Uris], M.A. Ndubuisi, Air Cdre. C.N.
Abiagom, Cdre K.C. Opara, Group
Captains O.F. IhenachoI[who served in
Chad with the Sultan in 1983], C.U.
Chiedu, A.O. Maduka and Col. T.E. Okem.
These friends are so close that as Chief
of Staff, Gen. Ihejirika and his friends were
in Sokoto for a re-union. And when Lt. Col.
F.O. Ekwealor was buried in Nzam,
Anambra State in 2014, the Sultan was
part of the arrangement.
The Sultan’s love for the Igbo was also
replicated to some extent in Kano. When
Alhaji Ado Bayero ascended the throne as
Emir in 1963, two Igbo men: Mike
Agbamuche, Pesonal Legal Adviser, to the
Sarduana and John Okoloafor, from
Arondizuogu were part of the story.
Alhaji Bayero and Col. Emeka Ojukwu
were friends. Names like Chiefs Jideofor
of Alor, Okonkwo of Umudim, Nnewi and
Miss Edith Ike [later Okongwu, Mark Odu]
made news.
With the Sultan, exuberant youths can
only enjoy freedom of expression. Nothing
beyond that. Igbo at heart.
military President and appealed to him
to release at least 1 billion as lifeline for
us to expand.
After some persuasions and contacts,
Babangida released a cheque of N500
million as part payment and promised
to release another N500 million in due
course, depending on our efforts to
revamp the industry.
To my greatest surprise, the moment
I called a meeting and showed the
government officials the cheque from
Babangida, they collected the cheque
from me, retired me instantly and
replaced me with someone else. The
unfortunate aspect of it all was that they
just shared the money after I had left and
folded up the company.
Another unfortunate thing was that
most of my assistants who were
northerners, were fresh graduates. Some
of them had only one or two years
working experience after the National
Youth Service, yet because they were
northerners, they were placed on levels
14 to 16 as assistant general managers
for each department. To crown it all, they
brought some money to my house here
after the cheque had cleared and told me
it was my own part of the N500 million
shared among themselves. But I drove
them away with the money and told
them I was not interested in their
corruption.
I told them that as Chairman of
Governing Council/Pro-chancellor of
Federal University of Agriculture,
Makurdi and immediate past Dean of
Studies, Faculty of Engineering,
Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu
University, COOU, Uli, Anambra state
and the incumbent Head of Department
of mechanical Engineering, COOU, Uli,
I did not need their money to survive,
more so, when I was still a pensioner with
Ajaokuta.
So, it would have taken about N1
billion as far back as 1992 to put
Ajaokuta into full capacity production
but now it will take billions upon billions
of naira to start from somewhere because
for the government to start from
somewhere, the dilapidated water supply
plant must be resuscitated, trained
personnel must be assembled, the
corroded electrical switches must be
serviced and a lot of other things.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 17, 2017—23
Edited By AYO ONIKOYI
08052201215
onikoyi68@gmail.com
I can go nude, but
not from waist down
– Silverline Onuoha
left for you to know yourself and
know your job. If you can act well,
your blessing will locate you.
How far can you go in
interpreting a role?
As an actress, there’s no role I
can’t take on, after all it is all makebelieve
but when it comes to going
nude on set, I have my limits.
Getting naked in a film may have
far reaching effect on one’s
personal life. As a person who
never says never, I think I can
manage it if it involves from head
to the waist. For any amount, I can
never go nude from waist down, if
you know what I mean. One day I
hope to get married and my dream
is to get married to a pastor.
Silverline Onuoha, who goes by the alias Nancy Dive, is a Nollywood starlet
who has different, unusual ideas about how acting should be. With a few movie
roles in her kitty, she’s ready to take Nollywood by storm, ready to do things most
of her peers and senior colleagues wouldn’t dare. Listen to her.
By ADETUTU ADESOJI
What gave you the idea you
could act?
It dates back to when I was in the
primary school. I was always
involved in the drama activities
where oftentimes I would play the
lead role. Besides that, I have always
felt the need to express myself as
a multiple personalities and I
see acting as an escape to do
that. Even right from my
childhood, people were
always suggesting to me
that I should be an actress
and the burning desire got
to an explosion stage some
three years ago.
Nollywood is soon going to
feel my full glow. All I have
been doing are bit parts
but they should watch out
for the real Nancy Dive,
that’s my stage name,
because I am ready to
consume all that comes
my way with my talent
and sexuality
Have you
encounter any
problem so far?
In this job of ours,
you cannot live
w i t h o u t
encountering
problems. But I
thank God each
problem I
encounter I have
been able to
surmount.
Sometimes we
create problems
for ourselves when
there are no problems. I believe
you see problems or obstacles
when you want to. What
someone may consider a
challenge to another person
it may be an opportunity.
What kind of roles do
you have an affinity for?
As an actress, you have
to be versatile. You don’t
have to be stereotyped
and that’s what makes
you an actress. I can’t say
this is exactly what I love
doing, I do all sorts. In all
modesty, the roles I’ve
done so far; village girl
role, glamourous girl or the
usual everyday girl, I think
I did them well. Personally,
I know when I’ve done
something well and when I’ve messed up.
How do you get into character when you see a
script?
After reading the script, you picture the character
you’re acting and you put yourself into that character.
Let’s say I’m acting as a prostitute, I should have
that imagination of a prostitute; how they behave,
how they think, how they dress, then you fit yourself
into that character and you’re good to go.
•Silverline
What kind of roles would you turn
down?
With no offense to gay people, I
would turn down a role where I
have to really make love to a girl.
I can try to do make-believe,
but if I have to do it real, I’d
turn it down. I could make out
but not do the real thing.
Most people would ague
that actors don’t really
make love on set and that
it’s all make-believe?
It depends on
the kind of
movie
you’re
doing.
In Africa, we
don’t go to the
extremes, but
when you’re
doing a
Hollywood
movie, anything
can happen. I
don’t intend to be
just be an African
actor. I intend to
take it to the next
level, do
Hollywood movies
and so on.
Have you done
any sexually
explicit scene
before?
I have.
Don’t you
get turned
on doing
some of
t h o s e
scenes?
No. I take
the idea of
lovemaking
and sex very personal. So, when
I’m working, it’s work.
You don’t get
aroused or get a
feeling. You get
carried away in
the act, but you
don’t get carried
away in the
feeling. In the
sense that, you
know you’re
doing a movie
and you want to
make it look
real. You
pretend to be
another person
but you don’t
feel a thing.
A f t e r
everything,
you’re like
‘it’s nice
working with
you’ and it
ends there.
Some people
might take it
elsewhere,
but for me, it
ends there.
What has
been your
experience
as regards
s e x u a l
harassment in
the industry?
Sexual
harassment
i s
everywhere,
not just in
Nollywood
and I won’t
lie to you
that I’ve
n e v e r
experienced
it, because
I have.
There are
people who
would
want to
deprive
you of the
role given
to you
because
you didn’t
sleep with
them.
Some will
e v e n
sleep
with you
and still
not give
you the
role. So, it is
•Silverline
So, you can show your bare
boobs in a film?
Yes, of course, if the money is
right. For N10 million I may
consider showing off my boobs.
It is all acting. But from the
waist down, no amount of
money in the world can make
me do that.
So, what’s your selling
point as a woman and an
actress?
My boobs, of course.
But they don’t look
so big to me?
Yes, I have small
boobs but my
nipples are a
bombshell. You
don’t have to own
monstrous boobs
to feel you have
great boobs. In fact,
the main treat of a
boob is the nipple
and I have the
longest, most tantalising
and sexiest nipples you
have ever seen.
Can you date a
fellow actor?
No, I can’t. Most
actors are not
straightforward
and they tend to flirt
around with other
women. I am very
jealous and I can’t
stand that.
Where did you
grow up?
I did my secondary
school in Lagos but
most part of my
childhood was in
Anambra and Aba.
I schooled mostly
in the East too but
during holidays I
came down to
Lagos. I attended
boarding
schools, one in
Anambra,
Metadey. I also
did a diploma
course in hotel
management
in Nairobi,
Kenya.

24—SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 17, 2017
Juliet Ebirim
08137897935
juliet.ebirim@gmail.com
Folorunsho Alakija's
son's lavish
N2 Billion
wedding
Folarin Alakija,
who is one of the
world's richest
black woman,
Folorunsho Alakija’s
four sons, married
Iranian beauty
Nazanin Jafarian
Ghaissarifar in an
extravagant wedding
at Blenheim Palace in
Oxfordshire over the
weekend, which is
estimated to have cost
around £5m (about
N2billion).
Folarin, who is in his
late 30s lost his first
wife to cancer, tied the
knot to his stunning
wife in the presence of
friends, family and
celebrities, including
Victoria’s Secret Angel,
Shanina Shaik. The
father of one is an
entrepreneur, investor
and cinematographer.
His mother, Folorunsho
Alakija has an estimated
fortune of $2.1
billion.“The Woodstock
venue, which is the
Governor Amosun’s daughter set to
marry Abike Dabiri’s son
ancestral home of Sir
Winston Churchill, was
adorned with one
million white roses. The
wedding cake is said to
have cost £10,000,
standing at 12-feet tall
and comprising eight
tiers with flowers
donning it. The venue
was exclusively hired at
a cost of £150,000 with
the bespoke marquee
and bespoke marble
floor with their initials
etched in gold costing
around £200,000.“The
florist was Jeff Leatham,
who is known for his
elaborate decorating of
the Kardashian’s homes
and Eva Longoria's
wedding. Bringing over
30 staff members to the
UK for the ceremony, Jeff,
who can command up to
£250,000 for flowers, has
worked for Madonna,
Oprah and Tina Turner.
Guests were also treated
to a surprise
performance from
singer Robin Thicke,
who reportedly costs
around £150,000 to
hire. Also, hundreds of
family and close friends
were said to have been
flown in from Nigeria
and lodged in a hotel
for the weekend.
Folarin’s new wife,
Nazanin, who once
dated Rob Kardashian,
s t u d i e d
Bioengineering and
B i o m e d i c a l
Engineering at the
University of
Manchester, has a
graduate Diploma in
Law and has also
worked as a model and
marketing consultant.
Golden Tulip tennis coach
weds heartthrob
The families of the governor of Ogun
State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun,
and former member of the House of
Representatives and now presidential
assistant on foreign relations and
diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, are
set to join their son and daughter’s
hands in marriage.
Dabiri-Erewa’s son, Oladipo, and
Amosun’s daughter, Ayomide, will tie
the nuptial knot at a traditional
wedding slated for Saturday July 8,
2017 in Abeokuta, the Ogun State
capital. .
With the prestige enjoyed by
Amosun and Abike Dabiri in political
and social circles, the event is sure
to be well attended by the crème of
high society. The formal
solemnization of holy matrimony is
however touted as a destination
wedding that will likely take place in
the USA.
Bolanle Ambode, Kemi Da-Silva Ibru,
Abike Dabiri-Erewa, others grace the
WAPA Connect Conference
The Ministry of Women Affairs
and Poverty Alleviation led by the
Hon. Commissioner of WAPA, Dr Lola
Akande held their annual WAPA
Connect Conference on Thursday, 8th
June with the theme “Fostering
Domestic Harmony through Multi
Perspective Analysis & Graphic
Display/Entrepreneurship in the 21st
Century”
Some of the dignitaries in
attendance include the wife of Lagos
State Governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode,
representative of the Governor and
Deputy Governor, Dr. (Mrs) Oluranti
Adebule, Commissioner for Women
Affairs and Poverty Alleviation
(WAPA), Hon. Lola Akande, Lagos
State Head of Service - Mrs.
Olabowale Ademola, Senior Special
Assistant to the President on the
Diaspora - Hon. Abike Dabiri-
Erewa among others.
Women At Risk International
Foundation (WARIF) founder, Dr Kemi
Da Silva-Ibru was one of the speakers
Former Lagos
State tennis
champion Donald
Chibundu is officially
hooked. The former
champion who is
presently a coach
and instructor at the
Golden Tulip Hotel
in Lagos, got
married to his
heartthrob,
Omawumi Mauti in
Lagos recently.
Saturday Vanguard
Editor, Onochie
Anibeze was among
the guests who
graced the event.
at the event highlighting the
prevention of sexual assault and
rape in communities. She stated the
harrowing statistics of the problems
in the society and suggested ways
of addressing the primary
prevention as well as immediate and
•Guests at WAPA Conference
long term intervention strategies
that should be adopted to
successfully address the
problem.
Other speakers at the event
include Lanre Olusola, Praise
Fowowe and Akinlami Taiwo.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 17, 2017—25
‘Stunning stories of
Nollywood actors’ sex
scene’
‘Sex sells’ is the slogan everywhere. It’s what cements
the human relationship. But it also serves a nonprocreative
purpose. Nollywood like every other movie
industry across the world thrives on it. In fact, lovers of
Nigerian movies look forward to watching sex scenes,
even the aged enjoy feasting on it.
As a result, many producers today are going out of their
way to incorporate ‘sex scenes’ in their movies. Not just
because they want to convey a message to the audience,
but beyond that, they want their movies to be hot and
controversial so as to enjoy equal attention in the
competitive market.
But come to think of it, while it’s unarguable that softporn
movies are thriving here, most famous ‘sex scenes’
in real Nollywood movies aren’t actually that sexy and
tempting.
Sometimes, it’s natural
that I will blush—Leo
Mezie
Some actors who shared their
experiences shooting sex
scenes with HVP, argued that
it isn’t what you think it is.
According to Nollywood hunk,
Leo Mezie, “filming a sex
scene is like any other scene
on set.”
“Remember you are
surrounded by all the entire
crew, so there is no way as a
professional you would want
to think otherwise, rather than
focusing on delivering your
lines. Besides, the room you
are filming the sex scene is
flooded with light, so, you can
imagine how hot it would be.
It’s even inconvenient for you
let alone...” Mezie enthused.
Though the handsome actor
says, he has never had any
particular experience, he,
however, admits that
‘sometimes, it’s natural that I
will blush.’
I might over act if I’m paired
with someone I’m dating
—Nazareth Jesse
Sharing her own experience,
actress Nazareth Jesse said,
if she’s paired with someone
whom she doesn’t has strong
feelings for him, there is the
possibility that she wouldn’t
•Chika
be carried away on set.
“I don’t get carried away
or lose control whenever
I’m acting romantic
roles. This is because
you might find yourself
with someone whom
you don’t have strong
feelings for even
though you have to
make it
real.”
“But that
consciousness
that people
are behind
the scene
keeps you alert
not to lose control
over yourself but in a
situation whereby you are
in same scene with someone
you are dating, you might
also over act based on the
mutual feelings you have for each
other. I still think acting should
be professionally handle while
private affairs should stay
private,” said Nazareth Jesse.
Some of the romantic movies she
has featured in, included, “Most
wanted Nurses”, “ Tears for the
Poor” , “ Box of Hope” and
“Le7ki Sugar Mummy’s.”
I hardly do love scenes—
Segun Arinze
On his own, Segun Arinze said,
he doesn’t like to act love scenes
even though, he has done some
in the past. “I don’t get carried
away while acting love scene.
According to him, he was once
paired with the likes of Kate
Henshaw, Genevieve Nnaji,
Stella Damasus among others.
“ We were all very professional,”
Arinze said.
I don’t feel anything when
I’m shooting romantic
scene—Micheal Isokpan
For handsome actor, Micheal
Isokpan, remaining focus is the
panacea. According to him,
“It’s a thing of the mind, if you
don’t put your mind there, there
is no way something quite
embarrassing would popped up
while you are shooting a sex
scene. More over, an entire crew
watches and a director tells you
what to do. I can’t be foolish to
drop down while acting romantic
scene,” he said.
Footballer-turned-actress, Chika Kalu opens up on
Why people think she’s a lesbian
Footballer-turned-actress,
Chika Kalu who made her
debut in the industry
recently, featuring in Nollywood
latest same-sex movie, “Busted”,
is not surprised when people have
negative impression about her
sexuality. She doesn’t even
complain because her psyche says
it all.
Chika, whose die-hard role in the
advocacy movie speaks volume of
her sexuality said, she was a
footballer before she recently
delved into acting. She admits that
her psyche attracted one of the
producers of “Busted”, Lisa Onu,
who invited her to be part of the
production as she played the lead
character. Also, a designer and
*Segun
Arinze
clothier, Chika can rarely be
separated from the role she played
in the movie, as a lesbian. She
confirmed that even before she
featured in the movie, people
always have negative impression
about her sexuality. “I am actually
a footballer. Even before I acted in
the movie, people always have this
negative impression that I am a
lesbian because of my psyche. Yes,
I am a tom boy and I don’t give a
damn. I’m used to it,” she
enthused, in a chat with HVP.
The Imo State-born actress said,
one of the challenges she faced
while starring in the movie was
when she had to kiss her partner.
“First of all, I had to kiss my partner
and everybody was watching me as
*Micheal Isokpan
kissed her. And since it is a movie I
had to do it,” she said.
The movie, starring notable actors
including Liz Benson, Kate
Henshaw, IK Ogbonna, Paul
Obazele, Tony Umez, is an
advocacy movie, denouncing samesex-marriage.
Directed by Pat Oghre and Damijo
Efe-Young, ‘Busted’ which was
recently screened to a private
audience at Oriental Hotel,
Lekki, Lagos, is bound
to stir a major
controversy in the
movie industry when
it’s finally released in
the cinemas
nationwide.
NFVCB
inaugurates
task force to
tackle piracy
BY ROTIMI AGBANA
The regulatory body
responsible for the
screening and approval
of movies in Nigeria, National
Film and Videos Censors
Board, NFVCB, Wednesday,
inaugurated a viable national
task force which has been
saddled with the responsibility
of lawfully clampdown on
unclassified films and video
works/unlicensed distributors
in the industry.
At the inauguration ceremony
which held at the agency’s
regional office, in Ikoyi, Lagos,
Executive Director of the
Board, Alhaji Adedayo
Thomas, who has spent just
2-months plus in office,
lamented the deplorable
state of the Nigerian
movie industry, blaming
the underdevelopment
in the industry on
piracy and disunity
among stake holders in
the industry. He noted
that the activities of the
pirates have eaten deep
into the fabrics of the
movie industry thus
causing a lot of investors
and stakeholders to run
into bankruptcy.
“The NFVCB is a
strategic parastatal of the
federal republic of
Nigeria, under the
ministerial supervision of
the federal ministry of
information and culture. As a
regulatory body saddled with
the responsibility of regulating
the censorship, distribution and
exhibition of films and video
works in Nigeria, and to
leverage on its regulatory roles
to create conducive
environment for investment
and ensure the security of such
investment. To the detriment of
the industry, we must admit that
the board has not lived up to
expectation in recent years,
leading to chaos in the system;
a chaotic system that has taken
profit away from the right
beneficiaries of the profiteers of
the laxity in the regulatory
efforts.
*NFVCB boss, Alhaji
Adedayo Thomas,

26—SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 17, 2017
Nigerian percussionist, Lekan
Babalola will sate the appetite
of his teeming African fans with
the release of a new single entitled,
Mr. Lakaye. The release of the song
will coincide with the launch of his
multi-city tour tagged ‘Ebo Tour’
which kicked off yesterday, at the
Somerset Festival, England.
Mr. Lakaye was produced by Will
Angelero, a New York/ United Kingdombased
producer and has Lekan Babalola
on the co-producer’s credit roll.
Babalola’s voice booms in Yoruba over
a bouncing tune enriched with
infectious electronic elements and
complemented with his signature
percussion sound.
According to the two-time Grammy
Award-singer, the song is dedicated to
Ogun, the Yoruba god of iron while the
title is inspired by the deity’s Oriki
(praise). In addition, ‘Mr. Lakaye’ will
also be the sound track to the musician’s
new art installation in honour of late
American jazz artiste, John William
Coltrane.
According his management, Temple
Management Company (TMC), ‘Mr.
Lakaye’ is available on all digital stores
to all the fans of the Grammy Award
winner. Speaking about his inspiration
for the new song, Lekan Babalola said,
By BENJAMIN NJOKU
Playing my late dad’s
ogene music brings
peace to my mind
— Oliver De Coque son
* The secrets he shared with me
before he died
Since legendary highlife singer, Chief Oliver Sunday
Akanite popularly known as Oliver De Coque who
bestrode the Nigerian music scene like a colossus for
more than three decades died about nine years ago, nothing
much have been heard of his ogene music. But with the
recent switch to highlife music, by his son, Darlington
Akanite, Oliver’s ogene music will dominate the air
space again.
Fondly called Safein De’ Coque by his fans,
Darlington, who was initially a hip hop
singer recently switched to highlife
music just to revive his late father’s
music. This sudden movement,
according to the bearded
singer, is inspired by the
insistence of his teeming
fans who have severally
advised
him to
return
to his
roots.
“I have
been in the
m u s i c
industry for
many years
now, doing hip
hop. But
recently , I
switched to highlife
music following the
reactions I get from fans.
Whenever I’m
performing on stage,
fans would applaud me
but some of them would
call me by the side and
tell me that even
though they like my
music, I should not
*Late Oliver
allow my father’s
De Coque
ogene music to
die,” Safein said,
Grammy award-winner, Lekan Babalola dedicates
new song to the Yoruba 'god of iron'
“I was born in Lagos, Nigeria, into a
Yoruba family. As custodians of Yoruba
tradition of Ogun, Oro, Obatala and
Ifa, my family taught me first hand
Yoruba art and culture. Ogun is the
patron of my father’s family.’ The
Babalola of Ajibesin compound at Ile-
Ogbo, Aiyedire local government of-
Osun State, South West Nigeria
today.”
*The album jacket
Lekan Babalola is one of Nigeria’s
most accomplished musicians and has
twice won the Grammy Award which
is the Holy Grail of Nigerian music.
He won it for the first time in 2006 for
his work on Ali Farka Toure’s In the
Heart of the Moon, receiving credit
on three songs. He won a second
Grammy in 2009 for his work on
Cassandra Wilson’s album, Loverly.
in a chat with Sidebeat.
According to him, “since then, I have
been trying to ally myself with
highlife.”
For Darlington, playing his late
father’s kind of music gives him
peace of mind. He has been in the
music industry for many years now.
Even though he has no album to his
credit, he has, however, done a couple
of songs with the like of rapper
Phyno, Flavour among others. He also
has some songs online.
He continued, “ Right now, I’m
beginning to focus on highlife music.
I’m playing my dad’s kind of music
because it brings that peace of mind
to me. That’s why I decided to follow
the footsteps of my late dad.”
On whether his late dad prepared
him to take after him in music, the
hip hop turned highlife music singer
said, he cut his teeth as a singer while
growing up. But his dad officially
introduced him into music when he was
20 years. “While I was growing up, I
was writing my own songs and I never
told my dad. The day he got to know
that I have passion for music was when
h e
was performing in Ibadan.
While on stage, he spotted
me in the midst of his band
members. He was surprised
as he said to me , I should have
told me that I have passion for
music. Since that day, he started
taking me along whenever he was
going for shows,”Darlington narrated.
Talking about his relationship with his
late father, Darlington said, he never
knew his mother as a child, a sad
experience that brought him closer to
his dad. Narrating further, the rising
highlife singer said that his late dad
believed in him so much that each time
he was writing a song, he would want
him to comment on the song. “He used
to write his songs in three stages. After
the second stage, he would ask me to
comment on the song. Sometimes, I
would tell him that I was too young to
assess his song. That he was the famous
Oliver De Coque and he should be the
one telling himself the truth. But he
would insist that nobody is a custodian
of knowledge,” he added.
Darlington expressed his
preparedness to step into his late dad’
big shoes. Though he doubts the
possibility of any member of their family
surpassing the legacy the king of
Ogene music left behind.
He said, “We can only try to keep his
memories alive. My dad really worked
hard to distinguished himself in the
highlife music genre. I had stories of
how he used to carry his musical
instruments on his head whenever he
was going for shows. Then there was
no buses to convey the instruments to
the show venue. Despite all the
frustrations, he did not give up on his
dream.”
Recalling how the legendary highlife
singer gave up the ghost at Jollad
hospital, Gbagada, Lagos, Darlington
said, his dad passed away shortly after
sharing some secrets he wouldn’t wan
to reveal now with him. “Before he
passed away, he shared some secrets
with me which I wouldn’t want to
reveal for now. So, the shock wasn’t
really that much. When the news of
his demise was broke to me, I only
muted, Dad why! Thereafter, I closed
his eyes, mouth, and later kissed his
forehead,”Safein recounted. Oliver,
who hail from Ezinifite, Nnewi South
Local Government Area of Anambra
State died on June 28, 2008, in Lagos.
Nile his death, he had 73 albums to
his credit, including hits like Otimkpu,
People’s Club of Nigeria, and Mbiri
Ka Mbiri among others. With his band,
Ogene Super Sound of Africa, Oliver,
blended modern and traditional Igbo
music to form a unique mix of highlife
sound. Apart from Darlington, two
sons of Oliver De Coque, Oliver
Sunday Akanite (Jnr.) and Chinedu
Akanite, are also professional
musicians. Popularly known as ‘Solar
De Coque’ and ‘Edu De Coque’
respectively, they have stepped into
the shoes of their father by playing the
same Ogene music and keeping intact
the band he left behind.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 17, 2017—27
08116759759
'I'm an
object
of envy'
AMODEL dubbed The
Russian Kim Kardashian
claims other women are
jealous of her curvy figure – and
boasts she has male fans all
around the world.
Anastasia Kvitko, 22, says
around 80 percent of all her
6.1 million Instagram
followers are men who follow
her because she is a “hottie”.
Anastasia told The Sun
Online her comparisons to
Kim Kardashian are
“flattering”.
She said: “It’s all because of
my hips and social media
followers. But I’m absolutely
This Thai
woman holds the
Guinness World
record for
holding a deadly
scorpion in her
mouth for more
than three
minutes
SKIN-CRAWLING photos
show the moment a woman
dubbed The Scorpion Queen
different actually. “I’ve got a curvy
but a sporty shape, sporty hips,
strong calves, so I’m more like
fitness model. Besides, I’ve got
a baby face without any
surgery. “The reaction man
gets when seeing a hottie is the
same in all the countries, no
matter if it’s in the US or
Russia. “I’m an object of male
admiration and female envy.
I don’t have a boyfriend but
many candidates!”
Anastasia currently lives in
LA, where she says she is able
to pursue a career that she
couldn’t back in Russia due to
different modelling standards.
She has carved out a name for
herself with dozens of saucy
photos uploaded to her social
media pages.
Anastasia has also had to fend
off cruel trolls who accuse her of
undergoing surgery – a claim
she’s always denied. She claims
she uses creams from her own
beauty line on her bum to make it
appear “fuller” and never
undergoes injections. “I have lots
of energy and enthusiasm. To be a
model is not forever. Now I’m
places dozens of massive
scorpions on her face – and in
her MOUTH.
Kanchana Kaetkaew showed
exactly why she holds the
record for the longest time
spent with a scorpion in her
mouth – three minutes, 28
seconds – with this creepy
performance yesterday.
The Thai national is a Ripley’s
Ambassador for her popular
stunts involving the terrifying
creepy crawlies. This week she
appeared on stage in Pattaya,
Thailand, and barely even
flinched as dozens of massive
scorpions crawled over her.
At one point, she opened her
mouth to allow one of the creatures
inside.
But instead of going into her
mouth, it crawled across her lips,
nose and cheeks.
Kanchana is a national celebrity
in her home country thanks to her
brazen and bizarre scorpion
stunts. She also holds a second
world record for spending 33 days
inside a container filled with 5,000
scorpions. Perhaps
unsurprisingly, she was stung 13
times.
There are around only 25 species
of scorpion that are capable of
killing humans.
The creatures’ administer their
venom through a stinger in their
tail which sits in an ominous
curved striking position.
really focused on my new business.
“I aim to help women to recognise
their beauty, appreciate their
uniqueness beauty and find the
way to underline it. Just like I did.”
Originally from western Russia’s
Kaliningrad Oblast region,
Anastasia recently warned Kim
Kardashian that she would soon
eclipse her in popularity.
She said: "I like Kim
Kardashian but I don't quite like
Black man who lost
penis in botched
circumcision to have
transplanted organ
tattooed - because
donor was white
being compared to her - she is
far behind me.
"My body is sporty, my hip
muscles are trained, my bottom
is the most beautiful one, and I
have not done any plastic
surgeries on my face. "And she -
everyone knows what she did to
her bottom. Now my popularity
is growing at a crazy speed, so it
is a matter of time when I will be
recognised more often than Kim."
A
black man who has had the world’s third successful penis
transplant operation is to have his new organ tattooed –
because the donor was white.
The 40-year-old is only the third patient to undergo the
procedure on April 21 of this year at Tygerberg Hospital, Cape
Town. He lost his organ after a botched traditional circumcision.
Now he will be able to have sex and urinate standing up within
the next six months – for the first time in seventeen years.
Professor Andre van der Merwe said: ‘The patient is black, and
the donor was white. We have very few donors for this transplant
procedure. But that is the only iss
‘He is certainly one of the happiest patients we have seen in our
ward. The penis is working well, he can get erections already.
‘The patient is expected to regain all urinary and reproductive
functions of the organ within six months of the transplant.
The man had been in relationships before, but whenever the
question of sex arose, he bailed out. That will no longer be a
problem.
Team member Dr Alexander Zuhlke explained the tattooing can
be applied in the case of penis transplants – just like it is for
nipples after a mastectomy, for instance.
But it should be performed by a tattooist specialising in medical
tattooing and will require multip
Penis transplant doctor Andre van der Merwe and
his team (Photo: Stellenbosch Uni/SWNS.COM)

28—SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 17, 2017
I was never
a tomboy
growing up
—Dolapo Badmos
By Chris Onuoha
Superintendent of Police (SP), Ifedolapo Opeyemi Badmos is the
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Zone 2 with headquarters in
Lagos. Having served in various capacities in the force and as
Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Isokoko, Agege, she was later
appointed as Lagos State PPRO for a couple of months before being
elevated to Zone 2 command PPRO covering Ogun and Lagos
States. She is a graduate of Accounting and also a degree holder in
Public Administration. She was inducted into the Nigerian
Institute of Public Relations as an Associate Member in November,
2016. The Ekiti State born super cop in the course of her career as a
police woman has exhibited enigmatic virtues that propelled her
movement from one position to another. Her background,
upbringing and subsequently, her impact on topical issues that
affect lives of women, brings to bear in this exclusive chat with
Vanguard.
What was your upbringing
like?
I am the second of six
children in my family. I grew up
in Ado Ekiti in Ekiti State. My
late father used to be a
politician. He was a one time
member of the Ekiti State
House of Assembly and also
one time Local Government
Chairman. My mother was a
teacher. She is retired. The
siblings and I were brought up
in a proper teacher -
disciplinarian way where
understanding of eye and body
language was the order of the
day. My primary school was
done under my mum’s tutelage
as a teacher. You don’t have a
free moment under the watchful
eye of your mum and from there
straight to secondary school,
girls-only boarding school
where you had your eyes
opened to the larger world. I
joined the Nigerian Police Force
in the year 2002 as a cadet
officer, Assistant
Superintendent of Police (ASP)
where I had 18 months training
in far away Wudil in Kano State
under a regimented unit. It was
tough and demanding.
What was that special
interest you had in choosing
what you studied in school and
why a different career after
that?
We had education counselors
as part of school staff who put
you through on what you are good
in.
I wanted to be a medical
doctor but I believed that my Physics teacher
did not let me make it because he was strict to
the core. He came to class with long cane and
every time he entered the classroom, students
would be scared. That alone coupled with the
teacher’s life approach affected me negatively.
My counselor and I sat and discussed the
whole issue of psychological trauma after which
I then chose commercial subjects that lead me
to read Accounting.
There’s always a place for destiny in
someone’s life. The two jobs tally which is
caring about people.
Do you in any way feel discriminated
against?
I think it is all about that particular
teacher. If a child is not doing well, you need to
To me, it’s high time
women braced up and
proved that weakness
is not only in the
saying but in the
doing. I value what I do
in the police force
•Ifedolapo
Opeyemi
Badmos
find out why and how to go
about it. The man believed that
it was all about caning – spare
the rod and spoil the child.
Whenever he entered the
classroom, everyone would be
dead quiet and would not wish
to offend him. I tend to believe
that he might have taken a lot
of would-be scientists out of
their dreams but funnily, some
still made it through with the
tough teacher notwithstanding.
How did you then get into
police force when your place
could have been the banking
or financial sector?
I was actually influenced by
my uncle. He had ever wanted
to be a police officer. He
graduated from school in 1984,
sought to enroll in the force and
could not get the opportunity.
He talked me into the career –
always saying you have the
physique, the height and the
stamina to be in the force. But
mind you, I was never a tomboy
while growing up.
Did you ever cringe as a
woman at the sight and
feelings of being that
combatant personnel who
would be chasing criminals
and law offenders in the
society?
When we got to the training
academy, it was a different
world. It was the advent of
mobile phone services but in
the Academy, there was not
even connectivity not to talk
about other restrictions that
left you with no choice.
There’s was no freedom to
exercise those free rights you
have as a woman. At that
point, I was like ‘Oh my God’
is this what I will pass through
for 18 months? But funnily, I
lived with it which at some
point I made up my mind that
I was at a point of no return
after the gun training that
toughened my
imagination. On the
onset, I wanted to run
away but for one
female colleague. She
had half of her
family members in
the police force
and it was not like
anything to her.
For me the 18
months in the
training academy
were like 18 years.
What is your
experience like as a
woman in the
Nigerian police force?
A lot of people believe
that this is a place for
men. Even at the
training school, the
teachers would shout,
‘All of you here are men,
in this academy, there is
no woman, everyone here
is a man’. In every activity, be
it obstacle crossing or rigorous
exercise, you have to do it like
any other person. There’s no
discrimination of exemption of
gender. That is what makes
you a police officer.
Are you fulfilled?
I am satisfied but not
fulfilled yet. I am barely 15
years out the stipulated 35
years in the service. This is a
very noble job that gives you
opportunity to free the
oppressed. When I was
growing up, I was always in
the forefront of fighting for my
mates against the oppression
of boys against girls. This
profession is not for everyone
rather it is for those who have
passion for protecting the
oppressed in the society.
As a police woman, you
have championed the cause of
women in the society. What
informs such drive?
In African setting, women are
relegated and maltreated.
There are two things I actually
concern myself with in life
which is how to be successful
and how to fight against
domestic violence. This is not
necessarily against women
alone but anything that
connotes domestic violence of
both genders. Most people
who noticed my effort in such
areas deemed it wise to
involve me in their talk shows,
seminars and workshops. I
want to be a role model to
others.
Continues on pg 29

Between the trend and the business
Once upon a time, it was perfectly
normal for women to go to bed in
pyjamas. If you were the
narcissistic type who wished you could
go to bed in makeup, you would
probably wear the stylish silk or satin
types designed to skim your figure.
Otherwise you would go for the regular
cotton tailored type- the ones that
appealed to sensible people.
But going to bed in pyjamas has just
become passé, and if you went to bed in
anything but the birthday suit it would
probably be something skimpy and
significant only on an aesthetic basis.
Pyjamas, it would appear, has taken on
the quality of water. Not only is it
essential it is also incredibly flexible.
These days, pyjamas are reserved for day
wear, along with its younger cousin, the
kimono, which seem to have replaced
shirts and jackets respectably. No trendy
gathering is complete without women
sporting these trends.
But then as Nigerians, trends are what
we know how to do best. Recently one of
our sweetheart superstars, Ayodeji
Ibrahim Balogun, popularly known as
‘Wizkid’ or ‘Wizzie’, rudely told off an
American DJ who even just dropped the
hint of a suggestion that Nigerians only
listen to Nigerian music because we are
not aware of offerings from other places.
“We just prefer to club to our own
music”, he painstakingly explained to
the DJ, as though the latter were a dunce.
Continues from pg 28
What are your values in life?
‘Hard work does not kill’. To me,
it’s high time women braced up and
proved that weakness is not only in
the saying but in the doing. I value
what I do in the police force.
Within half way of career, you
seem to enjoy elevated positions…
It is not yet Uhuru. Basically, I
would say it is by God’s grace that
such positions come to me, but
perhaps, I will extend gratitude to
the regime of the new Inspector
General of Police Ibrahim Kpotun
Idris who has given women
opportunity to break forth and show
what they can do. The ones I have
attained so far, which you call
enjoyment is nothing but a
challenge to me to wake up and
face the realities of the career. The
force recognizes and rewards hard
work.
Are women in Nigerian Police
Force marginalised in any form?
Well, seeing me as former state
command PPRO and now zonal
command PPRO, with all other
women in exulted positions like
AIGs, Commissioners, and federal
Force PROs, you will understand
that women are having it good in
the force. What the force is now
doing is a departure from the old. ‘A
gold fish has no hiding place’.
Promotions will always come
through hard work.
However, in a workplace setting
generally, men always feel superior
and the police force is not an
exception. But with what the
leadership of the force is doing now,
women now believe in themselves.
Do you see a woman becoming
the next Inspector General of
Police in Nigeria ?
The office of the inspector general
Nigerians loved it.
No doubt, it is incredible what
Wizkid and his contemporaries have
been able to achieve with the space
they had 10-15 years ago. It had been
a restricted space, once dominated by
uber-talented greats such as Felix
Liberty, Chris Okotie and Majek
Fashek who did not have the benefit of
management capable of using their
talent and abilities to create
something larger than themselves.
From the gaping vacuum left by the
exit of the ‘hungry artists’ whose
personal wealth fell far short of their
popularity, a new crew had occupied,
expanded the scope, created stimulation
by the introduction of competition and
created a value chain from which
thousands of jobs continue to be created
and capacity built.
It is this capacity that assures the
sustainability from which stakeholders
in that industry are reaping bountifully
now; and so when international musical
producers and promoters are falling
over themselves to sign on Wizkid,
DBanj and Davido, it is not because of
any noise they are suddenly making or
that they are more talented than their
predecessors. It is that they have taken
their legitimate position as a part of the
global music industry that cannot be
ignored. It is important to note that all
this was achieved without government’s
intervention.
Copying trends and making noise
have sadly not translated the
massive potential the fashion
industry boasts into securing for
Nigeria a legitimate place as one
of the world’s fashion capitals on
equal terms as Milan, London,
Paris and New York. Surely we
boast an incredible amount of
talent and probably the biggest
concentration of stylish men and
women in the world.
It is the beginning of fashion
season across the world’s capitals.
By October, billions of dollars
would have been injected into
economies. Buyers would have spent
billions stocking up their
department stores. Hotels and
airlines would have formed
alliances. Hundreds of millions
would have gone to fashion
magazines in advertising revenue.
The African Fashion Week was
recently concluded in Lagos. On
the face of it, it was a resounding
success with scores of women
given the opportunity to model
and showcase their designs.
Foreigners came to watch and
avail themselves of the
opportunity to buy African
clothing, most of which they
regard as souvenirs. If they were
Dutch, the fabric probably came
from their country anyway.
I was never a tomboy growing
up —Dolapo Badmos
•Ifedolapo
Opeyemi
Badmos
Women are soft and
tender at home because
of their loving nature
which some men see as
being weak
of police is not a child’s play. It is
for someone that will bring
innovation that will affect the
lives of people. It is like a moving
train where people will be
motivated and effect changes
that will reflect in the society.
Just like the new IG is doing.
When a woman gets to AIG
level, what would then stop
her to reach the peak?
How can you possibly
advise women in the society
to brace up the challenge in
any chosen career?
From a spiritual angle, I will
quote a bible verse that says
‘women are weaker vessels’
but I would say that it is
when it comes to treatment of
women that one should apply
that. When it comes to the
level of delivering, a woman
SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 17, 2017—29
It is this capacity that assures the
sustainability from which stakeholders
in that industry are reaping bountifully
now
A massive amount of noise has
been made in the leather works
industry. Every so often fairs are
organized like the one recently done
in Lagos state , co-opted as part of
the Lagos @50 celebrations. These
fairs take on the form of jamborees,
with key government officials
showing up for photo opportunities
and looking the part. Rather than
show us figures that suggest or prove
that government intervention has
expanded the percentage of the
contributions this industry has made
to our takings in the non-oil sector or
the number of people it has
demonstrably brought out of
poverty; or even the sustainability it
has brought into the climate in
general, they merely suggest that
those industries are glamorous
and that those who go into them
will get photo opportunities with
government officials.
Our fixation and obsession with
attracting Foreign Direct
Investment (FDI) at the expense
of local investment as we have
been taught in foreign business
schools might yet be the death of
us. It is unfortunate that the
Buhari administration has not
only inherited this obsession but
has also adopted it with all
enthusiasm. We must immediately
discard and forget the notion that we
can create wealth without creating
value across board.
cannot say she is weak because
bible had said so. Every woman
has the mental ability, physical
strength, technical know-how and
even academic strength to deliver
in any job or duty she may find
herself. The only place the
wisdom of weaker vessel should
be applied is when it comes to the
issue of domestic violence. A man
exerts more physical strength in
anger than a woman. Women are
soft and tender at home because
of their loving nature which some
men see as being weak.
What are the challenges you
have encountered so far?
“The challenge of life is like
examination” without which you
will not graduate to the next
level. This has to do with me
as a person. I have this ‘never
say never’ attitude. I don’t give
up.
How do you combine home
and office work?
I thank God because I have a
very caring husband who is
always there to support, coupled
with immediate family members
that support as well. But they
have come to understand that
mummy is a busy person who is
out there taking care of people’s
live and properties.
How do you spend your
leisure when you are not
carrying guns?
I am a fun loving person. I
work hard and when they
opportunity comes for me to
loosen up I utilize it well. Music
gives me joy. I love all kinds of
music genres but devote more
on philosophical music that
makes me think such as
classical music. My mum was a
good dancer in her younger days
which I eventually inherited..

30—SATURD
TURDAY Vanguard,
JUNE 17, 2017
Ray Yugbo
ugbovwre’s daughter’s traditional marriage
It was a parade of
panache, style and
sheer splendour at
the traditional wedding
of daughter of media
mogul and Head
Honcho of Fax Media
Limited, Pastor
Raymond
Efe
Yugbovwre in Lagos on
Thursday, June 8,
2017.
The bride’s family,
Pastor Raymond and
Evangelist Divine
Yugbovwre and the
groom’s family, Elder
and Mrs Marcel
Igberaese sealed the
union of their children,
Tega Yugbovwre and
Casmire Igberaese at the
Sheba Event Centre,
Maryland, Lagos.
Photos by Diran
Oshe
The couple; Mr Casmire Igberaese and Tega Yugbovwre in a
group photogrph with bride's parents; Pastor Raymond Efe
Yugbovwre (R) and Evang. (Mrs ) Divine Yugbovwre (2nd left).
The couple; Mr Casmire Igberaese and Tega
Yugbovwre.
L- R: Mr Patrick Oke, Elder and Mrs Marcel
Igberaese,groom's parents. L-R: Apostle Edward Dauji, Evang. (Mrs )
Divine Yugbovwre, bride's mum , and
Bishop (Mrs ) Chioma Dauji .
Bride's mother; Evang. Divine Yugbovwre
(Middle) with friends and relations.
L- R: Mr Andy Fregene and Chief Biodun
Sobanjo.
The couple; Mr Casmire Igberaese and Tega
Yugbovwre with the bridal train.
Groom's mother; Mrs Igberaese (5th right)
with friends and relations.
L- R: Deaconess Grace Natufe, Mrs Merit
Ofulue and Mrs Tobi Odunanya.
L- R: Mr Mac Oruche, Chief Andrew Oru and
Mr Peter Arigbe.
Bride's parents; Pastor Raymond Efe and
Evang. Divine Yugbovwre, dancing.
Groom's parents; Elder and Mrs Marcel
Igberaese, dancing in

SATURD
TURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 17, , 2017—31
bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk
How to get that undue promotion
LOTS have been said about
the average female
executive. Amongst other things
that she has bottom-power…that
she knows how to twist a man
round her little fingers, that she
discards stale boyfriends as
callously and with as little a
remorse as you would have
squashing a menacing
cockroach. And most of these
criticisms are borne out of envy
because come to think of it, all
women have a bottom—be it
flat, rounded or
proportionate, but very few
women have that ability to use
what they have to get what they
want. Discard the illusion that
the female executive should be
slim and trim with features that
draw hundreds of admiring
glances in her wake because
she is not that any more. The
fish the female executive wants
to catch is not on the streets, it
is there sitting pretty in the
office and she’s done a lot of
arithmetic about him. She has
found out all the things that
make him tick. She’s found out
too that that aloof, almost
unapproachable air he has
about him is a front.
And she’s mathematically
calculated the moves she
has to make to smash the
barrier. And don’t for a
minute think that all the
brain-work she’s doing is
just for a five-minute
tumble in the hay with a
few thousand naira notes
exchanging hands. Not on
your nelly it isn’t. The
price, the well-worth it
price is that junior
executive post that’s just
been left vacant
but which she has not
enough qualifications to
merit.
So Miss Ambition sets to
work. If anything her
moves need a load of guts
and she is to be admired
on how she executes them.
“Men think they are
smart,” Rolly, one of the
females in this modest
class told me with a coy
smile. “Who else would be
in a position to offer a
young
woman a good job but
the average middle-aged
man who thinks he’s
passed it where winning
favours of young girls are
concerned? Imagine what
boost it’ll be to his ego if a
girl he thinks he could
only admire from a
distance pays him a lot of
The fish the
female
executive
wants to catch
is not on the
streets, it is
there sitting
pretty in the
office and
she’s done a
lot of
arithmetic
about him
attention with promises of
wild romps later if he plays
ball! Of course, you don’t
make your intentions known
from
the start or you’d be
tagged a grabber. Convince
the old fool that he’s the
most exciting thing that has
ever happened to you.
When he fondles you, don’t
let the disgust show on your
face, instead smile and tell
him how you didn’t think
his love-play could be so
arousing. Don’t just kiss
him either. Do a load of
things other girls of his age
would never do for him in
the sexual department. And
after his amateurish
love-making, don’t
‘wait for him to make
the first move next
time you are in the
bed-room. Grab at
him as if you couldn’t
wait for his wild lovemaking
and when the
act is on, don’t just
lie there like a log. At
one time in your life,
a man must have
excited you
tremendously
sexually, and you
know how you
behaved then. This is
the time to use that
excitement you once
felt. Tell the old bag
that is on top of you
that he is the best—in
short make him think
he is Don Juan all
over again. After the
second session, tell
him casually about
that vacant young
executive post. Let
him know that
although you don’t
have the relevant
paper qualifications,
you’d been helping
the clot who had the
job last with all his
assignments. And
since you could do
the job as well, if not
better, doesn’t he
think it would be
sheer waste of time if
someone whose ability is
not a certainty ‘is
brought in?’
‘That’s your first line.
Don’t chew on it after
you’ve let him know.
Switch to talking about
other things and see him
a third time...and as
several times as it takes
you to realise you’ve had
him in your clutch. Then
put on the pressure
pump about the job and
it’s an 80 to 20 chances
that you’ll get it. After
the job is yours of course,
you’ll know if whether or
not it’ll be advisable for
you to discard him. If
he’s still your boss, you’ll
need him again. If he’s
not, then it’s the next
man in line, who’s now
your new boss you’ll be
aiming to please. As you
make your next move,
you make sure your old
lover has no hold over
your new boss or you’ll
be in big trouble.
“Once in a while, you
get in a muddle when
two top officials in the
office are at daggers’
drawn because of you.
When this happens, your
best bet is to start looking
for another job—a simple
case of you win some you
lose some!
Stop worrying and reduce heart attack risk
Just thinking about
being stressed can
make you seriously ill, a
study has revealed, and it
is believed the increased
perception of stress almost
doubles the risk of
suffering a heart attack. It
is the first time a link has
been discovered between
heart disease and people’s
own view on how stressed
is affecting their health.
The research suggests
doctors should take a
patients’ perspective into
account when managing
stress-related complaints.
It could also mean that
helping patients to unwind
can reduce the risk of
cardiovascular disease.
The study followed more
than 7,000 civil servants
over a period of up to 18
years. Participants, who
had an average age of
49.5, were asked to what
extent they felt day-to-day
stress had affected their
health. They were also
asked about lifestyle factors
such as smoking, alcohol
consumption, diet, and
exercise, and their medical
background was taken into
account. Medical records
were monitored to see how
many fatal or non-fatal
heart attacks occurred.
Participants who felt stress
was harming their health
‘a lot or extremely’—eight
per cent of the group—
were found to have double
the risk of a heart attack
compared to those who
said it had no significant
effects.
After taking account of
other factors that could
have affected the result,
the team still found a 49
per cent greater risk if a
person worried about
stress. Lead author, Dr.
Hermann Nabi, from the
Inserm Medical Research
Institute in Villejuif,
France, said: ‘We found
that the association we
observed between an
individual’s perception of
the impact of stress on
their health and their risk
of a heart attack was
independent of biological
factors, unhealthy
behaviours and other
psychological factors. One
of the important messages
from our findings is that
people’s perceptions about
the impact of stress on
their health are likely to be
correct. This current
analysis allows us to take
account of individual
differences in response to
stress. Our findings show
that responses to stress or
abilities to cope with stress
differ greatly between
individuals, depending on
the resources available to
them, such as social
support, social activities
and previous experiences
of stress.’

32—SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 17, 2017
Boy born with two faces
survives all odds
Aboy born with a rare “two face”
condition has defied all odds to
celebrate his 13th birthday.
Tres Johnson from Bernie in Missouri,
US, marked the milestone—despite
doctors giving him “zero chance of
survival” when he was born.
He has craniofacial duplication,
whereby parts or all of the face are
duplicated on the head, according to the
MailOnline.
Tres is believed to be the only survivor
of the disorder—there are only 36 cases
in the world ever been recorded.
Parents, Brandy and Joshua have
battled to help their son while doctors are
amazed he is alive as many with the
condition are stillborn.
Brandy, 35, his full-time carer, said: ‘We
don’t know what will happen in Tres’
future, no one thought he would be here
today.
“It was very exciting celebrating his
birthday and emotional, but very surreal
waiting for the big day, I was an anxious
mess worrying about him.
“Tres reaching the age of 13 is a huge
deal, it’s surreal knowing he’s made it
this far, the past 13 years have been
nothing but a fight for survival.”
“I lost count of the amount of times we
were told he wouldn’t make it but here
he is today a teenager, we now ignore
their predictions and just focused on one
day at a time.
In craniofacial duplication, excess of
the protein SHH leads to widening of
facial features and to duplication of facial
structures.
Tres was born with a large cleft, his eyes
spaced further apart, two separate
nostrils, an abnormally shaped head,
cognitive delays and he also suffers from
seizures.
He has undergone multiple
operations to reshape his skull
and close his cleft, as well as treat
his seizures, which have reduced
from 400 to 40-a-day since
starting cannabis oil treatment.
‘Put him down’
The family revealed how the
face horrific abuse from strangers
who have told them to ‘kill it’ and
“put him down.”
Brandy said: “I’ve heard every
comment you can imagine over
the years, from ‘kill it’, ‘put him
down’ to being called ‘selfish’ for
keeping him alive.
“After so many years I’ve just
had to swallow my pride, try to
stay calm and explain my son’s
condition to them.
“After I talk to them the things
see my perspective and regularly
ask how Tres is doing.’
Brandy says so many people
pity her son—but for her and her
husband, Tres is a blessing.
“He is developmentally
delayed, because he has cysts in
his brain, mentally he is at the
age of an infant but he is
•Tres
Jonhson,
born with
two faces.
progressively improving in all
areas.
“Mobility wise we were told
he would never walk, but that
doesn’t stop him from trying
and scooting around on his
butt.
“So many people that see
what happened to our son,
think of it as a tragedy but
before I thought my son was
going to die yet he’s still with
us today, to me that’s all that
matters.
“My goal is to keep him here
and make sure he knows how
loved he is, for however long
he lives.”
Shocked but determined
Mother-of-three Brandy
said when he Tres was born,
admits the first glimpses of
her son were difficult.
“When they bought him into
my room he was hooked up
to a carrier box with all of his
monitors, the only thing I
could touch was his leg,” she
said.
“He was adorable and
shocking at the same
time, one side of his face
looked like our older son,
the other resembled our
middle son.
“When he was born he
had such a large cleft that
it went up into his nasal
passage and you could
see into his sinus cavity as
it was all open.
“His one eye looked like
it was bulging out and the
other sucked in, because
his eyes are further apart
he sees peripherally
instead.’
Brandy and Joshua were
determined to not give up
on their child—and fight
for him to be kept alive.
“Doctors weren’t going
to sustain Tres and
planned to let him pass if
my husband hadn’t fought
for him, they had never
seen anything like him
before,’ she explained.
“Once I found out he
was here and still alive
Tres reaching the
age of 13 is a huge
deal, it’s surreal
knowing he’s made
it this far, the past
13 years have been
nothing but a fight
for survival
that was all that mattered to us,
we always were in it for the long
haul.”
Seizures
Tres received over 14 different
diagnoses before it was
recognised that he had
craniofacial duplication,
also known as diprosopus,
the Greek word for “two
faces.”
Since then, he has
undergone numerous
operations to close the cleft
and efforts to reshape his
skull to help relieve
pressure on his brain.
Despite this, he has
intractable epilepsy
meaning he suffers from
over 400 seizures a day.
After exhausting all
medical options his
mother now treats him
with cannabis oil. She says
in two years he has had
over a 90 percent
reduction in seizures.
Brandy said: ‘Four years
ago, we were told there
was nothing more doctors
could do for him.
“I did a lot of research
and the first week using
Cannabidiol his seizures
went down to under 40 a
day.
“He is cognitively
improving and his size
more than doubled, he was
under 18kg and now is
pushing 35kg, he is
constantly growing
stronger and smarter.
“Using cannabis oil is
the best decision I ever
made.”
We’re not ashamed of him
The family say they have
struggled to find help for
Tres and claim that, due to
the rarity of his condition,
many doctors see him as a
‘research project’.
Brandy said: ‘It’s been
hard for us to find a doctor
who will treat my son as a
person and not a case
study, many have offered
to work with us but not
with my son’s best interest
at heart.
“One offered us a
‘miracle surgery’ to make
him look normal, but I
don’t care about how he
looks, what’s important is
he is alive and
comfortable.
“We have only done the
surgeries that were
necessary, not any
cosmetic ones, we are not
ashamed of him or how he
looks and never will be.”
The family have a
GoFundMe page here to
raise money for their son’s
medical costs.

Vanguard, SATURDAY, JUNE 17, 2017—33
Twitter: @yetundearebi
yetty5050@yahoo.co.uk
08054700825
H i, A few weeks back I published a
story about Tolu, a young lady who
accidently discovered that her husband
is gay. And with whom other, than his
childhood friend, business partner and
best friend Bosun. In the aftermath of
her discovery, more shocking
revelations sprang up. Both Tunde and
Bosun’s families know about the
relationship and even assumed that
she knew before agreeing to marry
him. Bosun’s wife, Aunty Jane is also
in the know, though she would not
readily admit it. Which is why their little
kids are kept outside the country and
she travels around as much as she
wants, pretending that her marriage is
a bed of roses. Now, everyone is telling
Tolu to turn a blind eye to Tunde and
Bosun’s activities if she still wants to
remain in her less than one year old
marriage. While still trying to clear her
head, Tolu has also discovered that she
is pregnant with her first child and
wants to keep it. For now, she has
moved back to her parent’s home until
she is able to chart a way forward for
herself. I got a couple of mails in my
box sharing different experiences with
me on their stint with homosexuality.
Unfortunately, many of them are young
men and women still struggling to find
a sexual identity for themselves. To
protect them, I have removed the
identities and contacts of those who
admitted to have had homosexual sex
for whatever reason. I have decided to
publish these stories strictly for the
purpose of awareness and to alert
parents on the need to educate their
male children about everything that sex
and sexuality entails. Do have a
wonderful weekend!!
Dear Yetunde,
It is my pleasure to mail you. How is
everything? Hope all is well. My name
is (withheld). I am a boy of 22 years old.
I decided to share my own story after
reading about the lady who is married
to a homosexual husband. I have a
problem which I don’t know how to solve
because it has become a burden to me.
When I was in secondary school, and
we were about to take our WAEC
Examinations, it became quite obvious
to me that my parents would not have
the money for the fees, at least, not at
the time it mattered. Things had become
very rough for my father financially and
they were just managing to keep me in
the school because it was too late for me
to be transferred to a cheaper school. In
fact, they were yet to complete payment
for the school fees for that term. My
mother had only been making
promises to them. I became confused
on the constant announcement for
payment and began to wonder how
and where to get the money. About
three days to the final registration, our
principal summoned all the out-going
students to the Assembly Hall, where
he gave us some words of
encouragement.
Finally, he called my name and asked
me why my parents had not paid for
the exams. I was forced to tell him
about our situation all over again. It
was the most embarrassing experience
for me as I was the only one who had
not paid up. And to imagine that it was
such an important examination! After
narrating my family problems to him
in the presence of everybody, he told
me there was nothing he could do for
me on such a matter but that he was
giving us a grace of another two days
to pay up, or else he would be
returning the forms back to the
Examination Board.
As soon as we were dismissed from
the Assembly Hall, one of my
Yetunde Arebi
Re: Homosexuality: my
husband’s other life
There are many of
them on our
campuses and the
bold ones are no
longer hiding it. Most
guys who are into it
can easily be
identified too. I think
parents have a lot of
work to do in raising
their children
classmates called me aside and told
me he could help me get the
money. He then promised to give me
the money, but only if I could do
something for him. I was very happy
when he said that he would give me
the money, so I told him I was ready
to do it. Then, when I asked him what
it was I would be doing for him, I got
the shock of my life. He told me that
before he could give me the money,
he would like to have sex with me.
This is a male student like me, not a
female. If he had been a female, I
guess I would not have found it a
problem at all. In fact, I would
probably have felt honored to have
been picked out to perform such a
task. But a man like myself? It was a
different ball game. I did not think I
could do it, though I had been
hearing about such things and how
easy it was to make money from
doing it. So, I told him I could not do
such a thing and begged him to help
me all the same, promising to pay
him back whenever I got the money
after the examinations.
But he refused.
I had thought that he
would have pity on me
since he claimed, he had
the money and knew of my
situation, but he did not.
And so, on the final day of
submission of the forms, I
was forced to go back to
him. I begged for the
money again, but he still
did not budge, he was bent
on having his way first,
then giving me the money.
That was how I decided to
give in to his demand. We
had to leave the school
premises to his house, and
immediately he finished
doing the thing to me, he
told me to do what he did
to me, to him. I had no
choice but to have sex in
return. Afterwards, he
gave me the money. I felt
ashamed of myself and
could not look him in the
eyes. I was angry that my
parents had caused
everything that happened,
because if they had been
able to pay the
examination fees, I would
not have found myself in
that situation. I began to
get worried if he was
going to keep it a secret
between us, or he would
make jest of me by telling
other students how I’d
come up with the money
for the fees and what he’d
done to me. If he had, I
doubt if I would have been
able to go back to school
again, not even for the all
important examinations.
But I thank God that he did
not, at least until we left the
school.
After that day, another
problem started for me. It
seemed as if everything
died in me that very day.
Until that encounter with the boy, I
had never slept with a girl, not to
talk of a boy. I was a virgin, and it
pained me so much that I lost my
virginity in that way. Again it has
affected my relationship with people,
especially with boys. Since I cannot
tell who is who just by appearance, I
now find it difficult to be friendly with
them. What this means is that, now
I don’t have any friend at all. The
same applies to female friends as
well. I have lost all emotions and
interest where friends and
relationships are concerned.
Yetunde, I just want to tell
everybody that homosexuality is real
in our society and many people are
doing it. Forget all they are talking
about on social media and
newspapers which only attract
hatred towards them. I am sad that
I was forced to take part in it because
of my situation and not because I
enjoyed it. Now I am afraid and
suspicious of anyone who wants to
get close to me, including. At my age
and though I am in a higher
institution, I have never had sex with
a girl.
Dear Yetunde,
I just want to thank you for the help
you give to our youths and even the
adult on these marital problems. I
must confess I’ve been following
Vanguard for more than 10 years
now, and even the Saturday love
stories. I am most touched because
I once found myself in that situation.
It was a day I needed money for my
final year project. I schooled here in
Lagos and I studied marine
engineering. As a matter of fact, I
was the president of my department.
One night, a guy walked up to me
and plainly asked for sex. This is a
guy for God’s sake. I really needed
money and he offered a hundred
dollars. But thank God for my faith
as I was able to sit him down, talked
to him and told him that God created
Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve,
so also, not Ada and Eve. But yet, he
was still begging, so I just walked
out on him and asked him never to
come back to the school campus
again since he was not a student. But
about 10 minutes later, I saw him
talking to one of the Jambites. I had
to call some students and we beat
him up, took the money from him and
drove him out. It is the love for
money that makes it rampant in the
country. There are many of them
on our campuses and the bold ones
are no longer hiding it. Most guys
who are into it can easily be
identified too. I think parents have a
lot of work to do in raising their
children.
Hello Yetunde
I am not surprised to hear such a
story. I was a victim to this addiction,
but I was in primary school at that
time and I was not matured. It was
introduced to me by one of my
cousins which is about 25 years ago.
It became part and parcel of me even
when I gained admission into a
higher institution. Although, it still
troubles me at times, but I thank God
that today, I am able to love girls. I
am currently in a relationship and
believing it will work out. I feel so
sorry for your friend’s niece. It must
have been a very shocking experience
for her. Unfortunately, I doubt if her
anger will make him stop. He needs
to make that decision by himself and
no one else. Another thing that will
make it difficult for him is his partner.
Since they are together all the time,
working together, and they have
common friends and even their families
are aware of their activities, it will be
difficult.

34—SATURD
TURDAY Vanguard
anguard, , JUNE 17, 2017
GODWIN EMEFIELE:
From Zero To Hero?
BY MAGNUS ONYIBE
At first, clawing Nigerian
economy out from recession
ditch was thought to be not
only a Herculean task,but one that
couldn’t be achieved so fast.
But at the rate at which the Naira/
dollar exchange rate is converging,
putting Nigerian economy back on
even keel may be sooner than later.
The analogy above may seem
simplistic, but Godwin Emefiele, the
governor of the Central Bank of
Nigeria, CBN who is working
assiduously towards the convergence of
the official and the parallel markets
foreign exchange, FX rates, appears
to be on track to accomplishing the feat
before the end of 2017.
Why is Emefiele becoming the
legendary knight in a shining armor of
Nigeria’s financial sector ,when his
neck was literarily being put on the line
for the guillotine as Naira/dollar
exchange rate spiked to N500-$1 in the
first few months of this year?
The reason is simple:
Based on data from Nigerian Bureau
of Statistics, NBS, Nigeria’s trade
volume is now N5.29 trillion with
export being in excess of N3.0059
trillion, while import decreased to
N2.286.
So for the first time in a long while,
Nigeria is selling more than she is
buying from the rest of the world.
And all these good news about trade
improvement is attributable mainly to
the significant growth being recorded
in the agricultural sector which rose by
a whopping 82%.
How could improvements in
agricultural output be credited to the
CBN’s Godwin Emefiele and not to
Audu Ogbeh the minister of agriculture,
you may be wondering?
Allow me walk you through the long
road to recovery of Nigerian economy
through fiscal measures conceived and
implemented by Emefiele as CBN
governor and you would see exactly
why:
It may be recalled that in the bid to
engender the positive results, the CBN
under Emefiele’s watch banned 41
items from sourcing FX from the CBN
for the importation- a.k.a Tooth Pick
ban.
The justification for the prohibition
was that most of the 41 items could be
produced locally, hence they were cut
off from receiving FX from the CBN
with a view to encouraging importers
to engage in a sort of backward
integration through farming.
That policy generated a firestorm of
condemnation from both local and
international institutions including all
the major policy wonks in Nigeria and
attracted mocking comments from
media outfits such as the highly
influential Economist of UK and Time
of USA amongst many other critics .
In fact the policy even triggered the
delisting of Nigeria from the famous
Jp Morgan index of emerging markets
which accelerated the flight of private
equity firms and their ‘hot money’ out
of Nigeria leading to spike in FX rate.
Despite all the public reproach from
even his colleagues in the bureaucracy,
and call by local and international
pundits for the pulling back of the 41
items ban policy that was dubbed
‘obnoxious’ as the Naira tumbled in
value, Emefiele, apparently not wired
to take the easy route,remained
unyielding. Fortunately for him, his
principal, president Muhamadu Buhari
stood by him by shunning vicious calls
for the CBN Gov’s sack.
Another policy that has facilitated
the ramping up the value of Nigeria’s
export compared to her import is the
special interventions in the
agricultural sector by the CBN.
Since Nigeria is believed to be
spending 40% of its FX on food import,
it was unsurprising that Emefiele
targeted the sector funding
intervention in order to cut down on
the FX outflow.
Under the scheme, farmers in Jigawa
state alone received over N15b Naira
( N300b was set aside) to support their
cropping activities and that policy is
yielding bountifully as impressive
harvests has been recorded. It must be
stated though, that the abundant crop
yield was partly lifted by federal
ministry of agriculture’s new fertilizer
distribution policy which puts the
products directly in the hands of
farmers not middlemen which was
previously the case.
The success story in Jigawa state is
being replicated across the country
and investments in the value chain of
agricultural products is also being
encouraged as evidenced by the
collaboration between Jigawa and
lagos states in the production and
milling of rice.
Last Christmas, made in Nigeria rice
flew off the shelves as if it was on
auction resulting in a scramble like
Another policy that
has facilitated the
ramping up the
value of Nigeria’s
export compared
to her import is the
special
interventions in the
agricultural sector
by the CBN
the pandemonium that takes place in
major sales outlets in the USA, UK or
Dubai whenever there is massive
seasons discount.The demand for
Nigerian rice is so high now that local
rice farmers and millers are currently
practically struggling to meet
customers demand.
Arising from the public
enlightenment made about locally
grown rice being actually healthier
than the imported brand,it is currently
the preferred brand in my household,
and my wife has been unable to meet
my latest request that as part of my
new year resolution , only made in
Nigeria rice should be served. Owing
to the scarcity of the commodity, she
has been on queue on her supplier’s
list in her quest to find locally grown
and milled rice.
Going by agriculture and rural
development minister , Audu Ogbeh’s
account during the 41st National
Council on Agriculture meeting held
•CBN Governor,
Godwin Emefiele
in Kano, Nigeria spends $20b on food
imports annually.
In 2010 alone, former agriculture
minister, now president of African
Development bank, Akinwunmi
Adesina reported that Nigeria spent
N632b on wheat; N356b on Rice; and
N217b on sugar and N97b on fish.
Without further equivocation,it is
understandable that Emefiele would
choose food import which consumes
40% of our foreign exchange outflow
for major intervention by the CBN
through backward integration or
import substitution policy.
Through that vision, he literarily
challenged the hitherto held
assumption that farming is not
financially viable hence it scarcely
attracted bank funding; and debunked
the notion that Nigerians don’t like
consuming made in Nigerian goods
and services; as well as provide
justification for president Buhari’s
vision of Nigerians producing more of
what they consume.
And the best part of it is that what is
fast becoming a sort of agricultural
renaissance in Nigeria, does not just
revolve around the leap in rice
production and the craving of
Nigerians for the locally produced
staple. But following Emefiele’s
farsightedness in CBN,the cash crop,
sesame seed is increasingly looking
like the new crude oil.
In fact the 82% increased value of
export recorded in our country
according to the latest NBS statistics
is owed to sesame seed that has multiple
uses in the Western world and
therefore in high demand.
Admittedly, when the govt in
authority took over the reins of power
on 29th of May, 2015, Naira/dollar
exchange rate was N160/$1, but today
it hovers around N360/$1 and it is
envisaged that it would crash
further,probably until it finds
equilibrium at half of today’s rate.
Given that the exchange rate had hit
N500/$1 a few months back and critics
of Emefiele’s policies had forecasted
that it might ramped up to the N1000/
$1 level, if he did not capitulate to their
policy concepts of floating the Naira
freely , it has put butterflies in the
stomach of most entrepreneurs that the
Naira is regaining its lost value.
Much as it is not yet Eldorado at the
prevailing rate of N360/$1, the rates are
slowly but surely coming down, and
that’s assuming the massive infusion of
dollars can be sustained,plus the rates
have also become less volatile.
Now, the real icing on the cake is
Emefiele’s policy of making available
every quarter, $20,000 for each and
every small and medium scale
enterprises, SMEs in Nigeria to import
basic inputs to keep their enterprise
going. This unorthodox policy has been
a massive game changer, as it has
buoyed the hitherto sagging economy
with a flurry of activities returning to
market place.
The measure was a strategic response
to the needs of the SMEs that were
practically folding up in droves owing
to lack of access, not only to credit, but
also to FX as they were practically
crowded out by the multinationals and
behemoths whose insatiable appetite for
FX was being met by banks at the
expense of SMEs -the greatest
employers of labour.
Today, spare parts dealers easily
import and distribute their wares which
oil the wheel of production in Nigeria
factories and plants.
Prior to the CBN innovative relief, cars
spare parts such as Tyres,batteries, and
health care essentials like medicines
plus other commodities like inputs in
the manufacture of goods critical to
human existence had become very
scarce in Nigeria.
The lack of access to FX was so severe
that living in Nigeria was becoming
comparable to being in a Hobbesian
state comparable to life in Zimbabwe
when it was under global sanction after
expelling white farmers and Venezuela
currently suffering from resource curse.
But today, thanks to Emefiele, the story
of Nigerian economy is changing fast.
Read continuation on
www.vanguardngr.com

SATURD
TURDAY Vanguard
anguard, , JUNE 17, 2017—35
By Sam Eyoboka &
Olayinka Latona
EXPERTS and other stakeholders
from three continents Thursday
rose from a 3-day international
conference on African Pentecostalism
with a verdict that African Pentecostalism
has performed below expectation as it has
majored in minor to the neglect of more
developmental challenges of the
continent.
Over 200 scholars from Germany, US
and 18 states of Nigeria including some
African nations as well as high ranking
government officials and members of the
Governing Council of the Redeemed
Christian Church of God attended the
second International Conference on
African Pentecostalism (ICAP), which was
held at the Redeemed Christian Bible
College (RCBC) from June 13-15, 2017.
The conference was put together by The
Redeemed Christian Bible College in
conjunction with the University of Ibadan
and the Redeemer’s University with a
theme: “African Pentecostalism and
Development in Africa and Diaspora”.
The objective of the conference was to:
Provide space to reflect on the impact of
African Pentecostalism on development
in Africa and Diaspora; Interrogate
obstacles of developmental activities of
African Pentecostalism and proffer
solutions to identified challenges, and
Create awareness that African
Pentecostalism is a major motor for
development in Africa.
It featured Rt. Rev. (Professor) Dayo
Asaju, the Vice Chancellor, Ajayi
Crowther University, Oyo who delivered
the keynote address. Other
commissioned speakers included Prof.
Afe Adogame, Princeton Theological
Seminary, New Jersey, United States,
Prof. Samson Fatokun, Department of
Religious Studies, University of Ibadan,
Nigeria, and Dr. (Mrs) Bolaji Bateye,
Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife,
Osun State.
The conference highlighted the biblical
and historical origins of Pentecostalism
which placed high premium on
international evangelism and which
started shortly after the 1906 Azusa Street
revival in Los Angeles, USA; it
emphasised the place and role of Africans
and Africa in the evolution and
development of Pentecostalism
globally.
It also pointed out the strategic position
and the steering characteristics of
African Pentecostalism as distinctive
from other Pentecostalism. It observed
that despite the positive contributions of
African Pentecostalism to development,
especially in the areas of national and
global evangelisation, leadership,
community development initiatives,
socio-economic, educational and
environmental development, African
Pentecostalism has not devoted much
attention to agriculture, negative intramoral
issues denting its image, cultural
iconoclasm, uncritical retention of
western cultural vestiges, security,
particularly Islamic terrorism at both
national and international spheres, and
breaking into the cultural fortress of the
West in its effort towards Reverse
Mission.
A communiqué issued at the end of the
3-day session suggested that in order to
reposition African Pentecostalism for its
own relevance, it must:
*Intensify its evangelization and
missionary activities into areas that seem
difficult to penetrate in order to ensure
that Christianity is not wiped out from
those identified areas;
*Mobilize its membership and actively
be involved in political leadership in the
Nigeria and the African continent
*Expand its community development
initiatives towards rural areas as a
strategy for effective evangelization
*Enlarge its empowerment
programmes as well as pay attention to
human development;
*Invest in agriculture as a way of
empowerment, poverty alleviation,
revenue generation;
*Be culturally sensitive since the
Gospel must be presented within a
cultural space;
*Be sensitive to the prevailing
security challenges;
*Creatively engage in reverse
missionary activities, and
*Maximize the potentials of the
media/social media.
Earlier in his keynote address, the
Vice Chancellor of Ajayi Crowder
University (ACU), Oyo, Prof. Dapo
Asaju blamed recent agitation for a
sovereign state of Biafra on the
absence of quality leadership to
harness the abundant human
resources in Nigeria to unite the
nation and make it a great and
indivisible country that will be the envy
of all African nations.
Professor Asaju, who is the son of
The theology of the
West is no longer
suitable for us in
Africa, the theology of
the West, spiritually
and biblical approach
has damaged faith,
damaged the seminary
and terrible priests
who came to Church
and killed the Church
pioneer NUJ president, Chief
Michael Asaju, urged present day
Pentecostals to do more than
canvassing the prosperity theology.
Speaking on a topic entitled: “African
Pentecostalism and Development in
Africa and Diaspora,” Asaju, an
Anglican bishop, said the Pentecostal
leadership needed to contribute to
human development through
engagement in entrepreneurship and
poverty alleviation strategies.
He maintained that government
alone cannot solve the problems of
the citizens, as such the Church
African Pentecostalism
perform below
expectation —Experts
should be an alternative in providing
social amenities and galvanising its
members to develop the country,
arguing that genuine national
development can only come when we
have good leadership.
Asaju opined that after the demise of
the founding fathers of the nation who
were products of the Church, Nigeria is
yet to produce any other set of quality
leaders.
Taking a look at the impact
Pentecostalism has had on Africa’s
development, Prof. Asaju said: “We must
be worried that there are churches
everywhere yet the rate of corruption
continues to skyrocket, yet we still live
in the country of impunity, we are in an
era in this continent where leadership
competence is still a very crucial
question.”
He said “very soon Nigeria will be
heading for the polls where another
president will be elected but I am not
aware of any serious Christian either
from Pentecostal or non-Pentecostal
that is ready to spearhead change in
this country. We are still dealing with a
sick president, we do not know what is
going to be the future of his tenure, yet
people are suggesting that he should
contest in the next dispensation.
“With a situation where we have
millions of people who grew up in the
Pentecostal environment and the
Pentecostals are proud that today they
have one of their own as vice president
who is a member of The Redeemed
Christian Church of God...he is in a
major strategic position but we need to
ask ourselves, with all the benefits that
we have had in the Body of Christ, what
have been the changes in the lives of
the people?” he asked.
According to him, “we are in an era
where the educational system, health
system, infrastructures have virtually
collapsed and we are so naturally and
humanly empowered but with all the
anointing that we have, series of
prayers, multiplication of churches,
why are we still where we are,” he
lamented.
Continuing, Asaju, said he cannot
point at any church leader today upon
whom Christians can rely to speak for
them, adding “The Christian
Association of Nigeria, CAN virtually
no longer exists as far as impact is
concerned. There is need to now live
our theology, marry our theoretical
theology with the practical theology.”
“We are tired of division in Nigeria, it
is the rich people who are playing us
like tennis and if problem starts today,
they will travel out of the country with
their families. We should kick against
war or problems, embrace peace and pray
for quick recovery of President
Muhammadu Buhari and also support
his administration.
“We have groped in the dark for too
long, the set of old people that we have in
power must be taken out of the place and
we must unite to move this nation
forward. Irrespective of our religious
affiliation, we should come together to
move our country forward. Breaking
away is not the way,” he stated.
“The theology of the West is no longer
suitable for us in Africa, the theology of
the West, spiritually and biblical
approach has damaged faith, damaged
the seminary and terrible priests who
came to Church and killed the Church.
Today we talk about an empty church,
people are building cathedrals like they
are doing in North America, in Asian
minor but were not building people in
faith and conviction.
There is need to interprete the Bible in
a way that it will bring development to
Africa.
The white brought civilisation to us
through Christian religion but when they
have their own departure from God, they
become reprobate in their mind, they
forget God, question the Bible and get
involved in series of atrocities. They did
not believe in marriage, in morality and
because of their terrible theology, they
destroyed the church. Man sleeps with
man and they are losing their country.
There, churches are empty, and they are
no longer ashamed that someone is a
homosexual. Africans will not follow the
white man to go to hell, we will not follow
them to support immorality. Christianity
is dying in the West, we are now involved
in return mission, we are going back to
evangelise them. Africa will continue to
believe in God and marriage.
Other speakers including Dr. Benson
Ohihon Igboin averred that African
Pentecostalism has perpetrated some
forms of neo-colonialism or neoimperialism
has been advanced, seeking
to explore some ways how African
Pentecostalism skews, exploits and denies
local theologies and their contents to its
advantage.
The Deputy Governor of Osun State,
Mrs Titilayo Laoye-Tomori, said the
conference was coming at a time tertiary
institutions were having challenges.
“I am aware that the theme of the
conference pertains to Christian religion;
nonetheless, it is my considered opinion
that the conference will address the
related issues such as gap in knowledge
in religious studies,” she said.
Laoye-Tomori was represented at the
event by the Regional Overseer, Mountain
of Fire and Miracles, Osun State, Pastor
David Aremo.

36—SATURDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 17, 2017
Conflict at the Confluence:
The trouble between Gov Bello and Sen Melaye
By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor
THEY represent the young generation in Kogi State. Governor Yahaya Bello, 41,
and Senator Dino Melaye, 43, should have forged a relationship to underpin a
guaranteed future for the youths of Kogi. However, political brickbats now and
then between the two men have become an almost daily episode in the chronicles
of the political developments of Kogi State. The apogee of the crisis was Monday's
fatal rally by Senator Melaye which led to a number of deaths. Before then, Melaye
was the target of an alleged assassination plot in his country home in Ijumu Local
Government Area. The police have since arrested the sole administrator of Ijumu,
Hon. Taofiq Isa, and released him on bail over that incident. Incidentally, Isa is
widely reported as the closest local government boss to the governor and not
surprisingly, the chairman of the state chapter of the Association of Local
Governments of Nigeria ALGON.
The relationship between Senator Melaye and Governor Bello in the opinion of
some, remarkably goes beyond Kogi State, given that both men were from the
They want to derail our
revolution — FANWO
Stories by
Boluwaji Obahopo
WHAT is your reaction to Senator
Melaye’s claim that the governor
knows about the alleged assassination
attempt on him?
The allegation is unfortunate and unfair
to the governor. The governor is not
expected to be passing judgment when
investigations into the matter are ongoing.
The Senator should have reported the
incident to the governor too because
whether anybody likes it or not, it doesn’t
change the status of the Governor as the
Chief Security Officer of the state.
At what point did the relationship
between the governor and the senator fall
apart?
The governor holds no grudge against
anyone, including Senator Dino Melaye.
Alhaji Yahaya Bello is a fine-spirited man
and a leader who is determined to develop
the State. Senator Dino Melaye was
inspired to know that the Governor is a
divine choice who is on a divine
assignment to fix Kogi State. The Senator
said this during the inauguration of the
Governor on January 27, 2016. I don’t
know why the Senator decided to move
against the Governor. Efforts were made
to reconcile them, and the Governor has
always been open to peace, but the whole
process collapsed when the Senator
addressed a press conference to condemn
the Governor and the reforms in the civil
service. We are not ready for politics. We
want development and progress. He
cannot be distracted.
The Senator also pointed accusing
finger on the State ALGON boss and
‘some powers that be’ which is being
viewed by some as the state government.
How do you see this?
The ALGON Chairman can defend
himself. He is a complete gentleman and
a key stakeholder in Local Government
Administration in the state. He has no
record of violence as far as we are
concerned. There is no evil force in the
present State Government, so we don’t
understand what he was talking about.
Violence is not our culture in Kogi State.
The APC in the state is a divided House.
The governor is at loggerhead with the
state exco, former acting governor,
Clarence Olafemi and now Dino. Does this
not portend danger for the party in
subsequent elections?
Kogi State APC is in good health. It is
•Gov. Bello
true that some APC leaders are
disenchanted with the governor’s style of
transparency and accountability, but others
are moving well with the present
administration in the state. With the
developmental strides across the state, the
Governor is making it impossible for any
opposition to succeed in the state. Governor
Yahaya Bello is making APC proud in the
state. We didn’t disagree with Chief
Clarence Olafemi. We only defined our
positions on certain issues. Governor
Yahaya Bello is the most detribalized
Governor in the history of governance in
the state. A new crop of leaders is emerging
from the fertile leadership of the Governor.
Government officials are relating directly
with the people, and for the first time in the
history of the state, people have a strong
sense of ownership of their government. It
is no more Government of the leaders by
the leaders for the leaders. That era is gone.
We are working with leaders who are
selfless and desirous of development for
our dear state. We won’t depart from this
path.
The PDP recently accused the governor
of ruling the state like ‘a Pharaoh.’ Please
respond.
Can’t you see that the PDP is confused? I
will tell you why they are attacking the
governor. One, they are jealous that the
Governor is turning their failed era to a
forgotten era, by delivering solid dividends
to the people. Two, the decision of the
Governor to set up a Judicial Commission
of Inquiry to probe how our Commonwealth
was used in the last fourteen years didn’t
go down well with them. They scampered
from one court to another to stop the
Commission but failed. We shall unveil the
report soon. Three, the Staff Verification
Exercise has exposed how fraudulent the
past administrations were in managing the
civil service.
beginning among the leg men of the Muhammadu Buhari presidential campaign
before the 2015 presidential election. While Melaye acted on the national stage, Bello
was Buhari’s main man in Kogi. However, both men differed on the governorship of
the state. Senator Melaye understandably supported the late Prince Abubakar Audu
who was acclaimed as having foisted him (Melaye) as the APC candidate for Kogi
West Senatorial District. Bello who had the backing of President Buhari, however, lost
out as Audu took the governorship ticket and was on a roller coaster to victory when
death snatched him after the election but before the announcement of the result.
Senator Melaye apparently reading the body language of the APC top leadership
caved in and backed Bello as Audu’s successor. However, whether Melaye’s past
indiscretion was brought to bear in the relationship has now turned into a matter
especially given claims that Governor Bello does not reckon with Melaye in the affairs
of Kogi West. Besides Senator Melaye, the governor, who associates claim is trying to
foist a new order in the state is also engaged with several other political stakeholders
including nearly all the members of the state executive of his party, APC. Spokesmen
of the two men spoke on the faceoff between the two men.
Bello is everyone's problem in
Kogi — AYODELE
•Sen. Melaye
WHAT caused the fallout between
Senator Melaye and Governor
Bello?
Senator Dino Melaye is a party faithful
that will always want the progress of the
party APC. It’s only the deaf and blind that
will say he or she did not know the role
Senator Dino Melaye played during the
merger that led to the emergence of APC.
Senator Dino and Yahaya Bello were not
on the same page during the primaries,
but he supported the emergence of Bello
on some critical grounds as they affect the
party. After the death of the party flag
bearer in the governorship election, Late
Prince Abubakar Audu, INEC demanded
a replacement for the purpose of the
outstanding election in some units. The
party leadership, considering all variables
favoured Yahaya Bello.
I know how Senator Dino raised fund for
Yahaya Bello. This Yahaya Bello cannot
stand before people like us to say that
Senator Dino did not make him. We are
more matured in act and deeds and will be
mindful in our choice of words. Senator
Dino started disagreeing with Yahaya Bello
when he started working outside the party
structure. Governor Yahaya Bello has no
respect for the party that produced him,
that accounts for the various appointments
he made. It is so unfortunate for the state
as 99 per cent of Governor Bello’s
appointees are either illiterate or half-baked
literate.
Concerning the claim by some people
who are ignorant that Senator Dino was
not happy with the appointment of
Honourable Taofiq Isa as the administrator
of Ijumu local Government, Melaye
wouldn’t have consented to whatever will
affect the existing peace and arrangements
that have been laid down through
gentleman understanding.
There are three axes in Ijumu, and by
our rotational agreement, the next person
to administer the affairs of the local
government was expected to come from
Ijumu Oke, simply because the
immediate past chairman was from Ijumu
Arin, and the one before him was from
Gbede axis, and Honourable Taofiq is
from Gbede, appointing him amounted
to cheating on the good people of Ijumu
Oke.
Senator Dino has no personal issue
with Taofiq. In 2007 when he was unable
to afford the money for nomination form
to contest for the councilorship position,
Dino then, paid N50,000 for him. At the
emergence of APC, Senator Dino made
Taofiq the APC Chairman of Ijumu local
government after which he went after
Honourable Sam Aro and worked against
Senator Dino from becoming the Senator,
but God on his side, he won, and today,
he is the Senator representing Kogi West
Senatorial District. The victory settled the
case.
What danger does the quarrel between
the governor and the senator portend
for Kogi West in the next election?
The governor has control over the
resources of the state but not over the
conscience of the people. A governor that
is not giving civil servants their due as at
when due, a governor that is not bothered
about the welfare of aged pensioners,
schools are closed for months, yet the
governor is not moved. So much hunger
in town. They may own the money, but
we have the people, and when it is time,
the people will speak.
The State ALGON boss, Taofiq Isa is
asking the EFCC to probe the senator
over alleged diversion of IDPs
materials. What is your reaction?
I have said it that they are noise makers.
They know the way to the court, but they
have been making noise through their
paid newspaper comments.
What is the fact of the reported
assassination attempt on Senator
Melaye?
I am not a policeman, neither am I a
security operative. We cannot play on the
intelligence of our security operatives. As
I speak with you, some suspects have
been apprehended, and they are already
making statements and giving evidence,
so why not allow the police and the court
handle the case?

SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 17, 2017—37
•Ann-Kio Briggs
South, oil resources
not developed with
northern funds
– Ann-Kio Briggs
•Ango Abdullahi
How South has been subsidising North
BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE
LEADING Social Rights and
Niger Delta Activists, Mrs
Ann-Kio Briggs, has picked
holes in comments
attributed to former Vice
Chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello
University, Zaria, Professor Ango
Abdullahi that funds from Northern
Region were used to develop oil
resources and to effectively run
Western and Eastern regions.
While endorsing the Arewa youths
coalition quit notice to Igbo living in
the North to leave the before October
1, 2017, Professor Ango Abdullahi, a
leader of the Northern Elders Forum,
NEF, lamented that the people from
the South were always pretending
that people from the North were
cheating them.
His words: “These people always
agitate for 101 per cent ownership
and control of our God-given
pretend that the North is cheating them, not North toward ensuring the unity and resources.
minding the fact that Southern Nigeria was corporate existence of Nigeria. They As long as people from the North
developed by resources from the North.
always look down on us, feeling that continue to feed these lies to
“Please, look for a book written by Adamu Northerners are parasites in this themselves and the rest of Nigeria
FiKa, the Waziri of Fika, on Nigeria’s budget country,” he said
we in the Niger Delta will not step
before and after independence. Each year, up to
down from our agitation for
the time Nigeria gained its independence, none He is distorting history – Briggs ownership and control of our
of the two regions was able to provide for itself. Countering, Ann-Kio Briggs
resources. These claims are lies, they
I mean none of the Western and Eastern regions challenged the Federal Government insult and assault us as a people and
had the money to effectively run the affairs of its to give Nigerians the monthly
region, that has made sacrifices the
region until they get financial support from the expenditure of oil and gas revenue beneficiaries of our natural
Northern region.”
saying she is ready to take on anyone resources will never make. If some
He claimed that the tradition had remained on the issue with facts
foolish and ignorant Niger Delta
during the colonial masters and nothing
She said: ‘’I call on the oil and gas people are willing to sell their birth
changed after they left the country, adding that producing states, and the
rights, the majority of us are not. If
the same money from the North that was used communities to educate themselves the greedy amongst us are willing to
to construct Nigerian Railways, refineries and on the facts and lies on the claims be beggars for what is our own, the
other facilities.
that exploration of oil and gas in the majority that have been denied and
“First oil exploration was conducted using Niger Delta was carried out by using impoverished for over 50 years, are
money from groundnut pyramid, cotton, hide northern resources.
no longer willing to accept these
and skin among other cash crops from
This claim is divisive and a lie, and
Northern Nigeria. However, these people tend will continue to fuel the anger that
to forget all these goodies provided by the will continue to hold up our needs to Continues on pg 38

38—SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 17, 2017
Continues from pg 37
assaults.
‘’The first and unsuccessful exploration
for oil was in 1908 by Nigeria Bitumen
Coy. & British Colonial Petroleum around
Okitipupa. (Before Amalgamation).
In 1938, Shell D’Arcy was granted
exploration licence to explore for oil.
In 1955, Mobil Oil Corporation started
oil exploration in the Niger Delta.
In 1956 Shell BP (formerly Shell D’Arcy)
at that time the only concessionaire finally
STRUCK oil at Oloibiri in commercial
quantity, after over 50 years of exploration.
These are figures sourced from Carland
1985, (colonial office and Nigeria (1898-
1914) and annual report of the colonies;
Northern Nigeria 1904 and annual report
of the colonies, Northern Nigeria 1906 -
1907 to support my claims and l will only
respond to people who have cross checked
or have superior facts to counter mine.
‘’Nigeria of Southern and Northern
protectorates were amalgamated for the
simple economic reason that the colonial
British government was running the North
on deficit as the expenditure in the North
was more than its revenue while the
revenue in the South was more than its
expenditure.
‘’Therefore, unless the North of Nigeria
were oil prospecting partners with the
Nigeria Bitumen Coy. & British Colonial
Petroleum in 1908, Shell D’Arcy in 1938,
Mobil Oil Corporation in 1955 and Shell
BP in 1956, it never used it’s groundnut
money in our Niger Delta.
‘’If the people of the North or the
government of Northern Nigeria were not
partners or shareholders in these private
investment companies how on earth was
money from groundnut, hides and skins
used to explore for oil and gas?
‘’The attempts to change the economic
history of Nigeria to justify the injustice of
looting the resources from Niger -Delta to
share among a few is not acceptable. The
greed of a few to use the Nigeria state to
continue to benefit maximally from the
Niger Delta wealth while denying the
rightful owners even the 50 per cent they
enjoyed in the days of groundnut and
cocoa is no longer acceptable to the
people of the Niger Delta.
‘’No amount of twisting, turning, threats,
blackmail, and lies will stop our calls for
equity and justice.
‘’It was in 1973, three years after the civil
war that the First Participation Agreement
(FPA) saw the Federal Government’s
acquisition of 35 per cent shares in the oil
companies. In 1974, the Second
Participation Agreement (SPA), the
Federal Government equity was increased
to 55 per cent.
My question, on behalf of my people and
region to the people of the North to tell us,
the owners and impoverished people of
Niger-Delta, how their groundnut
proceeds was used to fund oil prospecting
and operations in my Niger Delta.’’
How South has been subsidising North
Indeed, many southern leaders have
picked holes in the Northern leader’s
claim that the North built the country
through agriculture. According to them, as
How South
has been
subsidising
North
early as 1910, the two southern regions
– East and West had always generated
more revenues than the North, a major
reason they said influenced the British
amalgamation of Southern and
Northern protectorates.
In an article, Structural Constraints to
Socio-economic Development in
Nigeria, published on November 11,
2007, Kayode Oladele said the
increasing pressure to amalgamate
Northern and Southern Nigeria in 1914
appeared to have been motivated by
two socio-economic factors – to relieve
the British treasury of financial burden,
and surpluses derived from Southern
Nigeria could be used to subsidize the
North.
In furtherance of these, he said Mr. L.
Harcourt, the then Secretary of State
for the colonies, while addressing the
British Parliament in June 1910 said:
“In Southern Nigeria, the revenue has
increased by £867,000 and the
expenditure by £661,000 and there is
for the current year (1910) an estimated
surplus of £120,000… Northern Nigeria
has up to now been and still is a
subsidized protectorate, but whereas in
1906, the Grant-in-Aid…was £315,000,
in this current year, after providing for
such interest, the Grant-in-Aid asked for
is only £156,000 or less than half, and
with the amalgamation …… Grants in
aid I hope that we may be able to set a
short term to these Grants-in-Aid and at
the same time relieve the Treasury from
its liabilities and the protectorate from
Treasury control (House of Commons
Debates, 29 June, 1910, Vol. 18 Cols
1036-8). In his book Nigeria: The
Tribes, The Nation or the Race? F.A.O.
Schwarz showed how much each of the
then three regions (East, West and
As long as people
from the North
continue to feed these
lies to themselves and
the rest of Nigeria we
in the Niger Delta will
not step down from
our agitation for
ownership and
control of our
resources
North) got from the federal
distribution pool between 1959 and
1962. According to the book, while
the former Eastern Region
generated more revenues, it
received the less from the
distribution pool compared to
Western and Northern regions.
Then, revenue allocation was based
on 50 per cent derivation, per capita
distribution, population and
balanced development among the
regions. For instance, in 1959-60
fiscal year, the North generated
5,396 million Pounds and got
12,124 million Pounds (69.2 per
cent) from the Distribution Pool; West
generated 4,273 million Pounds and
received 15,417 million Pounds (78.3
per cent) while the East generated
5,341 million Pounds and got 9, 413
million Pounds (63.8 per cent). In
1960-61, the North’s IGR nose-dived
to 3,885 million Pounds but it got an
increased allocation -13,775 million
Pounds (78 per cent). Within the year,
the West generated 4,294 million
Pounds and received 16,250 million
Pounds (79.1 per cent) while the
Eastern Region’s IGR was 6,189
million Pounds and it was allocated
10,629 million Pounds (63.2 per cent).
Also, in 1961-62, the IGR/Allocation in
millions of Pounds were: North, 6,333/
15,504 (71 per cent); West, 6,031/
16,307 (63.2 per cent); and East 7,274/
13,390 (64.8 per cent. The East started
getting a raise following improved oil
exploration. By 1963 after the creation
of Mid-Western Region and increased
revenue from crude oil, Schwarz said
the money distributed came from two
sources: 30 per cent of all import
duties (other than the few mentioned
in the table, which are transferred in
their entirety to the regions, and the
duty on beer, spirits, and wine, which
was kept by the Federal Government)
goes into a Distributable Pool Account.
So did 30 per cent of the royalties and
rents received from mining
enterprises, including oil wells. Then
the money in the Distributable Pool
was transferred to the regions in the
ratio of 40 to the North, 31 to the
East, 18 to the West, and six to the
Mid-West. Contribution of crude-oil
and gas to Nigeria’s total export The
North’s contribution to the
Distributable Pool of the Federation
paled into insignificance from 1970
when crude oil became the chief
revenue earner of the country.
Throughout the decade of the 1960,
the contribution of proceeds from
crude-oil to total Federal Government
revenue was of limited importance.
However, according to the Central
Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Statistical
Bulletin, Golden Jubilee Edition,
December 2008, Nigeria earned N166
million from crude-oil in 1970
representing 26.1 percent of the total
revenue. This jumped to N12.353
billion (81.1 percent) out of annual
total of N15.233 billion in 1980. By
1990 the contribution of oil earnings
to total Federal Government revenue
stood at N71.887 billion (73.2 percent)
of total revenue. In 2000, proceeds
from crude-oil and gas contributed
N1.591 trillion out of a total of
N1.906 trillion representing 83.5
percent. And the contribution of crudeoil
and gas earning to total federal
government revenue in percentage
continued to hovered around 80 per
cent except in 2007 and 2009 when it
fell to 78 percent as a result fall in
production and export resulting from
political tension in the oil producing
areas. In 2008, the figure was N6.530
trillion (82.9 percent) out of a total
federally collected revenue of N7.868
trillion.
Amounts received by the three Regions of Nigeria from the Federation (in Pounds)
S/N ITEM Region 1959-60 1960-61 1961-62
1 Import Duty (Tobacco) North 516,347 515,731 479,600 West 1,142,413 1,068,845 1,002,010 East 1,564,862 1,429,868 1,243,070
2 Import Duty (Gasoline) North 759,878 679,385 759,850 West 1,350,459 1,179,871 1,988,350 East 772,917 880,344 982,800
3 Import Duty (Diesel Oil) North 496,659 655,597 858,600 West 402,759 611,270 802,950 East 410,562 525,785 667,800
4 Export Duties North 4,451,466 4,078,298 3,354,800 West 8,447,011 7,488,591 5,658,710 East 2,684,841 2,457,199 1,883,600
5 Excise Duty (Tobacco) North 1,449,433 1,522,640 1,881,890 West 1,619,285 1,708,743 2,116,470 East 500,601 388,956 479,600
6 Mining Royalties & Rents North 414,255 529,454 689,720 West 79,247 114,919 1,326,200 East 415,717 492,476 2,951,350
7 Distributable Pool (Mining) North 282,983 982,960 West 169,983 589,780 East 219,180 761,790
8 Distributable Pool (Gen Imports) North 3,654,671 4,993,662 5,431,580 West 2,192,802 2,999,060 3,259,950 East 2,183,370 3,868,119 4,209,470
Total Rounded off North 12,124,000 13,775,000 15,504,000 West 15,417,000 16,250,000 16,307,000 East 9,413,000 10,629,000 13,390,000
Sub-totals Regional Revenue
(Federal + Internally Generated) North 17,520,000 17,660,000 21,837,000 West 19,690,000 20,544,000 22,338,000 East 14,754,000 16,818,000 20,664,000
•Source: Adapted from Table 11.1 of Book by F.A.O. Schwarz (Nigeria: The Tribes, The Nation or the Race? MIT Press, 1965; page 206).

SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 17, 2017—39
2019:
Ponders,
perceptions
on the Plateau
By Emmanuel Aziken,
Political Editor
The race for the 2019 governorship
contest in Plateau State is
gathering steam with leading
political stakeholders in the two
major political parties in the state
taking positions. The unfolding
race may prove that the old
political war horses on the plateau
are not yet out
Governor Simon Lalong may
not be the most popular
person on the plateau, but for the
civil service dominated state, the
near regularity in the payment of
salaries is an achievement that
workers are not unashamed to hail
the governor for. So when the
governor boasts that civil servants
under his regime regularly get
their monthly bank credit alerts,
his assertions are often set against
the background of developments
during in the preceding Peoples
Democratic Party, PDP
administration when workers’
salary was often in arrears.
However, beyond profusions of
praise for “Governor Alert” as some
hail the governor, are growing
issues as to his prospects in the
2019 elections. Such contentions
arise from the fact that the factors
that brought Lalong to power in
2015 may not be available to help
him in 2019.
Presently, the challenge to a
second term for the governor from
within his All Progressives
Congress, APC, it is claimed, come
come from the minister of sports,
Mr. Solomon Dalung, former deputy
governor, Mrs. Pauline Tallen, who
had been touted as a political
godmother of the governor, and
more recently, the director-general
of the Industrial Training Fund, ITF,
Mr. Joseph Ari.
Suggestions of a contest between
the governor and Dalung for the APC
ticket is underscored by popular
claims of a rivalry between Lalong and
Dalung. Dalung was an original
Buhari supporter who helped to
mobilise for Buhari well before Lalong
who
Remarkably, all three possible
contenders against the governor for
the party’s 2019 ticket are from his
Plateau South Senatorial Zone, a
development that puts the perennial
issue of zoning of little consideration
in the emergence of the 2019
governorship ticket. The situation is,
however, more varied in the PDP
which lost the governorship in 2015
upon mutterings that former Governor
Jonah Jang foisted the party ticket on
someone from his Plateau North zone.
Permutations in the PDP
The permutations in the PDP are,
however, not that straightforward. The
complexity of the situation in the
PDP is not helped by the fact that
zoning has historically not
placed a major role in the
production of governors on the
plateau.
All three major senatorial
zones, North, Central, and South,
have produced governors of the
state in the past putting to no
effect any assertion as to which of
the three zones should produce
the governorship candidate.
In 2014 as Governor Jonah
Jang neared the end of his
second term in office, the issue of
which zone should produce the
next governor reared and the
decision by Jang to foist the late
Senator GNS Pwajok from the
same Plateau North as him,
Jang, was the major factor in the
defeat of the PDP. The loss was,
however, not an account of any
capacity deficit on the part of
Pwajok, but rather, a pointed
message to Governor Jang that
he could not play God.
The humiliation, the loss of the
governorship to a party with
leaning to the Hausa-Fulani core
North and Governor Lalong’s
average performance have
sobered the traducers in the PDP
and brought them together.
Initial attempts by some
aggrieved PDP leaders to
humiliate Jang on account of the
loss has not resulted in much.
The major persons who left the
party after the loss included
Senator Joshua Dariye, himself a
former governor of the state, the
two immediate past deputy
governors of the state Mrs.
Paullen Tallen and Ignatius
Remarkably, all three
possible contenders
against the governor for
the party’s 2019 ticket
are from his Plateau
South Senatorial Zone,
a development that puts
the perennial issue of
zoning of little
consideration in the
emergence of the 2019
governorship ticket
Longjan and Edward Pwajok, a
former close confidant of Jang’s who
served him as commissioner of
justice for nearly eight years.
The exit of the quartet and the
reality of life in the opposition have
combined to strengthen Jang’s
political prominence on the plateau,
a fact that is further strengthened by
the fact that he has no rival among
his Berom speaking people who
remain the dominant ethnic group
in the state.
Jang has strengthened his hand
by putting a trusted but effective
grassroots mobiliser in the person of
Mr. Damishi Sango, a former
minister of sports, as the chairman of
the state chapter of the PDP.
Given the resistance that was
given to Jang’s decision to bring
someone from his Northern
Senatorial Zone as his successor, it is
doubtful that he or the party leaders
would contemplate the North in the
forthcoming contest as they seek to
minimise controversies and issues
that could further deepen the crisis
in the party.
SOUTH
PDP elders may be tempted to
field a candidate from the Southern
Zone given the fact that the
incumbent and likely APC nominee
is from the zone. However, that
prospect is snared with its
challenges.
Contenders from other zones are
likely to argue that inclusive of the
incumbent that the zone has
produced three governors with
Chief Solomon Lar, Chief Fidelis
Tapgun and now with Dalung while
the other zones have produced one
each in the persons of Dariye
(Central) and Jang (North).
The options for the PDP in the
South range from long time political
operator Senator Jeremiah Useni,
former Senator Victor Lar who has
made attempts for the post twice in
the past, Kemi Nshie a political
warhorse who has distinguished
himself as the longest serving local
government chairman of Shendam
local government area and George
Daika, a former Speaker of the State
•Governor
Simon Lalong
House of Assembly and former member
of the House of Representatives.
Useni’s age, however, almost rules
him out from contention and it is
generally believed that he would
prefer to be a godfather to guide the
process pulling the levers from the
South as Jang does the same from the
North and Central.
Lar’s seeming irreverence and ability
to stand up to elders and the fact that
he is from Langtang may count against
him as some would argue that his tribe
had in the past produced a governor in
the person of Chief Solomon Lar.
Nshie prospects could ordinarily
have been helped by the fact that he is
strong on the ground but the fact that
he is from the same ethnic clan as the
incumbent governor would raise
doubts among some.
Daika on his part is believed to be
putting up structures for a possible bid
but his greatest challenge is that he
comes from a small ethnic group in the
region which some may count against
him in the contest of will between the
major ethnic groups in the state.
CENTRAL
The best advantage that the South
may bring to the table is to project the
principle of rotation. The zone may
argue that following Governors Dariye
and Jang respectively from Central
and North and now with the office in
the South that the Central may well
contend for it, but it is an argument that
will not sway.
Nonetheless the central senatorial
zone seems to boast the highest
number of potential aspirants among
whom are the PDP running mate in the
2015 contest, Architect Yilji Gomwalk,
three former speakers of the state
House of Assembly, Emmanuel Goar
and Istifanus Caleb Mwansat and Titus
Alams. Mwansat and Goar are from
Pankshin while Alams is from Bokkos.
Two former Secretaries to the State
Government, Prof. Shedrarch Best and
Nde Jidauna Dimka are also believed
to be potential aspirants. Also believed
to be eyeing the seat is a former
commissioner of police, Nde Hezekiah
Dimka who also showed interest in
2015. It is also believed that not all the
aspirants have come out in the Central.

40—SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 17, 2017
BOOK Serialisation
•Tony Nwaka
Continues from last week
Mountain of Yesterday
“We need to forget Ichie
Obodo for now. Don’t be
surprised that his views will
shift again tomorrow. You
know how unsteady he can
be. Let’s focus on Udoka’s
wife . . . is it not when a
person is alive that he or she
can have an opinion?” Ikuku
said.
With a flourish of
enthusiasm Edordu hailed,
“Ikuku, nwa dike! What have
you got up your sleeves this
time?”
“Let’s kill her and bring an
end to all this rubbish. I
don’t know about you . . .
me, I can’t take it any more,”
Ikuku said.
Edordu tightened his lips
and nodded. “But how?
When?”
“I suggest we do it now to
enable us go on with the
burial . . . or do you think we
go ahead with the burial and
do it thereafter so as to
appease the gods with her
blood?”
Edordu looked thoughtfully
away and began to tap his
hands on the bicycle seat.
“Hmmm . . . that’s to say,
should we first wash our
hands before eating the
monkey or do we go ahead to
eat the monkey and wash our
hands thereafter?”
“Tough choice, I guess.”
“It’s OK. We do it now.”
“Good.”
“But are you ready to see it
through?”
The plot t to kill Amina
“Just give me your
cooperation. That’s all I
need. The dog says you
should just drop the pieces
of bones and leave him to
contend with the gods.
Edordu, don’t you trust me
any longer?”
Chief Edordu beamed at
him and gave a sardonic
grin.
***********************************************
Uncle Madu got home and
leaned his bicycle on the
wall of the house. Isioma was
sitting on a long bench
under the orange tree while
Nkiru was taking in the
clothes she had washed and
left to dry on the long drying
lines beside the house. The
lines consisted of ropes
whose two ends were usually
fastened to sticks that stood
some meters apart. He
waved aside their greetings
and entered the house. In
five minutes he had breezed
out. He pulled up his bicycle
and began to edge out of the
premises.
“Nna anyi, where are you
going again at this time? It’s
getting dark,” Nkiru said.
“I need to meet up with an
appointment,” he said.
She asked why he did not
make the appointment before
coming home. He did not
answer further enquiries
from her but simply rolled
his bicycle out and rode
away.
In ten minutes, he had
reached the residence of
Chief Abala. Smoke from
firewood, presumably for the
evening meal, billowed from
the open space of the
backyard. Abala welcomed
him into the house and
asked what urgent matter
could have brought him that
late after the meeting they’d
just had. As he made to call
for drinks and kola nuts,
Madu beckoned him not to
bother.
“My brother, I have come
so we can put heads together
and quickly find a solution to
this Amina problem,” Madu
said. He stressed that the
warning of the chief priest
was too grievous to be
taken lightly. Abala stood
and asked him to come
along. They both walked
out of the door and sat on
the long bench beside the
wall of the mud house.
“Abala, nwokem, I
haven’t been myself since
we left the house of
Obodo. I’ve been
thinking about the matter
and from what I’ve seen
it does not seem that
Amina is going to submit
to washing the corpse of
her husband and
drinking the water,”
Madu said. He added
The gloomy outlines
on the faces of the
girls he met on their
way to the stream and
women returning from
farm with loads of
firewood on their head
underscored the
tension that had
enveloped the
community
that the option given by
the chief priest appeared
to be the only way left to
avert the looming calamity
on the community,
emphasizing that they
must make a concerted
effort to convince Amina
to sleep at the ancestral
shrine of the village for
the mandatory three days.
Abala patiently listened
to him while he tried to
explain the situation. He
tapped his foot and
tightened his lips as he
watched his visitor. He
could see the seriousness
in Madu but was not so
sure what his intentions
really were. He had noted
the views expressed by
Madu in several of their
meetings. Although he
acknowledged that Madu had
not been as uncompromising
as some of the hardliners
among the chiefs, Chief Abala
had his fears about
abandoning the bereaved
woman alone for three days
and nights in the forest; very
few women had survived the
ordeal.
Even though Abala could
not confirm or deny the
complicity of Amina in the
death of Udoka, he believed
that she was from a different
society and culture and
should not be subjected to
rituals that only had meaning
to the natives. He tried to
explain these facts to Madu
but when he noticed he was
still insisting on compelling
Amina to go to the village
shrine, Abala simply
concluded that he would not
be party to that
arrangement.Madu, leaving
his residence, said he was
heading for the home of
Ikuku.
*****************************************************
It was a sunny Thursday
morning and the last day for
Amina to subscribe to the
customary requirement of the
land. Abala had battled all
through the night to properly
situate his discussions with
Madu. As he recalled the
desperation that undergirded
Madu’s arguments, the
thought came to him that if he
truly desired to protect the
defenseless widow he had to
do more than just sit at home
and moralize over the issue.
He donned his black long
shirt and brown trouser,
adjusted his red cap and set
out for the rectory. The
gloomy outlines on the faces
of the girls he met on their
way to the stream and women
returning from farm with
loads of firewood on their
head underscored the tension
that had enveloped the
community.
Father Akaduchi had locked
up and was about to leave the
yard when Abala arrived. He
stepped back and shot a
curious gaze at him, knowing
that it was not usual for the
elderly chief to visit. The
priest could count the times
Abala had come to the
church premises; they were
all on Sundays. He waited
for him to properly park his
bicycle, made the sign of the
cross and welcomed the
chief to his abode.
As the priest walked his
visitor to the empty church
hall, Abala said, “Father, I
know you’ll be surprised at
my visit. I can see you’re
hurrying somewhere, too.
Please spare a few moments,
I won’t take much of your
time.”
They both sat on one of the
long church benches while
Abala narrated his mission
to the priest. He expressed
fears about the safety of
Amina, saying that it was
not in his character to
protect people who had
flouted the rules of the
community. However,
something told him the life
of the bereaved woman
might be in danger,
particularly as that day was
the deadline for compliance
with the ritual. He noted
that many hardliners among
the elders truly believed that
such violation of the
traditions as Amina had
done would spell disaster
for the community. In his
opinion, these people might
go to unimaginable lengths
to avert what they saw as a
calamity that could come
upon them, their family and
generations unborn. “I beg
you, Father, find a means to
take that woman away to a
place of safety,” Abala
pleaded.
“Bless you . . . thank you
for your kind concern, Chief.
In fact, I was just about
setting out to meet some
people who have invited me
over the matter,” Father
Akaduchi said.
“Please, we really need to
do something fast,” Abala
said.
“Sure, I agree totally with
you. I can feel what the poor
woman is going through.
That was exactly how they
accused my mother of
witchcraft in our village.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yes. You needed to see
how they subjected her to all
manner of rituals . . . of
course, the poor woman
never recovered from it.”
“Don’t tell me she died.”
He sighed and shook his
head. “Please, Chief, let’s
face the matter at hand. I
don’t always want to
remember her death.”
“Oh dear. Sorry, Father.”
“It’s OK. So, how possible
will it be to pull Amina out
of the house in this
mourning period?”
Abala fixed his eyes on the
floor in deep thought.
“Hmmm. That’s true. You’re
right, we just have to come
up with a plan. It’s already
past noon,” he said.
Continues next week

SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 17, 2017—41
Stories by Moses Nosike
For Nigerian economy to
adequately grow and deliver
desired results, experts,
stakeholders, industry practitioners
are clamouring for a total clamp
down on counterfeit products either
produced or imported into the
country, without which legitimate
jobs will continue to be at risk.
At the World Anti Counterfeit day
held in Lagos, stakeholders in both
private and public sectors agreed
that until government and other
players in the Nigerian business
environment push hard against the
inflow of counterfeiting, the
economy would remain under
threat.
According to the chairman, Anti
Counterfeit Collaboration Nigeria
(ACC), Mr Desmond Opeyemi
Adeola, “we align with other
stakeholders and collaborate with
BASCAP, INTA, GACG, INTERPOL,
WCO, US Chamber of Commerce,
NIROPHARM to oppose and
condemn the notorious
transnational trade in
counterfeiting that has become a
global menace. “A recent report by
ICC and BASCAP indicated that
counterfeiting is projected to drain
$4.2T from global economy and put
over 5.4 million legitimate jobs at
risk by 2022. The report also
revealed that Nigeria is one of those
countries increasingly become a
target destination and significant
transit route for counterfeit and
pirated products.”
Adeola said that the consequences
of this is that the Nigerian economy
is at risk if proper measures are not
taken on time as trade in
counterfeits creates an underground
economy that deprives government
of revenue for vital public services,
forces higher burdens on tax payers,
dislocates hundreds of thousands of
legitimate jobs and exposes
consumers to dangerous and
ineffective products that ultimately
threatens to damage the equity and
consumer confidence in the
legitimate brands being
counterfeited.
“It is important to also point out
that an effective policy for
intellectual right protection
including anti-counterfeiting
measures is strongly required to
L-R: Brand Manager, Baileys Nigeria, Ufuoma Udjoh; Baileys BakeFest Partners: Corporate
Business Development & Marketing Manager, Beko Nigeria, Inyang-Uko-Ekere; Baileys
BakeFest celebrity baker, Funke Akindele-Bello; Assistant Marketing Manager, Beko
Nigeria, Ogala Ijeoma Mercy; Head, Indirect Channel Partner, Smile Nigeria, Victor Inyang
and Portfolio Director, Spirits, Diageo, Adebola Adenike at the press conference of Baileys
BakeFest 2017 held recently in Lagos.
Counter
erfeiting, eiting, a threat to
Nigerian economy— Experts
*Call for strengthening of legal frame work
achieve a better ranking in the ease
of doing business in Nigeria. ACC
today, lends his voice to that of our
partners in calling for closer
government attention and
improved government support
towards combating the menace of
counterfeiting. We call for a speedy
drive towards legal reforms and
strengthening of the legal frame
work as the current laws has
virtually no deterrence value and
offers little as a barrier against
counterfeiting hence the legislative
arm of government have a key role
to play. We also commend the
ongoing efforts of SON, NAFDAC and CPC in driving
enforcements and we use this opportunity to call for
improved training, capacity building and inter agency
cooperating.
“The Anti Counterfeiting Collaboration, Nigeria a nonpolitical,
non-governmental, non-profit making coalition
which was conceived in 2006 aimed at bringing brand
owners, enforcement agencies and interested parties
together to form an effective ‘opposition party’ against
counterfeiters, infringers and pirates in Nigeria”, Adeola
said.
“We must play our part in making Nigeria an enabling
environment for talent development and expression, a very
attractive destination for investment and above all a
successful nation”.
Union Bank launches ‘UnionAccelerate’ for medium-sized businesses
Union Bank has announced the
launch of UnionAccelerate, a
high-interest savings account with
zero bank charges for medium-sized
businesses.UnionAccelerate is a
full-featured innovative banking
solution that helps manage the
challenges of high overhead costs
and restrictive bank deductions
experienced by businesses across the
country.
Speaking on the product,
Executive Director, Commercial
Banking, Kunle Sonola explained
its benefits while reiterating the
Bank’s strategic approach of
creating innovative banking
services with a focus on products that
truly meet the needs of customers.
“Offering zero account
maintenance fee, unlimited
withdrawal on all account variants,
and one of the highest interest rates
compared to any competing
product, UnionAccelerate provides
an important opportunity for our
medium-sized business customers
to leverage on and grow their
enterprise with adequate support the
bank.
According to him,
UnionAccelerate which focuses on
new and existing medium-sized
businesses, offers free initial cheque
books, zero account maintenance
fee, attractive and competitive
interest rate, unlimited withdrawal
on all account variants, pay in and
issue all clearing instruments i.e.
cheques, dividend warrants etc. No
extra charges for all Union Bank
services: on-line/ real time banking,
e-banking (both Internet banking &
banking via ATMs). The launch of UnionAccelerate
underscores Union Bank’s commitment to providing
simpler and smarter banking to customers.
Search for 2017 maltina teac
eacher of the
year hits up
More teachers besiege
website as search for 2017
Maltina Teacher of the year
gathers momentum in the
country. This programme
provides opportunity for
teachers who visit the website to
submit their entries.
Organisers of the programme
and stakeholders in the
education sector had, at the
flag-off of the event last month,
encouraged teachers in both
public and private secondary
schools to participate in the
innovative award programme
aimed at rewarding teachers
and the teaching profession in
the country.
Corporate Affairs Adviser of
Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr.
Kufre Ekanem, disclosed that
entries had been received from
teachers in many states and the
Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
He advised interested teachers
to download application forms
from the Maltina website
provided before July 7 deadline.
According to him, application forms should be
completed and uploaded to the website or sent by
email to Maltina website.
Ekanem restated that the
MTOY initiative is to reward
commitment and diligence to
duty by exceptional teachers
across the country. This will be
executed on the platform of
Nigerian Breweries Felix
Ohiwerei Education Trust.
Like last year, each state
champion will get N500,000 and
the Top 10 teachers will be
recognised before the grand
winners are announced. The first
and second runners-up will
receive trophies and additional
N1 million and N750, 000
respectively. The Maltina
Teacher of the Year 2017,
Ekanem added, will have an
additional N1 million instantly
plus N1 million every year for
the next five years, a
development training
opportunity abroad and a block
of classrooms built at the school
where the winner teaches.
Baileys woos
Lagosians with
tasteful bakeof
eoff
Lagosians are going to have it in different
styles and taste as Baileys Nigeria officially
announced the pairings for the maiden
edition of Baileys Bakefest taking place in
Lagos. This first of its kind maiden edition of
Baileys Bakefest will host a list of celebrities
like Funke Akindele, Waje, Alex Ekubo and
Mai Atafo as the pairing was officially
unveiled Thursday.
The Brand Manager, Ufuoma Udjoh said
that Baileys,, the masters of indulgence, had
embarked on a rigorous social media
campaign seeking up coming bakers for the
purpose of having a bakeoff with a list
celebrities as co-chefs.
Udjoh said that our aim is to demonstrate
how indulgence can be enjoyed in more ways
than one. “The Baileys Bakefest is going to
titillate your taste buds like never before and
leaves you craving for me. The Baileys
Bakefest was borne out of a need to project
the Baileys brand beyond the straight-goglass
drink, hence the chefs and their celebrity
partners will be making delicious treats with
an infusion of Baileys come June 26, at Muri
Okunola Park, Victoria Island. “As always,
the bakeoff is also aimed spreading the
warmth and unapologetic pleasure the brand
stands for while suggesting the need to seize
the day and be unafraid to live in the
moment”.
Arla Foods restates
•Alade
commitment to safe,
affordable food
Leading global dairy company, Arla Foods has
restated its commitment to addressing the
growing need of people around the world,
including Nigerians, for nutritious, tasty, safe and
affordable food products. The company also
pledged to continually participate in finding
solutions for the global challenges related to
obesity, under-nutrition, environment and climate.
The pledge came during a recent visit by the
Nigerian Minister of State for Agriculture, Hon.
Heineken Lokpobiri and other officials of the
ministry to its headquarters in Denmark for the
official opening of the Arla Foods Global
Innovation Centre.
The centre is located in Skejby, the heart of the
Danish food cluster and the cluster of innovation
excellence across Denmark. Giving reasons for
the setting up of the centre, the Chief Executive
Officer, Arla Foods, Peder Tuborgh said that the
centre was conceived as part of the company’s
vision to create the future of dairy to bring health
and inspiration to the world, naturally.
“To be at the very forefront of the industry, it will
require investments in research and innovation
and our new Arla Foods Global Innovation
Centre aims to bring not only innovation in Arla,
but to bring the global dairy industry into a new
era,” he said.
He pointed out that with the population
estimated to hit the nine billion mark in 2050,
there should be concerns over food security. “When
you think about the growing world population,
you can either worry about it – or you can start
acting to respond to the expected increase, and
that is what we are doing at Arla Foods with our
new Global Innovation Centre,” he added.
Chi introduces Hollandia Yoghur
oghurt
‘Gogurt’
The Management of Chi Limited has introduce into the Nigerian
market another brand of Hollandia Yoghurt, Gogurt as it keeps its
brand promise of nourishing goodness for every Moment. It is a feat
that has seen the brand become the most preferred and generic name
for drinking yoghurt among consumers. Of the many pack sizes
available to address varying consumer needs, one pack size that has
become immensely popular is the 315ml Hollandia Gogurt pack.
Gogurt, a special pack designed for on-the-go consumption is
nicknamed “Ajala”.
According to the Managing Director, Chi Limited, Mr Deepanjan
Roy, “For us at Chi Limited, we have always been keen on offering
products designed to satisfy the needs and expectations of our
consumers. The Hollandia Yoghurt’s Gogurt 315ml pack has earned
its place of pride in the minds of consumers who have made it their
favourite companion because of the nourishment it provides on the
go”.
Hollandia Yoghurt ‘Gogurt’ 315ml pack is currently available in
traffic, road kiosks, bukas, supermarkets, Chi Shoppe, departmental
stores and neighborhood shops across Nigeria.

42—SATURD
TURDAY Vanguard
JUNE 17, 2017
Okowa to make Delta tomato hub
•Gov Ifeanyi Okowabeing welcomed to Ogwashi-Uku
YAGEP Tomato Cluster by the CJCO, Prof. Eric Eboh
•A YAGEPreneur in
his tomato farm at
Songhai Delta, Amukpe
By Gertrude Onyekachukwu-Uteh
The quality of performance of every
government is measured by the
improvement in the quality of life of its
people through its policies and programmes.
Like a flash, two years in office of Governor
Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State is being
concluded. As part of the activities marking his
second year in office, Town Hall Meetings with
Deltans and Commissioning/Inspection of
Projects among others were introduced to
enable the Governor present his scorecard
before Deltans. Thus, he was at Songhai Delta,
Amukpe in Sapele Local Government Area to
inspect the Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurs
Programme (YAGEP) Irrigated Tomato Cluster.
In his determination to tackle youth
unemployment, promote economic
diversification and ensure food security, the Job
Creation Scheme was initiated. YAGEP, one of
the programmes of the Job Creation Scheme, is
designed to make agriculture attractive to the
youths. After screening, successful applicants
are trained for three months and at the end of
their internship in different training/internship
centres across the state, given full-package
starter packs/stocks and established in their
choice enterprises such as Poultry, Fishery,
Piggery or Crop Production. The 5
hectaresYAGEP Irrigated Tomatoes Cluster in
Songhai Delta, Amupke is therefore one of the
28 YAGEP cluster farms located in different
senatorial districts of the state.
With 24 YAGEPreneurs cultivating tomato in
this cluster together with 2 other tomato clusters
sited at Ogwashi/Ewuru and Mbiri
communities, the State Government is set to
make Delta a tomato hub. The Governor’s visit
to the cluster was quite commendable just as it
was motivational to the young, butenthusiastic
YAGEPreneurs who have willingly accepted
farming, crop production, astheir new love.The
visit, an interactive one, afforded the Governor
the opportunity to receive first-hand information
on the level of implementation of this aspect of
the job creation programme, feel the pulse of the
young entrepreneurs and engender the
monitoring and mentoring mechanism, a core
component of the job and wealth creation
initiative of his administration.
Welcoming the Governor to the cluster, the
State Chief Job creation Officer, Prof Eric Eboh,
With 24 YAGEPreneurs
cultivating tomato in this
cluster together with 2
other tomato clusters sited
at Ogwashi/Ewuru and
Mbiri communities, the
State Government is set to
make Delta a tomato hub
gave a brief of the activities of the
YAGEPreneurs and the facilities in the
cluster which included 5 water boreholes
with an overhead tank, complete set of Jain
Drip Irrigation System to provide all year
round farming,5 numbers of 3.1
KVAFireman generators to power the
boreholes, young tomato plants nursed from a
disease resistant variety of Cobra Tomato
Seedling among others. According to Prof
Eboh, the 24 YAGEPreneurs wereat the stage of
transplanting the young tomato plants from the
nursery to their farms. Each YAGEPreneur was
allocated 2000sq. m portion of land, ranging
from plot 1 to plot 24. He further explained that
the drip irrigation system would ensure
farming for three cycles in a year especially
during the dry season.An impressed Governor
Okowa expressed his satisfaction at the level of
interest exhibited by the beneficiaries. “I can
see the enthusiasm in these youths. I believe
that these youths who are the pioneers of this
irrigated tomato farming will make the state
proud,” he remarked.
One of the beneficiaries, Ugochukwu
Chukwuneke, a graduate of Linguistics and
Communication Studies from the University of
Port Harcourt who hails from Burutu Local
Government Area, responded on behalf of
other beneficiaries. “We are committed to this
course and are expecting that at the end of
•Gov Okowa receives briefing by the CJCO, Prof Eric Eboh,
on YAGEP Irrigated Tomato Cluster
•Gov. Okowa listens to a YAGEPreneur share his
experience at YAGEP Irrigated Tomatoes Farm
each cycle, 200 baskets of tomatoes would be harvested by
each beneficiary and at the end of the cycle, each
YAGEPreneur would take home #1.6m in three months,” he
emphasized. He advised unemployed youths of Delta State to
embrace agriculture so as to become self-reliant, explaining
that the sale of crude oil is no longer fashionable in the world.
He added that agriculture is the sure way out of poverty.
Other YAGEPreneurs, Temisere Patricia, an English
Education graduate from Ughelli South and Amos Osiebe, an
NCE holder from Ethiope East Local Government Areas
respectively, expressed their satisfaction with the programme.
They said they were happy farming andthat the State
Government provided the enabling environment for them to
excel, pointing out that the era of waiting for white collar job
was gone.They called on the government to continue with the
programme in order to curb unemployment among youths
and to boost wealth creation in the state.
This scheduled visit of His Excellency, Senator Ifeanyi
Okowa, to the YAGEPreneurs was remarkable and would
propel them to work with determination to make the state
proud as further testimonialsin the successful implementation
of its joband wealth creation policy. It is expected that if
the tempo is sustained, Delta State would become
sufficient in tomato production, meet local demand, boost
tomato value chain addition, promote the growth of offtakers
in tomato value chain and become an exporter of
tomato to other states in Nigeria.

Land grabbing: Lagos arraigns suspected
notorious kingpin, others
THE Lagos State Government
on Friday arraigned a
suspected notorious land
grabber, Chief Kamorudeen Lamina
before a Special Offences Court sitting
in Oshodi over alleged forceful
dispossession of residents from their
legitimate rights to land ownership.
Lamina, popularly known as Sir K, was
arraigned alongside six others on a sixcount
charge by the Special Anti-Land
Grabbing Task Force set up by Governor
Akinwunmi Ambode’s administration.
Lamina and his gang were said to have
been terrorising the people of Ikorodu
area of the State for some time before he
was arrested on Thursday.
Others arraigned alongside him are Mr
Omotola Ogunsanmi, Mr Samson
Shobule (A.K.A Samson Salau),
Biliaminu Orega (A.K.A Biliaminu
Salau), Alhaji Jimoh Aromasodu, Alhaji
Wasiu Orenuga and Alhaji Nurudeen
Kasali.
In counts one and two, Lamina,
sometime in February 2017 in Mowo
Kekere area of Ikorodu Local Government,
allegedly took over one plot of land forcefully
which was sold to one Mrs Ebere Okafor
by Ifegbuwa family contrary to Section 2 (1)
of the Lagos State Properties Protection Law
2016.
The action was allegedly carried out by
Lamina despite the fact that the sale of the
land had been ratified with proof of
payment.
In count three, Lamina was accused of
forcefully taking over and remaining in
•Suspects Remanded In Badagry Prison
Suspected Land Grabbing Kingpin, Chief Kamorudeen Lamina (2nd right) along
with other defendants arraigned at the Lagos State Special Offences Court yesterday.
possession of 200 plots of land in Mowo
Kekere belonging to Planet Properties Ltd
contrary to Section 2 (2) of the same law,
while in count five, the defendants were
said to have fraudulently sold 60 hectares
of land which had been previously sold by
the rightful owner contrary to Section 8 (1)
(b) of the law.
The fraudulent sale, which was allegedly
carried out in January 2017, was
perfected by the defendants
fraudulently claiming to be the
descendants of Ifegbuwa family.
In count six, the defendants were
accused of fraudulent selling 25 hectares of land to
third parties without any lawful right to do so, an
offence punishable under the law.
After the charges were read to them, they all
pleaded not guilty, while their lawyers, Mr E
Obatayo and B.O Abdusalam applied to the court to
grant them bail in most liberal terms.
The lawyers argued that the offences for which their
clients were charged are bailable, and that they were
ready to defend the case.
The prosecutor, Ms Mosunmola Balogun from the
Lagos State Ministry of Justice did not oppose the
bail application but urged the court to impose
conditions which would make the defendants
available for trial
SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 17 , 2016—43
KINGSHIP STOOL:
Crisis brews in
Lagos community
•Protesters paralyze business
at Assembly complex
By Olasunkanmi Akoni
& Ebun Sessou
Crisis is brewing and may snowball
into a mayhem in a Lagos
community over the tussle to fill the vacant
stool of the community’s king. Residents
of Orugbo-Iddo Community, Ikosi-Ejirin
Local Council Development Area, LCDA,
a suburb in Ikorodu area of Lagos State
are poised for war over alleged plans by
some unidentified government officials to
impose a non-indigene on them as their
king. They have therefore resolved to resist
the move vowing to involve their ancestors
in the battle. To underscore the seriousness
of their action, some of the aggrieved
residents of the community, led by Mr.
Kalibi Oshineye, and Prince Lawal
Adeleye, stormed the state House of
Assembly, Alausa, Ikeja. They disrupted
normal activities as they barricaded the
road leading to Lagos House, office of the
Governor and House of Assembly
Complex, forcing security men to divert
traffic. Though most of the lawmakers were
not around as they are currently on recess
but few members and guests were
prevented from gaining access into the
assembly complex.
They claimed they had earlier sent
petition to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode
and the House of Assembly as well as the
state Council of Traditional Rulers but that
their petition was suppressed.
Narrating their case, Oshineye said;
“Following the death of our late King
Adekoya Odusanya from Deile Ruling
House in September 2016, we received a
notice pasted by Epe Local Government
in February 13th 2017 declaring the stool
of Olofin Ajaye as vacant and another letter
was directed to the Head of Olusi Royal
Family to present a candidate to fill the
vacant position of Olofin Ajaye’s stool.

44 —SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 17, 2017
I’m leaving
— Ronaldo tells Madrid
CRISTIANO Ronaldo
has sensationally told
Real Madrid he wants
to leave them and is said to
favour a move back to
Manchester United, according
to reports in Spain and Portugal
this morning.
The four-time Ballon d’Or
winner has enjoyed another
sensational season at the
Bernabeu but is said to feel the
club has not protected him
sufficiently after he was charged
with allegedly evading £13million
in tax.
Real Madrid appeared to
completely back him, but a
different picture has since
emerged which may suggest why
he wants out after eight years at
the club.
A Bola reported this morning
Ronaldo has decided his time in
Spain has come to an end and he
has communicated this
“irreversible” decision as final to
Real Madrid president Florentino
Perez.
The shocking news was backed
up hours later on the website of
newspaper Marca, which is
viewed as Madrid’s mouthpiece.
Swans in for Moses Simon
Swansea City and Stoke
City are interested in
Gent’s flying Nigerian winger
Moses Simon, according to
reports in Belgium.
Het Nieuwsblad claim both
Premier League clubs want to
sign the 21-year-old, who
Semi final matches of the
Stars and Friends football
tournament will be played
tomorrow at the mainbowl of
the National Stadium, Lagos.
The tournament which has
12 football academy teams
drawn from Lagos including
the popular Amuneke Football
Academy, and one from Ghana
has attracted the interests of
international scouts from
Austria.
Robert Paldan, one of the
scouts who spoke with Sports
Vanguard said the tournament
had given him a first hand
experience with Nigerian
players and that he has not
been disappointed with what
he had seen so far.
“Nigeria is a great country
with a very rich football
history. The country also has
a lot of talented players plying
their trade with some big clubs
in Europe and elsewhere. It is
indeed great to be here.”
On his part, former national
U-17 team coach, Emmanuel
Amuneke, whose academy
qualified for the semi final
through penalty shootout said
scored five goals in the
Belgian top-flight last term.
Earlier this week, Simon
revealed his love for the
Premier League and his desire
to ply his trade in it.
“I love England and will
love to play in the EPL some
Stars and Friends football
tourney enters semis
•Amuneke
the essence of the tournament
was to facilitate the job of the
scouts. “But it is not all about
selling players. An academy
provides a step to developing
the huge talents that are
abound in the country. By that
way, we develop the players
for the country if they are
found good enough. Football
development in other
countries is growing so fast,
and we are not doing much to
catch up with the rest of the
world.
“Every little step in that
direction matters,” he said.
day but I can only talk about a
move when talks are
ongoing,” said the fleet-footed
star.
Simon has been on the radar
of Premier League clubs for
the past couple of seasons with
almost all of them having sent
scouts out to Gent to watch him
during that time.
He has two years left on his
contract and is rated in the
£12-15million bracket by Gent.
•Moses
Anichebe plans big for
football in Anambra
By Vincetn Ujumadu
Former Super Eagles and
Sunderland striker, Mr.
Victor Anichebe has begun a
programme aimed at improving
the level of football in his home
state, Anambra.
Anichebe, who organized a
football competition in which all
the communities in his local
government, Anaocha
participated, said a lot of talents
abound in the state, but the
drawback was lack of adequate
facilities.
Indeed, the footballer
shuddered at the pitch where
the finals of the competition
took place at the playground of
Nri Boys High School and
vowed to provide an ideal pitch
for them as a way of
encouraging future footballers.
In the long run, Anichebe
hopes to partner with Anambra
State government to provide
synthetic pitches in schools in
the state.
“There are lots of talents here
but the environment cannot
help to develop their talents. I
think it is important to support
the youth because I am where I
am because of the support of
some other people. Therefore,
it is necessary for me and other
people that played the game as
Preparations have reached
advanced stage for the
second edition of the Ezekiel
Henty Football League for
youth clubs in Lagos State.
The competition which is
organised by Henty Sports
Foundation, is sponsored by
Ezekiel Henty, who presently
plays professional football with
Locomotive Moscow FC in
Russia.
Addressing the press on the
competition, the Flying Sports
Academy product and former
AC Milan forward expressed
his delight over the tournament
which is one of the several
programmes of his foundation
By SIMON EBEGBULEM
THE former Chief of Staff to
the immediate governor of
Edo state, Mr Patrick
Obahiagbon (Igodomigodo),
has been elected as the South
South representative into the
Nigeria Tennis Federation
(NTF).
He emerged at the hotly
contested elections into all the
sporting Federations that took
place at the main bowl of the
Abuja International Stadium.
He defeated his closest rival,
Mr Isaac Uzoma from Rivers
state.
Mr Dayo Akindoju emerged
the National President of the
Federation. Obahiagbon who
reacted to his victory to
Vanguard, said he would
“unflappably cooperate with
the Federation’s President and
other members of the Tennis
Federation to attract private
All set for 2nd Ezekiel Henty Football League
Anichebe
handing over
the cup to
the captain
of Nri team
well as the government to give the youth
the necessary lift.
“I plan to partner with the state
government to do more things like this
competition we just held as it can be used
to showcase the talents of these young ones
across the world.
“The quality of play is good, but it could
be better, though the pitch is not the best
and hopefully with the collaboration of the
government I can help bring better pitches
to my state.
Obahiagbon in new NTF board
aimed at developing
grassroots sports. While
adding that the
tournament has been
attracting the interest of
football lovers since its
debut last year.
“It is my wish to
contribute my quota to
the development and
growth of the society and
that’s what we are doing
through my foundation.
“ The top four teams in
the competition will
receive N500,000,
N300,000, N200,000 and
N100,000 respectively, “
Henty added.
sector participation and ensure
regular participation and
implementation of a structured
and consistent grassroot Tennis
development programmes
amongst others.
“I believe we have a lot of
talented youths who are good
in Tennis both in the South
South and other parts of the
country and this is my
opportunity to fish them out in
the South South so we can
compete favourably with other
regions. I believe so much in
grassroot sports and it is our
duty to go to the grassroot now
with the mandate given to us to
discover people who will
represent this nation at the
highest level” he stated.
NWFL mourns Omagbemi’s
son, Onyenwenwa
Nigeria Women Football
League (NWFL) has joined
the entire football family to mourn
the shocking death of Samson
Atamako, the 15-year old son of
Super Falcons Head Coach,
Florence Omagbemi and the
passage of former NFF Head of
Women’s Football, Mrs Lizzy
Onyenwenwa.
Samson, a Junior Secondary
School (JSS3) student of Challenge
International School, Kolokolo Udu
Road, Warri died on Wednesday,
June 14 while the deputy director
in the department of Planning,
Monitoring and information (PMI)
in the Federal Ministry of Youth
and Sports died in the early hours
of Thursday at the National
Hospital, Abuja.
The 15-year old is said to have
died in a swimming pool at a hotel
in Effurun, Delta state.

“
BY EMMA OKOCHA
In 1991, Austin Okocha
had played himself into
Rangers International FC
to join his immediate
elder brother Emma Okocha who
had earlier played for Vasco
Dagama and Nigeria U-17 team.
Austin’s trip to Lagos against
ACB Football club of Lagos
changed his life and football
career for good. Rangers FC
coaches had debated whether to
carry Austin or not as an “extra
luggage,” a term used for the
17th player who was taken along
in case of unforeseen
eventualities in the long distance
trip for a League match.”
See Rangers International
FC….History of a People, written
by Emma Okocha and Edwin
Eze
Okocha after an intense lobby
and persuasion on his behalf to
the Coaches by the young
Rangers Secretary made the
team to Lagos and was brought
in to replace his elder brother
Emma who had developed a
groin injury. Some foreign
agents, who had come to watch
Monday Odiaka from ACB
Lagos, play his last match before
jetting outside Nigeria saw
Austin Okocha’s touches and
settled for him. Incidentally,
Monday Odiaka was dropped
and those agents picked Austin
Okocha and from there, Jay – Jay
the magician the Germans
tagged Wunderbar transformed
his humble background
heritage. Jay-Jay was to
dominate a hilarious generation
of African black football.
Until his death few weeks ago,
Edwin Eze, that young Secretary
that pleaded with the coaches to
give Jay –Jay a chance was
badgering gorgeous as
Alexander the Great. Alexander,
Just as they did in the glory
days of Joseph-Antoine Bell
and Thomas Nkono, Cameroon
have a good problem to deal
with between the posts, with the
talented Fabrice Ondoa and
Andre Onana fighting it out for
the No1 jersey. One of the heroes
of the Indomitable Lions’ 2017
CAF Africa Cup of Nations
triumph, Ondoa is still waiting for
his club career to take off, while
Onana has enjoyed a superb
season with Ajax but currently
finds himself second in the
national-team pecking order.
Shared destinies
The two keepers have much in
common, not least the fact that
they are cousins and were born
within three months of each
other. Both spent time at the
Samuel Eto’o Foundation
before joining Barcelona’s
famed La Masia youth
academy, where Ondoa – as is
the case with the national team
– got the nod ahead of his
younger cousin.
Differing fortunes
Onana left Barcelona for Ajax in
2015 and nailed down a first-team
place in the 2016/17 season, one
in which he kept an impressive 15
clean sheets in the Dutch league
and reached the UEFA Europa
the Prince from Macedonia, the
most beautiful, had attracted the
wrath of the gods. His status and
mouthwatering Ethiopian
features propelled by a steel
ambition of a grand territorial
expansion of the Greek empire,
threatened the position of the
gods. Consequently, the gods
accosted him, ordering him to
choose out of only two options; a
long life of listless purpose, or a
short passage of impacting
footprints. Alexander the great
opened his blue eyes and
elected a brief sojourn of asterisk
achievements. Accordingly, on
his death at the age of 32,
Alexander had unified the
incessant warring factions of the
city states. From there, he sailed
to the Mediterranean,
conquered Egypt and founded
League final. Determined to keep
his place in the Ajax starting lineup,
he chose to skip the 2017 CAF
Africa Cup of Nations.
Broos decides
That lack of playing time has
not impacted Ondoa’s
international career, however,
with his commitment to the
Indomitable Lion cause never
wavering. “There’s no reason
why I should change anything
in terms of who I choose
between Ondoa and Onana,”
said Cameroon coach Hugo
Broos. “You saw the Africa Cup
of Nations what Ondoa had.
Why should I make a change?
Ondoa stays the No1 and
Onana will be the No2,” added
the Belgian coach, who
nevertheless handed Onana a
start in the 4-0 friendly defeat
to Colombia on 6 June.
Nkono impressed
Speaking to FIFA.com, the
legendary Thomas Nkono
SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 17, 2017 — 45
Edwin Eze: The immortality
of the last Rangers Trojan
scribe
•Edwin Eze
the city of Alexandria. From
Egypt, Alexander entered the
history books as the only military
General who had attempted and
indeed succeeded in
conquering the world!
Unlike Alexander the Great,
Edwin Eze’s death at the age of
60 meant he did not choose a
very young life. All the same, his
grit, discipline, athletic prowess
and outstanding field victories at
a particularly sad and mournful
period of our peoples history;
inspired, uplifted those
despairing youths, the children
of parents who faced and
withstood the consequences of
losing a civil war. Watching the
Rangers presently, get
clobbered by all and sundry,
Edwin Eze would go away from
the shadows and weep.
FIFA Confederation Cup:
Cameroon lean on
goalkeeping cousins
expressed his delight at
Cameroon’s abundance of
goalkeeping riches. “Cameroon
are lucky to have two such great
keepers,” commented the
former custodian, a role model
to the great Gianluigi Buffon.
“It can be tough to manage
sometimes, because it’s a
situation in which tensions can
rise if the guy who’s on the
bench feels he can do better
than the other one. It’s still a
good thing for the national
team, though, because they’re
Like Alexander the Great, he
was super gifted and was in a
hurry. He combined his
handsome features with broad
intellectual prolificacy acquired
from his painstaking and back
breaking marriage to books. He
read himself into Calabar
University, graduated to join my
G.O.C. Regiment then
blossoming at the Satellite
village, Enugu. That Regiment
attracted eggheads like Professor
Okey Ndibe, the One eyed
General C Don, the late Chike
Akabuogu, and the APGA
Chairman, Danquay Oye. Okey
Ndibe, was covering Wrestling,
Danquay Oye was the Base
Commander, Akabuogu was
flying the Concord and died in
action in the last battle for
Lagos!Whatever were their
special contributions to the
spectacular rise of that
unforgettable provincial Daily, it
was Air Marshall Edwin Eze that
eventually took over officially,
the Command of that moribund
G.O.C. Sports Regiment.
Edwin Eze last year was
meritoriously appointed
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of
Agriculture Enugu. With that
elevation, he joined the few out
of millions of bureaucrats whose
advisory roles and planning for
governments currently,totter the
development strides and the
productive schedule register of
their colonial predecessors. In
his brief tenure as the Permanent
Secretary, Edwin Eze
demystified the place and
brought Farmers to hug the
different national and foreign
programs initiated by the State
Government to increase
productivity. I saw him on
Television ride in keke, on motor
bikes to Agric. Seminars,
mobilizing the leaders and the
still focused and looking to
do their very best. Whoever
plays, they do what they can
to hang on to their place.”
Advice from Eto’o
Speaking on Cameroonian
TV recently, Samuel Eto’o –
who is close to both keepers
– revealed that he has
spoken to both of them: “I
told Fabrice and Andre that
they are both great keepers
with different styles of play
and that they need to learn
from each other.
Superintendents back to the
farms.
In a hurry to stave off starvation
he ran the race and from his
Sports background, he had the
energy and he accomplished. To
the Public and the Media he
demonstrated an uncommon
public relations élan. He had the
education and his Ministry was
outpacing the other Ministries in
bringing the government and
the people together to farm the
land. Collaborating with him in
writing the Rangers FC a History
of a People, I noticed Edwin Eze
was very much in a hurry. Battling
all odds in search of a Classic he
did everything, including
staying all nights for the book to
be published before Christmas.
This work is a combination of
my twenty years research and
hisover two decades of service to
that great African club; as the
Information Officer, Secretary,
variously acting as the Team
Manager. Going through the
book again and again, it will be
fair to actually label him the first
and last true Team Manager of
the Rangers International FC.
Even though he was already a
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of
Agriculture, the Information
Ministry where he served as the
Director, would at any given
opportunity, come for his advice.
Before his death, the Rangers were
dwindling into an ‘indomie’
foraging assembly and Edwin was
worried to the bones. As we finished
the book, and set to print he rushed
from his office and handed to me
all his collections, items, clippings,
mementos, pictures, publications of
the Rangers FC.
“G.O.C. adiamaama, (just in
case of the unknown) this book
must conclude on building an
Archival Center to serve as a
monument and permanent
indentation etch of the glorious
history of our people…. These
boys have to know the history
they are carrying on their
shoulders…. when they step into
the field. Those last lines are my
prescriptions for the revival of
the Rangers International FC
and I’m surrendering all these to
you in trust…. Whatever
happens, I pray a Rangers
Archival Center would be built
after we are done with our
work….”
Two weeks after Rangers
International FC…. History of a
People was published, Edwin
Boy Eze, the Air Martial, Sports
Impresario, Great Sports Writer,
Editor, erudite Author, Football
Club Secretary, peerless
Bureaucrat, Permanent
Secretary gave up the ghost.
Edwin Eze’s golden footprints
on the sands of time would be
etched on the marble of the
Rangers Archive Center and
Hall of Fame. He was our last
Rangers Trojan Scribe. Edwin
Eze with his collaboration in the
Rangers International FC….
History of a People, Edwin Eze
in his hurry to accomplish on
earth and bomb the heavens,
wrote himself to immortality.
Edwin was buried yesterday in
Enugu State

46—SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 17, 2017
By Jacob Ajom
Never before has elections into
national sports federations
generated the amount of controversy,
as witnessed during and after the
elections held on Tuesday, June 13,
2017 at the Abuja National Stadium.
Assurances by the Sports minister,
Solomon Dalung that a level playing
field would be given to all candidates,
and that the federation elections
would follow the best democratic
practices, were only meant to
massage his own ego as it turned out
later.
Before the elections, the supervising
ministry, Ministry of Sports and
Youth Development reeled out guidelines,
which kept on changing with
every passing day and it was easy for
stakeholders and some interested
parties to conclude that the minister
and the authors of the guidelines
have “a hidden agenda.”
A lot of people who indicated interest
and readiness to participate in
the board elections were either
disqualified or unable to meet the
stiff conditions spelt out in the guidelines.
Before the elections, however,
a meeting of 'stakeholders' was
conveyed by the sports minister,
Solomon Dalung in Abuja on April
13 to help fashion out a framework
for the 2017 elections.
The meeting ignored statutes of
international sporting bodies and
voted overwhelmingly that anyone
who had done two consecutive terms
in office as president or vice president
of any sports federation should not
contest in the forthcoming elections.
The meeting also barred members
of international sports bodies from
contesting for president or vice presidents
of federations.
Naturally, a lot of influential figures
in the Nigerian sports circle were
affected. Engineer Habu Gumel
(Nigeria Volleyball Federation),
Engineer Sani Ndanusa (Nigeria
tennis Federation), Chief Solomon
Ogba (Athletics Federation of
Nigeria), and Tijani Umar (Nigeria
Basketball Federation) were
knocked out as they were no longer
eligible to contest.
Despite the negative reactions that
trailed the decisions of the meeting,
the guidelines that followed were
proof that the decisions of the meeting
were upheld by the minister of sports.
But the Nigeria Basketball Federation
distanced itself from the
controversial guidelines and the
election that followed.
Instead, the NBBF, led by Alhaji
Tijani Umar went ahead to conduct
its own board election in Kano, one
day before the Abuja elections which
also produced another board and another
president for the Nigeria
basketball. As expected, Tijani
Umar, the North-East representative,
was returned as President;
Olumide Oyedeji, FIBA World Rep-
•Dalung
resentative, as Vice-President.
Other newly-elected members of
the board are Muktar Khaled, the
FIBA Africa representative, Dr
Joseph Adeyemo from Kwara, the
North-Central representative,
Mustapha Suleiman from Kano,
North-West representative, and Segun
Famuyiwa, the South-West
representative.
The rest are Ejike Paul, the South-
East representative, Stanley Gumut,
the Athletes representative, and Mrs
Margaret Porbeni, the representative
of the National Association of
Women in Sports (NAWIS).
The next day, June 13, attention
was shifted to the Abuja National
Stadium which became the centre
of drama, intrigues and political shenanigans.
Taekwondo federation and the
Athletics Federation of Nigeria
(AFN) were the centre of attraction
to the journalists who monitored the
•Igali
election. The athletics federation got
the large chunk of the crisis as candidates
and delegates engaged
themselves in a free for all fight before
the intervention of security agents.
Trouble started when on the
morning of the election, it was
discovered that Rosa Collins who
made the board on the platform of
Nigeria Association of Women in
Sports was replaced by Gloria
Federation elections:
Dalung's long
arm of discord
•Kida
Obajimi. Brown Ebewele who won
the coaches and technical officials
representative, was replaced by Gad
Monument. Others who were adjudged
to be close to Collins were
also disqualified.
Olympian, Charity Opara, was not
only denied voting right but also
marched out of the voting arena by
stern faced security operatives.
Ebewele lamented that he could
not understand how his name got
missing from the delegates list, “My
grouse is that I participated in an
election and won with 31 votes and
one other person who did not participate
is now cleared as delegate for
•Orbih
he Ministry of Youth and
TSports has expressed
sadness at the shocking news
of the death of one of its
management staff Mrs Lizzy
Onyenwenwa who died on
Thursday at the National
Hospital, Abuja after a
protracted illness.
In a statement, the Minister,
Barrister Solomon Dalung
said the entire Ministry where
she last served as Deputy
Director Planning, Monitoring
and Information (PMI) will
miss her sorely.
“On behalf of the Ministry of
Youth and Sports, I wish to
convey my deepest
condolences to the immediate
family, especially the children,
on the sad demise of Mrs
Lizzy Onyenwenwa.
“This is shocking and
unexpected. She was a very
diligent staff who had
sacrificed a lot for sports
•Umar
the election.
“It is even more worrisome that
the person is a civil servant on level
9.
“We just came to the venue of the
election and noticed that our names
are not on the delegate list. Many of
those disqualified knew of their disqualification
on election day.
Teakwondo federation was equally
enmeshed in crisis when a South
East delegate, Ferguson Oluigbo,
who was earlier screened, cleared
and given delegates tag to vote, was
later told that some of his credentials
were missing in the documents
he submitted. The controversy in the
taekwondo federation became more
intriguing when the name of one of
the immediate past federation’s boss,
George Ashiru, who was to stand for
re-election got missing in the original
candidates’ list. As a result,
Ashiru’s opponent, Elizabeth Binga,
was declared the winner.
Few minutes after the election, it
was discovered that Ashiru's name
was in the original list of candidates.
It ignited serious protest from
Ashiru’s camp but it was too late.
It was the same story in hockey,
where the Sports Ministry almost
disqualified the incumbent president,
Senator Abdul Ningi over what
they termed “non-submission of age
declaration certificate”. It was after
he threatened to sue Dalung and his lieutenants,
that his name was restored.
One of those disqualified in the
Nigeria Tennis Federation election was
Godwin Kienka who was chairman of
the Sports Reform Committee set up by
Dalung. Kienka, it was gathered led the
campaign for the changes that gave birth
to the election guidelines. It was therefore
an irony that the guidelines consumed
its author. He was made to issue a press
statement after the elections. In the
statement Kienka heaped praise on his
benefactor, Dalung while blaming his
fate on those he called “the cabal” in
and out of the ministry, indirectly indicting
Dalung.
In 1983, following the annulment of
the June 12 elections and the subsequent
incarceration of the Chief MKO Abiola
who was believed to be the winner, a
former NPN chieftain, Umaru Dikko
told Abiola that if you ride on the back
of a tiger, one day you will find yourself
in the belly of the tiger. He accused
Abiola of having been too close to the
military(the tiger). Kienka deserves no
pity because being in the belly of the tiger.
Dalung is not new to controversy. Since
his appointment, he has generated more
heat than any other minister. He was the
first sports minister to deny knowledge
of Under-20 Olympic team's training
tour of Atlanta, he unearthed 'a dead case'
which pitched the NFF President Amaju
Pinnick against Chris Giwa. It took the
intervention of world football governing
body, FIFA to put that matter to rest. The
minister's controversial handling of the
N640 million purportedly left behind by
the former Director General of the
defunct NSC, Alhassan Yakmut, whose
bid to to become the next President of
the Nigeria Volleyball Federation failed
at the just concluded federation elections.
Former vice President of the Nigeria
Olympic Committee, Alhaji Ibrahim
Galadima was least impressed by the
conduct of the elections which has
polarised the Nigeria sporting family.
“The whole drama of intrigues and
manipulation of the election process will
create confusion in sports. Dalung has
run sports down and there is no
likelihood that it will improve under his
tenure,” the Chairman of the Kano State
Sports Council said.
Youth and Sports Ministry grieves over
Lizzy Onyenwenwa’s death
especially in women’s
football.
“She was among the
very first administrators
of women’s football from
where she came to join
the department of
Planning, Monitoring
and Information of the
Ministry.
“She was down with
heart related problems
but little did we know
that we won’t be seeing
her again. We pray that
God will grant her soul
eternal rest and give
the family she left
behind the strength to
bear this loss”, Dalung
stated.
Onyenwenwa is
survived by two
children.
Burial arrangements
will be announced later
by her family.

Day Rohr got it wrong
•We must
come back
home
–Laloko
By Jacob Ajom
Super Eagles Head
coach, Gernot Rohr
is gradually coming
to terms with the tough task
of making Nigerians happy,
all the time. Since he took
charge of the team in August
last year, the German tactician
has been having a jolly
good ride as his team had
either won or drawn their
matches. They achieved a 7
match unbeaten run. On the
8th occasion, the Super Eagles
were made to look inferior
and humbled in their
own backyard by arch-rivals,
the Bafana Bafana. They lost
2-0 in Uyo in a 2018 Africa
Cup of Nations qualifier.
The 2-0 loss to South Africa
was another faulty step by
Nigeria after missing out
from two consecutive AF-
CON tournaments. Against
the Bafana Bafana, the Eagles
were languid, immobile,
slack and incoherent. On a
day Nigerian football fans
had expected the Eagles to
massacre the Bafana Bafana
inside the magnificent
Godswill Akpabio Stadium,
that is despite boasts by
South African team coach,
Stuart Baxter that he would
silence the Uyo crowd, the
Eagles failed to fly. From the
goalkeeping department to
the attack, everything went
wrong for Rohr. The defence
line of Elderson Echiejile,
Chidozie Awaziem, Troost
Ekong and Shehu Abdullahi
could not stop the dangerous
Tokelo Rantie and Percy
Tau from nailing the fleet-footed
Daniel Akpeyi in goal for
Nigeria.
The team also lacked a
leader as the stand-in captain
Ogenyi Onazi failed to
provide the needed leadership
on the pitch. He also
failed to click as a creative
midfielder. Wilfred Ndidi
could not reignite his EPL
form. neither could one absolve
the likes of Kelechi
Iheanacho, Alex Iwobi and
Oghenekaro Etebo from
blame. It appeared as if the
long camping in France and
Uyo took its toll on the players
as they all had an off day.
Conversely, the Bafana Bafana
players who had only four
training sessions in South
Africa and one in Uyo looked
fresher and played with
purpose. The defeat, the first
under Rohr has sent fears
into the spines of Nigerians
who are already expressing
doubt in the team's ability to
qualify for Cameroon 2019
AFCON.
As early as it appears, the
question now is, will Nigeria
be missing out of AFCON
for the third consecutive time?
How can the country avoid
the ugly hat-trick?
Former head of the technical
department of the Nigeria
Football Association,
Coach Kashimawo Laloko
said the Super Eagles, as
presently constituted cannot
take the country to anywhere.
He is not happy that the
country still dependens 100
per cent on foreign-based
players. “It does not help our
football in any way,” he began.
“If you choose players
from Rangers, Enyimba, Plateau
United, Rivers United
and Akwa United you can
build a team that can beat
that South African team.
There was nothing fantastic
about them but what they had
going for them was that they
knew each other well hence
they played as a team.”
Laloko insisted, “we must
come back home. Our growth
must start from home and not
from abroad”. H e asked,
“does it mean that once one
plays abroad or a player is
born abroad that automatically
makes him a potential
Super Eagles player?”
Laloko said, our football
administrators shy away from
the truth and that makes them
avoid local coaches who will
Lobi spank Rivers Utd in Makurdi
Lobi Stars needed a late
goal from substitute
Nanen Imenger to
overcome a stubborn
Rivers United 1-0 in a
matchday 25 Nigeria
Professional Football
League game at the Aper
Aku Stadium in Makurdi
on Friday.
Imenger, who was
brought on with 16
minutes left, finished off
with a superb header to
secure the three points for
Lobi.
The win temporarily
takes Lobi to third on 39
points in the NPFL table,
while Rivers United
remain 15th on 30 points.
Lobi Stars are now
unbeaten in their last 77
home games in the league
since a 4-3 defeat to
Bayelsa United in July,
2013.
Lobi Stars bossed the
first 10 minutes of the
game but could not break
down a resolute Rivers
United defence.
Lobi continued to edge
the game and went close
again on 13 minutes but
David Tyavkase's 25 yard
strike went off target.
In the 23rd minute,
Rivers United were forced
into an early change as
skipper Festus Austin
went off injured.
In the 44th minute,
Rivers United had their
first attempt on goal
through Ayo Saka whose
effort from range went off
target.
Lobi started on the front
foot in the early part of the
second half and, just like
the first half, found it
difficult to break down
Rivers.
tell them the truth. “We have
always had great coaches
in this country, what did they
do with them. They will use
them and dump them.”
The Director of the Pepsi
Football Academy blamed
Coach Rohr for parading a
disjointed team, particularly,
in the defence where the
Eagles failure was amplified
most. “How can you have a
defence without a fence?”
he asked. “With that type of
team, any serious coach can
whip them with as many as
six goals, if not more.”
He was, however,
optimistic that with the
reaction of the NFF Technical
Committee, the Super
Eagles will bounce back to
reckoning. “I am happy with
steps taken by the committee,
particularly, the directive
concerning the invitation of
players and other steps to
check the coach's every step.
He has been given a free
hand in the past, which was
good, but there should be
some checks and balances.
There must be quality
control,”Laloko said.
FIFA Confederation Cup:
SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 17, 2017—47
All eyes on Russia
The host nation and the Oceania
champions will kick-off the
2017 edition of the FIFA Confederations
Cup. All eyes will be on Russia
who will be looking to meet expectations
by getting their campaign off
to a flying start in Saint Petersburg.
Russia will not only be opening the
tournament but will be making their
Confederations Cup debut. This will
be an important outing for both sides
in a group which also features Portugal
and Mexico.
New Zealand are featuring in their
fourth Confederations Cup, recording
just a single point from nine outings
to date. Recent form suggests
New Zealand are a tough side to
score against, although goals at the
other end could be hard to come by.
Russia will be quite a different side
from that which turned in a modest
display at last year’s UEFA EURO.
Diego Costa is pre
pared to miss six
months of football to secure
a move to Atletico
Madrid from Chelsea despite
their transfer ban,
according to Marca.
The Spain forward has
revealed how Antonio
Conte informed him he
was not needed next season
at Stamford Bridge,
Coach Stanislav Cherchesov has
blended in several exciting players
for the Sbornaya.
Russia go into the tournament
opener as favourites but the question
is: can the hosts, who have some
young players both in defence and
in attack, show their best under psychological
pressure? Forward Fedor
Smolov will try to terrorise the New
Zealand defence from the opening
whistle, with an early goal sure to
calm any nerves for the home team.
Although the Kiwis have struggled
to find the net of late, coach Anthony
Hudson will probably edge his
team toward strong and solid in what
figures to be a nervy, physical opener.
If the wing-backs struggle to make
their way forward, Ryan Thomas and
Marco Rojas will look to combine
their quickness with the strength and
height of Chris Wood.
Transfers! Transfers!! Transfers!!!
Costa to sit out 6 months to seal Atletico return
though La Furia Roja boss
Julen Lopetegui has insisted
the 28-year-old's
place at next summer's
World Cup will not be in
jeopardy.
Atletico will put together
a special preseason
training programme that
will last until January,
when Costa can be registered,
in the ultimate sacrifice
for Diego Simeone.
Roma to force Liverpool
into record move for Salah
Roma are standing their
ground in negotiations
with Liverpool for Mohamed
Salah, writes the Telegraph,
with the Giallorossi
holding out for more
than £35 million.
Birmingham table good offer for Terry
- Redknapp Bournemouth, West
Harry Redknapp has
told talkSPORT that
Birmingham City have
made a "good offer" to sign
former Chelsea captain
John Terry on a free transfer,
and said that the 36-
year-old is still good
enough to "play for anybody."
Terry is leaving Chelsea at
the end of his contract this
summer after 22 years at
Stamford Bridge, and is
weighing up offers from several
clubs against the possibility
of retiring and pursuing
a career in coaching.
Brom and Aston Villa have
all been linked with signing
Terry, and Redknapp -- who
signed a one-year deal at
Birmingham City in May
after helping the club avoid
relegation from the Championship
last season -- confirmed
that he is also very
interested.
"I'd love to have him at the
football club," Redknapp
said of Terry. "He's a fantastic
captain and great leader.
"We've made him a good
offer and we have done the
best we can. It's up to John
now, but we would love him
at Birmingham."
Arsenal fans beg Sanchez to stay
Arsenal fans are begging Alexis Sanchez to stay at the club
after he posted a cryptic message to his Instagram followers.
The Chilean has been linked with a move away from the Emirates
for a while, and many believe he will be on his way when the
transfer window opens next month.
The 28-year-old has stalled on signing an extension on his
Gunners contract, which is set to expire next summer, and he is
not short of admirers.
Manchester City and Chelsea are reportedly keen on the
forward, while Bayern Munich have also shown interest, much
to the dismay of Arsenal fans.
So far Sanchez has kept his cards close to his chest, but
he recently posted a cryptic message to Instagram, and it
seems Gunners fans are unsure how to take it.
The post, which featured a picture of the Chilean
dressed up as an old man, accompanied some rather
ambiguous text.

C
M
Y
K
SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 17, 2017
FEDERATION ELECTIONS:
Dalung’s long
arm of discord
Pg.46
•Dalung
I’m
leaving
— Ronaldo
tells
Madrid
Pg.44
Day Rohr
got it wrong
•Rohr
•We must start from home – Laloko
FIFA Confederation Cup:
Costa to sit out
All eyes on •Costa
6 months to seal
Russia Pg.47
Atletico return
Russia vs N/Zealand 4 pm
Birmingham table good offer for Terry — Redknapp
Pg.47
Pg.47
CROSS WORD PUZZLE
•Sanchez
Arsenal fans
beg Sanchez
to stay
NPFL FIXTURES
Pg.47
Pillars vs MFM 4 pm
Shooting vs ABS 4 pm
Lobi vs RiversUtd 4 pm
FCIfeanyi vs Wikki 4 pm
Tornadoes vs Rangers 4 pm
AkwaUtd vs Katsina 4 pm
El Kanemi vs Remo Stars 4 pm
Nasarawa vs Enyimba 4 pm
AbWarriors vs Plateau Utd 4 pm
Sunshine vs Gombe 4 pm
ACROSS
1 Chairman, Tertiary Education
Trust Fund (TETFUND), Chief
Emeka – (8)
5 Parched – (4)
7 Stationery – (3
8 Chairman, Senate Committee on
Finance, Senator John Owan – (4)
9 Former SC Braga Coach, Eduardo
-0- (4)
10 National Basketball Association
(NBA) Professional League Side (5)
12 Palestinian Prime Minister, Mr.
Rami – (8)
13 Minister of Water Resources,s
Alhjaji Suleiman – (5)
17 Eintracht Frankfurt Coach, Nico
– (5)
18 Major Ethnic Group in Nigeria
– (5)
20 Former Lagos State
Commissioner for Culture &
Tourism, Senator Tokunbo – (9)
23 Edo State Capital – (5)
26 The Traditional Ruler of Ile-Oluji
Kingdom – (4)
26 Special Adviser to the Yobe State
Governor on Media & Publicity, Mr.
Abdallah – (4)
28 Greek Goddess – (4)
30 Vice President, Nigerian Labour
Congress, Comrade Amechi – (8)
DOWN
1 Former Enugu Rangers Striker,
John – (4)
2 Astir – (4)
3 Mountain of Fire &
Miracles Ministry (MFM)
FC Coach, Fidelis – (9)
4 Insect – (5)
5 Workshop Tool – (5)
6 Ireland Premier League
Club – (8)
11 Assistance – (3)
13 Cross-River State
Commissioner for
Information Orientation,
Mrs. Rosemary – (9)
14 Former President,
Nigerian Football
Federation (NFF), Mr. Sani
Abdullahi – (4)
15 Chairman/CEO,
National Drug Law
Enforcement Agency
(NDLEA), Mr. Mohammed
– (8)
16 Tottenham Hotspurs
Midfielder, Dele – (4)
19 Water Sport – (3)
21 State in Nigeria known
as the “State of Harmony”?
– (5)
22 Algeria “Desert Warriors”
Midfielder, Hassan – (5)
24 Chief Coach, High
Altitude Athletics Club, Mr.
Steven – (4)
25 Ivory Coast “Elephants”
Midfielder, Koffi Christian
– (4)
SOLUTION ON PAGE 46
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