26012018 - Reasons for New Year Day Benue massacre —DEFENCE MINISTER

Our land not 

available for cattle 

colonies, Yoruba 

leaders tell FG 11 

FG plans $2.5bn 

Eurobond sale 

in Q1 2018 

— DMO 

19 

Why I met 

Maina; 

what Buhari 

knew 

8 

— Malami 

VOL. 26: NO. 63472 FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 2018 

Reasons for New Year 

Senators, 

Reps 

embrace 

OBJ’s 

coalition 

8 & 37 

Diezani 

faults EFCC 

over 

$1.3bn 

NNPC 

withdrawal 

8 

PLANE MISHAP... 

** ** 

Day Benue massacre 

—DEFENCE MINISTER 

•Says anti-open grazing law, blockade of grazing routes main causes 

•Moves on to monitor social media posts of ‘prominent Nigerians’ 

•Agrees to pay $494m for aircraft from US 

By Johnbosco 

Agbakwuru 

ABUJA —THE 

Minister of 

Defence, 

Mansur Muhammad 

Dan-Ali, said yesterday 

that the recent massacre 

of innocent people by 

suspected Fulani 

Continues on Page 5 

Naira 

down to 

N360.54/ 

$ in I&E 

41 

Mr & Mrs 

A private jet operated by Nestoil skidded off the runway and lost its landing gear in the process at the Nnamdi Azikiwe 

International Airport, Abuja, yesterday. However, no life was reported lost in the mishap. 

APC Committee 

on restructuring 

recommends 

resource control, 37 

state police, others 

9 

N1.1BN MALABU SCAM: 

AGF tackles EFCC; 

alleges shoddy 

investigation by 

Magu 

COLUMNISTS: OWEI LAKEMFA 31 

SEE 

AZU 36 DONU KOGBARA 17 

4 

NNPC didn’t 

remit JV cash 

call to Fed Acct 

in 5 yrs — Govs 

8 

INSIDE

2 — VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 2018

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 2018—3

4—VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 2018 

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

1.1bn Malabu scam: AGF tackles EFCC, 

alleges shoddy investigation by Magu 

•Insists key players were not charged for fraud 

•As court rules on Adoke’s suit to stop trial Feb 28 

By Ikechukwu 

Nnochiri 

ABUJA — THE 

Attorney-General of the 

Federation and Minister of 

Justice, Mr. Abubakar 

Malami, SAN, has, in a 

fresh memo, tackled the 

Economic and Financial 

Crimes Commission, EFCC, 

for not conducting a 

thorough investigation in the 

$1.1 billion Malabu Oil 

fraud. 

The AGF, in the memo 

marked DPPA/FMPR/108/ 

17, queried Acting Chairman 

of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim 

Magu, who he said should 

explain why some “principal 

players” in the alleged 

fraudulent sale of OPL 245 

were not included as 

defendants in any of the 

charges the anti-graft 

agency filed in court. 

Specifically, Malami, in the 

letter he addressed to Magu, 

noted that key suspects, such 

as one Rasky Gbinigie, who 

was Company Secretary of 

Malabu Oil and Gas Ltd and 

who he said was 

instrumental in the filing of 

forms at the Corporate Affairs 

Commission that fraudently 

changed the directors and 

the share structure of the 

company, was not charged 

by the EFCC. 

He equally observed that 

two other persons, Seidugha 

Munamuna and Kweku 

Amefegha, who were not 

only consistent directors of 

the oil firm, but held varying 

share allotments in the 

company, were exempted 

from prosecution by the antigraft 

commission. 

Malami said he was 

dissatified with the level of 

investigation that was 

conducted by the EFCC, 

after he vetted the case-file 

that contained charges 

against the former AGF, Mr. 

Mohammed Adoke, SAN, as 

well as a former Minister of 

Petroleum Resources, Chief 

Dan Etete, among others. 

He maintained that a 

review of the case-file 

indicated that the entire proof 

of evidence EFCC adduced 

after its investigations, would 

not support the charge of 

fraud, conspiracy and 

money laundering it levelled 

against Adoke and his codefendants. 

Malami said it was, 

therefore, unrealistic for the 

EFCC to proceed with 

charges against the Malabu 

Oil deal scam suspects as 

currently constituted. 

While demanding a more 

holistic investigation, the 

AGF directed the EFCC to 

take steps to urgently file an 

application for a worldwide 

Mareva injunction and or for 

forfeiture of assets of 

beneficiaries of the $1.1 

billion Malabu Oil deal, 

pending the conclusion of 

the investigation. 

Meantime, the Federal 

High Court in Abuja, 

yesterday, admitted 

Malami’s letter, dated 

September 20, 2017, as an 

exhibit in a suit seeking to 

quash EFCC’s charge 

against Adoke and others 

fingered in the Malabu 

fraud. 

Justice Binta Nyako 

admitted the letter after it 

was tendered by Adoke’s 

legal team led by a former 

AGF, Chief Kanu Agabi, 

SAN. 

Adoke had gone before 

the court to challenge the 

competence of two sets of 

criminal charges EFCC 

preferred against him over 

the alleged oil bloc fraud, 

contending that he only 

played intermediary role in 

the enforcement of an out-ofcourt 

settlement deal that 

preceded his assumption to 

office as an AGF under 

former President Goodluck 

Jonathan. 

Justice Nyako fixed 

February 28 to determine the 

merit of Adoke’s suit. 

FORUM: From left, CEO, Global Alliance for Vaccines and 

Immunisation, GAVI, Dr. Seth Berkley; Chairman of the board, GAVI, 

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; and CEO, Avon Medical Practice & 

Chairperson, Avon Healthcare, Dr. Awele Elumelu, following the 

announcement of Dr Elumelu as the GAVI Champion for 

Immunisation in Africa, at a ceremony held on the sideline of the 

ongoing World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, yesterday. 

Justice Abang to Metuh: Appear in 

court Feb 5 or go to jail 

By Ikechukwu 

Nnochiri 

A BUJA—JUSTICE 

Okon Abang of the 

Federal High Court in 

Abuja, yesterday, 

threatened to order the 

arrest of former National 

Publicity Secretary of 

Peoples Democratic Party, 

PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, 

should he fail to appear in 

court on February 5 for 

continuation of his criminal 

trial. 

Justice Abang said Metuh 

would be arrested and 

remanded in prison 

custody, pending the 

conclusion of the charge 

against him, in the event 

that he failed to attend 

proceeding on the next 

adjourned date. 

The court said it was not 

persuaded by claim that 

Metuh was lying critically 

ill at Nnamdi Azikiwe 

University Teaching 

Hospital at Nnewi in 

Anambra State. 

Justice Abang discribed 

as meritorous, an 

application by Economic 

and Financial Crimes 

Commission, EFCC, which 

prayed the court to revoke 

Metuh’s bail over his 

failure to appear for his 

trial on three consecutive 

dates. 

Metuh had at the 

resumed proceeding on 

case, Monday, pleaded the 

court through his team of 

lawyers, to suspend his trial 

to enable him to receive 

proper medical attention. 

Meanwhile, ruling on 

the application,yesterday, 

Justice Abang upheld 

EFCC’s position, saying 

the “purported medical 

report is a trash, a useless 

paper only dumped on the 

court that is meant for a 

trash bin.” 

The court said the letter 

was strategically aimed at 

delaying the trial, 

maintaining that it was 

designed as a subtle way 

of staying further 

proceeding in the trial. 

Justice Abang held that 

the letter from the hospital 

was fraudulently 

smuggled into his record 

by a person unknown to 

the court, with the intent 

to mislead the court. 

He said: “The person 

who submitted that letter 

must be known to the court, 

in this instant case, he is 

unknown. 

“The court of law cannot 

rely on a public document 

tendered by a none party in 

a suit; it has no charge 

number and violated the 

three ways by which a public 

document can be submitted 

before a court.” 

Moreso, the court 

observed that the said letter 

was not accompanied by a 

verifiable affidavit. 

Justice Abang said he was 

appalled that the medical 

report was full of medical 

terms he said did not make 

any meaning to the court. 

He, therefore, rejected the 

purported medical report, 

saying he was of the view 

that Metuh failed to attend 

his trial without cogent 

reason. 

Justice Abang stressed 

that though EFCC did not 

request for Metuh’s arrest, 

he said: “It is my view that 

fact of arrest of the 1st 

defendant is inherent in 

revocation of the bail. 

“Arrest is a consequential 

order. If the 1st defendant’s 

bail is revoked, he will be 

arrested. The outcome of his 

response when he appears 

in court shall determine 

whether or not to put him 

in prison, the court held." 

APC govt, lame duck 

— PDP 

By Dirisu 

Yakubu 

A BUJA—PEOPLES 

Democratic Party, PDP, 

has taken a swipe at the All 

Progressives Congress, 

APC, labelling its 

government weak and lame 

duck. 

The party also stated that 

having failed woefully to 

justify the mandate 

entrusted to it by Nigerians 

in 2015, the APC should be 

ready to quit the stage for 

the PDP in 2019. 

National Chairman of the 

party, Prince Uche 

Secondus, stated this while 

playing host to forum of 

former PDP Ministers who 

paid him a courtesy visit. 

According to Secondus, 

National Working 

Committee, NWC, under 

his leadership will provide 

a fertile ground for 

democracy to grow. 

Stressing that the era of 

imposition and impunity 

was gone for good, 

Secondus said: “The NWC 

is putting all the necessary 

strategies together, and we 

assure you that come 2019, 

Nigerians will vote for PDP. 

APC has failed woefully. 

"Our nation is in a 

situation where PDP must 

save this nation from total 

collapse. The government 

of APC has become lame 

duck after former President 

Olusegun Obasanjo 

released a political tsunami 

and verdict on the 

government. 

“The best way to go from 

where we found ourselves 

today is to make sure that 

we conduct very 

transparent elections, be it 

the congresses or the 

primaries. I want to assure 

you that the old system of 

imposition or any other 

thing that will go contrary 

to our constitution will be 

far off from the NWC 

members. We will not go 

that way." 

Responding on behalf of 

the ex-ministers, chairman 

of the forum, Kabiru Turaki, 

SAN, expressed 

confidence in the NWC, 

adding that apart from the 

PDP, other political 

platforms were mere clubs 

and associations. 

He stated: “We expect 

that with the kind of leaders 

we have in our NWC now, 

the war to bring back what 

rightly belongs to us has 

started." 

Fuel scarcity: Senate gives FG 

one-week ultimatum 

By Henry Umoru 

ABUJA—WORRIED by 

unending queues at 

petrol stations across the 

country, Senate, yesterday, 

gave a seven-day 

ultimatum to Federal 

Government and Nigerian 

National Petroleum 

Corporation, NNPC, to nip 

the crisis in the bud. 

The resolution of the 

Senate was sequel to 

unanimous adoption of a 

report of the Joint 

Committee on Petroleum 

Resources (Downstream) 

over the lingering fuel crisis. 

In his presentation, 

Chairman of the committee, 

Kabiru Marafa (APC, 

Zamfara Central), 

disclosed that the panel 

recommended that NNPC 

be given a seven-day 

ultimatum to ensure the 

disappearance of the 

queues from fuel stations 

across the country. 

According to Marafa, the 

committee stressed the 

need for security agencies 

to ensure effective border 

patrol to check diversion of 

petroleum products to 

neighbouring countries. 

He said the committee 

also recommended that 

Department for Petroleum 

Resources, DPR, should 

double efforts to enforce 

compliance with 

government’s regulated 

pump price of petroleum 

products. 

In the report, the 

committee also 

emphasized the need for 

security agencies to ensure 

effective border patrol to 

check diversion of 

petroleum products to 

neighbouring African 

countries. 

Marafa said: “During the 

recess, the committee 

moved around some cities, 

including Abuja and 

Lagos, to ascertain the 

situation on ground. When 

we think that we are 

making progress, we just 

realised that the queues 

were resurfacing at the 

stations. 

“We also engaged with 

the NNPC and other 

stakeholders and we were 

informed that there were 

challenges of supply, 

coupled with massive 

smuggling of petroleum 

products to neighbouring 

countries for higher prices. 

Also, there is the problem 

of marketers selling above 

approved pump prices." 

In his remarks, Senate 

President, Dr Bukola 

Saraki, urged the 

management of NNPC to 

ensure compliance with 

the resolution as well as 

work assiduously towards 

the disappearance of long 

queues within the next 

seven days.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, 

JANUARY 26, 2018—5 

POCKET CARTOON 

PDP RECONCILIATION—From left: PDP Deputy National Chairman (South), Elder Yemi 

Akinwunmi; Chairman Reconciliation Committee, Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State and 

Secretary of the Committee, Mr. Onyema Ugochukwu, during a meeting with some aggrieved members 

at PDP Headquarters, Wadata House, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida. 

Reasons for New Year Day Benue massacre 

Continues from Page 1 

herdsmen in parts of the 

country, especially 

Benue,was a result of the 

promulgation of antiopen 

grazing laws and 

blockade of grazing 

routes. 

He also said the 

Federal Government has 

directed security 

agencies to tackle the 

propagation of hate 

speech, especially 

through social media, 

adding that government 

has also agreed to pay 

$494 million for the 

purchase of Super 

Tucoma aircraft from the 

United States, with the 

deadline for payment set 

for February 20. 

Dan-Ali, who fielded 

questions from State 

House correspondents 

after the quarterly 

National Security 

Council meeting with 

President Muhammadu 

Buhari at the 

Presidential Villa, 

Abuja, said: “Yes, we did 

discuss solutions to the 

clashes. First, I talked 

about this commission on 

proliferation of arms into 

the country. You see, 

whatever crisis that 

happens at any time, 

there are remote and 

immediate causes. 

“Look at this issue 

(killings in Benue and 

Taraba). What is the 

remote causes of this 

farmers’ crisis? Since the 

nation’s Independence, 

we know there used to be 

a route which the cattle 

rearers take because 

they are all over the 

nation. You go to 

Bayelsa, Ogun, you will 

see them. If those routes 

are blocked, what do you 

expect will happen? 

Herdsmen are 

also Nigerians 

“These people are 

Nigerians. It is just like 

one going to block 

shoreline, does that 

make sense to you? 

These are the remote 

causes of the crisis. But 

the immediate cause is 

the grazing law. 

“These people are 

Nigerians and we must 

learn to live together 

with each other. 

Communities and other 

people must learn how to 

accept foreigners within 

their enclave. Finish!” 

Asked if he was 

justifying the killings 

because of blocking of 

the routes, the minister 

said: “You are going 

away from what I came 

here to do. However, this 

is internal security, I can 

provide some answers. I 

have told you that the 

remote cause is part of 

the grazing law. Since 

independence there are 

clear routes where these 

people pass. 

Benue: It’s a 

communal 

issue 

“On the issue of arms, 

they are all over. In those 

killings you are talking 

about, there are also 

militias that also did the 

killings. Some people 

were caught with arms 

and they call themselves 

forest guards or 

whatever, with AK-47. 

“There is nowhere in 

this country where arms 

are allowed to be carried, 

apart from security 

forces. So anybody 

carrying any arms is 

doing so illegally. 

Militias were caught in 

the same land doing the 

same killings, so the 

killings are not done by 

any particular group; it’s 

a communal issue.” 

Benue killings 

carried out by 

foreign militias 

Asked if the killings 

were perpetrated by 

foreign terrorists or 

militias, Dan-Ali said: 

“Of course, that is why I 

said they are militias. 

Militias are part of 

illegal immigrants. They 

are the people.” 

On the composition of 

the proliferation of arms 

commission, the minister 

said members of the 

National Commission 

were drawn from all 

security services, 

including the Office of 

the National Security 

Adviser, Ministry of 

Defence as well as 

Ministry of Interior, 

adding that it would be 

headed by a retired 

general. 

On whether the 

security meeting 

discussed the issue of 

ranching, which is the 

internationally accepted 

practice, against 

grazing, Dan-Ali said: 

“This is clearly the 

Minister of Agriculture's 

issue. Like I have said, 

what we had before now 

were clearly demarcated 

routes. 

“You are talking about 

ranches and colonies, all 

are the same but we have 

a collaboration with the 

Ministry of Interior and 

the Ministry of 

Agriculture. They are 

trying to come up with 

what they call agrorangers.” 

On hate speech 

through social media, 

the minister described 

the trend as worrisome, 

saying “relevant 

security agencies should 

as a matter of urgency 

tackle the propagation of 

hate speech through the 

social media, particularly 

by some notable 

Nigerians.’’ 

Other issues 

On other issues 

Continues on Page 41 

On the loss of 16 million jobs in 2017 (2) 

By Bose Bose Adelaja, Adelaja, 

Bartholomew Madukwe Madukwe & & 

Frederick Okopie 

According to the Minister 

of Labour, Chris 

Ngige, this government 

has created well over 

seven million jobs and 

you know APC only 

promised three million 

jobs during their campaign. 

So it is a job well 

done for this Buhari-led 

government. 

*Miss Yetunde 

Oladiti, Stylist 

The level of unemployment 

in Nigeria 

is alarming. The youths 

should try to create employment 

for themselves, 

if the government fails. 

However, the truth is that 

we have a situation 

where looting is massive 

but restricted to an elite 

class of looters. 

*Miss Kubura Aremu, 

Model 

The only way out from 

this issue of unemployment 

in Nigeria is 

for our lawmakers to 

wake up; they have been 

sleeping for over 20 

years. My only worry is 

that most Nigerian 

youths support politicians 

based on primordial 

sentiments. 

*Miss Idowu 

Kikelomo, Student 

It is sad and shameful 

that in Nigeria, apart 

from not finding jobs, 

people are actually losing 

the ones they 

had. No jobs were created 

but this government 

is taking from Nigerians 

the ones they already 

have. Anything can happen 

when people lose 

their jobs. 

*Mr Ismail 

Abiodun, Self-employed 

I 

don't doubt the figure 

because the past and 

present labour leaders and 

ministers are not the right pegs 

in the right holes. 

I'm over 60 years and I have 

enjoyed Nigeria in my 

younger days; the reverse is 

the case now with poverty all 

over the country. I am bold to 

say that the present leadership 

of Nigeria has no plan for 

Nigerian workers, even before 

assuming office.Way out is for 

youths to wake up and fully 

participate in governance by 

getting their PVCs ready. 

*Abayomi Owoyele, Pastor 

This shows that the 

government has not 

given priority to Nigerian 

graduates unlike other 

countries of the world which 

have various programmes to 

accomodate them. 

The year 2017 budget 

allocated a paltry percentage 

to the education sector thereby 

neglecting the students. No 

wonder the figure of the 

unemplyed has astronomically 

increased.Neglect and lack of 

attention are contributing 

factors. 

*Tayo Akinbohun, Student

Y 

6—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 2018 

‘Babachir 

cooperating 

with EFCC’ 

By Soni Daniel 

ABUJA—ON 

the 

second night of his 

detention by the Economic 

and Financial Crimes 

Commission, EFCC, over 

alleged mismanagement of 

about N200 million from the 

Presidential Initiative for 

the North-East, PINE, 

indications emerged that 

the former Secretary to the 

Government of the 

Federation, SGF, Mr. 

Babachir Lawal, was sober 

and responding to his 

interrogators. 

Sources said the 

operatives were not leaving 

any stone unturned in 

unearthing any misconduct 

related to the diversion of 

the N200 million and other 

scams in the PINE when 

Babachir held sway as SGF. 

According to a source last 

night, “as we speak, the 

former SGF is still with 

EFCC operatives, telling 

them all he knows about the 

award of the N200 million 

contract to a firm allegedly 

belonging to him. 

“I cannot say at this point 

if the former government 

scribe will be granted 

administrative bail on selfrecognition 

or not.” 

Meanwhile, spokesman 

for EFCC, Samin 

Ammadin, confirmed that 

Babachir was still with 

them, adding that nothing 

“has changed” from where 

he was the previous night. 

It will be recalled that the 

EFCC, on Wednesday, 

detained Babachir over his 

alleged involvement in the 

N200 million contract scam. 

Babachir was first 

suspended from office on 

the orders of President 

Muhammadu Buhari last 

April, when the Senate 

Committee headed by 

Senator Shehu Sani 

exposed how he used a 

firm, reportedly owned by 

him, to award N200 million 

contract to himself. 

Although he claimed to 

have resigned from the firm 

after getting the top federal 

job, the special panel 

headed by the Vice 

President, Professor Yemi 

Osinbajo, indicted him, 

leading to his removal. 

Zambia arrests Nigerian 

prophet for drug trafficking 

ZAMBIAN 

authorities 

have arrested a Nigerian 

pastor, Isaac Amata, 42, for 

allegedly trafficking 26.29 

kilogramme of ephedrine, a 

medication and stimulant drug, 

a spokesperson said yesterday. 

Pastor Amata is known for 

having predicted that President 

Edgar Lungu will win Zambia’s 


NDLEA discovers N26m India hemp in Edo 

By Gabriel Enogholase 

BENIN—OPERATIVES of 

the Nigeria Drug Law 

Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, 

Edo State Command, have 

discovered a warehouse used 

for the storing of large 

quantities of cannabis, 

otherwise known as India hemp 

worth over N26 million. 

A statement by the State 

AKURE—A cleric, Oladele 

Ayuba, has been arrested 

for advanced fee fraud, after 

reportedly tricking 

unsuspecting victims of 

amounts ranging from 

N300,000 to N36 million. 

Ayuba was paraded 

alongside two other suspects for 

offences ranging from obtaining 

by false pretence to illegal 

possession of counterfeit money 

and vandalism of transformer 

by the Nigeria Security and 

Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, 

Ondo State Command. 

The Corps Commandant, 

Pedro Ideba, gave the names 

of the other two suspects as 

Abiodun Oluwaseun and 

Jayeola Tosin. 

On the cleric’s case, Pedro 

said: “Ayuba was arrested 

following a complaint by one 

of his victims, Tajudeen 

Ekundayo, who lost N4,300,000 

to him. 

“Immediately the complaint 

was lodged at the Command 

headquarters, my men swung 

into action and arrested the 

man, who is the kingpin of a 

syndicate in Arigidi Akoko, 

while other members of the 

syndicate are still at large.” 

Pedro added that so many 

criminal activities ranging from 

kidnapping to ritual killing and 

fraud have been traced to the 

cleric, who hails from Ilorin, 

Kwara State. 

Also paraded was one 

Oluwaseun, who specialised in 

printing and spending 

counterfeit Naira. He was 

arrested after using N24,000, 

in fake N1,000 denomination, 

to buy goods from one 

provision seller. 

Pedro said the woman 

reported the case to the 

command and the men of the 

Corps trailed the syndicate and 

arrested one of them, while 

others are still at large. 

Commandant of the NDLEA, 

Mr. Wakawa Buba, said the 

warehouse was discovered in 

a thick forest at Ugbubezi 

village in Owan West Local 

Government Area of Edo State. 

He disclosed that the 

cannabis, weighing 

1,996kilogramme, in 34 

compressed bags and 94 bags 

of dried weeds, were recovered 

from the illegal warehouse. 

Buba said the discovery, 

which led to the arrest of two 

suspects, was made possible 

by intelligence report. 

He said: “Two suspects 

were arrested and are 

currently undergoing 

interrogation. The command 

has spread its dragnet to 

apprehend other members of 

the cannabis cartel and other 

drug traffickers in Edo State.” 

Man kills his 5-da 

By Suzan Edeh 

BAUCHI—POLICE 

in 

Bauchi State have arrested 

one Habibu Bala of Ningi Local 

Government area of the state for 

allegedly killing his five-dayold 

son with insecticide, 

because “I have no money to 

organise naming ceremony for 

the child.” 

The Police Public Relations 

Cleric arrested for duping victims of N36m 

By Dayo Johnson 

2016 general election. 

He was arrested by antidrug 

officers on Wednesday 

upon arrival at the Kenneth 

Kaunda International Airport 

in Lusaka, the country’s 

capital, according to Drug 

Enforcement Commission 

spokesperson, Theresa 

Katongo. 

The cleric's tools of trade. 

32-yr land tussle fallout: Man docked 

over threat to burn monarch’s palace 

•All a ploy to throw him in jail—Defence 

By Onozure Dania 

LAGOS—A 67-year-old 

man, Shamsideen 

Adebimpe, who allegedly 

threatened to burn down the 

palace of the Oni Isheri of 

Isheri Olofin in Alimosho Local 

Government Area, Lagos, Oba 

Wahab Ayinde Balogun, has 

been charged before an 

Igbosere Magistrate’s Court. 

Adebimpe, who resides at 

Adebimpe Avenue, Old Isheri 

Olofin, is standing trial on a 

six-count charge bordering on 

conspiracy, breach of peace, 

arson threat and contempt of 

court preferred against him by 

the Police. 

It was reported that trouble 

started after a Lagos High 

Court judgment on a land 

dispute was won by the 

monarch, after 32 years of 

litigation. 

The prosecutor, Inspector 

Stephen Molo, told the court 

that Adebimpe and others, who 

are still at large, committed the 

alleged offences between June 

2012 and September 2017, at 

Isheri Olofin. 

Allegations 

Molo said the defendant and 

his accomplices acted in a 

manner likely to cause breach 

of the peace in the area. 

He said they “mobilised 

hoodlums to sing inciting 

songs and rained abuses on 

His Royal Majesty, Oba 

Wahab Ayinde Balogun. 

“They caused to be 

published and circulated, 

publications in newspapers 

and leaflets which were likely 

to provoke and bring 

disaffection on the residents 

of Isheri Olofin Kingdom.” 

The prosecutor also told the 

court that the publications 

were also likely to cause fear 

and alarm in Isheri Olofin. 

“On the same date and 

place, with intent to 

intimidate and annoy Oba 

Balogun, his family members 

and subjects, the defendant 

threatened to burn down his 

palace,” Molo added. 

According to him, 

Adebimpe, “without lawful 

excuse, disobeyed the lawful 

judgment of Hon Justice L. 

B. Lawal-Akapo delivered on 

May 15, 2012 by trespassing 

and illegally selling the land 

of Isheri Olofin Kingdom.” 

The alleged offences 

committed are contrary to and 

punishable under sections 

39(1), 56(1), 57(1) (b), 104(1) 

(h) (i), 168(1) (d), 412 of the 

Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 

2015. 

Adebimpe, who was docked 

before Chief Magistrate O. O. 

Oshin, pleaded not guilty to the 

charges. 

His counsel, Mrs P. Nwanna, 

applied for his bail on liberal 

terms, adding “most of the 

counts are just a ploy to throw 

the defendant in jail.” 

Bail objection 

However, Molo objected to her 

application for the defendant’s 

bail, saying “the defendant has 

been on the run for a long time. 

He committed some of those 

acts from hiding. 

“If he is granted bail on liberal 

terms, he will never appear in 

court. The Police had to track 

him through phone calls. He 

poses a serious threat.” 

Magistrate Oshin granted 

Adebimpe N500,000 bail with 

two sureties in like sum. 

She said one of the sureties 

must be a Level 15 civil servant 

in Lagos State, while the other 

must be self-employed and 

provide evidence of his 

business as well as a six-month 

bank statement. 

The case was adjourned till 

March 12 for a mention. 

C

C 

M 

Y 

K 

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 2018—7 


y-old because ‘I don't have money for naming ceremony’ 

Officer of the state Police 

Command, DSP Kamal 

Abubakar, disclosed this 

yesterday, while briefing 

newsmen on the successful 

operations carried out within the 

week. 

According to him, on January 

21, the suspect’s brother, one 

Musa Bala, reported at the 

Ningi Police Station that on the 

same date at about 2:30p.m., his 

By Chinenyeh Ozor 

SOME traders, yesterday, 

recounted how they lost all 

they had laboured for over the 

years to a midnight fire outbreak 

at Nsukka Industrial Market, 

Enugu State, that razed goods 

worth over N50 million and six 

cars. 

Vanguard gathered that the 

fire started around 5a.m. on 

Tuesday, burnt two automobile 

electrical shops and two motor 

mechanics shops to ashes before 

the intervention of fire service 

men. 

Investigations revealed that 

nobody at the market could give 

account of how the fire started, 

as there had been power outage 

at the market for over two weeks. 

Market head speaks 

The chairman of the market, 

Chief Silas Eze, said: “Nobody 

was around to say exactly what 

happened. We were contacted 

on phone over the incident. 

“What was lost to the fire 

incident is not less than N50 

million. Six cars, three big power 

generating plants, deep freezer, 

batteries among others outside 

the building. 

“We are appealing to Enugu 

State Emergency Management 

Agency, ESEMA, to provide 

relief materials to the victims of 

the fire.” 

Victims' stories 

One of the affected shop 

owners, an emotional 

automobile electrician, Mr. 

Christopher Ozulu, said he lost 

all his life savings and what he 

has laboured for over 30 years. 

Another victim, Mr. Isiogu 

Nwabueze, said five Mercedes 

Benz cars parked for repairs at 

his shop were burnt beyond 

recognition together with two 

Tokunbo motor engines among 

other items. 

His words: “What pained me 

most are my customers’ vehicles 

that were burnt to ashes. How 

do I go about it? If they asked 

me to give them their cars what 

do I do? 

“The cost of the five Mercedes 

Benz should be close to N3 

million. Where will I raise that 

kind of cash?” 

Another mechanic, Onyeka 

Ugwu, said he lost two engine 

gears of his customers, shafts 

and other numerous items to the 

inferno. 

Mr. Ugwuanyi Nnaemeka, 

another automobile electrician, 

younger brother poisoned his 

newborn son by feeding him 

insecticide. 

“As a result the baby became 

unconscious and was later taken 

to Ningi General Hospital, where 

a medical doctor certified him 

dead,” he added. 

The Police spokesman also 

noted that on January 17, one 

Samaila Bulus and Musa Bulus, 

residents of Boloji Ward, Toro 

Local Government, reported 

at Toro Police Station that on 

the same date, at about 

9:30p.m., they left their 65- 

year-old father, one Bulus Azi, 

with their younger brother, 

one Nuhu Bulus, 17, but 

discovered on their return that 

the boy inflicted serious 

injuries on their father. 

Abubakar further revealed 

that the suspect hit the man 

several times with metal pots 

and woods, which led to his 

death after being rushed to 

hospital. 

Meanwhile, Nuhu Bulus 

explained that he murdered 

his father due to a 

misunderstanding that ensued 

between them, adding that he 

was intoxicated with hard drugs 

when he committed the 

offence. 

Traders bemoan N50m goods, six cars burnt in Nsukka Industrial Market fire 

The remains of the burnt properties. 

said that one Golf 3, belonging 

to his customer, was consumed 

By Peter Duru 

M AKURDI—DESPITE 

efforts by security 

personnel to stem the killings in 

Benue State, a Police officer and 

a farmer were, in the early hours 

of yesterday, killed in a fresh 

attack by herdsmen at Uvir 

Council Ward of Guma Local 

Government Area of state. 

Vanguard, yesterday, gathered 

that the attack left several persons 

hospitalised, while many others 

are still missing. 

Governor Samuel Ortom, who 

confirmed the killings while 

receiving former Governor of 

Kano State, Senator Rabiu 

Kwankwaso, said: “Guma, my 

place, was attacked yesterday by 

herdsmen. This time they killed 

their victim and burnt his 

remains. 

“Early today (yesterday) a 

Mobile Police man was also killed 

in Guma by the invaders. Some 

persons are still missing and 

those injured have been 

hospitalised in Makurdi. 

“They should get these people; 

that is my worry because we 

cannot continue to live this way. 

“This is the time our people 

by the fire outbreak in the 

market, while every other 

harvest their farm produce 

and also prepare for the next 

farming season. 

“About 80,000 of them have 

been displaced and their 

farms destroyed. The 

implication is that we may be 

faced with food shortages in 

Benue State, if not the entire 

country. 

“That is the more reason 

why this issue must be 

addressed as soon as 

possible, so that the people 

can go back to their farms.” 

Gov Ortom 

Meanwhile, the governor 

has insisted that he will 

continue to cry out until justice 

is done to the matter and the 

marauding killer-herdsmen 

stopped in the interest of 

Nigerians. 

Governor Ortom said: 

“People, who are saying that 

I am talking too much should 

give me justice and I will keep 

quiet. These people are not 

just grazing, but are coming 

to take over our land. 

“And they want me to keep 

quiet. How can I keep quiet? 

As long as there is no justice, 

thing in his shop was burnt 

to ashes. 

Ortom, Kwankwaso mourn as 

herdsmen kill policeman, farmer 

I will continue to shout, talk 

and sing.” 

Kwankwaso’s condoles 

Benue people 

Earlier, Senator 

Kwankwaso, who led 

members of his Kwankwasiya 

Foundation to pay a 

condolence visit to the 

government and people of the 

state over the killings, said: 

“I join the good people of the 

country to condemn those 

who perpetrated these killings 

and similar acts in Nasarawa, 

Taraba, Adamawa and other 

states of the country.” 

Speaking on the deaths, 

Benue State Police 

Commissioner, Fatai 

Owoseni, said the force was 

investigating the killing of the 

farmer, stressing that “it 

could be an issue of culpable 

homicide, but it is still being 

investigated.” 

The Commissioner said his 

men who were on patrol in 

Guma council were 

ambushed by unknown armed 

men, explaining that one was 

shot on the leg and another 

was missing. 

Police in 

Jigawa raid 

hideouts of 

drug peddlers, 

arrest 14 

By Aliyu Dangida 

THE Jigawa Police 

Command said it 

raided three hideouts of 

drug peddlers, where it 

arrested 14 suspects in 

Dutse Local Government 

Area of the state. 

SP Abdu Jinjiri, the 

Police spokesman in the 

state, who confirmed the 

arrest in Dutse yesterday, 

said the raid was carried 

out by men of the 

Command at Yantifa, 

Three Star Junction and 

Gindin Dinya areas 

suspected to be the 

hideouts of the drug 

peddlers. 

Jinjiri said: “The raid 

was carried out yesterday 

at about 4p.m after the 

Command received 

intelligence reports on 

activities of the suspects. 

“The raid was part of the 

command’s resolve to 

clamp down on drug 

peddlers and drug 

abusers in the state.” 

He, however, said seven 

of the suspects were 

released after they were 

found to be Innocent, 

adding that the other 

seven will be charged to 

court as soon as 

investigation into the case 

was completed. 

Live 

ammunition, 

fatigues 

recovered from 

Jigawa 

‘soldier’ 

THE Jigawa Command 

of the National Drug 

Law Enforcement Agency, 

NDLEA, yesterday, said it 

arrested a 27-year-old man 

with five live ammunition 

and a set of military 

camouflage. 

Also found on the suspect 

was a knife, a cell phone 

and N1,000, the agency’s 

spokesman, Mairiga Ya’u, 

said in a statement in 

Dutse. 

According to him, the 

suspect, who gave his 

name as Abdullahi 

Ibrahim, was apprehended 

on January 21. 

“The suspect, who was 

arrested by men of the 

command while on routine 

patrol, had no means of 

identification as military 

man,” he said. 

Ya’u added that the 

suspect attempted to bribe 

the NDLEA officers with 

N500,000 to release him.



BRIEFING: From left, President of newly-registered Premium Breakmakers Association 

of Nigeria, PBAN, Mr. Tosan Jemide; Vice President, Bose Ladi Ofolu; Mr. Ladipo Ajayi, 

Assistant Secretary and Prof. Olugbenro Oyekan, Secretary, at its maiden press conference, 

in Lagos. 

Obasanjo’s Letter: Yakassai, others 

urge Buhari to heed advice 

By Clifford 

Ndujihe, Omeiza 

Ajayi, 

AbdulSalam 

Muhammad & Ike 

Uchechukwu 

SOME 

eminent 

Nigerians and political 

parties, yesterday, picked 

holes in the Federal 

Government’s response to 

former President Olusegun 

Obasanjo’s advice to 


Buhari not to seek re-election 

in 2019 on account of illhealth 

and poor 

performance among others. 

In response to Obasanjo, 

the Federal Government in 

a statement by Minister of 

Information, Culture and 

Tourism, Alhaji Lai 

Mohammed, described the 

letter and advice as 

distractions to the ongoing 

move of the government to 

address the enormous 

challenges bequeathed by 

previous administrations, 

insisting that the 

government is doing well 

and recorded many 

achievements in various 

sectors of governance. 

Buhari'll not listen 

to voice of reason 

— Yakassai 

Responding to the Federal 

Government’s response, 

elder statesman, Alhaji 

Tanko Yakasai, said 

President Buhari’s 

desperation for power would 

not allow him to listen to voice 

of reason at this critical 

period 

Yakasai, who noted that 

Obasanjo has not done 

anything new but only 

playing with emotions, said: 

“Obasanjo letter was an 

expression 

of 

disappointment in Buhari’s 

administration and it 

summarises the feelings of 

Nigerians and non- 

Nigerians. The Buhari that 

I know would certainly 

jettison the advice because 

of his desperation for power. 

He is after power and 

doesn’t see anything else.” 

Obasanjo is sincere 

—ACPN 

Also, the Allied Congress 

Party of Nigeria, ACPN, 

National Chairman, Alhaji 

Galadima, said: “The advice 

of former President 

Olusegun Obasanjo to 

President Buhari not to 

contest in 2019 is apt and 

sincere. 

“Chief Obasanjo is a 

former Nigerian president 

known for his truth and 

bluntness. He is different 

from other partisan Nigerian 

leaders who engage in 

macabre dance of shame 

and insincerity. He says his 

own not minding whose ox 

is gored." 

Buhari not worthy 

of leading 

Nigerians —ADP 

National Secretary of Action 

Democratic Party, ADP, 

James Okoroma, said 

Obasanjo was right in his 

submissions and “has set 

the stage for a new Nigeria. 

The damage caused by the 

Buhari Government is 

enormous and we must 

endeavour to rebuild our 

country. 

"The former President 

made it clear in his 

statement that the Buhari 

government is a 

monumental failure. 

According to Obasanjo, 

Buhari cannot be credited 

with any achievement in any 

sector: Security, education, 

economy, national cohesion 

and infrastructural 

development. Never have 

we been as divided as we 

are today. 

Obasanjo spoke 

the minds of 

Nigerians 

— Ukweni 

To Mr. Mba Ekpezu 

Ukweni, SAN, who 

criticised President Buhari 

over bad governance, 

Obasanjo spoke the minds of 

Nigerians and at the right 

time. 

His words: “It was 

something that has been 

bordering him and a lot of 

Nigerians for a long time. The 

statement was apt, 

appropriate and direct to the 

point. Ninety eight per cent 

of Nigerians know what is 

going on and any person 

who thinks that the statement 

is not appropriate in the 

circumstance, is misguiding 

himself. 

“We welcome his statement. 

This is not something that the 

APC or the President should 

take as a careless statement, 

it is a statement that they 

need to reflect upon and 

know that Nigerians can no 

longer be taken for granted." 

Ukweni criticised President 

Buhari for not giving 

Nigerians the governance 

they expected. “It is the most 

barbaric and illegal act that a 

country and government 

should condone the killings 

of Nigerians by Fulani 

headsmen." 

Why I met Maina; what Buhari knew 

—Malami 

THE Attorney General of 

the Federation and 

Minister 

of 

Justice, Abubakar Malami, 

has said he had no regrets 

meeting with the fugitive 

former chairman of the 

Presidential Task Force on 

Pensions, Abdulrasheed 

Maina, in Dubai. 

“If hundreds of Mainas 

believe that they have 

information to offer as far as 

the protection of the national 

interest is concerned, I will 

meet them and will do so 

again,” Malami said in his 

first public interview in the 

current edition of The 

Interview magazine. 

After a spell in exile, 

Maina who has been 

accused of stealing N2 

billion public pension, 

returned to Nigeria and was 

re-absorbed into service. 

It is widely believed that 

Maina’s meeting with 

Malami in Dubai two years 

ago, paved the way for his 

return and reinstatement, a 

move that has sparked 

widespread public outrage. 

In the interview, Malami 

said his meeting was in 

pursuit of national interest. 

“It boils down to whether I 

have indeed acted or I 

have not acted,” he said. 

He added that without 

naming the specific 

examples, that information 

provided by Maina had 

helped in “solidifying 

(fraud) cases in terms of 

conviction” and recovering 

stolen funds. 

Malami said 


Buhari came to be aware of 

his 

meeting 

with Maina much later, 

“out of a desire to see for his 

(Buhari’s) directives relating 

to its application for the 

purpose of blocking 

leakages associated with the 

looting of pension funds.” 

The MD/Editor-in-Chief of 

The Interview, Azu 

Ishiekwene, described 

Malami’s interview as “the 

first real window into the 

mind of a man who has been 

central to one of the most 

vexatious public issues in 

recent times.” 

Malami also described 

the continued detention of 

Sheik Ibrahim El-Zakzaky 

and his wife, and former 

National Security Adviser, 

Sambo Dasuki, as acts of 

“public interest,” denying 

suggestions the suspects 

had become political 

prisoners. 

Diezani faults EFCC over 

$1.3bn NNPC withdrawal 

FORMER Minister of 

Petroleum Resources, 

Mrs Diezani Alison- 

Madueke, has faulted 

claims of Economic and 

Financial Crimes 

Commission, EFCC, that 

she withdrew $1.3 billion 

from accounts of Nigerian 

National Petroleum 

Corporation, NNPC, for 

her personal use. 

In a statement signed by 

her Media Adviser, Mr. 

Clem Aguiyi, the former 

minister said: ‘’The 

attention of Mrs. Diezani 

Alison-Madueke, former 

Minister of Petroleum 

Resources, has been drawn 

to a news story, entitled 

‘Diezani in trouble again 

over withdrawal of $1.3bn 

from NNPC accounts 

"Under Section 5 of the 

Constitution, all executive 

powers are vested in the 

President who may exercise 

it directly or through the 

Vice President or Ministers 

of the Federation. As 

Minister for Petroleum 

Resources, Mrs Alison- 

Abuja Airport shut as plane 

skids off runway 

FLIGHT operations at 

Nnamdi Azikiwe 

International Airport have 

been suspended as a 

result of a mishap 

involving a private jet 

operated by Nest Oil, 

yesterday. 

The jet skidded off the 

runway while landing 

and lost its landing gear 

in an attempt to return to 

the runway. 

Although Hadi Sirika, 

Minister of State for 

Madueke was an 

appointee and delegate of 

the President. 

"Consequently, Minister 

of Petroleum Resources 

acted on the basis of the 

written approvals and 

directives given by the 

President, which approvals 

were given after written 

requests from the relevant 

security agencies were 

made to the President. 

‘’At such instances, as in 

fact the article clearly 

shows, a service chief or 

intelligence chief, makes a 

written request/appeal to 

Mr President outlining 

whatever urgent and critical 

security needs of the nation 

they consider imminently 

paramount, at any given 

point in time. 

"If such a request received 

the approval of the 

President, the President 

may direct that the 

requested funds be drawn 

from a Security Budget 

maintained by NNPC, or 

that the funds be sourced 

from elsewhere." 

NNPC didn’t remit JV Cash 

Call to Fed Acct in 5 yrs 

—Govs 

By Johnbosco 

Agbakwuru 

ABUJA —NIGERIA 

Governors Forum, 

NGF, yesterday, reported 

Nigerian National 

Petroleum Corporation, 

NNPC, to President 

Muhammadu Buhari for 

the inability of the 

corporation to remit to the 

Federation Account, Joint 

Venture Cash Call for five 

years. 

Briefing State House 

correspondents after 

closed-door meeting with 

President Buhari at the 

Presidential Villa, Abuja, 

Chairman of NGF and 

governor of Zamfara State, 

Abdulaziz Yari, explained 

that the country was 

shortchanged by NNPC for 

five years when oil price 

was high. 

Regrettably, he stated, this 

took place when the Cash 

Call Joint Venture was high 

as the oil price was about 

$110 per barrel. 

Explaining the reason for 

the meeting with the 

President, Governor Yari, 

flanked by Governors 

Aminu Bello Masari of 

Katsina State and Simeon 

Lalong of Plateau State, 

said: “The meeting is on 

the decision of NEC 

(National Economic 

Council) that the sevenman 

committee was 

established to engage the 

NNPC and discuss a way 

forward so that we can 

resolve the issue that is 

outstanding, most 

especially, on the 

remittances to the 

Federation Account. 

“Yesterday (Wednesday) 

the seven-man committee 

sat with the NNPC group 

and today (yesterday) we 

have come to brief the 

President. 

Aviation, had said the 

shutdown would last 30 

minutes, but a stranded 

passenger saidthe 

situation had been on for 

nearly one hour. 

“The airport was shut 

around 4:30pm and we 

were told it would last 30 

minutes. We have spent 

almost an hour here,” said 

the passenger, who did 

not want her name 

mentioned.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 2018—9

10 — VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 2018 


DPR shuts burnt Lagos fuel 

depot, begins investigation 

By Udeme Akpan, 

Mike Eboh, Sebastine 

Obasi & Prince Okafor 

L AGOS—THE 

Department of 

Petroleum Resources, DPR, 

yesterday shut the 

operations of the burnt 

Stallionaire Nigeria Ltd 

Tank, Lagos for 

investigation aimed at 

uncovering the cause of the 

accident. 

At the scene of the 

incident yesterday, 

Vanguard leaned that 

about 400,000 litres of fuel 

were lost to the explosion. 

A DPR source indicated 

that plans were underway 

for its officials to visit the 

burnt depot for assessment 

this weekend. 

Meanwhile, fuel scarcity 

remained unsolved in 

Lagos and its environs as 

many filling stations, 

especially the 

‘independents marketers’ 

did not have the product to 

sell to motorists, yesterday. 

This came as the 

Nigerian National 

Petroleum Corporation, 

NNPC, said men of the 

Niger State Command of 

the Nigeria Security and 

Civil Defence Corps, 

NSCDC, arrested eight 

trucks laden with a total of 

469,000 litres of petrol and 

their drivers in Mokwa, 

Niger State. 

The NNPC, in a 

statement in Abuja, by its 

Group General Manager, 

Group Public Affairs 

Division, Mr. Ndu 

Ughamadu, said the trucks 

were on their way to 

Babana, a border town 

between Nigeria and 

Republic of Benin. 

The statement quoted the 

Niger State Commandant 

of NSCDC, Mr. Yakubu 

Ayuba, as saying that six of 

the trucks belong to one 

marketer. He also said two 

of the trucks contained 

66,000 litres, twice the 

quantity for a normal truck. 

NNPC also quoted 

Comptroller of Operations, 

Department of Petroleum 

Resources, Abdullahi 

Isa as saying that only 

one truck out of the eight 

had a genuine waybill to 

a recognized station in 

Babana. 

CHI Ltd wins MAN award 

CHI Limited, makers 

of fruit juice, dairy 

and snacks has won the 

Manufacturers Association 

of Nigeria, MAN award for 

best kept industrial 

premises. 

This occurred at the MAN 

50th Annual General 

Meeting and awards, 

where the company was 

announced the winner for 

adopting best workplace 

production practices and 

processes. 

Organisers of the award 

said the award was a 

deserved reward for the 

company’s continued 

passion for excellence and 

commitment to sustainable 

development exemplified 

by the company’s 

significant investment in 

manufacturing and other 

related infrastructural 

projects. Chi Limited’s 

investment in modern 

production infrastructure 

has been a critical enabler 

for competitiveness, 

research & development 

Mr Bigg's holds music 

comedy show for customers 

NIGERIA’S leading 

quick service 

restaurant Mr Bigg's will 

next month hold a two day 

“Food Fest” aimed at 

treating its customers with 

sumptuous delicacies 

alongside comedy, music 

and other forms of 

entertainment. 

Tagged “Mr. Bigg's Food 

Fest” and taking place in 

Lagos, it is hinged on a 

special campaign called 

Project Re-ignite, to 

and productivity growth. 

Responding, Managing 

Director, Chi Limited’s, Mr 

Deepanjan Roy said the 

MAN Award is a 

confirmation of the steps 

taken by the company to 

ensure that the company’s 

work place is in line with 

global standards for 

manufacturing. 

“We are happy that our 

efforts so far have paid off 

with significant output and 

recognition. The 

Manufacturers Association 

of Nigeria Award inspires 

us to continually 

demonstrate excellence in 

manufacturing and 

constantly strive for 

improvement, best 

practices, creativity and 

innovation,” he stated. 

This award joins a 

growing list of awards for 

the company, which 

include, The Guardian 

Manufacturing Excellence 

Award 2017 for Beverage 

Manufacturing Company 

of the Year. 

specially treat customers 

and re-position Mr Bigg’s 

brand as a pace-setter in the 

restaurant business in 

Nigeria. 

Managing Executive, 

UAC Restaurants, Mrs. 

Joan Ihekwaba said the twoday 

gathering would 

provide an out-ofrestaurant 

experience for 

customers and boost their 

affinity with Mr Bigg’s as 

they would enjoy the 

choicest meals on offer. 

Corruption, institutional bottlenecks 

hindering our reforms, Ambode cries out 

By Olasunkanmi 

Akoni & Monsuru 

Olowoopejo 

L 

A 

G O S — 

GOVERNOR 

Akinwunmi Ambode of 

Lagos State, yesterday 

raised alarm that the 

reforms by his 

administration to move the 

state forward and ensure 

better living for residents 

were being hindered by 

corruption and institutional 

difficulties. 

This came as he assured 

residents that 2019 election 

would not distract his 

administration from 

delivering the dividends of 

democracy in the state, 

stressing that rather than 

slow down, his 

administration would 

complete all ongoing 

projects and implement 

new ones. 

The governor spoke at the 

opening session of a threeday 

retreat for members of 

the State Executive Council, 

Body of Permanent 

Secretaries and heads of 

Ministries, Departments 

and Agencies, MDAs, 

taking place in Epe. 

According to him, “We are 

all well-aware that the last 

two and a half years have 

been borne with a lot of 

sectoral reforms and majorly 

successful. However, 

reforms are not static and 

they require continuous 

review as the society we live 

in is also not static. Some of 

our reforms remain 

challenging because of 

VISIT: From left; Fisayo Ajala, Researcher, Spaces for Change; Kolawole Banwo, 

Senior Programme Officer, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, CISLAC; 

Mr Eze Anaba, Editor, Vanguard Newspapers; Mr Auwal Musa (Rafsanjani), 

Executive Director, CISLAC; Mr Kunle Adekoya, Deputy Editor, Vanguard 

Newspapers; Mr Emma Aziken, Political Editor, Vnguard and Onyekachi Eke, 

Media Officer during the visit of the Executive Director of CISLAC and his team 

to Vanguard head office in Lagos yesterday. Photo by Lamidi Bamidele. 

Nigeria partnering others on maritime security — AMAECHI 

By Gbenga Oke 

LONDON (UK)—THE 

Minister of 

Transportation, Rt. Hon. 

Rotimi Amaechi, yesterday 

in London, United 

Kingdom said the 

Nigerian Maritime 

Administration and Safety 

Agency, NIMASA, was 

already implementing a 

comprehensive maritime 

strategy in collaboration 

with other partners to fight 

piracy and other attacks in 

the region. 

Speaking during a paper 

presentation titled, 

“Nigeria’s role in 

responding to the causes 

and consequences of 

maritime insecurity” at the 

Royal Institute of 

International Affairs 

Chatham House, London, 

Amaechi said the strategy 

being implemented was in 

collaboration with other 

countries in the Gulf of 

Guinea aimed at stemming 

insecurity on the region’s 

territorial waterways. 

According to him, “In 

pursuit of this objective, the 

President of the Federal 

Republic of Nigeria visited 

Malabo in Equatorial 

institutional difficulties and 

corruption. We presently 

experience this in some of 

our on-going reforms. 

“Building effective and 

efficient institutions should 

be our goal henceforth. The 

institutional framework that 

will drive a successful 

Ministries, Department 

and Agencies, MDAs, is 

what should be of concern 

to all of us. Institutions that 

are enduring should 

outlive me or anyone of us, 

likewise our reforms in the 

various sectors.” 

Ambode stressed that 

despite the challenges, his 

administration remained 

Guinea last year, where 

the two countries signed 

an agreement on the 

establishment of 

combined Maritime 

Policing and Security 

Patrol committee to 

enhance the security of 

the Gulf of Guinea and 

help curb maritime crimes 

like piracy, crude oil theft 

and smuggling. 

''NIMASA has 

established a command 

and control centre for 

enhanced situation 

resolute to achieving the 

goals set on assumption of 

office, saying “Someday, 

the resistance will become 

support and endorsement. 

My message remains the 

same. Our conviction is 

resolute. We are totally for 

inclusive governance. This 

is people’s government 

and what would be of 

benefit to the majority of the 

citizenry should be our 

primary goal.” 

“All the development 

indices, both local and 

international, reflect the fact 

that we are making steady 

progress with very bright 

outlook for the foreseeable 

awareness, response 

capability, law enforcement 

and regional cooperation 

amongst others, all geared 

towards an enhanced 

water security and by 

extension, the entire nation. 

We are assuring the 

international community 

that the anti-piracy bill 

which is currently before 

the National Assembly 

will hopefully be passed 

before the end of this 

legislative year.” 

On his part, Director 

future. However, there is 

still a lot more to be done. I 

hear people saying that this 

is an election year and that 

governance will slow down 

but let me assure you that 

we will stay focused on our 

plans and programmes and 

ensure steady progress is 

achieved.” 

Speaking, Head of 

Service, Mrs. Folashde 

Adesoye, said the retreat 

was organised for all the 

MDAs to come together 

and brainstorm on how to 

achieve the set goals for the 

state in 2018, and also do 

more for the people. 

General of NIMASA, Dr. 

Dakuku Peterside who also 

delivered a paper titled; 

“The problem of Maritime 

Insecurity in the Gulf of 

Guinea is real”, noted that 

the Agency through 

collaboration with other 

relevant government 

bodies was leaving no stone 

unturned at ensuring zero 

tolerance to all forms of 

piracy and illegalities on 

the nation’s territorial 

waterways and the entire 

Gulf of Guinea. 

IGP urges court to dismiss Evans’ claim over 11 

seized trucks 


L AGOS—THE 

Inspector-General of 

Police, IGP, yesterday urged 

a Federal High Court, sitting 

in Lagos, to dismiss a suit 

by suspected billionaire 

k i d n a p p e r , 

Chukwudumeme 

Onwuamadike, popularly 

known as Evans, over claim 

that his 25 trucks were 

unlawfully seized and 

confiscated. 

The IGP also contended 

that Evans' suit was an abuse 

of court process because all 

the declarations sought by 

the applicant, except on the 

alleged seized and 

confiscated 25 Mack trucks 

and order of payment of 

N200m, had been decided 

by Justice Abdulazeez 

Anka, on January 16, 2018, 

in a fundamental rights suit 

filed by Evans. 

The IGP and other 

respondents in the suit 

through their lawyer, 

Emmanuel Eze, urged court 

to dismiss Evans’ suit with 

punitive cost. 

Eze said: “My Lord, the 

applicant in his counter to 

our preliminary objection, 

raised issue that the extant 

action is distinguishable 

from the one judgment has 

been delivered by Justice 

Anka. The only difference 

are reliefs one and three, 

reliefs two, four, and five 

still talk about some action 

pending before Anka, 

which judgment had been 

delivered.” 

The lawyer to the police 

also told the court that 

Evans lied to the court about 

his 25 Mack trucks, 

whereas police only 

recovered 11 trucks, 10 in 

Lagos and one in Anambra.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 2018 — 11 


Our land not available for cattle colonies, 

Yoruba leaders tell FG 

•Want killer herdsmen declared terrorists 

By Dapo Akinrefon 

L AGOS—YORUBA 

leaders, under the 

aegis of Yoruba Summit, 

yesterday, rejected the 

proposed cattle colony by 

the Federal Government 

saying it is a “violation of 

the sensibilities of different 

nationalities whose lands 

would be partitioned for 

Fulani herdsmen.” 

They also called on the 

Federal Government to 

declare killer herdsmen 

and militias as terrorists, 

just as they described the 

attacks on Yoruba persons 

and their property as 

unwarranted and 

provocative. 

The leaders met in an 

extra-ordinary session in 

Lagos against the 

background of the 

incessant criminal activities 

of Fulani herdsmen across 

Yorubaland in recent days. 

The meeting, presided 

over by Chief Ayo 

Adebanjo, had in 

attendance, former 

governor of Ondo State, Dr. 

Olusegun Mimiko; Prof 

Banji Akintoye, Dr Amos 

Akingba, Secretary of the 

Yoruba Council of Elders, 

Dr Kunle Olajide; Senator 

Femi Okurounmu, former 

Nigerian ambassador to 

The Netherlands, Dr 

Tokunbo Awolowo- 

Dosumu; former deputy 

governor of Lagos State, 

Senator Kofo Bucknor- 

Akerele; Mr Goke Omisore, 

Chief Supo Shonibare, Dr 

Femi Adegoke, Hon 

Oladipo Olaitan, Otunba 

Deji Osibogun, Mrs 

Tokunbo Ekukinam, and 

Mr Bolaji Ogunseye, 

among others. 

They condemned among 

others the killings of a 

pregnant woman in Ekiti, 

a farmer in Ogun State and 

the setting ablaze of the 

farms of former Secretary 

to the Federal Government, 

Chief Olu Falae; Vice- 

Admiral Samuel Afolayan 

(retd); former Secretary to 

Oyo State Government, Mr 

Dele Adigun and Mrs 

Roseline Ogege in 

Abeokuta. 

In a communiqué issued 

at the end of its meeting 

and signed by Mr. Yinka 

Odumakin, the Yoruba 

Summit condemned the 

assaults and called on the 

Federal Government “to be 

alive to its responsibility by 

enforcing the laws against 

these criminal activities and 

perpetrators of such in 

order to regain the 

confidence of the people.” 

Proffering ways to end the 

menace of the armed Fulani 

herdsmen currently 

threatening peace, order, 

and productivity in the 

country, the Yoruba Summit 

said it was imperative to 

“declare the killer 

herdsmen and militias as 

terrorists, disarm the Fulani 

herdsmen and militias and 

probe the source of their 

arms.” 

The communiqué reads: 

“the meeting also took 

strong objections to the 

obnoxious and vexatious 

proposal by the Federal 

Government to establish 

cow colonies across Nigeria 

in aid of private business 

and in violation of the 

sensibilities of different 

nationalities whose lands 

would be partitioned for 

Fulani herdsmen 

reminiscent of the Berlin 

Conference where Africa 

was portioned for different 

YOUTH LEADERSHIP SERIES: From left; Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Bank, 

Dr. Demola Sogunle; lead speaker, Cobhams Asuquo; lead speaker, Member 

Feese; Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, Mr. Yinka Sanni; lead 

speaker, Kechi Okwuchi; and Chairman, Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, Mr. Basil 

Omiyi; at the inaugural edition of the Stanbic IBTC youth leadership series dubbed; 

Against The Odds in Lagos yesterday. Photo by Joe Akintola, Photo Editor. 

Don’t liquidate Gossy Water, APC warns Fayose 

By Rotimi 

Ojomoyela 

ADO EKITI—THE All 

Progressives 

Congress, APC in Ekiti 

State has berated Governor 

Ayodele Fayose for failing 

to rescue Gossy Water from 

liquidation. 

Gossy Water is one of the 

few surviving business 

enterprises of Ekiti State. 

In a statement by its 

Publicity Secretary, Mr. 

Taiwo Olatunbosun, APC 

also blamed the governor 

Ondo establishes standard transit park in Ore 

By Dayo Johnson 

A F KURE—THE 

e d e r a l 

Government has approved 

the establishment of a 

standard transit park by the 

Ondo state government in 

Ore town. 

With the establishment of 

the park, indiscriminate 

parking of trucks and 

luxurious buses will 

henceforth become a traffic 

offense. 

To give a bite to this, the 

Ondo state government 

has assigned a magistrate 

court to try violators. 

Speaking with Vanguard 

in Akure, the Special 

Adviser to the governor on 

Transportation, Mr. Tobi 

Ogunleye said that the park 

would accommodate 200 

trucks. 

Ogunleye pointed out 

that the establishment of the 

park will be in partnership 

with other investors. 

He said: “We want to 

enforce a decent parking 

for creating unfriendly 

atmosphere for businesses, 

regretting that instead of 

building on the initiatives 

of his predecessors to 

sustain job-creating 

businesses, the governor 

created conditions that 

hampered business 

operations with attendant 

job losses, allegedly 

preferring to spend money 

on projects awarded to his 

friends for personal gains. 

It cited the imminent 

liquidation of Warm Spring 

Waters Limited, producers 

arrangement of luxurious 

and trucks in Ore Sunshine 

city transit park. We want to 

keep out roads clean of 

debris. No more garbage of 

trucks along Lagos, Benin/ 

Ore expressway. 

“Owners of abandoned 

trucks should ensure their 

removal to allow free flow 

of movement. 

“Henceforth there would 

be no more indiscriminate 

parking in Ore by truck and 

luxurious drivers for the 

safety of the road users. 

colonial powers as a colony 

presupposes a settlement of 

invading power in a given 

community where alien 

laws and values prevail. 

“We resolved that no inch 

of Yorubaland will be 

available for cow colony as 

Yoruba are in favour of only 

ranching of cattle, where 

those in such business will 

acquire land according to 

extant rules and subject 

their operations to the 

norms and culture of their 

host communities. 

“Meeting also called on 

Yoruba people to begin 

venturing into modern 

ranching for consumption 

and export while our state 

governments should evolve 

policies in the promotion 

of ranching by Yoruba 

people.” 

of the popular Gossy Water, 

as an instance of Fayose’s 

“neglect of government’s 

enterprises that have 

potential to keep Ekiti 

people in jobs.” 

The board of Warm Spring 

Waters Ltd had given 

liquidation notice to 

stakeholders, citing the 

failure to pay its debts and 

other challenges. 

Olatunbosun said it is 

disheartening that instead of 

attracting investments to the 

state like his predecessors, 

Fayose had through his 

alleged recklessness to the 

initiatives of his 

predecessors for 

investments, been driving 

investors away from Ekiti 

while existing businesses 

are winding up. 

“One major reason for the 

winding up of the company 

is the unfavourable business 

environment such that there 

was no electricity supply to 

the company to run 

effectively for three years, 

including the nonpatronage 

of the company’s 

product by Fayose’s 

administration because the 

company was the initiative 

of his predecessor." 

Obasanjo’s ‘Coalition for 

Nigeria' for launch Jan 31 

THE 

political 

movement promoted 

by former President 

Olusegun Obasanjo, 

Coalition for Nigeria is due 

for launch January 31. 

The movement is 

currently being coordinated 

by a former governor of 

Osun State, Prince 

Olagunsoye Oyinlola. 

Oyinlola is a longstanding 

associate of 

Obasanjo. 

However, to manage 

possible ripples that may 

arise in the process of 

establishing leadership 

structures, the movement 

has opted to appoint what 

it calls “spokesperson” at all 

levels. 

“Prince Oyinlola is now 

acting as the national 

spokesman; such roles 

would be appointed at all 

levels, including state, 

senatorial zones, down to 

ward level,” said a source 

close to the secretariat. 

The movement is 

expected to be unveiled at 

an undisclosed location in 

Abuja. 

The former president had, 

on Tuesday, issued a 

scathing public 

commentary on the Buhari 

administration, advising 

the president to take a 

“deserved rest” and urging 

Nigerians to vote him out 

should President Buhari 

insist on running. 

Chief Obasanjo 

advocated the 

establishment of a 

movement he called 

Coalition for Nigeria, to 

offer a new leadership for 

the country. 

He said the two major 

parties; the ruling All 


APC, and opposition 


PDP, are unfit to provide 

leadership. 

HERDSMEN KILLINGS: Buhari 

has failed Nigerians – OKUNNU 

By Daud Olatunji 

A BEOKUTA—A 

former Federal 

Minister for Works and 

Housing, Alhaji Femi 

Okunnu, SAN, says that 


Buhari has failed 

Nigerians following his 

inability to curb the killings 

by herdsmen in many parts 

of the country. 

He said this while 

speaking with newsmen at 

his office in Lagos. 

Okunnu, who is National 

President of Ansarud-deen 

Society of Nigeria, said: “I 

am troubled about these 

unnecessary killings. Let 

me say this, people of my 

generation are in the 

process of committing 

suicide when we see the 

way the political leadership 

of this country manages the 

country. 

“When we see how the 

country is being handled, 

before we kill ourselves, 

some of us want to correct 

the mistakes which had 

been made. Hopefully, 

those in authorities would 

hear and correct these 

mistakes.” 

Condemning the 

activities of Fulani 

herdsmen, Okunnu said 

“the problem of Miyetti 

Allah is a security issue. 

The Federal Government is 

in charge of the security of 

the country. They kill 

farmers, men and women. 

Is that not a security issue? 

Who is in charge of Police? 

The Federal Government 

has totally failed.” 

OPC CONGRESS: Invest in 

Yorubaland, Alake, Adams urge 

Nigerians in diaspora 

THE Alake of 

Egbaland, Oba 

Adedotun Gbadebo and 

Aare Onakakanfo of Yoruba 

land, Aare Gani Adams 

have urged Yoruba sons 

and daughters in the 

diaspora, under the Oodua 

Progressives Union, OPU, 

to get involved in activities 

of nation building. 

They said this yesterday 

when members of OPU paid 

a courtesy visit to the 

monarch in preparation for 

the 2018 OPU World 

Congress in Abeokuta, 

Ogun State. 

The monarch lauded 

efforts of the convener, Gani 

Adams for the laudable 

initiatives, describing him 

as a courageous and reliable 

son of the Yorubaland. 

The monarch said: “Your 

new status as the Aare 

Onakakanfo of Yorubaland 

was never by accident, it 

was generally accepted by 

all Yoruba Obas and leaders 

because of your boldness, 

courage and commitment 

to the unity and progress 

of the Yorubaland. I 

therefore, charge all 

members of the OPU to see 

themselves as ambassadors 

of this great nation, 

wherever you are in any 

parts of the world, have it 

mind that you should come 

and do great things in 

Nigeria.” 

In his remarks, Adams 

said: “I am of the conviction 

that OPU is now a 

formidable force across the 

world. I believe strongly 

that all our members will 

always champion the cause 

and ideals of our great 

organisation.”



BIRTHDAY: From left; Chief Harry Akande; Mrs Ayodele Ogunade (celebrant); Otunba Kunle Ogunade, 

husband of celebrant; Chief Sam Bolarinde and Olorogun Sunny Kuku, during Mrs Ayodele Ogunade's 

60th birthday ceremony at Restaurant Cabana The Grind, Adeola Odeku Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, 

yesterday. Photo by Kehinde Gbadamosi. 

Buhari’s govt has inflicted pains, frustration 

on Nigerians —Lamido 

By Festus Ahon 

A SABA—FORMER 

Governor of Jigawa 

State, Alhaji Sule 

Lamido, yesterday said 

that the President 

Muhammadu Buhariled 

administration has 

only succeeded in 

inflicting pains, agony, 

frustration, bloodbath 

and poverty on majority 

of Nigerians. 

Speaking in Asaba, 

Delta State, when he 

paid a consultative visit 

to the state governor, Dr. 

Ifeanyi Okowa and the 

state chapter of Peoples 


over his 2019 

presidential ambition, 

he said that his party, 

the PDP, owed it a duty 

to rescue the country 

from the hands of the All 


APC, in 2019. 

Lamido said: “We have 

been wailing all along 

alone, we all have been 

wailing that something 

is wrong with the 

country, but we were 

demonized and 

maligned. I was called a 

hooligan. First, I am a 

Nigerian citizen and 

therefore, this 

government is my own 

government. When you 

criticize the Federal 

Government, you are 

demonized, blackmailed. 

“Atiku (Mohammed) 

left APC and Baba is now 

talking. In America in 

the olden days when 

they went into a mine, 

they took with them a 

canary into the mines not 

because they wanted the 

bird to sing for them but 

because it had thin 

respiratory organs. 

“And when the oxygen 

...says PDP’ll rescue Nigeria in 2019 

reduced, the bird would 

start shaking. It was a 

signal to the miners of 

danger and the miners 

would leave the mine. So 

the Nigerian canary is 

now screaming, the air is 

suffocating and 

therefore, we have to 

simply find our way out. 

We cannot continue like 

this. 

Protests trail Edo APC LG primaries 

By Simon Ebegbulem 

& Gabriel Enogholase 

B ENIN—SUP- 

PORTERS of All 


APC, in Owan East Local 

Government Area of Edo 

State, led by Mr. Roland 

Edeki, yesterday, besieged 

the APC secretariat in 

Benin City, following the 

conduct of parallel 

primaries in the council 

and demanded for justice. 

They alleged imposition 

of candidates for the March 

3 council elections by some 

leaders against the wishes 

of the people. 

During the parallel 

primaries in the council, 

two candidates, Victor 

Ohiosumuan and Andrew 

Osigbe emerged at the two 

different primaries held at 

Afuze and Warrake 

communities respectively. 

The protesters said the 

party primaries held at 

Warrake was illegal. 

Meanwhile, there was 

tension in Egor Local 

Government Area of the 

state, yesterday, after some 

persons led by one Efe 

Stewart, held leaders of the 

party hostage shortly after 

the leaders endorsed Eghe 

Ogbemudia as the 

chairmanship candidate of 

“So Baba captured the 

mind of all Nigerians in 

his letter. Nigeria must 

be saved from this 

arrangement. We are 

cursed because we are 

being led by hate 

heroes. With three years 

of APC misrule, you can 

see the way they have 

unleashed pain on 

Nigerians. 

the party. 

Edo State Police 

Commissioner, Babatunde 

Kokumo, had deployed a 

crack team of policemen to 

the area while men of the 

Department of State 

Security, DSS, who arrived 

the scene arrested the said 

Stewart and others and are 

currently in custody. 

Edeki, Aledu Bello and 

others, alleged: “We are 

here to protest the illegal 

primaries that were 

conducted by Edo State 

Deputy Governor, Mr. 

Philip Shaibu, in Owan 

Oyowe decries factionalization 

in Delta APC 

By Onozure 

Dania 

W 

A R R I — A 

chieftain of All 


APC, in Delta State, Mr. 

Tosan Oyowe, has 

decried 

the 

factionalization of the 

party in the state, even as 

he called on the factional 

leaders and their 

members to put the 

interest of the party above 

personal and parochial 

objectives. 

He noted that in view 

of the coming 2019 

“The PDP did 

wonderfully well 

between 1999 and 2015 

when it led the Federal 

Government,” he said, 

regretting however, that 

the “desperate 

politicians of the APC 

came to foul the sweet 

air of freedom earlier 

bequeathed by the PDP 

to the country," he said. 

East council. The primaries 

were to be conducted at a 

designated venue. What 

happened at the mini 

stadium in Afuze is the 

correct primaries but some 

people went to a private 

residence in Warrake to 

hold an illegal primary. 

“The party directed that 

the party should be 

conducted at the mini 

stadium. The only 

candidate that emerged 

from the primaries is Victor 

Ohiosuma. Any other 

person purported to have 

been elected is illegal." 

general election, the 

APC in the state must, as 

matter of utmost 

importance, be united 

and begin to strategise on 

persuading Deltans to 

vote for the party to come 

to power. 

Oyowe said the maxim 

of “United we stand, 

divided we fall,” should 

spur APC leaders and 

members to end their 

feud and embrace peace 

which will make the party 

very formidable in the 

state. “Factions will ruin 

us unless we do the 

needful,” he warned. 

Stay in PDP to reposition 

party victory in 2019 Dickson 

tell aggrieved members 

CHAIRMAN 

of 

the National 

Reconciliation 

Committee of the 

Peoples Democratic 

Party, PDP, Mr Seriake 

Dickson, has appealed 

to aggrieved members 

of the party to stay in 

the party to rebuild and 

reposition it for 

electoral victory. 

Dickson also called 

on the members of the 

party to show more 

understanding, 

solidarity and a 

willingness to sacrifice 

for the general good of 

the party. 

Dickson spoke, 

yesterday, while 

addressing aspirants 

in the last national 

convention of the party 

held in December, 

I'll remain focused on 

projects delivery —Wike 

RIVERS 

State 

governor, Mr 

Nyesom Wike, has said 

that the upcoming 2019 

general election will not 

stall projects delivery in 

the state. 

He said that he will 

remain focused on the 

completion of ongoing 

projects, while new 

projects will be initiated. 

The governor spoke, 

yesterday, after 

inspecting ongoing 

projects in Port Harcourt 

and Obio/Akpor Local 

Government Areas of 

the state. 

Projects visited 

include: Port Harcourt 

Pleasure Park Cinemas 

and restaurants, Judges 

Quarters, Doctors 

Quarters, dualization of 

Hotel Presidential Road, 

Produce House, National 

Industrial Court, Mile 

One Market and 

Rumuolumeni internal 

roads. 

He said: “I will not be 

distracted by the 

upcoming elections. I am 

committed to the delivery 

of projects and 

programmes. 

“We are focused on the 

mandate given to us by 

the people. No project 

will be abandoned.“ 

He said that the 

administration will 

effectively use the dry 

season to achieve desired 

milestones at different 

project sites. 

BMSG warns against 

reckless statements 

NIGERIANS 

in 

leadership 

positions have again 

been cautioned against 

reckless statements and 

hate speeches that could 

plunge the nation into 

internal strife or tarnish 

its image in the 

international arena. 

Giving the warning in 

Abuja, the Buhari Media 

Support Group, BMSG, 

sited recent statement 

issued by three political 

leaders, which in its view, 

were unjustifiable and 

careless. 

According to BMSG: 

“While recognising the 

rights of citizens to 

freedom of speech under 

the constitution of 

Nigeria, we believe it is 

2017 at Abuja. 

In a statement by the 

Chief Press Secretary to 

the Governor, Mr. 

Francis Agbo, he 

commended the 

aspirants for 

demonstrating 

willingness to sacrifice 

their individual interest 

for the progress of the 

party. 

He explained that the 

meeting was designed 

to thank the 

membership of the PDP 

for clinging onto the 

party especially through 

“this trying period.” 

He said: “This is an 

opportunity to thank you 

all for your contributions 

to the development and 

sustenance of our party 

especially at this trying 

period." 

imperative to condemn 

recent unjustifiable and 

careless statements by 

those who ought to be 

aware of the implications 

of making unguarded 

public statements. 

“One of these statements 

was made by the Governor 

of Rivers State, Mr 

Nyesom Wike, in which he 

allegedly claimed that 

voting for the All 


APC, in the 2019 elections 

'would amount to digging 

the grave for the burial 

of Nigeria.' 

"BMSG considers the 

comment as untenable and 

totally against the available 

evidence in the public 

arena."

C 

M 

Y 

K 



PANDEF to FG: No land in N’Delta for cattle colonies 

By Emma Amaize, 

Regional Editor, 

South-South & Perez 

Brisibe 

K IAGBODO—PAN- 

Niger Delta Forum, 

PANDEF, yesterday, 

rejected the plan by the 

Federal Government to set 

up cattle colonies across the 

country, saying that the 

Niger Delta region will not 

surrender its land for such 

purpose. 

The group, at a meeting 

in Kiagbodo, Delta State, 

attended by royal fathers, 

political leaders and other 

representatives from the six 

states of the South-South 

region, presided by the 

National Leader, Chief 

Edwin Clark, expressed 

solidarity with the people 

of Benue State and other 

parts of the country where 

communities have suffered 

untold hardship in the 

hands of Fulani herdsmen. 

Former military governor 

of Akwa Ibom state, Air 

Commodore Ndongesit 

Nkanga (retd) was 

represented by Dr, 

Emmanuel Akpanabo. 

N'Delta agitators 

warn Delta govt 

....As N’Delta agitators warn Delta govt, demand apology 

Meanwhile, Niger Delta 

agitators, yesterday, fell out 

with the Delta State 

Government over its 

Monday announcement 

calling on Niger Delta 

Avengers, NDA, to submit 

their grievances to the 

Governor’s Office Annexe, 

Warri, or Deputy 

Governor’s Office, Asaba, 

for engagement, cautioning 

the state government to stop 

using the region’s agitation 

and predicament of the 

people to score cheap 

political points. 

They also demanded an 

apology from the state 

government over the 

publication. But the Deputy 

Governor and Chairman of 

Delta State Advocacy 

Committee Against 

Vandalism of Oil and Gas 

Facilities, Mr Kingsley 

Otuaro, whose committee 

made the announcement, 

rejected the demand for an 

apology, saying that it was 

not working at crosspurposes 

with the Federal 

Government, PANDEF 

and the agitators. 

Secretary of the 

Committee and former 

president of the Ijaw Youth 

Council, Dr. Chris Ekiyor, 

also lambasted the agitators 

for their unbecoming 

request, saying that the 

deputy governor was once 

in the trenches and 

understood the Niger Delta 

struggle more than the 

latter-day entrants 

demanding apology. 

The committee had on 

Monday pleaded with the 

members of the NDA who 

threatened to resume fresh 

attacks in the region ”to 

sheathe their swords and 

submit their grievances to 

the Governor’s Office 

Annexe, Warri or Deputy 

Governor’s Office, 

Government House, Asaba 

for engagement.” 

Meantime, PANDAF, in 

a communique by Chief 

Clark, advised the Federal 

Government “to handle the 

sensitive matter of 

herdsmen killing farmers 

with tact and treat the issue 

of animal husbandry as 

commercial transaction, 

which should be left in the 

hands of relevant 

stakeholders.” 

It noted with concern “the 

slow pace at which the 

Federal Government 

continues to handle matters 

pertaining to the Niger 

Delta, especially the 

implementation of the 16- 

point agenda submitted 

since the 1st of November 

2016.” 

It “condemned in 

particular, the continued 

refusal of international and 

national oil companies to 

show presence in the Niger 

Delta including moving 

their operational and 

administrative offices to the 

region.” 

It also noted with grave 

concern “the continued 

delay in the completion of 

the East- West Road and the 

under-funding of its 

implementation,” 

expressing worry over the 

fact that “plans are being 

concluded to issue licences 

to modular refineries 

without corresponding 

participation from 

stakeholders in the Niger 

Delta region.” 

It called on various Niger 

Delta people and 

communities, especially, 

the youths and various 

aggrieved groups “to 

continue to exercise 

patience and allow 

PANDEF and its other 

political leaders to continue 

dialogue with the Federal 

Government. 

“We call on Niger Delta 

political leaders and 

leadership of intervention 

agencies such as NDDC 

and Ministry of Niger 

Delta Affairs to show 

greater accountability in 

managing resources 

allocated for various 

programmes.” 

On the Presidential 

Amnesty Programme, 

PANDEF reaffirmed its 

confidence that the 

programme “is a veritable 

tool for maintaining peace 

in the region,” and has 

decided to send a 

delegation to the Federal 

Government to discuss 

issues pertaining to the 

Amnesty Programme 

and its continuation. 

The group, in the 

communiqué, disclosed 

its plan to hold a summit 

on restructuring and 

congratulated the South- 

West for the successful 

holding of its mega-rally 

on restructuring in 

September, last year. 

It also congratulated 

the people of the South- 

East and South-West for 

the ‘handshake’ across 

the Niger Summit” held 

in Enugu on January 15, 

2018, inat which a 

delegation from the 

South-South also 

participated. 

Consequently, it resolved to 

hold a mega rally on 

restructuring, March 24, in 

Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, with 

Prof. G.G Darah, as the 

chairman of the committee. 

Meanwhile on the 

agitators' face-off with Delta 

State Government, the 

agitators under the aegis of 

the 21st Century Youths of the 

Niger Delta, in a statement 

by their spokesperson, W O 

I Izon Ebi, said: “All agitators 

with conscience frown at the 

statement credited to 

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and 

his Deputy, Otuaro. 

“This is not the time for 

personal political benefit or 

riding on the back of the 

plight of the Niger Delta 

people to score cheap 

political points. What 

happened to the agreement 

and implementation of the 16- 

point demand by PANDEF 

and the Federal 

Government’s 25-point 

palliatives agreed upon? 

“Is the Delta State 

Government not appreciating 

the painstaking efforts and 

sacrifice of the leadership of 

PANDEF that led to the peace 

the Federal Government is 

enjoying to exploit our people 

the more with impunity?"

14 — VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 2018 


PROBE: We never awarded N42bn contract, 

Fashola tells lawmakers 

By Emman 

Ovuakporie 

A BUJA—MINISTER 

of Power, Works and 

Housing, Mr. Babatunde 

Fashola, yesterday told a 

House of Representatives 

probe panel investigating 

an infraction of alleged N42 

billion rural electrification 

contract that there was no 

contract of such a value. 

He told the House joint 

committees on Power and 

Procurement led by Daniel 

Asuquo and Wole Oke that 

such an amount was not 

even approved in the 2017 

appropriation rather “what 

was approved was N9 

billion. 

The Minister reminded 

Asuquo that “if you 

remember, we requested for 

N20 billion but you only 

approved N9 billion and 

when I asked you why, you 

said you can’t get everything 

and I kept quiet.” 

At this point, the Minister 

was asked to make his 

presentation before 

questions and answers 

session and he pointed out 

that: “The sum of N9 billion 

was appropriated in 2017 

budget and was applied in 

initial eightuniversities, the 

original plan was to apply 

it to nine universities and 

one teaching hospital and 

not a contract of N42 billion 

as alleged. The Energizing 

Education programme was 

initially misunderstood as it 

was presented as if it was 

just street light instead of a 

comprehensive 

electrification project. 

''This time around, the 

allegation has risen against 

the same project and it is 

pertinent to state that the 

Energizing Education 

programme is the first youth 

and education targeted 

electrification policy in the 

country. It has a slant 

towards supporting the 

realisation of National 

Determined Contribution of 

the Federal Government in 

the world’s change 

mitigation Initiative.'' 

Sensing that the Minister 

had a ready-made answers 

to proposed questions, the 

lawmakers tailored their 

questions on whether due 

process was followed. 

On the process of award 

he said with the approval 

of Bureau for Public 

Procurement, BPP, six 

world class bidders were 

given the nod with an 

express approval from 

BPP. 

Asked whether BPP gave 

approval for the project, 

Fashola answered in the 

affirmative and directed 

members of the Committee 

to look at his presentation 

before them. 

Chairman of Power 

Committee insisted that 

an approval was given 

in December 2017 and 

the letter BPP sent 

connoted that approval 

was sent just Wednesday, 

EXPO: From left: Maje Ayida, Director, Eden Lifestyle; Erefa Fynecountry-Coker, 

founder, HR Expo Africa and Tonye Briggs, Director, Sales Initiative Limited, 

during the unveiling of HR Expo Africa 2018 conference briefing in Lagos. 

HERDSMEN KILLINGS: Women, youth groups 

threaten nationwide protest 

A 

B U J A — 

AGGREIVED 

women and youths under 

the aegis of Women, 

Youths, Peace and Security 

Network, yesterday 

threatened to mobilize 

other concerned women 

and youths from the 36 

states of the federation for 

a nationwide mass protest, 

if the Federal Government 

Kudos for Gov Emmanuel over massive 

infrastructure development 

THE people of Eket 

Local Government 

Area of Akwa Ibom State 

have commended the state 

governor, Udom 

Emmanuel for massive 

infrastructural 

development of the area 

after many years of neglect. 

The people expressed 

their happiness through the 

chairman of the council, Mr 

Frank Archibong, shortly 

after undertaking an onthe-spot 

assessment of 

ongoing road projects 

By Luminous 

Jannamike 

financed by the state 

government in the area. 

“With the superlative 

performance of the Governor 

Udom Emmanuel-led 

administration, we, the 

people Ekid Nation will vote 

en-masse for him in 

appreciation of his good 

works in our land in 

particular and the entire 

Akwa Ibom State. 

“This is good governance 

brought to the grassroots. 

On behalf of my people, I 

must say that Eket people 

January 24, 2018. 

The Director of 

Procurement of BPP, Engr 

Babatunde Kuye had to 

explain why he sent the 

letter hurriedly after 

confirming that the Bureau 

actually approved the 

contract in 2017 to the 

Committee. 

The lawmakers later 

allowed the Minister to 

leave the venue as he had 

earlier requested for 

speedy hearing to allow 

him catch a flight to Lagos 

for an event. 

In her presentation, 

Damilola Ogunbiyi, 

Managing Director of Rural 

Electrification Agency, 

REA, who denied all the 

failed to stop the continuous 

killing of innocent citizens 

by suspectedherdsmen. 

At briefing in Abuja, the 

Spokesman of the group, 

Mr. Andy Iji, urged the 

Federal Government to not 

only make an emphatic 

statement supporting the 

Ranching of Cattle as the 

best practice around the 

world, but also drop the 

idea of cattle colony. 

According to Iji, if the 

killer herdsmen identified 

are happy. Indeed, there is 

no obstacle on our way 

because we know we still 

have six more years of 

robust leadership and high 

quality roads construction.'' 

The team, which was led 

by the State Commissioner 

for Works, Mr Ephraim 

Inyang-Eyen inspected the 

2.7km Ikot Odiong-Ikot 

Abasi Road, Chief Assam 

Crescent Ede Urua Road, 

Spur, Ikot Udota Road, 

Edem Udo Street, as well 

as a gully on Idua Road 

which requires urgent 

intervention. 

allegations, however 

explained that the project 

was designed for 

generation of 28.56MW 

covering nine federal 

universities and one 

Teaching Hospital across 

the six geopolitical zones. 

She said: “I would like to 

unequivocally place it on 

record that no contract has 

been awarded by REA 

amounting to N42 billion on 

the Rural Electrification 

Scheme in some federal or 

any other universities.” 

On her part, Olufunke 

Dinneh, NERC General 

Manager, Legal Licensing 

& Compliance explained 

that the Commission 

received application from 

Rural Electrification Agency 

for the Captive Generation. 

by the Federal Government 

were not Nigerians, they 

should be rightly profiled 

and deported from Nigeria 

immediately. 

He said: “The continues 

killings of innocent citizens 

in cold blood across Nigeria 

has given us sleepless 

nights as an organization 

whose duty is to speak on 

behalf of women and youths 

on issues concerning peace 

and security. There is hardly 

a day without an attack from 

the herdsmen. In these 

killings, women and 

children are mainly the 

victims. We are profoundly 

disappointed with the 

inability of the government 

to protect lives and 

properties. 

“We have heard the 

Federal Government 

saying that the killers are 

not Nigerians. Yes, that is 

what we want to believe, 

because we love the 

Nigerian Fulani herdsmen 

and we patronize their 

businesses and respect 

them. But, the Nigerian 

air is contaminated with 

the blood of the 

innocents and the 

Creator is angry with us.'' 

NASS grappling with 

financial constraints, 

Saraki cries out 

By Henry Umoru 

APresident BUJA—SENATE 

Bukola 

Saraki, yesterday raised 

alarm that the National 

Assembly was grappling 

with funding constraints in 

carrying out its statutory 

functions, despite the 

widespread perception that 

the National Assembly was 

being overfunded. 

According to Saraki, lack 

of adequate funding 

remained the major 

challenge of the National 

Assembly. 

The 

Senate 

President spoke in Abuja 

when he paid a working 

visit to the Chairman and 

members of the National 

Assembly Service 

Commission (NASC) at 

their temporary office 

located in Utako. 

Responding to the 

request of the Chairman of 

the Commission, Dr Adamu 

Fika, to have a permanent 

office of the Commission 

inside the National 

Assembly complex, Saraki 

who pledged the support of 

the leadership towards the 

project, said: “One of the 

things that I see here today 

is the issue of budgetary 

constraints. However, the 

impression around the 

country is often that the 

National Assembly has too 

much money. But we have 

seen the challenges of the 

last few years. As we work 

through the number of bills 

passed, the public hearings 

held, and the number of adhoc 

committees that have 

been established — we 

know the challenges of not 

being able to fund some of 

our activities. 

“I am happy to report that 

despite these constraints, 

the 8th Senate has been able 

to surpass all previous 

Senates in the number of 

Bills that we have passed 

in 2 years, despite the 

funding gaps. We know that 

as we continue over time, 

people will begin to have 

more confidence in the 

National Assembly. 

However, right now, the 

challenges that we have are 

the issue of perception, and 

the issue of funding. We 

need to work hard to 

change this.” 

Earlier, Dr. Adamu Fika, 

who lamented that the 

commission still operates 

from a rented apartment 

with the attendant cost, 

however urged the 

leadership of the National 

Assembly to come to its aid 

by supporting it to build a 

befitting permanent office 

within the National 

Assembly complex. 

Justice Onnoghen receives 

remains of ex-CJN, Musdapher 

By Ikechukwu 

Nnochiri 

ABUJA—THE Chief 

Justice of Nigeria, 

CJN, Justice Walter 

Onnoghen yesterday 

received the remains of ex- 

CJN, Justice Dahiru 

Musdapher at the 

international wing of the 


International Airport, 

Abuja. 

Justice Musdapher died 

in a hospital in London on 

Tuesday. 

The CJN, according to a 

statement by his media 

aide, Mr. Awassam Bassey, 

arrived the airport at 

4.30am and met with the 

family of the deceased at 

5.45am. 

Justice Onnoghen was 

said to have delivered a 

condolence message on 

behalf of himself, his family 

and the Nigerian Judiciary 

to the late jurist’s family 

and the people of Kano 

State. 

“The Honourable CJN 

advised the family to be 

consoled that the late jurist 

had the honour and 

privilege of serving his 

country, Nigeria, at the 

highest level of the Judicial 

arm of government, and 

accept his demise as the 

will of God”, the 

statememt added. 

It will be recalled that the 

CJN earlier directed all 

flags within the Supreme 

Court and all Judicial 

institutions to fly at half 

mast till the end of fida’u 

which is the seven-day 

prayer in honour of the 

deceased. 

In a related 

development, the CJN has 

cancelled planned 

inauguration of six 

committees in the National 

Judicial Council (NJC), 

billed for tomorrow to allow 

management and staff of 

the apex court to pay their 

last respect to the departed 

jurist. 

Justice Onnoghen said 

the committees which 

would be saddled with the 

re-organization of the 

Judiciary, would be 

inaugurated at later date to 

be communicated after the 

burial rite of the late CJN. 

The late Justice 

Musdapher, who died at 

the age of 75, served as the 

CJN from August 29, 2011, 

to July 16, 2012. 

He had prior to his 

elevation to the apex court 

bench, served as the Chief 

Judge of Kano State from 

1979 to 1985, before he was 

promoted to the Court of 

Appeal where he served 

from 1985 till 2003.



Abia people suffering 

under PDP—Anyim 

By Ugochukwu 

Alaribe 

A B A — 

GOVERNORSHIP 

candidate of the All 


APC, in the 2015 poll in 

Abia State, Dr. Nyerere 

Anyim, has accused the 

ruling Peoples Democratic 

Party, PDP, in the state of 

inflicting hardship on the 

people through bad 

governance since it came to 

power. 

Anyim, who stated this in 

an interview with 

Vanguard in Aba, further 

alleged that the PDP had 

underdeveloped Abia 

through lack of vision and 

planning which has 

brought pains to the 

people, adding that May 

2019 would mark the end 

of PDP’s rule in Abia. 

He said: “A leopard must 

always have spots. What’s 

the foundation of the PDP 

government in power in the 

state? You don’t expect 

snake not to deliver what’s 

long. Look at their 

antecedents? What are 

they known for? Non 

performance. They have 

never been known for 

infrastructural 

development, or taking 

care of the welfare of the 

citizenry. And the present 

government continued 

from where their 

predecessors stopped. 

People of the state are 

suffering and crying for 

freedom. No good road, 

non payment of salaries, 

multiple taxation and lack 

of vision and planning.The 

only solution for Abia is this 

change we are talking 

about. 

“PDP has a system. You 

can’t plant maize and 

expect to harvest beans. It’s 

left for Abians to be 

conscious of what they 

have plunged themselves 

into.Nobody should expect 

anything different from this 

government in Abia that’s 

an extension of the last 

administration. Albert 

Einstein said that it’s 

insanity for somebody to 

expect to get something 

different from a repeated 

process. If you keep on 

doing the same thing over 

and over, you’ll never get 

a different result. 

“You must consider that by 

2019, we’ll be talking about 

20 years of PDP’s 

inglorious leadership and 

governance. And with what 

is happening at the centre 

where it is no longer 

business as usual, those 

things that made PDP in 

Abia to be where they are 

today; the machinery they 

used to ascend to power in 

the past is no longer 

business as usual. So you 

don’t expect them to win 

because Abia people have 

rejected the PDP. It’s a 

statement of fact that there 

had never been election in 

Abia State, they write 

results. 

“But the good thing is that 

the platform with which 

they used to do it has been 

crippled. So, it’s as good as 

telling them to start 

arranging their luggage to 

start leaving the Abia 

Government House 

because their presence has 

done little or nothing to the 

people of Abia State.” 

Ugwuanyi, one of Nigeria's 

best govs—Walid 

E NUGU—THE 

chairman of the 

Board of Trustees, BOT, of 

the Peoples Democratic 

Party (PDP), Senator Jubril 

Walid has described 

Governor Ifeanyi 

Ugwuanyi of Enugu State 

as one of the best governors 

in Nigeria. 

The PDP BOT chairman 

who applauded Gov. 

Ugwuanyi for his giant 

strides in the state 

especially in the areas of 

infrastructure, peace and 

wellbeing of the people, 

added that the governor 

is “a true party man” who 

has brought enormous 

goodwill to the PDP in the 

state. 

Senator Walid spoke 

when he accompanied the 

national leadership of the 

PDP, led by the national 

chairman, Prince Uche 

Secondus to the Enugu 

residence of the late 

founding father of the party 

and former Vice President, 

Dr. Alex Ekwueme on a 

condolence visit to the 

family. 

He commended the 

governor for the warm 

reception accorded the 

party leaders in Enugu and 

the mobilisation of party 

members, saying the party 

is highly impressed and 

delighted with the gesture. 

“When we landed at the 

airport, I saw a mammoth 

crowd of our party 

members. I whispered to 

Senator Wabara, I said look 

at this man (governor), look 

at the state. With the short 

notice, PDP has covered 

everywhere in this state, 

which is the pride we have," 

he noted. 

APC lacks capacity to rule Nigeria—Lamido 

•Promises to end herders problem 

By Anayo Okoli 

UMUAHIA—A 2019 

presidential aspirant 

under the platform the 

main opposition Peoples 


Alhaji Sule Lamido has 

lashed out at the ruling All 


APC, alleging it lacks the 

capacity to keep Nigeria 

united. 

According him, APC 

members are amateurs 

learning on the job, adding 

there is no way they could 

give Nigerians the 

leadership and direction 

they deserve. 

Lamido, a former 

governor of Jigawa State, 

who spoke in Umuahia, 

when he visited Governor 

Okezie Ikpeazu and the 

state leadership of the party 

to inform them of his 

intention to run for the 

presidency in 2019, 

solicited their support to 

achieve his dream. 

Castigating the ruling 

APC as a party without 

vision, Alhaji Lamido 

urged Nigerians to vote the 

party out in 2019 for a new 

lease of life, assuring that 

the country under his 

stewardship would ensure 

that peace reigns 

everywhere. 

Condemning the spate of 

killings going on in the 

country, he lamented that 

under the watch of the APC 

government, Nigeria has 

been turned into a human 

abattoir, saying the APC as 

a party is “only good at 

propaganda”. 

“There is killing and 

bloodshed everywhere in 

Nigeria. How long will this 

continue? APC has no 

capacity to lead. They are 

people learning on the job. 

Amateurs have taken over 

Nigeria. 

“What APC is doing is 

shameful. They don’t have 

the political sagacity to lead 

Nigeria. If given the 

opportunity, I will perform 

because I have the heart 

and the commitment”, 

Lamido said. 

According to the 

presidential hopeful, 

instead of providing good 

governance for Nigerians, 

the APC government is 

busy persecuting members 

of the opposition. 

“They demonise us but 

we know what they are 

doing, from NNPC to 

Maina, and other atrocities. 

VISIT: Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State (right) and the 

National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Uche 

Secondus, during a courtesy call on the governor by members of the 

national leadership of the party at the Government House, Enugu, 

yesterday. 

Because they are 

wonderful liars, they cover 

their evil deeds,” he 

lamented. 

Lamido who said he is 

one of the surviving 

members of the “G9” 

politicians and eminent 

Nigerians that opposed the 

late military ruler, Gen. Sani 

Abacha, assured that he 

has what it takes to direct 

Nigeria aright. 

End herdsmen 

problem 

The former governor 

called on patriotic 

Nigerians to unite again 

and take over power from 

APC in 2019 so as to save 

Nigeria’s democracy from 

dying. He assured that if 

elected president, he would 

quickly address the 

herdsmen and other 

security challenges 

currently bedeviling the 

country. 

On clamour for 

restructuring, Lamido said 

that “if there is good 

governance, there won’t be 

need for any agitation in 

the country.” 

In his remarks, Governor 

Okezie Ikpeazu thanked 

Lamido for his visit. He said 

that Nigeria is indeed in 

dire need of detribalised 

patriots to salvage the 

country which he lamented 

was at the brink of 

disintegration. 

“We are at a point where 

we must make or mar our 

nation. Wherever we want 

to go, there are 

consequences and prices to 

pay. 

“Nobody believes APC 

government anymore. We 

are in dire need of people 

who can be trusted, leaders 

who can galvanize the best 

brains to move Nigeria 

forward,” Ikpeazu said. 

Judicial interference: COSON wants Buhari to sack Malami 

By Dennis Agbo 

E NUGU—MEMBERS 

of the Copyright 

Society of Nigeria 

COSON, have protested 

against the Attorney- 

General of the Federation 

and Minister of Justice, 

Malam Abubakar Malami, 

accusing him of 

interference in a judicial 

process. 

COSON members in a 

peaceful protest at the 

premises of the Enugu 

Federal High Court, 

yesterday, alleged that 

Malami engaged in a 

frightening new assault on 

the Judiciary and attempted 

to destroy the judicial 

system in the country. 

The demonstrators who 

carried placards with such 

inscriptions as “who is 

afraid of Buba”, “leave 

Buba alone,” “someone 

should call Malami to 

order,” said the protest was 

in solidarity with the 

COSON chairman, Chief 

Tony Okoroji who this week 

began a one-man protest 

which has spread through 

Lagos to Abuja. 

They alleged an arm 

twisting and blackmailing 

of a Federal High Court 

judge to be unable to deliver 

judgment as he deems fit, 

insisting that the protest will 

continue across the country 

until the development is 

curbed. 

National Enforcement 

Officer of COSON, Prince 

Biodun Eguakhide 

recalled that on December 

6, 2017, Justice Ibrahim 

Buba, a judge of the 

Federal High Court, 

stepped into his courtroom 

in Ikoyi, Lagos where he 

was scheduled to deliver an 

important judgment in a 

matter that has caused so 

much trouble in the 

Nigerian creative industry. 

“Justice Buba did not 

deliver the judgment. A 

visibly angry Buba said that 

the previous evening, he 

received a petition against 

him from a party in the 

case, obviously trying to 

intimidate him. He 

announced that he would 

deliver the judgment on 

December 14.” 

The judge reportedly did 

not eventually deliver the 

judgment disclosing that 

the case file had been taken 

from him. 

Eguakhide said the key 

issue in the matter was 

whether the Musical 

Copyright Society of 

Nigeria, MSCN, is 

authorized to collect 

money on behalf of 

Nigerian musicians or not. 

Six officials of the MCSN 

alongside one Mayowa 

Ayilaran were at the time 

said to be facing criminal 

cases in court filed by the 

Nigerian Copyright 

Commission, NCC. 

Things reportedly took a 

crazy turn when in 2017, 

the Attorney-General of the 

Federation and Minister of 

Justice, Mr. Abubakar 

Malami directed NCC to 

approve MSCN as a 

collecting society to collect 

royalties for the Nigerian 

Music Industry and to 

withdraw all cases filed by 

the commission against 

MSCN.

16—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 2018

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 2018 —17 

THIS week, ex-President 

O l u s e g u n 

Obasanjo - or “Baba” as 

many Nigerians, including 

this columnist, like to fondly 

call this outspoken old soldier 

- decided to publicly advise 

the current President to forget 

about seeking re-election next 

year. 

The open letter he wrote 

reflected the feelings of the 

many Nigerians who are 

disappointed in Muhammadu 

Buhari. It was not a relentless 

or vitriolic attack. It contained 

some 

polite 

acknowledgements of this 

administration’s 

A tactful masterpiece 

achievements. 

But Baba still somehow 

managed to portray Buhari 

Democracy and change feedback 

LAST week, I explained 

that I campaigned for 

Buhari in 2014/15 because I 

had lost faith in Dr Goodluck 

Jonathan, a fellow Niger 

Deltan. And I said that I had 

found it very hard, emotionally, 

to walk away from Jonathan. 

I then admitted that though 

Buhari has done well in some 

areas, he is not doing well 

enough. And I pointed out that 

the whole point of democracy 

is that it gives us a chance to 

achieve change…which 

means that those who voted for 

Buhari should feel free to ditch 

him in 2019 if things don’t 

improve enough! 

No nonsense 

posture 

I thought that some 

Vanguard readers would 

contact me to defend Buhari, 

but nobody contacted me to 

defend Buhari. ALL of the 

responses I received from 

Vanguard readers echoed 

some or all of the sentiments 

in the following email from 

MUDIAGA OKORODUDU 

(mudiokorodudu@yahoo.co.uk): 

I read your article titled 

“DEMOCRACY AND 

CHANGE” published in the 

Vanguard newspaper of 

January 19, 2018. Let me be 

frank with you here that I was 

almost moved to tears because 

I felt the pictures you painted 

so graphically. I cannot but 

agree with your views. I share 

in your pains because in so 

many ways I appear to be in 

the same boat with you on this. 

•President Muhammadu Buhari and former President Obasanjo 

I come from the same region 

like you, and my belief then was 

that the then President 

Goodluck Jonathan deserved 

to have been voted out, having 

failed overwhelmingly in the 

act of good governance. I opted 

The criminal 

activities of the 

Herdsmen is being 

allowed to go on 

with apparent lack 

of unwillingness on 

the part of 

government to 

address it frontally 

to cast my vote for Mr 

President - Muhammadu 

Buhari, because I felt he was 

the right man to turn things 

around in this country because 

of his no nonsense posture . 

Recall that this was a period 

when Nigeria State was 

practically sliding into a state 

of complete anarchy and 

something needed to change. 

In electing President Buhari 

I thought we were going to 

witness a new Nigeria in our 

life time. Alas this dream has 

been dashed. Yes, like you 

rightly mentioned this 

government has done well in 

some areas like agriculture and 

security related issues. At any 

and his team as woefully 

inadequate overall; and his 

latest foray into brutal 

rate, it will appear at 

the moment, that there 

are question marks on 

the issue of security. 

The criminal activities 

of the herdsmen is 

being allowed to go on 

with apparent lack of 

unwillingness on the 

part of government to 

address it frontally. 

One area I thought 

this government ought 

to have been different 

in view of the fact that 

they rode in to power with the 

CHANGE slogan, was on the 

area of appointment. Public 

appointment to key offices is 

terribly skewed to a particular 

zone of the country. 

Tested 

technocrats 

This would not have been 

an issue if the persons so 

appointed were tested 

technocrats or persons who one 

can comfortably described as 

best of the best brains; but alas 

what do we have, most of them 

are recycled politicians which 

explains why this government 

is largely failing in attaining 

the expected result, 

economically, politically and 

socially, etc. 

I think it is painful and 

shameful, that this government 

has not been able to address 

some basic and fundamental 

challenges that has bedevilled 

this country for several years. 

For instance, electricity supply 

is yet to improve; we are yet to 

have improved fuel supply for 

frankness about the state of the 

nation will go down in history 

as yet another Big Baba 

•Dr. Goodluck Jonathan 

our motor vehicles, the 

hospitals I can describe at this 

time, are still 'mere consulting 

clinics'. The issues of corruption 

cannot be fought successfully 

on adhoc basis without an 

enabling law. The question is, 

where are the comprehensive 

laws fundamental to fighting 

corruption ? I am afraid, they 

are not there. 

In conclusion, I think our 

present day politicians are not 

sincere in so many ways. What 

they say, in most cases, is not 

what they mean and this is why 

we are where we are. Our 

leaders must strive to serve the 

people, and should be 

reminded that they will be held 

accountable; if not today then 

by tomorrow, if not to man then 

to God. 

Nobody should be allowed to 

be above the law. Here lies the 

difference between our nation 

and the advanced democracies 

of the world. Having said all, a 

condition sine qua non for 

progress of our great country 

is THE RULE OF LAW. 

Bombshell. 

However, I was actually more 

struck by the supremely 

professional and stylish 

response of Alhaji Lai 

Mohammed, the Minister of 

Information. 

Alhaji Mohammed 

respectfully described 

Obasanjo as a “patriot” and 

thanked him for 

acknowledging the 

government’s achievements 

on the anti-corruption and 

Boko Haram fronts, while 

expressing the opinion that 

“Chief Obasanjo, because of 

his very busy schedule, may 

not have been fully availed of 

developments in the 

government’s efforts to 

revamp the economy…”. 

Then, after listing some of 

the positive moves that the 

government has made and 

promising us better days 

ahead, Mohammed said that: 

“…We have no reason to 

believe that…Obasanjo has 

any motive beyond the wellbeing 

of the nation…We have 

taken his admonition in good 

faith, and we thank him most 

sincerely for taking time off his 

busy schedule to pen such a 

long statement.” 

So diplomatic, balanced, 

mature, clever, courteous and 

classy! 

I suspect that even Baba 

would have been impressed 

by this response! 

Responses to: 

donzol2002@yahoo.co.uk 

or to 0802 747 6458 OR 0811 

675 9752 (texts only). 

PLEASE KINDLY NOTE 

THAT UNLESS YOU 

REQUEST ANONYMITY, 

YOUR COMMENTS MAY BE 

PUBLISHED, WITH YOUR 

NAMES AND CONTACT 

DETAILS ATTACHED. 

C 

M 

Y 

K

18 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 2018 

THE World Bank recently released 

its 2018 economic growth forecasts 

for nations all over the world. Global 

Gross Domestic Product, GDP, is 

supposed to grow by 3.1 per cent 

during this year. Sub-Saharan Africa 

will grow marginally faster by 3.2 per 

cent. But Nigeria, the presumed 

largest economy on the continent, will 

manage only a 2.5 per cent growth – 

if it succeeds. By contrast, Kenya will 

jump by 5.5 per cent, Tanzania 6.8, 

Senegal 6.9, Cote d’Ivoire 7.2 per 

cent and Ethiopia, a whopping 8.2 per 

cent. 

Not only does the comparative 

growth rates demonstrate the 

superior quality of economic 

management policies those countries 

adopt; they show a uniform pattern 

of more visionary and capable 

political leaderships. Among other 

things, annual budgets in those 

countries are invariably passed by the 

legislatures and signed into law 

Nigeria’s low 2018 growth forecast 

before the start of each fiscal year. 

In contrast, Nigeria has hardly been 

able to procure its annual budgets 

before April in the past ten budget 

years. 

Kenya last year went through a 

stormy election yet, its budget was 

passed on time. Nigeria had no 

national election in 2017, still its 

budget was not approved by the 

National Assembly until late May. It 

was signed into law in June. The 

Nigerian 2018 budget has again 

become hostage to bad politics which 

is the arch-enemy of good 

economics. 

More worrisome is the ratio of 

projected growth to population 

increase, which also weighs heavily 

against Nigeria when juxtaposed with 

most other African countries. People 

living in an economy growing at 8.2 

per cent while its population grows 

at 3 per cent will experience an 

increase in their per capita income 

annually. They get richer. 

Nigeria has a population growth of 

three per cent. With a GDP growth 

of one per cent in 2017 and the 

expected 2.5 per cent in 2018, we will 

end up with a lower per capita income 

and become poorer at the end of 2018 

than we were in 2012, for example. 

Handlers of our economy can always 

make the excuse that having just 

experienced a bruising recession, the 

economy is on the path of growth. 

Be that as it may, we urge them to 

break out of their lethargy and 

engage the challenge before us headon. 

This country will keep living in 

poverty until we can get the 

economy to grow at a rate 

comfortable enough to cope with 

our uncontrolled population 

expansion. 

We can no longer afford a laidback 

attitude. We must take the 

business of governance more 

seriously than just sending people 

into public office to go and enjoy 

the perks. 

We must re-enact the feat of the 

Olusegun Obasanjo years when world 

renowned Nigerian technocrats were 

brought in to take our economic 

growth toward the double digit mark. 

By Akintola Benson-Oke 

NOW, more than ever before, it is 

important for the Lagos State Civil 

Service to be as effective and as productive as 

it can ever be. This is because, this present 

administration has gone all out to implement, 

on the largest scale imaginable, series of 

programmes that are designed to transform 

Lagos State for the better. In order to execute 

these programmes, the input and support of 

the civil service is required. Thus, this training 

designed to ensure that officers of the civil 

service are effectively managing their time and 

are being productive, is of paramount 

importance. 

The team behind MindTools, a resource for 

workplace effectiveness, defined Time 

Management as “the process of organising 

and planning how to divide your time between 

specific activities.” The platform further stated 

that, “good time management enables you to 

work smarter – not harder – so that you get 

more done in less time, even when time is tight 

and pressures are high. Failing to manage your 

time damages your effectiveness and causes 

stress.” 

Indeed, the question that every one ought to 

ask and which is very pertinent to any effort to 

understand project or task management is this: 

It seems that there is never enough time in the 

day. But, since we all get the same 24 hours, 

why is it that some people achieve so much 

more with their time than others? The answer, 

of course, lies in good time management. The 

blunt truth is that the highest achievers manage 

their time exceptionally well.” 

Now, it may seem counter-intuitive to 

dedicate precious time to learning about time 

management, instead of using that time to get 

on with work, but the benefits are enormous. 

They include the following: 

a. Greater productivity and efficiency; b. A 

OPINION 

Achieving effective management of time and tasks 

better professional reputation; c. Less stress; 

d. Increased opportunities for advancement; 

and e. Greater opportunities to achieve 

important life and career goals. 

5. In the same vein, failing to manage your 

time effectively can have some very undesirable 

consequences, including: 

a. Missed deadlines; b. Inefficient work flow; 

Understanding effective 

project management 

techniques helps 

organisations carry out largescale 

projects on time, on 

budget and with minimal 

disruption to the rest of the 

organisation 

c.Poor work quality; d. A poor professional 

reputation and a stalled career; and e. Higher 

stress levels. 

Thus, spending a little time learning about 

time-management techniques will have huge 

benefits now – and throughout your career. 

6.It is therefore my pleasure to welcome you 

to this training organised by the Public Service 

Staff Development Centre. This centre has 

continued to fulfill its mandate by honing and 

sharpening the skills of officers in the Lagos 

State public service. We all owe a debt of 

gratitude to His Excellency, Mr. Akinwunmi 

Ambode for his dedication to the funding and 

prioritisation of staff development initiatives. 

The focus of this training is the 

‘Management and Execution of Projects.” 

Project management is defined as the art of 

managing a project and its deliverables with a 

view to produce finished products or service. 

There are many ways in which a project can be 

carried out and the way in which it is executed 

is project management. 

Project management includes: identifying 

requirements, establishing clear and 

achievable objectives, balancing the 

competing demands from the different 

stakeholders and ensuring that a commonality 

of purpose is achieved. It is clear that unless 

there is a structured and scientific approach to 

the practice of management, organisations 

would find themselves adrift in the Ocean 

called organisational development and hence 

would be unable to meet the myriad challenges 

that the modern era throws at them. Hence, 

the importance of project management to 

organisations cannot be over-emphasised and 

the succeeding paragraphs provide some 

reasons why organisations must take the 

practice of project management seriously. 

Without a scientific approach to the task of 

managing the projects and achieving 

objectives, it would be very difficult for the 

organisations to successfully execute the 

projects within the constraints of time, scope 

and quality and deliver the required result. In 

other words, there has to be a framework and 

a defined way of doing things to ensure that 

there is a structure to the art of project 

management. Thus, project management is 

about creating structure and managing the 

project commitments and the delivery of 

agreed upon results. By using the 

conventionally sound and proven methods of 

project management, organisations can seek 

to achieve control over the project environment 

and ensure that the project deliverables are 

being managed. 

Managers face what is known as the “triple 

constraint.” This is the competing demands of 

time, scope and quality upon the project 

manager’s list of things to do and how well the 

project manager manages these constraints 

goes a long way in determining the success of 

the project. Without the use of Project 

Management, managers and organisations 

would find themselves facing an unpredictable 

and chaotic environment over which they have 

little control. Thus, Project Management is 

both necessary and essential to the success of 

the project. 

Indeed, project Management is too big an 

area to be covered in just one training and the 

attempt at this training is to give insights into 

the immediate skills that will help officers of 

the Lagos State Public Service to automate 

tasks and become more efficient and effective 

in delivering value and meeting set goals and 

to provide a framework within which 

subsequent actions by the organisation can be 

taken. 

Having described project management 

above in the manner stated by the management 

Study Guide, we may now briefly consider why 

organisations such as the Lagos State Public 

Service should embrace project management 

principles. 

As a growing field used increasingly by 

businesses of all sizes and as entrepreneurs 

and company executives deal with the daily 

responsibilities of managing an organisation, 

it is important to use dedicated project 

managers to oversee projects from conception 

to completion. Understanding effective project 

management techniques helps organisations 

carry out large-scale projects on time, on 

budget and with minimal disruption to the 

rest of the organisation. 

Continues online @www.vanguardngr.com 

*Dr. Benson-Oke, is Lagos State 

Commissioner for Establishments, Training and 

Pensions.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 2018 — 19 

CBN’ll retain 

MPR at 14% 

to sustain 

dollar inflow 

— Ebo 

By Babajide Komolafe 

L-R: Clifford Agu, Head of Operation, Transcorp Power Limited; Mayowa Obilade, Economic Specialist, United States Consulate 

General; kalyana Sundaram, CEO, Transcorp Power Limited; Levi White, Senior Foreign Assistance Planning Officer, Officer 

of Energy Programs, U.S. Department of State; President/CEO Transcorp Plc. Adim Jibunoh; Risk & Financial Advisor, Energy & 

Resources, George Given; Group General Counsel & Head Business Development, Transcorp Plc. Christopher Ezeafulukwe; 

Managing Director, Deloitte Consulting LLP, Richard Longstaff; Technical Team Lead, Christopher Grinaldi; and Director of 

Resources, Transcorp Plc. Napoleon Esemudje during the visit of the Delegation from the United States Consulate General to 

Transcorp Plc In respect of discussions on long-term solutions to Nigeria’s Power sector challenges recently 

FG plans $2.5bn Eurobonds sale in Q1 2018-DMO 

By Yinka Kolawole, with 

agency report 

THE Federal Government 

has commenced moves to 

raise $2.5 billion through issuance 

of Eurobonds in the first 

quarter of 2018 to refinance domestic 

debt. 

Director General, Debt Management 

Office (DMO), Patience 

Oniha, who disclosed this in an 

interview with Bloomberg, noted 

that the issuance is in furtherance 

of a dollar-debt program that 

started with the selling of $3 billion 

Eurobonds in November 

2017. “The issuance is subject to 

market conditions. The whole 

$2.5 billion could be raised in one 

go or in tranches,” she stated. 

Recall that of the $3 billion 

raised in November’s Eurobonds 

sale, $2.5 billion went to funding 

the 2017 budget while the 

balance of $500 million was used 

to refinance local debt. 

The yield on dollar bonds due 

CURRENCY BUYING SELLING 

US DOLLAR 

POUNDS 

EURO 

FRANC 

YEN 

CFA 

WAUA 

RENMINBI 

RIYAL 

SDR 

DANISH 

RAND 

$124.40 +1.90 

$1,970.00+15.00 

$13.33 +0.17 

$70.82 +0.29 

66.08 +0.47 

304.6 305.1 305.6 

430.5521 431.2589 431.9656 

375.8459 376.4629 377.0798 

320.1934 320.719 321.2446 

2.78 2.7845 2.7891 

0.5498 0.5598 0.5698 

438.559 439.2789 439.9988 

47.802 47.8809 47.9598 

81.2202 81.3535 81.4868 

439.2027 439.9237 440.6446 

50.4697 50.5526 50.6354 

25.4378 25.14796 25.5213 

CBN Exchange rate as at 25/01/2018 

*Says another Sukuk bond in the offing 

November 2027 have fallen about 

60 basis points since they were 

issued late last year to 5.92 percent, 

almost eight percentage 

points lower than the yield on 

similar maturity local-currency 

government bonds. 

The Buhari administration has 

been selling Eurobonds to help 

reduce the financing burden 

from paying double-digit yields 

on naira bonds, in a bid to help 

free up funds to increase investment 

in infrastructure and spur 

economic growth. 

Oniha further disclosed that the 

government is planning to sell 

another Sukuk bond - debt instrument 

based on Shariah principles 

- after the approval of 2018 budget, 

adding that the securities are 

tied to specific projects. 

It would be recalled that the federal 

government had in Septem- 

Central Bank of 

Nigeria 

(CBN) yesterday 

said that it would 

render support to 

Nigerians investing 

in cryptocurrency, 

describing such investment 

has gambling. 

The Governor 

of the CBN, Mr. 

Godwin Emefiele 

stated this in Abuja 

during an interview 

with Bloomberg. 

Emefiele’s warning 

is coming on the 

heels of increasing 

transactions in cryptocurrencies 

in Nigeria. 

Data from LocalBitcoins, 

a Bitcoin 

start-up company, 

showed that Nigeria 

came second in the 

world’s peer-to-peer 

ber 2017 sold a seven-year 

Sukuk of N100 billion (about $278 

million), and released the proceeds 

to fund the development of 

25 key economic road projects 

across the country. 

Each of the geo-political zones 

of the country is expected to receive 

the sum of N16.67 billion for 

road projects in their respective 

zones. 

The North-central and Southsouth 

zones accounted for five 

each of the 25 key economic road 

projects, while the North-east, 

North-west and South-east have 

four road projects each. Three 

projects are to receive funding 

from the Sovereign Sukuk proceeds 

in the South-west zone. 

The DMO boss predicted that 

after the second quarter, as the 

process of issuing improves, corporate 

bond sales are expected, 

due to declining borrowing costs 

in the country. “There is money 

on the table, rates are lower. So 

let’s begin to work on encouraging 

corporate bonds. The main 

reason there aren’t many corporate 

bonds in Nigeria is because 

interest rates were too high,” she 

said. 

In a related development, the 

DMO DG is set to start talks with 

JPMorgan Chase & Co about 

being reinstated in its government 

bond index for emerging markets. 

The naira securities were removed 

in 2015 because of foreign-currency 

shortages. 

“We would like to get back into 

the index. The securities trading 

was never the problem, it was always 

the foreign-currency liquidity,” 

which has now improved,” 

Oniha said. 

Investors in cryptocurrencies are gamblers — Emefiele 

By Elizabeth Adegbesan 

(P2P) Bitcoin transactions last 

year outpacing major European 

countries, the United Kingdom 

and the United States of 

America. 

Emefiele however warned 

that: “Cryptocurrency or bitcoin 

is like a gamble, and 

there is a need for everybody 

to be very careful. We cannot 

as a Central Bank give support 

to situations where people 

risk savings to ‘gamble’. 

Cryptocurrencies are not issued 

or backed by any bank or 

government, nor are individual 

digital currency valuable as 

a commodity. Cryptocurrency 

are traded on online exchanges 

and transferred anywhere 

in the world, allowing holders 

to skirt currency controls. 

Emefiele’s warning is consistent 

with a circular issued by 

the CBN last year, warning 

banks and other Financial Institutions 

(OFLs) not to use, 

hold, or trade digital currencies. 

It cautioned financial institutions 

to ensure that digital 

exchange customers must 

have effective Anti-Money 

Laundering/ Combating The 

Financing of Terrorism (AML/ 

CFT) controls to enable them 

comply with customer identification, 

verification and transaction 

monitoring requirements. 

Similarly, the Securities and 

Exchange Commission (SEC), 

issued a statement last year, 

advising Nigerians to exercise 

extreme caution with regard to 

using digital currency as a vehicle 

of investment. 

On the possibility of future 

regulation of cryptocurrency, 

Emefiele said, “I have asked 

my colleagues in the research 

and monetary-policy department 

to study the market and 

get to know what the issues 

are. The Central Bank may in 

future make some very concrete 

pronouncements as to the 

direction.” 

IN spite of the optimism ex 

pressed by the Governor of 

the Central Bank of Nigeria 

(CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele 

about the possibility of reduction 

in the Monetary Policy 

Rate (MPR) before July, Chief 

Executive of Afrinvest Securities 

Limited, Ayodeji Ebo says 

a rate cut will be unlikely as 

this would undermine foreign 

exchange inflow and stability 

in the foreign exchange market. 

Ebo made this assertion 

while speaking at the Finance 

Correspondents Association of 

Nigeria (FICAN) Economic 

Outlook with theme: ‘Nigeria 

Economy and Financial Market 

Outlook: 2017 Review and 

2018 Outlook’ held at the 

FICAN Centre, Lagos. 

The CBN Governor had on 

Wednesday said the apex bank 

may begin a gradual rate cut 

by the end of the first half of 

the year as inflation continues 

to decline. Inflation which had 

risen to almost 19 per cent last 

year January had maintained 

a steady decline standing at 

15.37 in December. 

Speaking at the Ebo stated 

that a cut in rate would impact 

rates at the money market 

causing investors to consider 

putting their funds in other 

countries where the risks are 

not as high with a good enough 

returns in investment. 

“This will affect the current 

stability at the foreign exchange 

market and that is 

what the government would 

not want at a time the country 

is approaching an election 

period”, he said. 

He explained further that 

while the argument for a cut 

in rates is for increased lending 

to the real sector, a lower 

benchmark interest rate would 

not result in increased lending 

by banks. 

“Bringing down the MPR 

will not translate to improved 

lending by the banks. There is 

nothing like patriotic lending 

because we have to grow the 

economy. The banks will not 

use private money to grow the 

economy when they still see 

there are evident risks within 

the space. 

It is about the risk environment. 

“Most of the companies that 

they would have lend to are 

struggling in terms of returns 

on their investment as they 

have factor in the cost of power 

as well as infrastructure and 

by the time you factor in those 

things your business is not 

profitable and you cannot service 

your loan so the bank will 

not lend to you. 

“For instance a lot of banks 

lent to the power sector during 

the privatisation but a lot 

of them got their hands burnt, 

so no matter how low interest 

rate comes, that will not translate 

proportionately to increased 

lending as long as 

they continue to see that risks.”


By Theodore Opara 

JAC Motors targets 

top three position in 

Nigerian market 

JAC Motors, represented 

in Nigeria by Elizade 

Autoland is aiming to become 

one of the top three 

international auto brands in 

Nigeria in the next five years. 

Lyrida Lu, JAC official in 

charge of the African market 

revealed this recently to 

journalists at the company’s 

showroom located near the 

Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos. 

According to Lyrida, 

realising this target will not 

be far-fetched because JAC 

Motors has the right products 

and a good partner (Elizade 

Autoland) in Nigeria, which 

has over four decades of 

experience in auto business. 

He said “in five years, we 

expect to be one of the top 

three international auto 

brands in Nigeria with our 

range of world class 

products”. 

Lyrida explained that the 

process of achieving the goal 

has 

started 

with Elizade setting up a 

Semi KnockedDown, (SKD) 

assembly plant in Nigeria and 

a unique marketing strategy 

by the company. 

“We have an SKD assembly 

plant in Nigeria. All our 

vehicles will be assembled 

here as we are bringing them 

in SKD status which will bring 

down the prices of our 

products, he stated. 

According to the JAC 

official, JAC already ranks 

among the first three leading 

brands in the light truck 

market segment in the world. 

“Our light duty truck annual 

sales is among the top three 

in the world, behind Isuzu 

and Fuso and our target is to 

overtake these brands in the 

next five years,” he said, 

adding that they are going to 

achieve this by producing 

better quality products at 

competitive prices. 

On what Nigerians should 

expect from the company in 

the next few years, Mr. Lyrida 

said, “we are bringing world 

class products to the Nigerian 

market which cuts across the 

various auto segments where 

we compete, including pickup, 

light trucks, 

SUVs, Sedans, minivans and 

multi-purpose vehicles. 

“We are bringing the new T6 

pick-up and minibus which 

looks like Mercedes Benz 

sprinter bus. We are 

increasing the passenger 

vehicle line up by 

adding S4 by next year while 

Mercedes Benz S-Class refreshes for 2018 

•Elevates intelligent drive to next level 

AUTHORISED General 

Distributor of 

Mercedes-Benz in Nigeria, 

Weststar Associates Limited 

has confirmed the arrival of 

the much anticipated S-class 

facelift in Nigeria. 

Announcing the arrival of the 

new S-Class in Nigeria, the 

Managing Director of 

Weststar, Mr. Mirko Plath 

said: “ With the first batch 

now available at authorised 

Benz showrooms in Nigeria, 

buyers can now order the 

latest model of the S-class 

which features new engines 

with a range of new 

technologies. 

In his words: “the top-of-therange 

Mercedes-Benz sedan 

takes another big step 

towards the future of 

autonomous driving and 

elevates Intelligent Drive to 

the next level as the advanced 

design of the S-Class conveys 

even more status and highest 

technological competence”. 

Though several new engines 

are offered for the new S- 

•JAC Pickup, winner NAJA Awards outstanding entrant Pickup 2017 (Inset Mr. Lyrida Lu) 

the S2, S5, S7 and multipurpose 

vehicle M3 and M4 

will be available in Nigeria 

this year”, he said. 

For the full range being 

launched into the Nigerian 

market, Lyrida said the 

Class, the two new engines 

available for the Nigerian 

Market are petrol (S450) 

variants of six-cylinder in-line 

engines and a new V8 biturbo 

petrol engine (S560)”. 

The enhanced design of the 

S-Class conveys an even 

greater sense of status and the 

highest level of technological 

expertise. An example of this 

is the Multibeam Led 

headlamp, whose ultra range 

high beam generates the 

legally permitted maximum 

luminous intensity and only 

falls below the reference value 

in more than 650 meters. 

Inside the new S-Class the 

ambient lighting impresses in 

64 colors and different color 

worlds. The energizing 

comfort control system links 

various comfort systems in the 

vehicle such as Thermotronic, 

massage or scenting 

functions, to increase the 

well-being and performance 

while the journey lasts. This 

makes the S-Class a wellness 

temple on wheels. 

products will be adequately 

supported. He said that they 

have good incentives for their 

representatives to enable them 

take care of customers 

vehicles. 

We shall provide spare parts, 

The interior of the new S- 

Class is characterised by the 

two new high-resolution 

displays, each with a screen 

diagonal of 12.3 inches. 

Visually, the two displays 

under one shared glass cover 

blend into a wide-screen 

dashboard. As the instrument 

cluster, it contains a large 

display with virtual 

instruments in the direct field 

of vision of the driver as well 

as a central display above the 

center console. The new S- 

Class has touch-sensitive 

controls in the steering wheel. 

They respond to swiping 

motions like the screen of a 

smartphone and enable the 

driver to control the entire 

infotainment system without 

having to take their hands off 

the steering wheel. The 

operation of distronic and 

cruise control with control 

elements directly on the 

steering wheel is another new 

feature in the new S-Class. 

The NTG 5.5 generation 

also extends the range of 

telephony and telematics 

services: in this case the 

smartphone is transformed 

into a digital car key or 

parking control unit. 

Likewise, the Generation 4.5 

driver assistance systems on 

the Intelligent Drive go one 

step further on the road to 

accident-free and autonomous 

driving.Also in the S-Class is 

the Individual Entertainment 

with Blu-ray drive and highquality 

displays in bonded 

glass, wireless telephone 

charging at the front and in 

the rear including fast pairing 

via NFC technology, Business 

Telephony in the rear with 

service support while JAC 

engineers from our 

headquarters are always 

available to back up the brand 

with Nigerian trained 

technicians. 

new Bluetooth handsetwhich 

is visible and integrated 

within optimum reach with 

extended scope of functions 

such as connection of a second 

mobile phone and call 

transfer between front and 

rear passengers. 

The S-Class is also making 

a technological leap with its 

state-of-the-art drive 

generation as the completely 

newly developed in-line 6- 

cylinder gasoline engine in 

the S 450 electrified with an 

integrated starter generator 

for the customer means 

driving pleasure with 

increased efficiency and with 

its know-how transfer from the 

AMG high-performance 

engines, the new V8 biturbo 

engine in the S 560 also 

develops its special 

fascination. 

The ideal complement to this 

is the standard 9G-Tronic. 

Additional highlight is the 

curve inclination function in 

combination with Magic Body 

Control and like all the drive 

programs, it is set via Dynamic 

Select. 

The new S-Class also 

features the optional 

energizing comfort control 

which links various on-board 

comfort systems together, 

e.g. climate control, 

ambience lighting, massage 

and fragrance functions, and 

allows customers to configure 

a specific wellness set-up to 

suit their mood or need. This 

enhances physical comfort 

and performance on the road 

also. Inside the S-Class is 

the touch-sensitive Touch 

Control buttons in the steering 

wheel. 

C 

M 

Y 

K

C 

M 

Y 

K 


•Peugeot 3008 

Peugeot’s new SUV ready to 

take on big boys 

THE planned 

launch of the 

drastically revamped, 

new generation 

Peugeot 3008 SUV by 

PAN Nigeria Limited very 

soon is expected to be a 

major push to the leading 

local auto assembly plant 

in the country in its quest 

to further expand its market 

share. PAN has 

planned to unveil the new 

compact SUV which is 

making wave in Europe. 

The 3008 won the European 

car of the year last 

year and has won new 

customers for Peugeot for 

its outstanding design 

and top class performance. 

Although, prices of the 

model(s) storming the 

crowded SUV segment in 

Nigeria has not been 

made known as at the time 

of filing this report, sources 

inside PAN Nigeria 

Limited say, the new SUV 

which is well equipped 

with all the trappings of 

luxury, safety, comfort and 

technology will be competitively-priced 

compared 

to competition. The 

source’s added that new 

Peugeot has all it takes to 

rule its segment, especially 

with its design and premium 

features. 

The Peugeot 3008 SUV 

has seen a significant upgrade 

on the design front, 

compared to its predecessor. 

Comparatively, the 

first generation sported a 

half-and-half look between 

an SUV and a 

multi-purpose vehicle. 

This generation, however, 

now looks like a proper 

crossover. 

Improvements don’t just 

stop at exterior styling, 

though. Inside, the 3008’s 

high-tech cabin looks like 

something straight out of 

‘Star Trek’, thanks in part 

to Peugeot’s i-dashboard. 

Its sleek exterior, futuristic 

cabin and several 

unorthodox features take 

it on a journey to explore 

uncharted territories of the 

Sport Utility Vehicle 

(SUV) segment. 

Combining style, athleticism, 

and efficiency, the 

Peugeot 3008 SUV fits the 

exacting needs of the premium 

segment in the 

country, providing the 

best of all worlds to both 

drivers and passengers 

alike. 

Apart from its distinctive 

style, it represents the 

brand’s move towards improving 

efficiency while 

delivering an even greater 

power output compared 

to previous models,” Boyi 

said. “This explains Peugeot’s 

decision to match 

the 3008 SUV with a 1.6- 

liter turbocharged petrol 

engine. 

Turbo-charging has the 

PSA France to create 

smaller engines which 

have better fuel consumption, 

more power, and significant 

reductions in 

weight, allowing for an 

uncompromising performance 

in every drive. 

Regarded as a gamechanger 

for Peugeot, the 

New 3008 SUV in particular 

boasts of groundbreaking 

technology and 

design never before seen 

in previous models. 

Complementing the 

SUV’s high-powered, low 

displacement engine is a 

body that is 100kg lighter 

than its predecessor. Combining 

these elements 

produces an optimal power-to-weight 

ratio that puts 

the vehicle ahead of its 

competitors. 

The vehicle is lighter, yet 

more agile and responsive 

than previous generation 

model. This further disproves 

the common notion 

that higher displaced engines 

are more suitable for 

SUVs,” he added. 

Audi closes 2017 with 

record breaking sales 

DESPITE 

poor 

performance in Nigeria, 

Audi AG has increased 

its global sales for 

the eighth year in a row. 

Despite a turbulent first half 

of the year, the company 

achieved a new recordbreaking 

figure: Around 

1,878,100 deliveries representing 

an increase of 0.6 

percent. The Four Rings 

sold more than in the previous 

year in all three core 

markets in 2017: In the 

United States, Audi 

achieved new recordbreaking 

sales month by 

month and closed the year 

2017 with growth of 7.8 percent. 

In China, Audi not 

only manage to offset the 

poor delivery figures from 

the first half of the year, but 

even achieved a cumulative 

increase of 1.1 percent 

in the year-end spurt. In 

Germany, sales built on the 

very high level in 2016 with 

an increase of 0.4 percent. 

“Despite a very challenging 

situation we achieved 

positive growth in all core 

markets in 2017 and 

achieved a new recordbreaking 

sales result worldwide. 

Every single market 

contributed to this outcome. 

This demonstrates the attractiveness 

of our product 

portfolio to our customers,” 

says Bram Schot, Board 

Member for Sales and 

Marketing at AUDI AG. 

Since June 2017, Audi 

has managed to return to 

growth in China, steadily 

reducing the cumulative 

year-on-year decline 

month by month and ultimately 

achieving a positive 

sales balance. 

In the period January 

through December, the 

brand increased its deliveries 

by 1.1 percent to 

597,866 automobiles. With 

this new all-time high, the 

company continues to 

maintain its lead in the 

Chinese premium market. 

Following on from its similar 

achievement in November, 

China also posted 

the highest volume 

growth of any individual 

market in the last month 

of 2017.


FAAN insists GAT not part of concession agreement, 

as ICRC promises to resolve dispute 

Stories by Lawani Mikairu 

The Federal Airports 

Authority of Nigeria, 

FAAN, is insisting 

that the General Aviation 

Terminal, GAT, is not part of 

the concession granted 

Messrs Bi Courtney, neither 

had FAAN admitted to that 

assertion at any time. It 

further said before the 

terminal, MMA2, presently 

developed and occupied by 

BASL got burnt, the GAT had 

existed and operated 

independently on its own. 

This is just as the 

Infrastructure Concession 

Regulatory Commission , 

ICRC, promised to correct 

the anomalies in the Build 

Operate Transfer, BOT, 

agreement between Bi- 

Courtney Aviation Services 

Limited, operators of the 

Murtala Muhammed Airport 

2 (MMA 2) and the Authority. 

FAAN made the assertion 

following a mediatory visit by 

Mr. Chidi Iwuzah, the Acting 

Director General of ICRC to 

both parties to iron out grey 

areas in the concession 

agreement in the interest of 

the nation. 

According to Mrs Henrietta 

Yakubu, General Manager, 

Corporate Affairs, FAAN: “The 

BOT agreement granted 

Messrs Bi Courtney Limited 

was for the design, financing, 

construction and management 

of a domestic terminal building 

at the Murtala Muhammed 

Airport. The concession 

premises is limited to the 

domestic terminal, as clearly 

de-marcated and delineated by 

beacon nos as contained in the 

survey plan. 

“We, therefore, want to 

reiterate our position that 

GAT is not part of the 

concession granted Messrs Bi 

Courtney, neither had FAAN 

admitted to that assertion at 

any time.” 

Meantime, the Acting 

Director-General, 

Infrastructure Concession 

Regulatory Commission, 

ICRC, Mr Chidi Iwuzah, has 

promised that the 

commission would resolve all 

the issues surrounding the 

Murtala Muhammed Airport 

Terminal Two, MMA2 

concession between the 

Federal Airports Authority of 

Nigeria, FAAN, and 

management of Bi-Courtney 

Aviation Services Limited, 

BASL. 

The commission also 

commended Bi-Courtney for 

the effective way it has 

operated the Murtala 

Muhammed Airport Terminal 

Two (MMA2) in the last 10 

years despite all the 

challenges surrounding the 

concession of the terminal. 

Iwuzah made the promise 

during a monitoring visit to 

MMA2. According to him, 

ICRC was aware of the 

“pains, especially considering 

the financial risks you had 

both assumed on this (MMA2) 

transaction and we are more 

•Legal Counsel to Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), operators of the Murtala Muhammed 

Airport Terminal Two (MMA2), Mr. Tola Oshobi (SAN); Acting Director-General, Infrastructure Concession 

Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Mr. Chidi Iwuzah, an engineer; Deputy Controller, Business 

Development, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Alhaji Sadiku Rafindadi; Director/Group 

Consultant, The Resort Group, Prof. Olugbenga Ogunmoyela, and Chief Executive Officer, BASL, 

Captain Jari Williams, after the monitoring tour of MMA2 by ICRC officials. 

than ready to give our support 

towards seeking an out-ofcourt 

settlement that will be 

beneficial to FAAN, Bi- 

Courtney and the general 

public.” 

The director-general who 

said the commission officials 

came on a monitoring visit to 

MMA2 facilities and the Four- 

Star Hotel and Conference 

Centre projects being executed 

by BASL to know the level of 

Nigeria Civil Aviation 

Authority, NCAA, 

Tuesday, hosted a sensitisation 

workshop on the 

commencement of the Single 

African Air Transport Market, 

SAATM, which will finally be 

launched sometime this week 

during the AU Summit in Addis 

Ababa, Ethiopia. 

The aviation stakeholders' 

workshop with the theme: 

SAATM Implementation: Its 

Impact on the Nigerian Aviation 

Industry and National Economy, 

held at NCAA headquarters in 

Lagos, had the Secretary- 

implementation of the 

concessions so far, explained 

that “the success or failure of 

Public Private Partnership 

(PPP) transaction in Nigeria 

does not only depend on the 

advice and solutions proffered 

by our commission, but largely 

on the willingness of the 

parties to accept the advice and 

implement 

our 

recommendations in resolving 

disputes.” 

He added that, “The MMA2 

and the Hotel and 

Conference Centre 

concessions are two projects 

that are particularly dear to 

our hearts… The projects no 

doubt have had their fair 

share of challenges which the 

commission is not unaware of. 

We want to assure you that 

the commission is equally 

concerned about the difficulties 

these projects have 

experienced even as a model 

Greenfield Aviation PPP 

terminal in Nigeria. We have 

therefore continued to engage 

the Hon. Minister of State for 

Aviation since his assumption 

of office on these challenges 

and believe they will be 

resolved soon enough in order 

to strengthen the relationship 

between the parties.” 

Earlier in his opening 

remarks, the Chairman of the 

Resort Group, Dr. Wale 

Babalakin (SAN), expressed 

regrets that certain 

misconceptions had been 

“sold, bought and distributed 

to Nigerians about the 

MMA2 concession.” 

According to him, the 

concession agreement was 

drafted by one Professor 

Akanle, a consultant 

engaged by the Ministry of 

Aviation, contrary to the 

misconception in public 

space that Bi-Courtney 

drafted it for FAAN to sign. 

Besides, he also dispelled 

the misconception that the 

concession did not follow due 

process, arguing that 

Sanderton Limited won the 

bid for the reconstruction of 

the burnt domestic terminal 

and could not do anything on 

the site for one year following 

which BASL was invited as a 

reserved bidder. 

NCAA sensitises stakeholders, as SAATM commences 

Air Peace P 

fix 

ixes Feb 19 1 

9 for Free 

F 

reetown, Banjul, Dakar ar launch 

Air Peace Airline has 

announced a new date 

for the launch of its flights 

from Lagos to Freetown in 

Sierra Leone, Banjul in The 

Gambia and Dakar in 

Senegal. The airline said it 

will now connect the three 

West Coast destinations on 

February 19. 

The airline had earlier fixed 

the launch of its flights to 

Freetown, Banjul and Dakar 

for December 15, 2017. The 

launch was, however, 

suspended at the last minute 

due to the industrial unrest 

by air traffic controllers in 

Dakar. 

The carrier had pledged to 

announce a new date for the 

launch when it was certain 

General of the African Civil 

Aviation Commission, AFCAC, 

Ms. Iyabo Sosina and 

representative of the 

International Air Transport 

Association, IATA, who are the 

critical stakeholders and who 

have the tremendous 

responsibilities to actualise 

SAATM. 

Nigeria was among the 

countries that declared their 

commitment to establish the 

SAATM by 2017 upon the 

adoption of the declaration by 

the Assembly of Heads of State 

and Government of the African 

that the industrial action in 

Dakar, a critical connection in 

its route plan, had been fully 

resolved to avoid its guests 

being put through a strain. 

A statement issued by Air 

Peace 

Corporate 

Communications Manager, Mr. 

Chris Iwarah on Tuesday said 

the new destinations would now 

join its route network on 

February 19. The routes, he 

said, were part of the second 

phase of the airline’s expansion 

project on the West Coast of 

Africa and would bring its 

network to a total of 14 

destinations. 

The airline plans to operate 

flights to five other regional 

routes as well as six 

international destinations 

Union in January, 2015. 

Speaking during the opening 

ceremony, the Director- General, 

NCAA, Captain Muktar Usman 

said the sensitisation workshop 

“could not have been more apt 

given the fact that our continent 

is now focusing on the 

development of the African 

Union Agenda 2063 and the 

Solemn Commitment of the 

African Union member-states 

with respect to the establishment 

of a Single Air Transport Market 

in Africa through the full 

implementation of the 

Yamoussoukro Decision (YD).” 

comprising Dubai, London, 

Guangzhou-China, Houston, 

Mumbai and South Africa 

soon. 

Air Peace, which recently 

embarked on a project to 

increase its fleet size to 24 

aircraft, said its Freetown, 

Banjul and Dakar routes would 

be serviced by its Boeing 737 

aircraft to guarantee the 

comfort of its guests. 

“We will operate round-trip 

flights from our Lagos base to 

the new routes four times a 

week on Mondays, 

Wednesdays, Fridays and 

Sundays. The service departs 

the Murtala Muhammed 

International Airport for 

Freetown at 7am (local time)," 

Iwarah revealed. 

He said it is the responsibility 

of Nigeria, being among the 23 

signatories to “the Solemn 

Commitment, to adhere to the 

stipulated concrete measures 

instructing the signatories to 

open their respective air 

transport markets immediately 

to each other and without 

conditions in compliance with 

the Declaration of the Assembly 

of Heads of State and 

Government (Assembly /AU/ 

Decl.1(XXIV) on the 

establishment of SAATM.” 

Usman also said it is 

important that the sensitisation 

workshop is organised to 

intensify awareness campaign 

among the critical stakeholders 

which include airlines, airports, 

ANSP, aviation sector 

downstream, tourism industry 

etc, on the impact as well as 

benefits of SAATM on the 

industry and national economy. 

He enjoined all stakeholders 

to come together to improve 

the aviation support base in 

Nigeria and embrace as well 

as harness the opportunities 

that a Single African Air 

Transport Market has to offer. 

According to him: “ I know 

and it has been estimated that 

liberalisation would create 

more jobs in the aviation and 

tourism sectors of the 

continent, increase states’ 

annual Gross Domestic Product 

(GDP) and revolutionise 

interconnectivity within the 

continent, among others.”

C 

M 

Y 

K 


Mr. Olalekan Olalemi, 

Principal Consultant/ 

Chief Executive Officer of 

Pholax Hospitality, hotel 

management company, in 

this interview with SAMSON 

ECHENIM, describes the 

hospitality industry as the best 

layman gauge for measuring 

recession and submits that the 

country may not have been 

out of recession yet. 

Excerpts 

On assessment of the hotel 

industry in Nigeria 

Right now, if we look at it in 

the Nigerian context, we can 

say that we are still growing, 

because we are not there yet. A 

number of hotels in the country 

can claim to be five-star, but I 

don’t think they are there, in 

terms of facilities and services 

rendered. 

Yes, a few have something 

close to five-star facilities, but 

while using their services as a 

guest, one quickly finds out that 

they do not render five-star 

services yet. A couple of hotels 

now have expatriates as staff, 

but this is also one area that has 

begun to bring a new problem 

to the industry. 

On the effect of the economy 

on the hospitality industry 

It is really impacting 

negatively on business, the 

economy keeps going down. 

The government recently 

claimed that we are out of 

recession, but we are really not 

yet. The simple way to know 

that we are still not fine yet, is 

to realise that not many 

foreigners come around. 

In hotel of this standard 

(Banex), in one month, we 

would hardly receive a foreign 

guest. 

They are still scared of 

bringing in new investments to 

the country. Before now, they 

Hospitality industry still in recession — Olayemi 

*Olalekan Olalemi 

were trooping in daily for 

business or seminars in Lagos, 

Port Harcourt or religious 

engagements and other 

purposes. 

Again, we can hardly get 30 

to 40 per cent occupancy, 

compared to between 70 and 90 

per cent that we were recording 

before early 2015. Interestingly, 

we present a clear layman's way 

of assessing an economy, 

because, we are the ones 

receiving the foreigners/ 

investors once they leave the 

airport after they arrive in the 

country. 

On effects of hoteliers 

preferring foreign managers 

and consultants in hotel 

management 

Yes, most Nigerian hotels 

prefer engaging foreign 

consultants and managers, such 

as Protea, Marriott and Hilton, 

among others. We have good 

local consultants and 

managers, but hotel owners are 

not willing to engage local 

managers, may be, because 

they feel that can earn them a 

big name and a high standard. 

We have Nanet as the most 

popular local brand, but it is not 

growing as the foreign brands 

are doing in the country. 

Unfortunately, this is leading 

to billions of naira in capital 

flight annually and it is very 

bad for a developing country 

like ours to lose such huge 

amount as capital flight to 

countries that are already 

developed. 

Actually, there’s nothing 

these foreign brands are doing 

that we cannot do. Thank God, 

this is not much a technologydriven 

industry; it is about 

rendering of services and being 

creative. The technology angle 

of it is the area of facilities. 

Hospitality is mainly about 

services. 

Now, a number of hotels are 

engaging foreigners as Guest 

Service Agents (front desk 

officers), but that is going too 

far. You can see now that in some 

of big hotels, you find Chinese 

as GSAs, but they cannot even 

speak English as we do. 

What expertise are they 

They are still 

scared of bringing 

in new 

investments to the 

country; before 

now, they were 

trooping in daily 

for business or 

seminars 

bringing in? What does a front 

desk officer do, other than to 

receive bookings, receive the 

guests and check them in; 

document their details and 

check them out when they are 

leaving, using the help of a hotel 

services software? The 

percentage of expatriates 

working in Nigerian hotels is 

around six per cent, but where 

the problem is really, is that they 

are heavily paid. 

In most cases, they are 

overpaid and the weight of their 

payment is felt by the local staff 

who must now receive very 

small salary, because the hotel 

has paid so much to the 

expatriates. 

On how payment of staff 

affect standard of a hotel 

In every industry, payment of 

workers is a major determinant 

of motivation and the more 

workers are motivated, the 

more productivity they are 

likely to yield. In this industry, 

ownership always wants to 

maximise profit, which ought to 

be, but in most cases, this goal 

is overshot, leading to little 

salary, with the staff looking for 

other means to help themselves. 

This leads to pilferage and other 

forms of stealing. When staff is 

paid well, they will be happy 

and this has the good impact of 

improving on their happiness 

and approach to service and to 

guests. 

This is very important in the 

industry. Hotels owned and 

managed by one-man and not 

branded are big offenders here 

and this lowers their standard 

of service. Unfortunately, this 

class of hotels constitutes about 

90 per cent of hotels in the 

country. 

'Why we are recreating our meal' 

Mr. Bigg’s, the flagship 

brand of UAC 

Restaurants, is set to recreate 

itself to meet the increasing 

demands of consumers with 

Food Fest Campaign themed 

project re-Ignite. 

Speaking with journalists at 

its Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos outlet, 

Managing Executive, UAC 

Restaurants, Joan Ihekwaba, 

promised that consumers will 

experience first-hand, the new 

meals that will become the 

norm in all their restaurants. 

She said despite the 

challenging business terrain, 

escalating costs and pressured 

consumer disposable income, 

they still need to constantly 

refresh and sustain their 

brand. 

“Project re-Ignite was born 

out of the need to meet and 

exceed consumers’ needs 

with respect to great meal 

offering leading to great 

eating experience, ambience 

and personalised services. 

“The Food fest is an event 

billed to converge both 

lapsed, potential and current 

consumers of Mr. Bigg’s 

brand. It is aimed at breaking 

down the wall of biases for a 

great dining experience by 

converging consumers 

outside the confines of the 

Mr. Bigg’s restaurants.” 

Joan Ihekwaba noted that the 

platform for the connection 

will be Mr Bigg’s array of 

sumptuous meals comprising 

both existing and new meals, 

adding that the brand is 

collaborating with a 

renowned Chef, Renee 

Chuks, for recipe 

improvement and meal reengineering 

process. 

Chef Renee Chuks, 

according to her, will be 

bringing her creativity and 

innovation to bear on Mr. 

Bigg’s menu. 

Ihekwaba said the focus for 

the two-day Food Fest event 

billed for next month in 

Lagos as they happy with the 

huge interest shown so far 

through online registration. 

“We are happy to announce 

that we have already 

achieved 65 per cent of total 

estimated participation in 

less than one week. 

*Chef Renee with Joan Ihekwaba, Managing Executive , UAC 

Restaurants

C 

M 

Y 

K 

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 2018 —24 

MCSN wins copyright 

infringement battle 

•As court orders Multichoice to pay N5.9bn 

damages 

BY Rotimi Agbana & Shettima 

Margret 

Bringing the legal battle 

on copyright infringe 

ment between South African 

firm, Multichoice, and the 

Musical Copyright Society of Nigeria 

Ltd/Gte to an end, the Federal 

High Court on January 19, 

2018, awarded the whooping sum 

of N5.4billion in “special damages” 

against Multichoice Nigeria in 

favour of Musical Copyright Society 

of Nigeria Ltd/Gte, MCSN, a 

copyright infringement tussle 

which has been in court since September 

19, 2011. 

In a judgment on Friday, Mohammed 

Idris, the judge, struck 

out Multichoice’s claims against 

the defendant, the Musical Copyright 

Society of Nigeria Ltd. 

(MCSN)/GTE. 

“The court having delivered 

judgment this 19th day of January, 

2018, striking out the plaintiff’s 

claims, it is hereby ordered as follows: 

That judgment is entered in 

favour of the defendant/counterclaimant 

in the following terms: 

N5,490,652,125.00 only as special 

damages.” 

The court further ordered Multichoice 

to pay N200 million and 

N309 million respectively as general 

and aggravated damages re- 

•Ayanbinrin 

spectively in favour of MCSN. 

In September 2011, Multichoice 

had dragged MCSN to court in 

Suit No. FHC/L/CS/1091/11 seeking 

an injunction restraining the 

•Orits Williki, MCSN Chairman 

copyright collection society from 

asking them to obtain copyright licence 

for the broadcast and communication 

to the public of musical 

works on the radio and television 

channels operated and distributed 

by Multichoice. 

According to Multichoice, 

MCSN was not licensed or approved 

by the Nigerian Copyright 

Commission as a collecting society. 

The suit had come after MCSN 

wrote to Multichoice in 2011 demanding 

N4.1 billion as cumulative 

copyright and royalties for its 

body of works used by the latter 

during the airing of its programmes. 

In its counter-claim filed before 

the judge, MCSN accused Multichoice 

of copyright infringement 

on 18 songs in its repertoire, 

including ‘Konko Below’ 

and ‘Never Far Away’ by 

Nigerian masked musician, 

Bisade Ologunde 

(popularly 

known as Lagbaja). 

Ayanbinrin, the female 

talking drummer out 

with new epic single 

Ayanbinrin, Motherdrum 

as fondly called by her 

fans, has just released two 

new singles titled, “Mama 

Afrika” and “The Sojourn” 

under her independent 

record label, Mother 

D r u m 

Entertainment 

to stay on top 

of her game. 

Recorded 

and produced 

by acclaimed 

s o u n d 

engineer, 

Ekundayo 

Afolabi of 

Colorful 

Productions 

in the United 

States, “Mama 

Afrika” is a song 

that fuses the 

elements of 

Highlife and 

Afrobeat to create a 

modern sound that 

resonates pop and 

contemporary music. 

The song depicting the 

pride of womanhood also 

showcases the singer’s 

distinctive prowess as a 

talking drum and the video is 

in the making. “The Sojourn” 

is a reggae music genre that 

dwells on our experiences as 

we journey through life. 

Ayanbinrin the “afinju onilu, 

af’aran s’osan” is set to take 

the talking drum to an 

unprecedented height in 

Africa and the world at large. 

She’s currently in the studio 

recording more tracks for her 

follow-up album set to be 

released by the second 

quarter of 2018, after the long 

release of her debut album 

titled “Unveil” in 2009. The 

songs are said to be available 

for download on iTunes store, 

Spotify, Pandora, Amazon, 

YouTube among other online 

stores. 

“It has always been my 

dream to use the arts to 

celebrate and promote the 

cultural heritage of the black 

and African people as well as 

to foster unity across the 

globe”, said Ayanbinrin the 

“Mama Afrika crooner”. 

I Go Dye writes 

Buhari: 'Leave now 

when the ovation is 

loud' 

By Ayo Onikoyi 

With the letter from former President Olusegun 

Obasanjo, advising President Muhammadu Buhari not 

to seek reelection causing political uproar in the polity acecomedian 

and UN ambassador, I Go Dye, has written his 

own letter to the President, equally advising him to leave now 

, especially as the ovation is still loud for him. I Go Dye who 

spoke to E-daily, on his combustible letter said he had actually 

planned to release his own letter before the OBJ's since last 

December, but the Yuletide activities and preparation for the 

burial of his late PA held him up. 

In his usual version of not mincing words and not minding 

whose horse is gored, the humour merchant pours out his 

heart in his letter to the President, charging him to be a hero 

rather than a villain in the history books of the nation. 

The letter reads in part, "A passionate appeal to 

Excellency,President Muhammadu Buhari,not to contest the 

2019 Presidential elections and a clarion call to all tradition 

leaders,Ex-presidents,diplomatic communities, elder 

statesmen,professional bodies,entertainers and Nigerian 

youths to lay their voices to end political recycling, because a 

future bequeathed to Nigerian youths today, will be the best 

legacy.” 

“Sir,with profound respect to your personality do I write this 

letter. Please allow me the privilege to politely take you through 

some of the best moments of your life as a youth. I have questioned 

my fears when I looked back at our history, as a people 

and the many opportunities that has been denied the youths 

of my generation.The youths of today are grieving everyday, 

because so much has been taken away from them.” 

“They have been denied the right to good life,quality 

education,freedom,justice, sustainable means of livelihood and 

above all, the freedom to leadership. These opportunities were 

given in the past,remarkably many great Nigerians including 

your humble self,enjoyed the very best from our great country. 

How come my generation has been short changed and left in 

dissolution and uncertainty?” 

As highlighted then, most of the issues facing the country,is 

still killing the ordinary Nigerians today,no electricity,no 

food,no shelter,no employment and many other social problems. 

Let me recall, previously I wrote you a letter titled: logic and 

reasons with out guns,I spoke on some issues affecting us as a 

people.If we don't change our political process,sooner than 

later, the youths will demand for it,I just pray it's not too late. 

Sir,I am not against your political ambition,neither am I opposing 

your interest but I am of the view that it's better to leave 

the stage when the ovation is loud. Honestly speaking,there 

is nothing new for you to conquer,the only sacrifice that will 

bring more honour to your personality, is for you to lead the 

process of advancing and transferring political leadership to 

the youths. 

•I Go Die

C 

M 

Y 


PROMO: From left, Group Company Secretary/Head Corporate Services, 

PZ Cussons, Abiola Laseinde; Commercial Director, Coolworld Electrical Retail 

Store, Olugbenga Kolawole; Executive Director Human Resources, PZ 

Cussons, Joyce Folake Coker; Compliance Officer, Lagos State Lotteries 

Board, Rowland Samuel; and Nigeria representative, Emirate Holiday, 

Olanireti Babalola, at Coolworld year end promo raffle draw, in Lagos. 

ABOVE: Chief Judge of Delta State, Hon. Justice Marshall Mukoro (left) 

congratulating Mr Wilson Alatsha after his swearing-in as Notary Public at 

the state High Court, Asaba, Delta State. BELOW: From left: Mrs. Ireyefoju, 

Mr. Thompson Okotie, Mr. John Eguando, Mr. Tonukarin Ajafodin, Mr W.. 

O. Alatsha (celebrant), Mr. Edward Diabo, Mr. Patrick Ololo, Mr O. J. Nana 

and Mr. Joseph Nikashekpe, all elders and members of Koko community at 

the event. 

CONFAB: From left, Mr John Obaro, MD/CEO, SystemSpecs, owner of 

Remita; Charlene Chen, Chief Operating Officer, BitPesa; Dr Segun Aina, 

President, FinTech Association of Nigeria; Professor Gloria Elemo, Director 

General/CEO, Federal Institute of Industrial Research, FIIRO, Oshodi, Lagos 

and Dr Dele Oyeku, Director, Extension and Linkage, FIIRO at 2nd National 

FinTech conference, in Lagos, yesterday. 

Need for urgent intervention in 

improving electricity supply in 

Nigerian Universites 

Access to uninterrupted 

power supply in 

Federal Universities and 


hospitals in Nigeria is a 

major challenge and barrier 

to effective research, 

student learning and 

institutional operations. On 

the 15th of June last year at 

a meeting in Abuja, the 

hope of Nigerian 

Universities was raised 

when the Rural 

Electrification Agency 

(REA) unveiled the first 

phase of its Energizing 

Education Programme 

(EPP). 

The programme is aimed 

at installing and supplying 

electricity to 37 federal 

universities and 7 university 

teaching hospitals, across 

the six (6) geopolitical 

zones of the country. In the 

first phase, nine Federal 

Universities and one 

teaching hospital were 

selected. 

The Institutions included 

in this first phase are; 

University of Lagos; 


University; Federal 

University Ndufu Alike 

Ikwo; Federal University of 

Petroleum Resources, 

Effurun; Usmanu 

Danfodiyo University; 

Bayero University Kano; 

Federal University of 

Agriculture, Makurdi; the 

Obafemi Awolowo 

University and the Obafemi 

Awolowo University 

Teaching Hospitals 

Complex; and Abubakar 

Tafawa Balewa University. 

Generation/adequate 

supply of electric power 

Under this programme, 

the REA will provide offgrid 

captive solar or gas 

fired power plants and 

distribution networks 

infrastructure for the 

generation and adequate 

supply of electric power to 

the institutions. It will also 

install street lighting to 

illuminate some roads 

within the main campuses 

towards enhancing safety 

and ensuring security. 

Additionally, it will develop 

and operate centres that will 

provide power-related 

training to students of these 

institutions. The project is 

also anticipated to result in 

the distribution of power to 

surrounding communities 

in the second tier of each 

phase with increased 

economic activity and 

improved health and 

general well being within 

those communities. 

The positive relationship 

between electricity (energy) 

consumption and economic 

growth has long been 

established for different 

countries, using 

contemporary econometric 

methodologies. However, a 

much more significant and 

direct connection exist 

between research output 

and the availability and 

regularity of the supply of 

electricity. Constant supply 

of electricity is of strategic 

importance in the conduct 

of research. In Nigeria, it 

has been extremely difficult 

to meet international 

research standards due to 

the epileptic power supply 

in our tertiary institutions, 

which is a reflection of the 

generally poor supply of 

electricity in the country. 

Universities and other 

research institutions 

however deserve special 

attention as no nation can 

make progress without 

adequate input from these 

institutions. When 

available, the electricity 

supplies often constitute a 

menace to the highly 

sensitive teaching and 

research equipment 

manufactured in 

compliance with the current 

Universities 

and other 

research 

institutions 

however deserve 

special attention 

as no nation can 

make progress 

w i t h o u t 

adequate input 

from these 

institutions 

electronic age. Multimillion 

Naira equipment 

bought locally or donated 

by foreign collaborators are 

damaged on daily basis 

due to irregular electricity 

and fluctuations in voltage. 

As an example, there are 

two NMR machines 

available in Nigeria; with 

one of these at the Obafemi 

Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. 

These machines must be 

switched on 24-hours a day 

to maintain the magnetic 

field and prevent damage, 

an impossible task with the 

present condition of 

electricity supply in 

Nigeria. OAU has tried 

unsuccessfully to maintain 

this feat over the years and 

the 460 million Naira 

machine which had been 

repaired twice, has again 

become non-functional. In 

the area of biotechnology, 

there are usually research 

materials that require 

continuous storage under 

freezing temperature and 

in specialized freezers. 

High level cancer 

researches particularly at 

the molecular level often 

utilize these methods, and 

most cancer research works 

are therefore impossible 

where electricity is not 

constant. 

Cutting-edge research 

Cutting-edge research 

are currently impossible in 

most of our universities, not 

because of inadequate 

personnel or knowledge 

but, due to the irregularity 

of power supply. If Nigeria 

must take its rightful place 

in the comity of 

Universities, the issue of 

electricity must be 

considered foremost 

among those to be given 

immediate attention and 

generous financial support. 

It is sad to note that 

though universities and 

other research institutions 

pay several millions 

monthly, with some 

universities paying as high 

as 60 million Naira every 

month, this essential 

commodity has continued 

to be irregular and erratic. 

The result is that our 

universities are now 

flooded with thousands of 

ineffective diesel generators 

with fluctuating voltage 

and the attendant pollution 

and damaging effects. 


Buhari while speaking at 

the Planet One Summit in 

Paris recently expressed 

Nigeria’s readiness to 

pursue the achievement of 

Article 2 of the Paris 

Agreement. The main 

purposes of this instrument 

are; to make global 

warming mitigation 

effective, make adaptation 

possible; and make finance 

available to fund low 

carbon development and 

build resilience to climate 

impacts. 

The EEP will reduce air 

and noise pollution from 

diesel generators and other 

alternative power supplies, 

and encourage the 

development of renewable 

energy in fulfillment of the 

Paris Agreement. 

The EPP stands out as 

one of the best projects ever 

envisaged as a way of 

salvaging the Nigerian 

tertiary educational system. 

It will tremendously assist 

in improving the global 

ranking and status of 

Nigerian Universities and 

teaching hospitals.


Jumadal Awwal 9, 1439 A.H. 

Lack of concentration in salaat 

ONE of the worst forms 

of theft or cheating is 

cheating in prayer. The Messenger 

of Allaah (s.a.w) said: 

“The worst type of thief is the 

one who steals from his 

prayer.” The people asked, “O 

Messenger of Allah, how can a 

person steal from his prayer?” 

He said: “By not doing rukuu’ 

and sujud properly.” (Reported 

by Imaam Ahmad, 5/310; 

see also Saheeh al-Jaami’, 

997). This lack of composure 

and failure to pause in rukuu’ 

and sujud and to stand up 

straight after rukuu’ or sit up 

properly between sujuds may 

be observed in many of those 

who pray, and hardly any 

mosque is free of examples of 

people who do not have the 

proper composure in prayer. 

Correct composure is one of 

the pillars of prayer, without 

which prayer is invalid. This 

is a serious matter. The Prophet 

(s.a.w) said: “A man’s 

As 2018 8 Hajj begins 

BY Muosa Ubadanwaki 

THE Consultative meet 

ing between the Nigeria’s 

delegation to Saudi Arabia led 

by the Minister of State for Foreign 

Affairs, and the Saudi Ministry 

of Hajj recently which culminated 

in the signing of the 

Memorandum of Understanding 

(MoU) has kick-started the 

2018 Hajj preparation in Nigeria. 

At the forum which set the 

ground rules for the participating 

countries, the Saudi Minister 

of Hajj Affairs, Sheikh Bentel 

Muhammed described the 

Commission as one of the three 

best Hajj managers in the 

world, adding that the strategies 

adopted by the Abdullahi 

led board resulted to successful 

operations especially on the 

areas of flight schedule, accommodation 

and control of pilgrims 

at the airports. 

Immediately after the signing 

ceremony, the Commission in 

conjunction with 36 states pilgrim’s 

Welfare Boards/SPWB 

hit the ground running. The 

enlarged delegation proceeded 

to Madinah to engage the Adilla 

establishment- the Saudi organization 

responsible for feeding, 

transportation and accommodation 

to conclude arrangements. 

The outcome of the 

meeting revealed that the 

Commission under the leadership 

of Barrister Abdullahi 

Mukthar Muhammad had indeed 

made a great leap in the 

management and implementation 

of Hajj activities and services 

in Nigeria since he came onboard 

in 2015. 

The retention of the 95,000 

slots to the country was a confirmation 

of the commission’s 

hardwork which earned the 

country a status of well-behaved, 

disciplined country in 

the managment of hajj operations. 

It should be noted that 

prayer is not good enough 

until his back is straight in rukuu’ 

and sujud.” (Reported by 

Abu Dawud 

There is no doubt that lacking 

the proper composure is 

bad, and the person who is 

guilty of this deserves to be 

reprimanded and threatened 

with punishment. Abu ‘Abdullaah 

al-Ash’ari reported that 

the Prophet (s.a.w) led his 

Companions in prayer, then 

he sat with a group of them. A 

man came in and started to 

pray, but made his movements 

rapid like a chicken 

pecking the ground. The 

Prophet (s.a.w) said: “Do you 

see this? Whoever dies having 

done this has died outside of 

the community of Muhammad, 

and his prayer is like a 

crow pecking blood. The person 

who bows then pecks in 

his sujud is like a hungry man 

who eats no more than one or 

two dates - what good will that 

do him?” (Reported by Ibn 

Khuzaymah in his Saheeh 1/ 

332; see also al-Albaani, Sifat 

Salaat al-Nabi (The Prophet’s 

Prayer described), 131). Zayd 

ibn Wahb said: “Hudhayfah 

saw a man who was not performing 

rukuu’ and sujud 

properly. He said: ‘You have 

not prayed, and if you were to 

die, you would die on a way 

other than that revealed by 

Allah to Muhammad (s.a.w).’” 

(Reported by al-Bukhaari, see 

al-Fath, 2/274). Once a person 

is aware of this ruling, if 

he fails to perform prayer 

without the proper composure, 

he should desist from it 

and observe his prayer with 

outmost composure, attention 

and high spiritual mood. 

In fact the hadith further 

states that“Repeat your 

prayer, for you have not 

prayed.” 

May Allah accept our salat. 

Amin. 

any country found wanting during 

the exercise is penalized or 

slammed with reduction of slots. 

Similarly, the Commission’s 

Inspectorate unit have just concluded 

the annual inspection and 

verification exercise of the registered 

International Tour Operator 

Companies. This is with a 

view to certifying their existence 

and competence in the fields for 

organizing Hajj or Umrah. This 

idea which have become an annual 

routine had helped to sanitize 

the industry from hands of 

quacks and shylock operators 

who hitherto have field days in 

only milking unsuspecting clients 

of their hard-earned money, 

but sometimes denied many 

from performing their divine obligations 

in comfy environment. 

Some have been sent to early 

grave and untimely death due 

to nefarious activities of some of 

the bad eggs who after collecting 

Pilgrims’ money, never provide 

transportation to Hajj. 

This year, one issue which may 

soon be on the front-burner of 

public or national discourse or 

conversation is the decision of 

the Saudi Arabian Government 

to introduce a 5 percent Value 

Added Tax (VAT) on services in 

the country. Although on the 

face of it, the idea isn’t particularly 

bad but neither was it inspiring, 

at least to many nations 

going to Hajj, this is because, the 

Tax will affect the Hajj expenditure 

by Pilgrims including Nigerians. 

How then does this affect the 

Nigerian pilgrims, some may 

wonder? The implementation of 

the VAT will foremost increase 

the prices of commodities including 

hotel prices which will 

impact on the Umrah and Hajj. 

Another issue being envisaged 

that may cause some hiccups is 

the planned introduction of biometric 

data capturing for Hujjaj. 

This process according to 

plans will take place at Saudi 

Missions in Abuja, Lagos and 

Kano. How this will work out is 

a matter of conjuncture in the 

remaining months to commencement 

of Hajj airlifting. 

In addition to this is the commencement 

of implementation 

of payment of additional 

2,000 riyals for those who 

have performed Hajj in the last 

five years. 

However, with the on-going 

effort, being put in by the management 

of NAHCON and the 

36 states pilgrims welfare 

Boards and particularly the 

confidence reposed in the Nigerian 

team by the Saudi-Government, 

some of the hurdles 

envisaged would have been 

removed, though not without 

the concerted effort of every 

Nigerian Muslim who must 

show commitment in the way 

of advise and enlightenment of 

intending pilgrims on ‘DO’S and 

Don’ts’s’ and also avoid constituting 

destructive stumbling 

blocks. 

Circumbulation of the Holy Kaaba during hajj. 

BARKA JUMAH 

Secret of inner peace 

The secret of inner peace and a tranquil life is to 

ever pray, ignore worries, motion on circumspectly, 

tackle daily problems with diligence and the faith of 

utter victory, pardon those who offend you and thus 

release yourself from insidious anger that darkens 

the soul and eats the flesh, do all virtuous deeds 

that sustains personal integrity and trust Allah 

forever, and absolutely. 

Allah infinitely bless your family and protect you 

always. 

Happy jumaat. Dr. Adewale Adeeyo, OON 

Haram&Halal 

Showing off f in wor 

orship of Allah 

Any person who does a good deed so that other people will 

know has committed a sin. Among the conditions for any 

good deed to be acceptable are that it should be free of any 

kind of showing off and within the framework of the Sunnah. 

The person who performs acts of worship, like praying, in 

order to be seen by other people has committed a great sin. 

Allah says in the Quran 4:142 - “Verily, the hypocrites seek 

to deceive Allaah, but it is He Who deceives them. And when 

they stand up for prayer, they stand with laziness and to be 

seen of men, and they do not remember Allaah but little.” 

Also, in a hadith narrated by Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be 

pleased with him), in which the Prophet (s.a.w) said: “Whoever 

does things to be seen and heard by others, Allaah will 

cause him to be seen and heard as an example to others.” 

(Reported by Muslim, 4/2289). Whoever does any act of 

worship for the sake of Allah and other people, his deeds will 

be unacceptable, as is stated in the hadeeth qudsi: “I am so 

self-sufficient that I am in no need of having an associate. 

Thus he who does a deed for someone else’s sake as well as 

Mine will have that deed renounced by Me to him who he 

associated with Me.” (Reported by Muslim, no. 2985). 

NAHCON defends ends N1.5bn 

2018 

budget 

THE National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), on 

Wednesday appeared before the Senate Committee on 

Federal Character and Inter Governmental Affairs to defend its 

2018 annual budget. 

The Chief Information officer of NAHCON, Malam Adamu 

Abdullahi made this known in a statement made available to 

newsmen in Abuja. 

Abdullahi explained that the budget estimate of ¦ 1.559.818.216 

billion was made up of both recurrent and capital expenditure for 

the 2018 fiscal year. 

He said that the Executive Chairman of NAHCON, Alhaji 

Abdullahi Muhammad, while defending the budget, said the 

expenditure would take care of the salaries of staff as well as 

renovation and furnishing of the Commission’s newly acquired 

Corporate Headquarters. 

The NAHCON boss disclosed that the bulk of the fund for the 

purchase of the property was sourced through the internally 

generated revenue derived from service charge levied by the 

commission on service providers rather than the pilgrims. 

Responding, member of the committee, Sen. Joshua Ladani, 

representing, Gombe South Senatorial District, commended the 

commission for its foresight and ingenuity in the acquisition of 

the Metro Plaza edifice. 

Ladani said that the feat was not only good but a testimonial of 

the commission’s commitment to achieving the the Federal 

Government objective of self – reliance for the Ministries, 

Department and Parastatals (MDAs).


Sermon from Baitul Futuh 

Jumadal Awwal 9, 1439 A.H. 

Watch out for sincere leaders, not those who seek 

luxury, materialism — Amir Fashola 

•As Ahmadiyya commissions Agidingbi Mosque 

AMIR, Ahmadiyya Mus 

lim Jamaat, Nigeria, Dr. 

Mashuud Fashola has urged 

Muslims in the country to always 

associate with leaders 

who have the fear of God and 

seek not luxury and materialism. 

Dr. Fashola stated this while 

fielding questions from newsmen 

after he commissioned 

the Jammat Mosque located 

off Agidingbi road, Lagos recently. 

Responding to question on 

the state of nation, Dr. Fashola 

said: “the devil has captured 

some religious leaders and Nigerians 

as predicted by the 

Holy Prophet Muhammad, 

(s.a.w). Even Isa, Jesus (a.s) 

predicted that religious people 

will come in sheep’s clothings, 

but inside, they are wolfs. 

In otherwords, religion is a 

potent instrument to capture 

people. They indoctrinate 

people and use them for selfish 

interest. As it is happening 

in Nigeria now, it is also happening 

in other parts of the 

world.” 

He advised the believers to 

always associate themselves 

with sincere people, and not 

religious leaders that seek luxury 

and materialism, adding 

that a true religious leader will 

not seek life luxuries and will 

not encourage followers in 

that regard. 

“A true religious leader will 

not encourage wealth accumulation 

and materialism and 

will always discourage his followers. 

Have they been telling 

those who looted the country 

to return their stolen wealth? 

They shy away from the truth. 

So, the masses can only associate 

themselves with those 

religious leaders who do not 

seek luxury or materialism. 

“If we are all sincere, religion 

will unite us. We can also come 

together to demand good governance. 

You will not see a 

true Muslim who hates and 

kills his neighbour or people 

in the society. I am friend to 

all, I love all and hate none. 

That is the only way you can 

serve God.” 

Amir Fashola said the newly 

commissioned mosque would 

reinforce the presence of the 

Jamaat in the Agidingbi and 

environs. “It was not just another 

mosque of the Jamaat, 

but a mosque that reinforces 

our presence in Agidingbi. We 

knew that the former mosque 

along the Agidingbi road 

which was one of the earliest 

established mosques of the 

jamaat might not stand due to 

the expansion of the road. Allah 

has provided another bigger 

and more beautiful 

mosque for the Muslims located 

off Agidingbi road. 

Earlier, the Agege circut President, 

Alhaji Ashimiyu-Towolawi 

Bashirudeen in his speech 

at the occasion said the construction 

of the new mosque 

was not without constraints. 

“We faced a lot of trials and 

tribulations, one of our members 

even almost lost his life 

during the period.” He urged 

the Amir to pray for all those 

who made the completion of 

the Mosque possible. 

The new Agidingbi Ahmadiyya Mosque commissioned by 

Amir, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Nigeria, Dr. Mash’hud 

Fashola in Lagos. 

From right: Pa Musemilu Yusuf; L; Amir, Ahmadiyya Muslim 

Jama’at Nigeria, Dr. Mash’hud Fashola and Circuit President, 

Agege, Bldr. Ashimiyu-Towolawi Bashirudeen, during the commissioning 

of Agidingbi Mosque, Lagos. 

L-R: President Agidingbi Jama’at, Pa Musemilu Yusuf; Lagos State 

Missionary, Missionary Qam Olowomi; Financial Secretary, 

Ahmadiyya Muslim Nigeria, Alhaji Abdul Ghaniyyu Idris; Naib Amir 

Special Duties, Engr.Ahmed Al-Hassan; Amir, Ahmadiyya Muslim 

Jama’at Nigeria, Dr. Mash’hud Fashola; General Manager MITV, 

Alhaji Tunde Okunola; Circuit President, Agege, Bldr. Ashimiyu- 

Towolawi; Sadr, Majlis Ansarullah Nigeria, Engr. Abdul Waheed 

Adeoye, at the event. 

Mirza Khursheed Ahmad - The 

Humble Man 

TWO days ago, a long-standing servant of the Ahmadiyya Com 

munity, Respected Sahibzadah Mirza Khurshid Ahmad Sahib 

passed away. Innaa Lillahi Wa Innaa Ilaihi Raji’oon [Surely, to Allah 

we belong and to Him shall we return.] Allah the Exalted bestowed the 

honour upon him of having a spiritual connection with the Promised 

Messiah (as) as well as being part of his family. This is the law of Allah 

the Exalted that one, who comes to this world, has to depart it one 

day. Everything is mortal. The only Eternal Being is Allah the Exalted. 

However, fortunate are those, who try to make this present life, bestowed 

by Allah the Exalted, purposeful and try to attain the pleasure 

of Allah the Exalted. They understand that their mere kinship with 

any righteous person, means nothing and it is their own actions and 

conduct, which allows them to attain the pleasure of Allah the Exalted. 

The Promised Messiah (as) mentioned at an occasion that the Holy 

Prophet (sa) used to tell Hazrat Fatimah (ra) that, ‘’O Fatimah! You 

cannot attain the pleasure of Allah the Exalted merely by being my 

daughter. In order to attain His pleasure, try to fashion your life in 

accordance with His commandments. Once, you have done so, you 

should still instil the fear of Allah the Exalted, [by praying ‘Allah the 

Exalted may accept my endeavours and may make my end a good 

end through His Grace.’” 

I had a close relationship with Mirza Khurshid Ahmad Sahib and 

had the opportunity to observe him from close and I am personally 

aware of this fact that he strived to fulfil his waqf[devoting one’s life] 

and accomplish his duties with great humility. He understood the 

spirit of waqf [devotion] and he was a senior figurewho worked while 

keeping this in view. 

Mirza Khurshid Ahmad Sahib was the paternal great-grandson of 

the Promised Messiah (as). He was the grandson of Hazrat Mirza Sultan 

Ahmad Sahib, the eldest son of the Promised Messiah (as). He was the 

son of Hazrat Mirza Aziz Ahmad Sahib (ra). Hazrat Mirza Aziz Ahmad 

Sahib (ra) was that paternal grandson of the Promised Messiah (as), 

who did the Bai’at [oath of allegiance] before his father [Hazrat Mirza 

Sultan Ahmad]. 

Allah the Exalted blessed him with six sons. Four of his sons are life 

devotees. Two of them are doctors. One has a PhD and is serving as the 

deputy director in Nazarat-e-Ta’leem (the department of education). 

Similarly, one of them has studied law and is serving as an assistant in 

the office of the legal advisor. One of his sons, Dr. Mirza Sultan Ahmad 

Sahib writes: “He had great love for Hazrat Khalifat-ul-Masih II (ra). A 

few years ago, he had to cut short a visist to Okara because of his heart 

trouble, he prayed all the way back to Rabwah he would reach Rabwah, 

so that he could pass away at the feet of Hazrat Khalifat-ul-Masih II.’” 

In other words, the place where he is buried and the area which he 

populated. This was the story of his love and affection towards Hazrat 

Khalifat-ul-Masih II (ra). He further writes: 

He frequently used to say that the opponents are very spiteful 

towards Hazrat Khalifat-ul-Masih II (ra), as a matter of fact, even 

more so than towards the Promised Messiah (as).” The reason for this 

is that the opponents believe, which is correct to some extent, as a 

matter of fact, it is correct to a great extent, that Hazrat Khalifat-ul- 

Masih II (ra) established and strengthened the Nizam (system) of the 

Jama’at. This is the Jama’at of Allah the Exalted, which was destined 

to flourish, and all of this was bound to take place. 

As I mentioned, in 1974, he served in the team, which was formed 

by Hazrat Khalifat-ul-Masih III (rh). He said, “in those days I observed 

that Hazrat Khalifat-ul-Masih III (rh) did not sleep for several nights. 

Rather, he would rest whilst sitting and spend the entire day and the 

entire night either occupied in the service of the Jama’at, or prayers. 

He was also a part of the team formed by Hazrat Khalifat-ul-Masih IV 

(rh) in the extremely troublesome period of 1984. he used to say that 

whenever circumstances of unrest arose, Hazrat Khalifat-ul-Masih 

III (rh) as well as Hazrat Khalifat-ul-Masih IV (rh) would remain 

extraordinarily relaxed instead of panicking in any manner. He also 

received the honour of being a part of the entourage from Rabwah to 

Karachi at the time of the migration of Hazrat Khalifat-ul-Masih IV 

(rh).” 

Similarly, despite his illness, when the incident occurred on 28th 

May 2010 in Lahore, he first and foremost controlled and managed 

the entire situation in these circumstances of unrest with great 

courage. Secondly, despite the heat, he would personally lead the 

funeral prayer of every martyr and attend the burial. 

He was serving as Nazir-e-Ala during the time before his demise. 

There is a tremendous responsibility that comes with this office, as 

there are various Jama’at related affairs and cases that need to be 

overseen. Upon receiving wedding invitations from people, he would 

attend such events as a Nazr-e-’Ala and Ameer Muqami. He would 

say, “since I am representing Khalifatul Masih, now this is an obligation 

for me.” Similarly, visiting people at times of funerals and other tragic 

occasions, meeting the sick and the needy to enquire about their wellbeing, 

coming to the office and working throughout the office hours 

despite the illness, were all his virtues. 

Read further online on www.vanguardngr.com


BURNING OF FALAE’S FARM: 

Lamentations of a statesman 

•Buhari’s silence means consent — Angry Nigerians 

By Dayo Johnson & Dapo 

Akinrefon 

TONGUES have 

continued to wag over 

the continued 

onslaught of Fulani herdsmen 

in the South-West, Ondo State 

especially. 

The continued rampaging of 

farmlands across Ondo State 

with reckless abandon, has left 

trails of sorrow, tears and blood. 

The murderous herdsmen 

have destroyed farmlands, set 

ablaze cocoa and oil 

plantations, kidnapped, 

maimed, killed, and raped not 

only wives of farmers but their 

daughters. 

As a result of this, fear has 

gripped farmers across the state 

while many have abandoned 

their farmlands because of the 

unending activities of the 

herdsmen. 

Falae, five times unlucky 

Former Secretary to the 

Government of the 

Federation, SGF, Chief 

Oluyemisi Falae has been at the 

receiving end of the heartless 

herders five times within the 

last three years. 

Unfortunately for the elder 

statesman, he has been five 

times unlucky. 

But for providence, Chief 

Falae would have been killed 

by herdsmen who invaded his 

farm during his 75th birthday 

in 2016. 

Prior to this, the suspected 

herdsmen had visited the farm 

sometime in 2015, but could not 

gain access to the land. 

It’s clearly unacceptable 

— Afenifere 

Speaking through its 

National Publicity 

Secretary, Mr Yinka 

Odumakin, the pan-Yoruba 

socio-political organisation, 

Afenifere said: “It is 

continuation of the 

declaration of war by armed 

Fulani herdsmen, who have 

been terrorising 

communities and are now 

In 2016, Falae was abducted 

on his Ilado farm and was 

made to spend 96 hours with 

his captors whom he observed 

were teenagers and Fulani 

herdsmen. 

Though his abductors 

collected N5m ransom before 

setting him free, but was 

unfortunate again as the 

herdsmen visited the farm 

twice that year. 

Seven of his abductors were 

later apprehended and 

sentenced to life 

imprisonment by an Akure 

High Court. 

burning farmlands. Now 

they have gone to Falae’s 

farm. It's like these people 

have made up their mind to 

go to war or have their way 

and the authority has refused 

to call them to order. The 

latest on Falae’s farm is 

clearly unacceptable, an 

aggression by the Fulani and 

they should rest assured that 

the Yoruba nation will not take 

it lightly. If they think that 

with all these things they are 

doing, they will have one 

inch of land as cattle colony 

in any part of Yoruba land, 

they should forget it.” 

Chief Falae had to travel to 

the United Kingdom for five 

weeks for medical attention 

after his release. 

However, this did not 

prevent the herdsmen from 

frequently visiting the farm. 

In one of their unwanted visits 

to the farm in 2016, one of his 

security guards, Ayodele lge 

was killed by the herdsmen who 

insisted on grazing on the farm. 

Ayodele’s resistance drew their 

ire. 

Not only was he shot dead, 

the herdsmen mutilated his 

body taking away his heart. 

It isn’t fair 

— Fani-Kayode 

Condemning the act, 

former Aviation 

Minister, Chief Femi Fani- 

Kayode said: “Fulani 

lge was coordinator of the 

Oodua People's Congress, 

OPC, for Akure North Council 

Area of the state. 

Again, in 2017, six herdsmen 

struck, invading the farm with 

their cattle and reportedly 

destroyed N5million worth of 

corn field while grazing on the 

same farm. 

The timely intervention of 

policemen, who were deployed 

by the state Police Command, 

prevented the loss of lives as 

they shot into the air to scare 

away the herdsmen and their 

cows that night. 

ANGRY NIGERIANS REACT 

FOLLOWING the burning of Falae’s farm, angry Nigerians have lampooned 

President Buhari over his continued silence over herdsmen attacks. 

When contacted, Buhari's Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina 

absolved the President of any wrong-doing saying “this is not a Presidency affair. 

terrorists have set Chief Olu 

Falae’s entire farm in Ondo 

State on fire. Baba Falae is 

one of the most respected and 

revered leaders of Afenifere 

and the Yoruba nation. Only 

two years ago, the same 

Fulani terrorists kidnapped 

him and almost killed him. 

“I ask Buhari and Miyetti 

Allah, does he deserve this? 

Is this fair? How many more 

people have to die and how 

many more farms have to 

be destroyed before you will 

call these barbarians to order 

and bring them to book?” 

Blame Buhari for 

attack — Adebanjo 

Also 

reacting, 

Yoruba leader, 

Chief Ayo Adebanjo 

blamed President 

Buhari for the attack. 

Adebanjo said: “We all 

know our problem. 

Those who are 

Not long after, the herders 

invaded the farmland to graze. 

Also, in December 2017, a 25- 

hectare of oil plantation owned 

by Falae was set ablaze by the 

herdsmen. 

Personal Assistant to the 

former Finance Minister, 

Captain Moshood Raji (retd) 

said that aside the burning of 

the plantation, the herdsmen 

also uprooted two and a half 

hectares of palm trees. 

Raji lamented that not sooner 

had the trees been replanted, 

than the herdsmen again 

returned and not only uprooted 

the palm trees but took them 

away. 

The latest invasion was the 

setting ablaze of 125 hectares 

of palm trees and other crops 

on January 21, 2018. 

Cause for concern 

The invasion again by the 

herdsmen is a cause for concern, 

as many fear for the life of the 

elder statesman. 

Reacting to the continuous 

attack on Chief Falae’s farm, 

kinsmen of the former SGF, the 

Akure community, condemned 

incessant attacks on his 

farmland. 

Speaking through the 

Asiwaju of the town, Prof. Olu 

Agbi, the people expressed 

concern over the continued 

attack of his farm and killing of 

people in the farm and other 

neighbouring farms. 

Prof. Agbi warned the 

herdsmen not to create an 

opportunity for a civil war 

because any further attack on 

Chief Olu Falae or his farm 

would be deemed as casusbelli.” 

They therefore called on the 

security agencies to protect 

the life and property of Falae 

saying: “We are making this 

appeal not only because he is 

an Akure chief but to prevent 

tribal war as the Olu of Ilu Abo’s 

stature transcends Akure and 

Yoruba.” 

Herdsmen have colonised 

my farm- Falae 

Narrating his ordeal in the 

hands of herdsmen on an 

annual basis, Chief Falae said 

“my farm has been destroyed 

five times within three 

years and it is a deliberate 

means to probably kill me, run 

me out of business and away 

from the farmland which is not 

possible. He declared that he 

would resist every intimidation 

Continues on page 29 

oppressing us are the 

ones causing this 

problem. The Federal 

Government has turned 

a blind eye to the 

menace. Until we 

restructure Nigeria 

where each state has its 

own police, the 

problems will not stop. 

With all these attacks by 

herdsmen, there is no 

word of condemnation 

from President 

Muhammadu Buhari. 

“Even when Chief 

Falae was first 

abducted, Buhari did 

not utter a word of 

sympathy for a man who 

was once Secretary to 

the Federal 

Government.

ATTACKS: Fulani herders, 

farmers reach truce in Oyo 

By Ola Ajayi 

As the Oyo State Police 

Commissioner, Mr Abiodun 

Odude organised a reconciliatory 

meeting at the Police 

headquarters, Eleyele, Ibadan 

where all the stakeholders rubbed 

minds on how lasting peace can 

reign in the state, participants at 

the interactive session proffered 

many solutions to the Fulaniherders/farmers' 

crises which 

have become a recurring decimal. 

Unlike previous meetings 

which were characterised by low 

turnout, this latest meeting was 

well attended by religious 

groups, leaders of farmers and 

Fulani herders, government 

officials and community leaders. 

Speaking with Vanguard in a 

telephone interview, the head of 

farmers in Ibarapa Local Government 

Area of the state, Mr 

Oyinlola Bolanle explained why 

the farmers decided to poison 

their crops to prevent cattle from 

Don’t take 

Saturday’s poll for 

granted 

— Osun APC 

By Gbenga Olarinoye 

Osogbo—THE All Progres 

sives Congress, APC, in 

Osun State has urged citizens of 

the state, especially its supporters 

to come out en masse on Saturday 

to vote for those who would 

run the affairs of the local government 

areas saying it is a responsibility 

that should not be 

taken for granted. 

The party noted that “participation 

in local government election 

is as important as any other 

election in the country, and 

for locals, it should perhaps be 

more important for residents of 

the locality because it is their 

closest interaction with governance 

through which they can be 

heard.” 

In a statement by its Director 

of Publicity, Research and Strategy, 

Mr. Kunle Oyatomi, the 

APC said that “since it is official 

from the state electoral 

commission that the election is 

holding on Saturday, and since 

no other agency is authorised 

by law to do so, it is imperative 

that voters turn up for the election. 

“Nobody should allow himself/herself 

to be deceived that 

there will be no voting on that 

day. Anyone who says so will 

be attempting to fool you; so you 

THE TEAM 

EDITOR: Leke Adeseri 

OYO STATE 

destroying them. 

According to him, when issues 

occur between farmers and Fulani 

herdsmen, the security 

agents always do the bidding 

of the pastoralists because they 

have more money than the 

farmers. In most cases, when cases 

are reported to the security 

agents, we get the blame while 

the herders are treated as kings. 

“There was a case here at Ayete 

when a farmer reported that cows 

had destroyed his farm; at the 

end, that farmer was made to pay 

N250,000 to the herder,” he 

alleged. 

“When we knew that we 

would not get justice from any 

quarters, we then resorted to 

using poison to protect our 

farms. It is because our government 

doesn’t want to spend on 

agriculture. If they want to 

spend, they can get CCTV 

cameras installed in rural areas. 

This will enable us to know who 

to hold responsible when their 

cattle destroy our farms, he 

have to come out and vote for 

your choice of candidate.” 

The party further declared 

that any political party not participating 

in the election “may 

be doing so either out of ignorance 

or fear of possible disgraceful 

failure at the polls or 

both.” 

Ogun govt raises 

alarm over spread 

of Lassa fever 

By Olasunkanmi Akinlotan 

ABEOKUTA—The Ogun 

State Government has raised 

the alarm over Lassa fever saying 

the dry season would encourage 

the spread of the virus in the state. 

Commissioner for Health, Dr. 

Babatunde Ipaye warned people 

to take be careful so as not to 

contract the virus adding that this 

is the Lassa fever season. 

Ipaye said this at the flag-off of 

free 60 Surgery Programme 

organised by the National Association 

of Government General Medical 

and Dentist Practitioners in 

celebration of the governor’s 60th 

birthday. 

He said the free surgery will be 

conducted across the three senatorial 

districts of Ogun State. 

He advised residents of the state 

to ensure that they do not come in 

contact with anyone’s body fluid. 

He said: “We have heard of Lassa 

fever outbreak in some states. 

DEPUTY EDITOR: 

Dapo Akinrefon 08023844928 (sms only) 

CORRESPONDENTS: 

Dayo Johnson 

Ola Ajayi 

Gbenga Olarinoye 

Daud Olatunji 

Rotimi Ojomoyela 

Monsuru Olowoopejo 

Adeola Badru 

Akure 

Ibadan 

Osogbo 

Abeokuta 

Ekiti 

Lagos 

Ibadan 

•Ajimobi 

noted.” 

Also, our House of Assembly 

members should promulgate a 

law that would check the excesses 

of these herders and when 

such law is in operation, they 

should monitor its implementation. 

At the peace meeting, Apostle 

Joshua Ojo, a traditional ruler 

from Iberekodo called on the 

ACROSS THE STATES 

Yes, Lassa does come out at times 

like this. If you look at the seasonal 

epidemiological trend, it usually 

comes at the beginning of every dry 

season. When people begin to burn 

bushes, the rats begin to escape 

into our abode and they come in 

contact with our food. 

“We as a state, have always 

prepared. Let me remind you that 

Ogun State was awarded the best 

state in terms of surveillance and 

response in 2016 and what we 

have done is to reinforce those 

surveillance officers in the 20 local 

government areas and the 37 Local 

Council Development Areas, 

LCDAs in the state to be at alert.” 

Speaking on behalf of Governor 

Amosun, the Deputy Governor, 

Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga said the 

celebrant would not have appreciated 

anything better than giving 

back to the community. 

Social workers 

proffer solutions to 

insecurity, killings, 

kidnapping 

By Adeola Badru 

IBADAN—THE Nigeria Asso 

ciation of Social Workers (NA- 

SoW), the umbrella body of all social 

workers across the country has 

provided panacea to insecurity, 

killing, kidnapping, insurgency 

and other social vices in the country. 

The association, in a statement 

signed by its National President, 

Comrade Kolawole Olawale and 

National General Secretary, Comrade 

Jamilu Musa, stated that the 

best way to end insecurity in the 

country is for the Federal Government 

to device mechanism for efficient 

surveillance, crime education, 

patrolling and intelligence 

gathering. 

The body, which comprises 

Medical Social Workers, Social 

Work Educators, Psychiatric Social 

Workers, School Social Workers 

and all other practising social 


Federal Government to take 

proactive measures about our 

porous borders saying most of 

the Fulani herdsmen who unleash 

terror on innocent Nigerians 

sneak in from other neighbouring 

countries. 

He added that the Fulani 

herdsmen should avoid using 

underage boys for grazing their 

cattle. He suggested that those 

workers, both in government and 

private sectors, said there was the 

need to respond to the array of social 

problems militating against the 

survival of Nigeria, adding that its 

main concerns were the promotion 

and protection of individual's right, 

welfare of all Nigerians irrespective 

of tribe, race, zone, religious or political 

affiliation. 

The association frowned at incessant 

and barbaric killing of people 

in Nigeria, noting that Nigerian 

social workers deemed it fit 

and are seriously concerned 

about the current incessant killings, 

insecurity of lives and 

property and victimisation of individuals 

in Nigeria. 

The body, while sympathising 

with affected persons and communities 

over the incident however, 

called for immediate arrest 

of the situation as well as improve 

quality and quantity of 

security across the country with 

a view to preventing a reoccurrence. 

NASoW, in the statement said: 

“The Association deemed it fit 

and feel seriously concerned in 

responding to the current incessant 

killings, insecurity of lives 

and property and victimisation 

of individuals across Nigeria. 

“The Association viewed the 

act as abnormal, barbaric and 

deeply frowned at and condemned 

this inhuman and 

irrational behaviour. It is really 

sad and most unfortunate 

especially at this time when 

government has fully concentrated 

its attention towards restoration 

of peace and normalcy 

in the North- East and South- 

South geo-political zones of the 

country." 

NASoW called for an objective 

investigation of the situation in 

order to get to the root causes 

and perpetrators of the act 

should be brought to book. 

“Government and all stakeholders 

should focus on the 

establishment of an effective 

community-based policing with 

necessary support and enabling 

environment." 

who should be asked to graze 

should not be less than 15 

years. 

We don’t want attacks in Oyo— 

Govt 

Governor Ajimobi’s representative 

at the meeting, Mr Segun 

Abolarinwa said the peace being 

enjoyed in the state was as a 

result of collective efforts of both 

the government and security 

agencies. 

He said: “We don’t want a repeat 

of attacks that engulfed 

states like Taraba, Benue, Enugu 

and Yobe here in Oyo. We 

have been living together in 

peace for several years. Robbery 

attacks and violent activities 

by members of NURTW have 

stopped and we don’t want anything 

to rupture the peace. If 

there is trouble in Nigeria, with 

the population of about 170 

million, where do we run to? 

Hajia Aisha, S/W leader of 

Arewa Women from 19 northern 

states pleaded with all parties 

to do what they could to 

avoid clash because women 

and children always feel the 

brunt. Many speakers including 

Fulani herders and farmers 

reiterated it several times that 

they are not enemies but 

friends stressing that all they 

need is to settle minor 

skirmishes that may occur. 

BURNING OF 

FALAE’S FARM: 

Lamentations of a 

statesman 

Continues from page 28 

and harassed by the herdsmen 

to drive him from his farm of 

32 years. 

“What they did to my farm is 

not a question of cattle eating 

grass; it is a matter of people 

destroying other people’s 

means of livelihood 

consciously, maliciously and 

deliberately. 

“They set the farm on fire 

overnight and did it one after 

the other. They burnt them, 

why? Cattle do not feed on palm 

trees; they just want to destroy 

my assets. This is an attack on 

my livelihood, on what I 

possess. It is continuous, they 

do it every year. For the 

agriculture people, this is an 

attack to our food production. 

“I will try to contain myself 

because I am provoked. What 

happened last year was 

tremendous and we made 

claim of over N2 million that is 

still pending; we are not asking 

for compensation, what we are 

asking is for our farms to be 

left alone. The place that got 

burnt on Sunday will be up 

to 125 hectares. 

“At first, they will come in the 

night to fetch water and we 

were tolerant because they did 

not touch or destroy anything 

but we did not allow them to 

stay here but later, it took a 

different turn all over 

Nigeria. 

“They will come in the night, 

eat our maize and in three 

years, I’ve reported to the 

police over 10 times. 

“Every year, they set fire to 

my farm and do you know 

why? There are two elements 

to their actions, first is 

economic, they burn this farm 

because the grass is already 

dry and cows don’t like that. 

So they burn the grass 

and in two weeks time, fresh 

grass will grow and their 

cattle will have fresh grass to 

eat.

30 —Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 2018

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 2018—31 

If we run out of water 

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, 

one of the preferred 

destinations of the tourist with a 

population of 3.7 million people, 

is running out of water. Nestled in 

the bosom of the mighty Atlantic 

Ocean and its great sister, the 

Indian Ocean, it is ironic that such 

a city would be engaged in a life 

or death battle over drinkable 

water. 

Before it entered its January 18, 

2018 water emergency mode, the 

city had been on a strict diet on 

water consumption. In October, 

2017 it had imposed a maximum 

87-litre per person daily water 

ration and this included the usage 

at home, school, work or the gym. 

Now, with effect from February 1, 

that water ration will be reduced 

to 50 litres daily per person. That 

comes with strict rules including 

no showering for more than one 

minute, no storing of excessive 

municipal water, no water 

available for swimming pools. 

Also, it may not be wise to just pour 

away dirty water; some re-use or 

recycling where possible, might be 

better. With the new rules, if the 

Capetonian home has more than 

four persons and needs more water 

allocation for the household, it has 

Only justice, fairness will stop Fulani herdsmen, 

farmers'clashes 

TODAY's topical hullaballoo 

has to do with the heartless 

murder of 73 Benue farmers 

by an alleged gang of criminal 

Fulani herdsmen and women too. 

It is the topic on all social media 

platforms the whole of this rested 

even when it is alleged to have 

happened on New Year's Day. It is 

likely to dominate the media for a 

lot longer. This is due to the massive 

mobilisation in the formal media, 

in churches and social media 

suggesting it was a targeted pogrom 

against Christian minorities of the 

North by Fulanis. That campaign 

has completely ignored the pogrom 

against Fulanis in other areas, 

notably the one in Taraba where a 

war-tested serving General of the 

Nigeria Army, an Igbo officer and 

gentleman, was caught on video 

lamenting that he'd never seen such 

merciless mayhem against 

defenceless civilians. Pregnant 

women had babies viciously torn 

from their wombs and carved up for 

good measure. The Military General 

is GOC of 3rd Armoured Division. 

To me what is pleasing flowing 

from all these is the report that, 

"President Muhammadu Buhari has 

directed security agencies to fish out 

the herdsmen who killed no fewer 

than 73 farmers on New Year’s Day 

in Benue State." 

It was further reported that, 

"Governor Samuel Ortom told 

reporters that the President gave the 

order during a meeting with the 

state’s leaders of thought on the 

security situation". 

"At the meeting were Deputy 

Governor Benson Abounu, Tor Tiv 

Prof. James Ayatse, Ochi Idoma, 

former Senate President David 

Mark, Senator George Akume, 

Senator Barnabas Gemade, Gen. 

Lawrence Onoja (retd.), Speaker 

to apply for increased quota. 

During strict rationing, the water 

user is allowed to keep 5-10 litres 

of drinking water. Businesses and 

organisations are required to 

reduce water usage by 45 percent. 

There are sanctions for 

violations. For instance, if water 

usage is above the levels allocated, 

water outage will be used and it 

will only be restored if the usage 

returns to permissible levels. In 

other words, services will be 

restored only when demand 

decreases within limitation levels. 

Also, fines are to be imposed on 

households found to have used too 

much water. 

All these Kafkaesque rules will 

be nothing compared to an 

envisaged Zero Water Level which 

might come by April 21. On this 

Day Zero, each resident would be 

entitled to 25 litres per day while 

authorities have designated 200 

points in the city where residents 

can collect water in accordance 

with their daily ration. 

Mayor Patricia de Lille said: “We 

have reached a point of no 

return…We can no longer ask 

people to stop wasting water. We 

must force them”. 

Councillor Xanthea Limberg, 

Terkimbir Kyambe and Senator 

Joseph Waku, among others". 

On the other hand the same 

publication reports the president, 

appealing, "I ask you in the name of 

God to accommodate your country 

men. You can also be assured that I 

am just as worried, and concerned 

with the situation.’’ 

"The President told the delegation 

that his administration had already 

begun a process of finding lasting 

solution to the perennial challenge 

The main 

reason such 

clashes recur is 

because of lack 

of justice and 

fairness 

of herdsmen conflict with farmers 

and communities around the 

country". 

Other reports of related content 

since what many consider the 

orchestrated "designer" outrage, if 

you will, on the Benue killings are 

the apt reminder by Kano Emir, Mai 

Martaba Sarkin Kano, Malam 

Muhammadu Sanusi II, CON that 

whereas it is claimed 73 persons have 

been killed by an alleged criminal 

gang of Fulani herdsmen in Benue, 

more than 800 Fulani women, 

children and the aged were 

mercilessly massacred in Taraba 

since June last year. Yet nothing has 

been heard of those who perpetrated 

that sacrilegeous genocide or any aid 

to remaining victims. 

Vivid documented evidence was 

handed over to then Acting President 

Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and the nation's 

security top guns. There are detailed 

almost at the point of 

exasperation, lamented: "We did 

the public naming and shaming, 

where we identified the top 20,000 

users, and we released the names 

of the top 100 users. Moving 

forward, we will continue with our 

enforcement activities by issuing 

fines and notices to appear in court, 

to sustain our water supply going 

forward".? Cape Town is taking 

these desperate measures as its 

We are like a man 

adrift in the ocean; 

despite the 

abundance of 

water around him 

and as far as the 

eyes can see, he 

has no water to 

drink because he 

is in saline waters 

whereas what he 

needs is fresh 

water 

dam levels are at 38.5 percent with 

28.5 percent of it being useable 

water. 

The danger of humanity running 

out of water is real. Some may 

argue that our world is made up of 

70 percent water, so how can we 

run out of water? All they need 

realise is that despite the 

abundance of water, fresh water 

makes up only 3 percent, even at 

that, only 1 percent is available. 

We are like a man adrift in the 

ocean; despite the abundance of 

water around him and as far as the 

eyes can see, he has no water to 

records of the perpetrators also 

presented on behalf of the massacred 

Fulani victims by Sarkin 

Muhammadu Sanusi II. Yet there 

are reports now suggesting 

surreptitious plans to release the 

alleged culprits nabbed while one of 

those alleged to have orchestrated 

the massacre right from the time he 

was campaigning for public office 

in Taraba state has been removed 

from a lower office and elevated 

higher, obviously for serving a 

common script of the powers that be 

in that state. 

Then the alarm raised by Wazirin 

Katsina, Alhaji Ibrahim Coomassie, 

Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) 

Chairman and retired IG of Police. 

He'd warned at the impending 

disintegration of the Nigerian union 

while speaking at the 52nd year of 

the remembrance of the massacre 

of Sardauna Ahmadu Bello and 

scores of top Northern leaders by a 

Southern Igbo Christian-led 

military gang of coupists. That was 

the beginning of the derailment of 

good governance whose loss has led 

the nation down the path of perdition 

we suffer today. 

All of these reports despite the 

unfortunate fact of loss of lives, are 

useful if properly addressed. The 

massive reportage of the Benue 

killings whether the number is 70 or 

the much less some media 

commentators speculate is indeed 

useful, very useful. That all notable 

stakeholders of Benue, where some 

of the best traditional friends of the 

Fulani, the Tiv are, is a welcome 

development. Unfortunate though 

the loss of even a single life may be, 

this one should now hopefully force 

a more serious look at the bloody 

massacre of Fulanis last June in 

Taraba. Don't mind the tantrums of 

Taraba Governor Darius Ishaku who 

has the impudence to suggest that 

Sarkin Kano was not telling the truth, 

drink because he is in saline 

waters whereas what he needs is 

fresh water. 

There are two primary causes of 

water shortage in Cape Town. One 

is climate change which has 

caused drought and may see one 

quarter of the Earth’s surface 

becoming drier. This of course has 

implications not just for water but 

also food and energy production. 

The other cause is high 

population increase. In 1970, the 

city’s population was 1,114,000, in 

1975, 1,339,000 and last year, 3.7 

million. But the problem is not 

really of Cape Town or even the 

whole of South Africa, the high 

population challenge is global. 

For example, here in Nigeria, we 

were 123 million in 2000, 182 

million fifteen years later and by 

2030, our population is expected 

to push up to 263 million. The 

population of the United States was 

5.3 million in 1880, 106 million 

in 1920 and 307 million in 2010. 

The Indian sub- continent (India, 

Pakistan and Bangladesh) was 389 

million in 1941, today, it is 1.63 

billion. China was 580 million in 

1953, now, despite years of strict 

population rules, it is 1.3 billion. 

All these have affected the 

resources including water 

available to humanity. Apart from 

these, and the non-economic use 

of water worldwide, is the waste of 

available fresh water. For 

instance, there is the unregulated 

and reckless drilling of boreholes. 

In Abuja for example, almost every 

household in a three thousand 

square metre plot (in areas like the 

highbrow Maitama) has at least 

one borehole. 

Humanity has to declare an 

emergency like Cape Town has 

done because the possibility of us 

running out of fresh water is very 

a truth Sarkin Kano presented with 

facts and carefully documented 

evidence of a gory, premeditated 

genocide never seen in recent times. 

This should force the central 

government, and indeed 

governments at other lower levels, 

and stakeholders to ensure justice is 

done to those 800 massacred Fulanis 

and their cattle wickedly mutilated 

and destroyed by their own 

neighbours. Since the sadly trending 

Benue issue it appears the Fulani also 

now have a voice by default. 

Previously they have always been 

massacred and ignored by 

government. They are only normally 

on the front burner when they 

retaliate because Justice is not done 

when they are on the receiving end. 

A Hausa community chief 

speaking on Freedom Radio, Kano 

from Makurdi, Alhaji Bello Sale 

Warawa said yesterday, Thursday 

(18/01/2018), the main reason why 

such clashes recur is because of lack 

of justice and fairness. If it is the Fulani 

who kill farmers they must be fished 

out and punished. He said 

reasonably too that if on the other 

hand farmers kill Fulanis the killer 

farmers should be fished out and 

punished. 

At the same time we must also keep 

in view that Fulani herdsmen are 

clearly being unjustly discriminated 

against. And I am not of this view 

because I am Fulani. It is because 

for them rearing cattle the way they 

do is a way of life. And like University 

of Abuja Lecturer, Prof. Nazifi 

Abdullahi Darma told Channels TV 

a few days ago, to stop them without 

high and people in future might 

die of thirst. Of course the process 

of desalination; removing the 

dissolved salt from seawater is a 

reality, but the technology to make 

it cheap, affordable and available 

to the mass of humanity may be 

light years away. 

To add to our water problem is 

the culture of bottled water. In 

kindergarten school, I was taught 

the qualities of good water; it must 

be clean and free of impurities, 

colourless and odourless. Later 

other minute details were added; 

that the qualities include coolness, 

lightness, sweetness and softness. 

Public water supply guarantees 

these basic qualities. But the 

private sector began a false 

campaign about safer drinking 

water and made a market for 

bottled water. Today, billions 

believe that bottled water is safer 

and if one can afford it, he should 

stop drinking water from public 

taps. One of the unforeseen 

consequences of this change in the 

culture of drinking water, is the 

proliferation of plastic bottles 

which is now choking the water 

ways and taking over the seas and 

oceans. Prince Charles of Britain 

claims that 8 million tonnes of 

plastic are dumped annually into 

the sea. It is envisaged that by 

2050, the oceans will contain 

more plastics than fish. There is 

also the danger of water creatures 

ingesting plastics. That is not the 

only problem, plastic bottles can 

take hundreds of years to 

biodegrade, if it does so at all. 

So we do not only face the danger 

of running out of fresh water, but 

by our actions and new culture, we 

endanger all the waters of Mother 

Earth. To sustain life, we must take 

care of nature and promote a 

sustainable culture of living. 

recourse to any worthwhile 

alternative the nomadic Fulani's 

human rights is trampled upon. 

To simply stop the Fulani from 

grazing after their ancestral grazing 

routes have been taken over by settler 

farmers is unfair and unjust. To say 

the Fulani grazing routes 

encroached upon by settler 

communities should not be respected 

is similar to denying right of way to 

the many expressways and rail lines 

that crisscross Nigeria. Imagine 

some settlers who may have 

happened onto the Kaduna/Abuja or 

Lagos/Ibadan Expressway hundreds 

of years after the roads and rail lines, 

blocking cars, trucks and trains, 

simply because they pass through 

their community. 

In addition to all this is the 

extensive bad faith in the concept of 

ranching, cattle colonies and 

grazing reserves mooted for the 

Fulani by the many later settler 

communities with whom the 

nomadic Fulanis have their regular 

conflicts. Such conflicts are 

aggravated by wicked manipulation 

of religious and political differences 

even when there is actually no real 

difference to talk about, when issues 

at hand are critically examined. 

The essence of such manipulations 

and talk of ranching leads to 

thoughts of the original owners of 

America, the Red Indians who had 

to be forced into colonies for later 

settlers, the Whites of the US, to take 

over what is rightly the Red Indians' 

ancestral property.


YOUR LUCK TODAY 

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 

LEO: Even if you continue to work under pressure via increased 

workload, you will have good results to show for your 

efforts today. Be steadfast. 

VIRGO: Better than yesterday. And the more co-operative 

you are today the better for you. Those of you travelling for love 

are in for an exciting day. 

LIBRA: Those of you willing to let go hard feelings at work 

are for a progressive day to the betterment of your finances. 

Let go yesterday, move ahead. 

SCORPIO: Once again, you’ll have the needed opportunity 

to assert yourself to the administration of others. Both love and 

financial success can be yours with efforts. Reason with your 

tried and trusted friends. 

SAGITTARIUS: You can make it a successful day with positive 

approach on your part. You will be in a better position to 

defuse tension within your working arena. Try to be more ambitious. 

CAPRICORN Yes! You’re not scared a bit even, when opposition 

and/or competition come your way but, if you give in to 

diplomatic approach, you’ll fare better today. 

L E I S U R E 

TAKE HEART —ELLA RANDLE 

“The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of 

your dreams”-Oprah Winfrey-When a person is coming into 

more awareness and experiencing transformation towards 

higher perspectives. The first sign is that you stop worrying. 

Things don’t bother you anymore, you become lighthearted 

and full of joy. The second sign is that you encounter more 

and more meaningful coincidence in your life, more and 

more synchronicity. And this accelerates to the point where 

you actually experience your dreams come true. -Ella Randle 

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye” 

SAYINGS OF 

OUR PEOPLE 

The heart of 

the wise man 

lies quiet 

like limpid 

water. 

~Cameroon 

proverb 

By Kola Fayemi 

AQUARIUS: Pressure that came your way suddenly will give 

way unexpectedly, today, to the betterment of your course. 

The more financially ambitious you are today, the better for 

you. Be steadfast. 

PISCES: You sincerely believe in intelligent argument or 

discussion. And if you allow your ability to be diplomatic come 

to play today, you’ll be better for it. Enjoy your love life. 

ARIES: You’ll tend to become both creative and persuasive 

to the administration of others. Then those who’ve been resisting 

secret love may slip suddenly and become excited. 

TAURUS: Even if opposition persists, supports you are getting 

from the influential people will be enough to see you 

through. Yet, the more cooperative you are the better. 

GEMINI: Your creativity quotient within your working arena 

will today be enhanced. You’ll be blamed if you keep official 

issues secrets from your challenges at work. 

CANCER: After a few tension soaked days, you’ll have the 

needed opportunity to look through windows of the world and 

have your way as well. Magnetic and/or magic days is predicted 

for lovers today. 

DUDU in “ROLLING HOT” By A.O. OLAIDE 

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING 

Send your date and place of birth to the Astr 

trological 

Counselling, P.M.B 100 

007, Apapa, Lagos 

What’s my Horoscope 

Dear Joshua, 

Kindly tell me how the planets lined up when I was born 

and the day of the week I was born but don=t publish my date 

of birth.. Please tell me my full horoscope 

Anonymous, Nigeria. 

Dear Anonymous, 

You were born on a Sunday. The Sun was placed in early 

degree of Scorpio together with many other heavenly bodies. 

Then with the Moon in Libra when you were born Libra will 

equally be influential in your characteristics build up but, you 

are mainly a Scorpio born person. 

YOUR HOROSCOPE DATA 

Day of Birth = Sunday 

Sun Sign = Scorpio. Sun in Zero Degree of Scorpio 

Moon Sign = Libra: Moon in 5th Degree of Libra 

Mercury in 12th Degree of Scorpio 

Venus in Zero Degree of Sagittarius 

Mars in 1st Degree of Aquarius 

Jupiter in 29th Degree of Cancer 

Saturn in 10th Degree of Scorpio 

Uranus in 27th Degree of Cancer 

Neptune in 25th Degree of Libra 

Pluto in 26th Degree of Leo 

North Node in 8th Degree of Capricorn 

South Node in 8th Degree of Cancer 

No planet in earth spar sign, one in available, two in fire, 

three in air, four in cardinal, fixed and water star signs 

hosted five planets each. 

PHYSICAL INFLUENCE = 50% 

NON-PHYSICAL INFLUENCE =50% 

PLANET AT HOME = NONE 

ANALYSIS OF THE HOROSCOPE DATA 

You are both an intelligent and emotional person. And as 

there was planet at home when you were born, too many 

ideas will always struggle for prominent place in your mind, 

thus decision making is difficult but most times, your intelligence 

comes to the rescue. 

Certainly, you appear to other as a gentle person who can be 

mistaken for soft fellow but your inner-self is the personality 

with a steel like will power. 

You are the consistent type who may find it difficult to change 

once you have made up your mind as indicated by distribution 

of the planets as written out in paragraph two of this 

exercise. 

One major challenge you have been battling for a very long 

time is constant worries, some times, necessarily and the other 

time, uncalled for, as indicated by conjunction Mercury and 

Saturn formed when you were born. 

Placement of your natal Sun (basic self head) and Moon 

(your sub-conscious self) in Scorpio and Libra respectively are 

indications of your being mainly Scorpio born person and partly 

in Libran. And that is to say basic characteristics of both Scorpio 

and Libra are highly pronounced in you. 

Then, you are spiritually gifted; if you don’t develop it is 

another thing. 

VIRGINIA 

HOME & ABROAD 

dadadekola@yahoo.com 

By Lawrence Akapa 

C 

M 

Y 

K

C 

M 

Y 

K 



APC brought poverty, hopelessness to Nigerians 

—PDP supporters 

By Ochuko Akuopha 

O LEH—PDP 

Supporters 

Movement, PSM, has said 

that the President 

Muhammadu Buhari-led 

All Progressives Congress, 

APC, administration lacks 

the ability to give good 

APC presidential hopeful berates 

Obasanjo over letter to Buhari 

By Jimitota 

Onoyume 

W ARRI—PRES- 

IDENTIAL 

hopeful on the platform 

of All Progressives 

Congress, APC, Alhaji 

Mumakai Unagha, has 

berated former President 

Olusegun Obasanjo 

over his letter to 


Buhari, saying that the 

former president lacked 

moral standing to 

release such a letter 

asking Buhari not to 

contest the 2019 general 

election. 

Mumakai, in a 

statement yesterday in 

Warri, Delta State, said 

though he is a frontline 

contestant for the office 

of the President of 

Nigeria in 2019, he will 

not encourage any 

undemocratic process 

that will shut out others 

from aspiring to the same 

office on the platform of 

his APC or any other 

party. 

He said it was 

unfortunate that Chief 

Obasanjo could write 

such a letter to President 

Buhari when he was the 

same man that wanted to 

governance to Nigerians, 

saying the party had 

impoverished Nigerians 

and brought hopelessness 

to the people. 

Fielding questions from 

newsmen at Ozoro, Isoko 

South Local Government 

Area, Delta State, 

Coordinator of the group, 

truncate the will of the 

people with his desire 

for a third term as 

president of the country. 

“Chief Obasanjo can no 

longer determine 

Nigeria's future. It is my 

advice to him to focus on 

his farm business. 

Buhari, like any other 

Nigerian, is eligible to 

present himself for the 

2019 general election. It 

is the decision of our 

party (APC) and it is 

Nigerians that will 

decide whether Buhari 

should rule again. 

Calling on him not to run 

in the 2019 elections is 

undemocratic and borne 

out of sentiments. 

Therefore, I urge 

Nigerians to ignore it,” 

he said. 

Meanwhile, youths 

from 250 ethnic 

nationalities in the 

country have thrown 

their weight behind the 

presidential bid of 

Alhaji Mumakai, 

describing him as one 

with the solution to the 

myriad of problems 

plaguing the country. 

A communique read by 

Mallam Idris Abdulahi 

at the end of their 

meeting in Warri, urged 

Buhari to shun his dream 

to re-contest the 

election, saying he 

should voluntarily bow 

out of the race for 2019 

like the late Dr Nelson 

Mandela of South Africa 

who did a single term. 

PDP chieftain accuses Buhari of failing 

to protect lives 

By Gbenga Oke 

PIONEER Publicity 

Secretary of Peoples 


Senator Aniete Okon, has 

lambasted President 

Muhammadu Buhari for 

failing to protect innocent 

lives that are being lost in 

Benue and Taraba states. 

According to him, 

President Buhari and his 

government have shown 

Nigerians that they do not 

value human lives. 

Okon, in an interview 

with Vanguard said that the 

Buhari administration has 

failed in its responsibility to 

protect its citizens. 

Mr. Richard Akassa, said 


PDP, helped bring end to 

the era of military rule in 

the country due to the 

focused and purposeful 

governance it gave 

Nigerians. 

He said: “When PDP took 

power from the military in 

1999, the party worked 

His words: “The recent 

bloodbaths in Benue and 

Taraba states, have cast a 

pervading fog over the land 

with the citizenry 

confounded, lost and in 

quandary over the 

premium placed on human 

lives by the Federal 

Government. If democracy 

is government of the 

people, for the people and 

by the people, why is the 

response of the Federal 

Government to these crises 

limp, disappointing and 

fuddled? 

“Do we have a 

government alive to its 

responsibilities? This 

government has shown 

hard to take Nigerians out 

of the doldrums and gave 

them hope. That is why the 

military has not had any 

excuse to return to power. 

If PDP was like the APC 

that has achieved nothing 

after three years, the 

military would have 

returned to power 

immediately." 

SEMINAR: From left: Siddhesh Sawant, Business Manager, Netcore Solutions Nigeria; Bayo 

Adesanya, Head of Digital Transformation, AXA Mansard Plc; Abithab Bhaskar, CEO, International 

Business, Netcore Solutions; Kola Oni, Chief Marketing Officer, AXA Mansard Insurance Plc and 

Chukwudi Nwokike, Chief Marketing Officer, AXON Analytics, during the Netcore Solutions event 

tagged, Analytics: A Boon to Marketing Automation in Lagos. 

less concern to the 

yearnings and aspirations 

of its citizens. 

“The year 2018 has come 

as one much awaited with 

hopes and aspirations of a 

better life, at least for 

Nigerians who have had a 

brush with the reality of 

surviving with little or no 

resources. Alas, the trend 

of events only raises 

questions of who, when 

and where is safe in this 

country because every day 

a life is lost to the criminal 

activities of herdsmen. 

“Priceless lives and bright 

futures have been 

horrendously terminated 

through an orgy of 

mindless butchery by some 

so-called herdsmen.” 

Beku-Onimaba family takes 

possession of disputed land in 

Lagos 

By Ifeanyi Okolie 

EFFORTS 

by 

Lagos State 

Government to prevent 

members of the Beku- 

Onimaba chieftaincy 

family of Igando, Lagos, 

from taking possession of 

a 52.13 acres of land 

situated in Igando Town 

have been stalled by a 

Federal High Court 

sitting in Lagos. 

It was gathered that the 

ongoing litigation has 

halted “government 

plans to use the land for 

public good.” 

It was learned that the 

Lagos State government 

had on June 1, 2017, 

approached a Federal 

High Court, Lagos, 

urging it to stay the 

execution of a judgment 

delivered by Justice 

Okon Abang on March 

13, 2017, which ordered 

Immunization of children in 

Delta holds March 

By Festus Ahon 

A 

S A B A — 

CHILDREN in 

Delta State will be 

immunized against 

measles, pneumonia, 

chicken pox, influenza, 

tuberculosis, yellow fever, 

hepatitis B and others in 

March as part of effort 

towards preventing them 

from death by the 

communicable diseases. 

The sensitization and 

vaccination programme 

which will be carried out 

in the 25 local 

government areas of 

Delta State, including 

urban and rural 

communities, is being 

Ijaw youths' endorsement of 

Buhari, a rash decision —IYC 

By Perez Brisibe 

U GHELLI—THE 

Eric Omare and 

Pereotubo Owielaemiled 

factions of the Ijaw 

Youth Council, IYC, 

yesterday, both denied 

the reported 

endorsement of 


Buhari by the Abuja 

chapter of the council, 

describing the 

endorsement as a “rash 

decision.” 

Some youths led by 

the chairman, IYC, 

Abuja chapter, Preye 

Ebizimor, in a rally at 

the headquarters of the 

Presidential Amnesty 

Office, Abuja, carried 

placard with various 

the Federal and Lagos 

State governments to hand 

over the said parcel of land 

to the Beku-Onomaba 

family. 

The land which is 

situated along the LASU- 

Isherri, Expressway, was 

originally acquired in 

1983 by the Federal 

Government, for 

constructing a permanent 

site for the NYSC 

Orientation Camp in 

Lagos. It was later handed 

over to Lagos State 

government, which then 

failed to use the said land 

for the purpose it was 

acquired. Members of the 

Beku-Onimaba family, 

were said to have dragged 

the Federal and Lagos 

State Governments to court 

in 2011, when they 

discovered that parts of the 

said land were allotted to 

some individuals who 

were not members of their 

family. 

executed with counterpart 

funds. 

The state is collaborating 

with the World Health 

Organisation, WHO, 

United Nations Children’s 

Education Fund, UNICEF 

and other international 

donor agencies, that are 

expected to pay their 

counter-part fund, in the 

sensitization and 

vaccination exercise. 

Chairman of the state 

Primary Health Care 

Development Agency, 

DSPHCDA, Mrs. Isioma 

Okobah, who spoke to 

journalists, yesterday in 

Asaba, said the agency has 

activated its campaign 

agents against the child 

killer diseases. 

inscriptions such as, “We 

urge Buhari to re-contest 

in 2019,” and applauded 

Buhari for his 

commitment in putting 

machineries in place 

towards funding the 

amnesty programme. 

However, the Omare 

and Owielaemi-led IYCs, 

while condemning the 

endorsement under the 

aegis of the IYC, said 

that the Ijaw nation and 

the IYC as a pan-Ijaw 

organisation have not 

decided to endorse any 

candidate in respect of 

the 2019 election, adding, 

“The IYC is not in the 

business of adopting 

candidates for political 

positions.”



2019: Imo Labour Party didn't 

sell guber ticket—Chairman 

By Chinonso Alozie 

OWERRI—THE Imo 

State chairman of the 

Labour Party, LP, Mr Cyril 

Akujiobi, yesterday, 

dispelled the rumour that 

the gubernatorial ticket of 

the party, has been 

allegedly sold to one of the 

aspirants, Mr. Ikechukwu 

Ukegbu. 

Speaking to Vanguard, in 

Owerri, the chairman 

described the rumour as the 

work of mischievous 

politicians who were 

planning to destabilise the 

success of Labour Party to 

produce the governor of 

Imo State in 2019. 

“It is a blatant lie. We have 

many aspirants who have 

declared to run for the 

governorship position 

under Labour Party. It is not 

as if it is just one person. 

We want the general public 

to disregard this rumour. 

There is peace in the party,” 

Akujiobi said. 

Investigation carried out 

by Vanguard, revealed that 

the rumour started when 

Mr. Tony Onyearugbulem, 

declared under the Labour 

Party to contest for the 

governorship position. 

A source, told Vanguard 

that Ukegbu and 

Onyearugbulem are from 

Ikeduru Local Government 

Area, an arrangement 

Ukegbu was said to have 

jeopardised his chances of 

winning the ticket of the 

party during the primaries. 

As a result of this trend, 

there have been squables 

in the party and 

unnecessary show of 

strength in the last one 

week. 

Herdsmen: Normalcy returns 

to Anambra communities 

By Enyim Enyim 

O NITSHA— 

NORMALCY has 

returned to Ayamelu and 

Isuanocha communities 

following the quick 

intervention of Anambra 

State Cattle Menace 

Committee, headed by the 

Commissioner of Police in 

the State, Mr. Garuba 

Umar. 

The two communities 

were having clashes with 

Fulani herdsmen over the 

destruction of their crops 

for some time now. 

Speaking to newsmen on 

the matter, the chairman of 

Amansea Cattle Market 

and Secretary of Hausa 

Community, Alhaji Bello 

Maigari, said the crisis 

would have resulted to 

blood bath between the 

herdsmen and their host 

communities but for the 

timely intervention of the 

committee. 

“I give kudos to the state 

government for setting up 

the committee because it 

has settled many issues 

amicably”. 

Maigari equally praised 

traditional rulers in the state 

for their positive role in 

making sure that disputes 

between herdsmen and 

their host communities 

were settled. 

He said their herdsmen 

have cordial relationship 

with their host community, 

Umueke community and 

the neighbouring 

communities, Ezinato, 

Ndiora and Isiagu where 

they graze their cattle. 

“The state government 

gave us land to do our 

business at Ndiora and we 

have no problem with our 

host community,” he said. 

Maigari appealed to 

government to develop the 

place for them by providing 

perimeter fencing, water, 

access roads, police post 

and banks among other 

facilities. 

Rotary donates 500 cartons 

of books to schools, libraries 

By Vincent 

Ujumadu 

AWKA—THE Rotary 

International District 

9412 yesterday donated 

500 cartons of books in 

various academic fields for 

distribution to secondary 

and primary schools, as well 

as libraries across Anambra 

State. 

It was a follow up to a 

similar gesture made by 

Rotary last year to the state 

during which it donated 

drugs and medical 

equipment worth millions 

of naira to the state- owned 

Chukwuemeka 

Odumegwu Ojukwu 


Hospital, Awka. 

The governor of District 

9412, Dr. Emmanuel Ude- 

Akpeh, while making the 

donation at the Professor 

Kenneth Dike Library 

Complex, Awka, said the 

club decided to help in 

advancing knowledge by 

encouraging reading, 

hence the donation of the 

books. 

He also observed that 

education ensures peaceful 

coexistence, adding that it 

was for that reason that 

Rotary has been promoting 

education in various parts 

of the world. 

MEETING: From left—Patrick Fegaly, Group Treasury Director, IHS Towers, United Kingdom; 

Charles Kie, Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria; Funmi Oyetunji, Director; Ecobank Nigeria; 

Bode Agusto, Founder, Agusto & Co. (Guest Speaker); Ade Adeyemi, Group Chief Executive, 

Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, ETI; and Akin Dada, Executive Director, Corporate 

Banking, Ecobank Nigeria, at the Ecobank Nigeria Corporate Banking breakfast meeting on 

2018 Economic Outlook held in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele 

Over N50m goods, 6 cars razed, as 

fire guts Nsukka Industrial Market 

By Chinenyeh 

Ozor 

N 

S U K K A — 

MIDNIGHT fire 

outbreak at Nsukka 

Industrial Market, Enugu 

State, last Tuesday, razed 

down goods worth over 

N50 million, including six 

cars parked close to the 

affected shops for repairs at 

the market. 

Vanguard gathered that 

the fire started around 5am 

and razed four shops before 

the intervention of fire 

service men that controlled 

it from extending to other 

shops in the market. 

The four affected shops 

included two automobile 

electrical and two motor 

mechanics shops . 

Investigations revealed 

that nobody at the market 

could give account of 

how the fire started as 

there was power outage for 

over two weeks at the 

industrial market and both 

technicians and traders 

have closed for the day 

only to be alerted in the 

early hours of Tuesday by 

the security men that the 

market was in flames. 

Speaking to journalists at 

the market, one of the 

affected shop owners, Mr. 

Christopher Ozulu, an 

automobile electrician said 

that he lost all his life 

savings and labour of over 

30 years that he has been 

in business at the market, 

adding that he is a father 

of eight children with four 

in the university. 

Enumerating what he lost 

to the fire outbreak, Ozulu 

said, “ I lost two big Lister 

generators which I use as 

a source of electricity for my 

business, 200 motor 

batteries both for sale and 

repairs and those I was 

charging for my numerous 

customers. I lost over 100 

pieces of key starters, 

several drums of diluted 

and undiluted acid, one 

deep freezer, land 

documents and other 

valuables I normally keep 

at my safe in the shop, 

together with the building. 

What I lost to the fire is over 

N20 million. 

“ I am appealing to both 

Nsukka local government 

council chairman and 

Enugu state government to 

come my aid and that of my 

neighbours affected in the 

incident. The four of us will 

have to start life afresh as 

we lost all we laboured for 

in life, including property 

of our customers” 

Another victim of the fire 

incident, Mr. Isiogu 

Nwabueze said that five 

Mercedes Benz cars parked 

for repairs at his shop were 

burnt beyond recognition 

together with two tokunbo 

motor engines among other 

items. 

"What pains me most is 

my customers' vehicles that 

were razed to ashes. How 

do I go about it? If they 

asked me to give them their 

cars, what do I do? The cost 

Petrol sells at N220 in Imo 

O 

W 

By Chinonso 

Alozie 

E R R I — 

FOLLOWING 

several reports that petrol 

marketers in Imo state, 

were selling the product at 

N250 per litre, 

investigations by 

Vanguard, yesterday, 

confirmed that the product 

is now sold between N200 

and N220, which is still 

against the Federal 

Government's approved 

pump price of N145. 

This is coming after three 

days, Vanguard reported 

that the trend had plunged 

rural dwellers into hardship 

and increased the cost of 

transporting agricultural 

products from the rural 

areas to urban centers. 

Also, weeks after the the 

Zonal Controller South 

East, Department of 

Petroleum Resources, DPR, 

Mr. Peter Ikechukwu Eje, 

visited Owerri. 

Ikechukwu had claimed 

that DPR did not have 

enough workforce to do the 

needful. 

The defaulting filling 

stations, as observed by 

Vanguard were located 

along Okigwe, 

Portharcourt, Aba road and 

Assumpta Avenue. 

Other roads included 

MCC, Egbu, Akwakuma 

as well as Onitsha road. 

Most disturbing are the 

filing stations around the 

DPR office in Owerri, which 

are selling above the N145 

per litre. 

“These petrol marketers 

are joking with us. They are 

not sincere to themselves 

and I suspect that the 

government is aware of all 

this profiteering. Both the 

marketers and the 

government are working 

together, that is my own 

opinion,” Sabastine Iheme, 

a consumer said. 

A motorist, who spoke to 

Vanguard was of the view 

that, “Imolites should go to 

the streets and remain in 

the streets until the state 

government move into 

action to stop the sale of 

petrol above pump price. 

"Perhaps, the only happy 

people in Imo now are the 

satchet water hawkers who 

now sell more at the long 

queues in the filling 

stations." 

Some street hawkers who 

spoke to Vanguard, said 

that whenever there are 

queues at the filling 

stations, they get more 

patronage. 

of the five Mercedes Benz 

cars should be close to N3 

million. Where will I raise 

that kind of cash?” He 

lamented. 

Another mechanic, 

Onyeka Ugwu said that he 

lost two engine gears of his 

customers, shafts and other 

numerous items to the fire. 

“ I can’t tell how the fire 

started. My apprentice 

called me on phone and 

told me that our shop is on 

fire. I rushed out but before 

my arrival, the four shops 

close to one another have 

been razed down 

completely. I started 

crying while the fire 

fighting men battle to save 

other shops close to ours” 

he said. 

“ I am appealingly to 

government authorities, 

churches, donor agencies, 

philanthropic individuals 

and corporate organisations 

to come our aid before we 

die of hypertension ." 

Mr. Ugwuanyi 

Nnaemeka, another 

automobile electrician said 

one Golf 3 belonging to his 

customer was consumed by 

the fire while every other 

thing in his shop was burnt 

to ashes. 

“ I did not pick a pin out 

of my shop. My computer 

scanning machine, , 

batteries and other goods 

worth over N2 million and 

my big generating engine 

were burnt. None of my 

customers has come for his 

property” he noted. 

“We resign our faith to 

God who knows the best. 

We are appealing for help 

while asking good spirited 

individuals to remember us 

in prayers as life begins 

afresh for the four of us at 

the market” he cried. 

Contacted for comment, 

the chairman of the 

Industrial market, Chief 

Silas Eze said the fire 

incident was shocking as all 

the property inside and 

outside the four affected 

shops were completely 

razed. 

C 

M 

Y 

K



KADUNA POLICE COMMISSIONER: From left— Former Kaduna State 

Commissioner of Police, Mr. Agybole Abeh; his successor, Mr. Austin Iwar, and his Deputy, in charge 

of operations, Mr. Abdulrahamman Ahmed, at the new Commissioner of Police's maiden briefing in 

Kaduna, yesterday. PHOTO: Olu Ajayi. 

Miyetti Allah 

endorse 

Buhari, 

Bauchi gov 

for 2nd term 

By Suzan Edeh 

BAUCHI 

State 

chapter of Miyetti 

Allah has endorsed 


Buhari and Governor 

Mohammed Abubakar 

as their candidates in 

2019 presidential and 

governorship elections, 

respectively. 

Vanguard reports that 

over 5,000 

representatives of cattle 

breeders gathered in 

Bauchi, Wednesday, and 

declared their support. 

State chairman of the 

association, Garba Saleh, 

in his welcome address, 

said President Buhari, 

having justified the 

mandate Nigerians gave 

him in his first term, 

should have his mandate 

renewed in 2019. 

He said: “We want the 

President and Bauchi 

State governor to 

continue the good work 

they started, especially 

on the fight against 

insecurity and improving 

the economy.” 

While urging Governor 

Abubakar to ensure the 

exploration of oil in 

Bauchi, the association 

also thanked President 

Buhari for appointing 

many Bauchi sons. 

Earlier, the Patron of 

Bauchi chapter of 

Miyetti Allah, Aliyu 

Sarkin, who is also 

Chairman Bauchi State 

Fertilizer Company, 

explained that their 

endorsement of 

President Buhari and 

Governor Abubakar was 

based on their good 

performances in office. 

Katsina provides 5,300 

hectares for cattle colony 

By Bashir Bello 

KATSINA 

State 

government has 

allocated about 5,300 

hectares of land for a cattle 

colony in the state, saying 

the state supports 

establishment cattle 

colonies in the country to 

THE 1 Division, 

Nigerian Army, 

Kaduna, has launched a 

special operation in parts of 

Kaduna and Niger states, 

to tackle rising cases of 

kidnapping, robbery and 

cattle rustling. 

The operation, 

stop the incessant clashes 

between the herdsmen and 

farmers. 

The Special Adviser to 

Governor Aminu Masari on 

Agriculture, Dr. Abba 

Abdullah disclosed this to 

newsmen yesterday. 

According to Dr. Abba, “if 

we (Katsina) do not 

codenamed Karamin Goro 

(Small Kola Nut) will cover 

Minna-Birnin Gwari- 

Pandogari and Minna- 

Sarkin Pawa general area, 

a statement by the Deputy 

Director, Army Public 

Relations, Colonel 

Muhammad Dole, said 

consider colony, who else 

will? We are even among 

the first states to provide 

about 5,300 hectares for a 

colony. It is not even now, 

but long ago. We are among 

the first states. 

“It is at Gurbin Baure, 

Jibia Local Government 

Area of the state.” 

Military, Police, DSS, NSCDC launch 

Operation Karamin Goro in Kaduna, Niger 

Kogi launches free health 

services for pregnant women 

By Boluwaji 

Obahopo 

L 

O K O J A — 

GOVERNOR 

Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, 

yesterday, launched the 

Health Care Plus scheme 

to provide free health care 

services to all pregnant 

women in the state. 

Governor Bello said the 

programme will help to 

further stem the scourge of 

maternal and infant 

mortality in the state and 

will be piloted in 14 of the 

21 local government areas 

in the first phase. 

Bello, who said the 

scheme was one of the 

proudest achievements of 

his administration, said the 

health care initiative 

includes distribution of 

delivery kits, post-partum 

hemorrhage packs, 

hypertensive packs, 

episiotomy packs and 

launching of health 

rangers and free health 

care services. 

Others, he noted, are free 

maternal and new born 

health care services, free 

deliveries including 

operative services, free 

antenatal drugs, free 

treatment of newborn baby 

in the first month of life, 

free laboratory tests including 

obstetric ultrasound to 

the various primary health 

care centres in Kogi State 

as well as free starter packs 

for newborn, adding that 

“pregnancy should not be 

a death sentence.” 

Speaking, the Minister of 

Health, Professor Isaac 

Adewole, lauded the 

initiative, adding that the 

Federal Government has 

earmarked N540 million to 

assist the state’s health 

programmes. 

yesterday. 

Colonel Dole said in 

Kaduna that the special 

operation involves the Air 

Force, Police, Department 

of State Services, DSS, 

operatives and Nigeria 

Security and Civil Defence 

Corps, NSCDC. 

He added that emerging 

cases of robberies, cattle 

rustling and kidnappings 

in the affected areas have 

continued to pose serious 

security threats to 

Nigerians. 

His words: “These 

criminals use the thick 

forests as hideouts and 

major highways as staging 

areas to perpetuate their 

nefarious activities along 

highways, major roads, 

adjoining towns and 

villages. 

“In response to these reemerging 

security 

concerns, the Division 

launched Operation 

Karamin Goro to clear the 

remnants of the criminals 

from their bases and ensure 

the safety of lives, properties 

and safe movement of the 

people within these general 

areas.” 

He said anybody with 

useful information should 

call 193 from any network 

for prompt response by 

security agents. 

Glo-sponsored CNN African 

Voices celebrates Nigeria’s 

first bobsled team 

AFRICA’S first-ever 

bobsled team, made 

up of three Nigerian 

female athletes, will this 

week grace the studios of 

CNN International’s 

popular magazine 

programme, African 

Voices, sponsored by 

telecommunications 

giant, Globacom. 

The inspiring team 

comprises Akuoma 

Omeoga, Seun Adigun 

and Ngozi Onwumere, 

scheduled to represent 

Africa in the sport for the 

first time at the 2018 

Winter Olympics holding 

from February 9 to 25 in 

South Korea. 

Globacom disclosed 

that the trio will feature 

alongside two other 

athletes from Ghana and 

Uganda who CNN 

described as 

“conquering sports that 

are rarely found on the 

continent.” 

The heroines 

Though his roots are in 

Surulere, Lagos, Seun 

Adigun was raised in 

Chicago, United States, 

and was a track and field 

athlete before she 

developed a passion for 

bobsled. 

A rookie brakewoman 

in the USA Women’s 

Bobsled team who, in 

2016, pioneered what 

has become the first-ever 

African Bobsled Team 

with Nigeria, Adigun 

coordinates the Nigerian 

By Boluwaji 

Obahopo 

LOKOJA— WIFE of 

Kogi State governor, 

Mrs Rashidat Bello, has 

called on political, 

traditional and religious 

leaders in the North to 

take urgent actions to 

tackle the menace of 

drug abuse among 

youths. 

Mrs Bello, who stated 

this in Lokoja during the 

quarterly meeting of 

Northern Governors’ 

Wives Forum, said the 

rate of drug abuse in 

some of the northern 

states in recent times as 

indicated by the National 

Drug Law Enforcement 

Agency, NDLEA, calls 

for concern. 

She appealed to all 

concerned stakeholders 

in the region to join 

hands in awareness 

campaigns on the 

dangers of drug abuse. 

Bobsled team. The two 

other team members, 

Omeoga and Onwumere, 

are brakewomen for the 

team. 

A former collegiate track 

and field athlete for the 

University of Minnesota, 

USA, Omeoga is from 

Umuahia, Abia State, while 

Onwumere, who is from 

Umuchima, Imo State, 

represented Nigeria in 

track and field in the 2015 

All African Games held in 

the Republic of Congo. 

Also featuring on the 

programme is Ghanaian 

sprinter, Akwasi 

Frimpong, who has been 

described by CNN as a 

“former sprinter making 

both history and his 

Olympic dreams come true 

as the country’s first-ever 

skeleton slider.” 

Similarly, Brolin 

Mawejje, a “snowboarder 

from Uganda, whose love 

of the slopes comes not just 

from a desire to compete, 

but to also change lives 

through the sport,” will 

equally be featured on the 

programme. 

Airing time 

African Voices comes on 

air on CNN at 11.30a.m. 

on Friday, while the repeat 

editions come up at 7a.m. 

and 4.30p.m. on Saturday 

and at 12.30a.m., 4.30a.m. 

and 8p.m. on Sunday. 

Further repeats will also 

run at 5a.m. on Monday 

and at 10.30a.m. on 

Tuesday. 

Fight drug abuse, Kogi 

gov’s wife tells leaders 

Mrs Bello said that she 

had been sensitising 

people of the state, 

especially youths and 

women, on the dangers of 

drug abuse through her 

pet project, Kogi Women 

and Youth Advancement 

Foundation, KOWYAF. 

Also speaking, Governor 

Yahaya Bello urged 

women to give more 

attention to the proper 

upbringing of their 

children to ensure a better 

society. 

Yahaya Bello said 

women play significant 

role in addressing the 

menace of drug abuse and 

other vices among youths. 

He urged the governors’ 

wives to serve as role 

models to other women in 

their respective states 

through virtuous lifestyle. 

The governor latter 

commissioned the Rehab 

Centre in Lokoja, built with 

the support of Northern 

Governors Forum.


THE decision of First 

Lady, Aisha Buhari, to 

retweet criticisms of the 

Buhari administration caused 

quite a stir last week. 

Not a few had hoped she 

would disclaim the handle or 

moan that it was hacked. But 

she didn’t. 

In a week when her 

husband was under the most 

severe attack in recent times 

for fiddling as widespread 

killings brought the country to 

its knees, praying for his 

intervention that would not 

come, Aisha’s retweet piled 

on Abuja’s incompetence. 

It was more telling that she 

sourced her weapons from 

“enemy” territory. Neither 

Ben Murray-Bruce nor Isah 

Misau whose videos Aisha 

retweeted is in the 

government’s good books. 

Murray-Bruce, the blueeyed 

show boy from the 

Obasanjo era is a PDP 

senator from Bayelsa State. 

He is also the author of a 

series of controversial 

articles on “Commonsense”, 

which made a virtue of 

driving from the 

passenger’s seat, only for him 

to have a run-in with the 

Buhari government for 

failing to repay over N10 

billion loan that was 

overdue. His firm was placed 

under receivership. 

On his part, Senator Misau 

(APC, Bauchi Central), a 

retired police officer, ruffled 

feathers last year when he 

accused the Inspector 

General of Police, Ibrahim 

Idris Kpotum, of profiteering 

from deploying policemen to 

look after fat cats and covering 

his tracks by illegally 

donating two SUVs to the 

First Lady. 

Resident iconoclast 

If all she wanted were to 

play politics, Murray-Bruce 

and Misau would be the last 

persons Aisha would look to 

for a stick to beat the 

government. But the resident 

iconoclast has proved, once 

again, that she would not be 

confined by expediency to 

“the other room”. 

At a time when silence and 

indifference would have been 

very convenient – and even 

understandable – for many in 

her shoes, Aisha has chosen 

to stick out her neck for a 

country that desperately 

needs any help it can get. 

Her retweet was a deep cry 

for help rendered in the 

anguished silence of 

Twitterdom. My guess is that 

though it was meant for her 

husband’s attention, it was 

also a strong message to the 

powerful forces around her 

husband, who have labeled 

her the “suicide bomber from 

Adamawa.” 

The Lion King is encircled 

and jackals and hyenas – and 

even rodents – are having a 

field day. That retweet is the 

third major in attempt in less 

than two years to rescue the 

Lion King from the hunters, 

but it would seem that the 

I stand with Aisha Buhari 

First Lady, Aisha Buhari. 

most dangerous hunter of all 

might well be the man 

himself. 

Aisha saw the signs early on, 

and in a way that reminds one 

of Lady Diana’s courageous 

attempts to save the Crown 

from obsolescence, she raised 

a flag. 

When long-time friends 

were too scared to speak out 

or barred from access, when 

political appointees and party 

stalwarts were telling Buhari 

that he was the best thing that 

happened since the 

Amalgamation, Aisha said in 

a BBC Hausa service 

interview that Buhari was at 

the risk of a rebellion in his 

base for neglecting those who 

had worked for his election. 

Beyond his base 

From former President 

Olusegun Obasanjo’s 

devastatingly poignant letter 

on Tuesday, it appears that the 

rebellion has spread beyond 

Buhari’s base: his sponsors 

have also been infected. 

Back then, Aisha suggested 

that a cabal had hijacked the 

President and prevented him 

from following through with 

the change agenda of the All 

Progressives Congress. 

President Buhari tried to 

deflect the bombshell by 

joking in an interview (with 

German Chancellor Angela 

Merkel sitting by his side), 

that his wife should be forgiven 

for venturing outside her place 

in “the other room.” 

At a time when 

silence and 

indifference 

would have been 

very convenient 

– and even 

understandable – 

for many in her 

shoes, Aisha 

has chosen to 

stick out her 

neck for a 

country that 

desperately 

needs any help 

it can get 

But Aisha’s intervention was 

not a joke. It was a genuine 

expression of concern about 

her straying husband as it was 

a personal cry for freedom from 

two monstrously powerful 

people in the Presidency who 

were wrapping her husband 

around their small fingers. 

The untold story from Aisha’s 

retweet is that the fellows still 

have Buhari cornered, 

exploiting his inherent fears 

and weaknesses as best as 

they can. Show me the woman 

in her shoes that would not 

get mad. 

At a point, a number of 

people thought Buhari’s 

lethargy, his slow, confused, 

and often parochial responses 

to pressing issues had to do 

with his ill health. The delay 

in taking decisions, the intraagency 

squabbles, stealing 

and extortion by a few in plain 

sight and the scandalous 

backdoor recruitments were all 

adjudged regrettable 

consequences of his poor 

health. 

The lion king’s cage 

But Buhari has been back 

nearly six months now and 

any hope that he might use 

his renewed strength to clean 

up the mess in the 

Presidency is fading fast. You 

can’t blame Aisha. 

It was after Buhari’s return 

that cemeteries across the 

country celebrated the 

appointments of the dead to 

Federal Boards; it was after his 

return that Abdulrasheed 

Maina’s crooked readmission 

into the civil service was 

uncovered and yet nothing 

happened. 

It was months after Buhari’s 

return that a report indicting 

former SGF, Babachir Lawal 

and former NIA DG, Ayo Oke 

was submitted to the 

government and nothing 

happened. No, something 

happened: the President filled 

the security hierarchy with 

appointments that would 

embarrass even the worst 

ethnic irredentist. 

It was after Buhari’s return 

that long queues resurfaced in 

petrol stations, and that was 

after his minister of state, Ibe 

Kachikwu and the GMD of 

NNPC, Maikanti Baru, 

lounged at each other’s throat 

over allegations of fraud and 

insubordination; it was after 

Buhari’s return that 73 citizens 

were murdered in Benue and 

we’re still trying to figure out 

whether it was a “communal 

clash” or an “invasion by the 

Islamic State”. Yet the victims 

are being told to accommodate 

the aggressors in God’s 

name. 

Aisha’s cross 

What should Aisha do, 

seriously? She has criticised 

the health system, vented her 

frustration about the cabal 

inside the Presidency and 

demurred from any public 

activity for months now. 

And now on top of the quiet 

misery she has endured trying 

to reclaim her husband – and 

perhaps, the country – 

Obasanjo has dropped a 

bombshell, which would be 

suicidal for her to retweet. 

But what can Aisha do? We 

voted for her husband, not for 

the First Lady. If this were 

Eleanor Roosevelt she would 

brush aside her husband’s 

inadequacies, assume the role 

of First-Lady-in-Chief and 

perhaps start a newspaper 

column. But Buhari is not 

impaired and Nigeria is not 

Roosevelt’s America of the 

1930’s. 

If Aisha were Lucy Kibaki, 

she would slap her way 

through the intransigent cabal 

and infuse her husband with 

steel to break free from the 

gang. But she’s careful not to 

be the suicide bomber they 

labeled her and, in any case, 

Nigeria is not Kibaki’s 

Kenya. 

What can Aisha do? Not 

much else I’m afraid. After the 

letter by Obasanjo, the 

godfather of third term, it 

seems to me that January 23 

would be the day when 

Aisha’s worst fear came true. 

May 29, 2019 may have 

come early. 

Will a tweet in time save 

nine? The answer is blowing 

in the wind. 

Ishiekwene is the Managing 

Director/Editor-In-Chief of 

The Interview and member of 

the board of the Global 

Editors Network.



APC c'tte on restructuring 

recommends resource 

control, state Police, others 

•LG autonomy, states creation suffer setback 

By Omeiza Ajayi 

A Governor BUJA—THE 

Nasir El 

Rufai Committee on True 

Federalism has submitted 

its report to the National 

Working Committee of the 

ruling All Progressives 

Congress APC, calling for 

more devolution of powers 

to states. 

The committee 

recommended that 10 items 

be moved from the 

Exclusive Legislative List to 

the Concurrent List. 

The items so 

recommended to be moved 

are Foods, Drugs, Poison, 

Narcotics and Psychotropic 

Substances; Fingerprints 

and Identification of 

Criminal Records; 

Registration of Business 

names; Labour; Mines and 

Minerals, including oil 

fields, oil mining, 

geological surveys and 

natural gas; Police; Prisons; 

Public Holidays (to be 

classified as National Public 

Holidays and State Public 

Holidays); Railways and; 

Stamp Duties. 

Resource control 

“We have proposed that 

mining, minerals, oil 

should go to the states. 

Then there will be certain 

constitutional 

amendments. The 

Petroleum Act will be 

amended to show that 

states can now issue oil 

mining licences; the Land 

Use Act, Nigeria Minerals 

and Mining Act, the 

Petroleum Profit Tax Act 

2007 would all need to be 

amended. So, we have 

proposed amendment that 

will ensure that minerals, 

mining and oil are vested 

in the states except offshore 

minerals. 

Independent 

candidacy 

”The committee equally 

recommended 

independent candidacy but 

with a caveat that 

individuals who intend to 

stand for elections must not 

have been a member of any 

political party at least six 

months to the elections in 

which they intend to 

contest. 

“We believe that if these 

amendments are passed by 

the National Assembly, 

they will significantly rebalance 

our federation, 

devolve more powers to 

the states, reduce the 

burden of the Federal 

Government and make our 

country work better. This is 

something that people 

have been agitating for a 

long time and we have 

taken the reports of all 

previous constitutional and 

national conferences and 

put these before the 

Nigerian public in 2017 and 

these are the feedback that 

we got -10 

recommendations - to 

move from the exclusive 

legislative list to the 

concurrent legislative list 

and we have drafted the bill 

that will enable that to be 

passed by the National 

Assembly and the state 

houses of assembly,” said 

el-Rufai. 

In the 56-page report 

sighted by Vanguard, the 

committee also 

recommended that the 

current Presidential System 

of Government with all its 

limitations be upheld but 

said the associated twin 

issues of corruption and 

high cost of governance be 

urgently addressed. 

State creation/merger 

The committee kicked 

against the creation of more 

states, saying any action to 

the contrary would amount 

to “merely creating new 

sub-national bureaucracies 

and their attendant costs, 

while reducing the share of 

federal statutory allocation 

accruing to existing and 

proposed new states.” 

On merger, the report 

said: “There is no 

widespread support for 

merger 

of 

states...Nonetheless, the 

committee strongly 

recommends that the 

Constitution should 

provide for legal and 

administrative frameworks 

for states that might in 

future wish to consider this 

option provided this does 

not threaten the authority 

or existence of the 

federation. This 

recommendation is based 

on the growing regional 

economic cooperation that 

is being witnessed among 

states in various 

geopolitical zones of the 

country in order to 

maximise their potentials 

and opportunities.” 

No LG autonomy 

On local government 

autonomy, the committee 

said since “one size does 

not fit all,” the states 

should be allowed to 

legislate for local 

governments, including 

creating more councils. 

“Local government 

autonomy is a very 

interesting subject in 

which we were surprised 

at the outcome. There 

were divergent opinions 

on this issue. 

“We recommend that 

the current system of 

local government 

administration provided 

for by the constitution 

should be amended and 

that states should be 

allowed to develop and 

enact laws to have local 

g o v e r n m e n t 

administration system 

that is peculiar to each of 

them," the committee 

stated. 

Senators, Reps embrace Obasanjo’s coalition 

By Emmanuel 

Aziken 

L AGOS—THE 

Coalition for 

Nigeria, CN the third 

force to break the 

dominance of the two 

major political parties in 

Nigeria as envisaged by 

former President 

Olusegun Obasanjo is to 

be launched next 

Wednesday, it emerged 

yesterday. 

The coalition, it was 

learnt, may have also 

won the support of at 

least 20 senators and a 

sizeable number of 

members of the House of 

Representatives. 

Chief Olagunsoye 

Oyinlola, who is 

believed to be 

championing the group, 

could not be reached 

yesterday. He was in a 

function yesterday 

evening and was unable 

to answer calls and a text 

message Vanguard sent 

to him had not been 

responded to as at press 

time. 

However, Premium 

Times reported 

yesterday that Oyinlola, 

a longstanding political 

associate of Dr. 

Obasanjo, is currently 

helping to coordinate 

the activities of the 

group which hopes to 

break the ranks of the 

two major political 

parties in Nigeria. 

A former senior aide in 

the Obasanjo 

administration also 

confirmed to Vanguard 

his involvement in the 

group. 

Obasanjo had in his 

special press statement 

issued on Tuesday, 

called for a third force 

styled as Coalition for 

Nigeria saying: 

“We need a Coalition 

for Nigeria, CN. Such a 

Movement at this 

juncture needs not be a 

political party but one to 

which all well-meaning 

Nigerians can belong. 

“That Movement must 

be a coalition for 

democracy, good 

governance, social and 

economic well-being and 

progress. Coalition to 

salvage and redeem our 

country. You can count 

me with such a 

Movement. 

“Last time, we asked, 

prayed and worked for 

change and God granted 

our request. This time, 

we must ask, pray and 

work for change with 

unity, security and 

progress. And God will 

again grant us.”


OKEKE 

I, formerly known and 

addressed as Miss 

Chinenye Comfort 

Okeke, now wish to be 

known and addressed 

as Mrs. Chinenye 

Alexandra Ijeboi. All 

former documents 

remain valid. General 

public please take note. 

OSAHON 


addressed as Cynthia 

Osahon Ogbeide, now 

wish to be known and 

addressed as Cynthia 

Ogbeide Ndego. All 




EZOMEN 



Ezomen Edna 

Okhuorivboba, now 


addressed as 

Ediagbonya Edna 

Okhuorivboba. All 




IDRISU 

My name was wrongly 

written as Idrisu Sule 

instead of Idris Sule. I 

now wish to be known 

and addressed as Idris 

Sule which is my 

correct name. All 




SALAMI 


addressed as Seun 

Oyeyemi Salami, now 


addressed as Seun 

Oyeyemi Olusuyi. All 




UKPABI 


addressed as Ukpabi 

Joy Ogoma, now wish 

to be known and 

addressed as John Joy 

Ogoma. All former 

documents remain 

valid. General public 

please take note. 

NWAOLISA 



Nwaolisa Chinyere 

Evan, now wish to be 


as Mrs. Edogwo 

Chinyere Evangeline. 

All former documents 



ARARILE 


addressed as Ararile 

Edith, now wish to be 


as Okorodudu Edith. 




OKOTIE 


addressed as 

Ovokeraye Okotie, 


and addressed as Mrs. 

Ovokeraye Okotie- 

Dolor. All former 




FORTUNE 


addressed as Afolabi 

Samuel Fortune, now 


addressed as Afolabi 

Olubunmi Samuel. All 

former documents remain 



IYARE 


addressed as Miss Joy 

Iyare, now wish to be 


as Mrs. Joy Benjamin 

Efoeyini. All former 




ODIBI 



Odibi Emudiaga, now 


addressed as Mrs. 

Oyibo-Jerry Emudiaga 

Helen. All former 



take note. 

We, formerly known and addressed as Boniface Okwuchukwu Nkwokamba, Virginia Nkechi Nkwokamba, 

Joseph Onyeka Nkwokamba, Josephine Onyinye Nkwokamba, Cornelius Ebuka Nkwokamba, Perpetual 

Chinyere Nkwokamba, Vincent Ikechukwu Nkwokamba, Eugene Chukwuka Nkwokamba, Josephat 

Nwankwo Nkwokamba, Agnes Chinwendu Nkwokamba, Stanley Chiemelie Nkwokamba, Jonas Nwankwo 

Nkwokamba, Vivian Uloma Nkwokamba, Jeremiah Chukwuma Nkwokamba, and Pascal Chibuzo 

Nkwokamba, now wish to be known and addressed as Boniface Okwuchukwu Okpalaugochukwu, Virginia 

Nkechi Okpalaugochukwu, Joseph Onyeka Okpalaugochukwu, Josephine Onyinye Okpalaugochukwu, 

Cornelius Ebuka Okpalaugochukwu, Perpetual Chinyere Okpalaugochukwu, Vincent Ikechukwu 

Okpalaugochukwu, Eugene Chukwuka Okpalaugochukwu, Josephat Nwankwo Okpalaugochukwu, Agnes 

Chinwendu Okpalaugochukwu, Stanley Chiemelie Okpalaugochukwu, Jonas Nwankwo 

Okpalaugochukwu, Vivian Uloma Okpalaugochukwu, Jeremiah Chukwuma Okpalaugochukwu, and 

Pascal Chibuzo Okpalaugochukwu . All former documents remain valid. General public please take 

note. 

ONUMA 



Onuma Precious now 



Chikezie Precious. All 


remain valid. Abia State 

University, Uturu, 

ABSU, and general 


ADEDAMOLA 

AMOLA 


addressed as 

Adedamola Mutiat 

Adebola, now wish to 

be known and 

addressed as 

Gbolagade Mutiat 

Adebola. All former 




NDUBUISI 

IYOMERE 


addressed as 

Oritsetsemaye 

Iyomere, now wish to 

be known and 

addressed as 

Oritsetsemaye 

Akinyemi Iledare. All 




IDAMA 

AMAYE 



Idamaye Igho Joan, 



Samuel Igho Joan. All 




NGOZI 


addressed as Ngozi 

Achom, now wish to be 


as Mrs. Regina Achom 

Edun-Kunu. All former 




NKWOKAMBA 

OYENIYI 


addressed as Oyeniyi 

Damilola Opeyemi, 


and addressed as 

Akande Damilola 

Opeyemi. All former 




RUKEGBE 


addressed as Famous 

Rukegbe, now wish to 

add Emekagbor to my 

name to be known and 

addressed as Famous 

Rukegbe Emekagbor . 






Ndubuisi Ihunanya 

Grace, now wish to be 


as Mrs. Aguwa- 

Sunday Ihunanya 

Grace. All former 




ADIBE 



Sandra Onyinye 

Adibe, now wish to be 


as Mrs. Sandra 

Onyinye Oraedu- 

Chukwunonso. All 




ISIBOR 



Isibor Uche Naomi, 



Coker Uche Naomi. 




OZOMA 


addressed as Ozoma 

Chinye Perpetual, now 



Usifo Chinye 

Perpetual. All former 




NWOBI 



Chiamaka Favour 

Nwobi, now wish to be 


as Mrs. Chiamaka 

Favour Ubazuonu. All 



public please take 

note. 

JOEY 



Amajuoritse Sarah 

Joey, now wish to be 


as Mrs. Amajuoritse 

Sarah Ukiri. All former 




OMOKUNMI 



Omokunmi Adeola 

Elizabeth, now wish to 

be known and 


Chijioke Elizabeth 

Adeola. All former 




LORETT 

ORETTA 



Okolie Nkechi Loretta, 



Okolie-Obiegbulem 

Nkechi Lorrita. All 




IFORK 


addressed as Ifork 

Clement Ojen, now 


addressed as Mbang 

ThankGod Ojen. All 


remain valid. First Bank 

Plc and the general 


BELLO 


addressed as Bello 

Toyin Kadija, now wish 


addressed as Ojo 

Oluwatoyin Eniola. All 




OLANREWAJU 


addressed as 

Olanrewaju Ganiyu 

Jimoh, now wish to be 


as Olanrewaju Ganiyu 

Jimoh Ayinde. All 




ODUSANYA 


addressed as 

Odusanya Bukola 

Fausat, now wish to be 


as Kuku Adebukola 

Fausat. All former 


valid. Nigeria Prisons 

Services and the 

general public please 

take note. 

OVUORA 

VUORAYE 



Ovuoraye Erezi Ovoke 

Faith now wish to be 


as Mrs. Egwede Erezi 

Ovoke Faith. All former 



take note.

IDODO 



Evidence Idodo now 



Evidence Akpodiete. 



public take note. 

VANFOSKI 


addressed as Okoro 

Vanfoski Gift, now wish 


addressed as Okoro 

Ochuko Gift. All former 




SAMUEL 


addressed as Samuel 

Samson Aniekeme 

Glory, now wish to be 


as Mrs. Dogho Victor 

Glory Aniekeme. All 




NNAMADIM 



Nnamadim Jennifer 

Njideka, now wish to 

be known and 


Jennifer Njideka 

N n a m a d i m - 

Madubueze. All former 




UMUKOR 

ORO 



Grace Tamarakro Botu- 

Umukoro, now wish to 

be known and 


Grace Tamarakro Botu- 

Esiobise. All former 




OBOSHEYA 


addressed as Miss Oke 

Obosheya, now wish to 

be known and 

addressed as Mrs. Oke 

Oluwadare. All former 




UFUOMA 



Abigail Ufuoma now 



Abigail Ufuoma 

Awoyomi. All former 




ODEBA 


addressed as Egba 

Odeba now wish to be 


as Diamond Emmanuel 

Omote-Egba. All 



public take note. 

EFEURHIEVWE 

OKON 

ON OMODARA OTUBURU 


addressed as Miss Rita 

Asikpo Okon, now 


addressed as Mrs. Rita 

Asikpo Ogbeni. All 




IGHOMEH 

This is to certify that the 

names Ighomeh 

Oghenetega Important 

and Ighomeh Important 

as they appear on some 

of my documents refer 

to one and same me. I 



Ighomeh Oghenetega 

Important. All former 




AMBROSE 



Ambrose Jessica Ada, 



Okafor Chimamanda 

Jessica. All former 




OVAKPORIE 


addressed as Ovakporie- 

Avwomakpa Revival 

Ejovwokeoghene, now 


addressed as 

Avwomakpa Revival 

Ejovwokeoghene. All 




OMAGBEMI 

I, formerly known as 

Miss Rowan Oti 

Omagbemi now wish to 

be known and 


Rowan Oti Akpovet. All 




ISIKWUE 


addressed as Isikwue 

Martins Okechukwu, 



Udochukwu Martins 

Okechukwu. All former 

documents remain valid. 

General public please 

take note. 

OKOTIE 

KONWEA 

CHANGE OF NAME 


addressed as Okotie 

Georgina now wish to 

be known and 

addressed as Osawaru 

Georgina. All former 



take note. 



Omodara Bukola 

Victoria, now wish to be 


as Mrs. Akinjiyan 

Bukola Victoria. All 




NIKATERI 



Nikateri Juliet 

Eyeghaweregbe, now 



Olalere Juliet 

Eyeghaweregbe. All 






Konwea Justina 

Chukwufumnanya, 



Nwanze Justina 

Chukwufumnanya. All 




EBHODAGHE 


Miss Ebhodaghe Ese 

Sweetsong, now wish 



Obiuwoh Ese 

Sweetsong. All former 




UYANNE 


addressed as Uyanne 

Obi now wish to be 


as Uyanne Obi Jesse. 

Uyanne Obi or Uyanne 

Obi Jesse refer to one 

and the same person. 




ELIZABETH 


Mrs. Roseline 

Onyebuchi Elizabeth 

Odiachi, now wish to 

be known as Mrs 

Roseline Onyebuchi 

Odiachi. All former 






Esther Efeurhievwe, 



Esther Uyo 

Efeurhievwe Ochuko. 






Otuburu Tejiri 

Deborah, now wish to 

be known and 


Darah Oghenetejiri 

Deborah. All former 




EMMANUEL 


addressed as 

Emmanuel Iwhrogene 

Obobah, now wish to 

be known and 

addressed as Emee 

Iwhrogene Obobah. All 




WATHLARD 

THLARDA 



Esther Raymond and 

Miss Wathlarda Esther 

Raymond, now wish to 

be known and 


Esther Raymond- 

Amaechi. All former 




EBIAI 


J o s e p h i n e 

Oghenewhare Ebiai, 



J o s e p h i n e 

Oghenewhare Scerri. 




IRIAFEN 



Iriafen Zuri Ladi, now 



Uyanne-Obi Jesse Zuri 

Ladi. All former 




OKO 


addressed as Miss Oko 

Ebere now wish to be 


as Mrs. Eze Victoria 

Ebere. All documents 

bearing former names 

remain valid. The 

general public should 



EHIELU 

My correct name is 

Aigbiremon Adolphus 

Michael, but it was 

wrongly written as 

Aigbiremon Adolphus 

Ehielu on some of my 

documents. Aigbiremon 

Adolphus Michael 

remains my correct 

name. All former 




LAWRENCE 


addressed as Orakpor 

Lawrence Dafe, now 


addressed as Orakpor 

Dafe Joseph. All former 




OKIEVOR 

OR 


called as Miss Okievor 

Maria Uruemuaye now 



Arima Maria 

Uruemuaye. All former 


valid, any authority it 

may concern and the 

general public to take 

note. 

ONOISE 



Erewele Onoise 

Deborah, now wish to 

be known and 


Ukala Erewele Onoise 

Deborah. All former 




AKOK 

OKO 


Miss Ese Endurance 

Akoko, now wish to be 

known, called and 

addressed as Mrs. Ese 

Favour Ominike. All 




GIWA 



Florence Giwa now 



Florence Arebun. All 




EZEOCHA 



Ezeocha Eudora 

Chidiebere now wish to 

be known and 


Ebere Chidi Eudora. All 

documents bearing 

former names remain 

valid. The general 

public should please 

take note. 

AREBAMEN 



Arebamen Ofure 

Claudia, now wish to be 


as Mrs. Ofure Claudia 

Ovieraye Lilo-Siakpere. 




ODJEGBA 



Odjegba Ese, now wish 



Eruteya Ese. All former 




BRORHIE 

The names, Ekiribi Favour 

Brorhie, Ekiribi Favour 

Oghenebrorhie belong to 

the same person but now 


addressed as Ezioghene 

Favour Oghenebrorhie. 


remain valid, any 

authority it may concern 

and the general public to 

take note. 

ESEVUVWIE 



Emuesiri Esevuvwie, 



Chime Emuesiri 

Precious. All former 




ODIVWRI 

This is to confirm that the 

names, Umukoro Elvis, 

Umukoro Odivwri Elvis, 

Umukoro Odivwri Friday, 

Friday Odivwri are my 

names but henceforth I 

now want to be known and 

addressed only as 

Umukoro Elvis. All former 

documents remain valid. 

General public please 

take note. 

ALIGHODA 



Alighoda Uyoyou 

Josephine now wish to 

be known and 


Omuabor Uyoyou 

Josephine. All former 




OGBONNIA 

This is to confirm that 

the names, Okorie 

Joseph Ogbonnia and 

Okorie Joseph Orji 

Marxwell refer to one 

and the same person 

but now wish to be 


as Okorie Joseph 

Marxwell. All former 



please take note.



BOUNDARY DISPUTE: Deputy Governor of Abia State, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu 

(left) and his Akwa Ibom State counterpart, Mr. Moses Ekpo, during the 

boundary conflict resolution between Umuhuaba village in Obingwa LGA 

and Usaka Nto-Akan in Obot Akara LGA of Akwa Ibom State, at Ekwereazu 

Ngwa village, yesterday. 

Boundary dispute: Abia, Akwa Ibom 

sue for peace 

By Elizabeth 

Uwandu 

U governments MUAHIA—THE 

of Abia 

and Akwa Ibom states have 

called on the people of 

Umuhaba in Obingwa 

Local Government Area of 

Abia State and Usaka Nto 

Akan in Obot Akara Local 

Government Area of Akwa 

Ibom State to give peace a 

chance in a bid to find a 

lasting solution to the land 

disputes between the two 

villages. 

The deputy governors of 

both states, Ude 

Okochukwu and Moses 

Ekpo made the appeal at 

the boundary meeting held 

with both communities. 

Speaking at the meeting 

held at the boundary 

location between Abia and 

Akwa Ibom states, the 

deputy governors, Ude 

Okochukwu and Moses 

Ekpo called on the 

warring communities to 

give peace a chance. 

They emphasized that 

both states are brothers 

and should not be seen to 

be on opposing sides. 

While describing the 

conflicts as disheartening, 

they both reminded the 

communities that “no 

struggle or piece of land” 

is worth the life of 

anyone.” 

The Boundary 

committee chairmen of 

both states explained that 

the meeting was to ensure 

that both parties maintain 

peace. 

They also assured that 

they will do all within their 

capacities to ensure that the 

National Boundary 

Commission quickly 

intervenes with the 

demarcation of the land to 

allow sustainable peace in 

the areas. 

The traditional rulers of 

both communities, HRM, 

Etuekon Williamson and 

HRH, Eze P. O. Ogbonna 

who also spoke on the land 

conflicts, called for peace. 

While HRM Williamson 

insists that the people of 

Umuhaba in Obingwa Local 

Government encroached 

into their land up to the 

“Otamiri River”, Eze 

Ogbonna maintained that 

the land belongs to the 

people of Umuhuaba as he 

presented the land 

documents as evidence to 

back up his claim. 

They both however, agreed 

that peace was the panacea 

to the existing problem. 

The Deputy Governors 

called for the collaboration 

and corporation of both 

parties to ensure a lasting 

solution to the crisis. 

Education 

key to 

consumer 

empowerment 

—NCC boss 

By Emmanuel Elebeke 

JOS—THE Nigerian 

Communications 

Commission, NCC, says 

education remains a key 

driver equipping telecom 

consumers and arming them 

from exploitative tendencies 

of the market forces. 

Addressing participants 

yesterday at the 34th edition 

of Consumer Town Hall 

Meeting, CTM, with the 

theme, “Information and 

Education as Catalyst for 

Consumer Protection” in 

Barkin Ladi Local 

Government Area of Plateau 

State, the Vice Chairman of 

the NCC, Prof. Umar 

Danbatta, said that 

information and education is 

important for consumer 

awareness and protection 

from undue exploitations. 

The EVC, who described 

telecom consumers as the 

most important stakeholders 

of the sector noted that 

telecom consumers help in 

sustaining the industry 

through patronage of 

telecom services from service 

providers, hence the need to 

accord them their due 

respect. 

The EVC, who was 

represented by Deputy 

Director, Consumer Affairs 

Bureau, Alhaji Ismail 

Adedigba assured that the 

commission would use the 

forum to empower 

consumers and equip them 

in line with world best 

practice.


:Vanguard :@vanguardnews :@vanguardnewsNEWS HOTLINES: 

Youth, technocrat should be 

Delta governor in 2019 

President Muhammadu Buhari (right) welcoming Governor Dave Umahi 

of Eonyi State (second left) while Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom 

State and Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State (R) look on during a 

meeting between the President and a delegation of the Nigerian Governors' 

Forum at the State House, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida. 

Reasons for New Year Day 

Benue massacre 

Continues from Page 5 

discussed at the 

security meeting, the 

minister said: “Like we 

always do quarterly, we 

do have security 

briefing with the 

Commander-in-Chief of 

the Armed Forces of the 

Federal Republic of 

Nigeria. It is like a 

routine event after each 

quarter, normally we 

discuss general security 

appraisal within the 

quarter. 

“It normally gives us 

the opportunity to brief 

the Commander-in- 

Chief of the activities of 

the services and the 

intelligence community. 

It could be recalled that 

not quite long, around 

November last year, we 

deliberated on the Armed 

Forces Council which 

approved the revised 

terms and conditions of 

service for officers and 

soldiers. 

“We also discussed 

some of the welfare 

issues of the Armed 

Forces and the security 

agencies in general. 

“This one is not an 

exception; we discussed 

some of the security 

challenges within the 

quarter. We also had the 

opportunity to discuss 

some of the major events 

that took place within 

the quarter. 

“From the ministry's 

side, we discussed how 

we intend to curtail 

proliferation of arms into 

the country. A 

presidential approval 

was given to my office, 

in conjunction with the 

National Security 

Adviser to come up with 

a Presidential Committee 

on Small Arms and Light 

Weapons Restriction and 

Proliferation in the 

country, thereby coming 

to what the Economic 

Community of West 

African Convention 

said, that each country 

within the ECOWAS 

should have such a 

commission. 

“We have already 

outlined work of the 

committee which will 

soon start. It is supposed 

to be inaugurated today 

(yesterday) at the NSA's 

office, where the terms 

and conditions on how 

PRESCOM will be 

transformed into a full 

commission. The 

commission is to ensure 

drastic reduction of arms 

proliferation in the 

country. 

Purchase of 

Super Tucano 

aircraft 

“We also discussed the 

issue of this purchase of 

Super Tucano Aircraft 

that the American 

government agreed to 

sell to our country. The 

terms and conditions 

were discussed. Also we 

agreed that the 

conditions are stringent 

but I, Minister of 

Defence, with the 

NAIRA WATCH 

Foreign Affairs Minister 

and the American 

Ambassador will sit 

down and review some 

of those conditions. 

“Some of the stringent 

conditions include the 

fact that we will start 

having them from 2020, 

which is two years from 

now. Then they are also 

thinking of not allowing 

our technicians to be part 

of the production 

inspection. 

"But this is what we 

normally do in all the 

defence contracts; we 

send our personnel to go 

understudy what is being 

constructed, especially 

when it comes to 

specialized aircraft. 

“We have similar thing 

in Russia, our personnel 

are permanently based 

where the production is 

being done for the MI- 

35 helicopters.” 

“However, deadline for 

the payment was given 

at 20th February this 

year. So, we have agreed 

it will be paid but the 

conditions will be looked 

into.’’ 

The minister disclosed 

further that the Super 

Tucano aircraft would 

cost the nation $494 

million. 

Naira down to N360.54/$ in 

I&E 

By Adaeze Okechukwu 

The naira yesterday depreciated to N360.54 

per dollar in the Investors and Exporters 

(I&E) window. 

Data from the Financial Market Dealers Quote 

(FMDQ) showed that the indicative exchange rate 

for the window, known as Nigerian Autonomous 

Foreign Exchange, NAFEX, rose to N360.54 per 

dollar yesterday from N360.25 per dollar, on 

Wednesday, translating to a 29 kobo loss in the value 

of naira. 

Meanwhile the volume of dollars traded rose by 

11 percent to $342.17 million percent yesterday to 

from$306.70 million on Wednesday. 

The naira however stabilizedat N364 per dollar in 

the parallel market. 

By Justin Akpovi-Esade 

THIS is 19 years of 

democracy in Nigeria 

and Delta State. 

While a state like Lagos 

with no crude oil (well, 

oil has just been discovered) 

is thriving 

well, Delta, a very rich 

oil-producing state has 

refused to make any 

form of visible progress. 

In fact, the state is retrogressing 

because, in 

the last two years, the 

issue of non-payment 

of workers and pensioners 

salary and pension 

has been a national 

embarrassment. 

Since 1999 when 

James Ibori mounted 

the saddle for eight 

years and was jailed 

over his financial dealings 

through to Dr Emmanuel 

Uduaghan’s 

two-term of eight years 

also and now of Dr Ifeanyi 

Okowa’s almost 

three years, one can 

safely say the old brigade 

has failed the state 

and people. 

However, there are 

two choices still left for 

the people to make; 

choose between the 

failed old brigades or 

try out the new brigade 

of young technocrats. 

The last local government 

council elections 

held on January 6, 

2018, was a signal the 

people are fed up with 

the old order and they 

demand a change. 

Local council polls 

across the country are 

usually a selection process 

done by the party 

in power in the state, so 

it is more or less a formality, 

and everybody 

seems to see it as that. 

But that was not the 

case with Delta’s as the 

people displayed their 

disdain for the ruling 

Peoples Democratic 

Party (PDP’s) retrogressive 

style of governance 

by ensuring electoral 

manipulations did not 

take place. Met with 

stiff resistance by suspected 

thugs loyal to 

the state government, 

the exercise took a violent 

turn, and a couple 

of lives were lost with 

some secretariats of the 

Delta State Independent 

Electoral Commission 

(DSIEC) in some 

LG headquarters 

torched. It was all over 

the news. 

The state electoral 

commission went 

ahead to declare ‘winners’ 

but the signal is 

clear that in 2019, with 

Since 1999 

when James 

Ibori mounted 

the saddle 

for eight 

years and 

was jailed 

over his financial 

dealings 

through 

to Dr Emmanuel 

Uduaghan’s 

twoterm 

of eight 

years also 

and now of 

Dr Ifeanyi 

Okowa’s 

almost three 

years, one 

can safely 

say the old 

brigade has 

failed the 

state and 

people 

the national electoral 

body, the Independent 

National Electoral 

Commission, INEC, 

conducting the elections 

with the approved 

Card Reader, it will be 

an uphill task for the 

PDP to attempt to subvert 

the will of Deltans. 

But then, if we are 

talking about the 

youths taking over governance, 

who are these 

youths? At the moment, 

a group named 

Coalition of Professionals 

for Good Governance 

in Delta 

(Youth for Governor 

2019) has taken it 

upon itself to screen 

some professionals and 

from the lot, make a 

choice of whom can 

wrest power from the 

old warhorses come 

2019. They have kept 

their activities shrouded 

from public glare till 

the right time to release 

their choice. 

From the little one 

could get from the watertight 

Coalition Of 

Professionals For Good 

Governance In Delta 


2019) activities, former 

Speaker of the Delta 

State House of Assembly 

and a gubernatorial 

candidate of Accord 

Party in 2015, Rt Hon 

Victor Ochei (Delta 

North), Comrade Sunny 

Ofehe (Delta South) 

and Mr. Sheyi Money 

(Delta Central) are 

among the three young 

people being properly 

screened by the coalition 

at the moment. 

If one argues that 

Ochei belongs to the 

old order, he might not 

be far from the truth as 

he has been in government 

in the state for a 

long time under the 

PDP even climbing to 

the highest position in 

the state assembly. But 

Ochei is a youth, and 

he understands, to 

some degree the politics 

of Delta State. 

Sheyi Money is the 

quiet one among the 

three people on the 

leaked list of young 

people who can take 

over power from the old 

brigade. 

Mr. Money has a 

broad grasp of the dynamics 

of international 

business and a deep 

understanding of different 

business activities 

with a special focus on 

Sub-Saharan Africa. As 

head of several business 

development 

teams over the years, 

the young man has 

gained exposure and 

partnerships that he 

can use to industrialize 

and create employment 

in the state. 

Comrade Ofehe, an 

environmental activist, 

based in The Netherlands 

appears determined 

as he has started 

consultations with 

party leaders of the 

APC. He will however 

have Great Ogboru to 

contend with at the 

party primaries later 

this year anyway. 

From what was gathered, 

the Coalition Of 

Professionals For Good 

Governance In Delta 


2019) will officially release 

the full list of suitable 

youthful aspirants 

and make a pronouncement 

soon, but 

what they have agreed 

upon is the fact that 

Delta must have a 

youth, who is a technocrat 

as Governor as the 

old horses have failed 

the state. 

*Akpovi-Esade is a 

journalist and columnist.

42 --- VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 2018 

•Mohammed 

What they don’t want you to 

hear about Buhari's 

achievements — Lai Mohammed 

THE minister of information, culture and tourism in this interview reviews 

the strides and successes of the Muhammadu Buhari administration 

against the challenges that it met on ground. The interview was 

conducted before last Tuesday's special press statement released by 

Nigeria’s former president, Dr. Olusegun Obasanjo. Excerpts: 

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor 

HAS your party fulfilled its 

electoral promises to the 

people? 

We were very categorical that we were 

going to address three areas of 

governance: we are going to fight 

corruption, we are going to fight 

insecurity, and we are going to revamp 

the economy. I can say with all sense 

of modesty that we can beat our chest 

that we have delivered in all those 

areas. 

On the economy, a former CBN 

Deputy Governor, Prof. Moghalu 

disagreed with your government’s 

claim that we have exited recession? 

I would rather work on the figure of 

the National Bureau of Statistics 

because their indices and parameters 

for the country show that we are out of 

recession. Even as recently as last week, 

the NBS came out that for the 11th 

month we have been able to hold down 

inflation, that inflation today is 15.37 per 

cent. 

This has been happening since 

January 2017. All indications show that 

not only have we exited recession, but 

that we are making a lot of gains in all 

the parameters either in the areas of 

foreign reserves or foreign investment 

or the area of inflation or job creation. 

Whatever Moghalu has said would 

run against the current of the figures 

that had been produced by the NBS 

which is the best body today that can 

tell us whether we are out of recession 

or not. It is the same body that told us 

we were in recession is the same body 

that said we are out of recession. 

Boko Haram insurgents appear to 

have regrouped after some progress 

in that front, while Fulani herdsmenfarmers 

clashes also threaten the 

security of the nation. Are you not 

troubled? 

Security is an issue that every nation 

at one point in time will have to contend 

with. I am happy you have 

acknowledged that we are making 

progress fighting insecurity in the 

country. The herdsmen-farmers clash 

was not invented by this government. 

It actually predates this government. If 

you go back to history, it dates back to 

independence. But I am assuring you 

that this government is determined to 

resolve the issue. This government is 

determined to take specific steps to find 

a definite end to this issue. It is about 

containment, it is about accommodation, 

and it is about understanding. There 

must be farmers; there must be 

herdsmen. They must live together. We 

are determined as a government that 

shedding of the blood of just one person 

is too much. It is not about the number; 

it is about the fact that we put a price on 

human’s life. I am glad that already 

things are being put in place, such as 

the committee headed by the Vice 

President to find long time solution to 

herdsmen-farmers clashes. 

There is the claim 

that the attacks were 

not perpetrated by 

herdsmen but by 

foreign Fulani 

bandits. Are the 

security agencies so 

weak that they 

cannot fish out these 

bandits and stop 

them from entering 

this country? 

Without going into 

the details, it is a very 

complex issue . You 

talked about bandits, 

what about the 

militias that were 

funded and 

sponsored by the late 

Ghadafi around the 

same area? As a 

government, we 

have resolved to find 

a lasting solution to 

it. Whether they are 

bandits or marauders 

or militias sponsored 

by the late Ghadafi, 

what is important for 

us as a government 

is to ensure that the 

shedding of blood 

whether of the 

farmers or herdsmen 

is brought to an end. 

Why is fuel scarcity 

back? Are we also 

paying subsidy for 

fuel? 

The fuel situation is 

much better than it 

was before now. As 

for subsidy, the 

Minister of State for 

Petroleum Resources 

has said a lot of about 

subsidy. I don’t think 

it is possible not to 

pay the subsidy in 

the circumstance. 

One of the ardent supporters of this 

administration, Pastor Tunde Bakare 

recently said that this government has 

failed in the three areas you mentioned 

earlier. How do you counter that? 

We are very confident. We don’t have 

any apologies for our success. Our 

success is out there. I said earlier that 

there were many indices with which you 

can measure whether a country is 

improving economically or not. I am 

glad to say that not only have we grown 

our foreign reserves from $23billion to 

These are things 

that the 

opposition does 

not want to hear. 

These facts are 

out there for 

anybody to go 

and verify 

$40 billion despite the fact that for the 

larger part of the time oil sold for $30 

per barrel. 

This clearly does not indicate failure 

on the part of the government. Again, 

NBS said headline inflation has fallen 

for 11 consecutive months. It is now at 

15.37 per cent as at December 2017. The 

target we set for ourselves by the ERGP 

for inflation has been met and 

surpassed. You can’t talk about failure. 

We were even able to eliminate ghost 

workers, and that has saved us over 

N120 billion. We have been able to save 

about N108 billion from the removal of 

maintenance fees payable to banks pre- 

TSA because we pay directly. We have 

saved N24.7billion monthly through 

determined implementation of TSA. 

In agriculture, we have created an 

extra 6.2 million jobs. From 6 million 

jobs two and a half years jobs, today we 

have about 12. 2 million jobs in 

agricultural sector alone. How can 

anyone claim that we have not 

succeeded in creating jobs? 

Our strategy in the area of 

encouraging local production of rice has 

worked. From 64,000 metric tonnes a 

year two and half a years ago, today we 

import less than 20,000 metric tonnes. 

You can imagine the kind of saving that 

would bring to government. In the area 

of infrastructure, we also have good 

news. Power today is at an all high of 

7000 MW, and we are also able to 

transmit 7000 MW. In the area of 

distribution, we distribute over 5000 

MW today and the extra 2000 MW 

which we cannot distribute we are trying 

to get willing buyers for these MW. Still, 

on the infrastructure, the Lagos-Kano 

modern gauge is on course. We are very 

optimistic that by 2019 Lagos-Ibadan 

axis of it will be commissioned while 

the Kano-Kaduna modern gauge will 

also be ready by 2019. 

The coastal rail which will link 15 

cities is also being worked upon, and 

we are hoping that by the year 2021 the 

entire, mostly the coastal rail and the 

modern gauge will be completed. On 

roads, contracts have been awarded for 

25 major highways at the cost of N100 

billion. Every geo-political zone of the 

country is included in this 

transformation of road infrastructure. 

These are things that the opposition 

does not want to hear. These facts are 

out there for anybody to go and verify. 

What are the things you think 

Nigerians can trust you with given the 

seeming determination of the PDP to 

regain power? 

I think it will be tragedy for this country 

for PDP to come back because they have 

not even apologised to the nation for 

how they destroyed our economy, 

destroyed our infrastructure, destroyed 

our qualities, and so far from their 

campaign,...ask them, they have not told 

us how they will do things differently 

from what they did to get us here. 

There are a few things you promised 

to do which you have not done; one is 

that you promised us to stop fuel 

importation, you promised that you 

are going to revive our refineries and 

even recently after forming 

government, you even talked about 

..modular refineries, all these things 

have not come on board, 

You see all these things are not things 

that you just pick on the shelf. They are 

things that require planning, require 

procedures, but I can assure you that 

everything we promised, everything is 

being undertaken at one level or the 

other of implementation.


AKWA IBOM LG POLLS: 

Opposition is crying wolf 

— Ememobong, PDP scribe 

BARRISTER Ini Ememobong is the Publicity Secretary of the People’s 

Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State. 

In this interview, the lawyer turned politician, talks about the last local 

government polls in which his party won all councils, the 2019 governorship 

elections, Governor Emmanuel/Senator Akpabio simmering feud, among 

other topical issues in the polity. Excerpts. 

By Harris-Okon Emmanuel 

& Dennis Udoma 

HOW do you react to 

the allegations that 

your party imposed 

all its candidates during the 

recent local government 

elections in the state? 

Before the elections, we went 

round the ten federal 

constituencies campaigning 

and informing the people on 

the role that zoning will play 

in our nomination process. 

When we finished that, people 

bought forms and we took out 

air time on radio and television 

stations and spoke about 

zoning on the fact that, we 

expected the nomination 

process to be fair. 

The people from the various 

places had their zoning system, 

and everything was well 

documented. People bought 

their forms, and we did 

nominations in about 31 local 

government areas at the Uyo 

township stadium. We invited 

the press, and we have 

pictures, videos, and foot-ages 

of how nominations were 

conducted. 

If that is an imposition, the 

simple thing is that, yes, the 

majority imposed popular 

candidates on the minority 

because when the majority 

have taken their positions, the 

minority will have their say. The 

minority can choose to redefine 

election to mean imposition. If 

that is what they meant by 

popular participation, then the 

imposition has been redefined. 

It is also claimed that your 

party rigged the elections? 

Well, the first thing for you to 

know is that elections held. I 

was in Use Ndon Village, Unit 

7. I can speak about elections 

there in Ibiono Ibom local 

government area. I couldn’t 

have been everywhere at every 

time but, from phone calls and 

reports that were brought to 

me, elections held everywhere 

in Akwa Ibom State and that 

PDP won. 

For a party that up till 

Thursday before the Saturday’s 

elections was still in court, the 

question I now have to ask you 

is; was that party preparing for 

the election? And the major 

plank of their prayer was the 

stoppage of the election. So, a 

party that was in court Friday 

and the election was Saturday; 

was that party ready for the 

election? 

So, when you fail to prepare, 

you prepare to fail. That party 

was only preparing to stop the 

election and not preparing to 

go for the election. They tried 

to stop the election and they 

couldn’t, and so, the only result 

they could have had was to fail. 

That is why they resorted to 

armed violence, trying to burn 

down AKISIEC office. 

Given this, how do we avoid 

the sceptre of violence in our 

future elections in the state? 

That party was 

only 

preparing to 

stop the 

election and 

not preparing 

to go for the 

election 

Why we say APC Akida are noisemakers 

in Katsina — Dr. Armiya’u 

DR. Yusha’u Armiya’u is arguably the longest-serving state party chairman in 

Nigeria having served for sixteen straight years as the Katsina State chairman of 

the All Nigeria Peoples’ Party, ANPP, (eight years); Congress for Progressive Change, 

CPC (four years) and Peoples Democratic Movement, PDM (four years). He recently 

alongside the state executive of the party and all 34 local government executives in 

the state defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC. In this interview, he reviews 

the internal wrangling in the state chapter of his new party asserting that the vicious 

tackles by the rebel, APC –Akida were nothing but noisemaking inspired by the 

likes of Dr. Usman Bugaje. Excerpts: 

By Bashir Bello Murja, Senator Sadiq 

WHY the choice of APC Yar’Adua, Abubakar Samaila 

despite your initial who was a gubernatorial 

brushes with those that formed candidate during the CPC, 

the party in the state? 

Abbas Machika and others. 

The reason why we didn’t Those were the same people 

join the APC while we were in who fought us in CPC. They 

CPC was because of problems said Masari is the right person 

we had of internal democracy to be the Governor. But we 

which was in our judgment knew that with the situation in 

was lacking especially as it Katsina, nobody in CPC could 

affected Katsina State. Now, we have won the election but 

have come back to the APC. Yakubu Lado because we were 

Why? There are three main in the center of all what was 

reasons why we returned to happening. And the people I 

APC. Firstly, looking at the mentioned fought us strongly. 

politics in Nigeria, there are I know them very well, and 

only two viable parties, PDP they know me very well too. 

and APC. 

And I know, some of them are 

The APC AKIDA, who are not sincere in what they are 

they? I know them better than saying because most of them 

anybody. Their leader is Usman want to govern Katsina 

Bugaje; others include Kabir themselves. They have the 

•Masari: Gets support 

ambition to be Governor of 

Katsina. I don’t think any of 

them can deny what I have said. 

So, what do you expect to get 

from the APC? 

Well, I expect APC to be 

•Ememobong: Opposition did not prepare for election 

Go and preach that to them. 

You know the party that 

orchestrates gangsterism. Tell 

them to go and campaign to 

make their party popular. For 

example, we are doing 

sensitization now, we run a 

radio programme, and we have 

news strings circulating, we 

attend to interviews as we talk 

with you like this, and we are 

doing door to door campaigns. 

During the last Christmas, 

only members of my party, PDP 

went back home and were 

talking to people, sharing gifts. 

Do you think those things don’t 

count? People do not think how 

much you know until they know 

how much you care. 

What is your reaction to 

claims by Senator Akpabio at 

the end of last year that his 

Ikot Ekpene Senatorial 

District is being marginalised 

democratic. This is what we are 

operating now. So obviously, 

my intention of joining the 

APC is to see how best I can 

contribute to making APC better 

especially in Katsina State. 

I believe that those people 

clamouring that APC in Katsina 

is wrong. I believe instead of 

clamouring, they should come 

together and help the 

government to do the right 

thing because Katsina is our 

state and our home. If there is 

something going wrong, there 

is no need to make noise. Let 

us come together, seat down 

and make sure things are done 

the right way. But we shouldn’t 

hide behind and start making 

noise. We have to join the party 

and contribute our quotas to see 

that things are done properly. 

Anything that is done 

wrongly, you bring to the notice 

of the right authorities that this 

is wrong and the right thing 

should be done, and you will 

keep taking on that that if they 

don’t, then you will decide 

whether you should stay or you 

go. 

But, you don’t just stay 

outside the system, or you are 

within the system and just 

making noise. I don’t believe 

in that. 

by the Governor Emmanuel 

administration? 

Why don’t you also talk about 

the next day that, Ikot Ekpene 

Senatorial District PDP 

stakeholders went to endorse 

the governor for a second term? 

Political watchers and 

pundits say the move was a 

face-saving? 

Why do you think the other 

one was not a face-saving, who 

is now accredited to determine 

which one is face-saving and 

which is not? Which one should 

a reasonable person hold unto; 

is it a later act or a former act? 

One is contingent upon the 

other. One may have been an 

exclamation of ignorance; or it 

could have been an 

exclamation seeking 

knowledge and another, a 

proclamation of wisdom. So, 

which supersedes? 

At one of the APC AKIDA 

meetings in Kaduna, a 

member of the group Tijjani 

Zangon Daura was quoted as 

saying President 

Muhammadu Buhari imposed 

Governor Masari on them as 

the governorship candidate? 

Tijjani Zango is not a member 

of our party. He is not a cardcarrying 

member of any 

political party. But, why didn’t 

those people who are talking 

about APC AKIDA say the same 

thing as Tijjani? They are the 

right people who could say 

that. 

I know Tijjani, he is my 

friend, we are on talking terms, 

but I care less about what he is 

saying because he is not one 

of us in the party but he is just 

talking his mind, and I cannot 

stop anybody from talking his 

mind. 

Go and ask the AKIDA to 

come out and say it is Buhari 

who imposed Masari on them. 

What they are saying is rubbish. 

And very soon, we are going 

to confront them. 

The allegation by APC 

AKIDA is that moneybags have 

hijacked the party in the state? 

Ask them who are the 

moneybags they are talking 

about.

44— VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 2018 

Trump casts doubt on Middle East peace 

talks 

US 

President 

Donald Trump has 

questioned whether 

peace talks with Israel 

will ever resume, blaming 

the Palestinians. 

Mr Trump said Palestinians 

had “disrespected” 

the US in the wake 

of his controversial decision 

to recognise Jerusalem 

as Israel’s capital. 

“Respect has to be 

shown to the US or we’re 

just not going any further,” 

he told reporters at 

Davos. 

*Symbolic Dooms- 

Day Clock showing 

how a possible 

nuclear war and other 

global threats have 

pushed it forward by 

30 seconds. The 

symbolic device was 

created by the Bulletin 

of the Atomic Scientists 

in 1947. 

The Palestinians say 

the US can no longer be 

considered a neutral broker. 

President Mahmoud 

Abbas has called Mr 

Trump’s declaration on 

Jerusalem in December 

the “slap of the century”. 

However, sitting alongside 

Israeli Prime Minister 

Benjamin Netanyahu 

at the World Economic 

Forum, Mr Trump 

said: “Israel has always 

supported the United 

States so what I did with 

Jerusalem was my honour. 

“We took Jerusalem off 

the [negotiating] table, 

so we don’t have to talk 

about it any more. They 

[the Palestinians] never 

got past Jerusalem.” 

Turning to Mr Netanyahu, 

Mr Trump said: 

“You won one point, and 

you’ll give up some 

points later on in the 

negotiation, if it ever 

takes place - I don’t 

know that it will ever 

take place.” 

The status of Jerusalem 

goes to the heart of the 

Israeli-Palestinian conflict. 

Israel regards Jerusalem 

as its “eternal and 

undivided” capital, 

while the Palestinians 

claim East Jerusalem - 

occupied by Israel in the 

1967 Middle East war - 

as the capital of a future 

state. 

Mr Trump’s recognition 

of the city as Israel’s 

capital broke with decades 

of a US policy of 

neutrality on the issue 

and put it out of step 

with the rest of the international 

community. 

South Korea says military option unacceptable 

on N/Korea crisis 

SOUTH Korea’s for 

eign minister said on 

Thursday the standoff over 

North Korea’s nuclear programme 

must be resolved 

diplomatically, and she was 

certain Washington would 

consult her government 

first if a military option were 

to be considered. 

“The nuclear issue has to 

be solved through negotiations 

and diplomatic endeavours. 

This idea of a 

military solution is unac- 

ceptable,” Kang Kyungwha 

said at a news briefing 

on the sidelines of the 

World Economic Forum in 

Davos, Switzerland. 

The Trump administration 

has said all options are on 

the table in dealing with 

North Korea, and officials 

say the president and his 

advisers have discussed the 

possibility of a limited 

strike. But debate on military 

options has lost some 

momentum in recent weeks 

Spanish govt acts to block Puigdemont’s 

election as Catalonia head 

SPAIN’s government 

has taken a first step 

towards preventing the 

election of ex-Catalan 

leader Carles Puigdemont 

as head of the Spanish 

region, the deputy prime 

minister said on Thursday 

as tensions rose again 

between Madrid and Barcelona. 

Puigdemont has been 

living in Brussels since he 

fled there in late October 

to avoid arrest on charges 

of sedition and rebellion 

for organising an illegal 

referendum and 

unilaterally declaring 

Catalan independence 

from Spain. 

Catalonia’s newly elected 

parliament speaker, 

Roger Torrent, nominated 

Puigdemont on Monday 

as the sole candidate to be 

the regional president 

again, defying Spanish 

government warnings 

against such a move. 

“Current circumstances 

do not permit his investiture,” 

Deputy Prime Minister 

Soraya Saenz de 

Santamaria told a news 

conference in Madrid, 

referring to the fact that 

there is an arrest warrant 

against Puigdemont in 

Spain. 

after North and South Korea 

resumed talks ahead of 

next month’s Winter Olympics 

in the South. 

“I‘m assured that anything 

the U.S. administration 

does on this front is 

done in close consultation 

with us,” Kang said. 

She declined to comment 

if Washington had given 

Seoul clear assurance but 

added: “This is our fate that 

is at stake. Any option that 

is to be taken on the Korean 

peninsula, cannot be implemented 

without us going 

along.” 

In an earlier interview 

with Reuters, Kang said 

South Korea was prepared 

for “all contingency scenarios” 

in case North Korea 

stages another weapons 

test, even as the two countries 

conduct talks and mutual 

visits relating to the 

Olympics. 

“We go into these discussions 

with a clear understanding 

of what might be 

possible,” Kang said, adding, 

“another provocation is 

always a possibility.” 

Kang, who was in Davos 

to discuss recent progress 

in inter-Korean talks and to 

boost awareness of the 

Olympics, did not discuss 

details of the scenarios that 

South Korea was prepared 

for 

Ȧfter their first formal 

talks in more than two years 

this month, officials from 

the two Koreas have been 

visiting each other to facilitate 

the North’s participation 

in the Olympics, to be 

held in the South’s alpine 

resort town of Pyeongchang. 

Doomsday Clock move to 2 

minutes to ‘apocalypse’ 

Growing concerns about a possible nuclear war 

and other global threats have pushed forward 

the symbolic Doomsday Clock by 30 seconds - to 

just two minutes before midnight. The Bulletin of 

the Atomic Scientists (BAS) said it had acted because 

the world was becoming “more dangerous”. 

The clock, created by the journal in 1947, is a metaphor 

for how close the mankind is to destroying 

the Earth. It is now the closest to the apocalypse it 

has been since 1953. That was the year when the 

US and the Soviet Union tested hydrogen bombs. 

Last year, the clock was also moved forward by 30 

seconds. Announcing the move in Washington DC 

on Thursday, the BAS said the decision “wasn’t 

easy” and said it was not based on a single factor. 

However BAS President and CEO Rachel Bronson 

said that “in this year’s discussions, nuclear issues 

took centre stage once again”. 

The team of scientists singled out a series of nuclear 

tests by North Korea. They dramatically escalated 

tensions on the Korean peninsula and led to 

a war of words between North Korea and the US. 

The BAS also referred to a new US nuclear strategy 

that was expected to call for more funding to expand 

the role of the country’s nuclear arsenal. 

Rising tension between Russia and the West was 

also a contributing factor. 

ANC leader says S/A in new 

era as talk of Zuma exit 

grows 

THE new leader of South Africa’s ruling African 

National Congress (ANC) said on Thursday the 

country had entered a new era under his leadership, 

in a fresh sign that Jacob Zuma’s days as president 

are numbered. 

Cyril Ramaphosa’s declaration reflects the party’s 

desire to win back the trust of investors and convince 

voters ahead of next year’s election that it can 

boost the economy. 

But above all it shows the ANC wants to overcome 

the taint of corruption it acquired since Zuma became 

president in 2009. 

“We are in a new era. We had an old leadership of 

the ANC, we now have a new leadership of the 

ANC,” Ramaphosa said on the sidelines of the World 

Economic Forum in Davos, where he was leading 

South Africa’s delegation. 

“Many of the business leaders that I have met here 

have said they are buoyed by this new mood in the 

country,” he said. 

Zuma, 75, has seen a reversal of fortune since 

deputy president Ramaphosa succeeded him as ANC 

leader last month. 

Loyalists have deserted him in droves and the 

party is discussing whether to force him to resign as 

head of state before his second term ends next year. 

ANC sources differ on the timing of Zuma’s exit, 

and estimates range from several weeks to months. 

The ANC has held power under three different 

leaders since the end of apartheid in 1994, but the 

party’s electoral dominance is shrinking, making 

Ramaphosa’s task more urgent. 

He now controls the party’s National Executive 

Committee, which can instruct Zuma to resign. If 

Zuma refuses, the ANC could threaten a no-confidence 

vote in parliament that Zuma would likely 

lose. 

Rohingya crisis: ‘Suu Kyi 

lacks moral leadership’ 

VETERAN US diplomat Bill Richardson has re 

signed from an international panel set up by 

Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi to advise on the 

Rohingya crisis. He claimed the panel was a “whitewash” 

and accused Ms Suu Kyi, his long-time friend, 

of lacking “moral leadership”. Myanmar accused 

him of pursuing “his own agenda”. 

More than 650,000 Rohingya people, from a mostly-Muslim 

minority in Buddhist Myanmar, fled to 

Bangladesh last year in the face of a military crackdown. 

Many are now living in refugee camps in the 

neighbouring country. Bangladesh has said they 

will all be returned to Myanmar within two years. 

Mr Richardson added that Ms Suu Kyi had been 

“furious” when he raised the case of two Reuters 

reporters on trial in Myanmar. 

The journalists have been charged with breaching 

the Official Secrets Actwhile working on coverage 

of the Rohingya crisis. Ms Suu Kyi “exploded” 

at Mr Richardson when he mentioned the journalists, 

he told the New York Times.


Edited by 

Prince Osuagwu 

08050498513 

princeosuagwu@gmail.com 

By Prince Osuagwu 

IT may appear surprising 

that for some mobile 

companies, South Africa’s 

mobile market is still stronger 

than that of Nigeria, despite 

huge difference in 

population. 

Samsung electronics 

recently explained why, but 

however, commits its future to 

the Nigerian market. 

The company said that 

Nigeria has the potential to 

overtake South Africa, with 

time, adding that recent 

developments in the market 

has already shown it would 

not take long to happen. 

Chief Executive Officer, 

Samsung Africa, Mr Sung 

Yoon, who visited Nigeria 

recently, said despite South 

Africa’s population being a 

fraction of Nigeria’s, deep 

broadband penetration and 

almost total adoption of 

smartphone, makes the 

market bigger. 

4G/LTE 

According to him, “South 

Africa has almost 95 percent 

of its mobile market purely on 

smartphones and 4G/LTE has 

deep roots in the market 

unlike in Nigeria where in the 

overall market feature phones 

still take a good percentage 

and 4GLTE is not widely 

accessible” 

Apparently, that could be 

why Yoon said that building 

a manufacturing plant in 

Nigeria is a project Samsung 

would not think about now 

but in the future. 

He said: “there are certain 

factors taken into 

consideration before building 

a manufacturing plant. We 

have to consider market size, 

return on investment and 

environment among others. 

But it is a thing we have to 

consider in the future” 

Passionate staff 

Yoon also hinted on why 

Samsung drastically reduced 

staff in its Nigerian office, 

saying, “in the heat of 

recession, we needed to do 

some adjustments. We 

needed to have more 

passionate, young and 

talented people while some 

others are dropping out. It is 

a normal company 

operational strategy not for 

any other reasons” he added. 

Earlier, Yoon had claimed 

that in shopping for ideas on 

how to inspire the world and 

create a future with 

technologies, products and 

designs that enrich people’s 

lives, the company had spent 

about $16 billion on Research 

and development, R&D 

alone. 

He noted that the money 

had resulted in an array of 

innovative products from 

Samsung sees future in Nigeria’s mobile 

market 

•Explains huge presence in South Africa 

•Yet to consider building manufacturing plant in Nigeria 

Samsung and 

paid back with 

great sales which 

includes over 700 

mobile phones 

and 90 television 

sets per minute. 

He however 

disclosed that 

S a m s u n g 

Electronics West 

Africa (SEWA) is 

refocusing its 

vision and 

strategy for 

Nigeria, the West 

African subregion 

and the 

continent in 

general. The 

exercise, the 

company said, is 

geared towards 

stimulating a 

higher level of 

operational 

efficiency, with 

the overarching 

objective of providing 

customers with the highest 

quality products, sales and 

services. 

The company aim to shore 

up its market leadership 

position across the continent, 

through this process. 

Nine-year old girl develops 

Food Website 


Miss Emmanuella Oziofu, 

a nine year old pupil of 

Fortune Schools in Benin, Edo 

State, has designed a website 

called Food Website set to 

launch in February. 

Oziofu, who is currently 

studying web design at Complete 

Computer Technology 

Centre in Benin, said her target 

was to become a professional 

web designer and analyst at age 

nine and has accomplished it. 

She made this known at her 

ninth birthday celebration where 

she enthused; “The website, 

known as Food website is to encourage 

both parents and children 

to eat healthy local and international 

dishes and to cut 

down on junk food. One of the 

contents of the website is Goodbye 

Junk Food, Hello Super 

From Left: Mr. Dae Ju Kim, Chief Financial Officer, Samsung Electronics Africa; Mr. Jin 

Gak Jung, MD, Samsung Nigeria; Mr. Sung Yoon, President and CEO, Samsung Electronics 

Africa and Mr. Jung Hyun Park, President, Samsung Central Africa at the Samsung Strategic 

Partnership Summit, 2018, in Lagos 

According to Yoon, “We wish 

to reiterate our commitment to 

this market and our focus on 

delivering the highest quality 

products, service and support, for 

which our customers have come 

to admire us. We can assure all 

our stakeholders that, as an 

Healthy Food, which contains 

African dishes, continental dishes 

and a list of restaurants in different 

cities in the world. The 

website has a form for customers’ 

feedback. I am working on 

the food order, delivery content 

and a mobile app that would be 

available on Google Play Store. 

“At seven, I enrolled at Mikon 

Institute of Information Technology 

where I graduated with a 

certificate in Basic Training, with 

this I specialised in Microsoft 

Word, Excel and Power Point. I 

also have a certificate in Desktop 

Publishing, Advance Power 

Point, Advance Excel, Corel 

Draw and Adobe Page Maker.” 

On her driving force, Ozoifu 

said “hard work and support 

from my parents helped me 

achieve the feat and I am encouraging 

children to embrace 

GlamTech 03/01/2018 

organisation, we have gained 

useful insights from events of our 

recent past, both positive and 

negative, and are confident that 

the lessons learned will help 

propel us into our next phase of 

growth,” Yoon said since 

Samsung began operations in 

Nigeria in 2005, it has created a 

ICT as a tool 

for national 

development. 

I want to be a 

gynaecologist 

in future and 

I believe my 

knowledge of 

ICT will enable 

me practice 

my profession 

better, 

make me 

more innovative 

and render 

quality 

health care 

service.” 

The young 

ICT guru said 

she intends to 

teach children 

about ICT, expand her 

knowledge and break records before 

she turns 14. 

Mr Nelson Osamudiamen, 

Emmanuella’s instructor described 

her love for ICT as incredible 

and said Emmanuella is 

ever ready to learn. “Emmanuella 

has learnt how to design a 

website and I look forward to 

teaching her Java and other related 

programmes so that she can 

also be a website developer.” 

Osamudiamen urged parents 

niche for itself by offering high 

quality products. This has 

impacted positively on the 

Nigerian economy in various 

ways, such as fostering 

knowledge/technology transfer 

and creating employment 

directly and indirectly for 

millions of Nigerians. 

•Emmanuella Oziofu 

and the Federal Government to 

create an enabling environment 

for children at very young age 

to learn ICT. “Children in countries 

like China are doing very 

well when it comes to ICT; Nigerian 

children are smart and 

can also do well in ICT. The government 

should create a good 

ICT infrastructure in schools and 

the enabling environment for 

children to learn the course.”


Russia 2018: Eagles’ll quake when 

they face Messi — Riquelme 

•Writes off Croatia, Iceland 

A RGENTINA 

Legend Juan 

Román Riquelme, believes 

Super Eagles players will 

be quaking in their boots 

when they face the 

Argentine national team 

with Lionel Messi at the 

2018 World Cup. 

It is correct that the South 

Americans have the 

bragging rights over the 

African powerhouse in 

previous editions of the 

World Cup with wins in 

1994, 2002, 2010 and 2014 

but they have conceded 

four goals each in two 

friendlies against Nigeria, 

the last one in Krasnodar 

where the Super Eagles 

overcame a two-goal deficit 

before claiming a win. 

The former Boca Juniors 

number 10 has also written 

off the chances of Iceland 

and Croatia against 

Argentina so long as 

Messi is on the pitch. 

‘’I see the Argentina team 

well as long as we have 

Lionel Messi, with the best 

player in the world, we can 

win the World Cup in Russia 

2018, we all know that, we 

have a lot of chances to win 

each game if in that month 

he is not injured and he is 

well, ‘’ Román Riquelme told 

TyC Sports. 

He added : “The 

ABIA State governor, 

Okezie Ikpeazu 

has released the funds 

needed to complete the 

Enyimba Stadium. 

The contractor handling 

the renovation of the edifice, 

Ebi Egbe of Monimichelle 

Group confirmed yesterday 

that Gov Ikpeazu has fulfilled 

his promise of ensuring funds 

does not delay the completion 

of the job which was started 

two seasons ago. 

Egbe in a release made 

available to the media 

yesterday hailed Ikpeazu for 

matching words with action, 

a step which would see 

Enyimba return to their 

fortress in a matter of weeks. 

opponents have a lot of 

respect when playing Leo 

because they know that at 

any moment something can 

be invented and no team can 

beat us when he is there.” 

The Super Eagles will face 

off with Argentina at 

Krestovsky Stadium, Saint 

Petersburg on June 26, 2018. 

Ikpeazu releases funds for Enyimba Stadium 

completion 

“I want to say a big thank 

you to Gov Ikpeazu for taking 

immediate steps to see that 

the Enyimba Stadium project 

is completed with the release 

of funds. Ikpeazu has shown 

that he is a man of integrity. 

A man that wants the very 

best for Abia State.” 

Egbe further disclosed that 

the Enyimba Stadium turf 

would be one of the biggest 

in the world with a 

dimension of 110 meters by 

74 meters play area. 

“We are installing a state of 

the art geo technology pitch 

in the Enyimba arena. And 

the dimension of the pitch is 

110 by 74 meters which is the 

biggest play area approved 

by FIFA.” 

THE 

Nigeria 

Wrestling 

Federation (NWF) has 

started its final 

preparations for the Port 

Harcourt 2018 African 

Wrestling Championships 

with the trials and selection 

of the country’s flag 

bearers. 

Wrestlers camped in 

three cities, Akure, 

Yenagoa and Port Harcourt 

will converge at the Alfred 

Diete-Spiff Civic Centre 

Enyimba it would be 

noted has since returned to 

the UJ Esuene Stadium 

Calabar which has in the 

last two years been their 

temporary home. 

•Wozniacki 

African Wrestling Championships: 

NWF starts final preparations 

•Igali sure of medals harvest, charges 

athletes to give 100% 

By Solomon Nwoke 

Indoor Sports Hall, Port 

Harcourt to slug it out for a 

place in the Team Nigeria 

Wrestling contingent in the 

continental meet. 

The Greco-Roman 

wrestlers will take to the 

mat today in Yenagoa, 

Bayelsa state where they 

have been camped for the 

trials while tomorrow and 

Sunday in the Rivers state 

capital, the Cadet and 

Junior wrestlers will sweat 

it out on the mats in the 

freestyle men and women 

and Greco-Roman. 

The wrestlers that will don 

the national colours in the 

Senior freestyle men and 

women are already known 

from the Governor Nyesom 

Wike Wrestling 

championship held in last 

November in Port Harcourt. 

Immediately after the trials 

the wrestlers will go into 

final ( closed) camping 

stage with their training 

partners 

Nigeria will present an 

unprecedented full squad 

in all the categories ( nine 

teams) for a total of 90 

wrestlers for the African 

tourney. 

Wozniacki into first Aussie Open final 

D ENMARK’s 

Caroline Wozniacki 

overcame a late bout of nerves 

to beat unseeded 

Belgian Elise Mertens 

and reach her first 

Australian Open final. 

The 27-year-old, 

seeded second, saw off 

the world number 37, 6- 

3 7-6 (7-2) in 

Melbourne. Wozniacki 

is through to her third 

major final, and will 

face top seed Simona 

Halep who beat 

Angelique Kerber in 6- 

3 4-6 9-7 in a thrilling 

match. 

The winner of the final will 

be world number one next 

week. “I think it’s been a great 

two weeks so far,” said 

Wozniacki. 

“I’m really happy and 

proud of how I’ve managed 

to turn things around when 

things weren’t going my way.''

Iheanacho: 

I want to be like 

Kanu, Okocha 

Leicester City striker, Kelechi 

Iheanacho has admitted that ex- 

Arsenal star Nwankwo Kanu and ex- 

Bolton Wanderers hero Austin Okocha 

have inspired him to continue scoring 

goals for the Foxes in the Emirates FA 

Cup. 

Relegated to the bench since the 

season started, the Nigeria 

international strengthened his claim 

for a starting shirt by tripling his tally 

for the season, with a brace against 

Fleetwood Town in the third round of 

the competition. 

‘’I think the FA Cup has great 

memories and I think there have been 

Nigerian legends that have played in 

it as well, like Jay-Jay Okocha and 

Nwankwo Kanu,’’ Iheanacho told 

LCFC TV. 

‘’They’ve played in it, so it’s a great 

thing to play in the FA Cup. I have great 

memories. I hope I’ll be in it and have 

one great memory, which is winning 

the FA Cup.’’ 

•Iheanacho 

Sanchez for Man 

U debut today 

Alexis Sanchez is in Manchester 

United’s squad to face Yeovil in 

their FA Cup fourth-round tie today, 

Jose Mourinho has confirmed. 

“This is life in big clubs, in big clubs 

you have big players, you have big 

competition,” said Mourinho. 

“In big clubs you have big 

responsibilities, you have to try and 

go into every competition in a serious 

way. You cannot do that with 11 

players. It’s absolutely impossible. 

“There’s space for everybody.” 

Mourinho added: “I’m very happy 

and have to say with pride the 

evolution of Lingard, Martial, Scott 

McTominay and these kind of young 

guys. 

“At the same time you need a 

combination with players like 

[Nemanja] Matic, Alexis - people that 

have experience in where we want 

to be - fighting for titles. 

•Sanchez 

•Neymar 

R/Madrid offer 

Ronaldo plus cash 

to land Neymar 

Neymar is ready to take a significant pay cut in order to seal a dream move back to 

Spain with Real Madrid, according to a new report. 

French newspaper L’Equipe claim the PSG star is already looking to leave the club, 

despite joining in a world record £198million move from Barcelona less than six months ago. 

And such is Neymar’s desire to pull on the famous white shirt, he is willing to drop his 

demands to fit in with the salary structure at the Bernabeu. 

The Brazilian currently earns around £33m a year in Paris, making him the second best 

paid player in the world behind former team-mate Lionel Messi (£44m). 

Cristiano Ronaldo pockets £18.5m every 12 months at Real, meaning Neymar would 

likely have to accept a serious reduction in his wages. 

However, according to L’Equipe, that is something the 25-year-old is open to - providing he 

receives a hefty signing-on fee when he puts pen to paper. 

It is also claimed that Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is willing to include Ronaldo 

as part of huge deal for Neymar this summer. 

The Spanish giants expect the former Barca forward to cost the equivalent of £218m, with 

the inclusion of Ronaldo making up a sizable chunk of the fee. 

Alternatively, should Ronaldo make an emotional return to Manchester United at the end 

of the season, Real will invest the money they receive in a cash deal for Neymar. 

Asked about a move for the former Santos star last week, Real boss Zinedine Zidane said: 

‘Neymar? I’m not talking about players who aren’t mine. 

‘Having said that, he’s very important and loved by all of football. He’s a great player.’ 

Arsenal strong without Aubameyang – Wenger 

Arsene Wenger insists Arsenal are “strong enough” even if they don’t 

manage to sign Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang this month, 

and declined to give an update on how negotiations with Borussia 

Dortmund are going. 

Wenger has confirmed that Arsenal are in talks with Dortmund about 

the striker, but wouldn’t be drawn on how they are going after 

Wednesday’s 2-1 win over Chelsea in the Carabao Cup semifinals. 

“The best is I don’t talk about that. Because it wouldn’t help. If 

something happens, it happens. If it doesn’t happen we are strong 

enough to focus on the players we have,” Wenger said. 

“I’m perfectly happy with the players I have. We’ve got [Henrikh] 

Mkhitaryan in and we have a strong squad.” 

Mkhitaryan, who was on the sidelines for Arsenal’s win on Wednesday, 

signed for the club on Monday in a deal that saw Alexis Sanchez move 

to Manchester United after a drawn-out transfer saga. 

Arsenal have been widely linked with a move for West Brom centreback 

Jonny Evans as well, but Wenger deflected questions about the 

defender as well. 

NFF signs Swedish coach for Super Falcons 

The Nigeria Football Federation has 

signed an agreement with top 

Swedish football coach, Thomas 

Dennerby, to take the role of Head Coach 

of eight –time African champions, Super 

Falcons. The contract also enables 

Dennerby to come 

into the job with an 

assistant, Mr. Jorgen 

Petersson, another 

highly experienced 

Swedish coach 

nominated by 

Dennerby himself. 

Dennerby, who spent 

nine years with 

Hammarby IF of 

Allsvesnkan and played 

in the European Cup in 

1983 and 1985, won 34 

caps for Swedish junior 

teams between 1975 

and 1981. He coached 

the Swedish Women’s 

•Dennerby 

•Ronaldo 


•Wenger 

Senior Team between 2005 and 2012, during 

which the team played at the 2008 and 2012 

Olympics and the 2007 and 2011 FIFA World 

Cup finals, winning bronze at the latter 

tournament. He also served time as youth 

coach for Stockholm FA and worked in various 

capacities for former club Hammarby 

between 1993 and 2001. 

More recently, he did scouting and 

analyses for the Swedish FA at the 

2013 and 2017 European 

Championships, the 2016 Olympics 

and the 2015 FIFA Women’s World 

Cup in Canada. 

Petersson has worked with several 

top Swedish clubs including Moheda 

IF, Osters IF, Vaxjo, Alvesta Golf, IFK 

Varmamo, Malmo FF, Kalmar FF 

and Linkopings FC, was assistant 

coach of the Swedish U23 women 

team between 2006-2012 and scouted 

for the Swedish women national team 

at last year’s European 

Championship. 

Zidane admits his 

job is on the line 

Zinedine Zidane admits his job will be 

on the line when Real Madrid 

face Paris Saint-Germain in the 

Champions League, following their 

embarrassing Copa del Rey exit. 

Zidane’s team failed to muster a single 

shot on target in the first half against 

Leganes on Wednesday night, and lost 2-1 

to crash out on away goals after a 2-2 

aggregate draw. 

That defeat is the latest in a string of 

below-par performances by Madrid, who 

trail Barcelona by 19 points in La Liga — 

and they face an uphill task of winning the 

league this season. 

The Champions League appears to be 

their best chance of winning 

silverware this season — but 

Zidane admits his fate will be 

decided by the two-legged 

showdown with the French 

giants. 

‘Of course. That is really 

clear,’ Zidane said when 

asked if his job was on the 

line. ‘I am responsible for 

this, I’m the coach. 

‘So I must find solutions. 

I must take on the situation. 

I will keep always fighting, 

•Zidane 

keep working, try and look 

for things to make the team 

better. Nothing more. 

Mourinho to remain at Old 

Traffordsigns till 2020 

Manchester United manager Jose 

Mourinho has signed a contract 

extension until 2020, with the option of a 

further year. 

The 54-year-old’s previous deal at Old 

Trafford was due to expire in 2019. 

Mourinho said he was “delighted” that 

United “feel and trust that I am the right 

manager for this great club for the 

foreseeable future”. 

He added: “I would like to say a big 

thank you to the owners and to [chief 

executive Ed] Woodward.” 

“We have set very high standards - 

winning three trophies in one season - 

but those are the standards I expect my 

teams to aim for,” Mourinho added. 

“We are creating the conditions for a 

brilliant and successful future for 

Manchester United. 

Madrid to lure Aguero 

back to La Liga 

Atletico Madrid are reportedly keen 

to lure Manchester City 

striker Sergio Aguero back to La Liga 

this summer. 

Pep Guardiola is keen to keep the 

Argentina international, but his interest 

in Antoine Griezmann could pave the 

way for a deal. 

Earlier this season, Aguero became 

City’s all-time leading scorer when he 

netted his 178th goal for the club since 

arriving from Spain in 2011. 

But, according to a source, Atletico 

are keen to partner him with Diego 

Costa and have contacted the forward’s 

representatives over a summer transfer. 

Aguero netted 100 goals in 230 

appearances for the La Liga club before 

City signed him for £38million. 

Chelsea unhappy 

with Conte 

Chelsea are becoming increasingly 

frustrated and unhappy with Antonio 

Conte appearing to criticise their transfer 

strategy in public, Sky Sports News 

understands. 

Despite Conte continuing to give the 

impression he has little to do with the 

club’s transfer dealings, Chelsea are 

understood to be working hard to sign 

the players the Italian wants. 

Conte suggested he had little impact 

on the club’s transfer decisions. 

“About the transfer market, from the 

summer, the club decides every single 

player that comes here,” Conte said. 

“My first task is to do my job, to be a 

coach and to try to improve my players. 

“For sure, I don’t have a big impact on 

the transfer market.” 

“About the transfer market, from the 

summer, the club decides every single 

player that comes here,” Conte said.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 2018 

Sudoku 

QUICK CROSSWORD 

TODAY’S PUZZLE 

YESTERDAY’S ANSWER 

TODAY’S CROSSWORD 

YESTERDAY’SOLUTION 

How to Play Sudoku 

ACROSS 

1 Noisy quarrel (6) 

4 Self-possession, coolness 

(6) 

8 Invited (5) 

9 Frightening creature (7) 

10 Section of a book (7) 

11 Freight (5) 

12 Tibetan religious leader 

(5,4) 

17 Out-and-out (5) 

19 Brought back to life (7) 

21 Bank employees 

22 Tropical fruit (5) 

23 Cartoon spinach eater (6) 

24 Appraise (6) 

DOWN 

1 Debacle (6) 

2 Causing inconvenience (7) 

3 Inspect accounts (5) 

5 Cure for all ills (7) 

6 Exterior (5) 

7 Accept a loan (6) 

9 Shrove Tuesday festival 

(5,4) 

13 Theft (7) 

14 Make progress (7) 

15 Barney (4-2) 

16 Obnoxious (6) 

18 Flowering bulb (5) 

22 Seductive women (5) 

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

have two of the same number). 

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

(also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block 

within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number 

from 1 through 9. This means that no number can 

appear twice in any block, column or row. 

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, 

division or multiplication, just plain logic and your 

imagination. 

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

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

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

26012018 - Reasons for New Year Day Benue massacre —DEFENCE MINISTER

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?