14.02.2018 Views

14022018 - Workers flee as herdsmen overrun LG offices in Ondo

Vanguard Newspaper 14 February 2018

Vanguard Newspaper 14 February 2018

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

Poverty: The role of<br />

the constitution<br />

and cost of 40<br />

governance (7)<br />

Teacher, 22 students<br />

die <strong>in</strong> Kano auto cr<strong>as</strong>h<br />

ANC orders Zuma to<br />

step down <strong>as</strong> president<br />

6<br />

45<br />

INSIGHT REPORT ON FUEL HAWKERS<br />

While motorists and other fuel users daily suffer the<br />

<strong>in</strong>convenience and pa<strong>in</strong> of the prolonged scarcity, petrol hawkers<br />

and other illegal dealers <strong>in</strong> petroleum products cont<strong>in</strong>ue to smile<br />

their way to the banks. After weeks of be<strong>in</strong>g on the trail of these<br />

hawkers, Vanguard INSIGHT is able to uncover their shady<br />

modes of operation, especially their illegal sources of supply.<br />

Read the carefully packaged report on Thursday and Friday.<br />

Uniquely Vanguard!<br />

VOL. 26: NO. 63485 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2018<br />

<strong>Workers</strong> <strong>flee</strong> <strong>as</strong> <strong>herdsmen</strong><br />

<strong>overrun</strong> <strong>LG</strong> <strong>offices</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Ondo</strong><br />

•Guests at 3 on-go<strong>in</strong>g wedd<strong>in</strong>gs at the council registry scamper for safety<br />

•Northern Coalition rejects state police; seeks state of emergency <strong>in</strong><br />

Benue, Kaduna, Taraba, Zamfara,<br />

•Buhari under trance, says Soy<strong>in</strong>ka, backs state police<br />

2019: APC'll<br />

rema<strong>in</strong> rul<strong>in</strong>g<br />

party— TINUBU;<br />

•Tells OBJ, IBB to 10<br />

enjoy their retiree club<br />

Patience<br />

Jonathan seeks<br />

out-of-court<br />

settlement with<br />

EFCC<br />

FG h<strong>as</strong> spent<br />

N1.2trn to<br />

support states<br />

—OSINBAJO<br />

8<br />

9<br />

HERDSMEN SACK <strong>LG</strong> WORKERS<br />

Staff of Akure South Local Government secretariat, <strong>Ondo</strong> State be<strong>in</strong>g led to safety by<br />

securitymen, after they were sacked by <strong>herdsmen</strong> <strong>in</strong> Akure, yesterday. Photo: Dayo Johnson.<br />

COLUMNISTS DEAR BUNMI OHUABUNWA 31 PRINCEWILL 17<br />

SEE<br />

32<br />

INSIDE<br />

By Dayo Johnson,<br />

Dapo Ak<strong>in</strong>refon,<br />

Omeiza Ajayi &<br />

Monsuru<br />

Olowoopejo<br />

AKURE<br />

—AKURE<br />

South Local<br />

Government Secretariat <strong>in</strong><br />

Akure, the <strong>Ondo</strong> State<br />

capital, w<strong>as</strong> yesterday<br />

sacked by over 30<br />

rampag<strong>in</strong>g <strong>herdsmen</strong>.<br />

This came on a day Nobel<br />

Laureate, Prof. Wole<br />

Soy<strong>in</strong>ka, said the attitude<br />

Cont<strong>in</strong>ues on Page 5<br />

Naira down to<br />

N360.22/$ at<br />

I&E w<strong>in</strong>dow 41<br />

Mr & Mrs


2— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2018


Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2018 — 3


4— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2018


Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2018—5<br />

POCKET CARTOON<br />

AUDIENCE—President Muhammadu Buhari (right) receives <strong>in</strong> audience,<br />

former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (Retd) <strong>in</strong> State House,<br />

Abuja, yesterday.<br />

<strong>Workers</strong> <strong>flee</strong> <strong>as</strong> <strong>herdsmen</strong><br />

<strong>overrun</strong> <strong>LG</strong> <strong>offices</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Ondo</strong><br />

Cont<strong>in</strong>ues from Page 1<br />

shown by President<br />

Muhammadu Buhari so far<br />

on the issue <strong>in</strong>dicated<br />

someone who w<strong>as</strong> under<br />

trance.<br />

This is even <strong>as</strong> a Coalition<br />

of Northern Groups, CNG,<br />

yesterday accused political<br />

leaders and elders <strong>in</strong><br />

Benue, Kaduna, Taraba<br />

and Zamfara states of<br />

sponsor<strong>in</strong>g the wave of<br />

kill<strong>in</strong>gs and violent<br />

altercations between<br />

herders and farmers,<br />

<strong>as</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g President Buhari to<br />

immediately declare a state<br />

of emergency <strong>in</strong> those<br />

are<strong>as</strong>.<br />

On the <strong>in</strong>v<strong>as</strong>ion of the<br />

local government council,<br />

the workers fled <strong>as</strong> the<br />

rampag<strong>in</strong>g <strong>herdsmen</strong><br />

<strong>in</strong>flicted matchet cuts on<br />

the shoulder of the<br />

council’s agriculture officer,<br />

Simon Johnson.<br />

Three couples about to<br />

wed at the council’s registry<br />

at the time of the <strong>in</strong>v<strong>as</strong>ion<br />

also fled the scene <strong>as</strong> the<br />

<strong>herdsmen</strong> disrupted the<br />

ceremony.<br />

Many of the workers and<br />

guests at the wedd<strong>in</strong>g<br />

ceremony returned later <strong>in</strong><br />

search of their handbags<br />

and shoes after normalcy<br />

returned to the council.<br />

The dar<strong>in</strong>g <strong>herdsmen</strong>,<br />

brandish<strong>in</strong>g dangerous<br />

weapons, pursued the<br />

workers until the entire<br />

secretariat w<strong>as</strong> empty, thus<br />

paralys<strong>in</strong>g activities for<br />

hours.<br />

Both senior and junior<br />

workers scaled the fence of<br />

the secretariat to save<br />

themselves from the<br />

<strong>in</strong>vad<strong>in</strong>g <strong>herdsmen</strong>.<br />

Vanguard gathered that<br />

the council chairman,<br />

Margaret Atere, w<strong>as</strong> ferried<br />

out of the secretariat by<br />

some of her aides.<br />

How it started<br />

It w<strong>as</strong> learned that the<br />

<strong>herdsmen</strong> had early<br />

yesterday <strong>in</strong>vaded a farm<br />

belong<strong>in</strong>g to the council<br />

which is located beh<strong>in</strong>d the<br />

council secretariat and<br />

destroyed it.<br />

The farm, <strong>in</strong> which<br />

vegetables and other crops<br />

were planted, w<strong>as</strong><br />

reportedly dev<strong>as</strong>tated by<br />

the cattle brought by the<br />

<strong>herdsmen</strong>.<br />

Vanguard learned that the<br />

agriculture officer, who met<br />

the cattle destroy<strong>in</strong>g the<br />

farm, challenged the<br />

<strong>herdsmen</strong> who <strong>in</strong> turn<br />

beckoned on others who<br />

dealt some matchet cuts on<br />

his shoulder.<br />

One of the council<br />

workers, Ojomu Olaiya,<br />

who witnessed the <strong>in</strong>cident<br />

from afar and tried to record<br />

it on his mobile telephone,<br />

w<strong>as</strong> accosted and<br />

wounded.<br />

Top security chiefs <strong>in</strong> the<br />

state rushed to the scene<br />

follow<strong>in</strong>g a distress call by<br />

the council chairman.<br />

Detectives, it w<strong>as</strong> learned,<br />

were hurriedly deployed to<br />

the area by the state Police<br />

Commissioner, Gbenga<br />

Adeyanju, who visited the<br />

scene <strong>in</strong> company of Senior<br />

Special Adviser to the<br />

governor on Security<br />

Matters, Alhaji Jimoh<br />

Dojumo.<br />

The <strong>herdsmen</strong>, sens<strong>in</strong>g<br />

that they may be arrested,<br />

fled the scene before the<br />

arrival of security<br />

operatives.<br />

The Police Commissioner<br />

and the council chairman<br />

later rushed to <strong>in</strong>form the<br />

state governor, Rotimi<br />

Akeredolu, of the security<br />

situation <strong>in</strong> the state<br />

capital.<br />

Speak<strong>in</strong>g with newsmen,<br />

the council boss, Mrs Atere,<br />

who confirmed the<br />

<strong>in</strong>cident, pleaded with the<br />

state government to<br />

provide adequate security<br />

<strong>in</strong> the council for fear of<br />

another attack by the<br />

<strong>herdsmen</strong>.<br />

Atere, who expressed<br />

worries over the effrontery<br />

of the <strong>herdsmen</strong> to sack the<br />

entire council, said the<br />

council cannot rema<strong>in</strong><br />

closed.<br />

“We have started mak<strong>in</strong>g<br />

peace with the <strong>herdsmen</strong><br />

around the council. It is not<br />

possible for us to close<br />

down the entire council<br />

because of what happened.<br />

“Work will cont<strong>in</strong>ue and<br />

we will be here everyday<br />

till 4pm. It is not possible<br />

for us to close down the<br />

council," she said.<br />

State chairman of Nigeria<br />

Labour Congress, NLC,<br />

Bosede Daramola,<br />

accompanied by the Jo<strong>in</strong>t<br />

Negotiat<strong>in</strong>g Council<br />

chairman, Opeyemi<br />

Oloniyo, and president of<br />

the Nigeria Union of Local<br />

Government Employees,<br />

NU<strong>LG</strong>E, <strong>in</strong> the state,<br />

Bunmi Eniayewu, rushed<br />

to the council to witness the<br />

<strong>in</strong>cident.<br />

<strong>Workers</strong> safety first<br />

— NLC<br />

Speak<strong>in</strong>g with newsmen,<br />

NLC state chairman,<br />

Daramola, said workers<br />

would return to the council,<br />

only if their lives were<br />

guaranteed.<br />

Daramola expressed fears<br />

that the <strong>herdsmen</strong> might<br />

return because the farm that<br />

w<strong>as</strong> dev<strong>as</strong>tated w<strong>as</strong> on a<br />

swampy terra<strong>in</strong>.<br />

She said: “<strong>Workers</strong> will<br />

not leave their work place<br />

and s<strong>in</strong>ce that place is at<br />

the bank of a river, the<br />

<strong>herdsmen</strong> will always come<br />

back with their cattle.<br />

“The workers are<br />

work<strong>in</strong>g, discharg<strong>in</strong>g their<br />

duties, and we don't want<br />

to lose any of our workers.<br />

The <strong>herdsmen</strong> need to be<br />

cautioned and checkmated<br />

to avoid a reccurrence.”<br />

The Police Commissioner,<br />

Adeyanju, said normalcy<br />

had returned to the<br />

troubled area, add<strong>in</strong>g,<br />

however, that no arrest had<br />

been made by detectives<br />

deployed to ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong> peace<br />

after the break down of law<br />

and order <strong>in</strong> the council.<br />

At press time yesterday,<br />

only pockets of workers had<br />

returned to the council after<br />

the attack.<br />

Many of the workers<br />

stayed around the premises<br />

for fear of another attack by<br />

the <strong>herdsmen</strong> who,<br />

accord<strong>in</strong>g to some workers,<br />

promised to come back.<br />

Don’t allow people<br />

resort to self help, Deji<br />

The Deji of Akureland,<br />

Oba Aladetoy<strong>in</strong>bo<br />

Ogunlade Aladelusi<br />

condemned the activities of<br />

the <strong>herdsmen</strong> who overran<br />

the council and equally<br />

destroyed the farm<br />

belong<strong>in</strong>g to the council.<br />

Oba Aladelusi said<br />

President Buhari should<br />

call the <strong>herdsmen</strong> to order<br />

“to avoid self defence by<br />

our people once we are left<br />

with no option.”<br />

A statement by his Chief<br />

Press Secretary, Michael<br />

Adeyeye <strong>in</strong> Akure said<br />

“Oba Aladetoy<strong>in</strong>bo<br />

wondered why the<br />

<strong>herdsmen</strong> would have<br />

chosen to lead their cattle<br />

to graze on the farmland<br />

belong<strong>in</strong>g to the council if<br />

Cont<strong>in</strong>ues on Page 41<br />

Lekki toll <strong>in</strong>crement (2)<br />

By Bose Adelaja,<br />

Bartholomew Madukwe &<br />

Frederick Okopie<br />

This hike <strong>in</strong> fares is really<br />

unnecessary at<br />

this time because it will<br />

make th<strong>in</strong>gs very difficult<br />

for the common man.<br />

Prices of foodstuffs <strong>in</strong><br />

that area will <strong>in</strong>cre<strong>as</strong>e<br />

because marketers will<br />

add the cost of transport<strong>in</strong>g<br />

the products. Those<br />

that <strong>in</strong>cre<strong>as</strong>ed the fare,<br />

did they consult with<br />

commuters, motorists<br />

and the m<strong>as</strong>ses?<br />

Ms Idowu Omolara,<br />

Employed<br />

Those people that<br />

th<strong>in</strong>k that this APC<br />

government <strong>in</strong> Lagos<br />

State will reverse the<br />

fares, noth<strong>in</strong>g will happen.<br />

They are just wicked<br />

people. Lekki Concession<br />

Company (LCC)<br />

is owned by their lord,<br />

Jagaban and noth<strong>in</strong>g<br />

Governor Ak<strong>in</strong>wunmi<br />

Ambode can do about the<br />

<strong>in</strong>crement. Mr Moses<br />

Ogar, Student<br />

We were actually<br />

th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g they were<br />

go<strong>in</strong>g to reduce the fares<br />

if they cannot close the<br />

gates, but to <strong>in</strong>cre<strong>as</strong>e the<br />

toll fare is direct <strong>in</strong>tentional<br />

<strong>in</strong>vitation to chaos.<br />

T<strong>in</strong>ubu started that<br />

road <strong>in</strong> 2006 and we are<br />

<strong>in</strong> 2018 and they have<br />

succeeded <strong>in</strong> construct<strong>in</strong>g<br />

only 15 kilometres<br />

out of 42 kilometres. Us<strong>in</strong>g<br />

over 12 years to construct<br />

15 kilometres.<br />

Mr. Koledoye Oluwambe,<br />

Teacher<br />

It is sad that people<br />

com<strong>in</strong>g from Epe and<br />

Ibeju are also expected<br />

to suffer this <strong>in</strong>justice.<br />

Why not <strong>in</strong>troduce Toll<br />

Plaza on the well constructed<br />

and completed<br />

Ikorodu Road? Are Ikorodu<br />

people and Lekki-<br />

Epe people not <strong>in</strong> the<br />

same Lagos? This tragic<br />

decision must be reversed.<br />

Miss Bless<strong>in</strong>g Belonwu,<br />

Vice-President, Rotaract<br />

This shows the lack of<br />

comp<strong>as</strong>sion for people<br />

<strong>in</strong> Lagos State Government.<br />

Even when the<br />

loan payment w<strong>as</strong> ongo<strong>in</strong>g,<br />

the price w<strong>as</strong> stable.<br />

Thank God Babatunde<br />

Raji F<strong>as</strong>hola paid off the<br />

loan, else it would have<br />

been a 400% <strong>in</strong>cre<strong>as</strong>e. It<br />

is bad that after pay<strong>in</strong>g<br />

so much tax to government,<br />

you will still pay<br />

more <strong>in</strong>direct taxes on<br />

tolled roads.<br />

Mr Sona Chukwu,<br />

Reporter<br />

The Lekki Toll Gate <strong>in</strong>crement<br />

is really not<br />

fair on the residents. Everybody<br />

knows that<br />

th<strong>in</strong>gs are difficult <strong>in</strong> the<br />

country now, so why<br />

should they add to people’s<br />

suffer<strong>in</strong>g? If you<br />

p<strong>as</strong>s there like 15 times<br />

<strong>in</strong> a day, <strong>as</strong> a commercial<br />

bus, you will pay<br />

N100 <strong>as</strong> aga<strong>in</strong>st N80. At<br />

the end, it is the p<strong>as</strong>sengers<br />

that bear it.<br />

Ms Elizabeth Samuel,<br />

Worker


6—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2018<br />

3 men stab<br />

CDA<br />

executives,<br />

security<br />

guard<br />

By Onozure Dania<br />

LAGOS—THREE men,<br />

who allegedly<br />

<strong>as</strong>saulted the executives<br />

of Aso Rock Community<br />

Development Association,<br />

CDA, and their security<br />

guard by stabb<strong>in</strong>g them<br />

with broken bottles and<br />

<strong>in</strong>flict<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>juries on their<br />

bodies, have been<br />

arraigned before an<br />

Ejigbo Chief Magistrate’s<br />

Court <strong>in</strong> Lagos.<br />

The defendants are Oni<br />

Ayotunde 34; Osemedua<br />

Emmanuel, 32, and Pr<strong>in</strong>ce<br />

Ifeanyi Osemedua 35.<br />

They are fac<strong>in</strong>g a fivecount<br />

charge border<strong>in</strong>g on<br />

conspiracy, <strong>as</strong>sault, breach<br />

of peace and steal<strong>in</strong>g<br />

preferred aga<strong>in</strong>st them by<br />

the Police.<br />

The prosecutor, Simon<br />

Peter, told the court that the<br />

defendants and five others,<br />

who are still at large,<br />

committed the offences on<br />

January 27, at about 7p.m.<br />

at Aso Rock Street Gate,<br />

Bucknor, Ejigbo.<br />

He said the trio<br />

unlawfully <strong>as</strong>saulted the<br />

security man, Jubril<br />

Mohammed, by stabb<strong>in</strong>g<br />

him with a broken bottle,<br />

thereby <strong>in</strong>jur<strong>in</strong>g his f<strong>in</strong>ger.<br />

The prosecutor also<br />

alleged that Ayotunde,<br />

Emmanuel and Osemedua<br />

also unlawfully <strong>as</strong>saulted<br />

the <strong>as</strong>sociation’s Chairman,<br />

Mr. Declan Umeokoro, by<br />

stabb<strong>in</strong>g him with a broken<br />

bottle <strong>as</strong> he tried to rescue<br />

Mohammed.<br />

He further told the court<br />

that the defendants stole<br />

N1.8 million belong<strong>in</strong>g to<br />

Aso Rock Community.<br />

The offences are punishable<br />

under Sections 57, 173,<br />

411 and 280 of the<br />

Crim<strong>in</strong>al Laws of Lagos<br />

State, 2015.<br />

He said: “The<br />

community is afraid that<br />

there could be further<br />

attacks on the residents <strong>as</strong><br />

some of the suspects are<br />

at large.”<br />

However, the<br />

defendants pleaded not<br />

guilty to the charges when<br />

they were arraigned.<br />

Consequently<br />

Magistrate, I. K. Layemi,<br />

granted the defendants<br />

bail <strong>in</strong> the sum of<br />

N300,000 each with two<br />

sureties each, who must<br />

present evidence of tax<br />

clearance and whose<br />

addresses must be<br />

verified.<br />

The c<strong>as</strong>e w<strong>as</strong> adjourned<br />

till March 14 for trial.<br />

:Vanguard News :@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058<br />

22 students, teacher die <strong>in</strong> Kano auto cr<strong>as</strong>h<br />

By AbdulSalam<br />

Muhammad<br />

KANO—A teacher and 22<br />

students from Misau Local<br />

Government Area of Bauchi<br />

State on an excursion died,<br />

yesterday, <strong>in</strong> an auto cr<strong>as</strong>h at<br />

Gaya, 65 kilometres south of<br />

Kano.<br />

An eyewitness disclosed that<br />

the 18-seater bus convey<strong>in</strong>g the<br />

students and some staff on<br />

excursion to a radio station <strong>in</strong><br />

Kano at about 11a.m., had a<br />

head-on collision with an<br />

articulated vehicle carry<strong>in</strong>g<br />

tomatoes.<br />

The witness expla<strong>in</strong>ed that<br />

both vehicles were try<strong>in</strong>g to<br />

avoid a pothole at Samia Uku<br />

village, by Dudduru Forest,<br />

near Maitama Sule College.<br />

He said both vehicles were<br />

on top speed, add<strong>in</strong>g “we<br />

counted 23 dead bodies and<br />

several others that escaped<br />

with <strong>in</strong>jury were taken to Gaya<br />

Hospital.”<br />

Confirm<strong>in</strong>g the <strong>in</strong>cident, the<br />

Police Public Relations Officer,<br />

Kano Police Command, Deputy<br />

Super<strong>in</strong>tendent Musa Majia<br />

said “22 people died <strong>in</strong> the<br />

accident.”<br />

By Davies Iheamnachor<br />

PORT<br />

HARCOURT—<br />

LIBYAN returnees<br />

stranded at the reception centre<br />

of Port Harcourt International<br />

Airport, Omuagwa, Rivers<br />

State, staged a peaceful protest<br />

over the delay by their various<br />

state governments to evacuate<br />

them.<br />

This came <strong>as</strong> the fifth batch<br />

of the returnees, 136 <strong>in</strong><br />

number, arrived the airport<br />

yesterday at 1:10a.m.<br />

It w<strong>as</strong> learned that poor<br />

welfare at the camp had<br />

sparked the protest that almost<br />

caused panic, but for the swift<br />

<strong>in</strong>tervention of security<br />

personnel deployed <strong>in</strong> the<br />

evacuation operation.<br />

However, the Federal<br />

Government says its team sent<br />

to Libya to retrieve Nigerians<br />

<strong>in</strong> different parts of the North<br />

African country, are work<strong>in</strong>g<br />

By Bartholomew<br />

Madukwe<br />

LAGOS—AN Ikeja High<br />

Court, yesterday,<br />

sentenced one Katungi Phillips<br />

to death for stabb<strong>in</strong>g his wife,<br />

Just<strong>in</strong>a James, to death for<br />

allegedly <strong>in</strong>fect<strong>in</strong>g him with the<br />

Human Immunodeficiency<br />

Virus, HIV.<br />

In her judgment, the trial<br />

judge, Justice Raliatu Adebiyi,<br />

held that the prosecution w<strong>as</strong><br />

Rema<strong>in</strong>s of the school bus.<br />

Libyan returnees protest <strong>in</strong> PH<br />

Airport over delay <strong>in</strong> evacuation<br />

tirelessly to free all victims.<br />

Earlier <strong>in</strong> the week, some of<br />

the returnees, who are yet to<br />

be picked by their states'<br />

officials, staged a protest.<br />

Vanguard gathered that the<br />

fourth batch of the returnees,<br />

ma<strong>in</strong>ly from the South-West<br />

states, that are yet to be<br />

received by their state<br />

governments, allegedly staged<br />

able to prove by cogent<br />

circumstantial evidence that the<br />

defendant <strong>in</strong>tended to kill the<br />

dece<strong>as</strong>ed and found him guilty<br />

of murder.<br />

Justice Adebiyi ruled: “I,<br />

hereby, f<strong>in</strong>d the defendant<br />

guilty of the murder of Just<strong>in</strong>a<br />

James.<br />

“In view of the mandatory<br />

sentence for murder <strong>in</strong> Section<br />

221 of the Crim<strong>in</strong>al Laws of<br />

Lagos State, 2011, the<br />

defendant, Katungi Phillips, is<br />

the protest.<br />

Meanwhile, National<br />

Emergency management<br />

Agency, NEMA, said the<br />

maximum time given to<br />

states to evacuate their<br />

returnees w<strong>as</strong> 48 hours, but<br />

regretted some states had<br />

flouted the order.<br />

Speak<strong>in</strong>g while receiv<strong>in</strong>g<br />

the fifth batch of returnees,<br />

Gunmen kidnap PDP chiefta<strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong> Kaduna<br />

FIVE<br />

heavily-armed<br />

gunmen have reportedly<br />

kidnapped a chiefta<strong>in</strong> of<br />

Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,<br />

Musa Saya-Saya <strong>in</strong> Kaduna<br />

State, yesterday.<br />

The gunmen reportedly<br />

stormed his residence at Saya-<br />

Saya village <strong>in</strong> Ikara Local<br />

Government Area of the state<br />

around 10a.m.<br />

Musa Saya-Saya, a former<br />

state tre<strong>as</strong>urer of PDP <strong>in</strong><br />

Kaduna, accord<strong>in</strong>g to the<br />

son, Aliyu Musa, w<strong>as</strong><br />

abducted by the gunmen who<br />

<strong>in</strong>vaded the house <strong>in</strong> two<br />

vehicles.<br />

Contacted, the police<br />

spokesperson <strong>in</strong> Kaduna<br />

State, Mr. Mukhtari Aliyu,<br />

said while the Police were yet<br />

to confirm the motive beh<strong>in</strong>d<br />

the kidnapp<strong>in</strong>g, the anticrime<br />

team <strong>in</strong> the state had<br />

been activated to rescue the<br />

hereby sentenced to death.<br />

May the Lord have mercy on<br />

his soul.”<br />

Accord<strong>in</strong>g to the judge, the<br />

multiple stab wounds <strong>in</strong>flicted<br />

on Just<strong>in</strong>a by Phillips were<br />

excessive <strong>in</strong> comparison to<br />

the s<strong>in</strong>gle stab wound the<br />

convict susta<strong>in</strong>ed.<br />

Prosecution<br />

The prosecution, led by Mrs<br />

O. R. Ahmed-Muili, told the<br />

court that the convict<br />

the Zonal Coord<strong>in</strong>ator, NEMA,<br />

South-South region, Mr.<br />

Mart<strong>in</strong>s Ejike, confirmed that<br />

there w<strong>as</strong> a demonstration <strong>in</strong> the<br />

camp, not<strong>in</strong>g that it w<strong>as</strong> related<br />

to welfare.<br />

He disclosed that the<br />

protesters were not happy that<br />

they are still <strong>in</strong> camp while their<br />

co-returnees had been picked<br />

by their state governments.<br />

politician.<br />

The Police spokesman said:<br />

“Immediately we got the report,<br />

the Commissioner of Police<br />

activated and <strong>in</strong>structed the<br />

anti-crime squad to take all<br />

necessary me<strong>as</strong>ures to rescue<br />

the victim.”<br />

Meanwhile, at press time<br />

yesterday, a close <strong>as</strong>sociate of<br />

the politician disclosed that no<br />

contact had been made with the<br />

abductors.<br />

Man sentenced to death for kill<strong>in</strong>g wife that <strong>in</strong>fected him with HIV<br />

committed the offence at<br />

3.21a.m. on July 26, 2014, at his<br />

Pako House, Oniru, Lagos,<br />

residence.<br />

Ahmed-Muili said the convict,<br />

who had been married to<br />

Just<strong>in</strong>a for two years, stabbed<br />

her body with a kitchen knife<br />

after discover<strong>in</strong>g that she had<br />

allegedly <strong>in</strong>fected him with<br />

HIV.<br />

She added: “After discover<strong>in</strong>g<br />

that she had allegedly <strong>in</strong>fected<br />

him with the virus, the dece<strong>as</strong>ed


Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2018—7<br />

:Vanguard News :@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058<br />

Police kill community leader over l<strong>as</strong>t<br />

year's miss<strong>in</strong>g cow<br />

•They attempted to burn down<br />

By Ike Uchechukwu<br />

CALABAR—THERE w<strong>as</strong><br />

pandemonium <strong>in</strong> Itigidi,<br />

headquarters of Abi Local<br />

Government Area of Cross River<br />

State, follow<strong>in</strong>g the alleged<br />

murder of a community leader and<br />

mortician, Mr. Isong Nkanu aka<br />

Isong No Joke, by the Police.<br />

Vanguard gathered that trouble<br />

started when some village chiefs<br />

and the youth leader were <strong>in</strong>vited<br />

by the Police and later deta<strong>in</strong>ed<br />

over an issue that started sometime<br />

<strong>in</strong> October 2017, when some<br />

<strong>herdsmen</strong> allegedly reported that<br />

one of their cows w<strong>as</strong> killed by<br />

unknown persons <strong>in</strong> the<br />

community.<br />

It w<strong>as</strong> gathered that their<br />

detention irked the community<br />

youths, who went on protest<br />

dur<strong>in</strong>g which one of them w<strong>as</strong> shot<br />

dead by the Police.<br />

A community leader, who<br />

pleaded anonymity, told<br />

•... another remanded <strong>in</strong> prison for beat<strong>in</strong>g wife to death<br />

threatened to leave him for<br />

another man.<br />

“He stabbed his wife with a<br />

kitchen knife dur<strong>in</strong>g the<br />

ensu<strong>in</strong>g argument and he also<br />

attempted to kill himself by<br />

stabb<strong>in</strong>g himself <strong>in</strong> the abdomen<br />

with the knife.”<br />

The convict had claimed that<br />

his action w<strong>as</strong> due to<br />

provocation, but the judge<br />

rejected his defence.<br />

Bricklayer beats wife dead<br />

Meanwhile, an Ebute Meta<br />

Vanguard that they thought the<br />

matter had been taken care of, but<br />

were surprised that the Itigidi Police<br />

Division <strong>in</strong>vited their chiefs,<br />

<strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g the youth leader.<br />

The source said: “When the chiefs<br />

and our youth leader were <strong>in</strong>vited,<br />

they honoured the <strong>in</strong>vitation <strong>as</strong><br />

law-abid<strong>in</strong>g citizens, but were<br />

deta<strong>in</strong>ed and this <strong>in</strong>furiated the<br />

entire community, which led to a<br />

protest.<br />

“The youths went on a protest<br />

without any weapon or arms; they<br />

went to register their grievances<br />

over the arrests.<br />

“It shows they have respect for<br />

authority and law; it w<strong>as</strong> dur<strong>in</strong>g<br />

the demonstration that Isong, one<br />

of the community leaders, w<strong>as</strong> shot<br />

dead by Police.”<br />

‘It's politics’<br />

The community leader cont<strong>in</strong>ued:<br />

“To be honest with you, the matter<br />

w<strong>as</strong> politicised because if not we<br />

see no re<strong>as</strong>on why a matter about<br />

The fifth batch of 136 Libya returnees disembark<strong>in</strong>g from the<br />

plane at Port Harcourt International Airport, yesterday. PHOTOS:<br />

Nwankpa Chijioke.<br />

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri<br />

ABUJA—A<br />

22-year-old<br />

commander of the Boko<br />

Haram sect, Abba Umar, who w<strong>as</strong>,<br />

yesterday, sentenced to 60 years<br />

imprisonment by a Federal High<br />

Court sitt<strong>in</strong>g at Wawa Military<br />

Magistrate’s Court <strong>in</strong> Lagos, also<br />

yesterday, ordered the remand of<br />

a bricklayer, Ak<strong>in</strong>yemi Edgar, <strong>in</strong><br />

Ikoyi Prisons for allegedly<br />

beat<strong>in</strong>g his wife to death.<br />

The 32-year-old accused is to<br />

rema<strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong> custody, pend<strong>in</strong>g<br />

receipt of legal advice from the<br />

state Director of Public<br />

Prosecutions.<br />

The plea of the accused w<strong>as</strong> not<br />

taken by the court.<br />

The prosecutor, Sergeant<br />

Keh<strong>in</strong>de Olatunde, told the court<br />

that the accused committed the<br />

the station—Police<br />

a cow that w<strong>as</strong> shot dead <strong>in</strong> October<br />

2017 will suddenly come<br />

up now.<br />

“They are claim<strong>in</strong>g that<br />

<strong>herdsmen</strong> reported the matter.<br />

Those herders are not even<br />

domiciled <strong>in</strong> this area; it is<br />

because the Divisional Police<br />

Officer is of northern extraction.<br />

“We neither attacked any<br />

policeman nor burnt any part<br />

of the police station. The<br />

build<strong>in</strong>g that houses the police<br />

station is a rented apartment<br />

belong<strong>in</strong>g to an Itigidi man.<br />

“So there is no way the place<br />

could have been burnt down <strong>as</strong><br />

it is be<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>s<strong>in</strong>uated by<br />

mischief makers.”<br />

The source also expla<strong>in</strong>ed that<br />

the chiefs and the youth leader<br />

were later rele<strong>as</strong>ed at about 12<br />

midnight on Monday, when<br />

tension became too high.<br />

Police story<br />

Contacted, the Police Public<br />

I’ll hurry back to Sambisa Forest if ever rele<strong>as</strong>ed<br />

—22-yr-old Boko Haram commander jailed 60 years<br />

Cantonment, Ka<strong>in</strong>ji, Niger State,<br />

said he will rush back to Sambisa<br />

Forest to cont<strong>in</strong>ue with terrorism if<br />

rele<strong>as</strong>ed.<br />

The court found Umar, who w<strong>as</strong><br />

among a second batch of over 1,000<br />

Boko Haram suspects be<strong>in</strong>g<br />

prosecuted by the Federal<br />

Government at Ka<strong>in</strong>ji, complicit<br />

<strong>in</strong> various acts of terrorism.<br />

He had been <strong>in</strong> detention<br />

s<strong>in</strong>ce 2014 after a failed suicide<br />

mission to bomb a school <strong>in</strong><br />

Gombe State.<br />

Umar, who w<strong>as</strong> 18 years old<br />

when he w<strong>as</strong> arrested, did not<br />

offence on December 13, 2017,<br />

at Agemowo <strong>in</strong> Badagry,<br />

Lagos.<br />

Olatunde alleged that the<br />

accused, and another person<br />

now at large, conspired to beat<br />

Adejoke Kalejaiye to death<br />

before dump<strong>in</strong>g her corpse <strong>in</strong><br />

a shallow grave beside a well.<br />

Accord<strong>in</strong>g to the prosecutor,<br />

the offence contravened<br />

Sections 223 and 233 of the<br />

Crim<strong>in</strong>al Laws of Lagos State,<br />

2015; the c<strong>as</strong>e w<strong>as</strong> adjourned<br />

till March 22.<br />

Relations Officer, ASP Irene<br />

Ugbo, said some <strong>herdsmen</strong> had<br />

compla<strong>in</strong>ed some months ago<br />

that <strong>in</strong>digenes of the Itigidi<br />

community killed their cows.<br />

Her words: “The youths got<br />

wrong <strong>in</strong>formation; they<br />

thought the Police at Ugep had<br />

taken their chief and youth<br />

leader to Calabar, not<br />

know<strong>in</strong>g they were only<br />

<strong>in</strong>vited for a peace talk and<br />

for the matter to be resolved<br />

amicably.<br />

“On that strength, we <strong>in</strong>vited<br />

the community leader to make<br />

peace. Unfortunately, the<br />

youths <strong>in</strong> the community read<br />

a different mean<strong>in</strong>g to the<br />

<strong>in</strong>vitation of their community<br />

leaders.<br />

“They became restive and<br />

threatened to burn down Itigidi<br />

Police Station. There w<strong>as</strong><br />

<strong>in</strong>tervention by the Police<br />

and, <strong>in</strong> the process, one<br />

person died.”<br />

exhibit any sign of remorse <strong>as</strong><br />

the court p<strong>as</strong>sed sentence.<br />

Speak<strong>in</strong>g through an Hausa<br />

<strong>in</strong>terpreter, the convicted Boko<br />

Haram k<strong>in</strong>gp<strong>in</strong> said he will<br />

hurriedly return to Sambisa<br />

Forest to cont<strong>in</strong>ue with his acts<br />

of terrorism if he w<strong>as</strong> ever<br />

rele<strong>as</strong>ed from detention.<br />

He confirmed that the 17<br />

pictures the prosecution<br />

tendered, which showed him,<br />

the car and Improvised<br />

Explosive Devices, IEDs, meant<br />

for the botched suicide<br />

operation, were authentic.<br />

He told the court that be<strong>in</strong>g a<br />

commander <strong>in</strong> the Boko Haram<br />

sect, he had over 100<br />

lieutenants under him.<br />

Umar equally told the court<br />

that he married two wives <strong>in</strong><br />

Sambisa Forest, describ<strong>in</strong>g<br />

himself <strong>as</strong> “an Islamist warrior,<br />

and a commander <strong>in</strong> the<br />

Islamist army.”<br />

Benue kill<strong>in</strong>gs:<br />

Police arrests<br />

mole, recover<br />

AK-47 rifle<br />

By Peter Duru<br />

M AKURDI—ONE<br />

suspected mole h<strong>as</strong><br />

been arrested by<br />

operatives of Benue State<br />

Police Command at<br />

Ayilamo, Logo Local<br />

Government Area of the<br />

state over attack on Police<br />

personnel that led to the<br />

kill<strong>in</strong>g of an officer.<br />

Parad<strong>in</strong>g the suspect<br />

alongside five other<br />

suspects <strong>in</strong> Makurdi<br />

yesterday, the state’s<br />

Commissioner of Police,<br />

Fatai Owoseni, said one<br />

of the attackers w<strong>as</strong> also<br />

killed <strong>in</strong> the operation.<br />

Owoseni said: “After the<br />

attack at Azege <strong>in</strong><br />

Ayilamo, where one of our<br />

personnel w<strong>as</strong> found<br />

brutally slaughtered with<br />

his two eyes, ears and<br />

nose removed and<br />

another miss<strong>in</strong>g, we<br />

embarked on recovery<br />

and rescue operation and<br />

restoration of security <strong>in</strong><br />

the area.<br />

“In the course of the<br />

operation, the attackers<br />

engaged the Police <strong>in</strong> a<br />

shootout; one of the<br />

attackers died <strong>in</strong> that<br />

operation and the AK-47<br />

rifle with which they have<br />

been attack<strong>in</strong>g the Police<br />

w<strong>as</strong> recovered, while one<br />

other suspect w<strong>as</strong><br />

arrested.<br />

“Our prelim<strong>in</strong>ary<br />

<strong>in</strong>vestigation from the<br />

person that w<strong>as</strong> arrested<br />

goes to affirm what we<br />

have been say<strong>in</strong>g that if<br />

the wall is not cracked a<br />

lizard will not f<strong>in</strong>d an<br />

entry.<br />

“What we are gett<strong>in</strong>g<br />

from the suspect, he is a<br />

resident of that<br />

community, who at one<br />

time or the other had<br />

been sell<strong>in</strong>g out<br />

operations of security<br />

agencies to militants and<br />

the security agencies.<br />

“The <strong>in</strong>vestigation is still<br />

ongo<strong>in</strong>g and we have got<br />

words from him that is of<br />

evidential value.<br />

“As we round up our<br />

<strong>in</strong>vestigation, we hope that<br />

it will lead us to more<br />

arrests and he will be<br />

properly arraigned with<br />

other suspects that we<br />

might arrest <strong>in</strong> the course<br />

of this operation.<br />

“We still want to appeal<br />

to the people of the state,<br />

that we cannot overcome all<br />

these challenges without<br />

the cooperation of the<br />

people, who should avail<br />

us credible <strong>in</strong>formation and<br />

also identify moles with<strong>in</strong><br />

the communities that br<strong>in</strong>g<br />

<strong>in</strong> the crim<strong>in</strong>al elements.”


8—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2018<br />

:Vanguard News :@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058<br />

Boko Haram membership th<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g<br />

out — Buhari<br />

•How FG’ll completely dismantle<br />

A BUJA—PRESIDENT<br />

Muhammadu Buhari,<br />

yesterday, <strong>in</strong> Abuja said the<br />

era of Boko Haram terrorism<br />

w<strong>as</strong> gradually draw<strong>in</strong>g to<br />

end, with the narrow<strong>in</strong>g of the<br />

recruitment b<strong>as</strong>e of the<br />

<strong>in</strong>surgents, and renewed<br />

onslaught by Nigerian Army.<br />

The President spoke on a<br />

day his M<strong>in</strong>ister of<br />

Information and Culture,<br />

Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said<br />

the Federal Government w<strong>as</strong><br />

develop<strong>in</strong>g narratives and<br />

communication strategies to<br />

completely dismantle and<br />

neutralise Boko Haram<br />

violent ideology and<br />

messages.<br />

Receiv<strong>in</strong>g the Letter of<br />

Credence of Apostolic Nuncio<br />

of the Holy See to Nigeria,<br />

Antonio Filipazzi, at State<br />

House, President Buhari said<br />

the terrorist group had lost<br />

appeal <strong>in</strong> its <strong>in</strong>itial<br />

strongholds, necessitat<strong>in</strong>g a<br />

steady retreat that would<br />

eventually culm<strong>in</strong>ate <strong>in</strong><br />

end<strong>in</strong>g the <strong>in</strong>surgency.<br />

He said: “You can’t<br />

<strong>in</strong>doctr<strong>in</strong>ate people who are<br />

below the age of 14 years and<br />

blow up churches, mosques,<br />

markets and you keep<br />

shout<strong>in</strong>g God is great.<br />

“It is either you don’t know<br />

what you are say<strong>in</strong>g, or you<br />

simply don’t care or believe<br />

what you are say<strong>in</strong>g. It is part<br />

of our success story that Boko<br />

Haram is f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g it more<br />

difficult to recruit people.<br />

“The Nigerian Army is also<br />

not mak<strong>in</strong>g it e<strong>as</strong>y for them<br />

to grow, with more<br />

<strong>in</strong>telligence, orientation and<br />

regular, me<strong>as</strong>ured onslaught<br />

on their camps.’’<br />

The president said the<br />

ongo<strong>in</strong>g effort to dismember<br />

the terrorist group, and render<br />

it completely powerless<br />

would be <strong>in</strong>tensified.<br />

Buhari, who described the<br />

Catholic Church <strong>as</strong> a strong<br />

partner <strong>in</strong> the development<br />

of Nigeria, noted that the<br />

church had made very<br />

significant contributions to the<br />

development of the<br />

educational and health<br />

system of the country.<br />

In his remarks, Filipazzi<br />

said Pope Francis had taken<br />

a keen <strong>in</strong>terest <strong>in</strong> the fight<br />

aga<strong>in</strong>st terrorism, corruption<br />

and reviv<strong>in</strong>g of the Nigerian<br />

economy.<br />

“Mr. President, the Holy<br />

Father, sends his warm<br />

greet<strong>in</strong>gs and he is keen to<br />

denounce corruption<br />

everywhere,” he added.<br />

How FG’ll<br />

completely<br />

dismantle Boko<br />

Haram — M<strong>in</strong>ister<br />

Meanwhile, speak<strong>in</strong>g at<br />

the public presentation of<br />

"Poicy Framework and<br />

National Action Plan for<br />

Prevent<strong>in</strong>g and Counter<strong>in</strong>g<br />

Violent Extremism," M<strong>in</strong>ister<br />

of Information and Culture,<br />

Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said<br />

the Federal Government w<strong>as</strong><br />

develop<strong>in</strong>g narratives and<br />

communication strategies to<br />

completely dismantle and<br />

neutralise the Boko Haram<br />

violent ideology and<br />

messages.<br />

The m<strong>in</strong>ister said although<br />

the terrorists had been<br />

defeated and now on the run,<br />

Boko Haram — M<strong>in</strong>ister<br />

the challenge of counter<strong>in</strong>g<br />

their violent ideology<br />

rema<strong>in</strong>ed.<br />

“We are committed to<br />

develop<strong>in</strong>g narratives and<br />

communication strategies that<br />

will completely dismantle<br />

and neutralise the Boko<br />

Haram ideology and<br />

messages.<br />

“Thanks to the leadership<br />

and political will<br />

demonstrated by President<br />

Muhammadu Buhari, which<br />

h<strong>as</strong> served <strong>as</strong> a morale<br />

booster for our gallant men<br />

and women <strong>in</strong> uniform, Boko<br />

Haram h<strong>as</strong> been decimated<br />

and put on the run by our<br />

gallant military."<br />

PRIZE PRESENTATION: From left, Executive Director, Retail<br />

Bank<strong>in</strong>g, First City Monument Bank, FCMB, Mr. Olu Akanmu;<br />

Country Manager, Nigeria & West Africa of Virg<strong>in</strong> Atlantic Airl<strong>in</strong>e,<br />

Mr. Samuel L<strong>in</strong>dfield; a w<strong>in</strong>ner of the FCMB & Virg<strong>in</strong> Atlantic Staff<br />

Reward Scheme, Mr. Oritsesola Megbele; Manag<strong>in</strong>g Director of<br />

FCMB, Mr. Adam Nuru and Head of Sales, Virg<strong>in</strong> Atlantic Airl<strong>in</strong>e<br />

<strong>in</strong> Nigeria, Mrs. Omolola Kufile, dur<strong>in</strong>g the prize presentation<br />

ceremony to the w<strong>in</strong>ners, <strong>in</strong> Lagos.<br />

Patience Jonathan wants<br />

out-of-court settlement with EFCC<br />

FORMER First Lady,<br />

Mrs Patience Jonathan,<br />

appears to be tired of<br />

fight<strong>in</strong>g Economic and<br />

F<strong>in</strong>ancial Crimes<br />

Commission, EFCC, <strong>in</strong><br />

court and h<strong>as</strong> <strong>as</strong>ked for an<br />

out-of-court settlement.<br />

In a January 30, 2018<br />

letter, entitled, “Proposal<br />

for out-of-court settlement<br />

of all c<strong>as</strong>es related to Dame<br />

(Mrs.) Ibifaka Patience<br />

Jonathan,” Mrs. Jonathan<br />

told the EFCC of her<br />

<strong>in</strong>tention to settle the<br />

matter, the News Agency of<br />

Nigeria reported yesterday.<br />

The letter, which w<strong>as</strong><br />

written by her counsel,<br />

Ifedayo Adedipe, is be<strong>in</strong>g<br />

considered by the EFCC.<br />

The letter said: “As senior<br />

counsel, represent<strong>in</strong>g<br />

Dame (Mrs.) Patience<br />

Jonathan (former First<br />

Lady) and companies<br />

l<strong>in</strong>ked to her and some<br />

family members, <strong>as</strong>sociates,<br />

companies and NGOs, we<br />

have thought it fit to<br />

engage your commission<br />

<strong>in</strong> a discussion over all<br />

issues <strong>in</strong>volv<strong>in</strong>g her and<br />

the commission with a view<br />

to hav<strong>in</strong>g amicable<br />

resolution of all c<strong>as</strong>es <strong>as</strong><br />

stated above.<br />

“This will enable both<br />

sides create an atmosphere<br />

for mutual understand<strong>in</strong>g<br />

and peaceful coexistence.<br />

We will, therefore,<br />

appreciate it, if you can<br />

give us an appo<strong>in</strong>tment at<br />

your earliest convenience to<br />

have a discussion over all<br />

matters <strong>in</strong>volv<strong>in</strong>g her and<br />

members of her family.<br />

“We believe that an<br />

amicable settlement will be<br />

<strong>in</strong> the best <strong>in</strong>terest of both<br />

your commission and our<br />

client.<br />

“We <strong>as</strong>sure you of our<br />

utmost commitment and<br />

s<strong>in</strong>cerity of purpose <strong>in</strong> this<br />

connection, and we solicit<br />

your cooperation <strong>in</strong> this<br />

regard. Ple<strong>as</strong>e, accept the<br />

<strong>as</strong>surances of our warm<br />

regards.”<br />

The news agency, NAN,<br />

said the letter came <strong>as</strong><br />

EFCC stumbled on more<br />

startl<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>formation on<br />

how Mrs. Jonathan piled<br />

up dollar deposits <strong>in</strong> Skye<br />

and First banks, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g<br />

how she lavished part of the<br />

money.<br />

Alleged illegal appo<strong>in</strong>tments <strong>in</strong><br />

NNPC: Court hears suit aga<strong>in</strong>st<br />

Buhari, Baru, March 28<br />

By Ikechukwu<br />

Nnochiri<br />

A BUJA—ABUJA<br />

Division of the Federal<br />

High Court, yesterday, fixed<br />

March 28 to beg<strong>in</strong> hear<strong>in</strong>g<br />

on a suit accus<strong>in</strong>g President<br />

Muhammadu Buhari of<br />

approv<strong>in</strong>g illegal<br />

appo<strong>in</strong>tments <strong>in</strong> Nigerian<br />

National Petroleum<br />

Corporation, NNPC.<br />

The suit, which w<strong>as</strong> lodged<br />

before the court by a<br />

constitutional lawyer, Mr.<br />

Johnmary Jideobi, h<strong>as</strong> been<br />

<strong>as</strong>signed to Justice Ahmed<br />

Mohammed for hear<strong>in</strong>g.<br />

Aside President Buhari,<br />

other defendants <strong>in</strong> the suit<br />

marked FHC/ABJ/CS/990/<br />

2017 are Group Manag<strong>in</strong>g<br />

Director of NNPC, Dr.<br />

Maikanti Baru; NNPC, and<br />

its Board of Directors.<br />

The pla<strong>in</strong>tiff is pray<strong>in</strong>g the<br />

court to declare that it w<strong>as</strong><br />

unconstitutional for<br />

President Buhari to<br />

unilaterally approve<br />

appo<strong>in</strong>tments or any form of<br />

re-organisation <strong>in</strong> the<br />

Senate probes scarcity of lower<br />

denom<strong>in</strong>ation currency notes<br />

By Henry Umoru<br />

ABUJA— THE Senate<br />

h<strong>as</strong> begun a probe <strong>in</strong>to<br />

why banks <strong>in</strong> Nigeria no<br />

longer dispense lower<br />

naira denom<strong>in</strong>ations, with<br />

the excuse that they hardly<br />

receive them from the<br />

Central Bank of Nigeria,<br />

CBN.<br />

Consequently, the Senate<br />

warned that if the situation<br />

w<strong>as</strong> not remedied urgently,<br />

it might lead to total<br />

collapse of the economy.<br />

Aga<strong>in</strong>st this backdrop,<br />

the Senate mandated its<br />

Committee on Bank<strong>in</strong>g,<br />

Insurance and Other<br />

F<strong>in</strong>ancial Institutions, led<br />

by Senator Rafiu Adebayo<br />

Ibrahim (APC, Kwara<br />

South) to urgently carry out<br />

a holistic <strong>in</strong>vestigation <strong>in</strong>to<br />

the matter, with a view to<br />

proffer<strong>in</strong>g l<strong>as</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g solution<br />

on the matter and report<br />

back with<strong>in</strong> two weeks.<br />

Resolution of the Senate,<br />

yesterday, w<strong>as</strong> sequel to a<br />

motion by Senator Peter<br />

Nwaoboshi (PDP, Delta<br />

North), entitled “Scarcity of<br />

Lower Denom<strong>in</strong>ation<br />

Currency Notes.”<br />

Present<strong>in</strong>g the motion,<br />

Nwaoboshi said: “The<br />

Senate notes with serious<br />

concern, protracted scarcity<br />

of lower Naira<br />

denom<strong>in</strong>ations.<br />

“It is concerned that<br />

scarcity of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100<br />

and 200 naira notes poses<br />

a severe threat to the<br />

economy of the nation,<br />

which is just recover<strong>in</strong>g<br />

from recession, <strong>as</strong> it is<br />

worsen<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>flationary<br />

trends, with attendant<br />

consequences;<br />

“It notes that the nation’s<br />

currency is highly essential<br />

and critical <strong>in</strong> national<br />

development and if<br />

mismanaged, the economy<br />

is doomed with adverse<br />

effect on the people and the<br />

nation;<br />

“It is worried that banks<br />

<strong>in</strong> Nigeria no longer<br />

dispense lower naira<br />

denom<strong>in</strong>ations with the<br />

excuse that they hardly<br />

receive them from the<br />

Central Bank of Nigeria,<br />

CBN."<br />

NNPC without <strong>in</strong>put and<br />

consideration of its Board of<br />

Directors.<br />

Among other th<strong>in</strong>gs, the<br />

Abuja-b<strong>as</strong>ed legal<br />

practitioner <strong>as</strong>ked the court<br />

to determ<strong>in</strong>e, among other<br />

th<strong>in</strong>gs, “whether <strong>in</strong> view of<br />

section 2 subsection (1) of<br />

the Nigerian National<br />

Petroleum Corporation Act,<br />

Laws of the Federation of<br />

Nigeria, 2004, <strong>as</strong> amended,<br />

read alongside Section 5(1)<br />

(a) of the amended 1999<br />

Constitution of the Federal<br />

Republic of Nigeria, either<br />

of the 1st Defendant or the<br />

4th Defendant (Baru and<br />

Buhari), is entitled <strong>in</strong> law to<br />

unilaterally make or approve<br />

appo<strong>in</strong>tments <strong>in</strong>to any<br />

position with<strong>in</strong> the Nigerian<br />

National Petroleum<br />

Corporation (the 2nd<br />

Defendant here<strong>in</strong>) or any<br />

other form of reorganization<br />

<strong>in</strong> the 2nd Defendant,<br />

without the prior <strong>in</strong>put,<br />

consideration and approval<br />

of the Board of Directors of<br />

the Nigerian National<br />

Petroleum Corporation [the<br />

3rd Defendant here<strong>in</strong>)?"<br />

Boko Haram: Shekau on<br />

the run dressed <strong>as</strong><br />

woman —Army<br />

By Joseph<br />

Erunke<br />

A BUJA—THE<br />

Nigerian Army said,<br />

yesterday, that Abubakar<br />

Shekau, factional leader of<br />

Boko Haram terrorists group,<br />

h<strong>as</strong> fled the Sambisa forest,<br />

follow<strong>in</strong>g its troops’ <strong>in</strong>tense<br />

raid <strong>in</strong> the area to completely<br />

dislodge the terrorists.<br />

But the Army said the<br />

terrorists’ leader disguised <strong>as</strong><br />

a woman to <strong>flee</strong> the area.<br />

The troops of Operation<br />

Lafiya Dole, <strong>in</strong> statement<br />

relayed to the media through<br />

Army spokesman, Brigadier-<br />

General Sani Usman, said<br />

Shekau w<strong>as</strong> on the run,<br />

disguis<strong>in</strong>g <strong>as</strong> a woman <strong>in</strong><br />

different hijab attires.<br />

It said credible <strong>in</strong>formation<br />

from surrendered <strong>in</strong>surgents<br />

<strong>in</strong>dicated that the factional<br />

leader of the group could not<br />

susta<strong>in</strong> the tempo of the heat<br />

of the ongo<strong>in</strong>g counter<strong>in</strong>surgency<br />

go<strong>in</strong>g on <strong>in</strong> the<br />

forest.<br />

Usman added that the<br />

troops also rescued civilians<br />

be<strong>in</strong>g held hostages by the<br />

terrorists and recovered arms,<br />

ammunition, improvised<br />

explosives devices, IEDs,<br />

mak<strong>in</strong>g materials <strong>as</strong> well <strong>as</strong><br />

other equipment.<br />

The statement read: “The<br />

concerted efforts of troops of<br />

Operation Lafiya Dole on the<br />

ongo<strong>in</strong>g clearance of the<br />

Boko Haram terrorists<br />

through Operation Deep<br />

Punch II h<strong>as</strong> been yield<strong>in</strong>g<br />

tremendous results.<br />

“Credible <strong>in</strong>formation from<br />

arrested and surrendered<br />

<strong>in</strong>surgents <strong>in</strong>dicated that the<br />

purported Boko Haram<br />

terrorists group factional<br />

leader, Abubakar Shekau,<br />

could not bear the heat<br />

anymore <strong>as</strong> he h<strong>as</strong><br />

abandoned his followers, he<br />

is runn<strong>in</strong>g for his dear life.<br />

“He is desperately try<strong>in</strong>g<br />

to escape the theatre<br />

disguised <strong>as</strong> a woman<br />

dressed <strong>in</strong> Hijab. We<br />

reliably gathered that to<br />

avoid detection, Abubakar<br />

Shekau alternates between<br />

blue and black coloured<br />

hijabs".


Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2018—9<br />

:Vanguard News :@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058<br />

FG h<strong>as</strong> spent N1.2trn to support<br />

states —Os<strong>in</strong>bajo<br />

By Boluwaji<br />

Obahopo<br />

LOKOJA<br />

—Vice<br />

President Yemi<br />

Os<strong>in</strong>bajo, yesterday, said<br />

the Federal Government<br />

h<strong>as</strong> supported 36 states of<br />

the federation with N1.19<br />

trillion <strong>as</strong> at September<br />

2017.<br />

He also disclosed that the<br />

Federal Government had<br />

f<strong>in</strong>ally resolved all legal<br />

issues hold<strong>in</strong>g down<br />

Ajaokuta Iron and Steel<br />

Complex.<br />

Os<strong>in</strong>bajo said the funds<br />

were made available to<br />

enable state governments<br />

meet the challenges of<br />

shortage of funds for the<br />

execution of programmes<br />

<strong>in</strong> their respective states.<br />

The vice president, who<br />

stated this at the maiden<br />

Kogi State Economic and<br />

Investment Summit <strong>in</strong><br />

Lokoja, said the funds had<br />

enabled some state<br />

governments to embark on<br />

capital expenditures.<br />

Accord<strong>in</strong>g to him, the<br />

funds were made available<br />

through the excess crude<br />

account, Paris Club refund,<br />

loans, among others, to the<br />

states.<br />

He expla<strong>in</strong>ed that parts<br />

of the funds were the<br />

entitlements of the state<br />

that they legally had access<br />

to, while some of them were<br />

loans to be repaid.<br />

He noted that the present<br />

adm<strong>in</strong>istration had the<br />

highest capital<br />

expenditures <strong>in</strong> two years,<br />

add<strong>in</strong>g that these were<br />

evident <strong>in</strong> the ongo<strong>in</strong>g<br />

railway l<strong>in</strong>e construction,<br />

road constructions and<br />

hydro power projects,<br />

among others.<br />

He said the Kogi<br />

Economic Summit came at<br />

the right time that the<br />

country w<strong>as</strong> try<strong>in</strong>g to<br />

reduce its dependence on<br />

oil and <strong>in</strong>cre<strong>as</strong>e its non oil<br />

<strong>in</strong>come with the promotion<br />

of agriculture and the<br />

abundant solid m<strong>in</strong>eral<br />

resources across the<br />

country.<br />

On Ajaokuta steel<br />

complex, Os<strong>in</strong>bajo said the<br />

government also revived<br />

110 megawatt electricity<br />

be<strong>in</strong>g generated at the steel<br />

plant and connected to the<br />

national grid, add<strong>in</strong>g that<br />

the technical <strong>as</strong>pect to the<br />

steel complex w<strong>as</strong> already<br />

function<strong>in</strong>g.<br />

He also said the rail l<strong>in</strong>es<br />

lead<strong>in</strong>g to the steel<br />

complex would be<br />

constructed <strong>as</strong> works at<br />

Itape had also commenced.<br />

On the issue of dredg<strong>in</strong>g<br />

of River Niger, Os<strong>in</strong>bajo<br />

said it had been done and<br />

that it would <strong>as</strong>sist the steel<br />

company when it comes on<br />

stream.<br />

The state governor,<br />

Yahaya Bello, said the<br />

summit w<strong>as</strong> packaged to<br />

change the identity of the<br />

27 years old state from a<br />

civil service state to an<br />

<strong>in</strong>dustrialised one.<br />

He said his<br />

•Says FG h<strong>as</strong> resolved all legal<br />

issues hold<strong>in</strong>g down Ajaokuta steel<br />

adm<strong>in</strong>istration had <strong>in</strong> the<br />

l<strong>as</strong>t two years, prepared the<br />

ground for economic and<br />

<strong>in</strong>dustrial breakthroughs<br />

for the state by solv<strong>in</strong>g the<br />

problems that had been<br />

h<strong>in</strong>der<strong>in</strong>g economic<br />

growth <strong>in</strong> the state.<br />

Bello said the state w<strong>as</strong><br />

now safe for <strong>in</strong>vestors and<br />

<strong>in</strong>vestments, add<strong>in</strong>g that<br />

the problem of security had<br />

been tackled.<br />

PRESENTATION: From left, Mr. Grama Nar<strong>as</strong>imhan, Executive<br />

Director, Retail & Consumer Bank<strong>in</strong>g, Sterl<strong>in</strong>g Bank; Ms. Evelyn<br />

Nwaokolo, Emirates Holidays Nigeria; Mr. Ob<strong>in</strong>na Henry Ezeanyim,<br />

w<strong>in</strong>ner of International Holiday Trip to Dubai; Ms. Eniola Obe,<br />

Regional Bus<strong>in</strong>ess Executive and Mr. Henry B<strong>as</strong>sey, Chief<br />

Market<strong>in</strong>g Officer, both of Sterl<strong>in</strong>g Bank Plc, dur<strong>in</strong>g the Sterl<strong>in</strong>g<br />

Bank 1dament promo prize presentation to w<strong>in</strong>ners of International<br />

Vacation, <strong>in</strong> Lagos, yesterday.<br />

Benue kill<strong>in</strong>gs: Herdsmen agree<br />

to ce<strong>as</strong>e fire<br />

By Peter Duru<br />

M AKURDI—PEACE<br />

may f<strong>in</strong>ally return to<br />

Benue State <strong>as</strong> <strong>herdsmen</strong><br />

attack<strong>in</strong>g parts of the state<br />

have agreed to lay down their<br />

arms and abide by the<br />

provisions of the Benue<br />

Open Graz<strong>in</strong>g Prohibition<br />

Law.<br />

They, however, <strong>as</strong>ked for<br />

more time to help them<br />

adapt to the new policy <strong>as</strong><br />

well <strong>as</strong> resort to graz<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong><br />

the graz<strong>in</strong>g reserves already<br />

developed <strong>in</strong> the Northern<br />

parts of the country.<br />

This position w<strong>as</strong> reached<br />

at the end of the meet<strong>in</strong>g by<br />

the <strong>herdsmen</strong>, stakeholders<br />

and governors of Benue and<br />

N<strong>as</strong>arawa states with<br />

members of Technical Sub<br />

Committee of National<br />

Economic Council<br />

Committee mediat<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the<br />

<strong>herdsmen</strong> and farmers crisis<br />

<strong>in</strong> Benue, N<strong>as</strong>arawa,<br />

Adamawa and Taraba states,<br />

headed by Governor Dave<br />

Umahi of Ebonyi State.<br />

Address<strong>in</strong>g the<br />

media,yesterday, at the end<br />

of its <strong>as</strong>signment <strong>in</strong><br />

Makurdi, chairman of the<br />

committee, Governor Umahi<br />

said the team had successful<br />

meet<strong>in</strong>gs with all the parties<br />

<strong>in</strong> Benue and N<strong>as</strong>arawa<br />

states.<br />

Reel<strong>in</strong>g out the decisions<br />

reached at the end of the<br />

mediation talks, Governor<br />

Umahi said: “We observed<br />

•Accept Benue graz<strong>in</strong>g law,<br />

but <strong>as</strong>k for more time<br />

that all the parties are will<strong>in</strong>g<br />

to make peace and we are<br />

look<strong>in</strong>g at the conditions and<br />

suggestions of the various<br />

groups handed over to us <strong>as</strong><br />

the way forward to hav<strong>in</strong>g<br />

peace.<br />

“From discussions, it w<strong>as</strong><br />

agreed by the parties that<br />

Benue State h<strong>as</strong> the right to<br />

make laws and that<br />

<strong>in</strong>dividuals or group of<br />

people that are <strong>in</strong> the state<br />

have a duty to obey the law.<br />

“They also have a duty to<br />

meet with the authorities of<br />

the law to dialogue on any<br />

section of the law that they<br />

believe will not favour them.<br />

“We have agreed, from all<br />

parties to this unfortunate<br />

matter, that we will pursue<br />

peace, disarm any group that<br />

is harbour<strong>in</strong>g militia and<br />

support the security chiefs to<br />

arrest anyone found with<br />

illegal weapons.<br />

“The security people have<br />

also vowed that <strong>in</strong>l<strong>in</strong>e with<br />

the directive they have,<br />

anybody with illegal<br />

weapon must be arrested, no<br />

matter who the person is.<br />

“The cheer<strong>in</strong>g news is that<br />

the <strong>herdsmen</strong> <strong>in</strong> Benue and<br />

N<strong>as</strong>arawa states are will<strong>in</strong>g<br />

to abide by the Open<br />

Graz<strong>in</strong>g Prohibition Law of<br />

Benue State but they would<br />

need more time for ranch<strong>in</strong>g<br />

and support from the Federal<br />

Government to move <strong>in</strong>to<br />

graz<strong>in</strong>g reserves."<br />

OPL 245 ownership dispute: Abacha h<strong>as</strong> no c<strong>as</strong>e with us,<br />

EFCC tells court<br />

By Ikechukwu<br />

Nnochiri<br />

A<br />

B U J A —<br />

ECONOMIC<br />

and F<strong>in</strong>ancial Crimes<br />

Commission, EFCC,<br />

yesterday persuaded the<br />

Abuja Division of the<br />

Federal High Court to<br />

strike out its name from a<br />

suit the eldest son of late<br />

military head of state,<br />

Mohammed Abacha, filed<br />

to reclaim ownership of<br />

disputed Oil Prospect<strong>in</strong>g<br />

License, OPL, 245.<br />

EFCC, through its<br />

lawyer, Mr. J. A.<br />

Ojogbane, told the court<br />

that the suit, FHC/ABJ/CS/<br />

201/2017, did not disclose<br />

any cause of action aga<strong>in</strong>st<br />

it.<br />

The agency ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong>ed<br />

that it w<strong>as</strong> not <strong>in</strong> anyway<br />

l<strong>in</strong>ked with any of the<br />

reliefs the pla<strong>in</strong>tiff is<br />

seek<strong>in</strong>g from the court with<br />

respect to the controversial<br />

oil block.<br />

It, therefore, moved the<br />

court to uphold a<br />

prelim<strong>in</strong>ary objection it<br />

filed on May 18, 2017,<br />

<strong>as</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g to be de-listed <strong>as</strong><br />

one of the defendants <strong>in</strong><br />

OPL 245 ownership<br />

dispute.<br />

Follow<strong>in</strong>g a no-objection<br />

$44m NIA miss<strong>in</strong>g fund:<br />

K<strong>in</strong>gibe <strong>in</strong>timidates Reps<br />

<strong>in</strong>to closed-door session<br />

By Emman<br />

Ovuakporie<br />

ABUJA—MEMBERS of<br />

the House of<br />

Representatives Committee<br />

on Public Safety and National<br />

Intelligence were, yesterday,<br />

<strong>in</strong>timidated <strong>in</strong>to submission<br />

by chairman of Presidential<br />

Review Panel, PRP, on<br />

National Intelligence Agency,<br />

Amb. Babagana K<strong>in</strong>gibe.<br />

The committee, which w<strong>as</strong><br />

charged with the<br />

responsibility of prob<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>to<br />

the miss<strong>in</strong>g $44 milion<br />

belong<strong>in</strong>g to the agency and<br />

the circumstances<br />

surround<strong>in</strong>g the<br />

appo<strong>in</strong>tment of Mr. Ahmed<br />

Rufa’i Abubakar <strong>as</strong> director<br />

general w<strong>as</strong> held up by<br />

K<strong>in</strong>gibe and his colleagues<br />

when they refused to sit<br />

down.<br />

The PRP, chaired by K<strong>in</strong>gibe<br />

had been summoned by the<br />

committee to expla<strong>in</strong> its role<br />

<strong>in</strong> the alleged disappearance<br />

of the $44 million, <strong>as</strong> well <strong>as</strong><br />

Mr Abubakar’s appo<strong>in</strong>tment.<br />

But on gett<strong>in</strong>g to the venue<br />

of the hear<strong>in</strong>g yesterday,<br />

K<strong>in</strong>gibe stood for a few<br />

m<strong>in</strong>utes when the clerk of the<br />

committee approached him,<br />

<strong>as</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g him and his<br />

colleagues to take their seats.<br />

But the former amb<strong>as</strong>sador<br />

decl<strong>in</strong>ed, say<strong>in</strong>g, “no, I won’t<br />

sit down, what is all these, do<br />

you people want to make a<br />

stance by Abacha’s lawyer,<br />

Mr. J. A. Achimugu, who<br />

said he had expected a<br />

stiffer opposition from the<br />

commission, Justice John<br />

Tsoho, <strong>in</strong> a bench rul<strong>in</strong>g,<br />

struck out the EFCC <strong>as</strong> the<br />

6th defendant <strong>in</strong> the<br />

matter.<br />

However, the court fixed<br />

April 23 to hear the<br />

prelim<strong>in</strong>ary objection the<br />

Federal Government filed<br />

to abort Abacha’s bid to<br />

reclaim OPL 245.<br />

Justice Tsoho said he<br />

would consolidate every<br />

other objection aga<strong>in</strong>st the<br />

suit and hear them together.<br />

The Federal Government<br />

had <strong>in</strong> a process filed by the<br />

Attorney-General of the<br />

show of us?"<br />

The clerk then urged him<br />

to see the committee<br />

chairman, Am<strong>in</strong>u Sani Jaji,<br />

who w<strong>as</strong> seated with his<br />

colleagues await<strong>in</strong>g<br />

K<strong>in</strong>gibe’s arrival.<br />

But <strong>in</strong>stead of approach<strong>in</strong>g<br />

the chair <strong>as</strong> protocol demands<br />

<strong>in</strong> National Assembly,<br />

K<strong>in</strong>gibe said: “No! I won’t go<br />

there, you tell him to come.”<br />

Out of courtesy, the<br />

chairman rose from his seat<br />

and met him <strong>as</strong> they both<br />

stepped out of the hear<strong>in</strong>g<br />

room.<br />

K<strong>in</strong>gibe f<strong>in</strong>ally agreed to<br />

sit, and follow<strong>in</strong>g his<br />

discussion with the chairman,<br />

K<strong>in</strong>gibe began the<br />

<strong>in</strong>troduction of his panel<br />

members.<br />

He also tried to <strong>in</strong>troduce<br />

other members of the panel,<br />

but the committee chairman<br />

<strong>in</strong>terrupted him, say<strong>in</strong>g that<br />

he should allow the men to<br />

<strong>in</strong>troduce themselves.<br />

However, the former<br />

amb<strong>as</strong>sador ignored the<br />

chairman’s observation and<br />

said: “all of these men you<br />

see here are above 70 years<br />

old, with a comb<strong>in</strong>ed age of<br />

over 300 years.’’<br />

After the <strong>in</strong>troduction, the<br />

chairman announced that<br />

journalists should leave the<br />

hall for members to have a<br />

closed door session with<br />

K<strong>in</strong>gibe and his colleagues.<br />

CBN wants shell banks<br />

abolished <strong>in</strong> Nigeria<br />

ABUJA—THE Central<br />

Bank of Nigeria, CBN,<br />

h<strong>as</strong> called for the abolition<br />

of shell banks <strong>in</strong> the<br />

country, say<strong>in</strong>g they serve<br />

<strong>as</strong> <strong>in</strong>stitutions for money<br />

launder<strong>in</strong>g.<br />

Shell banks are<br />

<strong>in</strong>stitutions that carry out<br />

activities where they are not<br />

licensed.<br />

Mr Godw<strong>in</strong> Emefiele,<br />

CBN governor, who w<strong>as</strong><br />

represented by Director,<br />

Legal Services<br />

Department, Mr Johnson<br />

Ak<strong>in</strong>wunmi, made the<br />

request <strong>in</strong> Abuja,<br />

yesterday, at a public<br />

hear<strong>in</strong>g organised by<br />

House Committee on<br />

Bank<strong>in</strong>g and Currency on<br />

a Bill to amend the Bank<strong>in</strong>g<br />

and Other F<strong>in</strong>ancial<br />

Institutions Act (BOFIA)<br />

and other bills.<br />

He said the shell banks,<br />

apart from be<strong>in</strong>g used for<br />

money launder<strong>in</strong>g, distort<br />

the bank<strong>in</strong>g system and<br />

might pose a problem to<br />

regulatory agencies.<br />

Federation and M<strong>in</strong>ister of<br />

Justice, Abubakar Malami,<br />

SAN, <strong>as</strong>ked the court to<br />

dismiss or strike out the suit<br />

where<strong>in</strong> Abacha w<strong>as</strong><br />

claim<strong>in</strong>g ownership of<br />

Malabu Oil & G<strong>as</strong> Limited.<br />

Aside Federal<br />

Government and M<strong>in</strong>ister<br />

of Petroleum Resources,<br />

who are 1st and 2nd<br />

defendants <strong>in</strong> the matter,<br />

other defendants equally<br />

challeng<strong>in</strong>g the<br />

competence of the suit are<br />

Shell Nigeria Ultra-Deep<br />

Limited, Shell Nigeria<br />

Exploration and Production<br />

Company Ltd, Nigeria<br />

Agip Exploration Company<br />

Ltd and and Chief Dan<br />

Etete.


10 — VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2018<br />

:Vanguard News :@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058<br />

2019: APC'll rema<strong>in</strong> rul<strong>in</strong>g party<br />

— TINUBU<br />

By Johnbosco<br />

Agbakwuru<br />

A BUJA—NATIONAL<br />

leader of the All<br />

Progressives Congress,<br />

APC, Asiwaju Bola<br />

T<strong>in</strong>ubu yesterday bo<strong>as</strong>ted<br />

that the party would still<br />

w<strong>in</strong> the 2019 presidential<br />

election.<br />

Asiwaju T<strong>in</strong>ubu who<br />

spoke after a closed-door<br />

meet<strong>in</strong>g with President<br />

Muhammadu Buhari at<br />

the Presidential Villa, also<br />

told former President<br />

Olusegun Ob<strong>as</strong>anjo and<br />

ex-military President,<br />

General Ibrahim<br />

Babangida (retd) who<br />

recently advised<br />

President Buhari not to<br />

contest the 2019 election<br />

to go home and enjoy<br />

their retirement.<br />

The former Lagos State<br />

governor accompanied by<br />

the pioneer chairman<br />

(<strong>in</strong>terim) of APC, Chief<br />

Bisi Akande, said the<br />

concern of every Nigerian<br />

now w<strong>as</strong> how to build a<br />

formidable country.<br />

Field<strong>in</strong>g question on the<br />

chances of the APC to w<strong>in</strong><br />

the 2019 presidential<br />

election, he said: “You are<br />

<strong>as</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g me an obvious<br />

question. I belong to this<br />

party. My commitment is<br />

for this party. We have a<br />

better chance and we are<br />

strongly determ<strong>in</strong>ed to<br />

prosecute the election <strong>in</strong><br />

the most transparent,<br />

democratic manner and<br />

we will w<strong>in</strong>.”<br />

•Tells Ob<strong>as</strong>anjo, IBB to enjoy their retiree club<br />

VISIT: From left: Mrs Olusola Taiwo, Deputy Manager, HR/Adm<strong>in</strong>; Mrs Olubukola<br />

Lanipekun-Lawal, Manager, HR/Adm<strong>in</strong>, both of FSDH Merchant Bank Limited;<br />

Mr. Shola Giwa, member, Lagos State House of Assembly represent<strong>in</strong>g Lagos Island<br />

Constituency 2; Mrs Olufola Wiltshire, Group Head, HR/Adm<strong>in</strong>, FSDH Merchant<br />

Bank Limited and Mr Taiwo Olatunji, Manager, Investment Bank<strong>in</strong>g, FSDH Merchant<br />

Bank Limited, dur<strong>in</strong>g a courtesy visit by the lawmaker to FSDH head office <strong>in</strong><br />

recognition of the bank's partner<strong>in</strong>g with Lagos State <strong>in</strong> the rehabilitation of schools.<br />

On his appo<strong>in</strong>tment by<br />

President Buhari to head<br />

the reconciliation<br />

committee of the APC,<br />

T<strong>in</strong>ubu said: “Well, l feel<br />

greatly honoured with the<br />

mutual confidence that<br />

the president h<strong>as</strong> reposed<br />

<strong>in</strong> me which is equally a<br />

very strong political<br />

challenge. We have<br />

started <strong>in</strong> earnest. I w<strong>as</strong><br />

honoured and with the<br />

mutual confidence that<br />

the president h<strong>as</strong> reposed<br />

<strong>in</strong> me which is equally a<br />

very strong political<br />

challenge. We have<br />

started <strong>in</strong> earnest, he h<strong>as</strong><br />

given me free hand to put<br />

cohesion, confidence and<br />

trust <strong>in</strong> the party.<br />

Democracy is about<br />

conflict resolution<br />

mechanism, it is a process,<br />

you can’t do it without<br />

resolv<strong>in</strong>g conflict. We<br />

can’t build it without<br />

understand<strong>in</strong>g the<br />

conflict and the sources of<br />

where we are com<strong>in</strong>g<br />

from.<br />

“But we want to leave<br />

a country with legacy not<br />

about Mr President. That<br />

is what he is tell<strong>in</strong>g the<br />

nation, it is about our<br />

country and there is no<br />

other choice to a<br />

democratic f<strong>in</strong>eness than<br />

through political party<br />

platforms.<br />

''That is what we are<br />

talk<strong>in</strong>g about legacy and<br />

By Nwafor Sunday<br />

THE<br />

National<br />

Coord<strong>in</strong>ator APGA<br />

Media Warriors Forum,<br />

Evang Ch<strong>in</strong>edu Obigwe<br />

h<strong>as</strong> reeled out re<strong>as</strong>ons<br />

for immediate<br />

replacement of Tony<br />

Nwoye <strong>in</strong> the green<br />

chamber by Ch<strong>in</strong>edu<br />

Obidigwe, the Special<br />

Adviser to Governor<br />

Willie Obiano on Political<br />

matters come 2019<br />

general election.<br />

One of his re<strong>as</strong>ons for<br />

the call is what he termed<br />

‘gross <strong>in</strong>competence’ of<br />

Tony Nwoye and his<br />

<strong>in</strong>ability to represent the<br />

people of Anambra e<strong>as</strong>t<br />

and west constituency<br />

properly <strong>in</strong> the green<br />

chamber.<br />

Obigwe disclosed this <strong>in</strong><br />

a statement he issued <strong>in</strong><br />

Awka on Sunday.<br />

Accord<strong>in</strong>g to him,<br />

“Ch<strong>in</strong>edu Obidigwe,<br />

Akaoma jide aku olue<br />

where we are from, all<br />

those challenges, what<br />

we should do and I am<br />

enjoy<strong>in</strong>g the challenges<br />

so far.”<br />

Comment<strong>in</strong>g on Chief<br />

Ob<strong>as</strong>anjo and General<br />

Babangida advis<strong>in</strong>g<br />

President Buhari not to<br />

contest the election, he<br />

said, “I don’t address<br />

those shadows. The<br />

question is, we should let<br />

our former presidents<br />

enjoy the retirees’ club<br />

and take their pensions,<br />

but participate <strong>in</strong> our<br />

politics if they are <strong>in</strong>terested<br />

because it is a free world.<br />

This freedom is not served<br />

a la-carte, it is tak<strong>in</strong>g but<br />

we should be allowed to<br />

move our country forward,<br />

it is a challenge to every<br />

Nigerian.”<br />

Nwoye, a mistake Obidigwe'll<br />

correct — APGA CHIEFTAIN<br />

umu ogbenye aka, will<br />

answer his people’s call<br />

to salvage them from the<br />

suffocat<strong>in</strong>g grip of their<br />

current representative<br />

that h<strong>as</strong> not made any<br />

mean<strong>in</strong>gful impact <strong>in</strong><br />

their lives.”<br />

Speak<strong>in</strong>g further, he<br />

alleged that Nwoye’s<br />

<strong>in</strong>ability to call back RCC<br />

to f<strong>in</strong>ish Umunya axis of<br />

the Enugu/Onitsha<br />

expressway project<br />

abandoned immediately<br />

after the governorship<br />

election held <strong>in</strong> November<br />

2017 <strong>as</strong> another<br />

<strong>in</strong>stance of Nwoye’s failed<br />

representation<br />

“Tony Nwoye used the<br />

Umunya axis of Enugu/<br />

Onitsha expressway<br />

project to score cheap<br />

political po<strong>in</strong>ts dur<strong>in</strong>g<br />

the November<br />

gubernatorial election<br />

and equally stripped off<br />

Oseloka Henry Obaze’s<br />

merited 2nd position <strong>in</strong><br />

the election,” he said.<br />

Foundation holds sem<strong>in</strong>ar<br />

on sickle cell disorder<br />

LAGOS—IN a bid to<br />

improve knowledge<br />

of Nigeria healthcare<br />

practitioners on current<br />

management of sickle cell<br />

disorder, the Sickle Cell<br />

Foundation Nigeria,<br />

SCFN, will next week<br />

organize a sem<strong>in</strong>ar for<br />

doctors and nurses from all<br />

the geo-political zones of<br />

Nigeria <strong>in</strong> Lagos.<br />

The sem<strong>in</strong>ar billed to<br />

hold 20 through 22<br />

March, 2018 at the<br />

National Sickle Cell<br />

Centre, opposite the<br />

Lagos University<br />

Teach<strong>in</strong>g Hospital,<br />

LUTH, Idi-Araba, Lagos,<br />

is designed to update<br />

the practitioners on the<br />

current skills and<br />

management techniques<br />

essential for the care of<br />

people with SCD.<br />

The National Director<br />

and Chief Executive<br />

Officer, SCFN, Dr. Annette<br />

Ak<strong>in</strong>sete, <strong>in</strong> a statement,<br />

noted that sickle cell<br />

anaemia w<strong>as</strong> the<br />

commonest genetic<br />

disorder <strong>in</strong> the world and<br />

most prevalent <strong>in</strong> tropical<br />

Africa.<br />

“Nigeria, by virtue of her<br />

large population h<strong>as</strong> the<br />

greatest number of affected<br />

persons. One <strong>in</strong> 4<br />

Nigerians (25 percent) h<strong>as</strong><br />

the sickle cell gene. In other<br />

words, over 40 million<br />

Nigerians are healthy<br />

carriers of the sickle cell<br />

gene and over 150,000<br />

Nigerian children are born<br />

each year with sickle cell<br />

anaemia.<br />

''This is by far the largest<br />

burden of SCD anywhere<br />

<strong>in</strong> the world and most of<br />

these children would die <strong>in</strong><br />

childhood from ignorance<br />

and lack of access to<br />

appropriate care. Hence,<br />

the importance of this<br />

sem<strong>in</strong>ar cannot be<br />

overemph<strong>as</strong>ised.<br />

“The objectives of the<br />

proposed sem<strong>in</strong>ar are to<br />

recognise the cl<strong>in</strong>ical<br />

features of patients with<br />

L<br />

A G O S —<br />

ELECTRICITY<br />

consumers <strong>in</strong> Awoyaya<br />

area <strong>in</strong> Ibeju Lekki,<br />

Lagos State, have<br />

bemoaned the poor<br />

power supply to the<br />

community <strong>in</strong> the l<strong>as</strong>t<br />

few days.<br />

They compla<strong>in</strong>ed that<br />

the irregular electricity<br />

supply h<strong>as</strong> compounded<br />

their socio-economic<br />

situations.<br />

Speak<strong>in</strong>g on behalf of<br />

the residents of Old<br />

conta<strong>in</strong>er area of<br />

Awoyaya <strong>in</strong> Ibeju Lekki,<br />

simply identified Mr.<br />

Fred, they described the<br />

electricity supply <strong>in</strong> the<br />

area <strong>as</strong> disappo<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g,<br />

lament<strong>in</strong>g that:<br />

“Electricity supply here<br />

SCD, acute and chronic<br />

complications of patients<br />

with SCD, outl<strong>in</strong>e a plan for<br />

the management of the<br />

complications of patients<br />

with SCD, appreciate the<br />

roles of prophylactic<br />

me<strong>as</strong>ures <strong>in</strong> the preventive<br />

care of people with SCD. It<br />

will also appreciate the role<br />

of genetic counsel<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the<br />

management of SCD and<br />

recognise the need for<br />

psychological <strong>in</strong>tervention<br />

<strong>in</strong> the management of<br />

SCD.”<br />

She said the sem<strong>in</strong>ar<br />

which would be residential,<br />

would attract a subsidised<br />

course fee of N15, 000,<br />

stress<strong>in</strong>g that the “fee covers<br />

all course materials and<br />

lunch. Participants will have<br />

to make arrangements for<br />

their accommodation &<br />

lodg<strong>in</strong>g. Participation is<br />

limited and timely<br />

application is advised to<br />

avoid disappo<strong>in</strong>tments.<br />

Also, applicants should<br />

state personal details, postal<br />

& e-mail addresses,<br />

telephone numbers<br />

(mobile), educational<br />

atta<strong>in</strong>ment, occupation,<br />

employer, likely sponsor<br />

(e.g. self or <strong>in</strong>stitution), any<br />

experience of work<strong>in</strong>g with<br />

affected persons and<br />

re<strong>as</strong>ons for want<strong>in</strong>g to<br />

undergo the tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g.”<br />

She announced that the<br />

submission of the<br />

applications with<br />

Curriculum vitae and<br />

credentials should be<br />

received by Friday<br />

February 23, 2018 and<br />

should be addressed to:<br />

The National Director<br />

Sickle Cell Foundation<br />

Nigeria, National Sickle<br />

Cell Centre, opposite<br />

Lagos University<br />

Teach<strong>in</strong>g Hospital, Ishaga<br />

Road, Idi-Araba, P.O.Box<br />

3463, Surulere, Lagos or by<br />

E m a i l :<br />

<strong>in</strong>fo@sicklecellfoundation.com,<br />

scf-ng@hotmail.com, or<br />

call 0810002001,<br />

0810002003 and<br />

08035846666.<br />

Consumers decry poor<br />

power supply <strong>in</strong> Awoyaya<br />

is frustrat<strong>in</strong>g. For the<br />

p<strong>as</strong>t weeks, we have<br />

been forced to live <strong>in</strong><br />

darkness without any<br />

explanation. It h<strong>as</strong> really<br />

affected the socioeconomic<br />

activities here<br />

because there is no<br />

bus<strong>in</strong>ess that can strive<br />

<strong>in</strong> darkness. We believe<br />

the transformer is bad<br />

and <strong>in</strong> need of<br />

replacement else the<br />

problem will be far from<br />

over if repaired aga<strong>in</strong>.”<br />

On the power<br />

situation, the General<br />

Manager, Corporate<br />

Communications, EKEDC,<br />

Godw<strong>in</strong> Idemudia, called<br />

for calm, <strong>as</strong> the company<br />

w<strong>as</strong> putt<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> place<br />

structures to tackle the<br />

crisis.


Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2018 — 11


12— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2018<br />

:Vanguard News :@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058<br />

A-Ibom Assembly p<strong>as</strong>ses N646bn Appropriation<br />

bill for 2018<br />

By Chioma<br />

Onuegbu<br />

E KET—AKWA<br />

Ibom State House of<br />

Assembly h<strong>as</strong> p<strong>as</strong>sed the<br />

2018 Appropriation bill of<br />

N646 billion.<br />

The House approved<br />

N94.649 billion for<br />

recurrent expenditure<br />

and N431.141 billion <strong>as</strong><br />

capital expenditure,<br />

while N120.858 billion for<br />

the Consolidated<br />

No land for cattle colonies <strong>in</strong> Delta<br />

—Traditional rulers<br />

By Victor Ahiuma-<br />

Young<br />

A SABA—DELTA<br />

State Council of<br />

Traditional Rulers, DSCTR,<br />

h<strong>as</strong> thrown its weight<br />

beh<strong>in</strong>d the position of Delta<br />

State Government on the<br />

non-availability of land for<br />

cattle colonies <strong>in</strong> the state.<br />

Chairman of the council<br />

and Obi of Owa K<strong>in</strong>gdom,<br />

Dr. Emmanuel Efeizomor<br />

II, <strong>in</strong> a statement <strong>in</strong> Asaba,<br />

said that the topography of<br />

the state which is partly<br />

upland and river<strong>in</strong>e<br />

coupled with its attendant<br />

challenges, made it<br />

impossible for land to be<br />

available for such venture.<br />

The traditional rulers<br />

called on the state<br />

government to forward a bill<br />

to the state House of<br />

Assembly for a legislation<br />

that will be enforceable to<br />

give a legal back<strong>in</strong>g to the<br />

position of government on<br />

the matter.<br />

DSTCTR expla<strong>in</strong>ed that<br />

the desire of the state<br />

government w<strong>as</strong> to<br />

promote agriculture<br />

through the engagement<br />

of youths <strong>in</strong> farm<strong>in</strong>g and<br />

Revenue fund charges.<br />

The p<strong>as</strong>sage came after<br />

the consideration and<br />

adoption of the report of<br />

the Committee on F<strong>in</strong>ance<br />

and Appropriation by the<br />

House dur<strong>in</strong>g yesterday's<br />

plenary.<br />

It will be recalled that<br />

the state governor, Mr.<br />

Udom Emmanuel had on<br />

November, 24, 2017<br />

presented a budget outlay<br />

of N651,500 billion for the<br />

2018 fiscal year to the<br />

other agricultural purposes,<br />

<strong>as</strong> the issue of land is dear<br />

to the people of the state.<br />

Accord<strong>in</strong>g to the<br />

statement: “There is<br />

immense pressure on the<br />

available land <strong>in</strong> the state,<br />

at le<strong>as</strong>t for now,<br />

consider<strong>in</strong>g the huge direct<br />

<strong>in</strong>vestment <strong>in</strong> agriculture by<br />

<strong>in</strong>vestors courtesy of the<br />

state government. Suffice it<br />

to say that there is no land<br />

for the establishment of<br />

cattle colonies <strong>in</strong> Delta State<br />

and all the traditional rulers<br />

We want rebranded INC —Prof Dime<br />

By Emem Idio<br />

Y ENAGOA—<br />

FOUNDING father<br />

and first national president<br />

of the apex Ijaw sociopolitical<br />

organisation, Ijaw<br />

National Congress, INC,<br />

Professor Christopher<br />

Dime, said yesterday, that<br />

the found<strong>in</strong>g fathers and<br />

elders of Ijaw nation were<br />

work<strong>in</strong>g round the clock to<br />

conduct elections that will<br />

usher <strong>in</strong> a rebranded<br />

substantive executive<br />

council to run the affairs of<br />

House, christened<br />

‘Budget of Consolidation<br />

on Industrialization.”<br />

It w<strong>as</strong> made up of<br />

N437.674 bilion for capital<br />

expenditure, N92.697<br />

billion for recurrent<br />

expenditure, and<br />

N120.859 billionfor<br />

Consolidated Revenue<br />

fund charges.<br />

Meanwhile, the House<br />

reduced the total budget<br />

outlay by N5 billion.<br />

Chairman, House<br />

are on the same page with<br />

the state government on the<br />

matter.<br />

“We call on Deltans,<br />

particularly youths and<br />

farmers, to be at alert and<br />

vigilant <strong>in</strong> their<br />

communities and report<br />

any act likely to cause a<br />

breach of the peace and<br />

security promptly to the<br />

police and other security<br />

agencies. We also urge the<br />

Federal Government to<br />

adopt more decisive<br />

me<strong>as</strong>ures towards call<strong>in</strong>g<br />

INC.<br />

Dime, <strong>in</strong> a chat with<br />

Vanguard <strong>in</strong> Yenagoa,<br />

Beyelsa State, yesterday,<br />

said stakeholders were<br />

worried over the fall<strong>in</strong>g<br />

fortunes and near<br />

leadership vacuum <strong>in</strong> the<br />

apex Ijaw body, stress<strong>in</strong>g<br />

that all hands must be on<br />

deck to ensure that the body<br />

w<strong>as</strong> repositioned to rega<strong>in</strong><br />

its p<strong>as</strong>t glorious fortune.<br />

His words: “It h<strong>as</strong> been a<br />

worrisome th<strong>in</strong>g to us <strong>as</strong><br />

stakeholders that for<br />

sometime now, Ijaw have<br />

Committee on F<strong>in</strong>ance<br />

and Appropriation and<br />

member represent<strong>in</strong>g<br />

Ibeno/Esit Eket state<br />

constituency, Usoro<br />

Akpanusoh, while<br />

present<strong>in</strong>g his<br />

committee’s report, said<br />

90 percent of the<br />

recommendations w<strong>as</strong><br />

b<strong>as</strong>ed on consideration of<br />

the views of the citizens<br />

dur<strong>in</strong>g the public hear<strong>in</strong>g<br />

on the 2018 budget.<br />

CONFERENCE: From left: W<strong>in</strong>ner Kalu, NIVEA BA BrandRegimen; Tizhe Ibrahim, BDM Lagos<br />

and West Region Beiersdorf Nigeria; Flora Ikebu<strong>as</strong>i, NIVEA BA BrandRegimen; Emmanuel Ugwuanyi,<br />

National Sales Manager, NIVEA FMCL and Ofoma Vivian, NIVEA BA BrandRegimen, at the NIVEA<br />

Experience Centre by BrandRegimen dur<strong>in</strong>g the 2018 HealthPlus annual sales conference <strong>in</strong> Lagos.<br />

the <strong>herdsmen</strong> to order<br />

because their violent<br />

activities have created a<br />

state of <strong>in</strong>security <strong>in</strong><br />

Nigeria.”<br />

DSCTR expressed<br />

dismay over the death of<br />

many <strong>in</strong>nocent Nigerians<br />

<strong>as</strong> a result of the violent<br />

cl<strong>as</strong>hes between the<br />

herders and host<br />

communities, <strong>in</strong>sist<strong>in</strong>g that<br />

their activities had dented<br />

the image of the country<br />

before the <strong>in</strong>ternational<br />

community.<br />

no voice and this is go<strong>in</strong>g<br />

to be taken care of <strong>in</strong> the<br />

next few weeks.<br />

“I did not form the INC<br />

<strong>in</strong> 1992 for self<br />

aggrandizement. Service is<br />

a duty and there is joy and<br />

fulfilment <strong>in</strong> selfless<br />

service. What we want <strong>as</strong><br />

elders is to elect a<br />

substantive INC president<br />

who will be the mouth piece<br />

of Ijaw people and the<br />

body is work<strong>in</strong>g on this is<br />

the Conference of<br />

Traditional Rulers and<br />

Elders of Ijaw."<br />

2019: Delta students urged to<br />

participate <strong>in</strong> voter registration<br />

By Festus Ahon<br />

ASABA—STUDENTS<br />

of Delta State orig<strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong><br />

tertiary <strong>in</strong>stitutions,<br />

particularly those who<br />

are 18 years and above,<br />

have been told to<br />

participate <strong>in</strong> the<br />

ongo<strong>in</strong>g voter<br />

registration exercise<br />

and obta<strong>in</strong> their<br />

Permanent Voters Card,<br />

PVC.<br />

Speak<strong>in</strong>g at a one-day<br />

sensitization/awareness<br />

exercise on voters’<br />

education <strong>in</strong> tertiary<br />

<strong>in</strong>stitutions, organised<br />

by the Directorate of<br />

Orientation, Governor’s<br />

Office, <strong>in</strong> collaboration<br />

with the COE, Agbor,<br />

the Executive Assistant<br />

to the Governor on<br />

Orientation, Mr<br />

Eugene Uzum, said<br />

that the import of the<br />

DTHA 2019: Warri South needs<br />

bridge builder —Opuoru<br />

By Bartholomew<br />

Madukwe<br />

W<br />

A<br />

R R I —<br />

SENIOR<br />

Special Assistant on<br />

Political matters to Delta<br />

State Governor, Mr.<br />

Matthew Opuoru, h<strong>as</strong><br />

said that Warri South<br />

Constituency II needs a<br />

bridge builder <strong>in</strong> 2019<br />

and not someone who h<strong>as</strong><br />

divisive tendencies.<br />

Opuoru, former<br />

DESOPADEC<br />

Commissioner, who is<br />

gunn<strong>in</strong>g for Warri South<br />

Constituency II seat <strong>in</strong><br />

Delta State House of<br />

Assembly <strong>in</strong> 2019, made<br />

the disclosure when he<br />

led his supporters on a<br />

consultative visit to<br />

Agbarah Warri Peoples<br />

Democratic Party, PDP<br />

leader, Chief Israel Abido.<br />

sensitisation programme<br />

w<strong>as</strong> to adequately<br />

enlighten students <strong>in</strong><br />

tertiary <strong>in</strong>stitutions of<br />

learn<strong>in</strong>g on the need to<br />

have a PVC.<br />

Uzum disclosed that the<br />

sensitization/awareness on<br />

voters’ education will take<br />

place <strong>in</strong> all the tertiary<br />

<strong>in</strong>stitutions <strong>in</strong> the state,<br />

add<strong>in</strong>g that voters’<br />

education w<strong>as</strong> an essential<br />

<strong>in</strong>gredient to stimulate<br />

students’ <strong>in</strong>terest <strong>in</strong> the<br />

electoral process.<br />

Provost of the College of<br />

Education, Agbor, Dr.<br />

Joseph Ukadike, at the<br />

event, thanked those<br />

beh<strong>in</strong>d the programme for<br />

their <strong>in</strong>itiative, say<strong>in</strong>g:<br />

“This workshop could not<br />

have come at a better time<br />

consider<strong>in</strong>g the fact that the<br />

country h<strong>as</strong> always been<br />

yearn<strong>in</strong>g for violence-free<br />

electioneer<strong>in</strong>g process.”<br />

Not<strong>in</strong>g that he had already<br />

told the <strong>in</strong>cumbent member<br />

represent<strong>in</strong>g Warri South<br />

Constituency II <strong>in</strong> the state<br />

Assembly, Mr Dennis<br />

Omovie, of his <strong>in</strong>tension to<br />

contest the 2019 election after<br />

two earlier attempts, Opuoru<br />

<strong>as</strong>sured those who feel<br />

uncomfortable with his ties<br />

with their Itsekiri neighbours<br />

not to worry <strong>as</strong> he will fight<br />

for the <strong>in</strong>terests of everyone<br />

<strong>in</strong> the constituency.<br />

The Okere Urhobo political<br />

leader, who recently<br />

renovated the Warri South<br />

PDP secretariat, h<strong>as</strong><br />

consistently worked for the<br />

growth of the PDP and<br />

rema<strong>in</strong>ed loyal and dedicated<br />

to the party.<br />

In his response, Chief<br />

Abido stated that they want<br />

someone who can work for<br />

the <strong>in</strong>terests of all tribes <strong>in</strong><br />

Warri without underm<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g<br />

the “Urhobo slot.”<br />

Local content implementation'll<br />

create employment —NASS<br />

By Godfrey<br />

Bivbere<br />

THE<br />

National<br />

Assembly h<strong>as</strong><br />

called for stricter<br />

enforcement of local<br />

content <strong>in</strong> maritime and<br />

other sectors of the<br />

nation’s economy <strong>as</strong> a<br />

way of creat<strong>in</strong>g<br />

employment and<br />

achiev<strong>in</strong>g transfer of<br />

technology.<br />

The lawmakers’ call is<br />

com<strong>in</strong>g at a time when<br />

<strong>in</strong>digenous ship owners,<br />

chandlers, customs<br />

brokers and others, are<br />

lament<strong>in</strong>g the takeover of<br />

their jobs by foreigners.<br />

Speak<strong>in</strong>g at the <strong>in</strong>spection<br />

of the Eg<strong>in</strong>a platform which<br />

recently arrived at the Lagos<br />

Deep Offshore Logistics,<br />

LADOL b<strong>as</strong>e <strong>in</strong> Lagos,<br />

Chairman of the Senate<br />

Committee on Local Content,<br />

Senator Yayi Adeola, said<br />

there w<strong>as</strong> need for the feat<br />

so far achieved <strong>in</strong> the oil and<br />

g<strong>as</strong> sector of the nation’s<br />

economy to be replicated <strong>in</strong><br />

the maritime and other<br />

sectors.<br />

Yayi expla<strong>in</strong>ed that it w<strong>as</strong><br />

only <strong>in</strong> do<strong>in</strong>g so that<br />

employment will be created<br />

and the needed technological<br />

transfer required for the<br />

development of the economy<br />

will be achieved.


Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2018—13


14 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2018<br />

Nigeria must fight terrorism,<br />

promote economic <strong>in</strong>tegration<br />

— US ENVOY<br />

BMSG hails Buhari over<br />

freed Boko Haram hostages<br />

ABUJA—THE recent<br />

rele<strong>as</strong>e of hostages<br />

held by dreaded<br />

<strong>in</strong>surgency group, Boko<br />

Haram h<strong>as</strong> rek<strong>in</strong>dled hope<br />

of an eventual rele<strong>as</strong>e of<br />

more hostages by the<br />

terrorist group and an<br />

imm<strong>in</strong>ent end to the war<br />

aga<strong>in</strong>st the <strong>in</strong>surgents.<br />

This is the view of the<br />

Buhari Media Support<br />

Group (BMSG) <strong>in</strong> a press<br />

statement rele<strong>as</strong>ed <strong>in</strong> Abuja.<br />

Accord<strong>in</strong>g to the group, the<br />

rele<strong>as</strong>e of the 10<br />

policewomen and three<br />

University of Maiduguri<br />

lecturers w<strong>as</strong> an <strong>in</strong>dication<br />

that President Buhari had<br />

been work<strong>in</strong>g tirelessly<br />

towards keep<strong>in</strong>g all<br />

Nigerians safe and secure.<br />

The group said: “We<br />

salute the President’s<br />

tenacity and determ<strong>in</strong>ation<br />

towards ensur<strong>in</strong>g that all<br />

abducted people <strong>in</strong> Boko<br />

Haram captivity are<br />

rescued. We believe that the<br />

President’s focus <strong>in</strong><br />

ensur<strong>in</strong>g the total defeat of<br />

Boko Haram will soon<br />

ensure the restoration of<br />

normalcy <strong>in</strong> the North E<strong>as</strong>t<br />

region and the rele<strong>as</strong>e of all<br />

captives, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g the<br />

Chibok girls.”<br />

BMSG, <strong>in</strong> the statement<br />

by its coord<strong>in</strong>ator Aust<strong>in</strong><br />

Braimoh and Secretary<br />

C<strong>as</strong>sidy Madueke, also<br />

acknowledged the giant<br />

strides made by the military<br />

<strong>in</strong> the war aga<strong>in</strong>st terrorism<br />

and called on Nigerians “to<br />

keep faith with the Buhari<br />

Adm<strong>in</strong>istration <strong>as</strong> it works<br />

on deliver<strong>in</strong>g on its three<br />

:Vanguard News :@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058<br />

By Emman<br />

Ovuakporie<br />

ABUJA—THE Unit<br />

ed States Amb<strong>as</strong>sador<br />

to Nigeria, Mr. Stuart<br />

W. Sym<strong>in</strong>gton yesterday<br />

warned ahead of 2019<br />

general election that<br />

without Nigerians there<br />

would be no Nigeria, advis<strong>in</strong>g<br />

that the nation<br />

must fight terrorism, promote<br />

economic <strong>in</strong>tegration<br />

and competitiveness.<br />

The warn<strong>in</strong>g came when<br />

he visited the House<br />

(Special) Committee on<br />

Nigerian-United States<br />

Relations/Inter-<br />

Parliamentary.<br />

The Amb<strong>as</strong>sador t<strong>as</strong>ked<br />

Nigerians on peace, unity,<br />

togetherness, free<br />

enterprise not only <strong>in</strong> the<br />

country, but also to its<br />

neighbour<strong>in</strong>g countries,<br />

not<strong>in</strong>g that there should be<br />

a connection between the<br />

leaders and the people.<br />

Accord<strong>in</strong>g to him, the<br />

success of democracy <strong>in</strong><br />

Nigeria would <strong>in</strong> a long run<br />

affect the survival of<br />

democracy globally,<br />

advis<strong>in</strong>g that the nation<br />

must fight terrorism, promote<br />

economic <strong>in</strong>tegration<br />

and competitiveness.<br />

He expla<strong>in</strong>ed that “I<br />

have visited 35 out of<br />

36states <strong>in</strong> this country and<br />

all the citizens I <strong>in</strong>teracted<br />

with want to play a part <strong>in</strong><br />

the mak<strong>in</strong>g of Nigeria.”<br />

Earlier, the Chairman of<br />

the Committee,<br />

Agbonay<strong>in</strong>ma told the<br />

Amb<strong>as</strong>sador that Nigeria <strong>as</strong><br />

a nation w<strong>as</strong> seek<strong>in</strong>g the<br />

support of other nations to<br />

get to its desired goal.<br />

He said: “We <strong>as</strong>k for your<br />

support, Mr. Amb<strong>as</strong>sador<br />

on the repatriation of our<br />

stolen wealth st<strong>as</strong>hed <strong>in</strong> the<br />

United States by corrupt<br />

persons. These are<br />

proceeds of crime and they<br />

should be brought back for<br />

the development of our<br />

country. Nigeria cont<strong>in</strong>ually<br />

seeks the support of the US<br />

and other friendly countries<br />

to overcome the vices that<br />

pull our nation down.<br />

Majority of our citizens<br />

yearn for one united<br />

country, devoid of<br />

sectionalism and<br />

nepotism, built on equity<br />

and justice.”<br />

The lawmaker, however,<br />

po<strong>in</strong>ted out are<strong>as</strong> the<br />

United States <strong>as</strong> a coun-<br />

key campaign promises of<br />

secur<strong>in</strong>g the country,<br />

boost<strong>in</strong>g the economy and<br />

fight<strong>in</strong>g corruption.''<br />

In another development,<br />

the group praised<br />

President Buhari for the<br />

turn-around <strong>in</strong> the fortunes<br />

of the Jo<strong>in</strong>t Admission and<br />

Matriculations Board<br />

(JAMB), not<strong>in</strong>g that the<br />

body remitted money to the<br />

government while also<br />

e<strong>as</strong><strong>in</strong>g the burden on its<br />

candidates.<br />

BMSG recalled that<br />

before the advent of the<br />

present adm<strong>in</strong>istration<br />

JAMB w<strong>as</strong> able to remit<br />

only about N51 million to<br />

the federation account with<br />

a yearly remittance of N3<br />

million, but s<strong>in</strong>ce 2016,<br />

JAMB realised over N7.8<br />

billion and remitted same<br />

to the government.<br />

MISSING N36M: Sen Sani storms<br />

JAMB hqtrs with snake charmers<br />

By Joseph Erunke<br />

ABUJA—STAFF of the<br />

Jo<strong>in</strong>t Admission and<br />

Matriculation Board,<br />

JAMB, were yesterday<br />

dumbfounded when the<br />

senator represent<strong>in</strong>g<br />

Kaduna Central, Shehu<br />

Sani stormed their office<br />

with anti-snake venom and<br />

snake charmers, a day after<br />

a staff claimed a miss<strong>in</strong>g<br />

N36 million w<strong>as</strong> swallowed<br />

by a snake.<br />

This came <strong>as</strong> JAMB said<br />

it w<strong>as</strong> work<strong>in</strong>g round the<br />

clock to get to the bottom of<br />

the issue surround<strong>in</strong>g the<br />

reported c<strong>as</strong>e of miss<strong>in</strong>g<br />

N36 million from its office<br />

<strong>in</strong> Makurdi, Benue.<br />

JAMB Registrar, Ishaq<br />

Oloyede, went <strong>in</strong>to rounds<br />

of laughter when the<br />

lawmaker presented him<br />

with two packs of antisnake<br />

venom and offered<br />

the services of two snake<br />

charmers to fish out thev<br />

snake that swallowed the<br />

money.<br />

The exams board said it<br />

suspended the staff,<br />

Philomena Chieshe, at its<br />

Makurdi office follow<strong>in</strong>g<br />

the bizarre claim.<br />

In reaction to the<br />

development, the senator<br />

visited the JAMB<br />

headquarters to <strong>as</strong>certa<strong>in</strong><br />

the truth of the matter and<br />

to lend his “<strong>as</strong>sistance”.<br />

“The re<strong>as</strong>on for my<br />

presence here is <strong>in</strong><br />

response to the story that a<br />

snake swallowed about<br />

N36 million. It is my<br />

concern that such a huge<br />

amount of money is<br />

reported to have been<br />

swallowed by a snake. I<br />

believe the contribution I<br />

can make is to br<strong>in</strong>g snake<br />

charmers from my<br />

constituency to the JAMB<br />

office to help them fish out<br />

the snake or weed out<br />

snakes from their<br />

premises,” Mr. Sani said.<br />

“If a snake can actually<br />

swallow N36 million one<br />

day we may wake up <strong>in</strong> this<br />

country to see that a snake<br />

h<strong>as</strong> swallowed our foreign<br />

reserve or it h<strong>as</strong> swallowed<br />

money that w<strong>as</strong> gathered<br />

<strong>in</strong> the TSA.”<br />

Mr. Oloyede cont<strong>in</strong>ued<br />

his laughter and <strong>in</strong>sisted on<br />

tak<strong>in</strong>g photograph with the<br />

unexpected gift.<br />

“Lets take pictures with<br />

anti-snake,” he said.<br />

One of the snake<br />

charmers, T<strong>as</strong>iu<br />

Abdulr<strong>as</strong>heed, who<br />

claimed to have been a<br />

VISIT: From left; Resident Programme Director (Nigeria), International Republican<br />

Institute, IRI, Mr. Sentell Barnes; President, IRI, Mr. Dan Tw<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g; Deputy President<br />

of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu; and the African Regional Director, IRI, Mr.<br />

John Tom<strong>as</strong>zeski when a delegation of the IRI visited the Senator <strong>in</strong> Abuja yesterday.<br />

By Victor Ahiuma-<br />

Young<br />

FOLLOWING recent<br />

“Executive Order”<br />

signed by President<br />

Muhammadu Buhari,<br />

forbidd<strong>in</strong>g foreigners from<br />

tak<strong>in</strong>g jobs Nigerians can<br />

do, organized labour, h<strong>as</strong><br />

demanded for a national<br />

audit of workplaces across<br />

Nigeria, to determ<strong>in</strong>e<br />

culprits.<br />

Labour argued however<br />

that Nigeria’s Labour Laws,<br />

conventions, <strong>in</strong>ternational<br />

codes and practices,<br />

immigration requirements<br />

<strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g the Local Content<br />

Act of a few years back all<br />

have <strong>in</strong> them clauses that<br />

Stanbic IBTC lists three funds on FMDQ OTC<br />

Securities Exchange<br />

By Nkiruka Nnorom<br />

STANBIC IBTC Asset<br />

Management Limited,<br />

h<strong>as</strong> listed three of the mutual<br />

funds under its<br />

management on the FMDQ<br />

Securities Exchange Plc.<br />

These are Stanbic IBTC<br />

Money Market Fund<br />

(SIMM), Stanbic IBTC<br />

Bond Fund (SIBOND) and<br />

Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund<br />

(SIDF).<br />

Stanbic IBTC Money<br />

Market Fund, with close to<br />

N190 billion <strong>in</strong> net <strong>as</strong>set<br />

value <strong>as</strong> at February 9, 2018,<br />

ought to protect Nigerian<br />

jobs but all have been<br />

violated with impunity.<br />

Accord<strong>in</strong>g to Labour,<br />

“President Buhari should<br />

set up a tripartite body that<br />

would ensure and monitor<br />

compliance to avoid<br />

allow<strong>in</strong>g it go the way of<br />

other me<strong>as</strong>ures that have<br />

been put <strong>in</strong> place <strong>in</strong> the p<strong>as</strong>t<br />

to check this grow<strong>in</strong>g fraud<br />

and sabotage of our nation’s<br />

quest for development.''<br />

Speak<strong>in</strong>g through the<br />

United Labour Congress of<br />

Nigeria, ULC, labour<br />

commended the action of<br />

President Buhari, say<strong>in</strong>g:<br />

“This bold <strong>in</strong>itiative is <strong>in</strong><br />

furtherance of government’s<br />

drive to domesticate and<br />

Nigerianize our<br />

consumption and<br />

purch<strong>as</strong><strong>in</strong>g patterns by<br />

focus<strong>in</strong>g on promot<strong>in</strong>g local<br />

content.”<br />

ULC contended however,<br />

that it w<strong>as</strong> “not enough to<br />

make such pronouncements<br />

but what is critical is for the<br />

President to muster enough<br />

courage and will to ensure<br />

compliance.<br />

In a statement by its<br />

President, Joe Ajaero, ULC<br />

professional snake charmer<br />

for up to 20 years, said he<br />

had never encountered a<br />

money-swallow<strong>in</strong>g reptile.<br />

“I <strong>in</strong>herited the skill from<br />

my grandfather and I’ve<br />

been do<strong>in</strong>g it for up to 20<br />

years. I have dealt with<br />

different types of snakes,<br />

<strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g pythons, cobra<br />

and others, but I have never<br />

captured a snake that<br />

swallowed money. My<br />

m<strong>as</strong>ter h<strong>as</strong> at different times<br />

captured snakes that<br />

swallowed various k<strong>in</strong>ds of<br />

animals but he h<strong>as</strong> never<br />

caught one that swallowed<br />

money,” he said.<br />

Meanwhile, JAMB<br />

spokesperson, Fabian<br />

Benjam<strong>in</strong>, said the board is<br />

deal<strong>in</strong>g with more frivolous<br />

stories like Ms. Chieshe’s.<br />

“There w<strong>as</strong> even a c<strong>as</strong>e <strong>in</strong><br />

N<strong>as</strong>arawa when a staff<br />

claimed that on his way to<br />

come and submit the scratch<br />

card, he had an accident<br />

and the car got burnt with<br />

the scratch cards,” he said.<br />

“The cards have numbers<br />

and when we checked we<br />

found out that those cards<br />

were used. There w<strong>as</strong><br />

another staff that said his<br />

signature w<strong>as</strong> forged. He<br />

agreed that it w<strong>as</strong> his<br />

signature but he w<strong>as</strong>n’t the<br />

one that signed and did not<br />

collect the scratch cards.<br />

''We have many issues like<br />

that but all of them have<br />

been queried, they<br />

appeared before the<br />

discipl<strong>in</strong>ary committee, they<br />

were <strong>in</strong>terrogated. A report<br />

h<strong>as</strong> been written. Once that<br />

report h<strong>as</strong> been approved,<br />

we will be commended for<br />

their dismissal and<br />

prosecution.”<br />

EXECUTIVE ORDER: Labour seeks audit of workplaces over<br />

arbitrary <strong>in</strong>flux of expatriates<br />

w<strong>as</strong> the largest open-ended<br />

mutual fund <strong>in</strong> Nigeria.<br />

Its <strong>as</strong>sets are <strong>in</strong>vested <strong>in</strong><br />

low-risk money market<br />

securities with f<strong>in</strong>ancial<br />

<strong>in</strong>stitutions <strong>in</strong> Nigeria with<br />

a m<strong>in</strong>imum rat<strong>in</strong>g of “BBB”<br />

by a local rat<strong>in</strong>g agency<br />

recognized by the Securities<br />

& Exchange Commission.<br />

Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund<br />

similarly<br />

w<strong>as</strong><br />

conceptualized to cater for<br />

<strong>in</strong>vestors with low risk<br />

appetite who want no<br />

exposure to capital markets<br />

but require liquidity and at<br />

the same time want to earn<br />

competitive returns available<br />

<strong>in</strong> fixed <strong>in</strong>come markets.<br />

SIBOND provides e<strong>as</strong>y<br />

unrestricted access to<br />

Nigeria’s rapidly<br />

develop<strong>in</strong>g bond market,<br />

enabl<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>dividuals and<br />

corporate <strong>in</strong>vestors to <strong>in</strong>vest<br />

<strong>in</strong> a diversified portfolio of<br />

bonds and other fixed<br />

<strong>in</strong>come securities.<br />

The Fund aims to achieve<br />

competitive returns on its<br />

<strong>as</strong>sets while safeguard<strong>in</strong>g<br />

capital by <strong>in</strong>vest<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> a<br />

diversified portfolio of high<br />

quality bonds issued by<br />

government, supranational<br />

and corporate bodies.<br />

said among others: “We<br />

have noted repeatedly and<br />

have drawn the attention of<br />

the government to the<br />

various anti-Nigeria<br />

practices go<strong>in</strong>g on <strong>in</strong> our<br />

respective workplaces<br />

especially <strong>in</strong> foreign owned<br />

entities. We have talked<br />

about the implications of<br />

this for national<br />

development and have<br />

pleaded that someth<strong>in</strong>g be<br />

done urgently to stem this<br />

wickedness before it<br />

destroys our nation<br />

eventually. We salute the<br />

President but urge him to<br />

quickly go beyond this<br />

Order and take steps<br />

towards ensur<strong>in</strong>g that it is<br />

felt <strong>in</strong> our workplaces. It is<br />

a policy that if pursued with<br />

vigour will truly make<br />

serious impact <strong>in</strong> many<br />

are<strong>as</strong> of nation’s <strong>in</strong>dustrial<br />

processes and bolster our<br />

collective quest for<br />

development <strong>as</strong> a nation.<br />

“We therefore call for<br />

a national audit of our<br />

workplaces to discover<br />

organisations that are<br />

<strong>in</strong>volved <strong>in</strong> this sabotage<br />

and haemorrhag<strong>in</strong>g of<br />

our jobs.''


Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2018—15


16—VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2018<br />

:Vanguard News :@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058<br />

By V<strong>in</strong>cent<br />

Ujumadu<br />

AWKA—BARELY two<br />

months after the<br />

National Assembly<br />

transmitted 15<br />

constitutional amendment<br />

bills, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g that on ‘Not<br />

Too Young to Run for<br />

Elections,’ 21 state houses<br />

of <strong>as</strong>sembly have p<strong>as</strong>sed<br />

the amendment.<br />

Vanguard gathered that<br />

<strong>Ondo</strong> State House of<br />

Assembly w<strong>as</strong> the first to<br />

p<strong>as</strong>s the age reduction bill,<br />

followed closely by the<br />

Adamawa, Kwara, Benue<br />

and N<strong>as</strong>arawa Houses of<br />

Assembly.<br />

Borno, Delta, Enugu,<br />

Ekiti, Kats<strong>in</strong>a, Yobe and<br />

Gombe <strong>as</strong>semblies p<strong>as</strong>sed<br />

the bill <strong>in</strong> December 2017,<br />

while Kogi and Kebbi<br />

Houses of Assembly p<strong>as</strong>sed<br />

it <strong>in</strong> January, 2018. State<br />

<strong>as</strong>semblies that p<strong>as</strong>sed it<br />

this month were Bauchi,<br />

Jigawa, Ebonyi, Kaduna,<br />

Ogun, Niger and Abia.<br />

Anambra State<br />

coord<strong>in</strong>ator of ‘Not Too<br />

Young to Run’ movement,<br />

Mr. Nonso Orakwe told<br />

reporters <strong>in</strong> Awka,<br />

yesterday that the<br />

reluctance of the other 15<br />

Houses of Assembly to p<strong>as</strong>s<br />

the bill w<strong>as</strong> worrisome,<br />

urg<strong>in</strong>g them to do the<br />

needful <strong>in</strong> the <strong>in</strong>terest of<br />

democracy.<br />

Describ<strong>in</strong>g the group <strong>as</strong><br />

Nigeria’s largest and most<br />

successful youth<br />

movement, Orakwe said<br />

members of the movement<br />

were driven by the<br />

compell<strong>in</strong>g need to<br />

restructure the country’s<br />

political system to address<br />

the deeply entrenched<br />

system of political exclusion<br />

and <strong>in</strong>stitute <strong>in</strong>clusive<br />

politics, transformative<br />

leadership and electoral<br />

competitiveness <strong>in</strong> the<br />

electoral process.<br />

He said: “These states<br />

that have p<strong>as</strong>sed the<br />

amendment bill have been<br />

<strong>in</strong>augurated <strong>in</strong>to the ‘Not<br />

Too Young To Run Hall of<br />

Fame’ for vot<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> l<strong>in</strong>e with<br />

<strong>as</strong>pirations of the Nigerian<br />

people. By this s<strong>in</strong>gular act,<br />

the 21 youth friendly states<br />

have made history and<br />

written their names <strong>in</strong> gold.<br />

“The p<strong>as</strong>sage of the bill is<br />

a demonstration of their<br />

commitment to the tenets of<br />

representative democracy.<br />

We commend them for<br />

fulfill<strong>in</strong>g their promise to<br />

their constituents and the<br />

Nigerian youths, who will<br />

always remember them for<br />

show<strong>in</strong>g leadership <strong>in</strong><br />

promot<strong>in</strong>g youth <strong>in</strong>clusion<br />

<strong>in</strong> democratic politics <strong>in</strong><br />

Nigeria.<br />

“The movement uses this<br />

opportunity to call on all<br />

state Houses of Assembly<br />

which are yet to p<strong>as</strong>s the<br />

bill to emulate their<br />

colleagues by vot<strong>in</strong>g YES<br />

for the bill. An affirmative<br />

vote for the bill will be<br />

another historic step to<br />

secure the future of youths<br />

The Catholic Archbishop of Owerri, Most Rv. Dr. Anthony Ob<strong>in</strong>na<br />

(Middle), present<strong>in</strong>g the 2018 Award for Outstand<strong>in</strong>g Contribution to<br />

Excellence <strong>in</strong> Education to Mr. Peter Obi (right) at the Assumpta<br />

Cathedral Field, Owerri, yesterday, while Dr. P<strong>as</strong>chal Dozie (Left)<br />

watches <strong>in</strong> excitement<br />

2019: 21 states p<strong>as</strong>s ‘Not<br />

Too Young to Run’ bill<br />

and <strong>in</strong>deed the next<br />

generation.”<br />

He also commended the<br />

House of Representatives<br />

for p<strong>as</strong>s<strong>in</strong>g an amendment<br />

to Section 85 of the Electoral<br />

Act 2010 (<strong>as</strong> amended) to<br />

the effect that political<br />

parties were compelled to<br />

ensure that the position of<br />

youth leaders must be<br />

occupied by persons<br />

between the age of 18 and<br />

35 years.<br />

Accord<strong>in</strong>g to him, the<br />

amendment w<strong>as</strong> <strong>in</strong> tandem<br />

with the philosophy of the<br />

movement and urged the<br />

National Assembly to<br />

expedite action on all<br />

electoral and constitutional<br />

amendments <strong>as</strong> the 2019<br />

elections would come up<br />

<strong>in</strong> about 365 days.<br />

Taraba votes aga<strong>in</strong>st<br />

bill<br />

Orakwe, however,<br />

expressed the<br />

disappo<strong>in</strong>tment of the<br />

movement with the Taraba<br />

State House of Assembly<br />

which, he said, voted<br />

aga<strong>in</strong>st the age reduction<br />

bill, regrett<strong>in</strong>g that 11<br />

members of the House<br />

voted aga<strong>in</strong>st the bill,<br />

thereby mak<strong>in</strong>g it<br />

impossible for the house to<br />

p<strong>as</strong>s the bill.<br />

He said further: “It is<br />

unfortunate that majority of<br />

State Assembly members<br />

voted aga<strong>in</strong>st the will of the<br />

people of Taraba despite<br />

<strong>as</strong>surances of its p<strong>as</strong>sage by<br />

the entire House. We<br />

appreciate the six members<br />

of the House of Assembly<br />

who voted for the bill.<br />

“As we prepare for the<br />

2019 general elections, the<br />

imperative for youth<br />

<strong>in</strong>clusion, especially <strong>as</strong><br />

candidates for all elective<br />

positions, is not a matter for<br />

debate, but a constitutional<br />

imperative."<br />

Under-age: OYC urges INEC to review<br />

voters registration<br />

By Anayo Okoli<br />

U MUAHIA—<br />

FOLLOWING the<br />

outcry over the trend<strong>in</strong>g<br />

images of under aged<br />

voters at the just concluded<br />

council elections <strong>in</strong> Kano<br />

State, Ohanaeze Ndigbo<br />

Youth Council Worldwide<br />

h<strong>as</strong> called for total review<br />

of voters registration <strong>in</strong><br />

Nigeria conducted by the<br />

Independent National<br />

Electoral Commission,<br />

INEC, say<strong>in</strong>g that the<br />

exercise lacked<br />

transparency.<br />

OYC leadership<br />

vehemently condemned<br />

the m<strong>as</strong>sive registration of<br />

under aged voters <strong>in</strong> parts<br />

of the North, particularly <strong>in</strong><br />

Kano State and threatened<br />

to drag INEC to the<br />

National Assembly<br />

Committees on public<br />

petitions.<br />

The President General of<br />

OYC, Mazi Okechukwu<br />

Isiguzoro <strong>in</strong> a statement<br />

said: “We have enough<br />

clips and evidence that over<br />

65 per cent of the people<br />

who have participated <strong>in</strong><br />

the ongo<strong>in</strong>g voters<br />

registration <strong>in</strong> the North<br />

are ma<strong>in</strong>ly school pupils<br />

and students below the<br />

age of 16 years and<br />

Northern political leaders<br />

are bo<strong>as</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g of five million<br />

votes to a presidential<br />

hopeful <strong>in</strong> Kano.<br />

“INEC h<strong>as</strong> been<br />

hijacked and is f<strong>as</strong>t los<strong>in</strong>g<br />

credibility <strong>in</strong> the eyes of<br />

Nigerians. Ohanaeze<br />

Youths will drag the INEC<br />

chairman, to the Public<br />

Petition Committees <strong>in</strong> the<br />

Senate and House of<br />

Representatives for<br />

<strong>in</strong>vestigation. We urge the<br />

national <strong>as</strong>sembly to save<br />

the country from avoidable<br />

political crisis <strong>in</strong> 2019.<br />

“We call on South E<strong>as</strong>t<br />

governors to aggressively<br />

mobilize all the town unions<br />

and community b<strong>as</strong>ed<br />

organizations to ensure<br />

eligible voters are properly<br />

registered <strong>in</strong> the ongo<strong>in</strong>g<br />

voter registration.”<br />

...<strong>as</strong> S-E<strong>as</strong>t town unions mobilise<br />

Ndigbo for voter registration<br />

By Ugochukwu<br />

Alaribe<br />

ABA—THE Association<br />

of South E<strong>as</strong>t Town<br />

Unions, ASETU, said it<br />

h<strong>as</strong> developed a<br />

programme aimed at<br />

mobilis<strong>in</strong>g Ndigbo for the<br />

ongo<strong>in</strong>g voter registration<br />

across the five states of the<br />

zone.<br />

National President of<br />

ASETU, Chief Emeka<br />

Diwe, who disclosed this<br />

<strong>in</strong> Aba, said that the towns<br />

are committed to <strong>in</strong>cre<strong>as</strong><strong>in</strong>g<br />

the rate of electoral<br />

participation of the South<br />

E<strong>as</strong>t zone, stress<strong>in</strong>g that the<br />

poor vot<strong>in</strong>g culture of<br />

Ndigbo h<strong>as</strong> caused under<br />

development of the area.<br />

He stated that ASETU h<strong>as</strong><br />

developed a programme of<br />

action which <strong>in</strong>volves the<br />

state and local government<br />

leadership of the <strong>as</strong>sociation<br />

mov<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>to communities to<br />

<strong>as</strong>sist presidents-general of<br />

the town unions to<br />

coord<strong>in</strong>ate and implement<br />

a voter registration<br />

bluepr<strong>in</strong>t known <strong>as</strong> South<br />

E<strong>as</strong>t Political Awareness and<br />

Electoral Participation<br />

Initiative, SEPAEPI.<br />

Oko Poly students protest<br />

strike •We won't call off strike—<br />

Lecturers<br />

By Bartholomew<br />

Madukwe<br />

AWKA—STUDENTS of<br />

Federal Polytechnic<br />

Oko, Anambra, have called<br />

on the <strong>in</strong>stitution’s<br />

management and<br />

Academic Staff Union of<br />

Polytechnics, ASUP, to<br />

come to agreement and<br />

end the ongo<strong>in</strong>g strike,<br />

which started early January.<br />

President, Student Union<br />

Government, Comrade<br />

Akuche Izuchukwu, who<br />

spoke, dur<strong>in</strong>g a peaceful<br />

protest on Monday,<br />

lamented that students of<br />

the polytechnic have been<br />

<strong>in</strong>volved <strong>in</strong> crimes <strong>as</strong> a<br />

result of the strike.<br />

He said: “We have lost<br />

some to road accidents and<br />

others are so dev<strong>as</strong>tated that<br />

they don’t even know their<br />

fate <strong>as</strong> Oko Poly students<br />

any longer. Well, it will<br />

<strong>in</strong>terest the students and<br />

the entire polytechnic<br />

community to know that<br />

the union h<strong>as</strong> risen beyond<br />

all me<strong>as</strong>ures to make sure<br />

that this strike, which h<strong>as</strong><br />

l<strong>in</strong>gered for over a month<br />

and few weeks now, comes<br />

to an end today. I do not<br />

sleep aga<strong>in</strong> <strong>as</strong> a result of<br />

this strike. Enough is<br />

enough!<br />

“The School<br />

Management and ASUP<br />

authorities Oko chapter<br />

must agree to end this strike<br />

today. The students’ union<br />

government over the time<br />

h<strong>as</strong> engaged both parties<br />

<strong>in</strong> a dialogue for them to<br />

come <strong>in</strong>to terms and end<br />

the strike but it all proved<br />

abortive."<br />

We won't call off<br />

strike—Lecturers<br />

The hopes of students<br />

that the strike embarked on<br />

by Academic Staff of the<br />

<strong>in</strong>stitution would be called<br />

off by Feb. 12, had been<br />

d<strong>as</strong>hed.<br />

At the end of the meet<strong>in</strong>g<br />

by the Academic Staff<br />

Union <strong>in</strong> the polytechnic,<br />

the congress <strong>in</strong>sisted on<br />

cont<strong>in</strong>uation of the ongo<strong>in</strong>g<br />

strike <strong>in</strong> spite of the fact that<br />

many of their demands had<br />

been met.<br />

The union had, among<br />

other th<strong>in</strong>gs, demanded for<br />

payment of promotion<br />

arrears of its members,<br />

re<strong>in</strong>statement of Mr<br />

Cypra<strong>in</strong> Nwammuo,<br />

whose appo<strong>in</strong>tment w<strong>as</strong><br />

term<strong>in</strong>ated by the<br />

<strong>in</strong>stitution and the open<strong>in</strong>g<br />

of the exit gate of the ma<strong>in</strong><br />

gate.<br />

The entry gate had been<br />

serv<strong>in</strong>g <strong>as</strong> both entry and<br />

exit for some time now.<br />

However, it w<strong>as</strong> observed<br />

that the exit gate had been<br />

re-opened by the<br />

management of the<br />

<strong>in</strong>stitution and is now <strong>in</strong> use<br />

<strong>as</strong> demanded by the union.<br />

The Federal Government<br />

had offset the promotion<br />

arrears <strong>as</strong> demanded by<br />

ASUP.<br />

Enugu farmers rally support for<br />

Ugwuanyi<br />

E N THOUSANDS U G U —<br />

of<br />

Enugu farmers under the<br />

auspices of the<br />

Amalgamated Enugu State<br />

Farmers Association,<br />

yesterday, converged on<br />

Michael Okpara Square,<br />

Enugu, with a firm and<br />

unanimous declaration to<br />

vote m<strong>as</strong>sively for Governor<br />

Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi come<br />

2019 general elections.<br />

The enthusi<strong>as</strong>tic farmers<br />

described the governor <strong>as</strong><br />

“the most farmer-friendly<br />

governor and pillar of<br />

development <strong>in</strong> Enugu<br />

State.”<br />

Chairman of the<br />

<strong>as</strong>sociation, Mr. Romanus<br />

Eze, <strong>in</strong> his address on<br />

behalf of the farmers,<br />

commended Gov.<br />

Ugwuanyi for the tractors<br />

and other farm<strong>in</strong>g<br />

implements his<br />

adm<strong>in</strong>istration presented to<br />

the farmers, stress<strong>in</strong>g that<br />

the feat h<strong>as</strong> gone a long<br />

way to <strong>in</strong>cre<strong>as</strong>e food<br />

production <strong>in</strong> the state.<br />

The farmers added<br />

that the governor’s<br />

commitment to the sector<br />

and the exist<strong>in</strong>g cordial<br />

relationship between them,<br />

the state government and<br />

allied agencies have<br />

“blossomed to a great<br />

height” and reduced the<br />

prices of food items <strong>in</strong> the<br />

market, say<strong>in</strong>g: “A bag of<br />

50kg Adani Rice now sells<br />

at N14,000.00 <strong>as</strong> aga<strong>in</strong>st<br />

N18,000.00 before”.<br />

The chairman disclosed<br />

that they were also<br />

impressed with the<br />

governor’s commitment to<br />

<strong>in</strong>dustrialisation and<br />

urbanisation through his<br />

adm<strong>in</strong>istration’s rural<br />

development policy,<br />

provision of road networks,<br />

water and electricity,<br />

among other critical<br />

<strong>in</strong>fr<strong>as</strong>tructure.


EVERY time I watch<br />

<strong>in</strong>ternational news<br />

channels, I can’t help but relate<br />

global events to the Nigerian<br />

situation. Almost <strong>in</strong>st<strong>in</strong>ctively, I<br />

wonder, “what would happen<br />

if this particular situation were<br />

to be set <strong>in</strong> Nigeria”.<br />

I’m left with more than a little<br />

sadness when I f<strong>in</strong>d that our<br />

country cont<strong>in</strong>uously falls short<br />

of global standards <strong>in</strong> regards<br />

to publicly acceptable norms<br />

and behaviour. L<strong>as</strong>t week, I<br />

wrote an article about shame:<br />

no one is embarr<strong>as</strong>sed <strong>in</strong><br />

Nigeria to be accused of<br />

corruption, steal<strong>in</strong>g or<br />

committ<strong>in</strong>g any crime.<br />

Quite the opposite, one is<br />

hailed like a hero when one is<br />

able to derail justice. In other<br />

climes, not only does reputation<br />

matter, dishonourable conduct,<br />

even <strong>as</strong> a mere allegation, is<br />

enough to trigger a vigorous<br />

<strong>in</strong>vestigation and if necessary<br />

to make powerful figures step<br />

down to allow the process<br />

cont<strong>in</strong>ue unh<strong>in</strong>dered.<br />

The Western world is<br />

experienc<strong>in</strong>g a very <strong>in</strong>terest<strong>in</strong>g<br />

moment <strong>in</strong> its history: the voices<br />

of women, of the downtrodden,<br />

of the disenfranchised and<br />

abused, are be<strong>in</strong>g taken <strong>in</strong>to<br />

account <strong>in</strong> ways never been<br />

seen before.<br />

The latest organisation to face<br />

a sex scandal is Oxfam, a<br />

famous British charity funded<br />

by taxpayers. Its leadership h<strong>as</strong><br />

been accused of cover<strong>in</strong>g up<br />

not just the scandal but the<br />

results of the <strong>in</strong>vestigation.<br />

Now, c<strong>as</strong>t your m<strong>in</strong>d back: are<br />

you able to count or remember<br />

how many corruption scandals<br />

<strong>in</strong> the p<strong>as</strong>t ten years <strong>in</strong> Nigeria<br />

have erupted only to slowly be<br />

forgotten?<br />

Corruption<br />

scandals<br />

“What is so disturb<strong>in</strong>g about<br />

Oxfam is that when this w<strong>as</strong><br />

reported to them, they<br />

completely failed to do the right<br />

th<strong>in</strong>g,” the UK Development<br />

secretary, Penny Mordaunt said<br />

to the BBC recently. “That’s<br />

what we need to focus on, and<br />

that’s what ultimately will stop<br />

predatory <strong>in</strong>dividuals from<br />

be<strong>in</strong>g able to take advantage of<br />

vulnerable people.”<br />

I w<strong>as</strong> struck by those words:<br />

the idea of it be<strong>in</strong>g wrong for<br />

predatory <strong>in</strong>dividuals to take<br />

advantage of vulnerable people<br />

is alien to our society <strong>in</strong> its<br />

current configuration. So is the<br />

idea of “do<strong>in</strong>g the right th<strong>in</strong>g”.<br />

In fact, a show of power <strong>in</strong><br />

Nigeria relies primarily on<br />

be<strong>in</strong>g able to oppress others by<br />

us<strong>in</strong>g fraudulently acquired or<br />

undeserved funds or status.<br />

Not a week goes by <strong>in</strong> Nigeria<br />

without allegations and counter<br />

allegations of fraud and<br />

duplicity. Our politics, to<br />

foreign observers, is noth<strong>in</strong>g<br />

short of a farce: issue b<strong>as</strong>ed<br />

conversations are few and far<br />

between. One only ga<strong>in</strong>s<br />

importance or notoriety through<br />

access to government (and<br />

government coffers) and<br />

allegations of f<strong>in</strong>ancial<br />

impropriety are rarely met with<br />

universal condemnation.<br />

When will we do the right th<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> Nigeria?<br />

One would rather <strong>as</strong>k if<br />

Innosson is be<strong>in</strong>g “har<strong>as</strong>sed”<br />

because he is Igbo than try to<br />

f<strong>in</strong>d out, b<strong>as</strong>ed on facts and the<br />

documents made public, what<br />

the c<strong>as</strong>e is about. The idea that<br />

<strong>in</strong>vestigations are “har<strong>as</strong>sment”<br />

<strong>as</strong> opposed to the public’s right<br />

to f<strong>in</strong>d out the truth or,<br />

moreover, for justice to be<br />

served, are aga<strong>in</strong> l<strong>in</strong>ked to<br />

“bigmanism” which ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong>s<br />

that if a man or woman is “big<br />

enough”, why should anyone<br />

dare question them.<br />

In response to the scandal<br />

(and to the public backl<strong>as</strong>h),<br />

Oxfam h<strong>as</strong> detailed plans to<br />

better vet its employees and to<br />

create an <strong>in</strong>ternal<br />

whistleblow<strong>in</strong>g mechanism <strong>as</strong><br />

well <strong>as</strong> better coord<strong>in</strong>ation with<br />

other charities so that<br />

<strong>in</strong>formation about c<strong>as</strong>es of<br />

misconduct can be shared and<br />

adequately dealt with. Let us<br />

aga<strong>in</strong> relate these me<strong>as</strong>ures to<br />

what obta<strong>in</strong>s <strong>in</strong> Nigeria. How<br />

well do bus<strong>in</strong>esses and<br />

government agencies know<br />

their employees? Are they<br />

thoroughly vetted or do most<br />

people simply get jobs b<strong>as</strong>ed on<br />

their connections? A few of the<br />

Presidential appo<strong>in</strong>tees<br />

recently forwarded to the<br />

National Assembly for<br />

Brexit<br />

THE chairman of the<br />

Commonwealth<br />

Enterprise and Investment<br />

Council, Lord Marland h<strong>as</strong><br />

urged the UK government to<br />

make Nigeria a major trade ally<br />

<strong>as</strong> part of its post-Brexit<br />

strategy. We will have to<br />

exam<strong>in</strong>e whatever is on offer<br />

very carefully.<br />

“If the UK wants to <strong>in</strong>itiate<br />

someth<strong>in</strong>g, there are one or two<br />

really encourag<strong>in</strong>g, optimistic<br />

places on the horizon to start a<br />

block for a commonwealth trade<br />

zone. You’ve got the big<br />

populations such <strong>as</strong> Nigeria,<br />

which is go<strong>in</strong>g to be 320 million<br />

people – bigger than the United<br />

States – <strong>in</strong> under 10 years.<br />

They love British<br />

products…It’s a huge consumer<br />

market”, he said. When <strong>as</strong>ked<br />

what products Nigerians are<br />

particularly <strong>in</strong>terested <strong>in</strong>, he<br />

answered: “Everyth<strong>in</strong>g.” This<br />

should send shivers down your<br />

sp<strong>in</strong>e or at le<strong>as</strong>t provoke some<br />

concern.<br />

Lord Marland is <strong>in</strong>directly<br />

say<strong>in</strong>g that because Nigeria<br />

produces next to no consumer<br />

goods, it is the perfect place to<br />

sell British products. Indeed,<br />

no matter how expensive,<br />

Nigerians will borrow if they<br />

have to <strong>in</strong> order to purch<strong>as</strong>e<br />

foreign goods. These are the<br />

sorts of questions and events<br />

one would expect the National<br />

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2018 —17<br />

confirmation p<strong>as</strong>sed away and benefit. In Nigeria, one is forced<br />

no one seemed to have noticed <strong>in</strong>to the realm of moral<br />

this had happened before the relativism, mean<strong>in</strong>g that so <strong>as</strong><br />

list w<strong>as</strong> made public. Or not to lose one’s m<strong>in</strong>d, one must<br />

perhaps those who did were accept certa<strong>in</strong> truths and f<strong>in</strong>d a<br />

ignored, it’s difficult to say. What way to live with them, therefore<br />

is clear is that attention to detail destroy<strong>in</strong>g the possibility of<br />

h<strong>as</strong> hardly been our strong change or challenge to the<br />

po<strong>in</strong>t <strong>in</strong> Nigeria. In regards to system.<br />

corruption c<strong>as</strong>es, if appo<strong>in</strong>tees “We will cont<strong>in</strong>ue to address<br />

the underly<strong>in</strong>g cultural issues<br />

that allowed this behaviour to<br />

happen,” Carol<strong>in</strong>e Thompson,<br />

the chair of Oxfam’s board of<br />

trustees, said. “We also want to<br />

satisfy ourselves that we do<br />

now have a culture of openness<br />

and transparency and that we<br />

fully learn the lessons of<br />

events.” In Nigeria, we are yet<br />

to deal with the cultural issues<br />

that consistently allow, excuse<br />

or encourage not only<br />

corruption, but all forms of<br />

<strong>in</strong>justice and oppression more<br />

widely. We do not have a<br />

culture of openness and<br />

transparency nor do we learn<br />

lessons from p<strong>as</strong>t events. At<br />

some po<strong>in</strong>t we will have to<br />

choose between survival at all<br />

costs and do<strong>in</strong>g the right th<strong>in</strong>g<br />

because one day it won’t be<br />

possible to merely limp along<br />

by pretend<strong>in</strong>g everyth<strong>in</strong>g is<br />

well. The truth is, we can blame<br />

Buhari all we want, most of us<br />

are not ready for change.<br />

•An <strong>in</strong>ternal <strong>in</strong>quiry <strong>in</strong>to sexual exploitation found that seven Oxfam workers <strong>in</strong> Haiti had used<br />

prostitutes whilst stationed there <strong>in</strong> the aftermath of 2010 earthquake. Photo: Roger Lemoyne/<br />

Redux<br />

Not a week goes<br />

by <strong>in</strong> Nigeria<br />

without<br />

allegations and<br />

counterallegations<br />

of<br />

fraud and<br />

duplicity<br />

were properly vetted, perhaps<br />

leaders would have a better<br />

idea of their antecedents. Or<br />

perhaps one must accept that<br />

many leaders do know of these<br />

antecedents but prefer to ignore<br />

them for their own immediate<br />

Assembly to discuss. Will we<br />

forever be a dump<strong>in</strong>g ground<br />

for the productivity of others<br />

with little benefits to our own<br />

population?<br />

•Kemi Adeosun<br />

JAMB<br />

THE Jo<strong>in</strong>t Admissions and<br />

Matriculation Board said<br />

it suspended a worker who<br />

claimed N36 million w<strong>as</strong><br />

swallowed by a snake after a<br />

team of auditors discovered the<br />

money w<strong>as</strong> miss<strong>in</strong>g from the<br />

JAMB’s office <strong>in</strong> Makurdi,<br />

Benue state.<br />

The worker reportedly later<br />

changed her story, claim<strong>in</strong>g a<br />

house help “spiritually stole the<br />

money”. The EFCC should do<br />

more than just “spiritually”<br />

prosecute whoever is<br />

Pay your taxes<br />

NIGERIAN<br />

property<br />

owners <strong>in</strong> the UK<br />

apparently approached the<br />

Federal M<strong>in</strong>istry of F<strong>in</strong>ance’s<br />

Voluntary Assets and Income<br />

Declaration Scheme (VAIDS) <strong>in</strong><br />

droves, the M<strong>in</strong>istry of F<strong>in</strong>ance<br />

reports, follow<strong>in</strong>g the UK’s new<br />

regulations on ‘Unexpla<strong>in</strong>ed<br />

Wealth’.<br />

Both the bank<strong>in</strong>g and<br />

property sectors <strong>in</strong> the UK have<br />

allegedly greatly profited from<br />

the <strong>in</strong>flux of illicit funds<br />

orig<strong>in</strong>at<strong>in</strong>g from Ch<strong>in</strong>a, Russia,<br />

Nigeria and other such<br />

countries were corruption and<br />

transparency <strong>in</strong> regards to<br />

public funds are found<br />

want<strong>in</strong>g.<br />

Public op<strong>in</strong>ion <strong>in</strong> the UK is of<br />

the op<strong>in</strong>ion it seems that the<br />

system should be less opaque<br />

therefore mak<strong>in</strong>g it more<br />

difficult for “corrupt elements”<br />

to buy property or open<br />

accounts etc. When will the court<br />

of public op<strong>in</strong>ion <strong>in</strong> Nigeria<br />

possess the maturity to make<br />

such demands of our own<br />

system?<br />

responsible. Kemi Adeosun<br />

revealed l<strong>as</strong>t year that JAMB<br />

w<strong>as</strong> able to remit N5 billion to<br />

government compared to the<br />

paltry N3million remitted yearly<br />

for the p<strong>as</strong>t 40years. It’s a<br />

wonder Nigeria is still stand<strong>in</strong>g<br />

given the sums that have been<br />

“spiritually stolen”.<br />

Tabia Pr<strong>in</strong>cewill is a<br />

strategic communications<br />

consultant and public policy<br />

analyst. She is also the co-host<br />

and executive producer of a<br />

talk show, WALK THE TALK<br />

which airs on Channels TV.


18 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2018<br />

CASES of Nigerians languish<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong><br />

prisons abroad are on the <strong>in</strong>cre<strong>as</strong>e.<br />

Latest statistics revealed about<br />

170,000 Nigerian citizens are rott<strong>in</strong>g<br />

away <strong>in</strong> jails all over the world.<br />

The figure reflects a sharp <strong>in</strong>cre<strong>as</strong>e<br />

from that of 2012, which w<strong>as</strong> estimated<br />

at 16, 300, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g those on death<br />

row. Out of the 2012 figure, 6,000<br />

were await<strong>in</strong>g death penalties for<br />

drug-related offences, while 5,145<br />

women were trapped after be<strong>in</strong>g trafficked.<br />

Another 3,719 were held <strong>in</strong><br />

Canada, over 750 were <strong>in</strong> British<br />

jails, 700 <strong>in</strong> Ch<strong>in</strong>a, 500 <strong>in</strong> India and<br />

96 <strong>in</strong> Indonesia, out of which 23 were<br />

on death row. Others were held <strong>in</strong><br />

Malaysian and S<strong>in</strong>gaporean prisons.<br />

Most of the current 170,000 are<br />

serv<strong>in</strong>g terms for drug and human<br />

traffick<strong>in</strong>g and sundry immigration<br />

offences.<br />

Patriotic Citizens Initiative, PCI, a<br />

civil society group, mid-l<strong>as</strong>t year<br />

raised an alarm over the ordeal of<br />

Nigerians <strong>in</strong> jails overse<strong>as</strong>. The<br />

group charged the Federal Govern-<br />

Keep<strong>in</strong>g Nigerians away<br />

from jails abroad<br />

ment to <strong>in</strong>vestigate allegations of<br />

mysterious deaths and “organ harvest<strong>in</strong>g”<br />

of Nigerians <strong>in</strong> Ch<strong>in</strong>ese<br />

prisons, where about 8,000 were <strong>in</strong>carcerated<br />

for drug traffick<strong>in</strong>g, immigration,<br />

smuggl<strong>in</strong>g and other offences.<br />

The majority were victims of<br />

shoddy <strong>in</strong>vestigation and alleged<br />

trumped-up charges. About 40 Nigerians<br />

are executed, especially <strong>in</strong> Asia,<br />

annually.<br />

PCI’s reaction w<strong>as</strong> b<strong>as</strong>ed on a plethora<br />

of distress calls received from<br />

those serv<strong>in</strong>g terms <strong>in</strong> prisons. They<br />

claimed Nigerian <strong>in</strong>mates disappeared<br />

<strong>in</strong> manners suggestive of extra-judicial<br />

kill<strong>in</strong>gs carried out by<br />

Ch<strong>in</strong>ese prison officials. There were<br />

other allegations of slave labour,<br />

denial of access to medical treatments<br />

and other human rights violations.<br />

Nigerian youths migrate <strong>in</strong> droves<br />

to foreign countries for economic<br />

re<strong>as</strong>ons. Our poorly-developed<br />

labour market, coupled with a<br />

grow<strong>in</strong>g army of about 40 million<br />

unemployed youths and an economic<br />

downturn prompt the exodus. Some<br />

were lured <strong>in</strong>to drug and human traffick<strong>in</strong>g<br />

with juicy offers. A majority<br />

still embark on dangerous journeys<br />

despite repeated warn<strong>in</strong>gs.<br />

The Federal Government should<br />

not be <strong>in</strong>sensitive to the plight of its<br />

citizens imprisoned <strong>in</strong> foreign countries.<br />

The Presidency should set up<br />

an <strong>in</strong>ter-agency delegation to visit<br />

these countries to properly <strong>in</strong>vestigate<br />

some of the allegations and ensure<br />

our citizens are given justice.<br />

The office of the Senior Special<br />

Assistant to the President on Foreign<br />

Affairs and the Di<strong>as</strong>pora should convene<br />

a stakeholders’ meet<strong>in</strong>g on the<br />

plight of Nigerian prisoners abroad.<br />

Both chambers of the National Assembly<br />

should also <strong>in</strong>tervene with a<br />

view to f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g solutions to the problem.<br />

It is demean<strong>in</strong>g to our image to just<br />

abandon our citizens <strong>in</strong> foreign jails<br />

when they are be<strong>in</strong>g maliciously victimised.<br />

We must create opportunities<br />

for young Nigerians to fulfill<br />

their dreams with<strong>in</strong> our country. Nigeria<br />

h<strong>as</strong> what it takes to make its<br />

people happier <strong>in</strong> their own country.<br />

By Sunny Ikhioya<br />

THESE are <strong>in</strong>terest<strong>in</strong>g times. Our<br />

politicians are at it aga<strong>in</strong>, try<strong>in</strong>g to pa<strong>in</strong>t<br />

what is black <strong>as</strong> white and vice versa. We -the<br />

ord<strong>in</strong>ary folks - are left wonder<strong>in</strong>g but can do<br />

noth<strong>in</strong>g. We all know that hav<strong>in</strong>g the voter’s<br />

card alone does not guarantee victory, the<br />

Permanent Voters Card (PVC) h<strong>as</strong> to be<br />

fruitfully utilised and other activities properly<br />

monitored. A million ants cannot lift an<br />

elephant, they will be crushed <strong>in</strong> the process.<br />

How will the ord<strong>in</strong>ary Nigerian see his<br />

political dreams actualised without gett<strong>in</strong>g<br />

crushed? That is the challenge that we are<br />

faced with.<br />

The p<strong>as</strong>t three years have shown that our<br />

politicians of the People's Democratic Party,<br />

PDP and the All Progressive Congress, APC<br />

are the same. Despite the rhetoric, we have<br />

seen that no significant value h<strong>as</strong> been added<br />

to the lives of the ord<strong>in</strong>ary citizens. It h<strong>as</strong> all<br />

been recycled ide<strong>as</strong> and activities, even the anti<br />

corruption strategy is same with what we had<br />

witnessed <strong>in</strong> the p<strong>as</strong>t, noth<strong>in</strong>g new. This w<strong>as</strong><br />

the state we were - of 'siddon look' or do noth<strong>in</strong>g<br />

- until the former president Olusegun Ob<strong>as</strong>anjo<br />

came out with his expository letter to President<br />

Mohammadu Buhari. The letter h<strong>as</strong><br />

reverberated reactions both locally and<br />

<strong>in</strong>ternationally but, before then, Oby<br />

Ezekwesili, former m<strong>in</strong>ister, had mooted the<br />

idea of support<strong>in</strong>g any group that is ready to<br />

take on both the APC and the PDP, head on, <strong>in</strong><br />

the elections of 2019, not many people took<br />

notice.<br />

Femi Falana (SAN), had publicly expressed<br />

the tragedy to the nation, of hav<strong>in</strong>g only<br />

President Buhari and former Vice President<br />

OPINION<br />

My fear for the Third Force<br />

Atiku Abubakar runn<strong>in</strong>g for the position of<br />

President <strong>in</strong> the com<strong>in</strong>g election. No one took<br />

note too but, s<strong>in</strong>ce Ob<strong>as</strong>anjo <strong>in</strong>tervened, the<br />

situation h<strong>as</strong> taken a new turn. The idea of a<br />

Third Force or third major political party is<br />

beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g to crystallise, people are now<br />

emboldened to act or speak up, even the usually<br />

With Ob<strong>as</strong>anjo <strong>as</strong> the leader<br />

or pivot of the Third Force<br />

movement, what type of<br />

people should we f<strong>in</strong>d there?<br />

Retired, disgruntled, and<br />

recycled PDP and APC<br />

members<br />

reserved body of Catholic Church Bishops have<br />

come out to express their dissatisfaction with<br />

the way the country is been governed dur<strong>in</strong>g<br />

their visit to the President. All parties are<br />

beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g to strategise <strong>as</strong> a result of the<br />

situation. The rul<strong>in</strong>g APC could not f<strong>in</strong>d the<br />

voice to tackle Ob<strong>as</strong>anjo frontally. They only<br />

issued a tepid and diplomatic response through<br />

the M<strong>in</strong>ister of <strong>in</strong>formation Hon. Lai<br />

Mohammed.<br />

It is clear that there h<strong>as</strong> not been succour <strong>in</strong><br />

the land. People are suffer<strong>in</strong>g , while others are<br />

be<strong>in</strong>g slaughtered without a thought. With the<br />

apparent <strong>in</strong>ability of the government to tackle<br />

these issues, the country is now polarised along<br />

ethic l<strong>in</strong>es to the extent that have not been seen<br />

before. The cry for change is palpable. The<br />

rul<strong>in</strong>g party is aware of this and the ma<strong>in</strong><br />

opposition party is try<strong>in</strong>g to capitalise on the<br />

situation. They have started the promise game<br />

aga<strong>in</strong>, know<strong>in</strong>g that the gullible public will<br />

fight themselves to death over noth<strong>in</strong>g, with<br />

the mere <strong>in</strong>troduction of religious and ethnic<br />

sentiments. S<strong>in</strong>ce the APC and PDP parties,<br />

hav<strong>in</strong>g been tried and tested and failed to give<br />

us the required succour, there is a need for a<br />

third party that will consist of true progressives<br />

and patriots, who will stand for what is right,<br />

even <strong>in</strong> the face of death.<br />

We have seen them before, <strong>in</strong> the likes of late<br />

Am<strong>in</strong>u Kano, Balarabe Musa, late Tai Solar<strong>in</strong>,<br />

late Gani Faweh<strong>in</strong>mi, the late Kuti brothers -<br />

Beko and Fela and many others. Can we f<strong>in</strong>d<br />

one of such amongst our present crop of<br />

politicians? I <strong>as</strong>k because we have so many<br />

who have pretended to be comrades and<br />

progressives, now <strong>in</strong> the present APC party and<br />

<strong>in</strong> the midst of the dismal performance of the<br />

present day government , have refused to come<br />

out of their shell. I cannot expla<strong>in</strong> it; is it for<br />

pecuniary ga<strong>in</strong>s, or power, or just to belong?<br />

What h<strong>as</strong> made our progressives suddenly go<br />

quiet <strong>in</strong> the midst of the terrible happen<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>in</strong><br />

our land? Some of these pretenders have<br />

shamelessly come out to jo<strong>in</strong> the bandwagon<br />

of cont<strong>in</strong>uity. And you <strong>as</strong>k, cont<strong>in</strong>uity to where?<br />

To hell or to heaven?<br />

It is an irony that the one promot<strong>in</strong>g the<br />

third force movement is Olusegun Ob<strong>as</strong>anjo,<br />

an establishment man, a known member of<br />

the rul<strong>in</strong>g cl<strong>as</strong>s, who w<strong>as</strong> once the President<br />

and had taken part <strong>in</strong> the <strong>in</strong>stallation of all<br />

Presidents after him. He is now the pivot of the<br />

Third Force movement, what an irony! With<br />

Ob<strong>as</strong>anjo <strong>as</strong> the leader or pivot of the Third<br />

Force movement, what type of people should<br />

we f<strong>in</strong>d there? Retired, disgruntled, and<br />

recycled PDP and APC members. There<strong>in</strong> lies<br />

my fear for the Third Force movement.<br />

Ord<strong>in</strong>arily, it is a timely and welcome<br />

development.The people seriously desire for a<br />

true change, with a genu<strong>in</strong>e leadership that<br />

will take the people's <strong>in</strong>terest <strong>as</strong> paramount,<br />

not the ones who will give excuses when they<br />

<strong>as</strong>sume office. People who have a thorough<br />

gr<strong>as</strong>p of the challenges confront<strong>in</strong>g this<br />

country and are ready to hit the ground<br />

runn<strong>in</strong>g, s<strong>in</strong>ce they know the steps to take.<br />

It is a shame that the rul<strong>in</strong>g party is fight<strong>in</strong>g<br />

to re-present a candidate who took all of six<br />

months to put a cab<strong>in</strong>et <strong>in</strong> place, <strong>in</strong> a country<br />

with an emergency situation. It is a shame that<br />

people are not courageous enough to tell their<br />

party leaders that they have failed and request<br />

that such leaders step <strong>as</strong>ide. It is a shame that<br />

we keep quot<strong>in</strong>g and referr<strong>in</strong>g to democracy<br />

<strong>in</strong> other climes and pretend that all is well<br />

when it comes to ours. Are there no<br />

progressives <strong>in</strong> the rul<strong>in</strong>g party? Where are<br />

they? Do they not have credible and youthful<br />

candidates who can turn the country's situation<br />

to a more improved level? Why the conspiracy<br />

of silence? This nation will never move forward<br />

unless we say and face the truth. People will<br />

come and go but the truth will rema<strong>in</strong> constant.<br />

It is better for us to embrace the truth on<br />

time, move on and allow generations com<strong>in</strong>g<br />

beh<strong>in</strong>d to enjoy the foundation laid and build<br />

on it. A Third Force that will accord every<br />

member their <strong>in</strong>dividual rights is what we crave<br />

for. It does not matter if they w<strong>in</strong> the elections<br />

of 2019 or not. What matters is that such a<br />

party is established and <strong>in</strong>stituted.<br />

*Mr. Ikhioya, www.southsouthecho.com<br />

Twitter: @SunnyIkhioya


CURRENCY BUYING SELLING<br />

US DOLLAR<br />

POUNDS<br />

EURO<br />

FRANC<br />

YEN<br />

CFA<br />

WAUA<br />

RENMINBI<br />

RIYAL<br />

SDR<br />

DANISH<br />

RAND<br />

$122.35 0.50<br />

$1,987.00+17.00<br />

$13.59 -0.14<br />

$63.00 +0.41<br />

59.02 -0.27<br />

304.85 305.4 305.85<br />

422.8684 423.1622 423.855<br />

373.8684 374.4815 375.0946<br />

324.9147 325.4476 325.9804<br />

2.806 2.8106 2.8152<br />

0.5503 0.5603 0.5703<br />

439.6392 440.3601 441.0811<br />

48.1605 48.2399 48.3192<br />

81.3002 81.4335 81.5668<br />

440.4585 441.1808 441.9031<br />

50.2124 50.2948 50.3771<br />

25.4686 25..3104 25.5521<br />

CBN Exchange rate <strong>as</strong> at 13/02/2018<br />

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2018 — 19<br />

Nigeria’s oil output rise to 1.736 mb/d<br />

<strong>in</strong> January The agreement had been<br />

By Ediri Ejoh & Oluchukwu<br />

Nkenta<br />

NIGERIA’s oil output<br />

<strong>in</strong>cre<strong>as</strong>ed by 167,000<br />

barrels per day (b/d) or<br />

10.6 percent to 1.736<br />

million barrel per day (mb/d )<br />

<strong>in</strong> the month of January<br />

2018. The output w<strong>as</strong><br />

1.569mb/d <strong>in</strong> December 2017,<br />

accord<strong>in</strong>g to data from the<br />

Organisation of the Petroleum<br />

Export<strong>in</strong>g Countries (OPEC),<br />

Monthly Oil Market Reports,<br />

MOMR.<br />

The country’s oil production<br />

had dropped by 22,000 barrels<br />

per day <strong>in</strong> December 2017<br />

aga<strong>in</strong>st the November figure.<br />

OPEC had <strong>as</strong>ked Nigeria to<br />

cap production at 1.8 mb/d and<br />

upon hitt<strong>in</strong>g the prescribed<br />

output level the country would<br />

jo<strong>in</strong> the OPEC production cut<br />

agreement.<br />

Nigeria had reached<br />

between 2.2 and 2.6 mb/d <strong>in</strong><br />

the p<strong>as</strong>t before militancy <strong>in</strong> the<br />

Niger Delta <strong>in</strong> 2016 forced<br />

output below 1.2 mb/d.<br />

Nigeria alongside Libya,<br />

have been exempted twice from<br />

OPEC’s oil output cutback<br />

agreement which kicked off <strong>in</strong><br />

January 2017.<br />

Nigeria’s exemption w<strong>as</strong> due<br />

to disruption <strong>in</strong> oil production<br />

caused by spates of attacks on<br />

oil <strong>in</strong>stallations by militants <strong>in</strong><br />

the Niger Delta.<br />

Both Saudi Arabia and<br />

Russia currently shoulder the<br />

highest cut s<strong>in</strong>ce the start of<br />

the deal which h<strong>as</strong> seen oil<br />

prices rise to $70 per barrel.<br />

OPEC and its partners<br />

agreed to cut a comb<strong>in</strong>ed<br />

1.8mbp/d of production <strong>in</strong><br />

November 2016.<br />

extended twice until the end of<br />

2018. However, OPEC is<br />

look<strong>in</strong>g at extend<strong>in</strong>g the deal<br />

beyond this year.<br />

It will also be recalled that<br />

crude oil prices were l<strong>as</strong>t week<br />

close to their lowest levels this<br />

year with soar<strong>in</strong>g United<br />

States, output underm<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g<br />

OPEC’s efforts to tighten<br />

markets and prop up prices.<br />

From left, Chief Analyst, Capital Market and Research, Capital Bancorp Plc, Mr. Victor Chiazor;<br />

Manag<strong>in</strong>g Director, Mr. Aigboje Higo; and Head, Capital Market and Research, Mr. Oluleye<br />

Ademola, at a press <strong>in</strong>teractive session on the company’s economic review and outlook for<br />

2018 <strong>in</strong> Lagos.<br />

Concerns over Brita<strong>in</strong>’s endorsement of Naira<br />

<strong>as</strong> trade currency<br />

By Y<strong>in</strong>ka Kolawole<br />

AS Brita<strong>in</strong> is set to add the<br />

Naira <strong>as</strong> one of its preapproved<br />

currencies, which will<br />

allow the UK Export F<strong>in</strong>ance to<br />

provide f<strong>in</strong>anc<strong>in</strong>g for<br />

transactions with Nigerian<br />

bus<strong>in</strong>esses denom<strong>in</strong>ated <strong>in</strong> the<br />

local currency, the move may<br />

transfer payment liabilities for<br />

<strong>in</strong>dividual transactions to the<br />

government.<br />

The move is expected to<br />

promote Nigeria’s trade with<br />

Brita<strong>in</strong>, the UK export f<strong>in</strong>ance<br />

agency said <strong>in</strong> a<br />

statement.<br />

The statement said<br />

the UK will provide<br />

up to 85 percent of<br />

fund<strong>in</strong>g for projects<br />

conta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g at le<strong>as</strong>t 20<br />

percent British<br />

content.<br />

Recall that Brita<strong>in</strong><br />

voted <strong>in</strong> 2016 to leave<br />

the European Union,<br />

which h<strong>as</strong> forced<br />

London to reth<strong>in</strong>k its<br />

trade ties with the rest<br />

of the world. The<br />

United K<strong>in</strong>gdom and<br />

EU struck an<br />

agreement <strong>in</strong><br />

December that<br />

opened the way for<br />

talks on future trade<br />

ties.<br />

“This is a clear<br />

<strong>in</strong>dication of how<br />

much value the UK<br />

places on its<br />

relationship with Nigeria. It will<br />

provide a firm foundation for a<br />

significant <strong>in</strong>cre<strong>as</strong>e <strong>in</strong> trade and<br />

<strong>in</strong>vestment between both<br />

countries,” Paul Arkwright,<br />

British High Commissioner to<br />

Nigeria, said <strong>in</strong> the statement.<br />

The Naira f<strong>in</strong>anc<strong>in</strong>g will follow<br />

the same structure <strong>as</strong> someone<br />

buy<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> Pounds, except that<br />

Nigerian firms tak<strong>in</strong>g out a loan<br />

<strong>in</strong> the local currency can benefit<br />

from a UK government-backed<br />

guarantee.<br />

But the statement did not<br />

<strong>in</strong>dicate the exchange rate for<br />

the programme, just <strong>as</strong> one of<br />

Nigeria’s lead<strong>in</strong>g economist,<br />

Bismark Rewane noted that the<br />

move could shift payment<br />

liabilities from <strong>in</strong>dividuals to the<br />

Federal Government.<br />

They are also worried about the<br />

rate at which funds would be<br />

disbursed s<strong>in</strong>ce local <strong>in</strong>terest<br />

rates are <strong>in</strong> high double-digits.<br />

Bismark Rewane, CEO of<br />

F<strong>in</strong>ancial Derivatives, said the<br />

f<strong>in</strong>anc<strong>in</strong>g deal would help local<br />

importers buy British goods. “If<br />

I buy a Rover, the British<br />

government is now<br />

guarantee<strong>in</strong>g that I can pay <strong>in</strong><br />

naira, so the foreign exchange<br />

risk h<strong>as</strong> been shifted from me to<br />

the Nigerian government. If<br />

CBN is unable to remit funds to<br />

the UK, then the liability will be<br />

on Nigeria,” Rewane said.<br />

Severe dollar shortages <strong>in</strong><br />

Nigeria <strong>in</strong> 2016 caused by lower<br />

oil prices forced the Central<br />

Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to allow<br />

the Naira to float, after which it<br />

lost a third of its official value.<br />

The Naira h<strong>as</strong> s<strong>in</strong>ce traded<br />

with<strong>in</strong> a range supported by<br />

CBN on the <strong>in</strong>terbank market.<br />

Customs <strong>in</strong>tercept banned drugs at Lagos ports,<br />

rakes <strong>in</strong> N35bn <strong>in</strong> January<br />

By Godw<strong>in</strong> Oritse & Godfrey<br />

Bivbere<br />

THE Apapa Command of<br />

the Nigeria Customs<br />

Service, NCS, said it<br />

<strong>in</strong>tercepted four conta<strong>in</strong>ers<br />

laden with banned and<br />

controlled drugs while a<br />

suspect w<strong>as</strong> arrested <strong>in</strong><br />

connection with the import.<br />

The Command also said it<br />

raked <strong>in</strong> a total of N35.5billion<br />

l<strong>as</strong>t month thereby surp<strong>as</strong>s<strong>in</strong>g<br />

the N31billion recorded <strong>in</strong> the<br />

correspond<strong>in</strong>g period of l<strong>as</strong>t<br />

year.<br />

Disclos<strong>in</strong>g this to newsmen<br />

<strong>in</strong> Lagos, the Customs Area<br />

Comptroller, Mr. Musa<br />

J<strong>in</strong>r<strong>in</strong>, said that the<br />

conta<strong>in</strong>ers with numbers<br />

MRSU 3637149, MRKU<br />

6196764, MRSU 3516384 and<br />

MRKU 6058282 conta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g a<br />

total of 1,314 cartons of<br />

Why NLNG<br />

abandoned<br />

Nigeria’s ship<br />

registry<br />

By Godfrey Bivbere<br />

CONTRARY to belief by<br />

some stakeholders that the<br />

Nigerian Liquefied Natural G<strong>as</strong>,<br />

NLNG, prefers its vessels registered<br />

abroad, facts have emerged that the<br />

company which h<strong>as</strong> a large <strong>flee</strong>t of<br />

ocean go<strong>in</strong>g ships, abandoned<br />

registration <strong>in</strong> Nigeria because of<br />

substandard registry.<br />

All vessels, accord<strong>in</strong>g to the rules<br />

of the International Maritime<br />

Organisation, IMO, are expected<br />

to register under a country of their<br />

choice, the maritime adm<strong>in</strong>istration,<br />

which <strong>in</strong> turn permits such ship to<br />

fly their flag.<br />

Vanguard gathered that efforts by<br />

NLNG <strong>in</strong> the p<strong>as</strong>t to help the<br />

nation’s maritime authority, the<br />

Nigerian Maritime Adm<strong>in</strong>istration<br />

and Safety Agency, NIMASA to<br />

upgrade the registry were resisted.<br />

This w<strong>as</strong> confirmed by the<br />

President of Nigeria Ship Owners<br />

Association, SOAN, Engr. Greg<br />

Ogbeifun, who recently attested to<br />

the will<strong>in</strong>gness of the company to<br />

fly the nation’s flag on its vessels.<br />

He noted that the NLNG had<br />

engaged a consultant on ways of<br />

improv<strong>in</strong>g the nation’s registry but<br />

expressed regret that noth<strong>in</strong>g h<strong>as</strong><br />

been done with the report after over<br />

three years.<br />

The SOAN president said the<br />

nation’s flag adm<strong>in</strong>istration is very<br />

weak and therefore not attractive to<br />

Nigerian ship owners and the<br />

<strong>in</strong>ternational maritime community.<br />

Ogbeifun , who disclosed this at<br />

a SOAN event <strong>in</strong> Lagos, said “the<br />

NLNG actually approached our flag<br />

adm<strong>in</strong>istration to express their<br />

desire and preference to register all<br />

her ships <strong>in</strong> Nigeria if the flags<br />

adm<strong>in</strong>istration can be enhanced and<br />

reorganised to meet <strong>in</strong>ternational<br />

standard.<br />

“They went further and paid for a<br />

consultant to carry out a study of our<br />

flag adm<strong>in</strong>istration and made<br />

recommendations to achieve this<br />

objective.<br />

“The report and<br />

recommendations have been<br />

await<strong>in</strong>g implementation by the<br />

maritime adm<strong>in</strong>istration s<strong>in</strong>ce then,<br />

over three years ago.” He further<br />

disclosed that the m<strong>in</strong>ister of<br />

transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, on<br />

<strong>as</strong>sumption of office <strong>as</strong> m<strong>in</strong>ister, had<br />

constituted a committee to look at<br />

possible ways to make the nation’s<br />

flag adm<strong>in</strong>istration attractive for<br />

<strong>in</strong>ternational patronage.<br />

tramadol tablets and other<br />

controlled drugs.<br />

J<strong>in</strong>r<strong>in</strong> also said that besides<br />

the <strong>in</strong>terception, the Duty<br />

Paid Value, DPV, of the drugs<br />

w<strong>as</strong> put at N49.9million.<br />

He expla<strong>in</strong>ed that the<br />

Customs Service <strong>in</strong>tercepted<br />

the drugs b<strong>as</strong>ed on<br />

<strong>in</strong>telligence, add<strong>in</strong>g that<br />

the agency w<strong>as</strong> also worried<br />

about the issue of <strong>in</strong>security<br />

currently be<strong>in</strong>g experienced<br />

across the country.


20—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2018<br />

Fan market:<br />

New technology,<br />

design drive<br />

competition for<br />

market share<br />

Stories by<br />

Pr<strong>in</strong>cewill Ekwujuru<br />

New technology,<br />

design and<br />

availability have been<br />

identified <strong>as</strong> responsible for the<br />

<strong>in</strong>tense competition for<br />

market share <strong>in</strong> the fan segment<br />

of the home appliances sector<br />

of the market.<br />

This h<strong>as</strong> led to deployment of<br />

various types of technological<br />

enhancements by fan<br />

manufacturers aimed at<br />

improv<strong>in</strong>g consumer experience<br />

with their product.<br />

The enhancements <strong>in</strong>clude<br />

music play<strong>in</strong>g capacity,<br />

Bluetooth capacity, liquid crystal<br />

display, LCD, cool<strong>in</strong>g agent and<br />

rechargeable power source.<br />

The major contenders for the<br />

market are ORL, B<strong>in</strong>atone, OX,<br />

Sonic, QASA, Lontor, STC and<br />

Pan<strong>as</strong>onic, all imported brands.<br />

Others are <strong>in</strong>clude L<strong>in</strong>san,<br />

Kestar, Deluxe, Sonik, Deco.<br />

Vanguard Companies and<br />

Market, C&M, <strong>in</strong>vestigation<br />

revealed a grow<strong>in</strong>g demand for<br />

fans driven by hot weather,<br />

<strong>in</strong>cre<strong>as</strong>ed population, grow<strong>in</strong>g<br />

real estate development.<br />

The need to satisfy the<br />

grow<strong>in</strong>g demand <strong>in</strong>formed the<br />

production of fans of various<br />

sizes and capacities, colours and<br />

stylish designs that are<br />

consumer pocket friendly.<br />

Hence the market is<br />

proliferated with different types<br />

of fans such <strong>as</strong> Wall and W<strong>in</strong>dow<br />

mounted, floor-stand<strong>in</strong>g, Ceil<strong>in</strong>g<br />

mounted and others.<br />

To ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong> market share,<br />

the top contenders have<br />

developed and <strong>in</strong>troduced<br />

power efficient fans that use<br />

battery, <strong>as</strong> well <strong>as</strong> fans with two<br />

blades that give a great cool<strong>in</strong>g<br />

output.<br />

Other <strong>in</strong>novations <strong>in</strong>clude<br />

remote control and<br />

programmable timer.<br />

The competition is further<br />

heightened by <strong>in</strong>cre<strong>as</strong><strong>in</strong>g<br />

volume of imported second<br />

hand portable fans.<br />

C&M f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>gs showed that<br />

major marketers have not<br />

neglected the distribution<br />

concept of deliver<strong>in</strong>g the<br />

products directly to the<br />

wholesalers for sale to the<br />

retailers.<br />

C&M f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>gs also showed that<br />

most consumers’ patronage is<br />

<strong>in</strong>fluenced by brand names <strong>as</strong><br />

well <strong>as</strong> durability, design,<br />

availability of the product <strong>as</strong> well<br />

<strong>as</strong> referral from other<br />

consumers.<br />

Problems<br />

Fans like other home<br />

appliances have their peculiar<br />

problems <strong>in</strong> spite of the<br />

technological <strong>in</strong>novations.<br />

C&M f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>gs revealed that<br />

fan eng<strong>in</strong>es made from<br />

alum<strong>in</strong>ium are more<br />

problematic and less durable<br />

than fan eng<strong>in</strong>es made of<br />

copper coils.<br />

Consumers’ speak<br />

Some of the consumers also<br />

claimed that second hand<br />

fans are more durable than the<br />

new ones, though some said they<br />

patronise them due to economic<br />

condition.<br />

Speak<strong>in</strong>g to C&M,<br />

consumers were divergent <strong>in</strong> their<br />

preference for the different brands.<br />

Though majority <strong>in</strong>dicated<br />

But I am<br />

look<strong>in</strong>g<br />

forward to<br />

try<strong>in</strong>g<br />

QASA<br />

because of<br />

the<br />

commendations<br />

I had gotten<br />

from friends<br />

who use the<br />

brand<br />

preference for ORL, B<strong>in</strong>atone, OX,<br />

QASA, Lontor and STC; ORL,<br />

B<strong>in</strong>atone, OX, came topmost <strong>in</strong><br />

consumers’ m<strong>in</strong>d due to their<br />

durability and cool air output.<br />

A consumer, James Jolomi,<br />

prefers OX because it is a brand<br />

•From Left: Mrs. Karen Perez, F<strong>in</strong>dadmission Visa Counselor for Canada; Folabi Obembe,<br />

Founder of WorldView International - The Company beh<strong>in</strong>d F<strong>in</strong>dadmission;, Ak<strong>in</strong> Naphtal,<br />

CEO, Inst<strong>in</strong>ctWave at the press brief<strong>in</strong>g unveil<strong>in</strong>g the platform, F<strong>in</strong>dadmission <strong>in</strong> Lagos.<br />

that , that h<strong>as</strong> been able to connect<br />

with consumers <strong>in</strong> terms of<br />

affordability and durability. “I<br />

love OX for its energy-efficiency.<br />

It is an alternative to airconditioners.”<br />

Another consumer, Matthew<br />

Olayemi said he prefers ORL for<br />

its low power consumption and<br />

silence. “But I am look<strong>in</strong>g forward<br />

to try<strong>in</strong>g QASA because of the<br />

commendations I had gotten from<br />

friends who use the brand”, he<br />

said.<br />

H<strong>as</strong>san Al-H<strong>as</strong>san said he<br />

prefers imported second hand<br />

fans because they are cheap and<br />

serves his purpose.<br />

Experts’ response<br />

Speak<strong>in</strong>g to C&M, a fan<br />

technician, Muyiwa Adelotan,<br />

whose shop is located at Is<strong>as</strong>i,<br />

Lagos, confirmed that fans made<br />

of copper coils are more<br />

durable and suitable for the<br />

Nigerian environment, “most of<br />

the fans <strong>in</strong> the market are made<br />

from Alum<strong>in</strong>ium. When<br />

choos<strong>in</strong>g a fan you need the help<br />

of a technician.”<br />

In addition, Ayo Onile, a<br />

specialist <strong>in</strong> repair of different<br />

types of fans, located at Alaba<br />

International market, Lagos<br />

stated, “not every service<br />

technician understands fans<br />

produced these days, so you<br />

need an expert to choose a good<br />

fan for you.”<br />

Gu<strong>in</strong>ness sets <strong>as</strong>ide N7.2m for Maltav<br />

avat<br />

ator<br />

challenge<br />

By Favour Ikede<br />

Gu<strong>in</strong>ness Nigeria Plc,<br />

makers of Malta<br />

Gu<strong>in</strong>ness h<strong>as</strong> set <strong>as</strong>ide $20,000<br />

(N7.2million) for the w<strong>in</strong>ner of<br />

its pan African television show,<br />

Maltavator challenge.<br />

The program will see homegrown<br />

Nigerian talents<br />

G-Circle unveils 3 herbal products<br />

Grow<strong>in</strong>g Circle International<br />

Limited, a top multi-level<br />

market<strong>in</strong>g company referred to<br />

<strong>as</strong> G-Circle h<strong>as</strong> launched three<br />

health products, G-Herbal, G-<br />

Reliever and G-Lemon <strong>in</strong>to the<br />

market.<br />

The company said the<br />

products are its modest<br />

contribution to the Nigerian<br />

economy and addition to the<br />

grow<strong>in</strong>g numbers of natural<br />

healthcare products <strong>in</strong> the<br />

country and the global market.<br />

Manag<strong>in</strong>g Director of the<br />

company, Mr. Olalekan<br />

Owolabi, at the unveil<strong>in</strong>g of the<br />

products <strong>in</strong> Lagos said: “We are<br />

excited to announce the official<br />

unveil<strong>in</strong>g of our new natural<br />

health products; G-Herbal, G-<br />

Reliever and G-Lemon.<br />

“These products are results of<br />

our meticulous research <strong>in</strong>to<br />

lifestyle and health needs of<br />

contemporary Nigerian<br />

m<strong>as</strong>ses. G-Herbal is formulated<br />

to treat Pile, low libido, waist<br />

and back pa<strong>in</strong>s; G-Reliever is<br />

manufactured to be the body<br />

detoxification Agent. It helps <strong>in</strong><br />

the treatment of hypertension,<br />

body pa<strong>in</strong> and it improves heart<br />

beat rates. G-Lemon on its part<br />

is produced to be a dependable<br />

blood purifier, capable of<br />

manag<strong>in</strong>g diabetes and it<br />

regulates body sugar level.”<br />

Owolabi added that the<br />

uniqueness of the product<br />

launch goes beyond<br />

manufactur<strong>in</strong>g of those unique<br />

healthcare herbal products<br />

alone, but it is also about<br />

Grow<strong>in</strong>g Circle International<br />

Limited’s commitment to<br />

excellence with<strong>in</strong> period of<br />

about two years of existence.<br />

Also, speak<strong>in</strong>g, Executive<br />

Director, F<strong>in</strong>ance, Mr. Abdullah<br />

Moruff Olakunle, said: “Our<br />

unique natural health products<br />

have their roots <strong>in</strong> deep African<br />

herbal with proven testimonies<br />

for work<strong>in</strong>g with<strong>in</strong> the body<br />

System without side effect.”<br />

Olakunle adjo<strong>in</strong>ed more<br />

Nigerians to jo<strong>in</strong> the Grow<strong>in</strong>g<br />

Circle Multi-Level Market<strong>in</strong>g<br />

concept. ‘’I encourage<br />

Nigerians to jo<strong>in</strong> G-Circle<br />

network market<strong>in</strong>g through our<br />

website - https://<br />

www.grow<strong>in</strong>gscircle.com to<br />

<strong>in</strong>cre<strong>as</strong>e their wealth b<strong>as</strong>e”, he<br />

noted.<br />

compete aga<strong>in</strong>st contestants<br />

from Ethiopia, Ghana and<br />

Ivory Co<strong>as</strong>t to see who can<br />

best fuel their greatness by<br />

turn<strong>in</strong>g the Malta goodness<br />

<strong>in</strong>to greatness.<br />

Speak<strong>in</strong>g, Brand Manager,<br />

Malta Gu<strong>in</strong>ness and Premium<br />

Non-Alcoholic Dr<strong>in</strong>ks, Ifeoma<br />

Agu said: “We don’t just say<br />

we care about our consumers,<br />

we show them by fuell<strong>in</strong>g their<br />

greatness with excit<strong>in</strong>g<br />

platforms such <strong>as</strong> this to<br />

demonstrate the brand’s<br />

purpose which is to fuel the<br />

can do spirit of Nigerians.”<br />

“The Maltavator challenge<br />

br<strong>in</strong>gs to life our brand<br />

purpose of ‘fuell<strong>in</strong>g the<br />

greatness’ of Nigerians and<br />

there is no better way of<br />

show<strong>in</strong>g this than pitch<strong>in</strong>g<br />

this greatness alongside<br />

contestants from other<br />

countries.”<br />

She added, “Malta<br />

Gu<strong>in</strong>ness is perhaps the only<br />

Malt dr<strong>in</strong>k that can create this<br />

bold platform, because we are<br />

present <strong>in</strong> over thirteen (13)<br />

countries across Africa,<br />

fuell<strong>in</strong>g the greatness of<br />

Africans <strong>as</strong> they turn the<br />

Malta Goodness <strong>in</strong>to<br />

Greatness.


Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2018—21


22 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2018<br />

C<strong>as</strong>hew farmers want FG to<br />

re-evaluate port activities<br />

T heNational<br />

C a s h e w<br />

Association of Nigeria<br />

(NCAN) h<strong>as</strong> appealed<br />

to the Federal<br />

Government to take<br />

me<strong>as</strong>ures to <strong>in</strong>still<br />

efficiency <strong>in</strong> the<br />

country’s ports to<br />

facilitate export with<br />

emph<strong>as</strong>is on agricultural<br />

perishable produce.<br />

The President of the<br />

<strong>as</strong>sociation, Mr Tola<br />

F<strong>as</strong>eru, who made the<br />

appeal <strong>in</strong> Abuja dur<strong>in</strong>g<br />

the week, said that<br />

present chaos and<br />

duplication of efforts at<br />

the ports were slow<strong>in</strong>g<br />

down export, not<strong>in</strong>g<br />

that the country w<strong>as</strong><br />

los<strong>in</strong>g huge foreign<br />

exchange <strong>as</strong> a result of<br />

the delay.<br />

He also appealed to<br />

the government to give<br />

all necessary support to<br />

c o m p a n i e s<br />

construct<strong>in</strong>g roads at<br />

the ports to engender<br />

speed.<br />

The president said that<br />

more equipment should<br />

also be deployed at the<br />

ports for load<strong>in</strong>g and<br />

off-load<strong>in</strong>g of goods to<br />

h<strong>as</strong>ten operations.<br />

“There should be<br />

better efficiency at the<br />

ports, so the process at<br />

the ports should be reevaluated.<br />

“The key actors like<br />

term<strong>in</strong>al operators at<br />

the ports are the major<br />

service providers, they<br />

need to be more efficient<br />

to be able to handle the<br />

chaos there at the<br />

moment.<br />

“Our ports should be<br />

smarter to help agencies<br />

do their work.”<br />

F<strong>as</strong>eru said that slow<br />

operations at the ports<br />

had resulted to <strong>in</strong>cre<strong>as</strong>e<br />

<strong>in</strong> transaction costs for<br />

exporters, add<strong>in</strong>g that<br />

this h<strong>as</strong> implications on<br />

the cost of agricultural<br />

produce at the<br />

<strong>in</strong>ternational market.<br />

He expla<strong>in</strong>ed that<br />

cargo forward<strong>in</strong>g which<br />

previously cost N5, 000<br />

per tonne w<strong>as</strong> presently<br />

be<strong>in</strong>g sold for about<br />

N15, 000 per tonne.<br />

“Transaction cost h<strong>as</strong><br />

NANTs host workshop<br />

on CAADP<br />

The<br />

National<br />

Association of<br />

Nigerian Traders<br />

(NANTS) will be hold a<br />

capacity-build<strong>in</strong>g<br />

workshop on<br />

Agricultural Policy<br />

Instruments <strong>in</strong> Abuja<br />

tomorrow for media<br />

practitioners.<br />

Speak<strong>in</strong>g on the one<br />

day workshop, Godswill<br />

Aguiyi said the<br />

<strong>in</strong>cre<strong>as</strong>ed tremendously,<br />

a transaction that should<br />

take 45 days now takes<br />

between 90 and 120<br />

days.<br />

“Goods are gett<strong>in</strong>g<br />

spoilt <strong>in</strong> warehouses,<br />

goods that are meant to<br />

be <strong>in</strong> the warehouse for<br />

one week, take longer<br />

time and most of them<br />

are perishable<br />

agricultural goods.<br />

“When a company<br />

gives you an order and<br />

they are expect<strong>in</strong>g you<br />

to deliver <strong>in</strong> February<br />

and you are br<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g it<br />

<strong>in</strong> June, they will have<br />

•Farmers with their millet harvest <strong>in</strong> Yobe State<br />

Kogi woos agric<br />

<strong>in</strong>vestors<br />

By Michael Eboh &<br />

Gabriel Ewepu<br />

ABUJA- Governor<br />

of Kogi State,<br />

Yahaya Bello, h<strong>as</strong> called<br />

on private sector<br />

<strong>in</strong>vestors to jo<strong>in</strong> hands<br />

with his government for<br />

the transformation and<br />

modernisation of the<br />

agricultural sector.<br />

Speak<strong>in</strong>g at the Kogi<br />

State Agricultural<br />

Summit <strong>in</strong> conjunction<br />

with Nigeria Investment<br />

P r o m o t i o n<br />

Commission, NIPC,<br />

weekend, he said<br />

government alone<br />

cannot do it but will<br />

provide the enabl<strong>in</strong>g<br />

environment, while the<br />

private sector becomes<br />

the eng<strong>in</strong>e of growth.<br />

Bello who w<strong>as</strong><br />

represented by the<br />

Speaker of the State<br />

workshop is for<br />

journalists to understand<br />

the Comprehensive<br />

African Agricultural<br />

Programme (CAADP).<br />

He said “for<br />

a g r i c u l t u r a l<br />

stakeholders, the media<br />

h<strong>as</strong> been identified <strong>as</strong> a<br />

major stakeholder <strong>in</strong> the<br />

implementation of the<br />

Comprehensive African<br />

Agricultural Programme.<br />

a reth<strong>in</strong>k.<br />

“There are huge losses<br />

for exporters and the<br />

economy, I am sure that<br />

with<strong>in</strong> the l<strong>as</strong>t eight<br />

months, there is no way<br />

we would not have lost<br />

noth<strong>in</strong>g less than $2<br />

billion,” he said.<br />

The president also<br />

solicited the support of<br />

the<br />

Federal<br />

Government to procure<br />

no fewer than 2.5<br />

million jute bags needed<br />

for the packag<strong>in</strong>g of<br />

c<strong>as</strong>hew.<br />

House of Assembly,<br />

Kolawole Matthew, also<br />

highlighted major<br />

achievements <strong>in</strong> the<br />

state’s agricultural<br />

sector, which <strong>in</strong>clude N1<br />

billion <strong>in</strong>vestment on<br />

production of c<strong>as</strong>sava,<br />

rice, c<strong>as</strong>hew and other<br />

staple crops across 21<br />

local government are<strong>as</strong><br />

of the state.<br />

He also noted the<br />

purch<strong>as</strong>e of agricultural<br />

mach<strong>in</strong>ery and<br />

equipment, m<strong>as</strong>sive<br />

<strong>in</strong>vestment on land<br />

clear<strong>in</strong>g, <strong>in</strong>vestment <strong>in</strong><br />

rural network of roads to<br />

<strong>as</strong>sist <strong>in</strong> evacuation of<br />

agricultural produce<br />

among other<br />

achievements.<br />

“In fact, <strong>in</strong> Kogi State,<br />

there is no process<strong>in</strong>g at<br />

any significant level;<br />

hence, whatever we do to<br />

provide market for our<br />

f<strong>in</strong>ished products will go<br />

a long way.<br />

Backward Integration<br />

leads to efficiency <strong>in</strong><br />

sourc<strong>in</strong>g and economic<br />

viability <strong>as</strong> it leads to<br />

reduction <strong>in</strong> cost of<br />

importation.<br />

The Kogi State<br />

Commissioner for<br />

Agriculture,<br />

Oloruntoba Keh<strong>in</strong>de,<br />

said <strong>in</strong>vestors should<br />

take advantage of the<br />

youth population and<br />

v<strong>as</strong>t arable land for<br />

<strong>in</strong>vestment follow<strong>in</strong>g<br />

the governor’s political<br />

will to meet their needs.<br />

•A member of Aviation Unions Grand Alliance (AUGA) fa<strong>in</strong>ted dur<strong>in</strong>g the Peaceful<br />

rally over refusal by the M<strong>in</strong>istry of F<strong>in</strong>ance to pay the entitlement of ex-workers/<br />

pensioners of Nigeria Airways that w<strong>as</strong> approved eight months ago by the Federal<br />

Government <strong>in</strong> Lagos recently.<br />

Over 900 Ex-Nigeria Airways workers<br />

die await<strong>in</strong>g severance pay<br />

By Victor Ahiuma-Young<br />

NO fewer than 900<br />

pensioners of the<br />

defunct Nigerian Airways,<br />

have died while wait<strong>in</strong>g<br />

for payment of their<br />

term<strong>in</strong>al benefits.<br />

Chairman of Nigerian<br />

Airways’ branch of the<br />

Nigerian Union of<br />

Pensioners (NUP), Mr<br />

Sam Ezene, who disclosed<br />

this to Pension and You,<br />

lamented that one other<br />

Airways pensioner died <strong>in</strong><br />

the morn<strong>in</strong>g of February 6,<br />

before the commencement<br />

of the pensioners’ protest<br />

aga<strong>in</strong>st unpaid N45 billion<br />

approved by the Federal<br />

Government to pay their<br />

severance benefits.<br />

Accord<strong>in</strong>g to him: “Over<br />

900 of our members have<br />

unfortunately died s<strong>in</strong>ce<br />

the battle started. In fact,<br />

one person died <strong>in</strong> Lagos<br />

<strong>in</strong> the morn<strong>in</strong>g before we<br />

started the protest. The<br />

900 we are talk<strong>in</strong>g about<br />

are those that were<br />

reported to us. There were<br />

reports of two deaths on<br />

February 2. We are not<br />

talk<strong>in</strong>g about those <strong>in</strong> the<br />

villages that we do not<br />

have report on. So, it h<strong>as</strong><br />

been so bad. Most of them<br />

died for lack of money to<br />

take care of their health<br />

and other necessities.”<br />

7 die <strong>in</strong> one week<br />

It will be recalled that <strong>in</strong><br />

October 2017, it w<strong>as</strong><br />

disclosed that about seven<br />

of the former employees<br />

had died <strong>in</strong> one week <strong>as</strong><br />

they cont<strong>in</strong>ued to await<br />

the rele<strong>as</strong>e of the N45<br />

billion approved by the<br />

Federal Government for<br />

the payment of their<br />

entitlements.<br />

The Chairman of the<br />

Nigeria Airways Elders<br />

Forum, Godw<strong>in</strong> Jibodu,<br />

while speak<strong>in</strong>g with<br />

journalists <strong>in</strong> Lagos,<br />

lamented that they have<br />

lost seven colleagues<br />

with<strong>in</strong> the l<strong>as</strong>t one week<br />

because they could not<br />

afford proper treatment for<br />

their ailments. "This is<br />

very sad because the<br />

government h<strong>as</strong><br />

approved N45 billion<br />

s<strong>in</strong>ce June for payment of<br />

our pensions and<br />

gratuities.”<br />

Mr. Jibodu named the<br />

dead former Airways<br />

workers <strong>as</strong> Capt. Asuquo,<br />

Capt. Ak<strong>in</strong>taju, M. K.<br />

Amah, Bose Oladumiye,<br />

Onyebuchi Anunobi,<br />

Adebayo Awoy<strong>in</strong>ka, T.<br />

Bellgam and Ebenezer<br />

Ak<strong>in</strong>bode.<br />

Accord<strong>in</strong>g to him,<br />

another former worker of<br />

the defunct airl<strong>in</strong>e,<br />

Charles Ntanyi, had been<br />

miss<strong>in</strong>g s<strong>in</strong>ce August this<br />

year after board<strong>in</strong>g a<br />

commercial bus at night <strong>in</strong><br />

Ogba, Lagos. Mr. Jibodu<br />

lamented that the<br />

pensioners were<br />

wallow<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> abject<br />

poverty after serv<strong>in</strong>g the<br />

nation meritoriously at the<br />

Nigeria Airways.<br />

Block Lagos Airport<br />

road<br />

Recall that on February<br />

6, the pensioners<br />

blocked the Lagos<br />

Airport road for hours,<br />

protest<strong>in</strong>g cont<strong>in</strong>ued<br />

delay <strong>in</strong> the rele<strong>as</strong>e of<br />

N45 billion approved by<br />

the Federal Executive<br />

Council, FEC, for the<br />

payment of their<br />

accumulated benefits.<br />

The protest which<br />

started with a rally at the<br />

open field opposite the<br />

Skypower Cater<strong>in</strong>g<br />

Service premises at<br />

about 9.30am, caused<br />

unprecedented gridlock<br />

for hours on the airport<br />

road and its environs<br />

even after the protest<br />

ended. FEC had <strong>in</strong><br />

September 2017<br />

approved the payment of<br />

N45 billion that the exworkers<br />

have been<br />

fight<strong>in</strong>g for s<strong>in</strong>ce former<br />

President Olusegun<br />

Ob<strong>as</strong>anjo liquidated the<br />

national carrier <strong>in</strong> 2004.<br />

Display<strong>in</strong>g several<br />

placards with<br />

<strong>in</strong>scriptions such <strong>as</strong><br />

“President Buhari, save<br />

us from Kemi Adeosun<br />

now,” ”Mrs Adeosun,<br />

your action and <strong>in</strong>action<br />

are man’s <strong>in</strong>humanity to<br />

man,” “Madam M<strong>in</strong>ister<br />

of F<strong>in</strong>ance, where is our<br />

pension and<br />

entitlements, pay us<br />

now,” the aggrieved<br />

pensioners blamed the<br />

M<strong>in</strong>ister of F<strong>in</strong>ance, Mrs<br />

Kemi Adeosun for the<br />

delay.<br />

They chanted solidarity<br />

songs and demanded<br />

explanation from the<br />

m<strong>in</strong>ister on the cause of<br />

the delay <strong>in</strong> the payment.<br />

Accord<strong>in</strong>g to them, the<br />

N45 billion is out of the<br />

N78 billion pensions<br />

owed them by<br />

government. Address<strong>in</strong>g<br />

the protesters, Mr Ezene<br />

appealed to President<br />

Muhammedu Buhari to<br />

direct Adeosun to rele<strong>as</strong>e<br />

the pension entitlements.<br />

Ezene noted that the<br />

affected pensioners had<br />

earlier pleaded with the<br />

M<strong>in</strong>istry of F<strong>in</strong>ance to<br />

rele<strong>as</strong>e the N45 billion<br />

without response, say<strong>in</strong>g<br />

“The Federal Executive<br />

Council <strong>in</strong> September<br />

2017 approved the<br />

payment of N45 billion<br />

which w<strong>as</strong> part of<br />

pension entitlements of<br />

the defunct Nigerian<br />

Airways workers. In spite<br />

of our peaceful protests at<br />

the M<strong>in</strong>istry of F<strong>in</strong>ance<br />

and the National<br />

Assembly <strong>in</strong> December,<br />

our entitlements have not<br />

been paid. Hopelessness<br />

and depression are<br />

kill<strong>in</strong>g our members and<br />

this is why we want the<br />

public to know that we<br />

are go<strong>in</strong>g through a lot<br />

of pa<strong>in</strong>s and anger.”<br />

C<br />

M<br />

Y<br />

K


Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2018—23


24—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2018<br />

C<strong>as</strong>hless society: First certified Android PoS Term<strong>in</strong>al debuts <strong>in</strong> Nigeria<br />

By Pr<strong>in</strong>ce Osuagwu<br />

Licensed payment term<strong>in</strong>al service provider, Global<br />

Accelerex, says it is br<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g Nigeria’s first s<strong>in</strong>gle<br />

unit android po<strong>in</strong>t of sale term<strong>in</strong>al to help push up the<br />

country’s c<strong>as</strong>hless society <strong>in</strong>itiative.<br />

The term<strong>in</strong>al to be known <strong>as</strong> NEXGO N5, would be<br />

certified for payment <strong>in</strong> Nigeria.<br />

The company claims that the newest device would be the<br />

latest revolution <strong>in</strong> the nation’s payment system <strong>as</strong> it runs<br />

on Lollipop 5.0 operat<strong>in</strong>g system and performs four times<br />

f<strong>as</strong>ter than any other payment term<strong>in</strong>al available today.<br />

The device is said to have efficient battery conservation<br />

and high performance. It is loaded with better protection<br />

aga<strong>in</strong>st vulnerabilities and malware, giv<strong>in</strong>g users peace<br />

and allows them to focus on runn<strong>in</strong>g their bus<strong>in</strong>esses<br />

effectively.<br />

Comment<strong>in</strong>g on the <strong>in</strong>troduction of the new product, Mr.<br />

Kayode Ariyo, the company’s Chief Operat<strong>in</strong>g Officer said<br />

that the <strong>in</strong>troduction of the term<strong>in</strong>al marks another milestone<br />

<strong>in</strong> their quest to revolutionize PoS bus<strong>in</strong>ess <strong>in</strong> Nigeria with<br />

the most efficient payment solutions. He noted that the company’s<br />

bi<strong>as</strong> for world-cl<strong>as</strong>s technology, excellent service quality<br />

and <strong>in</strong>novation resulted <strong>in</strong> br<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g the technology.<br />

Also, Chief Technical Officer, Mr. Stanley Peters, added: “We<br />

rema<strong>in</strong> committed <strong>in</strong> our determ<strong>in</strong>ation to deploy the best<br />

available PoS systems <strong>in</strong> the world <strong>in</strong>to Nigeria. We will<br />

leverage technology to make payment systems f<strong>as</strong>ter, safer<br />

and more dependable. The unique term<strong>in</strong>al offers improved<br />

network selection logic, limited <strong>in</strong>terruption of connectivity<br />

and standby power time of 120 hours, l<strong>as</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g up to five days<br />

before the battery dra<strong>in</strong>s out”.<br />

Packed with a Quad-Core processor, the smart term<strong>in</strong>al<br />

enables users multit<strong>as</strong>k, giv<strong>in</strong>g them the luxury to perform<br />

multiple functions on the PoS term<strong>in</strong>al, without it<br />

slow<strong>in</strong>g down or freez<strong>in</strong>g. The processor also encourages<br />

lower power consumption and higher performance per<br />

watt.<br />

With its sleek and stylish design, the device h<strong>as</strong> garnered<br />

world-cl<strong>as</strong>s certifications which <strong>in</strong>clude PCI - certification<br />

of payment data security by <strong>in</strong>ternational standards;<br />

EMVco - evaluates the security of a payment card<br />

before a transaction is approved; Visa - for smooth transition<br />

of card and contactless transactions; M<strong>as</strong>tercard -<br />

enhances functional reliability, <strong>in</strong>teroperability and overall<br />

security; and AmEX, which enables <strong>in</strong>ternational card<br />

acceptance and seamless transaction approval.<br />

CALL MASKING:<br />

Hammer may fall on <strong>in</strong>terconnect<br />

clear<strong>in</strong>g houses this week<br />

•Stakeholders warn NCC of h<strong>as</strong>ty conclusions<br />

•Affected operators demand thorough <strong>in</strong>vestigations<br />

•NCC rules out license revocation<br />

By Pr<strong>in</strong>ce Osuagwu (Hi<br />

Tech Editor)<br />

Barr<strong>in</strong>g any l<strong>as</strong>t m<strong>in</strong>ute <strong>in</strong>ter<br />

vention, the hammer of the<br />

telecom regulator, Nigerian Communications<br />

Commission, NCC,<br />

would drop on some <strong>in</strong>terconnect<br />

clear<strong>in</strong>g houses this week.<br />

This is follow<strong>in</strong>g statement from<br />

the commission, penultimate week<br />

that no fewer than six <strong>in</strong>ternet exchange<br />

operators <strong>in</strong> the country are<br />

likely to lose their operat<strong>in</strong>g licenses<br />

over call m<strong>as</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g before end of<br />

February.<br />

The licensees <strong>in</strong>volved<br />

<strong>in</strong>clude Medallion Communications<br />

Limited, Interconnect Clean<strong>in</strong>g<br />

House Nigeria Limited, Niconnx<br />

Communication Limited,<br />

Breeze Micro Limited, Solid Interconnectivity<br />

and Exchange Telecommunications<br />

Limited.<br />

The Nigerian Communications<br />

Commission said it will impose the<br />

maximum possible penalties on<br />

any of its licensees implicated <strong>in</strong><br />

the practice of m<strong>as</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g of <strong>in</strong>ternational<br />

telephone calls.<br />

The commission says the operat<strong>in</strong>g<br />

licenses of some of the <strong>in</strong>terconnect<br />

exchange and other licensees<br />

<strong>in</strong>volved <strong>in</strong> the practice<br />

could either be revoked or suspended<br />

this week.<br />

The action w<strong>as</strong> a fall out of the<br />

Commission’s meet<strong>in</strong>g with senior<br />

operatives from the nation’s security<br />

services and representatives of<br />

the said licensees at the Commission’s<br />

Abuja <strong>offices</strong>.<br />

The commission said it confronted<br />

the affected licensees with some<br />

of the evidence at its disposal <strong>in</strong>di-<br />

cat<strong>in</strong>g that they (the clear<strong>in</strong>g<br />

houses) have been m<strong>as</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g<br />

calls.<br />

Call m<strong>as</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g is when<br />

a telephone number<br />

mak<strong>in</strong>g a call is disguised<br />

or displayed<br />

<strong>as</strong> a different<br />

number.<br />

It is typically<br />

the<br />

c<strong>as</strong>e<br />

with<br />

companies<br />

that use what is known <strong>as</strong><br />

non-geographical numbers.<br />

The Commission had over the<br />

years warned that the practice is<br />

illegal and that telecom companies<br />

<strong>in</strong>dulg<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the practice would be<br />

punished <strong>as</strong> it limits competition<br />

and also portends dire security implications<br />

for the country.<br />

However, different stakeholders<br />

have picked hole <strong>in</strong> NCC’s<br />

planned action and called for a<br />

broader <strong>in</strong>vestigation <strong>in</strong>to the call<br />

m<strong>as</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g allegation to ensure the<br />

right people are punished.<br />

Some of the stakeholders feel that<br />

the channels calls p<strong>as</strong>s through before<br />

gett<strong>in</strong>g to the f<strong>in</strong>al recipient<br />

and should be properly scrut<strong>in</strong>ized<br />

before a wrong group is punished<br />

for the s<strong>in</strong>s of others.<br />

One of the stakeholders, who<br />

spoke to Hi-Tech on condition of<br />

anonymity, specifically f<strong>in</strong>gered the<br />

telecom operators who he said are<br />

the l<strong>as</strong>t to see the call before the<br />

f<strong>in</strong>al recipient.<br />

Accord<strong>in</strong>g<br />

to him, “<strong>in</strong><br />

my little<br />

knowledge<br />

of the process<br />

a call<br />

travels before<br />

the f<strong>in</strong>al consumer picks it, the<br />

mobile network operators are the l<strong>as</strong>t<br />

to see the calls and also have the<br />

right to p<strong>as</strong>s it to the f<strong>in</strong>al consumer<br />

or not. If that is the c<strong>as</strong>e and of<br />

course they have the wherewithal<br />

to know a m<strong>as</strong>ked call, why would<br />

they p<strong>as</strong>s such calls to the consumer?<br />

It is at this po<strong>in</strong>t, I want the NCC<br />

to th<strong>in</strong>k through its action and know<br />

whether to revisit the c<strong>as</strong>e with a<br />

more thorough <strong>in</strong>vestigation. Much<br />

<strong>as</strong> we would want the commission<br />

to be firm <strong>in</strong> regulat<strong>in</strong>g the <strong>in</strong>dustry,<br />

it would be a great disservice to<br />

the entire sector if its actions are<br />

b<strong>as</strong>ed on h<strong>as</strong>ty conclusions”<br />

Some of the f<strong>in</strong>gered <strong>in</strong>terconnect<br />

clear<strong>in</strong>g houses told Hi-Tech that<br />

they believe that NCC w<strong>as</strong> act<strong>in</strong>g<br />

under pressure due to the precarious<br />

security situation of the country<br />

but would want the commission<br />

to liaise with them to f<strong>in</strong>d out where<br />

the problem w<strong>as</strong> com<strong>in</strong>g from rather<br />

than hitt<strong>in</strong>g them with a sledge<br />

hammer.<br />

“The regulator is like a father to<br />

all of us. There is a limit to how<br />

confrontational you can be to your<br />

father even if he is wrong, but personally,<br />

I believe that it would be<br />

more beneficial if the commission<br />

would explore our knowledge of<br />

•Prof Umar Danbatta<br />

the <strong>in</strong>dustry to be able to get to the<br />

root cause of this menace. Yes, I call<br />

it a menace because I know that is<br />

what call m<strong>as</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g is, to the <strong>in</strong>dustry<br />

and the economy of a nation”<br />

one of the clear<strong>in</strong>g houses told Hi-<br />

Tech.<br />

A top official of another clear<strong>in</strong>g<br />

house also f<strong>in</strong>gered by the NCC<br />

said: “It may <strong>in</strong>terest you to know<br />

that we have no power to tamper<br />

with MNO traffic that p<strong>as</strong>ses<br />

through our system. It is actually<br />

the MNOs that profit a lot from call<br />

m<strong>as</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g and refill<strong>in</strong>g, if there is one<br />

Cont<strong>in</strong>ues on page 25<br />

C<br />

M<br />

YK


MOBILE MARKET<br />

with Tare<br />

tareyoudeowei@gmail.com / 0806 713<br />

4677<br />

Trend<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the mobile market this Valent<strong>in</strong>e<br />

Inf<strong>in</strong>ix Zero 5<br />

Inf<strong>in</strong>ix Zero 5, one of the latest<br />

phones <strong>in</strong> the market, launched November,<br />

2017, is now available at Microstation<br />

stores.<br />

The device, which is credited<br />

for be<strong>in</strong>g a high sensitivity<br />

phone, is fitted with e-comp<strong>as</strong>s,<br />

proximity, gyroscope, light and<br />

G- sensors. The gyroscope or<br />

gyro for short, <strong>in</strong><br />

mobile phones is used to detect<br />

the orientation of the phone. It<br />

adds an additional dimension to<br />

the <strong>in</strong>formation supplied by the<br />

accelerometer by track<strong>in</strong>g rotation<br />

or twist. This, <strong>as</strong> well <strong>as</strong> the<br />

other mentioned sensors, adds<br />

to the e<strong>as</strong>e of usage of the phone.<br />

It comes <strong>in</strong> red, gold and<br />

black colours and with N102, 000<br />

you can own the Inf<strong>in</strong>ix Zero 5<br />

with a m<strong>as</strong>sive 4,350mAh battery capacity.<br />

The device also comes with a super<br />

sized 6GB RAM that not only allows <strong>in</strong>tensive<br />

and extensive use, it secures<br />

itel S32<br />

Described <strong>as</strong> an ideal Thank God It’s<br />

Friday, TGIF, phone, the itel S32 seems<br />

apt for today’s Valent<strong>in</strong>e festivities. The<br />

Zealot S1<br />

The average Nigerian needs a<br />

fl<strong>as</strong>hlight and a charged phone.<br />

The average youth likes to have<br />

music handy, a charged phone<br />

and bl<strong>as</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g music are sometimes<br />

non-negotiable, hence, the Zealot<br />

S1.<br />

Described<br />

<strong>as</strong> a dope<br />

product with<br />

nice and<br />

loud beat, by<br />

consumers,<br />

this Bluetooth<br />

speaker<br />

goes several<br />

steps<br />

ahead to not<br />

just be water<br />

aga<strong>in</strong>st sudden cr<strong>as</strong>hes <strong>as</strong>sociated with<br />

heavy simultaneous apps usage, which<br />

some laptops cannot bo<strong>as</strong>t of hav<strong>in</strong>g. This<br />

is backed by a 64GB <strong>in</strong>ternal memory<br />

that is expandable to 128GB. Camera is<br />

16MP with a 13MP optical zoom.<br />

On a general note, it is advisable to<br />

stay with<strong>in</strong> the expandable ROM<br />

specifications so mobile devices do<br />

not develop fault or worse, cr<strong>as</strong>h.<br />

dual b<strong>as</strong>e speakers serve for a m<strong>in</strong>i<br />

party, just <strong>as</strong> its low light sett<strong>in</strong>gs<br />

allow for tak<strong>in</strong>g selfies <strong>in</strong> dim light.<br />

Furthermore, its wide angle camera<br />

makes selfies with friends<br />

seamless.<br />

Itel S32 is fitted with an Android<br />

7.0 (Nougat) operat<strong>in</strong>g system, a<br />

5.5 <strong>in</strong>ches screen, 3G network,<br />

a Quad-core 1.3 GHz<br />

processor, 1GB RAM, 8 MP<br />

back camera and 5MP front<br />

camera. Its 16GB ROM is<br />

expandable to 32 GB and it<br />

h<strong>as</strong> a whopp<strong>in</strong>g 3000 mAh<br />

removable Li-Ion battery to<br />

support extensive usage.<br />

Security can be by f<strong>in</strong>gerpr<strong>in</strong>t.<br />

With N32,500 the itel S32,<br />

which is available <strong>in</strong> Slot<br />

stores nationwide, can be<br />

used to not just wow a loved<br />

one but also show love to<br />

oneself.<br />

proof and impact-proof, it is also affordable<br />

with a m<strong>in</strong>imum of N5,000.<br />

Consumers went a step further to describe<br />

it <strong>as</strong> a product that gives more<br />

for less, a really handy product.<br />

Zealot S1 which is fitted with<br />

4000mAh battery, Bluetooth speakers<br />

with a transmission distance of 10<br />

meters, Mp3 Player, FM radio, auxiliary<br />

<strong>in</strong>put, memory card slot and a<br />

powerful built <strong>in</strong> fl<strong>as</strong>hlight, is available<br />

on Jumia and Konga onl<strong>in</strong>e stores<br />

and retail outlets nationwide.<br />

By Tare Youdeowei<br />

Manag<strong>in</strong>g Director,<br />

<strong>LG</strong> Electronics West<br />

Africa Operations, Mr. Taeick<br />

Son h<strong>as</strong> declared that<br />

<strong>LG</strong> h<strong>as</strong> <strong>in</strong> stock <strong>in</strong>novative<br />

user-friendly products designed<br />

to cater for their <strong>in</strong>dividual<br />

and collective<br />

needs dur<strong>in</strong>g the w<strong>in</strong>ter<br />

se<strong>as</strong>on and thereafter.<br />

He made this known <strong>in</strong><br />

a bid to allay the fears of<br />

consumers on how they<br />

would cope with the w<strong>in</strong>ter<br />

se<strong>as</strong>on. “We bo<strong>as</strong>t of ecofriendly<br />

products suitable<br />

enough for smart homes,<br />

that is what we are offer<strong>in</strong>g<br />

our highly esteemed consumers<br />

dur<strong>in</strong>g this se<strong>as</strong>on.<br />

<strong>LG</strong> Tw<strong>in</strong>w<strong>as</strong>h and Styler<br />

solutions would be very<br />

useful dur<strong>in</strong>g w<strong>in</strong>ter <strong>as</strong> it<br />

provides viable alternatives<br />

to professional cloth<strong>in</strong>g<br />

care.<br />

<strong>LG</strong> Styler<br />

“It is that time of the year<br />

when consumers make<br />

more use of thick coats,<br />

wool sweaters and loads of<br />

thermal underwear meant<br />

to protect them aga<strong>in</strong>st the<br />

cold weather. <strong>LG</strong> Tw<strong>in</strong>w<strong>as</strong>h<br />

h<strong>as</strong> the capacity to handle<br />

two separate loads simultaneously,<br />

allow<strong>in</strong>g users to<br />

conveniently w<strong>as</strong>h w<strong>in</strong>ter<br />

accessories such <strong>as</strong> hats<br />

and gloves <strong>in</strong> the m<strong>in</strong>i<br />

w<strong>as</strong>her seamlessly. The <strong>LG</strong><br />

Styler is a must have for<br />

consumers dur<strong>in</strong>g w<strong>in</strong>ter<br />

se<strong>as</strong>on because of its ability<br />

to handle wool materials<br />

that ord<strong>in</strong>arily cannot be<br />

w<strong>as</strong>hed <strong>in</strong> water. Interest<strong>in</strong>gly,<br />

styler prevents fabric<br />

damage by ensur<strong>in</strong>g the<br />

delicate treatment of cloth<strong>in</strong>g<br />

materials with its freshness<br />

<strong>in</strong>tact,” Son declared.<br />

For the W<strong>in</strong>ter Olympics,<br />

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2018—25<br />

Hammer may fall on <strong>in</strong>terconnect clear<strong>in</strong>g<br />

houses this week<br />

Cont<strong>in</strong>ued from page 24<br />

<strong>in</strong> the sector now.<br />

“Besides, we are still hav<strong>in</strong>g<br />

meet<strong>in</strong>gs with the NCC<br />

on this issue and have not<br />

concluded our meet<strong>in</strong>gs. I<br />

w<strong>as</strong> shocked to read <strong>in</strong> the<br />

papers that we have been<br />

<strong>in</strong>dicted without present<strong>in</strong>g<br />

to us any evidence of wrongdo<strong>in</strong>g.<br />

I still believe that there<br />

will be a middle ground on<br />

the issue because NCC is not<br />

known for tak<strong>in</strong>g such h<strong>as</strong>ty<br />

decisions”.<br />

Meanwhile, the NCC h<strong>as</strong><br />

also come out to recant its earlier<br />

position that the operators<br />

would lose their licenses,<br />

but <strong>in</strong>sisted there must be<br />

punishment. The commission’s<br />

Executive Commissioner,<br />

Stakeholders Management,<br />

Mr. Sunday Dare,<br />

recently <strong>in</strong> Lagos, disclosed<br />

that the NCC w<strong>as</strong> not go<strong>in</strong>g<br />

to take extreme action on the<br />

offenders even though actions<br />

must be taken.<br />

Accord<strong>in</strong>g to him, “The<br />

Commission is review<strong>in</strong>g the<br />

responses of the Interconnect<br />

Clear<strong>in</strong>ghouses on the<br />

allegations of call m<strong>as</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g.<br />

B<strong>as</strong>ed on their responses, the<br />

Commission will determ<strong>in</strong>e,<br />

which of the licenses would<br />

either be suspended or sanctioned,”<br />

he said.<br />

“For us, revocation would<br />

be the l<strong>as</strong>t resort because we<br />

want to ensure that the telecom<br />

<strong>in</strong>dustry rema<strong>in</strong>s<br />

healthy. The Interconnect<br />

Clear<strong>in</strong>ghouses are presently<br />

cooperat<strong>in</strong>g with us. We<br />

What <strong>LG</strong> Tw<strong>in</strong>w<strong>as</strong>h does for consumers<br />

dur<strong>in</strong>g w<strong>in</strong>ter<br />

Son said that lovers of sport<strong>in</strong>g<br />

activities who might not<br />

be able to physically be there<br />

NITRA set to host data centre<br />

operators<br />

By Pr<strong>in</strong>ce Osuagwu<br />

As the world <strong>in</strong>cre<strong>as</strong><br />

<strong>in</strong>gly exploits <strong>in</strong>formation<br />

technology for<br />

<strong>in</strong>novative services and<br />

competitive advantage,<br />

data centres are play<strong>in</strong>g<br />

a rapidly expand<strong>in</strong>g role<br />

<strong>in</strong> job creation and preservation<br />

<strong>as</strong> well <strong>as</strong> overall<br />

economic recovery.<br />

Closer to home, Nigeria<br />

h<strong>as</strong> witnessed significant<br />

<strong>in</strong>vestments <strong>in</strong><br />

data centres be<strong>in</strong>g established<br />

and it h<strong>as</strong> often<br />

been argued that the<br />

availability of world<br />

cl<strong>as</strong>s data centres <strong>in</strong> the<br />

country is critical <strong>in</strong>fr<strong>as</strong>tructure<br />

required for<br />

the implementation of<br />

the country’s broadband<br />

<strong>in</strong>itiatives.<br />

With this is m<strong>in</strong>d, Nigeria<br />

Information Technology<br />

Reporters Asso-<br />

might see some suspensions<br />

and sanctions <strong>in</strong> the<br />

next one week, but I don’t<br />

see revocation happen<strong>in</strong>g<br />

because we want to work<br />

with them, we don’t want to<br />

see any stress <strong>in</strong> the telecom<br />

<strong>in</strong>dustry.”<br />

The commission’s earlier<br />

statement had said: “In accordance<br />

with the provisions<br />

of the Nigerian Communications<br />

Act and its subsidiary<br />

regulations, the implicated<br />

licensees have been<br />

given till the 31st of January<br />

to show cause why the<br />

Commission should not either<br />

revoke or suspend their<br />

operat<strong>in</strong>g licenses <strong>in</strong> view<br />

of evidence of their <strong>in</strong>volvement<br />

at the disposal of the<br />

Commission and the security<br />

agencies.<br />

due to the<br />

bad weather<br />

do not<br />

have to<br />

worry because<br />

<strong>LG</strong><br />

h<strong>as</strong> them<br />

covered.<br />

“OLED TV<br />

will deliver<br />

the actions<br />

directly to<br />

respective<br />

liv<strong>in</strong>g<br />

rooms with<br />

lifelike images<br />

<strong>in</strong><br />

bolder colours<br />

and<br />

unrivalled<br />

picture quality. In terms of<br />

catch<strong>in</strong>g up with their favourite<br />

sports with live stream<strong>in</strong>g<br />

of events on mobile devices;<br />

<strong>LG</strong> G6 and V30 have<br />

•<strong>LG</strong> Styler<br />

the capacity to meet consumers’<br />

need."<br />

ciation, NITRA, is set to<br />

hold its February 2018<br />

edition of the monthly<br />

<strong>in</strong>teractive session with<br />

chief executive officers<br />

of Nigeria’s lead<strong>in</strong>g<br />

data centre service providers;<br />

Ma<strong>in</strong>One, Medallion<br />

Communications<br />

and Rack Centre, titled<br />

Breakf<strong>as</strong>t Meet<strong>in</strong>g with<br />

the CEO.<br />

Ms. Funke Opeke of<br />

Ma<strong>in</strong>One, Mr. Ike Nnamani<br />

of Medallion and<br />

Mr. Tunde Coker of Rack<br />

Centre, have <strong>in</strong>dicated<br />

that they will be present<br />

at the meet<strong>in</strong>g which<br />

will have over 50 journalists<br />

<strong>in</strong> attendance.<br />

The event is slated to<br />

hold on Friday, February<br />

16, 2018 at the R-Café<br />

Hotel at Isaac John<br />

Street, Ikeja GRA, Lagos.


26 —Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2018<br />

Valent<strong>in</strong>e: Make yourself the<br />

priority today. It is not selfish<br />

Until you value<br />

y o u r s e l f ,<br />

you will not value your<br />

time and until you<br />

value your time, you will not<br />

do anyth<strong>in</strong>g with it.<br />

The truth is that th<strong>in</strong>gs like<br />

email, Twitter, Facebook, onl<strong>in</strong>e<br />

forums, and chat-rooms are<br />

huge distractions that have<br />

almost taken the place of self<br />

care. Many Homemakers have<br />

taken solace <strong>in</strong> social media to<br />

w<strong>in</strong>d down after the stress of<br />

the day whether at work, <strong>in</strong> the<br />

office or at home, forgett<strong>in</strong>g<br />

that social media is bra<strong>in</strong><br />

t<strong>as</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g that should be taken<br />

<strong>as</strong> a full-time job. It's a<br />

bus<strong>in</strong>ess place to transact<br />

bus<strong>in</strong>ess for good<br />

money depend<strong>in</strong>g on<br />

what you go there to<br />

do <strong>as</strong> many fulltime<br />

Homemakers<br />

that are smart have<br />

become rich on<br />

social media.<br />

It is hard to love<br />

yourself if you never<br />

spend time with yourself.<br />

African m<strong>in</strong>dset of work<strong>in</strong>g<br />

round the clock throughout<br />

the year th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g it is the way<br />

to f<strong>in</strong>ancial breakthrough,<br />

may never give time for self<br />

care. The result is the alarm<strong>in</strong>g<br />

rate of health issues. The truth<br />

is, if <strong>as</strong> Homemakers, you don't<br />

value yourself by tak<strong>in</strong>g out<br />

time to care for self, nobody<br />

will do it for you.<br />

You should not see Valent<strong>in</strong>e <strong>as</strong><br />

a time to show love to your family<br />

or friends and neighbours alone,<br />

it is a time to show love to<br />

yourself if no one is show<strong>in</strong>g it to<br />

you.<br />

Today is a golden opportunity<br />

whether <strong>as</strong> s<strong>in</strong>gle or married<br />

Homemakers, to take time out to<br />

give yourself a treat.<br />

Everyth<strong>in</strong>g is not about go<strong>in</strong>g<br />

out to eateries or shopp<strong>in</strong>g malls,<br />

focus<strong>in</strong>g on romance or<br />

traditional ways of giv<strong>in</strong>g out<br />

gifts, renew<strong>in</strong>g your m<strong>in</strong>d today<br />

may be a good way to appreciate<br />

yourself and your family.<br />

Simple way to do it<br />

It a long tradition on Valent<strong>in</strong>e<br />

to say we love someone but have<br />

not taken time to say what we<br />

love about that person. You may<br />

want to <strong>in</strong>troduce to your family<br />

by writ<strong>in</strong>g what you love about<br />

yourselves on cardboard and<br />

The truth is, if<br />

<strong>as</strong><br />

Homemakers,<br />

you don't value<br />

yourself by<br />

tak<strong>in</strong>g out time<br />

to care for self,<br />

nobody will do<br />

it for you<br />

hang it where your friends or<br />

family will see it or may tell<br />

everyone <strong>in</strong> the family to write<br />

out what they like about<br />

themselves and hang it on the<br />

wall. Both read<strong>in</strong>g and writ<strong>in</strong>g<br />

would be enjoyed by everyone<br />

and the messages you send or<br />

hang on the wall is priceless.<br />

The joy you get from this<br />

exercise will l<strong>as</strong>t longer because<br />

it is an expression from the<br />

<strong>in</strong>side. Happ<strong>in</strong>ess is an <strong>in</strong>side<br />

job, express it. Valent<strong>in</strong>e’s Day<br />

is a time when people show<br />

feel<strong>in</strong>gs of love, affection and<br />

friendship. It is celebrated <strong>in</strong><br />

many ways worldwide and falls<br />

on February 14 each year.<br />

CONSUMER WATCH A place that makes you plan ahead<br />

Items Prices Items<br />

Prices<br />

Items Prices<br />

B<strong>as</strong>ket of Tomatoes N15,500 - N25,000<br />

A bag of Pepper (Rodo) N 10,000 - N18,000<br />

A bag of Long pepper N6, 500 – N7000<br />

A bag of Onions (white) N25, 000 – N35, 000<br />

A bag of Onions (Red) N20, 000- N26, 000<br />

50kg of long gra<strong>in</strong> Rice N14,000 - N14,500<br />

A derica of long gra<strong>in</strong> Rice N230 -N250<br />

50kg of short gra<strong>in</strong> Rice. N13,000 - N13,800<br />

A derica of short gra<strong>in</strong> Rice N230<br />

A crate of eggs N1,000<br />

A bag of Olotu beans N35,000 -N48,000<br />

A bag of Oloy<strong>in</strong><br />

N25,000 -N33,000<br />

A bag of Yam Flour (Elubo) N45, 000-N65,000<br />

A bag of Garri (Yellow) N7,000<br />

A pa<strong>in</strong>t bucket N600<br />

A bag of Ijebu Garri N6000 - N7000<br />

A pa<strong>in</strong>t bucket<br />

N500<br />

25 Litres of Vegetable Oil N11,000- N11,500<br />

10 Litres N6,500-N 7,000<br />

25 Litres of Palm Oil N12,500<br />

5Litres of Palm Oil N2,300 -N2,400<br />

Salt<br />

N80-N150<br />

Noodles- 70g<br />

N1500- N1970<br />

Spaghetti (1packet) N190-N200<br />

Macaroni(1packet) N180<br />

Semovita (10kg) N2,800- N3,000<br />

Pampers (cartons of 8) N3, 400<br />

Se<strong>as</strong>on<strong>in</strong>gs<br />

N110 – N500<br />

Tomato p<strong>as</strong>te (2,200g) N1200-N1500<br />

Tomato p<strong>as</strong>te (Medium) N550-N700<br />

Tomato p<strong>as</strong>te(small) N150-N350<br />

Tomato sachet (a roll) N250 –N300<br />

Pack of toilet roll (48pieces) N1,800-N2,300<br />

A Satchet of milk N30-N50<br />

A Sachet of beverage N45-N50<br />

Toothp<strong>as</strong>te<br />

N270-N300<br />

5 Litres of Keros<strong>in</strong>e N1,100<br />

12.5kg Cook<strong>in</strong>g g<strong>as</strong> N4, 000<br />

Yam (1 tuber).<br />

N400- N800<br />

Ugu Leaf (a bundle) N3, 500 – N4,000<br />

A dozen of tied Ugu Leaf N1,800,<br />

Mo<strong>in</strong>-Mo<strong>in</strong> Leaf (a dozen)N800, 1 pack- N100<br />

Carton Titus ice Fish N19,000<br />

1 Carton of Kote ice fish N16,200<br />

1 Carton of Sawa ice fish N10, 000, 1Kg-N600


Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2018—27


28— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2018<br />

Ezeife advises Igbos<br />

to th<strong>in</strong>k home<br />

C<br />

M<br />

Y<br />

K<br />

VOL. 2 NO. 18<br />

ABAKALIKI-IT w<strong>as</strong><br />

<strong>in</strong>deed a show of<br />

patriotism, dedication<br />

to duty and call to secure the<br />

future of the younger<br />

generation that compelled<br />

Ebonyi State Government <strong>in</strong><br />

collaboration with the<br />

Nigerian Army, the Nigeria<br />

Police Force and Department<br />

of Security Services, DSS,<br />

Wednesday, to clamp down on<br />

the activities of illegal m<strong>in</strong>ers<br />

<strong>in</strong> the state.<br />

These categories of persons<br />

had over the years, before the<br />

com<strong>in</strong>g on board of the<br />

Governor David Umahi-led<br />

adm<strong>in</strong>istration, been ripp<strong>in</strong>g<br />

off the state illegally by<br />

mak<strong>in</strong>g huge f<strong>in</strong>ancial ga<strong>in</strong>s<br />

without recourse to the law<br />

govern<strong>in</strong>g such operations <strong>in</strong><br />

the state.<br />

Ebonyi, without m<strong>in</strong>c<strong>in</strong>g<br />

words, is rich <strong>in</strong> granite, z<strong>in</strong>c,<br />

lead, salt, limestone, oxide,<br />

among other natural deposits<br />

and because of its richness<br />

and naivety before Engr.<br />

David Umahi resumed office<br />

<strong>as</strong> governor of the state, many<br />

disgruntled elements who<br />

only th<strong>in</strong>k about their<br />

personal ga<strong>in</strong>s without the<br />

collective <strong>in</strong>terest of Ebonyi<br />

people decided to go on<br />

rampage, mak<strong>in</strong>g earn<strong>in</strong>gs<br />

without the noticeable <strong>in</strong>puts<br />

of state government.<br />

React<strong>in</strong>g to this ugly trend,<br />

the Governor had threatened<br />

to stop the salaries of any<br />

traditional ruler who failed to<br />

furnish the state government<br />

with the location and records<br />

of its m<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g sites <strong>in</strong> the state.<br />

Some traditional rulers and<br />

stakeholders <strong>in</strong> some local<br />

government are<strong>as</strong> of the state,<br />

<strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g Abakaliki, Izzi,<br />

Onicha, Ivo, among others,<br />

are allegedly collect<strong>in</strong>g<br />

revenues from illegal m<strong>in</strong>ers<br />

without the consent of the<br />

state government.<br />

The governor who handed<br />

down the warn<strong>in</strong>g dur<strong>in</strong>g the<br />

hand<strong>in</strong>g over of staffs of office<br />

to some traditional rulers <strong>in</strong><br />

three local government are<strong>as</strong><br />

of the state and swear<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong><br />

of liaison officers at the Akanu<br />

Ibiam International<br />

Conference Centre, Abakaliki,<br />

stressed that his<br />

adm<strong>in</strong>istration would not<br />

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2018<br />

IGR: How security operatives<br />

clamped down on 16 illegal<br />

m<strong>in</strong>ers, 6 expatriates <strong>in</strong> Ebonyi<br />

•a soldier told me if I go near, he will shoot me – SA<br />

on Solid m<strong>in</strong>erals<br />

•it could be someone wear<strong>in</strong>g military camouflage,<br />

not a soldier – Cantonment commander<br />

By Peter Okutu<br />

*Arrested illegal m<strong>in</strong>ers<br />

mortgage the future of Ebonyi<br />

children on the platter of<br />

greed and selfishness.<br />

He said: “We have been<br />

hav<strong>in</strong>g battles with those who<br />

are m<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> Ebonyi State<br />

without pay<strong>in</strong>g their levies to<br />

us; these people are work<strong>in</strong>g<br />

under the cover of the<br />

traditional rulers. We want to<br />

let you know that I mean<br />

bus<strong>in</strong>ess. I want the chairman<br />

of the Traditional Rulers<br />

Council to note that <strong>in</strong> the<br />

month of February, any<br />

traditional ruler that fails to<br />

give me all the m<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g po<strong>in</strong>ts<br />

<strong>in</strong> his community, I will stop<br />

the person’s salary and I will<br />

be mov<strong>in</strong>g towards his staff of<br />

office.<br />

“We can’t eat the future of<br />

our children. If we cont<strong>in</strong>ue<br />

like this, the future of our<br />

children will be eroded. We<br />

can’t allow that. So let me<br />

warn the traditional rulers;<br />

you have to submit all the<br />

m<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g po<strong>in</strong>ts <strong>in</strong> your<br />

communities.<br />

“Commissioner for Local<br />

Government, Okoronkwo;<br />

will have to hold a meet<strong>in</strong>g<br />

with them and let them know<br />

of my warn<strong>in</strong>g, because <strong>in</strong><br />

February, I will stop their<br />

salaries and then <strong>in</strong> March, I<br />

will be mov<strong>in</strong>g towards their<br />

— Pg. 29<br />

Site of illegal m<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g<br />

staffs of office. This is very<br />

important; all the m<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g sites<br />

with their phone numbers and<br />

locations must be made<br />

available to us.”<br />

Those arrested <strong>in</strong> connection<br />

with the d<strong>as</strong>tardly act <strong>in</strong> the<br />

recent raid coord<strong>in</strong>ated by<br />

security operatives at Echara<br />

Unuhu <strong>in</strong> Abakaliki Local<br />

Government Area of the state<br />

<strong>in</strong>cluded six Ch<strong>in</strong>ese and 16<br />

other persons suspected to be<br />

responsible for the illegal<br />

operations <strong>in</strong> the area.<br />

Speak<strong>in</strong>g with South-E<strong>as</strong>t<br />

Voice, the Senior Special<br />

Adviser, SSA, to Governor<br />

David Umahi on Internal<br />

Security, Dr. Kenneth Ugbala<br />

who condemned the activities<br />

of illegal m<strong>in</strong>ers across the<br />

state noted that the state<br />

government would no longer<br />

fold its arms and allow the<br />

fortunes of the state to end up<br />

<strong>in</strong> private pockets.<br />

“The future of this state is at<br />

stake because of the activities<br />

of these illegal m<strong>in</strong>ers. I have<br />

the privilege of be<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> Ch<strong>in</strong>a<br />

and Ch<strong>in</strong>ese don’t tamper<br />

with their environment no<br />

matter what the problem may<br />

be. With the type of problem<br />

created here <strong>in</strong> the name of<br />

m<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g, it is possible that this<br />

tunnel they created must have<br />

p<strong>as</strong>sed underground to<br />

Excitement <strong>in</strong> Anambra <strong>as</strong> work<br />

beg<strong>in</strong>s on abandoned Otuocha-<br />

Anam – Kogi federal road<br />

BY VINCENT UJUMADU<br />

AWKA -THERE w<strong>as</strong><br />

excitement <strong>in</strong> Anambra<br />

West Local Government Area of<br />

Anambra State follow<strong>in</strong>g the<br />

return to site of the contractor<br />

handl<strong>in</strong>g the Otuocha-Anam-<br />

Kogi federal road abandoned<br />

several years ago.<br />

Before the project w<strong>as</strong><br />

abandoned <strong>in</strong> 2009, a<br />

whopp<strong>in</strong>g N2.5 billion w<strong>as</strong> said<br />

to have been spent on the road<br />

with noth<strong>in</strong>g to show for it.<br />

However, follow<strong>in</strong>g the efforts<br />

of the member represent<strong>in</strong>g<br />

Anambra E<strong>as</strong>t and West <strong>in</strong> the<br />

House of Representatives, Dr.<br />

Tony Nwoye, who facilitated<br />

the rele<strong>as</strong>e of funds to the<br />

contractor by the executive arm<br />

of government, work h<strong>as</strong><br />

resumed <strong>in</strong> earnest.<br />

Nwoye, who <strong>in</strong>spected the<br />

project with officials of the<br />

Federal M<strong>in</strong>istry of Works and<br />

community leaders <strong>in</strong> the area<br />

said the National Assembly h<strong>as</strong><br />

approved N1.8 billion to be<br />

spent on the road this fiscal<br />

year, with <strong>as</strong>surance that funds<br />

would cont<strong>in</strong>ue to be rele<strong>as</strong>ed<br />

to ensure that work would<br />

cont<strong>in</strong>ue ce<strong>as</strong>elessly until it w<strong>as</strong><br />

completed.<br />

When South-E<strong>as</strong>t Voice<br />

visited the area, the contractor,<br />

Nigercat Ltd, w<strong>as</strong> work<strong>in</strong>g on<br />

a major bridge along the<br />

road. It is expected that when<br />

completed, journey from<br />

Anambra State to Abuja would<br />

be reduced to about three<br />

hours, <strong>in</strong>stead of about seven<br />

hours which it presently takes<br />

from Anambra, through Enugu<br />

to Benue and then Kogi to<br />

Abuja.<br />

Hon. Nwoye said he decided<br />

to make the road his<br />

constituency priority project<br />

because the people of the area,<br />

who are ma<strong>in</strong>ly farmers, were<br />

suffer<strong>in</strong>g so much <strong>as</strong> they often<br />

found it difficult to transport<br />

their produce to the cities at the<br />

end of every farm<strong>in</strong>g se<strong>as</strong>on<br />

due to bad roads.<br />

Nwoye said: “This is not a<br />

political matter. It is someth<strong>in</strong>g<br />

that is very dear to me because<br />

I remember the support the<br />

people of Anambra West gave<br />

me when I contested election.<br />

“I have been meet<strong>in</strong>g<br />

stakeholders to f<strong>in</strong>d a solution<br />

to the road <strong>as</strong> I am determ<strong>in</strong>ed<br />

to ensure its completion and I<br />

am very happy that the<br />

contractors have moved to site.<br />

“We <strong>in</strong>spected this road on<br />

Cont<strong>in</strong>ues on Page 29<br />

Government House and every<br />

other place that Ebonyi<br />

people are liv<strong>in</strong>g.<br />

“So, what do we expect? A<br />

total collapse! When we are<br />

liv<strong>in</strong>g up, another road is<br />

underground <strong>in</strong> the name of<br />

m<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g and there is no society<br />

or environment or state that<br />

this type of th<strong>in</strong>g is seen. It is<br />

not <strong>as</strong> if they pay IGR and<br />

when you come to IGR, what<br />

type of IGR will even be more<br />

important than the future of<br />

our children and the entire<br />

people of the state? We will<br />

make sure that we fish out all<br />

these people. As SSA on<br />

<strong>in</strong>ternal security, I am see<strong>in</strong>g<br />

this th<strong>in</strong>g for the first time. It<br />

is a threat to our<br />

environment,” he said.<br />

On her part, Special<br />

Adviser to Governor Umahi<br />

on Solid M<strong>in</strong>eral<br />

Development, Mrs.<br />

Nwakaego Nworie said she<br />

had visited the site with<br />

geological experts and that<br />

the m<strong>in</strong>ers allowed them to<br />

enter only the premises but<br />

prevented them from<br />

carry<strong>in</strong>g out a holistic<br />

overview of their activities.<br />

“I became very curious and<br />

<strong>in</strong>sisted that I must see the<br />

whole site. As I moved <strong>in</strong>side<br />

the site, I got to a place and a<br />

soldier blocked me and<br />

threatened to shoot me if I<br />

moved any further. The<br />

soldier told me, 'don’t go to<br />

that extreme.' That day, I saw<br />

the tunnel even though I w<strong>as</strong><br />

prevented from go<strong>in</strong>g close to<br />

it.<br />

“Today, I am overwhelmed<br />

that I have seen the tunnel of<br />

m<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g for the first time <strong>in</strong> my<br />

life. I made <strong>in</strong>vestigation to<br />

know if our office is aware of<br />

this tunnel and no one could<br />

give me <strong>in</strong>formation. Before<br />

an underground m<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g can<br />

take place, there must be a<br />

bye-law and mutual<br />

agreement between the host<br />

state and <strong>in</strong>vestor. But now,<br />

we are not aware of<br />

underground here and it is<br />

worrisome,” she said.<br />

One of the suspects,<br />

Nnamdi Peter who hails from<br />

Enugu said he h<strong>as</strong> worked <strong>in</strong><br />

the m<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g tunnel for three<br />

months.<br />

“In the first place, I don’t<br />

know this is illegal m<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g. If<br />

it is illegal, I wouldn’t have<br />

been work<strong>in</strong>g here. The<br />

company should have carried<br />

out Environmental Impact<br />

Assessment (EIA) with<br />

NESRA before embark<strong>in</strong>g on<br />

this type of m<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g.”


Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2018 —29<br />

Ezeife advises<br />

Igbos to th<strong>in</strong>k home<br />

*Miss Ch<strong>in</strong>yere Maria Okparauzoma from Ez<strong>in</strong>ifite, w<strong>in</strong>ner<br />

of Miss Mbanese 2018 receiv<strong>in</strong>g her certificate from<br />

organisers of the beauty pageant.<br />

By Chimaobi Nwaiwu<br />

Nnewi: First Executive<br />

Governor of Anambra<br />

State, Dr Chukwuemeke<br />

Ezeife, h<strong>as</strong> called on the<br />

people of South-E<strong>as</strong>t Region<br />

and Igbo people <strong>in</strong> general,<br />

to revitalise the 'th<strong>in</strong>k home'<br />

philosophy that seem to be<br />

dw<strong>in</strong>dl<strong>in</strong>g among them.<br />

Speak<strong>in</strong>g dur<strong>in</strong>g the Miss<br />

Ada Mbanese 2018 Beauty<br />

Pageant organised by a<br />

Lagos-b<strong>as</strong>ed enterta<strong>in</strong>ment<br />

and event promotion<br />

company, Elephant Town<br />

Enterta<strong>in</strong>ment, Dr Ezeife also<br />

called on the Igbos to ensure<br />

that no <strong>as</strong>pect of their culture<br />

and tradition is allowed to go<br />

<strong>in</strong>to ext<strong>in</strong>ction.<br />

He also warned the Igbos<br />

aga<strong>in</strong>st neglect<strong>in</strong>g the Igbo<br />

language for foreign<br />

languages, say<strong>in</strong>g that such<br />

situations can make the Igbo<br />

race lose respect <strong>in</strong> the<br />

committee of tribes <strong>in</strong> Nigeria<br />

and <strong>in</strong> the Di<strong>as</strong>pora.<br />

Ezeife, who w<strong>as</strong> the Special<br />

Guest of honour dur<strong>in</strong>g the<br />

occ<strong>as</strong>ion, told South-E<strong>as</strong>t<br />

Voice, SEV that some of the<br />

cultures, traditions and other<br />

social activities that are<br />

<strong>as</strong>sociated with the Igbo like,<br />

New yam festival, Ofala<br />

Festival, August meet<strong>in</strong>g,<br />

M<strong>as</strong>s return<strong>in</strong>g ceremonies,<br />

beauty contests etc., must be<br />

THE TEAM<br />

SUPERVISING EDITOR:<br />

Chioma Gabriel, Lagos<br />

(08052201257)<br />

EDITOR:<br />

Emeka Mamah, Enugu<br />

email:<br />

emekemamah@yahoo.com<br />

Anayo Okoli, Umuahia<br />

V<strong>in</strong>cent Ujumadu, Awka<br />

Chidi Nkwopara, Owerri<br />

Peter Okutu, Abakaliki<br />

Chimaobi Nwaiwu,<br />

Nnewi<br />

Nwabueze Okonkwo,<br />

Onitsha<br />

Ugochukwu Alaribe, Aba<br />

Enyim Enyim, Onitsha<br />

Ch<strong>in</strong>oso Alozie, Owerri<br />

Ch<strong>in</strong>enye Ozor, Nsukka<br />

Eric Ugbor, Aba<br />

promoted by the people of<br />

South-E<strong>as</strong>tRegion and Igbos<br />

<strong>in</strong> general.<br />

Emph<strong>as</strong>iz<strong>in</strong>g on<br />

ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g the 'th<strong>in</strong>k home'<br />

philosophy, Dr Ezeife said,<br />

“Many decades ago, I told our<br />

people of the need to ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong><br />

the 'th<strong>in</strong>k home' philosophy <strong>in</strong><br />

anyth<strong>in</strong>g they are do<strong>in</strong>g, and<br />

when I w<strong>as</strong> be<strong>in</strong>g sworn <strong>in</strong> <strong>as</strong><br />

Governor of Anambra State,<br />

the address I presented, the<br />

title w<strong>as</strong> Th<strong>in</strong>k Home, Invest<br />

at home.<br />

“You can <strong>in</strong>vest <strong>in</strong> Port<br />

Excitement <strong>in</strong> Anambra <strong>as</strong> work beg<strong>in</strong>s on<br />

abandoned Otuocha- Anam – Kogi Federal road<br />

Cont<strong>in</strong>ues from Page 28<br />

December 7, 2017 with officials<br />

of the Federal M<strong>in</strong>istry of<br />

Works because I am very much<br />

worried about its condition. The<br />

people of this local government<br />

are the most marg<strong>in</strong>alised <strong>in</strong><br />

the state and I believe that<br />

open<strong>in</strong>g up this road will help<br />

to boost the economy of the<br />

people of the area.<br />

“Through my efforts, N800<br />

million w<strong>as</strong> approved <strong>in</strong> the<br />

2017 budget and N1 billion <strong>in</strong><br />

the 2018 budget for the road and<br />

by God’s grace, more money<br />

will be <strong>in</strong>jected <strong>in</strong>to the project<br />

once the N1.8 billion is<br />

exhausted.<br />

“The <strong>as</strong>surance we have got<br />

is that funds will cont<strong>in</strong>ue to be<br />

rele<strong>as</strong>ed on regular b<strong>as</strong>is until<br />

the work is completed. Part of<br />

the re<strong>as</strong>on I am determ<strong>in</strong>ed to<br />

see this project through is that<br />

the people gave me maximum<br />

support even when one of their<br />

sons contested election with<br />

me.<br />

“My happ<strong>in</strong>ess is that people<br />

of this area will be provid<strong>in</strong>g<br />

the materials needed by the<br />

contractors and this will help<br />

the affected families one way<br />

or the other.<br />

“Once this road is completed,<br />

this area will open up to<br />

commercial activities. I<br />

commend the M<strong>in</strong>ister of<br />

Works, the permanent secretary<br />

and the chairman of the works<br />

committee <strong>in</strong> the House of<br />

Representatives, Honourable<br />

Toby Okechukwu and the<br />

Speaker of House of<br />

*Miss Ch<strong>in</strong>yere Maria Okparauzoma and other w<strong>in</strong>ners<br />

with the organisers <strong>in</strong> a group photograph.<br />

Harcourt, you can <strong>in</strong>vest <strong>in</strong><br />

Kano, Lagos and Abuja but<br />

also <strong>in</strong>vest <strong>in</strong> Igboland. To put<br />

<strong>in</strong> practice what I said, we<br />

established Th<strong>in</strong>k Home<br />

Estate <strong>in</strong> Awka. Today, it h<strong>as</strong><br />

become a norm that we must<br />

th<strong>in</strong>k home and establish our<br />

bus<strong>in</strong>esses at home while we<br />

are also do<strong>in</strong>g so outside<br />

home.<br />

“We must <strong>in</strong>vest at home to<br />

have someth<strong>in</strong>g to retire and<br />

fall back on when we leave<br />

the towns, that is what I like<br />

about Nnewi <strong>in</strong>vestors, the<br />

head <strong>offices</strong> or headquarters<br />

Representatives, Honourable<br />

Yakubu Dogara for their<br />

support and efforts to see that<br />

the project is completed <strong>in</strong><br />

record time.”<br />

He urged the people of the<br />

local government to cooperate<br />

with the contractors so that it<br />

would be made motorable<br />

before the ra<strong>in</strong>s set <strong>in</strong> and<br />

appealed to the villagers not to<br />

<strong>in</strong>undate the contractors with<br />

unnecessary demands so that<br />

they could concentrate on the<br />

job.<br />

He also urged the contractors<br />

to do quality job to justify the<br />

effort of the Federal<br />

Government headed by<br />

President Muhammadu<br />

Buhari.<br />

Chief Emma Nnacho, a<br />

community leader <strong>in</strong> the area<br />

expressed gratitude to Nwoye<br />

say<strong>in</strong>g: “We are grateful to you<br />

for ensur<strong>in</strong>g that this road<br />

project f<strong>in</strong>ally takes off. We will<br />

ever rema<strong>in</strong> grateful to you. A<br />

good representative is one who<br />

remembers his people. You<br />

have cont<strong>in</strong>ued to empower the<br />

people despite the outcome of<br />

the November 18, 2017<br />

governorship election.”<br />

The traditional ruler of<br />

Ukwala, Igwe Joseph Ajodu<br />

recalled that after the<br />

presentation of the 2016 budget<br />

and the road w<strong>as</strong> not reflected,<br />

the royal fathers <strong>in</strong> the area<br />

sent delegation to the Senator<br />

represent<strong>in</strong>g Anambra North,<br />

Pr<strong>in</strong>cess Stella Oduah and<br />

Honourable Nwoye<br />

compla<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g about non<strong>in</strong>clusion<br />

of the road <strong>in</strong> the<br />

of their bus<strong>in</strong>esses are <strong>in</strong><br />

Nnewi while their ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong><br />

branch <strong>offices</strong> are outside<br />

Nnewi.<br />

“I thank the organisers of<br />

this pageant for us<strong>in</strong>g it to<br />

promote Igbo language,<br />

culture and traditions. I urge<br />

you to keep it up. I am here<br />

because I am impressed with<br />

what they are do<strong>in</strong>g,” he<br />

added.<br />

The beauty pageant w<strong>as</strong><br />

organised for five<br />

communities of Mbanese,<br />

namely: Akwaihedi, Ebenator,<br />

*Traditional rulers from Anambra West dur<strong>in</strong>g the meet<strong>in</strong>g<br />

with Honourable Tony Nwoye<br />

*Representative of Nigercat brief<strong>in</strong>g Nwoye and community<br />

leaders at the project site.<br />

budget and urged them to do<br />

someth<strong>in</strong>g about it consider<strong>in</strong>g<br />

the importance of the road to<br />

the people of the area.<br />

Igwe Ajodu said Nwoye<br />

promised that the road would<br />

be accommodated <strong>in</strong> the<br />

supplementary budget and<br />

expressed joy that he w<strong>as</strong> able<br />

to facilitate the <strong>in</strong>clusion of the<br />

road <strong>in</strong> this year’s budget.<br />

Ez<strong>in</strong>ifite, Osumenyi and<br />

Utuh, all <strong>in</strong> Nnewi South<br />

Local Government Area of<br />

Anambra State.<br />

It started with camp<strong>in</strong>g of all<br />

the contestants at Odiri Social<br />

Club, Osumenyi, where they<br />

gathered before a tour around<br />

the notable places <strong>in</strong> Mbanese<br />

Zone.<br />

They also paid a courtesy<br />

visit to former President-<br />

General of Ebenator Town,<br />

Mr. Esomonu who lectured<br />

them for more than an hour<br />

about Mbanese and other<br />

cultures and traditions of the<br />

community and th<strong>in</strong>gs that<br />

generally affect the<br />

community.<br />

Meanwhile, a f<strong>in</strong>al-year<br />

student of University of<br />

Calabar, Miss Ch<strong>in</strong>yere<br />

Maria Okparauzoma from<br />

Ez<strong>in</strong>ifite, Nnewi South Local<br />

Government Area of Anambra<br />

State emerged the w<strong>in</strong>ner of<br />

Miss (Ada) Mbanese 2018.<br />

Miss Rebecca Ikpo from<br />

Ez<strong>in</strong>ifite, a f<strong>in</strong>al-year student<br />

of Nnamdi Azikiwe<br />

University, Awka emerged the<br />

1st runner up, while Miss<br />

Dara Amara from Akwaihedi,<br />

a graduate of Computer<br />

Science from Nnamdi<br />

Azikiwe University Awka,<br />

became the 2nd runner up.<br />

Chief Sylvester Okeke,<br />

President of Anam People’s<br />

Forum <strong>in</strong> his speech said: “We<br />

are not surprised at the<br />

achievements and projects you<br />

are attract<strong>in</strong>g to our area. But<br />

we hope the road will not be<br />

abandoned. This is the only<br />

road we have requested<br />

government to complete for<br />

us.”


30—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2018


Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2018—31<br />

sam@starteamconsult.com<br />

PMB’s first official visit to the<br />

South E<strong>as</strong>t & matters aris<strong>in</strong>g<br />

LAST week President<br />

Muhammadu Buhari<br />

(PMB) visited the South E<strong>as</strong>t for<br />

the first time s<strong>in</strong>ce he became<br />

President of the Federal Republic<br />

of Nigeria two and half years ago.<br />

W<strong>as</strong> he on a genu<strong>in</strong>e state visit<br />

or w<strong>as</strong> he on a campaign<br />

mission? Some people believe he<br />

w<strong>as</strong> on a campaign mission to<br />

Anambra State to support the<br />

gubernatorial ambition of his APC<br />

party flag-bearer, Mr. Tony<br />

Nwoye.<br />

Such people believe that the<br />

visit to Ebonyi State w<strong>as</strong> an after<br />

thought, a camouflage. To buttress<br />

their view po<strong>in</strong>t, they remarked<br />

that if a presidential visit w<strong>as</strong><br />

actually planned for Ebonyi State,<br />

the president would not just<br />

ma<strong>in</strong>ly be commission<strong>in</strong>g fly<br />

overs and lay<strong>in</strong>g foundation for<br />

new fly overs! Nevertheless, that<br />

this is the President’s first visit to<br />

the South E<strong>as</strong>t geo-political zone<br />

after 30 months <strong>in</strong> office tells a<br />

lot. It emph<strong>as</strong>izes the rank<strong>in</strong>g of<br />

the South E<strong>as</strong>t <strong>in</strong> the priority of<br />

Mr President.<br />

I am aware that the President<br />

had visited all the other five<br />

geopolitical zones, some more<br />

than once and only comes to the<br />

South E<strong>as</strong>t l<strong>as</strong>t and essentially on<br />

a campaign trip. This is <strong>in</strong><br />

synchrony with the way PMB h<strong>as</strong><br />

treated the South E<strong>as</strong>t s<strong>in</strong>ce he<br />

came to office. Despite his<br />

denials, the President h<strong>as</strong><br />

discrim<strong>in</strong>ated aga<strong>in</strong>st the South<br />

E<strong>as</strong>t <strong>in</strong> many respects but much<br />

more evidently <strong>in</strong> appo<strong>in</strong>tments.<br />

He had said he would treat those<br />

who gave him 97 per cent<br />

differently from those who gave<br />

him five per cent and he h<strong>as</strong><br />

largely rema<strong>in</strong>ed true to his<br />

words. It is necessary to cont<strong>in</strong>ue<br />

to rem<strong>in</strong>d him that appo<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g<br />

South E<strong>as</strong>terners <strong>as</strong> m<strong>in</strong>isters w<strong>as</strong><br />

not a discretionary matter.<br />

He is compelled by the<br />

constitution to do so. His<br />

discrim<strong>in</strong>ation is evident <strong>in</strong> his<br />

discretionary appo<strong>in</strong>tments -<br />

Army chief, Navy chief, Airforce<br />

chief, Chief of Defence Staff, IGP,<br />

NSA, COS, SGF, head of DSS,<br />

head of NIA, head of FRSC, Civil<br />

Defence and all the key board<br />

appo<strong>in</strong>tments and leadership of<br />

par<strong>as</strong>tatals of government -<br />

NNPC, NPA, NBC, FAAN,<br />

NCAA etc, etc. Most other<br />

objective Nigerians <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g<br />

Northerners and South<br />

Westerners have po<strong>in</strong>ted out this<br />

glar<strong>in</strong>g anomaly and it seems that<br />

PMB is the only one who seems<br />

not to see this patent<br />

Despite his denials,<br />

the President h<strong>as</strong><br />

discrim<strong>in</strong>ated aga<strong>in</strong>st<br />

the South E<strong>as</strong>t <strong>in</strong><br />

many respects but<br />

much more evidently<br />

<strong>in</strong> appo<strong>in</strong>tments<br />

discrim<strong>in</strong>ation aga<strong>in</strong>st the SE<br />

people.<br />

What ever may have been said,<br />

I believe that it w<strong>as</strong> good that<br />

the President visited the South<br />

E<strong>as</strong>t. As a believer-<strong>in</strong>-chief <strong>in</strong> the<br />

unity and <strong>in</strong>divisibility of Nigeria,<br />

he needs to do a lot to practice<br />

what he preaches. I have urged<br />

him along this l<strong>in</strong>e endlessly. This<br />

visit, though a small step, I<br />

believe is a step <strong>in</strong> the right<br />

direction. He himself said that his<br />

presence <strong>in</strong> Ebonyi w<strong>as</strong> ‘a<br />

demonstration of my strong belief<br />

<strong>in</strong> unity of Nigeria.” It allowed<br />

him the opportunity to listen to<br />

the needs and challenges of the<br />

people which Dr. Nnia Nwodo,<br />

the President General of<br />

Ohanaeze Ndigbo amply reeled<br />

out at the reception for PMB <strong>in</strong><br />

Enugu before he proceeded to<br />

Abakaliki.<br />

Dr. Nwodo added "these<br />

problems predated your<br />

adm<strong>in</strong>istration but have reached<br />

a qu<strong>in</strong>tessence under your<br />

watch.” It probably also gave him<br />

the opportunity to see some of the<br />

problems for himself. Hence his<br />

re<strong>as</strong>surance, that he h<strong>as</strong> made<br />

provisions <strong>in</strong> the 2018 budget to<br />

address the issues of state of<br />

roads, power, agriculture and<br />

social services <strong>in</strong> the region just<br />

<strong>as</strong> he had promised leaders of<br />

the South E<strong>as</strong>t who met with him<br />

<strong>in</strong> Abuja <strong>in</strong> October.<br />

I do not know how PMB feels<br />

after the visit. He had official<br />

warm reception <strong>in</strong> Enugu and<br />

Ebonyi states. The crowd w<strong>as</strong><br />

there to welcome him. The<br />

traditional rulers gave him two<br />

chiefta<strong>in</strong>cy titles: Enyi Oha 1<br />

(friend of the community) and<br />

Ochi Oha (leader of the people).<br />

Governor Umahi w<strong>as</strong> effusive <strong>in</strong><br />

his praise of PMB and gave him<br />

a gift of 2000 bags of Ebonyi Rice<br />

and 2000 tubers of Abakaliki yams,<br />

mimick<strong>in</strong>g if not better<strong>in</strong>g<br />

Solomon’s sacrifice of 1000 rams<br />

to God.<br />

I hope that did not cause excess<br />

luggage problem for the<br />

president. May be there were<br />

some Onitsha traders nearby who<br />

could e<strong>as</strong>ily have monetized the<br />

gift to solve the problem, that is if<br />

there w<strong>as</strong> any. But on reflection,<br />

PMB would have realized that the<br />

people of the South E<strong>as</strong>t do not<br />

hate him per se. What they hate<br />

is the way he h<strong>as</strong> been treat<strong>in</strong>g<br />

them. I can <strong>as</strong>sure him that if he<br />

changes his attitude to the<br />

people, beg<strong>in</strong>s to treat them <strong>as</strong><br />

equal citizens of Nigeria, listens<br />

to their compla<strong>in</strong>ts and takes<br />

genu<strong>in</strong>e me<strong>as</strong>ures to resolve their<br />

problems, they would respond<br />

positively just <strong>as</strong> some did l<strong>as</strong>t<br />

week when he made his maiden<br />

presidential visit to the South<br />

E<strong>as</strong>t. Send<strong>in</strong>g Python dancers to<br />

suppress their compla<strong>in</strong>ts is<br />

certa<strong>in</strong>ly not the best way to w<strong>in</strong><br />

the confidence of the people.<br />

PMB had often <strong>as</strong>ked what the<br />

Igbo wanted. I do not know if he<br />

h<strong>as</strong> now received the answers. I<br />

am not an Igbo spokesperson but<br />

I am Igbo and I do feel the pa<strong>in</strong>s<br />

of the Igbo. But the truth of the<br />

matter is that what the Igbo want<br />

is not different from what other<br />

ethnic groups want- justice, equity<br />

and fair play. The day PMB<br />

beg<strong>in</strong>s to demonstrate this <strong>in</strong><br />

action, that day, he will become a<br />

hero and w<strong>in</strong> back the m<strong>in</strong>ds of<br />

many Igbo and <strong>in</strong>deed all other<br />

Nigerians who currently feel<br />

alienated. I hope he visits more,<br />

fulfills his promises and<br />

demonstrates true love for the<br />

Igbo if at all possible.<br />

What should the contradictions of<br />

the Buhari presidency tell us?<br />

Y now it should be very obvious to<br />

BNigerians that the Buhari presidency<br />

is totally off course and is probably beyond<br />

redemption correct<strong>in</strong>g its observable<br />

deficiencies. Which may expla<strong>in</strong> why the<br />

Northern Elders Forum are already look<strong>in</strong>g<br />

beyond him and are actively shopp<strong>in</strong>g for<br />

a possible replacement <strong>in</strong> order to reta<strong>in</strong><br />

and get another northerner to complete<br />

what is left of the Buhari presidency post<br />

2019. The fact that more politicians<br />

younger than the president are position<strong>in</strong>g<br />

themselves on the sidel<strong>in</strong>e to replace the<br />

f<strong>as</strong>t age<strong>in</strong>g Buhari also speaks to the<br />

situation. But it would take someth<strong>in</strong>g equal<br />

to superhuman agency to get the regime<br />

back on course <strong>as</strong> it cont<strong>in</strong>ues to wobble<br />

along pil<strong>in</strong>g up one outrage upon another.<br />

The visit l<strong>as</strong>t week of the Catholic Bishops'<br />

Conference of Nigeria to the Villa reveals<br />

issues that are very worrisome and should<br />

beg<strong>in</strong> to get us all more concerned about<br />

the safety and state of m<strong>in</strong>d of the president.<br />

It takes courage and a good me<strong>as</strong>ure of<br />

belief <strong>in</strong> the potential greatness of this<br />

country to be <strong>as</strong> frank <strong>as</strong> the Catholic<br />

Bishops were to the president. Those around<br />

him almost always seem to be on egg shells,<br />

fall<strong>in</strong>g over themselves to make him see and<br />

hear only what he chooses or, <strong>in</strong> fact, what<br />

they, his m<strong>in</strong>ders, choose to make him hear<br />

or see. Which is why we should all be really<br />

worried. But to go back to the Catholic<br />

Bishops: they couldn’t have been more frank<br />

than they were dur<strong>in</strong>g their visit,which must<br />

have confounded presidential surrogates to<br />

no end. Next time, they would want to be<br />

more careful about the k<strong>in</strong>d of <strong>in</strong>dividuals<br />

or groups they allow access to the president.<br />

The Bishops' visit must have appeared to<br />

them <strong>in</strong> retrospect <strong>as</strong> a terrible<br />

miscalculation. But then, it h<strong>as</strong> come and<br />

gone. Not to the ple<strong>as</strong>ure, however, of the<br />

big-mouthed throw-up <strong>in</strong> Lokoja, a power<br />

monger that h<strong>as</strong> the unenviable dist<strong>in</strong>ction<br />

of be<strong>in</strong>g the only Nigerian to occupy an<br />

elective office <strong>in</strong> the present dispensation<br />

without for a m<strong>in</strong>ute contest<strong>in</strong>g and w<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g<br />

the votes for the office. He opened what Fela<br />

would call his ‘b<strong>as</strong>ket mouth’ once too<br />

widely to say what even a b<strong>as</strong>ket would<br />

consider too big to accommodate by c<strong>as</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g<br />

Can someth<strong>in</strong>g be go<strong>in</strong>g<br />

on <strong>in</strong> Aso Villa that is<br />

beyond the power of the<br />

president to resolve? Is it<br />

the c<strong>as</strong>e that Buhari<br />

cannot help himself <strong>in</strong> his<br />

present circumstance <strong>in</strong><br />

which c<strong>as</strong>e he would need<br />

Nigerians to come to his<br />

rescue?<br />

<strong>as</strong>persion on the blameless clerics. Hav<strong>in</strong>g<br />

found himself <strong>in</strong> power through the<br />

<strong>in</strong>strumentality of a president who w<strong>as</strong> to<br />

all <strong>in</strong>tent and purposes also a creature of<br />

circumstances, it makes sense for this ponce<br />

of power to cl<strong>in</strong>g on to the man he believes<br />

can ensure his bread is aga<strong>in</strong> buttered<br />

without him ever break<strong>in</strong>g a sweat. So much<br />

for all that talk about mak<strong>in</strong>g room for the<br />

youth <strong>in</strong> governance.<br />

But the Bishops gave a good account of<br />

themselves and ‘spoke truth to power’ <strong>in</strong> their<br />

frank exchange with the president. Not even<br />

former President Olusegun Ob<strong>as</strong>anjo had<br />

to tell the emperor to his face that he is<br />

naked. Which is not to say that his letter w<strong>as</strong><br />

a cowardly gesture. As a former boss of the<br />

president and two/three times occupant of<br />

the office Buhari<br />

now occupies,<br />

his letter or<br />

reprimand of<br />

the president’s<br />

leadership style<br />

is authorised by<br />

his experience <strong>as</strong><br />

a former<br />

president/head<br />

of state. It’s just<br />

an observation that he didn’t have or need<br />

to visit Buhari to make his po<strong>in</strong>t. The<br />

Bishops, with no experience of power, have<br />

noth<strong>in</strong>g beyond their moral authority. Yet,<br />

they spoke the m<strong>in</strong>d of most Nigerians to<br />

the president. In his response to their<br />

warn<strong>in</strong>g that his goodwill with Nigerian w<strong>as</strong><br />

<strong>in</strong> overdraft, Buhari had said he had not been<br />

sitt<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> his air-conditioned office, hands<br />

akimbo, watch<strong>in</strong>g <strong>as</strong> Nigerians were left at<br />

the mercy of murderous herders. No, the<br />

president said such conclusion would be<br />

dishonest. Before the bishops left, he<br />

promised to do someth<strong>in</strong>g about the naked<br />

nepotism that h<strong>as</strong> seen him fill<strong>in</strong>g most<br />

important and available positions with<br />

<strong>in</strong>dividuals either related to him by blood,<br />

marriage, or from his state or other states<br />

contiguous to his, or parts of the North-E<strong>as</strong>t.<br />

But it is remarkable that on this very day<br />

that the president w<strong>as</strong> mak<strong>in</strong>g this promise<br />

to the Catholic Bishops Conference, the <strong>in</strong>k<br />

w<strong>as</strong> yet to dry on the paper on which he had<br />

ordered the re<strong>in</strong>statement of Usman Yusuf<br />

<strong>as</strong> Executive Secretary of the National<br />

Health Insurance Scheme. This, after Yusuf<br />

had been suspended s<strong>in</strong>ce l<strong>as</strong>t year, for<br />

alleged fraud of about N1billion. That the<br />

president could stand before the bishops to<br />

make his promise about changes <strong>in</strong> his<br />

appo<strong>in</strong>tments while fully conscious of what<br />

he had done about the Yusuf c<strong>as</strong>e should tell<br />

us he is either not aware of what goes on <strong>in</strong><br />

his presidency, what he appends his<br />

signature on or is just hav<strong>in</strong>g a good laugh<br />

at the expense of Nigerians. But Buhari, <strong>in</strong><br />

spite of unsubstantiated claims by some of<br />

his <strong>as</strong>sociates that he is very humorous, does<br />

not look the part of a comic. He appears<br />

genu<strong>in</strong>ely conv<strong>in</strong>ced of all that is happen<strong>in</strong>g<br />

around him. Which then means we should<br />

be pay<strong>in</strong>g more attention to the possibility<br />

that he is probably so much beholden to and<br />

held captive by members of the so-called<br />

cabal by whom he is surrounded to know<br />

what is amiss with his government.<br />

This leaves us with the moot question of<br />

whether the president is <strong>in</strong> the right frame<br />

of m<strong>in</strong>d to know what is go<strong>in</strong>g on around<br />

him. If the cabal around Umar Yar’Adua<br />

could so hoodw<strong>in</strong>k Nigerians to the po<strong>in</strong>t<br />

they almost kept his corpse <strong>in</strong> Aso Rock while<br />

execut<strong>in</strong>g power <strong>in</strong> his name, what could<br />

the group around President Buhari not be<br />

up to <strong>in</strong> order to make him do their will? Or<br />

why would the president not see what is so<br />

obvious to everyone else <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g his wife<br />

except those men by whom he is surrounded?<br />

Why would he cont<strong>in</strong>ue to make promises<br />

about errors he does not appear ready to<br />

correct or complicate them with more<br />

errors? While Nigerians were struggl<strong>in</strong>g to<br />

make sense of the Babachir Lawal c<strong>as</strong>e, <strong>in</strong><br />

came the Maikanti Barau and Ibe Kachikwu<br />

spat, to be followed soon after by the Ma<strong>in</strong>a<br />

saga. While that w<strong>as</strong> on ground, we had the<br />

Munir Gwarzo/Kemi Adeosun debacle and<br />

now it’s the turn of Usman Yusuf. All these<br />

men had the president’s ear <strong>as</strong> they wrongfoot<br />

the system. And the president cont<strong>in</strong>ues<br />

to make promises upon promises to put<br />

th<strong>in</strong>gs right. Is our president aware of his<br />

situation? Can someth<strong>in</strong>g be go<strong>in</strong>g on <strong>in</strong><br />

Aso Villa that is beyond the power of the<br />

president to resolve? Is it the c<strong>as</strong>e that Buhari<br />

cannot help himself <strong>in</strong> his present<br />

circumstance <strong>in</strong> which c<strong>as</strong>e, he would need<br />

Nigerians to come to his rescue?<br />

C<br />

M<br />

YK


32—VANGU<br />

ANGUARD, ARD, WEDNESDAY, , FEBRUARY 14,2018<br />

I need to let him know I fancy him!<br />

Dear Bunmi,<br />

I’m 24 years old and up until<br />

about a year ago, I had strong<br />

views about gett<strong>in</strong>g married.<br />

I promised my self I wouldn’t<br />

settle down until w<strong>as</strong> at le<strong>as</strong>t<br />

28.<br />

But now, my attitudes have<br />

changed dramatically and I<br />

th<strong>in</strong>k I have met the perfect<br />

man for me.<br />

We have been very good<br />

friends for about three years<br />

I still love my ex!<br />

Dear Bunmi,<br />

I‘m still madly <strong>in</strong> love with<br />

my ex and it’s mak<strong>in</strong>g it<br />

impossible for me to move on.<br />

I have never known for sure<br />

if he’s over me, but when I<br />

tried to contact him, he didn’t<br />

respond, so I gave up.<br />

It’s driv<strong>in</strong>g me crazy and I<br />

feel I won’t be happy with<br />

anyone else, until I am<br />

properly over him.<br />

Have you some tips on how<br />

to move on?<br />

Motara by e-mail<br />

Dear Motara,<br />

DearBunmi,<br />

My four-year-old daughter<br />

mentioned someth<strong>in</strong>g to me<br />

about a ‘second mummy’ her<br />

daddy w<strong>as</strong> talk<strong>in</strong>g to at her<br />

nursery school. It turns out my<br />

husband h<strong>as</strong> been text<strong>in</strong>g the<br />

woman and h<strong>as</strong> even met up<br />

with her a few times. Are they<br />

hav<strong>in</strong>g sex too?<br />

Maybe they’re hav<strong>in</strong>g a full<br />

affair.<br />

I am so upset I can’t believe<br />

he’s been spend<strong>in</strong>g time with<br />

her <strong>in</strong> front of our daughter.<br />

How do I confront him about<br />

this?<br />

Amaka, by e-mail.<br />

Dear Amaka,<br />

You need to <strong>as</strong>k him, but<br />

don’t let your imag<strong>in</strong>ation run<br />

away with you.<br />

Let him know what your<br />

daughter said, then give him<br />

chance to expla<strong>in</strong>.<br />

He must know that if he w<strong>as</strong><br />

and we live next door to each<br />

other.<br />

He is <strong>in</strong> his late 20's and he<br />

is good look<strong>in</strong>g, car<strong>in</strong>g and<br />

very considerate - <strong>in</strong> fact he’s<br />

what you’ll call a perfect<br />

gentleman.<br />

Keep<strong>in</strong>g my hands off him<br />

is agonis<strong>in</strong>g. I get jealous if<br />

he talks about other women<br />

and miss him terribly when he<br />

goes away.<br />

He doesn’t have a girlfriend<br />

Your ex isn’t mak<strong>in</strong>g it<br />

impossible to get over him -<br />

you are, by keep<strong>in</strong>g up try<strong>in</strong>g<br />

to contact him.<br />

Sorry to be so blunt, but you<br />

have given him chance to<br />

respond and he’s blanked<br />

you. It’s time to move on.<br />

Delete his number. Dump<br />

him from your social media.<br />

Spend time on yourself and<br />

not on an ex who doesn’t<br />

deserve it.<br />

Take up a hobby or meet up<br />

with old friends. It’s time to<br />

take your life back!<br />

...then give him chance to expla<strong>in</strong>.<br />

He must know that if he w<strong>as</strong><br />

meet<strong>in</strong>g another woman with your<br />

daughter, it would get back to you.<br />

It’s important you know the full<br />

truth before you decide what to do.<br />

and I just can’t stop th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g<br />

about him. I’m afraid that if I<br />

tell him how I feel it will<br />

jeopardise our close<br />

friendship. On the other<br />

hand, if I don’t say anyth<strong>in</strong>g<br />

how will I ever know if he feels<br />

any affection for me?<br />

Should I open up or keep<br />

these feel<strong>in</strong>gs to myself?<br />

Ufioma, by e-mail.<br />

Dear Ufuoma,<br />

You really don’t have to<br />

throw this man to the ground<br />

and swear your undy<strong>in</strong>g love<br />

for him, you know.<br />

Feel<strong>in</strong>gs can be displayed<br />

without great declaration.<br />

Add a new element to the<br />

friendship you already have<br />

- buy him a lovely decoration<br />

for his room for <strong>in</strong>stance, or a<br />

book on one of his <strong>in</strong>terests,<br />

or offer him a small personal<br />

courtesy that will make him<br />

look at you <strong>in</strong> a slightly<br />

different way.<br />

Ask his advise about one of<br />

your ‘problems’ or about a<br />

new hairstyle. Ask him if he’d<br />

like to go to a movie, or<br />

somewhere off your usual<br />

beaten path. Make a gesture<br />

that will place the ball <strong>in</strong> his<br />

court and give him a chance<br />

to respond <strong>in</strong> his own way.<br />

Remember, most people do<br />

not lead their lives by tak<strong>in</strong>g<br />

big leaps, but simply by go<strong>in</strong>g<br />

gently with the flow.<br />

Who’s my daughter’s “second mummy?”<br />

meet<strong>in</strong>g another woman with<br />

your daughter, it would get<br />

back to you.<br />

It’s important you know the<br />

full truth before you decide<br />

what to do.<br />

Stay calm <strong>in</strong> the meantime.<br />

Is my boss <strong>as</strong>hamed of me?<br />

Dear Bunmi,<br />

Two years ago, I started dat<strong>in</strong>g<br />

my boss, who is 10 years older<br />

than me and divorced. Away<br />

from the office, our<br />

relationship is great. I’ve met<br />

his kids and we’re now talk<strong>in</strong>g<br />

about me mov<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> with him.<br />

However, he refuses to tell<br />

anyone at work that we’re a<br />

couple and acts <strong>as</strong> if he barely<br />

knows me. I don’t want<br />

special treatment, but I’m<br />

start<strong>in</strong>g to th<strong>in</strong>k he must be<br />

<strong>as</strong>hamed of me.<br />

Felicia, by e-mail.<br />

Dear Felicia,<br />

Why don’t you have a word<br />

with your man about how you<br />

feel? I’m sure he’s not<br />

<strong>as</strong>hamed of you. He’s just<br />

worried about how people will<br />

take the news. He might be<br />

wary of how his own boss<br />

would take the news or accuse<br />

him of be<strong>in</strong>g unprofessional.<br />

For all you know, most of your<br />

colleagues would have<br />

cottoned on to what is go<strong>in</strong>g<br />

on and just play along with<br />

you.<br />

Tell him how you feel about<br />

this secrecy. In the meantime,<br />

why don’t you start look<strong>in</strong>g<br />

<strong>in</strong>to jobs elsewhere? It’s<br />

possible to work along side<br />

your other half, but if you can<br />

move, it might be e<strong>as</strong>ier for<br />

both of you.<br />

He makes me pay for everyth<strong>in</strong>g<br />

DearBunmi,<br />

Although my boyfriend h<strong>as</strong><br />

his own flat, he spends all his<br />

free time <strong>in</strong> m<strong>in</strong>e. Only he<br />

scarcely pays for anyth<strong>in</strong>g he<br />

eats or dr<strong>in</strong>ks.<br />

This makes me angry<br />

know<strong>in</strong>g how expensive food<br />

and utilities are.<br />

Whenever I <strong>as</strong>ked him to<br />

chip <strong>in</strong> more, he agrees, then<br />

turns up with next to noth<strong>in</strong>g<br />

<strong>in</strong> his wallet. As th<strong>in</strong>gs are<br />

now, it is a struggle for me to<br />

pay for everyth<strong>in</strong>g.<br />

Tonia, by e-mail.<br />

Dear Tonia,<br />

What you have on your<br />

hands is not just a money<br />

problem, it’s a lov<strong>in</strong>g problem.<br />

Dear Bunmi,<br />

I used to scoff at the adage<br />

that the way to a man’s heart<br />

is through his stomach, but<br />

my wife is mak<strong>in</strong>g me do a<br />

reth<strong>in</strong>k.<br />

We’ve been married for more<br />

than 10 years and have three<br />

lovely children. My wife h<strong>as</strong><br />

been a good wife and mother.<br />

I have a very successful law<br />

practice and she does good<br />

bus<strong>in</strong>ess sell<strong>in</strong>g fabrics and<br />

jewellery.<br />

My grouse is that her<br />

cook<strong>in</strong>g leaves a bad t<strong>as</strong>te <strong>in</strong><br />

the mouth.<br />

Most of the time, she h<strong>as</strong> a<br />

tra<strong>in</strong>ed caterer come to the<br />

house to do the week’s<br />

shopp<strong>in</strong>g for foodstuff and<br />

store enough prepared food<br />

<strong>in</strong> the deep-freezer to feed an<br />

army.<br />

This is all well and good but<br />

you know how erratic<br />

electricity is; and whenever<br />

the generator breaks down,<br />

meals become a nightmare.<br />

I’ve <strong>as</strong>ked her to make more<br />

effort at cook<strong>in</strong>g, but apart<br />

from simple fry-ups like dodo<br />

Your boyfriend, apart from<br />

be<strong>in</strong>g a leach, is lack<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong><br />

respect, affection and care.<br />

He should want to<br />

contribute, make your life<br />

e<strong>as</strong>ier and want an equal<br />

relationship where you both<br />

at le<strong>as</strong>t, pay your way. If<br />

you’re to pay for th<strong>in</strong>gs both<br />

of you enjoy, then it is obvious<br />

he’s <strong>in</strong> the relationship for all<br />

he can get.<br />

My advice? Don’t w<strong>as</strong>te<br />

time try<strong>in</strong>g to f<strong>in</strong>d the money<br />

to support this free-wheeler.<br />

And don’t w<strong>as</strong>te your breath<br />

try<strong>in</strong>g to conv<strong>in</strong>ce him to pay<br />

his way.<br />

Show him the door and<br />

solve all your problems at<br />

once!<br />

Your wife h<strong>as</strong> readily admitted<br />

her shortcom<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>in</strong> the kitchen<br />

and is will<strong>in</strong>g to make up for it.<br />

If you’re a deft hand at cook<strong>in</strong>g,<br />

help<strong>in</strong>g once a while might<br />

challenge her<br />

After 10 years of marriage, can my<br />

wife ever learn to cook?<br />

and chips, her stews are<br />

someth<strong>in</strong>g else. She told me<br />

she’s tired and doesn’t know<br />

what else to do. She is<br />

th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g of gett<strong>in</strong>g a live-<strong>in</strong><br />

cook and paid for by her, but<br />

I still feel bad that she doesn’t<br />

love me enough to want to<br />

know how to cook.<br />

Nduka, by e-mail.<br />

Dear Nduka,<br />

Is it really the end of the<br />

world that your wife can’t<br />

cook?<br />

Just <strong>as</strong> some women are<br />

petrified at sitt<strong>in</strong>g beh<strong>in</strong>d the<br />

wheels, a few f<strong>in</strong>d<br />

experiment<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the kitchen<br />

a bit daunt<strong>in</strong>g.<br />

You said she is a good<br />

mother and wife, and h<strong>as</strong><br />

even offered to employ a live<strong>in</strong><br />

cook paid for by her. If this<br />

is not love, I wonder what it<br />

is?<br />

Your wife h<strong>as</strong> readily<br />

admitted her shortcom<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>in</strong><br />

the kitchen and is will<strong>in</strong>g to<br />

make up for it. If you’re a deft<br />

hand at cook<strong>in</strong>g, help<strong>in</strong>g<br />

once a while might challenge<br />

her.<br />

Share your problems and rele<strong>as</strong>e your<br />

burden. Write now to Dear Bunmi,<br />

Vanguard Newspapers, P.M.B 1007,<br />

Apapa, Lagos, or bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk


Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2018—33<br />

:Vanguard News :@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058<br />

We won't cede an <strong>in</strong>ch of land to Ijaw —Ben<strong>in</strong> leaders<br />

By Gabriel<br />

Enoghol<strong>as</strong>e<br />

B<br />

E N I N —<br />

FOLLOWING<br />

the face-off between the<br />

Ben<strong>in</strong>s and the Ijaws of Edo<br />

State over land ownership,<br />

the Ben<strong>in</strong>s have aga<strong>in</strong><br />

vowed that they will<br />

employ every lawful means<br />

to ensure that no <strong>in</strong>ch of<br />

their land w<strong>as</strong> forcefully<br />

taken away from them by<br />

Herdsmen menace: Southern women<br />

threaten to boycott presidential poll<br />

By Festus Ahon<br />

A SABA—WORRIED<br />

by the terror be<strong>in</strong>g<br />

unle<strong>as</strong>hed on <strong>in</strong>nocent<br />

Nigerians, Southern<br />

women have vowed to<br />

boycott the 2019<br />

presidential election<br />

should President<br />

Muhammadu Buhari fail<br />

to take a decisive step to<br />

tackle the rampag<strong>in</strong>g<br />

<strong>herdsmen</strong>.<br />

The women, under the<br />

aegis of Concerned<br />

Southern Women for Good<br />

Governance, accused<br />

President Buhari of<br />

handl<strong>in</strong>g the security<br />

challenges posed by the<br />

<strong>herdsmen</strong> with kid gloves.<br />

Speak<strong>in</strong>g to Vanguard<br />

yesterday, leader of the<br />

group, Patience Igho,<br />

said, “Women are a great<br />

economic force that a<br />

nation cannot ignore.<br />

They are at the bottom of<br />

the domestic economic<br />

growth pyramid.<br />

“Our women <strong>in</strong> the<br />

South are the strength of<br />

our agricultural boost<br />

because they do the<br />

farm<strong>in</strong>g and also take the<br />

produce for process<strong>in</strong>g<br />

and then for sale.<br />

the Ijaws.<br />

They made the disclosure<br />

yesterday, at a meet<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong><br />

Ben<strong>in</strong> City attended by<br />

Ben<strong>in</strong> traditional rulers,<br />

priests, chiefs, elders and<br />

political leaders <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g<br />

serv<strong>in</strong>g legislators <strong>in</strong> the<br />

state and National<br />

Assemblies.<br />

The Ben<strong>in</strong>s and Ijaws <strong>in</strong><br />

parts of Edo State have been<br />

entangled <strong>in</strong> land disputes<br />

which if not properly major<br />

“The issue of <strong>herdsmen</strong><br />

attack<strong>in</strong>g and rap<strong>in</strong>g our<br />

women <strong>in</strong> the farms will<br />

lead to serious food crises<br />

<strong>in</strong> the South. So we<br />

women <strong>in</strong> the South will<br />

boycott the presidential<br />

election if this menace of<br />

<strong>herdsmen</strong> is not stopped<br />

because <strong>as</strong> it is, no one is<br />

talk<strong>in</strong>g.”<br />

Similarly, Chairman,<br />

Delta State House of<br />

Assembly Committee on<br />

Environment, Oil and<br />

G<strong>as</strong>, Chief Daniel Y<strong>in</strong>gi,<br />

h<strong>as</strong> said that the<br />

proponents of cattle<br />

No factions <strong>in</strong> Delta APC —Group<br />

By Onozure Dania<br />

A<br />

political pressure<br />

g r o u p ,<br />

Consolidated Dynamic<br />

APC, CDA, h<strong>as</strong> said that<br />

there w<strong>as</strong> no faction <strong>in</strong><br />

Delta All Progressives<br />

Congress, APC, stress<strong>in</strong>g<br />

that the party rema<strong>in</strong>s a<br />

force to be reckoned with<br />

<strong>in</strong> the state.<br />

Chairman of CDA, Mr<br />

Peter Akarogbe, who<br />

spoke <strong>in</strong> Ozoro, Isoko<br />

North Local Government<br />

Area of Delta State at a<br />

security and tribal crisis <strong>in</strong><br />

the state.<br />

At the meet<strong>in</strong>g, the<br />

Ben<strong>in</strong>s <strong>in</strong>sisted that the<br />

disputed land situated <strong>in</strong><br />

five communities <strong>in</strong> Edo<br />

South senatorial district<br />

belongs to them, say<strong>in</strong>g<br />

that the Ijaws, who they<br />

claimed are settlers, do not<br />

have rights to the land<br />

where they are currently<br />

dwell<strong>in</strong>g.<br />

They called on the Ben<strong>in</strong>s<br />

PRESENTATION: From left: Miss Akuma Tre<strong>as</strong>ure, Social Prefect,Iganmode Grammar School;<br />

Mr Keh<strong>in</strong>de Elijah, Vice Pr<strong>in</strong>cipal Adm<strong>in</strong>; Mr Tope Ashiwaju, Group Public Relations and Events Manager,<br />

Dufil Prima Foods Plc; Ebhodaghe Benedict, Assistant Head Boy and Mrs Ruth Adeyeye, Vice Pr<strong>in</strong>cipal,<br />

Academic, dur<strong>in</strong>g the presentation of science lab equipment to Iganmode Grammar School, Otta, Ogun<br />

State. Photo: Akeem Salau.<br />

colonies are enemies of<br />

the country, <strong>in</strong>sist<strong>in</strong>g that<br />

land will not be ceded for<br />

cattle colony <strong>in</strong> the state.<br />

Y<strong>in</strong>gi, who represents<br />

Burutu 1 constituency <strong>in</strong><br />

the House, said thoughts<br />

and actions of proponents<br />

of cattle colony were<br />

capable of promot<strong>in</strong>g<br />

crisis and disharmony<br />

among Nigerians.<br />

He said: “The<br />

condemnation that<br />

greeted the proposed<br />

cattle colony s<strong>in</strong>ce it w<strong>as</strong><br />

announced by the<br />

Federal Government w<strong>as</strong><br />

meet<strong>in</strong>g of the body,<br />

noted that there w<strong>as</strong><br />

never a time that Delta<br />

APC w<strong>as</strong> factionalized,<br />

add<strong>in</strong>g that the party w<strong>as</strong><br />

work<strong>in</strong>g to kick out the<br />

rul<strong>in</strong>g Peoples Democratic<br />

Party, PDP, from the seat<br />

of power <strong>in</strong> 2019.<br />

Akarogbe, who<br />

addressed the meet<strong>in</strong>g of<br />

its coord<strong>in</strong>ators, said<br />

there had been a<br />

misunderstand<strong>in</strong>g about<br />

what w<strong>as</strong> go<strong>in</strong>g on <strong>in</strong> the<br />

party, expla<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g that the<br />

different groups <strong>in</strong> the<br />

at home and <strong>in</strong> the<br />

Di<strong>as</strong>pora to unite and<br />

ensure that the Ijaws do not<br />

take an <strong>in</strong>ch of Ben<strong>in</strong> land.<br />

Convener of the meet<strong>in</strong>g<br />

and the traditional ruler of<br />

Obazuwa, HRH Pr<strong>in</strong>ce<br />

Edun Akenzua, told the<br />

gather<strong>in</strong>g that the meet<strong>in</strong>g<br />

became necessary to enable<br />

them articulate ide<strong>as</strong> on<br />

how best to tackle the threat<br />

from the Ijaws, who are bent<br />

on tak<strong>in</strong>g over Ben<strong>in</strong> land<br />

by force.<br />

a clear signal of the doom<br />

that goes with it. Cattle<br />

bus<strong>in</strong>ess is a private<br />

bus<strong>in</strong>ess, it is not a project<br />

of the Federal<br />

Government.<br />

“You can’t come through<br />

the back doors to start<br />

coloniz<strong>in</strong>g the people.<br />

Such a policy is capable<br />

of caus<strong>in</strong>g dis<strong>in</strong>tegration.<br />

I pray that those beh<strong>in</strong>d<br />

it will halt their moves<br />

and seek ways of<br />

promot<strong>in</strong>g peace, love,<br />

unity and progress <strong>in</strong><br />

Nigeria."<br />

party were work<strong>in</strong>g for the<br />

<strong>in</strong>terest of the party.<br />

“Whether you like it or<br />

not, even tw<strong>in</strong>s have<br />

disagreement. Politics is a<br />

game of <strong>in</strong>terest but at the<br />

end of the day when the<br />

primaries have come and<br />

gone, everybody will<br />

align. This is why we are<br />

say<strong>in</strong>g that <strong>in</strong> CDA, we<br />

are not after any<br />

candidate. This is why we<br />

have canv<strong>as</strong>sers who go<br />

to the field to canv<strong>as</strong>s for<br />

members," he said.<br />

Itsekiri group p<strong>as</strong>ses<br />

confidence vote on Boroh<br />

By Gab Ejuwa<br />

A<br />

group, Itsekiri<br />

N a t i o n a l<br />

Development Initiative,<br />

h<strong>as</strong> p<strong>as</strong>sed a vote of<br />

confidence on the<br />

Special Adviser to the<br />

President on Niger Delta<br />

Matters/Coord<strong>in</strong>ator of<br />

the Presidential Amnesty<br />

Programme, General<br />

Paul Boroh (retd), over<br />

the<br />

prudent<br />

management of the<br />

amnesty funds and his<br />

resolve <strong>in</strong> ensur<strong>in</strong>g that<br />

the programme benefits<br />

all those concerned,<br />

irrespective of ethnic<br />

nationalities <strong>in</strong> the Niger<br />

Delta region.<br />

The group also<br />

commended the Pan<br />

Niger Delta Forum,<br />

PANDEF, for sett<strong>in</strong>g up<br />

a 16-man committee to<br />

<strong>in</strong>terface with the<br />

Federal Government<br />

with a view to<br />

strengthen<strong>in</strong>g the<br />

JAMES Welch Grammar School<br />

marks 61st Founder's Day<br />

By Akpokona<br />

Omafuaire<br />

W ARRI—JAMES<br />

Welch Grammar<br />

School, JWGS, Emevor,<br />

Delta State, is set to<br />

celebrate its 61st<br />

Founder's Day this week.<br />

A statement by Justice J.<br />

E. Shakarho (retd ),<br />

National President and<br />

Otuata Alex, Secretary-<br />

General, JWGS Old Boys<br />

Association, said the<br />

Aziken dies at<br />

58<br />

DEACON Richard<br />

Aziken, from<br />

Omumu-Agbor, Ika<br />

South <strong>LG</strong>A, Delta State,<br />

is dead, aged 58.<br />

He will be buried<br />

tomorrow after a funeral<br />

service at Government<br />

Field, Agbor, Delta State.<br />

He is survived by<br />

several relations<br />

<strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g an aged<br />

mother, his widow,<br />

Florence, and two<br />

children, Emmanuela<br />

and Dafe.<br />

Late Richard Aziken<br />

Presidential Amnesty<br />

Programme.<br />

Mr Dennis Mene,<br />

Chairman of Itsekiri<br />

National Development<br />

Initiative, <strong>in</strong> a statement,<br />

said all those call<strong>in</strong>g for<br />

the removal of Boroh <strong>as</strong><br />

coord<strong>in</strong>ator of the<br />

Presidential Amnesty<br />

Programme were<br />

enemies of Niger Delta<br />

development, who wish<br />

to cont<strong>in</strong>ue <strong>in</strong> the status<br />

quo of shar<strong>in</strong>g funds<br />

meant for the<br />

development of the<br />

region.<br />

He advised Boroh not<br />

to be distracted by the<br />

voice of enemies with<strong>in</strong>,<br />

add<strong>in</strong>g that he should <strong>as</strong><br />

a matter of urgency<br />

deploy the balance of<br />

those <strong>in</strong> the programme,<br />

especially those that<br />

have been there s<strong>in</strong>ce<br />

2012 to their various<br />

study centres and higher<br />

<strong>in</strong>stitutions <strong>in</strong> the Niger<br />

Delta.<br />

activities will start<br />

tomorrow with the school's<br />

<strong>in</strong>terhouse sports at the<br />

school field.<br />

The event cont<strong>in</strong>ues on<br />

Friday with a pre-AGM/<br />

NEC meet<strong>in</strong>g to be<br />

hosted by the Ughelli<br />

branch of the <strong>as</strong>sociation<br />

at Bishop V. Muoghere's<br />

Compound, opposite<br />

Onidjor Primary School,<br />

Uweru Town, while the<br />

AGM will hold on<br />

Saturday at the school<br />

chapel and a Special<br />

Founder's Day Lunch with<br />

students after the AGM at<br />

the d<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g hall.<br />

Nwodo dies at<br />

64<br />

A<br />

community leader<br />

and banker, Nze<br />

Joseph Nwodo, 64, is<br />

dead. He will be buried<br />

<strong>in</strong> his country home,<br />

Onicha Enugu Ezike on<br />

February 17, 2018.<br />

Left to mourn him are<br />

his widow, Charity and<br />

three children,<br />

Chid<strong>in</strong>ma, Ebuka and<br />

Tochukwu.<br />

Late Nze Nwodo


34—VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2018<br />

Enugu <strong>as</strong>sembly raises<br />

2018 budget by N5bn<br />

By Dennis Agbo<br />

E NUGU—ENUGU<br />

State House of<br />

Assembly h<strong>as</strong> raised the<br />

state 2018 appropriation<br />

from <strong>in</strong>itial N98 billion<br />

proposed by the State<br />

Governor, Ifeanyi<br />

Ugwuanyi to N103.56<br />

billion.<br />

The House said the<br />

<strong>in</strong>crement, which w<strong>as</strong> for<br />

capital expenditure, w<strong>as</strong> to<br />

boost the state<br />

government’s<br />

<strong>in</strong>fr<strong>as</strong>tructure development<br />

drive.<br />

Similarly, Deputy<br />

Speaker of the House, Hon<br />

Donatus Uzogbado told<br />

Vanguard that the<br />

<strong>in</strong>crement w<strong>as</strong> “to capture<br />

more developmental<br />

projects that will impact on<br />

our people. Such<br />

<strong>in</strong>fr<strong>as</strong>tructure like rural<br />

roads.”<br />

The House at the plenary<br />

also <strong>as</strong>ked the Central<br />

Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to<br />

forthwith, stop commercial<br />

LOT-WBC holds 9th graduation,<br />

matriculation ceremony<br />

LIGHT of the World<br />

Bible College and<br />

Theological Sem<strong>in</strong>ary,<br />

LOT-WBC, recently, held its<br />

9th matriculation and<br />

graduation ceremony.<br />

The event which took<br />

place at The Holy Church<br />

of Zion Mission, Ikate,<br />

Surulere, Lagos saw 11<br />

graduat<strong>in</strong>g, while seven<br />

matriculated.<br />

Speak<strong>in</strong>g at the event,<br />

Rector of the sem<strong>in</strong>ary,<br />

P<strong>as</strong>tor Emma Dan,<br />

admonished the<br />

graduands to concentrate<br />

on preach<strong>in</strong>g the Word of<br />

God, rather than look<strong>in</strong>g for<br />

ways on how to make<br />

money.<br />

He urged them to apply<br />

<strong>in</strong>tegrity and dignity <strong>in</strong><br />

their chosen carrier and not<br />

to be distracted by earthly<br />

th<strong>in</strong>gs.<br />

On his part, P<strong>as</strong>tor Udo<br />

:Vanguard News :@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058<br />

banks from unwarranted<br />

and ‘fraudlent’ charges<br />

be<strong>in</strong>g imposed on<br />

customers nationwide.<br />

The House said its<br />

observation <strong>in</strong>dicated that<br />

banks slam charges on<br />

customers b<strong>as</strong>ed on<br />

<strong>in</strong>dependent bank policies<br />

other than uniform b<strong>as</strong>is <strong>as</strong><br />

it used to be.<br />

Speaker of the House, Rt.<br />

Hon. Edward Ubosi stated<br />

that the budget figure w<strong>as</strong><br />

b<strong>as</strong>ed on economic <strong>in</strong>dices<br />

and the expenditure<br />

framework, stress<strong>in</strong>g that<br />

oversight functions by the<br />

lawmakers will be taken<br />

seriously to ensure full<br />

implementation.<br />

Ubosi said: “I commend<br />

all the members for their<br />

commitment towards the<br />

p<strong>as</strong>sage of this budget.<br />

However, I urge everybody<br />

to monitor the budget<br />

critically by way of<br />

oversight function to make<br />

sure that it is fully<br />

implemented."<br />

275 African children study<strong>in</strong>g<br />

<strong>in</strong> Roch<strong>as</strong>' colleges<br />

By Chidi<br />

Nkwopara<br />

OWERRI—NO fewer<br />

than 275 children<br />

drawn from 55 African<br />

countries, are currently<br />

enjoy<strong>in</strong>g free post-primary<br />

education <strong>in</strong> Roch<strong>as</strong><br />

Foundation Colleges<br />

across Nigeria.<br />

Address<strong>in</strong>g journalists<br />

yesterday <strong>in</strong> Owerri, the<br />

Foundation’s Director<br />

General, DG, Mrs. Uloma<br />

Roch<strong>as</strong> Nwosu, also<br />

disclosed that a m<strong>in</strong>imum<br />

of five students were drawn<br />

from each African country.<br />

“The vision of advanc<strong>in</strong>g<br />

the fortunes of the average<br />

African child, h<strong>as</strong> led the<br />

Foundation to extend it’s<br />

magnanimity to other<br />

African countries, with the<br />

free education mandate,”<br />

Nwosu said.<br />

Cont<strong>in</strong>u<strong>in</strong>g, the DG<br />

expla<strong>in</strong>ed that the<br />

foundation had also set for<br />

itself, the target of tak<strong>in</strong>g<br />

one million children off the<br />

streets by 2030.<br />

“Currently, over 15,000<br />

children are receiv<strong>in</strong>g free<br />

and qualitative education <strong>in</strong><br />

our colleges and we have<br />

recorded more than 4,000<br />

graduates, <strong>in</strong> the p<strong>as</strong>t 20<br />

years of our existence.”<br />

Eyo, a lecturer at the<br />

sem<strong>in</strong>ary and General<br />

Overseer, Miracle Revival<br />

M<strong>in</strong>istry, said “What makes<br />

you a Christian is your<br />

relationship with God.<br />

Don’t be moved by<br />

miracles, but by the power<br />

<strong>in</strong> the Word of God.”<br />

Hours of Solution<br />

celebrates 13th<br />

anniversary<br />

THE Hours of Solution<br />

Prayer M<strong>in</strong>istries is<br />

celebrat<strong>in</strong>g its 13th<br />

anniversary on February<br />

18, 2018 with the theme:<br />

“The Greatest Comforter.”<br />

The General Overseer,<br />

P<strong>as</strong>tor Ezekiel Adeyemo,<br />

a.k.a. Baba with God, will<br />

be m<strong>in</strong>ister<strong>in</strong>g at the<br />

chuirch auditorium, 3/7,<br />

Solution Street, off Mercury<br />

Road, Sona Bust stop,<br />

Sango, Ogun State.<br />

Kanu’s miss<strong>in</strong>g file: Court must deliver<br />

its judgment, IPOB <strong>in</strong>sists<br />

By V<strong>in</strong>cent<br />

Ujumadu<br />

A WKA—THE<br />

Indigenous People<br />

of Biafra, IPOB,<br />

demanded yesterday that<br />

the Court of Appeal must<br />

deliver its judgment on its<br />

embattled leader, Mazi<br />

Nnamdi Kanu, whether<br />

his c<strong>as</strong>e file w<strong>as</strong> miss<strong>in</strong>g<br />

or not.<br />

IPOB head of Directorate<br />

of Service, Mazi Chika<br />

Edoziem, <strong>in</strong> a statement<br />

recalled that the Court of<br />

Appeal panel heard<br />

Kanu;s matter <strong>in</strong> March<br />

2017, <strong>in</strong>sist<strong>in</strong>g that any<br />

attempt to delay the<br />

judgment on the ground of<br />

a miss<strong>in</strong>g file amounted to<br />

perversion of justice and<br />

crim<strong>in</strong>al conspiracy.<br />

Accord<strong>in</strong>g to IPOB, never<br />

<strong>in</strong> the history of Nigeria had<br />

it been reported that a c<strong>as</strong>e<br />

file of such magnitude went<br />

miss<strong>in</strong>g on the day<br />

judgment w<strong>as</strong> meant to be<br />

delivered.<br />

The statement read: “This<br />

very matter, Appeal C<strong>as</strong>e<br />

No CA/A/78A/C/2018,<br />

which is a legal action<br />

aga<strong>in</strong>st the decision of<br />

Justice John Tsoho to<br />

reverse himself on an<br />

earlier rul<strong>in</strong>g he made<br />

reject<strong>in</strong>g m<strong>as</strong>ked witnesses<br />

when he w<strong>as</strong> the presid<strong>in</strong>g<br />

judge before the matter w<strong>as</strong><br />

transferred to Justice B<strong>in</strong>ta<br />

Nyako, is over a year old<br />

contrary to the law.<br />

“ February 13, 2018<br />

w<strong>as</strong> the day Appeal Court<br />

of Nigeria agreed, after<br />

much protestation from<br />

IPOB lawyers and <strong>in</strong> direct<br />

contravention of a key<br />

constitutional provision, to<br />

deliver its long overdue<br />

From left: Mr. Ben Ofungwu, Manag<strong>in</strong>g Director, ISN Products Nigeria<br />

Ltd; Mr. Felix Ofungwu, Executive Director, Bus<strong>in</strong>ess Development;<br />

Mrs. Amaka Ezennia; Mr. Ch<strong>in</strong>wuba Ezenn<strong>in</strong>, Pipette Nigeria Ltd<br />

and w<strong>in</strong>ner ISN Best Customer Award; Mr. Nonso Offia, Market<strong>in</strong>g<br />

Manager, dur<strong>in</strong>g ISN Product Nig. Ltd Accu-Check Customers<br />

Appreciation forum <strong>in</strong> Lagos.<br />

Ezeife advocates return to<br />

regional govt<br />

By Samuel<br />

Oyadongha &<br />

Emem Idio<br />

Y ENAGOA—<br />

FORMER Governor<br />

of Anambra State, Dr.<br />

Chukwuemeka Ezeife, h<strong>as</strong><br />

advocated a return to the<br />

regional government<br />

system where regions<br />

have considerable<br />

autonomy to act for<br />

themselves.<br />

Ezeife, who reiterated<br />

the urgent need to<br />

restructure the country<br />

along regional l<strong>in</strong>es,<br />

however, po<strong>in</strong>ted out that<br />

corruption w<strong>as</strong> the major<br />

problem confront<strong>in</strong>g the<br />

nation, add<strong>in</strong>g that<br />

corruption w<strong>as</strong> responsible<br />

for the mess<strong>in</strong>g up of the<br />

regional structure of<br />

government <strong>in</strong> the country.<br />

Ezeife who stated this <strong>in</strong><br />

Yenagoa at the<br />

anniversary lecture to<br />

mark Governor Seriake<br />

Dickson six years <strong>in</strong> office,<br />

on the topic: “<br />

Restructur<strong>in</strong>g: The way<br />

forward for a New<br />

Nigeria,” added that the<br />

call for state police must be<br />

done with caution <strong>as</strong> it<br />

might give the state<br />

governors undue<br />

...<strong>as</strong> Gen Ak<strong>in</strong>r<strong>in</strong>ade says<br />

restructur<strong>in</strong>g, <strong>in</strong>evitable<br />

<strong>in</strong>fluence and power.<br />

Also <strong>in</strong> his lecture, the<br />

guest lecturer, Gen, Alani<br />

Ak<strong>in</strong>r<strong>in</strong>ade (rtd), described<br />

restructur<strong>in</strong>g <strong>as</strong> <strong>in</strong>evitable<br />

for a united and prosperous<br />

Nigeria, but noted that<br />

restructur<strong>in</strong>g may not lead<br />

to an automatic el dorado,<br />

but a means to an end, and<br />

called on President<br />

Muhammadu Buhari to<br />

<strong>in</strong>itiate the processes of<br />

restructur<strong>in</strong>g of the country.<br />

Ezeife said: “Our heroes<br />

p<strong>as</strong>t gave us a model; they<br />

gave a structure which<br />

worked. When we talk of<br />

restructur<strong>in</strong>g, we mean<br />

go<strong>in</strong>g back to the agreed<br />

Nigeria of 1954. Yes, there<br />

are so many elements. The<br />

APC came up with some<br />

ide<strong>as</strong>. I can see some<br />

mean<strong>in</strong>gful development<br />

there. I have seen the state<br />

police which is good and we<br />

may go beyond state police<br />

and have regional police.<br />

“A state police controlled<br />

by the regional government<br />

which <strong>in</strong>volves everybody<br />

<strong>in</strong> the zone will reduce too<br />

much power from the<br />

governors but those who<br />

want to be governors are<br />

talk<strong>in</strong>g about state police <strong>as</strong><br />

if it were a panacea. It will<br />

work but it h<strong>as</strong> to be<br />

adjusted.<br />

“What caused our<br />

problem is the mess<strong>in</strong>g up<br />

of our structure. In fact, it is<br />

the major fact of what<br />

caused our problem. What<br />

caused our problem is<br />

corruption. The root cause<br />

of our problem is corruption<br />

and unless we clear<br />

ourselves from it, there will<br />

be no change."<br />

In his lecture, Gen<br />

Ak<strong>in</strong>r<strong>in</strong>ade said:<br />

“Restructur<strong>in</strong>g does not<br />

lead to an automatic el<br />

dorado. It is not a panacea<br />

for good governance, but a<br />

strategic ancillary.<br />

Restructur<strong>in</strong>g is not a once<br />

and for all cure or talisman,<br />

but a means to an end. Any<br />

restructur<strong>in</strong>g, which leaves<br />

Nigeria with the current<br />

level of gr<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g poverty,<br />

feudal squalor, biblical<br />

misery and state larceny<br />

h<strong>as</strong> not achieved anyth<strong>in</strong>g.<br />

“By decentralis<strong>in</strong>g and<br />

devolv<strong>in</strong>g power away from<br />

a bloated and<br />

overburdened centre to the<br />

marg<strong>in</strong>s, genu<strong>in</strong>e<br />

federalism aims to liberate<br />

the local genius of the<br />

people and unfetter their<br />

creative and enterpris<strong>in</strong>g<br />

spirit."<br />

judgment <strong>in</strong> the matter of<br />

Nnamdi Kanu vs Justice<br />

John Tsoho.<br />

“On gett<strong>in</strong>g to court,<br />

<strong>in</strong>stead of the usual<br />

adjournment that<br />

characterizes IPOB c<strong>as</strong>es <strong>in</strong><br />

Nigeria and ECOWAS<br />

courts, the panel of judges<br />

announced, to the dismay<br />

of the court and others<br />

<strong>as</strong>sembled, that the file w<strong>as</strong><br />

not before them.<br />

“Not m<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g that this<br />

w<strong>as</strong> a high profile matter<br />

already outside the<br />

constitutionally guaranteed<br />

three months maximum for<br />

delivery of judgment, the<br />

lead judge announced that<br />

the matter could not<br />

proceed, without the c<strong>as</strong>e<br />

file.<br />

“The questions we are<br />

<strong>as</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g are; what happened<br />

to the decision of the <strong>in</strong>itial<br />

panel that heard the c<strong>as</strong>e<br />

on the 8th March 2017<br />

consider<strong>in</strong>g that Appeal<br />

Court of Nigeria is a<br />

supposedly competent<br />

court of records? Where is<br />

the copy of their judgment,<br />

because judges must have<br />

a copy of their judgment <strong>in</strong><br />

their own personal files?<br />

“Assum<strong>in</strong>g and for the<br />

purposes of benefit of doubt<br />

that Kanu’s file is miss<strong>in</strong>g,<br />

how about the judgment<br />

written by the panel of<br />

judges that heard the<br />

matter on the 8th of March<br />

2017, which they were<br />

meant to deliver on the 8th<br />

of June 2017 at the very<br />

latest <strong>as</strong> guaranteed by law?<br />

“Does it mean Nigerian<br />

courts do not keep records<br />

of their judgments or are we<br />

to <strong>as</strong>sume that Appeal<br />

Court judges are ignorant<br />

of the Nigerian<br />

Constitution to the extent<br />

that they are unaware that<br />

the statutory limit on<br />

delivery of all Appeal Court<br />

judgments is 90 days?<br />

“Why w<strong>as</strong>n’t judgment <strong>in</strong><br />

this matter delivered with<strong>in</strong><br />

the constitutionally<br />

guaranteed 90 days, which<br />

is 8 June 2017? What this<br />

c<strong>as</strong>e is tell<strong>in</strong>g the world is<br />

that Nigerian Appeal Court<br />

judges do not obey the<br />

constitution of Nigeria they<br />

are supposed to <strong>in</strong>terpret<br />

and uphold.<br />

“We view this ugly<br />

development <strong>as</strong> a<br />

desperate conspiratorial<br />

move to deny long<br />

overdue justice for Mazi<br />

Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB<br />

by Nigerian judicial officers<br />

on the orders of the<br />

Nigerian presidency.<br />

“Our humble request to<br />

the President of the<br />

Nigerian Judicial Council,<br />

NJC, President of the<br />

Appeal Court of Nigeria<br />

and Attorney General of the<br />

Federation, AGF is to recall<br />

the orig<strong>in</strong>al panel of judges<br />

that heard the matter on the<br />

8th of March 2017 to<br />

deliver their judgment <strong>as</strong><br />

required by the Nigerian<br />

Constitution."


Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2018—35<br />

:Vanguard News :@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058<br />

NAWOJ, Lalong make c<strong>as</strong>e for widows, girl-child<br />

By Marie-Therese<br />

Nanlong<br />

JOS—THE plights of<br />

widows and the girlchild<br />

<strong>in</strong> multicultural<br />

Nigeria have aga<strong>in</strong> been<br />

brought to the fore, with a<br />

call on all citizens of<br />

goodwill to contribute and<br />

render <strong>as</strong>sistance that will<br />

alleviate the challenges<br />

they are fac<strong>in</strong>g.<br />

The widow and girl-child<br />

were also charged not to<br />

live fear-dom<strong>in</strong>ated lives,<br />

but take their dest<strong>in</strong>ies <strong>in</strong><br />

their hands and seek help<br />

at appropriate quarters,<br />

whenever the need arises,<br />

so people don’t take<br />

advantage of their<br />

vulnerability and exploit<br />

them.<br />

These were the views of<br />

the wife of Plateau State<br />

governor, Mrs. Reg<strong>in</strong>a<br />

Lalong, dur<strong>in</strong>g her<br />

<strong>in</strong>vestiture <strong>as</strong> Patron of<br />

Nigeria Association of<br />

challenges and br<strong>in</strong>g about<br />

solutions to all unhealthy<br />

practices and traditions that<br />

h<strong>in</strong>der the atta<strong>in</strong>ment of the<br />

full potential of the<br />

womenfolk generally.”<br />

Earlier, the President of<br />

NAWOJ, Ifey<strong>in</strong>wa<br />

Omowole, and the Plateau<br />

State Chairperson of the<br />

<strong>as</strong>sociation, Jennifer<br />

Yerima, said women of<br />

different status will have a<br />

new le<strong>as</strong>e of life at the end<br />

of the event.<br />

PASTORS' CONFAB: Rev. Alphosus Anyanacho (middle); Security Supervisor, Vanguard Media<br />

Limited, Rev. Samuel Eghagbaifo (right) and other clerics at the p<strong>as</strong>tors and church leaders’ conference<br />

organised by Believers Theological Sem<strong>in</strong>ary <strong>in</strong> conjunction with M<strong>in</strong>isters Network International, <strong>in</strong><br />

Lagos. PHOTO: Elizabeth Uwandu.<br />

In Kano: We don’t have control<br />

over underage voters— INEC<br />

By Omeiza Ajayi<br />

ABUJA—THE fidelity of<br />

the outcome of l<strong>as</strong>t<br />

Saturday’s local<br />

government elections <strong>in</strong><br />

Kano State is now <strong>in</strong><br />

question, follow<strong>in</strong>g the<br />

decision of the<br />

Independent National<br />

Electoral Commission,<br />

INEC, to dissociate itself<br />

from <strong>in</strong>cidences of<br />

underage vot<strong>in</strong>g, which<br />

w<strong>as</strong> allegedly a prom<strong>in</strong>ent<br />

feature <strong>in</strong> the exercise.<br />

Accord<strong>in</strong>g to Oluwole<br />

Uzzi, Director, INEC Voter<br />

By Dennis Udoma<br />

U YO—FORMER<br />

federal lawmaker<br />

from Akwa Ibom State, Dan<br />

Akpan, h<strong>as</strong> threatened<br />

legal action aga<strong>in</strong>st the<br />

Jo<strong>in</strong>t Admissions and<br />

Matriculation Board,<br />

JAMB, for block<strong>in</strong>g his<br />

Computer-B<strong>as</strong>ed Test,<br />

CBT, centre from<br />

register<strong>in</strong>g candidates for<br />

the just-concluded 2017/<br />

2018 UTME registration.<br />

This is even <strong>as</strong> he alleged<br />

that over 6,000 candidates<br />

seek<strong>in</strong>g registration with<br />

JAMB <strong>in</strong> Akwa Ibom this<br />

Education and Publicity,<br />

“the attention of the<br />

Independent National<br />

Electoral Commission,<br />

INEC, h<strong>as</strong> been drawn to<br />

videos and pictures<br />

purportedly show<strong>in</strong>g some<br />

underaged thumb pr<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g<br />

ballot papers <strong>in</strong> a recent<br />

election. These images<br />

have been circulat<strong>in</strong>g<br />

onl<strong>in</strong>e s<strong>in</strong>ce Saturday.<br />

“The INEC wishes to<br />

<strong>in</strong>form the public that the<br />

images do not relate <strong>in</strong> any<br />

way to any election<br />

organised, conducted or<br />

super<strong>in</strong>tended by INEC.<br />

Ex-lawmaker threatens JAMB<br />

with law suit over CBT centre<br />

year will miss out of CBT.<br />

Akpan, who is also the<br />

Proprietor of Spr<strong>in</strong>g-wood<br />

Investment Limited at Ikot<br />

Okpudo <strong>in</strong> Nsit Ubium<br />

Local Government Area of<br />

the state, gave the threat<br />

weekend, not<strong>in</strong>g that the<br />

centre w<strong>as</strong> approved and<br />

accredited by JAMB <strong>in</strong><br />

2016.<br />

Accord<strong>in</strong>g to him,<br />

“problem started when our<br />

router could not access<br />

JAMB, and we had to<br />

report the matter to the<br />

State Coord<strong>in</strong>ator, Mrs<br />

Odigida, who referred us<br />

to Mr. Adamu, a Director<br />

“As far <strong>as</strong> the INEC can<br />

<strong>as</strong>certa<strong>in</strong>, they relate to a<br />

local government election<br />

conducted at the weekend,<br />

and over which we have no<br />

legal control or<br />

responsibility whatsoever.”<br />

However, Vanguard<br />

checks revealed that INEC<br />

usually provides national<br />

voters’ register to State<br />

Independent Electoral<br />

Commission, SIEC, for<br />

local council elections.<br />

The state electoral<br />

commissions are, therefore,<br />

expected to accredit only<br />

those voters <strong>in</strong> INEC<br />

<strong>in</strong> Abuja office.<br />

“My adm<strong>in</strong>istrator h<strong>as</strong><br />

been talk<strong>in</strong>g to Adamu,<br />

who promised to give us a<br />

SIM card. Two months after,<br />

he referred us to the State<br />

Coord<strong>in</strong>ator, who is not<br />

help<strong>in</strong>g us.<br />

“Because of this, I have<br />

personally gone to Abuja<br />

office to compla<strong>in</strong> and they<br />

admitted receiv<strong>in</strong>g our<br />

letter of compla<strong>in</strong>t.<br />

“As we speak, JAMB h<strong>as</strong><br />

not done anyth<strong>in</strong>g to rectify<br />

the problem and we are<br />

completely frustrated <strong>as</strong> we<br />

could not do registration<br />

this year.”<br />

register.<br />

... <strong>in</strong> 2015<br />

There had been concerns<br />

by some election observers<br />

that while underage voters<br />

may have been used to boost<br />

the 2015 election outcome<br />

<strong>in</strong> the state, the <strong>in</strong>cident<br />

might repeat itself <strong>in</strong> 2019,<br />

if Saturday’s occurrence is<br />

not questioned.<br />

Uzzi said: “While the<br />

commission rema<strong>in</strong>s<br />

resolute <strong>in</strong> our commitment<br />

to sanitise the nation’s<br />

electoral process and<br />

deliver free, fair and<br />

credible elections, we<br />

cannot be held directly or<br />

vicariously liable for an<br />

exercise outside our legal<br />

purview.<br />

“It should be po<strong>in</strong>ted out<br />

here that local government<br />

elections are exclusively the<br />

constitutional responsibility<br />

of the respective State<br />

Electoral Commissions,<br />

SEC, who are <strong>in</strong> no way<br />

under the control or<br />

supervision of INEC.<br />

“On our part, INEC<br />

<strong>as</strong>sures the public that we<br />

are do<strong>in</strong>g all we can to<br />

ensure a credible election<br />

<strong>as</strong> w<strong>as</strong> once aga<strong>in</strong><br />

demonstrated <strong>in</strong> the<br />

M<strong>as</strong>hi/Dutsi federal<br />

constituency election <strong>in</strong><br />

Kats<strong>in</strong>a State on<br />

Saturday.”<br />

N11bn scandal: Ex-Governor<br />

Shema's trial beg<strong>in</strong>s<br />

By B<strong>as</strong>hir Bello<br />

KATSINA<br />

High<br />

Court, yesterday,<br />

resumed prosecution of<br />

former governor of the<br />

state, Ibrahim Shema,<br />

over alleged f<strong>in</strong>ancial<br />

misappropriation.<br />

The Economic and<br />

F<strong>in</strong>ancial Crimes<br />

Commission, EFCC,<br />

had filed a motion at the<br />

court aga<strong>in</strong>st the former<br />

governor and three<br />

others for alleged<br />

misappropriation of N11<br />

billion dur<strong>in</strong>g his eight<br />

years tenure <strong>as</strong> governor<br />

of the state.<br />

Others charged with<br />

him <strong>in</strong>clude his<br />

Commissioner for Local<br />

Government and<br />

Chiefta<strong>in</strong>cy Affairs,<br />

Hamisu Makana;<br />

Permanent Secretary,<br />

Church leaders must<br />

speak truth—Clerics<br />

By Elizabeth<br />

Uwandu<br />

THE need for clerics<br />

to always speak the<br />

truth and set moral<br />

examples for their<br />

followers formed the<br />

focus of a two-day<br />

sem<strong>in</strong>ar tagged P<strong>as</strong>tors<br />

and Church Leaders<br />

Conference, organised<br />

by Believers<br />

Theological Sem<strong>in</strong>ary<br />

and hosted by Rev. Dr.<br />

Adolphus Anyanacho.<br />

The event, held <strong>in</strong><br />

partnership with<br />

M<strong>in</strong>ister’s Network<br />

International at the<br />

Chapel of Light, Lagos<br />

State University, LASU,<br />

Ojo, had P<strong>as</strong>tor Frances<br />

Ak<strong>in</strong>-John, P<strong>as</strong>tor<br />

Women Journalists,<br />

NAWOJ, <strong>in</strong> the<br />

<strong>as</strong>sociation’s recentlyconcluded<br />

National<br />

Executive Council, NEC,<br />

meet<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> Jos, Plateau<br />

State.<br />

She said: “As women<br />

journalists, you have been<br />

liberated by your education<br />

and exposure to, not only<br />

identify the challenges that<br />

women face, but also<br />

<strong>in</strong>tensify the campaign that<br />

will draw attention to these<br />

By Suzan Edeh<br />

BAUCHI—WIFE of<br />

Bauchi State<br />

governor, Hadiza<br />

Abubakar, h<strong>as</strong> presented<br />

certificates to 1,600<br />

women graduates of her<br />

skill acquisition<br />

programme <strong>in</strong> Bauchi.<br />

The womentra<strong>in</strong>ees<br />

rounded off<br />

their one-month tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g,<br />

specialis<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> tailor<strong>in</strong>g,<br />

<strong>in</strong>terior decoration,<br />

p<strong>as</strong>try, cater<strong>in</strong>g and<br />

agro-allied products,<br />

rang<strong>in</strong>g from dubla,<br />

spaghetti, potato chips,<br />

coconut oil production to<br />

preservation of tomatoes<br />

and vegetables.<br />

The programme, which<br />

saw beneficiaries<br />

selected from the 20 local<br />

M<strong>in</strong>istry for Local<br />

Government, Lawal<br />

Safana, and former<br />

A<strong>LG</strong>ON Chairman, Lawal<br />

Dankaba.<br />

At yesterday’s sitt<strong>in</strong>g, the<br />

presid<strong>in</strong>g judge, Justice<br />

Ibrahim Bako, adjourned<br />

the c<strong>as</strong>e to April 10, 11 and<br />

12 for the hear<strong>in</strong>g.<br />

Shema had gone to the<br />

Appeal Court <strong>in</strong> Kaduna<br />

to challenge the<br />

jurisdiction of the Kats<strong>in</strong>a<br />

State High Court, where it<br />

(Appeal Court sitt<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong><br />

Kaduna) ruled <strong>in</strong> favour of<br />

Kats<strong>in</strong>a State High Court<br />

to try the former governor,<br />

who proceeded to the<br />

Supreme Court.<br />

The Supreme Court,<br />

however, affirmed the<br />

judgment of Court of<br />

Appeal, Kaduna, which<br />

authorised the trial of the<br />

ex-governor.<br />

Goodness Eze, Bishop<br />

Abraham Olaleye, Dr.<br />

Monday Kali, P<strong>as</strong>tor Isaac<br />

Stephen and Dr. Tos<strong>in</strong><br />

Audu <strong>as</strong> guest speakers.<br />

Speak<strong>in</strong>g, Rev<br />

Anyanacho said most<br />

church leaders have left<br />

their mandate <strong>as</strong> role<br />

models to become lords<br />

that spread fake<br />

prophecies and build<br />

c<strong>as</strong>tles without foundation,<br />

describ<strong>in</strong>g same <strong>as</strong><br />

stomach gospel.<br />

On his part, P<strong>as</strong>tor<br />

Ak<strong>in</strong>-John, a columnist<br />

with Vanguard, who<br />

called for the nation’s<br />

restructur<strong>in</strong>g, noted that<br />

for the church of God to<br />

grow, the workers must<br />

be spiritually, morally<br />

and physically sound.<br />

Bauchi gov's wife<br />

empowers 1,600 women<br />

government are<strong>as</strong> of the<br />

state, w<strong>as</strong> organised by the<br />

governor’s wife’s NGO, B-<br />

SWEEP, <strong>in</strong> collaboration<br />

with the state’s M<strong>in</strong>istry of<br />

Women Affairs.<br />

Speak<strong>in</strong>g dur<strong>in</strong>g the<br />

ceremony yesterday,<br />

Hajiya Abubakar charged<br />

the beneficiaries to utilise<br />

the skills acquired to<br />

improve their livelihood.<br />

In his remarks, Governor<br />

Mohammed Abubakar,<br />

who w<strong>as</strong> represented by<br />

his Deputy, Nuhu Gidado,<br />

reiterated the<br />

determ<strong>in</strong>ation of the state<br />

government to improve the<br />

lives of women, with the<br />

aim of remov<strong>in</strong>g the sociocultural<br />

barriers<br />

prevent<strong>in</strong>g them from<br />

realis<strong>in</strong>g their full<br />

potentials.


36 — VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2018<br />

WITH CHARLES KUMOLU<br />

midweekpersonality@gmail.com<br />

08052140865 (sms only)<br />

ODIKPO: I ignored<br />

Commonwealth scholarship<br />

to focus on mak<strong>in</strong>g money<br />

WITH a great sense of fulfillment, Founder of First City Diagnosis,<br />

Dr. Iyke Odikpo expla<strong>in</strong>s how he rose from a young doctor, who drove<br />

cabs to become the owner of an upscale medical facility <strong>in</strong> Lagos, a<br />

successful entrepreneur and philanthropist.<br />

ON childhood:<br />

I w<strong>as</strong> quite heady<br />

when I w<strong>as</strong> young because I<br />

knew what I wanted <strong>in</strong> life. My<br />

parents made me what I am<br />

today. I <strong>in</strong>herited traits like<br />

stubbornness, k<strong>in</strong>dness, and<br />

calmness from my father. I took<br />

my mother’s fearless and<br />

dogged nature. Mummy could<br />

stand up to anybody. I w<strong>as</strong><br />

born <strong>in</strong>to a family of teachers.<br />

My father, Mr. Michael Azuka<br />

Odikpo w<strong>as</strong> a school Pr<strong>in</strong>cipal.<br />

My mother, Mrs. Angel<strong>in</strong>a<br />

Agiliga Odikpo retired <strong>as</strong> a<br />

Headmistress. She w<strong>as</strong> a very<br />

strict and beautiful woman.<br />

She w<strong>as</strong> one person that<br />

helped curtail my excesses <strong>in</strong><br />

life. If anybody wanted me to<br />

do anyth<strong>in</strong>g, the person had<br />

to negotiate with me. Anyone<br />

that tried to bully me when I<br />

w<strong>as</strong> a child met a brick wall.<br />

Hav<strong>in</strong>g come from such a<br />

background, I am not surprised<br />

that I am a true reflection of<br />

my parental background.<br />

Order to change my choice<br />

I studied Medic<strong>in</strong>e because<br />

my father <strong>in</strong>sisted. I wanted to<br />

be an economist. I had an<br />

uncle, late Dr. Nwani, who<br />

had a Ph.D. <strong>in</strong> Economics from<br />

America. I wanted to be like<br />

him. I loved Economics and<br />

did well <strong>in</strong> it. My<br />

understand<strong>in</strong>g then w<strong>as</strong> that<br />

the world w<strong>as</strong> all about<br />

economics, but on the eve of<br />

the closure of Jo<strong>in</strong>t Admission<br />

Matriculation Board, JAMB,<br />

registration, my father came to<br />

my school to see my Pr<strong>in</strong>cipal.<br />

I w<strong>as</strong> called to my Pr<strong>in</strong>cipal’s<br />

office where my father w<strong>as</strong><br />

seated beside my Pr<strong>in</strong>cipal and<br />

I w<strong>as</strong> ordered to change my<br />

choice of Economics to<br />

Medic<strong>in</strong>e. I had to sign a new<br />

set of forms. I w<strong>as</strong> very angry<br />

about it to the extent of say<strong>in</strong>g<br />

that I w<strong>as</strong> not go<strong>in</strong>g to sit for<br />

the exam<strong>in</strong>ation. But the fact<br />

that I did not want to fail an<br />

exam<strong>in</strong>ation made me start<br />

read<strong>in</strong>g a night to the<br />

exam<strong>in</strong>ation. To the glory of<br />

God, I scored the required<br />

po<strong>in</strong>ts for Medic<strong>in</strong>e and got<br />

admitted to University of Jos<br />

Medical School <strong>in</strong> 1979 at the<br />

age of 16.<br />

Capacity and tenacity:<br />

If I did not have the capacity<br />

and tenacity, it would not have<br />

been e<strong>as</strong>y to have the k<strong>in</strong>d of<br />

grades needed to study Medic<strong>in</strong>e.<br />

Study<strong>in</strong>g Medic<strong>in</strong>e w<strong>as</strong><br />

not e<strong>as</strong>y but it w<strong>as</strong> fun and excit<strong>in</strong>g.<br />

Till date, it gladdens my<br />

heart to <strong>in</strong>troduce myself <strong>as</strong> a<br />

medical doctor. Some people<br />

sometimes th<strong>in</strong>k I no longer<br />

practice because I veered <strong>in</strong>to<br />

politics and bus<strong>in</strong>ess, but I am<br />

still <strong>in</strong> practice. I veered <strong>in</strong>to<br />

politics because if good people<br />

stay out of politics, bad people<br />

will make bad laws and people<br />

will be compelled to obey. That<br />

is why people like me are <strong>in</strong><br />

politics to see how best we can<br />

<strong>in</strong>fluence the affairs of the<br />

society. I have learnt to<br />

understand that argu<strong>in</strong>g with<br />

government is difficult because<br />

government is like a big<br />

m<strong>as</strong>querade. It is a lot e<strong>as</strong>ier to<br />

<strong>in</strong>fluence th<strong>in</strong>gs when one is <strong>in</strong><br />

government.<br />

From childhood, I knew I had<br />

to belong to a profession where<br />

I will apply my skills. And <strong>as</strong><br />

kids we looked at doctors <strong>as</strong><br />

next to God. So I am glad to be<br />

one. It gives me joy that we<br />

make what people consider a<br />

big issue to be a non-issue after<br />

listen<strong>in</strong>g to patients. Imag<strong>in</strong>e<br />

the joy <strong>in</strong> me whenever I revive<br />

unconscious patients. This h<strong>as</strong><br />

happened three times on flights.<br />

One w<strong>as</strong> on an Aero flight while<br />

it happened twice on<br />

<strong>in</strong>ternational flights.<br />

My boss said it<br />

w<strong>as</strong> better I w<strong>as</strong><br />

start<strong>in</strong>g my own,<br />

stat<strong>in</strong>g that the<br />

way th<strong>in</strong>gs were<br />

<strong>in</strong> Nigeria at that<br />

time showed that<br />

it will be difficult<br />

for th<strong>in</strong>gs to get<br />

better<br />

PERSONALITY ETHICS<br />

*I am adventurous<br />

*Perseverance make<br />

th<strong>in</strong>gs work out<br />

*I don't disregard<br />

good advice<br />

Com<strong>in</strong>g to Lagos<br />

Creat<strong>in</strong>g a niche for myself is<br />

a product of perseverance, hard<br />

work and focus because it w<strong>as</strong><br />

not e<strong>as</strong>y when I got to Lagos.<br />

As a young doctor, I moved <strong>in</strong>to<br />

the large Lagos market where I<br />

worked <strong>in</strong> two medical centres<br />

before I met Dr. Yomi F<strong>in</strong>nih,<br />

who smoothened my rough edges<br />

<strong>in</strong> the medical profession. I<br />

worked with him for four years<br />

before I set up my own practice.<br />

Be<strong>in</strong>g given the right advice<br />

helped a lot because Lagos<br />

w<strong>as</strong> a huge and established<br />

market for a young boy to just<br />

make it without encounter<strong>in</strong>g<br />

hurdles. I w<strong>as</strong> only try<strong>in</strong>g to<br />

survive then and support my<br />

sibl<strong>in</strong>gs. I attribute my success<br />

to God, do<strong>in</strong>g the right th<strong>in</strong>gs,<br />

work<strong>in</strong>g hard and gett<strong>in</strong>g the<br />

right advice. The comb<strong>in</strong>ation<br />

of these, helped me to become<br />

established <strong>in</strong> Lagos. As a<br />

young doctor, I worked around<br />

the clock and played hard too.<br />

Fresh <strong>in</strong> my m<strong>in</strong>d<br />

I remember an <strong>in</strong>cident that<br />

happened at a local hospital<br />

where I w<strong>as</strong> work<strong>in</strong>g that<br />

rema<strong>in</strong>s fresh <strong>in</strong> my m<strong>in</strong>d.<br />

There w<strong>as</strong> a night I w<strong>as</strong> called<br />

to attend to a woman. She had<br />

a cesarean section that got<br />

<strong>in</strong>fected and resulted <strong>in</strong> burst<br />

abdomen. I looked at her and<br />

found out that she appeared<br />

dead. I told them that if I<br />

referred the woman to a General<br />

Hospital she will not survive<br />

because of the long process of<br />

transport<strong>in</strong>g her to the hospital<br />

and the procedures of<br />

admission. It w<strong>as</strong> at a place<br />

called Ikotun Egbe and the<br />

nearest General Hospital at that<br />

time w<strong>as</strong> Ikeja. It w<strong>as</strong> a journey<br />

of one hour on bad roads at that<br />

time. I took a risk but I told them<br />

I w<strong>as</strong> not promis<strong>in</strong>g anyth<strong>in</strong>g.<br />

I did a surgery called Total<br />

Hysterectomy with the<br />

<strong>as</strong>sistance of an auxiliary nurse.<br />

There w<strong>as</strong> no anesthesia. At the<br />

time I w<strong>as</strong> stitch<strong>in</strong>g the sk<strong>in</strong> she<br />

started mov<strong>in</strong>g her legs and I<br />

w<strong>as</strong> happy she survived.<br />

Unfortunately, the family did not<br />

have money to pay me when I<br />

f<strong>in</strong>ished the surgery. I w<strong>as</strong> very<br />

angry <strong>as</strong> a young man. Sometimes<br />

when th<strong>in</strong>gs work out for<br />

me, I feel that some of those<br />

th<strong>in</strong>gs I did <strong>in</strong> the p<strong>as</strong>t were<br />

be<strong>in</strong>g repaid. They offered me<br />

family land but I w<strong>as</strong> naive and<br />

refused to take it. I wish I had<br />

taken it. I told the husband that<br />

she will not be able to have a<br />

child aga<strong>in</strong> because the womb<br />

w<strong>as</strong> removed. After tell<strong>in</strong>g my<br />

former boss, Dr. F<strong>in</strong>nih, he w<strong>as</strong><br />

marveled but warned me to be<br />

careful.<br />

Becom<strong>in</strong>g successful<br />

Another person, who helped<br />

me <strong>in</strong> becom<strong>in</strong>g successful,<br />

w<strong>as</strong> my late friend, Ifeanyi<br />

Nwuke. I used to write<br />

proposals about how I will set<br />

up my hospital and I w<strong>as</strong><br />

look<strong>in</strong>g for money that I will<br />

use. He advised me to look<br />

for an estate to set up my<br />

hospital. He said that every<br />

estate h<strong>as</strong> settlements of<br />

company workers. That w<strong>as</strong><br />

how I rented a duplex <strong>in</strong><br />

Gowon Estate where I started<br />

with my small sav<strong>in</strong>gs. My<br />

sibl<strong>in</strong>gs and I were the<br />

carpenters and bricklayers,<br />

who worked on the new place.<br />

My boss <strong>as</strong>sisted me with the<br />

first set of furniture for the<br />

hospital and advised that if it<br />

becomes too difficult I can<br />

come back and cont<strong>in</strong>ue<br />

work<strong>in</strong>g for him. My boss said<br />

it w<strong>as</strong> better I w<strong>as</strong> start<strong>in</strong>g my<br />

own, stat<strong>in</strong>g that the way<br />

th<strong>in</strong>gs were <strong>in</strong> Nigeria at that<br />

time showed that it will be<br />

difficult for th<strong>in</strong>gs to get better.<br />

Initially, when I said I w<strong>as</strong><br />

go<strong>in</strong>g, my boss thought it w<strong>as</strong><br />

because of my salary and he<br />

<strong>in</strong>cre<strong>as</strong>ed it to N3,500 from<br />

N1,500 per month. While I w<strong>as</strong><br />

with F<strong>in</strong>nih, I encountered<br />

Major Mustapha Jokolo, retd.<br />

I delivered his second<br />

daughter and we became<br />

friends. I also provided<br />

medical services to him. Major<br />

Jokolo, considered me an<br />

excellent doctor who knows his<br />

onions. He <strong>in</strong>troduced me to<br />

bus<strong>in</strong>ess and I w<strong>as</strong> able to<br />

support my sibl<strong>in</strong>gs and retired<br />

parents not m<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g my small<br />

salary. I used to lie to my father<br />

that I w<strong>as</strong> tak<strong>in</strong>g loans from<br />

banks.<br />

When I started my first cl<strong>in</strong>ic<br />

<strong>in</strong> Gowon Estate, National<br />

Shipp<strong>in</strong>g L<strong>in</strong>e which w<strong>as</strong> functional<br />

at that time became my<br />

first major client. Thus, between<br />

28 and 29, I made my<br />

first N1m <strong>as</strong> a doctor from National<br />

Shipp<strong>in</strong>g L<strong>in</strong>e.<br />

First City Hospital<br />

I named my first hospital Aikland<br />

co<strong>in</strong>ed from Iyke and<br />

land. We grew from Gowon<br />

Estate and became more adventurous<br />

by mov<strong>in</strong>g to Victoria<br />

Island. I remember a certa<strong>in</strong><br />

Yoruba woman <strong>as</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g<br />

about my background and who<br />

my father w<strong>as</strong> when I moved<br />

to the Island. She w<strong>as</strong><br />

surprised that an Igbo young<br />

man from Delta State could own<br />

a hospital <strong>in</strong> Victoria Island at<br />

that time. The right advice,<br />

right position<strong>in</strong>g, and<br />

perseverance made it possible.<br />

There were times when there<br />

were low moments but the<br />

successes kept com<strong>in</strong>g. By the<br />

time I got to Victoria Island, I<br />

felt that the name, Aikland w<strong>as</strong><br />

not catchy enough. I had to<br />

register First City Hospital <strong>as</strong><br />

a new name and later changed<br />

to First City Diagnosis because<br />

I met an elderly man, whose<br />

hospital w<strong>as</strong> also known <strong>as</strong><br />

First City Hospital. That is the<br />

story of First City Diagnosis that<br />

h<strong>as</strong> given birth to so many<br />

success stories. Hav<strong>in</strong>g made<br />

some money I started<br />

philanthropism <strong>in</strong> my village,<br />

Onicha-Olona. I have been<br />

partak<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the development<br />

of my village. I started play<strong>in</strong>g<br />

politics dur<strong>in</strong>g the Social<br />

Democratic Party , SDP, and<br />

National Republican<br />

Convention , NRC, era and got<br />

to the level of state delegate <strong>in</strong><br />

NRC. In 2003, I left the Peoples<br />

Democratic Party, PDP, to run<br />

for the Senate on the platform<br />

of United Nigeria Peoples<br />

Party, UNPP. I moved from<br />

be<strong>in</strong>g a doctor to a<br />

bus<strong>in</strong>essman and politician.<br />

But all these were made possible<br />

by God because there were<br />

some, who had such dreams but<br />

could not make it <strong>as</strong> a result of<br />

natural processes like death.<br />

Read full <strong>in</strong>terview on<br />

www.vanguardngr.com


Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2018 — 37<br />

Death of NNPC top staff<br />

<strong>in</strong> Enugu raises dust<br />

•Family po<strong>in</strong>ts accus<strong>in</strong>g f<strong>in</strong>gers at lover, relations<br />

By Emeka Mamah, Enugu<br />

THE police <strong>in</strong> Enugu<br />

have arrested a<br />

woman and some of her<br />

relations over alleged<br />

murder of a senior staff<br />

of the Nigerian National<br />

Petroleum Corporation<br />

NNPC, Eng<strong>in</strong>eer Val<br />

Ossai, at Nsukka, Enugu<br />

State on Monday,<br />

January 22, 2018.<br />

Ossai who returned<br />

from his Port Harcourt,<br />

Rivers State b<strong>as</strong>e for a<br />

burial at Aji, Enugu Ezike<br />

<strong>in</strong> Igbo Eze North<br />

Local Government Area<br />

of the state earlier on<br />

Saturday, January 20,<br />

reportedly died <strong>in</strong> the<br />

house of his alleged concub<strong>in</strong>e,<br />

Monday night.<br />

Relations to the dece<strong>as</strong>ed,<br />

who spoke to<br />

Crime Alert, said their<br />

late brother w<strong>as</strong> killed on<br />

Monday night and taken<br />

to a hospital near Fen<br />

Park <strong>in</strong> Nsukka, same<br />

night, but stressed that<br />

the hospital rejected the<br />

body on the grounds that<br />

its morgue w<strong>as</strong> not function<strong>in</strong>g<br />

properly.<br />

They said that his killers<br />

later took his corpse<br />

to the Bishop Shanahan<br />

Hospital the follow<strong>in</strong>g<br />

morn<strong>in</strong>g , Tuesday, before<br />

<strong>in</strong>form<strong>in</strong>g his father,<br />

Chief David Ossai and<br />

his other relations who<br />

were all resident at<br />

Nsukka, later at about<br />

10.30 am.<br />

Younger brother to the<br />

dece<strong>as</strong>ed, Emeka Ossai,<br />

said that the dece<strong>as</strong>ed<br />

w<strong>as</strong> dead already before<br />

he w<strong>as</strong> taken straight to<br />

hospital mortuary even <strong>as</strong><br />

the family w<strong>as</strong> <strong>in</strong>formed<br />

that he w<strong>as</strong> rushed to hospital<br />

when he collapsed<br />

and became unconscious<br />

on Tuesday morn<strong>in</strong>g.<br />

They added that his killers<br />

later withdrew<br />

amounts totall<strong>in</strong>g about<br />

N28.2 million from his<br />

account shortly after his<br />

death.<br />

Accord<strong>in</strong>g to him,<br />

“Val’s killers withdrew<br />

N26 million from his<br />

bank accounts domiciled<br />

<strong>in</strong> Port Harcourt, another<br />

N2million from another<br />

of his accounts, while<br />

they used his ATM card<br />

to withdraw N200, 000<br />

c<strong>as</strong>h from a bank at Obollo<br />

Afor <strong>in</strong> Udenu Local<br />

Government Area of Enugu<br />

state between January<br />

22 and 24,” add<strong>in</strong>g<br />

that one of the th<strong>in</strong>gs<br />

that rattled the family<br />

w<strong>as</strong> that one of the<br />

c<strong>as</strong>hed cheques w<strong>as</strong> paid<br />

to the dece<strong>as</strong>ed whose<br />

corpse w<strong>as</strong> already <strong>in</strong> the<br />

mortuary at the Shanahan<br />

Hospital, Nsukka.<br />

“We are worried and<br />

we want a thorough <strong>in</strong>vestigation.<br />

Our brother<br />

did not die a natural<br />

death. He w<strong>as</strong> hale and<br />

hearty before he w<strong>as</strong><br />

killed,” Emeka added.<br />

However, <strong>in</strong> a swift reaction,<br />

a relation of the<br />

woman who refused to<br />

disclose his identity told<br />

Crime Alert over the<br />

phone that all the stories<br />

be<strong>in</strong>g peddled about the<br />

death of the dece<strong>as</strong>ed<br />

were fabricated. Accord<strong>in</strong>g<br />

to him, the dece<strong>as</strong>ed<br />

w<strong>as</strong> traditionally married<br />

to our sister and they<br />

were enjoy<strong>in</strong>g marital<br />

bliss peacefully until the<br />

unfortunate <strong>in</strong>cident.<br />

“The couple were <strong>in</strong><br />

their room that day when<br />

he compla<strong>in</strong>ed of une<strong>as</strong><strong>in</strong>ess<br />

and before the wife<br />

could do anyth<strong>in</strong>g, he<br />

collapsed.<br />

He w<strong>as</strong> rushed to a<br />

nearby hospital alive but<br />

they referred us to another<br />

hospital. At that<br />

stage, the wife who w<strong>as</strong><br />

heavy with pregnancy<br />

P-H-O-T-O-S-P-E-A-K<br />

Arms surrender by cultists<br />

Late Val Ossai<br />

started bleed<strong>in</strong>g <strong>as</strong> a result<br />

of the shock and she<br />

w<strong>as</strong> also rushed to another<br />

hospital. Unfortunately,<br />

the husband died before<br />

we got to the second<br />

hospital. His death must<br />

be connected with some<br />

excesses which doctors<br />

earlier advised that he<br />

should stop <strong>in</strong>dulg<strong>in</strong>g<br />

<strong>in</strong>. All other claims about<br />

withdrawal of money etc;<br />

are not known to us because<br />

we are busy<br />

mourn<strong>in</strong>g our <strong>in</strong>-law.”<br />

Enugu State Police<br />

Spokesman, Ebere Amaraizu<br />

decl<strong>in</strong>ed comments<br />

on the issue because he<br />

had not been properly<br />

briefed, while the State<br />

Police Commissioner,<br />

Mohammed Danmalam,<br />

did not respond to a text<br />

message to him on the<br />

matter.<br />

Meanwhile, the NNPC<br />

h<strong>as</strong> demanded that an<br />

autopsy be conducted<br />

while both the woman<br />

and her relations have<br />

reportedly been granted<br />

bail pend<strong>in</strong>g conclusion<br />

of police <strong>in</strong>vestigations<br />

<strong>in</strong>to the c<strong>as</strong>e.<br />

The Commissioner of Police, Lagos state, Imohimi Edgal and other officers<br />

and security agents dur<strong>in</strong>g the renunciation of cultism and surrender<br />

of arms by cultists at Ikorodu area of the state, Monday.


38 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2018<br />

AS MADRID BATTLE PSG TONIGHT..<br />

Zidane says it’s not<br />

Neymar vs Ronaldo<br />

Z<strong>in</strong>ed<strong>in</strong>e Zidane spoke to<br />

the press yesterday<br />

ahead of Real Madrid’s<br />

Champions League date with<br />

dest<strong>in</strong>y when PSG visit the<br />

Spanish capital tonight for a<br />

round 16 match.<br />

Real’s se<strong>as</strong>on h<strong>in</strong>ges on<br />

success aga<strong>in</strong>st the bigspend<strong>in</strong>g<br />

Ligue 1 leaders and<br />

perhaps Zidane’s job does <strong>as</strong><br />

well, with the Frenchman<br />

admitt<strong>in</strong>g that the 2017-18<br />

se<strong>as</strong>on h<strong>as</strong> been a bit of a<br />

disappo<strong>in</strong>tment on the<br />

domestic front.<br />

“It’s not Neymar vs Cristiano,<br />

it’s PSG vs Real Madrid”<br />

Zidane says.<br />

“Cristiano h<strong>as</strong> achieved<br />

remarkable th<strong>in</strong>gs with five<br />

Ballon d’Or and I am not go<strong>in</strong>g<br />

to compare them now.<br />

Everyone knows about Neymar<br />

on the pitch, they both have a<br />

lot of quality and can make a<br />

difference.<br />

“It’s 50-50" Zidane reckons,<br />

say<strong>in</strong>g that both sides have an<br />

equal chance of go<strong>in</strong>g through.<br />

Who is under more pressure,<br />

Madrid or PSG? Zidane replies<br />

that there is no pressure on<br />

Lacazette out for up<br />

to six weeks<br />

Alexandre Lacazette faces a<br />

period of up to six weeks on the<br />

sidel<strong>in</strong>es after undergo<strong>in</strong>g m<strong>in</strong>or<br />

surgery on his left knee.<br />

The Arsenal striker had an<br />

arthroscopy on his left knee on<br />

Tuesday morn<strong>in</strong>g and his club expect<br />

him to be out for between four and<br />

six weeks.<br />

Standard Sport understands that<br />

Lacazette’s <strong>in</strong>jury had been an<br />

ongo<strong>in</strong>g problem that required swift<br />

address<strong>in</strong>g but the decision to send<br />

the 26-year-old under the knife<br />

hands Arsene Wenger a major<br />

selection headache ahead of<br />

Thursday’s Europa League round of<br />

32 first-leg at Ostersunds - and<br />

<strong>in</strong>deed for much of the rema<strong>in</strong>der of<br />

the competition<br />

Indeed until Lacazette recovers,<br />

which is unlikely to be before the<br />

Europa League h<strong>as</strong> reached its<br />

quarter-f<strong>in</strong>al stage, Danny Welbeck<br />

will be the only senior centre forward<br />

available to the Arsenal manager <strong>in</strong><br />

the competition. Eddie Nketiah, 18,<br />

w<strong>as</strong> also named <strong>in</strong> the Gunners squad<br />

for the competition.<br />

Madrid because they live for<br />

play<strong>in</strong>g these k<strong>in</strong>ds of games<br />

and he hopes that it will be a<br />

great game.<br />

“I don’t have to show<br />

anyth<strong>in</strong>g tonight, all I can do<br />

is focus on the game and that<br />

is what is important for me<br />

right now. Not what people will<br />

say about me.<br />

“Be<strong>in</strong>g PSG it is true that <strong>as</strong> I<br />

Argent<strong>in</strong>e football federation<br />

president Claudio Tapia<br />

said he h<strong>as</strong> <strong>as</strong>ked Lionel Messi<br />

to play less for Barcelona<br />

and be fresher for the World<br />

Cup.<br />

Messi h<strong>as</strong> been <strong>in</strong> blister<strong>in</strong>g<br />

form for the Catalan side that<br />

have raced clear at the top of<br />

LaLiga but <strong>in</strong> Argent<strong>in</strong>a they<br />

are hop<strong>in</strong>g that he doesn’t burn<br />

out before the summer.<br />

“I hope that all the players<br />

will have the same form that<br />

am from Olympique de<br />

Marseille that there is a<br />

historical rivalry but I am<br />

concentrat<strong>in</strong>g on Madrid<br />

aga<strong>in</strong>st PSG.<br />

“What is important for me is<br />

that the team is focused on the<br />

game. We will see what<br />

happens tonight and how we<br />

start. It is not important who<br />

plays but how we get on <strong>in</strong> the<br />

game.”<br />

they are <strong>in</strong> at the moment,”<br />

Tapia expla<strong>in</strong>ed.<br />

“Sergio Aguero is play<strong>in</strong>g<br />

fant<strong>as</strong>tically and Lionel Messi<br />

is always strong.<br />

“This is important for the<br />

coaches and directors, we<br />

spoke with Messi for him to<br />

look after himself and play less<br />

at Barcelona.”<br />

He also revealed that they<br />

had received an offer to play a<br />

friendly game aga<strong>in</strong>st<br />

Liverpool unle<strong>as</strong>h<br />

Salah, Mane on Porto<br />

Ahead of Eagles World Cup cl<strong>as</strong>h<br />

Argent<strong>in</strong>a FA tells Messi to play less for Barca<br />

Porto are wait<strong>in</strong>g on a late fitness test for key defender<br />

Ivan Marcano ahead of their Champions league l<strong>as</strong>t<br />

16 cl<strong>as</strong>h with Liverpool tonight.<br />

Spaniard Marcano, 30, h<strong>as</strong>n’t played s<strong>in</strong>ce January 24<br />

and only took part <strong>in</strong> limited tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g yesterday.<br />

And Liverpool are ready to unle<strong>as</strong>h the African duo of<br />

Mohamed Salah and Saido Mane on Porto. Manager<br />

Juergen Klopp is back<strong>in</strong>g the duo to provide the goals<br />

that will lift Liverpool to a<br />

victory.The Portuguese club, who<br />

went back to the top of the league<br />

this weekend, are desperate for<br />

him to make the game given his<br />

regular defensive partner,<br />

Brazilian Felipe, is suspended<br />

after be<strong>in</strong>g sent off <strong>in</strong> the l<strong>as</strong>t<br />

Champions league group<br />

game.<br />

Top scorer V<strong>in</strong>cent Aboubakar<br />

is also not at 100% and also<br />

only took part <strong>in</strong> limited<br />

tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g yesterday although<br />

midfielder Andre Andre<br />

seems to be w<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g his battle<br />

for fitness.<br />

Portuguese journalist Luís<br />

Rocha Rodrigues, from the<br />

zerozero.pt website, said: “All is not rosy<br />

for manager Sergio Conceicao, <strong>as</strong> he h<strong>as</strong><br />

further <strong>in</strong>jury concerns regard<strong>in</strong>g Aboubakar<br />

(ma<strong>in</strong> striker), Marcano (central defender)<br />

and André André (midfielder).<br />

“Given that his defensive partner Felipe will<br />

miss the game hav<strong>in</strong>g been sent off v Monaco<br />

<strong>in</strong> the l<strong>as</strong>t Champions League game, Marcano<br />

is the stand-out issue ahead of the Liverpool<br />

cl<strong>as</strong>h.<br />

“If he isn’t fit then the untried Yordan Osorio<br />

(signed <strong>in</strong> January) will be l<strong>in</strong>e for the<br />

biggest game of his career.”<br />

Catalonia <strong>in</strong><br />

Barcelona on June 4<br />

and they are<br />

discuss<strong>in</strong>g the<br />

possibility.<br />

“Jorge (Sampaoli)<br />

said that it would be a<br />

good idea on a<br />

football level and for<br />

us it would also be<br />

important<br />

economically,” he<br />

added.<br />

Giroud: I w<strong>as</strong> right to<br />

jo<strong>in</strong> Chelsea<br />

O livier<br />

Giroud<br />

<strong>in</strong>sists he h<strong>as</strong> no<br />

regrets about leav<strong>in</strong>g<br />

Arsenal for Chelsea<br />

after help<strong>in</strong>g his new club<br />

get back to w<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g ways l<strong>as</strong>t<br />

night.<br />

Giroud jo<strong>in</strong>ed Chelsea for<br />

£18million on transfer deadl<strong>in</strong>e<br />

day a fortnight ago hav<strong>in</strong>g spent<br />

the previous five-and-a-half years<br />

at their London rivals.<br />

He said: “As a football player<br />

you need to move on and be<br />

ready the first day at your<br />

new club. It’s a new<br />

challenge for me. It w<strong>as</strong><br />

special for me to leave Arsenal<br />

because I had five amaz<strong>in</strong>g years<br />

there. But right now is a new<br />

chapter of my career and I’m<br />

focused 100 per cent on<br />

reach<strong>in</strong>g our targets. I am very<br />

happy to be here at Chelsea.<br />

“I know I will have to be<br />

efficient, scor<strong>in</strong>g and <strong>as</strong>sist<strong>in</strong>g<br />

sometimes. Obviously we don’t<br />

have too much time to <strong>in</strong>tegrate.<br />

But I feel very good and the<br />

players have been very good<br />

to me.<br />

“Will I get more of a chance<br />

to play here? Yes, obviously<br />

that’s why I needed to move.<br />

Chelsea w<strong>as</strong> the perfect team<br />

for me, the perfect club.<br />

“I’m still play<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the<br />

Premier League and for the<br />

club that h<strong>as</strong> won the most titles<br />

(along with Manchester<br />

United) <strong>in</strong> the p<strong>as</strong>t 13 years.<br />

It’s a m<strong>as</strong>sive club and I’m very<br />

proud to be here’’.


Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2018 — 39<br />

Anyone who h<strong>as</strong> witnessed<br />

Real Madrid’s stagger<strong>in</strong>g<br />

<strong>in</strong>consistency throughout this<br />

campaign would surely<br />

consider it mad to back<br />

Z<strong>in</strong>ed<strong>in</strong>e Zidane’s side versus<br />

Paris Sa<strong>in</strong>t-Germa<strong>in</strong>, however<br />

the way they manage to turn it<br />

on <strong>in</strong> the Champions League<br />

means they cannot be<br />

discounted.<br />

Interest<strong>in</strong>gly, Cristiano<br />

Ronaldo h<strong>as</strong> warned MSG,<br />

say<strong>in</strong>g that “real Madrid are a<br />

different team when we play <strong>in</strong><br />

the Champions League’’<br />

Such an upturn <strong>in</strong><br />

performance level h<strong>as</strong> not only<br />

been witnessed under the<br />

French coach but also for a<br />

long period of Los Blancos<br />

history, dur<strong>in</strong>g which they have<br />

accrued 12 European Cups.<br />

When domestic football is put<br />

to one side, the statistics show<br />

that Real grow <strong>in</strong>to a greater<br />

be<strong>as</strong>t, with fouls received the<br />

only area where their numbers<br />

are more favourable <strong>in</strong> LaLiga:<br />

Eagles can beat<br />

Argent<strong>in</strong>a agea<strong>in</strong><br />

NANF demands $10b royalty for<br />

broadc<strong>as</strong>t of EPL matches <strong>in</strong> Nigeria<br />

By Jacob Ajom<br />

The National Association of<br />

Nigerian Footballers,<br />

NANF, h<strong>as</strong> raised alarm over<br />

the negative effect of the<br />

“<strong>in</strong>v<strong>as</strong>ion “ of Nigeria by<br />

promoters of foreign football<br />

leagues and their<br />

merchandise, while relegat<strong>in</strong>g<br />

the local game to the<br />

background.<br />

Speak<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> Lagos yesterday,<br />

President of NANF, Harrison<br />

Jalla said the effect of the<br />

<strong>in</strong>v<strong>as</strong>ion on the growth of the<br />

local game h<strong>as</strong> been negative<br />

and unreward<strong>in</strong>g.<br />

“In light of this, we have<br />

<strong>in</strong>itiated various moves that<br />

would ensure the local game<br />

benefited from this <strong>in</strong>v<strong>as</strong>ion<br />

which, to say the le<strong>as</strong>t, h<strong>as</strong><br />

crippled the domestic<br />

game,”Jalla said.<br />

He disclosed that “after due<br />

consultation with relevant<br />

authorities such <strong>as</strong> the Nigeria<br />

Broadc<strong>as</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g Commission, the<br />

Nigeria Lottery Regulatory<br />

Commission and the Nigeria<br />

Lottery Trust Fund over the<br />

kill<strong>in</strong>g of domestic football <strong>as</strong> a<br />

product, service and <strong>in</strong>dustry<br />

by cable satellite television and<br />

football bett<strong>in</strong>g companies<br />

Ronaldo warns PSG<br />

•says Madrid are a different team <strong>in</strong> Champions League<br />

averag<strong>in</strong>g 13.5 per game to 10<br />

<strong>in</strong> Europe.<br />

Across the entire Champions<br />

League this se<strong>as</strong>on, no team<br />

h<strong>as</strong> a better p<strong>as</strong>s<strong>in</strong>g accuracy<br />

than Madrid with only Bayern<br />

Munich achiev<strong>in</strong>g a better shot<br />

accuracy.<br />

Likewise, Los Blancos are<br />

second-best to Liverpool <strong>in</strong> the<br />

number of shots fired off with<br />

the Reds and Wednesday’s<br />

Alex Iwobi h<strong>as</strong> said he hopes the Super Eagles<br />

repeat a stunn<strong>in</strong>g friendly w<strong>in</strong> over Argent<strong>in</strong>a<br />

at the World Cup <strong>in</strong> Russia.<br />

In November, the Eagles stunned two-time<br />

world champions Argent<strong>in</strong>a 4-2 <strong>in</strong> Kr<strong>as</strong>nodar and<br />

both teams will meet aga<strong>in</strong> for the fifth time at<br />

the World Cup <strong>in</strong> Russia.<br />

“Argent<strong>in</strong>a were miss<strong>in</strong>g their star man (Lionel)<br />

Messi, but we were also miss<strong>in</strong>g some of our<br />

players (for the friendly). We are confident we<br />

can repeat that at the World Cup,” the Arsenal<br />

forward said <strong>in</strong> a BBC <strong>in</strong>terview monitored today.<br />

“We were unbeaten <strong>in</strong> the World Cup qualifiers<br />

and we are confident and have young talent, who<br />

want to prove themselves any time they are on<br />

the pitch.”<br />

us<strong>in</strong>g foreign leagues,<br />

particularly the English<br />

Premier League games, we<br />

have got <strong>in</strong> touch with our<br />

external solicitors Johnson &<br />

Steler Solicitors of Hanover<br />

Square, Mayfair London to<br />

<strong>in</strong>itiate a process to recover<br />

$10billion <strong>as</strong> outstand<strong>in</strong>g<br />

royalties from 2008 to 2018 for<br />

Cadbury Nigeria Plc,<br />

manufacturers of TomTom<br />

h<strong>as</strong> expressed delight to<br />

partner the Nigerian Football<br />

Federation (NFF) <strong>as</strong> the<br />

‘Official Candy of the Super<br />

Eagles.’<br />

In a statement, the<br />

Company’s Corporate and<br />

Government Affairs Director for<br />

West Africa, Bala Yesufu said<br />

now is the time to give the<br />

Super Eagles the maximum<br />

support they require to excel<br />

<strong>in</strong> football.”<br />

Yesufu said: “Tom Tom, the<br />

lead<strong>in</strong>g candy brand from<br />

Cadbury Nigeria is proud to be<br />

<strong>as</strong>sociated <strong>as</strong> ‘Official Candy of<br />

opponents Paris Sa<strong>in</strong>t-Germa<strong>in</strong><br />

the two highest scor<strong>in</strong>g teams<br />

before Real.<br />

Beat<strong>in</strong>g Les Parisiens <strong>in</strong> the<br />

l<strong>as</strong>t-16 will also demand a<br />

good control of the gameand<br />

Zidane’s men can bo<strong>as</strong>t more<br />

p<strong>as</strong>ses than PSG for the<br />

tournament so far, an area<br />

where only Barcelona and<br />

Manchester City are ahead of<br />

the holders.<br />

the adverse effect of the<br />

<strong>in</strong>v<strong>as</strong>ion of the EPL and football<br />

bett<strong>in</strong>g us<strong>in</strong>g the Premier<br />

League games.”<br />

Jalla said, “bett<strong>in</strong>g companies<br />

and satellite television networks<br />

broadc<strong>as</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g matches of<br />

foreign leagues <strong>in</strong> Nigeria<br />

should pay royalties to football<br />

authorities <strong>in</strong> the country.<br />

TomTom sweetens Eagles<br />

World Cup campaign<br />

the Super Eagles.’ We<br />

appreciate the leadership of the<br />

NFF for their moderation <strong>in</strong><br />

arriv<strong>in</strong>g at this partnership<br />

<strong>in</strong>itiative and we hope to live<br />

up to our part of the deal.”<br />

Accord<strong>in</strong>g to the President of<br />

the NFF, Mr. Amaju P<strong>in</strong>nick,<br />

the partnership with Tom Tom<br />

w<strong>as</strong> too good to be turned down<br />

<strong>as</strong> the brand h<strong>as</strong> demonstrated<br />

a champion’s spirit over the<br />

years.<br />

P<strong>in</strong>nick added: “The<br />

Nigerian Football Federation is<br />

ple<strong>as</strong>ed to enter <strong>in</strong>to this<br />

worthwhile contract <strong>as</strong> Tom Tom<br />

h<strong>as</strong> done so much for Nigerian<br />

football over the years.”<br />

SMILES... Chairman, GAC Motors, Chief Diana Chan presents<br />

the key of a car to the w<strong>in</strong>ner of the 10km male category,<br />

Sadjo Ismail at the Access bank Lagos City Marathon 2018<br />

F<strong>in</strong>alists emerge <strong>in</strong> FC Bayern<br />

Youth Cup FC defeated Regent All Star 3-<br />

F<strong>in</strong>alists <strong>in</strong> the FC Bayern<br />

Youth Cup tournament have<br />

emerged from Abuja, Port<br />

Harcourt, Enugu and Jos, leav<strong>in</strong>g<br />

only Lagos Ma<strong>in</strong>land and Island<br />

<strong>as</strong> the two zones yet to produce<br />

their f<strong>in</strong>alists.<br />

In the Abuja f<strong>in</strong>al held at the<br />

Area 3 Astro Turf <strong>in</strong> the Federal<br />

Capital Territory, Sport<strong>in</strong>g Dreams<br />

Olaniyan b<strong>as</strong>ketball<br />

competition dunks off<br />

The 12th edition of the CFI<br />

Olaniyan B<strong>as</strong>ketball<br />

competition among 12<br />

secondary schools <strong>in</strong> Ikeja<br />

holds between tomorrow and<br />

Friday, Februay 16 at the<br />

b<strong>as</strong>ketball court of Victory<br />

Grammar School, Ikeja.<br />

The compet<strong>in</strong>g schools are Air<br />

Force Secondary School,<br />

Command Secondary School,<br />

B<strong>in</strong>ta Secondary school.<br />

Accord<strong>in</strong>g to the Games<br />

M<strong>as</strong>ter, Larry Uwaneri, the<br />

b<strong>as</strong>ketball <strong>in</strong>ter-school<br />

competition is a biennial event<br />

which started 20 years ago.<br />

The Manag<strong>in</strong>g Director of the<br />

school, Chief CFI Olaniyan is<br />

the sponsor of the competition.<br />

Prizes compris<strong>in</strong>g trophies,<br />

certificates and awards will be<br />

given to students and <strong>in</strong>vited<br />

schools who excel <strong>in</strong> the<br />

competition.<br />

1 to emerge champions.<br />

Eneka Fc defeated Urban<br />

Strikers 1-0 at Liberation<br />

Stadium o to w<strong>in</strong> The Port<br />

Harcourt Tournament.<br />

Enugu Tournament<br />

witnessed a penalty shoot-out<br />

to separate Early Start<br />

Academy vs Federal<br />

Government College Enugu<br />

<strong>as</strong> both sides played 1-1 <strong>in</strong><br />

regulation time. Early Start<br />

Academy won by 8-7 at the<br />

Rangers Camp <strong>in</strong> Liberty<br />

Estate on January 28th 2018.<br />

K<strong>in</strong>gs United lost 5 -0 to<br />

Derby FC on Sunday, February<br />

4th 2018 at the Rwang Pam<br />

Stadium <strong>in</strong> Jos.<br />

Speak<strong>in</strong>g on the<br />

developments, Brand and<br />

Market<strong>in</strong>g Director at<br />

StarTimes, Q<strong>as</strong>im Elegbede<br />

said that “over 50 games and<br />

150+ goals have been recorded<br />

with 320 players tak<strong>in</strong>g part so<br />

far.”<br />

He added that StarTimes and<br />

VOE Foundation have put <strong>in</strong><br />

a lot of work to see to a<br />

reward<strong>in</strong>g experience for the<br />

boys compet<strong>in</strong>g and are<br />

ple<strong>as</strong>ed with the success of the<br />

completion till date.<br />

Ige hails WAMCO over National<br />

Stadium Power Gym transformation<br />

By Gabriel Olawale<br />

Chairman/CEO of HS<br />

Media, owners of<br />

HotSports, Mr. Taye Ige, h<strong>as</strong><br />

praised Friesland Camp<strong>in</strong>a<br />

WAMCO for turn<strong>in</strong>g the<br />

dilapidated Power Gymn<strong>as</strong>ium<br />

complex at the National<br />

Stadium, Surulere to a world<br />

cl<strong>as</strong>s tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g facility.<br />

The complex which w<strong>as</strong><br />

equipped with the best and<br />

latest tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g materials, to<br />

challenge the Nigerian<br />

Paralympic team to achieve<br />

more, rema<strong>in</strong>s one of several<br />

<strong>in</strong>terventions by Friesland<br />

Camp<strong>in</strong>a WAMCO.<br />

Celebrat<strong>in</strong>g the success story<br />

with the company, Mr. Ige said<br />

<strong>as</strong> a company, they are happy<br />

to be part of that success story,<br />

<strong>in</strong>itiated and f<strong>in</strong>anced by Peak<br />

Milk, a brand that h<strong>as</strong> shown<br />

enormous support and<br />

encouragement to sportsmen<br />

and women <strong>in</strong> Nigeria.<br />

Ige said the journey that led<br />

to the complete overhaul of the<br />

Power Gymn<strong>as</strong>ium, the first<br />

time s<strong>in</strong>ce the stadium w<strong>as</strong><br />

commissioned <strong>in</strong> 1972, began<br />

dur<strong>in</strong>g a chance visit to the<br />

stadium by a top rank<strong>in</strong>g<br />

official of Friesland Camp<strong>in</strong>a<br />

WAMCO, who w<strong>as</strong> stunned on<br />

see<strong>in</strong>g the archaic,<br />

dilapidat<strong>in</strong>g and unconducive<br />

atmosphere where the<br />

Paralympic Team, that hauled<br />

medals at the l<strong>as</strong>t Paralympics<br />

tra<strong>in</strong>ed.<br />

“Conv<strong>in</strong>ced that if the place<br />

is made conducive for the<br />

Paralympians, they can do more<br />

and achieve more, Freisland<br />

Camp<strong>in</strong>a WAMCO adopted it<br />

<strong>as</strong> one of their corporate social<br />

responsibilities to Nigeria’s<br />

sports development.<br />

“WAMCO didn’t stop at just<br />

renovat<strong>in</strong>g the structure. The<br />

company also <strong>in</strong>structed us to<br />

spare no effort <strong>in</strong> sourc<strong>in</strong>g for<br />

the best, most modern<br />

equipment from renowned,<br />

reputable sports equipment<br />

companies <strong>in</strong> the world and<br />

worked with our experts. The<br />

result is what we have today, a<br />

world cl<strong>as</strong>s Power Gym.


40—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2018<br />

IN response to my<br />

exam<strong>in</strong>ation of the issue of<br />

poverty and begg<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the<br />

country, I received numerous<br />

comments and contributions from<br />

readers. One of such w<strong>as</strong> received<br />

from a young Nigerian named<br />

Okoli O.G. I found his view very<br />

enlighten<strong>in</strong>g and for this re<strong>as</strong>on<br />

I have decided to publish some<br />

portions of it. He wrote <strong>as</strong> follows:<br />

“After read<strong>in</strong>g your article on<br />

“Poverty; The role of<br />

Government...” I felt compelled<br />

to send this piece I had written<br />

earlier, to you.<br />

It is no secret that the average<br />

Nigerian is suffer<strong>in</strong>g from the<br />

many fail<strong>in</strong>gs of the Nigerian Oil<br />

<strong>in</strong>dustry. These fail<strong>in</strong>gs have<br />

directly led to the unavailability<br />

and <strong>in</strong>-affordability of petroleum<br />

products and <strong>in</strong>directly h<strong>as</strong> led<br />

to the loss of opportunities,<br />

ext<strong>in</strong>ction of jobs, and reduced<br />

economic returns for the<br />

government, among others.<br />

“The first step towards the<br />

consolidation of the current<br />

progress with<strong>in</strong> the Nigerian Oil<br />

and G<strong>as</strong> sector is to re-evaluate<br />

the journey so-far. The result of<br />

which would set the stage for us<br />

to re<strong>in</strong>force or improve on the<br />

strategies and actions that have<br />

yielded positive results, <strong>as</strong> well<br />

<strong>as</strong>, change or modify actions or<br />

strategies that have failed to yield<br />

the <strong>in</strong>tended results.<br />

To put this <strong>in</strong>to perspective, the<br />

brief flirtation of Nigeria with<br />

recession is thankfully over. In<br />

l<strong>in</strong>e with the above, while we<br />

Poverty and begg<strong>in</strong>g: The oil doom (7)<br />

celebrate f<strong>in</strong>ally exit<strong>in</strong>g the recent<br />

recession, it is important that we<br />

identify the mistakes of the p<strong>as</strong>t<br />

and how a country <strong>as</strong> blessed <strong>as</strong><br />

Nigeria fell <strong>in</strong>to recession <strong>in</strong> the<br />

first place. Then we can decide,<br />

look<strong>in</strong>g at the facts, if those<br />

mistakes or deliberate errors have<br />

been corrected so <strong>as</strong> to avoid a<br />

repeat. It is also important to<br />

acknowledge that <strong>as</strong> a result of<br />

the currently employed policies<br />

that govern the Production or<br />

Importation, Distribution, and<br />

Sale to the f<strong>in</strong>al consumers of<br />

Petrol <strong>in</strong> Nigeria, the supply<br />

framework is rather too<br />

complicated and e<strong>as</strong>ily entangled<br />

<strong>in</strong> economic disagreements to be<br />

of any real benefit to Nigerians.<br />

I therefore start the problemsearch<br />

by stat<strong>in</strong>g that, chief of our<br />

problem is the attitude of our great<br />

nation and its managers to the Oil<br />

revenue. We have grown too<br />

reliant on the proceeds from this<br />

sector; an unfortunate<br />

circumstance that h<strong>as</strong> led to an<br />

unhealthy addiction of the<br />

government (both at federal and<br />

state level) to “shar<strong>in</strong>g the<br />

money”. This habit h<strong>as</strong> so far<br />

discouraged states from<br />

p<strong>as</strong>sionately seek<strong>in</strong>g greater<br />

economic <strong>in</strong>dependence from the<br />

federal government. Efforts of<br />

most states towards creatively<br />

generat<strong>in</strong>g local revenue are<br />

<strong>in</strong>s<strong>in</strong>cere or at best abysmal.<br />

Sadly, this also h<strong>as</strong> led to a<br />

systematic abandonment of other<br />

important sectors and <strong>in</strong>dustries,<br />

lead<strong>in</strong>g to a gradual ext<strong>in</strong>ction of<br />

revenue generat<strong>in</strong>g<br />

opportunities, jobs, and important<br />

skill-set. ….<br />

Devoid of ethnic, religious, or<br />

political affiliations, there is a<br />

c o m m o n<br />

consensus on<br />

the fact that the<br />

status quo needs<br />

to change. It h<strong>as</strong><br />

to change for the<br />

better, for our<br />

economic<br />

fortunes to<br />

positively turn<br />

around.<br />

Tried and<br />

tested<br />

The consensus<br />

is therefore that<br />

we must<br />

embrace tried<br />

and tested world<br />

cl<strong>as</strong>s solutions<br />

and <strong>in</strong> the same<br />

ve<strong>in</strong>, abandon<br />

the “local”<br />

practices that<br />

have so far<br />

resulted <strong>in</strong>;<br />

recurr<strong>in</strong>g union/<br />

workers strikes,<br />

non- functional<br />

o<br />

r<br />

underperform<strong>in</strong>g<br />

ref<strong>in</strong>eries, unaffordability<br />

and<br />

unavailability of<br />

petroleum<br />

products to<br />

consumers,<br />

environmentally<br />

degraded and<br />

polluted oil<br />

produc<strong>in</strong>g<br />

communities,<br />

<strong>in</strong>tellectual/skills<br />

dra<strong>in</strong>age and<br />

migration, exit of<br />

f o r e i g n<br />

<strong>in</strong>vestments, a<br />

m a s s<br />

retrenchment or<br />

redundancy of<br />

workers, etc.<br />

I therefore<br />

suggest a twoprong<br />

approach for tackl<strong>in</strong>g this<br />

challenge;<br />

1. Firstly, that the pric<strong>in</strong>g of<br />

petroleum products <strong>in</strong> the<br />

downstream sector of the <strong>in</strong>dustry<br />

be largely left to market dynamics<br />

with private marketers freely<br />

compet<strong>in</strong>g aga<strong>in</strong>st each other for<br />

market share <strong>as</strong> successfully<br />

implemented <strong>in</strong> the Nigerian<br />

telecommunication sector. The<br />

government however would<br />

reta<strong>in</strong> its oversight role/function.<br />

2. Secondly, the NNPC<br />

ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong>s its 50-60% presence <strong>in</strong><br />

the downstream sector & susta<strong>in</strong>s<br />

a re<strong>as</strong>onable level of its product’s<br />

subsidization <strong>as</strong> an alternative to<br />

the common man; therefore<br />

serv<strong>in</strong>g <strong>as</strong> a government-backed<br />

active participant/competitor <strong>in</strong><br />

the downstream market. This<br />

suggested subsidization is to be<br />

wholly f<strong>in</strong>anced by the <strong>in</strong>terests<br />

of the NNPC with the economic<br />

<strong>in</strong>tention not to <strong>in</strong>cur losses but<br />

reduced profit marg<strong>in</strong>s.<br />

Also, consider<strong>in</strong>g that a<br />

significant portion of the pump<br />

price of PMS is the cost of<br />

importation, storage, and other<br />

related costs, we must work<br />

towards becom<strong>in</strong>g self-sufficient<br />

<strong>as</strong> a nation through <strong>in</strong>cre<strong>as</strong>ed<br />

local ref<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g capacity.<br />

With the first approach on one<br />

hand primarily focused on<br />

provid<strong>in</strong>g security <strong>as</strong> regards<br />

product availability, while also<br />

guarantee<strong>in</strong>g a best price<br />

scenario <strong>in</strong> the long term;<br />

result<strong>in</strong>g from a rapid <strong>in</strong>cre<strong>as</strong>e <strong>in</strong><br />

the rate of supply, unmatched by<br />

This approach will<br />

serve <strong>as</strong> a welcome<br />

catalyst for further<br />

encourag<strong>in</strong>g local<br />

private participation<br />

<strong>in</strong> the sector and <strong>as</strong><br />

a result, the<br />

economic <strong>in</strong>terest of<br />

the common man is<br />

further protected<br />

a more steady <strong>in</strong>cre<strong>as</strong>e <strong>in</strong><br />

demand. The second approach<br />

on the other hand is primarily<br />

focused on ensur<strong>in</strong>g affordability<br />

by guarantee<strong>in</strong>g price security <strong>in</strong><br />

the form of an alternative for the<br />

common man. All of these would<br />

once and for all put a stop to the<br />

<strong>in</strong>cessant strikes and agitations of<br />

these oil importers, producers, or<br />

distributors <strong>as</strong> the problem had<br />

always revolved around<br />

profitability. The other benefits of<br />

these me<strong>as</strong>ures <strong>in</strong>clude that; it<br />

takes away from the government,<br />

the burden of subsidiz<strong>in</strong>g about<br />

50% of the nation’s consumption<br />

need, while also arrest<strong>in</strong>g the<br />

fraud perpetrated by some of<br />

these marketers who export these<br />

subsidized products to other<br />

neighbour<strong>in</strong>g countries (thereby<br />

contribut<strong>in</strong>g to commodity<br />

scarcity) or those that away from<br />

the pry<strong>in</strong>g eyes of regulators still<br />

sell at exorbitant prices. Also, this<br />

approach will serve <strong>as</strong> a welcome<br />

catalyst for further encourag<strong>in</strong>g<br />

local private participation <strong>in</strong> the<br />

sector and <strong>as</strong> a result, the<br />

economic <strong>in</strong>terest of the common<br />

man is further protected.<br />

With this recommendation, the<br />

subsidised products would only<br />

be distributed at NNPC<br />

term<strong>in</strong>als/ G<strong>as</strong> stations, at the<br />

fixed prices, and directly to the<br />

f<strong>in</strong>al consumers. All other<br />

marketers would source for and<br />

sell at their discretion but<br />

restricted by competitive market<br />

forces. In situations where the<br />

NNPC, through maybe its<br />

ref<strong>in</strong>eries decides to sell to other<br />

marketers, the commodity would<br />

be priced at the <strong>in</strong>ternational or<br />

standard price (not subsidized<br />

and with all the factors and cost<br />

of production considered). These<br />

marketers also would be forced<br />

to sell at a fixed price that<br />

accommodates a re<strong>as</strong>onable and<br />

fair amount of profit.<br />

Government’s<br />

function<br />

role/<br />

In implementation, the<br />

Government’s role/function<br />

would <strong>in</strong>clude, but not be limited<br />

to: the discouragement of any<br />

form of monopolisation with<strong>in</strong> the<br />

Oil and G<strong>as</strong> sector/market<br />

through the enactment and<br />

implementation of policies that<br />

encourage small and medium<br />

scale private sector participation;<br />

the prevention of any manner of<br />

exploitation by petroleum<br />

marketers; and, the <strong>as</strong>surance of<br />

maximum economic recovery for<br />

the State.<br />

Another recommendation h<strong>as</strong><br />

to do with the shar<strong>in</strong>g of the oil<br />

revenue. The current system h<strong>as</strong><br />

largely encouraged two<br />

scenarios:<br />

3. The loot<strong>in</strong>g and<br />

mismanagement of these funds<br />

at Federal, and State level.<br />

4. The gradual<br />

abandonment of other formerly<br />

lucrative sectors lead<strong>in</strong>g to a<br />

gradual ext<strong>in</strong>ction of certa<strong>in</strong> skills,<br />

opportunities, and jobs, and by<br />

extension, a lack of diversity <strong>in</strong><br />

our economy.<br />

The solution to this is to ensure<br />

that the proceeds of the Oil and<br />

G<strong>as</strong> sector are strictly <strong>in</strong>jected <strong>in</strong>to<br />

build<strong>in</strong>g human capacity and<br />

boost<strong>in</strong>g other important and<br />

profitable but less f<strong>in</strong>ancially<br />

viable sectors such <strong>as</strong> Agriculture,<br />

Healthcare, Education, I.C.T.,<br />

Sports, Enterta<strong>in</strong>ment, etc.<br />

Backed by the necessary laws and<br />

policies, the money should be<br />

<strong>in</strong>vested and not “spent”, <strong>as</strong> is<br />

sadly the c<strong>as</strong>e today. By so do<strong>in</strong>g,<br />

the government would have<br />

created various <strong>in</strong>dustries that <strong>in</strong><br />

turn, create new jobs and<br />

opportunities, Tax returns for the<br />

government, and encourages<br />

Local <strong>in</strong>vestments.<br />

Thank you very much <strong>in</strong>deed<br />

Okoli Esq, I hope that someday,<br />

those <strong>in</strong> charge of policy<br />

formulation and implementation<br />

will give our views some serious<br />

consideration.


Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2018—41<br />

LIBYA RETURNEES —Libya returnees disembark<strong>in</strong>g from MedView<br />

Aircraft, after the arrival of the 5th Batch of 136 persons at the Port Harcourt<br />

International Airport, Yesterday. Photo: Nwankpa Chijioke.<br />

<strong>Workers</strong> <strong>flee</strong> <strong>as</strong> <strong>herdsmen</strong> <strong>overrun</strong><br />

<strong>LG</strong> <strong>offices</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Ondo</strong><br />

Cont<strong>in</strong>ues from Page 5<br />

not an attempt to create<br />

crisis <strong>in</strong> town.<br />

“The <strong>herdsmen</strong> went <strong>as</strong><br />

far <strong>as</strong> <strong>in</strong>jur<strong>in</strong>g staff of the<br />

council who had made<br />

frantic efforts to prevent the<br />

wanton destruction carried<br />

out on the farm.<br />

“It is so sad that no major<br />

arrest or prosecution had<br />

been made by the Police<br />

s<strong>in</strong>ce the attack on Chief<br />

Olu Falae’s farm. Now the<br />

arsonists who parade<br />

themselves <strong>as</strong> <strong>herdsmen</strong><br />

target the local government<br />

<strong>as</strong> their next po<strong>in</strong>t of call.<br />

“His Majesty wishes to<br />

call on President<br />

Muhammadu Buhari not to<br />

treat the issue of these<br />

notorious <strong>herdsmen</strong> with<br />

kid gloves <strong>as</strong> their activities<br />

are becom<strong>in</strong>g worrisome<br />

and unbearable.<br />

“Akure people can no<br />

longer tolerate the excesses<br />

of these <strong>herdsmen</strong> who are<br />

now mak<strong>in</strong>g life unbearable<br />

with their nefarious<br />

attitudes.”<br />

Soy<strong>in</strong>ka slams Buhari<br />

Meanwhile, Nobel<br />

Laureate, Prof. Wole<br />

Soy<strong>in</strong>ka, yesterday, said the<br />

attitude shown by the<br />

President on <strong>herdsmen</strong><br />

attacks across the country<br />

<strong>in</strong>dicated someone under<br />

trance.<br />

He lamented that despite<br />

the achievement recorded<br />

under the present<br />

NAIRAWATCH<br />

adm<strong>in</strong>istration, it had<br />

cont<strong>in</strong>uously committed<br />

unforced errors <strong>in</strong> different<br />

facets of the society,<br />

<strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g <strong>herdsmen</strong> attacks.<br />

Soy<strong>in</strong>ka, who further<br />

described <strong>herdsmen</strong> attack<br />

<strong>as</strong> deadlier than Boko<br />

Haram <strong>in</strong>surgency,<br />

lamented that efforts<br />

currently be<strong>in</strong>g put <strong>in</strong>to<br />

tackl<strong>in</strong>g <strong>herdsmen</strong> menace<br />

should have commenced six<br />

months ago.<br />

While decry<strong>in</strong>g the<br />

present state of affairs <strong>in</strong> the<br />

country, Soy<strong>in</strong>ka raised<br />

concerns over total failure of<br />

the Federal Government to<br />

protect the lives and<br />

properties of the m<strong>as</strong>ses that<br />

relied on the government for<br />

protection but allegedly<br />

allowed to be murdered by<br />

the <strong>herdsmen</strong> across the<br />

country.<br />

He described <strong>as</strong><br />

unacceptable and<br />

irresponsible the nonchalant<br />

attitude of the government<br />

<strong>in</strong> handl<strong>in</strong>g the <strong>herdsmen</strong><br />

crisis, not<strong>in</strong>g, that it had<br />

reached a po<strong>in</strong>t where the<br />

people would have to<br />

protect themselves.<br />

Soy<strong>in</strong>ka who stated these<br />

at a press conference at the<br />

Freedom Park, Lagos<br />

Island, Lagos, said if he<br />

would have the opportunity<br />

of meet<strong>in</strong>g Buhari today<br />

(yesterday), he would tell<br />

him that he w<strong>as</strong> under a<br />

trance, not<strong>in</strong>g that the<br />

sooner the President got out<br />

of the trance, the better for<br />

Naira depreciates to N360.22/<br />

$ <strong>in</strong> I&E<br />

By Adaeze Okechukwu<br />

The naira yesterday depreciated for the first time this<br />

week to N360.22 per dollar <strong>in</strong> the Investors and<br />

Exporters (I&E) w<strong>in</strong>dow of the foreign exchange<br />

market.<br />

Data from the F<strong>in</strong>ancial Market Dealers Quote<br />

(FMDQ) showed that the <strong>in</strong>dicative exchange rate for<br />

the w<strong>in</strong>dow rose to N360.22 per dollar, yesterday, from<br />

N360.03 per dollar on Monday.<br />

This 19 kobo depreciation of the naira w<strong>as</strong> <strong>in</strong> spite of<br />

the 36 percent <strong>in</strong>cre<strong>as</strong>e <strong>in</strong> the volume of dollars traded<br />

<strong>in</strong> the I&E w<strong>in</strong>dow. The w<strong>in</strong>dow recorded a turnover<br />

of $151.55 million yesterday from $111.03 million on<br />

Monday.<br />

Vanguard <strong>in</strong>vestigation revealed that naira rema<strong>in</strong>ed<br />

stable at N363 per dollar <strong>in</strong> the parallel market for the<br />

seventh consecutive bus<strong>in</strong>ess day.<br />

the nation.<br />

He said: “If I meet the<br />

President today, I will tell<br />

him I th<strong>in</strong>k you are under<br />

a trance. Many th<strong>in</strong>gs are<br />

happen<strong>in</strong>g across the<br />

country which he needs to<br />

address. And sooner or<br />

later he gets out of it, the<br />

better for the country.”<br />

Soy<strong>in</strong>ka further decried<br />

series of cow <strong>in</strong>v<strong>as</strong>ion of<br />

his premises and some<br />

other parts of the<br />

Southwest State, say<strong>in</strong>g he<br />

had reported to the police<br />

several times and warned<br />

that next time cows<br />

<strong>in</strong>vaded his territory,<br />

dr<strong>as</strong>tic me<strong>as</strong>ures would be<br />

adopted.<br />

He op<strong>in</strong>ed that the crisis<br />

between farmers and<br />

<strong>herdsmen</strong> w<strong>as</strong> not new,<br />

not<strong>in</strong>g that the way the<br />

crisis had been ignored <strong>in</strong><br />

recent times by<br />

government created the<br />

present problems.<br />

“We need to understand<br />

that the confrontation<br />

between farmers and the<br />

cattle rearers are not new.<br />

But the issue of concern is<br />

the way the attack had<br />

been handled by the<br />

government and the lies<br />

that followed after the<br />

attacks, especially from<br />

remarks from public office<br />

holders, especially from the<br />

M<strong>in</strong>ister of Defence.<br />

Attacks and lies<br />

“Can one imag<strong>in</strong>e the<br />

m<strong>in</strong>ister of defence<br />

open<strong>in</strong>g his mouth to utter<br />

words <strong>in</strong> support for the<br />

attacks perpetrated by the<br />

<strong>herdsmen</strong> across the<br />

country? With those words,<br />

why is that man still <strong>in</strong><br />

office? What sort of<br />

government is that?<br />

“I expected that when<br />

the kill<strong>in</strong>gs started<br />

escalat<strong>in</strong>g, the president<br />

should have ordered the<br />

military to stop whatever<br />

they are do<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> other<br />

regions especially<br />

Operation Python dance<br />

and others and <strong>as</strong>k them<br />

to address the <strong>herdsmen</strong><br />

issue. In other words, what<br />

is happen<strong>in</strong>g now should<br />

have been done over six<br />

months ago.<br />

“Situation like this<br />

requires holistic approach.<br />

The long term plan which<br />

the Federal Government<br />

proposed, the ranches, is<br />

not sufficient to address the<br />

issue. There must be<br />

provision for the livestock<br />

to susta<strong>in</strong> them with<strong>in</strong> the<br />

ranches.<br />

“We need to <strong>as</strong>k questions<br />

on what happened to the<br />

ranches earlier established<br />

by the Federal<br />

Government. I remember<br />

several years ago<br />

whenever we go for<br />

haunt<strong>in</strong>g, we often ran <strong>in</strong>to<br />

government ranches filled<br />

with well-fed cattle. After<br />

some years, the cattle <strong>in</strong><br />

those ranches started to<br />

disappear,” Soy<strong>in</strong>ka added.<br />

He said further that he<br />

could not imag<strong>in</strong>e why<br />

Buhari should re<strong>in</strong>state the<br />

Executive Secretary of the<br />

National Health Insurance<br />

Scheme, NHIS, Prof. Umar<br />

Yusuf, who w<strong>as</strong> be<strong>in</strong>g<br />

<strong>in</strong>vestigated for alleged<br />

f<strong>in</strong>ancial impropriety.<br />

Soy<strong>in</strong>ka said: “I cannot<br />

say the type of trance he is<br />

presently under. But there<br />

are so many unforced errors<br />

go<strong>in</strong>g on <strong>in</strong> the country. For<br />

<strong>in</strong>stance, the c<strong>as</strong>e of the<br />

man, who w<strong>as</strong> sacked by<br />

the m<strong>in</strong>ister of health but<br />

w<strong>as</strong> re<strong>in</strong>stated, that is what<br />

I mean by unforced errors."<br />

Calls for organised<br />

resistance<br />

The Nobel laureate called<br />

for organised resistance<br />

aga<strong>in</strong>st <strong>herdsmen</strong> <strong>in</strong>v<strong>as</strong>ion<br />

<strong>in</strong> territories <strong>in</strong> order to<br />

avert the wanton kill<strong>in</strong>gs<br />

that occurred <strong>in</strong> Benue<br />

State and some other states<br />

<strong>in</strong> recent times.<br />

Soy<strong>in</strong>ka urged voluntary<br />

organisations and<br />

<strong>as</strong>sociations like hunters<br />

<strong>as</strong>sociations to form<br />

themselves <strong>in</strong>to groups to<br />

disarm any <strong>herdsmen</strong><br />

found with arms.<br />

Accord<strong>in</strong>g to him, once a<br />

herdsman w<strong>as</strong> found with<br />

weapon, the police should<br />

first be reported to for<br />

prompt action and that if<br />

the police failed to act, the<br />

voluntary organisations,<br />

such <strong>as</strong> Oodua Peoples<br />

Congress, OPC, hunters<br />

<strong>as</strong>sociations and others<br />

should move <strong>in</strong> to disarm<br />

such herdsman or<br />

<strong>herdsmen</strong>.<br />

He charged the various<br />

<strong>as</strong>sociations to <strong>in</strong>tensify<br />

surveillance to nip <strong>in</strong> the<br />

bud, <strong>herdsmen</strong> <strong>in</strong>v<strong>as</strong>ion <strong>in</strong><br />

their communities <strong>in</strong> the<br />

South West if the police<br />

could not do their jobs<br />

properly, leav<strong>in</strong>g the<br />

people with no choice than<br />

to defend themselves.<br />

Kick aga<strong>in</strong>st cattle<br />

colonies<br />

Soy<strong>in</strong>ka also kicked<br />

aga<strong>in</strong>st the proposed<br />

establishment of cattle<br />

colonies <strong>as</strong> a way of solv<strong>in</strong>g<br />

the <strong>herdsmen</strong>/farmers<br />

crisis, say<strong>in</strong>g ranch<strong>in</strong>g w<strong>as</strong><br />

preferable, <strong>as</strong> it w<strong>as</strong> be<strong>in</strong>g<br />

done <strong>in</strong> other parts of the<br />

world, add<strong>in</strong>g that no<br />

bus<strong>in</strong>ess should warrant<br />

kill<strong>in</strong>g of people for<br />

whatever re<strong>as</strong>on.<br />

“Establishment of<br />

ranches is the solution that<br />

many countries have<br />

adopted to prevent cl<strong>as</strong>hes<br />

between these two set of<br />

people. There is someth<strong>in</strong>g<br />

I called governance body<br />

language.<br />

"The body language of the<br />

government is sad and it<br />

h<strong>as</strong> allowed the attack to<br />

cont<strong>in</strong>ue for long. The long<br />

term plann<strong>in</strong>g proposed by<br />

the Federal Government<br />

h<strong>as</strong> not gone hand <strong>in</strong> hand<br />

with the security necessity,”<br />

he stated.<br />

Backs State Police<br />

The Nobel laureate also<br />

jo<strong>in</strong>ed state governors to<br />

demand for creation of state<br />

police, say<strong>in</strong>g the<br />

governors were only chief<br />

security officers of states on<br />

paper.<br />

He said: “On paper, the<br />

chief security of every state<br />

is the governor but that is<br />

not the reality, if the police<br />

<strong>in</strong> the state can receive<br />

order from someone <strong>in</strong><br />

remote area or posted out<br />

without consider<strong>in</strong>g the<br />

governor before the post<strong>in</strong>g.<br />

‘’I am very happy that we<br />

are back to the issue, that<br />

is, we need to decentralize<br />

the country’s police<br />

formation.”<br />

Herdsmen could be<br />

worse than Boko<br />

Haram — Sagay<br />

Similarly, Chairman of<br />

the Presidential Advisory<br />

Committee Aga<strong>in</strong>st<br />

Corruption, PACAC,. Prof.<br />

Itse Sagay, SAN, yesterday<br />

warned that failure by the<br />

Federal Government to<br />

curb the <strong>in</strong>cessant attacks by<br />

<strong>herdsmen</strong> <strong>in</strong> the country<br />

might be dis<strong>as</strong>trous, say<strong>in</strong>g<br />

they could be worse than<br />

Boko Haram <strong>in</strong>surgents.<br />

He, however, lampooned<br />

the M<strong>in</strong>ister of Defence,<br />

Brig. Gen Monsur Dan Alli,<br />

retd, for allegedly justify<strong>in</strong>g<br />

kill<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>in</strong> Benue and other<br />

states, say<strong>in</strong>g such remarks<br />

were not helpful.<br />

Speak<strong>in</strong>g with Vanguard,<br />

the legal icon called on<br />

President Buhari to tackle<br />

the <strong>herdsmen</strong> with force,<br />

s<strong>in</strong>ce that rema<strong>in</strong>ed the only<br />

language they would<br />

understand.<br />

He said: “I th<strong>in</strong>k the only<br />

language the <strong>herdsmen</strong><br />

will understand is force.<br />

They should overwhelm<br />

them with federal fire<br />

power because it is a big<br />

mystery to me that<br />

<strong>herdsmen</strong> are kill<strong>in</strong>g<br />

various security agents,<br />

they are kill<strong>in</strong>g police and<br />

civil defence corps and they<br />

get away.<br />

"Nobody h<strong>as</strong> produced<br />

one herdsman for us to see.<br />

They just come and kill<br />

security agents, kill farmers,<br />

rape their wives and get<br />

away. That is the shock<strong>in</strong>g<br />

part of it.”<br />

President not under<br />

trance — Sagay<br />

He also disagreed with<br />

Professor Wole Soy<strong>in</strong>ka’s<br />

remarks that the President<br />

w<strong>as</strong> <strong>in</strong> a trance regard<strong>in</strong>g<br />

the activities of <strong>herdsmen</strong>.<br />

Sagay said: “I don’t agree<br />

because the President h<strong>as</strong><br />

given firm <strong>in</strong>structions to<br />

the various agencies and<br />

the Nigerian Army which<br />

h<strong>as</strong> moved <strong>in</strong>.”<br />

He said: “I must say that<br />

the comments of the<br />

M<strong>in</strong>ister of Defence about<br />

10 days ago, <strong>in</strong> which he<br />

w<strong>as</strong> justify<strong>in</strong>g kill<strong>in</strong>gs by<br />

<strong>herdsmen</strong>, it is not helpful.<br />

That might affect the<br />

attitude of the military. It<br />

may affect their will<strong>in</strong>gness<br />

to protect the people.<br />

“For me, that is a m<strong>in</strong>us<br />

otherwise, Buhari is<br />

determ<strong>in</strong>ed to stamp out<br />

what these <strong>herdsmen</strong> are<br />

do<strong>in</strong>g. What he (Buhari)<br />

should f<strong>in</strong>d out is what<br />

those under him are do<strong>in</strong>g<br />

and f<strong>in</strong>d out those who are<br />

recalcitrant <strong>in</strong> carry<strong>in</strong>g out<br />

his direction.”<br />

Speak<strong>in</strong>g further, he said:<br />

“It is like there is a<br />

conspiracy to allow these<br />

people (<strong>herdsmen</strong>)<br />

<strong>overrun</strong> Nigeria. I<br />

understand what is go<strong>in</strong>g<br />

on. This is a major problem.<br />

We have to be careful<br />

otherwise, it will overwhelm<br />

the whole country. It will<br />

be worse than Boko Haram<br />

the way it is go<strong>in</strong>g if they<br />

are not countered by<br />

superior force and stopped<br />

<strong>in</strong> their tracks.”<br />

Northern Coalition<br />

seeks state of<br />

emergency<br />

In a related<br />

development, Coalition of<br />

Northern Groups, CNG,<br />

h<strong>as</strong> accused political<br />

leaders and elders <strong>in</strong><br />

Benue, Kaduna, Taraba<br />

and Zamfara states of<br />

sponsor<strong>in</strong>g the wave of<br />

kill<strong>in</strong>gs and violent<br />

altercations between<br />

herders and farmers,<br />

<strong>as</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g President Buhari to<br />

immediately declare a state<br />

of emergency <strong>in</strong> those<br />

are<strong>as</strong>.<br />

“We call on the Federal<br />

Government to declare state<br />

of emergency <strong>in</strong> the front<br />

l<strong>in</strong>e states of Taraba,<br />

Kaduna, Benue and<br />

Zamfara and suspend the<br />

current political structures<br />

<strong>in</strong> those states and replace<br />

them with sole<br />

adm<strong>in</strong>istrators until<br />

conditions improve,” it<br />

stated.<br />

At a news conference<br />

yesterday <strong>in</strong> Abuja, the<br />

coalition also accused the<br />

retired Christian Generals<br />

Forum, led by Theophilus<br />

Danjuma, of aid<strong>in</strong>g and<br />

abett<strong>in</strong>g the attacks.<br />

The group stated:<br />

“Another po<strong>in</strong>ter to this is<br />

the hate-filled outburst of a<br />

certa<strong>in</strong> retired Christian<br />

Generals Forum powered<br />

by Theophilus Yakubu<br />

Danjuma that <strong>in</strong>tentionally<br />

harped on a fictitious story<br />

of plans to Islamise<br />

Nigeria.”<br />

Spokesman of the CNG,<br />

Abdulazeez Suleiman,<br />

while read<strong>in</strong>g the<br />

coalition’s resolutions,<br />

equally said the grow<strong>in</strong>g<br />

attacks <strong>in</strong> the north w<strong>as</strong> part<br />

of a 50-year design which<br />

is now be<strong>in</strong>g sponsored by<br />

the Indigenous People of<br />

Biafra, IPOB, to annihilate<br />

Muslims <strong>in</strong> the north.<br />

The coalition, which had<br />

l<strong>as</strong>t issued and resc<strong>in</strong>ded<br />

a ‘quit notice’ to Igbo liv<strong>in</strong>g<br />

<strong>in</strong> the north, said what the<br />

Igbo could not get <strong>in</strong> the<br />

1966 coup, it now seeks to<br />

get through the current<br />

<strong>herdsmen</strong>-farmers’<br />

kill<strong>in</strong>gs.<br />

The coalition said the<br />

attacks <strong>in</strong> Benue, Numan<br />

<strong>in</strong> Adamawa and Mambilla<br />

<strong>in</strong> Taraba “were<br />

undoubtedly planned and<br />

sponsored by leaders and<br />

elders of these states.”


42— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2018


Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2018 — 43


44 — VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2018<br />

:Vanguard News :@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058<br />

VISIT: From left; Deputy Director, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Lagos Office,<br />

Mrs Ijeoma Okey-Igbokwe; INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner for Lagos, Mr. Sam. Olumekun;<br />

President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Mr. Babatunde Paul Ruw<strong>as</strong>e, FCA and<br />

Director General, LCCI, Mr. Muda Yusuf dur<strong>in</strong>g INEC, Lagos Office Courtesy Visit to LCCI <strong>in</strong> Lagos.<br />

Empower vigilante groups to tackle <strong>herdsmen</strong><br />

attacks, Oyo Assembly tells Ajimobi<br />

By Ola Ajayi<br />

IBADAN—THE Oyo<br />

House of Assembly h<strong>as</strong><br />

called on Governor Abiola<br />

Ajimobi of Oyo State to<br />

equip and empower<br />

vigilante groups across the<br />

state, especially <strong>in</strong> rural<br />

are<strong>as</strong>, <strong>as</strong> a way of tackl<strong>in</strong>g<br />

threats posed by <strong>herdsmen</strong><br />

to farmers.<br />

This came <strong>as</strong> a Yoruba<br />

revolutionary movement,<br />

Agbekoya worldwide said<br />

yesterday that s<strong>in</strong>ce a<br />

farmer w<strong>as</strong> killed by<br />

<strong>herdsmen</strong> at Isey<strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong> Oke<br />

Ogun area of the state, all<br />

its members have been on<br />

high alert to prevent further<br />

attacks.<br />

Specifically, the Assembly<br />

urged Ajimobi to consider<br />

giv<strong>in</strong>g vigilante groups<br />

salary and mandate<br />

Chairmen of local<br />

government are<strong>as</strong> and local<br />

council development are<strong>as</strong><br />

to recruit more vigilante<br />

members.<br />

The Assembly’s call w<strong>as</strong><br />

drawn from the prayers of<br />

deputy Speaker, Mr.<br />

Abdulw<strong>as</strong>i Musah, <strong>in</strong> a<br />

matter of urgent public<br />

importance entitled,<br />

'Gruesome Murder of a<br />

SARS Officer <strong>in</strong> Saki by<br />

suspected Fulani Herdsmen<br />

and need for all hands to<br />

be on deck', on Tuesday’s<br />

plenary.<br />

He argued that those<br />

vigilante groups were more<br />

rooted <strong>in</strong> rural communities<br />

and would be able to<br />

effectively protect farmers<br />

and rural dwellers who had<br />

become vulnerable to<br />

<strong>in</strong>cessant <strong>herdsmen</strong> attacks.<br />

Musah po<strong>in</strong>ted out that<br />

empower<strong>in</strong>g vigilante<br />

groups w<strong>as</strong> not<br />

underm<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g the<br />

capabilities of the<br />

conventional security<br />

agencies like the army,<br />

police, DSS and Civil<br />

Defence, but vest<strong>in</strong>g them<br />

with powers to be more<br />

<strong>in</strong>volved <strong>in</strong> arrest<strong>in</strong>g<br />

<strong>herdsmen</strong> attacks and<br />

similar crimes <strong>in</strong> rural are<strong>as</strong>.<br />

The Assembly noted<br />

recent <strong>in</strong>stances of<br />

<strong>herdsmen</strong> attacks such <strong>as</strong><br />

the kill<strong>in</strong>g of a senior officer<br />

of the Special Anti-Robbery<br />

Squad, ASP Sheu Magu,<br />

•We'll no longer be caught unaware, Agbekoya vows<br />

reported the kill<strong>in</strong>g of a<br />

farmer <strong>in</strong> Isey<strong>in</strong>, among<br />

others <strong>in</strong> the Oke-Oke<br />

Ogun area of the state, <strong>as</strong><br />

evidence that the issue<br />

required urgent attention.<br />

The Assembly further<br />

urged the state<br />

Commissioner of Police,<br />

Abiodun Odude, to ensure<br />

that his men were always<br />

on red alert at communities<br />

around farm settlements<br />

and rural are<strong>as</strong>.<br />

We'll not be caught<br />

unawares — Agbekoya<br />

Oyo to become technology hub<br />

of Nigeria — AJIMOBI<br />

....As Fayose warns aga<strong>in</strong>st reprisal of <strong>herdsmen</strong> kill<strong>in</strong>g,<br />

summons security meet<strong>in</strong>g<br />

By Rotimi<br />

Ojomoyela<br />

A DO-EKITI—<br />

FOLLOWING<br />

<strong>in</strong>cessant attacks on Ipao-<br />

Ekiti <strong>in</strong> Ikole Local<br />

Government area by<br />

<strong>herdsmen</strong>, Governor<br />

Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti<br />

State h<strong>as</strong> promised to set<br />

up a five man committee<br />

that would <strong>in</strong>vestigate the<br />

root cause of the kill<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>in</strong><br />

the town.<br />

Fayose, who said he<br />

would amend the antigraz<strong>in</strong>g<br />

law such that<br />

anyone who kills<br />

<strong>herdsmen</strong>’s cattle would be<br />

jailed for a year, also<br />

promised to compensate<br />

the bereaved family and<br />

affected <strong>herdsmen</strong> who lost<br />

their cattle<br />

The Governor said this<br />

dur<strong>in</strong>g his visit to Ipao-<br />

Ekiti, the community where<br />

<strong>herdsmen</strong> allegedly killed<br />

a farmer, Tunde Olayemi,<br />

32, on Sunday.<br />

Members of the<br />

community, who trooped<br />

out <strong>in</strong> large number to<br />

welcome the governor,<br />

displayed placards to show<br />

their disple<strong>as</strong>ure at the sad<br />

development.<br />

He appealed to the<br />

people of Ipao and their<br />

leaders to shun any form of<br />

reprisal attack.<br />

He said: “I appeal to you<br />

to ensure you live<br />

peacefully with the<br />

<strong>herdsmen</strong> <strong>in</strong> tour<br />

Meanwhile, the<br />

President-General of<br />

Agbekoya worldwide,<br />

Chief Kamoru Okiki<br />

Aremu said the herders<br />

would not sleep with their<br />

eyes closed.<br />

Accord<strong>in</strong>g to him,<br />

they would no longer<br />

tolerate a situation<br />

when their hosts would<br />

now turn murderers.<br />

Aremu said: “We have<br />

suffered <strong>in</strong> silence for<br />

long. As I speak with<br />

you, my members have<br />

community. We want a<br />

peaceful situation and don’t<br />

allow any reprisal.<br />

“We will <strong>in</strong>vestigate and<br />

get to the root cause of this<br />

sad development and<br />

particularly why this<br />

community h<strong>as</strong> become a<br />

been told to rema<strong>in</strong><br />

alert <strong>as</strong> these people<br />

(herders) appeared to be<br />

too cruel. We are keep<strong>in</strong>g<br />

vigil all nights and we<br />

will cont<strong>in</strong>ue till God<br />

knows when.”<br />

Meanwhile, the Serk<strong>in</strong><br />

Fulani <strong>in</strong> Oyo State, Alhaji<br />

Bello Abdul said peace h<strong>as</strong><br />

returned to their area <strong>as</strong> all<br />

parties have sheathed their<br />

swords.<br />

When called, he said,<br />

“there is no problem now.<br />

There is peace.”<br />

•CP deploys security operatives to troubled spots<br />

fl<strong>as</strong>hpo<strong>in</strong>t so we can f<strong>in</strong>d a<br />

l<strong>as</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g solution to it.”<br />

“The security operatives<br />

have been deployed <strong>in</strong> to<br />

your town and would<br />

secure place”, he added.<br />

On his part,<br />

Commissioner of Police <strong>in</strong><br />

By Adeola Badru<br />

IBADAN—IN l<strong>in</strong>e with<br />

his adm<strong>in</strong>istration to<br />

further set the pace among<br />

the comity of states,<br />

Governor Abiola Ajimobi<br />

h<strong>as</strong> said that his<br />

adm<strong>in</strong>istration w<strong>as</strong><br />

committed to reposition<strong>in</strong>g<br />

the state <strong>in</strong> the modern<br />

highway to ensure it<br />

becomes the technological<br />

hub of Nigeria.<br />

The governor said this<br />

yesterday, while receiv<strong>in</strong>g<br />

the Executive<br />

Commissioner<br />

(Stakeholders<br />

Management), Nigerian<br />

Communications<br />

Commission (NCC), Mr.<br />

Sunday Dare, dur<strong>in</strong>g a<br />

courtesy visit to his office.<br />

The governor stated that<br />

the vision of a<br />

technological-driven state<br />

necessitated the build<strong>in</strong>g of<br />

<strong>in</strong>fr<strong>as</strong>tructure <strong>as</strong> a<br />

foundation for achiev<strong>in</strong>g it,<br />

add<strong>in</strong>g that the visit came<br />

at the time when<br />

government h<strong>as</strong> <strong>in</strong>tensified<br />

efforts at modernis<strong>in</strong>g the<br />

state.<br />

Ajimobi said that the<br />

newly established<br />

Technical University <strong>in</strong> the<br />

state by his adm<strong>in</strong>isttration<br />

w<strong>as</strong> one of the<br />

<strong>in</strong>fr<strong>as</strong>tructures put <strong>in</strong> place<br />

by government to ensure a<br />

YORUBA LANGUAGE: Gani Adams commends Ambode,<br />

urges S’West govs to emulate him<br />

By Dapo Ak<strong>in</strong>refon<br />

LAGOS—AARE Ona<br />

Kakanfo of<br />

Yorubaland, Dr. Gani<br />

Adams h<strong>as</strong> described<br />

Governor Ak<strong>in</strong>wunmi<br />

Ambode of Lagos State <strong>as</strong><br />

a foremost patriot “who will<br />

cont<strong>in</strong>ue to receive the<br />

bless<strong>in</strong>gs of Yoruba leaders<br />

for his promotion of our<br />

language and culture.”<br />

Adams, who w<strong>as</strong><br />

referr<strong>in</strong>g to l<strong>as</strong>t Thursday’s<br />

sign<strong>in</strong>g by Ambode of the<br />

Yoruba Promotion Bill <strong>in</strong>to<br />

‘Yoruba Language<br />

Preservation and<br />

Promotion Law’ said: “Any<br />

country or state that forgets<br />

its language will eventually<br />

forget its culture and such<br />

a political entity will soon<br />

become ext<strong>in</strong>ct. I thank<br />

Governor Ambode for<br />

prov<strong>in</strong>g that he is, <strong>in</strong>deed,<br />

a true son of Yorubaland. For<br />

what Governor Ambode h<strong>as</strong><br />

just done, the gods of our<br />

land will cont<strong>in</strong>ue to bless<br />

him and I am sure all our<br />

traditional rulers will also<br />

pray for him for promot<strong>in</strong>g<br />

our language and culture.”.<br />

Adams, <strong>in</strong> a statement<br />

signed by his Special<br />

Adviser, Events and<br />

Strategy, Femi Davies,<br />

described the action of the<br />

governor <strong>as</strong> ‘historic’.<br />

L<strong>as</strong>t Thursday, Ambode, at<br />

the sign<strong>in</strong>g ceremony,<br />

declared that the law would<br />

make it mandatory for<br />

students <strong>in</strong> Lagos State to be<br />

admitted “<strong>in</strong>to any of our<br />

tertiary <strong>in</strong>stitutions with a<br />

credit <strong>in</strong> Yoruba language<br />

and Yoruba will now become<br />

a major requirement for you<br />

to engage <strong>in</strong> normal<br />

bus<strong>in</strong>ess communication <strong>in</strong><br />

Lagos State.”<br />

Aare Adams said: “Ch<strong>in</strong>a<br />

is today becom<strong>in</strong>g the<br />

f<strong>as</strong>test-grow<strong>in</strong>g advanced<br />

country <strong>in</strong> the world and <strong>as</strong><br />

it is grow<strong>in</strong>g economically;<br />

its language is also<br />

advanc<strong>in</strong>g geometrically. As<br />

its language is advanc<strong>in</strong>g,<br />

its culture is also be<strong>in</strong>g<br />

recognized worldwide and<br />

the Ch<strong>in</strong>ese are not<br />

<strong>as</strong>hamed of this. They have<br />

the state, Ibrahim Chafe<br />

said a security meet<strong>in</strong>g<br />

with all other security<br />

operatives, such <strong>as</strong> the<br />

State Security Services,<br />

Civil Defense Corps, army<br />

and the mobile police had<br />

been called on how to<br />

the population and the<br />

strength to advance their<br />

language and culture.<br />

“We have about 60 million<br />

Yoruba <strong>in</strong> the South-West,<br />

Kogi and Kwara states and<br />

A community-b<strong>as</strong>ed<br />

organization, the<br />

Ugborodo Integrity Front<br />

h<strong>as</strong> commended the Delta<br />

State government for<br />

gett<strong>in</strong>g rid of the crim<strong>in</strong>al<br />

elements that have held the<br />

community hostage <strong>in</strong><br />

recent times.<br />

The group, <strong>in</strong> a statement<br />

signed its coord<strong>in</strong>ator, Mr.<br />

Zion Ereku, said the<br />

directive of the governor to<br />

the military and the police<br />

to enter the community and<br />

subdue the crim<strong>in</strong>als<br />

terroriz<strong>in</strong>g the the people<br />

and unle<strong>as</strong>h<strong>in</strong>g all k<strong>in</strong>ds of<br />

mayhem <strong>in</strong> the area w<strong>as</strong> a<br />

welcome development.<br />

Ereku, urged the people<br />

of Ugborodo not to be<br />

digital economy.<br />

“Most of the developed<br />

countries <strong>in</strong> the world have<br />

embraced a technologicaldriven<br />

economy. It is our<br />

motive also to make our<br />

economy technologicallydriven.”<br />

“Here today, we have<br />

established the first<br />

Technical University <strong>in</strong><br />

Nigeria. I am glad to tell<br />

you that this university h<strong>as</strong><br />

one of the best libraries <strong>in</strong><br />

the country,” the governor<br />

averred.<br />

Earlier <strong>in</strong> his remark, Mr.<br />

Dare, who is the<br />

representative of the south<br />

west region of NCC<br />

govern<strong>in</strong>g board, declared<br />

read<strong>in</strong>ess to establish data<br />

bank for the Technical<br />

University Ibadan (Tech-<br />

U).<br />

Dare said that the NCC<br />

h<strong>as</strong> received the request<br />

from the university,<br />

promis<strong>in</strong>g that it would be<br />

established before July,<br />

say<strong>in</strong>gthat it would also lay<br />

optic fiber and Wifi<br />

connection for the<br />

<strong>in</strong>stitution, which he said,<br />

would connect all tertiary<br />

<strong>in</strong>stitutions <strong>in</strong> the state for<br />

general benefit.<br />

He said that the report<br />

rele<strong>as</strong>ed by NCC <strong>in</strong><br />

November 2017 placed the<br />

state third <strong>in</strong> terms of<br />

revenue generation and<br />

average user rate.<br />

mobilise their men to<br />

secure the community.<br />

Chafe said: “I m hold<strong>in</strong>g<br />

a security meet<strong>in</strong>g with all<br />

other security operatives to<br />

discuss how we would<br />

secure the community with<br />

our men.''<br />

about 200 million Yoruba<br />

population worldwide. If<br />

conscious effort is not made,<br />

we may, <strong>in</strong>directly, relegate<br />

our language to the<br />

background.''<br />

Group lauds Delta govt for foster<strong>in</strong>g<br />

peace <strong>in</strong> Ugborodo<br />

deceived by the ''antics and<br />

spurious claim of some<br />

<strong>in</strong>dividuals go<strong>in</strong>g about<br />

claim<strong>in</strong>g to be responsible<br />

for free<strong>in</strong>g the community<br />

from<br />

the<br />

hoodlums’stranglehold,<br />

not<strong>in</strong>g that the people of<br />

Ugborodo Community and<br />

environs will rema<strong>in</strong><br />

<strong>in</strong>debted to the governor.<br />

“Such unsavoury<br />

<strong>in</strong>dividuals have always<br />

been part of the problems<br />

that have consistently<br />

bedeviled the community.<br />

The government must<br />

ensure that these<br />

<strong>in</strong>dividuals do not hijack<br />

the process of sanitiz<strong>in</strong>g<br />

and stabiliz<strong>in</strong>g the<br />

Ugborodo community,''<br />

said Ereku.


Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2018—45<br />

By Emmanuel<br />

Elebeke<br />

ABUJA—THE Executive<br />

Vice Chairman of the<br />

Nigerian Communication<br />

Commission, NCC, Prof.<br />

Umar Danbatta, says the<br />

Commisdion values<br />

education and awareness<br />

creation <strong>as</strong> one of the most<br />

cost effective mechanisms<br />

that provide and guarantee<br />

consumer protection.<br />

Prof. Danbatta stated this<br />

at the 91st edition of<br />

Consumer Outreach<br />

Programme (COP), held at<br />

Mangu, Plateau State.<br />

The EVC, who w<strong>as</strong><br />

represented by Deputy Director,<br />

Consumer Affairs<br />

Bureau <strong>in</strong> the Commission,<br />

Alh. Ismail Adedigba, said<br />

besides serv<strong>in</strong>g <strong>as</strong> a proactive<br />

way of protect<strong>in</strong>g<br />

consumers from mak<strong>in</strong>g<br />

NEWS HOTLINES:<br />

08052867023, 08052867058<br />

Consumer education, our<br />

priority —NCC<br />

Insecurity: Lagos CAN calls for<br />

prayers<br />

By Olay<strong>in</strong>ka<br />

Latona<br />

L<br />

A G O S —<br />

Chairman of the<br />

Christian Association of<br />

Nigeria (CAN), Lagos<br />

State chapter, Apostle Alexander<br />

Bamgbola, h<strong>as</strong><br />

called on Nigerians to<br />

pray for div<strong>in</strong>e <strong>in</strong>tervention<br />

on the l<strong>in</strong>ger<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>security<br />

and other social<br />

problems plagu<strong>in</strong>g the<br />

country.<br />

Mak<strong>in</strong>g the call <strong>in</strong> Lagos<br />

dur<strong>in</strong>g a press conference<br />

organised by the<br />

body to announce its annual<br />

Inter-denom<strong>in</strong>ational<br />

Div<strong>in</strong>e Service<br />

scheduled for Saturday,<br />

17, February, 2018 at<br />

Shepherd Hill Baptist<br />

Church, Obanikoro, Lagos<br />

with the<br />

theme:'Humility <strong>in</strong> service',<br />

Apostle Bamgbola<br />

expressed concern over<br />

the <strong>in</strong>security situation,<br />

describ<strong>in</strong>g it <strong>as</strong> “very<br />

sad.”<br />

The CAN chairman said<br />

Nigeria urgently needed<br />

to work for peace and efforts<br />

should be made to<br />

ensure peace and stabil-<br />

10 w<strong>in</strong>ners emerge for Samson Abioye<br />

Memorial Scholarship<br />

By Tare Youdeowei<br />

LAGOS—PASS.NG, an<br />

onl<strong>in</strong>e exam<strong>in</strong>ation<br />

preparatory platform, h<strong>as</strong><br />

announced w<strong>in</strong>ners of the<br />

maiden edition of Samson<br />

Abioye Memorial Scholarship<br />

programme.<br />

The 10 w<strong>in</strong>ners who are<br />

<strong>in</strong> their various levels of<br />

study at different higher<br />

<strong>in</strong>stitutions across Nigeria,<br />

will be given<br />

N50,000 each to support<br />

their education.<br />

Beneficiaries emerged<br />

out of 213 entries follow<strong>in</strong>g<br />

an essay competition<br />

on the topic; What I Can<br />

wrong choices, he said consumer<br />

education also<br />

serves <strong>as</strong> a preventive<br />

me<strong>as</strong>ure that protects consumers<br />

from undue exploitation<br />

and aga<strong>in</strong>st fraud,<br />

hence, their resolve to take<br />

the outreach programme to<br />

all nooks and crannies of<br />

the country.<br />

To ensure that the telecom<br />

consumer is well protected,<br />

<strong>in</strong>formed and educated, he<br />

said the Commission h<strong>as</strong><br />

developed series of<br />

<strong>in</strong>itiatives aimed at<br />

empower<strong>in</strong>g the consumer<br />

with appropriate<br />

<strong>in</strong>formation that will ensure<br />

protection of their rights.<br />

The NCC boss, urged<br />

service providers to devise<br />

<strong>in</strong>novative means of<br />

communicat<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>formation<br />

to Consumers <strong>in</strong> the best<br />

and appropriate manner.<br />

He warned telecom<br />

ity through respect and tolerance<br />

of one another.<br />

On the <strong>in</strong>ter-denom<strong>in</strong>ational<br />

service, the cleric<br />

noted that the program<br />

would enable Christians<br />

to gather to pray aga<strong>in</strong>st<br />

challenges faced by the<br />

state and the nation at<br />

large.<br />

In his words: “Prayers<br />

for our nation are very<br />

paramount. There is no<br />

Tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g: Rep empowers<br />

constituent<br />

By Lucky Oji<br />

M<br />

E M B E R ,<br />

represent<strong>in</strong>g<br />

Ethiope Federal Constituency<br />

at the House of Representatives,<br />

Hon. Lovette<br />

Idisi h<strong>as</strong> empowered over<br />

30 party members of the<br />

Peoples Democratic Party,<br />

PDP <strong>in</strong> Ethiope E<strong>as</strong>t and<br />

West federal constituency of<br />

Delta State with starter<br />

packs.<br />

The beneficiaries of the<br />

two-days empowerment<br />

tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g programme<br />

organized by the National<br />

Directorate of Employment<br />

under the Zonal<br />

Intervention Programme,<br />

Do <strong>as</strong> a Youth to Make a<br />

Difference <strong>in</strong> Nigeria's<br />

Education System.<br />

Speak<strong>in</strong>g on the aim of<br />

the scholarship, Imole<br />

Oluyemi, Co-Founder and<br />

Operations Lead,<br />

P<strong>as</strong>s.NG said: “Samson<br />

Abioye Memorial Scholarship<br />

w<strong>as</strong> birthed from the<br />

dual need to f<strong>in</strong>ancially<br />

<strong>as</strong>sist struggl<strong>in</strong>g students<br />

other than just provid<strong>in</strong>g<br />

educational services to<br />

them. Also it serves to ensure<br />

that the name and<br />

legacy of Samson Abioye<br />

cont<strong>in</strong>ues to l<strong>in</strong>ger <strong>in</strong> our<br />

hearts for centuries to<br />

come.<br />

service providers not to<br />

take advantage of<br />

unsuspect<strong>in</strong>g subscribers<br />

by impos<strong>in</strong>g illegal charges<br />

that are unknown to law<br />

and regulations of the<br />

<strong>in</strong>dustry.<br />

He also urged them to put<br />

<strong>in</strong> place sufficient me<strong>as</strong>ures<br />

that would provide<br />

unfettered services to<br />

customers and also address<br />

customers' compla<strong>in</strong>ts,<br />

<strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g the use of Do Not<br />

Disturb, Code 622 and 2442<br />

<strong>as</strong> directed by the<br />

Commission to address<br />

unsolicited sms, calls, poor<br />

quality of service among<br />

other compla<strong>in</strong>ts from<br />

subscribers.<br />

The event attracted<br />

unprecedented number of<br />

subscribers, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g the<br />

security and paramilitary<br />

agencies of government<br />

and witnessed loads of compla<strong>in</strong>ts.<br />

challenge confront<strong>in</strong>g the<br />

state that cannot be surmounted<br />

with prayers.<br />

That is why we want to<br />

urge all the Christian<br />

faithful under the umbrella<br />

of CAN to attend the programme.<br />

“We are not happy with<br />

the recent kill<strong>in</strong>gs by<br />

<strong>herdsmen</strong>; such happen<strong>in</strong>gs<br />

cannot be confronted<br />

with a violent approach."<br />

ZIP, were given N50,000<br />

each <strong>as</strong> a starter pack at the<br />

end of the tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g.<br />

The beneficiaries which<br />

cut across Ethiope E<strong>as</strong>t and<br />

West local government area<br />

of Delta State were tra<strong>in</strong>ed<br />

<strong>in</strong> the are<strong>as</strong> of fish farm<strong>in</strong>g<br />

and cosmetology, such <strong>as</strong><br />

soap mak<strong>in</strong>g, perfume and<br />

shampoo production.<br />

Hon Idisi, who w<strong>as</strong> represented<br />

by his Personal Assistant, Mr.<br />

Fergor Ogene appealed to the<br />

beneficiaries to make judicious<br />

use of this golden opportunity<br />

offered them, dur<strong>in</strong>g the tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g<br />

with the Zonal Intervention<br />

Programme (ZIP) at Rejiga Hotel,<br />

Eku, Ethiope E<strong>as</strong>t and ICT<br />

Centre, Oghara, Ethiope West.<br />

“Brilliance is evenly distributed<br />

across the world<br />

but opportunity is not.<br />

Here <strong>in</strong> Nigeria, it is even<br />

worse. N50,000 can make<br />

a difference <strong>in</strong> the life of a<br />

struggl<strong>in</strong>g undergraduate<br />

<strong>in</strong> any part of Nigeria, so<br />

at P<strong>as</strong>s.NG we decided to<br />

play our part and give the<br />

needed leverage no matter<br />

how small.”<br />

The scholarship program<br />

w<strong>as</strong> established to<br />

honour the memory of<br />

Samson Abioye, who w<strong>as</strong><br />

until his death at the age<br />

of 26 <strong>in</strong> 2017, the Cofounder<br />

and Chief Executive<br />

Officer of P<strong>as</strong>s.NG.<br />

ANC orders Zuma to step<br />

down <strong>as</strong> President<br />

OUTH Africa’s rul<br />

S<strong>in</strong>g party ordered<br />

Jacob Zuma on Tuesday to<br />

step down <strong>as</strong> head of state<br />

after marathon talks over<br />

the fate of a leader whose<br />

scandal-plagued years <strong>in</strong><br />

power darkened and divided<br />

Nelson Mandela’s<br />

post-apartheid ‘Ra<strong>in</strong>bow<br />

Nation’.<br />

Lead<strong>in</strong>g members of the<br />

African National Congress<br />

now want new party<br />

leader Cyril Ramaphosa<br />

to replace Zuma <strong>as</strong><br />

president, ANC Secretary<br />

General Ace Mag<strong>as</strong>hule<br />

told a news conference.<br />

But the party’s national<br />

executive w<strong>as</strong> split on precisely<br />

when Zuma should<br />

go, Mag<strong>as</strong>hule added,<br />

leav<strong>in</strong>g the president’s<br />

immediate fate still hang<strong>in</strong>g<br />

<strong>in</strong> the balance.<br />

There w<strong>as</strong> no word from<br />

Zuma or his spokesman<br />

but Mag<strong>as</strong>hule said the<br />

president had promised to<br />

respond to the order by<br />

Wednesday. The rand<br />

weakened, with traders<br />

blam<strong>in</strong>g uncerta<strong>in</strong>ty<br />

caused by the lack of a<br />

clear timetable<br />

Mag<strong>as</strong>hule said he had<br />

met Zuma personally to<br />

p<strong>as</strong>s on the decision. “We<br />

haven’t given him any<br />

deadl<strong>in</strong>e to respond,” he<br />

said. “The organisation<br />

expects him to go.”<br />

ERMANY’s Social<br />

GDemocrats sank further<br />

<strong>in</strong>to chaos on Tuesday<br />

<strong>as</strong> resistance grew to<br />

plans to appo<strong>in</strong>t Andrea<br />

Nahles caretaker leader<br />

to help end a turbulent<br />

six days after the party<br />

agreed a coalition deal<br />

with Chancellor Angela<br />

Merkel’s conservatives.<br />

Deeply divided over the<br />

coalition deal and the division<br />

of m<strong>in</strong>isterial<br />

posts, and fac<strong>in</strong>g a slump<br />

<strong>in</strong> op<strong>in</strong>ion polls, Social<br />

Democrat (SPD) leaders<br />

are try<strong>in</strong>g to conv<strong>in</strong>ce<br />

464,000 party members to<br />

back the deal <strong>in</strong> a ballot<br />

on which Merkel’s fourth<br />

term hangs.<br />

With many SPD rank<br />

and file harbour<strong>in</strong>g misgiv<strong>in</strong>gs<br />

about shar<strong>in</strong>g<br />

Zuma had <strong>as</strong>ked the<br />

party to give him a notice<br />

period of three to six<br />

months but that had been<br />

rejected, Mag<strong>as</strong>hule said.<br />

“Timel<strong>in</strong>es? No. The NEC<br />

believes that this is an urgent<br />

matter so it should be<br />

treated with urgency,” he<br />

said.<br />

Zuma h<strong>as</strong> been liv<strong>in</strong>g on<br />

borrowed time s<strong>in</strong>ce Ramaphosa,<br />

a union leader<br />

and lawyer once tipped <strong>as</strong><br />

Mandela’s pick to take<br />

over the re<strong>in</strong>s, w<strong>as</strong> elected<br />

<strong>as</strong> head of the 106-<br />

year-old ANC <strong>in</strong> December.<br />

Ramaphosa narrowly<br />

defeated Zuma’s ex-wife<br />

and preferred successor,<br />

HE chairman of the<br />

Tcharity Oxfam International,<br />

Juan Alberto Funes,<br />

h<strong>as</strong> been arrested <strong>in</strong><br />

Guatemala.<br />

He w<strong>as</strong> deta<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>as</strong> part<br />

of an <strong>in</strong>vestigation <strong>in</strong>to a<br />

corruption scandal dat<strong>in</strong>g<br />

back to his time <strong>as</strong> Guatemala’s<br />

f<strong>in</strong>ance m<strong>in</strong>ister.<br />

While his arrest is not<br />

related to his role at Oxfam,<br />

it will heap further<br />

pressure on the charity<br />

which is still reel<strong>in</strong>g from<br />

Leadership row drags SPD <strong>in</strong>to new<br />

crisis after Merkel coalition deal<br />

Oxfam International chair held<br />

over Guatemala graft scandal<br />

power with Merkel<br />

aga<strong>in</strong>, the result of the<br />

vote, due on March 4, is<br />

wide open. If members<br />

vote ‘no’ to the coalition<br />

deal, a new election<br />

looks the most likely option.<br />

The most urgent matter<br />

for the SPD is to get a<br />

new leader <strong>in</strong> place after<br />

Mart<strong>in</strong> Schulz said<br />

l<strong>as</strong>t week he would quit<br />

to allow the party to regroup.<br />

The frontrunner is<br />

Nahles, a pla<strong>in</strong>-speak<strong>in</strong>g<br />

47-year-old former<br />

labour m<strong>in</strong>ister with a<br />

left-w<strong>in</strong>g slant and<br />

strong oratory skills, but<br />

the manner <strong>in</strong> which<br />

Schulz appeared to<br />

ano<strong>in</strong>t her angered many<br />

members.<br />

Kenya’s Attorney General resigns, says Kenyatta<br />

K<br />

ENYA’s Attorney<br />

General Githu<br />

Muigai h<strong>as</strong> resigned,<br />

President Uhuru Kenyatta<br />

said without explanation<br />

on Tuesday, add<strong>in</strong>g<br />

he had nom<strong>in</strong>ated a replacement.<br />

In a post on his Twitter<br />

feed, Kenyatta said he<br />

had accepted Muigai’s<br />

resignation <strong>as</strong> Attorney<br />

General, the official title of<br />

the chief legal adviser to<br />

the government.<br />

Muigai w<strong>as</strong> appo<strong>in</strong>ted<br />

<strong>as</strong> part of reforms to boost<br />

confidence <strong>in</strong> Kenya’s judiciary<br />

after a new constitution<br />

w<strong>as</strong> enacted <strong>in</strong><br />

2010.<br />

In December, Muigai<br />

said an attempt by veteran<br />

opposition leader Raila<br />

Od<strong>in</strong>ga to “swear” himself<br />

<strong>in</strong> <strong>as</strong> president would<br />

be regarded <strong>as</strong> tre<strong>as</strong>on.<br />

The Kenyan government’s<br />

fidelity to the law<br />

h<strong>as</strong> come under the microscope<br />

<strong>in</strong> the p<strong>as</strong>t two<br />

weeks, after it decl<strong>in</strong>ed to<br />

obey several court orders<br />

Nkosazana Dlam<strong>in</strong>i-<br />

Zuma, <strong>in</strong> the leadership<br />

vote, forc<strong>in</strong>g him to tread<br />

carefully <strong>in</strong> handl<strong>in</strong>g<br />

Zuma for fear of deepen<strong>in</strong>g<br />

rifts <strong>in</strong> the party a year<br />

ahead of an election.<br />

Despite the damn<strong>in</strong>g<br />

decision to order Zuma’s<br />

“recall” - party speak for<br />

‘removal from office’ - domestic<br />

media said the 75-<br />

year-old might yet defy the<br />

party’s wishes, forc<strong>in</strong>g it<br />

<strong>in</strong>to the <strong>in</strong>dignity of hav<strong>in</strong>g<br />

to unseat him <strong>in</strong> parliament.<br />

South Africa’s economy<br />

h<strong>as</strong> stagnated dur<strong>in</strong>g<br />

Zuma’s n<strong>in</strong>e-year tenure,<br />

with banks and m<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g<br />

companies reluctant to <strong>in</strong>vest<br />

because of policy uncerta<strong>in</strong>ty<br />

and rampant corruption.<br />

revelations that its staff<br />

hired prostitutes <strong>in</strong> Haiti.<br />

Oxfam International’s<br />

executive director W<strong>in</strong>nie<br />

Byanyima said that Mr<br />

Fuentes had been “entirely<br />

open with his Oxfam<br />

board”.<br />

“He h<strong>as</strong> <strong>as</strong>sured us that<br />

he h<strong>as</strong> co-operated fully<br />

with the <strong>in</strong>vestigation <strong>in</strong><br />

the confidence he did not<br />

know<strong>in</strong>gly transgress<br />

rules or procedures,” Ms<br />

Byanyima said.<br />

Mr Fuentes is among 10<br />

top former government<br />

officials to be arrested on<br />

Tuesday, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g former<br />

President Álvaro Colom.<br />

The ex-officials are be<strong>in</strong>g<br />

<strong>in</strong>vestigated <strong>in</strong> connection<br />

with a public bus<br />

system, which w<strong>as</strong> developed<br />

dur<strong>in</strong>g Mr Colom’s<br />

government between 2008<br />

and 2012. No details have<br />

been given of the charges<br />

those arrested may face.<br />

The <strong>in</strong>vestigation is be<strong>in</strong>g<br />

led by the International<br />

Commission aga<strong>in</strong>st Impunity<br />

<strong>in</strong> Guatemala<br />

(CICIG). The commission<br />

is a United Nations body<br />

created <strong>in</strong> 2006 designed<br />

to strengthen the country’s<br />

rule of law.<br />

Apart from Mr Colom,<br />

those arrested are the<br />

former m<strong>in</strong>isters of f<strong>in</strong>ance,<br />

<strong>in</strong>terior, education,<br />

defence, employment,<br />

economy, health, culture<br />

and the environment.<br />

related to a crackdown on<br />

opposition figures who<br />

went ahead and carried<br />

out the mock swear<strong>in</strong>g-<strong>in</strong><br />

of Od<strong>in</strong>ga on Jan. 30.<br />

Kenyatta and the judiciary<br />

cl<strong>as</strong>hed publicly l<strong>as</strong>t<br />

September after the Supreme<br />

Court nullified his<br />

<strong>in</strong>itial election on Aug. 8<br />

and ordered a re-run.<br />

Od<strong>in</strong>ga boycotted the repeat<br />

vote, which Kenyatta<br />

won before he w<strong>as</strong><br />

sworn <strong>in</strong> for a second<br />

term.


46 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 14, 2018<br />

Onazi back from<br />

<strong>in</strong>jury<br />

Nigeria and Trabzonspor midfielder<br />

Ogenyi Onazi is set to return to<br />

tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g this week after recover<strong>in</strong>g from<br />

a knee <strong>in</strong>jury.<br />

The Super Eagles midfielder h<strong>as</strong><br />

recovered from a knee<br />

knock that<br />

saw him miss Trabzonspor’s 0-<br />

0 draw away at Genclerbirligi on<br />

Saturday.<br />

Onazi h<strong>as</strong> not featured for Trabzonspor<br />

<strong>in</strong> their l<strong>as</strong>t three games <strong>in</strong> the Turkish<br />

Super Lig, but w<strong>as</strong> on the bench aga<strong>in</strong>st<br />

Fenerbahce and Goztepe before be<strong>in</strong>g<br />

granted a special leave prior to the<br />

Genclerbirligi draw.<br />

The 25-year-old also took timeout to<br />

praise the new Super Eagles kit for the<br />

2018 FIFA World Cup which w<strong>as</strong> launched<br />

<strong>in</strong> London l<strong>as</strong>t week.<br />

“I had a slight knock on my knee but I<br />

will resume tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g this week with the<br />

team,” Onazi told CSN.<br />

Wenger under pressure!<br />

Restore Arsenal to the<br />

Champions League<br />

next se<strong>as</strong>on or...<br />

rsene Wenger is under<br />

A <strong>in</strong>cre<strong>as</strong><strong>in</strong>g<br />

pressure to ensure<br />

Arsenal qualify for the<br />

Champions League next<br />

se<strong>as</strong>on <strong>as</strong> they consider<br />

an early decision over his<br />

future.<br />

The Gunners want to<br />

avoid the uncerta<strong>in</strong>ty that<br />

destabilised their Premier<br />

League form l<strong>as</strong>t se<strong>as</strong>on,<br />

partly caused by Wenger’s<br />

long-runn<strong>in</strong>g contract<br />

saga.<br />

Wenger’s position is<br />

com<strong>in</strong>g under <strong>in</strong>cre<strong>as</strong><strong>in</strong>g<br />

scrut<strong>in</strong>y aga<strong>in</strong> and there<br />

is a feel<strong>in</strong>g beh<strong>in</strong>d the<br />

scenes that the club need<br />

to address the matter<br />

before it drags on <strong>in</strong>to<br />

next se<strong>as</strong>on.<br />

Hav<strong>in</strong>g eventually<br />

signed a two-year deal<br />

ahead of this se<strong>as</strong>on,<br />

Wenger is once<br />

aga<strong>in</strong> enter<strong>in</strong>g the<br />

f<strong>in</strong>al 12 months of<br />

his current<br />

contract.<br />

And certa<strong>in</strong><br />

members of the<br />

club’s hierarchy<br />

would prefer his<br />

future to be<br />

settled ahead of<br />

next se<strong>as</strong>on to<br />

avoid a repeat<br />

of the<br />

tumultuous<br />

2016-17<br />

campaign <strong>in</strong><br />

which they<br />

failed to<br />

qualify for the<br />

Champions<br />

League for the first<br />

time s<strong>in</strong>ce the 1997-98<br />

Modric not better<br />

than Mikel<br />

Chelsea for many years<br />

and he is do<strong>in</strong>g well <strong>in</strong><br />

the Ch<strong>in</strong>ese Super<br />

League. I th<strong>in</strong>k they will<br />

fight for that position on<br />

the field of play.”<br />

Si<strong>as</strong>ia urged the Super<br />

Eagles not duel on their<br />

unbeaten run to the<br />

Russia 2018 tournament.<br />

Croatia play Add<strong>in</strong>g that good<br />

aga<strong>in</strong>st Nigeria on preparations will be key.<br />

June 16 at the FIFA “They’ve done well but<br />

2018 World Cup and the problem is that most<br />

it is widely believed of our players are not<br />

Real Madrid’s Modric play<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the big leagues<br />

and Barcelona’s Rakitic and they don’t get enough<br />

could be a huge<br />

play<strong>in</strong>g time, the World<br />

Former<br />

<strong>in</strong>fluence for the the Cup is not where to do<br />

Super Eagles Croats. However, Si<strong>as</strong>ia physical activities,” he<br />

striker and<br />

says that despite<br />

cont<strong>in</strong>ued.<br />

coach, Samson Si<strong>as</strong>ia Mikel’s move to Ch<strong>in</strong>a, “They need to play<br />

is of the op<strong>in</strong>ion that his game h<strong>as</strong> not dropped. friendly games and make<br />

Super Eagles capta<strong>in</strong> “Mikel is <strong>in</strong> the same sure they understand<br />

John Obi Mikel is <strong>in</strong> the quality with Modric and themselves. The match<br />

same cl<strong>as</strong>s with<br />

Rakitic, even though aga<strong>in</strong>st Argent<strong>in</strong>a should<br />

Croatia’s midfield duo Modric plays <strong>in</strong> Real not be a yardstick though<br />

Luka Modric and Ivan Madrid,” he told Goal. we did very well and we<br />

Rakitic.<br />

“Mikel h<strong>as</strong> played <strong>in</strong> were all surprised.<br />

F<br />

Adepoju backs Moses to sh<strong>in</strong>e at Russia 2018<br />

ormer Super Eagles<br />

midfielder,<br />

Mutiu Adepoju h<strong>as</strong> hailed<br />

Victor Moses’ spectacular<br />

form ahead of the 2018<br />

FIFA World Cup<br />

tournament.<br />

Moses scored for<br />

Chelsea <strong>in</strong> their Premier<br />

League game aga<strong>in</strong>st West<br />

Brom on Monday night. It<br />

w<strong>as</strong> his second goal from<br />

19 games for the Blues this<br />

se<strong>as</strong>on. And Adepoju is<br />

optimistic Moses play<strong>in</strong>g<br />

his natural attack<strong>in</strong>g<br />

midfield position will do<br />

well for the Super Eagles.<br />

“Great game and goal<br />

from VictorMoses,”<br />

Adepoju tweeted.<br />

M<strong>as</strong>on quits football after horror cl<strong>as</strong>h with Cahill<br />

ull midfielder Ryan M<strong>as</strong>on h<strong>as</strong> been<br />

H forced to retire from football, just<br />

over a year after he fractured his skull <strong>in</strong> a<br />

Premier League match aga<strong>in</strong>st Chelsea.<br />

The 26-year-old collided with Chelsea<br />

centre back Gary Cahill at Stamford Bridge<br />

on January 22, 2017. He had to have<br />

emergency surgery and spent eight days at<br />

St Mary’s Hospital <strong>in</strong> London recover<strong>in</strong>g<br />

from his ‘life-threaten<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>jury’ before<br />

be<strong>in</strong>g rele<strong>as</strong>ed.<br />

M<strong>as</strong>on expla<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>in</strong> a statement on<br />

Tuesday that the decision to retire w<strong>as</strong> taken<br />

on medical grounds.<br />

‘I can confirm that follow<strong>in</strong>g specialist<br />

se<strong>as</strong>on.<br />

There appears to be<br />

three options for the<br />

Gunners: the Frenchman<br />

leav<strong>in</strong>g at the end of the<br />

se<strong>as</strong>on, confirm<strong>in</strong>g he<br />

will leave when his<br />

current deal expires <strong>in</strong><br />

the summer of 2019 or<br />

hand<strong>in</strong>g Wenger yet<br />

another contract<br />

extension.<br />

•Wenger<br />

•Onazi<br />

medical advice I am hav<strong>in</strong>g to retire from<br />

play<strong>in</strong>g professional football,’ M<strong>as</strong>on said. ‘I<br />

have worked tirelessly <strong>in</strong> order to be able to<br />

return to the pitch.<br />

‘Unfortunately, hav<strong>in</strong>g taken expert<br />

medical advice I now have no option but to<br />

retire due to the risks <strong>in</strong>volved given the<br />

nature of my <strong>in</strong>jury.<br />

‘I am and always will be eternally grateful<br />

for the <strong>in</strong>credible network of people around<br />

me who have helped me to recover from<br />

what w<strong>as</strong> a life-threaten<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>jury <strong>in</strong> January<br />

2017.<br />

‘Thank you to my amaz<strong>in</strong>g fiance, Rachel,<br />

who h<strong>as</strong> been by my side and lived every<br />

s<strong>in</strong>gle day with me s<strong>in</strong>ce the <strong>in</strong>jury, help<strong>in</strong>g<br />

•Moses<br />

Si<strong>as</strong>ia: Rakitic,<br />

to give me the strength I’ve needed no<br />

matter how tough th<strong>in</strong>gs got. We are so<br />

lucky to have now become the proud<br />

parents of our perfect baby boy George.<br />

‘To my Mum, Dad, sisters, and all of my<br />

family and close friends, thank you for<br />

everyth<strong>in</strong>g. Despite how tough it’s been<br />

and the challenges I’ve faced along the<br />

way you’ve all been there support<strong>in</strong>g me<br />

and words will never truly do justice to<br />

how grateful I am for your love and<br />

support.<br />

‘I would like to thank everyone at Hull<br />

City, especially The Doc Mark Waller<br />

and all of the medical team for help<strong>in</strong>g<br />

me to recover.<br />

FIFA Summit:<br />

Infant<strong>in</strong>o, Ahmad, 20<br />

others to storm Nigeria<br />

“He’s already send<strong>in</strong>g<br />

shivers down Super<br />

Eagles’ Fifa World Cup<br />

opponents’ sp<strong>in</strong>e.”<br />

Nigeria are zoned <strong>in</strong><br />

Group D and will have to<br />

navigate their way p<strong>as</strong>t<br />

Argent<strong>in</strong>a, Iceland and<br />

Croatia to book a place<br />

<strong>in</strong> the knock-out stage of<br />

the competition.<br />

Nigeria will be the dest<strong>in</strong>ation and<br />

attention of world football for three<br />

days, when the FIFA Executive Football<br />

Summit takes center stage between February<br />

20 and 22 at the Eko Hotels <strong>in</strong> Lagos.<br />

President of the Nigeria Football<br />

Federation, Amaju Melv<strong>in</strong> P<strong>in</strong>nick, while<br />

confirm<strong>in</strong>g the news said the country is ready<br />

to host the event and hopes the summit helps<br />

strengthen Nigeria’s relationship with other<br />

football federations.<br />

“Gianni Infant<strong>in</strong>o will be <strong>in</strong> Nigeria on<br />

Monday (February 19) for the FIFA Executive<br />

Summit which will be a three-day event and<br />

this will br<strong>in</strong>g all <strong>in</strong>ternational media down to<br />

Nigeria,” P<strong>in</strong>nick said.<br />

P<strong>in</strong>nick also confirmed that those expected<br />

to be <strong>in</strong> attendance are CAF President, Ahmad,<br />

FIFA General Secretary, Fatima Samba<br />

Samoura, President of the Dutch FA, Michael<br />

Van Praag, Slavisa Ikokezia, President of<br />

Serbia federation a <strong>as</strong> well <strong>as</strong> six presidents<br />

from the Caribbean nations and 12 from the<br />

African cont<strong>in</strong>ent.<br />

A total of 25 presidents are expected to be <strong>in</strong><br />

attendance at the summit<br />

with P<strong>in</strong>nick also posit<strong>in</strong>g<br />

that the entire event will be<br />

funded by FIFA and will<br />

also boost the country’s<br />

economy.<br />

This will be the second<br />

time <strong>in</strong> less than four<br />

months that Infant<strong>in</strong>o will<br />

be visit<strong>in</strong>g Nigeria, a clear<br />

<strong>in</strong>dication that the country<br />

is gradually tak<strong>in</strong>g its<br />

rightful place <strong>in</strong> world<br />

football.<br />

•Cahill<br />

West Brom sack<br />

chairman, CEO<br />

est Bromwich Albion<br />

W have sacked<br />

chairman John Williams<br />

and chief executive Mart<strong>in</strong><br />

Goodman after the club’s<br />

poor results this se<strong>as</strong>on, the<br />

relegation-threatened<br />

Premier League side said on<br />

Tuesday.<br />

The club, owned by<br />

Ch<strong>in</strong>ese <strong>in</strong>vestment group<br />

Yunyi Guokai (Shanghai)<br />

Sports Development Ltd,<br />

added that Mark Jenk<strong>in</strong>s<br />

would reprise his role <strong>as</strong><br />

CEO, hav<strong>in</strong>g recently been<br />

appo<strong>in</strong>ted <strong>as</strong> a director of<br />

the club’s controll<strong>in</strong>g<br />

company WBA Hold<strong>in</strong>gs.<br />

“We would like to thank<br />

John and Mart<strong>in</strong> for all<br />

their efforts s<strong>in</strong>ce their<br />

appo<strong>in</strong>tments and wish<br />

them well for the future,” a<br />

club spokesperson said.<br />

“There is much to do but<br />

for now the focus must<br />

solely be on the rema<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g<br />

games of this se<strong>as</strong>on,” said<br />

Jenk<strong>in</strong>s, whose previous<br />

st<strong>in</strong>t <strong>as</strong> CEO l<strong>as</strong>ted 14<br />

years.<br />

West Brom are bottom of<br />

the league after 27 matches,<br />

with 20 po<strong>in</strong>ts after three<br />

w<strong>in</strong>s, 11 draws and 13<br />

defeats. They have lost their<br />

l<strong>as</strong>t three league games.<br />

•M<strong>as</strong>on


Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2018 — 47


Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2018<br />

Sudoku<br />

QUICK CROSSWORD<br />

TODAY’S PUZZLE<br />

YESTERDAY’S ANSWER<br />

TODAY’S CROSSWORD<br />

YESTERDAY’SOLUTION<br />

How to Play Sudoku<br />

Place a number (1-9) <strong>in</strong> each blank cell. (No l<strong>in</strong>e can<br />

have two of the same number).<br />

Each row (n<strong>in</strong>e l<strong>in</strong>es from left to right), column,<br />

(also n<strong>in</strong>e l<strong>in</strong>es from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block<br />

with<strong>in</strong> a bold block (n<strong>in</strong>e blocks) conta<strong>in</strong>s number<br />

from 1 through 9. This means that no number can<br />

appear twice <strong>in</strong> any block, column or row.<br />

No mathematics is <strong>in</strong>volved – no add<strong>in</strong>g, subtraction,<br />

division or multiplication, just pla<strong>in</strong> logic and your<br />

imag<strong>in</strong>ation.<br />

ACROSS<br />

1 Day of rest and worship (7)<br />

5 Writ<strong>in</strong>g material (5)<br />

8 S<strong>in</strong>gle (5)<br />

9 Marvel (7)<br />

10 Intention (7)<br />

11 Physical appearance (5)<br />

12 Sleep (6)<br />

14 Reflected sounds (6)<br />

18 Tendon (5)<br />

20 Euphoria (7)<br />

22 Look after<br />

children (7)<br />

23 Faux p<strong>as</strong> (5)<br />

24 Takes a break (5)<br />

25 Keep back (7)<br />

DOWN<br />

1 Baffled (7)<br />

2 Arbour (5)<br />

3 Gruell<strong>in</strong>g ( 7)<br />

4 Small village (6)<br />

5 Danger (5)<br />

6 Small flute (7)<br />

7 Waterside plants (5)<br />

13 Pubic transport vehicle (7)<br />

15 Modifications (7)<br />

16 Heartfelt (7)<br />

17 Corset (anag.) (6)<br />

18 Sedate, staid (5)<br />

19 St<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>sects (5)<br />

21 Deduce (5)<br />

Pr<strong>in</strong>ted and Published by VANGUARD MEDIA LIMITED, Vanguard Avenue, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B.1007, Apapa. Phone: Newsroom: 018773962. Deputy Editor: 01-4548355. Advert Dept Hotl<strong>in</strong>e:<br />

01-4544821. Abuja Advert Hotl<strong>in</strong>e: 09-2921024. E-mail: editor@vanguardngr.com, news@vanguardngr.com, letters@vanguardngr.com. Advert:advertproduction@yahoo.com<br />

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

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!