22042018 - FRESH MASSACRE IN BENUE, ZAMFARA: 61 Killed, 82 houses razed

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PAGE 2—SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 22, 2018 

Governor Abiola Ajimobi representing Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the 17th 

Annual Symposium and the 35th memorial of Mallam Aminu Kano, held in Kano. 

2019: Secondus, Wike, Ekweremadu storm Delta as 

Anioma adopts Okowa 

By Festus Ahon, Asaba 

Anioma people, 

yesterday, 

adopted Senator 

Ifeanyi Okowa as their sole 

gubernatorial candidate 

ahead of the 2019 general 

elections. 

Moving the motion 

during a reception for the 

governor organized by the 

Anioma nation, Chief 

Newton Jibunor said 

Okowa had done well and, 

therefore, should be picked 

as the sole candidate of 

Anioma for the 2019 

governorship election in 

Delta State. 

He described Governor 

Ifeanyi Okowa as a good 

ambassador of the Anioma 

nation and said he should 

be supported for a second 

term in office. 

The ceremony, held in 

Asaba, attracted the 

National Chairman of the 

Peoples Democratic Party, 

PDP, Prince Uche 

Secondus, Deputy 

President of the Senate, Dr 

Ike Ekweremadu, 

Governor Nyesom Wike of 

Rivers State and former 

governors of Delta State, 

Chief James Ibori and Dr 

Emmanuel Uduaghan. 

Addressing the people, 

Secondus said; “We are 

proud of your son, we are 

proud of his achievements. 

On behalf of the National 

Working Committee, we 

salute our governor. This 

is a new PDP and, by the 

special grace of God, we 

will regain our lost 

grounds. No amount of 

intimidation, no amount of 

blackmail will stop 

Nigerians from voting PDP 

in 2019”. 

Wike, who also spoke at 

the occasion, said: “as far 

as we are concerned in 

Rivers State, Okowa 

should be preparing for 

swearing-in because, if any 

other party is coming to 

Delta State to contest 

against Okowa, they 

should first tell the people 

what they have done for the 

people, because, Okowa is 

a gentleman, he is 

dependable and he has 

done very well in Delta 

State.” 

Ekweremadu said: “I join 

you the people of Delta 

State to take the decision 

to return Governor Okowa 

in 2019. I thank Delta 

people for bringing an 

example of bringing justice 

to every part of the state for 

Nigerians to emulate”. 

On his part, Okowa said: 

“Today, my people of 

Anioma put up this show 

and I thank you all for this 

wonderful event. In 2015, 

Delta State did something 

that strengthened the unity 

of our people that though, 

we are diverse in ethnic, 

By Dirisu Yakubu 

National Youth Leader 

of the Peoples 

Democratic Party (PDP), 

Honourable Sunday Udeh- 

Okoye, has berated President 

Muhammadu Buhari over 

his London comment in 

we believe that we are one 

people. They realised that 

if the unity of Delta State 

ust remain, they must 

speak with one voice and 

they did that through their 

votes and I won in the total 

votes cast in all the ethnic 

nationalities. 

“That obviously sent a 

message that we are one 

people and we will 

continue to live in unity 

because in that unity, we 

will blossom; in that unity, 

we will succeed. We came 

Lagos celebrates Gani Fawehinmi at 80, 

unveils his statue 

Lagos State government 

is set to unveil a new 

statue of Chief Gani 

Fawehinmi, SAN, sited at the 

beautiful park in Ojota which 

is named after the late legal 

luminary and human rights 

advocate on Sunday. 

Governor Akinwunmi 

Ambode, with members of 

the Gani Fawehinmi family, 

leading voices in human 

rights and other dignitaries 

across the state, will unveil the 

edifying statue in 

commemoration of the late 

activist’s 80th posthumous 

birthday. 

Commissioner for 

Tourism, Arts and Culture, 

Mr. Steve Ayorinde, in a 

statement, said the 

remodelling of the 

at a time there were 

challenges but, because of 

the support of all, we were 

able to wade through the 

turbulent days; the dark 

days are over and we shall 

grow to greater heights. 

“As we move on as a 

people, I must count on 

your support for us to 

sustain the peace that we 

enjoy, with peace, we will 

do well as a people, we will 

continue to build the roads 

in this state. 

“As Deltans, we need to 

continue to pray and build 

on the trust that exists 

among us, I listened to 

magnificent Gani 

Fawehinmi statue was part 

of the State’s strategy to 

enhance the aesthetic beauty 

of open public spaces and parks 

across the state and to celebrate 

and immortalise worthy icons 

that contributed immensely to 

the development of Lagos State. 

According to the 

Commissioner, the new statue 

was also informed by the desire 

of Lagos State government to 

project and entrench the 

enduring legacy of the country’s 

foremost human right lawyer, 

activist, philanthropist and 

one of the icons of prodemocracy 

movement in 

Nigeria. 

“Lagos State is proud that 

Chief Gani Fawehinmi’s 

courageous voice was loud 

President General of Isoko, 

the President General of 

Urhobo nation and the 

President General of the 

Ijaws endorsing me, so, 

who should I be afraid of? 

I thank you for adopting 

me as the sole candidate 

for the governorship 

election and I assure you 

that we will remain 

focused and resolute in 

developing our state”. 

Speaking earlier, the 

Chairman of the occasion, 

Chief Philip Asiodu, 

described Okowa as an 

illustrious son of Anioma 

who has delivered 

enough for the world to take 

notice of socio-political 

developments in Nigeria. His 

fearless activism and constant 

interventions on behalf of the 

voiceless were legendary and 

helped ignite global interest 

on the plight of the masses 

and on Lagos as a liberal 

State that created an enabling 

environment for voices 

against oppression to be 

heard,” Ayorinde said. 

The 34-feet high statue will 

serve as one of the many 

iconic edifices that highlight 

the Akinwunmi Ambode-led 

administration’s quest to 

transform the landscape of 

the state with artistic 

aesthetics, while also 

signposting the belief in 

giving honour to whom 

honour is due. 

dividends of democracy in 

all parts of Delta and 

deserves re-election. 

The Chairman of the 

planning committee for the 

event, Prof. Epiphany 

Azinge, said, “The decision 

to receive our son, 

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, 

three years into office, is 

purely deliberate; we 

recognise that he is more 

the son of Delta State, the 

entire Delta State remains 

his constituency; his 

commitment to 

actualization of his 

campaign promises is 

resolute and irreversible”. 

Lazy youths’ comment: Our PVCs will speak for us, PDP Youth 

Leader tells Buhari 

Dayo Johnson, Akure 

PRIVATE universities 

across the country 

have called on the Federal 

Government to extend 

TETFund research and 

development grant to them. 

Vice Chancellor of 

Achievers University, Owo, 

Ondo State, Professor 

Samuel lbiyemi, said that 

limiting the grant to public 

universities was unfair. 

lbiyemi who said that 

private universitiea are 

unanimous in the clamour 

which he described Nigerian 

youths as lazy and 

uneducated. 

Faulting the President’s 

remarks, Udeh-Okoye 

insisted, in a statement he 

issued in Abuja yesterday, that 

the Nigerian youth remained 

the “most innovative, 

enterprising, hard working, 

Private varsities too need 

TETFund grant – Ibiyemi, 

Achievers Varsity VC 

By Dayo Johnson, 

Akure 

AFederal High Court 

sitting in Akure, Ondo 

State has dismissed a suit 

filed to nullify the 

suspension of Isaac 

Kekemeke as the state 

Chairman of the All 

Progressives Congress, 

APC. 

The court therefore 

declared that the 

appointment of Ade 

noted that private enterprise 

is synonmous with industry. 

Speaking during the 7th 

convocation ceremony of 

the Achievers University, 

lbiyemi pointed out: “lf 

there is a university 

cayegory fo be 

disadvantaged in access, 

definitely it should not be 

private universities. 

“ Researches are 

conducted to solve 

problems of humanity. 

Hence it should not matter 

the source and platform of 

solution”. 

Ibiyemi noted that a 

Adetimehin as the state 

Acting Chairman was in 

order. 

Delivering judgement, 

Justice F.A. Olubanjo held 

that the plaintiffs, 

Gboyega Adedipe and 

Desmond Dejumola, lacked 

locus standi to institute the 

case, as “only Kekemeke 

had power to challenge his 

suspension in court 

provided he had exhausted 

internal mechanism of 

dispute resolution 

contained in the APC 

Constitution”. 

The court ruled: “The 

and patriotic,” saying come 

2019, youths will speak with 

their Permanent Voter Cards 

(PVCs). 

He said: “The best answer 

to this assault on the 

sensibilities of the Nigerian 

youth is to obtain PVC and 

be ready to repay the President 

in his own coin in 2019 by 

showing him the red card 

private university, 

Redeemer, “that is yet to 

start academic programme 

in medicine, has rescued 

people from Ebola and 

Lassa fever through 

research fund provided by 

the World Bank. 

“ lmagine how many of 

such rescues Nigeria will be 

enjoying if access to the 

TETFund research grant is 

liberalised”. 

The Pro- Chancellor and 

Chairman Governing 

Council, Dr Bode Ayorinde, 

said the university would 

roll out the drums at its 15 

anniversary. 

Ayorinde said that by then 

the university would rank 

amongst the top twenty 

universities in the country. 

Court upholds Adetimehin as Ondo APC 

Chairman 

decision of an investigative 

panel that indicted 

Kekemeke and the party’s 

state executive meeting held 

in June 2017 where he was 

suspended remained valid 

and should have been 

challenged internally by the 

plaintiffs rather than resorting 

to a court action”. 

Reacting to the verdict, 

however, counsel to the 

plaintiffs, Olugboyero 

Akinola, vowed that his 

clients would file a stay of 

execution and appeal against 

the judgement at the Court of 

Appeal immediately. 

across the country. 

“We are saddened by what 

has become a habitual and 

flagrant demarketing of 

Nigeria and her citizens by 

President Muhammadu 

Buhari, especially anytime he 

steps outside the shores of the 

country. A President sincere 

about attracting foreign 

investors would not go about 

By Tony Nwankwo 

M 

e m b e r 

representing 

Amuwo-Odofin Federal 

Constituency in the 

House 

of 

Representatives, Hon. 

Oghene Egoh, has 

asked Eko Electricity 

Distribution Company 

Plc (EKEDC) to urgently 

resolve the genuine 

grievances of its 

customers in Festac, 

especially consumers in 

the riverine communities 

of Ibasa, Ibeshe, 

Igbologun, Igbo-Isu, 

Igbo Eseyore, Ikaare, 

Irede, Imore, Ilashe, 

Iyagbe and Satellite 

Town, respectively. 

At an interactive 

meeting in Satellite 

Town, Egoh said it was 

unfortunate that a bulk 

meter for some of the 

communities, that 

attracted N3million 

electricity charge per 

month, suddenly shot to 

N7.4 million within 

three months, while 

individual bills for 

running his citizens down, 

telling the entire world that 

his citizens are corrupt and 

now, that the youth, which 

constitute about 60 per cent 

of the country’s population 

are uneducated, lazy, and 

unwilling to work.” 

He accused the President of 

standing the truth on the head 

before the international 

community. 

You’ve not been fair to your 

customers, politician 

berates EKEDC 

N2,000 a month went up 

to N7,000 within the 

period. “I mean, this is 

not good and they don’t 

even have regular 

electricity supply”, he 

said. 

It was for this reason he 

invited the EKEDC 

management to iron out 

the issues with the 

concerned consumers. 

“I am happy the parties 

responded well. After an 

exhaustive deliberation, 

we have set up a 10-man 

committee that will liaise 

with the EKEDC 

management so that all 

areas of disagreement 

will be resolved. Our 

people have suffered a 

lot under the Eko 

Distribution people and 

this meeting will resolve 

the issues. A meeting of 

the committee and 

EKEDC management is 

scheduled for May 2. We 

also agreed that in the 

next three months, an 

enlarged meeting will be 

convened to assess any 

achievements”, he 

explained.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 22, 2018, PAGE 3 

INVASION OF SENATE/THEFT OF MACE 

Senate, House to decide 

Omo-Agege’s fate 

By Henry Umoru and 

Godwin Oghre 

STRONG indications have 

emerged that following 

the invasion of the Senate by 

hoodlums last Wednesday 

and the snatching of its now 

recovered mace, the Senate 

and the House of 

Representatives will decide 

the fate of suspended Senator 

Ovie Omo- Agege (All 

Progressives Congress, APC, 

Delta Central). 

Sunday Vanguard gathered 

that the Senate, at its 

executive session, on 

Thursday, resolved that it will 

work in synergy with the lower 

chamber to take a decision 

on the senator who allegedly 

stormed the chamber with 

armed thugs while plenary 

was in session. 

According to a source, at the 

expiration of the 90 legislative 

days suspension slammed on 

him, a position will be taken 

by both chambers through a 

strongly-worded letter to the 

world on the implication of 

what Omo-Agege allegedly 

did, adding that the National 

Assembly will not allow the 

matter to be swept under the 

carpet. 

The source said, “As a 

National Assembly, the 

Senate and the House of 

Representatives will do a joint 

letter, stating the position of 

the lawmakers, with regard 

to the alleged action of 

Senator Ovie Omo- Agege 

who was believed to have led 

thugs to storm the Senate, 

disrupted plenary and went 

away with the mace. We are 

aware that he is on 

suspension, but, at the end of 

his suspension, the position 

will be taken to guard against 

any future occurrence. Even 

after his stay as a senator, the 

position of the National 

Assembly will carry a strong 

weight on his future political 

career. 

But Senator Omo-Agege has 

been consistent in 

maintaining that he neither 

had any thing to do with the 

thugs, nor did he lead them 

into the Senate Chambers 

that fateful day. 

The Senate had, last 

Wednesday, suspended Omo- 

Agege apparently for kicking 

against the sequence of 

elections adopted by the 

upper chamber which was 

alleged to have been targeted 

at President Muhammadu 

Buhari ahead of 2019 

elections. 

The senator had also been 

asked to withdraw his suit 

against Senate President 

Bukola Saraki and the 

Senate from court as part of 

the conditions to forgive him 

at the expiration of the 

suspension. 

The Senate mandated that 

the Parliamentary Support 

Group( Senate) for President 

Muhammadu Buhari which 

Omo- Agege is the Secretary 

of and Senator Abdullahi 

Adamu, APC, Nasarawa West 

the Chairman, must be 

disbanded immediately. 

The decisions of the Senate 

were sequel to the report of 

Senator Samuel Anyanwu, 

PDP, Imo East, led Senate 

Committee on Ethics, 

Privileges and Public Petitions 

which investigated the 

senator. 

Earlier, the Committee had 

recommended that Omo- 

Agege be suspended for 181 

legislative days for dragging 

the upper chamber to court 

and to serve as deterrent to 

others, but following pleas 

from Senate Leader Ahmad 

Lawan, APC, Yobe North, and 

Senator Kabiru Marafa, 

APC, Zamfara Central, for 

leniency and in the spirit of 

one family, Senate President 

Saraki reduced it to 90 

legislative days. 

The Senate had asked the 

Committee to summon 

Omo- Agege over his 

comments that the new 

amendment to the Electoral 

Act regarding the sequence of 

the 2019 general elections 

was targeted at Buhari. 

Presenting the Committee’s 

report, Anyanwu said, 

“Having carefully and fully 

exhausted all sides to the 

matter and the inherent 

implication therefrom for 

today and the future of the 

National Assembly, the 

Committee recommends as 

follows: 

“That Senator Ovie Omo- 

Agege be suspended for 181 

legislative days from the date 

this resolution is taken to serve 

as deterrent to other Senators 

who might contemplate 

taking the Senate to court over 

its power to regulate or 

determine its internal 

matters.” 

And about 24 hours after the 

Senate mandated the 

Anyanwu Committee to 

investigate him, Omo - Agege 

apologised to his colleagues 

at plenary. 

Omo-Agege, who came under 

Order 43 of Senate Standing 

Orders 2015 as Amended, 

said, “Yesterday, I was not 

here. My colleague and my 

brother, Senator Dino 

Melaye brought a motion 

under Privileges which is in 

Order 15 of the Senate 

Standing Rules. Mr. 

President, I rose as a 

consequent on the debate on 

the sequence of elections in 

the Electoral Act amendment 

which was passed last week 

Wednesday. 

“In the course of that debate 

and subsequent upon that, I 

addressed the media at the 

press centre. I made certain 

remarks during that 

interview which my attention 

has been drawn to. The 

comments are offensive, not 

just to Senator Dino Melaye, 

but to the entire Senate. 

“I rise to apologise to the 

leadership and the entire 

Senate for those remarks. I 

take back whatever I said. 

Thank you Mr. President.” 

Apology 

In a related development, 

Delta State chapter of the 

Peoples Democratic Party, 

PDP, yesterday, tendered 

unreserved apology to the 

Senate and the National 

Assembly on the Omo-Agege 

saga, saying what happened 

was a clear testimony to the 

kind of leadership the All 

Progressives Congress, APC, 

was giving to Nigerians “and 

a dangerous early warning 

signal of what and how they 

intend to prosecute the 2019 

general elections.” 

In a statement, the state 

Publicity Secretary of the 

party, Mr Ifeanyi Michael 

Osuoza, said, “Delta State 

PDP condemns the alleged 

invasion, on Wednesday, of 

the Senate chamber, and the 

carting away of the mace. We 

are shocked and greatly 

disturbed by the unsavoury 

incident which occurred in 

the hallowed chamber of the 

Nigerian Senate.” 

Invasion of the Senate, 

violation of the people’s 

institution- Afe 

Also yesterday, a 

gubernatorial candidate on 

the platform of the Abundant 

Nigerian Renewal Party in 

Ekiti State, Rev Tunde Afe, has 

described the invasion of the 

Senate as a violation of the 

people’s institution. 

Afe, who asked for immediate 

investigation and necessary 

punishment to serve as a 

deterrence, said it was 

regrettable that a sacred 

institution, such as the Senate, 

could be readily overrun by 

touts and miscreants. 

“The time has come for the 

security forces to get to the 

root of the matter because the 

Senate is a revered institution 

and should not be violated 

without necessary 

punishment”, he said. 

“We should avoid needless 

politicisation of such a 

heinous crime which can not 

be justified and all persons of 

all political persuasion 

should condemn such 

action”. 

Ben Agande, Kaduna. 

Security operatives 

have taken over the 

headquarters of the Kaduna 

State Independent Electoral 

Commission, part of which 

went up in flames on 

Saturday. 

The chairperson of the 

Commission, Dr. (Mrs) 

Saratu Binta Dikko-Audu, 

who addressed journalists 

shortly after the fire was 

contained, said all the 

offices on the 2nd floor of 

the two storey building 

were affected. 

The offices, located in the 

Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission [KAD-SIECOM] 

Headquaters after it was gutted by fire, yesterday. 

*Smoke coming out of a section of the KAD -- SIECOM Headquarters 

Security operatives take over burnt Kaduna 

Electoral Commission office 

By Rotimi Ojomoyela 

‘YORUBA KO’YA’ has 

joined others seeking the 

restructuring of Nigeria, 

saying true fiscal 

federalism and devolution 

of powers from the centre 

remained the panacea to 

the socio-political ills 

facing the nation. 

The body, which also 

condemned the killings 

and destruction of 

farmland by suspected 

herdsmen, lamented the 

increasing youth 

unemployment, food 

second floor were those of 

the Chairman as well as 

legal and finance 

departments and 

conference room. 

She said “no live was lost, 

and there were no injuries 

recorded. At the time the fire 

started, the members of the 

Commission were in an 

emergency meeting in the 

Chairman’s office” 

Some stakeholders who 

commented on the incident 

expressed regret that the 

unfortunate incident 

happened few days to the 

conduct of local 

government elections. 

“With the local 

government poll just a few 

weeks away, this incident is 

indeed lamentable”, a 

senatorial aspirant in the 

state observed. 

The Green Party of 

Nigeria (GPN) has 

commiserated with KAD- 

SIECOM and the state 

government over the 

unfortunate fire incident 

but insisted that, the 

election must hold as 

scheduled. 

The Chairman of GPN 

in Kaduna, Ahmed 

Mohammed Zagi, said 

despite the incident, the 

local government election 

scheduled for the second 

week of May must go 

ahead. 

“GPN has committed a lot 

of resources in preparing 

for the polls and would not 

hesitate to seek redress in 

court of law if the polls 

fail to hold as scheduled. 

“We therefore, insist that 

the local council polls 

should still hold as 

scheduled, while calling on 

the state government and 

law enforcement agencies 

to fully investigate the 

circumstances surrounding 

the fire outbreak, to erase 

suspicions of sabotage from 

those who may not want the 

polls to hold”, he said. 

True fiscal feder 

ederalism, panacea to the problems facing Nigeria – Yoruba ko ‘ya 

insecurity and 

infrastructural decay in 

the South-West. 

The group enjoined 

Nigerians, especially 

Yoruba, to support the 

agitation for the 

restructuring of the 

country and to reawaken 

the consciousness of the 

Yoruba people to the 

hidden agenda of some 

ethnic oligarchy to 

dominate and enslave the 

Yoruba nation. 

In a statement in Ado- 

Ekiti yesterday by the 

National Organizing 

Secretary of the group, 

Comrade Maxwell 

Adeyemi Adeleye, said: 

“Yoruba KO’YA is made up 

of true sons and daughters 

of Yoruba who are united 

in the fight against misgovernance 

in all the six 

states of south-western 

Nigeria. 

“The Yoruba nation is 

lagging in the political 

equation of the country 

and this situation has 

made the economy of the 

states in the south western 

states especially to be 

comatose with attending 

Ekiti election: Why we‘re supporting Aluko – Group 

By Olasunkanmi 

Akoni 

Ekiti professionals 

under the auspices 

of Ekiti Solidarity Front, 

ESP, have expressed 

support for a former 

deputy governor of the 

state, Abiodun Aluko’s 

ambition to run in the July 

14 governorship election in 

the state. ESP, however, 

urged the Mega Party of 

Nigeria, MPN, under the 

platform he is seeking to 

run, to consider him for the 

slot as he is credible, 

honest, hardworking and 

well loved by his people 

whom he has served 

meritoriously. 

The group stated this in 

a statement by its 

Chairman, Prince Yemi 

Adekunle. 

Adekunle said that with 

worrisome states of high 

insecurity, youth 

unemployment, 

infrastructure decadence, 

corruption in public 

service, farmers/herdsmen 

clashes among others 

“The pseudo federalism 

which centralised every 

thing in the hand of the 

government at the centre 

has not engendered 

development in the 

federating units, rather it 

has 

brought 

infrastructural decadence 

and poor economic growth 

in Yoruba land”. 

Aluko in the race, the 

group feels it’s time to 

make it’s position known to 

the world, and support him 

to ensure he is favourably 

considered for the ticket by 

his party and vigorously 

embark on campaign to 

ensure he emerges.


INSECURITY: Christian Elders 

partner Gowon for 21-day 

national prayer 

By Sam Eyoboka 

THE National 

Christian Elders 

Forum (NCEF), in 

collaboration with several 

intercessory groups in the 

Body of Christ, has 

proclaimed 21 days of 

national repentance, prayer 

and fasting for the security 

of the Church and the 

country. 

According to a statement 

by the group’s Secretary 

General, Pastor Bosun 

Emmanuel, and addressed to 

all 36 state branch offices of 

CAN and made available to 

Vanguard, the Christian 

Elders want to join forces with 

over 24 intercessory groups 

across the nation to proclaim 

a National Christian 

Repentance Prayer and 

Fasting. 

The period, beginning 

from Monday, April 23 to 

Sunday, May 13, 2018, the 

statement said, has been 

slated for a period for 

intercession to salvage the 

nation and the Church in it 

from the unchecked daily 

orgy of violence resulting in 

the loss of innocent lives and 

property in different parts of 

the country. 

“Come, and let us return 

unto the LORD: for he hath 

torn, and he will heal us; he 

hath smitten, and he will bind 

us up. After two days will he 

revive us: in the third day he 

will raise us up, and we shall 

live in his sight. Hosea 6:1- 

2”, it stated. 

The statement identified 

over 24 participating 

intercessory groups to include 

a former Head of State, 

General Yakubu Gowon (ret.) 

and his intercessory group, 

Nigeria Prays; Barr Emeka 

Nwakpa’s Intercessors for 

Nigeria; Wailing Women 

Worldwide (Dr Laide 

Okafor); The Watchman 

Ministries (Christian 

Evangelical Social 

Movement of Nigeria – 

CESM) (Pastor Austin 

Ukachi); Gethsemane Prayer 

Ministries (Rev Dr Moses 

Aransiola); The Preacher 

(Prof Kontein Trinya);Womb 

of Intercession International 

Ministries, (Evang. (Mrs.) 

Patience Eworo); The 

Messenger (Barr Isaac 

Ezeh); Ambassadors of God 

to the Middle East (Dr 

Olurotimi Olokodana); The 

Ambassadors Group Africa 

(Prince Joshua Oyeniyi); 

Christian Women 

Intercessors for all Nations 

(CWIFAN) (Dr Augusta 

Ogbene); Hausa Christian 

Foundation (Ambassador 

Joshua Danlami Jydson); All 

Women Intercessors for 

Nigeria (AWIN) (Prophetess 

Success Oyewole) and 

Student Christian Movement 

(SCM) of Nigeria (Rev. Eric 

Ighalo). 

Other participating groups 

include: Watchmaidens 

Ministries International 

(Mrs. D. Nwokolo); Christian 

Fellowship of Nigeria (FCS) 

(Gideon M. Chimmin); 

Nigeria Fellowship of 

Evangelical Students 

(NIFES) (Rex N. Onuh); 

Ministers Breakfast Meeting 

(Dr. Diran Ajayi); St. Jerome’s 

Missionary Outreach (Mrs. 

Bridget Itsueli); Lunch Hour 

Fellowship (Pastor Sylvester 

Mbamali); Ministers Prayer 

Network (Rev. Mosy 

Madugba); and Scripture 

Union Campus Fellowship 

(Sola Ajide); Full Gospel 

Businessman’s Fellowship 

International (Arc Ifeanyi 

Odedo). 

Continuing, the statement 

said more intercessory 

groups are still joining the 

project, stressing that the 

prayer and fasting is 

interdenominational, and 

all Christians are invited to 

participate. 

Gov. Dickson faults model for 

funding tertiary education in Nigeria 

•Former minister calls for the establishment of more universities 

From left: CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele; Governor of the Central Bank, Kuwait, 

Dr. Mohammad Y. Al-Hashel and the Managing Director, IMF, Christine Lagarde during 

the opening of the IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings at the IMF Conference Hall, 

Washington, USA. Photo by Abayomi Adeshida 

Deputy British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Laure Beaufils, and Governor 

Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, during an official visit by the envoy to the governor 

in Ado-Ekiti Photo: Ekiti State Government. 

By Samuel Oyadongha, 

Yenagoa 

BAYELSA State 

Governor, Hon 

Seriake Dickson, on 

Saturday, faulted the 

existing model for funding 

tertiary education in the 

country, saying the current 

practice where public 

institutions are owned and 

wholly funded by the 

government is not 

sustainable and against the 

desired development of the 

education sector. 

Dickson stated this while 

delivering his address at the 

maiden matriculation 

ceremony òf the University 

of Africa, Toru Orua, in 

Sagbama Local 

Government Area of the 

state. 

He said that the University 

of African which is owned 

wholly by the Bayelsa State 

government was designed 

as a practical model to 

ignite a rethink of the 

existing model for funding 

public universities in the 

country. 

He argued that it was not 

realistic to have quality 

university education, which 

is considered the bedrock of 

societal development, but 

which is cheaper than 

nursery school education 

even within the country. 

Dickson also made the 

clarification that the 

University of African was 

owned by the Bayelsa 

government though with a 

different model designed to 

make it self-sustaining 

through exploring creative 

means of generating 

revenue. 

He said, “The school is 

owned and funded by the 

state government. The 

school is a new model. The 

university is a publicly 

owned university. We believe 

that the model of running 

tertiary institutions must 

change. The existing model 

must change. 

“The universities owned by 

the federal and state 

governments rely totally on 

the government for their 

running. Look at the decline 

in the standard of 

education, the tendency of 

our elite to send their 

children to schools abroad, 

whose funding model is 

different. 

“We have announced a 

policy that the tertiary 

institutions in Bayelsa 

would have to look inward. 

Governments would give 

grants, build infrastructure 

and give loans for business 

development. That is the 

new direction in Bayelsa. 

“When university education 

is cheaper than nursery 

education, we are not 

realistic. When it is cheap, 

it cannot give us the quality 

and the innovation that we 

seek. When university 

education becomes cheaper 

than nursery education, 

then something has gone 

wrong.” 

Dickson also said that the 

state government would 

inaugurate the Bayelsa 

State Students Education 

Loan Board in the next two 

weeks. 

Meanwhile, a former 

Minister of Science and 

Technology, Prof. Turner 

Isoun, has called for the 

establishment of more 

universities in response to 

the rising demand for 

tertiary education in the 

country. 

Isoun said that available 

data indicated that the 

existing universities have 

not been able to take care 

of the desire of the teeming 

youth populace for quality 

university education. 

The former Minister spoke 

while delivering the guest 

lecture at the maiden 

matriculation and the First 

Distinguished Public 

Lecture Series òf the 

University, titled “The 

University of Africa: In 

Pursuit òf an Innovative and 

Sustainable University, 

Responding to the 

Challenges of a State and a 

Nation.” 

Isoun recalled that the 160 

universities in the country 

could only provide 

admission for one third of 

one million five hundred 

thousand candidates that 

applied for university 

education in a particular year 

which was not encouraging. 

Isoun challenged the Federal 

Government to allocate 

$1billion from the Excess 

Crude Account to fund 

tertiary education, innovative 

research and technology 

Isoun, who commended 

Dickson for the 

establishment of the 

University of Africa said that 

funds spent on education 

should be considered 

investments which could 

yield high returns through 

improved quality of 

existence in the society. 

From right: Chief Medical Director, ECWA Eye Hospital, Kano, Dr. Mayor Atima, 

welcoming the CEO, Springfield Group Ltd, Mr. Tarun K. Das, to the Free Eye 

cataract surgery operation project sponsored by the Rotary Club of Lagos Island, 

District 9110 Nigeria, Rotary International, held in conjunction with the Geeta 

Ashram Group Ltd, OlamTolaram Group Ltd, KewalramChanrai Group Ltd, and 

Indian Women Association of Nigeria. 

Cross section of beneficiaries of the Free Eye Cataract surgery operation project 

sponsored by the Rotary Club of Lagos Island, District 9110 Nigeria, Rotary 

International.


CYBER CRIME PREVENTION 

NITDA begins nationwide 

cybersecurity awareness campaign 

By Emmanuel Elebeke 

The 

National 

Information Technology 

Development Agency (NITDA), 

has commenced nationwide 

cyber-security awareness 

workshops. 

The events are part of the 

agency’s continuous efforts 

aimed at equipping citizens 

with foundational knowledge 

as well as share best practices 

on staying safe in cyberspace. 

The Director General/CEO of 

NITDA, Isa Ali Ibrahim 

Pantami, said the move was 

also aimed at addressing the 

rising incidences of money and 

data loss to cyber criminals. 

“There has been a 

tremendous increase in the 

number of incidences where 

Nigerians have lost money and 

data through vulnerabilities 

FRESH MASSACRE IN BENUE, ZAMFARA 

61 killed, 82 houses razed 

•Victims mostly women and children 

•Tiv leaders cry for help 

By Peter Duru, 

Makurdi 

In what is becoming 

a weekly sordid 

ritual, 61 persons 

were, over the weekend, 

killed in separate 

dastardly incidents in 

Benue and Zamfara 

States. 

Whereas 31persons, 

mostly women and 

children, lost their lives 

in six communities of 

Guma 

Local 

Government Area of 

Benue State in the 

hands of suspected 

herdsmen, another 30 

were massacred in 

Maru Local 

Government Area of 

Zamfara State, by 

suspected gunmen. 

Sunday Vanguard 

gathered that 25 persons 

were killed in 

coordinated attacks on 

Tse-Abi, Tse-Ginde, Tse- 

Peviv, Tse-Ikyo, Agenke 

and 

Gbenke 

communities of 

Unzughul, Saghev 

Council Ward in Guma; 

the killings were said to 

have commenced from 

late Friday to the early 

hours of Saturday. 

82 houses were razed 

by the herdsmen during 

their orgy of killings in 

the affected areas of 

Benue State. 

Still in Benue, a 

bloody clash of rival 

political and cult groups 

in Otukpo Local 

Government Area of the 

state, accounted for six 

of the deceased 31. 

An eye witness to the 

Zamfara killings, Mr 

Shuaibu Kabaro, told 

the News Agency of 

Nigeria (NAN) in Maru, 

that the suspected 

gunmen attacked the 

two communities and the 

incident 

was 

immediately reported to 

arising from lack of knowledge 

on how to manage their online 

presence and personal details. 

“The cybercriminals use 

social engineering, phishing 

mails, and probably specific to 

Nigeria, the use of text messages 

pretending to be sent from 

banks, requesting for PIN or 

revalidation of BVN numbers. 

“To the unaware, such are the 

sources where vital information 

needed for making 

unauthorized withdrawals 

from victims’ bank accounts 

occur. A more worrisome and 

recent trend is the SIM Swap 

cases, where the victim’s SIM 

card is swapped; an operation 

that makes the victim’s phone 

inaccessible while funds are 

transferred. 

“Knowing that everyone that 

uses ICT devices is vulnerable, 

these workshops target 

the security agents. 

He said three of the 

bandits were arrested by 

security agents 

following the prompt 

report of the incident to 

the security personnel. 

Benue killings 

According to a 

resident of one of the 

affected communities, 

some of the invaders 

who stormed the 

communities were 

dressed in military 

fatigue and armed with 

sophisticated weapons. 

“They came around 

10pm and started 

shooting sporadically, 

killing people and razing 

houses and hurts in the 

communities. 

“People ran for their 

lives but many, especially 

women and children, 

could not escape the rage 

of the assailants. While 

some were butchered, 

several others were 

gunned down in cold 

blood - including two 

children of a Makurdibased 

pastor who 

traveled home for 

holidays. 

“After the attack, the 

invaders as usual 

retreated. It is a sorry 

sight in the communities, 

scores sustained injuries, 

many of the houses are 

still burning as I speak 

with you. 

“The invaders also 

looted the valuables and 

food of their helpless 

victims.” 

The Benue State 

Government, in a 

statement through the 

Chief Press Secretary, 

CPS, to the Governor, 

Mr. Terver Akase 

confirmed the attack. 

The statement read in 

part, “I can confirm that 

herdsmen last night and 

earlier today invaded 

Saghev Ward of Guma 

executives of registered 

associations and groups 

(translated into the most 

predominant language of the 

zone), with the ultimate aim of 

reaching their members,” he 

explained.. 

NITDA said it had also 

deployed effective conventional 

channels and social media in 

conveying the stay-safe 

message. 

The NITDA boss said that the 

agency has planned effective 

capacity building programmes 

that will culminate in 

organizational and individual 

certifications, while using 

Research and Development 

(R&D) results to feed these 

enlightenment 

programmes and aid 

relevant Agencies and 

Corporates in permanent 

mitigation strategy. 

Local Gvernment Area, 

killing many innocent 

persons. 

“10 corpses have so far 

been recovered with 

many still missing and 

scores injured. The 

armed herdsmen also 

burnt numerous houses, 

shops and other property 

in the area. 

“This mindless attack 

was unprovoked, and we 

urge security agencies to 

arrest the herdsmen 

behind the killings for 

prosecution.” 

Meanwhile, the 

Mdzough U Tiv, MUT, a 

socio-cultural 

organisation of Tiv 

speaking people in the 

country has again 

alleged that the governor 

of a neighbouring state, 

had provided a safe 

haven for militant 

herdsmen from where 

they launch attacks on 

defenseless Tiv 

indigenes of both 

Nasarawa and Benue 

States. 

In a statement signed 

by the President General 

of MUT, Chief Edward 

Ujege, and the Secretary 

General, Dr. Boniface 

Ukende, lamented that 

the said governor had 

done nothing to check 

the relentless attacks. 

The statement read, 

“MUT can authoritatively 

reveal that between 15th, 

19th of April 2018, the 

herdsmen invaded Tiv 

villages in Awe, Obi, 

Keana, Dome and Lafia 

Local Government Areas 

of Nasarawa State and 

killed over 75 Tiv people 

and ransacked villages 

and displaced over 

100,000 Tiv people. 

“It can be recalled that 

in January, 2018, it was 

made public that 

herdsmen were harbored 

in TUNGA settlement in 

Awe Local Government 

President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki (left),with the Governor 

of Sokoto State, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, during the wedding Fatiha 

between Senator Abdullahi Ibrahim Gobir's daughter, Saratu, and Habibu Mohammed 

Abubakar in Sokoto yesterday. 

Area of Nasarawa State. 

This was later confirmed 

by security agents when 

their kingpin was 

arrested in Tunga. 

“Currently we are 

informed that the 

herdsmen that recently 

attacked and killed over 

75 Tiv people are 

accommodated in Adudu 

in Obi Local Government 

Area of Nasarawa State. 

They have made Adudu 

their second base from 

where they spring to 

unleash terror on 

defenseless indigenous 

Tiv people of Nasarawa 

and Benue States. 

“In consequence 

therefore, the herdsmen 

have taken over and 

occupied Tiv houses 

unchecked and where 

they cannot for want of 

number they set such 

abandoned properties 

ablaze. 

“We call on all well 

meaning Nigerians, the 

National Assembly, 

National Human Rights 

Commission and 

International Community 

to urgently wade into this 

issue.” 

Meanwhile there were 

conflicting accounts on 

the murder of six persons 

in Otukpo local 

government at the 

weekend. 

A source in the town 

allegedly linked the crisis 

leading to the murder of 

the victims to the caucus 

meeting of the All 

Progressives Congress, 

APC, Benue South, held 

in the town. Another 

account linked the 

killings to a rival bloody 

cult fight which also left 

scores injured. 

In a statement 

exonerating his party 

from the crisis, the APC 

Director of Publicity, Peter 

Apeh, told Sunday 

Vanguard on phone that 

there were no fracas, not 

to talk of killing during 

the caucus meeting of the 

party in Benue South last 

Friday contrary to 

speculations that the 

incumbent state chairman, 

Abba Yaro, brought in 

thugs to manhandle his 

political opponents. 

Apeh, however, alleged 

that “The thing was said to 

have started from 

Thursday. I heard that 

boys, rival cult boys were 

moving from street to street 

killing people. It was not 

like it happened at the 

venue of our meeting. 

“I also heard rumours 

that it was the state 

chairman that instigated it. 

How can somebody that 

has been endorsed 

instigate such? Abba Yaro 

is such a man that will not 

stoop low to indulge in 

such activity. If there was 

anything of such, it might 

have been caused by the 

an aspirant.” 

When contacted, the 

Benue state Police Public 

Relations Officer, 

A s s i s t a n t 

Superintendent, ASP, 

Moses Yamu, said he was 

yet to get details of the 

incidents. 

30 killed again 

in Zamfara 

The eye witness to the 

Zamfara massacre said, 

the gunmen, in turn went 

and mobilised more gang 

members and returned in 

multitude to carry out the 

attack which left about 30 

dead and many others 

injured in the two 

communities. 

The Maru Local 

Government Council 

Chairman, Alhaji Salisu 

Dangulbi, and the Police 

Public Relations Officer 

in the state, DSP 

Mohammed Shehu, both 

confirmed the killings. 

According to them, 

many of the villagers 

deserted their homes for 

fear of further attacks 

which has now become 

the modus operandi of 

the gunmen. 

The duo said, with the 

presence of security 

personnel now in the 

area however, many of 

the villagers have started 

to return home. 

The PPRO further 

explained that units of 

mobile police working 

with the military and 

other security agents 

were immediately 

mobilised to the affected 

areas, adding that peace 

and normalcy have since 

been restored. 

The police spokesman, 

however, said that the 

actual number of those 

killed was still being 

worked on and “until this 

is done, l cannot give you 

actual figure at the 

moment”. (NAN)


Son of Senator Roland Stephen Owie weds 

The solemnization of the holy matrimony between Margaret Mary, daughter 

of Sir Sunday Nnamdi Nwosu, founder and first National Coordinator 

of Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN), and Peter Owie, 

son of Senator Roland Stephen Owie, pioneer Chief-Whip of the Senate, 

took place at St. Leo's Catholic Church, Ikeja. From left: Senator Roland 

Owie, groom's father; Lady Comfort Olumuyiwa Nwosu, bride's mother; Peter 

Owie; his wife, Margaret; Sir Sunny Nwosu, bride's father and Mrs. Helen 

Owie, groom's mother, during the wedding. Photos: Bunmi Azeez 

From left: Hon. Ehiozuwa Johnson Agbonayinma, Senator Roland Owie, Mrs. Helen 

Owie and Mr. Lawrence Wilbert. 

From left: Mr. Pascal Dozie, Chairman, Diamond Bank Plc; Chief Joseph Arumemi- 

Ikhide, Chairman, Arik Airlines, and his wife, Mary. 

From left: Mr.Godwin Eseiwi Ehigiamusoe, Chief Executive Officer, LAPO Microfinance 

Bank; Sir Osunde Osa and Mr. Tony Eviebor. 

From left: Dr. Faruk Umar, Abiola Lasehinde and Bukunola Olateru. 

Prof. Gabriel Osuido and his wife, Lady Adebimpe 

From left: Prof[Mrs] Anthonia Clark, Mr. Emma Okorie and Deacon Innocent 

Okebugwu. 

From left: Mrs. Merit Ofulue, Mrs. Tobi Odunaiya and Mr. Lawrence Wilbert.

SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 22 , 2018, Page 7 

•Prof Attahiru Jega 

•Mahmoud Yak 

akubu 

•Late Prof Eme Awa 

POTENTIAL THREAT TO 2019 ELECTIONS 

Fresh fears over the allocation 

of Polling Units by INEC 

•Game changer is Voting Points Settlements, VPS 

•Questions electoral body must answer 

•The story of the failed allocation of 30,000 PUs 

•Dagogo Jack 

•Maurice IWU 

By Jide Ajani 

On the march again! Whereas Professor Attahiru Jega, immediate past National Chairman of the Independent National 

Electoral Commission, INEC, brought some reforms of significant reckoning to the processes and procedures of 

Nigeria’s electoral system, his controversial allocation of 30,000 Polling Units, PUs, which was shot down in 2015, may be 

on its way to being surreptitiously re-introduced by the new leadership of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu. 

Disguised as Voting Points Settlements, VPS, the cat was let out of the bag recently by the former chairman when he openly 

congratulated the new leadership on its reforms in the area of voting points, a revelation that was strange to insiders at the 

Commission. This report will show why the new move may not different from the failed lopsided allocation, which saw the North handed 

over 21,000, while the South had less than 9,000 PUs. In addition, it will show the inappropriateness of the hasty move less than 10 

months to next year’s general elections. Finally, just as it is with the presently unchangeable lopsided 774 LGAs, on which revenue 

sharing is based, the push to discriminately share out this so called VPS comes with the potential of rendering useless and discombobulate, 

the provisions of Section 133 (b) which deals with the issue of spread in voting to determine wide acceptability of a President. Conversely, 

the tokenism of attempting to solve a few instances of far-flung PUs and ease voter participation, which is the usual position of 

INEC, is negligible in the face of the potential universal consequence for the South specifically, and for the future of Nigeria’s 

integrity in general, within the context of democratic best practices. 

Fool’s Errand 

Just a day after Fools’ Day, on April 2, 2011, journalists 

asked President Goodluck Jonathan for his thoughts about 

the voting process of that day. An anxious Jonathan 

expressed joy that “so far, everything is going smoothly”. 

But, had Jonathan chosen to cross-check from the man 

in whose hands the destiny of a guesstimated 73.5million 

voters laid, Professor Attahiru Jega, then National 

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral 

Commission, INEC, Nigeria’s President would have 

discovered, rather embarrassingly, that what he had 

engaged in was a fool’s errand - the election of that day 

(National Assembly) had just been postponed without his 

knowledge. Before that fateful day, Sunday Vanguard 

had made some revelations about the contract award for 

voting materials in context, content and volume per 

figures, and why Nigerians needed to pay more attention, 

especially in the light of the tens of billions of tax payers’ 

money involved – N30, 000 (that figure of 30,000), for 

instance, was paid to each of the about 360,000 

registration agents, 8, 000 of whom were INEC staff, for 

the exercise. This newspaper had also published exclusive 

reports on the late release of funds and the lack of 

preparedness of INEC, particularly because some 

election materials were yet to arrive in the country some 

24/36hours to the polls. Yet, imbued with a sense of 

false optimism, INEC’s leadership went ahead only to 

postpone after barely three hours into the election. That 

was in 2011. 

Yet, much earlier on Saturday, December 5, 1987, the 

LG polls of that year, which was on zero party basis, 

suffered a similar fate when then chairman of the 

National Electoral Commission, NEC, late Professor Eme 

Onuoha Awa, got the shock of his life when, despite 

meticulous planning, politicians almost marred the 

election with their shenanigans, causing the commission 

to extend voting hours. In this case, for no fault of the 

commission, something pragmatic needed to be done - 

and was done - to save the situation. Therefore, try as 

the commission may, arrangements meant to engender 

positive reforms can become a vehicle to carry out 

crooked intentions when in the hands of unpatriotic 

elements. 

Reforms 

Now, due to several electoral reforms made by INEC 

since 2011, the credit of which must, of necessity, go to 

Jega, election rigging, although not eliminated, has 

become more costly and challenging. 

Take, for instance, stealing of ballot papers: this has 

been rendered redundant as ballot papers are now 

customized to Polling Units, PUs. Also, the snatching 

of ballot boxes may only postpone an election in the 

affected area, costing political players more resources 

while the changing of election results during collation 

may be more difficult where voters have pictures or videos 

of results from PUs. These are laudable steps. 

In addition, the widely perceived passion with which 

Jega pursued the independence of the election 

management body appeared good, as it kept the 

Jonathan-led presidency at bay - even though this also 

created its challenge of submissiveness by the latter in 

the face of manifest and verifiable blackmail on the part 

of INEC. 

Corruption and Stealing; Polling 

Continues on page 8

Page 8—SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 22, 2018 

Continued from page 7 

Units and INEC Voting 

Points Settlements! 

However, there are fresh fears - just as 

was the case and it was ignored pre and 

during the 2015 general elections - that 

some powerful individuals are 

determined to use the instrumentality of 

INEC to introduce a crafty pre-election 

bias, with a view to egregiously predetermine 

the outcome of the 2019 

general elections. 

This fresh plan, which Sunday 

Vanguard has been able to verify and 

confirm, is being surreptitiously 

effectuated by masking the insanely 

lopsided, though abortive, allocation of 

30,000 PUs, as Voting Points Settlement, 

VPS, by INEC to favour the incumbent 

President, who, so far, has not tried to use 

his position to stir electoral victory to his 

party, given the outcome of the elections 

conducted under his watch. 

But there appears to be some 

determined forces behind this move and, 

so far, investigations have revealed that 

persons, within and outside the 

Commission, are working behind the 

scenes, with a view to 

influencing the current 

Chairman to reintroduce 

the lopsided 

PUs, now deceptively 

called VPS. 

Sunday Vanguard 

discovered that the plans 

started since last year 

when, in November, a 

communication between 

those behind the move 

was intercepted, 

showing that some states 

in the northern part of 

the country - except a few 

states of the Middle Belt 

- were put on notice 

quietly and Acting 

Administrative 

S e c r e t a r i e s / 

Commissioners of INEC 

in those states have been 

working on the plan, 

whereas the entire 

southern states have 

been put in the dark until about the end 

of last month (March). 

Officially, information pieced together 

suggests that a memo on this matter, 

dated March 20, 2018, was sent to Acting 

Administrative Secretaries and Resident 

Electoral Commissioners, RECs, all of 

whom were mandated to submit the 

identified new settlements in their various 

states on or before April 3, 2018. 

In effect, what the memo directs is that 

the exercise should be carried out within 

14 days, despite several impacts the socalled 

VPS may have on voting and voter 

behavior. 

Nigerians must not forget and, 

therefore, recall that the sudden 

announcement by Prof. Jega of the 

creation of some patently lopsided PUs, 

few months before the 2015 elections, 

created doubts about the correctness of 

the INEC leadership, prompting several 

calls for his resignation given the 

lopsidedness of the allocation. Again, in 

Game changer is Voting 

Points Settlements, VPS 

a matter of months to 2019 elections, an 

exercise, that otherwise would have been 

considered desirable for the purpose of 

creating PUs to serve various new 

settlements across the country, has again 

been mismanaged by the quest for 

domination and attempting to use it for 

political advantage, a key reason 

Nigerians, particularly those to be 

cheated and dominated, need to closely 

watch and scrutinize the intentions of 

principal actors inside and outside INEC 

who are clandestinely pushing for the 

subtle introduction of VPS, a new name 

for extra PUs, which almost torpedoed the 

2015 general elections. 

Those who may have forgotten the 

attempt to foist new PUs on the nation in 

2015 will remember the figures in the 

table below: 

Geopolitical-Zone 

Allotted 

New PUs 

Remarks 

1 North Central 6,318 

2 North East 5,291 Higher than SW, despite 

Lagos being in SW 

3 North West 7,906 Almost equal the 

number of New Polling 

Units allotted to entire 

Southern Nigeria 

4 South-South 3,087 

5 South East 1,167 

6 South West 4,160 About half allotted to 

the North West despite 

Lagos being in SW 

7 FCT Abuja 1,200 Equal the number of new 

Polling Units allotted to the 

Total - 29,129 entire South East Zone 

Like the 36 states and 774 LGAs created 

without regard to demographic reality, 

this new attempt, again, to use VPS 

disproportionately, despite a section of the 

country already having more Polling 

Units, conveys a determination to widen 

the disparity. 

Those who fail to see the implications 

of such pre-election arrangements need 

to understand a few facts about election 

rigging. 

Election Rigging 

From Source 

There are three major ways to rig 

elections, or instigate election fraud, as 

described by Sarah Birch, one of the 

leading authorities in the study of election 

malpractices and irregularities. One way 

to do it is by manipulating the design of 

the institutions governing elections. 

Practically, authorities can achieve this 

by making it easy to determine who 

appoints election officials to places where 

key decisions for elections are made and 

injecting pliant people that can be 

manipulated (some might even appoint 

relatives), or making it easy to change 

electoral laws at will to suit partisan 

political purpose. 

Another method is to manipulate the 

choices that voters make at the ballot. In 

practical terms, this can be achieved in 

several ways, including, but not limited 

to buying the votes or the way voters cast 

their ballots, buying election managers 

to change or substitute the ballot or ballot 

boxes using pre-cast votes or pre-stuffed 

ballot boxes; or using pliant election 

managers to change the voting results 

during collations or announcements of 

results, or using hired thugs to destroy the 

ballot boxes in areas where partisan 

opponents are likely to get higher votes. 

A third method, and 

equally as pernicious, is 

the manipulation of the 

voting act, including 

diverse versions of what 

has already been 

described but more 

seriously, by using 

biased election 

management decisions, 

and one way of doing 

this is by 

gerrymandering, a 

process of organizing 

political boundaries, 

voting areas or voting 

arrangements to give 

electoral numeric 

advantage to a political 

group. Some methods 

or techniques of 

gerrymandering are 

interesting but the 

outcome, if suspected by 

voters, can lead to 

anarchy. 

For example, one method is called 

packing - in this method, people who are 

likely to vote for a particular political 

group, are loaded by assigning them to 

specific voting points or PUs in some areas 

to predetermine the voting outcome in 

elections in that area. In another method 

called cracking, crafty election managers 

dilute the votes of areas where opposing 

partisan interests are likely to give a 

political interest high votes; in the 2015 

elections, there are allegations that 

election managers were used to destroy 

the permanent voter cards, PVCs, in many 

areas where some interests were likely to 

cast high votes against others; and even 

the card reader not used in some northern 

parts of the country as revealed by Alhaji 

Tanko Yakassai last week; or arranging 

voters into designated areas as their PUs, 

or withholding targeted PVCs, can also 

be used to pre-determine elections by 

packing in favour of specified partisan 

interests or cracking other partisan 

interests. Another method of 

gerrymandering is called bleaching. This 

is achieved by packing too many 

opposing voters in one area, such that 

although they win that area eventually, 

the opponents who, though fewer in 

number, have been deliberately spread out 

into more constituencies so that, for 

instance, the opponent obtains high votes 

in a few areas but only gains few 

constituencies. 

Imagine, for instance, that a candidate 

gets very high votes in three wards but 

loses by small margins in 15 other wards. 

Usually achieving such manipulations of 

the election to favour pre-determined 

political interest requires manipulation 

of the demographics of voters. But since 

Nigeria has not conducted a census or 

constituency delineation in a very long 

time, the only way people can 

deliberately do it under the current 

electoral condition is by using voter 

registration data from the continuous 

voter registration exercise to introduce 

new PUs or what is now being referred to 

as VPS. The possibility of such 

manipulations going on quietly in the 

background, while others are busy 

politicking, possibly in vain, is a key 

reason why all political stakeholders must 

pay close attention to the new VPS about 

to be introduced by INEC. 

The Devil Is 

In The Details 

In the event that a lopsided allocation is 

again engendered and allowed to scale 

through, an analytical thesis, using the Card 

Readers and PVCs, would turn up with the 

proverbial ‘garbage-in-garbage-out’. Since it 

has been established that some people are 

already working on the script, any lopsided 

arrangement would confer undue advantage 

on any part of the country that is programmed 

to benefit from this. As it was with the 2015 

elections when the adherence to strict PVC 

collection held sway in the South than in the 

North, and a situation whereby Jonathan’s 

inability to be properly processed by the Card 

Reader paved the way for a free for all situation 

across the country, the Card Reader usage 

would process what has been entered into it. 

Now, therefore, just imagine…of the 30,000 

PUs, only one zone in the North, the North- 

West, got 7,906 extra PUs; and when you add 

the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja’s 

1,167, you get a total of 9,073; whereas the 

entire southern Nigeria got just about 8,414. 

With 500 prospective voters to every PU/VPS, 

every 1, 000 PUs/VPS confer an advantage of 

at least 500, 000 where the real intention is to 

compromise the electoral process. 

In the case of the lopsided allocation of PUs 

in 2015, at the rate of 500 voters to each PU, 

an allocation of extra over 1, 000 to some 11 

states in the North is a guarantee for no fewer 

than over 5, 500, 000 voters more than the 

entire southern Nigeria – mind you, the North- 

West geo-political zone and the FCT match 

the whole of southern Nigeria. By the time 

you add the allocation to North-East and 

North-Central zones, you end up with 

something really serious and unassailable. 

There are suggestions that some vested 

interests have already drawn out areas where 

they will use VPS to execute packing, 

bleaching and cracking to favour predetermined 

electoral results in 2019. 

To create an illusory visage of collective 

engagement, some areas in the South would 

also be used to carry out this manifestly devious 

act. 

Unfortunately, however, beyond the present, 

an unjust application would not do Nigeria’s 

democracy any good, especially given the 

fluidity of the seemingly nascent state of 

political philosophy of actors, and the 

probability that with shifting allegiances may 

come interests that may no longer be 

permanent - and this applies to both North 

and South. 

This would not be good for democracy and 

the country in the long run because it only 

bequeaths myopic, short term benefits that 

come with the potentials of leading to anarchy. 

Attempts by Sunday Vanguard to ascertain 

the level of awareness of some insiders in 

INEC, of this seemingly misguided venture 

revealed that many are not in the know. 

Some questioned how such divisive and 

controversial action can be introduced so close 

to general elections. They also wondered what 

data will be used to ensure minimal bias 

without conducting constituency delineation 

Continues on page 9

SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 22 , 2018, Page 9 


which will require huge budgetary allocation 

by the National Assembly and, therefore, 

expressed concern that the outcome, if poorly 

executed, may dissuade voters in many areas 

from voting. 

There are those who alleged that these 

manipulations may be deliberately on-going 

to aid the re-election of President Muhammadu 

Buhari. 

But this is doubtful and the bottom is knocked 

off this line of thinking, given the President’s 

experiences and his avowed promise to build 

on what President Jonathan did for the country 

on matters of election. 

Whereas some point to the hurried removal 

of the Acting INEC Chairman, Amb. Wali, after 

Professor Jega’s departure and hurriedly 

replaced with Hon. Amina Zakari, who 

remains embedded in the decision-making 

echelon of INEC while also sharing family 

ties with the President, which raised 

monumental ethical questions, President 

Buhari has consistently made it clear that he 

stands for justice and equity, something he has 

proved severally by his actions and acceptance 

of election results which in some cases did not 

Favour his own political party. 

Given the diverse security challenges the 

country is already facing, INEC will have to 

be very careful and avoid controversial and 

shoddy attempts to create more tension in the 

country through the re-introduction of the new 

PUs now called VPS. 

These warnings and concerns are germane 

because most voters do not take important 

turning points in election planning, such as 

districting or constituency delimitation, which 

has consequences for the location 

and spread of PUs, as significant 

as they should, hence they ignore 

red flags when electoral bodies or 

political authorities take actions 

that may alter political 

constituencies, electoral maps and 

consequently PUs. 

Whereas such actions have 

important impact for the outcome 

of elections, which become 

obvious only when election results 

are released and voters come to 

find out too late that the electoral 

game may have been 

programmed to be won even 

before the ballots are cast, where 

the right things are done, 

creation of PUs is the last stage 

after census, constituency 

delimitation and ward review, in 

the identified new settlements to 

accommodate demographic 

changes which is normal. But in 

our situation in Nigeria, it is 

rather used for partisan, sectional 

domination. 

Demographics 

What some people often ignore 

is that because most Nigerians 

have come to note that the 

national population census is 

politicized, serious-minded 

Questions INEC 

must answer 

Nigerians, who are adept in planning and know 

the importance of accuracy of demographic 

data for planning, often use more reliable 

corollaries to make near approximate 

estimates of important demographic data. And 

if near proxy data are used, none makes sense 

with the pattern used by INEC to create the 

controversial new PUs in 2015. 

For instance, if we take an approximate 

pattern of total junior secondary school 

enrolments for any three years before a voter 

registration exercise where new cohorts of 18- 

year-olds will become eligible for voter 

registration after three years (total junior 

secondary school enrolments data is available 

from the Bureau of Statistics and the National 

Demographic and Health Survey), there will 

never be any records indicating that the entire 

South-East will be at a ratio of 1,167/1, 200 

with the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Using 

the same proxy of total junior secondary school 

enrolments, it will never happen that the entire 

South-West, including Lagos State, with the 

largest population of voters in the country, will 

have a population ratio with the North-East of 

the following pattern: North-East 5,291: 

South-West 4,160 (or 5,291:4,160 NE:SW). 

We can use other demographic proxies such 

Given the 

diverse security 

challenges the 

country is 

already facing, 

INEC will have 

to be very 

careful and 

avoid 

controversial 

and shoddy 

attempts to 

create more 

tension in the 

country through 

the reintroduction 

of 

the new PUs 

now called VPS 

as five-year-old 

immunization ratios: 13 

years prior which will 

make 18-year-old cohorts 

or six years after primary 

six enrolment figures. In 

none of these proxy 

demographics will any 

such patterns emerge 

regardless of INEC’s 

seemingly sterile 

arguments about 

registered voters who 

present for voter 

registration. There are 

no mobilizing factors 

for such registrations in 

the North-West or 

North-East that are 

superior to the 

mobilization of 

registration of voters in 

other parts of the 

country. In any event, 

those who are now 

planning to use VPS as 

disguise to recreate the 

PU scenarios, which 

were previously tested 

but intensely resisted, 

are the same forces that 

plotted the PU disparity 

and have not given up, 

but appear to be 

working closely and are 

attempting to guide the new leadership of 

INEC, and have become more disingenuously 

creative by using the VPS to gerrymander their 

political opponents out of the electoral gameplan 

long before voting lines are formed in 

2019. This may work for or against the 

incumbents across board. 

Questions For INEC 

While acknowledging the fact of the 

emergence of new settlements in states, cities 

and towns across Nigeria, it should not be used 

as a subterfuge for the re-introduction of the 

failed lopsided 30,000 PUs. If this is not the 

case, then INEC needs to provide answers 

to concerns and troubling questions such 

as the following: 

(1) Why was this exercise of creating PUs 

to serve new settlements not carried out 

immediately after the 2015 elections? 

(2) Why were the new settlements 

identification not carried out before April 

27, 2017 when INEC began the 

Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) 

exercise that is on-going? (3) How does 

INEC migrate and inform voters of who 

will be in the new settlements? 

(4) Has INEC given a thought to the 

confusion on the day of election, when 

voters are asked to go elsewhere from 

where they registered to vote? 

(5) What becomes of INEC’s long 

standing policy of locating PUs in public 

buildings in new settlements without such 

facilities? 

(6) Would this hurried pre-determined 

exercise not end up in having Polling Units 

in private homes and evil forests as was 

the case in the past before the situation 

was sanitized? 

(7) What mother units are these voting 

points attached to and how far are these 

voting points from such mother units, or 

are they being created on their own, 

independent of existing Polling Units? 

(8) If so, what form of coding will be 

used for the voting points vis-a-vis PVCs 

currently held by voters? 

(9) Has INEC also given a thought to 

the long period the Commission has spent 

in persuading voters to collect their PVCs 

and the accompanying slow rate of 

response by voters? If so, why thinking of 

introducing another round of PVC 

collection that will be necessitated by the 

planned migration of voters to new VPS? 

Could this be, as stated above, a 

confirmation of a ploy to demobilize the 

current PVCs in the hands of voters from 

particular sections of the country whose slow 

response to PVC collection has been noted as 

a pattern? 

(10) If the new settlements were created in 

many instances for displaced persons as a 

result of security challenges, what happens to 

these documented voting points and their codes 

when the security challenges have been 

addressed and the displaced persons return to 

their indigenous homes? 

(11) Will such voting points not become shells 

for inflating voting figures when the displaced 

persons they were created for become itinerant 

due to further security challenges which is 

unpredictable and may be used as a pretext to 

create voting points according to partisan 

whims? 

(12) Given the distrust, controversies and 

biases it will generate, why bring up such an 

issue so close to the general elections with all 

the other troubling issues that will attend the 

electoral cycle? 

PU Allocation: Twice as 

bad (a history) 

The brief history of PU allocation is 

necessary for the reader so as to understand 

the systematic approach that had always 

been used to gain political power, just as 

it has become near impossible (except the 

North agrees) the 774 LGAs in the country 

and the 36 state-structure (with the South- 

East having five and the North-West having 

seven) may never be altered using the 1999 

Constitution. Regarding the allocation 

of PUs, the only southern INEC Chairman, 

Professor Maurice Iwu, who attempted to 

alter it, did the wise thing when one of his 

colleagues, Alhaji Muhammed Jumare, 

objected, thereby shattering INEC’s 

consensus approach to tackling issues. 

Sunday Vanguard learnt that during 

Iwu’s tenure, the Commission agreed to 

do an increase based on some criteria and 

the only states that were supposed to 

benefit were Ondo, Cross River and 

Taraba. But because of Jumare’s 

objection, that board of INEC dropped the 

idea. Dr. Lisa Handley, renowned 

consultant on delimitation, advised that 

INEC required a minimum of three years, 

in-between general elections, to 

commence and conclude a review, 

including managing the challenges and 

securing National Assembly approval. 

So, the question is, why hastily attempt to 

do this just some 10months to next year’s 

general election. 

Brief History of Present 

PU Disposition 

1993 – 1997 - Muhammed Alli (northerner) 

was in the saddle as DG, NEC, and created 

PUs. 

1996 – Even at that and unlike what is being 

attempted now with the VPS, the two 

foundational stages of Delimitation of 

Constituencies and Ward Review were 

conducted (as conditions precedent) before the 

PUs were created. After Alli prepared the 

ground works concluded in 1997, Chief 

Sumner Dagogo-Jack was appointed NECON 

Chairman and he simply adopted the report 

because of the impending transition which was 

still a year away. Notable features of that 

exercise included but were not limited to the 

reduction of federal constituencies from 450 

to 360; electoral wards from a minimum of 10 

and a maximum of 20 per LGA; 66 state 

constituencies suppressed arbitrarily as part 

of the cost-cutting measures. 

1997 – Local Govt. Council elections on party 

basis held in March 

1998 – Legislative Assembly elections 

(State, House of Reps, and Senate) on 

party basis were held. Governorship and 

Presidential elections scheduled next but 

never held following the death of then 

Head of state, General Sani Abacha 

1998 – INEC created, adopted the 

Delimitation Regime of NECON 

2008 – The only time Polling Units were 

to be created under a southerner, Iwu, only 

one northern National Commissioner 

(Jumare Mohammed) objected and the 

idea was dropped, in a board of INEC with 

southern Commissioners in the majority 

(lwu (Chairman); Bar. Philip Umeadi, 

Prince Chukwuani, Mr. Soyebi). 

2014 – Attempts to foist on the nation a 

hastily contrived, ill-motivated and illtimed 

delimitation review collapsed. 

NOTE: 

•PUs and RAs are naturally reviewed 

jointly just as Federal and State 

Constituencies flow together. Present 

review is in bad taste and faith. 

•In 1996, additional states were created 

by Gen. Sani Abacha


Buhari’s candidacy 

divided ACF in 2015 

— Tanko Yakasai 

•On rigging: Card Reader was 

not effectively used in the North 

BY CHARLES KUMOLU, Deputy Features Editor 

Elder statesman, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, in this interview, passed a 

vote of no confidence on President Muhammadu Buhari, 

saying there is nothing on the ground to convince him that 

things would be different if re-elected. Yakasai, a former Liaison 

Officer of ex-President Shehu Shagari to the National Assembly, 

also explained his earlier claims that the 2015 presidential 

poll was rigged, warning that using religious sentiments to 

canvass for votes holds disastrous consequences for 

Nigeria. He also spoke on other issues of national 

importance. 

Your group, Northern Elders Council recently visited 

former President Ibrahim Babangida. What were you 

trying to achieve with the visit? 

We are trying to achieve what others were not able to 

achieve. We want to seek ways to address problems 

like farmers-herders clashes, because without peace 

there will be no progress. It has nothing to do with 

the 2019 elections. We are not fronting for anybody. 

In fact, we are aiming beyond the elections. 

But you are interested in the elections? 

We want to watch and if there is anything 

that could be the basis upon which we would 

give support to any candidate that would 

change Nigeria’s narrative, we will consider 

that. 

*Tanko Yakassai 

At the meeting with Babangida, you 

did say that the North had long been 

short-changed and that you have not 

got much benefit. What does that 

imply? 

What we said was that the North 

supported people to emerge as leaders, 

but they forget the north 

once they get to power. The 

leaders have not been performing 

the way we expected them 

to perform. People are living in 

ignorance and poverty because 

they are neglected by our leaders. 

The composition of the leaders 

that visited Babangida was 

mainly people, who are sympathetic 

to the opposition. Was 

that not a partisan mission to 

achieve a particular goal in 

2019? 

I have never been a member 

of the Peoples Democratic Party, 

PDP. And that was the reason 

I was chosen as a non-partisan 

person. I can be sympathetic 

to anybody. I was sympathetic 

to the re-election of 

Goodluck Jonathan on a different 

ground. 

Which ground? 

Look, I was a member of National 

Party of Nigeria, NPN, where a synergy 

developed between the North 

and the SouthSouth, and that translated 

into the YarÁdua/ 

Jonathan presidency. 

Our Northern Union 

worked with the Edwin 

Clark-led South South 

What we 

said was 

that the 

North 

supported 

people to 

emerge as 

leaders, 

but they 

forget the 

north once 

they get to 

power 

Peoples Assembly to 

eventually get YarÁdua 

and Jonathan together. 

When Jonathan was 

going for an election 

when Yar’Adua died, I 

queried why he would 

not allow the rotational 

system to continue. I 

said that he should allow 

a northerner continue 

so that the North 

will serve its two terms. 

The idea was to institutionalise 

rotational 

presidency. The rest 

is history. 

You are clearly opposed 

to the re-election 

of President Muhammadu Buhari, 

and ex-President Banagandia 

wants a younger person as Nigeria’s 

next President. Don’t you think that 

idea will usurp the eight-year term of 

the North you claim to be pursuing? 

I did not start my opposition to Buhari 

now. I started it in this studio 

(Channels Television) before his election. 

I said I was not supporting his 

candidacy. When I was asked why, I 

said he was not prepared for leadership. 

I said I didn’t think his party was 

also prepared for leadership. Today, I 

am justified. I didn’t say anything 

since then. I was convinced that he 

was not prepared to govern Nigeria. 

After three years, nothing has happened. 

It is not now that I am opposing 

him. I have been doing that since 

he indicated interest in the race. I was 

so convinced that he didn’t have a 

programme. If somebody wants to rule 

this country, he should have a programme. 

A country like Nigeria with 

multifaceted problems should not be 

governed without a programme. An 

aspiring leader should come up with 

a programme to tackle a problem like 

the massive unemployment rate in the 

country. 

Some members of your group are 

former northern leaders who are battling 

corruption cases today, yet you 

are talking about the impoverishment 

of the North? 

The major image maker of the President 

today is a former governor, who 

has corruption cases. We said it in the 

beginning that our doors were open 

to every northerner regardless of the 

person’s political inclination. We have 

PDP members and non-PDP members 

in our fold. I have never been a member 

of the PDP, but I am a Nigerian. 

Talking about the younger generation, 

most people in that group are 

over 70 years. I am 93 years old. We 

are not young. I can’t be a Commissioner, 

I can’t be a Local Government 

Chairman and I cannot be anything. 

But I was there because I want to secure 

the future of my children and 

grandchildren. 

Our meeting at a period the election 

is fast approaching was a coincidence. 

It came by the will of God. But 

we can’t ignore the fact that election 

Continues on page 11


2015 polls: Card Reader 

was not effectively used 

in the North --Yakassai 


is approaching and when it comes we 

will observe the process. Anybody who 

is coming to look for votes in the north 

should tell us what he will do for us. 

One of the aims of your group is to 

unite the North. In uniting the North, 

what areas are you talking about because 

recently we have seen the 

North Central saying it is not part of 

the North, stating that it is Middle 

Belt? 

Middle Belt is a religious connotation 

because there is no area in the 

North that has been demarcated, recognised 

by the constitution or any legal 

instrument as the Middle Belt. I 

was the Secretary of the defunct Kano 

State Movement in the First Republic. 

In 1967 when the Federal Government 

wanted to create a state, a 13- 

member committee was set up by the 

government of the Northern Region. 

Shehu Shagari and many others were 

members of the committee. We went 

round the provinces and we agreed 

that we should consider the issue 

of the Middle Belt. We asked what 

we should call the areas that should 

be considered as Middle 

Belt, they listed 

Niger, Ilorin Province, 

Kabba Province, Plateau, 

and Benue. Surprisingly, 

every area 

that was listed with 

the exception of 

Benue-Plateau rejected 

the concept of 

Middle Belt. That 

was the reason Benue 

and Plateau were 

merged as a state 

when the 12-state 

structure was introduced 

and the name 

Benue-Plateau 

emerged. They 

could not create a different 

name for them. 

Others were grouped 

together. But the first 

group to break up was 

Benue-Plateau with a 

predominantly Christian 

population. 

In the political calculation, 

some of 

these states are not 

accepted as northern states. They are 

only accepted during electioneering 

period because of their votes. What 

do you make of that? 

Most of the Northerners, who governed 

this country were from that area. 

Yakubu Gowon hails from that place, 

Babangida comes from that area. 

Tafawa Balewa was also among but 

they don’t include his name because 

he is a Muslim. Bauchi is among the 

areas they are claiming as Middle Belt. 

In Kebbi State, for instance, how could 

Zuru be listed as part of the Middle 

Belt? 

Do you think your mission is going 

to be possible since you have already 

seen the religious connotations? 

Most of the 

mosques in 

the North 

dedicated 

their sermons 

on the 

Friday before 

the 

election, 

to the way 

people 

should 

vote 

In the NPN days, 

there was a meeting of 

the Middle Belt but 

Auwal Ibrahim, who 

was the governor of 

Niger State, was not 

allowed to attend. Olusola 

Saraki, who was 

the NPN leader at the 

Senate, was not allowed 

to attend. The 

then governor of Kwara 

State, Adamu Attah, 

who was a Muslim, 

was not invited to the 

meeting. Northerners 

can only get what they 

are looking for if they 

work together. It is rubbish 

for any northerner 

to think of excluding 

anybody. I have never 

dreamed of it. 

On Arewa Consultative 

Forum, ACF, others 

Right from the day 

the ACF was formed, I 

was nominated as one 

of the leaders representing 

Kano State on 

the Board of Trustees. Maitama Sule 

and Magaji Damabatta were also on 

the board. Long before the last election, 

the leadership of ACF said that 

it will not discuss political issues. As 

a result of that, the Maiatama Sule 

group formed the Northern Elders 

Forum and endorsed Buhari’s candidacy. 

We did not endorse Buhari. But, 

because of the formation of Northern 

Elders Forum, we formed the Northern 

Elders Council. We supported 

Jonathan on the principle of North/ 

SouthSouth collaboration. Now, we are 

working to get a pan-Northern organisation. 

After consolidating the position 

of the organisation, we will look 

for like-minds in the South. 

*Tanko Yakassai 

You claimed that the 2015 elections 

were rigged. Can you shed light on 

that? 

Prior to the 2015 election, there was 

tension in the country, especially in 

the North. As a result of that, many 

southerners resident in the North had 

to relocate to their states of origin. A 

committee of an organisation which I 

led had to tour the northern states to 

meet with traditional leaders, religious 

leaders, and opinion leaders. We appealed 

to them to help in calming the 

situation. We succeeded because we 

visited 17 states out of 19 states. The 

states we didn’t visit were Borno and 

Yobe because of insecurity. Southerners 

who were not able to relocate, did 

not come out to vote. It is obvious from 

the number of votes Jonathan or PDP 

got in Kano, Kaduna, Plateau, Bauchi, 

Maiduguri and other places where 

there is a concentration of Southerners. 

The result that Jonathan got in 

those areas came down to one-third 

of what he got in the previous election. 

To scare people away from voting 

is another form of voting. The Card 

Reader that was introduced was religiously 

enforced in the south, but it 

was not religiously enforced in the 

North. 

Do you have any empirical evidence 

to back that? 

Most of the mosques in the North 

dedicated their sermons on the Friday 

before the election, to the way people 

should vote. They did not mention 

anybody’s name but they told the congregation 

to vote for people who 

would protect their religion and culture. 

When a Muslim and a Christian 

are contesting in an election, if the 

people in the Mosque are told to vote 

for those who will protect their religion, 

will they vote for a Christian? 

But in a book written by a former 

presidential spokesperson, Segun 

Adeniyi, it was said that some PDP 

members from the North betrayed 

Jonathan. Does that align with your 

claims of how the election was rigged 

in the North? 

I don’t know because I am not a 

member of the PDP. I would not like to 

delve into that. Because of the tension, 

my children insisted that my 

wives and I should come to Abuja. We 

relocated to Abuja when the election 

took place. After the election I returned 

to my house in Kano. There is 

a big Friday Mosque close to my 

house in Kano. The Imam of the 

Mosque thanked God, saying that on 

the previous Friday, they begged God 

to return power to them, stating they 

were grateful that He gave power to 

one of them. He mentioned the name 

of the President. I was surprised. But 

as a member of the defunct Northern 

Elements Progressive Union, NEPU, 

I knew that it was the tradition. But I 

didn’t know that it had been revived. 

When I made my findings across the 

northern states, I was told that it was 

the same pattern of preaching. My fear 

is that if religion is introduced into 

politics, it becomes a problem that no 

one can solve. If I heard some pastors 

urging Christians to get their Permanent 

Voters’ Cards, PVCs, to avoid 

being denied certain things, I will condemn 

it., Whoever started that should 

be held responsible. 

PDP lost Bauchi State in 2015 despite 

controlling the Police and other 

security agencies. Can you describe 

that as a manifestation of rigging? 

Where is the former governor of 

Bauchi State today? Where is Yuguda 

today? Have they not crossed over to 

the APC today? I heard the allegation 

before. 

After your meeting with Babangida, 

it was alleged that you were pushing 

for the aspiration of Tambuwal, 

Dankwambo, and Kwakwanso. How 

true is that? 

None of the is a member of our 

group. Our group is open to anyone 

but we are not going to operate it for 

the next election. Every member of the 

organisation will be free to make his 

choice when the election comes. The 

last time I voted was in 1999 because 

I can’t struggle with my grandchildren. 

I feel it is not right to struggle 

with my grandchildren. I didn’t say 

the current President must go. I said 

he and his party were not prepared to 

rule this country and I still insist that 

they are not prepared. They have 

been there for three years without serious 

opposition and they did not perform. 

How do you convince, me that 

they have changed? I am not one of 

those who is asking them to go. Obasanjo, 

IBB, and Danjuma have asked 

him to go. I said that he was not even 

ready for leadership right from the 

beginning. I have seen some critical 

ingredients that lead to quality 

leadership like capacity, vision, competence, 

planning and integrity. Any 

where they are not present, I don’t 

think the individual and the party are 

serious. 

On INEC’s Incidence Forms 

I am talking of the enforcement of 

the use of the Card Reader. Check the 

records from Port Harcourt, Bayelsa, 

Bauchi and Kano and see the number 

of people who used Card Reader. This 

is not a closed issue. Researchers can 

make findings and their conclusion 

will be the same with mine. 

*THIS INTERVIEW WAS FIRST 

AIRED ON CHANNELS TELEVISION

PAGE 12–SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 22, 2018 

Edited by EMEKA AGINAM 

Email: emekaaginam@yahoo.com 08057538314 

CPN renews effort to clampdown on IT 

quacks amid over N4.5B revenue leak 

There are appears to be 

positive signals that it may 

not be business as usual as the 

IT regulatory body, the 

Computer Professionals 

Registration Council of Nigeria, 

CPN, would soon begin to clamp 

down on IT quacks amid about 

N4.5 billion annual revenue 

said to be leaking. 

CPN was established through 

Act No 49 of 1993. The Act was 

passed into law on June 10th and 

gazetted on August 9th of same 

year. 

The Act makes it mandatory 

for all persons and 

organizations seeking to engage, 

or engaged in IT training/ 

Education, sale and/or use of 

computing facilities, and the 

provision of professional 

services in computational or 

related computational 

machinery in Nigeria to be 

registered by the Council and 

licensed to carry out such 

activities. 

Just recently at the just 

concluded CPN interactive 

forum with the Nigerian media 

held in Lagos, the message was 

very clear to those practising IT 

in the country without proper 

registration with CPN 

It would recalled that the 

former President and Chairman 

of the Council, Prof. Vincent 

during his tenure had made a 

startling revelation over the 

huge revenue the government of 

Nigeria has been losing to nonregulation 

of Information 

Technology businesses. 

To realize the money, the 

University Don who condemned 

in clear terms, quackery in the 

Nigerian IT practice said that 

the government should 

disengage any person or group 

engaging in IT practice without 

registration. 

“Quackery has been the bane 

of IT practice in Nigeria. 

Quackery is worrisome .I want 

are broke. CPN can raise billions 

of naira to the government 

annually”, he noted 

Speaking during the forum, the 

Vice President/Vice Chairmanin-Council, 

CPN, Kole Jagun, 

was clear when he said that the 

Council would not leave any 

room for quacks to take over the 

industry, warning that there was 

no hiding place for IT quacks 

henceforth. 

While urging IT practitioners 

not registered yet with CPN to 

do immediately, said that 

enforcements against 

unregistered IT players have 

already started and would 

become more intense this 

financial year. 

He said that CPN was working 

in partnership with the National 

Information Technology 

Development Agency, NITDA, to 

ensure that IT contractors not 

registered are blocked from 

getting and executing Federal 

Governments ICT contracts and 

services. 

For the Registrar/Secretary to 

Council, Allwell Achumba, there 

will no more hiding place 

anybody engaging in the 

practice of IT in the country. 

Acknowledging the fact the 

CPN membership has been 

growing, he said that more 

works needed to be done to 

sanitize the industry against 

quacks. 

•From left: The immediate past Governor of Cross River State, Senator Liyel Imoke, the 

Minister of Communication, Abdur-Raheem Adebayo Shittu and former President of Institute of 

Software Practitioners of Nigeria, ISPON, and currently, Director General, Delta Sate Innovation 

Hub, Chris Uwaje at the 2018 ISPON President Dinner held in Lagos 

Telecom Speed Test: P3 rates 9mobile high in voice clarity 

phone operator, 

M9mobile has won yet 

another global recognition 

emerging the mobile operator with 

clearest voice quality ahead of other 

telcos operating in the country. 

The rating was contained in the 

latest result of the annual mobile 

network test conducted by P3 

Communications, the largest 

European and international leader 

in mobile telecoms benchmarking. 

The mobile network test was 

conducted across countries in the 

world including Nigeria. 

The test considered data speed 

and voice clarity as key parameters. 

An on-device testing methodology 

was used to measure speed and 

latency of the four largest 

broadband operators in Nigeria 

including MTN, Airtel, 9mobile 

and Glo on the road. 

In the industry report, 9mobile 

emerged the overall best scoring 

257 points ahead of MTN which 

scored 182 points; Airtel, 142, and 

Glo, 130. Travelling at a measuring 

distance of 9,000 km with 17 per cent 

population measured, the test route 

covered different parts of the 

country such as Lagos, Ibadan, 

Benin, Port Harcourt, Ilorin, Abuja, 

Kaduna and Kano. 

The global test has been 

conducted in several countries 

across the world including the 

United Kingdom, Sweden, 

Germany, Australia and 

Netherlands amongst other key 

global markets. 

Commenting on the newest 

global recognition, Director, 

Network Operations, 9mobile, 

Abdul Adegbuyi, expressed delight 

at the feat and said it affirmed the 

unalloyed commitment of the telco 

to continuously innovate and invest 

in human and material resources as 

well as technology that impact 

positively on the delivery of 

qualitative solutions to customers 

and relevant stakeholders. 

P3 Communications is a German 

company that provides broad 

service portfolio for network 

operators, equipment vendors, 

device manufacturers, public safety 

organisations and regulatory 

authorities worldwide. It also 

conducts and publishes the 

industry-leading annual mobile 

network test across different 

countries. 

Tecno sings new song in Camon CM with fingerprint scanner 

advantage 

With Original Equipment 

manufacturers in smart 

phone segment innovating by the day 

to attract market share, Tecno Mobile 

appears to be singing a new song with 

fingerprint scanner advantage in the 

Camon CM, its first device to feature 

the 18:9 aspect ratio released recently. 

For those customers with security 

consciousness, Tecno Camon CM 

series is the answer as the fingerprint 

scanner is positioned at the back to 

provide additional security for the 

device. 

While regular smartphones come 

with 16:9 screen ratio which means 

significant side, top and bottom bezels, 

but with the 18:9 ratio embedded in 

the device, you will get larger display 

on a smaller body. 

Available in Champagne Gold, 

City Blue and Mid-night Black color, 

the device is the first device from Tecno 

to have a full screen display with 18:9 

aspect ratio, with 720 x 1440 display 

resolutions. 

To realize the money, 

the University Don 

who condemned in 

clear terms, quackery 

in the Nigerian IT 

practice said that the 

government should 

disengage any person 

or group engaging in 

IT practice without 

registration 

to re-emphasize that quackery in 

IT practice must stop. Enough is 

enough. Government says they 

While smart device falls into the 

Camon family with high quality 

camera capacities, it boosts a slim and 

elegant body design with its total 

thickness measuring at about 7.75 

mm. 

On-board storage for the Camon 

CM is 16GB with option to expand to 

up to 128GB using a micro SD card if 

the user is in need of more storage 

space. The device is a dual Micro SIM 

Android device and supports dual 

standby with 4G network option. 

The Camera is a 13-megapixel 

shooter with support for Phase 

Detection Auto-focus (PDAF). It has 

3.5mm focal length and f/2.0 aperture. 

The image size is 3120 x 4160 

resulting to between 4-6MB for a 

single image. The LED light is a singletoned, 

ring (quad) flash. The front 

camera also retains same settings 

except for the single front facing LED 

flash 

The device comes with 3000mAh 

battery which have great endurance 

rating from me based on my usage. 

One other interesting thing is the fact 

that this device has an incredible 

standby power management. 

Overnight, the device loses only 

between 3 to 6% battery powers. The 

good news is that an average users 

can get above 24-hours of continuous 

usage without worrying. 

By and large, Tecno did a great job 

with the Camon CM. The built quality 

is superb, the camera and the rear LED 

flash are great. 

I was also excited with the sound 

output especially via the main loud 

speaker as well as headphones and 

the well performing 3000mAh 

battery. 

The display on the Camon CM is 

not bezelless, yet the inherent bezels 

can never be a deal breaker. The 

device is a 5.65-inch IPS HD+ 

(1440x720p) display with Corning 

Gorilla Glass. Although 280 pixel per 

inch might not be as impressive as the 

401 PPI on the older Camon CX, the 

screen is still very superb. 

Truecaller app service hits 100m 

daily active users 

With more than 20% of its user base in Africa, Truecaller has announced that it 

has reached over 100 million active users. 

In less than a year, the app has leapfrogged from 100 million monthly active 

users, MAUs, per month to 100 million daily active users, DAUs, and is growing 

faster than ever. Truecaller app service identifies more than half a billion calls a 

monthly in the region, and 50 percent of SMS received are spam. In Nigeria the 

application blocks and filters more than 13 million calls and 25 million spam 

SMSes per month. Speaking on the landmark development, Alan Mamedi, 

CEO & co-founder of Truecaller, said that, “Close to a decade ago, we set out to 

solve what we thought was a simple problem how do we figure out who these 

unknown numbers belong to that keeps calling us? Little did we know how 

big of a problem that actually was in all corners of the world” 

Commonwealth 

heads of govt 

tak 

akes str 

trong 

stance against 

cybercrime 

The fight against cybercrime in 

Nigeria and other member 

nations of the Commonwealth 

may start yielding the expected 

results as the Heads of government 

of the Commonwealth countries at 

the just concluded 

Commonwealth meeting held in 

the United Kingdom unanimously 

committed to take action against 

cybersecurity between now and 

2020, following a landmark 

declaration. 

This followed an announcement 

by the UK government to pledge up 

to £15 million to help 

Commonwealth countries 

strengthen their cybersecurity 

capabilities and ‘tackle criminal 

groups and hostile state actors who 

pose a global threat to security, 

including in the UK’. 

The commitment may have 

come at a time when cybersecurity 

and the protection of people’s rights 

online is at the forefront of 

everyone’s minds. 

With the internet increasingly 

central to global commerce, the 

Commonwealth Cyber Declaration 

sets out a shared vision of cyberspace 

in areas such as economic and 

social development, and online 

rights. 

With transnational cybercrime 

increasingly a challenge for global 

governments, Commonwealth 

countries are taking a leading role 

to combat cybercrime and promote 

good cybersecurity. 

The declaration includes 

recognition of the potential for a 

more active Commonwealth role 

in international discussions on 

global stability and cyberspace. 

By promoting digital inclusion 

and a safer cyberspace, it sets out 

practical steps that will enable them 

to advance their economic and 

social development. 

The declaration marked a 

continuation of Commonwealth 

work in this area, including that of 

the Commonwealth Cybercrime 

Initiative, CC, as well as the 

C o m m o n w e a l t h 

Telecommunications 

Organisation,(CTO). 

In collaboration with the CTO 

and the Commonwealth 

Parliamentary Associations, the 

Commonwealth Secretariat will 

provide technical assistance to 

countries on cybercrime and 

cybersecurity capacity building. 

This will help to enhance incidentresponse 

capabilities, create 

effective laws for cyberspace, and 

strengthen law enforcement 

responses. 

In a major announcement at the 

Commonwealth Heads of 

Government Meeting, the 53 

leaders agreed to work closely 

together to evaluate and strengthen 

their cybersecurity frameworks and 

response mechanisms. 

Speaking after the 

announcement, Commonwealth 

Secretary-General Patricia 

Scotland said that, “Cyberspace 

opens up new opportunities for 

socio-economic development by 

broadening common space and 

extending access. There is immense 

fresh potential for the multiple 

layers of Commonwealth 

connection to be used for the 

common good”. 

For Steven Malby, Head of the 

Commonwealth Office of Civil 

and Criminal Justice Reform, 

“The Commonwealth Cyber 

Declaration is a landmark 

document which builds on the 

work of the whole family of 53 

member countries”

SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 22, 2018, PAGE 13

PAGE 14–SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 22, 2018 

people 

People think they 

can make a billion naira 

overnight by doing the 

wrong thing -- Prof. Azinge 

By Yinka Ajayi 

It is generally believed, 

from observations, that 

the average Nigerian is 

disinclined to hard work. It 

may be uncertain to pin down 

how this perception came 

about but that is one very 

clear thing as against what is 

believed in some other climes 

that hard work comes 

naturally to the people. For 

people in such climes, they 

have been made to believe 

that they were born to work 

hard to earn their living. 

Indeed, hard work should 

not seem to be something 

anyone should appear 

exceptional in, even as it 

appears that the reverse is 

the case in Nigeria, especially 

among civil servants. 

Most people are not resultorientated; 

people 

procrastinate a lot, just as most 

public office holders are not 

in tandem with the vision of 

management and the mission 

statements of their 

organisation. 

And what people do is to sit 

back and allow things to flow 

the way it will flow, not 

knowing that they are in 

office or a particular 

employment to help facilitate 

things and make things 

happen as opposed to 

watching things happen. 

Today, it is believed that the 

current generation of 

Nigerians are not ready to 

work anymore, while people 

are not rated on the basis of 

productivity but on the basis 

of the certificates they carry, 

just as there are no heroes in 

the country as most Nigerians 

prefer to cut corners to live 

good lives without earning 

them. 

These and more were some 

of what stimulated a national 

honours awardee of the Order 

of the Niger (OON), 

Professor Epiphany Azinge, to 

establish the Epiphany 

Azinge Foundation, with one 

of its objectives being to 

vigorously pursue the 

promotion of work ethics in 

the public sector in Nigeria 

with a view to reinvigorating 

patriotic fervour, dignity of 

labour, and hard work. 

Azinge is a Senior Advocate 

of Nigeria (SAN), with 

expertise in Constitutional 

Law and Legislative Studies. 

He is A former Director- 

General of the Nigeria 

Institute of Legal Studies and 

the current member of the 

Commonwealth Arbitral 

Tribunal 

London, 

representing Nigeria and 

Africa. 

To this end, and out of 

personal experience as a 

humble public servant driving 

the strategic vision of his office 

during his five year tenure as 

chief executive, and through 

the Epiphany Azinge 

Foundation, he has been 

involved in several efforts to 

stimulate a reorientation of 

the people on the culture of 

Work Ethics to drive the 

nation on the path of hard 

work. 

Having been privileged to 

study abroad, Azinge 

imbibed the culture of hard 

work as an average 

Englishman he observed 

worked very hard. 

Therefore, propelled by the 

desire to give back to the 

country, and in line with the 

objectives of his foundation, 

he is vigorously pursuing 

the promotion of work ethics 

across the 36 states of 

Nigeria and the Federal 

Capital Territory (FCT). 

The high point of his 

private initiative to evolve a 

new orientation in the 

workplace in the country’s 

public service is that his 

activities are carried out on 

a probono basis as he 

charges no money to do 

what he is doing. He pays 

his air ticket, accommodation 

and other logistics to make 

Nigeria a better place as he 

travels across the federation 

on this self-imposed 

assignment. 

He maintains that he 

derives a lot of joy doing what 

he is doing and traveling all 

over the country at his own 

expense. 

Having been to other 

countries that were colonised 

by the British and seeing the 

people work extremely hard, 

even though they may not be 

making as much money but 

with joy of the fulfillment, the 

smile on their faces as they do 

the work, he believes that the 

prevailing culture is not a 

function of the impacts of 

colonialism. 

Azinge, who was not keen 

in speaking to the media on 

his activities in order not to 

be perceived to be blowing his 

own trumpet, maintains that 

he has come to the 

incontrovertible conclusion 

that, basically, there is 

something in the DNA of an 

average Nigerian lately; 

something in their blood, that 

does not encourage work hard. 

Probably as a result of the 

oil boom and perhaps at a time 

in the country, Nigeria had 

too much money and people 

now imagine “that money can 

just come down from the trees 

or fall down from heaven as 

manna. So, why do you need 

to work? 

“But, I believe that we have 

gotten to a point where the 

message will be driven home, 

especially to the younger 

generation for them to know 

that it is either you work or 

you don’t earn your wages. 

“Earning money as a reward 

is something we should not 

lose sight of in this country. 

People feel that you can stand 

up in this country and make 

a billion naira overnight by 

Earning money as 

a reward is 

something we 

should not lose 

sight of in this 

country. People 

feel that you can 

stand up in this 

country and make 

a billion naira 

overnight by doing 

the wrong thing 

doing the wrong thing”, he 

said. 

According to him, the 

“Epiphany Azinge 

Foundation noted this point 

•Prof Epiphany Azinge 

and included it as one of the 

objectives of the foundation; 

to try to promote and 

propagate the gospel of a 

culture of work ethics.” 

He has been, in a very 

altruistic manner, going out to 

offices, to ministries, to state 

government parastatals, 

among others institutions, to 

preach to them on the 

importance and relevance of 

imbibing the culture of work 

ethics. 

On his approach to the 

project and the positive 

feedback he is already 

receiving, he noted that when 

he speaks to a particular 

department or ministry or 

agency, “I try to speak to them 

from the context of the job they 

do. 

“I take the pains to 

assemble the laws setting up 

the parastatal or the agency 

or department or the ministry 

and then I speak along that 

line. When I go to a state, I 

try to speak on the core value 

and vision of that particular 

state and what they 

concentrating on, so on. 

“Now, my position is that 

most of the people we speak 

to, they do what they do, not 

because they want to do 

them but they do them out 

of ignorance. Nobody seems 

to have told them, either 

through the human 

resources department or 

through internal training 

that this is the way forward. 

“Now, I’m trying to fill in 

that gap. I’m trying to talk 

to people who, otherwise, 

are ignorant. But from all 

indication, I have gotten 

feedback and the feedback 

are that people are now 

coming to realise, after I 

have spoken to them, that 

they are not doing the right 

thing ant it is important for 

them to do the right thing. 

“So, we need to build that 

nexus so that people will 

understand the connection 

they have with government. 

If not, the philosophy of “Na 

my Papa work” will always 

continue to resonate. 

“But we want to kill that so 

that you know that you are 

inevitably intertwined with 

government. 

“We also make them 

realise that most of them will 

not be in the public service 

forever. 

“Anyone who is lazy in 

public service will be lazy 

when you come out because 

you have not developed that 

culture of hard work over 

time. 

“When you are retired, you 

now fill that your world has 

come to an end because you 

don’t know what next to do”, 

he observed. 

Azinge, who has been in 

public office for a while, rose 

to the position of the chief 

executive and directorgeneral 

of the Nigerian 

Institute of Advanced Legal 

Studies. During the period of 

time in the public service, he 

was not in a position to run 

a private enterprise. Before 

then, however, the Azinge & 

Azinge law firm was already 

founded. 

The leadership of the law 

firm was handed over to his 

wife, Dr Valerie-Janette 

Azinge, a Senior Advocate of 

Nigeria (SAN) and also a 

national honours awardee of 

the Officer of the Federal 

Republic (OFR) in her own 

right, and haven 

disengaged from the public 

service, Prof Azinge now 

runs the law firm alongside 

his wife.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 22, 2018, PAGE 15

PAGE 16 —SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 22, 2018 

at least the entire South 

being in favour of true 

federalism, the party has 

done us a favour. APC has 

asked us to go and vote for 

another party and 

candidate. That is fine too. 

That is what we shall do in 

2019. 

Resource control is the 

acid test for politicians 

Talk is cheap; action 

speaks louder than 

voice. Now the die 

is cast. The All Progressives 

Congress, APC, has 

selected its presidential 

candidate for 2019. Let 

nobody kid you. Even a 

dunce knew that Buhari 

would go for the second 

term despite the catalogue 

of failures. The nation’s 

number one buck-passer 

was in his usual element 

recently when he found 

another victim to blame for 

the failure of his 

government to stop the 

terrorism in the North. 

Late Libyan leader, 

Gaddafi, was fingered as 

the source of the terrorists’ 

invasion of Nigeria. 

Nigerians must be 

wondering why it has taken 

three years for Buhari to 

know who is responsible for 

the mayhem unleashed on 

us. They must also wonder 

why the Nigeria Police and 

the Army both under his 

command had been 

treating invaders from 

Libya with kid gloves; and 

why Nigerians were 

specifically urged by the 

President to live with 

murderous strangers who 

are not even Nigerians. We 

certainly will need to reflect 

on how long the man would 

require to solve a problem 

which took him so long to 

“understand”. Buckpassers 

never run out of 

excuses. 

Just as this article was 

being concluded we 

received the report that only 

fifteen Chibok girls out of 

113 are still with Boko 

Haram. The FG is asking 

for $1 billion to fight BH 

and improve security. But, 

killings by herdsmen 

increased after the 

President’s visits to Benue, 

Taraba and Plateau. That 

should tell all of us how 

utterly useless his trips have 

been. 

Buhari’s declaration has 

greatly simplified the 

decision for all of us. 

Certainly, nobody will 

challenge him in the APC. 

The other options must 

come from other political 

parties. That is fine too; 

because there is a matter 

which is non-partisan, nonreligious, 

non-ethnic and 

not even gender related on 

the table. That is 

RESOURCE CONTROL 

and its Siamese twin, 

RESTRUCTURING. The 

APC is against both. With 

For April 25, 2018, at the 

Nigerian Institute of 

International Affairs, NIIA, 

several political leaders, 

especially of the Southern 

States, in all walks of life 

have been invited to renew 

the struggle for 

RESOURCE CONTROL 

now that restructuring has 

achieved centre stage. 

Notices have been sent out 

to all Governors, Ministers, 

Senators, Federal 

Representatives, as well as 

Speakers and members of 

the State Houses of 

Representatives and other 

leaders in other sectors to 

attend. All efforts will be 

made to ensure that 

invitations follow. But, I 

think that this article and 

the two previous columns 

should serve as sufficient 

notice to all those who care 

about the fate of the South 

and all mineral producing 

states. Nobody should give 

the excuse that they failed 

to attend because they were 

not invited. This is your 

event as much as mine. I am 

only an announcer – 

although proud to be one 

for this cause. 

Because it needs 

repeating, let me restate 

that three brave men, 

former Governors of the 

South South – 

Alameseigha, Ibori and 

Attah – gave the revenue 

producing states thirteen 

per cent. They paid dearly 

for the trillions that those 

states have been enjoying 

since 2004. Launching a 

revised version of ATTAH 

ON RESOURSE CONTROL 

provides all those now 

clamouring for restructuring 

a chance to evaluate the 

gains made by the resource 

producing states without 

which they would have been 

less developed than they are 

now. 

Furthermore, this event 

provides a basis for 

consolidating the gains 

We can no longer 

afford a situation 

where revenue from 

Southern states is 

buried with people 

in the North on 

account of security 

problems created 

solely by 

Northerners 

made so far and to now move 

forward united in the 

demand for fifty per cent 

derivation henceforth. That 

was the basis on which our 

founding fathers obtained 

independence from Britain 

in 1960. Military 

governments, dominated by 

the North, robbed the oilproducing 

states of their 

revenue and civilian 

governments still continue 

with the injustice. Readers 

can obtain a copy of the book 

and read about President 

Obasanjo’s hostility towards 

even granting thirteen per 

cent. Then you will 

appreciate the monumental 

achievement the efforts of 

three men represent. Now, 

the rest of us must not only 

appreciate their efforts, we 

must join them now in 

moving forward to fifty 

per cent. 

However, because not 

everybody can travel to 

Lagos and be present at 

the book launch, we 

believe everybody can still 

participate by obtaining a 

copy of the book for 

yourself and buying copies 

for friends, relatives, your 

secondary school library, 

your university. We will 

ensure safe delivery to any 

place in Nigeria after the 

event. 

Finally, most of the 

Sunday papers carried the 

news that Bayelsa 

threatens to sue the 

Federal Government over 

the $1 billion which 

spineless state Governors 

illegally approved for the 

FG to fight insecurity from 

the Excess Crude Account, 

ECA. To start with the ECA 

is an unconstitutional 

account which has been 

used to withhold funds 

which legally belong to 

the states and which the 

FG uses at its discretion 

without recourse to the 

National Assembly. 

Bayelsa and Ekiti should 

not be the only states 

suing. We can no longer 

afford a situation where 

revenue from Southern 

states is buried with 

people in the North on 

account of security 

problems created solely 

by Northerners. 

P.S. We invited some 

prominent Northerners, 

but, after demonstrating 

support, they have 

developed cold feet. We 

understand… 

NIGERIA POLICE AND 

PARTISANSHIP – 

MELAYE, SANI ETC 

“History never repeats 

itself; man does.” Barbara 

Tuchman. 

Professor Tuchman, 

Harvard University 

historian, an expert on 13th 

and 14th century Europe, in 

one of her books, revealed 

how from one generation 

after another, human 

beings in Europe 

committed the same 

atrocities against their 

fellow men and women. 

Nigerian history and the 

atrocities of the Nigeria 

Police are already 

legendary. Every political 

dispensation, military or 

civilian, provides our men 

in police uniform to 

promote injustice in order 

to get themselves promoted. 

The ordeals faced by 

Senators Melaye and Sani 

– of Kogi and Kaduna 

States respectively, are not 

new. In fact they merely 

remind us of how most 

police officers, especially 

Commissioners of Police, 

are prepared to sacrifice 

their Fellow Countrymen 

and perpetrate injustice in 

order to get along. In 1959, 

my eldest brother, late 

Chief Sanu Sobowale, was 

in Jos as a member of the 

Action Group – led by late 

Chief Obafemi Awolowo, to 

canvass for votes for the 

party. He led the delegation 

because he was born in the 

North and spent several of 

his adult life there. He 

spoke Hausa like an 

indigene. Three days after 

arrival, he was in a police 

cell – charged with the 

murder of a man in Barkin 

Ladi … 

The Young and the Powerful 

“The secret message 

communicated to most young 

people today by the society 

around them is that they are 

not needed, that the society 

will run itself quite nicely until 

they — at some distant point 

in the future — will take over 

the reigns. Yet the fact is that 

the society is not running itself 

nicely… For society to attempt 

to solve its desperate problems 

without the full participation 

of even very young people is 

imbecile.” 

T 

— Alvin Toffle 

he news that 

Muhammadu Buhari 

will be seeking a second term 

in office in the coming 

elections next year may not 

have been a surprise to many. 

There have been speculations 

and innuendos across the 

nation for some months now, 

speculations are rife with 

constant derisions and hope 

that he would or he would not 

as the case may be. Now the 

gloves are off and the 

mudslinging has been 

ratcheted up several notches 

by those who have been eyeing 

the position from a distant. 

Well, it is a free country and 

if they feel they are capable 

enough, then they should 

throw their hat into the ring. 

They may want to run for the 

office and it is up to the people 

to decide who in 2019 should 

be given the office of the 

presidency. I would politely 

remind those with such lofty 

ambition to do so, but please 

look at Trump and what is 

happening in America today. 

Not everyone is capable or 

suitable of the post and when 

people become frustrated and 

angry that their voice is not 

heard or that they are ignored, 

they tend to vote in anger or 

are taken in by some idealist 

maverick who promises to 

make the country great again! 

Politicians have often taken 

the people that voted them in 

for granted. Be careful of such 

pipe dreams or, voting in 

anger as it had such serious 

consequences and one that 

cannot be changed until 

another election or political 

upheaval. Sadly, money talks 

and when poverty is rife mixed 

with an uneducated; gullible 

majority; the powerful tend to 

capitalise on their 

inadequacies, their fear, 

rational or irrational, a 

political Molotov devise to 

divide and conquer. So, thus 

history continues to repeat 

itself. The pattern so far, too 

many people have been let 

down, too many times by 

politicians who promise 

better living conditions, 

improved infrastructures, 

access to education, 

employment and healthcare. 

Most of these promises do not 

materialise and once again, 

politicians are convincing 

many to once again, put their 

trust on them. There is a 

saying; fool me once shame 

on you, fool me twice, shame 

on me. It has been one too 

many times and it is high time 

for Nigerians to vote with 

their conscience, common 

sense and determination that 

come 2019, the right person 

gets their votes. 

Sadly, many had hoped that 

PMB would come in and 

make sweeping changes and 

uproot corruption, destroy the 

terrorists, restore law and 

order in one quick swoop. 

That is impossibility; this mess 

has taken decades to 

permeate every stratum of 

institution, establishments 

and people. It will take years 

and a concerted collective 

mind set and, this is a tall 

order. Many are too 

comfortable clawing money 

by corrupted means and for 

them it is important to retain 

the status quo. So for PMB, 

it has not been smooth sailing 

for the president. He has not 

been the man that many had 

hope; that he would put 

Nigeria back in order. That 

was then, this is now. It is 

unrealistic to use yester year’s 

yards stick to measure today. 

Firstly, his health and 

speculation of his health have 

been a distraction, and while 

reviving treatment many in 

the opposition have stoked the 

fire, that he was seriously 

unwell, that he was too old 

and unhealthy to run the 

country. His vice president 

stepped in while he 

recuperates and on 

“medical leave” in the UK for 

three months for an 

undisclosed illness, if the 

mischief makers were 

expecting a political vacuum, 

they did not get their wish. The 

Prof made sure he maintained 

a dignified composure until 

PMB returned. 

PMB‘s absence open old 

fears; and many were 

concerned until his return to 

Nigeria which quelled many of 

the speculations of his early 

demise. 

To the young people, 

please use your vote 

and do so wisely and 

ensure who ever 

becomes president 

has got to engage the 

country’s 

people 

young 

To be frank, far too many 

things that was promised, has 

not materialised, much to the 

disappointment of many and 

this was capitalised by his 

political opposition. His return 

was a disappointment to many 

and to return to office, was far 

from what expected by the 

political mischievous 

opposition. So this is not the 

news that they wanted to hear, 

this has definitely through the 

political spanner in the works. 

Of course, the proverbial 

knives are out and one 

prominent voice of dissent is 

that of OBJ, Olusegun 

Obasanjo. In an open letter he 

called on PMB not to seek reelection 

because of his age and 

alleged poor health. This is 

disingenuous coming from 

OBJ. He went on to say that he 

was disappointed with PMB, 

that he handled the Nigeria 

economy poorly. 

According to PMB’s 

spokesperson, the president 

has accepted the criticism 

in good faith, but it should 

be noted that significant 

progress had been made 

under his rule in tackling 

Nigeria’s problems. Now, 

that is up for debate. Without 

a doubt there have been 

some progress made but not 

enough. Ordinary Nigerians 

are feeling the burden of 

poverty, hunger and 

hopelessness and 

helplessness, most 

significantly, the most 

vulnerable and the young 

people have been 

disenfranchised and not 

given been given 

opportunities to thrive and 

legitimately participate in 

politics. They have been sidelined 

and made political 

fodder by unscrupulous 

politicians to fight and 

agitate their oppositions for 

pittance and rent a mob 

existence. They have been 

denied opportunities to 

actively participate in an 

inclusive agenda that is 

visible and positive that 

would lead to sustainable 

growth. This has not been the 

case, instead, young people 

who should have been the 

backbone of working 

Nigerians are left to fallow 

and denied their future by 

the older people, who are 

unwilling to let go of power 

or release the reins of power. 

In the meantime, PMB in 

his statement said that, he 

declared his intention to run 

for another term in office 

because the issue had 

dominated political 

discourse in the country. “I 

declared before leaving 

home because Nigerians were 

talking too much about 

whether I would run or not. So, 

I felt I should break the ice. We 

have many things to focus on, 

like security, agriculture, 

economy, anti-corruption, and 

many others,” 

To the young people, please 

use your vote and do so wisely 

and ensure who ever becomes 

president has got to engage the 

country’s young people. The 

young people of Nigeria 

should know that they have the 

power and the future of 

Nigeria depends on them and 

their decisions. 

Nigeria is booming. 

Well, it is sort of booming, 

at least, if everything else is 

flailing, the population is 

swelling according to the 

Chairman, National 

Population Commission, Mr. 

Eze Duruiheoma, the 

estimated population of the 

country is now 198 million. 

Previous data was 182 

million and more than half its 

people under 30 years of age; 

this means in the present 

economic decline, this group 

have not had adequate access 

to education, training, health 

or employment for several 

decades. Subsequently, 

administrations have failed to 

invest and address the 

shortfall. The actively mobile 

and potential contributor to 

the country’s economy -the 

young people. Currently, 

Nigeria currently ranks as the 

7th most populous nation in 

the world. 

Nigeria’s urban population 

is growing at an average 

annual rate of about 6.5 per 

cent, teenagers, women of 

child-bearing age and the 

working age population, were 

more engaged in 

urbanisation. 

C 

M 

Y 

K

SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 22, 2018,PAGE 17 

NEW PUSH FOR SAME-SEX MARRIAGE 

You were wrong 

then and now 

– British PM Theresa May 

•Don’t justify sodomy by calling 

it human right, CAN fires back 

By Sam Eyoboka 

LAST week’s expression of regret by 

Prime Minister Theresa May that 

several former British colonies, 

including Nigeria, have criminalised 

same-sex marriage did not come to political 

watchers as a surprise. The British Prime 

Minister who, on May 21, 2013, as a 

member of parliament, voted in favour of 

the Marriage (Same-Sex Couples) Bill, 

which legalised same-sex marriage in 

England and Wales, had told 

Commonwealth leaders’ meeting in the 

United Kingdom: “I am all too aware that 

these laws were often put in place by my 

own country”. 

According to May, married to Philip May, 

an investment banker with Capital 

International, since September 6, 1980 

without a child, believes “they (countries 

criminalising same sex- marriage) were 

wrong then and they are wrong now.” May 

added that the UK government would 

support reform of legislation that 

discriminates against lesbian, gay, bisexual 

and transgender (LGBT) people in former 

colonies. 

The British PM statement must be a 

symbolic step towards justice for LGBT 

people affected by colonial-era “sodomy 

laws,” which had a wide-ranging impact 

and still exist in 36 of the 53 Commonwealth 

countries. According to a Human Rights 

Watch report, “This Alien Legacy” shows 

how laws criminalizing consensual samesex 

conduct were introduced across Asia, 

Africa, the Middle East, the Pacific, and the 

Caribbean under British rule, contributing 

to a climate of hostility against LGBT 

people. The report said the Human Rights 

Watch has documented how the laws 

contribute to violence and discrimination 

against LGBT people in the Eastern 

Caribbean, Ghana, Sri Lanka, 

Malaysia, Kenya, Burma, 

Nigeria, Uganda and Jamaica. 

Political watchers believe that 

the Western countries’ opposition 

to the re-election of former 

President Goodluck Jonathan 

partly stemmed from his 

insistence on signing into law the 

Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition 

Act which criminalizes 

homosexual clubs, associations 

and organizations, with 

penalties of up to 14 years in jail. 

Despite protests and subtle 

threats from some of the Western 

countries, groups and activists, 

Jonathan signed into law the 

Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition 

Act, making it illegal for gay 

people to even hold a meeting. 

The Act has drawn condemnation 

from countries such as the United 

States and Britain. 

Then US Secretary of State 

John Kerry said the United States 

was “deeply concerned” by a law 

that “dangerously restricts 

freedom of assembly, association, 

and expression for all 

Nigerians.” 

Britain said, “The U.K. opposes 

any form of discrimination on the grounds 

of sexual orientation.” The British 

government also threatened to cut aid to 

African countries that violate the rights of 

gay and lesbian citizens. However, British 

aid remains quite small in oil-rich Nigeria, 

one of the top crude suppliers to the US. 

Washington-based Human Rights First 

urged then President Barack Obama to 

“consider all avenues for response,” saying 

leaders such as Uganda’s president, Yoweri 

Museveni, will be watching. 

“This law threatens the very livelihood of 

LGBT people and allies in Nigeria, and sets 

a dangerous precedent for persecution and 

violence against minorities throughout the 

region,” said the organization’s Shawn 

Gaylord. 

“In parts of northern Nigeria where 

Islamic Shariah law is enforced, gays and 

lesbians can be legally stoned to death. 

“Some have suggested the new law in 

Nigeria and the proposed one in Uganda 

are a backlash to Western pressure to 

decriminalize homosexuality. Several 

African leaders have warned they will not 

be dictated to on a subject that is anathema 

to their culture and religion. 

Assent to the bill was devoid of usual 

fanfare to reduce diplomatic tension, which 

it may likely attract”. 

Some foreign embassies were shocked by 

the development leading to ‘curious’ 

inquiries from the Federal Government. 

Despite the inquiries, the Federal 

Government said there was no going back. 

The Senate passed the bill in November 

2011 while the House of Representatives 

affirmed the decision by the Senate on May 

29, 2013. The President assented to the Act 

on January 7, 2014. 

Many are of the opinion that, in 2015, 

the Obama administration moved against 

the Jonathan administration and queued 

behind the then All 

Progressives Congress 

(APC) candidate on 

account of what the 

White House saw as the 

intransigence of the 

Peoples Democratic 

Party (PDP) government 

In Africa, we 

have our 

culture which 

is unique to 

us and we 

cannot begin 

to think of 

changing our 

way of life 

now and 

practice 

sodomy 

as some Nigerian gays 

had fled the country 

because of the 

intolerance of their 

sexual persuasion and 

more were considering 

leaving. 

There appeared to be 

reprieve for some African 

nations, however, when 

President Donald Trump 

of the US assumed office 

and made some moves 

against gay rights 

including a ban on 

transgender people 

serving in the military, 

surprising Pentagon 

leaders and reversing a 

year-old Obama 

administration policy. 

The development 

raised the alarm among 

*Theresa May 

gay rights groups. 

But a new concern was raised, last week, 

when the British Prime Minister urged 

Commonwealth heads of government to 

reform the laws criminalising same-sex 

marriage, stressing that the UK government 

would support organizations that grapple 

with the alien legacy of criminalization and 

support activists working at the grassroots 

to reform discriminatory laws. “As colonialera 

sodomy laws fall and organizations like 

the Commonwealth Equality Network 

challenge inequality based on sexual 

orientation and gender identity, 

Commonwealth leaders should take action 

to stop human rights abuses against LGBT 

people”, Theresa May said. 

Responding to the statement, National 

President of the Christian Association of 

Nigeria, CAN, Rev. Samson Olasupo 

Ayokunle, said his position aligned with the 

position of the Bible, saying, “The Old and 

New Testaments of the Bible are against 

persons having sexual intercourse with 

persons of the same sex. That is what we call 

sodomy in the Bible and no human opinion 

can change the opinion of God. We cannot 

justify sin by calling it human right.” 

Continuing, in a telephone interview, 

Ayokunle, who is also the President of the 

Nigeria Baptist Convention, said: “The 

divine comes before the human. The divine 

created the human and not the other way 

round. Therefore man should not abrogate 

the position of God or assume the glory of 

God to himself. Animals in the bush can 

identify their sexual partners with ease. None 

of them opts to make love with those of the 

same sex. 

“Even the wildest animal, lion, does not 

practice sodomy. Same-sex marriage is evil; 

it is one of the signs of the end time. It’s 

barbaric and totally out of order. 

“If they want to withdraw their aid from 

us, let them do so. We don’t need help that 

will make us do what God will not allow us 

to do. If they do not want to help us, it’s a 

challenge to our leaders to look inwards and 

develop ourselves. We would not have been 

looking unto them if our leaders have used 

our God-given resources to develop our 

country instead of laundering our common 

patrimony in their personal foreign 

accounts. 

“The only reason foreign governments are 

pushing bitter pills at us is because we have 

been having clueless politicians in positions 

of authority whose only preoccupation is to 

fritter away our resources instead of using 

same to develop the nation for the betterment 

of the citizens. That’s why we often go cap 

in hand after over 55 years of independence. 

This is nonsense that should not be taken. 

“Same-sex marriage under any guise is 

totally against our culture and tradition. 

It’s against divine injunction. Human rights 

cannot supersede the injunctions of God. 

The Nigerian government must rise up to 

the challenge and let the world know that 

Nigeria and her people are different from 

American and European people. Let the 

British government legislate laws for its 

citizens and allow the Nigerian 

government legislate for the effective 

development of the nation without undue 

interference”. 

Also opposed to the British Prime 

Minister’s recommendation for a review 

of anti-gay laws, the National President of 

the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, 

PFN, Rev. Felix Omobude, said Nigerians 

expect the British or any other European 

leadership to appreciate that this is an 

independent country and no “longer a 

colony of the British with its own 

constitution and set of rules designed to 

govern ourselves”. 

“President Muhammadu Buhari knows 

the people he represents because these were 

the people that voted him into power. We 

are the Nigerian people and not the British 

people. So, the President is duty bound to 

do the will of the Nigerian people without 

undue interference from the British or any 

foreign government,” Omobude said, 

noting that sodomy is alien to the Nigerian 

culture. 

CAN in the 19 Northern States and 

Abuja, on its part, called on the Federal 

Government to be weary of the call by the 

British Prime Minister to end laws against 

same-sex marriage, arguing that Nigeria 

currently contends with several social 

challenges. 

The Chairman of the regional CAN, Rev. 

Yakubu Pan, described the call as an 

unnecessary diversion that Nigeria can 

afford at a time like this. 

“In Africa, we have our culture which is 

unique to us and we cannot begin to think 

of changing our way of life now and 

practice sodomy,” he said. 

He therefore called on all Nigerians, 

especially civil society organisations, to 

rise up in opposition to another 

imperialistic recommendation not 

suitable for our cultural environment, 

stressing that Nigerian youths are already 

inundated with drug-related challenges 

which the nation is yet to pull out of.

PAGE 18 — SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 22, 2018 

•Slimcase 

By AYO ONIKOYI 

The 

cliché 

‘tough times 

don’t last, tough 

people do’ aptly 

describes the 

odyssey of singer, 

Slimcase, born 

Oluwafemi Oke- 

Eko through the 

stormy seas of 

the music 

industry. For 

eight years 

nothing of 

note was 

heard of the 

Ikorodu-born 

singer, until some 

seven months ago 

when the tides turned for 

him. In the last seven months, 

he is perhaps the most featured 

singer by other musical acts. 

The secret is simple. 

Slimcase, a.k.a 

Otunba Lamba 

resorted to the gritty 

part of the street 

where he belongs, 

weaving its pros and 

cons, to create a 

recipe of his 

own which has 

stood him out. 

He may have met bigger boys in the street, doing bigger things on 

the scene but Slimcase found his place and hoisted a flag that has 

since been flying with pomp and pride. 

“Street music didn’t start with me, it started long before me. I 

only came on the scene to add flavour to it. With street music came 

shaku shaku dance which started from the streets of Agege and 

Mushin. 

Shaku shaku has been around for a while on the streets, but 

nobody paid attention to it and no one knew how to tap into a 

sound for the dance until I dropped the song titled ‘Oshozondi’, 

and showed them that they can vibe that dance to this song. It 

My experience performing on 

Ireland stage, by Ivie Liberty 

By Benjamin Njoku 

UK-based Nigerian gospel 

singer, and daughter of 

music legend, Felix Liberty, Ivie, 

is already making waves with her 

newly released single, “Zionite” 

as she recently took gospel music 

lovers in the Republic of Ireland 

by storm. 

The fashion designer-turnedsinger, 

who released her first solo 

album, “Nigerian Girl” in 1996, 

when she was 11 years, took the 

centre stage at this year’s “The 

Glory of His Presence” concert 

and she gave a good account of 

herself, despite not gracing the 

stage for many years now. 

Hosted by BLW UK Zone 1, the 

beautiful mother of four thrilled 

I don't know who the 

king of the street is, but 

I'm the Otunba 

— Slimcase — Slimcase 

the crowd with her hit song, “Zionite” 

leaving the audience with no doubts that 

she’s back after missing the stage for over 

20 years to rule the airwaves. The 

Irish audience could not stop shouting, 

“I am a “Zionite” as I walked on stage 

with grace. 

Ivie described the experience 

as one she would not forget 

in a hurry. “It was a moment 

I will never forget, I left the 

audience screaming for 

more. When I got on stage I 

woke the crowd by reminding 

them who they were in Christ and 

that they were from the heavenly 

city called Zion,”she recounted. 

“The audience was in awe as 

many testified that they never 

knew gospel music could be 

fun and electrifying. 

created a standard for them 

which showed that this sound 

really goes with the dance. It 

made me popular. I didn’t start 

the dance, my song created a 

platform for the dance,” he said 

Long before he became an 

article on the scene, the likes of 

Olamide, Dammy Krane, and 

others have been ruling the 

streets with their street vibes 

and slang but Slimcase 

maintains his own style of street 

slangs which he calls lambas 

and says they are like no other 

on the scene. He explained it is 

the reason he had christened 

himself, Otumba Lamba, 

saying he’s not the king and 

challenges anyone who is king 

to come forth and declare. 

“No one has come out to say 

he’s the king of the street. I am 

the one who has come out to say 

I’m Otunba Lamba and the 

street accepted it like that 

because they enjoy my delivery. 

Street music is about slang 

(language) and I call my own 

lamba." 

Lagos agog as Beejay Sax 

live concert berths 

All roads lead to the 

prestigious Eko Hotel 

and Suites, Lagos, for the 

second edition of ‘Beejay Sax 

Live’ by Bolaji Sax, one of 

Nigeria’s finest and trending 

gospel saxophonists, on May 

13. The event, a concert, is 

coming one year after his 

astounding but highly 

•Ivie 

BY ROTIMI AGBANA 

After the release of his hit 

song, ‘Yup Yup’, which 

has been enjoying multiple 

airplays on major radio 

stations in Nigeria and 

abroad, fast rising 

American-Nigerian singer, 

Ifeanyichukwu Joseph 

Ebulu, popularly known as 

Chuku100, has released his 

latest single titled, ‘Hype 

Anthem’. 

The graduate of 

Townson University who 

believes competition in the 

Nigerian music industry 

does not bother him told 

Potpourri in an exclusive 

chat he is musically fit to 

challenge the likes of 

Wizkid, Davido, Olamide, 

and others. 

“When it comes to 

competition in the music 

industry, I am not worried 

about it because I am a 

capable competitor and a 

winner. The likes of Wizkid 

and Davido are not on my lane 

because they are different and in 

their own unique class. I am a hiphop 

artiste. However, blending 

sounds is possible to make great 

music for the culture, given the 

fact that I am a Nigerian” 

Speaking on how his music 

career started, the Enugu born 

singer said; 

“One of my close friends had a 

home studio where we played 

successful first effort, also in 

Lagos. The event will equally 

feature top Christian musicians 

such as Frank Edwards, 

Nathaniel Bassey, Tim Godfrey, 

Big Bolaji, Ifeoluwa Odogiyan, 

Olaolu Gbenjo, Onos, Bukola 

Bekes, MOZ, Tosin Bee, Femi 

Okunuga and Odunayo 

Abodunrin. The roll call of 

comedians includes the likes of 

Saco, Woli Agba, 

and Kenny Black. 

The youthful 

artiste, whose 

real name is 

Banjoko 

Abolaji 

David, 

said the 

event is a 

dream 

and a 

•Beejay 

•Chuku100 

Davido, Wizkid, 

not a challenge 

for me - Chuku100 

around all the time; and from there, 

we made our first song and released 

it as an audio. We got over two 

thousand people to listen to the 

song on YouTube. Later on, we 

made a music video of the song as a 

result of a huge buzz and reaction 

from the audio release. Fortunately, 

we received a lot of attention, clout, 

and we started going with the flow 

of things.” 

vision. 

“Personally I like to challenge 

myself. There is this saying 

that if your dreams don’t scare 

you, they are not big dreams. 

I thought let’s do things 

differently, take over our 

environment, take things to 

the next level and make it 

grand. That's how Beejay Sax 

Live started; I give all the glory 

to God,” he quipped, on how 

the event began. 

According to the graduate of 

Olabisi Onabanjo University, 

he would be performing live 

with a band of 20 which 

includes protégées of 10 years 

and below, adding that the 

event would make participants 

explore and engage the 

supernatural in a funfilled 

and beneficial 

way. 

“This year we are 

doing things 

differently. Last year 

was just album 

dropping and 

launching. This 

year it’s a concert, 

live performance. 

We are taking it 

to the next level 

this year. There 

will be a lot of 

dance, intense 

worship and 

comedy. 

C 

M 

Y 

K 

SUN POTPOURRI 19/04/2018


Bubbly Ibadan based model cum 

entrepreneur, Akinpelu 

Rachael’s view on sexuality and 

relationships is one that would raise 

an alarm among men but she is not 

ashamed to air it, because she is a 

woman of impeccable principles. 

Though she claims her relationship 

is private business, she believes that 

a man who is truly in love with his 

partner must be able to satisfy her 

sexually and otherwise. The pretty 

model is of the strong opinion that any 

man who can’t satisfy his woman in 

Edited By AYO ONIKOYI 

08052201215 

onikoyi68@gmail.com 

If he doesn’t satisfy you in 

bed he’s cheating on you 

— Model, Akinpelu Rachael 

•Queen May 


In difficult times such as the 

present deplorable socio-economic 

status of many Nigerians, lending a 

helping hand is almost impossible but 

such is not the case with ex beauty 

bed is probably cheating on her. In 

other words, “Someone out there is 

milking the sexual energy from him.” 

“Every lady out there, especially the 

married ones should know this, if he 

doesn’t satisfy you sexually he’s 

cheating on you. But with exceptions 

to cases of premature ejaculation, 

stress, sickness etc. These are 

probable cases of men not being able 

to satisfy their women, but in the 

context of my argument, I am looking 

at it from the view that the man isn’t 

attracted to the lady anymore and he 

is getting sexual pleasure from 

another woman”, she opined. 

Why I selflessly help the needy 

— Queen May Idahosa 

queen, interior designer and 

philanthropist, Queen May 

Idahosa. 

Queen May who has been 

passionate about giving to the less 

privileged and downtrodden in the 

society, believes in putting smiles on 

the faces of the needy, not minding 

what it would cost her. In a chat with 

Potpourri, she explained why she 

became selfless in doing charity 

works in her own little way. 

In her words “I am selfless when 

I give to the needy. I see myself as 

someone privileged and the only 

way I can be appreciative of what 

I have is to give back to the 

Nigerian gospel musician, Owoeye 

Johnson Olarenwaju, aka Waju 

Johnson, has boasted that his recently 

released single titled Atabatubu, is 

currently the biggest gospel music in 

Fyne Geh debuts as Waptv presenter 

After several months of a 

nationwide search, wapTV, your 

favourite Family Entertainment Channel, 

has finally unleashed a new presenter, 

the afrocentric, hilarious and gorgeous 

aptly-named “Fyne Geh”; and since she 

debuted on the channel on April 16, Geh 

has already formed a strong connection 

with wapTV viewers across the country. 

According to the Managing Director of 

wapTV, Wole Adenuga, “We are 

delighted that Fyne Geh has joined the 

wapTV team alongside Veronica, Chief 

Olododo, SlimmyTee, Eric and Mama 

Kwube. While viewers are already 

watching her Vox Pop segmentand Street 

Challenge Games daily, audiences will 

soon get to meet and interact with 

her in real time as she would 

start appearing live on 

Kookoorookoo Morning Show 

as fromApril, 23, 2018”. 

Portraying the colourful”Fyne Geh” 

character IDivine Some fun–a 22-yearold 

graduate of Education, Guidance and 

Counselling/ Communication and 

Language Art from University of Ibadan. 

society by putting smiles on the faces 

of those who are in need, especially of 

food, clothing and shelter. I believe 

that if the rich take it upon themselves 

to help people in need, the world 

would be a better place.” 

As part of her desires to see everyone 

around her happy, the C.E.O of May 

Pullen Interior Design and Decoration 

established a foundation which gives 

food, clothes, books and medical 

attentions to children in the rural parts 

of Nigeria, she makes this her personal 

pet project which she executes on 

May 27, every year. 

Speaking further, she revealed plans 

for her 2018 pet project. 

My ‘Atabatubu’ song the biggest gospel 

music in Nigeria — Waju Johnson 

Divine is also receiving additional 

professional training in Acting & 

Presentation, at the renowned PEFTI 

Film Institute, to further enhance her 

multiple talents as a TV 

Presenter,Model,Actress,MC and 

Dancer. Since wapTV was launched in 

2012, the channel has won several 

awards from reputable bodies worldwide 

and entertained millions of families 

across Nigeria. 

•Fyne 

•Rachael 

Nigeria. 

In a chat with Potpourri, Waju talked 

about his new song which has been 

changing lives and bringing people out 

of depression because of its soul-lifting 

melodies and the power of God in it. 

Waju who hails from Ekiti State said 

he was a contemporary afro-pop artiste 

until God opened his eyes to his 

purpose in life. According to him, God 

has given him the talent and he must 

use it to bring people out of darkness 

into light. 

“My new song titled Atabatubu, 

which was officially released on April 

1, 2018 (Easter Sunday) has changed 

a lot of lives as so many have come 

and still coming to my facebook page 

to testify of what the song has done in 

their lives. When I performed 

Atabatubu to a congregation of about 

10,000 people on Easter Sunday, 

more than half of the 

congregation were on their 

knees worshipping the most 

High God and several 

testimonies came after the 

ministration”, he said. 

Waju said he believes 

Atabatubu is the song God 

is using to liberate a lot of 

people all over the world 

right now and he’s 

thankful to be the 

instrument used by God 

to deliver this song. 

SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 22, 2018, PAGE 19 

I’m not into 

acting to meet 

sugar daddies 

— Iwalola 

Adekugbe 

•Iwalola 

Budding Nollywood Yoruba 

actress, Iwalola Adekugbe, who 

started acting in 2008 through the 

Ayobami Lukman (Ojokpagogo) 

group, has lashed out at actresses 

whose main aim in the industry is 

to go after rich men, using their 

career as a platform to do so. 

Sexy Iwalola who has featured in 

both English and Yoruba flicks says 

the main reason she has chosen 

acting is because of the love she has 

for the profession, adding that 

anyone who comes into the industry 

for any other reason will be highly 

disappointed. 

“I’ve loved acting from the womb. 

I find pleasure in it and I’m happy 

doing it. I didn’t come into the 

industry hungry for money or fame, 

because if you love something, it is 

the love that will drive you not the 

fame. If you don’t have passion for 

this job you will get easily 

discouraged. I’m not into acting to 

meet a sugar daddy. I’m in it for 

the job because I love it,” she said. 

“It hasn’t been easy but it has been 

good. If you love what you do, 

you’ll keep on moving. I 

know the fame and money 

will definitely come. I’ve 

got what it takes to act. I’m 

a good actress. I can play 

any role as long as it’s 

convenient for me, but 

I can’t go nude, she 

added. 

I w a l o l a 

Adekugbe has 

featured in 

Yoruba films like 

Omolile, Akobaa, 

O r u n m i , 

amongst others. 

She has also 

starred in soaps 

like ‘Private 

Sector’, ‘Shadows’ 

•Waju 

and a Yoruba soap 

opera Aditu 

Eledumare. 

C 

M 

Y 

K

PAGE 20 — SUNDAY Vanguard,APRIL 22, 2018 

bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk 

08056180152, SMS only 

How female sexual aggression is driving young men to viagra! 

FOR a man who just turned 

30, Joel should be at his 

most virile. Tall, 

handsome with a well-paid job, 

he admits he’s never had any 

difficulty attracting the opposite 

sex. His problem is that when he 

wants to have sex with a woman, 

he needs up to two Viagra pills to 

perform. The blue tablets have 

long been viewed as essential 

medication for men in their 50s, 

60s and beyond. But Joel is one of 

a growing number of young men 

turning to the drug due to what 

experts believe to be performance 

anxiety, triggered by a host of 

psychological issues from the 

proliferation porn on the internet 

making ‘normal’ sex seem boring, 

to financial pressures. 

Joel, an entertainment 

promoter, was just 25 and on a 

‘shagging’ weekend with friends 

in one of the neighbouring 

countries when he took his first 

pill. It was supplied to him by a 

friend after he had got lucky 

picking up a girl for the night. 

Even though he’d never had 

erectile problems, he was so 

impressed by the extra stamina it 

gave him he continued to take the 

drug with subsequent girlfriends. 

Now Joel says he always has a 

stockpile of the drug - on which 

he spends a fortune - simply by 

picking them up at any reputable 

chemist. Now he says he’s in 

despair over his reliance on the 

drug. “I diet, I exercise at the gym 

regularly and I’m almost as fit as 

I was when I was a teenager. I love 

the company of women and 

always have. But now I’m in my 

30s, I’ve been exposed to so much 

sex, I sometimes find it hard to do 

without Viagra. No matter how 

I’m feeling, what’s going through 

my head, or how attracted to the 

woman I’m with, it makes no 

difference. Now, if I know I’m 

due to see a woman, I discreetly 

take two pills before hand.” 

Viagra contains sildenafil 

citrate and works by improving 

blood flow to the penis. Joel 

confesses he sometimes 

experiences ringing in the ears, 

but despite the dangers, he feels 

as a single man, he has no choice. 

“I know it’s bad for my health,” 

he says. “I can hear my heart 

palpitating when I take the 

tablets, and I come out in cold 

sweats. Sometimes, the beating is 

so loud, I think I’m going to have 

a heart attack. I need some help 

to stop.” 

So why is a drug, once linked to 

greying, paunchy men past their 

prime, now taking over the sex 

lives of the young and seemingly 

virile? Raymond Francis, a 

psycho-sexual counsellor says he 

sees about 15 men a month who 

feel dependent on Viagra. The 

average age is 32 - his youngest 

client is just 27. He says: “I think 

this is just a small sample of the 

problem. These men don’t have any 

physical problems that would 

cause erectile difficulties. Instead 

they feel they need it because they 

are putting too many expectations 

on themselves - based on what they 

believe women want in the 

bedroom.” In many cases, 

Raymond says his male patients 

have been influenced by seeing 

internet pornography from a 

young age. “Sometimes these men 

will have deeply embedded and 

unrealistic expectations of the 

women they want to have sex with~ 

on what they should be able to do.” 

One of such patient is James, 32, 

who was dependent on the drug 

throughout much of his 20s before 

he sought help two years ago He 

places the root of his problem on 

internet porn, which he says he 

started viewing when he was 15 - 

long before he lost his virginity. 

“Seeing all these studs going for 

hours on end seemed to underline 

what 1 couldn’t do,” he says. “I felt 

so ashamed, 1 resorted to Viagra. 

When 1 had a girlfriend, I’d take 

the pill first thing in the morning, 

so I’d get the sex over and done with 

under controlled conditions.” Sam 

says it was when he fell in love with 

his current partner that he realised 

he needed help. 

He says: “The first time we slept 

together, 1 took the pill secretly, 

but the expectations were high 

because she was so special to 

me. So that time, even Viagra 

didn’t work. 1 could see she was 

worried and upset it was her 

fault, so 1 decided 1 had to be 

candid and told her everything. 

Thank God 1 did. 1 now have a 

normal sexual relationship with 

her. It took six months of 

counselling, but thanks to her, 1 

found the courage to look at the 

underlying issues.” 

Raymond Francis, the 

psychosexual counsellor says 

another common problem is 

men reporting they feel 

intimidated by the sexual 

confidence and demands of 

modern young women. “Women 

are now so empowered,” he says. 

“They feel they have as much 

right as men to dictate the pace 

sexually. We are not just talking 

about girls who would once have 

been seen as promiscuous. These 

days a professional career 

woman who has been brought 

up in a culture of success wants 

to exercise that freedom and 

strength in her sex life, too. In 

just one or two generations, there 

has been a turn around. Before, 

it was always the expectation 

that the man was the predator. 

Now ladette culture has turned 

that on its head. Faced with this 

pressure, young men bring 

performance fears to the 

bedroom long before any sex 

takes place.” 

Riyike, an attractive finance 

worker in her late 20s admits it 

Colours of Your Love 

was part1y~ the sexual demands 

she put on her partner which 

helped trigger the anxieties that 

contributed to his impotence. 

“When the sex wasn’t great, 1 was 

honest about how frustrated I was 

from the outset, which made the 

problem worse,” she says. “We 

tried Viagra, but it felt like a 

planned event. So now 1 don’t 

want him to tell me if he’s taken it 

or not. 1 just want to think the sex 

was naturally great.” According 

to her, attitude to sex is typical of 

her generation, and many of her 

girlfriends are reporting similar 

problems in the bedroom. 

She says: “Women our age 

probably do have more sexual 

past. I’ve had 15 partners, while 

my partner’s only had five, so 

that’s another layer of pressure on 

him. Because I’m quite skilled 

sexually, he probably wonders 

where 1 learned it from and how 

he compares.” 

The taboo around Viagra use 

among young men is so great that 

despite the embarrassment factor, 

Joel says he’s speaking up 

because he feels it’s time the issue 

was more openly discussed. “I’m 

not ashamed of my dependence - 

I know so many men my age with 

the same issues who started off 

using it recreationally and now 

find it hard to stop. 1 think 

many of us wish we’d never 

taken it that first time. I, for one, 

would love to be free of it.” 

Sweet Small of Success! 

(Humour) 

Sitting at home one night with 

his wife, a man is casually tossing 

peanuts into the air and catching 

them in his mouth. As the couple 

take in the latest episode of 

watchdog, the man loses 

concentration for a split second 

and a peanut goes into his ear. 

He tries to get the nut out, but 

aucceeds only in forcing the thing 

in awfully deep. After a few hours 

of fruitless rooting, the couple 

decide to go to the hospital, but 

on their way out of the front door 

they met their daughter coming 

in with her boyfriend. 

The boyfriend takes control of 

the situation: he tells them he’s 

studying medicine and that 

they’re not to worry about a thing. 

He then sticks two fingers up the 

man’s nose and asks him to blow 

- and lo, the nut shoots from the 

ear and out across the room. As 

the daughter and her boyfriend 

go through the kitchen to make a 

pot of tea, the man and his wife 

sit down to discuss their luck. 

“So,” the wife says, “what do you 

think he’ll become after he 

qualifies? A GP or a surgeon?” 

“Well,” says the man, rubbing his 

nose, “by the smell of his fingers, 

our son in law”. 

In the Heat of Passion 

A man and his wife are driving 

home in their expensive new car 

one night when they both got 

horny, and decide to christen the 

sparkling motor with a shag. 

Pulling into a lay-by they get 

down to business, but soon 

realised their nice new motor’s 

actually too small for the amount 

of erotic manoeuvring they want 

to do. The guy suggests they climb 

out and have a go under the car, 

which he promises his wife will 

provide ample clearance for his 

heaving 

buttocks, so the couple slip 

under the pristine vehicle and go 

at it like the c1appers. In fact, 

they’re enjoying themselves so 

much that they don’t notice when 

a policeman comes over and taps 

the man on the back of his 

exposed legs. 

“What do you think you’re 

doing?” the copper asks the man. 

“I’m fixing my car, “ the chap 

calmly replies. “No you’re not!” 

the policeman says through 

hysterical laughter. ‘’You’re 

having sex in public, and, I’m 

going to nick you for indecent 

exposure.” “How do you know I’m 

lying?” the indignant man asks. 

“Well,” the copper replies, “for a 

start, you’re facing downwards on 

top of a naked woman. Secondly, 

I don’t see any tools anywhere. 

And thirdly, your car was stolen 

five minutes ago.” 

Y 

OUR column to express your loving 

thoughts in words to your sweetheart. Don’t 

be shy. Let it flow and let him or her know how 

dearly you feel. Write now in not more than 75 words 

to: The Editor, Sunday Vanguard, P.M.B. 1007, 

Apapa, Lagos. E.mail: sundaylovenotes@yahoo.com 

Please mark your envelope: “LOVE NOTES" 

I relish the rainbow 

In the bare sky more 

By peering down 

On your glossy visage. 

Your chromatic smile 

Is the path that leads 

To your lovehead, 

Then all the way to the rainbow. 

I see the rainbow in your smile, 

I see your smile in your lovehead, 

I see your lovehead in the rainbow. 

Kingsley Alumona 

kingsley.alumona@yahoo.com 

08030872649 

Don't be tired of her 

While it takes time to study her, you 

should not feel discouraged. Make sure 

you are tired of her. There is a way 

capture her fancy by showing her love 

which would give her some hope that 

you trully love and care about her. Keep 

letting her know that you are in love with 

her and that she will be your one and only 

love. 

Michael Adedotun Oke 

maof2020@gmail.com 

08027142077


BY OLA AJAYI, IBADAN 

Several indigenes of Ibadan still 

wonder why the kidnappers, 

who stormed the Akobo 

residence of the Otun Balogun of 

Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, 

zeroed in on his children as their 

targets. Due to his involvement in the 

raging crisis within the Ibadan 

traditional institution, it is insinuated 

in many quarters that the kidnapping 

may not be unconnected with his role 

in the crisis. 

But as numerous well-wishers 

thronged the Alarere residence of 

Balogun to congratulate him on the 

•Oba Lekan Balogun 

TWINS FREED BY KIDNAPPERS 

I won’t disclose the 

ransom paid 

release of his children who were 

abducted by yet-to-be-identified 

kidnappers, the monarch has said the 

abduction of his children should not be 

linked to the crisis in the Ibadan Traditional 

Council. 

He told Sunday Vanguard in a 

telephone interview that there could be 

differences on some issues but Ibadan 

people would not be so mean to the extent 

of kidnapping his children. Balogun, 

who is next-in-hierarchy to the Olubadan 

of Ibadanland, His Imperial Majesty, Oba 

Saliu Adetunji, is one of the new kings 

installed by Governor Abiola Ajimobi of 

Oyo State after the recommendation of a 

judicial commission of inquiry led by 

Justice Akintunde Boade. 

Sunday Vanguard learnt that the twins, 

after regaining their freedom, are 

undergoing medical tests in Lagos and 

that Balogun appears not to be in a hurry 

to bring them back to Ibadan. 

Following the release of the twins, the 

monarch is not willing to discuss the 

ransom paid before their release but he is 

full of thanks that his children have been 

freed after days in kidnappers’ den. Prior 

to the release of the children when he was 

asked if he was not bothered by the ransom 

demanded, he simply said all he wanted 

was the safe return of his children. He 

said, “All I want is for my children to be 

brought back to me unhurt. 

“What is paramount to me is to have my 

children back and I’m not bothered about 

all the niceties of where, when and how 

you journalists are concerned about”. 

While commending security agents for 

their role so far, he clarified that they were 

not part of ransom negotiation, noting that 

they are using their expertise to secure 

the release of the kids. 

Oba Balogun said, “I’m very much 

optimistic that my children will join the 

rest members of the family very soon by 

the special grace of God and, when they 

arrive, all of you will be in the know. I 

thank Nigerians, both at home and in 

diaspora, for the massive support my 

family received so far and which we are 

still receiving. 

“I’m also grateful to the state government 

and once again to security agents for their 

efforts in ensuring the release of the kids 

just as I want to thank my tormentors in 

advance for the care given to the innocent 

children. May anything called sorrow be 

— Balogun, 

Otun Olubadan 

far away from all of us. I will say more 

when the kids reunite with family 

members”. 

And while confirming the release of the 

children, the Otun Olubadan said the 

ransom paid (sources put it at N50million) 

was incomparable to their safe return. 

The monarch said the mother of the 

twins, Mrs. Funmilayo Balogun, had gone 

to Lagos to monitor the medical check-up 

of the children and bring them back to 

Ibadan. 

He stressed that the on-the-spot 

assessment by his wife showed that the 

children were released unhurt and they 

could have possibly reunited with the rest 

members of the family today (yesterday) 

but for the results of some of the tests 

carried out on the twins being awaited. 

In a telephone interview with Mrs 

Balogun, she was happy seeing her 

children. 

“To say that I was happy and I’m still 

happy now is an understatement and I 

can’t be thankful enough to God 

Almighty for protecting my children 

during the period just as I thank 

everybody involved in the release”, she 

said. 

Strip her naked! 

Robbery victim goes berserk at police HQ after 

seeing suspect’s wife wearing jeans stolen from her 

By Dayo Johnson, Akure 

BUT for the timely intervention of 

the police and bystanders present 

during the parade of some armed 

robbery suspects, a nursing mother, 

Busayo Oyeleye, 23, said to be the wife of 

a suspect, would have been stripped 

naked. 

Her offense was that one of the victims 

of a robbery incident in Akure, Ondo State 

capital, sighted on her the jeans skirt and 

blouse allegedly carted along with some 

of her belongings when robbers raided her 

residence. 

The nursing mother was also accused 

by the victim of using the wrapper stolen 

from her to strap her baby. 

On sighting the nursing mother, who 

had been arrested by the police in the 

command in lieu of her fleeing husband, 

said to be the leader of the four-member 

gang, the victim rushed to strip her naked 

shouting on top of her voice that the 

clothes belonged to her. 

She was aghast that the nursing mother 

had the effrontery to put on the items 

stolen by her husband from her. 

Police detectives in charge of the case 

had to shield the nursing mother from the 

angry victim. 

She was later ferried out of the venue 

where the suspects were paraded to avoid 

the victim creating an ugly scene. 

A police source hinted that the nursing 

mother was picked up and detained with 

her baby so as to lead them to her fleeing 

husband’s hideout. 

Two members of the gang were 

apprehended while two others, including 

the leader of the gang, escaped. 

•Sunday (left) and Olalekan, self-confessed gang members 

In an interview, Busayo, who shed tears 

profusely, claimed that her husband bought 

the clothes for her from Lagos. 

The nursing mother claimed that her 

husband is a businessman but could not say 

the exact business he does. 

According to her, the husband leaves the 

house in the morning and comes back late and 

sometimes does not return for days. 

Sunday Vanguard gathered that her husband, 

Oyeleye, took to his heels after police detectives 

rounded up two members of the gang, leaving 

behind his wife and their three-month-old baby. 

It was drama galore at the police 

headquarters as some of the victims robbed at 

different places of their clothing; food 

items, such as tubers of yams and yam 

flour, salt, Maggi cubes; furniture; 

standing fan; motorcycles and 

generating sets, among others, came 

forward to identify them. 

The two suspects who were paraded, 

Omotayo Sunday, 23, and Olarewaju 

Olalekan, 22, said they recently became 

members of the gang. 

It was learnt that the suspects, who 

lived in lgbara Odo, Ekiti State, were 

arrested by detectives acting on a tip 

off. 

They told Sunday Vanguard during 

A police source hinted 

that the nursing mother 

was picked up and 

detained with her baby 

so as to lead them to her 

fleeing husband’s 

hideout 

an interview that they were invited to join 

the gang by Oyeleye, the alleged gang leader 

and that their first operation was 

unsuccessful, but police detectives 

punctured their claim saying they had been 

members of the gang from the onset. 

According to the detectives, the items 

recovered from their houses were stolen 

during robbery operations. 

A police source hinted that the suspects 

resorted to carting away items such as tubers 

of yams and yam flour when their victims 

did not have enough cash to give to them 

during operations. 

It was gathered that the suspects also sold 

off some of the items stolen from their 

victims to customers within Akure 

metropolis. 

They also broke into big shops where they 

carted away items such as generating sets, 

motorcycles, furniture and other household 

items 

The food items and the cash were shared 

by the suspects after every operation. 

Parading the two suspects, the state police 

commissioner, Olugbenga Adeyanju, said 

the suspects burgled a shop at Gaga 

community and carted away some goods. 

Adeyanju added that detectives swung into 

action and arrested the three suspects 

namely, Sunday, Olalekan and Busayo. 

The police commissioner said two other 

members of the gang remained at large. 

According to him, a toy gun was found in 

the house of Adeniyi ltunu, one of the 

suspects at large, while food items, 

motorcycles and generating sets were 

recovered from the arrested suspects. 

Investigation, he said, was in progress 

while those arrested will be charged to 

court at the conclusion of investigation.

C 

M 

Y 

K 


rexmarinus@hotmail.com 

A tribute to the lazy 

Nigerian youth 

Let me say that my 

greatest anger with 

Nigeria is that it wasted 

my youth. And I saw the 

best minds of my generation, 

to make a riff of Allen Ginsberg’s 

Howl, destroyed, driven 

mad and into internal and 

external exile, by a mindless 

lootocracy of military Generals 

and politicians, and 

their handful of recruits who 

have managed to recycle 

themselves over and over in 

Nigeria since the end of the 

last civil war. In the annals of 

this nation, Nigeria basically 

came to an end in 1967, 

and has been living on halfpumps. 

It has tried all cosmetic 

things to cover the deep 

wounds of its history, but it 

has not reconciled itself to itself, 

nor has it truthfully reestablished 

the nation as a 

historical imperative. 

What Nigeria has become 

since January 1970 when the 

last civil war was said to have 

ended is indescribable. The 

least that can be said is that 

this nation became a Faustian 

space; a frontier of greed 

and looting, the result of sudden 

wealth from oil that drove 

everyone mad. We have inherited 

a Mephistophelean 

nation. It is the fit subject of a 

play – a great epic tragedy, in 

which no one escapes. As Ibrahim 

Babangida, one of the 

major actors on that theatre 

of history feels the approach 

of the end of his mortality, he 

must wonder what it was all 

about – all that power to menace; 

to play God. The greatest 

gift providence offers to 

any living person is to afford 

A case for the youth 

Idon't know how you will 

feel if your child that 

graduated as an engineer, 

doctor or a professional 

of any kind is rendered jobless 

for years after graduation 

because the system has no job 

for him that will make him 

somebody. I don't know if you 

have experienced the pain of 

a parent, seeing your child 

you paid fortunes to train in 

the university ending up not 

having a job after graduation. 

I don't know if you see the 

heart of such graduates or feel 

their pains when they watch 

their dreams die before their 

eyes. 

I remember clearly a couple 

of years ago when a 

young man laid on the high 

way somewhere in Calabar 

and begged to be killed by 

any oncoming vehicle because 

after graduating as an 

engineer and attending job 

interviews several times, his 

First Class Certificate could 

not give him a job . His 

dreams are dying and he 

chose to be killed before his 

dreams died. 

Heart of the matter, 

with Chioma Gabriel 

email: anyagafu@yahoo.com 

Telephone: 08052201257 

Every year, graduates are 

churned out from Nigerian 

universities without jobs and 

more join as the years pass 

by. Only those from privileged 

background get jobs. 

Every year too, governments 

boast of having given employment 

to youths but these 

jobs only exist on the pages of 

newspapers. They don't exist 

in real life and hence the Nigerian 

youth graduate watch 

the society move on without 

recourse to his needs. 

them the chance by any 

means to affect and impact 

on the lives of people whom 

chance gave them the opportunity 

to serve. Such individuals 

choose their spot in history, 

consciously or unconsciously. 

Let me say now, that 

the annulment of the June 12 

elections will not go down as 

the greatest basis on which 

Babangida would be estimated 

and judged, and confined 

either to the rubbish bins 

or to the pantheons of immortality. 

It will be by the entire detail 

of his work particularly 

as political leader of Nigeria 

from August 1985 to August 

1993. No one reads Chidi 

Amuta’s Prince of the Niger 

for a reason. It is hagiography. 

Mr. Babangida certainly 

has a high sense of history, 

and does certainly worry 

about his place. This is probably 

why last week he said in 

lament that he feels constrained 

about writing his autobiography 

because, “no 

one will read it,” and his lament 

that Nigerians have not 

been considerate or kind to 

“those who fought to keep the 

unity of Nigeria.” Babangida 

has often talked about the 

unity of Nigeria as if “unity” 

is in itself an abstraction. The 

late Odumegwu-Ojukwu in 

fact did once suggest that unity 

must not be for some, the 

situation of Jonah in the belly 

of the fish. Otherwise it is 

pointless. The unity of Nigeria 

has not been beneficial to 

majority of Nigerians. This is 

why today, Nigeria disdains 

those who “fought for its unity.” 

The great symbol of Nigerian 

unity and nationbuilding, 

Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe 

is now relegated to some 

kind of middling footnote in 

the trinity we have long invented 

as the founding tripod 

of Nigeria. The great regionalists 

and ethnic nationalist 

leaders, are now the great 

heroes of Nigerian people. 

Why? Because Azikiwe’s nationalist 

project and vision 

failed. It is said to have failed 

because it was constructed on 

a lie – the lie that “unity” is a 

primary historical and material 

condition rather than a 

state of mind. But at least 

Azikiwe could be forgiven for 

idealism. Those who came 

after him were not builders 

of “national unity,” they were 

always cynical and greedy. 

The condition for unity for 

them was that they and their 

inheritors alone must decide 

how to kill and divide the carcass 

of the great elephant 

called Nigeria, while the rest 

of us are quarantined, and if 

we make a little noise about 

injustice, attacked and sometimes 

killed for speaking out 

against the treachery of political 

leadership. That is the 

legacy Babangida leaves behind: 

the legacy of cynicism 

and repression that has created 

a profoundly alienated 

people who no longer believe 

in the unity of Nigeria, or that 

Nigeria has meaning for 

them, and who are so cynical 

about Nigeria that they prefer 

to die in the deserts in their 

bid to flee from Nigeria in 

their thousands. 

It is like calling Buhari a 

“nationalist” leader promoting, 

“national unity.” It would 

be a cynical, and terribly insulting 

description for a man 

who now is so clearly out of 

touch with Nigeria, and who 

clearly had no conception of 

the meaning of Nigeria as a 

historical imperative, because 

afterall, the narrative 

that shaped Buhari’s enduring 

consciousness was not the 

narrative or philosophy of the 

anti-colonial nationalist 

movement. It was the protectionist 

mindset and nativist 

A child grows up to become 

a university graduate and 

then finds out that the people 

he reads about in History as 

a subject in primary/secondary 

schools are still in charge 

at the helm of affairs when in 

other climes, they youth are 

taking over. The Nigerian 

youth is being squeezed by the 

old men and women who 

refuse to give way, who remain 

in the system, reviewing 

their ages downward every 

year. Now you have a situation 

where a man keeps 

celebrating birthday of a certain 

age for years and his 

younger siblings celebrating 

to be ten years older than their 

elder sibling. 

Today, the Nigerian youth 

are venturing into other 

things due to joblessness. A 

young graduate who ordinarily 

had other plans now 

goes into Nollywood to become 

an actor first so he 

would be popular enough to 

become a legislator; an engineer, 

doctor or lawyer who is 

a professional to the core is 

now an actor, musician or comedian. 

Yet, one denigrates 

him by thinking or saying 

that its inconsequential people 

that venture into such 

fields. 

But the very bitter ones 

amongst the youth decide to 

venture into a more dangerous 

field: kidnapping, armed 

robbery, political thuggery or 

what manner of youth would 

allow themselves to be brainwashed 

by the Nigerian politician 

who stole his way to the 

top to turn him into a thug, 

that he would now beat the 

security apparatus in the national 

assembly to enter and 

steal a mace, a symbol of authority 

of the senate president. 

If you ask me, I think these 

are the youths who can do the 

job. The ones who occupy the 

security apparatus have 

timed out and there is need 

for fresh blood to be injected 

into the system. A man who 

beats your security apparatus 

seemingly knows the security 

business better. 

Now, besides the bitterness 

that created the mindset, the 

youth is also under the influence 

of drugs and alcohol. As 

isolationism that viewed nationalist 

integration and ideology 

as a form of cultural 

conquest. During the last elections, 

Mr. Buhari was trolled 

out and marketed to Nigerians 

as the great solution to 

Nigeria’s problems – to end 

insecurity and the scourge of 

Boko Haram. Jonathan’s critics 

were suggesting that his 

administration had adopted 

kid-glove tactics against 

Boko Haram. 

Any nation will be 

proud and lucky to 

have these young men 

and women. These are 

my heroes – resilient 

and determined. These 

are the people, and 

there is a multitude of 

them in Nigeria, whom 

President Buhari has 

called “Lazy Nigerian 

youth.” These are no 

lazy people 

It is the system that 

has damaged the 

psyche of the youth 

and battered his 

ego. So, he seeks 

negative attention. 

He wants to be 

noticed by the 

system that would 

not give him the 

chance to express 

himself positively 

a 'science student' (apologies 

to Olamide), they are under 

the influence of monkey tail, 

school shoes, Kerewa, ogidiga 

and others. 

Olamide's message is clear. 

If you see the video of science 

student, you will understand 

him better. But he was castigated 

and a ban placed on 

the music which was misconstrued 

to be giving out names 

of drugs to be used . 

It is the system that has 

damaged the psyche of the 

youth and battered his ego. 

So, he seeks negative attention. 

He wants to be noticed 

by the system that would not 

give him the chance to express 

himself positively. He becomes 

the evil genius and 

there is no end to the evil deeds 

Buhari was marketed as the 

anti-corruption saint who 

would end corruption, bureaucratic 

entitlement, official 

mendacity; medical tourism, 

and other unearned privileges. 

Nigerians should now 

be the judge on whether the 

sound of the kolanut is the 

same as it tastes in the mouth! 

He was trucked out to London 

by Amaechi, Oshiomhole, 

Fayemi and Tinubu, to 

meet “the three jackals” – 

Brown, Blair and Major – to 

back him against Jonathan 

in 2015. Buhari returned 

from that trip, particularly 

after the Chatham House 

event, a new man. It is almost 

as if every time he goes 

to London, Buhari returns 

with a new baggage. Somehow, 

whenever Mr. Buhari 

gets to London, he also finds 

the mettle to insult Nigerians. 

Last week, he was at the Commonwealth 

Economic Forum 

and he reported to his 

friends and mentors at the 

Commonwealth, that part of 

Nigeria’s problem is that 

most of Nigeria’s youths are 

lazy. They feel entitled, Mr. 

Buhari said, because they 

think Nigeria as an oil producing 

nation is rich, and 

must offer them free everything. 

They do not go to 

school. They do not work. 

They just simply laze around 

waiting for government to 

solve all their problems. This 

is quite new. Of all the things 

that could be said of Nigerian 

youths, laziness is just simply 

the most outlandish. These 

young men and women 

known around the world for 

their fervent innovative spirit. 

Truth is, Nigeria has a 

young population, which as 

Buhari quite correctly said, 

constituted about 60% of Nigeria’s 

population. 

No one has offered them 

work and they have refused 

to work. The general cry in 

Nigeria is the cry of systematic 

unemployment and underemployment. 

I have young men and 

women, relations, who have 

all gone to tertiary schools – 

none on any government 

scholarship or subsidy. Heroic 

young folk all of them: one 

who trained as a Mechanical 

Engineer, tried his hand in 

bakery, quit that and apprenticed 

himself to a plumber, 

and now runs his own small 

plumbing business; another, 

with a Masters degree in Economics, 

tried his hand in tourism 

in Abuja but returned to 

Imo State trying now to 

build up a small farm with 

his young bride, a young 

woman, who trained as an Architect, 

and has apprenticed 

herself to a carpenter to learn 

carpentry because her school, 

a Federal Polytechnic where 

she studied Architecture had 

no Architectural Carpentry 

workshop; and she’s today 

trying to set up business designing 

and producing her 

own furniture; another, took 

to photography, hustles up a 

few gigs with newspapers to 

whom he pitches his work, 

he can conceptualize and execute. 

Now, the ones that are even 

employed are either paid insignificantly 

or owed salaries. 

With N18,000 minimum 

wage and tons of bills to pay, 

the Nigerian youth is lost in 

the system that only favours 

the rich and relatives of the 

influential. The employed 

pays his tax from his minimum 

income, pays his rent, 

takes care of his immediate 

family and extended ones and 

at the end of the day, goes a 

begging to make ends meet. 

So what is wrong with accepting 

handouts from politicians 

who have dominated the system 

and uses Ghana Must 

Go bags to pack home the 

millions he earns or steals as 

a legislator, elected official of 

government or political appointee. 

The youth need these handouts 

to survive and pay their 

bills, else, he becomes a kidnapper, 

an armed robber, a 

drug addict of Olamide's description 

. 

Come to think of it. If you 

have ever been to the major 

markets across Nigeria, you 

will see how enterprising our 

youths are. Look around you 

when you are on traffic, that 

young man rushing through 

traffic to sell you pure water, 

gala, plantain chips and yoghurt 

is the enterprising Nigerian 

youth. Tomorrow, he 

will get established as a businessman 

of repute. 

Or haven't you seen the 

youth on highways pursuing 

moving vehicles just to make 

a sale for the day? What about 

the wheel barrow boys and 

and some from social events 

which he covers, while still 

studying Mass Communication; 

another with a degree 

in Sociology hustling to build 

up a small transport and logistics 

business in the cutthroat 

environment where he 

has little capital with his 

young wife too, who with a 

PhD in Education is still employed 

as a part-time teacher; 

another with a good uppers 

degree in Physics from 

FUTO, who once told me, 

“with the right tools, I know 

how to redirect the global 

satellite system from the privacy 

of my room,” or my little 

sister, who after an English 

degree at Nsukka has repurposed 

herself into a Fashion 

designer and is working with 

difficulty to establish her own 

Fashion design and production 

studio. These are young 

people in their early to midthirties; 

the oldest among 

whom is 40 years. 

Any nation will be proud 

and lucky to have these 

young men and women. 

These are my heroes – resilient 

and determined. These 

are the people, and there is a 

multitude of them in Nigeria, 

whom President Buhari 

has called “Lazy Nigerian 

youth.” These are no lazy people. 

These are the people Nigeria 

has failed under the 

leadership of President Buhari 

and others like him who 

have recycled themselves into 

power because they acquired 

the entire resource of nation 

for themselves and their families. 

These “youth” have never 

had constant electricity 

since they were born in Nigeria; 

they have had no clean 

water; no decent public housing 

that would allow them to 

begin life decently as “youth,” 

no entitlement programs; no 

student loans; no access to 

credit and loans to build their 

businesses; no jobs; no benefits 

from the oil that Buhari 

talks about. We don’t have 

lazy Nigerian youth: we have 

lazy, entitled old men who 

have razed the foundation of 

the nationalist hope that 

should have built Nigeria. 

cart pushers? The Nigerian 

government has not been fair 

to the youth. Go to the north. 

Northern are not given requisite 

education and are 

proudly sent 

out to be almajiris and 

grow up on the street as street 

boys and who eventually become 

easy tools in the hands 

of politicians. Or are they insinuating 

that they have 

groomed youths who do not 

want to make any efforts? 

We should be truthful to 

ourselves. These men who 

keep celebrating the same 

age every year should give 

way to the youth. They are 

there and poverty is ravaging 

this country and unemployment 

is on the increase. So, 

how can't all these people 

beat the security point at the 

National Assembly? 

Next to the National Assembly 

is the presidential villa 

and that means that the 

thugs can go into the villa and 

do whatever they want. What 

if it were Boko Haram insurgents 

that beat the security of 

the senate and got in? 

All kinds of jokes have 

been cracked about the invasion 

of the senate chambers 

but you and I know it is not 

something to joke about. We 

know the security implications 

of the ugly incident? 

How could such a thing have 

happened without the cooperation 

of the security personnel 

on duty and possibly, 

some staff? This is why Nigerians 

are worried. 

C'est pourquoi les jeunes 

ont besoin d'attention.(That 

is why the youth need attention.


08112662589 

Extra Marital Affairs Can Be More Damaging Than Fun! 

WE all have our share of 

foul-weather friends. But 

are you one yourself? 

Your career is grinding to a halt, the 

man you once termed “the best thing 

that ever happened to me” has found 

lasting bliss with another woman 

and your good friend is driving you 

insane giving you a blow-by- blow 

account of her life with her new 

foundland. So, when another good 

friend called, weeping heart - 

breakingly because the father of her 

child (you never liked him anyway) 

wants ‘space’, you feel a glimmer of 

relief - no matter how tiny. You thank 

your stars you’re not the only one 

asking “why me” all the time 

Solape’s good friend who never 

allowed the grass to grow under her 

feet; who in spite of being married, 

boasts of an impressive array of 

“shock absorbers”. She met this 

politician on a flight to London, 

struck a relationship with him and 

gloated about how what was 

supposed to be a fling had blown 

into an intimate relationship. A few 

weeks ago, she came bounding down 

my drive way. “I’ve called things off 

with Chief”, she fumed as soon as 

she settled down. She looked more 

angry than heart-broken. “This 

man’s appetite for sex is insatiable. 

And there is no day you don’t find 

him with different types of women 

or hear about his escapade with these 

so-called society women.” But what 

was her problem? She was not 

looking for a husband, and Chief 

was over-generous. She also knew 

the type of lover the poor man was 

before she plunged into a 

relationship with him. 

“Money is not everything”, she told 

me, rolling her eyes. “I was at a party 

last week when the news started 

making the rounds that one of our 

so- called-money-miss road 

celebrities had tested positive to the 

AIDS virus. Not only that, most of his 

flashy wives also tested positive. The 

only lucky escapee is the first wife he 

virtually abandoned in order to sew 

his belated wild oats with these 

fortune hunters he acquired as wives. 

When 1 finally saw Chief, I requested 

we should start using condom. He 

looked at me as if I’d suggested he 

robs a bank. ‘What for?’ he sneered. 

“Use a condom at my age? You told 

me you didn’t want my children, so 

why should 1 now be wearing a silly 

contraceptive because 1 want to have 

sex with you.’ 

“Talk about being crude, 1 patiently 

explained to him about the rampant 

spread of AIDS and the shocking 

news of this ‘socialite’s predicament.’ 

‘What has that got to do with us?’, he 

wanted to know. 1 had to remind 

him of his penchant for chasing 

anything in skirt. That all my 

children were still young and 1 

would love to see them married”, 

I’m sure we’ve all experienced that 

feeling of warm smugness when a 

close friend confides in us. After all, 

it’s nice that you’re the one they chose 

to turn to, the only they trusted with 

their secret, and the one whose advice 

they all valued the most. 

It’s flattering; it makes you feel 

needed and secure. I don’t really ask 

my friends to come to me with their 

problems, but, I’m a good listener 

and genuinely care for my friends. 

And, let’s face it, listening to everyone 

else’s problems makes me forget my 

own. I consoled Solape the best I 

could, assuring her she would soon 

find a replacement. As I saw her to 

her car, I was dying to give Joanne, a 

mutual friend a blow-by-blow 

account of Solape’s current 

dilemma. 

Joanne is an incurable gossip - just 

like me. When I walked into her 

sitting room, her stepson, was 

running around the living room, a 

picture of health and mischief. His 

sister was being taken care of by the 

nanny. Both children were 

“inherited” by Joanne when her 

husband’s mistress died in an 

accident. But the little boy was 

adorable. How children quickly 

forget? His mum might be dead, but 

he was quite unaware of this as he 

snuggled up to Joanne. Her 

mothering instinct must have kicked 

in as she cuddled the boy - who 

looked really contented and trusting. 

She listened enraptured as I told her 

of Solape’s resolve to chuck her 

politician lover. “Serves her right”, 

she said. “When I was having 

problems with Rex (her husband) I 

went to her for sympathy because you 

were away for a week then. Instead, 

she gave me regular accounts of the 

wonderful time she was having with 

her beau. I was really depressed at 

the time and hearing how happy she 

was didn’t help. I really needed her 

sympathy but she was in another 

planet. Now that her perfect Chief 

has turned into a monster, she would 

soon be needing my sympathy. But 

I’m not like her. I won’t pay her back 

in her own coin by being indifferent 

to her pain. I’ve never liked that 

pompous oaf and I say good 

riddance to him!” You can then 

imagine how embarrassed I felt 

when Solape came strutting into my 

office a few days later with her 

seemingly disease infested Chief! I’d 

met him a couple of times. An 

intelligent man, he had a really aloof 

look, but this time, he tried to be 

friendly. He offered to give us lunch. 

As a married woman, she daren’t get 

out to lunch with him alone; that was 

where I came in, the perfect excuse if 

she was spotted. It was inevitable 

that our discussion finally centred on 

Solape’s refusal to have sex with him 

condomless. 

Sounding really wounded, he told 

me he wasn’t a promiscuous man 

and had always been careful as to 

whom he went to bed with. “Your 

friend is a good indication of my 

taste. Now, would you say she could 

be an AIDS victim?” The fact still 

remains he has lots of lovers, upping 

the risk of AIDS - but I didn’t tell him 

this. I told him to take things easy - 

that Solape would soon come round 

to his way of solving the simple 

problem that now threatened to 

break their relationship. 

The next time I saw Solape, I told 

her that one of Joanne’s friends who 

had a well stocked pharmaceutical 

shop in one of the shopping malls on 

Victoria Island now sold female 

condoms. “What do they look like?” 

she wanted to know. “Will Chief 

notice I’m wearing one and would it 

give total protection against any 

disease?” How would I know? I 

wasn’t the one selling the stuff and 

I’d never used one either. All she had 

to do was be patient until Joanne 

took us to this pharmacist friend of 

hers ... 

08052201867(Text Only) 

Exercises than can fix your back and neck aches 

TIME and again, stories crop up 

everywhere as to how the deep 

breathing and gentle exercises of 

yoga have helped individuals who’d 

almost lost hope of recovery to regain 

health. 

I have myself, been fixed of all kinds 

o f things in my very body by the practice 

of yoga. I haven’t had an attack 

of angina in the past twenty-eight 

years. And that is heaven if you ask 

me. 

It’s about time everybody was 

made to realise that irrespective of 

one's condition - sick or well - the 

body can be given tremendous help 

in restoring health, and in safeguarding 

it. 

The body is totally at a handicap if 

it does not get exercise. 

The extra oxygen you get into the 

system, the small rise in heart rate 

by working the muscles improves the 

body, the immune system gets a 

boost and the body’s healing system 

can be easily shifted to over-drive. 

Yes, if you exercise regularly, you 

undoubtedly develop quick recovery 

powers. Even wounds heal faster 

when we stay in good shape. 

It may sound too simple by suggest 

to someone that their redemption 

could depend on learning to breathe 

deeper. But that could be the gospel 

truth. 

Below are some yoga postures and 

how they benefit the body. 

The Plough 

Technique: Lie flat down and 

breathe in deeply. Then swinging 

both legs backwards exhale as 

you bring the toes to touch the 

floor. 

Now, bring the hands also 

backwards to hold the feet with 

the chin, pressing on the throat. 

Stiffen the leg muscles and stay 

in the position for about 30 seconds. 

To come out of the posture, 

release the hold on the feet, bend 

The Bridge 

the knees, return the hands to the 

sides and gently lower the trunk 

and straighten the legs. 

Benefits: This posture increases 

the blood supply to the 

spinal region, nourishing the 

internal organs. It helps to release 

tension in the upper back 

and shoulders. 

Massaging the internal organs, 

it gives relief to indigestion, 

constipation and can lead to 

complete elimination of them. 

To maintain a youthful body, the 

key is a flexible spine. And the plough 

promotes both flexibility and 

strength in the back and neck. 

Caution: Don’t force yourself into 

doing this till you’re limber enough. 

To counteract any tension that may 

have built up as you performed the 

plough posture do. 

The Bridge next 

Technique: Lie flat on your back 

with the arms by your sides then bend 

the knees with the feet flat down near 

to the buttocks. Raising the hips 

bring the hands to support the back. 

And then if you can, straighten the 

knees. 

The plough 

Stay at the pose between 15 to 30 

seconds. 

The mountain pose 

Sit on your heels or cross-legged. 

Raise the hand over head and 

interlacing the fingers turn the 

palms up hold the trunk very erect 

with elbows straight and do deep 

breathing. 

First, distend the lower abdomen 

then expanding the ribs without 

missing the shoulders - all that with 

the inhalation. Then breathe out 

slowly but thoroughly. First 

squashing the abdominal region 

then contract the ribs expelling as 

much stale breath as you can. 

A more difficult vitiation is to 

assume the lotus posture and get up 

on the knee with the hands stretched 

above the head without interlocking 

the fingers otherwise with palms 

joined. 

C 

M 

Y 

K

PAGE 24—SUNDAY Vanguard, , APRIL 22, 2018 

healthy living 

ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER LOOMS 

ON APAPA- OSHODI EXPRESSWAY 

Why we defecate on the 

road – Truck drivers 

•Health expert warns residents, workers 

may develop cancer, hypoxia 

•Lagos govt. rises to the occasion 

By Chioma Obinna 

For Nigerians who work or live in 

Mile 2, along Oshodi/Apapa 

Expressway, Ajegunle, 

Okokomaiko and Orile area of Lagos 

State, among others, stories about the 

activities of trailer and truck drivers may 

not be strange? But how many of them 

know the implications of the activities of 

the drivers who eat, defecate and sleep on 

the expressway, on the environment and 

their health? 

Before now, it was common in the area 

to find trucks permanently parked by the 

roadside, thus narrowing the expressway 

and causing heavy traffic. There has been 

accusation that some of the drivers 

deliberately leave their terminals to park 

by the roadside. Almost every minute of 

the day, the road is locked down in traffic 

and motorists spend hours for trips that 

ordinarily should take less than 20 

minutes. Harassment of innocent 

Nigerians going about their businesses is 

commonplace as the area is completely 

taken over by hoodlums and the destitute 

who smoke dangerous herbs and take all 

manners of alcohol without caution, and, 

in the process, littering everywhere with 

bottles, plastics and product packages. 

Recently, the situation, particularly 

around Mile 2 and Apapa, took a 

different dimension. The situation, 

which has forced many companies and 

house owners in the area to relocate, left 

those remaining frustrated. 

A drive from the Mile 2 end of the 

Apapa/Oshodi Expressway down to 

Coconut area, back to Mazamaza axis, 

one could vividly see the myriad of health 

and environmental challenges. 

Many of these challenges could 

be immediate or long term. 

Sadly, not only the people who 

work and live in the area, 

including the drivers of the 

trucks, will suffer the effect but 

also the environment and the 

economy. 

From the Orile end of the rail 

line to the Mile 2 side of the 

Lagos – Badagry Expressway, 

the story is not different. 

Apart from the logjam, the 

heap of refuse is beginning to 

take over the expressway at 

different spots. The 

indiscriminate dumping of 

faeces is also a challenge. 

Most of the refuse is pushed 

into the beautifully built gutters 

without minding the 

implications since the rainy 

season is around the corner. 

While the terminals serve as 

home for street beggars, other 

activities such as illegal drug 

trading and all forms of abuses 

take place along the rail. 

Experts warned of short and 

long term effects of the 

situation on the health of 

Lagosians. 

Amid the unsightly 

environment, food and bread 

sellers make brisk business. 

When Sunday Vanguard visited the 

area, it took courage on the part of the 

reporter to chat with the truck drivers who 

sleep and wake up inside the traffic. The 

stench from the heaps of refuse and faeces 

almost derailed the report. 

Some of the drivers and their assistants, 

who spoke to Sunday Vanguard, 

described the situation as a nightmare 

that had refused to go away. 

One of them, Akintola Olalekan, could 

not hide his frustration when he said it 

had taken him seven days to move on the 

queue from Mile 2 to Berger Yard, a 

journey that ordinarily should not have 

taken more than three minutes. 

Meanwhile, he is going to AP Molar 

Computer Terminals at Apapa Wharf to 

carry a container of goods just imported 

into the country. 

According to him, the woes his 

colleagues and he going to Apapa Wharf 

to carry containers grew from bad to 

worse in the last three months. “In 

February, from my park at Amuwo 

Odofin to the TITC, Tin Can Island, it 

took me five days but, this time, it has 

taken me seven days to move from Mile 2 

to Berger Yard and I am still far away 

from my destination. It is sad that no one 

seems to understand our frustrations”, he 

said. 

Meanwhile, the unhygienic 

environment, Olalekan said, has not 

made things easy for them. 

“We eat, defecate and sleep here. The 

mosquitoes in this place make this place 

a hell. In this smelly environment, we 

must eat whatever we see; we don’t bathe 

because we cannot go back to our homes. 

If we say we want to go to toilet, where do 

we go? How many public 

toilets have you seen 

around here? I am going 

through all these because 

of my family. My children 

must feed and go to 

school,” he said. 

Some of the 

drivers and 

their assistants, 

who spoke to 

Sunday 

Vanguard, 

described the 

situation as a 

nightmare that 

had refused to 

go away 

While stating that the 

situation should be paid 

more attention by 

government, he said many 

of them may go back 

home with infections. 

The truck driver blamed 

the problem on the 

inability of AP Molar 

Computer Terminals at 

Apapa Wharf to facilitate 

the process of releasing 

containers so that the long 

queues of trucks on the 

expressway waiting to 

carry containers bearing 

imported goods can drive 

in and go. 

“We are drivers and not 

trailer owners or agents. 

We cannot do anything 

about it. It is the 

transporters and the 

Container Union that 

should do something 

about it,” he stated. 

Continuing, Olalekan, 

who praised Governor 

Akinwumi 

Ambode for his 

efforts at getting a site that 

can take about 300 trucks, said the 

initiative would reduce the congestion on 

Apapa - Oshodi Road. 

On the heaps of refuse, the driver 

expressed worry that the situation may 

linger for a long time, saying the 

environment will only return to normal 

when all the trucks leave the road. 

Others who spoke to Sunday Vanguard 

complained of high-handedness of 

security agents in the area who, they 

alleged, extort them consistently. 

Another driver, Mr. Okwuchi, 40, said 

he was tired of ‘motor work’. 

“You have been here for over 30 

minutes, did the line move? That is our 

challenge, “he said angrily with a bottle 

of a bitters drink in his hand. 

“My wife gave birth in January. I have 

not seen my baby since then because I 

have had to be on this road consistently. 

“I am not happy with government. I 

sleep in the open, eat whatever I can lay 

my hands on. My money has been stolen 

from my pockets several times here. You 

sleep with one eye open because you do 

not want to lose your belongings. Several 

phones have been stolen here. Every 

night, security men come to extort us. Just 

last night, one of us here was beaten 

because he refused to give them N5, 000”. 

To yet another of the truck drivers, 

Okafor, the situation around the area was 

getting tougher. 

“Things are tough and there is no 

respite. You can see why everywhere there 

is faeces because people have to eat and, 

if they eat, they must defecate. When you 

are permanently on the road thinking of 

when it will get to your turn to load and 

there are no toilets, where else do you 

defecate except on the road or nearby 

bush?” 

Further findings by Sunday Vanguard 

showed that stealing around the area has 

gone from bad to worse. 

Another driver, who simply identified 

himself as Mallam Danladi, told our 

reporter that, oftentimes, people wake up 

to find that parts of their trucks have been 

removed. “We lose vehicle parts and 

even batteries to these thieves. If you are 

sleeping with your two eyes closed, 

somebody will come and remove your 

money. But the worst part of it all is that 

we sleep and wake up in a very pathetic 

environment. “ 

Long hours in traffic can cause cancer - 

Expert 

According to a medical expert, spending 

long hours in traffic and unhygienic 

environments can lead to health hazards 

including hypoxia, hypertension, cancer 

and heat stroke. 

The President of the Nigerian Medical 

Association, NMA, Prof Mike Ogirima, 

said the situation can also lead to the 

outbreak of epidemics. 

“Because these drivers have been away 

from their families for so long, they are 

also exposed to infections, particularly 

sexually transmitted diseases”, Ogirima 

said. 

He cited the emission of carbon 

monoxide as a major health hazard 

aggravated by traffic jams. 

“Within the vicinity, emissions from cars 

can become toxic. There is what we call 

carbon monoxide which can blend with 

the blood and become toxic as the oxygen 

we are supposed to breathe in will be 

displaced by carbon monoxide causing 

the organs of the body to suffer what we 

call anoxia or hypoxia; that is lack of 

oxygen.” 

The NMA leader explained that apart 

from the fumes coming from the vehicles’ 

exhaust pipes, inside the vehicles, there 

are toxin radicals that can be generated 

by heat from the materials used in the 

making of the interior, saying this can 

instigate cancer in the future. 

Ogirima decried the environmental 

health sector of the country, saying 

Nigeria lacked proper solid waste 

management while the sector is badly 

managed. 

According to him, the poor solid waste 

disposal system attracts rodents and rats. 

“This problem is the cause of frequent 

outbreaks of Lassa fever, etc. Filthy 

environment is a big hazard to our

SUNDAY Vanguard 

anguard, , APRIL 22, 2018, PAGE 25 

healthy living 

health.” 

On the implication to the economy and 

infrastructure, the NMA chief said 

allowing trucks to park on bridges can 

cause the bridges to become weak and 

collapse on the long run. 

He said the only way out of perennial 

traffic and attendant problems is that 

government should provide good roads 

and complement it with good traffic 

management. 

Lagos government reacts 

Reacting to the situation, Special 

Adviser to the Governor on 

Environment, Mr. Babatunde Hunpe, 

said his principal had done so much to 

expand environmental monitoring in 

Lagos, saying he (Ambode) has 

appointed a Senior Special Assistant 

on environmental monitoring and 

another on waste policing to 

complement his efforts. 

“These officials will complement the 

efforts in the area of monitoring and 

prevention of pollution in the state. We 

also have the Lagos State 

Environmental Sanitation Corps, 

LAGESC, formerly Kick Against 

Indiscipline, KAI. And their primary 

responsibility is to police 

environmental pollution. They are 

empowered by law. Anyone found 

culpable of violating the 

environmental law of the state would 

be prosecuted”, Hunpe said. 

On public toilets, he said: “Aside the 

public toilets government is building, 

we are also partnering with the private 

sector to do same. We want to appeal 

to corporate organizations and 

individuals to also construct public 

toilets as their own Corporate Social 

Responsibility, CSR, in the state. The 

door of our ministry is open for such 

partnership”. 

Health insurance offer 

ers s good access 

to healthcare when people need it 

— Funlola Jide-Aribaloye, CEO, Reliance HMO 

Health emergencies can 

happen at any time. But one 

of the best things that can 

help lessen the adverse effects of this 

emergency is quick access to quality 

medical care even when you have no 

money in your pocket. 

This is one of the reasons the Federal 

Government established, under the 

National Health Insurance Scheme 

Act, Cap N42, Laws of the Federation 

of Nigeria, 2004, the means to provide 

good access to healthcare for 

Nigerians at affordable cost through 

various prepayment systems. 

Unfortunately, however, less than 5 

percent of Nigerians are yet to be 

covered under the scheme. 

Chioma Obinna spoke to the Chief 

Executive Officer, Reliance Health 

Management organization 

(HMO), Mrs. Funlola Jide- 

Aribaloye, with over 20 years’ 

experience in insurance, on the 

benefits of health insurance 

and why Reliance HMO 

came up with a health 

insurance retail plan. 

Excerpts: 

What are the 

benefits of 

h e a l t h 

insurance? 

Health 

insurance is 

simply 

transferring your health risk to a 

provider. It means you buy a plan that 

offers you access to healthcare when you 

require it without having to pay out- ofpocket. 

So it means that when you have 

a health insurance, if you ever have a 

need for healthcare, you simply go to a 

designated hospital that you would have 

chosen by yourself and you are able to 

access healthcare just by presenting your 

identity card. It is often said that health 

is wealth. So a healthy society is a 

wealthy society. Often times, 

organisations lose man-hours because 

people are ill and unable to attend to 

their jobs. Simply put, if you have health 

insurance, something that will knock you 

off your feet may not necessarily knock 

you off. Money that you would have 

used to do other things will not be burnt 

paying health bills. If you have health 

insurance, you would have transferred 

that risk and you are able to access it at 

a more affordable price. These are some 

of the benefits of health insurance to the 

individual, society and government. In 

summary, everybody is able to safely and 

properly utilize funds to do all of the 

things that are necessary. 

Health indices and benefits of health 

insurance to the society? 

Health insurance helps to improve the 

health statistics of a country. Whether 

you look at it from the point of 

vaccination or immunization, when you 

buy a health plan for your child, all of 

the National Programme on 

Immunisations are covered on that 

health plan. Certain illnesses that 

children suffer go just by immunizing 

them. You can start from there and 

then continue to build up. 

Maternal health is also improved 

when you have health insurance. Instead 

of looking for an auxiliary nurse or 

somebody around in the neighborhood 

to come and take delivery, this woman 

can walk into a hospital and be sure that 

she will be attended to by professionals 

and then, when there is complication 

with the delivery, they quickly know what 

to do. If it is Caesarean section they will 

do it. When you move to an environment 

where there are professionals, you will 

be sure that you would be attended to by 

best professionals with best of care and 

options. 

•Jide-Aribaloye 

Is Nigeria on track on health insurance? 

We have a long way to go; it is a systematic 

process and it is a precise and deliberate process. 

We need to continue to work towards it and that 

includes health facilities, health insurance 

companies and individuals; we must take 

charge of our health as individuals and look for 

the best way to take care of it. People must 

become more aware of what they need to do to 

protect themselves: exercise, eat right, sleep 

at the right time and buy a health plan so that 

when you need a healthcare, you can access 

it. These are all the things that will move us 

forward and improve our statistics such that 

we can safely say that we are on track. 

What can you say about Reliance HMO? 

Reliance HMO is a health insurance 

company. We started as a telemedicine 

company two years ago and evolved to be a 

health insurance company because we felt 

that people needed more. People have been 

able to use telemedicine 

service to chat with doctors 

and ask questions at any time 

to inquire about their health 

and we decided to take a step 

further to build plans around 

that service so that, when 

people need to go to hospital, it 

is just a step further from what 

they had before. 

Affordability is a very big 

issue in health insurance. 

What are the products you 

have for Nigerians? 

When I say we are a fullfledged 

HMO, it means we care 

for the retail space as well as 

the corporate space. Right now, 

we have launched the retail 

product that is monthly and 

that allows enrollees to 

purchase on monthly basis. 

We have done this because we 

find that this is lacking in the 

insurance space. You find that 

a lot of companies have their 

attention focused on the 

corporate space with so many 

health insurance companies 

chasing the same business of 

the corporate world, whereas 

there are a lot of Nigerians who 

not employed by government 

or in big organizations who 

also require health insurance. 

Another 

thing that 

distinguishes 

us from other 

health plans is 

the fact that 

you can chat 

with the 

doctor on our 

plan 

These are the people who have driven us to 

start this retail plan that we now offer to the 

public. We have come up with a monthly 

plan because affordability is a big issue when 

it comes to purchasing health insurance. 

People think of the cost of dropping one year 

insurance and they just forgo the thought 

altogether. But when you do it on a consistent 

monthly basis at a sum that is not such a 

burden and you can still take care of other 

things, then it becomes easier for you to 

purchase the health insurance and that’s why 

we decided to launch the retail plan. 

What differentiates you from 

other HMOs? 

First, we want to look at 

ourselves as a health –tech 

company which means a lot of 

things that we do is powered by 

technology. The world has 

evolved to a level where 

everything is powered by 

technology. Today, almost 

everybody has a phone in his 

hand, even young children. 

It has become a means of 

communication no 

longer nice not to have 

any more. And that is 

where we are going in 

our health insurance. 

And for us, service is 

what distinguishes us 

from other HMOs. We 

say we are fanatical 

about our customers 

which means we will go to 

any length to ensure that our 

customers are well served. 

Another thing that distinguishes us from 

other health plans is the fact that you can chat 

with the doctor on our plan. This is not 

WhatsApp-driven. It is info-tech driven. It 

means that we are not waiting for a doctor to 

come online. There are over 750 doctors 

available on that platform and ready to take 

your questions whenever you pose them. At 

any point in time, if you are a Reliance HMO 

enrollee and you have a question and you chat 

with the doctor, you will get a response within 

few minutes. 

What are the challenges of health 

insurance? 

Health is costly and you grapple with 

making it affordable to everybody. So to 

get to a certain standard, there must be a 

minimum price you will pay. So you 

need to think about where to send the 

people to. Think about the hospitals, 

facilities and working together with all 

of those facilities to ensure that a holistic 

plan is put together for the 

individual at a price that is 

reasonable enough. This 

remains the greatest 

challenge in health 

insurance. It is affordability 

versus the standard and the 

level of care and benefit that 

you want to offer. Those are 

the things that are most 

challenging to the delivery of 

service. 

Where will Reliance HMO be 

in the next 10 years? 

My vision for Nigeria and for 

health insurance is to see 

everybody has a health plan. I feel 

bad when I think about children 

that have childhood illnesses and 

don’t have access to care and just 

lose their lives simply because 

their parents were not able to 

afford healthcare or health plan 

for them. My vision is to take 

Reliance HMO to that place 

where we are the ones who made 

it possible for every Nigerian to 

be able to buy health insurance 

and have access to the care that 

they need. In 10 years, I want to 

see Reliance HMO at the peak, 

totally dominating the retail 

space and ensuring that, whether 

or not you work in an 

organization, you are covered for

PAGE 26 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 22, 2018 

life 

Community where 

people send animals 

on evil errands 

•Ex sends millipedes to recover 

N1.8m bride price from former wife 

•Tortoise, at noon, seen on the road 

with ‘letter’ in its mouth 

•Cats, at midnight, mew the name 

of tenant who rejected landlord’s 

eviction notice 

By Emmnanuel Unah 

There is hardly any street in 

Calabar, Cross River State 

capital without a church where 

gospel messages and prayers spew 

forth regularly, yet fetish and 

diabolical activities are pervasive and 

have strong influence on a large size 

of the population. 

The average resident of the ancient 

city is familiar with strange 

occurrences which in other places are 

dismissed with the wave of the hand. 

For instance, domestic pets like cats, 

which are cherished by their owners 

for their beauty and friendly nature, 

are believed to possess diabolical 

powers to attack at will in Calabar. The 

sluggish creature, tortoise, is seen a 

harbinger of evil messages while the 

vulture, a bird of prey, is regularly sent 

on evil errands. Insects like the 

millipede are manipulated to settle 

scores. 

For example, a few weeks back, the 

city witnessed the bizarre sight of a 

tortoise adorned with fresh leaves on 

its back at about midday, moving on the 

middle of the popular Eta Agbo Road 

with a ‘letter’ in its mouth and heading 

towards the Eta Agbo Layout, a 

highbrow residential area, “to deliver 

an evil missive”. 

The tortoise saw both pedestrians and 

motorists deferring to it and giving it 

right of way. It took some bold young 

men to haul stones at the tortoise to stop 

it on its track. 

Some months back, some cats 

allegedly congregated in a house in the 

middle of the night to mew the name of 

a tenant who refused to relocate after 

the landlord had issued quit notice to 

her and her husband. “It happened 

in Abang Asang Street Akim, where a 

lady used a razor blade to cut the body 

of their house help for stealing meat 

from the soup pot. This did not go down 

well with the landlord who issued a quit 

notice to the lady and the husband. But 

they refused to heed the man’s orders, 

prompting him to send the cats to them 

at midnight and everyone in Calabar 

knows that cats are witchcraft agents 

that can kill with ease”, a resident of 

the area, Madam Akong, told Sunday 

Vanguard. 

In August last year, which was the 

peak of the rainy season, residents of 

4b Edim Otop Close, Calabar were said 

to have woken up one morning to 

behold a giant sized vulture, standing 

in the centre of the compound with a 

letter in its 

mouth believed to have 

been sent to one of the tenants. 

A tenant in the compound, Miss 

Janet Obongette, told Sunday 

Vanguard, at that time, that Anietie, a 

co-tenant had been involved in a local 

thrift called Ususu with friends. “One 

taxi driver and Etete who reside some 

streets away were engaged in Ususu 

with Anietie but Anietie did not keep 

his own side of the deal as he refused 

to pay others after he had collected 

their money. That may be the reason 

they sent him the message of death 

which the vulture brought this 

morning”, she said. 

According to the lady, the three 

friends agreed to contribute N50, 000 

each quarter amounting to N150, 000 

People still indulge 

in those fetish acts 

which are very 

potent because of 

frustration with the 

police and courts 

because when you 

report a matter to 

them, what you get 

is ‘come today, 

come tomorrow' 

• The vulture in Joe's room 

•The millipedes in the 

Asuquo apartment 

which was 

to be handed over to 

each of them in turns in order to boost 

their businesses. The taxi driver 

collected first and Anietie collected 

second. June was to be the turn of Etete 

but he was not given the money even 

after the taxi man had handed his share 

to Anitie to add his and give to Etete. 

“Anietie told Etete that he had a 

patient in hospital and had to spend part 

of the money to settle the bill and gave 

Etete N60, 000 instead of N100, 000. 

Etete rejected the money and insisted 

on nothing but the complete sum. And 

when the complete sum was not 

forthcoming after several requests, the 

last resort was to send the vulture and 

Anietie had to respond fast”, she 

added. 

In another incident, one Margaret 

Asuquo allegedly had her apartment 

invaded by thousands of millipedes 

when she could not return the N1.8 

million alleged bride price paid on her 

by her estranged husband. The 

embattled man invoked the services of 

millipedes which formed a big heap in 

the parlour of the woman’s house and 

emitted a stench, prompting her to flee 

the apartment. 

A source, Pastor Linus Saviour of 

Assemblies of God church, the Ekpene 

Obio Street district where the woman 

worshipped, said the husband, simply 

identified as Mike, threatened her ex 

that if she failed to return the money, 

she was going to see what would happen 

to her, and after a few days, millipedes 

invaded her home. 

“I have told her to return to her home 

and that we would pour chemicals and 

kill the millipedes but she is too afraid 

to listen to me,” the pastor said. 

In yet another bizarre incident, for 

failure to pay two years rent, and 

refusing to pack out, a tenant in Calabar 

recently woke up in the middle of the 

night to behold a vulture in his 

room. 

Mr Joe Bassey, 

who resides on IBB 

Way, Calabar and 

was engaged in a 

running battle with 

his landlady, following 

his inability to pay his 

rent for two years 

amounting to N80, 000, 

could not sleep again 

that night nor did he 

spend another night in 

the house. 

The caretaker said he 

had been visiting the man 

virtually every day to 

demand for the rent but 

“each time I come here, he 

is either hiding somewhere 

or the wife would be 

intimidating and harassing 

me by asking if they were the 

only debtors on earth, as if 

that was the way to pay one’s rent”. 

Another source in the compound said 

Joe, who was always bragging that the 

landlady would do nothing, fled the 

house along with his wife and son in 

the night, leaving behind the vulture. 

“He was always bragging, telling 

anyone who cared to listen that he is 

from Akwa Ibom State and that the 

woman could not do him anything. 

Now he has run away. Why did he not 

wait? Maybe the next time, it would be 

death angel that would visit him,” 

the co-tenant said 

An elder in the city Offiong Edem told 

Sunday Vanguard that such fetish 

practices were common in the olden 

days when there were no security 

agencies like the police or even the 

courts where one could seek justice or 

redress. 

“But these days people still indulge 

in those fetish acts which are very 

potent because of frustration with the 

police and courts because when you 

report a matter to them, what you get is 

‘come today, come tomorrow’ and this 

makes people wary of the police and 

the courts, thus making people to resort 

to such traditional justice methods”. 

He said other traditional justice 

systems people resort to in Calabar 

are Mbaim, and Ekpe Itaiba where a 

ghost can be sent to attack enemies. 

“The ghost would not be seen by the 

person it is about to attack until a slap 

lands on the face of the person and 

such person would always die within 

a few days”, Edem stated.

life 


DEATH IN DEEP 

FREEZER! 

•How two siblings played their way to the 

grave inside mum’s apartment – Eye witness 

•House where the children 

died 

By Dayo Johnson, 

Regional Editor, South-West 

TONGUES are wagging over the 

mysterious death of two brothers 

inside a deep freezer in Akure, 

Ondo State capital. 

To lose two out of three children at a go and 

in such a tragic manner is not only sorrowful 

but also pitiable. 

The deaths unsettled Akure as the sad news 

swept through the metropolis like harmattan 

fire. 

Residents raced to the area to catch a 

glimpse of the brothers who died inside the 

freezer in their mother’s flat. 

Some residents, however, believed that the 

death of the two brothers and primary school 

pupils, Olufemitan Olaitan, 9, and 

Oluwafifunmi Olaitan, 7, who appeared to 

have suffocated when they mistakenly shut 

the door of the faulty freezer against 

themselves while playing, was suspicious. 

They argued that the freezer was not a giant 

size and that, with their ages, they should have 

been able to open the door of the freezer if it 

actually mistakenly closed on them 

The deceased brothers, according to 

findings, had been locked inside the house by 

their mother, Olubunmi, who went to the 

market to buy foodstuff on Monday at about 

3pm. Sunday Vanguard learnt that she lived 

with her three children alone in the flat. 

She was said to have taken the youngest 

child, aged three, to the market only to return 

after about an hour later to meet the two boys 

stone dead inside the freezer at the house 

located at No 6, Road 1, Eyin Ala, Akure. 

A family source said the mother, on getting 

back home, initially could not find the boys 

and she became worried. 

She was said to have searched all the rooms 

and still could not find the boys only to raise 

the alarm which attracted neighbours and a 

search party was organised. 

Nobody in the search party thought the boys 

could be inside the faulty deep freezer kept at 

a corner in the house. 

It learnt that after it was discovered that the 

door was not tampered with when their mother 

returned from market, one of the neighbours 

reportedly opened the freezer only to discover 

the boys inside, dead. 

The siblings were removed and taken to 

hospital with the hope that they could still be 

revived. 

A police source said the boys may have been 

playing inside the freezer and its door shut 

against them and that, because of the weight 

of the door, the boys could not free themselves. 

The source added that if their mother or 

anybody was at home, the cries of the deceased 

would have attracted her/him and they would 

have been saved. 

Sunday Vanguard learnt that the boys, after 

struggling to free themselves, may have died 

as a result of suffocation inside the freezer. 

However, another police source alleged that 

the kids might have been murdered before 

they were dumped inside the freezer by their 

assailant. 

The source said that the assailant may have 

dumped their lifeless bodies inside the freezer 

to give an impression that they suffocated after 

being trapped inside the fridge. 

According to the source, the two boys, with 

their ages, should have been able to force the 

freezer open if actually it mistakenly closed 

up on them. 

Also, he said that the freezer was a small one 

that could be easily opened by the boys if they 

were actually playing inside the freezer as 

suspected. 

But the same source hinted that the door of 

the flat was intact when the mother of the 

deceased boys arrived from the market. 

However, he added that 

investigation into the death 

of the minors was still in 

progress and that all 

avenues would be explored 

to unravel the mystery 

All we have been 

told was that the 

boys were left 

alone in the 

house and that 

when their 

mother returned 

they were found 

inside a freezer 

that had not been 

working for over 

a year 

behind their death. 

The source said, 

“Anything can still come up 

during our investigation. 

Don’t be surprised if we 

come up with something 

fresh in the course of our 

investigation”. 

He added that autopsy 

will bring to the open the 

cause of the death of the two 

brothers. 

“All we have been told was 

that the boys were left alone 

in the house and that when 

their mother returned they 

were found inside a freezer 

that had not been working 

for over a year”, the source 

stated. 

“How they got inside the 

freezer is unknown. We are 

only suspecting that they may be playing inside 

and the door of the freezer closed on them 

and in the process they were suffocated”. 

It was gathered that when the boys were 

discovered inside the freezer, one of them 

had blood in his mouth while the other was 

alleged to have defecated on 

himself. 

The parents reportedly 

buried the boys last Wednesday. 

Contacted, Ondo State 

police spokesperson, Femi 

Joseph, said no arrest had been 

made as nobody was suspected 

to have murdered the boys. 

Joseph said that the father 

of the boys, Olusegun Olaitan, 

reported the matter at a police 

station. 

He described the death of the 

two minors as sad and 

unfortunate. 

“There was no trace that the 

boys were killed and so far we 

have not made any arrest on 

the matter”, the spokesperson 

said. 

“We did not suspect foul play 

because it appeared as if the 

kids were playing inside the 

deep freezer and the door 

locked on them when there 

was nobody at home to help 

them open the door. It is really 

a sad and unfortunate incident”. 

Yakkurr LG becomes second in C- River to attain Open Defecation Free status 

BY EMMA UNA 

CALABAR- YAKURR Local 

Government Area with a 

population of 1.5 million 

people has attained the Open Defecation 

Free, ODF, status making it 

the third local government in the 

country after Daz in Bauchi state and 

Obanlikwu also in Cross River State. 

Ntufam Gab Orji, the state commissioner 

for Water Resources who 

made this known on Thursday said 

the state is among states in the country 

implementing the United Nations 

Children’s Education Fund , 

UNICEF, supported sanitation implementation 

programme which 

started in 2013 leading to the success 

in ODF by Yakkur and Obanlikwu. 

He said Yakuur and another local 

government area, Boki, were 

selected as pilot councils in 2013 

for the programme and 

through judicious commitment 

Yakurr has attained the Open Defecation 

Free ODF, which is a significant 

milestone in improving the 

sanitation of the area. 

“Prior to the intervention of 

UNICEF, access to good sanitation 

by residents of rural areas in 

the state stood at 15% while that 

of urban centres was at 25% this 

implies that more than 80% of people 

in the state defecated in the open 

turning surrounding bushes, 

drainages, rivers and road sides to 

defecation points which constituted 

health risks to them”. 

The Director General of Rural 

Water Sanitation Agency, RUWAT- 

SA, Dr Ita -Weir Ikpeme said residents 

of the state have been made to 

adopt the Community Led Total 

Sanitation programme which has 

made them to construct toilets and 

Yakurr people have constructed a 

total of 2,500 latrines with 1.5 

million being provided access 

Vodacom Business Nigeria and 

Intelsat S.A. has announced 

an agreement to expand 

its enterprise broadband connectivity 

in Nigeria. 

This is in order to further provide 

improved satellite services to its local 

enterprise customers. 

The strategic agreement was 

signed at the Satellite 2018 event 

which took place in Washington 

D.C, United States of America recently. 

This agreement now makes 

Vodacom Business Nigeria the first 

telecommunications provider in Nigeria 

to lease capacity on the Intelsat 

35e Satellite. 

As satellite coverage increases 

globally, enterprises businesses are 

no longer limited to operating from 

just one location because of the high 

to clean and safe defecation points. 

He said strenuous efforts were 

made through arrests and enlightenment 

campaigns to break the 

resistance of the people to imbibe 

Customs at MMA intercepts military hardwares 

.Seizes pharmaceutical products without NAFDAC number 

itary camouflage uniform bags, 

mainly for rifles and grenade 

launchers, handcuffs, police official 

cardigans and drones. 

According to the CAC, the military 

hardwares imported into the 

country were intercepted at NAH- 

CO Shed on intelligence signal. 

She said, “Economic saboteurs 

should desist from illicit trade and 

allow sanity in our economic environment, 

as we must continue to 

Vodacom seals deal with Intelsat to 

improve Nigeria's internet connectivity 

The Murtala Muhammed Area 

Command of Nigeria Customs 

Service (MMA) has intercepted a 

large number of military hardwares, 

imported into the country but falsely 

declared with different Airway 

Bill numbers. 

The command also seized 108 

cartons of expired (2009) beef imported 

into the country, pharmaceutical 

products known as Tramadol 

tablets with no registration 

number from National Agency for 

Food Drug Administration and 

Control, NAFDAC, arranged to be 

exported out of the country. 

The new Customs Area Controller, 

CAC, of MMA, Comptroller 

Shoboiki Jayne, disclosed this in 

Lagos, as she displayed military 

camouflage uniforms, bullet proof 

jackets, military helmets, face caps 

and military vests of different camouflage 

colours imported with two 

different End User Certificates. Other 

hardwares seized by the command 

include 20 pieces of assorted 

OPTICAL SIGHT wrapped in Milthe 

habit of building and using 

toilets for defecation with many 

staff of the agency assaulted before 

the success was eventually 

achieved 

carry out our statutory mandate of 

enforcing government trade policies. 

The clearing agents should 

enlighten importers on the dangers 

of bringing into the country items 

that are not only prohibited but absolutely 

prohibited. Military hard 

wares are not to be imported by individuals, 

but must come into the 

country with an End User Certificate”. 

speed broadband requirements for 

their business operation. Through 

this agreement with Intelsat S.A, 

which is the operator of the World’s 

first Globalized Network and leader 

in integrated satellite solutions, 

Vodacom Business Nigeria will deploy 

the Intelsat EPICNG satellite 

services, which is a next generation 

of satellite technology; to its 

enterprise customers to enable them 

to operate from anywhere they want 

throughout Nigeria. 

Brian Jakins, Intelsat’s Regional 

Vice President, Africa Sales, said 

that “Intelsat EpicNG enables higher 

data rate applications and smaller 

terminals that give enterprises the 

avenue to expand into new regions 

and take advantage of business opportunities 

regardless of where they 

occur. 

He further noted that with the improved 

performance delivered by 

Intelsat EpicNG, Vodacom Business 

Nigeria’s customers will utilize the 

satellite services on Intelsat 35e to 

deliver fast, high quality and resilient 

broadband connectivity to the 

banking, oil and gas, and enterprise 

sectors across West Africa for an 

improved quality of service.


Security breach at the 

Senate: Not a big deal 

Some two months back, I 

was part of a delegation 

of the International Press 

Institute which paid a 

courtesy call on our Senate 

President, Senator Bukola 

Saraki. I honestly didn’t know 

that there was so much security 

built around the National 

Assembly. From about a 

kilometer away, several 

security personnel were 

positioned at more than one 

gate to ensure that no one was 

allowed in without a thorough 

screening to unravel who he 

is and the purpose of his visit. 

I found that, no visitor can 

drive beyond the gates, except 

he has a driver who would 

drop him and return to the car 

park. To ensure the driver does 

exactly that, he has to 

surrender his driving licence 

as a collateral. On the day of 

our visit, the place looked so 

well organized. Our 

delegation was on 

appointment, with foreign 

journalists in the team, but the 

able-bodied personnel 

recruited for the assignment 

handled it as a serious 

business. One of my 

colleagues who tried to 

question the arrangement was 

promptly educated by others 

that our legislators deserve 

respect and honour and if the 

arrangement gives a 

semblance of that so be it. 

Apart from the fact that the 

large security personnel we 

saw showed that the 

legislature was helping to 

tackle unemployment in the 

country, our lawmakers are 

exceedingly important people 

who deserve to be guarded 

and served. 

So, the tight security we met 

could not be faulted. Anyone 

who has ever visited the 

Presidential villa in Abuja 

may readily assume that the 

National Assembly probably 

has more people at its own 

gate but the process of 

entering the villa is not 

comparable. Every visitor to 

the villa must not only be on 

appointment, he has to be 

accredited before entry and 

would be recertified at several 

designated points. In the 

states, seeing a governor is 

almost as tedious. In fact, at 

some point, every visitor must 

drop his mobile phone, 

notwithstanding that it is an 

inevitable social media 

gadget especially for our own 

type of media delegation. We 

experienced it in two states- 

Kwara and Rivers that the 

delegation has so far visited. 

It is not that Nigeria is not in 

tune with current global 

realities on media 

In all honesty, our 

pretentious security 

framework is not 

designed to forestall 

paid hoodlums from 

achieving their goals 

at any location 

technology; the real issue is 

that our political office 

holders are our masters 

unlike many other nations, 

where they are servants of the 

people. Consequently, 

whatever must be done, 

security inclusive, to show that 

our politicians are the most 

important citizens has to be 

done. In other words, security 

in Nigeria does not necessarily 

mean safety, it means 

importance. Security 

operatives are therefore not 

sensitized to bother about the 

safety of those they guard, 

their main relevance is in the 

visible paraphernalia of 

armed men around their 

principals. 

Quite often however, the 

only weapon the security 

operative has is uniform, no 

real arms; and more 

importantly no intelligence 

making him essentially a 

symbol of decoration. This 

explains the rationale for the 

entrenched culture in Nigeria 

where a ‘big’ personality who 

has an address to present at a 

gathering must have another 

citizen in uniform standing 

behind him. Somehow, this 

reality of symbolic protection 

has remained in the front 

burner of Nigeria’s security 

architecture. While many 

people were shocked over last 

Wednesday’s security breach 

in the nation’s highest 

legislative body, I only 

laughed and as at the point 

of this write-up, I was still 

laughing remembering the 

security bottlenecks we had 

to go through when we visited 

the Senate President in 

February. In all honesty, our 

pretentious security 

framework is not designed to 

forestall paid hoodlums 

from achieving their goals at 

any location. Consequently, 

those who invaded the Senate 

and took away the mace did 

so with relative ease and the 

reactions have been 

interesting. There are those 

who think that the goal of the 

invasion was to disrupt a 

Senate that has suddenly 

become recalcitrant; only the 

day before one of its members 

had the effrontery of calling 

for the sack of security chiefs! 

Many people think the 

invasion amounts to treason 

and that the nation needs to 

quickly apprehend the 

invaders and their sponsors. 

But none of the analysts has 

placed the event side by side 

other security issues in the 

country. What for instance is 

the difference between 

snatching a mace and 

snatching a ballot box? The 

latter in my opinion is more 

significant because it suggests 

that no one knows those who 

are validly elected to enjoy the 

mace as a symbol of authority. 

Whereas, last week’s seizure of 

the mace by hoodlums hardly 

happens, hoodlums disrupt 

every election by snatching 

ballot boxes in the full glare of 

several security operatives. 

For example, before a typical 

governorship election, security 

language is used to announce 

that: “there would be 25,000 

personnel along with three 

police Aerial/Surveillance 

Helicopters, ten gun boats, 15 

Armoured Personnel Carriers 

(APC) and 303 police patrol 

vehicles to cover the entire 

state including the riverine 

areas and difficult 

terrains…then, the Nigeria 

Security and Civil Defence 

Corps (NSCDC) would 

deploy 11,000 

officers and 300 dogs, four 

drones, ambulances 

and medical teams as well 

as 115 vehicles for the same 

event.” Amidst all of these, 

ballot boxes and election 

result sheets are still snatched!! 

Meanwhile, reactions to 

security breaches always take 

same pattern. First, everyone 

condemns it, then different 

authorities set up several 

panels to unearth what 

happened. The legislature in 

particular would summon the 

Inspector General of Police 

and other security chiefs and 

a few ministers to explain their 

roles in the subject especially 

how to prevent a recurrence. 

Security organs on their part 

would then begin aggressive 

post mortem security 

arrangements where the 

breach occurred. All car 

booths would be subjected to 

tight searching while some 

citizens would be detained and 

humiliated on the spot for 

inexplicable offences. Few 

weeks later, the situation 

would return to normal until 

another breach occurs again. 

What then is the big deal about 

last week’s breach; is it 

because it concerns the senate? 

Is anything done when it 

concerns the ordinary man the 

legislator purports to 

represent? 

This time around, because 

the elite is at the receiving end, 

our political parties did not as 

usual turn it into an election 

debate; they all condemned it. 

In addition, our proactive 

police have recovered the 

mace well before the deadline 

of 24hours dictated by the 

senate. So, with everyone 

anxious to contribute to the 

search for the culprit, let’s 

remember that if thieves are 

part of a team looking for a 

stolen jewel, it is probably 

stolen forever. 

Demystification of President 

Muhammadu Buhari (4) 

In the last three series, we 

have examined, albeit 

briefly, President 

Muhammadu Buhari’s 

scorecard on the issue of 

security and economic 

management as a public 

servant, including now that he 

is the President and head of 

our ramshackle but 

serviceable democracy. From 

those essays, the inevitable 

conclusion, sentiments aside 

and ignoring the repetitive 

boring insipidities of his 

supporters, is that the facts do 

not match his hyperbolic 

reputation as a disciplined 

retired senior military officer 

with the intellectual and 

moral capacity to tackle 

insecurity effectively and 

manage the economy 

efficiently. The way I see it, if 

indeed Buhari had all the 

qualities attributed to him by 

his sycophantic navigators, 

Nigeria would have been 

much more secure and 

peaceful than it is today, and 

the number of poor, hungry, 

destitute, unemployed, 

frustrated, and suicidal 

Nigerians would not be as 

high as it is right now. But what 

about his anti-corruption 

reputation that, unarguably, 

apart from subterranean 

electoral manipulations, was 

the strongest reason why he 

won in 2015? Is 

Muhammadu Buhari really 

a man of the highest integrity 

and incorruptibility, as was 

claimed by some kingpins of 

the ruling party or is his 

reputation a myth that 

crystallised from his 

draconian and simplistic 

approach to fighting 

corruption as a military 

dictator from 1984 to August, 

1985? Before answering these 

PhD,Department of 

Philosophy, 

University of Lagos 

08116759758 

opuruiche2000@yahoo.com 

questions, I should make it 

clear that mere repetitions of 

a proposition or statement are 

not enough to make it true, 

an object lesson any attentive 

student of history must have 

learnt from Adolf Hitler’s 

propagandist–in-chief, Paul 

Joseph Geobbels. Therefore, 

irrespective of how many 

times President Buhari’s 

supporters affirm their belief 

in his integrity and 

incorruptibility, it behoves us 

to look at the facts 

dispassionately in order to 

separate reality from 

hyperbole. 

For starters, let us ascertain 

first the meanings of integrity 

and incorruptibility. The 

Chambers Twentieth Century 

Dictionary defines integrity as, 

among other things, 

“uprightness: honesty: 

purity,” while the BBC English 

Dictionary explains it as “the 

quality of being firm and 

honest in your moral 

convictions.” Thus, a person 

of integrity is someone whose 

utterances and conduct 

manifest a deep-seated belief 

in the superiority of moral 

humane living over and 

above temporary personal 

advantage or selfish gain. A 

man (always in the sense in 

which woman is also 

included) of integrity not only 

stands by the truth, 

particularly in situations 

where truthfulness would be 

inconvenient 

or 

disadvantageous to his 

personal interest, he also 

keeps his word 

notwithstanding the 

consequences of doing so, 

even if it means dying in the 

process. Historical examples 

include Socrates, Mahatma 

Gandhi, Mother Theresa and 

Nelson Mandela. Making 

allowances for the inherent 

fallibility of humans, it is clear 

that manifestation of integrity 

and other noble moral 

qualities in individuals is a 

matter of degree, but those 

mentioned above serve as 

models of integrity and 

selflessness for billions of 

people worldwide – and 

rightly so, despite their human 

frailties. 

On the issue of 

incorruptibility, it must be 

pointed out that people 

mistake stealing and 

embezzlement of public funds 

as the only form of corruption, 

whereas corruption is a multifaceted 

phenomenon. This 

can be distilled from the 

dictionary meanings of 

“corruption” which include 

“to make putrid: to taint: to 

debase: to spoil: to destroy the 

purity of: to pervert: to bribe.” 

From the foregoing, it follows 

that if something (let us call it 

p) taints, spoils, perverts, 

debases, destroys the purity of, 

or makes putrid another 

thing (q, for instance), then p 

can be said to have corrupted 

q. In this connection, one can 

plausibly argue that 

European enslavement of 

Africans corrupted the natural 

evolution of those African 

communities from where the 

slaves were taken, just as it 

would be to insist that military 

incursion into governance 

which began in 1966 

corrupted the character of 

political praxis in our 

country, Nigeria. 

When people claim that 

President Buhari is 

incorruptible, a man of the 

highest integrity, the 

implication is that he is fairminded 

and very honest; a 

trustworthy man who keeps 

his word and does not change 

his mind simply for egoistic 

reasons; a man who has not 

used his position to enrich 

himself, his family, relatives 

and cronies but has served the 

country selflessly in all the 

positions he had occupied till 

date. Now, let us see whether 

these claims are accurate, and 

our starting point would be 

when he served as federal 

commissioner of petroleum 

resources during the military 

regime of Gen. Olusegun 

Obasanjo in 1977. The most 

serious allegation against 

Buhari then was the alleged 

$2.8 billion missing in the 

Nigerian National Petroleum 

Corporation (NNPC). 

Although some Nigerians 

still believe the story, there is 

another account which 

claims that the story is false: 

that for three years while 

Buhari was still in charge, the 

NNPC had failed to collect 

its equity share of the oil 

produced by Shell, Mobil and 

Gulf, totaling 182.95 million 

barrels. Because NNPC 

could not find buyers for its 

own share, Nigeria lost a 

potential income of $2.8b, 

which was mistakenly 

reported as missing funds by 

the media. Now, assuming 

Fairness, 

impartiality and 

willingness to 

accept 

responsibility 

when one has 

failed are integral 

to integrity: in all of 

this, Buhari is 

below average 

that the second account, not 

the first one, is correct, why 

did the NNPC fail to collect 

its share of crude oil 

produced by its joint venture 

partners and could not find 

buyers after belatedly 

collecting it? Is the failure not 

an indication of Buhari’s 

incompetence? The notion 

that the so-called missing 

money was traced to his 

foreign account is probably 

false, but he cannot escape the 

charge of incompetence 

because, according to reports, 

the tribunal of inquiry 

headed by Justice Ayo Irikefe 

which investigated the matter 

identified serious lapses in 

NNPC’s accounting practices 

that could have facilitated 

corruption. 

As a military head of state, 

Muhammadu Buhari was not 

fair-minded when he put 

former President Shehu 

Shagari under house arrest at 

a comfortable federal facility 

in Ikoyi while he threw his 

deputy, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, 

into Kirikiri prison. He 

employed strong arm tactics 

to deal with politicians 

accused of corruption, but in 

several instances he jailed 

people unnecessarily as a 

result of what some of his 

critics had described as a 

frenzy of sadistic vengefulness. 

Of particular relevance in this 

connection is Dr. Ekwueme, 

who allegedly became poorer 

after serving as Vice-President, 

and Chief Adekunle Ajasin, 

who on three occasions was 

found to be innocent of the 

charges brought against him. 

Other question marks on 

President Buhari’s reputation 

for integrity are the retroactive 

application of a decree that 

stipulated death penalty for 

drug offenders, which led to 

the execution of Bartholomew 

Owoh, Bernard Ogedemgbe 

and Lawal Ojuolape, and the 

fifty-three suitcases saga. For 

a humanist like myself who 

loathes deliberate killing of a 

human being, the 

psychological motivation of 

deterrence for prescribing 

death penalty for heinous 

crimes like genocide, 

terrorism, and ritual killings 

is understandable; applying 

capital punishment in a 

retroactive decree to deal with 

drug offences reveals the 

sadistic character of those 

behind that decree. On the 

other hand, Buhari’s puerile 

attempt to blame Atiku 

Abubakar for the fifty-three 

suitcases scandal involving 

the late emir of Gwandu 

illustrates his penchant to shift 

responsibility for his 

incapacity to other people. 

Fairness, impartiality and 

willingness to accept 

responsibility when one has 

failed are integral to integrity: 

in all of this, Buhari is below 

average. It is on record that 

during the tenth anniversary 

of Gen. Sani Abacha’s death, 

Buhari insisted that the late 

dictator did not steal any 

public funds. Yet, since 

Abacha’s death on June 8, 

1998, successive 

administrations, including 

this one headed by Buhari, 

have been recovering what is 

derogatorily called “Abacha 

loot.” If there was no financial 

rascality by Abacha and his 

cohorts, there would not have 

been any Abacha loot to be 

recovered. In short, unless 

“integrity” has lost its well 

established semantic 

connotations to suit the whims 

and caprices of 

Buharimaniacs, a man who 

denies a serious case of 

larceny probably because of 

ethno-religious 

considerations and the need 

to defend a benefactor cannot 

be rightly regarded as a “man 

of the highest integrity.” 

We now consider 

Muhammadu Buhari’s 

career as a politician: in my 

opinion, by diving into the 

muddy parasitic waters of 

Nigerian politics, the 

President, by his own acts of 

omission and commission 

regarding the anti-corruption 

campaign, has demystified 

himself thoroughly. A man of 

integrity, even if in opposition 

and while rightly 

emphasising the weaknesses 

of his political opponents, 

should at least acknowledge 

the modest achievements of 

the latter. Buhari, on the three 

occasions he lost presidential 

elections, never for once 

accepted defeat as a good 

sportsman would or 

acknowledged the 

achievements of his rivals no 

matter how little they might 

have been by his own 

assessment. Instead, he 

rejected the election results 

based on allegations of 

electoral malpractices and 

went to the judiciary for 

redress. To be clear, Buhari as 

a candidate, just like any 

aggrieved Nigerian, has the 

right to fair hearing in a court. 

Still, for him to repeatedly 

blame others for his political 

failures 

without 

acknowledging his own 

vulnerabilities is, to put it 

mildly, uncharitable. 

To be continued


Projects that 

*Pen-Cinema, 

Agege bridge 

will change the 

face of Lagos 

By Niyi Anibaba 

Last week, Governor Akinwunmi 

Ambode embarked on inspection 

tour of major projects across key 

sectors of Lagos State including 

education, health, tourism and road 

infrastructure. The iconic projects, many 

of which the contractors have assured 

would be completed before the end of the 

year, were conceived and implemented to 

transform the landscape of the state and 

make life comfortable for residents, as 

well as improve on the ranking of Lagos 

as the fifth largest economy in Africa. 

Since assuming office, Ambode has not 

hidden his desire to grow the economy of 

Lagos to be the third largest in Africa, and 

many projects and policies to achieve 

same are being implemented in quick 

succession. 

Considering the fact that the state had 

been punching below its weight in terms 

of infrastructural renewal, the governor, 

from the first day in office, embarked on 

ambitious projects across all sectors to 

the point that the state is now a huge 

construction site. 

Within the first two years 

in office, he commissioned 

several projects including 

two bridges in Abule Egba 

and Ajah, which were 

bedeviled by traffic snarl; 

scaled up security and 

emergency rescue 

operation with state-ofthe-art 

facilities; and 

constructed several inner 

roads to open up the 

hinterland and multiple 

laybys to ease traffic. 

In a recent publication by 

the state government, it 

was revealed that over 100 

projects are ongoing across 

all the sectors, and the 

projects, upon completion, 

would change the face of 

Lagos and set Lagos on 

sound pedestal forever. 

As part of the efforts to 

monitor the progress of 

work and see things for 

himself, Ambode, with 

sleeves rolled up and 

accompanied by top 

members of his cabinet, visited some 

of the sites of the projects and the tour 

offered a first-hand assessment on the 

work done so far. 

The first point of call was the 

Oworonshoki Lagoon reclamation 

project, designed to transform the 

blighted area to major tourism, 

transportation and entertainment 

hubs. 

Speaking at the site, the governor 

clarified that contrary to reports in the 

media, the project was not a housing 

scheme but part of the overall 

programme for Lagos to emerge as the 

entertainment hub for Africa. 

“I have read reports insinuating that 

this project is a housing scheme or 

whether we want to sell the reclaimed 

land. That is not the situation and this 

project is a special one designed to 

make the state emerge as the tourism 

hub of Africa,” he said. 

According to him, 30 hectares of 

land space had been reclaimed out of 

the 50 planned for the scheme while, 

upon completion, the project would 

Ambode added that 

his administration 

accepted the fact 

that a lot of public 

schools in Lagos 

were not in proper 

shape, and that in 

addressing the 

challenge, 

government would 

soon commence 

massive 

rehabilitation of 

public schools 

end the perennial flooding in the area, 

and would also accommodate hotels, 

event centres, cinemas, clubs, bars, 

bus/ferry terminal, parking space with 

capacity for about 1, 000 vehicles, 

among others. 

From the Oworonshoki Lagoon 

reclamation site, the governor and his 

team moved to Ilaje and Bariga axis 

where network of roads were being 

upgraded and a modern jetty being 

built 

While receiving the governor and his 

entourage, the Chairman of Bariga 

Local Council Development Area 

(LCDA), Hon Kolade Alabi, said the 

people of the area were grateful to the 

state government for the projects being 

implemented to make life comfortable 

and boost commerce in their 

neighborhood. 

Responding, Ambode commended 

the contractor handling the roads and 

new jetty projects, Messrs Avatar 

Global Resources Limited, for the level 

of work done and the assurance that 

the projects would be delivered by 

July. 

He recalled the 

deplorable conditions of 

the roads before the 

decision of government 

to intervene, saying it 

was gratifying that the 

projects 

were 

progressing as planned. 

At the inspection of 

ongoing new Model 

College in Sabo area of 

Yaba, billed to be 

delivered in December 

alongside that of Angus 

Model College in 

Shomolu, the governor 

said the intention of his 

administration is to scale 

up infrastructure in 

public schools across the 

state, starting with 

commencement of 

massive rehabilitation of 

public schools. 

Ambode added that his 

administration accepted 

the fact that a lot of public 

schools in Lagos were 

not in proper shape, and that in 

addressing the challenge, 

government would soon commence 

massive rehabilitation of public 

schools. 

From there, the governor moved to 

the Oshodi Transport Interchange 

being constructed by an indigenous 

firm, Messrs Planet Projects. 

The interchange, designed to 

redefine public transportation not only 

in Lagos but also in Nigeria, seeks to 

create a world class central business 

district with focus on transportation, 

security,environment and urban 

renewal. 

The interchange has 3-multi-storey 

bus terminals with waiting area, 

loading bays, ticketing stands, drivers 

lounge, parking areas, conveniences, 

surveillance tower and CCTV 

gadgets. Other features include 

accessible walkways, pedestrian 

bridges/sky-walks to link the three 

terminals, shopping malls with street 

lighting and a dedicated security team 

on ground. Upon completion, the 

project would bring about organised 

transport system, boost intra-tourism 

for Oshodi, bequeath iconic city 

gateway to Lagos, ensure secured and 

comfortable environment, as well as 

economic growth and job creation. 

Speaking after being briefed on the 

level of work done so far by the 

contractor and Managing Director, 

Planet Projects, Mr. Biodun Otunola, 

Ambode said it was gratifying that such 

gigantic project was being constructed 

by a Nigerian firm with 100 per cent 

Nigerian workers. 

“This is a good development for 

Nigeria. The engineers and workers 

here are solely Nigerians and it shows 

that the future prosperity of Nigeria 

is assured,” he said. The Oshodi 

Transport Interchange is expected to 

be delivered by September, 2018. 

At the 10-lane Airport Road project 

being constructed by the state 

government, the governor was assured 

by the contractors handling the project 

that it would be delivered in December 

as the end of the year gift to Lagos 

residents and visitors. 

Ambode, it would be recalled, had 

approved the extension of the project 

to Ladipo International Market axis 

along Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, as 

well as the construction of a 

pedestrian bridge at Toyota Bus Stop in 

response to the yearnings of traders and 

residents of the area. 

Speaking at the U-turn flyover point 

along Airport Road after being briefed 

by Messrs Hi-Tech Construction 

Company, the governor appealed to 

residents to bear with government for 

the inconvenience being experienced 

as a result of the construction work, 

saying the project was designed to 

change the face of Lagos for good and 

improve on the economy. 

“While urging those whose 

structures gave way for the project to 

bear with government, he particularly 

assured that his administration would 

soon commence payment of 

compensation to them once paper 

works were concluded, adding that the 

project, upon completion, would be a 

pride to Lagosians in particular and 

Nigerians in general. 

The design of the Airport Road 

include the reconstruction and 

expansion of the existing carriage to 

three-lane expressway on both 

directions, construction of two-lane 

service road in both directions, 

construction of ramp bridge to provide 

a U-turn from Ajao Estate to the airport, 

construction of a flyover at NAHCO/ 

Toll Gate and drainage works. 

The governor was also at the Maternity 

Centre in Lagos State University Teaching 

Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, popularly 

known as Ayinke House, to inspect the 

progress of work. 

Ayinke House is a 162-bed space facility 

which is expandable to 250, with other 

features such as 22 neo-natal intensive 

care units, 16 intensive care units for 

adults, five fully equipped theatres, 

laboratory, common ward, maternal and 

child care centre, among others. 

Ambode said it was gratifying that the 

Ayinke House, designed to be the major 

baby factory of the state, would be 

delivered in June and commissioned for 

public use in July. Before now, the state 

administration had commissioned a 

helipad for medical emergency at 

LASUTH and also constructed alternative 

road to the hospital to facilitate access to 

the centre. 

The last port of call for the day was the 

ongoing Pen Cinema Flyover, designed 

to significantly address the traffic snarl 

associated with the area, boost commerce 

and improve on the aesthetics of Agege 

and environs. 

Afetr receiving briefings from the 

Commissioner for Works and 

Infrastructure, Engr Adebowale 

Adesanya, and the construction firm 

handling the project, Ambode expressed 

satisfaction with work done, and 

explained the rationale behind the project. 

“When you add the total length of the 

Pen Cinema Bridge together, it is 

equivalent of Ajah and Abule Egba 

Bridges. In terms of the width, it is wider. 

We are impressed with the progress of 

work here; I am actually impressed 

with what has been done in the 

abatement area and the piling that is 

being done”, he said. 

“We believe this flyover will change 

forever the economic landscape of the 

Agege axis because it comes with its 

economic value and expanding our 

infrastructure to this axis by 

complementing what we have in Abule 

Egba is the right way to go. I just want 

to encourage the contractors to deliver 

on schedule by December”. 

Interestingly, other projects spread 

across the state, like the J.K Randle 

Centre, reconstructed Onikan 

Stadium, among others, are expected 

to be completed at the same time with 

above projects 

In all of the areas visited by the 

governor, the people were visibly 

happy with the projects ongoing in 

their neighborhood and were ready to 

sacrifice today for a better future. 

One can only imagine what the 

mood of the people would be upon 

completion of the projects in 

December as promised. For sure, the 

Lagos landscape would never be the 

same again. 

Anibaba, a journalist, lives in 

Ikorodu.


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COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVEL 

VELTY BASED SOLUTION (ADVER 

VERTORIAL) 

I am madly in love with this girl 

and I recently discovered she is 

sixteen years old. She will be 

getting into the university by 

the end of this year. We have 

been intimate I must confess 

but now I am worried about the 

consequences if maybe her 

family finds out. I really love 

her - Kenneth 

Kenneth an underage girl is not 

the only female out there that 

you can have a relationship 

with. An underage girl is a 

child. You cannot have a 

physical relationship with 

children. So if you cannot wait 

till she is eighteen years of age, 

you should terminate the 

relationship immediately. You 

can go to jail for this if her 

family finds out so start 

thinking with your head. 

Yes young girls develop early 

and look like mature women 

even at the age of thirteen. But 

they are still considered 

children until they are 

eighteen years of age. Why? 

Because love matters can bring 

a lot of complications to one’s 

life and only mature people are 

best prepared to handle such 

complications. Having breasts 

and pubic hair does not make 

a girl an adult. Most of these 

young girls you see lack the 

means, maturity and 

qualification with which to 

take care of themselves not to 

talk of taking care of a new born 

baby, raising a family, coping 

with in-laws, a failing 

economy, dealing with the 

consequences of a broken heart 

or a sexually transmitted 

disease. So internationally, 18 

was agreed upon as the age at 

which one can be considered an 

adult. At the age of 18 years, you 

don’t have all the answers but at 

least you are older and can find 

a minimum wage job to support 

yourself and a family should you 

get pregnant or get someone 

pregnant – Uche 

Please help. After having sex 

for about 30 seconds and I 

climax, I will not be able to 

achieve erection again no 

matter how long I engage in 

foreplay. I just cannot 

achieve erection again after 

one round – Maxwell 

Maxwell, this is normal for 

many people. The human body 

needs recovery time before it 

gets another erection. Some 

people experience long recovery 

times while others recover 

faster. I understand that this is 

not convenient for you so I will 

recommend solutions that can 

help you recover faster. 

Performance supplements are 

best for this. To get a second 

erection soon after climaxing 

the first time, get Libigrow 

Extreme supplement or Blue 

Turbo Pills. Any of these two 

performance supplements will 

enable you last longer during 

intercourse, avoid premature 

ejaculation, perform with a big 

and strong erection and also 

have the stamina for multiple 

rounds of intercourse– Uche 

Good day sir. My problem is 

premature ejaculation. It is 

not so bad now because I use 

Max Man Delay Ointment 

just like you suggested. It is 

just that when I don’t use it, I 

go back to being a one 

minute man – Yusuf 

Yusuf this is why you should use 

the ointment whenever you want 

to have sex. It is topical so you 

can use it as often as you want. 

One bottle can last up to six 

months and will help you have 

months of great intercourse. So 

don’t ration it – Uche 

Please how can one avoid 

contacting Zika virus 

through sex? I hear it can be 

transmitted through sex – 

Chinedu 

Yes it can be transmitted 

through sex just like many 

other sexually transmitted 

diseases so use a condom during 

sex and watch who you kiss 

because the saliva can also 

transmit a lot of these diseases 

– Uche 

I never used to enjoy sex or 

have an orgasm until I 

bought a vibrator from you 

and it changed my sex life. 

Thank you for your help. I 

never knew such a thing 

could help me – Gloria 

You are welcome – Uche 

That is all for today. Adults in 

need of these treatments/ 

novelties can call us on 

08171912551, 08027901621 

or 07086754515 for help or 

v i s i t 

www.zeevirtualmedia.comto 

place their orders with their 

computers or on their phones 

with thezee mobile shopping 

app. Zee Virtual Media delivers 

all over Nigeria. For enquiries 

email us at 

zeevirtualmedialtd@gmail.com- 

Uche Edochie, MD, Zee 

Virtual Media.


PSP Operators Sue Lagos Govt. 

Over Environmental Law 

amended.” 

The summons issued by the applicants’ 

solicitor, David Fadile Esq. of 

Shalom Chambers, upon an application 

filed by the two men, who 

Hopes for a quick resolution In the suit filed at the Lagos Judicial 

Division, the applicants con- 

Arising from the operation of the claimed that they were among the 

in the state on local governments. 

of the faceoff between 

Lagos State Waste Managers 

Association of Nigeria and the mental Law, particularly Sections tors submitted that the concession (PSP) appointed through the state 

tended that Part 111 of the Environ- 

law, therefore, the two waste opera- 

about 360 Private Sector Operators 

state government were dashed last 42, 53, 54, 55, 56, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63 granted and the licence issued to the Ministry of Environment between 

week after two members of the association 

dragged the latter and fourth respondent (Ministry of Entation 

Solutions Limited) by the 5th ments to operate along political 

and 64, which seeks to empower the 6th respondent (Visionscape Sani- 

1999 and 2003 by local govern- 

VisionScape Sanitation Solutions vironment) and fifth respondent respondent is unconstitutional and wards across the LGAs in the state, 

Limited, a foreign firm appointed (Lagos State Waste Management asked for a declaration that “save asserted that the new Lagos State 

to replace waste managers in the Authority (LAWMA) to control, regulate, 

and administer refuse, sewage any concession granted, licence is- 

Protection Law 2017, places, rests, 

and except by a local government, Environmental Management and 

collection and disposal of domestic 

waste, before a Lagos High Court and waste disposal in the state is inconsistent 

with the 1999 Constitu- 

entered into by the 1st, 4th and 5th spondents to control, regulate and 

sued, contract and/or agreement and empowers the 4th and 5th re- 

over the Environmental Management 

Protection Law 2017 and the tion. 

respondents with the 6th respondent administer refuse and waste disposal 

legality of the appointment of the The PSP waste operators want the either specifically or generally with in all areas of the state, an issue that 

firm. 

court to nullify the law and compel any other groups or organisations, is within the exclusive preserve of 

The crisis, which had ensued following 

the government’s introduc- 

General and the state House of As- 

and exclusive operation of manag- 

and Paragraph 1(H) of the 4th 

the state government, the Attorney entity, person(s) or body for the sole the LGAs pursuant to Section 7(5) 

tion of the Cleaner Lagos Initiative sembly, being the 1st- 3rd respondents 

in the matter, to forthwith domestic solid waste in Lagos State in breach of their legal and constiing, 

collecting and/or dispensing Schedule of the 1999 Constitution 

and the decision to restrict the Private 

Sector Participating (PSP) comply with Section 7(5) and Paragraph 

(H) of the 4th Schedule of the vires and inconsistent with the pro- 

business of waste collection and 

is unconstitutional, illegal, ultra tutional rights as stakeholders in the 

waste operators to commercial 

waste collection and disposal, had 1999 Constitution and vest the control, 

management, operations and graph 1(H) of the 4th Schedule of No date has been fixed for the 

visions of Section 7(5) and Para- 

management in Lagos. 

seen the administration and the 

waste managers locked in battle for regulation of all wastes and refuse the 1999 constitution as mention of the case. 

the past one year. 

Claims and counter claims of the 

resolution of the issue had become 

a sing song until last week when a 

suit was instituted at the Lagos High 

Court by two members of the PSP 

waste operators in which they argued 

that the state Environmental 

Management and Protection Law 

under which government’s Cleaner 

Lagos Initiative was promoted is 

unconstitutional, null and void. 

Alhaji Oladipo Egbeyemi and Mr. 

David Oriyomi are asking the court 

in Suit No. Temp/35880/2018 for an 

order to void any law, particularly 

Part 111 of the Environmental Management 

and Protection Law 2017, 

which seeks to regulate the management, 

control and administration of 

refuse, sewage and waste disposal 

along other incidental and ancillary 

matters in the state, claiming that •Burutu LGA Chairman, Hon. Godknows Angele, commissioned some projects to mark his 

the action is inconsistent with the first 100 days in office. Angele (2nd left), Vice Chairman, Hon. Conbolous K. Ikisa left) paramount 

1999 Constitution as amended. ruler of Seimbiri Kingdom HRM Charles Ayemi-Botu (middle) some Peoples Democratic Party 

(PDP) stalwarts at the occasion. 

Burutu Fed. Constituency: Pondi doing nothing to attract FG presence - Group 

*I don’t join issues with people, my records are there – Lawmaker 

A 

pressure group, Vanguard for 

Infrastructure and Human 

Capacity Development, in Burutu 

LGA, Delta State, has accused the 

lawmaker representing Burutu 

Federal Constituency in the House 

of Representatives, Hon. Julius 

Pondi, of being ineffective to attract 

infrastructural development to 

Burutu and suggested he should not 

be voted for second term. 

Pondi replied when contacted on 

phone, “I will not join issues with 

people who say whatever they like 

about me. My records are there for 

people to see”. 

The group, which spoke in a 

release signed by the Burutu LGA 

Coordinator, Mr. Tuodolo 

Ekpolaemiyo, said, “In this present 

political dispensation, Burutu has 

not been able to attract any project 

from the federal government. This 

is sad; we never had it this bad in 

previous dispensations. A lawmaker 

has a tripartite role: To make law, 

influence projects and oversight 

functions. In this era, we only had 

failed motions upon motions whose 

life span ends at committee level in 

the House. 

“We need infrastructures from our 

representatives that can declare war 

against deficit of infrastructure and 

human capacity development. 

Motions that are murdered at 

committee level in the House are 

not our concern but peopleoriented 

projects such as 

electricity, pipe-borne water, 

shoreline protection and land 

reclamation, schools, markets, 

roads just to mention. 

“It is going to be appalling to 

Firm organises free check-up for TVS tricycles 

By HEtop Ekanem 

undreds of riders recently 

benefited from a five-day 

mega free check-up organised by 

Simba Group for TVS tricycles in 

Ajah area of Lagos State. The event 

which took place at Angel Builders 

Marts involved free check-up for TVS 

tricycles operating in the area. The 

group also organised free medical 

check-up for the riders, which involved 

diabetes, eye-checks, sugar level 

among others. 

Speaking at the event, Vivek 

Pendharkar said the check-up was 

organised to give it back to the society 

which has been supporting the 

company in the past 10 years of their 

operation in Nigeria. 

He said: “We have been here for 

more than 10 years and now we feel it 

is the right time for us to give back to 

the people who have been supporting 

our business.” 

According to him, “TVS tricycles 

have become means of empowering 

the people toward a better livelihood, 

better facilities. We are in the process 

of upgrading our tricycle to a new 

level. We have already launched King 

Delux Plus, which is rider-friendly, fuelsaver 

among other good qualities that 

make the rider comfortable. TVS 

tricycles have become a new means 

of for people including graduates 

have either to been jobless. It has 

become respectable profession. 

He called on everyone to to join 

hands and encourage them so that 

the youths would not go back to the 

street and take to crime. 

On appeal by the Addo Unit 

chairman of riders association to 

make the TVS tricycles affordable, 

note that federal lawmaker from 

Burutu will be or is bereaved of 

our pains. He should not be voted 

for second tenure.” 

When contacted on phone to 

name some of his achievements 

so far, Pondi said, “I am not one 

to join issues with people, so 

kindly publish the story you told 

me about. My records are there 

for people to see”. 

The group thanked Governor 

Ifeanyi Okowa for the projects 

on going in Burutu and urged the 

federal lawmaker to replicate 

same through constituency projects. 

National Sales Manager, TVS, Mr 

Deji Olaniye, said the company was 

working towards making the product 

available at affordable price. 

On producing TVS tricycles in 

Nigeria, he said they are working 

toward it, saying the company is 

planning the production of tricycle 

components in the country. 

Lions club donates N2.6m items to Warri Prisons 

By Akpokona Omafuaire 

WARRI -THE Warri Liberty 

Lions Club has donated a 

kitchen facility worth N2.6 million 

to the Nigerian Prisons Service, 

Okere, Warri. 

The President of the club, Mrs 

Maureen Moreira in her address of 

welcome, said the facility was to 

meet the needs of the inmates, the 

prison authority, help to protect the 

environment from pollution and 

also provide shelter during cooking. 

She added that the project would 

prevent health hazards emanating 

from fumes inhaled by the inmates, 

the prison officials and the 

neighbouring residents. 

“This project is coming at a time 

where the inmates go through 

herculean tasks in preparing their 

meals as the rain either washes off 

their meals or soak the firewood. 

“The pollution of the environment 

from the emissions and inhalation 

of the smoke by inmates and nearby 

residents cannot be overemphasised 

considering the 

condition in which the cooking of 

their meals takes place. 

“With this project, we are protecting 

the environment from pollution, 

providing suitable shelter during 

cooking. 

The project which also housed seven 

local ovens for cooking was 

inaugurated by Mr Olatunbosun 

Okpeseyi, District Governor 404AI 

of the Lions Club. 

In his remark, Okpeseyi urged the 

prison authority to make good use 

of the facility to attract other 

projects. 

Reacting, the Deputy Controller, 

Okere Prisons, Mr Solomon 

Airiohuovon thanked the Lions 

Club for the donation. 

War of words 

as Delta 

APGA A crisis 

deepens 

Amid the crisis rocking the All 

Progressives Grand Alliance 

(APGA) in Delta State, the 

embattled Chairman of the party in 

the state, Hon. Afamefune 

Enemokwu, has accused his deputy, 

Mr Emmanuel Ibordo, of trying to 

destabilise the party. 

He also alleged that some persons 

causing confusion in Labour Party 

were the ones causing confusion in 

APGA. 

Afamefune, who spoke in an 

interview, described the alleged crisis 

rocking the party as non-existent, 

saying the whole thing was the 

machination of some persons now 

on the run, following a manhunt 

for them by the police for allegedly 

falsifying documents to destroy the 

party. 

Ibordor, in a swift reaction, dared 

Afamefune to substantiate the 

allegation that he was trying to 

destabilize the party. 

He advised the Chairman to, 

rather than pointing accusing 

finger, be concerned about how to 

respond to the financial 

mismanagement allegations 

levelled against him by the party , 

adding: “ He (Afamefune) has been 

requested by the national body of 

the party to give account of his 

stewardship as that is the cause of 

the problem. 

“ Mr. Afamefune Enemokwu is 

economical with the truth on the 

financial and unethical allegations 

that led to his suspension. For the 

records, nobody is sponsoring 

anyone. I dare him, let him prove 

the allegation that a sitting senator 

is sponsoring a leader. 

“ Nobody is on the run as claimed 

by Afamefune. In fact, the APGA 

national body is already 

intervening. In no distant date, the 

truth will suffice.” 

The party’s leadership had 

unanimously appointed Ibodor to 

serve as the state Acting Chairman 

of APGA pending the report of a 

committee set up by the party to 

investigate the allegations leveled 

against Afamefune. 

The resolution was reached in 

Ozoro, headquarters of Isoko North 

Local Government Area of Delta 

during an enlarged meeting of party 

after the leadership allegedly failed 

to gain entry into the party’s state 

secretariat in Asaba, the state 

capital. 

PDP chieftain 

advises Buhari on 

Nigerian youths 

*Commends 

Atiku 

Abubakar 

A chieftain of the Peoples 

Democratic Party,PDP, in Delta 

State, Chief Sunny Onuesoke, 

has advised President 

Muhammadu Buhari not to see 

Nigerian youths as lazy but 

valuable, hardworking and 

intelligent people on which the 

future of the country rests, 

commending former Vice 

President Atiku Abubakar for 

describing Nigerian youths as 

enterprising and the backbone 

of the nation’s success. 

Reacting to the President’s 

statement while addressing 

Nigerian youths in an 

empowerment programme 

organized by Onuesoke 

Foundation in Warri, Delta 

State, Onuesoke said for 

Mr. President to see Nigerian 

youths as lazy only shows that 

there is probably a disconnect 

between him and the reality on 

ground. 

`


How business leaders can 

create enduring success 

– Budhwar, TEXEM 

TEXEM Executive Director, Professor Pawan Budhwar, 

in this interview, speaks on how business leaders can 

achieve success that is enduring. He spoke ahead of 

TEXEM’S programme holding in Lagos next month. 

What makes TEXEM different 

from other consultancy firms? 

Before I answer the question, allow me to 

share with you some of TEXEM’s unique 

selling points: 

-Good reputation in offering tailored, 

relevant and context-rich executive 

education programmes which are 

relevant and have an impact on the bottom 

line. 

-Network of critical stakeholders in 

Europe and North America that TEXEM 

has worked with in the past, which they 

could deploy towards the delivery of 

executive development programmes. 

-The impressive track record on customer 

satisfaction with 60% of her delegates 

being repeat customers. 

-Understanding of the challenges that 

organisations face and committed, 

distinguished advisory board, which have 

a passion for the growth of Africa. 

-Great networking opportunities with very 

senior executives as participants and over 

six hundred years of combined experience 

of participants and faculties in every 

programme thus steepening the learning 

curve of participants via peer to peer 

learning moderated by 

world-renowned faculties. 

How do you create 

enduring success in an 

organisation? 

Leaders can learn how to 

create enduring success by 

attending the forthcoming 

programme coming up on 

the 2nd and 3rd of May at 

Eko Hotel, Lagos, Nigeria. 

But in brief, organisations 

can enhance their rate of 

success by learning from own 

and others’ mistakes. They 

could also achieve enduring 

success by pursuing effective 

and efficient change 

management; continuous 

exploration of new ideas, 

mechanisms, and initiatives 

for innovation, improvement 

of systems and products; 

diversifying on a regular 

basis; building and 

sustaining unique/ 

differentiated core; being a 

learning organisation; creating a 

synergistic interdependence between 

crucial function; amongst others. 

How can purpose and people be 

aligned towards a successful 

organisation? 

One way of achieving this would be by 

aligning organisational vision/mission to 

its strategy and goals. Make sure these 

are actionable to all employees by 

cascading, i.e., ensuring the 

ECNO Mobile has unveiled a new 

Tsmartphone series called the F Series. 

The mid-range smartphones come with 

impressive processing memory and 

commendable cameras, full display IPS Touch 

screen, 2MP front cameras for F1 and F2, 

and 5MP front cameras for POP1 (F3). 

TECNO F series is powered by Android 

Oreo (Go Edition) which is optimized to 

offer consumers lots of benefits including a 

smooth and fast experience for devices with 

1GB of RAM or even less, then provide new 

and re-imagined Google apps for entrylevel 

smartphones including Google Go, 

YouTube Go, and the Google Assistant for 

Android (Go edition) with enhanced data 

One way of 

achieving 

this would 

be by 

aligning 

organisational 

vision/ 

mission to 

its strategy 

and goals 

organisational vision is translated into 

lower level objectives; by connecting dots; 

the adoption of balanced scorecards can 

be considered; guaranteeing meaningful 

communication; and optimal use of vital 

organisational resources. 

How can aligning performance and 

process lead to building a 

successful organisation? 

Organisational alignment can be vertical 

and horizontal and when achieved results 

in improved performance leading to 

organisational success. Vertical 

organisational alignment can be obtained 

via the process of ensuring that there is: a 

fit between external environment/forces 

and business/corporate strategy (i.e., the 

required strategic emphasis); and key 

functional strategies (e.g., HR, 

Marketing, etc.) are also aligned with the 

business strategy. This results in the 

creation of strategic fit, which is 

fundamental not only to competitive 

advantage but also to the sustainability 

of that advantage. The horizontal 

alignment, on the other hand, is created 

by the process of ensuring coherence 

between core organisational functions, 

resulting in the creation of 

a synergistic effect leading 

to enhanced performance 

and organisational success. 

What is the difference 

between developing a 

successful organisation 

and building a 

successful organisation 

that endures? 

A successful organisation 

can be defined in a variety 

of ways depending on a 

given stakeholder’s 

viewpoint. It can be defined 

regarding market 

leadership, profitability, 

reputation, achievement of 

action/target/goal in a 

given period, monetary 

rewards, or positive impact 

on others, amongst others. 

There are few ways of 

building an enduring 

organization, these include: 

by embedding resilience in 

their businesses, can act fast 

to respond to forces of change (e.g., 

competition, demands, technological 

advancements, etc.), continuously 

transforming by developing new 

competence and capabilities. Others are 

by minimizing the gap between intention 

and needed actions, having proactive and 

agile leadership, having a strong culture 

aligned to a clear vision, providing 

extraordinary returns of key stakeholders 

on an ongoing basis, amongst others. 

What actions can be explored towards 

TECNO Mobile unveils smartphone 

efficiency. 

In line with the partnership with Google, 

the TECNO F1 will come with superb data 

offering for MTN subscribers. These 

subscribers will have access to enjoy 100% 

data bonus on every MTN data bundle 

purchased for 6-months. 

In the same vein, 9Mobile has also 

partnered with TECNO Mobile to extend 

amazing offers to customers who 

purchase the TECNO F2. Customers will 

get 2GB instant bonus, plus 100% bonus 

on all data plans purchased for the first 

6-months after purchase. 

Speaking at the event the Teju Ajani, 

Country Manager, Android, Nigeria,Teju 

•Professor Pawan Budhwar 

achieving an enduring success in 

the organisation? 

This can be achieved by having the right 

leadership which can ensure a relevant 

business model in place (and nextgeneration 

business model already in 

development and how the migration 

should take place). The leader must be 

strategic and be able to access 

opportunities within their clients, design 

processes to reach new level of 

performance, having relevant tools to 

create and sustain change, amongst others 

Could it be said that failing to align 

organisational purpose, process, people 

and performance would be the first step 

to a failing organisation? 

Perhaps, but many times it might not be 

observable straightaway, i.e., if the 

mentioned are not aligned, then the 

organisation will fail. Also, there can be 

many other factors which might be 

contributing to organisational failure 

apart from alignment. It is worth 

noting that alignment, as it is 

portrayed here, is not easy, and also 

realignment is further challenging 

and might not be achieved in the short 

term because of factors such as lack of 

integration between systems, different 

challenges (e.g., related to costs and 

regulations), etc. 

What are the steps executives 

can take towards aligning 

purpose, process, performance, 

and people? 

It has to start with a clear and 

ambitious vision, a clear 

organisational purpose, the right 

strategy which is in line with external 

forces, effective leadership, 

engagement of employees, vertical 

and horizontal alignment, relevant 

organisational capabilities, access to 

resources, and appropriate 

management systems. 

Why should executives attend this 

programme? 

Let me share with you some testimonials 

from previous delegates of TEXEM and 

Ajani, said: “Android Oreo (Go edition) 

is specifically optimised to bring the 

magic of Google and Android to 

smartphones with limited memory and 

processing power. We’re excited to see 

TECNO take the next step towards 

bringing computing to more people by 

launching Android Oreo (Go edition) 

phones.” 

‘We are also delighted to announce our 

partnership with Google. As the mobile 

industry continue to evolve and 

consumers continue to ask for more, we 

are certain that with our expertise and 

resourceful partnerships with the likes of 

Google, we will be able to effectively cater 

for the needs of mobile phone consumers 

in emerging markets across the world” Arif 

Chowdhury, Vice President of TECNO 

concluded. 

so you can be the judge: 

“It’s been a really intellectually energising 

exercise. I think it’s a Global standard and 

I have gotten lots of insights already”. 

Chijioke Ugochukwu, ED Shared 

Services, Fidelity Bank. 

“I’m glad to be part of this session. Firstly, 

the resource people are quite commendable 

and the form of case studies are enlightening. 

I’m delighted with the quality of colleagues in 

there and the ideas shared from 

experience. This is a session I will like to 

be part of again”. Bosun Sosanya, 

Executive Director, Halogen 

“It’s the first time Im doing a local 

programme in Nigeria and it’s actually 

quite interesting. The first thing I liked 

about it is the diversity of the participants. 

I also like the edgy conversations we had 

with Christian and Alim. It’s quite thought 

provoking”. Effiong Okon, Operations 

Director, Seplat. 

“I have enjoyed every part of it. It’s been 

wonderful. The lecturers have put in their 

best. I will recommend this course for 

anyone who wants to grow his business. 

And it’s a worthwhile course to attend for 

business executives”. Ambrose Okoh, 

Controller of Programme, Channels TV 

“During the programme, we have been 

able to understand the value that people 

add to the growth of an organisation. If 

you look at the entire experience, there’s 

a mind shift and a lot of drive added to 

the organisation to ensure that the 

success level is sustained”. Molade 

Faseru, Divisional Head, Retail 

Banking, GTB. 

Microsoft, TEF 

collaborate 

to provide 

business 

training for 

entrepreneurs 

Microsoft 4Africa Initiative said it's 

partnering the Tony Elumelu 

Foundation, TEF, in supporting Nigeria 

entrepreneurs and across the African 

continent to provide access to cloud-based 

software, new market, technical and 

business training. 

Microsoft said it's also providing one-onone 

mentorship for entrepreneurs. 

Speaking in Lagos to mark the fifth 

anniversary of Microsoft 4Africa, Regional 

Director Amrote Abdella, shared details 

around the history and impact of the 

Initiative in the African region, as well as 

broader insights on how Nigeria is 

progressing in terms of its digital 

transformation. 

“Nigeria is an important innovation hubone 

which is largely influencing the digital 

transformation of West Africa. As technology 

becomes larger part of our lives, businesses 

and industries, it is essential to ensure 

meaningful and inclusive adaption.” 

She added: “This can only be achieved by 

ensuring that youth, entrepreneurs and 

governments have affordable access to the 

internet, relevant digital skills and 

opportunities for innovation. Our threepronged 

approach is empowering every 

person and organisation to take advantage 

of the technological age.” 

Also speaking, Microsoft Nigeria Country 

Manager, Akin Banwo, said the Initiative 

has also partnered with local innovation 

hubs, accelerators and Small Medium 

Enterprises, SME enablers – including 

AfriLabs, DEMO Africa and Seedstars – to 

offer support and training, and identify high 

potential start-ups for investment. Some of 

the Nigerian start-ups 4Afrika has invested 

in include Gamsole, MyMusic and 

SpacePointethat , he stated. 

He further said that Microsoft 4Afrika has 

launched two AppFactories – or 

Apprenticeship Factories – in Nigeria, in 

partnership with local partners Lotus Beta 

Analytics and Sidmach Technologies 

Limited. 

The AppFactory equips ICT graduates 

with in-demand skills and experience in 

designing and deploying modern software 

solutions, turning them into highly sought 

after software engineers, he noted.

Between your attitude and 

your miracle 

Thanks be to God Almighty 

that has seen you and I 

through the first half of the 

month of April. Father, we 

thank you. 

Having looked at Easter 

and some of the characters 

around our Lord Jesus at that 

crucial time, it’s time to look 

at our own attitude towards 

God. 

Our attitude towards God 

and his work are very 

important. Why you may ask? 

This is because just as our 

attitude to fellow human 

beings is crucial to our 

relationship, it is the same 

way with God. Our attitude 

can either fast-track our 

miracles or deny us our 

miracles? 

For some people, it does not 

matter when they get to 

church. Though they reside 

quite close to the church, 

they’d rather be in church 

when the ‘noise’ associated 

with praise worship is over. 

Others do not see any reason 

to be at the Sunday school 

service that precedes the 

actual morning service. 

Therefore, they would rather 

take their time to be in church. 

If you take your time to attend 

to God, may you not make the 

Lord take his time to respond 

to your request. 

For another set of people, 

the church service is a place 

to show off their latest attire. 

Who is putting on what? 

Brethren let’s not lose focus 

of why we attend church 

services. First is for the 

salvation of our souls, to 

worship the Lord and present 

our supplications to the Lord. 

Whether we admit or not, at 

a point in time, one is 

confronted with an issue that 

only God can make it happen. 

We therefore need to establish 

a relationship with the 

Almighty God. To do this, is 

to maintain a cordial 

relationship with Him. 

The more you distance 

yourself from the service of 

God, prayer and 

thanksgiving, the more you 

distance yourself from the 

miracle you expect. 

Miracle gives us joy. It puts 

an end to challenges. It makes 

us happy but a miracle is not 

picked up on the streets. Not 

at all. You must desire a 

change from one spot to 

another and work towards it. 

Is it possible for a student 

who wants to be the best 

academic student in his 

institution to be distanced 

from his books? In the same 

way, a Christian who needs a 

breakthrough must move 

Driver’s Meal Ticket 

What we see today is that 

the season of weddings 

is now an all-round celebration 

come rain come 

shine. The nuptial knots are 

being tied on a regular basis 

now, so wedding protocol is 

becoming part of our daily 

lifestyle. I like the way the couple 

or the families now go out 

of their way to provide save 

the date letters, full detailed 

invites, and now they go the 

extra mile to remember that 

the drivers themselves also 

need to be taken care of on 

such occasions. To a large extent 

many weddings celebrate 

both the engagement and the 

wedding just days apart within 

the same week. It is never 

an easy task to send out invites 

for a two day saga to the 

same person or family. As is 

traditional the wedding of 

young couple has become a 

show of love, affection, support 

and generosity for the 

couple and the family at large. 

Personally when I attend 

events I specifically like to ensure 

that my driver gets something 

to eat, after all it can be 

a whole day affair running 

from the church to the wedding 

hall for the reception. It 

seem really unfair for your 

driver to go unfed the entire 

time. 

I remember recently having 

spent quite a while at a grand 

wedding with lots of pomp 

and pageantry. I was there 

with a group of friends, enjoying 

the day. At the time of leaving 

when one of my friends 

driver pulled up it dawned on 

her that her driver had not 

eaten the whole day and infact 

the meal ticket that came 

along with the invite was actually 

on her. No apology for 

her negligence, the damage 

had been done. 

What do you do with the driver’s 

meal ticket when you see 

it in an invite? 

Many times I have heard 

drivers say their bosses did not 

give them any card. They either 

end up fighting tooth and 

nail for a pack of food or they 

unfortunately go without eating. 

It is time to be vigilant 

and more caring when you 

attend such functions with 

your driver. 

A nice new trend we see is 

that the event organizers and 

host families inwell planned 

closer to God. 

Waiting on the Lord for a 

breakthrough is not a sin and 

one should not be stigmatized 

for waiting on the Lord. 

Indeed for anyone to 

experience a great change, 

you must wait on the Lord. 

However, it is not how long 

we wait on the Lord that 

determines how God responds 

to our request but the manner 

in which we make our 

presentation also matters. 

Ist Samuel 1 vs. 9-17 gives 

us a vivid description of how 

Hannah got her miracle. Let’s 

consider verses 10-12 “ And 

she was in bitterness of soul, 

and prayed unto the Lord , 

and wept sore. And she vowed 

a vow, and said O LORD of 

Hosts, if thou wilt indeed look 

on the affliction of thine 

handmaid, and remember 

me, and not forget thine 

handmaid, but wilt give unto 

thine handmaid a man child, 

then I will give him unto the 

LORD all the days of his life, 

and there shall no razor come 

upon his head. And it came 

to pass, as she continued 

praying before the LORD, that 

Eli marked her mouth”. 

Note that Hannah called 

on the Lord of Hosts. She 

called on the man of war 

because she knew she was 

facing a battle to save her 

marriage. A battle to have a 

joyful home and keep one. 

She was determined to have 

her own child but she also 

knew that neither her efforts 

nor that of hers and her 

husband combined could 

bring in that unspeakable joy 

she so much desired. 

I don’t know what is your 

heart’s desire but I know there 

out weddings are now providing 

“Meal Tickets” for the 

drivers. This is step in the right 

direction, to help feed the drivers 

themselves. It is important 

to manage the execution well 

as it can be a very chaotic ordeal. 

At some occasions I have 

seen drivers fight on top of 

themselves just for a pack of 

food. The distribution sets in 

elements of bias and prejudice 

where some drivers get 

more than one pack while others 

get none. 

The driver’s meal ticket itself 

is just a small card that 

entitles your driver to a pack 

of food, a drink and probably 

water as stipulated by the 

celebrants.Thankfully event 

planners and party hosts are 

taking into consideration all 

who attend such events and 

all who need to eat. In the past 

food would be catered for just 

the main guests, as it would 

be charged per head. I am 

now happy to see that a special 

driver’s pack has been 

created and many people are 

is something that you know 

that unless God intervenes, 

you may never have it. 

Therefore, move your mind 

to the state that Hannah 

moved hers. Those who came 

to eat and drink at Shiloh 

meant nothing to her. All she 

wanted was to have her child. 

Do you really desire a 

change? Then, get more 

determined with prayer. 

Let’s look at the observation 

Brethren to have a 

real change, you 

must desire it. Move 

a step further and 

dream your change 

of Pastor Eli and the response 

of Hannah as recorded in 1st 

Samuel 1 vs. 14&15 “ And Eli 

said unto her, How long wilt 

thou be drunken? put away 

they wine from thee. And 

Hannah answered and said, 

No, my lord, I am a woman 

of a sorrowful spirit: I have 

drunk neither wine nor strong 

drink , but have poured out 

my soul before the LORD”. 

Have you really been 

pouring out your soul to the 

Lord when you pray? It is 

important that you pour out 

your soul for you to move God. 

Remember, you are not the 

only one calling upon the 

Lord. Every believer is but 

many times, our attitude to 

prayer, worship, 

thanksgiving, service to the 

Lord determines when and 

how God respond’s to our 

needs. 

See the Holy Bible’s record 

of a man called Cornelius . 

following suit. I decided to 

write a few etiquette strategies 

in respect of this Drivers Meal 

Ticket just to raise the awareness 

and to sensitize us on how 

best to execute the use of these 

tickets not just to keep them 

inside the envelops. 

DRIVERS MEAL TICKET 

ETIQUETTE 

Identify the distribution of 

food at your event 

Today unless you have decided 

to cater for everyone at 

your event regardless of who 

they maybe. It is a good idea 

to separate the cooking portal 

and the distribution of food 

between your guests and the 

domiciliary guests. Many 

times when you get to an event 

you are told that the food has 

finished, it is because to a 

large extent; everyone is eating 

from the main source,that 

has been set aside for your 

main guests. To avoid angry 

and disgruntled guests always 

have another caterer 

provide meals for your domiciliary 

guests. They will feel 


Acts 10 vs. 2 “ A devout man, 

and one that feared God will 

all his house, which gave 

much alms to the people , and 

prayed to God always”. 

An Angel appeared to 

Cornelius , Acts 10 vs. 4 “ And 

when he looked on him, he 

was afraid, and said, What is 

it Lord? And he said unto him, 

Thy prayers and thine alms 

are come up for a memorial 

before God”. Note what made 

God answer the prayer of 

Cornelius. 

Brethren to have a real 

change, you must desire it. 

Move a step further and 

dream your change. Are you 

a banker not even at the 

managerial level yet but it is 

your desire to become the 

managing director of a bank 

some day. Pray, take the 

necessary steps that you need 

to take as a professional, pour 

out your heart to the Lord and 

possibly make a vow like 

Hannah did. 

Are you asking why is a vow 

so important? A vow is 

important because it presents 

you as one who is not selfish. 

It shows that you are also 

willing to give something 

back to the Lord. What can 

you give God that he does not 

have? But the important thing 

is the spirit behind your 

action. A spirit of gratitude. 

When you begin to dream 

it, then decree it into your life. 

Are you struggling with 

finances, begin to tell God 

that you know he does not 

want to you to be poor. 

Remind him of his word in 2nd 

Corinthians 8 vs. 9 “ For ye 

know the grace of our Lord 

Jesus Christ, that though he 

was rich, yet for your sakes he 

happier and content guests. 

Add a meal ticket for drovers 

to the invite 

Once you have decided to 

provide drivers meals or 

meals for others add the drivers 

meal ticket among the 

main invite. This you may do 

for each event day that is for 

the engagement and wedding 

if it involves more than one 

event. The ticket should specify 

the date and venue of the 

events. To distinguish separate 

days you may choose to use 

different colors on the card to 

avoid any mix up. 

Distinguish access cards 

from meal tickets 

Many times we see inside 

the invite the access card is 

the same size as the meal ticket 

for drivers. It is important 

to distinguish the main invite 

access card from the meal 

ticket itself. The access card 

is much more conducive to 

carry into a wedding rather 

than carry the large card. Ensure 

that you take the access 

card itself and not the meal 

ticket for access especially 

when it is strictly by invitation 

event. 

Give your driver the meal 

ticket 

Many times guests do not 

read the invite fully or they 

read without acknowledging 

the drivers meal ticket. Once 

you see a meal ticket inside 

make it a duty to present to 

your driver to access food and 

drinks too. 

Collecting meal ticket 

became poor, that ye through 

his poverty might be rich”. 

But you cannot make 

reference to what you do not 

have any knowledge of. It is 

therefore important that you 

find to time to study the Bible. 

Reading the Holy Bible is 

never a waste of time because 

as you read, your spirit picks 

it and it will work for you 

when you least expected. It is 

however more profitable if 

you take time to memorize 

some verses. 

Say, to yourself, “ Poverty is 

not my portion, I reject it. 

Prosperity is my portion in the 

Lord Jesus”. Say it as your 

spirit directs and you will see 

the manifestation in Jesus 

name. 

Job 22 vs. 27&28 “ Thou 

shalt make thy prayer unto 

him, and he shall hear thee, 

and thou shalt pay thy vows. 

Thou shalt also decree a thing, 

and it shall be established 

unto thee: and the light shall 

shine upon thy ways. 

Did you see vow again? 

Make a vow that you can 

fulfill and make sure you do. 

Hannah did not make a 

monetary vow, yet she got her 

miracle. A vow must 

necessarily be money but 

make sure you fulfill your vow 

because God frowns at 

unfulfilled vows. 

Brethren, the light of God 

will shine on every dark spot 

in your life and you will sing a 

new song very soon in the 

mighty name of Jesus. 

Get serious with the Lord 

and He will take you 

seriously. May the Lord grant 

all desires of our hearts this 

week in Jesus name. The 

Peace of the Lord be with you. 

Events planners and party 

hosts should ensure that there 

is a responsible and reliable 

person who is made available 

to collect their meal tickets 

once food has been served. 

A method of tearing or stamping 

the meal ticket should 

take place so that you avoid 

recycling the old meal ticket. 

Avoid any form of favoritism 

or prejudice when sharing 

food. 

Production of meal ticket 

Vs meal packs 

It can be assumed that the 

meal packs have been made 

accordingly with the meal 

tickets.It is better if the meal 

packs are in excess of the meal 

ticket so everyone is satisfied 

than vice versa. Many times 

the food is poorly distributed 

and you have many disgruntled 

drivers who have meal 

tickets but the food has finished. 

This can spoil the vibe 

of the party and lead to strife, 

arguments, fighting and 

much more. 

Drivers, MOBLIE POLICE, 

SECURITY WHO FOR? 

There are still a lot of other 

mouths to feed at weddings 

and main functions today. Are 

you providing for just the drivers 

or are you catering for the 

extras like the security men, 

the protocol, ushers, and others. 

This group form a large 

number at many events, it is 

wise to prepare for contingences. 

Good luck always!!!!!!! 

Collection of tax from marine boat 

users is not illegal — Uduaghan 

The Delta State 

Commissioner for 

Transport, Mr. Vincent 

Uduaghan, has denied 

reports that his ministry is 

engaging in excess taxation of 

between N500 and N1500 as 

ticket levies and N50 per 

passenger for every boat trip. 

Mr. Uduaghan in a 

telephone chat, said that the 

collection of tax from marine 

boat users in the state is not 

illegal, adding that the Delta 

District of Maritime Workers’ 

Union of Nigeria is fully 

involved in the Delta State 

marine tax implementation 

policy, revealing that series of 

meetings have been held to 

ensure compliance. 

However, investigation by 

our correspondent revealed 

that the state government since 

2013 to 2017 has spent about 

N9.1billion on construction of 

jetties, purchase of boats 

across the state to ease marine 

transport business; but the 

marine boat users over the 

years have not being paying 

tax to Delta State government 

thereby allegedly defrauding 

the state. 

Also, following the recent 

State Executive Bill on 

registration/regulation of 

deep canoe/local boats that 

was passed into law, and law 

W1 of Delta State 

Government under the 

Ministry of Transport headed 

by Mr. Uduaghan, engaged a 

compliance team to begin 

collection of marine tax levies 

from marine boat users 

including bigger boats and 

vessels in the state. 

Group advises Delta govt against 

renaming Warri city as kingdom 

A 

group, the Urhobo 

Peculiar Advocates 

Organization, UPA, has 

advised the Delta State 

government against 

renaming Warri City as a 

kingdom. 

The group who gave this 

advice through its national 

president, Hon. Ochuko 

Okagbare and Publicity 

Secretary, Comrade Ekure 

Obaro, in an enlarged 

meeting of the group held in 

Ughelli Kingdom Hall, 

Ughelli North local 

government area of Delta 

State while reacting to a 

publication in a statenewspaper 

where Warri city 

was referred to as kingdom, 

called on the state governor 

to re-address the issue in order 

not to mislead the public. 

Okagbare had said that 

during the reign of Chief 

Mukoro Mowoe, Chief T.E.A 

Salubi and others as 

presidents’ generals of 

Urhobo Progress Union, 

UPU, that there was never a 

time Warri was named as 

kingdom instead of Warri city 

as popularly known across 

the country and the world at 

large. 

While advising against any 

plan to change the name, 

Warri city to kingdom, 

Okagbare said the three 

ethnic nationalities, Urhobo, 

Ijaw and Itsekiri have been 

leaving in peace and 

harmony and no individual, 

group or government cause 

quarrel or disunity among the 

three ethnic groups.

PAGE 34 —SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 22, 2018 

EDITED BY OSA AMADI 

osaamadi@yahoo.com 

08070524223 

Kunle Adegborio 

degborioye in a 

throwback narrative 

By Chris Onuoha 

When Kunle Adegbori 

oye set out to visit his 

home country, Nigeria 

from United Kingdom where he 

is based, nostalgic feelings propelled 

him to embark on a research 

on throwback encounters. 

And such is the outcome 

of what metamorphosed into his 

recent body of works showing at 

Omenka Art Gallery, Lagos. 

With the theme, Nostalgia, 

Glimpses from Diaspora, the 

exhibition which opened on 

April 7 till 14 for public is Kunle’s 

solo effort that forays into 

memories of growing up in Nigeria. 

It exposes the persistent 

social ills and impoverishment 

brought about by military dictatorship 

and corrupt politicians 

in the country for decades. 

His style is a pop art 

technique done in screen printing 

and acrylic on canvas. In it, 

the main focus is the Nigerian 

child, his birth and fate of his 

future in a country that cares 

less for child’s values. 

Kunle who studied painting 

in Yaba College of Technology, 

Lagos in the 80s with Master’s 

Degree in Printmaking 

in the UK captures the current 

situation in the country with 

emphasis on the prevalent vulnerability 

of the Nigerian 

child and women in the Internally 

Displaced People’s camp 

(IDP) and others. 

The show witnessed throngs 

of spectators and collectors 

who were entranced by the appeal, 

the message and unique 

medium Kunle applied in his 

works. 

Oliver Enwonwu, Director of 

Omenka Gallery, revealed that 

Nostalgia, Glimpse from Diaspora 

describes Kunle’s personal 

way of dealing with contrasting 

identities and influences 

in his life. “Though his work 

is informed primarily by his ex- 

The Lagos Resource Centre 

hall, venue of the launch 

of Deafening Silence by 

Stephanie Chizoba Odili was 

filled to capacity, with guests 

mostly students from Covenant 

University. 

Secondary school mates as well 

as relatives of the author were 

also in attendance to show their 

love and support for the young 

writer. 

The cash donations and pledges 

that came from the youth-dominated 

audience were overwhelming 

and an indication that the 

young ones are gradually heeding 

the call to improve on their 

reading culture. 

Deafening Silence, a fictional 

work, offers a peep into, among 

many other issues, the everyday 

British community and culture in 

relation to Nigeria’s. The book 

also presents an objective tale of 

the Nigerian Civil War from the 

recall of some individuals who experienced 

it while at the same 

time highlighting aspects of Nigeria 

and African culture, language 

and history. 

The author, an alumna of Covenant 

University, Nigeria, born in 

London in 1996, spoke shortly after 

the launch. “Although I was 

•Kunle Adegborioye 

•Title: Jewel of the blue sea 

periences in Nigeria, the 

narrative is not concerned 

with a search for roots, but 

about maintaining a presence 

amidst others who 

share his world. In all, the 

works are strongly individual 

and showcase an artist of 

sound technical ability and 

a deep understanding of society,” 

he said. 

According to Jess Castellote, 

Kunle’s works amplify 

his thoughts and concerns 

about the societal problems 

of his home country and the 

resilience of Nigerian peoples. 

“There is evidence of 

melancholy and vulnerability 

in the children regularly 

populating his works. A sad 

mood pervades almost all of 

them,” Castellote said. He 

stressed that the use of repetitions 

in the screen printing technique 

with the application of 

acrylic paint on the printed image 

allows him the freedom to 

achieve a greater strength and 

individuality than the one normally 

associated with silkscreen 

works.” 

Chike Edozien a budding visual 

artist said “Kunle is a figurative 

painter and in this outing, 

tried to foray into the African 

child’s plight. Besides, he also 

talked about how the masses 

could be liberated from the political 

vagabonds in power. 

It’s a brilliant work, and for him 

to have come home to Nigeria 

to exhibit his works speaks volume 

of his intent. He could have 

done that in UK and make more 

money but he decided to bring 

it home to pass a message, especially 

at this time when the 

country is passing through difficulties.” 

For the artist, Kunle Adegborioye, 

“I live in-between two worlds 

– UK and Nigeria, and I studied 

painting in Yaba College of Technology, 

Nigeria and also Printmaking 

in England, UK. I call my medium 

pop art, a movement that 

agrees in general principles with 

popular culture. It is infused with 

wordings that actually say much 

about the paintings. In this exhibition, 

I wanted to do something different. 

These are the outcome of all 

the experiences I garnered overtime 

and it metamorphosed into the body 

of works you see here today. 

“Telling our story, it seems that 

things have not changed for good 

in terms of welfare. Children are 

leaders of tomorrow and as such, 

should have a proper foundation. 

In the United Kingdom where I live, 

government takes care of children 

from birth. And with that in place, 

each child does not have any excuse 

for not being successful. Here 

in the Nigeria, children fend for 

themselves, begging or hawking on 

the streets, and that way, expose 

themselves to danger. My message 

is simple. It is for government to 

reform the system.” 

Accolades flow for Stephanie as she launches Deafening Silence 

By Prisca Sam-Duru 

born in London, I will always 

choose Nigeria any 

day, anytime. I know that 

we are not the best. We 

are not perfect, but it is 

our responsibility to see to 

Nigeria’s greatness,” said 

Stephanie. “I was inspired 

to write this book, 

to share my Nigerian story 

as it is. Nigerians are 

a people of dignity and 

should be united to move 

the country forward. My 

intention is to rally the 

youths together to achieve 

the Nigerian dream. So 

I’m inspired because I 

love my country.” 

Stephanie believes totally 

in the power of books, 

which according to her, 

informs her reason to employ 

writing as a medium 

to express her unwavering 

love for Nigeria. 

“Writing a book for me 

is beautiful. When you 

write a book, conversations 

start. People begin 

to discuss about issues 

covered by the book. As 

you can see, conversations 

have already started 

and we must continue 

to discuss Nigeria because 

she is our business. And that 

way, we will come up with solutions to 

our challenges,” She said. 

The author’s father, Mr Odili, who 

commended his daughter for a job welldone, 

told guests that the happiest day 

of his life was when Stephanie was 

born. “My mother-in-law named her 

Ezinwa (good child) and that name has 

been following her.” 

Stephanie started writing when she 

was 7. Two years ago, she declared her 

intension to do her intern and make her 

own money but I refused and insisted 

she sat down to write. 

She obeyed and when she finished 

writing, the pages were too many but 

thanks to Jamiu Abiola whose help saw 

to the publishing of the book. 

With Deafening Silence, Stephanie is 

on her way to greatness as guests will 

carry content of the book to nooks and 

crannies of the world. 

The Piano 

Teacher 

With 

OSA AMADI 

Arts Editor 

How music made me 

look dumb at Alvan an Ikok 

oku 

We arranged our first lesson for the morning 

of the following day, 8 January 1988. When 

I got there, instead of giving me the music lesson, 

Mr. Cyprian gave me a little book I will never forget its 

title and author: The Rudiments of Music by S. Geoffrey 

Boateng. He said I should go and study the book and come 

back. I told him I had read music books before on my own 

but did not understand them. He said I should go and 

read that one first; that I should come back to him if there 

was anything I did not understand. 

I never went back to him for anything. Like magic, I 

understood everything! My head almost exploded as I was 

reading the book. I was blown away to another planet as 

Geoffrey Boateng’s Rudiments of Music initiated me into 

the cult of reading and writing music on staff of five lines 

and four spaces. “Just before 5:00 a.m. this morning,” I 

wrote in my journal dated Sunday 10 January 1988, “I had 

rounded up the book. Judging with the kind of clarity and 

ease with which I absorbed everything the wonderful author 

wrote in the book, I am most optimistic that my dream of 

excelling in the art of making music has (been) actualized.” 

That year I wrote JAMB and in addition, Entrance exam 

into Alvan Ikoku College of Education. Alvan first offered 

me admission and I started studying music in education 

there. 

Alvan opened my eyes to a very important reality: Students 

who come to study music in the higher institutions were 

people who had been singing or playing one musical 

instrument or the other in church choirs or in few cases, 

secular dance bands, for many years. They have already 

well-developed ears for music. Many of my course mates 

were already organists, trumpeters, trombonists, flutist, 

drummers, etc. Their senses of tonality were already high 

before they came to Alvan. I was nowhere. The only thing 

I knew about music was composing and singing songs by 

heart. 

My deficiency and ignorance began to manifest as soon 

as we had the first class in music. Throughout that first 

semester in Alvan, I was made a laughing stock. Because 

I was flunking in all the departmental courses (music), 

everyone, both students and teachers, concluded that I was 

dumb. The only girl I liked then and wanted to befriend (I 

can’t remember her name) refused me. She decided to follow 

Emma, our Class Captain, who played the trumpet and 

the organ. 

At Alvan we were required to take courses equally from 

both music department and education department. That’s 

why it was called Double Major – majoring in both music 

and education. From education department, we took courses 

like Curriculum and Planning, Measurement and 

Evaluation, History of Education, Philosophy of Education, 

Psychology of Education, and Sociology of Education. 

Unknown to my classmates, those education causes were 

mere walkovers for me – I was supposed to be a lawyer. 

Unknown to me too, almost all my classmates who did well 

in music courses were scared stiff of education courses and 

flops in them. No one knew about all these until the 

beginning of second semester when we all trouped out 

one day to the education department to check our first 

semester results. Being taller than everyone, I stood behind 

my classmates as we all stood before the large noticeboard 

where the first semester results of all the education courses 

were displayed. My classmates traced the result with their 

fingers: 

“Philosophy of education… Philosophy… Phi-lo-so-phy. 

Phi-lo-so-phy...only one person from music department got 

an “A”. Who is this? Amadi!” 

All the education courses: only one “A” from music 

department: Amadi!!! 

Everyone turned to me, mouth agape. “So you are brilliant 

like this and you are pretending and behaving as if you 

don’t know anything?” 

“What then are you doing in music department? If I had 

your type of brain I would go and major in education 

courses instead of wasting it on music.” 

From that day I acquired a new image and respect amongst 

my classmates. Back to the department, they broke the news 

to our music lecturers. Instantly, the dull brain stigma left 

me. Everyone became my friend; even the girl I wanted to 

befriend dropped her hostility towards me. But I was no 

longer interested in her, or any other girl anywhere. 

Yet I had a greater shocker for all of them: No one knew I 

was just a passing trance at Alvan; that I had no intention 

of completing the NCE program. No one knew I had written 

another JME in 1989 and that I had my eyes set at the 

music department of the Obafemi Awolowo University Ile- 

Ife. It was my secret and I guarded it very jealously.

Viewpoint 

By Godwin Kalu Nchege RE: Christians are idol worshippers (2) 

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF 

A reply to Femi Aribisala 

SEEN from this sacrifice/ 

worship prism, then time and 

space as you used them to indict the 

church in the second part of your 

article will mean nothing in worship. 

Easter and or Christmas can 

then fall into any time of the year. 

Worshipers of the sun god 

TAMMUZ and those of the God 

of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob can 

then use the same worship ground 

at the same time if it is possible. 

The way these worships are 

done and the sacrifices offered 

therein will attract each God to his 

own people – the God of Abraham, 

Isaac and Jacob to the body and 

blood of Christ and Tammuz, to 

whatever the Romans offer 

Tammuz in their worship for 

Christ once said “I am the good 

shepherd, and I know My own 

and My own know Me, John 

10:14. I hope this will help you 

settle your mind as to time and 

I know you have 

better words in your 

vocabulary to 

describe her 

adequately and 

befittingly only that 

your bigotry will not 

allow you 

place in worship. 

- In the last segment of the 

article you talked about 

“Mariolatry” – worship of 

Mary. From the end events of the 

Golden Calf and the Bronze 

Serpent stated above you know 

what worship is. One of the highest 

Marian feasts we have is that of 

the Assumption of the Blessed 

Virgin Mary which comes up on 

August 15 th yearly. 

In this feast, the church offers to 

God the sacrifice of the body and 

blood of Christ for all the graces 

He bestowed on Mary. We DO 

NOT OFFER IT TO MARY. So 

we don’t worship Mary rather we 

honour her and join all 

generations in calling her blessed. 

Luke 1: 14 – 42, Luke 1: 46 – 49. At 

this point let me correct one 

erroneous impression you have. 

MARY WAS NOT AND 

CANNOT BE “AN ORDINARY 

WOMAN”: with or without any 

prophecy in the bible concerning 

her as you claimed. She is the 

virgin to whom the angel Gabriel 

said “ Rejoice you who enjoys 

God favour the Lord is with 

you” Luke 1:28- 29. SHE IS THE 

EXTRA ORDINARY CREATURE 

whose fiat”: you see before you 

the hand – maid of the Lord. Let 

it happen to me as you have said”, 


brought salvation to the entire 

world Luke 1: 38. 

After this answer, “the word 

became flesh and lived among us 

John 1:14”. 

- That was the flesh of salvation 

together with the sin-cleansing 

blood of redemption derived from 

the Blessed Virgin Mary. 

- This God/Man found the 

splendor and purity of heaven in 

Mary for which we call her the 

Immaculata. Even the most naïve 

of people cannot describe her as 

ordinary. And I know you have 

better words in your vocabulary 

to describe her adequately and 

befittingly only that your 

bigotry will not allow you. 

Compare your feelings about the 

Blessed Virgin Mary with what 

God sees in her “ A woman robbed 

with the sun standing on the 

moon, and on her head a crown 

of twelve stars …….. The woman 

was delivered of a boy, the son 

who was to rule all the nations 

with an iron septre and the child 

was taken straight to God and to 

His throne Rev: 12: 1-17. This is 

how God sees the woman who in 

man’s eye is ordinary. 

If you believe that Christ is the 

son who was taken to His throne 

and that Mary is his mother then 

ponder on this riddle “then the 

dragon was enraged with the 

woman and went away to make 

war on the rest of her children 

who obey God’s commandments 

and have in themselves the 

witness of Jesus”. 

Mary will not force you to be 

her child except you accept her to 

be your mother as she accepted 

to be the mother of God – Christ 

Jesus. 

Venerating or rather honoring 

a mother is just the beginning of 

wisdom. Christ did this to Mary 

when He kept the fourth 

commandment and the bible did 

not call him an idol worshiper. 

Be Christ – like and learn from 

Jesus Christ as all Catholics 

aspire to be. 

*Nchege is a Catholic lay 

faithful, Abia State. 

By Yaya Ademola 


From economic regression to 

abundance 

THE debt profile of a state must 

be measured against its Gross 

Domestic Product (GDP) value. 

GDP is a broad measurement of the 

state overall economic activity. It is 

the total value of goods and services 

produced by an entity in a given 

period of time, usually annually and 

quarterly. 

In November 27, 2010, Governor 

Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola 

government met a strangulating 

financial situation in Osun as 

number 34 out of the 36 states in 

Nigeria in terms of financial muscle 

on the one hand and a suffocating 

N18.38 billion loan obtained by 

immediate previous PDP 

government which saw Osun 

borrowing N1 billion monthly in 

order to fulfil its statutory duties on 

the other. However, with correct 

ideas, determination and some 

financial engineering, Osun 

limitations have turned around to 

greatness. 

Of the five states declared in 2012 

by the National Bureau of Statistics 

as those with the lowest 

unemployment rate – Abia 11%, Oyo 

9%, Lagos 8%, Kwara 7%, – Osun is 

the lowest with 3%. What is the 

magic? 

Osun Debt to Revenue Profile in Perspectives 

Within 100days in office, 

Aregbesola engaged 20,000 in 

Osun Youth Volunteer Scheme 

(OYES) with N10,000 allowance 

for the services rendered by each 

cadet. 

Two years after, another 20,000 

youths were engaged. The 

multiplier effect of N200 million 

directly injected to Osun economy 

is stupendous. The World Bank has 

adopted the scheme as a template 

for youth empowerment in Nigeria. 

This has earned Nigeria $300 

million grant from the bank as a 

support for the Federal 

Government to replicate 

nationally. The World Bank 

Sector Leader on Human 

Development and Task Leader on 

Youth Employment and Social 

Support Operation, Professor 

Foluso Okunmadewa, whose team 

had visited Osun severally to assess 

the scheme promised to empower 

more youths in Osun and called on 

other states to emulated Osun. 

Presently, the Osun government, in 

collaboration with the World Bank, 

has empowered 1,131 lessprivileged 

youth as a part of effort 

by the bank to supporting 

Aregbesola programme to banish 

Osun has 4 million 

people; its debt 

profile of N179 billion 

is to be repaid in 

20years, per annum, 

each Osun indigene is 

obliged to pay 

N2,237.5 to repay the 

debt 

unemployment and poverty. 

Under Aregbesola’s watch, Osun 

is highly risky for criminals and 

crimes with the procurement of 25 

Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) 

and 100 patrol vehicles for 24-hour 

security cover of the state 365 days a 

year. 

United Nations (UN) Multi- 

Dimentional Poverty Index and The 

Financial Derivative Company 

(FDC) Misery Index 2017 concluded 

that Osun’s, the second best state in 

Nigeria as far as prosperity (lack of 

poverty) is concerned. 

In several social-economic 

indexes, Osun is ranked as the 

second wealthiest state in Nigeria 

Based on Debt Management 

Office release on 31st December, 

2016. However, because of the 

recession occasioned by missing oil 

money, unchecked oil theft under 

the PDP government which made 

Nigeria to be losing 400,000 barrel 

per day and which resulted to low 

income to Federation Account and 

eventual crash of oil price at the 

international market, virtually, all 

states found it practically impossible 

to pay workers salaries, building and 

maintaining infrastructure and 

providing social amenities for the 

people. 

By June 2015, 23 states, including 

Osun, were owing at least 6 months 

workers salaries. Until he could no 

longer borrow again, Aregbesola 

had to borrow up N25 billion to pay 

workers’ salaries. 

It was President Buhari APC that 

had to bailout the situation via N713 

billion, being $2.1 billion (413 

billion) from Liquefied Natural Gas 

procceds shared by the states and 

Federal Government and Central 

Bank of Nigeria intervention fund 

between N250 and N300 billion as 

soft loans to enable states pay 

outstanding salaries with Debt 

Management Office (DMO) 

helping states to restructure and 

extend their loans life span. This was 

what brought Osun internal and 

external loan to N179 billion to be 

paid in 20 years. It is the totality of 

loans and other debt instruments 

obtained by all administrations that 

have ruled the state. 

Osun has 4 million people. Its debt 

profile of N179 billion is to be 

repaid in 20years, per annum, each 

Osun indigene is obliged to pay 

N2,237.5 to repay the debt. If this is 

divided per day, every citizen will 

pay N6.1 daily for 20 years. This 

amount cannot buy a sachet of 

water. 

Osun is a rich asset. It cannot be 

adjudged by its allocation from the 

Federation Account. It has to be visa-vis 

its productivity, capacity and 

exchange value amongst others. If I 

earn N100,000 salary as a 

University Graduate, that is not my 

worth. If I were to build a house and 

maximum loan obtainable for me 

is N50,000, that can’t be the kind of 

money required for the project. My 

worth as a Graduate is between 

N800 million and N1 billion. 

Under Aregbesola, Osun has 

made dramatic and unprecedented 

progress from backwater of 

economic regression to the fertile 

place of economic abundance. 

*Ademola is based at 

Alekunwodo, Osogbo, Osun State. 

By Afaga Jude 


The verifiable facts 

MANY of those who by 

qualification know, or should 

know, flay the action of Senator Ovie 

Omo-Agege in marching into the 

Senate chamber as a treasonous 

affront on our democracy and have 

outdone themselves in describing it 

with unflattering words which 

volunteer their bombast just by their 

sound. I hold a different view and 

will argue that his actions were in 

fact an imperative of law, in respect 

of which he would be at best dilatory 

and at worse indolent if he hadn’t so 

undertaken. 

For the purpose of this 

conversation, let’s stick with 

verifiable facts and some 

understanding of law. 

i. Omo-Agege had said some 

things which riled the Senate to 

which he belongs, over its attempt 

to reorder the general elections due 

for next year and in pursuance of 

what it understood as its disciplinary 

powers over members it assigned the 

matter for consideration to its 

Making sense of senatorial chaos 

I am not sure 

however how much 

the postulators of 

this position 

understand of the 

nature of the order 

that was obtained by 

Omo-Agege 

privileges committee. Omo-Agege 

then approached the court and 

obtained an injunctive order 

restraining the parliament from 

commencing, continuing or acting 

on the result of the investigation, 

so to speak. 

ii. This further irked the Senate 

which not only continued the said 

investigation in respect of which it 

was only to secure at best, the 

insistence by Omo-Agege that the 

matter was before court and pointers 

to the Senate’s own rules which 

demanded that it discontinues 

sitting on any matter which was the 

subject of the court’s adjudication. 

However, the Senate committee was 

wearing ear plugs and was only to 

remove them when it required to 

listen to its own recommendation that 

Omo-Agege be suspended, which 

was accepted by the full house 

adequately superintended to achieve 

the desired result. 

Iii Thus as at Wednesday, in fact, 

we had the local rules of the Senate 

as well as a subsisting interlocutory 

order of court amongst similar 

judgements elsewhere on the side of 

Omo Agege, while the Senate clothed 

itself with the assessment that its own 

notions of its power superceded the 

clear interpretation/adjudication of 

the courts on the matter. 

iv. People have argued that with this 

state of affairs, Omo-Agege ought to 

have gone back to court to seek its 

enforcement powers rather than take 

the law in its own hands, whatever 

that means. I am not sure however 

how much the postulators of this 

position understand of the nature of 

the order that was obtained by Omo- 

Agege. 

Certainly, it was an injunctive order 

and not an executory one. Let me 

explain. An executory order is one 

which orders an opposing party to 

do a positive act failing which the 

organs of court may be called in to 

obtain its fruit by some further 

application. 

An injunctive order on the other 

hand, is however actually incapable 

of execution by the court. What the 

court may only offer is protection of 

the actual undertaking of its orders. 

It is for this reason that whereas what 

an executory order offers is 

enforcement, what the injunctive 

order offers is punishment for its 

infraction. 

If I am clear so far, I shall proceed 

as follows: 

a. That Omo-Agege in attending 

the Senate on Wednesday was not 

undertaking any execution of the 

court’s order by himself, what is 

typically referred to as self-help, but 

was acting on the basis of a legal 

authority which the law had 

recognized even if temporarily, as 

requiring no enforcement. 

b. That until he in fact walked into 

the Senate Chamber any claims to a 

resistance of the court order in factual 

terms, requiring punishment would 

only be premature. Certainly, if an 

order restrains one from interfering 

with your enjoyment of your property, 

you must make to and continually 

seek to actually enjoy that property 

and be restrained from so doing 

before you can found a claim for 

contempt, for example. 

I do expect therefore that Omo 

Agege will continue to attend the 

Senate each legislative day as is his 

right by court order to do, and begin 

and, if he has already began, continue 

to meet the resistance at the chamber 

with the appropriate punitive action 

as he may find. 

He needs do no more, or less! 

*Jude writes from London.


Viewpoint 

By Kufre Etuk 


A haven for investors 

IT is virtually three years 

now since Mr. Udom 

Emmanuel came into 

saddle of power as the Akwa 

Ibom State Governor. During 

his electioneering, Emmanuel 

had vehemently declared his 

commitment to industrializing 

and making the State a hub 

for investors. 

First, for sufficient electricity, 

Emmanuel has invested in 

power sector more than any 

other state in the country. 

Apart from completing 

3311KV, 2X15 MVA electricity 

injection substation in Uyo 

metropolis, about 

1500megawatts (mw) will soon 

be added to the State’s current 

power generation capacity. 

However, upon completion 

of the proposed power plants 

by QIPP, ALSCON and Ibom 

Power Phase 2 with 545mw, 

540mw, and 500mw 

respectively, Akwa Ibom will 

become an electricity hub for 

power tourism. 

There is also proposed 

By Ademola Paul 


The state of the nation 

ON two fronts, I would like to 

open my assessment of the 

state of the Church and the 

oppressed in Nigeria with a 

brotherly gesture at Mr. Festus 

Keyamo, his award of Senior 

Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) after 

eight attempts, and his latest 

appointment as the spokesman for 

the re-election bid of President 

Muhammadu Buhari. 

It should be noted that Keyamo is 

warmly referred to as controversial 

not because he is the foulest of men, 

but because, he, as I have been 

privileged to discover, is a man who 

hunts with extreme anxiety and 

desire for results by any means 

possible. However, one of the most 

destructive of creative sins is 

deploying one’s talents against 

fellow men. It is the death of 

creativity when bad blood is allowed 

to become an obstacle in man’s life. 

That Nigeria is fast getting on the 

list of countries where the minority, 

and to a greater degree, the Church, 

is persecuted is an obvious fact, no 

thanks to the actions of certain 

The Chairman of the Peo 

ples Democratic Party 

(PDP) in Osun State, Hon. 

Soji Adagunodo, has assured all 

the governorship aspirants of 

the party in the July 14 primary 

of a level-playing ground. 

He stated this while receiving 

a governorship aspirant of the 

party, Dr. Ayoade Adewopo, at the 

party’s secretariat in Osogbo 

who came to submit his letter of 

intent to contest the September 

22, 2018 gubernatorial election 

in the state. 

The PDP Chairman assured 

that the best of the party aspirants 

would be presented to the 

people of the state through a 

transparent primary election. 

His words: “The person that 

will become the governor of Osun 

is not in my hand, it is in the 

hands of the electorate.” 

Assessing Gov Emmanuel’s integrated industrial devt strategy 

With this holistic 

industrialisation 

policy of Governor 

Emmanuel, Akwa 

Ibom will soon 

become haven for 

investors 

132kV double circuit 

transmission line being 

constructed from Ikot Abasi - 

Ekparakwa – Ikot Ekpene – 

Uyo. When this 132kV line is 

completed and linked with the 

existing 132kV transmission 

line from Uyo – Eket – Ekim - 

Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom will be 

completely ringed on 132kV. 

In the aspect of good road 

networks, so far, the 

administration of Governor 

Udom Emmanuel has 

constructed 1700KM of roads 

across the state. The 

Governor’s rural development 

programme is creating 

opportunity for rural areas to 

be linked with the state capital 

and open access for easy 

movement of farm produce to 

where the target buyers are is 

quite commendable. 

Beyond this, the Akwa Ibom 

State Government, through 

Akwa Ibom Roads and Other 

Infrastructure Maintenance 

Agency, AKROIMA, has been 

ensuring that no pothole is 

found in the street of Akwa 

Ibom. This agency has also 

graded rural roads in virtually 

all the local governments. 

Unlike his predecessors, 

Governor Emmanuel is 

targeted at correcting 

imbalance in the construction 

of roads across the state. 

All over the world, civil 

service is known to be 

bedrock of any Government’s 

successful plan, as such, apart 

from employing young vibrant 

graduates to fill various 

positions in the State Civil 

Service, Governor Emmanuel 

has approved training 

programmes for all the civil 

servants in the State both at 

the ministry level and even 

outside the state. 

As a man who was groomed 

in the corporate world, for him 

to achieve good output in his 

government, the engine room 

must be well equipped to 

deliver, that is exactly what he 

has been doing. 

Aside from the above efforts, 

in Africa, women provide 

critical support to their 

households and communities. 

In addition to child care and 

other 

household 

responsibilities, it is estimated 

that they are responsible for 

70% of crop production, 50% 

of animal husbandry, 60% of 

marketing and nearly 100% of 

food-processing. 

Governor Emmanuel has 

been embarking on inclusive 

industrialisation, which 

according to Li Yong, UNIDO 

Director General is ensuring 

Is it payback time for Festus Keyamo? 

professionals, who, perhaps, 

unconsciously, have been of 

assistance to plots against 

opposition voices. 

This article is focused primarily 

on the alleged sex drama involving 

a man of God, Apostle Johnson 

Suleman, of which the lead actor, 

one Stephanie Otobo, later 

confessed was falsehood and a plot 

organized by a clique that included 

those who feared Suleman’s 

bluntness on Church matters and 

national issues. Interestingly, 

Stephanie Otobo mentioned 

Keyamo as among those behind the 

aborted plan. 

The controversy was so heated 

that Apostle Suleman’s church, 

sometime in March 2017, raised the 

alarm that the lawyer and some 

others had planned to publish 

Suleman’s cloned video clips in a 

desperate bid to prove that he had 

an amorous relationship with 

Otobo. It was not long after the 

church’s statement that series of 

corrupt images were released on the 

internet purported to be those of the 

cleric and the accuser. However, 

Why I’m desperate to govern 

Osun – Adewopo 

By Gbenga Olarinoye, Osogbo 

While handing his letter to the 

PDP chairman, Adewopo stated 

that the coming governorship 

election should not be based on 

Osun-west senatorial agenda 

but about people’s agenda. 

Far from being disturbed 

by the presence of the 

church, the power 

structure of the average 

community is consoled 

by the church’s silence 

and often even vocal 

sanction of things as 

they are 

while the drama lasted, Keyamo 

avoided direct connection. A lawyer 

from his Lagos chambers stood in 

all through. 

It would be unfair for Apostle 

Suleman’s attackers to allude that 

he is a stranger to such plot. He is 

not because he has always stood tall 

speaking his mind like a true Church 

leader. And the sign was obvious one 

clear month before the Otobo attack 

that indeed future surprises awaited 

him. The cleric had been 

ambushed one night by men of the 

Department of Security Service 

(DSS) while on a two-day crusade 

in Ekiti, alleging that he made 

inciting remarks at one of his church 

programmes. But for Ayodele 

Fayose, who prevented them, the 

cleric would have been arrested and 

taken to Abuja that night. 

His sin? Suleman had told 

members of his church that he 

received anonymous calls about 

Fulani herdsmen that were sent to 

attack him and he told his people 

that if any strange faces came 

around him, they were not there for 

prayers, so they had better 

responded. 

What should be of concern around 

this matter is whether, indeed, there’s 

any connection in the failed act of 

Keyamo and those against Apostle 

Suleman with the present 

government’s attitude toward the 

Church. Is it payback for Keyamo 

who, after eight failed attempts, he 

finally secured the SAN title? Note 

also that Keyamo was just 

appointed the campaign 

MTN Music+ goes international with Sony Music Entertainment 

Africa’s groundbreaking dig 

ital music service, MTN 

Music+, has added yet another 

‘plus’ by signing a historic deal 

with Sony Music Entertainment. 

Through the partnership, which 

has been described as “the first of its 

kind in Nigeria,” subscribers on the 

platform can now stream over three 

million international song catalogues 

from A-list artistes like DJ 

Khaled, Rihanna, Chris Brown, Beyoncé, 

French Montana, Travis 

Scott and Bryson Tiller just to mention 

a few. 

According to Richard Iweanoge, 

By Fredrick Okopie 

The immediate past Chief 

Whip of Warri South 

Council Legislative Arm, 

Mr. Augustine Tete, is the Chairman 

of the newly sworn-in Egbokodo 

Community Development 

Committee saddled with 

the responsibility of leading Egbokodo 

Community for the next 

MTN’s GM, Brands and Communication, 

the partnership with Sony 

has ensured that MTN Music+ is 

now the undisputed King of digital 

music streaming in Africa. 

“Apart from the streaming opportunities 

of international song catalogues, 

subscribers also have access 

to millions of songs from key Nigerian 

and African artistes already 

available on the platform. 

“This, coupled with other platforms 

like our Caller Ring Back 

Tunez (CRBT), has made MTN the 

largest music distributor in Africa. 

“As Nigeria’s most innovative telecoms 

company, we have been able 

to deploy music as a platform to 

give value added services to our 

teeming subscribers, which have 

also proven to be a significant source 

of revenue for the artistes. This new 

partnership will open a new world 

of possibilities,” he said. 

On his part, Michael Ugwu, General 

Manager, Sony Music Entertainment 

West Africa, said, “Sony 

Music Entertainment West Africa is 

extremely excited to strategically 

partner with Music Plus on this landmark 

deal. 

that no one is left behind, 

especially not women. Women 

is said to be critical group if 

industrialization policy of any 

government must succeed, 

not only because gender 

equality is fundamental to 

human right, but it enables 

faster economic growth, 

shared prosperity and 

sustainable development. 

The 2016 Global Gender 

Gap report shows a positive 

correlation between gender 

equality and gross domestic 

product, economic 

competitiveness and human 

development. It was on this 

basis that the Governor’s wife, 

Mrs Martha Udom Emmanuel 

is committed to ensuring that 

no family in the state is left 

behind in the fight to 

overcoming poverty. 

With this holistic 

industrialisation policy of 

Governor Emmanuel, Akwa 

Ibom will soon become haven 

for investors. 

*Etuk, Special Assistant, 

Media, to Akwa Ibom 

Commissioner of Information, 

writes from Uyo.. 

spokesman for President Buhari’s 

second term ambition. These are 

questions disturbing the mind since 

the attacks on Suleman, a firebrand 

preacher known for his bold traits 

as Oracle of God. 

The sorry state of the modern 

Church is aptly captured in this 

legendary quote by Martin Luther 

King Jr; “So often, the 

contemporary church is a weak, 

ineffectual voice with an uncertain 

sound. So often, it is an archdefender 

of the status quo. Far from 

being disturbed by the presence of 

the church, the power structure of 

the average community is consoled 

by the church’s silence and often 

even vocal sanction of things as they 

are.” 

However, with a voice like Apostle 

Johnson Suleman’s, it is professed 

that the Church is not the master or 

the servant of the state but rather 

the conscience of the state. The 

Church must be the guide and the 

critic of the state and never its tool. 

In order words, it is time the Church 

freed itself from the shackles of 

political correctness, speak the 

truth, and face the facts about the 

violent persecution of the poor, 

especially Christians. 

* Paul is a deacon based in 

Igbosere, Lagos. 

Ex-Warri South chief whip, Tete, to 

lead Delta community 

four years. 

Tete told Sunday Vanguard 

that his leadership will do more 

to benefit the community and 

encouraged youths from the Warri 

Community to acquire necessary 

skills in anticipation of op- 

portunities likely to come up. 

While promising to focus more 

on the empowerment of the aged 

in the community, he solicited the 

support of other members of his 

executive in order to give Egbokodo 

enduring legacy. 

The 10-man Egbokodo Community 

Development Committee 

was sworn-in by a prominent 

Chief of Warri Kingdom, Atiwa 

Amanoritsewo, who charged the 

new leadership to sustain the 

prevailing peace. 

Other members of the new Egbokodo 

Community Development 

Committee are: Sunny Atiwa-Vice 

Chairman, Harriman 

Edema-Secretary, Sunday Joseph-Organizing 

Secretary, 

Moses Towu-Financial Secretary, 

Johnbull Oluwaremeyi-Auditor, 

Emmanuel Eboyi-Assistant 

Secretary, Victor Edema- 

PRO, Kenneth Okoro-Assistant 

PRO and Eric Amorighoye-Treasurer.

STOLEN MACE! 

•As it was in 2000, so it is in 2018 

•The two minutes’ madness in the Senate 

By HENRY UMORU 

Confusion reigned in the Senate last 

Wednesday after some hoodlums 

stormed the chambre and stole the 

mace. 

Following the absence of the Senate 

President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, who was in 

Washington where he was attending the Spring 

Meeting of the World Bank/International 

Monetary Fund (IMF), the duty to preside at 

plenary automatically fell on the deputy 

Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu. 

In line with tradition, Ekweremadu led the 

Principal Officers into the chambers; took the 

official prayers; and began the day’s 

proceedings at 10:53am. 

Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, All Progressives 

Congress, APC, Kano Central, moved for the 

approval of votes and proceedings of Tuesday, 

17th April, 2018 and Senator Mao 

Ohuabunwa,’ People’s Democratic Party, PDP, 

Abia North, seconded. 

After this, the next item on the Order Paper 

was the petition raised by Senator Yusuf Yusuf, 

APC, Taraba Central on behalf of a 

constituency member allegedly being 

harassed by the ICPC. 

Senator Andrew Uchendu, APC, Rivers East 

also raised a petition on behalf of a 

constituency member against LNG just as 

Senators Samuel Anyanwu, PDP, Imo East, 

and Theodore Orji, PDP, Abia Central, raised 

petitions and, thereafter, Ekweremadu referred 

the petitions to the Committee on Ethics, 

Privileges and Public Petitions. 

While this was on-going, some hoodlums, 

from no where, invaded the hallowed chamber, 

grabbed the mace and went away with it.. 

Without the mace, the Senate could not 

continue the session. 

The armed thugs, who were allegedly led by 

suspended Senator Ovie Omo- Agege, APC, 

Delta Central, entered the chamber at 

11.16am, barely fifteen minutes after the 

commencement of the day’s plenary. 

The commando-style drama and stealing 

of the mace lasted two minutes. 

The thugs, before entering the chamber, had 

pretended as if they were constituents of Omo- 

Agege who himself, despite been on 

suspension, allegedly forced himself into the 

chamber . 

Frantic attempts made by the police and 

Sergeant - at - Arms to stop the thugs from 

running away with the mace proved abortive, 

just as it was alleged that when the thugs were 

stopped at the foyer, Omo- Agege was alleged 

to have told the Sergeart - at- Arms that they 

were his boys. 

It was also gathered that the thugs, 

numbering fifteen, came in three Sports 

Utility Vehicles, SUVs, parked in front of the 

National Assembly. The allegedly followed 

the suspended senator to the chamber, but 

eight of them entered the chamber while others 

By Bidemi Adeniyi 

The stealing of the mace by hoodlums who 

allegedly accompanied Senator Ovie 

Omo-Agege into the Senate on Wednesday has 

led many to ask if it was right for a lawmaker on 

suspension to be at the chambre or attend plenary. 

A Fourth Republic Senator, Joseph Waku 

(Benue North West, 1999-2003), who suffered 

the same fate of being suspended from the Senate 

for one week, said: “He(suspended senator) 

could only stay in his office. He could go to his 

office but not the chamber.” 

Waku spoke against the backdrop of the National 

Assembly rules which state that a suspended 

senator should not have access to the Senate chamber 

or attend committee meetings. Serving senators 

and political analysts have not stopped condemning 

the invasion of the chambre and the 

theft of the mace, with many describing it as an 

assault on Nigeria’s democratic process. 

Senator Olamilekan Adeola (APC, Lagos West), 

who was said to have almost been taken away by 

the hoodlums after he mistakenly jumped into 

their waiting vehicle, thinking it was his as he 

scampered for safety, said: “These are people who 

want to truncate our democratic process”. 

Senator Shehu Sani described the act as “morally 

and ethically wrong”, saying “the Senate 

is not a place for that kind of thing”. 

Sani described the action as “an assault on 

democracy and democratic institution and 

equated it to an attempt to take over an arm 

of the government. If this is not condemned, it 

could also happen to the Presidency if it happens 

to the Senate, because the Senate is an 

arm of the government. If an action is not 

positioned themselves and took proper charge 

of the entrance to the premises while others 

manned the vehicles. 

According to a source, while trying to lead 

Omo- Agege into the chamber, the Sergeantat 

- Arms tried to block them from entering, but 

the thugs pushed on, saying: “Nigeria belongs 

to all of us. We have brought our senator to 

have his seat.” 

The source said further that Omo- Agege 

immediately went in and looked straight into 

the eyes of Ekweremadu who was presiding. It 

was at that point that one of the thugs took the 

mace. 

In the pandemonium that ensued, some 

security agents who tried to stop them were 

injured. 

Many of the senators, who were apparently 

confused, had to rush to the tea room. 

Many still wonder how such an attack could 

happen in the National Assembly where there 

are over 500 security men, with half of the 

number working everyday. 

But the senators did not come out of the 

chamber as they immediately went into an 

executive session which lasted fifty minutes with 

Omo- Agege, even on suspension, in attendance. 

Omo- Agege was flanked by the Chairman, 

Parliamentary Support Group for Buhari( 

Senate), Senator Abdullahi Adamu, APC, 

Nasarawa West; Senators Ben Uwajumogu, 

APC, Imo North; Andrew Uchendu, APC, East; 

Nelson Effiong, APC, Akwa Ibom South; Abu. 

Ibrahim, APC, Katsina South; Abdullahi 

Gumel, Jigawa North West and Tayo 

Alasoadura, APC, Ondo Central. 

After the closed session, the senators 

continued with the plenary at 12.10pm, with 

another mace as they vowed that they will not 

be intimidated in the course of carrying out 

their duties as representatives of the people. 

Immediately after the Senate adjourned, 

Omo- Agege, who wore black suit, white shirt 

and red tie to match, was picked up by the 

police. 

The Wednesday theft of the Senate mace 

was the second time the upper legislative 

chamber would lose its symbol of authority 

temporarily in controversial circumstances. 

The Senate had, in 2000, during the 

leadership of the late Senate President Chuba 

Okadigbo also lost its mace. 

The difference between the Wednesday 

incident and that of 2000 was that in the case 

of the former, thugs from outside invaded the 

Senate and went away with the symbol of 

authority, while in the latter, the incident 

happened due the crisis that engulfed the 

Senate for weeks. 

It will be recalled that Okadigbo, who died 

on September 25, 2003, was Senate President 

when then President Olusegun Obasanjo 

began moves to impeach him by using the 

Presidency’s loyalists in the Senate. 

At the height of the crisis and in a bid to 

avoid his ouster, Okadigbo adjourned the 

Senate and allegedly took the mace away 

from the National Assembly to an unknown 

location and, when the police arrived 

Okadigbo’s residence to retrieve the mace, he 

told them they were only going to get the mace 

if they killed him. Okadigbo had told the BBC 

then: “The police arrived at 5.55 a.m. (0455 

GMT) in six jeeps fully loaded with armed 

officers. They told me they had come to collect 

the mace and that they were acting on orders 

from the Inspector General of Police. I said I 

would never give them the mace. I have to be 

dead before you get the mace, I told them. 

This is executive lawlessness and is 

unprecedented in Nigeria’s history.” 

It was also reported that after the police left 

his residence, Okadigbo took the mace with 

him to Ogbunike, his home town in Anambra 

State, and left the Senate’s symbol of authority 

in the custody of a seven-foot python. 

Okadigbo lost the battle to remain Senate 

President as he was impeached weeks later. 

Although the mace could be said to have 

been desecrated on both occasions, what 

happened and the way of execution were 

remarkably different. 

Another striking difference between the 

Omo- Agege episode and that of Okadigbo is 

that while the late Senate President allegedly 

took the mace to far away Anambra State, 

crossing many states, the Wednesday’s episode 

did not cross the City gate as it was still in the 

nation’s capital. 

It will be recalled that barely 24hours after 

armed thugs carried out their action and went 

away with the mace on Wednesday, the police 

recovered and returned the symbol of 

legislative authority to the upper chamber. 

Deputy Inspector General of Police, DIG, in 

charge of Operations, Mr. Habila Joshak, 

returned the mace at exactly 11:55am on 

Thursday when senators were in executive 

session. 

The police chief handed the mace to the 

Clerk to the National Assembly, CNA, Alhaji 

Mohammed Sani-Omolori, at the entrance 

of the central lobby of the National Assembly 

where the two hallowed chambers are located. 

But one striking similarity between the two 

episodes is the fact that there was no casualty, 

against the backdrop that inspite of the rowdy 

nature of the chamber on Wednesday, the 

hoodlums did not shoot and no senator 

collapsed or died. 

We watch as events unfold. 

Waku, Shehu Sani, others ask: 

What was a suspended senator doing in Senate Chambre? 

taken on this issue, it is going to set a very bad 

precedence and democracy will seriously be 

at risk”. 

Although Omo-Agege has come out to say 

he had no hands in the melee that led to the 

disappearance of the mace, he has refused to 

address the question: Why was he (on suspension) 

at the Senate chamber that Wednesday? 

A public affairs analyst, Soji Balogun, thinks 

Omo-Agege, by now, shouldn’t be a lawmaker 

again “for his alleged role in the embarrassing 

act”. He said: “If it were to be in the advanced 

society, the senator would have resigned before 

the Senate takes the bold step of expelling him.” 

“For instance, in the United States of America, 

in 2002, when a member of the House of Representatives 

from Ohio, the late James Traficant, 

was convicted of corruption charges, his colleagues 

in the House wasted no time in expelling 


him. I strongly believe it’s high time we took our 

democracy to that level, in order to restore sanity 

and integrity in lawmaking business.” 

What is Omo-Agege’s fate? 

With the suspended senator denying any role 

in the theft of the mace, and accusing fingers 

continue to point at him as the man behind the 

incident, the Senate is yet to come out with a 

position on the issue, other than describing the 

action “as an act of treason, attempt to overthrow 

a branch of the Federal Government of 

Nigeria by force, and it must be treated as such.” 

Meanwhile, Nigerians have continued to call on 

the leadership of the Senate to wield the big stick 

on anyone who may be involved in the incident 

to serve as deterrent. 

*Bidemi is resident in Lagos and can be reached 

via bidemi8@yahoo.com


Politics: Between Business and Service 

By Setonji Koshoedo 

It is interesting that, like some other 

people, I always take cognisance of the 

happenings around me; and I learnt the 

technique of doing this in a course on 

organisational culture that I once attended. 

People’s body language and words reveal 

volumes about their intentions, especially the 

traits and the words of key players in 

organisations. It exposes hidden facts about 

what the organisation stands for, whether 

corporate or political. 

I got the prompt to put this piece together 

from one of such experiences I had recently in 

one of my political outings. I was in a 

political programme organised to encourage 

youths in politics, and I got the shock of my 

life from the presentation of one of the 

panelists; he happened to be one of the 

principal political actors from one of the states 

in Nigeria. This political leader/guru 

emphatically told the audience of innocent 

potential politicians that ‘politics is business,’ 

and that it has to be devotedly pursued as a 

business if one wants to succeed in it. This 

statement generated a mild argument 

between this leader and his contemporaries 

who happened to be members of the panel of 

discussants. And I said to myself, “Oh my God, 

this is what politics in this state and Nigeria at 

large has become.” I have always assumed 

that other politicians, especially of that calibre, 

see politics as service to humanity. I then 

found out that I was 

completely wrong and that I 

had been living in another 

political world. The statement 

of this political guru revealed 

a lot to me about the hidden 

intentions in the hearts of 

similar key political gameplayers 

in Nigeria. This also 

told me that this was, and still 

is, the guiding culture in all our 

political parties. 

Politics, by definition, is the 

activities associated with 

governance, which are aimed 

at improving the status of 

citizens, especially the 

common and poor man in the 

society who cannot, on his own, 

afford the basic amenities without the help of 

the government. But this has been turned into 

activities to improve the status of the privileged, 

who can survive without much intervention 

from the government, to oppress the ordinary 

man, piinching hadship and suffering on the 

already disadvantaged citizen. This 

occurrence is a result of how the major players 

of the game of politics understand the game. 

Is politics the business of amassing wealth for 

On the one hand, as a 

man thinks, so he is; 

and that determines 

his behaviour. The 

minds of these 

gladiators are so vain 

and their eyes so blind 

that they cannot see 

life beyond the 

vanities of life 

•Setonji Koshoedo 

the players? Is it to gain more influence by the 

already influential members of the society? 

Or is it for performing essential services for 

humanity in a bid to improve the lives of the 

common man, and people in general? These 

are the questions we all have to provide 

answers to before getting to play the game of 

politics correctly. 

For me, politics is about 

people. It can be defined as 

the set of activities 

undertaken to share, manage 

and distribute national 

resources, both human and 

material, for the benefits of 

the generality of the people. 

Putting our searchlight on 

this state in particular, and 

on Nigeria as a whole: Can 

one say that politics has 

attained its constituted role 

of benefitting and servicing 

the populace? Or has it been 

turned into a business for the 

privileged few to amass 

wealth? What we have is a 

situation contrary to the 

adage of the Lagos Eyo Masquerades which 

says “bu kan ko mi, bu kan ko ra re,” meaning 

“when sharing our collective resources, give 

me one and give yourself one.” But nowadays 

what we have is “bu kan ko mi, bu mewa ko ra 

re,” meaning “give me one and give ten to 

yourself”; a clear situation of politics as 

business 

I feel sorry for the future of Nigeria if the 

youth are being taught how to make politics a 

business; cold spring water, they say, cannot 

come out of a hot source; neither can hot spring 

water come out of a cold source. It is no lie 

that as a man thinks, so he is. This agrees with 

the observable traits in our political lives as 

shown by the game players and the resulting 

outcomes in our polity. People are being shortchanged 

and oppressed through the 

mismanagement of human and material 

resources by the style of politics practiced in 

this country. All their rights have been usurped! 

What people are experiencing is purely a style 

of robbing Peter to pay Paul. 

The rich are getting richer, and the poor are 

getting poorer. Apparently, a state of a false 

and manipulative system of governance that 

is softly maiming and killing the ordinary man 

is the trend. This is a system that has made the 

worst unprincipled members of the society, 

who can go along to get along, to become 

better than they would have been in a regular 

and typical situation; this to the detriment of 

the patriotic and hard-working members of 

our society. Only political gladiators are 

garnering benefits, and they are using force to 

impose bad political candidates on the 

people. 

Impunity has become the order of the day, 

and bad candidates are being made to win at 

all costs, even against the wishes of the 

communities. These are desperate moves, 

indicating that there is more to it than normal; 

making candidates win at all costs even if lives 

are wasted. Using electoral, security and 

judicial organs to perpetrate these evils; traits 

that show that politics is genuinely a business. 

The visible effects of these actions are 

observable all around us. 

The outcome of this type of politics is a sharp 

gap between the poor and the rich, in which 

the poor lack essential amenities that the 

government ought to provide for their comfort, 

and the rich own the best properties in the 

country. They buy exotic cars, houses, etc., and 

waste the treasures of the country’s collective 

purse; committing what a writer calls 

‘eusebeigenic’ sins, that is, the sins of the 

righteous. They also hide under concession 

laws to buy most choice government areas 

and property. Politics is, of course, real business 

for them, and a thriving business for that 

matter. But what has brought us to this 

unfortunate situation? 

On the one hand, as a man thinks, so he is; 

and that determines his behaviour. The minds 

of these gladiators are so vain and their eyes 

so blind that they cannot see life beyond the 

vanities of life. Their craving for material 

things of life has no limit. They would die or 

kill for mundane achievements rather than 

leave behind a legacy of the good they had 

done while alive. 

The weak minds of the key players are the 

‘controllers’ of our nation Nigeria; this is a 

situation in which their mind-set has made 

them choose wrong political ideologies to the 

detriment of pure political purposes. And in 

this modern day of ours, this, of course, leaves 

the people in bondage, if not absolute slavery. 

On the other hand, the people themselves 

are not blameless; they have their faults too. 

They have become so ignorant and gullible, 

and they allow themselves to be used and 

dumped. When tremendous wealth lies in the 

hands of very few, the tendency is that they 

have tremendous influence over the masses, 

but they are selfishly benefitting themselves. 

And the resulting impact on the society is that 

potentially affluent communities become 

underdeveloped and marginalised. 

The traits of making politics a business is 

not far-fetched. It is first noticeable in 

politicians’ aggressive approach to politics. I 

have often wondered: Do I have to shed blood 

to serve people? Or do I need to destroy the 

systems of governance to serve? But these 

political gladiators do not care how their 

decisions affect the common man. The 

resultant effect of their unwise decision is a 

society of violence and uneven development 

which the government will have to spend 

taxpayers’ money to control. Undoubtedly, this 

is not the desire of the average Nigerian. 

Contrary to making politics-a-business 

agenda, politics is service; in other words, 

rendering services that will create a conducive 

environment for a peaceful society where all 

citizens have equal rights to explore their Godgiven 

talents. The traits are visible in the 

systems of government which allow liberty, 

equality, and justice; a humane society where 

the ordinary man has access to essential 

amenities because he is treated as a human 

being and not something less-than-human. I 

believe that this is what Nigerians long to 

experience. 

Choosing between politics for business and 

politics for service to humanity lies in the hands 

every one of us. It is our responsibility to make 

sure we play our role in the creation of a 

conducive political environment that we 

desire for our country. Non-politicians need 

to be knowledgeable and enlightened enough 

to discern the good and the bad of political 

‘businessmen.’ And the politicians themselves 

must see politics as a service to humanity 

through which humans can prosper and have 

a near-perfect life. It, therefore, requires allround 

participation; the right people with the 

right mind-set must be in politics. Citizens 

should see ‘politics-as-business’ as a problem 

that is capable of debarring them from 

reaching their goals of living good lives. They 

should, therefore, be ready to tackle the 

menace of bad leadership by engaging in 

political activities around them and insisting 

on legal and credible elections. 

Another aspect whereby people get enslaved 

is the situation in which a single person 

bankrolls election activities; thus, politics 

automatically becomes the financier’s 

business, and he will do everything and 

anything to recover his money. Funding an 

election should be the responsibility of 

everyone. It provides for commitment and 

sincerity of purpose. 

It must also be the responsibility of everyone 

to communicate with every other; sharing 

knowledge and ideas through effective 

communication must not be hindered. 

It will be a good idea to sound a clarion call 

to all and sundry to revolt against making 

politics a business; it is our responsibility to 

imbibe this culture and get involved in chasing 

out negative ideologies and actors. 

Omo-Agege is a 

victim, not a villain 

By Felix Eshalomi 

Ovie Omo-Agege is senator representing 

the Urhobo nation and the people of 

Delta Central. A scion of the Omo-Agege 

family from Orogun and son of former Chief 

Judge of Delta State, Justice James Omo 

Agege, he came into the Senate as a member 

of the Labour Party (LP) before moving to All 

Progressives Congress (APC). 

On Thursday, April 12, 2018, the Senate 

suspended him for 90 legislative days after 

receiving the report from its Ethics and 

Privileges Committee which had 

recommended that Omo-Agege be suspended 

for 181 days. 

The reason for the suspension of Senator 

Ovie Omo-Agege was that he expressed his 

constitutionally guaranteed right to 

expression of an opinion under Section 39 of 

the 1999 Constitution (as 

amended). 

But the issue here is that 

the Section 39 of the 1999 

Constitution is under 

attack. 

It is worthy of note that 

the Section 39 aside from 

the limitation 

encapsulated in Section 

45 of the 1999 

Constitution, is absolute. 

But the Section 45 with 

its ordinarily attendant 

limitations on Section 39 

does not apply as it cannot 

be inferred that the opinion 

of the senator is not 

reasonably justifiable in a democratic society. 

Omo-Agege in the exercise of his right of 

expression aired his 

views on the effect of the 

proposed amendment 

of the Electoral Act and 

should not be punished 

for opposing an 

amendment which he 

has a constitutional 

right to oppose. 

Nigeria is a 

democratic society and 

democracy comes with 

the attendant effect of 

recognizing that while 

the majority will always 

have their way, the 

opinion of the minority 

must be heard. 

Opposition to majority 

opinion is not only 

allowed in a 

democratic society but 

is also highly 

encouraged. It is not a 

crime to dissent with 

the reasoning of the 

majority. In fact, 

opposition is 

fundamental in democracy. So the issue of 

Section 45 of the 1999 Constitution does not 

arise because such comments were made in 

the interest of fairness and justice. 

It is pertinent to point out that the enjoyment 

of Section 39 is not dependent on the veracity 

of the opinion held. Without prejudice to the 

opinion of the senator, his opinion needs not 

be true to warrant protection by the 

Constitution. For what the Constitution 

seeks to protect is not the truth but ‘the 

opinion’. 

This provision is available to every 

citizen of Nigeria irrespective of where 

such a person is in Nigeria. And if there is 

any place where laws must be obeyed, it 

must be in the hallowed chamber of the 

Senate, from where, laws are made. 

Granted that Section 60 of the 1999 

Constitution gives the Senate the power 

to regulate its own procedure, it is 

debatable whether the Senate reserves the 

power to suspend a serving senator, let 

alone suspend him for more than 14 days. 

Consequently the Senate is called upon 

to respect the rule of law and reverse its 

decision to suspend Omo-Agege for his 

opposition to the proposed amendment 

of the Electoral Act because the hallowed 

chamber of the Senate is a place where laws 

are respected and not flouted. 

*Eshalomi, a lawyer, lives in Lagos


JULY 14 poll: I am leaving 

Abuja for my ‘unfinished 

business’ in Ekiti — Fayemi 

By Olalekan Bilesanmi 

Penultimate Saturday, Ado-Ekiti, 

the capital of Ekiti State, was 

literally shut down for the 

Minister of Mines and Steel 

Development, Dr. John Kayode Fayemi. 

Thousands of indigenes, mostly 

members of the All Progressives 

Congress (APC), stormed the 

premises of St Michael’s Primary 

School, Ajilosun as Fayemi declared 

his intention to vie for the July 14 

governorship election in the state. 

Ahead of the rally, the declaration 

had been the talk of the town as glossy 

campaign posters announcing the 

event dotted major parts of Ekiti. 

The former governor had the 

previous week travelled across the 16 

local government areas of the state, 

meeting with APC leaders and 

stakeholders at ward and local 

government levels. 

And at the quarterly 

meeting of the Ekiti APC 

leaders held at his Isan 

Ekiti country home on 

April 2, the minister had 

also spoken of his plan 

to run for governor again 

on the platform of the 

APC. 

That Saturday, Ado- 

Ekiti came alive quite 

early. As early as 7am, 

APC members, from 

different parts of the 

state, started arriving the 

state capital in large 

numbers. The members 

all donned T-shirts 

announcing Fayemi’s 

intention to return to the 

Government House. 

Around midday, 

Fayemi, accompanied by 

his wife, Bisi, and 

thousands of his 

supporters, began the 

six-kilometre trek from 

We will do 

everything 

that is 

required 

to win 

Ekiti back 

the Fajuyi Roundabout to the APC 

Secretariat, also in Ajilosun. It was a 

carnival-like atmosphere, with the 

accompaniment of music and dancing 

as the train meandered its way 

through the different routes. By then, 

the thick gridlock had stretched to the 

Ijigbo Roundabout. Vehicular 

movement was greatly hampered, and 

even commercial motorbikes found 

commuting a herculean endeavour. 

By 1pm, getting to the venue had 

become an uphill task for motorists, 

motorbike operators and even 

pedestrians. The premises of St 

Michaels had become filled, and the 

crowd had spilled over to the main 

Ikere Road as well as the side streets 

in the area. But slowly, Fayemi and 

his associates made their way through 

the crowd into the APC Secretariat 

where the minister met with the 

waiting party leaders. He explained 

to the leaders that he 

was holding the rally to 

announce his intention 

to run for the party’s 

ticket in the 

governorship poll. 

While the crowd 

awaited Fayemi, the 

atmosphere at the venue 

of the rally was 

vivacious. 

A loud din reverberated 

through the area when 

Fayemi arrived at the 

premises of St Michael’s 

Primary School, 

accompanied by some 

party leaders in the state. 

He walked straight to the 

podium and exchanged 

pleasantries with the 

dignitaries, party leaders 

and journalists already 

seated. Fuji Star, 

Sulaimon Adio Atawewe, 

who had been thrilling 

the audience just before 

Fayemi’s arrival, paused 

as the minister offered his salutations 

to the crowd in Ekiti dialect. 

Donning a branded white T-shirt 

proclaiming ‘JKF for Governor’ atop a 

pair of blue jeans, the former governor 

expressed gratitude to the crowd for 

their love and support. 

“They said APC was dead in Ekiti, 

but now they know better,” he taunted, 

as the crowd cheered. 

He then launched into why he was 

offering himself for service yet again, 

employing English and Yoruba as well 

as Ekiti dialect to make his point. 

He said even though he was having 

a fantastic time in Abuja as a minister 

trusted by his principal the president, 

he was seeking to return to the 

Government House in Ado-Ekiti 

because he had unfinished business 

in the state. He regretted that the 

current administration in Ekiti was a 

disaster. 

Fayemi lamented that there was 

nothing to show for the several billions 

of naira that had accrued to the state 

during the tenure of the Fayose 

administration. 

“Fayose collected bail-out funds, 

Paris Club refund, took loans and, yet, 

he refused to pay workers. Today, civil 

servants are owed salaries of between 

six and ten months; teachers, local 

government workers are owed at least 

six to ten months. Pensioners are being 

owed. You don’t pay their parents, and 

you still ask even primary school 

students to pay”, the minister said. 

“All the employment and poverty 

alleviation programmes that we 

instituted, he cancelled. We had the 

Social Security Programme for the 

Elderly under which 25, 000 vulnerable 

people were paid N5, 000 per month; 

he cancelled. Our Peace Corps scheme 

under which 800 youths were employed 

was scrapped and those youths thrown 

out of jobs. The special allowances for 

teachers in rural areas, he stopped. The 

only thing he does is to abuse President 

Buhari everyday; yet, Buhari still gives 

him bailout funds to pay workers. But 

he doesn’t even pay the workers. The 

only thing he’s doing is to build a 

bridge to nowhere. It is only in Ekiti 

that I’ve seen a governor building a 

bridge to nowhere”. 

He also spoke about the N25 billion 

bond taken by his administration. The 

funds, he said, were used to resuscitate 

the moribund Ire Bricks Industry, 

rebuild Ikogosi Warm Springs, build the 

12, 000 capacity Ekiti State Pavillion, 

construct many verifiable roads across 

the state, and build a brand new 

Government House, among other 

projects. He said he had already repaid 

about N14 billion of the money before 

he left power. He regretted that Fayose 

had abandoned all the projects, noting 

that Ikogosi had become dilapidated. 

“Today, besides all the money our 

friend has collected, he has also 

borrowed over N56 billion. Yet he 

doesn’t tell you that.” 

Fayemi also informed that the present 

administration slashed the salaries of 

traditional rulers, and had not paid the 

new rates in ten months. 

The minister also recalled that there 

was not a single community in the state 

that was not touched by his 

administration. He asserted that he did 

at least one or two projects in each 

community in the state during his 

tenure. 

He faulted the state government’s 

White Paper purportedly banning him 

from holding elective position in the 

state for ten years, noting that the paper 

was far worthless than a tissue paper. 

While asserting that the Supreme Court 

had already resolved such matters, 

Fayemi informed that the bank in 

question as well as the traditional ruler, 

a one-time chief judge who chaired the 

panel of enquiry had said that no money 

was missing from any bank. Fayemi then 

issued Fayose a dramatic red card. 

“We will do everything that is 

required to win Ekiti back. The PDP 

government in Ekiti knows their time 

is up and that is why they are jittery 

and resorting to all manners of pranks. 

They are now dangling their White 

Paper. Their White Paper is nothing but 

a tissue paper. That is why we must tell 

the man who is shouting around that 

he has a White Paper, we have a red 

card for him and his party. We will 

ensure that he will end up in jail.” 

Fayemi said each aspirant on the APC 

platform would perform far better as 

governor than Fayose, assuring that the 

aspirants would work for whoever got 

the party’s nod to run for governor in 

July.


That is just hearsay. You know, 

they need to fly a kite for people to 

feel they are working. In that 

Senate, we are so united that 

getting that kind of number cannot 

be easy at all. 

•Abiodun Olujimi 

It doesn’t make sense to say the 

President is the target of elections 

reordering bill – Senator Olujimi 

• ‘Fayose ose not carrying ying us along on Ekiti election’ 

By Dapo Akinrefon 

Senator Abiodun Olujimi representing Ekiti South is 

Deputy Minority Whip of the Senate. In this 

interview, the former Deputy Governor of Ekiti State 

bares her mind on the governorship election in Ekiti State 

and some burning national issues. Excerpts: 

There is controversy over the 

rejection of $350 million World Bank 

loan for Kaduna State by the Senate. 

As a principal officer of the chambre, 

why was the request turned down? 

If you listened to the argument 

brought by the senators from 

Kaduna, they said the money would 

not be properly utilised. We should 

not be taking loans just for 

the sake of it. Loans should 

be taken for genuine 

reasons and, in this 

particular case, the reason 

this loan should be taken 

are not there. If you have 

three senators from 

Kaduna, one presented it 

without saying a word and 

the two others were against 

it, what that implies is that 

the state did not really 

need the money because, if 

the state needed the funds, 

they would have called 

their senators, spoken to 

them no matter which 

political divide they were 

and the state government 

should be on the same 

page with legislators who 

are important to the 

passage of the loan 

request. 

Some senators have 

argued that the election 

For those 

saying it is 

targeted at 

the 

president, I 

think it is the 

figment of 

their own 

imagination 

and unless 

they know 

something 

that we don’t 

know 

reorder bill was targeted at the 

president. What is your 

perspective? 

How will you use a legislation to 

target one person? What about 

tomorrow? For those saying it is 

targeted at the president, I think it 

is the figment of their own 

imagination and unless they know 

something that we don’t know. If 

you will remember, that 

was the order for which 

elections were held in 

the past. It is nothing 

new. We are just 

following the old order. 

When we had that, 

people were not 

jumping ship anyhow 

because the minute the 

National Assembly 

elections were done; 

there was nothing else 

anyone who failed there 

could jump to. You 

couldn’t jump to go and 

become Assembly 

member, governor or 

President because those 

were sealed and we 

thought it will bring 

sanity back into the 

system whereby people 

won’t be jumping ship. 

What you found is that 

the minute the 

president was elected 

because people believe 

it will be bandwagon, people were 

always willing to just start moving 

from one party to the other and they 

disrupted the entire political 

landscape. So, the new thinking was 

if we do it that way, it will put paid 

to jumping ship. Everybody will 

remain in his or her party and work 

for the election of the president. That 

way, it makes sense and the political 

parties will be stronger for it. So, 

what is wrong in it? Except those 

against it are saying the president 

cannot win if his election does not 

come first or other members of the 

party will not win if the president 

does not win. If that is what they are 

saying, then it will make sense. 

Other than that, it doesn’t make 

sense at all. And you couldn’t make 

a law to target one person, what 

about tomorrow? 

What do you make of the 

interference of the judiciary in this 

election reordering issue? 

For me, that was wrong because 

there is separation of powers. It is 

within the purview of the legislation 

to do certain things as enshrined in 

the constitution. The legislature 

was following that path and the 

judiciary should have maintained 

that also. It is still a Bill; it is not yet 

an Act. Until it becomes an Act, the 

judiciary has no say on it. But as 

lawmakers, you can’t stop us from 

going through the Bill. I believe the 

judiciary will still do justice and I 

believe the judgment will be done in 

such a way that the separation of 

powers will be recognised. 

There are reports that about 65 

senators have already appended 

their signatures to override the 

president’s veto. How true? 

Why is the Senate shifting the 

passage of the budget to the end of 

May? 

Most of the MDAs were laidback. 

They didn’t bring their budget for 

defence. And if you don’t defend it, 

how will the people in charge know 

what you are going to use the funds 

for? When this government was 

coming in, they were very high on 

‘we are going to do zero 

budgeting’. It is difficult for you to 

fault zero budgeting but that’s the 

problem of electioneering. When 

you are campaigning you say lots of 

things and you get to the place and 

see that what you said is not 

realistic. They have seen that 

actually, it is tough to embark on 

zero budgeting because most of the 

MDAs don’t really have a clear 

vision of what they want to do. So, 

the envelope system allows them to 

be able to in-between look at 

projects and be able to quickly get 

them done. So, there is no zero 

budgeting. When there is no zero 

budgeting, you must scrutinise 

everything that comes so that you 

don’t go and put money aside for 

something that will never be done 

and things that should be done will 

now be starved. So, that is the 

reason for the scrutiny. The MDAs 

just got laidback but in the last one 

week, I think about 50 of them came 

in because they were given a 

deadline and a timeframe. So, they 

have been rushing to come for 

budget defence. 

What is the situation in Ekiti PDP? 

We understand Governor Ayo 

Fayose is trying to talk to you and 

others who are opposed to his 

nomination of his deputy as his 

successor. How true is that? 

No, he has not spoken to any of 

us. He is still talking to his deputy. 

Up till now, he has not spoken to 

any of us. Yes, we had a meeting 

and the leaders of the party tried to 

broker a peace and they did well. 

But then, the governor went back 

and continued what he said he will 

not do. Up till now, nothing else 

has been said. So, we are still where 

we are. 

What advice can you give to 

women who are shying away from 

politics? 

Women must come in. if they don’t 

come in, they must not complain of 

marginalisation. It is not an easy 

road to travel but if you don’t come 

in and you complain, I find it very 

annoying because except you throw 

your hat into the ring and put your 

feet into this hot water, you really 

cannot do anything for your 

constituents or society. You can’t 

speak up and your voice cannot 

matter. Women must come in. 

We are trying to fight for a space 

for them. We are trying to legislate 

for them to have a percentage where 

they can be sure that they can 

participate but it has been tough 

because the people who are fighting 

are also very few and marginalised. 

Look at the senate, just seven of us 

among 109. How can you fight for 

your gender if you don’t even have 

up to 20 senators?

There is a very strong 

suspicion among 

Christians that there is 

a grand plot to 

Islamize Nigeria. How 

will you react to this? 

That’s another scam. 

Who says there is a plot 

to Islamize Nigeria? Let 

them give us the 

blueprint on TV and 

show us the plan so that 

all of us will know there 

is a plan. Let me tell you 

this, Ezekiel 22 is the 

problem and solution of 

Nigeria. It talks about the 

godless prophet and 

government officials and 

there’s no one to intercede 

so God said I’ll 

pour my wrath. So, if they 

want to Islamize Nigeria, 

are you just knowing that 

Nigeria is a member of 

Organization of Islamic 

Countries OIC? Did 

Nigeria not have Christian 

presidents? Obasanjo 

was a Christian, why 

didn’t he take us out of 

it? Jonathan was a 

Christian president, why 

didn’t he take us out of 

it? Why can’t church 

leaders in this country 

say that we are not an 

Islamic country and take 

Nigeria out of this thing? 

So, if they cannot, who 

want to Islamize Nigeria? 

It’s those Christian leaders 

and all those people 

who live a life of greed. 

What are the things you 

had to unlearn in your 

over 30 years of 

ministry? 

One of the things I had to 

unlearn is dogma. I will tell 

you issues like things we 

were raised with, issues 

like you cannot divorce. 

When my knowledge increased, 

I discovered that 

the scripture didn’t really 

say that. But in the area of 

doctrine, there is nothing 

to unlearn because doctrine 

is verbatim as written 

in the scriptures. And also 

my affiliation in England 

changed my concept 

about women, how women 

should be treated 

which doesn’t exist in 

Nigeria. How wives should 

be treated in the family, 

which some of the cultures 

in Nigeria is assassinating. 

The culture in England, 

the good part of it 

has retuned my mind. Also, 

in the way we look at 

sinners, in those days 

when we were S.U, we say 

if you sin you will go to hell. 

I recognize that when 

people sin, we shouldn’t 

send them to hell, we 

should show them way 

out and reconcile them. 

What’s your position 

on the faith elements; 

use of mantle, oil, 

comb and so on? 

All those things are 

ungodly. I’m teaching 

ministers now on regards 

this stuff. Anything a 

minister can present 

before people which can 

become the source to 

hear prayer or to draw 

power is idol worshipping 

which was the sin of 

Aaron. Nigeria has the 

most uneducated pulpit 

runners. When I say 

uneducated, I don’t mean 

sam.eyoboka@gmail.com 

08023145567 (sms only) 

Nigeria harbours most uneducated pulpit 

runners, says Apostle Williams 

United Kingdom-based Nigerian pastor and General Overseer of Christ Faith Tabernacle, Apostle Alfred Williams 

in an interview with Sam Eyoboka frowned at certain practices in the Christian Church today. Excerpts: 

BOOK REVIEW: 

BOOK TITLE: Divine Blueprint for Spiritual Growth 

AUTHOR: William Folorunsho Kumuyi 

DATE OF PUBLICATION: 2014 

PUBLISHER: Life Press Limited 

PRICE: Not Stated 

REVIEWER: Sam Eyoboka 

Divine Blueprint for 

Spiritual Growth, a 

three chapter booklet, 

began with an exposition 

admonishing readers on 

God’s rich and inexhaustible 

grace. The opening 

chapter, ‘The best is yet 

to come’ has eight subtitles: 

There is more 

from God; More Christian 

experience; Abraham’s 

experience, The 

disciples’ experience, 

Abundant blessings, 

Deeper Christian experience 

and Dig deeper 

combine to give credence 

to Pastor Kumuyi’s 

diligence, foresight and 

distinctive leadership 

style which have set 

apart as one of the 

greatest Christian leaders 

of our time. 

The former university 

lecturer and a rare combination 

of God’s rich 

and matchless grace and 

the rigorous discipline of 

the academic maintained 

that the moment a sinner 

is reconciled to God 

through repentance and 

faith in the Lord Jesus 

Christ, he begins to enjoy 

God’s unlimited and 

inexhaustible grace, 

pointing out that the new 

birth experience is a 

doorway to spiritual 

blessings. 

The holiness preacher 

emphasized the need 

for such new converts to 

diligently continue with 

the Holy Ghost guided 

processes leading to total 

transformation of the 

former sinner into a true 

disciple of Christ, saying 

that “there are some 

categories of people prospered 

slightly but think 

they have reached the 

peak of God’s prosperity 

plan for their lives.” 

According to the author, 

the new birth experience 

is only the beginning of an 

exciting walk with God, 

noting that there are other 

Christian experiences 

which every believer stands 

to attain in the Christian 

voyage; “the fact that 

you have been saved does 

not preclude one from 

further Christian experiences. 

You cannot claim to 

have exhausted heaven’s 

abundant resources just 

because you were saved.” 

Chapter two, Secrets of 

Spiritual Growth contains 

13 subtitles packaged to 

prepare the new convert 

to grow in grace and 

steadily into adulthood in 

line with biblical injunction 

in II Peter 3:18 which 

*Apostle Alfred 

Willims 

enjoins the new convert 

to “grow in grace, and in 

the knowledge of our Lord 

and Saviour Jesus Christ. 

To him be glory both now 

and for ever. Amen.” 

The author outlines 

reasons for lack of growth, 

describing backsliding 

as a major roadblock to 

growth, he admonishes 

readers on the desire for 

growth, an unforgettable 

experience, warning readers 

of certainhindrances 

to Spiritual growth which 

include secret sins, pride, 

unhealthy companionship 

worldliness and worldly 

pursuits, unhealthy comparison, 

self-satisfaction, 

talkativeness and other 

causes of stunted growth—-ocultic 

involvement, 

laziness, prayerlessness, 

hypocrisy et al. 

According to him, “it is 

easy to grow spiritually 

after one has removed all 

the things that hinder 

growth. How then can one 

grow spiritually? Writing in 

I Peter 2:1-2, Apostle Peter 

said: ‘Wherefore laying 

aside all malice, and all 

guile, and hypocrisies, and 

envies, and all evil speakings, 

as newborn babies, 

desire the sincere milk of 

the word, that he may 

grow thereby.” 

He emphasized the need 

to hunger for growth, 

noting that whatever you 

have got, you need to 

desire more of the riches 

of Christ. “Dissatisfaction 

with your present 

state will induce you to 

seek the face of God for 

more of His grace,” he 

maintained. 

Chapter three, Blueprint 

academic. An illiterate 

man can be educated 

while an academician is 

not educated. By uneducated 

I mean they are 

uninformed about God. 

The churches of Nigeria, 

the Pentecostal church 

especially, are the most 

unregulated institutions in 

the world. So, anybody 

can just come today and 

say I’m bishop this, and 

that’s it. Who regulates 

him? Who ordained him? 

And if you give offering to 

some big fathers, once 

they give you credence, a 

criminal can become a 

minister. Those are the 

issues. 

What then do you have 

to say to the body of 

Christ? 

My message to the body 

of Christ is II Chronicles 

7:14, it says if my people 

that are called by my 

name will humble themselves 

and pray and repent 

from their wicked 

ways, then will I hear from 

heaven and I will heal their 

land. So the healing of 

Nigeria is in the hands of 

God’s people. It will happen 

only when God’s 

people repent and then 

seek God for mercy then 

Nigeria will be healed. Let 

for Spiritual growth extensively 

dealt with the 

fundamentals of the 

Christian race as encapsulated 

in the life of 

Apostle Paul who in one 

of his writings to Timothy 

said: “Howbeit for this 

cause I obtained mercy, 

that in me First Jesus 

Christ might show forth 

all long suffering, for a pattern 

to them which should 

hereafter believe on 

him to life everlasting”. (I 

Timothy 1:16). 

The author believes that 

a close look at the life of 

Apostle Paul in the Bible 

avidly gives any new 

convert a good insight to 

God’s Blueprint for Spiritual 

growth, stating that 

since growth is the desire 

of all serious believers, it 

is imperative to examine 

the life of a man that so 

closely followed the Lord 

and grew so remarkably 

that he could say: “Wherefore 

I beseech you, be ye 

followers of me, Brethren, 

be followers together of 

mem and mark them 

which walk so as he have 

us for example.” 

The author maintains that 

Apostle Paul was a man 

of unflinching purpose 

and determination who 

tapped the unlimited 

resources of the Holy 

Ghost maximally and 

obeyed scriptural injunctions 

on spiritual growth 

tha says: "But ye beloved, 

building up yourselves on 

your most holy faith, praying 

in the Holy Ghost." 

(Jude 20). 

He therefore enjoins 

readers to stir up their 

spiritual life. 


me say this, I heard that 

some people are prescribing 

that you take helicopter 

and go up to pray 

over some principalities, 

all those are nonsense. I 

have seen demons. I have 

been taken to heaven 

more than 14 times. I’ve 

seen Jesus several times, 

I wrote a book about my 

encounter with the Lord. 

You cannot trade anything 

against repentance. The 

soul that sinneth shall die. 

If the nation of Nigeria 

don’t repent, it’s not a 

problem. The people of 

God in Nigeria needs to 

know the true God, who 

Christ really is. The ministers 

of God in Nigeria 

must change their message 

to righteousness and 

live the life of righteousness. 

And when that happens 

and God’s people in 

Nigeria pray, you will see 

mercy from heaven that 

will transform the whole 

of this nation. Nigeria has 

a future, and that’s the 

only way we can get there. 

This controversial 

issue about tithes and 

offerings: What is your 

take? 

They came to me in 

England to ask my 

position as the father of 

many people in the UK. I 

believe that we are in the 

end time. The bible says 

in II Peter 2:1-2, there were 

also false prophets 

among the people just as 

there were false teachers 

among you, they will 

secretly introduce destructive 

heresies and deny 

even the sovereign Lord 

who brought them. So we 

are living in the last days 

where a lot of false 

teachers will come into 

church. If you look at I 

Timothy 4:1, the spirit 

clearly says that in the 

last days, some will 

abandon the faith and 

follow deceiving spirit and 

demonic teachings. 

LDS holds 

maiden 

Easter 

Cantata 

By Emem Idio 

CHURCH of Jesus 

Christ of Latter-day 

Saints, in Yenagoa, 

Bayelsa State recently 

played host to several 

choirs at her maiden 

“Easter Cantata,” with the 

theme: “Handel's 

Messiah.” 

The event which featured 

musical performances 

from various music 

groups was led by the 

Mormon Tabernacle 

Choir of the LDS. 

Speaking at the occasion, 

president of the Yenagoa 

Nigeria Stake of the LDS 

Church, Dr. Akekere Jonah, 

while stressing the importance 

of Easter to 

mankind, stated that the 

essence of the maiden 

edition of Easter Cantata, 

was to build bridges among 

other Christian faiths 

and to worship God with 

music and songs of praise. 

He invited other denominations 

to join the LDS in 

proclaiming the gospel 

and the teachings of 

Jesus Christ, as all Christians 

are working towards 

the same goal. 

In their separate goodwill 

messages at the occasion, 

the paramount ruler 

of Azikoro community in 

Yenagoa Local Government 

Area, HRH Amadoko 

Clever, and the chairman 

of Civil Liberties 

Organization, CLO, Bayelsa 

state branch, Chief 

Nengi James, who described 

the occasion as 

spiritually uplifting, implored 

churches to preach 

against the negative 

ills bedeviling the society 

such as corruption, cultism, 

drug abuse and prostitution. 

They urged the young 

people to channel their 

energies towards meaningful 

and productive 

ventures as the society 

was looking up to them. 

Cleric urges Nigerians to 

turn to God 

By Olayinka Latona 

DISTRICT Superintend-ent, Apostolic Faith, West 

Africa, Rev. Adebayo Adeniran has urged 

Nigerians to turn to God with fervent prayers 

and He would intervene in her social, economic, and 

political development. 

Adeniran said this on Sunday night at the Easter concert 

entitled: "Gains of Calvary" at its Camp-ground, Anthony 

Village, Lagos. 

He said that embracing a lifestyle of holiness was the 

only way to end the current challenges the country 

was faced with. 

Easter not only celebrat-es the deliverance of men, it 

offers hope to Nigeria, if the whole nation will turn to 

God, and turn from their wicked ways, He will heal their 

land. 

Calvary offers hope of healing for Nigeria as a nation 

and for inhabitants as individuals, He will heal us all. 

"We have been talking about peace at Calvary, peace 

for the individual, peace for the household, peace for 

the community, peace for the nation, peace all over 

the world, but that peace starts from the heart. 

"As you summit your heart in humility to God to first 

forgive you because you have been hurtful to Him and 

to your fellow human beings, God will grant the grace 

to receive peace in the heart and that peace will spread 

to other people, that is the whole essence," he maintained.

PAGE 42— SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 22, 2018 

Living with 

Eternity in view (7) 

By Pastor William F. Kumuyi 

T 

O D A Y , 

unfortunately, 

the story has 

not changed. There are 

many people in the church 

who think that there is 

nothing worth living for, 

except for the base crass 

materialistic valuables of 

life that fades away. There 

is nothing of eternal worth •Kumuyi 

that matters to these sets 

of people. Of all the men ever lived on the surface of 

the earth, the scriptures describes these category of 

people as 'most miserable'. 

In order for Paul to sustain his hope of getting to heaven, 

he ventured into spiritual combat with men and 

women that manifest beastly nature and attribute in 

Ephesus. To him, if there were no existence of a future 

life after death, he would not have bothered to risk 

his life fighting evil men and women. But he would have 

preferred to seek after the pleasures of life, because 

death would not have mattered in the nearest future. 

That is exactly the attitude of the people who do not 

have eternity in view. They drown themselves in 

pleasure and engage in unhealthy rivalry, with the aim 

of amassing wealth so as to satisfy their insatiable 

hunger and greed for materialism without any hope of 

life after death. 

That is exactly the nature of the people who do not 

have hope in God nor believe in eternity for which to 

prepare. 

Ephesians 2:12 "That at that time ye were without Christ, 

being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and 

strangers from the covenants of promise, having no 

hope, and without God in the world." 

Do you know that if you do not have anybody who 

loves you residing outside your own city or if you do 

not have any fancy for a particular city other than your 

locality you will scarcely develop the interest to live in 

that place? This is what I mean. For instance, you have 

heard about America and have read about the place 

and, perhaps, you might have even seen the map of 

the country. But if you do not have anything to do 

there, or you do not have anybody there or the country 

does not catch your breath away, you will not think of 

going to America. 

Likewise, the people that do not have Christ do not 

think about heaven. No, not even once, because there 

is no magnetic force that will pull them to heaven. If 

they hear about heaven, at all, it does not register in 

their conscience, because they do not have the charm 

or ingredient that will attract them to heaven. That 

charm is none other than Jesus Christ of Nazareth, 

the number one citizen of heaven. 

But the people that know that Christ said that "In my 

Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I 

would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you." 

They will be living with eternity in view. If you are part 

of them, you will be living with the full awareness and 

consciousness that one of these days Christ will be 

coming to take His people home and you inclusive. 

But if you do not know that there are mansions awaiting 

you in heaven, you will have that impression that your 

home is this passing world; and all your excitement 

will be on the things that are happening in this hapless 

world. The news of the world will be the best news 

that you could ever want to hear. 

Also, you will want to live for the life that now is. You 

will live for the politics and the entertainment of this 

world. You will celebrate the dead and the birthdays 

with pomp and pageantry, because you do not have 

any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ. You will view 

money as the greatest possession on earth and as a 

result of the love you will have for it, you will do anything 

and everything to amass it; thereby fulfilling the 

scriptures in a very negative light because it will plunge 

you into all evil. That is not all. There is also the angle 

of legitimate and illegitimate fleshly gratification 

whenever your body craves for the opposite sex. 

Unfortunately, that is the life of many churchgoers who 

flock the streets on service days. They practically 

become like atheists by subverting the will of God for 

their own self-willed tendencies and with no eternity in 

view. 

Nevertheless, I am here to reinforce the importance 

of living with eternity in view by telling you that from 

today, you should always live with eternity in view. If 

you could do this every morning when you wake up 

from sleep, by telling yourself that life is brief and it 

will soon end; any time you are at a cross road, bear it 

in mind that life's difficulties will not last forever, but 

that life will soon come to a close. Hence, where will 

you spend eternity? Any time you are faced with 

important decisions in life such as career prospect, 

the decision about marriage, the decision about 

investment, etc. Remember that life is short and that 

the most important investment one can ever embark 

upon is that of eternity. Where will you spend eternity 

should readily come to mind. Any time you are 

confronted with the message of Christ, the message 

for your soul's salvation, your attitude should be - where 

will I spend eternity, if I die any moment from now? 

Any time you have been hit hard by the word of God 

and your flesh is trying to resist just remember that 

life will soon end. Where will you spend eternity? 

DR. FRANCIS 

AKIN-JOHN 

Church Growth Consultant, 6/8, 

Mukadaq Close, Off Palace Way, 

Iyana-Odo, B/Stop, Isheri-LASU Road, 

Lagos. 

08023000714. akingrow@yahoo.com 

REVEREND FATHER 

John Damian 

ADIZIE, OCD 

Director of Int'l Youth Empowerment 

& Rehabilitation Centre (IYERC) 

Tel: 08076635886 

Email: 

johndamianocd@yahoo.co.uk 

Care for the Earth @ International 

Mother Earth Day 

Strategies to overcoming marriage challenges 

By Pastor Okokon Ating 

FIDELITY: 

THIS term stands for 

an act of 

unfaithfulness to a 

partner be it the wife or 

the husband. It is an act 

of having sex with another 

partner outside, defiling 

the matrimonial bed. Why 

should this be made 

mentioned of in the life of 

the couple who vowed to 

themselves before men 

and women of God to be 

one till death do us part? 

The answer may be 

resolved based on the 

cultural background of 

some couples and their 

religious beliefs. 

Biblically, it is a sin if one 

should have extra marital 

affairs. This is what the 

bible termed adultery. The 

society is sick and full of 

devices of which illicit sex 

is one of the areas in 

which both the married 

and the unmarried people 

abuse their lives. 

Therefore, there is need 

for couples to be aware 

of this fashion. Many homes 

have been separated 

IT’S time for personal 

responsibility. We 

charismatics must 

stop blaming everything 

on demons. People are 

usually the problem. 

4. Stop playing charismatic 

games. Spiritual 

warfare is a reality, but we 

are not going to win the 

world to Jesus just by 

shouting at demonic principalities. 

We must pray, 

preach and persevere to 

see ultimate victory. 

5. Stop the foolishness. 

People who hit, slap or 

push others during prayer 

should be asked to sit 

down until they learn that 

gentleness is a fruit of the 

Holy Spirit. 

6. End all spiritual extortion 

now. Christian television 

ministries must 

cease and desist from all 

manipulative fundraising 

tactics. We must stop giving 

platforms to prosperity 

preachers who make 

outlandish claims of supernatural 

financial returns, 

especially when Scripture 

is twisted, deadlines are 

imposed and the poor are 

exploited. 

7. No more Lone Rangers. 

Those who claim to 

be ministers of God— 

whether they are traveling 

evangelists, local pastors 

or heads of ministries— 

must be accountable to 

other leaders. Any who 

refuse to submit their 

lives to godly discipline 

should be corrected. 

MOST religions and 

cultures believe 

that Man comes 

from the earth. Most of 

them even believe that unto 

dust shall man return. 

Every year during the Ash 

Wednesday most orthodox 

churches, including 

Catholics, usually receive 

Ash on their forehead. 

While receiving the Ash, 

the minister usually declares, 

“Remember, man, you 

are dust and to dust you 

will return.” This was actually 

taken from Genesis 

3:19 where God told 

Adam, “By the sweat of 

your face you shall eat bread 

until you return to the 

ground, for out of it you 

were taken.” Whether we 

like it or not, one day we 

shall all return to the earth 

from where we came from. 

That is why we must take 

care of the earth. 

Considering the importance 

of the earth and its indispensable 

role in human 

existence, the UN has declared 

April 22 as International 

Mother Earth Day. 

This celebration is meant 

to remind us of some of 

the essential benefits we 

derive from the earth. The 

theme of 2017 International 

Mother Earth Day is 

*Pastor Okokon Ating 

in the time past due to this 

factor. There are many 

married people who do 

not see such act as sin 

against their spouse. 

Rather, it is seen as a 

unique situation to indulge 

in or taken as a socializing 

lifestyle of this age that 

we are in. Therefore, it is 

imperative for couples 

who want their marriages 

to last long to guard 

against this spirit in all 

aspects of their marital 

life. This is the area I’m 

advising married couples 

to take heed to themselves 

sexually, with a closegap 

intimacy. Married 

couples can take heed to 

what Apostle Paul advised 

in 1 Corinthians 7:5: “Defraud 

yet not one the 

We really need 

another reformation 

8. Expose the 

c r e e p s . 

Preachers who 

have been hiding 

criminal records, 

lying about 

their past 

marriages, preying on 

women or refusing to pay 

child support should be 

exposed as charlatans 

and shunned if they do 

not repent. 

9. Stop faking the anointing. 

God is God, and He 

does not need our “help” 

to manifest Himself. That 

means we don’t sprinkle 

glitter on ourselves to 

suggest God’s glory is 

with us, hide fake jewels 

on the floor to prove we 

are anointed or pull feathers 

out of our sleeves to 

pretend angels are in the 

room. This is lying to the 

Holy Spirit. 

10. Let’s return to purity. 

We’ve had enough scandals. 

The charismatic 

church must develop a 

”Environmental 

& Climate Literacy.” 

We 

need adequate 

knowledge 

of our environment 

and climate. 

Without 

this knowledge 

we cannot confront 

some of 

the challenges 

facing our planet 

today, especially 

now 

that the world is facing climate 

change. Ignorance 

of our environment and 

even our planet is dangerous 

to human existence. 

Problem known is problem 

half solved! 

This year, there is a step 

further to confront some 

of the abuses and threats 

against the earth, the environment 

and the climate. 

Hence, the theme of this 

year’s International Mother 

Earth Day is “End Plastic 

Pollution.” Plastic pollution 

is the accumulation of 

man-made plastic waste 

products in the environment. 

Since these plastic 

products hardly decay 

they constitute hazard to 

other, except it be with 

consent for a time that ye 

may give yourselves to 

Fasting and prayer, and 

come together again, that 

Satan tempt you not for 

your incontinency”. 

I knew of a married lady 

who kept reporting to me 

everytime that her husband 

seems not to be satisfied 

with her alone. She 

stated that she suspected 

a foul play by the husband. 

I kept asking from her too, 

whether she caught her 

husband with another 

woman. The woman said 

no, but the character of 

her husband and the way 

he neglected her and her 

children at home, prompted 

her to accuse him of 

having extra-marital affairs. 

It was when I duly enquired 

from her that I discovered 

there had been a 

‘defrauding’ issue from her 

side. Whenever the husband 

needed her, she brings 

in lots of complaints 

which made the husband 

think otherwise. As an 

African man, he did not 

wait or listen to his wife’s 

system for the restoration of 

fallen ministers. Those who 

fall morally can be re-stored, 

but they must be willing to 

submit to a pro-cess of 

healing rather than rushing 

immediately back into the 

pulpit to cause more 

damage. 

11. We need humility. 

Ministers who demand 

celebrity treatment, require 

lavish salaries, insist 

on titles or exhibit aloofness 

from others are guilty 

of spiritual pride. Christians 

should avoid prideful 

leaders instead of rewarding 

them with 

applause. 

E - M a i l : 

akingrow@yahoo.com 

*International Church 

Growth Ministry holds 

two major conferences a 

year, one in second week 

of every February and 

the other in every first 

week in September.” 

wildlife, crops and even 

human populations. They 

are a major threat to human 

existence. 

In his first homily as the 

Catholic Pontiff, Pope 

Francis made a passionate 

appeal for the protection 

of the earth and its 

environs: “Please, I would 

like to ask all those who 

have positions of responsibility 

in economic, political 

and social life, and all 

men and women of goodwill: 

let us be “protectors” 

of creation, protectors of 

God’s plan inscribed in 

nature, protectors of one 

another and of the environment. 

Let us not allow 

omens of destruction and 

death to accompany the 

advance of this world! But 

to be “protectors”, we 

also have to keep watch 

over ourselves!” 

A protector of the environment 

is indeed a 

protector of life. As you 

join the Holy Father and 

other people of goodwill 

in the protection of the 

earth and its environs it 

shall be well with you in 

Jesus name - Amen! 

complaints but forges 

ahead to sort his own 

intention. This is the 

betrayal of trust between 

them as a couple. 

Every married couple who 

wants durability in their 

marriage must learn to be 

subjected to one another 

in this area so that satan 

does not tempt them and 

goes scot free. 

This kind of act robs 

couples of peace and joy 

of togetherness, bring 

bitterness and jealousy 

between the couple which 

may destroy lives and 

properties to such an 

extent that, it may extend 

to the next offspring. 

We must be careful to 

keep safe our marriages 

and to pass this idea to 

the next generation to 

come. 

*For enquiries contact: 

Pastorating@gmail.com 

Apostolic Church, 3, Tree 

Power Avenue, Itire, Lagos. 

Or call: Pastor Okokon 

Ating on: 

0 8 0 5 4 1 2 1 3 5 5 , 

08179072635

SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 22, 2018 PAGE 43 

Iwas standing in the park 

ing lot of the building 

where I lived in Lagos, talking 

to Bimbo Dada, now Director 

of Library, Nigerian Institute 

of International Affairs, when a 

man walked through the gate 

and came to talk to me. He said 

he worked for an oil-company 

but had recently been posted out 

of town. There was a lunch-hour 

fellowship meeting every week in 

his house and he was at a loss 

what to do about it now he was 

leaving. So he had been asking 

the Lord for guidance. 

On that particular day, the 

Lord told him to stop praying. 

He told him to go out of the house 

and walk down the road. When 

he got to our gate, the Lord told 

him to go in. Then he said to 

him: “You are to hand over the 

lunch-hour fellowship to that 

man talking to the lady over 

there.” So the man said to me: 

“The Lord said I should hand 

over the lunch-hour fellowship 

meeting in my house to you.” 

I told him the Lord himself 

would have to speak to me directly. 

After getting the confirmation 

I required, I agreed to 

take over the fellowship. That 

was how I inherited a 20-man 

lunch-hour fellowship in 1994. 

Rapid church growth 

In my zeal, I took three quick 

decisions. I moved the fellowship 

from my living-room to the 

parking-lot of our building. I 

bought one-hundred plastic 

chairs and paid for a weekly supply 

of meat-pies and soft-drinks. 

The membership of the fellowship 

grew by leaps and bounds. 

Soon, all the one-hundred chairs 

I bought were filled. 

In 1997, I moved the fellowship 

to a new rented location 

which seated 120. That capacity 

was also soon exceeded. I 

knocked down some walls and 

extended the seating-space to 

180. That capacity was also 

quickly exceeded. I then decided 

to hold the fellowship twice a 

week. For the next six years, I 

preached to some 200 people in 

Victoria Island, Lagos every 

lunch-hour on Tuesdays and 

Thursdays. I gave them all meatpies 

and soft-drinks out of my 

own pocket, as I had done the 

previous three years. 

Revised strategy 

Certain things prompted me to 

review this strategy in 2003. It 

dawned on me that most people 

came just for the meat-pies. I 

noticed that some even came as 

late as five minutes to the end of 

the fellowship, just in time for 

the snacks. So I changed the 

rules. If you were not in the hall 

before thirty minutes after the 

start of the fellowship, you were 

not allowed to enter. This caused 

a problem because some latecomers 

would create a scene by 

banging loudly on the glass 

doors; disturbing the proceedings. 

I recalled that Jesus fed 5,000 

people by multiplying loaves of 

bread and fish. But when the 

multitude followed him across 

the water the next day wanting 

to be fed yet again, he refused to 

oblige. He only fed them with 

the word of God. Therefore, I 

decided to suspend temporarily 

the meat-pies and the soft drinks. 

I could not believe what happened. 

Exactly as in the case of 

Jesus, within a few weeks, the 

crowds shrank from the roughly 

two hundred people who attended 

each fellowship to only about 

God has not forsaken His people (1) 

PSALM 37:25-29 “I have 

been young, and now am 

old; yet have I not seen the 

righteous forsaken, nor his 

seed begging bread. He is ever 

merciful, and lendeth; and his 

seed is blessed. Depart from 

evil, and do good; and dwell for 

evermore. For the LORD loveth 

judgment, and forsaketh not his 

saints; they are preserved for 

ever: but the seed of the wicked 

shall be cut off. The righteous 

shall inherit the land, and dwell 

therein for ever.” 

Every Chosen or believer 

should know that God is mindful 

of him at all times regardless 

of the earthly life challenges. No 

matter what the righteous believer 

is passing through now, 

not excluding his health condition, 

economic crises or social 

intimidation, what he must 

understand is that God has not 

forsaken him. One thing that is 

very sure is that no matter the 

affliction, the trouble of the 

enemy over the years, God 

cannot abandon you. The 

Put God first in all things 

By Pastor Oloruntimilehin Joshua Daramola 

MY prayer is that God in His infinite mercy 

shall not leave us to suffer. Whatever 

problem or affliction we are going 

through, God will deliver us in Jesus name. God 

has knowledge of whatever situation we are facing 

at present. So do things as you possibly can or 

to the best of your ability, be it prayer, pray 

accordingly, be it food, eat to your satisfaction 

and not in excess. Husband and wife should take 

care of themselves, love one another but 

shouldn’t get obsessed, put God first in all you 

do in life. 

Under any circumstance, always do your best, 

no more and no less. But keep in mind that your 

best is never going to be the same from one 

moment to the next. Everything is alive and 

changing all the time, so your best will sometimes 

be of a high quality, and other times it will not be 

as good. If you try too hard and do more than 

THE NUMBERS GAME 

Once you see a 

large church, 

know the attraction 

cannot be 

the gospel 

twenty. 

I was then confronted with a 

dilemma. Do I go back to the 

meat-pies and the two-hundred 

crowds; or do without the meatpies 

and have only twenty people? 

I decided the two hundred 

meat-pie crowd was a waste of 

time. As Jesus observes, they 

were only labourers for perishable 

food. (John 6:27). Only the 

twenty were really interested in 

Christ. So I stopped giving 

meat-pies permanently. 

Few are chosen 

Reinhard Bonnke set a new 

world record at an epic crusade 

in Lagos, Nigeria; over one million 

and one hundred thousand 

people publicly accepted Jesus 

into their lives. Reinhard made 

each person fill a form. He then 

had those forms carefully tabulated. 

In Pentecostal circles, that 

means all those people are “born 

again,” and are appointed for 

heaven. (Romans 10:9-10). 

Thereafter, they are regarded as 

Christians. 

Psalmist’s conclusion is a 

statement of fact that no righteous 

man has ever been forsaken, 

nor had his children 

begged bread. God puts a 

mark of honour of safety upon 

all the righteous and His 

Chosen people. 

He promised Jacob and the 

people of God and by extension 

the present Believers that 

He cannot leave nor forsaken 

them. I want to let you know, 

that that promise extends from 

generation to generation as 

long as you are a child of God, 

a spiritual offspring of Abraham, 

Isaac and Jacob; God will 

not forsake you. 

So, no matter what you are going 

through and people are 

asking where's your God; and 

you are thinking that God has 

forsaken you, I want to let you 

know that God Almighty has not 

forsaken you. 

Never are the righteous forsaken, 

that is a rule without 

exception. Rarely have their 

•Daramola 

your best, you will spend more 

energy than is needed and in 

the end your best will not be 

enough. When you overdo, you 

deplete your body and go 

against yourself, and it will 

take you longer to accomplish 

your goal. But if you do less 

than your best, you subject 

yourself to frustrations, guilt 

and regrets. Just do your best in any 

circumstance in your life. It doesn’t 

matter if you are sick or tired, if you 

always do your best there is no way you 

can judge yourself. And if you don’t 

judge yourself there is no way you are 

going to suffer from guilt, blame, and 

self-punishment. By always doing your 

best, you will break a big spell you have 

been under. Man cannot succeed or 

overcome obstacles except through the 

grace of the Almighty God. 

God has the power to elevate an 

orphan from the slum I Samuel 2:7-8 “The 

Lord maketh poor, and maketh rich: he 

bringeth low, and lifteth up. He raiseth 

up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth 

up the beggar from the dunghill, to set 

them among princes, and to make them 

inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars 

of the earth are the LORD’s, and he hath 

set the world upon them”. As a good 

Christian you shouldn’t lust after material 

But are all those “new converts” 

going to end up in heaven? 

I live in Lagos. It is a city of 

over ten million people. If in one 

day, a tenth of all Lagosians become 

Christians, Reinhard 

should not have to come all the 

way from Germany to tell me. I 

should know about it. Only one 

hundred and twenty new converts 

revolutionised Jerusalem at 

the Pentecost. They could not be 

missed. When Paul and a handful 

of believers visited Thessalonica, 

there was uproar. Some 

were up in arms because, according 

to them: "These who have 

turned the world upside down 

have come here too.” (Acts 17:6). 

If we go by the criteria the Lord 

himself established, instead of 

relying on Reinhard’s statistics, 

there must have been very few 

people who received Christ at 

Reinhard Bonnke’s crusade in 

Lagos. Jesus said “by their fruits 

you shall know them.” There 

were no discernible fruits from 

over one million new believers 

in Lagos after Reinhard’s crusade, 

not even for one day. 

Jesus says: “Yes, the way to 

identify a tree or a person is by 

the kind of fruit produced. Not 

all who sound religious are really 

godly people. They may refer 

to me as 'Lord,' but still won't get 

to heaven. For the decisive question 

is whether they obey my Father 

in heaven.” (Matthew 7:20- 

21). 

Reinhard’s one million new 

converts in Lagos were remark- 

seed begged bread except on 

ground of dissipation, idleness, 

or some other causes on the 

part of their sons, yet it is so 

rare a thing. On this premise I 

strongly believe that the best 

assured way to endow one’s 

seed with wealth is to become 

poor for Christ’s sake. The 

righteous are God’s own 

person. He may suffer them to 

be tried and sometimes to 

enter into the hottest of the 

battle but yet will deliver them 

and in their victory the power 

and influence of the grace of 

God will be shown, as well as 

their faithfulness. 

Genesis 28:15 says: “And, behold, 

I am with thee, and will 

keep thee in all places whither 

thou goest, and will bring thee 

again into this land; for I will not 

leave thee, until I have done 

that which I have spoken to 

thee of” 

God made a firm promise to 

Jacob and all believers, He said, 

“I will not leave thee” wherever 

ably invisible. Beyond their data 

records at his Christ for All Nations, 

I dare say nobody in Lagos 

could recognise them. 

Christians are supposed to carry 

in themselves, the perfume of 

Christ: “As far as God is concerned 

there is a sweet, wholesome 

fragrance in our lives. It is 

the fragrance of Christ within us, 

an aroma to both the saved and 

the unsaved all around us.” (2 

Corinthians 2:15). 

However, unlike the woman 

with the alabaster box, the newconverts 

in Lagos singularly 

failed to change the atmosphere 

in the city. Lagos drivers, noted 

for their selfishness on the road, 

continued driving as before. The 

level of criminality remained the 

same. The state of ungodliness 

did not abate. Surely, if as many 

as one million people were converted, 

there would be discernible 

change. 

Little flock 

In the kingdom of God, good 

things come in small congregations. 

God says: “The more my 

people multiplied, the more they 

sinned against me” (Hosea 4:7). 

Therefore, he says: “I will take 

you, one from a city and two from 

a family, and I will bring you to 

Zion” (Jeremiah 3:14). 

Jesus promises to be where two 

or three are gathered together in 

his name. (Matthew 18:20). 

Elsewhere, he points out that the 

kingdom of God is specifically 

for a small fellowship: “Do not 

fear, little flock, for it is your 

Father's good pleasure to give 

you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32). 

The true gospel message is not 

attractive to the crowd. It requires 

us to we forsake all, lay 

down our lives and follow Jesus. 

It is a hard way through a narrow 

gate that few are able to 

find. (Matthew 7:14). 

So, once you see a large 

church, know the attraction cannot 

be the gospel. 

you go, He will be with thee. He 

told Jacob even Israel, even our 

fathers of faith and the people 

of God in time past and said “I 

will not leave you? And in the 

present day; the Lord is still 

telling me and you today that 

He will not leave us. Therefore 

we should confidently say that 

wherever we are, we are safe, 

if we have God’s favourable 

presence with us. Moreover, 

when it seemed we have been 

forsaken by all our friends, the 

assurance of the promise of 

God still prevails in all circumstances. 

Let not such as have believed 

and accepted Christ as Lord 

and Saviour give up to fear of 

the enemies no matter the 

situation for our God is able 

to keep to His promise. Even 

though sometimes the contest 

may be sharp, that on its own 

does not apply He has forsaken 

you, His promise to give you 

victory is sure. 

things of this world because they are 

all vanity but live the life God has in store 

for you. Imagine someone leaving home 

for work as early as 5.00 a.m. and 

coming back home as late at 11.00 p.m, 

putting his health in danger, not 

spending quality time with his family all 

in the name of securing the family’s 

future, he displeases himself at the rate 

of pleasing others. I never dispute the 

fact that a man should work hard 

because a hardworking and humble 

man is friend of God but always have 

time for God and yourself. 

*For further enquiries contact The 

Omnipotence Mission of God, 2 

Oloruntimilehin St, Pipeline, Mosan 

off Ipaja road, Lagos or call 

08023020108; 08058110288. 

*For further enquiries call: 

08023020108, 08058110288. 

w w w . f a c e b o o k . c o m / 

pastoroloruntimilehin.


GRAND RECEPTION FOR GOVERNOR IFEANYI OKOWA. PHOTOS BY NATH ONOJAKE 

From left: Hon. Victor Nwokolo, Hon. Ifeanyi Ebiogbe, Chief Lawrence Osiegba 

and Mr. Paul Osaji, during the grand reception organised for Governor Ifeanyi 

Okowa of Delta State by the Anioma people, yesterday. 

From left: Governor Nyesom Wike; Prince Uche Secondus, National Chairman of 

the PDP; Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Deputy Senate President and Governor 

Ifeanyi Okowa. 

From left: Governor Nyesom Wike, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Governor Ifeanyi 

Okowa and wife Dame Edith 

From left: Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and wife, Dame 

Edith 

From left: Chief James Ibori, Barr. Kingsley Otuaro, Deputy Governor, Delta State 

and Dame Edith Okowa. 

From left: Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, wife Dame Edith and Chief Philip Asiodu, 

Chairman of the occasion. 

From left: Chief Phillip Asiodu, Chief Sunny Odogwu, Sir Emma Ogidi, Chief BSC 

Elue, Mr. Kingsley Esiso, Senator James Manager and Hon. Sherrif Oborovwori. 

From left: General Alex Ogomudia [ret.] Chief Tom Amioku and Mr. Gabriel Ogbechie


M ANCHESTER 

United weathered 

an early Tottenham 

storm to come from behind 

to win 2-1 and 

reach a 20th FA Cup final 

at Wembley on Saturday. 

Goals from Alexis 

Sanchez and Ander Herrera 

cancelled out Dele 

Alli’s opener and ensured 

that Tottenham’s 

decade-long wait for a 

trophy continues. 

Spurs manager Mauricio 

Pochettino played 

down the importance of 

winning his first silverware 

as a coach to back 

up four years of undoubted 

progress at Tottenham 

beforehand, 

claiming it “wouldn’t 

change their lives”. 

However, Spurs started 

like the side determined 

to make a statement. 

Harry Kane and Son 

Heung-min had already 

seen shots deflected behind 

before Spurs went 

in front with a brilliant 

team goal on 11 minutes. 

Davinson Sanchez’s 

long ball picked out 

Christian Eriksen perfectly 

as Paul Pogba 

failed to track the Danish 

midfielder’s run 

down the right. 

And his cross was inchperfect 

for Alli to apply 

the finishing touch for his 

13th goal of the season. 

Spurs failed to make 

the most of their early 

dominance, though, as 

Eriksen scuffed wide 

from Kane’s layoff before 

the England striker just 

couldn’t reach Son’s viscous 

in-swinging cross 

at the back post. 

Pogba has been a figure 

of frustration all season 

for Jose Mourinho, 

who has often left the £89 

million 

FRENCH Ligue 1 

champions, Paris 

Saint-Germain have become 

suspicious that Neymar 

could be manufacturing 

a move to Real Madrid 

while he recovers 

from his foot injury. 

According to MARCA, 

PSG’s chairman Nasser 

Al-Khelaifi recently flew 

out to Brazil, where Neymar 

is recovering from his 

metatarsal injury he sustained 

in February, to try 

and persuade the most 

expensive footballer ever 

to remain at the Parc des 

Princes. 

With the Spanish media 

outlet suggesting Neymar 

is desperate to engineer 

a move to Los Blancos, 

news of a possible return 

to La Liga is the latest in 

what has been a season 

fraught with reports of 

unrest during Neymar’s 

first season in France. 

Allegedly falling out 

with the likes of Edinson 

Manchester United's Spanish midfielder Ander Herrera (L) attempts to defend as 

Tottenham Hotspur's English midfielder Dele Alli (r) tries to keep a ball in play 

during the English FA Cup semi-final football match between Tottenham Hotspur 

and Manchester United at Wembley Stadium in London. AFP Photo 

Jose Mourinho once 

again hit out at his 

critics as Manchester 

United beat Tottenham 

Hotspur 2-1 in their FA 

Cup semi-final at Wembley. 

Dele Alli gave Spurs the 

lead inside 10 minutes 

when he slid in at the far 

post to convert Christian 

Eriksen’s low cross. 

However, United were 

level before the break; 

Paul Pogba finding Alexis 

Sanchez at the back stick 

with a teasing cross that 

the Chile international 

Man Utd kill Spurs' silverware dream T OTTENHAM 

midfielder Dele 

Alli said Spurs “let ourselves 

down” in falling 

to Manchester United 2- 

1 after taking an early 

lead in Saturday’s FA 

Cup semifinal. 

Despite playing in their 

regular home venue at 

Wembley Stadium, 

Tottenham fell short at 

the penultimate stage of 

the competition for an 

eighth consecutive time. 

Alli provided the 

opener in the 10th 

minute to put Spurs 

ahead, but goals in each 

half from Alexis Sanchez 

and Ander Herrera put 

United through to their 

record-matching 20th final 

appearance. 

“We let ourselves 

down. It’s very disappointing,” 

Alli told the 

BBC. “We have to try and 

pick ourselves up and 

finish the season 

strongly. 

“You can’t go 1-0 up 

and then 2-1 down 

against a team like Manchester 

United. We can’t 

put ourselves in that situation. 

“We were dominant 

from the first minute and 

Mourinho hits out at critics after victory over Spurs 

PSG no longer trust Neymar 

Cavani and Unai Emery, 

the former Barcelona man 

even missed PSG’s recent 

title celebrations when 

their 7-1 thrashing of AS 

Monaco confirmed them 

as champions, adding 

fuel to the fire regarding 

a departure this summer. 

headed in. 

In the second half Jose 

Mourinho’s side found 

the winner as Ander 

Herrera’s low shot beat 

Lloris, with the Red Devils 

setting up a final date 

with either Chelsea or 

Southampton. 

“We deserve it. If we 

split the match into periods 

we were the best team 

for many of these periods. 

Even when they had the 

ball when we were winning 

we were totally in 

control,” Mourinho told 

BBC Sport. 

Despite suffering his 

injury towards the beginning 

of the year, the 26- 

year-old enjoyed his first 

season in the French capital, 

netting 29 goals in all 

competitions, but that 

seems to paper over the 

apparent cracks. 

Bursaspor drop Troost Ekong 

Bursaspor picked up 

their second consecutive 

win in the Turkish 

Lig with a 4-1 thrashing 

of Karabukspor to 

move up to 11th on the 

log standing with 36 

points after 30 games. 

It seems they have 

turned a corner following 

the sacking of coach Paul 

Le Guen and the subsequent 

appointment of 

Mustapha Er, who has arrested 

the poor run of 

form they suffered under 

Le Guen two months ago. 

However Er appears not 

to have a spot for Nigerian 

defender William 

Troost-Ekong in his starting 

line up as he was once 

again an unused substitute 

for the second game 

running, with the duo of 

Titi and Ersoy preferred 

in central defence ahead 

of the 24 year old. 

Ekong was benched in 

last week 2-0 win over 

Goztepe, meaning the last 

time he kicked a ball in 

anger was on 8 of April 

when they suffered 0-1 

loss against Kasimpasa. It 

is a departure from when 

he was a regular starter 

and chalked up 25 appearances 

prior to the last 

two games. 

“We should ask ourselves 

why there is too 

many critics on all of us? 

We can finish second with 

six more points. To do that 

with all the fantastic 

Super Eagles winger, 

Moses Simon has 

denied reports that he 

had turned down advances 

from Liver pool. 

The Belgium based 

player denied granting 

any such interview. 

“ Liverpool is a very big 

team with a large squad, 

the type of team where 

you have to work extra 

hard to get games. Most 

players like such challenges 

and I am not different. 

Why will I turn 

down Liverpool? I didn’t 

grant any of such inter- 

teams we play against will 

be an achievement for a 

club that couldn’t do it for 

a few years now. “And it 

will be a fourth final in 

three years. So, maybe 

too much criticism.” 

Dele Alli: 

We let 

ourselves 

down 

it only looked to be going 

one way. 

“Everyone talks. We 

want to win trophies. We 

have the staff that want 

to win. We can’t keep 

doing this. We can’t 

throw it away. We have 

got to improve.” 

Tottenham manager 

Mauricio Pochettino said 

he thought his side was 

much superior in the first 

half, but reset his sights 

on securing a top-four 

place in the Premier 

League. 

“I think every defeat is 

bad. It’s difficult to accept 

but of course we are 

disappointed we are out 

and cannot achieve the 

final. 

“We competed but not 

enough to win. We dominated 

the first half and 

were much better than 

Manchester United. 

“United defended very 

well and so deep. We are 

disappointed because 

we are so close. We need 

to think, move on, finish 

the season and try to finish 

in the top four.” 

The defeat means 

Tottenham have now 

gone 10 years without 

winning a major 

Moses Simon denies turning down 

Liverpool 

views “. Moses who is a 

Newcastle United target 

will miss Gent’s play-off 

games against Sporting 

Charleroi today. 

Simon has been ever 

present for Gent since 

the start of the Championship 

play-offs in Belgium, 

but the forward 

who is heavily linked 

with a move to English 

Premier League side 

Newcastle United has 

confirmed his unavailability 

for the game. 

Simon said he is battling 

flu and as a matter 

of fact didn’t sleep all 

through Friday night, 

hence his decision to 

pull out of the Charleroi 

clash on health grounds. 

“ I couldn’t sleep all 

night long due to a bout 

of flu , so I won’t be playing 

in Sunday’s game 

against Charleroi. I will 

no doubt be the number 

one supporter of my 

teammates during the 

game”, Simon said.We 

competed, we dominated 

the first half and 

1-1 was completely unfair. 

They scored in the 

second half and then 

against these type of 

clubs it’s always 50-50. 

The match went to them. 

River State FIRS Coordinator, Mr. Joel Nwakpo, Emeka Ogbugh and Rivers 

United General Manager, Chief Okey Kpalukw

PAGE 46, SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 22, 2018 

I’ll forever be grateful to Wenger 

— Iwobi 

Arsenal’s up and com 

ing striker, Alex Iwobi 

has paid tribute to Arsene 

Wenger who will be 

leaving the Gunners fold 

at the end of the season. 

Despite criticism by Arsenal 

fans about Iwobi’s 

contribution to the team, 

Wenger kept faith with 

the Super Eagles forward. 

It was Wenger who handed 

Iwobi his first contract. 

Young striker Alex Iwobi 

also wrote on twitter, 

“For everything you’ve 

done for Arsenal football 

club; for trusting me as a 

teenager; for Giving me 

the opportunity to express 

myself and grow both as 

a footballer and as a person; 

I will forever be 

grateful to you boss. 

“Thank you so much!” 

2018 FIFA World Cup: Eagles need spiritual 

backing to excel — Edo Commissioner 

WITH 55 days to the 

commencement of 

the FIFA World Cup Edo 

State commissioner for 

Special Duties, Youths 

and Sports, Mika 

Amanokha, has called on 

spiritual leaders in Niger- 

ia to pray for the success 

of the Super Eagles as 

they prepare to storm Russia 

for the 2018 FIFA 

World Cup. 

In a chat with our reporter 

in Benin, he said what 

the Eagles needed most 

now is support, stressing 

that they have got all it 

takes to excel in Russia. 

“Basically, I think the 

technical crew members 

are doing their work, they 

know what the World Cup 

is all about. I will advise 

Prudent Energy handball league kicks off 

April 27 

THE Handball Feder 

ation of Nigeria 

(HFN), has confirmed 

that the first phase of the 

Prudent Energy Premier 

League will hold from 

April 27- May 6 in Abuja. 

The President of the Federation, 

Samuel Ocheho 

disclosed that 12 teams in 

the male category and 10 

teams in the female category 

will take part in the 

league. 

The HFN boss explained 

that the winner 

go home with the sum of 

N1, 000, 000, the 2nd 

placed team N750, 000 

while the third place winner 

will pocket N500, 000 

in both the Male and Female 

Categories. 

He said there is a subsidy 

of N250,000 in each 

phase with branded Jerseys 

for all the participating 

teams. 

The male teams confirmed 

for the Premier 

VCN boss, Victor Nwaribeaku (R) presents trophy and 

cash prize to the winner in the male category, Alex Adewale 

at the recently concluded maiden edition of the VCN 

Wheelchair Tennis Championship held at the Tennis Court 

of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos. 

*Iwobi 

League are Lagos Seasiders, 

COAS Shooters, Safety 

Shooters, De Defenders, 

Prison Key Boys, Niger 

United, Owena 

Kings, Kada Stars, Borno 

Spiders, Vipers of Plateau, 

Kano Pyramid and Sokoto 

Rima. 

The female Teams are 

Lagos Seasiders, Defenders 

Babes, Safety Babes, 

Edo Dynamos, Owena 

Queens, Imo Grasshoppers, 

Abia Valiant, Desert 

Queens of Katsina,Kada 

Queen and Peacocks of 

Plateau 

Enyimba of Aba will 

play Joliba of Mali, 

Carra of Congo and debutants 

Williamsville of 

Cote d’ Ivoire in the 

group C paring of the 

CAF Confederation Cup 

mini-league. Enyimba 

are the only Nigerian surviving 

club in continental 

contest after Plateau United, 

Akwa United and 

Mountain of Fire Ministries 

FC were dumped. 

The draws were conducted 

yesterday at the 

CAF Headquarters in 

Cairo, Egypt, with CAF 

President Ahmad, General 

Secretary Amr Fahmy 

and Deputy General Secretary, 

Anthony Baffoe in 

attendance. The highlights 

of the draws saw 

East African trio, Rayon 

Sport (Rwanda), Young 

Africans (Tanzania) and 

Gor Mahia (Kenya) 

drawn in the same group 

D. They are joined by Algerian 

giants, USM Alger 

Radio-1 children Sports Fiesta 3 

All is set for another 

edition of the Radio 

One Children Sports Fiesta 

fixed to hold next 

month. 

The first edition was 

held in 2016 at the 

Onikan Stadium and 

had 1000 participants. 

The second edition was 

held at the Campos 

Mini-Stadium on 24th 

May 2017 with over 1000 

students participating. 

Following the success 

our spiritual leaders to 

pray highly for the country, 

because our players 

need spiritual back up to 

excel at the World Cup. 

All the coaches need do 

is to ensure that players 

that are physically fit are 

given shirts to represent 

us. We need players that 

can give results, there 

should be no tribal sentiments 

or whatsoever.” 

“Again the NFF should 

give them good support, 

I mean pay all that is due 

to them so that there will 

be no excuse for failure. 

We have very highly experienced 

players plying 

their trade in all parts of 

Europe; I believe they 

can do very well.” 

of previous editions, the 

Radio One Children 

Sports Fiesta 3 promises 

to discover more talents 

from the grassroots. 

The Chief organiser 

and General Manager of 

Radio One 103.5Fm, 

Korede Ogunbunmi is 

optimistic that this year’s 

edition will surpass the 

records of the previous 

two. He promised participants 

and spectators 

an unforgettable experi- 

CAF Confed Cup: Enyimba 

get Joliba, Cara in Group C 

who dismissed Plateau 

United. 

Group A: Raja Casablanca, 

ASEC Mimosas, Aduana 

Stars, AS Vita Club. 

Group B: Al Masry, UD 

Songo, RS Berkane, Al 

Super Eagles striker 

Odion Ighalo yesterday 

scored four goals for 

Changchun Yatai in their 

5-2 win over Guizhou 

Hengfeng in a Chinese 

Super League (CSL) fixture. 

Ighalo gave Changchun 

the lead in the 24 

minute after he converted 

a penalty. 

Ighalo sent his side 3-1 

up going into the break 

when he scored his second 

of the game in the 

38th minute. 

Ighalo completed his 

hat-trick when he scored 

the fourth goal for his side 

in the 86th minute and 

still went on to score his 

fifth in the 90th minute 

which was the final goal 

Biffo targets win in derby against El Kanemi 

Katsina United head 

coach, Abdul Usman 

Biffo has described 

as ‘derby’ the top-flight 

tie against visiting side, El 

Kanemi Warriors. 

The Chanji Boys are 

hosts of the Borno Army 

in Sunday’s top-flight 

matchday 18 clash at the 

Muhammadu Dikko Stadium 

in Katsina. 

The Katsina side picked 

a valuable away point at 

Abia Warriors in Umuahia 

coming into the clash 

while the Maiduguri outfit 

battered bottom side, 

Heartland 3-0 in Maiduguri. 

Biffo said if there is a 

match his wards need to 

take seriously the clash 

Hilal Omdurman. 

Group C: Djoliba, Williamsville 

AC, CARA 

Brazzaville, Enyimba FC. 

Group D: Rayon Sport, 

Gor Mahia, Young Africans 

and USM Algiers. 

Ighalo hits four as Yatai 

crush Hengfeng 

*Ighalo 

Pep Guardiola has in 

dicated pursuing a 

Premier League record 

points total may be the 

best way to keep his Manchester 

City players focused 

over the final five 

matches of the season. 

City are at home to 

Swansea today, having 

against El Kanemi Warriors 

should be the one because 

of shared values 

between the sides. 

“El Kanemi Warriors 

adopted Katsina as their 

home ground before they 

eventually relocated back 

to Maiduguri." 

“El Kanemi Warriors are 

very much at home in 

Katsina so the clash is almost 

like a derby as we 

share same weather. 

“So if there is a match 

we have to take seriously 

the clash against El Kanemi 

Warriors happens to be 

the one. We have good 

preparations coming into 

the clash aimed at getting 

the desired and required 

result. “Of course, a good 

result will inch us closer 

to the summit and that’s 

another motivation for us 

to go all out to get a convincing 

victory.” 

of the game. 

The result means Ighalo 

and his teammates are 

10th in the CSL with eight 

points from seven matches. 

Ighalo’s four goals come 

after compatriot Obafemi 

Martins also scored a hattrick 

in the CSL this season. 

The goals should come 

as good news for Super 

Eagles head coach Gernot 

Rohr as he prepares for 

the upcoming friendly 

matches. 

Ighalo and his teammates 

return to action 

when they take on league 

leaders Shanghai SIPG 

FC in their next fixture on 

Sunday, April 29. 

Guardiola wants City to create EPL points record 

secured Guardiola’s first 

English league title last 

weekend, as they won at 

Tottenham Hotspur and 

closest challengers Manchester 

United suffered a 

shock defeat at home to 

bottom-of-the-table West 

Bromwich Albion. 

That is why he feels that 

chasing Chelsea’s Premier 

League record of 95 

points in a season, set in 

2004/05, is a useful target 

for City, who are currently 

on 87. 

“In the past, I have won 

the league at Barcelona 

and Bayern Munich with 

five, six, seven games to 

go, and the remaining 

games were not good,” 

Guardiola said. 

“We tried to tell the 

players, ‘Come on, keep 

going’, but we were not 

able to keep going. 

“There has to be a target. 

When the target is 

already done in terms of 

the title, what is the reason 

to fight? Score as 

many goals, get as many 

wins and points as we can. 

That’s a good focus.”


Salah equals 

Ronaldo, 

Henry’s goal 

record 

LIVERPOOL star Mohamed 

Salah has 

equalled the English Premier 

League goals record 

for a season held by Cristiano 

Ronaldo and Thierry 

Henry. The Egypt international 

star netted his 

31st of the campaign on 

Saturday, the second for 

the Reds in their fixture 

away to West Brom. 

Since netting on his Premier 

League debut - a 3- 

3 draw against Watford - 

the attacker has not 

stopped scoring. 

Indeed, his form has 

been exceptional in the 

second half of the campaign. 

Including his goal 

against WBA, he has 

struck 13 times in his last 

10 Premier League outings, 

with Manchester 

United the only club to 

keep him at bay. 

Since scoring against 

Bournemouth before 

Christmas, he has either 

scored or provided an assist 

for a team-mate in 

every league fixture he 

has played subsequently. 

Suarez, meanwhile, 

achieved the mark of 31 

goals in the 2013-14 season, 

when he played 33 

league fixtures - exactly 

the same number as the 

Egyptian. 

JURGEN Klopp ad 

mitted that yesterday’s 

2-2 draw with West 

Brom was not ideal preparation 

for Tuesday’s 

Champions League 

meeting with Roma. 

The Reds moved into a 

2-0 lead thanks to goals 

from Danny Ings and 

Mohamed Salah but 

were pegged back by 

their opponents, who lie 

at the foot of the Premier 

League table. 

Klopp felt that several 

factors went against his 

Conte: Mourinho had easy games 

while at Chelsea 

*Conte 

Liverpool's Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Salah (L) tries to hold off West 

Bromwich Albion's English defender Kieran Gibbs (R) during the English Premier 

League football match at The Hawthorns stadium in West Bromwich. 

AFP PHOTO 

Klopp nurses Roma fear 

after draw with Brom 

ANTONIO 

Conte 

has claimed that 

winning games at Chelsea 

was easier when Jose 

Mourinho was boss than 

it is now. Conte won 65 of 

his first 100 games with 

the Blues, seven less than 

his fierce rival. However, 

he feels that stat isn’t an 

accurate measure of his 

performance compared to 

Mourinho’s. 

“I could do better — this 

is my mentality. For sure 

this is a good stat. Mourinho 

is 72? But we are 

talking about a good manager,” 

Conte said. 

“Don’t forget that the 

first 100 games with 

Mourinho was many 

years ago. Now it’s not 

simple to have these results 

at Chelsea. 

“This is a different era 

in the history of the club. 

There are differences between 

now and then and 

I have to consider this.” 

Speaking on the FA Cup 

clash against Southampton 

today, he said: “We 

must have great motivation 

to finish the season 

as strongly as possible, in 

every case. 

“Now we have the opportunity 

to play at Wembley 

for the second year 

in a row and we have the 

possibility to beat Southampton 

and get to an important 

final. We have to 

try and finish in the best 

possible way.” 

side, most notably some 

questionable refereeing 

decisions and the state of 

the pitch at the Hawthorns, 

and admitted that 

at the moment his side 

are not in the shape to 

play on Tuesday. 

Asked by Sky Sports if 

his side are mentally in 

place for the midweek 

match, the former Dortmund 

coach replied: “At 

the moment, no, but by 

Tuesday we will be.” 

Klopp was clearly incensed 

by several incidents 

from the match, and 

said he was “not in the 

mood to talk about positive 

things” during the interview. 

He was, however, content 

to discuss two controversial 

refereeing calls, 

with Ahmed Hegazi having 

apparently punched 

Ings, who later went 

down in the box under a 

clumsy challenge. 

Liverpool currently lie in 

third place in the Premier 

League, three points behind 

Manchester United 

in second having played 

one game more than their 

rivals. 

FORMER Arsenal 

star Ian Wright has 

suggested Arsene Wenger 

was forced to announce 

his decision to 

leave the club. 

The Gunners released a 

statement on Friday in 

which Wenger stated his 

intention to step down at 

the end of the season, despite 

having a year remaining 

on his contract. 

The Frenchman resisted 

repeated calls for him to 

resign from disgruntled 

sections of the club’s fanbase 

in recent years, ignoring 

their dissatisfaction 

to sign a two-year extension 

in May 2017. 

And Wright, who won the 

Premier League title under 

Wenger in 1997-98, 

suspects the 68-year-old’s 

hand has been forced amid 

concerns about the team’s 

form behind the scenes at 

Emirates Stadium. 

“Arsene Wenger is a man 

of principle, honesty and 

integrity – that is why I am 

convinced he has been 

sacked and not resigned,” 

he wrote in a column for 

The Sun. 

“For all the vitriol and 

abuse thrown at him, Ar- 

Joel Obi will be out for 10 days —Torino 

COME back Super 

Eagles midfielder, 

Joel Obi will be sidelined 

for 10 days, according to 

his club Torino, to access 

his true fitness after he 

was involved in car crash. 

The 26-year-old failed to 

click and had to go off in 

28 minutes after coming 

off the bench against AC 

Milan last Wednesday. 

This was a few days after 

he got involved in the car 

crash. 

Torino reported via their 

official website that Obi 

did not participate in their 

training before this weekend’s 

game against Atalanta. 

And they added that the 

instrumental examinations 

to which the midfielder 

was submitted 

showed a small stretch to 

the left thigh muscle and 

he’ll spend 7-10 days on 

the sidelines before further 

checks, which will 

determine the recovery 

time for his new injury. 

Rohr has just over three 

weeks left before announcing 

Nigeria’s 35- 

man provisional World 

Cup roster and the former 

Inter Milan whizkid was 

a top candidate to make 

the squad list, assuming 

he was in tip-top condition.. 

Obi, currently on an injury-free 

run with Italian 

side Torino, has scored six 

goals in 24 appearances 

this season and is keen to 

continue that consistency 

run for his country. 

Arsenal pay Wenger £9m 

to step down 

ARSENAL sacked 

Arsene Wenger 

and paid him £9million 

to leave at the end of the 

season, despite having a 

year remaining on his 

contract. The Frenchman 

announced on Friday 

that he was leaving the 

Emirates this summer 

after 22 years in charge 

of the club. 

The 68-year-old 

claimed it was ‘the right 

time for me to step 

down’, but it now 

emerges that he was 

forced out under pressure 

from the US owners. 

Instead Wenger lost 

the support of owner 

Stan Kroenke, who decided 

to act ahead of the 

Wenger was sacked, says Ian Wright 

sene has never been a 

man to walk out before the 

end of a contract. “It is a 

sad situation that it’s come 

to this and I don’t suppose 

we will ever find out 

who is responsible, because 

they will hide behind 

each other. 

“One day he is doing a 

press conference with no 

hint of this, the next he’s 

gone. It doesn’t add up. 

Wenger and Vieira 

Vieira, Rogers shun 

Gunners job 

ARSENAL midfield 

legend Patrick Vieira 

said he was “flattered” 

after being linked with 

taking over as manager of 

former club Arsenal but 

says he is “happy” as 

New York City coach. 

The former France midfielder 

won three Premier 

League titles with the 

Gunners under Arsene 

Wenger, who will leave 

the club at the end of the 

season. “I spent nine 

years at Arsenal which 

makes the club really special 

for me,” he told New 

York radio station WNYE. 

“But that is not enough 

to coach the team.” 

Vieira, a World Cup winner 

in 1998 with France, 

went on to play for Juventus 

and Inter Milan in Italy 

before returning to the 

Premier League when he 

joined Manchester City 

in January 2010. 

Former Liverpool manager 

and presently coaching 

Celtic of Scotland, 

Europa League semi-final 

against Atletico Madrid 

next week. 

Wenger had no intention 

of leaving the club, 

forcing them to pay off 

the final year of his salary 

in full. 

Having missed out on 

Champions League football 

this season and way 

off the pace in the 

league, the Gunners 

need to win the Europa 

League to return to the 

top table of European 

football. 

The board hope announcing 

his departure 

early will galvanise the 

fan base and the players 

ahead of the must-win 

tie. 

“But Arsene can go with 

his head high. That’s why, 

whatever the results, it is 

imperative he gets the 

send-off a true Arsenal 

and football legend deserves. 

We all owe him so 

much.” 

Contrary to Wright’s beliefs, 

Goal understands, 

however, that Wenger departed 

on his own accord. 

Brendan Rodgers also 

distanced himself from 

speculation he could succeed 

Arsene Wenger. 

“There’s nothing really 

in it. I have always said 

I’m extremely happy 

here,” Rogers told BBC 

Scotland. 

Rodgers has restored 

his reputation in nearly 

two years in Scotland after 

a troubled end to his 

three-and-a-half years at 

Liverpool in 2015, leading 

Celtic to the brink of 

back-to-back domestic trebles 

in Scotland. “I have 

three years left on my contract. 

I am loving every 

minute of being at Celtic 

from a professional perspective 

but also my life 

up here,” he said. 

Other names that have 

been linked with replacing 

Wenger include ex- 

Barcelona boss Luis Enrique, 

former AC Milan, 

Chelsea and Bayern Munich 

coach Carlo Ancelotti, 

Germany boss Joachim 

Low, and Monaco coach 

Leonardo Jardim.

SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 22, 2018 

See solution on page 6 

ACROSS 

1 Sharia state? (7) 

5 Dwindle (5) 

8 Freedom (Swahili) (5) 

9 Below (5) 

11 About (6) 

14 Curves (4)a 

16 Attacker (7) 

17 Worships (6) 

19 Ornamental head-dress 

(5) 

20 Pa-Abacha’s govt. 

Victim (6) 

21 Chimpanzee (7) 

22 Egyptian goddess (4) 

24 Ancient Celtic Priests (6) 

28 Condition (5) 

30 Argentinian dance (5) 

31 Regions (5) 

32 Canadian waterfalls (7) 

DOWN 

1 Striped animal (5) 

2 Fruit (5) 

3 Once more (5) 

4 Bako, former Kano 

governor (4) 

5 Cat’s satisfied cry (4) 

6 Large cat (5) 

7 Cries like lion (5) 

10 Made beloved (8) 

12 Set right again (7) 

13 Municipal zone (8) 

14 Bow’s projectile (5) 

15 Tidied (7) 

18 Harvests (5) 

22 Lagos State 

headquarters (5) 

23 Matter (5) 

25 Short for Rastafarian 

(5) 

26 Asian country (5) 

27 Brazilian dance (5) 

28 Solidifies (4) 

29 English public school 

(4) 

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(ISSN 0794-652X) Editor: JIDE AJANI. 08111813023 All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.

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