26042015 - Benue: Another 39 killed; Reps suspend sitting in protest

2019: NASS 

lacks powers to 

re-order election 

sequence 

CBN rolls 

out new 

anti-money 

laundering 

sanctions 

— COURT 9 

19 

Sultan gives 

Miyetti Allah 2 

months to fish 

out criminal 

herdsmen 12 

MONEY LAUNDERING: 

Court remands 

Senator 

Nwaoboshi in 

prison, to rule 

tomorrow 

10 

VOL. 26: NO. 63536 THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2018 

Benue: Another 39 killed; Reps 

** ** 

suspend sitting in protest 

•Ask President to declare all killer-herdsmen as terrorists 

•Pass vote of no confidence on all service chiefs, security advisers 

•3 villages sacked, 160 houses razed; Benue killings callous, unfortunate – ACF 

•Army, PDP, WCC, others react 

RESOURCE 

CONTROL: 

Federalism 

has failed 

in Nigeria 

—Okunnu, 

Attah 

•Say Obasanjo 

part of 

Nigeria’s 

problem 

11 

2019: Fear 

grips 

opposition 

over alleged 

plot to block 

accounts 

8 

Donald Duke 

hits back at 

Okonjo- 

Iweala over 

‘image 

laundering’ 

book 9 

BOOK LAUNCH ON ATTAH 

From left: Chief James Ibori, Mr Lucky Igbinedion, Mrs Peace Attah, wife of the Author; Obong (Arc.) 

Victor Attah, former Governor of Akwa Ibom State and author; Alhaji Femi Okunnu, Chairman of the 

occasion; Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem, Secretary to Akwa Ibom State Government and Mr James Akpandem, 

Special Assistant, Media to Minsiter of Budget and Planning, during the launching of the book 'Attah on 

Resource Control (Revised)' in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele. 

ACCESS BANK HOLDS AGM 

From left: Mr 

Roosevelt Ogbonna, 

Group Deputy 

Managing Director; 

Mr Herbert Wigwe, 

GMD/CEO; Mrs 

Mosun Belo- 

Olusoga, Chairman, 

and Mr Sunday 

Ekwochi, Company 

Secretary, all of 

Access Bank Plc, 

during the 29th 

Annual General 

Meeting of the bank 

in Lagos, yesterday. 

Photo: Akeem Salau. 

COLUMNISTS 

OCHEREOME 32 GAMBO DORI 17 ADAMU 17 

By Sam Eyoboka, 

Kingsley Omonobi, 

Ben Agande, 

Levinus 

Nwabughiogu & 

Peter Duru 

ABUJA—Less than 24 

hours after two 

Catholic priests and 17 

worshippers were killed by 

suspected herdsmen at 

Mbalom in Gwer East 

Local Government Area of 

Benue State, the 

marauders late Tuesday 

night and early yesterday, 

launched fresh coordinated 

attacks on three 

communities in Guma 


the state,,killing no fewer 

than 39 persons. 

Several persons also 

sustained injuries, with 

over 160 houses, huts and 

farmlands in the 

communities razed. 

Meanwhile, by a 

Continues on Page 5 

MELAYE'S 

RECALL: 

INEC 41 

insists on 

Verification 

Saturday 

Mr & Mrs

2 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2018

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2018 — 3


Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2018—5 

POCKET CARTOON 

The National Trauma Centre, National Hospital in Abuja, where Senator Dino Malaye is receiving 

treatment, during the visit of the Senate President and other senators, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga 

Olamikan. 

Benue: Another 39 killed; Reps suspend 

sitting in protest 

Continues from page 1 

unanimous voice vote, the 

House of Representatives, 

yesterday, resolved to 

suspend plenary for three 

consecutive legislative days 

in protest against the coldblood 

killing of Nigerians 

by herdsmen. 

The House also resolved 

to invite President 

Muhammadu Buhari to 

explain why the wave of 

insecurity in the country 

has persisted, despite huge 

funds being expended on 

security. 

The spate of killings in 

just 24 hours provoked the 

reaction of Arewa 

Consultative Forum, ACF, 

which condemned not only 

Tuesday’s killing of two 

Catholic priests and some 

worshippers in a church at 

Ayar-Mbalom community 

but also the latest 

slaughtering of 39 

yesterday, saying it was 

“callous and unfortunate.” 

It also asked the Federal 

Government to set up a 

panel to investigate the 

incessant killings in the 

country by herdsmen, 

especially Benue State. 

Again, 39 killed in 

Benue 

Vanguard gathered from 

sources in the affected 

Benue communities that 

the death toll could be 

higher as more bodies were 

being recovered. 

Among the communities 

and villages affected in the 

attack were Tse-Umenge, 

Mbadwen council ward, 

Mbakpase, Saghev council 

ward and Tse-Ali, Mbawa 

council ward. 

Confirming the attack on 

his village of Tse-Umenge, 

a retired Permanent 

Secretary in Benue State 

public service, said close to 

50 houses were burnt in his 

village by armed 

herdsmen. 

He said: “In my village, 

Umenge, they did not kill 

anybody because the 

people had already fled but 

they razed over 50 houses. 

“But in the council ward 

itself, over 15 persons were 

killed in the attack which 

c o m m e n c e d 

late Tuesday till 

early Wednesday, though 

the number might increase 

because the search for 

more bodies is still 

ongoing.” 

Another source at 

Tomanyiin-Mbakpaase, 

Saghev Council ward who 

is also a journalist, said the 

invaders launched an 

attack on his community on 

Tuesday around 11pm. 

“They came dressed in 

military fatigues, shooting 

sporadically. They also 

burnt down several houses 

and huts numbering over 

62 and our food barns. So 

far, we have recovered 

three bodies in my village 

and everyone has fled the 

village because we don’t 

have even a Police post in 

the village.” 

At Tse-Ali in Mbawa 

council ward, indigenes of 

the area said the wellarmed 

herdsmen besieged 

the community 

around 11pm and spent 

close to four hours 

ransacking the community 

and razing over 70 houses 

after they had killed over 

21 persons whose bodies 

have been recovered from 

the bushes. 

“It was like a war situation 

in Tse-Ali; the sound of 

gunshots was coming from 

every direction. People 

were running in all 

directions, they killed our 

people who were mostly 

women and children like 

animals. 

“They burnt 49 houses in 

the village and carted away 

whatever food they could 

carry. 

“As we speak, Tse-Ali has 

been deserted, our people 

do not know where to run 

to because every village 

and community is a 

potential target and nobody 

knows where will be the 

next target. 

“We cannot tell why they 

are doing this to us. These 

people are killing our 

women and children and 

the Federal Government is 

watching as if we do not 

have a government in 

Nigeria.” 

No details yet 

—Police 

Contacted, Benue State 

Police Commissioner, Fatai 

Owoseni, said he was yet 

to get details of the attacks. 

All efforts to get the 

Chairman of Guma Local 

Government Area, Anthony 

Shawon, was fruitless, 

though one of his aides 

who craved anonymity 

said: “Chairman cannot 

pick any calls now because 

he is moving to the affected 

communities with medical 

personnel to salvage any 

life they can. 

“You know that several 

communities were affected 

in the attack and he is 

trying to get to the affected 

places which is obviously 

not easy." 

At press time yesterday, 

many recovered bodies and 

the injured were being 

moved to Benue State 

University Teaching 

Hospital, BSUTH, where 

appeals were being made 

for people to volunteer 

blood to save the lives of 

those in dire need of 

infusion. 

Reps on killings 

The House of 

Representatives equally 

passed a vote of no 

confidence in all the service 

chiefs and security advisers 

to the President and asked 

the President to declare all 

Continues on Page 41 

Killing of Catholic priests, others by herdsmen 

By Bose Adelaja, Ebun 

Sessou & Frederick Okopie 

This is wickedness. 

The killing was 

purely an act of 

wickedness and the 

Federal Government 

should take a drastic step 

because this can lead to 

an ethnic war 

Moyosore Adeyinka, 

Activist 

The government’s 

response that 

politicians are 

responsible for Benue 

killings is wrong. And it 

validates what many 

people have been saying 

about it’s poor response 

to the crisis. Surely, 

these killings by 

herdsmen might scuttle 

2019 elections. 

Olu Aluko, Journalist 

Benue State was a 

peaceful state until 

the recent killings of 

inocent people by those 

masquerading as 

herdsmen. The killing of 

two Catholic priests is an 

indication of lack of love for 

humanity in Nigeria. Does 

the church have any link 

with grazing? If the 

government cannot find a 

lasting solution, and the 

aggrieved Christians fight 

back, it might lead to war. 

Emmanuel James, 

Administrator 

It is barbaric. The 

government should 

do more. We pray we 

don’t get to a state of 

anarchy. The 

government should rise 

up to its responsibilities. 

Ensuring that there is 

security is the 

responsibility of the 

government 

Mercy Ashibogwu, 

Business Woman 

The truth of the 

matter is that 90 per 

cent of politicians may 

not be as inocent as we 

think. Proper 

investigations should be 

conducted to fish out the 

killers. 

Samuel 

Businessman 

Nelson, 

Herdsmen should 

be declared as a 

terrorist group. For 

herdsmen to attack a 

church and kill nearly 20 

people including two 

priests is horrible. The 

government should act 

fast before it gets out of 

hand. I think the 

continued attacks have 

something to do with 

political interests. 

Oluwadare Michael, 

Musician

6—Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2018 

Policeman 

abducted, 

impregnated 

our 16-yearold 

sister, 

family 

alleges 

By Esther 

Onyegbula 

THE family of a 16-yearold 

girl (name withheld) 

has petitioned the Inspector 

General of Police, Ibrahim 

Idris, over allegation that a 

policeman, identified as 

Officer Henry attached to 

Ojo Division, Lagos State 

Police Command abducted, 

raped, tortured and 

impregnated her. 

According to the victim’s 

family, she has since given 

birth to a baby five month 

ago, adding that she was 

forced to relocate to her 

village in Anambra State 

over police harassment. 

Narrating how it 

happened, the victim’s elder 

sister, Chukwudumaga 

Obadike, said: “On May 8, 

2017, I discovered that my 

16-year-old younger sister 

was missing. Later that 

evening, we reported it at 

Ajangbadi police station in 

Lagos. 

"However, two months 

after, to our surprise, on July 

10, I was arrested by 

policemen from Ojo Division, 

that my sister, whom I had 

declared missing, was 

wanted at the station for 

allegedly stealing N1.5 

million from one of their 

officers identified as Officer 

Henry. I told them that we 

were looking for her and had 

declared her missing. 

“The policemen went to 

Ajangbadi police station with 

me to ascertain if truly I 

reported her missing. They 

wanted to lock me up but I 

resisted. They later released 

me by 11 pm and told us to 

report at the station the 

following day." 

Chukwudumaga said 

they were able to get the 

sister in their village and 

brought her to Lagos. 

She said: “My sister said 

Officer Henry met her on her 

way home the day she went 

missing and took her to a 

hotel where he raped her. 

She said Officer Henry 

abducted her, kept her in his 

house and his wife was using 

her as a maid and Officer 

Henry would rape her 

anytime his wife was not at 

home." 

Contacted, Officer in 

Charge of SARS Ikeja, CSP 

Mohammed Sanusi denied 

the allegation, saying: "I do 

not allow underaged 

persons to be detained in 

SARS cell under my watch. 

Maybe, they were doing 

that before I came but since I 

came here, no underaged 

person has been detained.” 

:Vanguard News :@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867058, 08035483885 

Evidence Danish man killed Nigerian wife 

‘overwhelming, compelling’ — Lagos govt 

By Olasunkanmi 

Akoni 

LAGOS State Government has 

concluded plans to prosecute 

a Danish national, Peter Nielsen, 

for the murder of his Nigerian 

wife, Zainab, and three-year-old 

daughter, Petra, in Banana Island 

area of Ikoyi on April 5, 2018. 

The Attorney-General and 

Commissioner for Justice, Adeniji 

Kazeem, said the forensic 

investigation into the matter 

revealed overwhelming and 

By Evelyn Usman 

EMOTIONS ran high in 

Ajah area of Lagos after 

twin boys were caught in a 

homosexual act, Tuesday. 

The children, in a video clip 

that was prevented from going 

viral by Lagos State Police 

Command, were seen kissing 

and practising the act before 

their mother, Patience Ishua, 

who shot the clip. 

Ishua, thereafter, sent the 

video to her estranged 

husband, Emmanuel Ekanta, 

a businessman, who on his 

part, reported to the Police, in 

an apparent move to take 

custody of his children. 

Vanguard gathered that the 

twins could have been victims 

of the act long before it came 

to limelight, as they were 

reported by their teachers to 

be stooling blood. 

Disturbed by the video clip, 

the Commissioner of Police, 

Lagos State Police Command, 

Imohimi Edgal, led officials of 

the Child Protection Unit of 

the Ministry of Youths and 

Social Development, to 2, 

Olugbemiga Ladipo Street, 

Lekki, where the children 

were taken from their mother, 

pending when investigation 

on how the children mastered 

the act would be concluded. 

Before taking the children 

away, their mother admitted to 

having shot the video but 

accused her estranged 

husband of teaching the 

children the act. 

According to her, “I shot the 

video clip and sent it to him 

to see the damage he has 

done to the children. He left 

compelling evidence to the effect 

that the suspect killed his wife 

and daughter. 

The attorney-general said a 

prima facie case (evidence) of 

murder had already been 

established against the suspect 

contrary to Section 223 of the 

Criminal Law of Lagos State, 

2015, adding that he would be 

prosecuted at the High Court of 

Lagos State for the crime. 

“The Office of Attorney- 

General and Commissioner for 

Justice on April 19, 2018 

issued legal advice to the 

effect that a prima facie case 

of murder contrary to Section 

223 of the Criminal Law of 

Lagos State, 2015 has been 

established against the 

suspect, Peter Nielsen (M) – 

a Danish National,” Kazeem 

said. 

“The suspect is, therefore, to 

stand trial before the High 

Court of Lagos State for the 

murder of his Nigerian wife 

and three-year-old daughter. 

“There is overwhelming and 

compelling evidence, both 

forensic and direct eyewitness 

account, showing without a doubt 

that the victims were killed by the 

suspect. There is also evidence 

that there was a history of 

domestic violence against the 

victim by the suspect.” 

Kazeem said the trial of Mr 

Nielsen would commence at the 

high court as soon as the case is 

assigned. 

PROTEST: A cross section of medical doctors, pharmacists and medical 

laboratory scientists undergoing a year intership programme and placed on 

CONMESS-1 Step 1 for medical doctors and CONHESS-8 Step 1 for pharmacists 

and medical laboratory scientists, protesting against Ministry of Defence for 

non payment of 11 month salaries, at Vanguard Newspapers Headquarters, 

Apapa, Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Bunmi Azeez. 

3-year-old twin boys caught in homosexual 

act in Lagos 

me for an old woman. He 

usually comes to pick the 

children but whenever they 

return, they would be acting 

strangely and be speaking 

vulgar words. At times, they 

would complain of pains in 

their anus. 

“Their teacher even said 

they were stooling blood. 

When I complained to him, 

he would not listen. The first 

day I saw them doing it was 

when I videoed them as 

evidence, my Pastor is even 

aware of the case. 

"They have conducted 

deliverance on them. At a 

point, I told him to stop 

taking my children to his 

place because he has 

different people he brought 

from Cameroun staying 

with him.” 

At a point, she burst into 

tears when it dawned on 

her that her children would 

not be in her custody for a 

while. 

She said: ”This is actually 

my fault because this guy 

is supposed to be my 

husband and this case 

should not have gone to the 

Police. I feel I have failed 

Suspected herders kill 7 IDPs in Nasarawa 

SUSPECTED herdsmen 

have reportedly killed 

seven internally displaced 

persons (IDPs) in Awe Local 

Government Area of 

Nasarawa State. 

President of Tiv Youth 

Organisation in the state, 

Peter Ahemba, confirmed this 

to NAN, yesterday. 

He said the attackers had 

ambushed the victims on 

Tuesday while on their way 

to pick foodstuff in Ihukan. 

The village is said to be 

deserted as a result of crisis 

in the area. 

Ahemba decried the 

unfortunate incident, while 

calling on the Tiv people to 

remain calm as the matter 

had been reported to the 

appropriate authorities. 

He said: “We the 

indigenous Tiv people of 

Nasarawa State have no 

other place to run to and that 

is why we continuously 

count on our Governor, 

Umaru Al-Makura, for 

solution to this carnage. 

“We appreciate the 

efforts the state 

government and other 

stakeholders have made 

toward the restoration of 

peace to our communities, 

but we will continue cry to 

the authorities until a 

lasting solution is found.” 

Kennedy Idirisu, the 

Police Public Relations 

Officer in the state, told 

NAN that the command 

had not to got the report 

of the attack. 

as a mother." 

On his part, Ekanta, 

described Ishua’s claim as 

false, saying she never 

brought to his notice the act, 

except the video clip. 

He said: “I was so shocked 

seeing the clip because she 

did not even express any 

surprise while taking the shot, 

nor scold them. We separated 

barely a year because she was 

extremely violent.” 

Edgal informed that the 

matter would be taken before 

the law court to determine the 

suitability for parenthood. 

Court rejects bail ap 

10-year-old girl 

By Onozure Dania 

LAGOS—Justice Sedoten 

Ogunsanya of a Lagos 

High Court, sitting in 

Igbosere, yesterday, refused 

the bail application of a man 

charged with defiling a 10- 

year-old girl. 

The defendant, Chinonso 

Kalu, who was arraigned in 

November 2017 on a count 

charge of defilement, had 

filed the bail application 

through his lawyer, Mrs


:Vanguard News :@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews 

ABIA: Woman stripped naked, almost 

set ablaze over allegation of murder 

•Her face appeared in herbalist's mirror as killer — Community 

By Evelyn Usman 

POLICEMEN at Zone 9 

Umuahia, Abia State have 

begun an investigation into the 

mob attack on a woman in Amuda 

community, in Umunneochi Local 

Council of Abia State, over a claim 

that her face appeared in a 

herbalist's mirror as the killer of a 

native of the community, last 

month. 

The victim, Okoma Eucharia, a 

political woman leader, in Amuda, 

alleged that the women were 

instigated by a federal lawmaker, 

who is going for a fourth term in 

the National Assembly. 

Eyewitnesses said she was 

stripped naked and dragged 

around several communities by 

some women in the community 

and was on the verge of being set 

ablaze when one of the 

community leaders intervened. 

How I escaped 

death—Victim 

Narrating how she narrowly 

escaped death, Eucharia, who 

spoke with Vanguard, said: 

“Trouble started after the governor 

visited Amuda community on 

April 3, 2018, and gave women a 

token in appreciation of the warm 

welcome we gave him. As I was 

sharing the token (bags of rice) 

among the women, a female 

federal lawmaker (name 

withheld) came and demanded to 

know where the largesse came 

from and why I must be the one 

sharing it. 

"She threatened to deal with me 

and also use a member of the 

Amuda Women Town 

Development Union against me, 

to ensure I either die or leave 

Umunneochi. 

“Before I knew what was 

happening, they said I was 

responsible for the death of Esther 

Onyeagba, who died on Good 

Friday in Calabar, Cross River 

State. They said my face appeared 

in a herbalist's mirror as the killer. 

"The women came to my shop at 

Ejifeji, where I am popularly 

known as NICON nuku, 

damaged things there, went to my 

house, destroyed my property and 

took some of my money away. 

They demanded that I must come 

out and dance around the village 

The victim, Okoma Eucharia. 

as custom demands. 

“When I showed up, they started 

beating me, stripped me and took 

me round different communities. 

They put a tyre on my neck, poured 

kerosene on me. But for one 

Chinedu, who rescued me from 

them, I would have been set ablaze 

for an offence I knew nothing 

about. As I speak, I have gone into 

hiding. 

My crime was that I am 

supporting the state governor, 

while they and the lawmaker are 

in support of another governorship 

aspirant. I am crying out to lawabiding 

Nigerians and the law 

enforcement agency to come to my 

aid.” 

Lawmaker has nothing 

to do with the matter 

—Eke 

However, a member of Amuda 

Women Town Development Union, 

plication of man who allegedly raped 

Victoria Ubong. 

Justice Ogunsanya, while 

rejecting the bail application 

said the defendant failed to 

provide credible facts before 

the court. 

She said: “The court has 

always exercised its discretion 

while granting bail but the 

nature and gravity of this 

offence is to be taken into 

consideration. 

“The defendant’s affidavit 

shows that he has no credible 

sureties, the affidavit also failed 

to provide any credible facts 

before this court. 

“Some paragraphs of the 

affidavit provides falsehood 

against this court, therefore the 

application has failed and is 

hereby refused.” 

Ogunsanya, however, 

adjourned the case until July 10 

for trial. 

The defendant was first 

arraigned sometime in April 

2017, at the magistrate's court 

and was remanded in prison, 

pending the legal advice from 

Director of Public Prosecution 

DPP. 

Roseline Eke, in a telephone 

conversation, said the lawmaker 

had nothing to do with the 

matter, pointing out that her 

name was not even listed among 

those indicted by Eucharia in her 

petition to the Police at Zone 9. 

Eke said the indictment of the 

legislator was a mere ploy by 

some miscreants to tarnish the 

legislator’s name. 

Explaining what she said was 

the true position of what 

happened, Eke said: “As I am 

talking to you, those Amuda 

women are already in court 

because they were arrested over 

a frivolous petition. The incident 

of checking in the mirror never 

happened here in Abia. 

‘’Eucharia is a member of 

Amuda Women Town 

Developmental Union and she 

is a neighbour to the deceased. 

The deceased widower called 

members of the union that 

Eucharia threatened that she 

would finish his family and that 

one month after the threat, his 

wife died." 

She stated also that Eucharia 

was only instructed by the 

women to join them to dance 

around the villages, to prove her 

innocence in the allegation, after 

which she left, adding that she 

was not stripped naked nor was 

kerosene poured on her. 

Contacted, the Police Public 

Relations Officer, Zone 9, Janet 

Eguchukwu, a Deputy 

Superintendent of Police, 

confirmed that the matter was 

being investigated. She disclosed 

that some women were arrested 

in connection with the matter but 

were later released to the 

community leader of Amuda. 

... with Emma'nKen (08163121378) 

She deserves some accolades 

Now that you know..... 

Throw back Thursday 

To whom it may concern



Fresh clouds over APC convention, as 

govs engage NWC in battle of wits 

•Odigie-Oyegun will not contest against Buhari’s choice 

By Omeiza Ajayi 

ABUJA—The prospects 

of a seamless election 

of a new set of national 

officers for the ruling All 

Progressives Congress, 

APC, are being beclouded 

by fresh intrigues over 

varied opinions by the 

governors and the 

outgoing leadership. 

It also emerged 

yesterday that the outgoing 

national chairman, Chief 

John Odigie-Oyegun may 

have buckled to pressures 

from the presidency and 

may have opted out of 

seeking re-election. 

At a closed-door meeting 

with the National Working 

Committee, NWC, at the 

party secretariat, the 

governors pressed for a 

postponement of the 

scheduled congresses and 

convention, even as the 

NWC officials disputed the 

claim by the governors to 

appoint officers to conduct 

the congresses. 

Odigie-Oyegun’s bid for 

re-election appeared to 

have been sealed after the 

governors asked him to go 

and reconcile his re-election 

bid with his state governor, 

Mr. Godwin Obaseki of Edo 

State. 

The governor and the 

mainstream of the party in 

the state are believed to be 

working for the ambition of 

the immediate past 

governor of the state, 

Comrade Adams 

Oshiomhole to replace 

Odigie-Oyegun. 

Vanguard gathered from 

multiple sources yesterday 

that Odigie-Oyegun had 

decided out of deference to 

President Muhammadu 

Buhari to drop any bid for 

re-election after the 

president showed his 

preference for Oshiomhole. 

The governors it was 

gathered at the meeting 

with the NWC members 

protested the schedule for 

the congresses as 

untenable as they said that 

it would conflict with the 

Ramadan Fast scheduled 

to commence in about three 

weeks. 

The congresses and 

convention had earlier 

been scheduled to hold 

between May 2 and 14. 

Briefing newsmen at the 

end of the meeting, 

Governor Abdullahi 

Ganduje of Kano State said 

the meeting resolved to 

sustain the existing zoning 

pattern for the NWC. 

Party spokesman Mallam 

Bolaji Abdullahi also 

speaking said: 

“The governors are 

interested in the 

committees that will come 

to their states to conduct the 

congresses. So, we made it 

clear to them that this is a 

constitutional matter and 

the constitution of APC has 

put the responsibility for 

the composition of the 

congresses committee only 

in the NWC and that by 

Friday, this week, the list of 

congresses committee will 

be ready”. 

On the timetable for the 

Congresses and 

convention, he said; “There 

were also observations from 

the side of governors about 

the timetable for the 

congresses and the 

convention as the 

observation was that the 

timetable was too close and 

that does not leave much 

room for errors but the 

observation was that the 

timetable as it is currently 

constituted or composed 

was determined because of 

the Ramadan and we want 

to be sensitive to the 

feelings of Muslims who 

will be fasting in the month 

of Ramadan. 

“Therefore, there are 

some possibilities that the 

timetable will be reviewed. 

It is not decided yet. 

Corroborating the 

position of Mallam 

Abdullahi, Gov. Ganduje 

said; “We discussed the 

issue of the timetable and 

time limit for the congresses 

and convention and we 

decided that NWC should 

review the timetable 

because in the previous 

timetable, the Ward and 

local government 

congresses were too close. 

“We equally discovered 

that the congresses were 

designed to hold on 

working days and 

normally we use public 

premises like schools and 

secretariats for the conduct 

of the congresses. Fixing 

the congresses during 

working days means that 

such places cannot be 

available. We agreed that 

the congresses should hold 

over the weekends." 

Also reviewing President 

Buhari’s reported 

endorsement of 

Oshiomhole for the party 

job, Governor Ganduje 

said:“Just like every other 

person, Mr President has 

the right to air his opinion 

but that does not mean he 

would stop any person who 

will like to contest from 

contesting. Mr President’s 

opinion is not constitutional 

and it is not a nonconstitutional 

opinion as 

well. He just voiced out his 

thoughts which will serve 

as a guideline to some and 

otherwise to some.” 

AWARD: From left—Emmanuel Daniel – Founder, Chairman, the Asian 

Banker; Mrs. Ebehijie Momoh, Head, Retail Banking, Standard 

Chartered Bank Nigeria, SCBN; Mr. Simpa Adaba, Head, Wealth 

Management, SCBN; and David Gyori – CEO, Banking Reports Ltd, 

London/ International Resource Director/the Asian Banker at the Asian 

Banker Excellence in Retail Financial Services Awards (for West Africa 

2018) in Lagos. 

Melaye, Benue killings: Senate 

summons IGP to appear at plenary 

•As senators abort plenary, storm National Hospital, vent 

anger on Buhari 

By Henry Umoru 

ABUJA—THE Senate 

has summoned the 

Inspector General of Police, 

IGP, Ibrahim Idris, to 

appear before it at plenary 

and brief it on the ordeal of 

the Chairman, Committee 

on the Federal Capital 

Territory, FCT, Senator Dino 

Melaye ( APC Kogi West ) 

in the hands of the Nigeria 

Police on alleged illegal 

possession of ammunition. 

The Inspector General of 

Police is also being 

summoned to brief the 

Senate on the recent 

killings that has become a 

recurring development in 

the country. 

Also yesterday, the 

Senate adjourned its sitting 

to enable it embark on a 

sympathy visit to Senator 

Melaye who is at the 

moment, receiving 

treatment at the National 

Hospital, Abuja. 

The upper chamber was 

yesterday overtaken by 

anger and outpouring of 

vituperation against the 

executive arm of 

government, particularly 

the mishandling’ of security 

matters in the country. 

The verbal attack arose 

out of what senators 

described as abuse and 

disregard for legislative 

institutions in the handling 

of the matter between Dino 

Melaye and the Police. 

To express their anger, the 

senators aborted all matters 

it had slated for 

consideration in 

yesterday’s Order 

Paper, including 20 bills 

and a report on its 

investigation of all subsidy 

monies spent by the 

Nigerian National 

Petroleum Corporation, 

NNPC. 

The resolution to summon 

the Inspector General of 

Police to appear before the 

Senate was sequel to a 

motion moved by Senator 

Sam Anyanwu ( PDP Imo 

East). 

Senator Anyanwu, who 

came under Orders 14 

and 15 of the Senate 

standing rules, said the 

treatment being meted out 

on Senator Melaye by 

the Police on alleged illegal 

possession of ammunition, 

was an affront on 

democracy since the said 

matter was already in court. 

Anyanwu said: “All of us 

as senators, are demeaned 

by the way Senator Melaye 

is being handled by the 

Police since Tuesday 

morning when he made 

himself available for arrest." 

Act now on $496m aircraft 

deal, Southern, M-Belt leaders 

tell NASS 

By Henry Umoru 

A BUJA—THE 

Southern and 

Middle Belt Leaders 

Forum has described 


Buhari’s spending of $496 

million on purchase of 

Tucano jets without 

National Assembly’s 

approval as a flagrant 

violation of the 

Constitution. 

Consequently, the 

leaders asked the National 

Assembly to do the needful 

by sanctioning the 

President. 

The leaders, who 

endorsed the call by former 

Chief of Army Staff, Lt. 

General Theophilus 

Danjuma, retd, for 

Nigerians to defend 

themselves in the face of 

killings by herdsmen, said 

self-defence was the only 

option left for the people. 

They asked the Police 

Service Commission, PSC, 

to urgently deploy all 

Divisional Police Officers, 

DPOs to their places of 

origin for a more effective 

policing, while the country 

awaits the much desired 

state police. 

The leaders have also 

warned the Independent 

National Electoral 

Commission, INEC against 

plans to create new polling 

units or voting points at this 

time as that was capable of 

bringing contention as well 

as over heat the polity. 

These were part of the 

resolutions reached at a 

meeting which held at the 

Asokoro, Abuja, residence 

of South South Leader and 

former Federal 

Commissioner for 

Information, Chief Edwin 

Clark. 

The communique was 

read at the end of the 

meeting by the President 

General of Ohanaeze 

Ndigbo, Chief John Nnia 

Nwodo. 

The Communique was 

signed by Chief Clark on 

behalf of Pan Niger Delta, 

PANDEF; Chief Ayo 

Adebanjo for Afenifere and 

Dr. Bala Takaya, President, 

Middle Belt Forum. 

Reading the 

communique, titled “ 

Democracy under Serious 

Threats in Nigeria.” 

Nwodo said: “It is with 

shock that we note the 

flagrant violation of the 

Constitution by the 

President by paying a 

whopping sum of $496 

million to the U. S. 

Government for the 

purchase of Tucano 

Aircrafts. 

“Section 80 (3) and (4) of 

the 1999 Constitution is very 

clear on how the President 

could spend Nigerian’s 

fund. The provision states; 

“No moneys shall be 

withdrawn from the 

Consolidated Revenue 

Fund or any other public 

fund of the Federation, 

except in the manner 

prescribed by the National 

Assembly. 

“As it is, the President has 

violated the provision of the 

highest law in the land. 

Nigeria is a Republic 

founded on rule of law, 

where each arm of 

government is bound to be 

guided by the dictates of the 

constitution, this flagrant 

violation and unapproved 

spending must be abated 

as well as sanctioned. 

2019: Fear grips opposition over 

alleged plot to block accounts 

THE 

Federal 

Government is set to 

deploy its security and antigraft 

agencies to frustrate 

the opposition through 

blocking the accounts of 

hostile state governments, 

Governor Nyesom Wike of 

Rivers State alleged 

yesterday. 

Noting that the plot was 

aimed to cut off funding for 

the opposition ahead of the 

crucial 2019 General 

Elections, the governor said 

that if the plot sails 

through, it is expected to 

weaken the financial base 

of these perceived 

“opposition governors and 

states” and make them 

ineffectual in mobilising its 

supporters for the crucial 

elections. 

The governor said that he 

had it on good authority that 

the anti-graft agencies; 

notably, the Economic and 

Financial Crimes Commission, 

EFCC and the Independent 

Corrupt Practise 

and other related Offences 

Commission, ICPC will be 

used to freeze the accounts 

of those state governments 

after spurious examination 

of their local government 

accounts, the accounts of 

the Ministries of Work, Special 

Duties and the Federal 

Government intervention 

funds for workers. 

“But the real deal is to 

render the opposition 

financially incapacitated, so 

that they can’t mobilise 

towards the polls,” he said. 

“But this is dangerous for 

democracy. This will further 

heighten tensions in the 

country. We hope they 

jettison this evil plot. 

Elections should not be a 

do-or-die matter,” he 

cautioned.

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2018—9 

:Vanguard 

News 

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

I’ll achieve restructuring of Nigeria in 

6 months, if elected President – Atiku 

FORMER Vice President, 

Atiku Abubakar, said, 

yesterday, that he would 

achieve restructuring of the 

country in six months if 

elected president in next 

year’s elections, just as he 

promised to offer a matching 

grant of $250 million each to 

the 36 states of the federation 

to challenge them to enhance 

their Internally Generated 

Revenue, IGR. 

Abubakar, who stated this 

during a question and 

answer session at Chatham 

House, UK, also said he was 

not surprised by Buhari’s 

statement that Nigerian 

youths were lazy, since he 

had never managed a 

business. 

He said: “It is doable. In 

fact, what I’ve told many 

Nigerians at home is that if 

you give me six months, I 

know I will be able to achieve 

a fast level of restructuring, 

otherwise the concurrent list 

issue. 

“It’s very easy to deal with 

it because there is no state that 

you will call and say ‘I want 

to give you this responsibility 

together with the resources’, 

and will say ‘no’. 

“I want the people of every 

state to be able to hold their 

leaders accountable because, 

at the moment, the federal 

government is being accused 

of everything, even when it’s 

not in its area of responsibility. 

“I want to be able to resolve 

that so that citizens can hold 

their local leaders responsible 

for lapses and 

maladministration.” 

Asked if he would consider 

running as an independent 

candidate should he fail to 

secure the ticket of Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku 

said: “We’ll wait until that 

time”. 

He said if he was elected 

president in 2019, he would 

“make Nigeria attractive for 

Nigerians in the diaspora to 

return home.” 

On President’s Buhari’s 

description of some Nigerian 

youths as lazy bunch, 

Abubakar said the President 

would not describe Nigerian 

youth as lazy if he were an 

employer of labour. 

He said: “On the issue of 

youth, I am an employer of 

labour and most of that labour 

is youth-dominated and I 

make a lot of profits from my 

businesses. 

“I don’t agree with the 

assumption that the youths 

are lazy or they are indolent. 

Certainly, I don’t. But I’m not 

surprised with the fellow who 

made that remark because 

he’s not an employer of 

labour, he has no business, 

he has no educational 

institution so he doesn’t relate 

with youths in schools so I 

don’t blame him. 

Abubakar criticised the 

multiple exchange rate in the 

country, saying it does not 

encourage foreign investors 

to put their money in Nigeria. 

Delivering his lecture 

entitled, “The Importance of 

Strengthening State 

Economic Management 

Systems,” Abubakar also 

spoke of plans to improve the 

operational efficiency of 

revenue generating 

agencies. 

He said: “If I have my way, 

the Federal Government will 

match state’s IGR up to $250 

million per state. Even with 

this policy, the Federal 

Government will continue to 

offer support (in the form of 

intervention programmes) for 

states that rank below the 

average development index, 

until such a time as they are 

able to become self-sufficient 

and sustaining."" 

VISIT: From left, Mrs. Lola Alonge, Director, NEPAD; Dr Nike 

Akande, Chairman, NEPAD Business Group-Nigeria; Mr. Solomon 

Aderoju, Chairman, NASME, and Erelu Abiola Dosumu, Director 

NEPAD, during a visit to NEPAD Business Group-Nigeria by Nigerian 

Association of Small & Medium Enterprises, NASME, in Lagos, 

yesterday. Photo: Joe Akintola,Photo Editor. 

2019: NASS lacks power to 

re-order election sequence —Court 

•We’ll go on appeal —NASS 

By Ikechukwu 

Nnochiri 

A BUJA—ABUJA 

Division of the Federal 

High Court, yesterday, held 

that the National Assembly 

lacked the power to re-order 

the proposed sequence for the 

2019 general elections. 

The court, in a judgment 

delivered by Justice Ahmed 

Mohammed, gave reasons 

the election timetable earlier 

released by Independent 


Commission, INEC, could 

not be altered by the 

legislature. 

It maintained that INEC 

was the only body 

constitutionally empowered to 

organise, undertake and 

supervise elections in the 

country, adding that such 

responsibility included fixing 

dates for polls. 

The judgement followed a 

suit lodged before the court 

by Accord Party. 

Justice Mohammed noted 

that NASS commenced 

moves to amend the Electoral 

Act after INEC had already 

released its timetable for the 

impending general elections. 

He said the action of the 

NASS was in clear breach of 

paragraph 15a of the 3rd 

Schedule to the 1999 

constitution, as amended. 

Relying on Supreme Court 

decisions, Justice 

Mohammed held that the 

responsibility of organising 

elections in the country was 

constitutionally vested in 

INEC, stressing that such 

statutory right could not be 

removed by NASS through 

its belated process to amend 

the Electoral Act. 

He said: “I am persuaded 

by argument of the plaintiff 

that it is the sole responsibility 

of the 3rd defendant (INEC) 

to conduct elections and 

further in doing so, the 3rd 

defendant has the power to 

fix dates for elections. 

“If the 1st defendant wants 

this court to believe that the 

3rd defendant was fixing the 

date in accordance with the 

bill that was yet to be passed, 

why then the discrepancy in 

the sequence of the election? 

“I am left without doubt that 

in passing the Electoral Act 

Amendment Bill 2018, the 

3rd defendant was in clear 

breach of paragraph 15a to 

the 3rd Schedule to the 1999 

Constitution, as amended. 

“In this regard, I find merit 

in the plaintiff’s application. 

INEC, the 3rd defendant in 

this case, has the 

constitutional responsibility of 

organising and conducting 

elections and to that effect to 

issue timetable, and it will 

also decide when elections 

will hold.” 

He held that only INEC 

had the power to change date 

that had already been 

released. 

Consequently, the court 

granted all the reliefs sought 

by the plaintiff, even as it 

nullified section 25 of the 

Electoral Act Amendment Bill, 

2018, which sought to alter 

sequence for the forthcoming 

general elections. 

It, however, declined to 

compel President 

Muhammadu Buhari to reject 

the 2018 Amended Electoral 

Act on the basis that the 

President had already 

withheld his assent to it. 

The court held that contrary 

to contention by the NASS, 

there was no need for the 

plaintiff to join President 

Buhari as a party to the suit 

since the Attorney General of 

the Federation and Minister 

of Justice, Mr. Abubakar 

Malami, SAN, was cited as a 

defendant in the matter. 

It, therefore, dismissed all 

objections the NASS raised 

against the suit for want of 

merit. 

Meanwhile, shortly after the 

judgment was delivered, 

NASS, through its lawyer, Mr. 

Sebastian Hon, SAN, vowed 

to take the case before the 

Court of Appeal. 

SEC confirms talks with 

MTN Group on $500m 

public offer 

L 

A 

G O S — 

SECURITIES and 

Exchange Commission, 

SEC, yesterday, confirmed 

that MTN Group had 

finally commenced 

discussions with the 

commission on its 

proposed $500 million 

Initial Public Offering, 

IPO. 

A senior management 

staff of SEC, who pleaded 

anonymity, told News 

Agency of Nigeria, in 

Lagos, that MTN had 

commenced discussion 

with the commission on the 

IPO. 

The source said although 

talks were ongoing, the 

company was yet to 

formally file its application 

for the IPO. 

He said the commission 

was committed to investors’ 

protection, and that their 

interest would be protected 

in the ongoing discussion. 

The source said SEC 

would remain committed 

to the development of the 

nation’s capital market and 

listing of more 

multinationals. 

Another source at 

Nigerian Stock Exchange, 

NSE, who declined to be 

mentioned, also said the 

NSE had not yet received 

an official filing from the 

company. 

There were reports 

recently that MTN Group 

Ltd was perfecting plans to 

raise about $500 million 

from the sale of shares in 

its Nigerian business in the 

first half of 2018. 

Standard Bank Group Ltd 

and Citigroup Inc had been 

advising MTN on the 

disposal of as much as 30 

per cent of its Nigerian unit 

on the NSE. 

MTN had agreed to list 

the Nigerian unit as part of 

June 2016 agreement to 

pay one billion dollars fine 

for missing a deadline to 

disconnect unregistered 

subscribers amid a security 

crackdown. 

Donald Duke hits back 

at Okonjo-Iweala over 

‘image-laundering’ book 

FORMER governor 

of Cross River State, 

Mr Donald Duke, has 

hit back at former 

Finance Minister, Dr 

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, 

over issues she raised in 

her current book. 

Okonjo-Iweala had in 

the book, entitled 

"Fighting Corruption is 

Dangerous: The Story 

Behind the Headlines," 

said the former governor 

asked her not to serve in 

President Goodluck 

Jonathan’s government 

in 2011. 

According to her, the 

ploy was to deny 

Jonathan’s government 

credibility so that it 

would be “weak and not 

succeed.” 

Okonjo-Iweala, who 

also served as Minister 

of Finance under 

President Olusegun 

Obasanjo from 2003- 

2006, said she turned 

down the advice, which 

Duke allegedly claimed 

was coming from “a 

group of concerned 

people.” 

However, in his 

response on Twitter, 

Duke prefaced it with a 

message to the youths, 

confirmed meeting with 

Okonjo-Iweala but said 

it was in good faith and 

wondered why a private 

conversation between 

“friends” had now been 

made public. 

His message to the 

youths came against the 

backdrop of their 

concerns to allegations of 

the former minister 

against him. 

He said: "It is true I 

met with Ngozi when the 

rumours were swirling 

about her being 

considered for 

appointment. 

"As friends, she, 

having been literally 

dismissed from an 

earlier appointment as 

finance minister, I urged 

caution. 

"I made no mention of 

adding or subtracting 

credibility to anyone or 

government. It was two 

friends discussing 

careers. It ended there 

and she subsequently, 

made her choice, which 

I respected. 

"However, I think it is 

in poor taste and 

demeaning of her to 

report a private 

conversation in whatever 

self laundering attempt 

she may be up to. 

"With hindsight, I was 

vindicated, Ngozi, as 

Minister of Finance and 

Economy, despite 

massive revenue 

receipts, left Nigeria 

poorer than she met it."

10 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL26, 2018 


Dangote, Adeosun, 

Sanusi, others set for 

ICAN award 

By Providence 

Emmanuel 

L 

A G O S — 

PRESIDENT, 

Dangote Group, Alhaji 

Aliko Dangote; Minister 

of Finance, Mrs. Kemi 

Adeosun; Emir of Kano, 

Muhammad Sanusi II, 

and Chairman, Federal 

Inland Revenue 

Service, Mr. Tunde 

Fowler, among other 

eminent personalities 

will be honoured by 

Institute of Chartered 

Accountants of Nigeria, 

ICAN. 

In a statement by its 

Principal Manager, 

C o r p o r a t e 

Communications and 

Marketing, Mrs. Bunmi 

Owolabi, ICAN stated 

that “Dangote, Sanusi 

and Fowler will receive 

the award in the Nonmembers’ 

Category for 

their contributions to 

nation building while 

Adeosun, Akarigbo of 

Remoland, Oba 

Babatunde Ajayi; Chief 

Financial Officer/Group 

Executive Director of 

NNPC Mr. Abdulrazak 

Isiaka; Executive 

Secretary of Association 

of Accountancy Bodies 

in West Africa, ABWA, 

Mrs. Margaret 

Unubun, will receive 

the award in the 

Members’ Category for 

upholding the ICAN 

ideals of Accountability, 

Integrity, Exemplary 

Leadership and selfless 

service to the nation. 

“Second Deputy Vice 

Presidents of ICAN, late 

Alhaji Zubair Abdullah 

and late Mr. Uchenna 

Erobu would be given 

posthumous honour 

for their selfless service 

to the Institute before 

their demise. 

“The University 

College Hospital, 

Ibadan and Fate 

Foundation will also 

receive the award in 

the Corporate Body 

Category for their 

contributions to 

Healthcare sector, Job 

creation and 

Entrepreneurship 

development in Nigeria 

respectively.” 

Sheriff defects to APC 

today 

...To be received by Odigie-Oyegun 

By Emmanuel 

Aziken, Political 

Editor 

O NE-TIME 

factional 

National Chairman of 

the Peoples Democratic 

Party, PDP, Senator Ali 

Modu Sheriff is set to 

defect to the ruling All 


APC, today. Sheriff, 

according, to multiple 

sources is moving over 

to the ruling party along 

with his supporters, 

mostly those who were 

with him in the factional 

executive of the PDP, 

while he served as 

national chairman of the 

ruling party. 

Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, 

who served as deputy 

national chairman of the 

PDP, while Sheriff was 

chairman, was at the APC 

national secretariat, 

yesterday, to put 

finishing touches to the 

defection which is 

expected to take place by 

noon today. 

A senior party 

operative, who confirmed 

the planned defection, 

said that Sheriff would be 

received by the national 

chairman of the APC, Chief 

John Odigie-Oyegun and 

other senior officials of the 

ruling party. 

The planned defection 

of Sheriff is set to reset 

the political narrative in 

Borno State where 

Sheriff had been at odds 

with the incumbent 

governor, Alhaji Kasshim 

Shettima and the 

mainstream of the party 

in the state. 

WORLD MALARIA DAY: Nigeria loses 

N132bn to Malaria annually — LAPO 

•Ambode’s wife distributes 3,000 mosquito treated nets 

•As LCCI seeks FG’s commitment to health financing 

By Olasunkanmi 

Akoni, Chioma 

Obinna & Naomi 

Uzor 

LAGOS—THE Lift 

Above Poverty 

Organisation, LAPO, 

yesterday, disclosed that 

Nigeria loses N132 billion 

annually to Malaria. 

This was as Wife of 

Lagos State Governor, 

Mr.s Bolanle Ambode has 

urged Lagosians to be 

more concerned with 

preventing rather than 

curing malaria infection 

even as she distributed 3, 

000 mosquito treated nets. 

Also, the Lagos 

Chamber of Commerce 

and Industry, LCCI, 

yesterday urged the 

Federal Government to 

adopt and implement 

strategies toward creating 

a conducive investment 

climate for more private 

sector participation in 

health financing. 

The Executive Director of 

LAPO, Ms. Sabina Idowu- 

Osehobo, said this 

yesterday, at the 2018 

World Malaria Day 

sensitization programme 

tagged: ‘Ready to Beat 

Malaria’, held in Meiran 

Community, Agbado Oke- 

Odo Local Council 

Development Area of 

Lagos State. 

Idowu-Osehobo, 

represented by the LAPO 

Lagos Regional Officer, 

Mrs. Sandra Asowata, 

noted that Malaria 

constitutes a huge 

epidemiologic burden in 

Africa and continues to 

cripple the economic 

development in the region. 

Idowu-Osehobo said: 

“Malaria is responsible for 

60 percent outpatient visits 

to health facilities, 30 

percent childhood death, 

25 percent of death in 

children under one year 

and 11 percent maternal 

death in Nigeria. Malaria 

is a major cause of 

increasing household 

poverty and slow phase of 

national development. 

“The financial loss due to 

malaria annually is 

estimated to be about N132 

billion in form of 

treatment costs, prevention 

and loss of man-hours, yet, 

the disease is a treatable 

and completely eradicable.” 

“We believe that with 

collective efforts of 

everyone- international 

partners, government at all 

levels, business sectors, 

NGOs, community 

stakeholders and direct 

beneficiaries, we are ready 

to beat Malaria. 

Mrs Ambode distributes 

3,000 mosquito nets 

Meanwhile, Mrs. 

Ambode, who distributed 

over 3,000 insecticidetreated 

nets, at Makoko 

community, Yaba Local 

WORLD MALARIA DAY: From left; Representative of the President, Lagos Chamber 

of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Mrs Toki Mabogunje; Chairman, Advisory Board 

of the Nigeria Prize for Science, Professor Alfred Susu, Immediate Past President, 

LCCI, Dr Nike Akande and DG, LCCI, Mr Muda Yusuf at the2018 World Malaria 

Day Celebration by LCCI Medical and Pharmaceutical Group in Lagos. 

Council Development 

Authority, LCDA, said that 

efforts should be geared 

towards a robust prevention 

of the scourge, with the 

wide-spread use of nets, 

indoor spraying with 

insecticide and preventive 

treatment of expectant 

mothers. 

She said: “We cannot fold 

our arms and allow 

malaria to continue to 

ravage our society. This 

epidemic has claimed too 

many lives, whether in 

our country, Africa or the 

world in general. Thank 

God it is not a disease 

without prevention or cure, 

and since it has both, the 

easier way out is to 

prevent it.'' 

LCCI seeks FG’s 

commitment to health 

financing 

Similarly, the LCCI 

President, Mr. 

Babatunde Ruwase, in 

an appeal at a forum on 

the celebration of World 

Malaria Day in Lagos, 

said: “We need innovative 

ways and means in 

enhancing our capabilities 

By Onozure Dania purchased Guinea 

LAGOS — JUSTICE 

Mohammed Idris of a 

Federal High Court in 

Lagos, yesterday, 

remanded Senator Peter 

Nwaoboshi in Ikoyi prisons 

custody pending the 

hearing of his bail 

application. 

The Economic and 

Financial Crimes 

Commission, EFCC, 

arraigned Senator 

Nwaoboshi, representing 

Delta-North Senatorial 

District on the platform of 

the Peoples Democratic 

Party, PDP, before the court 

over alleged fraud and 

money laundering. 

The lawmaker was 

arraigned alongside his two 

companies -Golden Touch 

Construction Projects Ltd, 

and Summing Electricals 

Ltd, on a two-count charge 

bordering on fraud and 

money laundering before 

Justice Mohammed Idris. 

The EFCC prosecutor, 

Mr. M. Salisu Abubakar, 

said that the senator 

in ‘beating malaria.” 

Ruwase, who was 

represented by his deputy, 

Mrs. Toki Mabogunje, 

said: “With $2.7 billion 

invested globally to fight 

malaria in 2016, this 

represents less than 41 

percent of the estimated 

$6.5 billion needed 

annually till 2020in order to 

reach the 2030 global 

malaria targets. In 2016, 

there were 216 million 

cases of malaria in 91 

countries, five million more 

than the 211 million cases 

reported in 2015." 

MONEY LAUNDERING: Court 

remands Senator Nwaoboshi in 

prison, to rule tomorrow 

House, Marine Road, 

Apapa, at the sum of 

N805 million, knowing 

that the sum of N322 

million out of the 

purchase price forms 

proceeds of fraud. 

The commission said that 

the defendant committed 

the alleged offenses 

between May 14 and June 

2014, adding that the sum 

of N322million, out of the 

purchase price transferred 

to the vendors by order of 

Summing Electricals Ltd, 

formed part of an unlawful 

act. 

According to the EFCC, 

the offenses committed are 

contrary to Sections 15 (2) 

(d) and 18 (a), of the 

money laundering 

(prohibition) Act, 2011 (As 

amended) and punishable 

under sections 15 (3) of 

the same act. 

Nwaoboshi pleads not 

guilty 

However, the 60-year-old 

senator, who is also a 

lawyer, pleaded not guilty 

to the two-count charge 

preferred against him. 

The counsel to the senator 

and second defendant, Mrs 

Veleria Azinge, SAN, and 

O. K Nmakwe, urged the 

court to grant Nwaoboshi 

bail on self recognition or 

on the alternative on liberal 

terms, as he is a serving 

senator, who has to attend 

all the Senate proceedings, 

adding that if he fails to 

attend the proceedings, the 

Senate might declare his 

seat vacant. 

The prosecuting counsel 

for the EFCC, Abubakar 

Mohammed, told the court 

that the anti-graft agency 

filed a counter-affidavit in 

opposition to Nwaoboshi’s 

bail application. 

He, however, conceded 

that the decision to grant 

the bail was at the judge’s 

discretion. 

After hearing the 

applications, Mr. Idris 

adjourned till April 27 for 

ruling while he ordered 

that the senator is 

remanded in Ikoyi Prisons 

until then.



Federalism has failed in 

Nigeria—Okunnu, Attah 

•Obasanjo part of Nigeria’s problem 

•Say 1979 constitution killed federalism in Nigeria 

• We won’t stop agitation until Niger-Delta 

becomes paradise—Ibori 

•Makarfi, Udom, Etiebet, others fete Attah 

By Gbenga Oke & 

Tare Youdeowei 

L AGOS—FORMER 

Federal Commissioner 

for Works and Housing, 

Alhaji Femi Okunnu, SAN, 

and former Governor of 

Akwa Ibom State, Obong 

Victor Attah, and some 

leaders, yesterday, 

dissected the state of 

Nigeria’s federalism and 

returned a grim verdict: 

Federalism is dead in 

Nigeria. 

They fingered former 

President Olusegun 

Obasanjo for being 

principally responsible for 

killing federalism in the 

country through the 1979 

constitution and his 

opposition to restructuring, 

resource control and 

devolution of power to the 

federating units. 

They spoke in Lagos at 

the launching of a revised 

edition of the book: ‘’Attah 

On Resource Control’’ 

edited by Dr Dele 

Sobowale. 

The 156-page book noted 

that resource control is 

another synonym for the 

principle of derivation, 

which is the bedrock of all 

federating units all over the 

world, and if properly 

applied it will ‘’inexorably 

lead to devolution of 

economic, social and 

political power to the state 

and local governments 

making the struggle for 

power at the centre less 

attractive, less violent and 

less divisive. 

‘’Indeed, no single 

amendment to the 1999 

Constitution will go far to 

correct most of the 

contradictions in the 

constitution as resource 

control alone. In one step, 

we will not only enthrone 

justice, we will lower the 

tension associated with the 

struggle form power at the 

centre," they noted. 

Hold Obasanjo, APC, 

PDP responsible 

—Okunnu 

However, Alhaji Okunnu 

said the ruling All 


APC, and the opposition 

Peoples Democratic Party, 

PDP, were playing a game 

of cat and mouse on the 

issue of restructuring and 

accused former President 

Obasanjo of being part of 

Nigeria’s problems rather 

than a solution which he 

masquerades himself to be. 

Alhaji Okunnu, who 

chaired the event said: 

“The issue of restructuring 

is in the air and both the 

APC and PDP are playing 

a game of cat and mouse 

and nobody is taking the 

issues seriously. Sadly, 

constitution amendment 

has become a thing of past 

Nigeria because there was 

no National Conference 

which I was part that any 

of the recommendations 

saw the light of the day.” 

Accusing Obasanjo of 

being part of Nigeria’s 

many problems, he said: 

“When I went through the 

Clifford’s constitution of 

1922, the Richard’s 

Constitution 1946, the 

Macpherson’s 

Constitution of 1951, 

Lyttleton’s constitution of 

1954, I discovered that 

Nigeria ceased to be a 

federation in 1979 and the 

federation was killed by 

former President Olusegun 

Obasanjo. He is part of the 

problem not the solution to 

the problem. Though he is 

masquerading himself to 

be a solution and the 

saviour of Nigeria today, he 

is to be held responsible for 

some of these problems.” 

He continued: “Major 

issues that need to be 

addressed in our 

Constitution include 

Finance, Fiscal federation, 

Judiciary, Local 

Government, Resource 

Control, and Independent 

Candidacy because what 

we have today is partly 

dictatorship. People should 

be able to stand for election 

whether they belong to a 

party or not. In all this, it is 

necessary we re-shape the 

country by going back to 

the 1963 constitution. 

“The 1979 constitution 

killed the Federation of 

Nigeria. Under the 1963 

constitution, we knew that 

60 per cent of the revenue 

from minerals goes to the 

state of origin, 20 per cent 

to the Federal Government 

and 20 per cent to others 

and that was the exact 

template followed by 

General Murtala 

Muhammed and General 

Yakubu Gowon. But in the 

the 1979 constitution, the 

Federal Government 

grabbed it all and no kobo 

went to the state of origin. 

He, however, advised 

cultural groups like 

Ohanaeze Ndigbo, 

Afenifere and Arewa 

Consultative Forum to stay 

off politics and maintain 

their cultural arena rather 

than dabbling into politics. 

Resource control, 

solution to our 

problems—Attah 

In his welcome address, 

Obong Victor Attah said the 

revised edition of the book 

is a compilation of his 

speeches, television and 

newspaper articles on 

resource control. 

Noting that resource 

control is a phenomenon 

that is misunderstood by a 

lot of people, he said: “If 

President Obasanjo was a 

believer of federalism, 

Nigeria will not be where 

it is today. He not only 

opposed resource control, 

he brought back offshore 

and onshore dichotomy. I 

believe the hen that lays the 

golden egg should take 50 

per cent of what belongs to 

it and the other 50 per cent 

can go elsewhere. 

“I am happy that resource 

control is today being 

recognised as the solution 

to Nigeria’s problems. It is 

one of the remedies for true 

federalism which will help 

this country grow." 

Derivation should 

be 50 per cent – 

Sobowale 

Editor of the book, Dr. 

Dele Sobowale, said the first 

book on resource control 

was about the struggle, the 

second edition is about 

what has been achieved so 

far from the struggle. If 

Attah didn’t fight for 13 per 

cent, what states would 

have got is one per cent. 

We are looking at getting 

to the next level which is 

50 pe cent. 

“Resource control is not 

about being partisan, it is 

not about politics or 

ethnicity, but a matter of 

national justice. If oil was 

found in Yoruba land, I am 

sure they would have 

gotten the 50 per cent or 

there would be no Nigeria. 

It is the right thing to do. 

Everyone should line up 

behind 50 per cent or 

nothing.” 

The struggle for 

Resource Control not 

over — Ibori 

Also speaking at the well 

attended event, former 

Governor of Delta State, 

Chief James Ibori, said the 

struggle for resource control 

is not over, and will 

continue until Niger-Delta 

BOOK LAUNCH: From left; Mr Lucky Igbinedion, former Edo State 

Gov; Mrs Peace Attah, wife of the author; Arc. Victor Obong Attah, 

former Gov of Akwa Ibom State and author; and Alhaji Femi Okunnu, 

Chairman of the occasion, at the launching of the book: "Attah on 

Resource Control" (Revised) at Nigerian Institute of International 

Affairs, NIIA, Victoria Island, Lagos, yesterday. 

is developed. 

His words: “I must thank 

former Governor Attah for 

his role in ensuring that our 

zone got the 13 per cent 

derivation but I must say 

that the fight is yet to be 

over. We still have a long 

way to go and everybody 

from the region must 

support this advocacy. 

What we are fighting for is 

supported by ordinary 

women even in the creeks, 

they are holding on to it and 

waiting earnestly that one 

day, the zone will wake up 

to realise that the entire 

region has been turned into 

a paradise. 

“When we were 

governors and we used to 

have meetings in Edo State, 

all the Niger Delta 

governors were resolute in 

their support for this. Even 

some South-West 

governors including Bola 

Tinubu of Lagos supported 

what we are clamouring 

for. 

“I was having a meeting 

recently with some people 

from Nembe and they were 

showing me the level of 

degradation happening in 

the region, I must say it is 

worse than what we left. 

There are illegal refineries 

all over the place and even 

in places like Port-Harcourt, 

people can no longer have 

fresh breathe due to gas 

flaring caused by the oil 

companies. So, we must all 

leave this book launch with 

the impression that the 

struggle is far from over.” 

Attah is a man of 

courage —Etiebet 

In like manner, former 

Minister of Petroleum, 

Chief Don Etiebet, who 

recalled his long 

relationship with the 

author said the contribution 

of Attah to the resource 

control struggle cannot be 

quantified. 

His words: “First, I must 

say my relationship with 

Attah started in the early 

60’s, so we have been 

family friends for a long 

time and I contributed 

immensely to his campaign 

election in 1999, even 

when he decided to realise 

his governorship ambition 

through the party I formed 

then. We also schooled 

together in Canada and 

United States as well. 

When we were done with 

school, I wrote Attah and 

others that it is time to 

relocate to Nigeria and 

contribute our own quota to 

the country and that was 

how we returned. 

“Our relationship did not 

stop there, my elder brother 

and Attah were members of 

the Abacha 1994/95 

Constitutional Conference 

where this issue of 

Resource Control was 

seriously discussed. 

Though I was Minister of 

Petroleum under Abacha 

then, we all worked 

together to ensure that the 

13 percent derivation was 

achieved.” 

Attah wanted his 

successors to 

succeed—Udom 

Extolling the virtues of 

Attah, Governor of Akwa- 

Ibom State, Udom 

Emmanuel who was 

represented by the 

Secretary to the State 

Government, Mr. 

Emmanuel Ekuwem, 

described Attah as a man 

of excellence who always 

want his successors in office 

to succeed. 

He said: “He is a clear 

example of excellence who 

wanted the best for his state 

hence his support to his 

successors in office. His 

support and doggedness 

towards achieving the 13 

percent derivation cannot 

be quantified and that is 

why our Governor, Udom 

Emmanuel is also working 

hard to achieve 

diversifying away from 

oil.” 

Attah is an advocate 

of a functional Nigeria 

– Makarfi 

Commending Attah for 

his leadership roles, former 

Governor of Kaduna State, 

Ahmed Makarfi, said Attah 

remains an advocate of a 

functional Nigeria. 

Makarfi who was 

represented by his aide, 

Mukthar Sirajo, said his 

take on restructuring 

remains the same. 

“Restructuring means 

different things to different 

people. However, I agree 

with the fact that there is 

nothing wrong in coming 

together and agreeing to 

what needs to change in our 

country. Nothing is wrong 

with coming together and 

discussing our problems 

and the way out.” 

Attah is a defender 

of Justice—Udoma 

Minister of Budget and 

National Planning, Senator 

Udo Udoma, who was 

represented by Mr. 

Akpandem James, 

described Attah as a fearless 

and resolute defender of 

the Niger-Delta region, 

adding “he was a defender 

of the South-South region, 

he was a dogged fighter, he 

is a man of fairness 

especially as it concerns our 

region. He will forever be 

remembered for his defense 

of the region”. 

Eminent personalities at 

the colourful event 

included: former Governor 

of Edo State, Chief Lucky 

Igbinedion, Secretary to the 

Akwa-Ibom State 

Government, Dr. 


Governor Rauf Aregbesola 

of Osun State, who was 

represented by his 

Commissioner for Regional 

Integration, Hon. Bola 

Ilori; Senator Senator 

Aloysius Etok; Publisher of 

Vanguard Newspapers, 

Mr. Sam Amuka; former 

Commissioner for Health 

and Works in Akwa-Ibom 

State, Bob Ekarika, Rear 

Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, 

retd; Vice Chancellor, 

Western Delta University, 

Professor O.C Okobiah; 

Chairman, Elders Council 

of the All Progressives 

Congress, APC, in Akwa 

Ibom State, Otuekong 

Sunny Jackson among 

others.



CJN sets up corruption cases 

monitoring c'ttee 

By Innocent Anaba, 

Festus Ahon & 

Ikechukwu Nnochiri 

N ATIONAL 

Judicial Council, 

NJC, has set up a 

Corruption and Financial 

Crimes Cases Trial 

Monitoring Committee, 

CQTRIMCO, to monitor 

cases of corruption cases 

in the country. 

Chief Judge of Nigeria, 

CJN, Justice Walter 

Onnoghen, who made the 

disclosure, yesterday in 

Asaba, Delta State, at the 

on-going 5th Nigerian 

Bar Association, NBA, 

Criminal Justice Reform 

Conference, also limited 

the number of lawyers 

appearing for a litigant in 

courts in the country to 

five, to address the 

problem of congestion in 

courts. 

The Chief Justice also 

revealed that he turned 

down request by judges 

across the country to be 

allowed to form an 

association to speak up for 

the judiciary when it is 

attacked. 

This came as the Chief 

Judge of the Federal 

Capital Territory, Justice 

Ishaq Bella, Governor 

Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta 

State, Justice Marshal 

Umukoko, Chief Judge of 

Delta State, among 

others, called for an 

efficient and proper 

funding of the criminal 

justice system in the 

country for it to serve the 

people. 

The CJN, in his 

statement read by Justice 

Roseline Bozimo, 

Administrator, National 

Judicial Institution, NJI, 

said: “Although numerous 

challenges are 

confronting the criminal 

justice sector, there is a 

determined resolve on the 

part of the judiciary to 

face these challenges 

squarely, specially so that 

we can create a better 

future not only for the 

judiciary but also for our 

country. 

“In the light of the 

foregoing, the NJC under 

my watch has constituted 

the Corruption and 

Financial Crimes Cases 

Trial Monitoring 

Committee, which has hit 

the ground running. 

“The directive to all 

chief judges to designate 

special courts to handle 

corruption cases is also a 

step in the right direction 

as lingering corruption 

cases will be 

expeditiously dispensed 

with. I have also 

directed that lawyers 

representing parties in 

our courts must not be 

more than five as 

numerous lawyers 

appearing for one litigant 

is time wasting. 

“To enhance justice 

administration, 

henceforth, lawyers who 

have acquired the legal 

email can now 

communicate 

electronically with the 

courts. However, by July 

16, 2018, this will become 

mandatory. The Supreme 

Court will only serve 

processes by electronic 

means (Legal mail) on all 

matters. 

Meanwhile, Chairman 

of the NBA Criminal 

Justice Reform 

Committee, Mr Arthur 

Obi-Okafor, SAN, 

lamented that the 

country’s criminal justice 

system has remained 

weak despite the passage 

of the Administration of 

Criminal Justice Act, 

ACJA, due largely to lack 

of political will and 

resources to implement 

the Act. 

Justice Bello, who was 

key speaker, was 

particularly concerned 

about the issue of attitude 

of persons and agencies 

involved in the country’s 

justice system. 

Justice Bello, said the 

objectives of the ACJA 

2015 would not be 

achieved without 

adequate funding. 

Sultan gives Miyetti Allah two months to 

fish out criminal herdsmen 

By Gabriel Enogholase 

B ENIN—THE 

Sultan of Sokoto, 

His Eminence, 

Mohammed Sa’ad 

Abubakar III, has given 

a two-month mandate to 

the new leadership of 

Miyetti Allah Cattle 

Breeders Association, 

MACBAN, to fish out 

criminal herdsmen in its 

midst. 

This came as the group 

blamed the frequent 

clashes between 

herdsmen and farmers on 

politicians who it claimed 

were cashing in on the 

crises to feather their 

political nests, declaring 

that the group would soon 

start fishing out criminals 

in its midst. 

National President of 

MACBAN, Alhaji 

Mohammadu Kiruwa, 

who spoke through the 

National Secretary of the 

association, Alhaji Baba 

Othman Ngelzarma, 

disclosed this during a 

peace visit to Edo State. 

According to MACBAN 

President, “The Sultan of 

Sokoto, during our 

swearing-in ceremony, 

gave the leadership a twomonth 

mandate to fish out 

the criminals responsible 

for herders and farmers 

APC Chair: Oshiomhole’s supporters celebrate as 

critics fault endorsement 

By Simon Ebegbulem & 

Gabriel Enogholase 

B ENIN—THE 

r e p o r t e d 

endorsement of the 

immediate past governor 

of Edo State, Comrade 

Adams Oshiomhole, for 

the office of National 

Chairman of All 


APC, was yesterday 

received with mixed 

feelings in the state. 

While a section of party 

faithful, led by the state 

clashs. And at times, 

allowing minors to go on 

grazing is what is causing 

most of the problems. 

Above all, when all these 

are not there, when the 

relationship is good, they 

see each other, shake 

hands and continue to live 

peacefully, but today, 

because of so many 

things, politicians have 

made this crisis a fertile 

ground. We have 

arranged to begin to fish 

out the criminals within 

us and the farmers so that 

we can have peace. Most 

of the activities are being 

perpetrated by criminals 

because not all cattle 

herders are criminals. 

“The herders also suffer 

from the activities of 

criminals who kill, maim 

and kidnap our members. 

We have lost over two 

million cattle to criminals. 

Miyetti Allah Cattle 

Breeders Association is a 

peaceful group. We are a 

peaceful organization 

which was formed about 

30 years ago. We are not 

party to violence, we 

condemn them. Those 

moving with sophisticated 

weapons are not cattle 

herders, but cattle 

rustlers." 

CONFERENCE: From left: Mr Daniel Ohiri, Key Accounts Manager, Merck 

Pharmaceuticals and Life Sciences Limited; Prof Chioma Unachukwu, University of 

Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Endocrinologist Consultant; Chinwe Onyegegbu, 

Product Manager, CMC/GM, Merck Pharmaceuticals and Life Sciences Limited and 

Dr Reginald Oputa, Endocrinoligist Consultant, Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, 

during an Expert Meeting on Care and Management of Diabetic Patients, in Port 

Harcourt, yesterday. Photo: Nwankpa Chijioke. 

chairman celebrated the 

endorsement at the state 

secretariat, outside, critics 

of the former governor 

bemoaned the 

endorsement as an unjust 

reward for him after 

reportedly diminishing 


Buhari’s reputation 

through leading him to 

commission non-existent 

projects. 

Party leaders from 

different parts of the state 

led by the state chairman 

of the party, Mr Anslem 

Ojezua, were at the party 

secretariat to celebrate the 

endorsement yesterday. 

“We are celebrating 

because we are happy our 

President has done the 

right thing. We are going 

to war next year and we 

need a warrior in the form 

of Oshiomhole to lead the 

war." 

Also, former House of 

Representatives member, 

Mr Patrick Obahiagbon, 

described Oshiomhole as 

the “best man for this job 

because he has been 

tested and trusted in Edo 

state and as former 

President of the Nigeria 

Labour Congress, NLC." 

Another chieftain of the 

party in Edo State, Dr 

David Imuse, said: "APC 

is lucky to have a 

personality like Comrade 

Oshiomhole and I urge all 

well meaning APC 

leaders who love 

President Buhari to 

support him." 

Rebuffing the 

endorsement yesterday, 

Edo Unity League, EUL, 

following what it claimed 

as a demonstration round 

the city in a statement said 

the position of APC 

National Chairman 

should be sustained by 

Chief John Odigie- 

Oyegun upon his unique 

effort in leading the party 

to defeat an incumbent 

government. 

Okowa, Otuaro, others for 

DELSU's Entrepreneurship 

Awareness Programme 

DELTA 

State 

governor, Dr. 

Ifeanyi Okowa, is expected 

to attend the 4th edition of 

the skills acquisition 

awareness programme, 

tagged: Even a Professor 

needs a Skill, taking place 

at Delta State University, 

Abraka. 

The programme, which is 

being organized by aides 

to the Delta State Governor 

on Students Affairs, 

Comrade Okoh Ezekiel 

‘Tega and Special Duties 

(Media), Mr Ossai 

Success, will feature some 

speakers, including the 

Executive Secretary of 

Delta State Small and 

Medium Enterprises 

Development Agency, Mrs 

Shimite Bello, Mr Segun 

Manuel, The Chief 

Solutions Provider, 

Smogville Solutions 

Limited and others. 

Deputy Governor, 

Kingsley Otuaro, 

Commissioner for Higher 

Education, Jude Sinebe, 

Professor Victor 

Peretomode, Commissioner 

for Agriculture and Natural 

Resources, Austin 

Chikezie, Chief Job 

Creation official, Prof Eric 

Eboh, and many others are 

billed to attend the 

programme.



Abe declares guber ambition, unveils campaign 

office in P-Harcourt 

By Davies 

Iheamnachor 

PORT 

HAR- 

COURT— THE 

senator representing 

Rivers South-East at the 

National Assembly, Senator 

Magnus Abe, yesterday, 

declared his intention to 

contest the governorship 

seat of Rivers State in the 

2019 general election on 

the platform of All 


APC. 

Abe also said he had 

A-Ibom marks Buhari's campaign 

office for demolition 

•Don’t politicize everything, says UCCDA boss 

By Harris-Okon 

Emmanuel 

UYO—AS the 2019 

general elections 

draw nearer and less than 

three days after the 

campaign office of President 

Muhammadu Buhari in 

Uyo, Akwa Ibom State 

capital, was opened, the 

state government has 

marked the building 

housing the office for 

demolition, triggering 

political tension in the state. 

The four-storey edifice on 

Wellington Bassey Way, 

not far from the 

Government House, is 

christened, ‘’Hill Top 

Mansion”. 

Sources claimed the state 

government has been 

uncomfortable with the 

proximity of the campaign 

office to the Government 

House which informed the 

decision to pull it down with 

the allegation that the 

structure does not have the 

necessary papers. 

The campaign office was 

launched Monday by 

uncovered plot by some 

leaders of APC in the state 

to manipulate the outcome 

of the forthcoming congress 

of the party, warning that 

any attempt to do so would 

be resisted. 

Abe made the declaration 

while unveiling his liaison 

office on Evo Road, 

Government Reserved 

Area, Port Harcourt. 

He said his intention to 

contest the seat on the 

platform of APC was to 

bring to the state, the 

needed change in 

the National Committee of 

Buhari’s Support Groups, 

NCBSG, which vowed to 

win the state in both the 

presidential and 

governorship polls. 

Investigation revealed 

that the office building is the 

only structure designated 

on the road for demolition 

by the Uyo Capital City 

Development Agency, 

UCCDA, an agency of the 

state government 

It is also being rumoured 

that government also plans 

to revoke the building's 

Certificate of Occupancy 

before proceeding on the 

demolition. 

According to a source, 

‘’The plan is first to revoke 

the Certificate of Occupancy 

by the government before 

demolition. But the 

question is why would the 

government condescend so 

low as to do that? Recall that 

in 1999, 2003 and 2015, 

many politicians had their 

campaign offices on the 

same Barrack Road and the 

heavens did not fall. Is it 

because they were all PDP 

governance which the APC 

stands for. 

He said: “This office will 

be called Freedom House, 

a place where good things 

will happen, a place where 

ideas will be articulated and 

debated, a place where 

visions that will change 

Rivers State will be 

articulated. 

“I, Magnus Ngei Abe, 

have decided in the interest 

of our state and future of 

our people, to seek the 

nomination of my party, the 

APC, Rivers State, for the 

office of the governor of the 

state in the 2019 elections. 

members and this is APC?” 

It was equally gathered 

that the Commissioner of 

Police and the state Director 

of Department of State 

Services, DSS, were asked 

to stop the NCBSG office 

inauguration, but both 

security heads were said to 

have refused to act in line 

with the directive. They, 

however, provided 

adequate security for the 

event which attracted a very 

large crowd. 

According to sources, the 

state government had 

approached the owner of 

the building to take over the 

premises, but the owner 

was said to have told the 

state government that 

NCBSG had already 

acquired it for use. 

UCCDA 

Speaking on the 

development, Chairman, 

Uyo City Capital 

Development Agency, 

Enobong Uwah, told 

Vanguard on phone that 

the building was not the 

only one in Uyo capital city 

In doing so, I want to make 

it clear that there is no gun 

shot ambition. I want to 

assure the party and Rivers 

people that if there is a fair 

process, I will not only 

support the candidate but I 

will campaign for him. I will 

do so when members of the 

party are given opportunity 

to elect without intimidation 

and undue threats.” 

He also called on 

Nigerians to support 

President Buhari to win the 

2019 election, stating that 

the party has good agenda 

for the nation. 

DECLARATION: Senator Magnus Abe flanked by supporters, when he declared his intention to 

contest the Rivers State governorship election, in Port Harcourt, yesterday. 

marked, urging owners of 

such buildings to present 

their papers, or start the 

process of acquiring the 

relevant papers for their 

buildings. 

He said: ‘’Does it mean 

that any building marked 

is for demolition? The 

announcement has been 

on radio that anybody who 

does not have the necessary 

papers should come and do 

their papers. It is not just 

that building. It is an ongoing 

exercise. We should 

not politicize everything. 

‘’I asked my staff about the 

building and they said that 

the building was marked 

early April. So, go to other 

buildings and they are also 

marked. If you have 

papers, you come to the 

office and present them and 

if you don’t have, you start 

the process to obtain the 

relevant papers.” 

Effort to speak with the 

state coordinator of 

NCBSG, Ignatius Edet, 

proved abortive as he did 

not answer his calls, while 

the state chairman of the 

APC, Dr. Amadu Atai, could 

not be reached at press 

time. 

PDP's propaganda won't stop 

Buhari’s re-election —Edebiri 

By Simon Ebegbulem 

BENIN—THE Edo 

State Coordinator 

of the National 

Committee for the reelection 

of President 

Muhammadu Buhari, 

Chief Solomon Edebiri, 

has said the 

achievements of the 

President in the past 

three years will ensure his 

re-election irrespective of 

what he described as the 

Peoples Democratic Party, 

PDP’s propaganda 

machine.” 

Chief Edebiri, who 

spoke after the 

inauguration of the Edo 

State chapter of the group, 

said: “The group will 

align with all the 

principles and visions of 

Mr President to build a 

new Nigeria that will not 

be plagued by corruption 

but provide a platform of 

Group passes confidence vote 

on Okowa 

OZUE 

Youth 

Coalition for 

Okowa 2019 has 

inaugurated its new 

Executive Council and 

passed a vote of 

confidence on Delta State 

governor, Dr. Ifeanyi 

Okowa, endorsing him to 

contest for a second term 

as governor of Delta 

State. 

A statement by the 

Secretary, Mr. David 

Ajuya and Publicity/ 

Media Coordinator, Mr. 

Kenneth Adibor, said: 

“Youths from ward 11 of 

Sapele LGA passed a 

vote of confidence on the 

workaholic governor of 

Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi 

Okowa, for his giant 

strides in infrastructural 

development and in 

NOSDRA, CIMAC to host 2018 

oil spill summit in Rivers 

By Prince Okafor 

S TAKEHOLDERS 

will next month 

meet to exchange ideas 

with the National Oil Spill 

Detection and Response 

Agency, NOSDRA, on 

the sensitization of oil 

spill incidents, response 

and management in oil 

producing areas in the 

Niger Delta. 

NOSDRA will use the 

summit to step up public 

awareness on its roles/ 

footprints and to create 

enlightenment on the 

techniques to be applied 

by operators in the 

industry if and when the 

incidents occur. 

According to the 

organiser of the summit, 

hope for all Nigerians. We 

fully align with the vision and 

mission of National 

Committee of Buhari’s 

Support Groups, NCBSG, to 

promote the vision of Mr 

President for a better, stable 

and prosperous Nigeria. We 

will work with all 

stakeholders in this state to 

ensure victory in the 2019 

general election for APC and 

Mr. President. We are aware 

of the negative propaganda 

of the PDP but we are not 

surprised because corruption 

is fighting back. 

“Those who have lost the 

opportunity of siphoning the 

treasury of the nation are the 

ones crying not the ordinary 

Nigerians who are now 

benefiting from their farm 

produce because the 

President has forced us to go 

into agriculture so we can 

stop importation of rice and 

other products which we can 

produce locally." 

human capital development 

through job creation office, 

notably YAGEP and STEP, 

where some indigenes are 

currently trained and 

empowered with starter 

packs while, others are 

undergoing training.” 

The statement further 

affirmed that an exco was 

constituted with David Ajuja 

as the Secretary, Richard 

Okoro, Andrew Ugbenu, 

Lawrence Terry and Julius 

Oghumu as coordinators of 

the 5 villages that make 

Ozue, while Kenneth Adibor 

emerged Publicity/Media 

Head. The Special Advisers 

are Larry Ogwoloko, John 

Tebu and the Patrons 

(resource persons) are David 

Oghenekevwe, David 

Urhirhi and Peter Ajimiotan, 

respectively. 

“The preventive measures 

and remediation efforts will 

be highlighted in technical 

papers to be presented by 

experts at the two-day 

summit. 

“Participants will have the 

opportunity to highlight their 

contributions to NOSDRA’s 

posture of zero tolerance for 

oil spills in oil producing 

communities and also to 

underscore the observance of 

requisite environmental best 

practices by operators in the 

industry. 

“The summit is coming at 

a time when the adoption of 

global best practices is being 

demanded of all companies 

who are engaged in 

exploration and production 

(E & P) activities in the Niger 

Delta."

14 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2018 

LAUNCHING OF ATTAH ON RESOURCE CONTROL (REVISED) 

Former governors, Chief James Ibori and Mr Lucky Igbinedion were among dignitaries at the launching of the book: Attah on Resource Control 

(Revised) at Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Victoria Island, Lagos yesterday. PHOTOS BY LAMIDI BAMIDELE. 

From left; Chief James Ibori, former Governor of Delta State; Mr Lucky Igbinedion, former Edo State 

gov; Mrs Peace Attah, wife of the author; Arc. Victor Obong Attah, former Gov of Akwa Ibom State and 

author; Alhaji Femi Okunnu, Chairman of the occassion; Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem, Secretary to Akwa Ibom 

State Govt and Mr James Akpandem, Special Assistant, Media to Minsiter of Budget and Planning. 

Obong Attah (left) receiving a gift from Engr. E. 

Abasiettai, representing Nigerian Institution of Highway 

and Transportation Engineers during the book launch. 

From left; Umana Okon Umana, MD, OGFZA; Chief Sunday Udoh; Mr. Nsima Ekere, MD, 

Hon Bola Ilori, Commissioner for Regional Integration, Osun Niger Delta Development Commission and Chief Don Etiebet, former Minister of Petroleum. 

State (left) and Dr Dele Sobowale, Vanguard columnist. 

Mr. Godwin Egbri, Registrar, Western Delta Unversity, Oghara, Delta State 

(left) and Professor Otete Okobiah, Vice Chancellor, Western Delta University. 

Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem, Secretary to Akwa Ibom State Government (left) and 

Alhaji Mukhtar Siraju, Vice President, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations. 

(LEFT): Mr 

M a u r i c e 

Ekpeyong (left) 

and Senator 

James Akpan 

Udo-edehe, 

former Minister 

of State, Federal 

Capital Territory 

(FCT) at the 

event. 

Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, retd (right) and other guests.

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2018—15



Ohanaeze condemns killing of 2 Catholic 

priests, 17 others in Benue 

•Buhari’s condolence, ridicule to Christian faith—MASSOB 

By Emeka Mamah 

& Vincent 

Ujumadu 

ENUGU—APEX Igbo 

socio-cultural 

organisation, Ohanaeze 

Ndigbo, has condemned 

Tuesday’s killing of two 

Catholic priests and 17 

other worshippers, during 

a church service in Benue 

State by armed herdsmen, 

saying that the action was 

not only despicable but 

unheard of in the history of 

this country. 

This came as the 

Movement for the 

Actualisation of the 

Sovereign State of Biafra, 

MASSOB, yesterday, 

condemned President 

Muhammadu Buhari’s 

condolence to the people of 

Benue State over the killing 

of the Christians, saying the 

president’s action was 

hypocritical and taunting, 

aimed at ridiculing the 

Christian faith. 

The killing occurred at St. 

Ignatius Catholic Church 

Ukpor-Mbalom Parish, 

Gwer East Local 

government Area of the 

state. The names of the 

priests conducting the 

mass were given as Rev. 

Fathers Joseph Gor and 

Felix Tyolaha. 

President General of 

Ohanaeze, Chief Nnia 

Nwodo, who spoke at the 

National Executive 

Council, NEC, meeting of 

the organisation in 

Enugu, Tuesday, said it 

was unthinkable that 

people could desecrate the 

hallowed or sacred place of 

worship and kill innocent 

worshippers without 

anybody or those in 

authority raising any 

eyebrow. 

“The reports we are 

getting about the killing of 

two Catholic priests in 

Benue are worrisome and 

reprehensible. It should be 

condemned in all 

ramifications. 

“It is despicable, 

condemnable and 

unacceptable. We have said 

it before and we are saying 

it again that Nigerians must 

be on guard. These killings 

should not be allowed to 

continue,” Nwodo said. 

Tuesday’s attack in the 

church came barely four 

days after the murder of 10 

persons by herdsmen in 

the neighbouring Guma 

Local Government Area 

and the destruction of about 

300 houses by men 

suspected to be military 

personnel in Naka, Gwer 

West Local Government 

Area of the state. 

It was learned that 

several persons sustained 

bullet wounds while the 

invaders also sacked part 

of the village, razing close 

to 60 houses, farmlands, 

economic trees as well as 

yam barns of their victims. 

The Director of 

Communications, Catholic 

Diocese of Makurdi, 

Father. Moses Iorapuu said 

after the attack:“The police 

seem to know nothing of 

the attacks which have 

been going on in other 

villages within Benue State 

since the Anti -Open 

Grazing Law came into 

effect last year. 

“Many people are asking 

why the international 

community has remained 

silent over the massacre of 

Benue citizens. 

President’s 

condolence, ridicule to 

Christian faith 

—MASSOB 

Meantime, the 

Movement for the 

Actualisation of the 

Sovereign State of Biafra, 

MASSOB, yesterday, 

condemned President 

Muhammadu Buhari’s 

condolence to the people of 

Benue State over the killing 

of 19 christians, including 

two Reverend Fathers, by 

herdsmen, saying the 

president’s action was 

hypocritical and taunting, 

which was aimed at 

ridiculing the Christian 

faith. 

A statement by the 

MASSOB leader, 

Comrade Uchenna Madu 

described the herdsmen as 

a killer squad and 

wondered how its patron 

could send condolences to 

its victims, adding that such 

condolences were glaringly 

full of hypocrisy. 

The statement said: “We 

know that Miyetti Allah, 

the real movement using 

herdsmen as a camouflage, 

is the fourth worst terrorist 

organization in the world 

ranking. 

“It's members have openly 

vowed and threatened by 

their sponsors and patrons, 

which include Islamic 

religious, traditional and 

opinion leaders that they 

will continue to dominate 

and terrorize all perceived 

enemies and oppositions." 

LAUNCHING: From left—Consul-General of the United States in Lagos, 

Mr. John Bray; Founder, Transparency International, Oby Ezekwesili; 

Convener of Know Your Rights Nigeria, Barr. Adeola Austin Oyinlade; 

and US Embassy Public Affairs Officer, Darcy Zooter, during the launch 

of “Know Your Rights Nigeria” mobile app, held at US Consulate 

Office, Victoria Island, Lagos. Photo: Akeem Salau 

Attack on Buhari govt: Constituents 

move to recall Sen Abaribe 

By Anayo Okoli 

U MUAHIA— 

PERHAPS, due to 

his strong opposition to 

President Buhari 

administration, some 

members of his 

constituency under the 

aegis of Coalition of Abia 

South Senatorial 

Movement, CASSM, have 

vowed to recall their 

Senator, Chief Enyinnaya 

Abaribe, saying he has 

woefully failed them. 

To show their 

seriousness, the group on 

Tuesday, in Aba, 

commenced the distribution 

of recall forms to the six 

council areas that make up 

the zone for collection of 

signatures. 

Addressing journalists at 

the venue where recall 

forms were distributed, the 

leader of the group, Prince 

Paul Ikonne said that 

Senator Abaribe has 

“woefully failed us”. 

One of the Speakers, Mr. 

Daniel Nwaeze, a lawyer, 

specifically accused 

Abaribe of “unleashing 

many attacks” on President 

Muhammadu Buhari. 

“We have gone far in his 

recall process. He is not 

performing. What he is 

doing at the National 

Assembly is not what we 

sent him to do. We never 

sent him there to go and 

insult the President even 

when he has not attracted 

any dividend of democracy 

to the constituency,” 

Nwaeze said. 

According to Ikonne, “we 

are here to commence the 

recall of Senator Enyinnaya 

Abaribe because he has 

failed woefully, enough is 

enough. 

“We sent him to National 

Assembly to get projects 

and make good laws but the 

reverse is the case. He has 

failed woefully. Let him 

come home. We have our 

PVCs and with our PVCs 

we are going to recall him. 

The process starts now. 

“It is not a political party 

affair. I am of APC. We have 

APGA, APDA, PDP and 

other parties. It is about 

Abia South Senatorial zone. 

We are distributing recall 

forms to the six Local 

Government Areas that 

make up the district. 

“The six council areas are 

fully represented. We will 

gather again in the next 14 

days to compile the result 

and take the forms to 

INEC,” Ikonne said. 

Communal clash: Reps ask 

Buhari to deploy soldiers to Abia 

By Levinus 

Nwabughiogu 

ABUJA—THE House of 

Representatives has 

urged President 

Muhammadu Buhari to 

urgently deploy soldiers to 

Isu beachline boundary 

community in Arochukwu 


Abia State to quell the 

incessant communal 

clashes between the 

community and another 

one in Cross River State. 

The House also 

mandated the National 

Emergency Management 

Agency, NEMA, to 

immediately and without 

further delay deploy relief 

materials (including 

medical supplies) to the 

communities in addition to 

medical and health 

personnel to treat those 

who sustained various 

degrees of injuries during 

the fracas. 

The House further 

mandated the National 

Boundary Commission to 

immediately demarcate 

and define the boundaries 

of both communities to 

avoid further clashes. 

Enugu community leaders 

want more CVR machines 

By Dennis Agbo 

E 

N U G U — 

COMMUNITY leaders in 

Enugu State have 

demanded for more 

Continuous Voters 

Registration machines in 

different units of the state. 

The stakeholders 

lamented that whereas 

more people have been 

mobilised to obtain their 

permanent voters cards, the 

available registration 

machines were not enough 

to register them, coupled 

with frequent breakdown of 

the few machines. 

In an INEC organised 

stakeholders forum on 

CVR and election 

preparation update in 

Enugu, yesterday, 

traditional rulers, 

politicians and civil society 

groups all hampered on 

the need for provision of 

more and efficient 

registration machines in 

different parts of the 17 local 

government areas of the 

state. 

The resolution followed 

the consideration and 

adoption of a motion under 

“Matters of Urgent National 

Importance” raised by Hon. 

Uko Nkole Ndukwe (PDP- 

Abia). 

The lawmaker while 

moving the motion decried 

the death of several 

innocent citizens of the 

community in Abia. 

According to him, the 

dispute had led to the 

razing of three villages. 

Ndukwe said: “Apart from 

the wanton loss of lives and 

property and massive 

displacement of persons, 

there is the resultant 

distrust among 

communities that is a grave 

threat to national unity and 

loss of confidence in social 

institutions. 

“The House is saddened 

that between Thursday, 

April 19, 2018 and 

Saturday, April 21, 2018, 

communual clashes 

erupted in Isu beachline 

boundary community in 

Arochukwu Local 

Government Area of Abia 

State which shares its 

boundary with Utuma in 

Cross River State." 

A traditional ruler from 

Nkanu West local 

government area, said 

more machines were 

needed in his Amuri 

community. 

In the same vein, a state 

House of Assembly 

member, Hon. Paul Nnaji 

said “there are inadequate 

machines, papers and all 

materials for registration in 

Nkanu East local 

government area.” 

A former commissioner in 

the state from Udenu local 

government, Mr. Caesar 

Ogbonna said “more 

registration machines 

should be provided. The 

available machines work 

slowly and cannot take 

more than 50 persons a 

day.” 

Earlier, the Resident 

Electoral Commissioner in 

the state, Mr Emeka 

Ononamadu said the 

additional aim of the 

stakeholders forum was to 

share ideas, discuss 

identified genuine 

concerns and keep all 

stakeholders on the same 

page. 

Nigerian youths have proven they’re lazy 

—Obaze 

By Vincent 

Ujumadu 

A WKA—FORMER 

Secretary to the 

Anambra State 

Government, SSG, and the 

candidate of the Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, in 

last year’s governorship 

election in Anambra State, 

Mr. Oseloka Obaze has 

said that Nigerian youths 

had proved that they are 

lazy as credited to 


Buhari. 

Speaking with reporters 

as part of preparations for 

the forthcoming 

presentation of his latest 

book titled ‘Prime Witness: 

Change And Policy 

Challenges in Buhari’s 

Nigeria’, Obaze said if the 

nation’s youths were not 

indeed lazy, they would 

have proved the President 

wrong by protesting and 

telling the whole world 

how serious they have 

been working to make ends 

meet under harsh 

government economic and 

social policies. 

He said: “I agree with 

President Buhari. If the 

youths did not agree with 

him, they would have shut 

down the country 

immediately the 

president’s statement was 

made public.”

Re-visiting 'Now that everyone is a 

Journalist' (1) 

(12/08/16) 

N 

ORTH gets lion’s share in 

police recruitment’. This was 

one of Daily Sun’s front page stories 

recently; and which obviously was 

an extension of the divisive media 

narrative about the alleged ethnoregional 

bias of the Buhari 

administration in the distribution of 

state resources and opportunities. 

The sharing of police recruitment 

slots was done per local government 

and the North having more such 

councils than the South, naturally 

had a couple more of the slots. This 

should logically have obviated the 

need for a screaming headline 

insinuating ethno-regional 

imbalance. Just as government’s 

explanation too that the distribution 

of job opportunities under the nPower 

program was ‘residency’ and not 

‘origin-based’, should have obviated 

the need for the North to protest the 

existence of South-Eastern names on 

the list of many local governments 

in the North. By the way, if the virtue 

of allowing non-Northerners benefit 

from their ‘residency’ status in our 

midst, is strictly ‘its own reward’ –as 

‘virtue’ always is- the North loses 

nothing by being eminently 

assimilating even where others may 

not eminently be as virtuous. But the 

ethno-regional character of our 

‘polity’ is not the subject of this piece. 

The agenda-setting mischief of some 

media is. 

Mainstream and online media, by 

what we report or what we choose to 

ignore; by what we give prominence 

to or what we deliberately conceal; 

by what we luridly sensationalise or 

what we selfishly play down, are the 

reason for the unending ethnoregional 

schisms that have 

continued to define the character of 

our national life. It is said that ‘The 

truth you tell with bad intent, beats 

all the lies you can invent”. 

Meaning, for example, that if you 

tell a ‘truth’ with a motive to stir up 

controversy, of a fact then ‘stirring 

up controversy’ –and not telling a 

truth- is what you should be credited 

with. Just as I think former CBN 

Governor and Emir of Kano, Sanusi 

Lamido Sanusi, should be credited 

with ‘embarrassing’ Buhari’s 

Government if, and only if, the ‘truth’ 

he told recently about unethical 

Government-CBN relationship, was 

with a motive to embarrass it -and 

not a genuine desire to correct a 

systemic wrong. 

And although you can neither 

disprove the claim of Buhari-bashers 

to altruistic motive whenever they 

purport to tell truth to power, nor can 

you, conversely, prove their illintention, 

yet no one needs be a 

journalist to tell when the media is 

reporting the ‘truth’ with a motive to 

stir up controversy. Yes, it is true, for 

example, that the North had more 

As Arsene Wenger bows out 

THE breaking news that filtered into the 

websites that Friday morning took the 

footballing world by surprise: Arsene Wenger, 

the embattled manager of Arsenal football 

club has at last thrown in the towel, giving 

notice to leave at the end of season. This 

dominated all the news portals dwarfing just 

any item that readers would have thought to 

have taken precedence. The Commonwealth 

Heads of States meeting was in session in 

London with our own President Muhammadu 

Buhari in attendance, the issue of raining 

bombs on Syria was still fresh, and here at 

home the brazen daylight abduction of the 

mace of the Nigerian Senate by suspected thugs 

was the talk of the town. 

Yet the entire media focussed on Wenger’s 

resignation for hours on end, putting all others 

on the back burner. Wenger was said to have 

surprised his team with the news of his 

retirement at the usual morning training. 

Thereafter he immediately issued a statement 

to that effect which was corroborated by 

another statement from the Board of Directors. 

In effect ,Wenger’s 22 year reign at the Emirate 

Stadium was practically over. 

What is so special about Arsene Wenger to 

have caught the attention of the footballing 

world and had us riveted on his travails? The 

answer is not far to find. He is arguably one of 

the most identifiable faces of football, now the 

most popular game in the world. As manager 

of Arsenal football club, probably one of the 

most popular football teams in the world in 

the last two decades, he was ubiquitous at the 

side lines in all their matches. You notice him, 

a gangly lithe form, mostly in his trademark 

grey sweater, his heavily lined face looking 

withdrawn, sullen and broody particularly in 

the last many years when things had refused to 

look up for his club. And as he seemed to be 

permanently in grief even if Arsenal scored, 

Wenger would be one of the last to punch the 

air in the usual celebratory cheer, sometimes 

even after the applause from the audience had 

died down. 

The footballing world took the news of 

police slots allocated to it than the 

South, but the Daily Sun’s reporting 

of that ‘truth’ was evidently with a 

motive to stir up controversy. And yes, 

some species of ‘truth’ are inherently 

debate-evocating; meaning that no 

matter how they are told, they are 

more likely to provoke dispute than 

they may be to right wrongs or to 

establish an enduring reality. But 

generally it is in the nature of ‘truth’ 

-no matter how it is told- to banish 

falsehood and even to put liars to 

shame. Yet we do not always tell 

‘truth’ merely to put liars to shame 

as we do to set the records straight 

‘ 

Many including some 

reputable journalists 

themselves do not 

believe that the power 

of the media is being 

used conscientiously 

Wenger’s ouster with equanimity. After all it 

had been expected for the last many years. The 

last ten years had particularly been so brutish 

to Wenger’s records at Arsenal that nobody 

really expected him to last this long. Since the 

heyday of the early millennium years it had 

been years of downward spiral for Arsenal. This 

season and the previous one were particularly 

bad for Wenger as Arsenal was dislodged from 

the first four positions in the Premier League 

that always guaranteed participation at the 

lucrative Championship League. To make the 

Year after year Wenger 

plotted and hankered for 

the top of the Premier 

League and year after 

year he failed 

dislodgement more unpalatable it was their 

London rival Tottenham Football Club that 

shot ahead of them. 

Many of the Arsenal fans had drifted once 

when they stopped winning. I was an ardent 

fan myself from the early days of Wenger’s 

tenure in the late 1990s when he was brought 

in as a relative unknown to run Arsenal. Then 

Wenger brought a fresh approach to building 

a football team as a means of overhauling 

Arsenal through dieting and conditioning the 

players. It was something that had never been 

tried in Britain and Wenger brought the idea 

from Japan from where he came to Britain. 

He was said to have insisted for a diet that 

contained less sugar, less fat and more 

vegetables for his players and also encouraged 

them not to succumb to the traditional chips 

and burgers while totally outlawing alcohol. 

He also introduced the technique of a new 

attacking football which delivered goals and 

was more entertaining to the fans as well as 

other onlookers. 

With the support of the Board of Directors, 

he was given the leeway to acquire new players. 

Naturally he looked to the mainland Europe 

and where necessary even to remedy 

wrong. 

But it is to the mainstream –and 

not online- media that the aphorism 

is instructive which asserts that ‘The 

truth you tell with bad intent beats 

all the lies you can invent’. Because 

the online media is essentially –and 

thus incorrigibly- an outlaw. It can 

neither be exhorted to know the rules 

and the ethics of journalism nor can 

it be compelled to live by them. The 

online media lives by a totally 

different kind of creed, -an amoral 

creed which argues that ‘one does not 

have to be truthful to be virtuous’. To 

suggest that one does not have to be 

truthful to be virtuous, is to suggest 

that all that cometh to a fisherman’s 

net has to be ‘fish’. Yet the Online 

media is even more forthrightly 

proud of its outlaw-credo than the 

mainstream one is with its fiduciary 

duty to the time-honoured ethics of 

the journalism profession. Whereas 

most of the online media makes no 

pretence about its objective to 

‘misinform’, ‘mis-educate’ and 

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2018 —17 

17 

generally ‘titilate’, the mainstream 

media still pretends to ‘inform’, 

‘educate’ and ‘entertain’. 

Journalism generally, unlike other 

professions, is essentially doomed to 

its own self-harming porous borders. 

It admits the ‘good’, the ‘bad’ and 

the ‘ugly’. And with the advent of the 

online media, virtually every phone 

user is now a journalist; so that all 

hope, previously, that someday, 

journalism may have its own 

avenging angel to worry about how 

to wall-up its porous borders, is now 

lost for good. With the advent of the 

online media even the mainstream 

media, to effectively compete, is now 

beginning to reassert pride in the 

business of stirring up controversy 

rather than the duty of publishing 

facts. 

The power of the media as much 

as it is a veritable source for good, is 

potentially also a force for evil. It is 

at once an antidote where it is 

deployed with a conscience, as it is 

also venom if applied irresponsibly. 

Either way it is a power already 

unleashed and at work. And 

although Daniel Boorstin was being 

mischievous when he joked that “it’s 

the duty of a newspaper to comfort 

the afflicted and afflict the 

comfortable”, yet what journalism 

does nowadays is to ‘afflict’ ‘the 

afflicted’ and to ‘comfort the 

comfortable’. We defend looters and 

we are in aid of them to gain back 

control of the affairs of the 

downtrodden. Newton Minow, 

President John Kennedy’s Chairman 

of the Federal Communications 

Commission in a meeting with 

America’s National Association of 

Broadcasters said about the power 

of the media: “Your industry 

possesses the most powerful voice…. 

It has an inescapable duty to make 

that voice ring with intelligence and 

with leadership”. And he warned that 

“just as history will decide whether 

the leaders of today’s world 

employed the atom to destroy the 

world or rebuild it for mankind’s 

particularly to his 

home, France, 

from where he 

procured 

Nicholas Anelka, 

and Petit and 

others from his 

old Monaco club. 

Many of us even 

became more 

beholden to Arsenal when Wenger took our 

own Nwanko Kanu, one of the young Nigerian 

players then making waves in Europe. He also 

acquired football prodigy, Thierry Henry, from 

Juventus at a whopping 11 million pounds. 

He had managed the boy earlier at Monaco, 

and getting him would prove decisive for 

Arsenal’s later successes. 

Laurels started arriving quickly for the new 

Arsenal manager. In his first full season 1997/ 

98 Arsenal shocked the footballing world by 

taking the Premier League for the first time. As 

an icing on the cake he added the FA cup as 

well. Successes for the Arsenal team under 

Arsene Wenger continued unabated. He would 

give Manchester United, the leading English 

team at the time a good run for their money. 

Arsenal lost ground for the next three seasons 

though retaining the runner-up position 

throughout. They returned even stronger in 

the 2001/02 season by again completing the 

double: topping the Premier League charts as 

well as taking the FA Cup and pushing 

Manchester United to the third position. 

Arsenal was even more successful in the 2002/ 

03 season when they were reputed to have 

canonized a Premier League record by going 

through the entire season unbeaten with 26 

wins, 12 draws and 0 losses. With such numbers 

it would be needless to add that they topped 

the Premier League charts and as a bonus also 

picked up the FA cup. 

Wenger was not finished yet. Though Arsenal 

never topped the league again he set another 

record for the club in 2006 when for the first 

time he took them to play in the finals of the 

European Championship with Barcelona as 

opponents. It was an epic battle that still 

resonates in the footballing annals. Arsenal 

played most of the game with ten men after 

benefit, so will history decide 

whether (the media)employed their 

powerful voice to enrich the people 

or debase them”. “Never” he said 

“have so few owed so much to so 

many”. 

Richard Nixon’s Vice President, 

Spiro T Agnew, who was credited 

with the once popular blast on the 

American media as ‘an effete corps 

of impudent snobs’, in his comments 

on the power of the media, said “No 

medium has a more profound 

influence over public opinion…. So 

nowhere should there be more 

conscientious responsibility 

exercised than by the news media”. 

And to this he too added: ‘We 

would never trust such power over 

public opinion in the hands of an 

unelected government –it is time we 

questioned it in the hands of a small 

and unelected elite.’ –the media. 

Ironically Nixon was soon to walk 

himself into the ethical minefield of 

investigative journalism, at the 

infamous Watergate scandal. And 

media ethicists claimed that the 

collapse of the Nixon 

Administration ignited by the 

seemingly innocuous sparks of 

investigative journalism was one of 

the earliest and most celebrated 

contributions of journalism to 

democracy. 

Also Napoleon Bonaparte, about 

the power of the media said “A 

journalist is a grumbler, a censurer, 

a giver of advice, a regent of 

sovereigns, a tutor of nations”, but 

then he quickly added: “Four hostile 

newspapers are to be feared than a 

thousand bayonets.’ 

And so the question has been asked 

through the ages: ‘how has the media 

utilized or how is the media utilizing 

this vast power’. Is this awesome 

power being exercised with equally 

awesome responsibility? Many 

including some reputable journalists 

themselves do not believe that the 

power of the media is being used 

conscientiously. 

To be continued 

Lehman was sent off in the 18 th minute after 

bringing down Barcelona’s Samuel Eto. Even 

after that misfortune, Arsenal was the first to 

score but after a titanic struggle and by the 

final whistle they lost to Barcelona 2-1. 

That would probably be the highest point 

Wenger took Arsenal. Then things started 

unravelling. They retained their position at the 

top four of the Premier League for years and 

were consoled a number of times with the FA 

cup. Yet year after year Wenger plotted and 

hankered for the top of the Premier League 

and year after year he failed. Key players left, 

including Henry. Fans left in droves with some 

of them even carrying placards to matches 

asking Wenger to quit. I also drifted because it 

was untenable to continue to support a failed 

team, more so as all my sons supported the 

rival Manchester United. 

Though the years passed without the silver 

he wanted, yet Wenger never lost hope. To me 

he increasingly came to resemble that lovable 

Dickensian character Wilkin Micawber in 

David Copperfield, an incurable optimist who 

though in perennial debt believed as a guiding 

principle that ‘something will turn up’ to sort 

him out. Micawber spent time in debtor’s 

prison and by the end of the book something 

really turned up for him. He immigrated to 

Australia where he became a successful farmer 

and a magistrate. I hope something really turns 

up for Wenger for the remaining time he has in 

Arsenal. I pray he succeeds at least to fetch the 

Europa Cup which the club is in contention 

now as semi-finalists. That, plus the eleven 

million pounds the club will pay him as 

severance pay, should console him as he 

crosses the Channels to return to his native 

France. 

C 

M 

YK


THE visit, by the Chief Justice of 

Nigeria, CJN, Honourable Justice 

Walter Onnoghen on President 

Muhammadu Buhari to brief him on 

activities in the Judiciary on Tuesday, 

April 24, 2018, is a welcome 

development. 

Irrespective of the principle of 

separation of powers inherent in the 

presidential system of government, the 

heads of the three arms of government 

need to have a common platform 

where information, ideas and 

perspectives are exchanged to bring 

everyone on the same page in 

governance without necessarily 

compromising institutional 

independence. 

The CJN emphasised this point after 

the meeting with the President when 

he told reporters: “There are basic 

things which everybody must know. We 

must all work together and cooperate 

for the system to move forward”. 

Meetings like this will give the heads 

All arms of government must close ranks 

of the Judiciary and the Legislature the 

opportunity to appreciate the issues the 

President is pushing in order to fulfill 

his promises to the people, particularly 

in the area of anti-graft war. It will also 

enable the President to understand the 

peculiar challenges facing the 

Legislature and the Judiciary which, 

perhaps erroneously, put them out as 

deliberately impeding the anticorruption 

war. 

If this understanding had existed 

there probably would have been no need 

for the President to feel the Judiciary is 

willfully putting a dampener on the anticorruption 

war. 

A constructive platform of this nature 

will make it easier for the Judiciary to 

quickly resolve many of the hanging 

issues requiring its intervention. These 

include the question as to whether the 

Chairman of the Economic and 

Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, 

needs the Senate’s confirmation to 

function legally, and whether the 

National Assembly has powers to 

overrule the Independent National 

Electoral Commission on the order of 

elections. 

Perhaps due to sheer ego and the 

pursuit of selfish political interests, 

these matters remain unresolved when 

a simple referral to the Judiciary would 

have put them to rest. 

Working together will enhance 

greater understanding of the 

leadership of each arm of government 

of their respective places and those of 

their counterparts in our democracy. 

This will gradually minimise undue 

friction, reduce impunity and promote 

faster delivery of the dividends of good 

governance. 

We must point out however, that 

cooperation should not be 

misconstrued as abdication of the 

principle of relative independence. Any 

attempt to compromise the 

independence of the Legislature and 

the Judiciary will be a betrayal of the 

Nigerian people and the laws of the land 

which both institutions represent. This 

will not be tolerated. 

Separation of powers and 

independence of the various arms are 

the core issues that define our brand 

of democracy. We must learn how to 

operate the presidential democracy in 

a seamless manner without giving in 

to becoming the rubberstamp of the 

Executive. 

OPINION 

By Godwin Etakibuebu 

The danger of not knowing (1) 

THE Holy Bible says in Hosea 4:6 

“My people are destroyed for lack of 

knowledge: Because you have rejected 

knowledge, l also rejected you as my 

priests; because you have ignored the law 

of your God, l also will ignore your 

children”. Isaiah 5:13 put it slightly 

different, and this is what it says: 

“Therefore my people will go into exile for 

lack of understanding; their men of rank 

will die of hunger and their masses will be 

parched with thirst”. 

This must have been the reason the Bible 

admonished elsewhere that “buy 

knowledge and sell it not”. God likes His 

people to be knowledgeable and it is by so 

living that we justify His greatness. It 

means that anyone that is not thriving to 

be knowledgeable could incur the anger 

of Him who created us. This expectation 

of God cuts across all spheres of human 

endeavours, faith religion and creed. 

This very wise admonition is not limited 

to the Holy Bible only. The Holy Koran, l 

was told in February 2014, by Sanusi 

Lamido Sanusi; then Central Bank of 

Nigeria’s Governor [in the first night hangout 

l had with him in his official house in 

Abuja] hammered on the same subject 

matter with even more dangerous 

consequences for those who refused to 

acquire the “true knowledge of Allah”. 

All over the world, the idiom that 

“Knowledge is power” has become a rigidly 

acceptable principle of perfection. It is for 

the place of knowledge that we now 

believe completely that “idea rules the 

world”. Knowledge has pushed the 

frontiers of development across the world 

of mankind. It is for this reason that the 

most advanced countries of the world invest 

mostly in the human capital, knowing fully 

that the development of this greatest asset 

is the only power to push for technology 

which drives the digital age. 

Seven years after the 

demise of the Libya 

strongman, our own 

dearly beloved 


Buhari is holding him 

responsible for the 

killings in Nigeria 

This is the message Bill Gate brought to 

the Nigerian leadership community 

recently when we had the rare privilege 

of having him talking to us in Nigeria – 

courtesy of our own “wonder-boy” and 

richest African, Aliko Dangote. Bill Gate 

highlighted the danger of not investing in 

the human asset within the interpretation 

of Knowledge’s acquisition. 

Though one might not be too sure if Bill 

Gate timely and ever-green advice fell on 

fertile soil [because of the Nigerian 

leadership community’s negative 

approach to acceptability of increasing 

genuine knowledge, more so when you 

can only give what you have] the truth 

had been told; a fact we can only ignore 

to our collective peril. 

It is against the background and 

importance of knowledge acquisition visà-vis 

the Nigerian political leadership’s 

lack of zeal for the pursuance of it 

[knowledge] that the topic of today’s 

discussion is being recommended for more 

serious engagement within the next 

weeks. And the best place to start, in my 

most candid and patriotic view of course, 

should be with our President’s outlook and 

this is being done with all due respects. 

President Muhammadu Buhari stunned 

the International Community and most 

obviously embarrassed the Nigerian 

Community when he made a particular 

pronouncement in London, in a meeting 

with the Archbishop of Canterbury; Justin 

Welby, on Wednesday, April 11, 2018. He 

was explaining, in his most honest and 

understanding narrative, the ongoing 

killings of Nigerians across the country 

by supposed Fulani herdsmen. 

The killings have long been linked to 

Hausa/Fulani herdsmen, with its 

leadership [Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders 

Association] and some herders of the 

Fulani ethnic stock having claimed 

responsibility; a claim which the Nigerian 

Minister of Defense [retired Brigadier 

General Mansur Dan Ali] and the 

Inspector General of Police [Ibrahim Idris] 

have adequately defended and justified 

in their own languages, was to be reinvented 

by our President and this is what 

he said. 

“The problem is even older than us,” 

President Buhari said of killings. “It has 

always been there, but now made worse 

by the influx of armed gunmen from the 

Sahel region into different parts of the West 

African sub-region. “These gunmen were 

trained and armed by Muammar Gaddafi 

of Libya. When he was killed, the gunmen 

escaped with their arms. We encountered 

some of them fighting with Boko Haram”. 

Muammar Gaddafi; the Libya former 

maxim leader and ruler for 42 years, was 

killed in the month of October, 2011, at the 

age of 69 – consumed in the crisis the West 

instigated against the Arab world. Seven 

years after the demise of the Libya 

strongman, our own dearly beloved 

President Muhammadu Buhari is holding 

him responsible for the killing in Nigeria. 

Could this claim of our President be out of 

lack of knowledge, not knowing or not 

willing to know what he should have 

known? 

We shall come back to this soon as we 

will escalate the discussion of this “business 

of not knowing” to include another of the 

President’s public admission somewhere 

in March 2018, where he said that “I did 

not know that the Inspector General of 

Police did not carry out my order”. Just 

wait till then please. 

Mr. Etakibuebu, a veteran journalist, 

wrote from Lagos.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2018 — 19 

AGM: From left: Mr. Anthony Arabome, Immediate past president of Chartered Institute of 

Personnel Management of Nigeria CIPM; Mr. Udom Inoyo, Newly Re- elected President/ 

Chairman of Council of CIPM and Mr. Victor Famuyibo during the 49th Annual General 

Meeting of CIPM in Lagos. 

CBN rolls out new anti-money 

laundering sanction regime 

By Elizabeth Adegbesan 

THE Central Bank of 

Nigeria (CBN) has rolled out 

a tougher sanctions regime for 

Anti-Money Laundering and 

Combating the Financing of Terrorism 

(AML/CFT) which stipulates 

fines on banks, their directors 

and other key officials for 

48 money laundering infractions. 

The new regime is an 

imporovement on existing regime, 

which only stipulates 

fines against financial institutions 

for money laundering 

infractions. 

The new regime was also developed 

to ensure that 

Nigeria’s compliance with Financial 

Action Task Force 

(FATF) recomendation 35 

CURRENCY BUYING SELLING 

US DOLLAR 

POUNDS 

EURO 

FRANC 

YEN 

CFA 

WAUA 

RENMINBI 

RIYAL 

SDR 

DANISH 

RAND 

$117.80 0.80 

$2,746.00 00.00 

$11.04 -0.17 

$74.78 0.07 

$68.67 0.03 

304.65 305.15 305.65 

425.5047 426.203 426.9014 

372.9238 372.9238 373.5349 

311.6305 312.142 312.6534 

2.7998 2.8044 2.809 

0.5492 0.5592 0.5692 

439.941 440.6631 441.3851 

48.2911 48.3708 48.4505 

81.2335 81.3668 81.5001 

440.7067 441.43 442.1533 

49.9803 50.0623 50.1444 

24.708 24.7486 24.7891 

CBN Exchange rate as at 25/04/2018 

which states: “Countries 

should ensure that there is 

a range of effective, proportionate 

and dissuasive sanctions, 

whether criminal, civil 

or administrative, available 

to deal with natural or legal 

persons covered by Recommendations 

6, and 8 to 

23, that fail to comply with 

AML/CFT requirements. 

Sanctions should be applicable 

not only to financial 

institutions and DNFBPs, 

but also to their directors and 

senior management.” 

According to the CBN, banks 

and board members or chief compliance 

officers will all be sanctioned 

for 31 out of the 48 money 

laundering infractions listed in the 

new regime. 

For each of the 31 infractions, the 

new regime stipulates minimum 

fines ranging from 

N500,000 to N1.2 million on 

board members or chief compliance 

officers or the internal auditor, 

and fines ranging from N1 

million to N20 million on the offending 

bank. 

The new sanction regime was 

communicated to banks and other 

financial institutions by the Director 

Financial Policy and Regulations 

Department of the apex bank, 

Kevin N. Amugo, through a circular 

titled: “CBN Anti-Money Laundering 

and Combating the Financing 

of Terrorism (administrative 

sanctions) regulations, 2018.” 

The circular stated: “Banks and 

other financial institutions are 

by this circular, informed of the attached 

‘CBN AML/CFT Administrative 

Sanctions Regime’ the 

application of which comes into effect 

as at the date of the Gazette. 

Kindly ensure compliance.” 

The infractions and penalties 

stipulated under the new regime 

include: failure to approve the 

UNIDO targets industrial devt with $50m programme 

By Yinka Kolawole expected to commence July 1, 

T 

2018. 

HE United Nations 

Bankole said the new UNIDO 

Industrial Development 

Organization 

Country Programme would be 

relying on the strong support of 

(UNIDO) is set to commence 

the Federal Government of Ni- 

a 4-year geria and the partners for the 

programme to drive inclusive 

and sustainable 

industrial development 

in Nigeria, at an estimated 

cost of $50 million. 

UNIDO Regional Director 

and Representative 

to Nigeria and 

funding and successful implementation. 

In the statement he said, “Nigeria 

has shown a good example 

regarding support for industrial 

development, and we are calling 

on our international partners 

and financial institutions to support 

ECOWAS, Jean 

Nigeria to move ahead in 

Bankole, in a statement 

made available to Vanguard, 

said the new 

country programme is 

this particular sector, as the development 

of the industrial sector 

in Nigeria will help to create 

more jobs for the country, the 

AML/CFT policies and procedures 

-a minimum penalty as follows: 

N1 million on each member 

of the board and N20 million on 

the Deposit Money Banks (DMB); 

Failure to review/ update the 

AML/CFT policies and procedures 

at least every three (3) years, 

a minimum penalty as follows: 

N750,000 on the Executive compliance 

officer in the for instance 

and N750,000 for each year that 

the contravention continues. 

N500,000 on the Chief compliance 

officer in the first instance and 

N500,000 for each year that the 

contravention continues. N5 million 

on the bank in the first instance 

and N1 million for each year that 

the contravention continues; 

“Failure to communicate the 

AML/CFT program of the organization 

to the employees. A minimum 

penalty as follows: N750,000 

on the Executive compliance officer, 

N500,000 on the Chief compliance 

officer and N10 million on 

the DMB. 

‘Failure of the board or its committee 

to supervise and ensure the 

effective implementation of the 

AML/CFT programme, A minimum 

penalty as follows: N500,000 

on each member of the board and 

N10 million on the DMB.” 

“Failure of the officer to generate 

periodic reports on AML/CFT 

issues to the board or its relevant 

committee, a minimum penalty as 

follows: N750,000 on the Executive 

compliance officer, N500,000 

on the Chief compliance officer 

and N5 million on the DMB; 

“Failure to classify ML/TF risks 

in the bank, failure to put in 

place guidelines for risk assessment 

and profiling of customers 

in institutions’ AML/CFT board 

approved program and failure to 

carryout risk assessment and profiling 

of each account, a minimum 

of N1 million on the Chief 

compliance officer of the DMB, 

a minimum penalty of N3 million 

on the DMB for failure to 

put in place guidelines for risk 

assessment and profiling of customers 

in AML/CFT program. A 

minimum of N100,000 per account 

for failure to carryout risk 

assessment and profiling of account. 

ECOWAS region and the continent.” 

Speaking at a Validation Workshop 

for UNIDO Country 

Programme for Inclusive and 

Sustainable Industrial Development 

in Nigeria (2018 – 2022), 

in Abuja, Minister of State for 

Industry, Trade and Investment, 

Mrs Aisha Abubakar, who was 

represented by Permanent Secretary 

in the Ministry, Edet 

Apkan, noted that the 

programme document had already 

identified major areas of 

intervention which would help 

the country to develop and grow 

its industrial sector. 

Abubakar stated: “The new 

ABCON 

projects further 

increase in 

crude oil price 

in Q2 

•To unveil exchange 

rates website 

By Babajide Komolafe 

ASSOCIATION of Bureaux 

De Change Operators of 

Nigeria (ABCON) has projected 

further increase in the price of 

crude oil in the second quarter of 

the year. 

This was contained in first 

edition of the association’s 

Quarterly Economic Review series 

released this week. 

According to the publication, 

“ABCON is projecting slight 

increases from the above US$70 

per barrel position in Q1 during 

Q2. This should sustain the 

balance of payment and external 

reserves position of the country.” 

The association also projected 

the continued recovery of the 

economy with the newly 

constituted Monetary Policy 

Committee (MPC) of the Central 

Bank of Nigeria (CBN) playing a 

stabilising role. 

It stated: “Nigeria’s economy 

should continue to recover during 

Q2 with the stable outlook in Q1. 

With the reconstituted MPC 

moderating the market and the 

fiscal policy shaped by the passage 

of the 2018 budget the money 

market is expected to stabilize. 

GDP should continue to 

accelerate, and grow above the 2.1 

percent year-on-year, y/y. in Q1 

2018, the highest growth since Q1 

2015. Private consumption should 

be consolidating with continued 

improvement in inflation rate and 

improving labour conditions.” 

Aminu Gwadabe, acting 

National President of ABCON 

stated: “The series will focus on 

review of the performance of key 

indicators in the Nigeria economy 

during the immediate quarter. 

Emphasis will be laid on the 

aggregate effects and especially 

the foreign exchange market.” 

Country Programme (2018- 

2022) has identified intervention 

plans in nine thematic components 

as follows : industrial governance 

, research and statistics; 

Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises 

(MSMEs) development 

; Special Economic Zones 

(SEZs) , industrial parks and 

private sector development ; innovation, 

science and technology 

management ; agro-industry 

and agri-business development; 

minerals and metals development; 

trade capacity building; 

renewable energy development, 

and environmental management.”

20 — VANGUARD, THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2018 

E 

c o b a n k 

Transnational 

Incorporated (ETI) has 

invited fintech 

entrepreneurs across 

Africa to enter the 2018 

Ecobank Fintech 

Challenge, an initiative 

that gives African startups 

the chance to 

promote their fintech 

solutions, and potentially 

to partner Ecobank in 

rolling-out their 

solutions across 33 

countries where the bank 

ETI launches Fintec 

ech challenge for African start-ups 

t-ups 

operates. 

Speaking on the 

initiative, Mr. Ade 

Ayeyemi, Group CEO, 

ETI, stated: "We believe 

that the current winds of 

change led by technology 

and innovation will 

redefine how banks do 

business, and indeed the 

relationships people 

have with their money. 

We want to be at the 

forefront of this change, 

in partnership with 

Africa's rising start-ups, 

and that is why we 

created the Ecobank 

Fintech Challenge." 

Under the initiative, 

which is in its second 

year, 10 finalists will be 

selected to participate in 

an Awards and 

Innovation Fair at the 

global headquarters of 

Ecobank in Lomé, Togo 

in July 2018. Following a 

series of pitches from the 

finalists, a panel of judges 

will select the top three 

winners, who will receive 

cash prizes worth 

$10,000; $7,000, and 

$5,000 respectively. 

All the 10 finalists will 

also be conferred 

Ecobank Fintech Fellows 

and will qualify to 

explore opportunities to 

partner with Ecobank 

including multi-national 

product roll-out where 

the most commercially 

viable start-ups can 

launch their products in 

Ecobank's 33 markets 

across Africa; Service 

provider partner deals 

where start-ups with 

deep capabilities to 

become pan-African 

service partners within 

Ecobank's ecosystem 

and; Mentoring and 

networking support 

where founders will be 

conferred as Ecobank 

Innovation Fellows for a 

year, which grants them 

access to networking and 

mentoring from 

Ecobank's global 

network of technology 

leaders, fintech experts, 

investors and 

management coaches. 

SMEDAN 

AN, , other 

thers train prison inmates 

on entrepreneurship 

By Yinka Kolawole 

The Small and 

M e d i u m 

Enterprises 

Development Agency of 

Nigeria (SMEDAN) said it 

has trained 576 prison 

inmates since 2009, 

noting that 146 of those 

released have since 

started their own 


Lagos State Coordinator 

of SMEDAN, Mr. Yinka 

Fisher, who disclosed this, 

also said that a new set of 

52 prison inmates are set 

to be equipped this year 

with entrepreneurial skills 

aimed at improving their 

lives after their 

incarceration. 


training will hold from 

May to December at the 

Kirikiri and Ikoyi Prisons 

for both male and female 

inmates. 

He said the empowerment 

programme, to be done in 

collaboration with the 

Nigerian Prison Service, 

Pentecostal Fellowship of 

Nigeria (PFN) and 

Covenant University, 

would assist the inmates to 

reintegrate successfully 

into society after prison, 

become self-reliant and 

live a productive life 

Fisher stated: "The essence 

of the programme is to 

equip the inmates with 

relevant skills so that they 

would not be vagabonds 

in the system again but 

establish their own 

businesses and engage in 

useful socio-economic 

ventures, thereby 

contributing their own 

quota to our national 

development. 

"The programme has been 

on since 2009. Overtime, 

we have been able to train 

576 inmates of which 230 

have been released and 

146 among the released 

inmates have been able to 

start their own businesses. 

They are now employers 

of labour and helping to 

solve the problem of 

unemployment in the 

country." 

He said the inmates would 

be trained in tailoring, 

shoe-making, tie and dye 

and other vocations, 

adding that they would 

also be taught how to turn 

the vocations to 

enterprise and instill in 

them financial literacy. 

"We are going to teach 

them in eight different 

modules - how to run 

efficient and profitable 

business, writing of 

business plans, how to 

network, access to 

finance, meeting with 

regulatory authority, 

investment opportunities 

and avoiding pitfalls in 

business. There is 

business venture in the 

prison where they can 

practice what they have 

been taught and after their 

release, they can 

implement them 

properly," Fisher said. 

He declared that SMEDAN 

will focus on vocational 

skills acquisition, while 

Covenant University will 

handle the psychology 

aspect through therapy 

and counseling, and PFN 

will focus on spiritual 

uplifting. 

"Through the exposure at 

the training, prison 

inmates would be 

returning to the society 

not as social misfits but 

reformed and well 

equipped personalities 

with skills that would 

enable them settle down 

to a productive lifestyle," 

he added. 

Firm unveils paperless 

solution for businesses 

SignTech Forms, a 

United Kingdom based 

innovative tech company 

offering paperless 

solutions for businesses, 

has commenced 

operations in Nigeria, by 

recruiting and training 

Sales Executives for direct 

marketing of their 

solutions to the Nigerian 

market. 

The company offers 

innovative paperless 

platform that converts 

existing forms and 

documents into paperless 

forms that can be 

completed and signed on 

mobile devices (with full 

data integration). 

With the financial and 

logistical challenges 

associated with the 

massive dependence on 

paper forms and 

documents, the SignTech 

platform offers a much 

needed affordable, 

scalable and tech-based 

solution for savvy 


In a statement, the firm 

said: "With SignTech 

Forms, businesses will no 

longer have to worry 

about the cost of printing, 

filing and storage of paper 

forms and equally the 

rigours associated with 

processing them. 

"The SignTech App takes 

away the stress associated 

with the filing and recalling 

of documents for use, as 

all documents can now be 

stored on a company's 

server for usage. 

Doing bankable 

business plan: The 

cash flo 

low factor 

Your business plan is a blueprint for how your 

company, or a particular business 

transaction for which you may be seeking a bank 

loan, is going to turn out. Write a clear, detailed 

business plan, and you are over half way into 

securing a bank loan. 

You’ll even be able to use it as a tool to round 

up non-bank, interest-free funding or grant from 

international agencies, and may also attract 

investors. 

The flip side, of course, is that a bad or weak 

business plan will close the door to the second 

meeting with your bankers for loan let alone any 

serious funding agency or investor. 

The problem with business plans is that 

entrepreneurs are usually so desperate and or 

excited to get a loan, and they rush through the 

planning process and never seek third-party 

feedback, leaving their business plans, especially 

the financial aspects, riddled with numerous 

flaws. 

Most early-stage business plans focus almost 

exclusively on profitability, the ability to 

generate more revenue than you’re spending in 

associated costs. But, even more important to 

consider is the idea of cash flow, which dictates 

how much cash your business has on hand at any 

given time. Technically, a business can be 

“profitable” on paper, but still have cash flow 

issues; imagine, for example, a scenario in which 

the bills are piling up and your customers aren’t 

paying their invoices on time. 

Negative cash flow can result in bankruptcy and 

collapse of, otherwise, a good business. Every 

loan officer in every bank know this. So make 

sure a cash-flow management strategy is part of 

your business plan. 

How? First, cash flow is the net amount of 

cash and cash-equivalent moving into and out of 

your business. Positive cash flow indicates that a 

company’s liquid (cash or its equivalent) 

assets are increasing, enabling it to pay its bills, 

re-invest in its business and provide a buffer 

against future financial challenges. Negative cash 

flow indicates that a company’s liquid assets are 

decreasing. Banks use this to assess the quality 

of a company’s income, that is, how liquid it is, 

which can indicate whether the company is 

positioned to repay its loan.


Ease of doing business: NAP 3 achieves 68% 

success rate 

By Yinka Kolawole 

The National Action Plan 

3.0 (NAP 3.0) by the 

federal government aimed at 

improving the business 

climate in the country through 

its ease of doing business 

initiative has achieved a 68 

percent success rate. 

NAP 3.0, the third in the 

series of accelerated 

interventions which ran from 

5th February to 5th April, 

2018, was aimed at reducing 

the challenges faced by Small 

and Medium Enterprises 

(SMEs), amongst others, by 

removing critical bottlenecks 

and bureaucratic constraints 

to doing business in Nigeria. 

Senior Special Assistant to 

the President on Industry, 

Trade and Investment, Dr. 

Jumoke Oduwole, noted at the 

formal presentation of the 

performance report to the 

Presidential Enabling Business 

Environment Council 

(PEBEC), which is chaired by 

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, 

in Abuja, that the 

performance indicated an 

improvement on reforms 

aimed at making Nigeria a 

progressively easier place to 

do business. 

According to a statement by 

Laolu Akande, Senior Special 

Assistant to the Vice President 

on Media & Publicity, NAP 3.0 

was also extended by two 

weeks to April 22, 2018. 

"Following the directive of 

the Vice President, the Council 

also approved a 14-day 

Firm unveils Apps to boost revenue for small 

business 

By Nkiruka Nnorom 

BetaSMS, a Lagos-based 

mobile marketing 

company, has unveiled a set of 

industry-leading businessoriented 

applications - 

WasherMEN and iPrefect - to help 

the operators of small and 

medium scale enterprises in their 

drive for increased revenue 

generation. 

The applications are designed to 

increase the productivity of 

business owners giving them more 

control, encourage lean 

operations, reduce overhead costs 

and generate more profit to keep 

them in business. 

Managing Director of BetaSMS, 

Ajibola Awojobi said: 

"WasherMEN was built after we 

noticed an increased number of 

Laundry Start-ups had become 

increasingly dependent on SMS to 

notify customers for pick-up of 

their clothes. We decided to create 

more value for such by building 

the application to ensure smooth 

running of their businesses." 

On iPerfect, Adebimpe Ayoola, 

Head, Communications, BetaSMS, 

said: "We decided to create this 

solution because of the incessant 

complaints of missing students' files 

and records as well as difficulty in 

tracking students' performances 

and behaviour. This solution will 

help keep records for various 

institutions, simplify the enquiry 

processes and help instil discipline 

amongst students." 

WasherMEN is laundry 

management software designed 

with the one-man business model 

A cross-section of beneficiaries during the recent graduation ceremony of the Lagos State 

Employability Support Project (LSESP) targeted at unemployed and under-employed youths 

in Lagos State with or without skills, aged 18 to 35 years. 

in mind but has the capacity to 

handle both commercial and 

industrial laundry activities. 

iPrefect, on the other hand, is a 

school automation software built 

for every educational institute - 

colleges, universities, training 

schools- and aims to improve 

management's understanding and 

interaction with students all 

through their duration in the 

school while reducing the 

workforce needed to achieve 

same. The solution will enable 

education institutions to perform 

all activities in the cloud. 

NB celebrates trade partners 

By Destiny Eseaga 

Nigerian Breweries NB Plc 

has celebrated its trade 

partners for their performance 

culminating in a fulfilling 

business relationship in 2017. 

In his remarks at the award 

ceremony in Lagos, Managing 

Director, NB, Mr. Jordi Borrut 

Bel, lauded the partners for the 

long years of support and 

affirmed that the company 

looks forward to a more 

rewarding relationship with 

them in the years ahead. 

Also speaking at the event, 

NB's Sale Director, Mr. Uche 

Unjgwe, explained that the 

theme of this year's award: 

"Winning More Together", was 

conceived to recognize and 

reward the excellent 

performance of the company's 

distributors and transporters 

for the year 2017. 

He added that despite the 

challenges in the operating 

environment, the company 

did well and achieved many 

milestones that called for 

celebration. 

Unigwe described the 

partners as "super stars of 

Nigerian Breweries who 

constitute the important 

segment in the route to the 

market". While saluting them 

for their excellent contribution 

to the company's success, he 

emphasized that the partners 

are the best in the industry. 

By Ebun Sessou 

President of the 

Cooperative Federation 

of Nigeria (CFN), Mr.Oriyomi 

Ayeola, has called on leaders 

of cooperative society to desist 

from misappropriation and 

embezzlement of cooperators' 

funds. 

He made the call during his 

installation as Arobayo of 

Epeland, where he urged 

cooperative executives to 

uphold moral rectitude and 

accountability. 

According to him, there are 

reports of misconduct from 

some cooperative leaders, 

extension of NAP 3.0 till 22nd 

April 2018. This is to allow 

Ministries, Departments, and 

Agencies (MDAs) additional 

time to round up reform 

initiatives that had already 

shown significant progress but 

were not completed as at 5th 

April 2018. This is to ensure 

Nigeria's continued upward 

progress in the World Bank's 

Ease of Doing Business Index 

2019, while also deepening 

and institutionalizing the 

reforms. 

The Vice President urged for 

more improved performance 

in areas that have shown 

significant progress, noting 

that "a lot of businesses are 

doing so well and would need 

all the support that we can give 

them to thrive," Akande 

reported. 

The statement recalled that 

the reforms implemented 

across various sectors of the 

economy and Ministries, 

Departments, and Agencies 

(MDAs) of government had 

seen Nigeria move up 24 places 

in the World Bank's Ease of 

Doing Business Index 2018. 

CFN boss tasks cooperative excos 

on financial rectitude 

adding that it is pertinent that 

such leaders comport 

themselves properly and know 

that whatever they do has both 

negative and positive 

implication. 

He counseled: "We should all 

know that we are being 

watched as a group and as 

individuals. As cooperators 

the onus is on us to know that 

whatever position we hold, we 

must be accountable. We need 

to know that we are holding in 

trust funds for the benefit of all 

and everything we are doing 

should be done with trust being 

the cardinal of cooperative 

scheme." 

Foundation 

partners FSD to 

train SMEs on 

ICT 

By Prince Okafor 

Nagode Foundation has 

entered into partnership 

with Field of Skills and Dreams 

(FSD) to empower and train 

twenty Nigerian Small and 

Medium Scale Entrepreneurs, 

SMEs, in Hotel and Catering 

Management, as well as 

Information and Communication 

Technology (ICT). 

Other programs include: 

fashion designing, web designing, 

hair styling, cake baking, catering, 

and electrical installation. 

Speaking at the induction 

ceremony in Lagos, Managing 

Director Nagode Industries, 

Sandeep Kapoor, said that the 

public and private sector have 

failed in tapping into the 

entrepreneurial spirit of Nigerians 

despite having a strong work 

force. 

"SMEs are strong creators of 

employment opportunities; 

therefore government should 

actively support them. As part of 

the foundation's plan to support 

the training programme, we are 

investing N2 million in order to 

help FSD surmount the huge 

financial challenges they may be 

facing in training the 

entrepreneurs," he said. 

Kapoor added that as part of the 

foundation's plan to support the 

training programme, they 

decided to support the FSD to 

surmount the huge financial 

challenges they may be facing in 

training the entrepreneurs. 

On her part, Founder of FSD, 

Mrs. Omowale Ogunrinde, said: 

"The goal of the academy has 

always been empowering people 

with skills in order to setup their 

own businesses or work in 

industries, while stressing that 

since inception they have focused 

on professional skills acquisition. 

"The training programme 

organised by the academy will 

help trainee get knowledge on 

how to start their own businesses. 

The success stories are verifiable 

and they are amazing. We have 

been able to get partners in 

Ibadan, Kaduna, Calabar, Kuje 

and Enugu.Soon, we will do a big 

job in Port Harcourt, later in the 

year; we will be going to Bayelsa, 

Minna and Ogun States.” 

She further noted that the 

academy has ensured that the 

training is professional enough to 

bring a change in the status of the 

trainees, adding that FSD in 

partnership with the foundation 

is aimed at removing people from 

the street, train them to either get 

jobs or setup businesses of their 

own. "People always come to us 

because of the quality of our work, 

we are not expensive, and the 

skills we offer are measurable. We 

keep professional vocational 

training, leaving the street and 

coming to us, your life has to 

change.


How lawyers can make NBA strong – Nunghe 

Mr. Mela Audu Nunghe, former chairman of the 

Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Abuja branch, in 

this interview, spoke on the forthcoming NBA 

elections, the crises in Abuja branch of the NBA, 

the resurrection of the Trade Fair Complex and 

sundry national issues. Excerpts: 

By Innocent Anaba 

THE NBA is going to 

elect a new set of leaders 

to pilot the affairs of the 

association for the next two 

years, what is your advice to 

the association? 

My advice to the Bar is that 

they must avoid any pitfall 

that will lead us to any crisis. 

There should be no 

godfatherism in professional 

associations like the NBA. 

Anybody who feels that he is 

qualified to lead the association 

should present himself, 

they should not use religion 

or any form of divisive tactics 

to divide the association. 

Merit should be the yardstick. 

The Bar Association has no 

religion, the Bar Association 

has no tribe, the Bar 

Association is a collection of 

lawyers who are bound 

together by that calling of 

being lawyers. That is one of 

the reasons I like the military. 

When an officer is due for 

promotion, even if he is from 

the same house as the last 

general, he will be promoted 

accordingly because he 

deserves it. That should be 

the practice within the NBA 

and we should also remember 

that as a democracy in Nigeria, 

other people are also 

watching us to see how we are 

doing it. We must be very 

careful because we are being 

watched by other associations 

to set the pace. So, I wish the 

Eastern Bar Forum which is 

supposed to produce the next 

NBA President and all the 

aspirants the best of luck. 

What is your reaction to the 

crises in Abuja branch of the 

NBA, how is the Bar coming 

out of this mess? 

The Elders committee of the 

Bar has tried and they have 

not come out of this situation. 

I think that there has to be one 

drastic action, if possible that 

should bar all those who are 

causing these crises in Abuja 

branch. They should be suspended 

until we attain stability. 

So, if I had been in the 

centre of the crises, for God’s 

sake, for the sake of the association, 

I should be barred at 

least for two years or more 

until we have a stable association. 

Then, they should be careful 

on who they appoint to conduct 

elections because some 

of them have their own candidates 

and when they come to 

conduct elections, they do everything 

possible to put their 

candidates in office. Why then 

do you think the scale of justice 

Ibi Jus ibi remedium does 

not have a head or where it 

has one, the face is covered? 

It is because the law does not 

know anybody’s face. The law 

must operate for the existence 

of good society. So, when you 

bring somebody who has interest 

in Mr. X and everything 

he does is tilted towards wanting 

Mr. X to win, it won’t work 

because the moment other contestants 

see that there is no 

transparency, they will revolt. 

So people they appoint into 

the electoral committee and the 

powers conferred on them 

matter in electing a credible 

executive for the association. 

That should be replicated in 

the national elections as well. 

Many people have asked 

why Chief JK Gadzama 

(SAN) went to court to seek 

redress over the poor conduct 

and alleged manipulation 

of the last national elections 

of the association. What 

is your reaction to this? 

The matter is in court and it 

is a matter of common knowledge. 

Some people are blaming 

him for going to court. But 

it is his right, that is the most 

civilised way to seek redress, 

I do not see why anybody will 

begin to blame him for going 

to court to ventilate his 

grievances. Do you expect him 

to mobilise some young men, 

give them money and let them 

be causing commotion every 

time the NBA is meeting? It 

shouldn’t be, so we should 

commend his courage for taking 

legal steps to challenge 

whatever he thinks is wrong. 

At the end of the day, whatever 

the court says, even he 

himself will be bound by it 

whether he likes it or not. 

You contested election for 

the House of Representatives 

under the Congress for Progressive 

Change, CPC before 

the merger that produced the 

All Progressives Congress, 

APC. Now do you intend to 

recontest the election? What 

is your next political move? 

Once you start a race, you 

will like to complete it at any 

time in your life. The developments 

in the system since 

then have been great because 

from CPC, we now have APC 

which is the ruling party. 

There are so many things that 

one has to be very careful in 

looking at but I do really want 

to represent my people at any 

given point. I can’t say with 

certainty what is going to hap- 

•Mr. Mela Audu Nunghe, former Chairman ofNBA, Abuja branch 

The Bar 

Association has 

no religion, the 

Bar Association 

has no tribe, the 

Bar Association 

is a collection of 

lawyers who are 

bound together 

by that calling of 

being lawyers 

pen, everything lies with God. 

First we pray that we are alive, 

secondly, if we are alive let 

God order our lives in doing 

what is right. But one thing is 

of utmost importance, it is not 

really about you, it is about 

having candidates that are 

credible. 

What do you mean by this? 

If I am contesting for a position 

and I see a more credible 

candidate than myself, not 

because of ego, I will support 

him. If I trust you so much and 

you have such credibility that 

I believe that you can deliver 

more than me, I will give way 

for you. It is not a life’s struggle 

that you must be there, after 

all, you gain power only if 

God wills. No matter what you 

think about yourself, unless 

God wills, you cannot get into 

any position. So, I desire to 

represent my people and I 

believe that I will give them 

better representation than all 

those who have been 

rep;resenting them. I know 

that none of them talks, none 

of them has either moved a 

motion or led a debate on any 

issue because of their 

backgrounds and because they 

were not supposed to be there 

but for one reason or the other, 

they are there. Most of those 

who came to represent Billiri 

Balanga from Gombe State did 

not make much impact. Apart 

from the late Idris Abubakar 

who was in the Senate and 

the late Tawari Umbis Wada, 

who incidentally were both 

lawyers, we never had such 

robust representation from any 

of our people in the House of 

Representatives. They were 

the ones who made us proud 

and gave our people robust 

representation in the National 

Assembly. Because they were 

articulate, they understood the 

issues, they understood what 

the responsibilities and the 

duties of legislation entailed 

and they did it with all their 

might. Unfortunately, they 

were not able to live longer 

than the day they left. 

You were appointed chairman 

of the board of Lagos 

International Trade Fair 

Complex, how do you feel 

about this appointment? 

I thank God for the appointment 

and I will like to use this 

opportunity to thank the President 

and Commander-in- 

Chief of the Federal Republic 

of Nigeria, Muhammadu 

Buhari for finding me worthy 

among millions of Nigerians 

to be appointed to this 

position. I didn’t expect it but 

I know that somebody 

somewhere knows that I deserve 

it and that is why I give 

God all the glory, because God 

uses people. It came to me as 

a surprise and when I find 

myself in situations like that, 

I brace up to the responsibility. 

So, one of the first things I 

did when I saw the 

appointment was to pull out 

the Act to understand the 

enormity of the responsibility 

before I started getting feelers 

and information about what 

the Lagos International Trade 

Fair is all about and I saw that 

it is a place that is needing 

attention, and I said whatever 

it is, I trust God to help me to 

make a mark and do something 

that will stand the test 

of time. 

Have you taken time to visit 

the Trade Fair Complex to 

appraise the quantum of work 

there? 

We were inaugurated on 

March 1, as board members of 

the Lagos International Trade 

Fair and before I visited the 

Trade Fair complex, I thought 

that it was wise to consult with 

the relevant government agencies 

and I was privileged and 

I thank the Minister of Trade 

and Investment for giving me 

audience. I also had the 

privilege of consulting with 

the Director-General of the 

Bureau for Public Enterprises, 

BPE, the Solicitor-General of 

the Federation and the 

Attorney-General and 

Minister of Justice. 

This is to enable us establish 

a synergy. 

It was to place me on such a 

platform that I can always consult 

with them and then we put 

our heads together to carry out 

the mandate as far as the Lagos 

International Trade Fair 

Complex is concerned. Now, 

having done that, I now visited 

the complex. The purpose 

was to have the inaugural 

meeting of the board, which 

Continues on Page 23

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2018 — 23 

Why Lagos is checking crimes through data record — AG 

By Abdulwahab Abdulah & 

Monsuru Olowoopejo 

THE Lagos State 

Attorney-General and 

Commissioner for Justice, Mr 

Adeniji Kazeem last week 

disclosed how the state 

government planned to eradicate 

crime in the state in a 

novel way through many innovations 

embarked upon by 

the state. Chiefly among them 

is the establishment of the Lagos 

Crime Data Register, 

State DNA and Forensic 

Center and establishment of 

the Special Offences and 

Sexual Crimes Court among 

others. 

Speaking at the 2018 ministerial 

press briefing held in 

Ikeja, the Attorney-General 

disclosed that over 8,000 

criminals have been captured 

in the crime data register, 

aimed at aiding justice delivery 

in Lagos. 

According to the 

government, the register has 

helped in monitoring cases 

between the state's Ministry 

of Justice, Nigeria Police and 

the Prisons Service. 

To improve the state of the 

register, Mr. Kazeem hinted 

that the crime data register 

was reviewed earlier in the 

year and renamed as Lagos 

Criminal Information System, 

LCIS. 

How lawyers can make NBA strong – Nunghe 

Continues from Page 22 

took place on April 13, 2018. 

Along with other members 

of the board, we took a tour 

of the complex, it is such a 

sad story. You will be excited 

coming to that place but you 

will leave that place very 

sad. 

Because it is wealth lying 

fallow. It is a gold mine 

that is abandoned, 

untapped, some people 

call it a dead cow, others 

call it a monumental 

waste. Now, how to move 

from there to restore life to 

that place is what no one 

person can do. Not even 

the board alone can do it, 

so it has to take the collective 

efforts of the management, 

the board, the 

relevant ministries and 

government agencies to 

see that this place is 

transformed as a national 

pride. I do appreciate the 

enormity of work at the 

Kazeem, who stressed that 

the register was provided to 

help achieve law enforcement 

in the state, noted that: “the 

Lagos Criminal Information 

System, LCIS also known as 

Criminal Case Tracking System, 

was initiated earlier in the year 

by the Ministry of Justice as a 

crime data register that serves 

as a repository of biometric data 

of persons who have been in 

contact with the Criminal Justice 

System. 

“There are over 8,000 inmates 

currently being captured in the 

LCIS database in the Prison, 

Police and within the Criminal 

Justice Administration Sector 

and this include their personal, 

physical and bio-metric details.” 

To ensure adequate and effective 

data gathering, the commissioner 

noted that the state 

government handed over to the 

Nigeria Police, Lagos 

Command over 750,000 criminal 

suspect forms. Kazeem said 

the action was to ease justice 

delivery and aid in quick 

record keeping of criminals in 

the state and to ease criminal 

investigation. He disclosed 

that Lagos State DNA and 

Forensic Center, LSD&FC, has 

intensified its services to 

support the Nigeria Police, 

lawyers and Domestic, Sexual 

Violence Response Teams, DS- 

VRT. “Since its commissioning 

other agencies like the 

Tafawa Balewa Square, TBS, 

the National Theatre and so 

on, but since this is my own 

area, let me concentrate on 

that and see how collectively 

we can fall in to make it a 

viable project for the 

Federal Government. I do 

know that there is a National 

Council on Privitasitaion 

which is the body saddled 

with the responsibility to 

concession or privatise most 

of these government 

agencies. We would work 

closely with them and the 

BPE to see how the Trade 

Fair Complex can be 

revived without necessarily 

falling into the same trap 

in September 2017, a total of 

316 inquiries have been received. 

Of this statistics, over 71 

active cases bordering on 

homicide, rape, toxicology, 

child trafficking, serology 

amongst others, were still 

being investigated. 

“As part of the LSD&FC 

program, the Lagos State 

DNA Database, LSDD and 

the Lagos State DNA Index 

System, LSDIS, have been 

established. This database 

will allow the curation and 

storage of authorised DNA 

profiles for use in fighting 

crime and criminal investigations. 

To ensure that 

LSD&FC is appreciated and 

fully leveraged by all stakeholders, 

specialised enlightenment 

and training programs 

have been organised 

for judges, police, lawyers 

and emergency responders,” 

the Attorney-General added. 

He equally disclosed that 

government has 

received and treated a total 

number of 11,451 cases 

through the Special Task 

Force Against Land Grabbers, 

Domestic and Sexual 

Violence Response Team, 

DSVRT and the Special Offences 

(Mobile) Court in the 

last one year. Kazeem said 

the state government 

received also 316 inquiries 

that happened the last 

time an attempt was made 

to concession it. We are 

ready to support government 

policies, 

government steps and 

government initiatives to 

see that the Lagos International 

Trade Fair Complex 

is once more in the 

limelight and becomes a 

national and international 

centre that will attract the 

cream of businesses 

globally for commercial 

activities. 

through the recently 

launched first state-owned 

DNA and Forensic Centre 

with 71 active cases currently 

ongoing bordering 

on homicide, rape, toxicology, 

child trafficking, 

serology, among others. 

According to Kazeem, 

the Anti-Land Grabbers 

Task Force designed by 

the present administration 

to fight the menace of 

forceful take-over of properties 

received 1,300 petitions 

out of which 855 

were concluded and 530 

currently at various stages 

of resolution. 

“In the period under review, 

over 35 arrests of 

suspected notorious land 

grabbers were effected 

while 26 criminal prosecution 

cases against suspected 

land grabbers are presently 

ongoing,” the 

Attorney-General said. 

Besides, the Attorney- 

General said in a bid to enhance 

due diligence in property 

transaction, the State 

Government introduced the 

Real Estate Electronic 

Litigation Database designed 

for the provision of access to 

information primarily on properties 

which are subject of litigation. 

He added that since its 

launch, the portal has recorded 

over 1,000,000 hits and 

over 10,000 consistent users 

from Nigeria, the US, UK, 

South Africa and others. 

Meanwhile,Kazeem lamented 

that rather than experience 

reduction in number of residents 

violating environmental 

and transportation laws, it had 

continuously increased. “In 

comparison with the previous 

year’s figure of 4,426 offenders, 

who were arraigned before 

Special Offences (Mobile) 

Court, 8,380 offenders were 

arraigned before the court in 

the year under review for offences 

under the Road Traffic 

Laws which include parking 

on walkway and yellow lines, 

use of BRT corridor, commuters 

and conductors hanging on 

the tailboard of moving vehicle, 

driving against traffic etc.” 

Worried by this trend, he 

*Adeniji Kazeem 

hinted that the state 

government through the court 

in the year under review intensified 

public enlightenment 

on need to observe 

simple societal norms which 

had been codified. While the 

criminal and environmental 

cases were fast-tracked to 

reduce trauma time spent by 

victims, he stressed that the 

restorative justice measure 

adopted by the state 

government has prevented 

residents with minor offences 

from being sentenced. Kazeem 

noted that the state government 

through its Community 

Service Unit, adopted rehabilitation 

and restoration of 

the offender as guiding principles 

for imposing punishment. 

“The Community Service 

Officers attend court hearings 

and recommend community 

service-based sentences to 

Magistrates for suitable minor 

offenders, including environmental 

offences. In addition, 

the Community Service Field 

Officers, supervise the offenders 

ordered to perform community 

service at suitable 

Work Placement Centers. “In 

the period under review, a total 

number of 2,249 offenders 

were sentenced to community 

service for various offenc 

EDITORIAL 

Innocent Anaba 

( Head) 

Wahab Abdulah, 

Ikechukwu 

Nnochiri



Sexual harassment: 

real or imagined 

problem 

By Ebun Sessou 

Although, sexual harassment 

is not a new phenomenon 

but what is new is that there is 

hardly any sphere of life that 

women are not being harassed. 

Sexual harassment is a 

violation of women’s human 

rights and a prohibited form of 

violence against women in many 

countries. 

The deluge of disturbing 

allegations of sexual assault and 

harassment by powerful, highprofile 

men has prompted an 

increasing number of women to 

come forward with stories of how 

harassment has impacted their 

careers. 

A 25-year-old lady, Toyin, 

shared her ordeal with Vanguard 

WO on how she was relieved of 

her job when her boss made 

advances at her. 

According to her, “I got a job in 

The duo of Miss Oladunni 

Akisanmi and Master 

Agwu Victory James, have 

bagged the second edition of 

the annual university 

scholarship award of the 

education endowment fund of 

the Hope for Women in Nigeria 

Initiative, HOFOWEM, pet 

project of Mrs. Bolanle 

Ambode, Lagos State 

governor’s wife. 

Presenting the scholarship at 

the HOFOWEM office, 

Oregun, Mrs. Ambode 

commended the students for 

excelling in the selection 

process and for their brilliant 

performances in their school 

certificate examination and the 

Joint Admissions and 

Matriculation Examination, 

JAMB. 

a private company in Surulere 

as an Office Secretary. My boss 

was generous to a 

fault. He was kind 

to me, I never 

knew it was for a 

purpose. 

“Six months 

after I got the job, 

he mailed a letter 

to me telling me to 

consider a better 

position in the 

company if only I 

could be his 

mistress. I did not 

understand so, I 

did not reply his 

mail. I continued 

with my job until 

one morning 

when I was told to move to 

another office that someone has 

taken my position and that I will 

be working directly with the 

Executive Director of the office. I did 

not understand. 

“Reluctantly, I moved my 

documents to the ED’s 

office. I was working 

with him until one day, 

he asked why I did not 

reply his mails. 

“I was 

dumbfounded. I was 

stammering and told 

him that was not my 

line of thought and 

definitely not my style 

of life. He then told me 

to quit the job if I was 

not ready to be his 

mistress. I pleaded but 

he told me that 

someone else had 

already taken the 

position.” That was 

how I lost the job,” she cried. 

According to research, most times, 

Transforming 

Nigerian women’s 

lives through 

training, advocacy 

By Chioma Obinna 

Complex challenges abound at every level 

that have continued to threaten the safety 

and security of women and girls and even 

undermine sustainable development objectives. 

Ranging from issues such as domestic violence, 

rape, child marriage, Female Genital Mutilation, 

FGM, and widowhood, among others, women 

have continued to suffer without appropriate 

justice despite claim by government that 

perpetrators should be brought to book. 

According to the United Nations, despite the 

fact that women and girls account for half of the 

world’s population, gender inequality persists 

everywhere. 

In most parts of the world, even in some parts 

of Nigeria, girls are deprived of access to health 

care, education or proper nutrition, leading to a 

higher mortality rate. Globally, nearly 15 million 

girls under age 18 are married every year. 

In Nigeria today, gender inequality is 

influenced by different cultures and beliefs. In 

most parts of the country, women are considered 

subordinate to their male counterparts. 

Statistics from UNICEF show that with a high 

rate of 10.5 million out-of-school children, 60 per 

cent of them are girls. 

Regrettably, the situation has continued to limit 

social progress. 

However, some organisations are now 

recognising that securing women’s rights is a 

critical step to addressing the violations of the 

rights of women and girls. 

One of such is Rise Up, an organisation with 

500 leaders scattered in different countries. 

Just last week, the organisation with support 

from Cummins Foundation held a week-long 

training on leadership and advocacy for Civil 

Society Organisations, CSOs, working on women 

and girls-related issues. 

The programme was strictly to train leaders in 

communities to achieve gender equity through 

leadership training and advocacy. 

HOFOWEM doles out scholarships for University students 

According to her: “I 

congratulate you for your 

brilliant performance at all 

levels of your examination. I 

do not want you to lose focus, 

but to intensify your effort. This 

is just the beginning, you 

need to concentrate on your 

studies, shun bad peer group 

influence, be good 

ambassadors of your families 

and schools and make us proud 

too.” 

She noted that the 

scholarship aside of funding 

the education of the bright 

students, would serve to 

encourage others that are 

financially deprived, to pursue 

their dreams with diligence. 

She said: “The scholarship 

scheme was established to 

encourage indigent but 

He then told 

me to quit the 

job if I was not 

ready to be his 

mistress; I 

pleaded but he 

told me that 

someone else 

had already 

taken the 

position 

Continues on page 26 

brilliant students in public 

secondary schools in Lagos 

State, to pursue degree 

programmes of their choice in 

any Nigerian higher 

institution of learning. It is to 

encourage serious students 

that being financially deprived 

is not the end of a dream.” 

While urging them to 

continue to pursue their dream 

and aim at being the best they 

can be, she hinted that courses 

supported by the scholarship 

were those that addressed 

critical societal issues like 

engineering, environment, 

food and security, education 

and public health among 

others. 

Mrs. Ambode disclosed that 



*Wife of the Governor of Lagos State & Founder, Hope for 

Women in Nigeria Initiative, HOFOWEM, Mrs. Bolanle 

Ambode (m); scholarship awardees, Miss Oladunni Akisanmi 

(r); and Master Agwu Victory James during the presentation 

of letters to the beneficiaries of the 2017/2018 scholarship 

awards, at the HOFOWEM Office, Oregun, Ikeja.

26— Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2018 


this development causes 

depression, psychological 

injuries to a large percentage 

of women in workplaces 

around the world. It presents 

an ongoing and growing risk 

to business operations. 

Although businesses know it 

exists, they appear unsure of 

what to do about it. 

Sexual harassment directed 

against women in the 

workplace by their 

supervisors, fellow 

employees, or third parties 

interferes with the integration 

of women in the workforce, 

reinforces the subordination of 

women to men in society, 

violates women’s dignity and 

creates a health and safety 

hazard at work. 

Speaking on this issue, the 

founder of War Against 

Confusion, Miss Ibukunoluwa 

Hannah said, although men 

also face harassment but noted 

that women are the most likely 

victims. “Stories told about 

sexual harassment faced by 

women in the workplace from 

male colleagues and bosses 

are pathetic. Most times, 

women are left with 

HOFOWEM 

doles out 

scholarships 

for University 

students 


the HOFOWEM Education 

Scholarship Scheme, would 

continue to fund the tertiary 

education of indigent 

brilliant students in Lagos 

State, in the spirit of the 

Sustainable Development 

Goals (SDGs), which 

specifically called for more 

scholarships for human 

capital development. 

While appreciating the 

founder and HOFOWEM 

education team, the duo 

expressed joy that finally, 

their efforts were not in vain. 

They pledged to be great 

ambassadors, adding that the 

hope rekindled by the 

foundation would not 

diminish neither would they 

give up on any challenge. 

Speaking on behalf of the 

parents, Mr. Agwu Sunday 

reflected that they had given 

up on how to fund the 

education of the children 

despite their brilliance, 

noting that the intervention 

of the foundation changed 

the story. The HOFOWEM 

Education Scholarship 

Endowment Fund gives 

annual scholarship to fund 

tertiary education of brilliant 

but indigent students in 

public secondary schools in 

Lagos State, in any Nigerian 

higher institution of learning. 

depression and aggression 

which have adverse impact on 

their psyche, making it difficult 

for women to work,” she said. 

According to her, in some 

workplaces, this development 

is used as a method of 

intimidation and control of 

women and unless this is 

addressed, sexual harassment 

will continue to make 

workplaces unsafe for women. 

Mrs. Ngozi Nwosu-Juba, 

Project Director, Vision Spring 

Initiatives, opined that 

sexual harassment is 

described as unwelcome 

sexual advances by 

perpetrators using force, 

making threats or taking 

advantage of persons. 

According to her: “In cases 

where the perpetrator 

succeeds to take advantage of 

their ‘victim’, they are left 

traumatised, suffering great 

depression, poor bodily image, 

feelings of shame, guilt and 

isolation. Other conditions 

include feelings of suicide, 

high risk situations of 

contracting HIV or other 

sexually transmitted diseases, 

unwanted pregnancies and 

poor decision-making in 

relationships. 

“Having said that, in 

January 2018 on resumption, 

my organisation received 

seven cases of abuse, of these 

seven cases, four were related 

to sexual harassment with the 

survivors insisting that we 

must not report to the police. 

“Unfortunately, we cannot 

force people to take a decision 

that directly affects their own 

lives. We make referrals where 

necessary and give the 

opportunity to demand justice 

or otherwise. One thing is 

clear though, there has been 

an alarming increase in the 

case of sexual harassment in 

Nigeria. 

Rise Up, a network of 500 

leaders had continued to play 

a crucial role in health, 

education and equity by 

enabling girls, youth and 

women in the communities to 

transform their own lives, 

In the views of the 

Programme Coordinator, Rise 

Up, Chantal Hildebrand, they 

are investing in visionary 

leaders, and innovative solution 

to achieve large-scale change 

through leadership 

development advocacy, 

capacity-building, among 

others. 

Hilderbrand said Rise UP 

have been working to pass over 

100 laws, budgets and policies 

in order to improve the lives of 

women, girls and youths 

around the world and aiming 

Sexual harassment: real or 

“While others say it has 

increased due to poverty and 

job loss, others think that there 

has not been increase and 

argue that what has increased 

is awareness. It is, however, 

difficult to understand how 

people realise that sexual 

harassment is a violation of 

their rights and still refuse to 

demand justice. Persons who 

have been sexually harassed 

most times have one thing in 

common and this is silencethis 

silence is not unrelated 

with culture and fear of the 

consequences of reporting 

such cases. 

“Nigeria is a signatory to 

laws and policies and other 

consensus documents and 

statements which condemn all 

forms of abuse including 

sexual violence and 

*Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, and his wife, Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, 

during their 37th wedding anniversary celebration held recently at Government House, 

Alagbaka, Akure, Ondo State, 18th of April, 2018. 

*Towards accelerated Women Development. 

From left: Head of Secretariat, She Forum Africa, Beatrice Adekunle, Vice-President of Liberia, 

H. E. Dr. Jewel Howard-Taylor, Founder, AWLO, Hon (Dr.) Elisha Attai, and Founder, She 

Forum Africa, Inimfon Etuk during a courtesy visit to the Liberian VP by She Forum Africa. 

Transforming Nigerian women’s lives through 


to build movement of leaders all 

pushing for gender equity and 

social justice. 

“These leaders that we brought 

in are all working around gender 

based issues, girls education, 

sexual reproductive health and 

economic opportunity for women 

and girls. We hope they take the 

lessons they learn from this 

workshop and implement 

advocacy strategies in this country 

in order to push gender equity as 

an agenda moving forward for 

Nigeria,” she said. 

She explained that the training 

was designed to define and 

explain issues impacting women 

and girls in Nigeria, as well as 

equip the participants with deeper 

understanding of leadership and 

advocacy strategies that would 

enable them design interventions 

to address issues impacting 

women and girls in Nigeria with 

the ultimate goal of transforming 

their lives. 

“This exercise will provide an 

overall description of the political, 

cultural and religious practices 

and policies surrounding girls and 

women’s rights, gender equity 

and social justice, and exemplary 

leadership practices that will 

contribute to their advocacy 

successes and also develop clear 

and well written advocacy strategy 

proposal and budgets.” 

She further explained that Rise 

Up is an international organisation 

that works around women and 

girls advocacy. “We do have 

programmes in multiple African 

countries and also in Latin 

America, Southern Asia and also 

in the United States. We work 

mainly with the local CSO leaders 

and local NGOs as well as women 

and girls themselves in order to 

push for equal rights and gender 

equity, opportunity for women and 

girls and social justice.” 

Speaking, Nigeria Country 

Director, Rise Up, Mrs Theresa 

Kaka Effa, stressed the need for 

women to be independent and 

have their source of livelihood. 

Effa said Rise Up programmes 

aim to mobilise young girls to 

speak for themselves, adding that 

it is important to catch them young 

so as to see things differently 

Effa urged participants to step 

the training down to people in 

their communities or areas where 

they operate, decrying poor 

awareness on issues impacting 

women and girls. 

“It is necessary for girls to start 

civic education as early as possible 

so that women can understand 

their rights.”


imagined problem 

harassment. Nigeria has 

signed and ratified the 

following: The International 

Covenant on Economic, Social 

and Cultural Rights 

(ICESCR), International 

Covenant on Civil and 

Political Rights (ICCPR), UN 

Convention on the Rights of 

the Child (CRC), Convention 

on the Elimination of all forms 

of Discrimination Against 

W o m e n 

(CEDAW), 

African Union 

Protocol on the 

Rights of 

Women in 

Africa, African 

Charter on 

Human and 

Peoples’ Rights 

(ACHPR), 1999 

Constitution of 

When you 

face sexual 

harassment, 

don’t 

condemn 

yourself, 

trust 

yourself 

and seek 

help 

the Federal 

Republic of 

Nigeria as well 

as Violence 

Against Persons 

Prohibition ACT 

(VAPP ACT) among others. 

“These laws and policies have 

not in any way deterred 

perpetrators. The decision not 

to report and attendant lack 

of willingness to prosecute 

have ensured that 

perpetrators become ‘heroes’ 

while survivors become the 

‘victims.’ 

“While we continue to create 

awareness on how to 

challenge sexual harassment 

and insist that it is not a 

function of how a woman is 

dressed as research has 

shown that babies, 

grandmothers and women in 

hijab are abused, we do hope 

that government and agencies 

vested with the 

responsibilities of ensuring a 

safe society for men and 

women stop judging women 

and focus on the perpetrators. 

“This, in my submission, is 

the only way we can achieve 

a sane society. Lecturers and 

other individuals use their 

positions as ‘bait’ to violate 

rights - this must stop. I must 

commend the effort of civil 

society organisations and 

pledge that we will continue 

to push for the 

implementation of laws and 

policies that guarantee rights 

protection. 

“We will also continue to 

educate those who have 

faced violations to brace up 

and tell their stories and help 

us challenge the 

status quo. 

“When you face 

s e x u a l 

harassment, don’t 

c o n d e m n 

yourself, trust 

yourself and seek 

help, know your 

legal rights and 

speak to an 

organisation that 

you trust”, she 

concluded. 

Meanwhile, The 

L a w y e r s 

Chronicle 

revealed that 

“Failure to adopt 

an aggressive 

stance on this issue, however, 

can result not only in costly 

lawsuits, but also in a loss of 

employee morale, decline in 

productivity and an erosion of 

a company’s public image. 

“Sexual harassment though 

distinct, should be integrated 

into the theory of 

discrimination and violence 

against women as this will 

lead to a broader platform for 

dealing with questions of 

individual dignity and health 

and safety in the workplace”, 

it stated. 

training, advocacy 

One of the participants, who is 

also an advocate for women and 

child rights, Mr. Ezenwa Okoro 

berated the Nigerian government, 

maintaining that the country has 

continued to pay lip service to 

issues concerning women and 

girls for too long. 

“For Nigeria to move forward, 

we have to put our women in 

strategic places where they will be 

able to contribute their quota to 

national development. Women 

empowerment has been on the 

front burner globally. Nigeria as a 

country, has been lagging 

behind,” he stated. 

He expressed optimism with the 

training they received, stating that 

with the leadership training, CSOs 

would be equipped with the skills 

and right competencies to make a 

mark in the national development 

specifically empowering women 

Mrs. Ngozi Nwosu-Juba 

and girls for a better placement in 

the society. 

Also speaking, Programme 

Director, Child Health 

Organisation, Mrs. Vickie 

Uremma Onyekuru, said she 

believed the training would 

address issues around women 

and girls because it is practicallyoriented 

and giving varying 

approaches in solving a particular 

problem. 

Earlier, the Director, Strategy, 

Africa Middle East, Cummins 

Foundation,Ade Obatoyinbo said: 

”We partnered with Rise Up due 

to their expertise in those regions 

they operate. To make sure we 

have developed proper 

empowerment for women and 

narrow down to the specific goals 

of the program making sure 

women are fully empowered.” 

There is no ‘full-time housewife’, 

just ‘fool housewife’ — Pastor 

(Mrs) Comfort Luwei 

By Ebele Orakpo 

Pastor (Mrs) Comfort 

Luwei is the founding 

president of Faithful Women 

I n t e r c e s s o r y 

Interdenominational 

Ministry, FWIIM. In this chat 

with Vanguard, she speaks on 

the mandate of FWIIM, 

women empowerment, her 

experiences so far. 

Excerpts: 

Beginning 

According to Mrs Luwei, she 

worked as a medical record officer 

at the Orthopaedic Hospital, Dalla, 

Kano before voluntarily retiring to 

follow her husband, Elder Matthew 

Luwei, when he was transferred to 

Lagos. She went into business and 

was doing very well before she got 

the call to serve God full-time in 

1999. 

“I started my chain of businesses 

in Lagos and by 1999, I had to 

answer the call, so Faithful Women 

Intercessory Ministry started in 

October 1999. It is a gathering of 

purely women; it is not a political 

gathering, it is not a gathering of 

gossips or for women liberation. It 

is a gathering where the women are 

taught the word of God and we 

intercede for our families, the nation 

and for people in need,” she said. 

Dramatic turnaround: 

“I had a vision which kept 

recurring and I felt ‘why should I 

leave all these things and go into 

full-time ministry? I can as well do 

it part-time.’ I started doing it parttime 

but I discovered it was not what 

God wanted. One day, I came to 

my boutique, opened the shop and 

asked everyone around to come in 

and pick whatever they wanted. The 

boutique was big and well stocked. 

I sold only Swiss materials and 

Italian shoes and bags. Then cupion 

lace was N35,000. I gave the salon 

to my hairdresser, the Coca-Cola 

shop, I gave out too. I became 

satisfied after doing that. It was not 

money that brought me to ministry. 

God blessed me in every area and 

wanted me to work for Him. Since I 

answered the call, I have not lacked 

anything,” said Mrs Luwei, a 

seasoned protégé of Bishop David 

Oyedepo of Winners Chapel. 

“FWIIM is a training ground. 

The vision is from 1Timothy 2:2 

(I urge, then, first of all, that 

petitions, prayers, intercession and 

thanksgiving be made for all 

people— 2 for kings and all those 

in authority, that we may live 

peaceful and quiet lives in all 

godliness and holiness.) 

God has given me that vision to 

teach women and I teach them all 

round. I teach them how to make 

good money legally by working and 

by doing business; I teach them how 

to make a happy home, how to 

respect their husbands and how to 

make good impacts in their 

•Pastor (Mrs) Comfort 

Luwei 

environment/community. 

Crises in homes 

“Today, so many homes are facing 

crises and most of the crises are 

caused by lack of money. Most men 

have lost their jobs and they are 

frustrated so in that case, I teach 

the women how to do something to 

support the men. I make them to 

understand that there is nothing 

like a full-time housewife, the only 

thing you have is fool housewife. I 

make them to understand that every 

woman is a help mate and so you 

must do something to help your 

husband. With that challenge, you 

see the women going into various 

businesses. By the grace of God, 

they are happy. We teach the women 

handwork. I bring in people to 

teach them how to make beads, 

soap, tie gele (head-tie), makeup 

etc, all free of charge. So with that, 

they can start up something on their 

own and some of them have 

started,” she said. 

Achievements 

Pastor Luwei who said she has not 

really noticed any challenge for now 

because God supplies all their 

needs, noted that they have been 

able to achieve a lot. “From this place, 

many of the women have gotten 

their call and have started their own 

ministries. Most homes are happy 

now that they belong to Faithful 

Women. The truth is that it is the 

men that bring their wives to me 

because they have seen the impact. 

We teach them how to be complete 

wives.” 

Honourable men 

“With the transformation the men 

saw in their wives, how they had 

become more prayerful and spiritual, 

they said they too needed to learn 

one or two things. That was how 

Honourable Men started. They meet 

every second Friday of the month 

for a vigil. 

If the wife prays well, the house 

will be well, the church will be well 

and it will affect the society. So both 

the man and his wife will play their 

roles, understand each other, pray 

together and work together to 

achieve peace.” 

Asked how she has been able to 

sustain FWIIM in the past 19 

years, she said: “God has been 

providing all our needs. Faithful 

Women is ordained by God. I got 

the vision and the Lord made me to 

understand that I won’t have to suffer 

as He would make provisions. I 

won’t have to go scouting for people, 

I won’t have to beg as long as I keep 

working for Him and I am faithful 

and truthful, He will supply all my 

need. By the grace of God, I have a 

mentor, Bishop David Oyedepo who 

taught me so much. 

“I started with just one person in 

my parlour. From there, the Lord 

said it was time to launch out so we 

moved to 75 Egbe Road. We grew 

up to over 30 members and the place 

became too small for us. When we 

got to our present place, we started 

in the small auditorium. We could 

only roof half of the auditorium 

because of lack of funds. The day 

the Lord told me He was giving me 

one week to roof the rest, I simply 

said ‘Lord, if you are the one 

speaking to me, do it.’ A day to the 

day it will elapse, the money came 

and we roofed it. When the Lord said 

that place was too small, I should 

build Him a house, I obeyed. I told 

Him, ‘it’s your house, I have my own 

house,’ so God provided and we 

built. Nobody was taxed; no one was 

compelled to bring anything.” 

Mrs Luwei who has authored three 

books - The Fulfilled Woman, The 

BUT in your life and How to make 

love last, said the secret to becoming 

a fulfilled woman is in making out 

time for your children, husband and 

home. 

Advice for women 

“I always advise women to endure. 

Marriage is for life so they have to 

endure and I believe, things will 

eventually get better.” 

Even in the face of abuse? 

“In the case of beating, I will find 

out why the man beats the wife, 

maybe she is the type that talks too 

much, if the man says one thing, she 

says 20. Some women can talk nonstop 

and in the process of talking, 

she may abuse the man and the next 

thing the man does is to slap her 

because he can’t match her in 

talking. I keep telling women to put 

water in their mouth anytime a 

situation like that arises so that they 

won’t be able to talk. But in a situation 

where the man is simply a terror, the 

Bible supports separation. Separate 

for a while.” 

Future of Faithful Women 

Right now, we have about 500- 

strong membership, apart from those 

who just attend fellowships. 

Managing women 

“It is simply because God called 

me. It is not easy managing women. 

Two, He has given me wisdom. Each 

time crisis comes, somebody says 

something about someone else, I ask 

her: “Are you sure of what you are 

saying? As she is talking, I call the 

other person without her knowledge. 

As the person comes, I will ask her 

to repeat what she just told me.”


•Youths protesting over soot menace in Port Harcourt 

•Burning of illegal refineries...source of the soot? 

When ‘mystery’ 

soot threatens 

Rivers population 

•Widespread panic over impending deaths 

•Stakeholders bicker over source, cause 

By Egufe Yafugborhi 

NOT too long ago, frequent 

invasions of Rivers 

communities and mindless 

killings by cult terror groups and 

other criminal gangs evoked the 

common headline refrain of 

“Rivers of Blood” in many news 

reports. The state is currently in 

the news again, this time not for 

deaths related to violence but 

from exposure to emissions of a 

hazardous black amorphous 

carbon from unconfirmed 

industrial activities. With this, the 

protest refrain since the last two 

weeks has been: “Save Rivers 

from this soot of death”. 

Stakeholders are in agreement 

that the soot is a cancerinogenuos 

chemical which is gradually 

killing the populace and could 

assume a mass destruction scale 

if not checked. Painfully, as 

always with developments 

concerning Rivers in recent 

times, the politicisation of issues 

arising from the soot menace 

continues to overwhelm 

concerted efforts at checking it. 

Industry regulator, expert 

confirm growing fear: Before 

residents under various banners 

came up with the “Stop the Soot” 

rally in Port Harcourt last 

Thursday, industry regulator, 

National Oil Spill Detection and 

Response Agency, NOSDRA, had 

three days earlier confirmed the 

growing fear about continued 

presence of the fast-spreading 

soot. 

NOSDRA Director General, Sir 

Peter Idabor, on a duty specific 

trip into Port Harcourt to “Activate 

2018 National Oil Spill 

Contingency Plan & 

Drills” preempted thus: “I knew 

I must be confronted with this 

issue as I was coming” when 

Vanguard posed the question 

during his press briefing. “The 

soot is an emergency. Our lives 

are really at risk, children are the 

most vulnerable as it sits in the 

lungs. It’s so amorphous; experts 

have measured its particle size as 

2.5 microns, seen only through 

high-powered microscopic lens. 

So it can’t be prevented from 

entering homes and offices even 

with windows sealed. 

“As people inhale it, after a time, 

it becomes an irritant. The 

individual starts coughing. After 

persistent cough, a wound is 

created inside the lungs. The 

wound becomes cancerous and 

spreads to the liver and other vital 

organs.” 

Soot creates poisonous 

rain 

A medical expert, Dr. Ebitumi 

Kuruba, warned thus: “The other 

danger is that this soot goes up 

in the air, mixes with the clouds 

and falls back as rain. So the rains 

coming down now is poison. This 

would go into the ground, affect 

the source of water we drink, the 

plants we grow and the food we 

eat.” 

Hydrocarbon emissions from oil 

operations have always been 

environmental concerns since 

discovery of oil in the Niger Delta; 

but the discomforting soot 

presently being experienced, 

Idabor explained, is a product of 

fumes from activities of oil thieves 

•Rivers State governor, Wike 

and illegal oil refineries popularly 

dubbed ‘Kpo Fire’, indiscriminate 

burning of tyres and asphalt 

heating among other 

environmentally unhealthy 


“In Port Harcourt, there are over 

100 abattoirs and many of these 

use rubber tyres to roast meat. Yet 

others burn tyres to extract copper 

wires. The heating of asphalt 

(used for roads) and burning of 

stolen petroleum products by 

security agencies who set ablaze 

frightening volume of stolen oil 

The soot is an 

emergency; our 

lives are really at 

risk, children are 

the most vulnerable 

as it sits in the 

lungs 

or illegally cooked diesel in large 

boats or tankers as well the 

machinery of the Kpo Fires caught 

in the act all contribute to the 

problem. 

Citizens protest: Thursday, 

residents under the banners of 

Stop-the-Soot Campaign and 

Civil Liberty Organisations, CLO, 

marched the streets of Port 

Harcourt in a protest to the Rivers 

State House of Assembly and 

ended at the Government House. 

Tunde Bello, leading the 

campaign, said in a 12-point 

protest letter that: “The 

concerned citizens want the state 

government to prioritise 

environment and do 

supplementary budget for the 

Ministry of Environment because 

of the ravaging soot. We want the 

state to conduct environmental 

audit of all those communities 

hosting oil operations. “We want 

Rivers government to act and 

become reservoir of 

environmental 

data for the state. 

We want Wike’s 

government to 

compel local 

governments to 

implement 

sanitation laws 

in their 

domains, make 

the local 

governments 

channel their 

security votes to 

monitor the 

environmental. 

We want streetby-street 

health 

campaigns and 

awareness on 

environmental health. We want 

Wike’s government to lead a bipartisan 

campaign on behalf of 

the state and its citizens, cause 

the state and national assemblies 

to retool rules governing the 

environment and instigate 

expedited action on aspects of the 

Petroleum Industry Bill bordering 

on environment. 

“As a matter of urgency, we 

want the state government to 

provide daily air quality leanings 

to citizens as oil companies are 

doing for their staff. We want the 

state to collaborate with the 

Nigerian Medical Association to 

compile and make public the 

health status of the citizens and 

prevalent causes of deaths.” 

Wike to sue FG, IOCs 

Governor Nyesom Wike who 

acknowledged citizens’ right to 

protest the soot menace, however 

maintains that venting their 

grievances on the state 

government was misplaced. He 

stressed that the real anger should 

be vented on the Federal 

Government which, he said, his 

administration is set to sue. “I 

have directed Rivers Attorney 

General to brief an environmental 

lawyer to sue the FG and the IOCs 

over the issue of soot,” he told a 

United Nations, UN, fact-finding 

team which visited him on 

account of the soot menace. 

He charged the protesters thus: 

“Rivers State Government has 

done all it is supposed to do, 

including advocacy and 

enlightenment campaigns, with 

no action from the FG. Help us 

demonstrate against the FG and 

we will all be happy. We have no 

control over the sources of 

soot. Do I go to shutdown the 

refinery? Will they not say that it 

is economic sabotage? Do I even 

have the security? Do I control the 

Police or the Army to go and stop 

oil production at the refinery? 

"We must situate cause of the soot 

and the fact that FG has decided 

to make sure that a greater 

percentage of the state dies. 

“We have called on the security 

agencies to find more refined 

ways of destroying illegal 

refineries. We have informed the 

National Council of Environment, 

the military and all Federal 

Regulatory Agencies, but they are 

not interested in intervening. We 

want the international community 

to come to our aid and pressure 

the FG not to politicise 

environmental issues. All the FG 

is doing is to chase shadows, 

organising people to protest. 

Until they stop politicizing very 

serious issues and focus on 

governance, we will head 

nowhere”. 

Osibanjo encourages 

synergy 

In the atmosphere of bickering, 

NOSDRA boss, Idabor has 

revealed that the Ministry of 

Environment, has scheduled a 

one-day retreat in Port Harcourt 

April 27 to address the associated 

challenges with the soot. 

Agencies under the ministry, 

Rivers Government, oil 

companies and members of the 

Armed Forces, special Taskforce 

and other stakeholders would 

attend the retreat. 

“We have been having series of 

stakeholders meeting. We had a 

committee set up by the Vice 

President with the Chief of Naval 

Staff, the Joint Taskforce and 

others on Harmonised Standard 

Operating Procedures for dealing 

with recovered stolen crude or 

illegally refined products. 

“We said rather destroy it and 

aggravate pollution of the 

environment, retire stolen crude 

back to the refineries or other 

appropriate authorities. 

"But the security people too have 

doubts about who to trust with 

such impounded or recovered 

products. They fear that when 

they return such products it could 

find its way back to the market. 

The April 27 Port Harcourt retreat 

would again look at the big 

picture. 

Meantime, Idabor, the 

NOSDRA boss cautioned soot 

impacted residents to “use nose 

masks to, as palliative, reduce 

impact of the soot on their health”

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2018—29




Send Opinions & Letters to: 

opinions1234@yahoo.com 

"Shettima's" phone 

conversation with "Kunle" 

THE social media is full of all 

sorts of things - the good, the 

bad and the ugly. It is an 

information minefield, and those 

who regularly tread it must do so 

with extreme caution and wisdom 

to avoid becoming a victim of the 

bad and ugly sides of it. 

Over the weekend someone sent 

a dangerous phone conversation 

to me through the Messenger app. 

It was supposed to be the excerpt 

of a phone conversation between 

Governor Kashim Shettima of 

Borno State and Governor Kunle 

Amosun of Ogun State. Their 

photographs were displayed on 

the message to indicate that it was 

their voices that were contained in 

that horrible phone call. 

The message was an out-ofcontrol 

anti-Igbo diatribe 

obviously initiated and chiefly 

conducted by this "Kashim 

Shettima", with "Kunle" sometimes 

agreeing with his submissions, at 

other times either seeming unsure 

and yet other times (rather weakly) 

calling for caution. "Shettima" 

kept cutting off "Kunle" when the 

latter tried to counter a spurious 

claim, and when he was done with 

his 20-minute verbal 

haemorrhage he simply ended the 

conversation with: "Thank you, 

Kunle". 

This "Shettima" had a 

domineering and hectoring 

prevalence and called his supposed 

colleague "Kunle" in a manner that 

one usually addresses a 

subordinate. "Kunle" also carried 

on like a typical underdog. This is 

totally at variance with probability, 

if not reality. The real Kashim 

Shettima, Governor of Borno 

State and Kunle Amosun, 

Governor of Ogun State, were 

sworn-in on the same day on 29th 

May 2011 as their respective state 

Chief Executives. The issue of 

superiority complex cannot arise. 

I have not met Governor Kunle 

Amosun in person but I have heard 

him speak. Though he has the same 

baritone as the "Kunle" in the 

conversation Amosun is a very 

authoritative person. Besides, he is 

firmly rooted in the President 

Muhammadu regime, which is 

why his nominee, Mrs. Kemi 

Adeosun, is the Minister of 

Finance. It is widely believed that 

if Buhari wins his re-election bid 

next year, Amosun could become 

a prominent minister, unless he 

chooses to go and cool off at the 

Senate. 

Kashim Shettima is someone I 

have known since he was a bank 

manager with Zenith Bank more 

than ten years ago. He is extremely 

courteous with people, including 

appointees in his government. He 

never rides rough-shod on anyone 

They are 

masquerading with 

innocent people's 

identities hoping to 

deceive the ever 

gullible Nigerian 

people 

in the manner that the "Kashim 

Shettima" in this conversation did. 

In any case, the voices are not the 

same, neither are the manners of 

delivery. This point is very 

important for those who have seen 

this toxic message because of its 

seditious content. 

Apart from this, Governor 

Shettima recently lavishly praised 

an "Igbo man from Mbaise" (as he 

put it), Major General Rogers 

Nicholas, the Commander of 

"Operation Lafiya Dole" for his role 

in the "defeat" of Boko Haram. At 

a Townhall meeting in Maiduguri 

on 7th February 2018, Governor 

Shettima had observed: "Some of 

our greatest recent feats in the 

conflict were done by nonnortherners 

and non-Muslim 

officers in the military. Most of the 

soldiers that sacrificed their lives 

are not of the Kanuri ethnic group". 

This man cannot be the carrier of 

the toxic message reported below. 

Now, let me report the vitriol the 

fake "Shettima" spewed. 

This Shettima postured as one 

speaking for the North. He said he 

had learnt his lesson and will only 

support "my brother" (Northerners) 

"because of what the Ibos did when 

Jonathan was president". He 

accused them of "assembling 

people, calling them Boko Haram" 

and refusing to protect the North 

from this group because they 

wished the Northerners to "finish 

themselves" to reduce the 

population of the region. He 

conveniently forgot that Northern 

leaders such as Buhari, Murtala 

Nyako and Northern Elder Forum, 

NEF, had complained that the war 

against Boko Haram was a "war 

against the North". 

According to this "Shettima", the 

Igbo pushed out the North and 

Yoruba from Jonathan's 

government. "Kunle" in a weak 

tone pointed out: "but the North 

benefited a lot from Jonathan". 

"Shettima" launched another 

missile about how the Igbo have 

been dominating the markets in the 

North and West, especially Lagos. 

He said this was why Oba Rilwan 

Akiolu threatened "to push them 

into the ocean". According to him, 

"the North" did not really want 

Buhari in 2015. It was Rabiu 

Kwankwaso they wanted because 

they knew that Kwankwaso would 

end Igbo domination "within six 

months" through policies aimed at 

crippling their businesses. He 

boasted that Kwankwaso had done 

something similar when he was the 

Governor of Kano State. 

This fake Kashim told "Kunle" 

that "the North" does not trust 

Rochas Okorocha and Chibuike 

Amaechi, no matter how they 

pretend to be loyalists of their 

region. According to him, this same 

Rochas had plotted to force all 

"Hausas" in Imo State to obtain 

ID cards or leave the state. He 

accused the Igbos of refusing to sell 

land to non-Igbos in the South East 

because of "instructions from 

ancestors" and asked: "don't we 

also have ancestors in the North?" 

He alleged that Northerners were 

not allowed to vote in the South 

East in 2015. 

Interestingly, "Kashim" said the 

All Progressives Congress, APC, 

has perfected a plan to strengthen 

the North and South West alliance 

to create an economic union 

between the two sections. The 

agricultural, industrial and 

mineral resources of the North will 

be harnessed and "primary 

industries" established, while the 

West will be corridor through 

which they would be sold to the 

world. "Let them (South East and 

South-South) drink their oil. After 

all, AA Rano brings his oil from 

Niger Republic". 

I had to highlight this issue 

because some Nigerians who are 

bent on destroying this country are 

pussyfooting around. But they are 

too cowardly to come out and let 

us see them for who and what they 

are. They are masquerading with 

innocent people's identities hoping 

to deceive the ever gullible 

Nigerian people. 

Don't be deceived. 

Another day, Another scandal (2) 

IT might be difficult to convince people 

that God answers all prayers. He does 

so at His own time and in His own way. A 

man prays fervently and requests God to 

give him a car by Christmas. He does 

everything to fulfill his own side of the 

request. Christmas comes and goes but 

there is no car. The man is disappointed 

and he feels God has not answered his 

prayers. Not quite so. 

God sees the end from the beginning. If 

God sees that by giving this beloved son a 

car at Christmas, he would drive himself 

to death, He would withhold the car. This 

is prayer answered because the man’s life 

is more precious than the gift of a car. The 

car may come 10 years later – at God’s 

appointed time. 

We are also told that God uses the most 

foolish things to confound the wise. As 

living mortals, our legislators constantly 

pray to work in a safe and secured 

environment. Having put their safety and 

security in the hands of the Most High, 

they go to sleep and do nothing in 

furtherance of their desire. Some of those 

ugly incidents that occur at the National 

Assembly, NASS, Chambers once in a blue 

moon serve as reminders that they must 

take a step of faith and not just forget 

themselves in the process of working for 

the people. 

In the Second Republic, there was 

unhindered access into, and free 

movement within, the premises of the 

Parliament Buildings at Tafawa Balewa 

Square, Lagos until that fateful day in 

1982, when Hon. Sidi H. Ali (PRP/Danbatta 

Federal Constituency, Kano State) came 

into the chambers of the House of 

Representatives. He requested to be allowed 

to speak on a matter of urgent national 

importance, which Speaker Edwin Umeezeoke 

graciously granted. 

At the middle of his presentation, he 

opened his leather bag and brought out a 

gun. He threw the gun on the table – directly 

in front of this writer, Clerk-At-Table then, 

saying; “Mr. Speaker, I have been 

complaining to you… I am now prepared 

to defend myself”. My heart sank into my 

boots. Gradually, I subconsciously began to 

sneak away from the position of the gun. I 

thought I was trying to hide under the 

We abhor violence in 

settling issues. But there 

must be a way of checking 

the spate of illegal 

suspensions in the Senate 

Speaker’s table; but I later realised that I 

was even moving deeper into the dangerprone 

area. 

Normalcy was soon restored to the House 

and sitting was adjourned for an hour. At 

the end of the day, Sidi Ali had earned 

himself a six-month suspension. 

It took all this to remind the NASS of the 

need to protect itself. By the time they 

installed all the security gadgets and the 

metal detectors from across the world, entry 

into the NASS premises and chambers was 

simply reminiscent of the proverbial camel’s 

head passing through the eye of the needle. 

Over three decades down the line, NASS 

needed to be reminded again that it had 

relaxed on its security. It did not matter a 

flip that we had 

a whole 

battalion of the 

Nigerian Army; 

a full Division of 

the Nigeria 

Police; or 

perhaps, that the 

DSS had moved 

its headquarters 

to the place. The 

penultimate 

Wednesday, some eight “bloody civilians” 

who were perhaps unarmed, moved into the 

Senate Chambers while it was in session, 

snatched the mace, innocuously regarded 

as the symbol of the authority of the Senate 

and made away with it. How was this 

possible? What was the motive behind the 

bravado-style invasion? These and more are 

questions that must be left to the appropriate 

quarters. 

Our major stipulation here is that a 

Senate that cannot provide security for itself 

cannot also be expected to provide for the 

citizenry. Is there any doubt today that every 

Nigerian is an endangered species? Cast 

your mind back a little. If what we just saw 

was a Boko Haram invasion, they would 

have simply ground our Senators like a quid 

of tobacco. 

Tongue must wag. All fingers are pointing 

in the direction of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege 

(APC/Delta North). True, what happened in 

the Senate was a crime against the nation. 

It was treasonable. If the Senator is proven 

to be behind the show of shame, then, he 

deserves every punishment reserved for 

treasonable felons. He will now be eminently 

qualified for suspension from the Senate. 

But not before then! 

From our distance, we see a dangerous 

trend developing in the Senate. We see a 

Saraki-led Senate that is becoming 

draconian and totally authoritarian. It is a 

Senate in which the expression of an opinion 

different from that of the leadership earns 

one a suspension. 

In the particular case of Senator Omo- 

Agege, he saw in the proposed Senate 

amendment to the Electoral Law, some 

veiled anti-Buhari provisions, as many of us 

saw from the outside; and he spoke out. 

When the leadership of the Senate felt 

aggrieved by his action, he swallowed his 

pride and apologised. Yet, he must proceed 

on suspension. What an aberration! 

We abhor violence in settling issues. But 

there must be a way of checking the spate of 

illegal suspensions in the Senate. This 

Senate has lost the entire essence of 

representative democracy. Because of our 

burgeoning population, it is no longer 

possible for the entire one million people of 

Delta North to be in the Senate in Abuja, 

hence Omo-Agege was sent to represent 

them. When you suspended Omo-Agege, you 

suspended the one million citizens of Delta 

North and constructively shut them out of 

Project Nigeria. 

Add to this, no Senator was elected Senate 

President from home. The situation there is 

one of primus-inter-pares. The Senate has 

no right to veto the collective choice of the 

electorate, thus denying them their 

representation! 

In the circumstance, the resort to court, as 

Omo-Agega has done, remains the best 

option. Let no one listen to the twisted idea 

of leaving the legislature’s problems in the 

legislature. Clearly, that is not what the 

doctrine of Separation of Powers is all about. 

After all, when did the legislature cease from 

being part of society? 

C 

M 

Y 

K



Asaba Airport: Okowa orders demolition of 

private buildings 

By Festus Ahon 

A SABA—DELTA 

State Governor, 

Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, 

has ordered the demolition 

of all private houses built 

within the perimeter of 

Asaba International Airport. 

Speaking during an 

unscheduled inspection 

visit to ascertain the level 

of work at the airport, 

Okowa said: “We need to 

determine the perimeter of 

the airport to know where 

our land ends. We need to 

look at the buildings close 

to the airport. Whether or 

not they have relevant 

approvals, the buildings 

will go down. I have asked 

the Commissioner for 

Lands and Survey to take 

inventories for us to take 

necessary actions. If the 

owners of the buildings 

have relevant documents, 

they will be compensated 

because, what is foremost 

on our mind is safety.” 

Expressing satisfaction at 

the level of work done at 

the airport, the governor 

said: “The contractor is 

working hard to beat the 

five weeks deadline for the 

reopening of the airport for 

commercial activities. The 

contractor is right on course 

and will deliver before the 

deadline. We are 

concentrating on the 

runway which must be of 

international standard, and 

we are confident that we 

will get one of the best in 

the country. I am happy 

with the pace of work.” 

Okowa who was 

accompanied by some 

members of the state 

executive council trekked 

more than two kilometres of 

the three point four 

kilometre runway asking 

questions. 

PRESENTATION: CEO, Hope for Women in Nigeria Initiative (HOFOWEM), Mrs. Oyefunke 

Olayinka (2nd right); Chairman, Yaba Local Council Development Authority, Mr. Kayode Omiyale 

(3rd left) his wife, Kemi (2nd left); making a symbolic presentation to a chief of Makoko Community, 

Alhaji Ibraheem Aladetan (3rd right), when HOFOWEM, a pet project of the wife of the governor of 

Lagos State, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, distributed over 3000 insecticide-treated nets to Makoko residents, 

as part of activities to mark the 2018 World Malaria Day, at Yaba, yesterday. 

Gov Emmanuel advocates total control 

of mineral devt by states 

By Chioma 

Onuegbu 

U YO—GOVERNOR 

Udom Emmanuel of 

Akwa Ibom State, yesterday 

pleaded with the Federal 

Government to allow states 

to control the development 

of mineral resources, to step 

up mineral exploration in 

the country. 

Emmanuel spoke during 

a mining stakeholders 

forum in the state with the 

theme, Repositioning 

mining activities in Akwa 

Ibom State, organized by 

the Mineral Resources and 

Environmental 

Management Committee, 

MIMRECO, Akwa Ibom 

State chapter in 

collaboration with the 

Federal Ministry of Mines 

and Steel Development 

and the Akwa Ibom State 

Ministry of Environment 

and Mineral Resources. 

The governor who was 

represented by the 

Secretary to the State 

Government, Dr. 


emphasized the 

importance of mineral 

development to the 

diversification of the 

economy. 

He said: “Akwa Ibom 

State is blessed with 

numerous mineral 

resources and my 

administration is dedicated 

to exploring this sector as 

part of our strategic plans 

to diversify our economy 

from almost total 

dependence on oil. Let me 

use this opportunity to join 

others who have asked that 

development of minerals be 

removed from the exclusive 

list. State governments 

should have total control. 

Our state should be 

included in the mineral 

map. It is blessed with 

economically viable solid 

minerals such as limestone, 

clay and more and we are 

investing huge resource in 

this sector of the economy” 

In his remarks, Minister 

of Mines and Steel 

Development, Dr. Kayode 

Fayemi, who was 

represented by the Director 

of Mines, Mr. Salim Salah, 

commended the Akwa Ibom 

State Government for its 

support towards 

MIMRECO and for 

complementing Federal 

Government's effort 

towards checkmating the 

activities of illegal miners. 

“The essence of Mineral 

Resources and 

Environmental Committee 

is to create synergy 

between the three tiers of 

government. According to 

the roadmap, it is in all 

states to accelerate the 

development of mineral 

resources in a sustainable 

manner. The initiative is 

already yielding some 

desired results,” he said 

Security challenges worry Shell over 

$15bn investment plan 

IN spite of security 

concerns in the Niger 

Delta, Shell Petroleum 

Development Company, 

SPDC, will later this year 

kick-start its expenditure 

plans on oil and gas 

projects worth $15 billion. 

On April 18, a delegation 

of Royal Dutch Shell, the 

parent company of SPDC, 

led by Ben van Beurden, 

Chief Executive Officer, 

CEO, met with President 

Muhammadu Buhari in 

London. 

The meeting, according 

to the Ministry of Petroleum 

Resources, was facilitated 

by Ibe Kachikwu, the 

Minister of State, where the 

oil giant unfolded its $15 

billion investment plan for 

Nigeria. 

It was learnt that part of 

the investment includes 

Shell's counterpart funding 

for its 25.6 percent share in 

the construction of Trains 7 

and 8 in the Nigeria LNG 

plant located in Bonny, 

Rivers State, as well as 

drilling and production in 

the Bonga Southwest deep 

offshore oil field, which 

could potentially increase 

Nigeria’s oil reserves by 

more than one billion 

barrels. 

“We see good 

opportunities there for 

potential investment, 

including Bonga 

Southwest and the 

expansion of Nigeria LNG. 

Both projects are subject to 

future final investment 

decision and we continue 

to work with our partners 

and the government 

towards that in each case,” 

an SPDC spokesman said. 

While Shell is currently 

producing around 200,000 

barrels per day of oil from 

the main Bonga oil field, the 

NLNG Bonny plant is 

producing 22 million metric 

tonnes per annum of 

liquefied natural gas. 

When contacted, 

Bamidele Odugbesan, 

Media Relations Manager, 

Shell Nigeria, said the 

company was embarking 

on the ambitious 

investment programme 

even while the security 

situation remained volatile 

in the Niger Delta region. 

IYC condemns alleged 

harassment of Jonathan, family 

By Gabriel 

Enogholase 

B ENIN—IJAW 

Youth Council, 

IYC, has condemned 

what it described as the 

unprovoked and 

unwarranted intimidation 

and harassment of former 

President Goodluck 

Jonathan and his family 

by the present 

government. 

In a statement by its 

National President, 

Roland Pereotubo, the 

youth body also accused 

the government of “using 

the Economic and 

Financial Crimes 

Commission, EFCC, as a 

front to harass the former 

president and his family.” 

He said: “While we are 

Delta PDP Chair bags award 

By Paul Olayemi 

NIGER 

Delta 

Professionals 

for Good Governance, 

NDPGG, has presented 

an award of excellence 

to Delta State 

Chairman of Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, 

Olorogun Kingsley 

Esiso. 

Presenting the 

award in Sapele, 

Delta State, national 

coordinator of the 

group, Jackson Kerry, 

noted that Esiso 

deserved the award, 

noting that as a 

member and patron of 

the body, his 

Okpe Youth Council gets new 

exco 

By Simon Adewale 

OKPE 

Youth 

Council, OYC, 

youth wing of Okpe 

Union, has elected and 

inaugurated a new 

executive committee 

with Harrison 

Ekeleme, as National 

President, to pilot its 

affairs for the next 

three years. 

Those inaugurated 

alongside Ekeleme, 

were, Ovwighose 

Aghogho, Vice- 

President, Ejoh 

Martins, Secretary and 

Jarikre Fejiro as 

Assistant Secretary. 

Others are Akpotunure 

Tennyson, as Financial 

Secretary, Obiriki 

Matthew, Treasurer, 

Ekpo Okakuro, PRO, 

Egagifo Obaro, 

Mobilization Director, 

Austin Emebrado, 

not against the ongoing 

fight against corruption, we 

totally condemn in very 

strong terms what is 

evidently selective and a 

clear case of witch hunt of 

the immediate past first 

family. It is on record that 

no former military Head of 

State or President has been 

harassed and intimidated 

like former President 

Goodluck Jonathan and we 

do not want to believe that 

this is happening because 

he is an Ijaw man. 

“Nigerians and the world 

expect President 

Muhammadu Buhari and 

the APC-led Federal 

Government to reciprocate 

the benevolence, 

magnanimity and high spirit 

of patriotism that was shown 

by former President Jonathan 

during the 2015 presidential 

election." 

developmental strides 

since he assumed office 

had distinguished him for 

the award. 


group's primary aim was to 

ensure a landslide victory 

for Governor Ifeanyi 

Okowa in 2019, adding 

that the group would 

support any candidate 

endorsed by the state PDP 

chairman. 

Responding, Esiso 

thanked the team for 

initiating such a sociopolitical 

group and 

appreciating the good 

work he had done. 

He assured of his 

support in ensuring that 

the group actualized its set 

goals. 

Organising Secretary, and 

Akar Brenda, Women 

Leader. 

Also inaugurated were, 

Aragba Gloria, Provost, 

Odiete Newcome, Auditor, 

Welkpe Benjamine, Ware 

Officer, Mr. Owumi 

Ovene, Legal Adviser, 

Onomakpome Emuobo, 

Assistant Financial 

Secretary, Aborigho 

Maureen, Assistant 

Women Leader and 

Agbaga Oruadarate, 

Speaker. 

Presenting the 

executives to the Okpe 

Monarch, HRM Orhue I, 

Orodje of Okpe and the 

Okpe Traditional Council, 

the immediate past 

National President, Mr 

Sunday Akporavware, 

advised them to build on 

the legacy of peaceful 

coexistence among the 

Okpe people and their 

neighbours.



Okorocha's govt insensitive, wicked 

—Imo pensioners 

By Chidi 

Nkwopara 

OWERRI—IMO State 

chapter of Nigeria 

Union of Pensioners, NUP, 

has described the state 

government’s move to 

recalculate or reduce the 

pensions of retirees, despite 

recent judgment of the 

National Industrial Court, 

as “insensitive, wicked and 

unlawful.” 

The pensioners, in a press 

release signed by their state 

chairman and principal 

state secretary, Chief James 

D. Osuigwe and 

Evangelist Livinus U. 

Asiegbu respectively, said: 

“The union recalls that 

Imo State Government has 

only paid gratuities below 

N500,000 to affected 

pensioners and refused to 

pay gratuities above 

N500,000 since it came to 

power seven years ago. 

This is in spite of several 

bailout funds advanced by 

the Federal Government, to 

clear arrears of pensions 

and gratuities.” 

Another nagging issue 

raised by the senior citizens 

was that the Rochas 

Okorocha administration 

“deliberately avoided 

harmonising pensions 

since it came to power 

seven years ago.” 

As a means of 

substantiating their 

allegation, the NUP 

recalled that “government 

has failed, refused or 

neglected to pay the six per 

cent increase of 2003, 15 

per cent of 2003 and 33 per 

cent of 2010, approved by 

the Federal Government 

and long implemented by 

our neighbouring states. 

“It is embarrassing that 

Imo State Government has 

continued to claim falsely 

that it has cleared all 

pension arrears and 

Our port open to agents with genuine jobs—PTML 

By Samson 

Echenim 

PORTS & Terminal 

Multiservices Limited, 

PTML, one of the terminals 

operating in the Tin Can 

Island Port, Lagos, has said 

its terminals are open to 

licensed customs agents 

who have genuine jobs to 

do. 

The port concessionaire 

was reacting to an 

allegation by the National 

Association of Government 

Approved Freight 

Forwarders, NAGAFF, that 

access to its terminals is 

restricted to freight 

forwarders, hence, 

retarding the Federal 

Government’s Ease of 

Doing Business initiative. 

gratuities owed Imo 

pensioners,” the union 

noted. 

Going into specifics, the 

union leaders said that Imo 

Broadcasting Corporation 

retirees are owed between 

47-59 months, civil service 

pensioners, 33 months, 

retired primary school 

teachers, 43-63 months and 

Alvan Ikoku Federal 

College of Education, 50- 

90. 

“It must be said that the 

government’s 

announcement, purporting 

to remove allowances in 

pension, amounts to 

NAGAFF founder, Dr 

Boniface Aniebonam had 

recently, told journalists 

that restriction of access by 

PTML for freight 

forwarders, was hampering 

the government's ease of 

doing business in the port, 

insisting that as the port 

landlord, only the Nigerian 

Ports Authority, NPA 

reserves the right to check 

access to the ports. 

In his response, the 

Managing Director of 

PTML, Mr Ascanio Russo 

said in line with the 

government policy on ease 

of doing business, PTML 

designated an area of the 

terminal as the “Single 

Interface Station” for the 

harmonised coordination 

and operations of cargo 

contempt of court and 

breach of the verdict of the 

National Industrial Court,” 

Imo NUP maintained. 

Vanguard recalls that part 

of the court’s judgment 

read: “There is no law 

permitting the Imo State 

Government to alter or 

withhold any part of the 

pension of pensioners in 

the public service of Imo 

State. The Imo State 

Government or any of the 

defendants do not have the 

authority or power to alter 

or withhold any part of the 

pension of any retired civil 

servant.” 

Imo monarchs endorse Buhari for 2019 

.call for Igbo presidency in 2023 

By Chinonso 

Alozie 

OWERRI—AHEAD of 

2019 presidential 

election, over 200 

traditional rulers from Imo 

State, yesterday, backed 


Buhari's 2019 re-election 

bid. 

The monarchs reached 

the decision in a meeting, 

which took place at Okigwe 

Local Government Area in 

the state which was 

contained in a 

communique read by His 

Royal Majesty, Eze Oliver 

Ohanwe. 

But in what seemed like 

one of their reasons for 

supporting Buhari, the 

monarchs asked the 

president to support the 

Igbo to produce the next 

president of Nigeria in 

2023. 

The communique read: 

“We thank the president of 

the Federal Republic of 

Nigeria, Muhammadu 

Buhari for his selfless and 

dedicated service to the 

nation, his commitment to 

ensure common good for all 

and his unwavering drive 

for the peace, unity and 

RAINSTORM: Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State (right) 

accompanied by the traditional rulers in Agbogugu, Awgu Local 

Government Area sympathising with two women affected by rainstorm 

during his visit to the scenes of the natural disaster, yesterday. 

progress of the country. 

“We are completely 

convinced that the policies 

and templates of 

development already laid 

down by the president in 

the last three years was 

based on critical thinking, 

careful and strategic 

planning and would 

catalyse rapid national 

development in his second 

term. 

“The president was 

essentially elected on the 

firm promise to tackle 

corruption and security. 

“This administration has 

given a lot of fillip to these 

noble agenda. With the 

president’s grit and 

strategic support to the 

relevant institutions, 

corruption in our national 

life has practically reduced 

by more than 75 per cent. 

“He has justified the 

huge magnitude of the 

mandate freely given to 

him in 2015 which cut 

across ethnic, religious and 

even patisan lines, having 

a clear message which is no 

escape from change and 

has restored the dignity of 

our country. 

“Buhari has put the 

economy on the part of 

sustainable growth, 

revitalized our ailing 

institutions and 

strengthened resolve and 

determination to ensure that 

change has really come." 

clearance by all approved 

government agencies. 

“The issue of access 

control is done in 

compliance with statutory 

regulations of the NPA and 

Nigeria Customs Service’s 

CEMA laws which define 

the Custom’s licensing and 

regulation of clearing 

agents/freight forwarders, 

whose professional 

activities, though port 

related are not limited to the 

port environment by way of 

emphasis that, only 

licensed Customs agents 

with genuine jobs are to be 

allowed into the port at any 

given time,” said Russo in 

an email to Vanguard, 

through the terminal’s 

General Manager, Mr 

Tunde Keshiro. 

Rainstorm: Ugwuanyi visits, 

supports victims 

GOVERNOR Ifeanyi 

Ugwuanyi of Enugu 

State has paid an on-thespot 

assessment visit to 

scenes of the rainstorm that 

led to the destruction of 

about 100 homes, schools, 

a poultry farm and other 

public amenities at 

Agbogugu, Awgu Local 

Government Area of the 

state. 

While at the disaster 

scenes, Ugwuanyi 

sympathised with the 

affected persons and 

informed them of the 

decision of his 

administration to provide 

shelters and relief materials 

to cushion the effect of their 

loss. 

The governor had in the 

wake of the natural disaster 

on Monday night, which 

also wreaked havoc at 

Ugbawka, Nkanu East 

Local Government Area, 

“sympathized with the 

affected persons and 

directed the Enugu State 

Emergency Management 

Agency, SEMA, to 

commence immediate 

response by providing 

shelters and relief materials 

to the affected persons.” 

Oviame passes on 

THE death has been 

announced of 

Margaret Osarobo Oviame, 

aged 50. 

Until her death, Oviame 

was a teacher in the Lagos 

State Ministry of Education 

under Agege Local 

Government Education 

Authority. The 41 days 

prayers service will be held 

for her at Voice of Rapture 

Ministries International 

Kilometer 15, Lagos 

Badagry Expressway 

behind I.O.N. Petrol 

Station, Lagos. 

•Late Oviame 

He assured the persons 

affected by the disaster that 

his administration will “do 

everything possible to 

protect and provide them 

with the necessary 

assistance”, reassuring the 

people of the state of the 

government’s commitment 

to their welfare and security 

of lives and property. 

Speaking on behalf of the 

people of the area, the 

traditional ruler of Eziama 

Agbogugu autonomous 

community, Igwe Desmond 

Chukwu expressed 

gratitude to Gov. 

Ugwuanyi for “his prompt 

visit and response through 

the provision of relief 

materials and other 

assistance.” 

He described the natural 

disaster as devastating and 

unfortunate, disclosing that 

the last time they 

experienced such havoc 

was in 1979. 

"The state government’s 

intervention was a welcome 

development and would go 

a long way to cushion the 

effect of the losses, as we 

pray that such calamity 

does not happen again," he 

said. 

Abia dep gov to bizmen: Don’t 

pay tax to touts 

By Ugochukwu 

Alaribe 

ABA—ABIA 

State 

deputy governor, Sir 

Ude Oko Chukwu has 

warned businessmen in the 

state to make use of 

government approved 

bank accounts to pay 

revenue and stop 

patronizing touts. 

Oko Chukwu, who stated 

this in an interview with 

Vanguard while reacting to 

complaints of multiple 

taxation by businessmen in 

the state, explained that the 

government had 

introduced 

a 

comprehensive demand 

notice where all taxes and 

levies payable and the 

revenue accounts in which 

they can be paid into, are 

listed. 

He disclosed that the 

state government had also 

brought in technology and 

automation to revenue 

collection in the state, and 

attributed the problem of 

multiple taxation to 

"individuals and 

companies’ refusal to heed 

government’s directives to 

only pay through approved 

revenue accounts." 

Burial 

•Late Shola-Bakare 

D Princess EACONESS 

Oluwatoyin 

Ajoke Shola-Bakare(nee 

Ogunlana - Obanikoro) is 

dead, aged 49. 

She will be buried on 

Saturday 5th May, at the 

Vault and Gardens, FRCN, 

Ikoyi, Lagos, after a funeral 

service at TREM, Lekki 

Phase 1, after a praise 

service at TREM Vision 

House, Utako, Abuja, on 

Tuesday May 1, 2018 and 

another service of songs at 

TREM Headquarters, 

Anthony, Lagos on Friday. 

She is survived by husband, 

children and other relatives.


:Vanguard 

News 

Melaye’s recall: Verification’ll go on 

as scheduled on Saturday — INEC 

By Boluwaji 

Obahopo 

L 

O K O J A — 

INDEPENDENT 


Commission, INEC, said, 

yesterday, that the 

proposed verification for 

recall of Senator Dino 

Melaye would go on as 

scheduled on Saturday. 

Senator Melaye is 

currently on admission at 

National Hospital, Abuja, 

following injuries sustained 

as he allegedly attempted 

to avoid being taken to Kogi 

for trial by the police. 

But Kogi State State 

Resident Electoral 

Commissioner, Prof. James 

Apam, who stated this at a 

stakeholders' meeting in 

Lokoja, said the 

commissioner would 

remain unbiased on the 

outcome of the exercise. 

He said: “The verification 

exercise, which is the first 

in the line of activities to be 

carried out in a recall 

process, will be done on 

April 28, 2018, in 552 

polling units in Kogi West 

Senatorial District out of 560 

(since there were no 

petitions in eight polling 

units), while the 

declaration of the outcome 

of the exercise will be done 

at the lNEC local 

government area office in 

Lokoja on April 29, 2018. 

“On the appointed day, 

the verification shall 

commence at 8 am and end 

at 2 pm in the polling units 

in the senatorial district, 

provided all petitioners are 

on the queue by 2 pm. 

"Only those who signed 

the petition are expected to 

turn up at their polling 

units for verification. It is 

also important to state that 

according to the 

Constitution and Electoral 

Act, the petition would only 

be said to have been 

verified if at least 50 per cent 

plus one of the signatures 

or thumb prints of the 

registered voters in the 

constituency are verified. 

"For this to be done, the 

petitioners must appear 

personally at their polling 

units for the exercise. 

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

"We have concluded all 

arrangements in line with 

our schedule of activities 

and are set for the exercise. 

The ad-hoc staff have been 

trained at the state and 

local government levels 

and materials procured and 

sent to the Registration 

Area Centres ready for 

movement to the polling 

units on the day of 

verification.” 

Apam said the card reader 

will be used to verify the 

authenticity of any 

petitioners who showed up 

for the exercise, adding that 

there will be no use for 

manual accreditation. 

TY Danjuma allegation: Buratai vows 

to make probe panel’s report public 

•As panel submits report 

By Kingsley 

Omonobi & Joseph 

Erunke 

ABUJA—THE panel set 

up by Chief of Army 

Staff, Lt.General Tukur 

Buratai, to investigate 

alleged military connivance 

with herdsmen in Taraba 

State crisis submitted its 

report yesterday. 

Also, the panel set up by 

the army boss to carry out 

verification of authentic 

arms and ammunition in 

possession of army units 

and formations across the 

country turned in its 

report. 

Receiving the reports at 

Nigerian Army 

Headquarters, in Abuja, 

Buratai assured that the 

panel’s report into the 

2019: Parties vow to boost active 

participation of marginalised groups 

By Suzan Edeh 

BAUCHI—AHEAD of 

the 2019 general 

election, political parties in 

Bauchi State have vowed to 

boost the active participation 

of marginalised groups in 

the political process and 

ensure that they have equal 

political rights. 

At a one day workshop for 

political stakeholders, 

comprising representatives 

of political parties, 

government officials, state 

electoral officers, civil society 

groups and the media, 

yesterday, in Bauchi, the 

parties reiterated their 

commitment to ensure that 

women, youths and persons 

with disabilities take up 

VISIT: From left, Head, Consumer Market Intelligence, NB Plc, 

Adewole Adedeji; former BBNaija housemate, Munirat Antoniette 

Lecky; Brand Support Manager, “33” Export and Stout brands, 

NBPlc., Onyebuchi Nwangwu; former BBNaija housemate, Omololu 

Shomuyiwa, and Portfolio Manager, Mainstream, Lager and Stout 

brands, NBPlc., Emmanuel Agu, during a visit to NB Plc headquarters, 

courtesy of Legend Extra Stout. 

elective positions within 

political parties during the 

2019 general election. 

The International 

Republican Institute, IRI, 

conducted the political party 

workshop under its USAID 

funded election and political 

processes assistance project 

which aims at helping 

political parties adopt better 

governance practices and 

intensify interaction with 

their constituents. 

State Secretary of All 


APC, Buhari Dasina, said 

APC manifesto had made 

strong provisions for 

marginalised groups in the 

party’s constitution, adding 

that there was a provision for 

women and persons living 

with disabilities to be 

included in all positions. 

“It is wrong for any 

political party to marginalise 

any group for any reason. 

For APC, there are positions 

specifically reserved for 

women, youths and 

disabled persons and we 

encourage them to contest 

all positions,” he said 

In her presentation, IRI 

Resident Programme 

Officer, Husna Hassan, said 

the aim of the workshop was 

to bring marginalised 

groups together for them to 

understand the processes in 

their respective political 

party structures and 

demand their electoral 

rights. 

Taraba crisis would be 

released in no time for the 

public to judge, insisting 

that nothing will be left 

unturned. 

Reiterating that the 

Nigerian Army, under his 

leadership, was highly 

worried at the allegations 

levelled against the service 

in its handling of the Taraba 

crisis, a development he 

said, informed the 

inauguration of the panel, 

Buratai said after releasing 

the report of the panel to 

superior authorities, he 

would do same to the public 

through the media. 

“I want to say that the 

report will be thoroughly 

studied and findings 

released to the public and 

the media,’’ he said while 

receiving the report from 

retired Major-General 

Joseph Nimmyel-led 

committee. 

While equally receiving 

the panel he set up to audit 

the number of arms and 

weapons in the possession 

of army units and 

formations, the army chief 

disclosed that his reason for 

setting up the panel was 

informed by his concern over 

proliferation of arms and 

light weapons not only in 

Nigeria but also across the 

country’s borders. 

Export through Kaduna ICD 

commences — Shippers 

Council 

By Godfrey 

Bivbere 

EXPORT 

of 

agricultural produce 

from the Inland Container 

Depot, ICD, in Kaduna 

has commenced, Nigerian 

Shippers Council, NSC, 

has said. 

The council explained 

that hibiscus (used in 

making local drink known 

as zobo); ginger and garlic 

are currently being 

exported through the 

facility to Egypt and some 

West African countries. 

Speaking with Vanguard 

on the issue, Kaduna Area 

Officer, Bala Adamu, said 

claims that port operations 

had not started at the 

facility was not correct as 

they received about 20 

containers by rail from the 

port in Lagos recently. 

According to Adamu, “it 

is even the export that we 

are actually now trying to 

concentrate on. We are 

educating people in 

Kaduna. We have received 

some consignments 

heading for Egypt. Some 

people exported hibiscus 

which is used for making 

zobo drink and others are 

sesame seeds and ginger. 

“The task is enormous 

and you cannot get it right 

at once considering the fact 

that this is a new concept 

and, of course, people have 

not yet embraced it. 

“In the last two years, we 

have been intensifying 

efforts on export. It has 

yielded positive results but 

there is more that needs to 

be done, especially people 

in the hinterland." 

Gov Ganduje to acquire 

land for Trans-Nigeria Gas 

Pipeline project 

By AbdulSalam 

Muhammad 

K ANO—GOVERNOR 

Abdullahi Ganduje, 

has issued a notice of land 

acquisition for the 

execution of Trans-Nigeria 

Gas Pipeline Project. 

A statement signed by 

Chief Press Secretary to the 

Governor , Malam Abba 

Anwar, in Kano, said the 

gesture was in 

appreciation of the Federal 

Government’s effort to link 

Ajaokuta-Abuja-Kaduna- 

Kano (AAKK) section with 

gas pipelines. 

The statement read: “The 

Nigerian National 


NNPC, is wiling to pay 

compensation in respect of 

crops, building structures 

Bola Adesola appointed 

Vice-Chair new UN Global 

Compact Board 

UN Secretary-General, 

António Guterres, has 

announced the appointment 

of Bola Adesola, Managing 

Director/CEO, Standard 

Chartered Bank Nigeria 

Ltd, as a new Vice-Chair of 

the Board of United Nations 

Global Compact. She will 

co-Vice Chair with Paul 

Polman. 

The UN Global Compact 

Board has a vital role to play 

in shaping the strategy and 

policy of the initiative, which 

acts as the United Nations 

flagship for responsible 

business action. 

Bola Adesola succeeds the 

out-going Vice-Chair of the 

UN Global Compact Board, 

Sir Mark Moody-Stuart, 

former Chairman of Royal 

Dutch/Shell Group of 

Companies and of Anglo 

American Plc. 

and unexhausted 

improvement on the land 

in accordance with Section 

29 of the Land Use Act 

1978.” 

It disclosed that the 

affected land areas the 

developmental project 

would passed through are 

“Tarau-Gwarzo road, 

Crossing of Chiromawa 

River, Chiromawa Garun 

Malam road, Crossing 

Tamburawa River and other 

areas that includes 

Crossing of 33KVA High 

Tension (TNGS0451R), 

amongst others. 

“Governor Ganduje has 

been liaising very well with 

the NNPC for an effective 

and immediate take-off for 

the people to benefit 

immensely." 

Adesola and Polman 

previously served on the UN 

Global Compact Board, and 

bring significant expertise to 

the role from their wealth of 

experience in the private 

sector, the corporate 

sustainability space and 

specifically with the UN 

Global Compact itself. 

In her address to the 

United Nations Private 

Sector Forum, Adesola said: 

“I urge the companies 

present here to look at your 

businesses, map them to the 

Sustainable Development 

Goals, SDGs, and then see 

how you can enhance those 

activities and play to your 

strengths, because, I think, 

it’s all about impact, and 

everything we do counts — 

whether it’s paper, whether 

it’s light — they all count.”


FORUM: From left: Babafemi Ogungbamila, Chief Information Officer, 

Interswitch Group; Kunle Oloruntimehin, Country General Manager, Cisco 

Systems Inc; Harrison Nnaji, Group Head, Information Security Operations, 

First Bank of Nigeria and Sam Keiru, Cyber Security Evangelist, Cisco System 

Inc, during the CIO forum on digitization in the financial services industry by 

Cisco System Inc in Lagos. Photo by Akeem Salau. 

LAUNCHING: From left; Deputy Governor of Kaduna State Arc. Bala Bantex 

handing over the instrument of command to the state commandant of the Kaduna 

State Vigilance Service, KSVS, Hon. Mohammed Ali (middle) and the State Chairman, 

Col. David Anto (retd) at the official launching of KSVS. Photo by Olu Ajayi. 

DONATION: From left; Chief Nursing Officer, Mrs. Jokotola Margaret; Chief 

Medical Officer, Adeoyo Maternity Teaching Hospital, Dr. Adeyanju Olusoji; Director 

of Maintenance, Oyo State Hospital Management Board, Engr. Agbonyin T.A; Deputy 

Director, Medical Services Oyo State, Dr. Oni Lawrence; Corporate Marketing 

Manager, LG Electronics West Africa operations, Mr. Hari Elluru; Regional Branch 

Manager Fouani Nig Ltd, Mr. Jad Atwi and Chief Secretary, Adeoyo Maternity 

Hospital, Mrs. Akinleye Janet, during LG Electronics CSR donation to Adeoyo 

Maternity Teaching Hospital Yemetu, Ibadan. 

(LEFT): A House 

of Rep aspirant, 

under Young 

Democratic Party, 

Abayomi Fagbenro 

(C) declaring his 

intention to contest 

for Ibadan North 

West and South 

West Federal 

Constituencies on 

Wednesday. 

With him are: his 

PA, Charles Olisa 

(R) and Campaign 

Manager, Mr 

Chris Ayantoye. 

Photo by Dare 

Fasube.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2018 —37 

37



135,500 bags of rice for IDPs not 

missing, says NEMA DG 

ABUJA — THE 

Director-General of 

the National Emergency 

Management Agency, 

NEMA, Engr. Mustapha 

Maihaja, yesterday, said the 

135,500 bags of rice 

donated to the Federal 

Government by the Chinese 

Government were still 

intact. 

He said no bag of rice 

meant for Internally 

Displaced Persons, IDPs, 

was either missing or 

diverted at the ports. 

The bags of rice are being 

kept in warehouses in 

Maiduguri and Yola 

pending the completion of 

the clearance of the huge 

volume at the ports in 

Lagos. 

The NEMA Director- 

General made the 

clarifications at a session on 

the continuation of a hearing 

on the operation of the 

agency by the Isa Ali-led 

House of Representatives 

Committee on Emergency 

and Disaster Preparedness. 

Maihaja said: “About 

135,500 bags of rice, worth 

about N2.4billion, were 

donated to Nigeria by the 

Chinese Government. The 

actual clearance started in 

January and those already 

offloaded are being kept in 

warehouses in Maiduguri 

and Yola. The bags of rice 

were not missing and they 

were not diverted. 

“The delay in completing 

the clearance was caused by 

the inherent process 

including securing 

exemptions. Waivers and 

other clearance related 

matters. 

“This delay in clearing 

government goods is not 

only peculiar to this 

exercise, it is applicable to 

many. The Federal 

Government has noted the 

inherent process of clearing 

goods and it is looking at 

eliminating the causative 

factors. 

“As soon as the clearance 

is completed, the bags of 

rice will be offloaded and 

distributed to the IDPs.” 

Maihaja added that: “As 

soon as we secured the 

necessary documents, we 

liaised with all relevant 

agencies concerned with 

clearing but we have to 

invoke Section 43 (1)b of the 

Emergency Act because the 

good has stayed for six 

months in the port. 

“Secondly, it was a tough 

decision to take considering 

the situation we found 

ourselves in. We have to 

consider the condition of the 

people of the region that is 

North-East, who are in 

danger of hunger and 

famine. We also have to 

consider the condition of the 

rice too. 

“We are still in the process 

of procuring the rest of the 

material, but we have taken 

possession of 110 containers 

and they are in two locations 

in Maiduguri and Yola. 

“We had to follow that 

pattern to save the item and 

the people. There are still 

some in the port but all 

expenses are incurred by 

NEMA, though we have 

not paid on clearing a little 

above N400m have been 

paid on demurrage for the 

total consignment. 

“With all sincerity of 

purpose, the problem is 

about the process which 

WORLD MALARIA DAY: From left; Dr. John B. Puddicombe, President, 

Malaria Society of Nigeria conducting high blood test for HRH Oba Onikotun 

of Otun Ota, Oba Abdul Kolawole Odunaro Oluyade in Ota, Ogun State 

during the awareness program of Malaria Society of Nigeria with NIMR 

Yaba Lagos to mark 2018 World Malaria Day in Ota Ogun State. 

Man sentenced to death in Ekiti 

for armed robbery 

By Daud Olatunji & 

Rotimi Ojomoyela 

ADO-EKITI— A 

middle-aged man, 

Kingsley Okorowande, 

was yesterday, 

sentenced to death by 

hanging by an Ado Ekiti 

High Court in Ekiti State 

for armed robbery. 

Also, the Ogun State 

Police Command has 

arrested a 70-year-old 

man Adefuye Teslim for 

allegedly having an 

unlawful carnal 

knowledge of a-13 -year - 

old girl (name withheld) at 

Parapetearea of Ago-Iwoye 

on April 22 nd , 2018. 

In his judgement, 

Justice Lekan 

Ogunmoye said the 

offense committed by the 

convict was contrary to 

Section 1 (2)(a) of 

Robbery and Firearms 

(Special Provision) Act 

Cap R11 Laws of the 

Federation of Nigeria 

2014. 

Justice Ogunmoye 

said: ”From the evidence 

before me, the prosecutor 

definitely had an upper 

hand in the proclamation 

of his gospel before me that 

he had succeeded in 

convincing me. 

“The prosecution had 

proved its case beyond 

reasonable doubt against 

the defendant, In all, the 

sole issue for determination 

is resolved in favour of the 

prosecution. The 

involved three agencies. 

The process should be 

looked at.” 

The representative of the 

Minister of Budget and 

National Planning, Samuel 

Iloma, a Deputy Director, 

said being the recipient of 

the donation, the waiver 

certificates were processed 

for the consignment that 

came in five batches. 

defendant is guilty as 

charged for armed robbery. 

“The mandatory sentence 

in a case of the defendant 

convicted of armed robbery 

is the death penalty. 

“The defendant is hereby 

sentenced to death by 

hanging.” 

Okorowande, according 

to the charge sheet, 

committed the offense on or 

about the 6th day of 

November 2013 at Ori 

Apata Natha area of Basiri, 

Ado-Ekiti, in Ondo State. 

He robbed one Mrs. 

Medinat Babatunde of her 

laptops, handsets, jewelry, 

wristwatches and the sum 

of N210,000 while armed 

with guns and cutlasses. 

Septuagenarian arrested 

in Ogun 

Meanwhile, the Police 

Public Relations Officer in 

Ogun State, Abimbola 

Oyeyemi, in a statement, 

said: “The suspect was 

arrested following a 

complaint from Mariam 

Kareem the mother of the 

victim, who reported that 

her 13-year- old daughter 

was lured into an 

apartment by the suspect 

where he forcefully had 

carnal knowledge of her. 

“She complained further 

that the suspect threatened 

to kill the girl if she ever 

tells anybody about her 

experience with him. 

“But the girl, who was 

feeling pain on her private 

He said: “We thought 

with the collection of 

the waiver, NEMA will 

just go and distribute but 

we got to understand later 

that the clearance is much 

more than that. That was 

why we approached a 

clearing firm about 

what’s involved to do the 

clearing and it was then we 

were told it is going to 

involve money to get the 

necessary documents.” 

•Septuagenarian nabbed for 

raping 13-year-old in Ogun 

part, later informed her 

mother, consequence upon 

which the mother reported 

the case to the Police at Ago- 

Iwoye Division. 

“On the strength of her 

report, the DPO CSP Ade 

Adedoyin led detectives to 

the scene and the suspect 

was promptly arrested. 

“The victim was taken to 

the General Hospital for 

medical examination and 

the result confirmed the girl 

had been sexually abused." 

Deji of Akure, community 

bicker over Osolo appointment 

By Dayo Johnson 

AKURE—THE Osolo 

community in Ondo 

State has faulted the Deji of 

Akureland, Oba 

Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi 

over the appointment Amos 

Idowu as the Osolo elect. 

Isolo is a community in 

Akure domain and its stool 

became vacant following the 

demise of Oba Kayode 

Oluwatuyi few years ago. 

The Deji, Oba Aladelusi 

had rejected the 

appointment of Idowu as 

the Osolo-elect, saying the 

“illegal appointment was a 

desperate attitude aimed at 

destabilizing the existing 

peace in Akure Land.” 

Oba Aladelusi said: “It is 

laughable that the said 

appointment was made in 

the middle of the night at a 

secret location in Akure. 

This appointment defies all 

logic, known tradition and 

customs relating to the 

appointment of a Quarter 

Chief. 

“The act committed by 

those behind this illegal 

appointment is an affront on 

law, the traditional 

institution and the revered 

stool of the Deji of Akure. 

But the kingmakers of the 

Osolo community insisted 

that the appointment and 

installation of their new 

king were in order. 

The kingmakers, 

speaking through 

ALIMOSHO APC CRISIS: Tinubu 

urged to intervene 

LAGOS — A group 

consisting of 

Secretary to the Local 

Governments, SLGs, and 

Supervisory Councillors 

nominated by the All 


APC, into the Executive 

composition of the six 

Local Councils under 

Alimosho Federal 

Constituency, yesterday, 

appealed to APC leader, 

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to 

intervene in the crisis 

rocking the party in 

Alimosho area of Lagos 

State. 

In a statement by the 

Coordinator and Secretary 

respectively, Messrs 

Folarin Jinadu and Abiola 

Hamid, the group said: 

“We condemn the current 

FG, telecoys, others owing us 

N12.5bn unpaid taxes — Osun govt 

By Gbenga 

Olarinoye 

OSOGBO — THE 

Osun State 

government has threatened 

to prosecute some Federal 

Government parastatals, 

telecommunications 

companies and 

construction firms accused 

of owing the state 

political autocracy being 

exhibited by the apex 

leadership in Alimosho 

Federal Constituency, a 

situation that has 

snowballed into serious 

a g i t a t i o n s 

from marginalised party 

members across the six 

Local Councils under the 

Alimosho Federal 

Constituency, and because 

it is unchecked, has started 

to aggravate into chaos and 

anarchy. 

“The manner in which the 

self-acclaimed G4 

leadership is killing 

internal democracy and 

promoting autocracy which 

negates freedom of political 

rights by party members 

under their leadership is 

condemnable.” 

the Elemo of lsolo, High 

Chief Ibukun Adetoyinbo 

said the Deji of Akureland 

has no power to stop the 

installation of Idowu, the 

appointee of the Isolo 

kingmakers. 

The Elemo of lsolo said: 

“The Deji had no right to 

dictate who rules over Isolo, 

our community was one of 

the towns that formed 

Akureland and it could not 

operate under Deji's 

control. 

“We challenged the 

government to give the 

Osolo his staff of office, and 

we were granted 

recognition. Akure now 

challenged the authority of 

government, we won at the 

High Court, then they went 

on appeal, they won. Then 

we took our case to the 

Supreme Court. Osolo’s 

stool is not in dispute.” 

“The Deji has no right to 

crown a king for Isolo. All 

the chiefs of Isolo Kingdom 

are happy and excited over 

the choice of their new king. 

All the chiefs of the 

kingdom thundered their 

unity as men and women 

of authority hailed the 

ascension of Oba Idowu to 

the throne,” he stressed. 

However, Chief Press 

secretary to the Deji, 

Michael Adeyeye said: 

“Any attempt to defy the 

Deji’s order will amount 

to an attempt to defy the 

court order." 

government well over 

N12.5 billion as unremitted 

taxes. 

Briefing newsmen in 

Osogbo, Special Adviser on 

Tax Matters to Osun State 

governor, Mr. Gbenga 

Akano, said the government 

has decided to prosecute in 

seven days if the 

affected organisations fail 

to regularise their taxes. 

His words: “Several 

meetings have been held 

with affected organisations, 

but it has been a continuous 

imperviousness and 

indebtedness. We are left 

with no option than to 

openly mention some tax 

defaulters who failed to 

perform their civic 

responsibilities. 

“We are serious about 

getting every kobo owed 

Osun State. The 

government is doing its best 

to meet the yawning of the 

people. We need money to 

do more. We are not asking 

for extra. But what is 

legitimately due to us in 

taxes must be given to us.” 


defaulters include; NTA lle- 

Ife, N6, 734,886, Globacom 

Nigeria Ltd, N7,600,595, 

O.A.U, N1,844,770, 

Sammya Nigeria Ltd, 

N5,002,567, Wetland 

Construction Nigeria 

limited, N 8,686,336, 

9Mobile, N882,458,475.

VANGUARD, THURSDAY 26, 2018 — 39 

08070524223 

I am the biggest challenge 

I face – Nyancho NwaNri 

By PRISCA SAM-DURU 

Nyancho NwaNri is a Gambia- 

Nigerian filmmaker, photographer 

and a poet based in Lagos. She’s 

an African cultural enthusiast with focus on 

African traditions, languages, tribal identities 

and spirituality with the aim to exhibit the 

beauty in diversity. In this exclusive chat, 

Nyancho speaks about her works in 

‘’Unmasked”, a “Standing Out” Exhibition 

currently showing at the Wheatbaker Hotel, 

Lagos. 

What’s the core message in 

your “What Should I Wear 

Today?” 

The world has come to a 

stage where people’s 

consciousness is shifting. As 

women, we are placed under 

pressure that we don’t even 

realise we are under 

pressure. So artistically, we 

are bringing to the fore, what 

women go through mentally. 

And I think the first step 

towards getting help is 

speaking out. If you don’t 

share your stories nobody 

would know or be able to 

offer help. My other 

colleague shared how she 

was shamed about 

something but it’s good that 

it didn’t stop her from moving 

ahead. 

This body of work, “What 

Should I Wear Today?” isn’t 

necessarily speaking about 

dressing but about being too 

conscious of how to comport 

oneself or act daily. There are 

so much that limit women, so 

many stereotypes about 

women that must be dealt 

with and we have to speak 

out, share our stories and get 

the healing we need. 

Could those limitations be 

responsible for fewer 

female artists in the 

country? 

Well, things are changing 

and it’s good that more 

women are becoming artists 

these days. Things are 

changing and support is very 

important. From a young 

age, it’s good to let talented 

girls know that they should 

go on with their career of 

choice irrespective of what 

people would say about 

them. You know sometimes 

the society will say: “Stay 

there and continue 

drawing. Don’t go and look 

for husband.” 

This is not just for female 

artists but women in general 

should know that they can 

get to any level they want to. 

Just march on, focus on your 

path and keep to it. Nobody 

can hold you back. 

There should be no gender 

in the arts. We are all artists, 

whether male or female. 

At what point did you 

discover your talent as an 

artist? 

Now that I look back at my 

life and my earlier years, I 

realise that art has always 

been there but it was 

something I didn’t realize. I 

didn’t even 

know it was 

an option for 

me, because 

I come from 

a family of 

people with 

bias for 

science. So I 

didn’t even 

realise that 

arts was a 

valid career. 

Then I got 

into my 20s 

and that’s 

when I 

realised that 

art is in me. Then I began the 

process of losing myself and 

finding myself again, 

relearning who I am and 

loving myself again. 

I studied animation in the 

university and after, I didn’t 

still see myself as an artist. I 

wanted to go into film but 

wasn’t able to take on that. 

But getting into photography 

was the point I realised 

myself as an artist. That was 

in 2015. 

Remember I said that I 

wanted to study film but 

when I mentioned it to my 

dad that I wanted to do 

animation, he shouted, “Why 

do you want to be on TV” I 

explained that I wasn’t going 

to be on TV but would be 

making what is shown on TV. 

He didn’t like it at all but I 

found a way around it. 

What are your challenges? 

I think to be honest, the 

biggest challenge I face is my 

Nyancho NwaNri 

own self. In life, the biggest 

barrier to success is ourselves. 

I spent a lot of time trying to 

understand myself, because 

the truth is that as an artist, 

you can never separate 

yourself from your work. You 

project what comes from 

within you. I realised that the 

biggest thing I had to do was 

to work on myself. 

Overcoming personal 

obstacles, fears, doubts, 

worries and learning to 

become confident are the 

biggest challenge I’ve had as 

an artist. The fear of doing 

something is worse than 

doing that thing. 

Any plan for solo 

exhibition? 

For now I don’t want to do 

a solo exhibition. Creating 

works is not about when am 

I going to exhibit them? As 

the works are ready, they 

will be shown. 

Left-Right: Director-General, NCAC, Otunba Segun 

Runsewe receiving some souvenirs from the Indian High 

Commissioner, His Excellency, Mr.B.N. Reddy during the 

courtesy call recently in Abuja. 

Nigeria, India set for renewed 

cultural ties 

By OSA AMADI 

The High Commissioner 

of India to Nigeria, His 

Excellency Mr. B.N Reddy 

has re-emphasized the need 

to consolidate on the long 

standing cultural 

relationship between Nigeria 

and India. 

The Envoy made this 

known while playing host to 

the Director-General, 

National Council for Arts 

and Culture, Otunba Segun 

Runsewe, OON, and his 

team during a courtesy call 

to the Indian High 

Commission in Abuja 

recently. 

Both men agreed that 

Nigeria and India shared a 

lot of similarities in terms of 

culture, music, history and 

language stressing that there 

is need to now fully leverage 

on these cultural similarities 

for the benefit of both 

countries. 

During the visit, the Indian 

high commissioner took the 

NCAC team round their 

premises to visualize the 

various mosaic artworks on 

display within the building 

depicting the rise of India via 

an artistic rendition of the 

rising sun. 

According to Mr. Reddy, 

the national flower, the lotus 

placed in the center with 

closed buds herald the 

promise of the blossoms 

which symbolizes hope for 

the future just as the tiger 

and peacock represent their 

national animal and bird. 

He further enlightened 

the visitors that India had 

twenty eight states with 

different languages and 

culture saying they will be 

explored in the forthcoming 

cultural event slated for 28th 

April and 5th May this year 

in Abuja. 

In his words, “it is natural 

we collaborate with Nigeria 

who also has a very rich 

cultural heritage in terms of 

tradition, music, culture, food 

and languages. He disclosed 

plans to invite renowned 

artists from India to grace the 

occasion.” 

In his response, the 

Director-General, NCAC 

Otunba Segun Runsewe, 

praised the High 

Commissioner for his 

visionary leadership and his 

vigor towards repositioning 

the Indian High Commission 

in Nigeria. He promised to 

play vital roles towards 

reawakening the strong 

cultural ties between Nigeria 

and India. 

Otunba said, “mosaic is a 

great cultural representation 

which is worthy of 

celebration. Since 1963, 

Nigeria and India have 

always had a formidable 

cultural collaboration which 

the new management of the 

Council under my leadership 

is ready to build on.” 

The meeting was concluded 

with the exchange of gifts and 

souvenirs between the two 

parties. 

Nigerian books shine at London Book Fair 

Nigeria made a strong 

showing at the 2018 

London Book Fair which 

ended over the weekend in 

London, the United Kingdom. 

One of the books showcased 

is titled “Nigeria on the 

Precipice: Issues, Options 

and Solutions” by Michael 

Owhoko which proffers 

enduring solutions to 

Nigeria’s protracted 

political crisis. 

Out of a total of 650 print 

and e-book titles 

presented at the Book 

Fair, Michael 

Owhoko’s book was the 

only one with specific 

historical and current political 

development, making it a 

focal point and of high interest 

for visitors to the Fair, 

particularly among Nigerians 

in diaspora. The book was 

displayed at Pubmatch 

Bookshelf 229. 

The author, Michael 

Owhoko, is a seasoned media 

and public relations 

practitioner who has also been 

scheduled to feature at the 

New York City BookExpo/ 

Rights Bookcon and New York 

Rights Fair from May 30 – 

June 3, 2018. 

The 2018 London Book Fair 

which held at Olympia 

Exhibition Centre, London 

from April 10 – 12, 2018 was 

the 12th edition of the Annual 

London Book Fair with focus 

on New Titles Showcase. It 

was organized by the 

Combined Book Exhibit. 

In a welcome address 

jointly signed by the Group 

Exhibition Director, London 

Book Fair, Jacks Thomas and 

President, Combined Book 

Exhibit, Jon Malinowski, they 

said, “We are pleased that you 

have taken the time to visit 

this special exhibit and invite 

you to peruse the hundreds of 

titles and publishers on 

display”, adding “we are 

proud to present upwards of 

650 print titles and e-book 

titles.”


Modular refineries'll create massive jobs in 

Niger-Delta says Ex-PENGASSAN president 

BY JIMITOTA 

ONOYUME 

FORMER president, 

Petroleum and Natural Gas 

Senior Staff Association of 

Nigeria, PENGASSAN, Dr 

Brown Ogbeifun in this 

interview, among others, 

encouraged the quick takeoff 

of modular refineries in 

the Niger- Delta, saying it 

would create massive jobs 

across the region. Brown 

is also a former Deputy 

President-General of 

Trade Union Congress of 

Nigeria, TUC. 

Excerpts: 

What is your take on the 

issue of modular refineries 

and the Niger-Delta region 

The reason I support 

modular refineries is 

because of the devastating 

effect of vandalism, stealing 

of crude from pipelines that 

stretches through 

kilometers to get to the end 

points which it would 

redress. Modular refineries 

will come closer to the 

source of raw materials, you 

are not likely to use long 

stretch of pipelines that will 

be vandalised. This will 

require the Federal 

Government to ensure our 

waterways and ports are 

functioning well because 

you will need to do a lot of 

dredging. Modular 

refineries are small 

refineries to provide stock 

to a dedicated target. When 

the waterways and ports are 

functioning well, the 

vessels can come closer to 

the refineries. When you 

refurbish Koko, Gelegele, 

and Warri ports, this will 

enhance the refineries and 

the dredging will mean 

thousands of job 

opportunities for youths in 

the region. 

When we have modular 

refineries in an area, it will 

create jobs for the people. 

People will be trained in the 

art of refining , the local 

content law that encourages 

engagement of locals for 

certain jobs will be 

enforced. It will also help 

us deal with environmental 

hazards from attack on oil 

facilities and illegal 

bunkering activities. 

You recall Vice-President 

Yemi Osinbajo during a 

tour of the region as Acting 

President asked 

international oil 

companies, ICOs, to 

relocate their headquarters 

to the region. Since then 

has anythin changed? 

There are so many factors 

involved in Professor 

Osinbajo's pronouncement. 

The governments of states 

in the region need to see 

what they can do to be more 

friendly. These companies 

are in business. Any oil and 

gas person is in business to 

make money. They go 

through a lot of unsecured 

environment. If you want to 

pull people back to the 

region, you must be ready 

to guarantee security. 

Again, the companies are 

facing multiple taxation, 

from the local government 

to the states it is not 

something that is easy for 

the multinationals. That is 

why we are talking of the 

Petroleum Indusry Bill, to 

harmonise the taxes, so it is 

not about a marching order 

from the presidency. You 

must have an environment 

that is safe, economically 

viable and conducive for 

their operations. 

Lip service 

Government at all levels 

must go beyond lip service. 

Warri used to be the hub of 

activities for shell. 

Government must go 

beyond lip service. When 

they were divesting from 

shallow waters and land, I 

am sure more than 60 per 

cent of their assets were 

given out. What would stop 

the governor of the state 

from intervening? If they are 

here, our children will have 

jobs. This would have made 

the economy of the state 

robust and reduce the level 

of unemployment and 

insecurity in the region. We 

lost it because they just 

folded their arms and 

allowed it to happen." 

What is your assessment 

of the amnesty 

programme for exmilitants 

in the Niger-Delta 

Let us go down memory 

lane and ask how militancy 

started. It may be my own 

opinion with all I have read 

and seen and from the 

angle of the oil and gas 

sector. Militancy has three 

dimensions we need to look 

at so we don't get wrong 

answers. 

Militancy started with 

agitations for a better Niger- 

Delta. Here is a region that 

is underdeveloped, yet, you 

have most of the resources 

of the nation from the 

region. The boys in the 

creeks are seeing what the 

elites are doing with their 

wealth from the region 

through illegal bunkering. 

It is not a poor man that 

could afford barges and 

military excorts for the 

barges on the waterways for 

illicit oil deals. The people 

*Dr Brown Ogbeifun 

in the communities were 

seeing all these so the boys 

were relatively angry. 

Also you look at the 

political elites that have 

used some of the boys for 

electioneering purposes, 

abandoning them without 

means of livelihood. So they 

go back to the creeks. The 

third aspect are those that 

are into criminality but 

powdered as militancy. You 

can see the genuine 

agitation for resource 

control, those used and 

dumped by politicians and 

the criminals in the system. 

It became a little bit more 

difficult as they progressed 

to identify who is who. 

Whether we like it or not, 

the region has suffered a lot 

of underdevelopment 

because the money that is 

taken from the region is not 

commensurate with the 

development in the region. 

In Norway, they have a 

museum that has become a 

tourist attraction on how 

they started. The money has 

been used to improve 

education and heath in the 

country as a whole, the area 

where the oil is from has 

become a tourist attraction. 

Amnesty 

I think it was late 

President Musa Yar'Adua 

that came up with it. 

Having assets of companies 

destroyed in the region was 

very bad but the creek is not 

where you can use military 

operations. Dialogue 

becomes the appropriate 

approach. In all states in the 

world with similar problems, 

you do a lot of mediation. 

Amnesty in this sense was 

not a bad concept. When it 

started, you saw the mop up 

of arms , it reduced the level 

of criminality in the region. 

Our oil production went 

up. 

However, the 

implementation became a 

little bit faulty. The real 

resource control foot 

soldiers that were there in 

the creeks could not be said 

to have formerly benefited 

as a whole. People who did 

not know why and where 

militancy started became 

the beneficiaries, relatives 

were brought in. It became 

cumbersome and 

suddenly the budgets 

could not cater for those it 

should. That is the truth. I 

believe that scrapping the 

amnesty programme is not 

the solution. We have to 

define it properly. Again, I 

do not believe that 

amnesty is forever. Today, 

we have youths who 

graduated from aviation 

schools that are pilots and 

several other programmes 

in the universities. It shows 

that the boys are intelligent. 

If we do the amnesty 

program well and 

concentrate on the militants 

, I am sure today we would 

have had just a few left 

because most of them 

would have been 

empowered to work. We 

have not been able to deal 

with the militancy because 

of the sharp practices 

mentioned. 

What is your advice to 

the youths of the region? 

Militancy or resource 

agitations should not 

connote destruction of 

national assets because the 

more you do that, the more 

you deploy money needed 

for other developmental 

purposes to fix the assets. 

For example, three or four 

times, the Excravos line 

that supplies crude to 

refineries are blown; this 

happens almost yearly. 

The money to repair it 

should go to other areas. 

MINIMUM WAGE: Public 

hearing holds today 

TOWARDS consulting 

widely and ensuring 

stakeholders participation in 

the review of the National 

Minimum wage, the 

Tripartite Committee on 

National Minimum Wage 

will between today and 

tomorrow conduct public 

hearing in the six 

geopolitical zones of the 

country as well as the cities 

of Abuja and Lagos. 

The public hearing which 

commences on the 26th to 

27th April 2018 will take 

place in Enugu, Port- 

Harcourt, Ibadan, Gombe, 

Kaduna, Lokoja, Lagos and 

the Federal Capital Territory. 

A statement by Prince 

Samuel Olowookere, 

Director (Press), Ministry of 

Labour and Employment 

said: "Interested members of 

the public who wish to 

present memorandum are 

advised to bring copies to 

the various venues of the 

public hearing. It will be 

recalled that subsequent to 

the demand of the Labour 

Unions for the review of the 

National Minimum Wage, 


Buhari, inaugurated a 

tripartite committee to 

review the National 

Minimum Wage. 

The committee which has 

Ms Amal Pepple as the 

Chairman, and Senator 

Chris Ngige, Hon. 

Minister of Labour and 

Employment as the Deputy 

Chairman comprises of 

members drawn from the 

Federal and State 

Government, the organized 

labour and Private sectors 

Employers Association. 

2,000 South African unions 

protest over minimum wage 

NO fewer than 2,000 

South African union 

members have marched 

through Johannesburg in a 

nationwide protest against a 

proposed national minimum 

wage, presenting a test for 

new President Cyril 

Ramaphosa who champions 

the policy. The 20 rand (1.6 

dollars) an hour minimum 

wage, which Ramaphosa 

sees as an important step to 

tackle labor instability and 

wage inequality, was 

approved by the cabinet in 

November and meant to be 

TUC loses head of Research, 

Industrial Relations 

TRADE Union Congress 

of Nigeria, TUC, has 

announced the death of its 

Assistant Secretary General, 

ASG, and Head of Research 

and Industrial Relations, 

Com. Biodun Ogunade 

Comrade Biodun Ogunade 

(popularly known as 

Revolution) 

He died on Friday, April 12, 

after a brief illness. 

introduced on May 1. 

Dissatisfaction over the 

minimum wage bill could 

delay implementation. 

The new president, who 

replaced Jacob Zuma as 

president in February, has 

staked his reputation on 

revising a stuttering 

economy and rooting out 

corruption associated with 

Zuma's nine scandalplagued 

years in power. 

The protests are the 

second major public show 

of discontent in South Africa 

within a week. 

Born in 1968, Comrade 

Biodun walked out his job 

at the Voice of Nigeria 

(VON) in 2002 to join TUC 

as Head of Research and 

Industrial Relations, 

following incessant 

harassment by security 

agencies that dated back to 

the military regime 

especially under General 

Sanni Abacha when he and 

some of his colleagues 

were dubbed NADECO 

foot soldiers. 

A statement by TUC's 

Secretary General 

Comrade Musa Lawal 

Ozigi, late Ogunade 

understood and did his job 

so well that he brought 

many affiliate to the 

Congress, saying "his love 

for research made him a 

facilitator at different 

workshops within and 

outside the country.

Vanguard, THURSDAY APRIL 26, 2018—41 

APC—From left: National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, 

APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun; Gov Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa State 

and Gov Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, during a technical meeting between 

the APC National Working Committee and governors at the party’s secretariat 

in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: NAN. 

Benue: Another 39 killed; Reps 

suspend sitting in protest 


killer herdsmen in the 

country terrorists. 

The resolutions of the 

House followed a motion on 

the incessant killings in 

Benue State, especially last 

Tuesday’s episode that 

claimed the lives of two 

Reverend Fathers and 17 

worshippers in a Catholic 

church. 

The House resolved that 

in light of Section 14, 

subsection 2 (a) and (b) of 

the 1999 Constitution which 

places the security and lives 

of the people as priorities 

of government, the 

President has failed the 

nation. 

Moving the motion, titled 

“Attack by alleged army 

personnel on innocent 

residents of Naka in Gwer- 

West LGA of Benue State 

and the inability of the 

army and other security 

agencies to quell the 

incessant murder of 

indigenes of Benue State 

by armed herdsmen”, the 

sponsor, Mark Gbillah 

(APC, Benue State), 

recalled the gory incident 

in Naka, Gwer-west LGA of 

Benue State which claimed 

two lives, following the 

invasion of soldiers in a 

reprisal attack. 

He also stated that the 

attacks assumed a 

disturbing dimension 

when two Reverend fathers 

NAIRA WATCH 

of the Catholic Mission, Fr. 

Joseph Gor and Fr. Felix 

Tyolaha, were murdered in 

cold blood on Tuesday. 

He said: “The House is 

alarmed at numerous eyewitness 

accounts that 

rampaging Nigerian Army 

personnel on Thursday, 

April 19, 2018, attacked 

Naka, the headquarters of 

Gwer-west LGA of Benue 

State in several Hilux 

trucks with Nigerian Army 

colours and number plates, 

wearing military fatigues, 

with name tags and 

carrying weapons with 

Nigerian Army inscribed on 

them. 

"They intentionally 

torched hundreds of 

houses in Naka, resulting 

in the confirmed loss of two 

lives, while hundreds of 

victims who survived the 

attacks lost all their life 

investments and 

documents and are now left 

to fend for themselves with 

nothing to their names but 

the clothes on their back. 

“The House is very 

disturbed by allegations 

that Army personnel 

deployed from the 72 Army 

Battalion in Markudi, the 

Benue State capital to quell 

the incessant inhuman 

murder of indigenes of 

Ger-west, Gwer-west and 

several other LGAs in 

Benue State by 

unidentified armed 

Naira down to N360.51/$ 

in I&E window 

By Adaeze Okechukwu 

THE Naira, yesterday, recorded the highest daily 

depreciation this week of 51 kobo to N360.51 

per dollar, in the Investors and Exporters (I&E) 

window of the foreign exchange market. 

Data from the Financial Market Dealers Quote 

(FMDQ) showed that the indicative exchange rate 

for the I&E window rose to N360.51 per dollar 

yesterday, from N360 per dollar on Tuesday, 

indicating 51 kobo loss in the naira. 

The depreciation was occasioned a 56 percent 

decline in volume of dollars traded the I&E window 

yesterday. The transactions in the window stood at 

$ 93.80 million, down from $212.83 million 

recorded on Tuesday. 

Meanwhile, naira remained stable at N363 per 

dollar yesterday for the tenth consecutive business 

day in the parallel market. 

herdsmen took the law into 

their hands in a blatant 

display of brigandage and 

criminality and attacked 

Naka town in retaliation for 

the alleged murder of one 

of their colleagues by 

unknown elements in the 

bush, 1.5km from Naka in 

the evening of Wednesday 

18th of April 2018. 

“It is disappointing that 

in a manner reminiscent of 

the Nigerian Army’s 

confirmed massacre of 

innocent Nigerians in Odi, 

Bayelsa State, in 1999 and 

Zaki Biam, Benue State in 

2001, the Nigerian Army 

has once again been 

accused of being the villain 

in extra-judicial actions 

against the citizens they 

are deployed to protect, 

even in the face of their 

inability to quell the siege 

Benue State is currently 

under from recurring 

attacks by unidentified 

armed herdsmen who daily 

unleash mayhem across 

several communities in 

Benue State with impunity. 

“These attacks assumed a 

new dimension in Benue 

State yesterday (Tuesday) 

when two Catholic priests, 

Fr. Joseph Gor and Fr. Felix 

Tyolaha, the Church 

Catechist and 16 other 

worshippers were 

murdered in cold blood 

while attending early 

morning Mass at St. 

Ignatius Catholic Mission, 

Ukpo Ayar in Mbalom 

Gwer-West LGA and 

several others who 

attended an early morning 

funeral near the church by 

the retreating armed 

herdsmen. 

“The House is aware that 

the Benue State 

government has raised 

alarm severally to the Army, 

the Police and other security 

and intelligence agencies 

about the alleged location 

of these bandits near Adaka 

in Markudi LGA and Gbaji 

in Gwer-west LGA from 

where recent attacks have 

been launched against 

neighboring communities. 

"But it is very worrying 

that the Army and the Police 

curiously do not employ a 

proactive strategy to 

preemptively attack these 

locations and carry out 

continuous surveillance of 

identified flash points but Benue State. Let’s see 

usually only respond after 

I the won't fact when scores go of to school again 

things Speaker, 

for ourselves. Honourable 

Mr. 

innocent citizens have lost 

their lives and property.” 

Other Reps react 

Contributing to the 

debate, the members 

roundly condemned the 

killings while showing their 

resentment to how the 

government has handled 

the problem. 

In his contribution, 

Dickson Takhir (Benue) 

alleged that the killers 

connived with security 

agencies to perpetrate the 

acts. 

He said: “Benue is under 

siege and if we don’t take 

the necessary actions, it will 

amount to abdicating the 

responsibility of 

government to protect lives 

and property of its citizens. 

It appears there is no moral 

will to tackle the matter 

because continuous 

complaints about the 

killings seem to fall on deaf 

ears." 

Edward Pwajok (Plateau- 

APC), stated the need to 

invite the security chiefs to 

brief the House on their 

efforts to stop the killings. 

“If Nigeria does not nip 

this in the bud, some 

people will be taken to the 

International Criminal 

Court, ICC. Something 

drastic has to be done, we 

don’t only have to be 

talking always without 

commensurate results; 

there is need to invite the 

service chiefs to brief the 

House on efforts to stop the 

killing,” he said. 

Mohammed Nur Sheriff 

(Borno) in his contribution, 

urged the House to stage a 

protest in solidarity with the 

people. He said: "We need 

to protest as members of the 

House of Representatives 

to tell Mr. President that 

enough is enough.” 

Magaji Aliyu (Jigawa), 

who stressed the need for 

the service chiefs to be 

sacked, said: "After a lot of 

money had been spent, 

nothing is being done. Mr. 

Speaker, the service chiefs 

must go. The Inspector- 

General of Police must go. 

"I am of APC and I 

respect President 

Muhammadu Buhari but 

the truth must be told. It has 

gone beyond sentiments. I 

believe this motion should 

be adopted.” 

Musa Ada (Sokoto) asked 

the speaker to activate the 

laws to arrest the situation. 

“Today we are sad, people 

outside laugh at us. Mr. 

Speaker, with all due 

respect, you must do 

something for yourself and 

for the members,” he said. 

Nicholas Ossai Nicholas 

(Delta) urged the House to 

proscribe the killer herders, 

since the President has 

failed to live up to the 

yearnings of his office. 

“If Mr. President has 

failed to proscribe the 

herdsmen, then it requires 

that we can do it 

legislatively. Then what are 

we waiting for? The killing 

started in Agatu and today 

Agatu is almost wiped out. 

And we are here passing 

resolutions. How many 

resolutions can we pass? 

Mr. Speaker, lead us to 

colleagues, it is high time 

all security chiefs resigned," 

he said. 

Sunday Karimi (Kogi) 

who contended that the 

President has failed the 

people in terms of security, 

said: “It is bloodshed today, 

bloodshed tomorrow and 

we are still coming here to 

raise motions. The 

President we have today is 

not the President of 1985, it 

is a different president 

entirely." 

On her part, Onyemachi 

Mrakpor (Delta) said “the 

way things are going, are 

we going to have 2019 

when our constituents are 

all gone?” 

The House eventually 

directed all its committees 

investigating the killings 

either on Benue or other 

states to submit their reports 

immediately for 

consideration. 

Briefing correspondents 

after plenary, Chairman, 

House Committee on 

Media and Publicity, 

Abdulrazak Namdas, said 

the decision to invite the 

President was consequent 

upon the belief that the 

security agencies were 

shortchanging both the 

President and the country, 

stressing that it was 

pertinent to hear directly 

from the horse's mouth. 

“The resolution to invite 

the President was borne out 

of the belief that some 

security agencies were not 

carrying out the instructions 

of Mr. President 

appropriately,” he said. 

Benue Women Forum 

Meanwhile, a former 

member of the House of 

Representatives and 

Chairperson of Benue 

Women Forum, Mrs. 

Rebecca Apedzan, has 

lamented that the sustained 

attacks and killings in 

Benue by herdsmen was an 

indication that the invaders 

were bent on taking over 

Benue State. 

She said: “Benue had 

been surrounded and we 

are all at the middle. Our 

people are being killed 

everyday, even the Tivs in 

Nasarawa State are facing 

the same fate. 

“They have all been 

chased away from 

Nasarawa. I have cousins 

who are indigenes of that 

State who have been 

chased away from the state 

to Benue. 

“Our pain is that the 

federal government is 

simply not doing anything 

to stop these killings." 

ACF 

In a statement issued in 

Kaduna yesterday, 

spokesman of the Arewa 

Consultative Forum, ACF, 

Muhammad Ibrahim Biu, 

called on the Federal 

Government to set up a 

panel of inquiry into the 

incessant killings. 

According to the ACF, the 

Federal Government must 

ensure that perpetrators of 

the heinous crimes are 

fished out and brought to 

book to serve as deterrent 

to others. 

“Arewa Consultative 

Forum, ACF, learned with 

shock and grief, the killing 

of two Catholic priests and 

some worshippers in a 

church at Ayar-Mbalom, a 

community in Gwer East 


Benue State by suspected 

herders on Tuesday. 

“The spate of attacks on 

innocent people, including 

clergy men and 

worshippers in their places 

of worship, is most callous 

and unfortunate. 

“ACF, therefore, calls on 

the security agencies to be 

more proactive and restrategise 

their security 

operations in order to nip 

this avoidable blood letting 

in the bud. 

“Furthermore, ACF urges 

the Federal Government to 

set up a panel of inquiry 

into these incessant killings 

that have continued to 

bedevil most of the 

Northern states, with the 

hope that amicable solution 

would be found for common 

good. 

PDP decries killings 

The Peoples Democratic 

Party (PDP) has described 

as sacrilegious and callous, 

the gruesome murder of 

two Catholic priests and 

worshippers in Benue 

State. 

The party in a statement, 

yesterday, said the attack 

on innocent and 

defenseless Nigerians 

while they were 

worshipping was 

extremely wicked and 

cannot be justified under 

any guise whatsoever. 

“The PDP is deeply 

worried over the unabated 

killings in Benue, Taraba, 

Nasarawa, Kogi, Zamfara, 

Plateau, Bornu, Adamawa 

and other parts of the 

country where bloodletting 

has become daily 

occurrence. 

“We urge our security 

agencies to take immediate 

steps 

towards 

apprehending the 

perpetrators and 

masterminds of this 

dastardly act and to ensure 

the safety of Nigerians, 

particularly in the troubled 

states,” the statement read 

in part. 

Buratai Orders 

GOC 82 Div to 

relocate to Benue 

Meanwhile, the 

General Officer 

Commanding 82 

division Nigerian Army, 

Major-General Adamu 

Abubakar, yesterday, paid 

a visit to 77 Special Forces 

Battalion in Makurdi in 

connection with the latest 

security challenges in 

Benue state that saw the 

killing of two priests and 

several others by 

rampaging herdsmen. 

A statement last night 

by Colonel Sagir Musa, 

Deputy Director, Army 

Public Relations said: 

“The GOC was briefed on 

the general security 

situation in the state by 

the Commanding officer 

of the battalion, Lt. Col. 

SS Mohammed. 

“Thereafter, the GOC 

and his entourage 

Continues on page 45


TRUE PICTURE OF OUR PUBLIC 

SCHOOLS: 

Challenge 

for govt, 

foundations 

• Teacher/student ratio is 1:80 

• Shortfall of 1,150,000 classrooms 

nationwide 

•Pupil toilet ratio is 1:600 -- UNICEF 

By Dayo Adesulu 

DO you know that six 

million of the 36 million 

girls who are out of school 

globally are Nigerians? 

Statistics revealed that 40 per 

cent of primary school teachers 

in Nigeria are unqualified, just 

as we have 10.5 million 

Nigerian children, 

representing 14 per cent of the 

70 million Nigerian children 

that are out of school globally. 

It is of great concern that 

children under age 15 make up 

44 per cent of Nigeria’s rising 

population. 

While the recommended 

teacher-pupil ratio is 1:35, there 

is an average of 49 pupil per 

primary school teacher in 

Nigeria. In a public school in 

Lagos where this reporter 

visited, it is one teacher to 80 

students in a class. 

According to UNICEF, over 

58.3 per cent of pupils in 

Nigerian schools are not 

learning effectively, while 50 

per cent of grade six pupils 

cannot read at all. UNICEF 

notes tat the "net enrolment rate 

at primary school level is 56 per 

cent for girls and 61 per cent 

for boys." 

Twenty million of 22 million 

*Overcrowded classroom 

Nigerian children aged 0-5 

years do not have access to 

early childhood education. 

Apparently attracted by this 

downward trend, many private 

sector organizations and multi 

nationals have over the years, 

contributed their quota to the 

development of the Nigerian 

education sector. 

In their quest to see a positive 

change in the sector, many of 

them have established 

Foundations to cushion the 

effect of this downward trend. 

Also some non-governmental 

organisations and faith-based 

institutions had at one time or 

the other initiated some 

schemes to boost standard of 

education in Nigeria. 

Education 

standard 

While the MTN 

Foundation focuses on tertiary 

education 

by 

introducing Science and 

Technology Scholarship 

scheme, it seeks to attract high 

performing full-time second 

year students studying in public 

tertiary institutions. On its part, 

the UBA Foundation promotes 

essay competition among 

•Pupils seated on the floor while learning 

*Lack of sanitation facilities 

students in secondary schools 

and winners are rewarded with 

scholarships for tertiary 

education. 

For Oando Foundation, it 

focuses on adopting public 

primary schools in Nigeria and 

providing access to basic 

quality education. 

The Foundation, on its 

website pointed out some 

issues in public primary schools 

that needed urgent attention. 

It noted that dilapidated school 

infrastructure, inadequate and 

obsolete equipment in public 

primary schools and lack of 

library facilities are the causes 

of poor learning and enrolment. 

It lamented the present shortfall 

of 1,150,000 classrooms 

nationwide. 

It also identified inadequate 

Only two million 

of 22 million 

children aged zero 

to five years in 

Nigeria have access 

to early childhood 

education 

water and lack of appropriate 

sanitation facilities as deterents 

to students' enrolment in public 

primary schools. 

UNICEF had reported that in 

some primary schools, pupil to 

toilet ratio is 1:600. Closely 

related to that is overcrowded 

classrooms in public schools. 

There is severe shortage of 

classroom space resulting in 

class sizes that sometimes triple 

the prescribed teacher-pupil 

ratio for Nigeria which is 1:40. 

In what could be described as 

out-of-school children scourge, 

over 10.5 million Nigerian 

children are out-of-school. Only 

two million of 22 million 

children aged zero to five years 

in Nigeria have access to early 

childhood education. 

Bothered by the data and the 

effect on the children, Oando 

Foundation has adopted 88 

schools across 23 states of 

Nigeria. 

For Oando, its target is to get 

60,000 Out-of-School children 

enrolled and retain them in 

school. 

The Foundation has also 

vowed to renovate 46 schools in 

nine states, provide 100 schools 

with enhanced educational 

infrastructure and improved 

learning environments. 

According to the data on their 

website, it would establish 46 

ICT centres, employ 1,600 

teachers and train 100 head 

teachers. 

Apart from targeting 1,500 

scholarships for students from 

its adopted schools, it would 

also strengthen the capacity of 

1,500 members of the School- 

Based Management 

Committees, SBMC and local 

government education 

authority. 

Meanwhile, records have 

revealed that the Foundation 

has enrolled 33,639 Out-of- 

School children, renovated 40 

schools, supplied teaching and 

learning materials to 74 schools 

with over 80,000 pupils. 

Besides, 33 ICT centres have 

been established, 2,169 

teachers trained, 79 head 

teachers and 1,133 SBMC 

members have been trained 

just as a total of 1,123 pupils 

have been awarded 

scholarships across the 23 

states.


*Public Affairs Analyst, Coca-Cola West Africa Business Unit and Project Manager, Mr Emeka 

Mba; the Sustainability Manager, Coca-Cola West Africa Business Unit, Mr. Osita Abana; 

Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Ogun State, Mrs Modupe Mujota; and 

the Board Secretary, Ogun State Universal Basic Education Board, Mr Wasiu Kuye during the 

foundation-laying ceremony of the construction and renovation of First Baptist Primary School, 

Ijaiye, Ogun State by the Coca-Cola Foundation in Abeokuta. 

Obasanjo calls for support for Ooni’s pet project 

By Oghenefego Obaebor 

FORMER 

President 

Olusegun Obasanjo has 

called on corporate 

organisations and good 

spirited individuals to support 

the Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye 

Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II in 

his commitment to the 

wellbeing of orphans and less 

privileged in Nigeria. 

The Give Back Concert which 

was recently endorsed by the 

former president is slated to 

hold on June 24, 2018 at the 

Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos. 

High profile Nigerians and 

corporate bodies are expected 

to be in attendance as all 

hands will be on deck to 

ensure the needs of orphans 

and the less privileged in 

society are met. 

Chief Olusegun Obasanjo 

while speaking about the 

concert said it would be the 

first time Nigerians will come 

together to remember the 

orphans and less privileged 

in a positive way without 

government interference. 

Orphans and less 

privileged people 

He implored all well 

meaning Nigerians to support 

by donating generously to the 

less privileged ones. 

The GiveBack Concert is 

aimed at raising funds to cater 

for the needs of the orphans 

and less privileged people in 

society. The Ooni began this 

journey through Hopes Alive 

Initiative, HAI, saying there’s 

the need for everyone to 

participate by sowing a seed 

into the lives of all 

underprivileged. 

According to him, many 

young and less privileged 

succumb to peer pressure and 

eventually choose criminalism 

as a way of life because they 

lack proper care required to 

positively shape their future. 

He said if Nigerians do this 

right, there will be less crime 

and violence in our nation 

and the peace we so much 

crave will be achieved. 

The deputy convener, 

Temitope Adesegun thanked 

everyone for their support and 

endorsement of the project. 

She reiterated that nongovernmental 

organisations 

were the major backbones of 

the underprivileged in 

society, stressing that this was 

the reason Hopes Alive 

Initiative would be launching 

a television programme, HAI 

TV for all NGOs to embrace. 

The initiative also intends to 

identify, nurture and 

showcase talents of the 

underprivileged ones. “It is 

with a view to making them 

live a fulfilled life without 

being held back by the social 

circumstances capable of 

denying them deserved 

By Marie-Therese Nanlong 

JOS- IN order to 

encourage science 

education in secondary 

schools, a group of five oilbased 

companies in the 

Agbami Field have built, 

equipped and handed over a 

science laboratory to 

Government Secondary 

School, Shendam, Plateau 

State with a charge that the 

project be put to maximum 

use for the good of the 

students and the society. 

But principal of the school, 

Mrs. Mary Yilzem who 

alongside principal officers in 

the state education sub-sector 

received the structure and 

equipment lamented that 

there are no qualified 

personnel to put the facility to 

effective use and requested 

that qualified teachers in 

respect and attention in the 

society,” she said. 

Meanwhile, the Project 

director, Eluwole Elusiyan, 

has thanked the Ooni for his 

love and kindness towards the 

orphans and less privileged 

ones since he ascended the 

throne of his forefathers. 

He described him as a king, 

a father, and a god to the entire 

Yoruba race, pleading with 

him to continue his support for 

orphanage homes across the 

nation while praying to God 

to continue to bless him the 

more. 

He said this year’s event 

will have the kids showcase 

their talents to the world while 

artists like Tuface, Tiwa 

Savage, Flavour, Sir Shina 

Peters, Niniola, Kenny Blaq, 

Gbenga Adeyinka the 1st and 

others will be there as 

entertainers they can draw 

inspirations from. 

Principal laments lack of teachers as school gets science laboratory 

science and other related 

subjects be posted to the 

school. 

The companies which 

include Petrobras, Star 

Deepwater Petroleum Ltd (a 

Chevron Company), Famfa 

Oil Ltd, Nigerian National 


NNPC and Statoil Nigeria Ltd 

had in March, 2017 

commenced the project and 

having completed it, handed 

it over to the State 

Government. 

Speaking at the event, 

Director, Star Deepwater, 

Richard Kennedy 

represented by the company’s 

Manager, Policy, Government 

and Public Affairs, Michael 

Kabi, the Managing Director, 

Petrobras, represented by 

Mrs. Meg Irozuru and Tobi 

Omiwade from Famfa Oil 

Expert tasks old architects on 

mentoring young ones 

By Dayo Adesulu 

RENOWNED Architect, 

Festus Adebayo 

Fawohunre, has charged 

elders in the architectural 

profession to stand firm on 

mentorship of young architects, 

because there was more 

practical knowledge lacking in 

them. 

Fawohunre who stated this 

during Caleb University's 

lecture on town and gown 

interaction event said, "elders 

in architecture must stand firm 

on genuine training of young 

ones. Let them engage in selfexamination 

with sincerity of 

purpose of who they really are 

in architecture." 

The architech who spoke 

while delivering the lecture 

titled: ‘Finding your place in 

Architecture’, urged every 

student and practising 

architects to endeavour to find 

their places in the profession. 

According to him, there was 

no way an architectural 

graduate can learn if he did not 

go to someone who was ahead 

of him in the profession, 

adding that "to reduce your 

mistakes, stress and have a 

direction as young architect, 

you need mentorship.". 

Explaining reasons for 

collapse buildings in our 

society, Fawohunre posited that 

collapse of building was a 

combination of three things. He 

asked: "Did they do enough 

investigation in the site they 

want to build. Are the client 

building according to the 

drawing. I can give you a two 

storey building and you may 

end up making it three storey. 

Do owners of buildings give 

the job to sound structured 

engineers to work on it or to 

quacks? 

"Are contractors of those 

buildings doing engineering 

tasked the benefiting school 

to give their all in promoting 

science education. 

According to Kennedy, “The 

event represents the 

commitment of the Agbami 

parties in supporting 

government efforts in 

improving the quality of 

education in Nigeria. The 

science laboratory is expected 

to have a huge impact on the 

students because it will 

provide the teachers and the 

students with up-to-date 

science laboratory equipment 

for easy teaching and learning 

of the sciences in the school." 

Also speaking, Irozuru 

stated, “The effort would 

build capacity in our children 

for the challenges of tomorrow 

and help to build leaders of 

tomorrow. I encourage you to 

make good use of the facility 

work and surveyor together? 75 

percent of what people do is 

based on assumption. Do they 

have engineers, professionals 

on site to combine their 

imagination to become reality. 

Above all, are the contractors 

or builders using quality 

materials and quality method 

of construction? 

"Whenever you see a bill 

board or a construction site 

going on, ask who is the 

architect? At least there was an 

architect that started the 

drawing for its approval. Go to 

the architect and ask who did 

the design. It is her duty to do 

a follow up to reduce danger." 

Stressing the need for an 

architect to supervise a 

building project, he said that 

what many builders do is 90 

percent of assumption because 

they don’t know the soil. He 

said, "Thay are only giving a 

survey plan and don’t know 

what is under the soil. There 

could be source of water under. 

It is when you get to the site 

you discover a lot of things and 

make adjustments. That is why 

there is need for an architect to 

supervise a building project." 

On his part, Head, School of 

Architecture, and Acting Dean, 

College of Environmental 

Sciences, Caleb University, Dr. 

Oladipo Dare Abel, said that 

the main purpose of the lecture 

was to bring people who have 

made impact in practice to the 

university, so that they can 

interact with them and share 

their experience over the years. 

"This is because we are 

producing students who are 

going to work outside the 

university as very few of them 

will work in the university. So 

we are bringing in people who 

have made it outside the shores 

of the university to tell us what 

it takes to succeed. 

as your way of contributing to 

the sustainability of efforts like 

this.” 

Omiwade of Famfa Oil, 

added: “The effort is to 

contribute to the development 

of education, we urge you to 

make very good use of the 

laboratory.” 

Receiving the facility on 

behalf of Governor Simon 

Lalong, the Commissioner for 

Education (Primary/ 

Secondary), Jude Dakur, 

commended the gesture and 

appealed to the teachers and 

students to safeguard the 

laboratory complex while the 

Commissioner for Science 

and Technology, Dan 

Manjang promised to look 

into the issue of nonavailability 

of qualified 

teachers in the school as 

raised by the principal.


Arthur Angel, displayed his books and works during the World Book Day on 

Copyright held in Lagos. 

Coca-Cola partners Ogun State on 

education facilities upgrade 

COCA-Cola Nigeria 

in partnership with 

the Ogun State Universal 

Basic Education Board, 

SUBEB, is set to embark 

on a construction and 

rehabilitation work at the 

First Baptist Primary 

School, Ijaye-Oja Ale, 

Ilogbo, Abeokuta, Ogun 

State. 

The project is part of the 

Coca-Cola Foundation/ 

UNDP New World 

Programme in 

collaboration with Ogun 

State Government aimed 

at providing critical 

infrastructural 

development in the 

school, which was 

established in 1910 as a 

missionary school 

adopted by the First 

Baptist Church before 

becoming a publicly 

owned primary school in 

the 1970s. 

Speaking at the 

foundation-laying 

ceremony held at the 

school premises in 

Abeokuta, Friday, the 

Managing Director, 

Coca-Cola Nigeria, Mr. 

Bhupendra Suri, who 

was represented by the 

Sustainability Manager, 

Coca-Cola West Africa 

Business Unit, Mr. Osita 

Abana, disclosed that the 

project funded by the 

Coca-Cola Foundation 

and implemented by the 

Youth Empowerment 

Foundation, would be 

completed within six 

months. 

Abana explained that 

the scope of the project 

would cover the 

construction of a block of 

five classrooms, six units 

of functional gender 

segregated toilet with 

water and sanitation 

facilities; construction of 

a functional playground; 

rehabilitation of two units 

of toilets; and 

rehabilitation of two units 

of classrooms. 

He also noted that the 

project when completed, 

would provide improved 

water supply not only to 

the school but also to the 

entire Ijaye Oja-Ale 

Ilogbo community. 

“Beyond this 

infrastructural 

development, the Coca- 

Cola Foundation will also 

facilitate a capacitybuilding 

training for the 

teachers of the school to 

deploy literacy 

enhancement 

programmes targeted at 

the upper primary section 

of the school,” he said. 

Quality of 

education 

Representing Ogun 

State Government at the 

ceremony, the 

Commissioner for 

Education, Science and 

Technology, Mrs. 

Modupe Mujota, stated 

that the project would go 

a long way in improving 

the quality of education 

offered to pupils of the 

school while also 

impacting the community 

positively. 

Mujota commended 

Coca-Cola Nigeria and 

The Coca-Cola 

Foundation for 

supporting the effort of 

the state government in 

providing a conducive 

learning environment in 

schools through the 

school rehabilitation 

project. 

She urged the 

stakeholders of the school 

including the teachers, 

pupils, parents and the 

old students, to take 

ownership and make 

good use of the facilities 

upon completion and 

ensure adequate security 

to prevent vandalisation 

and theft. “Without 

mincing words, this 

project is an 

unprecedented 

endeavour and a 

representation of the 

sincerity of the current 

state government as 

regards education. This 

foundation-laying 

ceremony marks the 

culmination of an 

intricate process of 

planning, organization 

and the beginning of 

another demanding 

journey-the process of 

executing and instituting 

our plans” she noted. 

In his own remarks, the 

chairman, Ogun State 

Universal Basic 

Education Board, Alhaji 

Olatunji Okewole 

described the partnership 

between the board and 

Coca-Cola Nigeria as a 

welcome development in 

terms of Public Private 

Partnership (PPP) in 

bridging infrastructure 

gap in schools. 

He thanked Coca-Cola 

Nigeria for the gesture 

and urged other 

corporate organizations 

to emulate the company 

by supporting the 

government in providing 

adequate infrastructure in 

schools in the state. He 

also applauded the 

School 

Base 

Management Committee 

(SBMC) of the school, the 

teachers and staff of the 

school for their 

unrelenting and 

unflinching effort towards 

the actualization of the 

project. 

NULASS disassociates self from solidarity 

walk for Ambode 

By Elizabeth Uwandu national president, 

THE National 

Union of Lagos State 

Students, NULASS, has 

debunked claim that it 

hosted a rally tagged: 

Solidarity walk for 

Akinwunmi Ambode, 

incumbent governor of 

Lagos State last Friday. 

This is as the body 

through its executive 

council alleged that an 

unrecognised faction of 

NULASS was being used 

by some politicians to 

perpetuate unconstitutional 

roles. 

In a Press release 

obtained by Vanguard, 

Ottun Adewale Omolade, 

NULASS, stated that 

“students are important to 

the legitimacy of any 

political group. However, it 

has been the practice of 

some politicians and 

personalities to orchestrate, 

cajole and entice students 

leadership to work in their 

favour. Some politicians 

even go to the extent of 

bribing, gifting and all 

manner of shenanigans. 

“It is evidently clear that 

a false body of executive 

members allegedly have 

been procured by some 

elements in Lagos State to 

host a movement and rally. 

This movement is not 

recognised by the union 

and those that constitute the 

said rally are mere thugs 

who are impersonating us, 

the union executive 

members. It is evident that 

these people parading as 

NULASS executes in recent 

time have proven the stuff 

they are made of since they 

have ready allies within the 

state to campaign for the 

2019 elections. 

“The said 'Solidarity walk 

for Ambode” allegedly held 

last weekend was not 

organised by us. We believe 

we will draw enough 

sympathy so that we may be 

vindicated against the 

impostors who have 

ravaged our union for their 

own selfish purposes. 

IGNITE inspires the girl-child on digital 

technology 

By Vera Anyagafu & 

Elizabeth Uwandu 

IN a bid to empower 

the girl-child through 

digital innovation, Inspiring 

Girls in Technology 

Evolution, IGNITE, in 

partnership with US 

Consular recently hosted a 

programme for secondary 

schools in Port Harcourt 

tagged: Academic 

Excellence & Career Day. 

The event aimed at 

educating and empowering 

young women to succeed in 

Science, Technology, 

Engineering, 

Maths, STEM careers, also 

provided girls the platform 

to achieve their full 

potential. 

Speakers at the event 

included Professor (Mrs.) 

Grace Awujo, the immediate 

past chair, Counselling 

Association of Nigeria, Rivers 

State and Dr. (Mrs) Margaret 

Kennedy who enjoined the 

participants to shun social 

vices, and engage 

themselves meaningfully 

through the use of 

technology. 

According to Dr. Kennedy, 

IGNITE, since inception in 

June 2010, has 

organised programmes 

where over 1000 girls from 

over 40 schools within Cross 

River, Lagos, Enugu, 

Bayelsa, Benue, Kaduna, 

Kwara, Rivers and Katsina 

states, have been trained.


Benue: Another 39 

killed; Reps suspend 

sitting in protest 


the Commissioner of 

Police, Benue State, CP 

Fatai Owoseni, where he 

was further briefed on the 

security situation in the 

state. 

“After the visits, the GOC 

used the occasion to visit 

and interact with the 

Deputy Governor of Benue 

state, Engr. Benson 

Abionu on the current 

security situation in the 

state. 

“In his remarks during 

the visit, the Deputy 

Governor commended the 

Nigerian Army for the 

good work they are doing 

in different parts of the 

state. 

“He informed the GOC 

that in his address to the 

people of the Naka 

community earlier in the 

day, he emphasized on the 

need for peaceful coexistence 

and the 

necessity for having 

Nigerian Army personnel 

in Benue communities. 

The Deputy Governor 

said: “As a responsible 

government, we are 

investigating the Naka 

incident, attack on the 

Church and the latest 

deaths recorded in many 

areas of the state. If we 

find anybody 

incriminated, we will deal 

with such a person.” 

Responding, the GOC 

said, ‘I am in the state on 

the instruction of the Chief 

of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. TY 

Buratai to interact with 

field Commanders and 

other heads of security 

agencies in Benue state 

with the aim of getting 

further credible situation 

report on the rising 

security challenges in the 

state with the view to 

checkmating the 

problems." 

WCC, ICC, others 

condemn attacks 

Meantime, the mindless 

killing of two Catholic 

priests and 17 worshippers 

at the St. Ignatius Quasi 

Catholic Parish, Ukpor, 

Mbalom, Gwer East local 

government area of Benue 

State has continued to 

generate reactions from 

across the globe as the 

World Council of Churches 

(WCC), the International 

Christian Concern, among 

others, have condemned 

attacks across the world that 

have occurred during a 

violent week in which 

many have lost their lives or 

lost their loved ones. 

According to the WCC 

General Secretary, Rev. Dr 

Olav Fykse Tveit on April 

22, in Kabul, Afghanistan, a 

suicide bomber killed at 

least 60 people and 

wounded more than 120, 

including children, as they 

stood in line outside a Kabul 

voter-registration office. 

"The next day, an attack 

occurred in Toronto, 

Canada, when a man 

steered a van down a 

crowded street, killing 10 

people and leaving 15 

others injured. He allegedly 

drove for nearly a mile, 

sometimes veering onto the 

sidewalk as he plowed a 

path of destruction. 

"On April 24, church and 

government officials in 

Nigeria confirmed two 

Catholic priests, Fathers 

Joseph Gor and Felix 

Tyolaha, were among at 

least 19 people killed when 

herdsmen attacked St. 

Ignatius Catholic Church 

in Ayar-Mbalom, a 

community in Benue State. 

The attack occurred as 

people gathered for an 

early morning mass. 

“Across the world, people 

who were living their daily 

lives, standing in line to 

register to vote, innocently 

walking in places that 

should be safe, attending 

worship, have been lost to 

their families and their 

communities,” said Tveit. 

Meanwhile, Director of 

Social Communications at 

the Catholic Archbishop of 

Lagos, Rev. Monsignor 

Gabriel Osu in a reaction 

said: “Why on earth would 

some people attack a group 

of worshipers in a Church, 

on an early morning, 

hacking them to death? 

What manner of insanity 

and sadism would make 

some people open fire on 

priests celebrating mass in 

the house of God? What is 

their offence? Of what use 

is their death to the 

perpetrators? This is the 

height of evil and human 

callousness that should be 

condemned in all its 

entirety. This is not, and can 

never be acceptable in any 

sane society. 

“Unfortunately ours is a 

society that has since lost its 

sanity and every sense of 

humanity. We have become 

a society numbed by the 

shedding of too much blood 

on a daily basis. We have 

lost touch with all that we 

once considered sacred 

and divine. For many, their 

consciences are no more 

active. They have been 

polluted and disfigured. 

They now think upside 

down. Their senses of 

morality have been thrown 

to the dogs and anything, 

everything goes as long as 

they derive some 

momentarily gains. What a 

pity. 

“The recent murder of 

Rev. Fathers Joseph Gor 

and Felix Tyolaha, a 

Catechist and several 

worshippers at a Catholic 

Church in Makurdi is not 

only abominable, but a slap 

on the entire Christendom. 

It is a calculated effort to 

instigate hatred and create 

fear in the hearts of 

Christians. It is daring the 

divine. Unfortunately, 

those sponsoring these 

atrocities are being 

emboldened daily by the 

inability of the government 

and the law enforcement 

agencies to do the needful." 

Macron attacks nationalism in speech to 

US Congress •Trump set to visit United Kingdom 

FRENCH President 

Emmanuel Macron has 

used his speech to the joint 

houses of the US Congress 

to denounce nationalism 

and isolationism. 

Mr Macron said such 

policies were a threat to 

global prosperity. 

The speech was widely 

interpreted as a thinly veiled 

attack on President Donald 

Trump’s America First 

agenda. 

Mr Macron also raised 

differences on global trade, 

Iran and the environment, 

seemingly in contrast to the 

warm bonhomie of his visit 

so far. 

These came as Iranian 

President , Hassan 

Rouhani rejected Macron’s 

suggestion of a new 

agreement with Tehran 

during talks with US 

president. 

Mr Macron said 

isolationism, withdrawal and 

nationalism “can be 

tempting to us as a 

temporary remedy to our 

fears. But closing the door 

to the world will not stop the 

evolution of the world. 

Danish given life 

sentence over 

murder of 

Swedish 

journalist 

DANISH 

inventor 

Peter Madsen has 

been sentenced to life in 

prison without parole for the 

murder of the Swedish 

journalist Kim Wall on his 

submarine. 

Madsen had planned to 

kill Ms Wall, 30, either by 

suffocating her or cutting her 

throat, the Copenhagen 

court heard. 

Her dismembered remains 

were found by Danish police 

at sea on 21 August last year, 

11 days after she 

interviewed him on board 

his homemade vessel. 

Madsen, 47, has said he 

will appeal against the 

conviction. 

He was found guilty of 

premeditated murder and 

sexual assault after 

previously admitting to 

dismembering Ms Wall’s 

body on the submarine and 

throwing her remains 

overboard. 

His claim that Ms Wall’s 

death was accidental was 

dismissed by the court. 

The case was heard by 

Copenhagen City Court 

Judge Anette Burkoe and 

two jurors. 

Judge Burkoe said: “It is 

the court’s assessment that 

the defendant killed Kim 

Wall. 

Meanwhile, President 

Donald Trump is expected 

to visit the United Kingdom 

in July, according to two 

people familiar with the 

matter, a trip that would 

conclude a months-long 

back-and-forth over when 

Trump would at last visit 

America’s closest 

ally.relationship” at a 

moment of uncertainty. 

French President Emmanuel Macron arrives to address a joint meeting of 

Congress in the House chamber of the U.S. Capitol, April 25, 2018. REUTERS 

Supreme Court appears ready to uphold 

Trump’s travel ban 

•Ex- President, George H.W. Bush moved out of intensive care unit 

THE U.S. Supreme 

Court’s conservative 

majority appeared 

poised to hand President 

Donald Trump a huge 

legal victory, signaling on 

Wednesday it was likely to 

uphold his contentious 

travel ban targeting 

several Muslim-majority 

countries. 

Conservative justices 

CHINESE scientists 

have concluded that 

North Korea’s nuclear test site 

has partially collapsed, 

potentially rendering it 

unusable. 

The test site at Punggye-ri 

has been used for six nuclear 

tests since 2006. 

After the last, in September, 

a series of aftershocks hit the 

site, which seismologists 

believe collapsed part of the 

mountain’s interior. 

North Korean leader Kim 

Jong-un announced he was 

suspending his country’s 

nuclear and missile tests. 

The surprise declaration 

came ahead of historic talks 

with South Korea and the US. 

The latest research from the 

University of Science and 

Technology of China (USTC) 

is due to be published in 

Geophysical Research 

Letters, a journal of the 

American Geophysical 

Union, in the coming days. 

It concluded that eight and 

a half minutes after 

September’s test, there was 

“a near-vertical on-site 

including Chief Justice 

John Roberts and Anthony 

Kennedy, a frequent swing 

vote on the nine-member 

court, indicated during 

arguments in the highprofile 

case their 

unwillingness to secondguess 

Trump on the 

national security 

justifications offered for the 

policy. 

N/KOREA: Nuclear site could 

be unusable after collapse 

collapse towards the nuclear 

test centre”. 

The Punggye-ri site is 

situated in mountainous 

terrain in North Korea’s 

north-east, and tests have 

taken place in a system of 

tunnels dug below Mount 

Mantap. 

A one-page summary of the 

research on the USTC website 

concluded: “The occurrence 

of the collapse should deem 

the underground 

infrastructure beneath 

mountain Mantap not be 

used for any future nuclear 

tests.” 

But those words do not 

appear in the final peerreviewed 

paper. It instead 

says that the “collapse in the 

test site calls for continued 

close monitoring of any leaks 

of radioactive materials”. 

Prof Wen Lianxing, the lead 

author of the study, told the 

Wall Street Journal that the 

conclusion about the test site’s 

viability would not be 

included in the published 

paper, but did not say why. 

Trump has said the ban 

is needed to protect the 

United States from attacks 

by Islamic militants. 

The challengers, led by 

the state of Hawaii, have 

argued the policy was 

motivated by Trump’s 

enmity toward Muslims. 

Lower courts have ruled 

against each of the three 

versions put forward by 

Trump of the travel ban, 

concluding they violated 

federal immigration law 

and the U.S. 

Constitution’s prohibition 

on the government 

favoring one religion over 

another. 

But with five 

conservatives on the ninemember 

Supreme Court, 

Trump seemed likely to be 

on the winning side when 

the justices issue their 

ruling by the end of 

June. 

Meanwhile, former 

President George H.W. 

Bush has been moved 

out of the intensive care 

unit to a regular patient 

room after earlier 

contracting an infection 

that spread to his blood, a 

family spokesman said 

Wednesday. 

The 41st President is 

“alert and talking with 

hospital staff, family and 

friends, and his doctors are 

very pleased with his 

progress,” the spokesman, 

Jim McGrath, said in a 

statement, adding that 

Bush is expected to 

remain at Houston 

Methodist Hospital for 

several more days.


2018 FIFA WC: Ighalo, Musa, Iwobi 

will score goals for me — Rohr 

SUPER Eagles coach, 

Gernot Rohr 

said his strikers will not 

let him down at the 2018 

FIFA World Cup 

tournament starting 

June in Russia. 

Rohr, who is being 

expected to release his 

provisional squad for 

the tournament any time 

soon, said he has no 

worries about his 

strikers. 

“When you see what 

happened last weekend, 

Odion Ighalo scored 

four goals, Ahmed 

Musa scored two, Victor 

Moses scored one and 

had an assist, Kelechi 

Iheanacho played very 

well at Leicester, but 

didn’t score 

“Alex Iwobi played 

also. So, I’m not 

pessimistic about this 

department. We have 

Mikel Obi, who can give 

good balls and also 

score. 

“I think we will be able 

to score some goals at 

the World Cup.” 

Nigeria scored 11 

goals in total during the 

third round of the 2018 

World Cup qualifiers, 

with Victor Moses the 

leading marksman with 

three goals. 

Meanwhile former 

Super Eagles defender, 

Ifeanyi Udeze has urged 

Iheanacho to work hard 

to achieve his true 

potentials. 

“Iheanacho is a good 

Oxlade-Chamberlain out of 

Russia 2018 

ALEX 

Oxlade- 

Chamberlain will 

miss the World Cup after he 

suffered a knee ligament 

injury against Roma, 

according to Liverpool. 

The midfielder had a scan 

on Wednesday after going 

down injured early on in 

Liverpool’s 5-2 win over 

Roma in the first leg of their 

Champions League semifinal 

at Anfield. 

Liverpool say that his 

season, both domestically 

and internationally, is over. 

Sweden shuts out Ibra 

SWEDEN boss, Janne 

Andersson has 

confirmed that Zlatan 

Ibrahimovic “certainly isn’t 

included in my plans for the 

World Cup”. 

Ibrahimovic suggested he 

would come out of 

international retirement to 

represent Italy’s playoff 

opponents in Russia, but 

Sweden’s CT made it clear 

there was no going back for 

the former Juventus, Milan 

and Inter striker, following 

on from his No 2 

goalkeeper. 

‘’Oxlade, it’s probably a 

really bad injury,’’ Liverpool 

manager Jürgen Klopp told 

BT Sport, according to 

Liverpool’s official website. 

‘’If we can say that already 

before the scan, that’s never 

good news so that means for 

us it’s a massive blow, of 

course. 

‘’We have still a few very 

important games to go and 

the squad doesn’t get 

bigger in the moment, so we 

obviously need to be 

creative in the next few 

games.’’ 

“He gave up on the 

national team after the 

European Championship, a 

decision I respected,” he 

told Kicker. 

“If he’s decided to leave 

the team, I don’t think he 

should come back now. In 

any case, he didn’t call me, 

but he’s certainly not 

included in my plans for the 

World Cup.” 

The 36-year-old, who 

moved to LA Galaxy last 

month, has since responded 

in a way only he could. 

No beer for fans, Russia 

authorities rule 

RUSSIAN authorities 

have slapped on an 

alcohol ban for this year’s 

World Cup, with the fear that 

supporters might cause 

disruption. 

There will be a crackdown 

in the country’s capital 

Moscow as officials will ask 

restaurants and pubs not to 

serve booze both the day 

before and on the day of the 

games. 

There will be no cutting 

corners, no loopholes, as even 

newsagents and 

supermarkets will not sell 

alcohol to the public. 

The only way for supporters 

to purchase alcohol will be 

through buying it as official 

FIFA fan zones and inside 

stadiums. 

The reason behind the 

draconian ban is to stop unruly 

behaviour and violence - an 

issue that rose to prominence 

after ugly scenes between 

Russian, French and English 

supporters in France during 

Euro 2016. 

player but I believe he 

needs to focus on his 

career. 

“He has great football 

technique and all kinds 

of skill but he needs 

strength. He’s young 

and has room to improve 

in every area but 

seriously needs to work 

on his strength since he 

gets tired too quickly in 

game situations,” he 

said. 

Salah to get plot of land in Holy Land 

MOHAMED Salah is 

the hottest player 

on the planet after his 

commanding display 

against Roma in Tuesday 

night’s first leg 

Champions League semifinal. 

Liverpool cruised to a 

comfortable 5-2 win at 

Anfield with Salah scoring 

two and making two 

assists. This came after he 

was crowned the PFA 

Player of the Year award. 

And now he’s set to be 

honoured with a plot of 

land in Mecca, according 

to Saudi news outlet Sabq. 

Fahd Al-Rowky – vice 

president of the local 

municipality in Mecca – 

announced his intention to 

honour the Liverpool 

forward. 

“There are several 

choices about giving this 

World Cup moments on StarTimes 

LEADING 

Pay-TV 

company StarTimes 

says all of the exciting 

moments of the 64 matches 

of the Russia 2018 FIFA 

World Cup will be 

delivered without signal 

interruption by rain, storm 

or any technical issue. 

This, the company said 

is due to its huge 

investments in improving 

the technology behind 

piece of land,” he told 

Sabq. “The way to go will 

be determined by captain 

Mohamed Salah as well 

as the Saudi system. 

“If the Saudi system 

allows the land to be 

owned by Salah, he will 

Wenger: I was forced out of 

Arsenal 

ARSENAL manager, 

Arsene Wenger 

speaking for the first on his 

contract situation with the 

Gunners, said the timing of 

his leaving the club was not 

his making. 

He replied after being 

asked why he will stand 

down at the end of the 

season: “The timing was not 

really my decision and for 

the rest I’ve spoken about it 

already. 

“I don’t know what I will 

do. I will continue to work 

that’s for sure. My pride has 

always been to give my best 

to where I’m employed until 

the last day of my contract.” 

RED PHAROAH...Liverpool's Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Salah (R) controls 

the ball during the UEFA Champions League first leg semi-final football match 

between Liverpool and Roma at Anfield stadium in Liverpool. AFP PHOTO 

•Oshonaike 

The Gunners are set to 

miss out on the top four in 

the Premier League in 

successive seasons but 

Wenger would not be 

drawn into branding a 

potential Europa League 

win as the ideal way to bow 

out. 

“Is there a perfect 

goodbye? I don’t know,” he 

said. “I just want to do as 

well as I can because this 

team has quality. I see them 

always respond in a 

positive way and this group 

of players deserve 

something special. I want 

to do it for them and 

achieve something with 

them.'' 

signal strength and 

distribution across the 

county, in a bid to ensure 

that the most exciting 

moments are not missed 

by football loving 

Nigerians. 

Speaking further on this, 

Brand and Marketing 

Director at StarTimes, 

Qasim Elegbede noted 

that “all is set to deliver 

quality signal for all 64 

be given a piece of land in 

holy Mecca outside 

Haram. The other option 

will be to have a mosque 

built on the land in his 

name.” This isn’t just a 

reward for success, 

though: Rowky has 

ALL is set for the 

second edition of the 

Funke Oshonaike 

matches live and in HD to 

subscribers without 

interruptions, not even by 

rain or storm”. 

StarTimes is the leading 

digital TV operator in 

Africa, serving nearly 10 

million subscribers with a 

signal covering the whole 

continent and a distribution 

network of 200 brand halls, 

3,000 convenience stores 

and 5,000 distributors. 

stressed that while Salah’s 

talent makes him an 

ambassador, his manners, 

public personality and 

many charitable acts also 

allow him to serve as a fine 

messenger for Islam in the 

UK. 

Oshonaike U-21 tourney 

serves off today 

Foundation U-21 

competition as over 40 

players are ready to compete 

for various prize money. 

The competition which was 

put up by the Lagos Country 

Club in celebration of the 

legend’s 44 th birthday will 

see both male and female 

players fighting for honour. 

Speaking on the tourney, 

the six-time Olympian called 

on all Nigerians to come out 

in their numbers to watch 

future of table tennis in the 

country. 

NTU challenges corporate bodies 

By Jacob Ajom 

AHEAD of the 

forthcoming The 

Nigerian Triathlon Union 5 th 

National Championship, 

President of the Union, Dr 

Lanre Glover has called on 

corporate Nigeria to identify 

with the Union in seeing to 

the successful organisation 

of the event scheduled to 

hold from May 4 and 6 at 

the National Stadium, 

Lagos. 

Speaking at a pre-event 

“I always have that 

conviction that we have raw 

talents in the country and all 

we need is just to harness 

them,” she said. 

“Starting from today, we 

are going to witness best of 

table tennis in the country 

and it is going to be another 

opportunity for the kids to 

show the stuff they are made 

of. “This is my own way of 

giving back to the country 

that made me and also an 

opportunity to produce 

another star that will take 

over from people like 

(Segun) Toriola and myself.” 

press conference in Lagos, 

Dr Glover thanked the 

management of Linkage 

Assurance Plc for agreeing 

to sponsor this year’s event 

bu explained that there was 

still room for other corporate 

bodies to follow the 

exemplary gesture of the 

insurance giants. 

He said over 120 athletes 

will be participating in the 

championship which will 

feature running, cycling 

and swimming. 

“Twenty states have 

confirmed their 

participation in the 

championship which is also 

open to private clubs,” he 

said. 

He informed that there 

will be competition in elite 

and youth categories as 

handsome prizes have been 

put in place for winners. 

According to the NTU 

President, first prize is 

N50,000, second prize is 

N30,000 and third place 

winners will take home 

N20,000.


Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2018 

TODAY’S PUZZLE 

Sudoku 

YESTERDAY’S ANSWER 

TODAY’S CROSSWORD 

QUICK CROSSWORD 

YESTERDAY’SOLUTION 

How to Play Sudoku 

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

of the same number). 

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

from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine 

blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no 

number can appear twice in any block, column or row. 

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or 

multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination. 

ACROSS 

1 Legendary founder of Rome (7) 

5 Game on a green (5) 

8 Freight (5) 

9 Very active (2,3,2) 

10 Drinking vessel (7) 

11 Detested (5) 

12 Fleet of ships (6) 

14 Groups of twelve (6) 

18 Garret (5) 

20 Got away (7) 

22 Monarchical state (7) 

23 Proverb (5) 

24 Cereal crop (5) 

25 News (7) 

DOWN 

1 Type of biscuit (4,3) 

2 Idiot (5) 

3 Big cat (7) 

4 Cheap and nasty (6) 

5 Bungle (5) 

6 Grapple (7) 

7 Fencer’s weapon (5) 

13 Daytime performance (7) 

15 Area with fruit trees (7) 

16 Sorrow (7) 

17 Muppet frog (6) 

18 Awry (5) 

19 Military trainee (5) 

21 Small edible crustacean (5) 

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

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

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

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