18062018 - KILLINGS: Benue, Taraba, Ekiti, Afenifere, Ohanaeze, others take on DHQ

Improved Forex supply deflates 

banks’ e-payment income 

INSIDE 

Buhari signs 

budget tomorrow 

to avoid govt 

shutdown 9 

– GOVT SOURCE 

Gas pipeline rupture 

disrupts supply to 6 

power plants, as 

generation drops by 

1,087MW 

9 

VOL. 26: NO. 63573 MONDAY, JUNE 18, 2018 

<strong>KILLINGS</strong>: 

<strong>Benue</strong>, <strong>Taraba</strong>, <strong>Ekiti</strong>, <strong>Afenifere</strong>, 

<strong>Ohanaeze</strong>, <strong>others</strong> <strong>take</strong> on DHQ 

•You're blaming victims instead of the aggressors — <strong>Benue</strong> govt, <strong>Afenifere</strong> 

•It’s an attempt to clamp down on politicians —Fayose 

•Name politicians, states involved —<strong>Taraba</strong> govt 

•They should show us enough proof — Mohammed 

BOMB EXPLOSION 

By Emeka Mamah, 

Soni Daniel, 

Northern Region 

Editor, Dapo 

Akinrefon, Gbenga 

Oke & Peter Duru 

L <strong>Taraba</strong> AGOS—<strong>Benue</strong>, 

and <strong>Ekiti</strong> 

state governments, 

yesterday, reacted 

angrily to claims by 

Acting Director of 

Information, Defence 

Headquarters, Brig Gen. 

John Agim, that 

politicians were using 

thugs as herdsmen to 

cause attacks on 

communities across the 

country. 

Continues on Page 5 

Mr & Mrs 

Fresh suicide bomb explosion rocked Abbatchari village in Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State, Saturday night, killing over 20 

people and injuring 48 <strong>others</strong>. Some of the victims being <strong>take</strong>n to the hospital. Photos: NAN. SEE STORY ON PAGE 9 

COLUMNISTS SOBOWALE 30 OWEI LAKEMFA 33 HENRY BOYO 31 

RIVERS LG POLLS: 

PDP wins all 23 

chairmanship 

seats 

12 

APC Convention: 

Okorocha’s c’ttee, 

NWC lock horns 

over tenure, 

aspirants’ 

8 

disqualification 

2019: Convene 

security summit 

to avert violence 

in Kano, Sanusi 

tells Ganduje 8 

2019 Presidency: 

I’ll seek PDP 

nomination 

— MAKARFI 14

26 — VANGUARD, MONDAY, JUNE 18, 2018

VANGUARD, MONDAY, JUNE 18, 2018—3


Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 18, 2018—5 

POCKET CARTOON 

FATHERS' DAY—Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State 

(Right); Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem, Secretary to the State Government (Middle) 

and Mr. Akan Okon, Commissioner, Ministry of Housing and Special Duties, 

during the 2018 Fathers' Day celebration at the United Evangelical Church, 

Surulere, Lagos, yesterday. 

<strong>KILLINGS</strong>: <strong>Benue</strong>, <strong>Taraba</strong>, <strong>Ekiti</strong>, 

<strong>Afenifere</strong>, <strong>Ohanaeze</strong>, <strong>others</strong> <strong>take</strong> on DHQ 

Continues from Page 1 

Same reactions from 

Yoruba socio-political 

organisation, <strong>Afenifere</strong>, 

its counterpart in the 

South East, <strong>Ohanaeze</strong> 

Ndigbo, and Second 

Republic lawmaker, 

Junaid Mohammed, also 

trailed the claim. 

These reactions came as 

Southern and Middle 

Belt Leaders Forum, 

yesterday, called on 

President Muhammadu 

Buhari to rejig his security 

apparatus in order to earn 

the confidence of all 

communities in Nigeria, 

with a view to stopping 

the killings in the country. 

It also drew immediate 

reactions from <strong>Benue</strong>, 

<strong>Ekiti</strong> and <strong>Taraba</strong> state 

governments as well as 


organisation, <strong>Afenifere</strong>; 

Second Republic 

lawmaker, Junaid 

Mohammed and apex 

Igbo Socio-political 

organisation, <strong>Ohanaeze</strong> 

Ndigbo, who all 

challenged the Defence 

Headquarters to show 

proof of the allegation. 

Agim had said in an 

interview granted a 

national newspaper, 

weekend, that some 

politicians were 

sponsoring thugs as 

herdsmen to attack 

communities. 

Southern/M-Belt 

leaders 

However, against the 

backdrop of the killings in 

the country, Southern and 

Middle Belt Leaders 

Forum, yesterday, called 

on 

President 

Muhammadu Buhari to 

rejig his security apparatus 

in order to earn the 

confidence of all 

communities in Nigeria. 

The forum also for the 

second time in a week, 

reiterated the call of a vote 

of no confidence in 

Chairman of the 

Independent National 

Electoral Commission, 

INEC, Prof Mahmood 

Yakubu even as it called 

for his suspension. 

In a communique by 

Yinka Odumakin (South 

West), Senator Bassey 

Henshaw (South South), 

Prof Chigozie Ogbu 

(South East) and Dr 

Isuwa Dogo (Middle 

Belt), entitled: ‘Our Case 

against 2019 Elections 

Preparations, the forum 

said: “We are equally 

not comfortable with the 

impunity and gross 

lopsidedness of 

appointments into the 

security architecture of 

the country and going 

into election season. 

“What special services 

have the three main 

Chiefs (Service Chiefs) 

rendered to the defence 

system for the President 

to keep them in office if 

not that they may be used 

for partisan roles? How 

would all sections of the 

country have confidence 

in the security 

arrangement for 

elections when 16 out of 

17 security heads are 

from a section of the 

country? 

“We demand that the 

President should 

reconstitute the security 

apparatus so as to earn 

the confidence of all 

communities in 

Nigeria.” 

The forum said it 

lacked confidence in the 

INEC chairman “whose 

conduct over the scandal 

of underage voters in 

Kano has shown a gross 

betrayal of public trust.” 

R e v i e w i n g 

preparations towards 

2019 elections, the forum 

faulted the INEC 

chairman’s refusal to 

investigate the Kano 

underage voters scandal. 

The statement read 

further: “We demand the 

immediate release of INEC 

report on the Kano 

underage voters scandal. 

“Interrogation of the 

Voters Registry by a 

Judicial Commission with 

representatives from 

international and local 

elections observers to 

check cases of underage 

voters and foreign 

mercenaries before the 

2019 elections. This is very 

necessary as INEC cannot 

be a judge in its own cause. 

“The probe should also 

be extended to the fake 

INEC results centre 

discovered in Rivers State 

last year and the printing 

press responsible which 

has since been swept under 

the carpet. 

“We also demand the 

suspension of the current 

INEC chairman while the 

investigation is on to 

prevent intervention with 

the probe.” 

<strong>Benue</strong> State govt 

Reacting to Defence 

Headquarters’ statement, 

Special Adviser to <strong>Benue</strong> 

State Governor on Media 

and Publicity, Tahav 

Agerzua, said: “In case of 

<strong>Benue</strong>, on May 30, 2017, 

Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore 

held a press conference in 

Abuja and they said that 

the crisis in <strong>Benue</strong> was a 

struggle for the natural 

resources of the <strong>Benue</strong> 

Valley, that they would 

mobilize their kith and kin 

across the world to invade 

the state, <strong>take</strong> over the 

land after eliminating all 

the inhabitants. 

“The governor, the 

House of Assembly and 

leaders of the state wrote 

a petition to the 

Presidency and all the 

relevant agencies but 

nothing was done. 

“This people are 

regarded as sacred cows, 

so from January this year, 

that is what they have 

been doing in <strong>Benue</strong> 

State. So it is clear to us 

that the attacks in the state 

that started since 2010 are 

a well organised plan to 

<strong>take</strong> over the land of the 

state. 

“The statement by the 

Defence Headquarters is 

an attempt to change the 

narratives of blaming the 


What are the solutions to Apapa gridlock 

By Bose Adelaja, Ebun 

Sessou & Abasifiok Johnson 

? 

We will go back to 

Lagos State master 

plan. We are supposed to 

have light terminals in 

Oworonshoki, Ikorodu and 

other riverine areas of Lagos 

where containers can be 

kept. Alhaji Jakande was 

implementing this with 

metro project before the 

military struck in 1983 and 

cancelled it. The 

consequence of that 

unwholesome decision is 

what we are suffering today. 

If the ongoing Badagry port 

is completed, it will be a 

relief, but honestly, more 

lighter terminal ports are 

needed. 

Alhaji Adedoyin 

Kamardeen,Public Servant 

Our ports remain a 

major gateway to 

our nation’s economy. 

They are national 

assets we cannot do 

without, but the 

deployment of a freight 

intelligence and truck 

control system on 

Purchasing power parity 

(PPP) basis will go a long 

way in solving the Apapa 

gridlock problem. 

Mr. Oluyemi Fasipe 

Youth Advocate 

Federal and state 

governments 

should go back to our old 

system. 

One, if you don’t have 

a loading pass, you must 

not be on Apapa road. 

Two, all truck owners 

must have a parking 

space for all their truks. 

Three, repair of trucks on 

the road must stop. 

Mr. Oyemakin 

Muritala Public Servant 

Let the Federal 

Government 

provide a park for those 

trailers because the 

Federal Government 

benefits from the 

activities at the port. 

Also, both the state and 

federal governments 

should join hands and 

do something about the 

problem because they 

generate revenue from 

the ports. 

Mr. Wahab Ogunji 

Property Consultant 

What the Federal 

Government 

should do is to 

concession the ports to 

the private sector and 

collect royalties. 

The private companies 

should be allowed to 

manage and 

rehabilitate the ports. 

Mr. Jimoh Adeyeye 

Petroleum Marketer 

The gridlock is mainly 

caused by the bad 

roads and the petrol 

tankers. I believe if the 

federal and state 

governments could 

construct more roads 

and also give a strict 

warning to tanker 

drivers not to move until 

late in the night, I 

believe in no time, the 

gridlock being 

experienced in that area 

will be a thing of the 

p a s t . 

Mr.Abiola Jamiu 

T e a c h e r

6—Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 18, 2018 

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

N1.2bn fraud: 

5 suspects 

regain 

freedom 

By Jane Echewodo 

THE no-case submission 

by Ifeanyi Ogbogo, 

Chigozie Abazu, Prince 

Unachukwu, Obinna 

Igwenagwu and 

Chukwudi Anikputa, 

accused of theft of 26,667 

motorcycle engines, valued 

at N1.2 billion, property of 

Fragend Investment Nig. 

Ltd., has been upheld by a 

Lagos State Magistrate's 

Court sitting at Isolo. 

Trial magistrate, Adeola 

Adedayo, arrived at the 

decision after declaring that 

the Police failed to carry out 

diligent investigation into 

the case. 

In her ruling, Magistrate 

Adedayo held that “the 

trial court is not at this stage 

called upon to express any 

opinion on the evidence 

before it. 

“The court is only called 

upon to <strong>take</strong> note and to 

rule accordingly that there 

is before the court no 

legally admissible evidence 

linking the defendants 

with the offence with which 

they have been charged. 

“In upholding a no-case 

submission application, it 

must be shown that there 

is no evidence to prove an 

essential element of the 

alleged offence, the 

evidence adduced has 

been so discredited as a 

result of cross-examination 

and the evidence so 

adduced is so manifestly 

unreliable that no 

reasonable court can safely 

convict on it. 

“In the instant case, the 

evidence before the court is 

clear that the motorcycle 

engines in question can 

only be imported into 

Nigeria through the 

complainant company. 

“That is not in dispute and 

documents to buttress this 

are placed before the court. 

“The Police should have 

been more diligent in their 

investigation. I find there is 

no reason for the 

defendants to enter into 

their defence. 

“Where a no-case 

submission is upheld, the 

defendant must be 

discharged and I so hold 

regarding all the 

defendants.” 

During the course of trial, 

Cyril Ajifor from the State 

Criminal Investigation 

Department, SCID, Panti, 

Yaba, Lagos State, led the 

prosecution team. 

Pius Sodje represented 

the first defendant, while 

Olarewaju Ajanuku 

represented the second, 

third and fifth defendants. 

Man beats mother to death for 

opposing love affair with her sister 

By Ugochukwu Alaribe 

BA—A 22-year-old man, 

AAgaezichi Ogbonna, has 

allegedly killed his mother 

over a love affair with the 

mother’s sister at Akpaa 

Mbato community, Obingwa 

council area of Abia State. 

Family sources told 

Vanguard that Agaezichi was 

having a love affair with his 

mother’s sister. 

However, his mother, 

Blessing, warned against the 

relationship, describing it as 

By Suzan Edeh 

RESIDENTS of Bauchi 

metropolis, yesterday, 

continued to count their losses 

following Saturday night’s 

rainstorm that wreaked havoc 

in the state capital. 

Although there was no 

confirmation of loss of lives, 

some sources said many lives 

were lost while properties 

worth millions of Naira were 

destroyed. 

Vanguard learned that the 

whirlwind that preceded the 

rain started at about 4p.m., as 

residents were still celebrating 

Eid-el Fitri. 

By the time the rain subsided 

many houses were badly 

damaged, trees uprooted and 

cars covered by blown off roofs. 

Damaged 

Areas of the town that were 

worst hit are Gombe Road, 

Kofar Dumi, Wuntin-Dada and 

Yelwa, where buildings and 

other structures including 

schools were pulled down, 

causing deaths and injuries to 

people. 

The family of Bauchi State 

correspondent of the News 

Agency of Nigeria, NAN, 

Kaigama, narrowly escaped 

death when their apartment 

collapsed, following the 

rainstorm. 

Kaigama said his wife, two 

children and an in-law were 

in the sitting room of his 

Wuntin Dada residence in 

Bauchi metropolis, when the 

rain started. He was out on 

official duty. 

His words: “Suddenly, the 

wind and rain became 

stronger, forcing the walls of 

our compound and bedroom 

to collapse. 

“However, the parlour, 

where my wife and the 

children were sitting, was not 

affected. But I can tell you, it 

was a narrow escape.” 

He said some of his 

valuables were destroyed, but 

thanked God for sparing the 

lives of his family members. 

“My family members are 

squatting with neighbours, 

but I am still putting up in the 

a taboo in Igboland. 

However, weekend, the 

deceased reportedly met the 

lovebirds at home and 

warned them to desist from 

the love affairs, but Agaezichi 

pounced on his mother and 

beat her to death. 

Murder, caught 

When they realised that the 

woman had died, the lovers 

fled, but Agaezichi was 

arrested by youths, who 

handed him over to the 

soldiers stationed at the 

community. 

A family source said: 

“The boy was having a love 

affair with his mother’s 

sister. The love affair has 

been going on for a long 

time. But his mother kept 

warning him against it. 

“Everybody in this village 

had been warning the boy 

against the love affair, 

because it is a taboo in 

Igboland. 

“Any time his mother 

warned him to stop the love 

affair with her sister, 

Agaezichi will beat the woman. 

“Yesterday, his mother saw 

him with the girl and warned 

about the consequences of 

their love affair and Agaezichi 

rained blows on the woman. 

She fell and died.” 

A soldier, who asked not to 

be mentioned, said the suspect 

has been handed over to the 

Police. 

Contacted, Police Area 

Commander, Aba, ACP Peter 

Opara, confirmed that the 

suspect is being detained by 

the Police. 

Homes, schools, <strong>others</strong> destroyed as rainstorm hits Bauchi 

Some buildings 

(above) and a car (right) 

destroyed by the 

rainstorm. 

partially collapsed structure,” 

said Kaigama. 

Red Cross reacts 

Speaking with newsmen, 

the Bauchi State 

Communication Coordinator 

of Red Cross, Hajia Asma’u 

Tijjani Umar, said the level of 

devastation in the disaster 

was alarming. 

Hajia Asma’u Umar said 

immediately after the storm, 

the society swung into action 

to give first aid to the affected 

people and communities in 

the state capital. 

The Red Cross official called 

on the affected people to give 

out information to relevant 

organisations to enable them 

compile the losses incured in 

the disaster. 

One shot as festival turns awry in Delta 

By Perez Brisibe 

UGHELLI—ONE person 

was, Saturday night, shot 

while <strong>others</strong> were said to have 

sustained various degrees of 

injuries during the climax of the 

Oteri community festival in 

Ughelli North Local Government 

Area of Delta State. 

The victim, identified as 

Benjamin, is the Vice Chairman 

of the community. 

He was said to have been 

accidentally shot on the leg by 

another member of the 

community’s executive, while 

celebrating the conclusion of 

the annual festival at the 

community’s shrine. 

Confirming the incident to 

Vanguard, a resident stated 

that the incident happened at 

about 9p.m. on Saturday with 

the victim rushed to the 

Ughelli Central Hospital. 

The source, who spoke on 

condition of anonymity, said: 

“While they were dancing at the 

shrine, a senior member of the 

community executive, who had a 

pump action rifle, shot twice into 

the air in celebration. 

“Unfortunately, a bullet was still 

stuck in the chamber of the rifle, 

which discharged accidentally, 

hitting the Vice Chairman in 

lower part of one of his legs, with 

shrapnel hitting <strong>others</strong>.”


:Vanguard News :@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews 

One killed, 29 arrested in Nasarawa cult clashes 

NO fewer than 29 people 

have been arrested over the 

killing of a man, whose name was 

given simply as Ibrahim, at 

Masaka in the Karu Local 

Government Area of Nasarawa 

State, who died June 15 during a 

cult clash. 

Nasarawa State Police 

Command’s spokesperson, ASP 

Samaila Usman, who confirmed 

the development, yesterday, in 

Lafia, explained that two young 

men were earlier brought to the 

Masaka Police Station at about 

11:30 p.m. on June 13 with various 

degrees of injuries. 

He said investigations revealed 

that the injuries were sustained 

during a cult clash at Angwan Jaba 

community in Masaka. 

Usman said on June 15, the 

command received information 

that rival cults had mobilised 

again for reprisal attack at Angwan 

Tiv village in Masaka during 

which Ibrahim was killed. 

“A combined team of police 

officers were immediately 

dispatched to the area to bring the 

situation under control. 

“But our men met stiff resistance 

from the cult members, numbering 

about 50. 

“We were, however, able to 

disperse them while five of them 

were arrested at the scene and 24 

<strong>others</strong> arrested later at different 

locations in the area.” 

Usman said that one Hassan 

later reported at the Masaka Police 

Station that his cousin, named 

Ibrahim was macheted to death at 

Angwan Tiv. 

“So, the Police immediately 

mobilised to the place and 

collected the corpse, but the 

parents refused to allow us <strong>take</strong> 

the corpse to the mortuary.” 

The spokesman pleaded with 

members of the public to assist the 

Police with useful information that 

would help to check the menace 

of cultism and other criminal 

activities in the Masaka area. 

According to him, “there are 

concentrations of organised cult 

groups in Angwa Tiv and Angwa 

Jaba in Karu, but we are on top of 

the situation. 

“That is why we have launched 

Operation Fish Out and created 

anti-cultism units in the state.” 

Police foil attempt to kidnap 

Customs boss, brother, son 

By Evelyn Usman 

LAGOS—ATTEMPT 

by 

kidnappers to abduct a Deputy 

Comptroller of Customs, her 

younger brother and her son was, 

weekend, foiled by policemen 

attached to Area ‘D’ Command, 

Mushin, Lagos, following the 

arrest of two suspected members 

of the gang. 

During preliminary investigation, 

one of the suspects, Olugbenga 

Kehinde Ojo, was discovered to be 

a former driver to the female 

Customs officer’s uncle. 

The kidnappers, as gathered, 

posed as businessmen and 

contacted the Customs officer’s 

brother, Barrister Theophilus Yisa, 

on phone, informing him of a 

business proposal. 

They invited Theophilus to a 

meeting around Lekki, to finalise 

the supposed deal. 

However, Theophilus, as 

gathered, contacted the 

Commander, Area D, Akinbayo 

Olusoji, an Assistant Commissioner 

of Police, with a view to informing 

him of the deal before hand, should 

anything go amiss. 

Suspecting that the supposed 

businessmen had a sinister motive, 

the Police ran a quick check on one 

of the callers, Yomi Odudare, only 

to discover he had been on their 

wanted list. 

On the meeting day, Saturday, 

some policemen in plainclothes 

accompanied Theophilus to Farapark, 

Ajah, where Odudare was 

arrested. 

During investigation, the suspect 

confessed to being a member of a 

kidnap gang. He claimed never to 

have met Theophilus or any 

member of his family before. 

He also disclosed that his gang’s 

intention was to kidnap Theophilus, 

his Customs officer sister and her 

4 dead, 25 injured 

in Ogun auto crashes 

By Daud Olatunji 

ABEOKUTA—FOUR persons 

have lost their lives, while 25 

<strong>others</strong> sustained injuries in three 

separate road crashes, which 

occurred on Saturday in Ogun 

State. 

Public Education Officer of the 

Federal Road Safety Corps, 

FRSC, Ogun State Command, 

Florence Okpe, in a statement 

yesterday, said the road accidents 

happened at Ososa-Ijebu along 

Sagamu-Ijebu-Ode-Benin 

Expressway, while two <strong>others</strong> 

occurred on the Lagos-Ibadan 

Expressway. 

Okpe said the crashes were 

discovered during Day 5 of the 

Ogun State FRSC Command 2018 

Eid-el-Fitri Special Patrol 

operations. 

He further explained that the first 

crash occurred along Sagamu- 

Ijebu-Ode Expressway at about 

4p.m., when an unregistered 

Toyota Corolla car plunged into 

Ososa River, very close to Ijebu- 

Ode. 

She added that out of 12 persons 

who were involved in the accident, 

two persons, including a girl, died, 

while 10 <strong>others</strong> sustained injuries. 

In the second crash, which 

occurred at the Fidiwo Area along 

Lagos-Ibadan Expressway at about 

8a.m., two vehicles with number 

plates LSD 266 CK and AGL 554, 

collided. 

Okpe, stated that the driver of 

one of the vehicles had earlier been 

son. He revealed that the idea 

to kidnap the trio was 

orchestrated by one Olugbenga 

Kehinde Ojo. 

On the Police’s directive, 

Odudare put a call through to 

Ojo, asking him to come to a 

designated point, that he had 

successfully abducted the 

lawyer. 

When unsuspecting Ojo 

arrived the scene, he was 

subsequently arrested. 

The suspects, as gathered, 

took the Police to a shanty 

surrounded by water at Eleko, 

along Lekki/Epe Expressway, 

where they intended to keep 

their victims hostage. 

They would have killed 

the victims—Police 

Confirming their arrest, the 

Lagos State Police Public 

Relations officer, CSP Chike Oti, 

disclosed that the suspects 

intended to kill the victims had 

they succeeded in their plan. 

According to Oti , “it was the 

agreement of both suspects that 

in order to avoid the mis<strong>take</strong>s 

of the notorious kidnapper, 

Evans, the moment any of their 

potential victims sights 

Olugbenga Ojo, a former 

employee of the Deputy 

Comptroller’s uncle, that 

person must be killed because 

they all know him. 

“The Commissioner of Police, 

Lagos, Imohimi Edgal, wishes 

to use this opportunity to advise 

Lagosians to be wary of people 

who call them out for lucrative 

business deals, as it might turn 

out to be a ploy to kidnap or 

harm them. 

“He assures that the 

Command will remain 

proactive in the fight against 

crimes in the state.” 

booked by the FRSC Patrol Team 

for traffic infraction and barely 

three minutes later, the vehicle 

collided with another travelling 

outward Ibadan. 

She said the crash claimed two 

lives, while 10 <strong>others</strong> sustained 

injuries. 

Ogun FRSC Public Education 

Officer, said the injured victims 

were <strong>take</strong>n to Olabisi Onabanjo 

University Teaching Hospital 

OOUTH, in Sagamu, while the 

bodies of the dead victims were 

deposited at the mortuary of a 

private hospital in Ipara-Remo. 

Meanwhile, the third 

accident, which also occurred 

on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, 

did not claim any life, but 

five persons were injured. 

... with Emma'nKen (08163121378) 

So Cuppy, your DJ work doesn't pay? 

...even on Father's Day we spend! 

Who attended Angrybeast's naming?

8—VANGUARD, MONDAY, JUNE 18, 2018 

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

APC convention: Okorocha’s c’ttee, 

NWC lock horns 

By Omeiza Ajayi 

ABUJA— The face-off 

between National 

Working Committee, NWC, 

of ruling All Progressives 

Congress, APC, and 

Governor Rochas Okorocha 

of Imo State, could assume 

a new dimension this week, 

following remarks by the 

governor that the NWC 

cannot be a judge in its case. 

The issue in question is the 

settling of issues arising from 

screening of aspirants for the 

June 23 national convention 

of the party. 

Speaking with journalists, 

weekend, in Abuja, the 

governor, who is the 

chairman of the party’s 

National Convention 

Screening Appeal 

Committee, had said the 

committee was in receipt of 

petitions against the NWC, 

and that the committee was 

the last bus stop for all 

aggrieved aspirants. 

He said the decision of his 

committee was final, adding 

that the committee had the 

powers to disqualify an 

aspirant that had hitherto 

been cleared by the 

Governor Aminu Masari-led 

screening committee. 

“If you don’t make the 

appeal screening, then you 

are disqualified because 

there is no other appeal after 

this,” he told journalists in 

Abuja. 

He also said there was a 

general petition as to 

whether members of the 

NWC of the party could be 

judges in their own cases, 

“having supervised the 

congresses and now coming 

to present themselves for 

election; we are also looking 

at that.” 

He said if his committee 

upheld the position of the 

screening committee on the 

19 persons, “it means they 

have been disqualified from 

contesting the election. 

‘’If there is anybody who 

has been screened and there 

is a petition against him, we 

have power to uphold his 

qualification or disqualify 

him based on the merits of 

the petition. 

“The screening appeal is 

the final appeal in this case. 

After this appeal committee, 

the next appeal will be after 

election, which will come 

after the convention.’’ 

However, in an telephone 

interview with Vanguard, 

National Publicity Secretary 

of the APC, Mallam Bolaji 

Abdullahi, said the NWC 

had the final say on the 

activities of the committee set 

up by it. 

He said: “The NWC will 

still be the final arbiter just 

like in all cases. It is still a 

committee set up by the party. 

It is just like in the case of 

the congresses, you know we 

set up appeal committees. 

‘’So, when they bring their 

reports, it is the NWC that 

will still <strong>take</strong> the final 

decision on those issues.” 

Tenure war 

resurfaces 

Meanwhile, Vanguard 

checks revealed that some 

forces who are uncomfortable 

with the Chief John Odigie- 

Oyegun-led NWC have 

•Over tenure, aspirants’ 

disqualification 

been perfecting plans to 

ensure that the committee 

was ousted before its tenure 

lapses. 

Top party sources told 

Vanguard that the forces are 

asking the Presidency to 

send the NWC packing 

because they were elected 

on June 13, 2014. 

However, Vanguard 

gathered that when the issue 

came up at last 

Wednesday’s NWC 

meeting, members opined 

that their tenure could not 

have ended on the day they 

were elected but on the day 

they were inaugurated. 

“Even if it was to have 

ended on that day, nature 

abhors a vacuum. So, 

somebody has to steer the 

ship to the harbour,” the 

source stated. 

When contacted, Abdullahi 

said the tenure of the NWC 

would end in July. 

LAUNCHING: From left, Mr. Kalu Okoronkwo, Publisher CEO, The 

New Narrative Newspaper; Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, Catholic Bishop 

of Sokoto Diocese, and Guest Lecturer, Chief Mike Agbamuche, SAN, at the 

official launch of The New Narrative Newspapers in Lagos, weekend. 

2019: Convene security summit to avert 

violence in Kano, Sanusi tells Ganduje 

By AbdulSalam 

Muhammad 

KANO—THE Emir of 

Kano, Malam 

Muhammad Sanusi II, has 

advised Governor 

Abdullahi Ganduje to 

convene a security summit 

with political leaders and 

security agencies in the 

state to map out strategies 

to avert violence during the 

forthcoming 2019 general 

elections. 

The Emir’s call came 

against the backdrop of 

drumbeat of war by critical 

s<strong>take</strong>holders in the state. 

Sanusi, who gave the 

advice while paying 

homage to Ganduje during 

the traditional Hawan 

Nasarawa at the 

Government House as part 

of activities marking the 

Eid-el-Fitr, also stressed the 

need for political leaders to 

address thuggery. 

He warned that once 

politicians refused to play 

politics according to the rule 

of the game, there was 

every tendency that many 

people could lose their lives 

as a result of their action or 

inaction. 

He said: “It is high time 

the politicians were 

cautioned against 

promoting hatred among 

one another or anything 

capable of jeopardising 

peace as an ingredient of 

social co-existence.” 

Admonishing Ganduje to 

adopt decisive measures 

against drug abuse, Sanusi 

said: ”We have seen how 

drugs impacted negatively 

on our youths and the 

urgent need to <strong>take</strong> drastic 

measure to address the 

menace. We have to also 

prioritise the issue of health 

and education for us to have 

a decent society.” 

In his response, 

Governor Ganduje 

condemned the conduct of 

some politicians, who he 

said were “hell bent on 

attacking political 

opponents in order to 

smear their names and 

their reputation built over 

the years.” 

Ganduje noted that the 

present day political class 

was dangerously playing 

with words in the local 

media to denigrate the 

status of their opponent in 

the eyes of the general 

public. 

PDP presidential primary 

guidelines not ready— Akobundu 

By Dirisu 

Yakubu 

ABUJA— National 

Organising Secretary 

of Peoples Democratic 

Party, PDP, Colonel Austin 

Akobundu (retd), has 

dismissed report that the 

party has issued guidelines 

for the conduct of its 

Presidential primaries, 

saying the claim that the 

party has settled for N12 

million as cost of its 

Expression of Interest and 

Presidential Nomination 

Form was baseless. 

In a statement signed by 

the retired army colonel, the 

party said it was not done 

yet with the guidelines, let 

alone settling for the the 

cost of nomination forms. 

He said: “We wish to state 

categorically that the party 

is still in the process of 

drawing up the guidelines 

for its presidential primary 

election. It is, therefore, 

misleading to claim 

that the party has ‘listed its 

guidelines’ not to talk of the 

cost of nomination forms. 

“At the appropriate time 

the proposals will be 

presented to National 

Executive Committee, 

NEC, of the party, which 

Why I like Buhari 

—Methodist Archbishop 

THE 

Methodist 

Archbishop of Abuja, 

Oche Job, has said he 

admires President 

Muhammadu Buhari 

because he is a man that 

fears no one. 

The archbishop’s remark 

was sequel to the recent 

signing of four bills into 

laws by Buhari. 

The President had on 

June 8, assented to the 

Constitution Fourth 

Alteration Bill, which grants 

financial autonomy to the 

state Houses of Assembly 

and the states’ Judiciary 

nationwide. 

He also signed into law 

the Bill No. 16 which 

stipulates that where a Vice- 

President succeeds a 

President or a Deputy 

Governor succeeds a 

Governor, he or she can no 

more contest for that office 

more than once, among 

<strong>others</strong>. 

Speaking in an interview 

with the News Agency of 

Nigeria, NAN, in Abuja 

yesterday, the cleric said if 

Buhari “is a man who fears 

what people will say, by 

now, he would have become 

very nervous. 

“For sure, I commend 

him. You see, Buhari fears 

will approve as it deems fit. 

Only then can one say that 

it has the guidelines for 

2018 presidential primary 

election. 

“The National Working 

Committee of the PDP, 

under the leadership of 

Prince Uche Secondus, is 

committed to adhering 

strictly to the PDP 

Constitution and the 

constitution in Chapter 8 

(50) (1) grants NEC the 

power to formulate the 

guidelines for aspirants in 

any of its party primaries, 

the presidential primary 

inclusive." 

no one and that’s why I like 

him. He makes up his 

mind and says and does 

what he thinks is the best 

for the nation. 

“People may not praise 

him now but by the time 

he leaves the seat, and 

somebody comes in and 

they begin to do 

comparison, they will say 

if it were in the time of 

Buhari, oh my God, this 

thing would have been 

this.” 

He said the financial 

autonomy for the states’ 

legislators and judicial 

officers would ensure 

accountability at the state 

level. 

“First, the autonomy in 

terms of finances, I think it 

is for accountability. So that 

one is perfect. It is the best 

way because if somebody 

is controlling what you 

have or you live in fear 

when the money comes to 

you, you cannot give 

proper account of what has 

been bestowed to you,” he 

said. 

The archbishop said with 

the signing of the Bill No. 

16 into law, the president 

had justified Nigerians’ 

action on the 2015 

presidential election. 

2019: Why I’m supporting 

Buhari against Sule 

Lamido — Orji Kalu 

FORMER Abia State 

governor, Orji Uzor 

Kalu, has said he was 

supporting the re-election 

ambition of President 

Muhammadu Buhari, 

instead of former Jigawa 

State governor, Sule 

Lamido, for the sake of the 

unity of the country and to 

enable the President 

complete the good work he 

had started. 

He also said he was not 

supporting Lamido’s 

ambition because the latter 

belongs to the Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, a 

party he said looted the 

Central Bank of Nigeria, 

CBN, when it was in 

power. 

Lamido is seeking the 

presidential ticket of the 

PDP, while Kalu is a 

member of the ruling All 

Progressives Congress, 

APC. 

Both men are being 

prosecuted separately by 

the anti-graft agency, 

EFCC, for alleged 

corruption while in office. 

“We are good friends but 

I can’t worship two gods at 

the same time. You didn’t 

even inform me formally 

that you are contesting the 

way President Buhari 

informed me,” Kalu told his 

host on Saturday. 

“I don’t have anything 

against Sule Lamido. As 

you can see, I’m here with 

him at his house eating and 

relaxing. If not because of 

the dinner arranged for me 

at Dutse, I could have slept 

here in his house," Kalu 

said. 

Kalu, who was in Jigawa 

State to canvass support for 

Buhari’s re-election, aimed 

several jibes at former 

President Olusegun 

Obasanjo over the public 

letter he wrote to criticise 

President Buhari, while 

also hurling attacks at 

Lamido’s PDP.

VANGUARD, MONDAY, JUNE 18, 2018—9 


20 killed in fresh Borno suicide 

bomb attack, 48 injured 

•As 2,000 residents return home, 6yrs after 

displacement 

By Ndahi 

Marama & Joseph 

Erunke 

NO fewer than 20 

persons were, 

Saturday night, killed in 

fresh suicide bomb 

explosion at Abbatchari 

village in Damboa Local 

Government Area of Borno 

State. 

But residents claimed up 

to 31 persons died in the 

attack, which also left at 

least 48 persons severely 

injured. The attack 

occurred at about 8:45pm. 

The attack came at a time 

the army announced that 

2,000 residents displaced 

by insurgency in the state 

had returned to their 

homes. 

A militant leader, 

Babakura Kolo, said: 

“There were two suicide 

attacks and rocketpropelled 

grenade 

explosions in Damboa last 

night (Saturday), which 

killed 31 people and left 

several <strong>others</strong> injured.” 

Another source, who 

corroborated Kolo’s 

statement, said: “Following 

the suicide bombings, the 

jihadists fired rocketpropelled 

grenades into the 

crowds that had gathered 

at the scene of the attacks, 

driving the number of 

casualties higher.’’ 

Another resident of 

Damboa, who gave his 

name as Modu Usman, 

said: “There were two 

suicide attacks and rocketpropelled 

grenade 

explosions in Damboa last 

night (Saturday) which 

killed over 40 people and 

left several <strong>others</strong> injured. 

“The suicide bombers 

detonated their explosives 

in Shuwari and nearby 

A b b a t c h a r i 

neighbourhoods in the 

town in the evening 

yesterday (Saturday), 

killing and injuring many 

people." 

It was learned that the 

injured were <strong>take</strong>n to 

Damboa General Hospital 

where they are currently 

receiving treatment, while 

the dead have been 

evacuated to the morgue of 

the same hospital. 

Confirming the attack, 

yesterday, Borno State 

Police Commissioner, 

Damian Chukwu, said 20 

persons were killed. 

He said: “At about quarter 

to nine, yesterday night 

(Saturday), a loud 

explosion was heard at 

Abbatchari village, along 

Damboa/Chibok road. The 

DPO mobilised our men 

from the SARS and civilian 

JTF to the scene and found 

20 people dead and 48 

<strong>others</strong> injured." 

2,000 residents 

return home, 6yrs 

after displacement 

Meanwhile, over 2,000 

residents of Gudunbali in 

Guzamalla Local 

Government Area of Borno 

State, who ran away from 

their homes in the wake of 

Boko Haram terrorists, 

have returned to their 

ancestral homes six years 

after. 

The development followed 

the successful clearance of 

the terrorists in the area by 

troops of Operation Lafiya 

Dole, battling the insurgents 

in the state. 

Army spokesperson, Texas 

Chukwu, a Brigadier- 

General, in a statement, 

yesterday, also said the feat 

coincided with the flag off 

of Operation Last Hold, 

Army special operation 

intended to finally flush out 

the remnants of the terrorists 

in northern Borno. 

The returnee Internally 

Displaced Persons, IDPs, 

who, according to the 

statement, were assisted 

back to their communities by 

the troops of Operation Last 

Hold, observed Eid prayers 

in the headquarters of 

Guzamalla Local 

Government Area of the 

state. 

TASTE QUEST: From left, Gbubemi Fregene, Celebrity Chef 

and Judge; Nnenna Osi-Anugwa, Marketing Manager Savoury, 

Unilever Ghana and Nigeria; Arit Okpo, Show Host; and Dr. Roberts, 

Celebrity Chef and Judge, when Unilever Nigeria Plc kicked off 5th 

Season of its reality cooking show, Knorr Taste Quest. 

Gas pipeline rupture disrupts 

supply to 6 power stations 

•Power generation drops by 1,087.6MW 

•As SERAP sues Fashola 

By Udeme Akpan 

& Prince Okafor 

THE rupture of a major 

Nigerian Gas 

Company, NGC, pipeline 

has scuttled the delivery of 

gas to six power plants, thus 

culminating in the drop of 

power generation by 1,087 

megawatts. 

Confirming the 

development,Transmission 

Company of Nigeria, TCN, 

disclosed that the incident, 

which occurred on June 15, 

2018, as well as technical 

issues at Shell gas wells on 

June 16 have compelled 

the company to embark on 

load-shedding. 

It stated that the loadshedding 

was adopted to 

maintain stability of the 

national grid, thus avoiding 

total power system collapse, 

as there has been a sharp 

drop in generation into the 

grid by a total of 

1,087.6MW 

The affected power 

stations include Ihovbor, 

Azura, Omotosho gas, 

Geregu gas, Olorunsogo 

gas, Sapele and Egbin 

Power Station, which has 

managed to generate 

60MW only on each of its 

units, losing a total of 

211MW. 

Also, Afam VI power 

station was shut down to 

enable Shell resolve its gas 

well issues and commence 

gas supply to Afam VI 

power station. 

General Manager, Public 

Affairs, Mrs. Ndidi Mbah, 

disclosed in an interview 

with Vanguard that: “With 

a total loss of 1,087.6MW 

into the grid, the 

transmission system has 

become quite fragile and 

that TCN is working hard 

to avert a collapse of the 

system, by engaging in 

load-shedding. 

“The load-shedding is to 

ensure that available 

generation is 

commensurate with what 

is allocated to discos 

nationwide, to create a 

balance and avert grid 

instability.” 

SERAP sues 

Fashola 

Meanwhile, Socio- 

Economic Rights and 

Accountability Project, 

SERAP, has sued Minister 

of Power, Works and 

Housing, Mr Babatunde 

Fashola, over “failure to 

account for the spending 

on the privatisation of the 

electricity sector and the 

exact amount of postprivatisation 

spending on 

Generation Companies, 

GENCOS; Distribution 

Companies, DISCOs, and 

Transmission Company of 

Nigeria to date, and to 

explain if such spending 

came from budgetary 

allocations or other 

sources.” 

In the suit number FHC/ 

L/CS/972/18 filed last week 

at the Federal High Court, 

Ikoyi, Lagos, SERAP is 

seeking “an order for leave 

to apply for judicial review 

and an order of mandamus 

directing and/or 

compelling Mr Fashola to 

provide specific details on 

the privatisation of the 

electricity sector, the names 

of all the companies and 

individuals involved; and 

to publish widely including 

on a dedicated website any 

such information.” 

Buhari to sign budget 

tomorrow to avoid govt 

shutdown —Govt source 

By Emmanuel 

Aziken, Political 

Editor 

P RESIDENT 


is set to sign the N9.1 trillion 

2018 budget of the Federal 

Government tomorrow after 

succumbing to entreaties to 

avoid a shutdown of the 

government from that day. 

The president, according to 

reliable sources, had frowned 

at N500 billion increase in the 

N8.6 trillion proposal he 

submitted to the National 

Assembly last November. The 

increase was in part 

channelled to the legislative, 

the judiciary and other 

agencies of the government. 

However, legal counsel 

reportedly offered by lawyers 

in the presidency had 

warned of the implications of 

not signing the budget 

immediately, which could 

mean using illegal 

instruments to draw money 

to run government 

operations. 

A government source privy 

to the development told 

Vanguard, weekend, that the 

president was convinced to, 

despite his reservations, sign 

the budget in order not to 

bring the machinery of the 

government to a standstill as 

it would have meant no 

money to run the 

government. 

That would have meant 

the first-ever shutdown of the 

Federal Government with 

the government not being 

able to pay for its services. 

That is because the cycle 

of the 2017 budget ended 

last Wednesday, June 13 

being the date in 2017 when 

Vice President Yemi 

Osinbajo signed the last 

budget in the absence of the 

then sick president. 

“Any money spent would 

have been outside the 

budget, and that would 

have meant a constitutional 

infraction, and you know the 

president does not need to 

compound his problems 

with the National 

Assembly,” a source familiar 

with the development told 

Vanguard. 

The president’s 

observations of the 

increases, it was gathered, 

were mollified by 

assurances that the 

increases would be covered 

by the increase in the budget 

benchmark for crude oil as 

provided in the parameters 

as reviewed by the National 

Assembly. 

A government source 

disclosed that the presidency 

last Thursday invited the 

President of the Senate, 

Senator Bukola Saraki and 

Speaker Yakubu Dogara for 

the signing ceremony 

tomorrow. 

AfCFTA’ll grow Nigeria’s 

exports by 8.18%, group 

tells FG 

By Michael Eboh 

BUSINESSES in the 

South-South region of 

the country, under the 

auspices of Coalition of 

South South Chambers of 

Commerce, Industry, 

Mines and Agriculture, 

FOSSCCIMA, weekend, 

called on the Federal 

Government to immediately 

sign African Union 

Continental Free Trade 

Area, AfCFTA, Agreement, 

based on its immense 

benefits to the country. 

FOSSCCIMA made this 

call in its position paper 

made available to 

newsmen, signed by its 

President, Mr. Billy Gillis- 

Harry; Chairman Ad-Hoc 

Committee on AfCFTA, Mr. 

Emmanuel Avworo; Mr. 

Tammy Alaboh, Member; 

and Secretary, Mr. Legborsi 

Nwiabu. 

The position, the group 

stated is intended to form 

part of the contribution of 

the Organised Private 

Sector, OPS, in Nigeria with 

regard to the subject matter. 

FOSSCCIMA disclosed 

that the AfCFTA would 

provide an expanded 

market access for Nigeria’s 

exports of goods and services, 

covering a market of 

1.2 billion Africans with a 

combined GDP of $2.5 

trillion. 

It further noted that the 

agreement would bring 

about increased growth in 

the Nigerian economy 

through an estimated 

economic welfare by 0.62 

per cent, equivalent to 

approximately $2.9 billion 

in 2018, with an estimated 

8.18 per cent increase in 

Nigeria’s total export. 

It added that the AfCFTA 

would eliminate barriers 

against Nigeria’s products 

and services; support 

Nigeria’s Industrial and 

Competitiveness Policies, 

through negotiated and 

agreed ‘Exclusion and 

Sensitive lists’ for Nigeria’s 

infant industries. 

The group declared that 

the AfCFTA is mutually 

supportive of Nigeria’s 

Action Plan on Ease of 

Doing Business, and 

would also boost job 

creation through increased 

intra-African Trade; and 

transformation of Nigeria 

from a ‘target economy’ to 

an ‘Africa Gateway 

Economy.’



NIC throws out 

TOOAN's suit 

By Onozure Dania 

L AGOS—NATIONAL 

Industrial Court, NIC, 

sitting in Lagos, has 

dismissed a suit filed by 

the Incorporated Trustees 

of Tricycle Owners and 

Operators Association of 

Nigeria, TOOAN, against 

the Registrar of Trade 

Unions. 

Justice Elizabeth A. Oji 

dismissed the suit, ruling 

“in the circumstances of 

the findings made in this 

suit, this suit is liable to 

be dismissed and is 

hereby dismissed. I make 

no order as to cost.” 

The court also said that 

the trustees do not have 

the competence to file a 

suit before NIC, as it is 

registered under Part C of 

the Companies and Allied 

Matters Act, CAMA. 

The Trustees, alongside 

Mr. Joseph Odusanya, 

Alahaji Ganiyu Dauda 

and Alahaji Shakirudeen 

Arowoye, had dragged 

the Registrar before the 

NIC, challenging the 

registration of Tricycle 

Owners Association of 

Nigeria. 

Co-defendants are the 

Federal Ministry of 

Labour and Employment, 

its minister, Augustine 

Apeh, Babatunde Ayenogun, 

Lagos State Attorney 

General and Commissioner 

for Transport. 

Demolished 

Ile-Epo market 

redevelopment 

to gulp N2bn 

By Monsuru 

Olowoopejo 

BARELY two months 

after the popular Ile- 

Epo Market in Abule 

Egba, Lagos State, was 

demolished, displacing 

about 5, 000 traders, the 

state government has 

commenced its redevelopment 

at N2 billion. 

The project is embarked 

upon by Agbado Oke- 

Odo LCDA, in 

conjunction with Total 

Value Integrated Limited, 

the developer. 

Managing Director, Total 

Value Integrated Limited, 

Chris Onyekachi, told 

Vanguard that the first 

phase would be 

completed within four 

months. 

The site engineer, 

Temilola Abiodun, 

disclosed that 30 percent 

of construction work had 

been completed, adding 

that in the next few 

months, the first phase 

would be completed. 

Lagos lawyer drags Saraki, <strong>others</strong> to court for calling IGP unfit 

By Abdulwahab 

Abdulah 

FOR declaring the 

Inspector General of 

Police, IGP, Ibrahim Idris, 

unfit to run for public office, 

a Lagos-based lawyer, Mr. 

Debo Adeleke, has filed a 

suit against the Senate 

President, Dr. Bukola 

Saraki, and <strong>others</strong> before a 

Federal High Court. 

The Senate had declared 

Idris ‘’unfit to hold position 

in and outside Nigeria and 

an enemy of democracy’’ 

over his failure to appear 

before it. 

Joined as co-respondents 

in the suit are the Senate of 

National Assembly and 

Deputy Senate President, 

Ike Ekweremadu, as the 

first and third respondents, 

respectively. 

The applicant in the suit 

is seeking an order of court 

declaring that the National 

Assembly, Saraki and 

Ekweremadu are not courts 

of law, hence lack the 

jurisdiction and vires to 

declare the Police boss a 

persona non grata and 

unfit to hold public office 

within and outside Nigeria 

and as an enemy of 

democracy. 

The lawyer is also praying 

for an order to declare that 

the power of the Senate of 

National Assembly to invite 

a public officer under its 

power of investigation in 

Section 88 of 1999 

Constitution (as amended), 

is limited and it is only to 

enable it to make laws with 

respect to any matter within 

its legislative competence 

and correct and defect in 

the existing laws; 

And to expose corruption, 

inefficiency or waste in 

execution or administration 

of laws within its legislative 

competence and in the 

disbursement or 

administration of funds 

appropriated by it. 

He added that the 

invitation of Idris over the 

arrest and arraignment of 

Senator Dino Melaye was 

subjudice and undue 

interference with Police 

constitutional power of 

investigation, arrest and 

arraignment of suspects. 

In his 27-paragraph 

affidavit in support of the 

originating summon, 

Adeleke averred that he 

instituted the suit to 

defend and uphold the 

sanctity of the Constitution 

of Federal Republic 

of Nigeria, noting that it is 

of public interest. 

INAUGURATION: From left—Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr. Mudashiru Obasa; Alaige of Orile-Agege, 

Oba Ambaliu Agbedeyi; member, House of Representatives, Agege constituency, Mr. Taofeek Adaranijo, and Olu of Agege, Oba 

Kamila Isiba, during the inauguration of blocks of classrooms as part of constituency projects, in Lagos. 

Why Ambode has not declared for 

second term—Epe indigenes, <strong>others</strong> 

By Olasunkanmi 

Akoni & Monsuru 

Olowoopejo 

AS anxiety mounts over 

continued delay by 

Governor Akinwunmi 

Ambode of Lagos State to 

declare for second term, 

prominent indigenes of 

Epe, his home town, 

including Commissioner 

for Commerce, Industry 

and Cooperatives, Mrs. 

Olayinka Oladunjoye, 

have given insight as to 

why the governor is yet to 

declare his second term 

ambition ahead of 2019 


Speaking yesterday, 

when residents of Epe, 

Epe Local Government 

Area of the state, stormed 

Marina axis of Epe for a 

rally on the platform of Epe 

Indigenes Stand for 

Ambode, led by Princess 

Bola Kazeem, Mrs 

Oladunjoye, urged the 

people not to worry as 

Governor Ambode will 

declare his stance at the 

appropriate time. 

At the event attended by 

former first lady and Femi 

Otedola’s mother, lady 

Doja Otedola, the 

commissioner said: 

“Though, Independent 

National Electoral 

Commission, INEC, has 

released the election 

calendar, no one has been 

asked to declare his 

ambition yet. 

“So when the right time 

comes, Governor Ambode 

will surely make his stand 

THE Minister of 

Information and 

Culture, Alhaji Lai 

Mohammed, has said 


Buhari's administration is 

steadily transforming the 

country through 

innovative measures that 

are yielding positive 

results. 

In a keynote address he 

delivered at the 2018 

Africa Together 

known to the over 20 

million residents of Lagos.” 

On his part, former 

governorship candidate 

and Balogun of Epe 

Division, Chief Lanre 

Rasak, said: “Since we 

know this, we have decided 

not to wait for him to 

declare. Rather, we have 

concluded to put pressure 

on him to declare his 

second term ambition and 

complete all ongoing 

projects across the state. 

“For any sincere person 

Conference at the 

University of Cambridge, 

UK, Saturday, the minister 

listed investment in 

people, changing the 

business environment 

and building national 

infrastructure as some of 

the areas in which the 

administration has made 

great impact. 

He said by focusing on 

education and skills 

acquisition, Buhari's 

that serves public office for 

one year, the effect it has 

on him is like someone that 

had work for four years. 

And for him, the three 

years translate to 12 years 

in governance. 

“With this, he may want 

to <strong>take</strong> a bow considering 

the effect the office has had 

on him. That is why we 

have decided that he must 

contest for the poll.” 

... Lady Otedola 

Earlier, Lady Otedola asked 

administration is 

addressing the need to 

create opportunities for 

the country’s teeming 

youth population. 

According to Lai 

Mohammed, “in my 

country, school enrollment 

is a challenge. And one 

of the main culprits is 

malnutrition. 

“Government has 

stepped in: 8.2 million are 

being fed free meals daily 

Peoples Democratic Party, 

PDP, and other parties 

aiming to secure the 

governorship seat in next 

year polls to shelve their 

ambition and wait till 2023. 

She contended that 

ongoing infrastructure 

development across the 

state was part of his late 

husband, Sir Michael 

Otedola’s vision for the 

state 25 years ago and 

must be accomplished by 

the 

current 

administration. 

Buhari's administration transforming Nigeria—Lai Minister 

in 45,000 schools. Not 

only does this increase 

attendance, it enhances 

learning efficacy in class 

and boosts cognitive 

development over the 

long term.” 

He said the Home- 

Grown School Feeding 

programme has yielded 

other results, including the 

employment of over 80,000 

cooks and a ready-made 

market for farmers.


Ibadan chieftaincy row: Olubadan 

cancels masquerade dance in 

new kings’ compounds 

By Ola Ajayi permission of the 

Olubadan. 

I BADAN—THE 

Olubadan of 

Ibadanland, Oba Saliu 

Adetunji, yesterday, 

cancelled the yearly 

masquerade dance for the 

new kings. 

Though, the monarch, in 

a statement signed by Mr. 

Adeola Oloko, Personal 

Assistant, and Director of 

Media and Public Affairs, 

said it was to avoid security 

breach that usually trails 

the Egungun festival, 

Vanguard gathered that it 

was intended to disregard 

the new kings. 

Since the time of the late 

Oba Gbadamosi Adebimpe 

in 1976, it has been a yearly 

ritual for masquerades to 

pay homage to selected 

High Chiefs in their family 

compounds with the 


The statement reads: 

“Although no reason was 

given for the last minute 

suspension of masquerade 

dance for Ibadan High 

Chiefs, it might not be 

unconnected with security 

reason arising from the 

controversial chieftaincy 

review that confers 

kingship without domain 

on high chiefs.” 

Rising from a 2-hour 

security meeting with 

s<strong>take</strong>holders at his 

Popoyemoja palace over 

the weekend, he said: “As 

the chief custodian of our 

culture and tradition, I also 

owed it a duty to work in 

tandem with the law 

enforcement agents not to 

turn the celebration of our 

custom and tradition into a 

theatre of war.” 

Osun gov poll: Buhari, Tinubu 

not working for my ambition 

—PDP aspirant 

By Gbenga 

Olarinoye 

O GOVERNORSHIP 

SOGBO—A 

aspirant on the platform of 

the Peoples Democratic 

Party, PDP, in Osun State, 

Dr. Akin Ogunbiyi has 

dismissed reports that he is 

one of those financing the 

second term election bid of 


Buhari in 2019, refuting 

claims that his 

governorship ambition is 

being sponsored by 

Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu. 

This came as the 

chairman of All 


APC, in Osun state, 

Prince Gboyega Famodu 

has assured youths in the 

party of adequate 

representation in the 

coming governorship 


Ogunbiyi, in a statement 

by the Director of his 

Campaign Directorate, 

Comrade Olalere Fagbola, 

described the story as the 

handiwork of opponents, 

“who ostensibly are afraid 

of the overwhelming 

support he is enjoying in 

the state.” 

He recalled how the state 

chairman of the party, Mr. 

Sola Adagunodo faulted 

mischief makers who 

labelled him as a neophyte 

“trying to reap where he 

had not sewed.” 

The statement reads: “He 

(Adagunodo) noted that 

since their rumours had 

refused to fly, they are now 

latching on another fallacy 

which Ogunbiyi described 

as unfounded in its 

entirety. 

“He explained that his 

choice of PDP which he 

affirmed as the best party 

and frontliner in 

deepening democratic 

governance in Nigeria is 

not negotiable and that it is 

even inconceivable for 

anyone to imagine that he 

(Ogunbiyi) would work 

against the party (PDP) 

which success story he has 

humbly been part of. 

APC assures youths 

of representation 

Meanwhile, the APC 

chairman disclosed that 

youths in the state would 

be given prominent 

positions both elective and 

appointed in the coming 

political dispensation. 

He made the pledge 

when a governorship 

aspirant of the party, Mr. 

Babatunde Adedotun Taiwo 

declared his intention to 

contest the forthcoming 

governorship election in 

the state at the party 

Secretariat. 

Prince Famodun also 

assured that the leadership 

of the party would provide 

a level playing ground for 

all the aspirants. 

Gov poll: Fayemi’s indebtedness cost 

<strong>Ekiti</strong> N35.34bn—PDP chairman 

•Stop peddling inaccurate figures—Fayemi’s campaign org 

By Rotimi 

Ojomoyela 

A DO-EKITI—THE 

Chairman of the 


PDP, in <strong>Ekiti</strong> State, Chief 

Gboyega Oguntuase, 

yesterday, blamed Dr. 

Kayode Fayemi for the 

current economic 

stagnation being witnessed 

in the state. 

Oguntuase said the huge 

debts incurred by Fayemi's 

administration between 

2010 to 2014 has so far cost 

the state N35.34 billion in 

servicing of the debts and 

deductions from statutory 

By Dayo Johnson 

A 

K U R E — 

STAKEHOLDERS in Ilaje, 

the oil-producing area of 

Ondo State, weekend, 

raised alarm over alleged 

marginalisation and 

injustice to their 

communities by the present 


Under the auspices of 

Ilaje Advancement Forum, 

they kicked against the 

construction of wooden 

walkways and jetties in 

Ilaje/Ese-Odo by the state 

government instead of 

modern concrete bridges 

and walkways as 

obtainable in civilized 

countries. 

In a petition by its 

Chairman, Secretary and 

Public Relations Officer, 

Messrs Olarotimi 

Abogun, Fadeshola 

Atilade and Olawale 

Ojukotimi respectively, the 

forum accused the 

government of cheating, 

neglecting and depriving 

the Ilaje people of social 

allocations from October 

2014 till date. 

In a statement in Ado- 

<strong>Ekiti</strong>, the PDP chairman 

said: “In 2015, the sum of 

N7.85 billion was deducted 

from our allocations. In 

2016, it was N11.30 billion, 

in 2017, it was N12.12 

billion and from January to 

May this year, the sum of 

N4.94 billion has been 

deducted. 

“While we have paid off 

the commercial agriculture 

credit scheme, we are yet 

to pay off <strong>others</strong> and some 

will run till 2036. The 

implications of this are 

many. If we had such a 

huge sum, we wouldn’t be 

owing workers’ salaries and 

more welfare programmes 

and projects would have 

been executed by the 

Ayodele Fayose 


“The debts are under 

these headings: 

Contractual obligations, 

fertilizer, foreign loans, 

bond, commercial 

agriculture credit scheme, 

water project, restructuring 

of bank loans, excess crude 

loan among <strong>others</strong>. For 

instance, under contractual 

obligations is the vehicles 

and buses they purchased 

for traditional rulers and 

CAMPAIGN: From left—A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, 

APC, Chief Yemi Adaramodu; Ondo State APC Chairman, Chief Ade 

Adetimehin; APC Governorship candidate, <strong>Ekiti</strong> State, Dr. Kayode 

Fayemi; Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN; and deputy 

governorship candidate, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi; during a campaign 

tour of Ilawe-<strong>Ekiti</strong>, at the weekend. 

Ilaje communities accuses Ondo govt of 

marginalisation, injustice 

amenities. 

The statement reads: “Our 

attention has been drawn 

to the recent approval of the 

sum of N11.29 billion for 

various infrastructural 

development within the 

state and to our dismay only 

N807 million was 

approved for the 

construction of wooden 

walkways and jetties in 

Ilaje/Ese-Odo which is just 

a paltry 8percent of the total 

sum approved for projects 

across the state. 

“That does not equate to 

the 40 per cent which 

should have been allocated 

towards the development of 

our land ‘to whom much is 

<strong>take</strong>n, much should be 

given. It is a shame that the 

Ilaje Local Government is 

without electricity for the 

past 10 years. 

“We the members of the 

Ilaje Advancement Forum 

on behalf of ourselves and 

the entire Ilaje people home 

and abroad equivocally 

and vehemently reject such 

primitive projects that only 

add more salt to our wounds 

and impoverished our 

people. 

“We want to make it clear 

that the era which 

OSOPADEC funds are 

arbitrarily mismanaged, 

illegally diverted or 

misappropriated has 

passed as we will be closely 

monitoring how our money 

is spent. 

“We demand that the 

various groups that they 

did not pay a kobo before 

leaving office.” 

Stop peddling 

inaccurate figures 

—Fayemi 

In its response, the 

Kayode Fayemi Campaign 

Organisation said: “It is 

ridiculous for Fayose and 

his aides to still be peddling 

inaccurate debts figures 

after the Debts 

Management Office 

published the debts <strong>take</strong>n 

by Fayose alone in the last 

three years totalling N56b 

even though he swore and 

lied many times that he 

never borrowed one kobo. 

Director of Media and 

Publicity of the 

Organisation, Wole Olujobi 

said: “Again we admit that 

Fayemi borrowed N25b to 

be defrayed within seven 

years and records are there 

in the Debts Management 

Office that Fayemi paid 

back N14.5b of the debts, 

leaving the balance of 

N10.5b before he left office 

on October 16, 2014. 

“All the projects that 

benefitted from the bond 

are verifiable. They are the 

roads constructed across 

the state, schools and 

hospital rehabilitation, 

world standard Ikogosi 

Resort that has again been 

looted, Ire Burnt Bricks 

Company, Igbemo Asphalt 

Plant, water projects, new 

Government House, 

Pavilion, Civic Centre that 

Fayose has abandoned, 

among several <strong>others</strong>.” 

contracts for wooden 

bridges and walkways 

should be rescinded and 

replaced with modern 

concrete bridges and 

walkways as obtainable in 

civilized countries. 

“The relocation of 

OSOPADEC headquarters 

to Igbokoda immediately so 

as to make the agency more 

efficient and closer to its 

base of operation." 

Alake laments decline in 

reading culture among youth 

By Daud Olatunji 

AAlake BEOKUTA—THE 

and Paramount 

ruler of Egbaland, Oba 

Adedotun Gbadebo has 

lamented the decline in the 

reading culture among the 

youths in the country. 

Oba Gbadebo stated this 

while hosting a young 

author, Ikimot Azeez, in his 

palace after the launch of 

her two books. 

The monarch, who 

attributed the decline in 

reading culture of the 

country as one major factor 

affecting the standard of 

education, urged youths 

to <strong>take</strong> reading culture 

seriously. 

The author spoke shortly 

after launching her two 

books in Abeokuta. 

Azeez, a lecturer at Tai 

Solarin University of 

Education, TASUED, said 

there is decay in book 

reading, adding that 

Students are becoming lazy 

in reading and 

assimilating. 

She said “Honestly, the 

decline in the reading 

culture of the country is 

affecting the standard of 

education and it is not good 

at all for us. Most students 

don’t read again."



NDAF warns of plans to attack 

Agip facilities in Niger Delta 

NIGER 

Delta 

Activists Forum, 

NDAF, has warned of 

planned attacks on oil 

facilities in the Niger Delta 

belonging to Nigeria Agip 

Oil Company, NAOC. 

Addressing newsmen 

yesterday, the group said 

host communities in the 

region had declared 

‘Operation zero barrels’ on 

the company over its 

“disregard and total 

disrespect” for the 

residents. 

The group had earlier 

given the company a 14- 

day ultimatum to recruit 

members of the host 

communities into its staff or 

risk “total and complete 

shutdown.” 

Success Jack, the 

convener of the group, said 

the host communities were 

aggrieved as a result of 

Okowa tasks traditional rulers 

on peace, unity 

By Festus Ahon 

A SABA—DELTA 

State governor, Dr 

Ifeanyi Okowa, yesterday 

charged traditional rulers 

in the state to maintain 

peace and unite the people 

of their kingdoms to sustain 

the prevailing peace in the 

state. 

Speaking during the 90th 

birthday of the Obi of 

Ogwashi-Uku, Obi 

Chukwuka Okonjo, Okowa 

who was represented by 

the state Commissioner for 

Information, Mr Patrick 

Ukah, stressed the need for 

them to promote peace for 

sustainable development in 

their kingdoms. 

Congratulating the 

monarch, he said that 90th 

NAOC’s alleged gross violations 

of human rights, 

non-implementation of 

previous agreements, and 

pollution of land and 

waterways in the Niger 

Delta. 

He said efforts to broker 

peace failed because the 

company was “adamant 

and succeeded in 

truncating efforts at 

achieving peace. 

“On a final note, we want 

to further draw the attention 

of all relevant government 

agencies to the fact that the 

resolve by these 

communities is real and any 

effort to remedy things is 

still highly welcomed. 

“We are aware from our 

interactions with these 

people, that at any time 

from 00hrs on Wednesday, 

June 20, ‘Operation zero 

barrels for NAOC’ begins." 

birthday anniversary was 

worth celebrating. 

The former governor of 

Anambra State, Mr Peter 

Obi, who also attended the 

ceremony, described the 

monarch as a father, 

adding that Obi Okonjo 

impacted him very much 

as a student. 

Speaking with newsmen, 

former Minister of Finance 

and daughter of the 

monarch, Mrs. Okonjo- 

Iweala said: “My father is 

a man of integrity, 

excellence and strong 

intellectual strength, a 

peace maker and father 

who paid so much attention 

to each of his children. 

“And beyond his children, 

he has trained more than 

20 people from secondary 

school to university level." 

PDP-sponsored campaign against 

Oshiomhole'll fail —NIC 

By Simon Ebegbulem 

B ENIN—AHEAD 

of the June 23, 

National Convention of 

the All Progressives 

Congress, APC, the 

Nigeria Integration 

Coalition, NIC and the 

South-South Youths of 

APC, weekend, raised the 

alarm that the opposition 


PDP, was jittery over the 

possible emergence of the 

immediate past governor 

of Edo State, Mr Adams 

Oshiomhole, as the 

National Chairman of 

APC, therefore, had 

embarked on spurious 

campaign of calumny 

against him. 

They vowed to resist any 

attempt to rubbish 

Oshiomhole's integrity 

ahead of the party's 

National Convention, 

adding that Oshiomhole's 

track record and 

unblemished integrity 

will guarantee him victory 

in the forthcoming 

convention of the party. 

NIC’s statement was 

endorsed by its National 

President, Elder Wesley 

Olowojaiye, while the 

South South APC spoke 

through Tony Adun. 

The NIC condemned 

what it described as a 

grand plot “by the PDP 

and its agents who are not 

comfortable with the likely 

emergence of 

Oshiomhole as the next 

chairman of the party to 

rubbish the good name of 

former labour leader." 

Conduct integrity tests on pipelines, Bayelsa 

deputy gov charges SPDC 

By Samuel Oyadongha 

YENAGOA — 

DEPUTY Governor 

of Bayelsa State, Rear 

Admiral Gboribiogha 

Jonah (retd), has called on 

Shell Petroleum 

Development Company, 

SPDC, to conduct an 

integrity test on its 

pipelines in the Niger 

Delta region. 

The deputy governor 

Rivers LG polls: PDP wins all 23 

chairmanship seats 

By Egufe Yafugborhi & 

Davies Iheamnachor 

PORT 

HAR- 

C O U R T — 

PEOPLES Democratic 

Party, PDP, has won all 

the 23 chairmanship 

positions contested on 

Saturday in the local 

government area 

elections conducted by 

decried what he described 

as the frequency of oil 

spillages from the 

company's operations, as 

well as the fact that a good 

number of its pipes were 

laid a long time ago and 

may have suffered from 

corrosion. 

He stated this at one of 

the spillage sites, weekend, 

when he undertook an onthe-spot 

assessment of the 

extent of damage to the 

environment, following the 

recent eruption of the 

SPDC River Ramos 

pipeline that resulted in the 

spillage of crude oil into the 

river that affected Aghoro 

community and <strong>others</strong> in 

Ekeremor Local 

Government Area of the 

state. 

Jonah also berated SPDC 

for the delay in carrying out 

remediation activities and 

provision of relief materials, 

in order to mitigate the 

sufferings of the people in 

the affected communities, 

considering the fact that the 

oil spillage occurred about 

a month ago. 

Noting the usual joint 

investigation exercise 

would be carried out to 

ascertain the cause of the 

spillage, the deputy 

governor advised SPDC to 

ensure that all the relevant 

parties were involved in 

the exercise. 

BIRTHDAY: From left: Dr Ikemba Iweala; former Minister of Finance, Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; 

Mrs Perpetual Ukah and her husband, Mr Patrick Ukah, Delta State Commissioner for Information, 

during the 90th birthday of the father of the former minister and Obi of Ogwashi-Uku, Obi Chukwuka 

Okonjo, at St James Anglican Church, Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State, yesterday. Photo: Festus Ahon. 

Rivers 

State 

Independent Electoral 

Commission, RSIEC. 

M e a n w h i l e , 

chairmanship 

candidates of the PDP in 

the elections, Mr. 

Samuel Nwanosike and 

Chief Tom Aliezi, for 

Ikwerre and Emohua 

LGAs, have commended 

the Nigeria Police for 

being neutral and 

providing the needed 

security during the 


Chairman of RSIEC, 

Justice Chukwunenye 

Uriri (ertd), who 

declared the results 

around 8p.m., yesterday, 

noted that the exercise 

was free and fair, adding 

that there was no report 

of violence during the 


Uriri noted that voting 

commenced in all the 

units about 8a.m., 

Saturday and ended 

2.pm., adding that it was 

smooth and fair. 

The results declared 

showed that PDP won all 

the chairmanship seats 

contested, noting that in 

Abia/Odua, Daniel 

Daniel of PDP won with 

58,680 votes in Ahoada 

East, Benjamin Eke of 

the PDP won with 50,966 

votes. 

In Ahoada West, Ikiriko 

Amnesty programme awaits presidential 

order to admit more beneficiaries —Dokubo 

PROFESOR Charles 

Dokubo, Coordinator, 

Presidential Amnesty 

Porgramme, PAP, has said 

that only President 

Muhammadu Buhari can 

give orders before more 

people to be 

accommodated in the 

amnesty programme. 

Dokubo made the 

disclosure while fielding 

Hope of PDP scored 

44,295 votes, Akuku- 

Toru, Roland Sekibo 

scored 66,757 votes. Paul 

Lawrence of PDP in 

Andoni with 74,797 

votes. 

He also announced 

that in Bonny Local 

Government, Rogers 

David of PDP scored 

20,266 votes to emerge 

the winner, Tom Aliezi of 

PDP in Emohua pulled 

72,777 votes while 

Samuel Nwanosike of 

Ikwerre Local 

Government scored 

78,662 votes to emerge 

questions during the News 

Agency of Nigeria, NAN, 

forum in Abuja. 

He said: “For those who 

want to come into the 

programme, it is not in my 

power to admit them unless 

Mr President gives the 

order because they are not 

part of the budget that had 

been passed for us. 

“So the President must 

winner of the contest. 

M e a n w h i l e , 

Nwanosike, the 

chairman-elect of 

Ikwerre LGA, 

commended the people 

of his council for the 

confidence reposed in 

him, stressing that he 

would fulfil his 

campaign promises to 

the people of the area. 

He urged the Federal 

Government to replicate 

a free and fair election in 

the state during the 2019 

poll, adding that the 

council polls were fair 

and credible. 

make a declaration. We 

have phases one, two and 

three. Phase One is the 

initial Presidential 

declaration, Phase Two also 

has Presidential order and 

even Phase Three. 

“These new people need 

the support of this amnesty 

programme and we will do 

all it <strong>take</strong>s so they are not 

the forgotten ones but are 

part of the programme."



Delta govt reads riot act to street lights vandals 

By Festus Ahon 

A SABA—DELTA 

S t a t e 

Commissioner for 

Energy, Mr. Newworld 

Safugha, has warned 

against vandalisation of 

street lights and cables in 

the state, noting that the 

state government would 

not hesitate to deal 

decisively with anyone or 

group of persons found 

vandalising public 

facilities. 

NDDC not competing with A-Ibom —Ekere 

By Harris-Okon 

Emmanuel & 

Chioma Onuegbu 

U YO—MANAGING 

Director of Niger 

Delta Development 

Commission, NDDC, Dr. 

Nsima Ekere, has said 

that the commission was 

not competing with the 

Akwa Ibom State 

Government or any other 

state in the oil-rich Niger 

Delta region in the 

execution of its mandate. 

Ekere made the 

clarification, weekend, at 

a reception organised in 

his honour by Abak 

Redemption Movement 

which cuts across five 

local government areas of 

the state, namely, Etim 

Ekpo, Ukanafun, Ika, 

Oruk Anam and Abak, 

popularly known as Abak 

5 of Akwa Ibom State. 

He said that the state 

government was 

antagonising the 

commission as evident in 

the disruption of its 

activities in the state by 

agents of the state 

government. 

The state Commissioner 

for Works, Akparawa 

Ephraim Inyang-Eyen, 

Sefugha who gave the 

warning while inspecting 

street lights in Asaba, told 

the people of the state to 

partner the state 

government in 

safeguarding public 

facilities. 

He said: “The inspection 

is very necessary due to 

the fact that the street 

lights were not 

functioning for quite some 

time until the state 

government under 

Senator Ifeanyi Okowa 

had told reporters that the 

state government chased 

out NDDC contractors 

because of poor execution 

of work. 

But Ekere said: “In the 

last several months, 

NDDC had witnessed 

disruption in its project 

sites in Akwa Ibom while 

trying to intervene to 

make life more useful. 

NDDC is not in 

competition with Akwa 

Ibom or any other state. 

NDDC is here to make 

devised a better strategy 

to power the lights. 

“The inspection is to 

confirm how well the 

contractors have handled 

the project. I am 

impressed with the job.” 

He also directed the 

contractor to work on some 

of the street lights which 

were bad and fallen. 

The areas inspected 

include High Court Road, 

Cenotaph, Legislators 

Quarters axis of Asaba, 

DBS Road, Summit Road, 

life meaningful. 

“The money NDDC is 

using to develop our state 

is its own share and if 

you stop us, that means 

you don’t love the people. 

The state should support 

development partners 

rather than disrupting the 

work of the partners. 

“We will engage all the 

state governments so that 

we can bring 

development to our 

people. 

" P r e s i d e n t 

Interbau Roundabout, 

Federal Medical Centre 

Roundabout, Nnebisi 

Road, Ezenei Avenue and 

Dennis Osadebe Road. 

A staff of Power House 

Electrical Service 

Enterprise, the 

contracting firm in charge 

of the project, Mr. 

Solomon Abor, assured 

that cables and fallen 

street lights would be 

reinstalled before the end 

of the month. 

SPECIAL OLYMPICS: From left: Victor Osibodu, Chairman, Board of Directors, Special 

Olympics Nigeria; Babatunde Fatayi-Williams; Representative, Lagos State Sports Commission and 

Udeme Ufot, Board Member, Special Olympics Nigeria at the closing ceremony of the Special Olympics 

National Games and 50th anniversary celebration in Lagos. 


has shown uncommon 

love for the people of Nigeria. 

Never in the history 

of Nigeria has Akwa 

Ibom benefitted so 

much.” 

He called on the people 

of Abak 5 to get their 

permanent voter cards so 

that they could re-elect 

the President and also 

vote in an APC-led 

government in the state 

as, according to him, 

“Akwa Ibom deserves 

better.” 

FG disburses loans to 4,000 GEEP 

MarketMoni beneficiaries in Edo 

EDO State has 

recorded over 4,000 

beneficiaries of the 

Government Enterprise 

and Empowerment 

Programme, GEEP. 

The Vice President, Prof. 

Yemi Osinbajo, disclosed 

this at Edo State’s edition 

of Micro, Small and 

Medium-Scale Enterprise, 

MSME, clinic in Benin 

City, weekend. 

GEEP is one of the 

National Social 

Intervention Programmes, 

NSIP, of the current 

administration providing 

interest loans of between 

N10,000 and N100,000 to 

market women, farmers, 

artisans and enterprising 

youths nationwide. 

The Bank of Industry is 

executing it. 

Speaking at the event, 

Prof. Osinbajo said: “The 

policy of the Federal 

Government is to support 

businesses, not just big 

business but particularly 

small, medium-sized 

businesses and microbusinesses. 

‘’The whole idea is to 

ensure that we give 

whatever support whether 

it is cash, advice or even 

registration, to all our 

small and medium enterprises.” 

He added that the 

Federal Government was 

rolling out TraderMoni, a 

new micro-credit scheme, to 

cater for ultra-micro 

enterprises. 

“It is a different thing from 

MarketMoni because 

TraderMoni is for smaller 

traders. These are the 

hawkers, those who are 

doing little things where in 

many cases their inventory, 

the whole thing they are 

selling is sometimes not 

even more than N5,000- 

N10,000." 

Obaseki assures Edo market 

women of better structures 

By Simon Ebegbulem 

B 

E N I N — 

GOVERNOR 

Godwin Obaseki of Edo 

State, weekend, said that 

the state government would 

ensure that proper 

structures were put in place 

in the markets, so that 

traders could benefit from 

the Federal Government’s 

Energizing Economies 

Initiative, a project under 

the Rural Electrification 

Agency, REA. 

The governor gave the 

assurance during Vice 

DPR moves to ensure SOP in 

petroleum depots 

By Davies 

Iheamnachor 

PORT 

HAR- 

COURT— THE 

Department for Petroleum 

Resources, DPR, has 

moved to ensure that 

Standard Operating 

Procedures, SOP, are in 

place in all the depots. 

DPR said the move was 

to ensure that hazards 

which occur during 

operations are brought 

under control, adding that 

every installation ought to 

Wike lauds Awuse's 

commitment to Rivers State 

G OVERNOR 

Nyesom Wike of 

Rivers State has praised 

the former chairman of the 

Governing Council of 

Kaduna Polytechnic, 

Chief Sergeant Awuse, for 

his total commitment to 

the development of the 

state. 

Speaking during a 

thanksgiving service in 

honour of Chief Awuse at 

the Saint Luke's Anglican 

Church, Emohua, 

yesterday, Wike said God 

healed the Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, 

chieftain because his 

WRPC consolidates relationship 

with host communities 

By Jimitota Onoyume 

W ARRI—WARRI 

Refining and 

Petrochemical Company 

Limited, WRPC, has 

assured that it would 

continue to promote a 

healthy relationship with 

its host communities. 

Managing Director of 

the company, Mr 

Muhammadu Abali, gave 

the assurance at the 7th 

graduation ceremony of 

56 persons sponsored by 

WRPC in various skills 

acquisition programmes. 

Some of them were 

trained in catering and 

President Yemi Osinbajo’s 

stopover at Edaiken 

Market, in Uselu, Benin 

City, to inspect the solar 

power project. 

According to him, “The 

state government is 

committed to ensuring that 

this project is successful 

and we will support traders 

to benefit from the project. 

The solar project will equip 

traders with the much 

needed power to run their 

businesses without extra 

costs on power generating 

sets and other power 

expenses.” 

adhere to SOP. 

DPR Zonal Comptroller, 

Port Harcourt, Dr. Joseph 

Briggs, made the 

disclosure in Port Harcourt, 

Rivers State, during a 

briefing on the forthcoming 

maiden edition of Annual 

General Meeting of DPR 

and Downstream Sector 

Operators in the zone. 

Briggs said the meeting 

would focus on educating 

dealers to comply fully with 

safety and environmental 

laws in their operations. 

services are needed by 

Rivers people. 

He said: “Chief Awuse 

means a lot to us. He 

supports the growth of the 

state with all his strength. 

If he is with you, go home 

and sleep. He will never 

betray you in any way. We 

thank God for healing 

him. We join his family 

and friends to bless God 

for his life.” 

In his remarks, Chief 

Awuse said he was in 

church to thank God for 

healing him after a 

surgery for a cancer 

condition. 

hotel management, 

welding and fabrication, 

hairdressing, barbing, 

tailoring/fashion and 

design 

and 

autoenginering. 

Abali explained that the 

trainees were drawn from 

five of the communities 

playing host to the 

refinery, adding that the 

company would sustain 

its robust relationship with 

the communities. 

He enjoined the 

graduands to make good 

use of the opportunity 

offered by the training to 

create wealth for 

themselves.

14—VANGUARD, MONDAY, JUNE 18, 2018 


2019 presidency: I'll seek PDP 

nomination—Makarfi 

By Ben Agande 

KADUNA— FORMER 

chairman of Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, 

Senator Ahmed Makarfi, 

yesterday, disclosed he 

would seek the nomination 

of his party to contest the 

2019 presidential election. 

In an interview with 

journalists in Kaduna, 

Senator Makarfi, also, a 

former governor of Kaduna 

State, claimed he was in a 

better position to address 

the myriads of problems 

confronting the country, 

arguing that All 


APC, had made it easier for 

a smooth victory of any 

candidate fielded by PDP. 

According to him, “I have 

been consulting across the 

country since I left as the 

chairman of the party. It is 

just consultations and not 

endorsement. But it gives 

you an opportunity to feel 

the pulse and it will tell 

whether to go forward or 

not to go forward. 

"The consultations have 

been quite positive and I 

believe it is fair enough to 

come to the conclusion that 

one should join other 

equally capable party men 

and women who have 

shown interest in seeking 

the party’s nomination for 

the 2019 presidential 


"At this stage, it is to seek 

the party’s nomination. The 

successful nominee will 

become the candidate that 

will stand for the election. 

But first thing first. If one's 

party does not put him 

forward, you can’t say you 

are contesting for 

presidency yet. 

“At this stage, I have come 

to the conclusion that it is 

alright, based on the 

consultations that I have 

had. Those who have 

shown interest are equally 

capable. We do not know 

how many more will show 

interest but whatever it is, 

power comes from God. 

"The party men and 

women will decide who 

will be the candidate. I will 

subject myself to the will of 

God and the decision of the 

party men and women 

whenever it is made. 

Managing complex 

security issues is not new 

to me. Managing complex 

people of society is not new 

to me. If you look at it from 

that perspective, one is 

prepared for the job." 

“Again, managing a party 

in crisis, if we did not 

manage the party well, we 

would not be talking about 

PDP by now. It is not as if 

we did not fall out but the 

fall out was not significant 

enough to threaten the PDP. 

"As a matter of fact, the 

trajectory is that PDP is 

actually going up and not 

going down. 

"You can look at what is 

happening or about to 

happen in All Progressives 

Congress, which is likely 

going to split into two or 

three once they hold their 

convention. We had a few 

people who moved out of 

the PDP but there was no 

split. I and my team and the 

rest of the leaders of the 

party were able to achieve 

that." 

He said the failure of the 

APC had made the job of 

defeating it easier. 

DON'T JUST THINK; DO: From left, Commissioner of Police, 

Kaduna State; Deputy Imam, Abdullai Aliyu; Chief Imam of Sultan 

Bello Mosque, Sheikh Mohammed Suleiman Adam, and Shamsudeen 

Muktar, Field Sales Manager, Unilever Kaduna during Lipton "Don't 

Just Think; Do" Sultan Bello Mosque Activation, in Kaduna. 

<strong>Benue</strong> collaborating with Operation 

Whirl Stroke to end killings — Ortom 

By Peter Duru 

M AKURDI— 

GOVERNOR 

Samuel Ortom of <strong>Benue</strong> 

State, weekend, said his 

administration had 

intensified collaboration 

with operatives of 

Operation Whirl Stroke, 

a military spike 

operation in the state, to 

prevent further attacks 

on citizens and ensure 

persons displaced by the 

herdsmen crisis return to 

their ancestral homes. 

The governor, who 

spoke in Makurdi, said: 

We are already assessing 

the security situation in 

the affected communities 

to determine when it 

would be safer for the 

Internally Displaced 

Persons, IDPs, to return 

to their homes. 

"From available 

statistics, 60 percent of 

the displaced persons in 

the various camps are 

children within school 

age. In the past six 

months, children in the 

IDPs camps have not 

gone to proper school, 

aside the emergency 

classes organised for 

them by the state 

government because 

most schools in the 

attacked areas were 

burnt down by 

rampaging herdsmen. 

“The attacks have 

indeed affected both 

farming and academic 

activities in a number of 

local government areas 

of the state.” 

The governor, who also 

spoke on efforts at 

providing comfort to the 

IDPs, appreciated the 

services of nongovernmental 

organisations, churches 

and individuals in 

supporting the state 

government to ensure 

victims of the crisis were 

given attention. 

While emphasizing 

that the <strong>Benue</strong> State 

Open Grazing 

Prohibition and Ranches 

Establishment Law 

would not be repealed, 

Ortom predicted that just 

like June 12,1993 

presidential election that 

had been recognised, 

ranching would soon be 

embraced nationwide. 

Bwari crisis: Again, FCTA imposes 

indefinite curfew on Bwari Town 

BWARI (ABUJA)— 

The Federal Capital 

Territory Administration, 

FCTA, said, yesterday, the 

6 am to 6 pm curfew 

imposed in Bwari town in 

the territory, would remain 

until further notice. 

According to a 

statement by Special 

Assistant to the Minister 

on Media, Mr Abubakar 

Sani, the earlier 8 p.m. to 

6 a.m. curfew imposed in 

the town on Saturday 

ended yesterday, 

The FCTA noted that it 

was deeply concerned 

over attempts by “some 

miscreants to reincarnate 

the December 25th, 2017 

crisis in Bwari Area 

Council. 

“Reports reaching the 

administration indicate that 

some of the miscreants took 

advantage of the on-going 

Eid-el-Fitr celebrations to 

launch attacks on innocent 

residents of the town on 

Saturday June 16. 

“Fortunately, the security 

agencies immediately 

swung into action and have 

since brought the situation 

under control. For the 

avoidance of doubt, the 

FCT Administration shall 

not condone any attempts 

by any group of persons to 

precipitate the breakdown 

of law and order in Bwari 

Area Council or indeed any 

part of the Federal Territory. 

“As you are already 

aware, following the 

December 25 crisis, a 6pm 

to 6am curfew was imposed 

on Bwari but was relaxed to 

10pm to 6am after a 

satisfactory assessment of 

2019: Obtain your PVCs 

now, Gov Ahmed urges 

residents 

By Demola 

Akinyemi 

ILORIN—AHEAD of 

the 2019 general 

election, Governor 

Abdulfatah Ahmed of 

Kwara State has pleaded 

with the citizens and 

residents of the state to 

troop out en-masse to 

obtain their Permanent 

Voters Cards, PVCs, to 

enable them elect 

candidates of their 

choice. 

Governor Ahmed in his 

remarks at a sallah 

homage by Emir of Ilorin, 

Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu 

Gambari, emphasised 

that “it is the civic 

responsibility of every 

eligible citizen to ensure 

collection of his or her 

PVC. It’s a right and the 

only tool to elect people 

who can deliver on 

campaign promises. 

“Ours is a peaceful and 

the situation and return to 

normalcy. 

"However, this renewed 

attempt to disturb the peace 

of the town, calls for 

stringent measures in order 

to protect lives and property 

as well as forestall the 

breakdown of law and 

order.” 

The administration, 

however, said security 

agencies had been directed 

to ensure that residents 

comply fully with curfew 

while urging all residents of 

the FCT to continue to be 

law abiding and go about 

their lawful activities. 

Chairman, Bwari Area 

Council, Mr Musa Dikko, 

reviewed the curfew after 

the town was thrown into 

confusion during the Eid-elfitir 

celebration. 

grassroots politics where 

we allow our people to 

<strong>take</strong> decisions on their 

own and encourage 

inclusive politics.” 

The governor, who 

advised party faithful to 

queue behind the 

Senate President to elect 

credible candidates in 

the 2019 general 

elections, said it was by 

so doing that they would 

elect candidates that 

would respect their 

customs and traditions. 

Ahmed warned 

against politicising the 

Offa bank robbery saga, 

urging the Policeto 

follow due process to 

ensure that all those 

involved were brought to 

justice. 

Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji 

Ibrahim Sulu Gambari, 

had earlier in his 

remarks praised the 

state government for its 

efforts on security and 

other sectors of the 

economy. 

Kogi ADP inaugurates fish 

meal making machine 

By Boluwaji 

Obahopo 

L OKOJA—Kogi 

Agricultural 

Development Project, 

ADP, has inaugurated its 

fish meal making 

machine, FMMM, 

signalling the 

commencement of its fish 

meal production. 

The machine with a 

capacity of producing 500 

kilogramme per day will 

also be used as a 

training centre fory 

individuals, groups or 

organisations interested 

in fish production. 


ADP, Mr Oyisi Okatahi, 

who revealed this at the 

inauguration said the 

machine had 

commenced production 

of floating fish meal with 

the cost price for a bag 

of 15kg of ‘Aqua Best’ 

fish feed set at N3,500. 

He said: “The fishmeal 

will also serve as 

training centre for fish 

farming and production 

and it is open to anyone 

who is interested. The 

knowledge which the 

participants will acquire 

in the training centre 

will equip them with the 

wherewithal that will 

enable them to 

contribute to the state’s 

fish production. In spite 

of our challenges, if we 

maximize our resources 

and opportunities, we 

are bound to succeed.” 

Okatahi commended the 

staff of the fisheries unit of 

the agency on their 

diligence and encouraged 

them to continue to be 

proactive and innovative. 

He also commended the 

state governor, Yahaya 

Bello, for his vision on 

agricultural development 

and for putting in place 

new innovations which 

had transformed the 

agricultural sector of the 

state. 

C 

M 

Y 

K


ADC’s 2019 not anchored 

on Obasanjo—Scribe 

By Dennis Agbo 

THE African Democratic 

Congress, ADC, has 

clarified that its anticipated 

fortune in 2019 general 

elections is not completely 

hinged on Chief Olusegun 

Obasanjo, but that the 

former President should not 

be wished away to assume 

he has become less 

influential. 

The party said that it was 

rather the principles, the 

manifesto and the ideology 

of ADC that attracted the 

former president among 

<strong>others</strong> to adopt the party as 

the right vehicle that would 

bring about desired change 

for good leadership in 

Nigeria. 

ADC National Publicity 

Secretary, Chief Anayo 

Arinze made the 

clarification when the party 

inaugurated its Enugu 


State Working Committee 

headed by the state 

chairman, Comrade 

Stella Chukwuma in 

Enugu, weekend. 

Arinze said “ADC is not 

anchoring its prospects on 

Olusegun Obasanjo, he is 

just one person but you 

know that he is an enigma. 

You cannot wish him away 

in Nigeria, in Africa and 

entire universe. 

“Remember he is a 

founding member of the 

World Eminent Persons 

Group, so he had made 

critical observations about 

the leadership of President 

Muhammadu Buhari, 

advised him not to run and 

he spoke the minds of 

Nigerians in January and 

that led to the formation of 

Coalition for Nigeria 

Movement which has been 

anchored around him." 

Ex-police commission boss 

faults exclusion of Nwosu 

from June 12 awardees 

By Chimaobi 

Nwaiwu 

N NEWI—FORMER 

chairman, Police 

Service Commission, PSC, 

Chief Simon Okeke, has 

faulted President Buhari’s 

exclusion of the former 

chairman, National 

Electoral Commission, 

NEC, Prof. Humphrey 

Nwosu from those 

honoured over June 12, 

1993 presidential election. 

Chief Okeke who 

however, endorsed the 

decision to recognize and 

honour late Chief 

Moshood Abiola as winner 

of June 12 1993 

presidential election and 

declaring the day as 

Democracy Day, said it was 

an aberration and the 

Presbyterian Church applauds 

Ikpeazu over infrastructural devt 

MEMBERS of the 

Presbyterian 

Church of Nigeria, PCN, 

have applauded the 

infrastructure development 

efforts of Governor Okezie 

Ikpeazu and described him 

as “a true Nehemiah of our 

time.” 

This was made known 

during the 2018 Fathers’ 

Day Celebration of the 

Men’s Christian 

Association, MCA, of the 

Ogbor Hill Parish of the 

Church by the Minister in 

Charge, Rev. Akim Erim 

Mbeh, while presenting 

the award of “Nehemiah of 

our Time" to the governor 

who was represented by 

his Deputy, Rt Hon. Sir Ude 

Oko Chukwu. 

According to the 

Minister, “Governor 

Okezie has re-built Aba and 

other parts of Abia State and 

deserves this award from 

the church. When you look 

at where we were before he 

came and where we are 

height of injustice to exclude 

Prof. Nwosu who 

conducted the election. 

Chief Okeke, while 

addressing newsmen in his 

Akatar Lodge, Amichi 

described Prof Nwosu’s 

exclusion as part of Buhari 

administration's way of 

excluding the Igbo in the 

affairs of the country. 

Chief Okeke also 

reminded Nigerians who 

are praising President 

Buhari to the high heavens 

for recognizing late Chief 

Abiola’s victory, to 

remember that former 

President Goodluck 

Jonathan first took the bull 

by the horn by naming the 

University of Lagos after 

Chief Abiola but it was 

resisted by Yorubas. 

today, you will no doubt 

acknowledge that we have 

made good progress that 

nobody can deny.” 


Governor Ikpeazu, who 

was represented by the 

Deputy Governor, Sir Ude 

Oko Chukwu, who read the 

first scripture during the 

service, thanked the church 

for partnering with his 

administration to deliver 

dividends of democracy to 

the people of the state and 

promised to do much more 

to make life better for the 

people. 

“We appreciate the 

support and prayers of the 

church. While the church 

is building the spiritual life 

of our people, it is our job 

as political leaders to 

deliver the necessary socioeconomic 

infrastructure that 

will enable our people to 

enjoy a better quality of life 

and do well in whatever 

their hands find to do," he 

said. 

2019: Battle for soul of Imo APC intensifies 

•Coalition spokesperson's residence burgled 

O 

W 

By Chinonso 

Alozie 

E R R I — 

GOVERNOR 

Rochas Okorocha of Imo 

State and his Deputy, Eze 

Madumere appeared to 

have started the final battle 

ahead of the planned All 


APC, convention 

This is coming at a time, 

the spokesperson to Imo 

APC s<strong>take</strong>holders, known 

as “Allied Forces,” Mr 

Theodore Ekechi said he 

was worried that the 

burglars who entered his 

residence carted away the 

files he kept during his 

time as commissioner to 

Okorocha and Director, 

Planning and Strategy, 

Muhammadu Buhari’s 

Campaign Organisation. 

Vanguard yesterday 

gathered that on the same 

day Okorocha’s faction of 

APC executive led by Chris 

Oguoma was holding its 

primaries for the 

forthcoming local 

government election, the 

Hillary Eke leadership 

inaugurated by the 

National Chairman of APC, 

John Odigie-Oyegun also 

By Peter Okutu 

ABAKALIKI—THE All 

Progressives 

Congress, APC, 

governorship candidate in 

the 2015 general elections, 

in Ebonyi State, Senator 

Julius Ucha weekend, 

accused the outgoing 

national chairman of the 

party, Chief John Oyegun 

of destroying internal 

democracy, guidelines and 

constitution of the party in 

the conduct of the last 

congresses in the state. 

At a press conference in 

Abakaliki, Ucha who 

alleged that the last 

met with the Imo State 

Deputy Governor, Eze 

Madumere, in Mbaitoli 

Local Government Area. 

A source told Vanguard 

that the party officers 

decided to visit Madumere 

to discuss the way 

forward. 

Some of the troubling 

issues which formed the 

agenda of the meeting 

included the forthcoming 

APC convention, the 

proposed local government 

election in Imo and how to 

open an office as the Imo 

APC State Secretariat and 

other areas had become 

BIRTHDAY: Former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi (left), 

with the former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, during 

the 90th birthday celebration of Dr. Ngozi's father, Prof. Chukwuma 

Okonjo at Ogwashi-Ukwu, yesterday. 

issues of threat to their 

lives. 

On the alleged 

assassination attempt on 

the the life of Ekechi, he 

said:”I was alerted on 

Thursday that my private 

residence in Owerri was 

burgled by unknown 

persons. I went to the police 

station but was unable to 

find the Commissioner of 

Police. I went to the 

monitoring unit. 

“They gave me three of 

their officers. It was the first 

time for me to see what 

happened. On getting 

here, we discovered that the 

security door was open. 

And on closer inspection, 

we discovered that through 

one of the windows, they 

gained entry by destroying 

the burglary proof. 

“I am worried that it 

happened when the ward, 

local government and 

state executives were 

inaugurated. Maybe, they 

calculated that I might 

have chosen to pass the 

night here but I went to my 

country home. 

“I'm particularly worried 

that there was 

concentration on 

documents and 

correspondences especially 

the ones that have to do 

with my services either as 

a commissioner or as a 

director of planning and 

monitoring of the 

presidential campaign of 

Muhammadu Buhari in 

2015.” 

Police nab suspected killer of Enugu monarch 

...assures Enugu monarchs of adequate security 

By Emma 

Nnadozie 

ENUGU—THE police 

in Enugu State have 

arrested one of the 

suspected killers of Enugu 

monarch, Igwe Stephen 

Nwatu. 

The suspect, Chibuike 

Odoh from Mgbuji 

Ehamufu was nabbed by 

security operatives, 

evening of Friday, 

following an intensive 

manhunt and operation 

carried out by the joint 

operatives of the Enugu 

Police Command, acting 

under intelligence 

information. 

The state commissioner of 

Police, Danmallam 

Mohammed said search for 

other suspects in the 

gruesome murder of the 

traditional ruler in Nkanu 

West Local Government 

Area was in progress. 

He identified another 

suspect as Emmanuel Ani 

from Amede Ehamufu, 

adding that Chibuike 

Odoh is now helping the 

operatives in their full scale 

investigations in relation to 

their alleged nefarious 

activities. 

"Both suspects were 

recently released from the 

prison over their nefarious 

activities within Ehamufu 

and its environs and 

following their release, they 

have allegedly killed no 

fewer than three persons 

and injured one other in the 

bush," the commissioner 

said. 

A day before the arrest of 

the suspect, the state police 

commissioner had assured 

traditional rulers in the state 

of their safety and security, 

during security interface 

between the commissioner 

of police Enugu State and 

members of Nkanu West 

Local Government Area 

Traditional Rulers Council. 

At the meeting, 

Danmallam expressed 

displeasure over the killing 

of late Igwe Stephen 

Nwatu and described the 

killing as not only 

unacceptable but also 

condemnable and barbaric, 

pointing out further that it 

Congress: Senator Ucha accuses Oyegun 

of destroying APC 

congresses which took 

place in the state did not 

represent the true wishes 

of APC supporters, pointed 

out that the implication of 

the development might 

lead to the nullification of 

the congresses whenever it 

is challenged in any court 

of competent jurisdiction. 

He further alleged that 

the undemocratic 

disposition of the national 

chairman of APC was what 

caused parallel congresses 

of the party across the states 

of the federation as he took 

sides in the crisis that 

rocked the party before, 

was an insult to the traditional 

stool which is known 

as sacred. 

"Those behind the 

incident must be fished out 

and diligently investigated 

and prosecuted in line with 

the relevant sections of the 

law no matter how highly 

placed they might be," he 

said. 

He however, warned 

against members of the 

public taking laws into their 

hands in view of its inherent 

unpleasant consequencies. 

during and after the congresses. 

He said: “John Oyegun 

is a malignant tumor in 

APC. I say this because he 

has lost sense of honour 

and has allowed pride, 

prejudice, self knowledge 

and selfishness to 

overwhelm him including 

greed. 

“If the only thing he can 

achieve for the party now 

is to destroy the institution 

because he feels he is no 

longer wanted because of 

his myriad of sins, and he 

thinks the best thing to do 

is to destroy the institution 

through which he has been 

blessed by God, he is 

wrong."

16— Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 18, 2018 

:Vanguard :@vanguardnews :@vanguardnewsNEWS HOTLINES: 

PDP-sponsored campaign of calumny 

against Oshiomhole'll fail 

—APC youths, NIC 

By Simon 

Ebegbulem 

BENIN CITY—AHEAD 

of the June 23, 

National Convention of the 

All Progressives Congress, 

APC, the Nigeria 

Integration Coalition, NIC, 

and the South South Youths 

of the APC, weekend raised 

alarm that the opposition 


PDP, is jittery over the 

possible emergence of the 

immediate past governor of 

Edo State, Comrade Adams 

Oshiomhole as the 

National Chairman of the 

APC and therefore has 

embarked on spurious 

campaign of calumny 

against him. 

They vowed to resist any 

attempt to rubbish his 

integrity ahead the national 

convention, adding 

however that Oshiomhole's 

track record and 

unblemished integrity will 

guarantee him victory in the 

forthcoming convention of 

the party. 

The NIC disclosed this in 

a statement signed by its 

National President, Elder 

Wesley Olowojaiye while 

the South South APC bared 

their mind in a statement 

signed by Tony Adun. 

The NIC statement 

condemned what it 

described as grand plot “by 

the PDP and its agents who 

are not comfortable with the 

likely emergence of 

Oshiomhole as the next 

chairman of the party to 

rubbish the good name of 

former labour leader. We 

read of a suit by one 

mischievous Osadolor who 

is not known to anybody in 

Edo but a tout to a failed 

governorship candidate of 

the PDP. 

“Those who lost out in the 

scrabble for political power 

and influence in Edo State 

have made it a pastime 

these days to denigrate 

Adams Oshiomhole 

through character 

assassination, odious 

insults and throwing 

political innuendos and 

brickbats against him in the 

press and especially in the 

social media. 

“These allegations which 

are not new were bandied 

around in the press while 

Oshiomhole was governor 

and were thoroughly 

investigated by the EFCC 

after he left office and found 

to be frivolous. They have 

been resurrected this 

period to attempt to tarnish 

the image of the former 

governor ahead the 

convention of the APC. But 

no amount of blackmail can 

stop the inevitable 

enthronement of 

Oshiomhole and success in 

the chairmanship race."



SEMINAR: From left—Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa Founder and Chairman, Sam Ohuabunwa 

Foundation for Econof; Charles Soludo, former Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, 

Ayo Badejo, District Coordinator, Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International- 

Nigeria, South West 6 District; Eddy Igwe, Chairman, Business Seminar Planning Committee 

SW6D; and Frank Aigbogun, Publisher and CEO Businessday, at the 2018 Annual Business 

Seminar with the theme: "Creative Approach to Economic Empowerment and Startup," held 

in Lagos. 

UNVEILING: From left—Chief Operating Officer, Noah’s Ark Communications, Ekeno Eyo; 

Head of Marketing, Kwesé, Dare Kafar; Kwesé Strategic Partner, Busola Adeogun-Phillips; 

General Manager, Kwesé TV, Elizabeth Amkpa; and Chief Executive Officer, Noah’s Ark 

Communications, Kwesé’s advertising agency, Lanre Adisa, at the opening of the Kwesé 

Experience Centre in Victoria Island, Lagos. 

AWARDS: From left—Chief Operating Officer, Noah's Ark Communications Limited, Ekeno 

Eyo; Marketing Director, Frieslandcampina WAMCO Nigeria PLC, Chris Wulff-Caesar; 

Managing Director, Frieslandcampina WAMCO Nigeria PLC, Ben Langat; Managing Director, 

Noah's Ark Communications Limited, Lanre Adisa; and Executive Creative Director, Abolaji 

Alausa, during the presentation of awards won at African Cristal Festival in Morroco to the 

management of FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria Plc at their office in Lagos 

Osun gov poll: KOWA raises 

concern over youths 

possession of arms 

AHEAD of Osun State 

Governorship election 

scheduled for September 

22, KOWA Party, youth 

leader, Jude Adejuwon, 

has raised concern over 

large number of youths 

currently possessing small 

arms in the state, stressing 

it could trigger violence 

during the poll. 

Adejuwon lamented that 

the little arms in possession 

of sizeable number of 

youths in the state has aided 

them to engage in robbery 

activities, saying, some of 

his close relatives had 

unforgettable memories of 

their act. 

The youth leader, who 

raised the concerns at the 

launch of his book, titled: 

‘The pragmatic of real 

change,” held in Yaba, 

Lagos State, stressed that 

he became aware of the 

looming danger while 

contesting for 

councillorship post during 

the last council poll in Osun 

State. 

He stressed that he 

became aware of the 

looming danger while 

contesting for 

councillorship post during 

the last council poll in Osun 

State. 

Explaining how small 

arms found their way into 

hands of youths and 

teenagers in the state, he 

stated that they engaged in 

the act in order to raise 

money for their needs. 

“During last council poll 

which I contested in Osun, 

I discovered that teenagers 

had guns and were ready 

to offer their service to me 

for any amount I could pay. 

“When I investigated 

further, I realised that it 

only cost N79 to buy a 

bullet. I was made to 

understand that the 

cartridge only cost N2500 

and there are 36 bullets in 

it,” he added. 

Adejuwon noted that 

larger percent of those with 

tendency to cause havoc 

were those that had their 

secondary school education 

under the present 

administration in the state. 

The youth leader hinted 

that no fewer than 60 

percent of the youths in the 

state were currently 

involved in cyber crime; 

jettisoning the need to raise 

money through genuine 

means. 

He said that the people 

their party and <strong>others</strong> strive 

for, with the aim to change 

narrative of political 

activities in the country 

“doesn’t even care for 

change in ideology.” 

According to him, “After 

the poll, I was made to 

understand that those 

currently occupying public 

office have money at their 

disposal to spend in order 

to get votes." 

Nwodo describes Ugwuanyi ‘best 

performing gov in Nigeria’ 

FORMER Governor of 

old Enugu State and 

National Chairman of the 


Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo 

has declared Governor 

Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi as “the 

best performing Governor 

in Nigeria”. 

Dr. Nwodo also described 

Gov Ugwuanyi as “a 

humble, indefatigable, 

humane and outstanding 

manager of men and 

resources, for the 

development of Enugu 

State”. 

Speaking during a 

Thanksgiving Mass and 

endorsement rally for Gov. 

Ugwuanyi by his kinsmen 

from Orba Udulekenyi in 

Udenu Local Government 

Area, the former Governor 

appreciated the various 

endorsements for the 

governor’s re-election in 

2019 from all spheres of the 

society because of his 

performance and 

uncommon leadership 

style, describing it as a 

good omen for the state. 

He said: “We will not be 

tired of commending your 

performance, pray for you 

and eulogize your 

uncommon leadership 

style”. 

Dr. Nwodo therefore, 

urged the people of Enugu 

State to ensure that they 

obtain their voters’ cards 

and “join the winning train 

of the Peoples Democratic 

Party (PDP) for them to 

continue to enjoy the 

dividends of democracy in 

the state. 

In his sermon, Rev. Fr. 

Emeka Ngwoke thanked 

God for what He has been 

using Gov. Ugwuanyi to do 

in the state, saying that 

“good leadership is truly 

manifesting in Enugu 

State”. 

The cleric appreciated the 

governor’s humble and 

peaceful disposition as well 

as his close relationship 

with the lowly and 

neglected, saying: “For 

once, our state now speaks 

and thinks as br<strong>others</strong> and 

sisters.” 

He expressed delight 

that the political division in 

the state in the past had 

gone since the emergence 

of Gov. Ugwuanyi’s 


Rev. Fr. Ngwoke also 

thanked Gov. Ugwuanyi 

for tackling the economic 

challenges that confronted 

the state when he assumed 

office as a result of the 

state’s high debt profile 

and the drastic drop in the 

nation’s crude oil prices.

18 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 18, 2018 

NIGERIANS are among the world’s 

most prolific medical tourists. Tens 

of thousands of Nigerians troop 

abroad every year in search of the 

best, if not necessarily most 

affordable, medical treatment and 

health care services. 

Medical tourism is thriving in the 

United States of America, Europe, 

the Middle East and Asian 

countries, particularly India, 

Thailand, Turkey and other 

destination countries. This is 

because of high patronage by 

Nigerians who expend in excess of 

US$1 billion every year. 

Each year, a significant number of 

Nigerians travel to India and the 

UK for treatments ranging from 

cardiac surgeries, neurosurgeries, 

cosmetic surgeries, orthopedic 

surgeries, and renal transplant 

surgeries. The penchant of 

Nigerian leaders, past and present, 

to patronise foreign health 

institutions is legendary. 

Medical tourism: Charity begins at home 

The failure of our health system 

is traceable to thriving medical 

tourism by prominent Nigerians. It 

is responsible for the massive 

neglect and restiveness in the 

health sector. Nigeria is currently 

rated by the World Health 

Organisation, WHO, as the 187th 

out of 190 countries in the health 

index. That is unacceptable. 

The rapid growth of medical 

tourism in the country is traceable 

to poor service delivery, lengthy 

waiting times and the absence of 

specialist services, among other 

flaws. A lot of people are afraid to 

die unnecessarily because of misdiagnosis 

which is so prevalent in 

Nigeria. Nigeria is not just 

suffering from brain drain, it is also 

beset by patient drain. 

One of the most telling implications 

of medical tourism is the incremental 

loss of confidence in our local health 

care system. Even though medical 

tourism is a viable access to health 

care services that are not available 

in Nigeria, patients with medical 

conditions that are treatable in the 

country often still prefer to be 

referred abroad for better availability 

of services. 

While medical tourism needs to be 

better regulated, there is a need for 

the health system operators to focus 

more on increasing the quality of 

services in order to improve public 

confidence. We need to commit more 

resources to the health sector and 

increase efforts at equipment and 

technology acquisition. 

Charity begins at home. Nigeria 

is a big market and a potential 

goldmine for prospective 

indigenous and foreign investors 

in the health sector. It is far better 

to encourage the healthcare 

providers that our moneybags 

patronise abroad to set up wellequipped 

and staffed hospitals in 

Nigeria. That way, the situation can 

eventually be reversed from 

medical tourism to making Nigeria 

a major destination for medical 

tourism. 

It will bring back the vast 

numbers of Nigeria medical 

professionals who are currently 

rated as star performers, especially 

in Europe and America. Nigeria 

can become a notable destination 

for international health tourism. It 

only requires visionary policies 

and implementation. 

By Prince Abugo 

AS Ifeaniyi Okowa’s administration 

clocks three years and 2019 beacons, 

it’s between him and <strong>others</strong>. This is so 

considering the diversity of Delta State 

which is a complex State. Indeed during 

electioneering campaigns, all sorts of 

persons, known and unknown political 

parties conglomerate under 

apprenticeship of mischief makers playing 

ethnic, sectional and tribal politics to 

divide us. Does Okowa deserve a second 

term? What are his legacies? Has he 

transformed the state in human and 

infrastructural development? Has he 

created enabling environment for 

comradeship beneficial for growth? 

Has Okowa tolerated political views and 

criticism? Has he united the state against 

ethnic chauvinists, political bats and 

tribal jingoists? Has Okowa united the 

state by giving every section a sense of 

belonging? Has he managed resources 

prudently and sustained values of Warri 

as economic capital and Asaba as 

political capital of the State? These 

questions are necessary in separating facts 

from fictions. Since the creation of Delta 

state, no leader has been confronted with 

challenges as Okowa has in cleansing the 

Aegean stable. We must not play politics 

of bitterness. 

Three years on, Delta works because 

Okowa is working. The defunct Bendel 

had several industries that Edo and Delta 

inherited. Asaba, Warri, Sapele and other 

towns were ancient communities that 

attracted global attention in commerce 

and industry; from Colonial era to 

independence these towns were noted as 

political and economic attractions. These 

cities were industrial and economic hubs; 

we had Warri, Burutu, Sapele and Koko 

OPINION 

Delta 2019: Separating facts from fiction 

ports that brought economic prosperity. 

These ports today are non-functional and 

evoke tears. The AT& P in Sapele brought 

subsidiary industries that blossomed into 

economic activities; the NPA ports brought 

the Delta timber industries and Asaba had 

textile mills. 

Our misfortune did not begin with 

Okowa but resuscitation as a state began 

with him. The rot started decades ago 

under military rule with nepotism, 

corruption and indiscipline that 

Okowa is building on the 

legacy of his predecessors, 

recognizing that every 

economic, political and 

social policy must revolve 

around people 

characterised national life. Education was 

polluted, unity segmented with tribalism 

and greed, schools <strong>take</strong>n over, ports 

liquidated and oil sector mismanaged. We 

had no roads except few constructed by 

Colonial and First Republic leaders; 

ethnicity and tribalism was promoted 

above competence and excellence; leaders 

used divide and rule to sustain relevance. 

Federalism was sacrificed for central 

command structure and industries were 

liquidated. 

The era of oil boom became our greatest 

undoing: corruption, profligacy, 

squandamania, mismanagement and 

looting were entrenched. Those who blame 

the state problems on Okowa are either 

mischief makers or suffering from 

political amnesia. He should be credited 

for reviving a state in coma back to life. 

The APC known for blame games were 

before now members of PDP. They were 

moles and vandals within the PDP 

preoccupied with destruction rather than 

welfare of the people; that is fair weather 

birds of passage. Okowa inherited debts, 

huge wage bills outweighing capital 

development and massive ghost 

workforce. 

Okowa is building on the legacy of his 

predecessors, recognizing that every 

economic, political and social policy must 

revolve around people. Every community 

is beneficiary of skills acquisition and 

empowerment programmes that have 

made youths employers and 

entrepreneurs. This has arrested youth 

restiveness. The focus is on technical 

education by reviving technical colleges 

as pillars of institutional growth, restoring 

sanity of state workforce by eliminating 

ghost workers from state pay roll. Through 

qualitative leadership and prudent 

management of resources, workers are 

paid as at when due and pensioners 

remunerated. 

The state is undergoing massive road 

construction across three senatorial 

zones. Okowa’s humility, justice and 

fairness have helped stabilise the oil sector, 

and by extension, the economy. Before 

Okowa came most oil companies had 

relocated their operational headquarters 

from Warri to Port Harcourt and Lagos. 

But aware of the economic consequences, 

he adopted policies to ameliorate its effects 

and took development to riverine 

communities to placate restive youths. The 

advocacy headed by the Deputy Governor 

goes to oil producing communities, 

educating them on the need to protect oil 

pipelines and avoid dangers of 

environmental pollution. 

The health policy is to assist the aged 

and vulnerable while patients are treated 

with dignity. There are functional 

hospitals and health centres in every 

community to bring health services to the 

door steps of people. Okowa recognises 

the importance of maternal health care, 

hence free medical treatment is given to 

m<strong>others</strong> and children; and every Deltan 

has access to him on any issue. This open 

policy is building trust and synergy. 

Okowa is leading advocacy for oil 

companies to relocate to their operational 

base in partnership with Pandef, a voice 

for the voiceless and victims of herdsmen. 

He is presently resuscitating Asaba Textile 

Mills, AT & P Sapele, among <strong>others</strong>, to 

restore the past glory of the state. He has 

demonstrated competence, knowledge 

and understanding of the complexities that 

make Delta State. His partnership with 

the Federal Government is yielding fruits 

in resuscitation of DSC Aladja and Delta 

ports, and thus changing the sad narratives 

of Delta State. 

For Okowa, competence overrides other 

considerations. That is why a second term 

is for uniting the state above ethnic, 

sectional and tribal considerations, 

building a lasting economic legacy for 

<strong>others</strong> to follow; cementing unity and 

transforming our diversity into economic 

and political synergy needed for 

comparative advantage. Under his 

leadership Delta enjoys equity, unity and 

political emancipation from rodents 

desecrating the state. And this explains 

why all, irrespective of political affiliation 

and social background, love him and 

continue to wish him well. 

•Mr. Abugo, a political analyst, wrote from 

Uzere, Delta State.

CBN to resume liquidity mop up as N425bn hit interbank 

•External reserves halt downward trend, gain $202m 

By Babajide Komolafe 

THE Central Bank of Nigeria 

(CBN) is expected to resume its 

liquidity mop up operations this week 

in response to inflow of N424.9 billion 

into the interbank money market. 

Last week the apex bank 

suspended liquidity mop up by 

withholding Open Market Operation 

(OMO) treasury bills, though it 

conducted sale of Primary Market 

(fresh) treasury bills worth N180.9 

billion. 

The market received inflow of 

N424.9 billion from matured treasury 

bills (TBs) on Thursday comprising 

N180.9 billion worth of matured 

OMO bills and N244 billion worth of 

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 18, 2018 — 19 

matured primary market bills. This 

resulted into net inflow of N244 

billion, which boosted market liquidity 

at the end of the week and 

prompted moderation in cost of 

funds. 

Data from FMDQ showed that 

interest rate on Collaterlised (Open 

Buy Back, OBB) lending fell by 116 

basis points (bpts) to 3.67 percent 

on Friday from 4.83 percent the 

previous week. Similarly, interest rate 

on Overnight lending dropped by 1.48 

percent to 4.25 percent on Friday from 

5.73 percent the previous week. 

Analysts, however, projected that this 

trend will be reversed this week, as 

they expect CBN to conduct liquidity 

mop up against the inflow from 

maturing TBs. 

According to analysts at Lagos 

based Afrinvest Limited: “In the 

coming week, we expect the CBN to 

conduct OMO auctions in line with 

continued on page 21 

MONDAY, JUNE 18, 2018 

Improved Forex supply deflates 

banks’ e-payment income 

•6 banks suffer 42% decline 

By Babajide Komolafe 

BANKS’ income from electronic 

payment (e-payment) 

businesses fell by 11.6 percent in 2017, 

prompted by the improved foreign 

exchange supply for invisibles by the 

Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in 

Experts link rising bank 

fraud to weak controls, 

poverty 

2017. 

Financial Vanguard investigations of 

the electronic banking income of 12 

banks in 2017 showed a significant 

decline to N131.26 billion in 2017 from 

N148.49 billion in 2016. 

The banks, however, attributed the 

decline to improved foreign exchange 

Equities market set to 

continue upward trend 

— Analysts 

supply for invisibles from the CBN, 

suspension of cross border transactions 

on Naira debit cards and new 

electronic banking tariff introduced by 

the apex bank in 2017. They were, 

however, upbeat that this trend will be 

reversed in the 2018 financial year. 

In the height of the foreign exchange 

scarcity in 2016, banks suspended cross 

border transactions on Naira debit 

cards. Prior to this, bank customers 

used their Naira debit cards for dollar 

transactions abroad including ATM 

withdrawals. The banks sourced for 

the dollar to settle the transactions and 

hence earn commission of 0.25 

percent per transaction value. 

The suspension of cross border 

transactions on Naira debit cards, 

however, wiped out this income in 2017. 

Furthermore, as part of its efforts to 

boost dollar supply and appreciation 

of the naira, the CBN from March last 

year begin to supply dollars to meet 

demand for invisibles such as Business 

Travel Allowance (BTA), Personal 

Travel Allowance (PTA), medical and 

school fees. 

Surviving the 

challenge 

As a result forex end users did not 

have to rely on the Naira debit cards 

for dollar transactions when travelling 

out of the country. This development 

severely affected the electronic 

payment income of six of the 12 banks 

while the other six were able to 

overcome the challenge and grew their 

income. 

The six banks that were able to 

survive the challenge and grew their 

e-payment income in 2017 are: FBN 

Holdings (First Bank), GTBank, 

Zenith Bank, FCMB, Ecobank 

Transinternational (ETI) and Wema 

Bank. 

The e-payment income of the six 

banks rose by 19 percent to N87.26 


Investors Insurance Forum News 

Insurance operators worry 

over 90 day claims 

settlement period 

22 24 

28 

C 

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FINANCIAL VANGUARD 

Improved Forex supply deflates banks’ 

e-payment income 


billion in 2017 from N72.79 

billion in 2016. Wema Bank 

recorded the highest growth 

of 26 percent, with e-payment 

income rising to N2.26 billion 

in 2017 from N1.79 billion in 

2016. ETI came second with 

25 percent growth to N24.2 


billion in 2016. FCMB came 

third with growth of 17 percent 

to N16 billion in 2017 from 

N13.7 billion in 2016. First 

Bank and Zenith Bank both 

recorded 15 percent growth in 

their e-payment income, 

which rose to N25 billion and 

N12.3 billion respectively in 

2017 from N21.8 billion and 

N10.7 billion respectively in 

2016. GTBank recorded the 

lowest growth of 12 percent to 

N7.5 billion in 2017 from N6.7 

billion in 2016. 

Declines in 

e-payment income 

On the other hand, six banks 

suffered 42 percent decline in 

e-payment income as a result 

of the improved dollar supply 

environment. The six banks, 

namely Access Bank, UBA, 

Diamond Bank, Fidelity Bank, 

Union Bank and Stanbic 

IBTC, recorded N44 billion as 

e-payment income in 2017, 

down from N75.7 billion 

recorded in 2016. 

Access Bank suffered the 

largest decline of 73 percent 

as e-payment income fell to 

N5.8 billion in 2017 from 

N21.3 billion in 2016. Union 

Bank recorded the second 

highest decline in e-payment 

income of 52 percent to N1.1 

billion from N2.3 billion in 

2016. 

Fidelity Bank came 

third as e-payment income 

fell by 36.7 percent to N6.8 


billion in 2016. UBA recorded 

32 percent decline in e- 

payment income which 

dropped to N20.9 billion in 

2017 from N30.5 billion in 

2016. 

Diamond Bank and Stanbic 

IBTC recorded 14 percent 

decline in e-payment income 

during the year. From N5.7 

billion recorded in 2016, 

Diamond Bank’s epayment 

income dropped to N4.9 

billion in 2017, while Stanbic 

IBTC epayment income fell to 

N4.5 billion in 2017 from N5.2 


Banks’ react 

While four of the banks 

explained the factors 

responsible for the decline 

expressing optimism of better 

performance in current 

operating year, Union Bank 

and Stanbic IBTC had no 

response to Financial 

Vanguard enquiries. 

Explaining why its e- 

payment income fell by 73 

percent in 2017, Acess Bank 

said: “The decline was due to 

the ease in forex liquidity in 

the system. In 2016, a lot of 

customers relied on settling a 

number of their forex 

obligations with their cards 

which led to the sharp 

increase in income from e- 

payment in 2016 relative to 

The e- 

payment 

income of the 

six banks rose 

by 19 percent 

to N87.26 

billion in 

2017 from 

N72.79 

billion in 

2016 

2015 from N3.9 billion in 2015 

to N21.3 billion in 2016. As 

forex situation normalized in 

2017, customers reverted to 

settling their obligations 

through 

official 

forex windows which was 

actively supported by the 

CBN. Therefore, the seeming 

decline in commissions from 

e-payment channels was 

compensated for by forex 

income in 2017. 

“Going into the future, the 

trend in e-payment income 

will improve over 2017, which 

is the normalized level, as we 

expect to see increase in 

volume of transactions on the 

Bank’s channels through our 

increasing retail customer 

base. However, the sharp 

increase witnessed in 2016 

may not be repeated going 

into the foreseeable future as 

the system remains buoyant in 

terms of forex liquidity 

without customers being 

forced into settling obligations 

with their cards. Therefore, 

forex income will adequately 

compensate for this.” 

Head, Card Services, 

Transaction & E- 

Banking, Diamond Bank, 

Olatunji Adebanji, cited 

similar reasons for the14 

percent decline in the bank’s 

e-payment income in 2017. He 

said, “The decline on cards 

are attributed to the following 

reasons: Suspension of cross 

border transactions on our 

Naira denominated Debit and 

Credit Cards. This line 

basically contributes about 15 

percent to 25 percent of the 

fee income earned on cards in 

the last three years. 

“On the decline in credit card 

sales and portfolio balance, 

this is also related, in a way, 

to the above as 65 percent of 

the credit card sold in 2016 

were cash backed cards used 

mainly for cross border 

transactions. The suspension 

resulted in a lot of attrition in 

2017 and the associated fees 

earned on these cards were 

lost.” 

Speaking for Fidelity Bank, 

Gbolahan Joshua, Chief 

Operations and Information 

Officer, said: “At the peak 

of forex liquidity constraint in 

Nigeria in mid-2016, Fidelity 

Bank stopped the use of its 

Naira cards for international 

transactions. Before then 

customers could use Fidelity 

Naira cards to shop online and 

make payments outside 

Nigeria while the bank would 

source for FX to pay the 

supplier/shops. 

Improvement in 

forex liquidity 

“This restriction was, 

however, partially removed in 

2017 by allowing customers to 

spend a maximum of $4,000 

per month using Fidelity 

Naira cards. Also, the new e- 

banking tariff introduction by 

the CBN in mid-2017 affected 

our e-banking activity income. 

The decline will not continue 

in 2018. 2018 full year will 

record an increase across all 

e-banking lines due to the 

increase in customers’ spend 

limit to $4,000. 

“We expect forex liquidity to 

improve as the economy 

recovers on the back of 

increased forex inflow from 

foreign investors and higher 

crude oil price. Hence we will 

likely increase the limit further 

and possibly remove the 

restrictions completely. 

“Between December 2017 

and March 2018, we have onboarded 

over 120,000 new 

customers on our mobile/ 

online banking platform 

increasing the count to over 

1.5million mobile customers. 

We have also issued more 

cards; 50 percent of our 

customers now use our cards. 

No doubt, the above positive 

story will metamorphose into 

increased e-banking revenue 

in 2018 full year and 

beyond.” 

Similarly, Abiola Rasaq, 

Investor Relations Officer, 

UBA, was optimistic that the 

bank will, this year, reverse 

the 32 percent decline in its 

e-payment income recorded in 

2017. 

He stated: “The lower e- 

banking income reflects the 

thin margin on the 

forex component of card 

business as well as modest 

forex liquidity in the 

country. However, volume 

growth is now steadily 

compensating for the lower 

margin and thus we expect to 

grow this income line in 2018. 

“Our corporate solutions and 

broader innovative offerings 

are giving us a higher share 

of customers’ wallet across 

major transaction banking 

lines, especially as our digital 

banking offerings are easy, 

convenient and simple 

solutions that meets 

customers’ need. 

“Besides the lower fee 

income from the card 

business, you may have 

observed that we grew other 

e-payment and transaction 

banking income lines. 

Precisely, the fund transfer 

and remittance income grew 

by 36 percent and 33 percent 

respectively. The trade and 

transaction services income 

also grew by 73 percent and 

54 percent respectively in 

2017. We are more upbeat on 

these income lines and other 

non-funded revenue in 2018.”



CBN to resume liquidity mop up as N425bn hit interbank 

Continued from page 19 

system liquidity, thus driving money 

market rates higher.” 

External reserves halt 

downward trend, gain $202m 

The nation’s external reserves rose by 

$202 million in three days last week, 

thus reversing the three weeks 

downward trend from May 18th to 

June 7th. 

Data from the CBN showed that the 

external reserves rose to $47.627 

million on Wednesday last week from 

$47.425 million on Friday June 7th, 

implying $202 million increase in three 

days. 

In another development, the CBN 

increased its weekly intervention in the 

interbank foreign exchange market to 

$553.06 million. 

On Monday the apex bank intervened 

with $210 million, allocating $210 

million to wholesale segment, $55 

million to SME window and another $55 

million for invisibles. 

On Thursday the CBN injected 

another $343.06 million through 

the Retail Secondary Market 

Intervention Sales (SMIS). 

Acting Director, Corporate 

Communications Department, CBN, 

Mr. Isaac Okorafor said that the SMIS 

injection was for requests in the 

agricultural, airlines, petroleum 

products and raw materials and 

machinery sectors. 

He added that the continued 

intervention were in line with the 

assurances made by the Governor, 

Godwin Emefiele, to sustain 

market liquidity in order to 

boost production and trade and 

maintain stability in the forex market. 

Speaking further, Okorafor assured 

that the CBN remained very committed 

to ensuring that all the sectors continue 

to enjoy access to the foreign exchange 

required for the business concerns. 

However, the naira recorded mixed 

performance in the foreign exchange 

market last week. In the parallel market 

the naira appreciated by 40 kobo as the 

exchange rate for the market dropped 

to N360.6 per dollar on Friday from N361 

per dollar the previous week. 

The naira however depreciated by 16 

kobo in the Investors and Exporters 

(I&E) window as the indicative 

exchange rate rose to N361.07 per dollar 

on Friday from N360.91 per dollar the 

previous week. 

The depreciation of the naira in the 

I&E window followed sharp decline in 

the volume of dollars traded (turnover) 

last week. Financial Vanguard analysis 

of daily transactions showed that 

turnover dropped by 40 percent to 

$787.19 million last week from $1.36 

billion the previous week. 

•Inflation Rate 

•IForeign exchange rates 

•Interbank interest rates 

C 

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Experts link rising bank fraud to weak controls, poverty 

By Elizabeth Adegbesan 

FINANCIAL sector experts 

have blamed the rising 

incidences of insider-related fraud 

cases in banks on poverty and 

weak internal control measures in 

banks. Recall that the Nigeria 

Deposit Insurance Corporation, 

NDIC, in a recent statement 

disclosed that fraud cases 

attributed to internal abuse by 

banks’ staff rose by 39 percent to 

320 in 2017 from 231 in 2016. 

The Corporation also accused 

banks of inadequate rendition of 

returns on instances of fraud, 

forgeries, and cases involving 

members of their staff who were 

either dismissed or had their 

appointments terminated on 

grounds of fraudulent activities. 

Speaking to Financial 

Vanguard, Dr. Uju Ogubunka, 

President, Bank Customers 

Association of Nigeria, BCAN, 

attributed this development to 

ineffectiveness of banks and lack 

of electronic fraud awareness by 

bank customers. He said, “This 

development implies that banks’ 

internal control measures are 

weak and ineffective. In cases of 

fraud, the banks will lose money 

and the customers would also lose 

money. On the part of customers, 

the problem of the occurrence of 

electronic fraud is due to the 

customer’s lack of information on 

how to use the e-payment 

channels. That is why they end 

up being caught in the net of 

fraudsters such as phishing and 

so on. If the banks have solid 

internal control measures, they 

would be alerted if there is any 

breach in the accounts of 

customers.” 

On his part, past Chairman, 

Committee of Chief Compliance 

Officers of Banks in Nigeria, 

CCCOBIN, Mr. Pattison 

Boleigha, cited abject poverty as 

the main driving force behind the 

insider related fraud cases. He 

noted, “I agree with you that 

fraud occurs because of the 

weaknesses, lapses and 

ineffectiveness in the banking 

system’s control measures, 

however, it is not because of lack 

of efforts by the banks to curtail 

this menace. The regulators have 

also come up with several 

regulatory pronouncements 

particularly in the area of 

electronic banking. 

“The weakest link in any system 

that will cause things like fraud is 

people issues. As long as it has 

human beings, whether they are 

weaknesses or inefficiency of bank 

or staff, the bottom line is that most 

of the frauds were perpetrated by 

staff, that is the largest weakness 

in the chain of issues in any 

company. 

“What are the typical 

characteristics of individuals’ 

today particularly in Nigeria? 

The entire system is stressful. 

There is abject poverty out there. 

There is abject lack. We have 

become providers of social 

comfort ourselves without 

government support.” 

Former President of Chartered 

Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, 

CIBN, Professor Segun Ajibola, 

however frowned at banks’ 

unwillingness to report staff 

culpable of fraudulent activities. 

Speaking at a recent 

conference organised by the 

Financial Institutions Training 

Centre, FITC, in Lagos, Ajibola 

Mr.Abdulhamid Umar, Director of Operations, National Identity Management Commission 

(NIMC), Adekunle Yusuf, Modupe Adeoyo and Oluwanifesimi Odedina all of Digital Banking 

Unit, Sterling Bank Plc receiving the 2018 Card Award for the card adjudged with most 

utility relevance to the card holder at the just concluded Digital PayExpo awards in Lagos. 

JAIZ Bank unveils 5year strategic plan 

•Opens Islamic Banking Training Centre 

By Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau 

Chief 

NIGERIA’s premier Non- 

Interest Financial 

Institution, Jaiz Bank Plc, has 

outlined a five-year strategic plan 

which would run from 

2018 to 2022, aimed at 

repositioning it as the clear leader 

in ethical banking in the sub- 

Sahara Africa. 

Managing Director/Chief 

Executive Officer of the bank, Mr. 

Hassan Usman disclosed this at 

the commissioning of Jaiz Bank’s 

Modern Banking Centre in Zaria. 

Represented by his deputy, Mr. 

Mahe Abubakar, at the event, 

Usman said at the heart of this new 

strategy is the positioning of the 

bank to become a lead player by 

the year 2022. 

He stated: “Our transformational 

strategies cut across projects for 

which we have engaged various 

consultants, some of these projects 

are at the closing stage, while some 

<strong>others</strong> are just kick 

starting. These changes are 

intended to bring about efficiency 

and effectiveness, while building 

the desired trust with our 

customers. 

“Some of the projects include a 

new Internet Banking Platform 

which will be rolled out to 

customers soon, reopening of Jaiz 

MasterCard to customers intending 

to do foreign transactions, the 

upgrade of the Bank’s IT 

infrastructure, Banking Application 

to the latest IMAL version 14, and 

deployment of a robust Credit 

Facility solution to facilitate a 

seamless, automated, and swift 

credit facility process for both the 

Retail and Corporate banking 

customers. 

“Other areas the bank is currently 

working on are the introduction of 

Agency Banking model, 

aggressive drive of Financial 

Inclusion programmes, and the 

MSME models.” 

Union Bank posts N15.5b profit before tax 

By Emma Ujah, Abuja 

Bureau Chief 

UNION Bank of Nigeria Plc 

has reported a profit before 

tax (PBT) of N15.5 billion on gross 

earnings of N163.8 billion for the 

financial year ended December 31, 

2017. 

Chairman of the bank, Mr. Cyril 

Odu, presented the bank’s group’s 

report to shareholders at the 49th 

Annual General Meeting (AGM) 

in Abuja. Other highlights of the 

bank’s financial performance in 

2017 showed that interest income 

grew by 25 percent to N124.5 billion 

from N99.7 billion in 2016, as a 

result of the impact of naira 

devaluation on the foreign currency 

denominated loan book, 

government securities yields and 

loan book repricing. 

Non-interest revenue also moved 

up by 31 percent to N39.3 billon 

from N29.9 billion in 2016, driven 

by improved fee and commission 

income, trading income and a more 

effective debt recovery machine. 

However, operating expenses 

increased by 5 percent to N65.1 

billion from N62.0 billion in 2016 

due to what the Chairman 

described as inflationary pressures 

and the impact of devaluation on 

technology and network 

investments. 

Gross loans grew by five 

percent to N560.7 billion 

compared to N535.8 billion in 2016, 

while customers’ deposits rose by 

22 percent to N802.4 billion, from 

N658.4 billion in 2016. 

The growth was led by 

investments in customer-led 

products, recently upgraded 

alternate channels, along with a 

strengthened brand. 

Key Operational Highlights 

included 90 percent increase in 

new-to-bank accounts which 

moved customers’ deposits up by 

22 percent. 

In his remarks, Chief Executive 

Officer of the bank, Mr. Emeka 

Emuwa said that the 

strengthening of the bank’s capital 

base through a Rights Issue was 

key to the bank in 2017 and 

beyond, adding that 

notwithstanding the challenges a 

tightened economy presented, the 

rights issue was 20 

percent oversubscribed. 

He stated: “This overwhelming 

success is credited to strong 

shareholder and investor 

confidence in Union Bank’s 

immediate and longer-term plans. 

“With sufficient capital buffers, 

we are now in position to execute 

our growth agenda from 2018 

onwards. Operationally, we 

continued to focus on growing our 

retail customer base and 

optimising customer experience 

with simpler, smarter banking 

solutions.’’ 

said: “I also appeal to operators 

here, let us cooperate with what 

the CIBN and the CBN are 

doing on ethics. We don’t make 

enough examples of people 

whenever it happens. We prefer 

to let them go quietly than 

reporting them. If we report 

them to the authorities, the 

CIBN, if such a person were to 

be a registered member, there 

is such procedure for dealing 

with such person and making 

him or her, an example for the 

system to know. But when we 

try to cover up, we recycle 

people with serious ethical 

issues. This is not helping the 

system. We don’t report enough. 

By the time somebody commits 

fraud and we say we don’t want 

to advertise ourselves and we 

let him go. It is not helping the 

system.” 

Fintech: 

Branch 

International 

to disburse 

N4bn to 

Nigeria 

customers 

By Nkiruka Nnorom 

BRANCH International, a 

financial technology 

(fintech) company that 

provides digital financial platform 

that enables users to access credit 

from their smart phones, said it 

plans to disburse about N4 billion 

to Nigerian users and generate 

over half a million loans in 2018. 

Matthew Flannery, Chief 

Executive Officer, Branch 

International, who disclosed this 

at a s<strong>take</strong>holders' meeting in 

Lagos, said that already, the 

company has disbursed over N1 

billion, while over 100,000 loans 

were generated in just one year of 

its operation in Nigeria. The 

company also recorded 50 percent 

growth in customers' adoption in 

the first quarter of this year (Q1'18), 

he added. 

He explained that unlike 

traditional financial institutions, 

Branch International provides 

customers with the opportunity to 

build their credit regardless of their 

banking history by assessing their 

loan eligibility based on the data 

procured from customer’s smart 

phones. “With the customers’ 

consent, Branch’s algorithm 

processes thousands of data points 

to create customized loan options. 

These data are protected using 

world class security and encryption 

techniques to ensure the safety of 

customers’ private information,” 

Flannery said. 

In her submission, Maria Rotilu, 

Country Manager for Branch, 

said: “The growth that we have 

seen indicates that our product is 

providing a valuable service and 

solving a meaningful need for 

Nigerians around the country. The 

rapid user adoption is a clear sign 

of a strong need for fast, accessible 

world class financial services.”



Equities market set to continue upward 

trend — Analysts 


I NVESTMENT 

analysts have 

predicted that equities 

market will sustain the 

upward momentum 

recorded in the last two 

week as investors 

continue to <strong>take</strong> 

advantage of low prices 

of value stocks. 

According to them, the 

newly approved multifund 

investment 

structure by the Pension 

Commission, PenCom, 

that requires Pension 

Fund Administrators, 

PFAs, to invest more in 

equities as well as 

positive macro-economic 

fundamentals, would 

provide a boost to the 

expected rally. 

Gains were sustained 

on the equities market 

for two consecutive 

weeks last week, with 

the All Share Index, ASI, 

rising by 0.67 percent at 

the close of trading on 

Thursday to 38,928.02 

points amidst sessions of 

mixed trading. 

Consequently, the 

year-to-date and monthto-date 

returns 

remained positive at 

1.79 percent and 2.16 

percent respectively. 

Also, equities 

capitalisation rose by 

N94 billion or 0.67 

percent to N14.102 

trillion from N14.008 

trillion in the previous 

week. 

According to analysts 

at Cowry Asset 

Management, trading in 

the equities market will 

close the week in the 

green territory despite 

the U.S Federal Reserve 

Bank's rate hike. They 

averred that the PFAs 

are expected to cushion 

the effect of anticipated 

outflows given the 

recently reviewed policy 

by PenCom. 

Also analysts at 

Cordros Capital opined 

that gains are likely to 

be sustained in the 

domestic market, amidst 

still-supportive 

macroeconomic 

fundamentals. 

In their research report 

for the week, analysts at 

both Afrinvest Securities 

and Vetiva Capital 

Management, projected 

a rebound in activity 

following two days of 

successive losses in the 

market at the last two 

trading days last week. 

12 companies raise N268.7bn in 

18 months — AIHN 

By Peter Egwuatu & 

Prince Okafor 

THE Association of 

Issuing Houses of 

Nigeria, AIHN, has 

disclosed that about 12 

companies quoted on 

the Nigerian Stock 

Exchange, NSE, have 

raised N268.7 billion by 

way of Rights Issue in 

the last 18 months. 

The AIHN which 

honoured some 

prominent people, who 

have contributed to the 

growth of the Nigerian 

capital market during its 

inaugural annual dinner, 

in Lagos, also stated that 

the outstanding value of 

corporate bonds, 

corporate Eurobonds 

and commercial papers 

raised so far in the 

financial market are 

N14.5billion, $1400 

million, and N86.5 

billion respectively. 

According to AIHN, a 

significant portion of the 

bond and commercial 

papers issued in 2017 

were issued by 

commercial and 

merchant banks. 

Speaking at the event, 

with the theme, “The 

Capital Market as a 

Catalyst for Sustainable 

Development”, Mr. 

Aigboje Aig- 

Imoukhuede, 

Chairman, Coronation 

Merchant Bank, stated 

the need for the country 

to have operators led 

capital market 

development. 

He further canvassed 

for scaling up of the 

minimum operating 

capital for the issuing 

houses given the big 

ticket transactions they 

are expected to handle, 

as well as the need for 

regulators to cut costs of 

transactions for raising 

capital. 

He stated: “ We have 

to move from a 

regulator-leddevelopment 

to 

operator-leddevelopment. 

It is not 

possible for us to have 

the kind of development 

we need in this country 

if regulators continue to 

lead development. I am 

not saying that there 

should not be regulation 

in investment banking 

or issuing houses as 

they are known here in 

our country, but it is 

better if they set 

minimum standards.” 

In his welcome 

address, Sonnie Ayere, 

AIHN President, said: 

“We will continue to 

deploy innovation in our 

operations in order to 

meet the demands of our 

partners and clients. We 

are confident that we 

can help to continue to 

shape the industry 

transformation into a 

more vibrant one and 

continue to strengthen 

the association’s 

position in the industry 

value chain.” 

They stated that the 

rebound is more likely 

following bargain 

hunting activities by 

value investors. 

Meanwhile, analysis 

of transaction in the 

market for the preceding 

week showed that 

performance across 

sectors was mixed as 

three of five advanced 

during the week. The oil 

and gas sector was the 

top performer, up 3.8 

percent on the back of 

gain in 11 Plc (formerly 

Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc), 

which rose by10.2 

percent and Seplat 

Petroleum and 

Development Company 

that advanced by 2.7 

percent. The insurance 

sector trailed, closing 2.7 

percent higher as a 

result of buy interest in 

Equity Assurance (20%), 

AxaMansard Insurance 

(6%) and NEM 

Insurance (6%). 

The banking sector 

appreciated by 0.3 

percent on account of 


percent increase in 

Union Bank of Nigeria 

Plc and Ecobank 

Transnational 

Incorporated Plc 

respectively. 

On the other hand, the 

consumer goods and 

industrial goods sectors 

closed in the red, down 


percent respectively, 

dragged by losses in 

Nigerian Breweries (- 

6.8%), International 

Breweries (-5.3%), 

Lafarge Africa (-1.8%), 

Cement Company of 

Northern Nigeria, 

CCNN, (1.8%) and 

Dangote Cement (- 

0.1%). 

RMB launches 

stockbrokers arm in 

Nigeria 

By Elizabeth 

Adegbesan 

RAND Merchant 

Bank (RMB) 

Nigeria has launched 

its stockbroking arm 

in the country as part 

of its long term 

strategic vision of 

offering financial 

services in the 

Nigerian market. 

The new arm was 

unveiled during an Art 

Exhibition and 

Celebratory dinner 

organized by the bank 

in Lagos. 

Speaking to 

Journalists on the 

sidelines of the event, 

Chief Executive 

Officer, RMB Nigeria 

Stockbrokers, Abiola 

Adekoya, stated: “We 

are holding this event 

to commemorate the 

five year anniversary 

of RMB operation in 

Nigeria and also the 

launch of our 

stockbroking business 

in Nigeria as well. 

“FirstRand Group 

has a long-term 

strategic vision of 

financial services 

offering in the 

Nigerian market, and 

By Peter Egwuatu 

C 

&I LEASING Plc 

has recorded 133 

percent subscription in 

the just concluded N7 

billion Series 1 Bond. 

The bond with five 

years tenor will mature 

in December 2023. This 

was revealed at the 

issuance signing 

ceremony in Lagos. 

The bond, which is 

the first series in a 

N20billion debt 

issuance programme, is 

a Senior Secured Bond 

with a fixed rate of 

16.54 percent and was 

issued at a price of 

N1,000 per unit. 

Speaking, Efe 

Akhigbe, Managing 

Director of Planet 

Capital, the Lead 

Issuing House to the 

issue, said: “The offer 

was 133 percent 

oversubscribed 

because of the track 

record of C& I Leasing 

Plc as a business with 

over 25 years of 

operations in Nigeria. 

The company’s 

investment in marine 

assets serving oil and 

gas companies in various 

RMB Nigeria 

Stockbrokers 

(RMBNS) is part of 

the strategy. The 

RMBNS prides itself 

as a business being 

driven by an 

experienced and 

high-performance 

team, focused on 

providing solutions 

to 

clients, 

underpinned by 

sound knowledge of 

the Nigerian and 

African equities 

market. 

“We strongly believe 

in the growth 

potential of the 

Nigerian equities 

market. To put this 

into perspective, the 

daily trade of 

Nigerian equities is 

around $20 million, far 

less than the $1 

billion daily turnover 

on the South African 

stock exchange, 

despite Nigeria being 

the largest economy 

in Africa. 

“At RMB, we see 

this structural market 

deficiency as a 

potential upside for 

long term, sustainable 

growth in the stock 

market,” she said. 

C&I Leasing's N7bn bonds 

records 133% subscription 

mid to long term 

contracts, which was 

attractive to investors, in 

addition to the timing of 

the issuance was 

instrumental to the 

success of the bond 

which was largely 

patronized by top 

pension fund managers 

and insurance 

companies’’ 

The MD/CEO of C& I 

Leasing Plc, Mr. 

Andrew Otike-Odibi, 

stated: “ The N7 billion 

raised will largely be 

invested in business 

expansion and 

restructuring of the 

company’s debts over a 

period of five years 

therefore, relieving the 

current debt profile on 

the group’s balance 

sheet while increasing 

profit margins and 

returns 

for 

shareholders. 

“The success of the 

bond is indicative of the 

market’s confidence in 

our business; they have 

seen our structure, 

focus and consistency 

with corporate 

governance in 27 years 

of operations.”



PFAs multi-fund investment structure good, but 

compliance may lag — Kurfi 

Mallam Garba Kurfi, is the Managing 

Director/CEO, APT Securities and Funds 

Limited. In this interview, he said that 

faithful implementation by the Pension 

Fund Administrators, PFAs, of the multifund 

investment structure approved by the 

Pension Commission, PenCom, will impact 

the equities, but doubt the ability of the 

PFAs to fully comply with the rule due to 

the observed past failures. 


THE 

Pension 

Commission, PenCom, 

recently announced intention 

to commence implementation 

of Retirement Savings 

Account, RSA, multi-fund 

investment in variable 

instruments. How do you think 

this will impact the equities 

m a r k e t ? 

If it is successfully 

implemented, it will be good for 

the stock market because before 

now, we had just two funds – 

the Retiree Account, RA, Fund 

and Retirement Savings 

Account, RSA Fund. 

In Retiree Fund, the 

maximum you can invest in 

equity is 10 percent, while in 

RSA Fund, which is the major 

Fund, the maximum that could 

be invested is 25 percent, but 

once they go into the multifund 

investment structure, PFAs 

will be allowed to invest as 

much as 70 percent of one of 

the Funds into equities. 

Question of 

implementation 

So, to me, the multi-fund 

investment structure is better 

and the capital market will be 

better for it. By the time they 

start implementing it, a lot of 

things will change, but the 

problem still lies in 

implementation. Even now in 

the RSA Fund that the PFAS are 

permitted to invest up to 25 

percent, quite a number of them 

are investing less than 10 

p e r c e n t . 

So, the question is not the 

rule, it is a question of 

implementation. Are they 

capable enough to implement 

it? The answer I will tell you is 

no because the PFAs have so 

much fear in investing in 

equities. Let me tell you, for the 

past three years, APT Pension 

Fund has been the number one 

in terms of return because we 

play in the capital market very 

w e l l . 

The rule is good, but are the 

operators willing to invest in 

the equity market? The answer 

I will tell you is no. They know 

the rule but the capacity to 

implement it is what is lacking. 

After a protracted period of 

bearish run, the bulls finally 

resurfaced this week broadly 

in line with expectation. For 

how long do 

you think the 

market 

w o u l d 

sustain the 

f r e s h 

rebound? 

Let me tell 

you, if you 

know how to 

play the 

market as an 

investor, the 

better for you. 

As at May 31, 

Japaul Oil 

and Maritime 

Services was 

21kobo, it 

traded as low 

as 20kobo. 

T o d a y 

(Thursday, 

June 7), it is 

29kobo and 

that gives 

almost 40 

percent 

return. Can 

you imagine 

that Japaul can give you 40 

percent return in one week? 

Dangote Flour Mill was trading 

as low as N8.90, but today, it is 

trading at over N10.00. Look at 

Nigerian Breweries, it traded 

for as low as N99.00, but today, 

Fundamentally, 

there is nothing 

wrong with the 

market. Most of 

the stocks have 

good 

fundamentals 

but they are 

trading below 

their fair value 

it trades at N118.00. Lafarge 

Africa traded for as low as 

N33.00. Today, it is N39.00. So, 

it depends on how you play the 

market. If you play well, you 

will make money. 

So, fundamentally, there is 

Mallam Garba Kurfi, Managing Director/CEO, APT Securities 

nothing wrong with the market. 

Most of the stocks have good 

fundamentals but they are 

trading below their fair value. 

Secondly, there is stability in the 

foreign exchange. So, foreign 

investors that want to play the 

market are invited to do so. 

What we are seeing now is 

simply uncertainty relating to 

the election period and that is 

n o r m a l . 

When there is election 

approaching, it creates 

uncertainty, but once all the 

parties have declared their 

presidential candidate, things 

will become more clearer to 

investors and they will be able 

to decide whether to invest or 

not to invest. 

Simple 

speculation 

For now, it is simple 

speculation because it is only 

President Muhammadu Buhari 

that investors know as a 

presidential candidate. We 

don’t know the other candidates 

that are contesting with him, but 

by August ending when the 

political parties’ primaries are 

over and other parties declare 

their candidates, we will begin 

to see changes. 

Investors, therefore will be 

more confident to predict what 

the likely outcome of 2019 

election will be. So, to me, I 

believe the up and down 

movement will continue 

tentatively until after the parties 

primaries, probably in August. 

Is there is still the possibility 

of the market posting a high 

double digit return this year? 

I just mentioned that recently 

many of these stocks recorded 

massive gains even within one 

week, but whether the market 

will post a double digit return 

at the end of the year will 

depend on the outcome of the 

parties’ primaries since this year 

not an election year. 

We have seen moments of ups 

and downs, but I still believe 

that we are likely going to close 

in the positive, but I cannot 

readily say if we are going to 

make double digit or not. I 

foresee that we are likely going 

to close positive because 

fundamentals of the companies 

are right and they are not doing 

b a d l y . 

So, what will be your advise 

to, especially, domestic retail 

i n v e s t o r s ? 

Let them ‘shine their eyes’ 

and <strong>take</strong> position because you 

can see the level of increase 

recorded in some of the stocks 

I listed in just one week. So, let 

them go for trading because up 

and down movement gives 

room for investors to make 

m o n e y . 

NSE joins 

fight 

against 

pollution 

THE Nigerian Stock 

Exchange, NSE, has 

enjoined 

the 

governments, industries 

and communities in 

Nigeria to join hands in 

fight against plastic 

pollution by exploring 

sustainable alternatives 

and reducing the 

production and excessive 

use of single-use plastic 

polluting oceans, 

damaging marine life and 

threatening human 

health. 

Bola Adeeko, Head, 

Shared Services Division, 

NSE, made the call at the 

closing gong ceremony to 

commemorate this year’s 

World Environment Day. 

NSE in collaboration 

with RecyclePoints and the 

Cleaner Lagos Initiative of 

the Lagos State 

Government carried cleanup 

exercise along the 

business district of Lagos. 

Commenting on the 

clean-up programme, 

Adeeko said: “With 

sustainability being an 

important part of NSE’s 

corporate culture, we are 

committed to minimizing 

our environmental 

footprint, developing new 

initiatives and seeking 

partnership to further our 

progress toward a more 

sustainable exchange”. 

Sustainable 

exchange 

“Ending plastic 

pollution is a challenge 

we <strong>take</strong> very seriously at 

the Nigerian Stock 

Exchange. We recently 

signed a Memorandum of 

Understanding (MoU) 

with RecyclePoints Limited 

for the collection and 

recycling of waste 

materials generated at the 

exchange’s offices. We 

are, therefore, excited to 

engage our employees 

and give them the 

opportunity to beat plastic 

pollution and contribute to 

achieving the company’s 

sustainability goals.” 

In line with the theme 

for this year’s celebration, 

“Beat Plastic Pollution”, 

NSE clean-up programme 

was designed to clear its 

immediate environment of 

plastic waste and create 

awareness on the menace 

of plastic pollution.


Nigerian capital market not advanced enough for e-Annual Reports – Shareholders 



The Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, recently disclosed plans to phase out the hard copy of Annual 

Report & Accounts. According to the SEC, the process has commenced. But Nigeria retail investors, who spoke 

with Financial Vanguard on the issue, are opposed to the initiative for various reasons. 

SEC redefining the market as pure 

elitist — Adebayo Adeleke 

The Securities and Exchange 

Commission, SEC, should not force 

the capital market to fly when it is yet to learn 

how to walk steadily. We are yet to fully 

appraise the import and fallout of e- 

dividend system, how effectively it has 

created problems (financial terms) for the 

retail investors, semi-literate investors, 

absentee investors, and investors in 

diaspora. The dust has not settled. 

Sure, there are advantages associated 

with electronic version of the Annual 

Reports; it is very fast in delivery time. It is 

less expensive for companies and it is 

environment friendly (less paper and more 

conservation), but the SEC should not 

assume that all investors are Information 

and Communication Technology (ICT) 

literate or that they are rich enough to afford 

iPads. 

Instead of pushing for mass financial 

inclusion, SEC appears to be redefining the 

market as pure elitist. 

What I think is best for the market is that 

we can have the e-version for those who 

have e-mail addresses and are ICT literate. 

We can at the same time have abridged 

version of the account in hard copy form. 


Hard and soft copies should 

be used side-by-side 

— Patrick Ajudua 

The Companies and Allied 

Matters Act (CAMA) 

specifically states that hard copy of 

Annual Reports must be delivered 

to the shareholders of companies. It 

is just the idea of the regulators and 

the Capital Market Committee 

(CMC) to introduce the soft copy in 

order to save cost, reduce postal 

delay and be environment friendly. 

I am not in support of 

discontinuation of the hard copy 

version of the report because not all 

shareholders have access to 

computer or literate enough on its 

usage. 

Also, many printers will become 

jobless as a result of this, leading to 

unemployment and poverty. It is my 

humble submission that both hard 

and soft copy must be produced. 

People should be given the one they 

opted for. Hence, it should be made 

optional. 

Penalties are signs of 

inefficiency by company’s 

mgt — Igbrude 

Igbrude Moses is the General Secretary of the Independent Shareholders 

Association of Nigeria (ISAN). In this interview, he spoke on the plan by 

the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to sanction banks’ directors whose 

banks default in filing their financial reports. 


WHAT is your opinion on 

the plan by the Central 

Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to 

sanction bank directors whose 

banks are defaulting in report 

filing? 

It is good for managers of 

companies to give account to their 

shareholders in respect of what they 

did within a particular reporting 

period. The regulators are there to 

ensure that managers of companies 

obey such rules as stated by law. 

The rules are meant to strengthen 

the institutions, to make them 

function effectively and ensure that 

managers of such companies are 

cautious that there are people 

watching them. To me, it is a good 

development. Besides this, when 

a particular company or firm is 

consistently not reporting or not 

meeting up to the directive, there 

must be something wrong. 

Now, the regulator is not just 

there to push out laws; the essence 

of it is to strengthen the institutions 

for the good of all the s<strong>take</strong>holders 

(bankers, workers and 

shareholders). 

They should be able to engage 

the banks to find out what is 

making them not to comply. If there 

are issues they cannot resolve, they 

should assist them in order to solve 

the problem. If the measure also 

fails, such bank/company should 

be sanctioned. 

A window should also be opened 

that if after three months a bank is 

not able to file its report, it should 

reach out to the regulator to explain 

the reason for the delay. Nigerian 

Stock Exchange, NSE, is now 

doing this where you see 

companies publish in National 

Dailies why they could not meet 

up with the deadline. Those 

managers should key into that 

window; any manager that fails to 

key into the window should be 

sanctioned. But sanction is not the 

only way to make people comply 

to rules. There could be awards, 

compensations and persuasions. 

Focus should not always be on 

financial sanction as if it is a key 

revenue generation drive for the 

SEC does not think through its decisions 

— Gbadebo Olatokunbo 

What is the percentage of 

Information Technology (IT) 

compliance of the Nigerian citizens? What 

is the percentage of adult citizens on IT 

and how many of them ever owned internet 

compliant phones? I don’t think that SEC 

has ever stopped to think how the 

shareholders would digest the Annual 

Report & Accounts in preparation for 

Annual General Meetings (AGMs) and how 

the meetings will be conducted without the 

hard copy. 

For me, it is a way of discouraging local 

investors who are mostly within the age 

bracket of 60 years and above. 

Has the SEC considered what the CAMA 

said on the relationship between investors 

and their investments? I wonder if the SEC 

ever reasons or reflects on the realities on 

ground in Nigeria before formulating 

policies and that is bad for economic 

development. Many of these people 

coming up with these policies enjoy “official 

free megabites and access to official 

equipments” and feel that every other 

Nigerian has the same opportunity. 

•Igbrude Moses 

regulators. 

Are there measures you think 

should be adopted by the banks 

to ensure compliance? 

We always advise management 

of companies to employ key officers 

whose role should be to anticipate, 

monitor and ensure compliance 

with regulations. The Compliance 

Officers are supposed to be looking 

at all these things – what are the 

rules that have been issued. How 

are we going to comply with them, 

what are the things that could 

militate against our compliance? 

Those officers should be employed, 

SEC side-lining retail investors 

— Eric Akinduro 

As for me, it is a good decision, but it 

can only work in an environment 

where virtually everybody is computer 

literate and has what it <strong>take</strong>s to browse 

the internet. We are in an environment 

where you have retail shareholders that 

don’t have access to internet, and what 

percentage of those that have internet are 

downloading Annual Reports to read. SEC 

should endeavour to study the peculiarity 

of Nigerian environment before coming 

up with any regulation. The regulators 

should always ask themselves, is this 

regulation okay for the market or are we 

just coping what is happening in advanced 

markets? 

To me, they are just trying to sideline 

the retail shareholders. The two (hard and 

sof copy) should go together; it should be 

optional. So, SEC should rethink its 

decision and try to encourage the 

grassroot shareholders that are not literate 

or versatile in computer usage and try to 

do something that will make them to 

continue to enjoy this investment 

environment. 

trained and equipped in order for 

them to do the job. After you have 

done that and you are still seeing 

sanctions and penalties, such 

officer should be sanctioned 

directly, not the bank, not the 

institution because when you <strong>take</strong> 

the money from the institution, you 

are punishing the shareholders and 

the other s<strong>take</strong>holders. 

Do you think it is right to 

sanction individual officers like 

you suggested since there could 

be other internal factors that could 

hinder smooth operation? 

We have talked and engaged 

managements that paying penalty 

is a sign that you are not doing the 

right thing. Now, if you are not 

doing the right thing, you need to 

employ a specific compliance 

officer’; that is the job. If in the 

course of carrying out the job there 

are constraints, the officer in charge 

should report to a higher authority. 

Where you have done that and 

passed it to a higher authority and 

the higher authority is the one 

delaying the job, then he or she 

should be punished. What we are 

saying is that they should comply 

with the regulation. That is why 

we are saying that when you 

employ Compliance Officers, you 

should train and equip them to do 

their job and when they do their 

job, we will not pay fine.



From left: Temidayo Ibrahim; Titilola Okunlola; Dr. Yeside Abiodun, Rector, College of Insurance & Financial 

Management, CIFM; Abiola Adegbesan; Abimbola Shobanjo and Oluwatosin Ogunnubi, all of Aiico Insurance 

Plc at the Advanced Bancassurance Training Programme organized by CIFM 

Insurance operators worry over 90-day 

claims settlement period 

By Rosemary Onuoha 

SOME 

insurance 

operators have 

expressed concern over 

the 90 days period given 

to underwriters to settle 

claims saying it is being 

exploited by some firms to 

delay claims payment. 


operators, such action 

being exhibited by a few 

players could continue to 

rub off on the entire 

industry, even as the 

National Insurance 

Commission, NAICOM, is 

restricted from immediately 

punishing claim offenders. 

Section 70 of the 

Insurance Act 2003 states 

that: “In every case where 

a claim is made in writing 

by the insured or any other 

party entitled thereto 

under insurance policy, the 

insurer shall- (a) where he 

accepts liability, settle the 

claim not later than 90 days 

after the issuance of 

discharge voucher; (b) 

where any claim remains 

unpaid as provided in (a) 

above, the insured may 

request the Commission to 

effect the payment from the 

statutory deposit of the 

insurer and the 

Commission shall have 

power to effect such 

payment ; or (c) where he 

does not accept liability, 

deliver a statement in 

writing stating the reason 

for disclaiming such 

liability to the person 

making the claim or his 

authorized representative 

not later than 90 days from 

the date on which the 

person delivered his claim 

to the insurer. (2) Any 

insurer who contravenes 

this section commits an 

offence and on conviction 

is liable to a fine of 

N500,000.” 

Speaking on the issue, 


Leadway Assurance 

Company Limited, Mr. 

Oye Hassan-Odukale said, 

“The law says that we must 

pay claims within 90 days 

after discharge voucher has 

been issued. However, we 

want to pay claims 

immediately after 

discharge voucher has 

been issued. But not all 

insurance companies have 

the capability to do so and 

we cannot do anything 

about that until the law 

changes. 

“We are anxious to pay 

claims immediately since 

we now collect premium 

immediately. 

Unfortunately, we cannot 

change the law. It is a moral 

obligation on our path that 

we must pay claims 

immediately; however the 

insurance Act has not been 

changed. 

“In the banking sector, 

the banks are divided into 

tiers. Although we have 

By Cynthia Alo 

PRESTIGE Assurance 

Plc has recorded 140 

percent increase in its Profit 

After Tax, PAT, for the 

financial year ended 

December 2017. 

The company said its PAT 

rose by N531.8 million in 

2017 from N221.9 million 

recorded in the 

corresponding period in 

2016. 

Addressing shareholders 

at the company’s annual 

general meeting in Lagos, 

Chairman of the company, 

Mr. Hassan Usman, said 

that gross premium 

increased by 46 percent to 

N3.8 billion from N2.6 


He stated: “During the 

year under review, net 

premium income was N1.4 

about 56 insurance 

companies, they are not 

categorized into tiers, but 

they are not all the same. 

We know the effect of the 

damage of a company not 

paying claims on time. If a 

company is not able to pay 

claims, they will say 

insurance companies in 

Nigeria don’t pay claims. 

They will not say company 

X is the one not paying 

claims. So it pains us also 

to go through that. 

“There are some 

companies creating 

problems for us and we are 

not happy about that. But 

the law <strong>take</strong>s a while to 

amend and even 

NAICOM is restricted by 

the law because it only 

carries out what is in the 

law. They are not happy 

about it but they cannot do 

anything about it.” 

Also speaking on the 

issue, Managing Director 

of NSIA Insurance, Mrs. 

Ebele Nwachukwu said, 

“There are some 

misconceptions on the part 

of the public on how to 

make claims. They should 

know that it is a process 

driven thing. Insurance is 

a pool of funds that we are 

holding in trust for so many 

people so there has to be a 

process for when we <strong>take</strong> 

money out of that pool. In 

essence, we have to be 

responsible about it.” 

Director General of 

Nigerian Insurers 

Association, NIA, Mrs. 

Yetunde Ilori said, “The 

NIA set up a claims bureau 

chaired by a retired judge. 

Insurance consumers 

should know that if a 

company is refusing to 

settle their claims, the NIA 

claims bureau is there to 

adjudicate on the matter 

and ensure that all genuine 

claims are settled.” 

France tops most expensive 

club side list by insurance value 

•Tipped to win 2018 World Cup based on 

insurable value — Lloyds 

OF the £13 billion 

worth of footballing 

talent at the on-going FIFA 

World Cup in Russia, 

France has the most 

expensive team and 

therefore tipped to win the 

competition, according to 

Lloyds, world’s leading 

insurer. According to a 

research conducted by 

Lloyds and under<strong>take</strong>n 

with the Centre for 

Economics and Business 

Research (Cebr) in 

London, the French team 

has the highest insurable 

value at £1.4 billion. 

The research stated that 

France, England which 

has an insurable value of 

£1.17 billion, and Brazil 

with £1.1 billion are the 

three most expensive 

teams in terms of insurable 

value adding that the 

average insurable value of 

one England player is more 

than the entire Panama 

squad. The analysis found 

that Group G, which 

includes Belgium, 

England, Panama and 

Tunisia, has the highest 

insurable value at over 

£2.3billion. 

SOVEREIGN Trust 

Insurance Plc has 

given out school bags and 

other educational items to 

primary schools within the 

locality of its head office in 

Lagos. 

In a statement signed by 

Head, Corporate 

Communications & Brand 

Management, Mr. Segun 

Bankole, the company said 

that the gesture is to 

Prestige Assurance grows profitability by 140% 

billion from N1.1 billion 

while investment income 

was N830.9 million from 

N417.8 million.” 

Usman stated that the 

company’s profit is as a 

result of the various driven 

strategies it employed for 

the year under review. 

“The strategies include 

the introduction of new 

products such as Salary 

Protection Shield, 

Mediclaim, digital 

insurance, travel insurance 

among <strong>others</strong>. 

“Our company has 

positioned itself to succeed 

in a vibrant financial 

market and more 

importantly in insurance 

sector by introducing new 

products and processes 

that guaranteed good 

returns on investments, as 

such no stone will be left 

unturned to build financial 

supermarket that delivers 

quality services and 

generate profits to our loyal 

and esteemed 

shareholders. During the 

year under review, we 

launched two new 

products, the prestige 

Salary Protection Shield 

and the Mediclaim policy 

with both products 

showing success and 

potentials”. 

He also noted that the 

company is set to expand 

its operation across the 

country with the opening 

of Single-Man offices and 

a plan to open more 

branches so as to acquire 

the significant market 

share of the insurance 

industry. 


Victoria De’Ath of Lloyd’s 

Class of Business, stated: 

“Our model correctly 

predicted the winner of the 

2014 FIFA World Cup so 

we wanted to put it to the 

test once again. The 

analysis makes interesting 

reading for football fans of 

the most popular and 

widely viewed sporting 

event in the world. 

“The research used 

players’ wages and 

endorsement incomes, 

alongside additional 

indicators, to construct an 

economic model estimating 

player incomes until 

retirement. These 

projections, used to 

successfully predict 

Germany’s triumph in 

2014, formed the basis for 

assessing insurable values 

by player age, playing 

position and nationality. 

“The contrast between 

the teams at the top and 

bottom in terms of insurable 

value is staggering, with 

the top six national teams 

worth more than the other 

26 combined. 

Sovereign Trust commits to 

CSR drive 

Also speaking, 

Managing Director of the 

company, Dr. Balla Swamy, 

said that for the period 

under review, there was 

increasing competition 

especially with the 

entrance of foreign insurers 

into the market. 

He disclosed that as part 

of its strategy, the company 

has settled its accumulated 

losses in 2018 financial 

year, thereby reinstating 

shareholders back to their 

equity positions. 

Commenting on the 

future of the insurance 

industry, Swamy said, 

“The future of this industry 

largely depends on sound 

underwriting, prompt 

claims settlement, and 

proper funds management 

with innovative 

information technology.” 

commemorate the 

celebration of Children’s 

Day which is in line with 

its Corporate Social 

Responsibility, CSR. 

Bankole said, “The 

initiative is geared at 

promoting academic 

excellence and good 

behavioural conduct 

amongst pupils in public 

primary schools in the 

country.” 

He further mentioned 

that the initiative will go 

beyond the Children’s Day 

celebration as the company 

intends to make it an ongoing 

one in some other 

locations where they have 

business presence. 

He said: “Part of the 

criteria set in determining 

recipients include best 

pupils in all arms of the 

classes, (male and female) 

in Mathematics and 

English Language, most 

punctual pupil in the 

school, best behaved boy 

and girl, most improved 

pupil in the school in the 

male and female category 

as well.” 

Managing Director and 

Chief Executive Officer of 

the company, Mr. Olaotan 

Soyinka in his remarks 

reiterated the commitment 

of the organization in 

giving back to the society 

whenever the opportunity 

presents itself.



Economy: All must work together to 

deliver the change Nigeria needs 

By Atu Ikot 

SO much has been said 

about Nigeria’s economy, 

with different interests espousing 

differing views and pushing 

divergent narratives – some 

positive and <strong>others</strong> negative. 

Most of those pushing the 

negative, do so from a point of 

how they feel and what they 

seem to be seeing; while those 

pushing the positive, rely largely 

on the fundamentals as they 

continue to emerge. 

Curiously, those pushing the 

negative started by pointing to 

the initially declining 

fundamentals and used them to 

support their position, but when 

the trend started changing, they 

doubted the same fundamentals 

which served initially as their 

indicators. 

However, looking at the figures 

by January 2016 and comparing 

those with corresponding figures 

in 2018, there would be no 

doubts, ordinarily, as to whether 

something has happened and in 

what direction. 

Nigeria’s 2017 GDP growth was 

published on February 27th 2018 

and it provides a key milestone 

and benchmark for one to use to 

analyse progress made towards 

the achievement of the aims and 

objectives of the Economic 

Recovery and Growth Plan; a 

flagship economic compass of the 

present administration. 

From whatever perspective one 

is looking at, the growth of 0.83%, 

which represents more than 2% 

improvement on the negative 

performance in 2016, is a by any 

means a positive signal. It 

reflects the fact that the macroeconomic 

environment is being 

steadily stabilized. This was 

listed as the first objective of the 

ERGP. 

Prevailing economic 

situation 

It is believed, and indicators 

have shown, that stable oil 

production and prices, combined 

with a focus on improvements in 

key sectors and government 

investments in critical 

infrastructure, have resulted in 

this return to growth. 

It is however necessary to make 

this point that growth of below 

1% in an economy where 

population growth is over 3% is 

not and cannot be felt by the 

people. And this is where the 

issue is when people doubt the 

growth figures as against the 

prevailing economic situation in 

their households. It is a point of 

concern, and would remain so for 

some time to come if something 

is not done urgently about 

population growth. 

It must not be assumed in any 

quarter that a return to growth 

automatically signals success in 

the strife to better the economy. 

It must not be assumed either 

that the job is close to being 

Kemi Adeosun, Minister of Finance 

completed. It is not and cannot 

be! It is still early days in the 

process and at the very early 

stages of a journey to 

fundamentally re-structure the 

Nigerian economy. It is a journey 

that government and economy 

handlers must be disciplined 

about, and one that will establish 

the basis for competitiveness as 

a nation, and the ability to 

provide for the people, not just 

between now and 2020, but for 

decades to come. 

With the news about how the 

global economy is changing and 

how the lifespan of petroleum 

product-powered automobiles is 

limited to at best a couple of 

decades; and how the rise of 

cheaper, efficient and large scale 

renewable energy technology 

threatens the hegemony of fossil 

fuels, an economy heavily tilted 

by fossil fuel, like Nigeria’s, 

should have great cause to worry. 

Again, when we consider that 

the future of work will be 

fundamentally changed by the 

rise of technology, like artificial 

intelligence and robotics, it 

therefore pricks the thought this 

is the context within which 

Nigeria’s economic development 

must <strong>take</strong> place. Many of these 

developments represent 

opportunities for the country and 

the people, and must be seen from 

that angle. Apart from their 

profoundness, these also 

demonstrate, without a shadow 

of a doubt, that the country’s 

reliance, dependence and focus 

on the oil sector alone is not and 

cannot be sustainable. There 

must be a deliberate move to 

change. 

But as the change is being 

worked on to deliver this 

structural change, it is not 

sufficiently well known that 

Nigeria’s revenue to GDP ratio 

is probably the lowest in the 

world. At 6%, it is well below the 

nearest contemporary, at 10%. 

For every percentage point that 

ratio can increase, there is a 

probability of an additional US$4 

billion to spend. This revenue 

weakness is perhaps the most 

critical challenge to the economy. 

Almost every problem that the 

economy faces requires 

significant investment to 

address, and even if annual 

borrowing is increased, it will still 

not mobilise sufficient funds to 

deliver the pace and level of 

reform that we need. 

There is absolutely no doubt 

that the investments that Nigeria 

There must be 

trust between 

the public and 

private sectors; 

and it seems 

that trust is 

beginning to 

manifest as the 

foreign 

exchange 

market is 

resetting 

must make in order to address 

the infrastructure deficit, and the 

level of spending that is needed 

to be able to commit annually to 

development sectors like 

education, health and social 

welfare are quite simply beyond 

the capability of the current 

Nigerian fiscal profile. 

That is why driving revenue 

growth is the core objective of the 

Federal Government, and luckily 

there are improvements to show. 

Figures from the National 

Bureau of Statistics and global 

reports on the economy indicate 

that investor confidence is clearly 

returning, as evidenced by the 

substantial increase in capital 

inflows. There was over US$6 

billion of capital inflows in the first 

quarter of 2018 compared to less 

than US$1 billion in the first 

quarter of 2017 – an increase of 

more than 600%. 

A number of reform measures, 

such as the work being done by 

the Presidential Enabling 

Business Council (PEBEC), have 

resulted in the country becoming 

recognised by the World Bank as 

one of the top ten reforming 

countries in the world. In 

addition, the country has moved 

up 24 places in one year in the 

World Bank’s ease of doing 

business rankings. These are all 

indicators that the economy is 

rebounding, but it will <strong>take</strong> time 

for this to reach the levels that 

are required for everyone to feel 

that something positive is indeed 

happening in the economy. This 

is because government’s most 

significant revenue generating 

mechanisms involve the 

collection of tax and excise on 

corporations and individuals; but 

government must recognise that 

the willingness of those groups 

to pay the tax that is due, is 

linked to their confidence in 

government’s accountability and 

ability to manage those funds 

and deliver value. 

As government is making 

efforts to demonstrate to the 

people that it can, and will deliver 

on infrastructure, enabling 

environment and the social 

services that are squarely its 

obligation, it should also actively 

work to build out the 

partnerships that can mobilise 

the investments that must be 

made, and to accelerate them. 

Some visible efforts can be seen 

in this direction with some of the 

initiatives under the Economic 

Recovery and growth Plan 

(ERGP). The ERGP is 

acknowledged as a market 

driven strategy, built on the 

principles that must leverage the 

power of the private sector, and 

enable markets to function. It is 

a successor medium term plan 

that followed the Strategic 

Implementation Plan put in place 

to drive the 2016 expansionary 

budget. 

On March 13, 2018 President 

Muhammadu Buhari formally 

launch the ERGP Focus Labs, 

which was designed to establish 

a forum for clear, honest and 

detailed discussion between the 

relevant s<strong>take</strong>holders interested 

in six core focus sectors; 

agriculture, transportation, 

power, gas, manufacturing and 

processing (including solid 

minerals). The ERGP labs are 

workshop-style closed-door 

investment forums between 

private sector and senior 

government officials, including 

cabinet ministers and heads of 

ECONOMY 

regulatory agencies to tackle 

some of the thorniest bottlenecks 

and inhibitors of additional 

business investments in the 

economy. Designed as business 

accelerators, it signaled a new 

direction in the business-togovernment 

partnership as 

investors converged in Abuja to 

extract investment 

commitments that are reciprocal. 

At the end of the six weeks 

duration of the labs, reports 

indicated that over US$22.5 

billion worth of potential private 

investments were identified, out 

of which projects with an 

investment value of up to 

US$10.9 billion could be 

categorized as “most ready” to 

go. Several quick wins/early 

successes were reportedly 

recorded. It is claimed that 

cumulative investments from the 

projects identified in the first 

phase of the labs could rise up to 

as much as US$39.2 billion by 

2025, if effectively followed 

through. That sounds 

encouraging. 

To achieve effective 

partnership, government must 

demonstrate to investors that it 

is available, open and willing to 

collaborate to remove the 

perennial obstacles they face, 

and to partner to deliver projects 

that will deliver not just 

commercial returns but jobs and 

growth that Nigeria needs. That, 

of course has been signaled as 

the objective of the Labs, but it 

must be followed through in 

concrete terms. 

Complex inter-agency 

problems 

Government has however 

indicated willingness in 

addressing the complex interagency 

problems that can hinder 

investment, and in return is 

seeking investment 

commitments in the strategic 

sectors that the ERGP is focusing 

on. That may be reason why nine 

cabinet Ministers were involved 

in this process. 

There must be trust between the 

public and private sectors. And 

it seems that trust is beginning 

to manifest as the foreign 

exchange market is resetting, 

with capital inflows progressively 

increasing in 2017 and providing 

a boost to the Nigerian Stock 

Exchange. However, while this 

provides the much needed 

liquidity, it must be 

supplemented with domestic 

and foreign direct investment in 

the core sectors. This is what 

catalyses structural change. 

The potential for the Nigerian 

economy to grow, and deliver a 

sustainable base of government 

revenue while providing the jobs 

that Nigerians need, remains as 

strong today as it has ever been. 

But the threats to the traditional 

base of the economy have been 

growing, and the clock is ticking. 

There is no longer an excuse to 

delay action. All must work 

together now, to deliver the 

change that is required. 

*Ikot, a commentator on 

contemporary issues, lives in 

Abuja



•Chief Gbade Giwa 

How to curtail electronic 

fraud, identity theft 

— CEO, Tripple Gee 

Chief Executive, Tripple Gee & Company Plc, a Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN 

licensed security printing firm, and a quoted company on the Nigerian Stock 

Exchange, NSE , Chief Gbade Giwa, in this interview, spoke about the level 

of electronic fraud in the country , how to tackle electronic crime , the 

company’s new product, Tru-DATA, that prevents identity theft, protects 

brands , among <strong>others</strong>. 

Excerpts 

By Peter Egwuatu 

HOW would you 

describe the level of 

electronic frauds and identity 

theft in Nigeria? 

The level of electronic fraud 

and identity theft in Nigeria 

is assuming alarming 

proportion in relation to the 

growth of digital era in our day 

to day life. In addition to that 

is the falsification of university 

degree certificates, birth 

certificates, NYSC certificates 

and so on. 

What do you think 

encourages people to embark 

on this kind of crime? 

Generally speaking, 

criminals often weigh their 

chances of success before 

embarking on criminal 

activities. To discourage 

criminal attacks, efforts should 

be made on eliminating 

success rate of criminal attacks 

on identity theft. 

How can we reduce or 

eliminate identity theft? 

There are several ways, and 

one way which Tripple Gee & 

Company Plc has piloted, is to 

<strong>take</strong> the important data in the 

documents which are often 

subjects of attacks to higher 

level by encrypting this critical 

data on the sensitive 

documents. Such that if Mr. A. 

steals or fraudulently attacks 

the document of Mr. B, which 

is encrypted with Tru-DATA 

software, Mr. A will be shamed 

at the point he wants to <strong>take</strong> 

value, when the encryption is 

now decrypted by Tru-DATA, 

which will clearly show the 

face of Mr. B. In other words, 

if all issuers of sensitive 

documents such as 

universities, tertiary 

institutions, NYSC, or even 

national identity cards are 

encrypted with Tru-DATA 

software, it will be impossible 

for identity thieves to get value 

as the true owners of the 

instrument will be revealed on 

the spot. This will go a long 

way to discourage the practice, 

reduce and eliminate identity 

theft. 

Tripple Gee has introduced 

a product in that direction, tell 

us about this product? 

Tripple Gee & Company Plc 

has spent the past 12 years to 

develop a product in this 

direction. It is called tru-DATA. 

What Tru-DATA does is that it 

encrypts the true information 

on the instrument or those it 

intends to carry particularly 

the critical ones. What is more, 

the encryption can also carry 

the image of the true owner of 

the document. So that if Mr. Y 

steals Mr. Z’s certificate, it is 

only Mr. Z’s picture that will 

pop up when our reader app 

What Tru- 

DATA does is 

that it 

encrypts the 

true 

information 

on the 

instrument or 

those it 

intends to 

carry 

particularly 

the critical 

ones 

– which can be downloaded 

from Goggle Play Store for 

free- is used to scan the 

document. 

This product is a 

revolutionary product and 

unique. It also serves to 

protect brands of product, for 

example, it can be used to 

encrypt the authenticity of 

Fast Moving Consumer Goods 

(FMCG) by encrypting and 

confirming the genuineness of 

the product, expiry dates and 

other information you may 

wish the product to carry. 

Greater 

capacity 

This verification is possible 

on the spot. You do not need 

any data or internet connection 

to get instant result. It is 

highly recommended for those 

interested in protecting their 

products or do product 

verification. 

Are there no similar 

products already in the 

market. What makes this 

product unique? 

To the best of my knowledge 

as at today, there are no 

similar products of the same 

capacity in the market. tru- 

DATA has 172 times greater 

capacity than HD Barcode 

regular 2D barcode. It can 

also absorb 10 pages of A4 

paper; it can <strong>take</strong> images and 

you can even encrypt zip files. 

These qualities make this 

product unique as at today. 

Tripple Gee will continue to 

upgrade the product from time 

to time. 

Generally how will you rate 

the security documents 

printing industry in Nigeria? 

Security print industry in 

Nigeria is only appreciated by 

a few who know the 

importance of security and 

perhaps, that is why some 

organisations do not 

appreciate the fact that even 

their letter heads and invoices 

are prone to attack by 

fraudsters. The level of 

awareness can be better. We 

do not need to wait until there 

are problems when your letter 

heads have been forged and 

used to defraud your 

customers. 

Tripple Gee appears to be 

the only security-printing 

company listed on the 

Nigerian Stock Exchange. 

How has the experience 

been? 

Tripple Gee & Company Plc 

was one of the first indigenous 

security printers accredited by 

Central Bank of Nigeria 

(CBN). Tripple Gee has also 

been a member of 

International Security Printers 

Association for over 20 years. 

It is not surprising therefore, 

that we are the only one in this 

category currently listed in the 

NSE. 

General 

election papers 

Our experience over the 

years has been good and we 

are glad to say that we have 

complied with all the post 

listing requirements of the 

NSE. 

What are some of the 

challenges you face as an 

indigenous company? 

Challenges are there for 

every organisation to pass 

through whether indigenous 

or foreign; though indigenous 

companies may have greater 

challenges. Having been in 

establishment for over 40 

years, we can confidently say, 

we are here to stay. 

How can the government 

assist to improve the 

performance of companies 

like yours? 

The federal government has 

started well by passing the 

Local Content Law, which 

enables certain jobs in oil and 

gas industry to be given to 

indigenous companies. The 

problem areas are with the 

various government agencies 

which have refused to change 

their ways. For example, I 

cannot see the reason why 

Independent National 

Electoral Commission (INEC) 

is still printing our general 

election papers abroad. I 

would like to see INEC print 

all election papers in Nigeria 

just as CBN has directed that 

all cheques should be printed 

locally. This will improve and 

boost our Gross Domestic 

Product(GDP) and local 

capacities. 

What is you general 

message to all your 

s<strong>take</strong>holders, customers and 

shareholders in particular? 

My message to all our 

s<strong>take</strong>holders is that better 

days are ahead and the new 

initiative embarked upon by 

the company, which are 

already yielding results will 

propel our company to greater 

heights.



Who is minding the economy 

now? 

Nigeria can survive without oil — Segun Awolowo 

EVER since he was 

appointed the Executive 

Director and Chief Executive 

Officer of the Export Promotion 

Council, Mr. Awolowo has been 

singing the same song. When it 

comes to sounding like a broken 

record, he is in good company. 

The Chief Executive Officer of 

Nigeria Plc, President Buhari 

never changes his tune 

anywhere he goes. 

His second in command has 

also picked up this awful habit 

of repeating himself. Is it 

because they think Nigerians are 

dullards or because they are the 

dullards themselves? Yet in every 

sentence they have repeated ad 

nauseum Nigerians have not 

been told how they plan to grow 

the economy and reverse the 

deepening poverty in the land - 

perhaps because they have no 

idea how to do it. 

“There is every reason to 

believe that four more years 

under Buhari will make us 

poorer than we are today. At the 

moment the per capita income 

of Nigerians is just a little above 

what it was in 2012. If Nigerians 

make the mis<strong>take</strong> of re-electing 

him, we might find ourselves 

back to the income levels of the 

1980s. 

Buhari and Osinbajo have no 

economic plans to avert that 

disaster. That is why they never 

talk about it. Incompetent rulers 


Our vision is to empower every Nigerian to have 

a brighter future – Chairman AMfB 

Chairman,Accion Microfinance Bank Limited, AMfB, 

Mr. Patrick Akinwuntan, in this interview on the 

sidelines of the bank’s annual general meeting speaks 

about the performance of the bank in the 2017 

financial year and the bank’s effort to weather 

challenges confronting the subsector. 

Excerpt: 

By Providence Emmanuel 

WHAT are the facts behind 

the bank’s performance 

in 2017? 

With regards to overall 

performance of the company, we 

operate within Nigeria and 

understand that those economic 

challenges were with us and they 

are improving gradually. But our 

focus has always been for the 

medium term and long term. 

Therefore you would find even 

in the past when we had profits 

there were years we had profit 

but we decided ourselves to defer 

and plow back as much of the 

profit as possible into the capital 

position of the firm. 

We are following the trajectory 

of our dividend policy and our 

growth strategy, and we would 

continue to improve on efficiency. 

Our USSD code, our mobile 

don’t want the aspects of their 

monumental failures discussed. 

Instead they want to divert 

attention to things that will not 

affect our well-being in the 

future.” 

Each time Awolowo has made 

the assertion he had failed to tell 

us under what conditions 

Nigeria can survive without oil. 

He has also failed to tell us if we 

are creating the enabling 

environment which will 

Of immediate 

concern right now 

is the fact that the 

Nigerian economy 

which just crawled 

out of recession is 

no longer being 

managed by 

anybody in 

government 

eliminate our fatal dependence 

on oil. Lastly, he never sets a 

time line for that feat to be 

achieved. 

Apparently, it can happen any 

time and by itself. It is doubtful 

if Awolowo is an economist like 

the late sage. But, Pa Awolowo 

would have been the first to label 

banking platform, is bound 

to enable us reach more 

customers and do it at a 

price point that is affordable 

to our customers and 

provide sustainable returns 

to the bank. 

What informed your 

decision to pay dividend of 

N27.79 per share? 

Accion MfB is privileged 

to have, first, a good 

combination of good customers. 

It is one thing for the owners of 

the bank to set out to go into 

collaboration with customers, and 

another thing for our customers 

to also reciprocate. In the face of 

recession, we took it upon 

ourselves to be there for our 

customers and we are privileged 

to have a good blend of 

shareholders in our institutions 

globally. From Ecobank, Accion 

International, Zenith Bank, 

what he has been repeating as 

hogwash. That will not deter him 

from repeating it because the 

Export Promotion Council has 

been one of our abiding failures 

among institutions of 

government. He too has nothing 

new to report. 

Of immediate concern right 

now is the fact that the Nigerian 

economy which just crawled out 

of recession is no longer being 

managed by anybody in 

government. Buhari does not 

understand economics; Osinbajo 

is only a little more literate on 

the subject. The Minister of 

Finance acts more like a cashier 

than an economic planner. The 

Minister of Budget and National 

Planning conducts some 

research pointing the way to 

policy thrusts but he cannot 

implement. Obviously, there is 

no coordinator like Dr. Ngozi 

Okonjo-Iweala. And without that 

government cannot channel 

resources to the areas where 

above-average growth can be 

achieved.“ 

Inexplicably, this government 

stumbled on the idea which 

would have yielded rapid 

growth. The Social Intervention 

Programme, SIP, was the best 

option for rapid growth. But, they 

regarded it as a political gimmick 

instead of an economic 

programme. They then 

compounded the error by putting 

propagandists and barefaced 

Mr. Patrick Akinwuntan 

Citibank, International Financial 

Corporation, IFC; these are all 

institutional investors that have 

a focus on the long term. 

Notwithstanding that there was 

recession in the short term, our 

shareholders stood with us and 

ensured that the company had 

the required support. We have 

always explained that our focus 

is to build a top class leadership 

and management team, the 

industry leaders in the 

liars in charge. Today, it confers 

no political advantage to 

government and the economic 

opportunities are lost. 

Let me explain. When the FG 

allocated N500bn to SIP in the 

2016 and 2017 budgets, 

economists worldwide assumed 

that SIP was going to be the main 

thrust for reviving an ailing 

economy because it was the 

highest allocation to any sector. 

No global leader would commit 

himself on paper to use SIP as 

the instrument for economic 

revival and then allow it to be 

under-funded. Everybody in 

government must be made to 

understand that this is the 

President’s top priority – which 

must be adequately funded. 

Instead of following up on the 

commitment implied in the 

budget, Buhari turned his back 

on it. Less than N90bn was 

released for SIP in the first year 

and even less in 2017. Then the 

deception started. In December 

2016, VP Osinbajo was still 

assuring Nigerians that 150,000 

teachers would be engaged. 

They were not. That is what can 

only be called self-destruction – 

because 150,000 new employees 

earning steady income would 

have created a multiplier effect 

beyond the incomes they earn. 

The impact would have 

reached all the way down to the 

farm gate and manufacturing 

enterprises. It amounts to 

MICRO-FINANCE 

microfinance business. That is 

why we took it upon ourselves to 

ensure we showcase our 

management team because they 

get returns and they are 

responsible for making sure that 

the vision of the shareholders is 

translated into reality on the field 

of play. The outcome and the 

continued progress is a 

combination of those factors. 

We have a lot of well wishers, 

s<strong>take</strong>holders across, our 

regulators are very supportive, 

we submit ourselves to corporate 

governance review and you 

would find in the annual report, 

the review of the Society for 

Corporate Governance which 

rates the corporate governance 

practice of the company in the 

top cadre as highly 

commendable. 

All these factors come together 

and with the grace of God, we 

have continued to record 

progress. We have also provided 

significant responsibility for all of 

us to ensure that we keep our 

eyes on the ball. Our vision is to 

empower every Nigerian to have 

a brighter future and that job is 

not done. In terms of our 

dividend which is in kobo, it is 

good return for our shareholders 

and we would continue to get 

reinforcement. I will not leave out 

creating 150, 000 new customers 

for a whole range of enterprises 

– hairdressers, fashion 

designers, carpenters (they 

need beds, don’t they?), food 

sellers. They had the kernel of 

a true economic programme 

designed to stimulate rapid 

growth. They threw that away 

and they are now left with the 

scam which SIP has become. 

Osinbajo was in Akure 

Alagbaka Primary School 

recently to share a meal with the 

kids. Apart from the publicity 

stunt, it was the first time I have 

read about a real school 

benefiting from SIP. So, I will go 

in my own time to see if the meal 

is served every day. But, if 

Osinbajo really believed that 

what was served that day was 

standard fare, perhaps he 

should return to the school and 

spend a year to gather more 

wisdom. The kids were not 

fooled; may be VP was deceived. 

Ministers left their offices for 

election, National Assembly 

members also went away. The 

2018 budget, which is important 

to Nigerians, remains 

uncompleted. If we had 

someone in charge of the 

economy he would have stayed 

back to mind the store. The 

President is back in London. Did 

we bargain for this in 2015 and 

should we allow it to continue 

after 2019? 

the fact that we have members of 

staff of the bank also as 

shareholders. 

That is good progress and all 

of us are working together and 

our shareholders have always 

proven that when we need more 

capital they are ready to support 

us but we would continue to 

focus on the huge potential that 

Nigeria represents and focus on 

our mission of a brighter future 

for our customers. This is the 

reason for the results that we are 

seeing and we would continue 

to count on the support of all our 

s<strong>take</strong>holders. 

How is the bank managing 

risks associated with the 

business? 

For us, proper conduct, 

compliance with regulations and 

mitigating risk is something you 

cannot avoid 100 percent. Taking 

risk is part of our business but 

taking it in an informed manner 

and in a manner that you manage 

it well is why we pride ourselves 

in competent management team, 

who ensure that we <strong>take</strong> proactive 

steps to manage enterprise risk, 

be it market, credit risk, be it 

operational risk, all the family of 

risk and with the oversight of our 

various board committees, all 

those pillars for effective risk 

management is constantly 

reviewed and improved upon.


(08052201997) 

IN May this year, Godwin Emefiele, 

the CBN Governor; formally, 

enthusiastically, confirmed the 

establishment of a currency deal between 

the Bank of China and its Nigeria 

counterpart; Emefiele, however also 

reported that the details and operational 

guidelines relating to the ¥15bn/N720bn 

swap would be announced later. 

The CBN’s expectation, however, is that 

the swap agreement “will‘see’ both banks, 

make liquidity available in their respective 

currencies for the facilitation and 

promotion of trade and investment 

between the two countries, through the 

purchase, sale and subsequent repurchase 

and resale of Chinese Yuan against the 

Naira and vice versa”. 

Nevertheless, despite CBN’s palpable 

optimism on trade facilitation between 

China and Nigeria, and the expressed 

hope that the swap deal would ease the 

pressure of dollar demand to induce 

stability or even a stronger Naira exchange 

rate, some Nigerians still remain very 

doubtful that the currency swap will 

actually, neither support or propel the 

economy towards the much desired 

diversification, nor indeed facilitate rapid 

industrialization with increasing 

employment and local value added. 

Hereafter, the promise and expectations 

from the currency deal, details of which 

were published on June 8 2018, will be 

examined in an interrogative prose to 

facilitate a multifaceted appraisal. Please 

read on. 

Can you explain in layman’s language, 

what the Naira/Yuan swap deal means? 

It simply means that the People’s Bank 

of China would place a deposit of ¥15bn 

(i.e. US$2bn or N720bn) with CBN. The 

CBN would, thereafter conduct twice 

weekly auctions to sell Yuan to licensed 

banks, who would in turn, sell their 

YUAN purchases forNAIRA, to 

ONLY customers who wish to import 

goods from China. In practice, the ¥15bn 

deposit may effectively become a 

revolving interest free placement, which 

the CBN would subsequently redeem with 

Naira values payable to China. 

So how will this arrangement help to 

improve the Naira exchange rate? 

CBN’s expectation is that the ¥15bn 


ECONOMY 

Heritage Bank reiterates commitment to innovative banking services 

Heritage Bank Plc has said it is 

committed to innovative banking 

services through its transparent 

MasterCard. 

Head of Corporate Communications 

of the bank, Mr. Fela Ibidapo disclosed 

this in a statement over the weekend, 

remarking, “that is the philosophy 

behind the bank’s e-payment 

offerings.” 

According to him, there is more to e- 

payment than Nigerian banking 

customers are currently enjoying, 

adding that they are determined to <strong>take</strong> 

Nigerians to new heights of e-payment 

services that deliver unparalleled 

convenience and security through the 

Heritage Bank Transparent MasterCard 

which is available to new and existing 

customers of the bank. 

He said to own a Heritage Bank 

Transparent MasterCard is easy as the 

Will Yuan swap strengthen 

naira rate? 

liquidity made available to Nigerian 

importers, will have similar impact as 

pumping an additional US$2bn forex 

liquidity into what seems to be a 

perpetually challenged dollar market; the 

problem however, is that, even if better or 

preferred qualities of the imported 

products exist elsewhere outside China, 

the Yuan will not be permitted for such 

imports. 

Does the Yuan/Naira deal accommodate 

delayed payment terms for importers of 

Chinese products? 

Delayed payment terms, or trade credit, 

is a significant measure of trust between 

trading partners, and it is usually an 

interest free loan, which may range in 

tenor, from within weeks to several months. 

The advantage of such credit, is that 

credible Nigerian importers, do not have 

Invariably, the 

temptation would be 

very high for China to 

ultimately also 

demand to pay for its 

crude oil imports from 

Nigeria with Naira 

to borrow and pay up to 20% interest on 

the bank advances which they may require 

to fund imports. Presently, the Yuan/naira 

deal is, strictly cash and carry for Chinese 

imports ONLY. Thus, to access the Yuan 

liquidity, Nigerian importers must have 

their own Naira or they would first borrow 

Naira from banks at the prevailing interest 

rate, before any bank will, in turn, sell the 

Yuan, it buys from CBN’s auctions. 

The impact of the ¥15bn on trade 

expansion, may be relatively restrained if 

Nigerian importers of Chinese goods, who 

card comes with no additional cost 

beyond the cost of applying for the 

average MasterCard. 

He observed that there was a huge 

difference between the current growth 

in volume of e-payment in the country 

and the potentials available, if the 

number of unbanked Nigerians with 

access to mobile telephone services is 

anything to go by. 

According to him, while the volume 

of e-payment in Nigeria grew from 

N18.1trillion in 2012 to N35.1trillion in 

2014 with transaction through Point of 

Sale (POS) also increasing from N48 

billion in 2013 to N312 billion in 2014, 

the growth has not mirrored the huge 

population of mobile phone users in the 

country which currently stands at more 

than 105 million while about 60 million 

Nigerians who do not have bank 

already enjoy existing trade credit, can 

also access the domestic Yuan market and 

begin to settle, erstwhile dollar 

denominated invoices of their Chinese 

suppliers, with Naira payments. However, 

such a restraining trade impact will be 

completely erased if the ¥15bn placement 

with CBN automatically revolves, upon 

liquidation of the initial tranche, rather 

remain static on an annual limit of ¥15bn. 

Conversely, tenured ¥15bn placement, 

with say, 3 cycles annually, may actually 

ultimately transfer over N2 Trillion into the 

Bank of China every year. 

So what will China do with all that 

Naira? 

Well, according to CBN, “the Chinese 

business man will have sufficient Naira 

to purchase RAW MATERIALS from 

Nigeria, while Nigerian importers will not 

endure the challenge of third currency 

fluctuations, when trying to make 

payments for Chinese Exports.” 

CBN’s observation is clearly misleading, 

as the Naira/Yuan rate is actually not static 

but also intrinsically tied to the prevailing 

Yuan/dollar rate. 

Notably, some critics wonder that, if 

China monopolises the market for 

Nigerian raw materials with their huge 

Caché of Naira, from where will Nigerian 

manufacturers and converters get 

reasonably priced raw materials, in 

adequate supply to fast track 

indutrialisation and employment with a 

diversified economy, as expected? 

Already, local industries have expressed 

concern at the way ubiquitous Chinese 

businessmen outbid them, in the market, 

for local raw materials; for example, the 

growth of the domestic scrap metal 

industry, is reportedly presently stymied 

by the active presence of Chinese 

businessmen who have cornered the scrap 

market at the farmgate! 

So are you saying that that the 

accumulation of Naira in the hands of 

Chinese businessmen could also hurt our 

accounts, have phones. 

He also said that innovation was 

inevitable in the banking industry due 

to changes in dynamics across the globe 

which has penetrated the Nigerian 

banking industry and that these 

changes are driven by forces of 

globalization, self-service mobile 

devices and regulation. 

He said the impact of these changes 

on the Nigerian banking landscape has 

reflected in the sharp increase in the 

growth of electronic payment services 

between 2012 and 2014 in the country, 

remarking that e-payment is now a 

commodity and innovative e-payment 

is the way to go. 

He said Heritage Bank has always 

been driven on the path of continuous 

innovation, having been the first to 

transform the interior of banking halls 

industries and our hope for economic 

diversification? 

Yes, this is a real possibility, if it’s not 

properly recognized and managed to 

reflect Nigeria’s true interest. Besides, the 

Naira rate, may actually face the risk of 

further devaluation, and Nigeria’s 

economy may ultimately buckle at the 

knees, if the Chinese decide to ‘mock 

about’ with their huge Caché of Naira. 

Furthermore, in the spirit of liberalism 

towards China, Chinese banks may also 

be formally established in Nigeria; in such 

event, Nigeria’s economy may become 

denominated by the Chinese, and 

consequently, Chinese-Nigerian Banks 

could consolidate their hold on our 

economy, by legitimately, directly 

borrowing more Naira from Nigeria’s 

Central Bank and lending to primarily 

Chinese businessmen to expand their 

activities, in more areas of business, 

including the stock market, government’s 

bills and bonds and indeed in any lucrative 

local investment throughout Nigeria. 

With the accumulations of so much 

Naira reserves, can China ultimately 

demand to pay Naira for crude oil 

imports from Nigeria? 

Technically, there is nothing that should 

stop such a payment process; after all, it 

would be indefensible for any country to 

reject its own currency, particularly if it is 

legitimately acquired. Invariably, the 

temptation would be very high for China 

to ultimately also demand to pay for its 

crude oil imports from Nigeria with Naira. 

If and when this happen, Nigeria’s dollar 

reserves will, obviously, become more 

challenged, and Nigeria’s economy may 

be forced to become further dependent on 

China. 

So will the Yuan deal reduce inflation 

or strengthen the Naira rate? 

No. It was never CBN’s expectation that 

the Naira/Yuan deal would restrain 

inflation nor induce a stronger rate. 

Clearly, the Naira rate is not distinctly a 

function of inadequate dollar reserves or 

Yuan reserves, but actually a function of 

surplus supply of Naira and regular 

auctions of dollars rations by CBN. 

Unfortunately, the Yuan/Naira deal may 

further increase the challenge of Systemic 

Naira excess. 

in addition to being the first financial 

institution to set out deposit machines 

in all its branches nationwide. 

The head of corporate communication 

also observed that Heritage Bank was 

also the first to launch the first real 

transparent MasterCard in Nigeria as 

well as transform small and medium 

scale enterprise (SME) banking 

approach. 

The Heritage Bank Transparent 

MasterCard distinguishes its customers. 

It gives them the prestige and 

excitement of being part of innovation 

which is what the card represents. The 

youths as well as adults will find it very 

attractive. 

Ibidapo said Heritage Bank is the 

bank of the future because its style is 

quite different and it caters for everyone, 

whether young or old.


YOUR LUCK TODAY 

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 

TAURUS: Mercury will start to go on backward motion 

soonest, therefore you will need to re-examine both 

your personal ideas and advice given to you by other 

people. Be family minded. 

GEMINI: Avoided you don’t allow <strong>others</strong> to mislead 

you, things will not go wrong. The more willing you are 

to <strong>take</strong> the initiative the better for you. Take your love life 

more seriously. 

CANCER: Although you will need to be as secretive as 

you can, your success will attract <strong>others</strong>’ attention to you 

to the betterment of your cause. Be ambitious. 

LEO: People who more influential than you will be willing 

to support your cause but you will need to make the 

necessary move. The more self assertive you are the better. 

VIRGO: Challenges of yesterday will today bring you 

good opportunities along your career/business lines to 

the betterment of your finances seek supporters of powerful 

ones. 

L E I S U R E 

TAKE HEART — ELLA RANDLE 

“Believe in life! Always human beings will live and 

progress to greater, broader, and fuller life.” 

— W.E.B. DuBois 

Believe it is possible to see improvement in your life. Believe 

in your abilities to raise the bar, even if the world around you 

accepts average. And because you believe, be willing to test, 

experiment, and try new things even when you feel 

uncertain. If you don’t believe that it’s possible to make new 

things work, then it’s hard to make any progress. 

— Ella Randle 

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye” 

SAYINGS OF 

OUR PEOPLE 

Show me your 

friend and I 

will show you 

your 

character. 

— African proverb 

By Kola Fayemi 

LIBRA: Think of the best way to improve on your working 

pattern in order to enhance your career prospects if 

you listen to your creative self, things will work out fine 

for you. Be more loving. 

SCORPIO: Success is boldly printed on your cards today. 

Think of both immediate and far future while you 

are savouring goodies offered you but mother nature. 

SAGITTARIUS: You should not have it tough while 

trying to win the needed supports of <strong>others</strong>. Take good 

advice from some of your friends who are creatively gifted. 

CAPRICORN: Your creativity ...... is enhanced today 

and if you demonstrating this within your working arena, 

you’ll earn success and consolidate on your recent 

progress. 

AQUARIUS: As mercury prepares to go on backward 

motion it is important you don=t <strong>take</strong> things for granted. 

Watch carefully what you agree to do. 

DUDU in “ROLLING HOT” By A.O. OLAIDE 

PISCES: Better than yesterday. Others will be willing 

to give you the needed co-operation both at home and 

within your working arena. This is a good day for lovers. 

ARIES: Those of you who are more enterprising will 

have much to show for your efforts. The more cooperative 

you. Don’t neglect love. 

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING 

Send your date and place of birth to the Astr 

trological 

Counselling, P.M.B 100 

007, Apapa, Lagos 

What does future have for me? 

Dear Joshua, 

I don’t want you to publish my data. However, I want to 

know how the planets lined up when I was born. And which 

day of the week was I born, would I record success in life ? 

When would my success come? 

Bonny, Lagos. 

Dear Bonny, 

You were born on a Jupiter ruled day - Thursday. You’ll succeeded 

earlier than you think. Your Horoscope Data 

DAY OF BIRTH: THURSDAY 

SUN SIGN = PISCES: SUN IN 25TH DEGREE OF PISCES 

MOON SIGN: PISCES: MOON IN 21ST DEGREE OF PIS- 

CES 

MERCURY IN 28TH DEGREE OF AQUARIUS 

VENUS IN 28TH DEGREE OF ARIES 

MARS IN 7TH DEGREE OF CANCER 

JUPITER IN ZERO DEGREE OF AQUARIUS 

SATURN IN 27TH DEGREE OF CAPRICORN 

URANUS IN 22ND DEGREE OF LEO 

NEPTUNE IN 11TH DECREE OF SCORPIO 

PLUTO IN 6TH DEGREE OF VIRGO 

NORTH NODE IN 6TH DEGREE OF PISCES 

CARDINAL AND MUTABLE STAR SIGN HOSTED THREE 

PLANETS. EACH, FIXED AND WATER FOUR EACH, FIRE 

EARTH AND AIR 

HOSTED TWO EACH. 

PUSHFUL INFLUENCE = 40% 

NON-PUSHFUL INFLUENCE = 60% 

HIGHLY HIGHLIGHTED STAR SIGN = AQUARIUS 

FINAL DISPOSITOR = SATURN 

ANALYSIS OF THE HOROSCOPE DATA 

Saturn as the final dispositor-the most influential planet at 

home when you were born, pointed to you as 

an ambitious person who must have a well developed career. 

You are a disciplined person with higher degree of leadership 

quality in yourself. Although, you can be emotional, you are 

stable and reliable. Less than 50 per cent of push-full influence 

in you is an indication of your being an amiable person. Both 

your natal sun/moon in Pisces and Aquarius are indications of 

characteristic of star signs are highly pronounced in your inner-self 

Having your hands on public pulse will always bring 

you unexpected success and fulfilment. 

Around your 30th birthday an endless cycle of great success 

and achievements will start for you. Oil-petrol chemicals will 

feature in your life when the predicted great cycle gets started 

for you. Congratulation. 

VIRGINIA 

HOME & ABROAD 

dadadekola@yahoo.com 

By Lawrence Akapa

Nnimmo Bassey: Guard of our 

collective existence 

WE <strong>take</strong> nature for granted, 

extract our living from it, 

abuse, pollute and exploit it to the 

extent that we have changed the 

climate thereby endangering our 

very existence. However, there is a 

Nigerian Reverend, architect, poet 

and environmentalist, Nnimmo 

Adolf Bassey who has made it his 

duty to defend our environment, 

reverse climate change and guard 

our collective existence on earth. 

Not unexpectedly, in the last three 

decades, he has also had to guard 

his own life against those who find 

him a dangerous human species 

standing between them and profit. 

In Nigeria, Nnimmo is a 

nightmare for transnational oil 

companies exploiting oil, spilling 

its content on land and waterways, 

flaring gas, bribing leaders and 

providing funds to repress the 

people of the Niger-Delta who are 

the immediate victims. 

Beyond his activism, the 

transnationals and those who 

profit from oil exploitation 

especially in Africa, will find his 

ideas, quite dangerous and 

incendiary. He argues for instance 

in his 2013 book, To Cook A 

Continent: “Africans need soil, not 

oil. The environment is the cradle 

By Olukayode Majekodunmi 

UNDER normal circumstances, one 

would dismiss the recent police 

invitation of Bukola Saraki, the Senate 

President as one of the unfolding political 

drama where the police as presently headed 

by Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Ibrahim 

Idris has been shown to be an active 

participant. That is if it were an isolated 

incident. But it becomes troubling as it 

appears to be a pattern of onslaught against 

perceived opponents of the President and/or 

his allies. In recent times, there was the 

reported invasion of Kaduna State NUJ 

Secretariat by political thugs allegedly 

under the watch of the Police to attack 

Senators Shehu Sani and Suleiman 

Hunkuyi who are known adversaries of 

Governor El-Rufai, a foremost backer of 

President Muhammadu Buhari. Shortly 

after, the Police invited same Shehu Sani 

for alleged incrimination in criminal 

conspiracy and culpable homicide by a 

suspect in custody. There was the celebrated 

gestapo onslaught on Senator Dino Melaye 

which earned the IGP and the Police 

notoriety the world over. Typically, Senator 

Melaye is engaged in turf battle with 

Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State who, 

like Governor El-Rufai, is a frontline 

Buharist. 

The IGP recently had a celebrated faceoff 

with the Senate of the Federal Republic of 

Nigeria when he wantonly and with 

ignominy refused several invitations from 

the Upper House to answer questions about 

the state of insecurity in the country. He was 

reported to have said that his refusal to 

honour previous summons by the Senate was 

because he found no reason to do so, having 

learnt that the invitation was “a deliberate 

blackmail, witch-hunting, unfortunate and 

mischievous” on the part of senators. This 

culminated in the Senate declaring the IGP 

as unfit for public office. 

Now, the Senate President has been invited 

for what the Police has once again called 

criminal indictment by five suspected 

gangsters involved in the April 5 bank 

robbery in Offa, Kwara State. Five of the 

suspects, according to the Police, confessed 

that they were political thugs used by the 

Senate President and Kwara State Governor 

Abdulfatah Ahmed. It was also the case of 

the Police that the five gang leaders further 

in which Africans are nurtured. 

Crude oil extraction has effectively 

uprooted the people from the soil. 

It has polluted their waters and 

poisoned their air.” 

He laments that in the search for 

more oilfields, Africa is being 

“poked full of holes” and that the 

claims of clean coal and fracking 

shale gas being the solution, do 

not shield humanity from their 

harmful effects. His solution to 

climate change is “leave the oil in 

the soil, the coal in the hole and 

the tar sands in the land.” 

Nnimmo, co-founder of the 

Environmental Rights Action, ERA 

and head of the environmental 

think tank, Health of Mother 

Earth Foundation, HOMEF, is the 

leading campaigner against 

Genetically Modified Organism, 

GMO foods in Nigeria. In his 

poetry collection, I Will Not Dance 

To Your Beat, he wrote on GMOs: 

“If we are hungry. Must we fill our 

stomachs with poison? We have a 

right which can’t be denied. We 

must decide what we eat, and when 

and how.” 

Currently, he is leading a 

campaign against plastics. He 

told Nigerians: “ When we eat fish 

that feeds on plastics, it is 

reasonable to say that we are 

actually eating plastics.” 

To commemorate the 2018 

World Environment Day and the 

World Oceans Day, he told us: 

“Tissue papers decompose in two 

to four weeks. Cigarettes 

decompose in five years. The 

plastic cups in which coffee is 

served at cafes and fast food shops 

float around for 50 years. Plastic 

bottles will swirl about for 450 

years. And, wait for it, the plastic 

in baby diapers will equally hang 

around for 450 years – long after 

the babies who wore them would 

have become ancestors.” 

His proffered solution is as 

radical as that on oil and coal: “We 

should learn to refuse plastics and 

not just aim to reduce, reuse or 

recycle them. It is time to tackle 

this menace at source…It is time 

to terminate this plastic 

civilisation.” 

Nnimmo, a Reverend of the New 

Covenant Gospel Church, Benin 

City, engages on missions and 

humanitarian work across borders. 

He preaches the gospel of love but 

not servitude and acceptance of 

oppression. In fact, he believes that 

an oppressed people have a duty 

to revolt. In his collection of poems, 

Patriots and Cockroaches he wrote: 

“He who shall not CRY OUT Shall 

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 18, 2018---33 

be shrouded in silence And 

returned to the abyss He who keeps 

quiet is a sinner In the face of our 

misery.” 

I met Nnimmo in the trenches, 

when all patriots were obliged to 

<strong>take</strong> on the Stone Age military 

rulers who sought to enslave 

Nigerians and turn the 

Blackman’s most populous country 

into a prison. Of course, there was 

a price to pay fighting for freedom 

and justice. When the security 

threats were getting too much, his 

wife, Evelyn and children 

abandoned their home in Benin 

City and relocated to Uyo; his 

brother-in-law, Ekere Nkanga, 

who was caught in his house, was 

carted away to Oko Prisons 

without trial, spending three 

months. Nnimmo himself went 

underground for over four months. 

Generally, I was luckier than 

Nnimmo; during the military 

regimes; whenever the security 

forces came after me, they sent me 

an “invitation” but when they went 

after him on June 5, 1996 on his 

way to Accra, Ghana, he was 

kidnapped. That treatment was 

reserved for people they want to 

simply disappear without trace. 

But he was luckier than our mutual 

friend, Ken Saro-Wiwa who on 

November 10, 1995 was <strong>take</strong>n to 

the gallows and hanged. 

I was a political and human 

rights activist while Nnimmo and 

Ken were better known as 

environmentalists, you would have 

expected the military to be more 

brutal on people like me who 

directly challenged their criminal 

rule. But they were more ruthless 

on the environmentalists because 

their actions affect oil flow which 

is what runs in the veins of the 

rogue generals and provides them 

looted funds. Nnimmo says he 

fights on so many fronts because: 

“Today’s battles were lost 

yesterday. Tomorrow’s battles 

Saraki, Offa armed robbers and the law 

confessed during investigation that they are 

political thugs under the name ‘Youth 

Liberation Movement, a.k.a ‘Good Boys’ and 

that the boys admitted having been 

sponsored with firearms, money and 

operational vehicles by Senator Saraki and 

Governor Ahmed. The Senate President and 

the Governor have both denied the 

allegations. Saraki through his spokesman 

described the invitation as “part of the plan 

to abuse the criminal investigation process 

aimed at intimidating and overawing the 

legislature, thereby obstructing it from 

doing its work.” 

From evidence disclosed by the Police and 

the exculpatory statements of the ringleader 

of the robbery gang, one can safely posit 

that the linkage of the Senate President or 

the Governor of Kwara State to the acts of 

the armed robbers who invaded Offa is 

tenuous. This conclusion is purely based on 

extant law and not emotion. From 

experience, what the Police often <strong>take</strong>s as 

He said the car was given to him 

for his work as one in charge of 

mobilisation and arrangement; 

the car was not given to them to 

be used for robbery operation 

confession can hardly pass through legal 

scrutiny in any court. Confession is a 

question of law and not dictated by what the 

Police or the IGP would want us to <strong>take</strong> as 

confession. In any case, it is also trite that 

confessions are admissible in evidence only 

against the persons who make them. Unless 

and except the Senate President or the Kwara 

State Governor admits or concurs with the 

alleged confessional statements made to the 

Police, it is minutely valuable in criminal 

proceedings against any person other than 

the maker. 

Let us <strong>take</strong> a critical look at the comment 

of the alleged leader of the gang. He was 

asked of their relationship with Saraki and 

the Governor of Kwara State. He responded 

that they do what he called ‘Political 

arrangement and mobilisation for them.’ 

He was further asked the source of their 

weapon, he responded that it was one 

dismissed Policeman by name Michael who 

provided them with weapons used. He 

confirmed that he was given the vehicle used 

In Nigeria, Nnimmo is 

a nightmare for 

transnational oil 

companies exploiting 

oil, spilling its content 

on land and waterways, 

flaring gas, bribing 

leaders and providing 

funds to repress the 

people of the Niger 

Delta who are the 

immediate victims 

in the operation by his “Excellency.” Most 

importantly, he said neither the Senate 

President nor Kwara State Governor sent 

them for robbery operation but that they 

were political thugs to both the Senate 

President and the Governor. 

It can be safely said that there was 

commission of offence of armed robbery by 

the persons apprehended by the Police who 

have openly confessed to their crimes. This 

is <strong>take</strong>n to be true because the most 

important ingredient of armed robbery is 

to be armed with any firearms or offensive 

weapon. What is yet to be known is the 

involvement of Saraki and the State 

Governor. If the only link between the 

suspect and Saraki is the statement made 

by the ring leader of the thugs, one can 

conclude that the Police has got this very 

wrong in this case. The Police is trying 

everything to play to the gallery of unlearned 

minds as far as this Offa robbery incident is 

concerned. They have gone a step farther to 

state that some of those arrested attended 

the wedding ceremony of Saraki’s daughter. 

However, for the Senate President and 

Kwara State Governor to be directly 

involved in this case, it must be shown that 

they knew they were robbers and that they 

provided them with instruments to perform 

their operation as robbers. The fact that cars 

were given out as act of political patronage 

to party faithful cannot by any stretch of 

imagination be used to ascribe culpability 

to the Senate President and Kwara 

Governor. 

A cursory examination of Section 7 of the 

Criminal Code relating to criminal 

liabilities of parties to an offence is apposite 

at this juncture. The following persons are 

deemed to have <strong>take</strong>n part in committing 

the offence and guilty of the offence: - a. 

Every person who does the act or makes the 

mission which constitutes the offence; b. 

Every person who does or omits to do any 

act for the purpose of enabling or aiding 

another person to commit the offence, c. 

Every person who aids another person in 

committing the offence; d. Any person who 

counsels or procures any other person to 

commit the offence. 

From the provisions of S.7(c) above, there 

might be temptation to link either Saraki 

or Governor of Kwara to the offence under 

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must be fought today.” 

With globalisation, there are 

talks of more freedom, democracy 

and a common humanity, but 

Nnimmo argues: “Might has never 

appeared to be more right than 

we see in today’s unipolar world. 

Man’s greed for natural resources 

has risen so high that to sate the 

taste, man would need several 

earths…Democracy is now stalled 

through the barrel of the gun. The 

so-called free market has become 

our slave marts. The cynicism of 

man has jaundiced our thinking 

so much that the shouts of the 

watchmen are ignored as the 

ranting of discontent.” 

On June 11, 2018, this unique 

Pan-Africanist, humanist and 

watchman of our earth, turned 60. 

On that day, a crowd, including 

pro-democracy and civil society 

activists, environmentalists, trade 

unionists, architects, diplomats 

and politicians gathered in Abuja 

to honour him. The Vice- 

President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo 

who was represented by a graduate 

of the Military rule detention 

centres, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, 

extoled Nnimmo’s virtues. 

Making a private observation, 

Ojudu was worried that a lot of 

patriotic activists who put their 

lives on line to wrest the country 

from dictators, are knocking 60 or 

have gone through its doors, while 

there are very few young people 

taking their path. 

Nnimmo has packed so much in 

his 60 years of existence, made so 

much sacrifices and fought so 

many battles locally and globally, 

that it will be understandable if he 

begins to slow down, but the earth 

is too important to allow a 

guardian like him rest. So I wish 

him many more years of struggles. 

It is not only Nigeria that is 

savable, we can also win the global 

war to save our earth. Mother 

earth or death! 

consideration. That has also been 

sufficiently cleared from the press interview 

of the accused. He said the car was given to 

him for his work as one in charge of 

mobilisation and arrangement. The car 

was not given to them to be used for robbery 

operation. 

To understand what section 7(c) says, we 

can <strong>take</strong> a quick excursion into the 

Supreme Court’s decision in IYARO V. 

STATE. The appellant and another were 

charged with armed robbery. The appellant 

used his taxi cab to facilitate the commission 

of the crime in that he conveyed his 

passengers to what appeared to be a 

prearranged spot and stopped the car for 

no apparent reason. He gave a signal and 

five men emerged and robbed the ladies 

seated in the taxi of their valuables while 

the appellant sat and watched. The robbers 

went away when they thought they had 

finished the job. He signalled to the robbers, 

which indicated that there was still another 

victim. The robbers promptly returned and 

finished the job. He promptly took off when 

a crowd gathered in response to the cries of 

the victims. He was convicted for aiding 

and abetting. 

Can we say the Senate President and the 

Governor of Kwara State have same 

intention with any or all the suspects 

presently in Police custody to commit the 

act they committed? The most plausive 

answer should be No. This is based on what 

the suspect said to journalists at their 

parade. One cannot determine the use to 

which the recipent of a gift would put it to 

as the car gift to the gang leader has shown. 

Those who have had dealings with the 

Nigerian Police as a State Prosecutor or 

even defence counsel would not be surprised 

by the press statement of the Force talking 

about confession as if lawyers do not know 

how these are extracted by the Police. If this 

can happen to Senators Shehu Sani, 

Sulaiman Hunkuyi, and Dino Melaye, the 

escalation to the Senate President and by 

extension to the Governor of Kwara State 

follows a predictable pattern of persecution 

and witchunt. This is more so as the Senate 

President had raised alarm of plot by the 

Police orchestrated by the IGP to frame him 

using “confessions” by cultists arrested in 

Kwara State. 

•Mr. Majekodunmi, a lawyer, wrote 

from Ilorin, Kwara State. 

C 

M 

Y 

K


Interview 

Onuoha calls for ethnic diversity on 

Nigerian campuses and in the 

academy of sciences 

Continued from last Friday 

The concluding part of J.K. Obatala's late-night interview with Dr. Kalu 

Mosto Onuoha formerly Petroleum Technology Development Fund Professor 

of Geology, at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). At 70, he is now 

Emeritus. Onuoha—who has been president of the Nigerian Academy of 

Sciences (NAS), since January, 2017—explicated current issues, his priorities, 

among <strong>others</strong>. 

Since Igbos have 

amassed so much 

wealth, do you think 

they’d be willing to secede 

again and leave all 

that money behind? 

No, to tell you the truth. 

I’m speaking as somebody 

who knows what is going 

own. The Biafra agitation 

and this IPOB and all 

that…It is because of what 

the politicians are doing… 

Most Igbos are not interested 

in Biafra. I’m 

not… In fact, we Elders always 

say to young people, 

“We have seen war. We 

know what it’s like. We 

don’t want it again”. 

But the truth is, people 

are jobless. Who are the 

people marching? They 

have nothing doing. It’s 

people who are not in 

school. Those in school, 

are not among the marchers. 

Then, a youth graduates—and, 

after three 

years, doesn’t have a job. 

With a university degree, 

he has nothing to do. He’s 

still living with his father. 

So, they’re angry! 

You’re saying that the 

underlying causes of the 

agitation are economic? 

Yes. Completely. Nobody 

wants it. They don’t have 

support. Don’t worry yourself 

about those who will 

always come out vocally. 

Some of them are making 

money out of it. 

I’ve heard that from other 

sources, as well. 

It’s true. 

What is your <strong>take</strong>, on the 

present state of Nigerian 

universities? I’m worried 

about the present situation, 

from many vantage 

points. 

Number one, there’s just 

too much central control. 

That’s the major problem. 

Government can 

decide so many things, 

about how the universities 

are run. 

Little is happening in the 

Ministry of Education… 

Funding is a big 

problem…The way Vice 

Chancellors are summoned 

is another. They 

have to be scampering to 

Abuja, on short notice… 

Exactly the same thing is 

replicated at state level. 

Secondly, the universities 

were well run before. 

They had a good mix of 

staff, from all over the 

world. When I came to 

Nsukka, we had Americans, 

we had Indians.…we 

had all sorts of people on 

the academic staff. 

Now, we’re so ethnically 

based... How many Yoruba 

are at UNN? How 

many Igbos are at Ile-Ife? 

How many none-Deltans 

Prof. Kalu. 

are in FUPRE? Or Northerners 

in Ibadan, studying? 

You know, that kind of 

thing. 

What strikes me, as I 

move around to various 

universities, is that nowadays, 

nobody carries a 

book! 

Yes. [Laughing] You are 

very correct! That’s one of 

the things that’s causing 

concern. Students don’t 

own books! In those days, 

we bought books. 

But today, getting students 

to buy, and read, 

them is a problem…. 

Books and articles, can 

even be downloaded from 

the Internet. But our students 

don’t <strong>take</strong> advantage 

of this. 

The universities 

had a good 

mix of staff, from 

all over the 

world, When I 

came to Nsukka, 

we had Americans, 

we had 

Indians.…we 

had all sorts of 

people on the 

academic staff 

Again, they are products 

of our educational system 

where, in some schools, 

people are just promoted, 

willy-nilly. 

As a result, you can see 

somebody going to the 

School Certificate class 

and he or she cannot 

speak one correct sentence! 

Yes. I’ve seen that. 

People in the universities, 

first year, second 

year…they can’t read 

compositions. Out of every 

ten persons in a class, 

only three or four are good. 

The rest are mediocre—or 

worse! 

We have a situation, in 

which a secondary school 

pupil can attend only art 

classes or study only science—and 

graduate. I 

have a serious problem 

with that. What do you 

think? 

I also have a problem 

with it. Even in our West 

African School Certificate, 

we took “history,” “geog- 

raphy” and “literature,” 

along with “chemistry,” 

“mathematics” and “advanced 

mathematic”. 

Good schools, will make 

sure students do many of 

these subject, up the fourth 

year. 

I went to Hope Waddell 

Training Institution, in 

Calabar, for instance—one 

of Nigeria’s oldest Secondary 

Schools, established 

in 1896. 

I’ve read about it. It’s a 

very famous school. 

Pupils came from Sierra 

Leone, Liberia and other 

places to attend. Nnamdi 

Azikwe went there. Dennis 

Osadebe went there. 

Quite a number of Nigeria’s 

historical figures, were 

students at Hope Waddell, 

including Eni Njoku. 

In that school, they require 

so much. I mean, for 

School Certificate, we 

took up to nine or ten subjects! 

And had to pass all 

of them. 

Being a geologist, are 

you working with indigenous 

oil companies? 

Well, you know, I’m just 

starting, as President of 

NAS. So, some of the 

things I have in mind are 

still being worked out. But 

there are two Fellows 

working with me, who 

just came out of the oil industry… 

More and more Nigerians 

are maturing, coming 

out of Shell and other 

companies, after 25 to 30 

years of work. 

So, there are many 

“small-time big players,” 

as I will call them, producing 

2,000 to 4,000 barrels 

per day… 

Some Nigerian companies 

are really getting 

quite big. A few are even 

beginning to operate outside 

Nigeria, along the 

west coast of Africa—getting 

concessions in other 

countries. 

Have you formulated 

specific plans? 

Well, since the multi-national 

oil companies are 

divesting (even Shell is 

doing so), there may be research 

NAS can carry out, 

to strengthen the hands of 

indigenous firms. 

But we’ll have to be very 

careful, because the Academy 

is doing science and 

technology—which is an 

evidence-based something. 

We don’t want to be 

seen, as political. 

We can cultivate a synergy, 

by encouraging the 

development of marginal 

fields—oil fields the majors 

leave. This is a way of increasing 

indigenous reserves. 

Concluded. 

Ibeto's global foray and Africa's 

huge housing deficits 

Is Ibeto’s global foray an indication of Nigeria’s Renaissance? 

Housing Problems - Ibeto, US Listing, and Africa 

RECENTLY, 

the 

airwaves were rife 

with the heartwarming 

news of Ibeto cement company 

limited completing a 

historic reverse merger with 

Century Petroleum Corporation, 

a United States of 

America publicly traded 

petroleum exploration and 

production company. With 

Ibeto Cement’s acquisition 

of 70% majority control of 

Century Petroleum Corp. 

resulting in the reverse 

merging of Ibeto Cement’s 

assets into Century Petroleum, 

Dr. Cletus M. Ibeto 

took over the reigns as 

Chairman of the Board of 

Directors. 

Speaking on the milestone 

development, an obviously 

delighted Dr. Ibeto 

said this is “in line with our 

collective dreams to place 

Nigeria in its rightful place 

in the comity of nations”; 

and “lauded s<strong>take</strong>holders 

in the historic merger 

which will improve the 

level of actualization of the 

huge Cement business 

opportunities around Africa.” 

These include the 

government, shareholders, 

investors, and the larger 

Nigerian society. 

Unique factor 

One unique factor in this 

potentially impactful advancement 

is the vehicle. 

The two entities’ strategy 

introduced reverse mergers 

- a hitherto not so popular 

approach - into the Nigerian 

business lexicon. 

According to Wikipedia, “a 

reverse <strong>take</strong>over or reverse 

merger <strong>take</strong>over (reverse 

IPO) is the acquisition of a 

public company by a private 

company so that the 

private company can bypass 

the lengthy and complex 

process of going public. 

The transaction typically 

requires reorganization 

of capitalization of the 

acquiring company.” Comparatively, 

reverse mergers 

can also be quite cost effective 

and concluded in 

record time. 

Surprisingly, Ibeto’s bold 

and innovative use of this 

vehicle was not simply 

with a local firm in Nigeria 

or even in Africa but in the 

very regulatory-stringent 

United States. This is 

strong testament to the 

abounding potentials in 

today’s global village and 

economy. The merger of 

Ibeto cement and Century 

petroleum bestrides two 

key sectors of the Nigerian 

economy: cement as well 

as petroleum. While it is 

popular knowledge that 

latter remains at the core 

of our national economy, 

cement is also a key indicator 

of any economy. 

It has long been traditional 

economic wisdom 

that the sufficiency of housing 

or lack therefore in a 

country is directly proportional 

to its level of economic 

development. A report 

by Morgan Stanley, a 

United States multinational 

financial services firm states 

that “cement consumption 

per capita tends to rise initially 

with rising GDP per 

capita but then falls as 

countries mature economically.” 

The country’s construction 

industry/sector is 

only 3.2% of the Gross Domestic 

Product, GDP. 

Drawing from this fact, 

World Bank statistics confirm 

60% of Nigeria’s estimated 

population of over 

180 million (projected to 

grow between 3.8% and 

4.5% per annum) is caught 

in the trap of homelessness. 

Massive urbanization 

and infrastructural development 

are thus in the visible 

horizons. The country is projected 

to become one of the 

top twenty economies in the 

world in eight years time – 

It has long 

been traditional 

economic wisdom 

that the sufficiency 

of housing 

or lack therefore 

in a country 

is directly proportional 

to its 

level of economic 

development 

by 2020. 

As it is in Nigeria so in 

Africa generally: African 

nations are currently at the 

low end of cement consumption 

relative to other 

emerging economies. With 

growing populations, it is 

predicted that consumption 

of cement in Sub-Saharan 

Africa will grow by an average 

of between 7% and 10% 

year on year over the next 

two decades. Yet, Nigeria 

and Senegal are the only two 

countries in the entire West 

African sub region that are 

blessed with limestone deposits 

in commercial quantities. 

This industry is thus a 

major development contributor 

not only in local 

housing needs but also as a 

major foreign exchange 

earner. We will be the better 

for encouraging local manufacturers 

like Ibeto Cement 

who dare to build Nigeria’s 

footprint in the global 

economy. 

Current demographics 

of some emerging 

market 

Source: CIA Factbook and 

Cemnet Plaudits belong to 

the Federal Government of 

Nigeria whose national 

Backward Integration Policy 

(BIP) on cement and call to 

increase local production of 

cement spurred Ibeto Cement 

Company Limited’s 

acquisition of the premier 

Nigeria Cement Company 

Limited (Nigercem). 

Nigercem has a plant located 

in Nkalagu, Ebonyi 

State. The strategic acquisition 

of Nigercem is aimed 

at expediting Ibeto Cement’s 

local production of 

cement by resuscitating the 

Nigercem plant and developing 

the project as a brand 

new dry process plant. The 

Company is also developing 

another 6,000 Metric 

Tons Per Day (TPD) Cement 

plant at Cross River State/ 

Abia State of Nigeria. 

Ibeto Cement Company 

Limited, located in Bundu 

Ama, Port Harcourt, Rivers 

State of Nigeria, began cement 

bagging operations at 

its bagging terminal in Port 

Harcourt in 2005. It is an 

ultra-modern bagging plant 

with a flat-storage capacity 

of 50,000 metric tons and a 

production capacity of 

1,500,000 metric tons per 

annum, which translates to 

a production capacity of 

4,000+ metric tons per day. 

It has two (2) production 

lines, each with a capacity 

of 2, 700 of 5okg bags per 

hour or designed total production 

capacity of 5, 400 of 

50kg bags per hour. An integral 

part of this plant facility 

is a modern purpose-built 

jetty (Ibeto jetty) that can <strong>take</strong> 

in ships of 190+ metres long 

with sophisticated and stateof-the-art 

ship unloaders 

and mounted at the waterfront 

on the jetty to facilitate 

discharge of bulk cement 

from offshore/foreign mother 

vessels. 

Ibeto Global points 

the way forward 

From many angles, Ibeto 

Global points the way forward 

for us as we trudge the 

path towards sustainable 

economic development. 

Nigerians and Nigerian 

entities playing in the global 

market provide a paradigm 

shift from dependency 

to partnership and the benefits 

accruing from increasing 

the value we bring to the 

table in the global markets. 

S/N 

COUNTRY 

GDP PER CAPITA (US$) 

CURRENT 

CONSUMPTION PER 

CAPITA 

Ghana 

1, 500 

138 

Senegal 

1, 600 

190 

Nigeria 

2, 300 

105 

Morocco 

4, 700 

420

•President Muhammadu Buhari 

PRESIDENTIAL AMNESTY PROGRAMME: 

N-Delta communities, ex-agitators celebrate 

new era as Dokubo unfolds fresh initiatives 

By Murphy Ganagana 

ABUJA—KINGSLEY Muturu 

is the Delta State chairman 

of second phase leaders of exagitators 

in the Presidential Amnesty 

Programme. A few months 

ago, he was disillusioned with 

the turn of events at the Amnesty 

Office; he was agitated that a 

thick cloud of uncertainty had 

enveloped the Amnesty Programme, 

and the hope of residents 

of communities in the oil 

rich Niger Delta for remarkable 

human capital development in 

the near future was dimming fast. 

Light at the end of the tunnel 

It was a worrisome situation for 

him even a few weeks after the 

appointment of Prof. Charles 

Dokubo as Special Adviser to the 

President on Niger Delta and 

Coordinator, Presidential 

Amnesty Programme, and he 

waited with bathed breathe to 

fathom the path the erudite 

professor and nuclear scientist 

would chart. 

Three months on, Muturu says 

there is now light at the end of 

the tunnel and a victory dance 

with his foot soldiers and 

members of his community 

would not be a misplaced 

optimism. After attending a 

meeting of second and third 

phase leaders of ex-agitators in 

the Amnesty Programme hosted 

by Dokubo on June 8, Muturu 

departed the venue with a 

conviction that the new Amnesty 

boss is God-sent. The meeting 

which held at the Abuja Sheraton 

Hotels and Towers had over 70 

leaders of Niger Delta exagitators 

in attendance. Dokubo 

had a day earlier met with about 

30 Phase One leaders of exagitators 

at the same venue. 

Like Muturu, leaders of exagitators 

across the Niger Delta 

region rose from the meeting in 

celebration of a new dawn after 

the interactive session with 

Dokubo during which he gave 

them an insight into his vision 

and mission. The parley opened 

a window that enabled them 

peep into his new direction on 

education, vocational, post 

training engagement and job 

placement initiatives, as well as 

sustainability plans. 

“I am very impressed; this is 

my second time of meeting with 

him. I enjoy all his efforts, and I 

am appealing that he corrects the 

errors of the previous managements 

of the Amnesty Programme. 

I pray that the grace of 

God will fall upon him; let him 

manage the programme so that 

at the end of the day, God will 

<strong>take</strong> the glory. He is God-sent. 

When you see good thing, you 

tell your people”, says Julius 

Joseph, chairman, forum of 

Phase Three leaders of Niger 

Delta ex-agitators. 

Reasons for his renewed faith 

in the Amnesty Programme with 

Dokubo on the driver’s seat are 

legion. And it is the beginning 

of a success story. Besides the 

1,807 delegates deployed to 145 

institutions across the globe for 

various educational programmes 

by the offshore education unit of 

the Amnesty Office, 207 students 

spread across 66 institutions in 

20 countries are currently 

studying various courses. 

Joseph’s hope of a better deal 

for beneficiaries of the Amnesty 

Programme is further 

heightened by Dokubo’s 

determination to surpass a record 

30 offshore graduates of the 

programme who attained First 

Class Honours/Distinction 

degrees in courses including 

Engineering, Bio-medical 

science, Law, Information 

Technology, Political Science and 

International Relations. Effective 

monitoring of offshore students 

by Relationship Managers 

under his watch has also reduced 

agitation of students since he 

assumed office. 

Dokubo’s vision and drive 

Critical s<strong>take</strong>holders in the 

Niger Delta are also excited with 

Dokubo’s vision and drive for 

Amnesty beneficiaries 

undergoing educational 

programmes to excel. Amaebi 

Zuofa, a community leader in 

Delta State describes as cheery 

news, reports that 339 students 

in various universities in the 

country are expected to graduate 

in the 2017/2018 academic 

session, an improvement on the 

300 recorded last year. He says 

Dokubo deserves to be 

commended for ensuring that the 

onshore education unit of the 

Amnesty Office attends promptly 

• Prof Charles Quaker Dokubo, S.A to the President on Niger 

Delta Affairs. 

to the welfare of students pursuing 

degree programmes in Nigerian 

institutions. 

Among those expected to 

graduate this year are 67 beneficiaries 

of the Amnesty Programme 

at Afe Babalola University, 

Ado <strong>Ekiti</strong>; Benson Idahosa 

University (70), and Igbinedion 

University, Okada -107. Others 

are Law School (33), Redeemers 

University (25), University of Port 

Harcourt (4); University of Benin 

(4), Rivers State University of 

Technology (3) and Ambrose Alli 

University, Ekpoma, (3). 

On assumption of duty, Prof. 

Dokubo had tasked the onshore 

education unit to develop a 

sustainable plan for the next two 

years. This included the 

preparation of students’ 

allowances on a quarterly basis 

to ensure deadlines were strictly 

Three months on, 

Muturu says there is 

now light at the end 

of the tunnel and a 

victory dance with 

his foot soldiers and 

members of his community 

would not be 

a misplaced optimism 

met and to avoid unforeseen circumstances 

that could warrant 

late disbursement of funds by the 

Federal Government. A verification 

exercise to ascertain the actual 

number of students who are 

beneficiaries of the Amnesty Programme 

at various universities 

across the country is ongoing to 

ensure government funds are not 

misappropriated. 

Asu Tambou, chairman of the 

Phase Two forum of leaders of exagitators 

holds belief of an 

enduring peace in the Niger 

Delta region, with a resolve to 

support Dokubo as he strives to 

<strong>take</strong> the Amnesty Programme to 

greater height. His resolve is 

fired by fresh initiatives at the 

Amnesty Office as Dokubo sets 

out to put finishing touches for 


Some ex-militants during submission of arms and ammunition 

at the commencement of the Amnesty programme. 

five vocational training centres 

across the Niger Delta to come 

on stream. These include the 

Maritime Vocational Training 

Centre at Oboama, Rivers State; 

Basic Skills Vocational Training 

Centre in Boro Town, Kaiama, 

Bayelsa State, Power and Energy 

Vocational Training Centre in 

Bomadi, Delta State; Oil and Gas 

Vocational Training Centre, 

Agadagba-Obon, Ondo State, 

and the Agricultural Vocational 

Training Centre in Gelegele, Edo 

State. The vocational centres at 

Agadagba and kaiama are 

expected to be operational by 

next month, to empower exagitators 

with viable skills to 

become economically 

independent and relevant to 

themselves, families, 

communities and the nation. 

Tambou is not alone in his 

dream of better days ahead for 

beneficiaries of the Amnesty 

Programme and Niger Delta 

communities. Isreal Akpodoro, a 

second phase leader of Niger 

Delta ex-agitators, shares his 

optimism. He describes Dokubo 

as a messiah. “I am very happy, 

and this is what we have been 

telling the previous management 

at the Amnesty Office 

which is the General Boroh regime; 

that there is a need to consult 

with the s<strong>take</strong>holders, but he 

refused. Today, we are all happy 

that the messiah of the region has 

come; we are very happy. In fact, 

with what Prof. Charles Dokubo 

is doing now, after the 2019 elections, 

he will move to a higher 

level because what he is doing 

now will mess up some failed 

leaders who had not helped matters; 

he will move to a higher 

level”. 

With 200 delegates of the 

Amnesty Programme currently 

undergoing training in 

automobile at Innoson Kiara 

Academy, Nnewi, Anambra State, 

and about 559 training in 

agriculture at other facilities, 

residents of the Niger Delta say 

Akpodoro was right in his 

perception of Dokubo. This is 

more so, as evidenced by the 

action plan of the Post Training 

Engagement and Job Placement 

units of the Amnesty Office for 

the next two years. 

While 3,150 graduates of 

vocational training programmes 

were scheduled for business setup 

and empowerment in 2017, 

2,500 delegates among them 

were rolled over to this year due 

to fund-related challenges. 

However, 5,700 delegates 

including the expected roll-over 

from the previous year have 

been proposed for 

empowerment/business set-up 

this year, depending on 

availability of funds. 

Job placement 

Sendi Edouyebo, a Bayelsa 

State-based businesswoman is 

elated at Dokubo’s drive to 

facilitate job placement for 

beneficiaries of the Amnesty 

Programme through a Job 

Placement and International 

Development Partners 

Engagement Unit (JPIDPEU), 

which he created on assumption 

of office. So far, the unit has 

profiled 28 delegates for 

underwater welding jobs; 100 

delegates for civil service jobs 

and 10 delegates for aviation crop 

spray pilot jobs. It has also 

concluded profiling of 25 

delegates for catering services, 

hotel and fast food jobs and 75 

delegates for other job opportunities. 

Pastor Reuben, chairman, 

Phase One forum of leaders of 

Niger Delta ex-agitators says 

Dokubo had already made a 

difference from previous 

managers of the Amnesty 

Programme after the Abuja 

meeting. “It’s good that we open 

up and say the truth. When we 

started, the SA (Dokubo) stood 

up from where he was seated, 

moved close to us and said he is 

one of us and wants to be in our 

midst. That alone indicates that 

the man has our mind and he is 

from the Niger Delta; from the 

way he spoke and responded to 

what we said, I’m convinced 

things will be different in the 

Amnesty Programme now”. For 

Henry, aka Egbema One, 

“Dokubo is wonderful”. To be 

sure, it is celebration time for exagitators 

and residents of communities 

in the Niger Delta as 

the new Amnesty boss fires from 

all cylinders. He has promised 

to keep hope alive.

36 — VANGUARD, MONDAY, JUNE 18, 2018 

By Osa Amadi, Arts Editor 

MKO Abiola’s image 

has for so long 

somewhat undermined 

and overshadowed the full 

contribution Kudirat made to 

democracy in Nigeria. Even 

before she was killed, she had 

been blamed by some people for 

egging her husband to refuse to 

relinquish his presidential 

mandate which led to his 

liquidation by Abacha and the 

Nigerian Army. But from Jamiu 

Abiola’s two books, The 

President Who Never Ruled 

and The Stolen Presidency, we 

are able to understand that she 

was rather a restraining force 

and voice to MKO Abiola. 

In fact, Kudirat took leadership 

of the struggle, not because of 

any ambition to be First Lady, as 

some people had also wrongly 

insinuated, but primarily to save 

her husband from being killed 

in detention by Abacha, and 

then much later, to pry Nigeria 

out of the grip of one of the most 

dangerous military dictatorships 

and rotten governments ever 

known to man. 

Jamiu’s candour in narrating 

his father’s political ordeal and 

tragedy is probably the unique 

selling point of his two major 

books on the June 12 subject. He 

revealed in writing, a lot of 

personal uncomplimentary 

characters of MKO which few 

Nigerians, if any, would ever be 

willing to even mention about 

their parents, whether dead or 

living. Elsewhere, in certain 

moments of emotional overflow, 

Jamiu would without restraint or 

humility pour eulogies on his 

father and mother, two unarmed 

prophets who confronted armed 

beasts with bare hands and both 

paid the supreme price for 

daring the lions in their dens. 

The Stolen Presidency, The 

President Who Never Ruled, the 

Abacha and MKO Abiola story 

are classical studies on the 

corroding effects unbridled 

ambition for power, fame and 

worldliness have on the human 

soul. 

From these narratives, one 

cannot but conclude that if MKO 

Abiola had heeded his wife, 

Kudirat’s advice, he probably 

would have still been alive today, 

possibly as former president of 

Nigeria of two terms. “All you 

need is time,” Kudirat had told 

him, and kept repeating, at one 

of the high points of his 

emotional buildup. 

“You need time. Anything you 

do now out of desperation will 

be clumsy and desperate. It will 

weaken you and strengthen your 

enemies, keeping in mind that 

your enemy is not only Abacha 

but his spies and cronies, some 

of whom are your friends,” she 

said, (page 127). 

What a golden wife with golden 

words of wisdom. She told her 

husband that time and God, not 

money or anything else, were 

what he needed at that point; 

that if he calmed down and 

allowed God and time to do their 

works, the illegal military 

government will make costly 

mis<strong>take</strong>s (like the illegal interim 

government) which will bring it 

down leaving MKO as the 

beneficiary. “God might delay 

*Kudirat Abiola 

Kudirat Abiola: Brave Warrior & 

golden wife with golden words of 

wisdom 

..Based on the book, The President That Never Ruled 

but he never forgets,” she told 

him. 

On how to comport himself in 

scheduled meetings with his 

friends and associates who had 

become wolves in sheep skins, 

Kudirat admonished him: “The 

last thing you want is to appear 

desperate in front of people who 

are plotting against you. Remain 

calm and let them do all the 

talking. Don’t try to win back 

anyone who hints that he wants 

to join the government. That way, 

you will preserve your 

honour....” 

“No!” MKO roared. “I will give 

them a piece of my mind! They 

are traitors and must be treated 

as such!” 

After thinking it over for a while, 

she said to him gently: “They will 

deny betraying you if you do that 

and will then use your accusation 

to justify the betrayal they are 

planning. Beside, not all of them 

are guilty, so don’t make the 

mis<strong>take</strong> of accusing them blindly 

(and collectively). 

She moved closer to him lovingly. 

“Be calm with them in order to 

retain your authority. This will be 

rightly interpreted as a sign of 

strength and superiority,” she 

said. 

After her husband was <strong>take</strong>n 

away and kept in solitary 

confinement, we see a lioness, a 

wounded lioness charging and 

roaring across the length and 

breadth of the land fighting her 

husband’s enemies in every way 

she could and trying to release 

him. We also feel her pains, her 

helplessness and her loneliness 

when she realised that the western 

governments were not going to 

help MKO; that all they were 

interested in was Nigeria’s oil. At 

one point she became confused 

and voiced out: “I feel like I have 

been blindfolded in this battle. I 

am risking my life, an action that 

can make my children orphans, 

yet I don’t know whether the man 

I am fighting for is still alive (or 

not).” No one, not even Kudirat 

was allowed by Abacha to see 

MKO Abiola. 

A true warrior, she was clearly 

aware that her life was in danger, 

but she entertained no fear. She 

once stopped her car on the 

middle of the road after her driver 

told her several times that they 

were being tailed by Abacha’s 

goons. She walked back to the car 

that was tailing her and spoke to 

the men inside: “Tell your boss that 

he ought to be ashamed of himself 

for sending a bunch of men to tail 

a woman!” 

Her children who resided in the 

United States also saw the 

approaching danger to her life and 

tried to persuade her to leave 

Nigeria and come to US, but she 

would not get herself to abandon 

her husband. “What will happen 

to your father if I leave? Maybe 

you don’t know that it is the noise 

that I am making here in Nigeria 

A true warrior, 

she was clearly 

aware that her 

life was in danger 

but she 

entertained no 

fear 

that is keeping him alive.” Poor 

woman. She died for her husband 

and her country. I believe Kudirat 

is the real hero, not MKO Abiola! 

She rejected huge sums of 

money in dollars which Abacha 

offered her through his agents and 

later oil blocks to get her to give 

up the struggle. And when her 

elder brother, Mr. Debo Adeyemi, 

visited her again, this time with 

an important piece of inside 

information from Abacha’s 

government that her life was in 

grave danger, Kudirat cried out to 

her brother: “I am not happy about 

the situation that I have found 

myself but things have gone too 

far for them to be reversed. 

Besides, not all warriors go to war 

and return alive.” The same way 

her husband had been motivated 

by Nelson Mandela, Kudirat had 

also drew her fighting inspiration 

from Winnie Mandela. “Based on 

recent history,” she later said to 

Adeyemi, “governments, no 

matter how brutal they are, never 

kill women. Do you remember the 

Apartheid government in South 

Africa? Winnie Mandela fought 

that government for decades and 

she was never killed.” 

But she was absolutely wrong! 

It never crossed her mind that she 

was not dealing with a human 

being but a devil and wild beast 

called Abacha. On June 4, 1996, 

while she was going to keep an 

appointment with the Canadian 

Embassy, Abacha’s killer squad 

led by his hit man, Sergeant 

Rogers (we now know), 

intercepted Kudirat’s car and 

machine-gunned her and her 

driver, Dauda. It was a 

professional job. She was shot on 

the forehead. She died later in a 

nearby hospital, while Dauda died 

much later in the hospital. 

Bagudu targets 

15,000 jobs with 

return of Argungu 

Fishing Festival 

Governor of Kebbi State, 

Alhaji Abubakar Bagudu, 

is targeting about 15,000 jobs 

from the activities of re-branded 

Argungu fishing and cultural 

festival billed for next year. 

The governor said that Kebbi’s 

most famous fishing festival with 

a huge international offering 

could swing travel visits to Nigeria 

and consequently create jobs that 

will drop unemployment rate in 

the state and also cause rapid 

urbanisation of Kebbi’s rural 

areas. 

The governor who is determined 

to build the economic profile of 

the agrarian state through 

structured cultural and tourism 

resources has also uplifted the 

buoyant economy of Kebbi 

through massive rice cultivation 

and export. 

Governor Bagudu has promised 

to bring back the Argungu Motor 

Rally which predates the famous 

Paris-Dakar Rally in order to build 

reliable bridges for Kebbi’s 

technological development and as 

a strategic support base offering 

to revive the automotive industry. 

Consequently, the Kebbi State 

Government has commenced 

discussions with renowned 

General Motors Creative 

Designer and Director-General, 

National Automotive Design and 

Development Council, NADDC, 

Jelani Aliyu on how to revive the 

Argungu Motor Rally, ahead of 

the expected come-back of AIF 

and CF next year. 

Alhaji Nura Kangiwa, Special 

Adviser and Co-ordinator of 

Argungu Fishing Festival noted 

that Governor Bagudu is 

determined to work hand in glove 

with Nigerian tourism 

s<strong>take</strong>holders to harness the 

expected one billion tourists 

projected to visit notable global 

tourism destinations at end of this 

year, an opportunity to which 

Kebbi is prepared to benefit from 

and oxygenate rural economic 

and social development. 

“The Argungu festival would 

provide opportunity for women in 

the informal sector which is often 

home-based and enables women 

who <strong>take</strong> care of children and the 

elderly relatives to generate 

income. The youths with less 

education will also be captured, 

and that is why we are keen to keep 

our eyes on the progressive 

upswing of international tourist 

movement, a momentum that 

may peak by the time Argungu 

festival returns next year,” 

Kangiwa added. 

•Alhaji Nura Kangiwa

VANGUARD, MONDAY, JUNE 18, 2018 —37 

The old man and the medal: 

Kill them and honour them 

Stories by Osa Amadi, Arts 

Editor 

The author of the classic 

novel, The Old Man and 

The Medal, Ferdinand Léopold 

Oyono (1929–2010), wrote in 

French in the 1950s. His works 

are anti-colonialist, especially 

The old man and the medal 

which fiercely satirizes the false 

pretenses of European colonial 

rule in Africa, the deceitful and 

empty awards like medals 

which the oppressors awarded 

gullible Africans after 

exploiting, brutalising and 

even killing them. 

The chief character and 

subject of the wicked colonial 

masters’ oppression is Meka, 

a village elder who was always 

loyal to the white man. He felt 

so proud when he first heard 

that the white man was going 

to honour him for his service 

and loyalty. But the honour was 

an award of medal, not even a 

gold medal, just a piece of 

worthless metal. 

While waiting for the 

ceremony, Meka’s pride gave 

way to skepticism. Then it 

dawned on his wife that the 

medal was being given to her 

husband as compensation, as 

reward for the sacrifices they 

have made. 

The old man and the medal 

mirrors the craftiness of 

politicians and military 

dictators in Nigeria who 

subvert the wishes of the 

masses by rigging elections 

and covertly eliminating 

political opponents and then 

turn round to honour them by 

naming streets after them and 

giving them empty 

posthumous awards. These 

dictators and politicians see the 

masses the same way the 

dismantled German Nazi sees 

the masses. 

In The arts and education as 

tools of propaganda published 

by Robert Brady in 1937, the 

Nazi sees the mass of the 

people as dumb. “They are 

unintelligent, childlike, and 

inarticulate. The masses will 

accept without serious question 

whatever they hear or are told. 

They believe everything they 

read. They do not bother to 

think; they feel. Their lives are 

not pivoted on logic, but on 

emotion. The masses have no 

real initiatives, no true creative 

powers, and they are incapable 

of any sort of self-discipline. 

They desire to be fed, to be 

entertained with exotic and 

melodramatic fancies, and they 

yearn to follow. 

“Like the child, the masses 

are unstable, irresponsible, and 

capricious, turning easily from 

one brightly coloured fancy to 

another. They will be attracted 

by whatever is simple and 

naive, whatever is dark, 

dangerous, and thrilling, 

whatever is extreme in size, or 

distance, or accomplishment, 

whatever is heroic and unheard 

of, whatever brings the gasp of 

wonder and the hush of awe. 

“The masses are likewise 

essentially and naively 

pleasure-loving. But, though 

lover of ease, they are so 

thoroughly irrational that they 

do not count the cost of 

achieving their pleasures. Like 

the child who worked 

assiduously for hours in the 

garden, or the soldier 

wallowing in the mud of the 

front-line trenches, the masses 

will be satisfied for their labour 

and sacrifices by a cheap 

bauble, a bit of praise from some 

furtively admired hero, A 

MEDAL, a badge, or a bit of 

palely reflected but resonantly 

heralded glory. 

The International Arts and 

Handicrafts Trade Show, 

SIAO at Ouagadougou in 

Burkina-Faso will witness 

huge transformation this year 

in terms of participation 

according to a statement made 

by the Director-General, 

National Council for Arts and 

Culture, Otunba Segun 

Runsewe. 

Runsewe made this known 

when he received a four-man 

delegation from the Burkina- 

Faso Embassy led by Mr. 

Diallo-Hassane, who paid a 

visit to the culture headquarters 

to seek Nigeria’s partnership 

in making this year’s event first 

of its kind in terms of 

packaging, promotion and 

participation. 

Briefing the NCAC DG, 

Diallo-Hassane said Nigeria 

was a nation blessed with 

numerous art and crafts, her 

participation, therefore, in this 

year’s trade show will create a 

“Nor are the rank 

and the file able to 

tell the difference 

between symbols 

and realities (like 

the denial of power 

to MKO, his 

assassination and 

offer of a 

posthumous 

award). Thus, the 

masses may be 

given symbols 

instead of realities. 

They can also be 

made to fight for 

“God and 

Fatherland,” (or for 

unity of Nigeria) for 

“Blood and 

Honour.” They can 

be made to endure 

poverty and die in 

rags and filth for 

“Mother and 

Home,” the 

“Leader,” the 

“People.” They can 

be brought to sacrifice 

everything for “the good of the 

community,” and to escape 

“Jewish Marxism,” (or Igbo 

domination). If necessary, the 

masses can be conditioned to 

people the forests with demons, 

be fearful of black cats, and 

vomit at the sight of a Jew (or 

an Igbo) . 

“The “Leaders,” (the ethnomilitary 

hegemonists) in other 

words, are free to choose, not 

only the causes for which they 

wish to rally the support of the 

people, but also the symbols 

which sway their emotions. 

Properly conditioned, these 

symbols need have no 

necessary relationship to the 

real interests of the run of 

mankind. Indeed, not 

uncommonly, popular support 

of the symbol chosen works 

directly against the individual 

and group interests of those 

who follow them, as is typically 

the case with mystical and 

patriotic issues. 

“This is the point of view of 

the Junker, the aristocrat, and 

the military warlord. It is also 

the point of view of the 

nouveaux riche, who believe 

the “able” always “succeed,” 

citing themselves as examples; 

of the successful businessman 

who identified his economic 

power with possession of 

cultural qualities of which he 

may not have the slightest 

comprehension; and of the 

upstart political hack who has 

traded his demagogic powers 

for an over-stuffed mansion or 

hand of a daughter of the blueblood. 

“These self-styled elite are 

always contemptuous of the 

“man on the street.” They 

speak of labour, of the “broad 

masses” with condescension 

and scorn. They have no use 

for “democracy,” for “individual 

freedom,” for “representative 

government,” except as these 

may be employed as slogans for 

the purchase and sale of 

popular support. If these 

slogans at any time get in the 

way of the “main chance,” they 

will be done away with on the 

same principle which a 

knowing debutante employs 

when she strikes an unlikely 

prospect off her social list.” 

This is therefore the 

philosophical basis of white 

man’s treatment and deceit of 

Meka. After waiting in the hot 

sun for the whole day to receive 

his medal of honour, the drum 

rolls to announce the arrival of 

the white men who confered the 

honour on Meka. 

The white man saluted Meka 

and then took a small case held 

by his assistant and pinned it 

onto Meka’s breast. Meka 

looked down at his medal. He 

felt as if his neck was growing 

longer. His head was swelling 

up to heaven and his forehead 

almost reached the clouds. 

After receiving the medal, 

Meka got drunk and lost 

conciousness. Later, he 

managed to wake up. It was 

night. Heavy rain and storm 

had started and the drunk 

Meka found himself in the rain 

swept along by the flood. 

Eventually, he lost his medal 

to the flood! 

Staggering along the road, he 

caught sight of a beam of light 

and lifted his arms to cover his 

eyes. “O man with the electric 

torch. God has sent you to me. 

Come and help me to find the 

path leading to the location….” 

“Get up, you pig! Where are 

your papers? Where have you 

come from? What are you doing 

fucking around here?” They 

were police constables. Meka 

began to choke and cry like a 

terrified chimpanzee. 

“On your way my good friend 

of the Governor!” The 

constable made jest of him, 

laughing. “Just look at this old 

devil! Go on, move!” 

“My son,” Meka pleaded, 

gasping for breath, “you are 

young enough to be my son, 

why do you want to shed blood 

as old as your own father’s? 

Why do you want to bring a 

curse on you and your…” 

“Shut up!” the constable 

roared. 

“Cover up your dirty old arse 

and show me your papers!” 

Another officer demanded. 

Meka explained to them that 

he has not been given papers 

by the chief of whites… It was 

only a medal. 

The constables did not even 

bother to ask to see the medal. 

They knew that the medal had 

no value, although the flood 

had carried it. They accused 

him of loitering around 

European area. They beat 

Meka mercilessily asking: 

“Who is this lunatic?” 

Even Meka’s medal could not 

save him, because there is a 

world of difference between 

symbols and realities. 

National Council for Arts and Culture billed for SIAO 2018 

*Top management staff of NCAC with Burkina-Faso delegation 

during a courtesy visit to the council’s headquarters recently in 

Abuja. 

platform for sound networking 

between other African nations 

such as Ghana, Senegal, 

Zambia, Tanzania etc. 

The Burkina-Faso officials 

acknowledged the fact that 

Nigeria has some very nice and 

wonderful products to 

showcase to the world while 

participating in the trade fair. 

According to the delegation, 

a business forum is normally 

organised where countries like 

Japan, America and many 

advanced countries from 

Europe and other parts of the 

world interact with one another 

during the trade fair which 

often serves as avenue to 

showcase African strength 

collectively. He said that many 

exhibitors look forward to this 

event. 

Responding, the Director- 

General promised to attend 

and grace the occasion in his 

capacity as the current 

President of World Crafts 

Council. 

The arts and culture 

helmsman used the 

opportunity to inform the 

delegation that this year’s 

African Arts and Crafts Expo, 

AFAC, now known as 

International Arts and Crafts 

Expo, INAC, which will be 

held later in the year, is also 

going to be a well repackaged 

fair with well-organised and 

modernised state-of-the-art 

facilities. 

The Director-General 

intimated that Nigeria being 

the soul of culture in Africa, will 

support with all the needed 

logistics in making this year’s 

SIOA a huge success. “With 

our strong working relationship 

already in existence, you can 

be well assured that our 

partnership with you is total,” 

Otunba Runsewe said.


The nature and function of African 

traditional sculpture 

By Job Joy 

African sculpture <strong>take</strong>s 

many forms and offers 

huge insights into the cultures 

and tribal community from 

whence it came. 

African sculptures are most 

often figurative, representing 

the human form and fashioned 

primarily from wood, but it 

can also be stylized, 

abstracted and carved from 

stone. It can span centuries 

and be as ancient as the 

advent of tools. It can also be 

as modern as right now, today, 

where it is lauded and 

appreciated as contemporary 

art form. 

Traditional or tribal African 

sculpture typically may be 

religious or spiritual in 

nature, dealing primarily with 

the human form and 

sometimes animals or 

mythical objects. They show 

creative spirits and skills that 

exhibit good balance, 

craftsmanship, and attention 

to detail and finishing – an 

essence of design that 

realises the creator’s 

attention. 

African sculpture can often 

be described as monumental 

in that the figure or form is 

not separated from the wood 

or stone from which it is 

carved, giving it a feel of 

heavy permanence. 

The portrayal of the human 

form is not necessarily 

proportional but often strives 

to emphasize or exaggerate 

specific bodily characteristics 

that the sculptor is interested 

in communicating. They are 

often used as forms of 

communication between 

people and supernatural 

Issele-Uku monarch visits US Consul-General for cultural ties 

The traditional ruler of 

Issele-Uku Kingdom in 

Aniocha North local 

Government Area of Delta 

State, His Royal Majesty, Obi 

Agbogidi Nduka, MNSE, 

recently visited the United 

States Consul-General in 

Nigeria, Mr. John Bray. 

The visit to the official 

residence of the Consul- 

General located at Ikoyi, Lagos 

was the royal father’s maiden 

visit to the Consul-General in 

Nigeria. HRM, Obi Nduka, 

was accompanied on the visit 

by HRM, Obi Agbogidi Alfred 

Achebe, Obi of Onitsha and 

Chief David Kanebi Siunoje, 

the Olikaeze of the Issele-Uku 

Kingdom. They were received 

by the Consul-General, Mr. 

John Bray and the Political/ 

Economic Officer in the 

Consulate, Mr. Benjamin 

Williams. 

Speaking during the visit, the 

Obi of Issele-Uku commended 

the cordial relationship existing 

between Nigeria and the US, 

stressing that the US 

Educational, Cultural and 

Community Development 

Policies have greatly benefitted 

Nigerians including the people 

of his kingdom. He reiterated 

his resolve to be steadfast in 

maintaining and sustaining the 

rich cultural heritage of the 

people of Issele-Uku, adding 

that his major focus since 

ascending the throne of his 

forefathers has been in the 

overall development of Issele- 

Uku Kingdom. He also said 

that the royal visit was to 

strengthen the good 

relationship between Nigeria 

and the US with particular 

emphasis on cultural and 

community development of 

Issele-Uku Kingdom. The Obi 

attested to the 

excellent performance of his 

subjects resident in the USA 

which he noted has continued 

to be of great benefit to the 

Americans. 

Obi Nduka at the meeting 

revealed the cultural and 

traditional relationship 

between the people of Onitsha 

in Anambra State and Issele- 

Uku in Delta State, revealing 

that the relationship dates back 

to many centuries ago. 

Responding, the US Consul- 

General in Nigeria, Mr. John 

Bray expressed delight to 

have the royal presence of the 

distinguished traditional rulers 

in Nigeria in his official 

residence, saying that 

American Government will 

continue to show respect and 

regard to the traditional 

institution in the country. 

forces and beings. 

African traditional arts are 

crafted by the artists and then 

given their power by religious 

practitioners who make 

contact with the spirit worlds 

of their gods and ancestors. 

However, their purposes are 

very varied; bringing fertility, 

rain, good harvests; warding 

off disease, natural calamities, 

evil spirits; helping with social 

decisions and judgments; 

commemorating important 

events, and making political 

statements. Sculptures can be 

extremely large to ensure the 

well-being of an entire 

community. But they can also 

be replicated in a small 

He described Nigeria as a 

great country with wonderful 

and blessed traditional 

institutions. He also said that 

the US Consulate in line with 

fashion for individuals to be 

used in their private homes, 

giving them similar benefits. 

According to history, the 

longest recorded tradition of 

sculpture in Africa is figures 

modeled in terracotta, 

followed in the 12th Century 

by the cast-metal sculptures of 

the Yoruba tribe of Nigeria. 

However, much of the wood 

sculptors found today in 

Africa are 20th Century. It is 

much rarer today to find 19th 

Century arts, or before, if it is 

not preserved in a museum, 

simply because of 

deterioration of the material 

through termites or rot. In 

general, African sculpture 

represents human form, 

occasionally animal or both, 

and may be spiritual in 

nature. 

Most African sculptures 

were not created to be sold but 

rather were produced for 

specific roles such as to 

celebrate or honour an 

important occasion, make 

political comments or to 

represent religious ideals. 

Through fascination and 

acquisition by foreigners, 

these sculptures created their 

own marketplace in the 

Western art world and were 

thus given monetary values. 

African sculpture, in all its 

forms, relates to a myriad of 

social and religious 

perspectives and traditions 

and through the study of these 

corporal art forms, we can 

have insight into the origins 

of humanity and to the 

abstract forces that have 

shaped human perception. 

Job Joy Emmanuel is a 

student of the Mass 

Communication Department, 

Alex Ekwueme Federal 

University, Ndufu-Alike, 

Ikwo, Ebonyi State. 

its mandate will continue to 

relate with them towards 

community development and 

sustenance of the rich cultural 

heritage of the people. He 

promised to visit Issele-Uku 

Kingdom soon. 

*From left: The US Political and Economic Officer in the Consulate, Mr. Benjamin Williams; Obi of 

Issele-Uku, HRM, Obi Agbogidi Nduka; Obi of Onitsha, HRM, Obi Agbogidi Alfred Achebe; and the US 

Consul-General, Mr. John Bray.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 18, 2018 —39 

Mother, baby stranded in LUTH 

over N306,200 bill 

Prioritise treatment 

of thyroid disorders, 

FG tasked 

By Sola Ogundipe 

A 

MOTHER, Mrs. 

Esther Akinola and 

her baby are currently 

stranded at the Lagos 

University Teaching Hospital, 

LUTH, over inability to settle 

a N306,200 bill. 

Esther, 31, a fashion 

designer, who gave birth 

through Cesarean Section, 

told Vanguard that her baby 

was premature and had to be 

placed in an incubator for two 

months after birth. 

“This is my first child and 

I’m happy I am okay. The baby 

is also doing fine. I was 

discharged on 22nd March 

2018, and my baby was 

discharged on 22nd April, 

2018, but we are still here 

because we have no money to 

settle the bill. 

“We were given two bills. My 

baby’s bill of about N150,000 

was settled by a Good 

Samaritan. Mine is pending. 

Actually I have not paid 

anything out of it.” 

According to Esther who is 

currently in Ward C2 of the 

Labour Unit, she was referred 

from Igando General Hospital 

to LUTH on 12th March, 

2018. 

“I was <strong>take</strong>n into the theatre 

and safely delivered through 

CS on 13th of March 2018. We 

did not pay any deposit before 

the surgery, but paid for tests 

and other expenses incurred.” 

Esther said she and her 

husband decided to seek 

public assistance to raise 

money to offset the bill 

because family members have 

abandoned them and they are 

on their own. 

“Besides our Pastor and 

some close friends, few kind 

hearted people have been 

chipping in something. 

Abiodun, Esther’s husband 

confirmed they were 

presented a total bill of 

N306,200 after his wife’s 

discharge. 

Giving a breakdown, he 

observed that the bill is made 

up of admission fee of 

N20,000; operation fee - 

N65,000; bed bill - N142,000; 

pharmacy (drugs), N61,000 

and blood bank - N18,200. 

“We are not contesting the 

bill, in fact they tried for us, 

but because we are currently 

broke we cannot pay. It has 

been quite a difficult period 

for us.” 

Abiodun said he had earlier 

expended over N200,000 on 

tests and other expenses at 

Igando and LUTH. 

“We contacted the hospital’s 

social society service but they 

said we should try to pay half 

Esther Akinola with her baby 

of the sum before they can do something. “ 

He lamented that the nationwide health 

workers’strike added to their woes because it 

paralysed services at LUTH and they were unable 

to reach out to the authorities for further negotiation. 

“I am appealing to kind hearted Nigerians to help 

offset this bill so that we can go back home.” 

NHEA drives professionalism in Nigerian 

health sector ...Over 14,000 votes received for 2018 edition 

By Chioma Obinna 

WITH Nigeria ranking 187 out of 

189 countries in global health 

index, organisers of the Nigerian 

HealthCare Excellence Award, NHEA, 

weekend said the award was instituted 

to promote improvement in healthcare 

delivery as well as ensure international 

standards in the nation’s health system. 

Speaking to the press last week on the 

award billed to hold Friday, 21 June 2018 

in Lagos, the Chairman, Advisory Board 

of NHEA, Dr. Anthony Omolola said the 

Award would honour outstanding private 

and government organisations at Primary 

Healthcare and Universal Health 

Coverage, currently in front burner to in 

most countries of the world. 

“You must have a primary healthcare 

that is reasonable and accessible but we 

have not paid a lot of attention to PHCs 

in Nigeria and UHC has not been 

properly attended to in terms of giving 

healthcare at that level. Healthcare 

delivery must be properly prized so that 

the s<strong>take</strong>holders will be able to sustain 

the health system in terms of medication, 

power, human capital etc.” 

Announcing that over 14,000 votes 

have been received online since voting 

began for nominees, Omolola said the 

award has spurred healthy competition 

Reacting to the 

development, Public 

Relations Officer, LUTH, 

Mr Kelechi Otuneme said 

although the hospital 

management was initially 

unaware of their plight, it 

has, however, stepped in. 

“They are yet to 

officially approach or 

notify the management 

about the issue but they 

have been advised to 

source for funds to settle 

the pharmacy fees and 

also settle the blood bank 

charges and then 

approach the mangement 

for negotiation over the 

balance. 

“We have collected all 

the unused drugs they 

purchased and given 

discount so that they are 

only paying for what they 

have used. 

“They do not have to pay 

for the blood if they can get 

someone to donate to 

replace what was used, 

however they need to 

exhaust all avenues 

available for patients that 

are owing the hospital.” 

If you are moved and 

wish to assist. kindly call 

08188541868 for more 


among professionals, and facilities in the 

country in terms of providing the best of 

care and medical equipment. 

“If you have followed all the awards 

we have given to credible people, not 

just ordinary people or organisations. We 

have painstakingly chosen them, 

evidenced-based with a lot of 

collaborative partners working with us 

such as PharmaAccess etc. 

There have been tremendous 

improvements in terms of people who 

are voting. The processes are very keen 

and have been put into rigorous steps. 

Last year we had about 7,000 votes, but 

as at now, we have over 14,000 votes and 

evoting is still ongoing. The Award is of 

an international standard,” he stated. 

The Executive Director NHEA, Dr. Wale 

Alabi, listed 20 criteria for each award 

in four categories – Special Awards, 

Healthcare delivery services,Biomedical 

technology and Pharmacies. 

“We have brought in processes and new 

approaches that give voters easy access 

to vote. We now have Online, SMS 

votings and assessors who go out to 

inspect the facilities with our checklist 

and then announcement of winners are 

made on that day based on the findings.” 

Speaking, 1 st Vice Chairman/ CEO 

LiveWell Initiative, Bisi Bright noted that 

the NHEA was currentlychanging the 

narrative of healthcare in Nigeria as it 

has continued to help drive 

By Gabriel Olawale 

THE Executive Director of Thyroidism 

Awareness and Support Initiative, TASI, 

Mrs. Iruoma Ofortube has urged Nigerians 

to prioritise in<strong>take</strong> of iodine-rich foods as 

part of measures to prevent thyroid 

disorders. 

Ofortube, a survivor of thyroid disorders said 

despite thyroid disorders being a major 

public health problem worldwide and rated 

the second most common endocrine disease, 

it was not receiving the sufficient level of 

attention it deserved. 

“There is a need for development of policies 

to prioritise thyroid disorder as one of the 

primary health issues. The need for 

diagnostic facilities and training of medical 

specialists on the treatment modalities is 

crucial,” she stated. 

Speaking during a walk to commemorate 

the 2018 World Thyroid Day organised by 

TASI in partnership with the Lagos State 

Primary Healthcare Board, she said the 

thyroid is a butterfly shaped organ at the 

base of the neck, tasked with production of 

hormones that affect every cell, organ, and 

tissue in the body. 

“Thyroid hormones regulate the body 

metabolism, the rate at which the body 

produces nutrients and oxygen as they affect 

critical body conditions such as energy level 

and heart rate. 

Thyroid disease affects females (60 per cent) 

more than males (40 per cent). Research has 

shown that about 750 million people are 

affected by various kinds of thyroid 

disorders. 

professionalism as well 

as promote healthy competition among 

professionals. 

On his part, a member of the jury, Dept. 

of Medical Laboratory Sciences, CMUL, 

Prof Kolawole Oyedeji 

who described NHEA as an advocacy to 

government said the criteria put together 

will bring about 

excellence in the healthcare, hence; the 

government should be propelling these 

criteria in terms of 

setting standards for healthcare delivery. 

Founding Partner & Director 

Research Development, Anadach 

Consulting, Dr. Enoma Alade who noted 

that Nigeria seems not to be moving in 

terms of healthcare, regretted that all over 

the world, health 

sector was one sector that moves very 

slowly. 

The immediate past Chairman of 

Pharmaceutical Association of Nigeria, 

Lagos State, Gbenga Olubowale 

described NHEA as celebration of 

excellence, urging organisers not to relent 

in their efforts. 

Pix Filename: NHEAParticipants joined 

in breaking the Guinness World records 

title for the longest drinks pouring relay 

using milk. 

The event showcased regular milk in<strong>take</strong> 

by the young and old. Conversations 

around the event were hinged 

on#RaiseAGlass and #NourishNaija.


Edited by Emeka Aginam 

JUNE 12: The intrigues behind 

annulment, by Humphrey 

Nwosu, Elector 

oral al Commission 

Chair 

Daddy peace 

After the election he 

won, Abiola, against all 

common sense despised 

the advice of his party 

chieftains, SDP and 

connived with Abacha to 

overthrow Shonekan, 

hoping that the dark 

goggled general will 

hand power to him. 

Abiola was lucky that he 

died peacefully through 

tea. How about many 

<strong>others</strong> mowed down 

violently because of his 

indiscretions to believe 

Abacha will hand over to 

him? 

El-Aja Ogbonnaya 

Former President 

Ibrahim Babangida was 

more sincere than all the 

rest from the above nice 

piece. He couldn’t have 

done otherwise because 

it was a military family 

ncc.gov.ng@NgComCommission 

Consumers are advised to 

first call their networks 

providers to lodge complaints 

before they call the NCC’s 622 

toll free customer careline. Ask 

for your complaint number 

when first calling your network 

provider to lodge the 

complaint. 

where he was not supreme as ordinarily 

thought. He did tactically wash off his 

hands like Pontus Pilate for the singular 

permission to Nwosu to carry-on with the 

election. If late Abacha and the rest more 

ambitious men of the NDSC urged NDSC 

to suspend announcing the results, IBB was 

not as supreme as you thought to go against 

them. They would have slaughtered him 

and given the World a 

different view of all that 

transpired 

okenwa Sir Demo 

Thank God they did not 

kill Nwosu 

Kñîghtš TëmpBær 

Many Igbos was jailed, 

many killed, many went 

on exile for supporting 

Abiola...I will never 

forget the constant 

harassment my family 

faced day and night due 

to my Uncle’s NADECO 

membership 

How we’re repositioning Nigeria for greatness, by Lai 

Mohammed 

education? The fuel used 

yesterday is gone, but the 

education you got 20 years ago 

is retained in your head. If we 

subsidised education with ¦ 

1.4 trillion, we won’t have so 

called ‘lazy youths’! 

Ben 

Murray- 

Bruce@benmurraybruce 

How can Nigeria spend ¦ 1.4 

trillion on fuel subsidy and 

only a quarter of that on 

Femi 

Fani- 

Kayode@realFFK 

When will President Buhari 

apologise for the slaughter of 

thousands of IPOB youths and 

Shiite Muslims over the last 3 

years by his security forces and 

when will he apologise for the 

musa aliero 

The EFCC and its 

officials are becoming 

something else. Am 

not surprised by the 

business man’s 

submission. The 

officials need to be 

investigated because 

they are all living large 

these days. The current 

director of economic 

governance unit that I 

know well now have two 

huge houses in 

Maitama for his two 

wives. Each house is 

worth at least N300 

million. Not to talk 

about cars. He normally 

drive a Peugeot 406 in 

the day and Bentley at 

TRENDING ON THE TWITTER 

murder of thousands of 

Christians, Middle Belters 

and southerners under his 

watch by his Fulani br<strong>others</strong>? 

United Nations@UN 

Separating children from 

their families leaves them 

more vulnerable to 

exploitation & abuse. 

Regardless of immigration 

status, children are children 

first. They must be protected. 

Nigeria 

Force@PoliceNG 

night. Who is going to 

investigate them? 

Niniola Jesugbemii 

I remember trying to 

bring real estate 

investment of building 

modern condominiums 

in Ajah, Lagos. The 

EFCC actually blocked 

the money without any 

reason other than 

demanding for 5% of the 

$1 million transferred 

into my companies 

account for the 

execution of the project 

which I refused to 

oblige to. Why should I 

give them a bribe for 

something legitimate? 

Police 

This is how they 

frustrate many 

beneficial investments 

into the country under 

the guise of fighting 

corruption while 

demanding bribes. 

Kenny 

We may as well figure 

out what Police and 

EFCC have in 

common. Same people, 

same orientation, same 

mannerism etc. The 

spokesman dint talk 

about the court order 

which purportedly 

instructed EFCC to 

unseal Zari’s 

properties. 

Aggrieved members of 

the public who have any 

complaint in the past or 

present of violation of their 

rights by any Special Anti- 

Robbery Squad (SARS) 

personnel anywhere in the 

country should report 

through any of the following 

channels for investigation 

and further actions. 

Tony Ojobo@TonyOjobo1 

ATCON is looking at 

harnessing the enormous 

#Broadband potentials in all 

Journalist’s 

sibling, 

one other 

killed as 

gunmen 

storm 

Zaki-Biam 

mike 

This is a matter of 

master and servant, once 

a servant refuses to <strong>take</strong> 

responsibility and stand 

up to his master the status 

quo will remain because 

a master will not give you 

the freedom you yearn for 

unless you <strong>take</strong> it by force. 

Having said that I want 

to add also that the <strong>Benue</strong> 

people had been used 

and dumped by their 

Hausa master so what is 

going on now is to 

continue to kill them until 

they are brought to their 

knees. Defend yourself 

and stop the wailing 

because it is actually 

getting boring now. All 

my life I have always 

thought that <strong>Benue</strong> 

people are brave warriors 

having been in the 

forefront of the Nigeria 

civil war but now I know 

better. Defend your ass or 

d 

Akeem Oyegoke 

But remember there was 

war before between jukun 

and tiv people. The 

insecurity in the country 

is so bad. 

Naka God. 

I have said it severally 

that all <strong>Benue</strong> and <strong>Taraba</strong> 

youths doesn’t have any 

business going to be 

without keeping a 

functional gun beside 

them,Danjuma warned 

them too. Every week, 

they will come out and be 

asking why, what have we 

done wrong, didn’t we 

vote for President Buhari?. 

Can one keep doing the 

same thing and expect a 

different result? 

states of the #Federation 

transforming them into 

SmartState Status 

JJ. Omojuwa@Omojuwa 

Femi Falana has been 

fighting for civil rights since 

he was much younger than 

you. He still does. Now 

you’ve come of age you still 

want him to fight & defend 

everything there is to fight 

& defend. When he gets of 

age and dies, will you call 

on his dead body to defend 

you?

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 18, 2018— 41 

BOOK LAUNCH—From left: Author of the book and pioneer Editor-in-Chief of News Agency of 

Nigeria (NAN), Mr Victor Adefela; Managing Director of NAN, Mr Bayo Onanuga; representative of 

the Minister of Information and Culture, Mr Biodun Abe; Sen. Femi Okunronmu and former Acting 

Managing Director of NAN, Otunba Jide Adebayo, at the launch of a book titled: ‘Mind on the Wing’ in 

Lagos, weekened, Photo: NAN. 

<strong>KILLINGS</strong>: <strong>Benue</strong>, <strong>Taraba</strong>, <strong>Ekiti</strong>, <strong>Afenifere</strong>, 

<strong>Ohanaeze</strong>, <strong>others</strong> <strong>take</strong> on DHQ 


victims instead of the 

aggressors. And if you 

check Fulani history, all 

the places they are 

currently occupying now, 

is it Sokoto, Katsina, Kebbi 

and the rest were 

occupied by the local 

people but they went and 

took over the land. 

“From their antecedents, 

this is what they had been 

doing. And I recall vividly 

that the ‘World Terrorism 

Index’ has rated 

herdsmen militia as the 

fourth most deadly. 

“So from the statement 

of the Defence Ministry, 

from the Inspector General 

of Police and the Chief of 

Army Staff, these people 

are accomplices. They are 

supporting the herdsmen 

in their agenda to conquer 

and occupy <strong>Benue</strong> 

territory." 

Fayose 

Also reacting, Governor 

Ayodele Fayose of <strong>Ekiti</strong> 

State picked holes in the 

D e f e n c e 

Headquarters'claim, 

saying it could be an 

attempt to clamp down on 

some politicians. 

Fayose, who spoke 

through his Special 

Assistant on Public 

Communications and 

New Media, Mr. Lere 

Olayinka, said: “What 

kind of statement is that? 

Why have they not been 

able to arrest the thugs? 

What are they waiting for? 

They should go after the 

thugs. 

"A lot of stories have 

been told about these 

herdsmen. First, they said 

the herdsmen came from 

Libya, also, the Minister 

of Defence said the antigrazing 

law was 

responsible for the 

killings. 

"We should look beyond 

this statement; it could be 

an attempt to clamp down 

on some politicians. Are 

politicians responsible for 

the killings in <strong>Benue</strong>, 

<strong>Taraba</strong> and Kaduna 

states? They should tell 

us another story.” 

<strong>Taraba</strong> 

In its reaction, <strong>Taraba</strong> 

State government 

challenged the Defence 

headquarters to name the 

politicians and the states 

involved in sponsoring 

thugs to attack 

communities under the 

guise of herdsmen. 

Senior Special Assistant 

on Media and Publicity to 

the Governor, Mr. Bala 

Dan Abu, said the 

accusation was baseless 

and aimed at diverting 

public attention from the 

failure of the military to 

rein in the ferocious 

attackers unleashed on 

some states in the North 

Central and North East. 

Abu said the military 

was still being haunted by 

the earlier accusation of 

bias and covert support 

they had been giving to 

herdsmen to attack some 

communities in the state 

levelled against them by 

former Defence Minister, 

Gen. Theophilus 

Danjuma, retd. 

The spokesman accused 

the military of being 

either negligent or biased 

in their operation and 

asked for a change. 

Abu said, “They are the 

accused and cannot sit in 

their judgement. What 

Gen. Danjuma said is still 

haunting them and they 

need to repent from 

lopsided support to some 

groups to attack innocent 

persons and communities 

in <strong>Taraba</strong> State. 

“If they are serious, let 

them name those states 

and politicians arming 

herdsmen as thugs to 

attack or set up an 

independent probe into 

the attacks. They cannot 

be a judge in their own 

case." 

<strong>Afenifere</strong> 

In its reaction, the pan- 


organisation, <strong>Afenifere</strong>, 

faulted the Defence 

headquarters, saying it 

was an attempt to change 

the narratives. 

<strong>Afenifere</strong>’s National 

Publicity Secretary, Mr. 

Yinka Odumakin said: 

“Do they think that we 

have cow brains? They are 

planning to change the 

narratives because 

killings have been going 

on for several months 

now. 

:"Meytti Allah has even 

admitted why there are 

killings. The Defence 

Minister at some point 

said there are killings 

because grazing routes 

have been blocked. 

Because we are moving 

towards elections, they 

are changing the 

narratives and bringing 

this kind of thought out 

arrangements, it is too 

ridiculous to be true. 

"If Nigerians allow those 

who are in power now to 

come back in 2019, they 

will lose so many years. 

All they are doing is to 

change the narratives and 

to tell lies.” 

ECA 

The 

Eastern 

Consultative Assembly, 

ECA, has said that the 

statement by the Defence 

Headquarters blaming 

the constant killing of 

Nigerians across the 

nation by herdsmen as not 

only demeaning but 

ridiculing to both the 

Presidency and the entire 

gamut of the security 

services in the country. 

Secretary of ECA, 

Evangelist Elliot 

Ugochukwu-Uko, made 

this known while reacting 

the statement on the issue 

by the Defence 

Headquarters, yesterday. 

Ugochukwu-Uko said 

the killing of Nigerians by 

herdsmen would have 

escalated but for the 

scolding of President 

Buhari by the American 

President, Donald Trump, 

when the latter received 

the former in audience 

last month. 

“The lies started when 

Buhari blamed late 

Muammar Gadaffi of 

Libya over the killing of 

people in <strong>Taraba</strong>, <strong>Benue</strong>, 

Kogi, Enugu and 

Adamawa among <strong>others</strong>. 

Buhari said Gadaffi 

trained and equipped the 

foreigners who were 

killing Nigerians across 

the country on daily basis. 

"As at today, the 

herdsmen have sacked 

over 7000 Nigerians from 

their homes. 

“Later, the Minister of 

Defence, like the 

Inspector General of 

Police, said it was 

because of the anti-open 

grazing law passed by 

some states Houses of 

Assembly. Now, the 

Defence Headquarters 

has said it is politicians 

who employ thugs who 

disguise as herdsmen. 

"All these lies are 

coming and even the 

herdsmen had accepted 

responsibility. There are 

four different answers 

from officials of this 

government on one issue 

and all of them are cheap 

lies. Otherwise, why 

would the Defence 

Headquarters launder 

the image of herdsmen for 

them?" 

On his part, Second 

Republic lawmaker, Dr. 

Junaid Mohammed, said 

the Defence headquarters 

should provide Nigerians 

with proof rather than 

giving narratives. 

Mohammed said: 

“When the security 

agencies in this country 

tell you this kind of stories, 

there is need to tread 

carefully. Though I 

cannot rule out such 

developments because 

Nigerian politicians are 

reckless and irresponsible 

but the information given 

so far by the Defence 

headquarters are not 

credible enough for us to 

believe their story. Until I 

get the proof or evidence, 

no one should tell me this 

kind of rubbish." 

Military should 

bury its head in 

shame 

—<strong>Ohanaeze</strong> 

Reacting, Igbo apex 

body, <strong>Ohanaeze</strong> Ndigbo, 

said the military should 

bury its head in shame 

for blaming politicians 

for the menace of 

herdsmen attacks instead 

of dealing with the ugly 

trend squarely. 

In a statement in 

Abakaliki, Eboyin State, 

by the National Publicity 

Secretary, Prince Uche 

Okpagha, it wondered 

why the military was not 

matching the herdsmen 

menace fire for fire. 

It said: “It is 

unfortunate that the 

Nigerian Military known 

for its epic gallantry has 

suddenly become grossly 

enmeshed in 

unprofessional act of 

playing politics with 

security. Nigerians are 

not interested in media 

propaganda. Instead, 

they are concerned that 

the military is not 

matching the herdsmen 

fire for fire. 

“How can the military 

be telling us that 

politicians are 

sponsoring their thugs 

as herdsmen? That is 

supposed to be a 

confidential security 

matter. Why are they not 

going for the politicians? 

How many of the thugs 

have been arrested 

either? Perhaps, we 

should clap for the 

military on that “good” 


“Every day, 

everywhere they are 

looking for innocent and 

armless lPOB youths to 

gun down but the dare 

devil herdsmen are 

unleashing unthinkable 

genocide on Nigerians 

and the excuse of the 

Military is that they are 

being sponsored by 

politicians. The military 

should bury its head in 

shame if it has no answer 

to the herdsmen 

menaces.” 

Presbyterian 

Church to Ikpeazu: 

You're a builder 

ABA—Members of 

the Presbyterian 

Church of Nigeria 

(PCN) have applauded 

the infrastructure 

development efforts of 

Governor Okezie 

Ikpeazu of Abia State, 

and described him as “a 

true Nehemiah of our 

time.” 

This was made known 

during the 2018 Fathers’ 

Day Celebration of the 

Men’s Christian 

Association (MCA) of 

the Ogbor Hill Parish of 

the Church by the 

Minister in Charge, Rev. 

Akim Erim Mbeh, while 

presenting the award of 

“Nehemiah of our Time” 

to the Governor who was 

represented by his 

Deputy, Sir Ude Oko 

Chukwu. 

According to Rev. 

Mbeh, “Governor 

Okezie has re-built Aba 

and other parts of Abia 

State and deserves this 

award from the Church. 

When you look at where 

we were before he came 

and where we are today, 

you will no doubt 

acknowledge that we 

have made good 

progress that nobody can 

deny.” 


Governor Ikpeazu, who 

was represented by the 

Deputy Governor, Sir 

Ude Oko Chukwu, who 

read the first scripture 

during the Service, 

thanked the Church for 

partnering with his 

administration to deliver 

dividends of democracy 

to the people of the state 

and promised to do more 

to make life better for the 

people. 

“We appreciate the 

support and prayers of 

the Church. While the 

the Church is building 

the spiritual life of our 

people, it is our job as 

political leaders to 

deliver the necessary 

socio-economic 

infrastructure that will 

enable our people to 

enjoy better quality of 

life."

42— VANGUARD, MONDAY, JUNE 18, 2018 

Only PDP 

governors are 

commissioning 

projects 

—Governor Emmanuel 

Following his third anniversary, 

Governor Udom Emmanuel in two 

separate interactive sessions with 

newsmen in Uyo and Lagos spoke on the 

strides of his administration and on issues 

of national importance. 

Excerpts 

•Governor Emmanuel 

By Chioma Onuegbu 

How would you assess your 

administration in the past 

three years that you have 

been in office as the governor 

of Akwa Ibom? 

So far, I can say that we 

have done well. I will 

give myself an ‘A’ if I were to 

rate myself as we have done 

very, very well as an opposition 

political party leading a 

state that has no Federal Government 

presence; not even a 

kilometre of road. 

As the largest oil-producing 

state, there is not even a depot 

owned by the Nigerian 

National Petroleum Corporation, 

NNPC, in Akwa Ibom 

State. The corporation doesn’t 

even have a kiosk as an office 

in the state and you can’t 

point to anything to show that 

the Federal Government has 

interest in Akwa Ibom, which 

is an oil-producing state. 

How do you react to allegations 

that South-South governors 

have not done enough 

to justify the huge revenue 

inflow they get? 

I am hearing that for the first 

time because a lot of people 

do ask: Where do you guys get 

the money to do all your 

projects? As at today, it is only 

governors of the People's Democratic 

Party, PDP, who are 

commissioning projects. 

You should look at what we 

get in Naira value and the rate 

of inflation. When we had a 

similar oil price some years 

ago at the exchange rate prevalent 

at that point in time, how 

much were these states given 

and how much are we getting 

EMMANUEL’S 

DEDUCTIONS 

•No single FG project in Akwa 

Ibom State 

•Persons eyeing political offices 

should not lead development 

agencies 

•The Water Resources Bill is a 

very dangerous bill 

•I have no rift with Akpabio 

today at the current level of 

inflation and exchange rate? 

At that time, how much was 

a bag of cement and how much 

is it today? These are facts. So 

crosscheck them and compare 

it to what we have put on 

ground. 

How feasible are ongoing 

talks by opposition parties 

aimed at unseating the APCled 

Federal Government? 

Most of the things going on 

now are human tactical 

approaches to what people 

think can give them result, but 

at the end of the day, what 

matters most is result. 

Everyone is hoping to carry 

the day in 2019, so any tactical 

approach, which you think 

will give you the result, is 

what you are going to employ. 

And let me say something; 

no two elections have ever 

been the same and will never 

be. So, the 2019 elections will 

be completely different from 

that of 2015. So, if somebody 

thinks that there is a formula 

to it, it might not necessarily 

be. Above all, no matter what 

anyone does, it is God who 

determines 

who gets 

power as all 

power on 

planet earth 

belong to 

Him and He 

gives it to 

whoever He 

wishes. 

There are situations 

where people 

have ruled 

without anyone 

casting 

the ballot for 

them; what coalition would you 

call that? So, I believe that 

these things are just human 

approaches to actually see 

what result they can get. 

You said that there is not 

even a kilometre of road constructed 

by the Federal Government 

in Akwa Ibom State. 

Could that be as a result of 

party differences? 

It did not start today and it is 

not because of party 

differences. 

What could have been the 

reason? 

I cannot explain and I stand 

to be corrected if there is any. 

Even the so-called federal 

roads that we have spent money 

on to reconstruct, we are still 

waiting for reimbursement of 

the funds that we spent. Even 

at that, the Federal Inland Revenue 

Service is telling us to 

pay tax on money that I am still 

being owed. 

How would you react to the 

assertion by the Niger-Delta 

Development Commission, 

NDDC, that your government 

is stopping it from embarking 

on projects in Akwa Ibom 

State? 

There are nine states that 

make up the NDDC, put Akwa 

Ibom aside, pick other states 

and let them show you how 

many roads they have 

constructed 

and 

commissioned. If I am 

commissioning roads, I call 

people to come and be 

witnesses; let them show 

Nigerians the roads they have 

initiated, constructed and 

commissioned. 

What can come as an advice 

is that if you occupy some public 

office, you should not have 

political ambition because you 

cannot play politics with the 

development of the people. As 

passionate as we are towards 

development, do you think it 

is practicable for us to tell 

somebody not to develop our 

state? It is all just blackmail 

and propaganda and we 

disassociate ourselves from 

such. 

Probably, they just want to 

score a cheap political point 

and that was why I said that 

some public offices should be 

left for people who we know 

are out for development and 

not for those who will use such 

offices to actualise their political 

ambitions. 

No state will allow any 

agency of the Federal 

Government to go and place a 

signpost on a road that it has 

awarded contract for its 

reconstruction. 

It is not only about the 

NDDC; even the Federal 

Road Maintenance Agency, 

FERMA, does that. If I am doing 

rehabilitation of a federal 

road and FERMA goes and 

puts a signpost there, of 

course, I will remove it because 

I am using state funds 

for the job. If it is in their budget 

and I am doing it, they 

should go and account for it. 

They should not use what I 

have done to account for it. If 

you go to Akwa Ibom State 

now, I am resurfacing the road 

from Okot Ibot to Oron, which 

is a federal road, but you 

would be surprised to go there 

and see a FERMA signpost on 

it. 

Are you saying that people, 

anyone with a political ambition 

should not be appointed 

into the NDDC? 

I didn’t say only the NDDC. 

I said certain offices of 

developmental agencies that 

cut across the regions of the 

country because there would 

be some element of bias and I 

don’t need to define those biases. 

How would you respond to 

the Water Resources Bill, 

which seeks to establish a regulatory 

framework for the 

water resources sector in Nigeria? 

That was one of the major 

issues we addressed as South- 

South governors. It is not only 

affecting South-South. It is 

affecting everybody from 

Lagos State, Ondo State. 

Whoever has water is affected 

by that bill. Because If you 

look at that bill, it is vesting 

everything water - surface water 

and underneath water in 

the Federal Government. It is 

a very dangerous bill. 

Continues on page 43

VANGUARD, MONDAY, JUNE 18, 2018 — 43 

Continued from page 42 

I am completely against it 

because it is counter development. 

It also violates the Constitution 

of the Federal Republic 

of Nigeria. Take for 

example, my area, the whole 

life of our people is on water 

and the constitution does not 

separate the land from water. 

So, how can you now say 

water on the surface and water 

beneath? What happens to 

us because we live on water, 

we survive on water, we do 

everything on water? Does it 

mean that those that have 

land, live on land and do everything 

on land, their governors 

have control, while 

governors of riverine areas 

where the people’s entire life 

is on water should not control 

anything? Is that not a violation 

of the Constitution of the 

Federal Republic of Nigeria? 

So, it is a total rejection not 

just by me, but by the entire 

people of the South-South and 

South-East of this country and 

we just want to believe that at 

this time that our democracy 

is still fragile, we should put 

in things that will make the 

country stronger and not 

those that can call so many 

things to question. 

Let’s do things that can 

move us forward and not 

backward. Such a bill can <strong>take</strong> 

us several thousand miles 

backwards. Believe me, we 

reject it in its entirety because 

it is against the constitution 

and it is an indirect way of 

saying that we are not Nigerians 

because everything 

about our life in the Niger- 

Delta is on water. 

Is it true that there is a rift 

between you and your predecessor, 

Senator Godswill Akpabio, 

upon claims that some 

of his loyalists in your government 

were sacked? 

No official has been sacked 

from government, I am not 

aware of any because the 

highest official through 

appointment is commissioner 

and no commissioner has been 

sacked. At times people 

misinterpret certain things. 

You know that it <strong>take</strong>s two to 

be in love and it also <strong>take</strong>s 

two to fight, so in this case, I 

will give you a straight 

answer; there is no rift 

because the second party is 

not available. You don’t play 

a football match when you 

don’t have an opponent. 

Udom 

Only PDP governors are 

commissioning projects 

Given the recent reconciliation 

among APC leaders in 

Akwa Ibom State, are you not 

afraid that they are putting 

aside their differences to 

fight you? 

Let me tell you something. 

There is a difference between 

APC in Lagos State and APC 

in Abuja, and also APC in 

Akwa Ibom State. Personally, 

I don’t mention names of political 

parties, but because you 

mentioned a name, that is 

why I am doing so, though I 

don’t know whether the name 

you mentioned is a political 

party or whether it is Armoured 

Personnel Carrier if I 

may borrow your words. 

Look at what happened on 

May 29, 2018 in Akwa Ibom 

State. Does it show Akwa 

Ibom as a state where you 

have another political party? 

I want to say it clearly that 

PDP in my state is like a religion. 

I told people three years 

ago that if someone is coming 

to conduct praise and worship 

in a church in Akwa Ibom 

State and happens to make 

the mis<strong>take</strong> to say PDP, people 

will answer. 

Akwa Ibom is purely 100 per 

cent a PDP state, and it is a 

state that the people have 

seen development done by 

the party. So, what colour of 

another political party are you 

bringing to the people of the 

state and what new thing will 

the party do for them? On 

May 29, the people came out 

in their numbers to say this is 

where we belong. 

Where have you seen such 

a thing before? Mind you, 

Akwa Ibom is 99.99 per cent 

Christians and if these people 

from all the 31 local government 

areas of the state led 

by the former National President 

of Christian Association 

of Nigeria, CAN, and Prelate 

Emeritus of the Methodist 

Church Worldwide, have 

come out to say that there is 

no vacancy in the governorship 

office until 2023 and that 

it is Udom Emmanuel they 

want, which other political 

party are you mentioning? 

I cannot explain 

and I stand to be 

corrected if there 

is any; even the 

so-called federal 

roads that we 

have spent money 

on to reconstruct, 

we are still 

waiting for 

reimbursement of 

the funds that we 

spent 

How does the PDP expect to 

harmonise the various interests 

angling for the 2019 

presidential ticket of your 

party? 

If there are no aspirants at 

the national level, where else 

will you have people indicating 

interest? The constitution 

is clear that as far as you are 

eligible to contest, you can 

indicate interest. Different 

people aspire for different 

positions, but at the end of the 

day, it is the will of the people 

that will prevail. And no 

matter the number of people 

aspiring for the ticket, what 

matters is that we must have 

a candidate as a political party. 

If people don’t aspire, it 

means that the party is not 

alive. So, the number of people 

aspiring on the platform 

of the PDP shows the strength 

of the party and I welcome 

more to join. In fact, let’s have 

more than 100 aspirants, but 

like I said, at the end of the 

day, the will of the people will 

prevail when we go for the 

convention. 

In spite of what you said 

that you have done, why are 

there pockets of protests 

against you from time to 

time? 

Protests in which areas? 

The last one was by a group 

of youths protesting against 

dearth of infrastructure in 

their area... 

No, it has never happened, 

not in my state. You know I 

stated my opening remark by 

telling you that there are a lot 

of gossips and propaganda 

and so on. Let me also mention 

that sometime last week 

or two weeks ago, a state that 

pays salaries and pensions 

constantly, somebody went on 

the internet and posted that 

workers did not receive salaries. 

But, it took even those who 

got their alert to come and 

defend the government to say 

they were not being owed 

even for a month. You see, you 

can’t <strong>take</strong> away this mischief, 

it didn’t start today, it started 

from creation. There have always 

been mischief makers all 

through. 

That’s why we have that 

word in the dictionary, but 

you cannot <strong>take</strong> mischief to be 

a fact, mischief is mischief, 

propaganda is propaganda. 

There has never been any protest 

in my state, never. 

How do you react to the 

prosecution of some PDP 

chiefs on the use of campaign 

funds and the question about 

the campaign funds of the 

ruling party? 

Let me tell you something 

which you don’t know. 

Absolute power corrupts 

absolutely, so if you hold 

power, you can do whatever 

you want to do, this thing we 

call power, I don’t want it to 

sound like a tautology, but as 

the name implies, anything 

called power can shock, it can 

bring light, it can burn, it can 

do something else. 

So, depending on who holds 

power, and how he wants to 

play with it. What do you 

define as money laundering? 

If I contest election right now 

and I try to buy fez-caps and 

I buy them from you; what 

offence have you committed? 

I think it’s something that we 

might not be able to answer 

totally right now, but the 

future should be able to 

provide answers to some of 

these questions. 

How prepared is your party 

ahead of 2019 to ensure 

that you win the presidential 

poll? 

I think Nigerians can decipher 

and put it straight who 

would govern this country, 

and who among those aspiring 

has deep knowledge of 

the economy. Again, the person 

must trend. I think you 

know what I mean by trend. 

You know those who are in that 

category. 

The person must trend, the 

person must have adequate 

understanding of the economic 

issue that can make an impact. 

I am from the private 

sector, I know how I feel for 

somebody who was holding 

hundreds of millions of Naira 

investment and of no offence 

of his nor has he done anything 

wrong, even with that 

investment in his hand, he 

has lost more than 50 per cent 

value of his investment. These 

are things we need to look at 

because the country is bigger 

than an individual.


African migrants are pictured celebrating after they finally reach Spain after nine horrific days at sea. They 

were rescued off the coast of Libya but refused entry to Italy and Malta and got stuck off the coast of Sicily 

Taliban, roam Afghan cities amid Eid euphoria, 

say ceasefire ends at midnight 

TALIBAN militants 

headed into cities 

across Afghanistan on 

Sunday as they celebrated 

their Eid ceasefire with 

feasts and selfies, raising 

questions about what happens 

when the ceasefire 

ends at midnight (1930 

GMT). 

President Ashraf Ghani 

said he would extend a 

government ceasefire on 

Saturday and urged the 

Taliban to do the same, 

winning praise at home 

and international backing, 

but critics said his overtures 

had allowed the Taliban 

to pour into cities 

unchecked. 

The Taliban said there 

would be no extension. 

Ghani had committed “a 

grave mis<strong>take</strong>” by allowing 

Taliban fighters to enter 

government-controlled 

areas, said Amarullah 

Saleh, a politician and 

former head of the National 

Directorate of Security. 

“We don’t have mechanisms 

in place to mitigate 

the breach of ceasefire by 

the Taliban,” Saleh told 

Reuters. 

Members of parliament 

opposing Ghani’s move 

said he had not consulted 

politicians and would be 

left with no recourse if the 

Taliban rejected his impromptu 

request. 

A senior Western diplomat 

in Kabul said Ghani’s 

decision was “a bold 

move” but questioned 

what happens if the Taliban 

do not extend their 

unprecedented halt in 

hostilities against government 

forces. “The consequences 

could be disastrous,” 

he said. The Taliban 

said their members 

were expected to leave 

government-controlled 

areas before sunset. 

A suicide bombing in 

Jalalabad, close to the governor’s 

office in Nangarhar 

province, killed at 

least 18 people on Sunday 

and wounded scores, an 

official and doctor said. 

No group immediately 

claimed responsibility. 

A car bomb killed 36 

people at a gathering of 

Taliban and Afghan 

armed forces in the same 

province on Saturday. Islamic 

State, not covered 

by the government ceasefire, 

claimed responsibility 

for that attack. 

Over the weekend, ecstatic 

men and children 

crowded around the soldiers 

and Taliban fighters, 

some of whom had 

checked in their weapons 

at the entrances to cities, 

and urged them to turn 

their ceasefire into a permanent 

peace. 

Governors and senior 

government officials hosted 

small feasts, played 

music to welcome the militants, 

coinciding with the 

close of the month-long 

Ramadan fasting season. 

India moves ahead with tariffs on 

US goods 

INDIA is moving for 

ward with plans to hit 

back at the United States 

over trade. 

The country has proposed 

hiking tariffs on 30 

US products in order to 

recoup trade penalties 

worth $241 million, according 

to a revised World 

AFTER a gruelling 

journey at sea, more 

than 600 migrants and refugees 

who have become 

the centre of a political 

storm about Europe’s migration 

policy have set 

foot on dry land in 

Spain. 

The first batch of migrants 

made their way 

slowly down the gangplank 

of the Italian coastguard 

ship Datillo in the 

port of Valencia early on 

Sunday, more than a 

week after they were rescued 

in several operations 

off the coast of Libya. 

The MV Aquarius 

charity rescue docked 

around two hours after the 

Datillo and the Orione, 

another coast guard ship, 

shortly after. 

Trade Organization filing. 

India said the retaliatory 

barriers are equal in 

value to US tariffs on 

steel and aluminum from 

India that were imposed 

by the Trump administration 

in March. 

The new tariffs target 

products including American 

almonds, walnuts 

and apples, as well as 

Ship caught in Europe’s 

migration spat docks in Spain 

It marked the close of an 

exhausting 1,300km ordeal 

that began when the 

MV Aquarius charity rescue 

boat was barred from 

entering ports in Italy 

and Malta, leaving the 

630 on board, including 

100 children and seven 

pregnant women, stranded 

at sea. 

The refugees arrived in 

three stages because the 

two Italian ships had <strong>take</strong>n 

on board 400 people 

from the overburdened 

rescue boat. 

Since newly appointed 

Spanish Prime Minister 

Pedro Sanchez offered a 

safe harbour to the migrants 

on Monday, Valencia 

has rapidly deployed 

its emergency plans to 

cater for the refugees. 

some chemical and metal 

products. 

India said its tariff on 

large American motorcycles, 

which President 

Donald Trump has repeatedly 

spoken out 

against, will also be hiked. 

The latest filing with the 

World Trade Organization 

submitted by New Delhi 

is dated June 14. It updates 

an initial complaint 

about US metals tariffs 

made on May 18. The Indian 

government is also 

leaving the door open for 

further tariff hikes, it said 

in its latest notification. 

“India reserves the right 

to adjust the specific products 

for which [tariffs 

would apply], and its 

right to adjust the additional 

rate of duty imposed 

on such products,” 

it said. Exports of steel 

and aluminum from India 

to the United States are 

worth around $1.2 billion, 

according to the World 

Trade Organization filing. 

The United States sold 

goods and services worth 

$42 billion to India in 

2016, according to the US 

Trade Representative. 

That translated into a US 

trade deficit with India of 

$30.8 billion. 

Greece, Macedonia sign pact to 

change ex-Yugoslav republic’s name 

Greece and Macedonia set aside three decades of 

dispute on Sunday as they agreed on a new 

name for the former Yugoslav republic, paving the way 

for its possible admission to the European Union and 

NATO. The foreign ministers of the two countries 

signed an accord to rename the former Yugoslav republic 

the “Republic of North Macedonia”, despite a 

storm of protest over a deal seen as a national sellout 

by some on both sides. 

In the idyllic setting of Prespes, a lake region that 

borders Greece, Macedonia and Albania, leaders from 

the two countries embraced and shook hands in the 

presence of European and United Nations officials. 

The agreement still requires the approval of both 

parliaments and a referendum in Macedonia. That approval 

is far from assured, as it faces stiff opposition 

from the Greek public, and Macedonia’s president has 

vowed to block the deal. “Very few believed we would 

be able to leave behind 26 years of unfruitful dispute,” 

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said. “We have a 

historic responsibility that this deal is not held in abeyance,” 

Tsipras said as he and his Macedonian counterpart 

Zoran Zaev received a standing ovation. 

Tsipras survived a no-confidence vote mounted by 

the opposition in parliament on Saturday. 

But up to 70 percent of Greeks object to the name 

compromise, an opinion poll by the Proto Thema newspaper 

showed on Saturday. In Psarades, the tiny lakeside 

community where the deal was signed, the church 

bell tolled in mourning, draped in a Greek flag. 

Abortion to avoid birth defects 

similar to Nazi crimes — Pope 

POPE Francis compared having an abortion to 

avoid birth defects to the Nazi era idea of trying 

to create a pure race. 

Speaking to a delegation of Italy’s Family Association 

in Rome on Saturday, he also reiterated the Roman 

Catholic belief that a true human family is comprised 

of a man and woman. 

The off-the-cuff comments were confirmed by the 

Vatican after the meeting. 

“I have heard that it’s fashionable, or at least usual, 

that when in the first months of pregnancy they do 

studies to see if the child is healthy or has something, 

the first offer is: let’s send it away,” Pope Francis was 

reported as saying. 

“I say this with pain. In the last century the whole 

world was scandalized about what the Nazis did to 

purify the race. Today we do the same, but now with 

white gloves.” 

The Nazi quest for a pure race by only allowing 

healthy children to be born was known as Nazi eugenics. 

It included abortion and the sterilization of 

people with physical and mental illness. 

In addition to his comments on abortion and fetal 

testing, Pope Francis made clear what he believes the 

definition of a human family should be. 

“Today, it is hard to say this, we speak of ‘diversified’ 

families: different types of families. It is true that 

the word ‘family’ is an analogical word, because we 

speak of the ‘family’ of stars, ‘family’ of trees, ‘family’ 

of animals ... it is an analogical word. But the human 

family in the image of God, man and woman, is the 

only one. It is the only one. A man and woman can be 

non-believers: but if they love each other and unite in 

marriage, they are in the image of God even if they 

don’t believe, “ the Pope said. 

Congo’s parliament to consider 

legal protection for ex-presidents 

DEMOCRATIC Republic of Congo’s parliament 

will, at President Joseph Kabila’s request, hold 

a special session to consider legislation providing legal 

protection for former presidents, lawmakers said. 

The announcement could be a further sign that Kabila 

intends to step down after an election in December 

despite speculation that he is trying to circumvent 

term limits that forbid him from running again. 

Prime Minister Bruno Tshibala told Reuters this week 

that Kabila would not be a candidate, the clearest declaration 

yet from a senior government official on the 

matter. 

But Kabila himself has refused to publicly commit to 

leaving office and some of his supporters have in recent 

weeks floated a legal rationale that would allow 

him to stand again. 

“At the request of the president of the republic, an 

extraordinary session will be convened,” lower house 

speaker Aubin Minaku told deputies on Friday at the 

close of the latest parliamentary session. 

“We will examine several items including the law on 

the status of former chiefs of state, the designation of a 

new member of the constitutional court and the law on 

the tax to promote industry,” he said. 

It was not immediately clear when that session would 

<strong>take</strong> place.

VANGUARD, MONDAY, JUNE 18, 2018 — 45 

What is behind the Aquarius refugee ship crisis? 

By Ramzy Baroud & 

Romana Rubeo 

Migrants from Africa are pictured wrapped up in blankets in Spain after a challenging 

nine days 

ON June 11, Italy’s new 

Interior Minister Matteo 

Salvini blocked the 

Aquarius rescue ship carrying 

629 refugees and 

migrants from docking at 

its ports. 

The boat is operated by 

the European charity SOS 

Mediterranee. Doctors 

Without Borders (MSF) 

have stated that the boat 

was also carrying 123 unaccompanied 

minors and 

seven pregnant women. 

“From today, Italy will 

start to say no to human 

trafficking, no to the business 

of illegal immigration,” 

said Salvini, who 

also heads the far-right 

League party. 

Italy’s new government 

- a coalition of the antiestablishment 

Five Star 

Movement and the farright 

League party - 

seems intent on stopping 

the flow of refugees into 

the country, as promised 

on the campaign 

trail under the slogan 

“Italians first”. In fact, 

anti-immigrant sentiment 

was perhaps the most unifying 

rally cry for Salvini’s 

League party supporters. 

Salvini’s decision does 

indeed constitute a drastic 

change of course, 

which set off days of diplomatic 

confrontation and 

provoked a wave of public 

indignation in some 

sectors of Italian society. 

However, it is also true 

that condemning Italy 

without placing this story 

in a broader context 

would serve no purpose 

in addressing growing 

populism in the European 

Union (EU). 

Europe is facing the 

most significant displacement 

crisis since World 

War II. All attempts at 

dealing with the issue 

have fallen short, mostly 

because they have ignored 

the root causes of 

the problem. 

Taking responsibility for 

European military adventures 

and political meddling 

could be a good first 

step towards developing 

a holistic strategy based 

on joint regional and international 

efforts to address 

the crisis. 

Two seemingly contradicting 

approaches have 

thus far occupied the political 

space concerning 

the issue of refugees and 

immigrants in the EU. The 

first approach views the 

problem as entirely humanitarian, 

without addressing 

political issues 

that lead to its creation in 

the first place. 

The second - a view that 

champions anti-immigration 

policies, led by populist 

right-wing parties - 

insists on devising provisional 

solutions with little 

or no humanitarian considerations 

whatsoever. 

This also fails to provide 

a structural and multi-dimensional 

solution to the 

crisis. Legal frameworks 

which were established in 

Italy and the EU in the 

early 2000s reflected both 

approaches. 

Ironically, between 2001 

and 2005, Salvini’s party 

was actually a member of 

a coalition government - 

along with the National 

Alliance, the Union of 

Christian and Centre 

Democrats and Silvio 

Berlusconi’s Forza Italia - 

which forged crucial immigration 

legislation. 

In 2002, for example, it 

passed the Bossi-Fini 

law, which restricted entry 

to asylum seekers and 

criminalised illegal immigration. 

It failed to curb the 

flow of immigrants. 

In 2003, the so-called 

EU Dublin Regulation 

established a Europewide 

fingerprinting database 

through what became 

known as Eurodac. 

The new regulations dictated 

that entrants to the 

EU must be deported to 

the first EU country from 

which they entered to apply 

for asylum. Once more 

this placed more pressure 

on “front-line countries”, 

since most applicants arrived 

in Europe through 

Spain, Italy or Greece. 

In 2004, the same Italian 

government ratified 

two amendments to the 

International Convention 

on Maritime Search and 

Rescue (SAR) and the International 

Convention 

for the Safety of Life at 

C ONSERVATIVE 

political provocateur 

Roger Stone met in 

May 2016 with a Russian 

who offered damaging information 

about Hillary 

Clinton in exchange for 

$2 million, Stone and 

former Trump campaign 

communications official 

Michael Caputo told 

CNN on Sunday. 

The meeting was first 

reported by The Washington 

Post. 

Sea (SOLAS) conventions. 


amendments, those retrieved 

at sea must be 

<strong>take</strong>n to a port belonging 

to the country in which 

they were rescued. While 

Malta refused to sign the 

amendments, Italy did, 

leaving two countries with 

close proximity operating 

based on two different 

laws. This particular contradiction 

represents part 

of the current dilemma 

concerning the Aquarius 

rescue ship, resulting in 

the diplomatic crisis between 

Italy and other EU 

countries. 

Over the years, Italy and 

other “front-line countries” 

complained about 

the unequal burden they 

have to bear in receiving 

migrants and refugees trying 

to make it to Europe. 

In an attempt to reverse 

this tendency, the EU 

establisheda mandatory 

quota system in 2015 to 

help with the relocation of 

many refugees. Hungary, 

Slovakia, Romania and 

the Czech Republic voted 

against the move. 

The new system, however, 

was enacted through 

a majority vote, yet it remained 

controversial and 

was recognised later as 

ineffective. 

The mismanagement of 

the refugee and migration 

crisis has fed a growing 

feeling of discontent especially 

in “front-line 

countries”, such as Italy. 

That discontent is fuelled 

by severe economic crises 

and political turmoil, both 

leading to the rise of 

right-wing, populist 

movements across the EU. 

It is under these conditions 

that Salvini’s party 

offered immediate action 

in Italy. Although the “solution” 

catered to the 

populist mantra that 

“something must be done” 

regardless of the consequences, 

the approach is 

striking a chord with many 

Italians, who feel beleaguered 

by harsh economic 

realities, frustrated by the 

failure of the EU and their 

own stifling status quo 

politics. 

Refugees and war 

Provisional solutions 

can only yield temporary 

outcomes. Italy’s immigration 

and refugee problem 

has been a direct outcome 

of the war in Libya, 

which it orchestrated 

along with other EU and 

Western powers. 

Italy and Libya signed 

a “friendship agreement” 

in 2008, which resulted in 

significant reduction of 

human smuggling. 

Although reluctant at the 

start, Italy played a role in 

the toppling of the government 

of Muammar 

Gaddafi in 2011. 

France, which was keen 

on helping Libya to break 

out of its international isolation 

after the lifting of 

UN sanctions on Tripoli in 

2003 by working closely 

with Gaddafi (signing 

Stone and Caputo say 

the meeting was part of a 

larger effort by law enforcement 

to set up the 

Trump campaign, citing 

records suggesting that 

the man Stone met with is 

a Russian national who 

has claimed to be an FBI 

informant. 

In letters to House Intelligence 

Committee Chairman 

Devin Nunes obtained 

by CNN, lawyers 

for Caputo and Stone say 

Caputo arranged a meeting 

between Stone and 

the Russian man who 

called himself Henry 

Greenberg. The letter says 

Caputo facilitated the 

meeting through his Russian 

business partner. 

Greenberg told Caputo he 

“had information about 

Hillary Clinton he wanted 

to provide to the Trump 

campaign,” Caputo’s attorney 

writes. 

Caputo and Stone did 

not disclose the meeting 

to congressional investigators, 

but it has become 

various agreements and 

selling Tripoli hundreds 

of millions of dollars’ 

worth of weapons), also 

enthusiastically engineered 

the overthrow of 

the Libyan government. 

In fact, France and the 

UK were the two main 

partners in the war on 

Libya. Interestingly, they 

are also the least hospitable 

towards war refugees. 

The chaos that ensued, 

as a result, turned Libya 

into a failed state. In 

2016 alone, over 170,000 

refugees and migrants 

crossed over from Libya 

into Italy. 

Despite the obvious correlation 

between Westernsustained 

wars and the 

EU’s refugee crisis, no 

moral awakening has 

<strong>take</strong>n place - neither for 

Italy or France, nor the UK 

or any of the other loud 

war cheerleaders. Worse, 

France and Italy are now 

involved inexploiting the 

current warring factions 

in Libya for their own interests. 

Europe still expects 

Libya - suffering the outcomes 

of war without a 

strong central government 

- to tackle the refugee and 

immigrant crisis alone. 

Syria is not an entirely 

different story. 

While there is much 

blame to go around in 

Syria, the EU is hardly 

innocent in all of this. 

The Syria war has resulted 

in a massive influx of 

refugees, most of whom 

are hosted by neighbouring 

Middle Eastern countries, 

many sailed the sea, 

through Turkey, to seek 

safety in Europe. 

No matter what Italy’s 

new right-wing government 

coalition does to 

stem the flow of refugees 

and immigrants, the refugees, 

desperate to find a 

lifeline and peace, will 

always find new ways to 

be smuggled to the most 

unwelcoming continent. 

The EU must accept that 

the refugee crisis will continue 

until the wars in 

Libya and Syria end, leading 

to sustainable political 

settlements and stable 

governments. 

If wars continue to rage 

on, thanks to Western 

weapons and support of 

various factions, refugees 

will continue to flee for 

safety. For a paradigm 

shift to occur, the EU’s foreign 

policy must fundamentally 

change. 

Failure to do so cannot 

be blamed on one single 

country, for the whole of 

Europe is culpable. 

*Culled from Aljazeera 

Ex-Trump adviser met with Russian who wanted $2m for 

Clinton dirt 

a focus in special counsel 

Robert Mueller’s investigation 

into the Trump 

campaign, according to 

the Post. In the letters to 

Nunes, the two political 

operatives assert that they 

were transparent in their 

testimony before the committee, 

despite not disclosing 

the meeting with 

Greenberg. 

Caputo told CNN he 

communicated with 

Greenberg by phone. 

ODUNZE 

I, formerly known and 

addressed as Miss 

Odunze Precious 

Okwudiri, now wish to 

be known and 

addressed as Mrs. 

Chibundu Precious 

Ifeoma. All former 

documents remain 

valid. General public 

please <strong>take</strong> note. 

ENAOHWO 

I, formerly known 

and addressed as 

Miss Enaohwo 

Atarhe Blessing, now 

wish to be known and 

addressed as Mrs 

Oghenetega Atarhe 

Blessing. All former 


valid. The general 

Public should <strong>take</strong> 

note. 

EBIKEDO 


addressed as Bibiwei 

Kingsley Ebikedo, 

now wish to be known 

and addressed as 

Bibiwei Ernest 

Kingsley. All former 


valid. General public 

please <strong>take</strong> note. 

OFIDE 

I, formerly known 

and addressed as Miss 

Emily Ofide, now wish 

to be known and 

addressed as Mrs 

Emily Ogah. All 

former documents 

remain valid. The 

general Public should 

<strong>take</strong> note. 

NWANDIKO 


addressed as Miss 

Nwandiko Priscilia, 

now wish to be known 

and addressed as Mrs 

Nwagwu Anulichi 

Ezinwa Priscilia. 

Former documents 

remain valid. General 

public please <strong>take</strong> 

note. 

AFAMEFUN 

AMEFUNA 


addressed as 

Afamefuna Loveth, 

henceforth wish to be 

known and addressed 

as Ozegbe Loveth. All 

former documents 

remain valid. General 

public please <strong>take</strong> note.


EAGLES DEFEAT: ROHR’S WRONG! 

*Brazilian blames Rohr for Eagles defeat 

AS Nigerians come to 

terms with the 

dreadful outing of the 

Super Eagles against 

Croatia in their opening 

game of the World Cup in 

Russia, many have been 

dissecting the team to 

find solution that may offer 

Nigeria an escape 

route into the second 

round of the competition 

to avoid the impending 

doom of exit that stares 

them in the face in the 

first round. 

Within the Nigerian 

camp, there were discordant 

voices on the performance 

of the players 

with many blaming the 

players for their poor output 

and in some cases the 

un-necessary dribbling 

runs of Victor Moses and 

his frequent falls that 

punctuated the pace of 

the game. 

But a Brazilian Journalist 

I met in Rohr the course of 

this job, Bernardo, with 

so much love and deep 

knowledge of the Eagles 

said that Gernot Rohr 

should be blamed for the 

embarrassing defeat. 

‘’I’ve been following 

Nigerian football for long 

because of the abundance 

of talents in Nigeria. Nigerian 

football is popular 

in Brazil because most of 

your players have skills 

like Brazilians. Beating 

Brazil at the Olympics in 

’96 also endeared your 

Thousands of ecstat 

ic football fans in 

Lagos came out Saturday 

night to cheer on the national 

team at the Super 

Eagles Dome, where Star 

Lager, the official beer of 

the Super Eagles showed 

enormous support for the 

National Team. 

Super Falcons cap 

tain, Onome Ebi is 

hopeful that the team will 

retain their title at the 

team to our hearts. 

“Okocha remains a 

popular player in Brazil 

because of the tricks he 

can perform with the ball. 

“But yesterday, I was 

disappointed with the 

style of play of your team 

which was mostly caused 

by your technical team. 

The coach allowed 

Croatia so much space 

that they became exceptional. 

“But they were ordinary. 

A two-man attack in 

front would have been 

better than leaving one 

player lonely in the front 

and being tossed around 

without support. And 

your players were too far 

away from each other for 

quick inter-changes in a 

two-to-beat- one situation. 

I expected the coach 

to have noticed the flaws 

after 15 minutes but he 

ignored it and it was only 

a matter of time for 

Croatia to exploit your 

mis<strong>take</strong>s. 

“I also noticed that your 

team only wait to be 

scored before they react. 

I noticed that during your 

friendly with England. 

You give too much respect 

and allowed the opponents 

to direct affairs before 

reacting. I expected 

your coach to change because 

the World Cup is 

different. If you continue 

to do that, you’ll always 

be punished. 

12th African Women Cup 

Nations tournament later 

in the year in Ghana. 

After leading the team 

(L-R) NFF president, Amaju Pinnick, Chibuzor 

Azubuike a.k.a Phyno, Artiste and Francis Peters, 

Deputy Managing Director, Aiteo Group, the Optimum 

Partners of the Super Eagles, at the presentation of 

the official theme song of the Super Eagles Russia 2018 

World Cup campaign by Aiteo to the NFF in Lagos. 

“Also, he appeared confused 

in his changes and 

left out the Leicester City 

boy (Iheanacho) for long 

on the bench. When he 

came in, he caused panic 

in Croatia’s defence. 

Long aerial balls against 

tall defenders were to 

their advantage. This is 

where you skilful players 

come into play. Victor 

Moses wanted to play the 

AWCON 2018: Ebi dreams title in Ghana 

to qualify for the tournament 

with a 7-0 aggregate 

win over Gambia, Ebi 

stated that the team’s 

major aim was not only to 

win their 11th title, but to 

also do well at the FIFA 

World Women World Cup 

in 2019. “For sure we remain 

the best team in Africa 

and we are going to 

live up to that expectation 

in Ghana. 

"And then of course we 

are not just going to make 

the numbers at the 

Women World Cup,” said 

China based Ebi. 

She added that she was 

pleased with the performance 

to the team. 

“Nothing pleases me 

more than to be able to 

lead our team to victory. I 

want to thank our amazing 

supporters who were 

there cheering us. Expect 

more good results from 

the team.” 

ball but he was holding 

and dribbling too much 

and falling. Once a referee 

notices that you dive 

unnecessarily, even 

when you are tackled, he 

would think that you have 

<strong>take</strong>n a dive”, Bernardo 

said. The Brazilian was 

not alone in faulting 

Rohr. Some Nigerians 

who would not want to be 

named voiced similar 

Thousands cheer Nigeria at the Super Eagles 

Dome in Lagos 

The venue showcased 

High-tech, multi-media 

technology giving a 360 

degree experience, 

where fans rallied in support 

of the Super Eagles 

as they faced Croatia in 

their first match in Russia. 

Football supporters 

also experienced a beer 

Ruggy Jool of Gambia in jessy no 13 in white tackle with 

Ordega Francisca of Nigeria in jessy No 17,during Nation 

Cup qualifier between Super Falcon of Nigeria Vs Gambia 

at Agege Stadium in Lagos.PHOTO;AKEEM SALAU 

village, where fans were 

treated to refreshing premium 

lager beer all 

through the night. 

One of the main attractions 

of the Super Eagles 

Dome was the exquisite 

Star Lager tunnel, which 

featured a LED screen 

that <strong>take</strong>s Football fans 

down memory lane of historic 

Super Eagle moments. 

There was also 

the Super Eagles Dome 

Studio, where some of the 

Ex Super Eagles players 

joined football pundit, 

Steve Dede, as they 

shared match analysis 

and the overview of the 

Super Eagles performance 

leading up to Russia. 

The fans were excited 

from the first half, relaxing 

with fun games and 

quizzes as Mc LafUp 

took to the stage. Some 

fans also went forward to 

participate in the thrilling 

games, as delicious finger 

food and cold glasses 

of Star Lager, were 

served to everyone. 

The experience reached 

fever-point, when 

“Oleku”crooner, Ice 

Prince took to the stage 

to delight the audience. 

*Nigerian athletes in action 

We’ll beat Iceland, Argentina 

to qualify — Rohr 

Super Eagles coach 

Gernot Rohr has put 

aside Nigeria’s shock 2- 

0 defeat in the hands of 

Croatia as he insists that 

Nigeria still has the 

chance of going through 

from Group D. 

Nigeria occupy the last 

spot at the bottom of the 

Group but the German 

coach who blamed the 

defeat on defensive naivety 

from set pieces by 

Croatia said that Nigeria 

can roar back to reckoning 

by beating Iceland 

and seeing off Argentina 

in their last group game 

to go through. 

‘’Everything is possible 

in football. “It’s important 

to make at least four 

points if you want to 

qualify,” Rohr added. 

“We are only a point 

behind for the moment, 

nothing is lost and all is 

in our hands. “Let’s be 

positive, we have the 

youngest team at the 

World Cup, let them learn 

and try to do better. “We 

saw Iceland have a good 

game against Argentina, 

a very strong team, but we 

can also do better than 

what we did today (Saturday).. 

“We have to win against 

Iceland but all is possible 

still. If we win the next 

game all is possible for 

qualification.” 

Croatia means business 

in Russia 2018 — Modric 

Croatia captain Luka 

Modric has applauded 

the Super Eagles 

for their tough game 

that has made the world 

to now reckon with 

Croatia in the World Cup. 

The Real Madrid star 

player dazzled in the 

game against Nigeria, 

playing the corner that resulted 

in the own goal by 

Oghenekaro Etebo in the 

first half before shutting 

out Nigeria with a perfect 

penalty kick in the second 

half. ‘’It was a tough 

game with Nigeria but 

the World now know that 

Croatia mean business in 

By Ben Efe 

Nigeria’s 

top 

sprinter, Ogho- 

Oghene Egwero is stepping 

up his preparations 

for the African Athletics 

Championships billed for 

August 1-5 in Asaba, 

Delta State. 

The athlete has shifted 

base to Germany to train 

and compete in some 

meets in Europe in order 

to put himself in top 

shape for the Championships, 

in which he is 

seeking to clinch his first 

the world Cup. The victory 

has added to our confidence 

and we are ready 

to go at Argentina”, 

Modric said. 

Modric, who was 

named the best player of 

the game said that they 

can get a good result from 

Argentina and qualify. 

First game victory in the 

World Cup has a way it 

affects a team and am 

happy we got the win. 

We have a very difficult 

game ahead - against the 

group’s favorites, Argentina. 

They need to win to 

gain points after drawing 

with Iceland. But, I think, 

we’ll get the points.” 

Asaba 2018 AAC: Egwero on self 

motivation drive to beat Ivorians 

tittle on home soil. 

Olusoji Fasuba was the 

last Nigerian to win the 

tittle at the 2008 Championships 

in Ethiopia. 

“Yes I’m preparing for 

the CAA. I have great 

hopes that things can 

happen. “However, this 

depends on whether the 

country needs me. Because 

I haven’t heard 

anything concerning the 

championships preparations 

from anyone at the 

AFN,” Egwero stated. 

The Delta-born athlete 

in May ran a season best 

of 10.19 in Leverkusen. 

One athlete that was in 

that meet was Ivorian 

Aurthe Gue Cisse who 

ran 9.94 seconds to broke 

the Ivorian national 

record. He erased Ben 

Youssef Meïté’s 9.96 seconds. 

Meite won the 2010 

and 2016 title compatriot 

Hua Wilfried Koffi won 

the 2014 title. These men 

and <strong>others</strong> from South 

Africa are the competitors 

Egwero will be facing for 

the 100m title in Asaba 

2018.


Iceland plans to win big against Nigeria, 

says Gunnarsson 

Iceland’s dream World 

Cup debut may have 

gotten them a point 

against two-time champions 

Argentina, but Aron 

Gunnarsson and his team 

mates are already putting 

that result behind them as 

they move on to the challenge 

of Nigeria. 

The resilient islanders 

showed their iron will 

once again, coming back 

from a goal down to draw 

1-1 with an Argentina 

side led by Lionel Messi 

and teeming with household 

names. 

“Now we need to focus 

on Nigeria. We can’t 

dwell on that game now, 

if we don’t focus on Nigeria 

and don’t get a result 

there, then that point 

is no use for anyone,” the 

combative midfielder told 

reporters at a training session 

on Sunday. 

Wearing a bracelet on 

his right wrist with the 

words “Life Is Now” 

spelled out in beads in 

Icelandic, Gunnarsson 

said he didn’t get to sleep 

until around four o’clock 

in the morning after his 

Super Eagles coach, 

Gernot Rohr stated 

that Croatian fans greatly 

out-numbered Nigerian 

supporters and it this 

put the Eagles under 

pressure at the Kaliningrad 

Stadium. Nigeria 

lost 2-0 to Croatia in their 

opening Group D game 

of the World Cup. 

“It was a match like in 

Croatia,” Rohr told reporters 

when asked if the 

number of Croatian fans 

put pressure on Nigeria. 

“But what I like is the 

quality of our supporters 

who are coming from so 

far away. And you know 

that it is not the number 

of the supporters that is 

important, it is the quality 

of the supporters.” 

Nigeria will face Iceland 

on Friday in Volgocountry’s 

superb World 

Cup debut. 

“I was still hyper after 

the game, the adrenalin 

was still going high, but 

that’s just part of it. I think 

when you play a game 

like this and it’s high-tempo, 

it’s hard to shut everything 

down,” Gunnarsson 

explained. 

Croatia beat Nigeria 2- 

0 in Saturday’s other 

Group D game and they 

top the group on three 

points, with Argentina 

and Iceland on a point 

apiece. 

“This is a must-win 

game for Nigeria, and 

that makes it a little bit 

psychologically different, 

they have to win,” Hallgrimsson 

said of Friday’s 

match, adding that he 

expects the group to be 

tense. 

“This group is going to 

be decided in the last 

minutes, in the last game. 

It’s going to be down to 

some margins, a set 

piece, extra time goal. 

This is how this group is 

going to be played,” he 

said. 

Panama no pushovers — Martinez 

Belgium have im 

mense respect for 

Panama, who are dangerous 

opponents for any 

team in the World Cup, 

Belgium head coach Roberto 

Martinez said on 

Sunday. Belgium and 

Panama are set to play in 

Sochi on today. 

“We respect immensely 

Panama, I think Panama 

are one of the stories of 

the World Cup… a nation 

arriving [for the World 

Cup] for the first time, 

against the odds, and I 

think that’s going to be 

very dangerous for any 

team that is going to be 

facing Panama in this 

tournament, because they 

got that incredible belief 

and competitive nature 

that they can achieve a 

dream,” Martinez told 

journalists at the prematch 

conference. 

Martinez added that 

Belgium would try to deliver 

a “totally focused 

performance” that they 

hope will allow them to 

win their upcoming game 

with Panama. 

Both Panama and Belgium 

are also set to play 

against Tunisia and England 

in the group stage 

of the tournament. 

Injury blow for Senegal as Ciss bows out 

Senegal defender 

Saliou Ciss has 

been ruled out of the 2018 

World Cup in Russia with 

an ankle injury. The 28- 

year-old left-back suffered 

the injury in last month’s 

friendly against Luxembourg 

and has not recovered 

sufficiently. 

France-based defender 

Adama Mbengue has 

been drafted in to replace 

Ciss in Senegal’s squad. 

The Teranga Lions will 

begin their Russia 2018 

campaign against Poland 

on 19 June in Moscow. 

“Saliou Ciss can no 

longer participate in the 

World Cup because of a 

serious injury that occurred 

during our team’s 

preparation,” the Senegal 

Football Federation (FSF) 

said in a statement. 

Mbengue, 24, who was 

on the four-man standby 

list, is expected to join the 

team in Moscow on Sunday 

Teams are only allowed 

to replace injured players 

24 hours before their 

opening games. 

At their first and only 

World Cup appearance in 

2002, Senegal - led by 

then captain and now 

coach Aliou Cisse - 

reached the quarter-finals 

and beat a star-studded 

French side in the 

group stages. 

This time around, Sen- 

*Gunnarsson 

egal will have to get past 

Poland, Colombia and 

Japan in Group H of the 

tournament in Russia. 

After their opener 

against Poland on Tuesday, 

they will play Japan 

on 24 June and then Colombia 

four days later. 

Brazil survives Swiss scare 

Philippe Coutinho 

scored a spectacular 

first-half goal for Brazil in 

their World Cup Group E 

opener on Sunday, only 

for Steven Zuber to cancel 

it out after the break. 

Coutinho collected a 

bad clearance from the 

Swiss defence and curled 

an unstoppable shot in 

off the far post in the 20th 

minute for his 11th goal 

in 37 games with Brazil. 

However, midfielder 

Zuber levelled five minutes 

into the second half 

as he headed the ball just 

under the bar from a corner. 

Brazil started strongly 

with Willian, Neymar and 

Coutinho all looking lively 

in the opening stages. 

The Paris Saint-Germain 

forward was also seemingly 

a target for Switzerland’s 

tough tackling early 

on. 

It was no surprise when 

Brazil broke the deadlock 

but the quality of the goal 

was stunning as Coutinho, 

known for his longrange 

strikes, beat Yann 

Sommer from 25 yards 

with a glorious curling 

effort. 

Switzerland were battling 

to maintain their 

unbeaten record in opening 

games across the previous 

four tournaments, 

even beating eventual 

champions Spain in 2010, 

and reacted well to going 

behind. 

Kane targets 

Ronaldo 

heroics 

England captain Har 

ry Kane is keen to 

stop Cristiano Ronaldo 

running away with the 

World Cup Golden Boot 

race. 

Kane will lead England 

out as captain for their first 

action of the tournament 

against Tunisia on Monday 

in Volgograd, having 

already seen a supreme 

display of finishing at 

Russia 2018. 

Five-time Ballon d’Or 

winner Ronaldo dragged 

Portugal to a breathless 3- 

3 draw with Spain on Friday, 

completing his hattrick 

with an immaculately 

dispatched free-kick to 

crown an instant classic 

in Sochi. 

Kane has put himself in 

a similar bracket in terms 

of weight of goals – he 

outscored Ronaldo for 

club and country over the 

course of 2017 – and is 

thirsty for a similarly definitive 

performance on 

the biggest stage. 

“Yeah, he’s put me under 

a little bit of pressure 

for sure,” Kane replied 

when asked about Ronaldo’s 

stunning exploits at 

a pre-match news conference. 

He’s a fantastic 

player and had a fantastic 

game. But, as always, 

it’s about concentrating 

on myself and the team. 

“Hopefully I can score 

a hat-trick and we’ll both 

be level. But it’s not 

something I will think 

about too much until, 

hopefully, the end of the 

tournament.” 

Croatian fans out-number 

Nigeria supporters 

Germany slumped to 

a first defeat in a 

World Cup opener since 

1982 as Mexico claimed 

a famous 1-0 win courtesy 

Hirving Lozano’s firsthalf 

strike. 

A stunning game at 

Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium 

saw the holders 

come up against a resilient 

Mexico side, who 

deservedly took the lead 

when Lozano tucked an 

effort past Manuel Neuer 

at the near post. 

And the wall that was 

Mexico’s defence never 

grad, and will finish their 

group campaign against 

Argentina on June 26. 

Three more points in 

their World Cup Group D 

match against Argentina, 

should help Croatia to 

progress to the round of 

16, team’s head coach 

Zlatko Dalic. 

“It’s going to be a different 

and a difficult 

match. We are a bit ahead, 

we have to be well-prepared. 

Of course, three 

more points would help 

us to progress and Argentina 

could be on their way 

home. But we have to be 

focused on ourselves,” 

Dalic told journalists at 

the post-match press conference. 

Croatia will play 

their final group stage 

match against Iceland on 

June 26. 

Mexico knocks German 

Machine 

*Ozil 

Belgium are the 

frontrunner to win 

the 2018 FIFA World Cup 

group G, and not England, 

Tunisia head coach 

Nabil Maaloul said on 

Sunday. 

“There is nothing to 

explain, this is the FIFA 

classification. In view of 

the performance of the 

Belgian team over the 

last few months, so that 

is obvious. Nothing to 

say about it. When you 

see the individuals that 

make up the national 

team of Belgium, sincerely 

I think that they 

caved in, as 25 shots 

came and went for Germany 

without finding the 

net – with goalkeeper 

Guillermo Ochoa producing 

nine saves, including 

a stunning one to tip Toni 

Kroos’ free-kick onto the 

bar. In truth, Mexico 

could have extended 

their lead further when a 

number of counter-attacks 

left Germany looking horrendously 

exposed, but 

those missed opportunities 

did not prove costly 

on an afternoon which 

will go down as arguably 

their greatest moment at 

a World Cup finals. 

Tunisia coach underrates 

England in Group G 

can be in the last four of 

this World Cup,” Maaloul 

said at the pre-match 

press conference, when 

asked to explain why he 

considers Belgium to be 

a stronger side than England. 

England are 12th in the 

FIFA ranking, while Belgium 

rank as high as 

third. 

Tunisia, drawn in 

Group G alongside Panama, 

Belgium and England, 

will play its first 

game at the World Cup 

on Monday against England 

in Volgograd.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 18, 2018 

TODAY’S PUZZLE 

Sudoku 

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YESTERDAY’SOLUTION 

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11 Confess (5) 

12 Naval vessel (9) 

17 Group of singers (5) 

19 Light-fingered people 

(7) 

21 Clique (2-5) 

22 Free of obstructions (5) 

23 Sunder (anag) (6) 

24 Dismal (6) 

DOWN 

1 Postpone (3,3) 

2 Scold (7) 

3 Spectre (5) 

5 Rapture, bliss (7) 

6 Kingdom (5) 

7 Something uncommon (6) 

9 Adorned (9) 

13 Dickensian miser (7) 

14 Mediterranean holiday area (7) 

15 Combat (6) 

16 Fish-eating bird of prey (6) 

18 Academy award (5) 

20 Become liable for (5) 

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. 

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18062018 - KILLINGS: Benue, Taraba, Ekiti, Afenifere, Ohanaeze, others take on DHQ

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