01092018 - AIR POLLUTION : Nigeria ranks 4th deadliest globally

2 — SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 1, 2018

SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 1, 2018 — 3

4 — SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 1, 2018 

APC reverses self, adopts Direct 

Primaries for all Elective Offices 

By Omeiza Ajayi 

IN an apparent reversal of 

its earlier position on the 

mode of elections during its 

forthcoming primaries, the 

ruling All Progressives 

Congress APC has said that 

direct elections would be 

adopted for all its primaries. 

Briefing journalists at the end 

of the NEC meeting Thursday 

in Abuja, Plateau state 

Governor, Simon Lalong had 

said when the matter came up 

for discussion, most of the 

states opted to use indirect 

primaries. Consequently, it was 

agreed that any state wishing 

to adopt the direct method 

would have to write the 

national leadership of the party 

for approval. 

“The constitution of the party 

provides for either direct, 

indirect or consensus but for 

the presidential election we all 

agreed that we will adopt direct 

primaries for the presidential 

election. Also a 

recommendation was made 

by the NWC that the other states 

should adopt the indirect mode 

but there may be situations 

that this might be difficult in 

the state looking at their 

peculiarities. So if there are 

such difficulties, they can apply, 

following the process”, Lalong 

had said. 

On Friday morning, the 

party further reaffirmed the 

reports from Thursday’s 

meeting of its National 

Executive Committee NEC 

which said direct election 

would only be adopted for the 

presidential primaries while 

states were at liberty to use 

either of direct or indirect 

primaries with approval from 

its national leadership. 

However, in an “updated” 

statement Friday evening, 

party spokesman, Yekini 

Nabena said; “The 30th August, 

2018 resolution of the All 

Progressives Congress (APC) 

National Executive Committee 

(NEC) on the mode of Primary 

Election has been subject to 

inferences and misleading 

interpretations. 

“As an update to the earlier 

released statement, we wish to 

make the following 

clarifications on NEC’s 

resolutions on Mode of Primary 

Election: Primary elections 

into all elective offices shall be 

by Direct Primaries; NEC 

resolved to adopt Direct 

Primaries for the nomination 

of the Presidential candidate 

and all other Primaries; The 

Party’s constitution though 

provides for Indirect Election 

and Consensus, however, the 

use of Indirect Primaries is 

conditional and dependent on 

logistic impediments; 

peculiarities and need of a 

given State that makes it 

unable to use Direct Primaries. 

“The State Executive 

Committee (SEC) shall in 

consultation with aspirants 

and other critical 

stakeholders of the Party in a 

given State forward for the 

consideration and approval 

by the National Working 

Committee (NWC), if Indirect 

Primaries is to be adopted. The 

adopted mode shall now be 

applied to all categories of the 

Party’s Primary Elections i.e. 

State Assembly, Senate, 

House of Representatives and 

for the Governorship 

Elections. 

“The request for Indirect 

Primaries must be signed by 

majority of the State 

Executive Committee and 

critical stakeholders in 

attendance at the meeting 

where such resolution is 

reached. 

“Direct Primaries will 

among others ensure 

fairness; create a level playing 

ground for contestants; 

eliminate corrupt tendencies 

usually associated with the 

delegates system and 

ultimately ensure full 

participation of party 

members at all levels”. 

New NBA President, Usoro reads mix-up in Buhari’s 

statement on Rule of Law 

By Henry Umoru 

THE newly elected 

President of the Nigeria 

Bar Association NBA, Paul 

Usoro, SAN, yesterday said 

that President Muhammadu 

Buhari may have been 

misunderstood following his 

comments on the conflict 

between national interest and 

the rule of law. 

According to Usoro, 

President Buhari may have 

also mixed up issues in his 

comments. 

It will be recalled that in a 

keynote address at the 58th 

Annual Conference of the 

NBA, Buhari elevated 

national security over the 

rule of law. 

Speaking yesterday in 

Abuja at a dinner organised 

in his honour by the Senior 

Special Assistant to the 

President on National 

Assembly Matters, Senate, 

Senator Ita Enang, the new 

NBA President was of the 

opinion that President Buhari 

might not, in his mind, have 

any intention of placing some 

matters said to be of national 

interest and national security 

interest above the rule of law. 

According to Usoro, the 

rule of law forms the 

bedrock of all other laws and 

could not be inferior to 

national security and 

national interest, adding that 

the President must have 

meant fundamental rights of 

the average citizen and not 

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike with Senate President Bukola Saraki at 

the Government House, Port Harcourt during a condolence visit by the Senate President 

over the death of the Attorney General of Rivers State, Late Emmanuel Aguma (SAN). 

•Says Rule of Law supreme 

the rule of law. 

Usoro said, “I personally 

think that the President 

intended to say that 

fundamental rights could be 

overtaken by national 

security. That is the position 

that the Constitution 

recognises and mark you, I 

am talking about 

fundamental human rights. 

In other words, In 

circumstances of emergency 

national security, the 

constitution acknowledges 

that the individual rights will 

give way to the national 

security emergency. 

“But the rule of law is totally 

different from fundamental 

rights. The rule of law is the 

super-arching architecture 

that determines everything. 

In fact the policy on national 

security has to be derived 

from the rule of law.. 

“What I personally believe 

is that there must have been 

a mix-up in the Presidents 

speech. The President must 

have intended to talk about 

fundamental rights and 

fundamental freedom of 

the citizens.” When asked to 

speak on allegations that 

the NBA under his 

predecessor failed to 

respond to the various cases 

of infringements on human 

rights in Nigeria, Usoro who 

noted that it would be wrong 

to accuse the body of 

sleeping as leadership styles 

may differ, stressed however 

that people have different 

ways of assessing the level 

of activism in the 

organisation at different 

times. 

The new NBA leader 

however pledged that 

during his tenure, he would 

raise the level of activism at 

the NBA by regularly 

commenting on key issues 

of public importance. 

In his reaction, a former 

President of NBA, Augustine 

Alegeh who was present at 

the dinner, said that the 

President’s comments arose 

due to a misunderstanding 

of a Supreme court 

judgement in the case of 

Asari Dokubo versus the 

state. 

PACT: Moghalu rejects Durotoye as presidential 

candidate 

•Says he is still running 

By Anthony Ogbonna 

A 

former Deputy 

Governor of Central 

Bank of Nigeria, CBN, and 

presidential aspirant of the 

Young Progressives Party, YPP, 

Kingsley Moghalu, has 

rejected the emergence of Fela 

Durotoye of the Alliance for a 

New Nigeria (ANN), as the 

consensus presidential 

candidate of the umbrella 

platform, Presidential 

Aspirants Coming Together 

(PACT). 

He also insisted that he was 

still in the presidential race. 

This is a sequel to last 

Thursday’s voting process 

among 18 presidential 

aspirants on the platform of 

PACT who came together to 

elect a consensus candidate 

ahead of the 2019 elections. 

At the end of the two-stage 

voting process, Fela 

Durotoye of ANN emerged 

consensus candidate of 

PACT. 

However, just before the 

end of the exercise, four of 

the aspirants who were 

present withdrew from the 

exercise. 

“.The arrangement had 

unraveled even before the 

final selection of the 

consensus candidate. I, 

therefore, have chosen to 

continue without 

distraction to pursue my 

vision in the presidential 

race for 2019 in the national 

interest and in deference to 

the overwhelming 

outpouring of support for 

my candidacy from all parts 

of Nigeria.” 

Stand firm in defence of Nigeria, 

Wike tells Saraki 

RIVERS State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has called 

on Senate President Bukola Saraki to stand firm in defence 

of the country’s democracy and the rule of law. 

Governor Wike declared that,“any attempt by Senate President 

Bukola Saraki to disappoint Nigerians in the face of tyranny 

and dictatorship by the failed APC Federal Government will be 

met by the wrath of God.” 

Governor Wike spoke yesterday at the Government House 

Port Harcourt during a condolence visit by the Senate President 

over the death of the Attorney General of Rivers State, Late 

Emmanuel Aguma (SAN). 

The Senate President was accompanied by former Kogi 

State Governor, Captain Idris Wada, Senator Ben Murray 

Bruce, former PDP Chairman, Dr Kawu Baraje, Dr Doyin 

Okupe and Hon. Wakil Idris. 

Governor Wike said: “Do not be intimidated. It is God who 

gives leadership. Man can try , but only God makes it possible. 

“All you should know is that you have to stand firm for 

Nigerians. The day you disappoint Nigerians, then you know 

that God himself will not be happy. Be firm, leadership comes 

with challenges in life.” 

The governor said that Nigeria was witnessing full scale 

dictatorship and tyranny. 

“We are in a period of tyranny and dictatorship. The times 

require men who have what it takes to stand firm. This is what 

Nigerians require. 

“Work towards the stability of the country as a leader of the 

National Assembly. We are happy and we identify with you. 

This is a period of betrayal and treachery, but all that come with 

leadership, “ he said . 

Governor Wike said: “For me and my people, we will continue 

to pray for you and do what is necessary to make Nigeria great 

again. Already, the nation is going down second by second, 

minute by minute and hour by hour. 

“Let nobody deceive himself that things are good. If things 

are bad, we can manage. But things are worse. For me, my 

responsibility is to make sure that this government does not 

come back. If this government comes back, you should be 

prepared to be refugees, because you will not believe what you 

will see.” Earlier, the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki said 

that he was in the state to condole with Rivers people on the 

death of the Attorney General of Rivers State, Hon Emmanuel 

Aguma SAN. 

He prayed God to grant the Government and people of 

Rivers State the strength to bear the loss. 

2019: Kwankwaso picks PDP 

nomination form 

...As party dissolves Kano EXCO, Constitutes 

Caretaker Committee 

By Dirisu Yakubu 

Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, yesterday, obtained the 

Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms to run for 

the Office of the President on the platform of the Peoples Democratic 

Party (PDP) in the 2019 general elections. 

Kwankwaso who arrived the party’s headquarters alongside 

red-cap adorning disciples of the Kwankwasiyya Movement 

was accompanied by top PDP stalwarts including former Edo 

state governor, Lucky Igbinedion and erstwhile member of the 

House of Representatives, Honourable Lee Maeba. 

The lawmaker in a chat with newsmen said a consensus arrangement 

would have been the best option “under normal 

circumstances,” adding that he was prepared to face party delegates 

at the primaries. 

Meanwhile, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the 

PDP, at the end of its meeting on Thursday, dissolved the Kano 

State Executive Committee of the party. 

A statement issued by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan 

noted that a Caretaker Committee had been constituted to pilot 

the affairs of the state chapter of the party in the interim. 

APC, PDP fight over 

ownership of cultural group 

By Dennis Agbo 

GLADIATORS in two major Political parties in Enugu state, 

the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, are currently at loggerheads, over 

ownership of the a socio-cultural organization, Enugu West 

Peoples Assembly, EWPA. 

Although both groups acknowledged that the association is 

not a purely political partisan group, the APC claimants said 

EWPA is a pressure group while the PDP affiliates said its is a 

purely a socio-cultural organisation with interest in 

development of the communities in Enugu West senatorial zone. 

Chairman of EWPA, Engr. Obed Eneh, suspected to be loyal 

to the APC in the zone, has threatened to sue another claimant 

to the position, Hon. Paul Anikwe, who is a card carrying 

member of the PDP, for publishing his name as the chairman of 

the same group. 

Eneh who produced a Corporate Affairs certificate to prove 

authenticity of his claim said, “Enugu West Peoples Assembly 

as far as I am concerned is one, it is a pressure group. It's only 

one and if anybody is answering chairman other than me as we 

saw in the newspaper, the person should within 48 hours retract 

it or we, the EWPA, will sue him because we know who our 

chairman is. 

“I became chairman since the 26th of march 2018, when it 

was registered. It was registered as a pressure group to give our 

support to whoever we wish to.” 

On the other hand, Hon. Paul Anikwe said that “Enugu West 

Peoples Assembly is a non-partisan association, a development 

driven association socio-cultural organisation for the entire 

Enugu West. Now we have projects. We changed from Enugu 

West Peoples Forum to Enugu West Peoples Assembly in October 

15 2017.

SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 1, 2018 — 5 

Police Summon: Fani-Kayode drags IGP to court, alleges 

plot to arrest him 

By Ikechukwu 

Nnochiri 

FORMER Minister 

of Aviation, Chief 

Femi Fani-Kayode, has 

approached the Federal 

High Court in Abuja, 

alleging plot by the 

Nigeria Police to 

infringe on his 

fundamental human 

rights. 

He prayed the court to 

quash and declare as 

illegal, a summon the 

Police issued for him to 

appear at its 

headquarters to be 

interrogated for 

allegations bordering on 

conspiracy, criminal 

defamation, inciting 

publication, injurious, 

and conduct likely to 

cause a breach of peace. 

Cited as Respondents 

in the suit marked FHC/ 

ABJ/CS/917/ 2018, were 

the Inspector General of 

Police, Mr. Ibrahim 

Idris, the Nigeria Police, 

and the Attorney 

General of the 

Federation, Mr. 

Abubakar Malami, SAN. 

Specifically, the former 

minister, who is a 

frontline critic of the 

President Muhamadu 

B u h a r i - l e d 

administration, prayed 

the court to declare the 

said letter of invitation 

by the Police unlawful, 

unjustifiable, illegal and 

unconstitutional. 

He contended that the 

invitation which 

originally asked him to 

report to the Force 

Headquarters last 

Tuesday was vague and 

ambiguous. 

The plaintiff, through 

his lawyer, Dr. Kayode 

Ajulo, urged the court to 

declare that in 

accordance with the 

1999 constitution, as 

amended, he cannot be 

so invited by law 

enforcement agents for 

undisclosed reasons and 

without adequate 

notice. 

He told the court that 

the invitation letter was 

so vaguely construed 

that "I became 

apprehensive and 

concerned about the 

intentions of the Nigeria 

Police and what my fate 

could be, should I visit 

the 1st and 2nd 

respondents office 

without filing this 

application." 

According to him, 

being aware that the 

activities of the 

respondents could have 

a negative impact on his 

freedom of movement, 

liberty, and dignity, he 

decided to approach the 

court to enforce his 

fundamental rights. 

Meanwhile, Justice 

Nnamdi Dimgba has 

ordered that all the 

relevant court processes 

be served on all the 

respondents to enable 

them to appear on 

September 13 for 

hearing. 

The court made the 

order after it okayed that 

the matter is heard 

during vacation. 

Regardless of the suit, 

Fani-Kayode's lawyer 

said he had prevailed 

on his client to honour 

the Police invitation on 

September 4, 2018, 

which is the 

rescheduled date. 

In a letter dated 

August 31, 2018, and 

addressed to the IGP, 

Ajulo drew the attention 

of the Police to the suit. 

Though 

he 

acknowledged the need 

for all parties to avoid 

any action capable of 

overreaching the suit, 

the plaintiff's lawyer 

confirmed the 

availability of his client. 

From right: Archbishop of Onitsha and metropolitan of Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province, Most Rev. 

Valerian Okeke; Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State; Most Rev. Ernest Obodo; the Apostolic Nuncio 

to Nigeria, Most Rev. Antonio Filipazzi; Catholic Archbishop of Benin and President of the Catholic 

Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, Most Rev. Augustine Akubueze; former Anambra State Governor 

Peter Obi, and the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, during the Episcopal 

Ordination of Most Rev. Obodo as the Auxiliary Bishop of Enugu Diocese, yesterday. 

Saraki’s Declaration: I’ve been vindicated 

— Oshiomhole 

*Says Senate President's ambition almost destroyed APC 


N Chairman ATIONAL 

of the 

All Progressives Congress 

APC, Comrade Adams 

Oshiomhole has said that 

the presidential ambition of 

the Senate President, Sen. 

Bukola Saraki nearly ruined 

the party. 

He also said that Saraki's 

declaration for the 

presidency had vindicated 

his claim that he was 

being driven by the ambition 

to become the President of 

Nigeria. 

Oshiomhole, who said 

these in a statement by his 

Chief Press Secretary, Mr. 

Simon Ebegbulem, vowed 

to end Saraki's dominance 

of Kwara politics. 

Pope’s representative applauds Ugwuanyi 

...Says he is a good governor, father to all 

THE Apostolic Nuncio 

to Nigeria, 

Archbishop Antonio Guido 

Filipazzi has applauded 

Enugu State Governor 

Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for what 

he described as his 

closeness to God and 

exemplary leadership. 

The Apostolic Nuncio, 

who is Pope Francis’ 

representative in Nigeria, 

spoke in Enugu when he 

led a delegation 

comprising a cardinal, 

archbishops, bishops, and 

priests of the Catholic 

Church to pay a courtesy 

visit to Ugwuanyi at the 

Government House. 

The clerics were in the 

state for the episcopal 

ordination of Most Rev. 

Ernest Obodo as the 

Auxiliary Bishop of Enugu 

Diocese, which took place 

yesterday at St. Paul 

Parish, Ozalla, Nkanu 

West Local Government 

Area. 

Most Rev. Filipazzi, who 

was received by 

Ugwuanyi, informed the 

governor of the purpose of 

his visit and also 

commended him for his 

service to the church and 

to the residents of the 

state. 

The 

Pope’s 

representative described 

Ugwuanyi as “a good 

governor” and “a father of 

the family,” adding that 

he was inspired by the 

governor’s good works. 

His words: “You 

(Ugwuanyi) have 

faithfully served the 

church. You are a good 

governor. You are a 

governor for everyone 

living in this state, 

Catholics, and non- 

Catholics. You are the 

father of the family. I think 

you have found 

inspiration in your work 

as a governor. I also feel 

you belong to the Catholic 

Church.” 

Archbishop Filipazzi, 

equally appreciated the 

collaboration between the 

governor and the Bishop 

of Enugu Diocese, Most 

Rev. Callistus Onaga, 

stressing that the 

emergence of the first 

Auxiliary Bishop of the 

diocese would enhance 

the evangelical duties of 

the church in the state. 

In his goodwill 

message, Ugwuanyi 

expressed gratitude to 

Pope Francis for finding 

Most Rev. Obodo worthy 

of elevation. 

He expressed joy that 

His words: “When I was 

saying that all these 

defections are not about APC 

but the personal ambitions 

of these people, they took 

hired writers to say I was 

being too hard. But Saraki’s 

declaration has vindicated 

me. He has moved on 

because his inordinate 

ambition was almost 

destroying our party but he 

has failed. These are not 

principled politicians but 

bread and butter politicians, 

who can go the extra mile to 

pursue their selfish 

ambitions and never think 

about the wellbeing of 

Nigerians. 

“I am directing APC 

leaders to ensure that they 

conclude the election of 

executives from the wards to 

the episcopal consecration 

was one of “the most 

glorious and significant” 

of all the many 

outstanding events that 

had happened in the 

state. 

He said: “As a Catholic 

and a member of the laity, 

I feel personally honoured 

and inspired that this event 

is taking place under my 

watch as the chief servant 

of the people of this state 

and it actually goes to 

strengthen our conviction 

that Enugu State is truly in 

the hands of God.'' 

He further thanked the 

Catholic Church in the state 

for the spiritual support, 

wise 

counsel, 

encouragement and 

leadership that it had 

offered his administration 

since inception, pledging 

to continue to rely on the 

prayers, solidarity, and 

goodwill of the church. 

the state level this weekend 

in Kwara State. As things 

stand today, APC remains 

the darling of the people. 

“The last time I spoke with 

the Minister (Lai 

Mohammed) he told me we 

had accomplished 80 or 85 

percent. That, for me, is not 

good enough because we 

don’t have more time. This 

week, we must achieve 

hundred percent by 

whatever means. If you can’t 

do it, we have to help you 

get it done. 

“Our party is a party of 

change and we want to 

discourage people from 

putting their personal 

interests above the interests 

of the people of Kwara State. 

I won't allow the emergence 

of new godfathers in Kwara. 

“I am very impressed with 

the enthusiasm of the people 

of Kwara State.’’ 

High interest rates, bane of 

investors, says Topfeeds MD 

By Juliet Ebirim 

IN recognition of its 

immense contribution 

to the Nigerian agricultural 

sector, foremost livestock 

nutrition providers, 

Topfeeds, was recently 

honoured at the 2018 

edition of the Made in 

Nigeria Brand Awards. 

The prestigious award 

took place at Sheraton 

Hotel, Lagos. 

The Managing Director 

of Topfeeds, Mr. 

Anthony Ewing 

accompanied by senior 

officials of the company 

including the General 

Manager, Sales and 

Marketing, Mr. Austin 

Dalyop; Regional 

Manager, West Africa, 

Mr. Olufemi Babawale; 

and 

Sales 

Representative, Lagos 

and Otta, Mr. Eric 

Adeleye were presented 

with the ‘Most Preferred 

Animal Feeds Brand' 

award. 

Speaking at the event, 

Ewing said it was 

fulfilling to know that his 

contributions were 

acknowledged and 

appreciated. 

His words: “We feel 

honoured receiving this 

award. This will further 

Anthony Ewing - MD, 

Topfeeds 

propel us to keep 

working hard and 

contribute our quota to 

the development of the 

Nigerian economy. I 

have been here for 

almost four years, and I 

think this is our first 

major recognition. It 

means that we are doing 

something right.” 

Talking about what the 

government can do to 

benefit the industry and 

economy, he noted that 

there was no need for 

direct intervention. 

He said:”Instead of 

always getting involved 

in things that they 

probably do not know 

much about, the best 

thing government can do 

is to provide us with a 

conducive environment.

6—SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 1, 2018 

Nigeria illegal migrants to Europe on their 

own — Buhari 

*Buhari, Merkel sign pact to produce Volkswagen in Nigeria 

*Streets of Germany not filled with gold, Merkel tells immigrants 

By Johnbosco 

Agbakwuru 

P RESIDENT 

Muhammadu 

Buhari on Friday declared 

that Nigerians migrating 

illegally to Europe, were on 

their own as he would never 

support any illegality or 

indiscipline. 

President Buhari stated this 

while fielding questions from 

journalists during a joint press 

briefing between him and the 

visiting German Chancellor, 

Angela Merkel at the 

Presidential Villa, Abuja. 

He said he was against his 

country men and women 

finding their way illegally out 

of Nigeria in search of greener 

pastures, stressing that he 

would never support 

indiscipline and illegality. 

According to him, “I am 

against any of my country 

men and women who illegally 

find their way to other 

countries other than Nigeria, 

l hope you know that 

ECOWAS protocol includes 

free movements of persons 

and goods and services. 

“But for those going to 

Europe, this administration 

does not support that 

Nigerians should defy the 

Sahara desert and the 

Mediterranean because they 

feel there are greener pastures 

there. We do not support 

anything illegal and 

indiscipline. You must recall 

that about six weeks ago, we 

repatriated about 3,000 

Nigerians who were stuck in 

Libya on their way to Europe 

and you must also have learnt 

and seen on the television, the 

number of Nigerians lost in 

the Mediterranean. 

“So, for us, this 

administration is very clear 

that we do not support 

anything illegal and 

anybody who feels that his 

country does not offer him 

what he should be offered and 

decides to defy the 

Mediterranean is doing so at 

his own risk. But if found stuck 

in Libya or anywhere, Nigeria 

will bring him back home and 

send him to his local 

government.” 

Speaking through an 

interpreter during the joint 

press briefing after a closed 

door meeting with President 

Buhari, Merkel gave details 

of agricultural cooperation 

and other assistance coming 

to Nigeria. 

She also said that Germany 

would provide educational 

assistance that would increase 

the number of Nigerian 

students studying in 

Germany. Merkel described 

Nigeria’s economy as 

strategically relevant in Africa, 

and that the partnership in 

food production, automobile 

manufacturing and energy 

would remain invaluable in 

cementing their relationship. 

She said both Nigeria and 

Germany were in 

agreement to arrive at what 

she described as a win-win 

situation and create legal 

means of migration. 

She canvassed the need 

by Nigeria to improve on the 

President Muhammadu Buhari (r) and the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel 

during a joint press brieifing with the German Leader at the head of a 

high-powered delegation of Germany to Nigeria at the State House, Abuja. 

Photo by Abayomi Adeshida, yesterday. 

state of its economy, 

pointing out that migrants 

should be made to realise 

the degree of danger 

inherent in illegal migration 

to Europe, adding that 

the belief that the streets of 

Germany were paved with 

gold was not true after all. 

She advised immigrants 

to learn to stay in their own 

countries. 

“In preparing for this 

visit, we engaged the spirit 

of win-win situation. We 

were in agreement to 

create a win-win situation 

on both sides by creating 

legal means of migration as 

it is in other countries. 

“There is the need to 

improve on situation at 

home and make young 

people to know how 

dangerous it is to leave 

their countries. Many 

stories told about Germany 

are not true.” 

Merkel who said 

Germany had signed an 

agreement with Nigeria on 

agriculture, added that 

this was done because 

Germany had not in the 

past focused so much on 

agriculture in Nigeria. 

She also said Germany 

would engage Nigeria on 

how both countries can 

make renewable energy 

more efficient in the 

country adding that both 

countries would cooperate 

with each other on how 

agriculture could be 

developed and projects 

agreed 

upon 

implemented. 

Disclosing that there are 

1,200 Nigerians currently 

studying in Germany, 

Merkel said the German 

government was working 

to increase the number. 

Both countries signed 

three memoranda of 

understanding on 

agriculture, commerce and 

automobiles. 

On his part, the Minister 

of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey 

Onyeama disclosed that 

Nigeria and Germany 

signed three Memoranda 

of Understanding, MoU, 

which includes the 

production of Volkswagen in 

Nigeria. Onyema said, 

“three MoUs were signed 

in Agriculture especially 

technologies in agricultural 

sector. One in building 

2019 Presidency: Atiku weeps! 

By Dirisu Yakubu, Abuja 

FORMER 

Vice 

President, Atiku 

Abubakar yesterday wept at 

his Presidential Campaign 

Office shortly after obtaining 

his Expression of Interest 

and Nomination Forms from 

the Peoples Democratic Party 

(PDP) headquarters in 

Abuja. 

Atiku who was 

overwhelmed with emotions 

while receiving the forms 

from the Atiku Support 

Groups (ASG) which 

purchased same for him, 

reiterated his commitment to 

the Nigerian cause, and 

promised to do everything 

possible not to disappoint 

Nigerians if given the 

opportunity. 

Unable to overcome his 

emotions while a member 

of the ASG, Princess 

Adekemi Adesanya was 

automative capacity to 

produce Volkswagon in the 

country and another to fund 

and finance risk taken in 

various business areas, this 

is running into billions of 

dollars investment.” 

painting in graphic details, 

the sorry state of affairs in 

the nation, the former Vice 

President fought back tears 

as he sobbed, wiping his 

eyes with a white 

handkerchief. 

He said: “The event today 

(purchase of nomination 

form) is significant and 

historic because this is the 

only time in my political 

career that young men and 

women in this country have 

come together without my 

knowledge or even consent 

to contribute their own hardearned 

money to buy me an 

Expression of Interest and 

Nomination Forms. 

“You could have seen that 

one of the ladies who spoke 

virtually succeeded in 

getting me to weep. This is 

because she aptly described 

the challenges every 

Nigerian is facing in this 

country today and she 

ADP urges speedy assent 

to Electoral Act 


AHEAD of the 2019 

general elections, the 

Action Democratic Party 

ADP has asked President 

Muhammadu Buhari to 

assent to the amended 

Electoral Act without further 

delay. 

In a resolution reached 

after its 4th National 

Executive Committee NEC 

meeting in Abuja, ADP 

also urged the 

Independent National 

Electoral Commission 

INEC to take necessary 

steps to conduct free and fair 

elections in the coming 

election, as it would not 

accept any election that is 

not free, fair and credible. 

This was as the National 

Chairman of the party, Engr. 

Yabagi Sani described the 

President Buhari led All 

Progressives Congress APC 

administration as 

unprepared for governance, 

urging Nigerians to send 

the administration packing 

in the next general 

elections. 

The resolution reads in 

part; “the president should 

give assent to the amended 

electoral Bill without delay. 

ADP will not accept the 

charade that took place in 

Ekiti in the impending 

Osun Governorship 

election. Measures must be 

taken to tackle issues such 

Bad leadership, greed, major problems of Nigeria 

—Presidential aspirant 

By Benjamin Njoku 

P RESIDENTIAL 

aspirant of Save 

Nigerian Congress,SNC, 

Ayo Dasilva, has identified 

bad leadership, greed, selfcentredness 

and avarice as the 

major problems of Nigeria 

which, according to him have 

brought the nation to its knees. 

He said that if we continue 

to stand by and watch from the 

sidelines, there might not be a 

tomorrow for our beloved 

country. Dasilver stated this 

yesterday while speaking with 

newsmen upon his arrival at 

the Murtala Mohammed 

International Airport, Ikeja, 

from the United States. 

He lamented that at 

independence in 1960, the 

world looked up to Nigeria as 

the most populous black nation 

to become the superpower for 

the black race but instead our 

country began to crumble with 

our cocoa farms, groundnut 

pyramids, palm oil trees 

disappearing while our 

culture became polluted. 

Da-silva decried the use of 

religion and tribal sentiments 

by our leaders to divide and 

enslave the masses such that 

they rob the nation blind. 

The aspirant argued that “a 

nation where its people can’t 

sleep with both eyes closed 

cannot be a productive nation 

as our leaders so far have 

failed to provide the right 

diagnoses for the problems of 

the country.” 

The American-based 

presidential aspirant stressed 

believed honestly and 

sincerely from the bottom of 

her heart that I could be an 

instrument of addressing 

those challenges. 

“So, for such a woman to 

believe that I have got those 

leadership qualities and 

including those of you who 

have brought out your 

money to buy this form, is 

one of the most serious 

challenges I have ever 

faced in my political career. 

“And believe me, 

addressing those 

challenges is possible 

because we have brought 

young men and women, 

Nigerians who have got the 

talents, who have got the 

education, who have got the 

experience, who have got 

what it take to honestly turn 

this country around.” 

Atiku also attributed the 

slow pace of development 

in the country to the failure 

to harness the creative 

as Vote-buying, ballot-box 

snatching and violence. 

“The federal Government 

must decisively tackle high 

unemployment and 

inflation rates which have 

become common features of 

our economy. 

“ADP vehemently frowns 

at the pervasive insecurity 

in the Country and calls on 

Government to secure lives 

and property which remains 

the primary responsibility of 

every government”. 

ADP also noted that it was 

regrettable that the president 

has refused to assent to the 

Petroleum Industry 

Governance Bill. 

Earlier, Engr. Sani 

lamented that “Nigeria is at 

a cross road. The current 

leadership in the country is 

unprepared to steer the ship 

of state successfully. The 

economy is in the doldrums 

with inflation and 

unemployment rates hitting 

the roofs. There is pervasive 

insecurity as Nigerians now 

live in perpetual fear. 

“The ADP is determined 

to change the narratives and 

navigate a better future for 

our people. Furthermore, the 

conflict between the National 

Assembly and the Executive 

is taking its toll on the 

capacity of government to 

meet the aspirations of the 

people”, the chairman 

added. 

that “the problem of our 

country is rooted in 

joblessness, which in turn 

leads to poverty. Poverty 

subsequently leads to 

insecurity. There is a direct 

relationship between poor 

health and educational 

system, joblessness, poverty, 

and insecurity, and if we 

remove joblessness/ 

unemployment including 

non-payment of salaries, 

poverty will go down and 

insecurity problem will 

disappear.” 

energies of young people by 

successive administrations. 

“Putting together such 

talented young Nigerians 

requires leadership and it is 

that leadership we have not 

been fortunate enough to 

have on a consistent basis 

that this country has not 

been able to take her rightful 

rightful position in Africa 

and indeed, the world,” he 

stressed. 

The Wazirin Adamawa 

eulogised former Chief of 

Staff, Supreme 

Headquarters, General 

Shehu Musa Yar’ Adua on 

whose feet, he learnt the 

rudiments of partisan 

politics. 

His words: “The man who 

actually brought me into 

politics, the late Shehu 

Yar’dua, when he invited me 

as a young man told us to 

break the regional siege that 

every part of this country had 

been subjected to.

Rinsola, MKO Abiola’s daughter 

dumps APC •Describes party as undemocratic 

By Levinus 

Nwabughiogu 

RINSOLA, daughter of late 

MKO Abiola who was a 

member of the Board of 

Trustees, BoT of the All 

Progressives Congress, APC as 

well as a pillar in the youth 

wing of APC has dumped the 

party. 

Rinsola Abiola who was a 

notable aide to the Speaker of 

the House of Representative, 

Hon. Yakubu Dogara, in her 

letter of resignation yesterday 

described APC as a party with 

undemocratic principles 

stifling youth development. 

Specifically, Abiola said that 

APC was only sloganeering on 

the youth participation in 

active politics. 

She said that her desire to 

pursue the youth liberation on 

APC platform was met with 

resistance and stern warning 

to steer clear of mainstream 

politics, especially concerning 

running for any elective office. 

Abiola said that the position 

of the party runs at variance 

with its much mouthed 

philosophy of inclusiveness, 

saying that the party has 

derailed from its foundation 

principles. 

When contacted to confirm 

the letter and her resignation, 

Abiola said thus: “I left APC 

and that automatically 

nullifies my membership of 

any organs of the party and 

support groups.” 

In her letter which she 

personally signed, she said; 

“I write to formally 

communicate my decision to 

relinquish my membership of 

the All Progressives Congress. 

This has been a five-year 

journey during which I have 

met some very exceptional 

people and learned from you 

all. 

“Last year, while we – youth 

advocates and those of us in 

political parties who fall 

within the youth demography 

– were advocating for passage 

of the Not Too Young To Run 

Bill, I approached a handful 

of our leaders and expressed 

my intention to run for office if 

the Bill scales through. 

Thankfully, this year, Not Too 

Young To Run became law and 

young people (from 25) can 

now seek to occupy elective 

positions. 

“I began consultations in 

October 2017 but have now 

concluded that while legal 

constraints may have been 

done away with, there are 

greater challenges that we all 

must contend with. Apart from 

the usual issues like funding 

and violence, undemocratic 

dictates which are now 

(erroneously) viewed as the 

norm also pose a serious 

challenge. I have been told in 

no unclear terms that I “must 

not run”, that I “should not 

even consider it”, and that there 

are “consequences for 

disobedience”. 

“I believe strongly that such 

things should not be tolerated 

in a democracy which many 

people fought for, with some 

of our heroes – my father 

inclusive – losing their lives in 

the process. I also believe that 

if those who fought for this 

democracy had listened to 

such veiled threats or even 

thought about the 

consequences that they might 

face, civil rule would not have 

been restored when it was. 

“In 2013, I left youth 

activism for mainstream 

politics because I believed 

governance was a more 

efficient vehicle for bringing 

about change; there was 

nothing that I wanted more 

than to be part of the process 

of making this country work 

again and contributing my 

quota to national 

development. I believed – and 

Atiku 1....Senior Special Adviser on Policy Office of the National Youth Leader 

People Democratic Party (PDP) Mr Adai Edwin (right) presenting PDP Presidential 

Nomination Form to Former Vice President and Presidential Aspirant 

Alhaji Atiku Abubakar (left) while Former Minister of Niger Delta Mr 

Godsday Orubebe and Director General Atiku Campaign Organization Engr. 

Gbenga Daniel watch in Abuja yesterday. 

Halt conspiracy to collapse ports in S-South, 

activist urges FG 

By Emma Amaize 

A 

Niger Delta 

activist and Ijaw 

opinion leader, Dr. 

Clarkson Aribogha, has 

called on the Federal 

Government to end the 

high-level plot by some 

highly placed people to 

ensure that only Lagos 

Port is functional, while 

Calabar, Warri, Burutu , 

Sapele and Koko Ports 

in the South-South 

remain dormant. 

Dr Aribogha, who 

spoke to Saturday 

Vanguard slammed the 

federal government for 

an alleged tactical delay 

in dredging the Escravos 

Bar in Warri South-West 

local government area, 

appealing to the 

Minister of Transport, Rt 

Hon Rotimi Amaechi, to 

meet President 

Muhammadu Buhari to 

urgently release funds 

for the purpose. 

His words: 

“Government should 

know that Escravos Bar 

is just the entering point, 

but Warri Port is the main 

thing. We want the 

dredging from the 

Escravos down to Warri 

THE Mountain of Fire 

and Miracles Ministries, 

MFM, has filed a libel suit 

against an online media 

platform and its publisher 

over what it described as a 

series of false, malicious and 

defamatory publications 

against the ministry and its 

General Overseer, Dr. D. K. 

Olukoya. 

In the suit filed at the High 

Court of Akwa Ibom State, 

still do – that there’s only so 

much that one can do to 

elevate the living conditions 

of one’s people as an 

individual, and that 

occupying a position with the 

backing of the Constitution 

gives a lot more power to 

change lives and in much 

greater numbers. 

“I remain committed to the 

ideals which led me to join 

politics, and will join another 

party once I’m convinced that 

inclusion for youths and 

women is an issue they 

prioritise and that internal 

democracy truly matters. 

Port so that vessels can 

be coming to Warri.” 

“We also want the 

Federal Government to 

know that dredging of 

Escravos Bar will assist 

in no small measure to 

bring in more revenue to 

the government. 

Politically, it is Lagos Port 

that all vessels go to for 

a long time now, whereas 

there are other ports such 

as Calabar, Burutu, 

Sapele and Koko Ports 

that are dormant. 


Urhobo HOSTCOM tasks ethnic 

nationalities on common agenda 

•As Agoyo emerges chairman 

Pa Isaac Onibonoje 

THE funeral of an 

accomplished 

businessman and 

exemplar is community 

leader, Pa Isaac 

Onibonoje, 90, will be 

held on September 7, 

2018 in his hometown, 

Igbara-Oke, Ondo 

State. There will be a 

funeral service at the 

Baptist Church, 

Igbara-Oke, which will 

be followed by 

internment. A Christian 

wake will be held in 

the evening of 

September 6 at his 

Igbara -residence. 

Before taking the body 

to Igbara-Oke there 

will be a 

commendation service 

on September 5 at the 

Baptist Church, Broad 

BY CHARLES KUMOLU 

DELTA State chapter of Host Communities of 

Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas, HOSTCOM, Urhobo 

Ethnic Nationality, has stressed the need for other ethnic 

nationalities in HOSTCOM to remain committed to the 

ideas behind the formation of the group, noting that efforts 

at developing the Niger Delta region must be collective. 

Agoyo, who was elected the chairman of Urhobo arm of 

HOSTCOM, last week, said this during the inauguration 

of his executive committee in Uvwie. 

His words:‘’ I am calling on the Ijaw, Itsekiri and Ndokwa 

nations, to remain committed to the HOSTCOM agenda 

for the Niger Delta development. Ours is a collective quest 

to emancipate the people of the oil-producing region from 

the shackles of poverty and under development. 

My election is a milestone in the history of HOSTCOM. 

As the substantive Chairman of HOSTCOM, Urhobo 

Ethnic Nationality, I will be guided by the constitution, run 

an inclusive government in the interest of all stakeholders 

of the large family of HOSTCOM across the length and 

breadth of the 10 Local Government Areas where the 

Urhobo are domiciled in the state. 

Some ministers creating 

confusion for Buhari 

— Chief Emami, APC chieftain 

AN All Progressives Congress, APC, chieftain 

in Delta State, Chief Ayiri Emami, yesterday, called 

on President Muhammadu Buhari to call to order some of 

his ministers allegedly engendering public apathy among 

Nigerians against his government with their unguarded 

actions. 

Chief Emami, who spoke on phone to Saturday 

Vanguard, asserted “Buhari’s ministers are the ones creating 

problems for him. One of them is the Sports Minister, 

Solomon Dalung, who is talking at cross-purpose with the 

government he is serving, contesting the position of 

government as expressed by the Vice President, Prof Yemi 

Osinbajo.” 

“The ministers are the representatives of President Buhari, 

he cannot be everywhere at all times, but a lot of the ministers 

are taking things for granted because of the fatherly role of 

our president. This was the point our national chairman, 

Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, made the other time. 

MFM sues online publication for libel 

Uyo Judicial Division, the 

ministry and its General 

Overseer are asking for 

N10bn as exemplary 

damages; a written apology/ 

retraction to be published in 

the online platform, three 

nationally circulating 

newspapers and two 

internationally circulating 

magazines, one of which 

must be the TIME 

International. 

The MFM also wants the 

court to direct the online 

platform to pull down and 

erase from the world-wideweb 

each of the offending 

stories published between 

2013 and June 30, 2018. They 

are also praying for “a 

perpetual injunction 

restraining the defendants by 

themselves, their agents, 

servants, privies or other 

persons howsoever called or 

Pa Isaac Onibonoje 

Street, Lagos, and a 

Service of Songs on 

September 4 at his 

Lagos residence, Alli 

Lane, Onipanu, Lagos. 

Pa Onibonoje is 

survived by wives and 

children. 

described from further 

publishing and 

disseminating libelous stories 

and statements against the 

Claimants or any of them”. 

Originating processes in 

the suit were on Thursday 

August 30. 2018, served on 

the Defendants by substituted 

means pursuant to the order 

of the court by posting on the 

gate of their premises at No. 

13B Isaac John Street, Ikeja 

GRA, Lagos


Three APC Chairmen on pilgrimage killed in 

Madinah-road mishap 

By Ishola Balogun, 

Saudi Arabia 

THREE All Progres 

sive Congress, APC, 

Chairmen of different Local 

Governments in Zamfara 

State on pilgrimage died 

early morning yesterday in 

a crash on Makkah-Madinah 

highway, Saudi Arabia. 

The trio, Alhaji Jafarau 

Gidan Sambo of Kaura Namoda 

Local Government, 

Alhaji Mudi Mallamawa of 

Shinkafi Local Government 

and Alhaji Abdullahi 

Shugaba Ruwan Dorowa of 

Maru Local Government all 

in Zamfara State who were 

among other colleagues in 

a bus enroute Madinah died 

on the spot after the crash. 

The road mishap occurred 

at about 2:30am about 120 

kilometers to Madinah. 

The survivors who are also 

Party chairmen in other local 

governments in the minibus 

were immediately conveyed 

to a hospital near the 

scene of the accident. 

Head of Nigeria medical 

team, Dr Ibrahim Kana confirmed 

the mishap, adding 

that their bodies have been 

moved to King Fahd Hospital, 

Madinah. He stated 

that the Saudi security in 

Madinah had also informed 

the Nigeria Hajj handlers 

about the accident, the victims 

and the other three survivors 

of the accident, all from 

Zamfara State. 

Chairman of the Commission, 

Mr Abdullah Mukhtar 

Muhammad directed the 

medical team to liaise with 

NAHCON Madinah Coordinator, 

Alhaji Ahmad 

Maigari to link up with the 

Saudi security and health 

authorities for necessary 

documentation and final 

burial arrangement. 

A source from the State 

government delegation, 

listed the survivors as Alhaji 

Nasiru Anka of Anka 

Local Government, Alhaji 

Tafa Nasarawa Bukkuyum 

of Bukkuyum Local Government 

and Alhaji Garba 

Ziti of Gummi Local Government. 

He added that Zamfara 

State Government officials 

in Saudi Arabia have 

moved into action to receive 

their bodies for the 

formalisation of burial. This 

brings the number of Nigerian 

pilgrims who died 

so far, in the holy land this 

year to ten. 

Osun 2018: Opposition parties have no 

chance —Tinubu 

*Says APC has laid good foundation to remain in govt 

Dr. Joe Odumakin, President, Women Arise for Change Initiative, presents Best 

Women Enterprise Support (Company) to Kemi Fadipe, Ag. Head of Unit, Call 

Centre, Globacom while Marie Macfoy, State Head, SME Lagos zone, Globacom, 

looks on at the Nigerian Women Digital Agenda Summits and Awards (NWDAS) 

2018, organised by Centre for Cyber Awareness and Development, (CECAD) at 

the Oriental Hotels, Lagos, on Thursday. 

By Johnbosco 

Agbakwuru, Abuja 

NATIONAL Leader of 

the All Progressives 

Congress, APC, Asiwaju 

Bola Tinubu has said that the 

opposition political parties in 

the September 22 governorship 

election in Osun State 

have no chance at all because 

of the foundation laid 

by the state government 

Asiwaju Tinubu expressed 

optimism of victory for the 

APC while fielding questions 

from the State House correspondents 

after the South 

West caucus meeting with 

President Muhammadu 

Buhari at the First Lady Conference 

Hall, Presidential 

Villa, Abuja, Thursday night. 

He said the outgoing governor, 

Rauf Aragbesola, has 

laid good foundation for the 

party to retain the seat in the 

election and that the party 

was fielding a qualified technocrat 

in the forthcoming 

election. 

According to him, “We expect 

victory. We have a progressive 

government there 

where the incumbent and the 

outgoing governor has 

worked and laid a good 

foundation. Therefore, we 

have successes to build 

upon. 

“We are equally bringing 

in one of the most competent 

and qualified technocrats in 

the person of Isiaka Adegboyega 

Oyetola. He is eminently 

qualified.” Asked if 

the Osun election was going 

to be a hard battle like the 

Ekiti governorship election, 

he said “you don’t predict the 

activity of elections. It can always 

be unique from one 

state to the other. 

“But we believe that with 

our leadership in Osun from 

the state chairman down to 

the lowest level and the way 

they conducted the direct primary 

and the way people had 

turned out, they are signals 

to the opposing parties that 

they have no way of beating 

us.” 

Also Speaking to journalists, 

the APC governorship 

candidate for the election, 

Isiaka Adegboyega Oyetola, 

also expressed the hope 

that his party would cruise 

to victory in the September 

22 election. 

The victory, he said, would 

be a foundation for the election 

of President Buhari in 

2019. 

He said, “We are committed 

to it and I belong to Buhari 

Support Group. We 

have done very well as a 

party, we have done very 

well as a government, the 

governor has done very 

well. The state has changed 

from what it used to be. 

Huge development projects 

have been taking place.” 

While thanking the former 

APC aspirants for their love 

and understanding, he said 

that there was now absolute 

reconciliation of all the aspirants. 

“We are all now working 

together, except for the few 

people that decided to defect. 

But that will not have 

any serious consequence on 

the outcome of the election,” 

he said. 

Nike School marks 60th anniversary in Atlanta, pleads with 

Ugwunyi to help school 

NIKE 

Grammar 

School, the Enugu 

secondary school that 

lifted South Eastern 

State immediately after 

the civil war through 

sports is marking its 60th 

anniversary in Atlanta, 

USA. 

The event is however 

being organised by its 

Old Boys Association in 

Atlanta. The anniversary 

begins today with a 

convention during which 

they will be honoring the 

first graduate of the 

school, Chief Uche Erasmus 

Ikedilo, a retired 

veteran broadcaster and 

author who graduated in 

1962. The school which 

was founded in 1958 by 

late Reuben Udokwu 

produced the likes of 

former Eagles and 

Rangers players Christian 

Chukwu, Ike Ofoje, 

Jay Jay Okocha, Kenneth 

Zeigbo, Benedict 

Ugwu, Arthur Ebunam 

and Ibezim Ofoedu to 

mention but a few. 

According to the chairman 

of the convention 

committee, Dan Ikpechukwu, 

this gathering 

will enable all former 

students of this great 

secondary institution, 

the opportunity of initiating 

ways and means of 

assisting the school to 

improve the dilapidated 

infrastructure in the 

school. The Atlanta 

gathering of alumni 

members of NAGRAM 

promises to yield fruit of 

brotherhood of old students 

who are poised to 

alleviate the suffering of 

current students of the 

school by improving on 

some of the existing 

structures and providing 

new ones. 

As Ikpechukwu noted, 

“this gathering is aimed 

at first and foremost reconnecting 

old students 

of our great school and 

to mobilize ourselves to 

salvage the battered 

Balarabe Musa bows out 

as PRP Chairman 

Ben Agande, Kaduna 

CITING his advanced age and not too robust 

health, the former governor of Kaduna state, 

and long serving chairman of the Peoples Redemption 

Party (PRP), Alhaji Balarabe Musa has informed 

party members that he will be vacating his 

position for a younger and more vibrant person. 

He revealed this while declaring open, the 54th 

session of the party’s National Executive 

Committee(NEC) meeting yesterday. 

He however maintained that he will always 

remain a member of the PRP. 

He told the party members in his valedictory 

speech that “due to declining energy and failing 

health, it has become necessary for me to vacate 

the seat for younger and fresher blood. “ 

The outgoing chairman however pointed out that 

his successor will not just be a young man in age 

but someone who is “robustly and combatively committed 

to all the ideals that our party, the PRP, 

has always stood for. “ 

Most women in Plateau ignorant 

of family planning 

By Marie-Therese Nanlong, Jos 

EXPERTS have raised the alarm over the preva 

lent ignorance of family planning and reproductive 

health education in Plateau State saying statistics 

has shown that 83% of women in rural areas in the 

State have not heard of family planning messages on 

the radio or through any other media source. 

They also lamented the dearth of family planning 

service providers stressing that in the average, only 

about 563 health facilities actively offer family planning 

services in the entire State and called for improvement 

so that an average woman seeking such 

services can have access to the right information at the 

right time. Speaking with the media on need to improve 

on family planning policies in the State, Dr. Josiah 

Mutihir, the Chairman, Voice for Family Planning 

and Reproductive Health Centre, a Technical Team 

in the State Ministry of Health said it was necessary to 

engage and interact with policy makers and other stakeholders 

to advance the cause of family planning. 

Blame falling educational standards 

on unqualified teachers — Expert 

By Rotimi Agbana 

MRS. Ige Monique Kent-Okereke, an 

educational expert, has blamed unqualified 

teachers for the falling educational standards in 

the country. 

According to Mrs. Ige who is the publicist, 

Querencia Schools, Festac Town, Lagos, the alarming 

number of unprofessional teachers employed in both 

public and private schools in the country has done 

more harm than good to the educational sector. 

She said, “there is this mentality that anybody can 

teach, but not everybody can teach. It takes a very 

passionate and patient person to teach effectively. 

The only time you can say teaching has taken place 

is when you impact knowledge and the learner is 

stimulated to accept and retain that knowledge. A lot 

of principals don’t even look out to employ standard 

teachers. 

image of our Alma mater 

which has suffered from 

terrible neglect by various 

governments.” He further 

stated that one of the most 

important things facing 

the alumni is to ensure 

that current and future 

students of NAGRAM 

enjoy a conducive secondary 

school learning 

environment with good 

classrooms, dormitories, 

laboratories and other 

social amenities like 

football field and tennis 

courts. 

National Grammar 

School Nike Enugu 

amongst other secondary 

schools in Enugu stands 

out as one of the oldest 

private institutions in 

the South East before 

government take-over of 

schools. Mr. Ikpechukwu 

then appealed to the 

Enugu State government 

to assist the alumni 

in bringing back the 

school to its good old 

glory through improved 

infrastructure. 

In attendance to the Atlanta 

NAGRAM convention 

include His Royal 

Highness King Dandeson 

Douglas Jaja of Opobo 

who graduated from 

NAGRAM in 1965 and 

Dr. Chionuma Onyemuwa 

of the class of 1964.

NBA blasts Buhari, insists rule of 

law central to democracy 

By Ikechukwu 

Nnochiri 

THE Nigerian Bar 

Association, NBA, 

on Friday, tackled 

President Muhammadu 

Buhari for declaring that 

he would continue to 

place national security 

above the rule of law. 

The legal body, in a 

communiqué issued at 

the end of its 58th Annual 

General Conference held 

in Abuja, maintained that 

issues of national security 

must be managed within 

the perimeters and 

parameters of the rule of 

law. 

NBA equally frowned 

on what it described as a 

growing penchant of the 

administration for 

disobeying court orders. 

It will be recalled that 

President Buhari had in 

an address he presented 

at the opening ceremony 

of the NBA conference 

last Sunday, insisted that 

individual rights of 

alleged offenders would 

not be spared when 

national security and 

public interest are 

threatened. 

In its first official 

statement on the issue, 

NBA which is the 

umbrella body of legal 

practitioners in the 

country rejected the 

President’s position. 

It said: “The NBA 

restates that the rule of 

law is central to a 

democracy and any 

national security concerns 

by the government must 

be managed within the 

perimeters and 

parameters of the rule of 

law. 

“The conference frowns 

on the present growing 

trend whereby 

government decides on 

which court orders to 

obey. The court has an 

exclusive duty under a 

democratic dispensation 

to interpret the 

constitution and other 

laws. And government 

and the citizenry must 

comply with court orders 

at all times until set aside. 

“Executive Orders 

should be issued for good 

governance and to 

manage operations of 

government, and not to 

encroach or usurp the 

constitutional powers of 

other arms of government, 

lest Executive Orders 

become attempts at 

decree-making. 

“The conference 

resolved that our 

democracy can be better 

strengthened by an 

independent judiciary 

and consequently calls for 

a budgetary arrangement 

that allows for funds to be 

directly allocated to the 

judiciary at federal and 

state levels. 

It said: “The conference 

reiterates its support for 

the war against 

corruption, but this war 

must be across aboard 

and not selective. In this 

regard, the NBA will 

work with all law 

enforcement agencies 

with the common 

objective of promoting the 

rule of law, and therefore 

calls on its members to be 

vigilant and take 

necessary steps to prevent 

the molestation of legal 

practitioners when 

carrying out lawful duties. 

“The NBA asserts that 

investigative institutions 

like the EFCC must 

remain impartial so as to 

engender confidence in 

their operations. This is 

particularly urgent as we 

enter into an election 

year”. 

Meanwhile, the 

conference ended 

yesterday with a formal 

handover of baton to a 

new executive led by its 

newly elected President, 

Mr. Paul Usoro, SAN. 

Outgone President of 

the NBA, Mr. Abubakar 

Mahmood, SAN, denied 

an allegation that he 

manipulated the 

association’s election to 

ensure Usoro’s 

emergence as his 

successor. 

In his acceptance 

speech, Usoro, who took 

over as the 29th President 

of NBA, vowed to reform 

the association’s electoral 

process, even as he urged 

his rivals at the poll to join 

hands with him to move 

the body forward. 

He said: “The NBA will 

not be living true to its 

creed and lead motif if it 

were to become such a 

yes-man to any 

government or its agency. 

It is, in truth, not in the 

DNA to be such a yes-man 

organisation. Rather than 

crave for yes-men in the 

NBA, government and its 

agencies should be 

craving for collaborative 

partnership, even if 

sometimes, adversarial, 

with the NBA so they 

could work together in the 

promotion and protection 

of the rule of law’’. 


2019: Akpabio’s threat to give A’Ibom 

Hitler treatment insensitive — Ekpotu 

By Clifford Ndujihe 

FORMER 

Deputy 

Governor of Akwa 

Ibom State, Chief Patrick 

Ekpotu, has faulted the 

controversial comment by 

former governor of Akwa 

Ibom state, Senator Godswill 

Akpabio, that he would lead 

the “invasion” of the state 

in 2019, the same manner 

Adolf Hitler did to Poland. 

Akpabio made the 

comment while addressing 

his supporters at a reception 

in his honour by some 

youths in Eket, Akwa Ibom 

State, after he dumped the 

People’s Democratic Party 

(PDP) to join the ruling All 

Progressives Congress 

(APC). 

Piqued by the comments, 

his deputy in his first term 

as governor, Chief Ekpotu, 

in an interview, described 

the former Senate Minority 

leader’s comments as 

“unfortunate, insulting to 

Akwa Ibom people and a 

threat to the peace in the 

state.” 

Lamenting that it is 

disappointing for such 

comments to come from 

someone, who had ruled 

Lagos set to celebrate World 

Coconut Day 

*Says Event Will Showcase Badagry’s 

Tourism Potentials 

THE Lagos State government in collaboration with 

the African Coconut Heritage Initiatives is set to 

host the 7th edition of the Coconut Heritage Festival 

tagged ‘AGUNKEFEST’ in commemoration of the 2018 

World Coconut Day as listed in the state’s calendar of 

cultural events. 

The event is scheduled to hold on September 2, 2018 

at the Suntan Beach Front, Badagry. 

In a statement on Friday by the Special Adviser to 

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Arts & Culture, Mrs. 

Aramide Giwanson, the state government said the 

objective of the celebration was to provide an avenue to 

create awareness on the array of economic, health and 

environmental benefits coconut offers amidst cultural 

manifestation. 

PFN urges Buhari to secure 

release of Leah Sharibu 

By Gabriel Enogholase 

NATIONAL President of the Pentecostal Fellowship 

of Nigeria (PFN), Rev Dr. Felix Omobude has 

urged the Federal Government to expedite action in 

rescuing abducted Dapchi school girl, Leah Sharibu from 

the captivity of Boko Haram. 

Omobude in a statement in Benin City called on the 

Nigerian government to free the girl. 

He said: “The Federal government should act fast now 

by doing the needful and spare no efforts in securing the 

release of Leah, who had been held hostage for the past 

seven months. “The PFN is considerably worried that it 

is taking the government such a long time to secure the 

release of Leah from the Boko Haram enclave. “The PFN, 

therefore, calls on President Muhammadu Buhari to do 

the needful.’’ 

Police exhume body of 27-year-old 

man in Edo 

By Gabriel Enogholase 

E 

DO State Police Command, yesterday, exhumed the 

body of a 27-year-old man, identified as Moses Ikiri, 

who was allegedly killed and buried in a shallow grave 

by a fellow villager in Uhen, Ovia North East Local 

Government Area of the state. 

Uhen community was in a solemn mood following the 

arrival of Edo State Police Commissioner, Mr.Johnson 

Kokumo and his team. He led the suspect, Sunday Onoja 

to the grave site where the victim was buried. 

Kokumo said the deceased was declared missing since 

August 6, 2018, adding that his motorcycle was stolen by 

the suspect. 

the state for eight years, 

Ekpotu said: “It is a sign of 

unpardonable naiveté for 

anyone who has acquired 

the status of a statesman to 

make a statement, which 

alludes to a lack of feeling 

for that senseless sacrifice of 

great number of human 

lives. This is where I differ 

in accepting that there must 

be a background limitation 

to freedom. 

“Akpabio is my former 

governor whom I deeply 

respect and he knows this. 

But he does not have to be 

like most Nigerian 

statesmen whose frame of 

orientation still remain 

utterly illusory due to the 

accidental nature of their 

statesmanship. It is only 

statesmen with such system 

of orientation that give 

satisfying meaning to 

whatever comes out of their 

mouth, however awkward. 

“ His various Hitler-like 

invasions against the 

opposition in the past had 

unknown to him, 

conditioned the people of 

Akwa Ibom in readiness for 

his 2019 intentions. “First, 

the Poland invasion was a 

joint one claimed to be a 

defensive action, with the 

Soviet Union, Danzig, and 

the Slovak contingent and 

the Senator has no allies safe 

the two House of Assembly 

and two Reps members from 

his community that he 

defected with. Second, 

Britain and France were not 

convinced and declared war 

on Germany, and this is 

bound to play out during his 

invasion scheme following 

Akwa Ibom readiness and 

mistrust of his defection 

intentions. Third, it led to the 

beginning of WW II with a 

huge cost in human lives 

which no statesman should 

gamble with. Germany was 

to pay for it dearly and Hitler, 

unable to face the world he 

thought was in his pocket, 

was said to have committed 

suicide. That, essentially, led 

to the rule of force being 

supplanted by the rule of 

law. 

“What is his readiness to 

play the Hitler figure in his 

envisaged invasion? Hitler 

was Germany’s 

Commander-in-Chief (C-in- 

C)and the last time I asked, 

the Senator is not the C-In- 

C in Nigeria. And the 

current C-In-C is different 

from the one he knew who 

could readily surrender a 

large degree of control of his 

security forces to him.


AIR POLLUTION: 

Nigeria ranks 4th 

deadliest globally 

•Pollution kills 150 per 100,000 Nigerians 

•Wor 

orst in Africa 

Nigeria has the highest t maternal mortality in the world. It’s the country with 

highest t number of extremely poor people in the world and now, , it has the 

highest burden of fatalities from air pollution in Africa and 4th globally 

By Shola Ogundipe, 

Health Editor 

There is a silent rage of air 

pollution 

in Nigeria. These days, the air 

quality is so bad it kills. Almost 

every breath taken is like the breath of 

death. Literally, air pollution is choking 

the life out of Nigerians. Indoors and 

outdoors, air pollution is killing more 

urban residents today than ever before. 

The air people breathe in Nigeria is more 

likely to cause harm than the air in any 

other country in Africa because Nigeria 

currently has the highest burden of 

fatalities from air pollution in Africa and 

4 th highest in the world with 150 deaths 

per 100,000 people attributable to 

pollution. 

According to the just released annual 

State of the Global Air Report published 

by the Health Effects Institute (HEI), air 

quality in Nigeria and at least 10 other 

countries is among the deadliest 

anywhere on earth with higher than 

ambient air pollution death rates as a 

result of the environmental hazards 

combined with extreme pollution sources 

like generator fumes, vehicle emissions 

and crop burning among others. 

The HEI chart notes that there were 150 

deaths per age-standardized deaths per 

100,000 people attributable to air 

pollution in Nigeria in 2016 (the latest 

year of available data), compared to high 

industrialised countries like China, 117 

deaths per 100,000 people; Russia, 62 

deaths per 100,000 people; Germany, 22 

deaths per 100,000 people; United 

Kingdom, 21 deaths per 100,000 people; 

Continues on pg 11

SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 1, 2018—11 

Pollution kills 150 per 100,000 Nigerians 

Continues from pg 10 

the United States, 21 deaths per 100,000 

people; Japan 13 deaths per 100,000 

people and Canada, 12 deaths per 

100,000 people. 

Only Afghanistan with 406; Pakistan, 

207, and India, 195 

deaths per 100,000 people 

per country, exceed the 

Nigerian figure. 

The chart showcases a 

striking gap between the 

most and least polluted air 

around the world. While 

developed countries have 

experienced success in 

reducing emissions and air 

pollution levels, poorer 

nations have fallen behind, 

although it should be 

noted that tougher 

pollution controls are 

being introduced in some 

of the countries. In 1990, 

3.5 billion people were 

exposed to it and that has 

now fallen to 2.4 billion 

despite an increase in the 

global population. 

The report notes that 95 

percent of the world’s 

population is breathing 

unhealthy air. It said longterm 

exposure to air 

pollution contributed to 

just over 6 million deaths 

in 2016 with strokes, lung 

disease, lung cancer and 

heart attacks linked to 

many of them. After 

smoking, high blood pressure and poor 

diet, air pollution is the fourth-highest 

cause of death worldwide with most 

deaths occurring in developing 

countries. 

Air sustains life, but air could also snuff 

out life. With air you live, and with air 

you could die. In a number of the big 

Nigerian cities, when people present at 

the hospital with health problems 

including chest pain, dry throat, nausea, 

aggravated respiratory disease such as 

emphysema, 

bronchitis, lung 

damage, and asthma 

among other 

respiratory 

problems, it often 

turns out that 

they’ve been 

exposed to the 

effects of poor air 

quality. 

Symptoms such as 

irritation to the eyes, 

nose and throat, and 

The report 

notes that 95 

percent of the 

world’s 

population is 

breathing 

unhealthy air 

upper respiratory 

infections such as 

bronchitis and 

pneumonia are also 

suspect. Air 

pollution increases 

the risk of cancer. 

There are two types 

of air pollutants - 

gas pollutants (e.g. 

carbon monoxide, 

sulphur dioxide, 

etc.) and particles in 

the air. Air particles 

can accumulate in 

the lungs. 

Air pollution is 

hardly listed among 

causes of death on 

death certificates in 

Nigeria, yet the health conditions linked 

to air pollution exposure, such as lung 

cancer and emphysema, are often fatal. 

According to a 2016 World Health 

Organisation report, Onitsha, Kaduna, 

Aba and Umuahia were among four of 

the 20 African cities with the worst air 

quality in the world. 

The WHO measured air quality by 

examining the annual mean 

concentration of particulate matter in 

nearly 3,000 cities across the world with 

populations of at least 100,000. Onitsha’s 

average annual PM10 was 594 - nearly 30 

times greater than the WHOrecommended 

annual level of 20. 

Kaduna, Aba, and Umuahia cities were 

ranked among the top 20 worst cities 

measured by PM10, ranking 8th, 

9th, and 19th, respectively. 

Air pollution is now the 

fourth-highest cause of death 

worldwide, trailing smoking, 

high blood pressure and diet, 

with the majority of deaths 

recorded in poorer nations with 

India and China leading the 

world in the total number of 

deaths attributable to air 

pollution in 2016 with 1.61 

million and 1.58 million 

respectively. Data from the report 

show that ambient levels of 

unsafe air continue to exceed the 

Air Quality Guideline 

established by the World Health 

Organisation, WHO. 

In a typical scenario thick 

clouds of blackened smoke 

usually envelope large areas 

within Nigerian city suburbs as 

many smoky and noisy generators 

run throughout the day and all 

night. It’s a routine residents are 

familiar with - clouds of 

particulate-tinged smoke 

spreading, setting the pace for 

generator-induced illnesses and 

even death. 

Generator fumes comprise a 

lethal cocktail of poisonous and 

environmentally unfriendly gases, 

including carbon monoxide and other 

noxious products. Carbon monoxide 

could be a serious health hazard. 

Indoors or in close proximity, the gas 

quickly infiltrates living spaces and 

incapacitates occupants. 

All over town, worn out generators 

and vehicles with poorly-tuned engines 

are belching out smoke of noxious 

emissions, making the air as toxic on 

the streets as it is unhealthy in the 

kitchen at home where a kerosene stove 

burns sooty flames almost 

around the clock. A combination 

of incomplete combustion and 

lack of ventilation leads to high 

concentrations of particulate 

matter and other pollutants in 

the home and the resulting 

burden of household air 

pollution on human health. 

Rather than dispose refuse and 

some other wastes or unwanted 

materials some Nigerians burn 

them within their neighborhood. 

The problem is also 

manifesting in the rural areas 

due to burning of firewood and 

coal for cooking. Globally the 

estimated population relying on 

solid fuels has reduced but 

Nigeria remains among 

countries with populations 

exposed to household air 

pollution from dependence on 

solid fuel. Worse still, over 70 

percent of the fuel in the country 

is generated from fossil fuel. 

Most Nigerians are thus 

exposed to household air 

pollution with fine particulate 

matter levels exceeding air 

quality guidelines by as much as 

Continues on pg 12


Wor 

orst in Africa 

Continues from pg 11 

20 times. Air pollution from indoor 

sources is recognised as the single largest 

contributor to the negative health effects 

of air pollution in Nigeria. 

While developed nations have been 

taking action to clean their air, Nigeria is 

still among the countries that have fallen 

behind as revealed in the death rate. 

Nigeria produces more than 3 million 

tons of waste annually, and uncontrolled 

waste burning is one of the practices that 

contribute to deteriorating air quality. 

Almost every Nigerian is exposed to air 

pollution levels exceeding WHO 

guidelines and inflicting significant air 

pollution damage costs. 

In Lagos for instance, an estimated 

seven million people died from diseases 

related to indoor and outdoor air pollution 

in 2012 according to the WHO. 

Part of the problem is that 

environmental regulations and 

enforcement are lax; people are more 

exposed to air pollution but less able to 

protect themselves from exposure either 

in the open, in the workplace or at home. 

No doubt, Nigeria requires tougher 

pollution controls if it hopes to effectively 

combat indoor air pollution by producing 

safer and more environmentally friendly 

alternatives. How clean the air is matters 

to your health. Increasing public 

awareness of air pollution and the burden 

of diseases that it imposes on individuals, 

families, and society is an essential step 

toward making the changes that will 

improve public health. 

Nigeria’s poor 

development indices 

By NClifford Ndujihe 

igeria’s poor development indices 

are not limited to air pollution, of 

which gas flaring is a major contributory 

factor, especially in the oil-producing 

areas of the Niger-Delta. 

In 2017, the Nigerian National 

Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, said 

Nigeria was the seventh highest gas 

flaring country in the world after Russia, 

Iraq, Iran, USA, Venezuela and Algeria. 

Nigeria is said to flare 10 per cent or 

seven billion standard cubic meters (scm) 

of her natural gas par year. 

In terms of health, Nigeria has the 

highest maternal mortality rate in the 

world with 814 per 100,000 live births; 

and with nine per cent infant deaths, the 

third highest infant mortality rate in the 

world after India (24 per cent), and 

Pakistan (10 per cent), according to the 

2017 ranking of the World Health 

Organisation, WHO. 

Last June, the World Poverty Clock rated 

Nigeria (87 million people) as the country

BATTLE TO CONTROL S’SOUTH: 

Oshiomhole 

versus Amaechi 

By Emma Amaize, Regional Editor, South-South 

and Perez Brisibe (Ughelli) 

NATIONAL Chairman of the All Progressives 

Congress, APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, aka 

Oshio Baba, and Minister of Transportation, Rt. 

Hon Chibuike Amaechi, are entangled in a strategic struggle 

over who commands the party in the South-South geopolitical 

zone. 

Both party titans made their marks as former governors 

of Edo and Rivers States respectively, but Amaechi, who is 

also the Director General of the President Muhammadu 

Buhari Campaign Organization, was practically in charge 

of the affairs in states of the zone until Oshiomhole emerged 

as national chairman. 

The strapping exception of Amaechi’s power is Edo, 

the only state the party governs at the moment in 

the region and which Oshiomhole, as the 

immediate past governor, installed one of his 

loyalists, Mr. Godwin Obaseki as his 

successor. 

However, since Oshiomhole took over 

from the former national chairman, Chief 

John Odigie-Oyegun, who, during his tenure, 

did not struggle for supremacy with Amaechi, 

there has been a seeming leadership tussle 

between him and Amaechi. 

The tussle in Rivers 

In Rivers, Amaechi’s home base, the 

minister has never concealed his predilection 

for the Director General of the 

Nigerian Maritime Administration 

and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Mr. 

Peterside Dakuku, the party’s 

gubernatorial candidate in the 2015 

general election in opposition to 

Senator Magnus Abe, representing 

Rivers South-East senatorial 

district. But in a new twist last night 

Amaechi now picked Tonye Cole as 

his preferred candidate. But 

Oshiomhole appears not favourably 

disposed to Amaechi’s pick. 

Political watchers in the state 

recognize that if not for the unstated 

support of Oshiomhole, which 

Senator Abe has perfectly taken 

advantage of; Amaechi would 

have run him out of town in the 

horse-trading for the party’s 2019 

governorship ticket. 

The nervous relationship between 

Amaechi and Abe resulted in 

parallel congresses in the state in 

May with the latter declaring in a 

statement by his spokesperson, 

Parry Benson: “I am amused by 

some of these allegations and stories 

making the rounds. For the records, 

the disagreement between me and 

the minister (Amaechi) is political. 

He is the leader of the party but he 

has said publicly on several 

occasions that he can never support 

me.” 

“That means the entire country 

knows that he cannot pretend to be 

neutral or an unbiased umpire in 

any matter in which my interest and 

the interests of those interested in me 

are concerned. Yet, as the leader it is 

his responsibility to provide a level 

playing field for us all,” he asserted. 

Amaechi is still the principal of the 

party in the state just like Oshiomhole 

also holds sway in Edo state, but 

whether the national chairman will 

allow the director-general of the 

Buhari Campaign Organization to 

produce the governorship candidate 

of the party at “The Treasure Base of 

The Nation” yet again is imprecise. 

Ogodo, first war casualty in 

Delta 

In Delta state, indications of conflict 

between Oshiomhole and Amaechi 

are manifestly naked with the 

manner Oshiomhole tossed aside the 

parallel state chairman of the party, 

Mr Cyril Ogodo, produced by the 

•Amaechi 

Amaechi is still the 

principal of the party in 

the state just like 

Oshiomhole also holds 

sway in Edo state, but 

whether the national 

chairman will allow the 

director-general of the 

Buhari Campaign 

Organization to 

produce the 

governorship 

candidate of the party 

at “The Treasure Base 

of The Nation” yet 

again is imprecise 

leader of the party in the state and 

governorship candidate in the 2015 

general election, Olorogun O’tega 

Emerhor, who is more of an Amaechi 

faithful. 

A leader of the party in the state 

told Saturday Vanguard that 

Oshiomhole was infuriated by an 

alleged effrontery of the Ogodo-led 

executive in sponsoring media 

publication distancing Delta APC 

from his endorsement by the APC, 

South-South for national chairman 

before the National Convention 

that voted him to power. 

“Knowing that Ogodo’s boss, 

Emerhor, derived his authority from 

Amaechi, the national chairman did 

not waste time in sending Ogodo 

packing as soon as he mounted the 

saddle and enthroned his opponent, 

Prophet Jones Erue in his place. 

“Until lately, Mr. Ogodo, who 

believed that he was legitimately 

elected in a congress that was 

affirmed by the former national 

executive of the party did not realize 

that he is a victim of power play 

between Oshiomhole and Amaechi, 

as the national chairman took to 

heart the fault-finding media 

publication by his executive,” the 

source explained. 

Most APC stalwarts in the state, 

who gravitated towards Amaechi 

before the new sheriff came to town, 

have started retracing their steps. 

Even at then, Olorogun Emerhor has 

refused to accept the peace efforts of 

his former partner, Prophet Erue, who 

was directed by Oshiomhole to 

reconcile all the factions in the state 

to forge a common front ahead the 

2019 elections. 

Erue’s peace report 

The chairman, according to an 

interim report obtained by Saturday 

Vanguard, met with AVM Frank 

Ajobena (retd), Chief Ayiri Emami, 

Chief Adolor Okotie-Eboh, Sir 

Richard Odibo, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, 

Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, Dr. Ibe 

Kachikwu and a host of others, 

besides a meeting of meeting of party 

stakeholders where he admonished 

all to embrace peace. 

The Erue report claimed: “The 

interactions were fruitful as everyone 

affirmed faith in the leadership of the 

party and undertook to work for 

peace.” On the meeting with 

Emerhor, Erue reported: “On 

Wednesday the 8th of August 2018, 

the state chairman had a very fruitful 

discussion with Olorogun O’tega 

Emerhor on the need for total 

reconciliation in the party and he in 

return promise to pacify his people 

to embrace the ongoing 

reconciliatory moves by the party.” 

Emerhor tears report apart 

However, Emerhor in his reaction 

tore the interim report to pieces, 

describing it as pretentious, 

mischievous, disappointing and 

provocative. He stated that the 

statement ascribed to him, was 

“calculated to misrepresent him and 

confuse the mainstream Delta APC 

that is under his leadership.” 

In a statement by his media aide, 

Aghogho Orotomah, he noted that 


•Oshiomhole 

“no peace currently exist in Delta 

State APC other than the peace of a 

grave yard.” 

He said: “There exist two party 

Excos in Delta State, one by law, the 

other by recognition by the National 

Chairman. There are subsisting 

court cases that seek to overcome 

existing illegalities. These court cases 

will not and cannot be withdrawn 

unless genuine peace is negotiated.” 

Describing the meetings by Erue 

and his executive as “jamboree of 

visitations, Emerhor fired, “a 

jamboree of visitations cannot cure 

the existing chasm but only genuine 

actions can, the mainstream of the 

party is ready for peace but peace at 

a fair cost to all. 

“It is disappointing and 

provocative to carry on pretentiously 

that visits and political talk amount 

to peace and reconciliation. The wise 

thing for Erue to do is to use the 

leverage of him being accorded 

recognition by the national 

chairman to point the national 

chairman to act on his 

pronouncements on unifying the 

party. To assume peace has come is 

to not only pretend but to be 

mischievous and provocative. 

“Those who are quick to 

celebrate peace and to release 

interim peace reports should be 

circumspect as they may inadvertently 

be creating doubts if truly they seek 

peace or are celebrating a pyrrhic 

victory. Let our genuine and collective 

desire for APC to win and rescue Delta 

State prevail,” he said. 

Can Uduaghan bring Oshiomhole, 

Amaechi together ? 

Delta is really going to be an 

interesting spectacle to watch for the 

newest political leader to join the party, 

the immediate past governor, Dr. 

Emmanuel Uduaghan, is a friend to 

both Oshiomhole and Amaechi, and 

may have the enviable task of bringing 

together his warring buddies. Can he? 

Top secret report on Delta 

governorship contenders 

The Amaechi group in the party is 

tilted to a Chief Ogboru governorship 

ticket, which Saturday Vanguard 

learned has been deflated by party 

strategists, who prefer a Delta North 

candidate. 

A privileged source hinted the party 

commissioned a report on the 

governorship battle and the strength 

of its aspirants, and the document 

narrowed the race to mainly two 

governorship aspirants from Delta 

North senatorial districts. 

The most workable two, according 

to the report, are both defectors from 

the PDP. One is an Amaechi beloved, 

a plus point that may count as a minus 

for him in the current intrigues. The 

other is from the Ali Modu Sheriffled 

faction of PDP, which gave the 

party load of troubles before finally 

parting ways. 

While one who is the more affluent 

aspirant is considered to have 

“baggage” with PDP that may not 

augur well for APC if he is fielded in 

the opinion of some persons, others 

think that the other is most 

appropriate to give Governor Ifeanyi 

Okowa the fight of his life given his 

staying power. 

Another eminently qualified aspirant 

is viewed as scholarly, but without 

grassroots support. 

Nevertheless, nearly all the 

governorship aspirants from Delta 

North have agreed to cooperate with 

whoever emerges as the standard 

bearer in a free and fair primary of 

the party. They met recently with 

the Minister of State for Petroleum, 

Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, restating the 

heartening position. 

Edo at Comrade’s beckon 

In Edo state, there is no battle 

between Oshiomhole and Amaechi. 

The national chairman is in 

control, but had to make a quick 

dart some weeks back to settle rising 

objections by some party leaders 

and stakeholders to the leadership 

style and some allegedly 

exasperating pronouncements of 

Governor Obaseki. 

Oshiomhole’s finger in A’Ibom 

However, the defection of the 

former Senator Minority Leader 

and former governor of Akwa Ibom 

state, Senator Godswill Akpabio, to 

APC, has foreclosed the struggle 

between Oshiomhole and Amaechi 

in the state. This is because 

Oshiomhole is one of the chief 

executioners of the plot. 

And knowing that Akpabio 

installed the incumbent governor, 

Mr. Udom Emmanuel, and has the 

structure to give the PDP a fight in 

the state, the Minister of 

Transportation, despite his 

preceding influence in the state, 

cannot drag control of Akwa-Ibom 

with Oshiomhole at the moment. 

Akpabio will now work with his 

former friends and associates 

turned enemies in the persons of the 

former Minister of Petroleum, 

Chief Don Etiebet; Managing 

Director, Oil and Gas Free Zones 

Authority (OGFZA), Umana 

Umana; Managing Director and 

Chief Executive Officer of the Niger 

Delta Development Commission 

(NDDC) and former deputy 

governor of the state, Nsima 

Ekere, Senator John Udoedehe, 

Senior Special Assistant (SSA) 

to the President on National 

Assembly Matters (Senate), Ita 

Enang and a former member of the 

House of Representatives, Hon. 

Eseme Eyiboh, among others to 

deliver the state to APC in 2019. 

A former Military Administrator 

of Ogun State and APC chieftain in 

Akwa Ibom state, Captain Sam 

Ewang (ertd), believes that APC will 

come out stronger in the South- 

South in the 2019 elections. His 

words: “APC is positioned to win 

most of the states in South-South 

in 2019.” 

C’River, no man’s land 

In Cross River state, it does not 

appear that there is a serious 

contention between the duo, as the 

Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, 

Usani Uguru Usani, a fellow 

cabinet minister like Amaechi 

and former Senate Leader, now 

Chairman of NDDC, Senator Victor 

Ndoma-Egba, are expected to lead 

other party stakeholders to unnerve 

PDP in 2019. Senators John Owan- 

Enoh, Florence Ita-Giwa and 

Bassey Otu are among APC 

chieftains being relied on to come 

up with strategies to oust Governor 

Ben Ayade, next year. 

Sylva’s Bayelsa inclines to Oshio 

Baba 

In Bayelsa state, a former 

governor, Chief Timipre Sylva, 

who has pledged his loyalty to 

Oshiomhole is leading the Minister 

of State for Agriculture, Senator 

Heineken Lokpobiri, former 

Managing Director of the 

NDDC, Timi Alaibe, to fight 

PDP in the home ground of 

former President Goodluck 

Jonathan and incumbent 

Governor Seriake Dickson, 

which unquestionably is the 

staggering for the party.

14—SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 1 , 2018 

UDUAGHAN: 

The final straw 

•Ibori’s dilemma, why his efforts flopped 

•Why Gov Okowa declined to stop Senator Manager, Hon Diden 

• Hon Godwin Abigor defends Uduaghan, blames Okowa 

•Ibori 

By Emma Amaize, 

Regional Editor, South-South 

UNTIL the Tuesday, August 28 

caucus meeting of the All 

Progressives Congress, 

APC, at Presidential Villa, Abuja, 

presided over by President 

Muhammadu Buhari, which many 

saw the former governor of Delta 

State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, 

resplendent in his white agbada 

and red cap in attendance, quite a 

number of Peoples Democratic 

Party, PDP, leaders and faithful in the 

state chose not to believe media 

reports that he had dumped the 

party. 

To them, it is undreamed of that 

Dr. Uduaghan, a key member of the 

Ibori political family, the influential 

power coalition headed by the 

former governor of the state, Chief 

James Ibori that has bestrode the 

oil-rich state since 1999 would ditch 

the PDP, at least not after Ibori 

and other members of the family 

were said to have intervened. 

Saturday Vanguard gathered that 

Ibori and others actually waded in, 

but the smaller picture they were 

seeing was bigger than the larger 

picture they were not looking at. 

And that was the picture Uduaghan 

alluded to in the intrigues that 

characterized his defection. 

It’s regrettable – Oyovbaire 

Former Minister of Information, 

Prof Same Oyovbaire, the political 

godfather of Delta state governor, 

Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, whose 

irreconcilable differences with 

Uduaghan were part of the smaller 

picture that broke the camel’s back, 

in a statement hours after 

Uduaghan’s exit was formally 

confirmed, said: “It is unfortunate 

in at least one sense, namely: until 

now we had been proud to announce 

that the three governors (2 past), all 

their deputies, all state chairmen 

of the PDP (past and present), all 

founding members of the party like 

myself, etc. have remained faithful 

and committed PDP members.” 

He, however, added: “But we knew 

•Godwin 

Abigor 

quite early, immediately the 

Presidency went to APC in early 

2015 even before the governorship 

election, forerunners of the former 

governor like Chief Ayiri Emami 

and Chief Egbo Jaro had jumped 

out of the PDP ship to await, 

allegedly then, Governor Uduaghan 

arrival into the APC.” 

Oyovbaire confessed: “I do not 

have all the facts of the governor’s 

decision to abandon the party that 

literally made him the politician of 

note,” adding: “He is entitled to 

Indeed, Ibori’s 

penetrating 

appeals to 

Governor Okowa, 

who has not only 

fully taken charge 

of the party in the 

state, but also 

emerged as a very 

strong force in the 

party at the 

national level, to 

clear the coast for 

his predecessor’s 

senatorial quest 

were courteously 

rebuffed 

•Okowa 

his constitutional right and freedom 

to move into and out of any 

organization. Yet it demonstrates 

one more of the multiple 

illustrations of the crass poverty, fear 

of being hunted and sheer 

opportunism in Nigerian politics 

and democracy.” 

Request 

respectfully denied 

Findings showed that Uduaghan’s 

exit is a very big blow to the party, 

but it is not for lack of trying by 

Ibori. Even in confinement in 

London, Ibori was able to settle a 

much more knotty problem, which 

is Okowa’s candidature for the 

2015 gubernatorial election. It 

was, therefore, strange to the family 

that in spite of his physical presence, 

the Okowa/Uduaghan 

embarrassing situation finally 

ruptured. 

Indeed, Ibori’s penetrating 

appeals to Governor Okowa, who 

has not only fully taken charge 

of the party in the state, but also 

emerged as a very strong force in 

the party at the national level, to 

clear the coast for his predecessor’s 

senatorial quest were courteously 

rebuffed. 

Okowa had reasons to act 

the way he did – PDP 

chieftain 

A PDP leader, who is familiar with 

the matter, told Saturday 

Vanguard: “Governor Okowa had 

his reasons for rejecting the request. 

For clarity, you know that 

Uduaghan did not support Okowa 

until after Okowa won the 

governorship primary in 2015. So, 

there was no love lost between them, 

but after the Ibori family, which I 

am not part of prevailed on Okowa 

to pay Uduaghan his allowances 

allegedly withheld for more than 

three years, they also wanted him to 

prevail on Senator James Manager, 

a member of the Ibori family, 

representing Edo South senatorial 

district to see reason another person 

should represent the zone after he 

would have done three terms. 

“Not only Manager, they also 

want Okowa to prevail on Hon 

Michael Diden, aka Ejele, 

representing Warri North 

constituency in Delta State House 

of Assembly, who is also eyeing the 

Delta South senatorial seat to defer 

to his former boss, Uduaghan. 

However, Okowa’s position is that 

Dr. Uduaghan should negotiate 

with Senator Manager and Hon 

Diden, rather than anybody 

compelling them to step down 

for him,” the source said. 

However, we gathered that it was 

not about asking an interested 

party or candidate to step down but 

the indifference of Okowa to 

Udaughan’s senatorial interest. 

Uduaghan, we gathered, felt that it 

was not necessary if he did not get 

the support of the governor. He had 

been a governor and knows that 

winning party ticket may not 

happen without the support of the 

governor. Okowa was said not to 

be disposed to any such 

cooperation. 

What Manager, Diden 

did for Okowa 

According to the leader, “Senator 

Manager played a significant role 

in Okowa getting the endorsement 

of former President Goodluck 

Jonathan for the PDP governorship 

ticket in 2015. He (Senator 

Manager) was in Aso Villa where 

another candidate was brought to 

swap him. He not only challenged 

the plot, but put a call to him 

(Okowa) to come to Abuja with the 

next available flight. When he 

landed, he took him straight to 

Jonathan to iron things out.” 

“That meeting with Jonathan 

sealed Okowa’s ticket in 2015 

though Ibori’s directive to the family 

to deliver Okowa was what swung 

the pendulum for him. It was Ibori’s 

final position on the matter that 

made Uduaghan to also drop his 

opposition to Okowa, and he 

admirably led the campaign for 

Okowa’s emergence as governor,” 

He added: “Diden also played a 

critical role; he dumped Uduaghan, 

who basically made him politically 

for Okowa when the former 

decided to support another 

candidate against Okowa in the 

2015 governorship primary. He not 

only campaigned for Okowa, he 

contributed financially.” 

“So tell me if it will not be 

politically stupid for Okowa to ask 

either Senator Manager or Hon 

Diden to step down for Uduaghan. 

The best he can do is to tell 

Uduaghan and this is out of respect 

to him, as his predecessor, to 

dialogue with the two aspirants 

himself and if they agree to step 

down for him, that is that,” the party 

leader, who said he stood with 

Okowa on the matter, confided in 

Saturday Vanguard. 

Ibori’s dilemma 

It was gathered that this is where 

Ibori’s difficulty in untangling the 

feud lay. Since Okowa made his 

position clear to those who 

approached him, a source said the 

job of getting Senator Manager and 

Hon Diden to step down for 

Uduaghan was diplomatically 

shifted to the leader (Ibori). 

But before Ibori would broach the 

matter, Senator Manager, who got 

wind of the game plan, stated 

emphatically that nobody should 

approach him with such a request, 

as he would not accept it. He advised 

anybody interested in contesting the 

position with him to meet him in 

the field. 

On his part, Hon Diden boasted 

that he would defeat both Uduaghan 

and Manager in the Delta South 

senatorial primary and nobody 

should talk to him about stepping 

aside for any of them. With 

Uduaghan moving to APC, Diden 

strongly believes that the job of 

defeating Senator Manager in the 

primary has been made easier for 

him. 

“With the hard-line posture of 

Senator Manager, who had since 

kick-started his fifth-term 

campaign and Hon Ejele, it was 

easier said than done for Ibori to 

get them to change their 

standpoints. 

Abigor neutralizes 

allegations against 

Uduaghan 

An Uduaghan loyalist and former 

member of the Delta House of 

Assembly, Hon Godwin Abigor, an 

Uduaghan loyalist, said: “Some 

people just speak from one side 

without looking at the other. Is it not 

Uduaghan that appointed Okowa 

as Secretary to the State 

Government, SSG, when he was 

governor? Is not the same 

Uduaghan that asked him to go the 

Senate and told former President 

Goodluck Jonathan when he told 

him about Mrs Mariam Ali that he 

was already committed to Okowa? 

Was Okowa there when he sealed 

the deal for him? After President 

Buhari won there were fears of 

bandwagon effect. Who put in extra 

effort to make sure Okowa did not 

have problem? 

“In party politics, people are free 

to support the aspirants of their 

choice during the primary, but after 

the primary, you collapse every 

other structure and work to deliver 

the party’s candidate. That was 

what happened in 2015. Did 

Uduaghan not collapse every other 

structure to deliver Okowa in 2015, 

why is he persecuting him and his 

supporters? 

“Let me tell you, Uduaghan’s 

allowances were not paid for over 

three years, he could not have a voice 

or pick the chairman in his own 

local government area, Warri 

North. Just to sidetrack Uduaghan, 

in the last National Convention of 

PDP, which Okowa was the 

Chairman of the Planning 

Committee, he said former 

governors would not be automatic 

delegates and that was what 

happened. Yet, former speakers, 

former deputy speakers were 

automatic delegates. Uduaghan 

did not take part in that convention 

because he was not made a delegate 

by Okowa. 

“It was not Uduaghan that left 

PDP by himself, Okowa 

systematically removed him from 

Continues on page 35


KWANKWASO: 

Making a 

hero of an 

aspirant 

The eleventh hour denial of the 

use of the Eagle Square by 

Senator Rabiu Musa 

Kwankwaso for his Presidential 

declaration of interest in the 2019 

elections has come and gone but 

commentaries from eminent 

Nigerians continue to trail the 

development. Kwankwaso, who in 

2015, sought the same venue but was 

offered the old Parade Ground as an 

alternative, finally settled for Chinda 

Hotel, Jabi, Abuja, where Nigerians, 

made up mainly of the masses 

gathered in their numbers to show 

support for the aspiration of the former 

Kano state governor. 

In 2014, Kwankwaso placed second 

behind the then General Muhammadu 

Buhari in the All Progressives 

Congress (APC) Presidential 

primaries held in Lagos. Since then, 

the founder of the Kwankwasiyya 

Movement has not taken his eyes off 

the exalted office; a development that 

prompted his defection to the Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP a few weeks 

ago. 

Although, the refusal to grant him 

use of the Eagle 

Square is seen as 

that of the Federal 

Capital Territory 

Administration, not 

a few Nigerians 

have pointed an 

accusing finger in 

the direction of 

i n c u m b e n t 

government. But in 

spite of the 

temporary setback, 

Kwankwaso 

succeeded in 

pulling thousands 

of Nigerians to 

Chinda Hotel, 

where for hours, 

they sang his 

praises, chanting 

Kwankwasiyya and 

urging him not to be 

intimidated by the 

antics of those they 

described as 

“Haters of the 

people.” 

It was a sad day for 

democracy. We all 

thought that the 

days of impunity 

were over but we 

can now see they 

are worse. In 2015, I 

requested for Eagle 

Square but they 

decided to give us 

Parade Ground 

Politics in developing countries as 

ours is often characterised by pettiness 

but the non-deployment of security 

operatives to ensure the maintenance 

of law and order was clearly a misstep 

on the part of the federal authorities. 

But on hand, not necessary to maintain 

law and order but to 

provide a semblance of 

security, were scores of 

Askarawan, members 

of the security arm of 

the Kwankwasiyya 

movement who 

throughout the period 

of the declaration, 

thronged every nook 

and crannies of 

Chinda, assuring 

those who gathered at 

the event of their 

safety. 

In a chat with 

Saturday Vanguard, 

former Minister of 

Education and a 

chieftain of the Social 

Democratic Party, 

Professor Tunde 

Adeniran described the 

refusal to allow 

Kwankwaso the use of 

Eagle Square as a 

tragedy for democracy. 

•Kwakwanso 

He said, “It is a tragedy for democracy 

and individual freedom. Such 

unwarranted denial of individual right 

to pursue political ambition through 

personal choice of means and methods 

is a pointer to imminent 

totalitarianism.” 

Addressing a few journalists at the 

end of the PDP National Working 

Committee (NWC) meeting with 

Presidential aspirants earlier in the 

week; Kwankwaso came short of 

accusing the President Muhammadu 

Buhari administration of taking the 

nation backward on the sphere of 

political intolerance since his 

assumption of office. The former Kano 

governor while recalling how he was 

denied use of the same Eagle Square 

for his Presidential declaration of intent 

in 2015 lauded the Goodluck Jonathan 

administration, which at the time, 

provided him an alternative venue. 

His words: “It was a sad day for 

democracy. We all thought that the days 

of impunity were over but we can now 

see they are worse. In 2015, I requested 

for Eagle Square but they decided to 

give us Parade Ground. 

“This time around, we requested for 

Eagle Square and we paid and followed 

the procedures but they said no to it. 

So, we requested for the Parade Ground 

which they approved for us in 2015. 

Even at Chinda Hotel, so many things 

were done including the removal of 

sound systems, equipment and we had 

to make use of local speakers just to be 

able to speak to the people.” 

In his home state of Kano, Kwankwaso 

is locked in battle of supremacy with the 

state governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, a 

battle that has been made worse with 

the former’s defection to the PDP. 

Matters have since grown worse, 

making it almost impossible for him to 

visit Kano, a state he presided over for 

eight years but for the lawmaker, time 

to visit the ancient city would come 

eventually. 

“I don’t need anybody’s permission 

to enter Kano,” Kwankwaso added, 

stressing that “when the time comes, I 

will go to Kano.” 

Regardless of what anyone may say, 

Kwankwaso has by that singular act of 

being denied use of a public property 

earlier paid for, attracted sympathy 

and could emerge a hero of some sort. 

The excuse, flimsy as it sounds that 

the former governor could not use the 

venue because it would have 

grounded traffic (human and 

vehicular) to a halt as the declaration 

fell on Wednesday, has been rendered 

invalid as the APC has held events 

in the past at same venue on work days 

as well.

16—SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 1, 2018

SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 1, 2018 —17 

Inside Tiwa 

Savage’s 

career, life as 

queen of Afro 

pop 

music 

By BENJAMIN NJOKU 

Songstress, Tiwa 

Savage is something 

of an enigma. When 

she first stepped onto 

Nigeria’s musical 

landscape, after a long 

sojourn with her parents 

in the United Kingdom, 

reports said she did not 

know what to expect in 

the industry. 

Then she was confronted 

with a lot of ridicule and 

hostility from critics who 

believed she does not have 

what it takes to hold her 

own in the country’s 

music terrain. But the 

talented singer was not 

discouraged as she knew 

what stuff she was made 

of. And today, Tiwa 

Savage knows better, 

having hit the spot to 

become not only one of 

Africa’s most gifted female 

singers around, but also, 

one of the most powerful 

artistes of all time. 

The songstress has come 

a long way as a 

songwriter, performer and 

actress. Releasing her first 

studio album, ‘Once Upon 

a Time’ in 2013, which 

made its way to the top of 

several Nigerian music 

charts, the mother of one 

has solidified her place in 

the country’s music terrain. 

The album was followed by 

her other singles such as 

“Kele Kele Love”, “Love 

Me (3x)”, “Without My 

Heart”, “Ife Wa Gbona”, 

“Folarin”, “Olorun Mi” 

and “Eminado.” Her 

second studio album, 

R.E.D, was released on 

December 19, 2015. It 

produced the singles “My 

Darlin’, “African Waist” 

and “If I Start To Talk”. 

But Savage big break 

came when she joined 

Mavin Records owned by 

Don Jazzy. Joining the 

team in 2012, was the best 

thing that happened to 

Savage’s musical career. 

Before then, Savage was 

struggling to find her feet 

in the nation’s music 

scene. Her debut studio 

album “Once Upon a Time” 

wasn’t a commercial 

success afterall. But after 

getting signed to the record 

label, which her critics saw 

as ‘self- destructive, 

marked a new dawn in her 

career. Damning her critics, 

Savage has never regretted 

the move. Under the Mavin 

records, she has released hit 

after hit and featured on 

many collaborations that 

helped to redefine her craft. 

Recall that on January 

31, 2014, the singer 

released “Love in Yellow”, 

a promotional single meant 

to celebrate Valentine’s 

Day 2014. The song, which 

has a retro RnB and Funk 

sound, was produced by 

Spellz. She also was 

featured on Reekado 

Banks’s 2014 single “Turn 

It Up”, which was 

produced by Don Jazzy. 

Mavin Records released 

popular 

single, 

“Dorobucci” featuring 

Savage, Don Jazzy, Dr 

SID, D’Prince, Reekado Banks, 

Korede Bello and Di’Ja. The song, 

which was produced by Don Jazzy, 

was the record label’s first collaborative 

release since the release of the Solar 

Plexus album in 2012. She did not stop 

there , as she has since featured on many 

other international collaborations, 

including featuring on Patoranking’s 

“Girlie ‘O’ Remix.” Savage also 

collaborated with Mi Casa, Lola Rae, 

Sarkodie, Diamond Platnumz, and 

Davido on a song for DSTV’s Africa 

Rising campaign, which was designed to 

inspire Africans to partake in 

community-based social investment 

projects. The music video for the song, 

released on June 24, 2014, was shot and 

directed by South African production 

house Callback Dream. The artistes 

equally performed the song at the Africa 

Rising launch ceremony in Mauritius. 

In June 2016, reports surfaced online 

that Savage had signed a management 

and distribution deal with Roc Nation, 

causing mouth to wag that the talented 

singer has dumped Mavin Records. But 

she was quick to refute the report, saying 

she can never leave the label as they are 

like a family. 

Looking at Savage’s steady growth in 

the industry, it would not be out of place 

to describe her as the reigning queen of 

African pop. Among her contemporaries, 

the beautiful singer has steadily proved 

that she’s both out 

I’m the best artiste in 

Nigeria, Oritsefemi 

declares 

Who wins big at 2018 

AMVCA tonight? 

Why women in the UK 

prefer Nigerian men 

- Gee4



•Continued from page 17 

standing and consistent in all 

ramifications. Beautiful, hardworking 

and passionate about her music, 

Savage has remained on top of her 

game, overcoming challenges of 

not being heard in a maledominated 

Nigerian music scene. 

From the time she stepped into 

the music scene, Savage has 

refused to be dismissed as an 

‘underdog’ in comparison 

with her male counterparts 

in the industry on the basis 

of erroneous beliefs, 

stemming from widespread 

prejudice about what 

women are capable of doing. 

Oftentimes, for Savage, the 

stakes are high. She has sprang 

up surprises if not for her hit songs, 

then her strong stage presence. 

Pundits have always seen 

another energetic pop singer, 

Yemi Alade as her closest rival in 

the business. In this regard, opinions 

vary as which of the two would be crowned African 

queens of pop. However, going by an online rating 

in the past, Yemi Alade was said to have won with 

a 0.2 rating above Tiwa Savage. But such rating 

may not hold water again. The singer has 

continued to justify her style of music and 

demonstrates that she’s one performer who 

insists on taking charge of her career. It’s on 

record that she has enjoyed more 

international exposure than any other 

female performer in the country today. In 

2016, she signed a management deal with 

Democratic Republic of 

Congo-born rapper, 

Maître Gims and South 

Africa’s fast rising songstress and 

songwriter, Shekhinah, have 

received seven nominations each 

to emerge highest nominated 

artistes for the 5th edition of the 

All Africa Music Awards, 

AFRIMA. 

This was made known when the 

African Union 

Commission, 

AUC, and 

t h e 

International 

Jury of 

the All Africa Music Awards, 

AFRIMA released the highly 

anticipated full list of the regional 

and continental categories of the 

annual awards ceremony to the 

public on Tuesday, via the media 

and on the AFRIMA website. 

Closely following the top 

contenders are Tanzania’s 

Diamond Platnumz and 

Ethiopia’s Betty G who each 

earned six nominations; while 

Simi (Nigeria) 

and Nasty C 

(South 

Africa) 

Tiwa Savage: Life after 

her crashed marriage 

Jay Z’s Roc Nation label, 

which set her for the tops. 

According to 

reports, US rap 

mogul, 

Jay 

Z, was impressed by 

Tiwa’s catalogue and 

profile as he 

sanctioned the deal, 

paving the way 

for Savage to 

perform at 

t h e 

Made 

got on the 5th AFRIMA 

nominees list with five 

nominations apiece. 

“In its position as the biggest 

awards event on the continent, 

AFRIMA rewards the continent’s 

music professionals in 36 

Regional and Continental 

categories including four new 

awards categories namely 

in America concert in 

September, 2016, where 

Rihanna was listed 

as the headliner. 

Talking about 

Savage’s personal 

brand, it hasn’t 

wavered despite the 

reaction her stage 

persona and wardrobe has 

received from her male peers. “I 

stay positive, because my fans 

know me,” she said in an 

interview. “They’ve grown with 

me, they know what to expect… 

Saying that, I do shock 

people once in a while, 

because I don’t want to 

be put in a box.” 

S a v a g e 

demonstrates a 

commitment to 

incredible selfpresentation 

that 

makes every crazy 

costume worn by 

other music stars 

look like child’s 

Copyright Society of Nigeria,COSON, Africa’s 

fastest growing collective management 

organization for musical works and sound 

recordings, has called on its thousands of members across 

the country, other stakeholders in the music industry and 

lovers of music in Nigeria who are sympathetic to the 

plight of creative people in the country, to speak up on 

Saturday, September 1, as Nigeria marks “No Music 

Day” 

Making the call in Lagos, COSON Chairman, Chief 

Tony Okoroji said, “Creative people in Nigeria 

cannot afford to keep quiet as Nigeria goes 

through another electioneering campaign 

process in which no one offers any direction 

for the development and optimal 

deployment of the millions of Nigeria’s 

creative talents for national 

development. We will not be taken for 

granted any more 

“The time has come to make it 

abundantly clear that it is only 

play. 

Her stage 

presence is 

second to none. 

One of the most 

peculiar things 

about Tiwa 

Savage is that 

Rapper, Maitre Gims, Shekhinak top AFRIMA nomination list 

African DJ of the Year; Best 

African Dance/Choreography; 

African Lyricist/Rapper of the Year 

and Best African Act in Diaspora, 

introduced in June 2018 by the 

African Union and the 

International Committee of 

AFRIMA to give room for 

expansion and inclusiveness in 

the African music industry. 

she’s unfailingly polite and 

surprisingly dignified. On stage, 

she’s an enigma. She has 

transformed the Afro pop 

landscape, and many of her 

contemporaries cannot dispute 

this claim. 

Tiwa Savage, Wizkid’s 

rumoured relationship! 

One of the prices of success for 

a pop star is having to live in a 

goldfish bowl under the scrutiny 

of the public eye. And Tiwa 

Savage is sure to have paid such 

prices over and over again. Her 

rumoured relationship with pop 

star, Wizkid is a case in point. 

Since the beginning of the year, 

when Wizkid collaborated with 

diva, and released the track, 

‘Malo,’ all eyes have been on both 

singers. Pundits have argued 

severally that the chemistry 

displayed by both artistes doesn’t 

feel like they were just singing. It 

also didn’t help that ‘Malo’ is a 

love song. As a testament to the 

performance put up by the artistes 

in the song, the video generated 

over 20 million views on YouTube, 

making it one of the most viewed 

videos in Nigeria. At the backdrop 

of speculations about the true 

nature of their relationship, it 

believed Wizkid has encouraged the 

rumours. Putting up a superlative 

performance at the AfroRepublik 

concert, Wizkid stopped the show 

midway to invite Tiwa on stage to 

perform their hit duet, ‘Malo.’ So 

doing, he referred to her as 

‘Someone Special.’ There have 

been other instances where the 

singers left fans guessing. 

But Tiwa Savage recently 

cleared the air, declaring 

on social media that she 

has nothing initmate with 

the starboy. 

Crashed marriage 

If there is anything Savage 

regret most in life is the crashing of 

her marriage to her ex-husband, Tunji 

“Tee Billz” Balogun. The beautiful 

queen of pop would have wished for a 

happy marriage life, but she got a 

knock in return. The marriage, which 

produced a child, Jamil Balogun, was 

contracted on November 23, 2013, and 

after three years, on April 26, 2016, it 

crashed like a pack of cards following 

accusations and counter-accusations 

of infidelity, financial recklessness, 

drug addiction, and abandonment. 

The award-winning music star has 

since moved on, and one cannot 

confirm here if she has found 

solance in the arms of another 

man. 

No music Day: COSON calls on Nigerian 

artistes to speak up to politicians 

politicians who have developed a sensible long-term 

plan for the progress of our industry and have shown 

clear interest in the development of the nation’s 

creative industry that can count on our 

significant support and votes when 

the time comes” 

“No Music Day” can be traced 

to that historic week in 2009 when 

Nigerian artistes of different 

shades embarked on a weeklong 

hunger strike staged in front of the 

National Theatre in Lagos. The 

hunger strike which was a result 

of the frustration caused by the 

devastating level of intellectual 

property theft in the country 

was the prelude to what 

has become 

known as “No 

Music Day” in 

•Tony Okoroji 

Nigeria.


Edited By AYO ONIKOYI 08052201215 

onikoyi68@gmail.com 

•Adeh Gbolahan 

BY ROTIMI AGBANA 

After spending over a decade 

making Jazz music for the 

fun of it, Adeh Gbolahan, a 

Jazz guitarist/musician is 

ready to take his chances on the 

Nigerian music scene with his rare 

breed of Jazz music which he 

describes as ‘Eccentric Jazz’. 

In this interview with Star Tracker, 

he talks about his brand of Jazz 

music, how Jazz music can improve 

tourism in Nigeria and more. 

How did you find yourself doing 

Jazz music? 

It started in the church and on the 

streets. I was born into a Celestial 

home where I started playing 

drums, the ‘Agogo’, a little of base 

guitars, then majorly the guitar. I 

have been doing music 

professionally as an artiste for ten 

years. I have played as back-up for 

many big Nigerian music acts. I’ve 

played for Tiwa Savage, Ice Prince, 

Nigga Raw, Lara George, Segun 

Obe, Sunny Nneji, and a whole lot 

of them. I’ve also done series of 

shows for diplomats at the Abuja 

High Commission. 

Having come this far, why has 

nothing been heard of you? 

Maybe because all this while I have 

not taken it seriously. Jazz is 

different, maybe because I didn’t 

have a management in the past but 

now there is a management on 

ground for me. I’m not God anyway, 

so let it not look like I’m trying to 

defend myself. 

Has music been just a sidekick for 

you? 

Initially it was just for pleasure but 

along the line, I got to know that I’ve 

to be strategic so I began being 

strategic about it last year (2017). 

Ten years down the line, how will 

you describe your music journey? 

Maybe I have been doing more of 

the church thing all this while but 

now it’s about going into the world 

to showcase my talent. 

When music 

becomes 

dirty. . . 

— Adeh 

Gbolahan 

• Says, “ I’m a gospel artiste 

that plays secular music” 

What exactly do you mean? 

The Bible says “Go into the world 

and preach the word”, it didn’t say 

“Go into the church”, and so my 

career is for the world. 

Yes, but any 

music the 

Nigerian 

Broadcasting 

Corporation 

bans, I’m 

sure it’s dirty 

music 

How would you describe your kind 

of artiste? 

I’m a gospel artiste but I play secular 

music. I don’t play dirty music. 

When I say dirty music, I mean the 

‘one corner’ kind of music. But then, 

you can’t style me and say I’m only 

in the church. 

At what point does secular music 

become dirty? 

For me, music is dirty when the 

message becomes dirty. When it 

comes to secular music you don’t 

need to make a nude video. I put 

myself in the category of musicians 

who do inspirational songs because 

I want to inspire people. So, you 

don’t create music and say dirty 

words. 

But isn’t dirty music and nude 

videos what is in vogue now? 

Yes, but any music the Nigerian 

Broadcasting Corporation bans, I’m 

sure it’s dirty music. 

How would you break into 

limelight or make money when you 

don’t make the kind of music in 

vogue? 

I know a lot of artistes who tour the 

world without doing the kind of 

music in vogue. You don’t style 

people using the Nigerian 

environment. 

Would you say active involvement 

in the church was a major drawback 

for your music career? 

Life is in stages; as I’m moving 

forward as an artiste I’m also 

growing and getting better. I’m not 

going to play music for life. One day 

I might decide to be a professor or 

something else. 

How would you describe your 

success in the music industry so far? 

It’s going as planned. It might be 

going slow but it’s good. Things I 

never imagined could happen are 

happening, so I’m happy. But like I 

said I have started reviewing my 

career since last year because it’s 

not the way it used to be. Before, you 

can decide not to release an album 

in like two years but if you do that 

now another person is warming up 

to take your place. 

Since Jazz music isn’t so popular 

in Nigeria, how do you intend to 

break into limelight and maintain 

relevance? 

I’ve made it simple, that’s why 

outside the music that I play I have 

made a mix where I sampled 

different hit songs that people can 

relate to. Yes, it is true that when the 

elites are having their events and 

they want to interact, you see us play 

quiet shows. That doesn’t mean we 

don’t play big shows, it depends on 

the audience. I can play folk jazz, 

traditional jazz and many more. It 

all depends on the audience. It’s 

paying my bills so I’m okay. 

What’s your relationship with other 

musicians who play other genres of 

music? 

It’s just on the basis of exchanging 

pleasantries. You need to 

understand that when people get 

bigger than you things change. 

Imagine, I was friends with Tiwa 

Savage from the past but I need to 

understand that now she has a lot 

of bodyguards around her and I 

can’t just barge in on her. 

Sometimes, some artistes are on 

drugs so, you have to be cautious 

how you relate with them. 

As a greenhorn, you wouldn’t bow 

to Davido or Wizkid? 

Courtesy demands I say “hello” or 

“hi” at least. If we want to take it up 

from there, fine, if we can’t, good. 

We are matured people. If you start 

up a conversation and the second 

person is not reciprocating, there is 

nothing you can do. 

Does this mean that artistes always 

put out songs to sustain relevance? 

In this part of Nigeria, yes, that’s 

what they do. But you know artistes 

like us are performing artistes; 

most times we find ourselves doing 

life shows while others perform on 

stage using CDs or DJs. But we do 

pure life music so there are many 

things involved with us. That’s why 

I said I see myself doing tours 

around the world. 

Do you agree that artistes who 

perform live on stage are the real 

musicians? 

I don’t think so anymore. 

Sometimes, simplicity does it. If you 

look at it from the strategic point, 

that’s what the market needs. 

Of all genres of music why jazz? 

Like I said, epileptic jazz, that 

means you can’t style my music. 

Like my latest mix now is an afro 

pop mix. The jazz is in categories, 

different blend of music. 

Where do you see jazz music in the 

next five years? 

It’s bright because musicians are 

beginning to understand that the 

listeners have a say. So you don’t 

do music for yourself but for the 

listeners. 

Do you think jazz can become as 

big as hip hop and other genres of 

music? 

Yes. In fact it is one of those things 

that will help tourism. 

How can jazz music help tourism? 

Jazz originated from Africa. You see 

all folklore music, there is a way 

you play it in that genre and it will 

be well appreciated. People come 

around for my show because they 

appreciate it.

22—SATURDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 1, 2018 

By ADETUTU ADESOJI 

08157255559(SMS ONLY) 

adetutu.adesoji@gmail.com 

Davido begins 

NYSC in 

Lagos 


p o p 

star, 

David Adeleke 

also known as 

Davido is on 

a journey to 

tying up 

loose ends 

in his life 

as he 

begins the 

one year 

mandatory 

National 

Youth 

Service 

Corps 

(NYSC) in 

Lagos. 

T h e 

singer who 

graduated 

f r o m 

Babcock 

University in 

2 0 1 5 

announced his 

participation in 

the scheme on his 

Instagram page 

where he posted 

a picture of 

himself clothed 

in a complete 

NYSC uniform. 

To Davido, 

serving his 

fatherland 

might be a 

necessity but to 

others like 

Tonto Dike and 

Tunde Ednut, it 

is part of the 

‘IF’ hit maker’s 

plan to vie for a 

political 

position in the 

future. 

Simi 

makes 

Nollywood 

debut 

in 

‘Mokalik’ 

Talented songstress, Simi 

is spreading her 

tentacles in the entertainment 

industry as she recently 

accepted her first movie script. 

The ‘Jamb Question’ singer is 

set to make her acting debut 

in ‘Mokalik’ ( Mechanic), a 

movie by ace film maker, 

Kunle Afolayan. 

The singer will play the 

character Simi; daughter of a 

Buka (cafeteria)owner whose 

character holds a significant 

part in the movie plot. She 

will also act alongside 

Nollywood heavyweights like 

Femi Adebayo, Ayo 

Adesanya, Fathia Williams, 

Lateef Oladimeji and many 

others. 

•Toke 

Makinwa 

•Davido 

Toke Makinwa 

set to launch 

music career 

Media personality and 

author of ‘On Becoming’, 

Toke Makinwa is set to add 

music to her list of careers. The 

entrepreneur and video blogger 

revealed this on her Instagram 

page with a picture of herself 

during a studio session and 

captioned it “Something is 

coming, working with the 

greatest Cobhams Asuquo. I 

intend to live my life with no 

regret, no opportunity wasted 

and no looking back 

•Anto 

super excited. 

#onbecomingmore, 

9ice 

remarries via 

social media 

Indigenious singer, 

Abolore Akande 

popularly known as 9ice 

has given marriage another 

shot years after failed 

marriage with first wife, 

Toni Payne. However, 

unlike his first publicly 

celebrated wedding 

ceremony, his traditional 

wedding with U.S- based 

Engineer, Adetola was 

witnessed by few friends 

and family only. Also, 

Adetola who 

was unable to 

visit Nigeria for 

the ceremony gave 

her speech through 

social media video 

application, Skype. 

I’m the best 

artiste in 

Nigeria, 

Oritsefemi 

declares 

•Simi 

The popular saying, “If 

you don’t blow your 

trumpet, who will?” might just 

be ringing true for singer and 

songwriter, Oritsefemi who 

has crowned himself the best 

artiste in Nigeria. The 

‘Double Wahala’ crooner took 

to his Twitter page to make 

the declaration as he took a 

swipe at ‘Hypocrites’ who, 

according to him, have 

refused to play his new song 

•9ice 

•Oritsefemi 

and also give 

awards based on 

familiarity. He 

wrote, “I know 

some people will 

be waiting for me 

to buy them car 

before they play my 

songs that I just dropped 

lately and still give all the 

awards to their people too. 

I’m still the best artist Nigeria 

has produced.” 

“Hypocrite, them no sha fit 

pursue me from my own 

country, that na one thing I 

know for sure,” he added. 

Anto survives 

auto crash 

Former Big Brother Naija 

contestant, Anto is 

thankful for life as she 

recently survived a car 

accident. According to her, 

“When people were 

celebrating Eid with their 

families, I was having a neardeath 

experience. But I thank 

the Almighty Allah for life.” 

The reality star shared the 

news on Instagram with a 

picture of her damaged car as 

she further urged her fans to 

make the most of their lives.


My experience running against 13 male 

presidential aspirants — Prof Sonaiya 

BY EBUN SESSOU & 

ELIZABETH UWANDU 

PROF. Oluremi Sonaiya, the 

only female presidential 

candidate under the auspices 

of KOWA party during the 2015 

general election recently launched 

her fourth book titled , “One 

Woman's Race”, that chronicled her 

experience running against 13 male 

contestants. 

One woman's race a -123-page 

short book with four sections after 

the Introduction comprised 

of; “How did I get here; What 

would my message be? The 

manifesto and On the road; 

and Processing it all , and the 

concluded pages on 

appendixes spoke on the 

issues of gender in politics, 

god-fatherism , backlash 

and schism moneybag 

politics and the roles of volunteers 

and family support among others. 

At the launch held last week at NIAA 

in Lagos that had family members 

that included her husband, Prof. 

Babafunso Sonaiya , her daughter, 

Sola with her baby, few friends and 

acquaintance, who co- chaired by 

Mr Fola Adeola, founder of 

Guaranty Trust Bank, GTB and 

Princess Abiodun Omotade, the 

former senior lecturer, Obafemi 

Awolowo University, Ile-Ife said the 

book among other things was to tell 

the world that gender do not decide 

IF ever there were an odd duo, it 

would be that of Senate 

President Bukola Saraki and 

Senator Dino Melaye. While the 

Kogi born politician's garrulous, 

gregarious and grim demeanor is 

construed to be in keeping with his 

unionist background, his 'cousin' 

from Kwara is smooth, silent - 

almost like a predator moving on 

the prey in terms of precision. The 

suave Saraki and the salacious 

Melaye however have formed an 

informal alliance which nonetheless 

has defined the tone of present 

politics, particularly in these last 

days of the great pre election year . 

They do have enough in common 

, mostly deriving from the fact of 

their coming from the same 

geopolitical zone and being rebels 

of sorts while in the ruling party. 

Surely, having common enemies 

can make for a good alliance, but 

ambulance chasing and constant 

firefighting is not the same as 

•Remi Sonaiya 

who win or loss elections, but what 

really matter was one’s belief, 

conviction and values of an aspirant. 

It therefore came as a rude shock 

when Remi told the audience during 

her session with Mrs Toun Okewale 

Sonaiya, founder, WFM 91.7,the 

first radio station for women in 

Nigeria these words, “ I was not 

running because I am a woman; 

however, haven't ran in the midst of 

14 presidential candidates as a 

woman did not go unnoticed.” she 

said. 

In the midst of being quizzed by Mrs 

Saraki, Melaye and the 

Ojude Oba Festival 

staying on a war path with the 

executive. 

The trouble with any tussle 

between the executive and the 

federal legislator is that the 

legislator is always at a 

disadvantage in the power 

dynamics. The executive is king and 

Lord of his manor, while the 

legislator is merely an ambassador 

in a 'strange ' land. While the 

executive is playing home matches 

in perpetuity, The legislator is 

almost always playing away, far 

from the area from which his power 

is derived while his power base is 

left incredibly vulnerable. In fact 

upsetting the balance of a sitting 

legislator is the easiest thing in the 

world. 

All his opposition needs to do is 

wait for him to go to Abuja and 

begin to engage sponsor someone 

at home to consistently engage his 

base while pointing out to them the 

legislator 's missteps and evidences 

of poor representation in far away 

Sonaiya, three key points formed the basic 

of the Professor's journey into joining 

politics. They were the issue of gender, 

her intern on running and the desire of 

Nigerians to embracing change. On 

the issue of whether gender or not 

played a part in her contesting for the 

number one position in Nigeria, the Prof. 

Of Languages has this to say, “Back to 

the gender issue. Of course , I was mindful 

of the fact that being the only woman 

among fourteen presidential candidates 

could not go unnoticed; nonetheless, I did 

not go into the race waving a gender flag or 

particularly with the intention of 

primarily championing gender 

issues. I did not want to. Even 

though “ women in politics had 

become a big issue 

internationally, especially 

with more women 

assuming leadership 

positions in their 

countries. I knew I was 

not running simply because I was a 

woman who felt that “ women too 

should be given a chance.” All 

through my professional career, I 

had competed on an equal footing 

with men, never seeking, expecting 

nor accepting any concessions on 

account of my gender, “she said. 

However despite her conviction that 

leadership should never be based on 

gender, the academician lamented 

the dangers of living politics in the 

hands of male.” We should not allow 

the male dominated society. 

Nobody needs to dominate another 

person as we are all human beings 

Abuja. While true constituencies are 

difficult to sway , it also depends on 

who is behind the swaying, and how 

deep their pockets are. The trouble 

with Saraki is that, having been 

governor, he seems to have badly 

managed expetations of his present 

position. 

The Melaye Saraki hangout can 

present more problems than it 

solves and it is not for the reasons 

most people think. The fact that 

Senator Dino is given to 

entertainment and is blessed with 

a hilarious disposition doesn't mean 

he has nothing upstairs or that he 

cannot come up with great ideas, 

while Senator Saraki's mien of 

introspection does not guarantee 

that his mind will generate useful 

deliberations. It is merely a matter 

of context, and how the public 

perception of the activity is 

managed. Their eminent colleague 

Senator Adeleke rose to sudden 

fame on the back of his dance floor 

dexterity and has faced severe 

criticism from many quarters while 

international presidential aspirant 

Kindsley Moghalu went dancing on 

the campaign ground in Eastern 

Nigeria last week, and was hailed 

for having a more easy going side 

than he had exposed to the public 

Prof(Mrs)Remi Sonaiya (2nd right); Prof. Babafunso 

Sonaiya (1st right); and their daughter, Sola, at the book 

launch in Lagos. 

created by God. So, it is important 

that women be part of decision 

making process of a the country. If 

we don’t allow women, we are shortchanging 

ourselves because we are 

not making full use of our 

potentials.” 

On whether she would contest again, 

the 2015 lone-woman KOWA 

presidential candidate said she 

would definitely run. Her words, 

“On running again. Yes, I am 

contesting in 2019. Did I lose the 

first time? I didn't lose. We are too 

narrowed minded in our conception 

of what success is. There are many 

ways of influencing thing. Since my 

election, several women have come 

In fact the pair 

have more in 

common than 

one might have 

thought, not 

least of all that 

they individually 

have scandal 

rapsheets one 

mile long 

prior to this time. 

In fact the pair have more in 

common than one might have 

thought, not least of all that they 

individually have scandal 

rapsheets one mile long. Showing 

up at the Ojude Oba festival in the 

company of Dino Melaye might 

have been a complete faux pas- one 

which has cost Saraki a unique 

opportunity to address the nation 

unhindered , and in the presence of 

the South West elite, one with which 

he is already very familiar. If there 

is any lesson to be learned it is that 

we underestimate the complexity of 

this country and often apply a one 

size fits all approach to our 

interaction with people from 

different geopolitical zones. 

From the hostility of the crowd at 

to me to say I am running because 

of you? How then, do you say I lost? 

It is good to take stand with 

something and I am happy I took 

the decision to run.” 

She however has a caution for those 

who would be contesting in 2019 to 

avoid borrowing money for their 

campaigns and elections. “My 

advice for anyone running is not to 

borrow money for election, spend 

the one you have. 

The book, “One woman’s race in all 

chronicled, the Prof. Remi Sonaiya’s 

experience as the only woman among 13 

male presidential contestants; the role of 

volunteering and the impact of family 

support system for anyone vying for political 

post, “she said. 

Ojude Oba, , Saraki has felt the pulse 

of the Ijebu youths concerning him. 

While the Awujale did the right thing 

by telling off those behind the 

hostilities, what is done is done and 

those who have nothing to lose 

basically ought to be believed better 

those who do. The prestigious Ijebu 

Ode festival is a tradition that has 

come to stay; not only pulling the 

people of Ijebu Ode back home year 

after year, but also bringing in a vast 

range of high quality tourists who 

give the town's economy a serious 

boost each year. Little by little, it has 

been tainted with politics and if this 

is an undesirable thing overall, it 

has given the spectator youth 

greater political awareness and the 

courage to speak to power. Shouting 

expletives at visitors is not nice and 

the Awujale condemned the act as 

a good father ought to do, but the 

youth has spoken from the 

abundance of its heart. 

The issue is that Saraki is not 

choosing his friends carefully 

enough and in choosing them , he 

is using parameters that are guided 

by emotions rather than pure 

strategy. The Dino/Bukola team is 

holding on to a very strategic buffer 

zone in the country; and the fact that 

they continue to to overcome plots 

to topple them says a lot about 

theirpolitical solidity. If either of 

them wishes to expand his scope 

and become more relevant in 

national politics, they will have to 

make more friends- particularly in 

the ranks of friends who were once 

foes. The most important skill a 

Nigerian politician needs to pick up 

towards 2019 is the ability to turn 

bitter political enemies into 

strategic best friends for mutual 

benefits.


By AYO ONIKOYI 08052201215 

onikoyi68@gmail.com 

AMVCA live tonight 

as the die is cast 

T 

he 6 th Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards hold tonight at the Eko Hotel and Suites, 

Victoria Island, Lagos, from where it will be broadcast live on all Africa Magic channels on Dstv and Gotv from pm West 

African Time (WAT). 

The awards show which made its debut in 2013, is billed to be bigger with actors across the continent vying for honours 

in the voting and non-voting categories. A total of 135 nominees have been announced for 27 different categories. Out of all these 

27 categories only seven have been subjected to public voting. The categories are: namely;Best Actor in a Comedy (Movie/TV 

Series), Best Actor in a Drama (Movie/TV Series), Best Supporting Actor in a Drama (Movie/Series), Best Actress in a Comedy 

(Movie/TV Series), Best Actress in a Drama (Movie/TV Series), Best Supporting Actress in a Drama (Movie/Series) and Best 

Short Film or Online Video. 

However, with the primary focus of the event being the recognition and rewarding of film and television talent for their 

outstanding work, viewers can look forward to their favourite stars lifting awards for categories like Best Actor/Actress, Best 

Producer and the most coveted award, Movie of the Year. 

It is sure going to be a night of glitz, honours, accolades, disappointment, speeches and of course roller-coastal entertainment. 

Here are some of the reasons to look forward to the night. 

•Rita Dominic 

(Nominee, Best 

Actress, 

Comedy) 

•Adesuwa Etomi W 

( Nominee, Best 

Actress, Comedy ) 

The Hosts 

Nigerian media personality, IK 

Osakioduwa will return to host the 

show alongside South African 

media belle, Minnie Dlamini. The 

duo hosted the last two consecutive 

editions of the show and had great 

synergy on stage. 

Speeches 

Viewers can expect anything from 

comedic to tear-jerking speeches by 

the award winners as they render 

praises and appreciation to their 

fans and organisers of the award 

show. 

Live Performances 

Lighting up the stage are some of 

Nigeria’s biggest and awardwinning 

musicians including song 

writer and producer, Cobhams 

Asuquo, rapper and song writer, Falz 

and highlife singer, Adekunle Gold. 

The night promises an exciting 

and diverse line-up of stellar 

performances as viewers will also 

get to see live on stage the 

SEKI traditional dance 

troupe. The dance drama 

group are heavily 

influenced by traces of 

American tap dance 

which originate from 

five different 

masquerade groups 

of the lower Niger 

Delta area of 

Nigeria. 

Fashion 

Undoubtedly 

a highlight of 

the event, 

second only to 

the receiving 

of awards, the 

AMVCA red 

c a r p e t 

gathers the best 

of African fashion 

under one roof: 

from the classy, 

urbane and hip to 

the eccentric, 

unpredictable and 

even downright 

confusing, viewers 

can expect to be 

entertained straight 

from the red carpet 

and onstage. 

Celebrity Line-up 

AMVCA boasts the largest 

gathering of African celebrities and 

socialites from all walks of life; 

beyond being a gathering of the 

continent’s best film and TV talent, 

it is also an event where top tier 

professionals, celebrities, socialites 

and social media superstars gather 

to celebrate the best of African 

filmmaking. 

Honours roll 

Of course, there will be winners 

and losers. Of all the 27 categories 

the cynosure of all eyes will be the 

following categories and one can 

expect the gladiators to be as excited 

as the audience. 

Best Overall Movie: Potato 

Potahto – Shirley Frimpong-Manso; 

Alter Ego – Moses Inwang; 

18 Hours – Phoebe Ruguru; 

Devil’s Chest – Hassan Mageye; 

Descent – Awal Abdulfatai; The 

Road to Sunrise – Shemu Joyah. 

Best Director: Moses Inwang 

– Alter Ego; Aloaye Omoake – 

Idemuza; Asurf Oluseyi – 

Hakkunde; 

Don Omope – Tatu; Jade 

Osiberu – Isoken; Mulindwa 

Richard – The Torture; 

Shirley Frimpong-Manso – 

Potato Potahto. 

Best Actress in a Drama/ 

TV Series : Agaba Joan – The 

Torture;Keira Hewatch – The 

Witness Box; 

Miriam Kayode – Children of 

Mud;Cinderella Sanyu – Bella; 

Omotola Jalade Ekeinde – Alter 

Ego; 

Lilian Echelon – Black Rose. 

Best Actor in a Drama/TV 

Series:Wale Ojo – Alter Ego; Kalu 

Ikeagwu – Benevolence;Rushabiro 

Raymond – The Torture;Adjetey 

Anang – Keteke; Adjetey Anang – 

Side chic Gang;Chris Attoh – Esohe. 

Best Actor In A Comedy: Kalu 

Ikeagwu – Dr Meekam:IK 

Ogbonna – Excess Luggage: 

Blossom Chukwujekwu – The Big 

Fat Lie: Odunlade Adekola – A 

Million Baby: OC Ukeje – Potato 

Potahto: 

Jimmy Olukoya – Guyn Man. 

Best Actress in A Comedy /TV 

Series: Rita Dominic – Big Fat Lie: 

Adesua Etomi – 10 days in Sun City: 

Queen Nwokoye – Excess 

Luggage:Bimbo Ademoye – Backup 

Wife: Dakore Akande – Isoken: 

Nyce Wanueri – Auntie Boss. 

•Cobhams 

(Performer) 

•Adekunle Gold 

(Performer) 

•Wale Ojo (Nominee, 

Best Actor) 

•Omotola 


Actress) 

•IK Ogbonna 


Actor, Comedy) 

•Minnie 

Dlamini (Host) 

•Falz (Performer) 

•IK Osakioduwa 

(Host)


ROTIMI AGBANA 

07054964685 

EMAIL: rotimiagbana@gmail.com 

2FACE IDIBIA SPITS FIRE 

Nigerians should stop 

celebrating criminals 

•Tuface 

Quest for 

quick fame kills 

talent—MI Abaga 

Nigerian rapper, M.I Abaga, who just released 

his fourth studio album titled ‘Yung Denzel: 

A Story on Self Worth’, has declared that the quest 

for quick fame has killed a lot of talents in the 

Nigerian music industry 

Speaking to Showtime in an exclusive chat, he 

lamented how the quest for quick fame has killed 

so many talents. 

“I have traveled all over this country and I have 

met so many rappers and aspiring rappers. When 

they rap for me, I hear all the talent, skill and 

prowess they have, but due to the pressure to be 

successful quickly, many have put aside their gifts 

to search for an easier path. I ask myself who is 

encouraging them to keep going and do better, 

be better performers and have 

better style. Also, where are the 

platforms to help promote 

and establish the next 

generation of great talents, 

what structures are in place 

to give these rappers a 

chance to share their poetry 

with the world in 

2018”, he said. 

He added 

that he 

doesn’t 

share in the 

belief that 

rap culture 

•MI Abaga 

is gradually 

dying on 

t h e 


m u s i c 

scene. 

What I do when I’m negatively criticised — Alariwo 

Veteran musician and broadcaster, 

Rotimi Martins, aka Alariwo of 

Africa, has reacted to reports that he 

is a struggling artiste who 

maintains relevance only 

because of his activities as a 

broadcaster. 

Reacting to the recent 

report in a chat with 

Showtime, the singer whose 

music held sway of some sort in 

the nineties said ignoring such 

negative statements about his 

credibility and relevance in 

the music industry gives 

him inner peace. 

“Learning to ignore 

such statement is the 

key to inner peace. I’m 

glad the reporter said 

I’m a broadcaster and 

Popular afro-pop singer, 2Baba 

Idibia, has shared his thoughts on 

the forthcoming general elections 

in Nigerian. 

2Face, who spoke to Showtime in 

a chat, advised the youths to stop 

celebrating criminally-minded 

politicians who are only out to loot 

public funds. 

“My advice to the youths is that 

we should begin to celebrate what 

is right. We should stop celebrating 

criminals; we should stop hyping 

people that have done nothing to 

benefit us. Imagine, someone 

wakes one morning and suddenly 

becomes a Senator with a lot of money; people will begin to 

celebrate him/her even when he has done nothing for his people. 

When you campaign for votes and you finally win, you’ve to have 

something to show for those votes. So, we need to begin to 

celebrate people who are genuine and not criminals”, he said. 

Hopeful that Nigerians would not be deceived by political 

antics again, he wished for peaceful, credible elections. 

Davido too big to banter words 

with label owner alleging contract 

breach – Peruzzi’s manager 

Recently, Patrick Anyaene, owner 

of Golden Boy Entertainment, 

accused Davido, of cheating him by 

signing his former artiste, Peruzzi, to 

Davido Music Worldwide. He also 

accused Peruzzi of breaching the three 

years contract he signed with Golden 

Boy Entertainment by officially signing 

on to Davido Music Worldwide. 

The feud started on Instagram when 

Patrick wrote that he is responsible for 

all Davido’s hit songs since November 

2017. According to Patrick, all the songs 

Davido has released since November 

2017, including ‘Fia’, ‘Ada’ with DJ 

Ecool, ‘Mind’ and ‘Aje’, by DMW 

artistes, and even all songs they might 

be currently working on, are all original 

properties of Golden Boy 

UK based Nigerian singer, 

Gbenga Eniola Egbeyemi, 

better known as Gee4, has 

Entertainment, his record label. 

However, when Showtime reached out to 

Peruzzi, his manager, Abiola Ridwan Sanni, 

said neither Peruzzi nor Davido is ready 

to banter words with Patrick over the 

matter because they know he is just 

desperate for cheap fame which he 

will come to nothing but regret 

on his part. 

“I really have nothing to say 

about Patrick’s allegations; 

he is the one who wants to 

be talking up and down. He 

is the one who wants to blow. 

He is the one who needs fame, so he 

should keep on doing the media thing he 

has been doing up and down. Like he said, 

he has no problem with Davido, so, I don’t 

think I want to say any other thing. 

Why women in the UK prefer 

Nigerian men — Gee4 

that I am still known in the entertainment 

business. Relevance is okay by me. When people 

say such, they do not know what we are doing or 

cooking. I’m a brand and will remain one. Only 

time will tell if I’ve faded or not. But I bless 

God for everything that he has done and 

still doing for me and my family”, 

Alariwo said. He added that most people 

have a wrong impression about the source 

of income of artistes. 

“What some people don’t understand is 

that music isn’t the only source of income 

for some of us. I just laughed when 

I read that report; I don’t need 

to be vexed because Lagbaja 

too was mentioned. All I do 

when I read such stories is 

to look up to God and tell 

him to take control”, he 

said. 

•Alariwo 

affirmed that contrary to the popular 

belief that Nigerian men are seen 

as bad people abroad, 

women in the UK prefer 

falling in love with Nigerian 

men than any other 

nationality. 

Gee4 who is gradually 

stamping his feet on the 

Nigerian music scene 

explained to Showtime in a chat why 

women in the UK prefer Nigerian 

men. 

“Yes, they like Nigerian men a lot. In the 

United Kingdom people don’t disrespect 

Nigerians or think we are all fraudsters. A lot of 

White women I know like to hang out with me because 

I am a Nigerian. They believe Nigerians know how to take 

care of women, especially Yoruba men. They also know that 

we are talented, hardworking and go-getters.” 

According to the ‘Kirakita’ singer who grew up living with 

his grandma after losing his mom at a tender age, the 

challenges he had to grapple with as a youngster have 

become inspirations for his music career today. 

“I hope so, because that would depend on 

the electorate. I’m hoping that Nigerians will 

understand that politicians should not use 

them again; I’m hoping that they would 

understand that these people will tell their 

usual stories, but we also should tell our own 

story this time around”, he said. 

He advised the government to improve on 

communication with the masses. 

“My advice is that they should speak to the 

people more, they should let us know what’s 

happening. When people don’t know what’s 

happening they tend to talk, they tend to 

argue. When we hear something in the news 

tomorrow we don’t even know if it’s the truth 

or a lie because the government doesn’t even 

talk to us; we don’t even know what’s going 

on. And that is a major issue; they should let 

the people know what’s going on, so, that the 

people can participate and be actively 

involved in the governance of the nation. The 

government should carry the people along”, 

he advised. 

•Gee4 

•Davido

24—SATURDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 1, 2018 

Luc 

ucky Igbinedion, Sullivan Chime 

resurface after many year 

ears 

...because of Akpabio 

Former Edo state Governor 

Chief Lucky Nosakhare 

Igbinedion and Barrister 

Sullivan Iheanacho Chime 

former Governor of Enugu state 

are considered by many as the 

two most reclusive former 

governors in Nigeria rarely 

granting interviews or 

attending regular political 

events. 

But they resurfaced a few 

weeks ago at two separate and 

unrelated events . 

And this appearance was 

because of no other person than 

the former Senate Minority 

leader and former Governor of 

Akwa Ibom state Chief 

Godswill Akpabio who in not 

too distant past decamped from 

his People Democratic Party to 

the All Progressives Congress. 

One of these appearances 

was for Akpabio while the other 

was against him 

Chief Igbinedion journeyed 

from Benin city to Uyo to 

allegedly in solidarity support 

to Governor Emmanuel Udom 

who is now remobilising his 

forces since the defection of his 

godfather, Akpabio, Mr. 

Uncommon Transformation 

former to APC. 

For ex governor Chime of 

Enugu, he was at Ozom, 

Aguobu Owa , Enugu state 

after many years of not being 

in the spotlight to be with ex 

governor Akpabio once again. 

Akpabio was in Enugu for the 

burial of his wife’s grand mum 

Mama Mercy Uduoku Neife 

Igwenagu nee Adinde. 

The two ex Governors have 

in the nearest past rarely 

granted interviews or attended 

heavy duty political events 

except private gatherings. 

Igbinedion had restricted 

himself to calling the shots at 

his Oredo PDP ward and to his 

close crew of former staff who 

served under him. He is also 

said to only attend social 

events of close friends and 

family. Inside sources say he 

is worried about the state of the 

nation and decided to enter the 

turf to give PDP an edge come 

2019. At the Uyo rally Chief 

Igbinedion had presidential 

aspirant Rabiu Musa 

Kwakwanso on ground. 

And for ex Governor Chime 

who was dressed in his trade 

mark sky blue or ash colored 

top jacket, his successor Enugu 

Olorogun Oskar Ibru, the 

articulate socialite first son 

of renowned business guru 

Late Michael Ibru who runs 

and oversees the many 

activities of the Ibru 

organization turned 60 years 

recently. 

For the man who means 

different things to many people 

plenty things are still 

happening around since that 

day despite that he marked the 

day with sober reflections. 

Aside from his son Chris 

preparing to give him a second 

grandchild after getting 

married to Ibiyinka Akinnola in 

a well attended ceremony in 

Lagos, insiders say Olorogun 

Oskar feels so blessed in his 

new age and wants to devote 

the next phase of his life to 

farming in his Delta state 

village home. 

In the past few years, 

Olorogun Oskar has been 

spending more time at the 

village where he had acquired 

over 4000 acres of land for this 

new interests in agriculture. 

In an interview he granted 

Encomium a few years back he 

state Governor Chief Ifeanyi 

Ugwuanyi was on ground to 

join him in solidarity with 

Akpabio. 

One of the interesting issues 

about the Chime appearance is 

that it has put paid to rumours 

that the ex governor was 

battling ill health. 

OSKAR IBRU @60: 

His plans for 

the next phase 

of his life 

had talked about going home 

to live and farm “I am retiring 

in three years from Lagos. I am 

going into cassava business; I 

have about 4,000 hectares of 

land. I am growing cassava 

right now. I have the largest 

piggery in the country, with 

over 2,000 pigs. I have a 

poultry farm with about 25,000 

birds. I have archery, I have a 

very massive fish pond and I 

am going into agriculture full 

time. And if you want to see me, 

come to Aghara Otor, seven 

minutes drive from Ughelli, 

which is 20 minutes from Warri 

and you can find me in my 

home. And you are welcome 

to my house of palm wine, red 

oil, soap, fish, pigs, banga soup 

and chicken”. 

Will he change his life style? 

It does not seem so as he 

confirmed that “My business 

principle is do unto others 

what you want others to do unto 

you. Love thy neighbours as 

thyself. Cut your coat according 

to your cloth, know yourself no 

be curse. Simple as that. My 

mother trained me that way. 

An expensive simplicity. Very 

important”. 

OLOROGUN Oskar 

Christopher Eyovbirere Ibru is 

Otunba Bayejo of Ijebuland 

and Odomese of Olomu 

Kingdom. He was a former 

president of the Nigeria 

Shippers council. 

Two German based Nigerian 

journalists unite against 

unplanned migration 

Kenneth Gbandi and Femi 

Awoniyi are two Nigerian 

journalists plying their trade in 

Germany. Gbandi publishes 

African Heritage, the first 

African life style magazine 

with base in Hamburg 

Germany. He also organizes 

the very popular Miss Africa 

Germany while Awoniyi 

founded African Courier, 

International news magazine 

published in Berlin Germany 

and widely circulated across 

Europe. 

However, at this time, the duo 

are not editing the next edition 

of their magazine but have 

forged an alliance to enlighten 

Nigerian young people on the 

ills of unplanned emigration to 

Europe through the tortuous 

irregular means of the Sahara 

desert and the Mediterranean 

sea . 

In the enlightenment dubbed 

‘Look before you leave’ first 

launched in Lagos , Gbandi’s 

African German Information 

center (AGIC)and Awoniyi’s 

African Courier Verlag 

combine with the support of 

the German Foreign Affairs 

Office to spread the message 

of safe migration to Europe. 

The duo unanimously says 

Enough is Enough to forced 

prostitution, slave labour, death 

on the sea or on the desert trail 

all of which are consequences 

of irregular migration. 

Since the launch of the project 

, now dubbed Migration 

Enlightenment Project Nigeria 

in Lagos last year, Gbandi and 

Awoniyi have been touring 

Africa and Nigerian states to 

educate likely victims of 

unplanned migration. 

Just last week, the 

Stakeholders’ Roundtable 

Dialogue on Migration’ 

organized by MEPN held in 

Abuja. The series of 

consultations with civil society 

on irregular migration have 

just begun and will travel 

across the nation to major cities 

like Enugu, Benin, Lagos, 

Warri and Ibadan much later in 

the year. 

The event brought together 

youths, parents, journalists, 

•Kenneth 

artists, educationists and 

religious leaders, among 

others, to exchange ideas and 

experiences on the issues 

deriving from irregular 

migration. 

According to Awoniyi “In the 

course of my work as publisher 

of African Courier, I 

encountered victims of 

irregular migration from 

Nigeria. I met many asylum 

seekers and noted specially 

their many tales of woe. I have 

also covered and reported 

events where many African 

bodies were recovered from the 

high sea and it is not a good 

sight at all. So MEPN seeks to 

sensitize society to the 

problems of irregular migration 

and the enormous costs that 

families and the nation pay. My 

advice is that young people 

should explore education as a 

reason to emigrate to Germany 

and indeed other parts of 

Europe because it guarantees 

the future” 

He further said that the 

“current campaign is a followup 

to the one of last year in 

Lagos which attracted our core 

audience” 

For Gbandi who is also 

President of Nigeria in 

Diaspora Organisation Europe 

and organizer of the Miss 

Nigeria Germany “the 

enormity of the illegal migration 

problem is being 

underestimated. As NIDOE 

president, I am worried by the 

regular reports of victims. We 

receive letters from those 

caught in the web of 

prostitution, slavery and other 

vices. I want to tell young 

Nigerians; don’t fall victim of 

human traffickers. Better seek 

reliable information about 

where you want to go. I mean 

the situation of things in the 

country of your desired 

destination. That is not all; find 

out what is legal requirements 

to get there. Is there work? 

What kind of work? Will I have 

the permission to work? I want 

youths to look inwards to see if 

there are no better alternatives 

to migration. Please look before 

you leave” 

•Femi



njokujamin@yahoo.com 

08111813022 

Genevieve Nnaji soars 

...as her directorial debut ‘Lionheart’ 

premieres at 2018 TIFF 

Top Nollywood actress, Genevieve Nnaji’s career is about to receive 

a boost as her directorial debut, ‘LionHeart’ has been 

announced as an official selection in the Discovery Section of the 

Toronto International Film Festival,TIFF, opening on September 6 

and will run till 16, 2018. 

Set in Southeast Nigeria, LionHeart tells the story of a young 

woman, Adaeze Obiagu (Genevieve Nnaji), who becomes 

saddled with the responsibility of running her sick father’s 

business under the suffocating supervision of an intensely 

crude and eccentric uncle. Her competing business 

instincts and family obligations become a catalyst for 

drastic change not everyone is ready to embrace. 

“Film making is what I love to do,” declared 

Genevive. “I am grateful to have had the chance to 

share my love with millions over the years. ‘LionHeart’ 

is the beginning of a journey to explore and express 

my creative interpretation of story-telling, particularly 

African stories. Africa is a possessor of the most 

compelling stories as yet untold, and we are 

determined to tell our stories, our way, through our 

voices, to the world. And TIFF is the perfect launch 

for the film.” 

Genevieve who would also be seen at TIFF 

performing alongside Kate Beckinsale in the highly 

anticipated film, Farming from Director Adewale 

Akinnuoye-Agbaje, was also celebrated at TIFF 

2013 in ‘Half of a Yellow Sun.’ 

A story about hard-nosed rivalry and often 

contrarian efforts to rescue an ailing business, 

LionHeart is “equal parts family drama, female 

empowerment and a humorous charmer,” said 

producer Chinny Onwugbenu. “We 

assembled a cast of Nigeria’s most respected 

and revered screen icons ncluding Pete 

Edochie, Nkem Owoh, Onyeka Onwenu, 

Kanayo .O. Kanayo, Chika Okpala, Kalu 

Ikeagwu, Sanni Mu’azu, Yakubu 

Mohammed, Ngozi Ezeonu, Peter Okoye 

(P-Square) and Chibuzor Azubuike 

among others. 

20 students make MultiChoice TFA list 

MultiChoice has released 

the list of 20 students 

selected chosen as the first 

intakes of the MultiChoice 

Talent Factory Academy. The 

candidates were 

chosen after a 

two-month 

l o n g 

process of 

shortlisting 

candidates 

from over 

•John Ugbe, 

MD, Multi-choice 

Nigeria 

3 000 entries from Nigeria and Ghana. 

This was followed by a rigorous 

interview and adjudication process by a 

group of film and television industry 

experts and MultiChoice regional 

Academy Director, Femi Odugbemi. 

The 20 future filmmakers were 

selected based on their industryrelated 

qualifications and skills, as 

well as their passion to narrate 

Africa’s unique stories. Those 

selected include Idongesit Amba, 

Allen Onyige, Gilbert Bassey, 

Precious Iroagalachi, Nanret Paul 

Kumbet, Akpera Mnena, 

Umm’salma Saliu, Ugwu Uchenna 

Eileen and Sonia Nwosu. Others 

are Moses Akerele, Metong 

Minwon, Bolaji Adelakun, Joseph 

Adeniyi, Kemi Tamara 

Adeyemi, Tochukwu 

Nwaiwu, Blessing 

Bulus from Nigeria 

and Edmund 

Kobby Asamoah, 

Henry Konadu 

Denkyira, 

Irene Dumevi 

Yaamoakoa, 

Patience 

Esiawonam 

Adisenu from 

•Genevieve 

Nnaji 

Ghana, who will represent the West 

African region at the Nigeria-based MTF 

Academy from 1 October. 

MultiChoice will sponsor the students’ 

tuition, accommodation and stipend for 

the duration of their training in each the 

academy. 

“As a company that is deeply rooted in 

Nigeria, we understand that many 

young, aspiring filmmakers have the 

capacity to learn and strengthen their 

skillset to give back to their communities 

but may not be financially equipped to 

do so. The MultiChoice Talent Factory 

focuses on making sure that those gems 

are nurtured, and their talents developed 

to contribute meaningfully to Africa’s 

creative industry,” said John Ugbe, 

Managing Director. 

The MTF Academy students will be 

provided with skillsets to develop their 

talent, connect with industry 

professionals and tell authentic African 

stories through a comprehensive 

curriculum comprising theoretical 

knowledge and hands-on experience in 

cinematography, editing, audio 

production and storytelling. During the 

programme, MTF Academy students will 

produce television and film content that 

will be aired on our local M-Net channels 

across the MultiChoice platform. 

I have dumped 

my Presidential 

ambition 

-----Actor Ugezu 

Popular actor cum director, Ugezu. 

J.Ugezu who early this year, declared 

his intention to run for President in 2019, on 

the platform of Youth Democratic Party,YDP, 

has dumped his ambition. 

Ugezu made this known in a recent chat 

with NollyNow. He said he’s stepping down 

because the political system in the country 

does not provide the space for young 

presidential aspirants like himself to actualize 

their dreams. 

Ugezu lamented the exorbitant monetary 

demand people are making from him for 

mainly declaring to serve the country, 

maintaining that it’s part of the reasons he 

decided to dumped his presidential ambition 

as it showed him that there is something 

fundamentally wrong with Nigeria. 

In the meantime, the popular actor who’s 

best known for his role in movies as a 

grandmaster in the occult world, said he 

would be throwing his full weight behind the 

former Deputy Governor of Central Bank of 

Nigeria, CBN, Chief Kingsley Chiedu 

Moghalu who recently declared to run for 

President in 2019, on the platform of Young 

Progressive Party,YPP. The actor said apart 

from sharing the same political ideology with 

him,the former Deputy Governor of CBN has 

an edge over him as a political economist, 

lawyer and a former United nations official. 

In his words, “My political ambition has 

always been about transforming Nigeria and 

getting things to work again. I belong to 

the school of thought which believe that 

Nigeria is not working, and politics is not 

played the way it should be played. We are 

dwelling so much on criticisms and religious 

issues. The structure we have in Nigeria does 

not encourage development.” 

“I am just a film maker and I never worked 

in any government establishment, where 

people steal money. And I have no money 

to begin to share to people because I am 

coming out to serve my country. We have 

grown to see politics as a business and no 

longer as a call to serve the country,”he 

bemoned. Recall that Ugezu and another 

Nollywood producer, Victor Okhai 

separately indicated their interests in vying 

for the highest office in the country on the 

platform of YDP. 

•Ugezu J. 

Ugezu

Nzegwu: First t Nigerian militar 

ary y pilot 

Theophilus Enwezor Nzegwu is 

not often mentioned by 

Nigerians who are more familiar 

with the name Chukwuma Patrick 

Nzeogwu. They were majors in 1966, 

one from Onitsha, the other from 

Okpanam. Both were commissioned 

in 1959 and died on July 29. 

Nzegwu was winged as a Flying 

Officer of the Royal Air Force straight 

from the RAF Holton School of 

Technical Training, England. By 

1962, he was a Flight Lieutenant. 

Nzegwu was also an Electrical 

Engineer who passed through 

schools in Ghana and the United 

States. 

Nzegwu returned to Nigeria to join 

the Nigeria Air Force as a pioneer. 

At a time in 1964, he acted as Chief 

of Staff and served as a Flying 

Instructor later. During the January 

1966 coup, the task of flying to 

Calabar to bring Chief Obafemi 

Awolowo from jail had his blessing. 

During the counter coup of July 

29, 1966, this first military pilot was 

killed in Lagos alongside another 

pioneer Air Force, Major Peter Obi. 

He left behind his wife, Aina, and 

children. Nzeogwu died in 1967. 

Nzegwu was not the first Nigerian 

to join the Air Force. There was 

Robert Mgbaraonye who enlisted in 

1943, during the Second World War. 

Tai Solarin would have been the first 

pilot but he was unable to bring an 

air down after taking it up. The later 

years Human Rights crusader lost 

interest. 

Another man who could have 

become the first Nigeria Air Force 

pilot, Captain Robert Emmanuel 

Hayes, changed his mind. The 

Itsekiri man chose Civil Aviation 

instead. He made History in May 

1955 as the very first Nigerian pilot. 

Others that toed Hayes path were 

Joseph Ajakaiye, Samuel Ohioma 

and Rufus Orimoloye. 

Credit goes to Defence minister, 

Alhaji Muhammadu Ribadu, who 

made sure Nigeria had military 

presence in the air as from April 

1964. He had brought in Col. 

Gerhard Khatz of the German Air 

Force as the commander of the NAF 

in 1963.That appointment lasted 

until November 1965, when Col. 

Wolfgang Timming, another 

German, took over. 

By 1963, the first set of 18 young 

Nigerians had been selected for 

training. They included August 

Okpe, John Yisa Doko, Salaudeen 

Latinwo, Usman Jibrin, Abdullahi 

Bello, Winston Aleyideino, Abdul 

Ganiyu Gbadamosi[King], George 

Musa Jebak, Danjuma Ato and Willy 

Ezeilo. 

While the cadets trained, some 

Army officers were redeployed to 

the Air Force and nearly all of them 

had Sandhurst background. Jacob 

Esuene, Musa Usman, Emmanuel 

Ikwue, Shittu Akanji Alao and Esio 

Obada, among others. 

More cadets also left for training 

in Germany, Canada and England. 

Dan Suleiman, Tony Makpo, 

Kolawole Falope,Ibrahim Alfa, 

Clement Ugah, Mike Amanyeiwe, 

Tai Solarin would have been 

the first pilot but he was 

unable to bring an air down 

after taking it up 

John Ikeokwu Chukwu, Leo Offodile, 

Bayo Lawal,Nureini Yusuf, Pat Ugbana, 

Tony Okpere, Joe Ehigie,Charles 

Nnabuihe, George Ozieh, Gabriel Ebube, 

Isiaka Lawal, Elendu Ukeje, Larry 

Obiechie, Moses Gowon and many more. 

It was interesting and funny too. Jonah 

Jang who enlisted in 1966 had never 

seen the inside of an airplane and was 

flying to Germany to train as a pilot. That 

was what occupied the young man’s 

mind as he flew to Frankfurt from Kano. 

When Gen. Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi 

became Head of State in January 1966, 

he picked Lt. Col. George Kurubo as the 

first Nigerian to head the Air Force. He 

was of the Army, Sandhurst trained and 

commissioned in 1955. 

General Yakubu Gowon went for Alao 

as Kurubo’s replacement and when Alao 

died in 1969, Ikwue took over. The 

import is that the first three Nigerians 

to lead the Air Force, were not trained 

in the air. They were just infantry men. 

And that explained Alao’s death. As 

Air Chief he was not comfortable 

overseeing pilots when he could not fly. 

The bulky officer took some lessons and 

was able to fly light aircraft. 

Then on October 19, 1969, Alao 

decided to fly solo to Enugu from Lagos. 

Some how, he lost bearing after flying 

over the River Niger. In his bid to make 

a detour to Benin, the aircraft crashed 

in a school field in Uzebba, an Owan area 

of the Mid-West. 

Gen. Murtala Mohammed appointed 

Col. Yisa Doko as the first pilot to head 

the Air Force in 1976. The Biafrans had 

Ezeilo as their Air Chief following the 

death of Lt. Col Chude Sokei, a Sandhurst 

SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER1, 2018—31 

trained Army officer. Ezeilo wore the 

rank of Wing Commander following 

the British tradition. 

The NAF adopted the British ranking 

in 1976. Yisa Doko became the first 

two-star general, Air Vice Marshall. 

Alfa was the first three-star general, 

Air Marshall. Air Chief Marshal Paul 

Dike earned four-star. 

Alao’s son later joined the Air Force, 

albeit, as a graduate. I met him in 1989 

as I accompanied Sports minister, 

Tonye Graham Douglas, to visit Alfa 

at Defence Headquarters, Lagos. The 

young officer was ADC to Alfa. Today, 

the 52-year-old is Air Vice Marshall 

Lawal Shittu Alao. 

Another former Chief Of Air Staff, 

Nureini Yusuf, lost his son, Jubril, in 

the 1983 skirmish with Chad. John 

Chukwu who was absorbed by Gowon 

after fighting for Biafra, died later as a 

Squadron Leader. His younger 

brother retired recently as an Air Vice 

Marshal. 

The women are also coming up. In 

2011, Blessing Liman emerged as the 

first female military pilot. In 2017, we 

had the first two regular combatant 

pilots in the duo of Oluwabunmi Ijehu 

and Genevieve Nwaogwugwu. 

Liman, a Zango Kataf girl, joined 

after qualifying as a commercial pilot 

from the NCAT, Zaria. Rector was 

Captain Chinyere[Onyenucheya] 

Kalu, first Nigerian female Pilot. 

The first all-female crew was no 

April fool. Capt. Bolaji Adelusi and her 

crew of First Officer, Yop Wash, Uloma 

Shodeinde and Kate Ekanem landed 

an Aero Contractors flight in Lagos, 

from Osubi, Warri. That happened on 

April 1, 2009. 

August Okpe, Elendu Ukeje, Tony 

Makpo and Moses Gowon became 

commercial pilots. Ibi Allwell-Brown 

and Frank Osakwe turned to fighter 

pilots from commercial aviation. 

Osakwe flew Dim Emeka Ojukwu to 

Abidjan and Gen. Gowon to Kampala. 

They lost their jobs. Moses Gowon 

flew Gen. Ibrahim Babangida. Makpo 

was pilot of the Nigeria Airway plane 

that was hijacked in 1993. 

The heat from the United States 

is on and many wondered why 

Turkey is becoming the victim. 

Although it is not a significant 

producer or consumer of oil, it is 

naturally well located in the 

geopolitical equation. Turkey in 

southeastern Europe and Southwest 

Asia is bordered by Greece, the 

Black Sea, Georgia, Armenia, Iran, 

Iraq, Syria, the Mediterranean Sea, 

the Aegean Sea, and Bulgaria. The 

American-Turkish relation is a 

complicated one. Since 1952, 

Turkey has been a member of the 

North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, 

NATO and has aimed to be a full 

member of the EU since the 1960s. 

NATO, led by America was formed 

in 1949 as an international military 

alliance to promote mutual defence 

and collective security during the 

Cold War. All that strategic alliance 

seemed to have changed since 2011. 

Turkey, among other issues may be 

serving out a punitive measure for 

not abandoning Iranian oil as the 

United States revoked the Iran 

Nuclear deal of 2015. The Iranian 

sanctions imposed by the United 

States are part of the issues in the 

conflict with Turkey. It is not certain 

whether Turkey will comply with the 

United States demand that it should 

cut down oil imports from Iran. 

Turkey imported an average of 

176,000 barrels a day of Iranian oil 

in the last six months. Supreme 

excellence they say consists of 

breaking the enemy’s resistance 

without fighting. Is that what the 

United States is employing to break 

down its perceived number one 

enemy? The Donald Trump 

administration has imposed 

crippling economic sanctions on 

Iran. In October 2017, Trump 

The oil politics of Iranian sanctions 

decertified the Iranian Nuclear 

Accord or Nuclear Deal entered 

into in 2015. 

Negotiations between Iran and 

the American led coalition of the 

Permanent members of the 

Security Council P5 +1 (the US, 

UK, Russia, France and China plus 

Germany) led to the Joint 

Comprehensive Plan of Action, 

JCPOA otherwise known as the 

Iranian Nuclear Accord or Deal. 

The deal limited Iran’s capacity to 

civilian nuclear programme for 

power and medical purposes. The 

United States was empowered to 

watch over Iran with the US 

President required to certify that 

Iran complied with the agreement 

every 90 days. It was to be 

subjected to regular checks by 

international inspectors to ensure 

no perverse activities took place. 

The United States has not been 

comfortable with Iran which it 

accused of not complying with the 

JCPOA. It alleged that tens of 

billions of dollars of windfall from 

the lifted sanctions had been used 

to expand the country’s reach in 

the Middle East region, and also 

further its role as the world’s 

leading state sponsor of terrorism. 

Funds released to Iran from 

blocked reserves during the prenuclear 

deal had been allegedly used 

for military expansion and international 

armed conflicts; supporting President 

Bashar Al Asad of Syria, “Houthi” 

rebels in Yemen, Shiite militia forces in 

Iraq, and Lebanese Hezbollah as well 

as Shi’ite insurgents opposing 

American allies in Bahrain and Saudi 

Arabia. The imposition of full economic 

sanctions on Iran would block access to 

international trade and finance 

including billions of dollars in oil 

revenue and assets. 

The American imposed economic 

sanctions took effect on August 6; oil 

and transactions with the central bank 

of Iran to come into effect on November 

6, 2018. It is however, not certain 

whether all signatories to the JCPOA 

would go with America. Some 

governments believe that Iran is fully 

complying with the terms of the 2015 

nuclear deal. This position which is 

equally not bankable has encouraged 

the Iranian President Hassan Rouhani 

and his Foreign Minister, Javad Zarif, 

to make diplomatic shuttles to Europe 

for firm crude commitments from 

leaders. The Trump administrations 

road shows to Europe and the Middle 

East have also intensified to garner 

support for firm economic sanctions. 

Failure on the part of the United States 

The imposition of full economic sanctions 

on Iran would block access to 

international trade and finance including 

billions of dollars in oil revenue and 

assets 

to bring Iran now a wild card to 

abandon its political sins may be 

disastrous for the Trump 

administration. 

At present Iran exports about 1 

million barrels of oil per day to 

Europe, and nearly 2 million barrels 

to China, India, South Korea and 

Japan. Although many European 

countries are skeptical about the 

sanctions by America, some have cut 

down crude oil imports from Iran. It 

is however, not certain the extent 

Asian countries especially China 

and India would comply with the 

sanctions. Companies that invested 

in Iran are being pressured to 

severe business links before 

incurring penalties. French energy 

giant Total, has considered 

divesting from its US$47 million 

Iran’s South Pars gas field under the 

threat of U.S. sanctions. How to 

make up for the crude that would go 

offline in November when the 

American imposed sanctions 

commence is what the world would 

contend with. West Texas 

Intermediate crude for October 

delivery has moved up to US$68.87. 

If OPEC and the United States 

cannot make up for lost inventory 

from the American imposed 

sanctions, it is a danger signal that 

would weigh on global crude 

supply.


08116759759 

The right to 

bare breasts 

Women bared their breasts in parades around the 

world to demand the right to go fully topless in 

public. 

They marched in Go Topless Day parades held in US cities 

including New York, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Denver and 

Minneapolis. 

Events were also held abroad in Freiburg in Germany, 

Seoul in South Korea and Valparaiso in Chile. 

But while some women who took part were fully exposed, 

many abided by the law and covered their nipples – with tape 

or body paint. 

Some protesters marching in Venice, California, carried 

placards declaring 'it's boobs, not bombs!' and 'war is indecent, 

not my breasts.' 

Held every year on the Sunday closest to Women's Equality 

Day, the aim is to question laws that make it illegal for women 

to not wear shirts while it is legal for men to do the same. 

This year, it fell on Women's Equality Day – which is marked 

every year on August 26 after the date in 1920 when women 

got the right to vote in the US. 

Man caught 'raping pregnant 

GOAT after he stole animal from 

pen and spent night with it' 

SET of identical twin sis 

A ters married identical twin 

brothers in a joint wedding presided 

over by identical twin ministers 

in a town called 

Twinsburg. 

Josh and Jeremy Salyers, 34, 

met Brittany and Briana Deane, 

32, last August when they all attended 

a festival for twins in the 

town in Ohio, USA. 

The loved-up duos both say 

they had instant connection and 

now Briana has married Jeremy, 

while her sister Brittany married 

Josh. 

The 'Twice Upon a Time' 

themed nuptials took place as 

part of the 2018 Twins Days Festival. 

The 32-year-old sisters fittingly 

wore identical dresses 

while the brothers, 34, sported 

matching tuxedos. 

Seeing 

Double 

The Salyers brothers both 

popped the question at the same 

time and even the date of the proposal 

was also a nod to their 

both connections - February 2 or 

2-2. The sisters thought that the 

filming was for an advert but 

both brothers then got down on 

one knee at the same time. 

Briana told People: 'It's really 

been a fairytale come true. Marrying 

twins is something that's 

very important to us 

"It's hard when you're dating 

someone and they don't under- 

stand the twin bond." 

Josh added: "We kind of always 

knew that we were never getting 

married unless it was to twins.” 

And Jeremy said: "You 

know when you know. 

We've always known our 

whole life if we were going 

to be married that it 

was going to be with 

twins." 

The couples now plan to 

all live in the same house 

and raise their children 

together. 

Brittany, who also 

works with her sister in a 

law firm, said: "We imagine 

it will be like two 

mums and two dads." 

A 

bricklayer is behind bars ac 

cused of raping his neighbour’s 

pregnant goat in his bed. 

Feselani Mcube, 33, is said to have 

spent the night with the animal after 

snatching her from her pen. 

Her horrified owner Knowledge 

Khumalo admitted he was shattered 

to see her in such a dreadful state 

after her vile ordeal. 

“I felt I should have done something 

to protect her,” he said. He said 

he heard the nanny making “strange 

noises” around eight at night in 

Winterveldt, South Africa. 

“I did not take it seriously,” he said. 

“I thought maybe it was about to give 

birth since it was pregnant.” 

But the goat was missing the next 

morning when he went to check on 

her. 

“I went around the community 

looking without any success,” he 

said. 

“Later, when I returned home, I 

found the goat was back. However, 

it looked unwell.” 

Mr Khumalo said that as he examined 

the animal a man approached 

and asked if he was the owner. 

“He then told me that he had been 

at Mcube’s shack that morning 

and had found the goat 

in his bed,” said Mr 

Khumalo. 

Locals swooped on the 

neighbour and confronted 

him about the sickening sex 

attack. 

Mcube was later arrested 

and is being held on a bestiality 

charge, said police Captain 

Samuel Sebola. 

The goat is receiving medical 

treatment from the Society 

for the Prevention of Cruelty 

to Animals. 

Inspector Mishack Matlou 

confessed it was the “highest 

form of animal cruelty” he 

had experienced. 

“As the SPCA, we want to 

call on the judiciary to take 

tough action against cases of 

cruelty against animals,” he 

said.

26—SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 1 2018 

Glitzy nuptial union of 

the Anobilis and Ebigwus 

The family of Chief Opena Anobili, from Ndoni, 

Onelga, Rivers State and that of Mr Celestine 

Ebigwu, from Omolua Igbanke, Edo State, 

have been united as one after their children; 

Kehinde Philip Anobili and Loveth Agboebo were 

pronounced man and wife last Saturday, August 

25, 2018 at the Catholic Church of the Visitation, 

Festac Town, Lagos. 

It was a glitzy affair spruced with panache and 

roller-coastal entertainment at the Villa Park Hotels 

& Suites where the reception held just as guests 

were treated to sumptuous cuisines and assorted 

drinks. The traditional marriage held two days 

before and it was a splendid spectacle of mixed 

cultures. 

Olubadan at 90 

THE grand finale of activities marking the 90 

birthday anniversary of the Olubadan of Ibadan 

land, Oba 

Saliyu Adetunji took place last Sunday at the 

International Conference Centre, University of 

Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State with many notable sons 

and daughters of Oyo State in attendance. 

The event saw Governor Ajimobi of Oyo State in 

warm embrace with his Senator Rashidi Ladoja 

after a long standoff between the two. Also of 

note is the meeting of the governor with the 

gospel singer, Yinka Ayefele, who recently had 

his Fresh FM building demolished by the Oyo State 

government. Both were pictured together in warm 

embrace, beaming with smiles. Photos by Dare 

Fasube 

The couple; Kehinde Phillip Anobili and wife, 

Loveth. 

R-L: Chief Opena Anobili, groom's dad;his wife, 

Mrs Idowu Anobili; Mr. Obiwe Celestine Ebigwu, 

bride's dad and wife, Mrs. Blessing Ebigwu. 

L-R: Prof Taoheed Ladoja, Olori Rashidat 

Adetunji, Olubadan of ibadanland, Oba Saliyu 

Adetunji, Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo state and 

his wife, Dr (Mrs) Florence Ajimobi. 

L-R: Obianuju Anobili (groom's sister) Kehinde 

Phillip Anobili (groom) and bride, Loveth 

Agboebo and Mrs. Taiwo Taiwo (groom's twin sister). 

L-R: Pat O. Asiegbu, Mrs. Lizzy Omidiji, Mrs. 

Josphen Cole, Mrs. Christy Kehinde and Mrs. Bola 

Olaiya. 

L-R: Rev. Fr. Simeon Irabor, and the couple flanked 

by the sponsors, Mr and Mrs Uttute Omozokpia. 

L-R: Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo state;, Senator 

Rashidi Ladoja, wife of Oyo state Governor, 

Dr. Mrs Florence Ajimobi and former governor 

of Oyo state, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala. 

L-R: Barr.&Mrs. Opuada Willie-Pepple and Pastor 

& Mrs. Emma Isaiah-Oyoko. 

L-R: Mrs. Pamela Ken-Umuze, Mrs. Olusola Ajayi 

and Mrs. Ruth Ezeudausi. 

L-R: Former governor of Oyo State, Senator 

Rashidi Ladoja and Governor Abiola Ajimobi of 

Oyo state 

R-L: Biodun Popoola, Alh. Seni Alakija, Mr. Tunde 

Ariyo and his wife. 

L-R: Chief Taiwo Anobili, Chief Albert Ajieh and 

Chief Tony Obi. 

R-L: Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo state and Yinka 

Ayefele


Friends, like family members, 

come in different shades and 

colours. Among mine is a 

“mischievous” and witty friend (family 

more like it) of 34 years, Emma 

Esinnah (pronounced “a sinner”). Ever 

since he found out that my mother’s 

Urhobo name is Powder (what an 

irony?), he has latched on to the name. 

Anytime he sees me, he asks after 

Mama Powder. The few times, he spoke 

with her, he said, “Mama Powder, 

migwo. How are you?” Unknown to 

Esinnah, Urhobo people take English 

or foreign names, and appropriate, or 

is it indigenize, them. So Mama’s 

Urhobo name is actually Poda (a 

corruption of Powder). Her English 

and Baptismal name, Paulina, was not 

spared. It had been indigenized to 

“Iponina” since the white missionary 

priest baptized her almost 70 years 

ago. 

So, when in the early 70s, one 

mischievous woman, Aginesi (a 

corruption of Agnes) had a brainwave 

that one of Mama’s boys has had carnal 

knowledge of her daughter, she 

stormed our parlour, where I was 

eating with my two older siblings, Tony 

and Pius, and said: “Iponinaoo.” “Yo,” Mama Powder 

Mama answered. “Omow’ovo 

du’omome” (one of your children has 

had sex with my daughter). “Een, 

k’ovo?” (Is that so, which one?), Mama 

asked calmly. Logically, Aginesi 

should have pointed at Tony, who at 

12 years was the oldest, but she knew 

if she did, she would be stoned because 

the whole of Otovwievwiere St., 

Ughelli, Delta State, where we resided 

then, regarded him as a good boy 

destined for the priesthood where he 

finally ended up. 

So she pointed at Pius (my late 

brother, Sen. Akpor Pius Ewherido). 

That one was a tiger from the womb. 

He immediately sprang up and stood 

up to Aginesi screaming, “omevwee?” 

(meee?). Aginesi lost her nerves and 

retracted, “ejo” (no); “onana” (this 

one). You cannot believe it; she was 

pointing at me. She accused Flamingo 

(yeah, that was what they called 

me as a child) of having carnal 

knowledge of a fellow six-year-old, 

an act I did not even understand 

(then o)! I was humiliated that day 

and my only crime was that, as a 

child, I was as meek as a lamb. I 

will not tell the whole story here 

to avoid digressing, but you will 

read it as a fiction very soon. 

All through the drama, Mama 

Powder was as calm as a cucumber. 

She allowed the drama to play out 

to prove her children’s innocence; 

she knew what she raised. In those 

days, you would think that only 

women who had only girls were 

tormented, but no; there seemed 

to be a conspiracy against mothers 

who had all or predominantly male 

children. Mama Powder had 

passed through that road before, 

Mama powder @ 85 

and this incident was not the last of 

the dramas that she went through as 

a result of her eight boys. 

Also, on countless occasions, they 

taunted Mama that she would suffer 

in her old age because she did not 

have a daughter who would take care 

of her. Unknown to her tormentors, 

she had a secret weapon: Mama had 

trained and domesticated her boys 

to cook, clean and do other house 

chores. We also learnt how to care 

for her at an early age in those heady 

days in the 70s when she was gravely 

ill. All through these harassments, 

she was always calm and selfconscious; 

a woman of great carriage, 

great wisdom and enormous 

knowledge even with her limited 

formal education. 

Every first week of September 

brings me good feelings and a 

profound gratitude to God. My mind 

goes back to the mid and late 70s 

when we had to face the harsh reality 

of losing Mama. It was a very trying 

time for us. The prognosis from both 

orthodox and non orthodox medical 

personnel was not good. They all 

predicted her impending death. They 

said she was living on borrowed time 

and hanging on to life by a thread. 

That was before God’s verdict 

manifested. Over 40 years later, she 

marches on. 

Like many old people, Mama has 

seen a lot of nonsense and 

experienced heart breaks in her 

lifetime. She has been “afflicted in 

every side, but not crushed; 

perplexed,but not in despair; 

persecuted, but not abandoned; struck 

down, but not destroyed” (II Corinthians 

4:8-9). In spite of all the adversities, she 

trudges on. 

These days, when I call to check on her, 

I ask: “Mama, mavo, how far?” “Mero, ehu 

n’ovo… ( I am fine, but I am having a lot of 

waist pains). I will encourage her and say, 

“Mama, don’t worry’ you’re doing great.” 

Then I will jokingly tell myself, “your 

youngest child is over 40, you hit 

menopause decades ago and your husband 

died 30 years, so nothing serious will ever 

trouble that waist again. Just hang in there, 

as Fr. Tony will say.” 

Mama’s influence in my life looms large, 

especially unconsciously. In my bachelor 

days, I always preferred natural looking 

girls. That was how I ended up with one as 

a spouse. I remember, on our traditional 

marriage day, I could barely recognize my 

wife. “What is this,” I asked. She said her 

aunt insisted she was made up. I then 

insisted she should clean it off and it has 

remained so almost 20 years after. I still 

find her extremely beautiful and 

attractive, so it will continue to be so. Mind 

you, I do not have issues with anybody 

who makes up. Sisters must look fine. I am 

just exercising my God-given freedom of 

choice just as everybody exercises his/ 

hers. 

Looking back now, Mama unconsciously 

influenced my idea of an ideal wife 

(physical appearance and otherwise). I 

grew up to see her natural. Surprisingly, 

when I asked her, she said she used to love 

makeup (tiro and the other stuff they used 

in those days). But my father was itinerant 

in the early stages of their marriage and 

she had to stay in the family compound. 

When her in-laws saw her with makeup, 

they felt, it was a tendency of a wife who 

would cheat on their son. To avoid trouble 

she stopped and that was how her interest 

in makeup died. Anyway, mama looks 

great in her natural looks. At 85, her skin 

glows. For her, a beauty regiment is 

superfluous. 

Happy birthday, Mama Powder, as you 

turn 85 this Wednesday. May God 

continue to bless and strengthen you; we 

pray for your continuous health of body 

and mind. We love you endlessly. 

(Text Only) 

The Lotus 

Technique: 

Sit with both legs outstretched 

in front of you. Now, 

draw the right leg and place the 

right foot on the left thigh and 

then drawing the left leg place 

the foot on the right thigh. Then, 

crossing the hands at the back 

grab hold off the big toes. 

Benefits: 

This variant of the Lotus 

strenghtens the arms and legs. 

It helps expand the chest for 

more air intake and lubricate the 

Lotus 

Yoga exercise for healthy living 

knee and ankle joints for 

flexibility. 

Heels-to-crotch 

Technique 

Sitting down with the 

feet stretched in front of 

you, bend the knees and 

turning them outwards 

drop them and place the 

soles of your feet together, 

hold the feet 

with the hands,tlopping 

the legs up and down like 

the wings of a bird in 

flight a few times.and 

then hold the bent legs 

down with the power of 

the leg muscles. Keep the 

back straight and breathe 

normally. 

Benefits 

This postures tones the 

abductor muscles of the 

inner thighs. It 

enchances manly vigour. 

And it facililates ease of 

birth in women. It’s also 

Heels-to-crotch 

a great before-the-baby exercise 

for the expectant mother. 

Shoulderstand 

Technique: 

Lie on your back with the 

legs extended. Then bending 

the knees, place the 

hands at the hips and 

quickly raise back off the 

floor and 

straighten both 

legs up. Remain 

very erect and still 

and do deep 

breathing. Remain 

in the posture 

for 2 to 5 minutes. 

To come out 

of the position, 

bend the knees and 

gently let the back 

roll out. Put the 

feet down and relax. 

Benefits: 

In the 

Shoulderstand, 

the thyroid gland 

is massaged at 

brought to its 

proper level of activity. 

It stretches 

the spine, that way 

helping it become 

strong and elastic. 

Because most of 

the body is inverted, 

it stops 

various blood from 

Shoulderstand 

stagnating in the lower 

limbs and promotes circulation, 

helping to ameliorate 

varicose veins. 

It relieves sluggishness 

and mental lethargy. It 

helps to cure insomnia.


Twenty one-year-old Katie Stubblefield has a brand 

new face. Her old face was destroyed when she 

sustained severe facial trauma from a gunshot wound 

on March 25, 2014. Katie who was 18 at the time of the 

incident shot herself in the face. Today, at 21, she is one 

of the youngest persons in the US and one of the youngest 

in the world to have received a full face transplant. 

It took a team of 11 Cleveland Clinic surgeons and 

multiple specialists to perform the Ohio hospital’s third 

face transplant—and it’s first total face transplant—on 

Katie. 

The surgery was extensive. It included transplantation 

of the scalp, the forehead, upper and lower eyelids, eye 

sockets, nose, upper cheeks, upper jaw and half of lower 

jaw, upper teeth, lower teeth, partial facial nerves, facial 

muscles, and skin—with 100 percent of her facial tissue 

effectively replaced. 

Despite the success of the transplant, Katie’s journey 

is far from over, the hospital noted in a statement to 

Health Rendezvous. Katie currently remains unable to 

see, so she is learning Braille. She’s also undergone 

additional surgeries to improve function in her tongue 

and jaw. 

Katie’s parents, Robb and Alesia Stubblefield, have 

been by her side. “Katie gets a second chance at life,” 

said Alesia her mother. Katie herself told the Cleveland 

Clinic Ethics Committee, during a meeting to ensure she 

was ready for her face transplant surgery: “I can’t go 

backward. I have to go forward.” 

Katie suffered life-threatening, severely traumatic 

injuries from her gunshot wound. The single bullet 

pierced through her mouth and nasal cavity, exiting her 

skull between her eyebrows, 

it miraculously only grazed 

her brain tissue. 

Sped by ambulance to 

hospital near her Oxford, 

Mississippi, home, Katie was 

stabilized, then flown by 

helicopter to a neighboring 

state’s top-level trauma 

centre. 

By the time her parents 

arrived, by car, a half-hour or 

so later, Katie was already in 

surgery; it would be the first 

of more than a dozen 

operations she would receive 

in the ensuing years. 

Five weeks later, in early 

May 2014, Katie was flown 

hundreds of miles north and 

admitted to Cleveland Clinic. 

Soon afterwards, the 

opportunity for her to 

undergo a possible face 

transplant emerged. 

On a Sunday morning, the 

family met Dr Brian Gastman, 

who would become Katie’s 

primary plastic surgeon and 

a member of the face 

transplant team. They 

learned face transplantation 

was the ultimate goal, but it 

would be “way down the road 

somewhere,” said Robb. To 

get there would require 

many preparatory 

procedures including a jaw 

reconstruction surgery, 

using bone from Katie’s leg 

and a metal prosthesis. 

Over time, as Katie endured 

many other operations, 

dozens of other physicians 

and specialists from other 

disciplines entered her life. 

Throughout the process, 

Cleveland Clinic psychiatrist, 

Dr Kathy Coffman, was a key 

specialist. Coffman has 

counseled all three of 

Cleveland Clinic’s face 

transplant patients, typically 

starting a year before the 

surgery and extending a full 

year or more afterwards. 

L-R: Katie in 2015 before the facial surgery and after the surgery in 2018 

Full face transplant gives gunshot 

victim 2nd chance at life 

with the donor’s, from midscalp 

all the way down to her 

Katie was determined to have a full facial facial reconstruction alone would not 

transplant. Dr. Coffman was speaking about all correct her facial disfigurement or 

jaw and neckline. Further, her 

the risks involved. Katie let her finish, and then improve her quality of life. Thus, during 

upper jaw and the area beneath 

she says, ‘I still want to do this, Dr. Coffman. I her preparatory reconstruction surgeries, 

her orbital floors, as well as 

want to be able to go out in the world. And not the surgeons were able to safeguard any 

two-thirds of her lower jaw, are 

be looked at like this.’ 

potential blood vessels that could be used 

bone from the donor. One of the 

Katie signed the consent forms for facial for the transplant. 

trickiest parts of the surgery 

transplant surgery in November 2015. It would “Plastic surgery is about restoring form 

involved her vascularity, 

be another 18 months before she would be and function,” said Dr. Papay. “Function 

ensuring blood vessels 

physically and mentally prepared—and the comes before form, and prior to the face 

remained functional and 

search could then begin for a suitable donor. transplant, Katie had extremely poor 

sufficiently carried blood 

It would prove to be a difficult process. function and form.” A face transplant was 

throughout her body. 

Because of Katie’s small stature, and relatively the only option to truly transform her life. 

Including her face transplant, 

young age. The biggest concern was getting the It would be three years to the day Katie 

Katie has endured more than 

right donor, Dr. Gastman noted months before arrived in Ohio that Cleveland Clinic 

17 operations at Cleveland 

the transplant. In those long months before her doctors would receive a call for a potential 

Clinic. Collectively, those 

surgery, Katie’s team assembled. Dr Frank donor. That donor would ultimately be 

procedures have given her the 

Papay, chairman of Cleveland Clinic’s Katie’s. When the day for surgery arrived, 

capability to breathe, chew, 

and swallow more effectively. 

Dermatology & Plastic 

Katie was ready. And her She’s also able to use her face 

Surgery Institute, would codirect 

the surgical team with 

At various points during addition to significantly 

“longest nap ever” began. to better express emotions. In 

Maria Siemionow, former 

the 31-hour procedure, Drs. improved physical function, 

director of Cleveland 

Papay and Gastman would Katie is on the way to having 

Clinic’s Department of 

Plastic Surgery Research. 

As her primary team 

readied her for surgery, the 

face transplant team 

conducted numerous 

practice surgeries—some 

using an innovative 

technology called 

HoloLens, a self-contained 

mixed-reality computer 

headset that allowed the 

user to see holograms of 3D 

images of Katie’s head. The 

technology allows surgeons 

to virtually practice aspects 

of the surgery, prior to 

entering the operating 

room. 

From the moment of 

Katie’s arrival, the team had 

the end goal of face 

transplantation in mind—as 

Katie suffered lifethreatening, 

severely 

traumatic injuries 

from her gunshot 

wound. The single 

bullet pierced 

through her 

mouth and nasal 

cavity, exiting her 

skull between her 

eyebrows, it 

miraculously only 

grazed her brain 

tissue 

leave the surgical suite 

armed with photos taken 

during the surgery to 

discuss next steps and 

options with Robb and 

Alesia. 

As Dr. Papay explained, 

“We were well prepared. But 

we knew our game plan 

could change in the middle 

of surgery. And that’s what 

happened. We ended up 

using more of the donor’s 

face than we originally 

planned and went to option 

B about halfway through the 

surgery,” which would 

increase the risk but 

improve both the form and 

function of her face. 

Ultimately, with option B, 

doctors effectively replaced 

all of Katie’s facial tissue 

enhanced physiological, 

psychological, and social 

function. 

On reflection, a year later, Dr. 

Papay calls Katie’s transplant a 

success. She has not suffered 

any signs of rejection, or side 

effects from being on 

immunosuppressant drugs, 

and a series of subsequent 

operations to fine-tune certain 

areas (including her tongue to 

improve speech) have gone as 

planned. 

In a statement when her face 

transplant was complete, Katie 

spoke of her gratitude to 

everyone involved. “I am 

forever grateful for the care 

this hospital has given me and 

continues to offer on my 

journey of recovery and 

healing.


bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk 

Menopause could give 

your sex-life a boost! 

For some women, hitting the menopause could kill off their sex life. “For almost 

30 years, I had a great sex life with the man I eventually married,” said Oge, 

now 54, and a matron in a private hospital. “I’d had beautiful orgasms with him 

most of the time until two yeas ago when I reached menopause and my orgasms 

simply disappeared. My background was a bit strict and I was very naive when I 

started dating my future husband, I was already in nursing school and had no idea 

what a naked man looked like so when I first touched a naked man and saw his 

reaction, I was slightly 

frightened. 

“The few times we tried 

sex, I was fully dressed in 

bed. Then, after we got 

married, I experienced my 

first orgasm and 1 was 

hooked! Any sexual 

inhibitions I had were lost. 

A couple of years ago, I 

started to get hot flushes 

and sweats. I would start 

feeling tense and found it 

hard to orgasm. It was 

really frustrating. I was so 

used to climaxing every 

time 1 had sex—once every 

two weeks on average—that 

it wasn’t fun when I 

couldn’t. I was so upset that 

my husband was having all 

the fun that I unfairly blame 

him for my anger. I started 

to think that there was no 

point having sex unless I 

was achieving orgasm. 

“I discussed my plight 

with my best friend and she 

encouraged me to try a 

vibrator with a lubricant. 

She went further than that 

and got me a rampant rabbit 

when next she travelled. I 

had never been that good at 

pleasuring myself, but with 

the vibrator, I could satisfy 

myself without the help of a 

man. With my husband, I 

found that I could move 

myself on to reaching 

orgasms again. Now my sex 

drive is back to normal and 

my orgasms are back!” 

“For me, the worst side 

effect of the menopause was 

vaginal dryness as sex 

became 

very 

uncomfortable,” confessed 

Tara, a 60-year-old textile 

merchant. “I’ve been with 

my partner for some eight 

years now and sex is really 

important for both of us, 

but I started avoiding it—I 

guess because of the pain. I 

felt really guilty I was shortchanging 

my partner. 

I didn’t confess what was 

happening to me at first, but 

when he knew, he was very 

patient because he knew I 

felt more pain than pleasure 

when we had sex. My doctor 

encouraged me to try some 

Problem at work should stay in the office 

BEING stressed all day 

at work is bad enough, 

but when work worries 

start affecting your 

private life, it is time to 

take control, says 

experts. 

If you are irritable, 

unsociable or impatient 

after a hard day, it is 

time to switch off and 

consciously move into 

‘home-time.’ Try 

exercise, deep breathing, 

reading or gardening to 

take your mind off work. 

If you’re awake all 

night, then exhausted all 

day, even weekends are 

no fun. If you can’t sleep, 

get up and read or watch 

TV. At least you’ll be 

lubricants that are 

wildly available, and a 

friend recommended 

KY Jelly and that was 

fine. This friend then got 

relaxed. Exercise will 

give you more energy 

and make it easier to 

sleep. 

If your friends groan 

any time you mention the 

boss, you’re obsessing 

about work. If you’ve got 

to let off steam, allow 

yourself five minutes, 

then change the subject. 

Do you seem to come 

down with every bug 

going? Instead of 

resorting to junk food 

after a hard day, try to 

eat plenty of fruit and 

vegetables instead. The 

vitamin will boost your 

immune system, giving 

you more energy. 

Volunteer work is 

For me, the 

worst side 

effect of the 

menopause 

was vaginal 

dryness as 

sex became 

very 

uncomfortable 

me another KY brand 

called Replens—which is 

a liquid you apply 

internally. I’ve since 

switched to a much 

incredibly satisfying and 

takes more attention 

away from your own 

problems. As you make 

friends and help others, 

your work worries will 

seem less important. 

If you’re neglecting 

your diet, health and 

relationship, change 

your habits. Remember 

we work to live, not live 

to work. Your evenings 

and weekends are just as 

important as your work 

days. 

Treat yourself to fun, 

relaxation and time with 

friends and lovers; soon 

stress will stay in the 

work place, where it 

belongs. 

better one by Durex called 

Senselle. It is a liquid you 

squirl up inside you and 

it’s made all the difference. 

“My partner and I have 

both since discovered that 

another way to increase 

moistness is to place more 

emphasis on foreplay 

before sex. Now when we 

have sex I stimulate myself 

to increase my natural 

lubrication. At least I’ve 

realized that because of 

menopause, I need to 

stimulate myself to 

increase my natural 

lubrication—and this takes 

time. So we use plenty of 

lubrication for sex”and it 

is heartening for me to 

know that my sex life is 

now back to normal!” 

What to expect at 

menopause: 

According to experts, 

most menopausal women 

will suffer from vaginal 

dryness to some degree. It 

is perfectly normal and is 

due to hormonal changes. 

If sexual intercourse 

becomes painful, then 

lubricants are a good way 

forward. Increased 

foreplay and masturbation 

helps increase natural 

lubrication. If sex is still 

painful see your doctor 

who may prescribe 

hormone replacement 

therapy, which might help. 

The menopause is the 

end of a woman’s 

reproductive life when the 

ovaries stop producing 

eggs and periods end. It 

usually occurs between 

ages 48 and 54. During ‘the 

change’ the ovaries 

produce less of the sex 

hormones Oestrogen, 

which can cause vaginal 

dryness. Other symptoms 

can include flagging sex 

drive, hot flushes, night 

sweats, insomnia and 

headaches. It can also 

make some women feel 

that they are past their best 

or undesirable. Many 

women, however, can 

enjoy a healthy sex life well 

into old age.

C 

M 

Y 

K 

The late Chief Obafemi Awolowo 

used to intervene in national 

discourse from time to time. He was 

not afraid to speak truth to power. 

And whenever he spoke, the nation 

and the powers that be paused to 

listen. His interventions were 

measured and precise. They did not 

blend with the noise around. They 

stood out. He had the stature. He had 

the pedigree. He had the diligence. 

And because he was not frivolous, 

many of his comments on the 

economy came to pass; many of his 

comments on national politics came 

to pass; many of his comments on 

national fabric have and are still 

coming to pass. His public comments 

were hardly about self. They were 

concerned with the national interest. 

To be sure, there were many during 

and after his time, who also aspired 

to be the conscience of the nation and 

one must be grateful for their 

contributions. But few combined the 

intellect, the diligence, the ascetic 

self-discipline and more importantly, 

the moral antecedence that 

accompanied every public 

postulation of the late sage. 

Yet every country needs a voice 

like his. America was lucky to have 

one in Senator John McCain whose 

remains would be interred this 

morning. They called him a maverick. 

But that must be in a better definition 

of the word. His was a voice for good; 

a voice for decency; a voice for bipartisanship 

in governance; a voice 

for a more united America. He had 

strong convictions, some of which I 

don’t necessarily agree with, but he 

lived his convictions. He was true to 

himself. Twice, he aspired to be the 

President of his country. Twice he was 

denied. Part of the reason for his 

failure is that he refused to waver 

from his convictions; he refused to 

pander to public sentiments. But he 

ran decent campaigns on both 

occasions. In doing so, he revealed 

the inner man. I will never forget how 

he quickly disabused the mind of that 

old lady who wanted to attack the 

person of Obama. ‘No ma’am, you are 

The revelation that the 

Independent National Electoral 

Commission, INEC has agreed and has 

indeed, adjusted its costing for the 

organisation of the 2019 elections to 

N143 billion down from the N189 

billion it earlier canvassed must have 

gladdened many Nigerians. 

By the decision, the commission 

may have saved the country at least 

N46 billion. That is the amount that 

would have if properly channelled 

could banish poverty in at least two 

states of the country if properly 

invested! 

However, there is little to praise the 

commission or its leadership for in 

this respect. Indeed, the quick 

surrender of the commission again 

draws to mind suspicions on the 

integrity of the commission’s plans 

towards the conduct of a free and fair 

election. 

Indeed, the commission’s chairman 

in at least two interactions with this 

correspondent has espoused the 

commission’s sincerity and 

commitment towards the conduct of 

a free and fair election. Some of his 

staff, particularly media liaisons, are 

some of the most convincing, suave 

and yes, arguably sincere officers in 

public service. 

This is despite question marks 

arising from the disturbing issue of 

vote buying that has marked recent 

elections in Edo, Ondo and recently, 

Ekiti States. 

However, the sums and stories do 

Oh!! For a voice like.... 

wrong’ he said as soon as he decently 

could. ‘Obama is a decent man. He is 

a good family man. We have sharp 

disagreements on the way this 

country should be run. This is what 

this campaign is about.’ There are 

leaders and there are leaders. 

Compare his campaigns with that of 

Donald Trump. The best one can say 

about the two is that one spoke to 

the ideals of governance while the 

other spoke to the realities of the 

country. One tried to weld a broken 

country. The other saw an 

opportunity in a broken country and 

put a wedge into the cracks. One 

focused on issues while the other 

constantly mixed issues with 

personalities. It is poignant that 

McCain’s two adversaries during his 

presidential forays would be at his 

funeral this morning to eulogise him. 

It is poignant that the sitting 

President would be conspicuously 

absent on such an auspicious 

occasion. Even in death, he did not 

want his legacy, what he stood for, 

tainted. With his internment, a 

ringing voice for good governance, 

for a better Washington, for a better 

world is silenced. A voice that was 

often listened to, like Awolowo’s, is 

finally laid to rest. 

Every country needs a hero. Every 

team needs a captain. Every 

corporate body needs a leader. 

Someone who embodies what that 

country, that team, that corporate 

body stands for. A light of knowledge 

on the hills that seeks to illuminate 

the path for others. A voice that 

warns against pitfalls; against mine 

fields. A selfless man who leads by 

example. A voice of reason. A force 

for good. Look around the country. 

There are many voices; some 

strident; some soft, almost a 

whisper. But very few are sincere. 

Very few seek the greater good of 

the country. Very few think above 

self or ethnic interest. Very few have 

not benefited from the decay and 

chaos in the system. Very few have 

We need people like John 

McCain and Obafemi 

Awolowo who have strong 

values and convictions 

which may or may not be 

accepted by some people 

but are not willing to 

compromise those values 

the stature acquired from years of 

public service and the inclination to 

raise a voice for the down trodden, 

for the country. 

It is less than a year to the next 

election. Many of our so called 

leaders are again positioning for 

power. And they are doing it in the 

usual Machiavellian way, visiting 

The amusing sums and stories from 

INEC 

not add up. First the sums. How 

the commission was able to within 

hours shave off N46 billion from 

its estimated cost is a wonder that 

is difficult to comprehend. Does it 

mean that the commission allowed 

padding in the figures first 

presented to the National 

Assembly? 

The question is, could the 

commission have conducted a free 

and fair election with N143 billion 

and still submitted a bill of N189 

billion? 

Even the N143 billion approved 

to be expended this year is also 

bound to raise questions given the 

steep increases in the funding for 

the election. 

The 1999 election, unarguably 

the freest and fairest of the 

elections of the Fourth Republic 

cost the nation a total of N1.5 

billion. Subsequently, the figures 

have continued to rise. In 2003, it 

was N29 billion, 2007 was N45.5 

billion, 2011 cost N122.9 billion 

while the 2015 cost N108.8 billion. 

The reduction in the cost of the 

election in 2015 was despite the 

introduction of the card reader. 

Though some card readers would 

still be procured to make up for 

losses and other damages as in 

Rivers State, the escalation of the 

cost is bound to worry some. 

One reason that has been given for 

the escalation is the steep 

devaluation of the naira under the 

Buhari administration. 

The commission nevertheless, 

needs to propound measures to 

drastically cut down on its 

expenses. Increasing cost and 

introduction of devices have not in 

any way made elections more 

acceptable. The fairest election in 


tainted and corrupt leaders while 

uttering inanities. What we need are men 

of stature who will speak truth, not only 

to power, but also to the down trodden. 

There is a lot wrong with us. But there is 

also a lot that is good in us. We need 

people to energise us; to awaken us; to 

condemn the bad while encouraging the 

good. We need people who can stand on 

a moral high ground to address us. We 

need people like John McCain and 

Obafemi Awolowo who have strong 

values and convictions which may or 

may not be accepted by some people but 

are not willing to compromise those 

values. Instead, what we have are people 

of straw with no ideologies or strong 

convictions. They defect from one party 

to the other depending on where their 

bread will be buttered or their cake sugar 

coated. 

At least the immediate past governor 

of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan 

was honest when he said he was defecting 

because his political career was heading 

for a cul de sac and he needed to revive 

it. None of that nonsense about needing 

to move the state or the country forward 

like the others are saying. For example, 

a governor, said he was defecting 

because his state didn’t feel the Federal 

presence forgetting that the buck stops 

with him as the CEO when it comes to 

the welfare of his people. A Senate 

President, the No 3 man in the country 

claims he is defecting because the 

country was being badly run. And he 

says it with a straight face. Yet, he must 

be aware that people have issues with 

the National Assembly where he 

presides just as they have issues with 

Aso Rock. They have issues with their 

jumbo pay. They have issues with their 

attitude to bills that really matter. They 

have issues with their attitude to 

dissenting voices. No one has seen a 

marked difference between his senate 

and the previous ones on issues that 

matter to the common Nigerian. 

When I see Saraki on TV with that dead 

pan face, I wonder whether his values 

truly represent the Nigeria of his 

generation and all they portend for the 

country. Just as I wonder whether 

Donald Trump really represents the true 

face of the America of his generation. 

The fairest election in Nigeria in 

recent memory was the June 12, 1993 

election which did not even involve 

the use of ballot papers! 

Nigeria in recent memory was the June 

12, 1993 election which did not even 

involve the use of ballot papers! 

Even more challenging for the Prof. 

Mahmood Yakubu led INEC is its 

justification for putting the presidential 

election first. There is no sound basis for 

putting the presidential election first. 

Amusingly, the commission has not been 

able to give any logical reason for 

starting at the top instead of starting 

from the bottom. 

Does anyone forget that the first 

elections at the onset of the Fourth 

Republic started with the local 

government elections? It was also so in 

the Third Republic when the military 

started from the local government level. 

The elections that kick-started the 

Second Republic in 1979 also started 

from the lowest level and peaked with 

the presidential. So, why the Yakubu led 

INEC has insisted despite its proclaimed 

independence in putting the presidential 

as the first and by that sparking a 

bandwagon effect is yet to stand to 

reason.


BY JOSEPHINE 

AGBONKHESE 

ALTHOUGH women tend to 

do the same thing, whether 

they are hurting and want 

to curse or are feeling loved and 

want to bless, nobody fails to 

differentiate between both 

environments. Hurting or loving, 

women cry, sing, dance and strip. 

Several times, the Nigerian 

woman has been forced to be 

hurting, resulting always in an 

outcry: from protesting the poor 

maternal-child health facilities in 

Ogun to supporting the grazing 

bill in Benue, forcing down oil 

firms in Bayelsa to protecting a 

traditional stool in Edo against 

politics. 

The most recent being over 100 

of the 2000 plus women of the 

Indigenous People of Biafra, 

IPOB, docked and denied bail for 

crying, singing and striping 

penultimate Friday for an 

“unlawful assembly” which 

sought the release of their leader, 

Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, whose 

whereabout has been unknown 

since September 14, 2017. Only 

to be released one week later, 

absorbed of all charges. 

Women agitations 

Women agitations in Nigeria are 

well documented. The most 

popular being the Aba Women’s 

Riot or, to the anti-colonialists and 

gender-sensitive, Aba Women’s 

War(1929). When the colonial 

government decided to review the 

direct taxation regime introduced 

and imposed on men the previous 

year, the enumeration of wives, 

children and livestock became 

necessary. Suspicious that the 

enumeration was a prelude to the 

extension of direct taxation to 

them (women), because they had 

no political power within the 

patriarchal colonial system, they 

utilized collective action to 

communicate their dissatisfaction. 

So, on December 2, 1929, more 

than ten thousand women 

demonstrated against the 

enumeration exercise. This event 

by rural Owerri and Calabar 

women lit a fire across most parts 

of the Eastern Region within the 

next four weeks of the women's 

war that spread across no fewer 

than six ethnic groups. Most 

significant about it though was 

the success gained in curbing the 

direct taxation regime. 

Though the issues are entirely 

different, this latest protest, like 

other recent protests by women in 

the region, has become too 

difficult to turn a blind eye to. 

January 2018 

Recall that earlier in January, 

female members of IPOB, though 

already proscribed by the Federal 

Government, reportedly disrupted 

a meeting of Southern and 

Middle Belt leaders in Enugu, 

tagged Handshake Across the 

Niger. 

As they protested and cursed the 

security operatives who locked 

them out of the Base Center venue 

of the event, some of the women 

stripped themselves stark naked, 

inviting the President-General of 

Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief John 

Nnia Nwodo, whom they accused 

of supporting restructuring, to 

come and see their nakedness so 

that he would “die.” 

One of them who identified 

herself as Madam Chichi said, “ 

How will soldiers kill our 

unarmed children who were 

merely agitating for a referendum 

while those who carry AK-47 

rifles, kill and maim Nigerians 

across the country are hailed by 

the Federal Government? 

“We are tired of being in this 

country. They should allow us to 

go to Biafra. Nigeria’s unity is 

•Female members of IPOB protesting 

South-East Women: Beyond 

the demand for Nnamdi Kanu 

negotiable. We do not want the 

injustices and oppression going 

on in Nigeria….” 

Very similar to her lamentations 

were those of Nkechi, one of the 

women involved in last Friday’s 

protest, who allegedly told the 

press: “What is wrong for us to say 

...one thing 

is clear: these 

women 

embody a 

philosophy 

that hates 

intimidation, 

pigeonholeling 

and politics of 

the elite 

no to intimidation in this country? 

We have the right to say we are 

going to be part of this country?” 

May 2017 

Flashback May 2017, pro- 

Biafran women also protested 

naked in Abiriba, in Abia State, 

following the alleged arrest and 

harassment of their members by 

military men during their general 

meeting. 

It was gathered that as the 

women were holding their 

meeting, soldiers stormed the 

venue and allegedly started 

shooting sporadically, and later 

arrested some of them and took 

them to the Barrack at Ohafia. 

The action of the soldiers 

angered the women who later 

stripped naked and marched to 

the palace of the traditional ruler 

of the community protesting the 

soldier’s action. 

Stripping 

While stripping may have 

become common among these 

women, one thing is clear: these 

women embody a philosophy that 

hates intimidation, 

pigeonholeling and politics of the 

elite irrespective of tribe. But they 

exists in a geographical space that 

seeks, among other things and in 

the absence of certain conditions, 

sovereign recognition—Biafra. 

This makes whatever action the 

woman from the East takes 

poignant. 

Perennial cry of marginalisation 

The perennial cry of 

marginalisation from the Eastern 

region of the country is one of 

many across the country. Surely, 

no government will allow 

disorder. And, certainly, none will 

agree to disintegration when unity 

is a far profitable option. But the 

truth remains that patriotism is 

not engendered via political 

demagogue. Only practical 

evidence of or even honest 

attempt at welfare governance 

gives a people a sense of 

belonging. Furthermore, some say, 

and rightly so too, that the people 

across the Niger should ask their 

leaders questions. 

However, as much as 

government is uncomfortable 

about the Owerri women’s 

questions and threat over 2019 

elections, it will be beneficial to 

understand that agitations against 

oppression, once taken up by 

women; as their approach to such 

causes is often more of “If I die, I 

die”, as displayed in the Aba 

Women's Riot, are always a 

phenomenal uprising. They never 

end without some form of results. 

According to a Professor at the 

University of Lagos, who pleaded 

anonymity as he spoke to 

Weekend Woman as he considers 

Biafra a touchy subject, these 

women carry the very underlying 

principles of Biafra— 

independence, industry, love for 

the land, fearlessness and 

resilience. 

These qualities might be 

common to many women, he 

added, “but the Igbo woman’s 

environment places her in a 

position to give deeper meaning 

to the life and philosophy of a 

fiercely-republican people.” 

The Nigerian society and, by 

extension, government, he 

continued, is making a grave 

mistake by treating them in the 

most dehumanising way—teargasing 

them, beating them up, 

tearing their clothing, arresting 

them, denying bail, and even 

more. “All these will only make 

them more dogged in their 

agitations.” 

Biafra as a geographical space 

and an ideology 

No doubts, the emergence of 

these women has brought a new 

dimension to the separatist 

agitation by thousands of Igbo 

youths who feel frustrated about 

the way their country is being run. 

Even if Biafra, as a geographical 

space, may never be realised, but 

as an idealogy, the wise woman 

from the East will be there as long 

as they have already emerged. 

Always. Reincarnating. Ready to 

cry, sing, dance and strip to love or 

curse. It is better, cheaper and 

safer for the country to ensure 

structures that encourage the 

former—love. 

Perhaps we should begin to 

consider urgently restructuring 

the country maybe it will truly 

help bury these feelings of 

intimidation and oppression, and 

restore, in every minority tribe in 

the country, an utmost sense of 

belonging. And for the entire 

country, unrivaled peace.


Delta: 27 Years 

of Statehood 

By Julius Oweh 

Last Monday, Delta State, the famed 

big heart of the nation celebrated 

27 years of existence or its 

separation from the defunct Bendel State. 

Though the creation of the state was mired 

in political intrigues and controversies, the 

Urhobos, the Isokos, the Itsekiris, Ijaws, 

Ndokwas, Ikas, Oshimilis, and Aniochas 

have continued to soldier on as one entity 

despite some political flash points that 

manifested in the agitation for creation 

of real Delta State or Anioma state. 

Looking back at the 27 years of existence, 

it would be most uncharitable to harbour 

the thoughts for a fleeting second that the 

state has not witnessed development. One 

thing that must be borne in mind is that 

there is no other state in the nation that 

has as many urban centres as Delta State. 

Thus because of this unique nature of many 

urban centres namely Asaba, Agbor, 

Abraka, Bomadi, Ughelli, Warri, Effurun, 

Sapele, Oghara and Oleh, developments 

are evenly spread and in some cases 

unnoticeable. The state has witnessed 

tremendous achievements in education 

with a multi campus university to assuage 

the needs of the three senatorial districts. 

There are four functional polytechnics, 

two colleges of education, many 

secondary schools and few technical 

colleges that are producing middle level 

manpower. In the health sector, there is a 

teaching hospital and every local 

government area boasts of at least one 

general hospital. There are many 

arteries of roads that transport goods 

and services and these boost the level 

of commerce in the state. 

Though last Monday celebration 

was low key, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa 

used the occasion to salute the spirit 

of oneness and togetherness of 

Deltans. In a statement issued by his 

chief press secretary, Mr Charles 

Aniagwu, he acknowledged the 

support government has enjoyed from 

the people and urged them to continue 

in that stride. The governor spoke of 

his vision for the state :‘This year 

anniversary provided an opportunity 

for the people of Delta 

state to reflect on the 

vision of the states 

founding fathers and 

celebrate the 

progress achieved 

over the years‘. 

And this was 

essentially the theme 

worked on by High 

Chief Iduuh Amadhe, 

the president general of 

Isoko Development 

Union. The Isoko 

leader stated that there 

were many reasons to 

celebrate the creation 

of the state as it has 

brought development 

to the grassroots. He 

said that the Okowa 

administration should 

be lauded for his 

attention devoted 

towards 

the 

development of Isoko 

land, saying that the 

people of Isoko have 

never had it so good. 

He rolled out the 

upgrading of Ofagbe 

Technical College, the 

tarring of various roads 

in Isoko land, the giving of 200kv 

transformer to Isoko Unity House. He 

therefore urged Isokos to continue to 

support the Okowa government. He, 

however, drew the attention of the 

government to the neglect of Isoko 

communities in Ndokwa East and 

urged the authority to redress this 

injustice in the spirit of equity and 

fairness. 

Prof Job Akpodiete, the Rector of 

Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro in Isoko 

North Local Government Areas 

maintained that Delta State 

educational strides are simply 

unequalled and the governor should 

continue to march along that line. Said 

Akpodiete :‘Our governor, the 

‘Ekwueme‘ of Africa, we join other well 

meaning Deltans in the state and 

Diaspora to rejoice with you as our 

state turns 27 under your uncommon 

leadership which has impacted greatly 

in the transformation of the education 

system as well as sporting activities in 

the state. While we congratulate you 

on this special occasion of steering the 

ship of our beloved Delta State, accept 

our felicitation also for successfully 

hosting Africa to a sport fiesta. We 

commend your courage for saving the 

nation‘s image at a very short notice‘. 

As for Dr Ifekan Ugwala, a scholar 

in Educational Assessment and 

Measurement, he agreed that Delta 

State ought to developed faster 

because of the gas and oil 

endowments. However, he praised the 

Okowa efforts for steering the ship of 

the state. Ugwala argued thus: ‘Since 

the governor came on board, despite 

the economic crunch, Okowa was able 

to manage the little resources at his 

disposal to keep the state running. He 

made sure that every sector of the economy 

is functional. It is only a man with vision 

and determination that could perform in 

such hostile environment. At a time when 

many state governors were crying because 

most of them were unable to pay workers‘ 

salaries, Okowa was paying salaries 

without delay and at ease‘ 

The royal monarch 

of Okpanam, HRM 

The 

congratulatory 

message of 

Governor Ifeanyi 

Okowa to all 

Deltans had a ring 

of truth, honesty 

and the 

togetherness of 

the people of the 

state 

Michael Mbanefo 

Ogbolu, the Ugoani of 

Okpanam stated that 

at 27, Delta state has 

come of age and a child 

born 27 years ago 

should be a full grown 

man. He spoke of 

developmental efforts 

under Okowa :‘Roads 

are being constructed 

and rehabilitated in all 

parts of the state. The 

government is 

committed to 

agriculture and has 

matched the growing 

population of the state 

with commensurate 

social infrastructure. 

Also worthy of mention 

is the fact that 

Governor Okowa 

through the stadium 

and the athletics 

competition was able 

to attract African 

Athletes to Delta 

State, thus bringing the 

state and Asaba to 

global limelight‘. 

The Speaker of the Delta State House 

of Assembly, Honourable Sheriff 

Oborevwori used the occasion to call on 

all Deltans to live in peace. The speaker 

appealed thus: ‘The strength of Delta State 

today at 27 is our unity and I am using 

this occasion of our anniversary to call on 

the good people of Delta State to continue 

to live in peace with one another. We can 

achieve so many things in the state when 

we remain united. We cannot afford to fail 

our founding fathers. We should maintain 

the existing ethnic harmony in the state as 

this is the only way to attract more 

investors to the state. At 27 years of 

creation, we have every reason to roll out 

the drums to celebrate Delta State. As 

we mark the occasion, my assurance to 

Deltans on behalf of the state legislature 

is that we will remain focused, very 

articulate and we are going to do very well 

in the days, weeks, months and years 

ahead. Deltans should expect more robust 

debates. We will continue to dwell more 

on people oriented bills and also give 

adequate attention to our oversight 

functions and sustain the cordial 

relationship between the executive and the 

legislature. We will continue to work 

round the clock for more bills to be passed 

and assented‘. 

Mr Oghenekaro Ilolo, the 

Commissioner for Youth Development, 

drew relationship between the state at 27 

and the disposition of youths. He puts the 

argument this way: ‘After 27 years, a child 

is expected to be a full grown adult, with a 

job, responsibility and a drive. At 27, there 

should be no excuses as youths why we are 

not doing well. In some countries like 

•Okowa 

Russia and France, their leaders are youth. 

Tafawa Balewa and other founding fathers 

of Nigeria were in their late 20s and early 

30s. So what happened? Why is this age 

bracket being looked upon as youngsters, 

when at a time, they were the founding 

fathers of this country. So if at 27, we are 

not doing well, then we have some 

questions to ask ourselves. At 27, I think 

Delta state has not done badly but there is 

the need for improvement‘. 

The congratulatory message of 

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to all Deltans 

had a ring of truth, honesty and the 

togetherness of the people of the state. This 

is how the governor put it: ‘Despite the 

challenges the state grappled with over the 

years since creation, we have remained 

one indivisible state bound by love and 

brotherhood. The fact that we are still one 

is reason to celebrate and it is our hope 

that we will leapfrog from where we are to 

where we want to be in the nearest future. 

Our administration’s investment in 

meaningful peace building had yielded so 

much gains which have impacted 

positively on not just the economy of 

the state but the entire country. We 

have kept faith with our SMART 

Agenda as can be seen from the recent 

completion and ongoing construction 

of over 300 urban and rural roads that 

traverse across the three senatorial 

districts‘. The testimonies of these Deltans 

coupled with the sentiments of the state 

helmsman, it is a fitting tribute to 

maintain that Delta State has come of age 

and will continue to be a shining example 

of people living together in a diverse 

ethnic coloration.


President Buhari took law to a 

gathering of lawyers. And he came 

clutching what looked like a supreme 

court decision. When did the president 

develop appetite for legal gymnastics? 

And he is now striving to be a 

contortionist. Igbos know that a frog 

doesn’t make dashes in the afternoon in 

vain. The president, despite the look of 

detachment, must be wary of the ghosts of 

a distant past. He prefers the new status 

of a born again democrat. But that status 

sits uncomfortably with instances of 

blatant disobedience of court orders. So 

he came to the learned men not to seek 

forgiveness but to exonerate himself. 

If the president didn’t misspeak then he 

wanted the lawyers to know that the 

security of the country could trump 

individual freedoms in special 

circumstances. And that the law permitted 

indefinite detention of dangerous suspects 

to safeguard the society. He bragged that 

he was supported by the supreme court. 

He was evidently honest about his 

convictions. But I would be surprised if he 

sought and got the support of his vice 

president for this awkward position. 

Because what the president unwrapped 

before the lawyers was everyday legal 

chewing gum presented as holy 

communion. 

If the president had broadened his 

consultations and looked before leaping 

he would have saved himself the assault 

by millions of raised eyebrows. Professor 

Osinbajo would have told him the ordinary 

truth. Every accused person is entitled to 

bail. That is the law. Because he is 

innocent, and consequently, his freedom 

should not be denied, until he is found 

guilty. Yes, the law prioritizes the safety 

of the society over the freedom the 

accused. But it hands the ultimate 

discretion to grant bail to judicial officers. 

In deciding whether an accused person 

retains an entitlement to bail the judge 

weighs a number of issues. Chief amongst 

them is whether the accused would 

constitute a significant security risk to 

the society based on preliminary evidence 

and the charges levied against him. If he 

is an obvious potential security risk the 

court would naturally deny him bail. It’s 

an objective assessment, and the judge 

President Buhari and his 

‘Guantanamo’ Argument 

gives reasons for his ruling. 

When a judge admits an accused person 

to bail then he has assessed the accused 

and found him relatively harmless to the 

society, the continuity of the case and the 

body of evidence and witnesses. This 

assessment of risk to public safety as it 

relates to accused persons can only be 

done by judges. The constitution 

fashioned it that way to curb 

arbitrariness. If the president or anyone 

else has reasons an accused must not be 

admitted to bail then he must present 

them to the presiding judge for 

consideration through the prosecutors. 

When a judge admits a Lagbaja to bail 

and the government feels that the judge 

is in error then the government must 

appeal the bail ruling. What the 

government can’t do is to disregard the 

ruling and pretend that the president or 

the DSS DG has the capacity to make 

the assessment better than a judge. And 

keep Lagbaja in a dungeon. 

So Buhari’s postulation is correct to 

the extent that individual rights can be 

curtailed. But his assumption that he can 

determine when an accused can be 

detained indefinitely is flawed. The 

usurpation of the role of judges and 

disobedience of court orders by the 

executive is not supported by the 

Supreme Court decision he seemed to 

be clutching to that day. 

The president cannot assume 

emergency powers without declaring a 

state of emergency. And a state of 

Why I want Anambra South 

senatorial seat —Okwuosa 

By Clifford Ndujihe 

Chief Azuka Okwuosa, who unsuccessfully aspired for the Anambra South Senatorial seat 11 years 

ago is back in the race on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC. Lamenting that all the 

socio-economic challenges that made him aspire 11 years ago have remained unattended to, Chief 

Okwuosa, in this interview, outlines his vision and mission for the senatorial zone, saying the South-East must 

give the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government a chance tom cement its good works in the 

South-East. 

On what is motivating his aspiration 

My motivation is propelled by the same 

issues that drove me to aspire for this same 

Anambra South Senatorial seat 11years 

ago. I contested for the seat in 2007 because 

of the high level of underdevelopment not 

just in Anambra South Senatorial Zone but 

also the entire Anambra State. The issue of 

rampaging erosion menace is more than 

what the communities, local councils and 

state governments could tackle. It requires 

policy which could be done through the 

ecological fund that needed proper political 

engineering to be able to get the federal 

government to do it. 

Again the federal infrastructure especially 

roads within the senatorial zone, the state 

and geopolitical zone are in a state of 

disrepair. The infrastructure can rightly be 

said to have collapsed to the extent hat one 

would wonder whether we have 

representatives at the National Assembly 

from this zone. 

Look at the burgeoning level of youth 

unemployment which has generated 

negative pressure on social harmony and 

security in the entire geopolitical zone. 

These are able bodied energetic youths, 

graduates, skilled, semi-skilled and the 

unskilled who have remained idle and 

jobless for up to 10 years. Yet more are 

joining them annually. This has become an 

unemployment epidemic. There are a whole 

lot of other nagging issues. From the time I 

took a shot at the senatorial election to the 

time I spent at the elections petitions 

tribunal for two years to the time of the rerun 

poll, more social challenges have 

mounted in the senatorial zone. 

I had vowed not to contest ever again 

because of the high insincerity of the 

operators of the system, especially the 

electoral umpire- the Independent 

National Electoral Commission, INEC. 

However, within the dispensation of 

President Muhammadu Buhari’s 

administration, I feel we now have an 

unbiased umpire to a reasonable extent. 

All their conducts so far have been 

commended by not just the ruling party 

and the opposition parties but also by the 

international community. 

It is sad that those issues that motivated 

me to come out in 2007 have remained 

unattended to. In fact, issues like the 

erosion menace have assumed a 

frightening dimension because it was left 

unchecked for long. Today it has spread to 

nearly all communities within the 

senatorial zone-Nanka, Oko, Ekwulobia, 

Ezinifite, Nnewi, Oraifite, Ozubulu, Ihiala, 

Ukpor, Azia, Okija, and in fact all the 

communities within the seven local 

councils in the zone. 

It is very disturbing and shocking that 

little or nothing is happening. Look at the 

state of the roads-like Oba-Nnewi- 

Okigwe federal highway, constructed in 

1979 during the era of President Shehu 

Shagari. Till now, no one has given that 

road any form of facelift. It has been 

begging for attention. It is a link road 

between the South-East and South-South 

linking the areas to the South-West and all 

other parts of the North. Through Okigwe 

you link up to Enugu, Ebonyi and all other 

emergency would need the support of 

two thirds of members of the National 

Assembly. Let’s leave Dasuki and the 

Shiites leader out of this. So that we 

don’t get people unduly emotional. 

Imagine that in 2014 the then 

President Jonathan, rattled by 

‘Febuhari,’ received such perverse 

legal wisdom from a retired general. 

And troubled by paranoia and nudged 

by a standing legion of conspiracy 

theorists, he assumed such extralegal 

powers to protect national security 

from dangerous men. Remember that 

there were many fables about Buhari 

being the sponsor of Boko Haram 

those days. Many in the ruling PDP 

believed that Boko Haram and the 

abduction of Chibouk girls were all 

scripted to embarrass Jonathan. So 

such a President Jonathan could have 

ordered the DSS DG to arrest Buhari 

,the leader of the opposition then. 

Then imagine that the DSS DG then 

had the guts of Mr Lawal Daura. He 

would have locked the suspect away 

and not briefed the press. The 

opposition would have wailed 

endlessly, and called on their ancestors 

and the United Nations. They would 

have run from pillar to post and then 

to court. The DSS probably would 

have manufactured piles of evidence 

to support their delusion that 

Buhari,despite having been bombed 

by a faction of the insurgency, was a 

master mind of the insurgency. The 

•Azuka 

Okwuosa 

states of Southern Nigeria. 

The inability to fix that road has 

literally strangulated the economic life 

of the people of the areas it connects. It 

has also created a monumental 

problem that bothers on industries not 

working. 

How can these problems be tackled, 

would you subscribe to a charter of 

demands? 

I think the solution is not presenting 

charter of demand, it is basically a 

leadership failure. Anyone who aspires 

to be a senator, a member of the House 

of Representatives or comes forward to 

represent his people must know what 

he/she is going there to do. Your inability 

to do it automatically means that you 

are a failure. 

I have a 21-point agenda that I will 

unveil in full later. One of them is the 

restructuring of INEC so that electoral 

fraud would be eradicated. There are 

countries where electoral fraud offences 

When did the president 

develop appetite for legal 

gymnastics? 

prosecutors would have done the bidding of 

the misinformed president. They would have 

asked the court to allow the DSS hold him till 

eternity for national security reasons. The 

court would have shook its head in disbelief 

and granted him bail. But an irked DSS would 

have pretended the court made no ruling and 

kept General Buhari in detention. And when 

asked, the then president would have 

defended the decision of the DSS to disobey 

the court and would have cited a certain 

ruling of the Supreme Court that national 

security could trump individual freedoms. 

That would have been absurd, ridiculous. 

But that is the position President Buhari 

canvassed as law before lawyers at the NBA 

conference a few days ago. 

The rule of law treats the decision of a court 

of competent jurisdiction as law until it is set 

aside by a superior court. And everyone is 

bound by law. Even if the president is now a 

doctor of jurisprudence he must rely solely 

on judges to interpret the law for him. While 

individual freedoms could be subject to 

national security, the law is clear that the 

powers to make the determination rests with 

the courts. 

Those who support indefinite detentions 

because of national security always allude to 

Guantanamo. The US has detained enemy 

combatants without trial in Guantanamo bay, 

Cuba. That facility isn’t meant to hold US 

citizens. And no one detained on US soil can 

be kept against the orders of a court even if he 

is a terrorist. 

We must strengthen the laws. And entrench 

the principle of separation of powers. 

Tomorrow is pregnant. Multiparty democracy 

can’t thrive in Africa if presidents can order 

the indefinite detention of citizens and defy 

courts orders for their release regardless of 

reason. Tables can turn pretty quickly. And 

neither Tinubu nor Oshiomhole would want 

to become such sitting ducks. 

carry capital punishment. We need such in this 

country. Because if you don’t solve electoral 

fraud, you cannot solve economic fraud. We need 

to propagate bills that would make sure that 

right things are done. So it is not a matter of 

charter of demand, it is a matter of having the 

right leadership with commitment to go and 

effect a positive change. 

Your party, the APC, promised change. Critics 

say they are yet to see positive change. What 

is your take? 

I believe that those who have eyes to see are 

seeing them. The changes are already there. We 

inherited a monumental disaster. President 

Buhari has been stoically tackling the huge 

decay. Before now, it was difficult to travel to 

any part of the country, for example in the South 

East because all the roads were virtually gullies. 

But today the changes are there for all to see. 

Consider the Enugu-Onitsha Federal dual 

carriageway which one lane has been almost 

completed within APC’s first three years. But 

for 16 years the PDP was in power and not one 

shovel of sand was poured on any such road, yet 

they were the one that awarded the 

reconstruction contract years ago. Go and see 

the Enugu- Port Harcourt highway, a massive 

reconstruction work is also going on there right 

now. Same at the Oba-Nnewi-Okigwe Highway 

and other sectors of the economy. 

Consider the feed-the-poor and school children 

programmes and the N-Power programme; a 

lot of money has been pumped into them with 

positive economic and social effects nationwide. 

It is marvellous that the administration has been 

able to effect these far reaching impact in just 

three years. The Buhari administration needs 

to be given more time to consolidate and finish 

it is doing. 

On allegations that President excluded the 

South-East from the distribution of the nation’s 

commonwealth and appointments 

Yes, I will agree with you to some extent in 

terms of political representation but not in terms 

of infrastructural development. I stated earlier 

that in three years of this administration we in 

the South-East have had the type of 

infrastructural development that were never 

seen in the 16 years of PDP even with a lot of our 

people in prominent positions. So to that extent 

I see it as a massive departure from the ignoble 

past. If it is sustained we will get to a greater 

height.

Kaduna can be 

better without APC 

– Shuaibu, PDP governorship aspirant 

By Emmanuel Aziken, 

Political Editor 

President Muhammadu Buhari 

may not be his role model, at 

least politically, but there is 

something in Buhari’s persistence 

that is seen in Idris Shuaibu’s 

aspiration of governing Kaduna 

State. 2019 would be the third time 

that Idris, a former deputy 

managing director of Dangote 

Flour plc would be seeking the office 

of governor of Kaduna State. In his 

camp, there is a kind of hope 

that he could be lucky this 

third time. 

A finance expert who started 

his professional career with 

the Kaduna State Internal 

Revenue Board, Shuaibu has 

worked in several other 

establishments before his 

resort to consultancy, 

Shuaibu believes he is the 

one in his phrase to save 

Kaduna State from the 

political domination of its 

present governor, that is 

Mallam Nasir El-Rufai. 

“I am passionate about 

delivering results; results that 

have positive impacts on 

mankind,” he said in an 

interview saying that the 

present administration failed 

to deliver. In fact, in his 

words, he believes that the El- 

Rufai administration was an 

aberration that came by way of the 

bandwagon effect that followed 

the election of Muhammadu 

Buhari. 

“There was a bandwagon effect 

in 2015 elections. The sympathy 

of the electorate to Buhari and 

mass followership he enjoyed 

helped quite a number of 

candidates to win elections. This 

was the case in 2015.” 

Shuaibu is nursing his aspiration on 

the platform of the Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, believes that 

there would be no 

bandwagon effect in Kaduna 

State, if not on account of the 

issues that have trailed 

Buhari’s time as president, 

then on account of what he 

claims as the failures of the 

present administration in 

Kaduna State. 

“Current realities are 

different. Voters appear to be 

disenchanted with the 

incumbent Government of 

Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai. The 

Governor embarked on 

several unpopular policies 

and programmes which have 

made voters to dislike the 

government as evidenced by 

the votes cast in favour of PDP 

candidates during the last 

local government elections in 

the state. Our party shall if we 

•Idris 

Shuaibu 

put up a decent candidate win back 

the state.” 

In faulting the present 

administration, he said: 

“Citizens and indeed visitors 

seldom have a feel of government 

and even when they do it is usually 

negative. The level of filth on the 

streets of Kaduna, the lack of traffic 

control, absence of planning 

particularly in building and 

structures would certainly be 

addressed.” 

Shuaibu says that the electorate 

would be sympathetic to the PDP 

especially given his claim that the 

All Progressives Congress, APC is 

implementing policies and 

programmes initiated by the PDP. 

“PDP agricultural policy was 

adopted by APC and its 

implementation is still ongoing. 

PDP policies on transportation as 

regards rail network, inland water 

ways and airports rehabilitation are 

being implemented by APC 

government with little or no change. 

SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 1 , 2018—35 

Hence it does appear 

that our party 

policies and or 

programmes are 

generally accepted 

by all and sundry.” 

He, however, does 

not say why his 

party did not 

implement the 

policies when 

it was in 

power. 

Man to man, Shuaibu affirms that 

the PDP has better materials to 

present at all levels. 

“PDP candidates are men and 

women of high degree of integrity, 

our manifestos are people 

orientated and appealing to voters 

and we are determined together 

with citizens of the state from all 

walks of life to effect a change 

come 2019.” 

Given the persisting challenge of 

funding confronting state 

governments, it is no surprise that 

Shuaibu given his finance 

background offers a panacea. 

“Without funding, no policy can 

succeed. My first place of work 

after leaving university was 

Kaduna State Board of Internal 

Revenue as such I have some 

experiences in how best to harness 

and improve the generating 

capacity of the government. IGR 

shall be accorded its prime place. 

Areas such as signage, markets 

developments, ground rent and 

even the PAYE taxes that are not 

collected efficiently shall be 

restructured and enhanced. 

Moreover, there shall be strict 

management of Funds received 

from the federation account. We 

shall implement the concept of 

value for money accounting in all 

the affairs of government. Areas 

of leakages shall be identified and 

blocked. Wastage shall be 

eradicated and over bloated 

structures streamlined in order to 

save costs.” 

“Indeed because governors are 

elected on four year tenure, those 

elected MUST work towards 

ensuring that they perform 

because the mandate is for four 

years. So I will say four years are 

long enough to judge any 

government and in any case basis 

for seeking election shall be 

performance and not excuses,” he 

says. 

On what would be his focus, 

he said: “Kaduna state has 

potentials in several areas 

such as hospitality and 

tourism, agriculture, solid 

minerals, manufacturing, 

power and education to 

mention but a few. Local 

and foreign investors 

alike shall be welcomed 

and accorded priority as they 

come to help develop our state.” 

It is in this light that the aspirant 

urges his party to choose the best 

aspirants, saying: 

“It is important that leaders of 

PDP should realize the mistakes 

the party made in past and ensure 

that those mistakes are not 

repeated. As students of history, we 

must learn from those mistakes. I 

am sure all of us still have those 

issues very fresh in our minds. A 

situation where a senior member of 

a party comes out to say the party 

will rule for 60 years posit some level 

of arrogance and grandstanding. 

Where is the will of the people? Where 

has the place of God in this kind of 

statement? Again when a senior 

member of a party claims that there 

is no vacancy in a position that is 

supposed to be contested by 

aspirants before selection of the best 

and people’s choice entails 

imposition and clear disregards for 

democratic principles. 

UDUAGHAN: The final straw 

Continues from page 14 

the party, and he does not have any influence 

over the constitution of the party executive, 

both in his local 

government and state 

level. So somebody that 

has been sidelined, 

relegated and stopped 

from taking his position 

as a leader in the state, 

what do you expect from 

him,” he said. 

No emotion, it is Itekiri 

turn 

Hon Abigor asserted 

that those applying 

sentiment on the issue of 

Senator Manager and 

Delta South senatorial 

ticket were being myopic, 

as the senatorial district 

comprises three ethnic 

tribes, Isoko, Itsekiri and 

Ijaw, whose political 

leaders agreed on 

rotation of the senatorial 

seat. 

His words: “The 

arrangement among the 

leaders of the three tribes 

is that they will take turns 

in going to the Senate. 

Senator Stella Omu 

was there in the first 

tenure of Obasanjo and 

after her, the Itsekiri and 

Ijaw gathered together 

and said Isoko had taken 

their turn, let it go to Ijaw 

and that was how 

Senator Manager was 

massively supported by 

the three ethnic groups.” 

“After eight years, 

another Isoko man even 

wanted to go, Uduaghan 

was governor then, and 

he still supported 

For those who 

thought they 

had hemmed 

in Uduaghan 

with the 

complex 

bearings, the 

Warri-North 

born politician 

went for his 

Plan B, which 

is the bigger 

picture that 

was 

overlooked 

Manager against Chief Solomon Ogba from 

Isoko. Now it became the turn of the Itsekiri 

tribe, in 2015. Uduaghan was 

to go, but there was this massive 

defection from PDP and it was 

clear that APC had gained a lot 

of grounds. He said he would 

forgo his interest and face the 

bigger challenge of how to 

deliver the party at the national 

level. 

“After the primary, he 

supported Okowa, he 

supported Manager and both 

of them won. After 16 years of 

Senator Manager holding to a 

position that is supposed to be 

rotated among three tribes, it is 

obviously the turn of Itsekiri, so 

why should people be applying 

sentiment in saying that 

Manager can go for another 

four years? Are we saying that 

Ijaw should hold it for 20 years? 

That is the issue,” he said. 

Uduaghan’s masterstroke 

For those who thought they 

had hemmed in Uduaghan 

with the complex bearings, the 

Warri-North born politician 

went for his Plan B, which is the 

bigger picture that was 

overlooked. He unveiled the 

strategy which he tagged, 

“Moving On To the Bigger 

Playing Field” hours after the 

Tuesday caucus meeting. 

He said: The toughest 

challenge for any leader in the 

Niger Delta since 1997 has been 

the issue of Peace and Security. 

For over 12 years, I was deeply 

involved in the management of 

the issues of the region, first as 

Secretary to State 

Government, SSG, and then as 

Governor of Delta State for 8 

years. Strategically, we had ENGAGEMENT 

as our major tool. This involved government 

officials, with me in the forefront (sometimes 

personally going into the creeks without 

security at nocturnal hours), community 

leaders, traditional rulers, religious leaders, 

our youths, retired military officers, activists, 

etc. Of course, ensuring that Delta State Oil 

Producing Areas Development Commission, 

DESOPADEC, was active was also part of the 

engagement process.” 

Encouraging Interests, Activities 

“Since the inception of the current All 

Progressives Congress, APC, administration 

at the federal level, there has been an 

encouraging interest and activities by 

President Muhammadu Buhari to bring a 

permanent solution to the Niger Delta crisis. 

This has pointed in a direction that is at once 

progressive and developmental. Topmost in 

these activities are the ENGAGEMENT 

PROCESSES. 

“ Rather than using the military to harass 

our people, the Buhari administration has 

embarked on various engagement processes 

that have led to agreements and brought hope 

to the people of the Niger Delta. In the last 

years, Mr. President has personally engaged 

several regional leaders and youths. Senior 

officials of his administration also engaged 

many Niger Delta leaders and youths. Very 

significant is that Mr. President mandated the 

Vice President Prof Yemi Osibajo SAN, to visit 

virtually all the oil producing states, engaging 

various stakeholders. This is unprecedented 

in the history of the region. 

“Such engagement processes have brought 

some measure of peace in the Niger Delta. 

Things can only get better. Beyond the 

engagement processes, however, the Buhari 

administration has embarked on some 

infrastructural and human capital 

development activities in the region. In Delta 

State, the opening of a Maritime University; 

the setting up of a steering committee for the 

EPZ (GAS CITY), the plan for a deep sea port, 

the dredging of the Escravos-Warri River; the 

opening of the railway line to Delta Steel 

Company, the soon to be flagged off, by Mr. 

President, the Omadino-Escravos Road that 

will pass through many riverine communities; 

the various road construction works by the 

Niger Delta Development Commission 

(NDDC), the various TCN projects across the 

State are some of the positive activities in the 

region. There are also various human capital 

development programmes especially the 

school feeding and the “social security net” 

that is making 5,000 Naira available to the 

poor, the continuation of the You Win 

programme, the various SME programmes, 

and several other projects across the region 

have brought hope to the people. Indeed, once 

Mr. President was able to set his priorities 

pursuant to creating an environment for peace 

in the region, it became incumbent on every 

well-meaning Niger Deltan and Nigerian to 

assist the process of building an economically 

prosperous nation. In this era of partisan 

politics, 

“In this era of partisan politics, it is necessary 

for the people of the Niger Delta, and Delta 

State in particular, to identify more with the 

Federal Government led by the APC. By so 

doing, we can push some of the agreements 

between our leaders and the Federal 

Government through, and also engage the 

government to do more. Politics is about 

interests. The Niger Delta is a major area of 

interest for me, because I staked my life going 

into the creeks severally without security and 

sometimes coming back at night negotiating 

peace.” 

“I will, therefore, give the strongest support 

to any President that shows commitment in 

the affairs of the Niger Delta. I call on, and 

enjoin, other well-meaning leaders in the 

region, who have very useful contributions to 

make, to come on board and join hands in 

helping this Federal Government to pursue a 

robust development agenda that would uplift 

our people. Whatever milestone that appears 

not to have been achieved yet is not for lack of 

efforts. Joining hands with and supporting the 

process will lead to a faster delivery on 

expectations,” he said.

SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 1, , 2018—41 

DEATH OF SOMTOCHUKWU 

Stories started making the rounds that about 

three citizens had been killed and many 

wounded. Among those reportedly killed 

included 10-year old Somtochukwu Ibeanusi, 

the only son of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. 

Isaiah Ibeanusi. He was hit by a bullet in the 

head! 

Mr. Ibeanusi told Saturday Vanguard that 

SOMTOCHUKWU: 

he went in search of his children as soon as he 

learnt that someone had been shot along 

Mbaise Road, Owerri. 

“I picked my son up and rushed my dying 

son to the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, 

where a doctor on duty certified him 

dead on arrival”, Ibeanusi recounted 

with grief. 

He also disclosed that soon after 

The Martyr of 

depositing the lifeless body of his son 

in the FMC morgue, he went to report 

his predicament to the Catholic 

Archbishop of Owerri Ecclesiastical 

Province, His Grace, Dr. Anthony J. V. 

Obinna. 

The Village Head of Amawom, 

Chief Dennis Dike, gave the names of 

Ekeukwu Owerri 

indigenes of his village as Leonard 

Ebubeagu Osuji, Sebastian Oparaku 

and Iheanyi Osuji. 

“Leonard was shot in his thigh while 

Sebastian and Iheanyi were shot in the 

head and groin respectively”, Dike told 

Saturday Vanguard. 

NO CASUALTY STORY OOZED OUT 

While Ibeanusi was grieving over his son’s 

death and other injured persons were 

struggling to save their lives, the CP 

and Imo State Government 

claimed that “no life was lost”. 

One of Governor Rochas 

By Chidi Nkwopara, 

OWERRI 

This generation does not know Pontus 

Pilate and generations after it will keep 

hearing the name. 

The biblical account, which all generations 

will ultimately believe, is that Jesus Christ 

suffered under Pontus Pilate! This repeated 

commentary, even in Christian prayers, is a 

sure proof that his soul has not known, and 

may never know peaceful rest. 

As in the case of Pontus Pilate, there is no 

way the historical account of when, how or 

where 10-year old Somtochukwu Ibeanusi 

died without the mention of Ekeukwu Owerri 

and some names associated with the events 

that led to his death! 

Time really flies. It is already one year since 

Somtochukwu, the martyr of Ekeukwu 

Owerri Market destruction, was summarily 

dispatched, August 26, 2017, from this world! 

Truly, no member of the 

Ibeanusi family knew that 

danger was lurking on the 

fateful day. They had hardly 

finished their morning 

devotion when news filtered in 

that Imo State Government 

had commenced the planned 

demolition of the ancestral 

Ekeukwu Owerri Market. 

Somtochukwu’s father 

owned a shop in the market and 

since the demolition had 

started, he had to mobilize 

members of his family to 

salvage whatever he could from 

his store. This explains how and 

why Somtochukwu became 

part of the family’s rescue team. 

Before the eventual destruction 

of the market, and sadly, the 

boy’s unfortunate death, the 

threat issued by government was 

palpable. It trended for months! 

Armed with this serious threat 

coming from the government of 

the day, some indigenes of 

Owerri Nchi Ise, including Chief 

Tos Oparaugo, Chief Paul 

Nnawuchi, Chief Cyril Ukaegbu, 

Mrs. Ifeoma Anokwu and others, 

approached Imo State High 

Court to contest the planned destruction or 

relocation of the market. 

The plaintiffs lead counsel, Prince Ken C.O. 

Njemanze, SAN, pleaded their cause before a 

Vacation Judge in Owerri, vide suit HOW/ 

380/2016, and because of the urgency and 

seriousness of the case, he slammed a 

restraining order on all the Respondents, Imo 

State Government and the Governor inclusive. 

After the vacation, the matter was transferred 

to Justice K. A. Ojiako’s court, and after 

listening to the plaintiffs counsel, 

he reinforced the previous 

restraining order on the Governor, 

Imo State Government and the 

others. Sadly, this was later 

observed in the breach, when the 

former Commissioner of Police, 

CP, Mr. Taiwo Lakanu, was 

transferred. 

Confirming service of the Order 

of Court, Lakanu told Saturday 

Vanguard at the time that: “The 

Command has been served the 

Court Order. We are a law 

enforcement agency and not a 

law breaking establishment. We 

are duty bound to respect the 

Order.” 

The fine Police Officer kept his 

word and never did anything to 

disrespect the Order of Court until 

he was transferred and Mr. Chris 

Ezike stepped in. 

News of the impending 

demolition of the market became 

louder from Monday, August 21, 

2017. Owerri youths, women, 

their friends and traders started 

mobilizing to stoutly confront the 

state government over the planned forceful 

destruction and relocation of their ancestral 

market. They started keeping round the clock 

surveillance in the market. 

Friday night turned out to be a different ball 

game. Heads of all the security agencies in 

the state, including the now transferred Imo 

police boss, Chris Ezike, were on hand to 

address leaders of Owerri youths. 

The security heads were shown a certified 

true copy of the Court Order, but what 

happened thereafter was a sure proof that they 

were not in the mood to respect the rule of 

law! 

The late night dialogue between the security 

heads and Owerri youth leaders lasted till 

about 3.10am. While Ezike assured that 

government was only interested in destroying 

the shanties, the youths, on the other hand, 

promised to take active part in the 

destruction of all unauthorized structures 

along the ever busy Douglas Road. 

Before leaving the scene, the parties 

•Parents of late 

Somtochukwu Ibeanusi 

agreed to reconvene at 9am. This supposed 

agreement turned out to be an operational 

strategy that disorganized the angry youths, 

women and traders. The youths hardly 

reached their respective family homes when 

calls started reaching them that pay loaders 

and excavators engaged by the state 

government had descended on Ekeukwu 

Owerri and destroying everything within 

sight! 

Before the youths could muster the required 

number of personnel to launch a counter 

attack, armoured 

vehicles and heavily 

It has not been 

easy for the 

Ibeanusi family, 

since they lost 

their loved one. 

They still find it 

extremely difficult 

to discuss the 

sad loss 

armed security 

personnel had taken 

over all the vantage 

positions, while the 

excavators and pay 

loaders wreaked havoc 

on the market with ease! 

The traders who 

banked on the 

assurances of the CP, 

relaxed and never 

removed their wares 

from their shops. They 

lost their goods when the 

excavators and pay 

loaders. A number of 

others also lost their 

wares to criminals. As 

they made frantic efforts 

to salvage whatever they 

could, the rampaging 

criminals also kept 

helping themselves with 

the salvaged goods. 

Following this state of 

confusion, not even 

g o v e r n m e n t 

•Somtochukwu 

functionaries 

and the 

a r m e d 

security 

personnel could 

decipher who the 

true owners of the 

wares were. 

Confusion reigned. In no 

time, gunshots rented the air. People 

started scampering into safety. Those who 

had guts watched the blood chilling drama 

from a distance. 

Our reporter, Chinonso Alozie, who rushed 

to the scene to cover the story, was not spared 

as he received severe beating from the 

demolition team, when it was discovered that 

he was there for Vanguard Media Limited. 

Okorocha’s media 

handlers made the 

matter worse, when he 

posted online that “the 

picture being 

circulated was a 

scene of an incident 

in Rivers State”!! 

On his part, Mr. 

Ezike described 

the operation as 

“smooth, 

successful and 

devoid of any 

casualty”. 

Although 

E z i k e 

maintained that 

no life was lost 

in the incident, 

he however 

capitulated 

when Saturday 

Vanguard gave 

him the gory details 

of the incident. 

He then advised the late boy’s 

family to report the incident to 

Owerri Urban Police Division and also 

promised to send intelligence officers 

to the family, especially as the matter 

was not reported anywhere, at the time 

of the interview. 

GOVERNMENT CHANGES GEAR 

When it became very glaring that 

Somtochukwu actually died in the 

incident, Okorocha said his 

administration would probe the incident. 

A press statement signed by his Chief 

Press Secretary, CPS, Mr. Samuel 

Onwuemeodo, explained that the 

investigation would ascertain whether the 

reported death, if true, could be linked to 

the movement of the market. 

The CPS also noted that “the probe 

would help establish the families of the 

bereaved and morgues where bodies of 

people purportedly killed during the 

relocation were deposited.” 

Onwuemeodo equally blamed politicians 

for being the brains behind the rumours of 

killings that trailed the demolition of 

Ekeukwu Owerri market. 

Government is yet to publish the outcome 

of its investigation. What the citizenry can 

say with certainty, is that after it’s initial 

denial that no life was lost, government 

started building what it called a shopping 

complex, named after the slain boy! 

ARMY REACTION 

As scathing condemnation continued 

trailing the gruesome murder of 

Somtochukwu, the 34 Artillery Brigade, at 

that time, claimed that it did not come into 

Ekeukwu Owerri market on it’s own accord. 

Explaining how and why the Army became 

involved, the Brigade’s Public Relations 

Officer, PRO, Captain Haruna Timothy 

Tagwai, as he then was, said “it was a joint 

operation”, stressing that they are part of the 

security of the state. 

FAMILY STILL IN SORROW 

It has not been easy for the Ibeanusi family, 

since they lost their loved one. They still find 

it extremely difficult to discuss the sad loss. 

“What do you expect the family to say? 

The dent is there. The pain still remains. It 

cannot be wished away and nobody feels it 

more than the family. You (Saturday 

Vanguard) are remembering him one year 

after, but the family feels his absence on a 

daily basis”, Mr. Ibeanusi lamented. 

For the citizenry, Somtochukwu Ibeanusi 

is the martyr of the struggle to preserve the 

ancestral Ekeukwu Owerri Market.


Can El Rufai 

ever forgive 

Shehu Sani? 

By Ben Agande, 

KADUNA. 

The National Assembly 

recently witnessed a wave 

of defection from 

members of the All Progressive 

Congress to the Peoples 

Democratic in a move that many 

believe could affect the political 

calculation of the APC as the 

nation moves towards the 2019 

elections. 

Indeed, the action of majority 

of members of the ruling party 

that left for the opposition PDP 

did not come as a surprise to 

many pundits. It was long in 

coming. 

But what came as a surprise to 

many people was the decision of 

the senator representing Kaduna 

Central in the Senate, Senator 

Shehu Sani, who contrary to 

many expectations, defied even 

his own pronouncements and 

remained in the APC when more 

than ten of his colleagues 

announced their resignation 

from the APC. And to show that 

his decision to remain in APC 

was not a temporary measure, 

Shehu Sani on the night of the 

mass defection of many members 

of the national assembly Sani 

joined the APC caucus to pay a 

solidarity visit to President 

Muhammadu Buhari at the 

presidential Villa. He has since 

followed it up with similar high 

profile visits like the one he paid to 

the president in 

Daura where the 

president had 

gone to celebrate 

his Sallah 

holiday. 

And in a 

dizzying turn of 

events, Senator 

Sani who had 

been under 

suspension from 

his state chapter 

of the party for 

almost three 

years for various 

alleged anti party 

activities, 

including open 

criticism of the 

president 

suddenly 

became a 

darling of the 

party at the 

national level. To 

demonstrate 

their new found 

love for senator 

Sani, the 

national 

leadership of the 

party announced 

a unilateral 

lifting of the 

suspension of 

Senator Shehu 

•El Rufai 

Although the ‘sins’ of 

Senator Sani against 

the state and the 

governor are known 

to them, the state 

governor feels that for 

standing against the 

state’s decision to 

access a world Bank 

loan of $350 Million, 

using his position as 

the chairman of the 

senator committee on 

Loans, Senator Sani’s 

sin was too grave to 

be forgiven 

Sani from the party. It was a decision 

that was widely celebrated by the 

Shehu Sani camp but drew sharp 

flack from the camp of the governor 

of Kaduna state, Nasir El Rufai 

whose relationship with the vocal 

senator from 

Kaduna state 

a p p e a r s 

irretrievably 

broken down. 

But despite the 

celebration by 

the national 

headquarters of 

the APC that the 

decision by 

senator Sani not 

to join the 

bandwagon of 

defection from 

the party was a 

plus for the party, 

indications in the 

state clearly 

indicate that 

bearing the deep 

seated animosity 

between the 

governor and the 

senator, it is 

a l m o s t 

impossible for 

the governor 

who has a firm 

grip on the state 

apparatus of the 

party to provide 

the platform for 

Senator Sani to 

go back to the 

national 

assembly. 

According to a senior aide of the 

governor who spoke with Vanguard 

on the matter, the governor and 

members of the state executive 

council of the party “will never 

forgive Shehu Sani for the 

irredeemable damage he has done 

to their relationship and the party in 

the state. At best, we may lift his 

suspension but he can never utilize 

the platform of the party for any 

elective position from the state again. 

Not when El Rufai remains the 

governor of Kaduna state”, the aide, 

who spoke on the condition of 

anonymity emphasized. 

Although the ‘sins’ of Senator Sani 

against the state and the governor 

are known to them, the state 

governor feels that for standing 

against the state’s decision to access 

a world Bank loan of $350 Million, 

using his position as the chairman of 

the senator committee on Loans, 

Senator Sani’s sin was too grave to 

•Sani 

be forgiven. 

At a recent outing in the state, 

Governor El Rufai pointedly told his 

audience that Shehu sani can never 

be the choice of the party for the next 

election. 

“In politics, it is impossible to hide 

your choice. Government officials 

have their choices but the 

government does not have a 

candidate. Whoever you selected, is 

the choice of God. “But as you all 

know, I have my candidate here. You 

may recall that we voted for 

somebody named Shehu Sani in the 

last election. When he went to Abuja 

and drank Abuja water, he started 

misbehaving, abusing the president 

and this government and 

sabotaging the party. 

“For this, I personally asked Uba 

Sani to contest against him. So Uba 

Sani is my candidate. 

“As you all know, Shehu Sani is 

among the senators who denied 

Kaduna State access to loan. Since 

he has shown the people of Kaduna 

State this enmity, you must pay him 

back in his own coin at the primary 

election. I therefore, seek your favour 

in the primary election to support 

Uba Sani. 

“We are surprised that Shehu Sani 

has not left the party. We thought he 

would commit political apostasy 

like others, but he remained in the 

party making efforts to correct his 

sins. We are waiting for him. As I have 

said, we have no grouse about him 

but his character. If he repents, we 

will listen to him. But if he refuses to 

secure that $350million loan for 

Kaduna State, we will not listen to 

him. Those close to him should tell 

him: wherever he goes (for lobbying), 

we will not listen to him if he did not 

bring $350million to Kaduna” the 

governor said. 

Beyond this, Vanguard gathered 

that the state government has 

compiled a two hundred page 

compendium on the ‘sins’ of Shehu 

Sani to present to both the national 

leadership of the party as well as 

President Muhammadu Buhari on 

the dangers of presenting Senator 

Sani as the party’s candidate in the 

forth coming elections. 

According to the Kaduna state 

government official who spoke to 

Vanguard earlier, “five minutes 

photo opportunities for the senator 

with the president in Abuja and 

Daura cannot save him. He is a goner. 

The national headquarters of our 

party acted in error and we have 

compiled the sins of this senator and 

by the time we present the dossier to 

both the party leadership and the 

president, they will have no choice 

but to drop him and avoid him like a 

pariah”. 

Among other things, Senator 

Sani was accused of deliberately 

frustrating the policies and actions 

of the state government as well as 

working with opposition elements 

in the state to destabilize the state 

government. For instance, when 

the state government banned 

street begging, Senator Shehu 

Sani openly opposed the policy, 

saying it was unnecessary and was 

alleged to have organized beggars 

in the state to oppose the policy. In 

fact it was alleged by the state 

government that it was Senator 

Shehu Sani that financed the beggars 

who took their opposition a notch 

higher by suing the state 

government. 

Similarly, when the governor 

introduced a bill to the state house 

of Assembly to regulate the activities 

of Christian and Muslim religious 

preachers, the state government 

alleged that Senator Shehu Sani 

galvanized the religious leaders from 

both divide to oppose the policy. Like 

the ban on begging, the policy on 

the regulation of religious 

leaders is comatose as a result of 

the opposition of the senator. 

Several attempts to get the 

senator to respond to some of the 

allegations leveled against him 

by the state government failed as 

he did not honour appointment 

that he had scheduled with this 

reporter as at the time of this 

report. 

But for a man known to be a 

dogged fighter, it is expected that 

Senator Sani will not take this 

fight lightly. His frequent 

meetings with president Buhari 

and the leadership of the party 

may be part of his strategy to get 

the two power bases to prevail on 

the governor. But for an El Rufai 

that is not known to fight half way, 

it will be a herculean fight. At the 

end of the day, it is highly unlikely 

that the national leadership of the 

APC and president Buhari, who 

had himself been the butt of 

Senator Sani’s acerbic criticism, 

will sacrifice Governor Nasir El 

Rufai for Senator Shehu Sani. Or 

can something be worked out 

along the line? It appears difficult 

but as they say, “never say never.”

2m voters to participate in 2019 

general elections in Adamawa – INEC 

Yola-The Independent 

National Electoral 

Commission (INEC) says 

about two million eligible voters 

from Adamawa are expected to 

take part in the 2019 general 

elections. 

Mr Kasim Gaidam, INEC 

Resident Electoral Commissioner, 

disclosed this to the News Agency 

of Nigeria (NAN) shortly after 

Customs 

tightens 

security on 

Nigeria 

waterways 

BY UMAR YUSUF,YOLA 

Adamawa/Taraba States’ 

command of the Nigeria 

Customs Service (NCS) has 

tightened its security on the 

nation’s waterways on the 

borders between the two states 

and the Cameroon Republic. 

The command also intercepted 

440 bags of banned rice on 

Nigeria/Cameroon water ways in 

Adamawa State. 

Consequently, the Area 

comptroller in charge of the two 

states, Mr Kamardeen Olumoh 

read riot Act to smugglers and 

warned them to desist from 

engaging in economic sabotage. 

Displaying some of the incepted 

bags rice at the borderline 

communities, he said the 

command would not rest on its 

oars to make smuggling an 

unattractive business. 

“These bags of banned rice 

were intercepted in the 

waterways. We were able to 

achieve this through reliable 

information. We will not spare 

anybody in our battle against 

contraband goods being shipped 

into this country. We appeal to 

smugglers to look for legitimate 

work because there is no way in 

which they will beat security 

personnel mounted on the 

various routes in Adamawa/ 

Taraba states” he said 

Mr Kamuldin Olumo explained 

that in line with the vision of the 

Comptroller General of NCS, 

Hameed Ali, the command was 

able to block waterways and land 

route entries commonly used by 

smugglers into the country. 

BY UMAR YUSUF, YOLA 

An Associate Professor of 

Political Science with the 

University of Abuja, Dr 

Mutiullah Olasupo, has charged 

Nigerian youths to emulate the 

collective virtues and 

nationalistic approach of the 

nation’s founding fathers as the 

build up to the 2019 general 

elections kicks off. 

Dr Olasupo gave the charge in 

Yola while speaking at a three day 

workshop tagged (Young 

Political Party Leaders Academy) 

organized by the International 

Republian Institute IRI and 

supported by the United States 

Development Agency, USAID. 

According to him, “when the 

likes of Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief 

Obafemi Awolowo, Ahmadu 

Bello and Alhaji Tafawa Balewa 

were struggling for 

inspection of some Continuous 

Voters Registration (CVR) centres 

in Yola on Thursday. 

Gaidam said that the last minute 

visits were to ensure that all eligible 

persons were registered before the 

suspension of the exercise on 

Friday. “So far, since the inception 

of the CVR to date, about 500,000 

eligible voters were captured and 

about two million voters are 

expected to take part in the 

forthcoming 2019 general 

elections in the state, “ Gaidam 

said. He recalled that in the last 

general elections, 1.6 million 

voters took part in the state. 

On conduct of the exercise, he 

said that the registration was 

moving smoothly across the state. 

He, however, described multiple 

registration by some undisciplined 


people during the exercise as the 

major challenge affecting the 

exercise. 

“The exercise will be suspended 

tomorrow Aug. 31, and it will 

continue after the 2019 general 

elections “ Gaidam said. 

There was a large turn out of 

people in various registration 

centres across the state eager to be 

registered. 

Insecurity: Zamfara emirate to merge Fulani settlements 

nka (Zamfara): Anka Emirate 

Ain Zamfara says it will merge 

scattered Fulani settlements into 

single towns and villages to 

complement the Federal 

Government’s effort in tackling 

insecurity in the area. 

The Emir of Anka and Chairman 

of Zamfara Council of Chiefs, Alhaji 

Attahiru Ahmad said this while 

speaking with newsmen in Anka on 

Thursday. 

Ahmad said the system was part of 

proposed measures by the emirate 

to complement government in 

promoting security, peace and 

stability in the area. 

“What we are proposing is like a 

ranching system that the Federal 

Government proposed to address 

farmers/herdsmen clashes in the 

country. We want to reduce large 

number of scattered Fulani 

University don tasks youths to shun thuggery during elections 

indeependence for Nigeria, they 

did not take the issue of ethnic, 

religion, section or any other 

thing into consideration. All they 

stood for collectively was for 

Nigeria to get independence. 

Therefore, youths in the country 

should try as much as possible to 

emulate the virtues of these 

founding fathers to chart a 

course for the country by ensuring 

that next year’s general elctions 

are hitch free, devoid of crisis” , 

he appealed. 

He urged youths to make 

democracy work in the country 

by ensuring that thuggery, vote 

buying, snatching of ballot boxes, 

pre and post election violences 

were stopped forthwith. 

Olasupo identified lack of 

empowerment as the major factor 

hindering youths’ participation 

in politics, advising that self 

empowerment was the only way 

settlements into towns and villages, 

we think this will assist in addressing 

security challenges in this area. 

“We think this will assist in tracing 

new herders coming to our area and 

to easily identify all Fulani 

settlements in this area. We have been 

advising Fulanis on this even before 

now, because apart from its impact 

on security, it will also be easy for 

government to provide social 

amenities for them,” he said. 

According to him, “we are making 

arrangements on how to contact 

authorities to actualise this proposal. 

The traditional ruler said “the 

move became necessary due to the 

security challenges we are facing, 

adding “I remember the Emir of 

Argungu in Kebbi state introduced 

something like this in his area and it 

yielded positive result,” he said. 

The emir also lauded the Federal 

to contribute meaningfully to the 

society stressing that this can only 

be realized by not relying on 

certificates. 

In a paper titled “The Concept 

and Institutions of Democracy”, 

the political Scientist urged 

women and youths, to participate 

in key decision making, to 

strengthen democracy. 

Earlier, Mr. Sentell Barnes, 

Resident Program Director, IRI, 

in his remark stressed the need 

for youths to imbibe the habit of 

volunteerism, to navigate the 

turbulent murky waters of 

politics in Nigeria. 

The RPD, represented by Amina 

Yahaya ,Program Associate said 

implementing the Responsive 

Political Party Program, which 

seeks to increase political party’s 

responsiveness 

and 

representation, would better the 

Government for the deployment of 

security troops to the area, saying 

that both bandits attack and 

kidnapping had reduced. 

“The only area we are having few 

challenges in Anka are in Southern 

Wuya and Eastern parts of Bagega, 

where we have boundaries with 

Bungudu and Maru Local 

Governments and a big forest that 

shares boundaries with Birnin-Gwari 

in Kaduna, Bena in Kebbi and some 

parts of Niger state,” he said. 

The emir added that apart from 

hundreds of widows and orphans of 

bandits’ attacks in the area, more 

than 29,000 persons had been 

displaced from their communities in 

the area. 

He commended Anka Emirate 

Foundation for supporting victims 

of attacks in the area with food items 

as well as healthcare services. 

polity in the state. 

“We believe that parties are 

only responsive, when they 

understand and incorporate 

citizens priorities into their policy 

agendas and are representative 

when marginalized groups are 

integrated into their activities. 

The training would specifically 

train participants on basic 

research skills to support 

political parties in developing 

citizens-informed policy 

proposals”, she said 

A participant at the training, 

Karuza John of Peoples 

Democratic Party (PDP) described 

the workshop as timely, aimed at 

sanitizing the polity of peculiar 

challenges. 

John assured that he would use 

the knowledge of the workshop to 

educate the other party supporters 

in the state. 

Security 

challenges over 

in Adamawa, Gov 

Jibrilla assures 

corps members 

BY UMAR YUSUF, YOLA 

damawa State government in 

Acollaboration with all security 

agencies have mapped out strategies 

that will nip in the bud any attempt 

by any person or group of persons to 

cause trouble in any part of the state, 

especially in the area where NYSC 

members are lodged. 

Governor Mohammed Umaru 

Jibrilla stated this in Yola during the 

opening ceremony of the 2018 Batch 

‘B’ (Stream 11) Orientation Course 

held at NYSC Orientation Camp, 

Damare, Girei Local Government 

Area. 

According to the Governor “it is 

expected that some of you expressed 

reservations in accepting your 

deployment to Adamawa State as a 

result of sensational reporting, as well 

as the pejorative adjectives, labelling 

the state as a war-torn zone. I am 

pleased to announce to you that we 

have taken precautionary measures 

to ensure your safety, by fortifying 

security around Corps lodges and 

work places all over the State “. 

Governor Jibrilla said though some 

local government areas of the state 

witnessed little security challenges 

some months ago, but the situation 

had been brought under control and 

the people were going about their 

normal activities. 

He maintained that the NYSC has 

remained the main fiber that holds 

Nigeria as one indissoluble nation, 

adding that this has been possible 

through the deployment of graduates 

to other states, making them to 

appreciate ways of life that are alien 

to them. 

Jibrilla also reminded them that “the 

orientation course is designed to 

enlighten you adequately on duties 

you will be saddled with as Corps 

members in the next one year”, and 

therefore congratulated them on their 

formal induction into the 45 years old 

NYSC family. 

In his speech, the Adamawa State 

Coordinator, Mallam Abubakar 

Mohammed applauded the 

governor for his uncommon 

commitment to the security and 

welfare of Corps members that has 

given them the confidence to stay and 

serve in this state against all odds. 

Mallam Mohammed told the over 

2000 Corps members from 

Adamawa and Taraba States to 

spend the next one year touching 

people’s lives positively and enjoined 

them to settle down quickly and be 

fully involved in all the activities for 

their own good. 

The State Coordinator admonished 

the Corps members to desist from 

any counter productive behaviour 

such as cultism, drug abuse and 

addiction, drunkenness, religious 

extremism, sexual harassment and 

the like that are abhorred in NYSC. 

Yobe state civil 

servants lament 

non payment of 

allowances 

By Bala Ajiya 

DAMATURU— Civil servants in 

Yobe State have lamented the failure 

of the state government to pay their 

annual leave allowances as well as 

implementation of yearly increment. 

A top civil servant who did not want 

his name in print said “the prompt 

payment of salary by the state 

government is acknowledged with 

good faith, but this salary is our legal 

earning which must be paid since the 

state is receiving grant from the federal 

government. 

“However, how do you boost the 

morale of civil servants if other 

emoluments are not paid. We, the civil 

servants value the yearly increment 

and leave allowances, this will make 

every civil servant to double his or her 

effort since there is a reward on yearly 

basis. But the government only pays 

salary without considering all these 

other allowances, it is very sad ,” he 

said . 

Another civil servant from the state 

Ministry of Budget and Planning who 

also declined to disclose his identity 

said “the fact that the governor is a 

retired permanent secretary put him 

in a vantage position to know what it 

takes to boost the morale of civil 

servants for optimal out put.


Shadop calls on Nigerians in 

diaspora to invest in homeland 

Stories by Moses Nosike 

Considering the role of shelter 

to an average citizen, its 

importance to nation building 

and economic values, the 

management of Shadop 

International Properties 

Limited,a real estate, 

construction and acquisition 

company in Nigeria, has called 

on Nigerians in diaspora to 

invest in their homeland. 

According to the Group 

Managing Director/CEO, Eliel 

Group of Companies, Damilola 

Adefemi, “we also help clients 

determine fair values for 

property to be sold or purchased 

to ensure proper values for 

money spent. Realising the 

importance of investing at home 

from any part of the world 

especially property acquisition 

and development, Shadop 

International Properties, a 

specialist in building houses for 

Nigerians in diaspora is helping 

many to think home and their 

families as the country benefits 

from such investment. 

We take full responsibility from 

land acquisition in viable areas 

or specific locations required by 

our clients and we provide the 

necessary designs and 

government building approvals 

and subsequently develop the 

properties according to cash 

flow pattern and financial 

ability of the clients. 

However, we ensure that our 

services are absolutely 

affordable and cheaper than 

other options”. 

Discussing further, she said 

that the company is adding 

substantial economic value to 

Nigeria in terms of shelter by 

successfully building houses in 

various parts of Nigeria for all 

Nigerians in diaspora who at 

one point or the other were 

frustrated and defrauded by 

friends and relatives in the 

course of trying to build for 

them. “These funds are coming 

from overseas into the Nigerian 

real estate sector of the economy 

Being an educator with many 

years of experience, I have 

always looked out for something 

that will capture what I perceived 

to be the best method of bringing 

the best out of every child. From 

experience and personal 

relationship with children, every 

child seeks two things, ‘’Acceptance 

and validation” whether from 

peers, teachers or their parents. 

I remember as a young educator, 

students hated me for many years, 

it took so long for me to realise that 

kids are no more than an empty 

mind that I need to fill with 

information. Children are normal 

people, they have feelings, they have 

needs and many of them are 

immature and short-sighted, this is 

all part of being a child. They want 

to be engaged, be liked, to feel 

welcomed and they need someone 

they can trust. So, before I fill their 

brains with learning, I want to 

engage them and show that I 

understand what they are going 

through, that I care, and want to be 

their friend before I become their 

teacher, to say No! when they expect 

me to say Yes! I did this for just a 

few years and I saw a remarkable 

change in the students’ perception 

of me. They may not love me, but 

they respect and care about me, and 

I found out many of them can 

actually run through the wall for 

me. I discovered at this point that it 

Facilitators & guests cutting the Annual LAPO Development 

Forum Silver Jubilee Anniversary cake at the occasion in 

Lagos. 

and is providing employment 

for Nigerians. 

Damilola Adefemi said, 

“because we deliver first class 

quality services and don’t 

compromise integrity, we want 

to remain on top of real estate 

market and competition in 

Nigeria and beyond, so we work 

in collaboration with other 

global property companies like 

Damac Properties in Dubai and 

Christie’s International. We also 

work in tandem with our 

affiliated companies like Eliel 

Jerahmeal Nigeria Limited 

which handles our construction 

works and provides elevators 

and escalators to achieve desired 

results and that empowers us to 

deliver as at and when due with 

same standard as obtained in 

Sixth from left is the Managing Director/CEO, Shadop International 

Properties Ltd. Damilola Adefemi, and the Chairman fifth from 

right, Ayo Adefemi and others at the multi-national estate, Lekki 

Free Zone, Lagos. 

was then very easy for me to set the 

tone of their classroom, build a warm 

environment, mentor and counsel 

and nurture them, become a role 

model to many of them, listen and 

look for signs of trouble and then 

teach. 

Later I found out many of them 

began to believe in me, even than 

their parents and guardian. I felt 

more than a teacher, I felt like a 

champion every child needs. 

When I completed the draft of the 

book which was inspired my many 

battles as the hero of every child I 

have taught within the last twenty 

years of my career, I was looking 

for a suitable title when I stumbled 

on Rita Pierson’s speech on TEDtalk 

education in the laptop of one of my 

colleagues, it opened my mind to 

the place of relationship in the 

profession. It was motivating and 

revealing. I then concluded whether 

as the teacher, the parents or 

guardian, Every Child needs a 

Champion at every phase of 

development. 

What do you want to achieve with 

this book? 

First, according to Lois Letchford, 

Nothing is impossible when one digs 

deep, and looks at students through 

a new lens.’ Also from the perspective 

of R. J. Kizlik, if you say you 

understand something and you can 

explain what you understand to 

others that is deception, not 

understanding. Teaching, above all, 

should not be about fostering 

deception. In the same vein, anything 

not understood in more than one 

way is not understood at all.’ – 

On this two principles, the idea of 

this book was laid. Every child seeks 

what he either has at home or lacks 

at home in school and vice versa, 

when a teacher decides to move 

beyond the task of only teaching but 

decides to understand his students’ 

psychological state of mind, this 

other countries we operate”. 

Shadop International 

Properties Limited is a 

subsidiary of Eliel Group of 

Companies and we solicit that 

Promasidor 

omasidor, , CDC Unveil micro-credit 

for parents of children with disabilities 

Promasidor Nigeria Limited, in 

partnership with Children’s 

Development Centre (CDC), has 

unveiled a low-interest microcredit 

scheme aimed at empowering 

parents of children living with 

developmental challenges. 

The scheme tagged, ‘We Too Can 

Grow’ takes off with a grant from 

Promasidor, manufacturers of 

Cowbell Milk, Top Tea, Onga 

seasoning and other quality food 

products. Five groups in Lagos and 

Ogun States, where the programme 

is taking off, have already signed 

up for the facility being disbursed 

through cooperatives. 

The Special Adviser to Lagos 

State Governor on Social 

Development, Mrs. Joyce 

Onafowokan, said at the launch 

that the state government would 

partner CDC and Promasidor to 

ICA announces awards for 

credit management 

In keeping with its tradition, the 

Institute of Credit 

Administration has announced 

November 17, 2018 as the date of 

2018 Nigeria’s Credit Industry 

Awards, the event which is set to take 

place at the Auditorium of the 

Tafawa Balewa Square(TBS)will 

confer awards on deserving credit 

professionals across sectors of the 

economy. 

The awards which are in eight (8) 

categories are listed as, Credit 

Management Director of the Year, 

Chief Credit Risk Officer of the Year, 

Credit Risk Manager of the Year, 

Corporate Debt Recovery 

Professional of the Year, Mr. Credit 

Analyst of the Year, Outstanding 

Credit Negotiator of the Year, 

Customer Credit Integrity of the 

Year and Credit Relationship 

Manager of the Year. 

According to the statement issued 

by the Institute’s Secretariat, award 

nominationsaresaid to have been 

sent out to all the members of the 

Institute, calling on each to 

nominate potential awardees. The 

award criteria which is well spelt 

out on the award portal recognizes 

essentially significant 

achievements and professional 

meticulousness in the management 

of credit which the potential 

nominee may have distinguished 

Akintayo 

helps to bring about behavioral 

expectation that can determine 

learning outcome in every class 

situation. 

I once had a mentor who once said 

to me that the essence of teaching 

and learning is not to have all grade 

A students in the class achieving A, 

but to have the grade E students 

move to D, then to C, then to B then 

to A. Teaching is a continuous 

learning profession. The 

environment is for us as educators 

to be careful in writing any student 

off because we can never know what 

can spark their interest tomorrow. 

We have to look at them from 

another lens. When you do this, a 

the Federal Government should 

come up with schemes that 

would provide shelter for its 

citizens considering the growing 

population”, she said. 

deepen the programme’s 

penetration. She commended 

Promasidor for its support towards 

uplifting the living standard of the 

target group. 

She said: “Most people don’t 

know the pains parents of those 

children go through. Some of the 

parents do not have academic 

degrees. So, they need to be 

empowered and trained in skills to 

help them take care of their children. 

Medications of some of the kids are 

costly. That is why they need 

additional incomes to support their 

families. This is the motive of ‘We 

Too Can Grow.’ 

“The programme will boost the 

self-esteem of the parents. When you 

have a child with a disability and 

somebody steps up to say, ‘I will 

support you,’ the journey is easier. I 

feel very excited that this is coming 

from a corporate entity. 

his/herself. 

The award is regarded as the most 

cherished and industry’s widely 

recognized honor for professional 

performance and ethical excellence. 

ICA’s Nigeria Credit Industry 

Awards event is billed to attract 

notable personalities from both the 

public and private sectors and will 

have in attendance all the Institutes 

Council members - Dr. Adetunji 

Oyebanji,FICA, Former MD/CEO, 

Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc- ICA Council 

President, Mr. Andy Ojei, FICA, 

Former ED, Zenith Bank- Deputy 

President of Council, Professor 

Chris Onalo, FICA - Registrar/Chief 

Executive Officer, Mr. Opeyemi 

Adabonyan, FICA - Council 

Member, Mr. Thomas 

Imokhai,FICA, Former MD/CEO, 

Standard Alliance Plc- Council 

Member, Alh. M.T Mamman, 

FICA, Former Commissioner, 

PENCOM, Felix Amieyeofori, 

FICA, MD/CEO, Enegia Limited 

and Mrs. Markie Idowu, FICA, 

MD/CEO, Mimark Nigeria 

Limited. 

The Institute of Credit 

Administration whose Charter Bill 

was passed this year by the two 

houses of the National Assembly 

will use the award event to induct its 

sixth batch of new members into its 

professional membership. 

mutual relationship can be formed 

borne out of trust and respect. 

What is the book all about and your 

targeted audience? 

This book is a must-read for parents, 

teachers, policy makers and 

classroom veterans. It is the 

exuberant memoir of every day in a 

sixth form college. It is also a starting 

point for behavioral expectation for 

any upcoming teacher that desires 

higher levels of motivation on the 

job, an object of reflection and an 

educational research for those who 

desire to see it as so. 

Can a child’s training affect 

national development? 

There is a popular saying in the 

community where I come from, 

“Two persons give birth to the child 

but the whole community helps in 

training the child”. 

I have read from different 

authorities and researchers in 

education that parental 

involvement or permit me to say, 

Parent-school involvement in a 

child’s training is consistently found 

to be positively associated with a 

child’s academic performance. 

Specifically, children whose parents 

are more involved in their education 

have higher levels of academic 

performance than children whose 

parents are involved in a lesser 

degree.


It’s time for Southern 

Borno to produce 

governor — Adamu 

BY NDAHI MARAMA 

Hon. Yusuf Adamu was one time the Secretary of the Defunct All 

Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP during Governor Ali Modu Sheriff’s 

tenure in the state. He was also Caretaker Chairman of Biu Local 

Government Area and a grass root politician. In this interview with 

Weekend Vanguard, Adamu spoke on power shift to the Southern Borno 

Senatorial District and other issues. Excerpts: 

Recently 14 senators and 37 members 

of the House of Representatives 

decamped from the party that brought 

them to power and joined another party; 

what is your take on it? 

It is normal in politics. To stay in APC is 

very difficult, because it is no longer 

business as usual. People cannot loot 

anyhow in Buhari’s administration. So, 

most of those who left APC recently did 

so because they felt they could not 

continue to stay in a ruling party where 

there is no room for corruption. So, I am 

not surprised with their defection. Some 

of them want to become governors in their 

states and with the new leadership of 

Adams Oshiomole in place, they know the 

kind of due process they would have to 

follow before securing the platform of the 

party. Some of them came back to the 

APC and said they were deceived, while 

some of them were given money to defect. 

Some of them realised they made a great 

mistake and they came back to the ruling 

party. All these are part of the beauty of 

democracy. 

Do you have a strong belief that Buhari 

will still win in 2019? 

Absolutely, if you look at the recent bye 

-elections in Bauchi, Katsina and Kogi 

states where APC won. It has shown that 

people still believe in APC under 

President Buhari. In Akwa Ibom state 

where our party was non-existing before, 

APC is getting stronger by the day. Many 

people are coming to APC on a daily basis. 

We believe by the grace of God Buhari 

will be re -elected as our President with 

unprecedented votes. 

Recently, the people of your zone held 

a Southern Borno summit in Maiduguri, 

what is the summit all about? 

I believe in good governance and 

•Yusuf Adamu 

fairness, equity and justice. People of 

Southern Borno, the northern and central 

Borno have been working together. People 

from my geopolitical zone are hard 

working and believe in unity of the state 

and it is not wrong for them to aspire to 

be the governor of the state. We have 

capable hands who are well educated and 

have what it takes to lead the state. Since 

independence, no son or daughter of 

southern Borno has been given the 

opportunity to become the governor of 

this state. So it is high time for us to be 

given the opportunity. It is high time for 

the minority in the state to produce the 

next governor, though it happened once 

when Alhaji Ashieik Zamorarma who was 

from the minority became the governor 

of the state for just three months. So it is 

time for the minority to be given the 

chance to test their capability and move 

the state forward. 

Most speakers at the summit 

emphasized on unity, do you think the 

people of southern Borno will unite to 

pursue this goal of power shift? 

It is not only unity of the people of 

southern Borno, but the unity among all 

the people of Borno from all the 27 local 

government areas because you need the 

support of all the local governments 

before you can win the governorship 

position. You have to cross the ocean, the 

valley and every nook and cranny of the 

state from the wards to the units. If you 

observed during the summit, people from 

Gwoza, Askira-Uba were there but we 

have to cross southern Borno and go to 

Guzamala, Marte, Kukawa, Bama, 

Gomboru Ngala, Damasak, Gubio and 

so many LGAs in Northern and Central 

Borno to seek their support 

What is your assessment of the 

government of Governor Kashim 

Shettima who will soon complete his 

second term in Borno? 

Governor Kashim Shettima has really 

tried despite the security challenges posed 

by the Boko Haram sect. He has done 

very well. If you go to my council, Biu, 

this government has renovated Waka 

Science Secondary School, Government 

Girls Secondary School (GGSS) Biu, 

GGSS Miringa, and Primary schools in 

Mandaragirau which is my native village 

have been renovated. Shettima has also 

renovated schools in Bayo, Kwaya-kusar, 

Hawul, Shani, Damboa, Maiduguri 

Metropolis, and other local government 

areas in the state. It would interest you to 

know that this government is building a 

befitting State University along 

Damaturu- Maiduguri road. The work 

has reached 80% completion, and it is 

expected to be commissioned and take off 

soon before the end of this year. So the 

government had done well despite the 

insecurity. 

•Washed away Gulbin Boka bridge in Mariga local 

government area of Niger state. 

•Flood taking over Batati-Mokwa road in Lavun local 

government area of Niger state. 

Gov Bello begs FG to intervene on federal roads in Niger state 

By Wole Mosadomi 

inna- Following continuous collapse 

Mof bridges and roads in Niger State 

and the huge amount involved to repair them, 

the state governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani- 

Bello has appealed to the Federal Government 

to hasten up its intervention on the roads in 

order to ease the hardship being experienced 

by commuters. 

The Governor made the call when he carried 

out an on the spot assessment of the collapsed 

bridge at Gulbin Boka community in Mariga 

Local Government Area of the state on 

Thursday. 

After the inspection, the Governor directed 

the state Ministry of Works and Infrastructural 

Development to immediately mobilize 

contractors to site to ensure that the bridge 

was made motorable in the next 24 hours. 

“This road is of great economic importance 

to us as a state and the country as a whole; it is 

of great economic importance to us as it is a 

federal road that links the state to Kebbi, 

Sokoto States as well as Niger Republic”. 

“Even though contract for rehabilitation of 

the bridge has been awarded by the Federal 

Government, we cannot wait. We therefore 

appeal to the federal government to expedite 

action on federal government roads in the 

state. 

The Governor who assured the people of the 

community that his administration remained 

committed to providing sustainable road 

infrastructure for the people called on them 

as well as other road users to be patient with 

the government as efforts were on to ensure 

that the road was fixed immediately. 

Earlier, the Commissioner for Works and 

Infrastructural Development, Alh. Ibrahim 

Balarabe said because of the importance of 

the road and the urgency attached to it, the 

Ministry would temporarily move its office to 

the affected area in order to ensure quick 

rehabilitation of the collapsed bridge just as 

okoto- The Sokoto State 

S Government, has confirmed nine 

deaths due to what an official suspected 

to be cases of gastroenteritis in seven 

Local Government Areas of the state. 

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of 

Health, Mr Mustapha Ali, on Friday in 

Sokoto, listed six of the affected LGAs as: 

Illela, Sabon-Birni, Gada, Goronyo, Isa 

and Tureta. 

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) 

reports that most of the LGAs shared 

border with the Republic of Niger. 

Ali stated that the situation was under 

control, as the state and federal 

government officials had been deployed 

to the affected areas while medications 

and other aids had also been made 

available. 

He, however, debunked the claims that 

it was an outbreak of cholera, noting that 

experts had since taken samples for 

laboratory test in line with standard 

practice. 

he appealed to the people of the community 

to exercise patience as the bridge would soon 

be made motorable for users . 

Meanwhile, Chairman, Mariga Local 

Government , Barr. Abdullahi Sarkin Daji and 

the Village Head of Gulbin Boka Mal. 

Muhammad Zarumi commended Governor 

Abubakar Sani-Bello for the prompt action 

on the bridge. 

Suspected gastroenteritis outbreak: Sokoto Govt. confirms 9 deaths 

According to Ali, preliminary 

investigations revealed that the deaths 

may be due to the consumption of 

contaminated water, as rain was at its 

peak in the affected areas. 

Ali said 80 patients were hospitalised 

in Tureta town and its suburbs, adding 

that all the deaths were those recorded 

within the primary health care centres and 

hospitals. 

Nonetheless, he insisted that it was 

irrational to attribute other deaths to the 

gastroenteritis, as routine deaths 

occurred daily naturally at different 

places. 

Ali also confirmed the death of one 

person, which occurred at Internally 

Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Gandi 

village. 

He cautioned people against 

unwholesome food and water 

consumption and urged hospital workers 

to be on the alert by living up to the 

expectation of their services. 

Bad roads hinder 

socio-commercial 

activities in 

Sokoto 

BY HAUWA GOLD, 

News Agency of Nigeria 

Road network is a crucial 

incontrovertible infrastructure for 

socio-economic and agricultural development 

of a nation, providing unhindered access to 

places of opportunities and services. 

Analysts note that roads, being primary 

mode of transportation therefore, ought to be 

the most important of all public assets. 

However, some residents of Sokoto State 

expressed concern over what they described 

as abandoned road projects across the state 

which has threatened the pace of development 

in the state. 

According to them, lack of good roads was 

gradually crippling of socio-commercial 

activities in the state. 

Against this background, peasants in the 

state insisted that they require good road 

network to transport the produce to the city 

markets for sale, claiming that they were the 

largest producers of onions, millet, tomatoes, 

garlic and other perishable items. 

They observed that the road network across 

the state has deteriorated in recent times due 

to alleged poor attention or negligence by both 

the past administrations and road contractors. 

Similar public outcry on dilapidated 

condition of roads, mostly in the rural areas, 

was being reported across the state, according 

to findings. 

Concerned citizens of the state also alleged 

that previous administrations in the state had 

no regard for road maintenance. 

Citing some road contracts, some residents 

observed that former Gov. Attahiru Bafarawa 

of the state awarded a contract for the Gada- 

Tsitse road, described as a link to several 

villages in Sokoto State. 

Investigations on the road contract have, 

however, shown that the project was 

abandoned a few months after it began. 

More than a decade after the 

abandonment, one can imagine how 

deplorable the road is particularly for 

motorists who do not have alternative 

routes than Gada-Tsitse road.

PDP Presidential aspirants 

reject consensus candidate 

•As Uche Secondus faces immense pressure 

By Desmond Ekwueme 

Following the declaration of 

Senate President, Abubakar 

Bukola Saraki and his 

colleague Senator Rabiu Musa 

Kwankwaso to run for President in 

the 2019 election, the other 

aspirants have unequivocally said 

no to the plans by some members of 

the executive committee of the 

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to 

settle for a consensu candidate for 

the Presidential election. 

An insider disclosed that the 

party’s excos is now racing against 

time since the plot to settle for a 

consensus candidate among the 

aspirants seems to have hit the rock, 

and this has put the National 

Chairman of PDP, Chief Uche 

Secondus under immense pressure. 

“Secondus is facing his first 

baptism of fire since emerging 

chairman. Some aspirants have 

told him clearly that they won’t 

accept a consensus arrangement. 

This decision could make or mar 

the chances of our party not only in 

the coming election but 

it’s survival in future. I 

mean after the election. 

The aspirants made their 

position known to the 

chairman through phone 

calls as soon as Saraki 

declared for President 

and there were 

speculations that PDP 

may settle for a consensus 

candidate”, our source 

disclosed 

The National 

Chairman has been 

meeting with aspirants as 

well as party chieftains in 

the last two months to 

convince and impress it 

upon the aspirants to agree for a 

•Saraki 

common front to wrest power from 

the All Progresives Congress (APC) 

in the presidential election which is 

by avoiding the 

primaries and picking a 

candidate among 

themselves. 

This move has 

suffered a set back as 

the aspirants have 

insisted that holding 

primaries is the best 

ground to test their 

popularity and to elect 

the best among them 

all. The aspirants trust 

and believe in the 

judgement of the 

delegates who will 

vote for the candidate 

of their choice to be the 

party’s flagbearer. 

Our source speaks further: 

“Some of the aspirants don’t 

•Kwankwaso 

•Tambuwal 

trust the party’s excos, chieftains 

and elders who may have 

secretly settled for a very 

popular aspirant as flagbearer. 

The aspirants believe that a 

consensus candidate will create 

acrimony and plunge the party 

into another round of crisis. 

Such was the case during the 

leadership tusdle for interim 

chairman between Alhaji 

Ahmed Makarfi and Alhaji Ali 

Modu Sheriff who has since 

joined the APC. 

“The aspirants are not 

comfortable with the scheming 

by the party’s leadership to settle 

for a candidate in a consensus 

arrangement. They want an open 

and transparent arrangement 

which is by going into the 

primaries. The fear here is that 

two of the aspirants are very 

close to the national excos of the 


From the camp of Saraki, it is 

believed that his consultations and 

meetings with some former leaders 

of the country, traditional rulers and 

politicians which climaxed into his 

declaration to contest for presidency 

were clear endorsements from 

those he consulted. A strong ally of 

the Senate President claimed that, 

“All the former leaders have 

endorsed Saraki. They believe that 

if PDP can produce and present any 

candidate capable of giving 

President Muhammadu Buhari a 

run for his money in the Presidential 

election, that candidate is Saraki 

hence they are backing him”. 

This story is not sellable to other 

aspirants especially Kwankwaso 

who is bent on going through the 

primaries. The former Kano State 

governor has made it abundantly 

clear that having contested the 

presidential primaries in 2014 with 

Buhari under the platform of APC, 

he naturally posses the goodwill and 

support to run against Buhari but 

this time as the candidate of the PDP. 

Kwankwaso trusts in his 

consultations too which have taken 

him round the country. He says, “I 

stand the best chance of winning the 

presidential election for PDP more 

than any other aspirant because I 

have the greatest number of 

followers and supporters than the 

rest especially in the North West”.. 

On his part, Ibrahim 

Dankwambo, the governor of 

Gombe State who is also an 

aspirant, has made it clear to 

Nigerians that they should only pray 

for a God sent President who will 

help in fixing the country. He added 

in his recent meeting with his 

campaign team in Gombe that, 

“Nigerians should eschew all 

differences to pick a youthful, 

diligent and enterprising 

personality to lead the country out 

•Atiku 

of the doldrums of poverty, 

unemployment and insecurity. That 

personality is my humble self”, he 

enthused. 

party. There is the feeling that 

the excos and party chieftains 

may have agreed for one of them 

to fly the party’s flag. It is most 

likely that we are going for 

primaries.” 

Recall that last week, it was 

rumoured that former Vice- 

President, Abubakar Atiku had 

decided to fly the flag of the All 

Progressives Grand Alliance 

with former Central Bank 

Governor, Chukwuma Charles 

Soludo as running mate. This 

story was debunked by Atiku 

who insisted that he remains a 

PDP presidential aspirant. Atiku 

is one of the few aspirants 

believed to have reached out 

enough across the six geopolitical 

zones and he enjoys 

strong ties with leaders of these 

regions. 

Pundits however, seem 

convinced that the youthfulness of 

former Speaker of the House of 

Representatives now Sokoto State 

governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal 

who is from the North West coupled 

with his experience gives him more 

advantage of running a better 

presidential race than the rest 

aspirants. 

The ball is obviously in the court 

of the leadership of PDP to navigate 

out of this murky water created by 

the ambitions of the aspirants 

seeking to fly the party’s flag. Pundits 

opine that a consensus candidate 

would have solved the problem and 

placed the party on a winning stride 

if every other aspirants queues 

behind the chosen one. But it appears 

the chosen one would have to come 

from the primaries rather than a 

consensus arrangement. 

We're slipping into dictatorship, Balarabe Musa, 

Turaki, Ozekhome, others condemn Kwankwanso’s 

lockout from Eagles Square 

By Levinus Nwabughiogu and 

Dirisu Yakubu and Abdulmumin 

Murtala 

he lockout of Senator Rabiu 

TKwankwanso from the Eagle 

Ground last Wednesday has continued 

to provoke strong reactions 

from eminent Nigerians indicative 

of a gradual slip into a dictatorship 

by the present All Progressives Congress, 

APC federal administration. 

Kwankwanso, until recently a chieftain 

of the APC had recently defected 

back to the Peoples Democratic 

Party, PDP, the party that originally 

brought him to prominence as a 

governor and minister. 

Some Nigerians who reacted have 

also noted that the same Eagle 

Square was provided by the former 

Peoples Democratic Party, PDP administration 

for General 

Muhammadu Buhari to make his 

formal presidential declaration in 

2014. It was also the ground where 

the APC held its special national 

convention also in 2014 where the 

sitting Speaker of the House of Representatives 

at that time, Aminu 

Waziri Tambuwal was welcomed 

into the APC from the PDP. 

So when Kwankwanso was locked 

out after paying the N2 million fee 

to use the Eagle Square to launch 

his presidential aspiration, it drew 

comments from democracy 

stakeholders. The plea to use the less 

prestigious and inconvenient Old 

Parade Ground was also said to have 

been rejected. 

Prominent lawyer, Chief Mike 

Ozekhome flayed the development 

describing the present administration 

as demonstrating despotism 

and authoritarianism as its hallmarks. 

"Despotism, authoritarianism, absolutism, 

intolerance, desperation and 

morbid fear, all at work for the 

present government,” he said. 

"It is clear that the cancellation reeks 

of bad faith and intolerance to the 

opposition. Buhari had used the 

same Eagle Square many times, 

even on week days, like most other 

politicians. 

"They know Kwakwanso is very 

popular. Remember they had barred 

him from entering Kano earlier in 

the year. The excuse of it being a 

working day can only fool the 

undiscerning. It's shameful," 

Ozekhome said 

Second Republic governor of old 

Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe 

Musa described the development as 

“highly irresponsible,” adding that 

those in government must come to 

terms with the transient nature of 

power. 

In an exclusive chat with Saturday 

Vanguard, Musa exonerated the 

managers of the Eagle Square of 

blame, stressing that those in the 

position of authority were responsible 

of Kwankwaso’s ordeal because 

they “see him as a competitor.” 

He said, “It is highly irresponsible. 

You paid about N2 million for a 

venue and you were issued receipt 

only for them to turn around to say 

you cannot use it? We must not accept 

this kind of behaviour and it 

only shows that those in government 

can do anything and get away with 

it. That you are in power today does 

not mean you will be there tomorrow,” 

he said. 

Also speaking on the issue, former 

Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu 

Turaki faulted the treatment of the 

lawmaker saying it may make some 

Nigerians turn their backs on the 

All Progressives Congress (APC)-led 

administration in 2019. 

Speaking through the Director, 

Media and Publicity of the Turaki 

Presidential Campaign Organization, 

Sola Atere, Turaki said though 

the refusal of the use of a public property 

ran contrary to public expectation, 

it was nothing new. 

He said, “The injury they are inflicting 

on Kwankwaso is one of the 

things Nigerians will see and not 

vote for them, but what they are doing 

is nothing new. Since they assumed 

power, they have been harassing 

and intimidating people to 

submission.” 

Gombe State governor and 2019 

Presidential aspirant on the platform 

of the PDP, Ibrahim 

Dankwambo on his part, accused 

the Presidency of being jittery of the 

increasing influence of opposition 

figures in the country. “Denying my 

brother, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso 

the use of Eagle Square shows that 

the Presidency is jittery of the position,” 

Dankwambo wrote on his 

Twitter Handle on Thursday. 

Hajiya Binta Spikin, a Kano based 

close associate of Kwankwanso, on 

her part said it was the trampling of 

the rights of ordinary citizens saying 

that the Eagle Square remains 

a public property which should be 

accessible to all Nigerians. 

"If Nigerian's want to see a working 

Nigeria then my principal has offered 

himself to serve and his stewardship 

as Kano governor says a lot 

about the plans he has for this country. 

She, however, affirmed that the declaration 

proceeded to a success despite 

what she claimed as efforts to 

sabotage it. 

In a chat with Saturday Vanguard, 

former Minister of Education and 

a chieftain of the Social Democratic 

Party, Professor Tunde Adeniran described 

the refusal to allow 

Kwankwaso the use of Eagle Square 

as a tragedy for democracy. He said, 

“It is a tragedy for democracy and 

individual freedom. Such unwarranted 

denial of individual right to 

pursue political ambition through 

personal choice of means and methods 

is a pointer to imminent totalitarianism.”


We’re dying. . . 

Cameroonian refugees 

in Nigeria cry y for help 

•How I lost t husband, gave birth to twins while trying to escape death 

•Our agitation for independence caused the crisis 

By Femi Bolaji 

JALINGO 

The agony of widows, infants 

and the vulnerable 

Cameroonian refugees 

cooling off in some Taraba 

communities seemed to be getting 

worse owing to their increasing 

number amidst meagre resources 

to cater for their wellbeing. 

At the last count, over 4000 

refugees from Furawa sub-division, 

Baji, Nkan, Mashi, Lisan Lutu 

Cameroon among others have 

migrated to some communities in 

Ussa and Kurmi local government 

areas of Taraba state to escape the 

mayhem unleashed on agitators for 

the independence of Southern 

Cameroon. 

For those plagued with one 

ailment or the other, help seemed 

farfetched as many lamented 

difficulty in getting medical help, 

coupled with starvation which has 

made them frail and pitiable. 

When Vanguard visited Fikyu 

and Toso villages where some of 

them were being accommodated, 

the residents were weary and 

decried neglect by government 

and authorities responsible for 

refugees. 

However, for people like Patience 

Andekun, what mattered was how 

to cater for the twins she gave birth 

to while fleeing her home country 

when the crises escalated to her 

village two months ago. Her 

husband who has been missing 

since the crisis started in her village 

seemed to be less of her worries 

right now. Other refugees also 

recounted how they escaped being 

consumed in the crisis and their 

present predicament. 

I gave birth to twins 

while running away— 

Patience 

Narrating her ordeal to 

Saturday Vanguard, Patience 

Andekun, the young mother of 

two said pandemonium broke 

out while she and her husband 

were asleep but had to run in 

different directions to escape 

being killed by the gun wielding 

attackers who stormed their 

village. She said, “I had to run 

because if I had stayed I would 

have been killed by now. I was 

pregnant but I never minded my 

condition to save my life like 

every other person that made it 

out of my village alive. 

“On the way, I started feeling 

pains and discovered that the 

babies were about coming. At 

this time I never even saw my 

husband because he also ran 

away when they started killing 

people in the village. 

“It was on our way to this 

village that I gave birth to the 

twins I am carrying now. I had 

to save their lives and mine by 

running. How I wish my husband 

was here to see our babies but I 

can’t tell if he is dead 

or alive. But since I 

came here, the church 

has been helping me 

and the children with 

food 

and 

accommodation.” 

I hope to see 

my wife one day 

—Ezekiel 

Another refugee, 

Ezekiel Rimar who 

fled his village in Baji 

with his only daughter 

lamented how he 

missed his wife whom 

he left behind. 

According to him, “I 

only picked my 

daughter when the 

crisis escalated to my 

village while my wife 

ran in a different 

direction. I have been 

here for about two 

months and hope to 

see my wife someday 

because I miss her. 

“We ran here to live with some 

of our relatives who have been 

staying here for sometime and I 

really regret how everything 

turned out because we lost a lot 

of people. The way we have been 

living our life there even before 

the crisis was terrible. There was 

no payment of salaries and most 

projects were not sited in the 

south which was why our people 

raised a motion for its 

independence and that was how 

the crisis started.” 

We’re suffering 

—Refugees 

Dominic Amah one of the 

refugees who ran into Toso village 

while outlining some of their 

challenges told Vanguard that they 

lacked basic amenities. He 

emphasized that children and 

nursing mothers have been plagued 

with various forms of ailment which 

has compounded their hardship 

and sought respite for their suffering. 

“It has not been easy since we came 

here especially concerning feeding 

and access to health facilities. Even 

to use the toilet is a very big 

challenge. Children have contracted 

water borne diseases and are 

suffering from diarrhea and 

malaria. Though the local 

government chairman and 

members of the community have 

been assisting us in different ways 

since we came, but we still need 

humanitarian gesture from the 

World Health Organisation, 

UNICEF and other Non 

Governmental Organisations”, he 

pleaded 

Another refugee from Furawa 

subdivision, Polycarp Andy in his 

submission commended their host 

community for the help so far but 

felt disturbed with their growing 

number weekly. He however allayed 

fears of putting much pressure on 

the community with their problems 

which he believed might degenerate 

into a humanitarian crisis, thus 

rendering both the refugees and the 

community helpless. 

He said “some of our brothers 

who went back to see how the 

situation was in our villages keep 

running back as the onslaught was 

still going on. As at last Saturday, 

over 15 of our people came into 

Kpambo-puri in Ussa and more 

people keep coming into Nigeria 

every week. 

“We have been suffering ever since 

but at the communities they have 

been assisting us with food and 

accommodation, otherwise, 

starvation would have killed some 

of us. But we want the government 

of Nigeria and the world at large to 

intervene because I am afraid that 

with our increasing number, the 

communities harbouring us might 

run out of resources to care for us 

and themselves.” 

We need help- 

Community Leader, 

LG Chairman 

The Community leader of Fikyu 

village, Ezra Ukwe and chairman 

of Ussa local government area, 

Rimamsikwe Hassan told 

Vanguard that residents of the 

community were groaning 

because their humanitarian 

service had started to take its toll 

on them. They noted that some of 

the refugees were living with 

members of the community who 

have deployed their meagre 

resources to take care of the 

victims. Ukwe then pleaded with 

government at all levels to assist 

residents of the community in 

whatever form to reduce the 

burden on his subjects. “Our 

appeal to the government is to 

assist us by bringing some relief 

materials for our visitors to live 

normal lives like every other 

member in the community till 

they return to their country”, he 

said 

The Chairman of Ussa local 

government area, Rimamsikwe 

Hassan told Vanguard that the 

Red Cross had earlier visited 

some villages to take statistics of 

the refugees with the promise to 

return with help which had not 

come. 

Hassan who said the burden was 

overwhelming disclosed that four 

communities in his local 

government were hosting some of 

the refugees with their number 

increasing every week. 

“The refugees are in Kpambopiri, 

Jatau, Kanpiya and Fikyu 

village, with Fikyu having the 

least number of about 250 

refugees including children as at 

last count. 

“When they (refugees) first 

moved in, the Nigerian Red Cross 

society visited some of the villages 

to take statistics and promised to 

come back, but ever since they 

have not returned. 

“We have equally written to the 

National Commission for 

Refugees, Migrants and 

Internally Displaced Persons, 

NCFRMI, but we are yet to get a 

reply from them. 

“We also wrote to the United 

Nations Refugee Commission and 

they have replied us but we are yet 

to see them here and we hope if 

our story is given publicity and 

they become aware of what these 

people are going through here, it will 

hasten their visit to us here. 

“However, the state government 

through SEMA brought relief 

materials for the victims, but we also 

want the Federal government to 

come in and liaise with the 

Camerounian authorities. 

“The state Commissioner for 

Health has been here but the 

refugees still need assistance in 

terms of medical needs, especially 

the children, the aged and nursing 

mothers”


Veteran coach Adegboye Onigbinde is sad that all the hue and 

cry about flouting of FIFA Statutes is being interpreted one sided. 

In this interview with Jacob Ajom, Onigbinde says Nigeria 

football is being run on a poor foundation as Article 2 of FIFA 

Statute, which deals with then objective of running football is 

being consistently infringed upon. 

What is your reaction to the Sports 

Minister's assertion that the Vice 

President's intervention in the NFF 

leadership crisis was a temporary measure 

that cannot last the test of time? 

There are two sides to it, from my own 

angle: one as a Nigerian and two as a 

football administrator and technician.“As 

Nigerian, I still cannot bring myself to 

accept a situation where the Nigerian 

constitution and judiciary would be 

subjected to the control of any 

international body. I see it as surrendering 

our sovereignty. In the first instance they 

are saying that football matters should 

not be taken to ordinary court. How many 

ordinary courts do we have in Nigeria? I 

don't know of any. I know court of the 

judiciary.“When Blatter was to be 

suspended from FIFA, the matter was 

taken to court, not FIFA court. The former 

President of Brazilian FA was sentenced 

by a court in the United States, not by a 

FIFA court. Further, if we are playing a 

football match at the stadium and 

someone walks in, because he is angry 

and injured some of the players and beats 

up the referee, do we wait for FIFA to 

bring their Police to arrest that person? 

We are being unnecessarily 

intimidated.“Let me repeat this point, I 

am not against anybody being in control 

of Nigerian football. My concern is what 

that person does with our football. That is 

the other aspect of my concern. People 

talk of Nigeria infringing on the FIFA 

Statutes, but I can give you more than 

five examples of consistent infringements 

of FIFA Statutes which people are not 

talking about and which is more crucial 

than what we are saying. Let me start 

with this; in Article 2 of FIFA Statute, 

which deals with then objective of running 

football, the opening sentence to it is: to 

improve the game of football constantly. 

For over 50 years I have been calling for a 

copy of our developmental programme but 

none has been given to me. It was made 

the opening sentence to that Article, not 

by accident but to state in categorical terms 

that it is the most important aspect. We 

have been infringing on that. And nobody 

is talking about that. 

Another recent example is that the 

Minister set up a committee to intervene 

on the NFF crisis and there was not one 

technical man on that committee. We 

were going to send a group to FIFA and 

we did not have a single technical man in 

the group. I am not talking about 

Onigbinde. It could be anybody because 

it would be crazy of anybody to think that 

at 80 I am still looking for job and even 

when I was very young, since my youth, 

I have never been a scrambler or a hustler. 

The right thing must be done. It is not a 

question of who must be there but what 

that person does while he is there is what 

matters. 

But why are we not getting it right in 

our football administration? Article 19 of 

FIFA Statutes says a governing board of 

any football body- does that not include 

the clubs? The governing board of any 

football body must be democratically 

elected. When did we elect the boards of 

Shooting Stars, Rangers, Pillars, and so 

forth? When were elections held into their 

controlling bodies? Never. 

You know the implications? If you do it 

by democratic elections, only football 

people will be elected. But because we are 

not following that, we have all sorts of 

characters running our football. I have 

respect for everybody, but are we doing it 

right? 

We are running competitions and 

competitions in sports are supposed to 

serve the purpose of examinations in 

schools. A teacher sets an examination 

to assess the knowledge of his pupils, to 

know how far they have developed. But 

we are organizing competitions not for 

that purpose; just for the fun. 

We don't have a system that assesses 

players' performance. About 6 years ago, 

I came up with a list of about 50 Nigerian 

coaches I felt could be trained as match 

assessors but up till now, nothing has 

been done. 

If you train these people, for every 

league match, you send like 2 assessors 

to assess the performances of the players 

in each team. The assessor will write a 

report to Abuja and somebody will 

interpret it and will be collating the data. 

At the bottom of the form, there is a column 

marked 'outstanding player' in either of 

the two teams. For instance, if the name 

of a right full back appears 10 times in the 

reports, do you need another search to 

get a better right full back? Selection of 

players for the national team would have 

been made easier. These are the issues. I 

am talking about development, you want 

to improve the standard of education in 

any country, the first thing you must do is 

to produce quality teachers. You want to 

If I were in position, I would 

ask FIFA to give us 2 years to 

reorganise our football 

— Onigbinde 

improve the standard of sports you must 

have good coaches. Are we developing 

our coaches? 

We have the National Institute for 

Sports(NIS)? 

Please don't let me talk about that. I 

have been invited on several occasions 

as an assessor on the final exam, and 

sometimes I shed tears. When I was on 

CAF technical committee, we came up 

with a programme to train and assess all 

African coaches and we set a deadline 

that by 2012, anybody who doesn't have 

CAF license should not seat on the bench. 

In 2012, when I knew that Nigeria had 

not even started, it was I who changed 

the date. We were in Gabon for the African 

Cup of Nations, and up till date are we 

doing it now? Ghana has graded more 

than 3000, Egypt has graded more than 

4000, Nigeria has just passed the 500 mark 

and then we complain that our coaches 

are not good. There is another excuse for 

that; so that they can go out and bring 

foreign coaches for reasons which are 

known. When are we going to develop? 

And FIFA is tolerating the Nigerian 

case? 

And nobody is saying anything about 

it, but they are raising voices on 

interference. We accuse the government 

of interference, meanwhile it was the same 

government we went to write a letter to 

FIFA. How does that sound? But again 

when you need money, you go to the 

government and when the government 

wants to know how you spent their money, 

they are interfering. Isn't it ridiculous? In 

all I have said, our football needs 

reorganization, and that was why I said, if 

I were in the position, I would be the one 

to write to FIFA to give us some years, so 

we can seat down and reorganize our 

football. 

Sir you are a FIFA man, where do we 

draw the tin line between where FIFA 

rules become supreme to our local laws? 

As far as football matters are concerned, 

the definition of football matters, if a match 

is played and there are controversies on 

the result or the decision of the referee, 

that should be settled within football 

family, but when it comes to an issue of 

accusing somebody of committing a 

criminal offense, what do you do? You go 

to court. You wait for FIFA to bring their 

policemen, not at all. So there are a lot of 

things around football matters. But it has 

to be defined. 

In terms of succession into football body 

by elections, which rules should be 

supreme? Is it FIFA guidelines or our 

civil court? 

Now when you talk about election, I 

have told you that there are a lot of things 

that happen and I told you a little while 

ago, that if we had ensured that right 

from club level we have football people 

running football, we wouldn't have some 

of these problems we are having. That is 

the beginning of the problem. But when it 

comes to elections, like what happened in 

this case, two elections were held, 

somebody went to court after the first 

elections, and the court decided that the 

other election should not be held and it 

was held inspite of the court order and we 

should ignore that? Are we not promoting 

anarchy? We have to be very careful and 

any international body, I know FIFA 

respects every government in the world, 

but they don't recognize them in seeking 

football administration matters. We have 

our own process of doing things 

Where do we go from here? like the 

minister said, is this measure which 

averted the FIFA ban temporary? 

The issue is this, there is a case pending 

in court or let me say cases pending in 

court, if those courts now take a decision 

do we ignore the decisions of the courts 

and wait for FIFA?That is what the 

minister is saying. You know he is a lawyer. 

The Supreme Court took a decision,we 

are sidetracking it. That's why it is a 

temporary relief. When the final decision 

is taken by the court what do we do if it is 

against us? The problem is, there is a 

proverb in Yoruba land, you see an old 

woman with a heavy load, and you say 

mama let me help you, and she says am 

perfectly okay. Why do you want to die 

wanting to take the load from her? 

Sir break it down, who is carrying the 

load this time? 

Well the court is there, FIFA is there 

and all these other people who are 

quarreling are there. If all of them are 

after the interest of developing football in 

this country, should we have all this 

problem we are having now? If the center 

point is development of our football now – 

I usually say something talking about 

sports generally, if 10% of our politicians 

are sports men, we will not have all the 

killings at election, because in sports, you 

win some and you lose some. If Rangers 

and Shooting Stars are playing, they will 

kick one another, push one another, in 

the match and after the match you will 

find players of the two teams in a bar or a 

night club. 

Speaking of development, Arsene Wenger 

was with Arsenal for 20 years without any 

major cup and they retained him. You know 

why, because he was a developer. Where 

some clubs spent billions to buy players, he 

was producing players, and those he could 

not use, he was selling them and the club 

was making more money. Development, 

tell me one so called club in this country that 

does that. I have been asking from you media 

people,to give me a copy of our 

developmental program,and I have not seen 

it. Functional developmental program, what 

are we doing with our sports. And that is 

why I said maybe if we have, when Jonathan 

was the president, he said he was going to 

suspend us for two years from international 

competition, and I came back to buy the 

idea, hoping that he will give us enough 

time to seat down and reorganize our football. 

As I said before in this interview, this country 

does not have a football club by FIFA 

regulations.

Taribo West needs no 

introduction to followers of 

Nigerian football. He hung 

his boots after attending two World 

Cups (1998, 2002). He was a 

celebrated footballer whose hairstyle 

remains iconic in FIFA record. Taribo 

spoke with Jacob Ajom, on the state 

of the game in Nigeria. 

What do you make of the tussle 

for the leadership of Nigeria 

Football Federation? 

Those fighting for the leadership 

of the NFF are not honest to 

themselves; be it Giwa or Pinnick. 

But the Pinnick-led NFF, as in the 

last few years, has been able to prove 

a certain kind of credibility, because 

not that only Nigeria qualified for 

the World Cup but also we did not 

hear that players bonuses or 

coaches salary were being held or 

any such problem. 

Since he came on, we have 

experienced an incredible move to 

the summit, FIFA and CAF 

delegations were in Nigeria and 

somehow, he has put a certain kind 

of fingerprint that stood out against 

his predecessors. 

But I don’t see any of them having 

a good manifesto for football in 

Nigeria. As far as I am concerned 

Giwa has nothing to offer. He only 

wants to enter there for the spoils of 

office. 

He also said that the time has 

come when somebody needs to 

confront this people and tell them 

that football should not be suffering 

because of their personal ambitions. 

One day, I was being interviewed 

on a TV show when some players 

from one of the northern states, 

whether Nasarawa or Kaduna 

United, I can't remember, protesting 

over unpaid salaries as they were 

being owed for, like six to seven 

months. They went to the state 

house to see how they can inquire 

through the commissioner for sport 

and the governor how their money 

would be paid, but they used teargas 

and security to chase them away. 

What about the Players Union 

that claims they are out to protect 

players interest? 

As far as I am concerned, the 

players union are all not serious; be 

it Jallah or Popo. They should be 

careful about what they do because 

a time will come when they will give 

account of everything they are 

doing; if they don’t pay here, in the 

day of judgment they will. 

He said that association is 

madness, am standing as a voice to 

speak to them whether Harrison 

Jallah or Austin Popo. Even the one 

the NFF is trying to bring they are 

all madness and they have nothing 

legal that gives them the status as a 

body for footballers be it former or 

current footballers. should enter as 

a revenue to bring blessing to 

umbrella the football family. 

There are a lot of footballers after 

retirement live from hand to mouth, 

they are people who have served 

this country that are competent in 

the area of administration or even 

in coaching but they have jobs, the 

country is not helping matters, 

politicians are eating the money. 

In those days there were sports 

clubs like NEPA, NICON, NAVY, 

ARMY, Federal Palace because 

money was being invested in stocks. 

After the military tenure, that money 

has been deviated to politicians and 

there are a lot of sports gifted people, 

talents that have nowhere to show 

case their talent or make a living. 

Only in Nigeria can you see some 

one like Uche Okechukwu, a Jay 

Jay Okocha, Kanu Nwankwo retire 

and nobody gives them anything 

to do and no body celebrates them 

Ex-internationals 

are not celebrated 

in Nigeria — Taribo 

•Talks about the need to form a 

'genuine' players' union 

and recognizes their value and their 

contributions to the development of 

football in the country. And someone 

will say they want to open a football 

association and be extorting money 

from people what kind of madness 

is that. 

But how do you think all the 

genuine ex-footballers can come 

together to form a body that will give 

footballers recognition? 

A body will come and I have been 

praying about it, and it wont only 

be a body that is straight or genuine 

but also a body with integrity, and 

when it comes in force, all other 

bodies that call themselves players' 

unions will cease to exist. 

The situation at the NFF is still 

uncertain because the minister is 

saying that the Vice President's 

Aina set for first Serie A start 

AS Torino of Italy defender, Ola 

Aina is set to benefit from the 

injury of a teammate and get his first 

start in Serie A for the Turin-based 

club this weekend. 

With Argentine full back, Cristian 

intervention is temporary don't u 

think its a wrong signal to FIFA? 

I don't really know the decision or 

agreement they reached, but the 

Pinnick's board is already out of its 

tenure so the necessary procedures 

will take place. But if it is Giwa they 

should stop him because he knows 

nothing about football or what 

football world is talking about. 

This Giwa you are talking about 

owns a football club? 

You can be rich and run a football 

club like Giwa FC and play in the 

Nigeria League. That does not 

make you a practitioner. And this 

God fatherism from the North 

should stop because Giwa and the 

minister are from the same state and 

they want to manipulate it by doing 

this brotherhood of a thing. 

Nigeria FMCG Games 2018 

begins Sunday 

All is set for the fifth edition of 

the Fast Moving Consumers 

Goods Games slated to begin 

on Sunday, September 2 in 

Lagos 

The Chief Operating Officer, 

MediaVision Ltd., Mr. Jimmy 

Sogbesan, who are the 

organisers of the Games, 

informed that all the teams are 

in good spirit as they make final 

preparations towards 

participating in this year’s 

edition of the competition. 

"Some of the companies that 

will be flying their flags on the 

opening day include; 

Multinational Giants - Unilever 

Plc., Nestle Nigeria, Friesland 

Campina WAMCO with 

Guinness Nigeria and Reckitt 

Benckiser making their season 

debut. 

"The events featured includes; 

Football, Athletics, Table Tennis, 

Chess, and Scrabble," Sogbesan 

stated. 

The Nigeria FMCG Games is 

a platform that brings together 

employees of the FMCG 

industry to compete, have fun, 

bond, network and achieve a 

healthy work-life balance in a 

sporting but friendly 

atmosphere. This platform also 

exist in the Banking, Insurance 

and Telecoms Industries making 

up the Corporate Nigeria 

Games. 

According to the fixtures for 

this weekend, Unilever will 

battle Guinness? at 12:45pm, 

just as Nestle? and Reckitt 

Benckiser? will slug it out at 

2:00pm 

The Nigeria FMCG Games 

will take place for five (5) 

weekends from 2nd September 

through 30th September 2018 

at the Yaba College of 

Technology Sports Complex 

Yaba. 


Ansaldi failing to fully recover from a 

knock he copped last weekend, the 

way has been cleared for Aina, who 

is on loan from Chelsea of England, 

to finally step out from the start. 

The Super Eagles defender has 

already featured in two Serie A 

matches since arriving from 

Stamford Bridge this summer, but 

they were both as substitutes. 

Aina would accord Torino 

versatile options, as he played on 

the left side of a five-man midfield 

as a wing-back when he went on 

for Ansaldi on match day two, but 

was deployed as a right wing-back 

in the opening game against AS 

Roma. 

Tianjin Teda of China 

midfielder, John Mikel Obi 

has thrown his weight behind the 

influx of young players in the Super 

Eagles, as the Nigerian captain says 

the coach, Gernot Rohr is planning 

for the future. 

In the wake of the invitation of four 

new players and several youngsters 

in Rohr’s list of 24 players for next 

Saturday’s Africa Cup of Nations 

qualifier away to Seychelles, Mikel 

said it is commendable to see the 

coach has courage to think of the 

future in the face of pressures to get 

good results in the present. 

Mikel used the example of 

Kelechi Nwakali in the list to battle 

Seychelles to buttress his point in 

support of Rohr’s laudable 

developmental efforts with the 

Eagles, and the former Chelsea star 

said he also enjoyed the privilege 

of an early invitation to the senior 

squad. 

After coming off the bench in the 

first two matches of the new season 

against AS Roma and Inter Milan, 

Aina is now set to start on Sunday 

against SPAL. 

L-R Head Coach, UAM Tillers Priscilla Vande; Team Captain, 

Odenigbo David Ebuka; Isaac Daniel Team Captain, UNIMAID 

Dessert Warriors and Head Coach, Daniel Usman at the pre-match 

press conference for the Higher Institutions Football League (HiFL) 

final first round match between the two teams 

Mikel hails Rohr for inviting young 

players to the national team 

Former Arsenal right back Lee 

Dixon on Thursday opined 

that Super Eagles forward Kelechi 

Iheanacho will be an easier striker 

to face for Liverpool defenders 

when Leicester host the Reds at the 

King Power Stadium. 

Leicester have seen over 2.5 goals 

in five of their last six matches 

against Liverpool in all 

competitions but Dixon a Premier 

League title winner with Arsenal in 

1998 told Premier League Today 

what he feels about Iheanacho's 

chances against the likes of Virgil 

van Dirk, Joe Gomez, Dejan Lovren 

and Joel Matip. 

"Leicester City will miss Jamie 

Golden Eaglets’ Chile 2015 FIFA 

U-17 World Cup-winning captain, 

Nwakali, who is on loan to FC Porto 

of Portugal from Arsenal of 

England, has been included in the 

Eagles squad to face Seychelles 

after impressing for Nigeria’s B- 

squad in a friendly against Atletico 

Madrid before the World Cup, 

where he scored a fantastic goal 

during a 3-2 loss in Port Harcourt. 

Iheanacho 

won't pose 

as much 

threat as 

Vardy to 

Liverpool 

defenders 

— Dixon 

Vardy on Saturday. You cannot box 

him to a corner.'' 

"As a Liverpool defender, I will be 

more comfortable facing Iheanacho 

because you can have him where 

you want. Its not the case with Vardy. 

It could be a difficult game for 

Leicester," Dixon stressed. 

Iheanacho has played in all of the 

Foxes' three Premier League 

matches so far this season, he is yet 

to score for the club in the league in 

the new campaign while Vardy has 

one to his tally. 

Leicester are seventh on the log 

with six points while Liverpool are 

atop the table with maximum nine 

points.


Super Eagles star 

ars 

face off f in UEFA 

Champions League 

group oup stages 

One of the attractions of 

Thursday's group 

stage draws of the 

2018/2019 UEFA Champions 

League is the likely games 

Nigeria internationals Bryan 

Idowu (Locomotive 

Moscow), Henry Onyekuru 

(Galatasaray), Kayode 

Olarenwaju (Shakhtar 

Ronaldo agent 

fumes at UEFA 

Player of the 

Year snub 

Cristiano Ronaldo's agent has 

slammed UEFA for not giving 

the Juventus star the Player of the 

Year award. 

Ronaldo did not show up at the 

Champions League group stage 

draw ceremony, where the awards 

for last season were handed out. 

After winning a third consecutive 

Champions League crown with 

Real Madrid last season and 

finishing as the competition's top 

scorer, Ronaldo was named the 

best forward last season and was 

named among the final three for 

the big prize. 

Modric collected 313 points, 90 

more than Ronaldo, who finished 

ahead of Mohamed Salah in the 

chart. 

But Jorge Mendes expected 

more for his client, as he feels the 

33-year-old's status as the best 

around cannot be disputed. 

“Football is played on the field 

and that’s where Cristiano won," 

he told Record . " He scored 15 

goals, carried Real Madrid on his 

back and conquered the 

Champions League again. 

“It’s ridiculous, shameful. The 

winner is not in doubt, as Ronaldo 

is the best in his position.” 

Juventus director Giuseppe 

Marotta backed up Mendes' 

criticism, expressing the Italian 

side's disappointment. 

•Ronaldo 

Donetsk) and Tyrone Ebuehi 

(Benfica) will play in the 

European Premier Cup 

competition. 

The duo of Henry Onyekuru 

and Bryan Idowu are likely to 

be featured by their Turkish 

and Russian sides 

respectively after they were 

pooled in Group D with the 

Russian champions the 

seeded team. 

•Bryan Idowu 

Shakhtar Donetsk striker 

Olarenwaju is in line to face 

his former employers 

Manchester City in Group F 

•Kayode Olarenwaju 

which also contains Lyon and 

Hoffenheim. 

Super Eagles right back, 

Ebuehi, is unlikely to be fit 

Man City ready to win Champions 

League – Begiristain 

Manchester City are targeting 

Champions League glory after the 

disappointment of the last two 

seasons. 

Pep Guardiola’s side were dumped out by 

Liverpool, who finished 25 points behind them 

as they romped to the domestic title, in the 

quarter-finals and director of football Txiki 

Begiristain says they are determined to do 

better this season. 

City— who fell to Monaco at the first 

knockout hurdle in Guardiola's debut 

campaign 12 months earlier — have been given 

a favourable group draw, coming out in Group 

EPL: Eriksson tips Man City to retain EPL title 

Former England manager, 

Sven-Goran Eriksson has 

predicted that Manchester City 

will win the English Premier 

League trophy this season. 

According to the Swede, the 

title holders will retain it while 

Liverpool will finish second in 

the race. 

“I’ve always been a Liverpool 

fan,” Eriksson told Sky Sports. 

“I can say that now, I couldn’t 

say that when I was in England 

but I was always since I was 

(young). 

“My father as well, he is 90, 

still a Liverpool fan. But I still 

think City will win it.” 

Eriksson has managed City, 

Mexico, Ivory Coast, Leicester, 

Guangzhou R&F, Shanghai 

SIPG and Shenzhen FC since 

leaving the England job behind 

in 2006. 

F with Shakhtar Donetsk of Ukraine, France's 

Lyon and German side Hoffenheim, on a day 

that also saw them drawn away to third-tier 

Oxford in the League Cup's third round. 

Begiristain says they have the squad to 

compete on all fronts. 

“The Champions League is very important 

every season,” he said. “We want to be 

stronger in Europe and we want to have the 

opportunity to fight for this Champions 

League. 

“We are getting close, but we want to be 

closer than last season and we want to be 

there.“ 

And he has since turned down 

offers to coach the Iraq and 

Cameroon national teams. 

Eriksson, however, did not rule 

out a return to management in 

future and cherished the idea of 

coaching Liverpool. 

“In this job, you don’t have 

plans and you don’t go to the 

office and ask for a job,” added 

70-year-old Eriksson. 

“You’re offered a job or not.” 

•Henry Onyekuru 

for the group stages after he 

was ruled out for at least five 

months with an injury. 

Carabao Cup 

third round draw: 

Lampard comes 

up against 

Mourinho 

•Liverpool pitted 

against Chelsea 

Liverpool have been pitted 

against Chelsea in a 

mouthwatering Carabao Cup 

third round tie. 

Meanwhile, Frank Lampard 

will take his Derby side to face 

his former boss Jose Mourinho 

at Manchester United, with the 

pair having enjoyed much 

success together at Chelsea, 

which included them winning 

the League Cup in 2005. 

Liverpool's game against 

Chelsea comes just days before 

they face eachother in the 

Premier League at Stamford 

Bridge on September 29. 

Anthony Joshua 

fight to force 

Tottenham out 

Wembly Joshua 

Tottenham could have three homes 

this season after applying for 

permission to play their Carabao Cup 

third round tie with Watford in Milton 

Keynes. 

The ongoing construction of Spurs' 

White Hart Lane stadium and the 

heavyweight title fight between 

Anthony Joshua and Alexander 

Povetkin on September 22 at 

Wembley means Tottenham have 

asked to stage their game at MK 

Dons' Stadium MK. 

Round three ties are scheduled to 

take place week commencing 

September 24 and Spurs did not 

wish to reverse the draw, made on 

Thursday evening. The request will 

be considered at the EFL board 

meeting on September 6. 

Spurs said in a statement: "We have 

applied to the EFL board for special 

dispensation to play this tie at 

Stadium MK. 

"We appreciate that Stadium MK 

may not be an ideal destination for 

every fan to get to on a weekday 

evening. 

"However, the club felt it would not 

be beneficial to request a reverse of 

the fixture as it would have resulted 

in no more than a 10 per cent 

allocation of tickets for our supporters 

at the venue of our opponents.

Lille release 

Enyeama 

Former Super Eagles 

Goalkeeper, Vincent 

Enyeama has been released 

by French Ligue 

One Club side OSC 

Lille after reaching an agreement 

to part ways on mutual 

consent. 

“Beyond his performances, 

LOSC and his supporters will 

remember Vincent’s smile and 

enthusiasm. The club now 

wishes him the best in his future 

projects,” Lille’s statement 

reads. 

“The 36-year-old shot-stopper 

who missed the entire season 

last year recuperating from 

a meniscus injury he sustained 

in April 2017 is, however, free 

to join any 

club of his 

choice after 

spending seven 

years at the club. 

In the 2013-2014 season, 

the 36-year-old netminder 

was very close to breaking the 

clean-sheet record held by retired 

Bordeaux numero uno 

Gaëtan Huard which he set 

in the 1992 – 1993 season. 

He helped Lille qualify for 

the final of the 2016 Coupe de 

la Ligue against Paris Saint- 

Germain and featured for the 

club in the Europa League 

and Champions League. 

Enyeama had spells at Ibom 

Stars, Enyimba and Heartland 

The 2018 Asian Games held in 

Jakarta, Indonesia, ended on 

Thursday, and one of the 

dominant countries in Athletics at the 

competition, was Bahrain. Back in the 

day, not many people associated the oilrich 

Arab country with Track and Field, 

but in recent times, Bahrain is now 

becoming a rising force in world Athletics, 

thanks to the presence of a growing 

number of African-born athletes within 

its fold, Nigerians inclusive. 

Bahrain placed 2nd on the medals 

table in Athletics, with only China 

finishing ahead of them with a total of 33 

medals (12 Gold, 12 Silver and Nine 

Bronze), while Bahrain followed with the 

same 12 Gold medals, Six Silver and 

Seven Bronze medals. 

Four of the 12 Gold medals secured 

by Bahrain were won by Nigerian-born 

athletes in individual events, while they 

also played a pivotal role in the three 

relay medals – two Gold One Silver – 

won by Bahrain at the championship. 

Edidiong Odiong won the 100m 

(11.30secs) and 200m (22.96secs) to 

become the fourth woman in the history 

of the Games to accomplish that feat after 

Mona Sulaiman (1962), Esther Rot 

(1974), and Chisato Fukushima (2010). 

Salwa Eid Naser (formerly known as 

Ebelechukwu Agbapuonwu) broke the 

Games Record twice, first setting a time 

of 50.86secs in the semis, before bettering 

the mark to 50.09secs in the final to 

win the women’s 400m title. 

Kemi Adekoya won another Gold for 

Bahrain in the women’s 400m Hurdles 

where she stormed to a Games Record 

of 54.87secs in the qualifiers, improving 

the mark to 54.48secs in the final. 

Interestingly, another Nigerian-born 

athlete, Aminat Jamal, won Bronze in 

the same race, also for Bahrain. 

Another Nigerian-born athlete Salem 

Eid Yaqoob, took the Bronze medal in 

the men’s 200m behind Japan’s Yuki 

Koike (20.23secs) and Yang Chun-han 

of Chinese Taipei who clocked a time 

of 20.23secs. 

Adekoya teamed up with Naser, 

Abubakar Abbas - another Nigerianborn 

athlete, and Ali Khamis, to 

gift their adopted nation a Gold 

medal in the 4x400m mixed 

relay. Not only did the quartet 

win Gold, they also raced 

to a World Record of 3:11.89 

to finish ahead of India 

(3:15.71) and Kazakhstan 

(3:19.52). 

In the women’s 4x100m 

where Bahrain also won 

Gold, three Nigerian-born 

athletes, Iman Essa Jasim 

(formerly known as Endurance 

Essien Udoh), Odiong 

and Naser teamed up with 

Hajar Alkhadi to win Gold with 

AS Monaco and 

Nigeria intern 

a t i o n a l 

Elderson 


Echejile, Monaco mutually part company 

before joining Bnei Yehuda in 

2005. 

Eaglets arrive Niamey for WAFU B U17 tourney 

The contingent of Nigeria’s 

U17 boys, Golden Eaglets, 

has arrived in Niamey, capital 

of Niger Republic for the 

WAFU B U17 Tournament 

which serves as the qualifying 

competition for the 2019 

Africa U17 Cup of Nations. 

A total of 16 players and members 

of the technical crew and 

backroom staff departed Abuja 

aboard an ASKY airline flight 

on Friday morning. The remaining 

four players as well as 

Head Coach Manu Garba and 

Team Administrator Sirajo 

Hassan, who could not travel 

on Friday as there were not 

enough seats available on the 

flight, will fly from Abuja on 

Saturday morning. 

A new format approved for 

the competition at the CAF 

Extra-Ordinary General Assembly 

which took place in 

Rabat 13 months ago means 

countries in each regional 

block gather in one country 

within the block to play a qualifying 

tournament, as against 

the old format of home-andaway 

qualifying series. 

Only the winning team from 

each of the blocks (apart from 

•Enyeama 

the block of the defending 

champions that will produce 

two teams) will qualify for the 

final tournament, slated for 

Tanzania next year. 

The Eaglets will play their 

first match of the tournament 

on Monday, against their 

Burkina Faso counterparts, before 

taking on Cote d’Ivoire 

on Thursday and Benin Republic 

next week Sunday. 

Host Niger Republic will 

trade tackles with Ghana’s 

Black Starlets and the Baby 

Hawks of Togo in the 7 –Nation 

WAFU Zone B. 

Nigeria’s loss is Bahrain’s gain 

•Aminat Jamal and 

Kemi Adekoya 

Echejile mutually agreed to 

part company yesterday, ending 

their association that 

lasted for four and a half years. 

The Principality outfit reported 

on their official website 

that the left back is no longer 

a player of Monaco and 

wished him all the best for the 

rest of his career. 

Elderson Echiejile played 54 

matches for Monaco's first 

team, scoring two goals with 

one assist. 

The experienced fullback 

found first team opportunities 

hard to come by in his last two 

seasons at the club and had 

to be farmed out on loan to 

Standard Liege, Sporting 

Gijon, Sivasspor and Cercle 

Brugge. 

Echiejile began his career in 

Europe with Rennes in 2007 

before moving to Sporting 

Braga, where he spent four 

years. 

Super Eagles goalkeeper, 

Okechukwu Ezenwa has 

said the players have shifted 

attention to the 2019 Africa 

Cup of Nations qualifiers 

against Seychelles and Libya 

respectively. 

The three-time Africa cham- 

•Echejile 

He was a member of the Super 

Eagles squad to the 2018 

World Cup in Russia but was 

an unused substitute in the 

three group games against 

Croatia, Iceland and Argentina. 

AFCON 2019 a must — Ezenwa 

•Ezenwa 

pions have failed to qualify for 

two editions of the bi-annual 

tournament since becoming 

Champions in 2013 under late 

Super Eagles manager, 

Stephen Keshi. 

Ezenwa, who had no chance 

of being in goal at the World 

Cup in Russia despite being 

part of the team, said that the 

team’s major priority would 

be to qualify for AFCON 2019. 

"It's quite unfortunate that 

the Super Eagles have failed 

to qualify for the Africa Cup 

of Nations twice in spite of 

their array of stars. 

“With the 2018 World Cup 

finally over, we just want to 

ensure that our games against 

Seychelles and Libya in the 

AFCON qualifiers must be a 

must-win for us if we are to 

make it through," he said. 

The Super Eagles lost the 

opening group match 0-2 in 

Uyo against South Africa. 

Only a win against the Indian 

Ocean country would brighten 

their chances of qualifying. 

a Games Record and NR of 42.73secs, 

while China and Kazakhstan settled for 

Silver and Bronze respectively. 

The 4x400m Silver-winning team in 

the women’s 4x400m was a Nigerianborn 

squad: Jamal, Jasim, Odiong and 

Naser clocked a time of 3:30.61 to finish 

behind India (3:28.72), while Vietnam 

won Bronze with an SB of 3:33.23. 

These athletes have been achieving 

milestones in Track and Field for their 

adopted countries, and one wonders if 

they would have gone this far in their 

careers had they remained in Nigeria. 

Consider for instance, the incredible 

mark Naser has made in the few years 

of her Athletics career. At the 2017 IAAF 

World Championships in London, she 

became 

t h e 

youngest 

medallist in the women’s 400m in 

World Championships history at 19 

years, 2 months and 17 days, crossing 

the finishing line ahead of the more 

experienced Allyson Felix, to win Silver 

in the keenly contested race! 

Naser is the second fastest woman in 

the world in the 400m this season, and 

only suffered her first defeat in 2018 at 

the IAAF Diamond League in Monaco 

last month where she finished 2nd to 

Olympic Champion Shaunae Miller- 

Uibo of the Bahamas. Nevertheless, she 

still managed to set a Personal Best (PB), 

National Record (NR) and Asian Record 

of 49.08secs, which surpasses Falilat 

Ogunkoya’s NR and African Record of 

49.10secs set at the Atlanta ’96 Olympics. 

What about Adekoya who won Gold 

(in the 400m) at the 2016 World Indoor 

Championships in Portland, USA, a feat 

no Nigerian female athlete has achieved 

at the World Indoors? The closest we’ve 

come to that are the Silver-winning feats 

of Chioma Ajunwa in the Long Jump 

(Paris 1997), Ogunkoya in the 400m 

(Maebashi 1999), and Glory Alozie in 

the 60m Hurdles (Maebashi 1999, Birmingham 

2003 and Moscow 2006). 

While many may term the switch 

of allegiances of these athletes as being 

unpatriotic, it will be very difficult 

to blame these athletes for this decision 

when one considers how their 

counterparts back in Nigeria are faring, 

enjoying little or no support from 

the government and corporate sponsors 

in a system that is lacking in proper structures, 

yet are being expected to suddenly 

perform wonders on the world stage. 

2018 NCAA 200m Champion Divine 

Oduduru was recently in the news, decrying 

the poor treatment meted to Nigerian 

athletes during the 2018 

African Championships in Nigeria in 

August, where the athletes were 

deprived of their full allowances as they 

were eventually paid less than half of 

the money due to them. 

In an interview with The Guardian, 

Oduduru said, “You don’t treat athletes 

this way and expect them to honour your 

invitation next time. Before my season 

got to this stage, no official of the Athletics 

Federation of Nigeria (AFN) called me. 

They will only reach out to you when it is 

time for competition. Nobody cares how 

you are surviving, and how you are 

taking care of your career. 

“Next year will be very important in 

my school Athletics career, and I don’t 

think I will be available for the National 

Trials in Nigeria. I think our government 

should have a rethink on how to 

reposition Athletics. The various 

corporate organisations have a role to 

play too because you cannot go to a river 

without a hook or a fishing net, but 

expect to catch a fish. Our government 

is paying lip service to Athletics, and it 

must change before serious preparation 

starts for Tokyo 2020 Olympics.” 

Considering the above scenario, little 

wonder then that talented quartermilers 

Emmanuel Bamidele, Prosper 

Ogbonna and Peace Nwalehia, as well 

as jumper Theddus Okpara, all left the 

country earlier in the year with plans to 

transfer their allegiances to Qatar and 

Bahrain respectively. It’s Nigeria’s loss 

no doubt, but countries like Bahrain are 

definitely the better for it.

C 

M 

Y 

K 

SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 1, 2018 

ACROSS 

1)Edo State Deputy Governor, Dr. Phillip 

– (6) 

4)Egyptian Capital City (5) 

7)L.G.A in Kano State (4) 

8)Gambian President, Mr. Adama – (6) 

9)Movie (5) 

10)Former Cross-River State 

Commissioner for Youth & Sports, Mr. 

Patrick – (4) 

11)Major Ethnic Group in Nigeria (6) 

14)L.G.A in Imo State (8) 

18)American Country (8) 

21)Former Sierra-Leone Vice President, 

Mr. Joseph – (6) 

24)Former President, Nigerian Football 

Federation (NFF), Mr. Sani Abdullahi – (4) 

25)Greek Alphabet (5) 

26)Igbo Word for “Brother”? (6) 

27)Repair (4) 

28)L.G.A in Delta State (5) 

29)Country in Africa (6) 

DOWN 

1)Egypt “Pharaohs” Winger, Ramadan – 

(5) 

2)Icelandish Currency (5) 

3)Enugu State Governor, Mr. Ifeanyi – (8) 

4)Former Swiss Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr. 

Daniel – (6) 

5)Indian City (6) 

6)Enugu State Accountant-General, Sir 

Paschal – (6) 

12)Traditional Ruler of Ife (4) 

13)Former Ebonyi State Commissioner for 

Information & Orientation, Mr. Kenneth – (4) 

15)Former Minister of State for Defence, Mr. 

Augustine – (8) 

16)Palestinian Capital City (4) 

17)Peruvian Capital City (4) 

18)Polish Capital City (6) 

19)Feline Mammal (6) 

20)Attorney-General of the Federation & 

Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar – (6) 

22)Ivory Coast “Elephants” Full-Back, 

Wilfried – (5) 

23)Lagos State Capital (5) 

CROSS WORD PUZZLE 

SOLUTION TO PUZZLE ON PAGE 44 

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Website: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X). EDITOR: ONOCHIE ANIBEZE. Phone: 01-7742861, All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.

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