25092018 - PDP: Controversy trails convention as NWC, BoT disagree on venue

C 

M 

Y 

K 

Anti-corruption 

war can’t 

succeed under 

culture of 

impunity – CJN 

9 

FG recalls Paris 

Club refund to 

5 states 

MINIMUM WAGE: 

Stockpile 

foodstuffs, Labour 

tells Nigerians <strong>as</strong> 

strike begins 

Thursday 

10 9 

** 

VOL. 26: NO. 63644 TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2018 

<strong>PDP</strong>: <strong>Controversy</strong> <strong>trails</strong> 

<strong>convention</strong> <strong>as</strong> <strong>NWC</strong>, <strong>BoT</strong> 

<strong>disagree</strong> on venue 

•Wike slams those opposed to P.H <strong>as</strong> venue 

STORY 

ON 

Bayelsa 

receives 

N24.16bn 

Paris Club 

refunds 12 

PAGE 8 Ohanaeze 

34 

laments 

‘structural’ 

marginalisation 

of Ndigbo 

President Muhammadu Buhari (right) and wife, Hajia Aisha Buhari, arriving to participate in the 73rd Session of the United 

Nations General Assembly in New York, United States of America, Sunday night. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida. 

FG to revoke licences of oil firms 

over g<strong>as</strong> flaring 

Osun: High-wire intrigues <strong>as</strong> 

<strong>PDP</strong>, APC dig in for votes 

•Politicians in both parties woo Omisore for Ife South votes 

•I'll back either APC or <strong>PDP</strong>, if...., says Omisore 

5 

COLUMNISTS 

ODUMAKIN 17 TENIOLA 18 MAILAFIA 31 ARIBISALA 38 

9 

APC expels House 

of Reps Deputy 

Chief Whip, Iri<strong>as</strong>e 

Wonder bank 

vanishes with N27bn 

customers’ deposits 

in C-River 

13 

12 

SEE 

INSIDE 

Naira down 

to N364.28/ 

$ in I&E 

window 40 

Mr & Mrs

2 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2018

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2018 — 3

4 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2018

vanguardnews 

@vanguardnews 

@vanguardnews 

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Vanguard, TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 25, 2018 — 5 

POCKET CARTOON 

SARAKI MEETS OMISORE—Osun State SDP Governorship 

candidate, Iyiola Omisore (left) with Senate president and <strong>PDP</strong> presidential 

<strong>as</strong>pirant, Dr. Bukola Saraki during a visit by Saraki to Omisore at Ife, Osun 

State, yesterday. 

Osun: High-wire intrigues <strong>as</strong> <strong>PDP</strong>, 

APC dig in for votes 

By Emmanuel 

Aziken, Clifford 

Ndujihe, Dapo 

Akinrefon, Charles 

Kumolu, Gbenga 

Olarinoye, Yinka 

Ajayi & Henry Ojelu 

OSOGBO — 

High-wire po 

litical intrigues 

by chieftains of 

the All Progressives Congress, 

APC, and the Peoples 

Democratic Party, 

<strong>PDP</strong>, to outsmart one another 

ahead of Thursday’s 

governorship rerun 

in selected polling 

units in Osun State were 

yesterday unfolding. 

Social Democratic Party, 

SDP, candidate in the 

deadlocked election, 

Senator Iyiola Omisore, 

who had become the 

beautiful bride of the two 

parties w<strong>as</strong> yesterday 

weighing his options after 

receiving emissaries 

from the two camps. 

The intrigues <strong>as</strong>ide, 

both parties were also 

physically guarding 

their fortresses, a development 

that led to a 

chieftain of one of the 

political parties being attacked 

with machetes after 

supposedly encroaching 

to canv<strong>as</strong>s for votes. 

Alhaji Lai Mohammed, 

head of the media council 

of the APC Governorship 

Campaign Council 

in his reaction affirmed 

that the APC would overturn 

the lead of the <strong>PDP</strong>. 

The Osun State governorship 

election w<strong>as</strong> announced 

<strong>as</strong> a deadlock 

following the declaration 

of Senator Ademola 

Adeleke with 254,698 

votes while his closest 

rival, Alhaji Gboyega 

Oyetola, of the APC, w<strong>as</strong> 

accredited with 254,345 

votes and Omisore of the 

SDP w<strong>as</strong> credited with 

128,049 votes to take the 

third position. 

The re-run w<strong>as</strong> declared 

by the electoral 

body following the fact 

that the 353-votes difference 

between Adeleke 

and Oyetola w<strong>as</strong> less 

than the 3,498 cancelled 

votes. 

The re-run is to be conducted 

in Orolu LGA 

(three units, 947 votes), 

Ife South (two units, 

1,314 votes), Ife North 

(one unit, 353 votes), 

and Osogbo (one unit, 

884 votes). 

Yesterday, high officials 

of the APC launched out 

in three ways. One: Senior 

party officials, Vanguard 

gathered have 

been approached to prevail 

on the Deputy 

Speaker of the House of 

Representatives, Rep. 

Yusuf L<strong>as</strong>un who represents 

Orolu Local Government 

Area to work on 

him to help mobilise for 

the party to win the remaining 

947 votes. The 

<strong>PDP</strong> had won the council 

area by 7,776 votes 

compared to the APC 

which won 5,442 votes 

and the SDP which got 

2,043 votes. That is despite 

the fact that the 

area is represented by 

L<strong>as</strong>un, an APC stalwart. 

L<strong>as</strong>un contested in the 

APC primary and lost out 

to Oyetola and is perceived 

to have been 

lukewarm towards the 

election. One source 

said yesterday that Governor 

Rauf Aregbesola 

w<strong>as</strong> unwilling to talk to 

him but that some political 

stakeholders had 

volunteered to speak 

with him. 

The party h<strong>as</strong> also 

launched moves to entrench 

its hold in the 

Osogbo area where the 

APC got the upper 

hand. 

APC, <strong>PDP</strong> woo 

Omisore 

However, in an apparent 

sign of desperation, 

Vanguard also gathered 

that the APC stakeholders 

had also approached 

Omisore, until now an 

unforgiving foe of the 

Asiwaju Bola Tinubuled 

tendency in a bid to 

cut a deal. 

The emissaries from 

the APC met with Omisore 

before the <strong>PDP</strong> emissaries 

led by Senate 

President Bukola Saraki 

met the former <strong>PDP</strong> 

senator and deputy governor. 

48 per cent of the votes 

are to be contested for in 

Ife North and Ife South 

Local Government Are<strong>as</strong> 

which are generally 

regarded <strong>as</strong> Omisore’s 

stronghold. Though the 

APC won in the two Local 

Government Are<strong>as</strong> 

l<strong>as</strong>t Saturday, however, 

the Omisore factor combined 

with the <strong>PDP</strong> local 

strength, it is believed 

could be a threat. 

Following the meeting 

with Omisore, Saraki 

said: 

“We had a fruitful discussion 

with Senator 

Omisore. He used to be 

with us. And we believe 

he is helping us now. I 

am optimistic of a good 

outing for <strong>PDP</strong>. 

“After meeting with 

him, I am more optimis- 

Continues on Page 40 

Declaration of Osun election <strong>as</strong> inconclusive (1) 

By Bose Adelaja, Ebun Sessou, 

Oyetade Oluwapelumi & Chioma 

John 

I 

just think the 

Independent Electoral 

Commission, INEC, is 

only doing its job. If there w<strong>as</strong> 

actually an issue in the result and 

the result that needed to be 

corrected according to laid 

down rules in the constitution, 

I don’t understand why people 

are against the re-run 

election. The main aim of the 

electoral body of any country is 

to ensure credibility in an 

election . That is what the INEC 

chairman h<strong>as</strong> done. This action 

should not in any way be seen 

<strong>as</strong> wrong. 

Mr. Gideon Ufomba 

Entrepreneur 

INEC decision for a 

re-run in those 

are<strong>as</strong> where the Osun 

governorship election 

w<strong>as</strong> cancelled, w<strong>as</strong> 

right. The difference 

between the votes 

garnered by the <strong>PDP</strong> 

and APC is just 353. 

Fairness demands that 

there should be a rerun 

if the voting 

population of the 

affected are<strong>as</strong> is more 

than 353. 

Miss Chilla Ojakele. 

Student 

LET us not forget that 

a situation like this 

played out in some states 

in Nigeria in the p<strong>as</strong>t. 

Let us not also forget that 

the constitution 

supersedes the electoral 

laws. The constitution 

stipulates that if a 

candidate gets the 

highest number of votes, 

he should be declared 

the winner. INEC should 

do the right thing by 

declaring the man with 

the highest number of 

votes the winner. Mr. 

Ifeanyi Okoye, Analyst 

This is highly 

commendable on 

the part of INEC. This 

shows that they are 

really patriotic and won’t 

be swayed by public 

sentiments. 

I will admit that I am 

really impressed by the 

actions of INEC. 

They should keep up 

the good work, because 

all these are meant to 

ensure a corrupt-free 

Nigeria. 

Miss 

Nwankpa 

F<strong>as</strong>hion designer 

Chinaza 

INEC h<strong>as</strong> to be 

consistent in its 

application of the rules. 

The cancelled votes 

during the by-election 

for the Lokoja Federal 

Constituency w<strong>as</strong> more 

than the margin of 

victory between the 

leading candidates but 

the election w<strong>as</strong> not 

declared inconclusive. 

The same set of rules 

should be applied to 

everyone. 

Miss Damiola 

Odetunde, Student 

All I can sense is foul 

play. Right from the start 

of this election, several 

ugly issues had come 

up. This latest act by 

INEC is totally uncalled 

for. It is very obvious 

that the <strong>PDP</strong> candidate, 

Ademola Adeleke won 

the election. Why should 

there be a re-run? I just 

hope this doesn’t 

happen during the 

presidential election 

next year. 

Mr.Bokun Ayomide, 

Entrepreneur

6—Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2018 

Lagos residents 

beg IGP 

over Police 

har<strong>as</strong>sment 

By Esther Onyegbula 

& Onyedi Ofulue 

RESIDENTS of Millennium 

Citi Centre Estate, Gbagada, 

Lagos, have called on the 

Inspector-General of Police, 

Ibrahim Idris, to come to their aid 

and stop operatives of his X- 

Squad from har<strong>as</strong>sing them. 

They made the call yesterday, 

during a peaceful protest over 

“inv<strong>as</strong>ion, indiscriminate arrest 

and har<strong>as</strong>sment of members of 

the estate by the Police engaged 

by land-grabbers.” 

Led by the estate’s Chairman, 

Soji Adeniji, the protesters 

appealed to the Police boss to 

expedite action on the rele<strong>as</strong>e of 

an employee of the private 

security outfit employed by the 

estate, Mr. William Iyke, and a 

barber, Mr. Julius Bab<strong>as</strong>ola, who 

were arrested by the Police X- 

Squad and had been in detention 

for two weeks. 

They regretted that without due 

investigation, the two men were 

paraded like common criminals 

by the Force Public Relations 

Officer, Jimoh Moshood, on 

September 21 in Abuja. 

The estate chairman explained 

that the men were arrested after 

officials of IGP X-Squad overran 

the security details of the estate’s 

gate, while acting on a petition 

written by a family alleging that 

certain plots of land in the estate 

belong to the Inspector General 

of Police. 

The residents, in the petition, 

alleged that members of the said 

family had, several times in the 

recent p<strong>as</strong>t, invaded the estate 

with armed men, forcibly taking 

over undeveloped properties, 

despite pending legal actions 

filed by residents of the estate 

against the family in the High 

Court of Lagos State. 

Father, son 

remanded in 

prison for 

alleged robbery 

AN Ado-Ekiti Chief 

Magistrate’s court, 

yesterday, ordered the remand of 

a father and his son in prison for 

alleged robbery and possession 

of a firearm. 

The defendants, Christian 

Okoye, 44, and his son, Chidi, 

22, of no fixed addresses, are 

facing a two-count charge of 

armed robbery and possession of 

a firearm. 

Chief Magistrate Adesoji 

Adegboye ordered the prosecutor 

to duplicate the c<strong>as</strong>e to the state 

Director of Public Prosecution, 

DPP, for legal advice and 

adjourned the c<strong>as</strong>e till October 3 

for a mention. 

Prosecutor, Inspector Johnson 

Okunade, had told the court the 

suspects committed the offence 

on September 18 in Ado-Ekiti. 

vanguardnews @vanguardnews @vanguardnews 

DISINCLINED to continue 

with his four-year-old 

marriage, a p<strong>as</strong>tor, Michael 

Adebowale, h<strong>as</strong> urged an 

Iseyin Customary Court in Oyo 

State to dissolve the union, so 

he can begin to receive 

anointing from God. 

“My wife, Ashabi, is a devil,” 

the middle-aged p<strong>as</strong>tor told the 

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I need to divorce my wife to receive 

anointing from God, p<strong>as</strong>tor tells court 

By Benjamin Njoku 

& Rotimi Agbana 

NIGERIAN entertainers 

have expressed shock 

over the sudden demise, 

Sunday, of Efemena Okedi, 

wife of late reggae legend, R<strong>as</strong> 

Kimono. 

Efe’s demise came one month 

after her husband w<strong>as</strong> buried. 

Incidentally, she died on a 

Sunday, same day <strong>as</strong> her 

husband. 

Paying tribute to the dece<strong>as</strong>ed 

on his Facebook page, reggae 

star, Righteousman, wrote: 

“What is going on? Another 

black Sunday. I am speechless.” 

A veteran broadc<strong>as</strong>ter, Bisi 

Olatilo, said Efe’s death w<strong>as</strong> a 

sad development to the 

entertainment industry, coming 

months after the demise of her 

husband. 

He said the news came to him 

<strong>as</strong> a shock and w<strong>as</strong> a sad thing 

for the Nigerian entertainment 

industry. 

His words: “What a sad time 

for us. We have not come to 

terms with R<strong>as</strong> Kimono’s death, 

only to be shocked by the loss 

of his wife again. 

“She w<strong>as</strong> hale and hearty 

from my l<strong>as</strong>t observation and I 

had no re<strong>as</strong>on to think that she 

will give up the ghost soon.” 

Gospel singer, Nikki Laoye, 

said: “I am still shocked by the 

sudden sad news of Efe’s 

death. It breaks my heart. It 

really makes no sense. I am yet 

to face the fact that our dear 

uncle, R<strong>as</strong> Kimono, is gone. 

“I even refused to 

acknowledge his p<strong>as</strong>sing away 

till date, because I w<strong>as</strong> with him 

a few days before he p<strong>as</strong>sed on. 

“He w<strong>as</strong> a great legend that I 

loved dearly, alongside his 

beautiful wife. God knows best 

and I pray that God’s loving 

arms would continue to 

surround the family at this time 

and always.” 

Also, expressing grief over 

Efe’s demise, Alariwo of Africa 

described it <strong>as</strong> strange. 

He said: “I am speechless 

because it’s strange. Kimono 

died on Sunday and she also 

died on Sunday. The similarity 

or uniqueness is confusing to 

me. One thing I know for sure 

is that they loved each other. 

“I don’t know what could have 

been the cause of her death, 

only God knows. My concern 

is how her five-year-old 

daughter, who hardly knows 

court. 

P<strong>as</strong>tor Adebowale informed 

the court that the marriage 

contracted four years ago had 

produced two children. 

He said: “My wife is evil. I 

noticed my prayers are not 

really answered by God like 

before and I have also noticed 

that I am now living with a 

devil. 

“She will not attend church 

or join me in prayers; all she 

specialised in is to gossip 

around town and go to 

parties. 

“I have told her to pack 

out of my house and she h<strong>as</strong> 

obeyed me. I want her 

totally out of my life so that I 

Entertainers mourn R<strong>as</strong> Kimono’s wife, Efe 

her mum, 

w o u l d 

survive 

without 

h e r 

parents.” 

One 

o f 

Fela’s 

daughters, Motunrayo 

Anikulapo-Kuti, said: “I am 

just hearing about this from 

By Ikechukwu 

Nnochiri 

ABUJA—THE Independent 

Corrupt Practices and 

Other Related Offences 

Commission, ICPC, h<strong>as</strong> 

arraigned a former Director 

General of Small and Medium 

Enterprises Development 

Agency of Nigeria, SMEDAN, 

Mr. Bature M<strong>as</strong>ari, over 

allegation that he received 

N119.8 million from several 

contractors handling 

constituency projects. 

In a 27-count charge it filed 

before Justice Adebola Adeniyi 

of the High Court of the 

Federal Capital Territory, 

Abuja, ICPC said its 

investigations revealed that the 

ex-SMEDAN boss received the 

bribe money for himself and 

four federal legislators. 

you. How did it 

happen? I’m sure she felt 

overtly depressed about her 

Together, forever 

ICPC docks M<strong>as</strong>ari, ex-SMEDAN 

boss, over alleged N119.8m bribe 

Counsel to ICPC, Mr. 

Henry Emore, told the 

court that M<strong>as</strong>ari had on 

November 27, 2014, collected 

N50 million from 

Hamshakin Ventures Ltd., 

for four lawmakers- 

Herman Hembe, 

Emmanuel Udende, 

Benjamin Aboho and Oker 

Jev, who were all members 

of the House of Representatives 

from Benue State, and 

a contractor, Kike Engineering 

Services, before 

awarding a consti-tuency 

project contract to the said 

Hamshakin Ventures. 

It further alleged that the 

defendant <strong>as</strong>ked and 

received various bribes sums 

ranging from N800,000 to 

N20,000,000 from 12 

different contractors, using 

his bank accounts. 

can begin to receive `anointing’ 

again from God.” 

President of the court, Mr. 

Adelodun Raheem, after 

listening to the petitioner, 

ordered that another summons 

be served on the respondent. 

He said Ashabi must appear 

in court at the next adjourned 

date, October 5. 

husband’s 

death.” 

E f e 

reportedly 

complained of 

a chest pain 

on Sunday 

and 

w<strong>as</strong> rushed to the Lagos State 

University Teaching Hospital, 

Ikeja, where she died. 

He w<strong>as</strong> said to have committed 

the offence between April 

2014 and July 2015. 

The defendant, however, 

pleaded not guilty, even <strong>as</strong> his 

lawyer, Mr. Mahmud 

Magaji(SAN), prayed the court 

to grant him bail pending trial. 

Following a no objection 

stance by the prosecuting 

counsel, Justice Adeniyi 

granted the defendant N50 

million bail with two sureties in 

like sum. 

The court held that the sureties 

must be directors in the 

employment of either the federal 

civil service or any federal 

agency or the Federal Capital 

Territory or any of its agencies. 

Pending the fulfillment of the 

bail conditions, Justice Adeniyi 

ordered the defendant 

remanded in Kuje Prisons, and 

adjourned to November 26 and 

29 for trial.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2018—7 

By Demola Akinyemi 

ILORIN—A farmer, weekend, 

lost his life in Kwara State 

when his family house collapsed 

on him, while he w<strong>as</strong> sleeping 

in his room, during a downpour. 

The tragedy occurred in Omoni 

village, one of the communities 

of the Ilorin Emirate in Moro 

Local Government Area of the 

state. 

The man w<strong>as</strong> said to be a taxi 

cab driver in Ilorin metropolis 

HEAVY gunshots rang out 

between the Police and 

suspected political thugs in 

Alekuwodo neighbourhood of 

Osogbo, yesterday, <strong>as</strong> battle for 

the control of one of the five 

polling units where re-run 

election is scheduled to hold on 

Thursday raged. 

A 12-year-old girl and two 

men, who were not involved in 

the violence, sustained gunshot 

wounds, Premium Times 

learned from witnesses and 

medical personnel who 

attended to the victims. 

We just finished eating, 

victim's mother narrates 

The victim, Dorc<strong>as</strong> Abioye’s 

elder sister told Premium Times 

she w<strong>as</strong> hit on the thigh by a 

stray Police bullet while sitting 

outside their mother’s shop on 

Akinlade Street. 

She received treatment at an 

undisclosed hospital in Osogbo 

and discharged around 3:30p.m. 

yesterday, but w<strong>as</strong> <strong>as</strong>ked to 

come back today for further 

medical examination. 

“We just finished eating in my 

shop, when I <strong>as</strong>ked her to throw 

out the water we used to w<strong>as</strong>h 

our hands and then she started 

screaming that she had been 

shot,” her mother, Titilayo 

Abioye, told Premium Times. 

The two men who were also 

shot were rushed to Morning 

Star Hospital in Alekuwodo at 

12:59p.m. They were 

immediately treated and 

discharged, hospital staff said. 

APC, <strong>PDP</strong> supporters cl<strong>as</strong>h 

The violence erupted at about 

12:30p.m. when suspected All 

Progressives Congress, APC, 

loyalists trailed a Peoples 

Democratic Party, <strong>PDP</strong>, chieftain 

to the neighbourhood. 

Fatai Diekola, the <strong>PDP</strong> 

chieftain, w<strong>as</strong> in Alekuwodo to 

mobilise party supporters to 

Ademola Adeleke’s house for a 

meeting. 

Those selected for the trip 

were largely from Ward 5, 

Osogbo Local Government Area, 

in which Polling Unit 17 is 

domiciled. 

Witnesses said Mr. Diekola 

w<strong>as</strong> trailed to the neighborhood 

and mobbed by suspected APC 

thugs <strong>as</strong> he w<strong>as</strong> rallying <strong>PDP</strong> 

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Collapsed wall kills Kwara man in bed 

until about 10 years ago, when 

he relocated to the community 

after reportedly selling his cab to 

engage in full-time farming. 

Vanguard gathered that he w<strong>as</strong> 

allocated a room in the family 

mud house after relocating to the 

village. 

The victim, identified <strong>as</strong> Alhaji 

Garba, w<strong>as</strong> said to be sleeping 

in the room when the wall of the 

room caved in. 

Vanguard also gathered that 

the part of the wall that fell on 

him w<strong>as</strong> exactly of his size, 

covering him from the head 

to toes. His remains were 

brought to the family 

compound in Ilorin for burial. 

An eyewitness, who spoke 

with Vanguard, said: “I have 

never in my life witnessed a 

situation where a wall would 

fall inward; I only know that 

walls fall outward. 

“Again, I cannot understand 

why the fallen wall w<strong>as</strong> 

exactly the size of the man.” 

12-yr-old girl, 2 others shot 

<strong>as</strong> violence erupts in Osogbo 

members to proceed on their 

journey to Ede. 

“They followed him to this area 

because they have been 

targeting him before,” said 

Olufunke Akinwale, whose 

variety store faces the polling 

unit. 

The shootings 

Residents immediately alerted 

the Police and Civil Defence, who 

By Lawani Mikairu 

SIXTY p<strong>as</strong>sengers aboard 

Azman Air plane en route 

Abuja yesterday, were 

reportedly thrown into panic <strong>as</strong> 

the aircraft almost ran out of fuel 

while hovering in the air for 

hours after it w<strong>as</strong> prevented 

from landing. 

Among the p<strong>as</strong>sengers were 

Sule Lamido, a presidential 

<strong>as</strong>pirant of Peoples Democratic 

Party, <strong>PDP</strong>; Senator Shehu Sani 

(APC Kaduna Central) and 

Senator Sabo Mohammed from 

Jigawa State. 

A source, who w<strong>as</strong> also on 

board the flight ZQ 2332, but 

<strong>as</strong>ked not to be named, told 

Sahara Reporters that the aircraft 

departed Kano at 

1:20p.m. and w<strong>as</strong> expected to 

land at the Nnamdi Azikwe 

International Airport Abuja at 

2:05p.m. 

He added that when the pilot 

contacted the control tower 

for landing clearance, he w<strong>as</strong> 

told that he could not land because 

of some military planes 

on special operation were at 

the airport. 

According to the source, 

“some military planes belonging 

to Air Force were on aerial 

display rehearsal in Abuja 

ahead of the Independence 

Day celebration on October 1. 

“The pilot w<strong>as</strong> in a dilemma 

and thought about returning to 

arrived in separate 

contingents and opened fire 

in the air to disperse the mob 

and quell the ensuing 

confrontation. 

The state's Police 

Commissioner, Adeoye 

Famihan, and state police 

spokesperson, both did not 

return request for comments 

on the incident from Premium 

Times at press time. 

Plane carrying Lamido, Sani 

delayed for 1 hour before 

landing in Abuja airport 

•Control tower said Air Force 

w<strong>as</strong> rehearsing for Oct 1—Source 

•P<strong>as</strong>sengers were never in danger—NAMA 

Kano after spending over an 

hour hovering in the air and 

having already announced 

that he w<strong>as</strong> running out of 

fuel. 

“Some p<strong>as</strong>sengers rejected 

the decision and prevailed 

on him to land, saying they 

were ready for the 

consequences of violating 

the directive of the control 

tower.” 

The pilot w<strong>as</strong> said to have 

yielded to the request and 

landed without clearance 

from the control tower. 

Reacting to the report that 

the Azman plane ran out of 

fuel after being prevented 

from landing, the Deputy 

Spokesman of Nigeria 

Airspace Management 

Authority, NAMA, told 

Vanguard on behalf of the 

Communication Manager, 

Mr. Kahlid Ebele, that: “It is 

not true that the plane ran 

out of fuel <strong>as</strong> every plane, 

before embarking on any 

flight, always h<strong>as</strong> three 

hours fuel backup in c<strong>as</strong>e of 

emergency. 

“A 45 or less minutes flight 

from Kano to Abuja could not 

have consumed the entire 

fuel in the plane even if the 

plane hovered for one hour. 

And our records at Abuja 

Airport did not show that 

such incident happened.” 

... with Emma'nKen (08163121378) 

Fathers go on strike. Simple 

Maybe he can't read, too 

And can I get demurrage?

8—VANGUARD, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2018 


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FG rele<strong>as</strong>es N42.7bn for 

Nigeria Airways’ 

ex-workers, public varsities 

SUMMIT: From left, Relationship Manager, Stanbic IBTC Asset Management Ltd, Temitope 

Ajewole; Deputy Vice Chancellor, Covenant University, Ota, Prof Akan Williams; Head, Personal 

Banking, Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, Nkolika Okoli; and CEO/Project Director, Creative Youth 

Community Development Initiative, CYCDI, Foluke Michael, during the United Nations General 

Assembly Global People’s Summit at Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State. 

<strong>PDP</strong>: <strong>Controversy</strong> <strong>trails</strong> <strong>convention</strong> 

<strong>as</strong> <strong>NWC</strong>, <strong>BoT</strong> <strong>disagree</strong> on venue 

•Aspirants opposed to P-H venue are against Rivers, N-Delta —Wike 

By Dirisu 

Yakubu 

ABUJA— Fresh crisis is 

threatening Peoples 

Democratic Party, <strong>PDP</strong>’s 

preparation for the 2019 

general elections, following 

yesterday’s heated argument 

between National Working 

Committee, <strong>NWC</strong>, and 

Board of Trustees, <strong>BoT</strong>. 

The argument broke out at 

the inauguration of the party’s 

National Convention 

Planning Committee at the 

party’s national secretariat in 

Abuja. 

Deputy National Chairman 

(South) of the party, Elder 

Yemi Akinwomi, who stood in 

for the party’s national 

chairman, Prince Uche 

Secondus, while clarifying 

the choice of Port Harcourt, 

the Rivers State capital, <strong>as</strong> 

<strong>convention</strong> venue, said: “The 

party set up a committee 

headed by Amb<strong>as</strong>sador 

Ibrahim Kazaure, and they 

went round the South-South 

and South-E<strong>as</strong>t zones before 

coming out with the choice 

of Port Harcourt for us. 

“As in acceptance, the <strong>NWC</strong> 

h<strong>as</strong> consulted widely with the 

<strong>PDP</strong> Governors Forum, we 

have consulted widely with 

the <strong>BoT</strong>. We have consulted 

widely with caucus of the 

party and today it h<strong>as</strong> been 

jointly accepted that we will 

converge on Port Harcourt in 

no distant time for the 

national <strong>convention</strong>. 

“The international 

community h<strong>as</strong> told us that 

they want to watch keenly the 

Port Harcourt <strong>convention</strong>. 

Particularly, they said they 

want to come and watch the 

process that will lead to the 

emergence of our flag bearer, 

because by the grace of God, 

our flag bearer will be the next 

President of Nigeria.” 

He had barely finished his 

l<strong>as</strong>t sentence when <strong>BoT</strong> 

chairman, Senator Walid 

Jibrin, countered with a 

response, saying Port 

Harcourt h<strong>as</strong> not been agreed 

upon by all the parties. 

He said: “The issue of 

venue is still on and is not 

concluded because there are 

many suggestions on the 

issue of venue. We will look 

at all the suggestions and I 

want to <strong>as</strong>sure you that the 

issue of venue will be 

resolved. 

“But for now, we are 

working round the clock to 

ensure that we have a very 

suitable venue accepted by 

everybody. I want to say that 

everyone of us should come 

together and ensure that we 

have a venue suitable to all 

of us.” 

Aspirants opposed 

to P-H venue are 

against Rivers, 

N-Delta —Wike 

Meanwhile, Governor 

Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, 

yesterday, slammed <strong>PDP</strong> 

presidential <strong>as</strong>pirants 

allegedly opposed to the 

holding of October 5 and 6 

national <strong>convention</strong> of the 

party in Port Harcourt, saying 

they were by their action 

showing they were against 

the economic interest of the 

state and Niger Delta. 

He said such <strong>as</strong>pirants 

were also not living up to their 

campaign for the 

restructuring of the country. 

He said: “Those who are 

against the <strong>PDP</strong> <strong>convention</strong> 

holding in Port Harcourt do 

not have the economic 

interest of Rivers and Niger 

Delta at heart. 

“If you are telling the people 

of the state and by extension 

Niger Delta that you don’t 

want such event to hold in 

their domain <strong>as</strong> an <strong>as</strong>pirant, 

how will you act when you 

become a president? 

‘’How do you expect the 

people you are telling that 

you don’t like their state to 

vote for you during the 

election?” 

The governor said it w<strong>as</strong> 

worrisome that the same 

people who have been 

traversing the length and 

breadth of the country calling 

for the restructuring of 

Nigeria were the <strong>as</strong>pirants 

kicking against the choice of 

Port Harcourt <strong>as</strong> venue for the 

<strong>convention</strong>. 

Minimum wage: Labour begins 

nationwide strike Thursday 

•Stockpile foodstuff, other necessities, ULC tells 

Nigerians 

By Victor 

Ahiuma-Young 

INDICATIONS emerged, 

yesterday, that organised 

labour will, Thursday, 

commence a nationwide strike 

to force the Federal 

Government to announce its 

figure and ensure the 

completion of work on the new 

national minimum wage. 

Vanguard gathered l<strong>as</strong>t 

night that it w<strong>as</strong> a decision 

reached by leaders of Nigeria 

Labour Congress, NLC; Trade 

Union Congress of Nigeria, 

TUC, and United Labour 

Congress of Nigeria, ULC, 

after an emergency meeting 

in Lagos. 

It w<strong>as</strong> gathered that it will 

be formerly announced in 

Abuja tomorrow where the 

modalities would be unfolded 

Earlier in the day, leaders 

of United Labour Congress of 

Nigeria, ULC, urged 

Nigerians to stockpile 

foodstuff and other necessities, 

saying a nationwide strike 

appeared now inevitable. 

At a briefing in Lagos after 

an emergency meeting of its 

Central Working Committee, 

CWC, leaders of ULC said 

NLC, TUC and ULC had 

harmonised their separate 

demand to N65,000 and had 

informed the government and 

private sector employers 

through the tripartite 

minimum wage negotiating 

committee. 

Until the harmonisation, 

while NLC and TUC 

demanded N56,500 

minimum wage, LC 

demanded N96, 000. 

ULC President, Joe Ajaero, 

said, yesterday, at a briefing: 

‘’By this communiqué we 

order all our affiliates and state 

councils nation-wide to move 

to the final level of alert in their 

preparation for the proposed 

nation-wide strike. 

‘’We urge Nigerian m<strong>as</strong>ses 

to stockpile food and other 

necessities, given the known 

intransigence and 

insensitivity this government 

h<strong>as</strong> shown to our collective 

plight <strong>as</strong> a people. 

‘’Furthermore, we wish to 

state that Nigerian workers 

will not only deny any 

government that denies us 

our living wages in the 

forthcoming general elections 

but also set up active 

machinery to mobilise against 

their elections.” 

Similarly, TUC in a terse 

communiqué at the end of its 

CWC, yesterday, in Lagos, 

said: “At the meeting of the 

Central Working Committee, 

CWC, of the Trade Union 

Congress of Nigeria, TUC, the 

CWC empowered the 

National Administrative 

Council, NAC, and its 

leadership to carry out all 

necessary actions in 

conjunction with other 

stakeholders to ensure the 

achievement of the minimum 

wage.” 

By Emma Ujah, 

Abuja Bureau Chief 

ABUJA—THE Federal 

Government h<strong>as</strong> 

rele<strong>as</strong>ed N22.68 billion for the 

settlement of retirement 

benefits of former staff of 

liquidated Nigeria Airways. 

Minister of Finance, Mrs. 

Zainab Ahmed, who 

announced this in a meeting 

with the retirees in Abuja, 

yesterday, also announced 

another N20 billion for public 

universities in the country . 

President Muhammadu 

Bubari, according to her, 

gave the approval due to his 

concern over the plight of the 

former staff of the liquidated 

national carrier. 

She said: “Upon my 

resumption of office <strong>as</strong> 

Minister of Finance, some 

pending fiscal issues in the 

aviation and education 

sectors were immediately 

brought to my attention. 

“As such, I took it <strong>as</strong> a 

challenge to quickly address 

key issues regarding the 

settlement of existing claims 

in both of these sectors. 

Consequent upon this, I am 

happy to inform you that Mr. 

President h<strong>as</strong> graciously 

approved N22.68 billion and 

N20 billion to aviation and 

education sectors 

respectively. 

“As you are aware, the exworkers 

of Nigeria Airways 

Ltd in liquidation were not 

paid their entitlement 

benefits for the p<strong>as</strong>t 15 years, 

despite the liquidation. 

‘’As a result of the delays in 

settlement of these benefits, 

many ex-workers have been 

thrown out of their houses, 

their children have been 

unable to attend school, and 

others have lost their 

businesses, fallen ill or 

indeed, p<strong>as</strong>sed on. This 

unfortunate situation cannot 

be allowed to continue under 

a responsible administration.” 

The Minister promised that 

the 50 percent balance of the 

N45.3 billion entitlement 

owed the ex-workers would 

be looked into in about six 

months, depending on 

government’s revenue flows. 

She constituted a committee 

consisting of officials of the 

Office of the Head of Service, 

Ministries of Finance and 

Aviation , the Bureau of Public 

Enterprises, Office of the 

Accountant-General of the 

Federation, Pension 

Transitional Arrangement 

Directorate and the exworkers’ 

union to implement 

the payment. 

APC tickets no longer for 

bread, butter politicians 

— Oshiomhole 

•As party shifts presidential 

primaries for the 4th time 

By Omeiza Ajayi 

ABUJA—Ahead of the 

primaries of All 


National Chairman of the 

party, Comrade Adams 

Oshiomhole, h<strong>as</strong> declared 

that the party will not field 

candidates he described <strong>as</strong> 

opportunists seeking to use its 

platform to fester their political 

nets. 

Oshiomhole, who w<strong>as</strong> 

referring to the defection of the 

Senate President, Bukola 

Saraki, and Speaker of the 

House of Representatives, 

Yakubu Dogara, to Peoples 

Democratic Party, <strong>PDP</strong>, said 

the party had learned from the 

mistakes of the p<strong>as</strong>t where 

people he described <strong>as</strong> bread 

and butter politicians were 

given tickets of the party. 

Oshiomhole spoke on a day 

APC, for the fourth time, 

shifted its presidential 

primaries to Friday, 

September 28, 2018. 

In a statement by his Chief 

Press Secretary, Simon 

Ebegbulem, Oshiomhole 

lamented that since 

<strong>as</strong>sumption of office, the <strong>NWC</strong> 

had been tackling issues 

arising from the l<strong>as</strong>t 

congresses of the party, which 

he described <strong>as</strong> fraudulent. 

He <strong>as</strong>serted that the party 

would correct the mistakes 

of the p<strong>as</strong>t and confront the 

opposition in 2019. 

Oshiomhole, who stated 

this while addressing 

members of the screening 

committee of the party, said: 

“In many of the states we had 

challenges arising from the 

way congresses were 

conducted, many of them were 

quite fraudulent, that h<strong>as</strong> 

been the challenge we have 

been trying to resolve since we 

came. 

‘’Screening of <strong>as</strong>pirants is 

not a formality, that is why we 

tried to search for men and 

women of integrity who cannot 

be compromised. We do not 

want to field opportunists who 

are simply seeking a political 

vehicle for some selfish 

purposes. 

‘’What h<strong>as</strong> happened in 

recent p<strong>as</strong>t is enough for us to 

begin to look at the character 

of those who are seeking office 

in APC platform." 

Meanwhile, the party h<strong>as</strong> 

for the fourth time, shifted its 

presidential primaries to 

Friday, September 28, 2018. 

The party h<strong>as</strong> severally 

shifted the exercise for re<strong>as</strong>ons 

that were not clearly stated, but 

the current rescheduling is <strong>as</strong> 

a result of the governorship 

election rerun in Osun State 

slated for Thursday.


Anti-corruption war can’t succeed 

under culture of impunity — CJN 

•Asks judges to resist attempt to make justice commercial commodity 

•How lawyers forged court judgments to secure SAN rank 

By Ikechukwu 

Nnochiri 

ABUJA — Chief Justice 

of Nigeria, CJN, Justice 

Walter Onnoghen, yesterday, 

<strong>as</strong>ked Justices of the Supreme 

Court and judicial officers 

across the federation to resist 

attempts by those he described 

<strong>as</strong> “rapacious elite” to make 

justice a commercial 

commodity. 

The CJN further maintained 

that it would be impossible to 

stage a successful anticorruption 

war in the country 

without a corresponding fight 

against the culture of 

impunity. 

Onnoghen, who also 

reavealed how lawyers forged 

court judgements to secure 

SAN rank, said: “If we allow 

and respect the rule of law, then 

there will be a dramatic 

reduction in corruption and 

injustice.” 

He spoke at a special court 

session the Supreme Court 

held to mark the 

commencement of its 2018/ 

2019 legal year, <strong>as</strong> well <strong>as</strong> the 

swearing-in of 30 new Senior 

Advocates of Nigeria, SANs. 

He said: “Corruption or any 

other form of injustice, for that 

matter, thrives in a culture of 

impunity. To carry out a 

successful campaign against 

corruption, we have to fight 

the culture of impunity, which 

is an attitudinal phenomenon. 

“If we allow and respect the 

rule of law, then there will be 

a dramatic reduction in 

corruption and injustice. 

Corruption starts with a 

decision by an individual or a 

group of individuals to do the 

wrong thing. It is <strong>as</strong> simple <strong>as</strong> 

that. Corruption is never an 

accidental act. The person 

who commits a corrupt act h<strong>as</strong> 

an option to do the right thing. 

“Corruption in the judicial 

arm of government happens 

if an arbiter, in this c<strong>as</strong>e a 

magistrate, a judge, a justice 

or a panel, having heard from 

all parties and having 

determined where justice lies, 

decides to do the wrong thing 

by giving judgment to favour 

a particular individual or party 

over another." 

How lawyers forged 

court judgments to 

secure SAN rank 

While decrying the impact 

of corruption in the justice 

sector, the CJN disclosed that 

some applicants that applied 

to be elevated to the SAN rank 

were found to have engaged 

in dishonourable conduct, 

such <strong>as</strong> forgery of judgments, 

resulting in their being 

reported to the Police for 

investigation and possible 

prosecution. 

He said the National 

Judicial Council, NJC, w<strong>as</strong> 

determined to redress proven 

c<strong>as</strong>es of judicial corruption 

with swift and decisive 

me<strong>as</strong>ures, adding that the 

Anti Corruption C<strong>as</strong>es Trial 

Monitoring Committee, 

COTRIMCO, had at the end 

of the l<strong>as</strong>t legal year, identified 

a total of 1,499 pending graft 

c<strong>as</strong>es. 

He said: “Of this number, a 

total of 345 judgments were 

delivered, 14 c<strong>as</strong>es reserved 

for judgment and 12 c<strong>as</strong>es 

struck out." 

Why Buhari signed 

4th Alteration to the 

1999 Constitution 

—AGF 

In his address at the event, 

Attorney-General of the 

Federation and Minister of 

Justice, Mr. Abubakar 

Malami, SAN, said President 

Muhammadu Buhari had in 

his bid to enhance the 

independence of the judicial 

and legislative arms of 

government to enable them 

play their constitutional roles 

in a more robust manner, 

<strong>as</strong>sented to the 4th Alteration 

to the 1999 Constitution. 

He said section 121 of the 

constitution w<strong>as</strong> amended to 

provide that monies due to the 

judiciary in the annual budget 

should henceforth be paid 

directly to the heads of the 

courts and that of the 

legislature also paid to the 

heads thereof. 

Malami, whose address 

w<strong>as</strong> read by the Solicitor- 

General of the Federation, Mr. 

Dayo Apata, said: “This 

alteration, without doubt, 

finally answers to the need to 

have more independent and 

impartial courts at federal and 

state levels and will certainly 

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2018—9 

advance the cause of the Rule 

of Law in the country. 

30 new SANs call for 

decentralisation of S- 

Court 

Meanwhile, the 30 new 

SANs called for the 

decentralisation of the 

Supreme Court to reduce the 

backlog of c<strong>as</strong>es pending for 

years at the apex court. 

Chief Oba Maduabuchi, 

who read the address on 

behalf of the new SANs, said: 

“This single Supreme Court 

can no longer withstand the 

avalanche of judgements that 

come from these various 

cadres of court. 

‘’The realities and dynamics 

of the present day judicature 

makes it imperative that the 

Supreme Court must break 

into divisions. It is suggested 

that we begin by having three 

Divisions - one in Enugu, one 

in Ibadan and another either 

in Abuja or Kaduna." 

Though 31 applicants were 

earlier okayed for the SAN 

rank, Legal Practitioners’ 

Privileges Committee, LPPC, 

after its emergency meeting 

on September 20, dropped 

one of the nominees, following 

his alleged involvement in acts 

of judicial misconduct. 

Workers demand removal of minister over injustice, 

nepotism, others 

By Victoria 

Ojeme 

ABUJA—Workers in 

the Ministry of 

Industry, Trade and 

Investment, under the 

aegis of Association of 

Senior Civil Servants of 

Nigeria, ASCSN, are 

demanding the sack of the 

minister in charge of the 

ministry, Dr. Okechukwu 

Enelamah, accusing him of 

corrupt practices, high 

handedness, injustice and 

nepotism. 

Chairman of the 

<strong>as</strong>sociation in the ministry, 

Okonkwo Onwuyah, made 

the demand <strong>as</strong> the workers 

staged a protest at the 

ministry in Abuja, 

yesterday. 

The workers also alleged 

that the minister had 

succeeded in duplicating 

and w<strong>as</strong>ting resources 

through the creation of 

Nigerian Office of Trade 

Negotiation, NOTN, b<strong>as</strong>ed 

on false memo or advice to 

the Federal Executive 

SUMMIT: From 

left, MD/CEO, 

Bank of Industry, 

Mr. Kayode Pitan; 

Deputy Secretary 

General, United 

Nations, Amina 

Mohammed, and 

Managing Director, 

Standard 

Chartered Bank, 

Mrs. Bola Adesola, 

at the UN Global 

Compact 

Leadership Summit 

2018, at UN 

Headquarters, New 

York on the 

sidelines of the UN 

General Assembly, 

yesterday. 

Council, FEC. 

Efforts to reach the 

minister, yesterday, proved 

abortive <strong>as</strong> he w<strong>as</strong> said to 

be out of the country. 

Special Adviser to the 

Permanent Secretary in the 

Ministry, Babajide 

Oyetigun, also refused to 

comment on the matter 

But Onwuyah said: 

‘’Today, the minister h<strong>as</strong> 

also killed the Trade 

Department and rendered 

commercial and trade 

officers redundant. 

"We are also demanding 

that all outstanding 

payments since 2014 till 

date be prioritised on first 

come first serve b<strong>as</strong>is for 

payments, training and 

welfare needs of workers 

must be concluded before 

the end of December 2018, 

services of consultants be 

withdrawn with immediate 

effect, timely conduct of 

promotion exercise should 

be observed, all c<strong>as</strong>es of 

conversion and 

upgrading pending in the 

ministry and with Head of 

Service, HOS, and FSCS 

should be worked on to 

e<strong>as</strong>e off delays.’’ 

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Buhari seeks collaborative 

efforts among nations to fight 

human trafficking, smuggling 

A BUJA—President 

Muhammadu Buhari 

h<strong>as</strong> called for collaborative 

efforts among nations to fight 

human trafficking and 

smuggling of persons. 

Buhari made the call at the 

16th INTERPOL Conference 

on Human Trafficking and 

Migrant Smuggling, 

yesterday, in Abuja. 

The President, who w<strong>as</strong> 

represented by Mr 

Olusegun Adekunle, 

Permanent Secretary, General 

Service Office, office of the 

Secretary to the Government 

of the Federation, said: 

“Human trafficking requires 

our collective efforts to 

eradicate which destroying 

the future of our youths.’’ 

The President said Nigeria 

w<strong>as</strong> among the first set of 

countries to domesticate 

United Nations relevant 

protocols on trafficking in 

persons and smuggling of 

persons. 

Buhari said the protocols 

were at various times 

domesticated, resulting in the 

country’s enactment of the 

trafficking in persons 

prohibition law enforcement 

Act and Eradication Act 2003 

and the 1963 Immigration 

Act. 

He said the Immigration 

Act empowered the service to 

combat the smuggling of 

migrants, adding that the 

country had recorded a 

landmark in the fight against 

trafficking in persons and 

smuggling of migrants. 

He said the collaborative 

efforts of the country’s 

security agencies had 

resulted in several 

interceptions, arrest and 

prosecution and conviction of 

359 traffickers and smugglers. 

He urged the INTERPOL 

and relevant agencies to 

deepen already established 

collaboration in order to 

combat this modern day 

slavery to a stand still. 

In a remark, Inspector- 

General of Police, Mr Ibrahim 

Idris, said the force w<strong>as</strong> in the 

forefront in the fight against 

the ugly trend. 

Idris, who w<strong>as</strong> represented 

by DIG Agboola Oshodi- 

Glover, said trafficking and 

smuggling in persons posed 

a threat to both the victims and 

the countries of the world. 

Mr Jurgen Stock, 

Secretary General of 

INTERPOL said trafficking 

in human beings and 

smuggling remained a 

prominent challenge for law 

enforcement. 

He noted that the trend 

had opened the door for the 

exploitation of those simply 

seeking improved wellbeing 

and opportunities. 

Stock urged other 

participating countries at the 

conference to prioritise the 

fight against human 

trafficking and smuggling in 

persons. 

FG to revoke licences of 

oil firms over g<strong>as</strong>-flaring 

By Michael Eboh 

THE 

Federal 

Government, yesterday, 

disclosed that from next year, 

it would commence the 

revocation of the licences of 

oil companies that failed to 

stop flaring of g<strong>as</strong> in their 

operations in the country. 

Speaking at the 2018 

Buyers’ Forum/ 

Stakeholders’ Engagement 

organised by G<strong>as</strong> 

Aggregation Company of 

Nigeria, GACN, Minister of 

State for Petroleum 

Resources, Mr. Ibe 

Kachikwu, also stated that 

the Federal Government 

would launch the 

infr<strong>as</strong>tructure revamp 

programme in November. 

According to him, the 

programme h<strong>as</strong> the potential 

to attarct between $20 billion 

and $30 billion of 

investments into the 

petroleum industry and also 

help address the 

infr<strong>as</strong>tructural deficiencies in 

the industry. 

On the g<strong>as</strong> flarring issue, 

Kachikwu revealed that the 

Federal Government had 

been locked in a battle with 

upstream oil companies over 

the issue, explaining that 

government w<strong>as</strong> keen on 

ending flaring . 

He, however, lamented 

that oil companies still give 

a lot of re<strong>as</strong>ons g<strong>as</strong> flaring 

could not be ended. 


bottom line of the 

<strong>disagree</strong>ment the oil firms 

have with the government 

on ending g<strong>as</strong> flaring is c<strong>as</strong>h 

call and money. 

He said: “Government 

wants to end flare, oil 

companies still give lot of 

re<strong>as</strong>ons flare cannot be 

ended. Bottom line is c<strong>as</strong>h 

call and money.

10 — VANGUARD, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2018 

LAGOS—TO brighten 

his prospects, a 

governorship <strong>as</strong>pirant on 

the platform of All 

Progressives Congress, 

APC, in Lagos State Mr. 

Babajide Sanwo-Olu, h<strong>as</strong> 

met with the camp of 

Minister of Power, Works 

and Housing, Mr. 

Babatunde F<strong>as</strong>hola and 

the state factional chairman 

of the party, Mr. Fuad Oki. 

This came <strong>as</strong> the 

Governor’s Advisory 

Council, GAC, in the state, 

dismissed insinuations that 

it had a preferred <strong>as</strong>pirant, 

insisting that there would 

be a level playing field for 

all. 

The platform, which is 

headed by the National 

Leader of APC, Asiwaju 

Bola Tinubu is the highest 

decision making organ of 

the party. 

However, 377 councillors, 

yesterday, threw their 

weight behind Sanwo-Olu, 

stressing that his <strong>as</strong>piration 

would guarantee victory for 

the party. 

Vanguard learned that 

the move which started with 

a meeting with a former 

Legal Adviser of APC, Dr. 

Muiz Banire, w<strong>as</strong> centered 

on resolving differences 

among the party faithful. 

At the meeting aimed at 

wooing Oki back to the 

party, Sanwo-Olu, who 

w<strong>as</strong> represented by the 

Director General of his 

campaign Organisation, 

Mr. Tayo Ayinde, promised 

to abide by the party’s 

verdict on who becomes 

the next governorship 

candidate and ultimately 

the governor of the state. 

A source at the forum said 

Oki commended Sanwo- 

Olu’s efforts at reconciling 

feuding parties. 

Oki, it w<strong>as</strong> learned had 

concluded plans to support 

Sanwo-Olu at the 

primaries. 

The source revealed that 

Sanwo-Olu, who h<strong>as</strong> 

emerged the frontrunner in 

the race, had a telephone 

conversation with F<strong>as</strong>hola. 

“F<strong>as</strong>hola and Sanwo-Olu 

have spoken on phone and 

the former believes the latter 

would deliver the type of 

governance the state 

wants,” the source added. 

Director of Media, 

Babajide Sanwo-Olu 

Campaign Organisation, 

BOSCO, Mr. Sesan Daini, 

confirmed the 

developments in an 

interview with Vanguard. 

His words: “The major 

discussion is to bring all 

factions within the party 

together. What we are 

doing is beyond F<strong>as</strong>hola but 

he is included. It is about 

uniting all the forces within 

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

LAGOS GOV PRIMARIES: Sanwo-Olu 

meets F<strong>as</strong>hola, Banire, Oki’s camp 

•Gets 377 councillors’ endorsement; woos council Vice-Chairmen, councillors 

•GAC says it h<strong>as</strong> no preferred <strong>as</strong>pirant 

By Ol<strong>as</strong>unkanmi 

Akoni, Ebun Sessou 

& Monsuru 

Olowoopejo 

the party. 

“It is to ensure that the 

party h<strong>as</strong> a successful 

outing in next year’s 

election. We aren’t too 

comfortable with the total 

number of votes we had in 

Lagos in 2015 election. We 

think that we should have 

done better. 

“From our research, we 

discovered that all hands 

must be on deck and there 

must not be any faction 

within the party. There 

must be unity in the party. 

I am happy that the move 

h<strong>as</strong> been yielding quality 

results. 

“We met with the 377 

councillors today 

(yesterday). And they have 

decided to support the 

Sanwo-Olu’s ambition. 

That is what we need.” 

However, the 

Spokesperson of the GAC, 

Dr. Abayomi Finnih, who 

briefed newsmen, said its 

involvement in the 

processes leading to the 

primaries w<strong>as</strong> not 

influenced by anyone. 

CONVOCATION: Chairman, Faculty of Family Medicine, Dr Emmanuel 

Amoo; Product Manager, Fidson Healthcare Plc, Mr Adesoji F<strong>as</strong>anya; Winner 

of Fidson's Prize for Best Graduating Fellow, Dr. Mariam Avionah Nafiu 

and Corporate Services Manager, Fidson Healthcare Plc, Mr Sylvester Iriogbe 

during the presentation of Fidson Prize for Best Graduating Fellow-Faculty 

of Family Medicine at the 36th convocation ceremony of the National 

Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, Lagos, recently. 

Police partners German govt to train 135 

FSARS operatives on human rights 

By Evelyn Usman 

LAGOS—AS part of 

me<strong>as</strong>ures to overhaul 

the Federal Special Anti 

Robbery Squad, FSARS 

the Nigeria Police 

yesterday, began a twoweek 

training on Human 

Rights for 135 operatives 

drawn from 37 FSARS 

formations in the country. 

Declaring the training 

which is in partnership 

with GIZ Police 

Programme Africa-(a 

German training 

school)open, at the Police 

College, Ikeja,Lagos, the 

He added that direct 

primaries would be applied 

during the exercise 

scheduled to hold next 

Saturday. 

Finnih affirmed that the 

GAC unanimously adopted 

the method to pick APC 

candidates in all elective 

positions. 

His words: “This is not a 

Tinubu affair <strong>as</strong> being 

peddled around on the 

social media and some 

quarters. 

“The GAC members at 

the l<strong>as</strong>t meeting held 

during the weekend 

deliberated on how to 

conduct peacefully, the 

forthcoming party 

primaries. We decided to 

adopt Direct Primary to 

choose candidates for the 

party. 

“The GAC h<strong>as</strong> no 

preferred candidate among 

the gubernatorial <strong>as</strong>pirants. 

It is not about Tinubu, it is 

a collective decision. We 

resolved to provide a level 

playing field for the 

contenders. 

Deputy Inspector- 

General of Police incharge 

of Training, DIG 

Emmanuel Inyang, 

described the training <strong>as</strong> a 

holistic approach to 

enhance the performance 

of FSARS commanders. 

He reminded that 

FSARS w<strong>as</strong> initially 

established to take charge 

of specific functions 

pertaining to crime 

prevention and control, <strong>as</strong> 

well <strong>as</strong> to secure life and 

property. 

He however pointed out 

that their direct contact with 

members of the public 

‘“The adoption of direct 

primary is to further 

democratise the 

electoral process in the 

party and do away with 

anointed candidates. 

This will also ensure a 

credible exercise. 

“Every <strong>as</strong>pirant should 

go to the field and test 

his popularity because 

the people will decide.” 

Also, at an event held 

in Lagos yesterday, one of 

the local government Vice- 

Chairmen, Mr. Fol<strong>as</strong>hade 

Oba said they resolved to 

support Sanwo-Olu at the 

primaries. 

The event w<strong>as</strong> attended 

by leaders of Mandate 

Group, including Cardinal 

James Odunmbaku, Alhaji 

Kaoli Olusanya, and Alhaji 

Ganiyu Badmus, among 

others. 

BOSCO also received 

former Executive 

Secretaries of 57 councils at 

a hotel in Ikeja, with the 

aim of getting their loyalty 

and support at the 

governorship primaries. 

brought conflict and perceived 

human rights abuses 

and the inherent complaints 

arising from the 

performance of their 

duties. 

He expressed hope that 

the training would among 

other aims, provide the 

necessary platforms for all 

participants, particularly 

FSARS foot soldiers, to 

understand the necessity of 

imbibing hunan rights acts 

at their duty posts and 

stations, <strong>as</strong> well <strong>as</strong> enabled 

operatives identify and 

proffer possible solutions to 

problems. 

FG recalls Paris 

Club refund 

for 5 states 

By Peter Egwuatu 

& Yinka Kolawole 

L F AGOS—THE 

e d e r a l 

Government, yesterday, 

ordered recall of the second 

tranche of the London and 

Paris Club Refunds 

disbursed to five states, 

amounting to about $2.7 

billion (N972 billion.) 

No re<strong>as</strong>on for the recall 

w<strong>as</strong> given. The states 

involved are Delta, Imo, 

Benue, Rivers and Osun. 

But the Nigeria 

Governors Forum (NGF) 

h<strong>as</strong> called for an 

emergency meeting to 

challenge the action which 

some of them believe w<strong>as</strong> 

politically motivated. 

Vanguard also gathered 

that the recall is done 

directly from the states’ 

accounts with the Central 

Bank of Nigeria (CBN). 

However, many of the 

states confirmed that the 

money had already been 

spent mostly on payment of 

workers’ salary arrears. 

Benue State Governor 

Samuel Ortom said he 

directed 

the 

commencement of 

payment of salary arrears, 

pensions and gratuity from 

the N14.9 billion Paris Club 

refund received by the state 

to pave way for speedy 

payment of the funds to 

workers and retirees. 

ZAMFARA 2019: Fresh trouble for 

Yari, <strong>as</strong> 8 <strong>as</strong>pirants adopt direct 

primaries, back Marafa’s suit 

By Henry Umoru 

A 

B U J A — 

INDICATIONS 

emerged yesterday of fresh 

trouble for Governor 

Abdul’aziz Yari of Zamfara 

State <strong>as</strong> no fewer than eight 

leading governorship 

<strong>as</strong>pirants in the state 

including the Deputy 

Governor, Ibrahim Wakala, 

and former governor, 

Mahmud Aliyu Shinkafi, 

adopted direct primaries to 

select candidates for 2019 

general elections. 

Consequently, the All 


APC, <strong>as</strong>pirants from the 

state at the end of an 

emergency meeting in 

Abuja yesterday, <strong>as</strong>ked 

the national leadership 

of the party to appoint a 

caretaker committee for 

the state. 

The <strong>as</strong>pirants at the end 

of the meeting threw their 

weight behind the suit 

instituted by the faction of 

the Senator Kabir Marafa 

of the party against the 

Zamfara State governor, 

Abdul’aziz Yari. 

In a resolution, the 

<strong>as</strong>pirants, including 

Senator Kabir Marafa, 

Minister of Defence, 

Mansur Dan-Ali, Aminu 

Osun 

State 

Commissioner for 

Information, Adelani 

Baderinwa, claimed the 

government w<strong>as</strong> yet to be 

informed and cannot speak 

on the refund because the 

Paris Club Refund h<strong>as</strong> 

been spent on workers’ 

salary. 

NGF emergency 

meeting 

Meanwhile, the 

Chairman, Nigerian 

Governors Forum, NGF, 

Gov. Abdul’Aziz Yari 

Abubakar, h<strong>as</strong> called an 

emergency meeting of the 

Forum for today, Tuesday 

25th Sept, 2018 at the NGF 

Secretariat in Abuja by 3:00 

pm. The meeting h<strong>as</strong> just 

one agenda, CBN’s recall 

of the London & Paris Club 

Refunds to States. 

Yari, in the invite to the 

other governors, requested 

them to come along with at 

le<strong>as</strong>t three (3) months 

evidence of salary payment 

<strong>as</strong> well <strong>as</strong> evidence of any 

challenge related to the 

payment of salaries in their 

states. 

Recall that the Federal 

Government said that the 

states should clear backlog 

of salaries and other related 

staff arrears before they 

would be able to access the 

remaining $2.7 billion Paris 

Club Refund. 

Sani Jaji, Engr. Abu 

Magaji, Dauda Lawal and 

Mohammed Sagir 

Hamidu, endorsed the 

court c<strong>as</strong>e challenging the 

legality of the May 2018 

congress of the APC 

in Zamfara State. 

They resolved to abide 

by the order of the 

Federal High Court (10), 

Abuja which directed 

that both Yari and 

Marafa factions “should 

maintain the status quo 

and should not take any 

steps that would render 

nugatory the subject 

matter of the litigation.” 

According to them, only 

the conduct of direct 

Primaries in the State 

would demonstrate 

obedience to the directive 

given by the Federal High 

Court, Abuja. 

The resolution signed by 

all the <strong>as</strong>pirants read, 

among others “that the 

National leadership of the 

Party ought to have 

involved the members of 

the G8 governorship 

<strong>as</strong>pirants in the recruitment 

of the Ward, Local 

Government and State 

electoral organizing 

Committee members for 

the conduct of the direct 

primaries in the state.''

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2018 — 11 

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

FRESH CRISIS IN ONDO APC: Faction 

accuses Akeredolu of imposition 

By Dayo Johnson 

AKURE—A faction 

of the All 


APC, in Ondo State, 

yesterday, accused 

Governor Rotimi 

Akeredolu of alleged 

plans to impose loyal 

National Assembly 

<strong>as</strong>pirants <strong>as</strong> the party’s 

candidates for the 2019 

elections. 

The factional state 

chairman, Idowu Otetubi 

said this, in Akure, after 

a stakeholders meeting 

of the faction attended by 

members from the 18 

council are<strong>as</strong> of the state. 

Otetubi said: “We have 

been reliably informed 

that the same few 

elements that wanted to 

put the APC in their 

pockets have perfected 

plans to bribe the 

screening committee of 

our party to ensure that 

their adopted candidates 

are the only <strong>as</strong>pirants 

that will be screened for 

the elections. 

“We received 

complaints that some 

<strong>as</strong>pirants said the 

governor h<strong>as</strong> openly 

adopted candidates for 

Ondo Central and Ondo 

North senatorial zones. 

“The governor h<strong>as</strong> also 

adopted some House of 

Assembly candidates and 

in order to achieve this, 

his team h<strong>as</strong> perfected 

plans to scheme out 

LEARNING EVENT: From left; Finance Chair, Mr. Saidu B<strong>as</strong>haru, Mr. Anthony 

Okoye, Learning Chair and immediate p<strong>as</strong>t president, Integration Chair, Mr. 

Ayo Stuffman, President of the organization, Sunday Gbenjo, President/CEO, 

Beloxxi Industries Limited and guest speaker, Mr. Obi Ezeude, Communications 

Chair, Mr. Dele Nedd, Global Student Entrepreneurs Awards, GSEA, Chair, 

Ayodele Aderinwale, MFR, and Membership Chair, Seun Ob<strong>as</strong>anjo at the 

Entrepreneurs Organization, EO Lagos Chapter Learning event held in Lagos. 

UNPAID SALARIES: Again, MAPOLY lecturers down tools 

By Daud Olatunji 

A BEOKUTA—THE 

Academic Staff of 

Polytechnics, Moshood 

Abiola Polytechnic, 

Abeokuta chapter, 

yesterday, declared an 

indefinite work-to-rule 


A BEOKUTA—NO 

fewer than 

8,000 candidates 

yesterday, jostled for 

3,500 slots at the Federal 

University of 

Agriculture, FUNAAB, 

Abeokuta. 

The first batch of the 

candidates totalling 

4,500 turned up for the 

Post Unified Tertiary 

Matriculation 

Examination, UTME, 

screening held within 

the 500-seater and 200- 

seater ICT halls of the 

institution. 

Addressing newsmen 

during the screening, 

the Deputy Vice- 

other <strong>as</strong>pirants from the 

screening process.” 

On the local 

government election, 

Otetubi said: “We have 

submitted the list of the 

candidates of our party to 

ODIEC. Being an agent 

of the government and 

the few that concocted 

the delegate lists, they 

have technically avoided 

the list. 

“We have written to 

ODIEC and the court to 

inform the court that its 

order is being disobeyed. 

industrial action over 

unpaid four months’ 

salaries, state of the 

institution, and alleged 

neglect by the state 

government among 

others. 

The union also 

demanded the true 

state of accreditation of 

POST UTME: 8,000 jostle for 

3,500 slots in FUNAAB 

Chancellor, Academics, 

Prof. Morenikeji Dipeolu 

said the institution had 

a admission capacity of 

3,500 slots <strong>as</strong> the 

recommended quota 

from the JAMB. 

She said: “We have 

8,000 candidates that 

would sit for the post 

UTME screening this 

year. We are going to 

attend to 4,500 

candidates today 

(Monday) while the 

remaining 3,500 would 

be attended to today. 

“We have prepared two 

ICT halls for the 

candidates. The halls 

are conducive for both 

the candidates and the 

invigilators.” 

The court will 

appropriately do the 

needful in this 

direction.” 

But in a swift reaction, 

the party’s state Director 

of Media and Publicity, 

Steve Otaloro absolved 

the governor and the 

party’s leadership in the 

state of plans to impose 

candidates. 

Otaloro said: “The 

leadership of our party 

led by Ade Adetimehin 

and the governor are 

committed to free and 

courses at the newly 

established Ogun State 

Polytechnic, Ipokia by 

the National Board for 

Technical Education, 

NBTE. 

Rising from an 

emergency congress of 

the chapter in Abeokuta, 

the Zone C Coordinator 

of ASUP, Olawale 

Omobaorun noted that 

the future of the 

institution is 

precariouc. 

Omobaorun said: “It is 

time we acquaint the 

general public and 

stakeholders of the 

resolution of our union 

and to <strong>as</strong> well make 

public the state of the 

38-year old foremost 

model polytechnic. 

“You will recall that 

b<strong>as</strong>ed on the nonlistening 

posture of the 

Ogun State government 

over restructuring does 

not have human face but 

simply packed with a 

one- man business 

orientation and 

dictatorial feature. 

“As we speak the 

government is yet to 

pay us a dime in the l<strong>as</strong>t 

four months and it is 

also owing us 67 per 

cent of 10 months 

salaries <strong>as</strong> well <strong>as</strong> N72 

fair elections in the 

coming primary of our 

party across the state 

and will do everything 

humanly possible to 

ensure a credible 

process and outcome. 

“The governor is 

relying on the 

leadership of the party 

led by Ade Adetimehin to 

carry out this t<strong>as</strong>k of 

ensuring free and fair 

election in an indirect 

primaries process across 

the 18 local government 

are<strong>as</strong> in the state. 

million part-time claim 

among others.” 

Ogun govt keeps 

mum 

Efforts made to reach 

the state Commissioner 

for Education, Science 

and Technology, Mrs 

Modupe Mujota, on 

the matter, proved 

abortive, <strong>as</strong> did not 

respond to the text 

message and calls put to 

her telephone <strong>as</strong> at the time 

of filing this report. 


AScreening 

BEOKUTA—THE 

Committee constituted by 

the Peoples Democratic 

Party, <strong>PDP</strong>, h<strong>as</strong> screened 

a member of House of 

Representatives in Ogun 

State, Oladipupo 

Adebutu; Chief Jimi 

Agbaje, Seyi Makinde 

and Chief Adedeji 

Doherty. 

It also screened Senator 

Ayo Adeseun. 

The <strong>PDP</strong> Screening 

2019: Ekiti APC leaders 

endorse Bamidele for Senate 

By Rotimi 

Ojomoyela 

A LEADERS DO-EKITI— 

of the 

All Progressives 

Congress, APC, in Ekiti 

State, yesterday, 

endorsed former 

member of the House of 

Representatives, Mr. 

Opeyemi Bamidele for 

Senate in Ekiti 

Central Senatorial District 

for the 2019 elections. 

The leaders described 

the former Lagos State 

commissioner <strong>as</strong> the best 

man for the job, having 

served at both the executive 

and legislative arms of 

government in the p<strong>as</strong>t. 

The leaders p<strong>as</strong>sed the 

verdicts when Bamidele’s 

campaign tour visited Ekiti 

West and Efon Local 

Governments to solicit 

support for his political 

ambition. 

The leaders, including 

Chief J. Opoola, APC 

Chairman in Erinjiyan 

Ward 1, his counterparts 

in ward 5, Mr Amusa Bello, 

GOV POLL: <strong>PDP</strong> panel screens 

Adebutu, Agbaje, Makinde 

Committee led by Austin 

Opara w<strong>as</strong> set up to 

screen all the <strong>PDP</strong> 

governorship <strong>as</strong>pirants in 

the South Western in the 

2019 general elections. 

Vanguard gathered 

that the National body of 

the party had earlier 

handed over the names 

of <strong>as</strong>pirants that 

obtained the nomination 

forms of the party from 

the National Secretariat 

in Abuja to the 

Screening Committee for 

invitation. 

Ikogosi Ward, Mr. 

Lawrence Ogunkuade 

and that of Ipole/Iloro Ward, 

Mr O. Fagbamigbe, said 

Bamidele h<strong>as</strong> paid his 

dues in the party and that 

time h<strong>as</strong> come for him to get 

a bountiful reward. 

Bamidele responds 

Responding, Bamidele 

said: “Let me thank the 

people of Ekiti West and 

Efon for their love. In 

2010 when I w<strong>as</strong> vying 

for the Senate, I came 

here and you voted for 

me in our primary but 

our leaders said I should 

step down for another 

candidate in the spirit of 

unity, which I gleefully 

obliged. 

“Now, our party leaders, 

Otunba Niyi Adebayo and 

Dr Kayode Fayemi 

inclusive, have spoken 

with one voice. They have 

made consultations and 

gave Ekiti South Senatorial 

ticket to Prince Dayo 

Adeyeye and the Central to 

me to appreciate our 

contributions. 

...As NOPRIN tells NASS to 

scrap security votes 

By Victor 

Arjiromanus 

L AGOS—NETWORK 

on Police reform in 

Nigeria, NOPRIN 

weekend in Lagos, lent 

its voice to the recent call 

by Transparency 

International, TI, to 

scrap security votes to 

governors, calling on the 

National Assembly to 

give its nod of approval 

to the call. 

Presenting its report on 

a research conducted on 

the Lagos State Security 

Trust Fund, at Alausa 

Ikeja, its national 

Coordinator, Mr 

Okechukwu Nwagunma, 

stated that in the course 

of the research, NOPRIN 

discovered that most 

governors never used 

the votes for the 

protection of lives and 

properties of citizens in 

their state. 

Rather, he alleged that 

the security votes to 

governors were pumped 

into politics, thereby 

breeding corruption. 

According to 

Nwagunma: “Security 

votes collected by 

governors run into 

billions of naira. Most 

governors use the money 

for politics instead of 

protecting lives and 

properties of those they 

govern. Besides, 

Transparency 

International 

recommends that 

security vote which fuel 

corruption should be 

scrapped because every 

state governor only 

collect them but do not 

account for them.'' 

Adebutu shortly after 

he w<strong>as</strong> screened by the 

committee said: “This 

is a ph<strong>as</strong>e in the 

journey to making life 

meaningful to our 

people in Ogun State, 

a journey that will lead 

to good governance of 

our dear state. My 

coming here <strong>as</strong> the only 

<strong>as</strong>pirant from Ogun State 

clearly shows the unity 

that exists within our 

party in the State and this 

is recognized by the 

National body.”


PANDEF kicks against planned 

sale of OML 25 by Shell 

By Henry Umoru 

ABUJA—THE Pan- 

Niger Delta Forum, 

PANDEF, led by South 

South leader, Chief Edwin 

Clark, yesterday, opposed 

the planned sale of Belema 

oil field, OML 25, by Shell 

Petroleum Development 

Company, SPDC, to 

Chrester Nigeria Ltd. 

PANDEF h<strong>as</strong> also <strong>as</strong>ked 

the Federal Government to 

give interested people of 

the Niger Delta the right of 

first refusal in the renewal 

and award of oil licenses <strong>as</strong> 

well <strong>as</strong> give the oil licenses 

to indigenous companies. 

Addressing newsmen 

yesterday, in his Asokoro 

residence, Abuja, the South 

South leader, Chief Clark 

NEWS HOTLINES 

018773962, 

08052867058 

Two drown <strong>as</strong> flood sacks over 30 

Rivers communities 


who urged the present 

government under the 

leadership of President 

Muhammadu Buhari to <strong>as</strong> 

a matter of urgency, look 

into the welfare of the 

people of Niger Delta, said 

that the government must 

listen to the people of the 

region, adding that what is 

happenings in the area, is 

that the people have 

suddenly become strangers 

in their own homes. 

Clark said, “We call the 

attention of Federal 

Government, state 

government, <strong>as</strong> well <strong>as</strong> the 

International Community to 

a developing situation that 

is a threat to the existing 

peace and stability in the 

Niger Delta region." 

Why I’m supporting Ekere 

—Akpabio 

SENATOR Godswill 

Akpabio, h<strong>as</strong> anchored 

his support for the 

governorship bid of the 

Managing Director of the 

Niger Delta Development 

Commission, NDDC, 

Obong Nsima Ekere, to the 

latter’s forgiving spirit 

despite being forced to 

resign <strong>as</strong> his deputy six 

years ago. 

Akpabio said so at the 

thanksgiving service by the 

Akwa Ibom State Executive 

Committee of the All 


APC, at New Birth Bible 

Church, Osongama Estate, 

Uyo, that Ekere had never 

insulted him despite the rift 

btween them then. 

Addressing Ekere, he 

said : “It is me that <strong>as</strong>ked 

you to resign <strong>as</strong> deputy 

Governor. You went and 

continued your business 

and even became richer. but 

not one day did you open 

your mouth to abuse me. 

Even in your public 

speeches and in 

newspapers, I did not find 

you abusing me. Do you 

know why God closed your 

mouth? It w<strong>as</strong> because it 

w<strong>as</strong> not your time. And 

God knew that when it is 

your time, God will still 

bring men to help you.” 

The former governor of 

Akwa Ibom State, likened 

Obong Ekere’s story to the 

Biblical story of Saul and 

David. 

“No matter what Saul did, 

it did not stop David from 

becoming king," he noted. 

•As skin dise<strong>as</strong>es hit community 

By Festus Ahon, 

Egufe Yafugborhi, 

Davies 

Iheamnachor 

P ORT-HARCOURT— 

NO fewer than two 

people have been reported 

killed <strong>as</strong> flood waters have 

sacked over 30 

communities in Ahoada 

West Local Government 

Area, AWELGA, of Rivers 

State. 

Meanwhile, Chairman of 

the council, Hope Ikiriko, 

h<strong>as</strong> lamented that the area 

had been abandoned by the 

Federal Government. 

Also, Rivers State 


commenced the demolition 

of alleged illegal structures 

on Shell right of way in Obi 

Akpor Local Government 

Area of the state, to check 

the flooding the area. 

Similarly, the member 

representing Aniocha 

South Constituency in the 

Delta State House of 

Assembly, Angela Nwaka 

h<strong>as</strong> urged the Federal 

Government and 

International Community 

to <strong>as</strong>sist the Delta State 

Government in tackling 

the challenges posed by 

the ravaging flood in some 

parts of the state. 

Speaking while 

presenting relief materials 

to flood victims in the 

constituency at Ewulu 

Grammar School, Ewulu, 

where they are presently 

RALLY: From left—Marcus Nle-Ejii; Senator Wilson Ake; and Senator 

Magnus Abe, Rivers State APC governorship <strong>as</strong>pirant, during a 

Pro-Abe rally in Ahoada E<strong>as</strong>t Local Government Area, Or<strong>as</strong>hi Region, 

Rivers State. Photo: Nwankpa Chijioke 

Bayelsa receives N24.16bn 

Minister. 

Paris Club refunds 

Y ENEGOA—THE 

Bayelsa State 


announced the receipt of 

N24.16 billion from the 

Parish Club debt refund. 

The state Commissioner 

for Information and 

Orientation, Mr. Markson 

Iworiso-Markson made the 

disclosure in a statement, 

yesterday. 

He said the state 

governor, Mr Seriake 

Dickson had directed 

immediate payment of 

two months out of 

outstanding three salary 

arrears to workers and 

fourth months out seven 

months pensioners arrears 

to pensioners in the state. 

Iworiso-Markson 

described the recent claim 

by the Minister of State for 

Agriculture, Mr. Heineken 

Lokpobiri, <strong>as</strong> disgraceful 

and unexpected of 

somebody occupying the 

exalted position of 

APC ‘expels’ House of Reps 

deputy chief whip 

THE Deputy Chief 

Wwhip of the House of 

Representatives, Pally 

Iri<strong>as</strong>e, h<strong>as</strong> been expelled 

from the All Progressives 

Congress, APC, for alleged 

anti-party activities. 

The lawmaker who 

represents Owan Federal 

Constituency in Edo State 

w<strong>as</strong> expelled by his ward 

and ratified by the local 

government. 

The expulsion letter by 

Zuberu Shabah and 

Theophilus Aigboje, 

chairman and secretary 

respectively, of Owan E<strong>as</strong>t 

council w<strong>as</strong> made available 

to newsmen in Benin City, 

yesterday. 

Allegations levelled 

against Mr Iri<strong>as</strong>e include 

defection of Ward 8 and 9 

APC executives to the 

Peoples Democratic Party, 

<strong>PDP</strong>, on the orders of Mr 

Iri<strong>as</strong>e, presenting his 

personal <strong>as</strong>sistant, Hilary 

Ozogo, to contest under the 

<strong>PDP</strong> platform and refusal to 

attend APC meetings. 

In the letter addressed to 

the national chairman of the 

APC, Adams Oshiomhole, 

through the Edo chairman 

of the party, Anselm 

Ojezua, the Owan E<strong>as</strong>t 

APC said it ratified the 

decision of APC members 

of Ward nine to expel 

Iri<strong>as</strong>e. 

He said that it w<strong>as</strong> queer 

and indeed sad that a 

Minister could quote wild 

debt figures with the intent 

to mislead the public and 

discredit the government. 

The commissioner said, 

“The Debt Management 

Office, (a federal 

Institution) in its June 2018 

report stated that the debt 

portfolio of the state w<strong>as</strong> 

N123 billion. This figure 

includes contingent 

liabilities which included 

contract payments and 

pension obligations. We 

advise Lokpobiri to educate 

himself or engage a 

brilliant young graduate to 

<strong>as</strong>sist him. 

“While the government 

is making every effort to 

achieve m<strong>as</strong>sive 

developmental strides in 

every area, government 

wish to condemn the 

unguarded statements of 

some highly placed 

individuals. 

“The recent 

unsubstantiated statement 

of the Minister of State for 

Agriculture that the State is 

owing N800 billion is 

disappointing for someone 

of his high office and its 

disgraceful. As a minster 

for agriculture, he needs to 

inform Bayelsans of the 

impact he h<strong>as</strong> made even 

in his local government 

area.” 

accommodated, Nwaka 

lamented that the flood h<strong>as</strong> 

continued to rise thereby, 

displacing more people 

from their various 

communities. 

Nwaka, who presented 

bags of rice, beans, some 

tubers of yam, palm oil 

among other food items, 

commended the state 

governor, Ifeanyi Okowa 

for taking proactive 

me<strong>as</strong>ures in ensuring that 

flood victims are properly 

catered for across the state 

by providing necessary 

facilities and logistics. 

Also, Chairman of Warri 

North LGA, Delta State, 

Aduge Okorodudu, h<strong>as</strong> 

expressed concern over the 

dis<strong>as</strong>trous flooding of 

several communities in the 

council, resulting in the loss 

of property running into 

billions of naira and 

displacement of indigenes. 

Some of the communities 

affected by the flood 

dis<strong>as</strong>ter include: 

Tsekelewu, Opuama, 

Jakpa, Ebrohimi, Udo, 

Tisun, Ogheye 1 & 2, 

Ugbege, Ekekporo, 

Ebokiti, Eghoro, 

Kpokugbene, 

Ogbudugbudu, Ogbinbiri, 

Ureju, etc. 

The chairman h<strong>as</strong> 

dispatched a high level 

eight-man team of senior 

council staff headed by the 

Head of Personnel 

Management, HPM, 

Dougl<strong>as</strong> Akambe, <strong>as</strong>sisted 

by the Head of 

Environment, HOD, 

Olayemi Tseke, to carry out 

on the spot <strong>as</strong>sessment of 

the ravaged communities 

and make recommendation 

to the council for necessary 

action. 

Meanwhile, in Ahoada 

West council of Rivers 

State, some of the 

communities already 

submerged include 

Okarki, Okparaki, Ikeodi, 

Kumusha Ugovia, Udoda, 

Ogbogolo clan, Oruoma, 

Mbiama and Akinima, JK 

1, 2,3 and 4. 

Ikiriko, who visited some 

of the affected communities 

yesterday, with relief 

materials, disclosed that 

two people drowned in the 

area. 

He called on the Federal 

Government to declare 

emergency on the flood 

situation in AWELGA, 

adding that the council had 

lost count of the number of 

displaced persons in the 

incident. 

He said: “We are in the 

midst of the flooding. In 

this communiy, over 40 

buildings are already 

submerged. Communities 

now affected by the flood 

are above 30. We are living 

in fear . The report I got is 

that two people have 

drowned in the flood."


VISIT: From left, Mr. Peter Nggada, Board Member; Mr. Victor Olannye, Executive Secretary; 

Mr. Abraham Amkpa, Board Member; Mr. Magnus Nnoka, President, all of Risk Management 

Association of Nigeria, RIMAN; Ms. Patience Oniha, Director-General, Debt Management 

Office, DMO; Mr. Umar Yayangida, Chairman, RIMAN Abuja Chapter; Mr. Joe Ugoala, 

Director, DMO, and Ms. Funmi Adewole, RIMAN Executive Council Member during a courtesy 

visit of RIMAN officials to DMO's Office, in Abuja. 

Wonder bank operator disappears with 

N27bn customers' deposits in C-River 

By Emma Una 

CALABAR—A wonder 

bank, operating under 

the name, Micheno 

Multipurpose Cooperative 

Society, MMCS, h<strong>as</strong> 

defrauded over 13,000 people 

to the tune of N27 billion in 

Cross River State. 

The scheme owned and 

operated by one Michael Eke, 

had promised depositors of 

N100,000 and additional 

N50,000 at the end of 40 

days, and those who deposit 

N150,000 would get 

N300,000 at the same period 

A deposit of N1 million 

would earn a N500,000 profit 

at the end of the same period 

while deposits above N1 

million would be calculated 

in N1 million units. 

The scheme berthed in 

Calabar in June 2018 and 

had been attracting patronage 

from residents of the city 

numbering about 13,000. 

Some of the depositors 

parted with their life savings 

and others deposited their 

gratuities, which run into 

millions with the hope of 

reaping bountifully at the 

end of 40 days. 

However, at the end of the 

40 days, some depositors got 

paltry alerts of their money 

while over 13,000 others did 

not get anything and have 

since not heard from the 

operators of the bank in the 

p<strong>as</strong>t one month and their 

office in Calabar h<strong>as</strong> 

remained shut. 

The scheme started <strong>as</strong> a 

Swiss marketing company on 

watsapp and in less than one 

month, the groups grew to 

about 36 all providing 

information on the benefits of 

joining the scheme and 

attracted a lot of people to 

deposit their monies with the 

scheme’s office in the city. 

“I have N33 million stocks 

with the scheme. It may not 

be much compared to what 

others have but this h<strong>as</strong> 

destabilised my life and 

turned me to mad woman 

with no bearing and I have 

lost interest in life and work,” 

a customer, Edna Nzegu, 

said. 

Some of the depositors 

accused a Calabar-b<strong>as</strong>ed 

comedian, MC Mbakara, of 

conniving with Mr Eke to 

fleece them of their money by 

promoting the scheme on his 

wat<strong>as</strong>pp thread and website, 

which persuaded them to 

believe that the scheme w<strong>as</strong> 

genuine and he h<strong>as</strong> since 

gone into hiding. 

Speaking from his hideout, 

INEC flays political parties over 

vote-buying 

By Egufe 

Yafugborhi 

PORT HARCOURT 

— INDEPENDENT 

National Electoral 

Commission, INEC, h<strong>as</strong> 

said the unethical culture 

of vote-buying in Nigerian 

politics w<strong>as</strong> being 

instigated by political 

parties in the country. 

INEC Resident Electoral 

Commissioner, REC, for 

Rivers State, Obo Effanga, 

who made the disclosure 

yesterday, in Port Harcourt, 

said the electorate would 

not sell their votes if 

politicians and their parties 

don’t make offers. 

Efanga said: “If the 

political parties are not 

bringing money to buy 

votes, there won’t be votebuying, 

so the problem 

starts with the parties. 

Then, there must be 

orientation for citizens to 

know that their vote is a 

very sacred mandate that 

they don’t give up for a 


token." 

Meanwhile, Inter-Party 

Advisory Committee, IPAC, 

in Rivers State h<strong>as</strong> called 

on INEC to conclude the 

Port Harcourt Constituency 

3 by-election suspended by 

the commission on August 

18. 

IPAC chairman, Samuel 

Ihunwor, said: “INEC’s 

position in suspending the 

exercise w<strong>as</strong> quite 

welcomed. The only thing 

we are <strong>as</strong>king is when will 

this election be concluded?" 

2019: Work diligently towards sacking failed 

APC FG, Wike tells Nigerians 

GOVERNOR Nyesom 

Wike of Rivers State 

h<strong>as</strong> called on Nigerians to 

work diligently towards 

sacking the nonperforming 

All 


APC, Federal Government, 

which h<strong>as</strong> failed to deliver 

on her campaign promises. 

In an interview with 

newsmwn at Government 

House, Port Harcourt, 

Governor Wike said all 

Nigerians must work in 

unison to ensure that the 

APC w<strong>as</strong> defeated in the 

national election in 2019. 

He said: “The opposition 

groups need cooperation 

and understanding of 

certain things. It is allowed 

in politics. What that 

means is to say, look, we 

have the capacity to put all 

efforts together to remove 

this bad government. 

“That is good for Nigeria. 

Coming together to move 

Mbakara said he w<strong>as</strong> not part 

of the company even when 

he w<strong>as</strong> appointed vice 

president of the scheme by 

Eke. 

He said: “I have been 

accused of so many things I 

am not aware of. I am not on 

the run and not hiding. My 

phone lines have been open 

and I am very available.” 

He said he w<strong>as</strong> only a 

Nigeria forward is the way 

to go. Each group would 

bring their programmes 

and form a national agenda. 

We do not want to do it 

alone but work together so 

that Nigeria can move 

forward. It should be 

encouraged further and 

that is what I stand for.” 

He urged Nigerians to 

participate actively in the 

2019 general election 

because it w<strong>as</strong> no longer 

wise to stand aloof under 

the present circumstances. 

Uvwie council workers declare support 

for Okowa over payment of arrears 

WARRI — 

GOVERNOR 

Ifeanyin Okowa of Delta 

State second tenure 

ambition h<strong>as</strong> received a 

boost <strong>as</strong> workers of 

Uvwie Local 

Government Area of the 

state have declared their 

support for him in 2019. 

The workers gave their 

support to the governor 

after the council boss, 

Ramson Onoyake, gave 

the cheering news of the 

payment of backlog of 

brand amb<strong>as</strong>sador whose 

following on and offline w<strong>as</strong> 

used by Eke to drive an 

aggressive campaign that 

brought a lot of depositors to 

the scheme. 

Cross River Police 

Command spokesperson, 

Ms Irne Ugbo, said reports 

had been made by some 

depositors of the scheme and 

investigation is ongoing. 

salaries owed to council 

workers across the state 

by Okowa at an enlarged 

meeting with a cross 

section of staff at the 

council secretariat, 

Effurun, yesterday. 

Promising better days 

for the staff of the 

council, Onoyake said he 

would provide television 

sets to four offices in the 

council and provide rice 

to the council workers 

during Christm<strong>as</strong> 

period. 

He charged the council 

workers to be serious with 

their duties and be 

prayerful for better days in 

the council. 

Responding on behalf of 

the council workers, Head 

of 

Personnel 

Management, Uvwie 

council, Mr. Macaulay 

Ukutsemuya thanked 

Onoyake for breaking the 

cheering news and 

expressed appreciation to 

Okowa for the gesture. 

NEWS HOTLINES 

018773962, 

08052867058 

2019: A-Ibom APC adopts 

Ekere, Akpabio <strong>as</strong> 

consensus candidates 

By Harris-Okon 

Emmanuel 

UYO— AHEAD of the 

primaries of All 


APC, leaders of the party in 

Akwa Ibom State have 

unanimously adopted former 

Senate Minority Leader and 

Senator representing Akwa 

Ibom North-West senatorial 

district, Senator Godswill 

Akpabio, and Managing 

Director of Niger Delta 

Development Commission, 

NDDC, Obong Nsima 

Ekere, <strong>as</strong> consensus 

candidates of the party 

respectively. 

Ekere is a governorship 

front runner of the party. 

The decision w<strong>as</strong> taken, 

yesterday, after a protracted 

meeting of the party’s elders 

at Obong Ntak, the country 

home of Chief Inibehe 

Okorie, who is also a 

senatorial <strong>as</strong>pirant and they 

are to be officially presented 

to the party faithful for 

ratification at a later date. 

Addressing party faithful 

after senatorial district caucus 

meeting, the leader of the 

party, Otuekong Don Etiebet, 

said the decision w<strong>as</strong> reached 

for the common good of Akwa 

Ibom people. 

On his part, the host and 

the senatorial <strong>as</strong>pirant for 

Akwa Ibom North West 

district, Otuekong Inibehe 

Okori, who accepted to step 

down for Akpabio, <strong>as</strong>sured 

that the decision of the elders 

would be binding on all the 

parties involved. 

Senator Akpabio thanked 

Obong Okorie for his 

dedication to the party and 

decision to forgo his ambition, 

saying that Obong Okorie 

decided to step down 

unconditionally to avoid 

acrimony in the party. 

Ekere on his part, 

meanwhile, promised that: 

“the incoming APC 

government will run a unity 

government in which all the 

leaders and stakeholders of 

Akwa Ibom State will be 

recognised." 

Gov Emmanuel attaches 

importance to airport, deep 

seaport — Commissioner 

By Chioma 

Onuegbu 

UYO — Akwa Ibom State 

Commissioner for 

Housing and Special Duties, 

Mr. Akan Okon, yesterday, 

said the state government 

had made significant 

progress at the Ibom 

International Airport and the 

Ibom deep seaport in the p<strong>as</strong>t 

three years because of the 

importance Governor Udom 

Emmanuel attaches to such 

infr<strong>as</strong>tructure. 

Okon while fielding 

questions from newsmen in 

Uyo on the state of the Ibom 

deep seaport project 

following insinuations in 

some quarters that 

government w<strong>as</strong> doing 

nothing about the project <strong>as</strong> 

it claimed, disclosed that the 

ground breaking hopefully 

would be performed by 

November this year, noting 

that all other processes that 

lead to the construction had 

been completed, remaining 

signing negotiation with the 

preferred bidder. 

Bayelsa 

retirees 

decry alleged 

sl<strong>as</strong>h in 

monthly 

allowances 

By Emem Idio 

Y ENAGOA—STATE 

and local government 

pensioners in Bayelsa State 

have decried the alleged 

sl<strong>as</strong>hing of pensioners' 

allowances, describing the 

development <strong>as</strong> “uncalled for 

and unfortunate.” 

The aggrieved pensioners 

under the aegis of Unified 

Pensioners of Bayelsa State 

in a statement, yesterday, in 

Yenagoa, by the leader of the 

group, Chief Otoko Perebi, 

lamented that while 

pensioners in the state were 

still grappling with irregular 

payments of monthly 

allowances, the state 

government had began the 

reduction of retirees' 

allowances over alleged 

wrongful computation. 

Perebi said: “It h<strong>as</strong> come to 

the knowledge of pensioners 

in Bayelsa State that 

authorities in the state have 

begun the reduction of 

retirees' allowances under the 

guise that they were 

wrongfully remunerated."

14 — VANGUARD, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2018 

HALLMARKS OF LABOUR 22ND ANNIVERSARY & ROLE MODEL AWARDS 

Hallmarks of Labour 22nd Anniversary and Role Model Awards 2018 held at Oriental Hotel, 

Lagos on Sunday. PHOTOS BY JOE AKINTOLA, PHOTO EDITOR & LAMIDI BAMIDELE. 

From left; Professor Shehu Galadanci; Professor Joy Ogwu; Professor Bolaji Akinyemi (all awardees); 

Dr Christopher Kolade, Vice Chairman, Hallmarks of Labour Board of Trustees; Professor Joe Irukwu; 

Mrs. Nike Akande; Professor Ayo Banjo (awardee); Chief Patricia Otuedon-Arawore, Executive Secretary, 

Hallmarks of Labour Board of Trustees; Professor Bankole Oyediran and Hon Justice Isa Ayo Salami (awardees.) 

Alhaji Lateef Jakande, former Governor of Lagos State 

and his wife, Alhaja Abimbola. 

From left; Mrs Oyetola Oyediran; Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, Minister of Science and 

Technology; Professor Allen Bankole Oyediran receiving Hallmarks of Labour award 

for outstanding contributions in the field of Medicine and Professor M. Gadzama. 

From left; Dr Christopher Kolade, Vice Chairman, Hallmarks of Labour 

Board of Trustees; Professor Joy Ogwu; Professor Bolaji Akinyemi receiving the 

Hallmarks of Labour Role Model award for outstanding contributions to Nigeria's 

International Relations from Professor Ibrahim Gambari, Chairman of the occ<strong>as</strong>ion. 

From left; Mrs Rita Amuka, Chief Patricia Otuedon-Arawore, Executive Secretary, 

Hallmarks of Labour Board of Trustees; and Yeye Rewane. 

Mrs. Nike Akande (centre) receiving Hallmark of Labour Role Model Award 

for Outstanding contributions to Corporate Governance from Chief Phillips 

Asiodu (right) while Professor Joe Irukwu watches. 

Chief Kelly Arawore and his wife, Patricia. 

Mr Odein Ajumogobia, former Minister 

of Foreign Affairs (right) and wife. 

From left Professor Gloria Elemo, Director General, 

Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi; Mr Femi 

Falana, SAN and Mr. Akpofure Ibru.


Unemployed graduates protest CBN's failure to 

disburse loans 

By Emeka Mamah 

ENUGU—OVER 1,500 

unemployed placardcarrying 

graduates 

yesterday protested along 

major towns in Nsukka, 

Enugu State over alleged 

inability of the Central 

Bank of Nigeria, CBN, and 

the Sterling Bank to 

disburse various loans they 

applied for and used their 

certificates <strong>as</strong> collaterals. 

The protest w<strong>as</strong> led by the 

Senator representing 

Enugu North Senatorial 

zone, Senator Chuka Utazi, 

who said he talked the 

applicants into applying for 

the loan <strong>as</strong> well <strong>as</strong> 

depositing their certificates 

<strong>as</strong> collaterals. This w<strong>as</strong> 

Trouble brews in Imo APGA, <strong>as</strong> guber 

<strong>as</strong>pirants meet Obiano over ward congress 

• Community protests alleged 

imposition of candidate in Obiano’s 

constituency 

By Vincent 

Ujumadu & 

Chinonso Alozie 

O WERRI—TROUBLE 

is said to be steering 

up in Imo State chapter of 

the All Progressive Grand 

Alliance, APGA, over the 

planned ward congress of 

the party. 

Vanguard w<strong>as</strong> told 

yesterday that some 

governorship <strong>as</strong>pirants in 

APGA, protested that their 

supporters could not get 

forms to participate in the 

said ward congress and 

that the plot w<strong>as</strong> targeted 

to favour a governorship 

<strong>as</strong>pirant who recently 

joined the party. 

As a result of this 

development, the ward 

congress scheduled to hold 

yesterday w<strong>as</strong> shifted to 

Tuesday (today) tentatively. 

The re<strong>as</strong>on is to give some 

<strong>as</strong>pirants enough time to 

purch<strong>as</strong>e forms for the ward 

congress. 

Vanguard gathered that 

one of the governorship 

<strong>as</strong>pirants in the party, said 

even <strong>as</strong> some of the 

applicants led by one Mr 

Harrison Ogara, vowed to 

institute a N10 billon legal 

action against the CBN and 

Sterling Bank over the 

matter. 

Addressing the 

applicants at Adada Hall in 

Nsukka, shortly after the 

peaceful demonstration, 

Asadu said that following 

“the large number of 

unemployed graduates 

seeking letters of 

recommendations to enable 

them get jobs in 

government agencies and 

ministries, I approached the 

CBN, where I w<strong>as</strong> directed 

to the CBN’s South E<strong>as</strong>t 

Entetpreneurship 

Development Centre, 

not to be satisfied with the 

process, w<strong>as</strong> the immediate 

p<strong>as</strong>t governor of Imo State, 

Ikedi Ohakim. 

Consequently, it w<strong>as</strong> 

gathered that Ohakim and 

seven other governorship 

<strong>as</strong>pirants of APGA had 

perfected a move to meet 

with the national 

leadership of the party and 

the Governor of Anambra 

State, Willie Obiano, with 

a view to resolving the 

controversies. 

However, the Chief Press 

Secretary to Ohakim, Mr 

Collins Ughalla, denied 

any plan by his boss to 

meet with Obiano and the 

leadership of the party. 

He said: “It is not true that 

Ohakim is leading other 

guber <strong>as</strong>pirants to Anambra 

to protest the issues arising 

from the ward congress. 

“The forms are not 

enough in supply, so the 

congress which is 

supposed to hold 

yesterday w<strong>as</strong> postponed 

after the stakeholders 

meeting. 

“So, APGA is not the kind 

of party that will allow its 

ward congress to be 

SEEDC, b<strong>as</strong>ed in 

Umuahia, Abia State. 

“ I w<strong>as</strong> linked up with Dr. 

Osita Aniemeka, the 

director of SERDC. This w<strong>as</strong> 

over two years ago. The 

applicants were made to 

pay all sorts of fees ranging 

to thousands of Naira after 

undergoing trainings, 

before they were <strong>as</strong>ked to 

deposit the original copies 

of their certificates for loans 

to be disbursed to them but 

this is where it stopped. I 

have written several protest 

letters to SEEDC, CBN 

and the Sterling Bank, 

without any meaningful 

results,” he said. 

One of the applicants 

who gave his name <strong>as</strong> Mr 

Damian Ojobo 

(Democracy) said that they 

paid over N75,000 each 

hijacked. I learnt that the 

forms are now available and 

some people have started 

picking their forms.” 

Community protests 

alleged imposition 

of candidate in 

Obiano’s 

constituency 

Meanwhile, there is 

tension in Governor Willie 

Obiano’s Anambra E<strong>as</strong>t 

constituency following 

alleged attempt by some 

stakeholders in All 

Progressive Grand 

Alliance, APGA, to renege 

on the agreement over the 

rotation of House of 

Assembly among all the 

communities in the area. 

The people of Igbariam, 

the only community yet to 

produce a member of the 

House of Assembly for 

Anambra E<strong>as</strong>t threatened 

yesterday that they would 

embark on a protest to the 

headquarters of APGA to 

drive home their 

disple<strong>as</strong>ure over the 

decision to impose the 

current member 

representing the area on 

the people. 

The traditional ruler of 

Igbariam, Igwe Kelly Nneli 


(about N112. 5 million) to 

enable them secure the 

loan without success. 

“We paid N5000 into the 

CBN accout <strong>as</strong> registration 

fee each; N10,000 to open 

accounts in Sterling Bank, 

N20,000 for Business 

plans; anothet N20,000 for 

business names from the 

CAC; N5,000 for correction 

of errors in the business 

plans each, just <strong>as</strong> N5,000 

w<strong>as</strong> paid after the internship 

sponsored by Senator 

Utazi,” Ojobo added. 

According to Ojobo, none 

of the applicants had been 

able to retrieve their 

original certificates and the 

post-dated cheques for N3 

million each signed by civil 

servants on grade level 14 

and above from Sterling 

Bank or got the loan since 

2016. 

PRESS BRIEFING: From Left—Sheila Chukwulozie; Novelist, Chimamanda Adichie; and 

Sam Onyemelukwe, Managing Director, Trace TV, during a press conference by Adichie to 

announce her new project in Lagos. 

said it w<strong>as</strong> the turn of his 

community, adding that his 

people had already 

selected Chief Lawrence 

Anikpe to contest the 

election on the platform of 

All Progressive Grand 

Alliance, APGA. 

Igwe Nneli, who 

introduced Anikpe to the 

people insisted that 

Igbariam people would 

resist any attempt to deny 

them their right to produce 

the next lawmaker for the 

constituency. 

Anikpe, in an interview in 

Awka yesterday said that 

communities in the 

constituency had 

religiously followed the 

selection of their member in 

the legislature and hoped 

that the agreement would 

be kept by APGA during 

the forthcoming party 

primary. 

He said: “We have six 

communities in Anambra 

E<strong>as</strong>t constituency. Hon O.C 

Chinwuba from Aguleri 

represented us from 2003- 

2007; Mike Obiodu from 

Nsugbe and Joe Isiagu 

from Umuleri had also 

been there at various times, 

while Obinna Emeka h<strong>as</strong> 

been there since 2011." 

NEWS HOTLINES 

018773962, 

08052867058 

2019: DYON mobilises 

for Buhari’s re-election 

THE 

re-election 

campaign of President 

Muhammadu Buhari h<strong>as</strong> 

received a boost with the 

support of a pan-Nigerian 

youths organisation, 

Dynamic Youths 

Organisation of Nigeria, 

DYON, which h<strong>as</strong> started 

mobilising youths 

nationwide. 

In a statement by Chief 

Elvis Obiekwe, President of 

DYON, the youths said 

they were impressed by 

what President Buhari had 

done in office and therefore 

are out to ensure his reelection. 

Obiekwe said a close look 

at the policies of President 

Buhari’s government 

“shows that what is being 

done at present is provision 

of immediate panace<strong>as</strong> to 

the many decades of decay 

in the system.” 


second tenure of Buhari 

would bring about 

continuous progress “and 

the gains of the l<strong>as</strong>t three 

and half years would not 

only be consolidated but 

also improved upon.” 

Listing the are<strong>as</strong> the 

Buhari government h<strong>as</strong> 

done well, he said: “The 

agricultural sector h<strong>as</strong> 

improved tremendously 

and this is evident in the 

rise in agricultural export 

in Nigeria from N60.7 

billion in 2015 to N170.4 

billion in 2017. Records 

from the National Bureau 

of Statistics (NBS) show 

that rice production alone 

went up from 1.5MMT in 

2015 to 4.5MMT in 2017. 

On the other hand, rice 

importation h<strong>as</strong> shrunk 

from 644,131 in 2015 to 

21,000MT in 2017.” 

On the power sector, 

DYON said: “This 

government h<strong>as</strong> shore up 

both generation and 

transmission, which will 

support private sector-led 

industrial revolution that 

will take in skilled youths 

in productive employment." 

Activities resume in Enugu 

APC office 

•Stalwart calls for dissolution of factions 

By Dennis Agbo 

E 

N U G U — 

ACTIVITIES have 

resumed at Enugu State 

secretariat of the All 


APC, despite l<strong>as</strong>t week’s 

seal of the office by the 

police. 

The police had l<strong>as</strong>t week 

drove out the two factions 

of the party that cl<strong>as</strong>hed in 

the secretariat in their bids 

to control the state party 

office. 

The two factions are led 

by Dr. Ben Nwoye and 

Deacon Okey Ogbodo, 

respectively. 

Enugu State Police 

spokesman, Ebere 

Amaraizu however said 

that police did not seal the 

premises, but dispersed 

members that became 

violent in order to protect 

lives and property. 

Nevertheless, a chieftain 

of the party and President 

Buhari’s former 

spokesman, Chief Dennis 

Aghanya h<strong>as</strong> called for 

dissolution of both factions 

of the the party in the state. 

Aghanya said: “In my 

view, the National Working 

Committee of the APC 

should <strong>as</strong> a matter of 

urgency dissolve the two 

factions led by Deacon 

Okey Ogbodo and Ben 

Nwoye respectively and set 

up a Caretaker Committee 

to be composed of neutral 

persons, possibly from 

neighbouring states in the 

South E<strong>as</strong>t to conduct 

primaries for <strong>as</strong>pirants at all 

levels, using Direct Primary 

method." 

2019: Abia, Imo traders in 

Enugu endorse Ugwuanyi 

By Chinedu 

Adonu 

INDIGENES of Abia and 

Imo states, who are 

traders in Enugu State, 

under the auspices of Njiko 

Imo/Abia Traders 

Association, yesterday 

declared their 

overwhelming support for 

Governor Ifeanyi 

Ugwuanyi’s re-election bid 

in 2019. 

They said that their 

decision w<strong>as</strong> because of the 

governor’s people-oriented 

programmes that have 

favoured both indigenes 

and non-indigenes in the 

state. 

The elated traders, who 

trooped out in their 

numbers to the 

Government House Enugu 

on a solidarity visit to Gov. 

Ugwuanyi said they 

were grateful to the 

governor for the Traders 

Empowerment Scheme he 

initiated to <strong>as</strong>sist traders in 

the state to grow their 

various business, 

irrespective of their state of 

origin, religion and 

ethnicity. 

Speaking on behalf the 

group, the leader and 

general coordinator, 

Gantito Nnadozie, stated 

that Gov. Ugwuanyi w<strong>as</strong> 

not only a leader, who does 

not discriminate but also the 

only governor that h<strong>as</strong> 

taken the welfare of the 

trader into high 

consideration in the state. 

He said: “We wouldn’t 

have come today to declare 

no vacancy in the Lion 

Building in 2019 if you are 

not doing well.”

16 -- Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2018

Osun election: Teachable moment 

for the opposition 

THE gubernatorial poll 

that held in my state l<strong>as</strong>t 

Saturday w<strong>as</strong> not just about 

electing the successor to the 

"Unusual Governor" Rauf 

Argebesola whose tenure will 

never be forgotten for the 

many unusual experiences of 

the state of the Living Spring 

under him. It w<strong>as</strong> equally a 

test of the seriousness of the 

opposition for the 2019 

election. 

The Lagos- trained politician 

h<strong>as</strong> spent almost eight years 

now using the Lagos model of 

the p<strong>as</strong>t 20 years with a rural 

state that lacks the resources 

of the Mega City and the 

scorecard h<strong>as</strong> been dis<strong>as</strong>trous 

with Osun reeling under 

O'debt like the Aquatic City. 

The Fiscal Responsibility 

Commission, FRC, in its 2016 

showed how South West states 

top the list of most indebted 

states in Nigeria with Lagos 

and Osun being the most 

notorious.The report stated 

that five of the six states in the 

South West are among the top 

seven states with worrisome 

debt to revenue ratio. 

According to the report, 

Lagos, Osun and Cross River 

states have debts over 480 per 

cent of their gross revenues, 

while those of 18 states exceed 

their revenues by more than 

200 percent. 

The report said: “In the light 

of the DMO’s guidelines on 

the Debt Management 

Framework, specifically, 

sections 222 to 273 of the 

Investment and Securities Act, 

2007 pertaining to debt 

sustainability, according to the 

guidelines, the debt to income 

ratio of states should not 

exceed 50 percent of the 

statutory revenue for the 

preceding 12 months.” 

Many states, however, 

flouted the DMO’s directive, 

with their debt status 

exceeding the debt to revenue 

ratio by more than 100 per 

cent. An analysis of the debt 

profiles of the states, <strong>as</strong> at 

December 31, 2016, shows that 

South West states top the list 

of states with worrisome debt 

to revenue ratio. Lagos, Osun, 

and Oyo made the top five, 

followed by Ekiti and Ogun 

states in sixth and seventh 

positions respectively. The 

report showed that states with 

the highest debt to gross 

revenue ratios were Lagos 

(670.42 percent), Osun 

(539.25 percent), Cross River 

(486.49 percent), Plateau 

(342.01 percent) and Oyo 

(339.56 percent). Others are 

Ekiti (339.34 percent), Ogun 

(329.47 percent), Kaduna 

(297.26 percent), Imo (292.82 

percent), Edo (270.8 percent), 

Adamawa (261.96 percent), 

Delta (259.63 percent), Bauchi 

(250.75 percent), N<strong>as</strong>arawa 

(250.36 percent), Kogi (221.92 

percent), Enugu (207.49 per 

cent), Zamfara (204.91 per 

cent), and Kano (202.61 per 

cent). The debt to net revenue 

ratio of Lagos puts the state in 

even more precarious 

situation. Analysis shows that 

The People of 

Osun have brought 

home the reality of 

that prediction by 

showing that the 

APC is beatable in 

spite of holding all 

the apparatus of 

electoral process 

and that the 

teacher will show 

up when the cl<strong>as</strong>s 

is ready 

the debt to net revenue ratio 

of Lagos, for instance, is 930.96 

percent. 

The Lagos model in Osun 

w<strong>as</strong> a litany of woes <strong>as</strong> salaries 

of workers were owed for 

several months with the 

attendant suffering. I will 

never forget the spectacle of 

a cl<strong>as</strong>smate of mine who is a 

Director in Osun Civil service. 

I ran into him about three 

years ago. I almost prostrated 

to greet him when he 

mentioned his name.He w<strong>as</strong> 

so aged with only his ears 

stopping his cap from covering 

his face. His eyes were sunken 

and cheeks hollow. My friend 

w<strong>as</strong> a specimen of what life 

became in my land of birth 

under Governor Aregbesola. 

I learnt from impeccable 

sources that the Governor 

sometime ago approached the 

National Economic Council to 

have the state debt 

rescheduled to 50 years. The 

request which w<strong>as</strong> said to 

have the blessing of the Vice- 

President who h<strong>as</strong> been 

mentioned to be part of the 

Lagos group who left imprints 

in Osun State met with 

resistance from fellow 

governors who queried why a 

state would have to use 50 

years to pay debts for an eightyear 

tenure. 

In settled climes, the ruling 

All Progressive Congress, 

APC, should not have a 

freaking chance in l<strong>as</strong>t 

Saturday elections, the way 

the naive may think the 

failures of the party at the 

national level would translate 

automatically to its defeat at 

the polls next year on their 

own. 

That the elections turned out 

a keenly contested one 

between the APC and the 

People's Democratic Party, 

<strong>PDP</strong>, w<strong>as</strong> an eloquent 

testimony to the fact that the 

contest for power in our clime 

is still largely influenced by 

factors outside performance, a 

lesson the Osun election 

should teach the opposition 

that h<strong>as</strong> not fully gr<strong>as</strong>ped 

these tips from Lesson 101 in 

electoral contest especially 

under the enemies of open 

society. 

It w<strong>as</strong> a bad strategy for the 

opposition that knew its 

onions to have gone into the 

Saturday election fragmented 

<strong>as</strong> they were without playing 

into the hands of the ruling 

party but for the readiness of 

the residents who were ready 

to say O'dabo(bye) to the most 

punishing government in the 

history of the State. 

That signal on the resolve of 

the people w<strong>as</strong> sent when 

thousands trooped on the 

streets of Osogbo to protest the 

misspeak of the National 

Leader of the Party who hailed 

from the State but rules over 

Lagos.He had in the course of 

his visit to the Ataoja of 

Osogbo opened his mouth too 

wide by declaring that he w<strong>as</strong> 

richer than Osun state and 

that we don't have what can 

attract stealing proclivity.The 

angry protesters who stormed 

the streets chanted : 

Osun o ki n se Ekiti(2ce) 

...Osun is not Ekiti 

Ki Tinubu ma hale mo 

wa....Tinubu should not 

threaten us 

Osun o ki n se Ekiti-Osun is 

not Ekiti 

That they proved on 

Saturday by holding APC to 

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2018 —17 

ransom and giving victory to 

the <strong>PDP</strong>, a victory which h<strong>as</strong> 

now been suspended by 

declaring the election 

inconclusive. I expect the 

winner to challenge the 

directive in court <strong>as</strong> the law is 

settled that cancelled ballots 

are dead materials that cannot 

be resurrected in the life of an 

electoral contest. 

That the election w<strong>as</strong> also a 

referendum on the Aregbesola 

years more than the 

opposition's preparation in 

the state manifested clearly <strong>as</strong> 

the APC lost in most are<strong>as</strong> of 

Ijesaland which w<strong>as</strong> supposed 

to be the governor's 

stronghold. 

The <strong>PDP</strong> won Obokun LGA 

by a large margin 10,859 votes 

to 7,229 garnered by the APC. 

But APC won the Ilesa E<strong>as</strong>t 

with 9790 votes. <strong>PDP</strong> got 8244 

votes. APC also lost Ilesha 

West LGA to <strong>PDP</strong>, getting 7251 

votes to <strong>PDP</strong>’s 8286 votes. 

However, the APC won 

Atakumosa E<strong>as</strong>t by polling 

7073 votes to <strong>PDP</strong>’s 5218 votes. 

<strong>PDP</strong> snatched Atakumosa 

West, polling 5401 votes to 

APC’s 5019 votes. 

Just like Aregbesola, Chief 

Bisi Akande also narrowly won 

his Ila Local government by 

fewer than 200 votes. While 

APC got 8401 votes, the <strong>PDP</strong> 

made it a cheek and jowl 

affair, polling 8241 votes. The 

polling unit of the Interim 

Chair of APC at its formation 

w<strong>as</strong> however lost to the <strong>PDP</strong>. 

While the contest between 

getting a declaration of the 

winner of Saturday polls and 

holding supplementary 

elections is still on, the 

opposition must take a few 

lessons from the first post- 

Daura ejection. By the way, I 

have spoken with diplomatic 

contacts who were on ground 

during the Ekiti elections who 

confirmed the sacked DG of 

DSS practically determined 

the outcome of the Ekiti polls. 

The chief lesson for the 

opposition to learn from the 

Osun election is that going 

towards 2019 elections, it 

would be foolhardy to place 

individual ambitions above the 

focus of effecting a leadership 

change. In Osun state, 

Adeleke and Omisore were in 

the same party until the 

inability of the <strong>PDP</strong> to manage 

its strong members.If you 

added Omisore and Adeleke 

votes in Osun,the difference 

would have been clear and 

wide. Before Saturday, it w<strong>as</strong> 

<strong>as</strong> if many Governors would 

emerge from the contest with 

the opposition candidates not 

being able to build consensus. 

The earlier the opposition 

knows that it is one President 

that would be elected in 2019 

and start to bury their ego and 

identify one of them who can 

go forward for the college, the 

brighter the chances. I have 

travelled round the country in 

recent times and confronted 

with sight of chartered jets of 

Presidential hopefuls 

scattered everywhere. I 

marveled <strong>as</strong> resources they 

could pool together for the 

epic challenge are being 

frittered away on ego trips. 

The Economist Magazine of 

London h<strong>as</strong> made a poignant 

forec<strong>as</strong>t about the 2019 

elections. According to the 

magazine, “The 2019 elections 

will be a close contest between 

the ruling APC and the <strong>PDP</strong>. 

We expect the <strong>PDP</strong> 

presidential candidate to win, 

but for the next administration 

to flounder against the same 

problems <strong>as</strong> the incumbent 

one." 

The People of Osun have 

brought home the reality of 

that prediction by showing that 

the APC is beatable in spite 

of holding all the apparatus of 

electoral process and that the 

teacher will show up when the 

cl<strong>as</strong>s is ready. A fragmented 

opposition however will not be 

up to the t<strong>as</strong>k.The earlier 

elements in the position 

realised it's better to have any 

% of 100 than owing 100% of 

zero,the better for them and 

the polity. 

Feedback 

Re:Kemi Adeosun: 

A denouement 

DEAR Yinka, thanks 

for the above 

subject. I really 

empathise and sympathise 

with her. Her action shows 

that there are still Nigerians 

who have not lost their 

"rational and moral 

comp<strong>as</strong>s". She is a woman 

of courage. While 

appreciating her boldness 

in carrying out her duties 

and also to resign her 

appointment, I suggest she 

should go a step further to 

enlist in the NYSC and do 

the one year compulsory 

service. As a true anti 

corruption torch bearer ( 

that is what she is to 

me),she should also deduct 

the NYSC allowance for one 

year from the salaries she 

got and return the balance 

to the common purse. 

This decision can be 

difficult to take and 

implement, but doing so will 

make her an unforgettable 

positive role model to young 

and old Nigerians who 

believe that there are still 

honest, truthful and hard 

working people among us. 

My stand is that it is 

because of such people who 

have not lost their" rational 

and moral comp<strong>as</strong>s" that 

God h<strong>as</strong> not allowed 

Nigeria to fall off the peak 

of the mountain. So there is 

hope. 

One important lesson we 

can learn from her c<strong>as</strong>e is 

for us to beware of 

<strong>as</strong>sociates who lead us into 

temptations that will 

rubbish us. Kemi Adeosun 

should remember that the 

down fall of a man is not his 

end. What is important is to 

rise when one falls. Life 

must go on. She should take 

time to study and reflect on 

the lines of " Fall to Rise " 

which you reproduced in 

your article. 

Thank you again. 

Tony O. Ekwe. 

C 

M 

Y 

K

18 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2018 

THE Managing Director of the 

Nigerian Electricity Management 

Services Agency, NEMSA, Engr. Peter 

Ewesor h<strong>as</strong>, once again, announced the 

Federal Government’s commitment 

towards demolishing all structures built 

around the Right of Way (RoW) of high 

tension electricity cables throughout the 

country. 

While inaugurating 70 NEMSA 

engineers at a capacity building event 

in Abuja recently, Ewesor disclosed that 

to demonstrate government’s resolve 

towards implementing this 

gargantuan-scale policy, the eleven 

Electricity Distribution Companies, 

DISCOs, in the country have already 

started disconnecting all houses 

around designated RoWs in cities 

nationwide. The problem with this sort 

of routine government announcement 

is that it is generally not taken seriously 

by those concerned – owners of such 

structures and their tenants – because 

Demolition of structures under power lines 

they are hardly followed through 

concrete action. 

In the p<strong>as</strong>t one year alone, three state 

governments – Anambra, Lagos and 

Plateau – threatened to commence 

immediate demolition of such 

structures because they violate state 

laws and pose great health risks to those 

who live around them. Apart from 

frequent incidences of electrocutions 

and fires, these lines are known to emit 

signals that are dangerous to the 

human body. But, which state 

government is ready to c<strong>as</strong>t the first 

stone? The Jos Metropolitan 

Development Board, JMDB, in 

November l<strong>as</strong>t year disclosed that in 

the Plateau State capital alone, 400 

houses built under power lines would 

be brought down, but nothing h<strong>as</strong> 

happened till date. 

The re<strong>as</strong>on for this policy lethargy is 

not far fetched. If NEMSA or any other 

federal or state body decides to make 

good its “threat”, the scale of human 

misery in the country will be akin to 

dev<strong>as</strong>tation wrought by war. Which 

government, especially under a 

democracy, will risk such? 

The matter is further complicated by 

the fact that in most c<strong>as</strong>es, these 

electricity power structures p<strong>as</strong>s 

through family and private lands, 

especially in the cities. It is either 

government did not sort out these 

families before running the power lines 

through private property, or officials 

simply compromised the integrity of 

their offices and issued illegal permits 

for people to build. Even if all the 

structures under power lines are 

successfully demolished, people will 

still rebuild them unless government 

firmly <strong>as</strong>serts its authority and strictly 

forbids such henceforth. 

There is no doubt that we need to 

sanitise the electricity RoWs throughout 

the country if we are to be taken 

seriously <strong>as</strong> a developing nation. But 

the Federal and State governments 

must harmonise efforts and see how 

this can be done with a human face to 

minimise suffering. Any law or policy 

that h<strong>as</strong> no human face h<strong>as</strong> no place in 

a democracy. Government must muster 

the necessary funds and implementation 

plans to deal with the humanitarian 

component before proceeding with the, 

albeit, laudable policy. 

ILOST a friend Oluw<strong>as</strong>egun 

Kokumo Agagu (1948-2013), 

five years ago. To honour his memory, 

I attended his fifth memorial lecture 

at the Civic Centre, Ozumba 

Mbadiwe, Victoria Island, Lagos, on 

Thursday, September 13. The lecture 

w<strong>as</strong> organised by members of the 

board of Trustees of Segun Agagu 

Foundation made up of Dr. Deji 

Adeleke (Chairman), Chief Pius 

Oluwole Akinyelure, Marie Ekpere, 

Prince Yemi Adefulu, MFR, Mr. 

Kayode Fawole, Alhaji K<strong>as</strong>him 

Imam, Ms. Solape Adefala, Dr. 

Olumuyiwa Aliu, Mr. Akin 

Aruwajoye, Mr. Kayode Falowo, Mr. 

Femi Agagu and Mr. Feyi Agaguthe 

first and only son of Dr. Segun 

Agagu. 

Part of the objectives of the 

foundation is, to immortalise the 

name and legacy of the late Dr. 

Olusegun Agagu, to live up to and 

seek to actualise his personal credo 

which w<strong>as</strong> ‘to leave things better than 

he met them and to further the ideals 

he lived by and worked p<strong>as</strong>sionately 

towards, particularly intellectual 

excellence, good governance and 

national development. So far over 

two hundred students have received 

scholarships from the foundation. 

The students are those in Secondary 

schools and universities. 

The students majored in geology, 

Petroleum Engineering, Energy, 

Aviation and Culture. Some of them 

include, Ogunkoya Oluwadamilare 

Akinwale, Okorafor Chioma, 

Sobulo Temitope Hannah, Amodu 

Idera Omowunmi, Oladele 

Oluwafemi Olawale, Ajilore 

Oluwatoyin Hannah, Fafiloye 

Michael Oluw<strong>as</strong>eyi, Alo Olawale 

Olufemi, Ogunsakin Oluwakunle, 

Adeniyi Olwatimilehin, F<strong>as</strong>uyi 

Favour, Olosho Ayomide, 

Ogedengbe Aanuolowapo, Ajayi 

Folawe, Ayetiran Favour, Adesomoju 

Precious, Akinniyi Ayomide, 

Ogunboye Mercy, Omofioye Joy, 

Titiloye Goodluck, Samuel 

Itunuayo, Leyi John, Ayantuga 

Busola, Omoyele Omolola, 

Olayiwola Favour and Oladipo 

Oyedamola. 

During the lecture, the second floor 

of the Civic Centre w<strong>as</strong> packed full 

and the widow of Dr. Agagu, Funke 

Segun Agagu: Five years after 

(70), made sure she shook hands with 

most of the people present with 

smiles. The third military governor 

of Western state, Admiral (rtd.) 

Akintunde Akinyooye Aduwo from 

Ode-Aye in Ondo state and the 

political godson of Dr. Agagu, the 

present deputy governor of Ondo 

state, Chief Agboola Alfred Ajayi (50) 

from Kiribo in Ese-Odo local 

government in Ondo state were 

present. Chief Segun Ojo ali<strong>as</strong> the 

general, Soji Alakuro, Chief Ola 

Oguntimehin, Chief Femi Somolu, 

Dr. Amos Akingba, Bisi Olatilo, 

Kenneth Odusola-Steveson, Dr. Yemi 

Ogunbiyi, Funso Kupolokun, Alhaja 

Sinatu Ojikutu, Princess Oladunni 

Odu, Benson Obayelu, Deacon 

Martin Okunfolami, Prince Andrew 

Aroloye, P<strong>as</strong>tor Ituah Ighodalo, Yemi 

Olowolabi, Tunji Alapinni, Tunde 

Badejo, K<strong>as</strong>him Imam, Justice Babs 

Kuewunmi, Professor Akinbo 

Adesomoju were among those 

present. 

Others present at the lecture were 

Chike Agbakoba, Andre<strong>as</strong> Williams, 

Sanya Otuyalo, Bolaji Folawiyo, 

Femi Solebo, Yomi Awobokun, Kunle 

Adeniji, Folarin Familusi, Mr. & 

Mrs. Segun Oki, Osa Asemota, Chief 

Lolomari (Chairman Frontier Oil) 

and Mr. Yakubu Mustapha (MD 

NETCO). 

The presence of Chief Folake 

Solanke added pomp and pageantry 

to the event. Chief Mrs. Solanke, 

SAN, CON, is a Nigerian lawyer, 

administrator and social critic. She 

is the first female Senior Advocate 

of Nigeria and the first Nigerian 

female lawyer to wear the silk gown 

<strong>as</strong> Senior Counsel. The lecturer w<strong>as</strong> 

the former President of Malawi, 

Mrs. Joyce Banda, an entrepreneur, 

activist, politician and 

philanthropist. President Banda is 

credited with turning around an 

ailing economy, which w<strong>as</strong> on the 

verge of collapse in April 2012. She 

instituted a number of economic 

reforms, which led to significant 

economic expansion; Malawi’s 

economic growth rate rose from 

1.8% in 2012 to over 6.2% in 2014. 

The Emir of Kano, His Royal 

Highness, Lamido Sanusi Lamido 

For those who knew 

Segun Agagu very 

well, they definitely 

would have missed 

him in these p<strong>as</strong>t five 

years. I do 

II, led the Kano delegation to the 

lecture. Professor Sheila Tluo, 

former UNAID Director also came 

to the lecture. Much of Tlou’s work 

focuses on gender issues and HIV/ 

AIDS in southern Africa. Enabling 

women, particularly married 

women, in a patriarchal society to 

negotiate with their partner for safe 

sex h<strong>as</strong> major consequences for HIV 

transmission. 

As I sat at the venue of the lecture, 

I reflected on my friendship with Dr. 

Agagu. I w<strong>as</strong> introduced to him in 

1966 by my friend and cl<strong>as</strong>smate, 

Prince Thom<strong>as</strong> Adewale Olateru- 

Olagbegi in Ibadan. While Dr. 

Agagu w<strong>as</strong> then in Ibadan Grammar 

school, he represented Ibadan 

province in tennis, Prince Olateru- 

Olagbegi and I represented Ondo 

province. The friendship got deeper 

when I came to know that he w<strong>as</strong> 

from Ikale in the Okitipupa division 

of Ondo province. Then, Ondo 

province w<strong>as</strong> made up of Owo, Ekiti, 

Ondo and Okitipupa divisions. 

Fortunately, one of the divisions, 

Ekiti division, is now a state, thanks 

to General Sanni Abacha. The other 

three divisions now constitute Ondo 

state. When I came to Ibadan in 

1971, we renewed our relationship. 

It w<strong>as</strong> during this period I often saw 

him with Dr. Olu Agunloye and 

Professor Babatunde Osotimehin. 

While serving <strong>as</strong> press secretary to 

the military governor in Ondo state 

in 1988, Dr. Agagu w<strong>as</strong> made a 

Director in Oluwa Gl<strong>as</strong>s Company. 

When I w<strong>as</strong> about to leave <strong>as</strong> Press 

secretary in 1990, Dr. Agagu w<strong>as</strong> 

coming in <strong>as</strong> deputy governor of 

Ondo state under Governor 

Bamidele Olumilua. While serving 

<strong>as</strong> deputy governor, he came across 

an advertisement in one of the 

newspapers calling for attendance 

in a workshop at African leadership 

forum in Ota, Ogun state. He got 

permission from his boss, Governor 

Olumilua to attend the workshop, 

and that w<strong>as</strong> the first time he met 

General Olusegun Ob<strong>as</strong>anjo. That 

w<strong>as</strong> the beginning of his friendship 

with General Ob<strong>as</strong>anjo. The 

friendship extended to when 

Ob<strong>as</strong>anjo w<strong>as</strong> detained by General 

Sanni Abacha and Dr. Segun Agagu 

along with a retired prison official, 

Steven Ibi Akiga (1954-2015) used 

to visit General Ob<strong>as</strong>anjo both in Jos 

and Yola prisons. Upon his rele<strong>as</strong>e 

from prison in 1998, Dr. Agagu had 

become very close to General 

Ob<strong>as</strong>anjo and by the time General 

Ob<strong>as</strong>anjo showed interest in politics 

later, Dr. Agagu had become one of 

his advisers. When General 

Ob<strong>as</strong>anjo contested for the <strong>PDP</strong> 

presidential nomination at Jos 

Township on February 15 1999, Dr, 

Segun Agagu w<strong>as</strong> one of his 

returning officers. In the election, 

General Ob<strong>as</strong>anjo scored 1,658 

votes while Dr. Alex Ekwueme scored 

521 votes, Chief Don Etiedbett-106, 

Chief Graham Dougl<strong>as</strong>-71, Chief 

Jim Nwobodo-59, Chief Phillip 

Asiodu-12 and Senator Francis 

Ellah also scored 12votes. After being 

sworn in on May 29 1999, President 

Ob<strong>as</strong>anjo later appointed Dr. Agagu 

<strong>as</strong> Minister of Aviation. 

At the Federal Executive Council 

at the villa, we used to meet and chat. 

In May 2000, he w<strong>as</strong> appointed 

Minister of Power and Steel. His 

office at the Federal Secretariat w<strong>as</strong> 

on the Third floor while mine w<strong>as</strong> 

on the 11th floor. During our 

numerous meetings, he informed me 

that he would contest for the 

Governorship of Ondo state. He did 

and he won by defeating the 

incumbent, Chief Adebayo Adefarati. 

He served <strong>as</strong> the governor of Ondo 

state between May 2003 and 

February 23, 2009. He vacated the 

office following the ruling of the 

Federal Court of Appeal that sat in 

Benin. Between 2009 and 2013, we 

were very close and the friendship 

became closer with the help of his 

younger brother, Femi Agagu, who 

is now the Commissioner for 

Education in Ondo state. I have spent 

several weekends at Iju-Odo, his 

hometown and with his elegant wife, 

Funke hosting us. 

A few days before he travelled to 

America in September 2013, I saw 

him at Ikoyi and he promised to call 

me on arrival from his tour. At 7.07 

pm on September 13, Femi Agagu 

called me and I <strong>as</strong>sumed that he w<strong>as</strong> 

to inform me of his brother’s arrival 

from United States of America, I w<strong>as</strong> 

shocked to hear that his brother 

arrived that day but w<strong>as</strong> dead. I w<strong>as</strong> 

so deeply shocked and badly shaken. 

My shock pales in comparison with 

that of his widow Funke, who saw 

her husband, father of her children, 

lover, best friend and sweet heart 

driving out only to be told an hour 

later that he w<strong>as</strong> dead. The shock is 

enough to paralyse any human 

being. But Funke coped and she h<strong>as</strong> 

since then. It w<strong>as</strong> nice to see her and 

a lot of Agagu’s friends on that day. 

For those who knew Segun Agagu 

very well, they definitely would have 

missed him in these p<strong>as</strong>t five years. I 

do. Great fella.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2018 — 19 

Banks, OFIs record higher default rates 

on credit cards, overdraft in Q3’18 

By Elizabeth Adegbesan 

A 

report by the Central 

Bank of Nigeria, CBN, h<strong>as</strong> 

indicated that the rate of default in 

household loan repayments is on 

the incre<strong>as</strong>e in the third quarter of 

2019, Q3’19. The report did not 

give absolute figures. 

Titled: ‘Credit Condition Survey 

(CCS) Report, Q3’2018, the survey 

report said commercial banks and 

other financial institutions, OFIs 

recorded higher default rates on 

credit card and overdrafts/personal 

lending to households during the 

period. 

The report, however, predicted 

that there would be an 

improvement in the fourth quarter 

2018, Q4’18. 

The report stated: “In the current 

quarter relative to the previous 

quarter, lenders reported an 

incre<strong>as</strong>e in the availability of 

secured credit to households. They 

noted that market share objectives 

and improving economic outlook 

were major factors behind the 

incre<strong>as</strong>e.” 

The report also stated: “Availability 

of secured credit w<strong>as</strong> expected to 

incre<strong>as</strong>e in the next quarter, with 

market share objectives and higher 

appetite for risk <strong>as</strong> the likely 

contributory factors. 

“Lenders maintained the same 

credit scoring criteria in Q3 2018, 

and the proportion of loan 

applications approved in the 

quarter decre<strong>as</strong>ed. Lenders expect 

to tighten the credit scoring criteria 

in the next quarter, yet still expect 

an incre<strong>as</strong>e in the proportion of 

approved households’ loan 

applications in Q4 2018. 

“The availability of unsecured 

credit provided to households fell 

in the current quarter but w<strong>as</strong> 

expected to rise in the next quarter. 

Lenders reported market share 

objectives and improved economic 

outlook <strong>as</strong> the major factors that 

CURRENCY BUYING SELLING 

US DOLLAR 

POUNDS 

EURO 

FRANC 

YEN 

CFA 

WAUA 

RENMINBI 

RIYAL 

SDR 

DANISH 

RAND 

$99.80 -0.10 

$2,241.00 74.00 

$10.58 -0.26 

$80.71 1.91 

$72.10 1.32 

305.3 305.8 306.3 

402.1412 402.7998 403.4584 

359.0939 359.682 360.2701 

319.6189 320.1424 320.6658 

2.7092 2.7136 2.7181 

0.5281 0.5381 0.5481 

427.5491 428.2493 428.9495 

44.5795 44.653 44.7264 

81.4003 81.5336 81.6669 

428.977 429.6796 430.3821 

48.1257 48.2045 48.2834 

21.2287 21.2634 21.2982 

CBN Exchange rate <strong>as</strong> at 24/09/2018 

L-R: Director, Social welfare & Youth Development, Olabode Ajao (Representing Commissioner 

for Youth and Social Development, Lagos State); Team Lead, Corporate Social Responsibility, 

Diamond Bank, Olayemi Olusoga; and Area Manager, Iyana Ipaja, Diamond Bank Plc ; 

Simeon Ahmedu at the Diamond Bank sponsored programme “LETS KICK DRUGS OUT OF 

LAGOS” held for students of Vetland Junior/ Senior Grammar school, Oko Oba Lagos 

contributed to the incre<strong>as</strong>e in Q3 

2018. 

“Despite lenders’ resolve to 

tighten the credit scoring criteria 

for total unsecured loan 

applications in the review 

quarter, the proportion of 

approved total loan applications 

for households incre<strong>as</strong>ed. 

Lenders expect to leave 

unchanged the credit scoring 

criteria in the next quarter, but 

anticipate that the total loans 

applications to be approved in 

Q4 2018 will incre<strong>as</strong>e. 

“Demand for unsecured credit 

card lending from households 

decre<strong>as</strong>ed in Q3 2018 but w<strong>as</strong> 

expected to incre<strong>as</strong>e in Q4 2018. 

However, demand for unsecured 

overdraft/personal loans from 

households incre<strong>as</strong>ed in Q3 2018 

and w<strong>as</strong> expected to incre<strong>as</strong>e in 

Q4 2018. 

Oil price rises to $79.7/b <strong>as</strong> US moves against 

Iran again 

By Ediri Ejoh with Agency 

report 

OIL prices, yesterday, 

rose to $79.71 per barrel, 

up by 91 cents, or 1.2 percent, 

<strong>as</strong> U.S. markets tightened 

just weeks ahead of 

W<strong>as</strong>hington’s plan to impose 

new sanctions against Iran. 

Brent crude futures were at 

$79.71 per barrel, up 

by 91 cents, or 1.2 

percent, while the 

U.S. West Tex<strong>as</strong> 

Intermediate, WTI, 

crude futures rose by 

75 cents, or 1.1 

percent, to $71.53 a 

barrel. 

There are 

incre<strong>as</strong>ing concerns 

about dwindling 

(U.S.) inventories, <strong>as</strong> 

the tightening U.S. 

market came ahead 

of sanctions that 

W<strong>as</strong>hington plans to 

implement against 

Iran’s petroleum 

exports from early 

November. 

Many analysts 

expect a drop of more 

than one million 

barrel per day, bpd, 

of Iranian crude 

exports, while J.P. 

Morgan expects a loss of 1.5 

million bpd. 

The Organization of 

Petroleum Exporting 

Countries (OPEC), is 

Fidelity Pension upgrades customers and desk officers on 

industry devpts 

THE customers and pension 

desk officers of Fidelity Pension 

discussing raising output by 

500,000 bpd to counter falling 

supply from Iran, although no 

decision h<strong>as</strong> been made 

public yet. 

Managers Limited have been 

upgraded with knowledge capacity 

courtesy of the pension manager’s 

interactive forum held recently in 

Customers meet seamless services at 

Polaris Bank 

POLARIS Bank Limited, 

PBL, resumed banking 

activities yesterday across the 

branches of the former Skye 

Bank Plc, recording relative calm 

and seamless services with 

customers. 

Polaris is a bridge bank 

licensed l<strong>as</strong>t weekend to take 

over the <strong>as</strong>sets and liabilities of 

the defunct Skye Bank. 

Some customers had gone to 

the bank in the first working day 

of the new bank to make 

withdrawals and execute other 

transactions. 

In an interview across select 

branches in Lagos and other 

parts of the country, customers 

volunteered responses and 

<strong>as</strong>ked for continued 

improvement in services <strong>as</strong> the 

new bank fine-tunes and 

upgrades processes and services 

for optimal performance. 

“I got to the branch this 

morning to make some transfers 

and also pick up a draft and <strong>as</strong> 

you could see, I just concluded 

my transaction and about to take 

my leave. I w<strong>as</strong> warmly welcome 

by the c<strong>as</strong>hiers and the customer 

service desks”, Mrs. Halimat 

Hussein, a customer with Adeola 

Hopewell branch, Lagos said. 

Another customer in Adeola 

Odeku branch, Mr. Abiola 

Abioye, commented <strong>as</strong> follows: 

“In the erstwhile Skye Bank, we 

noticed some frictions probably 

towards the end of the change 

of the name. What we would 

expect is a smooth service in 

Polaris Bank and I believe 

everything will just be 

normal once we get the 

required services. I just 

think we have confidence in 

the Nigerian banking 

system so there is no re<strong>as</strong>on 

to panic.” 

UBA emerges 

most innovative 

digital bank 

UNITED Bank for Africa 

Plc, UBA, h<strong>as</strong> been 

adjudged <strong>as</strong> the ‘Most innovative 

Digital Bank’ of the year, in the 

digital category of the 

International Finance Awards 

organised by the International 

Finance Magazine. 

This further consolidates UBA’s 

position in the digital banking 

space <strong>as</strong> it continues to 

demonstrate leadership and 

innovation in the markets they 

operate. 

In selecting its recipients, 

International Finance Awards, 

recognises industry talent, 

leadership skills, industry net 

worth and capability on an 

international platform. After 

careful consideration of 

nominations by a qualified 

research team, winners are 

declared on the strength of their 

application and p<strong>as</strong>t 

accomplishments. 

The International Finance 

Awards is regarded <strong>as</strong> the 

industry standard for banking 

excellence, recognising and 

celebrating the achievements of 

individuals and financial 

institutions within the global 

banking sector. 

Speaking on the recent feat, 

UBA’s Group Head, Online 

Banking, Austine Abolusoro, 

said: “We are delighted and 

proud to be recognised <strong>as</strong> the 

2018 Most innovative bank of the 

Year. This once again is an 

affirmation of our recent 

investment in cutting edge 

technology, one of which gave 

birth to Leo, the chat banker that 

h<strong>as</strong> disrupted banking across 

Africa. 

Abuja. 

The interactive forum which took 

place at the FCDA Conference hall 

w<strong>as</strong> aimed at sensitizing the 

customers and pension desk officers 

on latest developments in the 

pension industry <strong>as</strong> well <strong>as</strong> to 

discuss and proffer solutions to 

challenges they face in their day to 

day activities with Fidelity Pension. 

The event brought together 

pension desk officers from the public 

and private sector, participants from 

Ministries, Departments and 

Agencies (MDAs) <strong>as</strong> well <strong>as</strong> 

representatives from the National 

Pension Commission (PenCom). 

In her opening remarks, the 

Managing Director of Fidelity 

Pension, Mrs Amaka Andy-Azike 

harped the importance of Pension 

Desk Officers in relationship 

management in the pension 

industry. 

Participants were delighted with 

the program and suggested that it 

should become a yearly event. 

Fidelity Pension Managers is one 

of the most dynamic Pension Fund 

Administrators in Nigeria, with an 

ever-incre<strong>as</strong>ing network of offices 

across Nigeria.


Realtors move against foreign competitors, 

advocate strategic innovations to boost estate 

agency practice 

By Kingsley Adegboye 

Against the backdrop of the 

unhealthy competition 

from foreign players in the 

country's estate agency 

practice, members of the 

Nigerian Institution of Estate 

Surveyors and Valuers, NIESV, 

have advocated strategic 

innovations <strong>as</strong> a way of 

remaining relevant in business 

and to boost the sub-sector of 

the economy. 

This w<strong>as</strong> the outcome of the 

one-day seminar on Prospects 

and Challenges of International 

Competition in the Business of 

Real Estate, organised by the 

Estate Agency and Marketing 

Business Division of NIESV in 

Lagos l<strong>as</strong>t week. 

Leading the discussion, Mr. 

Bode Adediji, Chairman, Bode 

Adediji Partners, and p<strong>as</strong>t 

President, NIESV, noted that 

the sector is presently faced with 

so many challenges among 

which are the impact of 

recession, ignorance and 

complacency and lack of capital 

for investment and 

marginalisation <strong>as</strong> well <strong>as</strong> 

international competition among 

others. 

And surviving in a situation 

like this according to him, 

would require practitioners to 

make clients have greater 

degree of trust in the services 

rendered to them, just <strong>as</strong> there 

must be expertise and 

confidence in the services 

rendered to customers. 

The former NIESV boss who 

said it h<strong>as</strong> become obvious that 

the most crucial and disruptive 

<strong>as</strong>pect of the international 

competition is particularly 

reflected in the premium and 

eyebrow segment of the real 

estate market, added: “Domestic 

practitioners must, <strong>as</strong> of 

necessity, understudy the 

composition and modusoperandi 

of international 

competition so that the required 

change in the <strong>convention</strong>al 

attitudes, practice and emph<strong>as</strong>is 

can be effected pragmatically 

and not merely symbolically <strong>as</strong> 

is prevalent now. 

“Recapitalisation, innovation, 

technology among others, are 

sacrosanct, if the local firms 

hope to survive the audacity 

and the scourge of the foreign 

competitors in Nigeria.” 

Mr. Gboyega Fatimilehin of 

Diya Fatimilehin & Co, a firm 

of estate surveyors and 

valuers, who spoke on The Need 

to Raise the Bar in Line with Best 

Practice, attributed the incursion 

of foreign players in the industry 

to the nation’s incre<strong>as</strong>e in Gross 

Domestic Product, technology 

•Residential Estate in Abuja 

disruptions and the observed 

investment opportunities in the 

country. 

Advising NIESV to consolidate 

for growth by putting in place 

continuous training and 

workshops for members to 

build competence <strong>as</strong> well <strong>as</strong> 

confidence in their operations, 

Fatimilehin stated that for the 

Nigerian real estate industry to 

be competitive and attract 

investment, real estate practice 

Nigeria signs MOU with Japan on infr<strong>as</strong>tructure 

By Favour Nnabugwu 

The Federal Ministry of 

Transportation h<strong>as</strong> 

signed a Memorandum of 

Understanding with Japan 

for cooperation in 

promoting quality 

infr<strong>as</strong>tructure investment 

and continuing relationship 

between Nigeria and 

Japan. 

Minister 

of 

Transportation, Chibuike 

Rotimi Amaechi, signed the 

MoU with Japan’s State 

Minister of Land, 

Infr<strong>as</strong>tructure, Transport 

and Tourism, Tsuk<strong>as</strong>a 

Akimoto at the Federal 

Ministry of Transportation, 

Abuja. 

The Japanese minister 

who w<strong>as</strong> accompanied by 

Japan’s Amb<strong>as</strong>sador to 

Nigeria, Yutaka Kikuta, 

expressed excitement over 

the partnership between 

Japan and Nigeria in 

developing infr<strong>as</strong>tructure. 

Akimoto said: “As the 

State Minister in charge of 

infr<strong>as</strong>tructure in Japan, I 

have been impressed that 

must have higher standards, 

stressing that this will remove 

constraints in the market and 

allow local practitioners to 

compete with the global real 

estate firms that have entered 

Nigerian market. 

NIESV's President, Mr. 

Rowland Agbonta, in his 

remark, said the recent 

pronouncement by the court that 

lawyers have no business in 

property transaction h<strong>as</strong> brought 

there is still a great deal for 

Japan to co-operate in 

building the infr<strong>as</strong>tructure in 

your country. 

“As you all are aware your 

Excellency, Japan is putting 

in a great deal of emph<strong>as</strong>is 

on providing high quality 

infr<strong>as</strong>tructure and in that 

respect, we are known in 

comparison to other 

countries such <strong>as</strong> China, 

Korea and European 

countries. If you look at the 

country cycle of 

infr<strong>as</strong>tructure developed by 

the Japanese, ours is the 

most cost effective. 

“You are aware that in the 

p<strong>as</strong>t, there h<strong>as</strong> been much 

discussion of Japan’s 

cooperation with Nigeria in 

providing the other railway 

and development plan in 

Lagos Island and we hope 

there will be more 

opportunities in the future for 

Japan to provide technical 

expertise and capacitybuilding 

and also in 

providing high quality 

infr<strong>as</strong>tructure here in 

Nigeria,” Akimoto said. 

On his part, Minister of 

Transportation, Amaechi, 

a new ray of hope to 

practitioners, stressing that it 

is high time that quacks in 

the profession were fished out 

and punished. 

According to him: “Agency 

practice h<strong>as</strong> become an 

important area of real estate 

business and so everything 

that needs to be done to 

protect that arm of the 

profession must be put in 

place.” 

said Japan’s interest in 

partnering Nigeria in 

infr<strong>as</strong>tructural development 

is a welcome idea. 

“You have identified the 

infr<strong>as</strong>tructure deficit that is 

huge. We are a developing 

country, so there will be huge 

infr<strong>as</strong>tructure deficit, and it 

offers Japan and Japanese 

investors opportunity to 

come in. Currently, we have 

American investors and the 

Chinese investors that are 

coming into the economy. For 

us in Nigeria, we will be glad 

to see such investors,” 

Amaechi noted. 

He explained that there are 

two types of investment that 

the Nigerian government 

encourages, saying "there is 

one we <strong>as</strong>k government for a 

concessioning loan, adding 

that usually, the 

concessioning loan interest 

rate is about 1.5 per cent. He 

said the Federal Government 

will be glad if the Japanese 

Government can come in <strong>as</strong> 

the Chinese Government h<strong>as</strong> 

done. 

“There is over 3,500 

kilometres of rail. The 

Chinese have been able to do 

In his remark, the Chairman, 

Faculty of Estate Agency and 

Marketing, NIESV, Sam 

Eboigbe, said the seminar w<strong>as</strong> 

to draw attention of estate 

agency practitioners 

nationwide to the professional 

embarr<strong>as</strong>sments of 

surrendering the larger chunk 

of its cake to foreign 

competitors. 

“The battle for the soul of 

estate agency h<strong>as</strong> been 

largely local in nature and the 

faculty some years ago, 

championed 

the 

establishment and the 

approval of a body called 

Association of Estate Agency 

of Nigeria. This became 

necessary <strong>as</strong> a result of the 

poor public perception and 

image of estate agents, which 

h<strong>as</strong> negatively impacted the 

profession and institution. 

The question now on the lips 

of concerned colleagues is, 

will there be another 

<strong>as</strong>sociation that would be 

dedicated to foreign 

competition? he <strong>as</strong>ked. 

Earlier, while speaking, Mr. 

Joe Idudu, a former president 

of NIESV expressed worries 

that the industry h<strong>as</strong> become 

an all-comers affair for those 

who ordinarily don’t have 

business in the sector because 

of its lucrativeness. He 

posited that the incursion of 

foreign players in Nigerian 

real estate h<strong>as</strong> worsened the 

ability of local players to 

survive in the country. 

In a lecture titled: A well 

structured partnership, a c<strong>as</strong>e 

study of a flourishing firm of 

estate surveyors and valuers, 

Idudu challenged members to 

be innovative in structuring 

their firms, imbibe the culture 

of honesty and sincerity of 

purpose in dealing with 

clients and colleagues in the 

profession. 

about 300 kilometres. 

Before the end of the year, 

they will do another 1,200 

kilometres to bring their 

own contribution to 1,500 

kilometres which is 

concessioning loan. 

“We are talking with the 

Americans, but it is not a 

concessioning loan." 

They are bringing their 

investment and they will 

build 1500 kilometres of 

rail including two seaports 

and they will be rapid by 

the profit they get from the 

investment. So, we still 

have about 1,500 

kilometres of rail. We will 

be glad if we can get 

concessioning loan from 

the Japanese Government 

or get Japanese investors." 

Amaechi also 

encouraged the Japanese 

to invest in other sectors 

of the economy. “There 

are other are<strong>as</strong>, even 

though I am not in charge, 

like Power, Housing, 

Water, Works etc. So, there 

is huge opportunity for 

Japanese investors in 

Nigeria,” he said.


$18.5bn Abuja Centenary City not haven for 

ill-gotten wealth — Developer 

By Chris Ochayi 

Developer 

and 

stakeholder in the 

$18.5 billion Abuja 

Centenary City project, 

Alhaji Alh<strong>as</strong>san Baba 

Dantata, h<strong>as</strong> warned 

that the smart city is not 

a haven for tre<strong>as</strong>ury 

looters to hide their illgotten 

wealth. 

Dantata, who issued 

the warning while 

addressing newsmen on 

the recent progress 

made at the project site, 

especially the 

commencement of the 

construction works, said, 

only Nigerians with 

legitimate source of 

income and access to 

mortgage facilities 

would be allowed to 

invest in the project. 

Dantata, who is 

handling the signature 

infr<strong>as</strong>tructure called 

Buhari Tower, named 

after President 

Muhammadu Buhari, 

within the Centenary 

City Project, disclosed 

also that a section of the 

1,262 hectare smart city 

h<strong>as</strong> been earmarked for 

former Nigerian 

Presidents to use for 

their libraries and 

archives. 

Disclosing that the 

Buhari Tower w<strong>as</strong> 

designed mainly for low 

income earners, 

Dantata, however, called 

on civil servants, workers 

and other Nigerians 

with legitimate source of 

livelihood to latch on to 

the golden opportunity of 

owning luxury and 

affordable houses that 

will soon spring up at the 

city. 

According to him: 

“The person that h<strong>as</strong> the 

right to buy into this 

project, first of all, is 

somebody who h<strong>as</strong> 

money or access to 

money through 

mortgage. Now, <strong>as</strong> 

everybody knows, like 

Mr. Udo, who is a 

Nigerian, like the 

president, we don’t want 

any dirty c<strong>as</strong>h here. 

“So, it is not going to 

be a haven where people 

will come and hide 

money. For every 

investment, first of all, 

let me say this, every 

design of any project 

here h<strong>as</strong> to go to Dubai 

for approval because the 

financiers are coming 

from Dubai. 

“The company called 

Front Gate, <strong>as</strong> you can see 

it there, is going to build 

affordable housing units. 

•Abuja Centenary City 

In one of my own 

projects, the Buhari 

Tower, <strong>as</strong> mentioned 

abinitio, is called 

affordable luxury homes 

for the common man. 

Affordable, which means 

you can pay. Luxury 

which means you can 

enjoy life. 

“Because President 

Muhammadu Buhari is 

a fighter for the common 

man, we will make sure 

we carry his people 

along,” Dantata 

explained. 

Alhaji Dantata 

disclosed that the Buhari 

Tower will cater for the 

interest of civil servants 

who will not be able to 

afford most of the houses 

that will be built there, 

adding that the houses 

in the Tower will be sold 

to civil servants at the 

cost of N15-20 million 

which is the maximum 

approved for low income 

houses by the Federal 

Mortgage Bank of 

Nigeria, FMBN. 

The business tycoon 

disclosed further that the 

management of Buhari 

Tower is currently in 

discussion with the Office 

of the Head of Service of 

the Federation, HoSF, in 

order to sensitise the civil 

servants to buy into this 

scheme. 

He noted that the 

HoSF h<strong>as</strong> been 

approached to shortlist 

names of beneficiaries 

across board including 

the MDAs so that we 

have competitors, 

adding: “I am talking to 

the Service chiefs, the 

Army, and Air Force, to 

also be part of this 

scheme. 

Dantata said the 

“Project is going to 

create 150 jobs through 

evolution. It is going to 

have at le<strong>as</strong>t 140,000 

residences. It is going to 

create 250,000 daily jobs. 

So, at this austere period 

that we are going 

through globally, I think 

this is a much needed 

development. 

“Unfortunately, this 

project w<strong>as</strong> delayed and 

slowed down for quite a 

while. And now, we 

thank God that this 

project is coming up. I 

can <strong>as</strong>sure you within a 

few months or a year you 

will see the difference,” 

he noted. According to 

him, “This is the project 

that w<strong>as</strong> initiated by 

former President 

Goodluck Ebele 

Jonathan, when the 

Federal Government 

celebrated 100 years of 

Nigerian existence. And 

because of that, we 

invited a lot of important 

people from all over the 

world." 

Firm launches Independent Sales Promo, unveils 

Odunlade <strong>as</strong> Brand Amb<strong>as</strong>sador 

Nigerian real estate 

f i r m , 

RevolutionPlus 

Properties, h<strong>as</strong> 

announced its annual 

Independence Sales 

Promo in recognition of 

Nigeria’s national day 

celebration just <strong>as</strong> it 

unveiled versatile 

Nollywood actor, 

Odunlade Adekola, <strong>as</strong> its 

new brand amb<strong>as</strong>sador. 

The company’s Chief 

Executive Officer, Mr. 

Bamidele Onalaja, while 

addressing newsmen at 

the company’s head 

office in Ikeja, said: “The 

re<strong>as</strong>on we engage 

Nigerian celebrities <strong>as</strong> 

amb<strong>as</strong>sadors is to create 

a synergy between our 

products and indigenous 

brands in the 

entertainment industry, 

identity and add value to 

such local brands and 

work together to solve the 

mirage of problems in the 

housing sector because 

government alone 

cannot do it alone.” 

Onalaja added that 

RevolutionPlus 

Properties is a “Proudly 

Nigerian company and 

nobody can change this 

country positively for us 

except ourselves and 

that is the whole 

mentality of Revolution 

Plus Property.” 

He noted that the 

company pursues 

integrity <strong>as</strong> an article of 

faith because that h<strong>as</strong> 

been the motivation to 

meet its clients’ 

expectation in all its 

estates across the country. 

Onalaja noted that “For 

a number one brand like 

ours to be closer to the 

ordinary Nigerian m<strong>as</strong>ses 

and still maintain its topnotch 

industry position, it 

is important to work with 

a top rated actor, who 

commands the respect 

and followership of 

Nigerians and Odunlade 

fits perfectly into our 

mission and vision after 

due consideration of his 

antecedents and 

personality in 

Nollywood.” 

Speaking on the 

Nigeria Independent 

Sales Promo which runs 

from September 17, to 

October 15, 2018, the 

Executive Director of the 

company, Mrs. Tolulope 

Onalaja, said the 

company, on annual b<strong>as</strong>is 

celebrates Nigeria’s 

Independence with a 

discounted bouquet for 

Nigerians and urged 

them to grab the 

o p p o r t u n i t y 

RevolutionPlus is availing 

them to become property 

and real estate owners. 

She listed the estates to 

include Royalty Garden 

in Shimawa, Brooklyn 

Court at the Lekki Free 

Trade Zone, Champions 

Court, among others, 

pointing out that the sites 

have all been certified by 

the state government and 

come with largesse 

ranging from free 

additional plots, discounts 

depending on the 

number of plots a client 

buys with instalment 

payments. 

“There are over 22 

estates that have been 

pioneered and delivered 

by RevolutionPlus 

Property. So, the 

Independence promo is to 

urge people to key into our 

freebies alongside the 

Independence 

celebration that will 

enable people to 

remember they bought 

their plots of land during 

Nigeria’s Independence 

day celebration,” she 

added. 

The newly unveiled 

RevolutionPlus Brand 

Amb<strong>as</strong>sador, Odunlade 

Adekola, while speaking, 

after formally signing an 

agreement with the 

company, said he w<strong>as</strong> 

attracted to the company 

because of their vision to 

make Nigerians 

irrespective of their 

economic status, own 

landed property and he 

will ensure he promotes 

the company and help it 

to meet its targets. 

•From left: Bamidele Onalaja, CEO, 

RevolutionPlus Property, Nollywood star, Odunlade 

Adekola and Executive Director, RevolutionPlus 

Property, Tolulope Onalaja, at the agreement 

signing and presentation of Adekola <strong>as</strong> the 

company’s brand amb<strong>as</strong>sador in Ikeja, Lagos. 

Developers 

allot 100 

plots of land 

to subscribers 

in Aguleri 

Jesus Line 

Estate 

By Nwabueze Okonkwo 

It w<strong>as</strong> an epoch-making 

event weekend in 

Aguleri, Anambra E<strong>as</strong>t 

Local Government Area of 

Anambra State, home town 

of Governor Willie Obiano, 

<strong>as</strong> directors of Jesus Line 

Estate known <strong>as</strong> Land of 

Hope, allotted over 100 

plots of land to the first ph<strong>as</strong>e 

of successful applicants for 

development. 

The directors who are 

members of Trinit<strong>as</strong> School 

of Evangelisation, owned 

by the Catholic 

Archdiocese of Onitsha, 

had acquired about 500 

plots of land from the 

original owners at Aguleri, 

obtained the Certificate of 

Occupancy, C of O, from the 

relevant government 

agencies and perfected all 

other necessary 

documentations for allottees 

to move in and develop the 

type of structures they want 

at the site and service 

scheme project. 

Performing the brief 

allotment ceremony, 

Chairman of the Estate, 

Augustine Onyemauwa, 

explained that the stage 

w<strong>as</strong> now set for the lucky 

winners to get their 

allotment <strong>as</strong> scheduled. 

Onyemauwa, who 

explained that the 

ceremony w<strong>as</strong> the first 

ph<strong>as</strong>e of allotment to about 

100 allottees in the estate 

estimated to harbour over 

500 residents, disclosed that 

in embarking on the 

project, they had at the back 

of their mind that even the 

poor would benefit from the 

scheme. 

According to him: “We 

are presenting an 

opportunity for everybody 

to invest for the future. 

There are many re<strong>as</strong>ons 

one should invest now in 

this estate. Anambra 

International City Airport is 

located around the 

boundaries of Aguleri with 

modern facilities. The first 

refinery in the South-E<strong>as</strong>t 

is also within the shores of 

Aguleri. 

Private and public 

universities, government 

establishments, schools and 

companies are located in 

Aguleri and its environs, 

and above all, the target of 

Anambra State 

Government is to develop 

Aguleri and its environs to 

a modern mega city which 

is currently attracting 

investors to the town.” 

The Secretary at the 

Estate, Christian Nduagu, 

explained that in terms of 

rapid development, Aguleri 

is f<strong>as</strong>t competing with cities 

like Onitsha, Nkpor, Obosi, 

Awka and others, adding 

that with the government’s 

concentration and 

developmental 

commitment going on in 

the young city, the estate 

would serve <strong>as</strong> a safe haven 

for its inhabitants.


GENCOs raise alarm over delay in rele<strong>as</strong>ing CBN's 

N213bn fund 

. 

By Chris Ochayi & 

Prince Okafor 

WITH the continued poor 

supply of power in 

Nigeria, the Electricity 

Generation Companies, 

GENCOs, have made a strong 

c<strong>as</strong>e for the injection of additional 

funds into the sector. 

In its proposal sent to the 

government, sighted by 

Vanguard, the Association of 

Power Generation Companies, 

APGC, the companies 

highlighted the many challenges 

in the sector, including lack of 

liquidity and options to tackling 

them. 

Specifically, the proposal signed 

by Dr. Joy Ogaji, the Executive 

Secretary, Association of Power 

Generation Companies, stated, 

"Expediting the process of 

payment of the outstanding 

balance due to GENCOS under 

the CBN N213bn Electricity 

Market Stabilization Facility. 

"Payment of the outstanding for 

January 2015 (invoice unpaid 

with MO before (TEM), and 

outstanding/unpaid invoices from 

Feb 2015 to December, 2016 with 

accrued interests. Payment for 

available capacity for the period 

2015 February to date and 

payment for deemed capacity for 

the period 2013 to date." 

It stated, "Putting in place an 

effective financing plan to kick in 

upon the exhaustion of the 

N701bn payment <strong>as</strong>surance 

facility to sustain payments of 

invoices till 2021, when FG 

projects that the NESI would be 

self-sustaining. 

"The importance of this cannot 

be over-emph<strong>as</strong>ized <strong>as</strong> not 

having an effective financing plan 

in place would erode whatever 

gains that would be made when 

the above proposed solutions are 

implemented. 

"GENCOs further reiterate the 

necessity for effective payment 

security and guarantees on their 

exposure to the market. The 

GENCOs make reference to the 

original intention of providing 

World Bank Partial Risk 

Guarantees supported by the 

Sovereign Guarantee of Nigeria 

at the inception of the power 

sector privatization exercise. 

"Effective payment security and 

sovereign guarantee is inevitable 

to stabilize the Nigerian 

Electricity Supply Industry 

(NESI), given (a) the current 

developmental stage of the 

electricity market; (b) the default 

rate of GENCOs in respect of 

their loan repayment obligations 

to their lenders. 

"Without such instruments and 

the required sovereign backing, 

it becomes impossible for any 

bank or financial institution to 

provide any funding or credit 

accommodation to any GENCO, 

yet there is an obvious need for 

substantial additional 

investments and funding to 

develop the NESI and put the 

electricity market on the right 

growth trajectory. 

"The foregoing makes it explicit 

.As 4 power plants generate zero electricity in four months 

Energy Sent Out by Plant (MWH/H) from Aug.25 - Sept. 23, 2018 

that the GENCOs are not 

threatening or constituting 

themselves <strong>as</strong> economic 

saboteurs via shutting down of 

their stations, but the forces of 

demand and supply imposed on 

them are making it inevitable for 

the units to shut down." 

It added, "History h<strong>as</strong> shown 

in the p<strong>as</strong>t three decades how 

generating plants were run right 

to the ground by the defunct 

National Electric Power Authority, 

NEPA, without the scheduled 

maintenance and overhaul. 

These new breed of determined 

operators have continued to 

maintain standards by incre<strong>as</strong>ing 

their national generation capacity 

without being paid rightly for their 

services. 

"Technically, high frequency 

indicates high generation without 

commensurate demand (load), 

while high demand in the face of 

low generation results in low 

frequency. In a grid network 

playing host to numerous 

generators, there is need to 

control frequency swing to avoid 

adverse effect on different 

generators. 

"Regulators and policy makers 

are called upon to take dr<strong>as</strong>tic and 

decisive actions in arresting this 

situation <strong>as</strong> quickly <strong>as</strong> possible 

to ensure that normalcy returns 

<strong>as</strong> failure can affect the life 

expectancy for all appliances of 

customers connected to the 

Nigerian electrical grid. 

"New and existing industry will 

choose other countries with more 

reliable and constant electrical 

power to settle, leading to loss of 

hundreds of thousands of jobs for 

Nigeria <strong>as</strong> well <strong>as</strong> loss of revenues 

(foreign exchange) for the 

country. 

"Operating outside of the safe 

zone for most part of the time 

incre<strong>as</strong>es the costs of 

maintenance and repairs. Given 

that maintenance costs and 

machine availability are two of the 

most important concerns to a 

heavy-duty g<strong>as</strong> turbine 

equipment owner, 

"Inspections, spare parts 

planning, and other major factors 

affecting component life and 

proper operation of the equipment 

<strong>as</strong> well <strong>as</strong> other station auxiliaries 

which require periodic servicing 

including the control devices, fuelmetering 

equipment, g<strong>as</strong> turbine 

auxiliaries, and load package will 

be incre<strong>as</strong>ed significantly." 

It added, "The state of the sector 

finance and access is further 

corroborated by the Financial 

Stability Report of the Central 

Bank of Nigeria, of December 

2016, which shows that loans to 

the power and energy sector 

accounted for 4.5 per cent of the 

gross loan portfolio of the nation 

banking system <strong>as</strong> credit to that 

sector h<strong>as</strong> stood at N726.29bn. 

"This led to the CBN directing 

the creditor banks to GENCOs to 

make provisions for power sector 

loans, whose performance are 

admittedly very poor (due to the 

inability of the GENCOs to service 

and repay loans and credit 

facilities foisted on them by the 

huge outstanding debts owed 

them), and the absence of effective 

payment security and guarantee. 

The effect is GENCOs are under 

additional pressures and are 

exposed to the exercise of lenders' 

right against bad debtors and the 

fallout of exercises. 

"The illiquid nature of the sector 

w<strong>as</strong> further corroborated by the 

World Bank in its recent report 

which states that the highly 

leveraged balance sheets of 

sector operators had severely 

constrained their ability to access 

commercial financing." 

Generation 

Meanwhile, Vanguard 

gathered that 29 generating 

plants in the country produced a 

maximum of 3529 Megawatts of 

electricity daily in one month. 

This came <strong>as</strong> Ibom, ASCO, 

Geregu National Integrated 

Power Project, NIPP, AES, 

generating plant were not able 

to send out any power to the 

Transmission Company of 

Nigeria (TCN). 

Vanguard's findings showed 

that, Shiroro hydroelectric power 

plant in Niger State, with a 

generating capacity of 600mw 

generated an average of 

402.34mw, followed by Nigeria's 

largest fossil-fuel generating 

station Transcorp Power Limited's, 

Ughelli with an installed capacity 

of 972 MW, sending out an 

average of 379.62mw to the TCN. 

Intervention 

In a document sent to 

Vanguard, Sector Lead, 

Distribution Power, Advisory 

Power Team, Office of the Vice 

President of the Federal Republic 

of Nigeria, Morakinyo Beckley, 

stated, the government were 

aware of the many problems, 

adding that appropriate steps 

were being taken to tackle them. 

Oilserv signs pact in Equat 

uatorial Guinea, expands 

investment 

By Ediri Ejoh 

OILSERV Limited, a leading 

indigenous oil and g<strong>as</strong> 

EPCIC Company in Nigeria h<strong>as</strong> 

announced its joint venture with 

GEpetrol. 

The Joint Venture Agreement, 

which resulted in the formation of 

OILSERV EQUATORIAL 

GUINEA S.L, w<strong>as</strong> signed between 

Oilserv Limited and GEpetrol at the 

GEpetrol Tower in Equatorial 

Guinea capital City, Malabo 

recently. GEpetrol w<strong>as</strong> established 

<strong>as</strong> the National Oil Company of the 

Republic of Equatorial Guinea by 

Presidential Decree on August 27, 

2001 and became operational in 

January 2002. 

The Joint Venture is a collective 

strategic thinking aimed at driving 

inbound investment into the 

Equatorial Guinea Oil/G<strong>as</strong> 

landscape and to develop the 

necessary local technical capacity to 

support the investment aimed at 

repositioning the national economy. 

The Chairman/Group Chief 

Executive Officer of Oilserv Group, 

Engr. Emeka Okwuosa, said, ''<strong>as</strong> the 

clear leader in the industry in 

• Source: NCC 

Nigeria, we are always looking at 

innovative approaches to expand 

our business. This Joint Venture 

offers Oilserv Limited a strategic 

foothold in one of the world's f<strong>as</strong>testgrowing 

economy and the third 

largest oil producing country in sub- 

Saharan Africa. 

"The joint venture partnership will 

benefit immensely from our 

experience and capabilities in 

navigating local terrains, customs, 

others and would create more value 

for the government and people of 

Equatorial Guinea.'' 

The Director General/CEO of 

GEpetrol, Sen?r Antonio Ondo, 

during the signing of the agreement 

said: ''I am delighted to welcome yet 

another global brand to GEpetrol, 

especially a respected and 

recognised name in the Nigerian 

Oil and G<strong>as</strong> industry. This new 

partnership is a testament of the 

government's continuous efforts in 

encouraging private sector 

participation with greater economic 

liberalisation policies and the 

creation of favourable investment 

climate and enabling framework. 

"GEpetrol sees a m<strong>as</strong>sive 

repositioning support in Oilserv in 

achieving its corporate objectives 

and national <strong>as</strong>pirations and had 

authorised a coordinated forward 

plan to actualise the joint venture 

partnership with Oilserv <strong>as</strong> an 

integral part of the government's 

efforts at repositioning the national 

economy by stemming rampant 

capital flight and boosting job 

creation in the country. 

"We are also confident that this 

joint venture would fit into Oilserv 

Limited 

business 

internationalisation model for Africa, 

and indeed for Equatorial Guinea 

and the Central Africa sub-region." 

However, GEpetrol is the 

custodian of the state's interest and 

remains at the forefront of 

innovation and strategic 

partnerships in the Equatorial 

Guinea oil and g<strong>as</strong> sector. 

In the upstream area, GEpetrol 

manages the Equatorial Guinea 

State's participation in petroleum 

contracts, markets the state's share 

of production and participates in oil 

service activities. 

In the midstream area, GEpetrol 

is a partner in the Equatorial 

Guinea Liquified Natural G<strong>as</strong> 

Company and in other ventures. It 

also participates in general 

commercial ventures that enhance 

the economic development of 

Equatorial Guinea. 

C 

M 

Y 

K

PROMO: From right: Umesh Malik,General Manager,Lubes, 11plc;Mr Tunji Oyebanji,Managing 

Director,11plc;Mr Virwani Ramesh,Chief Operating Officer,and Ravi Bachu,Chief Financial Officer,11plc 

(formerly Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc)) ,at the Grand Finale of the Mobil Peel & Win promo held at Teslim Balogun 

stadium in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO; AKEEM SALAU 

11Plc 1Plc petitions police over Ascon occupation of 

Gbagada fuel station 

By Udeme Akpan 

11 Plc, formerly 

Mobil Oil Nigeria 

Plc, h<strong>as</strong> petitioned police 

authorities over 

Ascon Oil Nigeria 

Limited alleged 

occupation of a filling 

station, located in a piece 

of land belonging to the 

late Chief Sunday 

Ogunyade in Gbagada, 

Lagos. 

While 11 Plc said its 

le<strong>as</strong>e of the land from the 

late Sunday Ogunyade’s 

family would expire in 

2020, Ascon maintained 

that it remains the owner 

of the property, having 

bought it from the family, 

a development which 

made Justice A.M. 

Lawal of High Court of 

Lagos to earlier ruled 

that the two parties 

should stay clear from 

the property until the 

c<strong>as</strong>e of ownership is 

decided by the court. 

Meanwhile, in a letter 

sent to the Commissioner 

of Police dated 

September 17, 2018, a 

copy which w<strong>as</strong> made 

available to Vanguard, 

P.C. Obi & Co, lawyers to 

11 Plc company stated: 

“We have just received 

another damning report 

by our client, informing 

us that Ascon officials, in 

the company of ten police 

men, went to the subject 

station on September 11, 

2018 and the early hours 

of September 12, 2018 

respectively, where they 

were seen to position fire 

extinguishers on the 

pump islands and also 

positioned cars on all the 

pumps presumably with 

a view to commencing 

sales at the station. 

“We wish to further 

warn that this is an act of 

lawlessness, which not 

only constitutes flagrant 

disobedience to the 

orders of Justice A.M 

Lawal of Lagos State 

High Court restraining 

both parties from the 

station but would also 

amount to theft <strong>as</strong> our 

client h<strong>as</strong> 42,0000 litres 

of PMS at the station. A 

copy of the order of court 

is attached herewith for 

your e<strong>as</strong>e of reference. 

“We are appalled at the 

fact that the policemen 

under your command 

who are supposed to 

champion the rule of law 

have continued to be 

complicit in violating the 

law and order. We note 

that Ascon h<strong>as</strong>, in cahoots 

with the police under 

your command, persisted 

in disregarding and 

disobeying the law in 

impunity.” 

In another petition 

directed to the Inspector 

General of Police, dated 

September 14, 2018, 11 

Plc stated: “In the 

aftermath of the inv<strong>as</strong>ion, 

we also filed a suit 

against Ascon, on the 

b<strong>as</strong>is of which Justice A. 

M. Lawal of the Lagos 

State High Court made 

an order restraining both 

parties from the station. 

A copy of the order is 

enclosed herewith for 

your e<strong>as</strong>e of reference. 

“However, in spite of 

the indictment by your 

office and the extant 

order of Justice A. M. 

Lawal, the commissioner 

h<strong>as</strong> been aiding Ascon to 

frustrate your directives 

<strong>as</strong> well <strong>as</strong> disobey the 

court’s order. In this 

regard, the commissioner 

h<strong>as</strong> posted policemen to 

the station who routinely 

allow Ascon officials and 

thugs to do <strong>as</strong> they 

ple<strong>as</strong>e.” 

The policemen had 

allowed Ascon officials/ 

thugs to do <strong>as</strong> they 

ple<strong>as</strong>e. The policemen 

had allowed Ascon 

officials/thugs to remove 

the Mobil sign posts and 

other materials at the 

station and replace them 

with that of Ascon. The 

policemen on the 

instructions of the 

commissioner have been 

giving access to Ascon 

engineers to inspect and 

work at the station. 

“On September 11, 

2018, we received reports 

that Ascon officials, in the 

company of 10 

policemen, have been 

visiting the station, 

positioning fire 

extinguishers on the 

pump islands and 

carrying out other 

activities preparatory to 

commencing sales. In 

fact, Ascon have today, 

September 14, 2018 

started selling the 42,000 

litres of PMS we have at 

the station, an action that 

constitutes flagrant 

violation of the court’s 

order and blatant act of 

theft.” 

Ruling 

In his ruling, dated 

May 23, 2018, Justice 

A.M. Lawal, High Court 

of Lagos had declared: 

“The argument of the two 

sides drifted to the issue 

of, which of the two sides 

is entitled to the 

possession of the property 

in issue, the contention of 

the Applicant is that she 

is in possession, and 

possession w<strong>as</strong> forcefully 

wrestled from her on 

December 20, 2018, the 

argument of the Claimant 

is that the 1st Defendant 

is a contemnor having 

been ordered to vacate 

possession and pay 

mesne profit by the 

decision of Dada, J. A 

determination of the 

argument on the issue of 

possession will amount to 

a determination of the 

main claim of the 

Claimant. 

“Courts have been 

enjoined not to at this 

interlocutory stage 

determine the main claim. 

Because the issue of the 

legal right of the 1st 

Defendant to the 


cannot be determined at 

this stage, the court will 

refuse the application of 

the 1st Defendant. 

“However, this court 

frowns at the conduct of 

the Claimant in taking of 


in dispute forcefully <strong>as</strong> 

alleged by the 1st 

Defendant although the 

police <strong>as</strong> claimed by the 

Claimant. It is wrong to 

take possession forcefully 

and it is also wrong to take 


in dispute through the 

Police. So whether 

possession w<strong>as</strong> taken by 

self-help or awarded to 

the Claimant by the 

Police it is wrong <strong>as</strong> the 

property possessed is the 

subject matter of the suit 

before the court. 

Consequent of the 

above, the court hereby 

order the two sides to 

this suit to vacate this 

subject matter property 

of the suit, the property 

shall remain vacant till 

otherwise determined by 

the Court.” 

Ascon argument 

But in a document— 

History behind Ascon 

Oil Company Limited vs 

Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc — 

sent to the police, Ascon 

stated, among other 

things, that: “Mobil had 

a le<strong>as</strong>e with the family 

from 1980 to 2000 which 

w<strong>as</strong> extended for 

another 10 years, from 

2000 to 2010, without 

option of renewal, this 

le<strong>as</strong>e elapsed by 

effluxion of time on 

August 31, 2010. 

“Towards the end of 

2010, the Administrators 

of late Chief Sunday 

Ogunyade subsequently 

entered into a 10 (ten) 

year le<strong>as</strong>e agreement 

over the property with 

Ascon Oil Company 

Limited and shortly 

thereafter sold out 

rightly the Property to 

Ascon Oil Company 

Limited. The title of 

Ascon Oil over the 

Property is fully 

perfected and not in 

dispute. 

“Recently, some men 

came to our office and 

told our Group 

Managing Director that 

Mobil wants to sell the 

petrol station to them 

and inquired to know 

our interest on the 

property. We were 

greatly alarmed by this 

information and this is 

part of Mobil’s design to 

permanently dispossess 

us of our property. Due 

to these re<strong>as</strong>ons, we 

were constrained to 

peacefully go to the 

filling station to show our 

presence. Mobil didn’t 

object to our presence at 

the property, because 

they know we are the 

owners of the petrol 

filling station.” 


People, real <strong>as</strong>sets in oil, 

g<strong>as</strong> industry y – AOGS 

PEOPLE have been 

described <strong>as</strong> the real 

<strong>as</strong>sets in the oil and g<strong>as</strong> 

industry, required to enable 

organisations and nations 

achieve their goals. 

In an email to Vanguard, 

Managing Director, AOGS 

Energy Resources Limited, 

Mr. Emmanuel Emielu, 

stated: “For the global oil 

industry, the only thing that 

is certain now is not change; 

that is already a cliché. The 

only thing that is certain now 

is that people will make the 

difference between 

breakthrough growth and 

stagnation. 

“Developments in recent 

years point to an industry still 

reeling in uncertainties, 

rising oil prices 

notwithstanding. It h<strong>as</strong> been 

about a year on now since 

the upward climb, yet an 

ominous cloud still hangs on 

the direction prices would go. 

“Besides, disruptive 

technologies such <strong>as</strong> 

autonomous systems, block 

chain, artificial intelligence, 

and robotics are redefining 

the future of hydrocarbon 

Exploration and Production. 

Some are already predicting 

that with digital, there is not 

a job in the oil industry that 

will not change in due course. 

All these are coming at a time 

when the West and Asia are 

investing heavily on electric 

vehicles, with near term 

deadlines for changing over 

from fossil fuels.” 

He said: “For oil and g<strong>as</strong> 

CEOs and HR leaders, there 

is no play book for leading at 

a time like this. But though 

tomorrow’s environment 

may be different, it will be no 

less rich in possibilities for 

those who are prepared, to 

paraphr<strong>as</strong>e a statement by 

Mckinsey. 

“It makes sense therefore, 

that to harness the 

possibilities, talent is key, and 

that with a high sense of 

urgency. People must be seen 

<strong>as</strong> the real <strong>as</strong>set for charting 

the road to recovery, creative 

and resilient people skilled 

at cutting through chaos, to 

deliver and growth. 

Education and Training 

need to be funded to the 

right levels by countries 

and companies, with 

investments in new models 

for learning and delivery.” 

Emielu added: “What are 

the options for Nigeria, 

Angola, Egypt and other 

African hydrocarbon 

nations? Will the evolving 

new normal prove an 

existential challenge for 

these economies that have 

for long been highly 

dependent on oil 

revenues? Will their E&P 

operators and service 

companies p<strong>as</strong>s the stress 

test being hauled at them 

by the waves of 

complexities facing the oil 

industry today? 

“No e<strong>as</strong>y answers for 

sure, but talent holds the 

key. Follow this 

conversation at the 3rd 

African Oil & G<strong>as</strong> Talent 

Summit, coming up on 

October 24-25 at the 4-Point 

by Sheraton Hotel Lagos, 

Nigeria. AOGS2018 brings 

oil and g<strong>as</strong> CEOS, HR and 

L&D practitioners, 

workforce solutions 

providers, education and 

government officials 

together to explore the role 

of talent in leading 

organisations through the 

unfolding crises scenarios.” 

HIGH TARIFF: Agbor 

gborok 

oko 

landlords protest, demand 

pre-paid meters 

By Victoria Opara 

THE Landlord Association of Agboroko Indepen 

dent Layout in Ojo Local Government Area of 

Lagos State h<strong>as</strong> protested against high electricity tariff 

by Eko Electricity Distribution Company, EKEDC, 

demanding the provision of pre-paid meters for residents. 

The angry residents, who staged a peaceful protest 

at the premises of EKEDC, Ojo District, in Iba, lamented 

that they were being given charges that were 

not commensurate with the electricity they consumed. 

Chairman of the <strong>as</strong>sociation, Mr. Peter Momoh, who 

briefed newsmen, regretted that several letters written 

to EKEDC and Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission, 

NERC, yielded no response. 

His words:” We are fed up with the persistent monthly 

incre<strong>as</strong>e in our electricity bills. We are tired of the 

unjust treatment by the EKEDC. As a community, we 

collectively contributed money to purch<strong>as</strong>e transformers 

and electrical wires after which we still paid a huge 

amount of money to EKEDC for the equipment to be 

installed. We cannot afford the bills given to us monthly. 

Therefore, we want the EKEDC to provide us with 

pre-paid meters or disconnect the electricity. 

Also speaking, the Secretary of the residents’ platform, 

Mr. Anthony Udo, said: “We cannot dispute the 

fact that Nigeria <strong>as</strong> a nation often experiences power 

shortage. But our community can experience it for 

weeks, especially when it rains. At the end of every 

month, we are charged more than the price of the 

previous month.’’ 

Responding to the protesters, the District Manager 

EKEDC, Ojo District, Is<strong>as</strong>hi, Mr. Benjamin Ifeanyichukwu 

promised that the high tariff would be reduced, 

while the community awaits the pre-paid 

meters. Continuing, he called for dialogue between 

the residents and EKEDC. 

/


FG plans diver 

ersif 

sification ication to geothermal energy for electricity 

generation 

By Michael Eboh & 

Tochukwu Maxwell 

Minister 

OF 

MINES AND 

Steel Development, Mr. 

Abubakar Bwari, h<strong>as</strong> stated 

that the Federal 

Government is working 

<strong>as</strong>siduously to promote the 

use of geothermal energy 

sources within the shortest 

possible time for electricity 

generation in the country. 

Bwari stated this in Abuja, 

at the Nigerian Mining and 

Geosciences Society 

(NMGS), and the Nigerian 

Geological Survey Agency 

(NGSA) Discourse Series on 

'Geothermal Energy; An 

Untapped Potential for 

Socio-Economic 

Development.' 

The quest to diversify to 

geothermal energy sources, 

he explained, led the 

Federal Government, 

through the Ministry of 

Mines and Steel 

Development Roadmap, to 

specifically focus on the 

exploration of energy 

minerals including coal, 

bitumen and uranium out of 

the growing list of 44 

mineral types that are 

available in Nigeria. 

He said: "The aim of 

government is to provide the 

enabling environment for 

enterprise to thrive and 

ensure the wellbeing of its 

citizenry, but this is not 

possible without giving 

By Michael Eboh 

O IL-producing 

communities, 

under the aegis of Host 

Communities of Nigeria, 

Producing Oil and G<strong>as</strong> 

(HOSCON), h<strong>as</strong> appealed 

to youths threatening to 

resume hostilities in the 

Niger Delta to exercise 

restraint and tow the path 

of peace. 

HOSCON's appeal 

comes on the heels of 

perceived witch-hunt of 

Niger Delta leaders, 

especially with the inv<strong>as</strong>ion 

of the residence of elder 

statesman and South-South 

leader, Chief Edwin Clark, 

by the Nigerian Police. 

Speaking to Vanguard 

after a courtesy visit to 

Chief Clark in Abuja, 

National Coordinator of 

HOSCON, Mr. Mike 

Emuh, appealed to the 

youths not to return to the 

creeks to resume hostilities 

<strong>as</strong> this would cause 

immense hurt to the 

Nigerian economy and also 

hamper the 10, 000 Niger 

Delta youths oil and g<strong>as</strong> 

pipeline surveillance and 

protection project. 

He also called on youths 

in the region to resume the 

protection of the pipelines 

and ensure that national 

<strong>as</strong>sets are not sabotaged by 

selfish individuals. 

The HOSCON boss also 

called on the Inspector 

General of Police, Mr. 

Ibrahim Idris, to 

CONFERENCE: From Left: (L-R) Chief Operating Officer Nig National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) 

Dr Victor Babatunde Adeniran, President Pipelines Professional Association Of Nigeria (PLAN) Mr Geoff 

Onuoha and Chairman/CEO Nestoil Limited Dr Ernest Azudialu-Obiejesi explaining details of the company's 

operations in the oil&g<strong>as</strong> industry during inspection of Nestoil Exhibition stand at Nigerian International 

Pipeline Technology &Security Conference in Abuja 

them adequate electricity. 

As the Federal Government 

continues to pursue 

vigorously, traditional 

means of providing power, 

we must also look at the 

untapped potential of 

geothermal energy, <strong>as</strong> well 

<strong>as</strong> similar cutting edge 

scientific resources. 

"So far, the deregulation 

of the power sector h<strong>as</strong> 

created room for the 

diversification of our energy 

mix away from just 

hydropower to the use of 

immediately pay a visit to 

the elder statesman to 

tender the apology of the 

Police personally. 


visit of the Police boss, in 

addition to the apology 

earlier tendered by the 

force to Clark would show 

that the top hierarchy of the 

security agency did not 

endorse the raid and also 

reveal that the Police are 

fossil fuels and other 

renewable sources <strong>as</strong> well. 

"In developing our road 

map for the growth and 

development of the mining 

sector, which w<strong>as</strong> 

graciously approved by the 

Federal Executive Council 

on August 31, 2016, we 

became immediately aware 

that the mining sector h<strong>as</strong> 

several linkages with other 

thematic are<strong>as</strong> that include 

water resources, the 

environment, construction, 

agriculture and of course 

HOSCON cautions against destruction of petroleum <strong>as</strong>sets 

remorseful over the 

incident. 

He said: "HOSCON 

came to visit Chief Clark 

to empathise with the 

elder statesman and we 

also condemn the <strong>as</strong>sault 

on his person by the 

security agency. 

"We laud the steps taken 

so far by the Police on the 

issue and the widespread 

condemnation the 

inv<strong>as</strong>ion had elicited. 

energy. The document 

therefore prescribes 

collaborative actions for all 

stakeholders in order to 

achieve our goal of 

engendering shared 

mining prosperity." 

To this end, Bwari said the 

Ministry of Mines and Steel 

Development had 

consistently been a critical 

player in advancing 

alternative supply of energy, 

stating that the ministry had 

worked, in this regard with 

However, we call on the 

Inspector General of Police, 

to in addition to tendering 

an apology, also pay the 

elder statesman a visit and 

present the apology to him 

in person. 

"This would go a long 

way in proving the sincerity 

of the Police over this issue, 

prove that Idris did not 

actually send the officers <strong>as</strong> 

claimed by them and also 

<strong>as</strong>suage the perceived 

the Ministry of Power, 

Works and Housing in the 

coal to power programme. 

He noted that sourcing for 

and characterising coal 

resources in Nigeria had 

become the b<strong>as</strong>is for policy 

direction regarding coal 

initiative, while he added 

that in addition, the ministry 

had been interfacing with 

the Nigerian Atomic Energy 

Agency towards advancing 

the safe use of nuclear 

energy. 

hurts done to Chief Clark 

and Niger Deltans." 

Emuh further called on 

the Federal Government, <strong>as</strong> 

a matter of urgency, show 

its disdain for the inv<strong>as</strong>ion 

by rele<strong>as</strong>ing the 13 per cent 

Derivation Fund to oilproducing 

communities 

and also accede to the 16- 

point and four-point 

demands of Pan Niger 

Delta Forum, PANDEF and 

HOSCON respectively. 

Par 

artner 

tnership, cooperation key y to Nigeria's local content 

ent 

development - Wabote 

THE Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB, h<strong>as</strong> harped on the need for incre<strong>as</strong>ed 

partnership and cooperation among stakeholders in order to develop local content in Nigeria's oil and g<strong>as</strong> 

industry. 

Speaking at the renaming of NigerStar 7 Adaba, Thursday, in Lagos, Mr. Simbi Wabote said, "My l<strong>as</strong>t point is on the 

importance of collaboration. A look at the business model of NigerStar 7 shows that it is in partnership with others to 

build up the formidable presence in engineering, fabrication, installation, and project management. In fact, NigerStar- 

7 itself is a product of collaboration between Nigerdock and Subsea-7. 

"It is important for other service providers to take note of this and build bridges rather than burn them. As our 

industry rebounds from the period of downturn, and we see rays of light in the sanctioning of big ticket projects, there 

is need to collaborate more and build partnerships that l<strong>as</strong>t. The opportunities in the industry are quite v<strong>as</strong>t such that 

there is room for a win-win situation for all. 

"The Board h<strong>as</strong> consciously adopted this mantra by working across boundaries to sync together applicable elements 

of various statutory mandates for the benefit of industry stakeholders. We are in collaboration with NNPC-NAPIMS, 

NIMASA, NEPZA, OGFZA, NIS, FAAN, NIPC, EFCC, BOI, and several other agencies and institutions." 

He said, "These collaborations are already yielding results such <strong>as</strong> the alignment with NIMASA on cl<strong>as</strong>sification of 

vessels operating, or seeking to operate, in Nigerian waters <strong>as</strong> well <strong>as</strong> training of seafarers. NNPC-NAPIMS is also 

preparing the 5-year projection of vessel requirements to guide stakeholders on focus are<strong>as</strong> and investment opportunities. 

"I am keen to see several of such collaborations amongst the Nigerian Oil and G<strong>as</strong> service providers so that we can 

accomplish much more for our businesses, for the country, and more importantly, create employment opportunities for 

that jobless graduate next door." 

He disclosed that there were many untapped opportunities in the nation's oil and g<strong>as</strong> industry, adding that, "The 

schedule contained in the Nigerian Oil & G<strong>as</strong> Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act 2010 represents 

unrivalled opportunity for players like NigerStar7 to key into. 

"As an example, the schedule in the Act for the marine operations and logistics services makes provision for 75% 

Nigerian Content in the marine installation services while there is 100% Nigerian Content provision for crane barges 

and heavy lift vessels. The law is also clear that first consideration shall be given to Nigerian companies which 

demonstrate ownership of equipment, personnel, and capacity to execute jobs locally. 

OPEC-Non- 

OPEC 

cooperation 

to stabilise 

oil market t – 

Barkindo 

Stories by Prince 

Okafor 

THE Organisation of 

Petroleum Exporting 

Countries (OPEC) and 

Non-OPEC nations will 

continue to work toward 

achieving incre<strong>as</strong>ed stability 

in the global oil market. 

Speaking at the 10th 

Meeting of the Joint 

Ministerial Monitoring 

Committee (JMMC), in 

Algiers, Algeria recently, 

OPEC Secretary General, 

Mohammad Sanusi 

Barkindo, stated: “OPEC- 

Non-OPEC cooperation will 

continue to enhance 

dialogue and build bridges 

across the industry. It will 

work hard to ensure a 

sustainable stability in the 

global oil market, enabling 

steady and l<strong>as</strong>ting economic 

growth across consuming 

and producing countries. 

“From the beginning, 

OPEC member countries 

have endeavoured to meet 

their customers’ needs in a 

reliable and secure manner. 

We continue to have open 

and inclusive dialogue with 

all major stakeholders, 

including consumers, in an 

effort to consider common 

issues of concern regarding 

market stability. And this 

feedback, naturally, factors 

into any decision taken by 

OPEC, and more recently, 

by our Non-OPEC friends 

<strong>as</strong> well.” 

platform that consistently 

strives to maintain stability 

in the oil markets, in the 

interests of both producers 

and consumers. We have a 

vested, mutual interest in 

the healthy growth of the 

global economy.” 

Hyde opens 

new station 

in Lagos 

HYDE 

Energy 

Limited, a global 

oil and commodities 

trading company and 

producer of premium 

lubricants in Nigeria, h<strong>as</strong> 

opened a new retail station 

in Egbeda, Lagos. 

In a statement sent to 

Vanguard, the company 

stated that the station is 

designed to satisfy 

consumers through 

product and service 

delivery. 

It stated that the station 

will run for 18 hours daily 

dispensing petrol, diesel 

and kerosene, adding that 

also available for purch<strong>as</strong>e 

at the station are Hyde 

Energy's range of 

automotive lubricants with 

various options from 

synthetic, multi-grade, 

monograde, specialty oils 

for tailor-made 

applications and all types 

of gre<strong>as</strong>es. 

The Chief Executive 

officer of the company, Mr. 

Oladimeji Edwards, said 

the new station w<strong>as</strong> 

inspired by the company's 

commitment to providing 

efficient fuelling solutions 

to customers.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2018 — 25



P&G Nigeria gets new Managing Director 

PROCTER 

and 

Gamble, P&G, 

Nigeria, h<strong>as</strong> announced 

the appointment of Adil 

Farhat <strong>as</strong> its new 

Managing Director. This 

comes after the 

retirement of the 

previous Managing 

Director, George N<strong>as</strong>sar. 

Mr. Farhat joined 

Procter and Gamble in 

2001 and for the l<strong>as</strong>t 17 

years, h<strong>as</strong> served in 

various capacities at 

P&G across Europe, 

Middle E<strong>as</strong>t and 

Pakistan subsidiaries. 

Prior to his appointment 

<strong>as</strong> MD for Nigeria, Mr. 

Farhat w<strong>as</strong> the Country 

Sales Director for P&G 

Nigeria. 

Adil Farhat h<strong>as</strong>, over 

the years, in various 

capacities, proven 

himself an accomplished 

and innovative leader, 

with a track record of 

successfully delivering 

top and bottom-line 

performance. 

Commenting on the 

appointment of Adil 

Farhat, the Vice- 

President, Sub-Saharan 

Africa, Faisal Sabzwari 

said: “I would like to 

congratulate Adil on his 

appointment. Adil brings 

fresh ide<strong>as</strong> and an 

innovative approach that 

will enhance and help 

revamp our P&G Nigeria 

operations sustainably. 

We’re here for the long 

haul and his 

appointment reaffirms 

P&G’s commitment to 

our Nigeria operations.” 

Speaking on his 

appointment, Mr. Farhat 

said: “I am honoured by 

the opportunity to lead 

P&G Nigeria. It is both 

exciting and 

challenging. There is 

tremendous potential for 

P&G in Nigeria and 

together with our 

amazing team of P&G 

talent and our world 

cl<strong>as</strong>s brands, I am 

confident that we will 

continue to build a 

fant<strong>as</strong>tic business.” 

P&G Communications 

Manager, Tomiwa 

Ajewole, who 

commented on the 

leadership change said 

that Mr. Farhat’s 

appointment w<strong>as</strong> 

testament to P&G’s 

continued commitment 

and focus on driving 

economic and social 

infr<strong>as</strong>tructure 

development in Nigeria. 

Geo-Fluids: Esan takes over <strong>as</strong> Chairman 

GEO-Fluids 

Plc, 

an indigenous oil 

and g<strong>as</strong> field servicing 

company focused on 

drilling fluids, mud 

engineering, work-over, 

well completion and 

specialised chemical 

supplies and production 

chemical engineering, in a 

bid to reposition its 

operations and enhance 

shareholder value h<strong>as</strong> 

announced the 

appointment of Jacob Esan 

<strong>as</strong> its new Chairman and 

Chief Executive Officer. 

Geo-Fluids is also 

engaged in the supply of 

barites, bentonite, calcium 

carbonate and general 

slurry products. 

The appointment takes 

effect from September 1, 

2018. This is the outcome 

of the unanimous decision 

of the Board of the 

company, which is an 

indication of the absolute 

confidence on Mr. Esan 

and his team to steer the 

company on a new growth 

path towards the 

implementation of strategic 

initiatives to foster the 

company’s growth and 

refocus the company from its 

current challenges. 

The new chairman also 

effectively takes over control 

of GFL Marine Services 

Limited, a subsidiary of Geo- 

Fluids Plc, which supplies 

marine vessels, tugs, barges 

and offers other marine 

logistics services to the 

industry. 

In a letter jointly signed by 

Chief Odoliyi Lolomari and 

Dr. Ala Ibanibo, both 

outgoing chairman and 

retiring managing director/ 

chief executive officer 

respectively, the Board 

unanimously handed over 

the company to Jacob Esan, 

stating that the Board w<strong>as</strong> 

confident in his 

abilitiesfollowing his 

antecedents and 

performance on the 

rehabilitation and current 

restructuring of DEAP 

Capital Management & 

Trust Plc. 

They expressed high 

optimism for the future 

growth of the company 

given the goodwill it built 

over the years, which can 

be harnessed for 

profitability and further 

enhance shareholder 

value. 

Although the company is 

currently working its way 

out of a receivership 

process, the Board firmly 

believes that the injection of 

fresh ide<strong>as</strong> and a change 

of leadership at this point 

would further enhance the 

company’s prospects 

enormously with the 

emerging opportunities 

opening up in the industry. 

The Board also expressed 

its confidence that the 

company will overcome the 

current economic 

challenges. 

Jacob Esan, commenting 

on his appointment said it 

is a major challenge to take 

up a company undergoing 

a receivership process but 

would focus on the 

opportunities to overcome 

the challenges. He said his 

initial priorities would be to 

set up very clear and 

strategic objectives of turning 

around the fortunes of the 

company by exploiting and 

harnessing these 

opportunities. 

He further stated: “Geo- 

Fluids represents a unique 

opportunity to redefine 

indigenous participation in 

the oil and g<strong>as</strong> industry and 

other are<strong>as</strong> of operations.” 

Guinness appoints Irukwu, Ayeni Non-Executive Director 

GUINNESS Nigeria 

Plc h<strong>as</strong> announced 

the appointment 

of Yemisi Ayeni <strong>as</strong> its 

new Non-Executive 

Director and member of 

the company’s Board of 

Directors. Ayeni’s 

appointment at the 

company took effect from 

September 1, 2018. 

In a statement to the 

Nigerian Stock 

Exchange (NSE), the 

company also 

announced the 

retirement of Prof. Joe 

Irukwu <strong>as</strong> its Non- 

Executive Director which 

h<strong>as</strong> taken effect from 

August 28, 2018. 

Yemisi Ayeni is the 

immediate p<strong>as</strong>t 

Managing Director of 

Shell Nigeria Closed 

Fund Administrator 

Limited. A position she 

held for 10 years until her 

retirement in April 2015. 

She is a 1985 honours 

*Irukwu 

graduate of Accounting 

and Business Finance 

from the prestigious 

University of 

Manchester, UK; a 1989 

Chartered Accountant 

and member of the 

Institute of Chartered 

Accountants in England 

and Wales. 

Ayeni started her 

professional career with 

Pricewaterhouse, 

London in 1985 where 

she spent 5 years work- 

*Farhat 

*Ayeni 

ing her way through a 

variety of incre<strong>as</strong>ingly 

senior Audit roles before 

moving to the Firm’s 

Corporate Reconstruction 

and Insolvency 

team in 1990. She returned 

to Nigeria in 

1991 <strong>as</strong> a Senior Manager 

in the Corporate 

Finance Team of 

Pricewaterhouse, Lagos. 

In 1994, Ayeni joined 

Shell Nigeria and held 

*Esan 

a wide variety of roles 

during her 21 years with 

Shell. In November 

2004, she w<strong>as</strong> appointed 

Finance Director, Shell 

Exploration & Production 

Company Limited, 

SNEPCO, earning her 

the distinction of being 

the first Nigerian female 

to be appointed to the 

Board of a Shell Company 

in Nigeria. 

Until her retirement, 

Ayeni w<strong>as</strong> a council 

member of the Nigerian 

Stock Exchange and the 

Chair of the Exchange’s 

Demutualisation and 

Technical Committees; 

Vice-Chairperson, 

Pension Fund Operators’ 

Association and the Chair 

of the <strong>as</strong>sociation’s 

Institute Committee. She 

is currently the 

chairperson of NASCON 

Allied Industries Plc and 

Non-Executive Director of 

Stanbic IBTC Pension 

Managers Limited. 

Akpofure appointed 

Independent Director in IBIA 

SHAREHOLDERS of 

Africa 50, an 

Investment Bank for 

Infr<strong>as</strong>tructure in Africa, 

ABIA, have approved the 

expansion of the Board 

of Directors with 

appointment of Imoni 

Akpofure <strong>as</strong> an 

Independent Director. 

The five new board 

members who hail from 

France, Lebanon, Kenya, 

Nigeria and South 

Africa, are recognised 

senior experts in 

infr<strong>as</strong>tructure or related 

fields and have 

substantial experience 

<strong>as</strong> non-executive 

directors in Africa and 

globally. 

The newly appointed 

Independent Directors 

are Akpofure, an 

Independent Director at 

GTBank, Monhla Wilma 

Hlahla, Sophie L’Heli<strong>as</strong>, 

Assaad Jabre and Albert 

Mugo. 

President of the African 

Development Bank and 

Chairman of the Board of 

Directors of Africa50 

noted that the new 

directors will bring to 

bear their wealth of 

experience. 

Dizengoff: Duke now Chairman 

DIZENGOFF Nigeria 

h<strong>as</strong> appointed 

Owanari Duke <strong>as</strong> the 

company’s new Chairman of 

the Board of Directors of its 

Nigeria operations. 

She <strong>as</strong>sumes this new 

position from the outgoing 

Chairman, Prof. J.T.K. 

Duncan who recently retired. 

Anti Ritvonen, Chief 

Executive Officer of 

Dizengoff Nigeria said the 

new chairman brings a lot of 

energy, expertise <strong>as</strong> a 

lawyer and her wealth of 

experience <strong>as</strong> a former first 

lady of Cross River State and 

executive of several 

businesses. 

Mrs Duke used her 

position <strong>as</strong> the first lady to 

raise awareness and 

currently serves <strong>as</strong> the 

Country Director of 

EMPRETEC Nigeria 

Foundation; a United 

Nations Centre for Trade & 

Development, UNCTAD 

Private Sector Support 

Initiative that aims to <strong>as</strong>sist 

Nigerians to achieve high 

RT Brisco: Eguaikhide 

resumes <strong>as</strong> COO 

THE Board and 

Management of R.T. 

Briscoe Nigeria Plc, have 

announced the 

a p p o i n t m e n t 

of Olorunfemi A. 

Eguaikhide and Jubril 

Adetokunbo Shittu <strong>as</strong> its 

new Chief Operating 

Officer, COO, and Acting 

Chief Financial Officer, 

CFO respectively. 

Briscoe Nigeria Plc 

announced these 

appointments in a notice to 

the Nigerian Stock 

Exchange, NSE. 

The newly appointed 

COO is an alumnus of 

Lagos Business School, 

LBS of the Pan-Atlantic 

University, having attended 

the school’s Advanced 

Management Program in 

*Akpofure 

*Duke 

levels of productivity and 

competitiveness among 

SMEs. 

Mrs Duke is also the 

Managing Partner of the law 

firm, Duke and Bobmanuel. 

She is a certified Mediation/ 

Dispute Resolution 

Consultant. In addition to 

this, she serves <strong>as</strong> the 

Executive Chairman of 

Allied Merchants & Brokers 

Limited, a leading 

merchandising and 

brokerage firm. 

2016. He is a Microbiology 

graduate from the 

University of Benin and 

holds a Post-graduate 

Diploma in Business 

Administration and an 

MBA in Marketing 

Management from the 

Enugu State University of 

Science and Technology. 

Eguaikhide is also a full 

member of the Chartered 

Institute of Personnel 

Management of Nigeria, 

MCIPM, Associate of the 

Nigerian Institute for 

Training and Development, 

AITD, Fellow of the 

Institute of Credit 

Administration, FICA and 

a Fellow of the Institute of 

Corporate Administration 

of Nigeria.

28— Niger-Delta Voice, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2018 

VOL. 1: NO. 181 TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2018 

C’River govt, workers lock horns over 

deduction for biofuel cookers, solar lamps 

*Civil servants reject such compulsion, unacceptable – Comrade Otu, TUC chair 

*Govt negotiating, not forcing merchandise on workers- Mr. Henshaw, HOS 

BY IKE UCHECHUKWU 

CALABAR- CIVIL/ 

PUBLIC servants in 

Cross River State are at 

daggers drawn with the state 

government over a planned 

compulsory deduction of N25, 

200 - N55,456 from their salaries 

depending on the cl<strong>as</strong>sification 

of workers for the purch<strong>as</strong>e of 

Biofuel Cookers and Solar 

Lamps. 

Besides unverified claim that 

fume emitting from the biofuel 

cooker w<strong>as</strong> unsafe, the 

aggrieved workers have 

threatened to use any legal 

means against the state 

government if it goes ahead to 

deduct any amount by force 

from their salaries without their 

authority. 

Commissioner seeks 

gov’s approval 

NDV learned that the 

Commissioner, Ministry of 

Climate Change and Forestry, 

Dr. Alice Ekwu, May 19, 2017, 

forwarded a proposal by Alvila 

to the governor seeking 

approval for the undertaking. 

Her most recent request for 

approval of the contract 

dispatched to the Chief of Staff 

to the Governor w<strong>as</strong> dated 

September 4, 2018 

Gov grants approval, 

directs HoS 

Chief of Staff to the Governor 

in a letter titled: Re-Proposal for 

Purch<strong>as</strong>e of Biofuel Cooker and 

Sola Lamps by Public and Civil 

Servants: Implementation for 

Public Servants, reference 

number, GO/COS/ADM/451/ 

Vol XII, /543 addressed to the 

Head of Service, dated 

September 18, signed by D.O 

Ogbeche, conveyed the 

governor, Prof. Ben Ayade’s 

approval of the contract. 

The letter read: ”I have the 

directive of the Chief of Staff to 

the Governor to refer to the letter 

dated September 4, 2018 on the 

above subject matter from the 

Ministry of Climate Change 

and Forestry to forward to you 

for necessary action. 

“The Head of Service may 

wish to recall that His 

Excellency, the Governor had 

approved the proposal for the 

Commissioner, Ministry of 

Climate Change and Forestry 

for the purch<strong>as</strong>e of biofuel 

cookers and solar lamps for 

pubic and civil servants vide the 

Ministry’s letter of 19th May, 

2017. 

CROSS RIVER… 

THE PEOPLE’S PARADISE 

Controversial contract 

“As a follow up to this, a 

Memorandum 

of 

Understanding, MoU, w<strong>as</strong> 

signed to that effect by the 

organised labour, the ministry 

and the consulting firm, Alvila 

Technologies Ltd, witnessed by 

Head of Service in August 2018. 

“Arising from the above, the 

company is requesting the 

Ministry of Climate Change 

and Forestry to effect the 

implementation of His 

Excellency’s approval for the 

purch<strong>as</strong>e of biofuel cookers and 

solar lamps by public servants 

<strong>as</strong> signed in the memorandum 

of understanding. 

The Memorandum of 

Understanding, MoU, for the 

deduction over a period of 12 

months w<strong>as</strong> said to have been 

signed between the 

government, a consulting firm, 

Alvila Technologies Limited, 

supposedly owned by a close 

<strong>as</strong>sociate of the government 

and the Nigeria Labour 

Congress, NLC. 

What the MoU says 

Our source disclosed: 

“According to the controversial 

MoU, Category A, which is for 

grade level 07 workers and 

below, will pay N25,200, VAT 

inclusive and the sum of N1,050 

will be deducted monthly from 

their salaries for one single 

burner bio-fuel stove, one solar 

Fitila lamp, two SW LED bulbs 

and .75 litre gel. 

“For category B, which 

Delta villagers accuse Presco 

of causing flood in community 

*Company condemns accusation, says flood national cat<strong>as</strong>trophe 

•Displaced Oku Iboku residents in Akwa Ibom queue for lifeline from ‘GIVE- Challenge 

By Emma Amaize 

EKU- RESIDENTS of 

Ovre-Eku community in 

Ethiope-E<strong>as</strong>t Local Government 

Area, Delta State, h<strong>as</strong> accused 

Presco Plc, an Edo State-b<strong>as</strong>ed 

agro-industrial establishment of 

causing flood in the community. 

President-General of the 

community, Chief Joseph 

Ukueku, made the allegation in 

DELTA SOUTH: Itsekiri leaders didn’t 

adopt any <strong>as</strong>pirant — Chief Ekpoko 

WARRI—CHAIRMAN of 

Itsekiri Leaders of 

Thought, ILoT, in Delta State, 

Chief Edward Ekpoko, 

weekend, said that Itsekiri 

leaders had not adopted any of 

the <strong>as</strong>pirants for the Delta South 

Senatorial seat 

Chief Ekpoko made the 

clarification following media 

report that Itsekiri leaders 

adopted Itsekiri-born People's 

Democratic Party, <strong>PDP</strong> 

an interview with journalists in 

Eku. 

We’re not responsible for 

flood — Presco 

But Head of Administration, 

Presco, Mr. Anthony Uwajeh, in 

a sharp retort, rebutted the 

charge, saying: “It is not true that 

the activities of Presco h<strong>as</strong> 

anything to do with flooding, if 

indeed the area in question is 

senatorial <strong>as</strong>pirant, Hon. 

Michael Diden, during his 

recent consultative visit to the 

group. 

“What we told him is that at 

the appropriate time we will 

make our stand known, that we 

are fearless and will make our 

choice known to the Itsekiri 

people. I never at any time said 

that what he did at the Delta 

State Oil-Producing Are<strong>as</strong> 

Development Commission, 

affected by flood, which is not 

unusual at this period of the year. 

The flood situation this year is 

almost a national calamity and 

Edo and Delta states are among 

many states in Nigeria adversely 

affected by flood <strong>as</strong> shown on 

television daily,” he added. 

Presco cause of our 

problem, community 

insists 

DESOPADEC, w<strong>as</strong> 

unsurp<strong>as</strong>sed and that no Itsekiri 

man had even done that, I 

never said so. 

“I did not say that his houses 

in Sapele and Warri have 

become Mecca, even if people 

go there I am not aware. As the 

Chairman of ILoT, I have 

received calls from many people 

wanting to know what I said, I 

never said those things 

attributed to me,” he added. 

includes levels 08 and 09, they 

will cough out N28,400 with 

N1,184 deducted over 12 

months for one single burner 

bio-fuel stove, one solar lamp, 

two SW LED bulbs and .75 litre 

gel. 

“Category C with level 10 and 

above will pay N55,456 with 

N2, 311 deducted monthly for 

double burner bio-fuel stove, 

tre<strong>as</strong>ure light kit, two SW LED 

bulbs, five-litre gel and threelitre 

gel,” our source revealed. 

Further findings by NDV 

indicated that the money when 

deducted, will be lodged in the 

company’s account. 

NLC chair can’t be 

reached 

Chairman, Nigeria Labour 

Congress in the state, Mr. John 

Ushie, alleged to have signed 

the MoU could not be reached 

for comments, 

TUC chair spits fire 

But, Chairman, Trade Union 

Continues on page 29 

DELTA... THE BIG 

HEART OF THE NATION 

The community, however, 

insisted that Presco should respect 

the decision reached at various 

meetings in Edo and Bayelsa 

states by stopping operations 

pending the resolution of the 

boundary dispute between Edo 

and Delta states. 

Chief Ukueku stated that Presco 

w<strong>as</strong> still moving equipment to 

bulldoze lands in Ovre-Eku and 

Abraka are<strong>as</strong> in breach of 

agreements that all parties 

involved should maintain the 

status quo. 

“As l am speaking with you now, 

due to Presco's disobedience, 

floods have engulfed all the 

farmland in the community, 

thereby destroying crops and 

other valuables, l hope both states 

(Edo and Delta) would look into 

this issue critically because we are 

already facing a big loss due to 

the flood,” he said. 

Villagers relocate 

Ukueku said that many villagers 

had relocated from the community 

because of flood, calling on the 

state government to call Presco to 

order for peace to reign. 

Against national interest 

to stop operations 

However, Presco’s Mr Uwajeh 

told NDV: “While Chief Ukueku’s 

agenda h<strong>as</strong> remained to stop 

Presco’s operation <strong>as</strong> canv<strong>as</strong>sed 

in his several petitions, the 

position at both the Senate (of the 

Federal Republic of Nigeria) and 

at the joint Boundary Committee 

held in Benin is that it is not in 

the best interest of the local, state 

and national economy to stop the 

operations of such an agroinvestment 

that h<strong>as</strong> enormous 

economic impact on the economy 

in terms of employment 

generation, food security, import 

substitution, forex earnings, etc.” 

“Rather, efforts should be 

intensified to f<strong>as</strong>t track the work 

of the National Boundary 

Commission to conclude the 

demarcation of the boundary 

between Edo and Delta states and 

announce a clear decision without 

further delays,” he <strong>as</strong>serted.

Niger-Delta Voice, , TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, , 2018 — 29 

Rivers LG boss tackles strange ailments 

ground, adding the outreach 

w<strong>as</strong> part of his vision to restore 

the health of the people and 

would be extended to other 


“By our investigations, we 

found out that a lot of people in 

our area have health 

challenges. Hon. Tammy 

Danagogo, my brother, Major 

Jack and I collaborated with Life 

Forte Medical Foundation to 

see how health could be 

restored to the people through 

this medium. 

“One thing you must 

understand is that health is 

wealth and people must stay 

alive to enjoy whatever 

infr<strong>as</strong>tructure we will provide 

for them,” he <strong>as</strong>serted. 

President of Life Forte 

Medical Foundation, Dr. 

Tombari Joseph, also said the 

health intervention 

programme involving general 

surgery, dispensing of drugs, 

dental clinic, eye checks and 

dispensation of eyegl<strong>as</strong>ses 

w<strong>as</strong> a drive to better the health 

of the people. 

•Some of the beneficiaries of the intervention 

RIVERS… 

TREASURE BASE OF 

THE NATION 

By Davies Iheamnachor 

ABONNEMA – 

CHAIRMAN of Akuku 

CROSS RIVER… 

THE PEOPLE’S PARADISE 

By Ike Uchechukwu 

CALABAR- LEADER of 

Igbo community in Cross 

River State, Chief Chris Nonso, 

h<strong>as</strong> said that abduction of Igbo 

businessmen by money-making 

kidnappers had not abated in 

the state. 

Chief Nonso, who led a 

delegation of Igbo residents on 

a courtesy visit to former 

Minister of Culture, Tourism 

and Orientation and All 


governorship <strong>as</strong>pirant, High 

Chief Edem Duke, in Calabar, 

Cross River State, wondered 

why kidnappers would not 

leave his kinsmen alone. 

THE TEAM 

Emma Amaize - Editor 

Samuel Oyadongha - Yenagoa 

Jimitota Onoyume- Warri 

Gabriel Enoghol<strong>as</strong>e -Benin City 

Festus Ahon- Asaba 

Egufe Yafugborhi- Port Harcourt 

Emmanuel Una- Calabar 

Akpokona Omafuaire- Warri 

Godwin Oghre- Sapele 

Harri-Okon Emmanuel- Uyo 

Chioma Onuegbu-Uyo 

Ike Uchechukwu- Calabar 

Davies Iheamnachor- Port Harcourt 

Emem Idio- Yenagoa 

Brisibe Perez- Ughelli 

Theresa Ugbobu- Agbor 

Ochuko Akuopha- Oleh 

Chancel Bomadi Sunday - Bomadi 

Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu- Benin City 

Nath Onajoke, Asaba 

Chijioke Nwankpa, Port- Harcourt 

Toru Local 

Government Area, Rivers 

State, Mr. Rowland Sekibo, 

h<strong>as</strong> introduced a free health 

intervention programme to 

deal with strange ailments 

threatening residents of rural 


The programme commenced 

Traders t<strong>as</strong>k Gov Ayade 

“Some of our businesses are 

almost on the verge of collapse, 

a situation which h<strong>as</strong> forced 

some of our brothers to relocate 

to other states. 

“We know that politicians 

hardly keep to whatever 

promises they make, but for the 

fact that we have known you in 

the l<strong>as</strong>t 21 years, and have not 

found you wanting, we take you 

by your words,” the Igbo leader 

told the APC governorship 

<strong>as</strong>pirant. 

He called on the People's 

Democratic Party, <strong>PDP</strong> 

C’River govt, workers lock horns over deduction for biofuel 

cookers, solar lamps 

Continues from 

page 28 

Congress, TUC, Comrade 

Clarkson Otu, vowed that 

workers will resist any 

attempt by government to 

perpetuate such illegality. 

His words: “I am aware 

of the said bio-fuel cooker 

and lamp but the TUC will 

resist it. Workers in Cross 

River will fight against it. 

It is illegal for anyone to 

deduct money from the 

salaries of workers 

without their consent. 

“I am aware that some 

l<strong>as</strong>t week at Abonema town, 

headquarters of the council 

and surrounding 

communities with over 4000 

getting free medical care. 

Speaking while flagging off 

the scheme, Sekibo noted that 

it w<strong>as</strong> important for there to 

be health intervention in the 

area b<strong>as</strong>ed on reports on the 

labour leaders have even 

signed, but the government 

should not make the mistake 

of thinking that it will be 

binding on all the civil 

servants in Cross River State. 

It will not work; they cannot 

impose such item on us. 

“Besides, some people who 

have already bought and used 

the product are complaining 

that the fume is quite 

hazardous and the gel is very 

difficult to come by. 

“So there are so many issues 

surrounding the product and 

we will not keep quiet about 

it. And if government decides 

•Sekibo addressing the beneficiaries 

We’re still being kidnapped, Igbo traders in 

C’River cry out 

administration led by 

Governor Ben Ayade to rise up 

to the challenge and rescue 

the Igbos, otherwise they were 

prepared to relocate to other 

states for safety. 

Nonso stated that several 

Igbo people had been 

kidnapped and made to pay 

huge ransoms though the 

menace had been reduced, but 

pockets of kidnapping were 

on-going. 

Time to guarantee 

safety of Igbos 

Responding, the <strong>as</strong>pirant said: 

“The time h<strong>as</strong> come when all Igbo 

businessmen in the state should 

be given maximum protection to 

put an end to the incessant 

kidnapping of Igbos residing in 

Calabar and beyond. 

“Your contributions are 

imme<strong>as</strong>urable. And I <strong>as</strong> a 

businessman and a p<strong>as</strong>t 

president of the Calabar 

Chambers of Commerce, 

Industries Mines and 

Agriculture, I understand and 

recognise the challenges that you 

face in your business. 

“I want you to know that 

there is an <strong>as</strong>pirant that h<strong>as</strong> 

to go ahead to implement such 

plan, then we shall use every 

legal means to stop even if it 

means going to court,” he said. 

We’ll cause serious revolt 

—Worker 

A civil servant, who pleaded 

anonymity told NDV: “We are 

aware about the purported MoU 

and the plan by the state 

government to force workers to 

buy what they do not need. We 

are waiting for them to start it 

and we will see if this 

government will not regret it, 

we will cause a serious revolt.” 

Govt still discussing 

with unions —HoS 

Contacted, the Head of 

your interest at heart. An 

interest that will secure your 

businesses, an interest that 

will secure your safety, an 

interest that will ensure that 

your children grow within 

this environment and 

become shining example to 

others. 

“As a people who have 

been making tremendous 

contributions towards the 

economic advancement of 

Cross River, I will do 

everything within the ambit 

of the law to ensure that life 

and property of Igbos is 

given maximum protection 

and attention,” he <strong>as</strong>sured. 

Service, Cross River State, Mr. 

Ekpeyong Henshaw, 

disclosed that government w<strong>as</strong> 

still discussing with the 

workers through their union, 

including NLC and TUC. 

“We are still discussing with 

the unions. TUC h<strong>as</strong> raised 

some concerns about their 

members, but we are still 

deliberating and we will meet 

again next Thursday to have 

another face-to-face with 

them. 

“Everything we are doing is 

in the best interest of the 

workers and we are not 

imposing anything on 

workers, which is why we are 

deliberating with all the 

unions,” he said.


Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2018 -- 31 

China and the re-colonisation 

of Africa 

FOR the sake of intellectual 

transparency, let me place my 

cards on the table: I like China. For 

<strong>as</strong> long <strong>as</strong> I can remember, I have 

always been a great fan of the 

Chinese. When some of us were 

undergraduates, many of our mates 

were Marxists of the Soviet 

persu<strong>as</strong>ion. I dabbled with Marxism 

for only a few months but w<strong>as</strong> 

quickly cured of the dise<strong>as</strong>e. 

I had been reading the novels of 

Russian Nobel laureate Alexander 

Solzhenitsyn; the works of British 

mathematician and philosopher 

Bertrand Russell; philosopher of 

science Karl Popper and intellectual 

historians such <strong>as</strong> Isaiah Berlin; 

Bernard Henri-Levy and the 

nouveaux philosophes in France; 

and the Polish émigré Leszek 

Kolakowski. Their moral critique of 

the Soviet Gulag resonated with my 

spirit. Never again would I be a 

prisoner to any intellectual idols. 

My interests turned to China. In 

spite of the bloody Cultural 

Revolution madness unle<strong>as</strong>hed by 

Mao Zedong and the subsequent 

bloody suppression at Tiananmen 

Square by his successor, Deng 

Xiaoping, I w<strong>as</strong> prepared to forgive 

the Chinese. I w<strong>as</strong> an admirer of 

communism with Chinese 

characteristics. After all, they had 

emancipated the pe<strong>as</strong>ants and 

unle<strong>as</strong>hed an agrarian revolution. 

The Chinese built the 1,000 km 

Tazara railway in E<strong>as</strong>t Africa. 

Premier Zhou En-Lai w<strong>as</strong> revered 

at home <strong>as</strong> he w<strong>as</strong> in Africa. During 

my student days in France my 

By Ahmed Ahmed 

IN Nigeria today, our imagination go wide 

at the mention of some states. The re<strong>as</strong>on 

for this is not far fetched. For example, at the 

mere mention of Borno, you think Boko 

Haram; you hear Benue, you think herdsmen; 

and of course, when you remember Zamfara, 

you think of bandits, killing thousands across 

the state. If bandits were the only problem in 

Zamfara state, we may not need to worry. 

But, let's leave the security apparatus at the 

state and federal levels to deal vehemently with 

the bandits and restore normalcy in the state. 

Sadly, bandits are not the only problems in 

Zamfara, governance, bad governance is at 

the heart of the matter. 

“We believe responsible governments 

everywhere have a prime responsibility to 

make appreciable impacts on the lives of the 

governed through conceiving, crafting and 

implementing programmes and policies that 

will turn around the lives of the people for the 

better, and leave behind l<strong>as</strong>ting legacies in the 

sands of time,” Abdulaziz Yari, the governor 

of Zamfara state, said on the 2018 democracy 

day. 

Less than a month after Yari agreed that 

responsible governments must turn lives of the 

citizens around for the better, the same 

governor went ahead to reduce his powers <strong>as</strong> 

the chief security officer of the state to “mere 

appellation”. Yari said he could not do 

anything to keep the citizens he governs, safe - 

- and <strong>as</strong> a refrain, he <strong>as</strong>ked the people to turn 

to God for help, outsourcing his responsibility 

to God. In 2017, When Type C Cerebro-Spinal 

Meningitis hit the state, the governor, who 

swore to keep the people safe and flourishing, 

outsourced the blame to fornication and God’s 

wrath, and the responsibility of curbing the 

dise<strong>as</strong>e to the Most Beneficent God. 

“What we used to know <strong>as</strong> far <strong>as</strong> meningitis 

is concerned is the ‘type A virus’ which had 

been tackled through vaccinations by the World 

Chinese friend and schoolmate 

refused to buy even a handkerchief 

in France, even <strong>as</strong> many of our 

African colleagues were obsessed 

with the latest Parisian haute couture. 

My friend said he would rather go 

naked than wear anything that w<strong>as</strong> 

not made in China. He prophesied 

that they were about to revive the 

most powerful civilisation on earth. 

I also read Science and Civilisation 

in China by Cambridge biochemist, 

historian and sinologist, Joseph 

Needham. 

Today’s China is the second largest 

economy, with a nominal GDP of 

US$14.092 trillion and a per capita 

income of US$18,066. Within the 

space of a generation, the Chinese 

have taken more than 300 million 

out of poverty; built new megacities, 

f<strong>as</strong>t trains and world-cl<strong>as</strong>s 

infr<strong>as</strong>tructure. 

I have often reminded my European 

friends that the Chinese were the first 

to “discover” Africa. As early <strong>as</strong> 1405, 

Admiral Zheng He arrived the E<strong>as</strong>t 

African co<strong>as</strong>t of Momb<strong>as</strong>a with 

more than 60 merchant ships. He 

brought with him scientists and 

business people. They took back with 

them ivory, wild game and even a 

few African volunteers. It w<strong>as</strong> all a 

civilised affair. By contr<strong>as</strong>t, when the 

Portuguese, Dutch and Spaniards 

arrived, Africa w<strong>as</strong> plunged into 

slavery and rapine. Europe, and 

particularly the French, h<strong>as</strong> 

continued their mission of informal 

empire through subterfuge and 

mendacity. 

China’s economic engagement with 

our continent h<strong>as</strong> been seen <strong>as</strong> 

welcome alternative to the 

Hanoverian duplicity of the 

Europeans who have continued to 

view our continent <strong>as</strong> their backyard. 

The Chinese have invested heavily 

in our infr<strong>as</strong>tructures and public 

utilities while the W<strong>as</strong>hington 

institutions prefer to dump Shylock 

loans on our continent for so-called 

“poverty alleviation”. 

In recent years, China h<strong>as</strong> become 

a capital-surplus country, with a 

staggering US$3 trillion in external 

reserves. The Industrial and 

Commercial Bank of China is the 

largest bank in the world, with <strong>as</strong>sets 

in excess of USS$3 trillion. What 

explains the current outward drive 

of the Chinese is the fact that they 

have more money than their own 

absorptive capacity. And given rising 

labour costs, Chinese companies are 

looking to relocate production 

outside their borders. For many of 

our countries, it is a win-win game. 

Today, China is the biggest single 

commercial partner to our continent. 

Its total investment outlay <strong>as</strong> of 2017 

stood at nearly US$70 billion. For 

about a decade, China h<strong>as</strong> 

consistently remained at the top <strong>as</strong> 

Africa’s dominant trading partner, 

valued at more than US$100billion 

annually. During the China-Africa 

Cooperation, FOCAC, Summit in 

Beijing early this month, President 

Xi Jinping announced an additional 

US$60 billion of financing for 

Africa. 

Since the turn of the millennium, 

Beijing h<strong>as</strong> given loans in excess of 

US$130 billion to African countries. 

The IMF recently warned that 40% 

of developing countries are in debt 

distress. It is only now becoming 

apparent that the little prints in 

Chinese loan agreements 

collateralise key domestic <strong>as</strong>sets in 

the event that the indebted country is 

unable to pay back its loans. 

Recent instances include Djibouti in 

the Horn of Africa, where the main 

harbour w<strong>as</strong> taken over by the 

Chinese when the country could no 

longer pay back its loans. 

Madag<strong>as</strong>car recently gave up large 

chunks of its lands that had been 

pledged <strong>as</strong> collateral. The Chinese 

recently took over Lusaka Airport 

after the government defaulted on 

its loan repayment obligations. In 

Ethiopia, they are planning to take 

over the railway when the 

government in Addis Ababa w<strong>as</strong> 

recently in default. In Kenya, the 

Chinese are set to take over 70 per 

cent of the country’s mineral <strong>as</strong>sets 

after the government of Uhuru 

Kenyatta defaulted on its loan 

repayments. The Chinese built the 

much celebrated ultra-modern 

railway from Nairobi to the co<strong>as</strong>tal 

city of Momb<strong>as</strong>a with Chinese loans. 

Nigeria h<strong>as</strong> incurred humungous 

amounts of loans from Beijing. In 

the l<strong>as</strong>t three years alone, the Buhari 

administration h<strong>as</strong> taken more than 

US$5 billion from the Chinese. Our 

total external debt currently exceeds 

the US$22 billion mark. The 

domestic debt is even larger, 

standing at a whopping N15.63 

trillion; more than double our 

annual budget. We are reaching that 

dangerous threshold where 

government revenues cannot fully 

match our debt repayment 

obligations. We understand that the 

current administration h<strong>as</strong> taken the 

Chinese loans while pledging some 

oil wells <strong>as</strong> collateral. 

What worries me more is not the 

loans themselves but what we do 

with them. To incur a sovereign loan 

to build a railway to Niger is not 

only unpatriotic; it is patently 

fraudulent and illegal. To borrow 

Yari’s succession plan and Zamfara’s future 

Health Organisation, WHO. However, 

because people refused to stop their nefarious 

activities, God now decided to send Type C 

virus, which h<strong>as</strong> no vaccine. People have turned 

away from God and He h<strong>as</strong> promised that ‘if 

you do anyhow, you see anyhow,’ that is just the 

cause of this outbreak <strong>as</strong> far <strong>as</strong> I am concerned. 

There is no way fornication will be so rampant 

and God will not send a dise<strong>as</strong>e that cannot be 

cured. The most important thing is for our 

people to know that their relationship with 

God is not smooth. All they need to do is repent 

and everything will be alright,” Yari said. 

Before, during and after the meningitis 

scourge, the state recorded hundreds and 

hundreds of death due to cholera, a preventable 

water borne dise<strong>as</strong>e. Cholera is alien to any 

If Abdulaziz Yari promises to 

give you a new cloth of good 

governance, look at the one he 

wore for eight years 

community with good water systems and clean 

drainage. In a single year, Yari and his cabinet 

claimed to have spent N9,422,851,355.40 on 

30 water projects across the state, in a bid to 

get potable water to numerous parts of the 

state, yet cholera persists. Clearly, this claims 

do not add up to the reality in the state. 

According to the Nigerian Medical 

Association, NMA, one of the major causes of 

cholera in the state is open defecation within 

its communities. Besides its inability to 

provide potable water, the state government 

lacks the capacity to ensure sanitary conditions 

in the state -- making it the top spot for cholera 

outbreaks in Nigeria. 

Education in the state is also a huge 

challenge. According to Yari, who also doubles 

To incur a sovereign 

loan to build a railway 

to Niger is not only 

unpatriotic; it is 

patently fraudulent and 

illegal. To borrow 

foreign loans to 

prosecute what 

amounts to a police 

action in the North E<strong>as</strong>t 

insurgency, <strong>as</strong> we did in 

the c<strong>as</strong>e of the US$1.3 

billion IDA-World Bank 

loan is foolhardy 

<strong>as</strong> the chairman of the Nigerian Governors 

Forum, his government spent 

N4,754,717,343.75 on renovation of 

cl<strong>as</strong>srooms in the state, and another 

N3,766,668,144,000 w<strong>as</strong> committed to the 

Universal B<strong>as</strong>ic Education within the state in 

2016/2017 alone. Despite claiming to have 

invested nearly N10 billion on education in 

the state within this period, only 28 pupils -- 

two dozens and four pupils -- registered for 

common entrance exams in the state. 

In the 2017 November/December senior 

school certificate examination organised by 

the National Examination Council, NECO, 

Zamfara had the worst result, again! Only 

186 students sat for the exams in the state, and 

just 24 of them p<strong>as</strong>sed! The story is not different 

for the West African Senior School Certificate 

Examination, WASSCE, where the state, h<strong>as</strong> 

continued to remain at the bottom of the table, 

only ahead of Yobe state. Nothing else 

underscores lack of focus on education in the 

state, than all of these very clear results and 

educational apathy. 

When Muhammadu Sanusi II, the Emir of 

Kano and former governor the Central Bank 

of Nigeria, CBN, said poverty in Zamfara state 

is the highest in Nigeria, Yari w<strong>as</strong> quick to hit 

back at the tradition ruler, without dealing with 

the real issues of poverty stabbing the state at 

heart. Sanusi’s stance w<strong>as</strong> further confirmed 

by Oxford University, one of the leading 

universities in the world. Oxford said in its 

human development report on multidimensional 

poverty that, 92 percent of people 

living in Zamfara live in poverty, ranking the 

state <strong>as</strong> the poorest in the nation and a top 

contender anywhere else in the world. 

Yari in his response to Sanusi, said “elected 

officials, we are obliged to serve people just <strong>as</strong> 

we serve God,” and “within this precinct,” he 

“h<strong>as</strong> done his best”. Going by this statement, 

Yari’s best is to lead a state into becoming the 

foreign loans to prosecute what 

amounts to a police action in the 

North E<strong>as</strong>t insurgency, <strong>as</strong> we did in 

the c<strong>as</strong>e of the US$1.3 billion IDA- 

World Bank loan is foolhardy. 

Yakubu Gowon and his deputy and 

finance minister, the legendary 

Obafemi Awolowo, prosecuted the 

Nigeria-Biafra war without taking 

a single loan from the global 

financial markets. The entire 

reconstruction of the war-torn region 

w<strong>as</strong> also successfully implemented 

without any foreign borrowing. It is 

a pity that we of today do not have 

their sense of wisdom, prudence and 

parsimony in the management of 

our public finances. 

I would not be in a rush to blame 

the Chinese entirely for behaving in 

the manner they do. But we must not 

fall for the Trans-Atlantic, Euro- 

American propaganda against the 

Chinese which is borne of envy, if not 

malice. What I must emph<strong>as</strong>ise, 

however, is that it is incumbent on 

any sovereign country entering a 

loan agreement with another to 

negotiate the best possible terms and 

to do the necessary due diligence to 

ensure iron c<strong>as</strong>t guarantees on return 

on investments. As far <strong>as</strong> I am 

concerned, if any loan cannot pay 

its way back, it’s not worth the 

trouble whatsoever. Collateral h<strong>as</strong> 

been the guarantor of all loan 

obligations since time immemorial. 

The Chinese do not have the powers 

to impose macro-economic policy 

conditionalities in the manner the 

W<strong>as</strong>hington institutions did in the 

p<strong>as</strong>t. So they have resorted to using 

domestic <strong>as</strong>sets with steady income 

streams <strong>as</strong> collateral. 

It is about time we entered in serious 

discussions with the Chinese on our 

trade and economic relations. As 

matters currently stand, the Chinese 

seem to be using capital <strong>as</strong> a 

weapon to re-colonise our glorious 

continent. The Chinese state h<strong>as</strong> 

existed for three millennia. They are 

not fools. They know, since Sun-Tzu, 

that the most effective weapons of 

political control are economic and 

financial. Our generation h<strong>as</strong> a duty 

to protect our hard-won sovereignty 

and independence <strong>as</strong> a continent. 

poorest in Nigeria, where nine out of 10 people 

live in poverty! 

Governor Yari, who oversaw the decline of 

the state’s human development indices, is 

currently seeking to perpetuate himself in 

office, <strong>as</strong> he h<strong>as</strong> found no one else to carry on 

with his legacy, than his finance commissioner, 

Alhaji Mukhtar Idris -- the same man who 

supervised the economy of the state where 92 

percent of the state now live in poverty! If Idris 

succeeds Yari, the facts and figures show that 

the state will continue on the Yari-template of 

outsourcing blames to sin and contracting 

responsibilities to Allah. 

Zamfara state <strong>as</strong> the seventh largest state in 

Nigeria, bo<strong>as</strong>t of over 10 times the landm<strong>as</strong>s 

of Lagos, used to be an agricultural haven, 

where major cereal crop were successfully 

cultivated. Its slogan, “farming is our pride” is 

a testament to this, but that testament is long 

forgotten. As if that were not enough, the state 

is rich in gold extract, and if properly managed 

can lead Nigeria into exporting even more 

gold to the rest of the world, while Zamfara 

makes billions in c<strong>as</strong>h and investments. 

The people of Zamfara are however its 

greatest <strong>as</strong>sets; they define the future of the 

state at the poll and its manpower on the farms 

and in the industry. They can decide to continue 

with Yari’s style of leadership or try on more 

progressive fresh minds, capable of bring the 

state from the bottom of every development 

index to the top or near top of them all. 

The old African adage says “if a man 

promises to give you a cloth, look at what he is 

wearing”. If Yari promises that his finance 

commissioner, who is part of the current rot in 

the state, will make the state better, just <strong>as</strong>k 

them both, what they did with eight years of 

the people’s mandate! Nobody, who w<strong>as</strong> part 

of the rot deserves to lead the state. Never again. 

If Abdulaziz Yari promises to give you a new 

cloth of good governance, look at the one he 

wore for eight years. 

*Mr. Ahmed, a public affairs analyst, wrote 

from Gusau, Zamfara State.

32 

-- Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2018 

YOUR LUCK TODAY 

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 

VIRGO; Emph<strong>as</strong>is will continue to be on career related 

issues. However you will not be wrong if you take mattersof-the-heart 

more seriously now. Be more loving. 

LIBRA; Mid-morning till early afternoon period may bring 

more promises than it can actually deliver; your being clever 

will see you through. Be very practical. 

SCORPIO; Continue to attach necessary importance to 

your family values. Here is a day when joint ventures can 

bring you under pressure between 9.46am and 12.43pm. 

SAGITTARIUS; Other people will continue to feature in 

your activities; that is to say you will need to be <strong>as</strong> co-operative 

<strong>as</strong> re<strong>as</strong>on permits. Watch it between 9.46am&12.43pm 

CAPRICORN; You may be in position to minimise the 

pressure of yesterday. And you will need to watch your mood 

from 9.46am to 12.43pm. 

AQUARIUS; It is important you don’t take things for 

granted around mid-morning and early afternoon period 

so that you will not run into avoidable disappointments. 

L E I S U R E 

TAKE HEART — ELLA RANDLE 

“You don’t attract what you want, you attract what 

you are. Take responsibility from everything that’s 

showing up in your life, because its reflecting back 

at yourself to be, and what you believe is possible.” 

-Abraham Hick- 

Your life-and everyone else in the Universe is playing 

the part that you have <strong>as</strong>signed to them. You can literally 

script any life that you desire, for you are the creator 

of your own experiences, you have only to decide 

it and allow it. -Ella Randle- 

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye” 

SAYINGS OF 

OUR PEOPLE 

Wealth 

diminishes with 

usage; learning 

incre<strong>as</strong>es with 

use. 

~ Nigeria 

By Kola Fayemi 

PISCES; If you are in position to control your actions you 

would fare better if you can wait till after 12,43pm before 

you make an important move. Be family minded. 

ARIES; Your being receptive can enhance your prospects 

but that is not to say you have to be naïve, especially during 

mid-morning and early afternoon periods. 

TAURUS; Success is boldly printed on your cards and 

like yesterday if priority attention is given to money the 

scope of your success will be wider. 

GEMINI; Although things may be happening around you, 

you are the right person to make things happen and give 

others opportunities.. Be wise. 

CANCER; Take note that others may break promises made 

before early afternoon period; that is to say you should not 

take anybody for granted before 12.43pm. 

LEO; Although friends are willing to <strong>as</strong>sist you circumstances 

may not allow complete help <strong>as</strong> expected. 9.46am 

to 12.43pm can be a bit sensitive 

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING 

Send your date and place of birth to the Astr 

trological 

Counselling, P.M.B 100 

007, Apapa, Lagos 

ARE THEY COMPATIBLE? 

Dear Joshua, 

Kindly analyse horoscopes of two young lovers willing to share the rest 

of thie lives together. I am concern because one of the is my own son. 

However I want you to leave out their birth dates. 

Adeola, Lagos. 

DUDU in “ROLLING HOT” By A.O. OLAIDE 

Dear Adeola, 

COMPATIBILITY GUIDE 

What will follow here-under are analyses of their horoscopes, so that 

they will know each other very well vis-à-vis strong and weak points of 

each other. By this you will decide if actually what you are looking for is in 

the relationship. 

THE HOROSCOPE DATA/PLANETARY PLACEMENT OF THE 

LADY 

SUN SIGN = AQUARIUS; SUN IN 13TH DEGREE OF AQUARIUS. 

MOON SIGN = CANCER ; MOON IN 3RD DEGREE OF CANCER 

MERCURY IN IST DEGREE OF AQUARIUS 

VENUS IN ZERO DEGREE OF ARIES 

MARS IN 29TH DEGREE OF PISCES 

JUPITER IN 29TH DEGREE OF CAPRICORN 

SATURN IN 27TH DEGREE OF SCORPIO. 

URANUS IN 16TH DEGREE OF SAGITTARIUS. 

NEPTUNE IN 2ND DEGREE OF CAPRICORN 

PLUTO IN 4TH DEGREE OF SCORPIO. 

NORTH NODE IN 23RD DEGREE OF TAURUS. 

SOUTH NODE IN 23RD DEGREE OF SCORPIO. 

ANALYSIS OF THE CHART 

Here is a gentle person who cares so much for both her extended family 

(especially her mother) and her personal family. She can be highly emotional, 

although highly intelligent too 

She can unexpectedly burst into tears whenever she fails to control her 

husband. And if she does not result to weeping she can many times force 

this man to turn violent to the detriment of too many things. She in 

particular will many times become jealous for no re<strong>as</strong>on and can be difficult 

to manage by this man. 

Although she loves freedom, she will want to be in firm control of the 

man’s freedom. Issues of control and freedom must be clearly defined 

before final marital rite, or else serious trouble would be the result. 

THE HOROSCOPE DATA/PLANETARY PLACEMENT OF THE 

MAN 

SUN SIGN = TAURUS 

MOON SIGN = ARIES; MOON IN 20TH DEGREE OF ARIES. 

STELLIUM SIGN = SAGITTARIUS 

MERCURY IN 22ND DEGREE OF TAURUS. 

VENUS IN 1ST DEGREE OF CANCER. 

MARS IN 25TH DEGREE OF TAURUS. 

JUPITER IN 8TH DEGREE OF SAGITTARIUS. 

SATURN IN 29TH DEGREE OF LIBRA. 

URANUS IN 7TH DEGREE OF SAGITTARIUS. 

NEPTUNE IN 28TH DEGREE OF SAGITTARIUS. 

PLUTO IN 27TH DEGREE OF LIBRA 

NORTH NODE IN 23RD DEGREE OF GEMINI 

SOUTH NODE IN 23RD DEGREE OF SAGITTARIUS 

ANALYSIS OF THE CHART 

Here is a man who will be very generous to his wife and/or woman. 

Great LEADERSHIP quality is his portion. He likes to make money 

(gives much of his energy to money making) and become successful. 

Although intelligent, kind and like the woman loves his personal family, 

he will stubbornly refuse to give away his FREEDOM which the woman 

will greatly demand 

Although he is not violent by nature, this lady can provoke him to 

become, one simply because of unnecessary jealousy and demand of his 

freedom by the lady. 

VIRGINIA 

HOME & ABROAD 

dadadekola@yahoo.com 

By Lawrence Akapa



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REPORT: From left—Director, Head of Research, African Private Equity and Venture Capital Association, 

AVCA, Mrs Enitan Ob<strong>as</strong>anjo-Adeleye; Head/Director, Investment Management Regulation, SEC, Mr. Efiok 

Ekpenyong-Efiok; Managing Director, Alitheia Capital/Chair, AVCA, Mrs Tokunboh Ishmael; Partner, Capital 

Market Accounting Advisory Services, Pricewaterhousecoopers, PWC, Mrs Omobolanle Adekoya; Executive 

Director, Regulation,Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, Mrs Tinuade Awe; Partner, Corporate Finance, Mr. 

Andrei Ugarov, and Director, Capital Market, Alice Tomdio, both of PWC, at the AVCA/PWC launch of 

inaugural report: Africa Private Equity-backed IPOs, 2010-2017 , in Lagos. PHOTO: Akeem Salau. 

Agbarho Kingdom crisis: I'm king, 

says Ajuwe •Osuivie seat's vacant, 3 chiefs write 

By Jimitota 

Onoyume 

W 

A R R I — 

EMBATTLED 

monarch of Agbarho 

Kingdom in Delta State, 

HRM Ajuwe Owhe Ogugu 

I, Osuivie of Agbarho 

Kingdom h<strong>as</strong> discribed 

those battling to unseat him 

<strong>as</strong> insignificant. 

The monarch, speaking to 

Vanguard on the sideline 

of a meeting of community 

members in his palace, 

who came to pledge loyalty 

to him, said those who 

declared his stool vacant 

acted outside the law, 

adding that Okparegbe 

clan w<strong>as</strong> not behind their 

action. 

According to the 

monarch, “I w<strong>as</strong> coroneted 

Ajuwe on May 12 and 

November 6, given staff of 

office <strong>as</strong> First Cl<strong>as</strong>s king. 

The dissident groups all 

acquiesced. In Agbarho, 

the person who becomes 

king is not in doubt and the 

next is known. 

“The dissidents have no 

house in Agbarho. Some 

are not married and I doubt 

if they are natives of this 

town, otherwise how can 

you want to destroy your 

own town?”Meanwhile, a 

letter addressed to the 

monarch, allegedly by three 

senior chiefs of Okparegbe 

Delta SDP chieftain defects to APC 

By Ochuko Akuopha 

O BIARUKU—A 

chieftain of Social 

Democratic Party, SDP, in 

Delta State, Mr. Chidi 

Uwabuofu, and over 100 of 

his supporters have 

defected to All Progressives 

Congress, APC. 

Speaking at Obiaruku, 

Ukwuani Local 


state shortly after he w<strong>as</strong> 

sub-clan, said: “Okparegbe 

clan h<strong>as</strong> declared its 

independence of the 

Agbarho Kingdom. 

“With this declaration, the 

famous Agbarho Kingdom 

is hereby abolished. The 

By Gab Ejuwa 

A 

group, Dr. Cairo 

Ojougboh Roadmap 

2019 Support Group, h<strong>as</strong> 

been inaugurated ahead of 

All Progressives Congress, 

APC, primaries and 

received into APC, 

Uwabuofu cited the “notwell-thought-out 

decision 

of our former party, SDP’s 

national leaders to align or 

partner Peoples Democratic 

Party, <strong>PDP</strong>, ahead of the 

2019 general election” <strong>as</strong> 

his re<strong>as</strong>on for defecting. 

He said: “It is no longer 

news that SDP won’t 

feature a presidential 

candidate in 2019 <strong>as</strong> the 

party h<strong>as</strong> technically 

Agbarho stool is hereby 

declared vacant. The palace 

of the Osuivie of Agbarho 

is hereby declared vacant. 

“The Agbarho town hall 

is hereby shut down until 

further notice.” 

general election. 

Speaking at the 

inauguration in Effurun, 

Delta State, Chief Austin 

Ogbaburhon and 

Chairman of the group, Mr. 

Mike Ibada, noted that the 

group w<strong>as</strong> positioned 

merged with <strong>PDP</strong>. To us, the 

merger is evil, unholy and 

one-sided. 

“Our joining APC is a 

bold logical step in our 

political progress, because 

we moved from a party 

considered <strong>as</strong> a third force 

to the main and only force. 

We joined APC to help 

attract meaningful 

development to our 

people.” 

Meanwhile, a resolution 

reached at a meeting of the 

kingdom on September 21, 

allegedly denounced the 

action of the three chiefs, 

noting that the kingdom 

will remains indivisible. 

Prince Afegbua defects to <strong>PDP</strong> 

By Gabriel 

Enoghol<strong>as</strong>e 

BENIN—AGAINST the 

backdrop of results of 

Osun State governorship 

election <strong>as</strong> announced by 

the Independent National 

Electoral Commission, 

INEC, Edo State chairman 

of Peoples Democratic 

Party, <strong>PDP</strong>, Chief Dan 

Orbih, h<strong>as</strong> called on the 


Commission, Professor 

Mahmoud Yakubu, to 

resign from office <strong>as</strong> the 

outcome of the election h<strong>as</strong> 

shown that INEC, under 

his leadership, cannot 

conduct free and fair 

election anywhere in the 

country. 

The call is coming on the 

heels of the defection of 

spokesman for Reformed 

All Progressives Congress, 

R-APC, Prince K<strong>as</strong>sim 

Afegbua, from the party to 

<strong>PDP</strong>. 

Afegbua, who w<strong>as</strong> a 

former Special Adviser on 

Media and Commissioner 

for Information to the 

immediate p<strong>as</strong>t governor of 

Edo, Adams Oshiomhole, 

defected with thousands of 

his supporters to <strong>PDP</strong> 

yesterday in Okpella, 

Etsako E<strong>as</strong>t Local 


state. 

Meanwhile, Chief Orbih 

said INEC under the 

present leadership w<strong>as</strong> 

incapable of conducting 

any election and cited what 

recently happened in 

Rivers State, adding that 

democracy w<strong>as</strong> in danger. 

Afegbua, speaking on his 

defection, said that he took 

a bold step to return to the 

party, having been a 

founding member of <strong>PDP</strong> 

before joining APC. 

He said though he 

served in the APC 

government for eight years, 

he is not happy with the 

condition of roads and 

development in his Okpella 

community. 

Ojougboh support group inaugurated 

towards making Dr. Cairo 

Ojougboh, who w<strong>as</strong> 

represented at the event by 

Prince Benson, <strong>as</strong> the next 

governor of Delta State. 

They added that they will 

meet with like minds that 

hold the principle of fair 

play, equity and good 

conscience. 

According to the duo, 

“we support power 

rotation, but the best should 

surely be chosen wherever 

it rotates to, hence our 

resolve to vote out <strong>PDP</strong> from 

Government House, 

Asaba, come 2019. 

“After a comparative 

analysis of all the <strong>as</strong>pirants 

from Delta North for the 

governorship seat, we 

chose Dr. Ojougboh whom 

we adjudged to be best 

among them.” 

Nwoko backs Okowa for 2nd term 

A 

former federal 

lawmaker and Delta 

North senatorial <strong>as</strong>pirant 

on the platform of 

Peoples Democratic 

Party, <strong>PDP</strong>, Prince Ned 

Nwoko h<strong>as</strong> enjoined 

Deltans to work towards 

the re-election of 

Governor Ifeanyi 

Okowa. 

Nwoko, who 

addressed newsmen on 

his arrival at Asaba 

airport, expressed 

confidence in Governor 

Okowa’s leadership 

skills. 

He urged Deltans, 

including political office 

holders, to eschew 

factionalism and greed 

for unity of purpose and 

work to re-elect the 

governor so he can 

consolidate on his 

By Agbonkhese Oboh 

PEOPLE’S Trust, the 

political party 

adopted by the Nigeria 

Intervention Movement, 

NIM, h<strong>as</strong> been launched 

in Delta State, with its 

congress in Asaba, 

observed by a team from 

Independent National 


INEC, led by Mr. Moses 

Akonji, during which the 

state executive members 

were elected. 


Electoral Committee, 

Mr. Akpati Noel, 

returned 23 elected state 

officers, led by Mr. 

Frederick Erukanure <strong>as</strong> 

Chairman; Mr. Charles 

Onwueme, Secretary, 

and Mr. John Egie, 

Publicity Secretary. 

Others are Mr. Chuks 

Nwaka, Organising 

Secretary; Mr. Evans 

Nyore, Financial 

Secretary; Mr. 

Emmanuel Igbine, 

Tre<strong>as</strong>urer; Osu Johnny, 

Youth Leader; Mrs Kate 

Isiaye, Women Leader; 

Mr. Christopher 

Koko community endorses 

Alatsha for Delta Assembly 

KOKO community, 

comprising Iweroko 

and Ameren family, 

headquarters of Warri 

North Local Government 

Area of Delta State, h<strong>as</strong> 

adopted Wilson Alatsha 

of All Progressives 

Congress, APC, <strong>as</strong> their 

preferred candidate for 

Warri North constituency 

in the 2019 race to the 

state House of Assembly. 

Spokesman to the 

Council of Elders of the 

community, Mr. Edward 

Diabo, stated this in 

development programmes 

such <strong>as</strong> construction of 

roads, schools, upgrade of 

public hospitals and 

creation of jobs for youths. 

He, however, said if 

given the mandate to 

represent Delta North in 

the Senate, he would 

reposition Anioma nation 

for sustainable 

development, especially 

the oil-producing 

communities, adding that 

flaring of g<strong>as</strong> w<strong>as</strong> a w<strong>as</strong>te 

of Nigeria’s economic 

gains. 

He described education 

<strong>as</strong> a tool for development, 

noting that his love for 

education informed his 

establishing a university 

in his locality, while also 

urging Deltans to collect 

their permanent voter’s 

card, PVC. 

People’s Trust 

berths in Delta State 

Anthony, Vice Chairman; 

Mr. Sunny Iku, Vice 

Chairman, Delta North; 

Mr. Emmanuel 

Akpojiyovwi, Vice 

Chairman, Delta Central; 

Mr. Ramson Erabor, Vice 

Chairman, Delta South. 

Others are Mr. Alex 

Obaro, Assistant 

Secretary; Mr. Chinedu 

Ogbe, Assistant Financial 

Secretary; Miss Oromoni 

Benesigha, Asst Org Sec; 

Mr. Tete Eghwubare, Asst 

Pub Sec; Mr. Oba Azuka, 

Asst Youth Leader; Mr. 

Hendrix Onwuma, 

Auditor; Erickson Arubayi, 

Asst Auditor; Barr Joy 

Mordi, Asst Women 

Leader; Miss Eloho 

Uloho, Asst Tre<strong>as</strong>urer; 

Fred Owhotu, Legal 

Adviser, and Barr Chike 

Offiah, Asst Legal Adviser. 

In his remark, the 

Chairman, Mr. 

Erukanure, enjoined 

state executive members 

to be united, committed 

and focused in their 

mandate to give the state 

a new political outlook in 

line with the manifesto of 

the party. 

Koko, after the APC 

<strong>as</strong>pirant held a 

consultation meeting with 

them at the resident of the 

Olara-Aja (Head) of the 

Koko community, Chief 

Victor Nana. 

He said Alatsha is the 

only man that can salvage 

Koko and other parts of the 

Itsekiri are<strong>as</strong> from neglect, 

poverty and infr<strong>as</strong>tructure 

decay that have bedevilled 

Koko for many years, 

adding that he h<strong>as</strong> been 

given the community’s 

blessing.


Outrage in Oguta over flooding 

By Chidi 

Nkwopara 

OWERRI—The people 

of Oguta, who initially 

thought they have escaped 

the horrors of flooding, are 

now counting their losses, 

following the bursting of the 

banks of Oguta Lake and 

its major outflow, Or<strong>as</strong>hi 

River. 

Confirming their 

predicament yesterday to 

Vanguard, the traditional 

ruler of Oguta, Igwe Nani 

Nzeribe, said the 

community had lost two 

persons, a p<strong>as</strong>tor and his 

wife to the flood. 

“We have recorded two 

deaths, a p<strong>as</strong>tor and his 

wife. The flood submerged 

their farmland and they 

went to salvage whatever 

they could. Their 

overloaded canoe 

capsized. For now, we have 

only recovered the 

woman’s body, while efforts 

are on to recover the 

p<strong>as</strong>tor’s body”, Nzeribe 

said. 

According to the royal 

Infinix, Google unveil Note 5 

Stylus 

INFINIX Mobility, a 

premium smartphone 

brand in partnership with 

Google recently unveiled 

its latest device, Note 5 

Stylus, an Android One 

smartphone meant for 

younger users to 

experience seamless, 

creative and self expression 

lifestyle which empowered 

them to become 

trendsetters. 

According to Infinix, the 

Android One smartphone 

with intelligent software 

experience is now available 

in stores across major cities. 

Speaking at the 

unveiling, Managing 

Director, Infinix Mobility 

Limited, Benjamin Jiang 

said: “At Infinix, our 

mission is to keep 

innovating and integrate 

the most advanced 

technology and trends into 

our products. That’s why we 

partnered with Google 

once again to launch Note 


father, "since the flood 

started ravaging our 

farmlands,the farms and 

settlements have now been 

written off completely. 

“People started 

harvesting their unripe 

crops soon after the flood 

alarm w<strong>as</strong> raised by 

government. The sad thing 

is that some farmers 

borrowed huge sums of 

money from banks and 

invested in the farms that 

have now been swallowed 

up”, Igwe Nzeribe said. 

Asked to suggest what 

can be done to save the 

people from the periodic 

trauma, the royal father 

said the construction of an 

embankment would suffice. 

“The flood h<strong>as</strong> ravaged 

the farms and now 

threatening homes in the 

town. The only thing we 

can do in this place is to 

construct an embankment 

or disilth in the Or<strong>as</strong>hi- 

Oguta Lake area to the 

point that when the flood 

comes, it h<strong>as</strong> to 

accommodate it,” Nzeribe 

said. 

FG to establish 6 technology 

acquisition centres 

By Dennis Agbo 

ENUGU—THE Federal 

government said it h<strong>as</strong> 

concluded plans to 

establish centres for 

acquisition of technology in 

the six geopolitical zones of 

the country. 

The centres would be 

recipients of Nigerian 

indigenous professionals 

returning home to use their 

expertise to develop the 

country. 

Subsequently, the 

government h<strong>as</strong> placed 

premium on the use of 

indigenous professionals 

and firms in the design and 

execution of projects 

involving national security. 

Minister for Science and 

Technology, Dr. 

Ogbonnaya Onu made the 

disclosure in Enugu 

yesterday, when his 

ministry held South E<strong>as</strong>t 

Dialogue on the 

Presidential Order No 5, for 

planning and execution of 

projects, promotion of 

Nigeria content in 

contracts, science, 

engineering and 

technology. 

Onu stated that the 

centres are to be used for 

promotion of technology, 

utilisation, strengthening of 

technology management 

capability and info system. 

5 Stylus. With Note 5 Stylus, 

consumers will experience 

the latest technologies, 

such <strong>as</strong> capturing 

stunning photos with the 

16MP AI low-light selfie 

camera and 16MP AI rear 

camera, showing their 

creativity with the amazing 

XPen, interacting with 

the world with the Google 

Assistant and many others." 

NEWS HOTLINES 

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08052867058 

Ohanaeze laments ‘structural’ 

marginalisation of Ndigbo 

...calls for additional state, local govts in S-E<strong>as</strong>t 

...says INEC's voters figure for S-E<strong>as</strong>t wrong 

By Chioma 

Gabriel 

APEX Igbo sociocultural 

organisation, 

Ohanaeze Ndigbo 

yesterday lamented what 

it called the structural 

marginalisation of Ndigbo 

in general and the South 

E<strong>as</strong>t in particular with the 

le<strong>as</strong>t number of states and 

local government are<strong>as</strong>. 

In a rele<strong>as</strong>e by the 

spokesman of the group 

Chuks Ibegbu, the group 

noted that all Nigerians 

have at various times 

agreed that Ndigbo 

deserve an extra state and 

more local governments to 

bring them at par with other 

zones of the country. 

“The North West h<strong>as</strong> 

seven states and more than 

one hundred and eight 

local government are<strong>as</strong> 

and the truth is that these 

are<strong>as</strong> with more states do 

not have the population 

they claim. 

“There is no where in the 

world that those in the 

desert and savannah area 

outnumber those in the 

co<strong>as</strong>tal or rain forest belt, 

except in Nigeria and 

using land m<strong>as</strong>s <strong>as</strong> a 

criterion for state and local 

government creation is 

absurd.” 

He noted that the South 

E<strong>as</strong>t h<strong>as</strong> the largest 

population density in Africa 

and deserves more states 

and local governments. 

“These are used to 

allocate revenue, effect 

appointments and 

admission in schools so the 

South E<strong>as</strong>t is deeply 

shortchanged,” Ibegbu 

lamented. 

On the le<strong>as</strong>t electoral 

strength of the South E<strong>as</strong>t 

<strong>as</strong> indicated by INEC 

figures , Ibegbu said 

“INEC figure is neither 

here nor there <strong>as</strong> millions 

of Igbos live outside Igbo 

land and infact more than 

40 per cent of the North 

West, North E<strong>as</strong>t, North 

Central , South West and 

South South figures are 

Igbos. He challenged Igbos 

to prove that they are the 

single largest group in 

Nigeria by contesting 

elections and voting for only 

those that will protect their 

interests either where they 

Market women shut down Nnewi over 

dealing in pepper, 

alleged extortion 

By Chimaobi 

Nwaiwu 

N 

N E W I — 

AGGRIEVED 

market women from 

Agboedo United Market 

Association numbering 

over one thousand, 

yesterday, shut down 

Nnewi in a peaceful protest 

over alleged extortion. 

The spokesperson for the 

the protesting women, Mrs 

Martha Mbonu alleged 

that women in Agboedo 

market have suffered all 

manner of extortions from 

the chairman of the market, 

Christopher Osuojukwu. 

She said: “We the women 

traders decided to take to 

the streets because the 

chairman h<strong>as</strong> come up with 

the idea that every poor 

trader in Agboedo market 

will pay for an identity card 

at the cost of N500. 

“We objected to that 

because many women in 

the section of the market are 

petty traders who are only 

tomatoes, okra and other 

vegetables whose 

investment are not up to 

N2,000. 

“We have attempted to 

make Osuojukwu see 

re<strong>as</strong>on but he h<strong>as</strong> remained 

adamant, forcing us to pay 

for his identity card when 

many of us already have 

National ID Card and 

Permanent Voters Card, 

PVC, for any identification 

exercise. 

“If you multiply our 

number with N500, you 

will begin to appreciate how 

Obiano, Achebe for public presentation of Anambra 

Compendium 

By Vincent 

Ujumadu 

A WKA—ANAMBRA 

State Governor, Chief 

Willie Obiano, and Obi of 

Onitsha, Igwe Alfred 

Achebe would lead other 

prominent personalities to 

the public presentation of 

the Anambra Compendium 

on October 1, 2018. 

The 800 -page landmark 

VISIT: Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State (in white caftan), addressing members of 

Imo and Abia States Traders Association, when they paid him a solidarity/endorsement visit 

at the Government House, Enugu, yesterday. 

documentation is a 

historical compilation in 

glossy images of the life, 

culture and achievements 

of the government and 

people of Anambra State 

since the creation of the 

state on May 27, 1991. 

Others expected at the 

event include the 

Managing Director of 

Fidelity Bank, Mr. Nnamdi 

Okonkwo, who would 

unveil the book and former 

Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi 

Azikiwe University, Awka, 

Prof Peter Ejiofor, who is the 

book reviewer. 

Editor-in-Chief of the 

compendium, Chief 

Emeka Okonkwo said 

yesterday that the unveiling 

of the compendium would 

also attract other prominent 

people across the country 

who played prominent 

roles in the life of the state. 

Okonkwo said: 

“Prominent sons and 

daughters of Anambra 

will make their voices 

heard in appreciation of 

the role of the founding 

fathers and everything 

that defines us <strong>as</strong> a people 

and <strong>as</strong> the Light of the 

Nation. A lot of work h<strong>as</strong> 

gone into the production 

of this first of its kind compendium 

and I have no 

doubt in my mind that 

every Anambra person 

will be proud to own a 

copy.” 

reside or at home.” 

On the alleged 

proscription of Ohanaeze 

Ndigbo by IPOB, Ibegbu 

said that “it w<strong>as</strong> a comic 

relief," but noted that "IPOB 

and pro-Biafra agitators are 

all Igbo children and a 

father is not expected to 

engage his own child in the 

market place no matter the 

provocation. "These young 

men are aggrieved by their 

condition in Nigeria but 

they have to realise too that 

their fathers are also victims 

of the Nigeria conundrum. 

Their fathers suffered and 

would not want their 

children to experience what 

they saw in those dark 

days. 

"Yes, its not uhuru in 

Nigeria but Ohanaeze 

leadership would continue 

to struggle for a better 

Nigeria in which the 

bottled up Igbo energies 

would flourish for the 

betterment of Ndigbo and 

all Nigerians.” 

much our chairman wants 

to reap from us” 

The women alleged that 

“the chairman is coming up 

with the idea of identity 

card to disenfranchise 

many poor women in the 

next election <strong>as</strong> it is a 

common knowledge that 

petty traders will not give 

him their mandate again. 

“It is his constitutional 

right to seek re-election but 

it is our duty to vote him 

out. That is why we are not 

going to allow him stop us 

with novel and 

unacceptable identity card 

issue." 

Reacting to the 

allegations, chairman of 

Agboedo United Market 

Association, Osuojukwu 

said the protesting women 

are not his members and 

the identity card is even 

optional for shop owners. 

“The women who are 

protesting are mostly those 

attaching themselves to 

recognised and registered 

shop owners; they are only 

being used by those I 

defeated in the election in 

which I emerged the 

chairman to cause trouble 

in the market.”



NEWS HOTLINES 

018773962, 

08052867058 

Ortom orders payment of salaries, pensions from 

N14.9bn Paris Club refund 

By Peter Duru 

M AKURDI— 

GOVERNOR 

Samuel Ortom of Benue 

State h<strong>as</strong> directed the 

Ministry of Finance to 

immediately commence 

payment of salary arrears, 

pensions and gratuity from 

the Paris Club refund 

recently received by the 

state. 

Governor Ortom made 

the disclosure, yesterday, at 

the burial of Sab<strong>as</strong>tine 

Dewua at Tse-Awuna, 

Mbachohon, Gwer West 

Local Government Area of 

the state. 

He explained that 

though the setting up of the 

Paris Club disbursement 

committee w<strong>as</strong> done with 

good intentions, but due to 

public concerns he had 

decided to suspend the 

committee to pave way for 

speedy payment of the 

entitlements to workers and 

retirees. 

Ortom noted that “<strong>as</strong> part 

of the transparency policy 

of my administration, I 

immediately made public 

the receipt of the N14.9 

billion Paris Club refund, 

even when other states 

were yet to disclose theirs.” 

He reaffirmed his stand 

against the inv<strong>as</strong>ion of the 

state by armed herdsmen, 

a position he attributed to 

the support he had 

enjoyed from Benue 

people, urging his 

supporters to be peaceful 

in canv<strong>as</strong>sing his reelection, 

pointing out that 

“power belongs to God 

who gives it to whoever He 

so desires.” 

ALLIANCES: From left— General Manager, Sandton Sun & Towers, Robert J<strong>as</strong>per; General Manager, 

Crowne Plaza Johannesburg, Antony Larsen; Trade Relations Manager, South African Tourism, West Africa, 

Mohammed Kwajaffa; Vice Consul, Political, South African Consulate General, Azwianewi Mbedzi; General 

Manager Southern Sun Ikoyi, Mark Loxley; Managing Director, Offshore Division, Richard Weilers, and 

Finance Manager, Lynton Delaney, both of Tsogo Sun Hotels, at a cocktail for Tsogo Sun in fostering 

business alliances between the Nigerian Travel Market and South Africa, in Lagos. 

Youths to party leaders: <strong>PDP</strong>'ll die 

in Kogi if you impose Aidoko on us 

By Boluwaji 

Obahopo 

LOKOJA—ANY attempt 

to impose Senator Attai 

Aidoko <strong>as</strong> the next 

Senatorial candidate of 

Peoples Democratic Party, 

<strong>PDP</strong>, for Kogi E<strong>as</strong>t will signal 

the end of the party in the 

state, the party’s youths 

have warned. 

A political pressure group 

in the party, Kogi <strong>PDP</strong> 

Youth M<strong>as</strong>ses, stated this 

yesterday, while addressing 

journalists in Lokoja. 

Chairman of the group, 

Ahmed Suleiman, claimed 

<strong>PDP</strong> Screening Committee 

agreed on automatic ticket 

for Senator Aidoko, which 

he said is against the 

wishes and <strong>as</strong>piration of the 

people. 

The group not only 

warned that such action 

should not be allowed by 

<strong>PDP</strong>, it cautioned the party 

to save itself from being 

extinguished in the state. 

According to Kogi <strong>PDP</strong> 

Youth M<strong>as</strong>ses, the move of 

the state and national 

working committees to 

“sell” the ticket of Kogi E<strong>as</strong>t 

is causing ripples, warning 

that the action will 

degenerate into total 

collapse of <strong>PDP</strong> in the state. 

The group called on the 

Senate President, Dr. 

Bukola Saraki, to w<strong>as</strong>h his 

hands off Kogi E<strong>as</strong>t politics, 

saying “one thing that is 

certain is the people of 

By David Odama 

LAFIA—HE 

fight 

between former 

governor of N<strong>as</strong>arawa 

State, Senator Abdullahi 

Adamu, and the 

incumbent, Governor 

Tanko Al-Makura, 

deepened yesterday after 

Adamu accused the 

governor of w<strong>as</strong>ting the 

taxpayers’ money in the 

state in the name of probing 

his administration. 

Adamu described the 

constitution of a panel to 

probe his administration by 

By Demola 

Akinyemi 

I LORIN—MASHOOD 

Mustapha, a former aide 

to the Senate President, Dr. 

Bukola Saraki, now a 

governorship <strong>as</strong>pirant on 

the platform of All 


APC, in Kwara State, h<strong>as</strong> 

pleaded with the leaders of 

the party in the state to put 

<strong>as</strong>ide their political 

Igala B<strong>as</strong>sa nation shall 

revolt and resist attempts at 

Ex-Saraki's aide preaches unity, 

seeks APC gov ticket in Kwara 

differences and work 

together for the 2019 

elections. 

Mustapha, who is the 

immediate p<strong>as</strong>t Special 

Adviser on Special Duties 

and Protocol to Dr. Saraki, 

stated this yesterday in 

Ilorin, while declaring his 

intention to seek APC’s 

ticket. 

He said: “Time h<strong>as</strong> come 

for us in APC to put our 

political differences <strong>as</strong>ide 

destablising the party in 

Kogi State.” 

Probing me, w<strong>as</strong>te of taxpayers' 

money, Adamu tells Al-Makura 

Al-Makura <strong>as</strong> a 

mismanagement and 

misplacement of the state 

resources. 

His words: “Al-Makura’s 

decision to probe me is 

being carried out to see if I 

will be forced into accepting 

the abuse of democratic 

process enshrined in the 

constitution of our party, 

APC, in the process of 

selecting a governorship 

<strong>as</strong>pirant of the party for the 

2019 elections.” 

On the le<strong>as</strong>e agreement 

for the management of Keffi 

Hotels, Adamu said a 

private company with 

which he is <strong>as</strong>sociated, Pan- 

Afric Resources Limited, 

entered into a le<strong>as</strong>e 

agreement with the late 

Plateau State Military 

Administrator, Col. Joshua 

Madaki in 1990/1991, five 

years down the line before 

the creation of N<strong>as</strong>arawa 

State. 

Adamu said he will not 

succumb to “blackmail and 

intimidation” over his 

political stand with Al- 

Makura, insisted that the 

Farin Ruwa project w<strong>as</strong> 

never abandoned. 

and fight for a Kwara where 

everyone will be a key 

stakeholder. 

“A Kwara where everyone 

will be free to express 

themselves and choose 

their representatives and a 

Kwara that is economically 

viable for all. 

“It is in an atmosphere of 

peace that the leaders and 

members of the party can 

forge ahead to win election 

in the state.” 

Social investments 

should reach all—SALIS 

By Agbonkhese Oboh 

A LLOWING 

political, 

religious, ethnic and 

social bi<strong>as</strong> to influence 

social investments is one 

of the challenges of 

leadership in Nigeria. 

High Chief Owolabi 

Salis, Lagos State 

Alliance for Democracy, 

AD, governorship 

candidate, said this at the 

graduation of over 780 

beneficiaries of Lagos 

Youth Skill Acquisition 

three-month training 

and empowerment 

programme he 

sponsored on the 

platform of Rescue Lagos 

Team, a coalition of over 

24 opposition political 

parties, in Ikotun, Lagos. 

According to Salis, “the 

challenge we have with 

most leaders is allowing 

political affiliations, 

religious, ethnic and 

By Demola 

Akinyemi 

ILORIN—A House of 

Representatives 

member, Aliyu Ahman- 

Pategi (Edu/Moro/ 

Patigi) h<strong>as</strong> said equity, 

fairness and justice 

demand that Kwara 

North produce the next 

governor of Kwara State 

in 2019, stressing that he 

is the best man for the 

job. 

The lawmaker said: 

“Already, Kwara h<strong>as</strong> 

produced the governor 

in the person of my good 

friend Governor 

Abdulfatah Ahmed and 

in addition to the one 

term of late Mohammed 

Lawal, from Kwara 

social bi<strong>as</strong> affect social 

investments and 

empowerment. 

“That kind of leadership 

is elitist. Which is why all 

the beneficiaries of our skill 

acquisition programme for 

the p<strong>as</strong>t 10 years have cut 

across social cl<strong>as</strong>s, political 

parties, religions and 

tribes.” 

Also speaking, his wife, 

Chief Olabisi, told the 

graduands not to limit 

themselves in skills, 

competition and 

marketing of their goods 

and services, challenging 

them to utilise the internet 

and social media. 

Meanwhile, High Chief 

Salis who paid a courtesy 

call on HRM Oba Azeez 

Gbadabiu Isola Asiwaju, 

Onikotun of Ikotunland, 

w<strong>as</strong> installed <strong>as</strong> Aare 

Bob<strong>as</strong>elu of Igando Kingdom 

by HRM Alayeluwa 

Oba L<strong>as</strong>isi Gbadamosi of 

Igando Kingdom. 

I'm best choice for Kwara 

gov seat—Ahman-Pategi 

By Abdulmumin 

Murtala 

Atown hall meeting 

for women 

delegates from all the 43 

local government are<strong>as</strong> 

of Kano State held, 

Sunday, to mobilise 

women input into 2019 

budget. 

The event w<strong>as</strong> 

organised by the UN 

project called WPS- 

NETWORK supported 

by the Partnership to 

Engage and Learn, 

PERL. 

The chairperson of the 

group, Hajiya Hadiza 

Fagge, told newsmen 

that Kano State women 

Central. 

“My leader, Dr. Bukola 

Saraki, also spent two 

terms of eight years, so by 

the simple re<strong>as</strong>on of 

equity, fairness and justice 

it is the turn of Kwara 

North, the third zone in the 

state and from my zone, in 

terms of maturity, 

performance and qualities 

of exemplary leadership, I 

am best prepared to be 

supported by all the 

stakeholders to take over 

the governorship mantle in 

2019.” 

In his blueprint, Face of 

Hope, he promised to 

restructure government for 

improved efficiency by 

always consulting with the 

people to meet their 

specific needs. 

Women make input 

in 2019 Kano budget 

are the first to be brought 

together to give their input 

into the government 

budget. 

She explained that they 

did this in 2018 and 

submitted to the relevant 

government authority 

some of which formed part 

of the budget. 

A participant, Raliya 

Abubakar, who is also the 

Secretary General of the 

Jam’iyyar Matan Arewa, a 

northern women umbrella 

organisation, explained 

that it provided an 

opportunity for women 

and youth to put forward 

their needs to be 

implemented in the 

budget.


INSTALLATION: From left— HRM Alayeluwa Oba L<strong>as</strong>isi Gbadamosi of Igando 

Kingdom; Lagos State; Alliance for Democracy, AD, governorship candidate, 

High Chief Owolabi Salis; HRM Oba Azeez Gbadabiu Isola Asiwaju, Onikotun 

of Ikotunland, and Salis' wife, Olabisi, at the installation of Salis <strong>as</strong> Aare 

Bob<strong>as</strong>elu of Igando Kingdom in Lagos, recently.. PHOTO: Agbonkhese Oboh. 

CONFERENCE:From left—Chairman,Electoral Committee, Venerable 

Gbenga Oniye; Bishop, Diocese of Lagos-West, Anglican Communion,Rt Revd 

James Odedeji and Admin. Assistant to the Bishop, Venerable Abiade Adeniji 

during the media conference on Election Mobilization Monitoring at 

Archbishop Vinning Memorlal Cathedral, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos, yesterday. 

JOINT-VENTURE: From left—Senior Antonio OBURU ONDO, Mr. Emeka 

Okwuosa, with the Chairman, Oilserv Group (Nigeria), during the signing of 

the Joint Venture, JV Agreement in Equatorial Guinea, recently 

SPONSORSHIP: From left: Head, Not-For-Profit Unit, Sterling Bank Nig. Plc, 

Mrs. Carla Sojinrin; Representative, District 4, (2nd position) Ibrahim Hussein; 

Representative, District 4, (1st position), Faruq Akinsemoye, , Representative, 

District 6, (3rd position) Issac Daniel, in the sprint, junior boys category, at the 

grand finale of the third School Cycling Challenge, organized by African 

Foundation and sponsored by Sterling Bank Plc in lagos, recently.



By Festus Ahon 

ASABA—HOUSE of 

Representatives 

<strong>as</strong>pirant in the Ughelli 

North/Ughelli South/Udu 

Federal Constituency, on 

the platform of All People's 

Congress, APC, Dr 

Rukevwe Ugwumba h<strong>as</strong> 

promised to transform the 

constituency if elected. 

Addressing the people of 

the constituency, 

Ugwumba, a Consultant to 

the Senate Committee on 

Health said the 

constituency w<strong>as</strong> in dire 

need of socio-economic 

growth. 

Reiterating her 

determination to raise the 

quality of lives and 

infr<strong>as</strong>tructure in the 

community, she said: 

"Ughelli North/Ughelli 

NEWS HOTLINES 

018773962, 

Court order: Honeywell slams N72bn suit House of Reps <strong>as</strong>pirant vows 

to transform constituency 

on bank South/Udu Federal 

By Innocent Anaba 

L AGOS—THE 

Honeywell Group 

h<strong>as</strong> filed a fresh suit against 

Ecobank Plc, before a 

Federal High Court sitting 

in Lagos, demanding 

N72billion damages over 

alleged illegal ex-parte 

order procured by the bank 

against the <strong>as</strong>sets of the 

firm. 

The suit followed a 

Supreme Court judgment 

which upheld the verdict of 

the Court of Appeal 

dismissing the said exparte 

order granted in 

favour of Ecobank against 

Honeywell by a Federal 

High Court, Lagos. 

The apex court had held 

that the said ex-parte order 

w<strong>as</strong> unduly obtained 

against Honeywell. 

The Supreme Court, in 

the judgment on July 13, 

2018, had dismissed all of 

Ecobank’s appeals, 

particularly the affirmation 

of the ruling of the Court 

of Appeal which had 

earlier held that the “order 

freezing Honeywell’s 

account w<strong>as</strong> a clear breach 

of the provisions of the 

winding up rules. 

“In other words, the exparte 

order w<strong>as</strong> wrongly 

obtained by Ecobank,” the 

court ruled. 

According to the matter, 

in the course of bankercustomer 

relationship, 

Honeywell (and its 

subsidiaries) had obtained 

some facilities from the then 

Oceanic Bank (now 

Ecobank), while a dispute 

later arose <strong>as</strong> to the 

settlement of the facilities 

said to be to the tune of 

N3.5billion. 

While Honeywell claimed 

to have made full and final 

settlement of the facilities, 

Ecobank <strong>disagree</strong>d and the 

deadlock w<strong>as</strong> subsequently 

brought before the 

Chartered Institute of 

Bankers of Nigeria’s, 

CIBN, Sub-Committee on 

Ethics and Professionalism 

(Bankers’ Committee), and 

at the end of the review of 

the claims adduced by both 

parties, the Bankers’ 

Committee resolved that the 

payment of N3.5 billion by 

Honeywell w<strong>as</strong> indeed a 

full and final settlement of 

its obligations to Ecobank. 

Dissatisfied with the 

resolution, Ecobank went 

on to threaten Honeywell 

that it would publish it’s 

name <strong>as</strong> a debtor whilst also 

including it on its list for the 

Central Bank of Nigeria, 

CBN’s CRMS portal for all 

non-performing loan 

accounts. 

In view of the threat, 

Honeywell proceeded to 

court to seek a legal 

resolution of the matter 

since Ecobank w<strong>as</strong> not 

willing to abide by the 

resolution reached by the 

Banker’s Committee. 

In the suit before the then 

Justice Mohammed Idris of 

the Federal High Court in 

Lagos, Honeywell Group 

prayed for an order 

declaring that Honeywell 

and its subsidiaries were no 

longer indebted to Ecobank 

having paid an agreed sum 

of N3.5 billion <strong>as</strong> the full 

and final settlement of their 

obligation to the bank. 

However, instead of 

allowing the already 

instituted c<strong>as</strong>e to proceed 

until the trial court gives a 

verdict, Ecobank, through 

its lawyer, instituted several 

suits against Honeywell 

before multiple judges of 

the same Federal High 

Court in Lagos with all 

primarily being in respect 

of the same subject matter. 

In the end, one of the 

judges, Justice 

Mohammed Yunusa 

granted the ex-parte order 

limiting Honeywell’s access 

to operate its accounts. 

The order, however, w<strong>as</strong> 

granted with a guarantee 

by Ecobank to pay damages 

to Honeywell in the event 

that the order ought not to 

have been made in the first 

place. 

Constituency deserves the 

best. 

"My decision to contest 

the Ughelli North/Ughelli 

South/Udu Federal 

Constituency seat w<strong>as</strong> a 

welcome development to 

many in our federal 

constituency. My people 

appreciate hard-work and 

commitment to their wellbeing. 

"As Special Adviser on Health 

in the state and President of 

JMEF, I impacted many lives 

positively. I made sacrifices for 

people to have decent living. 

They know what I can do when 

given the opportunity to 

represent them in the National 

Assembly". 

Announcing her 7-point 

agenda, Ugwumba called for a 

transparent process in the choice 

of the party's flag bearers for the 

forthcoming elections.

38—Vanguard, 

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 25, 2018 

HOW do you fight an 

enemy who is not an 

enemy but a fellow-citizen? 

How do you fight someone who 

is fighting you but you don’t 

know exactly why? How do 

you fight a mad man? That 

precisely is the challenge we 

face in Nigeria with regard to 

Boko Haram. That challenge 

reached a new chapter with the 

kidnapping of 276 Chibok 

schoolgirls. 

Al-Qaeda in Nigeria 

The United States specialises 

in belittling anything and 

everything not from America 

and by America. The late 

American senator, John 

McCain, bo<strong>as</strong>ted that if he had 

been U.S. president, he would 

have sent American troops to 

rescue the kidnapped girls 

without waiting for the 

permission of “some guy called 

Goodluck Jonathan.” 

But then the government of 

somebody called George Bush, 

with all its sophisticated gear 

and gadgets, looked for a 

certain man called Osama Bin 

Laden for 10 years. When it 

finally found him, the whole 

world discovered that the 

almighty U.S. of A. had been 

conned for years by the 

Pakistanis. 

The Pakistani military kept 

Bin Laden secure from 

American eyes in Abbottabad, 

less than a mile from the 

Pakistan Military Academy. 

While doing this, Pakistan 

collected over $20 billion in 

military and economic aid from 

the United States in the name 

of fighting America’s terrorist 

enemies. The battle is always 

so much e<strong>as</strong>ier when the boot 

is on someone else’s foot. 

Nigeria h<strong>as</strong> neither friends 

nor godfathers in the 

international system. 

Nevertheless, we deserved the 

understanding of the 

international community <strong>as</strong> we 

moved to contain the 

insurgency. Efforts of the 

Nigerian government in 

countering insurgency need to 

be acknowledged and 

supported in light of how 

intractable similar problems 

have proved to be in several 

countries where international 

resources have been mobilised 

to greater degree. 

Boko Haram w<strong>as</strong> funded by 

Muammar Gaddafi, who 

insisted that Nigeria should be 

broken into a Christian South 

and a Muslim North. 

Nevertheless, the insurgents 

were a ragtag team of local 

nuisances, until the Americans 

decided it w<strong>as</strong> time to 

overthrow Gaddafi, ostensibly 

in order to export American 

democracy to the Libyan Arab 

Jamahiriya. 

The U.S. and its Western allies 

not only succeeded in getting 

Gaddafi killed, they also 

succeeded in unle<strong>as</strong>hing 

radical Islamic terrorist groups 

in North Africa, including the 

Al Qaeda in the Islamic 

Maghreb, now armed with 

Gaddafi’s cache of sophisticated 

weapons. These groups moved 

down the Sahel from Libya 

through Algeria into Mali and 

The rise and fall of 

Boko Haram 

Nigeria, where they found 

kindred spirits in Nigeria’s 

inchoate Boko Haram. 

As a result, Boko Haram 

quickly came of age. They soon 

operated with armoured 

personnel carriers and 

advanced weaponry that 

matched those of the Nigerian 

military. Furthermore, they built 

up an arsenal of weapons and 

a fleet of trucks stolen from 

police-stations and militarybarracks 

in the North-e<strong>as</strong>t. 

Indeed, according to the U.S. 

Council on Foreign Relations, 

Boko Haram quickly became the 

most violent and deadliest 

terrorist group in the world, 

responsible for far more deaths 

than any other terrorist group. 

Terrorists or insurgents? 

How exactly do you fight 

them? Are they a terrorist 

group or are they an insurgency 

group and what exactly is the 

difference? Someone said: 

“they are an insurgency group 

that uses terroristic methods.” 

I have a better definition: they 

are people who delight in 

killing people. 

The U.S. wanted to label them 

a terrorist group in 2012, when 

Hilary Clinton w<strong>as</strong> U.S. 

Secretary of State, but the 

Nigerian government pleaded 

against it. We did not want to 

heighten unnecessarily the 

profile of a gang of local misfits. 

We also did not want Nigeria to 

be officially cl<strong>as</strong>sified <strong>as</strong> a 

country that harbours terrorists. 

That would have had a 

deleterious effect on the 

economy and hindered our 

ability to encourage foreign 

investment. We came up with 

a compromise. Just three of the 

Boko Haram head-honchos 

were cl<strong>as</strong>sified <strong>as</strong> “Specially 

Designated Global Terrorists.” 

But by the time they graduated 

to kidnapping scores of 

innocent school-children, it w<strong>as</strong> 

considered overdue to cl<strong>as</strong>sify 

them <strong>as</strong> terrorists. But even 

terrorists have recognisable 

objectives. Not so the Boko 

Haram. Even the king-pin of 

all terrorist organisations, the Al 

Qaeda, raised objections when 

Boko Haram enlarged their 

terroristic theatre of war to the 

burning of an elementary school 

filled with young boys. 

Edward Heath, a capitalist 

British Prime-Minister, said: 

“There is an unacceptable face 

of capitalism.” Well, it seems 

there is also an unacceptable 

face of terrorism, even to 

terrorists like the Al-Qaeda. 

What do the Boko Haram 

want? Don’t <strong>as</strong>k me; <strong>as</strong>k them. 

Are they implacably opposed to 

Western education? Yes! But 

then how come they are 

enamoured of Western 

weaponry and bomb-making 

techniques? Are they 

determined to drive Southern 

Christians out of the North in 

order to prosecute some kind 

of jihad? Yes! But then why do 

they equally kill Northern 

Muslims? 

Are they revolutionaries 

The kidnapping 

of the Chibok 

girls w<strong>as</strong> the 

biggest blunder 

of the Boko 

Haram, and it 

marked the 

beginning of 

the end of the 

group 

opposed to the social 

inequalities in Northern 

Nigeria? I don’t think so. The 

Boko Haram have not been 

killing rich Northerners. They 

have been killing the poor. 

Men of timber and caliber don’t 

go to Nyanya market, which 

they bombed some years back. 

The rich and the powerful don’t 

put their children in Chibok 

secondary school. 

As the Boko Haram became 

more lethal, so did they become 

even more illogical and 

nonsensical. Their objectives 

are completely muddled. At the 

moment, they are reduced to 

causing havoc and mayhem at 

any and every opportunity. If 

some people in the United 

States are inclined to shoot 

p<strong>as</strong>sers-by for the most 

psychotic of re<strong>as</strong>ons, there is 

nothing the United States 

government can do to prevent 

this. If the Boko Haram just 

want to bomb anybody 

anywhere at any time, there is 

little the Nigerian government 

can do about this. 

Diminished armed forces 

When the Boko Haram 

became better equipped, the 

Nigerian military went from 

bad to worse. Gone are the glory 

days when we were at the 

forefront of international peacekeeping 

efforts, only surp<strong>as</strong>sed 

by Pakistan, Bangladesh and 

India. The C.V. of Nigeria 

single-handedly initiating the 

ECOMOG (ECOWAS 

Monitoring Group) and 

orchestrating peacekeeping and 

peace-enforcement operations 

in Liberia and Sierra Leone is 

now in a dismal state of 

disrepair. 

When you have a military that 

specialises in overthrowing 

civilian governments, you don’t 

empower it after civilians finally 

manage to come back to power 

after 16 years. It is not 

surprising therefore that the 

Nigerian military w<strong>as</strong> 

intentionally starved of funds 

and diminished since the 

advent of civilian rule in 1999. 

As a result, it became a shell of 

its much-vaunted p<strong>as</strong>t. From 

the height of a 350,000-man 

army during the 1967-70 Civil 

War, the Nigerian military now 

h<strong>as</strong> only about 80,000 men. 

The earlier plaudits of the 

Nigerian army were in fighting 

<strong>convention</strong>al wars. But counterinsurgency 

is something new, 

requiring new sets of skills, 

tactics and equipment. Lacking 

this, the Jonathan 

administration declared a 

cl<strong>as</strong>sical state of emergency in 

three North-e<strong>as</strong>tern states of 

Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, and 

then embarked on a scorched 

earth approach. This not only 

failed to shake an enemy skilled 

in hide and seek; it went a long 

way to alienate the local 

population from the Nigerian 

army. 

Heavy-handed tactics 

The Nigerian military h<strong>as</strong> 

fought against Boko Haram the 

Nigerian way. Attacks on the 

innocent; illegal searches and 

torture; extra-judicial killings; 

wrongful and indefinite 

detention of suspects without 

trial; random burning of homes 

and farms; and revenge attacks 

on the innocent. This w<strong>as</strong> a 

blueprint for losing the war. 

As a result, the military 

alienated the local population 

it w<strong>as</strong> sworn to protect, making 

it all the more difficult to fight 

the insurgency. Human Rights 

Watch and Amnesty 

International criticised the 

military for these heavyhandedness 

and human-rights 

abuses. 

Western governments would 

not sell counter-insurgency 

weapons to Nigeria given the 

dismal human rights record of 

the Nigerian army. Indeed, the 

sale of lethal weapons to 

Nigeria w<strong>as</strong> specifically 

prohibited by law in the United 

Kingdom because of such 

concerns. A 1997 law also 

prohibited American forces from 

working with foreign military 

units that have been accused of 

chronic human rights 

violations. 

There w<strong>as</strong> also a problem with 

sharing highly-sensitive 

intelligence information with 

Nigeria because it w<strong>as</strong> widely 

understood that the Nigerian 

military included somes fifth 

columnist. 

On its part, the Nigerian 

military is fiercely jealous of its 

independence and is not very 

open to giving foreigners 

access to Nigerian b<strong>as</strong>es. Thus, 

we rebuffed American requests 

to b<strong>as</strong>e AFRICOM on our soil. 

Beginning of the end 

Concerning the insurgency, 

President Jonathan w<strong>as</strong> caught 

on the horns of a dilemma. He 

w<strong>as</strong> a South-South president 

facing re-election in 2015. No 

Republican h<strong>as</strong> even been 

elected president of the United 

States without winning Ohio. 

No Nigerian can be elected 

president of Nigeria without 

getting a substantial number of 

Northern votes. 

This made the handling of the 

security situation in the Northe<strong>as</strong>t 

a delicate matter for him. 

Indeed, it put him in a Catch 

22 situation. When he declared 

emergency rule and clamped 

down on the insurgents in the 

North, his Northern political 

opponents accused him of 

genocide. It did not help that 

his Chief of Army Staff w<strong>as</strong> from 

the South-E<strong>as</strong>t. Some even 

threatened to take the matter to 

the ICJ. But when he softpedalled, 

he w<strong>as</strong> accused of 

incompetence. 

It did not help matters that the 

three states in the fore-front of 

the insurgency, Borno, Yobe 

and Adamawa, were controlled 

by the opposition APC party. In 

declaring emergency rule, 

Jonathan w<strong>as</strong> careful to leave 

the three APC governors intact, 

<strong>as</strong> chief security officers of their 

states. However, they were still 

not inclined to cooperate with 

him and regarded the 

insurgency <strong>as</strong> a means to 

undermine his <strong>PDP</strong> 

government. 

In <strong>as</strong> much <strong>as</strong> it is possible, 

the Boko Haram were winning 

the propaganda war against the 

Nigerian government until 

Abubakar Shekau had a 

brainwave in his determination 

to become the new Osama Bin 

Laden. “Let us kidnap 300 

innocent school-girls in Chibok 

in one fell swoop and use them 

to embarr<strong>as</strong>s the Nigerian 

government.” The kidnapping 

w<strong>as</strong> the biggest blunder of the 

Boko Haram, and it marked the 

beginning of the end of the 

group. 

As a result of the international 

outcry this h<strong>as</strong> provoked, the 

Boko Haram were no longer just 

fighting against the Nigerian 

army. The whole world became 

ranged against them. The 

Americans, the British, the 

French, the Japanese, the 

Israelis, the Chinese; everyone 

lined up behind Nigeria, 

offering <strong>as</strong>sistance for dealing 

with the insurgents. The earlier 

reticence of the Nigerian 

government to seek outside 

help, and the reticence of the 

West to offer <strong>as</strong>sistance 

vanished. 

Undoubtedly, the days of 

Boko Haram insurgency is now 

numbered.


Stories by Benjamin Njoku & Rotimi Agbana 

OSUN ELECTION: 

Davido, I Go Dye 

condemn INEC’s 

declaration for a 

re-run 

Following the close margin 

between the two leading 

candidates of APC and <strong>PDP</strong>, the 

Independent National Electoral 

Commission, INEC, declared 

the Osun State governorship 

election inconclusive, pending 

the supplementary elections 

slated for Thursday, September 

27, 2018. 

But this decision didn’t sit well 

with popular pop music star, 

David Adeleke, a.k.a Davido, 

Senator Ademola Adeleke’s 

nephew, APC’s gubernatorial 

candidate in the state. 

In a series of tweets on his 

twitter page, Davido who 

recently cancelled his US music 

tour and returned to Nigeria to 

support his uncle’s governorship 

race, said for posterity sake there 

is need for President Buhari to 

wade into the matter and set 

things right. 

“You are a man of integrity sir, 

ple<strong>as</strong>e do the right thing 

@MBuhari @inecnigeria, the 

people have spoken”, he wrote. 

He requested that INEC 

declares his uncle, Senator 

Ademola Adeleke, the winner, 

instead of conducting a re-run 

<strong>as</strong> scheduled. “We are not 

joking on this election matter 

this time around APC think say 

Osun people be mumu. No one 

can clap with one hand, ajumose 

ni. Le’st deliver ourselves 

from these wicked Ajeles. 

Osun h<strong>as</strong> rapidly liberated. 

No re-run! Announce 

winner 

now 

@inecnigeria. Stop 

waiting on that call, it 

won’t come. The good 

people of Osun have 

spoken against no 

salaries for 3-years, 

against lack of 

empathy for 

pensioners, against 

fake elephant projects 

that doesn’t benefit our 

people. They have voted 

for a new dawn, the light 

is here, Imole de. INEC 

should let the people’s will 

prevail in Osun. Victory is 

certain whichever way. God’s 

plan is okay”, he wrote. 

Ace comedian and social 

commentator, Francis Agoda, 

popularly known <strong>as</strong> I Go Dye 

also shared his thoughts on the 

matter. According to him, the 

inconclusiveness of the election 

is “Nothing but a rape on our 

democracy”, saying, this may be 

a testimony of what is likely to 

happen during the 2019 general 

elections. “Going by global 

democratic trend, the will of the 

people cannot be subverted. 

Let no one <strong>as</strong>sume the 

knowledge of superiority 

against the truth. It shall 

backfire. 

The present election is a 

testimony or test of what may 

likely happen in 2019.We don’t 

need to win at all times. 

There should be a time to 

learn how to do things right. 

However, I call on Osun people 

to be law abiding and allow 

justice to take its course. How 

will INEC justify the fact that 

with the high number of security 

operatives present, there were 

still c<strong>as</strong>es of irregularities? This 

is a slap on democracy and 

should not be encouraged at all. 

What is inconclusive? It’s 

nothing but a rape on 

democracy and our sensitivity 

<strong>as</strong> a people”, he fumed. 

However, all fingers are 

crossed, hopeful and waiting for 

September 27, when justice 

would be served at the re-run 

election.a 

•K1 

•Obesere 

•Davido 

•Kemi Olunloyo, 

•Linda 

Ikeji 

Why I 

dislike 

Linda 

Ikeji- Kemi 

Olunloyo 

Even after once benefiting 

from billionaire celebrity 

blogger, Linda Ikeji’s wealth, 

during her incarceration in 

Port-Harcourt, controversial 

blogger cum journalist, Kemi 

Olunloyo, h<strong>as</strong> finally opened 

up on why she dislikes the 

blogger who recently 

welcomed her first child in 

Atlanta. 

She made the revelation on 

twitter when a fan inquired to 

know why she is always at the 

gossip blogger’s throat. 

The controversial blogger 

who spares nothing whenever 

she means to drag anyone in 

the mud, used unprintable 

words in explaining why she 

dislikes Linda Ikeji. 

In her defence, she alleged 

that Linda had been 

responsible for a misfortune her 

younger sister suffered in 2006. 

Recall that Vanguard Ripples 

reported that the controversial 

blogger accused Linda Ikeji of 

being deceitful about her 

pregnancy. She alleged that 

Linda w<strong>as</strong> never pregnant but 

paid a surrogate mother 1.8M 

for the child. 

K1’s aide bl<strong>as</strong>ts Obesere over attack 

on Fuji icon 

*Says ‘Leave K1 alone and concentrate on your ailing music career’ 

The media space h<strong>as</strong> been 

aw<strong>as</strong>h the p<strong>as</strong>t few days with the 

outburst of Fuji icon, K1, on the 

Lagos State administration. 

Two days ago, Fuji music singer, 

Obesere had joined the fray <strong>as</strong> he 

attacked the Fuji icon over his 

(W<strong>as</strong>iu’s) stance on Governor 

Ambode’s Lagos APC leadership 

debacle. 

But the media team of the music 

super star, led by Kunle R<strong>as</strong>heed, h<strong>as</strong> 

responded to the issue, taking 

Obesere to the cleaners. According 

to R<strong>as</strong>heed, Obesere is an 

opportunist who wants to latch onto 

K1’s fame to get noticed by all 

means. 

He advised Obesere to rather 

concentrate on his diminishing 

music career instead of using K1 

i n his political “yahoo” game. 

“Ordinarily, we would not bother ourselves 

with the usual ranting of Fuji act, Ab<strong>as</strong>s 

Omorapala Obesere, because K1 will never 

entertain such idea. But <strong>as</strong> a concerned party, 

we need to set the records straight, hence, this 

timely advice to Obesere. 

We can see that Obesere intends to disparage 

the person of Alhaji W<strong>as</strong>iu Ayinde Marshal, a.k.a. 

K1 De Ultimate, for no just cause. We have been 

watching the entertainment scene for a while 

and have come to the conclusion that Obesere 

is an opportunist who waits for K1 to either err or take 

an action for his voice to be heard.” 

“One good thing which life h<strong>as</strong> taught is that the 

truest mark of being born with great qualities is being 

born without envy. This h<strong>as</strong> prompted our belief that 

Obesere’s issue with K1 borders on envy and nothing 

else. Obesere should know that K1 remains a 

prominent APC party member in the state and <strong>as</strong> such 

is a bonafide stakeholder in the affairs of his party. 

Instead of Obesere dabbling into a matter that doesn’t 

concern him, he should <strong>as</strong> a matter of urgency 

concentrate more on re-jigging his dwindling 

musical career. K1 h<strong>as</strong> done well both <strong>as</strong> a musician 

and a politician”, he said. 

He added “The Czar of Fuji music h<strong>as</strong> done many 

hits after hits and h<strong>as</strong> always remained relevant on 

the Nigerian music scene. Of late, Obesere’s voice 

and face becomes only visible when the issue of K1’s 

issue arises. What is this, if not envy? While the same 

K1 w<strong>as</strong> busy campaigning for Governor Akin 

Ambode in 2015, Obesere did a song saying ‘Eyin 

magbale, awa ma gbadun” (meaning APC members 

should continue sweeping, his own people (<strong>PDP</strong>) will 

continue to enjoy). Now that <strong>PDP</strong> failed in both the 

state and at the federal level, Obesere now solicits 

patronage from the same party he had derided in 

the p<strong>as</strong>t.” 

“We have observed that Obesere is like a sinking 

man who will desperately hang on anything to go 

down with him. We have also observed that the 

hatred he harbours for K1 h<strong>as</strong> not ce<strong>as</strong>ed despite K1 

offering olive branches to him several times,” R<strong>as</strong>heed 

said.

C 

M 

Y 

K 

40—Vanguard, TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 25, 2018 

vanguardnews 

@vanguardnews 

@vanguardnews 

NEWS HOTLINES 

018773962, 

08052867058 

Osun: High-wire 

intrigues <strong>as</strong> <strong>PDP</strong>, APC 

dig in for votes 

Continues on Page 5 

tic now that with his support, 

<strong>PDP</strong> will win. We 

are confident of a good 

outing. I am more confident 

now. 

Speaking on his twitter 

@bukol<strong>as</strong>araki, the Senate 

President said: “I 

thank Sen. Iyiola Omisore 

(@iyiomisore) for 

the warm reception he 

and his people gave me 

and members of my entourage 

in Ile-Ife today. 

“We have agreed to 

work together because 

our goals are the same. 

We all want good governance 

in Osun State. 

Over the next 24 hours, 

we will work out the details. 

“Our discussion will 

definitely be useful for 

the growth of democracy 

in our country; the development 

of Osun 

State and its people; <strong>as</strong> 

well <strong>as</strong> for future engagements 

among political 

players. 

I’ll back any party 

that’ll implement 

my agenda 

— Omisore 

On his part, Omisore 

said he would be willing 

to support any political 

party that would implement 

his agenda of good 

governance, payment of 

full salaries to workers 

and prompt payment of 

pensioners’ allowances. 

Omisore said: “I have 

given my programmes to 

both APC and <strong>PDP</strong>. My 

programme is like this; 

payment of salaries and 

pensions. Good governance 

is what is important 

to me. 

“Anyone between the 

two that will do that will 

get my support. I am p<strong>as</strong>sionate 

about Osun, and 

my interest is the welfare 

of the people of this 

state. I have told those 

Naira down to N364.28/$ 

in I&E window 

By Elizabeth Adegbesan 

The Naira, yesterday, depreciated to N364.28 

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

window even <strong>as</strong> the volume of dollars traded dropped 

by eight per cent. 

Data from FMDQ showed that the indicative 

exchange rate for the window rose to N 364.28 per 

dollar, yesterday, from N363.16 per dollar l<strong>as</strong>t week 

Friday, indicating N1.12 kobo depreciation of the 

naira. 

The volume of dollars traded on the window 

yesterday rose by eight percent to $176.49 million 

from $191.92 million traded l<strong>as</strong>t week Friday. 

However, the naira yesterday w<strong>as</strong> stable at N359 

per dollar in the parallel market. 

CONDOLENCE—Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson (L), receives a letter of condolence 

from the Representative of the Chairman, <strong>PDP</strong> Governorship Screening Committee, South-South, Alhaji 

Buba Galadima (M), while the Secretary of the Committee, Boyelayefa Debekeme (R), watches, during 

a condolence visit by the committee to the governor, over the demise of his mother, Ma Goldco<strong>as</strong>t 

Dickson, at his hometown, Toru-Orua. 

sent to me. At the appropriate 

time, we will tell 

you where we are going.” 

Omisore’s father, Oba 

David Omisore, is the 

ruler of Garage Olode, a 

town in Ife South, where 

the election in two units 

were cancelled. 

Besides, Adeleke’s running 

mate, Albert Adeogun 

is said to be from 

Ife. 

Speaking on their approach 

towards the rerun 

election yesterday, 

stakeholders from the 

two parties expressed 

confidence on claiming 

victory. 

Alhaji Lai Mohammed, 

chairman of the APC 

media committee of the 

APC Campaign Council, 

said the APC would surely 

upend the lead of the 

<strong>PDP</strong>. 

He said: 

“<strong>PDP</strong> descended into 

hysteria after INEC announced 

that the election 

w<strong>as</strong> inconclusive, 

saying this reinforced 

the Council’s earlier 

statement that the opposition 

party w<strong>as</strong> in the 

panic mode prior to the 

election and that it had 

no confidence in the institutions 

saddled with 

organizing the polls.’’ 

“Rather than resort to 

threats, the <strong>PDP</strong> could 

either go to court or decide 

not to participate in 

the supplementary election 

of September 27th. 

What the <strong>PDP</strong> cannot 

and must not do is to 

engage in its trade-mark 

brigandage or to employ 

tactics that can short-circuit 

the democratic process.’’ 

Stating that APC’s confidence 

in the ability of 

the relevant state institutions 

involved in the 

Osun election remains 

unshaken, he said party’s 

belief is that that “every 

<strong>disagree</strong>ment resulting 

from the election 

must be resolved 

through the democratic 

process, rather than a 

resort to threats of fire 

and brimstone.” 

Recalling that the APC 

w<strong>as</strong> leading the <strong>PDP</strong> by 

over 40,000 votes in the 

2015 Kogi governorship 

election when INEC declared 

the election inconclusive, 

he said ‘’rather 

then resort to threats, like 

the <strong>PDP</strong> is doing now, the 

APC simply submitted to 

the democratic process 

and the supplementary 

election w<strong>as</strong> peacefully 

conducted in 91 polling 

units across 18 of the 21 

local governments in the 

state.’’ 

Our plan is an 

internal matter 

—Igbokwe 

Spokesperson of the 

APC in Lagos State, Mr. 

Joe Igbokwe, said: “We 

will do everything to keep 

our plans <strong>as</strong> an internal 

matter. <strong>PDP</strong> h<strong>as</strong> been saying 

that they have opened 

lines of communication, 

but we have not heard 

from the other side that 

they have approached 

them. People should not 

expect us to disclose our 

winning plans. <strong>PDP</strong> h<strong>as</strong> 

been talking about alliances, 

but ours is something 

we cannot disclose. 

We are winning the election, 

but our war plans are 

known to us alone. Negotiations 

do not happen in 

a marketplace, so we are 

not revealing our plans.” 

We’ll woo voters 

legitimately 

— Okanlawon 

Special Adviser to Aregbesola 

on Information and 

Strategy, Mr. Semiu 

Okanlawon, said: “I can 

tell you that we are doing 

everything legitimately <strong>as</strong> 

a party to win the votes 

that declare our candidate 

the winner of the 

election.” 

APC inducing each 

voter with N20,000 

— <strong>PDP</strong> 

The Deputy National 

Publicity Secretary of the 

<strong>PDP</strong>, Prince Diran 

Odeyemi said that the 

<strong>PDP</strong> w<strong>as</strong> optimistic of 

winning the rerun election 

but expressed worry 

over allegations that 

the APC w<strong>as</strong> inducing 

voters. 

Odeyemi said: “INEC 

h<strong>as</strong> the voter’s register 

for those particular units 

and every political party 

is in possession of it. 

What we are doing is to 

call them individually, 

our leaders live among 

them, and they have 

been reaching out to 

them. 

“What we are afraid of 

is that the APC is offering 

N20,000 to the voters 

in those are<strong>as</strong> where 

re-run will be held, and 

they collect their voters’ 

card so that they will not 

come out on the day of 

the re-run election or 

when they come out, 

they will not be able to 

c<strong>as</strong>t their votes. That will 

reduce the number of 

people that may want to 

vote against them. What 

they will now do is ensure 

their strong supporters 

will be the ones 

to come out to vote. 

“As a matter of fact, 

they have camped voters 

in a particular place till 

Thursday after which 

they will convey them in 

a bus to the voting centres. 

That is what they’re 

planning to do. 

“What we also heard is 

that they are using security 

men to intimidate 

and har<strong>as</strong>s our members. 

Already, one of our 

leaders, Fatai Diekola 

w<strong>as</strong> beaten up, and they 

now tried to justify his 

arrest by lying that he 

w<strong>as</strong> in possession of voters’ 

cards. There is nothing 

wrong in him canv<strong>as</strong>sing 

for votes, INEC 

allows us to canv<strong>as</strong>s for 

votes till Wednesday. If 

he w<strong>as</strong> in possession of 

voters’ cards, he should 

have been paraded, but 

that did not happen. In 

fact, we later got to find 

out that those arrested on 

Saturday in Iwo were not 

<strong>PDP</strong> members.” 

Thugs attacks <strong>PDP</strong> 

chieftain in Osogbo, 

whereabouts 

unknown 

Sources told Vanguard 

that Diekola w<strong>as</strong> attacked 

at Alekuwodo 

area of Osogbo where he 

had allegedly gone to 

canv<strong>as</strong>s for votes for his 

party ahead of the Thursday 

re-run election in 

some parts of the state. 

He w<strong>as</strong> said to have 

been attacked at Ward 

05, Unit 17, Adewale 

Street, Alekuwodo in 

Osogbo, one of the units 

where Thursday’s rerun 

election would take 

place. 

Suspected gun-wielding 

thugs allegedly shot 

sporadically into the air 

when they got to the area 

to scare the people. 

It w<strong>as</strong> gathered that the 

incident happened 

around 11.30am and residents 

of the area scampered 

when they heard 

gunshots. 

Vanguard 

reliably 

gathered that two of his 

(Diekola’s) aides who 

were in the vehicle with 

him were shot, while he 

w<strong>as</strong> attacked with axes 

and sustained deep cuts. 

He w<strong>as</strong>, however, taken 

away by officials of 

the Nigeria Security and 

Civil Defense Corps, 

NSCDC. 

One of his political 

friends and a former 

commissioner in the 

state, Mr. Sunday Akere 

confirmed the attack and 

expressed worry that 

Diekola h<strong>as</strong> remained 

incommunicado. 

When contacted, the 

state commissioner of Police, 

Mr. Fimihan 

Adeoye did not pick his 

telephone. 

Protesters storm 

INEC office over 

Osun election 

Supporters of the <strong>PDP</strong> 

also yesterday, stormed 

the headquarters of the 

Independent National 


INEC, to protest the state 

re-run governorship election 

billed on Thursday, 

27 September. 

The protesters, who 

stormed the venue were 

carrying placards with 

various inscriptions such 

<strong>as</strong> ‘No To rerun, ‘INEC 

don’t conspire with APC’; 

‘The people spoke on Saturday, 

announce the results’, 

among others. 

Ooni lauds 

electorate, begins 

Olojo festival with 

7days seclusion 

Meanwhile, the Ooni of 

Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan 

Ogunwusi, Ojaja II h<strong>as</strong> 

commended the people of 

Continues on Page 44


Communities in Rivers 

State get improved water 

100 years after 

...WASH project to the rescue 

By Chioma Obinna 

FOR communities that 

have lived without 

safe water for over 100 

years, how would one 

expect the inhabitants to 

react when a modern 

borehole that produces 

more than enough 

quantity of water than 

they can use is now 

established in their midst? 

It is not therefore 

surprising that jubilation, 

expressions of joy and a 

generally positive 

atmosphere would greet 

such development. This 

w<strong>as</strong> exactly what 

happened in Nkoro, 

Ottoniama, and Aya-ama 

communities all in 

Opobo/Nkoro Local 

Government Area of 

Rivers State. 

They practically rolled 

out the drums and it w<strong>as</strong> 

clear that they could not 

contain the joy in their 

hearts <strong>as</strong> they danced and 

sang. 

It is understandable 

why they reacted the way 

they did because they 

have been deprived of 

this b<strong>as</strong>ic essential of life 

for so many generations. 

Some members of the 

community who are 

predominantly farmers 

and fishermen, voiced out 

their joy even <strong>as</strong> they 

narrated their 

nightmarish tales of life 

without water. 

It w<strong>as</strong> a day the people 

finally heaved a sigh of 

relief after decades of 

trekking for one hour, 30 

minutes daily in search of 

safe drinking water. 

The day also showc<strong>as</strong>ed 

how these organisations 

were able to reduce the 

burden of water-borne 

dise<strong>as</strong>es that were 

commonplace in the 

communities. 

Some members of the 

community that narrated 

their frustrations and 

what it used to be living 

without access to potable 

water betrayed emotions. 

There were narrations 

of how their marriages 

suffered, how they were 

inflicted with all kinds of 

water-borne dise<strong>as</strong>es and 

some even lost their sight 

in the process. 

Adeline, a mother of 

five, whose marriage 

almost cr<strong>as</strong>hed <strong>as</strong> a result 

of the trauma, stated that 

it w<strong>as</strong> an experience she 

would never want to 

remember or experience 

ever again. 

"On a daily b<strong>as</strong>is, I 

trekked from here to 

another village (Okorotu) 

for just a keg of drinking 

water that may not l<strong>as</strong>t for 

another day. Sometimes, 

when there is a crowd, we 

spent extra hours waiting 

for our turn. 

"At a point, my husband 

became suspicious of the 

hours we were spending 

at the borehole. Several 

times, I w<strong>as</strong> beaten 

because he thought I w<strong>as</strong> 

having extramarital 

affairs," she recalled, 

heaving a sigh of relief. 

"In all, I thank God for 

this water project here. At 

le<strong>as</strong>t, I am alive to share 

this testimony. It h<strong>as</strong> 

solved some of our 

problems," she said 

smiling. 

Adeline's story w<strong>as</strong> not 

different from the stories 

of others in the 

communities. 

Mr. Macdonald 

Charles’ narration of how 

the communities were 

once ravaged by waterborne 

dise<strong>as</strong>es such <strong>as</strong> 

cholera. He specifically 

narrated how the 

communities in 2010 lost 

some of the residents to 

cholera outbreak. 

"We have been drinking 

By Sola Ogundipe 

ACOALITION 

of 

Civil Society 

Organisations under the 

auspices of the Lagos 

State Accountability 

Mechanism for Maternal 

and Newborn Health, 

LASAM, weekend 

appealed to the Lagos 

State Government to 

rele<strong>as</strong>e funds to procure 

essential life-saving 

commodities that would 

enable Primary 

Healthcare Centres, 

PHCs, across the state to 

provide services free of 

charge. 

Making the call during 

a media roundtable on 

Lagos State 2017 Health 

water from the well for 

over 100 years these 

communities have been 

in existence. The t<strong>as</strong>te of 

the water alone can kill 

you. We are happy with 

the newly commissioned 

borehole." 

Also, 50-year-old 

Maltilda John, narrated 

the level of suffering 

during dry se<strong>as</strong>on 

especially in December 

when the well water 

would have gone down. 

"We drank well water 

and we suffered a lot in 

December because the 

water level goes down 

during the dry se<strong>as</strong>on and 

the colour changes due to 

too much pressure. But 

we have no choice than to 

allow the water to settle 

before we drink it." 

Vice-Chairman of Aya- 

Ama Community, Rev. 

Luke Berekura said: "We 

have been praying and 

<strong>as</strong>king God to do 

something and because 

Only 20.4% of 

the Nigerian 

population in 

communities 

h<strong>as</strong> access to 

improved 

b<strong>as</strong>ic water 

and sanitation 

services 

CSOs seek rele<strong>as</strong>e of 2018 Lagos health budget 

Budget Scorecard, the 

organisations further 

observed that the stockout 

of the commodities 

across most of the PHCs 

in the first three months 

of the year w<strong>as</strong> due to 

lack of these commodities 

in the state for 

distribution. 

They, however, 

applauded the reduction 

of stock-outs of essential 

life-saving commodities 

in the secondary health 

facilities in the state. 

“We therefore request 

the Lagos State Ministry 

of Health and its 

agencies to sustain this 

progress and ensure 100 

per cent availability of 

essential life-saving 

*The modern borehole built by EU, UNICEF, and Rivers State Government. Inset: 

is the old well which used to be the only source of water in the communities. 

God loves us, the project 

came. 

"The situation of this 

place h<strong>as</strong> been very bad 

in terms of water and 

sanitation. It h<strong>as</strong> never 

been good but for God 

being God of Africans 

who never kills, we would 

have all been dead." 

It is no longer news that 

many communities across 

the country lack access to 

potable water. According 

to the United Nations, the 

world is not on track to 

reach Sustainable 

Development Goal, SDG 

6: to ensure availability 

and sustainable 

management of sanitation 

and water for all by 2030. 

Today, 4.5 billion people 

live without safely 

managed sanitation and 

2.1 billion people lack 

access to safe, readily 

available water at home. 

Experts say this is a 

crisis that is dev<strong>as</strong>tating 

public health, living 

commodities in all public 

health facilities offering 

maternal and child health 

services in Lagos State.” 

The CSOs, after a 

review of the salient 

points of the MNCH and 

other scorecards, urged 

the state government to 

create a specific budget 

line item in 2019 for 

Routine Immunisation in 

the PHC Board Budget to 

facilitate sustained, 

regular outreaches by the 

PHCs especially for hardto-reach 

are<strong>as</strong> and 

thereby incre<strong>as</strong>e routine 

immunisation coverage 

in the state. 

“We <strong>as</strong>k that the Lagos 

State Government should 

timely rele<strong>as</strong>e the full 

conditions, nutrition, 

education and economic 

productivity across the 

developing world and 

particularly, Nigeria. 

According to the Chief 

of Water, Sanitation and 

Hygiene, WASH, 

UNICEF, Mr. ZaidJurji, 

no fewer than 70.7 per 

cent of the population use 

improved drinking water 

source. 

Presenting a Sample 

Survey entitled: National 

Outcome Routine 

Mapping, NORM, 2018, 

he disclosed that only 20.4 

per cent of the Nigerian 

population in 

communities h<strong>as</strong> access 

to improved b<strong>as</strong>ic water 

and sanitation services. 

The WASH specialist 

further explained that 

122,000 Nigerians, 

including 87,000 children 

under 5 die each year 

from diarrhoea while 

nearly 90 per cent is 

directly attributed to lack 

Family Planning Budget 

allocation in the Lagos 

State Primary Health Care 

Board 2018 Budget to 

enable procurement of 

family planning 

consumables, <strong>as</strong> that 

would significantly 

remove current financial 

barriers to the most 

vulnerable women 

accessing family planning 

modern contraception.” 

Add a separate budget 

line to the routine 

monitoring checklist for 

regular tracking of 

facilities that have FP 

information materials. 

They also <strong>as</strong>ked that the 

Lagos State Ministry of 

Health implement the 

Lagos State Health 

of WASH. 

Jurji explained that 

access to safe and 

improved water supply 

can save most of the 

under-five children who 

die annually from 

preventable dise<strong>as</strong>e 

caused by poor access to 

water. 

He urged the Nigerian 

government to invest 

more in water and 

sanitation if it is to achieve 

the Sustainable 

Development Goals. The 

Chairman, Opobo/Nkoro 

Local Government Area, 

Hon. Eugene Joshua Jaja 

charged members of the 

communities to ensure the 

projects are not 

vandalised. 

Jaja who expressed 

gratitude for the gesture 

said: "Don't allow these 

projects to be destroyed. 

Talk to your children, 

everybody should guard 

these projects. If they are 

destroyed, you will be the 

ones that will suffer." 

Insurance Scheme with 

its b<strong>as</strong>ic, defined 

minimum package of 

Primary Health care 

services. 

Speaking, the co- 

Chairman of LASAM, 

Barrister Ayo Adebusayo, 

said LASAM w<strong>as</strong> 

established to achieve the 

cardinal objectives of the 

accountability framework 

of the Global Strategy for 

Women’s and Children’s 

Health. They monitor, 

review and act to ensure 

that more mothers and 

babies survive pregnancy 

and childbirth. This, it 

does, by using evidence 

to advocate for 

government actions and 

accountability.


Agbami tackles TB through 

public awareness, screening 

. Facilitates detection of 1,353 c<strong>as</strong>es in 6 states 

By Sola Ogundipe 

NIGERIA h<strong>as</strong> the 

highest incidence 

rate of tuberculosis in Africa 

and 7th among the 30 high 

TB burden countries in the 

world according to the 

World Health 

Organisation. 

As part of its commitment 

towards checkmating the 

high burden of 

undiagnosed tuberculosis 

in Nigeria, Agbami Parties 

team helped to detect 1,353 

c<strong>as</strong>es of TB in six states of 

the federation. 

The c<strong>as</strong>es were confirmed 

out of the 5,011 

presumptive TB c<strong>as</strong>es in 

Kano, Oyo, Lagos, 

Kaduna, Akwa Ibom and 

Rivers states. 

A total of 63, 629 persons 

were beneficiaries of the 

activities of Agbami - a 

member of the Stop TB 

Partnership initiative and 

a key contributor towards 

the elimination of 

tuberculosis in Nigeria. 

Disclosing these and 

other facts in Lagos 

recently at the 1st 

National Summit on 

Public Private Mix, PPM for 

TB Control in Nigeria, the 

Medical Director, Chevron 

Nigeria Limited, Dr. 

Fagade Olubukunola said 

interventions of the Agbami 

Parties include construction 

of chest clinics, awareness 

campaigns and protection 

of those who care for 

others. 

At the event organised 

by the World Health 

Organisation in 

collaboration with the 

Federal Ministry of 

Health and Lagos State 

Ministry of Health, 

Fagade, in a presentation 

of the Agbami Social 

Investments in 

Tuberculosis 

Management, noted: 

“From 2008, the Agbami 

parties have built, 

equipped and donated 25 

chest clinics to institutions 

and hospitals across the 

country <strong>as</strong> part of efforts 

to support the control, 

treatment and eradication 

of TB from the country. 

The clinics were built at 

the cost of N2.2 billion. 

“The Agbami Parties 

donated modern 

laboratory equipment to 

the University College 

Hospital, UCH, Ibadan, 

Oyo State and also 

handed over to the 

Federal Ministry of 

Health, the production of 

national standard 

operating procedures, 

SOP for TB laboratory 

diagnosis in Nigeria and 

national guidelines on 

biosafety for TB 

laboratories. 

“Between 2015 and 

2017, 48,487 

presumptive TB c<strong>as</strong>es 

were registered while 

11,349 c<strong>as</strong>es were 

confirmed, according to 

Agbami aggregated 

performance data.” 

Giving a comparative 

analysis of the 2017 

National TB data and data 

from Agbami chest clinics, 

Fagade said there were 

611,572 presumptive TB 

c<strong>as</strong>es recorded nationally 

compared to 17,362 

registered by Agbami. 

In the same year, 

104,904 confirmed TB 

c<strong>as</strong>es were registered 

nationally while 3,179 

c<strong>as</strong>es were registered by 

Agbami 

“The chest clinics 

From 2008, 

the Agbami 

parties have 

built, 

equipped and 

donated 25 

chest clinics 

to institutions 

and hospital 

across the 

country 

AS part of its 

Community Social 

Responsibility, CSR, Itel 

Mobile in partnership 

with its major dealer, 

I k n o r b e r t 

Communication Limited 

h<strong>as</strong> donated food and 

educational items to 

Save Our Soul, SOS, 

Children’s Village, Isolo, 

Lagos state. 

The donations, which 

w<strong>as</strong> part of efforts the Itel 

bimonthly "Love Always 

On" initiative, is aimed at 

bringing succour to less 

privileged Nigerian 

children in different 

communities. 

Presenting the items, 

the National Marketing 

Manager, Itel Mobile, 

said: “This initiative is all 

about children because 

they are the hope and 

future of Nigeria. We 

plan to also train the 

children in technological 

skills.” 

contributed to about three 

per cent of the national 

presumptive TB c<strong>as</strong>es 

registered and three per 

cent to the National 

aggregate of TB c<strong>as</strong>es 

registered.” 

In 2016, the Agbami 

Parties, partnered 

implementing NGOs to 

launch a TB Awareness 

Campaign to sensitise 

people in its focal states, on 

the dangers of TB, its 

prevention, management 

and treatment. 

By Kosiso Onyibalu 

THE joy of the family 

of Mr. & Mrs. 

Udochukwu Happiness 

Egwuonwu knew no 

bounds recently when a 

Nigeria-b<strong>as</strong>ed Albino 

Foundation, Onome 

Akinlolu Majaro, OAM, 

Foundation, gave a 

scholarship to their 

eight-year-old daughter, 

Divine Egwuonwu who 

is also living with 

albinism. 

It w<strong>as</strong> like a dream 

come true for her mother, 

Happiness. This is 

because a financial part 

of the burden of caring 

for a child living with 

albinism h<strong>as</strong> been lifted 

off her shoulders. 

SOS Village benefits 

from Itel Mobile 

OAM Foundation grants 8-year-old albino 

scholarship 


representative of 

Iknorbert, Mr. Bright 

Adetula: “We always love 

to give to the community 

and that is what h<strong>as</strong> 

brought us here today in 

conjunction with Itel 

mobile, we have come to 

visit the less privileged 

and show them our love 

and also share some 

goodies with them." 

Responding, 

Programme Director, 

Ayodeji Adelopo 

commended the Itel, 

saying that the children 

in the Centre needs more 

support and love. 

Adelopo, who 

announced the Centre’s 

upcoming 70th 

anniversary globally, 

said it provides 

abandoned children in 

society with their needs, 

which is never enough. 

*From left: Ugochukwu Orji, OAM Foundation Amb<strong>as</strong>sdor, Logistics; Divine 

Udochukwu, scholarship beneficiary; Dan Otti, Stephanie Madubuobu and Mrs 

Happiness Udochukwu (Divine ‘s mother) at the official presentation of scholarship to 

Divine by OAM Foundation in Lagos recently.. 

According to her, 

having an albino child 

w<strong>as</strong> not of any surprise to 

her because it runs in 

their family but taking 

care of an albino child is 

the challenge due to the 

economic situation of the 

country. 

Narrating her ordeal, 

Happiness said since the 

birth of Divine, taking care 

of her h<strong>as</strong> not been e<strong>as</strong>y 

<strong>as</strong> her needs are mostly 

different from her 

siblings’. 

“As parents of an albino 

child, you should be 

ready to spend a lot of time 

and money on the child. 

This is because they are 

different from the others; 

their cream, soap 

everything is different and 

a lot more expensive than 

other kids. 

“For instance, she had 

been using gl<strong>as</strong>ses even 

before OAM Foundation 

handed her over another 

pair of medicated gl<strong>as</strong>ses. 

But the first one she w<strong>as</strong> 

given didn’t seem to have 

an effect on her, but the 

one that w<strong>as</strong> given to her 

by the Foundation seems 

to have a little more effect 

on her compared to the 

first one.” 

She expressed 

happiness over the 

scholarship, adding that 

it would help her family 

in no small me<strong>as</strong>ure. 

Speaking during the 

formal presentation of the 

scholarship in Lagos, 

recently, little Divine who 

attends Young Nation 

Primary School Ago, 

Isolo, Lagos said she 

wants to study hard to 

become a doctor in order 

to take care of other 

children. Expressing her 

gratitude to the 

Foundation, she said: “I 

want to become a doctor 

to take care of my parents 

and other children out 

there who might be 

p<strong>as</strong>sing through some 

health challenges like 

me. I w<strong>as</strong> also one of the 

beneficiaries of the OAM 

free medicated gl<strong>as</strong>s 

project.” 

Speaking, OAM 

Foundation Amb<strong>as</strong>sador 

who is also in charge of 

Logistics, Ugochukwu 

Orji, said the Foundation 

aimed at ending 

stigmatisation and 

misconception about 

persons living with 

albinism <strong>as</strong> well <strong>as</strong> 

improve the well-being of 

albinos. 

He said the scholarship 

to Divine, w<strong>as</strong> one of the 

things OAM Foundation 

stands for. “And in the 

c<strong>as</strong>e of Divine, we see 

her <strong>as</strong> a talented young 

girl who h<strong>as</strong> been 

featured in a short movie, 

Beyond the complexion 

and she h<strong>as</strong> proven to be 

a talented child, and that 

is why the foundation h<strong>as</strong> 

taken interest in her and 

intends to see her 

through her education. 

Orji said: “Another 

re<strong>as</strong>on why Divine w<strong>as</strong> 

picked w<strong>as</strong> when the 

foundation gathered her 

parents were having 

difficulties in taking 

care of her education 

and the board looked 

into her c<strong>as</strong>e and 

decided not to allow 

such a young talent 

w<strong>as</strong>te, that w<strong>as</strong> why we 

decided to take it upon 

ourselves <strong>as</strong> one of our 

humanitarian works to 

ensure that the child is 

useful to the society.” 

He called on wellmeaning 

Nigerians and 

government at all levels 

to support the 

Foundation. 

*Itel Mobile in partnership with its major dealer, Iknorbert Communication Limited 

donated welfare items to Save Our Soul, SOS, Children’s Village, Isolo, Lagos recently.


NAFDAC develops guidelines to drive 

growth in cosmetics production 

By Gabriel Olawale 

THE National Agency 

for Food and Drug 

Administration and 

Control, NAFDAC, h<strong>as</strong> 

developed a set of 

guidelines aimed at 

driving cosmetics 

production in the country. 

The guidelines include: 

Guidelines for Micro or 

Kitchen scale Cosmetics 

producers and the 

Guidelines for Medium 

and Large scale Cosmetics 

producers. 

Disclosing this at a 

stakeholders’ meeting with 

all chemical marketers, 

distributors and veterinary 

products tagged: A Date 

with the DG, NAFDAC 

Director-General, Prof. 

Christianah Adeyeye, said 

the scaled down policies 

will drive growth in 

cosmetics Micro, Small 

and Medium Enterprise 

sectors in line with e<strong>as</strong>e of 

doing business. 

“The difference in the two 

documents is that the 

Micro is an abridged form 

of the Medium and Large 

scale cosmetics guidelines. 

The number of documents, 

staff strength and room 

space w<strong>as</strong> scaled down for 

the micro and likewise, the 

number of products they 

can manufacture. 

“The boldest move made 

so far by the Agency is 

consent for use of personal 

kitchens to manufacture 

certain cl<strong>as</strong>ses of cosmetics 

products under micro scale. 

Albeit, may I state clearly 

that kitchens shared by 

families will not be allowed 

neither will individual 

kitchens that are kept 

untidy. 

“Still in the spirit of e<strong>as</strong>e 

of doing business, the 

Agency h<strong>as</strong> put in place 

processes and procedures 

for companies with similar 

products and limited 

resources to use common 

facilities provided their 

products are similar. 

“The quality of products 

circulating within our 

jurisdiction is more of a 

focus and we are focusing 

more on post-marketing 

surveillance (pms). We will 

be incre<strong>as</strong>ing our vigilance 

activities and spot checks 

to ensure consistent 

product quality. We have <strong>as</strong> 

a result, developed 

relevant guidelines and 

documents to enhance 

post-marketing 

surveillance activities in the 

country. 

“In line with the E<strong>as</strong>e of 

Doing Business, the 

Agency created the Small 

Business Support Desk, 

SBSD whose function is to 

facilitate registration 

processes for micro and 

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Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy makes c<strong>as</strong>e for safe, 

affordable medicines 

THE Nigeria Academy 

of Pharmacy h<strong>as</strong> called 

for a better, safer and 

affordable medicines <strong>as</strong> 

well <strong>as</strong> treatment regimens 

for dise<strong>as</strong>es that are 

endemic in Nigeria and 

Africa at large. 

The Academy made the 

call at its annual Investiture 

ceremony in Lagos where 

it presented a Lifetime 

Achievement Award to 

Chief Oludolapo Ibukun 

Akinkugbe for his huge 

contribution to the growth 

of the pharmaceutical 

sector in Nigeria. Also, 

G e n e r a l 

TheophilusYakubuDanjuma 

bagged an Honorary 

Fellowship of the Academy. 

In his submission, 

President, Nigeria 

Academy of Pharmacy, 

Prince Julius Adelusi- 

Adeluyi, said the Academy 

owes society a duty to help 

unravel better, safer, more 

convenient and more 

affordable medicines and 

treatment regimens for 

dise<strong>as</strong>es. 

Speaking on the award 

bestowed on Akinkugbe, 

Adelusi-Adeluyi said it w<strong>as</strong> 

a token of appreciation for 

his enormous strides in the 

pharmacy profession and 

all other <strong>as</strong>pects of human 

endeavour. 

“It is in the same vein that 

we inducted General 

TheophilusYakubuDanjuma 

<strong>as</strong> the second ever 

Honorary Fellow of the 

Academy. He remains one 

of the most p<strong>as</strong>sionate 

supporters of the pharmacy 

profession and a most 

generous benefactor of 

scientific research,” he 

added. 

He said the Academy 

Research Centre w<strong>as</strong> a 

vehicle they created to give 

enduring impact to research 

and development in 

Nigeria’s pharmaceutical 

space. 

“We want to complement 

local and international 

efforts that support 

scientific research and 

activities.” 

Meanwhile, General 

Danjuma who is also the 

Chairman of May and 

Baker Nigeria Plc, donated 

N10 million to the 

OluAkinkugbe Research 

and Innovation Centre to 

support the advancement 

of research and 

development in the country.

44—Vanguard, TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 25, 2018 

vanguardnews 

@vanguardnews 

@vanguardnews 

Osun: High-wire intrigues <strong>as</strong> <strong>PDP</strong>, 

APC dig in for votes 

Continues from Page 40 

Osun State for conducting 

themselves maturely before, 

during and after l<strong>as</strong>t 

Saturday’s governorship 

election. 

He said: “We all have 

now observed through 

this election that power 

belongs to the people, by 

the grace of God, very 

soon the best candidate 

will emerge <strong>as</strong> the state 

governor of the state of 

Osun. 

“Osun now sets the pace 

of peaceful political conduct 

in Nigeria because 

what presently happens 

here in our state h<strong>as</strong> never 

happened in the history 

of Nigeria for the election 

h<strong>as</strong> become successful 

without any bloodshed 

even though it is not yet 

concluded.” 

Bode George flays 

INEC 

Also, a former Deputy 

National Chairman of the 

<strong>PDP</strong>, Chief Olabode 

George h<strong>as</strong> flayed INEC 

for declaring a stalemate in 

Saturday’s election, saying 

it w<strong>as</strong> unnecessary. 

George said in a statement 

entitled: ‘The people 

of Osun have spoken,’: “In 

a free and fair democratic 

process, the people of Osun 

chose Senator Ademola 

Adeleke <strong>as</strong> the next governor 

to preside over their affairs 

for the next four years. 

“It w<strong>as</strong> a clear, unambiguous 

victory well earned by 

the candidate of the <strong>PDP</strong>. 

Senator Adeleke w<strong>as</strong> the 

people’s choice. Mr. Gboyega 

Oyetola, the APC Candidate, 

w<strong>as</strong> defeated regardless 

of the narrow margin. 

It is rather disturbing for 

the INEC to now concoct an 

unnecessary stalemate. 

Cancelled votes remain 

cancelled, removed from the 

total votes. Where then did 

they manufacture a socalled 

inconclusive election? 

It h<strong>as</strong> no bearing with 

our electoral law. It is a blatant 

fraud which may trigger 

a dangerous recourse 

for our democracy. 

“INEC must <strong>as</strong> a matter 

of justice, fairness and the 

codification of the rule of 

law and constitutional primacy 

declare Senator 

Adeleke <strong>as</strong> the rightful winner. 

The will of the people 

must prevail. We must not 

conflagrate this nation.” 

Lawyers react 

Yesterday, lawyers reacted 

to the seeming conflict 

between the provisions of 

the constitution and the 

electoral guidelines in the 

declaration of a winner in 

an election. 

Lawal Pedro, SAN: 

What politicians are doing 

is simply politicizing an issue 

that h<strong>as</strong> been settled by 

law. The INEC guideline 

which no political parties 

h<strong>as</strong> challenged w<strong>as</strong> made 

pursuant to the electoral act. 

No political party h<strong>as</strong> gone 

to court to challenge that 

guideline. The guideline 

stipulates that when the 

number of canceled votes 

are more than the difference 


parties, then the election is 

inconclusive. In the c<strong>as</strong>e of 

Osun election, INEC simply 

applied its guideline 

and declared the election 

incolclusive. 

Mr Solomon Bob, 

Former special 

<strong>as</strong>sistant to 

Governor Nyesom 

Wike of Rivers State: 

INEC’s declaration of the 

gubernatorial election in 

Osun State <strong>as</strong> inconclusive 

is akin to attempting to reinvent 

the wheel. It constitutes 

an audacious <strong>as</strong>sault 

on the Constitution of Nigeria, 

particularly section 

179(2). 

It also violates the clear 

provisions of section 69 of 

the Electoral Act. A reading 

of these provisions would 

show that for purposes of 

determining a winner in an 

election, only lawful and 

valid votes matter, not cancelled 

or invalid votes. 

INEC cannot rely on its 

guidelines or any subsidiary 

legislation to override 

the provisions of Nigeria’s 

supreme law - the constitution. 

INEC is not an elections 

tribunal and cannot 

perform the functions of one 

by delving into cancelling 

and uncanceling votes. 

When votes are cancelled 

they remain cancelled and 

only a tribunal or court can 

decide otherwise. As the 

law stands, a winner h<strong>as</strong> already 

emerged in the Osun 

polls and that’s the candidate 

who met the requirements 

of spread and plurality 

in lawful votes c<strong>as</strong>t - 

Senator Ademola Adeleke. 

Monday Ubani, 

Former 2nd Vice- 

President, NBA: 

The electoral act gives 

INEC the power to enact an 

electoral guideline for every 

election. So whatever 

INEC h<strong>as</strong> done in Osun 

state is in accordance with 

the electoral act. Part of the 

guideline stipulates that 

whenever an election is conducted 

and concluded, and 

there are are<strong>as</strong> where result 

are canceled, INEC reserves 

the power to determine 

if the differentials between 

the two leading candidate 

or parties would 

have been affected by the 

canceled votes. If the number 

of registered voters in 

the are<strong>as</strong> where they have 

canceled result or where 

election did not hold is more 

than the marginal figure 


candidates, that election 

must be regarded <strong>as</strong> inconclusive. 

The number of registered 

voters in the four 

polling unit where elections 

were canceled is more that 

353 which is differential. 

It is a different thing entirely 

if one h<strong>as</strong> to determine 

whether INEC exercised 

its discretion properly 

in canceling election in 

the four polling units. INEC 

could have canceled those 

elections deliberately, 

they could have done it 

with ill motive. They 

would have also done 

with good intention 

having observed that 

election never took 

place in those places. It 

can tell where INEC 

took the decision it took 

but all I can say it the it 

acted within the law. 

Dele Oloke, 

Chairman, NBA 

Ikeja Branch: 

It is a point of fact that 

the Supreme Court in 

Faleke and Abubakar 

Audu h<strong>as</strong> confirmed that 

INEC can declare an 

election inconclusive. I 

must say that we Nigerians 

must not sleep 

with our eyes close 

when an arbitrary power 

is given to an electoral 

body that is a creation 

of the constitution, 

to abuse the process of 

our elections. For me, it 

is too late for anybody 

to cry. How can we put 

an election body in 

place and still give it 

power to declare an 

election it conducted <strong>as</strong> 

inconclusive. Don’t forget 

that INEC registers 

are their own creation. 

Why must we have this 

kind of problem especially 

when you realize 

that the number of registered 

voters does not 

represent the number of 

voters that have PVC. 

You cannot compel anybody 

to come and vote. 

Why must INEC be allowed 

to have such powers 

to say because the 

margin between A and 

B is ineligible then the 

election is inclusive. 

What this means is that 

all INEC need to do the 

bidding of any political 

party, is just to declare 

elections in some polling 

units inconclusive. 

OSUN POLL 

What the Constitution, Electoral 

Act say 

By Clifford Ndujihe 

AS lawyers and 

stakeholders 

<strong>disagree</strong> over whether or 

not the Independent 

National Electoral 

Commission, INEC, w<strong>as</strong> 

right in declaring the 

Osun State Governorship 

election inconclusive, 

Vanguard in this story 

outlines what the 

constitution and Electoral 

Act provide in such 

situation and recalls the 

plethora of inconclusive 

governorship elections 

since 2011. 

The Peoples Democratic 

Party, <strong>PDP</strong> Candidate, 

Ademola Adeleke scored 

254,698 votes, which are 

353 votes higher than that 

of the All Progressives 

Congress, APC’s Gboyega 

Oyetola, who got 254345 

votes. The INEC declared 

the Osun election 

inconclusive because 

3,498 votes were expected 

in seven polling units 

across four local 

governments of the state. 

INEC’s re<strong>as</strong>ons for 

declaring the 

election 

inconclusive 

In Orolu Local Council, 

there w<strong>as</strong> disruption of the 

election in three polling 

units, which have a 

combination of 947 voters; 

In Ife South Local Council, 

there w<strong>as</strong> malfunction of 

Smart card Readers, 

SCRs, in two polling units, 

which affected 1,314 

voters; 

In Ife North Local Council, 

over voting affected 353 

voters in a polling unit; 

and 

in Osogbo Local Council, 

there w<strong>as</strong> no voting in a 

polling unit that h<strong>as</strong> 884 

voters. 

What the 

constitution says 

Section 179 (2) (a) (b) of 

the 1999 Constitution (<strong>as</strong> 

amended) provides: ‘’A 

candidate for an election 

to the office of Governor of 

a State shall be deemed to 

have been duly elected 

where, there being two or 

more candidates – 

(a) he h<strong>as</strong> the highest 

number of votes c<strong>as</strong>t at the 

election; and 

(b) he h<strong>as</strong> not less than 

one-quarter of all the votes 

c<strong>as</strong>t in each of at le<strong>as</strong>t twothirds 

of all the local 

government are<strong>as</strong> in the 

State. 

Provisions of the 

Electoral Act 

Section 53 (2) of the 

Electoral Act 2010 

provides: ‘’Where the 

votes c<strong>as</strong>t at an election in 

any polling unit exceed the 

number of registered 

voters in that polling unit 

, the result of the election 

for that polling unit shall 

be declared void by the 

Commission and another 

election may be conducted 

at a date to be fixed by the 

Commission where the 

result of that polling unit 

may affect the overall result 

in the Constituency.’’ 

Section 53 (3) provides: 

‘’Where an election is 

nullified in accordance 

with subsection (2) of this 

section, there shall be no 

return for the election until 

another poll h<strong>as</strong> taken 

place in the affected area.’’ 

However, section 69 of the 

Electoral Act provides: ‘’In 

an election to the office of 

the president or governor, 

whether or not contested 

and in any elective office, 

the result shall be 

<strong>as</strong>certained by counting 

the votes c<strong>as</strong>t for each 

candidate and subject to 

the provisions of sections 

133, 134 and 179 of the 

Constitution, the candidate 

that receives the highest 

number of votes shall be 

declared elected by the 

appropriate returning 

officer.’’ 

Timeline of recent 

inconclusive 

governorship polls 

Imo 2011, 2015 

In 2011 and 2015, the 

governorship elections in 

Imo State were declared 

inconclusive and were 

concluded with 

supplementary polls. 

In the April 26, 2011 

governorship election in 

the state, the INEC 

declared the poll 

inconclusive because 

election did not hold in 

Ohaji/Egbema, Mbatioli, 

Ngor-Okpala and Oguta 

local councils <strong>as</strong> well <strong>as</strong> in 

Orji Ward in Owerri North 

Local Council. 

Before that election w<strong>as</strong> 

declared inconclusive, 

results for 24 of the state’s 

27 local government are<strong>as</strong> 

had been announced, with 

Chief Roch<strong>as</strong> Okorocha of 

the All progressives Grand 

Alliance, APGA, leading in 

12 local councils with a 

slim total margin over the 

then governor, Ikedi 

Ohakim of the <strong>PDP</strong>, who 

also led in 12 local councils 

but trailed Okorocha in the 

total votes garnered. After 

the supplementary poll, 

Okorocha scored 336,859 

votes to beat Ohakim, who 

scored 290,490 votes. 

There w<strong>as</strong> a repeat 

performance in 2015. In the 

first election, Okorocha 

polled 385,671 votes 

compared to the 306,142 

votes scored by Chief 

Emeka Ihedioha of the 

<strong>PDP</strong>. Okorocha led with 

79,529 votes while the 

cancelled votes were 

144,715 hence the need for 

a supplementary election, 

which Okorocha won. 

Anambra 2013 

The Anambra 2013 

governorship election w<strong>as</strong> 

concluded with a re-run 

after the first election failed 

to produce a clear winner. 

In the first results, the 

APGA candidate, Mr 

Willie Obiano scored 

174,710 votes while Mr 

Tony Nwoye of the <strong>PDP</strong> 

polled 94,356 votes and the 

APC candidate, Chris 

Ngige had 92,356 votes. 

The margin of lead w<strong>as</strong> 

below the 113,113 votes 

cancelled, hence a re-run. 

Taraba 2015 

In Taraba 2015 

governorship election, 

Darius Ishaku of the <strong>PDP</strong> 

had 326, 198 votes in the 

first election while Hajia 

Aisha Alh<strong>as</strong>san of the APC 

scored 262, 381 votes. 

Elections were cancelled 

in the Donga Local 


state and in six polling 

units in Takum, and five 

in other local government 

are<strong>as</strong>, which total votes 

were more than Ishaku’s 

marginal lead. 

Abia 2015 

Following the cancellation 

of 177,000 votes in several 

polling units in some 

parts of Osisioma, 

Ugwunagbo, Aba North, 

Aba South, Isialangwa 

South, Isialangwa North, 

Umuahia North, Umuahia 

south, Ohafia, Arochukwu 

and Umunneochi local 

councils, a re-run 

governorship poll w<strong>as</strong> 

ordered in the affected 

are<strong>as</strong>. Before the election 

w<strong>as</strong> declared 

inconclusive, the <strong>PDP</strong> 

candidate, Okezie 

Ikpeazu had polled 

248,549 votes while the 

APGA candidate, Alex 

Otti, scored 165,406 

making a difference of 

83,053. 

Kogi 2015 

After election results from 

the 21 local councils were 

collated, the APC 

candidate, Abubakar 

Audu, 240,867 votes, led 

the incumbent Governor, 

Captain Idris Wada of the 

<strong>PDP</strong>, 199,514 votes. The 

commission ordered a rerun 

in some polling units 

because the 49,953 votes 

cancelled, were higher 

than the margin between 

Audu and Wada. 

Bayelsa 2015 

Governor Seriake Dickson 

of the <strong>PDP</strong> had to wait for 

a repeat election in 

Southern Ijaw Local 

Council to win re-election 

in 2015. With results from 

seven of the eight local 

councils of Bayelsa, he 

had 105,748 votes, while 

Chief Timipre Sylva of the 

APC got 72,594 votes. The 

margin of lead w<strong>as</strong> 33,154 

votes. However, Southern 

Ijaw Local Council had 

120,827 registered voters, 

a re<strong>as</strong>on the INEC 

declared the election 

inconclusive.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern holds her baby before speaking at the Nelson Mandela 

Peace Summit in New York. Photo: REUTERS/Carlo Allegri 

Dutch to press UN for more slavery sanctions 

•As Italy backs anti-migrant bill 

DUTCH 

Foreign 

Minister Stef Blok 

said on Monday he will 

press the UN Security 

Council to expand the 

list of those who should 

face international 

sanctions for human 

trafficking. 

Six men who allegedly 

made fortunes buying 

and selling vulnerable 

migrants were hit by UN 

sanctions in June in an 

unprecedented response 

to the international slave 

trade. 

The move w<strong>as</strong> 

followed by the United 

States, which issued 

sanctions against the six 

men. 

Blok said Monday he 

would <strong>as</strong>k the United 

Nations for further action 

against countries and 

individuals involved in 

trafficking. He spoke in 

New York, where the UN 

Security Council is due 

to meet on Wednesday, 

“The people involved 

very well realize that 

they are under scrutiny 

now, and their business 

model can’t work the way 

it used to work ... and 

that they are on our 

target list,” he said. 

“It is a horrible story,” 

he said. “All the members 

of the Security Council 

realized they couldn’t 

stand <strong>as</strong>ide when those 

terrible things are 

happening, and they did 

agree on sanctions.” 

Each year, tens of 

thousands of people 

pour into Libya — the 

final transit stop before a 

short but dangerous sea 

voyage across the 

Mediterranean to 

Europe. 

For those involved in 

the smuggling and 

trafficking networks, it 

h<strong>as</strong> been a lucrative 

business, according to 

the European Migrant 

Smuggling Center 

(EMSC). 

In 2015, migrant 

smuggling networks 

made at le<strong>as</strong>t $5.5 billion 

trafficking people bound 

for Europe, according to 

THE United States 

government h<strong>as</strong> 

“abandoned the 

fundamental norms of 

mutual respect” after a 

new round of tariffs came 

into effect on Monday, 

China said in a document 

rele<strong>as</strong>ed <strong>as</strong> a response. 

The US tariffs will affect 

Chinese products 

including food 

se<strong>as</strong>onings, b<strong>as</strong>eball 

gloves and parts for 

industrial machinery, 

while US-made 

chemicals, clothes and 

car parts will be subject 

to the Chinese levies, 

moves that further 

escalate the ongoing 

trade row between the 

world’s two largest 

economies. 

On September 17, US 

President Donald Trump 

said he would impose 10 

percent tariffs on about 

a 2017 EMSC report. 

There w<strong>as</strong> a sharp 

decline in 2016, 

according to the same 

report. 

L<strong>as</strong>t year, reporters 

went undercover at a 

slave market in Libya 

to document the 

violation of human 

rights and inhumane 

treatment that desperate 

migrants have suffered. 

The evidence w<strong>as</strong> 

handed over to the 

Libyan authorities, who 

immediately launched 

investigations into 

networks operating in 

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2018 — 45 

the region. 

The footage also 

sparked international 

condemnation and 

protests around the 

world. 

Meanwhile, the 

Italian government h<strong>as</strong> 

p<strong>as</strong>sed a decree which 

will make it e<strong>as</strong>ier to 

deport migrants and 

strip them of Italian 

citizenship. 

Migrants could now 

be expelled if they are 

found guilty of serious 

crimes such <strong>as</strong> rape and 

<strong>as</strong>sault. 

US tariffs on $200bn in Chinese goods 

take effect 

“abandoned 

$200bn worth of Chinese 

products, prompting 

retaliatory me<strong>as</strong>ures 

from Beijing. 

In a statement the 

following day, the 

Chinese finance ministry 

said it “had no choice 

but to respond with its 

own tariffs” which fall at 

five or 10 percent and 

affect some 5,200 US 

products. 

Responding to the new 

tariffs, China rele<strong>as</strong>ed 

the document in which 

the government stressed 

the importance of a good 

trade relationship 

between the two 

countries. 

In it, China talks about 

the l<strong>as</strong>t couple of decades 

during which the two 

countries grew closer 

with regards to trade and 

diplomacy, and how the 

current 

administration 

US 

h<strong>as</strong> 

the 

fundamental norms of 

mutual respect and equal 

consultation that guide 

international relations”, 

according to Xinhua 

news agency. 

“Rather, it h<strong>as</strong> brazenly 

preached unilateralism, 

protectionism and 

economic hegemony, 

making false accusations 

against many countries 

and regions, particularly 

China, intimidating 

other countries through 

economic me<strong>as</strong>ures such 

<strong>as</strong> imposing tariffs, and 

attempting to impose its 

own interests on China 

through extreme 

pressure,” the document 

read. 

China also 

announced it w<strong>as</strong> 

lodging a new complaint 

with the World Trade 

Organisation in its tariff 

battle with the US. 

Iran warns US, Israel of 

revenge after parade attack 

IRAN’s 

Supreme 

Leader Ayatollah Ali 

Khamenei said on 

Monday the attackers 

who killed 25 people at 

a military parade had 

been paid by Saudi 

Arabia and the United 

Arab Emirates, and that 

Iran would “severely 

punish” those behind the 

bloodshed. 

The deputy head of 

Iran’s Revolutionary 

Guards also accused the 

United States and Israel 

of involvement in the 

attack and said they 

should expect a 

dev<strong>as</strong>tating response. 

In the southwestern 

city of Ahvaz, thousands 

packed the streets to 

mourn the victims of 

Saturday’s <strong>as</strong>sault, many 

chanting “Death to Israel 

and America”. Twelve 

members of the elite 

Islamic Revolutionary 

Guard Corps were 

among the dead. 

The coffins, wrapped in 

flags, were carried by 

mourners. Many held 

pictures of a four-yearold 

boy killed in the 

incident, one of the worst 

such attacks against 

Iran’s most powerful 

military force. 

Gunmen fired on a 

viewing stand in Ahvaz 

where officials had 

gathered to watch an 

annual parade marking 

the start of Iran’s 1980- 

88 war with Iraq. 

Fars and IRNA news 

agencies said on Monday 

five attackers were 

killed, not four <strong>as</strong> 

previously reported by 

state media. Americans 

come to help when they 

are trapped in Syria and 

Iraq, and are paid by 

Saudi Arabia and the 

UAE,” Khamenei said on 

his website. 

Interpol joins search for 

missing Swiss crew 

Nigeria’s Navy said 

Monday it w<strong>as</strong> working 

with Interpol to trace 

and rescue 12 crew members 

abducted from a 

Swiss cargo ship sailing 

on the country’s waters. 

Navy spokesman Ayo 

Olugbode said several 

agencies are working on 

a joint search operation 

to locate the crew kidnapped 

Saturday. 

They were aboard the 

Swiss-owned MV 

Glarus carrying wheat 

while sailing from Lagos 

to Port Harcourt in 

southern Nigeria. 

The crew members are 

nationals of Philippines, 

Slovenia, Ukraine, Romania, 

Croatia, and Bosnia, 

the Nigerian Maritime 

Administration and 

Safety Agency said in a 

statement rele<strong>as</strong>ed to 

Reuters news agency. 

The pirates reportedly 

struck about 45 nautical 

miles south-southwest of 

Bonny Island. 

Preliminary investigations 

into Saturday’s incident 

show the crew 

members had been taken 

to land, Olugbode 

said. 

“We are working with 

many agencies including 

with Interpol on search 

and rescue operations on 

this c<strong>as</strong>e,” Olugbode 

said. 

The spokesman said he 

had no information on 

any ransom demands. 

“We are speaking with 

the remaining crew members 

to know what me<strong>as</strong>ures 

were taken during 

the attack. For instance, 

the captain and the 

ship’s crew are to go into 

the citadel of the ship 

when they are being attacked. 

We want to know 

if all these steps were 

taken during the incident,” 

Olugbode said. 

Russia to send S-300 missile 

defence systems to Syria 

MOSCOW will bol 

ster Syria’s air defence 

following the downing 

of a Russian plane l<strong>as</strong>t 

week by sending a modern 

S-300 system to the 

Syrian army within two 

weeks, Defence Minister 

Sergei Shoigu said. 

In a televised statement 

on Monday, Shoigu said 

the decision to “transfer 

the modern S-300 air defence 

system to the Syrian 

armed forces within two 

weeks” w<strong>as</strong> taken by 

President Vladimir 

Putin and is one of the 

“response me<strong>as</strong>ures”. 

On the same day, the 

Kremlin accused Israeli 

pilots of “premeditated 

actions” over the downing 

of a Russian plane in 

Syria l<strong>as</strong>t week, warning 

it will harm relations between 

the two countries. 

“According to information 

of our military experts, 

the re<strong>as</strong>on (behind 

the downing) were premeditated 

actions by Israeli 

pilots which certainly 

cannot but harm our relations,” 

Kremlin spokesman 

Dmitry Peskov told 

journalists. 

However, the Kremlin 

said the installation of S- 

300 w<strong>as</strong> aimed at incre<strong>as</strong>ing 

safety of Russian military 

and “not directed at 

any third country”. 

Russia will also block 

navigation and satellite 

systems, <strong>as</strong> well <strong>as</strong> communications 

of warplanes 

operating in the e<strong>as</strong>tern 

Mediterranean, according 

to the defence minister.


Iwobi’s 

rating rises 

Modric beats Salah, 

Ronaldo to FIFA The 

Best Award 

SUPER 

Eagles 

winger Alex Iwobi 

played for 21 minutes, 

coming off the bench in 

place of Pierre Emerick 

Aubameyang in the 69th 

minute in Arsenal’s 2-0 

home win over Everton 

at the Emirates l<strong>as</strong>t Sunday 

evening. 

The win w<strong>as</strong> a fifth in 

succession for the North 

London side in all competitions 

and their 

fourth in the Premier 

League. 

Some English press 

have rated the Arsenal 

Gombe 

Bulls first 

to qualify 

for finals 

By Mary Emmanuel 

THE Kwese Premier 

B<strong>as</strong>ketball League 

yesterday entered Day 4 

with Gombe Bulls 

becoming the first team 

to qualify for the finals. 

Playing at the Bauchi 

centre in the Savannah 

Conference playoffs, the 

team won their fourth 

successful game to 

garner 8 out of a possible 

10 points ahead of arch 

rivals and defending 

champions, Kano 

Pillars. 


League coordinator, 

Ajibarede Bello, Gombe 

Bulls beat home team 

Bauchi Nets 75-60 <strong>as</strong> 

Kano Pillars also won 

their game, beating 

Plateau Peaks 89-67. 

In the l<strong>as</strong>t game 

yesterday, newcomers, 

AHIP Giants of Kano 

beat Abuja b<strong>as</strong>ed 

Defenders 87-80 on a 

day Niger Potters drew 

bye. 

players after the victory 

and unsurprisingly handed 

the Nigerian a good 

rating despite not playing 

from the kick off. 

Allarsenal.com wrote: 

“Iwobi looked lively but 

things didn’t quite work 

out for him. 5.” 

Iwobi also got more 

than an average rating 

from Football.London. 

“Gave Arsenal a burst of 

energy in the second 

half. One excellent run 

pressing Everton back 

earned him a standing 

ovation. 6.” 

Dailystar.co.uk simply 

handed a 6 out of 10 for 

the nephew of former 

Nigeria and Bolton Wanderers 

midfield maestro, 

Austin Jay Jay Okocha, 

just like the other two 

substitutes, Rob Holding 

and Danny Welbeck. The 

Gunners’ next league 

game comes up on Saturday, 

29 September, 

against Watford. 

Tiger is back with a bang 

TIGER 

WOODS’ 

MEMORABLE 

comeback win h<strong>as</strong> seen the 

14-time Major winner surge 

up the world rankings, 

having started the se<strong>as</strong>on <strong>as</strong> 

low <strong>as</strong> 650th. 

Woods held his nerve to 

claim a memorable victory at 

the Tour Championship on 

Sunday for his 80th career 

PGA Tour title, two shy of 

Sam Snead’s all-time record, 

and his first victory in 1,876 

days. 

It w<strong>as</strong> an emotional 

triumph <strong>as</strong> the 42-year-old 

fought back tears before 

making the final putt to 

become a champion once 

again after once fearing he 

might never play again. 

Ahead of this week’s Ryder 

Cup in Paris, Woods h<strong>as</strong> now 

climbed back inside the 

world’s top 20 to the number 

13 berth, his highest ranking 

since 2014. 

NFF worry over overcrowding at 

Kaduna stadium 

NIGERIA Football 

Federation (NFF) 

might seek another 

change in date for the 

first leg of the Super 

Eagles’ Africa Cup of 

Nations qualifier against 

Libya, <strong>as</strong> top shots at The 

Gl<strong>as</strong>shouse are said to be 

worried over the 

possibility of another 

overcrowding incident in 

Kaduna. 

Though Kaduna State 

government, which will 

foot the bills for the 

October 12 cl<strong>as</strong>h at 

Ahmadu Bello Stadium 

in The City of Crocodiles, 

had their wishes of staging 

the match on a Friday 

granted by Confederation 

of African Football (CAF), 

NFF buffs remember how 

the same arena w<strong>as</strong> jampacked 

for an AFCON 

2017 qualifier against 

Egypt. 

With several fans failing 

to gain formal entry to the 

arena for the first leg of the 

crucial match between the 

Super Eagles and 

Pharaohs, many of the 

spectators had to resort to 

hanging on the 

floodlights, scoreboard 

and scaffoldings round the 

ground, which resulted in 

Serena l<strong>as</strong>hes out at coach over ‘side coaching’ claims 

Serena 

Iwobi 

Tiger Woods 

SERENA Williams re 

vealed that she did 

not understand her longtime 

coach Patrick Mouratoglou’s 

comments following 

her US Open final 

loss. 

But Williams remains 

resolute in her claims of innocence. 

“I just don’t understand 

what he w<strong>as</strong> talk- 

ing about,” the 23-time 

grand slam winner told 

Australia’s Network Ten 

show The Sunday Project. 

“I <strong>as</strong>ked him ‘what are 

you talking about you were 

coaching? We don’t have 

signals, we’ve never had 

signals’. 

“He said he made a motion. 

So I w<strong>as</strong> like ‘you 

made a motion and now 

you told people that you’re 

coaching me - that doesn’t 

make sense, why would 

you say that?’ 

“I w<strong>as</strong> on the other side. 

I didn’t see the motion. It 

w<strong>as</strong> just a really confusing 

moment, I think, for him. 

“What I’m trying to do 

most of all is to recover 

from that and move on.” 

FIBA World Cup: I nearly dropped Sarah — Otis 

D 

’Tigress Head 

Coach, Otis 

Hughley in a stunning 

f<strong>as</strong>hion h<strong>as</strong> revealed that 

Sunday’s game hero 

against Turkey, Sarah 

Ogoke nearly missed out 

of the 2018 FIBA Women’ 

World Cup. 

Reflecting on Sarah’s 

performance after she shot 

the D’Tigress team to its 

Luka Modric 

LUKA MODRIC end 

ed the 10-year domination 

of Cristiano Ronaldo 

and Lionel Messi <strong>as</strong> he 

w<strong>as</strong> named the finest player 

in the world. 

Croatian schemer 

Modric saw off the challenge 

of Ronaldo and Liverpool’s 

Mo Salah to scoop 

the Fifa Best Awards at a 

glittering ceremony in 

London’s Royal Festival 

Hall. 

But the night w<strong>as</strong> overshadowed 

by a Ronaldo- 

Messi no-show <strong>as</strong> the Portuguese 

superstar declined 

to make the trip from 

Salah wins FIFA 

Pusk<strong>as</strong> award 

M OHAMED 

Salah h<strong>as</strong> 

won the FIFA Pusk<strong>as</strong> 

award for his Premier 

League strike against 

Everton l<strong>as</strong>t se<strong>as</strong>on. 

The trophy goes to the 

player who h<strong>as</strong> scored 

the most aesthetically 

ple<strong>as</strong>ing goal in the l<strong>as</strong>t 

year, with this year’s 

nominees consisting of 

Gareth Bale, Cristiano 

Ronaldo and Salah. 

Bale’s overhead kick 

against Liverpool in 

the Champions League 

first ever World Cup win 

against world number 7, 

Otis said making the call 

w<strong>as</strong> a tough decision in his 

quest to get the team 

properly ready for the 

tournament. 

On why the Celta de 

Vigo of Spain player who 

scored 22 points in the 

game w<strong>as</strong> almost dropped, 

Otis said, “She w<strong>as</strong> having 

Turin to London and Barcelona’s 

Argentine pleaded 

family commitments. 

Ronaldo and Messi had 

each won the award five 

times over the p<strong>as</strong>t decade 

and should have picked 

up their trophies for being 

in the team of the year. 

Despite that seeming 

double strop, former Spurs 

midfielder Modric w<strong>as</strong> rewarded 

for his part in 

steering Real Madrid to 

their unprecedented third 

consecutive Champions 

League and then guiding 

his homeland to the World 

Cup Final. 

Final w<strong>as</strong> shortlisted for 

the award, while Ronaldo 

w<strong>as</strong> also nominated 

for his acrobatic goal 

against Juventus in the 

same competition. 

Salah beat the two 

former Real Madrid 

teammates to the trophy 

this year, thanks to his 

sublime curler in the 

Merseyside derby l<strong>as</strong>t 

se<strong>as</strong>on. The Egyptian 

winger scored 44 goals 

in all competitions for 

Liverpool l<strong>as</strong>t campaign. 

trouble making the 

transition to being able to 

be who she w<strong>as</strong> within the 

context of what we do <strong>as</strong> a 

group. Playing Afrob<strong>as</strong>ket, 

FIBA America and 

Eurob<strong>as</strong>ket w<strong>as</strong> different 

from playing the world 

cup and we were getting 

these girls ready to play 

the world cup and it w<strong>as</strong> a 

tough transition for Sarah.”

LEAGUE CUP: 

Moses set to face 

Liverpool 

EX-Super Eagles star 

Victor Moses is in 

contention to face his former 

club Liverpool, where he 

spent the whole of the 2013- 

2014 se<strong>as</strong>on, when Chelsea 

take on the Reds in the 

League Cup tomorrow. 

The good news for Moses 

but certainly bad news for 

Chelsea and their fans is that 

Pedro w<strong>as</strong> not spotted training 

with the first-teamers at 

Cobham yesterday, meaning 

he is doubtful to travel with 

the squad to Anfield 

tomorrow. 

The Spain international h<strong>as</strong> 

been Chelsea’s first choice 

right winger in the current 

se<strong>as</strong>on and when he is not 

available, manager Maurizio 

Messi, Ronaldo snub FIFA’s 

The Best awards 

Messi 

Messi refuses to shake 

ref’s hand 

B anger 

ARCELONA’s 

with 

referee Jesus Gil 

Manzano w<strong>as</strong> 

palpable at the end of 

Sunday night’s match 

with Girona. 

Gerard Pique had 

already expressed his 

dismay with the match 

official in the tunnel at 

half time and he w<strong>as</strong>n’t 

alone. 

After the game, which 

saw Barcelona drop 

two points at the Camp 

Nou, Lionel Messi 

approached the referee 

and despite Gil Manzano 

offering his hand, the 

Argentine refused and 

headed back to the 

dressing room. 

LIONEL Messi and 

Cristiano Ronaldo 

decided against 

travelling to London for 

FIFA’s The Best award 

ceremony l<strong>as</strong>tnight. 

Luka Modric, Ronaldo 

and Mohamed Salah 

competed for the best 

player honour. 

Modric, reached the 

World Cup final with 

Croatia after picking up 

the Champions League 

with Real Madrid at the 

end of l<strong>as</strong>t se<strong>as</strong>on w<strong>as</strong> 

tipped to break up a 

decade-long duopoly. 

Ronaldo and Messi 

are the only players who 

have been named player 

of the year by FIFA in 

the l<strong>as</strong>t 10 years. 

And after failing to be 

nominated, Messi 

decided not to travel, 

according to Spanish 

newspaper Mundo 

Deportivo. 

He told Barcelona he 

could not go due to a 

family problem. 

Ronaldo w<strong>as</strong> also 

unable to travel because 

of his commitments at 

Juventus. 

He w<strong>as</strong> part of the team 

that played at Frosinone 

on Sunday evening, 

while the Italian 

champions have another 

game on Wednesday 

night <strong>as</strong> they take on 

Bologna at home. 

Iwobi, Kanu celebrate Joshua 

Sarri prefers the Brazilian, 

Willian, to deputize for him. 

Assuming Sarri decides to 

field a strong squad to face 

Liverpool, everything is 

pointing to the fact that Moses 

will be in the 18 just <strong>as</strong> w<strong>as</strong> the 

c<strong>as</strong>e l<strong>as</strong>t weekend in the 

goalless draw with West Ham 

<strong>as</strong> the Italian prefers to name 

at le<strong>as</strong>t one winger on the 

bench. 

Another winger, Hudson- 

Odoi may be considered for the 

trip to Merseyside in the event 

that he does not play for the 

U21s in their EFL Trophy game 

at Newport County. 

Pedro suffered a shoulder 

injury in Chelsea’s Europa 

League match against PAOK 

l<strong>as</strong>t week and club medics are 

doing everything possible to get 

him fit before they face Liverpool 

in the Premier League. 

Ronaldo 

Messi 

NIGERIAN Foot 

ball legend, 

Kanu Nwankwo and 

Super Eagles striker, 

Alex Iwobi have joined 

the list of top celebrities 

who celebrated the Nigeria-born 

British boxer, 

Anthony Joshua following 

his victory over 

Alexander Povetkin that 

saw him retain his world 

heavyweight titles at 

Wembley Stadium,. 

The IBF, WBO and 

WBA champion, criticised 

in some quarters for failing 

to finalise a deal with 

Victor Moses 

the division’s other 

high-profile names, responded 

emphatically 

with a seventh-round 

stoppage of the Russian, 

who had never been 

beaten inside the distance. 


Karius: 

Ramos h<strong>as</strong> 

never 

apologised 

for my 

injury 

LORIS Karius h<strong>as</strong> 

clarified that Real 

Madrid defender Sergio 

Ramos h<strong>as</strong> ‘never 

apologised’ for a 

challenge during l<strong>as</strong>t 

se<strong>as</strong>on’s Champions 

League final. 

The former Liverpool 

goalkeeper w<strong>as</strong> involved 

in a collision with the 

Madrid captain during 

the showpiece event in 

May, which Madrid won 

3-1. The German shotstopper 

made two highprofile 

errors and weeks 

later w<strong>as</strong> diagnosed <strong>as</strong> 

having sustained 

concussion during the 

game. 

“Only he knows if I w<strong>as</strong> 

injured on purpose but 

he h<strong>as</strong> never apologized 

to me,” Karius told Bild, 

<strong>as</strong> cited by Cadena Cope. 

“It h<strong>as</strong> proved that I 

suffered a visual 

impairment. Under 

normal conditions I do 

not make that error so I 

cannot explain it.” 

Karius 

OSIMHEN: Drogba 

inspires me 

S PORTING 

Charleroi of 

Belgium striker, Victor 

Osimhen h<strong>as</strong> revealed 

that one of the big factors 

behind his scoring form 

is that he loves watching 

videos of top strikers like 

former Chelsea striker, 

Didier Drogba, who he 

says all inspire him to 

get better on the pitch. 

Speaking against the 

backdrop of his first 

professional goal l<strong>as</strong>t 

weekend, Osimhen, who 

is on loan at Charleroi 

from VfL Wolfsburg of 

Germany, said he is 

always keen on learning 

from renowned prolific 

strikers like Drogba and 

others. 

The Chile 201 FIFA U- 

17 World Cup gold 

medallist and top scorer 

said he w<strong>as</strong> happy to 

finally hit his first league 

goal at any level in 

Charleroi’s their 1-1 

draw with Wa<strong>as</strong>land- 

Beveren on Saturday, 

Osimhen 

Simon picks positives from 

Levante defeat 

LEVANTE of Spain 

winger, Moses 

Simon is picking 

positives from his La 

Liga debut with the club 

he joined this summer, 

<strong>as</strong> he got an <strong>as</strong>sist on a 

day they fell to a heavy 

defeat against Sevilla. 

It w<strong>as</strong> all Moses could 

do to shake of another 

bout with injury, in order 

to finally get his first 

competitive bow with 

Levante and w<strong>as</strong> on top 

of his game in the 

encounter. 

Simon’s La Liga debut 

had been on hold since 

he copped a hamstring 

injury during prese<strong>as</strong>on, 

but Paco Lopez 

changed that by sending 

the Super Eagles star on 

<strong>as</strong> a second half 

but said he now wants 

to get even more. 

While also 

acknowledging delight 

with the improved 

quality in his game, 

Osimhen will now hope 

to continue his exploits 

with Charleroi when 

they host Lokeren in 

their next league fixture 

this Saturday. 

The 19-year-old 

forward, who joined 

Wolfsburg after his 

exploits at Chile 2015, 

where he became the alltime 

highest goals 

scorer in the FIFA U-17 

World Cup, w<strong>as</strong> yet to 

score in a professional 

goal after two years with 

the German club. 

However, after getting 

encouraging game time 

at Charleroi, Osimhen 

opened his goals count 

against Beveren in the 

19th minute of their 

league encounter from 

an <strong>as</strong>sist by Adama 

Niane. 

substitute in the 73rd 

minute. 

Getting off Levante’s 

bench with 15 minutes 

left to play, Simon made 

hay when his goal 

bound ball came off 

Kjaer before nestling in 

the net <strong>as</strong> a consolation 

for his side in the heavy 

loss, but the winger still 

dedicated his effort to 

his new born daughter 

and wife. 

Simon said: “Not a 

good way to lose in a 

game, where you score 

your first goal in your 

first game. However I’m 

dedicating it to my 

daughter and my wife, 

they have been 

magnificent in every 

<strong>as</strong>pect of my life.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2018 

TODAY’S PUZZLE 

Sudoku 

YESTERDAY’S ANSWER 

TODAY’S CROSSWORD 

QUICK CROSSWORD 

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION 

How to Play Sudoku 

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

of the same number). 

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

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

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

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

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

multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination. 

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25092018 - PDP: Controversy trails convention as NWC, BoT disagree on venue

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