16102018 - I worked to reconcile, not endorse, says Bishop Kukah

2019: 42 senators 

not returning, 

67 battle 9 

to return 

Ganduje sues 

publisher as 

second 

batch of ‘bribe’ 

videos surfaces 

35 

Boko Haram 

executes 

another aid 

worker, says 

Leah Sharibu’ll 

live as slave 

6 

** 

VOL. 26: NO. 63659 TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2018 

OBASANJO-ATIKU ABUBAKAR: 

I worked to reconcile, not 

endorse, says Bishop Kukah 

•Says his mission to Ota was spiritual, not political 

•Meeting originally planned for just three persons 

•Obasanjo invited Oyedepo, Gumi, PDP topshots 

PDP GOVS BID FAYOSE FAREWELL... 

From left, Former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose; Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel; Delta State Governor, 

Ifeanyi Okowa, former Anambra State Governor and PDP Presidential Running Mate, Mr. Peter Obi, at a farewell party in honour 

of Fayose by PDP Governors at Sheraton Hotel, Abuja, Sunday night. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida 

Nigeria, best 

performing 

economy in 

Africa – Keyamo 

9 

Plot afoot to arrest, detain 

Fayose indefinitely — PDP 

•They’re jittery, says APC 

11 

Atiku: PDP moves to appease 

11 defeated aspirants 8 

FG defends 

borrowing 

•Why reserves 

are falling 

—Emefiele 

COLUMNISTS TENIOLA 

See 

ODUMAKIN 17 

18 MAILAFIA 31 

25 

Inside 

By Kenneth 

Ehigiator, Group 

News Editor 

LAGOS — Catholic 

Archbishop of Sokoto 

Diocese, Mathew Hassan 

Kukah, said yesterday he 

never endorsed presidential 

candidate of Peoples 

Democratic Party, Abubakar 

Atiku, for the Presidency in 

2019 elections. 

Kukah said in a statement 

that he only facilitated the 

reconciliation meeting between 

Chief Olusegun 

Obasanjo and his former 

vice, Alhaji Atiku Abukakar 

at the former president’s 

home in Abeokuta, Ogun 

State, last Thursday. 

According to him, the endorsement 

of Atiku by President 

Obasanjo was only 

Continues on Page 5 

Faces at the 

IMF/World 

Bank group 

meeting in 

Bali, 38 

Indonesia 

Mr & Mrs 

39

2 — VANGUARD, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2018

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2018 — 3

4—VANGUARD,TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2018 

CONFERENCE: From left, Chairman, Energy Institute of Nigeria, Mr. Osten Olorunsola; 

CEO, Energy Institute, London, Ms. Louise Kingham; President, Nigeria Gas Association, 

Dada Thomas; Managing Director, Energy Institute of Nigeria, Mrs. Yewande Abiose, and 

former Minister of Power, Dr. Lanre Babalola, at the Energy Institute's inaugural energy 

sustainability conference, in Lagos. 

APC won't participate in Zamfara 

elections, INEC insists 

A 

B U J A — 

INDEPENDENT 

National Electoral 

Commission, INEC, 

insisted, yesterday, that 

All Progressives 

Congress, APC, will not 

field candidates for the 

2019 general elections 

in Zamafa. 

INEC Chairman, Prof. 

Mahmood Yakubu, 

stated this on the 

sideline of the opening 

of a two-day validation 

workshop entitled “Study 

on the cost of elections in 

ECOWAS Region.” 

yesterday. in Abuja. 

“We have issued a 

statement on Zamfara and 

nothing has changed. We 

stand by the statement that 

we issued,” he said. 

Yakubu re-emphasised 

that the deadline for 

submission of party 

candidates’ names to the 

commission was October 

18, saying it would give a 

full report on that after 

November 18. 

INEC had informed the 

ruling APC in a leaked 

memo that it would not be 

allowed to field candidates 

for elective positions in 

Zamfara in the 2019 

elections. 

The commission’s acting 

Secretary, Okechukwe 

Ndeche, in a letter to APC, 

said the party was barred 

from fielding candidates for 

governorship, National 

Assembly and state 

assembly elections. 

The commission said this 

was because APC failed to 

comply with Sections 87 

and 31 of the Electoral Act 

of 2010. 

Parties, according to the 

act, were expected to 

comply with the timetable 

and schedule of INEC, 

which says the conduct of 

primaries must be held 

between August 18 and 

October 7. 

INEC said it received 

reports from its Zamfara 

office, indicating that no 

primaries were conducted 

in the state 

“notwithstanding that our 

officials were fully 

mobilised and deployed.” 

The APC National 

Chairman, Adams 

Oshiomhole, later 

responded to INEC in a 

statement and said that the 

party had already arrived 

at a consensus before the 

deadline. 

Oshiomhole said 

following the high level of 

friction, disagreements and 

threats of violence by 

various political camps 

before the primaries, all the 

aspirants met at City King 

Hotel, Gusau, to find a 

truce. 

He said: “After hours of 

intense horse-trading, a 

consensus was reached 

within the spirit and context 

of the electoral act and the 

constitution of our party. 

This was done in strict 

compliance with Section 87 

(6) of the Electoral Act, 2010 

(as amended).” 

He said the claim by 

INEC that no primaries 

were conducted could only 

be referring to its officials’ 

observation that actual 

voting did not take place. 

The APC chairman said 

that conduct of primaries 

was not the only mode 

prescribed for producing 

candidates in the electoral 

act, 2010 (as amended). 

“We, therefore, affirm that 

indeed, primaries took 

place in Zamfara State,” 

Oshiomhole said. 

The party chairman also 

noted that PDP had similar 

issues in Kano State and 

wondered why INEC did 

not bar the opposition party 

from fielding candidates. 

On PVCs 

Yakubu further said the 

commission would by the 

end of November print the 

outstanding Permanent 

Voter Cards, PVCs. 

He said: “We have 

printed the PVCs for those 

who registered in the first 

quarter of 2018. We are 

right now simultaneously 

printing for those who 

registered in the second 

and third quarters. 

“We are looking at the 

end of November for all the 

PVCs to be printed 

including request for 

transfer and relocation. 

“Let me just repeat the 

assurance that every citizen 

that registered and who has 

applied for transfer or 

replacement will get his or 

her PVC before 2019 

general elections.” 

He, however, said the 

commission had stopped 

every registration, 

request for transfer and 

replacement of damaged 

PVCs. 

Ex-UN chief kick-starts debate series 

ahead of 2019 polls 

By Omeiza Ajayi 

ABUJA— AHEAD of 

the 2019 general 

elections, a former United 

Nations, UN, Assistant 

Secretary General, Mr 

Agwu Okali, has launched 

the Great Debate Series 

under the Okali Seminal 

Ideas Foundation for Africa, 

OSIFA. 

Okali said the series were 

aimed at enlightening the 

citizenry on issues relating 

to the governance of the 

polity through intellectual 

discourse. 

Lamenting the crises that 

had trailed the outcome of 

elections in African 

countries over the years, he 

maintained that there was 

need to ascertain whether 

the presidential system of 

government had impacted 

positively on the country 

since the return to 

democratic rule in 1999. 

Okali who was Registrar 

of the UN international 

criminal tribunal for 

Rwanda, said it was 

unfortunate that politicians 

have condescended to the 

level of playing the politics 

of personality instead of 

dwelling on issues that 

could impact positively on 

the well-being of 

Nigerians. 

He noted: “In those days, 

there were a lot of debate 

on issues revolving around 

education, healthcare, and 

housing for the citizenry. I 

don’t see that these days. 

Instead you hear talks 

about the person not on 

issues. We want our 

politicians to debate issues 

and policies that would 

make the deference when 

they get the opportunity to 

govern the country.” 

Former Vice Chancellor, 

University of Ibadan, Prof. 

Ayo Banjo, is billed to chair 

the inaugural session of the 

series and would be joined 

by other panellists, 

comprising Prof Anya 

O.Anya, Haruna Manu, Dr 

Lanre Adebayo, Prof Jumai 

Audi, Amb Gregory Okon, 

Queen Ehirin, and Prof 

Chudi Uwazurike who 

would serve as the 

rapporteur. 

Discussants are expected 

to speak on whether the 

“Western model of 

democracy has failed in 

Africa” during the event 

slated to hold tomorrow in 

Abuja. 

Army takes terror war to 

cyber space, launches 

command 

By Joseph 

Erunke 

ABUJA—IN 

its 

determination to 

neutralise the strength of 

terrorists’ activities on 

the cyber space, the 

Nigerian Army has 

established a cyber 

command centre. 

The command, 

according to the Chief of 

Army Staff, Lt. General 

Tukur Buratai, is 

principally to empower 

the Nigerian Army with 

the capabilities to protect 

its data and network 

against cyber attacks 

and hostile elements. 

Speaking, yesterday, at 

the commissioning of the 

cyber operations centre 

of the Nigerian Army 

Cyber Warfare 

Command, located at the 

A r m y 

Headquarters,Abuja, 

Buratai noted that cyberwarfare 

was “the fifth 

domain of warfare after 

land, sea, air and 

space.” 

According to the army 

chief, the need to embark 

on Nigerian Army data 

protection and 

information warfare to 

curb 

online 

radicalization as well as 

other terrorist activities 

perpetrated on the 

internet necessitated the 

establishment of the 

centre. 

Besides,he said the 

cyber operations centre 

“would also enable 

robust online presence 

so as to fight fake news 

targeted at the Army 

with counter narratives 

and cyber operations.” 

To this end, he tasked 

operators of the centre to 

equip themselves with 

digital forensics 

capabilities and be able 

to handle cases of 

identity theft and 

Suspected cultists kill 

policeman in Bayelsa 

By Emem Idio 

YENAGOA—A Police 

officer serving with 

Bayelsa State Police 

Command was, 

yesterday, shot dead by 

suspected cultists while 

on patrol duty around 

Tombia junction in the 

state capital. 

The killing, it was 

gathered, occurred 

around 5 pm. 

A statement by 

spokesman of Bayelsa 

generate immediate 

incidence response. 

Buratai said the 

creation of the centre 

was in line with his 

vision for the Nigerian 

Army, which, he noted, 

was to have professional, 

responsive Nigerian 

Army in the discharge of 

its constitutional roles. 

He said further: “The 

intrinsic features of 

cyberspace can be easily 

exploited for information 

warfare by actors with 

malicious intent to plant 

and disseminate fake 

news and instruct paid 

users to spread online 

manipulated content. 

“This is done in order 

to degrade debates with 

diverging truths, 

deceive, distract and 

misinform public 

opinion. 

"This can eventually 

disorient and corroborate 

a sense of doubt among 

the public, or shape the 

opinion of a specific 

target audience on a 

certain issue. 

"Hostile actors in 

cyberspace are also 

willing and capable of 

leveraging the variety of 

tools allowed by 

computer network 

operations and 

computational 

propaganda to influence 

public opinion to a 

degree that oldfashioned 

psychology 

operations could only 

dream of. 

“The above statement 

accurately demonstrates 

the real threat of 

information warfare and 

the need to combat it with 

use of information 

knowledge. 

“I encourage you to 

routinely survey the dark 

web/darknet and carry 

out analysis that may 

help the NA to be 

proactive in the cyber 

realm.” 

Police Command, DSP 

Asinim Butswat, who 

confirmed the killing, 

said the killers were, 

however, unable to steal 

his service rifle. 

Butswat said: “A 

policeman was shot dead 

at Tombia. He was shot 

while the unit patrol 

vehicle was caught in a 

traffic jam. He came 

down to help with the 

heavy traffic and was 

shot by the suspected 

cultists.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY OCTOBER 16, 2018 — 5 

POCKET CARTOON 

BATH AND BE PURGED: Truck drivers arrested for obstructing flow of traffic on the Oshodi-Apapa 

Expressway, by Berger Yard, having their bath in a muddy puddle on the orders of men of the Metro 

Task Force of Lagos State, Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: AKEEM SALAU. 

I worked to reconcile, not endorse, 

says Bishop Kukah 

Continues from Page 1 

circumstantial to the meeting 

he brokered to settle the 

long-standing quarrel between 

both personalities, 

with no politics in mind. 

Obasanjo had last Thursday 

hosted Kukah, Kaduna-based 

Islamic cleric, 

Sheikh Abubakar Ahmad 

Gumi, and founder of Living 

Faith Church Worldwide, 

Bishop David 

Oyedepo, and some top 

politicians and civil rights 

activists at his residence in 

Abeokuta. 

He said the meeting was 

initially planned for just 

three persons — himself, 

President Obasanjo and 

Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, noting 

that it was further expanded 

by Chief Obasanjo 

who invited Bishop David 

Oyedepo of Living Faith 

Church Worldwide and 

Sheikh Gumi. 

Kukah said he was not, 

however, comfortable with 

the fact that more people 

were invited for the meeting 

which he had been 

working on for a long time. 

The statement 

Kukah’s statement read: 

“I have deliberately made 

this explanatory note long 

because I think it is necessary 

that people make up 

their minds based on the 

facts, given my central role 

in the event. 

“I note that Sheikh Gumi 

has already told his own 

side of the story. I feel 

obliged to state my own 

side so that Nigerians can 

have a clearer picture of my 

own involvement. Sadly, I 

personally did not read 

President Obasanjo’s statement 

until two days later on 

the internet since I was not 

physically in the hall. 

“Although trying to reconcile 

President Obasanjo 

and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar 

was something I had been 

working on intermittently 

in the last few years, nothing 

could have prepared 

me for the way things finally 

shaped up. 

“My focus all along had 

been with President 

Obasanjo and I had never 

brought Alhaji Abubakar 

into what I was doing. 

Quite fortuitously, a chance 

meeting changed the tide 

in favour of reconciliation. 

“Understandably, the pictures 

of the four of us (President 

Obasanjo, Alhaji 

Abubakar, Sheikh Gumi 

and I) literally lit up the 

social media and elicited 

divergent reactions from 

the general public. 

“Although over 99% of the 

reactions that have come to 

me have been largely 

those of commendation, 

with people focusing, rightly, 

on the reconciliation, 

there have been others 

whose focus has been on 

an isolated development 

that had absolutely nothing 

to do with what I had in 

mind all these years, namely, 

the endorsement. 

The ‘endorsement’ 

“I must say that I am eternally 

grateful to God that 

this reconciliation finally 

happened. The focus of attention 

has been on the endorsement 

of Alhaji 

Abubakar by President 

Obasanjo, a development 

that I can call the third leg 

of the process which I initiated. 

“I am not sure of President 

Obasanjo’s other interlocutors 

after we agreed 

to meet, leading to the participation 

of other actors and 

so, I will only clear the air 

on what I can take full responsibility 

for. 

“Let me state first that I 

am a priest of the Catholic 

Church and by the grace 

of God, a Bishop. I have 

more than a passing knowledge 

of our discipline and 

doctrine in matters relating 

to the role of a Catholic 

priest in political engagement. 

My doctoral thesis 

was on Religion and Politics 

in Nigeria. So, this is 

an area that I have written 

and spoken extensively 

about for over thirty years. 

“I am, therefore, very 

clear about the boundaries, 

the slippery slopes and the 

contexts. Unlike Sheikh 

Gumi and Rev. Oyedepo, 

who were invited to this 

event, I am a central actor. 

So let me explain what really 

happened. 

How it started 

“On Tuesday, October 9, 

2018, I had the honour of 

being the guest speaker for 

the annual conference of 

the Four Square Gospel 

Church in Alagomeji, Lagos. 

(The Presidential 

spokesman, Femi Adesina, 

a member of this church had 

first invited me some years 

back but I could not honour 

the invitation). 

“President Obasanjo was 

the chairman of the occasion. 

At the end of the lecture, 

he indicated that he 

would have to leave because 

he had a scheduled 

meeting. I told him I needed 

to see him briefly and 

he obliged. I brought up 

again the issue of what he 

thought of his reconciliation 

with Alhaji Atiku. 

“My last discussion with 

him this year was either in 

January or February. His 

response was still negative 

and he told me what he later 

told the media. I reminded 

him that I was not interested 

in the politics of reconciliation 

but the spiritual 

angle. 

“After all, I said to him, ‘as 

a Christian, this is an important 

thing for you to do.’ 

He was quiet and then said 

he would speak with me 

later that evening on his final 

decision. We parted, he 

took his car and I returned 

to the church to end the 

event. 

“At about 9pm the same 

Tuesday, he called to say 

that he had thought over 

the issues I had raised and 

finally decided to accept my 

suggestion and that yes, he 

would be happy to reconcile 

with Alhaji Abubakar. 

“When did he think we 

could meet then, I asked 

him? He said he would 

look at his diary and get 

back to me later. Then, just 

before 11pm the same Tuesday, 

I received another call 

from him saying his diary 

was full, that the earliest 

date for him was October 

21. I accepted happily and 

told him that I would try and 

reach Alhaji Abubakar either 

directly, or through his 

Continues on Page 39 

By Bose Adelaja, Ebun Sessou, 

Yinka Latona, Chioma John, Tade 

Oluwapelumi & Miriam Elibe 

Travel ban on 50 eminent Nigerians 

NIGERIA is one of the most 

corrupt countries in the 

world. If President Muhammadu 

Buhari is trying to replace 

this bad name, I think it is really 

a commendable step in the right 

direction. Corruption has done 

so much damage to this country 

to the extent that we must support 

every humane attempt at putting 

an end to it. As far as I am 

concerned, more corrupt people 

should be banned from traveling 

abroad where they stash our 

commonwealth. 

Miss Ikeoluwa Mercy, 

Beautician 

I 

think President Mu 

hammadu Buhari is doing 

a great job. He has always 

been committed to the 

fight against corruption since 

he came into office and I 

think this is a good step in 

achieving a corruption-free 

Nigeria. If he had found 

these 50 persons corrupt, 

stopping them from traveling 

abroad is not wrong. 

Those, who don’t like the development, 

do not want corruption 

to be wiped out in 

Nigeria. 

Miss Jennifer Ndukwe, 

Makeup artist 

THE government signed 

the Executive Order 

since July. It is not a new 

development. If the high 

profile citizens flouted the 

order, the law should be used 

to punish them. The law 

should not be lenient t in this 

context because the President 

has the right to sign the Executive 

Order. President Buhari 

has done nothing wrong. 

What he did was in the interest 

on the country. Nigeria is 

not functional today because 

of corruption. 

Mr. Frank Uchenna 

NYSC member 

NIGERIA has so many 

l corrupt people, who 

are against the progress of 

this country. Our institutions 

have failed to stop the corrupt 

practices of our corrupt 

leaders. Since we have a President, 

who is interested in 

ensuring accountability in 

the country, he should be 

supported. I think President 

Buhari has done a great job. 

Nigerian politicians are 

fond of leaving the country 

to avoid arrest after commiting 

an offence. With this 

new law, they will pay for 

whatever offence they have 

committed. 

Mr. Michael Rotimi, Entrepreneur 

SOME think it was 

politically motivated, 

while I am sure it was in 

the interest of the country. 

Nigerians always dismiss 

some good policies as being 

targeted at the opposition. 

It is high time we 

dropped that kind of 

thinking. Someone just 

needs to wield the big stick 

against the cabal in the 

country. If we don’t kill corruption, 

its consequences 

will kill us. Therefore, people 

should complain less 

and support what Buhari 

did. 

Ayomide Onibokun, 

Student 

I 

don’t see anything 

wrong with the recent 

decision. This will stop all 

these politicians from engaging 

in corrupt practices. 

Before now, they 

thought they were above 

the law. That is why they 

always run abroad to avoid 

being arrested. Why are 

they complaining? This is 

payback time for all the 

economic crimes committed 

against this country. It 

is a wise decision. 

Mr. Oiku Matthew, Student

6—Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2018 

Bodies of 

missing 

fisherman, son 

recovered in 

Delta stream 

By Perez Brisibe 

UGHELLI—THE lifeless 

bodies of a fisherman and 

that of his son were, weekend, 

recovered at a nearby stream 

where they had gone fishing at 

Ohoror community in Ughelli 

North Local Government Area of 

Delta State. 

The fisherman, Johnson 

Emegogoe, who is also a 

motorcycle mechanic and his son, 

Benji, were declared missing 

after they had gone fishing and 

failed to return home at the end 

of the day. 

Their corpses were discovered 

by a search party made up of 

youths from the community. The 

locals are, however, suspecting 

that they might have drowned as 

a result of the high tide in the 

stream, owing to the increase in 

water level. 

Confirming the incident, a 

relative of the victims, Moses 

Young, described it as sad and 

unfortunate. 

He said: “The family and 

community organised a search 

party when they failed to return 

from their fishing trip, only to 

discover their dead bodies. We 

believe they fell into the stream 

as a result of the high tide and 

nobody to rescue them.” 

Gunmen abduct 

nursing mother 

in Ughelli 

By Perez Brisibe 

U 

G H E L L I — 

UNIDENTIFIED 

gunmen, Saturday, abducted a 

nursing mother, Victoria Esika, 

alongside two of her children at 

Afisiere community, Ughelli in 

Ughelli North Local Government 

Area of Delta State. 

It was gathered that the 

hoodlums later abandoned the 

children at Isiokolo in Ethiope 

East Local Government Area of 

the state and fled with the nursing 

mother. 

Though the state Police Public 

Relations Officer, DSP Andrew 

Aniamaka, could not be reached 

for comments on the incident, a 

senior Police officer at the Ughelli 

‘B’ Division, confirmed the 

incident when contacted. 

The Police source, who spoke 

on condition of anonymity, said: 

“The incident happened last 

Saturday with the hoodlums 

abducting the victim and two of 

her children in her SUV. 

“Fortunately, they were forced 

to ditch the children at Isiokolo, 

but succeeded in taking away the 

nursing mother. We are on their 

trail and I want to assure that the 

victim would be rescued, the 

culprits brought to book and the 

car recovered as well.” 

Togolese rapes, sodomises 6 

minors in Lagos •It’s the devil—Suspect 

•...organises orgies with them, pays each N50 

By Esther Onyegbula 

A 

31-year-old Togolese, 

Dominic Samson, has 

been arrested for raping six 

underage girls in Ejigbo area 

of Lagos. 

The victims, aged between 

12 and 15 years, revealed that 

he normally raped them 

under the staircase and in the 

toilet of their building on 

Olusesan Street. Thereafter, 

the suspect, a father of two, 

would give them N50, with a 

threat to kill them if they 

mentioned it to anyone. 

However, he met his 

THE Islamic State West 

Africa Province, ISWAP, a 

faction of Boko Haram, yesterday, 

executed Hauwa Leman, an aid 

worker with the International 

Committee of the Red Cross, 

ICRC, less than 24 hours after 

ICRC pleaded with government 

to avert her killing as yesterday’s 

deadline given by the insurgents 

approached. 

The terrorists also promised 

to keep Leah Sharibu, the 

Dapchi schoolgirl, as “a 

slave for life,” TheCable 

gathered. 

In a short clip seen by 

TheCable’ s 

correspondent, Leman 

was forced to kneel down, 

with her hands tied inside 

a white hijab that has a crest 

symbol, and then shot her at 

a close range. 

In September, the 

insurgents 

killed 

Saifura 

Ahmed, one of the three 

humanitarian workers 

abducted in Rann, Kala Balge 

Local Government Area of 

Borno State in March, in a 

similar manner. 

Leman, a 24-year-old nurse 

and student of Health 

Education at the University of 

Maiduguri, was in the group 

that was abducted. 

Four soldiers, four policemen 

and three humanitarian aid 

workers were killed in the 

Waterloo after one of the girls 

opened up to her 

parents, who 

subsequently alerted 

the Divisional Police 

Officer in-charge of 

Ejigbo, CSP Olabisi 

Okufowobi. 

D u r i n g 

interrogation, the 

teenager alleged that 

the suspect did not only 

defile her, but also 

sodomised 

(penetration 

through 

her anus) 

in the 

toilet. 

Confirming the 

a r r e s t , 

spokesman for 

Lagos State 

P o l i c e 

Command, 

CSP Chike 

Oti, said: “She 

named five 

other girls, who 

are within 13 and 

15 years age 

bracket. All 

the 

victims, except the sixth, have 

been identified, interrogated 

and their statements recorded. 

“The girls revealed that the 

suspect sometimes brought all 

of them together in one room 

for an orgy and, thereafter, 

gave them a cash reward of 

N50 each.” 

The girls, as gathered, were 

taken to the Mirabel Centre, 

where doctor’s report 

confirmed that there was 

penetration in their vaginas 

and anuses. 

When accosted, the suspect 

blamed his indulgence on the 

devil. 

Boko Haram sticks with deadline: Executes 

another aid worker; Leah to live as slave 

•Look for Fatima, tell her they are taking us away—Hauwa’s last words 

attack. 

ICRC begged 

FG over deadline 

Toafiq Toure, ICRC Operational 

Communication delegate, 

Maiduguri sub-delegation, had 

on Sunday pleaded with the 

Federal Government to avert 

Leman’s killing as yesterday’s 

deadline 

given 

by 

the 

insurgents 

loomed. 

ISWAP, in a 

s h o r t 

Leah 

statement, said: “We have kept 

our word exactly as we said by 

killing another humanitarian 

worker, Hauwa Leman, who is 

working with the International 

Committee of the Red Cross, 

ICRC, that were abducted 

during a raid on a military facility 

in Rann, Kala Balge in March 

2018. 

“Saifura and Hauwa were 

killed because they are 

considered as Murtads 

(apostates) by the group because 

they were once Muslims that 

have abandoned their Islam 

the moment they chose to work 

with the Red Cross, and for 

us there is no difference 

between Red Cross and 

UNICEF. 

“If we see them, we will kill 

the apostates among them, 

men or women, and chose to 

kill or keep the infidels as 

slaves, men or women.” 

Leah’s life of slavery 

Meanwhile, ISWAP has 

threatened to keep Leah 

Sharibu as a slave. 

She is the only 

Christian among the 

110 girls abducted at 

Government Girls’ 

Science and 

Technical College, 

Dapchi, Yobe 

State, on 

February 

19. 

While other girls 

were released, she was kept 

back because she refused to 

renounce her Christian faith. 

There has been a global plea 

for her release. 

The group said in the 

statement that Alice Ngaddah, 

a Christian who works with 

UNICEF, will also be kept as 

a slave. 

“From today,” ISWAP said, 

“Sharibu, 15, and Ngaddah, 

a mother of two, are now our 

slaves. Based on our doctrines, it 

is now lawful for us to do whatever 

we want to do with them.” 

Hauwa's message 

In an audio message sent to one 

of her male friends when she was 

captured in March, Hauwa 

Leman, who spoke in Hausa, said 

her parents should be informed 

that she had b e e n 

kidnapped. 

Hauwa 

Running and panting, the 

victim said: “We are under attack 

in Rann. They are shooting 

everywhere. Please, pray for me; 

please go and tell my parents that 

I am in trouble. 

“Please, look for Fatima and tell 

her they are taking us away. They 

have entered here now.” 

At that point, a male voice 

ordered her to keep quiet and not 

to move an inch. That was the last 

that was heard from her.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2018—7 

Pipeline explosion death toll hits 200 

By Ugochukwu Alaribe 

ABA— THE death toll from 

last Friday Osisioma fuel 

pipeline explosion has risen to 

200, even as protesting youths 

from the host communities of 

Nigerian National Petroleum 

Corporation, NNPC, depot, 

yesterday, shut operation at the 

facility over the incident. 

The youths, numbering 2,000, 

who barricaded the gate of the 

depot with a coffin containing 

the corpse of one of the victims, 

lamented that the pipeline 

explosion was caused by 

NNPC’s negligence, by 

pumping fuel through a 

leaking pipeline which had 

been abandoned for over three 

years. 

Vanguard gathered that 

yesterday, additional 16 

corpses were buried at 

Umuimo, while Okpokoroala 

village buried 10. 

Some of the placards carried 

by the youths read: ‘The 

explosion was not as a result of 

vandalism,’ ‘NNPC should stop 

pumping fuel through 

abandoned pipelines,’ ‘Since 

Enugu depot is not functional, 

where was NNPC pumping fuel 

to?’ ‘What happened was 

planned mass killing of our 

people by NNPC,’ ‘Enough of 

these deaths caused by NNPC’s 

carelessness,’ ‘We have been 

rendered homeless by NNPC,’ 

among others. 

A combined team of policemen 

and men of the Nigerian Security 

and Civil Defence Corps, 

NSCDC, struggled to prevent 

the youths from causing damage 

to the facility, even as they 

insisted that the Depot Manager 

must address them. 

The situation was 

aggravated by the failure of 

the Depot Manager, Mr. 

Joseph Dumaka, and 

members of his management 

team to address the youths. 

When Vanguard visited the 

intensive care unit of Abia 

State University Teaching 

Hospital, ABSUTH, Aba, over 

40 victims were in critical 

condition, while their family 

members were seen praying. 

Meanwhile, at press time, 

there were still signs of 

leakages on the abandoned 

pipeline, which could also 

ignite another round of fire. 

In an interview with 

Vanguard, President 

Osisioma Ngwa Youth 

Congress, Mr. Emma 

Nduagu, said over 200 

persons have died from the 

explosion. 

24-yr-old man organises kidnap of girlfriend’s mother 

By Ifeanyi Okolie 

TWENTY-FOUR years old 

man, Chinindu Innocent, 

arrested by operatives of the 

Inspector General of Police 

Special Intelligence Response 

Team, IRT, for staging the 

kidnapping of the mother of 

his girlfriend, said he did it 

because the girlfriend’s mother 

could not stop her daughter 

from seeing another man. 

Innocent and three other 

members of his gang, 

identified as Ekendu 

Chidiebere, Tochukwu Samuel 

and Ikechukwu Nwankwo, 

who also took part in the 

kidnapping in Ukwa West Local 

Government Area of Abia State, 

were rounded up by the IRT 

operatives led by Deputy 

Commissioner of Police, Abba 

Kyari, few days after they 

released the victim and 

collected a ransom of N300,000 

from her relatives. 

Speaking with Vanguard at 

the Force Headquarters, Abuja, 

where they are being detained, 

Innocent said: “The woman we 

kidnapped was my girlfriend’s 

mother and I got myself linked 

into their family through their 

phone charging business. 

“They have a telecom mast in 

their compound and I used to 

go their house to charge my 

phone. I then made friends 

with them and the woman’s 

second daughter became my 

girlfriend and we started 

dating. 

“But few months into our 

relationship, I discovered that 

the woman’s daughter was 

seeing someone else. I 

confronted her about it and she 

threatened to end the 

relationship. I told her mother 

about it and she did nothing. 

“Unluckily for me, my cousin, 

in whose house I reside in 

Aparazu Ogwu community, 

approached me and sold the 

idea of kidnapping to me. 

“He told me that one of his 

friends, known as Onyemywa, 

who has made money from 

kidnapping told him that 

people in the community where 

we reside could pay us huge 

money when we kidnap them. 

“I then suggested that that 

we should kidnap my 

girlfriend’s mother. I must 

confess that the woman has 

been nice to me, but the 

misunderstanding between her 

daughter and I made me 

restless and I needed to punish 

her. 

“I asked my brother to bring 

in his friends to kidnap the 

woman and we agreed that I 

will be on ground when she 

will be kidnapped because I 

was the only one who could 

know when she is at home. 

“I did what they wanted of me 

and on the day she was 

kidnapped, I was at her house 

and we were both picked up and 

taken to a forest in Omuma 

Village. 

“We were blindfolded when 

we were taken into the 

village and I was with the 

woman all through. My 

gang members demanded 

N1.5 million from her 

brothers, but they ended up 

paying us N300, 000. 

“The worst issue was that 

our gang members who took 

the money refused to give 

my brother and I our share. 

“They said that they were 

angry because they thought 

that the woman’s relative will 

pay more than they did, but 

while we were trying to get 

our share of the money the 

police came and arrested me 

and my brother and we 

confessed to the kidnapping 

and they arrested the two 

other members of our gang.” 

We did everything to 

save Hauwa Leman—FG 

REACTING to the murder of 

Leman by Boko Haram, the 

Federal Government said it is 

shocked and saddened, adding 

that the aid worker was killed 

despite the actions taken by the 

government and the 

widespread appeal to save the 

young woman. 

In a statement issued in 

London yesterday, Minister of 

Information and Culture, Lai 

Mohammed, described the 

killing as “dastardly, inhuman 

and ungodly,” saying nothing 

can justify the shedding of the 

blood of innocent people. 

He commiserated with the 

family of the aid worker, and 

said the Federal Government 

did all within its powers to save 

her life. 

He said: “It is very 

unfortunate that it has come to 

this. Before and after the 

deadline issued by her 

abductors, the Federal 

Government did everything any 

responsible government 

should do to save the aid 

worker. 

“As we have been doing 

since these young women 

were abducted, we kept the 

line of negotiations open all 

through. In all the 

negotiations, we acted in the 

best interest of the women 

and the country as a whole. 

“We are deeply pained by 

this killing, just like we were 

by the recent killing of the 

first aid worker. However, we 

will keep the negotiations 

open and continue to work 

to free the innocent women 

who remain in the custody 

of their abductors.” 

Mohammed thanked all 

the friendly governments 

that have continued to work 

for the safe release of the 

abducted women, and the 

clerics across religious lines 

who have been pleading for 

their release. 

... with Emma'nKen (08163121378) 

But you never get to see that 

hard copy— the report card! 

Emma: Isn't that a SARS operative? 

Ken: No. That's a lunatic and his baggage 

Yahoo Yahoo boy: What's the difference? 

And this is somebody's pikin o

8—VANGUARD, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2018 

ANNIVERSARY: 

From left, Dr. Femi 

Oyetunji, Group 

Managing Director, 

Continental 

Reinsurance Plc; 

Mr. Godfrey 

Kiptum, Acting 

CEO/Commissioner 

of Insurance, 

Insurance 

Regulatory 

Authority; Sammy 

Makove, former 

CEO/former 

Commissioner IRA, 

and Dr. Steve 

Mainda, Chairman, 

Continental 

Reinsurance 

Limited Kenya at 

Continental’s 

Reinsurance 10 

years anniversary in 

Kenya. 

Fresh crises hit APC: Shittu sues party 

over Oyo gov primaries 

•NWC sued over appointment of new spokesman 

•Party nullifies suspension of National Vice Chairman 

By Emmanuel 

Aziken, Political 

Editor 

CRISES arising from the 

recent primaries of All 

Progressives Congress, 

APC, deepened, yesterday, 

after Minister of 

Communications, Mr. 

Adebayo Shittu, took the 

party to court over his 

elimination from 

governorship primaries in 

Oyo State. 

In another development, 

the party was also slammed 

with another court case 

arising from the decision to 

appoint Mallam Lanre Issa- 

Onilu as the substantive 

National Publicity Secretary. 

In another dimension, the 

Comrade Adams 

Oshiomhole-led leadership 

was forced to intervene in the 

crisis in the North-East zone 

of the party when it nullified 

the suspension of the party’s 

national vice-chairman, 

North-East, Comrade 

Mustapha Salihu. The 

suspension had earlier been 

carried out by the zonal 

committee. 

Adebayo’s decision to go to 

court followed the decision of 

the National Working 

Committee, NWC, to bar him 

from contesting Oyo State 

governorship primaries on 

the claim that he does not 

have a National Youth Service 

Corps, NYSC, discharge or 

exemption certificate. 

The decision followed the 

traction on the polity over the 

forged NYSC exemption 

certificate presented by the 

erstwhile Minister of 

Finance, Mrs. Kemi 

Adeosun. 

Shittu, one of the ministers 

to have kick-started the 

second term lobby for 

President Muhammadu 

Buhari as far back as 2017, 

has, however, taken the party 

to court to protest his 

elimination from the primary 

contest. 

According to NAN, Shittu 

in the originating summons 

argued that it was wrong for 

APC to disqualify him for not 

presenting the certificate. 

The minister said 

participation in the NYSC 

scheme was not a condition 

precedent to be satisfied 

before he was appointed a 

minister. 

“I know as a fact that 

participation in the National 

Youth Service Corps 

programme is not one of the 

requirements to be satisfied 

under the 1st defendant’s 

constitution to enable me 

participate in the primary 

election for nominating the 

party flag bearer for the office 

of governor of Oyo state in 

the 2019 general election. A 

copy of the Constitution of the 

1st Defendant is hereby 

attached and marked as 

‘Exhibit SHITTU 8’. 

“I also know as a fact that 

under the Constitution of the 

Federal Republic of Nigeria, 

1999 (as amended) it is not a 

requirement for me to have 

participated in National 

Youth Service Corps Scheme 

to be eligible for participation 

in the 1st Defendant’s 

primary election for 

nomination of its flag bearer 

in Oyo State for the 2019 

general election. 

NWC sued over 

appointment of 

new spokesman 

In another court case filed 

against the party, an aspirant 

to the office of the National 

Publicity Secretary in the 

June 23 National 

Convention, Abubakar 

Siddiq Usman, has sued the 

NWC of the party over its 

decision to endorse Issa- 

Onilu as the new 

spokesperson of the party. 

In the case filed at the 

Federal High Court in Abuja, 

Usman is praying the court 

to declare him as National 

Publicity Secretary of the 

party having come second, 

after Mallam Bolaji 

Abdullahi in the contest. 

Abdullahi had recently 

defected to Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, 

leaving his deputy, Yekini 

Nabena, to step in as acting 

spokesperson. 

Joined in the case as 

defendants are Mr. Onilu and 

the Independent National 

Electoral Commission INEC. 

Party nullifies 

suspension of 

national vice 

chairman 

Meanwhile, the NWC, 

yesterday, nullified the 

suspension of one of its 

members, Comrade 

Mustapha Salihu, by North 

East zonal executive of the 

party. 

New party spokesman, 

Mallam Issa-Onilu, in a 

statement declared that the 

zonal chapter does not 

possess the powers to 

suspend Mr. Salihu who is 

the National Vice Chairman 

for the zone. 

“Our attention has been 

drawn to the purported 

suspension of the All 

Progressives Congress, APC, 

National Vice Chairman, 

North-East, Comrade 

Mustapha Salihu by the 

‘North East Zonal Office. 

“We state categorically that 

the purported suspension is 

a nullity as the ‘North East 

Zonal Office’ does not have 

such powers to suspend a 

National Officer. According to 

the party’s constitution, such 

powers reside with the 

National Executive 

Committee NEC. 

“Whatever issues there 

might be, the party structure 

and constitution provide 

ample avenues for redress 

and dispute resolution." 

PDP to INEC chair: Don’t succumb to pressure on Amina 

Zakari, Zamfara APC 

By Dirisu 

Yakubu 

ABUJA— PEOPLES 


has charged Chairman of 

Independent National 

Electoral Commission, 

INEC, Professor Mahmood 

Yakubu, not to succumb to 

alleged pressure by the 

Presidency to return Mrs. 

Amina Zakari as Director of 

Operations. 

The party also urged the 

umpire not to change its 

statute-backed stand on the 

exclusion of Zamfara State 

chapter of All Progressives 

Congress, APC, from 

presenting candidates in 

the 2019 general elections, 

following its failure to 

conduct congresses. 

In a statement by its 

spokesman, Kola 

Ologbondiyan, the party 

said it had uncovered plot 

by the Presidency to use 

Zakari to manipulate the 

electoral process in favour 

of the ruling party. 

The statement read: “The 

PDP cautioned that 

Nigerians are already 

aware of the pressure from 

the Buhari Presidency to 

return Amina Zakari, a 

blood relation of President 

Buhari, as Director 

Operations, so that they can 

use her to manipulate the 

electoral processes and rig 

the election for President 

Buhari. 

“Furthermore, Nigerians 

Atiku: PDP moves to 

appease 11 defeated 

aspirants 

•Dickson, Okowa, Ishaku visit 

Tambuwal, Makarfi 

By Soni Daniel 

A 

B U J A — 

DETERMINED 

to put its house in order 

before the next election, 

Peoples Democratic Party, 

PDP, has begun meeting 

with 11 aspirants, who lost 

out during its justconcluded 

presidential 

primaries in Port Harcourt. 

The move to pacify and 

unify the aspirants is being 

coordinated by Governor 

Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa 

State, who is the chairman 

of the party’s National 

Reconciliation Committee. 

In the first of such 

rapprochement, Dickson, in 

company of his Delta and 

Taraba counterparts, Ifeanyi 

Okowa and Dairus Ishaku, 

met with Governor Aminu 

Tambuwal of Sokoto State, 

who came second in the 

presidential primaries and 

a former Caretaker 

Committee Chairman, Dr. 

Ahmed Makarfi, in Abuja, 

yesterday. 

At the meeting, the PDP 

governors also hailed 

Tambuwal and Makarfi for 

their understanding and 

spirit of sportsmanship in 

the convention. 

A statement by Special 

Adviser to Governor 

Dickson on Media 

Relations, Mr. Fidelis 

Soriwei, stated that the 

governor lauded Tambuwal 

and Makarfi for displaying 

maturity 

and 

sportsmanship after losing 

are also already abreast of 

the provisions of the law 

leading to the exclusion of 

Zamfara State APC chapter 

from presenting candidates 

for the elections and we 

caution INEC against any 

contemplation to change the 

rules for the APC. 

“The case of Amina Zakari 

and that of Zamfara APC 

constitutes another direct 

integrity test for Yakubu on 

his capacity, integrity and 

readiness for free, fair and 

credible general elections in 

2019.” 

out at the Port Harcourt 

convention, which was 

won by former Vice 

President Atiku Abubakar. 

He commended 

Tambuwal for the 

encouraging remarks he 

made after the emergence 

of the party’s candidate in 

the convention in which he 

was a leading candidate. 

He stressed that the 

meeting with Tambuwal 

focussed on the need to 

strengthen the PDP and 

provide the requisite 

support for the candidate of 

the PDP for electoral victory. 

He said. “I am leading a 

team of the committee of 

governors to interact and 

compare notes with our 

brother, His Excellency 

Governor Aminu Tambuwal 

of Sokoto State. As you all 

know, he ran a great race 

and we are all proud of what 

he did and what he 

continues to do." 

Speaking also Tambuwal 

said the PDP must remain 

a strong, united party, 

stressing that emphasis 

should be on the country 

and not personal ambition. 

Tambuwal, who 

condemned the way the 

country was being run as a 

proxy, said Nigeria needed 

a President who would 

deliver effective 

governance. 

In his remarks, Makarfi 

said while the aspirants 

went into the election as 

aspirants, they emerged 

collectively as a party. 

Abuja tremor: FG partially lifts 

suspension on rock blasting, 

mining activities 

By Gabriel 

Ewepu 

ABUJA—THE Federal 

Government, yesterday, 

partially lifted suspension of 

rock blasting activities in areas 

affected by tremor in the 

Federal Capital Territory, 

FCT. 

Minister of State for 

Mines and Steel 

Development, Abubakar 

Bwari, who disclosed this in 

a statement signed by his 

Special Adviser on Media, 

Ishaku Kigbu, said the 

decision was taken during 

the meeting held by the 

inter-ministerial committee 

set up by the Federal 

Government on earth 

tremor at the Federal 

Ministry of Science and 

Technology. 

He said Mpape axis was 

not part of areas the 

suspension was lifted as 

investigations continue. 

He said: “The Federal 

Government, after review of 

the suspension of blasting 

and mining activities around 

areas that experienced minor 

earth tremors, has decided to 

lift the suspension placed on 

such activities with 

immediate effect. All areas 

under suspension are to 

resume activities except for 

the Mpape axis.”

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2018—9 

2019: 42 senators not returning, 

67 battle for return bid 

By Henry Umoru 

ABUJA— AHEAD of 

the February 16, 2019 

senatorial elections, strong 

indications have emerged 

that 42 of the 109 serving 

senators will not return to 

the chamber to resume for 

the 9th Senate, which 

would be inaugurated in 

June 2019. 

The 42 senators who will 

not return to the Senate 

form those who on their 

own, stepped down for 

others, while some were 

forcibly asked to step down, 

following political 

intrigues, backstabbing, 

manourvering, among 

others, that played out, 

especially with some state 

governors who have 

rounded off their two terms 

and are eyeing the Senate. 

42 senators not 

returning 

Of the 42 serving 

senators already out, 19 

voluntarily withdrew from 

the senatorial race at 

primary level or went for 

other elective positions, 

particularly governorship 

primaries, 23 others actually 

bidded for senatorial tickets 

on the platform of their 

political parties, but due to 

one issue or the other, lost 

out. 

The 19 serving senators 

who voluntarily bowed out 

of the race or went for 

governorship race or for 

presidential primary 

elections were Senators 

Ahmed Sani (APC Zamfara 

East), Bukar Abba Ibrahim 

(APC Yobe East), Abu 

Ibrahim (APC Katsina 

South), Abubakar Kyari 

(APC Borno North ) and 

Kaka Gabbai (APC Borno 

Central) 

Others include Jonah 

Jang (PDP Plateau North), 

Jeremiah Useni (PDP 

Plateau South ), David 

Mark (PDP Benue South), 

Philip Gyunka (PDP 

Nasarawa North), Samuel 

Anyanwu (PDP Imo East), 

Abdulaziz Murtala Nyako 

(ADC Adamawa Central) 

and Usman Bayero Nafada 

(PDP Gombe North). 

Also in this category are 

Kabiru Marafa (APC 

Zamfara Central), Shaaba 

Lafiagi (PDP Kwara 

North), Isiaka Adeleke 

(PDP Osun West), Sonny 

Ogborji (APC Ebonyi 

Central), John Enoh (APC 

Cross River Central), 

Gbolahan Dada (APC 

Ogun West) and Hope 

Uzodinma (APC Imo West). 

Failed bid 

From the 23 who bidded, 

in most of the states, some 

were confronted by their 

governors who were bent 

Nigeria, best-performing 

economy in Africa — Keyamo 

DIRECTOR of Media, 

Buhari Campaign 

Organisation, Mr. Festus 

Keyamo, SAN, said, 

yesterday, that Nigeria 

remained the bestperforming 

economy in 

Africa. 

He also said the Federal 

Government has reintroduced 

“oil subsidy 

premium” in the 2019 

budget proposal. 

Keyamo, who spoke on a 

Channels Television 

programme, said Nigerian 

National Petroleum 

Corporation, NNPC, by the 

NNPC Act, had the powers 

to spend monies 

unappropriated. 

He said: “I need to 

remind Nigerians about 

the GDP growth. Of the 11 

countries that went into 

recession around the world, 

Nigeria has exceeded all of 

them in terms of GDP 

growth. 

“None of them has 

crossed 1.4 to 1.5 per cent, 

Nigeria is doing close to 

two per cent GDP growth 

right now. Let us get that 

one clear. 

“Forbes Africa has rated 

Nigeria as the bestperforming 

economy in 

Africa. The results came out 

two-three weeks ago, we 

are the best-performing 

economy in Africa.” 

He said the 

Muhammadu Buhari-led 

government was not 

paying subsidy like Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, did, 

but acknowledged that the 

present government was 

only paying “premium.” 

He said: “What 

happened under the PDP 

government was that they 

were paying for products 

that did not land at all. That 

was the scam that was 

happening. It was fraud, 

the greatest stealing in the 

history of this country 

happened under them. 

“All the PDP bigwigs were 

all involved in this subsidy 

scam, then you saw that 

many of them refunded 

money. Like I said, they 

were paying for products 

that did not land at all; they 

would tell you they have 

brought product and you 

have to pay subsidy on 

those products. 

“The NNPC officials 

knew, everybody knew that 

the products did not come 

at all. What did Buhari do 

when he came? He said he 

wanted to cleanse that 

industry, he said NNPC 

should take complete 

charge of importation." 

PRESENTATION: 

From left, Elder 

Gabriel Olowo, 

President, Sabre 

West Africa; 

Alhaji Hamisu 

Inuwa, Chairman 

of Hamsyl Travels 

and Tours, and 

Mr. Emmanuel 

Isola, Country 

Director, Sabre 

Nigeria, during 

the presentation 

of a KIA RIO car 

to Hamsyl Travels 

by Sabre, as the 

best clients of the 

company in the 

Northern zone of 

the country, in 

Kano State. 

on ensuring that the 

senators did not return. 

A case at hand is that of 

Niger State where the 

governor, Sani Bello, has 

put in place a political 

machinery to ensure that 

two senators from the state, 

Senators Aliyu Sabi (Niger 

North) and David Umaru 

(Niger East), do not return 

to the Senate. 

This is because the 

governor wants them 

replaced with new senators. 

In the category of 23 

serving senators who 

contested for return ticket, 

but lost were Gbenga 

Ashafa (APC Lagos East), 

Lanre Tejuoso (APC Ogun 

Central), Fatima Raji 

Rasaki (APC Ekiti Central), 

Sola Adeyeye (APC Osun 

Central) and Babajide 

Omoworare (APC Osun 

East). 

Others are Rilwan 

Akanbi (APC Oyo South), 

Gilbert Nnaji (PDP Enugu 

East), Emmanuel Paulker 

(PDP Bayelsa Central), 

Ben Murray Bruce (PDP 

Bayelsa West), Fosta Ogola 

(PDP Bayelsa South) and 

Ahmed Abubakar (APC 

Adamawa South). 

Also in the category of 

failed bids are Rafiu 

Ibrahim (PDP Kwara 

South), Aliyu Sabi 

Abdullahi (APC Niger 

North), David Umoru (APC 

Niger East) and Joshua 

Dariye (APC Plateau 

Central) who is currently 

serving a jail term in Kuje 

Prison, Abuja. 

Of the serving senators, 

67 will be battling it out in 

various political parties to 

return to the Senate for next 

year’s inauguration. 

A survey shows that 

slighlty more than one third 

of the entire 109 serving 

senators (42 ), are already 

out of the race for election. 

There are signs that at the 

end of the election, about 

one third (between 36 and 

38) of the senators would 

come back as it had been 

the case since 2003. 

Why cost of elections in 

Nigeria keeps increasing 

— INEC 

By Omeiza Ajayi 

A 

B U J A — 

INDEPENDENT 


Commission, INEC, has said 

it would seek ways to reduce 

the cost of elections in the 

country. 

According to the 

commission, the increasing 

cost of elections in the country 

is partly due to security and 

logistical reasons. 

At a validation workshop on 

the study of the cost of 

elections in West Africa 

organised by ECOWAS 

Network of Electoral 

Commissions, ECONEC, in 

Abuja, yesterday, ECONEC 

chairman, Prof. Mahmood 

Yakubu, said the study was 

part of ECONEC’s two-year 

Work Plan (2016-2018) borne 

out of the serious concern of 

all electoral commissions in 

the sub-region about the 

spiraling cost of conducting 

elections. 

Yakubu, who is also 

chairman of INEC, said: 

“With every cycle, the cost of 

elections keeps rising, 

making many countries 

unable to fund critical aspects 

of the electoral process as a 

sovereign responsibility. 

"The ever-rising cost of voter 

registration and the 

compilation of a credible 

voters’ register, recruitment 

and training of electoral 

officials, provision of electoral 

logistics, election security, 

civic and voter education, 

procurement of sensitive and 

non-sensitive materials, 

deployment of electoral 

technology, undertaking 

regular engagement with 

stakeholders and handling of 

pre-election and postelection 

litigations are 

enormous. 

‘’The task of meeting such 

extensive expenditure has 

increasingly challenged the 

national resources of many 

countries in our region. It is 

against this background that 

the Governing Board of 

ECONEC inaugurated this 

study to explore what we can 

do as election managers, 

working together with 

national stakeholders and 

development partners, to find 

ways to reduce the cost of 

elections without jettisoning 

new innovations or 

compromising the quality, 

transparency and credibility 

of elections.’’ 

According to him, 

ECONEC has undertaken 

needs assessment, solidarity 

and mid-term review 

missions to several member 

states. 

“The objective is for 

Election Management 

Bodies, EMBs, in our subregion 

to share experience, 

expertise and even pool 

resources not only with a view 

to ensuring best practice 

through peer review but also 

in order to reduce the cost of 

conducting elections among 

our member states. 

"I am glad to report that it is 

in this spirit of cooperation 

that Burkina Faso assisted 

neighbouring Niger 

Republic with ballot boxes 

and the printing of the voters’ 

register for the February 2016 

presidential and 

parliamentary elections. 

"Similarly, Ghana provided 

support to the Republic of 

Liberia with the printing of 

the voters’ register for the 

October 2017 presidential 

and parliamentary elections. 

Hausa Christians appeal 

for Leah Sharibu’s release 

By Sam Eyoboka 

ANOTHER group of 

Northern Christians, 

under the aegis of Hausa 

Christians Foundation, 

HACFO, has condemned 

the continued incarceration 

of a lone teen Christian 

hostage, Leah Sharibu, 

urging President 

Muhammadu Buhari to 

ensure her release before 

the ultimatum given by her 

captors expires. 

In a communique issued 

after National Conference 

of Hausa Christian Youths 

in Kaduna, the group also 

frowned on the continuous 

indiscriminate killings of 

Nigerians in Benue, Jos, 

Southern Kaduna, Zamfara 

State and other places by 

herdsmen. 

The communique, signed 

by Committee Secretary, 

Rahila Dauda, read: “We 

urge the Federal 

Government to, as a matter 

of urgency, do everything 

possible within its powers 

to ensure that the killings 

stop and the perpetrators 

are brought to book." 

The group appealed to 

President Buhari to ensure 

that Leah Sharibu, who had 

been in the captivity of 

Boko Haram for her refusal 

to denounce her faith in 

Christ, was rescued and 

reunited with her family. 

It pointed out that “Leah 

Sharibu is not just a 

Christian, but a citizen of 

the Federal Republic of 

Nigeria. We, therefore, 

plead with the Federal 

Government to do 

everything within its power 

to ensure her release before 

the ultimatum given by her 

captors expires.” 

The group frowned on the 

kidnapping and 

Islamisation of young 

Christian girls by some 

Muslims who usually 

enjoy the backing of the 

governments of Northern 

states of Nigeria.

10 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2018 

N21BN FRAUD: EFCC reduces 

charges against ex-Service 

Chief, Amosu, two others 

•Drops 8 defendants 

By Monsuru 

Olowoopejo 

L Economic 

AGOS—THE 

and 

Financial Crimes 

Commission, EFCC, 

yesterday, reduced charges 

against the Chief of Air 

Staff, Air Marshal Adesola 

Amosu (retd); AVM Jacob 

Adigun and Air Cmdr 

Gbadebo Owodunni, over 

alleged conversion of over 

N21 billion property of the 

Nigerian Air Force to 

personal use. 

This came as the antigraft 

agency dropped 

charges against the eight 

companies earlier 

arraigned with the three 

suspects over prolonged 

trial. 

The EFCC, in an 

amended charge filed 

before Justice C. J Aneke 

of the Federal High Court, 

Ikoyi, stated that dropping 

the firms and amending 

reducing the charges from 

26 to 13 was to assist the 

court proceedings. 

Counsel to the 

prosecutor, Mr Rotimi 

Oyedepo, argued that the 

case, since its 

commencement in 2016, 

Dr Olude for 

burial 

DR. Isaac Sola Olude, 

a former 

Commissioner for Health in 

Lagos State, 1984-1986, 

and lecturer in 

Histopathology at the 

Lagos University Teaching 

Hospital passed on 

Monday, August 20, 2018, 

aged 74. Olude was an Old 

Boy of Igbobi College, Yaba, 

1958-1962 and Government 

College, Ibadan, 1962-64. 

He once headed the 

Laboratory at Fujairah 

Hospital in the United Arab 

Emirates for many years. 

He is survived by many 

children. 

Wake-keep is Thursday, 

October 18, 2018, 4.00 – 

6.00 pm at Hoares 

Memorial Methodist 

Church. 

Funeral Service is on 

Friday October 19, 2018 at 

11.00 am at the church, 

while reception follows 

burial at the church 

basement. 

Late Dr. Sola Olude. 

vanguardnews @vanguardnews @vanguardnews 

has not enjoyed speedy 

processes. 

Oyedepo said it was 

basically to reduce number 

of parties, charges and 

counts which had affected 

prompt and smooth 

process of the case. 

The companies dropped 

from the amended case 

were: Delfina Oil and Gas 

Ltd, Mcallan Oil And Gas 

Ltd, Hebron Housing and 

Properties Company Ltd, 

Trapezites BDC, Fonds and 

Pricey Ltd and Deegee Oil 

and Gas Ltd. 

Others were: Timsegg 

Investment Ltd and 

Solomon Health Care Ltd. 

Responding to the 

reductions, the counsel to 

the defendants, Chief Bolaji 

Ayorinde, SAN, Norrison 

Quaker, SAN and Aslem 

Etuk, argued that the 

notice of amendment were 

served late, preventing 

them from perusing and 

understand details of the 

amended charges levelled 

against their clients. 

Pa Iwere passes 

on at 102 

PA Bonny Johnson 

Iwere of Oghareki in 

Ethiope West Local 

Government Area of Delta 

State died on Friday, 

August 24, after a brief 

illness, aged 102 years. 

Pa Iwere had 13 children, 

49 grandchildren and 14 

great grand children. 

Among the children of the 

deceased are Dr. Fabian 

Iwere, Petroleum Engineer 

recently retired from 

Schlumberger in the 

United States, Mr. Samson 

Iwere, former Senior 

Manager with Nigerian 

National Petroleum 

Corporation (NNPC), Mr. 

Ted Iwere, immediate past 

Managing Director of 

Independent Newspapers 

Limited and Mr. Monday 

Iwere, Senior Staff of the 

Maintenance Department 

at Warri Refinery. 

A vigil mass in memory 

of Pa Iwere will be held on 

Thursday, October 25, 

2018. Funeral mass and 

Interment will follow on 

Friday, October 26, 2018 

while reception and 

entertainment of guests by 

the family will hold on 

Saturday, October 27, 2018. 

Late Pa Johnson Iwere. 

NEWS HOTLINES 

018773962, 

08052867058 

2019 PRESIDENCY: Nigeria's economy in dire 

straits — EZEKWESILI 

By Yinka Ajayi 

L 

A G O S — 

PRESIDENTIAL 

Candidate of Allied 

Congress Party of Nigeria, 

ACPN, Dr. Obi Ezekwesili, 

yesterday, described the 

daunting situation facing 

Nigeria as leadership 

failure. 

Ezekwesili, who is cofounder 

of Transparency 

International, while 

Fielding questions from 

LEGAL YEAR—Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (2nd left); 

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, 

Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire (left); Chief Judge of Lagos State, Hon. 

Justice Opeyemi Oke (right) and Admin Judge, Justice Doris Okuwobi (behind 

the State Chief Judge) during a Special Service for the Opening of 2018/2019 Legal 

Year at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, Lagos, yesterday. 

Buhari salutes Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Adeyemi at 80 

A 

B 

By Johnbosco 

Agbakwuru 

U J A — 

PRESIDENT 

Muhammadu Buhari, 

yesterday, felicitated with 

the Alaafin of Oyo, His 

Royal Majesty, Oba 

Lamidi Adeyemi III, Iku 

Baba Yeye, on his 80th 

birthday. 

President Buhari, in a 

statement by his Special 

Adviser on Media and 

Publicity, Chief Femi 

Adesina, said he joined 

the Council of Obas and 

Chiefs in Oyo State, 

ABUJA—IN line with 

the Presidential 

directive to the Ministry of 

Defence to establish a 

Military Industrial 

Complex, MIC, with the 

Defence Industries 

Corporation of Nigeria, 

DICON, as the hub, 

stakeholders in the 

industry have inaugurated 

the Defence Industries 

Association of Nigeria, 

DIAN. 

The association would 

harmonise all leading 

companies in the private 

sector engaged in 

production and supply of 

defence-related gadget 

pertinent to the 

newsmen, said: “I have a 

disruptive mindset and I 

am not somebody that will 

use a flowery language to 

describe impossible 

solution to a problem. The 

only reason you need 

leaders is for them to fix 

daunting problems. It is 

only when there is deficit 

of leadership, daunting 

problems persist. 

“As a leader, there will be 

tough choices you will have 

to make all the time. The 

Traditional Council, family 

and friends of the Alaafin 

of Oyo, who is heir to the 

historic Oyo Empire, in 

celebrating the landmark 

age. 

The statement reads: 

“As His Royal Majesty 

turns an octogenarian, 

the President believes 

his 48 years on the 

throne of his fathers have 

been most remarkable for 

the entire dynasty, 

illustrated by his 

contributions to the 

educational, social and 

cultural development of the 

people, both those at home 

establishment of the 

Military Industrial 

Complex, MIC. 

The maiden meeting of 

the association 

comprising of all leading 

private companies in the 

Defence Related 

Industries had in 

attendance the Permanent 

Secretary, Ministry of 

Defence, Hajia Nuratu 

Batagaranwa; Director 

General of DICON, Major 

General Bamidele 

Ogunkale; Director, Joint 

Services, Ministry of 

Defence, Mrs. Morenike 

Mustapha; Representative 

from South Africa Defence 

Industries, SDI, Mr. 

most important thing is to 

be on the right side. 

Nigeria’s economy is in 

dire strait as 87 million 

Nigerians are in the class 

of extreme poverty. We 

have overtaken India's 

which are about over six 

times of our population. 

N69 of every N100 we earn 

as a nation goes into 

servicing debt. We need to 

tackle poverty as a problem. 

“China has proved that 

with the right kind of 

leadership, policy, 

investment we can bring 

Nigerians out of poverty 

and abroad. 

“President Buhari extols 

the Alaafin of Oyo’s 

courage in upholding the 

values of integrity, hard 

work and search for 

knowledge, which has 

been the hallmark of the 

great Oyo Empire, 

commending him for 

regular counsels to 

governments, institutions 

and families. 

“The President prays that 

the almighty God will grant 

the royal father longer life, 

good health and more 

wisdom to sustain the 

legacies of his fathers.” 

Defense ministry inaugurates DIAN excos 

Simphiwe Hamilton and 

Head PPP unit Federal 

Ministry of Industry Trade 

and Investment, FMTI, Mr. 

NdirpayaBatta. 

Speaking at the maiden 

meeting of the association, 

the Permanent Secretary, 

Ministry of Defence, 

Hajia Nuratu 

Batagaranwa stated that 

the association was 

founded to promote local 

content input in pursuant 

of the overall development 

objective for Public and 

Private Partnership, PPP, 

Initiative Project necessary 

to accelerate private 

investment in critical 

security infrastructure. 

because they lifted 700 

million Chinese out of 

poverty. So it is a clear 

indication that you can 

bring people out of poverty. 

The fastest way to tackle 

poverty is to provide jobs 

for people to earn income.” 

While challenging other 

presidential candidates to 

come up with a debate to 

be scrutinised, the former 

Education Minister said: “I 

am open to be scrutinized 

in a debate because I am 

ready to hit the ground 

running.” 

Yoruba youths 

commend 

Obasanjo for 

endorsing 

Atiku 

By Monsur 

Olowoopejo 

LAGOS—A Pan- 

Y o r u b a 

Group, Yoruba Youth 

Forum, YYF, yesterday, 

commended former 

President Olusegun 

Obasanjo for forgiving 

former 

Vice 

President, Atiku Abubakar 

in the interest of Nigeria, 

saying the decision has 

portrayed Obasanjo as a 

genuine leader. 


Chairman, Olusegun 

Abiodun Bolarinwa said 

that the action of the former 

President has shown that he 

still has the interest of 

Nigerians at heart. 

He said: “We want to 

specifically thank former 


Obasanjo for finally 

accepting the apology of his 

former vice in the interest 

of Nigerians. Many 

Nigerian voted for APC 

because they thought the 

party will be able to improve 

their lives but today the 

party has made a mess of 

every sector of our national 

life. The economy today is 

in total mess. During the 

electioneering period 


Buhari and his party, APC 

made promises which many 

of us believed. 

“Some of us believed in 

those promises not because 

we were fools but because 

those promises came from 

Buhari, a man we once 

vouched for his integrity. 

But, today Mr. President 

none of those promises has 

been fulfilled. Nigeria has 

fared badly under President 

Buhari. 

“We believe that Atiku 

Abubakar will perform better 

than Buhari having served 

in Obasanjo’s 

government. We are 

appealing to all sons 

anddaughters of Yoruba to 

rally round and support 

Atiku Abubakar as our next 

President come 2019.”


VANGUARD, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2018 — 11 

NEWS HOTLINES 

018773962, 

08052867058 

INAUGURATION: From left; Chief Afe Babalola; Ekiti State Governor-Elect, Dr Kayode 

Fayemi, Guest lecturer, Prof Niyi Osundare and Erelu Kayode Fayemi at the lnauguration 

lecture, book presentation, photo exhibition and award of prizes to winners of JKF Essay 

Competition was held at Ado Ekiti yesterday as part of inauguration ceremonies for the 

Governor-Elect, Dr. John Kayode Fayemi and the Deputy Governor-Elect, Otunba Adebisi 

Egbeyemi in Ado Ekiti. Photos by Dare Fasube. 

From left; Ambassador of Senegal to Nigeria, Adomah Mbaye, Nigerian 

Ambassador to Hungary, Eniola Ajayi and former All Progressives 

Congress, APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun 

Plot afoot to arrest, detain Fayose 

indefinitely — PDP 

•I’m waiting for them, says former gov 

•They are jittery, says APC spokesperson 

By Dapo Akinrefon 

& Dirisu Yakubu 

ABUJA—THE Peoples 

Democratic Party, 

PDP, yesterday, alleged that 

the Presidency has directed 

the Economic and 

Financial Crimes 

Commission, EFCC, to 

arrest and detain 

indefinitely, former 

governor of Ekiti State, 

Ayodele Fayose. 

A statement by the party’s 

National Publicity 

Secretary, Kola 

Ologbondiyan, said 

information at the party’s 

disposal and all over the 

social media indicates that 

the Presidency has put the 

commission on alert to 

arrest the governor at 

midnight today and detain 

him indefinitely. 

The party said: “The 

uncompromising stand of 

the outgoing governor 

against the present 

administration was the 

reason Ekiti State was 

invaded and taken by force 

during the last 

governorship election. 

“By 12 midnight, the 

governor’s residence is 

expected to be surrounded 

by armed men of the EFCC 

under the pretence that they 

had information of his plot 

to escape. This is to achieve 

their plan to humiliate the 

governor and portray him 

in bad light to the public by 

dramatising his arrest. 

“Nigerians can recall that 

it was the governor who 

offered to submit himself to 

the EFCC despite the 

commission’s clear display 

of bias and partisanship as 

demonstrated in its various 

actions, especially its tweets 

and putting the governor 

on security watch-list. 

“The EFCC even 

unprofessionally showed 

its bias in deriding the 

governor, making light of 

a very serious matter by 

mocking him and asking 

him to come before his 

tenure elapsed, which the 

governor declined in line 

with the constitutional 

immunity. 

“Fayose is prepared and 

ready to defend himself in 

the court of law. Neither the 

Presidency nor EFCC is a 

court of law. Since the EFCC 

said it had dusted up 

Fayose’s files, it should be 

ready to take him to court 

once he presents himself at 

the agency’s office on 

Tuesday. Governor Fayose 

has offered to walk to the 

EFCC office by himself and 

nothing must happen to 

him tonight. 

I’m waiting for them 

— Fayose 

By Rotimi Ojomoyela 

A DO-EKITI—A 

renowned Poet and 

Playwright, Prof. Niyi 

Osundare, yesterday, 

advised the incoming 

governor of Ekiti State, Dr 

Kayode Fayemi to institute 

policies that will combat 

poverty and all forms of 

social ills that had crept into 

the state through the 

actions of the outgoing 

governor, Ayodele Fayose. 

Osundare said this while 

delivering an inauguration 

lecture entitled: 

‘Reclaiming Our Land, 

Restoring our Value; Ekiti 

of Our Dream’, in Ado 

Ekiti. 

The lecture, which was 

organised in honour of the 

governor-elect, who will be 

sworn in today to succeed 

Governor Fayose, attracted 

large crowd from all walks 

of life. 

In his lecture, Osundare 

said: “Ekitis were people 

In his reaction, Fayose 

said he was waiting for the 

antigraft commission in 

his Abuja residence, 

adding that he would not 

accept any form of soft 

landing under any guise. 

Fayose said: “I don’t want 

any soft landing. I am 

waiting for them and I 

don’t expect anything less 

from them.” 

He, however, vowed not 

to work with President 

Muhammadu Buhari “for 

any reason.” 

PDP, Fayose jittery —APC 

Deflating PDP’s 

allegations, the All 


APC, said the Presidency 

does not order arrests. 

APC’s National Publicity 

Osundare charges Fayemi on poverty 

eradication, value restoration 

that place priority of 

knowledge, wisdom over 

other things. They know the 

values of these virtues. 

They were regarded as 

extremely stubborn people 

because they won’t 

compromise their integrity 

for anything. 

“These were times when 

education was a pride and 

we had the brightest 

academics like: the late 

Professor Sam Aluko, 

Professor Adegoke 

Olubunmo, Chief Afe 

Babalola, Prof. Ojo Ugbole, 

and many others. We 

placed values on hard 

work, knowledge 

acquisition and our parents 

sold their farms and clothes 

to send their children to 

school. They knew the 

rights from the wrongs at 

that time. 

“But there came a 

demagogue, who ran 

authoritarian government 

in Ekiti in a manner that 

had never been 

Secretary, Mr. Lanre Isa- 

Onilu said: “APC as a party 

has made it clear and has 

lived up to it, in its three 

and half years it came into 

power, that we are going to 

operate by the rule and 

there will be no sacred cow. 

Anybody who does not 

have any reason to exercise 

fear, does not have to but if 

you know you have reasons 

to fear, then, there is 

nothing anybody can do. 

“So, if Fayose has any 

reason to be invited, then 

the agency concerned has 

a right to do its job, they 

don’t need the president to 

do that. The president is 

having more important 

issues of policies and 

development to embark on 

rather than ordering 

someone’s arrest. The PDP 

is jittery and when you are 

jittery, you will throw in all 

that you have. They are 

looking for whatever stray 

they can hold on to but 

they have lost it.” 

experienced by any state in 

Nigeria. 

“He stopped at market 

places to buy roasted corn 

and ate in public place just 

to deceive the people when 

majority of our graduates 

were not provided with 

jobs and farm products 

were wasting away and 

our value system collapsed 

calamitously. 

“Education that was 

regarded as our best 

industry was not well 

funded and our graduates 

that had earlier been 

regarded as the best in 

Nigeria for decades 

became practically halfbaked 

and unemployable. 

“Book and elitist thinking 

were his enemies. The 

culture of stomach 

infrastructure was 

introduced and Ekiti 

became a laughing stock . 

How populism manifests 

itself and the politicians 

banked on the 

vulnerability in the system 

to mislead our youths.'' 

ABUAD to honour AfDB boss, 

Channels TV CEO 

•Offers automatic jobs to 72 First 

Class Degree graduates 

By Rotimi Ojomoyela 

A DO-EKITI—THE 

Afe Babalola 

University, Ado Ekiti, 

ABUAD, is to confer Doctor 

of Letters (LLD) honourary 

degree on the former 

Minister of Agriculture and 

President African 

Development Bank, AfDB, 

Dr. Akinwumi Adesina and 

the Chief Executive Officer 

of Channels Television, Mr. 

John Momoh to 

appreciate their 

contributions to nation 

building. 

No fewer than 72 students 

of the University HAVE 

bagged first class among 

1,042 graduating students 

in the 6th convocation 

ceremonies of the University 

slated for Saturday, Oct 20. 

Speaking at a preconvocation 

press 

conference held in ABUAD, 

yesterday, the Vice 

Chancellor, Prof. Michael 

Ajisafe, hinged the high 

turnout of first class 

graduates on excellent and 

qualitative academic 

By Gabriel Olawale 

LAGOS—A pro-Buhari 

group, Re–elect 

Buhari Movement, RBM, 

has described former 

President’s Olusegun 

Obasanjo’s endorsement of 

former vice President Atiku 

Abubakar for President in 

2019 as meaningless. 


convener, Mr. Emmanuel 

Umohinyang, RBM noted 

that the endorsement will 

count for nothing in the 

next general election. 

The statement reads: “If 

endorsement wins votes, 

former President Goodluck 

Jonathan would have won 

the 2015 general election 

because under that era we 

saw how humongous 

resources was used to buy 

endorsement. 

prowess already attained 

by the institution. 

Ajisafe said: “We have 

disciplined students here 

and it has always been the 

culture of the founder, Aare 

Afe Babalola to give 

automatic jobs to first class 

students and these 72 will 

benefit from the gesture. 

“Apart from handsome 

prizes being given to 

brilliant graduates, which 

include vehicles and cash 

gift, the founder usually 

gives all graduates in the 

Faculty of Agriculture a 

sum of N250,000 each to 

empower them to go into 

farming. Some are even 

given parcels of land 

for farming. 

“Lazy students can’t cope 

here in ABUAD. Our 

objective is to change 

the phase of university 

education in Nigeria and 

that we are pursuing with 

vigour and we are 

gradually achieving that, 

because we are the first 

university to graduate 43 

medical students barely 

eight years we 

commence operations.” 

2019: Obasanjo’s endorsement of 

Atiku'll have no effect, says RBM 

“Today, Nigerians are not 

only wiser, they are 

properly informed on the 

right they have on election 

day, so the endorsement of 

Atiku is neither here nor 

there, and nobody should 

take Obasanjo seriously. 

“Ex–president Obasanjo 

is one man who plays to the 

gallery. He speaks from both 

sides of his mouth as he has 

shown again. 

“What Nigerians are 

voting for now is 

performance, but the baba 

has forgotten that time has 

changed, the monarch’s 

kind of election has gone” 

“The people look at the 

performance of the 

administration and cast 

their votes. These are the 

only people who can 

decide their next president 

in 2019.''


Don't truncate judicial process, 

A-Court warns Rivers APC factions 

By Davies 

Iheamnachor 

PORT 

HAR- 

COURT— AN 

Appeal Court sitting in Port 

Harcourt, Rivers State, has 

advised the Ojukaye Flag- 

Amachree and Peter Odike 

factions of All Progressives 

Congress, APC, in the state 

not to take any step that 

would truncate the court 

process on the matter. 

A three-man Appeal 

panel led by Justice Isaiah 

Akeju, gave the advice 

yesterday when the matter 

came up. 

Akeju, who addressed the 

parties on behalf of the 

panel granted the 

application of Henry Bello, 

counsel for the 

respondents, which sought 

the court to adjourn the 

matter sine die or to a later 

date pending the 

determination of his appeal 

at the Supreme Court. 

Akeju, however, 

adjourned till 22 October 

for the hearing of the 

substantive matter and 

ordered the parties not to 

take any further step that 

will affect the subject of the 

matter in court. 

Earlier, Chimenem 

Wisdom Jerome, who held 

brief for counsel for the 

Appellant Lateef Fabemi, 

SAN, had urged the court 

to grant an order for the 

parties to maintain status 

quo as it was before October 

10, 2018, when the lower 

court made its 

pronouncement against his 

client. 

LAUNCH: From left: Group Head, Civil and Building Engineering, Standards Organisation of 

Nigeria, SON, Mr. Ugbaja Joseph; Deputy Director, SON, Mr. Makwe Matthias; Permanent Secretary, 

Office of Deputy Governor, Lagos State, Yetunde Odejayi; Group Managing Director/CEO, Dangote 

Cement Plc, Mr. Joseph Makoju; National President, National Block Makers of Nigeria, Rasheed 

Adebowale and Assistant Corps Marshal/Zonal Commanding Officer Zone 2, Lagos/Ogun State, Federal 

Road Safety Corps, John Meheux, during the launch of Dangote BlocMaster Cement in Lagos, yesterday. 

Dangote Cement raises quality bar, unveils 

BlocMaster 

A 

new premium 

high strength 

cement from the staple of 

Dangote Cement Plc, has 

been formally unveiled in 

Lagos to the delight of block 

makers, distributors and 

other stakeholders. 

According to the Group 

Managing Director of 

Dangote Cement Plc, Mr. 

Joseph Makoju, the 

BlocMaster is a product of 

intensive research, 

laboratory and field tests 

and regulatory authorities’ 

approval. According to 

him, the new cement comes 

with a difference and value 

for money. 

Makoju stated that all 

stakeholders involved in 

the value chain of cement 

were part of the research 

and the eventual 

formulation of the 

BlocMaster. 

He said: “All stakeholders 

were involved, 

blockmakers, the 

regulatory agencies and the 

customers alike. We took 

samples to them to test 

before we finally concluded 

on the product. 

“We identified an 

opportunity and a gap that 

has to be filled and we went 

ahead to design and 

formulate the BlocMaster. 

In addition, we are giving 

the product out at the best 

price that gives the best 

quality." 

The Dangote Cement 

helmsman assured 

blockmakers and the 

distributors of steady 

supply because the 

company operates the 

largest fleet of trucks for 

distribution of Dangote 

cement. We use over 7,000 

trucks for product 

distribution, so there is no 

issue about timely delivery 

to every nook and cranny 

of Nigeria.” 

Explaining qualities of 

the new product, the 

Dangote Cement Group 

Chief Marketing Officer, 

Oare Ojeikere said 

Dangote BlocMaster is a 

premium high strength 

Portland limestone cement 

that gives users up to 

50mpa in compressive 

strength after 28 days. 

He pointed out that the 

product is Ideal for concrete 

applications that require 

very high final strength and 

durability. 

“BlocMaster has been 

tested, and proven, to 

provide the best 

performance for all concrete 

applications that require 

rapid early strength, higher 

final compressive strength, 

and fast setting. It 

outperforms all other 

bagged cement products in 

Nigeria, and it is the 

cement of choice for all 

major construction 

projects”, he added. 

Oare stated that Dangote 

Cement is made in Nigeria 

but loved across Africa 

because of its high quality. 

“And it is because we can 

vouch for our products high 

quality that is why we are 

in so many African 

countries. 

“We are the king in this 

business as we control more 

than 60 per cent of the 

cement market. We 

introduced to you 3X 42.5R, 

we have Falcon, and now 

we are rolling out 

BlocMaster, as the name 

suggests we want the name 

to resonate anywhere 

cement is mentioned, that 

is why we called it 

BlocMaster.” 

In his comment on the 

product, Representative of 

the Director General of 

Standard Organization of 

Nigeria (SON), Joseph 

Ugbaja endorsed the 

BlocMaster, saying it is 

another quality product 

from Dangote Cement, a 

company that is known for 

its strict adherence to 

standard as stipulated by 

the authorities. 

He described as a good 

development in that 

Dangote Cement has now 

produced a higher 42,5 

grade of cement even for 

the use of block makers. 

Ugbaja stated that his 

organisation has been 

making routine visits to 

Dangote Cement plants 

across the country and the 

company has never been 

found wanting when it 

comes to meeting standard. 

“They always exceed 

stipulated standard. We are 

very proud of them," he 

said. 

FG looking beyond N-Delta for 

alternative gas sources —Kachikwu 

By Michael Eboh 

THE 

Federal 

Government, 

yesterday, said it is 

considering alternative 

sources of gas supply for 

the country, noting that it 

is looking beyond the 

Niger Delta region for 

these new sources. 

The Minister of State for 

Petroleum Resources, Mr. 

Ibe Kachikwu, said this at 

the ongoing Nigerian Gas 

Association, NGA, 11th 

International Conference 

and Exhibition in Abuja. 

He explained that the 

Federal Government has 

concluded plans to take 

gas to the northern region 

through the Ajaokuta- 

Kaduna-Kano, AKK, gas 

pipeline, so as to address 

the huge economic 

challenges witnessed in 

the region. 

Kachikwu, who was 

represented by his Senior 

Technical Adviser, 

Upstream and Gas, Mr. 

Gbite Adeniji, said the 

country can no longer 

tolerate a situation where 

11 power plants across 

the country would be 

forced to shut down, once 

there is a disruption in gas 

supply through the 

Escravos Lagos Pipeline 

System, ELPS. 

He said: “As a 

government, we want to 

ensure that we have 

robustness in supply 

sources and robustness 

on the delivery system. 

The position we have 

taken is that we have to 

look at many options. 

“Today, we are very 

dependent on gas supply 

from the Niger Delta. The 

policy position is that we 

have to look at other 

terrains to see what is 

possible. 

‘’We have discovered a 

huge amount of gas 

resources offshore. 

Hence, the statement 

made earlier that we must 

ensure that by the end of 

this quarter, we will settle 

the issues of the 

contractual framework 

that would help us unlock 

those gas resources. 

“Let us focus a bit on 

northern Nigeria, which is 

facing quadruple 

whammy, which is what I 

would call it today."



NEWS HOTLINES 

018773962, 

08052867058 

PRINCE GBENEBICHIE @ 95: Prince David Gbenebichie and his 

wife during his 95th birthday celebration at Christ Embassy, Sapele 

Headquarters. 

NDDC to resume work on Ugborodo shore 

protection project —Ifowodo 

By Jimitota Onoyume 

NIGER 

Delta 

Development 

Commission, NDDC, 

has assured the people 

of oil-rich Ugborodo in 

Warri South West Local 

Government Area of 

Delta State that the shore 

protection mega project 

in the area would be 

completed. 

Delta State 

Commissioner on the 

board of the 

Commission, Dr. Ogaga 

Ifowodo, gave the 

assurance after an 

inspection of the project, 

promising that work 

would resume as soon as 

funds were made 

available. 

He commended the 

people for the 

cooperation given to the 

contractor handling the 

project. 

Ifowodo and his team 

10 psychiatric hospital staff urge FG to 

enforce their reinstatement 

By Alemma Aliu 

BENIN—NO fewer 

than 10 reinstated 

staff of the Federal Neuro- 

Psychiatric Hospital, Uselu 

in Benin City have called 

on the federal and Edo 

State governments to 

prevail on the 

management of the 

hospital to implement a 

directive for their 

reinstatement. 

A letter to President 

Muhammadu Buhari 

through their counsel, 

Olayiwola Afolabi 

lamented that the 

of engineers trekked 

half a kilometer to assess 

the project. 

His words: ”Our 

mission is to ascertain 

the extent and quality of 

work done so far on Lots 

1 and 2 of the 9-lot 

project, in order to 

approve the valuation 

report for payment of 

pending funds to the 

contractors. 

‘’The Ugborodo elders 

have pleaded that the 

next phase of work 

should begin right from 

the ancestral spot that is 

washing away, to save 

newly built homes. This 

would mean skipping 

Lots 3-5 to resume work 

C-River Rep aspirants seek 

cancellation of primary 

By Henry Ojelu 

TWO House of 

Representatives 

aspirants in Boki/Ikom 

Federal Constituency of 

Cross River State, Destiny 

Takon and Ento Edako, 

have called for the 

cancellation of the Peoples 


primary election which 

produced Chris Ngoro as 

management of the 

hospital was deliberately 

flouting the directives of the 

presidency. 

When contacted 

yesterday, Chairman of the 

Board of the hospital, Mr. 

Edobor Ukpebor did not 

pick his call. 

Some of the affected staff 

were suspended 

indefinitely, while others 

were dismissed from the 

hospital since November 

2014. 

The letter of their 

reinstatement signed by 

one Alhaji Halad Keana on 

behalf of the Minister of 

the candidate of the party. 

In a joint petition to the 

party’s National 

Chairman, Mr. Uche 

Secondus, through the law 

firm of Destiny Obun Takon 

& Co, the aspirants claimed 

that what transpired on 

October 4, 2018, during the 

exercise was a charade. 

Copies of the petition 

were also forwarded to 

Cross River State, PDP 

Health was issued in November 

2017. 

The aggrieved staff in a 

statement yesterday said: 

“The current state of affairs 

might compel us to seek 

judicial intervention to 

compel those concerned to 

obey the Presidential 

directive for our immediate 

reinstatement. We 

challenge the Board to 

communicate to us or our 

counsel why they are 

hesitant to obey the 

Presidential directive for 

our immediate 

reinstatement." 

Cross section of well wishers at Prince Gbenebichie's 95th birthday 

celebration. Photos: Akpokona Omafuaire. 

on Lots 6 and 7. Since 

the contractor’s 

representative said it 

can be done without any 

problem, we will work 

with it. 

‘’I also want to thank 

the community leaders 

for being peaceful. I am 

urging them to continue 

in that admirable way.’’ 

Chairman, Independent 


Commission, INEC, and 

the Resident Electoral 

Commissioner in the state. 

Takon and Edako stated 

that they decided to boycott 

the election after a 

particular aspirant and his 

friend, who they claimed 

acted as returning officer 

were sighted with 

materials for the election. 

They alleged that aside 

not being duly informed 

about the date of the 

election, they were also not 

informed about the venue 

of the election. 

Demanding a 

rescheduling of the 

election, they said: “We 

most humbly urge the party 

to cancel and reschedule 

the primary in the interest 

of the party. 

“We may, however, be 

constrained to consider 

other legal remedies 

available should the party 

fail to do the needful within 

three weeks of receipt of 

this notice. 

“We hope that good 

counsel and conscience 

would prevail over the party 

leadership at this trying 

time.’’ 

Amnesty Office denies owing 

BIU graduates 

By Chioma John 

THE Special Adviser 

to the President on 

Niger Delta and 

Coordinator, Amnesty 

Programme, Prof Charles 

Dokubo, has denied reports 

that ex-militants, who 

graduated from Benson 

Idahosa University, BIU, 

Benin City, Edo State, had 

not been paid their stipends. 

Dokubo, in a statement 

by his Special Assistant on 

Media, Mr. Murphy 

Ganagana, described the 

claims as misleading, 

saying the allowances of all 

ex-agitators, who 

graduated from the 

institution had been paid. 

He said: "Contrary to the 

claim that they were still 

being owed for three 

months after graduating 

from the institution, we wish 

to clarify that they were 

paid stipends and 

allowances up till June 

2018, which was their 

graduation period and 

month of exit from the 

institution. They were 

among the set of graduates 

for which a convocation 

ceremony was held on July 

7, 2018. 

"Specifically, 79 

graduating students of 

BIU, under the Amnesty 

Programme, were paid 

stipends and allowances up 

till June 2018, when all of 

them had their final 

examination. It is pertinent 

to state that payment of 

entitlements to Amnesty 

Programme beneficiaries 

undergoing educational 

programmes stopped as 

soon as the delegate 

completed the final 

examination for 

graduation. Therefore, the 

Amnesty Office does not 

owe the recently graduated 

students of BIU any other 

financial obligation on the 

scholarship granted them 

since they had completed 

their studies and exited the 

institution." 

Gov Emmanuel’s media aide 

resigns 

SPECIAL Assistant 

to Akwa Ibom State 

governor on Media, Mr. 

Joe Iniodu has resigned 

his appointment. 

He was said to have 

tendered his resignation 

letter last week due to 

what he termed 

irreconcilable 

differences with the 

Governor Udom 

Emmanuel-led 

administration. 

A source privy to the 

contents of the letter of 

resignation said Iniodu 

cited the recent political 

developments in the 

state as one of the 

reasons he resigned. 

The source said: 

“Iniodu is said to have 

complained that as a 

media aide to the 

governor, there was an 

unwritten code that to be 

seen to have done well, 

they must abuse Senator 

Godswill Akpabio, a task 

he was not willing to 

lend himself to do. 

‘’The former media 

aide was said to have 

told the Governor that it 

would be against his 

conscience to work 

against Akpabio’s reelection 

as Senator 

representing Akwa Ibom 

North West Senatorial 

District.’’

14 — VANGUARD, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2018 

GOVERNMENT COLLEGE, UGHELLI OLD BOYS ASSOCIATION 

(GCUOBA) WORLDWIDE 7TH ANNUAL DINNER 2018 

Government College Ughelli Old Boys Association Worldwide (GCUOBA) held its 7th National 

Annual Dinner at Grand Hotel and Suites, Asaba, Delta State, weekend. Photos by Nath Onojake. 

From left; Prof. Oritsegbemi Omatete, President-General, Worldwide, GCUOBA From left ; Prof. Oritsegbemi Omatete, President-General, Worldwide, GCUOBA; 

presenting corporate award to Engr. Samuel Adogbe, Executive Director, Project, Hon. Festus Ovie-Agas, representative of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State 

Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC and Dr. Ogaga Ifowodo, Delta State, and Mr. Reginald Bayoko, Head of Service, Delta State. 

representative, governing board, NDDC. 

Ambassador Joseph Keshi, Special Guest of 

Honour (left) and Hon. Justice Azinge, 

representative of Hon. Justice Marshall Umukoro, 

Chief Judge, Delta State and chairman of the occasion. 

Mr. Alfred Okoigun, old boy (left) and Mr. Paul 

Gbemre, another old boy. 

From left; Master Jack Gogo Ataisikup, Master Nnaji 

Shedrack, Mr. Godspower Odenema, Principal Govt. 

College, Ughelli and wife, Mrs. Odenema. 

From left; Hon. Justice Azinge, Mr. Chucks Guonye, Mrs Chimezie Nwaobiara, 

representative of Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu and Prof.Omatete. 

From left; Prof. Oritsegbemi Omatete, President-General Worldwide (GCUOBA) 

presenting lifetime achievement award to Prince Emmanuel Gbiwen, retired 

Commissioner of Police (old boy, Class of 1951). With them is his wife, Mariam. 

From left; Arc. Charles Majoroh, 1st Vice President-General, GCUOBA Worldwide, 

Chief Joseph Akpieyi,keynote speaker and Sir. Simeon Efenudu (awardee). 

From left; Sir Simeon Efenudu (old boy); Barr. Albert Akpomudje, SAN and Chief 

Donatus Umukoro.

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2018—15 

Ugwuanyi committed to workers’ 

welfare, says Ngige, TUC boss 

E NUGU—THE 

Minister of Labour 

and Employment, Dr. Chris 

Ngige and the National 

President of Trade Union 

Congress of Nigeria, TUC, 

Comrade Bobboi Bala 

Kaigama, have 

commended Governor 

Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of 

Enugu State for his sterling 

performance in office and 

outstanding commitment to 

the welfare of the state’s 

workers. 

The duo made the 

commendations in their 

separate speeches during 

the ground breaking of 100 

Housing Units for Nigerian 

workers by the Federal 

Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, 

FMBN, in collaboration 

with Nigeria Labour 

Congress, NLC, TUC and 

Nigeria Employer’s 

Consultative Association, 

NECA, held at Ede-Oballa, 

Nsukka Local Government 

Area of Enugu State. 

Speaking at the epoch 

making event, the TUC 

National President stated 

that his leadership was 

proud of Gov. Ugwuanyi for 

not only paying workers’ 

salaries regularly but also 

for ensuring that they 

“have decent working 

environment”. 

Comrade Kaigama who 

said: "Ugwuanyi is second 

to none in the provision of 

workers’ welfare in the 

South East geo-political 

zone," added that "the 

governor has set the pace 

for other states to emulate." 

Obi not on Twitter —Aide 

PEOPLES Democratic 

Party, PDP, Vice 

Presidential Candidate for 

the 2019 elections, Mr. Peter 

Obi is not on Twitter, his 

Special Adviser, Valentine 

Obienyem, said yesterday. 

He was reacting to a 

statement published in 

some newspapers 

purportedly extracted from 

Obi’s supposed Twitter 

handle which the impostor, 

used the term “lifeless” in 

relation to the present 


“It was just brought to our 

notice about a certain 

twitter account purportedly 

GOtv announces open week to 

mark 7th anniversary 

GOtv, a digital pay 

television offering on 

the digital terrestrial 

television, DTT, platform 

has announced the 

commencement of its open 

week for their subscribers 

in celebration of its 7th 

anniversary. 

GOtv Open Week will 

start from Friday 19 October 

to Friday, 26 October, 2018. 

Customers on GOtv Plus 

bouquet will be treated to a 

special offering of a weeklong 

access to over 65 

channels on GOtv MAX 

bouquet. 

GOtv Plus customers will 

be treated to GOtv MAX’s 

wide variety of sports and 

entertainment content such 

handled by former Governor 

of Anambra State and 

PDP Vice Presidential 

Candidate, Mr. Peter Obi,” 

Obienyem said. 

He advised the general 

public to “disregard any 

Twitter or Facebook account 

bearing the name of Mr. 

Peter Obi as he is not on 

any social media platform 

at the moment.” 

Obienyem disclosed that 

fear of misrepresentation 

and mischief were among 

the reasons why Mr. Obi 

was yet to join any social 

media platform. 

as La Liga on SS Select 4, 

Fox Entertainment, Sony 

MAX, CBS Reality and 

more during the open week 

period. 

All these come just before 

the El Clasico between 

Barcelona and Real 

Madrid, La Liga’s top 

game, on October 28, and 

will be broadcast live 

exclusively on GOtv MAX. 

Speaking on the 

anniversary and open 

week activities, Managing 

Director, MultiChoice 

Nigeria, John Ugbe, said: 

“We are glad to celebrate 

this milestone with our 

customers, who have 

always been the core of 

our business." 

Peter Obi: More knocks for S-East 

PDP govs, leaders 

•S-East govs' rejection of Obi, shameful —Igbo Ekunie 

•We're dismayed by comments of govs, Igbo leaders 

—Nzuko Umuigbo 

•Obi represents hope for younger generation 

—Anambra youths 

By Chioma 

Gabriel, Anayo 

Okoli, Chimaobi 

Nwaiwu & Victor 

Ajih 

U MUAHIA—MORE 

people have 

continued to attack the 

Governor Dave Umahi-led 

South East Governors and 

some political leaders in the 

zone led by Senator Ike 

Ekweremadu over their 

rejection of Abubakar 

Atiku’s choice of Peter Obi 

as his vice presidential 

candidate in the 2019 

elections. 

The latest to condemn 

their position is an Igbo 

group, Igbo Ekunie who 

described their action as 

“shameful” and 

undeserving of real and 

genuine leaders. 

S-East govs' 

behaviour, shameful 

In a statement signed by it 

president, Mazi Tochukwu 

Ezeoke and Secretary, 

Lawrence Nwobu and 

made available to 

Vanguard, the group said 

“the southeast PDP leaders 

acted shamefully and in a 

pedestrian manner when 

they went to press 

questioning the VP pick on 

grounds of alleged nonconsultation. 

"Their shameful 

behaviour only reinforces 

the much peddled 

stereotype that the Igbo are 

disunited and often their 

own worst enemy, a 

stereotype which has in no 

small measure been used 

to justify the 

marginalisation of the Igbo. 

“Rather than act in such 

a shameful, unpatriotic and 

pedestrian manner, the 

Southeast PDP leaders 

ought to have known that 

there is no requirement for 

regional consultation or 

endorsement of a vice 

presidential nominee. 

Since the 2nd Republic, 

presidential candidates 

were usually given a free 

hand to choose a VP that 

they can trust and work 

with to achieve their 

agenda. 

“We, therefore, warn that 

except they withdraw 

themselves from such 

ignoble antics, voters in the 

Southeast will be mobilized 

to reject each and everyone 

one of them in subsequent 

elections as they have 

proven to be traitors who 

have no interest of their 

people/region or the nation 

at heart but only interested 

in their selfish desires”. 

No better choice 

than Obi —Onwuliri 

Similarly, a former 

Minister of State for 

Foreign Affairs, Professor 

Viola Onwuliri, has 

commended Atiku for 

choosing Obi as his 

running mate. 

Onwuliri in a statement 

to Vanguard said: “This 

unique choice is apt, 

strategic and deserving. 

Governor Obi is a patriot 

who has continued to do 

Nigeria proud in many 

capacities and assignments 

that he has discharged for 

our dear country." 

While saying that Mr. 

Obi has a way of positively 

dealing with youths and 

has continued to support 

them in and out of 

government, Onwuliri also 

opined that “in essence, 

Peter Obi is an 

indispensable asset not 

only to the Atiku/Obi ticket 

but to the PDP and Nigeria 

as a whole.” 

We're dismayed by 

govs, Igbo leaders' 

comments on Obi's 

nomination 

—Nzuko Umuigbo 

Also yesterday, the 

Nzuko Umuigbo 

Worldwide, NUW, 

congratulated Alhaji Atiku 

Abubakar and thanked him 

for the nomination of Dr. 

Peter Obi as his running 

mate. 

In a message sent from 

Germany and signed by 

Chief Joe Mmeh and Mazi 

Obi Nweke, the 

organisation frowned at the 

speeches credited to 

Governor Dave Umahi of 

Ebonyi and some 

disgruntled PDP elements 

in Southeast who spoke 

against the nomination of 

Dr. Peter Obi. 

“We received with dismay 

the purported complaints of 

self-appointed PDP leaders 

over the choice of Dr. Peter 

Obi, the ex-Governor of 

Anambra state as the Vice- 

Presidential candidate of 

Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in 

the forthcoming 

presidential election. It is 

pertinent to note that the 

Port Harcourt convention 

that produced Atiku 

Abubakar had at least six 

northerners contesting for 

the presidency after which 

everybody teamed up 

behind the eventual winner 

and promised to fold their 

sleeves and work towards 

a realisation of actual 

change in Aso Rock in the 

coming elections. 

“We have today, a bunch 

of political gladiators in 

Igboland who are parading 

themselves as PDP leaders 

complaining that they were 

not consulted before the VP 

choice was made. When 

did it ever happen that the 

Presidential candidate of a 

major political party would 

consult with a region before 

picking who to join his/her 

ticket? 

AWARENESS:´From 

Left—Osita 

Aboloma,Director 

General, Standards 

Organisation of 

Nigeria, SON; Chief 

Anthony Obi, 

President, Balogun 

Business 

Association; and 

Chief Jones Okpala, 

General Secretary, 

Balogun Business 

Association, at 

SON's nationwide 

awareness 

programme on 

dangers of substandard 

products in 

circulation, in 

Obi represents hope 

for younger 

generation 

—Anambra youths 

Meantime,the Anambra 

New Generation Vanguard, 

yesterday joined in the 

support for former Vice 

President, Alhaji Atiku 

Abubakar’s choice of Mr. 

Peter Obi, as the vice 

presidential candidate of 


PDP, for February 14, 2019 

presidential election. 

The statement signed by 

the convener and publicity 

secretary of the group, Hon. 

Chinemerem Oguegbe 

and Dr. Nonso Okoye, 

respectively, said Atiku’s 

choice of Obi is a hope for 

the younger generation. 

“Our attention has been 

drawn to the statement 

making rounds that some 

group of persons said to be 

South East Governors and 

PDP members are crying 

foul that the presidential 

candidate of PDP in the 

2019 presidential election 

did not consult them before 

choosing Mr. Peter Obi. 

“We thank Alhaji Atiku 

Abubakar for finding a 

young Igbo son worthy to 

be his running mate in the 

2019 presidential election. 

By this singular action, you 

have once more reiterated 

your firm belief in one 

Nigeria where all ethnic 

groups have same and 

equal opportunities." 

Group attacks Obi’s 

detractors 

Also reacting, a pan Igbo 

socio-political pressure 

group, South East Revival 

Group, SERG, through its 

national coordinator, Chief 

Willy Ezugwu, said: “No 

genuine leader who is on 

ground and in touch with 

the ordinary people in his 

or her domain in the South 

East region can move 

against the choice of our 

own son. 

“Incidentally, the south 

east region falls into the 

category of those who will 

never vote for the 

continuation of hunger and 

hatred for the people of

16—Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOMBER 16, 2018 

Explosions: NEMA raises alarm over 

condition of pipelines 

By Chinonso 

Alozie 

O WERRI—THE 

Coordinator of 

National Emergency 

Management Agency, 

of Imo and Abia 

operations, Mr Evans 

Ugoh, yesterday said it 

is neccessary to look into 

the maintenance of oil 

pipelines in Nigeria. 

Ugoh spoke to 

newsmen in Owerri, 

following the recent 

explosion of pipelines in 

Abia State, which 

reportedly killed scores 

of residents. 

The NEMA, boss was 

not happy that the host 

communities could not 

report incident of 

pipeline leakages. 

He also called on the 

Nigeria National 

Petroleum Corporation, 

NNPC, to strengthen 

security suvellaince on 

the oil pipelines in the 

country. 

However, Ugoh 

enjoined the authorities 

concerned to partner 

with professionals in 

disaster management 

and protection of 

pipelines in the 

country. 

He said: “My team 

has visited the scene of 

the explosion and we 

discovered that victims 

of the incident took 

advantage of the 

pipeline leakage and 

were scooping fuel 

before fire engulfed 

them. 

“I also blamed the 

victims who noticed the 

leakage but rather than 

raising alarm, they 

decided to steal the fuel 

which eventually led to 

their death. 

“There should be a 

routine maintenance of 

all pipelines and I also 

urge NNPC to beef up 

security around oil 

pipelines. 

“A uniform disaster 

management strategy by 

oil companies and NNPC 

is required to come up 

with best practices on 

disaster management. 

“Oil stakeholders 

should also engage 

services of professionals 

and sponsor research on 

disaster management 

strategies for oil 

pipeline.” 

Buhari, 

Gowon, others 

to grace Oba 

of Benin's 

book launch 

By Alemma Aliu 

BENIN 

CITY— 

PRESIDENT 

Muhammadu Buhari, 

former Head of State, Gen. 

Yakubu Gowon, members of 

the diplomatic community 

and other distinguished 

Nigerians are expected to 

attend a book launch to mark 

the second anniversary of 

the ascension of Oba 

Ewuare II to the throne of 

his forbearers. The book 

launch would take place on 


Addressing journalists in 

Benin City yesterday, 

Chairman of Global Book 

Presentation Committee, 

GBPC, the organisation 

behind the book launch, 

Ambassador Martin 

Uhomoibhi, KSJ, said the 

book was published under 

the auspices of the Oba 

Ewuare Foundation in 

collaboration with the Benin 

Traditional Council, BTC. 

He described the book 

titled: "The Benin 

Monarch, An Anthology of 

Benin History" as a unique 

and distinctive publication 

from the perspectives of 

aesthetics and intellectual 

content. 

"The book weighs about 

6.8 kilogrammes with 18 

contributing scholars, some 

of whom are highly 

respected authorities within 

and outside Nigeria on 

Benin History", adding that 

it has 559 pages of 

meticulously researched 

articles and 441 iconic 

images. 

He said the Benin 

monarch is also set to 

launch a satellite town at 

Ugoneki village in 

Uhunmwonde Local 

Government Area of the 

state to showcase Benin 

artifacts through modern 

technology. 

Stocks mixed as investors 

weigh global tensions 

U 

.S. stocks fluctuated as investors weighed glo 

bal tensions against a backdrop of strong economic growth. 

The dollar dropped and Treasuries edged lower. 

The S&P 500 Index held near the key 200-day moving average 

following its biggest weekly retreat since March. Technology firms 

paced declines after President Donald Trump on Sunday 

threatened more tariffs on Chinese goods. Consumer staples and 

rates-sensitive shares helped buoy the index as the 10-year 

Treasury yield held near 3.15 percent. Harris Corp. and L3 Technologies 

Inc. surged on the announcement of a merger, pushing 

industrials higher. Bank of America dropped after posting quarterly 

results. 

How Chinese firm tops Apple, 

Samsung in Africa 

ne of China's biggest smartphone makers has never 

Osold a handset in the country. Yet thousands of miles 

away, it dominates markets across Africa. Unknown in the 

West, Transsion has left global players like Samsung and 

Apple trailing in its wake in a continent that's home to 

more than a billion people. 

In cities like Lagos, Nairobi and Addis Ababa, busy streets 

are awash with the bright blue shopfronts of Transsion's 

flagship brand, Tecno. In China, the company doesn't have 

a single store, and its towering headquarters in the 

southern megacity of Shenzhen goes largely unnoticed 

among skyscrapers bearing the names of more famous 

Chinese tech firms. 

The company took a different path to success from other 

top Chinese smartphone makers such as Huawei and 

Xiaomi, which started out in China before eventually 

expanding overseas. 

Transsion built its business in Africa. And it has no plans 

to come home. 

JP Morgan boss pulls out of 

Saudi confab 

JP Morgan chief executive Jamie Dimon will not 

attend an investment conference in Riyadh 

amid growing tensions between the US and Saudi 

Arabia. 

He is the latest high-profile figure to pull out of 

the event dubbed "Davos in the Desert" following 

the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal 

Khashoggi. 

The Saudis have denied killing Khashoggi. 

Softbank's share price tumbled about 7% in Tokyo 

as the fallout from Khashoggi's disappearance 

spread. The Japanese conglomerate's $100 billion 

Vision Fund is almost half-financed by Saudi 

Arabia. 

A critic of the government, Khashoggi vanished 

on 2 October after visiting the Saudi consulate in 

Istanbul. Authorities there believe he was killed 

in the building by Saudi agents, which Riyadh 

has dismissed as "lies". 

Dimon has become the latest in a number of 

business leaders and firms to cancel plans to 

attend the Riyadh investment conference following 

the journalist's disappearance. 

Other executives including Ford chairman Bill 

Ford and Uber chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi 

are among those who will not be attending the 

conference, to be held between 23 and 25 October. 

Brexit talks hit snag over 

Northern Ireland border 

Brexit negotiations have hit a "real problem" 

over the issue of the Irish border, government 

sources have warned. 

Hopes of a breakthrough were raised when the 

Brexit secretary made an unscheduled trip to Brussels 

on Sunday. 

But talks faltered over the need for a back-up plan 

- known as the backstop - to avoid a hard border. 

Theresa May, who is briefing MPs, has insisted 

any backstop arrangement must apply to the UK 

as a whole so not to create a border in the Irish 

Sea. 

Ahead of a key summit of European leaders on 

Wednesday, the EU is believed to be seeking further 

reassurances that its internal market will be 

protected and that additional customs and regulatory 

checks can be carried out without the return 

of physical infrastructure on the border. 

Sunday's talks had broken down after the EU had 

insisted on a second backstop arrangement - just 

involving Northern Ireland.

Portrait of the tiger Ambode rode (2) 

" 

IN 1999, the entire South 

West was under the 

control of the Alliance for 

Democracy, AD. When we 

were approaching the 2003 

elections, I told my boss, 

former President, Olusegun 

Obasanjo, to give me the 

authority to take over the 

South West from the AD for the 

party. He gave me the 

approval. My effort during 

that election resulted in our 

party taking over the states 

except Lagos State. And the 

reason was that Asiwaju Bola 

Tinubu and I came a long 

way from the Social 

Democratic Party, SDP, and 

the PDM. I felt I should leave 

Lagos for him. In fact, I could 

easily have taken over Lagos, 

but I did not. I have since 

regretted my decision; please, 

my sisters and brothers in the 

party, I want you to forgive me 

for taking Lagos out of that 

arrangement."-Alahaji Atiku 

Abubakar in Lagos on 3rd 

September 2018. 

Until Atiku detonated the 

above bomb in Lagos recently, 

the lie Tinubu spinners had 

put out was that he became the 

"last man standing" in 2003 in 

the South-West because of 

some sagacity and that he 

broke ranks with Afenifere 

over the alliance with 

Obasanjo. But those of us who 

are aware of what happened 

know that the monkey has no 

special skill beyond the fact 

that the trees are close to each 

other. 

The sacred truth is that the 

deal to have electoral pact 

with the PDP in 2003 was 

brokered by Tinubu who had 

planned to run as VP to Atiku 

in 2007 under the then ruling 

party. The discussion started 

during the convocation 

ceremony of the University of 

Lagos in 2002 where Tinubu 

kept the company of President 

Olusegun Obasanjo. It was 

during the event that he 

agreed to arrange a meeting 

with his colleagues-governors. 

The meeting held at Dodan 

Barracks in Lagos and the 

governors agreed to work on 

a pact to give the President the 

support he needed in the 

South West just as they 

advised him not to allow Local 

Government, LG, elections 

nationwide so it would not 

hurt his delegates at the PDP 

convention as his party would 

not win in the Southwest. 

The governors who had 

taken control of the AD as of 

this time merely came to 

inform Afenifere of their 

decision. They reported all 

their discussions with the 

President and the fact that they 

advised him not to conduct 

elections. Papa Adesanya like 

a General whose troops had 

moved in a direction decided 

Tinubu had 

learnt from his 

mistakes with 

Fashola and 

vowed that 

whoever he 

must make 

Governor in 

Lagos must not 

develop his own 

character and he 

must manipulate 

him well so that 

taking him out 

would not be a 

problem 

not to follow another route. He 

decided to follow up on the 

briefing by negotiating terms 

for the pact which included 

free and fair election and 

restructuring of the polity. 

While the deal was in the 

making, Tinubu gathered 

through Atiku that the deal 

would cost the governors their 

seats and quickly bailed out 

but this bird did not tell the 

other birds that a stone was 

coming. That was how he 

remained the only surviving 

AD governor. 

The former governor of Oyo 

State, Alhaji Lam Adesina was 

not a happy man with Tinubu 

in the last days of his life over 

this and other issues. I recall 

when he came to meet the 

elders of Afenifere in Lagos 

late in 2003 and asked to 

leave early enough to be able 

to get back to Ibadan on time. 

Chief Ayo Adebanjo had told 

him to either be Tinubu's guest 

for the night and that would 

he say he did not have a 

house in Lagos. Alhaji 

Adesina responded with a 

tinge of anger "God will not let 

me sleep in Tinubu's house. I 

don't have a land in Lagos not 

to talk of a house. Tinubu 

promised to give me a land but 

he kept asking me for 

passport photographs until I 

told him I was not going to the 

photographer again." 

Immediately after indirectly 

sending his colleagues to 

political Siberia and weaning 

himself off the influence of 

Afenifere, Tinubu commenced 

his empire building project by 

sending protégés to the other 

South West states and Kwara 

for the 2007 governorship 

elections. Nearly all posted 

out were either his aides or 

recruits under his Action 

Congress, AC. 

His ambition had become 

very clear at this stage that it 

was a negation of collegiate 

leadership the Yoruba are 

known for that he was trying 

to replace with an Emperor 

reign. Realising what his 

project meant for the Yoruba on 

the long run, a group of Yoruba 

Patriots and Nationalists 

approached Chief Bisi Akande 

in 2010 that we needed an 

audience with Tinubu. 

A little about Chief Akande 

After the 2003 elections, we 

had erroneously thought that 

Chief Akande was placed to 

provide leadership in 

Yorubaland at some point 

given his performance in office 

and ideological clarity with a 

tinge of intellectual 

underpinning. He authored a 

book on restructuring with an 

understanding of our issues. 

I drove to his home in Ibadan 

regularly and we travelled 

abroad together on a few 

occasions to meetings with 

Yorubas in diaspora. 

When we approached him to 

complain about the 

strangeness of Tinubu 

Leadership Academy to Yoruba 

values, he agreed to seek an 

appointment with him. He 

soon got the appointment and 

we agreed to meet in his 

house before proceeding to 

Bourdilon. We articulated all 

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2018 —17 

the issues and we moved. 

On our delegation were 

Hon.Wale Oshun, Mr. Jimi 

Agbaje, Mr. Tola Mobolurin, 

Prince Oye Oyewumi, Mr. 

Demola Oyinlola, Mr. Adedeji 

Zacch among others. On 

getting to Tinubu, we met 

Professors Segun Gbadegesin 

and Ropo Sekoni with him. It 

became a chatting session as 

we sat down. 

It was when Tinubu was 

planning the Ambode 

treatment for then Lagos 

Governor, Mr. Babatunde 

Fasola whom he railed and 

railed against. He said he was 

not going to allow him a 

second term as he blocked all 

the drainages he made for 

himself before leaving office 

with droplets now coming to 

him while Fashola's own 

channels were flowing in 

torrents. He added that he had 

now seen the smart man who 

can be smarter I cut in at that 

stage to remind him that he 

told me in 2006 when he was 

going to foist Fasola on the 

party that he managed all his 

assets while he was in exile 

without a penny missing and 

he replied, "I was just 

marketing him then". 

Prof. Sekoni pleaded with 

him to sheathe his sword and 

allow Fasola to run for a 

second term. He added that 

Tinubu should know that he 

is the elder in the dispute with 

the greatest responsibility to 

bring amicable resolution. 

Tinubu looked at Prof. and 

said he reminded him of the 

case of a widow who lost her 

husband and people were 

coming to commiserate with 

her over the tragic loss.The 

first group to come were 

elderly and that after all the 

commiseration they ended by 

asking the lady to try and eat 

something as starving herself 

would not raise her dead 

husband. They took their leave 

after sometime. Then came her 

peers who also went through 

all the rituals of comfort. They 

prayed for the repose of the 

soul of her husband and 

ended on a note of plea that 

she should eat something in 

order not to injure her health. 

Tinubu threw the audience 

into laughter when he ended 

the story by saying that the 

widow asked her peers "What 

did you bring for me to set 

when you were coming ? " 

After about two hours of 

chatting, I went to Chief 

Akande to remind him we had 

yet to get to what brought us 

to Tinubu and he asked me 

"What is that ?" I was shocked 

and he lost me forever that 

day. I got up and announced 

to Tinubu that we had a reason 

for coming and reeled out our 

articulated points. Mr. 

Mobolurin adumbrated the 

points. He cut in and flared up 

"I am not holding any meeting 

again. I cannot be spending 

my money for rebuilding 

Southwest and people will 

come here and insult me. All 

my mates have high rising 

buildings all over the place but 

this is the only house I have 

in Lagos because we are 

spending all the money for 

politics ." 

We left Tinubu that day and 

it was clear that what we were 

trying to build had crashed. I 

also knew that the Tinubu 

machinery had triumphed and 

would be there for a while. 

But I was also convinced it 

would not last forever as the 

foundation was not in sync 

with our ancient landmarks. 

Eventually, Tinubu who had 

vowed that Fashola would not 

do a second term allowed him 

when he realised he was 

going to be demystified if he 

moved openly against him 

then because he did not 

prepare the full Ambode 

package for him. Fashola had 

been left to build influence 

within the party and in town 

though the political structure 

was still essentially Tinubu's. 

Tinubu and Fasola played 

cat and mouse relationship in 

the latter's second term but the 

cracks were papered over. It 

was when Fashola's successor 

was to come that the daggers 

were drawn again. Fashola 

had planned to have a 

successor which would have 

meant setting Tinubu's "factory 

" on fire. But the Emperor 

moved with all his might and 

checkmated him by handing 

Akinwumi Ambode the ticket. 

Tinubu had learnt from his 

mistakes with Fashola and 

vowed that whoever he must 

make Governor in Lagos must 

not develop his own character 

and he must manipulate him 

well so that taking him out 

would not be a problem. That 

was why Ambode who had a 

frosty relationship with Fasola 

and a civil servant came handy 

as a cashier, not necessarily a 

Governor. 

I stated last week that 

Ambode did not appear a 

governor on the three 

occasions I met him in 

Tinubu's company.That waits 

till the concluding part. 

Feedback 

Re:Portrait of 

the tiger 

Ambode rode 

YINKA this is a wonderful 

piece. You showed great 

presence of mind as a 

participant observer in the 

unfolding events in the turn 

of democracy in the late 90s 

and the beginning of this 

millennium. Your fecundity in 

chronicling the events that 

foist Tinubu on Lagosians for 

good or for bad is highly 

commendable. Papa 

Adesanya died an unhappy 

man. He will be turning in his 

grave now with great angst 

because of the happenings in 

the progressives camp in 

Lagos represented by the 

present APC. 

Poor Ambode!. 

Well done. 

-Mike Nzeagwu 

C 

M 

Y 

K


THE Senate and House of 

Representatives made a dream 

resumption for legislative business 

after over two months of annual 

recess which they embarked upon 

on 24th July 2018. They were 

supposed to resume on Tuesday, 

25th September 2018 but had to 

defer it due to political obligations. 

Ordinarily, that the two chambers 

of the nation’s legislative arm 

resume after a prolonged break 

should not be a big deal. But in this 

case, great anxieties had built up 

because some leaders of the 

Senate and House of 

Representatives had switched 

political parties, triggering 

raucous clamours for the election 

of new leaders. 

The President of the Senate, Dr. 

Bukola Saraki and other senators 

had defected from the ruling All 

Progressives Congress (APC) to the 

main opposition People’s 

Democratic Party (PDP). The 

National Assembly’s peaceful resumption 

Minority Leader of the PDP, 

Senator Godswill Akpabio, had 

also resigned to join the APC. 

Other defections in the House of 

Representatives took place, topped 

by the switch of the Speaker, Hon 

Yakubu Dogara, from the APC to 

the PDP. 

The National Chairman of the 

APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole 

and many leaders of the Party, had 

vehemently pushed for the 

removal of Saraki and Dogara from 

office and their replacement with 

presiding officers from his party as, 

according to them, APC still had 

the majority in both chambers. In 

particular, the Senate Leader, 

Senator Ahmed Lawan who most 

likely stood to gain from 

leadership change insisted that 

since Nigerians voted for the APC, 

it must be allowed to control the 

National Assembly. 

However, when the doors of the 

federal parliament were thrown 

open on 9th October 2018, 

Nigerians were pleasantly 

surprised to see a calm and sobre 

resumption of legislative business. 

In fact, the main business at the 

Senate was the quality attention 

paid to the 17 letters from 

President Muhammadu Buhari as 

well as his request for N346 billion 

to fund the budget of the Niger 

Delta Development Commission 

(NDDC). 

Perhaps, the outcome of the 

primaries, especially in the ruling 

APC in which the fates of many 

candidates were left hanging 

helped douse the zeal to pursue 

the APC’s agenda for leadership 

change. Perhaps, the party 

realised it did not have the 

numbers to achieve that purpose. 

That the lawmakers have put aside 

partisan differences and focused 

firmly on pending urgent national 

assignments is a win-win for all. 

We had strongly advocated for this. 

The time and resources that would 

have been spent in a selfish yet 

quixotic quest for leadership 

change is now being put to public 

good. 

The National Assembly must 

continue to shun partisan politics 

and work closely with the 

Executive for the good of the 

nation for the remaining period of 

their tenure. 

WHEN my friend Mallam 

Mohammed Haruna 

presented a paper on Electoral 

process and violence on 

February 7, 2002, little did he 

know that 16 years after he would 

be implementing his proposals 

as a National Commissioner at 

INEC. 

Mallam Mohammed Haruna 

is an authority on the media-his 

calling for the past 45 years. I 

now reproduce the contents of his 

paper of 2002 titled “The Role 

Of The Media In Policing The 

Electoral System”. 

The role of the media in 

policing the electoral system is, 

at least in theory, simple and 

straightforward. Elementary 

Journalism tells us that the role 

of the media in society is to 

inform, educate and entertain the 

public. It is to inform and 

educate members of the public 

so that they can make the right 

choices for the peace and 

harmony and progress of society. 

While informing and educating 

the public, the media should also 

strive to entertain the public for 

the simple reason that all work 

and no play makes society a dull 

place. 

Our Constitution has added a 

fourth role for the Nigerian 

media, which is almost unique. 

The media is universally 

regarded as the fourth Estate of 

the Realm, the others being The 

Legislature, The Executive and 

the Judiciary. As we all know, the 

first institution makes laws, the 

second executes them while the 

third interprets them. All three 

OPINION 

Mohammed Haruna on the electoral 

process and violence 

together make up Government in 

the broad sense of the word. 

Almost lone among the 

constitutions of the countries of 

world, the Nigerian Constitution 

has turned this role from a 

conventional one into a formal 

role. Section 22 of the 

Constitution, titled Obligation of 

the mass of the media says, “The 

press, radio and television and 

other agencies of the mass media 

shall not all time be free to 

uphold the fundamental 

objectives contained in this 

chapter and UPHOLD THE 

RESPONSIBILITY AND 

ACCOUNTABILITY OF THE 

GOVERNMENT OF THE 

PEOPLE”. 

I do not know of any 

Constitution in the world that 

formally assigns such role to the 

media. Certainly the 

Constitution of the United States, 

which is the world’s leading 

democracy, does no such thing. 

Indeed, the U.S. constitutions 

make no reference whatsoever to 

the press in its original Seven 

articles. Of the 26 subsequent 

amendments to the Constitution, 

the only reference to the press is 

the First Amendment where it say 

”Congress shall make no law 

respecting, an establishment of 

religion, or prohibiting the free 

exercise thereof, OR 

Giving the freedom 

which the media enjoys 

inspite of the legal 

restrictions they face, I 

think the greater threats 

to their freedom of 

operation lie 

somewhere 

ABRIDGING THE FREEDOM 

OF SPEECH, OR OF THE 

PRESS; or the right of the people 

peaceably to assemble, and to 

petition the Government for a 

redress of grievances”. 

I think it is highly instructive 

that without a formal role 

assigned to the media by the 

American Constitution, its media 

is probably the freest in the 

world. Of course, the Country’s 

Freedom of Information Act, 

which makes it mandatory for 

Government officials to allow 

the media access to certain 

information, does strengthen the 

hands of the media in laying its 

role as the Fourth Estate. 

However, its strength is rooted 

more in a tradition of asserting 

its independence from the 

authorities built up over the years 

than in any formal recognition 

of its rights and privileges. 

Journalists in this country often 

complain that the Constitution of 

this country, at least from 1992, 

is unfair to them by formally 

charging them to hold 

Government responsible and 

accountable to the people but 

without giving them the powers 

to do so. They argue that the 

media faces too many restrictive 

laws to be able to act freely, citing 

such laws as the Official Secrets 

Act, the Law of Sedition and the 

Newspaper Decree, 1993. They 

further argue that even without 

such restrictive laws, they need a 

positive law like the American 

responsibility to hold 

Government responsible and 

accountable to the people. Such 

a law may indeed facilitate the 

media’s constitutional role. The 

way I see it, however, Section 22 

of the Constitution together with 

Section 39, which gives every 

right “to freedom of expression 

including freedom to hold 

opinion and to receive and 

impart ideas and information 

without interference” provide 

sufficient guarantee for free 

speech and a free media. At any 

rate, the fact is that, inspite of all 

the restrictive laws journalists 

cite as hindrances to their 

effectiveness; the Nigerian media 

is one of the freest in the world. 

Indeed, visiting foreign 

journalists often marvel at the 

freedom which the Nigerian 

media enjoy, a freedom which 

they often see as bordering on 

license. 

As Michele Marinques, a 

French Journalist, observed in 

her book “NIGERIA: Guerilla 

Journalism, the Nigeria press 

often “prints fanciful 

information or outright lies, and 

using the most dubious editorial 

methods”. Marinques, has 

dominated the country’s media, 

pointed out that “If government 

can call into question the truth 

of information published by what 

are regarded as serious news 

magazines, it is because the 

Nigerian press is often 

astonishingly negligent about 

checking and confirming its 

sources or even statistics. Errors 

and glitches abound, and are 

seldom corrected in the next 

edition”. 

Giving the freedom which the 

media enjoys inspite of the legal 

restrictions they face, I think the 

greater threats to their freedom 

of operation lie somewhere. 

To be continued

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2018 — 19 

CBN set to introduce new regulations 

to curb cybercrime 

By Elizabeth Adegbesan 

THE Central Bank of Ni 

geria (CBN) said it is concerned 

with rising losses that emanate 

from cybercrime and technology 

risk in the financial sector and 

is working on the modalities for 

new regulations. 

The apex bank stressed the need 

to redesign regulations that will 

address cyber crimes and technological 

risks that may arise from 

emerging modern financial firms 

in the country. 

The Deputy Governor, CBN, 

Mrs. Aishah Ahmad made this 

known at a seminar organized by 

Risk Managers Association of Nigeria 

(RIMAN) in collaboration 

with Chartered Institute of Bankers 

of Nigeria (CIBN), in Lagos. 

Ahmad, represented by Executive 

Director, Banking Supervision 

Department, CBN, Mr. Christian 

Okoye said: “There is compelling 

need to redesign regulations that 

will address risk that may emanate 

from the new emerging and increasing 

modern class of financial 

firms.” 

“The outlook of risk functions in 

banks and financial services firms 

would be fundamentally different 

on what they are today and at 

such calls for timely actions to 

guide against banks being overwhelmed 

by the new requirements. 

This is consequent upon 

the modern technology which has 

ushered in complex security challenges, 

cybercrimes and varying 

other forms of risks. For instance, 

the emergence of new competitors” 

she added. 

She said: “With the emergence 

of new competitors there will be 

increased customer expectations 

which will cause massive alterations 

in banking as the future of 

banking is entirely encapsulated 

in technology mostly offered by financial 

technology firms 

CURRENCY BUYING SELLING 

US DOLLAR 

POUNDS 

EURO 

FRANC 

YEN 

CFA 

WAUA 

RENMINBI 

RIYAL 

SDR 

DANISH 

RAND 

$118.35 1.80 

$2,094.00-66.00 

$13.39 0.32 

$80.30 -0.13 

$71.21 -0.13 

305.45 305.95 306.45 

403.53 404.1905 404.8511 

353.6195 354.1983 354.7772 

308.1929 308.6974 309.2019 

2.7192 2.7237 2.7281 

0.5199 0.5299 0.5399 

425.8589 426.556 427.2531 

44.1546 44.2273 44.3 

81.4338 81.5671 81.7004 

426.5609 427.2592 427.9574 

47.3941 47.4716 47.5492 

21.1573 21.1919 21.2266 

CBN Exchange rate as at 15/10/2018 

(FinTechs).” 

According to Ahmad, apart from 

the emergence of new competitors 

intensely exploring technologies, 

competitive mobile apps, online 

services, interconnected networking 

and unregulated virtual currencies 

have led to a rise in the 

global cause of cybercrime. 

“Furthermore, the range of 

highly competitive mobile apps 

and online services offered by local 

and international fintech firms, 

make it incredibly simple for customers 

to execute the entire banking 

transactions without going 

through banks thus making it difficult 

for banks to have a full view 

of a customer transaction and 

thereby maintain customer relationships. 

“This form of open banking 

makes or will make our banks susceptible 

to money laundering, terrorist 

financing risks since all these 

transactions still pass through their 

networks to malicious beneficiaries 

which will have a damaging 

effect on our nations’ reputation. 

“Furthermore unregulated virtual 

or digital currencies open 

doors for criminals to unanimously 

conduct illegal activities online 

while limiting the ability to track 

movement of such frauds. The 

banks are also faced with cyber 

attacks following today’s interconnected 

networking which does not 

simply stand at one location and 

end at the other rather it is 

borderless in so much access methods. 

From left: Mrs. Yetunde Ilori, Director-General, Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA); Mr. 

Babajide Arowosafe, Executive Director, Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for 

Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL), Mr. Bukola Oluwadiya, Chairman, AIICO Insurance Plc; 

Mr. Edwin Igbiti, MD/CEO, AIICO Insurance Plc and Lady Isioma Chukwuma, MD/CEO, 

Nigeria Reinsurance Corporation, at the launch of AIICO agric insurance in Lagos. 

FG moves to curb gas shortage 


THE Federal Government, 

yesterday, raised alarm over 

the shortfall in the supply of gas 

especially in the Northern part of 

the country, saying it will look into 

other alternative source of gas supply. 

The Minister of State for Petroleum 

Resources, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu, 

disclosed this at the 

ongoing Nigerian Gas 

Association, NGA, 11th 

International Conference 

and Exhibition in Abuja, 

stressing that government 

is working hard to 

address the huge gas 

challenges witnessed in 

the northern part of the 

country. 

Kachikwu, who was 

represented by his Senior 

Technical Adviser, 

Upstream and Gas, Mr. 

Gbite Adeniji, said the 

country can no longer tolerate 

a situation where 11 

power plants across the 

country would be forced 

to shut down, once there 

is a disruption in gas 

supply through the 

Escravos Lagos Pipeline 

System, ELPS. 

He said: “The Federal 

Government is serious 

about taking gas to the northern 

region of the country, through the 

Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano, AKK, gas 

pipeline, so as to address the huge 

economic challenges witnessed in 

the region. 

“As a government, you want to 

ensure that you have robustness 

in supply sources and robustness 

on delivery system. The position 

we have taken is that we have to 

look at as many options as possible 

in terms of supply sources. 

“Today, we are very dependent 

on gas supply from the Niger 

Delta. The policy position is that 

we have to look at other terrains to 

see what is possible. We have discovered 

huge amount of gas resources 

in the offshore. Hence, 

we must ensure that by the end of 

this quarter, we settle the issues of 

the contractual framework that 

would help us unlock those gas 

resources, so that we have options. 

“It just does not do well that once 

the ELPS goes down, 11 power 

plants and many industrial enterprises 

also go down with them. 

That is not the system. There is 

a huge part of investment in there, 

but the reality of our life in Nigeria 

is that it goes down with them. The 

planning is that we have to create 

options to the ELPS for Lagos.” 

MOMAM raises alarm over non-payment of N130.7bn 

fuel subsidy 

By Comfort Asuquo 

THE Major Oil Marketers 


MOMAN, has raised alarm over 

the Federal Government delay in 

settling its members’ fuel subsidy 

and banks’ interests, amounting to 

N130.7 billion. 

Mr. Andrew Gbodume, Chairman 

of MOMAN, who addressed 

journalists in Lagos, yesterday 

stated that one of the major challenges 

the Nigerian downstream 

petroleum sector is facing is the 

non-payment of the long outstanding 

fuel subsidy. 

He said: “One of the major challenges 

the Nigerian downstream 

petroleum sector is still facing is the 

non-payment of the long outstanding 

fuel subsidy to oil marketers, 

which stood at about N130.7 billion.” 

“We appreciate the efforts of the 

National Assembly, but the nonpayment 

creates a significantly 

negative impact on the operational 

efficiency of the downstream sector 

of the oil industry, thereby placing 

a severe strain on its efforts to continually 

invest in infrastructure and 

raise industry standards. We hope 

the debts will be paid in full to the 

NDCMB partners 

Dangote Refinery 

on local content 

implementation 

By Sebastine Obasi 

NIGERIAN Content De 

velopment and Monitoring 

Board (NCDMB) said it is 

going to partner with Dangote 

Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemical 

Free Trade Zone Enterprises 

(DPRP) on the effective 

implementation of the Local 

Content Act in the country. 

Director, Monitoring and 

Evaluation, NCDMB, Mr. 

Akintunde Adelana, who represented 

the board’s Executive 

Secretary, Mr. Simbi Wabote, 

stated this last Friday, during 

the DPRP Nigerian Content 

Sensitization/Awareness Creation 

Programme, titled: “Let’s 

Walk the Nigerian Content Talk 

Together,” at Lekki Free Trade 

Zone, Lagos. 

According to him, “the 

Dangote Refinery project is 

expected to close a major gap 

in the supply of petroleum 

products in the country. We 

consider this as a very important 

project and we are willing 

to partner with the company to 

ensure full implementation of 

the local content policy. We 

embarked on this journey with 

the company a long time ago 

and we are ready to partner 

with the Dangote Group. Part 

of what you see to today is part 

of our efforts to ensure that the 

company and its contractors 

comply with the local content 

policy.” 

Speaking further, Wabote 

described the Local Content 

Act as the quantum of composite 

value added to, or created 

in the Nigerian economy by a 

systematic development of capacity 

and capabilities, 

through the deliberate utilization 

of Nigerian human, material 

resources and services in 

the Nigerian oil and gas industry. 

He said the country recorded 

loses prior to the enactment of 

the local content policy, which 

he noted, came from jobs executed 

abroad by International 

Oil Companies (IOCs), operating 


oil marketers as soon as possible.” 

Gbodume who commended the 

Pipelines Products Marketing 

Company, PPMA, in ensuring 

consistent supply of petroleum 

products within the country, added: 

“PPMC has demonstrated its resolve 

in guaranteeing a non-repeat 

of the scarcity the nation experienced 

at the end of 2017 and quite 

frankly has done well so far. 

“However, with NNPC being the 

sole importer and supplier of petroleum 

products in Nigeria at the 

cost incurred, it should be clear to 

all Nigerians that this policy direction 

is not sustainable.’’


New report explores how rising 

property prices are transforming cities 

By Kingsley Adegboye, 

with Agency report 

A 

new report by UN- 

Habitat and the 

Chinese Academy of Social 

Sciences has found that 

property prices in cities have 

a strong influence on city 

competitiveness. 

The major indicator of the 

report, competitiveness, 

shows how well a city is 

doing in relation to others, by 

measuring a basket of 

indicators in cities. These 

indicators are technological 

innovation, cultural diversity, 

economic dynamics, 

government management, 

global connections, 

environmental quality, and 

social cohesion. 

The report found that there 

was a positive relationship 

between house prices and the 

economic competitiveness 

index meaning that increase 

in real estate prices and 

competitiveness go hand in 

hand. 

However, at a certain point, 

rising house prices have a 

negative effect on 

competitiveness when prices 

and the cost of living become 

too high and gentrification 

becomes a negative force. 

The report, “The Global 

Urban Competitiveness 

Report 2018: House Prices, 

Changing the City World”, 

which looks at the 

relationship between house 

prices and urban 

competitiveness also found 

that when the house prices 

are within a reasonable 

range, they promote urban 

economic development, 

scientific and technological 

innovation and industrial 

upgrading, thus improving 

urban competitiveness. 

When house prices 

increase, renewal and 

diversity come into place 

making the city more 

attractive, and bringing in 

talent and investment, 

creating a virtuous circle. 

The report examines in 

depth the relationship 

between real estate prices 

and the transformational 

upgrading in 11 case studies 

that include cities in the 

Silicon Valley area of 

California , Guangdong, 

Madrid and Lima. 

The urban competitiveness 

of 1,038 cities was examined 

during the study on a global 

scale. Urban competitiveness 

refers to a city’s ability to 

attract and transform 

resources, control and expand 

markets, and at the same 

time creating more wealth 

and providing welfare for its 

citizens. 

The report, not 

surprisingly, lists the cities in 

high-income countries as 

Against the backdrop of 

the current lull in the 

construction industry and 

the attendant adverse 

impacts on the nation’s Gross 

Domestic Product GDP, the 

Nigerian Institute of 

Quantity Surveyors NIQS, 

last week, renewed the 

clamour for the urgent 

formation of a Construction 

Industry Development Board 

CIDB. 

President of the Institute, 

Mr. Obafemi Onashille, 

explained that CIDB or 

Construction Industry 

Development Council CIDC, 

will be responsible for the 

formulation, implementation 

and regulation of policies that 

will galvanize and breathe life 

into the ailing sector which is 

regarded as the barometer for 

most competitive, but also 

records a strong progress by 

Chinese cities entering the 

list of the 20 most competitive 

cities. 

Among the top 100 cities in 

economic competitiveness, 39 

cities are in North America, 

32 are from Asia, 26 are from 

Europe, 3 are from Oceania 

with no cities from Africa and 

South America. 

Most cities are from the 

United States (36), China (21 

), Germany (seven), Canada 

(five), and Australia (three), 

and the UK, Japan, 

Switzerland, the United Arab 

Emirates, Spain and India 

each has two cities. 

The top 10 global cities in 

terms of sustainable 

competitiveness in 2017 are: 

New York, Los Angeles, 

Singapore, London, San 

Francisco, Shenzhen, Tokyo, 

San Jose, Munich and Dallas. 

The report found that they 

had the following advantages 

; New York – high level 

financial services; Los 

Angeles – business cost 

advantage and multi centre 

logistics hubs; Singapore – 

good 

livelihoods and standard of 

living with balanced 

development; San Francisco 

– city by the Bay suitable for 

both commerce and living; 

Shenzhen – global level 

scientific and technological 

innovation; Tokyo – 

industrially integrated and 

comfortable lifestyle; San 

Jose – scientific and 

technological city with 

efficient business 

environment; Munich – fully 

fledged industry and liveable 

ecological environment; and 

Dallas – high-level financial 

service and cutting-edge 

scientific innovation and 

technology. 

Quantity Surveyors renew clamour for Construction Development Board 

measuring the economic 

health of a country. 

Onashile who briefed 

newsmen at the Institute’s 

liaison office in Victoria Island, 

Lagos, canvassed a 

partnership between the 

government, built 

environment professional 

bodies and contractors to 

midwife the birth of the 

Board which is expected 

to play a leadership 

role in the 

construction 

industry. 

He listed the 

challenges 

impeding the 

growth and 

development 

of the country’s 

construction 

industry to 

•Obafemi 

Onashille 

include housing deficiency, 

degradation of the urban 

environment, over-stretched 

infrastructure, high 

construction costs, 

government’s nonpatronage 

of local 

experts and nonpayment 

of 

contractors and 

consultants for 

completed jobs. 

The NIQS 

President 

who decried 

the gradual 

b u t 

persistent 

lowering of 

standards 

and quality 

o f 

construction 

materials, 

Novarick Homes 

Launches Estate 

with energy 

power supply 

Novarick Homes, a real 

estate development 

firm has launched Earls Court, 

a premium private green 

estate that will run on a 

renewable energy power 

supply, and designed to be the 

best holiday home for 

homeowners in love with 

serene environment, as the 

estate is devoid of noise and 

air pollution. 

Located at the heart of Ibeju- 

Lekki, Earls Court, will offer 

the finest of living experience. 

With plot sizes measuring 

300SQM and 600SQM, the 

land comes with government 

Approved Excision, while the 

green estate boasts of fantastic 

architecture, interlocked 

roads, underground 

electrification backed up by 

solar energy as well as good 

drainage system among other 

standard estate features. 

Earls Court is easily 

accessible as it is located in the 

heart of Ibeju-Lekki. The 

renewable energy estate is 

within close proximity to major 

developments within the Ibeju 

Lekki Area. 

It is about five minutes’ drive 

to the 4th Quadrant of the Lekki 

Free Zone and the newly 

proposed International Airport. 

The Ajah metropolitan is about 

45 minutes away from the 

estate. 

According to the Managing 

Director of Novarick Homes, 

Mr. Noah Ibrahim, “The real 

estate company is dedicated to 

building greener communities 

all around Africa and Novarick 

Homes is offering millennials 

the opportunity to live in the 

future by investing in the first 

renewable energy powered 

estate in Lagos. 

Earls Court currently sells 

for 1.25 million naira for the 300 

SQM plot and 2.5 million naira 

for the 600 SQM plot with 

payment plans that can be 

spread through a period of 

three months, six months and 

12 months respectively. 

called on the government and 

industry stakeholders to 

collaborate with a view to 

forming a Construction 

Industry Training Board, 

CITB. The Training Board, 

according to Onashile will 

promote and manage 

technical/vocational training 

of skills for the industry. 

Reeling out the panacea to 

the festering challenges 

confronting the industry, 

Onashile also canvassed the 

creation of what he called 

“purpose-fit judicial systems 

for the industry”. This will 

involve the creation of 

Construction Courts and 

enactment of laws that would 

recognize and promote faster 

dispute resolution 

mechanisms such as 

arbitration and mediation.


Housing: Government 

of this country prefers 

short cut instead of 

planning ahead 

•Bode Adediji, Chairman, 

— Adediji Bode Adediji Partnership 

Mr. Bode Adediji, 

Chairman, Bode 

Adediji Partnership, a firm of 

estate surveyors and valuers, 

and former President, 

Nigerian Institution of Estate 

Surveyors and Valuers 

NIESV, is one of the frontline 

estate surveyors and 

property consultants in 

Nigeria. Besides his 

professional calling, he has 

dedicated himself to 

mentoring and delivering 

lectures to inspire the 

younger ones to greatness. In 

this interview with Ebun 

Sessou, he spoke on issues on 

why the Federal Mortgage 

Bank of Nigeria FMBN, is 

not working as well as other 

factors that constrain housing 

provision in Nigeria. 

Excerpts: 

Sir, people say the major 

constrain in housing 

provision is lack of effective 

finance system in the country. 

In the light of this, will you 

say the Federal Mortgage 

Bank of Nigeria FMBN, is 

meeting its responsibilities to 

Nigerians? 

Well, For government, it is 

working but the people’s 

opinion is different. If you ask 

your neighbours, class mate, 

colleagues, church or mosque 

members, they would tell you 

their experience about 

Hopewell Park Estate, a 

resisdential housing 

estate located along the Eleko 

axis of Ibeju-Lekki corridor 

being aggressively developed, 

and offering affordable plots of 

land to prospective home 

owners, has joined the ranks 

of residential schemes in the 

Lekki axis of Lagos state. 

Developed by Silver Pacific 

Homes, Hopewell Park Estate 

is an innovative scheme for the 

single and upwardly mobile, 

first time home buyers, 

couples, second home seekers, 

smart property investors and 

retirees looking for quality 

developments and attractive 

returns on their investments 

through rental yield and capital 

growth. 

Known for the procurement 

and sale of choice plots of land 

in areas proven to yield the 

highest returns on investment, 

Silver Pacific Homes, has a 

mortgage loan 

assisted 

facilities in 

the last 

t h r e e 

years, I am sure, the response 

would be negative. This means 

to some people, the mortgage 

system is not working while to 

some other people, the system 

is working 

But the sector is growing, 

yet there are challenges of 

inadequate housing among 

young people, why is the 

country still crawling in 

terms of housing provision? 

All the factors of production 

that Nigeria ought to have paid 

adequate attention to, including 

policy framework, availability of 

finance, long term finance, easy 

accessibility of land at 

reasonable price as well as 

technical capacity to produce 

among others factors are 

absent. 

The country is yet to get 

someone who would focus on 

indigenous capacity and 

material sufficiency to produce 

mass housing. But, if we have 

adequate local resources to 

manufacture building 

materials, then the dependence 

on importation that covers 

cement, iron rods, aluminum 

frames, roofing shits, can be 

used to produce an affordable 

housing scheme to ordinary 

Nigerians. Unfortunately, 

Firm unveils Hopewell Park Estate 

in Ibeju-Lekki 

track record of making home 

ownership simple. From the 

Lekki Cooperative Villas to 

Southern Atlantic Villas in 

Ibeju-Lekki, Silver Pacific 

Home has successfully sold 

affordable real estate 

investment solutions. 

The real estate investment 

company which is a division of 

Silver Pacific Technologies 

Limited, duly incorporated in 

Nigeria, has added Hopewell 

Park Estate to its pool of 

budget-friendly real estate 

investment. 

Situated at the heart of Ibeju- 

Lekki, Eleko, Hopewell Park 

Estate, is strategically located 

around various private and 

government landmark projects 

in the Ibeju-Lekki LGA of 

Lagos state such as the Lekki 

deep sea port, Dangote 

Refinery and the Lekki free 

trade zone. 

The estate comes with a 

housing scheme for the middle 

class has been obsolete 

because there is no money 

either to rent or to lease. 

What is the prospect of 

housing in Nigeria? 

The prospect is huge. And 

my prayer is that, the country 

would be blessed with a 

government that would 

address all the issues 

surrounding housing as well as 

find a way to harmonise the 

public and private sectors 

together for efficient housing 

scheme in Nigeria. There is no 

amount of energy that the 

private sector can deploy on its 

own to raise new building or 

estate when the government is 

either lukewarm or reluctant 

to provide adequate 

infrastructure. 

The global housing problem 

we have in Nigeria is not 

absolute if there is adequate 

investment by government. 

Insecurity and lack of good 

infrastructure are the reasons 

for housing crisis in Nigeria. 

It goes beyond producing 

housing units alone. It is 

whether or not the government 

is ready and able to provide 

infrastructure. Health, 

environment and housing go 

verifiable Government 

Approved Excision and will 

feature a smart city with state 

of the art facilities such as 

security, perimeter fencing, 

portable water, sports centre, 

health care facility and many 

more. 

The CEO, Silver Pacific 

Homes, Samuel Ikoje, 

explained that the firm has 

initiated a 10-month 

installment mortgage plan to 

make ownership to the project 

easy, convenient and 

accessible to buyers. 

According to Ikoje, the site 

layout has been designed to 

maximise space while making 

adequate allocation for 

planned estate facilities. 

“Beyond the issue of access 

and affordability, Silver Pacific 

Homes is also pushing safety, 

high level security and style as 

advantages of the Hopewell 

Park Estate offer. 

hand in hand. The kind of 

budget that the nation spends 

on health delivery system 

would have been reduced 

drastically if we have 

addressed the issue of 

housing 30 years ago. 

You were the president 

of your professional 

body. Why did you 

not use your office to 

i n f l u e n c e 

government’s 

policy on housing? 

With 40 years of 

experience, it is 

not out of place to 

examine all these 

issues we have 

talked about at 

corporate, 

institutional and governmental 

levels, but one major 

frustration in this country today 

is that you can talk to anybody 

in power but the discretion and 

ability to implement whatever 

advise lies on government. 

Nigerian government prefers 

short cut instead of planning 

ahead on housing. They are 

not prepared, enlightened and 

equipped as people who would 

receive advice and act on it 

regardless of the hardship of 

the people. As long as they are 

the drivers of all the major 

sectors, there is little or 

By Kingsley Adegboye 

Prospective home owners 

at Adron Homes 

schemes across Nigeria are 

expected to benefit from a 

strategic collaboration 

between the front line real 

estate development company 

and Samsung, a renowned 

mobile phone manufacturing 

giant. This was the company’s 

way of celebrating Nigeria’s 

2018 Independence Day. 

Accordingly, the 

collaboration will see 58, 000 

Nigerians, who subscribe to 

the Adron home schemes, get 

one Samsung mobile phone 

free according to the tune of 

their investments. This is 

because the initial deposits for 

plots of land by subscribers 

determine the range of 

phones they get. The phone 

models to be given out to 

subscribers are S9, J6+ and 

J4+. 

At the formal launch of the 

Promo in Lagos last week, the 

Group Managing Director/ 

Chief Executive Officer of 

Adron Homes and Properties, 

Mr. Oba Adetola Emmanuel- 

King, said the Adron- 

Samsung 58,000 Synergy is 

intended to further manifest 

the Adron philosophy of 

making incredible affordable. 

Emmanuel-King added the 

reason for the choice of 

teaming with Samsung is a 

necessity of a shared spirit 

and philosophy that naturally 

bind the two giants together 

in their respective service 

nothing a private sector can do 

to influence what they decide 

to do regardless of long time 

consequences. 

What are the projects you 

have in the pipeline? 

All the projects are in the 

incubating stage especially 

the ones in Lagos and Abuja. 

As a real estate expert, it is 

not ideal to embark on any 

project during recession. The 

country just came out of 

recession and now, the 

political atmosphere is tensed. 

We can only draw a template 

for some of the projects. But, 

we are hopeful that by the first 

quarter of the year 2019, we 

should have rolled out some 

of the projects in Lagos and 

Abuja. 

Does that suggest some 

financial imbalance in the 

real estate sector? 

Of course. There is no 

willingness on the part of the 

banks to invest in real estate 

and the banks cannot be 

blamed for the actions. There 

is economy downturn and it has 

affected the sector drastically. 

Besides, if you struggle to 

complete a particular housing 

project, there are no clients to 

either rent or buy houses due 

to economic recession that is 

just easing out. 

Adron Homes partners 

Samsung to woo subscribers 

sectors to provide services, 

better life and conducive 

housing for Nigeria; 

He said “Courtesy of this 

Promo, every Nigerian and 

other residents have the 

opportunity to own any of the 

trending models of Samsung 

phone devices by subscribing 

to at least a plot of land in any 

of the Adron estates in Abuja, 

Lagos, Ogun, Oyo and 

Nasarawa states”, pointing 

out that “Most people believe 

it takes only the rich to live in 

decent neighbourhoods but at 

Adron Homes, we are willing 

to make every Nigerian a 

delighted home owner”. 

According to him, with just 

N200,000 down payment and 

balance spread within 12 

months for plots of land in 

Lagos, Ibadan, Ogun, Abuja, 

a subscriber is entitled to 

Samsung Galaxy J4+ phone, 

with just N300,000 down 

payment and balance spread 

within 12 months for plots of 

land in Lagos, Ibadan, Ogun, 

Abuja, a subscriber is entitled 

to Samsung Galaxy J6+ 

phone, and with an initial 

deposit of N1million for any 

property of N5, 000,000 and 

above, you are entitled to a 

Samsung Galaxy S9 phone. 

According to him, his firm 

believes that independence 

should symbolise strong values 

that reawaken the spirit of 

national unity and patriotism 

in the minds of the younger 

generations for whom the 

future awaits to take baton of 

leadership to posterity.


Pressure mounts on Buhari to sign PIGB 

. As delay culminates in $15bn yearly investment setback 

By Prince Okafor 

WITH about $15 billion 

yearly investments 

withheld or diverted by investors 

to other countries due to the 

uncertainty in Nigeria's oil and gas 

industry over the delay in signing 

the Petroleum Industry 

Governance Bill (PIGB), into law, 

stakeholders have called for 

immediate assent to the bill by 

President Muhammadu Buhari. 

A cross section of journalists 

from the print, broadcast and 

online media organisations, who 

rose from a roundtable in Enugu to 

examine the subject, harped on the 

need for the president to sign the 

PIGB without further delay. 

In the communiqué issued at the 

end of the media stakeholders 

roundtable, the journalists stated: 

"The decline of assent to the PIGB 

was a missed opportunity to 

advance a token of the commitment 

of the Nigerian government to 

modernising the architecture of 

Nigerian petroleum laws in order 

to rid it of opaqueness and 

inefficiency and introduce it to the 

regime of international best 

practices, transparency and 

accountability. 

"The decline of assent to the 

PIGB signals to prospective 

investors and industry players 

absence of the political will on the 

part of the Nigerian government to 

change the fundamentals of the 

landscape of the Nigerian Oil and 

Gas sector. This will inevitably 

escalate the trend of loss in 

withheld and diverted capital 

investments which is plaguing the 

sector. 

"The huge potential of the bill to 

create wealth, generate jobs and 

increase Nigeria's competitiveness 

in the global energy market ought 

to take precedence over all political 

considerations and the security 

and comfort of the vested 

interests. The descent of Venezuela 

to a dystopian basket case is a 

cautionary warning that the failure 

to reform will ultimately culminate 

in devastating consequences. 

"The Nigerian petroleum 

industry is the national cash cow 

and the most critical sector of the 

economy. The industry's capacity 

to fulfill its traditional role in the 

Nigerian economy is increasingly 

being undermined by obsolete 

petroleum legislation. The 

recurrent deferment of necessary 

policy reforms in the Nigerian 

• Petroleum sector reform setbacks 

Petroleum Industry is setting 

Nigeria up for an existential 

economic crisis on the scale of the 

Venezuela nightmare." 

It stated: "Nigerian journalists 

have a responsibility to deploy 

their skills and platforms towards 

pressurising all key actors to take 

the urgent actions needed to 

reposition the Petroleum Industry 

in order to benefit all stakeholders 

and guarantee sustainable 

business environment. 

"Nigerian journalists can be the 

game changers in this seemingly 

intractable reform process. They 

are well positioned to make exert 

influence on the general public and 

the critical mass of key actors. 

"It is possible to mount an 

inclusive advocacy campaign that 

will rally all Nigerians around the 

win-win positives of the Petroleum 

Industry Bills. Going forward, we 

will accord the bills the priority 

attention they deserve in our 

reportage." 

Before then, stakeholders who 

gathered at Emerald Energy 

Institute, University of Port 

Harcourt, Rivers State, to 

brainstorm on Nigeria's Petroleum 

Industry Reforms had stressed the 

need to hasten work on all the bills. 

In his presentation - 'PIGB 

Outlook and Impact' - the Director 

of the Institute, Prof. Wumi Iledare 

said the PIGB is important as it aims 

at creating efficient and effective 

governing institutions with clear 

and separate roles for the 

petroleum industry. 

He said the bill further aimed at; 

"establishing a framework for the 

creation of commercially oriented 

and profit-driven petroleum 

entities that ensures value addition 

and internationalisation of the 

petroleum industry." 

In his presentation, 'Petroleum 

Host Community Bill, PHCB, 

Outlook and Impact,' Dr. Francis 

Adigwe, who is a consultant to the 

Senate Petroleum Upstream 

Committee, had stated that PHCB 

was also desirable because of its 

importance to all stakeholders. 

Adigwe said; "they are mostly 

impacted by the activities and 

operations of oil and gas 

exploitation. They do not feel 

sufficient economic development 

arising from the proceeds of oil and 

gas production. 

"Derivation and NDDC Act 

resources conferred on the state 

governments hardly trickle down 

to them. They are excluded from 

direct ownership by the 

Constitution of the Federal 

THE Benin Electricity 

Distribution Company Plc 

THE average price 

of Organisation of 

Petroleum Exporting 

Countries, OPEC’s basket 

of 14 crudes in the past 

one week was $79.36 

compared with $80.14 

recorded the previous 

week. According to 

OPEC’s calculation, 

the highest price of 

crude was recorded on 

October 09, 2018, which 

averaged $83.17 

per barrel, while the 

lowest price for the 

period under review 

averaged $79.36 

Republic of Nigeria." 

He said the demand included the 

amendment of the Constitution of 

the Federal Republic of Nigeria to 

confer ownership of petroleum 

resources on host communities 

and the conferment of all or part of 

concession rentals and royalties. 

Adigwe had stated that the Niger- 

Delta Development Commission 

Act made provision for 15 per cent 

of the total monthly statutory 

allocations due to member-states 

of the Commission from the 

Federation Account, 3 per cent of 

the total annual budget of 

petroleum companies and 50 per 

cent of monies due to memberstates 

of the Commission from the 

Ecological Fund. 

Noting that these and other 

efforts were insufficient, especially 

as they do not make direct impact 

on host communities, stressing 

that: "The development objectives 

of the initiatives have not delivered 

as intended - Derivation, NDDC, 

Amnesty, etc. "Government 

initiatives marred by poor 

governance and corruption, 

exclusion of communities from the 

development process, host 

(BEDC), has signed a 

Memorandum of Understanding 

(MOU), with Rocky Mountain 

Institute, Colorado, U.S.A (RMI) 

and Rubitec Nigeria Limited to 

provide mini-grid electricity for 

customers. 

The tripartite MOU was signed 

by the Managing Director/CEO, 

BEDC, Mrs. Funke Osibodu, 

Rubitec Chief Executive Officer, 

Mr. Bolade Soremekun and RMI 

Manager, Mr. James Sherwood 

at the BEDC Head office in 

Benin last Wednesday. 

According to the MOU, 

Rubitec is expected to construct 

solar mini-grid facilities within 

BEDC’s licensed area of 

coverage, while RMI will 

provide expertise in developing 

renewable electrical solutions 

and advise implementation of a 

pilot mini-grid in the chosen 

location. 

BEDC CEO, Osibodu said the 

communities do not see 

themselves as joint-owners and 

custodians of petroleum assets. 

"Failure of government 

initiatives result in huge 

infrastructure and development 

gaps - Poverty level is not reduced. 

Feeling of inequality, unfairness 

and louder agitation.Increasing 

disruption of petroleum 

operations, fragile peace and 

heightened insecurity." 

Fund application 

The PIGB is said to be important 

as fund would be used to develop 

projects for the benefit of the host 

communities, undertake 

infrastructural development of the 

host communities, facilitate 

employment opportunities and 

advance and propagate education 

and learning. 

The fund would also be utilised 

to provide medical facilities and 

personnel, undertake training, skills 

acquisition and other 

empowerment programmes, 

support local initiatives on 

environmental protection, support 

local initiatives on enhancement of 

security, invest certain part of 

available funds for future 

generations, secure funds and 

loans for specific projects and any 

other project for benefit of host 

communities. 

Any hope soon? 

Professor Eme Ekekwe, 

Department of Political Science, 

University of Port Harcourt had 

said: "I am pleased with progress 

being made by the National 

Assembly and other stakeholders 

to pass the bills." 

However, the Group Managing 

Director of the Nigerian National 

Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), 

Dr. Maikanti Baru, assured that the 

PIB, will be fully passed by the 

fourth quarter of this year. 

In a statement issued at the 

recently concluded Offshore 

Technology Conference (OTC) 

2018 in Houston, Texas, the Group 

Managing Director of NNPC, Dr. 

Maikanti Baru, had said: "We have 

assurances from our National 

Assembly that by early Q3, 2018 

there will be light at the end of the 

tunnel. Its passage is important to 

help unlock billions of dollars of 

investments, which have been 

held up due to the uncertainty of 

its passage." 

BEDC signs MOU on mini-grid project in franchise 

areas 

initiative was aimed at bridging 

the service gaps for areas within 

the company’s network with an 

existing but poorly supplied or 

non-functional distribution 

system or those without an 

existing distribution system. 

She said the mini-grid initiative 

was also necessitated by the need 

to reduce dependency for power 

supply to customers through the 

Transmission Company of 

Nigeria (TCN) source, adding 

that one community in Edo State 

would be used as a pilot for the 

project before it is extended to 

other locations. 

According to her, the project 

will entail an interconnected 

mini-grid using BEDC 

distribution lines in the selected 

locations to distribute solar power 

to the residents in the 

communities who are also 

expected to sign contract 

agreement with the suppliers. 

C 

M 

Y 

K

Nigeria spends $11bn 1bn on petr 

trochemicals impor 

port 

annually 


M ANAGING 

Director/Chief 

Executive Officer of Integrated 

Gas and Energy Services, LLC, 

Mr. Emmanuel Anyaeto, has 

disclosed that Nigeria spends 

about $11 billion on the 

importation of petrochemical 

related products annually. 

Anyaeto, in his 

presentation at the Ghana Gas 

Forum, titled: Understanding 

the Global Petrochemical 

Industry: Project Risks and 

Market Competitiveness, 

noted, however, that efforts 

are ongoing to revamp 

Nigeria's petrochemical 

industry through massive 

private sector investments. 

He said: "Nigeria built three 

petrochemical plants in Eleme, 

Warri and Kaduna. These 

plants have combined 

capacity to produce 240,000 

metric tons of polyethylene; 

130,000 metric tons of 

polypropylene; and 18,000 

metric tons of carbon black per 

annum. A few years after 

operation, all the plants 

became moribund. 

"A research conducted by 

the University of Benin, 

Nigeria, identified the reasons 

for collapse of the 

petrochemical plants to 

include irregular importation of 

By Udeme Akpan 

MINISTER 

of 

Industry, Trade and 

Investment, Dr. Okechukwu 

Enelamah has promised an 

amicable resolution of the ongoing 

dispute between 

Samsung Heavy Industries 

Nigeria (SHI), and the 

management of Lagos Deep 

Offshore Logistics 

(LADOL). 

Speaking during a courtesy 

call by the South Korean 

Ambassador to Nigeria, H.E. 

Maj. Gen. In-tae Lee (Rtd.), 

he said all parties in the 

dispute were being engaged 

by the Nigeria Export 

Processing Zones Authority 

(NEPZA). 

He said: "We will work with 

you, Samsung, Ladol, 

NEPZA and all the parties 

involved to resolve this 

amicably. We have an 

excellent relationship with 

South Korea and we will like 

to continue that," adding 

that, "successful resolution 

of problems generates 

goodwill." 

Earlier, Ambassador Lee 

had sought the intervention 

of the minister in the dispute. 

According to him, "Korean 

companies that are eager to 

invest in Nigeria are watching 

the dispute closely and it is 

in the best interest of both 

countries to get this behind 

us." 

LADOL, operators of the 

Egina Floating Production 

Storage and Offloading 

recently sacked SHI from the 

free zone over expiry of its 

operating licence. 

The Managing Director of 

LADOL, Dr Amy Jadesinmi 

said: "Samsung failed to meet 

the minimum standard 

required to qualify for an 

CONFERENCE: From Left: Comrade Olabode Johnson, President PENGASSAN, 

Prince Williams Akporeha, President NUPENG, Dr. Maikanti Baru, Group Managing 

Director NNPC, Comrade Odudu Udofia, outgone Group Chairman, NNPC NUPENG 

Group Executive Council at the 2018 Quadrennial Delegates’ Conference in Abuja, 

feedstock, poor maintenance 

and lack of technical and 

managerial capacity. 

"One of the plants at Eleme 

was sold to Indorama 

Petrochemicals in 2006 and 

now operates at an annual 

average availability of 99 per 

cent, having newly-built largest 

single-train fertilizer plant in the 

world. Indorama today is 

building a petrochemical hub 

in Africa at Eleme. 

"Nigeria spends about $11 

billion on imported 

petrochemical related products 

in a year. You can understand 

why Dangote Industries is 

building one of the largest 

petrochemical complexes in 

the world in Nigeria." 

He hinted of an enormous 

opportunity in the global 

petrochemical market, noting 

that reports by various 

international research 

agencies had pointed to the 

fact that global petrochemical 

market was expected to reach 

$825 billion in 2018 and would 

continuously grow at an 

average compound annual 

growth rate, CAGR, of 6.7 per 

cent. 

According to him, the 

biggest petrochemical market 

Trade minister assures on LADOL, Samsung dispute 

settlement 

Operating License in a Free 

Zone, their license has 

therefore expired without 

renewal. Samsung's Sublease 

Agreement has been duly 

terminated." 

Both LADOL and Samsung 

have indicated interest in the 

planned amicable settlement 

in the best interest of Total, 

and by extension, Nigeria 

and other stakeholders. 

Earlier, the NEPZA, had set 

up a committee to investigate 

alleged breach of Nigerian 

laws and lack of respect 

shown to Nigerian 

government officials, by SHI- 

MCI, targeted at resolving 

the conflict. 

Also, NEPZA had directed 

LADOL to immediately 

renew the operating license 

of SHI-MCI Free Zone 

Enterprise. 

In a letter to the Managing 

Director of Global Resource 

Management Free Zone 

Company, a subsidiary of 

LADOL and managers of the 

LADOL free zone, signed by 

the Managing Director of 

NEPZA, Emmanuel Jime, 

NEPZA had stated: "Kindly 

be informed that a committee 

has been constituted by the 

authority to investigate the 

various alleged infractions 

Oil thieves, es, pipeline vandals risk life 

imprisonment ---NSCDC 

in terms of regional demand is 

Asia where China alone 

accounts for 25 per cent of the 

global consumption, adding 

that global consumption of 

petrochemicals grows at an 

annual rate of 5.4 per cent and 

would reach 627.5 million 

metric tons in 2018. 

"Ethylene, which accounts 

for 28 per cent of the global 

market, is the most consumed 

petrochemical product. 

Annual demand growth in 

Africa is 7.1 per cent and will 

reach a deficit of 3.1 million metric 

tons in 2023," the chief executive 

of the Los Angeles, Californiabased 

company noted. 

purportedly committed by 

Samsung Heavy Industries 

and SHI-MCI FZE in 

LADOL Free Trade Zone 

spanning over a period of 

time." 

It stated: "In accordance 

with Section (20)(a) part 5 of 

the free zone regulation 2004, 

which provides as follows, 

'the authority/zone 

management may appoint 

one or more competent 

persons as inspectors, to 

investigate the affairs of any 

free zone enterprise and 

report to the authority in 

such form and within such 

time as it may direct.” 

THE Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), said it has stepped up its 

activities to curb destruction of petroleum assets across the country, warning that 

vandals and petroleum products thieves risk 21 years to life imprisonment if caught. 

Speaking at the re-inauguration ceremony of the Natural Oil and Gas Suppliers 

Association of Nigeria (NOGASA), Commandant-General of the NSCDC, Abdullahi 

Muhammadu, noted that anyone caught tampering with and vandalising petroleum 

facilities would be tried under the Miscellaneous Offences Law and if found guilty, risks 

21 years imprisonment or the maximum jail sentence. 

Muhammadu, who was represented by an Assistant Commandant General of the 

NSCDC, Mr. Aminu Abdullahi, stated that the same punishment applies to anyone 

caught engaged in illegal oil bunkering, as well as in the transportation of stolen crude oil 

or petroleum products. 

He expressed optimism that NOGASA would endeavour to partner with the NSCDC 

and other security agencies in addressing issues of illegal dealing in petroleum products, 

illegal oil bunkering, pipeline vandalism, crude oil and petroleum products theft. 

According to him, these are critical issues the government was seeking partnership 

with NOGASA and other stakeholders. 

Also speaking, the newly elected President of NOGASA, Mr. Benneth Korie, said with 

the inauguration of the new executive after years of challenges, the association was set to 

provide suppliers the representative platform of their dream. 

He said NOGASA, which was registered and inaugurated in 2008 as Oil and Gas 

Suppliers Association of Nigeria (OGASON) was now being re-launched as NOGASA. 

Korie and other executive officers of the association will steer the association in their 

respective capacities and functions for the next five-year. 

He advised those patronising illegal loading points to desist from doing so, because it 

is no longer necessary and was harmful for the reputation of the business. 

"Remember, we are employers of labour, we do not want anything to jeopardise the jobs 

of our workers. Besides, the frequent damages caused by adulterated products are costly 

to end users." 


FG commends firm over 

discover 

ery y of high quality ore 

By Gabriel Ewepu 

THE Federal Government 

has commended a mining 

firm, Kogi Iron, for discovering 

high quality ore at Agbaja, Kogi 

State. 

The commendation was 

made by the Minister of State 

for Mines and Steel 

Development, Abubakar Bwari, 

during courtesy visit by the 

Chief Executive Officer, Kogi 

Iron, Martin Wood, who 

revealed the recent discovery 

by his company, and said 

Nigeria is on the path of joining 

big players in quality steel 

production. 

Bwari said the management 

of Kogi Iron has done well by 

investing in Nigeria, and 

promised that the ministry will 

continue to encourage it and 

other investors to thrive in the 

industry. 

He said: "We are proud of 

Kogi Iron for doing something 

positive in the mining industry 

and particularly impressed with 

your level of patience since you 

started doing business in 2010. 

"I am sure you have seen the 

difference between now and the 

time you came in 2010 and how 

this government has been able 

to transform the industry and 

create an enabling environment 

for investors. Anywhere we go, 

Kogi Iron is being presented as 

one of companies that adds 

colour to mining activities in 

Nigeria. 

"We are equally happy that 

Kogi Iron intends to dig deep 

and help produce the highest 

level of steel products using 

local materials for our 

consumption. I have always 

said that we have no reason to 

import steel products because 

we know the potential of Nigeria 

when it comes to iron ore. 

Nigeria is rich in iron ore." 

The minister maintained that 

the Buhari-led administration 

Register exposing owners of 

oil, other businesses ready 

in January y - CAC 


THE 

Corporate 

Affairs Commission 

(CAC), said that it has set a 

January 1, 2019 target to 

develop a publicly accessible 

electronic register of the 

beneficial owners of oil 

and gas companies, as 

well as other businesses 

in Nigeria. 

This was even as the 

Nigeria Extractive 

Industries Transparency 

Initiative (NEITI), stated 

that the Federal 

Government can explore 

an Executive Order that 

would compel 

companies to declare 

their beneficial owners 

(BO), while it also stated 

that regulatory 

authorities in the 

extractive industries can 

develop regulations in 

that regard. 

Executive Secretary of 

NEITI, Mr.Waziri Adio, 

and Director of 

Compliance of the CAC, 

Mr. Garba Abubakar, 

stated this at NEITI's 

stakeholders' 

engagement on Beneficial 

Ownership Roadmap in 

the extractive industries in 

remains resolute to transform 

the country poised into one of 

the best mining business 

destinations in the world 

based on the recently 

launched roadmap for 

industrial minerals. 

He said the attention 

being given to the mining 

sector by the present 

administration is 

unprecedented resulting in 

the renewed interest of 

investors in the industry. "I 

must tell you that the best 

time for any investor in the 

mining sector to invest in 

the industry in Nigeria is 

now. There cannot be a 

better time because 


Buhari's administration is 

well focused in 

encouraging investors to 

do business in the sector," 

he said. 

In his earlier remarks, 

Wood acknowledged that 

Agbaja mining site was 

previously regarded as 

only capable of producing 

low grade ore with too 

many impurities like 

phosphorus which made it 

seem incapable of 

producing high quality 

steel. 


company took samples to 

labs in South Africa that 

was processed and 

upgraded to produce high 

quality steel of high market 

value. 

He also assured the minister 

that the desire and plan of his 

company is to ensure Nigeria 

will not just be a producer of 

steel products but a big time 

steel exporter from being an 

importer. 

He also stated that his 

company can produce the 

highest level of steel to feed 

steel manufacturing companies 


Nigeria. 

Adio disclosed that 

Nigeria, as well as many 

other African countries 

are currently losing 

billions of dollars 

annually, mainly from 

the extractive 

industries, due to illicit 

financial flows, arising 

partly from the absence 

of a register to determine 

the actual and beneficial 

owners of companies in 

Africa. 

He noted that 

presently, there is no 

legislation that 

mandates the disclosure 

of BO of mining, oil and 

gas companies, as well as 

every other company in 

the country, noting that 

this had posed a major 

hindrance in enforcing 

Beneficial Ownership 

principles in Nigeria. 

He stressed that the 

country needs to 

immediately enact 

legislation on BO, adding 

that in the interim, an 

Executive Order can be 

released or regulations 

can be churned out to 

bridge the gap, pending 

when an appropriate law 

is enacted. 

/


FG woos oos UK bitumen invest 

estor 

ors, s, promises job security 


THE 

Federal 

Government has said it 

is wooing a bitumen investor, 

Lakel Group, into the mining 

sector to mine bitumen and 

create jobs for Nigerians. 

This was made known by the 

Minister of State for Mines and 

Steel Development, Abubakar 

Bwari, during a courtesy visit by 

United Kingdom bitumen 

investors, led by the Chief 

Executive Officer, Lakel Group, 

Lawrence Ajayi. 

According to Bwari the 

country's mining sector 

was at the verge of outright 

collapse before President 

Muhammadu Buhari 

came to its rescue by 

deploying resources after 

declaring the sector an 

engine of diversification for 

shared prosperity. 

He said the commitment 

of government's effort to 

diversify the economy 

through the solid minerals 

sector was geared towards 

ending the over reliance on 

oil and gas. 

He also added that with 

the new vista in the sector 

global perception about 

Nigeria's mining sector, 

therefore Nigeria now in 

the hall of mining fame as its 

profile has been boosted as a 

mining nation. 

He said: "Although the 


AS Nigeria prepares 

for the 2018 Mining 

Week, Miners 

Association of Nigeria 

(MAN), disclosed that 

about 100 mining 

companies from 20 

countries are expected to 

attend on October 16, 

2018. 

MAN President, Sani 

Shehu, stated this at a 

media briefing ahead of 

the event, while 

explaining expected 

impact of the 3rd Nigeria 

Mining Week on the 

mining sector. 

Shehu said the Mining 

Week will create a 

"Networking opportunity 

for serious investors, 

mining operators, finance 

houses and multilateral 

investors as well as 

technology solution 

providers, all actors of the 

industry will be able to 

find their professional 

soul mate at the event." 


event will enable small 

mining companies to 

grow and expand through 

mentorship series, 

including matchmaking. 

He further stated that 

highlights of the event will 

include critical 

assessment of the mining 

industry in Nigeria on 

progress made, updates, 

challenges, and 

alignment with global 

ecosystem, dialogue 

between government and 

private sector players, 

assessing the government 

policies so far and how 

MEETING: From Left: District Head of Katampe, Alhaji Adamu Diga (L), 

welcoming the Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Alhaji Abubakar 

Bwari, during the minister’s visit to a recent gaseous emission location, at Katampe 

in Abuja 

potentials in the sector were 

enormous, poor funding and 

lack of exploration left the sector 

comatose. 

"The present government's 

emphasis on economy 

diversification and effort in the 

last three years has rescued the 

situation in the sector, which 

also government has tackled a 

number of legacy issues that 

stifled the growth of mining and 

now the interest in the Nigerian 

mining landscape has grown 

tremendously as a result. 

there have impacted the 

Nigerian miners and 

mining industry in 

general, adding that it will 

also showcase mining 

destinations in Nigeria. 

He said: "The Nigerian 

mining industry has 

witnessed great 

development within the 

last two years with 

improved funding of the 

"Any investor wishing to 

cash in on the resurgence 

of activities in the sector, 

the time to do so is now 

considering the mouthwatering 

incentives 

available to serious players." 

He commended the team 

of investors from Lakel Group 

for demonstrating 

technicalexpertise in their 

presentation. He also assured 

them of the ministry's complete 

support. 

The minister advised them to 

100 mining companies from 20 nations to attend 2018 

Mining Week 

sector to implement the 

roadmap for mining 

development. The 

ministry continues to 

tackle critical challenges 

such as exploration, 

policing of the Nigeria 

mining fields to 

checkmate illegal mining 

and support the artisanal 

and small scale mining to 

encourage legal mining 

avail themselves geoscience 

data available at the Nigeria 

Geological Survey Agency 

(NGSA) which has done some 

exploratory work on the area of 

their interests. 

Speaking earlier, Ajayi 

explained why Lakel Group was 

inspired to invest in the Nigerian 

mining sector. According to him, 

the investment motivation was 

a result of the effort put in by the 

present administration to launch 

Nigeria's mining sector into a 

global limelight. 

practices. 

"This has generated 

interest from foreign and 

indigenous investors in 

Nigeria. The Miners 

Association of Nigeria 

(MAN), will continue to 

support the government 

in its quest to create 

enabling environment for 

the growth of this 

promising industry.” 

Kachikwu, Wabo 

abote, Inoyo, o, other 

thers set t for 3rd 

Africa Oil & Gas Talent Summit 

By Eshiamila Priscilla & Victoria Oseji 

THE Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, Engr Simbi Wabote, 

Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB, and Mr. 

Udom Inoyo, Executive Vice Chairman, ExxonMobil, Nigeria, and several others are set for the 3rd 

Africa Oil & Gas Talent Summit in Lagos, Nigeria. 

Mr. Emmanuel Emielu, Summit Director, AOGS 2018, who disclosed in a statement that the annual 

Pan African oil and gas event will take place in Lagos from 24-25 October, 2018, at the La 4-Points by 

Sheraton Hotel, added: "the event will be declared open by Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum 

Resources, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu." 

He stated: “Dr. Kachikwu will be supported by senior industry leaders, including Wabote and 

Inoyo, adding that AOGS was created to be the meeting place where Africa’s oil and gas business 

and Human Resources leaders will share experiences and ideas on how to build and bridge the 

Human Capital needs of the Industry, and it is coming to Nigeria for the first time, after two successful 

outings in Ghana in 2015 and 2017. 

“The 2018 theme is People as the Real Assets: Delivering Innovation and Growth in the “New 

Normal” of Global Oil & Gas, adding that It underscores the critical role of work teams to deliver the 

innovation and resilience needed at this time, as the industry faces global uncertainties and chaos. 

“Speakers from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Ghana, UAE and Canada are expected to present papers on 

the various sub-themes, with a Keynote by Funke Amobi, Country Head Human Capital StanbicIBTC 

Holdings Plc. 

“Some of the companies to be represented at AOGS2018 will include, West Africa 

Pipeline Co Ltd, Ghana, NCDMB, DPR, NNPC, Oando, ExxonMobil, GE, Baker 

Hughes, Falcon Corporation, Ghana Technology University College, and the Institute 

of Petroleum Education and Management, Sierra Leone, to mention a few.” 

He added: “People must be seen as the real asset for charting the road to recovery. Of the three pillars 

of the industry – technology, finance, and people – it is only people that Africa has strategic control 

over, given that the other two are externally determined.” 

Emielu also quoted Mr. Felix Amieyeofori, Executive Consultant, Operations, Pan Ocean/Newcross 

Group, as adding that: “This event is first of kind in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry. It is to provide the 

platform for engaging industry players on the need for investing in Human Capital that will sustain the 

growth in a competitive business environment. It’s key that very People Oriented Organization associates 

with this event, if they want to have sustainable business in disruptive environment that is constantly 

changing and evolving with new ideas.” 

“Our focus is Africa, given the teeming young population - the continent is branded as the youngest 

continent, with ever growing population, yet, extremely poor in all social dimensions. 

“Both China and India have explored and exploited their huge population into becoming global 

power house - China is the second economy after the US, while India is being forecasted to be third, 

over taking Japan and Germany, very soon.” 

Vanguard’s 

Electricity watch 

EEDC kick as reckless drivers 

damage facilities 


THE management of Enugu Electricity 

Distribution Plc (EEDC), has decried the high 

rate of vehicular accidents within its network, stressing 

that the situation not only affects its revenue, but also 

impacts on the quality of service delivery to electricity 

customers. 

The Head of Communications, EEDC, Mr. Emeka 

Ezeh, made this known during a chat with newsmen 

in Enugu over the weekend. 

Ezeh said that on a weekly basis, the organisation 

records many accidents, involving commuter buses, 

private cars, trailers, tankers and tippers. 

He said that this situation affects EEDC properties, 

such as: transformers, feeder pillars, line accessories, 

high tension (HT) and low tension (LT) lines; and 

always subjects the organisation to so much pressure, 

as it struggles to replace the damaged equipment and 

restore supply to its customers in the affected areas. 

He said: "These situations forcefully throw our 

customers into darkness for the period and further 

cripples business activities within the area.” 

Speaking further, he attributed the accidents to over 

speeding, driving under the influence of substances, 

making calls while driving, and other reckless 

attitudes of the drivers. 

He called on the drivers to be more cautious, practice 

safe driving, avoid over speeding as well as all forms 

of recklessness while on the road, adding that these 

will enable EEDC to channel its resources to other 

projects, targeted at increasing supply to consumers. 

.

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND 

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, OCOTBER 16, 2018 — 25 

EMEKA ANAETO,BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE & EMMA UJAH REPORTING 

FG defends debt 

borrowing 

... Why reserves are falling 

... 2017 Budget achieved 86% performance 

THE federal government 

has defended the country’s 

position with regards to 

foreign borrowing against the 

position of the International 

Monetary Fund IMF. 

IMF had listed the vulnerability 

to foreign debt as one of 

the major threats to economic 

growth amongst African countries, 

especially in the sub-Saharan 

Africawhich includes 

Nigeria. 

The government also stressed 

why foreign reserves are falling, 

attributing the fall in reserves 

to the rising interest rates in developed 

economies. 

Meanwhile, the Debt Management 

Office (DMO) of the 

Federation has said that the federal 

government is making effort 

to protect the country from 

such crisis. 

The Director in charge of Africa 

at the IMF, Mr Abebe Selassie, 

who listed the challenges 

to growth in Africa said the 

countries’ debts were rising 

unsustainably, posing threats to 

their ability to deploy funds for 

economic development. 

He also said that the consequences 

of the rising debt were 

the countries’ resources were 

being channeled to debt servicing 

rather investment into 

growth enablers. 

Selassie advised that not only 

should the debts be moderated 

but also that revenue generation 

should improve to address 

a weak debt servicing ratio to 

GDP and tax-to-GDP ratio. 

But against the backdrop of 

this situation the Director-General, 

DMO, Ms Patience Oniha, 

while addressing journalists 

on the sidelines of the ongoing 

annual meetings of the 

Bretton Woods institutions, said 

the Federal Government is on 

top of the situation in the borrowing 

plans. 

Why reserves are 

falling — Emefiele 

THE Governor of the Cen 

tral Bank of Nigeria 

(CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, 

has said that reserves of 

emerging and frontier markets 

have been falling because 

of the rising interest 

rates in developed economies. 

According to him, foreign 

investors, especially portfolio 

investors who invested in the 

capital markets of the emerging 

markets were returning 

their funds to their home 

countries, thereby exiting and 

leaving huge gaps in the developing 

economies of the 

world. 

His words: “If you all recall, 

about 2009, 2010 and 2011, 

those were the period of 

quantitative easing. 

“During that period, there 

were flows of capital from the 

U.S and Europe and Japan. 

Those capital flows ended up 

in emerging markets and developing 

countries. 

“At this time where we are 

beginning to see reversal in 

development policy, where 

interest rates are rising, naturally, 

those flows are beginning 

to return back to where 

they came from. 

“Practically, all emerging 

and frontier markets have suffered 

not just depreciation, 

but also, they have lost reserves. 

“In Nigeria we have done a 

very good job not only trying 

to see to it that we maintain a 

stable exchange rate but also 

avoid the pitfalls of depreciating 

our currency so soon in 

the early days of normalization.” 

The CBN boss said he 

agreed with the need to build 

buffers but that it was feasible 

in the present situation. 

“We are very conscious of 

the need to build buffers. Unfortunately 

I will say that we 

are in a period where it will 

be difficult to talk about building 

reserve buffers at this 

time. 

“You can only build those reserve 

buffers if you want to 

hold on to the reserves and 

allow your currency to go - 

and wherever it goes is something 

else. It’s a choice we 

have to make. 

“But at this time, the choice 

for Nigeria is to maintain a 

stable exchange rate so that 

businesses can plan, so that 

we don’t create problems in 

the banking system assets because 

when these happen, 

they have very wide ramifications. 

That is the reason we 

are maintaining our current 

position and we believe it is 

sustainable, at least in the 

short run.” 

From left: Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, Minister of Finance, Hajiya Zainab Ahmed, Director 

General, Debt Management Office, DMO, Ms. Patience Oniha at the just concluded World 

Bank/IMF meeting held in Bali, Indonesia. 

2017 Budget achieved 86% 

performance — Udoma 

THE federal government 

2017 budget recorded an 

86 per cent implementation, 

the Minister of Budget and 

National Planning, Sen. Udoma 

Udo Udoma, has disclosed. 

He told Vanguard in an interview 

on the sidelines of the 

just concluded 2018 Annual 

Meetings of the International 

Monetary Fund (IMF) and the 

World Bank, in Bali, Indonesia, 

that although the performances 

of the ministries and 

agencies of the federal government 

varied, it was generally 

an impressive record. 

According to the minister, 

“Overall, the 2017 budget implementation 

was about 86 per 

cent. Capital releases was at 

N1.44 trillion, the highest 

ever, while recurrent was almost 

100 percent. All debt 

service obligations were fully 

met.” 

Good news about Nigeria 

On the overall Annual Meetings, 

Sen. Udoma said that the 

Nigerian story was good, given 

the positive results from the 

Economic Recovery and 

Growth Plan (ERGP). 

He said, “Basically since this 

is a forum where all Ministers 

of Finance, Governors of Central 

Banks and investors from 

all over the world meet, it is a 

good opportunity for us to 

meet with investors and analysts 

to speak to them about 

Nigeria. 

“We met investors to give 

them the good news about developments 

in Nigeria. We 

spoke to investors to continue 

to see Nigeria as a good place 

to do business. 

ERGP yielding results 

Sen. Udoma said that the 


Growth Plan was yielding impressive 

results since its primary 

objectives were to pull 

Nigeria out of recession and 

put the economy on the path 

of growth. 

The two objectives, he said, 

have been achieved and assured 

that the implementation 

of the plan would raise the bar 

of the nation’s economy, both 

in the immediate and longterm. 

His words, “As you know, we 

went into a recession in 2016. 

We developed policies to get 

us out of recession. Those 

policies were encapsulated in 

a single document called the 


Growth Plan (ERGP). That 

plan involved investing in both 

oil and non-oil (sectors). We 

did both. Part of that plan 

was that we will engage with 

the communities in the Niger 

Delta to get a more favourable 

environment for oil production 

and then non-oil: agriculture, 

solid minerals, manufacturing 

and son on – to fire on 

all cylinders. 

“Since the plan was 

launched and we started implementing 

it, we have got 

out of recession and we are 

beginning to grow. 

“In 2017, our growth was 0.8 

percent. By half year, this 

year, we were on 1.5 percent. 

We are hoping that by the end 

of the year, we will be growing 

at 2.1 percent. That is 

our target for this year. For 

next year, we are hoping that 

we will be growing at 3 Percent. 

“The IMF projection is that 

Nigeria will grow by 1.9 percent 

this year, which, coming 

from 0.8 percent last year, is 

good progress. Our projection 

if projection is 2.1 percent. 

The difference is not 

great. With our projection, 

it is clear that the economy is 

making good progress. So 

the economy is moving in the 

right direction. 

“I was invited to be a discussant 

when the World Bank 

unveiled the Regional Outlook. 

I was the sole discussant. 

You know that Nigeria 

has a very big impact on what 

happens in Sub-Sahara Africa 

because we are the largest 

economy in the region. What 

happens in Nigeria, South Africa 

and Angola affects what 

happens in other countries of 

Sub-Sahara Africa because 

these are the largest economies 

of the region. 

“That was one of the reasons 

why I was invited to discuss 

Nigeria concerning the various 

issues that were raised by 

the World Bank report.” 

Debt not our challenge 

The minister explained that 

the nation’s debt was not its 

major problem. The challenge 

he said remained with 

the low level of revenue generation. 

“When you look at our situation 

our debt it is not bad at 

all. Our debt/GDP is about 

19 per cent. The average for 

Sub-Sahara Africa is about 57 

per percent. So ours is quite 

moderate. Our debt is sustainable. 

We are concerned 

about our revenues. So we 

have been trying to raise our 

revenues. So far the numbers 

from the FIRS shows that out 

tax collection both oil and nonoil 

is about 30 to 35 percent 

higher than it was, last year. 

That is good although we 

would like to do much better 

than that. 

Our debt sustainable — 

DMO boss 

The nation’s debt is sustainable, 

the Director–General (D- 

G) of the Debt Management 

Office (DMO) Ms. Patience 

Oniha, has said. 

She spoke in an interview on 

the sidelines of the just-concluded 

Annual Meetings of 

the IMF and World in Bali, Indonesia. 

“Nigeria’s debt is sustainable. 

We have done the 

analysis and continue to do 

the debt sustainability analysis 

of the nation’s debt on a 

regular basis. I can assure 

you that our level of debt is not 

a thing to worry about. 

“One important thing to 

know about Nigeria’s debt is 

that much of the foreign loans 

are on concessionary terms 

with very low rates of interests. 

This type of loan is the best 

type of facilities that anyone 

can obtain. 

“It is equally important to 

know that the loans we are obtaining 

from foreign sources 

are being utilized for the provision 

of infrastructure facilities 

that will equally yield revenue. 

“We have a debt strategy 

which guides us in making 

sure that our debt portfolio is 

within limits that remains sustainable 

and well restructured 

in such a way to reduce the 

burden of servicing on a continuous 

basis. 

“Consequently, we are gradually 

reducing the nature of 

the debts from short-term loan 

to long-term loans which are 

very important for repayment 

purposes.”

26 — VANGUARD, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2018 

Obi: Why Igbo leaders are angry and 

Nigerians are happy 

MR. Peter Obi’s 

emergence as 

vice-presidential 

candidate of the Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP 

last Friday was 

immediately laced with 

controversy arising from 

political intrigues from 

within the Southeast 

geopolitical zone. 

By Emmanuel Aziken, 

Political Editor 

Mr. Obi had faced many odds 

during his brief but eventful 

political career. And almost every 

time with one notable exception, 

he had overcome the odds. Last 

weekend, he overcame another 

challenge after he was 

announced as vice-presidential 

candidate of the PDP by Atiku 

Abubakar, the presidential 

candidate of the party. 

It was not as if Obi’s name came 

as a surprise to many Nigerians. 

He had almost consistently been 

mentioned as a possible running 

mate to any presidential 

candidate that emerged from the 

PDP. 

The reason was not too farfetched. 

His period as governor 

of Anambra State between 2005 

and 2013 proved to be one of the 

best testimonials that the 

country’s democracy could 

present. 

In his time as governor of 

Anambra State, roads were given 

a top priority that led to a network 

of motor able roads that linked all 

the major towns in the state. 

Even more, Mr. Obi’s 

legendary prudence set him out 

as a good manager of public 

resources. When he left office he 

left as much as N75 billion for his 

successor contrary to the narrative 

in nearly every other place where 

governors burden their 

successors with debts. 

Even more, he was able to clear 

the N35 billion pension debt he 

inherited and by the time he was 

leaving he was neither owing 

salaries nor pensions. 

However, his politics had not 

always been a fairy tale. After 

reclaiming his mandate through 

the courts in 2005, Mr. Obi had 

sought to stamp his political 

authority in the state through his 

All Progressives Grand Alliance, 

APGA. 

While he succeeded in taking 

control of the State House of 

Assembly from 2011 he, however, 

failed in replicating the feat at the 

national level with his failure to 

project APGA in the National 

Assembly. 

The PDP with its disparate 

forces on ground was still able to 

maintain a commanding hold on 

the Senate seats and the majority 

of the seats in the House of 

Representatives. 

Before he died, Dr. Alex 

Ekwueme passed on to Obi the 

need for him to cross over to the 

PDP. However, having a 

Atiku Abubakar 

Peter Obi 

successful berth in the PDP was 

bound to be a difficult venture for 

Obi. The multitude of hawks in 

the party who had divided the 

party along personal interests was 

not something that anyone 

envisaged Obi could relate with. 

However, beneath the veneer of 

the Mr. Nice Guy that Obi 

espoused, those who had dealt 

with him in the past also claimed 

that he could also be a brutal 

politician. 

His repeated success in caging 

Chief Chris Uba throughout the 

time he was governor was one fact 

that was referenced to underline 

his political prowess. 

So, when last Friday Atiku 

announced Obi’s emergence as 

his running mate, the 

announcement elicited mixed 

reactions. 

To the general public, it was 

seen as the killer blow that the 

PDP needed to tie up the Igbo 

vote in the run-up to the 

presidential election. 

However, among the political 

elite within Anambra and the rest 

of the Southeast, Obi’s 

emergence was like a killer joy 

for some of them. While some on 

account of their personal dealings 

with the former governor 

expressed their reservations, 

others who wanted the position 

either for themselves or for others, 

the nomination was a provocation. 

Indeed over the night last 

Thursday, several political 

gladiators reached out to one 

another and the consensus of the 

elite class was that the insult 

would not be taken. 

The insult they claimed was not 

It was seen as the 

killer blow that the 

PDP needed to tie 

up the Igbo vote 

because of Obi but rather what 

they claimed to be the process 

that led to his emergence. 

Whereas Governor Dave 

Umahi, chairman of the Southeast 

Governors Forum was quoted to 

have issued a press statement 

lauding the nomination through 

his chief press secretary that 

Thursday, within hours the same 

statement was retracted. 

The insinuation in some 

quarters was that Umahi who had 

been positioned as a possible 

running mate was angry. But he 

was, however, not the only one 

Ike Ekweremadu 

that was considered for the position 

of running mate. 

Others considered included the 

Deputy President of the Senate, 

Senator Ike Ekweremadu, 

erstwhile Corps Marshall of the 

Federal Road Safety Commission, 

FRSC, Osita Chidoka and Dr. 

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. 

By the eve of the decision on the 

decision on who to choose as a 

running mate, Vanguard gathered 

that the choice had narrowed to two 

persons, Ekweremadu and Obi. 

For Ekweremadu, little is known 

of who he supported during the 

presidential convention given the 

conflict for him among the 

presidential aspirants. Senate 

President Bukola Saraki was his 

paddy in the Senate and it was 

generally expected that he would 

support him. However, the 

consensus for many in the 

Southeast had been Atiku. 

Even more was the last minute 

bid by Governor Nyesom Wike to 

lobby votes for Governor Aminu 

Tambuwal from the Southeast 

delegation. 

However, Obi was known to have 

been an unflinching supporter of 

the Atiku project and had helped 

to canvass support for Atiku at 

home and abroad. 

“Who best can manage a country 

like Nigeria if not somebody who 

has managed a business like 

Atiku,” he had once said months 

ahead of the PDP presidential 

nomination convention. 

In fact despite entreaties from 

some other presidential 

aspirants before the convention 

to Obi to work for them with the 

quid pro quo of the vicepresidential 

seat, Obi is said to 

have stuck with Atiku. 

However, when it came to the 

issue of choosing a running 

mate, political fidelity even 

while an essential ingredient, 

other factors were brought into 

focus. It was for that reason that 

Dubem Onyia, arguably Atiku’s 

closest political ally in the 

Southeast was not a shoo-in. 

So when last Thursday some 

of the party’s leading figures 

gathered in Atiku’s Asokoro, 

Abuja residence, all the 

variables were brought into 

play. 

Among those that were 

gathered according to 

Vanguard sources were 

Atiku, national chairman of 

the party, Prince Uche 

Secondus, Senate President 

Bukola Saraki, Speaker 

Yakubu Dogara and 

Governor Wike. While Wike 

was present of all the 

governors is not known. 

Based on political and age 

considerations, the list of 

those touted for the position 

was narrowed down to Obi 

and Ekweremadu. Vanguard 

gathered that the final 

clincher which put it in Obi’s 

way was his exposure to 

business. 

“What is needed is someone 

who can push forward the 

interests of business and help 

Nigeria work again,” a source 

familiar with the process 

revealed. 

Atiku’s decision not to first 

inform Southeast political 

leaders including Chief 

Emmanuel Iwanyanwu who 

helped to mobilise support for 

him became a weapon for 

those who were against Obi 

to raise their grievance. 

“This man is starting on a 

bad note and I hope we are 

not replacing one man who 

marginalises us with another 

one who does not think us 

important,” a senator from the 

region told Vanguard last 

Saturday. 

“Imagine, Iwanyanwu and 

our governors all heard of the 

choice from social media.” 

Beyond the issue of lack of 

consultation was also the 

unsettled matter of a major 

beef between a South-South 

governor and Igbo leaders 

who he was alleged to have 

accused of betraying him. The 

South-South governor it was 

gathered had sworn that he 

would pay them back by 

foisting a vice-president 

candidate on them that they 

would not like. 

However, the irony for the 

governor and even the Igbo 

political leaders is that Obi 

is well liked by the majority 

of Nigerians among whom 

his illustrious example in 

public service continues to 

shine. 

So after the Southeast leaders 

mobilised themselves to Enugu 

to discuss what they raved as 

the insult, Atiku was said to have 

called them to apologise over the 

perceived slight promising to 

meet with them after returning 

from a trip abroad.

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2018 — 27 

Benue: Ortom, Suswam sheathe swords to fight 

godfather 

By Peter Duru 

BEFORE Governor Samuel 

Ortom dumped the All 

Progressives Congress, APC, for 

the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, 

last August, rumour mills had it 

that he had a running battle with 

his political godfather and leader 

of the party in Benue State, 

Senator George Akume. 

It was therefore not a surprise 

to many when he dumped the 

party after raising the alarm that 

Akume had issued him a red 

card, meaning he was no longer 

needed in the APC. 

Ortom’s defection to the PDP 

practically meant that he was left 

with no other option than to work 

with his predecessor, former 

Governor Gabriel Suswam with 

whom he had been at 

loggerheads since assuming 

leadership of the state in 2015, 

ostensibly fuelled by Akume, their 

political godfather, who had a 

hand in their emergence as 

governors of the state at different 

times. 

Thus, Ortom and Suswam have 

elected to forget the past and 

teamed up to oust a common 

enemy. And the first step to 

prepare a formidable political 

onslaught against the Akume 

dynasty, after supporting Ortom’s 

re-entry into the PDP, Suswam 

also supported Governor Ortom 

to pick the PDP governorship 

ticket. 

The duo who friends before the 

2015 elections have found their 

political groove again and are 

determined to retire Senator 

Akume from the Senate on 

account of non-performance. 

So far, the PDP senatorial 

candidate for Benue North West 

district and serving federal 

lawmaker, Mr. Orker Jev, has 

continued to enjoy support from 

the entire PDP family including 

Ortom and Suswam who 

obviously felt that their estranged 

political godfather deserves 

retirement from the Senate after 

three terms of 12 years at the end 

of the current dispensation. 

Governor Ortom while 

applauding the PDP for picking 

him as the governorship flagbearer 

of the party in the 2019 

election said his emergence had 

put an end to godfatherism in 

Benue politics. 

Obviously referring to Senator 

Akume and his alleged 

overbearing influence on political 

allies, Ortom lamented that such 

acts were responsible for the 

below par performance of those 

entrusted with leadership 

responsibilities because political 

godfathers would not allow such 

persons space to perform. 

His words: “My victory therefore 

will mark an end to god fatherism 

in Benue politics because we will 

not allow it or encourage it. I am 

not prepared to be a political god 

father to anyone because I cannot 

ascribe such powers to myself, 

moreover you cannot become 

anything or get anything in life 

if not given by God so why 

would any man assume the 

position of god?” 

It is however left to be seen if 

Senator Akume would survive 

this double barrelled onslaught 

unleashed by two formidable 

political allies who are 

determined to change the 

political narrative in Benue. 

GUBER POLL: The battle of two Abdulrazaqs 

in Kwara 

By Demola Akinyemi 

THE 2019 governorship 

contest in 2019 is taking 

shape and fanning out as the battle 

of two Abdulrazaqs given the 

emergence of Hon Abdulrazaq 

Atunwa as the candidate of the 

ruling party, Peoples Democratic 

Parry,PDP, and Alhaji 

Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq as the 

standard bearer of the main 

opposition All Progressives 

Congress, APC. 

Abdulrazaq Atunwa is a serving 

member of House of 

Representatives while 

Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq is an oil 

magnate and businessman. 

Apart from Professor Shuaib Oba 

Abdulraheem, who still aggrieved 

over the outcome of the APC 

primary, most of the other aspirants 

have resigned to fate and moved 

on. They include Mohammed Dele 

Belgore, SAN and Ambassador 

Seriki Gambari, who stepped 

down for Abdulrahman 

Abdulrazaq 

Unlike the APC, the outcome of 

the PDP primary did not raise 

much dust apart from the first day 

of the exercise when the primary 

was scuttled by hoodlums because 

of the absence of their political 

leader, Dr Bukola Saraki, the 

Senate President. However, on the 

second day, Saraki rushed back to 

Ilorin, intervened, Hon Abdulrazaq 

Atunwa emerged and since then 

no opposition has been raised 

against Atunwa’s emergence in the 

state. As it is now, the governorship 

election is straight duel between 

Abdulrazaq Atunwa Abdulrahman 

Abdulrazaq. 

To win the election, PDP’s 

Abdulrazaq Atunwa will obviously 

rely on the structure of the Saraki 

political dynasty through which he 

had been commissioner for Works, 

commissioner for Information, 

commissioner for Finance, 

speaker of the State House of 

Assembly and now a member of 

House of Representatives. 

On the other hand, 

Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, who 

is having his best ever chance of 

winning the governorship will 

rely on the support of APC 

bigwigs in Kwara, his network of 

contacts as a businessman, oil 

magnate and investments on the 

people of kwara through his 

scholarship and empowerment 

programmes. 

This is the first time he is having 

the support of the ruling party at 

the centre He contested for the 

seat in 2011 on the banner of the 

Congress for Progressive 

Change, CPC. 

Rivers APC: Abe wins to fight another day 

WHEN an aggrieved Senator 

Magnus Abe led his faction 

of Rivers State All Progressives 

Congress, APC, to conduct parallel 

primaries recently, many had 

branded those who indulged Abe as 

delusional. 

This understandable perception 

was hinged on the fact that the 

party’s national leadership was in 

agreement only with the primaries 

conducted by the Transport 

Minister, Rotimi Amaechi - led 

faction. 

However, the perceived delusion of 

the Abe faction turned an illusion for 

those who had held that view when a 

High Court in Port Harcourt on 

October 10 sacked the Amaechi 

faction chaired by Ojukaye Flag- 

Amachree and nullified all the 

primaries it had conducted. 

The expectation of that judgement 

Ortom Akume Suswam 

Abe 

unfolding in its favour was the 

overriding motivation for the 

parallel direct primaries which 

produced Abe as Rivers APC 

standard bearer for the 2019 Rivers 

governorship election against Tonye 

Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq 

Amaechi 

Cole produced by the Amaechi faction 

As a measure of the far-reaching 

implications of the judgement, the 

Amaechi camp which had ignored 

previous related court orders sought 

by the Abe camp, acknowledged that, 

Abdulrazaq Atunwa 

“our legal team is already finalising 

paperwork to appeal today’s 

judgment and stay of execution”, 

its Spokesman Chris Finebone, 

said. 

Finebone also believes the 

Ojukaye-led faction “is further 

protected by the Perpetual 

Injunction granted by Abuja High 

Court 14 presided over by Justice 

A. O. Musa on September 4, 2018 

which granted a Perpetual 

Injunction restraining the APC and 

the National Chairman, Adams 

Oshiomhole from” removing the 

Ojukaye committee and actions it 

has taken since its emergence. 

A chieftain of the Rivers APC 

however noted that, “Oshiomhole 

is not being restrained by any 

warped order by the Ojukaye-led 

faction. Recall, the national 

chairman, two days after 

Why old age 

won’t count 

against Useni 

— Wadak 

By Marie-Therese 

Nanlong, Jos 

A 

chieftain of the Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP in Plateau 

State, Isaac Wadak has advocated 

citizens’ support to ensure 

Senator Jeremiah Useni, 75, 

emerges the State Governor in 

2019 saying his emergence would 

address the myriads of problems 

the state is going through as the 

Senator has the needed 

credentials and experience to 

steer the ship of the state. 

Wadak frowned at the 

opposition’s attempt at campaign 

of calumny using age as he noted 

that one time Governor of Ondo 

State, Pa Adekunle Ajasin was old 

but he achieved much for the 

people of old Ondo State. 

Expressing his views with 

Vanguard in Jos, Wadak a retired 

Permanent Secretary in the State 

Civil Service faulted the 

leadership style of Governor 

Simon Lalong especially his 

actions in the ongoing security 

challenges and the recently 

concluded local government 

council election in 13 of the 17 

local government areas of the 

State. 

“I want to take an exception to 

the issue of age when it comes to 

electioneering matters. Over time, 

we have history of people who 

were much older than Useni that 

became governors. The case of 

Adekunle Ajasin is still fresh in 

our minds. He was very old but 

performed creditably well as 

governor of old Ondo state. (We), 

dedicated members of the PDP 

believe that the emergence of 

Useni came through a fair process. 

“And I want to say that the young 

people are in sync with him. I am 

saying so because we conducted 

an analysis of all the delegates 

that performed the exercise and I 

can tell you that more than 85 per 

cent of both statutory and ad-hoc 

delegates were made up of young 

people mostly below the age of 

50. So, there is something they 

saw in this man that prompted 

them to give him the mandate." 

assumption of office sacked the 

O’tega Emerhor faction of the party 

and inaugurated the Great Ogboru 

and Sentor Ovie Omo-Agege 

faction. 

“Oshiomhole did that in a blink 

of an eye just on the face value of yet 

contentious consent judgement, 

reversing his predecessor, John 

Oyegun’s resolution. The only 

restraint on Oshiomhole in Rivers 

is apparently the fear of being in 

collision with the Transport 

Minister, who is a close ally of the 

President.” 

Basking in the euphoria of the 

court judgement by the Rivers High 

Court, Abe has also been harping 

on the growing impunity by the 

Amaechi’s camp in the affairs of the 

Rivers APC as strong enough signal 

for the national leadership of the 

party to listen to the cries of his camp.

28— Niger-Delta Voice, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2018 

I reminded him that the issue 

of patent by government was old 

news to me. My inquisitiveness 

was on what has happened for 

about three years that we lost 

touch on his invention. 

VOL. 1: NO. 178 

78 TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2018 

By Emma Amaize, 

Editor, NDV 

SAPELE- IN a civilised 

society, Babaetsetunokan 

Orighoye, an Itsekiriborn 

electricity generation 

researcher, based in Sapele, 

Delta State, who invented an 

electricity generating machine, 

Unique Renewable Engine, aka 

PABOT Engine, which experts 

avow, is capable of addressing the 

country’s power challenge, if 

mass produced, would not have 

had the dilemma of funding. 

In fact, his talent would have 

made way for him, but not so in 

Nigeria, where goldmine is left 

uncultivated. Orighoye has 

received no tangible support 

since he got patent rights for the 

invention about eight years ago 

from the Federal Government, 

under the regime of former 

President Goodluck Jonathan. 

Encounter with Orighoye 

NDV Editor had conversation 

with Orighoye, three years ago, 

when one of Vanguard Reporters 

in Sapele, Godwin Oghre, 

emailed a report about his invention. 

The report published August 

18, 2015 by NDV was headlined: 

Why Nigeria’s Energy 

Crisis Persists: Pathetic story of 

Delta-born inventor.” 

He bitterly complained about 

how Federal Government gave 

him patent for the invention, but 

failed to fund the project. He 

mentioned how he was 

distraught because of lack of 

funding for his creation, which 

he maintained would provide 

constant, sufficient and affordable 

power to meet the energy 

demand across Nigeria.” 

His words: “The machine is 

energized with either water or air 

and it is not fueled by petrol, gas, 

coal or diesel, yet it can be 

installed anywhere as it is environmentally 

friendly with no side 

effect. You can touch it, even 

stand on it like I sometimes do, 

while it is working.” 

Why I embarked on the 

project 

“The constant power blackout 

across the country spurred me to 

research into how a permanent 

solution to that challenge can be 

achieved. The major driver of 

rapid economic growth is 

sufficient power supply. Poor 

power supply is, today, the bane 

of Nigerian economy. Once that 

challenge is solved, industries 

will flourish. So I ventured into 

the research and fabrication of the 

machine,” he said. 

A university graduate, he is not 

financially buoyant to sponsor 

mass production of his PABOT 

Engine. One of his relations and 

politician, well-heeled to bankroll 

the project has not shown 

sufficient interest. 

Reporter’s botched effort 

to draw govt attention 

NDV contacted a former 

Speaker of the Delta State House 

of Assembly representing 

Orighoye’s constituency, who 

showed interest at first, promising 

to make modest finance avail- 

DELTA... THE BIG 

HEART OF THE NATION 

•Orighoye with his PABOT Engine 

TECHNOLOGY: How Nigeria 

destroys its inventors 

*The depression of Oriyoghe, Delta-born energy inventor 

*What exactly has Federal, Delta govts done in eight years? 

*Passionate appeal to Vanguard 

•Babaetsetunokan Orighoye, 

PABOT Engine inventor 

able to the researcher, but soon 

as the name of Orighoye’s welloff 

relation was mentioned, he 

said: “I do not want to enter anybody’s 

trouble.” 

Orighoye was sad when we 

relayed the failed attempt, but the 

editor asked him what it would 

cost a journalist to enable him 

assemble the trial product at the 

time in his (journalist) country 

home to enable him a test run it 

by himself and tell Nigerians his 

PABOT Engine story. His precise 

then was not clear now, but it was 

plain as the nose on my face 

that the figure to convert from 

prototype to reality was beyond 

immediate reach. 

Three years after 

Shortly after, I simply lost 

contact with Orighoye. But 

about three weeks ago, 

Godwin called again on 

Orighoye’s PABOT Engine 

invention, forgetting that I 

knew anything about it. I 

asked for Orighoye’s number 

and there he was minutes 

after on the other side 

screaming how happy he was 

to reconnect with me once 

again. 

He confessed that he had 

been looking for a way to 

reach me since NDV first ran 

a report on his invention, three 

years ago, though without 

response from the decision 

makers in government and 

Nigerians. But he kept the 

report in his archives, which 

he readily want on WhatsApp 

when I intentionally asked for it. 

Fabrication at Navy College 

Asked the situation of things since 

2015, he replied with underneath 

reservation in his voice: “I and my 

team later went to fabricate the 

machine at the Nigerian Naval 

Engineering College, Ogorode, 

Sapele, where it has been found to 

be the best alternative to the 

conventional power generating and 

supply system in the country that 

have regrettably remained epileptic 

.” 

“It is prototype but it has been 

tested, government and Nigerians 

can key into it so that it can be mass 

produced in different capacities, 

even as much as can serve the entire 

nation, 

“Very importantly, it is now 

patented by the Federal Government 

as a mechanism that can address the 

nation’s epileptic power supply, 

noting that it can even serve 

humanity at global scale and address 

the global climate change. It can be 

also used to irrigate farms,” he said. 

Oil experts, local contractors convene in Yenagoa to build capacity 

BAYELSA…THE JERUSALEM OF IJAW NATION 

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA 

YENAGOA- EXPERTS, indigenous 

contractors and vendors in the 

nation’s oil industry converged on 

Yenagoa, capital of Bayelsa State, recently 

to deepen regulatory and procurement best 

practices in the sector, which over the years 

had been dominated by foreign firms. 

The programme organized by the Nigerian 

Agip Oil Company, NAOC, and its joint 

venture partners, sought to enlighten local 

contractors on the regulations, policies and 

laws applicable in the oil and gas industry 

and encourage compliance, not only help 

boost the local economy but help to avert 

capital flight as witnessed in the past. 

Speaking at the event, which drew par- 

•Orighoye presenting his invention to Minister 

of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu 

ticipants across the Niger Delta and other 

parts of the country, Executive Secretary, 

Nigerian Content Development and 

Monitoring Board NCDMB, Engr. Simbi 

Wabote, represented by the Director, 

Planning, Research and Statistics, Mr. 

Patrick Obah, commended NAOC/ENI 

for hosting the workshop in the state annually. 

He observed that the workshop has 

contributed immensely in building the 

capacity of indigenous firms, provided 

entrepreneurial development and 

mentoring the companies to build 

capacities and grow. 

Nigeria lost $380bn to capital 

flight in 50 yrs 

According to him, the Nigerian oil and 

At Fed Min of Science / 

Tech expo in Abuja 

“Not much”, he blurted with 

melancholy in his voice. He 

continued: “But in March, this 

year, the Federal Ministry of 

Science and Technology 

organized a “Technology and 

Innovation Exposition” where 

investors were invited to 

showcase their innovations. 

How did you get there, were 

you invited, I asked? He 

asserted: “I was invited by the 

Delta state government and the 

Federal Ministry of Science and 

Technology to Abuja for a 

Technology and Innovation 

Exposition in Abuja.” 

Delta govt done nothing 

Delighted to hear the involvement 

of Delta state government, 

I inquired what the state had 

done since it came to know about 

his invention, he said: “Nothing, 

the only thing they did is 

that they aided me to go to Abuja 

for the exposition,” he said. 

This writer called a member of 

the State Executive Council to 

find out why the state 

government had not shown 

much interest in the project, he 

said: “Honestly, I do not know 

about anybody with such 

invention in the state.” 

Minister Ogbonnaya 

Onu’s assurance 

What happened in Abuja? I 

probed further. Orighoye 

disclosed: “In Abuja, I got the 

support of the Minister of 

Science and Technology, Dr. 

Ogbonnaya Onu, who said they 

will make something available 

to me to go on mass production 

and government will see how to 

take it up immediately. He said 

the government reiterated in 

Abuja that his patent on PABOT 

engine still holds sway. 

Excited Nigerians 

Nigerians, who witnessed the 

exhibition in Abuja, were excited 

about the invention. Director 

General, National Board for 

Technical Incubation, Engr. Dr. 

N. Jibrin, said, “An excellent 

initiative that should be 

supported.” Abubakar Isa described 

it as an “amazing solution 

to solve power shortage in 

Nigeria,” Frank C. Onumonu 

saw it as “a promising innovation.” 

Continues on page 29 

gas industry lost $380 billion to capital 

flight due to lack of local capacity in 

the first 50 years of industry operations. 

“From five percent Nigerian Content, 

we have achieved 28 percent value 

retention, increased in-country capacity 

in engineering, fabrication, among 

others.” 

Mr. Obah also stated that the Board 

had launched the US$200 million 

Nigerian Content Intervention Fund, 

NCI –Fund to assist local contractors. 

“For us to achieve our target of 70 

percent in-country value retention, we 

need greater indigenous participation 

in the industry. You all should set a new 

strategic vision for your firms so we can 

have more Nigerian companies,” he 

asserted.

Niger-Delta Voice, , TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2018 — 29 

Agonies of Rivers flood victims 

*Reptiles invade communities, no medicare for sick IDPs 

*Govt has abandoned us, monarchs, residents cry out 

RIVERS… 

TREASURE BASE OF THE NATION 

By Davies Iheamnachor 

Displaced children 

A three year old boy with 

the skin infection 

AKIONISO- SNAKE and 

other reptiles have 

invaded Akioniso, 

Akinima, Mbiama, Joinkrama 

1, 2 and 3 communities overrun 

by flood in Rivers State, while 

government has not deployed 

medial team to attend to 

thousands of Internally 

Displaced Persons, IDPs, 

suffering from rash and other 

skin diseases caused by their 

bathing, cooking and drinking 

of polluted water. 

Shocking NEMA response 

Paramount ruler of Akioniso 

community, Onisobuana 

Alabrima, who confirmed 

eruption of skin diseases in the 

area, lamented that the only 

help they had received from the 

government was five canopies 

donated by National 

Emergency Management 

Agency, NEMA. 

Alabrima said: “We have lost 

everything, food items and 

house material. We do not have 

food again, no plantain and 

cassava. NEMA, few days ago, 

brought five canopies for us and 

we gave it to some youths. 

Some of our people use canoes 

and others to move in the flood 

in the night and after that, your 

body will start to scratch you. 

The bodies of most of our people 

are filled with rashes.” 

“People are sick. There is no 

water to drink. Some people 

drink this water because there 

is no option. Many people are 

purging. Now I have my own 

first aid which I carry 

sometimes, so any one that is 

purging we give them that one 

before we rush to the hospital. 

No health intervention 

“There is no health assistance 

from any quarters at the 

moment. Till now we have not 

seen anything. We need good 

health care system and we need 

food items because we have lost 

all we have to the flood.” 

“One woman left here due to 

the rush of the water, she went 

to the farm and she drowned. 

Her name is Victoria Akari. The 

THE TEAM 

Emma Amaize - Editor 

Samuel Oyadongha - Yenagoa 

Jimitota Onoyume- Warri 

Gabriel Enogholase -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 

Chijioke Nwankpa, Port- Harcourt 

One of the IDP camps in Akinima 

Children bathing in the flood 

incident caused panic in the 

community and people stopped 

going to the farm to harvest 

their crops,” he added. 

Food shortage alert 

Another traditional ruler, 

Chief Denis Warman, who 

spoke to NDV, said: “The 

hunger we envisage that our 

people will face after the flood 

is already setting panic in the 

community. Again the 

government negligence as 

regards this flood and the 

people who are suffering here 

is worrisome. It is only God and 

we that are here that know what 

we are going through.” 

“Unfortunately, the 

government we thought will 

come to our aid is just there 

behaving strangely. All they are 

doing is just mere sham. The 

government has not made any 

effort over this flood,” he 

complained. 

His words: “There is outbreak 

of diseases everywhere and 

reptiles are coming into the communities 

at will. The kids cannot 

go to school anymore because 

everywhere is flooded.” 

Displaced persons bemoan 

When NDV visited Akinima 

community, 10-year-old girl, 

Beauty Morrison with rashes, 

stated: “Flood water is what 

caused the rash because I bathe 

with it every day. I have 

not started taking medicine. 

Its over two weeks 

this rash came out in my 

body. It scratches me very 

bad and I do not sleep well 

in the night.” 

Also, 18-year- old resident, 

Chisom Joseph, 

said: “We are suffering 

here because of this water, 

it is affecting me. As you 

see me, I have the skin 

problem, my private part is 

affected. It is the water that 

is causing it because we 

bathe with it. The water is 

polluted and poisonous.” 

“I am not taking drugs 

now because there is 

nowhere to get it. Even the 

chemists we go to mix 

drugs have all closed and 

packed out. Water has covered 

everywhere. We are calling on 

NEMA to come and help us. 

We are calling on doctors to 

come and save us from this 

problem,” he said. 

Residents relocate to 

roadside 

Joseph revealed: “From 

TECHNOLOGY: How Nigeria destroys... 

Continued from page 28 

A canopy hosuing five displaced families in the area 

Displaced woman 

Mbiama, almost every family 

stays on the road where the flood 

has not covered. We sleep by the 

road side, cook and eat there. I 

have bought three canopies that 

we mount by the road side to 

serve as shelter for our people.” 

“NEMA and government 

should know what to do. There 

is no provision for mosquito nets, 

no drug and no shelter. We have 

“Mr. S G Muhammed said it 

was a “good initiative, if improved, 

it will bring a better 

understanding of power 

generation and Mrs. Chijioke 

from Owerri entreated: “We 

pray that the product will come 

out in reality and not in theory. 

It will be marvelous.” 

Govt officials recommend 

mass production 

Officials of the Federal 

Ministry of Science and 

Technology recommended: 

“When mass produced, it will 

completely address the power 

challenge by providing 

constant, sufficient and 

affordable power to meet our 

energy demand across Nigeria 

from the range of 5 kva to 5 mega 

watts and above. This is a 

renewable energy source; it will 

also be the solution to the global 

climate change and boost socioeconomic 

development.” 

“The innovator has done very 

recommendable jobs, 75 per 

cent of the raw materials are locally 

sourced. The project if properly 

and adequately funded will 

create jobs for the unemployed 

youths and will also create wealth. 

The inventor/innovator needs support 

in order to increase the scale 

of production and will enable the 

product to be fully commercialized,” 

they added. 

...still no funding 

Seven months after the technology 

exposition, Orighoye said: 

“Nothing has happened, but subsequently, 

they now said a grant 

will be given to us, but at the end 

of the day, they said they will convert 

the grant to recognition, that 

they will recognize us for what we 

are doing, but notwithstanding, 

they will bring investors that will 

take it up.” 

“After that, nothing has 

happened yet, there is no funding 

after the promise. I took the 

invention to the exhibition, where 

I demonstrated the working of the 

mechanism, they brought their 

team of engineers to see what I 

am doing and they affirmed that 

what I am doing is correct and 

The body of Beauty 

Morrison, with rashes 

not received any health intervention. 

I am surprised at the 

attitude of the government,” he 

retorted. 

SOS from IDPs camp 

Chairman of one of the IDP 

camps in Akinima, Mr. Anthony 

Vincent, told our reporter: “The 

level of mosquito here is much. 

We are dying of mosquitoes 

here. Please I want the press to 

help us and beg the government 

to forgive us if we have 

sinned against them and help 

us. 

needed government funding, 

and they stopped at that,” he said 

despondently. 

Fervent plea to Vanguard 

Orighoye sent a WhatsApp 

message, pleading: “Editor, 

please, I sincerely need fund and 

support to move the project forward. 

This I am very sure your 

write up in Vanguard Newspaper 

will do for me when you reiterate 

the extent of my work to the 

Federal Government, Research 

Institute, investors and the world 

at large on how far I have gone 

on my aim to squarely address 

power challenges across Nigeria 

in particular, and the world at 

large by generating constant, 

sufficient and affordable power of 

different capacities.” 

“It is actually from the range of 

5KVA, 10 KVA, 15 KVA, 20 KVA 

to 5 mega watts, which can also 

scale up to generate megawatt of 

power for the national grid. 

Please kindly through the pages 

of Vanguard Newspaper, 

communicate with government to 

facilitate the production,” he appealed.

30—Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2018

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2018 -- 31 

Why Human development 

matters 

THE World Bank/IMF Annual 

Meetings were recently 

concluded in the paradisiacal island 

of Bali in Indonesia. It was attended 

by more than 3,000 delegates, 

among them finance ministers, 

central bank governors, high civil 

servants, international officials and 

the lot. IMF Managing Director 

Christina Lagarde likened it to a 

successful wedding. Weddings take 

a lot of preparation; and then the 

grand occasion arrives. Then the 

merriment follows and all guests 

eventually depart, taking with them 

fond memories of everything that 

transpired. 

Several topics featured prominently 

on the agenda: the slow and 

uncertain growth in Europe; 

continuing progress in Asia; the 

fragile recovery in countries such as 

Nigeria in Africa; and the 

intransigent bellicosity of Donald 

Trump against everybody else. There 

was general consensus that the 

continuing trade war between the 

United States and China could 

undermine the outlook for global 

growth while weakening the 

foundations of the post-war 

international liberal economic and 

trading order as we have always 

known it. 

One point that got me worried was 

the release of the World Bank’s 

Annual Development Report with its 

By Esosa Omoregbe 

IN February 2018, Vice President of Nigeria, 

Professor Yemi Osinbajo described MTN as 

a classic example of the many success stories 

of Foreign Direct Investments, FDIs, in Nigeria. 

Prof. Osinbajo noted this much during the 

launch of a policy laboratory aimed at 

accelerating the intervention of the Economic 

Recovery and Growth Plan, ERGP. The ERGP 

initiative is catalyst for the required $35 billion 

to bridge Nigeria's massive infrastructure gap 

over a six to seven year period. The deficit in 

Nigeria's infrastructure is the main reason it 

was listed as the country with the largest number 

of poor people in the world. As the pressure 

from a lack of resources in power, roads, 

education, healthcare and industrial capacity 

continue to erode the quality of life for an 

exploding population, our government 

officials – career civil servants and political 

appointees alike – play hard and fast with one 

of the most globally effective tried and tested 

mechanisms for bridging these gaps; public 

private partnerships, PPP, backed by foreign 

investment. 

Anyone doing business in Nigeria runs up 

against what might be termed institutionalised 

gridlocks, with enormous political demands 

bordering on coercion and outright 

intimidation. A case in point is Dr. Wale 

Babalakin (SAN), chairman of the Resort 

Group, and a leading proponent of the PPP 

project. Dr. Babalakin has received some of 

the worst battle scars at the hands of 

government officials over his investments in 

critical sectors of the economy. Today, his 

'MMA2’ airport terminal is the first to be built 

in Nigeria with private funds under a Build, 

Operate and Transfer, BOT, agreement with 

the Federal Government. This same Federal 

Government through a parallel agency, daily 

violates the exclusivity terms of said agreement 

by running a domestic aviation terminal in 

famous Human Development Index, 

HDI, which places Nigeria on 

position 152 out of 157 countries. It 

is by far the worst we have ever 

attained since the HDI was released 

several decades ago. The HDI is a 

summary measure that assesses 

long-term progress in three major 

dimensions of social and economic 

development: a long and healthy life, 

access to knowledge, and a decent 

standard of living with a secure 

environment. A long and healthy life 

is, of course, measured by the 

numerical value of life-expectancy. 

Access to knowledge is measured in 

terms of the mean years of schooling 

among children and the population, 

including the average number of 

years of education received in a lifetime 

by people aged 25 and above. 

The scores for the HDI are measured 

from a perfect absolute of 1 to the 

lowest of 0.00. Nigeria was placed 

at position 157 out 189 countries, 

with a score of 0.532. Sadly enough, 

the country with the dubious prize of 

last position, 189, was our own 

neighbouring Niger Republic, with 

a score of 0.354. Sadly, the ten worst 

countries are all from our continent. 

Apart from the worst performing 

country of Niger, the worst 

performers by, descending order, are: 

Mozambique (0.437), Liberia 

(0.435), Mali (0.427), Burkina Faso 

(0.423), Sierra Leone (0.419), 

Burundi (0.417), Chad (0.404), South 

Sudan (0.388), and Central African 

Republic (0.326). It is also regrettable 

that among the ten worst performers, 

six are from our own ECOWAS 

region. 

The 10 best performers in the world 

are: Norway (0.953), Switzerland 

(0.944), Australia (0.939), Ireland 

(0.938), Germany (0.936), Iceland 

(0.935), Hong Kong (0.933), Sweden 

(0.933), Singapore (0.932) and 

Netherlands (0.931). Remarkably, 

the world’s top three largest 

economies, USA, China and Japan 

do not feature among the top ten. 

The United States occupies the 13th 

position, with a score of 0.924. China 

comes in at number 86, with a score 

of 0.752 while the world’s third 

largest economy, Japan, occupies 

position 19 with a score of 0.909. 

What these figures show is that 

human development is not 

synonymous with national wealth or 

the gross domestic product. A nation 

such as China occupies the second 

position in terms of GDP, but trails 

far behind small prosperous 

democracies such as Norway and 

Switzerland. Among the world’s 

largest economies, Germany does 

rather well, combining both a high 

GDP and a strong performance in 

terms of human development, with 

position number 5 in the world index 

and high HDI score of 0.936. 

The lesson from the foregoing is that 

GDP alone does not tell us the whole 

story about the prosperity of nations. 

Yes, growth matters as does the level 

of GDP and per capita incomes. But 

so does investment in human capital, 

welfare and improved livelihoods. 

Some of the worst performing 

countries, especially those in Africa, 

are also countries that have 

undergone violence and conflict. 

Such countries include Burundi, 

Guinea Bissau, South Sudan and the 

Central African Republic. Nigeria is 

also a country rife with random 

nihilistic violence, insurgency, 

kidnapping, criminality and 

banditry. Life for many Nigerians is 

a Hobbesian nightmare that is 

“solitary, nasty, brutish and short”. 

More recently, security has been 

placed at the centre stage of human 

development. For decades, political 

scientists have been preoccupied with 

what is termed the ‘security dilemma’ 

in international politics. The 

Westphalian system of world politics 

constitutes, according toHedley Bull, 

an ‘anarchical society’. Where global 

society has evolved a body of norms 

and institutions to restrain the 

behaviour of states, the reality of 

insecurity is a permanent feature of 

the society of states. Most often, when 

governments refer to ‘national 

security’ they are referring to the 

survival of the state and the rulers 

rather than the security of the people. 

The fragility of multi-ethnic states 

such as those of Africa heightens the 

potential for conflict and instability 

which compounds the challenges of 

security. It is also true that the gaps 

in the structures of state formation 

can open up windows of greater 

vulnerability. 

This traditional conception of 

security has to be distinguished from 

the new paradigm of human security 

which transcends the narrow 

reference to the state and its 

institutions. The concept of human 

security has been defined in terms of 

Nigeria’s FDI potential and its undoing 

direct competition with the privately funded 

one. 

Apart from government pressure, one finds that 

PPPs are faced with a high degree of cynicism 

and public backlash from civil society and 

labour groups due to a perceived lack of 

transparency. These critics argue that 

privatising key public sector services violates 

the Nigerian constitution. Private investors 

who usually have a high degree of foreign debt 

often find themselves dealing with the multiple 

pressures of inconsistent and unfavourable 

government policy as well as a high degree of 

public opprobrium from vested interests and 

The deficit in Nigeria's 

infrastructure is the main 

reason it was listed as the 

country with the largest 

number of poor people in the 

world 

fifth columnists which further undermines 

investors' confidence. Additionally, many 

foreign investors who are in a perennial battle 

to legitimise their existence in the eyes of the 

media, are frequently trying to explain to the 

people why their presence in the country is 

beneficial in the long term. 

It's probably impossible to analyse Nigeria’s 

complex mix of business, politics and cronyism. 

Venturing into these parts can be quite a risky 

business. UAE-based environmental utility 

group, Visionscape found itself in the eye of a 

socio-political storm when it became clear to 

all that embattled governor Akinwunmi 

Ambode had not adequately addressed the 

convoluted political patronage systems 

(designed at Bourdillon?) that were being 

Among the world’s 

largest economies, 

Germany does rather 

well, combining both 

a high GDP and a 

strong performance in 

terms of human 

development 

supported by the previous ‘PSP’ system. One 

can only imagine calls held between Lagos 

and Dubai after Speaker of the Lagos State 

House of Assembly, Mr. Mudashiru Obasa, 

referred to the company as ‘a ghost not known 

to the state’! This disclaimer came on the heels 

of the foreign company emerging after a 

controversial tender process which saw a 

number of local and international firms 

compete for Lagos state’s domestic waste 

collection amid a liberalisation of the waste 

management industry which many have 

argued is tantamount to destroying local 

investment. 

Krispy Kreme was recently faced with 

consumer backlash and jeopardy of their multimillion-dollar 

investment by the Babatunde 

Irukera-led Consumer Protection Council that 

chose to investigate allegations of the US 

doughnut franchise using expired mixes in a 

‘trial by social media’. Subsequent 

investigation by NAFDAC- the relevant agency 

for food and beverage regulation - found that 

the goods were within legal limits and tests 

proved the food products were fit for 

consumption. In other climes, this admission 

would have been announced with the same 

fanfare as the criticism but alas, our officials 

are accountable to no one. Krispy Kreme is 

now left to clean up the mess and do its own 

explaining to an already skeptical public. 

MTN also suffered a similar state in 2016 when 

a hefty $1bn fine was slammed on the telecom 

company over unregistered sims. The leading 

telecom which continues to weather the 

familar storms that characterises FDI's in 

Nigeria was recently issued a $8.1 billion 

demand over concerns around repatriation of 

funds. 

Our intentional undercutting of FDI in Nigeria 

did not begin with this government or even the 

last one. When billionaire Richard Branson 

“the obligation of the state to provide 

a facilitating environment for 

equality and individual 

participation through democracy, 

adherence to human rights and the 

participation of civil society”. 

Indeed, so important has been the 

nexus between security and 

development that the World Bank 

devoted its world development 

report for 2011 to the theme of 

‘security and development’. The 

report underlines security as the 

primary development challenge of 

our time, given how conflict and 

violence undermine livelihoods and 

lead to the collapse of national 

institutions. The European Union 

has identified human security as a 

major policy of internal as well as 

external relations. 

According to Sadako Ogata and 

Amartya human security entails “the 

responsibility to protect the vital core 

of all human lives in ways that 

enhance human freedoms and 

human fulfilment. Human security 

means protecting fundamental 

freedoms...It means creating 

political, social, environmental, 

economic, military and cultural 

systems that together give people the 

building blocks of survival, 

livelihood and dignity”. 

Human security embraces the 

responsibility to protect individuals 

and communities within and across 

nations from the physical and 

emotional insecurity from war, 

violence and conflict as well as 

natural and man-made disasters. 

Terrorist insurgency and the 

activities of local and foreign armed 

herdsmen militia bandits and the 

state of fear that they engender is 

clearly one of the major threats to 

the security of individuals, 

communities and nations. It is also 

a major determinant of low 

performance in the global human 

development index, particularly for 

countries such as Nigeria and others 

on our continent. 

launched Virgin Nigeria in 2005 , he was 

lauded by the then-government for launching 

an airline company. By 2008, he accused 

Nigerian officials of ‘mafioso’ style tactics and 

we all watched the ignominious pull out and 

subsequent loss of a Virgin national carrier. 

Eleven years later, the federal government 

‘launched’ a phony intended as new national 

carrier with no technical partner, no known 

private investor and no aircraft which it 

suspended recently. 

Countries like the United States of America 

and many in Europe provide strong protection 

for all investors, both foreign and domestic. 

This is why for decades, the US has remained 

the number one destination for FDI, followed 

closely by the United Kingdom and China. 

Both Brazil and India also have top 10 

positions due to active reforms that encourage 

FDI. Nigeria will need to do the same, and our 

legislators and courts have a role to play. High 

level corruption on all levels will need to be 

addressed, as well as bureaucratic bottlenecks 

that make it nearly impossible to get anything 

done in a timely manner. 

An administration led by a president who 

appears to drive economic and foreign policy 

through ‘body language’, is clearly unable to 

see the contradiction between multiple crisscrossing 

of the globe looking for 'foreign 

investors’ while parastatals and other branches 

of government at the state and federal levels 

continue to harass, malign and misrepresent 

the ones that were intrepid enough to come 

here in the first place. Indeed, the recent 

assertion by HSBC that the Nigerian economy 

has “structural shortcomings,” and should not 

continue in the present direction rings true 

because the rise in oil prices have in recent 

months masked severe deficiencies in other 

areas, while we continue to clash with foreign 

investors, as if they are the source of our 

problems. 

*Mr. Omoregbe, a policy analyst, wrote from 

Lagos. 

C 

M 

Y 

K


YOUR LUCK TODAY 

LAST QUARTER (2018) 

HOROSCOPE 

TAURUS (April 21 – May 20 ) 

By Joshua Adeyemo 

Practical approach, staying power, consistency, 

hard working ability and steadiness are 

parts of basic characteristics of Taurus born 

people. Last quarter of 2018 will require you 

to exhibit these your gifts, so that you will be 

able to avoid pitfalls and record necessary 

SUCCESS well deserved by you. Yes, Mars in 

Aquarius will bring pressure but you will 

need to always remember the popular saying 

which states that ”nothing good comes easy”. 

With this philosophy, tangible achievements 

will not elude you. Last quarter of 2018 will 

bring you both excitement/pleasure and happiness 

via your love life and/ or matters – of – 

the – heart. 

L E I S U R E 

TAKE HEART — ELLA RANDLE 

“Follow your passion, be prepared to work hard 

and sacrifice, and above all, don’t let anyone limit 

your dreams.” – Donovan Bailey- 

There is something special that happens to the 

people who choose to reinvent themselves and 

chase their dreams. It’s not any easier for them 

than it is for you. It’s just that at some point, they 

choose to do the work. They choose to take action. 

And they choose themselves. 

-Ella Randle- 

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye” 

SAYINGS OF 

OUR PEOPLE 

The skin of 

the leopard 

is beautiful, 

but not his 

heart. 

~Baluba 

proverb 

By Kola Fayemi 

Monthly Guide 

Oct: Pay good attention to both your health, 

competitors and partnership related affairs. 

Competitors will endeavour to outwit you at 

work and further increase pressure on you, but 

your competence will edge them out of your 

way, to the betterment of your rating. After first 

four days of this month, you will need to beware 

of suitors (and/or prospective lovers) 

with sugar coated tongues especially if you 

are a female born under Taurus Star. 

DUDU in “ROLLING HOT” By A.O. OLAIDE 

Nov : First half of the month will bring romantic 

attractions from member(s) of your opposite 

sex very junior to you within your working 

arena, but if you are into it headlong, it 

may result to avoidable scandal, especially if 

you are female member of this beautiful Star. 

Surprisingly, such can bring both excitement, 

pleasure and satisfaction during second segment 

of the month. Equally, your social life 

can be source of satisfaction and reasonable 

achievements during second part of November 

. If you must become involved in secretive 

issues, you will need to be as cautious as necessary. 

Dec : Even if first five days of this month bring 

avoidable misunderstanding between you and 

your (emotional) partner, remaining days will 

see you and your spouse experience blissful 

moments, pleasure and happiness. You will 

encounter new personalities via your social 

life who are more enterprising. Possibilities 

are, if you do not soar away from them, beneficial 

friendship would be established. Joint 

ventures look fairly good but you must not put 

all your hopes on such. Congratulations!!! 

IMPORTANT NOTICE 

Your lucky dates and dates to beware of are 

included in this exercise – those dates are very 

important. On your lucky dates, try to maximise 

your gains on one hand, on the other 

hand, try your best possible to avoid trouble 

and/or loss during dates to beware of. But 

take note that there is not much to worry about 

(concerning) dates to beware of because, they 

are mere warnings. However, lucky dates are 

for real and superior to all other segments. 

YOUR LUCKY DATES 2018 

OCTOBER = 2, 6, 15, 20 & 26. 

NOVEMBER = 21, 25 & 30.. 

DECEMBER = 14 & 23. 

DATES TO BEWARE OF 2018 

OCTOBER = 11. 

NOVEMBER = 8. 

DECEMBER =11. 

VIRGINIA 

HOME & ABROAD 

dadadekola@yahoo.com 

By Lawrence Akapa



NEWS HOTLINES 

018773962, 

08052867058 

Disregard Delta APC primary results in 

circulation —Erue 

By Festus Ahon 

A SABA—THE 

Prophet Jones 

Erue-led Delta State 

executive of All 


APC, has urged party 

faithful and members of 

the public to disregard 

MTN PULSE: From left: Analyst, Go-To-Market, Youth Segment, MTN Nigeria, Precious Minimah; 

Make-up entrepreneur and lawyer, Tara Durotoye; Senior Manager, Youth Segment, MTN Nigeria, 

Omotayo George; Life and Business Strategist, Steve Harris and Analyst, Youth Segment, MTN Nigeria, 

Femi Adesina, during the MTN Pulse Campus Invasion, University of Calabar, Calabar, Cross River 

State, 

Delta monarchs endorse Okowa for re-election 

By Victor 

Ahiumayoung 

T RADITIONAL 

rulers in Delta State 

have thrown their weight 

behind the rotational 

arrangement of the 

governorship position 

and other key elective 

positions among the three 

senatorial districts in the 

state. 

Rising from a meeting of 

the council of traditional 

rulers in Asaba, they 

monarchs affirmed that 

the zoning arrangement 

had engendered mutual 

trust, understanding, 

unity and peaceful coexistence 

in the state. 

This position was 

contained in a 

communiqué issued by 

the Chairman, Delta State 

Traditional Rulers’ 

Council, DSTRC, Obi of 

what he described as 

fake primary election 

results of the party being 

circulated. 

He also said the results 

which had his signature 

were forged. 

A statement by the 

Head of Strategy and 

Communication of the 

...back zoning arrangement 

Owa, Emmanuel 

Efeizomor. 

The communique reads: 

“We have unanimously 

resolved to support and 

work for the re-election of 

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa 

because he has 

performed excellently in 

the state” 

The meeting attended 

by traditional rulers from 

across the state including 

the 2nd Vice Chairman of 

the Council, Pere of 

Akugbene Mien, Pere 

Luke Sp Kalanama VII 

state chapter of the party, 

Mr. Nick Ovuakporie, 

said powers of the 

National Working 

Committee, NWC, were 

not usurped as being 

alleged in the result. 

The statement further 

said those behind the 

document were out to 

Recruitment into civil service not 

political —A-Ibom govt 

By Harris 

Emmanuel 

UYO—AKWA Ibom 

State Government 

has dismissed 

insinuations in some 

quarters that the ongoing 

recruitment into 

the state civil service was 

politically motivated. 

The 

state’s 

Commissioner for 

Information and 

Strategy, Charles Udoh, 

explained that the 

exercise had nothing to 

do with Governor Udom 

Emmanuel’s re-election 

bid, adding that it was 

meant to fill existing 

vacancies in the civil 

service. 

He said: ‘’Governor 

and Obi of Abavo 

Kingdom, Uche Irenuma 

among others. 

They also passed a vote 

of confidence on the 

governor for his 

performance in the state 

and the peaceful conduct 

Emmanuel is not playing 

politics with 

development. 

Everything he is doing 

has been carefully 

planned and his 5-point 

agenda are interwoven. 

‘’We didn’t deliberately 

start to create jobs in the 

civil service. We started 

by creating an 

alternative source of 

employment through 

industrialisation, tourism 

and agriculture, among 

others to stimulate the 

economy with a large 

value chain. 

‘’Having done that, it is 

only natural to fill the 

gap created by civil 

servants, who retired. 

This government has 

carefully mapped out its 

tarnish the image of the 

APC. 

In addition, it said 

those behind the 

document wanted to 

achieve what they failed 

to get at the last party 

congresses through the 

back door. 

of the Peoples Democratic 

Party, PDP, convention. 

The monarchs also 

commended the state 

government for adopting 

proactive measures to 

mitigate the effects of 

flood in the state. 

plans. We are creating 

employment and it is 

only natural that we 

should fill those 

vacancies”. 

Udoh affirmed that the 

exercise would follow 

due process as the 

government would pick 

the required numbers 

based on the existing 

positions. 

He maintained that the 

government would never 

toy with the welfare of its 

workers. 

The Commissioner 

insisted that pensioners, 

who were yet to collect 

their entitlements were 

those who were still 

battling with clearance 

from the authorities. 

2019: Ex-militants vow to 

work against Buhari 

By Chioma John 

N ATIONAL 

Coalition of 

Niger Delta Ex-Agitators, 

NCNDE-A, under the 

leadership of Eshanekpe 

Israel, has vowed to work 

against the re-election of 


Buhari in the forthcoming 

general election, 

describing him as a 

disappointment to the 

group and the entire Niger 

Delta region. 


erstwhile pro-Buhari 

group, the President has 

shown enough disdain for 

the youths and ex-militants 

under the aegis of the 

NCNDE-A, noting that the 

group worked to install 

President Buhari with 

promises by him to better 

the lots of members of the 

I'll revive Delta ports if elected 

—Agbajoh 

By Kosiso 

Onyibalu 

DELTA 

South 

Senatorial District 

candidate of the African 

Democratic Congress, 

ADC, Chief Olivia 

Agbajoh, has promised 

to revive the Delta Ports 

in Warri, Koko and 

Burutu if elected. 

Agbajoh, a former 

House 

of 

Representatives member 

spoke yesterday in Warri 

while addressing local 

government and ward 

chairmen of the Delta 

ADC during a meeting. 

Agbajoh, who dumped 

the People’s Democratic 

Lawyers caution FG against 

travel ban 

THE League of 

Patriotic Lawyers 

has called on President 

Muhammadu Buhari to 

immediately reverse the 

travel ban on some high 

profile politically exposed 

persons. 

Briefing newsmen 

yesterday, the Chairman 

of the group and former 

President of Students 

Union of the University of 

Benin, Mr. Abubakar 

Yesufu, described the 

travel ban as a travesty of 

justice, and a violation of 

the separation of powers 

as contained in Nigeria's 

constitution. 

His words: “While it is 

doubtful whether security 

agents and even the 

courts can validly restrain 

a perceived fugitive 

offender or politically 

group. 

Akpodoro said: ‘’Rather 

than reward our hard work 

and loyalty, President 

Buhari had engaged in 

selective patronage along 

tribal lines, which will work 

against him in the 2019 

presidential election.’’ 

The pact between Israel, 

who doubles as the 

Coordinator of Urhobo 

Youth Forum For Change, 

UYFC, and President 

Buhari, the Coalition said, 

dated back to 2013 when 

both leaders met and 

discussed in his Kaduna 

home. 

He said the coalition was 

in discussion with a more 

reliable candidate for the 

2019 presidential contest, 

stating that it was fed up 

with a government that 

lacked vision and 

purposeful leadership. 

Party, PDP, for the ADC, 

said her brief stay in the 

House 

of 

Representatives 

attracted the Nigeria 

Naval Base in Warri, 

noting that she would 

ensure that the Delta 

Ports in Warri, Koko, and 

Burutu come back to life. 

She noted that the Delta 

Ports are moneyspinning 

ventures that 

would generate 

employment for Deltans 

and Nigerians and 

decongest the Lagos 

ports and its attendant 

traffic gridlock on 

Apapa/Oshodi 

Expressway. 

exposed person, the 

presumption of innocence 

and fair hearing as 

enshrined in our 

constitution does not give 

the President liberty to 

abridge that right. 

Thus President Buhari 

should immediately recall 

that list and thread the 

path of justice, individual 

liberty and the rule of law. 

“We also commend 

former Vice President and 

presidential candidate of 

the Peoples Democratic 

Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku 

Abubakar, on the choice of 

Peter Obi as his running 

mate. Obi remains a true 

hero of democracy, 

financial prudence and a 

pride of the Igbo nation. 

He is vibrant and 

patriotic.’’


Bianca went into politics against 

Ojukwu's advice —MASSOB 

...says it's not against APGA; Uwazuruike merely seeking relevance 

By Peter Okutu 

A BAKALIKI—THE 

Movement for the 

Actualisation of the 

Sovereign State of Biafra, 

MASSOB, yesterday said 

Bianca Ojukwu disobeyed 

the wishes and advice of 

her husband, Dim 

Chukwuemeka 

Odumegwu Ojukwu, who 

before his death, told his 

wife not to seek elective 

positions in the country. 

MASSOB also 

disassociated itself from the 

7-day ultimatum issued by 

Biafra Independence 

Movement, BIM, to the All 

Progressives Grand 

Alliance, APGA, to remove 

every poster having the 

picture, logo or inscriptions 

of the late Biafra warlord, 

Dim Chukwuemeka 

Odumegwu Ojukwu from 

its party offices and 

establishment in Anambra 

State. 

In a statement issued in 

Abakaliki by MASSOB's 

National Director of 

Information, Edeson 

Samuel, the group 

described the action of the 

BIM leader, Ralph 

Uwazuruike, as it concerns 

the senatorial ambition of 

Bianca Ojukwu, as “the 

display of a man desperate 

to remain relevant at every 

slightest opportunity even 

when he knows that he has 

lost the respect and 

reverence that he had in 

the past.” 

MASSOB said: “The 

attention of the Movement 

for the Actualisation of 

Sovereign State Of Biafra 

(MASSOB) under the 

leadership of Comrade 

Uchenna Madu has been 

drawn to statements by 

Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, 

the leader of Biafra 

Independence Movement, 

BIM, where he is insisting 

that Mrs Bianca Ojukwu 

should be given the 

senatorial ticket of Anambra 

South Senatorial District on 

the platform of All 

Progressive Grand 

Alliance, APGA. 

No ultimatum 

to APGA 

“MASSOB under the 

leadership of Comrade 

Uchenna Madu hereby 

dissociate itself from the 

shameless outbursts of 

Uwazuruike and his illadvised 

7-day ultimatum 

as the display of a man 

desperate to remain 

relevant at every slightest 

opportunity even when he 

knows that he has lost the 

respect and reverence that 

he had in the past. 

“Much as we would not 

want to join issues with 

Uwazuruike on the 

statement in view of his 

inglorious past, it has 

become imperative that 

certain issues are made 

known for the purposes of 

clarity and full disclosure. 

Bianca disobeyed 

Ojukwu —MASSOB 

“That Bianca Ojukwu 

disobeyed the instructions 

of her husband, Dim 

Chukwuemeka 

Odumegwu Ojukwu (Eze 

Igbo Gburugburu) that she 

should not contest for any 

election whatsoever. 

“Bianca’s unbridled 

quest for political office led 

her into going for elective 

position in total disregard 

to the directives of her 

husband, the greatest 

Biafra leader. 

“That Bianca who is 

aware of the contenders to 

the said ticket suddenly 

declared her interest in the 

position for very selfish and 

pecuniary reasons. 

“At the end, she lost the 

ticket which is indeed a 

vindication on the part of 

late Dim Chukwuemeka 

Odumegwu Ojukwu 

(Ezeigbo Gburu Gburu) 

and our ancestors." 

PROMO—From left: Head, SME Liability of First City Monument Bank, FCMB, Mr. Paul 

Adebo; some of the winners at the grand finale draw of the, "FCMB SME Race to China," 

promo and Manager, Bridgehead (Onitsha) Branch of FCMB, Mrs. Ogechukwu Eziokwu, 

during the grand finale draw of the promo in Onitsha, Anambra State. 

Enugu APC disclaims factional chairman, Ogbodo, 

confirms Sen Ayogu Eze as gov candidate 

By Emeka Mamah 

ENUGU—The 

All 

Progressives 

Congress, APC, in Enugu 

State, has disowned a 

factional chairman of the 

party, Chief Okey Ogbodo, 

describing him as an agent 

of the Peoples Democratic 

Partly, PDP. 

Chairman of the party, 

Dr. Ben Nwoye, made this 

known in a statement in 

Enugu, yesterday. 

Nwoye was reacting to 

Ogbodo’s allegation that 

Sen Ayogu Eze was not the 

candidate of the party for 

the 2019 general elections. 

The party also accused 

the PDP of engaging in 

failed desperate attempts to 

destabilize it. 

According to the APC, the 

faction of the party led by 

Deacon Okey Ogbodo was 

being sponsored by the 

PDP to cause disharmony 

within the opposition party. 

Ogbodo had alleged that 

“for the avoidance of doubts, 

the APC flag-bearer in 

Enugu State is Barrister 

George Tagbo Ogara.” 

But, Nwoye said that 

,”the PDP which was afraid 

of failure, had resorted to a 

last minute attempt to 

confuse the electorate in 

the state.” 

Nwoye’s statement read: 

“The attention of the 

Enugu State APC has been 

drawn to a media report 

indicating that one Barr. 

George Ogara has 

emerged as the 

gubernatorial candidate of 

the APC for the upcoming 

election. 

“The report itself is not 

only ridiculous but out of 

the imagination of some 

persons parading 

themselves around in 

Enugu. While we admit 

that Barr. Ogara is an 

Enugu State APC member, 

it should be noted that he 

did not only lose in the 

primary on the day he 

allegedly introduced 

thuggery, where he scored 

one vote, he also lost 

woefully. He came out last 

during the just concluded 

primary election and that 

election result was 

announced by Prof. 

Momoh, where Barr. Ogara 

came out last. Prof 

Momoh led the election 

committee that conducted 

the party primary in Enugu 

state. 

“Okey Ogbodo’s macabre 

dance is being bankrolled 

by the PDP as they failed to 

distort the election to their 

favour. The winner of the 

election as announced by 

Prof. Momoh was and still 

remains Senator Ayogu 

Eze and his emergence 

has united APC Enugu 

State more than ever and 

the popularity of APC in 

Enugu State has continued 

to soar as goodwill of 

Senator Eze has attracted 

both new members from 

PDP. They are joining forces 

to ensure that power is 

wrestled from the PDP in 

2019... 

“Senator Ayogu Eze has 

been given forms by the 

NWC, both for him and his 

running mate, which they 

will be submitting to INEC 

this week. 

“For the avoidance of 

doubt, Ogara was not 

mentioned anywhere by 

the NWC and he was not 

given any forms of any 

nature as even as an 

aspirant who was close to 

winning, let alone 

emerging as a candidate." 

Bad roads in Owerri worry 

Archbishop Obinna 

By Chidi 

Nkwopara 

O WERRI—The 

deplorable state of 

roads in Imo State, is giving 

the Catholic Archbishop of 

Owerri Ecclesiastical 

Province, Most Rev. 

Anthony J. V. Obinna, 

sleepless nights. 

The Archbishop, who 

made his feelings known 

weekend, at a function in 

Maria Assumpta 

Cathedral, Owerri, later 

took his guests to the bad 

stretch between the 

Cathedral and Girls 

Secondary School. 

Some of the dignitaries 

that toured the troubled 

spot with Archbishop 

Obinna included Sir Mike 

Okiro, Capt. Emmanuel 

Ihenacho, Ikenga Ukaegbu 

and Sir Tony Chukwu. 

“The deplorable state of 

the Owerri-Port Harcourt 

Road, especially the stretch 

between Assumpta 

Cathedral and Girls 

Secondary School, Owerri, 

is most disturbing to the 

entire residents of the area 

and motorists plying the 

road”, Obinna said. 

According to the cleric, 

students of Girls Secondary 

School, Owerri, and the 

Catholic faithful, are having 

hectic time accessing their 

school and church. 

He wondered why 

officers of the Federal Road 

Maintenance Agency, 

FERMA, whose office is a 

shouting distance away 

from the troubled spot, have 

not cared about 

rehabilitating the bad spot. 

Archbishop Obinna 

passionately appealed to 

the government to “quickly 

rehabilitate the road and 

minimise the difficulties 

motorists and pedestrians 

are currently experiencing 

on a daily basis”. 

Obinna recalled with 

grief that some years ago, 

the Catholic Church was 

constrained to resort to self 

help, when the same spot 

went bad and government 

appeared unprepared to 

reconstruct it. 

APC wrong on Atiku, 

Obasanjo—Udeogaranya 

By Ebun Sessou 

A 

former presidential 

aspirant and chieftain 

of the All Progressives 

Congress, APC, Chief 

Charles Udeogaranya has 

described as wrong and a 

serious breach of 

constitutional rights of a 

citizen, the ascribing of 

corrupt tag on the Peoples 


presidential candidate, 

Alhaji Atiku Abubarkar by 

APC when no court of law 

has found him guilty on 

corruption charges. He 

said if he (Atiku) was 

convicted, he would have 

been constitutionally unfit 

to run for the presidential 

office. 

According to 

Udeogaranya, “any 

comment, slogan or official 

statement ascribing to 

Alhaji Atiku Abubarkar, his 

ambition and his political 

party with erroneous and 

defaming corruption tag as 

a political weapon in a 

political contest is not only 

Atiku/Obi ticket, promising 

—Ihedioha 

By Chinonso 

Alozie 

OWERRI—THE Imo 

state Peoples 


governorship standard 

bearer, Emeka Ihedioha 

yesterday described as 

optimistic, the nomination 

of Peter Obi as the running 

mate to the 2019 PDP, 

presidential candidate, 

Atiku Abubakar. 

Ihedioha spoke through 

a statement by his Chief 

Press Secretary, Chibuike 

Onyeukwu in Owerri. 

The statement read: 

criminal but also 

treasonable. Hence, it can 

be determined that his 

candidacy holds substantial 

potency of forming 

Nigeria’s next government. 

“I also find it regrettable 

and ungracious, that a 

foremost nationalist and 

former President, Chief 

Olusegeun Obasanjo, who 

brought democracy to 

Nigerians in the Second 

Republic and doggedly 

supported the current 

administration of 

Muhammadu Buhari in 

coming to power in 2015 

should be disparaged with 

the tag of hypocrite by the 

APC for merely expressing 

his choice of support in 2019 

presidential election and 

reviewed opinion that 

corrected the fantastic error 

of thought he had on Atiku 

Abubarkar. 

“The APC should without 

delay tender a national 

apology and pledge to be 

of good behaviour during 

the 2019 campaign trail.” 

“Former Deputy Speaker, 

House of House of 

Representatives and Imo 

State PDP Governorship 

flag-bearer for the 2019 

general elections, Rt. Hon. 

Emeka Ihedioha, CON, 

has described as fitting and 

most deserving,the 

nomination of former 

Governor of Anambra State, 

Mr. Peter Obi as the Vice 

Presidential candidate of 


Party, PDP. 

“The choice of Mr. Peter 

Obi is no doubt fitting and 

most deserving. I am 

certain that he will add a 

lot of value to the ticket."



NEWS HOTLINES 

018773962, 

08052867058 

MIKANO: From left—Director of Sales, Lokman Jouni; Head, Marketing and Communications, 

Mayssaa Hermes; Assistant Marketing Manager, Carol Chukwurah, and Assistant Manager, Advertising, 

Wura Orimolade, all of Mikano International Limited, at a briefing on Beyond Power Generation 25 

years anniversary mega promo, in Lagos. 

Second batch of ‘bribe’ videos 

surfaces, as Ganduje sues publisher 

•Why we can't take action— APC •Kano Assembly launches probe 

By Abdulmumin 

Giwa, with agency 

report 

KANO—A second batch 

of videos was 

published yesterday, by an 

online medium, Daily 

Nigerian, which published 

the first video purportedly 

showing Governor 

Abdullahi Ganduje 

collecting bribe from 

somebody claimed to be a 

contractor. 

Daily Nigerian claimed to 

be in possession of up to 

15 of such clips, seemingly 

showing the governor 

taking bribes from different 

contractors. It plans to 

release all the 15 video clips 

of Mr. Ganduje’s alleged 

bribery schemes, which he 

said were shot over several 

months. 

This came as Kano State 

Government said it had 

filed a criminal case against 

the online medium and its 

publisher, Jafar Jafar, over 

alleged defamation of 

character, while the state 

House of Assembly 

constituted a seven-man 

committee to investigate 

the matter. 

Ganduje has not 

commented on the new 

videos, but he dismissed 

the first one as ‘cloned’ 

whose publisher has since 

gone underground to avoid 

violent backlash against 

him and his family. 

Police, EFCC keep mum 

Neither the Police nor the 

Economic and Financial 

Crimes Commission, 

EFCC, has announced any 

probe into the videos, even 

though their contents were 

first published a week ago 

before clips started 

streaming in yesterday. 

Wilson Uwujaren, a 

spokesperson for EFCC, 

said yesterday afternoon: 

“If they are talking about 

issues, let them resolve 

their issues. Whether we 

are going to look at it is a 

different matter, but for 

now, I do not know 

anything.” 

He declined to 

categorically say whether or 

not an investigation would 

be conducted into the 

scandal. 

Kano State Police 

Commissioner, Rabiu 

Yusuf, also had nothing 

substantial to say about the 

videos when reached for 

comments, yesterday. 

He said: “I am in Abuja. I 

have not seen the video not 

to talk of even 

investigating. I am not in 

town, so I do not know 

anything pertaining to that 

for now. But do not worry, 

when I am done, I would 

call to let you know.” 

Kano govt reacts 

However, the state’s 


Information, Youths, Sports 

and Culture, Malam 

Muhammad Garba, in a 

statement, said the Office 

of the Attorney General and 

Commissioner for Justice 

was challenging what he 

described as the 

“implausible and eccentric 

posting of the cloned video 

that went viral in a court of 

law considering its gravity.” 

He accused Jafar of 

mischief and discrediting a 

public figure by wielding 

non-existent scandal 

against him. 


commissioner, “a mere 

observation of the cloned 

video clearly shows that the 

video is doctored and 

disjointed with no material 

facts or evidence to prove 

the allegations, other than 

a callous attempt to tarnish 

the hard-earned image of 

the office and the person of 

the governor. 

“The governor of Kano 

State wishes to once again 

sate that he emphatically 

debunks the allegation of 

receiving gratification of $5 

million or any amount 

whatsoever from any 

person or anybody.” 

The commissioner drew 

attention to the conduct of 

the publisher, who he 

described as “a serial 

blackmailer and 

extortioner.” 

He claimed that the 

government was aware that 

the hidden motive is to 

reduce the popularity of the 

governor and consequently 

affect the anticipated 

quantum of All 


APC, votes from Kano in the 

2019 general election. 

While the state 

government is taking the 

legal action, Garba assured 

the people of Kano “that the 

governor would remain 

focused and continue with 

laudable programmes that 

would add value to the lives 

of the people of the state.” 

APC 

However, APC said it 

could not take any action 

on the video, because the 

matter had been taken to 

court. 

The party said Ganduje 

had sued Daily Nigerian, 

the platform responsible for 

the videos released 

between Sunday and 

yesterday. 

Speaking through its 

spokesperson, Lanre Issa- 

Onilu, yesterday, APC 

said: “The matter is in court; 

the governor has taken the 

medium to court. We cannot 

comment on a matter that 

is already before a law 

court.” 

House launches probe 

Meanwhile, the state 

House of Assembly has 

constituted a seven-man 

committee to investigate 

the authenticity of the video 

clip. 

The committee was 

constituted following a 

motion of urgent public 

importance, moved by 

member representing 

Warawa constituency, 

Alhaji Labaran Madari, 

and seconded by member, 

representing Kano 

Municipal constituency, 

Baffa Danagundi. 

Madari pointed out that 

the House had the mandate 

to investigate any matter 

concerning the state aimed 

at ensuring peace and 

harmony in the state. 

Speaking during the 

plenary session, Majority 

Leader, Danagundi, 

advised the executive arm 

of government to suspend 

its decision to take legal 

action against the online 

medium and its publisher, 

saying the House should 

be given time to 

investigate the alleged 

video clips. 

The motion was 

deliberated on the floor of 

the House, presided over 

by Speaker, Kabiru 

Rurum. 

Ruling on the 

deliberation, the Speaker 

constituted the sevenman 

committee to 

investigate the matter and 

submit its report within 

one month. 

C’ttee members 

The committee is headed 

by Danagundi, the 

Majority Leader. Other 

members are Madari, 

Chief Whip; Zubairu 

Massu, Garba Ya’u 

Gwarmai, Abdulaziz 

Gafasa and Abubakar 

Galadima. Mujitaba Aminu 

would serve as the 

committee’s Secretary. 

Gov Ortom appeals to FG over 

victims of herdsmen crisis 

By peter Duru 

M AKURDI— 

TWENTY- 

FOUR hours after 

Vanguard reported the 

story of a 24-year-old Tiv 

lady, Joy Terna, who had 

her right hand chopped 

off by marauding 

herdsmen in Giza, 

Nasarawa State, while 

four months pregnant, 

Governor Samuel Ortom 

has played host to the 

victim and appealed to 

the Federal 

Governments to pay 

attention to the plight of 

victims of herdsmen 

crisis in the state. 

Joy Terna was among 

the Tiv-speaking victims 

of Giza attacks earlier in 

the year, currently taking 

refuge at the Abagena 

IDPs camp in the 

outskirt of Makurdi, the 

state capital. 

Receiving the victim in 

Makurdi alongside her 

now five months old baby 

she successfully 

delivered after the attack, 

Governor Ortom said he 

decided to host the 

victim after he read a 

report of her plight in the 

Vanguard of Sunday 


While commending 

the efforts of officers and 

personnel of Operation 

Whirl Stroke to stem the 

crisis in the state, Ortom 

maintained that the 

victims needed more 

support from the Federal 

Government to overcome 

their challenge and 

rebuild their destroyed 

communities. 

According to Ortom, 

Lagos community decries 

poor power supply 

RESIDENTS 

of 

Awoyaya in Ibeju- 

Lekki, Lagos, have 

continued to struggle 

with the effects of 

epileptic power supply 

caused by a bad 

transformer, in spite of 

several entreaties to Eko 

Electricity Distribution 

Company, EKEDC. 

Consequently, 

economic and social 

activities in the area 

have been grounded, as 

several small and 

medium scale businesses 

have closed shop. 

A resident, Mr. 

Stanley, expressed his 

frustration to Vanguard: 

“What these people are 

doing to us is unfair. The 

transformer in question 

has been serving this 

area for a very long time, 

when about 20 percent 

of the present 

“the victims are eager to 

return to their ancestral 

homes, especially now 

that the level of rainfall has 

dropped to allow for the 

reconstruction of the 

destroyed communities. 

“I appeal to the Federal 

Government to come to the 

aid of the victim.” 

The governor directed 

Benue State Emergency 

Management Agency, 

SEMA, to step up food 

distribution at the various 

IDPs camps across the 

state. 

He also directed his 

personal physician, Dr. 

Zulum Gbaa, to attend to 

the victim at the Benue 

Government House and 

give her full medical 

attention, even as he 

promised to revisit the IDP 

camps to assess their 

current conditions with a 

view to taking more steps 

to alleviate their 

sufferings. 

Victim's reaction 

The victim, Mrs. Erna, 

had earlier informed the 

governor that she 

sustained her injury when 

the herdsmen attacked her 

community leaving her for 

dead. 

Mrs. Terna, who was 

accompanied by her 

mother, said since the 

incident took place in 

January, she had been at 

the Abagana camp, where 

they had been sustained 

by supplies from Ortom 


She said her family lost 

everything to the attack 

and appealed for food and 

other necessary supplies, 

including shelter. 

population lived here. 

“What we need is a 

replacement, because 

each time they come to 

repair the transformer, it 

normally does not work for 

more than two weeks. 

“Businesses in this area 

often receive bad balance 

sheet month-on-month, as 

others have had to shut 

down to escape incurring 

deficit.” 

Another resident, 

Ugochukwu Nzube, said 

Power Holdings Company 

of Nigeria, PHCN, was 

making arrangements to 

change the transformer 

before it was privatised. 

His words: “Since then, 

we have heard nothing 

about the planned 

replacement. Nobody is 

talking to us. They are 

actually expecting us to 

buy transformer for them. 

But that cannot happen.”


•Fela 

Nigerian pop music star, David 

Adeleke, a.k.a Davido has 

finally reacted to reports that his 

relationship with Chioma, his 

Chef girlfriend may have hit the 

rocks over allegations that he has 

a third babymama. 

The celebrated singer who was 

obviously furious by the report 

which has since gone viral on 

social media, reacted on his Twitter 

page, threatening to take legal 

actions against the media platform 

that carried the disturbing 

report. 

“God punish you. See 

you in court bitch”, he 

wrote angrily. 

Chioma who seems 

not to be disturbed by 

therumour that Davido 

may be 

expecting 

h i s 

FELA AT 80: 

Femi Kuti, siblings celebrate 

posthumous birthday 

Yesterday, Femi Kuti and his 

siblingscelebrated their late father, 

afro-beat legend, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, on 

his posthumous 80 th birthday. 

Celebrating the afro-beat maverick, 

Femi and his siblings took to their 

Instagram pages to pen heartfelt 

birthday messages. 

Femi Kuti wrote; “Happy 

Birthday to our father the 

greatest, he would have 

been 80 today. He can 

never be forgotten. 

We love you.” 

“Happy birthday 

dad, although you 

preferred to be 

called Fela. 

Because of you in this 

strange wicked world we 

live in, I still have hope. I 

miss you so much. I’m 

glad you are still with me 

because one day will be 

one day”, Motunrayo 

wrote. 

Kunle Kuti wasn’t left 

out. In his message, he 

expressed how much he 

misses Fela. 

“It hurts me to think that 

you are no longer with us. 

Although I cannot help but 

smile with tears in my eyes 

thinking of how we have 

Fresh trouble looms as Davido 

threatens legal action over 3rd 

babymama allegation 

•Davido 

third child from a third babymama , took to his twitter 

page to reassure him of her undying love. 

“They can never stop us now,assurance fall on me, 

thirty billion gang, 100% love”, she wrote. 

Meanwhile, celebrity Disc Jockey, DJ Cuppy, 

Femi Otedola’s daughter, had some words of 

encouragement for the love birds. 

“When you’re down to nothing, God is up to 

something. The faithful see the invisible, 

believe the incredible and then receive the 

impossible”, she wrote in the comment 

section of Davido’s twitter post. 

However, it may not be 

surprising if the love birds are 

truly having issues over a 

third babymama 

because since Davido 

went public about 

his relationship with 

Chioma, there have 

been series of 

speculation that the 

much celebrated 

romance will not 

stand the test 

of time 

because 

the pop 

star has 

little or 

n o 

control 

over his 

desire 

f o r 

anything 

under 

skirts. 

Lagos Fashion Fair, the largest 

international ready-to-wear garments, 

accessories and footwear exhibition and 

cosmetics fair in Nigeria is back with its 6th 

edition. 

The event which is scheduled to hold 

between October 17 and 19 at Eko Hotel 

and Suites will see Tiwa Savage, 

ToyinLawani, FunmiAjila, 

LanreDaSilvaAjayi, Latasha Ngwube, 

SeyiTinubu, Laura Ikeji, Laila St Matthew- 

Daniels, Sound Sultan, Caroline Danjuma, 

FunkeBucknorObruthe, speak at the Master 

Class as seasoned TV Presenter, 

LayoleOyatogunis ready to host it. 

Terry G, L.A.X and Kenny Blaq are set 

to dazzle participants with good music and 

rib-cracking jokes. Red carpet host for the 

night will be ex-Big Brother Naija 

housemate, Khloe, while Rico Swarvey will 

host the main event. 

cherished each and every moment of our lives 

together while you were still alive. Happy 80th 

birthday”, he wrote. 

While celebrating his father, Seun Kuti 

condemned all Fela wannabes as he recalled his 

father’s struggle during his lifetime. 

“People will never understand you without going 

through the education you have tried to promote. 

Every Tom, Dick and Ashy is the new Fela just 

because they want to smoke Igbo and chase women. 

How about the sacrifice? How about duty? They 

want to be Fela and at the same time and be the 

darlings of all the oppressors. All these new Fela’s 

and those possessed by his sprit hob-nobbing with 

white supremacists. They think you are great 

because rappers mention your name, they don’t 

know that rappers mention your name so they can 

feel greatness. What do they know about sacrifice? 

What do they know about the trauma that first hand 

violence has inflicted on our family? The blind 

leading the blind listening to the deaf speak! Happy 

80th birthday. The struggle intensifies”, he wrote. 

Yeni Kuti revealed that Fela was an icon she 

admired a lot which is why she would never forget 

him. 

“Today Fela my father, my icon, a brilliant mind, 

a man I greatly admired would have been 80 today. 

He is felabrating in the greater beyond; we here 

will never forget 

you.” 

•Tiwa Savage 

Tiwa Savage, Caroline Danjuma, 

Terry G for Lagos Fashion Fair 

•Kanye 

The fair will include; fashion shows by the 

best of local and international designers; 

Exhibitions to showcase the finest fashion 

apparels and accessories; Master class 

facilitated by top industry experts; celebrity 

appearances by Africa’s finest and talented 

stars; music performances by popular artistes; 

African nail competition, raffle draws and the 

celebration of Icons gala. 

Founder of Lagos Fashion Fair, Mr Ayo 

Olugbade, said “This year the fair was 

introducing two new initiatives- The Master 

class N5million Training Grant which is a 6- 

months Skills acquisition program at Tiannahs’ 

Empire Fashion Academy for 5 lucky budding 

fashion designers, and The African Nail 

competition with a cash prize of N500,000 for 

the best nail technician. These new programs 

are to empower fashion businesses and create 

mentorship and sustainability for them to unlock 

their growth potential.” 

Seun Kuti 

attacks Kanye 

West for 

disrespecting 

Fela’s spirit 

Late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti’s son, 

Seun Kuti, has attacked 

American rapper and Kim 

Kardashian’s husband, Kanye 

West,for claiming Fela’s spirit 

flows through him. 

The American rapper made the 

statement in a video he posted on 

Twitter, where he bragged that he’s 

the best rapper, musician in the 

world 

“The music is the best on the 

planet. I am the best living 

recording artiste. We, rather, 

because the spirits flow through 

me. The spirit of Fela, the spirit 

of Marley, the spirit of 2Pac 

flows through me. We know who 

the best is”, he said. 

Reacting to Kanye’s claim, 

which he probably innocently 

made out of the musical influence 

Felamust have had on him, Seun 

said. 

“On behalf of the Kuti family, I 

want to state that the spirit of 

Olufela Anikulapo-Kuti isn’t 

anywhere near Kanye West.” 

Recall that in 2017, Kanye 

West was reportedly treated for 

bipolar disorder after he suffered 

mental exhaustion.Who knows, 

Seun may probably have been 

stylishly alluding to Kanye’s 

mental instability when he said the 

spirit of Fela wasn’t anywhere 

close to the 

celebrated 

rapper. 

•Seun Kuti


NESG announces Ighodalo Chairman 

THE Board of Directors 

of the Nigerian 

Economic Summit Group 

(NESG) has announced 

the appointment of Mr. 

Asue Ighodalo, as its new 

Chairman. This follows 

previous Chairman Kyari 

Bukar’s resignation on 17 

September 2018. 

Asue Ighodalo is a 

founding partner of Banwo 

& Ighodalo, one of the 

foremost commercial law 

firms in Nigeria. He 

obtained his first degree in 

Economics from the 

University of Ibadan, a law 

degree from the London 

School of Economics and 

Political Science; and was 

admitted into the Nigerian 

Bar in July 1985. 

His core areas of practice 

are Corporate and Project 

Finance, Securities and 

Capital Markets, Energy & 

Natural Resources, and 

Mergers & Acquisitions. 

He is a member of the 

Nigerian Bar Association 

(immediate past Chairman 

of the Section on Business 

Law of the Nigerian Bar 

Association), International 

Bar Association (Section on 

Energy and Natural 

Resources Law), 

Association of International 

Petroleum Negotiators, 

Institute of Directors, 

Nigeria, Nigerian Economic 

Summit Group (Vice 

Chairman), Commercial 

Law and Taxation 

Committee of the Lagos 

Chamber of Commerce and 

Industry and Chartered 

Institute of Taxation of 

Nigeria. 

Mr. Ighodalo is the 

Chairman, Board of 

Directors, Sterling Bank Plc, 

Dangote Flour Mills Plc and 

Global Mix Limited. He also 

sits on the boards of other 

public and private 

companies, Non- 

Governmental 

Organizations (“NGOs”) 

and a statutory body 

including Mainstreet 

Technologies Limited, 

Okomu Oil Palm 

Plc, Ensure Assurance 

Company Plc, Christopher 

Kolade Foundation, FATE 

Foundation and the Nigeria 

Sovereign Investment 

Authority (NSIA). 

His engagement with the 

NESG spans over 15 years 

during which he has been 

active in the Policy 

Commissions and also led 

the Central Organizing 

Committee for delivering 

NES 10. He had since joined 

the Board of Directors and 

became the first Vice 

Chairman in 2015. 

His appointment as 

Chairman provides 

continuity to the strategic 

growth and development of 

the NESG. 

The Nigerian Economic 

Summit Group (NESG) is a 

private sector led think-tank 

organization that promotes 

sustainable growth and 

development in the Nigerian 

economy. It is a not-for 

profit/non-partisan 

organisation with a 

mandate to promote 

and champion the 

reform of the Nigerian 

economy into an open, 

private sector-led 

economy that is 

globally competitive on 

a sustainable basis. 

Over the years, it has 

emerged as the leading 

platform for publicprivate 

dialogue in 

Nigeria. 

Osifala, Ukabam are new Yabatech 

Deputy Rectors 

THE 

Governing 

Council of Yabatech of 

Technology (Yabatech) has 

approved the appointment 

of Dr. Kehinde Osifala and 

Mrs. Titilayo Ukabam as 

Yabatech Deputy Rectors, 

Academic and 

Administration respectively. 

They replaced Dr. Taye 

Oyelola and Mr. Taofeek 

Omobayo Raheem whose 

tenure expired recently. 

Osifala joined Yabatech as 

Lecturer III in 1984 and rose 

through the ranks to 

become Chief Lecturer in 

Civil Engineering 

Department, School of Civil 

Engineering and Natural 

Resources in 2002. 

He was at various times 

Head, Department of Civil 

Engineering (1997– 2002); 

overseeing Head, Physical 

Planning Unit (1995– 2001) 

and Dean, School of 

Engineering (2005– 2008). 

He is a well known 

researcher who has 

published numerous 

scholarly articles; presented 

papers at seminars, 

workshops and conference 

in Nigeria and abroad, 

served meritoriously in 

several Management/ 

Academic Board 

Committees, belongs to 

many professionals’ bodies, 

won four scholarship & 

award in his prolific Civil 

Engineering profession, 

and elected fellow of the 

Nigerian Society of 

Engineers in 2009. 

On the other hand, 

Ukabam a Chief Lecturer in 

the Department of Estate 

Management, joined 

Yabatech in 

1986. She 

became 

H e a d , 

Department of 

E s t a t e 

Management 

(1995– 2002), 

and later 

Dean, School 

o f 

Environmental 

Studies (2007 

– 2010). 

A s i d e 

belonging to 

m a n y 

professional 

*Osifala 

bodies, she is 

a Fellow of the Nigerian 

Institution of Estate 

Surveyor and Valuers of 

the Estate Surveyors 

and Valuers Registration 

Board of Nigeria and a 

member of African Real 

Estate Society. 

She attended various 

Management and 

Enhancing Instructional 

Skills workshops both 

within and outside the 

country, an author who 

*Kasali 

*Ighodalo 

has published innumerable 

academic journals. 

Ukabam initiated the 

resuscitation of the School’s 

Journal with ISBN number 

and pioneered, and 

successfully hosted The 

School of Environment 

Studies’ Annual Lecture as 

well as the Staff and 

Students’ Merit Award for 

three session. Her report on 

the Quality Assurance 

Workshop assisted the 

College Management in 

her decision to set up 

College Internal Quality 

Assurance Unit. 

Until this appointment, 

Engr. Dr. Osifala, was the 

Director, Physical Planning 

Unit of the College, while 

Mrs. Ukabam, was the 

Director, Internal Quality 

Assurance of the College. 

FBNInsurance: 

Izevbizua now ED 

FOLLOWING 

the 

confirmation by the 

National Insurance 

Commission (NAICOM), 

leading life insurer, 

FBNInsurance has 

announced the appointment 

of Mr. Festus Izevbizua as 

Executive Director, Finance 

and Administration. 

Izevbizua’s illustrious 

career started at the 

prestigious Deloitte Akintola 

Williams and Co. in 1991 

where he was exposed to the 

basics of Accounting, 

Auditing and Risk 

Management. After a fiveyear 

stint at Deloitte Akintola 

Williams, he joined the 

banking industry and went 

on to have a glowing career 

for over 18 years spanning 

leading banks including 

Diamond Bank, United Bank 

for Africa and Standard 

Chartered Bank where he 

was Finance Operational 

Risk Manager and later 

Financial Controller before 

joining FBNInsurance as 

Chief Financial Officer in 

2014. 

Festus has almost three 

decades’ experience in 

Banking, Operational Risk 

Management, Oil and Gas, 

Accounting, Tax Matters and 

International Finance. He is 

a distinguished Fellow of the 

Institute of Chartered 

Accountants of Nigeria 

(ICAN), an Associate 

Member of the Nigerian 

Institute of Management 

(NIM) and a Senior member 

of the Chartered Insurance 

Institute of Nigeria (CIIN). 

He holds a Bachelor’s 

degree in Economics from 

the University of Benin and 

an MSc in Finance from the 

University of Calabar. He is 

also an Alumnus of 

Colombia Business School, 

New York and a Fellow of 

the Institute of Credit 

Administration (ICA). 

Japaul makes appointment 

of new Directors 

JAPAUL Oil and 

Maritime Services Plc 

has approved the 

appointment of new executive 

directors. The company in a 

notice signed by the 

company’s Legal and 

Corporate Affairs Manager, 

Tolulope Babalola, gave 

the names of the new 

directors as Hon. Abdulkadir 

Mamman Nasir as a Non- 

Executive Director, 

Mr.Kingsley Uyokpeyi as 

Acting Executive Director, 

Operations, and Mrs. Funmi 

Omodamori as Acting 

Executive Director, Finance & 

Planning. 

Profiles 

Hon. Abdulkadir Mamman 

Nasir is a graduate of Ahmadu 

Bello University, Zaria, he 

also has a PGDM from Bayero 

University, Kano. 

He was a member of the 

board of directors, Katsina 

State Transport Authority and 

member, Board of Directors, 

Newsprint Manufacturing 

UACN Property appoints Chairman, CEO, COO 

THE Board of UACN 

Property Development 

Company Plc (UPDC) has 

announced the appointments 

of new Directors with Mr. 

Babatunde Kasali as 

Chairman and Mr. Folasope 

Aiyesimoju as the Chief 

Executive Officer (CEO). 

Mr Kasali takes over from 

Mr Larry Ettah, former 

Chairman of UPDC who 

retired with effect from 23rd 

*Ukabam 

July, 2018. 

The Company further 

announced the 

appointments of Mrs. 

Adeniun Taiwo as the Chief 

Operating Officer (COO) 

and Mrs. Awuneba 

Ajumogobia as Non- 

Executive Director. 

Mr Kasali, an 

accomplished accountant, 

banker and a Fellow of the 

Institute of Chartered 

Accountants of Nigeria is a 

Non–Executive Director of 

UAC of Nigeria Plc and the 

Non-Executive Chairman of 

Wema Bank Plc. 

Mr Aiyesimoju, a finance 

professional with experience 

spanning corporate finance, 

principal investing and private 

equity, is the founder of 

Themis Capital Management 

and a Non-Executive Director 

of UACN Plc. 

*Izevbizua 

*Nasir 

Company, Akwa Ibom State, 

between 2000-2003. 

He is an Associate Member, 

Institute of treasury 

management and financial 

accountants. 

Engr. Kingsley Uyokpeyi 

holds a degree in Civil 

Engineering and a Masters 

in Business Administration 

and Masters of Science in 

Management. 

He is also a corporate 

member of Nigerian Society 

of Engineers and also 

COREN registered. 

Mrs Ajumogobia, a fellow 

of the Institute of Chartered 

Accountants of Nigeria, is a 

Non-Executive Director and 

Chairman of Risk 

Management Committee of 

the Board of UACN Plc 

Mrs Taiwo, until her current 

appointment, was the Chief 

Financial Officer of UACN Plc 

and acted as Managing 

Director of UPDC Plc from 2nd 

of May 2018.


SHOTS FROM THE IMF/WORLD BANK GROUP MEETING IN BALI, INDONESIA 

MEETING: From left—Governor, Central Bank of NIgeria, Godwin Emefiele, 

Managing Director, International Monetary Fund, IMF, Christie Lagarde and 

Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed at the just concluded annual meeting of 

the IMF/World Bank Group in Bali, Indonesia 

World Bank President, Jim Yong Kim and Christie Lagarde. 

EO6: PDP urges CJN to protect judiciary from 

‘fascism' perceived political 

By Dirisu 

Yakubuh 

ABUJA—THE Peoples 


has called on the Chief 

Justice of Nigeria, CJN, 

Justice Walter Onnoghen, 

to immediately protect the 

judicial arm of government 

from the “unconstitutional 

and repressive fascist” 

policies, saying the nation 

must be guided by the 1999 

Constitution (as amended). 

The party said the 

admission by the 

Presidency, on Sunday, 

that its Executive Order 6, 

as well as the travel ban 

and trailing of citizens, are 

devised to aid speedy trial 

of corruption cases is 

tantamount to fascism. 

“The PDP notes that the 

Presidency has 

commenced an attack on 

the independence of the 

judiciary, using the 

instrument of blackmail and 

aspersion on its integrity 

and capacity to effectively 

dispense justice. 

“In trying to use his 

Executive Order 6 to 

determine the process, 

procedures and 

progression of cases in 

court, the Buhari 

Presidency directly seeks to 

usurp, commandeer and 

appropriate the 

constitutional powers of the 

judiciary and then arm-twist 

the courts and use them as 

“slaughterhouses” for 

opposition members and 

opponents. 

“We invite Nigerians to 

further note that the action 

of the Presidency is a direct 

attempt to suspend sections 

6 (6)(b), 36 (5), (6)(d) and 

37 of the 1999 Constitution 

(as amended). 

“While section 6 (6)(b) 

provides that judicial 

powers of the court shall 

‘extend to all matters 

between persons, or 

between government or 

authority and to any person 

in Nigeria, and to all 

actions and proceedings 

relating thereto, for the 

determination of any 

question as to the civil rights 

and obligations of that 

person”. 

“Section 36 (6) (d) 

provides that, “every person 

who is charged with a 

criminal offence shall be 

entitled to be given 

adequate time and facilities 

for the preparation of his 

defence”. 

“Moreover, Section 36 (5) 

provides that, “every 

person who is charged with 

a criminal offence shall be 

presumed to be innocent 

until he is proven guilty." 

Firm harps on need to inculcate handwashing 

in children 

“As a leading personal 

By Etop Ekanem 

AS part of Global 

HandWashing Day 

and in continuation of its “A 

Million Clean Hands” 

programme, Saponaria 

Industries, maker of Sanitol 

range of hand sanitisers, 

celebrated the day at 

Ilupeju Primary School, 

Lagos in the presence of 

teachers, children and 

Headmistress with 

distribution of soaps to 

children and cleaning 

products to the school. 

Speaking at the event, 

Managing Director, 

Saponaria Industries, Mr 

Ashish Misra, said 

“Inadequate sanitation is a 

major cause of diseases 

worldwide. We at 

Saponaria Industries 

believe that improving 

sanitation in Nigeria will 

have a significant beneficial 

impact on health across 

households and 

communities. 

Minister of 

Finance, 

H a j i y a 

Z a i n a b 

Ahmed and 

Director 

General, 

D e b t 

Management 

O f f i c e , 

DMO, Ms. 

Patience 

Oniha 

and home care product 

company, Saponaria 

Industries is committed to 

helping build better 

awareness in the 

community to drive home 

the need for good hygiene 

and sanitation. Our Clean 

Nigeria initiative is a multipronged 

mission that is 

founded on a strong sense 

of corporate social 

Aquadana supports children living with cancer 

By Samson Echenim 

ASHMINA Limited, 

makers of Aquadana, 

one of Nigeria’s premier 

brand of table water, was at 

the Children Living with 

Cancer Foundation in 

Lagos to show love to 

children living with the 

disease. 

Speaking at the 

Childhood Cancer 

Awareness Walkathon 

organised by the Children 

Living with Cancer 

Foundation in Lagos , Glory 

Esen, Senior Sales 

From left—Senator Udo Udoma; Afreximbank President, Prof. Benedict 

Oramah; and Zainab Ahmed, Finance Minister. 

responsibility and manifests 

in several ways. 

“Global Handwashing 

Day is an opportunity to 

design, test, and replicate 

creative ways to encourage 

people to wash their hands 

with soap at critical times. 

“The purpose is to 

inculcate among the 

children, teachers and their 

families the handwashing 

habit." 

Manager of Ashmina 

Limited said, not many are 

aware that there are 

children living with cancer 

and this platform provides 

such great opportunity to 

create further awareness 

not just about cancer but as 

it concerns people, 

particularly children, living 

with it. 

We also supported the 

foundation earlier to 

organize a quiz competition 

and art exhibition. Children 

from various schools in 

Lagos joined these afflicted 

children in the contest and 

Zoning tears APC apart 

in Anambra 

By Vincent 

Ujumadu 

AWKA—AN attempt by 

some people to jettison 

the zoning arrangement in 

Aguata federal 

constituency in Anambra 

State is tearing the All 


APC, apart in the area. 

Aguaata is the constituency 

of Senator Andy Uba and 

Chief Chris Uba, the two 

brothers vying for the 

senatorial seat of APC and 


PDP, respectively for 

Anambea South senatorial 

zone. 

One of the APC aspirants 

for the House of 

Representatives, Dr. Oliver 

Ezeude said in an 

interview that the problem 

in the party in the area 

might lead to loss of the 

gains it had made since 

2015 and urged the national 

in an effort toward making 

the children feel a 

sense of belonging in the 

society. Children are the 

world’s most valuable resource 

and we believe that 

a great way to show love 

to them is to support and 

partner initiatives like 

this.’’ 

International Childhood 

Cancer Day is a global 

collaborative campaign to 

raise awareness about 

childhood cancer, and to 

express support for 

children and adolescents 

living with cancer and their 

and state leaderships of 

the party to intervene immediately 

before things 

got out of hand. 

Ezeude said: “Since the 

present democratic 

dispensation, we have an 

unwritten zoning 

understanding between 

Aguata North and Aguata 

South state constituencies 

for the positions of House 

of Representatives and 

local government chairman 

for the area. 

“To date, Aguata South 

had produced House of 

Representatives members 

for 16 years, while Aguata 

North had produced for 

only four years. In the spirit 

of the zoning arrangement, 

all the stakeholders, 

including traditional rulers, 

presidents general of the 

various communities and 

the clergy, are unanimous 

in their position that the 

next member of the House 

of Representatives should 

come from Aguata North. 

“The All Progressives 

Grand Alliance, APGA , 

has done the right thing by 

picking its candidate from 

Aguata North, but in APC, 

we have a different 

scenario in which the party 

does not want to obey the 

zoning arrangement. 

“I believe the national 

chairman of APC has good 

intentions, but there is a 

problem at the national 

secretariat of the party 

where many hangers on 

are causing confusion by 

feeding the party with 

wrong information about 

happenings in the party at

Vanguard, TUESDAY OCTOBER 16, 2018 —39 

Continues from Page 5 

aides to convey the news. 

“My initial intention had 

been to return to Abuja that 

same evening from Lagos, 

but my hosts at the Four 

Square Gospel had suggested 

that I should get 

some rest. Next morning, 

Wednesday, October 10, 

after I had finished celebrating 

the Holy Mass, I 

received a call from President 

Obasanjo: 

Naira up to N361/$ in parallel market 

By Elizabeth Adegbesan 

The Naira, yesterday, depreciated to N361 per 

dollar in the parallel market. 

According to naijabdcs.com, the live exchange rate 

platform of the Association of Bureaux De Change 

Operators of Nigeria (ABCON), the parallel market 

exchange rose to N361 per dollar from N360 per 

dollar last week Friday, indicating one naira depreciation 

of the naira. 

However, the naira yesterday, appreciated to 

N363.92 per dollar in the Investors and Exporters 

(I&E) window even as the volume of dollars traded 

declined by 79 percent. 

Data from FMDQ showed that the indicative exchange 

rate for the window dropped to N363.92 per 

dollar yesterday from N364.12 per dollar last week 

Friday, translating to 20 kobo appreciation of the 

naira. The volume of dollars (turnover) traded on 

the window yesterday rose by 79 percent to $61.25 

million from $295.08 million last week Friday. 

ABIA EXPLOSION PROTEST—Angry youths from the host communities of the Nigerian National 

Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, depot, shut operation at the facility protesting the death of over 200 

persons who died as a result of the pipeline explosion, last Friday in Osisioma, Aba, Abia State.. The 

angry youths blocked at the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, Port Harcourt. 

I worked to reconcile, not endorse, 

says Bishop Kukah 

The agreement 

He said: “Bishop, listen, 

I have changed my mind.” 

My heart nearly sank, but 

before I could ask why, he 

said: “Let us do it tomorrow 

if you can reach Atiku. 

I am going to deliver a lecture 

in Ife and will be back 

home before 1pm. 

“So, tell him to come at 

1pm.’ I started frantic efforts 

to reach Alhaji Atiku without 

luck. I reached one of 

his aides, Paul Ibe, and 

asked him to please let him 

know I am trying to reach 

him. 

“Finally, at about 1pm, I 

received a call from him. I 

told him what had happened 

with President 

Obasanjo. He agreed and 

said he would be in 

Abeokuta for 1pm on 

Thursday. I got back to my 

hosts, the Four Square Gospel 

Church to tell them 

about the change in my 

travelling plans, especially 

as I had no car to take 

me to Abeokuta. 

“I didn’t want to ask President 

Obasanjo’s people to 

send me a vehicle because 

I believed I needed a leeway 

of independence and 

trust. My hosts were exceedingly 

gracious in making 

a vehicle available, a 

driver and an aide to take 

me to Abeokuta. 

“Earlier that morning, 

President Obasanjo had 

called me a second time and 

told me that he wanted Alhaji 

Abubakar to come with 

the Chairman of the PDP, 

and two or three others. He 

also told me he had also 

invited both Sheikh Gumi 

and Rev. Oyedepo. 

“This was welcome news 

— Rev. Oyedepo is a kinsman 

of his, and the presence 

of Sheikh Gumi made 

sense. I was a bit nervous, 

seeing that the circle was 

getting larger for something 

I thought was for 

three of us. 

“I arrived Abeokuta about 

12.15pm ahead of both 


Alhaji Abubakar and his 

team. Alhaji Abubakar and 

his team arrived, and then 

I saw more and more people 

coming in. 

“I saw familiar faces of 

different people who 

turned out to be the leaders 

of Afenifere. All these 

years, whenever I brought 

up this matter of reconciliation, 

my idea has always 

been for the three of us to 

sit down together. I still believed 

that the meeting 

would be between the two 

of them and the three religious 

leaders. 

“When President 

Obasanjo appeared, I 

walked up to him and said 

I wanted to know the protocol 

for the meeting. He 

suggested that we would 

meet in a hall and that I 

should say a few words 

about how we got here. 

“I declined because it 

seemed again that at this 

point, we were in small forest 

of politics and I had no 

wish to be caught in it. I 

was happy that what I 

wanted to achieve had 

been achieved, namely, 

getting these two men to 

put the past behind them. 

“My personal preoccupation 

was a pastoral one, and 

not a political one. I was 

uncomfortable with this and 

I decided to make my position 

clear. I offered a different 

proposal to help us sift 

the moral grain from the 

chaff of politics via a threestep 

process so as to insulate 

the three of us from the 

political fallout. 

“I proposed that the first 

step would be for he and 

Alhaji Abubakar to sit down 

behind closed doors, sort 

out their issues and then the 

next step would be for both 

Sheikh Gumi and I to go in 

and listen to the two of them 

as Rev. Oyedepo had not 

arrived. 

“After that, I said, they 

could continue with the 

third phase which from 

what I could see was highwire 

politics and I had no 

wish to be caught in the 

web. After they both finished 

their brief meeting, 

Sheikh Gumi and I went in 

and sat down with the two 

of them. 

“We had some small briefing 

and then both of us 

spoke briefly on what they 

had done, encouraging 

them to ensure that this reconciliation 

holds. I even 

said jokingly that I am a 

Catholic priest and our 

marriage vows are indissoluble! 

The famous 

photograph 

“After that, we prayed 

and then took what has now 

become the famous photograph 

behind closed doors. 

At this point, I felt that my 

spiritual duties had been 

achieved and I was prepared 

to maintain my independence. 

“Sheikh Gumi and I 

shook hands and although 

I was hungry and food was 

being laid out, I skipped 

lunch. I quietly let myself 

out by the side door, got into 

the Four Square Gospel car 

and we drove off to Lagos. 

“Despite the dread of Lagos 

traffic and the disruption 

of flights at the airport 

in Lagos, I had declined 

the offer of a seat in the aircraft 

which had flown them 

to Abeokuta. 

“Although flying with 

them was the best (and 

most convenient) assurance 

I had of getting to 

Abuja in time for a speaking 

engagement at an 

event with the Sultan and 

Cardinal Onaiyekan for 

9am the next day, it was 

necessary to ensure that I 

took no favours from any of 

the two parties. 

I wasn’t in 

Abeokuta to 

endorse Atiku 

“I was not in Abeokuta to 

endorse Alhaji Atiku 

Abubakar, the candidate of 

Peoples’ Democratic Party. 

I perfectly understand the 

feelings of many of my 

friends and members of the 

opposition who believe that 

I travelled with Alhaji 

Abubakar and his team to 

attend his endorsement by 

President Obasanjo, but I 

reiterate that this was not 

the case. 

“All the bills for my travel 

were settled by the Four 

Square Gospel Church, 

hosts for the earlier dated 

programme who had 

bought my tickets, booked 

accommodation for me and 

took care to get me to the 

airport for my flight to Abuja 

and Sokoto. 

“I am a strong believer in 

a peaceful and united Nigeria, 

ideals for which I 

have striven and served my 

entire adult life as a thinker 

and a priest. My instincts 

for reconciliation and peace 

were sharpened during my 

involvement and experience 

with the Oputa Panel. 

“When the Generals refused 

to respond to the invitation 

of Oputa Panel, I 

personally undertook to visit 

both General Babangida 

and Buhari (he was not at 

home) at a time that today’s 

latter-day Buharists were 

asking the Panel to compel 

them to come or risk being 

blacked out of national life. 

“Objective-minded people 

will remember that back 

in 2001, when the Christian 

community and many of 

President Buhari’s opponents 

claimed that General 

Buhari had said that 

Muslims should vote only 

for Muslims, many people 

in the Christian community 

were disappointed that I 

wrote a long article to explain 

the context of what he 

had said after speaking with 

the General. 

“His party, the ANPP, later 

used part of my article 

for their 2003 campaigns! 

My faith and experience 

have taught me to learn to 

suspend judgment till I 

have heard both sides of a 

story, no matter what. 

“I hope that this clarification 

helps to allay the concerns 

of those who may 

have seen all of these in a 

different light. Many minds 

will remain set, no matter 

the reasonableness of my 

comments here, and this is 

to be expected — one cannot 

please everyone. 

“This is why it is often best 

to seek to please only one’s 

own conscience, and here, 

mine is very clear. I have 

been involved in a few behind-the-scene 

shuttle diplomacy 

for years, largely 

on my own initiative, taking 

advantage of my knowledge 

of those engaged in 

the conflict or at the invitation 

of third parties. 

Peace efforts 

“Some have succeeded 

and some have not. As a 

priest, it is not in my place 

to publicize what we have 

achieved. I am the Convener 

of the National Peace 

Committee, NPC. This 

alone is enough to place a 

moral boundary which I am 

bound to respect. 

“The NPC is able to accomplish 

much because of 

trust and that is not what I 

can treat lightly. When it 

became clear that both 


Abubakar were on the 

verge of making peace, I 

alerted the Chairman of 

the NPC, General Abdusalami 

Abubakar. 

“Since I happen to be in 

Lagos, I drove to the Ikoyi 

home of Chief Emeka Anyaoku 

and alerted him. I 

spoke to my Metropolitan, 

the Archbishop of 

Kaduna, Archbishop Matthew 

Ndagoso. 

“All in all, everyone believed 

this was a very good 

move if we could achieve 

it. None of us imagined 

the third phase of this 

meeting. Both theoretically 

and practically, I have 

come to know that peace 

making is a very risky 

business and often a 

thankless job. 

“I recall listening to the 

late Kofi Annan speak 

about this on two different 

occasions. Anyone involved 

in peace making, 

from domestic quarrels to 

larger battles, must be 

ready for the good, the 

bad and the ugly. 

“In the end, we must 

wear the shoes of the long 

distance runner, believing 

and trusting that the truth 

never ever sinks to the 

bottom of the sea. The 

truth will always have a 

stubborn way of defying 

the hostile elements and 

popping up at the right 

time, no matter how long 

it takes. 

“I perfectly understand 

that with Alhaji Abubakar 

having just picked up the 

Presidential ticket of his 

party, without providing 

this context, definitely, I 

can appreciate why many 

people will have a lot of 

anxieties. They will definitely 

be right to question 

my neutrality. 

“However, I have far too 

many friends across party 

lines for me to openly 

endorse one candidate or 

party against the other. It 

will be against the principles 

of the Code of Canon 

Law of the Catholic 

Church which regulates 

our public life in the political 

space. 

“The President of the 

Catholic Bishops’ Conference 

has signed a statement 

to the effect that no 

altar of the Catholic 

Church must ever be open 

to any politician, 

something we have all 

taken seriously. 

“I, therefore, hope that 

this clarification helps 

those whose minds are 

open. I am thankful to 

God and quite pleased 

that this reconciliation 

took place and that I was 

a small instrument in 

making it happen. 

“However, I am sorry 

that it has been given a 

different colouration and 

doubts by many people. 

It’s timing was purely fortuitous 

and purely circumstantial, 

not a contrivance. 

Personally, I will never 

relent in the very urgent 

task of making peace and 

reconciliation across the 

spectrum of our country.”

40— Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2018 

Increasing inequality 

worsens poverty in 

Nigeria 

*As stakeholders seek speedy passage of social work 

regulatory bill 

By Sola Ogundipe 

WORRIED by the 

worsening levels of 

social insecurity for 

millions of Nigerians and 

the glaring lack of attention 

about the relevance and 

welfare of social workers in 

the country, stakeholders 

in the nation's social sector 

are urging the National 

Assembly to facilitate 

speedy passage of a bill to 

professionalise social 

work. 

One of the concerns is 

that the gap between the 

rich and poor in Nigeria is 

widening and with an 

estimated 86.9 million 

Nigerians living in 

extreme poverty 

(according to the Global 

Poverty Clock), and 

Nigeria is now tagged the 

poverty capital of the 

world. 

Good Health Weekly 

established that the 

nation's human capital 

spending is among the 

worst in the world, even as 

indicators by global 

development institutions 

project more gloom in the 

future. Worsening levels of 

poverty, inequality, 

Maternal, Newborn and 

Child Health (MNCH), 

life expectancy, and 

human rights among 

others are being 

documented daily. 

By Chioma Obinna 

THE National Malaria 

Elimination 

Programme, NMEP, has 

called for more donor 

agencies and increased 

domestic financing to drive 

malaria elimination in the 

country even as North 

West leads in malaria 

burden. 

The National 

Coordinator, NMEP, Dr 

Audu Mohammed, who 

made the call at the 

Integrated Health Parley 

organised by 

Breakthrough Action- 

Nigeria in collaboration 

with the Health Writers 


HEWAN, in Lagos 

maintained that adequate 

Two global development 

indices - the Commitment 

to Reducing Inequality 

(CRI) index put together 

by Development Finance 

International (DFI) and 

Oxfam, and the World 

Bank's Human Capital 

Index, HCI, attest to this 

fact. According to the CRI 

index, Nigeria's 

performance on social 

spending on health, 

education and social 

protection is described as 

"shamefully low". For the 

second consecutive year 

Nigeria ranked among the 

lowest in the CRI index 

among 157 nations based 

on a comparative 

assessment of the level of 

commitment of national 

government towards 

reducing the poverty gap. 

In a comparison of the 

value of social spending in 

Nigeria with other 

countries, Nigeria placed 

bottom last on the index, 

scoring poorly on labour 

rights and meager levels of 

improvement in 

progressive tax policies. 

Further, the prediction by 

the HCI, which ranked 

Nigeria 152nd out of the 

157 countries, is that the 

future would be probably 

as grim or worse. The HCI 

measures human capital 

that a child born today can 

expect to attain by age 18, 

assuming the child attains 

the age of 5, grows 

funding was needed to 

achieve malaria free 

Nigeria. 

Represented by the 

Head, Advocacy, 

Communication and Social 

Mobilisation, Mr Chukwu 

Okoronkwo, declared that 

the burden of malaria 

remains a public health 

concern. 

"Quite a lot of donor 

partners are supporting 

malaria elimination in the 

country but in spite of their 

fund support, we still have 

huge gap which is why 

malaria is still endemic in 

Nigeria. We are appealing 

to more donor agencies to 

come in and government 

at all levels should increase 

their funding for malaria 

healthily, goes to school, 

obtains good education 

and has reasonable adult 

survival rate. 

Calling for speedy 

passage of the bill in 

Enugu last week 

stakeholders gathered at a 

media dialogue on the 

Social Welfare 

Professionalisation bill, 

argued that its assent is 

essential to regulate the 

practice of social work in the 

country. 

Child Protection 

Specialist, UNICEF, 

We must 

work 

together to 

improve 

protection, 

health and 

well-being 

outcomes for 

children 

NMEP seeks more funding for malaria elimination 

elimination,'' he said. 

Mohammed said that the 

prevalence of malaria in 

Nigeria is 27 per cent and 

there are variations of 

endemicity across 

geopolitical zones going 

by the 2015 Malaria 

Indicator Survey (MIS). 

"The World Malaria 

Report of 2017 indicates 

that Nigeria contributes 27 

per cent of the 216 million 

malaria cases and 24 per 

cent of the 445,000 malaria 

deaths. About three out of 

10 persons having malaria 

in the world live in 

Nigeria; one out of four 

deaths from malaria 

globally occur in Nigeria 

and over 54 million malaria 

cases recorded annually for 

* Two global development indices - the Commitment to Reducing Inequality, index 

put together by Development Finance International, DFI, and Oxfam, and the 

World Bank's Human Capital Index, attest to the poverty situation in Nigeria. 

Maryam Enyiazu who 

spoke during the forum 

put together by UNICEF 

in collaboration with the 

Child Rights Information 

Bureau, CRIB, and the 

Federal Ministry of 

Information, said too many 

people were vulnerable 

due to poverty, social 

exclusion, inequality and 

social injustice, hence a 

strong social welfare 

workforce is urgently 

needed. 

In a presentation entitled 

"Strengthening the Social 

Welfare Workforce to Better 

Protect Children and 

Achieve the SDGs", 

Enyiazu explained that 

the Sustainable 

Development Goals, SDGs, 

cannot be achieved without 

a strong and locally-based 

social service workforce. 

"Social welfare for 

children is one of the 

elements of Child 

Protection System which 

the last three years. We also 

have prevalence across 

zones in the country 

according to 2015 National 

Malaria Indicator Survey." 

According to the 2015 

National Malaria Indicator 

Survey ,the North West 

leads in high burden of 

malaria with 37 percent 

while the South East 

recorded lowest prevalence 

of 14 percent. 

Other regions recorded; 

North Central- 32 per cent, 

North East -26 per cent, 

South-South- 19 per cent, 

South West 17 per cent and 

South East 14 per cent. 

Mohammed said that 

increased funding for 

malaria elimination would 

provide equitable, 

plays a key role in 

preventing and 

responding to violence, 

exploitation, abuse and 

neglect of children. 

"Without licensing and 

an ethical board to regulate 

and ensure standards, 

professionalism and 

accountability of social 

workers to the public 

including to children will 

remain a challenge." 

We must work together 

to improve protection, 

health and well-being 

outcomes for children, 

youth, families and 

communities as outlined in 

the SDGs." 

Also speaking, Director of 

Social Welfare, Federal 

Ministry of Women Affairs 

and Social Development, 

FMWASD, Mrs Temitope 

Bamgboye, noted that in 

realisation of the 

importance of a legal 

backing for effective and 

qualitative practice of the 

comprehensive, cost 

effective, efficient and 

quality malaria control 

services. 

Speaking on malaria 

treatment, he advised 

Nigerians to stop selfmedication 

and go for 

Rapid Diagnostic Test for 

proper malarial testing. 

He however, dismissed 

reports that Lagos was 

malaria free adding that 

there were still malaria 

issues in the state. 

Also in his remarks, 

Deputy Director, Malaria 

and Tuberculosis Project, 

Breakthrough Action- 

Nigeria, Dr Bolatito 

Aiyenigba, said that the 

project was focused on 

integrated social health 

behaviour of Nigerians. 

social work profession in 

Nigeria, FMWASD and the 

National Association of 

Medical Social Workers of 

Nigeria, NASOW, and 

other stakeholders initiated 

a bill on the establishment 

of the Nigerian Council for 

Social Work. 

Bamgboye who was 

represented by an Assistant 

Director, Ben Okwesa, 

stated:"The Council is to 

serve as clearing house for 

the Social work profession 

in Nigeria, promote 

professional standards, 

improve effectiveness and 

efficiency and regulate the 

practice of social work. The 

bill was earlier endorsed by 

both houses of the NASS, 

transmitted to President 

Mohammadu Buhari for 

assent. "The bill was 

however returned for some 

clarifications. The identified 

grey areas in the bill is 

receiving attention and with 

strong support from 

UNICEF and NASS. We 

are optimistic that the bill 

will be returned to Mr 

President for his assent by 

the NASS before the next 

political dispensation." 

Among concerns of the 

stakeholders is that there 

are more non-professionals 

working in the field than 

the professionals, hence 

need for regulation to 

provide a platform that 

would allow government to 

address the social and 

economic difficulties faced 

by physically-challenged 

and indigent citizens. 

They opined that a strong 

social welfare workforce 

strengthened by regulatory 

mechanism was critical to 

ensure licensure, 

certification and 

registration backed by 

political, financial, technical 

and moral support.


*A cross section of the 2000 adolescent girls trained by YEDI and the German 

Government recently in Lagos. 

LASG educates parents on rights of 

children living with disability 

By Kosiso Onyibalu & 

Arinola Kolade 

TOWARDS making 

life more bearable 

f o r 

children living with 

disability in Lagos, the 

Office of the Special 

Adviser to the Lagos State 

Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi 

Ambode on Social 

Development, has urged 

parents to safeguard the 

rights of children with 

disability. 

She spoke during an 

enlightenment session 

held during the second 

Annual Stakeholders’ 

Forum on Disability, with 

the theme: “Knowing the 

Rights of Children Living 

with Disabilities”. 

Addressing the parents at 

the event, the Special 

Adviser, Mrs Joyce 

Onafowokan,commended 

them for attending the 

forum adding that the 

occasion was organized to 

further address the thorny 

issues affecting children 

living with disabilities in 

our society, particularly 

Lagos State. According to 

her, the governor is 

committed to making life 

more meaningful for every 

child living with disability. 

She disclosed that since 

the first annual 

Stakeholders’ Forum there 

had been noticeable 

improvement in the skills 

required for effective 

handling and 

management of children 

living with disability by 

parents and guardians. 

Onafowokan said this 

year’s edition of the 

Stakeholders’ Forum was 

meant to reveal the basic 

rights of children living 

with disability and to 

strengthen the partnership 

between parents and other 

stakeholders for the benefit 

of the society as a whole. 

In her presentation, Dr. 

B.A. Animashaun, 

Associate Professor/ 

Consultant Paediatrician, 

Lagos State University 

Teaching Hospital, 

LASUTH, stated that before 

2006, there was no specific 

global policy relating to the 

rights of children living 

with disability. However, 

she recalled that the United 

Nations Organisation, in 

2006, adopted a convention 

that spelt out the rights of 

our children with disability. 

Animashaun 

acknowledged that even 

though there are many 

challenges that people in 

the category face, the UN 

convention was meant to 

promote the fact that these 

children have equal rights 

STAKEHOLDERS have 

called for the 

prioritization of girl-child 

empowerment as part of 

strategies to overcome the 

high level of poverty in 

Nigeria. 

Making this call at the 

2018 International Day of 

Girl Child, organised by 

Alimosho Local 

Government Area and 

Mercy Corps, Chairman of 

Alimosho LGA, Hon. Jelili 

Sulaimon noted that the 

girl-child rejection 

syndrome which are still 

prevalent in some part of 

the country has showed the 

extent of injustice against 

feminism. 

“Promoting the concept 

that force the girl-child into 

Children with 

disability are 

entitled to 

social 

protection just 

like every 

other person; 

there should 

be no 

discrimination 

against them 

with others. “They are 

entitled to social protection 

just like every other 

person; there should be no 

discrimination against 

them. Nobody should 

refer to them as 

handicapped or 

physically challenged.” 

Director-General, 

Office of Education 

Quality Assurance, Lagos 

Ministry of Education, 

Mrs. Ronke Soyombo, 

said children living with 

disability should not be 

relegated to the 

background, as they are 

entitled to free education 

Germany, YEDI empower 2,000 adolescent girls with skills 

By Kosiso Onyibalu 

YOUTH Empowerment 

and Development 

Initiative, YEDI, with 

support from German 

Functional PHCs panacea to ailing 

healthcare system — CISLAC 


WORRIED by the 

decay in the nation’s 

health care system, the 

Civil Society Legislative 

Advocacy Centre, CISLAC, 

has stressed that 

revitalization of primary 

health facilities, if 

prioritized by governments 

at all levels, will put the 

country health system on a 

better paedestrian. 


organisation, a functional 

primary health care, 

particularly, will guarantee 

attainment of a Universal 

Health Coverage, UHC. 

Lamenting the acute 

shortage of infrastructure, 

Government’s Federal 

Ministry for Economic 

Cooperation and 

Development, BMZ, 

recently organised a 

Mercy Corps partner Alimosho LGA on 

girl child empowerment 


early marriage without the 

opportunity of getting 

quality education is the 

worst injustice society can 

do to human race. 

He explained that some 

people still hold 

tenaciously to superstition 

that women’s sexuality is 

better controlled by 

violating their human 

rights through female 

genital mutilation. 

“Despite concerted global 

outcry against this evil that 

has a far-reaching health 

implication for the victims, 

some communities in 

Nigeria are yet to jettison 

the murderous idea. 

Sulaimon called for 

policies and resources that 

create the right 

developmental 

environments. 

“With the support of 

Mercy Corps and other 

partners, we have been 

creating the right 

environment for women 

and girls for them to 

overcome the societal 

limitations and opportunity 

of making informed 

choices. 

State Team Lead, 

ENGINE II, Mercy Corps, 

Adeyinka Onabolu said 

that they are looking after 

over 1,000 marginalised 

girls across 18 

communities in Alimosho 

local government. 

“The first phase of our 

project which began in 

2014 was to build their 

financial literacy by 

equipping them with life 

skills to make better 

choices. Currently we are 

equipping them with skill 

to have a better life. 

the dearth of personnel and 

equipment in PHCs, across 

the federation, the 

Executive Director of 

CISLAC, MallamAuwal 

Ibrahim Musa, notes said 

the situation of primary 

health care in Nigeria has 

worsened due to poor 

financial and political 

commitment on the part of 

the government is lacking. 

“In cases where there 

have been financial 

pronouncements, they 

have been partially or 

entirely not implemented. 

Inadequate funding and 

non-commitment of state 

governors and local 

government authorities to 

provide skilled manpower 

at the primary health care 

centres impede adequate 

health intervention. 

“Thankfully, Health is on 

the concurrent list of the 

government. This signifies 

that if indeed the 

government wants to pay 

attention to the prevalent 

health condition, it can 

easily be achieved through 

serious implementation of 

health policies and 

redeeming of pledges at all 

levels.” 

Represented by the 

programme officer, Mr. 

Murtala Muhammad, 

during a media workshop 

in Lagos, he recalled that 

in an attempt to stem the 

tide, the federal 

government kicked off a 

scheme to revitalise over 

10,000 PHCs across the 

country and also in 

special football tournament 

for female beneficiaries of 

SKILLZ Girl programme 

tagged ‘YEDI-BMZ 

Football Festival. 

The event witnessed 

representatives from 

StreetFootballWorld 

(Berlin, Germany), 

GrassrootSoccer (South 

Africa), 

and 

StreetFootballWorld 

network members from 

Ghana, Cameroon, Liberia, 

Ghana and program 

participants from Girls 

Senior High School and 

Government Senior 

College Agege as well as 

participants’ parents 

amongst others. 

The activities marked the 

successful completion of the 

YEDI-BMZ SKILLZ Girl 

project, an intervention that 

has equipped 2,000 

vulnerable adolescent girls 

in public schools and outof-school 

settings with 

comprehensive knowledge 

on sexual and reproductive 

health and rights, HIV 

prevention and life coping 

skills. The fair-play football 

tournament utilized 

FOOTBALL-3 Rules – a 

collaboration with national 

and interventional partners 

prioritising rural and 

vulnerable populations, 

especially pregnant 

women, children under 

five and the elderly 

through the Saving One 

Million Lives. 

In his lecture: “Financing 

for Primary Health Care: 

Harnessing Domestic 

Funding Enabling Policies 

And Legislation,” Dr. Jibril 

Bashar from health policy 

and systems development 

unit, department of 

community medicine, 

Ahmadu Bello University 

Teaching Hospital, Zaria, 

said to achieve positive 

impact in the health sector, 

Nigerian government must 

invest a benchmark of 15 

percent of its national 

budget to health as 

recommended by the World 

Health Organisation. 

Bashar who hinted that 

the Lagos state 

government top the list in 

health investment with 

N6, 617 per person 

annually, said the funding 

gap of N64.2 billion, 

especially in its 2018 

budget was not adequate 

to take care of the needs of 

Lagosians. 

According to him, there 

should be an appropriate 

financing mechanism that 

will provide sufficient 

financial protection so that 

no individual household is 

impoverished because of 

the need to use health care 

services. 

special kind of football 

evolved 

by 

StreetFootballWorld, an 

international umbrella body 

for all NGOs that use the 

game of football for social 

good and behavioural 

change. 

According to YEDI’s 

Executive Director, Oje 

Ivagba,the BMZ SKILLZ 

Girls Project which was 

piloted in schools and outof-school 

settings in Lagos, 

Abuja, Akwa Ibom and 

Ogun State, empowered 

over 2,000 disadvantaged 

adolescent girls, aged 

between 13 and 19 years 

with a girls-only curriculum 

that contributes to the 

reduction of HIV/AIDS 

among girls and women in 

Nigeria. “The girls were 

empowered with 

knowledge on vital issues 

relating to sexual and 

reproductive health and 

rights, life and leadership 

skills and physical wellbeing, 

to enable them 

successfully transit into 

adulthood and achieve 

their full potential as 

productive members of the 

public.

42 — anguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2018 

Sanofi, others tackle diabetes burden 

in Nigeria 


EXPERTS 

in 

endocrinologists 

amongst others in the 

management of diabetes 

around the world will 

tomorrow converge in 

Lagos for the second 

edition of the Diabetes 

Summit of a global 

biopharmaceutical 

healthcare company 

focused on human health, 

Sanofi. 

The Sanofi Diabetes 

Summit billed to hold at the 

Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, 

Lagos debuted in 2017 had 

in attendance public and 

private healthcare 

practitioners and other 

stakeholders from 

Cameroun, Ghana and 

Nigeria. 

Diabetes is a chronic 

disease affecting millions 

of people in sub-Sahara 

Africa. In Nigeria, its rising 

prevalence is a public 

health concern. Many 

people remain 

undiagnosed while many 

diagnosed do not achieve 

proper control. Effective 

management of diabetes is 

a full continuum of care 

requiring proper education 

and close collaboration 

among healthcare 

practitioners, the patient 

and other caregivers. 

Briefing journalists in 

Lagos on the programme, 

the General Manager of 

Sanofi-Aventis Nigeria Ltd, 

Pharm Folake Odediran, 

said the Summit was 

designed to support the 

efforts of stakeholders to 

curb the menace of diabetes 


"Our desire is to 

empower life. Our purpose 

is to understand the health 

care needs of the people in 

places where we serve and 

to help solve them. What 

Sanofi is doing with the 

diabetes Summit is to 

support the efforts of the 

stakeholders. 

"Our expectation is that 

the Summit provides an 

opportunity for health care 

practitioners to rub minds 

together. We also have the 

expectation that the 

Summit provides an 

opportunity for varying 

stakeholders in the 

management of this chronic 

condition to come together 

to chat a way forward 

regarding how to curb this 

menace and to reduce both 

its morbidity and 

mortality,"she said. 

Explaining the objectives 

of the Summit, Medical 

Director, Sanofi-Aventis 

Nigeria Ltd, Dr. Philip 

Ikeme explained that the 

theme for this year's 

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Diabetes Federation's World 

Diabetes Day which 

emphasizes the role of the 

family in diabetes care. 

What we aim to achieve in 

the Summit is to bring the 

family together in the care 

of the patient." 

He noted that Sub- 

Sahara Africa has the fastest 

growing rate of diabetes 

with Nigeria, having a 

prevalence rate between 3 

to 5 percent. 

"We also have the growing 

number of patients who do 

not have overt diabetes - 

people who are known to 

have impaired glucose 

tolerance - so if you look at 

the numbers, the thinking 

is that we have about 1.7 

million diabetics in 

Nigeria…if you look at the 

number of people with 

impaired glucose tolerance 

the number will go much 

higher so you are looking 

at the number of over 7 

million which means that 

the number of people who 

have the potential to become 

diabetic is huge. 

"We also have a huge 

burden of people who are 

not diagnosed as much as 

we know there are a 

significant number of 

people who are diabetic." 

*Vice President of AFRH, Dr Abayomi Ajayi; Representative of Lagos State First Lady, 

Dr Oreose Imosime; Special Assistant, Lagos State Governor on Primary Healthcare, 

Dr. Olufemi Onanuga and President, Association AFRH, Nigeria, Dr. Faye Iketubosin 

during AFRH 8th Annual International Conference in Lagos. 

Save the Children seeks end to diarrhoea infection 

By Kosiso Onyibalu 

THE Chief of Party, Save 

the Children’s Stop 

Diarrhea Initiative, Dr 

David Atamewalen has 

called on parents and 

teachers to join hands with 

other stakeholders to curb 

diarrhoea among children 

under the age of 5. 

Making the call at the 

grand finale of SDI 

youngster's football 

competition tagged: "Kick 

Diarrhea Out of Lagos” 

organized by Save the 

Children, Atamewalen 

described diarrhoea as a 

‘killer disease’’ that must 

be stopped. 

He explained that the 

event was all about trying 

to demonstrate the efficacy 

of the 7-point plan against 

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diarrhoea prevention and 

control recommended by 

the World Health 

Organization, WHO and 

the United Nations 

Children’s Fund, UNICEF. 

He said the 7-point plan 

includes exclusive 

breastfeeding, Rostra virus 

immunization, ORS and 

Zinc, and Access to water 

and sanitation and measles 

vaccine, adding that strict 

adherence to them would 

reduce the prevalence of 

the disease as well as the 

deaths of children. 

Atamewalen advised 

nursing mothers to get 

used to washing their 

hands before breastfeeding 

their babies as it would go 

a long way to help prevent 

and control the spread of 

the disease. 

Speaking, Education 

Secretary, Shomolu LGA, 

Oyatope Adueduyemi, 

commended the Lagos 

State Government, State 

Universal Basic Education 

Board and Save the 

Children for their selfless 

support in the past four 

years. 

On his part, Branch 

Chairman Nigeria Union 

of Teachers Shomolu, 

Comrade Alade Olajide, 

pledged to take the 

programme to the 

classrooms. 

Also at the event, 

Advocacy Adviser, Save 

the Childre, Folake Kuti, 

said the organization 

targets children on good 

hygiene as well as ensure 

a healthy growth of 

children.


*From left: Director, Research & Development, Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Development; Mrs. Alaba 

Fadairo; Associate Professor/Consultant, Pediatrician, LASUTH; Dr B.A. Animashaun, Commissioner for Youth and 

Social Development; Mr. Agboola Dabiri and Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor,on Social Development; Mrs. 

Joyce Onafowokan at the 2nd Annual Stakeholders’ Forum on Disability in Lagos 

Lagos records 5 cases of domestic 

violence daily — Prof. Badru 


PROFESSOR 

of 

Sociology at the 

University of Lagos, Prof. 

Fatai Badru, has disclosed 

that not less than five cases 

of domestic violence were 

being reported daily in 

Lagos. 

Badru who spoke at a 

symposium organised by 

Domestic and Sexual 

Violence Response Team 

(DSVRT) to commemorate 

the 2018 Domestic and 

Sexual Violence Month in 

Lagos, said recent doctoral 

studies showed that 

domestic violence was 

more prevalent in the 

urban areas than the rural 

areas. 

“According to the DSVRT 

statistics, there has been an 

increase in domestic 

violence daily in Lagos. At 

least, a minimum of five 

incidences of domestic 

violence are reported 

daily.” 

The sociologist attributed 

the high level of domestic 

violence in urban areas to 

psychological factors and 

stressful living conditions. 

“People with disabilities 

are also highly vulnerable 

to violence. 

“Both men and women 

with disabilities are 

vulnerable to domestic and 

family violence at higher 

levels than men and 

women without 

impairments. 

“Women with disabilities 

experience higher level of 

sexual abuse,” Badru said. 

Speaking on the theme, 

“Securing the Home 

Against Violence”, he 

advocated the protection of 

persons with disabilities 

from domestic violence. 

The sociologist reiterated 

the need to understand the 

gendered nature of 

domestic violence as well 

as the factors that make 

individuals vulnerable to 

domestic violence. 

“A key barrier to seeking 

help in domestic violence 

is when the survivor 

depends on the 

perpetuator for upkeep 

and survival. 

“The principle of respect 

and value for one another 

should be reinforced 

throughout the community. 

“This should be done by 

the education system, 

community leaders, social 

and sporting organisations 

and leaders of faith. 

“Securing the home 

against violence is 

everyone’s responsibility, ” 

he said. 

Gov. Akinwunmi 

Ambode of Lagos State, at 

the event, highlighted the 

role of the home in the 

upbringing of wholesome 

children. 

Represented by Mrs 

Joyce Onafowokan, his 

Special Adviser on Social 

Development, the 

governor said, “The home 

is the first place the child 

lives. 

“The parents are the 

primary educators of the 

children and the home is 

the first place of security of 

the children. 

“Every kind of behaviour 

begins from the home; it is 

from our behaviour that 

children learn, and they are 

the direct representatives of 

who we are.” 

He said parents should 

be cautious in bringing up 

children because of the 

effect it has to the larger 

society. 

Also, Justice Sybil Nwaka 

of the Lagos Domestic 

Violence and Sexual 

Offences Court said the 

Lagos State Judiciary was 

taking up the fight against 

A key barrier to 

seeking help in 

domestic violence 

is when the 

survivor depends 

on the perpetuator 

for upkeep and 

survival 

UNAIDS, StarTimes seek 

end to HIV/AIDS through 

mobile app 

By Cynthia Alo 

THE Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS 

(UNAIDS) and Startimes have disclosed plans toward 

increasing the awareness on Human Immune deficiency 

and Acquired immune deficiency syndromes among 

youths in Africa through mobile online video application. 

This is in line with UNAIDS vision of ending the 

epidemic across the entire world by 2030. 

In a statement, the Executive Director of UNAIDS, Mr. 

Michel Sidibe said: "We have seen progress in most 

countries today, but the biggest challenge that we face is 

complacency. The young people, they don't have 

information, they don't have the knowledge, so they don't 

protect themselves. Therefore we need information, 

knowledge and education, and that's why StarTimes is 

very important for us. "I just want to say sharing 

information, bringing knowledge and making sure that 

we can change young people will be key to ending AIDS." 

Sidibé also noted that for most African countries, 70 

percent of the populations are below the age of 35 and 

they are not getting information adding, "Our recent 

approach will completely change the situation and help 

us to go for a generation free of AIDS." 

Speaking on the development, StarTimes Group , a 

Chinese company that offers Digital Terrestrial Television 

(DTT) through its network services Vice President, Mr. 

Guo Ziqi stated that with smartphone use and internet 

penetration soaring, Africa is set for a communication 

revolution. 

He stated: "Based on this trend, StarTimes launched its 

video streaming service in African market with StarTimes 

App in June. Within 3 months, StarTimes App has had 8 

million downloads and the figure is expected to be 15 

million at the end of this year." 

According to him, with more broadcasting platforms and 

a bigger and diversified subscriber base and richer content, 

Startimes will be able to make the best of all its resources 

to help end the AIDS epidemic by 2030. 

Nigeria, UK partner on health security 

By Arinola Kolade & 

Kosiso Onyibali 

THE United Kingdom 

through its national 

public health institute, 

Public Health England, 

PHE, and the Nigeria 

Centre for Disease Control, 

NCDC, have signed a 

Memorandum of 

Understanding, MOU, to 

strengthen health security 

in Nigeria. 

The IHR strengthening 

programme in Nigeria is 

part of a £16 million project 

funded by the UK 

sexual and domestic 

violence. 

“Domestic and sexual 

violence cases are being 

expressly disposed of and 

justice is being served. 

“The Lagos State 

Government and Justice 

Sector are coming to the 

doorsteps of people, 

creating awareness, 

encouraging survivors to 

come forward and not be 

afraid of stigma,” Justice 

Nwaka said. 

Department of Health, to 

support the capacities of 

national public health 

institutes in five countries. 

In Nigeria, this project will 

focus on the key pillars 

within the mandate of 

NCDC, including disease 

surveillance, emergency 

preparedness and 

response, public health 

laboratory services as well 

as workforce development. 

At the signing event in 

Abuja, the IHR 

strengthening programme 

which was formally 

launched by the British 

High Commissioner to 

Nigeria, Ambassador Paul 

Arkwright, emphasised the 

need for strong 

collaboration between 

national public health 

institutes in ensuring global 

health security. 

“The United Kingdom 

recognizes that we must 

work closely with other 

countries in our efforts to 

build strong and resilient 

health systems globally. 

The partnership between 

PHE and NCDC would 

contribute to ensuring the 

world is much safer and less 

*From left: Director of Climate Change,Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Ene Obong; 

CEOs Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu; British High 

Commissioner for Nigeria, Mr. Paul Thomas Arkwright at the formal launch of the IHR 

Strengthening Project in Nigeria, held recently in Abuja. 

vulnerable to the threat of 

infectious diseases”. 

Chief Executive of PHE, 

Duncan Selbie added that 

the recent cases of monkey 

pox in the United Kingdom 

highlighted the ease of 

movement of infectious 

diseases and reinforced the 

need to strengthen national 

public health institutes 

globally. 

“The IHR strengthening 

project is very much a 

partnership and invaluable 

opportunity for both 

countries to learn from each 

other. By working together 

and sharing expertise, both 

countries become stronger 

and that is our joint ultimate 

aim.” 

In his address, CEO, 

NCDC, Dr. Chikwe 

Ihekweazu,stated that the 

implementation of the 

programme in Nigeria will 

be coordinated by NCDC. 

The NCDC will work with 

PHE to provide dedicated 

staff time and adoption of a 

multi-sectoral collaboration 

with the Federal Ministry 

of Health, Federal Ministry 

of Environment, and 

Federal Ministry of 

Agriculture and Rural 

Development; other 

relevant ministries, 

departments and agencies 

(MDAs); as well as partner 

organizations.


Ekiti debt profile hits 

N120bn as Fayose exits 

A DO-EKITI—THE 

debt profile of Ekiti 

State which was N117 

billion at the beginning of 

the year has risen to N120 

billion. 

According to a document 

forwarded to the Debt 

Management Office, 

DMO, by the outgoing 

state government, the state 

incurred additional debt of 

N3 billion between March 

and June this year. 

In September, Kayode 

Fayemi, governor-elect of 

Ekiti State, had raised an 

alarm over N99 billion 

debt incurred by the 

administration of Mr. 

Ayodele Fayose. 

The DMO had said the 

debt profile of the state, 

going by available records 

then, had increased from 

N18 billion during 

Fayemi’s era to N117 

billion, under Fayose’s 

watch. 

But Fayose had denied 

the claim, saying the debt 

of Ekiti is pegged at N59.5 

billion and that it was 

Judge withdraws from 

Ogun PDP crisis’ suit 

By Onozure Dania 

L AGOS—JUSTICE 

Chukwujekwu 

Aneke of a Federal High 

Court, Lagos, yesterday, 

withdrew from further 

hearing in suit involving 

two factions of the Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, in 

Ogun State. 

The suit by Chief Ajibola 

Oluyede, has Messrs 

Segun Seriki, Tuke 

Omotara, Nosiru Isiaka 

Giwa, Remix Bakare, 

Abiodun Sanyaolu, Kola 

Soriola and Oyede Elijah, 

as plaintiffs. 

Defendants are: 

Independent National 

Electoral Commission, 

INEC, the PDP, Prince 

Uche Secondus, the PDP 

national chairman, 

Senator Ibrahim Tsauri, 

National Secretary of the 

party, Elder Yemi 

Akinwonmi, Sikirulai 

Ogundele, Bode Bankole, 

Waliu Oladipupo and 

Tunde Alekuwodo. 

The plaintiffs in the suit, 

want the court to grant an 

injunction for the fifth 

defendant, Akinwonmi be 

replaced with the first 

plaintiff, as the party’s 

National Secretary. 

They also asked the 

court to order the national 

body of the party to only 

recognise Chief Bayo-led 

faction of the party as the 

authentic exco of the party 

in Ogun State. 

But the defendants in 

their preliminary 

objection filed by their 

lawyers who include, 

Emeka Etiaba, SAN, 


incurred by Fayemi’s 

government. 

However, in the 

document forwarded to the 

DMO Office, which was 

seen by TheCable, the 

state’s debt profile rose 

from N117 billion to N120 

billion within three months. 

The components of the 

debt, according to the 

document, shows 

commercial bank loans 

pegged at N2 billion, 

federal government and 

state bond of N18.2 billion 

and N3.5 billion 

respectively as well as 

budget support facility of 

N16.9 billion. 

There are also a salary bail 

out of N9 billion, excess 

crude account of N9.5 

billion, commercial 

agriculture loan of N163.4 

million, contractors’ arrears 

of N2 billion pension and 

gratuity arrears of N22.2 

billion. 

Others are salary 

arrears of N8.3 billion 

and judgement debt of 

N95 million. 

Emeka Okpoko, SAN, 

Edward Ayo-Adegbesan 

and Kayode Akinsola, 

urged the court to dismis 

the plaintiffs’ suit in its 

entity for been 

incompetent and abuse of 

court processes. 

In urging the court to 

dismiss the suit, the 

defendants said the 

plaintiffs failed to comply 

with the Provision 

contained in Section 60 of 

their party’s constitution. 

However, at the hearing 

of the matter, yesterday, 

after Justice Aneke had 

ruled in favour of the 

plaintiffs to hear the 

matter, lawyers to the 

defendants, told him to 

withdraw himself from the 

suit, haven ruled on the 

preliminary objection 

filed against the suit 

which has not been 

moved. 

In his response, lawyer 

to the plaintiffs, Oluyede, 

urged the judge to 

discountenance the 

withdrawal of the judge 

from the matter as 

canvassed by the 

defendants’ lawyers. 

Justice Aneke while 

withdrawing from the 

matter ruled: “I have 

noticed the defendants’ 

attitude on this matter 

since first day and the 

attitudes were appalling, 

the interest of the court is 

to be even handed but 

since the defendants have 

shown discomfort about 

my proceedings to the 

matter, I, hereby, rescue 

myself. The case file shall 

be remitted to the CJ for 

reassignment.” 

By Ikechukwu 

Nnochiri 

ABUJA—THE Abuja 

Division of the 

Federal High Court, 

yesterday, gave the Nigeria 

Police Force, the nod to 

arraign the flag-bearer of 


Party, PDP, in the September 

22, governorship election in 

Osun State, Senator 

Ademola Adeleke, over his 

alleged involvement in 

examination malpractice. 

Justice I.E Ekwo granted 

Police leave to dock 

Adeleke alongside his four 

alleged accomplices, Sikiru 

Adeleke (the principal of 

Ojo-Aro Community 

Grammar School), Alhaji 

Aregbesola Muftau 

(Registrar of the school), 

Gbadamosi Ojo (a teacher 

in the school), and Dare 

Samuel Olutope. 

The court directed the 

Inspector-General of Police, 

Mr. Ibrahim Idris, to ensure 

that all the defendants were 

brought to court for 

arraignment on the 

adjourned date. 

The order followed 

Adeleke’s absence in court 

when the case was called 

up, even though his codefendants 

were present. 

“The prosecution is 

hereby ordered to ensure 

the defendants are in court 

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018773962, 

08052867058 

EXAM MALPRACTICE: Arraign Adeleke, 

4 others by Oct 21, Court orders Police 

VISIT: From left; CEO, Wecyclers Nigeria Ltd., Mr. Olawale Adebiyi; Unilever 

Africa President, Bruno Witvoet and Proprietor, Ken Ade Private School, Makoko, 

Mr. Bawo Ayeseminikan, during Bruno’s visit to Makoko Community, Lagos. 

at the next date to take their 

plea,” Justice Ekwo 

ordered. 

Police prosecutor, Mr. 

Simon Lough had after the 

case was called up, notified 

the judge that the charge 

marked, FHC/ABJ/CR/156/ 

2018, was coming up for the 

first time. 

He alleged that the 

defendants committed 

examination malpractices 

by fraudulently, through 

impersonation, registering 

Adeleke and another Sikiru 

Adeleke, as students of Ojo- 

Aro Community Grammar 

School, in Ojo-Aro in Osun 

State, for the National 

Examination Council’s 

June/July 2017 Senior 

School Certificate 

Examination in February 

2017. 

Meantime, though 

Adeleke was absent, he, 

however, briefed a lawyer 

to represent him. 

His lawyer, Dr. Alex 

Izinyon, SAN, said: “My 

lord, his Personal Assistant 

informed me yesterday 

(Sunday) that he was 

indisposed because he was 

stooling. 

“He sent a medical report 

to that effect.” 

Police lawyer 

acknowledged that the 

medical report was served 

on him, saying he was not 

opposed to the 

adjournment request. 

Consequently, Justice 

Ekwo adjourned the case 

till October 31 for 

arraignment. 

Only 6.6m Lagosians eligibe to vote in 2019 — INEC 

L Independent 

AGOS—THE 


Commission, INEC, in 

Lagos State said 6, 609, 

115 residents were eligible 

to vote in the 2019 general 

elections in the state. 

The Resident Electoral 

Commissioner, REC, Mr. 

Sam Olumekun, disclosed 

this at a workshop on 

Lagos State Election 

Security Strategic Plan for 

2019 Elections. 

The News Agency of 

Nigeria, NAN, reports that 

the workshop was 

organised by Nigeria 

Policing Programme, NPP, 

in collaboration with INEC 

in Lagos State. 

The Administrative 

Secretary of the 

commission, Prince Adelani 

Asade, delivered 

Olumekun’s speech at the 

workshop. 

Lagos state has 245 

Registration Areas (Wards), 

8,462 polling units, and 

3669 voting points across 

the 20 Local Governments 

of the state and 

Olumekun agreed that 

security is key to holding a 

successful election. 

Olumekun said: “6, 609, 

115 eligible Nigerians 

registered to vote during the 

2019 general elections in 

the state. 

“I am profoundly grateful 

to NPP for organising 

this very important and 

timely workshop on 

elections security 

considering the role of 

good security structure in 

conducting a peaceful 

and successful general 

elections in 2019. 

“It is crucial to say that 

with 91 political parties and 

about 74 million voters 

geared to take informed 

decision and action at the 

general elections in 2019, 

the security of election 

officials, materials, and the 

By Gabriel 

Olawale 

LAGOS—A pro – 

Buhari group, Re– 

elect Buhari Movement, 

RBM, has described former 


Obasanjo’s endorsement 

of former vice President 

Atiku Abubakar for 

President in 2019 as 

meaningless. 


convener, Mr. Emmanuel 

Umohinyang, RBM noted 

that the endorsement will 

count for nothing in the 

next general election. 

electorate is of utmost 

importance to the 

commission. 

“Indeed, security is the 

key to the conduct of 

credible elections. INEC in 

Lagos is truly proud of 

partnering with NPP at this 

most auspicious time in the 

electoral cycle.” 

The 

INEC 

commissioner commended 

the NPP and hoped that 

the workshop would give 

the commission the 

opportunity to review, 

reflect, brainstorm, and reengineer 

its security 

structure and strategy. 

In his goodwill message, 

the representative of NPP, 

Mr Emeka Ukaotu said that 

INEC would need to 

develop its election security 

management plan. 

According to him, some 

factors needed to be 

considered by INEC in 

developing the plan. 

These include relevant 

intelligence and 

information about locations 

and assessment of 

vulnerability. 

Obasanjo’s endorsement of Atiku has no 

effect in 2019, says RBM 

The statement reads: “If 

endorsement wins votes, 

former President Goodluck 

Jonathan would have won 

the 2015 general election 

because under that era we 

saw how humongous 

resources was used to buy 

endorsement. 

“Today, Nigerians are not 

only wiser, they are 

properly informed on the 

right they have on election 

day, so the endorsement of 

Atiku is neither here nor 

there, and nobody should 

take Obasanjo seriously. 

“Ex–president Obasanjo 

is one man who plays to the 

gallery. He speaks from both 

sides of his mouth as he has 

shown again. 

“What Nigerians are 

voting for now is 

performance, but the baba 

has forgotten that time has 

changed, the monarch’s 

kind of election has gone” 

“The people look at the 

performance of the 

administration and cast 

their votes. These are the 

only people who can 

decide their next president 

in 2019. 

“We should not for any 

reason allow Obasanjo’s 

endorsement to distract 

anybody.”

A Palestinian man argues with an Israeli soldier during clashes over an 

Israeli order to shut down a Palestinian school near Nablus in the occupied 

West Bank. REUTERS/Mohamad Torokman 

Saudi preparing to admit journalist 

died during interrogation 

*Trump blames ‘rogue killers’ 

*King Salman orders investigation 

ACCORDING to two 

sources, the Saudis 

are preparing a report that 

will acknowledge that 

Saudi journalist Jamal 

Khashoggi’s death was the 

result of an interrogation 

that went wrong, one that 

was intended to lead to his 

abduction from Turkey. 

One source says the report 

will likely conclude 

that the operation was carried 

out without clearance 

and transparency and that 

those involved will be held 

responsible. 

One of the sources acknowledged 

that the report 

is still being prepared and 

cautioned that things could 

change. 

The Washington Post columnist 

was last seen in 

public when he entered the 

Saudi consulate in Istanbul 

in Turkey on October 2. Previously, 

Saudi authorities 

had maintained Khashoggi 

left the consulate the same 

afternoon of his visit, but 

provided no evidence to 

support the claim. 

Khashoggi’s fiancée, 

Hatice Cengiz, who was 

waiting outside the consulate, 

says she did not see 

him re-emerge. 

Meanwhile, US President 

Donald Trump has suggested 

“rogue killers” 

could be behind the disappearance 

of Saudi journalist 

Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey. 

Speaking to reporters after 

a phone call with King 

Salman, he said the Saudi 

leader had firmly denied 

knowing what had happened 

to Mr Khashoggi. 

Secretary of State Mike 

Pompeo is flying to Saudi 

Arabia immediately. 

Saudi and Turkish investigators 

have been seen 

entering the Saudi consulate 

where Mr Khashoggi 

was last seen. 

Turkish officials believe 

Mr Khashoggi was murdered 

in the consulate by 

Saudi agents nearly two 

weeks ago but Riyadh has 

always strongly denied 

this. 

The issue has strained 

Saudi Arabia’s ties with its 

closest Western allies. 

Mr Trump addressed 

snatched questions from 

reporters over helicopter 

engine noise at the White 

House, describing King 

Salman’s denial as “very, 

very strong”. 

“It sounded to me like 

maybe these could have 

been rogue killers,” he 

added. “Who knows?” 

The president provided 

no evidence to back his 

comment. 

A Turkish security source 

has told the BBC that officials 

have audio and video 

evidence proving Mr 

Khashoggi was murdered 

inside the building. 

On Saturday, Mr Trump 

threatened Saudi Arabia 

with “severe punishment” 

if it emerged that 

Mr Khashoggi had been 

killed inside the consulate 

but ruled out halting big 

military contracts with 

Riyadh. 

Secretary of State 

Pompeo’s visit to Saudi 

Arabia will be followed by 

a stop in Turkey. 

Diplomatic pressure is 

growing on the Saudis to 

give a fuller explanation. 

On Monday, King 

Salman ordered an investigation 

into the case. 

“The king has ordered 

the public prosecutor to 

open an internal investigation 

into the Khashoggi 

matter based on the information 

from the joint team 

in Istanbul,” an official 

quoted by Reuters news 

agency said. 

Australia considers recognising 

Jerusalem as Israel’s capital 

ISRAELI Prime Minister 

Benjamin Netanyahu 

said on Monday that Australia 

was considering 

recognising Jerusalem as 

Israel’s capital. 

The status of Jerusalem is 

one of the thorniest obstacles 

to a peace deal between Israel 

and the Palestinians. 

Israel regards all of the city, 

including the eastern sector 

that it annexed after the 

1967 Middle East war, as its 

capital. 

Last December, U.S. President 

Donald Trump reversed 

decades of U.S. 

policy by recognising 

Jerusalem, enraging the 

Palestinians and upsetting 

the Arab world and Western 

allies. 

A statement issued by 

Netanyahu’s office said he 

had spoken to Australian 

Prime Minister Scott 

Morrison by phone on 

Monday, and that Morrison 

had said he was “considering 

official recognition of 

Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, 

and moving its embassy 

there”. 

No comment was immediately 

available from 

Morrison’s office. 

The U.S. Embassy became 

the only foreign embassy in 

Jerusalem in May, and 

Guatemala and Paraguay 

followed Washington’s lead 

days later and also moved 

their embassies, although 

Paraguay returned its mission 

to Tel Aviv last month. 

Israel closed its embassy in 

Asuncion in response. 

The Palestinians, with 

broad international backing, 

want East Jerusalem as the 

capital of a future state that 

they hope to establish in the 

occupied West Bank and the 

Gaza Strip. Peace talks between 

the parties broke 

down in 2014. 

Netanyahu has attempted 

to persuade other countries 

to move their embassies to 

Jerusalem. 


Why I lost faith in UK judicial 

system —Ibori 

By Charles Kumolu 

Aformer governor of 

Delta State, Chief 

James Ibori has said that his 

experience in the United 

Kingdom, made him lose 

faith in the ability of its judicial 

system to dispense 

justice without malice. 

Ibori said this on the heels 

of reactions trailing his earlier 

statement where he said 

the British judiciary was biased. 

A statement by his Media 

Assistant, Mr. Tony Eluemunor, 

said his conviction 

in the UK was a miscarriage 

of justice. 

The statement reads: “Let 

me re-state unequivocally 

what I stated in my application 

for leave to appeal my 

conviction at the Court of 

Appeal. I continue to hold 

that I am a victim of political 

persecution. 

‘’Consequently, I have 

lost faith in British justice 

system and the ability of the 

British legal system to dispense 

justice fairly because 

it is deeply entrenched in 

politics and international 

conspiracy funded by Department 

for International 

Development, DFID. I have 

been through it and have 

observed first-hand the desperation 

and wicked machinations 

inherent in a process 

that pronounces you 

guilty then finds evidence 

to cover up a corrupt system 

at all cost even at the 

detriment of the integrity of 

the judicial process. 

“The British judiciary is 

supposed to rest on a strong 

foundation of openness, 

transparency and the rule of 

law. My lawyers have done 

their best to draw attention 

to the issue of disclosure 

and the protocol associated 

with materials obtained by 

way of a wiretap. 

‘’ It is a short and simple 

case that does not require 

the length of time it has taken 

to adjudicate. It is either 

the leave to appeal is granted 

based on the fatal nature 

of the disclosure-failure or 

a brutal assault on the integrity 

of British justice 

system would be committed. 

‘’The Crown Prosecution 

Service deliberately spat on 

the law when they willfully 

disregarded the stipulations 

of the law governing the use 

of disclosures as applicable 

to evidence procured 

through telephone intercept, 

and even the rules that 

govern wiretapping itself. 

‘’This flaw is unpardonable 

in British legal system 

even in serious cases like 

terrorism much less fraud 

and money laundering of 

which prison terms have 

been served and expired. 

Thus the lengthy delay can 

only point to conspiratorial 

cover-up and silence.’’ 

The Court of Appeal in 

London would tomorrow, 

rule on the application for 

leave to appeal on the 

grounds of massive disclosure 

failures on the part of 

the Crown Prosecution Service 

and the Metropolitan 

Police. 

US trains journalists on national security, 

military reportage 

By Evelyn Usman 

THE United States 

Consulate in Nigeria, 

yesterday, began a 

three- day training for 

journalists covering the 

Defence beat, with a 

view to building their 

capacity in the coverage 

of national security. 

In his opening remarks 

at the Shoregate 

Hotel, Ikeja, US Public 

Affairs Officer, Mr. Russell 

Brooks, explained 

that the workshop entitled 

‘ Defense and National 

Security Reporting 

Seminar was aimed 

among other goals, to 

widen participants’ 

scope of knowledge 

about the military. 

He stated that as a 

country that believed in 

democracy, the US 

would not relent in supporting 

countries like 

Nigeria which had embraced 

democracy, 

He said: “ Supporting 

democracy requires 

more than conducting 

elections. It also involves 

good governance in form 

of security, good governance 

in form of how 

these institutions in the 

security area are responding 

to the need of 

the public and whether 

they are properly accountable 

to the public. 

In order to ensure that 

the institutions are accountable 

to the public, 

it requires a script from 

the press. 

“ Also, in the area of 

national security, it requires 

a press that is 

knowledgeable about the 

organisation. At times it 

is difficult as civilians in 

the media to properly 

understand military culture 

and history. Therefore, 

one of the things 

that we can do to help 

reporters do their jobs is 

to assist them to understand 

that culture. 

‘’We hope that participants 

would have a fixed 

understanding about the 

military and be able to 

report effectively at the 

end of this training.’’ 

World Bank commits $120m 

to 3rd Regional Disease Surveillance 

Project 


THE World Bank Board 

of Directors has approved 

the 3rd Regional Disease 

Surveillance Systems 

Enhancement, REDISSE, 

project. 

It invested additional 

$120 million to the project. 

Disclosing this at the ongoing 

technical sub-committee 

meeting of the RE- 

DISSE project in Lagos, 

World Bank Senior Health 

Specialist, Mr. John Paul 

Clark, explained that the 

REDISSE project is a Regional 

project funded by 

the World Bank, covering 

all 15 ECOWAS’ countries 

and Mauritania. 

The first phase covers 

three countries, namely 

Guinea, Senegal and Sierra 

Leone. The second 

Ibori 

phase covers Nigeria, 

Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, 

and Togo. 

The Project also has a total 

of $367.8 million and 

aims to strengthen disease 

surveillance and response 

systems at the regional level. 

Its implementation is in 

the third phase, covering 

four countries, namely 

Benin, Mali, Niger, and 

Mauritania. 

Clark said REDISSE 

project now provides credits 

and grants to 11 countries 

and West African 

Health Organisation, 

WAHO, with the budget 

growing to $400 million. 

He further noted that RE- 

DISSE is the World Bank’s 

Flagship investment in both 

Health Security and the 

One Health agenda.


Rohr wants Eagles to beat Libya again 

SUPER Eagles’ Man 

ager, Gernot Rohr wants to 

beat Libya again tomorrow and 

ensure Nigeria enters the last two 

rounds of the Cameroun 2019 African 

Nations Cup qualifying series 

already assured of a spot in the 

championship. 

The Super Eagles, who defeated 

Libya by 4-0 in Uyo on Saturday, 

will leave for Sfax, Tunisia this 

morning on a chartered flight for 

the reverse fixture against Libya. 

The game will hold at the 18,000 

capacity Stade Taïeb Mhiri by 7.00 

p.m. Nigerian time. 

Speaking on his expectations of 

the reverse fixture, Rohr said there 

was still room for improvement in 

his team, especially in the defence, 

adding that such problems would 

be addressed before tomorrow’s 

match. He said, “The scoreline 

does not mean that we have 

reached the level we want. 

“We had obvious problems defensively, 

especially in the first half 

and before we play Libya again in 

three days, we must improve on 

our weak areas.”Sometimes you 

get away with mistakes and another 

time you can easily be punished, 

it could make a difference 

whether you can qualify or not. 

Bolt fumes 

over drug 

test notice 

SPRINT legend Usain 

Bolt says he’s 

stunned after being 

handed a drug testing 

notice despite retiring 

from athletics and having 

no professional contract 

as he bids to launch a 

football career in Australia. 

The 100m world recordholder 

quit athletics last 

year and is yet to be offered 

a deal by Australia’s 

Central Coast Mariners, 

where he is currently on 

trial. 

“So guys I’ve retired from 

track and field looking to 

become a footballer but 

look at this,” Bolt said 

Monday via an Instagram 

video as he zoomed in on 

the notice. 

The demand for the out 

of competition test - to collect 

urine and blood - appears 

to have been issued 

by Football Federation 

Australia. 

“How am I going to get 

a drug test today? I’m not 

even a professional footballer 

yet. Seriously,” said 

Bolt. 

“So I asked the lady, 

‘Why am I getting drug 

tested when I haven’t 

signed for a club yet?’ and 

she said they told her I’m 

an elite athlete so I have 

to get tested. Okay then.” 

Eagles rearing to go for three points in Sfax 

Ogu’s moment will come - Rohr 

HOPAEL Beer She 

va’s John Ogu was 

a non-playing substitute in 

Nigeria’s 4-0 rout of Libya 

in Saturday evening’s Africa 

Cup of Nations qualifier 

at the Godswill Akpabio 

International Stadium. 

Super Eagles manager 

Gernot Rohr was forced to 

make an injury-enforced 

change in the 18th minute, 

bringing on Chelsea loanee 

Ola Aina for Abdullahi Shehu, 

while Isaac Success and 

Henry Onyekuru came on 

in the second half. 

The German has explained 

that he was looking 

ahead to the match day 

four fixture in Sfax, hence 

his decision not to field 

Ogu. 

‘’I like John Ogu very 

much, his moment will 

come. When you already 

have an injury in the first 

half, you have to do a 

change, Ola Aina replacing 

Shehu,’’ Rohr said at 

the post-match press conference. 

‘’We wanted Ahmed to 

recover for the second 

game and the center forward 

(Ighalo) who scored 

three goals. We took into 

account the second game, 

that’s why we made these 

changes.’’ 

Ogu has been an unused 

substitute in the Super 

Eagles last five competitive 

matches against Croatia, 

Iceland, Argentina, Seychelles 

and Libya. 

•WINNER . . . The Group Managing Director of Adron Homes 

and Properties, Dr. Oba Adetola Emmanuel King and Executive 

Director of Adron, Olori Aderonke Emmanuel presenting 

the Trophy to Ogun Region ‘The Goal Getters’, winners 

of the Male Football Competition at the Adron 2018 Games 

held at the weekend in Yaba College of Technology. 

Alalade assures Kwara Falcons 

of govt support 

THE Kwara state gov 

ernment has expressed 

satisfaction with 

the overall performance 

of Kwara Falcons Basketball 

club in this year’s 

Kwese Premier Basketball 

league, with a promise 

to continue its plans 

for the development of 

sports in the state. 


Sports and youth development, 

Hon. Muhideen 

Olaniyi Alalade 

stated this yesterday 

while receiving the trophies 

and medals won by 

the club at the ministry. 

Hon. Alalade 

thanked the management 

and players of the 

club for the feat achieved 

despite the paucity of 

funds. 

“To win two trophies 

among other laurels is 

really commendable. It 

shows Kwara state is a 

force to reckoned with”, 

he said. 

He however, assured 

that the state government 

is fully aware of the 

happenings at the club 

while stressing that the 

management should be 

expecting the government 

support in their future 

outings. 

Access Bank/Lagos City 

Marathon dream must not 

die, says Ambode 

By Ben Efe 

LAGOS State governor, 

Akinwummi Ambode 

has listed reasons why the 

Access Bank/Lagos City 

Marathon must continue 

beyond 2019. 

Ambode who initiated the 

50, 000 dollar high profile 

marathon in 2015 said it was 

important the event continue 

as Lagos State will be 

the end beneficiary. Ambode 

announced that the 

2019 edition has been fixed 

for February 2. 

“The Access Bank/ Lagos 

City Marathon is a dream 

that must not die. It is not 

about me but about making 

Lagos great City and a global 

brand,” said Gov Ambode 

who will not pursue a 

second tenure in office. 

“We are targeting that in 

the next 10 years the marathon 

should achieve a gold 

label status. We are looking 

at 150,000 participants and 

we are going to put more 

money in the local edition 

of the race, but the prize 

money for the major race 

remains the same.” 

Also speaking, major 

sponsor, Access Bank chief 

executive Herbert Wigwe 

said his outfit will shrink 

away from bankrolling the 

IAAF bronze label rated 

event. Adding that it was 

a privilege to be the major 

sponsor. 

“We will continue doing 

what we are doing with 

the Access Bank/Lagos 

City Marathon as humanly 

as possible. 

“With just two editions 

we got a bronze label and 

now with the 2019 race we 

will pull all the strings to 

break another record” 

Already over 58, 000 

runners have signed up 

to run the race. 

GOTV boxing night 16: Agbaje 

emerges best boxer, wins N1.5m 

TAIWO “Esepo” Ag 

baje, on Sunday night, 

emerged winner of the 

Mojisola Ogunsanya Memorial 

Trophy for the best boxer 

at GOtv Boxing Night 16, 

which carried a cash prize of 

N1.5million. The little known 

lightweight boxer kept the capacity 

crowd at the edge of 

their seats with his all-action 

style that saw him defeat Tope 

“TP Rock” Musa in a challenge 

contest. He was voted 

as best boxer by journalists at 

the event ahead of the similarly 

impressive Oto “Joe Boy” 

Joseph and Rilwan “Real 

One” Oladosu. 

Oladosu, on the night, became 

the new West African 

Boxing Union (WABU) lightweight 

champion by seeing off 

the challenge of Ghana’s Benjamin 

Lamptey in one of the 

two international bouts at the 

event. The second Nigeria/ 

Ghana bout resulted in victory 

for Joseph, who knocked 

out Emmanuel Mensah. The 

show also delivered a freshly 

minted national champion in 

Adewale “Masevex” Masebinu, 

who avenged his previous 

defeat in the hands of 

Kabiru “KB Godson” Towolawi 

to claim the national 

lightweight title. Masebinu’s 

combination of determination 

and furious punching left his 

opponent in daze, forcing him 

to throw in the towel at the 

end of the fifth round. 

In yet another big-name 

contest, Waidi “Skoro” Usman 

reinforced his superiority over 

Chibuzor “T Boy” Obi, whose 

bid to avenge a previous defeat 

ended in a third-round 

knockout. 

2019 AFCON Qualifiers: 

Star Lager brings shining moments 

to Uyo fans 

NIGERIA’s premium 

beer brand, Star Lager, 

thrilled fans with an unforgettable 

football and music spectacle 

at the Star Fan Park in Uyo, 

Akwa Ibom State last Saturday. 

Thousands of excited Super 

Eagles fans at the Godswill 

Akpabio Stadium watched with 

excitement as the Super Eagles 

of Nigeria battled Libya in 

the first leg of their African 

Nations Cup qualifiers dominating 

with a score of 4-0 victory 

over Libya. 

The North Africans were silenced 

by Odion Ighalo’s hattrick 

which was followed by 

Samuel Kalu’s goal that concluded 

the win for the 2013 

African champions in the closing 

stages of the encounter. 

The event saw the unification 

of the brand’s biggest activation 

platforms, music and 

football with the DJ of the 

night, as football fans experienced 

the premium viewing 

of the match while enjoying 

Star Lager and other side attractions 

to cap off the remarkable 

viewing experience. 

To add to the Fan Park 

experience, Star Lager 

fans participated in exciting 

Star-themed games 

and a raffle draw, with the 

winners awarded instant 

prizes,while Mc LafUp 

entertained the audience 

with witty jokes and football 

commentary.

Nigeria set to confirm supremacy over Libya 

BY JACOB AJOM 

THE Super Eagles 

will today, in far 

away Sfax in Tunisia 

attempt to stamp her 

authority over Libya in 

the second of a 2019 

AFCON double header. 

Nigeria won the first leg 

4-0 at the Godswill 

Akpabio stadium, Uyo 

last Saturday. 

Super Eagles coach, 

Gernot Rohr who 

oversaw his wards 

annihilate the 

Mediterranean Knights 

in Uyo expressed fear 

after the Uyo match 

when he said the result 

was a dangerous one. 

“I find this result 

dangerous,” Rohr said, 

pointing out that after 

such a defeat their 

opponents would not go 

down easily three days 

after. 

That, perhaps paints a 

picture of what 

Nigerians should expect 

today in Sfax. The 

Libyans will fight back 

and ensure they salvage 

whatever is left of their 

reputation, and better 

their chances of 

qualifying for their first 

Nations Cup since 1982, 

when they hosted the 

tournament. 

“We have a team, 

young and ambitious 

team and we have 

absolute confidence in 

the team,” Coach 

Maryami said of his 

youthful but industrious 

Libyan team. 

“I am confident we will 

upturn tonight’s result 

and beat Nigeria in Sfax. 

That is why I am not 

bothered.” 

With the Libyan man 

talking tough, it can be 

expected that the Super 

Eagles are in for a tough 

battle tonight. But the 

Eagles are aware of what 

awaits them in the north 

African country. “We are 

going for the three 

points,” captain Ahmed 

Musa said of their 

mission in Sfax. 


Eagles must maintain discipline — Rohr 

SUPER 

Eagles 

technical 

adviser, Gernot Rohr has 

revealed that the team 

will hope to maintain a 

perfect wing play 

against Libya in the 

reverse fixture of the 

2019 Africa Cup of 

Nations qualifier in 

Sfax. 

The coach said “we 

have to improve, 

especially in the defence 

before we meet Libya 

again in Sfax because in 

Uyo, we had obvious 

problems defensively, 

especially in the first half.” 

Rohr credited Nigeria’s 

expansive play in the 

second half as the 

architect of the team’s 

high scoring exploits but 

was quick to warn that 

failure to maintain good 

discipline could affect the 

team. 

Kalu: We’ll be aggressive against Libya in Sfax 

SUPER 

Eagles 

winger, Samuel 

Kalu says he’s optimistic 

the team will pick the 

maximum point in Sfax 

against Libya in the 

reverse fixture of the 2019 

Africa Cup of Nations 

qualifier. 

Nigeria defeated Libya 

4-0 on Saturday to move 

second on the table, one 

point behind leaders, 

South Africa that 

walloped Seychelles 6-0. 

Kalu, who scored a 

CELEBRATION: Super Eagles celebrate after beating Libya in Uyo. 

beautiful goal in 

Nigeria’s win over Libya, 

reiterated that the team is 

ready to pick back-to-back 

win on Tuesday. 

“We are definitely going 

into that match with a 

mindset of getting all 

three points. We will 

approach the match with 

the same aggressive way 

like we did in Uyo. It’s 

not going to be easy 

because the Libyans want 

to respond to their heavy 

loss, but am confident we 

will get the right result.’ 

“Our expansive play – 

by exploring the wings – 

in the second half helped 

us against a good side. 

Now we must maintain 

discipline in all areas,” he 

said. 

“Sometimes you get 

away with mistakes and 

another time you can 

easily be punished, it 

could make a difference 

whether you can qualify 

or not,” he noted. 

Libya coach confident Eagles will fall in Sfax 

THE interim coach of 

Libya, Omar Al- 

Maryami, is confident 

that the Mediterranean 

Knights will avenge their 

4-0 loss to Nigeria in 

Saturday’s 2019 Africa 

Cup of Nations qualifier 

when they host the Super 

Eagles in the reverse 

fixture today in Sfax, 

Tunisia. 

Al-Maryami replaced 

Adel Amrouche who 

resigned five days before 

the match in Uyo. 

Al-Maryami says the 

Knights must attack the 

Super Eagles to stand a 

chance of winning. 

“We were unlucky not to 

have scored minutes after 

we conceded, but this 

result hasn’t changed 

anything. We have a 

good team and we will 

fight,” Al-Maryami said 

in Uyo in a post match 

briefing. 

“We have a young 

squad that is very 

ambitious. We lost the 

game due to some little 

details and the first goal 

we conceded affected us. 

“Unfortunately, we lost 

three points but we are 

sure of taking them back 

in the second leg, but we 

must attack the Nigerian 

team to score.” 

Libya are third in the 

Group E of 2019 AFCON 

qualifiers with four points 

from three games, while 

Nigeria are second with 

six points from also from 

three points. South Africa 

lead the group on seven 

points. Seychelles are at 

the bottom of the group. 

Rohr plans different 

tactics against Libya in 

Sfax 

SUPER 

Eagles 

technical adviser, 

Gernot Rohr has hinted 

that he will roll out a 

different game plan and 

tactical approach for 

today’s Africa Cup of 

Nations qualifier against 

Libya in Sfax. 

Although the Franco- 

German tactician 

admitted he was satisfied 

with his team’s 

performance in their 4-0 

first leg victory on 

Saturday, he stressed 

that different approach is 

needed for the reverse 

fixture. 

Rohr 

also 

acknowledged that the 

Libyans will put up a stiff 

reaction in the return leg 

on Tuesday, in order to 

redeem their status after 

the huge defeat they 

suffered on Saturday. 

Victory in Sfax could 

take the Libyans back on 

top of the table, as they 

still have four points, two 

behind Nigeria and three 

short of table topping 

South Africa, who play 

away to Seychelles also 

on today. 

However, Rohr said he 

is already preparing for 

response from the North 

Africans, and believes he 

will come up with the 

right tactics to cut short 

their ambitions. 

Rohr voiced: “We have 

to expect a very difficult 

match in Sfax, but our 

plan is to do well and be 

very serious in the 

second leg. 

CAF bans Libya goalkeeper 

THE 

Simeone eyes Atletico move 

•Kalu 

FIORENTINA 

forward 

Giovanni 

Simeone has revealed 

that he wants to join his 

father Diego Simeone 

at Atletico Madrid. 

Atletico are believed to 

be long-term admirers of 

the three-time Argentina 

international, and the 

attacker has said that “it 

would be the best” if he 

were able to join his 

father Diego at the 

Wanda Metropolitano. 

“Me at Atletico? It 

would be the best,” 10 

Sport quotes Giovanni 

Simeone as saying. “I 

never had the chance to 

be coached by my father. 

As much for him as for 

me, Atletico represents 

Eagles players puttimg heads together to beat 

Libya 

•Rohr 

Confederation 

of African Football 

has banned Libya goalkeeper 

Muhammad Nashnoush from 

playing against Nigeria in this 

evening’s Africa Cup of 

Nations qualifier between the 

two countries. 

The captain of the 

Mediterranean Knights 

received an automatic onematch 

ban after picking up a 

booking in the fifth minute of 

the match day three fixture 

something special, it’s in 

us. But my father never 

talked to me about this 

possibility.” 

against the Super Eagles in 

Uyo last Saturday. 

Nashnoush is one of 

Libya’s most important 

players and was in goal when 

they won the 2014 African 

Nations Championship in 

South Africa. 

The Al-Ahly Tripoli star has 

gone the distance in all the 

matches played by the North 

Africans in the 2019 Africa 

Cup of Nations qualifiers. 

Wilfred Ndidi, William 

Troost-Ekong, Kenneth 

Omeruo and Kelechi 

Iheanacho are the Nigerian 

players that have been 

yellow carded in the 2019 

Africa Cup of Nations 

qualifiers. 

Fireworks as France battle Germany 

THE past two world 

champions will face 

off once again today when 

France host Germany in 

an UEFA Nations League 

clash at the Stade de France. 

The 2018 World Cup 

winners sit atop Group A1 

and could take a step closer 

to reaching the Finals with 

victory over the team they 

dethroned, who must win to 

keep their own hopes alive. 

Mbappe will come back into 

the starting lineup, while 

fellow World Cup heroes 

Lucas Hernandez and 

N’Golo Kante will also return 

having been left on the bench 

last week. 

Deschamps must choose 

between Ousmane 

Dembele, Thomas Lemar 

or Dimitri Payet to join 

Antoine Griezmannand 

Mbappe in that trio just 

behind the striker, who is 

again likely to be Olivier 

Giroud. 

Germany, meanwhile, are 

expected to make changes 

following their convincing 

defeat by Netherlands, and 

one of those will be enforced 

with Jerome Boateng 

ruled out through injury.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2018 

TODAY’S PUZZLE 

Sudoku 

FRIDAY’S ANSWER 

TODAY’S CROSSWORD 

QUICK CROSSWORD 

THURSDAY’S SOLUTION 

ACROSS 

1 Brains (4,6) 

7 Brown sugar (8) 

9 Opinion (4) 

9 Unpleasantly moist (4) 

10 Speak to (7) 

12 Fine penmanship (11) 

14 Endurance, staying power (7) 

16 Three feet (4) 

19 Sacred (4) 

20 Crested parrot (8) 

21 Amity (10) 

DOWN 

1 Avarice (5) 

2 Perpetual (7) 

3 Miserly (4) 

4 Back and forth (2,3,3) 

5 Young eel (5) 

6 Largest of the Channel Islands 

(6) 

11 Peak (8) 

12 Natural fabric (6) 

13 Ancient Egyptian king (7) 

15 Municipal leader (5) 

17 Wilt (5) 

18 Chilled (4) 

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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