04122018 - Oil price crash forces review of 2019 budget benchmark

**
VOL. 26: NO. 63694 TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2018
Atiku
launches
N-West
campaign in
Sokoto,
assures of
peoplefriendly
9
govt
Oil price crash forces review
of 2019 budget benchmark
•Price firms up to $61p/b; LCCI, NECA react
SEE STORY
ON PAGE 5

2 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2018

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2018 — 3

4 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2018

sates. Nigeria has capacity
to produce up to
450,000 bpd equivalent
of condensates.
“Continuing diversification
of the economy,
domestication of raw/
intermediate materials
sourcing for manufacturing,
formalization of
the non-oil sector, as
well as stronger focus
on tax administration/
legislation will ultimately
break the devanguardnews
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POCKET CARTOON
ON CLIMATE CHANGE—President Muhammadu Buhari with from left: President of COP24,
Michal Kurtyka; Executive Secretary of COP24, Patricia Espinosa; Minister of Environment Poland,
Henryk Kowalczyk and Mayor of Katowice, Marcin Krupa, as he arrived to participate in the official
opening ceremony of the Climate Change COP24 and Leader's Summit in Katowice, Poland, yesterday.
STATE HOUSE PHOTO.
Oil price crash forces review
of 2019 budget benchmark
By Emmanuel Ujah,
Udeme Akpan &
Victor Young
A
BUJA—
Against the
backdrop of
a long and steady decline
in the international
oil price, the Federal
Government may have
started reviewing developments
in the global oil
market with the intention
of adopting a new
oil price benchmark for
its 2019 budget.
This came as the decline
appeared to have
bottomed out, yesterday.
The N8.6 trillion budget
was based on $60 per
barrel (p/b) benchmark
at a time international
oil price was around
$75p/b.
Though the price later
escalated to about
$86p/b, it began a
downward trend about
seven weeks ago closing
at a year low of
$59p/b last weekend. It,
however, increased marginally
to $61 as at yesterday,
which is still a
threat to the 2019 budget,
especially as a gap
of at least $10 is required
between the budget
benchmark and prevailing
oil price.
Consequently, in an
email to Vanguard on
Sunday, Director-General
of the Budget Office,
Mr. Ben Akabueze,
stated: “$60 oil price
benchmark for 2019 was
based on our review of
projections from multiple
sources by knowledgeable
organisations
on the subject of oil
pricing. It was deemed
quite conservative four
months ago when we
settled for $60.
“We are willing to review
the price projection
downwards if it becomes
clear that it is no
longer sustainable. An
alternative benchmark
will be determined, following
same process
explained above.”
But Vanguard oil price
monitor indicated a significant
positive shift in
the oil price trend as the
commodity traded
above $60/pb, yesterday.
However, explaining
further on challenges of
Nigeria’s oil economy,
Akabueze said: “Current
oil production in Nigeria
is about 2.1 million
barrel per day, mbpd,
still below the budget
projection of 2.3 mbpd.
‘’OPEC production
numbers do not include
condensates whereas
the number stated in the
budget and NNPC’s reports
include conden-
Continues on Page 41
Mr & Mrs
See
COLUMNISTS ODUMAKIN 17 TENIOLA 18 MAILAFIA 31
Inside
By Ebun Sessou, Yinka Latona, &
Tade Oluwapelumi
Rate of ritual killings, Yahoo Plus among youths (2)
To solve the problem, I
feel the government has
to create jobs. The high
rate of joblessness in the
country is responsible
for the ritual killings. If
there were jobs I don’t
think people will go into
ritual killings, instead,
they will focus on their
jobs and work to better
their lives.
Mr. John Uchechukwu,
Civil servant
The fear of God is key
to putting an end to the
ritual killings in the
country. If citizens of the
country can follow the
will of God, I think there
won’t be any form of
ritual killing by our
youths. I think ritual
killings can also be
stopped if the security of
the country is beefed
up.Mr. Maselos
U w a b i o m a ,
Businessman
Yahoo Plus has
claimed thousands of
lives recently and most
victims are girls under
the age of 30. Even with
the level which this menace
has gotten to, I still
see a way out and a permanent
solution. Parents
should start discouraging
their children, especially
the female against
luxurious lifestyle. The
male children should
also be taught the virtue
of hard work. Mr.Pual
Shola, Businessman
This matter should be
treated with the urgency
it deserves before Nigeria
becomes the headquarters
of ritual killings. It is
very funny because it
seems young girls are
becoming endangered
species in Nigeria. As
funny as it sounds, that
is the reality. Sadly, apart
from the arrest of some
perpetrators, most people,
who indulge in the
crime, are not always
brought to book. Mr.
Samuel Uche, Student
This crisis is becoming
a national embarrassment.
At this point, everyone
should be involved.
Since parents
can’t do it alone, the
National Orientation
Agency, NOA, should
commence sensitisation
campaigns against ritual
killings. Only a man
like Atiku Abubakar can
be able to offer the leadership
that can return
the values of this society.
Mr.Okonkwo Ken,
Worker
Religious leaders
should speak against
these activities. Unfortunately,
most of the Yahoo
boys are being celebrated
in some popular
churches. Also, security
agencies to some extent,
have not been sincere in
handling the matter.
Most of the Yahoo Plus
boys, use security agents
as their personal bodyguards.
If our security
agents should be sincere
, they will be able to fight
this crime headlong.Mr.
Nwabuisi Gospel, NGO
owner

6—Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2018
Herdsmen
kidnap oil firm
worker in Delta
By Ochuko Akuopha
Astaff of an oil company
operating in Okpai,
Ndokwa East Local
Government Area, Delta State,
Mr. Prince Ogbu, was
reportedly kidnapped,
Sunday, at the Amorji Junction
of Ughelli-Asaba expressway.
A source, who preferred
anonymity, said Ogbu was
intercepted by the armed
herdsmen, who he said shot
at random into the air.
The source said: “They
dragged him out of the car and
escaped with him into the
bush before he could get help
from the police who were
alerted on the development.”
Confirming the incident
yesterday, Delta State Police
Public Relations Officer, Mr
Andrew Aniamaka, said “Our
men are combing the bushes
to ensure that the kidnap
victim is rescued unhurt.
“Our team is working
relentlessly to ensure that the
hoodlums are brought to
book.”
One dead,
vehicles burnt
as JSS
students clash
in Oyo
By Ola Ajayi
IBADAN—FOLLOWING a
violent protest at
Community Grammar School,
Olodo area of Ibadan which
led to the death of a boy and
burning of vehicles, the Oyo
State Government has ordered
the school to be shut.
This came as the Oyo State
Police Command said two
suspects have been arrested in
connection with the crisis.
While the melee lasted,
several vehicles were
reportedly burnt and others
vandalised by the rampaging
youths.
While speaking with
Vanguard in a telephone
interview, the State Public
Relations Officer of the
command, SP Adekunle
Ajisebutu confirmed the crisis
but added that the state
Commissioner of Police, Mr.
Abiodun Odude has ordered
a 24-hour surveillance on the
area by the policemen
dispatched there.
Ajisebutu said: “Yes, security
has been beefed up to avoid
further breakdown of law and
order. The CP has ordered a
comprehensive investigation
into the incident. Now,
normalcy has returned to the
area.”
Meabwhile, Oyo State
Government has shut
Community Grammar School,
Olodo with immediate effect.
vanguardnews @vanguardnews @vanguardnews
4 accused of exhuming landlord’s corpse, selling property
FOUR persons, who allegedly
exhumed the corpse of their
landlord before selling his property,
yesterday, appeared before a Yaba
Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.
The three accused men and a
woman are Silifatu Abisile, 60;
Jimoh Abisile, 52; Gbade Bakare,
56, and Isaiah Bakare, 45.
The accused are facing a-fivecount
charge of conspiracy,
kidnapping, breach of peace,
forgery and false assumption of
authority.
The Police Prosecutor, Williams
Ologun, told the court that the
accused committed the offences on
Nov. 1, at Ishola Daniel Street in
Oshodi area of Lagos.
By Esther Onyegbula
& Suliat Elemosho
AFRO pop artiste, Adekunle
Temitope, popularly called
Small Doctor, and three others
were yesterday arrested by
police operatives for
threatening to shoot a traffic
policeman.
It was gathered that the
musician before now had a case
at the Lagos State Crime
Investigation and Intelligence
Department for shooting at his
Agege show where he injured
four persons.
The state Commissioner of
Police, Imohimi Edgal, who
confirmed the arrest, said the
musician had, last week, fired
some shots with a pump action
rifle during a show at Agege
area of Lagos, injuring four
persons.
He said: “ You would have
thought the incident would
wisen him up but
surprisingly today, I got a
situation report from traffic
monitors at Oshodi expressway
alleging that four unknown
gunmen in green unregistered
SUV brought out a weapon and
Ologun alleged that the
accused had conspired to
illegally sell the house they were
living in, which did not belong
to them.
He said that a prospective
buyer had insisted they relocate
the grave that was in front of the
house before he would make
payments.
“My Lord, they forged an
exhumation of corpse permit
from Oshodi-Isolo Local
Government and dug up the
corpse of the house owner,
Sumonu Bakare, who was buried
in the compound.
“They also kidnapped the son
of the deceased; Gbenro Bakare,
who is crippled, thinking he
was the only surviving child
of the deceased,” he said.
Ologun said that the first
and second accused are
relations of the deceased,
while the third and fourth
accused are longtime tenants
on the property.
He said that the third and
fourth accused had registered
for a change of name to
‘Bakare’, which was not their
real names, claiming to be the
children of the deceased.
The offences contravened
Sections 76 (1) [c], 168 (1) (d),
271 (1), 365 and 411 of the
Criminal Law of Lagos State,
2011.
They, however, pleaded not
guilty to the charges.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr. Peter
Ojo, granted the accused bail in
the sum of N500,000 each with
two sureties each in like sum.
In his ruling, Ojo insisted that
each of the sureties must be a
blood relation and must be
resident within the court’s
jurisdiction.
He said each of the sureties
must also show evidence of three
years tax payment to the Lagos
Government and be gainfully
employed.
Ojo adjourned the case until
January 10 for trial.
Popular musician, Small Doctor, 3 others
in police trouble for possession of firearm
Ascandalous scene broke out
at the headquarters of the
Department of State Services, DSS,
yesterday, after a fraud suspect
paraded by the secret police
implicated top associates of
President Muhammadu Buhari
and his wife, Aisha.
During a press event to parade
Amina Mohammed yesterday
afternoon, the DSS accused the
dark, middle-aged woman of
gaining unauthorised entries into
the Presidential Villa over a period
of time, during which she
impersonated top government
officials, including once identifying
herself as the First Lady of Kogi
State.
Ms Mohammed had multiple
access to the residence of First
Lady, Aisha Buhari, DSS
spokesperson, Peter Afunanya,
said.
Using her seemingly
threatened to shoot the
policemen.
“Fortunately, the DPO and
other policemen
at Shogunle
intercepted
t h e
suspects
a n d
arrested
them.
“When
t h e y
w e r e
brought
here it
w a s
discovered
that
Small Doctor
one of them was the same
Adekunle Temitope aka Small
Doctor with three others and
unrestrained access to the State
House and several cover names,
among which are Justina Oluoha
and Amina Villa, Ms
Mohammed was then able to
cosy up to persons close to
power, including Alexander
‘Chicason’ Okafor, whom she
allegedly duped of up to N150
million in November 2017.
The fleecing came in a deal
which Ms Mohammed and Mr.
Okafor had on a government
property placed on sale by the
Presidential Implementation
Committee on Lease of Federal
Government Properties.
Ms Mohammed’s “unholy
enterprise is not to the
knowledge” of Mrs Buhari, the
DSS concluded following its
investigation.
Although Ms Mohammed did
not immediately deny DSS’
claims she obtained N150
they were arrested with a
functional rifle, a cartridge
and some personal items.
He added “I am concerned
as one will expect
that a popular
musician like
him would
be a role
model but
h i s
character of
gangsterism
is nothing
t o
emulate.”
he said.
The CP
further
u r g e d
celebrities to stop involving
themselves in gangsterism
and conflicts that do not
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portray them well.
“You will recall that the
Inspector General of Police, I-G
Ibrahim Idris has a
window period for
submission of all firearms
as all licenses had been
cancelled and all approvals
suspended.
“I have directed that the
case be properly investigated
and they will be charged for
threatening violence on
policemen and being in
possession of firearms,” he
said.
Previous offence
According to the
commissioner, ‘Small Doctor’
had earlier been involved in
a similar offence and is
currently under investigation
for firing live ammunition at
the Agege stadium after a
show on November 27.
He said: “Adekunle Temitope,
a.k.a. ‘Small Doctor’, was
arrested and taken to the state
CID for questioning. He was
alleged to have fired a gun; the
pellets from the gun injured
four people who were rushed
to the hospital.”
Aisha Buhari ‘associate’ arrested for duping top politicians, bizmen
million from Mr. Okafor, the
billionaire chairman of
Chicason Group, a major
logistics and oil and gas firm
with offices in Lagos and
Abuja, she pleaded with
Nigerians to ensure she does
not suffer the consequences
alone.
Ms Mohammed specifically
mentioned she worked closely
with Moriyatu, a sister of Mrs
Buhari, and Babachir Lawal,
a former Secretary to the
Government of the
Federation, who was fired
for fraudulent diversion of
funds meant for
Nigeria’s internallydisplaced
victims of
Boko Haram insurgency.
Ms Mohammed said Mr.
Okafor has been buying
government properties for a
long time, and he knew he
had to bribe officials in order to
b e
shortlisted
as a
potential
buyer of
a n
advertised
property.
A spokesperson for Mr. Okafor
told Premium Times he could
not immediately comment for
the businessman yesterday.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2018—7
vanguardnews
@vanguardnews
... with Emma'nKen (08163121378)
Let me see how someone will
come an steal this again
OUR TAX, OUR ROAD: Herdsmen and their cows on Bill Clinton Drive, Airport
Road, Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: Abayomi Adeshida.
Buni Gari Boko Haram attack: More corpses
of soldiers recovered in bush
By Ndahi Marama
MAIDUGURI—A source,
yesterday, revealed that
two additional bodies of dead
soldiers have been recovered in
a surrounding bush after
Saturday night attack on a
military location at Buni Gari in
Yobe by Boko Haram
The source also disclosed
yesterday night that some
soldiers are still missing
By Rotimi Ojomoyela
PROTEST by members of
Ekiti chapter of the Nigerian
Bar Association over the killing of
a lawyer, Adeola Adebayo, by
kidnappers, paralysed activities in
many courts in Ado-Ekiti,
yesterday.
The 33-year-old Adebayo, a
former Secretary of Ikole branch
of NBA, was kidnapped on
November 17 along Efon-Erio-
Aramoko Road and taken to an
undisclosed location, after which
his decomposed body was found
on Sunday, December 2 after a
ransom had been paid.
They also protested the killing
of another member, Mr Adesina
Okeya by unknown gunmen, who
abducted him, few days after he
was called to the bar in Abuja but
was later found dead.
Clad in all black attires and
carrying different placards with
various inscriptions denouncing
the killing, they demanded the
arrest of the kidnappers.
Some of the placards read: “Stop
killing lawyers in Ekiti State,” ”No
to killing, No to Kidnapping,” ”We
demand the arrest, prosecution,
punishment of kidnappers” and
”State Government, Police, Army,
do your job.”
The lawyers were led by
Chairmen of Ado, Ikere and Ikole
NBA branches, Barristers Samuel
Falade, Oludayo Olorunfemi and
Ibrahim Olanrewaju respectively.
In a petition addressed to
Governor Kayode Fayemi, which
was submitted to the Police
Commissioner, Mr Bello Ahmed
following the attack which he
described as very terrible.
A hospital source equally
confirmed recovered bodies were
taken to the Damaturu Specialist
Hospital mortuary, yesterday
afternoon, as six remains of other
soldiers were still lying there
before the latest addition.
“Six soldiers were brought in
on Sunday. We have another two
soldiers that were brought in
today (yesterday) from the attack
and Director of Department of State
Services (DSS), Mrs Precious
Ihenacho, the lawyers registered
their grievances over alleged
lackadaisical attitudes displayed by
security to the kidnapping.
In the petition presented by
Olanrewaju to the trio of Fayemi,
CP and DSS Director, the lawyers
said: “The purpose of government
is to provide security for lives and
property and where this is not done,
the said government is considered
to have failed the electorate and
constitution it swore to protect.
“No Nigerian should be
subjected to untold economic
hardship and still left without
security while struggling to make
ends meet. As we grieve the loss
of our departed member, we use
this medium to remind you of your
responsibility to citizens and
request that all hands must be on
deck to forestall reoccurrence in the
state.
“The state government is not
oblivious to the activities of these
deadly killers between Iwaraja and
Aramoko Ekiti, but it saddens us
that there is an ongoing criminal
silence to act despite the sustained
kidnapping and killing around the
axis.
“We demand immediate
deployment of troops to comb the
area, arrest and bring to justice
those who perpetrated this killing.
If this dastardly killing could
happen to a Lawyer, what do you
think will happen to the ordinary
man? We are all endangered
species”, it stated.
Addressing newsmen, the
Chairman of Ikole-Ekiti Branch of
making a total of eight
soldiers.”
Unfortunately, the army
authorities are yet to release
any official statement on the
attack, but it was also gathered
that Brig. Gen. Mohammed
Baba Dala, the Sector 2
Commander Operation Lafiya
Dole, visited Buni Gari
yesterday to assess first hand,
the impact of the attack on his
troops.
Ekiti lawyers protest kidnapping, killing of colleagues
the NBA, Mr Ibrahim
Olarewaju, said the victim, Mr
Adeola Adebayo, was
kidnapped with his family
members on November 17 at
Erio-Ekiti.
He said the kidnappers
released the victim’s family
members and held him captive
after demanding N100 million
ransom.
Olarewaju said the family
could only raise N2 million
which was paid as ransom to
the kidnappers.
He expressed regrets that the
deceased, who was the
Secretary of the Ikole-Ekiti
branch of NBA, was shot in spite
of the payment of ransom.
Describing the victim as a
vibrant colleague with a
promising future, he urged
traditional rulers in the area to
work with security agencies to
fish out the hoodlums.
“The traditional rulers should
send their vigilantes, hunters
and Neighbourhood Watch
members to these bushes to stop
the brutal killing of Ekiti
residents.
“Enough is enough on this
evil killings and kidnappers,”
he said.
The Secretary of the Ado-Ekiti
branch of the NBA, Mr
Temidayo Akeredolu, recalled
that the son of a member was
also brutally killed on the day
he was called to the Bar in
Abuja.
He called on government at
all levels to make the security
of life and property a priority.
O boy give us your mum's
name or learn how to swim
Anty Lepacious B, come
and collect your shoe

8—Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2018
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Vote buying: Undercover
police personnel’ll
infiltrate parties—IGP
By Joseph Erunke
A BUJA—THE
Inspector General
of Police, Ibrahim Idris,
said yesterday that police
undercover operatives
will infiltrate the ranks of
political parties and their
associates in order to
frustrate vote buying in
the 2019 general elections.
The police revelation
came as chairman of the
Independent National
Electoral Commission,
INEC, Prof. Mahmood
Yakubu, said the
commission would deploy
devices to track election
finance so that politicians
and their political parties
would not go beyond its
required expenditure
limit.
Both spoke at the
Transition Monitoring
Group,TMG,
stakeholders’ round table
on 2019 general
elections, tagged
“Political Corruption and
other Emerging Issues”,
organized in
collaboration with
Christian Aid,V2P and
Hope Givers Initiative in
Abuja.
The police boss, who
listed potential threats to
the 2019 polls to include
vote buying, militant
groups, rigging, acts of
thuggery, hooliganism,
flash points of electoral
violence, ballot box
snatching and small arms
and light weapons, also
disclosed that to
checkmate the activities of
thugs, profiling of their
leaders, sponsors
sympathisers and
locations was ongoing.
Idris,who was
represented by the
Commissioner of Police,
Federal Operations, CP
Kenneth Ebrison, said: “In
the case of vote buying,
undercover operatives will
infiltrate the ranks and file
of the political parties and
their associates to frustrate
the emerging menace.
“As it affects flash points
and ballot box snatching,
a comprehensive study of
all previous elections has
been conducted to nip this
in the bud.
“Also, threat analysis
carried out will ensure that
tactical intelligence
response and technical
unit personnel will be
deployed to all the six
geopolitical zones and
state commands before the
commencement of the
elections.
“This is anchored on the
establishment of standard
operations procedure and
security arrangements for
a secured,free and fair 2019
general elections.
“The Nigeria Police
Force shall discharge its
duties professionally,
proactively, in
approachable manner and
manifestly demonstrate
impartiality and fairness in
the forthcoming 2019
general elections.”
On his part, INEC
chairman, Mahmood
Yakubu, while regretting
that over the years,
campaign finance laws
and regulations had been
more obeyed in the
breach, said the
commission had
reviewed the development
and as a result,
redesigned its campaign
finance tracking and
reporting forms that will be
used by political parties,
candidates and monitors,
essentially splitting the
forms to make them less
wieldy and cumbersome
to complete.”
2 years after, Senate yet to receive
PENCOM board nominations
By Henry Umoru
ABUJA—FRESH facts
have emerged that the
Presidency is yet to forward
the list of nominees of the
National Pension
Commission, PenCom, to
the Senate for confirmation.
This development came
nearly two years after the
last Executive
Management Committee
of PenCom was dissolved.
Vanguard gathered that
the Presidency is yet to
forward the list of the
nominees to the upper
legislative chamber since
2017.
The source said: “The
President appointed Mr.
Funsho Doherty and Alhaji
Aliyu Dikko as the
Chairman and DG of
PENCOM, respectively, in
addition to four
commissioners, all subject
to Senate’s confirmation.
“However, given the
protests over alleged
illegalities in the removal of
the management and in the
fresh appointments, then
Acting President, Prof. Yemi
Osinbajo, appointed
Funsho Doherty as DG,
and moved the DG earlier
appointed, Aliyu Dikko, to
the Bank of Industry as
Board Chairman.
“However, the Presidency
Nigeria, Ghana, others to agree on currency swap
By Victoria Ojeme
A BUJA—NIGERIA,
Ghana and other
member-countries of the
West African Monetary
Zone, WAMZ, are to work
out a national currency
swap agreement to
promote trade in the region.
This was contained in a
communiqué at the end of
the 9th WAMZ Trade
Ministers’ Forum in Abuja.
The forum, which had
Harnessing Intra-WAMZ
Trade Potential Through
Value Addition and
Diversification as its theme,
said the currency swap
deal would be fashioned in
manner similar to the one
existing between some
members states and China.
By Ikechukwu
Nnochiri
A BUJA—THE
Economic and
Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC, has
instituted a fresh criminal
charge against former
Minister of Petroleum
Resources, Diezani Allison-
Madueke, before a High
Court of the Federal Capital
Territory sitting at Apo.
The ex-minister, who has
remained in the United
Kingdom since she vacated
office in 2015, is facing a
five-count charge the antigraft
agency entered
against her and an oil
mogul, identified as her
ally, Mr. Olajide Omokore.
They were charged with
conspiracy and alleged
complicity in illegal act of
accepting and giving
gratifications.
Specifically, EFCC
accused them of accepting
and giving gifts of
properties described as
penthouse 22, Block B,
Admiralty Estate, Ikoyi,
Lagos, and penthouse 21,
Building 5, Block C,
Banana Island, Lagos.
EFCC told the court that
the alleged offence was
contrary to Sections 26(1)
and 17 of the Corrupt
Practices and Other Related
Offences Act, 2000.
Arraignment
Meanwhile, the
commission, yesterday,
secured leave of the high
court to arraign the two
defendants.
Trial Justice Valentine
Ashi fixed February 25,
2019 to take their plea.
Counsel to EFCC, Mr.
Faruk Abdullahi, told the
court that while the agency
was still conducting its
investigations, the former
minister ran away from the
country.
He said Mrs. Alison-
Madueke had since
refused to honour
The forum, which had
Governor of Central Bank
of Liberia, Mr. Nathaniel
Patray; President,
Manufacturers Association
of Nigeria, MAN, Engr.
Mansour Ahmed; Dr.
Robert Ochola of the African
Export Import Bank; Ms
Evelyn Nwachukwu of the
Ministry of Industry Trade
and Investment, among
others in attendance, called
on trade ministers and
manufacturers’ associations
to forge a common front to
boost trade in the zone.
WAMZ, made up of
Nigeria, Gambia, Ghana,
Guinea, Sierra Leone and
Liberia, came into force in
2000 as a monetary zone to
promote trade among
member-countries.
AAAN AWARDS: From left—(Back row): Femi Odugbemi, Theo Lawson and Chris Ogunlowo.
(Front row): Tayo Ken-Suleiman, Michael Zylstra, Omowunmi Owoduni and Sam Adeoye, at their unveiling
as members of the jury of 2018 AAAN LAIF Awards, in Lagos, yesterday.
EFCC files fresh charges against
Alison-Madueke, Omokore
is yet to send the request
for their confirmation.”
Although Section 31 of
PRA 2014 provides that
there shall be an executive
committee of the
commission, consisting of
the Director-General and
four commissioners, the
regulator has no
substantive DG or
commissioners.
Also, Section 31 provides
for, among others, a
Governing Board,
consisting of a part-time
chairman, PENCOM DG,
four commissioners, and a
representative each of the
Head of Service, Federal
Ministry of Finance.
invitation to surrender
herself to the commission.
EFCC had earlier
disclosed that it has
initiated the process to
extradite the former
minister from the UK to
Nigeria to face trial.
It will be recalled that the
Federal High Court in
Abuja had, on September
20, 2017, struck out a
charge that indicted the
former minister to the
illegal diversion of about
$1.6 billion from proceeds
of sales of petroleum
products belonging to the
Federal Government.
Justice Nnamdi Dimgba
struck out the allegation
contained in count eight of
a money laundering
charge marked FHC/Abj/
CR/121/2016, which EFCC
lodged before the court.
The decision was based
on the fact that though the
former minister’s name
was mentioned in the
charge, she was, however,
not listed as one of the
defendants.
Aside from Omokore,
other defendants in the case
included the former
Managing Director of the
Nigerian Petroleum
Development Company,
NPDC, Victor Briggs;
former Group Executive
Director, Exploration and
Production of the NNPC,
Abiye Membere; former
Manager, Planning and
Commercial of NNPC,
David Mbanefo.
Mrs. Alison-Madueke
had shortly after the case
commenced, briefed her
lawyer, Dr. Onyechi
Ikpeazu(SAN), to approach
the court to join her as a
defendant in the case.
“The applicant’s
constitutional right of fair
hearing is being infringed
as the trial is proceeding in
her absence, in spite of the
fact that allegations of
astronomical proportion
were made against her,’’
Diezani’s lawyer, Dr.
Ikpeazu, argued in the
application dated August
17, 2017.
The application was,
however, opposed by
EFCC which accused the
ex-minister of attempting to
stall the trial of her
accomplices.
EFCC told the court that
the application was an
attempt by the ex-minister
to escape trial in the United
Kingdom where she was
granted administrative
bail, pending conclusion of
investigations into
corruption allegations
against her.
Meanwhile, following
perceived delay by the UK
authorities to prosecute the
former Minister, EFCC
said it would repatriate her
to Nigeria to face trial.
C
M
Y
K

C
M
Y
K
No nation can confront
climate change alone
—Buhari
By Johnbosco
Agbakwuru
AMuhammadu BUJA—PRESIDENT
Buhari
said yesterday in Katowice,
Poland, that no country can
confront climate change
alone.
President Buhari in his
address at the opening
session of United Nations
Climate Change
Conference (COP24),
urged United Nationmember
countries to
rededicate themselves to
the task of rebuilding and
restoring a healthy
environment for future
generations.
The President warned
that the challenges of
climate change, including
rising temperatures,
desertification, floods, low
agricultural yields and
drying up of water bodies,
were enormous and
evident to all.
Citing the receding Lake
Chad, the President, in a
statement by his Senior
Special Assistant on Media
and publicity, Mallam
Garba Shehu, noted that
the effects of climate change
were felt more on
vulnerable communities
which lacked the capacity
and technology to properly
address such challenges.
He said: ‘‘Obviously, no
country can confront the
phenomenon alone. In this
regard, Nigeria believes in
joint and cooperative efforts
to tackle the problem.
“We urge that efforts to
address the challenges of
climate change be pursued
within multilateral
frameworks. Concerted
efforts should be made to
strengthen sub-regional
and regional organizations,
to serve as hubs for Climate
Action and partnership.’’
Speaking specifically on
Lake Chad, the President
reaffirmed that Nigeria
remains committed to
saving the Lake, which is a
source of livelihood to 40
million people, from
extinction.
He said Nigeria would
build on the success of an
international conference
held earlier in February this
year in Abuja to create
additional awareness
globally on the serious
environmental and security
challenges facing the Lake
Chad.
The President told COP
24 Summit, attended by
world leaders and UN
Secretary-General Antonio
Guterres, that a consensus
was reached at the Abuja
Conference that an interbasin
water transfer from
the Congo Basin remains
the most sustainable option
available to resuscitate and
safeguard this precious
water body that was once
the 6th largest fresh water
Lake in the world.
Atiku never told anyone he
collected US visa, says
campaign official
By Soni Daniel,
Northern Region
Editor
A
B U J A —
PRESIDENTIAL
candidate of Peoples
Democratic Party, PDP,
Atiku Abubakar, never told
anyone he has been issued
an American visa or
planning a trip to the
United States of America, a
top official of his campaign
organisation disclosed
yesterday.
The top official, who
heads one of the major
campaign groups for Atiku,
described as unfortunate
the media hype over Atiku’s
‘collection of U.S visa and
planned trip’ to that country
when the former vice
president had not spoken
to anyone about the two
issues.
The official, a former
minister in President
Goodluck Jonathan’s
administration, told
Vanguard on condition of
anonymity, that Atiku was
not one who would want to
celebrate the issuance of
visa, something he had
obtained from many
countries and had been
flying around the world for
many decades.
“What is so important
vanguardnews @vanguardnews @vanguardnews
about a visa? And let me
say that Atiku Abubakar did
not issue any statement
informing anybody that he
had been issued a U.S visa
and that he had planned
to travel to that country to
the best of those working
with him.
“We just do not know
where the media got that
information and
immediately began to
spread all over the space
on Sunday until it got to our
attention. It is not true that
the presidential candidate
ever gave such information
to anyone,” he added.
Reacting to claims by the
opposition that Atiku was
afraid of going to the U.S
to avoid being arrested and
tried for corruption, the
official explained that there
was no case against the
former vice president in the
country, adding that if there
was any, that country would
have raised issues against
the former number two
citizen of Nigeria.
‘’Don’t forget that Atiku
had been living in
Washington and if there
was anything against him,
the U.S law enforcement
agents would have
charged him before now.
So, there is no case against
him in the U.S and that is
the truth,” the official stated.
VANGUARD, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2018 — 9
Atiku launches N-West campaign in
Sokoto, assures of people-friendly govt
•Vote Atiku, so we can all have food to eat, says Jonathan
•We've tried Buhari but he failed —Saraki
S OKOTO—THE
presidential
candidate of Peoples
Democratic Party, PDP,
Atiku Abubakar, said
yesterday that he would
run a people-friendly
government, if elected in
2019.
Atiku made the promise
while addressing
thousands of PDP
supporters at the North-
West zonal launching of the
2019 Atiku/Obi Presidential
Campaign Rally in Sokoto.
He said: “Our Nigeria of
today needs leaders that
will involve all in
government, not some
individuals who only care
for their personal interests
and not the country.
“We have plan to involve
all Nigerians in any
decision making, especially
the masses that remain our
priority in PDP.
“Our target is to ensure
Nigeria of our founding
fathers, a country for all, a
united and secure Nigeria
that will attract more
investors to participate in
its economic growth,” he
said.
In his remarks, PDP
By Johnbosco
Agbakwuru
A BUJA—GOVERNOR
Abdulaziz Yari of
Zamfara State has
threatened to depose more
traditional rulers found
backing banditry in the
state.
Yari, who is the chairman
of Nigeria’s Governors
Forum, NGF, noted that
security of lives and
properties had become a
great challenge in the state
in recent times, following
increased banditry.
The governor said he had
so far recovered 10 AK-47
rifles returned to the state
government at N1million
National Chairman, Uche
Secondus, called on
supporters to secure their
Permanent Voter Cards,
PVCs, to enable them vote
for the party in the
forthcoming election.
“Our PVCs are the only
weapons for us to attain the
required victory of our
choice in 2019, as such, we
protect them for the best
interest of our desire.
“We are fully confident
that Nigeria is for PDP and
such will always remain, as
it is the only party that can
deliver for the people.
Governor Aminu
Tambuwal of Sokoto State
in his remarks, welcomed
all the PDP supporters from
the zone and other parts of
the country to the state.
He called on Nigerians
to vote massively for all
PDP candidates in their
respective states to enable
the party deliver on its
campaign promises.
Tambuwal described Atiku
as a leader that could
deliver all the necessary
needs of Nigerians in the
area of human
development and all other
sectors that needed to be
each.
Recall that Yari had on
November 1, 2018,
announced a reward of N1
million for every illegal AK-
47 rifle recovered from
bandits.
“In 2015, with just about
250 soldiers, the crime rate
was low; but with over
1,600 soldiers of different
categories, we cannot
contain crime in the state,’’
the governor lamented.
Fielding questions from
State
House
correspondents after
meeting behind closeddoors
with the Vice
President, Yemi Osinbajo,
at the State House, Abuja,
yesterday, the governor
addressed in the country.
Vote Atiku, so we
can all have food
to eat —Jonathan
In his remarks, former
President Goodluck
Jonathan noted that
Nigeria had a lot of
challenges that needed to
be systematically
addressed.
“We believe that today, we
are facing a lot of
challenges in our country
and we believe Atiku is the
only candidate that can
deliver well in tackling
such,” Jonathan said.
Jonathan, who noted that
the PDP remained the only
party that could feed
Nigerians thrice a day,
asked Nigerians to vote for
Atiku “so that all of us will
have food to eat.”
Jonathan said: “We have
seen four presidents, from
Obasanjo to our late brother,
Yar’Adua, to myself, and to
the current president. You
have seen how the various
presidents and the various
parties have worked, and
one thing that is very clear
is that PDP is still the
blamed the menace on
complicity by monarchs,
which he said had fueled
killings and the incidents
of armed robbery in the
agrarian communities of the
state.
The governor spoke
against the backdrop of last
week’s killing of dozens of
Police officers in an ambush
by bandits who reportedly
operated in Zurmi Local
Government Area of the
state.
Specifically, communities
in the state have become a
regular target of bandits
who have been undertaking
series of robberies in the
state in recent years.
The bandits often target
herders for their livestock,
farms for produce and even
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SIGNING: From left,
Managing Director,
FBNQuest Trustees,
Mr. Adekunle
Awojobi; Lead Partner,
Desarrollar Group,
Mr. Ikemefuna
Mordi; and Managing
Director/CE, UTL
Trust Management
Services, Mrs
Olufunke Aiyepola, at
the official Signing
Ceremony between
Desarrollar Group, a
leading lifestyle and
real estate solutions
company and its
partners in Lagos.
number one party.”
“Let us not make any
mistakes, those of us that
are adults, old enough to
vote, if we vote wrongly, our
children
and
grandchildren will not
forgive us,” he added.
We've tried Buhari
but he failed
—Saraki
Also speaking at the
campaign rally, Senate
President, Bukola Saraki,
said Nigerians had tried
President Muhammadu
Buhari but he has failed the
country.
“Today is a great day,
today we are making
history. As the DG of the
campaign, when we said
we wanted to come to the
North West, they said it was
a no-go area for PDP, but
today, North-West is PDP!
"And for years, North West
leads the country and
today, North West says is
time to vote for PDP.
“We have tried this one
(Buhari), but he has failed.
North West has spoken and
the entire Nigerians will
speak,” Saraki said.
Yari threatens to depose more monarchs over
banditry in Zamfara
kidnap persons for
humongous ransom.
On the efforts of the
government to put an end
to banditry in the state, he
said, “some of the
traditional rulers are
supporting banditry or
taking money from them;
that is very dangerous.
‘’To give you trust to
manage people through
tradition and then you are
taking part directly or
indirectly, that is not
acceptable.”
Yari, however, dismissed
veiled calls for a declaration
of state of emergency to
frontally tackle the
challenges, noting that
Zamfara was not the only
state bedeviled by
insecurity in the country.

10 — VANGUARD, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2018
Medical Guild raises alarm over
emigration of doctors overseas
By Chioma Obinna
& Arinola Kolade
L AGOS—MEDICAL
doctors, employed by
the Lagos State
government, yesterday,
lamented the migration of
doctors abroad, saying that
“there is shortage of doctors
in the state’s public hospital
system.”
Addressing a press
conference in Lagos on its
WALK AGAINST HIV/
AIDS: From right; Wife of
the governor of Ogun
State, Mrs. Olufunso
Amosun, receiving an
award from the National
President, Medical Women
Association of Nigeria
(MWAN), Dr. Joyce
Barber, while MWAN
National Coordinator on
Outreaches, Dr. Imeh
Okon looks on during a
sensitisation walk against
HIV/AIDS
in
commemoration of the
30th Anniversary of
World AIDS Day with the
theme: “Know Your
Status"
in
Abeokuta...weekend.
Restructuring’ll guarantee equity, fairness, justice
in Nigeria — Adebanjo, Bode George
By Dapo Akinrefon
L AGOS—YORUBA
elders and leaders,
including a leader of pan-
Yoruba socio- political
organisation, Afenifere,
Chief Ayo Adebanjo; former
Deputy National Chairman
of the Peoples Democratic
Party, PDP, Chief Olabode
George; Prof. Banji
Akintoye, Senator Femi
Okurounmu, Chief
Ebenezer Babatope, said
yesterday, that Nigeria
could witness equity,
fairness and justice through
restructuring.
They said this at a 1-day
South-West colloquium
with the theme: ‘2019: The
South- West Speaks’, in
Lagos
In his address, Afenifere
vanguardnews @vanguardnews @vanguardnews
Annual General Meeting/
Scientific Conference with
the themed Maximising
Earning Potential for
Doctors in Nigeria,
Chairman, Medical Guild,
Dr. Saheed Babajide said
the shortage of doctors in
the system can be
addressed by early
replacement and
recruitment of doctors into
the system.
Babajide said: “Nigeria
chieftain, Chief Adebanjo,
lamented that the Yoruba,
known to be the foremost
race in Nigeria, was now
endangered.
Adebanjo, who was
represented by Prof.
Akintoye said: “We must
come together to protect our
people. Yoruba don’t know
how to submit to failure to
anything. It is also not
common for Yoruba to
succumb to poverty.
“We, Yoruba, are going
through high degree of
poverty right now, we are
going through high degree
of insecurity and we are
also going through high
degree of hopelessness.
“I have confidence that
Yoruba would rise and fight
the battle and we will
achieve success.”
Restating his support for
may be going back to the
1980s when doctors trained
in Nigeria migrated to
other countries
immediately to complete
their training. Every day,
medical doctors in their
numbers leave the system
without replacement.
There is need for quality
residency training in
Nigeria. It is a problem
when the system is facing
acute shortage of doctors
restructuring of the country,
Adebanjo said the message
everyone should take home
is that the Yoruba wanted
to live in a decent
community.
Also speaking, a former
Deputy National Chairman
of the PDP, Chief George,
lamented the state of the
country saying the Yoruba
insisted on a balanced,
equitable Nigeria where
every section of the Nigeria
would be free and
unhindered in cultivating
while we have pool of
unemployed doctors across
the country. WHO says a
doctor to six patients but in
Nigeria we have about one
doctor to 200 patients.
“The government should
ensure that this is done at
intervals for all doctors. This
approach will be of great
benefit to the government
in achieving the goal of
qualitative healthcare
delivery to the citizens of
the state.”
Fasehun left an unfinished
struggle — NADECO
By Henry Ojelu country where every
component part functions
L National AGOS—THE
Democratic
Coalition, NADECO, has
said that the late founder
of the Oodua People
Congress, OPC, Frederick
Fasehun left an unrealized
struggle to actualize
restructuring of the country.
NADECO Chairman,
Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu
(retd) said this, yesterday,
when NADECO leaders,
including General
Secretary of NADECO,
Chief Ayo Opadokun; Dr
Amos Ashigba and
Comrade Popoola Ajayi,
paid a visit to Fasehun’s
widow and children at their
Okota residence in Lagos.
Speaking during the visit,
Kanu said that one of the
major dreams of Fasehun
was to see a well structured
their natural resources.
George said: “If we all get
up and work hard, people
in every state can survive
without any largess from
the central government.”
Berating Vice President
Yemi Osinbajo, for
distributing N10,000 each
to market women, he said:
“It was indeed an obscene
display of executive
recklessness and abuse of
office. Pray, where did the
money come from? Was it
budgeted for in the
appropriation law?"
independently as a true
federal unit.
Kanu said: “Fasehun
stood strong in the fight for
restructuring of this country.
He made sacrifice for this
nation. We were in the
struggle together until he
departed. In the course of
the struggle, we had
reasons to disagree of
issues.
“He stood solidly for the
ideal of restructuring and
we in NADECO still
believe that is the best way
to go for this country to be
better."
Also speaking, Chief
Opadokun said that with
the demise of Fasehun, the
specie of those truly
committed to true
federalism in the country is
fast dwindling.
702,021 PVCs yet to be
collected in Lagos — INEC
By Clifford Ndujihe
LAGOS — OF the
786,839 voters
registered in the just
concluded Continuous
Voters Register, CVR, which
took the number of
registered voters in Lagos
to 6.609 million, the
Independent National
Electoral Commission,
INEC in Lagos is still
expecting from the
commission’s
headquarters, 284,791
Permanent Voter’s Cards,
PVCs.
Making the disclosure in
a telephone chat with
Vanguard, Mr. Femi
Akinbiyi, the Public Affairs
Officer, said in readiness for
the 2019 general elections,
the INEC in Lagos has
started training members of
the National Youth Service
Corps, NYSC, on use of the
Smart Card Readers, SCRs.
Asked how the
commission is preparing for
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the polls in Lagos, Mr
Akinbiyi said: “We are
engaged in the training of
NYSC members using
their community
development, CD, days.
We want them to have full
grasp of the usage of the
SCR machines.
"We will take those who
perform well for proper
training as ad-hoc staff for
the election later.”
On number of PVCs
collected so far, he said as
of November 14, “only
84,818 people who were
registered in the last CVR
had collected their PVCs.
Outstanding PVCs
expected from Abuja are
284,791. New registrants
are 786,839. Number of
transferred PVCs is 96,932;
replaced PVCs are 36,441
and now the total number
of registered voters for
Lagos is 6,609,115 subject
to data consolidation and
removal of double
registrants.”
EFCC arraigns two oil marketers
for alleged $8.4m fraud
L
AGOS — THE
Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission,
EFCC, yesterday, arraigned
two oil marketers, Messrs
Yusuf Kwande and Osahon
Asemota, in an Ikeja Special
Offences Court for allegedly
stealing 6.4 million
metric tonnes of Automated
Gas Oil, AGO, worth
$8.4million.
Messrs Kwande and Asemota
were arraigned with
an international oil and gas
company – Trafigura Beheer
BV, Trafigura PTE Ltd
and their Nigerian associates-
Mettle Energy and
Gas, Renbrandt Ltd. and Jil
Engineering and Oil Services
Limited.
They, however, pleaded
not guilty to the three-count
charge of conspiracy, stealing
and receiving stolen
property proffered against
them by the EFCC.
The EFCC accused the
defendants of fraudulently
CIIN confers Honorary
Fellowship on Ogunshola
L Chartered AGOS—THE
Insurance
Institute of Nigeria, CIIN,
will confer the 2018 honorary
Fellowship on a former
chairman of Punch Nigeria
Limited, Chief Ajibola
Ogunshola, on December 6.
Ogunshola, a maths
graduate from the University
of Ibadan, entered the
insurance industry in
October 1967 as
an actuarial trainee in the
actuarial department of the
Eaglestar Insurance
Company in London, and
qualified as a Fellow of the
Institute of Actuaries in
1973. He has also held
several insurance positions
including the first life
manager of old NICON, the
first Managing Director of
Niger Insurance Plc,
converting the AGO at the
office of Trafigura Beheer
BV located at 20A Sinaro
Daranijo Street, off Ligali
Ayorinde Street, Victoria
Island, Lagos.
The lead EFCC prosecution
counsel, Mr. Rotimi
Jacobs, SAN, said the defendants
committed the
offences of stealing between
October 22, 2008
and December 15, 2008.
Mr Jacobs said the stolen
AGO, worth $8.4 million,
was the property of
Nadabo Energy Limited
and was kept in the legal
custody of the now defunct
Spring Bank on Victoria
Island. Following the defendant’s
not guilty plea,
counsel to the defendants
sought to move their bail
applications.
But Mr Jacobs informed
the court that three of the
prosecution witnesses
were present in court. He
requested that the trial begin
immediately.
member of the governing
council of the Nigerian
Insurance Association, and
non-executive chairman of
Continental Reinsurance
Plc. He was, from 1973 to
1983, a part–time lecturer
in actuarial science at the
University of Lagos and
subsequently, an external
examiner in insurance and
actuarial science at the
Ahmadu Bello University.
Chief Ogunshola

vanguardnews @vanguardnews @vanguardnews
Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2018 — 11
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VISIT: From left; Prince Adekolade Gbogboade; Princess Tenilade Aofiyebi, Nee Gbogboade; Prince Svend Adelani
Gbogboade Juncker; Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Oba Gboyega Dosunmu; Erelu Morinuade Quadri, Nee Gbogboade
and Prince Adekunle Gbogboade, when members of the Gbogboade family visited the Olowu, with a member of
the family (Juncker) who recently traced his ancestral roots yesterday. Photo by Wunmi Akinola.
OGUN APC CRISIS: Why I disagreed with
Amosun — OSOBA
By Daud Olatunji
A F BEOKUTA—
O R M E R
governor of Ogun State,
Chief Olusegun Osoba,
said, yesterday, that his
disagreement with the
state governor, Senator
Ibikunle Amosun, was
based on the non-zoning
of all political offices in the
state.
Osoba said he frowned at
a situation where a
particular zone benefits
much from the
appointments to the
disadvantages of the other
two districts.
Osoba said this at the
I remain in APC to support Buhari— AMOSUN
By Dayo Johnson &
Daud Olatunji
A BEOKUTA—
GOVERNOR
Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun
State said, yesterday, that
God will not forgive him if
he had stopped the
defection of his preferred
governorship candidate,
Adekunle Akinlade and
other aggrieved candidates
from defecting from All
Progressives Congress,
APC, to the Allied People’s
Movement, APM.
This came as 26 APC
candidates, who contested
for the House of Assembly
tickets in Ogun State during
the party primary, yesterday,
joined APM.
Amosun said he had
attempted to stop them
from protecting the
mandate given to them.
The governor said this
while addressing an APC
stakeholders’ meeting
attended by Akinlade, at the
Presidential Villa in
Abeokuta, Ogun State.
He promised to remain
in APC to contest the
Senate seat and ensure the
re-election of President
Muhammadu Buhari.
Amosun said: “When
formal unveiling of the
Ogun APC governorship
running mate, Mrs Noimot
Salako-Oyedele, at his
Abeokuta residence.
The former governor
averred that the era of
groups within the party
should be made a thing of
the past and urged party
members to work together
as one.
His words: “Whether they
like it or not, Dapo Abiodun
had become the Ogun State
APC governorship
candidate. Those who
didn’t wish APC well have
been disappointed.
“The task had begun. We
are in the midst of enemies
and we should come
together as one.
“I want to urge all that we
have just started. I am 80
years old and I am old
enough to say things the
way they are.
“We don’t want any group
within the APC. It is an
insult. We are just going
into elections period and
we should stop insulting
our candidate.
“From now onward, let
us be one. Leaders should
not hold group meetings,
but what you should be
having is APC meeting as
a party and it should be
for the governorship
candidature of Dapo
Abiodun.
“Three-quarter of your
posters should bear the
APC logo, a quarter for a
candidate’s picture and
another quarter for the
party’s slogan.
“So, as we are moving
today, disunity is over. We
are fighting a vicious war
and we should fight it
within the purview of the
APC constitution. Go and
deliver your polling
booths.”
Prominent leaders in
attendance include the
governorship flag bearer,
Prince Dapo Abiodun, the
governorship running
mate, Mrs Noimot Salako-
Oyedele, Senator Gbenga
Kaka, Gbenga Obadara,
Akin Odunsi, Dipo
Odujinrin, Tunji
Egbetokun, Prince Segun
Adesegun, among others.
•26 Ogun APC assembly candidates defect to APM
•As Akeredolu’s aides resign from cabinet, join PDP
these people came, they told
me they were leaving APC,
I said no but I could not stop
them. In fact, Akinlade has
my full support, I am not
going to stop him,
everything I have, I will use
to support him, let them try
whatever they want to try,
we also have our strategies
and I am not going to hide
behind one finger.
“I remain in APC because
that’s what those people
want, they want us to leave
APC but they are joking. I
will stay in APC to ensure
that Buhari wins in Ogun
State and to let them know
that they can’t subvert the
will of Ogun State.
“Every day, I will
campaign for President
Muhammdu Buhari, we
will do everything possible
to ensure Buhari wins
massively in Ogun State,
but they should not miss it.
I, Senator Ibikunle Amosun
will not support anyone they
are bringing.
“God will punish me if I
stop Akinlade. All of you
supporting Akinlade, you
have my support. They are
talking about party
supremacy, what happens
to party supremacy at the
local levels?.”
Lawmakers’ defection
Meanwhile, the defectors,
who spoke through their
spokesperson, Mr.
Lamidi Olatunji, said they
took the decision to dump
APC for APM after
consultations with elders,
leaders and members
of APC failed.
Olatunji said: “After
extensive and due
consultations with our
elders, members and
stakeholders in the APC in
Ogun State, we have come
to the inevitable conclusion
to seek the general
mandate of our people in
the 2019 elections on the
platform of the Allied
People’s Movement.
“We regret that Mr.
President’s efforts were
frustrated by the forces that
are bent on returning the
South West to the dark
age of slavery where
unelected kingpins direct
the affairs of the people.
“We are committed to the
second term of
President Muhammadu
Buhari and we are
determined to deliver Ogun
State to him in the
Presidential election, on
February 16, 2019, by the
grace of God. Governor
Amosun has nothing to do
with our decision to defect
to APM.”
Akeredolu’s aides resign
from cabinet, join PDP
In a related
development, two aides to
Governor Rotimi
Akeredolu of Ondo State,
yesterday, resigned and
joined the Peoples
Democratic Party, PDP, for
allegedly being sidelined
by the governor.
The two aides, who hail
from the Southern
Senatorial district of the
state, include Akeredolu’s
Senior Special Assistant on
Oil and Gas, Benson
Enikuomehin and the
Special Assistant on Niger
Delta Affairs, Mr. Lubi
Akpoebi Ebielatei.
Vanguard gathered that
the two aides resigned
over the alleged leadership
style of the governor.
Olowu hails Gbogboade family
as Juncker traces roots
OLOWU of Owu, Oba
Adegboyega
Dosunmu has commended
a prince of Owu kingdom,
Svend Ade Juncker for
tracing his roots, describing
the action as instructive.
The Owu monarch said
this yesterday in Abeokuta
when Juncker, a member
the Gbogboade family in
Owu kingdom visited his
palace as part of the
informal activities marking
his first visit to Nigeria.
Junker is a Danish
citizen, whose father, the
late Prince Tiwade
Gbogboade was the son of
the late Oba Adelani
Gbogboade, who was an
Olowu of Owu.
Juncker, who was
accompanied by Prince
Adekunle Gbogboade,
Princess Tenilade Aofiyebi,
Nee Gbogboade, Erelu
Moninuade Quadri, Nee
Gbogboade, and Prince
Adekolade Gbogboade, has
a Danish mother.
An elated Juncker, who
received royal blessings
from the monarch,
presented a gift to the king
during the visit as a mark
of respect.
In an earlier interview
with Vanguard, the prince
of Owu kingdom, narrated
how he traced his roots in
a dramatic process
characterised by emotional
turmoil and triumph.
The full interview, which
would be published
tomorrow is a tale of race,
contradictions and
values which can
influence anyone.
2019: Badly conducted
election, recipe for war — INEC
By Ola Ajayi
I BADAN—THE
Independent
National Electoral
Commission, INEC,
yesterday, admitted that a
“badly conducted election
is a recipe for war”
promising it will deploy all
necessary means to ensure
the election is free and fair.
The Commission said this
through its Resident
Electoral Commissioner in
Oyo State, Mr. Mutiu
Agboke at an interactive
session with political
parties, candidates and
other security agents which
was organised by the
Deputy Inspector General
of Police in-charge of South
West geopolitical zone,
DIG Agboola Oshodi-
Glover.
He said: “The era of
rhetoric has gone. As far as
INEC is concerned, there
is no small or big political
party. We will treat all
parties equally. A badly
conducted election is a
recipe for war. We want
Nigerians to believe in us.
There is going to be free
and fair election in 2019.
INEC has conducted over
8,000 bye- elections in
Nigeria.”
On the safety of youth
corps members, deployed
as adhoc staff during
elections, Agboke assured
that their welfare would not
be compromised noting
their security would be
taken care of by the security
agents.
INEC also hinted at the
forum that the number of
eligible voters that will vote
in the election stood
tentatively at 2, 954,720.
He equally allayed the
fears of voters in the state
that members of the
National Union of Road
Transport Workers,
NURTW, would not be
allowed to handle electoral
materials.
While reading a speech
on behalf of the Inspector
General of Police, Ibrahim
Idris, the DIG Oshodi-
Glover, who is also in
charge of Department of
Logistics and Supply, Force
headquarters, Abuja
warned all state
Commissioners of Police to
desist from partisanship
during the election.
Religious leaders in Oyo cry
foul over security levies
By Ola Ajayi
I imposition BADAN—THE
of security
levies on religious
organisations by the Oyo
State government,
yesterday, sparked off a
protest by leaders of the
three religions in the state.
While some of the
religious leaders
considered the action of the
government as sheer
insensitivity, others
complained that the
government failed to
recognise their impacts in
society.
The state government had
earlier announced that
worship centres in the state
would be charged security
levies to boost government's
internally generated
revenue in the state.
While speaking with Vanguard
on the issue, a cleric,
Pastor Ajani Temiloluwa
said government should
look elsewhere for its revenue,
arguing that his members
are government workers
who pay their taxes as
at when due, wondering
what the government wants
to achieve by the action.
Also, the Chief Missioner,
Islamic Spiritual and
Charitable Group of
Nigeria, Olatunde Mumin,
said imposing levies on
religious bodies would
amount to double taxation.
In his own words, the
Muslim Community of
Apete, Awotan, Ayegun
through its Secretary,
Ahmad Olalere, in a
statement, took exception to
the imposition of the levies.

12 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2018
vanguardnews @vanguardnews @vanguardnews
NEWS HOTLINES
018773962,
08052867058
ELECTORAL ACT: Buhari, Atiku in
war of words over rigging plans
...Three presidential candidates go to
court to stop Buhari signing bill
By Emmanuel Aziken
& Henry Umoru
THE
Muhammadu
Buhari and Atiku
Abubakar presidential
campaigns were yesterday
locked in an exchange of
words over alleged plans to
rig the forthcoming 2019
elections with accusations
of paying lip service to a
reinforced Electoral Act.
The bickering came as
three presidential
candidates launched a
judicial process to stop
President Buhari from
signing the Electoral Act
amendment bill.
The accusations followed
the
continued
procrastination on a
presidential assent to the
amended Electoral Act.
The bill passed by the two
chambers of the National
Assembly gives a legal
framework to the use of the
card reader and electronic
transmission of votes across
the country. The reworked
bill was forwarded to the
President for assent about
two weeks ago.
Yesterday the two
campaigns were locked in
an exchange of words on
the issue with the two
claiming the moral high
ground.
Meanwhile, a former
2019: Ekere advises APC youths
to shun violence
By Harris-Okon
Emmanuel
UYO—AKWA Ibom
State governorship
candidate of All
Progressives Congress
(APC), Mr. Nsima Ekere
has advised party’s
faithful to desist from
violence during the
electioneering campaign
in the state.
Ekere spoke at the
commencement of the
campaign, urging
supporters to respect the
rule of law, adding that his
Deputy National Publicity
Secretary of the All
Progressives Congress,
APC, Comrade Timi Frank
yesterday called on the
United Nations,
European Union and the
General Abdulsalami
Abubakar National Peace
Committee to urge
President Buhari to sign
the Electoral Act
Amendment Bill for the
purpose of enthroning a
strong framework to guide
the election.
Meanwhile, Alhaji Shitu
Kabir the presidential
candidate of the Advanced
Peoples Democratic
Alliance, APDA, joined by
the presidential candidates
of the Allied Peoples
Mandate (APM) and the
Movement for Restoration
and Defence of Democracy,
(MRDD) yesterday said
that signing the Bill would
truncate the 2019 general
election.
Speaking with journalists
yesterday in Abuja after
filing the process on behalf
of his clients, counsel to the
plaintiffs, Mr Dapo Otitoju
said they were asking the
court to determine whether
the president could proceed
to sign the bill when there
was no more adequate time
for the manifestation of the
proposed Act.
campaign would be issuedbased.
He said; ‘’We want a
peaceful election. We don’t
want violence as we crisscross
the entire 31 local
government areas
campaigning. There shall
be no accident or loss for
APC. We shall run a
government based on truth
and transparency.
‘’We are not interested in
the lies being peddled. My
appeal to APC youth is that
they should not cause
trouble. We don’t want
thugs in Akwa Ibom”
Oyovbaire, Sheriff, Oboro, others
launch book on Okpe history
FORMER Information
Minister, Prof Sam
Oyovbaire, Speaker, Delta
State House of Assembly,
Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori
and Hon. Evelyn Oboro,
member representing
Okpe, Sapele, Uvwie
Constituency in the
National Assembly,
amongst others has
launched a book on Okpe
history titled: “The Okpe
People: History &
Customary Law of
Succession” at the Edion
Hall Orerokpe,
headquarters of Okpe
Local Government Area of
Delta State. The book
dedicated to Delta State
House of Assembly
Speaker, Rt Hon Sheriff
Oborevwori.
In his speech, Chairman
of the ceremony, Prof
Oyovbaire commended the
author of the book, Pastor
Abraham Okeme Agba for
spending his time and
resources by going into deep
research to publish the
book, which he said would
be of great academic
assistance to Okpe
students, both in the
secondary and tertiary
institutions and urged
Okpe youths to strive hard
and emulate the author.
He said: “Mr author, you
are very lucky to have three
out of the five contestants of
our great party in the next
year general elections, only
the Governor and the
President are not here.
Prayers really work
wonders, the history of Okpe
is mostly for the youths and
children, because we
already know them.''
FARMERS’ DAY: From left; Edna Usifo, representing the General Manager of NAPIMS; Callista Azogu,
Deputy Managing Director, NAOC; Lorenzo Fiorillo, Vice Chairman/MD, NAOC; Dr. Ainojie Irune, Chief
Operating Officer, Oando Energy Resources (OER); and Guido Brusco, Chairman, NAOC at the 22nd annual
Farmers’ Day Celebration organized by the NNPC / NAOC / Oando Joint Venture in Bayelsa State.
N5.7BN SURE-P FUND: AGF denies stalling
trial of ex-Katsina gov, others
By Ikechukwu
Nnochiri
THE Attorney General
of the Federation and
Minister of Justice, Mr.
Abubakar Malami, SAN,
yesterday, denied the
allegation that he frustrated
the prosecution of former
Governor of Katsina State,
Ibrahim Shema and other
officials of the state
government accused of
diverting over N5.7billion
SURE-P funds.
The High Court of Justice
in Katsina State had on
November 27, terminated
further trial of three former
officials of the state
government that were
fingered in the alleged
fraud.
Justice Maikaita Bako
reportedly struck out a
criminal charge that the
Independent Corrupt
Practices and other Related
offences Commission,
ICPC, preferred against the
indicted officials, following
alleged failure by the AGF
to release the case file.
The court further
discharged all the accused
officials.
Those that were freed by
the court were the Special
Adviser to the former
governor on SURE-P,
Nasiru Ingawa; the
Director of Account and
Finance SURE-P
Department, Abdulaziz
Delta gets new CP
By Festus Ahon
ASABA—A
new
Commissioner of
Police, Anthony Ogbizi has
been deployed to Delta
State, following the
redeployment of Mr.
Mohammed Mustafa to
Ebonyi State.
While taking over from
the outgoing CP, Igbizi
promised to build on
existing security
mechanism on the ground.
He advised members of
Shinkafi; and the Chief
Store Officer Katsina State
Civil Service, Bello
Bindawa.
It was reported that the
AGF had earlier directed
the anti-graft agency to
submit the case-file to his
office, to enable the Katsina
State Government to take
over the prosecution of the
defendants.
However, at the resumed
proceeding on the matter,
Justice Bako terminated
the trial following the
alleged failure of the AGF
to release the case-file
Osinbajo intervenes in Delta APC crisis
By Emmanuel Aziken
V ICE-PRESIDENT
Yemi Osinbajo was
last night set to meet
chieftains of the Delta State
chapter of the All
Progressives Congress,
APC ahead of today’s
judgment on a court action
aiming to annul the
emergence of Chief Great
Ogboru as the party’s
governorship candidate in
the state.
Last night’s meeting
which was yet to take off as
at press time was a followup
to two earlier meetings
last Thursday and on
Sunday. The meeting was
not directly connected to
the court action.
At the preliminary
meeting on Thursday, the
leaders drawn from across
the state were informed on
the administration’s desire
to engage the leaders on
policies
and
programmes that could
help navigate the party
in the forthcoming polls.
the public to always
cooperate with the Police
and other security agencies
at all times.
Police Public Relations
Officer, DSP Andrew
Aniamaka, in a statement
said the new
Commissioner of Police has
resumed duty.
“The new Commissioner
of Police, an alumnus of the
University of Calabar hails
from Obudu Local
Government Area of Cross
River State,” the statement.
....As court rules on Ogboru’s candidacy today
However, party leaders
most of who were sitting
down under the same roof
for the first time in a long
while, accused one another
of several electoral crimes
especially during the party
primaries. That meeting
followed claims that
majority of the stakeholders
had ignored earlier
attempts by the Minister of
State, Petroleum, Dr. Ibe
Kachikwu to resolve the
differences that followed
the congresses that split the
party into two camps; one
Omo-Agege deserves second
term — URHOBO PGS
WARRI—THE Forum
of Urhobo Kingdoms
President Generals have
expressed satisfaction with
the performance of the
incumbent senator
representing Delta Central,
Senator Ovie Omo-Agege,
noting that he deserves a
second term in office.
The General Secretary of
the forum, who is also the
acting Chairman, Chief
Kenneth Iwhewhe, stated
this when Omo-Agege
paid a visit to the group to
give account of his
stewardship, at Uviwe
Town Hall, Effurun, Delta
State.
Iwhewhe, who described
Omo-Agege as a dogged
fighter, assured him of the
Urhobo nation's support.
According to him,
“Though we are apolitical,
every human being is a
for prosecution.
Meanwhile, insisting that
he was not against the trial
of the accused persons, the
AGF, in a statement signed
by his media aide, Mr.
Salihu Isah, said it was not
true that he refused to
handover the case-file to
the Katsina State
government before he
traveled out of the country.
led by Olorogun Otega
Emerhor and the other led
by Chief Great Ogboru and
Senator Ovie Omo-Agege.
The crisis was further
widened by the outcome of
the recent party primaries
that saw many party
chieftains dissatisfied.
Meanwhile, a Federal
High Court in Abuja is
expected to today rule
on the court action filed
by Chief Victor Ochei to
disqualify Ogboru as the
party’s governorship
candidate in the state.
political animal, we have
our leanings but you cannot
see a good thing and turn
your back on it.
“We are proud of you and
apart from the fact that you
have gone there to show
your dexterity as a
lawmaker, you also told
them that the Urhobo man
no dey carry last.
Earlier, Senator Omo-
Agege told the Forum of
how he has sponsored
critical Bills, including the
Federal University of
Petroleum Resources,
Effurun Bill which has
been enacted into law, the
Sexual Harassment in
Educational Insttutions Bill,
Electoral Act No. 6, 2010
(Amendment) Bill,
Dormant Accounts Bill and
many others that have been
passed and awaiting
Presidential assent.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2018 — 13

14 — VANGUARD, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2018
GCUOBA LAGOS BRANCH 2018 ANNUAL LUNCHEON
The 2018 Annual Luncheon of Government College, Ughelli Old Boys Association (GCUOBA),
Lagos Branch held at Oriental Hotel, Lagos on Sunday, December 2, 2018. Photos: Akeem Salau.
From left: Arc. Charles Majoroh, 1st Vice President General, Government College Ughelli
Old Boys Association (GCUOBA); Mr Fola Adeola, Founding MD, GTBank Plc/Chairman
of the occasion; Prof J. Pepper Clark, who received an award on behalf of Amb. Akporode
Clark; Chief Chambers Oyibo, keynote speaker; Col. D.J Binitie (retd), President, GCUOBA
Lagos Branch and Prof Oritsegbemi Omatete, President General Worldwide, GCUOBA.
From left; Mr Spencer Onosode, Managing Director, Pillar Oil; Chief Bernard
Okumagba, Chairman, NIGDEL Oil and Gas Limited; Mr. Yinka Akinkugbe,
Managing Director, Niro Atlasco Nigeria Ltd and Mr Alfred Okoigun,
Founder/Group Managing Director of ARCO Group Plc.
From left: Rev. James Brigue; Roy Odoko, General
Secretary, GCUOBA and Prof. Egerton Uvieghara.
From left: Capt Toju Ogisi, Mr Victor Eromosele, Chairman,
Organising C’ttee and Mr Lewis Binite Gassidy.
From left: Prof Oyewale Tomori; Mr Ottowin
Fischer and Mr Peter Arigbe.
C
M
Y
K

Okorocha clashes with deputy at
burial party
By Chinonso
Alozie
OWERRI—IMO State
Governor, Rochas
Okorocha and his deputy,
Eze Madumere, have
clashed again over failure
of the governor to recognise
Madumere as deputy
governor of the state.
The drama started at a
burial ceremony of the
mother of Senator Osita
Izunaso, at Ohuba in Oru
West Local Government
Area of the state.
At that event, the
governor reportedly
refused to recognise
Madumere as the deputy
governor of the state but
rather mentioned Calistus
Ekenze, as deputy
governor designate.
Peeved by the governor’s
action, Madumere
described such as
“embarrassing display” by
the governor and pleaded
that Okorocha should be
forgiven.
Okorocha however,
justified his action by saying
that, “there is an existing
matter at the appeal court
against the high court
judgement that quashed
the impeachment of
Madumere by the State
House of Assembly.”
Since this outing,
Okorocha and his deputy
have been at each other's
neck over who is right or
wrong.
A statement by
Okorocha’s Chief Press
Secretary, Sam
Onwuemeodo, yesterday
said: “As a matter of fact, the
failure or inability of the
governor to recognise
Madumere as the deputy
governor of the state at that
event was not an
oversight.
“That was the proper
thing to do because there
is an existing appeal at the
appeal court against the
high court judgement that
quashed the impeachment
of Madumere by the state
House of Assembly.
“So, until the appeal is
decided, Madumere
remains impeached and
recognising him as the
deputy governor of the state
with the appeal pending
would mean jeopardising
the appeal."
Earlier, Madumere’s
Chief Press Secretary, Uche
Onwuchekwe, said: “The
governor’s breach of
protocol and utter abuse of
rule of law is indecorous
and height of pettiness as
it was embarrassing that
such misdemeanor could
VANGUARD, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2018—15
play out in such a solemn
event as funeral service, in
a solemn place of worship
with clergy of high echelon
as Bishops, eminent jurists,
former governors, Senators
and civilised personalities
all present.
“It will be recalled that on
September 25, 2018, a court
of competent jurisdiction
had nullified a purported
Okorocha sponsored
impeachment of Prince Eze
Madumere as the deputy
governor of Imo State and
had also directed that all his
emoluments and other
entitlements, including
privileges be restored.
“Till date, Chief
Okorocha in his
grandstanding has wilfully
resolved not to obey the
order of the court by
blatantly refusing to restore
the official privileges of the
deputy governor save for
access to his office."
Ohanaeze youths resolve impasse as Obiora
assumes leadership
By Dennis Agbo
ENUGU—THE youth
wing of Ohanaeze
Ndigbo, yesterday,
resolved its eight months
leadership impasse,
paving way for Mr Arthur
Obiora to formerly assume
leadership of the group.
Obiora who won the
election in April this year
as leader of the youth wing
was not sworn in due to a
petition that alleged he
falsified his age.
The Ohanaeze youths
rule said no person of 50
years and above shall be
deemed member or leader
of the group. Obiora was
alleged to have been above
50 years when he was
elected.
However, Mr. Tony
Ezekwelu, an aspirant for
the post of national
president whose petitions
stalled the swearing-in of
Obiora, yesterday said
they had resolved and
buried the hatchet in the
interest of the youths and
Ndigbo in general.
“After review of the
documents presented by
Arthur Uchenna Obiora
and further on the strength
of the report of Ohanaeze
National Youth Wing
Election Petition
Committee, Anambra State
and the committee’s
recommendations, I have
no further reason to doubt
Obiora’s claim on the date
of his birth.
Obiora in his response
described the development
as a new beginning for the
Igbo as a whole.
“For this singular step that
Ezekwelu has taken today,
I believe this is the
beginning of a new dawn
for Ndigbo. The youths will
henceforth speak with one
voice," he said.
Dismissed police woman accuses force of disobeying court
regarding her reinstatement
By Nwabueze
Okonkwo
ONITSHA —A female
police officer , Corporal
Hannah Markson, who
was dismissed from the
service by the authorities,
has vowed to issue Form 48
and Form 49 to the
authorities if they fail to
reinstate her into the force
as directed by an Industrial
Court sitting in Enugu.
Markson had been
dismissed by the Inspector-
vanguardnews @vanguardnews @vanguardnews
SEMINAR: From left—Regional Manager, AHI Carrier FZC, Mr. Singh Iminder; Assistant
General Manager, Blueocean Technical Services Limited, Mr. Tunde Adisa; Managing Director,
Blueocean, Mr. Anupam Ghosal; and Senior Business Development Manager, AHI, Mr.
Prasath Sivagaminathan, at the Abuja leg of the four-day technical seminar organised by
Toshiba in collaboration with Blueocean for consultants and contractors in Abuja and Lagos.
General of Police and her
dismissal was ratified by
the Police Service
Commission. Her mother’s
Toyota Rav4 SUV was
impounded by the same
police authorities.
But the Industrial Court,
presided over by Hon.
Justice I.J. Essien, had
about five months ago,
ordered the police
authorities to reinstate her
with immediate effect
because her dismissal was
wrongly done but the court
order is yet to be obeyed,
prompting her to consider
returnung to the court with
Form 48 and Form 49, to
commence a contempt of
court proceedings against
the police authorities.
Speaking to newsmen in
Onitsha over her travails,
Markson lamented that
“five months after a
National Industrial court
sitting in Enugu,presided
over by Hon. Justice I. J.
Essien ordered the Police
Service Commission, PSC,
headed by Musliu Smith
and the incumbent
Inspector General of Police,
IGP, Mr Ibrahim Idris and
the Enugu State Police
Commissioner, CP, Mr
Mohammed Danmallaih,
to reinstate me and return
my mother’s Toyota Rav4
SUV Jeep they confiscated,
and pay me the backlog of
salaries with N2 million
compensation for general
damages and wrongful
dismissal and transfer me
from Enugu back to Akwa
Ibom state where I was
transferred from, the order
is yet to be obeyed by the
trio.”
APGA has handed over Imo
gov election to God
—Araraume
By Chinonso
Alozie
O WERRI—THE
Imo State
governorship candidate of
the All Progressive Grand
Alliance, APGA, in the 2019
elections, Senator Ifeanyi
Araraume, yesterday, said
his party has handed over
the governorship election in
the state to God.
Araraume who spoke in
Owerri said nobody would
be allowed to manipulate
the election process.
His statement came days
after he attended a church
service at Holy Cross
Catholic Church
Aladimma, to seek the face
of God for the 2019
elections.
He claimed that Imolites
have been passing through
torture and that the end to
the suffering of the people
was to enthrone good
governance.
He said: “We have come
to thank God for all that we
have passed through. We
went through all the
processes and we have
emerged candidate of
APGA for the purpose of
governorship. We came to
the church to hand over to
God the rest of the journey."
No Nnewi trader died in
detention —Association
chairman
By Chimaobi
Nwaiwu
N
N E W I —
CHAIRMAN of
Agbo-Edo Motor Spare
Parts Dealers Association,
AMSPDA, Chief Gabriel
Chibueze has denied
claims that one of the
Nnewi traders arrested and
detained by the police died
in detention.
While presenting the 34
traders who were released
last Saturday at a
thanksgiving ceremony,
Chibueze said: I must
refute the reports alleging
that one of the traders died
in police custody; that
report was false. All the
NEWS HOTLINES
018773962,
08052867058
detainees were released
hale and hearty.
"I must commend some
honest Police officers from
Abuja sent by the IGP and
DIG, Chris Ibekwe who
refused to collect a dime
from us or accept our offer
to buy fuel for them. The
IGP and the DIG from
Force Headquarters have
restored our confidence in
Police."
The traders who were
mistaken to be members of
the Indigenous People of
Biafra, IPOB, were arrested
at different markets in
Nnewi and subsequently
detained after being
paraded by the Police, were
released last Saturday after
spending eight days in
police custody.
Okorocha commended for
lifting embargo on LGA
By Timothy
Okechukwu
Aphilanthropist in Imo
state, Johnpaul
Ochemba, yesterday
commended Governor
Rochas Okorocha for lifting
embargo on local
government staff getting to
level 17.
Ochemba said this to
newsmen in Owerri,
adding that with such a
gesture, the workers would
be motivated to put in their
best.
It should be recalled that
Okorocha had suspended
the Imo State Accountant
General, Stella Udogwu,
over what he described as
delay in releasing money
for workers’ salaries for the
month of October and
November.
Also the governor said:
“Today, I have officially
lifted the embargo on local
government staff getting to
level 17. Henceforth, staff
of the Local Government
Civil Commission will be
promoted to level 17 when
they are due for it.”
Ochemba said: “We want
to also applaud the
governor for approving the
sum of N2.5million as car
allowance for each of the
Directors of Administration
of the 27 LGAs in the state.
“ I'm commending the
governor because this will
boost the morale of workers.
The workers should be
gracious to Okorocha and
his Rescue Mission
Government.
C
M
Y
K

16—Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2018
EMPOWERMENT: From left— Representative of Nectar Business Group, Mr. Biodun Ogunsola,
Representative of the Lagos State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs Folake
Oluyemi, Convener, Sandra Chiadi-Ukoh and volunteer, Mrs Abiodun Kunnu, at the empowerment
programme by Dip Fabric Ltd for indigent people in Bariga, Lagos.
I'll retire Alimikhena from politics
—Momoh
By Elizabeth
Uwandu
BENIN—EDO North
PDP senatorial hopeful,
Hon. Abubakar Momoh,
said he is optimistic of
ending the reign of the
deputy Senate Whip,
Senator Francis
Alimikhena in the
forthcoming elections,
insisting he would not only
hand him a crushing defeat
but also render him jobless
in no distant time.
Edo hosts agric fair, slashes price of produce
By Alemma Aliu
BENIN CITY—EDO
state government
yesterday said
arrangements are on top
gear to ensure residents
have memorable Christmas
celebration with the hosting
of the first Food and Agric
Fair with the intention to
slash prices of foodstuff.
State Commissioner for
Wealth Creation,
Cooperative and
Employment, Emmanuel
Both candidates have
been in a sort of war of
words over who commands
the peoples trust.
In particular, Momoh has
advised the serving senator
to avail self of the prospect
of an imminent recruitment
exercise at Auchi Polytechnic
to apply for a security job
because very soon "he will
be jobless after his
anticipated defeat next
year.”
Momoh also vowed to
ensure that Senator
Usoh, who disclosed this at
a press briefing said the fair
is to show case food
produced in the state and
also sell same to Edo people
at a low prices during this
Yuletide season.
He said a day would be
set aside for farmers and
players in the agro allied
industries to meet and
exchange ideas on the best
practices globally adding
that the fair would attend to
challenges facing small
Alimikhena was roundly
defeated, whether or not
he(Alimikhena) accepts
the free offer of a public
debate.
Wondering how his offer
of debate has brought to
public glare the "worst"
side of the distinguished
senator, Momoh promised
to restore Edo North to its
rightful place once elected,
stressing the geo-political
zone is hugely endowed
materially but has suffered
so much under a
scale farmers and
showcase opportunities in
the agric industry,
including funding
capacities of development
banks and partners.
He said; "Products
ranging from rice,
vegetable oil, onions and
all sorts of farm produce
will be sold at promotional
prices. Poultry products
would also be available.
There will be a mobile
abbatoir. Frozen chicken
will be available for sale.
"There will be a stand for
local cuisine. Beverage
By Emmanuel Elebeke
ABUJA—AHEAD of the
2019 general elections,
the All Grassroots Alliance,
AGA has promised to
redesign the current anticorruption
strategy to make
it more effective and
efficient.
National Chairman of All
Grassroots Alliance, AGA,
Hon. Olukayode
Oshiariyo revealed this in
Abuja at an event to unveil
the plans of the party
ahead of the 2019
elections.
He described the party’s
convention as the best so
far, explaining the policy
of the party include,
“ensures regular payment
of salary, fight against
rudderless representation.
Momoh said he has so far
refrained from descending
low as a result of his strong
belief in the people whose
mandate he is currently
seeking, stressing that the
major reason he chose to
maintain a dignified
posture and not resort to
ungentlemanly tantrums
like Senator Alimikhena is
because he sees himself as
an Edo North patriot who
desires to restore the zone's
"lost glory and vibrant
voice".
companies have indicated
interest to participate in the
fair. Father Christmas will
be there for the children to
visit. The children will get
free drinks and free food
from Dufil foods.
Commissioners are to be
dressed in Father's
Christmas costumes.
"There will be subsidy for
farmers to transport their
farm produce to the venue.
Farmers in the northern
part of the country
producing onions have
agreed to sell at very low
prices."
2019: AGA promises fresh
strategy in war against
corruption
corruption, and reduction
in cost of governance.
He said the party
reviewed report of the
convention and is poised to
flag off the campaign by the
presidential candidate,
budget for the campaign
and source of funds.
He vowed that the party
would upstage the APC led
government and institute a
people oriented
government, adding that it
planned to do this by
fielding an acceptable
presidential candidate for
the 2019 general election.
‘‘We were able to come
up with a presidential
candidate and our
candidate Chuks
Nwachuku campaign
organization will be able to
flag off his campaign soon."
South Africa faces more power cuts
South Africa faces more power cuts, electricity
utility Eskom warned on Monday as it sought
to prevent the collapse of its power grid in a test
for President Cyril Ramaphosa’s reforms.
Eskom implemented a fifth day of controlled
power cuts on Monday, putting more strain on an
economy already mired in recession only months
before a national election.
“The entire week could be severely constrained if
we are unable to replenish the diesel and water
reserves, and reduce the high unplanned
outages,” Eskom spokesman Khulu Phasiwe said.
Eskom, which is battling a severe financial crisis,
coal shortages and breakdowns of its power plants,
said it would cut up to 2,000 megawatts of power
from the grid on Monday.
The utility, which last week called for a bailout or
debt relief, began the controlled cuts, known as
load-shedding, on Thursday as demand for power
outstripped available capacity.
W/Africa Crude: Tenders keep sellers
at bay, Nigerian market swamped
A
number of tenders this week kept activity
muted on the West African market, as India
and Indonesia sought barrels for arrival in
February.
Potential sellers often hold off from offering
cargoes if they are taking part in a tender in which
they may be successful and have to commit those
barrels.
Traders said nearly 20 cargoes of Angolan crude
were believed to be available for sale from the
January programme, which contained 43 cargoes
in its final version.
The Nigerian market is fairly heavily
oversupplied. Late last week, traders estimated
that as much as a quarter of the December
programme is still up for grabs, in addition to a
hefty January programme amid paltry demand.
Offers for Nigerian Qua Iboe and Bonny Light
were last holding around $1.65 a barrel above
dated Brent, down from $1.70 last week.
Germany seeks private funds for
climate projects in Africa
Germany will unveil an initiative at U.N. talks
on climate change this week to attract more
private investment in projects in Africa and
elsewhere, Development Minister Gerd Mueller
said.
Mueller told the RND newspaper network that
Germany would “send a strong signal” at the U.N.
climate conference in Katowice, Poland with its
Alliance for Development and Climate initiative
and a pledge to spend an additional 1.5 billion
euros ($1.7 billion) on climate protection.
Expectations are muted for this week’s meetings
given divisions within Europe, and tension
between the United States and China.
Delegates from about 195 nations will seek to
produce a “rule book” to flesh out details of the
Paris Agreement of 2015, which the United States,
at the behest of President Donald Trump, has
announced it will quit.
Mueller said it was imperative to help countries
such as Brazil, India, China and many nations in
Africa to develop their ability to provide electricity
for their growing populations without relying on
coal production.
Court to hear MTN, Attorney General
case on Feb 7 - Registrar
A
Lagos court hearing concerning a dispute
between South African telecoms firm MTN
Group and Nigeria’s attorney general over a $2
billion tax demand will take place on February
7, 2019 a registrar said on Monday.
MTN faces a $2 billion tax demand from the
country’s attorney general, a claim which the
company has said is without merit. A judge was
scheduled to hear the case on Monday but a
registrar said the court would not sit and the
hearing had been moved to February.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 4 2018 —17
business through retooling by
restructuring the country so we can
go back to the era of productivity.
We need a leadership that accepts
the fact that we can't go on like this if
we want to renew the lifespan of the
country. We have travelled so long
on this wrong road of running a
country as diverse as this from a
central point. It's time to make a U-
turn.
We must prune the 68 times on the
FEEDBACK
exclusive list to less than two dozens
and allow power to go to the
federating units, especially in the
areas of mining mineral
resources,law enforcements and
running local affairs culturally. This
is the imperative of 2019. If we don't
address these issues we may not be
able find our way to 2023 as a
country. The earlier we ignore the
2023 guys and address 2019, the
better for us.
No road to 2023 here
IT's a funny season for the foxes
Nigeria is afflicted with as
leading politicians spin yawns that
do not correspond to the pathetic
reality in our ground zero. The
country's economic and political
scene is wobbling on perdition lane.
The country is daily disintegrating
with social collapse staring us in the
face. Hope is fading fast, and our
overfed politicians are totally inured
from the imminent catastrophe, only
interested in political permutations
while the country careers
dangerously on the edge of a
precipice .
A diary of deaths published by
Vanguard last Sunday showed the
depth of a terminal crisis Nigeria is
enmeshed in at the moment .The
report partly read: "2018 has been a
harbinger of death, tears of blood
and gnashing of the teeth for a host
of people and families in all parts of
the country. No state was spared the
anguish of gruesome murders.
Literally, Nigeria could be described
as a killing field in 2018 as no fewer
than 6,562 Nigerians, according to
Sunday Vanguard's checks, were
slaughtered through the Boko
Haram insurgency, herdsmen and
farmers’ clashes (a misnomer!) cult
clashes, sectarian and communal
clashes, kidnapping, ritual killings
and armed robbery, among others.
"The Boko Haram insurgency and
herdsmen and farmers’ clashes
(again!) accounted for the bulk of
the deaths. The North-Central,
North-East and North-West zones
were the apex theatres of the killings
with states like Borno, Benue,
Plateau, Zamfara, Kaduna, Kogi,
Nasarawa, and Taraba being the
epicentre of the killings. The death
figure is conservative because it is
based on but is not even limited to
reported incidents and deaths. Many
killings were not reported or the
casualty figures not disclosed. If
those who died in the custody of
kidnappers were added, the tally
would be much higher.
Epicentre of
the killings
The 6,562 deaths recorded since
the beginning of 2018 exclude those
who died from illnesses, accidents,
flooding, infant mortality, Lassa
fever, malaria, HIV/AIDS, etc. Those
killed include civilians and security
agents as well as the insurgents. In
the first 10 weeks of the year as tallied
by Sunday Vanguard in March
2018, no fewer than 1,351 people
were mowed down. In January, 676
Nigerians were killed, and in
February, no fewer than 517 people
died violently, across the country. For
the remaining months, the death
tolls are as follows: March, 485;
April, 670; May, 508; June, 639; July,
357; August, 363; September, 926;
October, 1,033; and November, 388".
While we are still mourning the mass
murder of our soldiers in Metele by
the "technically defeated" Boko
Haram, a new terror group emerged
in Sokoto in the past week. Residents
of Tangaza Local Government Area
of the state are owning up to the fact
that an armed group is currently
imposing compulsory levies on them
and punishing defaulters. The
armed group that is carrying
sophisticated weapons is currently
in control of the council by applying
‘strange laws’ and punishing those
not cooperating
A resident of the area, Mallam
Bello Tangaza said the armed group
was invited by leaders of the
communities few months ago. He
said that though only 10 members
of the armed group were invited for
security purpose, but they have ended
up with the mob that is reportedly
from Mali. The Federal Government
has yet to make any statement on
the development as I write this. We
are in a season of anomie of a sort.
But for our political merchants it
really does not matter what ails the
country; it's only power calculation
that matters. Minister of Power,
Works and Housing (we have not
seen much in any of the three), Mr.
Babatunde Raji Fashola was in such
mood when he declared at a town
hall in Ibadan recently: "You know
that power is rotating to the South-
West after the completion of Buhari’s
tenure if you vote for him in 2019?
Your child cannot surrender her waist
for an edifying beads and you will
use the bead to decorate another
child’s waist. A vote for Buhari in
2019, means a return of power to the
South West in 2023. I am sure you
will vote wisely.”
His counterpart in the Ministry of
We need a
leadership that
accepts the fact that
we can't go on like
this if we want to
renew the lifespan of
the country
Labour, Productivity and
Employment (all distressed), Senator
Chris Ngige who is also one of the
Igbo leaders canvassing a second
term for Buhari equally said that
Igbo must vote overwhelmingly for
Buhari in 2019 to be able to negotiate
well for the 2023 presidential ticket.
“Our people should vote for Buhari
so that we can produce the Nigerian
president of Igbo extraction in 2023,”
he said.
For these politicians and their ilk,
it does not matter that we are now
the global secretariat of poverty with
six Nigerians going into extreme
poverty every minute. That we are
losing four million jobs annually is
not an issue. We should not bother
that there is no economic direction
at the moment. That human blood
is the cheapest item in the land today
makes no difference to them. The
many fault lines being widened by
an insensitive and incompetent
leadership can continue to fester for
all they care.
It has been said that part of the
driving force for some politicians
from the East of the Niger running
into the villa at the drop of the hat
and speaking words that don't make
much sense is the calculation that
four years of the pains on ground now
is shorter to the rat race. Citizens who
are not blinded by the kind of
political desire that is so cold and
detached from the temperature of the
polity must be able to see the situation
clearly and act wisely. Nigeria as
presently constituted is fast
disappearing, and unless the drift is
arrested, there may be no country in
which any 2023 ambition can be
realised by any section of the country
given the fact Nigeria has become a
stalemate project. The more debt the
country acquires now, the worse
things become, against the known
law that injection of capital makes a
business better.
Nigeria, of course, has become a
bad business. For it to become viable
again, 2019 is the year to rebuild the
Metele horror and our challenged humanity (2)
The first part of this piece was
published on this page last week
F both sides were satisfied with
‘Ithe outcome, the rest of the girls
who wanted to come home would
be swapped in a second exchange in
return for two million Euro and five
imprisoned Boko Haram
commanders. As Mustapha worked
through the details and tried to
maintain the confidence of both
sides, the Nigerian government
began the delicate process of finding
prisoners Shekau would deem
acceptable. Salkida was the man
picked for the task. He began to crisscross
Nigeria combing jails and
interviewing inmates, looking for
militants who fit the profile.”
The report added that while the
deal began coming together, there
were fears that President
Muhammdu Buhari might not
approve of it. “The President was
eager for a victory. He also loathed
the idea of paying Boko Haram. No
one knew if he would sign off,” it said.
“In the end, he approved the deal,
with a condition: He insisted that any
money that reached Boko Haram
would be a step toward a
comprehensive peace agreement.
Since the insurgents collected their
•3m, some Nigerian officials say an
army that had struggled to feed itself
seems replenished.”
Information Minister, Alhaji Lai
Mohammed, denied cash payment
but admitted some five Boko Haram
commanders were set free.The
release of the killer kingpins was an
unwitting capacity building project
for Boko Haram just as the cash
payment, if true, could not have been
anything else but "Tradermoni" for
Boko Haram to expand their killing
business! The Nigerian Army has
been very disappointing on this
tragedy in its public outings. We have
not seen the kind of statement that
mourn this loss and could lift the
morale of troops alive. Rather, it has
been threatening court action
against those making information
available on the social media in the
absence of official statements to an
anguished people .
"The NA would henceforth report
these infractions and file cases
Re: Metele horror and our challenged humanity
Dear Mr. Odumakin,
IAM a regular reader of your
'Candid Notes' and I do enjoy
them! They are historical, factual -
one can always doublecheck, and
well written.
Permit me then to go on a historical
excursion as it relates to the 'Metele
horror and our challenged humanity'
- Vangua,rd November 27. I am
particularly smitten by this sentence
in the article: 'What has made the
humiliating attack on our troops
more heart-wrenching is that our
response to it as a polity has been
more disastrous than the very act
itself. It took our government six days
after the bloody attack to find its
voice'. You captured the disgrace
succinctly. Indeed, one cannot but
agree with Senator Akpabio when
he said recently: 'Warsaw saw war'.
The result is now history.
Contrast this to the response of the
against individuals or groups who
deliberately spread fake news that
aims to undermine national security,
in courts of competent jurisdictions,”
the army said. According to the army,
its decision to pursue legal action
against those spreading fake news
about its activities is also based on
“the fact that spreading of fake news
is an offense and violates the
provisions of Section 24(1)(a),(b) and
(2)(a),(b),(c)(i),(ii) of the Cybercrimes
(Prohibition & Prevention etc) Act,
2015”.
It, however, lamented that many
people on social media have
continued to redistribute such video
clips and photos. It said: “The NA
has continued to observe with great
dismay the myriads of photos and
video clips being recklessly
distributed on various social media
platforms by different calibre of
persons. It is indeed shocking to see
how these well-doctored
propaganda materials from enemies
of the State has succeeded in
creating fear and unrest in the polity.
Doctored
materials
“These doctored materials are
obviously serving the purposes
intended by the terrorists to
misinform the populace, spread
panic, hatred, religious intolerance
and above all to undermine national
security.” The Government and the
Army should read how Governor Jay
Insee and the Washington National
Guard reacted after learning about
the death of U.S. Army Sergeant
First Class Matthew McClintock,
30, of Des Moines. McClintock was
a soldier in the Washington National
Guard, and was killed during
combat actions in the Helmand
Province in South Afghanistan.
“The death of any service member
is tragic,” Inslee said. “The death of
one of our own is especially difficult
to grasp. My thoughts and prayers
are with Sergeant First Class
McClintock’s friends and family,
including his young wife and infant
son. He is a true American hero who
stood up to protect his state and
nation. Trudi and I are deeply
Roman Emperor Augustus who,
when news was brought to him about
the rout of three Roman legions in
the Battle of Teutoburg (Germany),
in 9AD, spent the next several weeks
in stupor calling on the defeated
general and repeatedly shouting the
phrase: 'Give me back my troops!'
He cared passionately for his
soldiers and never fully recovered
from the loss.
And here we are, over two
thousand years later, with President
Buhari and Atiku throwing barbs at
each other on the massacre of over
100 soldiers in Borno State! This is
the dilemma of our nation as it is
evident in the poverty of leadership.
We are never adequately prepared
to respond to calamities timeously.
By now the Commander-in-Chief
should be demanding answers to
what happened to his troops.
grateful for his service.
“Sergeant First Class McClintock
was one of the best of the best,” Maj.
Gen. Bret Daugherty, commander of
the Washington National Guard,
said. “He was a Green Beret who
sacrificed time away from his loved
ones to train for and carry out these
dangerous missions. This is a tough
loss for our organization, and a harsh
reminder that ensuring freedom is
not free. We stand with Staff
Sergeant McClintock’s family, and
will provide ongoing support during
the grieving and healing process.”
Where is our own humanity? We
have become so insensate that
human lives mean nothing to us
anymore. If these had been 100 cows
rustled we would have seen
government officials at the highest
levels making strong statements as
if the world was coming to an end.
And for the media, the cautionary
approach in reporting this tragedy
was a bit worrying and a signal there
may be subconscious submission to
the culture of fear spreading over the
country. The initial reports on this
massacre of our troops was largely
social media before some sections
of the mainstream media picked up
the story.
In moments like this come the
words of Martin Luther King, Jr.:
"Our lives begin to end the day we
become silent about things that
matter." The official silence on the
casualties could have partly been
responsible for this but independent
media should not behave like
government organs, watching the
body language of its owner. Thomas
Jefferson talked about the press and
safety when he declared: “If a nation
expects to be ignorant and free, in a
state of civilisation, it expects what
never was and never will be.
"The functionaries of every
government have propensities to
command at will the liberty &
property of their constituents. There
is no safe deposit for these but with
the people themselves; nor can they
be safe with them without
information. Where the press is free
and every man able to read, all is
safe.”
Concluded
C
M
Y
K

18 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2018
WATCHERS of our 19 year-old
democracy are getting increasingly
worried at the prospects of a free and
fair conduct of the 2019 general
elections. Critics of the President
Muhammadu Buhari government
and the opposition parties have
continued to express their unease at
the increasingly brazen antics of our
military, security and anti-corruption
chiefs, which portray them as not
being above partisan politics enough.
On May 15 this year, the Acting
Chairman of the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission,
EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, appeared
on Channels TV wearing on his coat
lapel the re-election badge of
President Buhari. He has also been
probing the finances of opposition
states such as Ekiti (during Governor
Ayo Fayose’s regime) Benue and
Akwa Ibom) while ignoring video
evidences of alleged bribery in Kano.
Also, the Inspector-General of
Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, has
Service Chiefs at Buhari’s flag-off
severally been accused of lending
police officers to harass the President
of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki and
his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu; and
also helping minority assemblymen
to illegally attempt the impeachment
of Benue and Akwa Ibom governors.
The latest outrage was the
appearance of the Chief of Defence
Staff, General Gabriel Olonishakin;
Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral
Ibok-Ete Ibas and Chief of Air Staff,
Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, at the
launch of APC’s “Next Level”-themed
presidential campaign at the Aso
Villa, Abuja on Sunday, November 25,
2018.The Presidency reacted to the
ensuing uproar, pointing out that the
military Chiefs “did not know” the
event was political in nature and had
to leave the venue before the
President arrived.
The question is: How could they not
have known this was the flag-off of
President Buhari’s re-election
campaign? Unfortunately, it was at
about the same moment that Boko
Haram launched the most painful
attack on our troops in Metele, Borno
State, killing about 118 officers and
casting doubts over the regime’s
much-trumpeted decimation of the
terrorists.
These Service Chiefs have presided
over the greatest period of national
insecurity since the Civil War.
Boko Haram has regrouped with
venom; armed herdsmen have
slaughtered thousands of Nigerians
and seized many communities, while
bandits have taken over large parts
of the North-West in a reign of terror.
The calls by Nigerians for the Service
Chiefs to be replaced have fallen on
deaf ears, giving rise to speculations
they could be used to compromise the
2019 elections.
Like other Nigerians, we are
worried by these ominous
developments. We call on the Federal
Government to ensure our military,
security and anti-graft organisations
and officials stay out of partisan
politics. The eyes of Nigerians and the
international community are
watching.
They will not accept anything less
than the free, fair and credible
conduct of the 2019 elections.
ON getting to power on August
28, 1985, General Ibrahim
Babangida told the nation that “the
last twenty months have not
witnessed any significant changes in
the national economy. Contrary to
expectations, we have so far been
subjected to a steady deterioration
in the general standard of living; and
intolerable suffering by the ordinary
Nigerians have risen higher, scarcity
of commodities has increased,
hospitals still remain mere
consulting clinics, while educational
institutions are on the brink of decay.
“Unemployment has stretched to
critical dimensions. Due to the
stalemate, which arose in
negotiation with the International
Monetary Fund, the former
government embarked on a series
of counter-trade agreements,
Nigerians were forced to buy goods
and commodities at higher prices
than obtained in the international
market. The government intends to
review the whole issue of countertrade.
A lot has been said and heard
about our position with the
International Monetary Fund.
Although we formally applied to the
Fund in April 1983, no progress has
as yet been made in the negotiation
and a stalemate has existed for the
last two years. We shall break the
deadlock”. We were all very happy
about the assurances.”
While swearing in the new
governors on September 2, 1985,
General Babangida hinted that the
IMF loan issue would be thrown
open for debate. He then appointed
Dr. Kalu Idika Kalu (79), from Ebem,
Ohafia in Imo state, who was an
Economist from the World Bank as
Minister of Finance. Dr Kalu had
earlier served as Commissioner of
Finance under the then governor of
Imo state, Brigadier General (rtd) Ike
Omar Sanda Nwachukwu (78). At
the time General Babangida took
over, 44 per cent of our revenue was
utilized in servicing debts. On
September 25, 1985, President
Babangida inaugurated the
Presidential committee on IMF loan
with Professor Ojetunji Aboyade
(December 9,1931 - December 31,
1989) as Chairman.
He hailed from Awe in Oyo state.
He served as Vice Chancellor,
University of Ife (now Obafemi
Awolowo University) between 1975-
1978. The committee had inputs
from the then Permanent Secretary,
Ministry of Finance, Alhaji
Abubakar Alhaji (80) from Sokoto,
Dr. Chu S.P. Okongwu (84), from
Enugu, who was then appointed
Minister for National Planning and
Chief Samuel Oluyemi Falae (80)
from Akure, who was the Secretary
to the Government of the Federation.
The Committee submitted its report
on December 3 1985. As far back as
1971, Alhaji Abubakar Alhaji was the
executive director of Africa
OPINION
The huge debt burden and how we got
there (2)
Development Bank and since 1990
he has been the Sardauna of Sokoto.
At present, his daughter Aisha
Abubakar is the Minister for Women
Affairs.
Chief Falae is a product of Yale
University, where he majored in
Economics. Dr, Okongwu is a
product of Harvard University,
Massachusetts. He once worked in
the World Bank. He wrote a book
Contrary to
expectations, we have
so far been subjected to
a steady deterioration in
the general standard of
living
titled “The Eleemosynary Of
Traumatic Nigeria Economy”. With
his failing health and poor financial
purse like most Nigerians, the last
time we heard from Dr. Okongwu
was when he paid tribute to the
former Group Executive Director,
Commercial and Investment of the
NNPC, Reverend Benson Ilesanmi
Omamukuyo on his 70th birthday
on August 11 this year.
On December 12, 1985, General
Babangida made a broadcast to the
nation, he said “After due
consideration of all the opinions
expressed by Nigerians and other
residents as embodied in the Interim
Report on the IMF loan, government
has come to the conclusion that for
now the part of honour and the
essence of democratic patriotism lies
in discontinuing the negotiations
with IMF for a support loan. This is
clearly the will of majority of our
people on the issue. We have,
therefore, decided to face the
challenge of restructuring our
economy not through an IMF loan,
but a determination of our people to
make all the sacrifices necessary to
put the economy on the path of
sustained growth; doing so at own
pace and on our own volition”.
On July 6, 1986, General
Babangida introduced Structural
Adjustment Programme, SAP. A
regime that rejected the IMF loan
adopted the Structural Adjustment
Programme. Till today I can’t
understand. For SAP consist of loans
provided by the International
Monetary Fund, IMF, and the World
Bank, WB, to countries that
experienced economic crises. The
programme is supposed to allow the
economies of the developing
countries to become more market
oriented.
This then forces them to
concentrate more on trade and
production so it can boost their
economy. Through conditions, they
generally implement “free market”
programmes and policy. SAP include
internal changes (notably
privitisation and deregulation) as
well as external ones, especially the
reduction of trade barriers. Countries
that fail to enact these programmes
may be subject to severe fiscal
discipline. Critics argue that the
financial threats to poor countries
amount to blackmail, and that poor
nations have no choice but to
comply.
On September 29, 1986, General
Babangida introduced the secondtier
foreign exchange market. And
suddenly we woke up to realize that
our currency, the naira, had been
devalued by about 500 per cent. We
are yet to recover from the effect of
SAP. Because in retrospect, SAP was
like a poison. It created social
problems throughout the country
and the devaluation kept going on
and on. On July 2, 1987, General
Babangida was forced to merge the
first and second tier exchange
market.
On February 28, 1989, General
Babangida kicked off the debt
conversion programme with
Nigerian Promissory notes being
discounted at 36%. He later
abolished the autonomous market
and dropped the Dutch auction
system of bidding. He had earlier on
January 9 1989 merged the foreign
exchange and autonomous market.
By that time the dollar was scarce to
come by.
On July 27, 1992, General
Babangida addressed members of
the National Assembly elect in Abuja.
He said “At the root of all those
related economic and financial
problems is government’s inability
to cater both for its minimum social
agenda at home as well as service
(not to say, settle part of the principal)
the nation’s external indebtedness.
Continues Online

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2018 — 19
Senate threatens AG over audit reports of
State House, EFCC, FIRS, others
By Henry Umoru
ABUJA- THE Senate has
disclosed that it was yet
to receive the audited report
of any federal establishment
for 2017 from the office of the
Auditor-General for the Federation,
just as it said that the
last audit report it received
this year was for 2016.
According to the Senate, the
refusal by government Ministries,
Agencies and parastatals
to forward their audited reports
has contravened Section
85 of the 1999 constitution,
even as it reiterated that some
of these agencies, since they
were established, have never
had their accounts audited,
adding that some of the backlogs
range from fifteen to
twenty years.
The Senate has, however,
given a two- week ultimatum
to the office of the Auditor General
for the Federation to get
the audited reports of the State
House, the office of the Secretary
to the Government of the
Federation, SGF, the Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission,
EFCC, the Central
Bank of Nigeria, CBN, the
Federal Inland Revenue Service,
FIRS, the Nigerian Ports
Authority, NPA and the Nigerian
Maritime Administration
and Safety Agency, NIMASA.
Speaking in Abuja when he
led members of his Committee
on Public Accounts, PAC,
on an oversight visit to the
Auditor-General for the Federation,
Anthony Ayine, Chairman,
Senate Committee on
Public Accounts, Senator Matthew
Urhoghide, PDP, Edo
South said that other agencies
of government like the Army,
the Police, the Independent
National Electoral Commission,
the Navy, the Airforce,
among others should submit
their audited reports to the office
of the Auditor- General.
According to Urhoghide, the
Senate has also mandated the
CURRENCY BUYING SELLING
US DOLLAR
POUNDS
EURO
FRANC
YEN
CFA
WAUA
RENMINBI
RIYAL
SDR
DANISH
RAND
$103.25 0.00
2,144.00 0.00
$12.85 0.01
$61.45 1.99
$52.90 1.97
305.8 306.3 306.8
390.1091 390.7469 391.3848
347.5417 348.11 348.6782
306.2901 306.7909 307.2917
2.6933 2.6977 2.7021
0.5117 0.5217 0.5317
422.3267 423.0173 423.7078
44.0168 44.0893 44.1617
81.5032 81.6365 81.7697
423.0131 423.7048 424.3964
46.5541 46.6302 46.7063
22.2492 22.2856 22.322
CBN Exchange rate as at 03/12/2018
Auditor-General to carry out a
holistic auditing of the Nigerian
National Petroleum Corporation,
NNPC in the last five
years.
Meanwhile, Ayine, who
pleaded with the Senate to
help in the amendment of the
enabling laws especially section
85(3) to enable the agency
bite, said, “As long as that
sub section remain there, it is
very clear Auditor General cannot
audit the parastatals because
it is restricted by the
Constitution.”
Speaking to Journalists after
the meeting, Senator
Urhoghide said, “as a routine
Anchor Borrowers’ Programme created
2.5m jobs — CBN
By Elizabeth Adegbesan with Agency report
THE Central Bank of Ni
geria (CBN) said the Anchor
Borrowers’ Programme
(ABP) has created 2.5
million jobs across the
country.
The Governor of
CBN, Godwin Emefiele,
disclosed this at
the annual bankers’
dinner over the weekend.
ABP, an agricultural
programme, was
launched by President
Muhammadu Buhari
in 2015 and is aimed
to create a linkage between
anchor companies
involved in the
processing and smallholder
farmers (SHFs)
of the required key agricultural
commodities.
According to Emefiele,
“As at October
2018, a total number of
862,069 farmers cultivating
about 835,239
hectares, across 16 different
commodities,
activities of the Senate Committee
on Public Account, we
came here to interface with the
Auditor General’s office and
you know it by our rules, this
is the only Office that this Committee
oversights.
“This is the first time of coming
here, to know how the operations
are and what is going
on, particularly in respect
to the presentation of the audited
report from his office.
“The last time we got the report
was in 2016 and then of
course, the Senate Committee
is looking at the report given
to it by the Senate which
was submitted by the Auditor
have so far benefited from the
Anchor Borrowers programme,
which has generated over 2.5
million jobs across the country.
He said: “It is in light of the
success of the Anchor Borrowers
Program with regards to cultivation
of rice and maize that
the Monetary Policy Committee
in its last meeting on the 21st of
By Rosemary Onuoha
The Managing Director/
Chief Executive, Sigma
Pensions Limited, Mr. Dave
Uduanu, has called for increased
awareness campaign
on the benefits of having a Retirement
Savings Account
(RSA), stressing that “it does not
make financial sense for anybody
not to have one.”
Uduanu also encouraged Nigerians
to lead a healthy lifestyle
by keeping fit enough to
General to the National Assembly.
The 2017 is not ready
and we are getting to the end
of 2018, we have equally come
to ask him why the 2017 report
is not ready.
He has just told us that the
Constitution, Section 85 of the
Constitution provides that the
Auditor General should submit
within 90 days the statement
of Accountant General of the
Federation to the Auditor General
and as of 2017, we had expected
that by March this year,
the Auditor General should
have submitted that report to
the Auditor General office, so
we don’t have the report of the
2017 yet, because the Auditor
General did not submit the report.”
From left: President, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, Mr Adedapo Adekoje, Acting
Director General, Securities and Exchange Commission, Ms Mary Uduk and Acting Commissioner
Corporate Services SEC, Mr Henry Rowlands during the SEC Journalist Academy
2018 held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State yesterday.
November 2018 recommended
that the Anchor Borrowers program
be applied to other areas
such as palm oil, tomatoes, and
fisheries to mention a few.
“The CBN recently introduced
the Real Sector Support
fund; a facility meant to provide
cheap funding at no more than
nine percent to new projects in
the Agric and manufacturing
sectors; aimed at boosting output
and creating jobs.
enjoy their retirement.
He said, “It is only a healthy
person that can enjoy life after
retirement.”
Speaking in Abuja at the company’s
maiden edition of ‘Walk
to Live’ meant to prepare customers
for a healthy retirement,
he said Sigma Pensions was
also focused on wooing customers
from the informal sector of
the economy, adding that one
of the biggest challenges in the
pension industry had been the
drop in enrollment in RSA.
He said, “The pension industry
has done well and it’s now
SEC unveils
Green Bond
rules
By Peter Egwuatu
THE Securities and Ex
change Commission, SEC,
yesterday, launched the Green
Bonds Issuance Rules, following
series of engagements with
stakeholders and capital market
operators.
SEC has collaborated with the
Green Bonds Market Development
Programme, supported by
the Climate Bonds Initiative
(CBI), the FMDQ OTC Securities
Exchange (FMDQ) and the
Financial Sector Deepening
Africa (FSD Africa) to support
the development of a Non-Sovereign
Green Bond market in
Nigeria.
The programme provides
training for regulators, investors
and intermediaries on Green
Bonds as part of its efforts to
create an enabling environment
for issuers and other stakeholders,
to take advantage of the tremendous
opportunities that
Green Bonds offer.
Speaking at the launch of the
rules in Abuja, Ms. Mary
Uduk, Ag. Director-General,
SEC stated, “As Nigeria strives
to harness the resources of nonoil
sectors to anchor the transition
to a more resilient economy,
there is the urgent need to
close the country’s infrastructure
gap with investments in
sustainable finance initiatives.
The SEC’s release of the green
bond rules is a significant step
in furthering the complementary
efforts of the government,
regulators and the financial
services industry to direct financial
capital to more sustainable
economic activity”.
Also commenting on the rules,
Dr. Evans Osano, Director of
Financial Markets at FSD Africa
stated: “We laud SEC Nigeria
for the professional and quick
turnaround in the preparation
of the guidelines. The new
guidelines are prepared in line
with leading international
guidelines and standards providing
confidence to domestic
and international investors. It
also provides certainty to issuers
of green bonds in Nigeria.
FSD Africa is pleased to have
supported this process which is
a milestone for the Nigeria
green bonds market.”
Sigma Pensions boss harps on retirement
savings
N8.4 trillion but I think the key
challenge is that the enrollment
level has dropped.
“So, we need to encourage
more Nigerians to get retirement
savings accounts because
it does not make financial sense
for anybody not to have a retirement
savings account. People
should remember that one
day they will retire. So, now we
are going into the informal sector
to bring people into the formal
sector and that should lead
to a quantum leap in the
number of retirement savings
account.”

20 — VANGUARD, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2018
, 2018
Emefiele CBN Governor
BANKING SECTOR UPDATE: Bad loan rises further, hits N2.3trn
*Credit to private sector in sluggish growth
*But e-payment transactions rise 3.2%
Udo Udoma, Minister for Budget &
National Planning
By Elizabeth Adegbesan
AGAINST the backdrop of a
challenging operating environment
the banking sector performance
update shows escalating bad
loans as businesses that borrowed
money struggle to survive.
Consequently, the latest data from
the National Bureau of Statistics,
NBS, released yesterday has revealed
that value of Non Performing
Loans (NPLs) in the third quarter
of 2018, Q3’18, increased by
N400 billion or 21 percent to N2.3
trillion from N1.9 trillion in Q2’18
though it also indicated a slight four
percent decline when compared to
N2.4 trillion recorded in the corresponding
period of 2017.
This corroborates the most recent
report of global rating agency,
Moody’s which warned that losses
to bad loans remain high in Nigeria’s
banking industry.
In its 2019 Outlook on African
Banks, Moody’s stated that while
Nigerian banks now enjoy improved
foreign currency liquidity due to
higher oil prices, they however face
the challenge of rising loan quality.
The company said: “Higher oil
prices and partial liberalisationof
the foreign-exchange market have
eased pressures on “unhedged”
borrowers and normalized foreigncurrency
liquidity. Asset risks nonetheless
remain high as banks continue
to tackle legacy issues; similarly,
earnings remain under pressure
as loss-loss provisions remain
elevated. Capital buffers are strong
for the bigger banks, but weaker for
smaller bank.”
While affirming a ‘Stable’ outlook
for African Banks, Moody’s highlighted
risks to banks on the continent
to include rising US interest
rates and political uncertainty in
some countries including Nigeria.
It stated: Our outlook for African
banks is stable but risks are tilted
to the downside though banking
prospects remain strong over the
longer term
Risks to the operating environment
relate to: Rising US interest
rates leading to capital outflows
across emerging markets, in conjunction
with rising government
debt and currency depreciation,
could significantly harm banks’ loan
quality and access to foreign currency;
Political uncertainty and risk
of social unrest are an ever-present
challenge for Africa; South Africa,
Tanzania, Nigeria are some of the
countries that face such challenges,
which could weaken investor
and consumer confidence; External
shocks such as falling commodity
prices, drought, or an escalation of
global trade wars, could hurt African
corporates and their ability to
repay debt.”
Moody’s warning is coming on
heels of similar concern expressed
by its global rating companion,
Fitch Ratings on the Nigerian
banks.
In its latest credit rating for three
Nigerian Tier-1 banks, namely Access
Bank, GTBank and UBA, Fitch
warned that Nigerian banks face
pressure on margins and capital.
“The fragile economic recovery restrains
banks’ growth prospects and
asset quality. Operating conditions
are still difficult for banks. “Despite
stronger oil prices in second half of
2018 (H2’18) supporting economic
growth, credit demand is weak and
banks face pressure on margins and
capital.
“Fitch believes that sovereign support
to Nigerian banks cannot be
Dr. Uche Olowu, CIBN President
relied on given Nigeria’s weak ability
to provide support, particularly
in foreign currency. In addition,
there are no clear messages of support
from the authorities regarding
their willingness to support the
banking system.
“Therefore, the Support Rating
Floor of all Nigerian banks is ‘No
Floor’ and all Support Ratings are
‘5’. This reflects our view that senior
creditors cannot rely on receiving
full and timely extraordinary
support from the Nigerian sovereign
if any of the banks become
non-viable”, Fitch stated.
Banks give more loans
However, despite the rising bad
loans the NBS also disclosed in the
report titled, ‘Selected Banking Sector
Data’, for the period, that banks
credit to the private sector rose by
two percent to N15.6 trillion in
Q3’18.
But Vanguard analysis of the bureau’s
data revealed that on quarter-on-quarter
(QoQ) basis, though
the figure rose from N15.3 trillion
recorded in Q2’18 it declined by 1.3
percent when compared to N15.8
trillion allocated in the corresponding
period of 2017, Q3’17.
The report stated: “In terms of
Zainab Ahmed, Minister for Finance
credit to private sector, total value
of credit allocated by banks stood
at N15.59 trillion as at Q3’18. Oil &
gas and manufacturing sectors got
credit allocation of N3.59 trillion
and N2.15 trillion to record the
highest credit allocation as at the
period under review.”
E-payment rises
Also in the period under review,
value of electronic payment transactions
stood at N33.95 trillion, representing
3.2 percent increases from
N32.9 trillion recorded in the preceding
quarter and 31.6 percent against
the corresponding quarter in 2017.
On the e-payment statistics the bureau
stated: “A total volume of 5.3 billion
transactions valued at N33.95trn
were recorded in Q3 2018 as data on
Electronic Payment Channels in the
Nigerian banking sector.
NIBSS Instant Payments transactions
dominated, with 127 million volume
of transactions valued at N19.96
trillion
Further analysis showed that the
number of banks’ contract staff rose
by 1.0 percent to 44,484 in Q3’18
from 43,955 in Q2’18 and up by 66
percent when compared to 27,032 in
Q3’17.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, December 4, 2018 —21
Insight Redefini appoints Dr Ikpe, Group CEO
THE Board of Insight
Redefini has announced
the appointment of
Dr. Ken Onyeali Ikpe as its
Group Managing Director/
Chief Executive Officer following
the departure of its
Chief Executive Officer
(CEO), Feyi Olubodun,
whose departure takes effective
from December 3rd,
2018.
According to the Chairman
of the Board, Biodun
Shobanjo “the appointment
coincides with the critical
transformation stage of the
group, which created the
need to further fortify Insight
Redefini in its disruptive
leadership, irrefutable excellence
and dominance of the
integrated marketing communication
value chain and
enterprise transformation
deep hindsight, clear foresight
and AI-like actionable
foresights.”
The appointment which
takes effect from the 3rd of
December 2018 will see Dr.
Ikpe who hitherto was the
Group COO take full responsibility
for the Troyka/
Pubicis partnership (Insight
Redefini) which is the holding
company for Insight
Publicis, Leo Burnett,
Starcom Media Perspectives,
All Seasons Zenith,
Quadrant MSL and TCC
Nigeria.
Ken joined Insight in 1995
as an Account Manager rising
to the position of Account
Director before he was
moved to the then All Seasons
Mediacom in 2001 as
COO. He led All Seasons
Mediacom creditably both as
COO and later as CEO
transforming it into one of
Nigeria’s foremost media independent
companies up
until 2016. Upon the consummation
of Troyka/
Publicis Partnership and the
formation of Insight Redefini
in October 2016, he was
promoted as its first Group
COO.
Ken holds a doctorate in
Development Economics,
an Alumni of Advanced
Management Programme
(AMP) Lagos Business
School and also trained at
the IESE Business School,
Barcelona, Spain.
He is a fellow of Nigeria
Institute of Marketing and
President of Media Independent
Practitioners Association
of Nigeria (MIPAN).
Ken is a thought leader and
is highly respected in the
marketing communications
industry. He is an effective,
disciplined, consistent
leader. Ken leads by deepening
what works, he embraces
well-researched truth
and new knowledge, he
builds capacity for loyalty
amongst his constituents and
is absolutely committed to the
increasing success of his
team and clients. Dr Ikpe is
well travelled and married
with children.
UAC: Odunsi appointed Non-Executive Director
UAC of Nigeria PLC
(UAC) has appointed
Mr. Bolaji
Odunsi as a Non-Executive
Director of the Company.
Odunsi replaces Mrs
Olufunke Ighodaro who
recently resigned from
the Board to take up an
executive role in South
Africa.
Odunsi, a financier, has
over 25 years of international
investment experience
in a variety of industry
sectors, including
manufacturing, security,
oil and gas and distribution.
He has significant
board level experience in
Europe and the US, with
focus on implementing
transformational change
encompassing systems
and controls, team enhancement,
financial and
regulatory reporting and
business analysis to drive
value creation.
He was a co-founder of
Stirling Square Capital
Partners, a leading midmarket
European private
equity firm and a partner
in Compass Partners and
Conoil: Kheterpal now Acting MD
CONOIL Plc has an
nounced the
Hardeep Kheterpal, as its
Acting Managing Director
and board member.
The Nigerian petroleum
marketing company
made Kheterpal’s appointment
disclosure in a
notification to its shareholders,
stakeholders and
the general public.
In the notification,
Conoil said the appointment
made by the board
is subject to further ratification
by shareholders at
the next General Meeting.·
Kheterpal is an accomplished
professional in
diverse sectors of the
economy including
FMCG, Telecoms, Consumer
Durables and Organized
Retail among
others. He brings with
him over 26 years of
strong and decisive executive
leadership experience
at the
highest levels.
Kheterpal has a background
in complex and
*Kheterpal
challenging environments
with proven ability
to represent the company
with customers and business
partners. Strong
business acumen with
skills to remain on the cutting
edge; drive new business
through
conceptualising strategies,
augmenting &
streamlining networks.
Prior to his appointment
as the acting Managing
Director of Conoil Plc,
Kheterpal was a Management
Trainee at Kilburn
Reprographics Ltd, from
1992 to 1994. He was the
Assistant Manager of
Godrej from 1994 to 1996.
Marketing Head of
Whirlpool of India Limited
*Dr. Ikpe
*Odunsi
from 1996 to 1997. He became
a Branch Sales Manager
of the same company
from 1997 to 1999. From
1999, he was the Business
Manager of Whirlpool of
India Ltd to 2000. From
2000, Kheterpal resumed
the role of a Senior Business
Manager to 2003.
Kheterpal then moved
from Whirlpool of India
Ltd to Electrolux where he
served as the company’s
General Manager for a
year. He then moved to
Tata Teleservices Ltd in
2004 as a Cluster Head. In
2006, he became the
company’s Operations
Head and in 2008, he was
promoted to be the
company’s Chief Operating
Officer. In 2011,
Kheterpal resumed the
role of NPDL’s Chief Operating
Officer and in
2013, he became the Head
Media Marketing of
Hindustan Times. In 2014,
he joined Direct Channel
as Head of Sales and in
2016, Kheterpal became
the company’s National
Business Head.
Mr. Olubodun has been
a part of the company since
2009, rose to the position
of Strategic Planning Director,
and moved to become
the Chief Operating
Officer in 2014, from where
he became the first non-
Founder Chief Executive
Officer.
His commitment and dedication
over the past ten years
has been instrumental in the
evolution of the almost 4 decade
old company. Under
Olubodun’s leadership, Insight
Publicis was well on
its way to achieving its vision
to remain the biggest
Creative and Marketing
Communications Company
in West Africa.
A strong advocate of business
ethics, corporate governance
standards, and a
consummate business
thinker, he recently launched
his book, The Villager, which
amassed huge success
within the marketing communications
industry. The
book was an expression of
his articulated perspectives
of the African consumer,
which he acquired over his
years of experience.
BC Partners. Before joining
BC Partners, he
worked as a member of
the M&A team at
Enskilda Securities in
London. His prior experiences
include stints at
Touche Ross & Co and
the engineering
consultancy firm of Mott,
Hay & Anderson.
Odunsi is a Chartered
Accountant and holds a
Bachelor of Science degree
in Civil Engineering
and a diploma in
Philosophy from the University
of London.
The company’s revenue
in the period under
review stood at N54.4
billion compared to
N44.9 billion in 2017.
Profit before tax was
N809 million compared
to N627 million in 2017.
Profit after tax was N550
million compared to
N427 million in 2017.
NMRC repositions
with new
chairman, MD
resumes
The Nigerian Mortgage
Refinance Company
(NMRC) has appointed
two officers
into key positions. The
appointees are Adeymi
candibe-Johnson as its
new chairman while
kehinde Ogundimy
has been confirmed as
the managing Director.
A statement says the
appointment took effect
from December1,
2018.
AFC announces Eshun General
Counsel
AFRICA Finance
Corporation (AFC)
has appointed Nana
Eshun as its General
Council following the departure
of Dr. Adesegun
Akin-Olugbade its Executive
Director and General
Counsel.
In a statement, the Corporation
said Akin-
Olugbade’s contractual
term would end on December
31, 2018.
Akin-Olugbade had
spent eleven years at the
AFC, as Pioneer General
Counsel and Corporate
Secretary; Executive Director,
Corporate Services
and General Counsel; and
Executive Director, Chief
Operating Officer and
General Counsel.
The statement has it that
Akin-Olugbade played a
key role in the
corporation’s adoption of
strong corporate governance
principles, systems
and structures; expansion
of its country membership;
contribution to the growth
of the balance sheet from
$1.1 billion to $4.3 billion
and the attainment of an
investment grade credit
rating.
“Akin-Olugabde has
served for over 30 years in
the legal profession and
financial services sector,
having worked at both the
technical and management
levels, in the public
and private sector, for leading
commercial law firms,
development banks and
international financial institutions.
“He was previously general
counsel and director
at the African Development
Bank and the First
Chief Legal Officer and
Head of the Legal Services
Department of the
African Export-Import
Bank.” The statement read
in part.
The Chief Executive Officer,
AFC, Samaila
Zubairu, thanked Akin-
Olugbade for the key role
he played in the evolution
and growth of the corporation
to a leading multilateral
financial institution
on the continent.
NUR: Ajiji takes over as
President General
COMRADE Innocent
Luka Ajiji has resumes
as the Acting President
General of Nigeria
Union of Railway Workers
(NUR).
Comrade Ajiji, before now
a deputy president general
of the NUR, stepped in to
the office as acting president
general recently as a result
of the retirement of the
president general, comrade
Ajiji
AXA Mansard: Ahmed becomes
member of W/African IIA board
T
HE Governing Coun
cil of the West African Insurance
Institute has appointed the
Chief Executive Officer of AXA
Mansard Insurance plc., Mr. Kunle
Ahmed as a member of the Academic
Board of the Institute.
The West African Insurance Institute
was formed in 1978 by
UNCTAD and the 5 Anglophone
countries in West Africa,with commitment
to the growth of insurance
and the improvement of insurance
personnel skills in West Africa. The
Institute provides professional insurance
educationand in conjunction
with both University of South
Africa and Cambridge Graduate
University also conducts Master’s
degree programmes in Risk Management
& Insurance and Marketing.
It also serves as a center for
the collection of technical and other
insurance data.
Saidu Garba, who has completed
the statutory 35 years
in public service with Nigerian
Railway.
Comrade Ajiji was employed
into the service of the
Nigeria Railway Corporation
on the 15thSeptember,
1997 as assistant locomotive
driver in Kafanchan, headquarters
of the north central
district of the Corporation
after excelling in the
initial Diesel training school
he attended in Kafanchan.
Over the years, Ajiji has attended
numerous training
programmes locally and
overseas. Among the
trainings he attended included
Railway Safety and
Modern System on British
Standard Gauge and advanced
motive power operations
and maintenance
2013 in United Kingdom
and South Africa respectively.
‘My appointment as a member
of the academic board of the West
African Insurance Institute comes
as great news to me and the entire
AXA Mansard team.’ said Mr.
Kunle Ahmed as he commented
on the appointment. ‘Having
graduated with distinction from the
same institution several years ago,
I am excited to serve my alma matter
on this board. I will be contributing
my quota, through the Academic
Board, towards the achievement
of the lofty goals of the Institute
for theWest African Insurance
Industry.’ The roles of the Academic
Board include overseeing all academic
matters of the Institute regarding
course curriculum, assessment
procedure and lecture delivery.
The board also reviews all examination
results first before they
are presented to the Governing
Council for final approval and release.

22—Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2018
Making sense of Child Rights:
The convergence of history,
culture and norms
By Willy Mamah
HE discourse of child rights
Treveals an interesting intersection
of history, culture and
norms. In all cultures, all climes,
children are seen as “treasures”.
In folklores, music, dance and
names, across all the ethnic
groups in Nigeria: Yoruba, Hausa,
Igbo, Ibibio, Efik and many others,
these cultural presentations
of children stand out. This meeting
of culture is the foundation of
social and legal norms with regard
to child rights. Curiously,
however, actions and inactions of
adults contradict this culturally
embedded notions and norms,
leaving many unanswered questions
for a critical ethnographer:
why is it that children continue to
be vilified, sexually and physically
abused by the very people
they look up to as fathers, mothers,
uncles, aunties, teachers,
pastors and priests? Why is it that
children, who carry human genetic
continuity, are often treated
as if they were less human meant
to be seen and not to be heard?
Why is it that children, the socalled
‘treasures’ are often placed
at the lowest rung in the power
equation of many paternalistic
societies?
How do we explain the
inequality, exclusion and creation
of otherness, the central themes
that continue to underlie the construction
of childhood in many
societies today with far reaching
harmful effects on the lives and
survival of children? Take the recent
distressful case of the 13-
year-old Elizabeth Ochanya, who
according to ongoing prosecution’s
case was sexually abused
to death in the sanctuary of the
home she shared with alleged
predators, who were supposed to
stand in ‘loco parentis’. Why
should such a promising girl die
so young under such avoidable
circumstances? How possible was
it that nobody, no teacher, no pastor,
no neighbor, no social worker
saw no signs and reported nothing
until the very bitter end? There
are many more questions that
challenge our notions of humanity,
equality and fairness in relation
to how we construct and relate
with children: our yesterday,
today and future.
Disjuncture between our
words and actions
The disjuncture between our
words and actions in this regard
pose a far more reaching analytical
challenge. Could it be that
adults create laws, sign up to
laws, without any form of conviction
as to the cultural and normative
urgency for their actions? As
we confront the valley of action/
inaction, statistics are adding up
quickly. Violence against children
remains widespread, indeed.
Nigeria’s ‘Violence Against Children
Survey’ (2014), a collaborative
effort of National Population
Commission, UNICEF and
United State’s Centre for Disease
Control and Prevention found
that 6 out of every 10 children
suffer one form of violence, sexual,
physical and emotional before the
age of 18. Place this evidence side
by side with unreported/yet to be
captured cases of abuse of children
in many rural areas and the
picture that emerges is that of a
crisis of survival.
The Child’s rights laws, despite
the best efforts of stakeholders
continue to confront embedded
negative social norms. A historical
and conceptual analysis may help
in tracing where we are coming
from, where we are and where
we ought to be and lay to rest the
drawback claims of cultural
imperialism and the havoc it often
wrecks on universal norms and
the convergence of opinions
across language, history and
cultures in relation to the
personhood of children. This
exercise, it is hoped, would aid
us to consign to the dustbin the
untenable claims of cultural
relativism and design a more
practical solution strategy to the
crisis at hand, that is, the rising
and damaging trend of
objectification of children, brutal
denial of their rights to life and
the concomitant effects on the
survival of us all.
Child Rights: A
Historical
Framework
What do we really mean by
child rights? To what extent has
historical movement impacted on
our understanding of childhood
and rights? Can we actually attach
the attribute of ‘rights’ to children,
who we associate, historically,
with immaturity, weakness and
dependence? These questions
continue to range by words and
actions of many Nigerians, fifteen
years after Nigeria’s
domestication of the UN
convention on the Rights of the
Child as the Child’s Rights Act,
2003. Questions like these display
ignorance of the historical
antecedents that grounded the
Child Rights jurisprudence.
Similar questions were raised in
the 16th Century, which marked
the first epoch in the historical
trajectory of child rights. In that
pre Industrial phase, there was
no conception of children as
distinct persons. This period was
characterized by the ‘having
mode’ of existence, hence,
children were considered as mere
properties of their parents/
guardians. It was inconceivable
then to attach the notion of ‘rights’
to children. Parents had all the
rights to determine children’s
future, without any social or legal
qualms.
The objectification of children
was rendered nugatory by the
stark reality of the industrial phase
that was between 19th to mid 20th
Century. That was why this
century was marked in literature
as the Child ‘saving’ era. As a
result of technological and
economic transformation of that
era, children were seen as
endangered species. The
pressures of immigration,
industrialization and
urbanization heightened the
abuse of children, hence
necessitating legal intervention to
protect children from slave labour
and channel efforts to their
education. This period marked
the first attempt to legislate for
child’s rights.
The late 20th century was
momentous, indeed as it marked
the Autonomy phase of child
rights. From this century,
onwards, it was settled that
children were not properties but
persons, equal in right and
dignity. From then onwards, Legal
Frameworks were aimed at
enhancing participation of
children as persons equal in
dignity and rights with adults.
Where do we position Nigeria,
in the above historical movement?
That was the precise question,
this writer/facilitator asked
participants in a recent forum on
Child Rights Law. The generality
of participants were of the view
that Nigeria was still oscillating
between 16th century and early
20th Century, with regard to how
we construe childhood and child
rights. Put differently, many adult
Nigerians still view children as
mere properties or at best as less
human, lacking in full rights
accorded to adults. It is immaterial
that some may cloud this
retrogressive viewpoint with their
pontification/placards on child
rights. This is because a careful
examination of their actions and
inactions, which speak louder
than voice, reveal a clear
denunciation of the view that
rights are attachable to children,
under the age of 18. The reason
behind this reversing reality was
traced to our power-conscious
setting, where to be viewed as
“weak” tantamount to absolute
discrimination, that is the case of
two cities in one country. If you
are unfortunate to find yourself
in the Weak City ‘B’, whatever
you get to survive have to be
morsels from the high table of the
powerful people that occupy the
Power City ‘A’. The way
“weakness” and “strength” are
conceptually understood in the
Nigerian context will go a long
way in deepening our knowledge
of the competing paradigms in
the discourse of child rights, thus
enabling us to take the right step
in saving the many “Ochanyas”
in our families and
Why is it that children
continue to be vilified,
sexually and physically
abused by the very people
they look up to as fathers,
mothers, uncles,
aunties, teachers,
pastors and priests
neighborhoods before it becomes
too late.
Child Rights: A
Conceptual
Framework
It is interesting to note that the
above historical trajectory is
intertwined with the dual
Conceptual Frameworks that help
us to map out the discourse of
child rights. The conceptual
frameworks over protectionism
and personhood underlie the
historical evolution of Child
rights. The Yale Prof. Stephen
Wizner’s Commentary on Child
Rights is instructive here.
The first conceptual framework
of child rights could be termed
over-protectionism
This framework is founded on
the traditional view of children as
weak, dependent, less-persons,
whose rights must be limited to
the rights to receive control and
protection from adults. As laid out
by Jeremy Bentham, the English
Jurist and philosopher of
utilitarianism:
“The feebleness of infancy
demands continual protection.
Everything must be done for an
imperfect being which as yet does
nothing for itself…such a being
must be kept under an authority
more immediate than the law.”
Protecting children from harm
is an unassailable fact but the
perspective that denies children
of their individuality and
Nigerian children.
humanity, the perspective that
emphasizes their weakness and
“feebleness” in a setting like
Nigeria, often leads to overprotection
and objectification of
children. This perspective is a
fertile ground for physical,
emotional and serial sexual abuse
of children.
The second conceptual
framework at the heart of the
widely ratified UN Convention on
the Rights of the Child, could be
termed, the Personhood
paradigm. Under this framework,
Children are to be treated as
persons equal in right and
dignity with adults. The extreme
views of personhood is a noncompromising
advocacy for the
liberation of children from the
oppression of adults and a legal
order in which children are seen
as appendages of adult. As
expected, the consensus building
mechanism that international law
leverages could not have
accepted such an extreme view
of personhood. What was
accepted was the less extreme
views which recognizes that
treating children as children often
results in the imposition of
unnecessary and psychologically
damaging restrictions on growth,
hence the need to adopt the best
approach of treating children as
persons, equal in dignity and
rights. It is remarkable to note that
the personhood paradigm unlike
its over-protectionism other, is
aligned the “being mode” of
existence. We can see traces of
childhood in adulthood and vice
versa. Born as a child, we will die,
as a ‘child’, that is if we are lucky
to reach ripe old age. At that age
we will need support and
assistance, like children. This is
because human beings are
dynamic, changing all through
life. Therefore, the adult versus
child dichotomy emphasized in
the over-protectionist framework
cannot withstand the shiny gaze
of logic. It is false/artificial. Both
adults and children have similar
needs: food, shelter, clothing,
medical care, and social
relationship. Therefore,
Protection/Personhood
dichotomy, like child/adult
dichotomy is misleading.
Personhood, emphasizes a
careful balance between the two
whilst placing emphasis on the
‘Best Interest of the Child
Principle.
From the above historical and
conceptual frameworks we can
see the meeting points of the
autonomy phase of history (the
late 20th century onward) and the
personhood paradigm. This
meeting point grounded the legal
framework for Child rights,
putting it beyond all charges of
cultural relativism.
Child Rights: A Legal
Framework
The grounding of international
consensus on the personhood of
children was preceded by a great
debate anchored on the clash of
analytical frameworks. The UN
Convention on the Rights of the
Child (1989) remains as at today
the most ratified Treaty despite the
oppositions at the drafting stage.
The Convention has reached a
level that it could be “jus cogens”,
a compelling law. The Nigeria’s
Child Rights Act (2003) was
Nigeria’s domestication
instrument as a dualist country,
having previously ratified the UN
Convention on the Rights of the
Child. Prior to the passage of the
Nigeria CRA in 2003, there was another
round of debates that lasted for almost
10 years. Debate revolved around
cultural-relativism –driven overprotectionism
and personhood, but a
resolution was reached on the compelling
nature of the law, hence its passage as
the Child Rights Act. 24 States have
passed their State Child Rights Laws and
there are strong hopes that the
remaining 12 States of the Federation
will do so because the issues being raised
against the passage of the laws are not
borne out of any opposition to the
underlying principles of Child rights,
which have been accepted across all
cultures and religions in Nigeria. The
remaining areas of doubts revolve
around what in international law could
have been settled with “reservations”
without affecting the underpinnings of
the law. Those who hinge their opposition
on the underlying theory of child rights
are in grave error, because no culture or
religion supports the objectification of
children. This writer is yet to encounter
any adult male or female that will be
happy to see his or her 13-year-old
daughter being sexually abused to death
by two adults. The unassailable fact is
that children are treasured across all
cultures and religion. The points of
difference when carefully analysed are
quite narrow and ought to be easily
resolved through a careful analysis of
the exalted place of children across all
cultures, traditions and religions.
Next Step: Looking
beyond the Laws in
paper
The passage of the Child Rights Law is
a crucial step but not the totality of steps.
What the law does, crucial as it is, is a
reiteration of norms already embedded
in our history, culture and religion. The
fresh angle we ought to look at things is
via the prism of system building/
strengthening for change. UNICEF has
popularized the system approach to child
rights reform. Five components of a
working system for preventing and
responding to abuse of children have
been identified as policy and legal
framework, Social Welfare for children and
family, Social Norms Change, Justice
Sector and information Management.
Each and every aspect of this system
building approach would require an
injection of resources. There is therefore
a financial commitment angle to the
passage of Child Rights Law. No State
could be said to be serious about Child
Rights Law in absence of financial/budget
back up to aid implementation.
Collaborative efforts of government,
individuals, and corporations, national/
international NGOs are needed to
sustain efforts in this regard. Child abuse
and neglect will be a thing of the past if
all hands are on deck to build and
strengthen our preventive and response
systems to ensure that never again will
a child die as a result of neglect and
abuse. If we follow this path with
commitment, Elizabeth Ochanya will live
on, never dying, as generations unborn
will continue to remember her as the
innocent girl, whose seeming demise reawakened
the consciousness of us all,
and by so doing elevated her to the realm
of those who cannot die, so long as men,
women and children can see and feel.
Dedicated to Elizabeth Ochanya and
all children everywhere, that are victims/
survivors of physical, sexual and
psychological abuse.
* Willy Mamah, PhD (London) is a
national consultant, Child Justice and
Development Law.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2018 — 23

24— Niger-Delta Voice, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2018

Niger-Delta Voice, , TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, , 2018 — 25

26— Niger-Delta Voice, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2018
VOL. 1: NO. 178
78 TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2018
Residents panic as
gunmen disarm, kill more
police officers in Delta
•Police accuse media of blowing up escapades
of armed herdsmen
•Women of Ewu-Urhobo protesting the activities of Fulani herdsmen in their
communities. Photo: Perez Brisibe
By Emma Amaize,
Editor, NDV
ASABA—RESIDENTS of
Delta State have raised
alarm over the repeated
and audacious way gangsters
seize weapons from police officers
in the state and slay them.
Outgoing Commissioner of Police,
CP, Delta State Command,
Mr. Muhammadu Mustafa, who
acknowledged the concern, however,
said there has been no attack
in the past few days, following
measures put in place by the
police to curb the irregularity.
Our fears, by troubled inhabitants
Apprehensive residents of
Ughelli metropolis in an open
letter to the Inspector General of
Police, noted that since August,
the community was under siege ,
as an average of two policemen
have been killed at various police
checkpoints in the town with
the hoodlums taking away the
weapons of the slain police officers.
The group in a letter by the president
and secretary, Chief Albert
Omokiniovo and Mr Odeme Akpinorku
respectively, expressed
anxiety that Commissioner Mustafa
claimed to have made series
of arrests in connection with the
attacks, but yet to recover the
weapons.
“Just last Thursday, a team of
policemen attached to the Ughelli
Area Command, were ambushed
with one policeman shot dead,
while others sustained various
degrees of gunshot wounds.
“Two policemen were also killed
within three days at separate locations
in the month of September
when some unidentified hoodlums
ambushed them at their
checkpoints and took away their
rifles.
“With these weapons still in the
hands of these hoodlums, we
wonder where our fate lies during
the Yuletide and the forthcoming
general elections. It is on this
premise that we are appealing to
you to use your good office towards
ensuring that peace and
sanity is restored in Ughelli and
environs,” the panic-stricken residents
pleaded.
Police more vulnerable in
Ughelli axis
Findings by NDV indicate that
three days after a team of policemen
were ambushed at the Ogor
axis of East/West road in Ughelli
North Local Government Area,
killing a police sergeant, another
team was ambushed at nearby
Otor-Owhe community in Isoko
South council area of the state.
Two unidentified policemen
were reported to have sustained
life threatening gunshot wounds,
while the hoodlums also took away
two AK 47 rifles belonging to the
policemen.
About 15 persons are currently
in custody of the Criminal
Investigation Department,
CID, Asaba over attacks on policemen,
but they have not led
police to recover stolen weapons
yet.
Attack on police
officers down in the
last five days —CP
But, Mustafa disagreed that
attacks on police officers were
escalating, saying, “Attacks on
Two policemen
were also killed
within three
days at separate
locations in the
month of September
when
some unidentified
hoodlums
ambushed them
at their checkpoints
and took
away their rifles
•Delta CP, Muhammad Mustafa
policemen in Delta are reducing, almost
four or five days now, there is
no incident. There are internal and
external measures we have taken,
we are interfacing with the state government,
and the citizens must be
on the side of the police. If they attack
police officers and take away
weapons, then, the citizen should
know that he is not safe and should
be on the same page with us.
“In getting that support, we have
to educate the people, most of them
are sitting on the fence, and we need
to get them on our side. I told the
governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, he
said the police should go ahead; he
is not against any reward he is going
to give anybody for the successful
recovery of weapons stolen from
police officers and arrest of suspects.
“Most of our officers that have been
killed have no body armor, nothing,
government has not done enough.
In the past, state government bought
some body armors for the police, so I
asked the governor; he said he was
going to buy,” he added.
Police adopt 30 internal
security measures
Commissioner Mustafa further told
NDV, “We have taken up to 30 internal
measures to stem the tide; we
are doing these on our own. By and
large, it is happening to the police
now, although other law enforcement
agents in the country are affected,
but here in Delta, we have not recorded
cases of attacks on other law
enforcement agents, it is the police,
but other security agents can be attacked
too.”
“We have taken so many measures;
crime prevention measures and strategies,
we are re-strategizing, warning
our officers to be on alert, the
minimum we leave now is five armed
men at any checkpoint, and we are
even collapsing less vulnerable areas,
fortifying our stations and all
that.
Recent foray in Patani
repelled
“You understand, so that if there is
an attack, we will repel them. Last
week, in Patani, they went, but they
were repelled. If you have only two
armed men, you know you are not
ready, criminals coming from both
sides of the road, police officers are
standing on the road and the roadblock
is not fortified, nothing built.
“In fact, the use of sand bags is one
of our internal measures, even organizations
where policemen are
guarding need to provide sandbags.
Therefore, it goes on and on, issues
of intelligence and informant, police
officers are now to double their
efforts, working day and night.
Intelligence branch has to do all
it can to get information.
“In addition, the ones we arrested
and yet to get the weapons,
we need the judiciary to help get
these people. As long as we do
not get those taking these weapons,
it is a waste of time, we must
get them to retrieve weapons,” he
said.
State govt, police pledge generous
reward for informants
On November 28, Police Public
Relations Officer, PPRO, DSP
Andrew Animaka, in a statement,
said, “The Command in conjunction
with the Delta State Government
promised to give a handsome
reward to any person or
group of persons whose information
will lead to the arrest of persons
connected to any of the attacks
on police officers and recovery
of the stolen service weapons.”
“The above promise comes
against the backdrop of the recent
attacks on police officers while on
their duty posts across the state,
oftentimes, leading to loss of lives
and injury to the officers and men
involved and loss of arms and
ammunition,” Aniamaka added.
Reports on herdsmen attacks
amplified
On reports that herdsmen were
raping and chasing women out of
their farms in the state, Commissioner
Mustafa said, “There have
been many meetings on this matter,
even women were protesting
the other time. The Attorney General
is from that area, there have
been meetings with him, Area Commander,
DPO, chairmen, herdsmen,
traditional rulers, president
generals, youth leaders, and herdsmen
themselves.”
“Some of the allegations are
empty, even the issue of the rape
was found to be empty. There was
this issue of few cows eating few
crops and cassava where they paid
compensation and all that.
“In the past, that place has been
notorious, but for now, there have
been meetings on these issues,
minutes of the meetings are all
there and the allegations are not
correct the way the media is carrying
it.
“Even two or three days ago,
there was another, a bishop called
the governor and he called me, I
went into the matter and it was not
true. Therefore, at the slightest
incident, people amplify what has
happened,” he said.

Niger-Delta Voice, , TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, , 2018 — 27
MILITIA OR NEIGHBORHOOD AGENCY:
Rivers govt vs Army, who’s
misleading the populace?
RIVERS…TREASURE BASE OF THE NATION
By Egufe Yafugborhi and
Davies Iheamnachor
PORT HARCOURT—
NEWLY authorized
vigilante outfit, Rivers
State Neighbourhood Safety
Corps Agency, RSNSCA,
conceived by Governor Nyesom
Wike-led administration has
faced overwhelming resistance
from the opposition All
Progressives Congress, APC, and
unspoken disapproval by federal
security agencies.
It was no surprise, to many,
therefore, when men of the 6
Division of the Nigerian Army,
last Friday, raided and dislodged
an official assembly at the Rivers
state NYSC Orientation Camp,
Nowan Gbam, Tai Local
Government Area, to recruit
shortlisted applicants for a
training programme into the
outfit.
While the army gave the agency
a bad name, ‘militia group’ to
justify its show of force to displace
the trainers and trainees, the
state government in a letter
through the agency, had preinformed
the 6 Division of the
intended recruitment.
Rivers govt informed
Army
The letter dated 12 November
and acknowledged by the 6
Division, two days later, was
however not replied, another
indication of the non approval,
which manifested in the army's
raid and dispersal of participants
gathered for recruitment
exercise.
It was gathered that the agency
had written to the Nigeria Army
and other relevant agencies
asking for drill and physical
training instructors, security etc,
but the Army disregarded the
request and never advised
against it.
The Rivers State Corps Agency
is a body created by act of
parliament to assist security
agencies in local intelligence
gathering and the Nigeria
Police, Department of State
Services, Nigeria Security and
Civil Defence Corps etc are
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
•Div troops take over the NYSC after sacking the
Rivers Vigilante training recruits
represented on the Board of the
agency.
At the heart of the conflict is the
conviction by the Rivers APC
and the army that the vigilante
outfit also known as
Neighborhood Watch is
politically motivated by Wike to
drive his electoral quest for a
second term in office when
elections come in 2019.
Army feigns ignorance of
letter
As if it was not aware of the
existence of the agency despite
a letter by the state government
notifying it of the vigilante
training programme, the army
said it “commenced preliminary
investigations in conjunction with
sister security agencies in the state
to fish out sponsors of the militia
and the training camp."
In the letter notifying the 6
Division of the Nigerian Army of
the emergent agency to drive the
Rivers vigilante process, the state
said persons eventually engaged
would not bear arms, whereas
"light arms" had been prominent
in the debate leading to the
passage of the law backing the
agency.
Why APC is against
Wike’s security outfit
APC views the outfit as
unconstitutional and has vowed
not to allow it materialise in the
state. Director General, Tonye Cole
Campaign Organisation,
Chief Chidi Lloyd,
wondered why "Wike had
proceeded to recruit these
persons and some military
personnel as instructors
despite a subsisting matter
in an Abuja High Court
questioning the exercise.”
Lloyd asserted: "Wike has
already procured illegal
arms for the private army
he is setting up. Afraid that
his illegal arms
procurement and
distribution may leak, he
recently raised false
alarm alleging that the
federal government was
plotting to plant 800 arms
in Rivers State."
Similar agencies in
Lagos, Kwara, Kano, others
—Rivers govt
Responding to the censor, a top
official of the state government
accused the Federal
Government of double
standards, saying, “On 13th
November, 2018, Zamfara State
Government inaugurated the
Civil Joint Task Force which is
armed. It's photographs was used
on the front page of Guardian
Newspaper of 14th November,
2018. Lagos State has the Lagos
State Neighbourhood Safety
commenced
preliminary
investigations
in conjunction
with sister
security
agencies in the
state to fish out
sponsors of the
militia and the
training camp
•The Neighborhood Watch's recruited trainers and
trainees in disarray as Army raids the training camp,
NYSC Orientation Camp, Nowan Gbam, Tai LGA Rivers
State.
Corps; Kwara State has Operation
Harmony and Kano State has
Neighbourhood Watch (Vigilante
Group).”
“Other states like Imo, Enugu, Edo
and others have security support
agencies which are the equivalent
of the Rivers State’s agency.”
We didn’t recruit boys for
political reason —Wike
Governor Wike, before key
stakeholders of the 2019 elections,
including the international
community, had repeatedly
alleged, "That the ruling APC
federal government was not ready
for free and fair election. They want
to use the police, other security
agencies and INEC to intimidate
Rivers people and write results."
He said, "We did not hire boys for
political reasons. We involved the
Police and the DSS to ensure the
trainees are profiled for good of the
society. The agency is mainly to
assist security agencies with
intelligence and information, since
there is a lacuna in this regard."
"The Army is the agency causing
insecurity mainly to attract more
security votes. They collected
$1billion from our Excess Crude
Account, yet our soldiers were
killed. All they are doing is to
intimidate people for political
reasons. Nobody can intimidate us
in Rivers state," the governor
voiced out.
Citizens divided
Aside the sentiments by key
stakeholders, the Rivers
populace is also divided between
those sympathetic to Wike and
another segment, who believing
his fears towards 2019 were
borne out of looming reversal of
fortunes between him and his
predecessor, Rotimi Amaechi in
2015.
A legal expert, who does not
pity incumbent Wike, told NDV,
"He's receiving a dose of his own
medicine. He enjoyed federal
might to bulldoze his way into
Rivers State Government House
when PDP held sway at the
center. Now, he wants to face
federal might under APC. He
should face what he made
Ameachi go through. No
vigilante can save him."
Gbagi celebrates heroic father 40 yrs after
O GINIBO—FORMER
Minister of State for
Education, Olorogun Kenneth
Gbagi, has lined up a four-day
event to celebrate the 40th year
exit from the planet earth of the
patriarch of Gbagi family, the
Olorogun Pa Robinson Ajerigheye
Gbagi, at Oginibo, Ughelli South
Local Government Area, Delta
State.
The programme commences
today with the unveiling of Papa’s
tombstone and official opening
of Oginibo Community Town
Hall by the Gbagi Foundation,
eye screening, cataract, surgery,
cervical cancer test and
immunisation for children by
Gbagi Foundation on Wednesday.
The ex-minister and criminologist
said in a statement that honouring
of “my icon and beloved father will
end with an open air thanksgiving
and grand reception on Saturday
after a novelty football match and
book launch on Thursday and
Friday."

28 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2018

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2018 — 29

30 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2018

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2018 —31
Emmanuel Macron and the
new France
THE outcomes of the
French presidential
elections were announced on
Sunday, May 7, with
Emmanuel Macron, the centrist
political leader, having 62 per
cent of the votes as against
ultra-nationalist Marine Le
Pen’s 38 percent. It had been a
bitterly contested election. So
much was at stake – no less
than the future of France and
of Europe itself. Marine Le
Pen, the candidate of the farright
Front National,
campaigned under the banner
of xenophobic nationalism. She
promised to act tough on
immigration; to pull France out
of the EU, revoke the
citizenship of naturalised
citizens with known terrorist
sympathies. For her, it would be
“les français d’abord” – the
French first!
For Macron and his En
Marche! liberal centrists on the
other hand, the campaign was
for winning back the heart and
soul of France – for solidarity,
social justice, nondiscrimination
and reaffirmation
of France’s place in the heart of
Europe. I spent some of my
growing-up years as a student
in France; first, at the provincial
city of Vichy, in the heartland
of the glorious Auvergne
region, and later in Paris. I
have drunk deep from the
fountain of French intellectual
culture. Blaise Pascale, François
de la Rouchefoucauld, Simone
Weil, Emmanuel Mounier,
Jacques Maritain, Paul Ricoeur
and Emmanuel Levinas –
among the greatest of the world
philosophers – have been the
thinkers with whom I have
shared a spiritual kinship.
If truth be told, I have nursed
an ancient grievance against
France because of the racist and
humiliating manner she has
treated our glorious continent.
No leader in the so-called
francophone African countries
could hope to survive if they
decided to pursue an
independent policy. Sekou
Toure tried it in Guinea, with
disastrous consequences. So
did the martyred Thomas
Sankara in Burkina Faso and
the lugubrious Laurent Gbagbo
in Côte d’Ivoire.
There is some speculation that
the French and the Americans
know a thing or two about Boko
Haram that we don’t. Their
murderous exploits have been
successful in the north east of
our country because they could
kill and flee back to French and
American military training
camps in neighbouring Chad
and Niger. The French view our
country as the greatest threat to
their colonial ambitions on our
continent while the Americans
have never forgiven us for
rebuffing their leprous Africom
project.
The French have a tendency
to arrogance; but it is not
arrogance entirely without
basis. France is also a land of
many virtues. The homeland of
Lamartine, Honoré Balzac,
Victor Hugo, Sartre, Régis
Debray and Bernard Henri-
Lévy is also the land where the
apostles of the New
Enlightenment stand sentry
Nobody beats the
French in panache and
sheer style; apart from
my beloved Nigeria
and England, there is
no other place in
which I can say I feel
more at home
with all the oppressed of the
earth. Paris is arguably the most
beautiful city in the world. The
cathedrals of Nôtre Dame,
Chartres, Reims, Amiens and
Strasbourg - the gold-coloured
cornfields of Provence and
Normandy - have often filled me
with such joy that I could never
bring myself to hate France in
spite of the humiliating manner
she has treated my African
people.
France stands at the apex of
universal civilisation. No other
nation, in my view, valorises its
mathematicians, philosophers
and thinkers than France does.
Nobody beats the French in
panache and sheer style. Apart
from my beloved Nigeria and
England, there is no other place
in which I can say I feel more
at home. I have to confess that
I felt relief that Emmanuel
Macron won the elections. He
is the man of the moment – the
statesman France has been
waiting for. France is among
the leading countries of Europe.
With the prospects of
actualisation of Brexit on the
horizon, France is the second
biggest economy in Europe.
The Franco-German axis has
been the engine and locomotive
of the New Europe. Without
France the European project is
doomed.
With a population of 67 million
people, France has a population
of 7.7 million Muslims (10.5 per
cent of the population), most of
whom are Arab immigrants from
the Maghrib. They also have a
stake in France, although they
have never felt fully welcome.
A few years ago, Arab and
African youths in the inner
cities - les banlieux - went on a
spree of violent rioting. The
country has also suffered
several terrorist attacks. Until
recently, unemployment had
been prohibitively high while
the economy stagnated. As a
consequence, large sections of
French society were going
through a new distemper
buoyed by unemployment,
xenophobia, racism and anti-
Europeanism.
This is why the Macron
victory means so much for the
New France. The country needs
a balanced and liberal leader
who can reform the economy,
rebuild the public sector and
bring people together within
the banner of renewal and hope.
Emmanuel Macron ascends to
the presidency at the age of 39,
outdone only by Bonaparte who
seized power at age 30 in 1799.
Scion of the provincial
bourgeoisie, Emmanuel
Macron is well trained for the
job. He read philosophy at the
University of Paris Nanterre,
later doing a Masters in Public
Administration at the Institut
de’Études Politiques (Sciences
Po) and then the prestigious
École
National
d’Administration, ENA. He
began his career in the elite
corps of Inspecteurs des
Finances in the French Treasury.
He later became an investment
banker with the prestigious
Rothschild Cie bank in Paris.
He subsequently served as
Assistant Secretary-General in
the Office of President François
Hollande before being
appointed Minister of the
Economy.
In his speech after winning
the elections, Macron declared
that his priorities would be
security, immigration,
employment and the economy.
France remains stuck in
bureaucracy and institutional
gridlock. The country is in dire
need of economic reform, public
sector reforms policies to reengineer
growth. It is akin to
steering a mammoth oil tanker.
I also hope he will articulate a
better Africa policy that will put
our relations on more
enlightened foundations. We
can only wish him well. Vive la
France!
Resisting political intimidation and bullying
By George Tamuno
IN August, shortly after defecting from
the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All
Progressives Congress, APC, former
governor and current senator, Godswill
Akpabio, was reported as declaring that the
takeover of Akwa Ibom State by his new
party would be like Hitler’s 1940 invasion
of Poland. “Warsaw saw war and war saw
Warsaw”, Akpabio said, at the funeral
service of his grand mother-in-law at
Aguebu-Owa, in Ezeagu Local Government
Area of Enugu State. “We can’t talk politics
in the church; but in 2019, Warsaw shall see
war and war shall see Warsaw. The return
will be victory. May God grant us victory”.
The world took to social media to slam
Akpabio for the statement that was seen as
a declaration of war in a state that is known
traditionally for its peace, tranquility and
accommodating attitude to indigenes and
visitors alike. At an endorsement rally for
Governor Emmanuel in Onna Local
Government Area of Akwa Ibom State,
prominent leaders across ethnic divides
condemned the statement and made it clear
the state has never been a theatre of war,
assuring that the 2019 elections would not
be won with the blood of the people of the
state.
“The entire people of Ikot Ekpene
Senatorial District is set to tie kith and kin
with Eket Senatorial District”, Moses Ekpo,
deputy governor and prominent Annang
like Akpabio, said. “Udom is our son-in-law;
the wife is our daughter.”Others who spoke
at the event in condemnation of the war
drum being beaten by Akpabio, while
pledging support for Udom’s re-election,
included Onofiok Luke, speaker of the state
house of assembly; Dr. Chris Ekpenyong,
deputy governor in the administration of
Obong Attah and prominent Annang leader,
as well as Senator Effiong Bob.
In his reaction to the statement, Governor
Emmanuel said he would not be distracted
from his goal of delivering on his election
The general feeling in
Akwa Ibom is that with the
return of peace to all parts of
the state, the 2019 elections
would not be won through
violence and intimidation
promises to the people of Akwa Ibom and
invoked Holy Ghost fire on anybody who
might be planning to feast on the blood of
Akwa Ibomites to win election in the state.
The anger and condemnation that greeted
Akpabio’s declaration in Akwa Ibom was
reminiscent of the general feeling in the state
during his eight year reign that was said to
be characterized by intimidation and
bullying, which did not spare even
prominent members of his administration
whom he perceived as unfriendly. The people
recall the Gestapo manner in which his
erstwhile secretary to government, Umanah
Okon Umanah, was removed from office,
when he reportedly arrived for work one
morning to find that Akpabio’s wife had
locked him out. Akpabio was at that time
attending an event of Akwa Ibom people in
the United States. The belief then was that
his wife merely acted the script he wrote and
directed from outside the country.
Nsima Ekere, the APC governorship
candidate in the 2019 election and current
managing director of the Niger Delta
Development Commission, was Akpabio’s
deputy for a brief period in his second term.
When Ekere fell out of favour with Akpabio,
the governor reportedly told him one day he
was travelling out of the state, only to gather
some leaders of the house of assembly in his
country home at Ukana, in Essien Udim
Local Government Area to plot the deputy’s
impeachment. Nsima got wind of the plot
just in time to drop his resignation letter
before the law makers returned to Uyo to
actualize the plot.
It is Akpabio’s antecedence of bullying and
harassment that set alarm bells ringing in
the ears of the people of Akwa Ibom when
he made his now infamous liking of the
planned capture of the state in 2019 to the
German invasion of Poland, which left more
than 600, 000 Polish citizens dead. But it
has also made them to resolve to resist
intimidation and bullying of any kind,
because of what they portend for the peaceful
state and its future.
The level of unity in Akwa Ibom today is
one that has not been seen in a long time.
There is general determination to resist the
intimidation for which Akpabio is well
known. The people are bent on ensuring the
future of the state is not mortgaged by one
person seeking to play God. There is a sense
of oneness for the common purpose of
preserving the peace that has reigned in the
state since Udom assumed office, which is
has left the state more united now than
before. It is the reason the state has been
able to record significant development in
so short a time.
The people juxtapose the peace-enhanced
development of the past three years with the
propaganda that concealed the failed
promises of the immediate past
administration, when uncompleted projects
were commissioned with fanfare, while white
elephants were passed off as legacy projects.
This was against the background of
insecurity that reigned in the state, which
made many to live in constant fear.
Two local government areas – Etim Ekpo
and Ukanafun – constituted the hotbed of
violence and random killings by armed
cultists and militants, leading to the murder
of more than 200 people. Insecurity in the
two areas defied solutions, which included
concerted operations by security agencies
including the army and Department of State
Services. But all that has become history.
Recently, the governor organized an
amnesty programme that saw 420 militants
renounce cultism and militancy to embrace
peace. The exercise involved voluntary
surrendering of hundreds of arms and
ammunition by the repentant militants.
The general feeling in Akwa Ibom is that
with the return of peace to all parts of the
state, the 2019 elections would not be won
through violence and intimidation. There
are concerted efforts that are being
championed by religious and traditional
leaders to ensure the state is not turned into
the theatre of war that Akpabio has
promised, in the name elections.
•Tamuno writes from Port Harcourt
C
M
Y
K

32— Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2018
YOUR LUCK TODAY
By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139
GEMINI; Placement of the Moon can bring you avoidable confrontation
either from new contacts or old allies; try you best to avoid
partnership crisis. Exhibit maturity
CANCER; Planetary placement warns you to take your health more
seriously. Yet here is a day remarkable success can be your lots
LEO; Whatever happens you will have cause to smile. Yet you must
not take your friends for granted, especially from 3pm. Take love
more seriously.
VIRGO; Unless you exercise great control domestic water can become
heated with re-action from people within your base of operation.
Protect your career.
LIBRA; Moon’s influence can induce others to oppose some of your
moves within your social circle. Respect important view of your
good friends.
L E I S U R E
TAKE HEART — ELLA RANDLE
“80 percent of success is to keep showing up.”
— Woody Allen
Keep showing up. Eventually life’s No’’s are going to turn into a
big YES!
But remember when you work hard in silence, the result someday
will be your loud music. Don’t quit, stay at it, re evaluate if
neccessary, but take it one step at a time.
Greater goals were overcome with yet greater or smaller challenges.
They are there to strengthen us. Stay in gratitude and someday
your gifts will be a sweeter song that gladens many hearts. -
Ella Randle.
TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye”
SAYINGS OF
OUR PEOPLE
A pretty
basket
does not
prevent
worries.
~Congolese Proverb
By Kola Fayemi
SCORPIO; Astrological forces are capable of bringing avoidable
personality clashes through financial transactions. If you rely too
heavily on promises made by others from 3pm you can be painfully
disappointed.
SAGITTARIUS; Unseen forces can boost your confidence and may
prompt you to become unnecessarily aggressive to the resentment of
others. Take it easy please.
CAPRICORN; You are meant to do away with whatever can not be
placed above board, especially if working today
AQUARIUS; Nurse no false hope and do away with self deceit so
that you’ll not run into avoidable trouble. This is the wrong time to
take your influential friends for granted, especially any time from
3pm today.
PISCES;. Here is a day you can come under the fire of enthusiasm
but if care is not taken others may take undue advantage of your
mind. Do away with whatever can heat your domestic water. Protect
your image.
DUDU in “ROLLING HOT” By A.O. OLAIDE
ARIES; Better than yesterday but you are advised to take legal
related issues more seriously. Minor misunderstanding possible from
3pm.
TAURUS;. Be very careful with both your personal and/or others
money and joint ventures too. Be more family minded.
ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING
Send your date and place of birth to the Astr
trological
Counselling, P.M.B 100
007, Apapa, Lagos
ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING
WHAT’S MY ASTRO-PERSONALITY?
Dear Joshua,
Please keep my birth dta and identity secret, but I want
you to analyse my horoscope bluntly so that I can know
who am I; talking about my personality.
Anonymous, Nigeria.
Dear Anonymous,
What you will find here under will prove useful if you
take them seriously and utilise them.
ANALYSIS OF YOUR HOROSCOPE DATA/PLAN-
ETARY PLACEMENT
Aries that hosted the most important heavenly body (the
Sun) together with indicator of mental focus lens-Mercury,
is known for special leadership quality and higher
degree of positive aggressiveness. Yes you were endowed
with leadership talents which can manifest either in the
business world or POLITICS and probably both.
It is true that Aries can be very aggressive, but with
many planets placed in more mild Star signs, with less
than 50% of push-full influence, loving Venus as most
influential planet when you were born, certainly aggression
of Aries is greatly water down to the minimum.
That is not to say you the timid type but yours is a
balanced personality. You are gentle, honest and straight
forward person. Preponderance of fixed and earth in
your chart are pointers to the fact that you are the careful
type who will not change his mind just for the fun of
it. Then as peace loving Venus was the most influential
planet when you were born, peace and harmony will
always come first whenever you want to take any (important
and/or) decisive action.
Placement of mighty Sun (indicator of basic-self hood)
the Moon (indicator of sub-conscious self/emotion) and
the Stellium (that is more than two planets in one Star
sign) in Aries, Pisces and Taurus respectively meant that
basic characteristics of the three Star signs stated in
this paragraph are highly pronounced in your innerself.
VIRGINIA
HOME & ABROAD
dadadekola@yahoo.com
By Lawrence Akapa

vanguardnews @vanguardnews @vanguardnews
Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2018—33
NEWS HOTLINES
018773962,
08052867058
VISIT: From left: Mr. Muktar Yusuf, Committe's Director of Finance and Account Revenue, Mobilisation
Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC, Abuja; Mr. Festus Ovie-Agas, Secretary to Delta State Government
and Mr. Cornelius Semiteje, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Asaba, during a visit by a delegation
of the National Data Verification Committee, Abuja, to Delta State. Photo: Nath Onojake.
ASSEMBLY CRISIS: A-Ibom Speaker seeks
elders' protection
By Chioma
Onuegbu
SPEAKER of Akwa
Ibom State House of
Assembly, Mr. Onofiok
Luke, has sought the
protection of elders of
Essien Udim Local
Government Area over
alleged threat to his life by
Senator Godswill Akpabio.
Luke, who spoke when
elders and stakeholders of
the Peoples Democratic
Party, PDP, paid him a
solidarity visit, yesterday in
Uyo, said he was planning
to go to Essien Udim to
report the issue to the elders
and the paramount ruler.
His words: “I said this the
other day and I want to say
it again today. When the
former member
representing Essien Udim
(Nse Ntuen) came here
last Tuesday and
confronted one of my aides,
he told him that they are
going to take me down.
And he said he was acting
on behalf of the former
Senate Minority leader.
“ I am still saying it again
2019: Anioma has four more years in
Govt House —OKOLUGBO
Delta govt approves construction,
rehabilitation of 70 roads
By Festus Ahon
A SABA—DELTA
State Government
has approved the
construction and
rehabilitation of 70 roads
across the three senatorial
districts in the state.
The Commissioner for
Information, Mr. Patrick
Ukah, who disclosed this
after the State Executive
Council meeting presided
that should anything
happen to me he (Akpabio)
should be held responsible.
I don’t talk carelessly. The
former member
representing Essien Udim
State Constituency, Nse
Ntuen said it. That is why I
shouted that my life is
threatened. I didn’t know
that you were coming here
because I was about
coming to the local
government to bring this
issue to the Paramount
Ruler and the elders.
“ I am a son of Essien
Udim having grown up
By Emma Amaize
A SABA—GOVE-
RNORSHIP
candidate of Change
Advocacy Party, CAP, in
Delta State, Comrade
Gloria Okolugbo, has said
that Delta North Senatorial
District has four more years
to stay in Government
House, Asaba, before
over by Governor Ifeanyi
Okowa, said the state
government was
determined to take
advantage of the dry
season to build more
infrastructure across the
state.
Ukah disclosed that the
completion of the
construction of Direct
Labour Agency, DLA Road,
Biose Amantu and Ikuku
Adindu with sewage, and
there and having
contributed to good things
in the area I think I should
be protected like a son of
the area and not an
outsider. And I want to
thank you for the
confidence you have in me
and for this show of
solidarity. I want to thank
you for standing by us and
especially the Governor.
“I want to thank you
because even in the face of
provocations you have
remained peaceful and
supportive of this
government. And when
handing over to another
senatorial district in 2023.
Okolugbo, a former
Commissioner for
Multilateral Relations and
Energy in the state, stated
this when he visited former
military President, General
Ibrahim Babaginda (retd.)
at his Hilltop residence in
Niger State.
She, however, called on
the rehabilitation of Vitalis
Okakwu and three critical
adjourning streets that
link DLA to Jesus Saves
Road in the state capital
territory and the construction
of Cletus Achi Way/
Marble Hill School Road
with a spur to Holy Family
Catholic Church Road,
Okpanam, Oshimili North
Local Government Area,
were approved.
people boast that the PDP
will not have votes from
Essien Udim Local
Government Area I
laughed.’’
Speaking earlier, leader
of the group, Obong
Afangide, condemned
Ntuen's conduct, noting
that it created tension in the
state.
“We are here to
encourage you to remain
steadfast and focused in the
mature way you have been
leading the state House of
Assembly and indeed the
state. We urge you to
remain who you are.’’
the Central Senatorial
District and Delta South
Senatorial District to
support the North in its bid
to produce the next
governor of the state.
“It is indeed the turn of
Delta North Senatorial
District to produce the next
governor of the state in the
spirit of fairness and
equity.”
Comrade Okolugbo
asserted that she was
motivated by her passion
for development, adding
that she was in Niger State
to meet with IBB because
of his role in the creation of
Delta State and also seek
his blessings.
Receiving Okolugbo and
her entourage, Babaginda
acknowledged the diverse
nature of the state,
emphasising the need for
the people of Delta North
to be united, adding, “This
is the only way to actualise
the hopes and aspirations
of the people.”
Buhari urged to replicate increase
in Police salary for teachers
By Perez Brisibe
UGHELLI - THE Class
of 1978 of Government
College Ughelli, has
asked President
Muhammadu Buhari to
replicate the increase in
the salary structure of the
Nigeria Police in the
salaries of teachers in
Nigeria.
The class made their
position known during
their inaugural annual
lecture and conference
as part of activities to
mark its 40 years
anniversary.
The event which held
at the school premises in
Ughelli, was entitled:
“Falling Standard of
Education in Nigeria:
Role of Old Boys,
Government, Teachers,
and Students.”
In his remarks,
Chairman of the class,
Dr. Akpo Mudiaga Odje
while lamenting the
welfare of teachers in
the country, said: “We
hope President Buhari
extends the increase of
police salary to teachers
as well as to members of
Academic Staff Union of
Universities, ASUU, who
are currently on strike.”
CHEVRON OIL SPILL: Community
women petition Buhari
THE
Aja-Omaetan
Community Women
Council in Warri North
Council Area of Delta State
has petitioned President
Muhammadu Buhari, his
wife, Aisha, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu
and others, over alleged
threat by Chevron Nigeria
Limited, CNL, to evict them
from the area claiming not to
recognise them.
They also alleged in the
petition dated November 28,
2018 and signed by the
Council President, Madam
Marice Aro; Woman Leader,
Madam Philita Ebrohimi and
Secretary, Mrs. Helen
Agungugbe respectively that
CNL has promised to
continue to pollute their
environment and
disenfranchise them in the
forth coming 2019 general
elections.
Aja-Omaetan has reported
two incidences of oil spillage
from Chevron Dibi RMP 14
Facility resulting from
equipment failure to
National Oil Spill Detection
and Response Agency,
NOSDRA wherein a Joint
Investigation Visit, by
NOSDRA officials, the
community representatives
and Chevron. The first
spillage occurred on
October 31, while the second
one happened on November
7, 2018 with NOSDRA
advising Chevron to change
the failed equipment.
Instead it decided to clamp
the leaking point that later
failed a second time.
NYPF honours Okowa, awards
scholarships
NIGERIAN Young
Professionals
Forum, NYPF, a nongovernmental
organisation, has conferred
an award of excellence on
Delta State governor, Sen
Ifeanyi Okowa and Abia
State governor among
others.
It also awarded
scholarships to the winners
of its essay writing
competition titled, “Illegal
Migration and Child
Trafficking: Possible Way
Out”.
The event was part of the
activities to celebrate
NYPF’s fifth anniversary,
promote its professionals’
database and recognise
several dignitaries, and
students, who have
distinguished themselves.
Immortalise Odogwu,
Osadebey, others, Anioma
Media group tells Okowa, FG
ANIOMA
Media
Professionals, AMP,
has called on the Federal
Government and Delta
State governor, Sen Ifeanyi
Okowa to imortalise past
leaders of the old Mid-West
and Bendel State
extraction.
A statement by the
Chairman of AMP, Ogbuefi
Hugo Odiogor, said the
leaders the leaders
contributed their quota in
the development of Nigeria.
The statement reads:
“Notable among them are:
late Chief Dennis
Osadebey, the nation’s
second Senate President;
first Premier of the defunct
Mid-West Region, Cheif
Denis Osadebey; first
Governor of Mid-West
Region, Chief Jereton
Mariere and Pa Anthony
Enahoro."

34—VANGUARD, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2018
Police declare war on
kidnappers, cultists in Abia
By Ugochukwu
Alaribe
ABA—THE Police in
Abia State have
declared war on
kidnappers and cultists in
the state and urged
residents to volunteer
information about criminals
to the security agencies to
ensure a crime free festive
season.
Commissioner of Police,
Abia State, Mr. Chris Ezike
who stated this while
briefing journalists in
Umuahia, said he has made
efforts to check
kidnapping in the state
by setting up the Abia State
Command Anti-
Kidnapping squad in
all Police divisions.
He lamented the rate at
which cultism has
infiltrated secondary
schools, markets and
streets , stressing that an
anti cultism outfit that will
combine carrot and stick
will soon take off before
Christmas.
“On the challenges of
kidnapping in Aba area of
Abia State and the need to
coordinate and consolidate
our efforts as well as
promote the use of
technology in tackling the
menace, I have with
immediate effect
established the Abia State
Command Anti
Kidnapping Squad with
jurisdiction to cover all
parts of the State.
“A superintendent of
Police has also been
appointed as the squad
leader and in the coming
days, their impact will be
felt in mitigating the
challenges of kidnapping.
Cultism in Abia State may
assume a worrisome
dimension if drastic
measures are not put in
place to checkmate the
activities of these sons and
daughters of evil.
“The trend is indicative of
the fact that it has
penetrated our secondary
schools, streets, markets
and social clusters. The
command has
commissioned an
operational-psycho-social
study that will inform our
response in the immediacy,
but most likely, an anti
cultism outfit that will
combine the carrot and stick
may be rolled out by the
command
Christmas."
before
UNTH doctors protest alleged
financial sleaze by management
By Dennis Agbo
E NUGU—RESIDENT
doctors at the
University of Nigeria
Teaching Hospital, UNTH,
Ituku/Ozalla, Enugu State
have protested alleged
abuse of their salaries and
other entitlements by the
hospital's management.
They alleged that the
finance department of the
teaching hospital has shortchanged
them for a long
time and would no longer
tolerate it. They also asked
that the Deputy Director of
finance in the institution
should resign from his job
over the sundry allegations.
The Chief Medical
Director of the hospital, Dr.
Christopher Amah
however failed to react to
the issues raised by the
protesters. He failed to pick
calls and text messages to
him, asking for his reaction.
In a protest by members
of the Resident Doctors in
the hospital, yesterday, the
chairman of Association of
Resident Doctors, ARD, Dr.
Isaiah Nwideny said “We
have been short changed
for quite a long time. We
are no longer treated as
resident doctors. What is
due for us has been taken
away from us. We don’t
know how much is our
salary.
“We don’t know how
much is our arrears. Just of
recent, the Federal
Government disbursed
N100 million on behalf of
doctors in UNTH, that
money, we don’t know how
it has been used. Today, we
demand for transparency,
we demand for honesty, we
demand for openness,
accountability. Let us know
how much you have spent
of our money.
“The money belongs to
us, it is our effort, we will
not allow them to take it
away. Therefore today, we
say no to all the illegal
policies of UNTH.
“The first call duty
allowance of every resident
doctor has been withheld
by the hospital
management. It is illegal,
criminal and unacceptable.
We demand that that
money be refunded to
every resident doctor.
Refund our N98,000;
refund our N60,000. The
last set of House officers
have not been refunded
their bond. Today, we
demand that the DDF
should refund the House
officers and the residents
their bond allowance. Bond
is illegal.”
The doctors also
demanded an account of
their improper placement,
promotion arreas,
advancement and
examination arreas and
urged the federal
government to intervene on
the matter.
They also protested what
they described as horrible
state of their call rooms,
noting that rats have taken
over their call rooms.
Anambra commences review of
court rules
By Nwabueze
Okonkwo
ONITSHA—IN a bid to
ensure a quicker and
accurate dispensation of
justice in Anambra State,
the state Chief Judge,
Justice Peter Umeadi and
the state judiciary have
embarked on the review of
the state's 2006 High Court
Rules and 1991 Magistrate
Court Rules. The CJ and
the judiciary are also using
the opportunity to review
the rules establishing the
state Multi-Door Court
Dana Air to acquire more aircraft, gets NCAA
re-certification
By Samson Echenim
DANA Air has said it
plans to acquire more
aircraft in the coming year.
The airline recently
concluded its recertification
exercise
conducted by the Nigerian
Civil Aviation Authority,
NCAA, assuring its guests
of additional flights to ease
the pain of travellers who
have had to bear the high
cost of tickets as a result of
flight shortage across the
country.
The airline’s Media and
Communications
Manager, Kingsley
Ezenwa, during a chat with
newsmen in Lagos said
House.
At a two-day public
summit jointly organised by
the CJ in conjunction with
the state judiciary and
attended by all the
administrative judges of the
various judicial divisions in
the state, chief magistrates
of all the magisterial
districts in the state and the
leadership of eight
branches of the Nigerian
Bar Association, NBA, in
the state, Umeadi
explained that the essence
of the review was to
management's plan to
acquire more aircraft was
part of the carreer's strategic
route and fleet expansion
programme and its desire
to continue to provide its
teeming guests with the
best in terms of in-flight
service, on-time
performance and customercentric
products.
Re-certification in
Nigeria’s aviation industry
is a standard practice
conducted every two years
by the NCAA and during
the period, an airline’s
operation is totally
reviewed from ground
handling to quality
assurance and particularly
safety standards.
smoothen the hitches in the
existing rules and at the
same time, update the
outdated ones.
Umeadi who moderated
the event therefore charged
judges, magistrates,
lawyers and all the judicial
staff in the state to fashion
out ways of ensuring
quicker dispensation of
justice in the state, rather
than perverting it.
According to him, "by the
time the high court and
magistrate court rules are
reviewed, the state judicial
system would become the
best in the country for other
"We are glad to have
scaled this rigorous
process," Ezenwa noted.
He said: "We wish to
commend the NCAA for
doing a thorough job and
for giving us a clean bill of
health which on its own
reassures our guests that
our 10 years experience in
Nigeria’s airspace is no
fluke. We are however
worried about some
orchestrated and baseless
stories that were circulated
while the exercise lasted.
Unfortunately the sponsors
of the story displayed crass
ignorance of simple
regulatory exercise as a
result of their mischievous
intentions."
states to emulate."
He contended that as the
state chief judge who has
reached the pinnacle of his
career in the state, he could
not afford to allow the
judicial system in the state
to be trampled upon so that
at the end of his service, he
could beat his chest and
say, “I carried out the
functions to the best of my
ability and to the
satisfaction of the masses”,
adding that his
performance in the state
could even turn out to book
a place for him at the
national level.
ROYAL REUNION: From left, Waziri of Keffi; Dr Garba Malumfashi, graduate; Chief Madaki
Ameh, graduate; Safiya Mukhtar, graduate; Mhari MacDonald, Marketing & Communications
Manager, University of Dundee; Professor Raphael Heffron, Professor in Global Energy
Law & Sustainability, CEPMLP, University of Dundee; Emir of Keffi, Dr Shehu Chindo
Yamusa III; Ifeanyi Aloh, graduate; Professor Peter McEleavy, Associate Dean International,
University of Dundee; Bitrus J. Bulama, graduate; Charles Opara, graduate; Moshood
Yusuf; another graduate; and Abdulhadi Abdullahi, graduate, as the University of Dundee
reunites with Alumni as well as the Emir of Keffi and traditional rulers.
Embrace peace, Sen Anyanwu begs Imo n-PDP
By Chinonso
Alozie
O WERRI—THE
Senator representing
Imo East at the upper
legislative chamber,
Samdaddy Anyanwu,
yesterday said he was
worried over the sudden
formation of a factional
group called the New
Peoples Democratic Party,
n-PDP, in Imo State.
Anyanwu in a statement
to newsmen in Owerri,
through his Chief Press
Secretary, Kelechi Eke, said
the party could not afford
to enter the race for the
2019 general elections with
a split factional executive.
Anyanwu has been
linked to the n-PDP but he
responded that the new
group should toe the path
of peace.
According to the
statement, “As the highest
political office holder of our
great party in the state, I
feel disturbed at this latest
development. This is
worrisome as we have a
little above 80 days to the
general elections.
“More worrisome is the
fact that as an opposition
party both at the State and
national levels, the party
cannot afford to approach
the forthcoming election
divided.
“Like the saying goes,
united we stand and
divided will fall. The
lessons of the 2015
governorship elections in
the State should be a case
study but unfortunately, we
don’t seem to have learnt
our lessons.
“I appeal to the
leadership of the n-PDP
and their numerous
followers to sheat their
sword and allow the
ongoing court process to it’s
logical conclusion. Senator
Anyanwu is a peace loving
and a firm believer in due
process. These explain the
large followership and
goodwill he commands.”
Anyanwu boasted that
the matter resulting from
the last Imo PDP
governorship primaries,
“was still in court. I am
confident of recovering the
mandate given to me by the
people through the court.
It is therefore important we
allow the court take its
normal course and not
resort to actions that can
threaten the party.”

By Marie Nanlong
J OS—FORMER
Governor of Plateau
State, Senator Jonah
Jang(Plateau North) has
said he will not honour
the fresh invitation
extended to him by the
Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission,
EFFC, as he has a court
case instituted by the
Commission to attend in
Jos.
The EFCC had asked
Jang to report to its Kano
office on December 5, but
the Senator asked the
Commission to pick
another date in January
2019.
Jang, according to a
statement by his Media
Consultant, Clinton
Garuba, explained that the
decision to turn down the
invitation was to enable
him appear in court in Jos,
where he is under trial
having been charged by
the same Commission, and
the matter is expected to
commence definite hearing
on the date of the new
invitation.
Garuba added that “it is
baffling how EFCC
expects the serving
Senator to be in two
places at the same time
since he does not possess
any psychic abilities.
“The fresh invitation is
not unconnected with the
story in the news alleging
that EFCC has traced a
mansion worth N500
million to him.
“The property located at
8 and 9 Gobarau Road,
Unguwan Rimi GRA,
Kaduna State, does not
belong to Senator Jang,
and this is not the first time
EFCC would investigate
its ownership.
“The property formerly
belonging to Northern
Nigerian Development
Company, Kaduna, was
allocated to the Senator
while he was governor of
Plateau State, but
eventually lost interest
and did not continue with
vanguardnews @vanguardnews @vanguardnews
I won’t honour EFCC's fresh
invitation—Jang
information and it knows
the actual owners of the
the acquisition.
“EFCC has this
said property.
Unfortunately, but
deliberately, EFCC
continues to harass the
Senator in its usual media
trials aimed at tarnishing
his glowing name and
reputation.”
GAMBIA SECURITY PARLEY: Lagos State Commissioner of Police,
Imohimi Edgal(right) discussing security matters with top Nigerian military
officers attached to ECMIG in Banjui, Gambia, during the just-ended security
summit and awards in Gambia.
By David Odama
LAFIA—THE 11
commissionernominees,
whose names
were submitted to
Nasarawa State House of
Assembly by Governor
Tanko al-Makura have
been screened and
confirmed commissionersdesignate
in Lafia, the state
capital.
Announcing the
confirmation after drilling
by the lawmakers, Speaker
of the House, Ibrahim
Abdullahi, admonished the
commissioners to be fair
and just to all as members
Zango emerges Katsina
Assembly new Speaker
By Bashir Bello
KATSINA—A
new
Speaker, Tasi’u
Zango(Zangon Daura
constituency), has emerged
in the Katsina State House
of Assembly.
Zango ‘s emergence
followed the vacuum
created by the former
Speaker, Abubakar
Nasarawa Assembly confirms
11 commissioner-nominees
of the state executive
council and to contribute
their quota to the
development of the state.
“As commissioners, when
sworn in, you must use your
wealth of experience and
opportunity given to you to
add value to good
governance, shun personal
interest, promote religious
and ethnic tolerant in the
state,” Abdullahi declared.
While also charging them
to be prudent and
accountable in the
management of the state’s
resources, the Speaker
advised them to see their
duties as call to service in
the interest of peace and
development.
The Speaker reiterated
the assembly’s
commitment to continue to
enact laws that would
have direct bearing on the
lives of the people of the
state.
The 11 commissionernominees
include Hajiya
Halima Jabiru, Salisu
Haske, Victor Terrah, Musa
Suleiman, Hajiya Jamila
Sarki, Mary Enwongulu,
Dr. Roseline Kela, Hajiya
Sa’adatu Yahaya,
Huduyamba Agidi, Dr.
Clement Uhembe and
Mohammed Aliyu.
Aggrieved Kwara APC members reconcile
By Demola Akinyemi
I LORIN—THE
protracted political
crisis rocking All
Progressives Congress,
APC, in Kwara State ended
yesterday, as all the
aggrieved aspirants in the
party agreed to work
together for victory in the
Kusada, who contested
and won the November 17
Kankia, Kusada, Ingawa
Federal constituency byelection.
Members that contested
for the position alongside
Zango were those
representing Mani, Daura,
Kusada and Baure.
He was sworn in by Clerk
of the House, Musa Bakori.
forthcoming elections.
A communiqué read by
the Chairman of APC
Reconciliation Committee,
Peter Olorunnisola(SAN),
entitled The aggrieved
aspirants have decided to
sheath their swords and
decide to work for the
victory of the party in the
general elections of 2019,
was read to journalists at
a briefing in Ilorin, after
consultations by the
reconciliation committee
with the stakeholders in
the crisis.
Agreements reached
It read in part: “The
leadership of APC,
mindful of the need for
unity as the party is fast
moving towards the
general election of 2019,
decided to hold a unity
meeting of all categories
of candidates and
aspirants, party leaders
and elders and state
executive committee of
the state chapter of the
party.
“At the meeting the
following decisions were
taken: that the party notes
the need to take good care
of the aggrieved members
of the party once it is
victorious in the next year
elections;
“That the party and the
governorship candidate
shall ensure that there
shall be inclusive
administration of the
party and in the running
of the campaign activities
of the party and members
will be involved;
“That every point of
crisis will be examined
with a view to providing
remedies where
necessary and all
members are enjoined to
join hands together to lift
up the party.”
Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2018—35
NEWS HOTLINES
018773962,
08052867058
Salis to Lagosians: Vote
right or remain spectators
By Agbonkhese Oboh
LAGOSIANS either
stop selling their votes
and elect candidates that
are loyal to the people or
remain spectators in the
governance of the state.
This was the position of
High Chief Owolabi Salis,
Alliance for Democracy,
AD, governorship
candidate for Lagos State,
while delivering a lecture
on The People’s
Involvement in the
Management of Lagos
Commonwealth at a
seminar organised by
Council of Imams,
Badagry Division led by
Sheik Abdulhakeem
Akewusola.
His words: “Lagosians
should stop selling their
votes and elect only
candidates whose loyalty
is to the people and not an
individual. If they don’t,
they will continue to be
By Boluwaji Obahopo
L OKOJA—WEALTHY
Nigerians have been
urged to assist in meeting
the health and other needs
of the indigent and
vulnerable in the society.
Chief Celestine
Ugwagada made the
appeal yesterday, at the
25th anniversary
celebration of Maria
Goretti Hospital, Anyigba,
Dekina Local Government
Area of Kogi State.
Chief Celestine
commended the Chief
Medical Director and
Founder of Maria Goretti
Healthcare Foundation,
Dr. Lucky Orungbe, for
offering free and
subsidised health care
services in the last twenty
By Juliet Umeh
OLD students of
Federal Government
Girls College, Akure,
Ondo
State,
FEGGICOLLA, have
called on the Federal
Government to reduce the
intake of students into
unity schools to raise the
falling standard of
education in the country.
Outgoing President of
the association, Mrs. Orie
Vann, made the call at the
all-sets meeting in Ikeja,
Lagos, noting that the
large number of students
taken in a class was
affecting the relationship
gap between the teacher
spectators in the affairs that
determine their fate.
“This is why when they
elect me as their governor,
my administration will
stop fraud through the
bottom-to-top system of
governance. It is the only
way resources will get to
the people and a few
person will not be worth
one trillion naira that they
cannot finish in their
lifetime.”
Earlier, at the graduation
of beneficiaries of Owolabi
Salis Foundation free
vocational training at
Akinde, Ifako-Jaye
council, he said if youths
have skills to live on, they
will not be canon fodders
for politicians' selfish
ambitions.
He vowed to “explore
the tourism potential of
Badagry and tackle
contractual fraud that is
the bane of Mile 2-
Badagry road project.”
Maria Goretti marks 25 years
of free services to indigent
five years.
Chief Ugwagada said:
“Maria Goreti Hospital
has also been serving as a
referral centre. I, therefore,
called on other well-to-do
individuals, publicspirited
organisations to
complement the good
gesture of Maria Goretti
Hospital.”
Speaking on behalf of the
Anyigba community, the
Ogohi Onu Anyigba,
Shaibu Okolo, described
the last 25 years of the
establishment of the health
institution in the area as
impactful and rewarding.
Responding, Dr.
Orungbe said the hospital
was established to offer
quality services at subsidised
rates, and free for
indigent and vulnerable.
Unity school old students
advocate reduced intake
and students.
She said: “There are too
many students in a class.
In my time, the number
was small, so teachers
knew you and your ability,
your weakness and strength
and were committed
to helping, even if it meant
sitting with us one-on-one
to turn our weaknesses
into strength.
“Now, you have about 50
or more in a class, so there
is no way one teacher can
know all of them.
“If Federal Government
can reduce the intake to a
reasonable number, it will
go a long way in arresting
our falling standard of
education.”

C
M
Y
K
36 — VANGUARD, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2018
SPAR: Alhaji Sulaimon Adebola Adegunwa, CEO, Essay Holdings Ltd (3rd left;);
HRM, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, Oba of Lagos (4th left); Mr Haresh Keswani, MD, Artee
Industries Limited, SPAR (5th left); Asiwaju Solomon Onafowokan, Chairman,
Artee Industries Limited, SPAR (6th right) with Lagos White Cap Chiefs and
other dignitaries at the opening of SPAR outlet in Opebi, Lagos over the weekend.
NBLB INTERACTIVE FORUM: From left; Co-founders of No Boys Left
Behind (NBLB) initiative, Funmi Modupe; Bridget Elesin; Queenette Enilama
and Idu Okwuosa, during the NBLB interactive forum to commemorate the
2018 International Men’s Day in Lagos.
CAll TO BAR: Registrar, FCET, Asaba, Mr Rotimi Adepoju (right), his wife,
Folake, with their son, Femi Adepoju at the recent Call to Bar ceremony in Abuja.
AWARD: General
Manager, Branch
Nigeria, Maria Rotilu
(left) receiving the
award for Excellence
in Artificial
Intelligence from Mr.
Leland Rice, Chair of
the Advisory Board,
Africa Fintech
Summit.
(The award was
presented at the Africa
Fintech Summit in
Lagos, in recognition
of Branch’s use of
world class AI
technology in giving
access to quick loans in
minutes
to
underserved
Nigerians through the
Branch Mobile App.)

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2018 — 37

38 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2018
Huge Lagos housing deficit: Firm to deliver 2,000 housing
units in nine months in three LGAs
•To complete four housing units in 14 days
By Kingsley Adegboye
•Model of Peridot Parkland
TO address the huge
housing deficit in Lagos
state estimated to be about
three million units, Messrs
EchoStone Nigeria, a property
development firm, in
collaboration with Lagos
state government through
the State Ministry of Housing,
on Thursday laid the
foundation for speedy construction
of 2,000 housing
units in three Local Govern-
ment Areas (LGAs) in the
state.
EchoStone is deploying
an innovative technology
that allows rapid and scalable
construction beginning
with 250 units of two bedroom
detached bungalows
in Idale, Badagry LGA.
The ground breaking
event for Peridot Parkland in
Idale, Badagry, was held at
the premises of Lagos State
Vocational Education Centre,
Agidingbi where a prototype
is expected to be completed
in a record 14 working
days.
EchoStone is expected to
construct a total of 2,000
housing units and upon
completion of the Badagry
estate, will move to Ayobo
in Alimosho LGA and Imota
in Ikorodu LGA.
Speaking at the ground
Building Collapse: Stop engaging
quacks in building designs, Architects
warn Nigerians ...Call for stringent measure
By Gabriel Olawale
TO stem the rising in
cidents of building collapse
across the country,
the Nigerian Institute of
Architects NIA, has advocated
stringent action
against quacks who engage
in building construction
without pre-requisite
knowledge and certification.
NIA President, Festus
Njoku, who spoke at the
58th Annual General
Meeting and Conference
of the professional body in
Lagos last last, said that
engaging quacks to help in
building project comes with
its own implication which
includes loss of lives as a
result of building collapse.
“It’s very unfortunate that
our society does not understand
the importance of professionals.
Most of the
building collapses across
the country were as a result
of involving somebody
who is not a professional to
take up the job meant for
professionals.
“When some people have
jobs, they will engage
someone who just finished
his National Youth Service
that doesn’t know the rudiment
of the profession
because they don’t want to
pay professional fee. When
such buildings collapse,
they generalize the blame.
“At every construction site,
the best thing to do is to put
in place project sign board
against defaulters
which will state all the professionals
listed in the
project. During our evaluation
and monitoring, we
try to cross check all this
things but many people
don’t do it”, NIA boss noted
Njoku pointed out that
unless there are laws that
sanction both the person
that engages a quack and
the quack, Nigeria will continue
to lose its citizens as
a result of building collapse.
“There is need for law that
will sentence to jail professionals
whose negligence
results to building collapse.
This will make people to
seat tight”, he added.
Speaking on the theme
for the conference, “Architecture
and National
Regeneration”,1st Vice
President of NIA, and
Chairman Organising
Committee, Sunny Echono,
said that the facets of
regeneration could also
take the angle of urban renewal
and regeneration
propositions towards solving
or alleviating social and
economic problems.
“This would largely involve
the search for and
creation of solutions for
these challenges which
usually take the form of
public policy making in order
to regulate urban processes
in an attempt also to
improve our urban environment.
“Ultimately, regeneration
is to improve the lives of the
people vis-a-vis creating
environments that enhance
people’s health and
well-being, hence this raises
the question of what our
responsibilities are in this
regard?
On his part, Chairman of
NIA Lagos Chapter, Fitzgerald
Umah, said that if
Nigeria does not regenerate,
it may land in huge
problem.
“It is also good to know
that we have not done
about 30 percent of development
we need in Nigeria.
Nigeria is the destination
of the world in terms
of buildings. If you go to
Europe and America, they
are almost all built. The next
world for development is
Africa, and Nigeria inhabits
over 180 million people
which makes it the next target.
“Regeneration actually
refers to our environment,
making it look to attractive
and healthy. For instance,
the real estate developments
going on around lekki
corridor are really not
what we are supposed to
be doing. When you talk
about regeneration, we
need to talk about sustainability,
reducing carbon
monoxide, reducing numbers
of vehicles on the road
and looking at some areas
in terms of good landscape.
breaking ceremony EchoStone’s
Global Chief Executive
Officer and Co-founder,
Mr. Anthony Recchia,
stressed the need for industrialisation
of housing,
pointing out that rapid urbanisation
and population
explosion in Lagos required
radical construction technology
to bridge the huge
housing deficit of over three
million in the state.
Recchia said that construction
had not evolved in
the last 50 years and that
industrialisation would
bridge huge demand gap,
saying that the mortgage
institutions could effectively
drive the supply.
According to him,”What
we really need is the industrialisation
of labour, along
with the technology to create
the asset which then produces
the mortgages”.
Disclosing that four housing
units would be finished
at the Badagry site every 14
days, Echostone’s global
boss said the entire project
on hectares of land would
be completed within three
months.
Recchia who informed
that the training of local artisans
had commenced to
ensure skill transfer to residents
of Lagos, said that the
project was also creating
jobs in the state.
“Mostly what I see on the
job side is that it is gender
neutral of men and women
working together with women
running the machines
and helping with the formworks”,
he said.
In his remark, Mr. Ander
Lindquist, EchoStone Co-
Founder and President;
Business Development,
while making a slide presentation
of the technology
said that the form works
used eliminates time wastage
and allows opportunity
for construction of a minimum
of eight homes daily
from ground to carcass.
Lindquist said that the
technology also provides 7.5
percent lower temperature
in the homes, thereby reducing
the need for air conditioners,
adding that electrical
and plumbing fittings
alongside other accessories
are done simultaneously
with the construction; thereby
ensuring durability of the
facilities for over 50 years
without maintenance.
Lindquist said that Peridot
Parkland is also going to
include facilities like green
areas, power supply, street
light, sewage reticulation,
car parks, among others.
The state Commissioner
for Housing, Prince Gbolahan
Lawal, said that the
project was part of the “Global
mission” of Gov. Akinwunmi
Ambode’s administration
to construct 20,000
houses in all parts of the
state in four years, pointing
out that the government was
beginning with the 2,000 to
be constructed by EchoStone,
while other developers
would complete the figure
to 20,000 housing units
in four years to bridge the
over three million housing
deficit in the state.
“This is like an economic
revolution because whoever
that has a home, has almost
everything; and with
that home, you can use that
home for collateral,” he said.
Lawal added that fast and
affordable housing delivery
was a priority for the state
government, hence its
adoption of the speedy construction
technology to meet
housing needs of the state.
He confirmed that EchoStone
had started construction
in Badagry, using the
speed technology which
would also reduce the carbon
footprint by 40 per cent
in line with global climate
change initiatives.
Lawal, while conducting
the ground breaking, told
journalists that efforts were
on to complete all other
housing projects in Lagos
state, assuring that some
houses would be delivered
in 2018.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2018 — 39
FMBN disburses N15.7 billion loan for home renovation
…As FRSC staff get N3 billion
•Buildings under the Home Renovation Scheme.
By Chris Ochayi
The Federal Mortgage Bank
of Nigeria, FMBN, has disbursed
a total sum of N15.7 billion
to 19,169 beneficiaries across
the country under the Home Renovation
Loan window. This was
disclosed by the Managing Director
of the apex mortgage bank,
Ahmed Dangiwa, an architect.
Dangiwa, who said this during
the presentation of N640 million
cheques to 640 of FRSC headquarters
in Abuja, under the home
renovation scheme assured that
the bank was determined to perform
creditably well in the discharge
of its mandate given the
lean resources at its disposal.
Noting that the efforts were
through collaboration with the
bank to address housing needs
of FRSC staff, Dangiwa disclosed
that the bank approved the sum
of N1.8 billion loan for 195 staff of
FRSC as mortgage loans for the
purchase of their own houses
He also added that, a total sum
of N1.2 billion loan had been disbursed
to personnel of Federal
Road Safety Corps, FRSC, under
its Home Renovation Loans
scheme so far.
The FMBN boss who enumerated
encumbrances associated
with housing finance in Nigeria,
noted that, “In consideration of
these challenges, it became necessary
for FMBN to develop some
quick-wins that will allow a greater
number of Nigerians access to
the National Housing Fund. Consequently,
the FMBN Home Renovation
Loan was introduced by
the bank. “The loan window affords
Nigerians who are contributors
to the NHF an opportunity
to access mortgage loans to renovate
or improve existing properties
which are personally owned
by them or through family ownership.
“Compared to regular mortgage,
the requirements for this
loan have been made very liberal.
These include the signing of
a Memorandum of Understanding
and the execution of Letters
of Undertaking by the various
state governments, collaborating
agencies (federal & state) and
employers for the deduction and
remittance of loan repayments to
the bank, in addition to the provision
of two (2) guarantors by the
applicants.
“At this juncture, permit me to
applaud the commitment and cooperation
of the Corp Marshal,
Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi, in executing
these documents promptly,
which has enabled the Federal
Road Safety Corp members to
benefit from FMBN Home Renovation
Loans from the Federal
Mortgage Bank of Nigeria.
“Today we are witnessing the
presentation of cheques amounting
to N640 million to 640 beneficiaries.
This brings total disbursement
to FRSC to N1.2 billion
for 1,207 beneficiaries across
the country. “This is in addition
to the sum of N1.8 billion approved
for 195 staff of FRSC as
mortgage loans for the purchase
of their own houses. This is a clear
demonstration of the Corp Marshal’s
unique concern for the
welfare of Federal Road Safety
Corp members through collaboration
with the FMBN to address
their housing needs.
“It is pertinent to note that a total
sum of N15.7 billion has so far
been disbursed by FMBN to
19,169 beneficiaries across the
country under the Home Renovation
Loan window.”
The FMBN boss recalled that,
just recently, one of the most ambitious
housing delivery programmes
in this country, the National
Affordable Housing Delivery
Programme, NAHDEP, in collaboration
with the Nigerian Labour
Congress, NLC, the Trade
Union Congress, TUC, and the
Nigerian Employers’ Consultative
Association, NECA, was
launched by the bank.
“It is a programme to deliver
affordable houses for Nigerian
workers in every state of the federation.
As we speak, the pilot
projects have commenced in earnest
in 14 states. The first phase
is to deliver 100 houses in each
of the two states across the six
geopolitical zones of the country
with two special sites in Abuja and
Lagos.
“While the bank continues to
face considerable challenges particularly
on its lack of adequate
capital, all these indices indicate
that we have performed creditably
well in the discharge of our
mandate given the lean resources
at our disposal.
“We have also given succour to
Nigerians with the cancellation of
equity requirement for NHF
loans under N5m and a reduction
in equity percentage payment
to 10 per cent for loans from
N5m to N15m from the initial 20
per cent to 30 per cent. This is
bound to further boost the affordability
of many Nigerians in accessing
mortgages.

40 — VANGUARD, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2018

vanguardnews @vanguardnews @vanguardnews
Vanguard, TUESDAY DECEMBER 4, 2018—41
NEWS HOTLINES
018773962,
08052867058
PDP FLAG OFF—PDP Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar , discussing with the former governor
of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido (l) while former governor of Katsina State, Alhaji Ibrahim Shema (r);
former Minster of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki (2l); Chairman PDP Board of Trustees, Senator Walid
Jibrin (2r) and former PDP National Chairman, Senator Ahmed Mekarfi (3 left) strategise at the General
Aviation Terminal, Abuja Airport, ahead of the flag off of the PDP Presidential Campaign at Shehu Kangiwa
Square, Sokoto, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.
Oil price crash forces review of 2019
budget benchmark
Continues from Page 5
pendence on oil for government
revenues.”
LCCI reacts
Commenting on the
development, Director
General, Lagos Chamber
of Commerce and
Industry, Mr. Muda
Yusuf, said: “Data from
the Organisation of Petroleum
Exporting
Countries, OPEC,
shows that oil prices are
trending down at
$59.96p/b on November
29 from $88p/b one
month ago.
“This is below 2019-
2021 Medium-Term Expenditure
Framework
(MTEF) benchmark of
$60p/b. The declining
global oil price poses a
major risk to Federal
Government’s economic
projections for 2019 fiscal
year as well as impact
adversely on its
MTEF, if the trend continues.
“Analysts have described
the slump in oil
prices as the equivalent
of a tax hike and tax cut
in oil exporting and importing
economics respectively.
According to
estimates by Capital
Economics analysts, every
$10-per-barrel fall in
oil prices boosts incomes
by about 0.5 to
0.7% of gross domestic
product in major
emerging market oil
importers.
“The same discount
will cause a 3-5% decline
of GDP in most of
the Gulf economies, and
a slowdown of 1.5-2% of
GDP in Russia and Nigeria
on an annualized
basis. This is not good
news for Nigerian economy
which remains
fragile with GDP
growth of less than 2%.”
Impact
Naira down to N369/$ in
parallel market
By Elizabeth Adegbesan
The Naira, yesterday, depreciated to N369 per
dollar in the parallel market.
According to naijabdcs.com, the live exchange rate
platform of the Association of Bureaux De Change
Operators (ABCON), the parallel market exchange
rose to N369 per dollar from N368 per dollar last
week Friday, translating to N1.00 depreciation of the
naira.
Meanwhile, the naira yesterday depreciated by
N2.48k in the Investors and Exporters (I&E) window
due to a 94 percent decline in the volume of dollars
traded.
Data from FMDQ showed that the indicative
exchange rate for the window dropped to N364 per
dollar yesterday from N361.52 per dollar last week
Friday, translating to N2.48k depreciation of the
naira.
The volume of dollars (turnover) traded yesterday
in the window dropped by 94 percent to $24.01
million from $386.29 million last week Friday.
On the impact of the
development, Yusuf
said: “The domestic forex
market is already responding
to recent
sharp fall in oil prices.
For instance, the local
currency has dropped
to N370/$ in the parallel
market from N363/$
it traded for a better
part of 2018. There are
fears that the sharp fall
in oil prices, if sustained,
could lead to a
shortage of the US$ as
follows.
“As capital flow reversals
intensify, as oil
price weakens, and as
foreign reserves come
under pressure, there
are worries that the capacity
of the Central
Bank of Nigeria, CBN,
to sustain the current
levels of intervention in
the foreign exchange
market will be tested.
Reserves currently
stand at $42 billion,
down from $48 billion
five months ago.
“The improvement in
liquidity and relative
stability in forex market
witnessed by businesses
in 2018 will come
under threats due to
declining receipts from
oil.
‘’This will have profound
impact on the
prices of imported
goods and services
leading to likely increase
in the rate of inflation.
“The fiscal operations
of government would
be adversely affected.
This may further threaten
the ongoing discussion
around new minimum
wage.
“Despite sustained efforts
by government to
improve the business
environment, Foreign
Direct Investment inflows
remain stagnated.
’The capital account
faces significant uncertainty,
as external portfolio
investors exercise
further caution due to
developments in the
global financial markets
and the forthcoming
general elections in
2019.’’
Economic
reforms
Mr. Yusuf called for
urgent economic reforms,
saying “given the
challenging economic
conditions, key policy
reforms would be imperative
to support and
sustain the stability of
the macroeconomic environment.
“These include,
among others, a foreign
exchange management
framework that reflects
the market fundamentals,
the acceleration of
the economic diversification
agenda, normalization
of Lagos ports
environment, the oil
and gas sector reform,
especially the petroleum
industry bill; better
debt management
strategy to ease the burden
of debt service, reduction
in the cost of
governance at all levels;
improvements in
the domestic revenue
(particularly independent
revenue) to reduce
volatility in government
revenues.”
Nigeria risks
sliding back to
recession
—NECA
Reacting, Nigeria
Employers’ Consultative
Association, NECA,
expressed fears that the
continuous fall in the
price of crude in the international
market could
force the nation back
into economic recession.
Speaking thorough its
Director General designate,
Mr. Timothy Olawale,
NECA also
warned that it would
negatively affect the
funding of the national
budget.
He said: “The nation’s
major source of
revenue is the sale of
crude oil. If the oil price
in the international
market falls below the
economic projection of
the government, it will
definitely put funding
of the budget at risk.
‘’In spite of government’s
much hyped
economic diversification,
evidence on
ground suggests otherwise,
hence we will continue
to advocate real
diversification of the
economy to free the nation
from this panic of
unstable price of crude
oil.
‘’Again, Nigeria’s
much talked about escape
from recession was
not because of anything
other than the boost in
the price of crude in the
international market. If
there is collapse in the
price, the nation risks
sliding back into recession.
‘’So, my immediate
reaction is that it will
affect the funding of the
budget and second, the
nation may fall back
into recession.”
BOKO HARAM:
Defence Minister directs
Buratai to remain in North-East
•As Buhari orders enhanced welfare package for troops
By Joseph Erunke
ABUJA —THE
Minister of De
fence, Mansur
Dan-Ali, has directed
the Chief of Army Staff,
Lt. General Tukur Buratai,
to remain in the
North East, in view of
the surge in Boko
Haram terrorists’ activities
in the region.
This came as President
Muhammadu Buhari in
a show of concern to the
welfare needs of members
of the Armed Forces,
directed the enhancement
of the welfare
of troops, particularly
those serving in
operational areas within
the country.
Dan-Ali, however, said
the army chief could return
to Abuja, the administrative
headquarters
of the Nigerian
Army, when the security
situation in Borno
and other North East
states improved.
The Minister’s directive,
according to a statement,
yesterday, by his
Public Relations Officer,
Col.Tukur Gusau, was
sequel to a meeting he
had with service chiefs
earlier in his office in
Abuja.
The statement read:
“The Minister of Defence,
Mansur Muhammad
Dan-Ali, met with
the CDS and service
chiefs today, December
3, 2018 (yesterday), at
the Ship House, Headquarters
of Ministry of
Defence and consequently
directed the
Chief of Army Staff to
remain in the North East
until security situation
improves.
“Similarly, the General
Officer Commanding the
8 Division, Nigerian
Army, was also directed
to relocate his Tactical
Headquarters from
Sokoto to Gusau, Zamfara
State, to oversee the
conduct of Operation
Sharan Daji.
“The Chief of Defence
Staff and Chief of Army
Staff were also mandated
to effect changes in
the operational commands
of Operations
Delta Safe in the Niger
Delta; LAFIYA DOLE in
the North East; Sharan
Daji in Zamfara and Katsina
states and Awatse in
the South West.
“This is to enable them
meet up with the current
threats and security
challenges in their areas
of responsibility.
‘’The President, Commander-in-Chief
of the
Armed Forces has also
directed the emergency
procurement of critical
equipment for the Armed
Forces, in line with the
Federal Government’s
policy of procuring
equipment from original
equipment manufacturers
on government to
government basis.
“The Council/Board
also considered and approved
the promotion of
qualified senior military
officers to their next
higher ranks.
“In a related development
and a show of concern
to the welfare needs
of members of the Armed
Forces, the President,
Commander-in-Chief of
the Armed Forces has directed
the enhancement
of the welfare of troops
particularly those serving
in operational areas
within the country.”

42 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2018
Mothers’agony:
We were shocked to learn our children have
diabetes
*My son was in semi-coma when diagnosed --- Aishat Sulaiman
*Buying insulin all the time is hell for me- --- Martha Joseph
By Gabriel Olawale
Living with diabetes as an
adult is considered relatively
difficult in terms of care, lifestyle
and financial implication, but
having a child with diabetes not
only denies such child opportunities
of life, it places a huge burden
on the parents. Most people
are unaware that children too
suffer from diabetes.
This is the plight of Mrs Falade
Taiwo, mother of a 12 years old
Zerubbabel, who is living with
diabetes. "I could not believe it
when I was informed in the hospital
that my son is diabetic,” She
told Good Health Weekly.
Falade recounted that the
whole thing started when
Zerubbabel was nine. "He
showed symptoms of malaria, we
are treating him for malaria and
typhoid, but his condition worsened.
"He was taken to the hospital
but despite medical intervention
there was no good response. He
went into sudden coma. It was
then we were referred to the Lagos
University Teaching Hospital,
LUTH, where he was diagnosed
with diabetes.
"When I was told, it wasn't a
good experience, I was in shock,
thinking how could he be diabetic
because am a kind of person that
don't believe in junk food. We
don't eat sugary things in my family.
I was not myself until after
some days.
"I asked them what could be
responsible for it, because when
my husband and I were tested,
we are not diabetic. But they
made me realise that it does happen
like that and since then we
have been managing it. We go to
the clinic, follow drug prescription
and other things.
"When he was diagnosed it
wasn't easy at all because he eats
like other children. So to restrain
him from not taking it is not easy.
Their are times, he must have
taken it and we had to make him
understand why he needed to
drop it. I feel bad that I didn't allow
him to mingle with his
peers.”
Aishat Sulaiman, Muftau's
mother recalled that but for the
quick intervention of doctors, she
might have lost her son who was
diagnosed at 11, after his brother's
birthday.
"After taking some sugary
things during his brother birthday,
he was shivering and at the
same time his body temperature
was too high. We rushed him to
the hospital where series of tests
were done on him. Before the outcome
of the results, he was placed
on glucose that worsened his condition
and he became delirious.
"Muftau fell into semi-coma,
he was incoherent and I was
scared. The following morning, I
requested to transfer him to another
hospital. The doctor per-
*L-R: Mrs.Martha Joseph, Mrs. Aishat Suleiman and Mrs.Falade Taiwo
ceived his mouth odour and said
it was diabetes. "They briefed us
on the options and we opted for
LUTH where Muftau was admitted
for 10 days. Aishat’s lament
is that five years down the line,
things have not been easy.
"Sometimes we are short of insulin.
I have had to phone my
sister to help look for where we
can buy insulin. It is hell for me.
"Five-pack insulin cartridge
costs about N28,000 aside other
things that we need to buy. We
also need to keep it in the cooler
and change the water daily in
order to make it last up two
weeks.”
Martha Joseph, whose
daughter, Blessing, was diagnosed
at the age of nine, only
noticed that the girl had suddenly
slimmed down. There was no
explanation for her rapid weight
loss. She was taken to the hospital
and Blessing was treated for
Study says Nigerian men eager to resume sex after
wives’ delivery
By Chioma Obinna
A
NEW study has shown
that most Nigerian men
who recently became fathers
are eager to know how early
sex can resume after childbirth.
The study, carried out by a
Nigerian Mom and Baby Care
Company, Mothersbond Limited,
also showed that the new fathers
were also very concerned about
the after effect of childbirth on
their partners' birth canal.
The study which interviewed
1,088 married and unmarried
fathers via telephone calls,
emails, and through social media
on Instagram and Facebook
messenger across 30 states in
Nigeria focused on men aged
between 25 and 49.
Among those interviewed in
the study which was concluded
in August 2018, 60 percent of
whom were first-time fathers.
Speaking on the findings in
Lagos, the Chief Executive of
Mothersbond Limited, Mr
Michael Osuji said: "The study
revealed that these concerns are
really strong for men, and only
secondary to the safety of their
wives and babies.
In essence, once the wife/
partner and baby are safe, the
first thoughts that come to mind
are when (how quickly)
intercourse can resume; followed
by the postpartum condition of
the birth canal; how and when
the belly and overall body of their
partner would go back to shape
malaria but there was no improvement.
"So they referred us to another
hospital where series of tests and
confirmed she is diabetic. I was
surprised to hear that because
there is no history diabetes in our
family,” Martha remarked.
Financial implication of children
with diabetes is not easy
because of the need to run series
of tests that could cost several
thousands aside insulin and others.
“Last month they gave us insulin
free of charge at LUTH
which relieved me a little.”
Martha wants the government
to help subsidise the cost of insulin.
Reacting to the development,
Mrs Folashade Ajayi of Roche
Diabetes Care said that no child
should die of diabetes because
these children can live normal
and healthy live as long as possible.
"Children do have diabetes
and when it occurs like that we
should not resort to fate that this
child cannot amount to anything.
Once we begin to see the symptoms
such excessive thirst, frequent
urination, weight loss, lack
of energy, vomiting, dehydration,
rapid breathing or coma among
others, then the parents should
take the child to the hospital to
check the blood glucose.
"Most of the time" children
come down with type 1 diabetes,
a chronic disease resulting from
destruction of insulin-producing
pancreatic ß cells. So that situation
is not usually hereditary, it
might be due to infection but Type
2 is usually hereditary."
Corroborating her view, Professor
of Paediatric Endocrinology,
Prof. Abiola Oduwole, said Type
1 diabetes is commonly found in
children causing them to be
and the after effect of
breastfeeding during the months
of nursing.
"We find that these concerns are
more important to them, and
rank higher than the cost
implications of having a new
baby, long-term postpartum
complications if any, as well as
changes in the home that comes
with having a newborn which we
thought should be at the very top
of their mind but it wasn't.
Further Osuji stated: "We took
it a step further and shared our
findings with the women about
what majority of the men had said
(not their own partners
specifically), 94 percent weren't
surprised at all, 78 percent of the
women had same concerns."
needing insulin three to four
times a day and also needing frequent
blood sugar level checks.
Abiola who is the President,
Society for Paediatric and Adolescent
Endocrinology in Nigeria,
disclosed that although there
are more adults with diabetes
than children, once a child is diagnosed,
that child will live with
the disease for life.
"Sadly, many of them are coming
from indigent background
and so unable to afford the necessary
care and the child ends
up developing kidney problems
much earlier than they should.
Abiola who consults at the
College of Medicine University
and the Lagos University Teaching
Hospital as Honorary Consultant
lamented the poor awareness
about diabetes in children..
"There are no figures, so it is
very difficult to say specifically
the number of children living
with diabetes. But I can say in
the last 10 years, there has been
increase in the number of children
with diabetes with highest
number coming from Kano followed
by Lagos, Abakaliki and
some other places. "These are
things we can research on, why
is it that we have the same north
but not common everywhere.
What is it that makes a particular
area have more and some have
less. Is it that they really have
less or they were not been diagnosed?
In the whole of Nigeria, there
are only 40 Paediatric Endocrinologists,
and put together, we have
attended to not less than 600 cases.
"These children need insulin in
order to have energy, If only the
government can support them
with insulin, life would be better
for them. Diabetes on its own
doesn't kill. It is the complications
that arise from diabetes that kill.
The essence of the 10-kilometre
walk is to create awareness
and raise funds to support indigent
parents."
On his part, the Head of Sales
and Marketing of Mothersbond
Limited, Winifred
Chukwuemeka explained that
the research also engaged with
mothers who are the primary
customers of the brand.
The findings further revealed
that 93 percent of mothers who
have used a Mothersbond
product chose it again after a first
purchase, and another 97 percent
said they would recommend the
brand.
"This is an indication that our
customers are satisfied with our
post-pregnancy abdominal
binder, our Super-fast breast
pumps and baby bouncer/
rocking chair, as well as our
other products" she added.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2018 — 43
Experts promote limb
slengthening, reconstruction
surgery in Nigerian hospitals
By Chioma Obinna &
Gabriel Olawale
Orthopaedic services
across the country have
received a boost with the introduction
of a sub specialty
of limb lengthening and
reconstruction by Nigerian
orthopaedics. To this end,
members of the Nigerian
Orthopaedic Association,
NOA, have urged Nigerians
to take advantage of orthopaedic
hospitals in the
country instead of going
abroad. Speaking in Lagos
during the 41st Annual
General Meeting and Scientific
Conference with the
theme: "Musculoskeletal
Problems in Children' and
sub-theme 'Sports Injuries',
the experts explained that
the limb lengthening techniques
would salvage most
limbs that are amputated in
the country.
The President of the Association,
Dr. UgoEnweani,
also sub specialties like injuries
in sports that are presenting
challenges in orthopaedic
surgery practice, can
now be handled.
Enweani explained that
yearly, Orthopaedic surgeons
gather to interact
with emphasis on improvements
and challenges in the
profession in order to develop
ideas and articulate option
to address the issues."
He said the new technique
is part of strategies to reduce
medical tourism in the
country. Speaking, the Medical
Director, National Orthopaedic
Hospital, Lagos,
Mustafa Alimi, said most of
the orthopaedic procedures
people travel out of the
country for can be done in
Nigeria. "We want to let people
know that there are capable
hands in our local facilities
and most of these orthopedic
procedures can be
done locally.
"We have the manpower,
we have facilities which are
the hospitals and we have
the knowledge," he said.
On the new techniques,
President, Limb Lengthening
& Deformity Correction
Society, Dr Isa Nurudeen,
said limb lengthening and
reconstruction has existed
for years but is relatively
new in Nigeria.
"The issue of bone lengthening
and correction of deformity
came based on the
knowledge that most parts
of the body have the ability
to regenerate except the
nervous system and that
knowledge is what we are
using through some techniques
and devices to increase
the length of bones.
"This sub specialty is
aimed at reconstructing the
limb. A few of us who were
abroad are now using the
conference to introduce other
surgeons to it. We are
building more capacity, with
this surgery in place; most
of the limb being amputated
will be salvaged. "What
we do is that we break the
bone, allow it to start healing,
and then we gradually
stretch it so that the new
tissue that is forming will
grow along. After a period
of time, new bone is constructed."
* The Olor'ogun Dr. Sonny Folorunso Kuku,being bestowed the Gold Medal for his
exceptional services to the College and Medical Healthcare in West African sub
region recently in Sierra Leone
NiBUCAA, partners targets 10,000 Nigerians for free
HIV testing, counselling
By Chioma Obinna
THE Nigerian Busi
ness Coalition
Against AIDS, NiBUCAA,
is targeting not less than
10,000 Nigerians for free
HIV testing and counselling
as part of activities to
mark this year’s World
AIDS Day. Disclosing this
during a walk which began
from Costain Bus Stop and
terminated at the National
Stadium, Surulere to flag
off the exercise in Lagos,
NiBUCAA member companies
and partners harped
on the importance of collective
efforts to eliminate
HIV&AIDS.
Some of the dignitaries at
the walk include the Managing
Director, Nigerian
Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza
Bala Usman, Managing
Director, Total E&P Nigeria
Limited, Nicolas Terraz,
partners and residents.
Addressing participants,
Executive Committee
Chairman NiBUCAA, Dr.
Shaibu Musa noted that
the 2018 World AIDS Day
was particularly significant
as it marks the 30th edition
of the international day set
aside to raise awareness
and ignite conversations on
the scourge and effects of
HIV&AIDS in communities
and workplaces.
“As the voice of the private
sector’s response to
HIV&AIDS and allied
health issues, NiBUCAA
through the support of
member companies commenced
the commemoration
with a conversation
with the press on Monday
26th November, 2018. At
the session, we intimated
the media on providing
HIV&AIDS Testing and
Counselling (HCT) services
to 10,000 Lagos residents.
I am delighted to
inform you that the acceptance
and statistics from the
designated centres have
been impressive so far. The
free HCT services will end
on Wednesday December
5th, 2018. Residents are
enjoined to use this opportunity
to know their HIV
status in line with the 90-
90-90 benchmark of the
Joint United Nations Programme
on HIV&AIDS.”
Musa noted that collaborative
efforts and increased
investments in awareness,
provision of HCT services
and antiretroviral therapy
(ART) would reduce the
country’s HIV&AIDS burden.
The theme of this year’s
commemoration, Know
Your Status, is a call to action.
Speaking, Assistant
Director, National Agency
for the Control of AIDS,
NACA, Mr. Raheem Mohammed
commended
NiBUCAA for sustaining
engagements with the private
sector whilst calling for
sustained political will to
deepen the response to
HIV&AIDS.
He said: “The gap in HIV
diagnosis is a major limitation
for our HIV programme
and for the country
to achieve the 90-90-90
targets. There are several
opportunities and innovative
technologies to expand
access to HIV testing which
will require a sustained
political will for funding
and investment.”
Mohammed explained
that the launch of the HIV
Trust Fund would help to
bridge the gap in accessing
antiretroviral therapy for
Persons living with HIV,
PLHIV. On the presentation
of awards to member
companies, Executive Secretary,
NiBUCAA, Gbenga
Alabi stated the coalition
would continue to innovate
and seek ways to support
government’s efforts in improving
the wellbeing of
the citizenry. “2019 will be
a proactive year for the coalition.
We will expand our
focus to reach out to more
workplaces and business
host communities. This will
help to complement government’s
efforts and boost
the socio-economic advancement
of the country.”
Among those rewarded
includes Julius Berger Nigeria
Plc, Total Exploration
& Production Nigeria Limited,
Access Bank Plc and
Dangote Foundation.
Sonny Kuku bags West African Physicians’
Award in Sierra Leone
THE West African Col
lege of Physicians at its
Annual General and Scientific
Conference in Sierra
Leone bestowed on the
Olor'ogun Dr. Sonny Folorunso
Kuku, its highest
award - the Gold Medal for
his exceptional services to
the College and Medical
Healthcare in West African
sub region.
Kuku who was a past
President and the current
Vice Chairman of the Board
of Trustees of the College
has won the highest award
of medical colleges around
the world including the distinguished
Fellowship of
the National Post graduate
Medical College of Nigeria
and the Master of American
College of Physicians,
its first African awardee.
He was the first distinguished
alumnus of the
University of Lagos, Chairman
of the Committee of
Pro-Chancellors of State
Universities and Chairman
of the Committee of Chairmen
of Federal, State and
Private Tertiary Hospitals of
Nigeria. He is co-founder
of the renowned EKO Hospitals,
EkocorpPlc, the first
quoted hospital in the Nigeria
Stock Exchange.
A renowned scholar, he is
a Fellow of the Nigerian
Academy of Science, a lifetime
achievement awardee
of the Nigeria Healthcare
Excellence Award and the
Officer of the Order of the
Federal Republic, OFR.

44 —Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2018
ENDOMETRIOSIS: ESGN targets
10,000 Nigerian women
* Appoints Funmi Babington-Ashaye 2018 Endo Ambassador
By Sola Ogundipe
AS part of its resolve to
raise awareness and
educate the public about
early diagnosis and timely
intervention for
Endometriosis among
Nigerian women, the
Endometriosis Support
Group Nigeria, ESGN, is
targeting over 10,000
people through public
education and awareness
in 2019.
Disclosing this during
the investiture of the MD/
CEO, Risk Analyst
Insurance Brokers Limited,
Mrs. Funmi Babington-
Ashaye, as 2018 Endo
Ambassador, the Founder
ESGN, who is Managing
Director, Nordica Fertility
Centre,Dr Abayomi Ajayi,
said series of activities had
been lined up for 2019.
Endometriosis is a
condition which occurs
only in females and it is
estimated to affect 10
percent of women within
their reproductive age and
is believed to be a major
cause of infertility among
couples globally.
As an Endo Ambassador,
Babington-Ashaye will
help in developing
linkages and relationships
with local and international
donor agencies to drive the
ESGN advocacy and
funding support for
research initiatives.
She would also use her
good will in the media to
drive knowledge and
awareness about
endometriosis condition by
lending a voice to the
cause.
In addition, the Endo
Ambassador will grant
access to friends, partners
and potential sponsors of of
ESGN activities to help win
the battle against
By Chioma Obinna &
Arinola Kolade
ABODY of experts in
the field of
Neurosurgery and
Orthopaedic surgery in
Nigeria - the Nigeria
Spine Society - NSS, has
been inaugurated with a
mandate to tackle
challenges and improve
professional practice in
spine management and
treatment of spinal cord
injuries in Nigeria.
A coordinator of the
Society, Dr Tayo Ojo, who
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endometriosis.
Recieving the Endo
Champion plaque from Dr
Ajayi, Babington- Ashaye
pledged her support and
asserted readiness to roll
with ESGN.
Notable Nigerians that
have joined the cause as
Endometriosis
Ambassadors, include the
Minister of Health, Prof
Isaac Adewole; erstwhile
President, Lagos Chamber
of Commerce and Industry,
Mrs. Adenike Akande, and
Wife of the Kwara State
Governor, Mrs Omolewa
Ahmed.
* The Patron/Founder, ESGN, Dr. Abayomi Ajayi (3rd right) with the MD/CEO,
Risk Analyst Insurance Brokers Ltd, Mrs Funmi Babington- Ashaye (4th right)
during her investiture as an 2018 Endo Ambassador, last week in her office in
Lagos. Coordinator, ESGN Mr Onuora Molokwu (2nd left) and other members of
the ESGN team look on.
Nigerian health specialists brace up to tackle spinal injuries
is a Consultant Neurosurgeon
at the Lagos
University Teaching
Hospital, LUTH, said NSS
would, among others,
build capacity of other
surgeons spinal injuty
treatment, as well as
ensure reduction in
challenges of getting
hardware for spine
surgeries, reduce errors in
surgery and improve
survival and success rates
generally.
Ojo who spoke to Good
Health Weekly during the
inaugural meeting of the
body identified lack of
expertise and difficulty in
getting the hardware for
spine surgery, implants
and other innovative
equipment the most
important challenges
facing their practice.
“In Nigeria today, you
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spine surgeons. That is
definitely not enough for
a population close to 200
million, but we think with
the Society we would
generate enough interest
for other people to join us
and do the spine
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surgeries appropriately,”
he added.
Stressing the
seriousness of spine
injury, he explained that
a victim of road accident
who broke a neck would
need spine surgery and
that the surgery is time
bound. “If it isn't done
between 24 to 48hours he
may never be able to walk
again.”
He stated that if the
federal government
would subsidise implants,
more people would be
able to have spine care as
the cost of treatment is
high.
“If we have to put it in
context, these implants
could cost between
N300,000 to N500,000 and
healthcare, as it is now, is
paying out-of-pocket,” he
added.
Speaking, Chief of Spine,
National Orthopedic
Hospital, Kano, Dr. Kabir
Abubakar, said the formal
inauguration of the
Nigerian Spine Society
could leverage on all the
opportunities to take a step
further.

a
Khashoggi’s private WhatsApp
messages may offer new clues to
killing
IN his public writ
ings, Jamal
Khashoggi’s criticism of
Saudi Arabia and its
Crown Prince Mohammed
bin Salman was
measured. In private, the
Washington Post columnist
didn’t hold back.
In more than 400
WhatsApp messages sent
to a fellow Saudi exile in
the year before he was
killed at the Saudi consulate
in Istanbul,
Khashoggi describes bin
Salman, often referred to
as MBS as a “beast,” a
“pac-man” who would
devour all in his path,
even his supporters.
CNN was granted exclusive
access to the correspondence
between
Khashoggi and Montreal-based
activist Omar
Abdulaziz. The messages
shared by Abdulaziz,
which include voice recordings,
photos and videos,
paint a picture of a
man deeply troubled by
what he regarded as the
petulance of his kingdom’s
powerful young
prince.
“The more victims he
eats, the more he wants,”
says Khashoggi in one
message sent in May,
just after a group of
Saudi activists had been
rounded up. “I will not be
surprised if the oppression
will reach even
those who are cheering
him on.”
The exchanges reveal a
progression from talk to
action, the pair had begun
planning an online
youth movement that
would hold the Saudi
state to account. “[Jamal]
believed that MBS is the
issue, is the problem and
he said this kid should
be stopped,” Abdulaziz
said in an interview with
CNN.
But in August, when he
believed their conversations
may have been intercepted
by Saudi authorities,
a sense of foreboding
descends over
Khashoggi. “God help
us,” he wrote.
Two months later, he
was dead.
Abdulaziz on Sunday
launched a lawsuit
George HW Bush’s service dog Sully pays touching
last tribute
THE labrador who
worked as a service
dog for President George
HW Bush has been pictured
resting beside his coffin, in
a moving tribute.
Mr Bush, who served as
the 41st US president between
1989 and 1993, died
late on Friday at the age of
94.
Sully the dog will be travelling
with the casket on the
flight from Texas to Washington
DC on Monday.
Mr Bush’s body is due to
The letter George H.W. Bush left for ClintonT
lie in state this week ahead
of a day of national mourning.
The coffin is being flown
from Texas to DC on board
Air Force One - temporarily
renamed Special Air
Mission 41, in homage to
the late president - and then
back on Wednesday, with
Sully accompanying the
body throughout.
The picture was tweeted
by Mr Bush’s spokesman,
Jim McGrath, showing
Sully next to Mr Bush’s casket
on Sunday along with
against an Israeli company
that invented the
software he believes was
used to hack his phone.
“The hacking of my
the caption: “Mission complete.
Social media users
thanked Sully for his services
and commented on his
and dogs’ loyalty generally
towards their owners.
Sully is named after the
airline pilot Chesley
“Sully” Sullenberger, who
landed a passenger jet on
the Hudson River in 2009,
saving all 155 passengers
and crew on board.
The two-year-old
labrador was assigned earlier
this year as a service dog
to Mr Bush who used a
VANGUARD, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2018 — 45
phone played a major
role in what happened to
Jamal, I am really sorry
to say,” Abdelaziz told
CNN. “The guilt is killing
me.”
Climate change greatest threat to
humanity, UN told
THE naturalist Sir
D a v i d
Attenborough has said
climate change is humanity’s
greatest threat
in thousands of years.
The broadcaster said it
could lead to the collapse
of civilisations and
the extinction of “much
of the natural world”.
He was speaking at the
opening ceremony of
United Nations-sponsored
climate talks in
Katowice, Poland.
The meeting is the most
critical on climate
change since the 2015
Paris agreement.
Sir David said: “Right
now, we are facing a
man-made disaster of
global scale. Our greatest
threat in thousands of
years. Climate change.
“If we don’t take action,
the collapse of our civilisations
and the extinction
of much of the natural
world is on the horizon.”
The naturalist is taking
up the “People’s Seat” at
the conference, called
COP24. He is supposed
to act as a link between
the public and policymakers
at the meeting.
“The world’s people
have spoken. Their message
is clear. Time is running
out. They want you,
the decision-makers, to
act now,” he said.
Speaking at the opening
ceremony, Antonio
Guterres, UN Secretary-
General, said climate
change was already “a
matter of life and death”
for many countries.
He explained that the
world is “nowhere near
where it needs to be” on
the transition to a lowcarbon
economy.
But the UN Secretary-
General said the conference
was an effort to
“right the ship” and he
would convene a climate
summit next year to discuss
next steps.
Meanwhile, the World
Bank has announced
$200bn in funding over
five years to support
countries taking action
against climate change.
wheelchair in the last years
of his life.
A highly trained dog,
Sully can perform a
number of commands, including
opening doors and
fetching items such as the
phone when it rings.
He will now work as a
service dog, assisting with
therapy for wounded soldiers.
Sully has his own
Instagram account; here he
is shown “assisting with voting”
as Mr Bush cast his ballot
in last month’s US presidential
mid-term election.
Michelle Obama revisits
London school that inspired
education drive
Michelle Obama
returned on
Monday to the London
girls’ school that inspired
her global education initiative
when she was
U.S. First Lady, nine
years after her first visit
as part of a tour to promote
her memoir.
She addressed pupils at
London’s Elizabeth Garrett
Anderson school,
thanking them for motivating
her to focus on
girls’ education.
“How much talent, how
much courage and how
much hope there is in our
girls who are struggling
to do everything right
and have so much working
against them,” she
said. Obama urged students
to believe they
could do anything if they
were prepared to work
hard enough and called
on colleges and universities
to do more to attract
less privileged pupils.
“They have to do the
work to reach out to kids
when they’re very
young,” she said.
The ethnically diverse
school, which Obama visited
in 2009 on her first
official trip to Britain, has
around 60 languages
spoken among its 900 female
pupils. As part of
her visit, she took 40 or
so of its pupils to Oxford
University.
Michelle Obama’s
memoir chronicles her
life growing up on Chicago’s
South Side
through her years inside
the White House as a
mother of two and the
nation’s first African-
American first lady.
Nigeria, Russia sign treaty
on legal assistance in
criminal matters
By Victoria Ojeme
The Ministry of For
eign Affairs says
Nigeria and Federation
of Russia have signed a
treaty on Mutual Legal
Assistance in Criminal
Matters.
The ministry’s Spokesperson,
George Edokpa
said this in a statement
made available to newsmen
on Monday in
Abuja.
The ministry said the
treaty was negotiated in
2009 to enhance collaboration
and cooperation
between the two countries
in the administration
of criminal justice,
adding that it was signed
in Moscow, on November
27, 2018.
The statement reads:
‘’The Treaty was signed
on behalf of Nigeria by
the Attorney General of
the Federation and Minister
of Justice, Abubakar
Malami while Russian
Acting Minister of Justice,
Mr. Oleg Plokhoy,
signed on behalf of his
country.
‘’The Treaty on Legal
Assistance in Criminal
Matter is aimed at providing
the necessary
mechanism for cooperation
in the fight against
crime.
‘’These include terrorism,
as well as every
form of support to terrorism,”
it stated.
It stated that the agreement
would assist in the
fight against corruption,
noting that it would make
provision for the tracing,
recovery, forfeiture or
confiscation of stolen assets,
as well as the proceeds
and instruments of
crime. The signing of the
Treaty, it stated, was a
major breakthrough in
the bilateral relations between
Nigeria and Russia
and the beginning of
greater cooperation and
partnership in other sectors.
It quoted the Attorney
General of the Federation
and Minister of Justice
as saying
that:’’Nigeria will benefit
immensely from this
agreement. It will afford
Nigeria the opportunity
to request the arrest, surrender,
investigation,
and prosecution of all
persons who may have
committed crimes and
escape to Russia.
‘’It will also secure the
assurance of the Russian
cooperation in the tracing,
recovery, and repatriation
of the stolen assets”.
*President Bush's dog, Sully after paying last respects
to the late US leader.

46 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2018
Obafemi to miss Saints, Tottenham clash
Southampton assist
ant coach Kelvin
Davis has confirmed that
Saints must manage a
handful of potential absentees
on the field for
their Premier League
trip to Wembley to face
Tottenham Hotspur on
Wednesday night.
Missing out are likely
to be young striker
Michael Obafemi who
limped out of his first
top-flight start with a
hamstring injury and
Mario Lemina who will
Barca
president
dies
Barcelona’s former
president Josep
Lluis Nunez died on
Monday aged 87.
“FC Barcelona are saddened
by the death of
Josep Lluís Nunez, club
president for 22 years
(1978-2000) and a key
figure in the club’s contemporary
history. RIP,”
the La Liga side said in
a statement.
Nunez presided over
one of Barca’s most successful
periods, including
their first ever European
Cup triumph in
1992 and seven La Liga
titles. He appointed visionary
coach Johan
Cruyff who was the architect
of their success
and who laid out the
blueprint for the club’s
future triumphs.
Nunez was also a controversial
figure, being
sentenced to six years
prison in 2011 on charges
of fraud. He entered
jail in November 2014
but was released the
next month.
THE much talked
about Ehibam
schools rugby tournament
was successfully
launched with pump and
pageantry at the weekend
at the Emotan College
sports ground in
Benin City.
The occasion which witnessed
a good number of
dignitaries from across
the Edo State Sports circle
and beyond had in
attendance the Chairman
of the newly established
Edo State Sports Commission,
Barrister Godwin
Dudu-Orumen who also
represented the Sports
loving Deputy Governor
of Edo State The Rt. Hon.
Comrade Philip Shaibu
who was unavoidably absent
due to the State burial
of Pa Tony Anenih and
also the fact that the1st
December was his own
birthday as well.
The Chairman paid
serve a one-match ban
after collecting his fifth
yellow card of the season
at St Mary’s on Saturday.
“We’ve got some
bumps and bruises,” he
said. “Obviously we’ve
got a suspension (for
Mario) as well. I haven’t
completely gone
through the body count
but Michael left the
pitch not in a great state
on Saturday so we’ll be
working on him over the
next couple of days.”
The likes of Ryan Bertrand,
Matt Targett and
Danny Ings also look set
to remain significant
doubts ahead of the midweek
meeting with
Mauricio Pochettino’s
side.
UEFA will fast-track
the implementation
of video assistant
referees (VAR) for the
Champions League
knockout stages this season,
its president Aleksander
Ceferin said on
Monday.
European soccer’s
governing body opted
against using VAR this
season, despite the technology
being employed
by major European
leagues in Spain, Italy
and Germany, and the
World Cup in Russia this
year.
But Ceferin flagged
recently that a report
being prepared by
UEFA’s referees chief
could allow its Executive
Committee to revise its
stance. It also agreed on
Monday to roll out the
*Obafemi
UEFA introduces VAR in champions
league
technology in this season’s
Europa League final
and next June’s finals
of UEFA’s new Nations
League competition.
“To be very straightforward
with you, we discussed
with our colleagues
if we can do it
before, why wait because
it’s hard to afford
any mistakes,” Ceferin
A
Cameroonian gov
ernment minister
says the decision by the
Confederation of African
Football (Caf) to withdraw
the country from
hosting the 2019 Africa
Cup of Nations is “unfair”
and a “blatant injustice.”
Ehibam schools rugby tournament
takes off in Benin city
glowing tribute to the successes
and achievements
recorded by the Edo State
Rugby teams from inception
in 2006 through the
Head Coach popularly
called “Mr Rugby”
Ntiense Williams and his
team. According to Barrister
Godwin Dudu-Orumen,
“We are proud of the
exploits of the Rugby
teams in Edo State and
will like to express our
THE Lagos State
Sports Commission
yesterday inaugurated
boards of various
sports associations, with
a mandate to keep the
momentum going in
terms of sports development.
Speaking at the event,
Chairman of the Lagos
told a news conference
at the end of a two-day
meeting of the Executive
Committee in Dublin.
UEFA referees chief
Roberto Rosetti said
UEFA would use the
same protocol as other
associations but would
seek in its guidelines to
define the line of intervention
clearly.
AFCON 2019: Cameroon accuses CAF of
double standards
appreciation and encouraging
them to do
more for the state and
make Rugby a household
name in Edo State”
Said he,”Rugby being a
power and strength contact
sports is well suited
for our youths and we will
like to encourage it to
grow through the schools
sports system to stardom
with our athletes doing
exploits for the state, the
national and on the international
stage as well”.
Lagos inaugurates sports
associations
State Sports Commission,
Kweku Tandoh said
the state had a template
for sports development
and that was what they
would follow, in order
not to break the chain.
“We have a sports development
template which
has not been tampered
with for the past 16 year.
Caf announced on Friday
that its executive
committee had withdrawn
Cameroon as
hosts because of delays
in preparation for the
tournament, due to start
in June.
Cameroon’s Minister
of Communication, Issa
Tchiroma Bakary said the
government was “dismayed.”
“In the face of
this blatant injustice, the
government of the Republic
urges the people
of Cameroon to remain
Modric wins Ballon d'Or
Luka Modric, the diminutive midfield maestro
who won the Champions League title with
Real Madrid and then helped lead Croatia
to the World Cup final, has been honored with the
Ballon d’Or as world player of the year.
Modric’s victory end a 10-year run in which
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi traded possession
of the award, considered one of world soccer’s
top individual honors. Ronaldo was second this
year, his record sixth runner-up finish (to go with
five wins). Atlético Madrid forward Antoine
Griezmann was third, just ahead of his France
teammate Kylian Mbappé.
Modric’s victory was widely expected — he
already had been honored by FIFA as the world’s
top player — but the announcement lost much of its
drama when a social media user posted what
purported to be a list of vote totals. The list, a blurry
photograph of what appeared to be a preprinted
page from the forthcoming issue of France Football,
began circulating on social media hours before the
announcement.
Kylian Mbappe was named winner of the Kopa
Trophy for young player of the year at the Ballon
d'Or ceremony in Paris on Monday.
Modric and his family at the event
calm and not to indulge
to futile arguments,” said
Mr Bakary.
There had been much
scrutiny on Cameroon
ahead of the Caf executive
committee meeting
on Friday, with focus also
on the security situation
in the northern and Anglophone
regions of the
country.
Delays in construction
were an issue, but Mr
Bakary says the country
is determined to ensure
the projects will be completed
despite fears that
some of the work may
now be abandoned.
“Cameroon has put in
a creditable performance.
It shall prove it to
the entire world by completing
with this same
determination and on
time the construction of
this modern infrastructure
belonging to the
Cameroonian people.
This surprising decision
for more than one
reason is certainly unfair
with regard to the
huge investment made
by our country which
has led to outstanding,
modern infrastructure
as witnessed by all,” Mr
Bakary added.
From left:Mr Ayodeji Adegbenro,Media & Communications
Coordinator,Laliga Nigeria;Mr Guillermo Perez Castello,Delegate to
Nigeria,Laliga;Mutiu Adepoju,Laliga Nigeria Ambassador and Mr Javier
Del Rio,Managing Director,Laliga Nigeria,at the 2ND LaLiga 2018/2019 Season
Media Briefing Breakfast Session in Lagos.PHOTO;AKEEM SALAU

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2018 — 47
Rohr preaches cooperation to NFF,
Sports ministry
SUPER
Eagles
coach Gernot
Rohr, has harped on
the need for the Nigeria
Football Federation
and the Sports Ministry
to forged a better
understanding and cooperation
for the sake
of the growth of football
in the country.
The Franco-German
coach who witnessed a
longstanding face off in
Nigeria football said his
wish for 2019 was for a
close knit relationship
*Oshoala
between the NFF and
Sports Ministry.
“What I wish for the
New Year is that we
should stop the conflicts
between the Nigeria
Football Federation and
the Sports Ministry,”
“We cannot succeed in
a country when we are
not together. We can only
succeed when we are
together.
“I saw this everywhere.
In Burkina Faso,
the Sports Minister was
attending the team’s
matches and he was
even paying the salaries
of the coaches,
paying for trips and
bonuses.
“Same in Gabon with
Ali Bongo – he was a fan
of football and the
Sports minister Rene
Demizur, a former player.
I miss that here.”
He added that: “The
Federation is fighting to
have a good organisation,
find money and
sponsors for football,
they have to do this all
alone.
“On the other side,
there is a fight from the
ministry. I don’t have
anything against the
Sports minister.
“I think he is a patriotic
man, but I see that
they are not together
around us and we are a
bit alone. “When you
don’t have solidarity
from the politics and
afootball officials, you
cannot have it easy but
we need that now.”
Rohr recalled the chaotic
scenario when the
world soccer body FIFA
threatened to suspend
Nigeria.
“We are worried about
it because when we
heard we could be suspended
prior to the Seychelles
game, I called
the President of the NFF
(Amaju Pinnick) and he
said all will be well.”
AWCON Fallout: I’m not a
machine, Oshoala speaks
on poor showing
SUPER Falcons top
striker, Asisat
Oshoala has been
speaking on her poor
showing at the Africa
Women Cup of Nations.
Oshoala a three time
Africa woman footballer of
the year award winner
missed a glorious chance
to seal victory for Nigeria
from the spot, after Francisca
Ordega was fouled
in the box in the final
game against Banyana
Banyana of South Africa.
Luckily Nigeria later won
4-3 penalty shoot-out.
The penalty miss by
Oshoala was the climax
of her catalog of misses
in the tournament.
Though she scored a hattrick
against Equatorial
Guinea her overall
showing did not impress
her fans and teammates
Capoue didn’t foul Iheanacho, Success
protests red card
WATFORD and
Super Eagles
striker, Isaac Success
has claimed that his
teammate Etienne Capoue’s
red card against
Leicester City in Saturday’s
Premier League
game was unjustified.
Success submitted
that after speaking with
Kelechi Iheanacho, he
was convinced that referee
Graham Scot was
wrong in send off Capoue
in stoppage time.
“I spoke to Iheanacho
and he said there was
no contact by Capoue,”
Success told club website.
“I feel sorry for him
because he has been one
of our best players. Let’s
see what the FA will do because
it was never a red
card.”
Prior to the incident, Capoue
had scored two goals
across all competitions this
season and has been a
consistent fixture for Watford
featuring in all but
one of their Premier
League games.
alike. “Concerning my
flaws at the tournament,
it was not my wish to miss
the penalty.
“I’m saying this as a
professional, this is
football for you. It
happens in one’s career,
I wasn’t fixed and
programmed like a machine
not to make mistakes,
i am human like everyone
else.
“Even top stars like
Messi, Ronaldo miss the
target sometimes. All that
was needed to be done at
that time, was to
encourage my team
mates to fight to the end,
that’s team spirit and
bond shared between us.
“For the 2019 World
Cup be rest assured we
will give our best as
expected of us and make
Nigeria.”.
CAF throws out Sierra Leone from AFCON 2019
SIERRA Leone have been
disqualified from the 2019
Africa Cup of Nations qualifying
campaign because of government
interference in the country’s
football association.
It means Kenya and Ghana
qualify for next year’s Nations
Cup finals from Group F.
Sierra Leone were suspended
from all football by Fifa in October
and an investigation was
launched.
They have not played any qualifying
matches since that ban.
The ban was imposed after the
country’s anti-corruption commission
(ACC) barred Sierra Leone
Football Association president
Isha Johansen and general
secretary Christopher Kamara
from the governing body’s offices.
Both deny any wrongdoing.
The Confederation of African
*Success
Football (Caf), which made the
decision on Friday, confirmed in
a statement on Monday that all
Sierra Leone’s matches during
the qualifying campaign are now
“annulled.”
With one match remaining in
the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations
qualifying campaign, Kenya are
top of Group F on seven points
from three matches, with Ghana
a point behind.
Gunners must
not slip against
United, Aubameyang
warns
ARSENAL top striker
Pierre-Emerick
Aubameyang, has urged
his teammates to post another
top class performance
when they clash
with Manchester United
on Wednesday at Old
Traford.
Arsenal made a remarkable
comeback to beat
North London rivals Tottenham
on Sunday. And
against United who
aredesperate for a win to
boost morale, Arsenal could
be fishing in hard waters.
United could only manage
a draw against Southampton
on Saturday and are
languishing in seventh
place in the Premier
League table.
“We knew that if we won
this game we would be in
the top four. It’s great now.
“We have to look forward
because we have an important
game on Wednesday
[against Manchester United].
We know that it’s
tough to stay in the top
four.”
Aubameyang has scored a
total of 22 goals in 32 Arsenal
games.
Arsenal boss Unai Emery
says his side will not be taking
United lightly given the
quality they have in their
team.
“It’s not normal where they
are in the table,” the Arsenal
boss added.
“They have a lot of potential
and experience with the
coach, who has a big experience
in the Premier League,
in Europe, in world football.
“We respect them a lot individually
and collectively,
and we know it’s a very difficult
match away.”
Saints boot out Mark Hughes
MARK Hughes has
been sacked as
Southampton manager after
eight months in charge.
The Saints, who drew
with Manchester United in
the Premier League on Saturday,
are 18th in the table.
Southampton confirmed
the move in a statement,
adding: “The search for a
new manager to take the
club forward is already under
way.”
First-team assistant coach
Kelvin Davis will take
charge of the team for the
game against Tottenham
on Wednesday.
BBC Sport understands
Southampton are set to
approach former RB
Leipzig manager Ralph
Hasenhuttl about the manager’s
job. The 51-year-old
Austrian has been out of
work since leaving Leipzig
in May.
Hughes, who also had a
spell at the south coast club
during his playing career,
joined Southampton in
March, two months after
being sacked by Stoke City.
The club were one point
above the relegation zone
at the time and the 55-yearold
led them to safety last
season by securing two
wins from their last four
games.
However, they have
struggled again this season
and, across his spell,
have won just three of their
22 league games.
Klopp faces FA charge over
wild celebrations
LIVERPOOL manag
er, Jurgen Klopp is
facing a misconduct
charge by the FA after entering
the pitch during
goal celebrations during
last Sunday’s English Premier
League clash against
Everton,
Kloop was unrestrained
as he celebrated Liverpool’s
winner after Divock
Origi’s 96th minute header
that was gifted by Everton
keeper Jordan Pickford
in a Merseyside derby
that seemed destined to
end goalless.
Klopp then ran onto the
pitch to embrace his goalkeeper,
Alisson, before
running back to his technical
area pumping his
fists.
He was widely criticised
for taking his celebrations
too far in the aftermath of
the match.
Klopp said he apologised
to Silva straight after
the final whistle for his
over-the-top celebrations.
“Immediately after the
game I apologised to Marco
Silva when we spoke to
each other,” he said.
“I told him how much I
respect his work, because
it’s incredible what he has
done with that team. They
are just a really outstanding
side.”
However, Silva appeared
to contradict this
when he was quizzed on the
subject.
“He didn’t apologise to
me,” he said. “To be honest
I didn’t see it, I don’t
know what he did.
“I don’t think he expected
anything like that either.
It was a lucky way to
win but that’s football.
“I don’t say it was a lack
of respect because I didn’t
see it.
“Maybe when I see that
moment I can say more
about the situation.”
C
M
Y
K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2018
TODAY’S PUZZLE
Sudoku
FRIDAY’S ANSWER
TODAY’S CROSSWORD
QUICK CROSSWORD
THURSDAY’S SOLUTION
How to Play Sudoku
ACROSS
7 Suitable (11)
8 Stop speaking (4,2)
9 Robbery at sea (6)
10 Instrumentalist (6)
12 Take for granted (6)
13 Snake (3)
14 In addition (2,4)
16 Interior (6)
18 Bosom (6)
20 Gypsy (6)
22 Futility (11)
DOWN
1 Ready money (4)
2 Indifference (6)
3 Non-commissioned
officer (8)
4 Let fall (4)
5 The sign of the bull
(6)
6 Greeted (8)
11 Shiny (8)
12 Beekeeper (8)
15 Rubbed out (6)
17 One of the four seasons (6)
19 At that time (4)
21 Prying (4)
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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