28122018 - Killings: I'm for emergency rule in Zamfara — GOV YARI

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Oil price drops to $48, $12 Miyetti Allah INEC develops 

below 2019 budget benchmark 41 endorses special App to 

Obi, EPF knock Osinbajo, Fashola over Buhari for address electoral 

43 

comments on 2023 presidency 2nd term 

35 malpractice 9 

Merger with Access Bank: Diamond Bank reconstitutes Board 

19 

** 

VOL. 26: NO. 63710 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2018 

Killings: I'm for emergency 

rule in Zamfara — GOV YARI 

•Says informants fueling insecurity in the state 

•FG to mobilise additional security in Zamfara — Dambazau 

•Fayose alleges state of emergency plot to shut out PDP from Zamfara 

•Killings unacceptable, security agencies must change strategy—Saraki 

CALABAR CARNIVAL... 

APP takes 

Buhari, 

PSC, others 

to court 

over IGP’s 

tenure 34 

BADEH: 

8 

Police fail 

to parade 

suspects 

2019 budget: 

It’s doubtful if 

Atiku 

understands 

meaning of 9 

recession 

— PRESIDENCY 

•PDP urges 

Buihari to 

speak on 

N1.032trn 

acquisition of 

Etisalat, 9 

Keystone Bank 

37 

ABOVE—Former 

Governor of Cross 

River State,Donald 

Duke on his Batmanmodelled 

power bike 

during the Bikers 

Festival of the 2018 

Carnival Calabar, 

yesterday, in Calabar, 

Cross River State. 

LEFT: A scorpionmodel 

power bike 

driven by another 

participant at the 

Bikers Festival. Photos: 

Nwankpa Chijioke. 

By Innocent Anaba, 

with agency reports 

GUSAU 

Governor 

— 

Abdulaziz Yari 

of Zamfara State, 

yesterday, threw his 

weight behind the call 

on President 

Muhammadu Buhari to 

declare a state of 

emergency in the state, 

following persistent 

attacks, which have 

claimed many lives in 

the state. 

He also blamed the 

continued killings in the 

state on informants, who 

support the bandits and 

kidnappers. 

Yari, addressing 

newsmen in Gusau, 

said: “I am also in 

support of the 

Continues on Page 5 

Naira stable 

at N362.5/$ 

in parallel 

market 

Mr & Mrs 

41 

COLUMNISTS DONU 17 AZU 40 OWEI LAKEMFA 31 

SEE 

INSIDE

2 — VANGUARD, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2018

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2018 — 3

4 — VANGUARD, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2018

vanguardnews @vanguardnews @vanguardnews 

Vanguard, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2018 — 5 

POCKET CARTOON 

CHRISTMAS MEAL FOR TROOPS—The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai (2nd L) assisted 

by other senior officers, serve meal to troops at front lines of campaign against Boko Haram insurgents 

at a special Christmas meal organised for the troops in the frontline in Borno on Wednesday. Photo: 

NAN. 

Killings: I'm for emergency rule in 

Zamfara — GOV YARI 

Continues from Page 1 

declaration of state of 

emergency if it will save 

the lives of people of the 

state,” warning 

politicians against 

politicizing the 

disturbing security 

situation in the state. 

This came less than 24 

hours after former Ekiti 

State governor, Mr 

Ayodele Fayose on his 

Twitter handle alleged 

that the All Progressives 

Congress, APC-led 

Federal Government was 

working to deny the 

Peoples Democratic 

Party, PDP, taking over 

the state in the 

governorship, and state 

House of Assembly 

election, which the 

Independent National 

Electoral Commission, 

INEC, excluded them 

(APC) from taking part, 

except the presidential 

election. 

Fayose had tweetted: “I 

have been reliably 

informed that the FG is 

plotting to hide under 

the killings in Zamfara 

State by armed bandits to 

impose emergency rule 

on the state. This is their 

response to the 

insistence of INEC not to 

allow APC field 

candidates for the 2019 

general election in the 

state. 

“With the emergency 

rule, there will only be 

Presidential and 

National Assembly 

elections in Zamfara in 

February next year while 

governorship and state 


elections will be 

postponed till May,” he 

had said. 

Informants 

worsening 

situation — Yari 

Governor Yari at the 

briefing said: “We are 

talking about the lives of 

our people and this 

needs the coming 

together of all, so that the 

crisis can end. If the 

provisions of my office 

had allowed me to carry 

arms against the 

bandits, I would have 

done so. 

“But, if I am not 

around, there are 

capable hands that 

collaborate with the 

security team in the fight 

against the bandits. The 

security men are doing 

their best. 

“But, it is sad to know 

that some of the people 

involved in the 

kidnappings are close 

relatives or associates of 

the victims, which is part 

of the reasons the 

problem is persisting. 

We must all come 

together and expose 

anyone or group that is 

part of these hoodlums, 

and we should also pray 

for Allah’s intervention,” 

Yari said. 

He said that both state 

and federal governments 

as well as security 

agencies had been 

making efforts to 

address the situation, 

and lamented that 

informants had made it 

difficult for security 

agencies in the state to 

operate effectively. 

The governor said that 

most of the bandits and 

kidnappers receive 

information from people 

in the state, which he 

said was “unfortunate.” 

He said that President 

Buhari was doing his 

best to end the situation 

and had deployed more 

security personnel to the 

state. 

“Before Buhari’s 

administration, we had 

few security personnel 

in this state, but today 

we have about 4,000 

security personnel 

including Army, Police 

What does this Christmas mean to you?(4) 

and Civil Defence. 

“I held a meeting 

earlier today (yesterday) 

with traditional rulers 

and local government 

council chairmen. We 

are working hand-inhand 

with all 

stakeholders to ensure 

that we end this 

situation,” he said. 

He urged the people of 

the state to stop blaming 

government for security 

challenges. 

“I am calling on 

communities to always 

support security 

agencies with 

information on suspcious 

movement in their 

respective areas,” he 

said. 

Zamfara 

killings 

unacceptable 

— Saraki 

Similarly, Senate 

President, Dr. Bukola 

Saraki has described the 

killings in Zamfara State 

as 

barbaric, 

unacceptable and called 

on the security agencies 

to swiftly devise a 

strategy to put an end to 

Continues on Page 41 

By Bose Adelaja, Ebun Sessou, Yinka 

Latona, & Tade Oluwapelumi 

I 

thank God for the gift 

of life and good 

health. 

As a 

citizen of Nigeria, I only 

hope for a better future. I 

am not impressed with 

the situation of things in 

terms of growth, economy 

and 

other 

areas.Although it is not the 

fault of the present 

administration alone, past 

and present government 

have not done much to 

better the lot of the masses. 

Miss Tomiwa Adediran 

Analyst 

Being alive is a 

special gift which 

I am very grateful for. It 

does not matter what I 

have or where I am 

presently. 

There is nothing more 

special, so amazing and 

more glorious than the 

birth of Christ. 

The only challenge is 

that there is no money 

to buy necessary things 

that we need to 

celebrate the season. 

Oluwaremilekun Ojo 

Teacher 

We are grateful to 

God for keeping 

us alive despite the hardship 

in Nigeria. Saying 

that one is not happy 

would amount to being 

ungrateful. I can’t say that 

things are the way they 

were in the past, but we 

must give thanks to God 

and hope that things get 

better in Nigeria.Mr. Tofunmi 

Peter, Student 

2018 Christmas is re 

ally the greatest I 

have witnessed for my 

reasons. The joy of this 

season is not based on 

what is happening during 

this period but as a 

result of the successes I 

was able to record this 

year. I understand that a 

lot wrong things are happening 

in Nigeria, but i 

have chosen to be optimistic 

that all will be well 

in the country.Mr 

Ogunade Oluwakayode, 

Lecturer 

Last Christmas was 

better than the 

Christmas of 2018. We 

don’t even know if things 

are getting too bad or they 

are just the way they were 

last year. The truth is that 

Nigerians are suffering 

because of President Muhammadu 

Buhari’s failure. 

Since he became 

President, we have all 

been suffering in this 

country. 

Miss Ugbodu Annabel, 

Self-employed 

I 

am thanking God for 

keeping Nigerians 

alive despite the suffering 

in all parts of Nigeria. I 

cannot pretend that 

things are good in Nigeria. 

We are suffering, 

and President Buhari 

deserves to know that 

Nigerians are not happy 

with him. Those shouting 

‘’Sai baba” are only 

deceiving him or are doing 

so because of the 

crumbs they get. Nigerians 

should see their pains 

as reasons to ensure that 

Buhari is not reelected.Mr. 

Emmanuel 

Otobo, Businessman

6—Vanguard, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2018 

Police parade 

13 suspects 

for kidnapping, 

robbery 

By Boluwaji 

Obahopo 

THIRTEEN suspected 

kidnappers and robbers 

that have been terrorising 

motorists plying Okene- 

Ogori Road and other areas 

of Kogi State, have met their 

waterloo, following their 

arrest by detectives attached 

to Akpafa Police division and 

operatives of the Federal 

Special Anti Robbery Squad, 

FSARS. 

Parading the suspects at 

the Kogi State Police 

Command headquarters of 

the command in Lokoja, the 

outgoing Commissioner of 

Police, Mr. Ali Janga, 

explained that the suspects 

were arrested through a 

renewed and comprehensive 

crime prevention method 

adopted by the command. 

He stated that the trio of 

Adamu Lawal, Sani 

Mohammed and Haruna 

Musa, were arrested along 

Okene-Ogori, in an ashcoloured 

Carina E-Salon car, 

in which N2 million, and two 

obile phones were 

recovered. 

He added that during 

interrogation, the suspects 

confessed that the handsets 

and cash were stolen from 

their victims. 

Among the suspects are 

AbdulMalik Adinoyi, Iliyasu 

Okafor, Muhammad Sani 

and Ojo Isah. They were 

alleged to be members of a 

kidnap syndicate responsible 

for the abduction of one 

Umar Yahaya, son of a 

notable Pastor in Okene axis 

of Kogi state. 

Explaining how they were 

arrested, the CP said: “On 

December 23, following an 

information received on the 

activities of kidnappers along 

Okene axis of the state, 

operatives attached to Okene 

division and Federal SARS 

Lokoja, tracked and stormed 

the suspects hideout and 

arrested AbdulMalik 

Adinoyi. 

“During interrogation, he 

confessed to the crime and 

mentioned the names of his 

gang members, thereby 

leading to the arrest of other 

suspects. We recovered one 

locally-made pistol and one 

motorcycle from them.” 

Another suspect, Ayuba 

Musa, he said, was arrested 

for allegedly killing a 

commercial motorcyclist, 

identified simply as Tahiru, 

at Odun Opake village in 

Ofu Local Government Area 

of Kogi State, while Ebeh 

Musa, Amen James, Abel 

Abu and Thomas Wade were 

arrested for dispossessing 

one Achile Sumaila of his 

motorcycle at gunpoint. 

Policeman kills Air Force personnel 

in Calabar 

By Ike Uchechukwu 

THERE 

was 

pandemonium at the premises 

of a new generation bank along the 

popular Ndidem Usang Iso Road 

in Calabar, yesterday, after a 

Policeman, Sergeant Williams 

Enah, attached to Mopol 11, 

allegedly shot and killed an Air 

Force personnel, 

The incident occurred at the 

Automated Teller Machine, ATM, 

section of the bank. Eye witnesses 

said that Sergeant Enah, who was 

By Esther Onyegbula 

A300 level student of the Ahmadu 

Bello University, Zaria, ABU 

Aisha Omolola, has committed suicide 

in her apartment at Samaru area of 

Zaria. 

Aisha, Vanguard learned, drank a 

bottle of insecticide on December 26, 

2018, leaving a note where she stated 

the reason for her action. 

In her suicide note, the deceased 

blamed her parents for her action, 

saying they made life a living hell for 

her. 

The suicide note read: “Just like I 

said, If I am no more, please hold my 

family especially my mum and dad 

responsible. I have tried to be the best 

I can be, stayed away from them just 

because they blamed me for their 

mistakes and they can’t love, help and 

take care of me like their own. 

“My mum has made life a living 

hell for me because she is bipolar and 

frustrated, accusing me of being a 

witch, and a cursed child even 

though my brother is responsible for 

my education and upkeep. 

“The only thing she helps me with 

is my feeding money. I have gone 

out of my way to take care of my mum 

by giving her food and money but I 

still end up being her problems. 

“My brother can’t stick to his 

promise anymore because he feels I 

am not his responsibility and I have 

deployed to the bank to secure 

it, was alerted by noise from 

the ATM point. 

An eye witness who spoke 

on the condition of anonymity, 

said: “In an attempt to 

ascertain what was going on, 

some of the customers 

attempted to round the 

policeman up. 

“In his bid to defend himself, 

he fired a shot into the air, 

apparently to disperse the 

crowd round him, only for the 

bullet to hit one of them, who 

turned out to be an Air Force 

personnel. It was after the 

incident that we knew others 

were also Airforce men.” 

When contacted, the State 

Police Public Relations 

Officer, DSP Irene Ugbo, 

confirmed the incident 

adding that it was true that 

an Air Force officer was shot 

by a policeman attached to a 

bank on Marian road. 

The PPRO also confirmed 

that the Air Force personnel 

who was shot has been 

confirmed dead at the Police 

clinic. 

Irene said: “The Air Force 

officer was hit by bullet and 

was rushed to the Police 

Clinic where he was 

confirmed dead by the Police 

Doctor but the situation is quite 

under control. 

“About eight Air Force officers 

were in mufti and after the 

incident, it was discovered that 

they were Air Force personnel 

but the Commissioner of Police 

and the Air Force Commander 

have met and are finding ways 

to settle the matter amicably. 

“The Police man (Suspect) was 

whisked away from the scene 

and his gun was taken from 

him. The suspect will be tried 

in the orderly room and if found 

guilty, he will be sanctioned 

according to the law.” 

ERIC MOO ROAD: Cows on Eric Moore Road, Iganmu axis, Surulere, Lagos State, yesterday. NAN PHOTO. 

300 level ABU student commits suicide over 

‘lack of parental love’ 

my own family. I hope and 

believe that now that I am gone, 

It will bring them relief and 

happiness. 

“I am so sorry Collins, I had 

to leave you this way, Maryam 

Olayemi you have being more 

than a bestie to me. I am also 

sorry to all my friends and well 

wishers, I love to be happy but 

I’m nothing but a broken child. 

I don’t believe in God anymore, 

because I can’t see my purpose 

anymore. I love you all so much.” 

It was learned that Aisha who 

requested to be buried 

immediately her corpse is 

found, also left her ATM card 

and pin, as well as her phone 

password. 

By Marie Nanlong 

FIVE persons who were 

returning from a birthday 

party, Wednesday night, were 

attacked and killed while two 

others were injured at Rawuru 

village, Fan district of Barkin 

Ladi Local Government Area of 

Plateau State, the State Police 

Command confirmed. 

The deceased were buried 

yesterday, while the two injured 

persons were said to be 

Aisha Omolola 

5 killed in fresh Barkin Ladi attack 

receiving treatment at the 

General Hospital Barkin Ladi. 

Plateau State Police Public 

Relations Officer, DSP 

Mathias Tyopev who 

confirmed the incident said, 

“ At about 8am , on December 

27, 2018, the Plateau State 

Police Command received 

information from Mr. Kim 

Timothy, the Youth Leader of 

Rawuru Village, Fan District 

in Barkin Ladi Local 

Government Area of the state 

that at about 9.15p.m., the 

previous day, some unknown 

gunmen attacked some people 

that were returning from a 

birthday party at Pugu village. 

“As a result of the attack, five 

people were killed and two were 

injured. The Commissioner of 

Police Plateau State Command, 

Austin Agbonlahor, has ordered 

the immediate commencement 

of investigation in the case to 

identify and arrest the 

perpetrators.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2018—7 

Abule-Egba fire: 

Four suspected vandals arrested 

By Evelyn Usman 

FOUR suspected pipeline 

vandals alleged to have 

sparked up the fire that razed at 

least 100 houses , 100 shops and 

50 cars in Abule-Egba and Agege 

areas of Lagos State, last 

Wednesday, have been arrested. 

This is just as the Police in Lagos 

have urged the alleged prime 

suspect and sponsor of the 

arrested suspects(names withheld) 

to make himself accessible to the 

Police, to answer questions 

By Alemma Aliu 

EDO State Government 

yesterday, ordered the arrest 

of a three-man syndicate accused 

of illegal collection of revenue 

from commercial vehicle operators 

in Obakhavbaye Motor Park, 

Benin City, the state capital. 

Senior Special Assistant to 

Governor Godwin Obaseki on 

Security and Surveillance, 

Emmanuel Orukpe, said the 

former issued the order for the 

arrest of the suspects following 

bordering on his alleged 

involvement in the incident that 

has rendered several families 

homeless. 

Spokesman for the Lagos State 

Police Command, CSP Chike Oti, 

who confirmed the arrest, said: 

“During interrogation, the four 

suspects gave vivid account of how 

the fire that started from a 

vandalised petroleum pipe 

engulfed a fraction of Abule-Egba 

community and spread to parts of 

Agege area, destroying properties 

worth millions of Naira. 

32-yr-old arrested for power sub-station vandalism 

By Prince Okafor 

A32-year-old electrician, Osita 

Anazodo, popularly called 

Ezebinagbo, has been arrested for 

allegedly vandalizing a 300KVA 

distribution substation belonging 

to the Enugu Electricity 

Distribution PLC, EEDC located 

at Ugwuagulu Obiofia, Ozubulu 

of Anambra State. 

It was gathered that Anazodo, 

stormed the substation on 

December 25, at about 5.30a.m,. 

on a motorcycle. 

Unknown to him, a resident, 

who saw him leaving the scene 

with the vandalised armored 

cables which he placed on the fuel 

tank, reported the incident to the 

leadership of the local vigilante. 

He was subsequently 

apprehended. During 

interrogation, he led the team to a 

spot where he buried the 

vandalised cables, pending when 

he would get a ready buyer. 

He was taken to the palace of 

the traditional ruler of the 

community, from where he was 

handed over to men of the Special 

Investigation and Prosecution 

Taskforce on Electricity Offences, 

SIPTEO for further investigation 

and possible prosecution. 

Members of the community 

alleged that the latest incident 

was the fourth time Osita would 

vandalise transformers. 

In a related development, 

Solomon Nwafor, a native of Ikwo 

in Ebonyi State was arrested for 

vandalizing Water Board 

distribution substation, located at 

Victory Estate, Emene, Enugu 

State. 

In the course of interrogation, the 

suspect named the buyer of the 

vandalised items as one Kenneth 

Agusi, who operates at the Tinker 

Market, Coal Camp, Enugu. 

Kenneth was immediately arrested 

by the Police. 

Also, in Ojoto, Anambra State, 

members of the Vigilante group 

arrested a vandal identified as 

Chinedu Ejikeme for vandalizing 

injection substation which is an 

NIPP project, located at Mmiri 

Ojoto area. 

In the course of interrogation, he 

confessed to have also vandalized 

a 200KVA transformer, property of 

EEDC, located at Iruebenebe 

Community, Ojoto. 

Reacting to the development, the 

Head of Corporate 

communication, EEDC, Emeka 

series of complaints on activities of 

the syndicate. 

He said: “The culprits who were 

led by one Igwe, are being 

interrogated at the Oba Market 

Police Station. We are using this 

medium to warn other groups 

involved in this act to desist from 

it. 

“The state government will not 

hesitate to deal decisively with 

individuals or groups collecting 

revenues illegally.” 

Orukpe, therefore, urged 

commercial drivers to pay revenues 

“They also mentioned one 

Prince Ewenla as their ring 

leader. 

“Based on this, the 

Command extended 

invitation to him (Ewenla) at 

his last known address but 

found out that he has fled to 

Ogun State. 

“He is hereby advised to come 

out of hiding and report himself 

to Lagos State Police Command 

Headquarters, Ikeja or to the 

nearest police station in the 

state to defend himself.” 

Ezeh, said: “It is worrisome that 

while EEDC is striving to 

improve on its service delivery, 

some individuals that ordinarily 

should have been engaging in 

more productive activities resort 

to frustrating both the company 

and its customers. 

“This singular act costs EEDC 

a lot financially, and it ends up 

subjecting our customers to a lot 

of inconveniences. We 

appreciate the effort and 

support of the various vigilante 

groups as well as the state 

security agencies in 

apprehending these vandals 

and prosecuting them 

accordingly.” 

Driver, one other docked over 

missing N6m, school bus 

By Onozure Dania 

Aschool bus driver, Timothy 

Gwar, 32, and one other 

John Sanda 37, who allegedly stole 

a school bus in an attempt to sell it 

off, were yesterday brought before 

an Igbosere Magistrate’s Court in 

Lagos. 

They are facing a two count 

charge, of conspiracy, and 

stealing, preferred against them, 

by the Police. 

The duo and others still on the 

run were alleged to have 

conspired and committed the 

offence on November 28, 2018 at 

the Eko Hotel roundabout, 

Victoria Island Lagos. 

They were alleged to have 

stolen one Toyota Hiace bus with 

number plates EKY 109 FL with 

a street valued at N6 million, 

belonging to Mrs. Nike Ajisola. 

Gwar, the first defendant was 

entrusted with the school bus 

with which he was to take 

pupils from their homes to 

school and back. He however 

disappeared with the school 

bus after droping the pupils 

at school in the morning. 

Luck ran out on the 

defendants as they were 

arrested at the Eko Hotel 

roundabout where they had 

gone to sell off the school 

bus for N5 million. 

The duo were 

consequently granted bail, 

by Magistrate Ade 

Adefuluire to the tune of 

N1million, each, with two 

sureties each in like sum. 

He said that the sureties 

must show evidence of tax 

payment to the Lagos State 

government and adjourned 

the case till January 22, 2019, 

for mention. 

Edo govt arrests 3 for illegal revenue collection 

only to approved persons and 

local government revenue 

officials, adding that “the state 

government has continued to 

receive worrisome reports from 

Obakhavbaye Motor Park on 

the activities of touts collecting 

revenue illegally. 

“We are putting measures in 

place to check the activities of 

the touts, especially at the 

Obakhavbaye Motor Park. 

Governor Godwin Obaseki’s 

stance against touts and illegal 

revenue collection is clear.” 

The girls are angry 

Culture is dying, bro. 

Meet this challenge 

and cuppy us

8—VANGUARD, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2018 

By Kingsley 

Omonobi, Joseph 

Erunke & Okolie 

Ifeanyi 

FAMILY of late former 

Chief of Defence Staff, 

Air Vice Marshal, Alex 

Badeh, yesterday, refuted 

claims by the suspects 

linked to his death that 

they killed him to seize 

alleged huge sums of 

money he had on him to 

buy farmland. 

The family insisted that 

contrary to the claim, 

Badeh did not discuss any 

issue about the 

acquisition of land neither 

was he with up to N500 

on the day he was killed. 

This came as Police 

authorities failed, 

yesterday, to parade five 

suspects, including two 

masterminds of the 

December 18 killing of 

Badeh. 

The five suspects who 

the media expected would 

be paraded, yesterday, at 

Force Headquarters, 

Abuja, were not paraded 

as the Police said doing 

so would jeopardize 

ongoing investigation 

and efforts to arrest other 

members of the gang still 

at large. 

Family denies 

report on cause 

of death 

Refuting the cause of 

death, the family said the 

claim was a “cook-up 

story to deceive the public 

and hide the killers and 

their intentions.” 

The family called 

Vanguard to the late Chief 

of Air Staff’s Abuja 

residence, yesterday, to 

react to the claim by the 

suspected killers that he 

was killed because of the 

huge amount of money he 

had carried to his farm in 

Panda Development Area 

of Nasarawa State, to buy 

additional land. 

But while delegating 

only one member to speak, 

the family insisted that the 

name of the 

representative be kept in 

secrecy. 

Speaking, the family 

member said: ”We called 

you here because we have 

been following your 

report in Vanguard since 

our son and brother, Air 

Chief Marshal Alex 

Badeh, was killed by yetto-be 

identified people. 

“We are not happy with 

the report being put out 

to the public there on the 

circumstances that led to 

his death. We as a family, 

believe that some people 

responsible for his death 

want to deceive the public 

by hiding the facts of what 

happened, how it 

BADEH: Family denies report 

on cause of death 

•As Police fail to parade suspects 

Suspected car snatchers paraded by Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Moshood Jimoh, 

at the Force Headquarters, in Abuja yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan 

happened and those 

responsible. 

“I want to emphatically 

tell you here that contrary 

to the claim that he went 

to his farm on the fateful 

day with huge amount of 

money to buy additional 

farmland, there was 

nothing like that. In fact, 

he had no money on him 

that day, not even N500 

in the vehicle. 

“As I told you, no money, 

I repeat, no money was in 

that vehicle. Not even 

N500 was in that vehicle 

on that day he was killed. 

I repeat that no N500 not 

even N1000 was in that 

motor he drove that he 

was killed that day. 

“Before his death, a 

villager who knew he was 

on the farm that day went 

to meet him to get money 

to buy paracetamol tablet 

for his headache but my 

brother could not afford 

the money for him. 

Instead, he asked the 

person if he could go to 

Panda Market. 

"When the man said he 

could, our brother told him 

to pick 10 mudus 

(measured quantity) of 

maize to sell in the market 

and buy drug for himself, 

saying that was the only 

help he could render to 

him since he had no cash 

to give out. 

“He took time to narrate 

to the person that as he 

was talking to him, there 

was a huge refuse dump 

at his house in Abuja and 

the people responsible for 

packing it, that is the 

Abuja Environmental 

Protection Board, had 

refused to do so because 

he had no money to pay 

for the packing. 

“He added that his cook 

and the cleaner in his 

house had not been paid, 

explaining further that 

those were the reasons he 

went to farm on that day 

to pick some bags of 

harvested maize, like 100 

bags, to sell so as to raise 

money to settle those 

issues. 

“Again, he told his 

workers on the farm that 

since they have blocked 

his pension, his only 

source of getting money, 

only three out of the eight 

working for him can 

remain as he wouldn’t 

have money to pay all the 

eight anymore. 

“He said ‘I’m sorry to tell 

you this but this is the 

reality, I can only retain 

three workers now, the 

five of you have to go so 

that I won’t be owing you 

salaries. He said I can be 

selling maize and be 

paying salary for the three 

that I will retain.’ 

Why he went to 

the farm 

“He did not have N500 

on that day they killed 

him, I swear to God. All 

this you are hearing is a 

cook-up story. He went 

to farm to pick some bags 

of corn to sell so that he 

could raise money to pay 

the workers on the farm, 

the cook and cleaner in 

the house as well as for 

the packing of refuse 

dump here in the house. 

“You can see the huge 

refuse dump here near 

the wall. If you see this 

refuse, they had to shift it 

from this wall closer to the 

primary school there 

because of the odour 

oozing out from the waste 

bins. You can see the 

dustbins there (pointed to 

it). 

“So where did they get 

the information they 

released to the public 

from?” 

Suspects 

confess 

Meanwhile, a source 

who spoke to Vanguard at 

the FPRO’s office said, 

two of the suspects who 

he refused to identify, had 

confessed to the killing, 

adding that one of them 

masterminded the killing. 

The source explained that 

the suspect who 

masterminded the killing 

was the same person who 

opened the fatal shots 

that killed the general. 

According to the source, 

who spoke to Vanguard on 

the condition of 

anonymity, said: “They 

are two suspects we had 

planned to parade before 

newsmen today 

(yesterday) and they 

confessed in taking part 

in the killing of the 

General. 

"They are both Fulani 

bandits but one of them 

had pre-knowledge that 

the General was to buy an 

additional farmland close 

to the one he has on the 

Kaduna-Keffi expressway 

and he knew the money 

will be paid in cash and 

he was the person who 

arranged his gang 

members to attack and rob 

the General of the money. 

“The mastermind 

confessed that he opened 

the fatal shot that killed 

General and injured his 

driver. We would have 

paraded them today 

(yesterday) but I learned 

some military men went to 

the Presidency and they 

asked the Inspector 

General of Police, IGP, to 

tell my boss, the Force 

PRO not to parade the 

suspects.” 

Why Police did 

not parade 

suspects 

Meanwhile, Force 

Public Relations Officer, 

acting Deputy 

Commissioner of Police, 

Mr Jimoh Moshood, said 

on why the parade was 

being shifted: “The 

investigation into the 

killing of the former, 

Chief of Defence Staff is 

being intensified to arrest 

other suspects still at 

large. The parade of the 

two principal suspects 

and the three other gang 

members now in Police 

custody will not come up 

so as not to jeopardize the 

on-going investigation. 

“All the suspects will be 

paraded before the media 

and the public on 

completion of investigation 

into the matter. The Nigeria 

Police Force will not relent 

nor leave any stone 

unturned in getting to the 

root of the killing and bring 

all perpetrators to justice.” 

He, meanwhile, paraded 

10 suspects of three armed 

robbery, kidnapping and 

car snatching as well as 

house breaking and 

burglary gangs who had 

been terrorizing Abuja- 

Kaduna-Kano and Edo 

States. 

The suspects are Zaka 

John 27yrs, Austine Samari 

34yrs, Sadiq Abbani 32yrs, 

Bukur Abann 15yrs, 

Abdullahi Abdulhamid 

19yrs, Mamud Bawa 

16yrs, Bawa Garba 30yrs, 

Samaila Abdullahi, 

Alqasim Mohammed 

Umar and Kahlidu 

Abdullahi. 

Falana 

threatens to 

sue NCC over 

software 

contract 

letter 

HUMAN rights lawyer, 

Femi Falana, SAN, has 

threatened to sue Nigerian 

Communication Commission, 

NCC, over its refusal to issue 

contract award letters to enable 

the successful consultant to 

deploy software and save 

Nigeria from further loss of 

huge revenue in the telecoms 

sector. 

In a letter addressed to 

Professor Umar Garba 

Danbatta, Executive Vice 

Chairman and Chief Executive 

Officer of NCC, dated 

December 18, 2018, said the 

refusal of NCC to issue the 

contract award letter is causing 

the nation to lose revenue of 

over N600billion per annum. 

The lawyer, therefore, 

issued a two-week ultimatum 

to NCC to release the 

contract award letter to 

facilitate the collection of 

NCC’s 2.5 per cent annual 

operating levy and other 

government taxes from the 

Nigerian telecommunication 

industry. 

The letter read: “We have 

confirmed that Nigerian 

Communication 

Commission under your 

management has since 

concluded the procurement 

process for the deployment 

of the revenue assurance 

solution that will aid the 

government to block the 

leakages associated with the 

revenue collection and 

ensure that the revenue of 

over N600 billion that ought 

to accrue to the government 

from the Nigerian 

Telecommunication Industry 

is monitored, analyzed and 

collected automatically and 

deposited in the Treasury 

Single Account (TSA). 

“We are, however, 

surprised to note that several 

months after the issuance of 

the Concurrence/Guidance 

on the award of the contract 

to the successful consultant 

by the Federal Ministry of 

Finance, your commission 

has deliberately refused to 

issue the contract award letter 

to enable the successful 

consultant to deploy the 

software and save Nigeria 

from further loss of huge 

revenue. 

“As you are no doubt aware, 

the Federal Government has 

announced its plan to 

diversify the economy by 

generating revenue from the 

non-oil sector. It is our belief 

that the speedy deployment 

of the revenue assurance 

solution will greatly increase 

the country’s non-oil revenue 

and reduce her dependence 

on loans from China, Western 

countries and International 

Financial Institutions to fund 

the annual budget and the 

infrastructural development 

of the country."

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2018—9 

RESUMPTION: 

Workers 

resuming 

after 

Christmas 

hollidays at 

Lagos State 

Secretariat 

Alausa, 

Ikeja, 

yesterday. 

Photo: Bunmi 

Azeez 

2019: PDP urges Buhari to speak on N1.032trn 

acquisition of Etisalat, Keystone Bank 

•Says President lacks integrity to seek re-election 

By Dirisu 

Yakubu 

A BUJA—PEOPLES 

Democratic Party, PDP, 

Presidential Campaign 

Organisation, PPCO, has 

called on President 

Muhammadu Buhari to 

speak up on allegations by 

its (PDP) Presidential 

candidate, Alhaji Atiku 

Abubakar, that relatives of 

the President have 

allegedly soiled their 

hands in the acquisition of 

Etisalat Nigeria and 

Keystone Bank Plc to the 

tune of N1.032 trillion. 

Addressing newsmen, 

yesterday, at the 


headquarters, Kola 

Ologbondiyan, Director, 

Media and Publicity of 

PPCO urged the President 

to perish the thought of 

going ahead with his reelection 

campaign if he fails 

to speak on the latest 

allegation, adding that it 

directly bothers on his 

integrity both as a person 

and the exalted office of the 

President of the Federal 

Republic of Nigeria. 

He said: “The PDP 


challenges President 

Buhari to explain how his 

family members came 

about the sum of N1.032 

trillion for this scandalous 

acquisition. 

"Nigerians are not 

interested in mere rhetoric 

or attempts by the Buhari 

Presidency to divert public 

attention from the issue at 

hand, but demand that 

President Buhari, who 

hitherto prides himself as 

Mr. Integrity, squarely 

addresses these grave 

issues in person. 

“This is not an issue for 

President Buhari’s aides to 

howl about in the media, it 

touches directly on his 

person, particularly his 

perception as a symbol of 

the Talakawas. He must 

therefore, address them on 

this issue. 

“We, therefore, dare 

President Buhari to put 

forth a denial on this 

disclosure by our candidate 

and we will spare no 

thoughts in furnishing the 

public with details of his 

corrupt activities within and 

outside Nigeria. 

“Our party has full details 

of how persons related to 

President Buhari, by 

affinity, have been paved 

the way to loot trillions of 

naira from government 

agencies for corrupt 

acquisition of shares in 

major companies, purchase 

expensive property within 

and outside Nigeria, as well 

as to finance their very 

luxury lifestyles, under Mr. 

President’s cover. 

“In fact, no Nigerian has 

made more money in the 

last three and half years 

than relations of President 

Buhari, many of whom 

have found themselves 

controlling stupendous 

wealth frittered from our 

economy, yet our President 

is asking Nigerians to get 

ready for more hardship in 

the coming year. 

“Furthermore, our party is 

privy to the facts of how 

these relations of the 

President have been 

hounding government 

agencies, major business 

concerns and intending 

foreign investors over 

kickbacks as well as 

strangulating companies 

that refuse to accede to their 

demands. 

2019 budget flaws: It’s doubtful if 

Atiku understands meaning of 

recession —Presidency 

By Johnbosco 

Agbakwuru 

A BUJA—THE 

Presidency, 

yesterday, took a swipe at 

former Vice President and 

Presidential candidate of 

Peoples Democratic Party, 

PDP, Alhaji Atiku 

Abubakar, over his 

comment that the 2019 

Appropriation Bill 

presented to the National 

Assembly by President 

Muhammadu Buhari is a 

flawed document. 

The Presidency said the 

criticism by PDP’s 

Presidential candidate on 

recession was an indication 

that Abubakar does not 

understand the meaning of 

recession and that his 

comment on the budget 

was a poor attempt at 

playing to the gallery. 

In a statement in Abuja, 

Special Adviser to the 

President on Media and 

Publicity, Chief Femi 

Adesina, said: “Regrettably, 

that Atiku Abubakar offered 

no substantive and 

workable solution to the 

identified realities. 

“Atiku describes the 

underlying assumptions of 

the budget as generous, 

wild and untenable but 

does not propose alternative 

assumptions that would 

have been more appropriate. 

He argues that the economy 

is yet to recover from the 

2016/2017 recession. 

“Unfortunately, he cannot 

create his own definition of 

an economic recession, 

which is a technical term with 

a universally applicable 

meaning. When an economy 

experiences two consecutive 

quarters of negative GDP 

growth, it is said to be in 

recession and whenever it 

returns to positive GDP 

growth of whatever rate, it is 

said to have exited 

recession. It is doubtful if he 

understands the simple 

meaning of recession. 

“Atiku attributes the 

sustained accretion to 

foreign reserves to 'increases 

in international prices of 

Brent Crude and foreign 

borrowing.' But he 

conveniently forgets that 

under the immediate past 

federal administration, oil 

prices were at an all-time 

high with substantial growth 

in foreign borrowings, and 

yet foreign reserves nosedived 

from a peak of 

$62billion to as low as 

$24bn." 

INEC develops Special 

app to address electoral 

malpractice 

Atiku’s alleged corruption: Buhari is hallucinating —PDP 

By Dirisu 

Yakubu 

ABUJA— The Peoples 



Organisation, PPCO, has 

described President 

Muhammadu Buhari’s attack 

on its Presidential candidate, 

Atiku Abubakar, as a mere 

illusion, which will not stop 

Nigerians from voting him 

out of power in 2019. 

The party said it was 

unfortunate that President 

Buhari will resort to 

sponsoring fabrications and 

false allegations against 

Atiku just because he was 

overwhelmed by the former 

Vice President’s soaring 

popularity and acceptance by 

Nigerians ahead of the polls. 

National Publicity Secretary 

of PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, 

By Omeiza Ajay 

A 

B U J A — 

INDEPENDENT National 

Electoral Commission, 

INEC, said it had 

developed a special mobile 

application that would 

allow Nigerians monitor the 

2019 general election and 

reduce electoral 

malfeasance. 

A National Commissioner 

with INEC and Chairman, 

Board of The Electoral 

Institute, TEI, Dr. 

Mustapha Lecky, made the 

disclosure, yesterday, in 

Abuja, while declaring 

open a three-day workshop 

on Electoral Security 

Training of Trainers 

Workshop for State Training 

Officers. 

He said the app, which 

can be freely downloaded 

through the INEC website 

or Google Playstore has 

geo-referencing features 

which can enable officials 

of the commission identify 

wherever challenges may 

arise and alert security 

agencies to take charge in 

any part of the country. 

According to him, the 

who stated this, yesterday, in 

a chat with our correspondent 

also berated spokesperson 

ofBuhari Campaign Council, 

Festus Keyamo, who had 

earlier said Atiku would have 

been in jail if the Nigerian 

system was functional. 

He said: “Besides, because 

of President Buhari’s limited 

exposure, corrupt tendencies 

and manifest managerial 

incompetence, he is always 

fixated in his myopic creed 

app was developed to address 

the new phenomenon 

of “vote buying,” a recurring 

feature in recent elections 

in the country. 

He said: “We have deployed 

something that as at 

today, if you go to INEC 

website or Google play, you 

can download an INEC i- 

reporter which is 

something that INEC has 

spent a lot of money in 

developing. 

“It allows every Nigerian 

to be an observer and a 

reporter of events as it 

happen. This you can 

download freely and have 

it on your smart phones, so 

you can take pictures, you 

can also take a short video 

and send it to us. It is georeference, 

so we know 

exactly where that issue is 

taking place and we can 

easily draw the attention of 

police or other security 

agencies to make sure that 

matter is actually 

addressed.” 

On the issue of vote 

buying, Lecky said the 

commission had deployed 

a number of measures to 

ensure it does not interfere 

with the electoral process in 

2019. 

APC paying lip service to 

security and well-being of 

Nigerians— Benue dep gov 

By Peter Duru 

BENUE State Deputy 

Governor, Mr. Benson 

Abounu, has accused his 

former party, All 

Progressives Congress, 

APC, of paying lip service 

to the security and wellbeing 

of Nigerians. 

Abounu said the non 

commitment of the party to 

the security and well-being 

of the people was one of the 

reasons that compelled 

him to abandon the party, 

stressing that the party held 

no future for the people of 

the state. 

He spoke at Otukpo-Icho 

where he decamped with 

over 3,000 members of APC 

to Peoples Democratic 

Party, PDP, in Otukpo Local 

Government Area of the 

state, noting after his 

sojourn in the APC, he 

discovered there was no 

alternative to the PDP. 

According to him, “I was 

a founding member of the 

PDP, I left the party because 

I was angry at a point but I 

have gone to the other side 

and I can tell you that there 

is no party like PDP. 

“I have seen that they 

don’t mean well for our 

people and that is why I 

quickly made a detour back 

home. Like a son, who left 

home for hunting 

expedition and after killing 

an elephant decided to 

bring it home for his people, 

I am back home for good.” 

The Deputy Governor 

who lauded the people for 

choosing to dump their 

former party urged them to 

collectively work for the 

victory of all the candidates 

of the PDP from the 

presidential to the House 

of Assembly elections. 

that nobody can be successful 

except through corrupt 

enrichment. 

“We wish to remind 

President Buhari, who has 

been unleashing his aides to 

attack our Presidential 

candidate, that Atiku 

Abubakar has never been 

charged, indicted nor 

convicted for any act of 

corruption by any competent 

authority whatsoever."

10 — VANGUARD, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2018 

MFM dissociates self from 

those soliciting funds on 

social media 

L AGOS—THE 

Mountain of Fire 

and Miracles Ministries, 

MFM, has distanced itself 

from people soliciting for 

money on the social media 

on behalf of the church. 

Chairman, of the MFM 

Media Committee, Pastor 

Oladele Bank-Olemoh, in 

a statement, yesterday, 

warned those engaging 

the act to stop to avert God's 

wrath. He also noted that 

the church has a ''longexisting 

welfare scheme for 

its members and the needy 

in our society and it has 

never and will never 

request, demand, appeal or 

solicit for financial 

contributions of any form or 

under any guise, from the 

public.'' 

The statement read in 

part: ''The Mountain of Fire 

and Miracles Ministries, 

MFM, hereby dissociates 

itself, the General Overseer 

worldwide, Dr. Daniel 

Kolawole Olukoya, his 

wife, Pastor Shade 

Olukoya, the entire 

pastorate and leadership of 

the church from some 

online (Facebook and 

whatsaap) electronic 

platforms seeking 

monetary contributions 

from the public and unwary 

members of the church, 

Magrellos opens Moloney 

branch 

L 

A G O S — 

MANAGING 

Director of Magrellos 

Foods, one of Nigeria’s 

fast growing Quick 

Service Restaurants 

(QSR), Mrs. Margaret 

Ohwofa, has promised 

its clients in Lagos, 

especially those in 

Surulere and Lagos 

Island a delightful 

experience during this 

festive period. 

Mrs. Ohwofa spoke at 

the re-opening of the rebranded 

Surulere branch 

of Magrellos recently. 

The re-opening of 

Surulere branch follows 

the opening of an 

upscale branch at 

Moloney Street, Lagos 

allegedly towards meeting 

the financial needs of some 

faceless ‘poor’ and ‘needy’ 

members of the church. 

''The MFM authority, 

through this medium, also 

warns the shady characters 

involved in this ungodly 

plot to dupe unsuspecting 

members of the church and 

friends of the MFM to 

desist forthwith, as their 

action is tantamount to 

invitation to God’s wrath. In 

the face of this 

development, the church 

will take serious legal 

action against every 

innocuous and wicked 

character behind giving the 

church a bad name, as 

already, the church has set 

legal machinery in motion 

to apprehend the rogues 

and bring the full weight 

of the law to take its course 

against them and protect its 

members from falling 

victims. 

''MFM members home 

and in the diaspora, are 

through this medium, 

warned to be wary of any 

such electronic or print 

(paper) solicitation for 

funds under any guise and 

to rather confirm from the 

church authorities before 

wrongfully donating 

money to spurious causes, 

set up by dubious and 

ungodly characters.'' 

…rebrands Surulere branch 

Island, Lagos. 

Speaking at the 

opening, Mrs. Ohwofa, 

said the opening of the 

Moloney Branch was in 

furtherance of 

Magrellos' quest to be a 

modern Quick Service 

Restaurant. 

Mrs. Ohwofa said 

beyond the end of year 

festivities, Magrellos is 

providing residents and 

working class people in 

Moloney a decent and 

hygienic environment 

where they can eat 

quality food at an 

affordable price, and a 

place where workers can 

come and relax after close 

of work while waiting for 

the traffic to thaw. 

Minimum wage: Economy too fragile to 

withstand Labour strike in January, NECA 

warns 

By Victor Ahiuma- 

Young 

THE 

Nigeria 

Employers' 

Consultative Association, 

NECA, yesterday, pleaded 

with the Federal 

Government to 

immediately send a draft 

bill on the N30,000 new 

national minimum wage to 

the National Assembly, 

NASS, for passage into law 

to save the nation from the 

consequences of the strike 

planned by Organised 

Labour in January 2019. 

The umbrella body for 

private employers in the 

country, while decrying the 

indecisive disposition of the 

Federal Government 

towards concluding the 

process leading to the 

implementation of a new 

National Minimum Wage, 

insisted that "this delay in 

•Begs FG to send draft bill on N30,000 minimum wage to NASS 

ONDO HACKATHON: Deola Adejuyigbe, Managing Director, Serve Consulting (right) presenting a prize to 

Team Dunalinks, winners of the business linkage category from the Emerge Ondo Hackathon events in Akure. 

100,000 civil servants combating mental illnesses 

– Lagos HOS 

By Olasunkanmi 

Akoni & Monsuru 

Olowoopejo 

LAGOS—THE Lagos 

State Head of Service, 

HOS, Mrs. Folasade 

the completion of the 

process has led to the 

proposed strike by Labour, 

which is totally undesirable 

and should be avoided." 

In a statement its Director 

General, Mr. Timothy 

Olawale, NECA said: 

"Globally, there is a 

recognized and acceptable 

process of setting a 

National Minimum Wage 

as enshrined in the 

International Labour 

Organisation, ILO, 

Convention 131. This 

process had been adopted 

in previous National 

Minimum Wage setting in 

Nigeria and was 

meticulously applied by the 

National Minimum Wage 

Committee inaugurated by 

the President in December, 

2017. It was expected that 

following the submission of 

the National Minimum 

Wage Committee’s Report 

Adesoye, has raised the 

alarm over high rate of 

mental health challenges 

among civil servants in the 

state which she puts at over 

100, 000. 

Adesoye, stated this, 

yesterday, at her 

Valedictory and Pull-Out 

Capri-Sonne launches new promo 

CAPRI-SONNE has 

launched a new 

national consumer promo 

tagged the “Beach Ball 

Promo.” 

The promo, which 

includes a free beach ball 

in every carton of Capri- 

Sonne, is expected to create 

more fun moments for kids 

by ensuring a stimulating 

unboxing moment and 

encouraging them to play 

some more. 

The Beach Ball promo 

will offer children across 

Nigeria one more reason 

to enjoy their favourite 

fruit drink, as nothing 

speaks to a child’s 

playfulness like a 

bouncing beach ball 

which can be used in all 

sorts of exciting games. 

In a statement, 

Deepanjan Roy, the 

Managing Director of Chi 

Limited, said: The Capri- 

Sonne Beach Ball Promo is 

another unique platform to 

reward fun-loving 

consumers across Nigeria. 

“The Capri-Sonne Beach 

Ball promo is an 

opportunity to gift more fun 

moments to millions of 

children, and reward them 

as they relish the delicious 

taste of fun and excitement 

in every carton of their 

favourite drink purchased 

within the promo period.” 

to the President on 

Tuesday, 6th November, 

2018, expedited action 

would be taken in 

transmitting a bill to the 

National Assembly as 

promised by President 

Muhammadu Buhari. 

"The President had 

promised to transmit an 

Executive bill to the 

National Assembly for its 

passage within the shortest 

possible time. It is, therefore 

worrisome that seven 

weeks after the submission 

of the Committee’s Report, 

Government is planning to 

subject the Report to 

another Technical 

Committee, unknown to the 

process of setting minimum 

wage. This delay in the 

completion of the process 

has led to the proposed 

strike by Labour, which is 

totally undesirable and 

should be avoided." 

ceremony, after 35 years 

in service, held at 

Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, 

Alausa, Ikeja. 

According to her, the 

challenge should be treated 

as a matter of urgency by the 

government. 

"I wish to note the 

increasing incidence of 

mental health challenges 

within the public service 

and necessity to address 

the issue as a matter of 

urgency. I wish to 

encourage a health sector 

stakeholders' forum to 

facilitate a holistic 

discussion of issues affecting 

the sector in general with a 

view to developing a new 

road map. 

“It is also important that 

the momentum of ongoing 

reforms of public service 

processes and procedures 

be sustained and 

aggressively cascaded to 

the Unified Local 

Government Service in order 

to maximize its benefits," she 

added. 

Adesoye also lamented 

Concerned about the 

negative implication of the 

proposed strike in January 

2019, he continued: “It is 

worrisome that as a nation 

whose economy is still 

reeling under the effects of 

recent recession, 

Government would 

needlessly further drag the 

economy into avoidable 

abyss. The colossal loss 

borne by businesses during 

the warning strike in 

September, 2018 was yet to 

be recovered and further 

disruption of business 

activities might sound the 

death knell for many 

enterprises." 

He averred that with the 

rate of unemployment as 

recently released by the 

National Bureau of Statistics, 

NBS, it was expected that 

all hands would be on deck 

to ensure the continuous 

survival of businesses. 

paucity of funds, urging the 

state government to ensure 

adequate funding and 

effective staffing of the 

State's Office of City 

Resilience considering its 

critical role in Lagos State's 

long term environmental 

sustainability. 

She therefore, urged civil 

servants to brace up for the 

challenges of the future 

public service, saying that 

one did not need a crystal 

ball to know that in the 

foreseeable future, the 

public service would be 

innovative and technologydriven. 

“It would be one in which 

skills, knowledge, creativity, 

talent, competence and 

performance would be the 

primary determinant of 

relevance, promotion and 

advancement. 

“Therefore, regardless of 

institutionalized staff 

motivation and/or 

performance reward 

system, I encourage you to 

find time to develop 

yourselves.''

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2018 — 11 

2018 CALABAR CARNIVAL IN PIX. PHOTOS: CHIJIOKE NWANKPA.


Akwa Ibom govt rejects 

Police anti-terrorism unit 

UYO—THE Akwa Ibom 

State Government has 

rejected plans by the 

Nigeria Police to set up an 

anti-terrorism unit in the 

state. 

A statement by the state 

Commissioner of 

Information and Strategy, 

Sir Charles Udoh revealed 

that the plan to set up such 

sensitive unit particularly 

during this period of 

electioneering campaign 

was suspicious. 

The statement reads in 

part: “Clearly, judging from 

all indices that precede the 

creation of such sensitive 

anti-crime unit, creating an 

anti-terrorism unit in Akwa 

Ibom at this time is 

suspecious. The question 

is, of what use is an antiterrorism 

unit in one of the 

most peaceful states in 

Nigeria? 

“We are concerned that 

the setting up of the Anti- 

Terrorism Unit is part of the 

ground work and ploy of 

the opposition party in the 

state, the All Progressives 

Congress, APC, to illegally 

intimidate, harass and 

arrest government 

functionaries and the 

leadership of the People’s 

Democratic Party, PDP, in 

the state. 

"As the 2019 general 

election approach and 

700 bags of cement responsible 

for collapse of 7-storey building 

in Rivers —Commissioner 

By Davies 

Iheamnachor 

PORT HARCOURT— 

THE Commissioner for 

Special Duties in Rivers 

State, Dr. John Bazia, has 

said that the seven-storey 

building which collapsed in 

Port Harcourt on November 

23, 2018, was because of 

over 700 bags of cement 

stacked in the building. 

Bazia disclosed this 

yesterday in Port Harcourt 

to a five-man commission 

of enquiry constituted by 

the state government to 

investigate the immediate 

and remote cause of the 

tragic collapse. 

Bazia who appeared as a 

witness to the rescue 

operation during the 

incident, said it was 

discovered that about 700 

bags of cement were kept 

on the second floor of the 

collapsed building. 

He stated that it was 

wrong for such load to be 

left on a building that is 

under construction, adding 

that the 700 bags of cement 

may be the cause of the 

incident. 

He said: “I can assure 

you that all those that were 

alive were rescued. 31 

persons were alive while 17 

people died. It took us over 

two weeks to get to the 

political tempo assumes a 

crescendo pitch, a 

functional Anti-Terrorism 

Unit in the state, will 

certainly arrest and detain 

whosoever it wishes, on 

trumped up charges of acts 

of terrorism. To buttress the 

sinister motive of the Anti- 

Terrorism Unit, sources say 

a former Chief Security 

Officer to former Governor 

Godswill Akpabio, has 

been redeployed to Akwa 

Ibom, with tactical 

instructions on how to 

successfully execute the 

unholy agenda of the APC 

leadership in the state." 

“While acknowledging 

that the Force retains the 

right to create units as it 

deems necessary, Akwa 

Ibom State government 

frowns at attempts by the 

Police hierarchy to portray 

Akwa Ibom as a terrorist 

enclave in Nigeria, by its 

planned establishment of 

an Anti-Terrorism Unit. It is 

the consensus of Nigerians 

that such sensitive section 

as the Anti-Terrorism Unit 

be activated and logistically 

mobilized to effectively 

function in parts of Nigeria 

where insurgency is rife, 

especially in the North- 

Eastern region, where lives 

of innocent Nigerians are 

lost on a daily basis." 

basement of the building. 

“I was informed by one of 

the workers at the site that 

700 bags of cement were 

kept on the second floor. 

This load may have caused 

it. It is not good to keep such 

load on a building that is 

still under construction.” 

M e a n w h i l e , 

Commissioner for Urban 

Development and Physical 

Planning, Dr. Reason 

Onya, had explained that 

documents of the building 

were approved in 2014, 

stating that he only 

revalidated the documents. 

Onya, who has since 

stepped aside after the 

incident for the sake of 

integrity, stated that at the 

point of revalidation of the 

building documents, the 

original files domiciled in 

the state ministry could not 

be found, adding that he 

relied on the approval 

number found in the office. 

Akpabio, Akpanudoedehe, others 

appointed into Buhari’s campaign c’ttee 

•Why Niger Delta may not support Buhari —NDDI 

By Chioma 

Onuegbu 

UYO—FIVE 

key 

stakeholders of the 

All Progressives Congress, 

APC, in Akwa Ibom State 

have been appointed into 

President Buhari's 

Campaign Committee as 

part of strategy to ensure 

his victory in the state in the 

February 2019 general 

election. 

Akwa Ibom State 

coordinator of the 

committee, Pastor Mfon 

Okon disclosed this to 

newsmen yesterday at the 

Obong Nsima Ekere 

Campaign ground in Uyo. 

According to Okon, 

Senator Godswill Akpabio 

representing Akwa Ibom 

North-West in the Senate 

was appointed as the 

National Coordinator while 

Lady Valerie Ebe, former 

deputy governor of the state 

was named Chairman 

National Advisory 

Committee. He stated that 

Senator John 

Akpanudoedehe was 

appointed as National 

Director Planning and 

Strategy. 

Others appointed into the 

committee are Senator 

Aloysius Etok, National 

Director for inter party 

affairs and Mrs. Rachael 

Akpabio, National Assistant 

Secretary, Welfare. 

Okon explained that the 

appointment is a reflection 

of the confidence that Mr. 

President and the party 

reposed in the ability of the 

appointees to work for the 

over-all victory of the party 

in the 2019 general 

election. 

Why Niger Delta 

may not support 

Buhari —NDDI 

In another development, 

a socio-economic group, 

Niger Delta Development 

Initiative, NDDI, has 

expressed regret that the 

President Buhari led 

government has performed 

below the expectation of 

Nigerians, particularly the 

people of the Niger Delta 

region, insisting that the 

Niger Delta region would 

not support a presidential 

candidate who does not 

believe in the restructuring 

of the country. 

The position of the group 

is contained in a statement 

by its President, Mr. Tom 

Buma and Secretary Mr. 

Ernest Ukpe in Uyo. 

The statement read: 

“Under the APC-led 

administration, we have 

observed that the East- West 

road has been abandoned. 

The failed promise to clean 

up Ogoni land and other 

communities in the Niger 

Delta has made people of 

the region to conclude that 

the assurance to do the 

Calabar-Odukpani 

highway could be another 

political project. 

“We are committed to the 

development of Niger 

Delta region and the 

actualisation of true 

federalism in the country. 

As we welcome President 

Buhari on Friday (today) for 

the flag off his presidential 

campaign for the South- 

South in Uyo, we want to 

remind him that Niger 

Delta people will only 

support a presidential 

candidate who will give us 

restructuring, and truly 

fight corruption” 

Wike flags off ‘operation deliver your ward in 2019’ 

PORT HARCOURT— 

Rivers State Governor, 

Nyesom Wike has flagged 

off “Operation Deliver Your 

Ward in 2019,” directing all 


PDP, leaders to ensure that 

the party wins in their 

communities. 

The governor also 

inaugurated the state PDP 

campaign council with a 

charge to the council to 

deliver all PDP candidates 

during the forthcoming 

election. 

Speaking at the event, 

Wike said: “Every politician 

must go to their respective 

communities and wards to 

work for the PDP. Your work 

is at your respective wards. 

“This time, it is ‘operation 

deliver your ward ‘. Once 

you lose your ward, you lose 

political relevance. Our 

campaign must be issue 

based”. 

Wike also urged PDP 

leaders to work towards the 

total victory of the party, 

noting that the council is allinclusive 

and aimed at 

ensuring that all PDP 

candidates emerge 

victorious. 

He said: “Take this 

election as if you have very 

stiff opposition. Work very 

hard for the party and don’t 

allow ethnic consideration 

to affect your commitment 

to the party. 

“No other political party 

will win in Rivers State. 

Any group of politicians 

that plays the ethnic card 

will lose out in the long run. 

PDP hails Emmanuel’s handling of Akpabio Int’l stadium 

for APC campaign 

The party in a statement 

By Chioma 

Onuegbu 

UYO — AKWA Ibom 

State chapter of the 

People Democratic Party, 

PDP, has commended the 

state governor, Udom 

Emmanuel for his 

demonstration of sense of 

maturity 

and 

statesmanship over the use 

of the Godswil 

International Stadium for 

the presidential campaign 

of the All Progressives 

Congress, APC. 

by Director-General Divine 

Mandate Campaign 

Organisation, and a former 

military governor of the 

state, Air Commodore 

Idongesit Nkanga, said 

Akwa Ibom people remain 

grateful to God for the 

humane leadership 

provided by the governor. 

The statement reads: “It 

is with a comical 

amusement that we 

recount the theatrics of the 

APC over the use of the 

Nest of Champions for 

their Presidential 

Campaign flag-off." 

From left, Bekeme 

Masade, Chief 

Executive, CSR-in- 

Action; Bukola Amao- 

Taiwo, Volunteer; 

Itiafa Olowola, 

V o l u n t e e r ; 

Abudullahi Abukakar 

(with mother), 

Winner of Spelling 

Bee competition; and 

Biodun Ogunsola, 

Consultant, CSR-in- 

Action at the 

Christmas party 

hosted by CSR-in- 

Action for children in 

Aro Community, 

Jakande, Lekki. 

Lagos 

It will haunt them in the 

future. 

“If you play wayo, you 

will see wayo. PDP will only 

support you if you support 

PDP. God has decided that 

APC will not rule Nigeria 

again”. 

In his remarks, PDP 

National Chairman, Prince 

Uche Secondus said any 

attempt to rig the 2019 

general election will spell 

doom for the country. 

He said: “To Buhari, you 

cannot rig the 2019 

elections unless you want 

war in the country “. 

Secondus also called on 

PDP members across all 

levels to be committed 

towards ensuring that the 

party wins. He noted that 

while the APC was relying 

on INEC and Police, PDP 

Rivers State relies on the 

outstanding performance of 

Governor Wike.


Okowa signs N390.3bn 2019 Delta 

budget into law 

By Festus Ahon 

A 

S A B A — 

GOVERNOR 

Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, 

yesterday, signed the 2019 

budget of N390.3 billion of 

the state into law, insisting that 

the executive and legislative 

arms of government would 

continue to work in harmony 

for the good of the state. 

The budget was presented 

to the governor by the 

Speaker of the House of 

Assembly, Mr Sheriff 

Oborevwori, at about 9:50 

a.m. 

The 2019 budget is made 

of a capital expenditure of 

N233.2 billion and a recurrent 

expenditure of N157.1 

billion. 

Assenting to the budget, 

Okowa said the early signing 

of the bill into law would give 

his administration room to 

utilise the dry season for 

construction works. 

He said: “This is very 

important for governance, 

because it gives us room to 

utilise the dry season to 

construct roads and provide 

other infrastructure before the 

commencement of the rainy 

season.” 

Commending the state 

House of Assembly for the 

early passage of the 

appropriation bill, he 

described the state legislature 

as great partners in the 

delivery of dividends of 

democracy to Deltans. 

He said: “With the signing 

of the appropriation bill into 

law today (yesterday), it 

means power has been given 

to the executive to start 

implementing the budget we 

now have enough room to 

perform. And with the 

cooperation and partnership 

of Delta State House of 

Assembly in the course of 

2018, we have worked in 

harmony putting Delta State 

first. 

"Together in the last three 

years plus, we have been able 

to impact positively on 

infrastructural development, 

we have constructed roads, 

built a lot of schools, improved 

on the health facilities and 

provided a lot of jobs for 

Deltans. 

“Due to our achievements, 

there is peace in Delta State. 

We thank Deltans for the 

partnership, it has yielded 

great results and we are 

VISIT: Govenor Ben Ayade of Cross River State (middle); Director 

General, Atiku/Ayade Trans-Generational Movement, ATM, Captain 

Hart Modey (retd) (left), and Mr Dornclaimz Enamhe, SSA to Gov 

Ayade on Youth and Brands, when members of of the group visited 

the govenor at State House, Calabar. 

IPMAN crisis: Association reads 

riot act to ‘miscreant' members 

2019: Don’t take leadership of Nigeria by 

force, cleric warns politicians 

By Ochuko 

Akuopha 

OLEH — FORMER 

Chairman of 

Pentecostal Fellowship of 

Nigeria, PFN, in Sokoto and 

Edo States, Rt. Rev 

Diamond Emuobor, has 

warned candidates of all 

political parties for the 2019 

general elections against 

bloodshed and taking the 

leadership of Nigeria by 

force. 

Emuobor, in a statement, 

yesterday, said: 

“Leadership is to correct a 

bad situation in a country 

By Ike 

Uchechukwu 

C ALABAR— 

FOLLOWING 

recent Supreme Court 

judgement, Independent 

Petroleum Marketers 

Association of Nigeria, 

IPMAN, has read the riot act 

to its “miscreant” members 

parading themselves as the 

leaders of IPMAN in the 

country contrary to the 

judgement. 

The Supreme Court had 

on December 14 confirmed 

Mr. Chinedu Okoronkwo as 

the authentic National 

President of IPMAN in an 

appeal by Chief Obasi 

Lawson against Elder 

Okoronkwo and 10 others 

seeking the court to 

where people are suffering. 

Why should people shed 

their blood to correct the 

suffering that they are in? 

“It is by introducing 

programmes that will bring 

succour to the near 

dehumanised populace of 

the Nigerian nation that 

will encourage the interest 

of the electorate to vote 

whoever’s programmes are 

worthy. 

“On the other hand, I 

query the insurgence in the 

North-East which a Federal 

Government with a 

population of over 190 

confident that as we are 

leaving office in 2023, we 

would have left a lot in the 

state that we would be proud 

of and Deltans will be 

happier.” 

Presenting the approved bill 

to the governor earlier for his 

signature, the Speaker, Mr 

Oborevwori, accompanied by 

the Clark of the House, Mrs 

recognise him as the 

authentic leader of IPMAN 

nation-wide. 

In its judgement, the five 

judges of the Supreme Court 

led by Justice Ejembo Eko 

said: “The preliminary 

objection is hereby 

sustained. This appeal, 

being now academic and 

incompetent, is hereby 

struck out. Costs assessed at 

N2,000,000 shall be and is 

hereby awarded against the 

appellant herein in favour of 

the respondents jointly/or 

severally.” 

On his part, Justice Chika 

Centus Nweze, said: “Upon 

my perusal of the process, I 

take the view that upon the 

lapse of his tenure on March 

2017, the appellant had 

million people cannot quell 

and it is now a subject of 

politicking. 

“Where is the Federal 

Government’s protection of 

the citizenry if the invasion 

of foreign miscreants 

cannot be quelled by 

federal might? Nigerians 

want to know whether we 

still have a government or 

not. 

‘As it is today, it appears 

that the Muhammadu 

Buhari administration is 

overwhelmed by the 

incursion of gunmen 

imbroglio." 

Lyna Ochulor, and other 

principal officers, said the bill 

as presented by the governor 

passed through rigorous 

process before it was 

approved. 

“The bill passed through all 

the processes. It was 

designed to consolidate on 

the achievements of the 

governor,” he said. 

become a usurper, an 

impostor, impersonators, a 

chameleonic and unabashed 

interloper. 

“Thus by this appeal, and 

other suits, in which he 

claimed to be the rightful 

occupant of the office of the 

National President of the 

association, IPMAN, and 

indeed by holding himself as 

such, he has been 

deliberately stoking the 

embers of, and sustaining the 

leadership crisis in IPMAN. 

“This is rather unfortunate. 

People such as the appellant, 

should have their day, 

elsewhere, where the law has 

dutifully, created for 

malcontents who do know the 

virtue of peaceful association. 

“He should, therefore, leave 

that exalted office of National 

President of IPMAN 

forthwith. Having served his 

three-year term, he has no 

interest to protect this appeal. 

An appeal, which I find to be 

unmeritorious being an 

academic venture.” 

Okonkwo in a reaction 

through telephone interview 

with some newsmen in 

Calabar, yesterday, said those 

going against the Supreme 

Court judgement were not 

their members 

He said: “Those people 

going against the Supreme 

Court judgment are not my 

members but just miscreants. 

If they were to be members, 

the position of the law is very 

obvious as the Supreme 

Court has finally brought to 

an end the tussle." 

We can't run away from 

restructuring — Idada 

By Onozure 

Dania 

E X-PROVOST 

Marshall of Nigerian 

Army, General Don 

Ikponmwen Idada (retd), 

has said only a concerted 

effort at restructuring Nigeria 

can solve the myriad of 

problems plaguing the 

country. 

He said: “The bottom line 

is that we need to restructure 

this country and that is why 

I do not understand why a 

government would say we 

don’t know what 

restructuring means. Is it 

geographical or whatever? 

How can a government that 

claims to have educated men 

and women in governance 

say such a thing? 

“But for the information of 

all, restructuring includes 

changingthose things, 

systems, approaches that we 

have in this country that had 

not worked, and are not 

working because of their very 

nature, and they largely 

include, the security 

architecture of this country. 

“Now, I am not going to 

say oh, it is not just an issue 

of Muhammadu Buhari’s 

government of the past four 

years that failed to provide 

security for the people. No, 

that would be an 

understatement. 

“Governments after 

governments in this country, 

even including military 

government, had never been 

able to provide security for 

the people, which means that 

something is seriously 

wrong to the core. 

“How can we have a 

country where Nigerians are 

not safe? In their houses, 

they are not safe, in the 

churches, they are not safe; 

in the mosque, they are not 

safe." 

APC mobilises S-South for 

Buhari 

By Harris-Okon 

Emmanuel 

UYO—All roads in the 

South-South 

geopolitical zone would lead 

today to Uyo, Akwa Ibom 

State as President 

Muhammadu Buhari flags 

off his campaign in the oilrich 

zone. 

Sources, who dubbed the 

event as ‘mother of all rallies,’ 

stressed that All 


APC, was poised to make inroads 

into the zone by 

winning Akwa Ibom, Cross 

River, Delta and Rivers 

states. 

The zone is controlled by 


PDP, with the exception of 

Edo State, which is under 

APC government. 

Vanguard gathered that 

hotels in Uyo and its 

environs were fully booked 

as party faithful were 

expected from Bayelsa, 

Cross River, Delta, Edo and 

Rivers states. 

Gubernatorial, senatorial 

and House of 

Representatives candidates 

of the party from the zone 

would officially receive flags 

from the party during the 

flag-off of the campaign. 

Chairman, Central 

Planning Committee of the 

event, Obong Umana Okon 

Umana, however, reiterated 

the state's readiness to host 

the president and bigwigs of 

the party across the 

federation, assuring that 

everything has been put in 

place to ensure a hitch-free 

event and campaigns in the 

state. 

Bayelsa ADC senatorial 

candidate tasks supporters on 

violence-free campaigns 

By Emem Idio 

Y ENAGOA—African 

Democratic Congress, 

ADC, candidate for Bayelsa 

East senatorial district, 

Senator Nimi Barigha- 

Amange, has tasked his 

supporters to eschew 

violence during the 

electioneering campaigns. 

Amange, at St Luke’s 

Anglican Church, Nembe, 

in Nembe Local 

Government Area of the 

state, during the dedication 

service of his electioneering 

campaigns, said as a 

Christian, it was imperative 

for him to commit his 

political campaigns and 

ambition to God for divine 

guidance and direction. 

The senatorial hopeful 

who was in the Senate 

between 2007 and 2011 on 

the platform of Peoples 


expressed appreciation to 

the Christian community for 

their prevailing prayers 

over the years and assured 

the people that he will not 

disappoint them if given the 

mandate again. 

EGOSA 

reunion 

luncheon 

OLD 

Students 

Association of Emo- 

Eni Grammar, EGOSA, Ellu 

in Isoko North Local 

Government Area of Delta 

State will hold its inaugural 

reunion luncheon 

tomorrow. The event, which 

will be chaired by Peter 

Okathe will take place at 

Ellu New Town Hall at 11:00.

14 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2018 


NEWS HOTLINES 

018773962, 

08052867058 

IGANMODE DAY: 

From left; Prof. 

A d e y e m i 

Abdukabir 

Obalanlege, Olota 

of Ota (left); his 

wife, Olori 

Oloruntoyin 

(middle) and Engr. 

Noimot Salako- 

Oyedele, APC 

Deputy governor 

candidate, Ogun 

State, during the 

2018 Iganmode Day 

Festival at Ansar- 

U d - D e e n 

Comprehensive 

College, Ota, Ogun 

State. 

APC PRIMARIES: Akeredolu, state Exco 

on collision course over AA option 

By Dayo Johnson 

A KURE—THE 

leadership of the 

All Progressive Congress, 

APC, in Ondo State and 

the state governor, Rotimi 

Akeredolu are at 

loggerheads over his 

decision to back the party’s 

senatorial and House of 

Representatives aspirants, 

who defected to the Action 

Alliance, AA, and emerged 

as candidates against the 

party’s candidates in the 

February election. 

Akeredolu had vowed 

never to work for the 

incumbent Senators, Ajayi 

Boroffice and Yele 

Omogunwa representing 

the Ondo North and Ondo 

South and five other House 

of Representatives 

candidates. 

Consequently, his 

preferred senatorial 

candidates, including Dr 

Tunji Abayomi, Olatunji 

Felder have defected to AA, 

while two other House of 

Representatives candidates 

- Stephen Olemija and 

Victor Ategbole have 

•Governor dares Tinubu, Oshiomhole 

equally jumped ship to AA. 

Akeredolu’s grouse was 

that the two senators and 

House of Representatives 

candidates were imposed by 

the National Working 

Committee, NWC, of the 

party and not elected by the 

people of their 

constituencies. 

The party in the state led 

by Ade Adetimehin has 

disagreed with the governor 

on working against the 

choice of the NWC. 

Adetimehin insisted that 

what the governor was 

about do was anti-party and 

that the party’s NWC may 

sanction the state executives 

as done to both Imo and 

Ogun states’ executives. 

At the enlarged state 

leaders caucus meeting in 

Akure, last week, the 

governor further echoed his 

decision to carry through his 

plan. 

A member of the state 

executive committee, who 

confided in Vanguard, 

quoted the governor to have 

said: “We have to let them 

know that we are on 

ground and that they 

cannot just impose whoever 

they like on the party in 

Ondo State. We resisted 

them before and we will 

repeat same if they make 

any attempt to do so again. 

“For the Central 

senatorial district, our 

candidate, Senator 

Alasoadura will win the 

contest hands down but for 

others, the people will 

decide where they want to 

go and we will not stop 

them. 

“I know their agents are 

here, but I don’t care, go 

and inform them that I, 

Governor Akeredolu, said 

Oshiomhole cannot impose 

and get away with it. 

“We will show them our 

strength because their 

calabash has broken. The 

people of Ondo are always 

resolute and determined 

when issues of this nature 

are involved. Tell them we 

are not returning to Egypt, 

in fact, we are not returning 

to Lagos, they can only 

KIDNAPPING: How detectives arrested five 

suspects in Ondo 


A KURE—FIVE 

suspected 

kidnappers have been 

arrested at their notorious 

hideouts in Owo, Oba and 

Ose councils of Ondo State 

by the troops of 32 Artillery 

Brigade and police 

detectives. 

No fewer than 15 persons 

had been kidnapped at 

these flashpoints in the last 

two weeks. 

A statement by the 

Assistant Director Army 

Public Relations Ojo 

Adenegan, in Akure, said 

that “the troop was on a 

three- day intensive 

Clearance Operation at 

kidnappers’ hideouts which 

are being used for various 

nefarious activities such as 

collection of ransoms from 

kidnapped victims, rape and 

other sundry crimes. 

“The Operation is aimed 

at ensuring safety of 

travellers along Owo and 

Ose roads and also to 

complement the ongoing 

efforts of the joint security 

agencies in the State to 

curtail the activities of 

kidnappers and other 

criminal elements. 

“You will recall that some 

kidnap victims were 

released a few days back 

after a shoot-out with some 

of the kidnappers and also 

the arrest of two suspects, 

who are currently 

undergoing interrogation,’’ 

he said, adding that the 

massive deployment is to 

checkmate the activists of 

these hoodlums while 

creating a conducive 

environment for the 

communities to carry out 

their legitimate activities. 

He confirmed that 

three suspects were 

arrested by the troop. 

impose in Lagos, and if 

they think they can repeat 

Ambode in Ondo State, 

they are joking, we will 

meet them force with force.’’ 

The member of the state 

executive told Vanguard 

that “The governor is only 

creating more problems for 

us in the party by 

sponsoring people in the 

Action Alliance simply 

because he did not have his 

way. 

“The most annoying thing 

is that he is trying to force 

the party Exco to mobilise 

for the candidates of the AA 

because they are his 

persons. But I can tell you 

that he will fail this time 

around because enough is 

enough. As a party 

structure, we have insisted 

that we cannot mobilise for 

people other than our 

candidates whether we like 

them or not. We will stand 

our ground and work for our 

party's candidates against 

the governor’s AA 

candidates.’’ 

Also reacting, the party’s 

Publicity Secretary, Alex 

Kalejaye, said: “Members 

of the state executive has 

never, and will never 

contemplate anti-party in 

APC that holds so much 

hope for us individually 

and collectively as a 

country.’’ 

He continued: “The state 

chapter is currently 

preoccupied with 

electioneering thoughts 

and strategies to achieve 

victory at the polls in 2019 

for all the APC candidates 

including President 

Muhammadu Buhari. The 

State Chairman, Engr. Ade 

Adetimehin, a true 

democrat, and party man 

to the core, is endowed 

with rich history of 

enviable stability in his 

political history and 

ideology. 

Oyetola presents N152.7bn 

budget for 2019 

By Gbenga 

Olarinoye 

O Governor SOGBO—THE 

of Osun 

State, Alhaji Gboyega 

Oyetola yesterday 

presented the state’s 

budget for 2019 fiscal year 

of N152, 756, 088, 830.00 

to the state house of 

assembly for consideration 

and approval. 

The budget Christmas 

“Budget of Hope” has 

r e c u r r e n t 

N15,870,175,600.00 10.39 

w h i l e 

N91,957,496,420.00 65.43 

capital expenditure. 

Presenting the budget 

before the house, Governor 

Oyetola described the 2019 

budget as a unique one 

because it is drawn from a 

carefully-crafted 

Development Document. 

Oyetola vowed that the 

...As NBA chairman drags 

Oyetola, deputy to court 

By Gbenga 

Olarinoye 

O Chairman, SOGBO—THE 

Nigeria 

Bar Association, NBA, Ilesa 

Branch, Osun State, 

Barrister Kanmi Ajibola has 

dragged the state governor, 

Mr Adegboyega Oyetola 

and his deputy, Benedict 

Alabi to court for taking their 

oaths as governor and 

deputy governor of “State of 

Osun” and not of Osun State 

during their swearing-in on 

November 27, 2018. 

Ajibola, who filed a 28- 

paragraph affidavits along 

with his originating 

summons at the Osun State 

High Court, Ilesa yesterday, 

asked the court among other 

things to set aside the 

swearing-in of the 

defendants as governor and 

deputy governor of “State 

of Osun” as illegal, 

unconstitutional, null 

and void. 

DR. Alex Akpodiete, 

Delta State 

Tuberculosis and Leprosy 

Coordinator, says 1/3 of 

Nigeria’s population have 

Tuberculosis (TB) infection, 

with a possibility of two in 

every six-member 

household having the 

infection. 

Dr. Akpodiete dropped 

the hint yesterday at the 

Warri South Council Main 

Secretariat in Warri, Delta 

State, during a TB 

Advocacy, Communication 

and Social Mobilization 

flag-off programme 

organised by Women’s 

Rights Advancement and 

Protection Alternative, 

WRAPA in collaboration 

with AGBAMI. 

He noted that about 

12,000 cases of TB are 

likely to occur annually in 

Delta State alone, but only 

budget will be objectively 

and 

faithfully 

implemented, appealing to 

the people of the state 

continue to cooperate with 

his government in the 

arduous task of 

transforming the State 

into a State of pride. 

He said: “ this Budget is 

a product of the collective 

inputs of broad-based 

stakeholders, strategic 

thinking and world-class 

ideas on economic renewal 

and re-engineering. 

“By its content and 

strategy, it is home-based, 

people-owned and 21st- 

Century-thinking 

propelled. By this strategy, 

the people have spoken 

and given direction on the 

way forward. This Budget 

of Hope is, therefore, a 

product of people’s hope. 

We shall put all measures 

in place to give life to the 

hope they expect.'' 

It would be recalled that 

Justice Yinka Afolabi of the 

state High Court, Ilesa had 

declared the use of “State 

of Osun” as illegal and 

unconstitutional while 

delivering judgment on 

December 14, 2017 in a suit 

filed by the same activistlawyer 

against the 

enactment of a law tagged 

“State of Osun Land Use 

Tax Law.” 

Besides, the same judge 

struck out the stay of 

execution application of the 

judgment filed by the state 

government on December 

4, 2018 for lack of dilligent 

prosecution. 

In the fresh suit, Ajibola 

who said he filed his case 

in pursuant to Section 6(6) 

(b) and 24 of the 1999 

constitution and order 3 

rules 5 and 8 of the High 

Court of Osun State brought 

before the court some 

questions 

for 

determination. 

One third of our population have 

TB infection, expert raises 

concern 

2,258 cases were found in 

2017. 

While emphasizing that 

everyone has role to play 

in curbing the spread of TB 

via referral of people that 

have suffered coughing for 

more than two weeks, Dr. 

Akpodiete opined that drug 

addiction is related to TB, 

because it reduces 

immunity. 

Chairman of Warri South 

Local Government Area Dr. 

Michael Tidi in a message 

through his Vice, Mrs. 

Divine Iniovosa, expressed 

the resolve of his 

administration to partner 

critical stakeholders in the 

development of primary 

health-care service 

delivery. 

Coordinator of WRAPA, 

Mrs. Edna Ohunayo 

stressed that TB is no 

respecter of persons and it 

is the responsibility of 

everyone to stop its spread.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, 

DECEMBER 28, 2018—15 

Persons With Disabilities 

seek inclusion in Lagos 

By Sola Ogundipe 

PERSONS 

With 

Disabilities, (PWDs) in 

Nigeria have demanded 

attention for their inclusion 

in events and activities 

within society. The 

agitation for recognition, 

which is in line with 

international provisions 

pertains to creation of 

avenues within the health 

sector that would 

accommodate key issues 

concerning basic human 

rights of the PWDs. 

In the view of the 

Programmes Manager of 

the Nigeria Association of 

the Blind, NAB, Ejiro 

Okotie, inclusion is a right 

for everybody and not a 

provilege as often 

percieved. 

Speaking during a media 

roundtable to 

commemorate the 2018 

International Day of 

Persons with Disabilities, 

she stated: "When we talk 

about inclusion and 

relating it with PWDs, what 

comes to mind is 'they have 

come again', but we need 

to understand that 

inclusion is everybody's 

right. It is not a privilege 

or for a few individuals. It 

is a right that every 

individual should enjoy." 

The event themed: 

"Empowering Persons With 

Disabilities and Ensuring 

Inclusiveness and 

Equality" focused on 

issues pertaining 

inclusiveness of PWDs in 

the society and ensuring no 

one is left behind. 

Organised by Journalists 

Against AIDS (JAAIDS) 

Nigeria in collaboration 

with NAB1 and supported 

by Amplify Change, the 

event is implementing a 

project titled: Voices for 

Change: Promoting 

increased uptake of Sexual 

and Reproductive Health, 

(SRH) services among 

People with Disabilities 

(PWDs) in Lagos State. 

Okotie quoted UN reports 

that 15 percent of the 

world’s population are 

PWDs and in Nigeria, 29.7 

million persons are living 

with disabilities. 

"If we are to bring Nigeria's 

statistics down to Lagos 

State, we have 22 million 

people living in the State 

and an estimated 10 

percent of that population 

are PWDs, then it is not a 

figure to sweep under the 

carpet. 

"It is important to create 

avenues even in the health 

sector for PWDs to be able 

to enjoy their rights and 

also to give back to the 

system." 

However, she said PWDs 

suffer from a lot of issues 

caused by society such as; 

infrastructural access as 

most health facilities are 

high rise buildings and 

often do not consider 

PWDs during construction. 

She lamented lack of 

useful structures in 

information access such as 

lack of Braille on public 

elevators in Nigeria 

She said these are big 

issues that sets PWDs 

aside as they often dread 

going to the hospital to 

access health care in order 

to avoid being a burden. 

The Director, Monitoring 

and Evaluation, Lagos 

State Office of Disability 

Affairs, LASODA, Mr 

Oguntoye Akintunde 

Oyewole described as 

inhumane for a person 

with wheelchair not have 

Let’s review 

objectionable 

and 

obsolete 

policies 

and laws 

that limit 

rights to 

family 

planning 

and health 

* Cross section of Persons With disbilities in Nigeria 

MTN launches programme to curb drug abuse among youths 

By Gabriel Olawale 

IN a strategic effort to 

address the growing 

national problem of alcohol 

or drug use disorder, 

MTN Nigeria through the 

MTN Foundation, in 

collaboration with a 

consortium of stakeholders 

recently launched the Anti 

Substance Abuse 

Programme, ASAP. 

It is a multi-stakeholder 

intervention aimed at 

increasing awareness of 

substance abuse and 

addiction among youths. 

Goal of the programme is 

to discourage first-time 

usage and casual 

substance abuse 

nationwide. 

According to a 2016 

report from the United 

Nations Office on Drug 

and Crime, UNODC, 

Nigeria is a known 

trafficking hub for 

controlled substances, with 

access a building in the 

State, stressing that it is the 

essence of inclusiveness as 

nobody should be left 

behind. 

He, however commended 

the Lagos State 

government for running an 

all inclusive policy which 

have mandated that all 

public buildings must be 

constructed with ramps to 

promote accessibility for 

PWDs on wheelchairs. 

According to Dr. Adebayo 

Adebukola of LASODA: 

"Disability is now becoming 

visible. For the first time in 

After 50-year battle, Uzbekistan eliminates malaria 

By Sola Ogundipe 

THE World Health 

Organization (WHO) 

has certified Uzbekistan 

as malaria-free, 

confirming the end of the 

country's half-century 

long battle for malaria 

elimination within its 

borders. 

Uzbekistan becomes the 

second country in 2018 to 

be certified malaria-free - 

Paraguay was certified in 

June - marking another 

milestone on the road to 

ending the disease for 

good. 

"Malaria No More 

commends the government 

of Uzbekistan for its 

resilience and 

determination to eliminate 

malaria once and for all. 

many young Nigerians in 

metropolitan areas getting 

entangled in drug-related 

offences. 

Speaking during the 

launch, Prince Julius 

Adelusi-Adeluyi, 

Chairman, MTN 

Foundation, stated: “This 

why we must do as much 

as we can; as fast as we can, 

to chart the right course and 

help those coming behind 

us understand the 

dangers. We owe it to 

ourselves and our children. 

“This situation is urgent 

and important. Substance 

abuse is a well known and 

growing menace in our 

country. Our youth, the 

future of this nation, are at 

risk” said 1N Foundation 

speaking at the launch. 

“This why we must do as 

much as we can; as fast as 

we can, to chart the right 

course and help those 

coming behind us 

understand the dangers. 

Uzbekistan's decade-long 

commitment demonstrates 

the government's 

recognition that malaria 

stood in the way of 

development, and that 

ridding the country of the 

disease was critical to 

improving economic 

outlook and protecting the 

health of its people," said 

Martin Edlund, CEO of 

Malaria No More. 

Uzbekistan first 

eliminated malaria in 1961, 

but struggled to maintain 

elimination as malaria 

cases continued to flow in 

from neighboring 

countries. 

In 2000, recognising the 

barriers that having malaria 

within its borders had on 

the country's economy and 

overall health of its citizens, 

We owe it to ourselves and 

our children,” he added. 

The initiative, which will 

run for six months, targets 

young Nigerians from age 

10 - 25. Part of the 

integrated communications 

SYNLAB Nigeria, one of 

the leading medical 

diagnostics service 

providers, has bagged 

“Best Laboratory of the 

Year.” 

The award initiated by the 

Health Writers Association 

of Nigeria, HEWAN, in 

collaboration with Max 

Impact Communications 

was conferred on SYNLAB 

following its outstanding 

service delivery, improved 

operational efficiency, 

innovation and investment 

in state-of-the-art 

diagnostics technology. 

Receiving the award on 

behalf of the staff and 

the government of 

Uzbekistan stepped up its 

investment and 

implemented a holistic, 

multi-sectoral approach that 

went beyond health, with 

support from other 

ministries - agriculture, 

education and 

transportation. 

Highlighting the critical 

factors needed to get the 

job done, the WHO 

certification committee cited 

Uzbekistan's decision to 

maintain its support of the 

nation's primary health care 

system - the backbone of the 

malaria response - even 

during the economic crisis 

that gripped the country 

during the 1990s; its use of 

data to better target malaria 

interventions where they're 

need most; and, its 

campaign effort is a 

dedicated microsite with an 

online representative 

trained to answer enquiries 

from the public on 

substance abuse, addiction, 

rehabilitation, in addition to 

approach towards early 

detection, diagnosis and 

efficacious treatment of 

malaria patients - free of 

charge and irrespective of 

nationality. 

Another critical factor 

was support from nongovernmental 

organizations and 

partners, particularly the 

Global Fund to Fight AIDS, 

TB and Malaria, which 

played a vital role in 

Uzbekistan's achievement 

by providing financial 

support to ensure the 

national malaria program 

had the full amount of 

insecticide-treated bed 

nets, Indoor Residual 

Spraying equipment, 

medicines and other tools 

needed to protect its 

citizens from malaria. 

SYNLAB bags 2018 HEWAN’s ‘Laboratory award 

management of SYNLAB 

Nigeria, Consultant 

Pathologist, SYNLAB 

Nigeria. Dr. Soji Adetona 

said: “Since 2004, we have 

remained faithful in 

ensuring delivery of 

standard and quality 

laboratory diagnostics 

services to the people of 

Nigeria and beyond. This 

award is a testament to the 

value we bring to the 

industry. We remain 

committed to best practice 

and the highest ethical 

standards.” 

The organisers of 

HEWAN said, “SYNLAB’S 

contribution to the medical 

direct engagement 

activities targeted at 

schools, campuses, 

markets, motor parks and 

communities across 

Nigeria. 

diagnostics landscape 

cannot be glossed over. We 

used a set of rigorous 

criteria to arrive at the 

decision to confer SYNLAB 

this prestigious award. 

They have clearly 

redefined the practice of 

medical diagnostics in 

Nigeria.” 

The Awards and 

symposium had the theme, 

“Rewarding and Promoting 

Excellence in Our 

Healthcare Delivery 

System.” It drew attention 

to the challenges in 

Nigeria’s healthcare 

delivery system and experts 

at the event proffered 

solutions to the challenges.

16 — Vanguard FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2018 

BRIEFING: From left, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government 

Area, House of Representatives candidate, Rita Orji; running mate to the governorship 

candidate of the PDP in Lagos State, Mrs. Haleemat Busari, and governorship candidate of 

PDP in Lagos State, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, during end of the year briefing, in Lagos. 

Nigeria needs $337bn to implement 

SDGs from 2019-2022 — UN 

NIGERIA needs no 

fewer than $337 

billion to implement 

Sustainable Development 

Goals, SDGs, from 2019 to 

2022, the United Nations 

Support Plan for the Sahel 

has estimated. 

The cost of implementing 

the SDGs in Nigeria, 

according to the plan is 

$80.65 billion in 2019, 

$82.83 billion in 2020, 

$85.07 billion in 2021 and 

$87.37 billion in 2022. 

On the investment 

needs in the Sahel, the 

plan reported the cost of 

implementing the SDGs in 

the Sahel is projected to be 

between $140.25 billion 

and $157.39 billion per year 

between 2019 and 2022 in 

the 10 Sahelian countries. 

The plan said the 10 

countries under the UN 

Integrated Strategy for the 

Sahel, UNISS, needed an 

average of $148.7 billion 

annually to implement the 

SDGs or $594.8 billion 

from 2018 to 2022. 

The overarching goal of 

the plan, targeting 10 

countries, namely Nigeria, 

Burkina Faso, Cameroon, 

Chad, The Gambia, 

Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, 

Niger and Senegal, is to 

scale up efforts to accelerate 

shared prosperity and 

lasting peace in the region. 

The plan covering the 

period of 2098 to 2030, 

would help implement 

identified priorities to 

achieve the 2030 Agenda 

for Sustainable 

Development and the 

African Union Agenda 

2063, the report said. 

The plan further stated 

that public-sector funding 

gap, on average, remained 

at 36.2 per cent of the 

required resources. 

UNISS was approved by 

the Security Council in 

2013 and is part of a 

preventive and integrated 

approach to strengthening 

governance, security and 

development in the region. 

The plan aims at 

mobilising public 

resources and triggering 

private investments in the 

Salis Foundation trains 54,000 in 

vocational skills 

By Oboh 

Agbonkhese 

OWOLABI 

Salis 

Foundation has 

trained 54,000 women, 

girls and boys across Lagos 

State in shoe making, 

make-up and makeover, 

catering and decoration, 

fashion designing, hair 

dressing, among others. 

The foundation’s 

Founder, High Chief 

Owolabi Salis, made the 

disclosure at the 

graduation of 550 

beneficiaries of the 

10 countries in support of 

ongoing efforts and 

initiatives by governments, 

international and regional 

organisations, among 

other partners. 

It said in terms of natural 

resources, the Sahel is one 

NCC tasks service providers on 

consumer-friendly service 

By Juliet Umeh 

N IGERIAN 

Communications 

Commission, NCC, has 

urged telecommunication 

operators to always 

communicate with their 

consumers in plain and 

simple language, the 

details of services they offer 

and exact charges attached 

to avoid unwarranted 

deductions and forced 

subscriptions. 

Speaking at the 45th 

edition of Consumer Town 

Hall Meeting, CTM in, 

Ogun State, Chairman, 

Board of NCC, Senator 

Olabiyi Durojaiye, said 

service providers must 

ensure that information 

provided to consumers is 

relevant, current, accurate 

and timely. 

Durojaiye, who was 

represented by Deputy 

Director/Head, 

Government and Public 

Relations Unit of Public 

Affairs Department of 

NCC, Mr. Bashir Idris, 

said the service providers 

must ensure that 

consumers can reliably and 

easily have access to 

information that can assist 

them in making an 

informed choice. 

While sensitising the 

people on what NCC was 

doing to help them have 

value for their money, 

Durojaiye said: “Telecom 

consumers are the target 

beneficiaries of all our 

activities, which makes 

them enjoy primary focus 

in terms of ensuring that 

they get good quality of 

service, value for money 

training, who make up the 

second batch in Alimosho 

02, Ikotun Centre. 

Salis, Lagos State 

governorship candidate of 

Alliance for Democracy, 

AD, added that his 

administration will focus on 

things that will bridge the 

widening gap between the 

rich and the poor. 

In his words: “If a leader 

is materialistic, the 

people’s interest cannot be 

priority. Otherwise, using 

the state resources to care 

for the people is the 

of the richest regions in the 

world and is abundant with 

oil, natural gas, gold, 

phosphates, diamonds, 

copper, iron ore, bauxite, 

biological diversity and 

precious woods, among 

many other assets. 

spent, timely and fair 

redress of complaints and 

protection from 

unwholesome practices of 

some Service Providers. 

“One of the fundamental 

rights of the telecom 

consumer is the right to be 

informed and educated. It 

is only through information 

and education that the 

consumers can be 

empowered to take the right 

decisions, especially when 

their rights, as consumers, 

are trampled upon. 

“These rights include but 

not limited to the right to 

receive correct information 

on services they subscribed 

to; the right to be provided 

with clear, complete, and 

accurate information with a 

language that will be 

understood.” 

essence of governance. It 

has nothing to do with 

politics, but everything to do 

with social investment. 

“As I keep saying, Lagos 

State has the resources to 

take care of its population. 

This is why when I am voted 

in as governor, every local 

council development area, 

LCDA, will have a 

government-funded skills 

acquisition centre.” 

He noted that the 

foundation was speaking to 

the Bank of Industry, BoI, 

towards a symposium for all 

54,000 beneficiaries on how 

to access the various social 

investment funds. 

Settlement of $8.1 bn case lifts MTN 

shares 

MTN Group Ltd. shares on Thursday jumped 

as much as 8.2 percent after the phone 

carrier settled allegations it illegally transferred 

$8.1 billion of funds out of Nigeria, ending a crisis 

that had threatened its operations in the country. 

MTN announced on Monday that it would pay just 

$52.6 million to end the dispute in Nigeria, its 

biggest and most lucrative market, but also its most 

troublesome. 

The case had dogged MTN, Africa’s biggest 

telecoms company, for four months, dragging its 

share price down 20 percent to hover around its 

lowest level since 2009 while also sparking 

pessimism around the ease of doing business in 

Nigeria. 

It centred on allegations that dividends paid by 

the firm between 2007 and 2015 were based on 

improperly issued certificates. 

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had initially 

ordered MTN and its lenders to bring back $8.1 

billion it alleged the company had illegally 

repatriated to South Africa during that time. 

But after MTN provided additional documents, the 

CBN concluded only one 2008 private placement, 

worth around $1 billion, was irregular. 

U.S. stocks sink as epic rally falters 

Volatility returned to U.S. markets, with stocks 

tumbling back toward a bear market after the 

biggest rally in nearly a decade faltered. Oil and 

the dollar gave up some of the previous session’s 

advances. Oil slipped below $46 a barrel. 

The S&P 500 sank more than 2 percent, before 

slightly paring losses, unable to add to a 5 percent 

surge that was the biggest since March 2009. 

Technology and consumer shares that led the gain 

fell the most Thursday. The Dow Jones Industrial 

Average lost more than 500 points a day at one point 

Thursday, after its first 1,000 point gain. The Nasdaq 

100 slid more than 2 percent, eroding some of its 6 

percent surge. 

Italian bank loses 83% market value 

in 2018 

Banca Carige SpA plunged in Milan trading 

after the struggling bank’s biggest investor 

blocked a planned stock sale at a December 22, 

2018 shareholders meeting, throwing a vital 

restructuring into doubt. 

The stock fell as much as 19 percent, giving the 

Genoa-based lender a market value of about 79 

million euros ($90 million). The bank has lost 83 

percent of its market value this year and now trades 

at a fraction of a cent as shareholders feud over 

how to revive its fortunes. 

ECB says trade protectionism will 

crimp global growth next year 

The European Central Bank, ECB expects the 

global economy to slow next year as rising 

protectionism curbs trade growth. 

While economic activity has remained resilient 

around the world, it has also become more uneven 

and signs of moderating momentum are 

increasingly evident, according to the ECB’s latest 

economic bulletin published on Thursday. Global 

trade growth has weakened and uncertainties 

about future trade relations have increased, the 

central bank added. 

BP, partners okay development of gas 

project in Mauritania, Senegal 

BP and its partners have given the green light 

for the development of a large gas project off 

the coast of Mauritania and Senegal, a first for 

the two West African nations. 

The Greater Tortue Ahmeyim development, Africa’s 

deepest at 2 kilometres below the sea’s surface, will 

consist of a complex floating vessel with a plant to superchill 

natural gas into liquid, BP said in a statement.


SO many Nigerian and 

foreign institutions dish 

out awards, at the end of every 

year, to individuals and 

organisations that have, in their 

opinions, excelled in various 

ways. And I’ve decided, rather 

impudently, to jump on this 

bandwagon and offer a few 

Donu Achievement Awards, 

DAA, to the following persons/ 

groups: 

DAA FOR EXCELLING ON 

Arrogance Front: 

Dr Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, 

the Minister of State for 

Petroleum. 

He is immensely intelligent 

anyway. There have been 

heavy hints that he is not 

super-clean, ethically, but I am 

willing to give him the benefit 

of the doubt. Kachikwu and I 

are from the same geopolitical 

zone and I was happy when he 

got this petroleum job - even 

though I didn’t know him 

personally - because he had a 

distinguished professional 

track record and I felt that he 

would do our Niger Delta 

region proud. 

Professional 

track record 

However, I was treated very 

shoddily when I humbly 

approached his office in 

October, hoping that he’d 

participate in a publication 

about the economy that I was 

packaging with some foreign 

colleagues. And I was so 

disappointed not because he 

wasn’t interested, but because 

he failed to convey his lack of 

interest respectfully. 

I expected someone who 

studied at Harvard University 

and once worked for a blue-chip 

international oil company 

(ExxonMobil) to be a 

gentlemanly Class Act and 

familiar with global business 

etiquette norms. Sadly, 

Kachikwu’s conduct didn’t 

match my high expectations. 


THE LOVEABLE ZERO 

MATERIALISM FRONT: 

Ibrahim, who owns a small 

shop on my street in Abuja. 

I recently rented a property 

in Abuja and sent Blessing, the 

•Senate president Bukola Saraki 

•Dr. Ibe Kachikwu 

My 2018 Awards!!! 

girl who helps me in this new 

residence, to buy a carton of 

bottled water from Ibrahim, a 

Northern guy who doubles up 

as both security guard to my 

neighbour and the sole 

shopkeeper in the immediate 

vicinity. When Blessing told 

Ibrahim what she wanted, he 

looked at her as if she was daft 

and asked: “If I sell only you a 

whole carton, what will I sell 

my other customers when they 

come to buy one or two bottles?” 

I found Ibrahim’s attitude 

touching and strangely uplifting 

as well as absolutely hilarious. 

Most other Naija shopkeepers 

would have enthusiastically 

sold Blessing the carton. 

Some would even have thrown 

in an extra service by offering 

to deliver future cartons to my 

house on a regular basis. I’ve 

shared this story with friends 

who totally disagree with me 

and think Ibrahim a simpleton. 

But I regard his uncomplicated 

and unmaterialistic worldview 

as a breath of fresh air in a 

country that is full of tough, 

sharp-elbowed hustlers who 

are constantly on the lookout 

for money-making gigs and 

self-advancement opportunities. 

I do admire dynamic 

entrepreneurs who are not 

willing to linger in the same 

slow lane forever. But Ibrahim’s 

stubborn refusal to join the rat 

race is somehow admirable, as 

is his firm belief that he is doing 

OK, has enough cash and 

doesn’t need to maximise his 

profits. 


THE OVER-EMPLOYMENT 

FRONT: 

Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, 

President of the Senate and 

Director-General of the Atiku 


Council. Saraki is premier 

league intellectually. But he 

wouldn’t, in a premier league 

nation, have been allowed to 

combine two premier league 

roles! 


THE HYPOCRISY FRONT: 

Festus Keyamo, SAN, official 

spokesman, Buhari Campaign 

Organisation. I genuinely like 

Festus Keyamo. But we all 

make mistakes; and Keyamo 

has just issued a statement that 

is annoying and laughable. He 

said that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar 

has been so corrupt for so long 

that: “If the system were to be 

working before President 

Muhammadu Buhari took over 

in 2015, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar 

would be in jail by now, instead 

of contesting for the 

Presidency.” 

I will leave it up to Atiku’s 

official spokespeople to 

formally answer Keyamo. But 

I must say that it is amazing 

how hypocritically 

sanctimonious APC stalwarts 

can be when they are talking 

about their political rivals in the 

PDP and other opposition 

parties. Anyone would think 

that there are no jail-deserving 

crooks in APC and that every 

senior APC member is an icon 

of moral rectitude!!! 

•Rivers governor, Nyesom Wike 

•APC presidential spokesman, Festus Keyamo 

Fortunately, most voters are 

not that stupid and know better. 

Truth be told, though I 

personally prefer Atiku to 

Buhari (because I think that if 

he’s given a chance to run the 

Wike made me feel 

useful and 

professionally 

valued at a time 

when I was 

recovering from a 

traumatic 

kidnapping 

experience, 

suffering from bouts 

of dark depression 

and struggling to 

cope financially 

show called Nigeria, he will 

revitalise the economy and 

make us feel more self-confident 

and more optimistic about 

the future), neither of our two 

main parties is intrinsically superior. 

Both contain great, terrible 

and average folks. 


THE 

INVISIBLE 

COMPASSION FRONT: 

Chief Nyesom Wike, Governor 

of my state, Rivers. 

I was first introduced to 

Nyesom Wike in 2008 when he 

was our then Governor Rotimi 

Amaechi’s Chief of Staff. And 

we got off to a good start. He 

was amiable and amusing and 

clever; and I really warmed to 

him. I also took a shine to his 

classy wife, Suzette. 

But fast forward to 2015, by 

which time Amaechi and Wike 

were at loggerheads and 

backing different presidential 

candidates (Buhari and 

Goodluck Jonathan). And I 

decided to side with Amaechi/ 

Buhari, largely because 

Amaechi was my bosom buddy 

in those days. Nevertheless, 

Wike continued to treat me 

nicely. He invited me to 

participate in the festivities he 

masterminded when Rivers 

State was celebrating the 50th 

anniversary of its creation. 

Wike also gave me work to do 

and paid me far more than he 

had to. He made me feel useful 

and professionally valued at a 

time when I was recovering 

from a traumatic kidnapping 

experience, suffering from 

bouts of dark depression and 

struggling to cope financially. 

Wike has never advertised the 

support he gave me. When I 

told three of his close friends 

what he did for me, they were 

pleasantly surprised. He is not 

a saint or smooth talker. And 

lots of people are angry with 

him at the moment. But I know 

him as a man who can be 

quietly kind-hearted; and I 

thought I should end 2018 by 

thanking him publicly. 

Let me also end 2018 by 

wishing Vanguard readers a 

fantastic 2019. 

Responses 

To 

Donzol2002@Yahoo.co.uk Or 

To 0802 747 6458 Or 0811 675 

9752. Please kindly note that 

unless you specifically request 

anonymity, your email or text 

message may be published 

with your name and contact 

details attached.


ONE of the reasons that crimes 

and corruption continue to flourish 

at the top echelon of the Nigerian 

ruling establishment is that the 

country is highly tolerant of 

malfeasance. The case of convicted 

Senator Joshua Dariye (who was 

the Governor of Plateau State 

between 1999 and 2007) proves 

this point beyond doubt. 

Dariye was sent to a 14-year jail 

term (later reduced to 10 years) by 

the Federal Capital Territory High 

Court presided over by Justice 

Adebukola Banjoko on a 23-count 

charge of diversion and laundering 

of 1.126 billion naira Ecological 

Funds belonging to the Plateau 

State Government. While 

sentencing Dariye, Justice Banjoko 

had called it “a brazen act of 

looting.” 

When the outrageous news broke 

last week that convicted Dariye has 

continued to be paid his hefty 

salaries and allowances as a 

Stop imprisoned Senator Dariye’s 

entitlements 

serving senator, most Nigerians 

could not believe their ears. The 

report had it that despite being 

hauled into the Kuje Prisons, Abuja 

on June 12, 2018, the Senate has 

so far credited a whopping N85.5 

million into Dariye’s account. 

This was the shocking climax of 

the convicted Senator’s bravado, 

coming on the heels of his attempt 

to contest for the 2019 senatorial 

election from prison. 

He had already paid his seven 

million nomination fee but was 

later disqualified by his party, the 

All Progressives Congress, APC. He 

had reportedly continued to 

receive his hordes of supporters 

while in jail. 

Sources at the Senate said Dariye 

remains a senator as his seat has 

not been declared vacant. 

Apparently, the Attorney- General 

of the Federation, who is supposed 

to officially notify the Senate of 

Dariye’s conviction has not done 

so because his case is still on 

appeal at the Supreme Court. 

We vehemently disagree with the 

Senate over its decision to 

continue to pay Dariye his full 

benefits after being convicted and 

sent to jail. The Judge’s decision 

to send him to jail was a strong 

enough prompt to suspend his perks 

of office until his appeals are fully 

exhausted. If he is exonerated, he 

can always collect all his pending 

entitlements. 

Continuing to pay Dariye his dues 

even after conviction sends a very 

negative signal that our 

government condones criminality. 

It is a great injustice to the valiant 

effort of the Judiciary to honour the 

anti-graft agenda of the 

government of the day and assert 

the long arm of the law. 

It is unfortunate that the Senate 

would neglect the payment of the 

wages of its workers while 

considering convicted Senator 

Dariye’s “entitlements” a priority. 

We call on the upper Federal 

legislative chamber to stop 

forthwith the payments of official 

entitlement to Senator Dariye 

until his final appeal is exhausted. 

This is so wrong. 

The ominous silence on herdsmen 

By Tochukwu Ezukanma 

THERE are inherent conflicts 

between sedentary farmers and 

itinerant herdsmen because of their 

competing needs for water and ever 

diminishing arable land and pastures. 

With population growth and increasing 

urbanisation steadily encroaching on 

available land, the competition for land 

between them continually intensifies; 

increasing the possibility of their 

periodic clashes. Unfortunately, a new 

dimension has crept into this 

understandable rivalry between 

farmers and herdsmen. Their clashes 

took a macabre twist: attacks by 

herdsmen on farmers became too 

frequent, superfluously violent and 

extremely deadly. 

Herdsmen, armed with machine guns 

and high-powered assault rifles, and 

a new found audacity, took to the massmurder 

of the innocent in farming 

communities in central and southern 

Nigeria. And their attacks became well 

planned and coordinated, evincing 

strategies and dexterity beyond the 

scope of mere cattle-herders. In what 

is repulsively reminiscent of ethnic 

cleansing, they attack mostly Christian 

and non-Hausa/Fulani villages in 

central and southern Nigeria, maiming 

and killing defenseless men, women 

and children; raping women, torching 

homes and destroying entire villages. 

Ostensibly, the object of these 

murderous rampages is to secure 

grazing space and routes. However, 

the unbridled murderousness of the 

attacks, and the herdsmen’s penchant 

for destroying entire villages, 

displacing their entire inhabitants, 

occupying the villages and renaming 

them betrayed an expansionist agenda. 

The belief in some quarters is that 

President Buhari’s Fulani origin and 

expressed Islamic leaning and 

sentiments may have played a part in 

encouraging the herders to embark on 

what is interpreted as Fulani 

expansionist agenda through these 

attacks. The herdsmen are the foot 

The lull is 

explainable by the 

nearness of the 

February 19, 2019 

presidential election 

soldiers of the Miyetti Allah Cattle 

Breeders Association of Nigeria, the 

umbrella association of wealthy and 

powerful cattle owners, and its 

expansionist policies. The average 

herdsmen lack the wherewithal to 

acquire the weaponry in their 

possession. Invariably, they are armed 

and sent on their blood-curdling 

missions by their masters in the Miyetti 

Allah Cattle Breeders Association of 

Nigeria. 

Not surprisingly, as the number of the 

dead, raped, maimed and bereaved; 

burnt-down villages; and displaced 

OPINION 

persons from the herdsmen’s 

murderous attacks mounted, the 

Buhari administration either did 

nothing or prevaricated. It refused to 

protect the farming communities 

targeted by the herdsmen and rein-in 

the herdsmen or prosecute them and 

their identified sponsors. 

There are palpable evidence that the 

Nigerian security agencies, at times, 

encouraged, and even, aided 

herdsmen attacks on farming villages. 

In the first eight to nine months of the 

year 2018, herdsmen killed more than 

2, 075 persons, burnt down 2, 850 

houses and displaced more than 104, 

300 individuals. 

Then, in the last quarter of 2018, there 

was a lull in their murderous spree in 

central and southern Nigeria. That lull 

is ominous; it demands an explanation. 

The sociopathic, mass-murderers could 

not have become repentant, and thus, 

on their own, resolved to end the 

butchery of the innocent and the 

forceful takeover of other people’s land. 

Secondly, the security agencies did not, 

all at once, become proficient in their 

work, and can therefore protect the 

targeted farming communities, or 

effectively monitor the herdsmen, and 

nip their attacks in the bud. And, it is 

not that the Buhari administration had 

a change of heart, and determined to 

protect lives and property in these 

farming communities that were, for 

long, left at the mercy of Miyetti Allah 

armed terrorists. 

The lull is explainable by the nearness 

of the February 19, 2019 presidential 

election. The negative publicity that 

attended the murderous lunacy of the 

herdsmen was not helping the 

prospects of President Buhari’s reelection. 

The killings by the herdsmen 

outraged Nigerians, and impugned the 

Buhari administration’s commitment to 

one of the central constitutional 

responsibilities of the Federal 

Government: the protection of lives and 

property. 

They punctured its carefully 

cultivated aura of impartiality - as 

encapsulated in the president’s 

inaugural statement - “I belong to 

everybody and I belong to nobody”. 

They lent credence to the president’s 

ingrained tribalism and sentimental 

predilection for Fulani expansionism. 

To burnish the president’s image and 

enhance his re-electability, there had 

to be a respite in the herdsmen 

murderous attacks. 

Buhari is an avowed Islamic 

fundamentalist. He is an unflinching 

proponent of the Sharia penal code in 

Northern Nigeria, and, even, across the 

entire country. Although he did not 

openly declare his support for the 

Fulani expansionist crusade in central 

and southern Nigeria, his actions and 

inactions evinced his support. 

His re-election in the February 2019 

presidential election will in addition to 

the numerous woes it will visit on 

Nigeria, provide the enabling 

environment for the second phase of 

Fulani expansionism, which will 

profoundly rock the fragile peace of our 

multi-ethnic country. 

*Mr. Ezukanma, a public affairs 

commentator, wrote from Lagos.


From left: Kayode Olubiyi, Vice Chairman, Committee of E-Business Industry Heads (CeBIH); Abubakar Suleiman, MD/CEO, 

Sterling Bank Plc; Stanley Jacob, Chairman, CeBIH; and Musa Jimoh, Deputy Director/Head, Payment Division, Central Bank 

of Nigeria (CBN) at the 2018 annual CeBIH retreat in Abeokuta, Ogun State. 

PRE-MERGER CONDITIONALITIES 

Diamond Bank effects Board reconstitution 

By Emeka Anaeto and Babajide 

Komolafe 

Diamond Bank Plc may 

have begun reconstitution 

of its board for the purposes 

of consummating the merger 

with Access Bank Plc. 

Yesterday the bank took a critical 

step towards this direction 

announcing the appointment of 

Dele Babade as acting chairman 

of the Board of Directors. 

It is expected that two or more 

non-executive directors would 

be appointed except the premerger 

agreements with Access 

Bank says otherwise. The bank 

has been without a board chairman 

since October 2018 when 

former chairman, Oluseyi 

Bickersteth, and three other directors 

resigned from the board 

in a controversial circumstance. 

However, the bank needs to 

have a fully constituted board 

with a chairman in order to go 

through the process required to 

consummate its merger with 

Access Bank, scheduled for 

CURRENCY BUYING SELLING 

US DOLLAR 

POUNDS 

EURO 

FRANC 

YEN 

CFA 

WAUA 

RENMINBI 

RIYAL 

SDR 

DANISH 

RAND 

$102.90 -1.00 

2,383.00 -46.00 

$53.59 -0.88 

305.95 306.45 306.95 

387.7916 388.4254 389.0591 

349.5785 350.1498 350.7211 

309.1028 309.608 310.1132 

2.7518 2.7563 2.7608 

0.515 0.525 0.535 

424.3243 425.0177 425.7112 

44.2947 44.3676 44.4404 

81.5432 81.6764 81.8097 

46.8114 46.8879 46.9644 

CBN Exchange rate as at 27/12/2018 

completion by end of June 2019. 

But at an initial 16-member 

board the bank may likely limit 

its membership list to 12 in line 

with an undisclosed premerger 

agreement. 

Other condition necessary for 

the consummation of the 

Merger include a court ordered 

meeting of shareholders of the 

bank which can only be authorised 

by a duly constituted board 

of directors, headed by a chairman 

approved by the Central 

Bank of Nigeria, CBN. 

Hence, the decision of the 

bank to appoint, Babalade, one 

of its non executive directors as 

acting board chairman. 

Also prelude to the consummation 

of the merger the court 

ordered meeting of shareholders 

is expected to approve the 

merger and subsequently form 

the basis for approaching the 

financial market regulators for 

a formal approval of the merger. 

A notice sent to the Nigerian 

Stock Exchange, NSE, yesterday, 

said Mr Babade’s appointment 

followed the resignation 

of Oluseyi Bickersteth, 

the immediate past 

Director/ Chairman of 

the board. The new appointment 

is said to be 

effective from December 

24. 

Mr Babade, the acting 

chair, holds Bachelors 

and Master’s 

degrees in Law from 

University of London 

and was called to both 

the Nigerian and English 

Bar. 

He started his career 

with Midland 

Montagu London (the 

predecessor of HSBC 

Investment Bank) on 

the Graduate Training 

Programme in 1988 

and at various times 

worked in the UK and 

Greece mainly in Corporate 

and Merchant 

Banking. He joined 

Citibank in 1993 and 

garnered experience 

from Citibank’s Emerging Markets 

business focusing on businesses 

beyond Africa and became 

Vice President in charge 

of all cross border/international 

deals for Africa in 1996. 

In 1998, he joined Nomura 

International in London as a 

Director for Investment Banking 

for Africa. After re-joining 

Citibank in 2000, he was moved 

to Nigeria and Ivory Coast in 

2001 as Executive Director 

covering Nigeria and West 

Africa and was a board member 

of Citibank Nigeria from 

2001 to 2006. He also served 

as Citibank’s Director & Regional 

Head Sub-Sahara Africa 

Corporate Finance & Investment 

Banking based in South 

Africa from 2002 to 2006. 

The disclosure said Mr 

Babade started his own investment 

advisory firm in 2007 but 

left briefly to join Ecobank 

Transnational Inc as Head of 

Ecobank Capital from 2010 to 

2012 and was also a member of 

the Group Executive Committee, 

the top executive body for overall 

direction of the Ecobank 

Group. Since 2012, he has been 

running his firm focusing on inward 

cross border transactions 

across the African continent. 

He currently serves as Chairman 

of the Africa Risk Capacity 

Pan African Insurance Company 

(ARC Ltd) and is also the Chairman 

of its Finance and Investment 

Committee. ARC Ltd is a 

financial affiliate of the African 

Risk Capacity, a specialised 

agency of the African Union 

(AU), an initiative designed to 

improve current responses to climate-related 

food security emergencies. 

“Mr. Babade was nominated 

by First Carlyle Growth V 

(“Carlyle”) and his appointment 

as a Non-Executive Director was 

approved by the Central Bank 

of Nigeria effective April 20, 

2017,” the bank said. 

Firm launches 

solution to address 

Nigeria’s 

unemployment 

crisis 

Poise Nigeria, a personal 

ity and image consultancy 

firm, has re-launched its Poise 

Graduate Finishing Academy, 

(PGFA). 

Speaking with journalists in 

Lagos, Nonye Cally-Bechi, Chief 

Operating Officer, said the relaunch 

is to make job applicants 

global citizens with the new programmes 

developed. 

In her words, “We observed that 

the major cause of unemployment 

is the lack of skills needed in 

every workplace. 

“The programme we are relaunching 

is Poise Graduate Finishing 

Academy (PGFA). We 

have worked with individuals and 

corporations in both public and 

private sectors. 

We have trained 40,000 youths 

in the area of employability skills, 

planning and other soft skills required 

in the workplace. It’s a 10 

week programme. We have developed 

new programmes to 

make students global citizens,” 

she said. 

On his part, Asher Adeniyi, 

Chief Marketing Officer, said one 

of the challenges to youths’ employability 

is lack of required 

skills. 

One of the major causes of unemployment 

in Nigeria is the low 

standard of education. Many 

graduates do not think it essential 

to empower themselves with 

skills that would further enhance 

their chances of getting a job. 

The ones who eventually acquire 

such skills stand a higher 

chance of getting employed. 

He said, “We need to start planning 

curriculum with industry 

standards. We are setting up vocational 

skills centers where people 

will learn a trade and earn 

a decent living out of it. 

“Capability comes by training. 

We got endorsed by the National 

Universities Commission and 

The Presidency. We have hit 90 

per cent employability rate. 

Bears crash investors’ Christmas gains, with 

N100bn loss 

By Peter Egwuatu 

Investors in the stock mar 

ket lost N100.2 billion worth 

of their investments yesterday 

after the bullish run recorded in 

the last trading day before 

Christmas. 

The Nigerian Stock Exchange, 

NSE All Share Index (ASI) dipped 

0.9 percent to close at 31,692.63 

points as against the gains of 3.9 

percent recorded during the trading 

before Christmas. 

Consequently, the Year to Date, 

YtD loss to investors worsened to - 

17.1 percent, as market capitalization 

declined by N100.2billion to 

close at N11.6 trillion. 

Market performance was 

dragged by losses recorded by First 

Bank Nigeria Holding, FBNH (-4.7 

percent), Dangote Cement (-3.4 

percent) and Access Bank (-2.8 percent). 

Similarly, activity level fell as 

volume and value dipped by 36.7 

percent and 49.8 percent to 

452.3million units and N2.6billion 

respectively. 

The top traded stocks by volume 

were Med Vie Air (146.9million 

units), NEM Insurance (45.9million 

units) and Transcorp (37.5million 

units) while Zenith Bank 

(N646.2million), Guaranty Trust 

Bank (N345.6million) and Med 

View Air (293.9million) were the 

top traded stocks by value. 

Performance across sectors was 

largely positive as three of five Indices 

closed higher. The Oil & Gas 

Index gained the most, up 1.3 percent 

due to gains in Forte Oil which 

increased by +9.9 percent and 

Conoil rising by +10.0 percent. 

The Banking and Consumer 

Goods Indices trailed, up 0.2 percent 

and 0.4 percent respectively 

following price appreciation 

in Nigerian Breweries which went 

up by +0.5 percent , followed by 

NASCON +1.4 percent, Diamond 

Bank +9.7 percent, FCMB +8.6 

percent and Guaranty Trust Bank 

+0.3 percent. On the flipside, sell 

pressures in Dangote Cement (- 

3.4 percent) ,NEM Insurance 

(9.2 percent) and Niger Insurance( 

-8.3 percent) dragged 

down the Industrial and Insurance 

Indices by -2.1 and -7 percent 

respectively. 

Investor sentiment weakened as 

30 stocks advanced in price as 

against 16 decliners. The top performers 

were NPFMCRFBK, 

gaining (+10.0 percent), Mutual 

Benefit (+10.0 percent) and CO- 

NOIL (+10.0 percent ) while 

UACN (-10.0 percent), NEM Insurance 

(-9.2 percent) and Niger 

Insurance (-8.3 percent) declined 

the most. 

Analysts at Afrinvest Research 

stated: “We expect market performance 

over the last few days of the 

year to be slightly positive as portfolio 

managers re-balance portfolios


*Dr. Yemi Kale, Director General, 

NBS 

Seasonal spending, political campaign to push up 

inflation figures 

By Nkiruka Nnorom 

*Toyin Sanni, CEO, Emerging Africa 

Capital Group 

IF analysts’ projections are anything 

to go by, the recent reversal in the 

inflationary developments in the 

economy towards uptick is set to be 

sustained not just in December 2018 

but way into 2019. 

Inflation numbers had, in November, 

reversed its 18 consecutive month of 

steady decline, and inched up instead. 

Now investment experts are projecting 

further spike in inflation figures 

for the month of December, 2018 owing 

to seasonal spending associated 

with yuletide periods as well as political 

spending ahead of the 2019 general 

elections. 

Accordingly, analysts at Cordros 

Capital, a Lagos-based investment 

banking firm, put the December 2018 

figure at 13.08 percent, while their 

counterparts at United Capital Plc, 

another investment banking firm, see 

the inflation figure at 11.55 percent. 

Data released by the National Bureau 

of Statistics, (NBS) last week showed 

that inflation moved slightly higher in 

November at 11.28 percent year-onyear 

(YoY) against 11.26 percent YoY 

in the previous month. 

According to analysts at Cordros 

Capital, the implementation of the new 

minimum wage scheme being canvassed 

by the labour union in the country, 

as well as pressure on prices in 

electricity and Petroleum Motor Spirit, 

PMS, are potential risks that will result 

in further uptrend in inflationary 

figure in 2019. 

In a report themed: “Mounting risks 

set to test inflationary resilience in 

2019,” they said that currency devaluation 

will also pose a threat to inflation, 

even as they forecast further rise 

to 13.08 percent at the end of the year. 

They said: “Largely reflecting subsequent 

decline in demand for farm 

produce following the front-loaded increase 

in November, we expect monthon-month 

(MoM) food inflation to 

moderate slightly in December. Similarly, 

on account of sustained naira liquidity 

and stability, together with 

Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, 

NNPC’s aggressive stance on 

PMS supply, we expect m/m core inflation 

to remain largely subdued. 

Overall, we look for December and 2018 

mean MoM headline inflation of 0.70 

percent and 0.90 percent, translating 

to YoY figures of 11.40 percent and 12.1 

percent respectively 

“Farther out, we reiterate the implementation 

of the new minimum wage, 

currency devaluation, as well as PMS 

and electricity price hikes, as notable 

upside risks to inflation in 2019, with 

year-end forecast of 13.08 percent YoY.” 

Cowry Asset Management said it 

also expects upward pressure on general 

price level of goods and services 

as presidential election campaigns intensify, 

along with the usual increase 

By Nkiruka Nnorom 

Against the backdrop of consistent 

decline in Foreign Direct Investments 

(FDIs) as indicated by the latest 

report of the National Bureau of Statistics 

(NBS) on capital importation, 

economy experts have highlighted 

some of the lessons the fiscal authority 

should learn from the report to move 

the economy forward. 

Part of the lessons, according to them, 

is the need for the government to improve 

on its corruption perception and 

also address some of the structural 

challenges confronting the economy, 

particularly the huge infrastructure 

deficit. 

Report on capital importation for 

quarter three, Q3’8, released last week 

by NBS showed that despite the low 

appetite in the capital market by foreign 

investors, which has resulted in 

huge outflows in the last few months, 

Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI) accounted 

for chunk of the capital importation 

at 60.35 percent in Q3’18, though 

it tumbled 37.7 percent year-on-year 

(YoY) in November to $1.7 billion. However, 

FDI accounted for just 18.58 percent 

of the total capital importation, but 

increased quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) by 

103.03 percent. 

Although some of the economists argued 

that 103.03 percent QoQ growth 

in the FDI suggests greater diversification 

of the economy, but they emphasised 

the need for improvement in the 

ease of doing business. 

Recall that the World Bank in its October 

2018 Doing Business Report indicated 

that Nigeria’s overall Doing 

Business Ranking fell from prior 145 

to 146, despite the recent effort by the 

federal government aimed at easing 

the business environment. The World 

Bank report showed that with the exception 

of an appreciable improvement 

recorded in tax payment (up 14 points) 

and Starting a Business (up 10 points), 

*Johnson Chukwu, CEO, Cowry 

Asset Mgt. 

spending in yuletide season. 

United Capital Plc in its inflation 

outlook said: “We expect the pressure 

on food inflation sub-index to be sustained 

into December 2018, albeit marginally, 

as we anticipate increases in 

the supply of food items during the 

month to be outweighed by demand, 

especially as we move deeper into the 

festive season. 

“Thus, we expect MoM food inflation 

to rise slightly by 0.95 percent in 

Nigeria continued to rank low in criti- 

Average cal indices prices such of as PMS registering across prop- 

states 

erty (184), trading across border (182) 

and getting electricity (171), out of 190 

countries surveyed. 

Facilitate Ease of Doing 

Business – Cowry Asset Mgt. 

Suggesting a leeway to boost FDI, 

analysts at Cowry Asset Management, 

a Lagos-based investment banking 

firm, called for improvement in the 

ease of doing business in the country, 

though they opined that YoY growth 

in FDI suggests greater diversification 

of the economy. 

“The federal government still needs 

to do more to facilitate its ease of doing 

business as well as improve on its 

corruption perception in order to attract 

more investments in the real sector 

and further grow the local economy 

as the country’s Gross Domestic Product 

(GDP) per capita continues to fall 

amid relatively faster population 

growth,” they said. 

Structural challenges confronting 

the nation still remains 

– United Capital 

Also, United Capital in a report titled, 

“Is Ease of Doing Business in 

Nigeria Getting Easier”, said that 

structural challenges facing the 

economy such as huge infrastructure 

deficit, the difficulty of getting electricity 

and regulatory bottlenecks, 

which are key concerns for investors, 

remain largely unresolved despite the 

obvious economic exigencies. 

The firm asserted that except radical 

reforms are instituted, investments in 

Nigeria may remain sub-optimal in the 

short to medium term. 

It said: “To match Nigeria’s rising 

population size, projected at c.400 million 

by 2050, the country must address 

sustained infrastructural deficit to drive 

*Peter Ashade, Group CEO, 

United Capital PLC. 

Dec-18. Elsewhere, campaign-related 

spending and the likelihood of a sustained 

volatility in the currency market 

remains the major downside risk 

to core inflation. In line with this, we 

expect the m/m core inflation sub-index 

to track marginally higher to 0.70 

percent in Dec-18. On a balance of 

these factors, we expect m/m headline 

inflation to average 0.83 percent pressuring 

YoY inflation sharply higher to 

11.55 percent in Dec-18.” 

Lessons from last FDI report, way forward – Experts 

a sustainable and inclusive growth. 

The Apapa Port gridlock in Lagos is 

currently the best symbol of gapping 

infrastructure in the country, a reflection 

of the poor state of road networks, 

port congestion and regulatory lapses. 

Clearly, this is reflected in the low 

ranking of the country in Trading 

Across Border (182) and Getting Electricity 

(171), according to World Bank 

Oct-2018 report on Ease of Doing Business. 

We believe capital flows are unlikely 

to rebound in Nigeria until the 

2019 election outcome is clear.” 

Confidence in long term 

outlook for a market 

necessary for FDIs 

– Emerging Africa Capital 

Toyin Sanni, CEO, Emerging Africa 

Capital Group declared that it is not 

surprising that FDIs constituted just 

18.58 percent of capital importation in 

Q3’18, saying that they are longer 

tenored investment that require a level 

of confidence in the long term outlook 

of a market considering that they are 

harder to unwind. 

She explained that with elections 

approaching, investors, especially long 

term ones, typically become more cautious 

and want to see the country conduct 

a successful election before they 

proceed with such decisions. Sanni 

added that many investors may also 

wait to confirm the policy stance of the 

elected government before entering or 

investing more in the market. 

She, however, disagreed with others 

on the state of ease of doing business 

in the country, saying: “This may not 

be necessarily related to the ease of 

doing business, an area in which the 

current government has made 

progress, but may relate more to the 

perception of the long-term attractiveness 

of our market such as the outlook 

for strong economic growth as well as 

risk-perception.”


By Theodore Opara 

Mercedes-Benz 

closes 2018 with 

worldwide sales 

growth 

MERCEDES-Benz has 

once again set a new 

sales record towards the end 

of this year despite a volatile 

market environment: 198,545 

vehicles with the threepointed 

star were delivered to 

customers all over the world 

last month. 

Under ongoing challenging 

conditions, Mercedes-Benz 

sold more units than ever 

before in November (+1.5%). 

Further progress with vehicle 

availability, particularly in 

some international markets, 

had a positive impact on sales 

development in the three core 

regions. In the first eleven 

months of the year, 2,103,653 

Mercedes-Benz passenger 

cars were handed over to 

customers, which is slightly 

above the high level of the 

prior-year period (+0.4%). 

Last month, the brand with 

the star maintained its market 

leadership in the premium 

segment in markets including 

Germany, France, Italy, Spain, 

Switzerland, Portugal, South 

Korea, Japan, Australia and 

the USA. 

“With more than 198,000 

vehicles delivered worldwide, 

Mercedes-Benz has achieved 

its best-ever November sales. 

"In a challenging market 

environment, we’ve been able 

to increase unit sales slightly 

also since the beginning of 

the year,” said Britta Seeger, 

member of the Board of 

Management of Daimler AG 

responsible for Mercedes- 

Benz Cars Marketing and 

Sales. 

“In China, we have 

delivered more than 600,000 

Mercedes-Benz and smart 

vehicles since the beginning 

of this year. We are 

particularly pleased to be the 

first premium carmaker to 

achieve this sales milestone in 

China within one year.” 

How new Uber Driver App is increasing efficiency 

with Driver-Partners, by O’Yoma Ukueku 

AS a young child, I was 

always fascinated with 

the inner workings of 

technology, and what one 

could possibly achieve 

through it. How was my 

battery-powered train set 

operated by remote control? 

What was this “engine thing” 

that seemed to be located 

within my toy cars? And the 

people on the radio and 

television - how did they get 

in there? And what made it 

possible for us to see and 

hear them so clearly? 

As I grew older and began 

to connect the dots, I 

realised a couple of things - 

that technology was 

designed for processes to 

run more efficiently. I also 

realised that for human 

beings - incorporating 

technology into everyday 

usage increased 

productivity, and I saw how 

this had a positive impact on 

•Mr Felix Efe, centre, receiving his gift of Eastman inverter 

and battery set during Value Drive from officials of Infinity 

Tyres at the Port Harcourt outlet 

*O’Yoma Ukueku - Greenlight 

Operations Manager, West 

Africa, Uber 

everyday life, businesses 

and communities. 

In my role as Greenlight 

Operations Manager for 

West Africa - I’m constantly 

criss-crossing the region; 

especially Lagos, Abuja, 

Accra and Kumasi - cities 

where the Uber Greenlight 

Hubs are located. The 

Greenlight Hub is a 

dedicated support centre 

that provides drivers with 

established channels of 

communication to raise 

individual questions and 

concerns that they may have 

relating to using the Uber 

App. At the Greenlight 

Hubs, driver-partners are 

offered information sessions, 

tailored workshops focusing 

on training and skills 

development such as safety 

tips, crime prevention and 

financial tips. 

Potential driver-partners 

are also assisted at the 

Greenlight Hubs through the 

onboarding process. In my 

recent interactions with 

them, one theme that has 

come as consistent feedback 

is their reaction to the newly 

launched Uber driver app. 

For many drivers using the 

app globally and in West 

Africa, there’s a general 

consensus that the new 

features provide an 

improved experience on the 

road and allows them to use 

the app more efficiently 

whether on the road or off. 

Thus further highlighting 

my long-held belief and 

understanding that 

technology shapes not just 

processes, but ensures an 

improved level of efficiency. 

So one might ask - what are 

the exact features of this app 

that make it better? For one, 

the new driver app has been 

made to be less complex and 

complicated to allow drivers 

to focus more on driving. It 

also provides them with realtime 

updates on market 

conditions around them and 

opportunities for more trips 

nearby. They can also 

choose to navigate to such 

nearby with just a tap. 

Also included in the app 

(and perhaps of great 

importance to the drivers) is 

an earning tracker that 

allows drivers to know how 

much they earned in their 

previous trip, to allow them 

to track their progress toward 

their financial goals. At 

Uber, we remain committed 

to creating business and 

economic opportunities for 

driver-partners and we are 

always looking at ways in 

which we can make their 

experience more memorable 

and continue to stimulate 

their growth as small 

business owners. 

Earlier this year, Uber’s 

CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi 

penned a blog post 

announcing the launch of 

the new driver app. 

According to him: “the new 

driver app was redesigned 

because we wanted to 

simplify the driver 

experience and the 

underlying engineering 

architecture that supports it. 

We knew we couldn’t take 

the approach we’d taken in 

the past: redesign the app 

based on what we thought 

drivers wanted, launch it, 

then hope for the best. 

Instead, we needed to listen 

to what drivers told us they 

needed, and shape the new 

app alongside them.” 

Improving the overall 

experience of using our app 

for driver-partners remains 

one of our key priorities. And 

as such, that is why the 

technologically-enabled 

Greenlight Hubs will keep 

improving customer service 

and driver support. The new 

driver app will benefit 

driver-partners in West 

Africa, primarily by making 

them more efficient, with 

improved efficiency means 

they will make more trips 

and ultimately more 

earnings. I remain excited at 

the possibilities and 

opportunities that Uber, 

through technology makes 

available to its 9,000 active 

drivers in Nigeria and 6,000 

active drivers in Ghana. 

With these new features in 

the app, we are ensuring that 

drivers and riders benefit 

from a seamless experience.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2018 —22 

First model change turns Evoque to masterpiece 

•Ready for sub-Sahara Africa early next year 

THE original luxury 

compact SUV has got 

even better. At home both in the 

city and the mountains, the 

new Evoque joins the Range 

Rover family with a choice of 

diesel and petrol engines. 

Having pioneered the luxury 

compact SUV market, with global 

sales of over 772,096 and 

more than 217 international 

awards, the new Range Rover 

Evoque is a sophisticated evolution 

of the original. Combining 

unrivalled Range Rover 

heritage with cutting-edge 

technology – designed, engineered 

and manufactured in 

Britain – it meets the needs of 

today’s customers. 

According to Finbar McFall, 

Global Marketing Director, 

Jaguar Land Rover: “Eight 

years ago we created a new 

segment and the world followed. 

Now we have redefined 

what it means to be a luxury 

compact SUV. With design and 

capability at its heart and the 

latest technology to hand, the 

new Range Rover Evoque 

meets your needs like never 

before and ensures you reach 

your destination, no matter the 

conditions. 

Outstanding 

volume 

”Building on the original’s 

instantly-recognisable design, 

the new Range Rover Evoque 

is a sophisticated evolution of 

the distinctive coupé-like silhouette, 

typified by its 

distinctive fast roofline and 

rising waist that identify the 

Range Rover family." 

The outstanding volume and 

proportions are amplified by its 

pronounced shoulders and 

powerful wheel arches that, 

alongside 21-inch wheels, 

combine to create a strong and 

dynamic attitude. The introduction 

of jewel-like elements 

such as super-slim Matrix LED 

headlamps provide a more sophisticated 

front and rear lamp 

graphic. Flush door handles 

add to the smooth, sculpted 

aesthetic, while sweeping directional 

indicators create a 

purposeful signature. Optional 

R-Dynamic details and burnished 

copper accents add to 

the unique appeal. 

Inside, the finely crafted design 

integrates uncluttered 

surfaces and simple lines with 

carefully curated premium materials 

to create a luxurious, 

minimalist, digital cabin. Technical 

textiles that use recycled 

plastics are offered as premium 

alternatives to leather, such as 

a Kvadrat wool blend and Dinamica® 

suedecloth, as well 

as Eucalyptus and Ultrafabrics 

options. 

The cabin is designed to be a 

calm and serene space, ensuring 

comfortable, healthy and 

happy occupants, with technologies 

such as the twin touchscreen 

Touch Pro Duo system 

featuring new, faster software, 

16-way seat controls and cabin 

air ionisation that complement 

the increased interior space. 

Gerry McGovern, Land Rover 

Chief Design Officer, said: 

“When Range Rover Evoque 

made its debut back in 2010, it 

transformed the world of compact 

SUVs and the new model 

is set to continue that remarkable 

journey. 

This characterful vehicle combines 

refinement and fun to 

create that all important 

emotional reaction that will turn 

heads and make people smile. 

”The footprint is almost identical, 

yet built on Land Rover’s 

new mixed-material Premium 

Transverse Architecture, there is 

more interior space than before." 

•Range Rover Evoque 

•From left: Zonal Commanding Officer, Zone RS2, Lagos, Federal Road Safety Corps, Assistant 

Corps Marshal John Meheux; Corps Marshal, FRSC, Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi; Sector Commander, 

RS2, FRSC, Mr Hyginus Omeje, and Corps Public Education Officer, FRSC, Mr Bisi Kazeem, 

during inspection of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in preparation for the yuletide safety campaign 

in Ogun State… recently. 

New A-Class debuts in Nigeria 

THE new A-Class is the 

benchmark of the 

compact car class. It remains 

youthful and dynamic as ever, 

and is grown-up and 

comfortable like never before. 

Courtesy of the authorised 

general distributors of Mercedes-Benz 

in Nigeria, Weststar 

Associates Limited; the 

new A-Class is now available 

in the Nigerian market. Since 

its world premiere in March 

2018, the new A-Class has solidified 

its position as the top 

choice for compact and comfort-oriented 

vehicles with 

more revolutionising technology 

and an increased appeal 

to comfort and connectivity. 

The Mercedes-Benz A-Class 

completely redefines modern 

luxury in the compact class, 

and revolutionises interior design. 

All models of the new A- 

Class are also powered by 

new, efficient petrol engines. 

And although Mercedes-Benz 

has retained the sporty 

appearance, the utility value 

has increased. Technologically, 

the A-Class stands out 

among its competitors with 

MBUX – Mercedes-Benz User 

Experience, it offers a number 

of functions that were 

previously the preserve of the 

luxury class. Here are some 

key facts and features of the 

new A-Class. 

The completely new 

multimedia system, MBUX 

(Mercedes-Benz User 

Experience) in the A-Class 

creates an emotional 

connection between the 

vehicle, driver and 

passengers. It is enhanced 

with an inbuilt learning 

capability thanks to artificial 

intelligence and can also be 

personalised to the taste and 

needs of the driver. The 

MBUX multimedia system 

comes with a comprehensive 

touch operation by 

touchscreen, touchpad 

(optional) on the center 

console and touch control 

buttons in the steering wheel, 

there is also an optional intelligent 

voice control with natural 

language comprehension 

and activation using the keyword: 

Hey Mercedes. Other 

key features of the MBUX include 

a navigation display 

with MBUX augmented reality 

technology and new “Mercedes 

me” services. 

The A-Class is highly distinguished 

in its segment with the 

intelligent drive system, for the 

first time, the A-Class is able to 

drive semi-autonomously in certain 

driving situations. It has 

also been able to achieve the 

highest safety standard in this 

segment thanks to extended 

driving assistance systems with 

S- Class functions as optional 

equipment. Other features 

like the Active Distance Assist 

DISTRONIC and Active Steering 

Assist now support the 

driver even more conveniently 

in keeping a safe distance 

and steering, the vehicle 

speed is now also automatically 

adjusted on bends, at 

road junctions and on roundabouts. 

PRE-SAFE® PLUS 

can recognise an imminent 

rear-end collision. If the danger 

of a collision persists, the 

system can also firmly apply 

the brakes of the vehicle when 

stationary, thus minimising 

the risk of injuries by reducing 

the forward jolt caused by 

an impact from the rear. There 

are also other additional features 

like the Active Emergency 

Stop Assist and the intuitively 

understandable Active 

Lane Change Assist.


Stories By Benjamin Njoku 

Nollywood 

stakeholders 

unite for NFVCB 

boss 

Major stakeholders in the Nigerian movie 

industry, have thrown their weight behind 

the embattled Executive Director of the National 

Film and Video Censors Board, NFVCB, Alhaji 

Adedayo Thomas, vowing to resist any attempt to 

frustrate him out of office. 

Adedayo recently appeared at an Abuja 

Magistrate Court over petition by some staff 

members of the agency. He was 

accused of breaking the fence of 

the zonal office of the agency, 

stealing a 500KVA power 

generating set on February 6, 

2017, and selling it for N30 

million. 

Represented by their various 

associations, the group led by Mr. 

Ralph Nwadike, President of 

Association of Movie 

Producers,AMP, at a press 

conference held at Ojez, National 

Stadium, called on the Minister 

of Information and Culture, Alhaji 

Lai Mohammed and the 

Permanent Secretary in the 

Ministry, Mrs. Grace Isu Gekpe 

to intervene by bringing the 

petitioners to book, and allow 

Alhaji Adedayo Thomas continue 

his good works. The group vowed 

to resist any attempt to frustrate 

Adedayo out of office. Other 

members of the group were Mr. 

Tunji Ojetola, Vice president 

Yoruba Film and Video Producers 

and Marketers Association of 

Nugeria (YOFIVPMAN); and Mr. 

Emeka Aduah, President of Film 

and Video Producers and 

Marketers of Nigeria (FVPMAN). 

Others are Igwe Gab Okoye, aka 

Gabosky and Norbert Ajaegbu 

(Esq), who are members of the 

NFVCB’s special taskforce 

against unlicensed and 

unclassified movies. 

According to them, he (Thomas), 

upon assuming office, “penetrated 

and orchestrated several raid in 

the notorious Alaba market,” a 

move which “did not go down well 

with certain staff of the Board who 

openly expressed their 

resentfulness and even reached out 

to some members of the industry 

to express that the new Executive 

Director is acting against the 

norms of contracting staff or the 

Board to carry out the raids.” 

They alleged that the aggrieved 

staff of the board “are used to the 

corrupt regime of disbursing 

budgets for raids on paper without 

any practical raid nor effect on 

the film market.” 

“We must state and affirm that 

Alhaji Adedayo Thomas proved to 

us that government agencies can 

positively affect the industry – an 

experience we had last when 

Popular gospel singer, Sammie Okposo 

believes in ‘practicing what you 

preach.’ And that’s why he came down 

heavily on comedian cum gospel artiste, 

Akpororo for taking off his shirt while 

performing at a street praise Jamz in 

Lagos. 

Akpororo, who’s known for his radical 

praises on the street performed at an end 

of the year concert. The comedian had 

taken off his shirt at some point and this 

did not go down well with singer Sammie 

Okposo as he took to his Instagram page 

to condemn Akpororo for the act. 

“Why did you remove your shirt?,”he 

Burnaboy’s ‘Ye’ is 

The song of 2018, 

2face declares 

Nigerian music star, 2face has unofficially declared 

Burna Boy’s trending song ‘Ye’ as the song of 2018. 

Tubaba made this declaration Wednesday night during 

the Burnaboy’s show, which held at the Convention Centre, 

Eko hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. 

2face who graced the event alongside D’banj had joined 

Burna Boy on stage during a performance to hail the talented 

artiste. While on stage, 2face declared that: “Everybody here, 

if you agree with me, you know that ‘Ye’ is the song of 2018.3 

The crowd had cheered and agreed to the declaration. 

Burnaboy who is still referred to as one of the most 

underrated Nigerian stars has made a name for himself 

globally since the release of the ‘Ye’ song with his album 

already breaking boundaries and topping charts 

internationally! The show was graced the likes of Wande 

Coal, DBanj, Wizkid, Davido, Duncan Mighty, among others. 

(L-R): Gab Okoye, Tunji Ojetola, Ralph Nwadike, and Emeka Aduah 

Emeka Mbah left the Board,” 

they stated. Enumerating some 

of the impacts the NFVCB boss 

has had on practitioners in recent 

times, they said “the Censors 

Board supports industry festivals 

and awards, sponsor and involve 

itself in raids against uncensored 

and unclassified movies, sponsor 

stakeholders to international film 

festivals and brought government 

closer to practitioners.”Most 

interesting is that Adebayo 

Thomas is one such – example of 

a distinguished administrator set 

to accomplish such primary 

purpose. 

“We therefore humbly call on 

Sammie Okposo blasts 

Akpororo 

queried before going ahead to 

blast the fiery worshipper for the 

act.” Akpororo wetin make you 

remove your shirt!!! Why yo go 

remove your shirt on top a 

strictly gospel music stage. 

This is an alter of praise 

and worship unto God, 

this is not funny at all. 

This is totally wrong and 

out of order,”Okposo 

wrote. Interestingly, he has 

since deleted his comment 

and acknowledged his error. 

the Honourable Minister of 

Information and Communication 

to investigate and bring to book, 

all staff of the Board engaged in 

the writing of frivolous petitions 

against Alhaji Adedayo Thomas,” 

they said, adding that, “Such staff 

have no reason to remain in the 

civil service.” Also, they 

want the Minister to 

look seriously into 

circumstances that 

led to the recent 

resignation of 

filmmaker Tunde 

Kelani as chairman 

of the Board of 

NFVCB. 

Aity Dennis 

lights up 

Akwa Ibom 

State 

carols 

festival 

Multiple 

awardwinning 

gospel 

crooner, Aity Dennis, was 

among the stars who graced 

the 2018 edition of award 

winning Akwa Ibom State 

Carols Festival which held 

Friday, December 21. 

Performing after new 

gospel music sensation, 

Mercy Chinwo, and before 

American import, Nicole 

Mullen, Aity set the roof on 

fire at the Uyo Township 

Stadium as she performed 

her prophetic song, You Will 

Get There to the delight of 

the audience which included 

Akwa Ibom State governor, 

Mr. Udom Emmanuel. 

Among others, Aity Dennis 

sang, danced and prophesied 

a glorious future for the state 

and the Nigerian nation. 

Speaking after the event, 

Aity said: “It’s always a big 

pleasure every time I have a 

performance in my home 

state. I am also glad I had 

the opportunity to 

perform the theme song. 

Let the People Say 

Amen! I congratulate 

my Governor and the 

coordinator of the carol 

on a successful event.”


ONE of the things that 

every Muslims should 

be proud of in recent time is the 

action of Ramatu Tijjani, a 

peace ambassador and 

interfaith professional 

mediator in Kaduna state. 

An hijabite sister, (if you dont 

mind) decorated the residence 

of Pastor Yohanna Buru, the 

general overseer of Christ 

Evangelical Church Sabon 

Tasha, Kaduna few hours to 

Christmas day. 

She decorated the Pastor’s 

house with light, wreaths, 

stockings and ornaments. Shen 

said it was meant to strengthen 

peaceful co-existence and a 

better understanding of 

different faiths among citizens 

of Nigeria. Since action shall be 

judged according to intention, 

she will be rewarded for 

strenthening the ties of her 

people especially in a clime 

where suspicion on religious 

interest is the order of the day. 

That issue brings to the fore, 

greetings for the season. My 

five year-old daughter asked 

recently: “Since you said the 

celebration is not meant for 

Muslims, if a Christian say to 

me: Merry Christmas, what 

should I say. Just as I was 

about to respond, her elder 

sister, two years older, 

interjected, “You walk away, 

Christmas is forbidden for 

Muslims. Greetings is part of 

the celebration.”I was numbed 

to the reality of what was 

running in their heads and the 

ideas that must have been 

inculcated in them from their 

schools. To be sure, I turned to 

the older one and asked. Why 

did you say that? 

She said: “Our teacher taught 

us that it is forbidden for a 

Muslim to celebrate Christmas 

and also forbidden to eat 

Christmas food.” 

Ah! that is hateful, I said. 

I immediately asked: During 

our eid-l-Adha, we shared our 

Rabiul-Thanni 20, 1440 A.H. 

Christmas/New year celeration: 

No celebration, but we must be hospitable 

meat and foods with non- 

Muslims, and they expressed 

appreciation. If we are 

enjoined by Allah to deal with 

all manners of people with 

justice and kindness, why 

should we behave otherwise? 

The Quran says: “Allah does 

not forbid you from those 

who do not fight you because 

of religion and do not expel 

you from your homes - from 

being righteous toward them 

and acting justly toward them. 

Indeed, Allah loves those 

who act justly. (Q60: 8-9) We 

are only forbidden to make 

friends with only those who 

stops us from practicing our 

religion. 

It is true that that as 

Muslims, we don't have any 

business in the celebration of 

Christmas and New Year. 

Even some group of 

Christians do not even believe 

in the festivity, like the Deeper 

Life, the Jehovah Witness, 

Seventh Day Adventist 

among others. To these 

groups, it is absolutely 

forbidden, much less to 

Muslims. But we dont have to 

be too scrappy and 

unfriendly since they have 

never stopped us in the 

practice of our religion. 

What the Prophet 

Mushammad (s.a.w) said on 

the two holidays of the 

people of Madinah when he 

first got to the city was very 

instructive. He expressly told 

the Muslims that: "Allah has 

given you something better 

instead of them: Yawm al- 

Duhaa (Eid al-Adha) and 

Yawm al-Fitr (Eid al-Fitr)." 

Again, Shaykh al-Islam Ibn 

Taymiyah (may Allah have 

mercy on him) said: "As 

regards the festivals of the 

mushrikeen: they combine 

confusion, physical desires 

and falsehood, there is 

nothing in them that is of any 

religious benefit. 

In doing this we also have a 

moral duty to respect other 

people's beliefs and practice. 

The Islamic ethics which is 

emphasized in many Quranic 

ayahs and sayings of the Blessed 

Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) 

enjoin Muslims to treat people 

kindly and justly too, no matter 

their religion as long as they do 

not fight against you. 

This also brings us to the issue 

of greeting during the 

celebration. There is nothing 

wrong in responding to 

greetings the way you are 

greeted. In fact, the holy Quran 

says: “When you are greeted 

with a greeting, greet in return 

what is better than it, or (at least) 

return it equally.” (Surah 4: 86). 

You may not initiate the 

greeting as they are non- 

Muslims, but when they greet 

you, you have moral duty to 

respond with the same greetings 

or at least reply just as the 

Prophet replied the jew that 

greeted him, 'And the same to 

you' 

We all know, many of us in this 

multicultural and multireligious 

society, are entwined 

within families and 

communities of different 

religious beliefs. In a purely 

Islamic environment, this will 

be a non-issue. In this 

environment, if we must live as 

one without compromising the 

tenets of our religion, we must 

be kind to to those who are kind 

to us as stated in the Quran 

stated above. We must be very 

careful not to break ties and 

relationships. We must not 

destroy the peaceful coexistence 

that has subsisted, 

and endeavour to make amends 

where necessary just as Ramatu 

Tijjani did last week. We must 

respect our Christian 

neighbours or friends, we must 

appreciates his feelings just as 

we expect them to do to us. 

Your religion is yours while 

their religion is theirs. 

Ramatu Tijjani and Pastor Yohanna Buru, the General Overseer of Christ Evangelical 

Church Sabon Tasha, Kaduna after the former decorated the Pastor's house for 

Christmas 

BARKA JUMAH 

Don't be slaves to ambition 

We must not be slaves to ambition, nor mainly aim 

for success not strive for social distinction without due 

effort. Hail Allah, and praise Him always. Above all, 

think and act on the doing good deeds that lend help 

to the weak and lowly. Alone, none is secure in this 

tedious journey of life. Together we are all winners. 

Also, never leave behind your brothers, sisters or 

friends. May Allah immeasurably bless each of us and 

prosper the lives of the seeds of our bodies. Happy 

jumat. — Dr. Adewale Adeeyo, OON 

Xmas/New Year: NSCIA felicitat 

elicitates es with 

Christians 

The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) led by 

Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Saad Abubakar, has felicitated 

with Christians in the country on the occasion of 2018 Christmas 

and New Year celebration. 

In a statement signed by the Deputy Secretary-General, Prof. 

Salisu Shehu, the council also prayed that the country overcome 

her current challenges and grant her peaceful, successful, fair and 

credible elections in the coming months. 

The statements reads: “The Nigerian Muslim ummah, under the 

leadership of the President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council 

for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad 

Saad Abubakar, CFR, mni, felicitates with our Christian compatriots 

on the occasion of 2018 Christmas. 

“As you celebrate this important milestone of high spiritual import, 

the Muslim community wishes you God’s guidance and abundant 

blessings embedded in the festive season. 

“The occasion of the commemoration of the birth of Jesus (PBUH) 

provides us another opportunity of thank God for His blessings to 

us as a nation and to renew our prayers for the restoration of peace 

and security to all parts of our dear country. 

“Prophet Isa (PBUH) or Jesus is one of the top-ranking Prophets of 

God that all Muslims venerate. In fact, the Quran mentions his name 

more than 25 times (i.e. Q. 2:87; 2:136; 2:253; 3:45; 3:52; 3:55; 

3:59; 3:84; 4:157; 4:163; 4:171; 5:46; 5:78; 5:112; 5:114; 5:116; 

6:85; 19:34; 33:7; 42:13; 43:57; 43:61; 43:63; 57:27; 61:6 and 61:14). 

Though his personality or divinity may be viewed differently by the 

teeming adherents of Christianity and Islam, the fact remains that in 

Jesus Christ, all of us, Christians and Muslims alike, have a role model, 

an exemplar and a symbol of our commonality as a people of faith. 

“As millions of Christians in our country mark the birth of Jesus 

(PBUH), we pray that the occasion engenders a new beginning of 

faithfulness, sincerity, righteousness, love, forgiveness and other 

virtues that he represents in our country. We indeed urge all 

Nigerians to emulate him and other true Prophets of God. 

...reflect on humility, , tolerance of Jesus, 

Ndigbo Muslims charge Christians 

Also, Ndigbo Muslims of Nigeria have congratulated their 

Christians in the country especially in the Southeast geopolitical 

zone on Christmas and New year celebration. 

The apex Ndigbo Muslim group, South Eastern Muslims 

Organization of Nigeria (SEMON) in a press statement issued 

recently, said it was heart-warming to rejoice with the Igbo Christians 

who revere the occasion as an integral part of their belief. 

The statement which was signed by the National chairman and 

National Secretary, Muhammad O. Ajah Jr. and Abdurrahman 

Nwabueze Urama respectively, SEMON charged Ndigbo Christians 

to use the great festival period to reflect on the humility, 

progressiveness and tolerance of Jesus Christ who preached peace, 

humanity and Godliness throughout his life. 

SEMON urged the Igbo nation to come together, tolerate one 

another and push forward without discrimination on any bases in 

order to tally with the actual teachings of Jesus Christ. 

The group also congratulated the governors of Abia state, Chief 

Okezie Ikpeazu, Anambra state, Chief Willie Obiano, Ebonyi state, 

Engr. Dave Umahi, Enugu state, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and of 

Imo state, Chief Rochas Okorocha, reminding them of the divine 

hand in the success they have recorded for their respective states in 

the past three and half years of their leaderships. 

JIBWIS leader tells NLC to rescind 

decision on strike action 

By Aliyu Dangida, Dutse 

The leader of the Jama’atu Izalatul Bid’ah Wa Iqamatis 

Sunna (JIBWIS), Alhaji Muhammad Yahaya Jingir has appealed 

to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to rescind its 

decision on the proposed strike action. 

Alhaji Yahaya Jingir who stated this during the National 

Camping and Appeal Fund launching ceremony held at the 

Mallam Aminu Kano Triangle, Dutse, said the strike action 

would exacerbate the hardship the general public is currently 

facing. 

Jingir said NLC ought to have considered that many more 

Nigerians are not employed and are patiently praying hoping 

for better days to come. 

“I’m not saying that the labour union don’t have the right to 

demand for increase in workers salaries, however they ought 

to also consider that many more Nigerians are not employed 

and are waiting patiently at home for jobs”.

THE National Hajj 

Commission of Nigeria 

(NAHCON) has retained the 

Andalus Suites, a five star 

hotel accommodation in 

Markaziyya District of 

Madinah used by 2018 hajj 

pilgrims. 

The agreement to this was 

reached in a meeting between 

NAHCON and Adillah 

Establishment in Madinah, 

the regulatory umbrella of a 

conglomerate of service 

providers in Madinah during 

hajj. 

Vice Chairman of Adillah, 

Uztaz Usam Diyadi who led 

the Adhila team commended 

NAHCON staff that operates 

on the ground in Madina 

during 2018 Hajj 

He expressed the hope that 

the two parties will continue 

to enjoy this cordial working 

relationship. 

Meanwhile, one of the 

complaints made by the 

Adillah Establishment is that 

some Licensed Tour 

Operators do not give them 

adequate time notification for 

release of pilgrims’ passports 

to enable the operators to 

transport their pilgrims to the 

next destination. 

He said that all Hajj/Umrah 

transactions are now being 

done via the internet and a 

THE Muslim Students’ 

Society of Nigeria (MSSN), 

Lagos State Area Unit has 

maintained that unconditional 

approval for female students to 

wear hijab in schools will be one of 

the criteria for voting for any 

gubernatorial candidate in the state. 

The Amir of the MSSN in Lagos 

State, Dr. Saheed Ashafa, said this 

in a statement on the state of the 

nation and the organisation’s ongoing 

106th Islamic Vacation 

Course (IVC) holding at the 

Human Capital Development 

Center (HCDC), Noforija, Epe. 

Noting that assault on school 

children over the use of hijab is a 

violation of their fundamental 

rights and freedom, he said that 

government and school 

authorities should embrace the 

use of hijab in schools. 

He warned principals who still 

punish female students for using 

hijab despite the circular from the 

government to desist from the 

act. 

He said the action was capable 

of maligning the peaceful 

coexistence of people of different 

faiths in Lagos State. 

He however, stated that the 

MSSN has made tremendous 

progress on the matter so far and 

would not relent. 

On the implementation of the 

Rabiul-Thanni 20, 1440 A.H 

2019 Hajj: NAHCON reserves 5-star hotel 

for pilgrims in Madinah 

minimum of 24 hours is 

required as the regulated 

time for release of passport. 

He frowned at the manner in 

which some pilgrims would 

be assembled, loitering 

outside their hotels while 

waiting for arrival of their 

passports, which is 

unacceptable to the 

Kingdom. He said the 

Establishment takes 

directives from Ministry of 

Hajj and Umrah which in 

turn takes its orders from 

King Salman Ibn 

MSSN warns guber candidates against hijab 

rejection, faults FG on strike 

government’s circular, Ashafa 

said: “First, we are in court. We 

are a civilised group od people. 

We know the implication when 

a matter is still in court and the 

implication of working 

contrary to that. 

“However, every assault that 

happens in Lagos is taken up by 

the society. Probably people 

think we will take to the streets 

and create chaos in the society. 

We are not going to go that way. 

We will follow the constitutional 

procedures to make our case. 

“Recently, a Vice Principal has 

been removed from office due 

to an assault on hijab. When the 

issue of Army Cantonment Girls 

in Ojo happened, we were there, 

engaged the TGPS of that 

district and the VP was 

dismissed immediately 

alongside some teachers. 

“We believe that this is a step 

in the right direction, even 

though we are not after 

anybody being removed from 

office, but what we are saying is 

that it is our right, and school 

children should be able to 

enjoy the use of use hijab. 

Speaking on the 2019 

election, Ashafa explained that 

delegates at the ongoing camp 

have been sensitised to 

maintain and promote peace. 

He emphasised that 

AbdulAzeez, the Custodian of 

the two holy mosques. 

He therefore appealed to the 

Commission to address this 

issue. 

On his part, NAHCON Chief 

Executive Officer, 

commended the performance 

of Adillah. He harped on 

security challenges faced by 

some pilgrims. And the need 

to regulate companies 

involved in fixing golden teeth 

so that those willing to 

patronize their services would 

be guided in making choices. 

•Andalus hotel, adjacent to Masjid Nabawiyy, 

Madinah reserved for 2019 Nigerian Pilgrims. 

educational development and 

willingness to allow the use of 

hijab by female students in 

schools would form a major basis 

for supporting any candidate. 

He said, “MSSNLagos is not a 

political organisation but 

millions of our members are 

qualified voters. We have 

sensitised them enough to get 

their permanent Voters Cards 

and the need to be peaceful 

during the election. 

“We have been very careful in 

taking a position on the 

governorship election in Lagos 

State, but something is clear: we 

will not support any candidate 

that will pose a challenge to the 

use of hijab by our members in 

schools or deny any of our rights. 

“We urge the candidates to 

engage on an issue-based 

campaign and avoid maligning 

others. We are interested in the 

ideas that these candidates have 

to solve the country’s challenges 

and not defamation of character.” 

On the ongoing strike embarked 

upon by members of the 

Academic Staff Union of 

Universities, Ashafa asked the 

government to increase its 

funding of the education sector. 

He faulted the government for 

the incessant strike embarked 

upon by the ASUU, saying that it 

would be wrong to read political 

meaning into the strike action. 


Don’t tarnish image of Islam, Oba Akiolu warns 

Muslim lawmakers 

By Ebun Sessou 

The Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu 1 has called on Muslim 

lawmakers in the Lagos State House of Assembly, to desist 

from action capable of tarnishing the image of Islam. 

He made the remark recently at the Commissioning of the 

new mosque of the Assembly held at the complex. 

The royal father stated that the new Mosque is unique 

especially as it was built inside the Assembly complex where 

bills are passed into laws. 

Akiolu who is also the permanent chairman of the council 

of traditional rulers in the state, posited that it was not enough 

to build a mosque but that the custodians of the mosque should 

be properly cared for. 

He also advised the custodians not to be involve in anything 

that could tarnish the image of the religion. 

Speaker of Lagos State of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa 

commended the congregation for donating fund for the 

rebuilding of the Mosque, urging the custodians to ensure 

that the mosque serves the purpose for which it was built. 

Special guest of honour was Governor Akinwunmi Ambode 

who was represented by the Commissioner for Home Affairs, 

Dr. AbdulHakeem Abdulateef, the Chief Imam of the mosque. 

Friendship with non-Muslims 

Allah does not forbid you from those who do not fight 

you because of religion and do not expel you from your 

homes - from being righteous toward them and acting 

justly toward them. Indeed, Allah loves those who act 

justly. 

Allah only forbids you from those who fight you 

because of religion and expel you from your homes and 

aid in your expulsion - [forbids] that you make allies of 

them. And whoever makes allies of them, then it is those 

who are the wrongdoers. Quran 60:8-9 

Prophet Ituen warns politicians 

against politics of do-or-die affair 

fair 

FIERY Cleric and spiritual leader of Christ Deliverance 

Ministries Inc. (CDM) Lagos, His Grace, Prophet Ekong 

Ituen, has warned gladiators in the political circle not to 

consider politics as a do-or-die affair, adding that whatever 

anyone becomes in life is exclusively in the hands of God. 

Prophet Ituen who spoke while fielding questions from 

newsmen in Lagos recently, also said that the second coming 

of President Buhari on the platform of APC will be traumatic 

for looters. 

“He is going to be ruthless in fighting corruption. He will 

also revisit the issue of power infrastructure because of the 

inefficiency in that sector that has hindered the expected 

economic growth. 

“Much as I believe that President Muhammadu Buhari of 

All Progressive Congress will win 2019 Presidential election, 

you may not like him though, I however urge politicians not 

to overheat the polity on account of their desperation to get 

elected. Whatever anyone becomes in life is exclusively in 

the hands of God. 

“I therefore urge the religious leaders in the country to 

refrain themselves from making inflammatory utterances that 

promotes conflicts and disunity because God gives power to 

whoever He pleases. 

He advised that politicians and lwamakers should emulate 

Senator Godswill Akapbio describing him as a natural giver. 

“He is an ardent advocate to the poor. I am impressed by the 

veracity of his generosity. It must be noted, that one of the 

cardinal attributes of our Lord Jesus Christ is love, which 

Senator Akpabio has demonstrated. It is my prayer that, 

others should emulate him because God takes pleasure on 

those who practices love and kindness. 

Commenting on the governorship election, he stated that 

there might be some surprises, but indications are that the 

ruling party will carry the day in all levels of election contests. 

“Others that might have easy ride back to the government 

house include Babagana Zulum of Borno State, David Umahi 

of Ebonyi State, Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi State, Nsima 

Ekere of 

Akwa Ibom 

S t a t e , 

Abdullahi 

Ganduje of 

Kano Sate, 

Ben Ayade of 

Cross river 

State, Aminu 

Bello Masari 

of Katsina 

State, Nasir 

El-Rufai of 

Kaduna State 

and Adebayo 

Adelabu of 

Oyo State and 

Babajide 

Sanwo-Olu of 

Lagos State 

among others. •Prophet Ekong Ituen


14 years after, Abule-Egba residents 

celebrate another Yuletide in anguish 

By Monsuru Olowoopejo 

LAST Wednesday was the 

14th anniversary of a 

pipeline explosion that 

rocked Abule-Egba 

community in Ifako-Ijaiye 

area of Lagos State, killing 

hundreds of residents. The 

disaster is still fresh in the 

memory some of the victims 

who constantly pray against 

such incidents in the area. 

However, they have been 

thrown into anguish again as 

another explosion hit the 

densely populated community 

on December 19, leaving 

many in sorrow, tears and 

blood. 

During a visit to the community 

on December 26, a 

week after, many are yet to 

get over the shock of the 

explosion. 

Some of the residents, 

South-West Voice gathered, 

relocated after the explosion 

as traders count their losses. 

One person hit most is the 

owner of the auto-mart, Autopillars, 

where over 15 vehicles 

were burnt. 

The burnt vehicles and 

other property still littered 

the floor, providing relics for 

anyone who had not visited 

the community after the 

recent explosion that left 

scores injured and destroyed 

at least three buildings, 73 

shops and 54 vehicles. 

A breakdown of the statistics 

showed that on Arowolo 

street, four vehicles and 12 

shops were razed, leaving 

the traders and mechanics to 

count their loses. 

Also, on Shobowale Street, 

no fewer than three buildings, 

11 shops and three 

vehicles were completely 

razed. 

On Wamontaofeek Street, 

one building, occupied by 

several families, was 

completely destroyed as well 

as11 cars parked at mechanic 

workshops. 

Also, on Adepegba Street, 

six shops filled with goods 

worth millions of naira were 

completely razed, leaving 

the traders to seek the Lagos 

State government’s 

assistance to restart their 

businesses. 

No fewer than 20 shops and 

six vehicles were razed on 

Iyalode Abule-Egba Street 

and eight haulage trucks 

were burnt. 

Victims narrate ordeal 

Speaking to South-West 

Voice, Mr. Adebiyi Ibikunle, 

a resident, narrated that the 

December 19 explosion 

brought back sore memories 

of the tragedy that occurred 

14 years ago, where many 

residents including children, 

died while trying to escape the 

explosion. 

Ibikunle noted that the explosion 

affected the peaceful 

atmosphere that had started to 

envelop the community whenever 

they celebrate a hitch-free 

Boxing Day. 

He said: “Though we celebrated 

the day peacefully but 

the havoc done by suspected 

vandals last Wednesday (December 

19) has affected the 

mood in the community. We 

hope that government will find 

a lasting solution to prevent 

further occurrence in our community.” 

A trader, Mrs. Mercy 

Michael, lamented that the 

sales were not as expected because 

some of those who 

should have patronized her 

suffered losses. 

•Some cars destroyed by the Abule-Egba pipeline explosion 

“I know they will get over it 

but we hope that this explosion 

will be the last. We expect 

the Federal Government 

to protect the pipelines from 

vandals.” 

A haulage operator, Mr. 

Kamorudeen Adedoyin, 

hinted that no fewer than eight 

haulage operators have been 

rendered inactive by the explosion. 

He said: “These eight were 

owners of the vehicles used for 

their haulage business. And 

since the explosion has dealt 

them a huge blow, they are 

now inactive except when anyone 

lends them vehicles to 

complete their business transactions. 

It is sad.” 

A mechanic, John Ishola, lamented 

that 10 of the cars left 

in his custody by customers 

were destroyed by the inferno, 

leaving him in debt. 

He hinted that the extent of 

losses could have been grave 

if he had not been able to remove 

10 vehicles. He said: “Of 

the 20 vehicles in my workshop, 

I was only able to protect 

10 and the others were 

destroyed.” 

Another artisan, who specialized 

in interior design, 

Sulaimon Durosomo, disclosed 

that his office was razed completely, 

leaving him penniless. 

“I don’t know where to start 

from. All I have laboured for 

in the last nine years were destroyed 

during the explosion. 

Aside that, the decorations I 

was contacted by my customers 

to supply, were also destroyed,” 

he lamented. 

Among the houses affected 

was No.2 Wamontaofeek 

Street, Abule-Egba, which was 

gutted by fire which destroyed 

most parts of the building. 

A resident, Mrs. Yinka 

Kambia,said that she and 

members of her family would 

be relocating from the community 

because their house is no 

longer safe for habitation. 

She said: “We couldn’t salvage 

anything from our home. 

Aside that, we cannot stay 

here. We have to relocate and 

live with our relatives. The 

extent of damage suffered by 

the building during the explosion 

required that we move immediately.” 

Orphan provides free medical service to Ondo community 


AKURE — RATHER than 

the conventional way of 

birthday celebration, Dr Mrs 

Adefunmilola Tolulope Williams 

Daudu’s ideal way of 

birthday celebration is by organising 

yearly free medical 

services and consultancy to 

the people of lkaram-Akoko 

area of Ondo State and its 

neighbouring towns and villages. 

This effort has helped in 

making the less privileged 

access quality medical treatment. 

Adefunmilola, who hails 

from Erinje, in Ekiti State, prefers 

to give back to the hapless 

people in the birth place 

of her husband. 

From year 2013 till date, over 

8,000 people have benefited 

from the free medical outreach 

courtesy of her Non- Governmental 

Organisation, Miteda 

Wellness lnitiative. 

Dr Daudu’s initiative started 

as a unique way of celebrating 

her 40th birthday in 

2013 when she mobilised over 

20 medical and non-medical 

volunteers to lkaram. 

Interestingly, the outreach 

has become an annual event. 

At this year’s event held at 

St John’s Anglican Church 

Event Hall, ltabalogun, lkar- 

Why I embarked on medical 

outreach – Dauda 

Speaking with South West 

Voice, Dr Daudu said: 

“This is not the first time, it’s 

the sixth time. The first one we 

did actually happened in 2013 

when I clocked 40 years. I’m 

an orphan, who God has given 

privilege. 

“I would say that I did not 

know my mum and when I 

was about clocking 40 I called 

my husband and I told him I 

will be going to the village to 

go and celebrate my birthday 

and he just made jest of me, 

but I was able to call one of 

my colleagues, Dr. Fagbemi 

and some other doctors and we 

came to this town (Ikaram- 

Akoko) instead, calling people 

to come and eat rice. 

“I did not know my mum and 

I did not know what killed her, 

so if the aged are screened, we 

will identify the problems 

early enough in order to tackle 

it. “That was what gave me the 

motivation and eight of us 

came. Eight doctors, 12 nurses 

am- Akoko, over 3000 vulnerable 

people in the community 

benefited from the free medical 

outreach. 

Cases such as hyperlipidemia, 

eye problems, hypertension, 

HIV, oral health, 

hepatitis,diabetes and cervical 

cancer were treated during the 

outreach. 

and two laboratory scientists. 

We came in and we attended 

to 325 people that day. We 

treated the diseases that they 

were diagnosed and did a follow 

up. 

“In 2016, I brought some of 

my colleagues from Canada to 

train five nurses from the local 

government here and we 

gave them medical equipment 

worth $10,000 all together. 

“The programme is growing. 

We have been registered with 

CAC and we want to give back 

to the society. I’m highly privileged, 

I want to thank God for 

it. 

“The target for this year is 

3000 and the crowd here has 

been mammoth. We have people 

with hypertension, diabetics, 

dental and eye issues 

among others. This year alone, 

we also gave out about 800 

eye glasses. We have 30 ophthalmologists 

and optometrists 

put together, as well as 50 

nurses. They are from various 

Dr Daudu. 

parts of the country. The volunteers 

have grown to 248, 

both medical and non-medical. 

“Last year, we diagnosed 

and treated 2,343, the year 

before 1,200, and 1000 in 2015 

and the first one we did we 

had 325. 

“This year, we have included 

physiotherapist and the 

number of nurses, dentists 

and drugs we gave out last 

year have increased tremendously. 

What we did differently 

this year was that we 

started early, we also 

brought in a dietician and a 

psychologist.’’


BADAGRY-EXPRESSWAY: A gateway of pain, 

anguish 

THE Lagos-Badagry Ex 

pressway is usually described 

as a “Gateway to Nigeria’ 

because it is a major 

access into the country from 

neighbouring states in the 

West coast of Africa. In the last 

two decades, plying this all 

important route, in its terrible 

state, had become associated 

with anguish and pain for 

road users, including visitors 

from neighbouring countries. 

It was therefore good news 

when Lagos State Government 

in 2009 embarked on 

extensive reconstruction of 

the road from four lanes to 10 

lanes, including Bus Rapid 

Transport (BRT) lane and new 

mass transit light rail line in 

the median. 

The road expansion project, 

initially meant to be completed 

within three years, has, 

however, stretched far beyond 

that date, creating more sufferings 

and causing unbearable 

gridlocks for road users. 

Commuters and motorists 

told the News Agency of Nigeria 

(NAN) that they experience 

untold hardships daily 

on the road which had become 

very ‘terrible and problematic.’ 

A motorist, Mr Lukmon 

Adisa, lamented the deplorable 

state of the road 

and its effect on vehicles. 

“This road is really bad, I 

urge the construction company 

handling the road to expedite 

action, so that we, the 

commuters, can have easy 

passage on the road. 

“I had thought that by now, 

construction work, which commenced 

during the time of 

former Gov. Babatunde Fashola, 

would have been concluded 

by now. 

“We are really suffering on 

this road and I urge those involved 

to quicken rehabilitation 

work and lessen our traffic 

burden,” he said. 

Another road user, Mr Peter 

Ogene, commended the government 

for embarking on the 

reconstruction work but 

frowned at the slow pace. 

“If construction work had 

continued at the pace it commenced 

in 2009, it would have 

been concluded by now. 

“Though it is painful now, 

but I believe when it is completed, 

“Lagosians” and other 

road users will heave a sigh 

of relief,” he said. 

A top official of the China 

THE TEAM 

EDITOR: Dayo Johnson 

Deputy Editor: Dapo Akinrefon 

08023844928 (sms only) 

CORRESPONDENTS: 

Ola Ajayi 

Ibadan 

Gbenga Olarinoye 

Osogbo 

Dare Fasube 

(Photo) 

Daud Olatunji 

Abeokuta 

Rotimi Ojomoyela 

Ekiti 

Monsuru Olowoopejo Lagos 

Adeola Badru 

Ibadan 

•An accident scene at a bad portion of the road 

Civil Engineering and Construction 

Company 

(CCECC), contractors handling 

the project, had told 

NAN that sectors 1 and 2 of 

the road, which covered between 

Orile and Okokomaiko, 

was scheduled for completion 

by 2019. But this projection 

seems a mirage, going by the 

quantity of work that still 

needs to be done. 

He said that the present reconstruction 

and expansion of 

the road from Orile Iganmu 

will terminate at Afromedia, 

near Okokomaiko. 

The CCECC official, who 

craved anonymity, however, 

said certain challenges had 

delayed the project in the 

past. “We had to stop work for 

three years, between 2013 

and 2016 to allow NNPC relocate 

their pipelines buried 

between Alakija and Abule 

Ado,” he said. 

He said that the third sector 

of the project was also experiencing 

delays due to the 

military cantonment in Ojo. 

“Another delay we have is 

the military barracks along 

this road, part of the fence has 

to give way for the road expansion 

but we cannot do that 

immediately due to the sensitive 

nature of their work. 

“The Lagos State Government 

is, however, engaging 

them to see the best way we 

can achieve our aim without 

compromising security,” he 

By Simon Adewale 

AYANRE youths of La 

goon Front Estate, 

Ayanre, Ibiye in Olorunda, 

Local Council Development 

Area of Lagos State held its 

first annual Youths Day which 

attracted dignitaries from 

various parts of the state. 

Several activities took place 

during the seven-day event 

held at Ayanre community 

where the youths were empowered 

and awards were 

given to various persons. 

The Division Police Officer 

said. 

However, around May 2018, 

construction work on the road 

stopped abruptly, with construction 

workers moving 

equipment out of the site. 

This further heightened the 

sufferings of commuters and 

other road users, particularly, 

as it was a rainy season. 

NAN observed that the situation 

on the highway became 

worse following the suspension 

of work by the contractor, 

CCECC, thus, creating 

chaos among road users. 

Meanwhile, the first and 

second sections of the road 

from Orille to Alakija had 

been completed and opened 

to motorists. 

The third section, Alakija to 

Okokomaiko remained outstanding 

and problematic. 

Various construction activities 

such as excavations and 

construction of drainage 

stopped midway, leaving 

motorists with no option than 

to ply any available space to 

avoid getting stuck in mud. 

Mr Joseph Samuel, a road 

user, complained over the 

loss of man-hour on the road, 

stressing that he spent many 

hours from Lagos to Badagry. 

“Work has stopped since 

May, and nobody is saying 

anything about it, “he said. 

Another user, Donald Abiodun, 

complained that the suffering 

on the road was unbearable, 

adding, “Even when we 

leave home early, we still get 

to work late. “The construction 

company and the Lagos State 

Government should resolve 

their differences for work to 

continue,” said Abiodun. 

Mrs Toyin Adigun, a civil 

servant, advised the government 

to reconsider its stand 

on the project for the construction 

company to return to 

work. “My advice is that the 

government should take urgent 

steps to ensure that appreciable 

progress is recorded 

on the road before the next 

rainy season,” she said. 

The official of construction 

The road expansion 

project, initially 

meant to be completed 

within three 

years, has, however, 

stretched far 

beyond that date, 

creating more sufferings 

and causing 

unbearable gridlocks 

for road users. 

company, however, said that 

work on the road stopped due 

to shortage of funds. 

“The work is no longer progressing 

because Lagos State 

Government has not released 

funds for some time. 

“Our presence on the road 

now is just for skeletal jobs as 

we cannot pull out completely. 

More than 80 per cent of 

our workforce has been disengaged 

due to failure of the 

government to release funds. 

“This will most likely extend 

the job completion time beyond 

2019,” he said. 

However, Mr Ade Akinsanya, 

the Lagos State Commissioner 

for Works and Infrastructure, 

insisted that the 

project was on course. 

He said the state government 

would open the completed 

portions of the road for the 

motorists. “We want to open 

those portions for motorists 

very soon to prevent encroachments 

before moving to 

other portions of the road,” 

said the commissioner. 

He added that the issue of 

indebtedness to CCECC did 

not arise because the process 

of valuation, which preceded 

payment, was ongoing. 

As the construction company 

continued to bicker with 

the state government, road 

users are not only patiently 

expectant but praying that 

their years of anguish and 

pains on Lagos – Badagry 

road will soon be over. It is, 

however, cheering to note that 

the Federal Government has 

taken responsibility for the 

reconstruction of the Agbara 

– Seme section of the road. 

The Federal Executive 

Council on October 24, approved 

the award of a contract 

for the 46 kilometres stretch 

of the road from Agbara- 

Badagry-Seme Border, while 

the Lagos State Government 

would continue with the repair 

of the section from Eric 

Moore to Okokomaiko. 

It, however, remains unclear 

what will happen to the 10 

kilometers stretch of road between 

Okokomaiko where the 

ongoing reconstruction will 

terminate, and Agbara, where 

the new federal government 

project will start. 

In the meantime, residents 

and road users in the Badagry 

axis will have to continue 

to endure the pain and anguish 

of travelling on that all 

important route while waiting 

for government to do the 

needful, timeously. 

Ayanre community organises Youth forum 

of Morogbo Police Station, 

Superintendent Johnson 

Adagbe was among those 

given award due to his effective 

policing of Morogbo and 

its environs. 

While addressing the youth 

of the community, Superintendent 

Johnson Adagbe who 

was represented by Assistant 

Superintendent Habeeb 

Dabiri, advised the youths to 

shun cultism, that cultism is 

illegal association that will 

destroy the future of the 

youths. 

The LCDA Chairman, Mr. 

Yemi Omosanjo urged the 

youth to be obedient and hard 

working so that they can be 

exemplary youths for others 

in the community and the nation. 

President of Ayanre Youth 

Community, Mr. Oyelami 

Tosin,said that he is using the 

forum as a platform to invite 

politicians to the community 

to empower the youths. He 

urged the youths to shun violence 

and to key into the forum 

for the betterment of the 

community in the nearest future.

28 — VANGUARD, FRIDAY, December 28, 2018 

GADGET OF THE WEEK 

Seen an electric lunch 

box? 


Most people patronize 

fast food joints or 

restaurants at work and at 

the market place because 

they're tired of eating cold 

food brought from home. 

In fact, some who may not 

want to eat cold food or eat 

outside their home skip 

lunch. 

This, however, have 

resulted to some 

developing some health 

challenge such as 

stomach ulcer. 

However, with the new 

electronic lunch box, life is 

easier, because all you 

GEEK ‘N’ TEK 

NEWS 

Edited by: 

Prince Osuagwu 

08050498513 

princeosuagwu@gmail.com 

Protect yourself from ATM fraudsters 


No doubt, life has 

become a lot easier 

for banks and their 

customers. Customers 

no longer need to cue 

for a long time just to 

withdraw a little cash. 

This, of course, was 

made possible by the 

Automated Teller 

Machine, ATM, which 

debuted in Nigeria 

within the last decade. 

Today the ATM does a 

lot more than dispense 

cash. However 

fraudsters are a major 

threat as they've been 

able to infiltrate the 

banking system. Banks 

recommend the 

following tips to chec k 

wire fraud: 

•Do not disclose your 

PIN number to another 

party. 

•Do not use an ATM 

whose card reader 

appears to be tampered 

with. 

•Make sure you 

enter your PIN 

discretely. No one 

WhatsApp 

g i g g l e 

Beer Tech: LG to launch capsule-based craft beer 

•LG HomeBrew 

need to do is plug it in and 

warm your food. It's a 

600ml device with a 

detachable container in 

which you can easily store 

your rice, vegetables and 

meat. 

Enjoy your meals like it was 

freshly cooked with this 

great lunch box. 

How it works 

Just plug the lunch box into 

an electrical socket , switch 

it on and the power 

indicator lets you know 

your food is heating. In a 

jiffy, you'll be able to enjoy 

piping hot food anywhere, 

any time. It's so alluring 

should be able to make out the numbers you are punching in. 

•In case you lose your card, please call the helpline of your bank to 

immediately deactivate your card. All banks have a dedicated helpline for this. 

• Activate an SMS alert at your bank. 

•Do not throw away the ATM transaction slips until you reconcile your 

transactions in the bank statement every month. 

•Automated Teller 

Machine(ATM) 

because it's portable too. 

Made of food grade PP 

plastic and stainless steel, 

the lunch box is safe and 

user-friendly. It's a perfect 

•Electronic lunch box 

Prince Osuagwu, 

(Hi-Tech Editor) 

Home 

appliances 

maker, LG 

Electronics, LG, has 

concluded plans to 

launch a capsule-based 

craft beer-making 

machine, 

LG 

HomeBrew. The 

equipment according to 

LG, will feature at the 

Consumer Electronics 

Show, CES 2019, in Las 

Vegas, Nevada, United 

States of America. 

According to LG the 

innovation makes the 

brewing process easier 

with its single-use 

capsules, optimized 

fermentation algorithm 

and convenient selfcleaning 

mechanism 

lunch buddy for practically 

everybody. 

It is special because it is 

stylish, convenient as the 

handle makes it easy to 

carry. 

adding that it's ideal 

for households seeking 

the satisfaction of 

creating their own cold, 

tasty beer. 

President of LG 

Electronics Home 

Appliance and Air 

Solution Company, 

Song Dae-hyun says 

"LG HomeBrew is the 

culmination of years of 

home appliance and 

water purification expertise 

that we have developed 

over 

the 

decades.Homebrewing 

has grown at an explosive 

pace but there are still many 

beer lovers who haven't 

taken the jump, because of 

the barrier to entry and 

these are consumers we 

think will appreciate LG 

HomeBrew." 

He noted that LG's 

unique capsule-based 

system brings revolutionary 

simplicity to the art of 

brewing with one-touch 

activation. With a set of 

single-use capsules-which 

contain malt, yeast, hop oil 

and flavouring - and at the 

press of a button, users can 

relax as LG HomeBrew 

automates the whole 

procedure from 

fermentation ,carbonation 

and aging to serving and 

cleaning. A free companion 

app (for Android and iOS 

devices) lets users check 

HomeBrew's status at 

anytime. 

HomeBrew not only 

offers an incredibly simple 

way to make craft beer, it 

also enhances the quality 

of beer it makes. An 

optimized fermentation 

algorithm intelligently 

controls the fermenting 

process with precise 

temperature and pressure 

control for guaranteed 

brewing success. The 

clever capsule system also 

removes all the cleaningrelated 

frustrations 

associated with traditional 

home-brewing methods. 

It automatically sanitizes 

the equipment with hot 

water, ensuring 

everything is hygienically 

ready subsequently.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2018—29


Four and Five-star hotel 

bookings peaked during 

Black Friday —Adagunodo 

*as Jumia launches late-night food delivery service 

By Ebun Sessou 

The Managing Director, 

Jumia’s hotel and 

flight marketplace, Omolara 

Adagunodo has said 

that the booking for four 

and five-star hotels peaked 

during the just- concluded 

black Friday which ran 

between November 2 and 

November 30, 2018. 

She disclosed this during 

the annual get-together 

with newsmen in Lagos 

to review the outgoing 

year 2018 and to disclose 

the plans for 2019. 

According to her, over 

50 per cent increase in 4 

and 5-starhotel booking 

during black Friday due 

to the efforts by the company 

to crash the prices 

by almost 80 per cent 

and overall booking 

grew by 20 per cent year 

on year compared to 

black Friday 2017. 

On the performance of 

flight for the year under 

review, Adagunodo 

said: “There was a 300 

per cent growth in flight 

business because we innovated 

and partnered 

with the likes of Amadeus, 

Kiwi.com and Air 

Peace among others. She 

added that the company 

experienced the best 

available rates as it hit 61 

per cent in bar for 2018.” 

For corporate booking, 

the managing director 

said: “We established a 

robust corporate team 

fully dedicated to our 

corporate clientèle and I 

can tell you that corporate 

bookings and transactions 

increased by 50 

per cent. Despite this, it 

has not stopped us from 

pushing retail sales.” 

Looking forward to the 

upcoming year, Adagunodo 

disclosed that the 

marketplace is planning 

to work on value-added 

services to drive value for 

the growing clientèle, 

seal key partnerships to 

drive online and offline 

sales and offer a full bouquet 

of travel solutions to 

include cruises, visas, 

concierge and ground 

transport. 

Also, efforts are in top 

gear to help women balance 

their career with 

home front, hence the 

launch of a late-night 

delivery service to enable 

customers especially 

career women, take 

care of their husbands 

thereby marrying both 

office and house responsibilities. 

Disclosing this new innovation, 

the managing 

director, Jumia Foods, 

Mr. Guy Futi, said the 

company has taken a 

step further to ease off the 

rigour of scouting for food 

by career women and their 

spouses after the day’s 

work. 

According to him: “We 

introduced the late-night 

delivery service to accommodate 

customers who order 

food at night. The late 

night delivery combined 

with initiatives like greater 

customer accessibility, more 

payment options, more locations, 

lunchtime deals, 

seasonal deals and new 

related products (Jumia 

Party) has led to over 120 

per cent increase in the volume 

of orders,” he said. 

On what to expect in 

2019, the Head of Marketing 

and Vendor Success for 

the Marketplace, Chioma 

Odimegwu said that operational 

efficiency will be an 

integral part of the company’s 

focus in 2019. 

Her words:”In 2019, we 

are looking forward to welcoming 

a new and exciting 

restaurant and vendor on 

board within the month. 

We will also be engaging 

new partnerships across 

other industries to provide 

added value to customers, 

on-boarding more restaurants 

with longer and later 

open hours, more focus on 

corporate catering offerings, 

encouraging closer 

relationships with our customers 

and restaurant vendors.” 

Largest aircraft deal 

ever for African 

continent announced 

Boeing and Lagos-based 

Green Africa Airways 

recently announced a 

commitment for up to 

100737 MAX 8 aircraft, 

evenly split into 50 firm 

aircraft and 50 options, as 

the airline gears up to begin 

commercial operations. 

The total deal carries a listprice 

of $11.7 billion, the 

largest aircraft agreement 

from Africa, and will be 

reflected on Boeing’s 

Orders and Deliveries 

website once finalised. 

“Today is a historic day for 

the Nigerian and African 

aviation industry,” said 

Babawande Afolabi, 

Founder & CEO, Green 

Africa Airways. 

“This landmark deal takes 

us much closer to our longheld 

dream of building a 

world-class airline that will 

unlock a new realm of 

positive possibilities for 

millions of customers. 

Broadly speaking, this deal 

is a bold symbol of the 

dynamism, resilience and 

soaring entrepreneurial 

drive of the next generation 

of Nigerians and Africans.” 

Green Africa Airways, a 

value airline based in Lagos, 

Nigeria aims to offer safe, 

quality and affordable air 

travel and be a significant 

contributor to the economic 

development of Nigeria and 

the African continent. 

The new airline has 

received its Air Transport 

Licence from the Nigerian 

government and is 

anchored by a group of 

senior industry leaders led 

by Tom Horton, former 

Chairman and CEO of 

American Airlines, William 

Shaw, Founder and former 

CEO of VivaColombia and 

Virasb Vahidi, former CCO 

of American Airlines. 

“Nigeria is uniquely 

positioned to be the home 

of the next major value 

airline. The strategic 

partnership with Boeing 

positions Green Africa 

Airways to expand and 

improve air travel for 

customers in Nigeria, and 

further strengthens the 

relationship between the 

United States, Nigeria and 

Africa,” Vahidi said. 

The airline initially plans 

to develop the Nigerian 

market and then build a 

strong Pan- African network. 

According to Boeing’s 20- 

year Commercial Market 

Outlook, airlines in Africa 

will require 1,190 new air 

planes as the continent 

boosts both intra-continental 

and intercontinental 

connectivity over the next 

couple of decades. 

“The growth potential 

for air travel across 

Nigeria and Africa is 

extraordinary with the air 

plane fleet expected to 

more than double over 

the next 20 years. We are 

delighted that Green 

Africa Airways has 

selected the 737 MAX to 

serve this expanding 

market,” said Ihssane 

Mounir, Senior Vice- 

President of Commercial 

Sales & Marketing, The 

Boeing Company.

At last, Trump shoots straight 

AMERICAN President, 

Donald Trump was four 

when the Korean War broke 

out in 1950. In three years, the 

war sucked in more than 40 

countries, most, under the 

United Nations, UN, banner. 

Two and a half million people 

died in the war. America 

suffered 36,568 dead and 

103,284 injured. All the 

countries returned home 

except America which today, 

maintains 23,468 combatants 

in Korea. This is 68 years later. 

This might have informed 

Trump’s thinking when on 

December 19 he announced 

his administration is pulling 

out American troops from 

Syria. He did a second 

announcement next day, that 

he is recalling half of the 

14,000 American troops in 

Afghanistan, with the hint of 

disentangling his country from 

that country. Seen as a war 

monger with a fixation for the 

gun and a commitment to 

promoting arms sales locally 

and internationally, Trump’s 

announcement shocked not a 

few. Yet, his moves are 

commonsensical because both 

conflicts are unwinnable wars 

for America. 

In protest, American 

Defence Secretary, Jim Mattis 

resigned. Even some members 

of Congress who should have 

been concerned that the 

chamber never approved the 

war in Syria, were up in arms 

against Trump. The Syrian 

conflict is an unjust war 

because it is essentially an 

attempt by America and some 

of its Arab allies like Saudi 

Arabia and Jordan to force 

regime change. For the Arab 

states, they want to remove 

Syria from the perceived 

control of Iran and its Shiite 

brand of Islam and bring it 

under majority Sunni control. 

I laugh when I read analysis 

claiming the Assad 

government in Syria is a 

dictatorship and the struggle 

is for a democratic system. 

How can the monarchical 

dictatorships in Saudi Arabia 

and the United Arab Emirates 

claim to be forces of democracy 

in Syria which, at least holds 

elections and runs a secular 

system? For America, the 

problem with Assad is that it 

is in the orbit of its perceived 

rivals; Russia and Iran. 

By the time the so-called 

pro-democracy protests broke 

out in Homs, America and its 

allies had already created and 

were training a Sunni Muslim 

militia, the Islamic State, ISIS, 

which along with another 

terrorist outfit, the al-Nusra 

Front were activated to 

militarily wrest power in Syria. 

In 2012, then Central 

Intelligence Agency, CIA, 

Director, David .H. Petraeus 

produced a programme to train 

and arm 15,000 rebels within 

three years to overthrow 

Assad. Over $1 billion was 

spent on this programme code 

On the path to Nigeria’s re-birth 

By Yakubu Isa 

THE economic and political 

development of every country 

depends largely on the ability of its 

leadership to make use of the best 

brains devoid of parochial sentiments. 

It is on that premise that Nigeria can 

be rescued from its multi-faceted 

quagmire. 

In very specific terms, the 

presidential candidate of the People’s 

Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku 

Abubakar’s choice of the former 

Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter 

Obi as his running mate in the 

forthcoming presidential election , has 

demonstrated that the party is wellprepared 

to steer the ship of the nation 

again. 

That being said, there is also some 

talk, especially in the South-East geopolitical 

zone that Atiku Abubakar 

ought to have consulted stakeholders 

in the zone before picking Peter Obi 

as his running mate. According to 

them, such consultations could have 

helped minimise the grievances of 

some parties who might be interested 

in the position of the Vice-President. 

While that view could be accepted in 

principle, reliable sources reveal that 

Atiku’s choice of Obi was in the overall 

interest of the nation even as Obi 

enjoys nationwide goodwill. 

In all fairness, Atiku’s decision on 

Obi justifies the desire of millions of 

Nigerians for a Number-Two citizen 

who would competently guide and 

direct the re-birth of the economy, 

which is the very basis of our collective 

survival as a people. Many would 

agree that Obi is the right choice for 

that position, though he is somewhat 

The economic and political 

development of every 

country depends largely on 

the ability of its leadership 

to make use of the best 

brains devoid of parochial 

sentiments 

of an enigma. 

He enjoys national and global 

acclaim as a successful manager of 

human and material resources, with a 

track record of impressive 

achievements in the public and private 

sectors. Such have been his 

achievements that he is considered 

way ahead of most of his peers who, 

in their own right, are also highachievers. 

There is thus no better 

person to team up with Atiku Abubakar 

to rescue Nigeria from its current 

economic and political trauma and also 

initiate a process of genuine 

named Timber Sycamore. But 

the fighters trained in Jordan, 

and their arms were mainly 

divided between ISIS and the 

al-Nusra terrorists affiliated to 

al-Qaeda. It was not until July, 

2017 following the 

promptings of CIA Director, 

Mike Pompeo, that Trump 

cancelled Operation Timber 

Sycamore. Today, ISIS has 

mutated into an international 

movement with affiliates 

operating in Libya, Yemen, 

Mali, Chad, Niger and 

Nigeria. 

I am not sure any serious 

person would have expected 

the Assad government to have 

simply handed over the 

country to ISIS and its 

masters. The Syrian conflict 

is a proxy war involving the 

Gulf States, America, France, 

Israel, Russia, Iran and Turkey 

with Syria being destroyed 

and producing 6.3 million 

refugees. It is also a war in 

which the United Nations did 

not give any approval for 

intervention. That is why there 

were strenuous efforts to sell 

stories of the use of chemical 

weapons by the Syrian 

government to legitimise 

foreign intervention. Perhaps, 

given the Iraqi experience 

when stories of the Sadam 

government being in 

possession of Weapons of 

Mass Destruction, were 

manufactured and used to 

legitimise foreign 

intervention, the UN wanted 

concrete proof, which were not 

provided. 

The Syrian War is one in 

which the Assad forces have 

emerged clear winners; so by 

deciding on a speedy 

withdrawal, all Trump is 

doing, is acknowledge this, 

and seek to cut the losses of 

his country. There are those 

who argue that an American 

withdrawal will give room for 

ISIS to regroup; I ask, was the 

basis of the American invasion 

to check ISIS? No, it was not. 

In fact, one of the objectives 


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of America in 2014, was to 

give ISIS and al-Nusra air 

cover against the Syrian 

government to overrun the 

country. Had it gone through 

with its bizarre plans, the 

The Syrian War is 

one in which the 

Assad forces have 

emerged clear 

winners; so by 

deciding on a 

speedy withdrawal, 

all Trump is doing, 

is acknowledge 

this, and seek to cut 

the losses of his 

country 

Obama administration would 

have handed ISIS its first 

country to run. 

There are also those who 

argue that America should 

maintain its invasion of Syria 

until ISIS is defeated. Such 

analysts fail to understand that 

ISIS is a guerrilla movement 

not a regular army. So 

defeating it may take another 

decade or more. If this is a true 

objective, then it is better that 

America supports the Syrian 

and Iraqi forces to defeat ISIS 

in the region. 

A major challenge of the 

Trump decision to withdraw 

from Syria is the fate of the 

Kurds who are a minority in 

five countries. They had 

fought on the American side 

against ISIS, but with the 

planned American 

withdrawal, their existence is 

threatened by Turkey which 

sees them as terrorists. In the 

pre-war era, like other 

minorities in Syria including 

Christians, they faced no 

immediate threat; the threat 

came from ISIS and other 

reconciliation and unification of its 

diverse peoples. 

Unlike the few dissenters among the 

political class, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo 

Youth Council has whole-heartedly 

endorsed the Atiku-Obi ticket as the 

path to Nigeria’s economic and 

political re-birth. They also specifically 

debunked the misleading insinuation 

that the South-East is divided on the 

choice of Obi as Atiku’s running mate; 

describing it as a false and mischievous 

machination of enemies of the zone to 

sow the seeds of discord among the 

people. 

From whatever perspective, Atiku 

Abubakar deserves commendation for 

choosing Peter Obi against contending 

sectional interests. Those who 

understand the realities on ground 

would agree that the decision was a 

process of addressing issues of equity 

and fairness, among other national 

considerations. Atiku himself has 

maintained that his choice of Peter Obi 

as his running mate “was largely 

influenced by his youthfulness, vast 

knowledge of global and local 

economics as well as being a financial 

expert; all experience which Nigeria 

is in great need of at this point in 

time”. 

With Peter Obi as Vice-President, 

Atiku and millions of Nigerians know 

that we have a man who would 

reinvigorate his official role as 

Chairman of the National Economic 

Council, NEC, which is the nation’s 

highest economic-decision-making 

terrorist groups. Given its 

wider geo-political interests in 

the region, America would not 

want to antagonise Turkey, 

and may view the Kurds as 

collateral damage. I am not 

even sure if America reaches 

an understanding with Turkey 

on the Kurds, the Turks can 

be trusted. Yet, the Kurds hold 

Syrian territory which they 

cannot defend. It might be 

better for the Kurds to reach 

an agreement with Syria, 

which despite its alliance with 

the anti-Kurd Iranians, is likely 

to defend them as it does other 

minorities in the country. It is 

no easy solution, but I think 

humanity should concern itself 

with finding a permanent 

solution to the Kurdish 

Question which is a colonial 

creation. 

As for Afghanistan, the 

Obama and Trump 

administrations had long ago, 

reached a conclusion that it 

was in their country’s interest 

to withdraw. Local pressures 

forced Obama to reverse 

himself; the same pressures 

had forced Trump to reverse 

himself, only for him to make 

this surprise announcement. 

Following the 9/11 terrorist 

attacks, America had led 31 

other countries to invade 

Afghanistan which was host to 

the al Qaeda leadership. 

Afghanistan has lost over 

110,000 lives, mostly civilians 

and America has lost 2,280 

soldiers. Many Afghans still 

consider the Taliban as patriots 

and the new 350,000 strong 

new American-trained Afghan 

military as an alien force. 

Victory is not in sight and the 

Afghan society wants a 

negotiated settlement. It 

makes sense for this to be 

encouraged which will lead to 

the exit of all foreign troops 

and checking ISIS before it 

gains a formidable foothold in 

the country. On Syria and 

Afghanistan, Trump is on the 

right path. 

body. The banking sector, which has 

not been performing to optimum levels, 

will also enjoy a new lease of life. 

Atiku further reminds Nigerians that: 

“In every other sector such as 

education, health, security and 

infrastructure, Obi as Governor left 

tangible and verifiable worthy legacies 

in Anambra State. Development 

partners such as the World Bank, the 

European Union, the United Nations 

Development Programme and 

UNICEF adjudged the state as one of 

the best in development partnership 

and commitment to reforms for good 

governance under him.” 

On the whole, Obi has an impressive 

track record of tangible achievements 

in governance and in his private sector 

life; which signifies that he is a thinker 

who can deploy ideas to change the 

value-frame of the people to achieve 

sustainable goals. As the choice 

remains a great one and for the overall 

interest of Nigerians, the economic and 

political growth will not only reposition 

the country but usher in employment 

and good governance. 

The combination of these two men of 

proven competence and value-added 

records is what Nigerians need to make 

meaningful progress. With their 

electoral victory, they possess the 

vision, strategy, commitment and will 

to take Nigeria to a deserved place in 

the comity of nations. 

*Mr. Isa, a public affairs commentator, 

wrote from Jalingo, Taraba State.

32— VANGUARD, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2018 

EBONYI: I don’t have 

opposition in 2019 

polls – Gov Umahi 

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru 

AS Nigeria’s political 

climate becomes 

charged ahead of the 2019 

general elections, some of the 

major gladiators are already 

beating their chests, 

confident that their track 

record and winning 

strategies will lead them to 

victory. 

One of the political 

gladiators that believes his 

track record will deliver him 

in the 2019 election is the 

Chairman, South East 

Governors Forum and 

Governor of Ebonyi State, 

Engineer Dave Umahi, who is 

boasting that he has no 

opposition to his journey to 

seek second tenure in office. 

For him, the long years of 

neglect of Ebonyi State in 

terms of infrastructural 

development has become a 

thing of the past as his 

administration has embarked 

on massive development. 

Governor Umahi, who is the 


PDP, governorship candidate 

has also bragged that though 

some of the opposition 

political parties may make 

some in-roads in the South- 

East in the 2019 elections, it 

was not yet time for them to 

dislodge the party in the zone. 

The PDP’s Presidential 

coordinator in t h e 

South- 

East zone also believes that 

political affiliation of 

candidates may not make 

much impact in the 

forthcoming elections, rather 

the track records of 

individuals. He enthused that 

his agricultural revolution has 

made the state one of the 

leading food baskets of the 

nation. 

Speaking in an interview in 

Abuja, the governor 

explained that the N4 billion 

agricultural loan he recently 

approved for workers in the 

state was to boost agricultural 

production and also improve 

the financial status of workers, 

adding that the state has a 

comparative advantage in 

agriculture. 

Explaining on the reason for 

making the state a food centre, 

Governor Umahi said: “It is 

well known that Ebony State 

has a comparative advantage 

in agriculture and it is also a 

fact that what we met as our 

poverty index was so low in 

2015 and a number of factors 

contributed to the level of our 

poverty index. 

“Don’t forget that Ebonyi 

State is the creation of people 

that returned from the old 

Anambra State to Enugu and 

then to Ebonyi; the other are 

those from the old Imo State 

to Abia and then to Ebonyi 

State. 

“We had what we can call 

criminal neglect over the 

Umahi 

number of years our people 

were in those states. And of 

course our state was known as 

the dust of the nation. So, 

there was no infrastructure to 

support development in 

Ebonyi State and when you 

talk about agriculture you also 

have to know that if you need 

to produce anything in the 

rural areas, you need the roads 

and bridges to bring them to 

where you can sell them. And 

so it made nonsense of our 

God prepared me 

to His glory for 

this work. We 

have reduced our 

poverty index. I 

can technically 

say I don’t have 

opposition. 

comparative advantage in 

agriculture.” 

To change the narrative, the 

governor said he had to embark 

on aggressive development of 

the state by embarking on 

infrastructural development 

and agricultural revolution. 

His words: “We have done 

data documentation regarding 

the farmers we are giving the 

loans and so this is 

responsible for the yield you 

are seeing in the area of rice 

production. We also purchased 

about five milling machines 

which we are installing in five 

local government areas. We are 

also into starch production 

right now and flower 

Ogbuoji 

production. I can tell you that 

our poultry farm is revived and 

we are doing that. 

“There is no amount of salary 

increase that will lift our civil 

servants from poverty level but 

there is also a fact to reckon with 

that there is so much 

redundancy in the civil service 

because when there is no 

money for workers to work, 

what will they use to work? 

“So we decided to put about 

N4 billion so that civil servants 

can access soft loan depending 

on the number of years of your 

service remaining and how 

much is your salary. So, we 

gave them this loan at five 

percent to do agricultural 

activities.” 

The governor, who was 

recently endorsed by religious 

and traditional groups, youths 

and women in the state for 

second tenure said, “God 

prepared me to His glory for 

this work. We have reduced our 

poverty index. I can technically 

say I don’t have opposition.” 

But if there is any group of 

people that dread the governor, 

it is contractors as he 

scrutinizes all the contracts 

awarded before approving 

any payments. He said that 

his administration, despite 

the lean resources, was not 

owing any contractor 

although he said that 

contractors don’t like him. 

In spite of the governor’s 

claims, there are opposition 

elements in the state. One of 

them All Progressives 

Congress, APC, Governorship 

Candidate, Senator Soni 

Ogbuoji, who has vowed to 

stop Governor Umahi. He 

pledged to run an all inclusive 

government, if elected 

Governor next year adding that 

one of his reasons for going into 

the race was to change the 

present style of governance in 

the state and create leadershipdriven 

administration. It is to 

be seen how far the opposition 

will go. 

*Maku 

By David Odama 

LAFIA – FORMER 

Minister of Information 

in the Dr Goodluck Jonathan 

administration and the All 

Progressives Grand Alliance, 

APGA, Governorship 

Candidate in Nasarawa 

State, Labaran Maku, has 

told other political parties, 

2019: Why ethnicity, blackmail, vote 

buying are no options – Maku 

candidates not to consider 

ethnicity, blackmail and vote 

buying as routes to winning 

the 2019 general elections. 

Maku, who also dispelled 

the rumour that he would 

be rejected and 

humiliated in the 

state in 2019 

advised other 

candidates 

and their 

parties to 

base their 

campaigns 

on issues 

a n d 

programmes 

that would transform the 

society. 

The APGA governorship 

standard bearer said that the 

emergence of other 

governorship candidates from 

the Eggon ethnic group 

would by no means hurt his 

chances of winning the poll 

in Nasarawa. 

Maku, who was responding 

to questions during a 

participatory programme on 

one of the radio stations, 

Option FM, in Akwanga, in 

the state state, said he 

remains stable, unworried by 

the number of governorship 

candidates parading 

themselves from his ethnic 

group, noting that his 

personality has gone beyond 

ethnic and religious politics. 

According to the two time 

APGA governorship 

candidate: “People from all 

the ethnic nationalities will 

vote for the candidate they 

believe has the pedigree and 

capacity to tackle the myriad 

of challenges confronting the 

state. This election is not 

about Eggon people. This 

election is about the candidate 

that will be accepted and 

supported all over the state. 

It would not be about my tribe. 

I am offering myself to serve 

I can tell you today 

that as I go round to 

campaign, people 

are no longer talking 

about tribe and 

religion because of 

the things that have 

happened. People 

are talking about 

who will solve the 

problem of 

Nasarawa State 

because I believe in the 

experience I have 

demonstrated in my capacity 

that I could do more for the 

people of this state. 

“I can tell you today that as 

I go round to campaign, 

people are no longer talking 

about tribe and religion 

because of the things that 

have happened. People are 

talking about who will solve 

the problem of Nasarawa 

State. I think we have built 

sufficient trust in the people 

of Nasarawa State by 

identifying with them,’’ 

adding that his plan is to 

increase the Internally 

Generated Revenue, IGR, of 

the state by ensuring peace 

and security, which will 

encourage investors to come 

and invest in the state. 

He said unlike in 2015, 

APGA is fielding candidates 

in all elective positions in 

Nasarawa State now, adding 

that the party has succeeded 

in putting down structures 

that can sensitize and 

mobilise people to vote for the 

party during the 2019 

elections. 

Maku, however, expressed 

concern over the lukewarm 

attitude of people towards 

collecting their Permanent 

Voter’s Cards, PVCs saying 

all political parties and 

community leaders should 

mobilise their people to 

exercise their franchise in the 

elections.


OMOTOKE FOUNDATION: From left—Retired Chief Matron and Genetic Counsellor, Onikan 

Health Centre, Olabisi Olaiya Adefisan; mother of Chairman, Omotoke Gambari Foundation, Gbemisola 

Oyegoke; the Foundation's Chairman, Omotoke Gambari, and member, Board of Trustee, Omar Gambari, 

at the Foundation's end of year party in Lagos. 

Edo ADP denies endorsement of 

APC candidates, demands apology 

By Alemma Aliu 

BENIN—EDO State 

chapter of Action 

Democratic Party, ADP, 

yesterday, denied reports 

By Ephraim Oseji 

PRESIDENT of Ogbe 

Political Change, OPC, 

King Emmanuel Onokpite, 

has appealed to Delta State 

electorate to reject ‘old 

brigade politicians’ and 

others who recycle 

themselves. 

In a statement, Onokpite 

who described the old 

brigade politicians as being 

against the progress of the 

people of the state, pointed 

out that any attempt to vote 

them into office in 2019 was 

tantamount to worsening 

their present hunger and 

pains. 

Onokpite, who did not 

mention the name of 

candidate to be voted for in 

2019, said younger 

candidates without any 

political blemish would be 

that it was one of the 13 

political parties in the state 

that, on Monday, adopted 

the Edo South senatorial 

candidate of All 

progressives Congress, 

presented to them soonest. 

His words: “Delta State 

youths are jobless today 

because our present old 

leaders did not create any 

future for them. They have 

turned our youths into 

political thugs, while their 

children are enjoying 

abroad. 

“They only think of 

themselves and their 

children. How many Delta 

youths can boast of three 

square meals a day, boast 

of good accommodation to 

lay their heads or good jobs? 

None, except children of 

the old brigade politicians. 

“Our so-called old 

brigade politicians have 

mansions everywhere. 

Their children school 

overseas, drive the best cars 

and are sure of the best jobs 

in the country when they 

By Ediri Ejoh 

OVER 3,642 ex-agitators 

under Phase Three of 

the Presidential Amnesty 

Programme, yesterday, 

passed vote of confidence 

on the Special Adviser to 

the President on Niger 

Delta Affairs and 

Coordinator of the 

programme, Professor 

Charles Dokubo. 

National Secretary, Phase 

Three Amnesty group, Tam 

Odogwu, made the 

disclosure while speaking 

on behalf of the exagitators. 

According to Odogwu, 

the vote of confidence was 

passed on the heels of the 

improved approach and 

impact on the lives of exagitators, 

who now have 

decent living and value for 

what they have been 

trained on in different 

sectors of the economy, 

coupled with the support 

they have been receiving 

from the Presidential 

Amnesty Office since 

Professor Dokubo was 

appointed as Coordinator 

of the programme. 

APC, Mr. Patrick Obahiagbon, 

and the candidate for 

Uhunmwonde state House 

of Assembly candidate, 

Washington Osifo. 

A statement by the state 

Onokpite urges Deltans to 

reject ‘old brigade politicians’ 

return one day. 

“It is time we voted them 

out of power. Let’s come 

together and build a future 

for ourselves.” 

Onokpite advised the 

people of Delta State to take 

Ogbe Political Change, 

OPC, very serious, adding 

that the movement is 

positioned to struggle for 

the development and 

betterment of the youths 

in Delta State. 

He said the people of the 

state have experienced 

maladministration, 

“despite the huge federal 

allocation. This same 

people still want to come 

back again. Are they 

taking us for fools? They 

should give way for the 

younger generation to take 

over the administration of 

the state.” 

He said: “We are very 

grateful to see value added 

to our lives and a lot have 

changed and achieved by 

most of us. 

“I as the National 

Secretary on behalf of the 

3, 642 ex-agitators under 

the phase three pass vote 

of confidence in our daddy, 

the Special Adviser to the 

President on Niger Delta 

Affairs and Coordinator of 

the Presidential Amnesty 

Programme, Prof Dokubo, 

for his outstanding 

achievement as manager of 

the programme. 

Chairman of ADP, Mr. 

Gabriel Oloruntobi, 

disassociated the party from 

the much-publicised 

support for Obahiagbon 

and Osifo. 

Calling for an unreserved 

apology from Edo State 

Chapter of APC “for 

attempting to mislead the 

public,” the ADP Chairman 

said: “The ADP wishes to 

restate its total support of 

the candidacy of Dr. Ese 

Owie, its standard bearer 

for Edo South senatorial 

district. 

“An accomplished 

international trade policy 

lawyer, social entrepreneur 

and public intellectual, Dr. 

Owie brings the imperative 

cerebral slant and gravitas 

to the race for the Edo South 

seat. 

“With a proven track 

record in the public and 

private sectors, he stands 

heads and shoulders above 

all other contestants. The 

party enjoins her teeming 

supporters and the 

discerning voting public 

to disregard the hatchet 

job and mobilise fully and 

turn out en masse to vote 

for Dr. Owie in February 

next year.” 

Over 3,642 ex-agitators pass vote of confidence on Dokubo 

“We are not cajoled to 

unanimously agree to pass 

this important vote of 

confidence in Prof Dokubo 

but out of our personal 

testimonies and impact on 

the Niger Delta region as 

whole, we make this 

declaration. 

“Now the region is 

stable and there is 

uninterrupted operation of 

oil majors in the region 

and youth restiveness has 

drastically reduced as the 

youths are engaged by the 

government through his 

office.” 

PDP support group task 

INEC on credible polls 

N ATIONAL 

Coordinator, 

Comrades for Atiku and 

Okowa 2019, a frontline 

Peoples Democratic 

Party, PDP, support 

group, Mr. Efe 

Kwakpovwe, has 

charged the Independent 

National Electoral 

Commission, INEC, to 

conduct credible and 

unbiased elections 

Kwakpovwe handed 

down the advice when 

he led members of the 

group on a sensitisation 

and awareness visit to 

INEC headquarters in 

Asaba, Delta State. 

He said the visit was 

to let INEC know that 

the world was watching 

the commission and that 

it should play its role as 

an unbiased umpire, 

noting that Nigerians 

By Samuel 

Oyadongha 

Y ENAGOA— 

LABOUR Party, LP, 

candidate for Bayelsa 

East senatorial district, 

Iniruo Wills, yesterday, 

said his decision to join 

the race was motivated 

by the highest 

considerations of public 

service as opposed to 

selfish motives. 

He spoke at the palace 

of Obanobhan of Ogbia 

Kingdom, His 

Eminence, King 

Dumaro Owaba, as part 

of consultations with key 

stakeholders ahead of 

the general election. 

Wills expressed 

displeasure at the 

By Emma Una 

C ALABAR— 

ESSIEN Ayi, 

member representing 

Akpabuyo/Bakassi/ 

Calabar Municipality, 

Cross River State in the 

House of Representatives, 

yesterday, assured 

members of his 

constituency of effective 

representation if elected 

in 2019. 

Ayi, who gave the 

assurance while 

unveiling his election 

campaign office on 

Calabar Road, said 

though he was seeking 

re-election for the fourth 

time, it was better for him 

to return to the National 

Assembly as a known 

face to get things done 

and not a green horn 

who may not be able to 

would resist any attempt 

at rigging. 

Kwakpovwe and his 

group were also at 

Government House, 

Asaba, and Delta State 

PDP Secretariat, where 

they were received by the 

Administrative Secretary, 

Elder Charles Nwarache. 

He said the group was 

in support for the election 

of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar 

for President as he has the 

magic wand to get 

Nigerian working again. 

Meanwhile, at the 

inauguration of Delta 

State chapter of the group, 

the state PDP Organising 

Secretary, Onoriode 

Sunday, said PDP 

Campaign Council will 

partner the group to 

enhance its goal of 

winning the 2019 general 

election. 

Bayelsa East seat: 

Why I'm in the race—Wills 

pitiable state of Bayelsa 

East, comprising Ogbia, 

Nembe and Brass Local 

Government areas, which 

he said remained the 

cradle of oil exploration 

and the backbone of the 

national economy. 

According to him, “the 

lack of critical infrastructure 

in the zone, youth 

unemployment, growing 

insecurity, poverty and 

environmental pollution 

are some of the key 

challenges staring us in 

the face and which require 

immediate action.” 

Wills noted that the oil 

majors operating in the 

district owed Oloibiri and 

the larger Bayelsa 

community a huge debt 

which they must repay. 

C’River Rep begs 

constituents for re-election 

find his away in the next 

four years. 

In is words: “I present 

myself today to all my 

supporters, constituency 

groups, faith-based 

organisations, traditional 

institutions, and above all 

to God Almighty. 

“I present myself not 

because I am the best, but 

because you have 

confidence in me and I am 

accessible and I listen to 

many and attend to them. 

“I state categorically that 

my legislative period has 

witnessed tremendous 

contribution in the 

legislative chambers. 

“The issue of Bakassi's 

displaced people's proper 

resettlement has 

continued to top my 

priority and will be 

properly handled by the 

next legislative assembly.”


APP takes Buhari, PSC, others to 

court over IGP's tenure 

By Chidi Nkwopara 

O WERRI—Action 

Peoples Party, APP, 

has dragged President 

Muhammadu Buhari, 

Police Service Commission, 

PSC, to the Federal High 

Court, Abuja, urging it to 

declare that “any person or 

an officer of the Nigeria 

Police Force, who has 

attained the retirement age 

of 60 years or 35 years of 

service cannot be deemed 

to be a serving member of 

the Nigeria Police Force, for 

the purposes of being 

appointed or re-appointed 

by President Muhammadu 

Buhari, as an Inspector 

General of Police”. 

Other defendants in the 

DRAMA: From left, 

Olubukola Bolarinde, 

CEO, YellowDot 

Limited; Princess 

Aderonke Ademiluyi, 

Ambassador for 

Moremi Ajasoso & 

House of Oduduwa; 

and Lilian Ama- 

Aluko, Executive 

Director, Rejevenee, 

main sponsor of the 

event, during the 

stage production of 

Moremi the Musical, 

held at Terra Kulture, 

in Lagos yesterday. 

Photo: Kehinde Shonola 

Conduct LG elections now, rights group tells Obiano 

By Chimaobi 

Nwaiwu 

NNEWI—THE ruling 

All Progressive 

Grand Alliance, APGA, in 

Anambra State has been 

accused of taking the 

people of the state for s ride 

by not conducting local 

government elections in 

the state. 

The accusation was made 

by a human rights group, 

Corruption Watch, through 

its coordinator Mr Chuks 

Ogbuka in Nnewi. 

suit, FHC/ABJ/CS/1570/ 

2018, include the Nigeria 

Police Force and the 

Inspector General of Police, 

IGP, Mr. Ibrahim Kpotun 

Idris. 

The first national 

Spokesman of Coalition of 

United Political Parties, 

CUPP, Ikenga Imo 

Ugochinyere, made the 

copy of the court process 

available to newsmen 

yesterday, during a press 

conference in Owerri. 

According to the court 

process, the plaintiff prayed 

the court to declare that 

upon the attainment of the 

mandatory retirement age 

of 60 years of service in the 

police by January 3, 2019, 

Mr. Idris cannot be deemed 

According to the group, 

“Governor Willie Obiano 

will be taking the people of 

Anambra State for a ride if 

he fails to conduct local 

government elections in the 

state as soon as possible to 

fulfill his second term 

campaign promise. 

“It is undemocratic and 

illegal for the governor to 

continue to govern 

Anambra unilaterally 

without the input of 

democratically elected 

council officials. 

or taken to be a serving 

member of the Nigeria 

Police Force. 

The other prayers sought 

by the plaintiff included: “A 

declaration that the fourth 

defendant (Mr. Idris), 

being due for statutory 

retirement by January 3, 

2019,, when he would have 

attained 60 years, is due to 

immediately proceed on 

one month pre-retirement 

leave. 

“An Order of Court, 

directing and compelling 

the fourth defendant (Idris) 

to immediately proceed on 

one month pre-retirement 

leave forthwith. 

“An order of perpetual 

injunction, restraining the 

first defendant (Buhari), 

“Non-conduct of the 

council polls had led to 

uneven development of the 

twenty one council areas in 

the state, inspite of the huge 

amount of funds that 

always come to Anambra 

from federation account for 

the council areas. We have 

not seen its effect in the 

council areas. 

“We, in Corruption Watch 

consider the practice as 

trampling upon the right of 

Anambra electorate who 

had voted in Governor 

We need a new Nigeria —Obi 

AWKA—The 

Vice 

Presidential candidate 

of the PDP, Mr. Peter Obi 

has charged Nigerians to 

work together towards 

enthroning a new Nigeria 

that will in turn take care of 

all the needs of Nigerians, 

ranging from security 

through job-creation to 

constant power supply. 

Obi said this yesterday 

during the interactive 

session among PDP faithful 

at Ekwunife Centre, 

Awka. 

Obi who encouraged 

Nigerians to vote for Alhaji 

Atiku Abubakar, said that 

from his rich pedigree of 

wealth-creation, status as 

employer of Labour and 

political and administrative 

experience, he had the 

capacity of enthroning the 

new Nigeria that Nigerians 

yearn for. 

In her own speech, the 

convener of the event, Sen. 

Uche Ekwunife who 

described Mr. Peter Obi as 

“our project,” said that all 

Nigerians interested in the 

progress of the country 

must join hands to deliver 

Atiku and Obi. 

Corroborating Sen. 

Ekwunife, Prof. ABC 

Nwosu said that Peter Obi’s 

candidacy had gone 

beyond Igbo land.” He 

concluded that Obi, being 

a recognized international 

figure, should be the 

project of all Nigerians. 

from further re-appointing 

or in any other way, 

extending the tenure of the 

fourth defendant (Idris) in 

office, as the Inspector 

General of the Nigeria 

Police Force.” 

Explaining why the 

opposition approached the 

court, Ugochinyere said that 

extending the IGP’s tenure, 

after reaching the 

constitutional retirement 

age, “is a violation of the 

Constitution.” 

“The plot to retain the IGP 

after retirement, is Buhari/ 

APC last minute desperate 

attempt to politicise the 

Police Force and use 

security forces to thwart the 

electoral will of Nigerians”, 

Ugochinyere said. 

Obiano for second tenure 

with the belief that the 

caretaker committee system 

currently in operation in 

the State would be replaced 

with elected officials 

without wasting further 

time. 

“As social crusaders, we 

want Governor Obiano to 

tell Anambra people why 

he has not deemed it fit to 

conduct the local 

government elections in 

the State almost one year 

after being sworn in for a 

second tenure. 

"Flagging off the 

presidential campaign for 

the All Progressive Grand 

Alliance, APGA, without 

any plan by the APGA 

government to flag off 

activities for council polls in 

Anambra is to us, 

anathema to the people of 

the state and amounts to an 

assault to their sensibilities. 

“We are also of the 

opinion that all federal 

allocations due to council 

areas in Anambra should 

stop henceforth until the 

elections are conducted". 

Ugwuanyi donates to 

victims of Abakpa Nike fire 

Chinedu Adonu 

TEARS of joy flowed on 

the faces of the 

devastated victims of the 

recent fire outbreak at 

Ugboezeji and Ugboye in 

Abakpa Nike, Enugu, 

which burnt down the 

apartments of three 

widows, those of two other 

families and shops 

belonging to four furniture 

makers, a yam seller and 

bean-cake (Akara) fryer, 

respectively, when 

Governor Ifeanyi 

Ugwuanyi visited them to 

sympathise with them and 

offer them aids to ameliorate 

their pains. 

Ugwuanyi who was 

represented by the Speaker 

of the Enugu State House 

of Assembly, Edward 

Ubosi, while at Ugboezeji, 

gave the five tenants the 

sum of N500,000 each to 

start a new life and N1 

million to the landlord to 

assist her rebuild the 

property. 

At Ugboye, the four 

furniture makers got 

N500,000 each, while the 

yam seller and bean-cake 

fryer got N300,000 and 

N200,000 respectively, 

Burial 

THE 

Nwaeke 

Nwanyaha family of 

Igbodo in Ika North-East 

LGA, Delta State, has 

announced the death of 

their mother, Mrs Ezinne 

Nwaeke-Nwanyaha, who 

died on November 17, 

2018, aged 93. 

A requiem mass holds in 

her honour today, 10am at 

St. Martins of Tours 

Catholic Church, Igbodo to 

be followed by interment 

and entertainment of 

guests at her residence, 

Obior Road, Igbodo. 

She is survived by many 

children and other relatives. 

• Late Mrs Nwaeke- 

Nwanyaha 

totaling N6 million. 

Relief materials, such as 

food items, mattress, 

blankets, buckets and 

others, were given to the 

Ugboezeji victims at the 

Government House, 

Enugu by SEMA, 

immediately after the visit. 

The victims who could not 

hold back their tears of joy, 

asked God to continue to 

bless the governor and 

grant him his heart’s desire 

for coming to their rescue. 

They also prayed for the 

governor’s re-election in 

2019, describing him as “a 

good and kindhearted 

governor." 

According to one of the 

victims, Mrs. Patience Eze, 

“I am very happy today 

because the Governor of 

Enugu State has come to 

rescue us from this trouble. 

God will pay him back for 

this assistance and all of 

you that came in Jesus 

Name, amen”. 

Another victim, Blessing 

Onyefuru said: “God will 

continue to bless our 

governor for his quick 

intervention. He will 

continue to succeed. May 

God of the widows continue 

to answer his prayers." 

Acting Abia CJ confirmed 

By Anayo Okoli 

U MUAHIA—THE 

new chief judge of 

Abia State, Justice Kalu 

Arisa Ogwe has been 

sworn in. 

Speaking at the 

swearing–in ceremony at 

the Government House, 

Umuahia, the Governor, Dr 

Okezie Ikpeazu said that 

his administration is doing 

everything to ensure that 

what is due to Abians get 

to them. 

He said that his 

government is working 

hard to provide official 

vehicles to judges who 

have not received theirs in 

addition to declaring a state 

of emergency in courts in 

the state especially those in 

Osisioma and Obingwa. 

According to him, he was 

aware that many courts in 

the state were in 

dilapidated condition, 

adding that something will 

be done in terms of 

providing conducive 

environment for judicial 

officers to operate. 

Responding, the new 

Chief Judge, Justice 

Onuoha Kalu Ogwe who 

said that the judiciary has 

enjoyed a cordial 

relationship with the 

executive promised that the 

judiciary would "continue to 

do its bit to support 

government." 

Passage 

•Late Pa Ojiakor 

PA Godwin Ojiakor is 

dead. He died on 

December 7, 2018. 

Service of Songs holds at 

his residence, Oyekweni 

Lane, Ogbe-Ukwu, Aboh, 

Ndokwa East, Delta State, 

today at 5pm, while 

interment will be tomorrow 

at 10am, same venue.


Wife of Parish Pastor, Pastor Taiwo Ogbonnewo(2nd left); Head of Protocol, Deaconess Folake Koya (2nd 

right), both of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Gilgal Parish, VGC, Lekki, flanked by Senior 

Pastor, Pastor Jummy Adetoyese-Olagunju and his wife, Pastor Funmilayo, both of Praise Arena, VGC 

Lekki, at Praise Arena's annual Christmas Carol tagged Super Praise in Lekki, Lagos. 

I’ll banish criminals from Kwara, 

says Buhari 

By Demola 

Akinyemi 

I LORIN—PRESIDENT 

Muhammadu Buhari 

has expressed his 

determination to rid Kwara 

State of criminals ahead of 

the forthcoming 2019 

general election. 

He said this yesterday in 

Offa during the official 

commissioning of the ultramodern 

mobile police 

barracks solely built by the 

community at the cost of 

N700 million. 

Recall that this project 

was approved by the 

Inspector General of 

Police, Ibrahim Idris to 

beef up security within 

and around the 

community following the 

killings of thirty-three 

persons on April 5, 2018 

by a gang of armed 

robbers. 

Represented by the 

Minister of Information 

and Culture, Alhaji Lai 

Mohammed, he said it 

was unfortunate that 

Kwara State has been in 

the news for what he 

described as negative 

reasons. 

He said:”Those who 

witnessed what 

happened a few days ago 

in Ilorin, the state capital 

will agree with me that 

cultists and hoodlums are 

all still very much active 

in Kwara State. 

“My appeal to the 

police, as we are 

approaching the general 

election is to maintain law 

and order. Every part of 

this state must be free for 

people to cast their votes. 

Votes must not only be 

counted, they must also 

count. The way to achieve 

this is to rid this state of 

all criminals. 

“We will rid this state of 

all criminals ahead of the 

forthcoming elections. 

There is no controversy 

By Henry Umoru 

ABUJA—AHEAD of 

2019 general election, 

former Senate President, 

Senator David Mark has 

called for a violent-free 

general election, urging 

politicians to eschew 

bitterness. 

Mark, who called on 

political office seekers to 

imbibe the spirit of 

sportsmanship, said this 

while speaking to 

governorship candidates 

and their running mates 

during a nonpartisan 

over the years about what 

the people of Offa can do 

to bring development to the 

community. 

“I am not unmindful of 

what Offa can do through 

community help. I think all 

the communities should 

borrow a leaf from Offa 

parley he convened in his 

Otukpo, country home. 

His words: “Let the 

campaigns be issue-based 

and according to the rules. 

There is no need for 

acrimony, mudslinging or 

bitterness. Let the will of the 

people prevail. 

We are one. Elections will 

come and go but the people 

remain. Elections come 

every four years. If you 

don’t win today, you can 

win tomorrow. There is no 

need for desperation.’’ 

In his remarks, Benue 

State governor, and 

community.” 

The Olofa of Offa,Oba 

Mufutau Gbadamosi, in his 

speech, commended the 

sons and daughters of the 

community for pooling 

resources together to 

construct the mobile police 

barracks. 

Mark harps on peaceful polls, urges 

politicians to eschew bitterness 

A BUJA—MEMBERS 

of the Islamic 

Movement in Nigeria, 

IMN, have raised the 

alarm over threats by the 

Kano State Police 

Commissioner, CP Rabiu 

Yusuf, to authorise the use 

of ‘maximum force’ on them 

should the sect stage a 

planned protest in the state. 

They made their fears 

known in a statement 

issued on Thursday by the 

President of IMN Media 

Forum, Ibrahim Musa, in 

Abuja. 

He said Kano police boss 

followed up a similar threat 

with an alleged ordering of 

a detachment of policemen 

to open fire on thousands 

of Shi’ites in 2016 and 2017 

which led to the death of 

43 persons during the 

Arbaeen trek in Kano. 

He called on the public 

and the international 

community to prevail upon 

the CP to tread cautiously 

in his bid to stop the 

protesters. 

The statement reads: “The 

Kano State Police 

Commissioner, Rabiu Yusuf 

invited some members of 

the Islamic Movement to 

his office and bluntly 

threatened to use 

maximum force against 

them should they defy his 

orders never to conduct a 

‘’Free Zakzaky’’ protest in 

the state. 

“The Islamic Movement 

has decided to go public on 

the issue, despite the fact 

candidate of the Peoples 

Democratic Party ( PDP), Dr. 

Samuel Ortom who spoke 

through his Deputy, Chief 

Benson Abuonu said the 

state government is 

committed to a violent-free 

general election. 

All Progressive Congress, 

APC, governorship 

candidate in the state, Mr. 

Emmanuel Jime 

commended the convener 

of the parley for the steps 

taken towards ensuring 

that the conduct of the 

election is not marred by 

violence. 

El-Zakzaky: Shi’ites allege threat by Police 

By Luminous 

Jannamike 

that it will not in any way 

break our resolve and we 

are not in any way shaken 

by this latest threat. 

“It is surprising that the 

police boss would toe this 

line only some moments 

after the President warned 

the police against 

unprofessional conducts 

such as illegal detentions, 

extrajudicial killings, torture 

and violation of 

fundamental human rights 

at the convocation and 

passing out parade of the 

First Regular Cadet Course 

at the Police Academy, 

Wudil, Kano State. 

“Free Zakzaky protest is 

our unassailable right as 

enshrined in the 

constitution. The provisions 

of Sections 38 and 39 of 

1999 Constitution.” 

Miyetti Allah endorses Buhari 

MIYETTI Allah 

Cattle Breeders 

Association of Nigeria, 

MACBAN, has thrown 

its weight behind the reelection 

bid of President 

Muhammadu Buhari. 

National President of 

the group, Muhammadu 

Kirowa, said this at the 

2018 annual general 

meeting of the 

association. 

The group had earlier 

said it was yet to decide 

whom to support 

between Buhari and 

Atiku Abubakar, 

presidential candidate 

of the Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP. 

Buhari is from Katsina, 

while Abubakar is from 

Adamawa. Both men are 

Fulani. 

He said: “MACBAN 

pledges its loyalty and 

support to President 

Buhari for his laudable 

Aremu, Kwara LP gov candidate, 

decries political thuggery 

By Deborah Pemu 

KWARA State Labour 

Party governorship 

candidate in 2019 

general election, Mr. 

Issa Aremu, has decried 

what he called 

“unacceptable conduct of 

leaders and supporters 

of Peoples Democratic 

Party, PDP, and All 


APC, for turning Ilorin 

Emirate Descendants 

Progressive Union, 

Jigawa Assembly 

passes 2019 budget 

By Aliyu Dangida 

D UTSE—BARELY 

four weeks since 

Governor Muhammed 

Badaru Abubakr 

presented the 2019 

appropriation bill to 

Jigawa State House of 

Assembly, the House has 

finally passed the bill into 

law. 

The N160,140,000.000 

budget of the state 

government and 

N68,324,546,000.00 

fiscal bill belong to the 

state 27 local 

government areas were 

efforts of uniting the 

country, infrastructural 

growth of the nation and 

transforming the 

economic life of citizens for 

posterity. 

“We appreciate 

Government’s 

programmes of 

transforming the social 

lives of Nigerians through 

empowerment, 

Agricultural Development 

particularly the livestock 

sub-sector, where pilot 

programmes of 

developing water and 

pasture in long-neglected 

grazing reserves have 

commenced.” 

Kirowa explained that 

the group decided to 

endorse Buhari because 

of the “numerous 

achievements recorded by 

his administration in the 

areas of infrastructure, 

youth employment and 

security.” 

IEDPU’s annual 

conference into a 

platform for political 

thuggery and disruption 

of a historic conference.” 

However, he hailed the 

National Executive 

Council, NEC, members 

of IEDPU, headed by 

Ambassador Sheikh 

Abdulazeez Uthman 

and the Board of Trustees 

for the successful hosting 

of its 53rd annual 

conference. 

IEDPU is the motherbody 

of all unions and 

associations in the Ilorin 

Emirate and also the 

umbrella union of all 

indigenes of Ilorin 

Emirate home and 

abroad. 

In a statement, Aremu 

equally commended the 

Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji 

Ibrahim Sulu Gambari 

and the past presidents of 

IEDPU for nurturing the 

union formed in 1941 to a 

matured and largest 

community association in 

Nigeria and Africa. 

He said: “There is no 

doubt that the union has 

discharged its 

responsibilities in the areas 

of fostering and 

promoting unity, progress 

and 

mutual 

understanding among the 

indigenes of Ilorin 

Emirate; promoting better 

understanding with other 

communities and 

participating in socioeconomic 

development of 

the community.” 

passed into law. 

Meanwhile, two 

members of the state 


defected from the All 


APC, to the Social 

Democratic Party .SDP. 

A letter to the Speaker, 

which was read on the 

floor of the House by the 

Deputy Speaker, Hamish 

Hatsir, identified the 

lawmakers as 

Muhammad Bulangu 

(Bulangu constituency) 

and 

Usman 

Dansule(Kaugama 

constituency).

36—VANGUARD, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2018

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2018 — 37 

NAMING CEREMONY: Mr Victor Otigbu, Chief Sub Editor, Vanguard 

newspaper (3rd left); his wife, Mrs Otigbu; Mr Eze Anaba, Editor, Vanguard 

newspaper (3rd right) flanked by other staff of Vanguard newspaper at the naming 

ceremony of Mr Otigbu's baby at his residence in Yakoyo, Alagbole, Ogun State. 

Mr Victor Otigbu (centre); Mr Joseph Akintola, Photo Editor, Vanguard (2nd 

left); Mr Azu Akanwa, Production Editor (2nd right); and other Vanguard 

staff at the naming ceremony. Photos by Akeem Salau. 

ANCO'S RETREAT: From left; National President, Association of Nigerian 

Courier Operators (ANCO) Mr. Siyanbola Oladapo; Post Master General of 

the Federation, PMG, Barr. Bisi Adegbuyi and immediate past ANCO President, 

Mr. Toyin Olufade during the association's retreat and lecture in Lagos. 

TROPHY LAGER CONSUMER PROMOTION: Fuji icon, Alhaji Wasiu Alabi 

Pasuma presenting a cheque of N1 million to Miss Oluwatoyin Obisesan, a 

winner in the ongoing Trophy Lager Consumer Promotion, tagged Honourable 

Millionaires Promo during a music concert organized by the brand in Ibadan 

APC, PDP politicising 2nd Niger 

Bridge construction – Agbakoba 

*Buhari has invested N33b into 

2nd Niger Bridge – Okorie 

By Clifford Ndujihe & 

Olayinka Ajayi 

HUMAN 

Rights 

lawyer, Dr Olisa Agbakoba, 

SAN, and National 

Chairman of the United 

Progressive Party ,UPP, 

Chief Chekwas Okorie, 

toed different paths, yesterday, 

on the 16 percent 

completion of the Second 

Niger Bridge as exclusively 

reported byVanguard on 

Thursday. 

While Okorie said that 

the All Progressives Congress, 

APC-led Federal 

Government was committed 

to completing the 

bridge and has done something 

that past administrations 

did not do by 

investing N33 billion, 

Agbakoba said the ruling 

APC and main opposition 


PDP, were playing politics 

with the construction of the 

bridge. 

Said Okorie: “I am not in 

a position to argue about 

the percentage completion, 

but I am aware that this administration 

has invested 

N33 billion into the project 

and the sum total of the 

project is about N200 billion. 

This is something we 

have never seen before. 

The deadline for the com- 

By Henry Umoru 

ABUJA - SENATE 

President, Dr. Bukola 

Saraki has described 

as unacceptable and 

barbaric, the killings in 

Zamfara state, just as he 

urged the security agencies 

to swiftly devise a 

strategy to put an end to 

the ugly situation. 

In a statement yesterday 

by his Special Adviser 

(Media and Publicity), 

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru 

ABUJA — PRESI 

DENT Muhammadu 

Buhari, Thursday 

offered condolences over 

the death of Alhaji Sanda 

Kaita, Magajin Rogo 

of Katsina, his former 

teacher and a retired 

school administrator. 

President Buhari in a 

condolence message to 

the Emir of Katsina, the 

government and people 

of the state, described his 

late metal work teacher in 

Katsina Secondary 

pletion of the project is 

2022 that means before 

2023 the 2nd Niger bridge 

will be completed. 

On his part, Agbakoba, 

who said he was in the 

South-East last Saturday, 

said work had started but 

what was ground cannot 

be 16 percent. 

His words: ‘’I was in the 

South-East last Saturday. I 

did not see 16 per cent of 

work done. I saw some 

boulders on the river bank. 

I doubt if that represents 16 

per cent, I am not an engineer. 

Work has started, no 

doubt. 

“It is sad that the APC 

and PDP are politicising 

the construction of the 

bridge. Nobody expects 

that the bridge will be completed 

in three months. 

There is no reason to 

politicise it. 

“We want a strong bridge 

that will stand the test of 

time. The two leading 

parties are just politicising 

the issue because of 

coming elections with the 

APC saying that it is working 

and the PDP countering.’’ 

Buhari's teacher, Saida 

Kaita dies 

PDP inaugurates 93-member 

governorship campaign 

committee in Kaduna 

Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki 

noted that the situation 

in Zamfara State is a 

demonstration that unlike 

in 2015 when the only 

crisis point in the northern 

part of the country was 

the North-east zone, the 

North-west has today 

been engulfed by a 

bloody situation in which 

human lives are wasted 

on a daily basis. 


killings have gone on for 

The Peoples Demo 

cratic Party, PDP, in 

Kaduna State has inaugurated 

a 93-member 

Campaign Committee for 

its governorship candidate, 

Alhaji Isah Kudan. 

The state Publicity Secretary 

of the party, Abraham 

Catoh, made this 

known in Kaduna yesterday. 

Catoh noted that Alhaji 

Abubakar Mustapha, 

PDP’s former National 

Organising Secretary is 

the Chairman of the Campaign 

Committee. 

“The journey of taking 

over Aso Rock Villa and 

Sir Kashim Ibrahim 

House has moved a step 

further. 

“The Peoples Democratic 

Party, Kaduna State’s 

93-Member Campaign 

Flag-off Committee is inaugurated 

today. 

“The committee is saddled 

with the responsibility, 

to among other 

things, plan a grand campaign 

flag-off befitting 

the political status of Kaduna 

State. “They are to 

advise the party on anything 

that will lead to its 

success in the 2019 general 

elections in the state. 

“The committee is to be 

headed by seasoned politicians 

led by Malam 

Abubakar Mustapha, 

while Mark Jacob is to 

serve as Secretary of the 

Committee,” he said in a 

statement. 

School as a man of highest 

character who will be 

remembered for his efforts 

to inculcate hard work 

and technical skills in his 

students. 

In a statement by the 

Senior Special Assistant 

to the President on Media 

and Publicity, Mallam 

Garba Shehu, President- 

Buhari said, “He was a 

committed and an inspirational 

educationist. Our 

prayers go out to the family 

of the bereaved; to the 


of Katsina state over this 

irreparable loss. May his 

soul rest in peace.” 

Zamfara killings unacceptable, security 

agencies must change strategy — Saraki 

too long and the situation 

has not been given the 

desired attention as well 

as the right strategy that 

will stop it, adding that 

there was a clear indication 

of systemic failure. 

Saraki said, “There is 

need for certain and proper 

profiling of the situation 

so that we can know 

whether it is simple cattle 

rustling, vicious armed 

robbery on a large scale, 

religious cum ethnic crisis 

or invasion by foreign 

forces. 

“Our security agencies 

must immediately come 

out with a proper understanding 

of the situation, 

the right strategy and 

deployment of the necessary 

troops to tackle the 

menace. We must within 

the next few days send 

the right signals to the 

criminals in that area that 

the Nigerian State will no 

longer tolerate the ongoing 

blood-letting. 

“We must immediately 

change our strategy. Also, 

the President has to take 

full, direct control. May 

be the President must 

widen the consultation 

within the armed forces 

on the search for solution 

to this problem. He must 

go beyond the first line 

military top brass. We 

need to get ideas from 

more sources than we 

presently do.


EZEIBEKWE OFOR SANNI OKONJI EZEALA 

I, formerly known as Miss I, formerly known as Miss I, formerly known as Miss I, formerly known as I, formerly known as 

Angela Enuma Ezeibekwe, 

now wish to be known as Mrs. Ofor Jane Ifenyinwa, now Sanni Adebisi Blessing, now Okonji Louisa Ifeoma, now Clifford Ezeala, now wish 

Angela Enuma Adeleye. All wish to be known as Mrs. wish to be known as Mrs. wish to be known as to be known as Clifford 

former documents remain 

valid. DELSUTH, Bank, Chikelu Jane. All former 

Oladele Adebisi Blessing. All Igbonoba Louisa Ifeoma. 

Chinedu Amos. All former 

former documents remain All former documents 

Nursing and Midwifery documents remain valid. 

Council of Nigeria (NMCN) 

valid. General public take remain valid. General documents remain valid. 

and general public take note. General public take note. note. 

public take note. 

General public take note. 

FASANYA 

OKECHUKWU 

ONUWA 

UZOKWE 

AKPORE 

I, formerly known as Miss I, formerly known as Miss I, formerly known as Obiazi I, formerly known as I, formerly known as Miss 

Funmi Rebecca Fasanya, Okechukwu Regina Nneka, Prince Onuwa, now wish Uzokwe Chukwuamaka Harriet Oghenevwede 

now wish to be known as now wish to be known as to be known as Ebenezer Stellamaris, now wish to be Akpore, now wish to be 

Mrs Oluwafunmilayo 

Mrs. Onuegbu Regina Nneka. Prince. All former 

known as Ogbuefi known as Mrs. Harriet 

Rebecca Olofinlade. All 

Chukwuamaka Stellamaris. Oghenevwede Ezimano. All 

former documents remain All former documents remain documents remain valid. 

All former documents remain former documents remain 

valid. General public please valid. General public please General public please take valid. General public please valid. General public please 

take note. 

take note. 

note. 

take note. 

take note. 

PETER 

IRUVIERE 

IZOBO 

FASHANU 

I, formerly known as Peter I, formerly known as Miss I, formerly known as Izobo I, formerly known as Miss 

Ovuakporaye Michael, Precious Usiwo Iruviere, now Oghenetega Kingsley, now Fashanu Abidemi Folusho, 

now wish to be known as wish to be known as Mrs wish to be known as now wish to be known as 

Igbogidi O. Michael. All Precious Usiwo Adaigba. All Samson Kingsley. All Mrs Afolorunsho Odekuma 

former documents remain former documents remain former documents remain Dafe. All former documents 

valid. General public valid. General public please valid. General public take remain valid. General public 

please take note. 

take note. 

note 

take note. 

BENJAMIN 

EBELLE 

CAMINUS 

UCHEOMA 

I, formerly known as I, formerly known as Ebelle I, formerly known as Obodo I, formerly known as Miss 

Benjamin Kizzy Ochuko Juliet, now wish to Caminus Christian, now Onyenaturuchu Florence 

Oghenefegoh, now wish to be be known as Okorefe Ochuko wish to be known as Obodo Ucheoma, now wish to be 

known as Mrs 

known as Ikumariegbe Juliet. All former documents Nwabueze Christian. All 

Onyenaturuchi Florence 

Kizzy Fegoh. All former remain valid, any authority it former documents remain Anaele. All former documents 

documents remain valid. may concern and the general valid. General public take remain valid. Banks, NYSC 

General public take note. public to take note. 

note. 

and general public take note. 

CHIMA 

KWULUJE 

ARUMONA 

ADAGBOR 

I, formerly known as Miss I, formerly known as Miss I, formerly known as Miss I, formerly known as 

Adaeze Dawn Chima, now Favour Chinyere Kwuluje, Arumona Ifeoma Bridget, Adagbor Ehiedu Francis, 

wish to be known as Mrs. now wish to be known as now wish to be known as now wish to be known as 

Adaeze Dawn Enweniwe- Mrs. Favour Chinyere Mrs. Mokwunye Ifeoma Ehrabor Francis Ehiedu. 

Nnebi. All former Okolie. All former Bridget. All former All former documents 

documents remain valid. documents remain valid. documents remain valid. 

General public please take General public please take 

remain valid. General 

General public please take 

note. 

note. 

note. 

public please take note. 

CEASER 

DIALA 

AMAECHI 

OJOMA 

I, formerly known as Njoku I, formerly known as Mr. I, formerly known as Miss I, formerly known as Miss 

Daniel Ceaser, now wish Diala Chidi Michael, now Amaechi Ogechi Julia, Ojoma Nkem Faith, now 

to be known as Njoku wish to be known as Mr. now wish to be known as wish to be know as Mrs 

Daniel Izuchukwu. All Chidiebere Chidi Michael. Mrs. Chidiebere Ogechi Dike Faith Nkem. All 

former documents remain All former documents Julia. All former documents former documents remain 

valid. General public remain valid. General remain valid. General valid.general public please 


public please take note. public please take note. take note. 

PAUL IKEH ASISHANA 

My name was wrongly I, formerly known as Miss I hereby confirm that the name Asishana Folorunsho Ogumah, 

written as Paul Markson, Ikeh Uchenna Patience, and the Chieftaincy title name of Okomayin Asishana 

instead of Paul Markson now wish to be known as Ayiamotu of Igarra Land conferred on me by His Royal 

Paul. I now wish to be known Mrs. Okwubie Uchenna Highness, Oshinoyi Ariwo Ovejijo Oba E.A. Saiki II (JP), The 

as Paul Markson Paul. Patience. Former Otaru of Igarra/Akuku Clan, Edo State refer to me. I now wish 

Former documents remain documents remain valid. 

valid. General public please 

to be known and addressed by any of the two names or both. 


take note. 

note. 

Former documents remain valid. General public take note. 

OKPARA 

OBADUA 

MATTHEW 

IGHEDO 

I, formerly known as Miss I, formerly known as I, formerly known as Miss I, formerly known as Miss 

Blessing Erhimeyoma Obadua Rukevwe, now Mary Bassey Matthew, Ighedo Oghenetejiri Ruth, 

Okpara, now wish to be known wish to be known as 

as Mrs Mukoro Okpara 

now wish to be known as now wish to be known as 

Oyanaghakie Ekhoriyayi 

Blessing. All former 

Mrs. Mary Okon Obiosio. Mrs. Usenu Oghenetejiri 

Rukevwe. All former 

documents remain valid. 

General public, banks and all documents remain the 

All former documents Ruth. All former documents 

concerned institutions should same. General public remain the same. General remain the same. General 



public please take note. public please take note. 

ERIFERI 

OLAKU 

NWODO 

EKPERE 

I, formerly known as Miss I, formerly known as Braye I, formerly known as Miss I, formerly known as Miss 

Eriferi Maureen Tobore, now Akpandara Olaku, now wish Nwodo Jacinta Ngozi, now Oghiagbepha Faith, now 

wish to be known as Mrs. to be known as Braye wish to be known as Mrs. wish to be known as Mrs. 

Emenike Maureen Tobore. Yibowei. Former documents Ejemezu Jacinta Ngozi. Ekpere Oghiagbepha 

All former documents remain remain Valid. General public, 

Faith. All former 

Former documents remain 


the same. General public and all relevant authorities Valid. General public General public please take 




note. 

ONAJIYOVWI 

I, formerly known as Miss 

Judith Onajiyovwi, now 

wish to be known as Mrs 

Jury Judith Ogheneruemu. 

All former documents 

remain valid. General 

public take note. 

SALVATION 

My name was wrongly 

written as Francis 

Ifeanyichukwu Salvation, 

instead of Enebeli Francis 

Ifeanyichukwu, which is my 

correct name. Former 


Banks and general public 


EKE 

Reconciliation of Name 

This is to confirm that Eke 

Christopher Eluemunor and 

Inneh Uche Christopher refer 

to the same person. I now wish 

to be known as Eke 

Christopher Eluemunor. All 

former documents remain 

valid. General public please 

take note. 

EBEYE 

I, formerly known as Ebeye 

Chinyere Beatrice, now 

wish to be known as 

Obianke Chinyere 

Beatrice. All former 



note. 

EMEM 

Confirmation of Name 

This is to confirm that the 

name Emem Victor Okon and 

Emem Francis Dominic refer 

to one and the same me. I now 

wish to be known as Emem 

Victor Okon. Former 



note. 

IDOGHO 

I, formerly known as Miss 

Ethel Ewomazino Idogho, 

now wish to be known as 

Mrs. Ethel Ewomaziono 

Agbroko. All former 

documents remain the same. 


note. 

OR 

SPACE FOR 

SALE 

FOR ADVERT PLACEMENT VISIT TRINITY MALL, BESIDE ZENITH 

BANK BALOGUN BUS STOP, OBAFEMI AWOLOWO WAY, IKEJA, 

OR MURPHIS PLAZA, SANUSI FAFUNWA STREET, VICTORIA 

ISLAND LAGOS 

Edo govt orders 

arrest of 

illegal revenue 

collection 

syndicates 

By Gabriel 

Enogholase 

B 

ENIN—EDO State 

Government has ordered 

the arrest of a 3-man 

syndicate over illegal collection 

of revenue from commercial 

vehicle operators in 

Obakhavbaye Motor Park, 

in Benin City, the state capital. 

Addressing journalists 

after the arrest of members 

of the syndicate, Senior 

Special Assistant to the 

Governor on Security and 

Surveillance, Comrade 

Emmanuel Orukpe, said 

the order for the arrest of 

the syndicate “was issued 

after we received report of 

the activities of the syndicate 

who were forcefully 

collecting revenue illegally 

from commercial drivers at 

Obakhavbaye Motor Park.” 

He said, “The culprits 

who were led by one Igwe 

are being interrogated at 

the Oba Market Police Station. 

We are using this medium 

to warn other groups 

involved in this act to desist 

from it. 

“The state government 

will not hesitate to deal decisively 

with individuals or 

groups collecting revenues 

illegally.” 

Orukpe urged commercial 

drivers to pay revenues 

only to approved persons 

and local government revenue 

officials, adding, “the 

state government has continued 

to receive worrisome 

reports from Obakhavbaye 

Motor Park on the activities 

of touts collecting revenue 

illegally. 

“We are putting measures 

in place to check the 

activities of the touts, especially 

at the Obakhavbaye 

Motor Park. Governor 

Godwin Obaseki’s stance 

against touts and illegal 

revenue collection is clear,” 

A commercial bus driver, 

Omoruyi John, hailed the 

swift response of the state 

government and the office 

of the Senior Special Assistant 

to the Governor on Security 

and Surveillance in 

arresting the touts. 

He said, “I was impressed 

with how the security 

and surveillance 

team responded to our call 

on a public holiday to arrest 

the touts. The response 

showed the kind of governor 

we have in the state. I 

commend him and his 

team.” 

He added that Governor 

Obaseki’s tough stance 

against touts and illegal 

revenue collection has restored 

sanity to the operations 

of commercial vehicle 

operators in the state.

39—Vanguard, FRIDAY , DECEMBER 28, 2018 

By Louis Amoke 

AHEAD of 2019 general 

election, Governor Ifeanyi 

Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has 

continued to receive 

overwhelming support from the 

people of the state both at home 

and abroad. The support, which 

comes in form of endorsements, 

commendations and awards 

from various people, groups 

and institutions, has continued 

to gather momentum daily. 

It is on record that Gov. 

Ugwuanyi enjoyed similar 

acceptance during the 2015 

general election when he 

emerged the consensus 

governorship candidate of the 

Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, 

in Enugu State. 

The solidarity, support and 

goodwill from the people were 

so overwhelming that he 

became the most popular 

political leader to be elected 

governor of the state in a contest 

that was adjudged free and fair. 

Less than four months to the 

2019 general election, Gov. 

Ugwuanyi who is seeking reelection 

has sustained the 

tempo of his swelling 

popularity, through his 

unprecedented achievements in 

all spheres of development and 

uncommon leadership style that 

has brought peace, unity and 

positive governance to the state. 

Within a space of two months, 

four reputable national dailies, 

namely Sun, Vanguard, 

Independent and Leadership 

Newspapers have named 

Ugwuanyi their 2018 Governor 

of the Year for his sterling 

performance in office. 

These landmark feats have 

earned the people’s governor 

the enviable status as the first 

governor of Enugu State to be 

freely recognised and endorsed 

for a second term in office by 

virtually all sectors of the society. 

From available records, over 

450 groups have so far endorsed 

his re-election, ranging from 

leaders of political, religious 

and traditional institutions, to 

workers in the state, traders, 

women and youth groups, 

academics, artisans, commercial 

bus drivers, Keke and Okada 

riders, communities, among 

others. No day passes without 

the governor playing host to one 

or two groups at the 

Government House who visit to 

appreciate his good works and 

endorse him for a second term. 

The latest of the 

endorsements, which came from 

beyond the shores of the 

country, was from indigenes of 

the state in the Diaspora under 

the aegis of “Ndi Enugu in 

Diaspora”. The Enugu 

indigenes during a historic 

solidarity visit to Gov. 

Ugwuanyi at the Government 

House, Enugu, unanimously 

endorsed his re-election bid. 

Ugwuanyi’s rising profile 

The excited indigenes of the 

state who returned home from 

various parts of the world 

declared that “they are solidly, 

proudly and firmly standing 

with you, our hardworking 

Governor in 2019 gubernatorial 

election”. 

They also stated that “His 

Excellency, Rt. Hon. Dr. Ifeanyi 

Lawrence Ugwuanyi is the best 

thing that has happened to 

Enugu State and the best 

Governor since the creation of 

Ugwuanyi has not 

only entrenched 

peace in the state 

but has also 

enhanced security, 

stressing that he has 

equally utilised the 

lean resources of 

the state to provide 

critical 

infrastructure and 

pay workers’ 

salaries regularly 

the state”. 

Presenting their stance, Sir 

Anterus Chikaobi Ezeh from 

Ndi Enugu Europe disclosed 

that the decision was reached 

after they “carefully and 

diligently appraised objectively 

the economic reality of our 

country when you assumed 

office as our Governor in May 

29, 2015”. 

Sir Ezeh stressed that the 

governor came into office when 

federal allocation was 

dwindling, coupled with “the 

inherited debts”, which he said 

was “acknowledged by former 

Governor Sullivan Chime 

during his thanksgiving Mass”. 

Commending Gov. Ugwuanyi 

for surmounting the challenges, 

the Enugu Indigenes in the 

Diaspora told the governor that 

they were impressed with “your 

numerous developmental 

achievements in these past 

years in Enugu State and the 

peace you have entrenched in 

the state”. 

Reaffirming their massive 

support, they promised to 

campaign vigorously for the 

governor and ensure that their 

dependants, friends and 

relations vote for him during the 

election, saying: “We will not go 

back but stay till after the 

elections”. 

Similarly, an exclusive and 

influential social organisation in 

the South East geo-political 

zone, Enugu Sports Club 

recently endorsed the 

governor’s re-election bid in 

2019. 

The club gave the 

endorsement when members of 

its executive committee paid a 

solidarity visit to Gov. 

Ugwuanyi at the Government 

House, Enugu. 

The Chairman of the club, 

Chief Ben Etiaba told Gov. 

Ugwuanyi that they were 

“solidly behind you” and “very 

proud” of him for entrenching 

peace and good governance. 

Chief Etiaba said that “the 

peace you have enthroned has 

trickled down to everywhere in 

the state, including the club”. 

He emphasised that Gov. 

Ugwuanyi has not only 

entrenched peace in the state 

but has also enhanced security, 

stressing that he has equally 

utilised the lean resources of 

the state to provide critical 

infrastructure and pay workers’ 

salaries regularly, even when 

most states could not pay. 

According to him, “Your 

Excellency, you have done a lot 

in infrastructural development 

in the state. For instance, the 

signature project at Milliken 

Hill will remain indelible not 

just to Ndi Enugu, but those of 

us who ply the road to our 

villages in Anambra State and 

beyond”. 

The Chairman also 

commended the governor for 

his bi-partisan approach to 

governance as well as his 

contributions to the progress of 

the club as its president, and 

promised to be part of his 

campaign to ensure his victory 

at the polls. 

Prior to the commencement of 

campaign for the governorship 

election, the PDP family in 

Enugu State embarked on a 7- 

day prayer and fasting for 

peaceful, transparent and 

violence-free elections in 2019. 

The PDP, through a statement 

by the Director-General of the 

state’s Campaign Organisation, 

Dr. Charles Egumgbe urged the 

public to join it in the 

observation of the prayers and 

fasting. The party stated that the 

decision was also “in keeping 

with our tradition of entrusting 

the affairs of the state into the 

hands of God”. The spiritual 

exercise which took place 

between December 1-7, was 

equally used “to pray for issuebased, 

smooth and successful 

campaign in the state”. 

Consequently, a Mass was 

celebrated at the Adoration 

Ministry Enugu Nigeria 

(AMEN) for Gov. Ugwuanyi 

and other candidates of the PDP 

to herald the commencement of 

the campaign of the party, 

which will formally kick off early 

January. 

During the Mass, the Spiritual 

Director of the Ministry, Rev. Fr. 

Ejike Mbaka, reiterated their 

unflinching support for the reelection 

of Gov. Ugwuanyi in 

2019, declaring that it is “100 

percent indisputable”. 

*Mr. Amoke, a commentator on 

national issues, wrote from 

Enugu, Enugu State. 

Concerns over payment of $100m 

consultancy/contract fees 

By Boniface Enekwechi 

CONCERNS are being raised 

that 

President 

Muhammadu Buhari’s directive 

for the payment of consultancy 

fees/judgment debts to 

contractors and lawyers as they 

relate to the $350Miilion Paris/ 

London Club refund for states 

and local governments may be 

under threat based on the moves 

by the Nigeria Governors Forum 

to sway the office of the Attorney 

General and Minister of Justice 

to unblock some suspicious 

accounts where the remaining 

$100M for the settlement of the 

contractors and consultants have 

been traced. 

It is public knowledge that 

President Muhammadu Buhari 

has never minced words in 

reprimanding top government 

officials on the need to always 

adhere strictly to his anticorruption 

war, yet there are telltale 

signs that some officials flout 

his directives. To successfully win 

the war against graft in Nigeria 

it is important that all 

stakeholders and indeed all 

Nigerians join Mr. President in 

the crusade to eradicate 

corruption. 

The president had in his wisdom 

and based on wise counsel by the 

Attorney General and Minister of 

Justice, Abubakar Malami SAN 

and the Minister of Finance 

approved the payment of 

consultancy/legal fees to 

contractors who carried out some 

projects in local governments 

across Nigeria in partnership 

with the Association of Local 

It will amount to a 

travesty of justice if the 

Nigerian Governors 

Forum or anyone for 

that matter choose to 

undermine the 

directive of Mr. 

President conveyed 

through the Attorney 

General and Minister 

of Justice 

Governments of Nigeria, 

ALGON. 

It must be noted that the 

Attorney General had diligently 

discharged his responsibility by 

making 

necessary 

recommendations to the 

president, and this necessitated 

his directive to the Governor of 

the Central Bank of Nigeria to 

pay the money directly into the 

bank account of the Nigeria 

Governors Forum. 

Now the question is - has the 

directive been carried out by the 

Central Bank? If the directive has 

been flouted, then it is in breach 

of the president’s directive on the 

utilisation of the fund as 

recommended by the Attorney 

General in his memorandum to 

Mr. President. Additionally, there 

is need to sanction anyone who 

deliberately flouts the directive of 

Mr. President or the Attorney 

General in respect of paying the 

consultancy fees/judgment debts 

on the Paris/London Club Refund 

for local governments. It is 

pertinent to note that the Attorney 

General had received the 

approval of Mr. President to 

supervise the payments. 

It is expected that every decent 

society should always live up to 

its lawful obligations and the 

President Muhammadu Buhari 

administration has made 

adherence to rule of law and due 

process its focal point. In this 

regard, there is need to 

acknowledge the professionalism 

and good judgment of the 

Attorney General and Minister of 

Justice, Abubakar Malami SAN 

for authorising payment for two 

out of the five creditors, yet it is 

imperative that he goes the whole 

hog to ensure that the outstanding 

payment obligation to the 

remaining contractors/ 

consultants is not jeopardised in 

any way. 

Already there is rumour making 

the rounds that the $100Million 

have been deposited in various 

private companies and individual 

bank accounts. Definitely if this 

is proven to be true, then the 

necessary sanctions should be 

applied to serve as a lesson for 

others. A situation where the 

attorney general’s directive as 

instructed by the president and 

Commander- in- Chief is flouted 

without justification must not be 

tolerated. 

It must be put on record that 

President Buhari is gradually 

restoring Nigeria to the path of 

moral rectitude and it behoves all 

Nigerians to support him, rather 

than put cogs in the wheel of 

progress. Similarly, the Nigeria 

Governors Forum must be seen 

to adhere to the directives of 

constituted authority and stop 

working at cross purposes with the 

policies of the Buhari 

administration on anticorruption. 

It will amount to a travesty of 

justice if the Nigerian Governors 

Forum or anyone for that matter 

choose to undermine the directive 

of Mr. President conveyed 

through the Attorney General and 

Minister of Justice especially as 

it relates to the payment of 

contractors and consultants for 

the ALGON/Local Governments 

projects. 

On his part, the Attorney 

General should immediately take 

all necessary steps to ensure that 

Mr. President’s directive is fully 

complied with. This he can do by 

stopping the Economic and 

Financial Crimes Commission 

from unblocking the bank 

accounts where the $100Million 

meant for the payment of 

outstanding debt obligations to 

the contractors and consultants 

have been traced. 

It must be stated for the 

umpteenth time that corruption 

has dealt a debilitating blow to 

the progress and development of 

Nigeria, and all hands must now 

be on deck to ensure that the good 

work President Buhari has started 

does not come to nought through 

the nefarious activities of some 

unscrupulous individuals and 

organisations. 

*Mr. Enekwechi, a public affairs 

analyst, wrote from Abuja.


THE general elections 

in 50 days will be different 

from previous ones 

in nearly two decades in 

many ways. Money is one 

way. At this time in a 

“normal” election cycle, 

politicians would be in a 

rat race to outspend one 

another. 

After four years of largely 

empty promises, they 

suddenly discover that 

they need to return to voters 

who wait in ambush 

on empty tanks, knowing 

that it would be another 

four years before this cycle 

repeats itself. 

It’s a bizarre ritual of 

taps, releasing an estimated 

$289m to the NIA one 

mutual extortion. 

At a point, it didn’t look 

month to the new election 

like it would be different 

date in March, apart from 

this time. For example, 

hundreds of millions in different 

foreign currencies 

the hefty cost of nomination 

forms by the two 

that had been released a 

leading parties – the All 

few months earlier. 

Progressives Congress 

Various governmentlinked 

shadowy groups 

and the Peoples Democratic 

Party; the dollar bazaar 

at the PDP conven- 

with cash pipelines from 

NNPC, joined in the 

tion in Port Harcourt; and 

splurge, funnelling money 

into the PDP campaign 

the estimated N26billion 

shelled out by PDP and 

funds with the same ferocious 

zeal with which they 

APC for the governorship 

election in Osun State, 

lined their own pockets. 

suggested that the stage 

The APC was in a quandary. 

Top politicians in the 

was set, once again, for a 

tidal wave of campaign 

party could hardly pay 

spending. 

their bills. It has been said 

But the “flows” have 

in some authoritative circles 

that if the election 

since dwindled. A 

number of advertisers 

had been postponed for 

quoted in an article in 

another three or four 

ThisDay in October, attributed 

the weak spend- 

weeks (the law did not 

permit that), PDP might 

ing to the state of the economy 

and the flux in the 

have bought its way back 

to power. 

parties, saying that they 

If APC didn’t know before, 

2015 was the year 

expected spending to rise 

before the end of the year. 

when the party learned 

That has not happened. 

the terrible lesson that in 

politics, money begins to 

speak long after propaganda 

has lost its voice. 

APC managed to cross the 

finish line, but the lessons 

Cheapest campaign? 

An article last week by 

the Special Adviser to the 

President on Political Affairs, 

BabafemiOjudu, 

which went viral, said: 

“The coming presidential 

election will be the cheapest 

ever in the history of 

our country.” 

He continued: “This 

government will not loot 

the treasury or empty the 

Central Bank to buy 

votes. Money meant for 

arms will not be diverted 

to buy prayers from pastors 

and alfas.” With Dasukigate 

still fresh and 

roiling, prudence is 

APC’s insurance against 

defeat. 

Yet, there were hints at 

other motives.The APC 

may well be applying the 

bitter lesson it learnt as an 

opposition party in the 

2015 election. 

When the presidential 

election was first scheduled 

to hold on February 

14 of that year, the APC 

was enjoying considerable 

momentum. With public 

confidence under 

former President Goodluck 

Jonathan waning 

and the war on Boko Haram 

slipping, the PDP 

government was losing 

grounds. APC was miles 

ahead in goodwill and 

propaganda, but there 

would be problems elsewhere. 

The PDP government 

announced that the election 

would be shifted by 

six weeks. Not just that, 

it turned on the spending 

2019: A Profile of the X-factors 

At this time 

in a “normal” 

election cycle, 

politicians 

would be in a 

rat race to 

outspend one 

another 

of that austerity are resonating 

in the current drama 

on how campaign 

spending could be a game 

changer. 

New game, old foxes 

Age is also another thing 

about 2019. There’s no 

time in the history of Nigeria’s 

election in the last 

two decades when so 

many young people have 

shown interest in contesting 

the highest office as 

is the case now. Between 

1999 and 2015, for example, 

the average age of the 

youngest contender for 

President was 58, and that 

was in 2007, when 25 candidates 

were on the ballot. 

Even though the candidates 

of the two main parties 

in next year’s election 

are above 70, the average 

age of 30 of the presidential 

candidates on the ballot 

is 52. 

Why does this matter? 

INEC Chairman, Mahmood 

Yakubu, said in August 

that this demographic 

could be the decider. 

The hope is that this new, 

younger crop of contestants 

would tap into the 

prevailing angst and frustration 

of younger voters 

and inspire them to get 

involved to bring about 

change. The not-tooyoung 

to run campaign, 

for example, showed what 

is possible with effort, persistence 

and hard work. 

Even if the younger contenders 

do not succeed in 

shattering the glass ceiling 

of gerontocracy this 

time, they may yet leave 

enough cracks to make its 

collapse inevitable sooner 

than later. Perhaps 

more than any other election 

before it, the next one 

presents the biggest opportunity 

yet for youthful 

energy to disrupt and 

strike a telling blow at the 

heart of gerontocracy. 

The next election would 

also be different in a way 

that the government 

would not like to think 

about. The country would 

be going into the election 

with one of the highest 

pre-election unemployment 

rates in 19 years. 

Latest figures by the 

National Bureau of Statistics 

put the unemployment 

rate in the fourth 

quarter of 2018 at 23.1 per 

cent, the second highest 

since Jonathan went into 

the 2011 election with 

unemployment at 23.9 

per cent. That’s grist for 

the opposition’s mill. 

The government has 

fought back suggestions 

of poor economic management 

by blaming PDP 

for looting $383billion 

(earned in five years) 

from the treasury, compounded 

by falling oil 

prices, especially in the 

early stage of the last four 

years. 

The good news is that 

the parties have signed up 

to debate issues. And now 

more than ever before, 

with many taps for easy 

money turned off, bread 

and butter would play a 

big part in the outcome of 

the elections. 

Generals at war 

Except under military 

rule when betrayal was 

the name of the game, the 

generals have always 

tended to be in the same 

corner. They rallied in 

1993 to block MKO Abiola 

and, in 1999, they installed 

Olusegun Obasanjo. 

When they got fed 

up with Jonathan’s incompetence, 

they rallied 

again to install another of 

their own, Buhari, in 

2015. Now, things have 

fallen apart. 

Although they have become 

less influential over 

the years, mainly as a result 

of corruption that 

comes with political exposure, 

retired generals still 

manage to pull the 

strings. 

This time, however, they 

are pulling the strings 

over their own divided 

house: Obasanjo; General 

Theophilus Yakubu 

Danjuma (former Minister 

of Defence); former 

military President, General 

Ibrahim Babangida; 

Sultan X, the progeny of 

Uthman dan Fodio; and 

Nigeria’s most dangerous 

spy alive - General Aliyu 

Gusau - are ranged in a 

convenient alliance 

against Buhari. 

It’s difficult to predict 

the outcome. One thing 

that is not difficult to predict, 

however, is that life 

for the casualties will never 

be the same again. 

Voters who have been 

under the thumb of Obasanjo’s 

relentless political 

meddlesomeness in the 

last two decades, for example, 

should prepare to 

resign themselves to Obasanjo’s 

immortality if 

Atiku wins, or to nail his 

political coffin and post 

his epitaph if Buhari 

wins. Heads or tails, this 

election carries the most 

expensive political price 

for the ageing military oligarchs. 

Though it’s the third 

time in nearly two decades 

when the two leading 

contenders in the race 

would be from the same 

ethnic group (the first being 

in 1999 when Obasanjo 

and Olu Falae 

clashed, and in 2007 

when Buhari and late 

Umaru Yar’Adua faced 

each other), this is the 

first time when ethnic politics 

would recede as the 

leading candidates go 

toe-to-toe on the strength 

of their grit. 

With the outliers vowing 

that they are not just in 

the race to mark the register, 

and big post-defection 

disputes waiting to be 

settled in brutal local 

turfs, this election might 

well upstage the last one 

for excitement. 

Already, the fasten seatbelt 

sign is on. 

Understanding Comrade 

Adams Oshiomhole 

By Abdulhakeem 

Ibrahim 

APART from personal 

encounters with him, I 

have followed Comrade and 

his niche since the 1980s when 

I first saw him on television. 

This was in his days as the 

General Secretary of the Textile 

Union, sticking it to the 

then dreaded Military Government 

of IBB at a town hall 

meeting. Our most recent encounters, 

however, included a 

visit to his Abuja residence in 

August 2017, and a chance 

meeting aboard a Benin - Lagos 

flight two weeks after the 

visit to his home. So, this piece 

is but an attempt to provide 

some insights into my perception 

of his personality and 

character. 

During my said visit to his 

home which lasted all of sixplus 

hours (I recall actually 

having both lunch and dinner 

with him on that day); we engaged 

on a wide range of issues 

mostly bordering on Nigeria 

and his position on issues. 

We also caught up on and 

shared opinions on the multimillion 

dollar boxing match 

between Floyd Mayweather 

Jnr. and Connor Mcgregor 

which had taken place earlier 

that morning. 

We were later joined by a few 

other people, mostly former 

Edo State Government 

House aides of his. As this was 

a few days after his speech at 

the August 23, 2017 NLC’s restructuring 

colloquium: ‘The 

Labour Movement and the 

future of a United Nigeria: 

What Role for Restructuring.’ 

One of those former aides 

whose names I can’t immediately 

recall, had mentioned to 

Comrade that a close friend 

had called and asked him: 

“When did your former boss 

(Comrade) start agreeing with 

OBJ on issues”. The reference 

being that OBJ had always 

been a staunch opponent of 

restructuring, and Comrade 

had just ‘pooh-poohed’ the arguments 

for restructuring at 

the NLC colloquium. 

Impediment to 

national development 

To this, Comrade responded 

that he had never truly been 

on the same side with OBJ on 

national issues save for leading 

the NLC to support the 

EFCC and the work it did under 

OBJ in his conviction that 

corruption in official circles 

was a major impediment to 

national development. He 

stated that the seeming agreement 

between OBJ and himself 

on restructuring was merely 

a coincidence. And that 

while OBJ must have his personal 

reasons for his position, 

his (Comrade’s) own reasons 

were rooted in his convictions 

of the sanctity of the Nigerian 

state, because according to 

him, he had been a beneficiary 

of Nigeria’s “unity in diversity”. 

He supported this 

position by emotionally narrating 

to us his experience as 

a young man leaving home 

for the first time right after 

completing secondary school 

to take up a job with the Arewa 

Textiles Company in Kaduna. 

He arrived Kaduna 

knowing no one, having no 

place to stay, and having little 

money on him. He and the 

two others were advised to go 

to the nearby Police station. 

Of course, the station DPO 

was gracious enough to allow 

them to use the station as temporary 

abode, without first 

bothering to enquire about 

their ethnicity. Just as it is said 

that nothing good lasts forever, 

they were informed by the 

DPO some time later, to seek 

alternative accommodation. 

Comrade and his co-sojourners 

were next advised to go 

sound out the Village Head 

of an interior Kaduna community 

for a place to stay. 

Again, the Village Head benevolently 

offered these three 

youngsters from “foreign” 

tribes a place to put up. And 

so, this interior community 

became their new abode until 

they were able to sort themselves 

out. 

The moral of the story being 

that the Police DPO and 

Village Head in reference 

were respectively from today’s 

South-West and North-West 

regions of the country, while 

Comrade was from the then 

Bendel State. Hence, Comrade 

insists that no one can 

convince him that a certain 

region, tribe or ethnicity is not 

worthy of being part of the 

Nigerian arrangement. What 

is more, according to Comrade, 

is that whatever he is or 

has achieved today is down to 

the fact that the Hausa/Fulani 

dominated Arewa Textiles 

Company in Kaduna saw wisdom 

in electing him as their 

Union Secretary. A development 

that served as the 

launching pad and motivation 

for him not only to go on 

and aspire to higher things, 

but to actually succeed in 

those aspirations. 

He reasoned further that 

had the management and 

staff of Arewa Textiles Company 

based the decision to hire 

and vote for him on the mindset 

and logic of equating an 

individual’s entitlement in 

Nigeria to the section of the 

country the individual hails 

from (which seems to be the 

kernel of the restructuring 

agitation), then he would not 

have had the opportunities he 

himself has had. This is so 

considering, firstly, that there 

is no textile in Edo State where 

he hails from. Besides, the 

elective offices in the workers 

union would all have been 

zoned to candidates of Kaduna 

State or Northern Nigerian 

extraction, a scenario that 

might have ultimately altered 

his own destiny. 

These are the experiences 

and sentiments that shaped 

the character of the Comrade 

Adams Oshiomhole we have 

all come to know as former 

Governor of Edo State and 

now National Chairman of 

the country’s ruling party, 

APC. 

Continues on Vanguard On-Line 

*Ibrahim wrote from Calgary, 

Canada

Continues from Page 5 

NAIRA WATCH 


WORK RESUMES—Marina Car park after the Christmas holiday in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Akeem Salau. 

ZAMFARA KILLINGS: Yari backs 

state of emergency 

the ugly situation. 

Saraki, in a statement 

by his Special Adviser 

(Media and Publicity), 

Yusuph Olaniyonu, said 

that the situation in 

Zamfara State was a 

demonstration that 

unlike in 2015 when the 

only crisis point in the 

Northern part of the 

country was the North- 

East zone, the North- 

West has today been 

engulfed by a bloody 

situation in which 

human lives are wasted 

on a daily basis. 

He said the killings 

have gone on for too 

long and the situation 

has not been given the 

desired attention as well 

as the right strategy that 

will stop it, adding that 

there was a clear 

indication of systemic 

failure. 

More security 

measures 

underway 

— Dambazzau 

Meanwhile, the 

Minister of Interior, Lt- 

Gen. Abdulrahman 

Dambazau (retd), has 

assured Nigerians of the 

Federal Government’s 

readiness to deploy 

additional security 

resources to end the 

destruction of lives and 

property in Zamfara 

State. 

Dambazau gave the 

assurance in a statement 

by his Press Secretary, 

Osaigbovo Ehisienmen 

in Abuja. 

In the statement, 

Dambazau said President 

Buhari 

had 

commiserated with the 


of Zamfara, following 

attacks by suspected 

bandits, which claimed 

property and lives of 

innocent Nigerians. He 

expressed Buhari’s deep 

concern about the 

unrepentant attitude of 

the perpetrators of 

senseless killings in the 

state. 

“We are committed to 

working closely with the 

state government to 

Naira stable at N362.5 /$ 

in parallel market 

Elizabeth Adegbesan 

THE Naira, yesterday, was stable at N362.5 per 

dollar in the parallel market. 

However, the naira appreciated by 18 kobo in the 

Investors and Exporters (I&E) window due to an 

eight percent increase in the volume of dollars 

traded. 

Data from FMDQ showed that the indicative 

exchange rate for the window dropped to N364.35 

per dollar yesterday from N364.53 per dollar on 

Monday, translating to 18 kobo appreciation of the 

naira. 

The volume of dollars traded on the window rose 

by eight percent to $143.54 million from $133.50 

million traded on Monday. 

deploy more security 

resources to the state,” 

Dambazau said. 

Ehisienmen said 

further in the statement 

that the Minister was 

further briefed by heads 

of security agencies in 

Zamfara, in order to put 

in place additional 

proactive measures to 

restore peace needed to 

protect agricultural and 

mining interests in the 

state. 

According to the 

statement, Dambazau 

was received by the 

state’s acting Governor, 

Sanusi Rikiji and other 

members of Zamfara 

Executive Council. 

The minister later 

proceeded to the palace 

of Sarkin Katsina Gusau, 

His Royal Highness Dr 

Ibrahim Bello, the Emir 

of Gusau. 

He said Dambazau, 

while at the palace also 

delivered Buhari’s 

message, and assured 

the Gusau emirate of 

government’s 

commitment to ensure 

law and order in the 

state. 

He said the minister 

also visited the 

Internally Displaced 

Persons, IDPs, camp, as 

well as the headquarters 

of Tsafe Local 

Government area, where 

protesters destroyed 

vehicles and other 

government property. 

It will be recalled that 

on Wednesday, Federal 

Government has said the 

persistent attacks on 

residents of Zamfara 

State by bandits will 

affect food security in the 

country. 

The government, 

through the Minister of 

Defence, Mansur Dan- 

Ali, had also dismissed 

report that troops of the 

Nigerian Army shot and 

killed many people 

protesting the renewed 

killings in the state on 

Christmas day. 

This is even as the PDP 

on Wednesday, flayed 

the Federal Government 

for its inability to stop the 

incessant killings of 

Nigerians in the state by 

bandits. 

The Minister of 

Interior, Dambazau on 

Wednesday, expressed 

worry over the food 

scarcity the attacks 

would have on Nigeria, 

while on an on-the-spot 

assessment of activities 

of the bandits in the 

state in Gusau, “Since 

those affected by the 

killings are largely the 

agrarian rural dwellers, 

the activities of the 

bandits will have a 

serious impact on 

agriculture and food 

security. 

“This is a final 

warning, the bandits 

must stop these acts 

forthwith because the 

Federal Government has 

devised more stringent 

ways to deal with them. 

I want to assure them 

that they cannot 

withstand 

consequences.” 


the 

NEWS HOTLINES 

018773962, 

08052867058 

Oil price drops to $48, 

$12 below 2019 

budget benchmark 

•Nigeria’s Egina hits global oil market 

By Udeme Akpan & 

Prince Okafor 

LAGOS—The price 

of crude oil, 

yesterday, dropped from 

$50 to $48 in the 

international market, 

showing $12 below 

Nigeria’s $60 per barrel 

2019 budget reference 

price. 

Specifically, the price 

of Brent, West Texas 

Intermediate, WTI and 

the Organisation of 

Petroleum Exporting 

Countries, OPEC, 

basket of 15 crudes 

stood at $48.00, $43.38 

and $47.92 per barrel 

respectively. 

This means that the 

g o v e r n m e n t 

projections, especially 

total revenue projection 

and expenditure in the 

budget may not be 

realised, should the 

volatility continue in 

the market. 

This came as there are 

indications that 

Nigeria’s Egina oil will 

hit the global oil market 

in February, 2019, 

according to loading 

programme. 

The loading 

programme obtained by 

Vanguard showed that 

the first cargo of the oil 

grade will be lifted by 

stakeholders, including 

Total, Nigerian National 

Petroleum Corporation, 

NNPC, and China 

National Offshore Oil 

Corporation, CNOOC. 

Total spokesman, Mr. 

Charles Ebereonwu, 

restated in a telephone 

interview with 

Vanguard yesterday, 

that efforts were being 

made by the company 

Ogun assembly passes N400bn 

2019 appropriation bill 

OGUN—The Ogun 

State Assembly, 

yesterday, passed the 

2019 appropriation bill of 

N400billion, cutting off 

N2.632 billion from the 

initial N402.63 billion 

proposed by Governor 

Ibikunle Amosun. 

The passage of the bill 

was sequel to the 

presentation of the report 

of the Finance and 

Appropriation Committee 

by its Chairman, Mr 

Victor Fasanya (APC– 

Abeokuta South 1), during 

plenary in Abeokuta. 

Fasanya, thereafter, 

moved the motion for its 

adoption. 

It was seconded by the 

Chief Whip, Idowu 

Olowofuja (APM– 

Abeokuta South 11) and 

supported by the whole 

House through a voice 

vote. 

The bill was thereafter, 

r read clause-by-clause by 

Speaker, Suraj Adekunbi 

(APC –Yewa North 1), 

before the members, after 

which the motion for the 

third reading was moved 

by the Minority Leader, 

Olawale Alausa (PDP – 

Ijebu Ode) and seconded 

by Akinpelu Aina (APC– 

Ado Odo Ota 1). 

to deliver first oil before 

the end of December, 

2018. 

Before then, the 

company had stated 

that Egina was 

important, especially as 

it would add additional 

200,000 barrel per day 

to its output. 


in his Buhari budget 

breakdown obtained by 

Vanguard yesterday, 

President Muhammadu 

Buhari stated: “As a 

r e s p o n s i b l e 

administration, we will 

continue to monitor the 

situation and will 

respond to any changes 

in the international oil 

price outlook for 2019.” 

He said: “The 2019 

budget proposal is 

intended to further 

place the economy on 

the path of inclusive, 

diversified and 

sustainable growth in 

order to continue to lift 

significant numbers of 

our citizens out of 

poverty. 

“The underlying 

drivers of the 2019 

revenue projections 

have been adjusted to 

reflect current realities. 

On the expenditure 

side, allocations to 

M i n i s t r i e s , 

Departments and 

Agencies 

of 

Government were 

guided by the 3 

objectives of the ERGP, 

which are, (i) Restoring 

and Sustaining Growth; 

(ii) Investing in our 

People and (iii) 

Building a Globally 

Competitive Economy. 

“The 2019 Budget 

proposal is based on the 

oil price benchmark of $60 

per barrel. Oil production 

estimate of 2.3 million 

barrels per day, including 

condensates. Exchange 

rate of N305/$. Real GDP 

growth of 3.01 percent; 

and inflation Rate of 9.98 

percent. 

“Notwithstanding the 

recent softening in 

international oil prices, 

the considered view of 

most reputable analysts is 

that the downward trend 

in oil prices in recent 

months is not necessarily 

reflective of the outlook for 

2019. 

“With regard to oil 

production, I have 

directed the NPPC to take 

all possible measures to 

achieve the targeted oil 

production of 2.3 million 

barrels per day.”


Revamping Akwa Ibom State economy: 

The Nsima Ekere Model 

By Eseme Eyiboh 

AKWA IBOM STATE is 

unarguably one state in 

Nigeria with the prospect 

of economic fortune. With about 

five million population matched 

with the enviable status of the 

highest oil-and-gas-producing 

state in Nigeria, economic 

prosperity should be the lot of the 

people and the state. But socioeconomic 

matrices of the state do 

not correlate with the abundance 

of natural mineral, agricultural 

and aquaculture resources. 

According to the Nigerian 

Bureau of Statistics (NBS), 1.8 

million of Akwa Ibom’s 3.3 million 

economically active population is 

unemployed. That means, more 

than half of the working 

population in the state is out of 

work. 

With such an unusually high 

degree of joblessness and the 

attendant poverty, the state has 

the second highest 

unemployment rate in Nigeria. 

This is an antithesis of the 

ambitious start the state had 

under Governors Obong Victor 

Attah and Godswill Akpabio. 

Growth, Opportunities and 

development in Akwa Ibom State 

have been in doldrums since 

May 2015. Transforming the state 

into the economic powerhouse 

that it should be, that is a 

challenge the incumbent 

leadership has not demonstrated 

a capability and capacity to 

tackle. 

As we enter the last 60 days of 

intense politicking before the 

2019 elections, none among the 

various contenders for the 

governorship seat in Akwa Ibom 

has presented a well-articulated 

manifesto as Nsima Udo Ekere, 

governorship candidate of the All 

Progressives Congress (APC) 

party. 

Ekere, a cutting-edge character 

and reform minded asset 

manager currently, Managing 

Director and Chief Executive 

Officer of the Niger Delta 

Development Commission 

(NDDC), cannot be mistaken for 

just another politician seeking to 

capture the exalted office of the 

chief executive of the state. 

Neither should his declaration - 

“it is time to get our state back on 

track,” be taken in vain. He is a 

man who knows what to do to turn 

around a critical situation. Aside 

from building successful 

businesses, his cogent national 

and international experiences in 

real estate, urban and regional 

planning and construction are in 

areas critical to the resuscitation 

of the Akwa Ibom economy. 

Ekere served briefly as Deputy 

Governor of Akwa Ibom State 

between May 2011 and October 

2012. He was for five years, from 

2007 to 2012, the executive 

chairman of the Akwa Ibom 

Investment and Industrial 

Promotion Council AKIIPOC, the 

state’s investment agency. He has 

chaired simultaneously, the Akwa 

Ibom State Emergency 

Management Agency and Ibom 

Power Company - the state’s 

independent power generating 

company. That put him in a pole 

position as the best candidate for 

the job at the Government House 

in Uyo. 

The plan he unveiled recently 

is concise and convincing. “The 

strategic focus of my 

administration will be to build a 

better tomorrow filled with 

opportunities for all Akwa Ibom 

people,” he said. In a simple 

sentence, that is building and 

sustaining a state of economic 

prosperity. Ekere has made this 

the first of the Five Pillars of 

Change he is advocating. 

His vision, recently unveiled, is 

founded on policies and 

programmes aimed at creating 

jobs and opportunities and 

promoting and propelling private 

enterprises to build industries 

and businesses. 

His strategy focuses on reflating 

the economy in the short term via 

a smorgasbord of direct job 

creation initiatives and initiation 

and implementation of local 

content requirements in all 

government activities. He has 

planned to tackle mass 

unemployment and poverty with 

a “quick impact action” in the first 

three to six months, driven by 

massive public works to reflate the 

economy and stimulate job 

creation in a way that “put money 

in the pockets of artisans, 

suppliers, and contractors.” 

Overall, the gamut of the 

policies and programmes aims to 

create 400,000 direct and indirect 

In totality, the 

action plans of his 

agenda are 

pragmatic and 

are designed to 

drive growth and 

opportunities 

jobs every year. 

A programme of conditional 

cash transfers of N5, 000 to the 

extremely poor, N5, 000 to 

orphans, N100, 000 per delivery 

for multiple birth mothers and N5, 

000 for the physically challenged 

is also embedded in the plan. 

His plan to domesticate key 

Federal Government economic 

programmes namely MSME 

Clinic, the Bank of Industrysponsored 

GEEP project, Anchor 

Borrowers Programme, and 

NIRSAL is an action that will 

further broaden the scope of 

economic empowerment for the 

state and its indigene. And this, 

shows his quality as an astute 

administrator and cutting edge 

character. 

The longer-term strategy he 

outlined showed a bold approach 

to purposeful development. For 

instance, the launch of a N20 

billion fund to raise a critical mass 

of transformative entrepreneurs 

(TEs), about 6,000 every year who 

would be empowered to stimulate 

the economy and create no less 

than 120,000 jobs. The initiative 

will be complemented with a 

vortex of skill acquisition 

programmes and funding that 

will allow them to function and 

be productive. This is a realistic 

way of shrinking the 

unemployment pool and 

growing the private sector. 

His plan to establish an 

Enterprise Development Fund, 

seeded with five billion naira 

annually to provide collateralfree, 

single-digit loans to SMEs, 

can hardly be faulted, neither his 

proposal to restructure and 

recapitalise AKICORP with N50 

billion and use it as a vehicle to 

attract investment into the state. 

An aspect of the plan that shows 

him as a leader with foresight is 

his plan to diversify the state’s 

economy to make it less 

susceptible to the pitfalls of 

petrodollar economy. Using a 

slew of agricultural initiatives as 

a job-creation vehicle that 

engages young people is at the 

same time “killing two birds with 

one stone” as the initiative will 

be driving the state towards selfsufficiency 

in food production. 

One of such initiatives is the 

Graduate Farmers Scheme that 

will promote the participation of 

500 youths from each of the 31 

local government areas. The 

scheme is conceived to engage 

an average of 15,500 individual 

every year as farmers and 

extension agents. And to 

demonstrate leadership by 

example, the government will 

lead the way by setting up three 

model Songhai Farms in the state 

while the launch of Community 

Farming Initiatives (CFIs) in 

three key areas of fishing 

development, food crop 

production and cash crop 

development will complete an 

elaborate agricultural plan. 

A particular objective is to make 

Akwa Ibom a top rice-growing 

state in Nigeria and a state with 

massive oil palm production. 

And with a Commodities 

Trading Cooperatives (CTC) “to 

promote and manage trades in 

export commodities like palm 

produce, rubber, cassava value 

chain, rice and aquaculture,” 

Akwa Ibom will be armed with an 

armada of agricultural plan that 

will ensure its economic future. 

Ekere is not attempting to 

reinvent the wheel; as shown by 

his plan for resuscitating the 

economy, he has simply tweaked 

a tested blueprint that produced 

results for the Asian tigers. 

The economic plan he unveiled 

has a human face,his promise to 

address all outstanding pensions, 

gratuities, local government 

workers’ salaries, primary school 

teacher’s entitlements and 

allowances. 

In totality, the action plans of his 

agenda are pragmatic and are 

designed to drive growth and 

opportunities in a way that 

address the state’s critical 

economic challenges. 

Can Ekere deliver the goods? 

He has a track record. Upon his 

appointment in 2016 as 

Managing Director of NDDC, he 

took over a commission that 

seemed to be jinxed with 

mediocrity. The 4-Rs Strategy he 

conceived worked like a magic 

wand and in two years, everyone 

agreed the NDDC had never 

been that effective. It won him 

public accolades and a back-toback 

garlands of The Sun and 

Daily Telegraph Public Service 

Awards in 2017 and 2018. 

His agenda is a workable 

roadmap for the economic 

prosperity of Akwa Ibom State. 

AKWA DESERVES THE BEST! 

Hon Eyiboh, erstwhile 

spokesperson of the House of 

Representatives, is current 

Chairman, Cross River Basin 

Development Authority. 

Udom: Providing critical infrastructure 

for economic transformation 

By Bassey Akpan 

LACK of critical 

infrastructure has been the 

bane of economic 

development in Nigeria for 

decades. This has remained an 

intractable problem that 

successive governments at the 

federal and state levels have 

had to tackle, with varying 

degrees of success. 

The imperative of 

infrastructure as the bedrock for 

socio-economic development (or 

advancement, as the case may 

be) could be seen from the point 

of view of the fact that at no 

stage can it be considered to be 

enough, even in developed 

countries where provision of 

infrastructure is a continuous 

process, despite the availability 

of what is generally accepted as 

the best. 

It is a different kettle of fish in 

a country like Nigeria with very 

high infrastructure deficit 

brought about by many years of 

neglect, as well as the proclivity 

to spend tax payers’ money on 

white elephants projects that 

have no socio-economic 

benefits to the people. It is one 

of the reasons the country is 

littered with abandoned projects. 

Addressing infrastructure 

deficit, therefore, is a process 

that can’t have an end. 

This is the fact that Udom 

Emmanuel established when he 

assumed office as Akwa Ibom 

State Governor on May 29, 

2015. The two previous 

administrations in the state had 

laid the foundation for 

infrastructural development in 

two key areas – power and roads 

– respectively. In order to get 

the state ready for the industrial 

and economic transformation 

that he envisioned, he needed 

to improve on those two areas 

and take them to a higher level. 

The governor identified power 

as being central to the realisation 

of the objective of having a 

strong economic base, and went 

to work to improve on what he 

met on assumption of office. 

Within one year of his tenure, 

he secured approval from the 

federal government for 

generation of additional 685 

megawatts of electricity from the 

Ibom Power Plant at Ikot Abasi, 

built by the administration of 

Obong Victor Attah, the first 

elected governor in the current 

dispensation. The effort saw the 

injection of 2 x 15MVA and 33/ 

11KVA into power transmission 

in the state. 

The government also 

rehabilitated facilities that are 

strategic to power supply at 

Ekim-Itam, Mkpat Enin and 

Ikot Ekpene. Today, between 85 

per cent and 90 per cent of 

villages and communities in the 

state are connected to the 

national grid, while some 

sections of the state enjoy 

between 18 and 20 hours of 

power supply daily. And in 

order to ensure the state remains 

an island of constant power 

supply during periods of 

national outage, the 

government has installed what 

is known as “dead bus 

technology” in the transmission 

system. The system would 

guarantee regular power supply 

in the state, even when the 

entire country is in darkness. 

Akwa Ibom is the only state in 

the country with such facility. 

The government has obtained 

a financial investments decision 

(FID) from the World Bank for the 

construction of a 540 megawatts 

Qua Iboe Power Plant at Eket. The 

project, which is being promoted 

by Qua Iboe Power Plant Limited 

(QIPPL), an initiative of 

ExxonMobil, is estimated to cost 

$1.1 billion, with an additional 

$500 million for gas to boost 

power generation in the country. 

Governor Udom Emmanuel 

said at the signing of the 

Memorandum of Understanding 

for the project that it would solve 

the country’s gas challenges, and 

commended QIPPL for its 

commitment to its execution. “I 

am always glad to be associated 

with something that will drive 

employment, provide the bases 

for industrialization and I think 

the QIPP is just one of them”, he 

said. 

Mr. Brian Herlihy, Chief 

Executive Officer of the company, 

commended Governor 

Emmanuel for his support for the 

project, and assured that 

construction of the power plant 

would commence before the end 

of 2018. He said the project was 

aimed at establishing a fruitful 

relationship with the 

neighbouring communities and 

also developing sustainable 

programmes for accelerated 

socio-economic development in 

the state and the country at large. 

He also said more than 20, 000 

indigenes of the state would be 

employed during construction of 

the plant. 

The various initiatives are all 

geared towards making Akwa 

Ibom truly independent in power 

generation – a necessary 

requirement for creating a 

conducive climate for investment, 

which the Udom administration 

has started delivering in the state. 

“I said our duty will be to 

industrialize Akwa Ibom and you 

cannot talk about 

industrialization if you don’t give 

Udom identified power as 

central to the realisation 

of a strong economic base, 

and went to work to 

improve on what he met 

on assumption of office 

power to the people”, Udom said. 

“You must create an enabling 

environment”. 

The governor’s intervention in 

critical infrastructure has made it 

possible for investors to begin to 

look in the direction of Akwa Ibom 

in a manner the state had not 

witnessed before his assumption 

of office. This is evident in the 

number of investments that have 

come into the state in the last 

three years, which have been 

responses to the favourable 

investment climate the 

administration’s policies have 

engendered in the state. 

“The government has been 

fantastic in terms of infrastructural 

support,” said Mr. Tolulope 

Ogunkolade, MD/CEO of Akwa 

Ibom Electricity Metering 

Solutions Company, one of the 

industries Udom has attracted to 

the state.” 

(Continues on 

vanguardngr. com) 

Bassy Akpan, a public affairs 

analyst writes from Abuja


Buhari’s second tenure’ll end youth 

unemployment, says Ngige 

By Vincent 

Ujumadu 

AWKA—THE Minister 

of Labour and 

Employment, Senator 

Chris Ngige has expressed 

optimism that President 

Muhammadu Buhari’s 

second tenure would end 

youth unemployment in the 

country, explaining that the 

federal government has 

put in place a programme 

that would achieve the 

objective. 

Speaking at Ojoto in 

Idemili South local 

government area of 

Anambra State during the 

passing out of 500 youths 

trained by the National 

AWARD: From left, 

Company Secretary, 

Fidson Healthcare 

Plc, Yomi Adebanjo, 

President/Chairman, 

Chartered Institute of 

Stock Brokers, Mr. 

Adedapo Adejoke; 

and Member, PEARL 

Awards Board of 

Governors, Mrs. 

Eniola Fadayomi, 

during the award 

ceremony 

Directorate of Employment, 

NDE, Ngige said such 

training programmes were 

aimed at ensuring that 

Nigerian youths acquired 

the required skills to 

guarantee them gainful 

employment and ultimately 

become employers of 

labour. 

The programme was 

sponsored by the minister 

as part of his efforts to assist 

youths in the area 

“Before long, 

unemployment in the 

country will become 

history,” he said, advising 

unemployed youths to 

register with the NDE for 

training in various areas of 

specialization 


Buhari administration was 

desirous of providing 

skilled jobs to the youths so 

that they would provide 

employment for themselves 

and become employers of 

labour, promising that the 

beneficiaries would be 

provided with funds to 

enable them start their own 

businesses. 

He urged the trainees to 

form cooperatives to 

strengthen their 

businesses, assuring that 

the cost of engaging in 

cooperatives would be 

reduced for them. 

In his speech, the 

Anambra State coordinator 

of NDE, Mr., Iroegbu Eke, 

Obi, EPF knock Osinbajo, Fashola over 

comments on 2023 presidency 

By Emmanuel 

Elebeke 

ABUJA—A member of 

the PDP Presidential 

Council and the Director of 

the Campaign’s CUPP/ 

Inter-party Directorate, 

Sen. Ben Obi and a political 

pressure group, Eastern 

Peoples Front, have 

described as insensitive 

and height of mischief, Vice 

President Yemi Osibanjo 

and Minister of Works and 

Power, Babatunde 

Fashola’s comments on 

2023 elections. 

Osibanjo had in Ibadan 

recently postulated that 

President Muhammadu 

Buhari will hand over the 

presidency to the southwest 

after completing his two 

terms of eight years in 

office. 

Before Osinbajo, the 

former governor of Lagos 

State, Asiwaju Bola 

Tinubu had, after a closeddoor 

meeting between him 

and President Buhari in the 

company of Bisi Akande, 

told Nigerians that Buhari 

had committed to shift 

power to the southwest 

after his tenure. 

The Minister of Works, 

Power and Housing, Mr 

Babatunde Raji Fashola, 

had made a similar 

statement when he urged 

his Yoruba kinsmen to vote 

for Buhari in 2019 said that 

the Yoruba would have 

another shot at the 

presidency in 2023. 

Obi in a statement in 

Abuja, berated Osinbajo 

for asserting that the 

presidency will revert to the 

South West after Buhari in 

2023, saying “the PDP will 

win the 2019 presidential 

election in which case 

Osinbajo’s reckless and 

morally outrageous 

scenario will never come to 

pass." 

He said: “The mere 

thought of making that 

insensitive declaration after 

Obasanjo’s eight-year 

presidential tenure and 

Osinbajo’s four years as 

vice president, in the 

context in which power is 

yet to rotate to the South 

East, is the height of 

political intolerance and 

mischief-making”. 

Obi directed Osinbajo to 

re-learn the historical 

circumstances that threw up 

the Obasanjo Vs Falae 

presidential contest in 1999 

and why the Late Dr Alex 

Ekwueme sacrificed so 

much to ensure that 

Obasanjo won that 

election. 

EPF reacts 

In its reaction, the 

Eastern Peoples Front, 

EPF, described the 

statements coming from 

the top echelon of the South 

West as "vexatious, 

provocative and an affront 

to the people of the South 

East whose turn it is to 

produce the president of 

Nigeria when power 

returns to the south." 

Elder Ken Emechebe, 

National Coordinator & 

Leader, EPF said:”We are 

not unaware of what this 

insidious campaign is all 

about. It is a devious 

blackmail aimed at armtwisting 

the Igbo into 

voting for Buhari. But the 

plot is dead on arrival. 

"Osinbajo’s revelation 

that Buhari promised to 

hand over power to the 

Yoruba is instructive . The 

said the concept of the 

training was borne out of 

the desire to ensure that 

unemployed persons in the 

country were exposed to 

the benefits of self- reliance 

through the production 

and marketing of 

household products such as 

soup and disinfectants. 

“It is my belief that you 

have been well exposed to 

the benefits and 

opportunity to improve and 

better yourselves and the 

country at large. I advise 

you to put whatever 

knowledge and experience 

you have gathered in the 

training into work. You must 

develop determination to 

succeed in spite of obstacles 

in life,” Eke told them. 

implication is that any Igbo 

vote for Buhari is a wasted 

vote. 

"We want to make it clear 

to the day dreamers from 

the south west that the 

political destiny of the Igbo 

does not rest in the hands 

one man or any individual, 

be it Buhari or any other 

person. The Igbo know 

what is best for them and 

will make their choice 

without intimidation or 

blackmail from the 

Osinbajos and Fasholas of 

the South West. 

“As a matter of fact, the 

Vice President’s statement 

is immature and impolitic. 

It gives Buhari away as a 

Nigerian president who 

does not mean well for the 

Igbo. If that is the message 

Osinbajo set out to send to 

the Igbo, then he has struck 

the wrong chord. 

"The right of the Igbo to 

the presidency of Nigeria 

in 2023 or any other time 

for that matter remains 

sacrosanct. No amount of 

blackmail can divert our 

attention from this quest. 

We remain resolute in our 

bid for the presidency in 

2023." 

I'll end pensioners 

sufferings in Imo —Nwosu 

Chinonso Alozie 

O WERRI—THE 

governorship 

candidate of the Action 

Alliance, AA, Uche 

Nwosu, yesterday said 

that he was fully prepared 

to end completely, the 

sufferings experienced by 

pensioners in the state. 

Nwosu spoke through his 

Director of Media and 

Publicity, Onwusanya 

Jones, when the Imo 

Future Initiative, visited 

him at his country home 

Eziama in Nkwerre local 

government area. 

However, Nwosu 

attributed the sufferings of 

the pensioners to 

corruption in the civil 

service, adding that he 

would step on toes to nip 

in the bud the pains of the 

senior citizens. 

The son-in-law to 

Governor Rochas 

Okorocha said he had 

concluded his plans on 

how to pay pensioners 

within six months in office 

Yuletide: Emeka Offor reaches 

out to 1,689 widows in Anambra 

community 

By Chimaobi 

Nwaiwu 

N 

N 

E W I — 

DETERMINED 

to ensure that no family in 

Oraifite, Ekwusigo Local 

Government Area of 

Anambra State spends 

money to buy rice during 

the Christmas and New 

Year celebrations, the 1,689 

widows in Orifite received 

one bag of rice each from 

Sir Emeka Offor 

Foundation, SEOF, during 

its annual rice distribution 

to the widows in the 

community. 

The widows also received 

a cash donation of about 

N5,000,000,00million naira 

and other items from Sir 

Offor and his friends who 

came to join him in 

celebrating with the women 

during the occasion held at 

SEOF Secretariat Oraifite. 

The rice distribution 

which is the brain child of 

Mrs. Adaorah Offor, wife of 

Sir Emeka Offor, the 

chairman of SEOF was 

done according to the 

widows cooperative 

groups, which included 

Chukwuzitalu Ezumeru, 

Udoamaka Irefi, Ofuobi 

Isingwu Njikoka 

Umuezeopi, Ifunanya, 

Chibundo Dunuamakom, 

Nwannekamaka 

Umunanakwa and 

Makuochukwu Ibolo. 

Similar gesture had 

earlier been extended to 

the entire villages in Orifite 

and associations including 

churches which also 

received one cow each to 

celebrate the yuletide but 

the one for the widows 

seems to be more appealing 

to Sir Offor and wife who 

were present to witness the 

distribution which was 

done after the widows have 

been entertained with food, 

drinks and other sundry 

gifts. 

Anambra govt commences 

construction of general 

hospital at Umueze Anam 

A WKA—ANAMBRA 

State Commissioner 

for Health, Dr Joe Akabuike 

says work will soon 

commence on the proposed 

General Hospital at 

Umueze Anam Anambra 

West Local Government 

Area. 

Akabuike said this on Dec. 

23 at Umueze Anam, when 

he visited the LGA to have 

a first hand, about rumours 

of outbreak of Diarrhoea in 

some communities in the 

council area. 

The commissioner, 

lamented, “Anambra West 

as governor of the state. 

As part of his plans, he 

said he was going to 

revolutionize the pension 

scheme so as to ensure 

upto date payment of 

pensioners in Imo state. 

He also promised that 

some of his ideas which the 

present government could 

not implement would be 

implemented if he 

becomes the next governor 

of the state, as there would 

be enough time for him to 

further address the 

challenges of the state. 

The AA guber candidate, 

said that with his strategy 

of Continuity, 

Consolidation and 

Correction that the answer 

to so many challenges in 

the state would be solved. 

According to the 

statement, “The 

governorship candidate of 

the Action Alliance in Imo 

State, Ugwumba Uche 

Nwosu has promised to 

find a lasting solution to the 

plight of pensioners in the 

state." 

is the only local council in 

the state that does not have 

a general hospital”. 

He noted that work on 

the proposed general 

hospital was in progress 

and would soon commence. 

The commissioner said he 

would also make a case for 

the dilapidated one at 

Umuoba Abegbu to be 

refurbished. 

Akabuike, urged health 

workers and community 

leaders of various 

communities to sensitise 

their communities to make 

use of health institutions.


a 

There is war on journalism 

By Christiane Amanpour 

I 

want to begin this 

piece on the deepening 

trials and troubles of 

a free press by pointing 

towards peace. 

The talks about talks between 

the warring sides in 

Yemen that took place earlier 

in December are a 

cause for hope. This was 

the first time Houthis and 

the Yemeni government 

have met, and even shaken 

hands, in more than 

two years. Yemen is called 

the worst war and the 

worse humanitarian disaster 

in the world today. 

There is only one reason 

peace talks have taken on 

this urgency: the brutal 

murder and dismemberment 

of a journalist. 

Jamal Khashoggi’s indescribable 

end at the 

hands of his own government 

has concentrated the 

minds of the world, most 

notably in the United 

States Senate, which has 

real power to affect the 

welfare and well-being of 

its Saudi allies. 

Therefore, I believe 

Jamal’s death makes him 

a martyr to the cause of 

peace, after hundreds of 

thousands of deaths, and 

as half the Yemeni population 

hover on the brink 

of famine and mass starvation. 

This year, Time magazine 

has quite justly 

named Jamal among “the 

Guardians of the Truth”, 

and made them its Persons 

of the Year. This is vital 

recognition and a moral 

marker, as the Committee 

to Protect Journalists releases 

yet another depressing 

year-ender, concluding 

that silencing 

journalists all over the 

world is now the new normal. 

It’s happening everywhere, 

most hypocritically 

in Turkey which stood 

up in great moral indignation 

at Jamal’s murder, 

but has just turned 

around and jailed another 

seven of its own journalists. 

Around the world 

the CPJ estimates at least 

251 journalists were jailed 

in 2018. This follows a 

three-year trend, but also 

a small decrease over last 

year, when a record 260 

journalists were jailed. 

I seek hope even in 

small increments. 

But to be hopeful, and 

to stand our ground, we 

in this profession have to 

be strong and determined 

and persistent. Because 

the war on journalism and 

journalists is coming from 

all sides, and at a time of 

major crisis in global 

leadership. 

Not only are we not protected 

by our traditional 

defender, the United 

States of America, we are 

in fact increasingly vilified 

and endangered by 

the administration there. 

A clear demonstration that 

words in fact do have consequences 

was the round 

of pipe bombs and real 

threats directed at individuals 

and members of 

the press like CNN — all 

targets of the President’s 

wrath. And as the free 

press comes under sustained 

assault in corners 

of Europe, even the EU is 

failing to stand up for us, 

under the weight of its 

own political crises. 

How will we continue to 

navigate not only a world 

of physical danger, but 

Saudi king shakes up govt in wake of 

Khashoggi killing 

*Two Reuters journalists, Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo outside a court near 

Yangon, Myanmar accused of obtaining state secrets 

Saudi Arabia’s King 

Salman ordered a 

government reshuffle on 

Thursday, appointing a 

new foreign minister and 

refreshing other top posts, 

after the global fallout over 

the killing of Saudi journalist 

Jamal Khashoggi. 

Foreign Minister Adel 

al-Jubeir was demoted to 

minister of state for foreign 

affairs, and replaced by a 

veteran former finance 

minister, Ibrahim Al-Assaf, 

according to a royal 

decree. 

King Salman also 

named Prince Abdullah 

bin Bandar, son of Prince 

Bandar Al Saud, who once 

served as Saudi ambassador 

to Washington, the 

new head of the National 

Guard and announced the 

hiring of several security 

intelligence officials. 

Al-Jubeir has previously 

said that Khashoggi’s 

killing was a “tremendous 

mistake.” In an interview 

with Fox News in October, 

he said that the Washington 

Post columnist’s death 

was the result of a rogue 

operation, and added that 

his government would 

punish those responsible 

for his “murder.” 

Turkish investigators, 

and the Saudi Public 

Prosecutor’s Office, have 

said that Khashoggi was 

killed and dismembered 

at the Kingdom’s consulate 

in Istanbul on October 

2 by a 15-man team of 

Saudi agents sent from 

Riyadh. The CIA concluded 

in November that 

such a mission could not 

have been carried out 

without the authorization 

of Crown Prince Mohammed 

bin Salman, heir apparent 

to the Saudi 

throne. 

Thursday’s appointments 

and cabinet changes 

come as King Salman 

and his son, bin Salman, 

attempt to demonstrate 

that they are overhauling 

the Saudi state security 

apparatus in the wake of 

Khashoggi’s killing. 

Pakistan: Ex-President Zardari faces 

travel ban over corruption 

Pakistan’s former 

president Asif Ali 

Zardari will be banned 

from travelling abroad following 

allegations of money 

laundering, according 

to the country’s information 

minister. 

Fawad Chaudhry told 

reporters in Islamabad 

that Zardari and his sister 

Faryal Talpur were 

among 172 people involved 

in cases of money 

laundering and use of 

fake bank accounts. “All 

the 172 names ... will be 

added to the ECL [Exit 

Control List],” he said. 

Zardari, co-chairman of 

the opposition Pakistan 

People’s Party and president 

from 2008 to 2013, 

has long been the subject 

also this post-truth world? 

There are only two options: 

to surrender with an exhausted 

shrug, or to fight 

on. The only way I know is 

to fight and to keep fighting 

for the truth. Because 

now, we are all Khashoggi 

, we are all the guardians. 

Let us resolve to head 

into another new year doing 

as Congressman John 

Lewis teaches from his Civil 

Rights struggle, and that 

is to go out and make good 

trouble. 

Extremism in defense of 

the truth is no vice, to paraphrase 

Barry Goldwater. 

Remember what Thomas 

Jefferson admonished: “a 

government without newspapers 

or newspapers 

without a government, I 

should not hesitate a moment 

to prefer the latter.” 

If a robust independent 

press, reporting without 

fear nor favor, was good 

enough for a founding father, 

then surely it’s good 

enough for everyone. 

And let me end as I began: 

good, independent, 

fearless journalism makes 

positive change possible. It 

took Jamal’s murder to influence 

the pace of peace 

talks in Yemen. 

And those of us who remain 

can point to all the 

positive change that we 

have affected, from peace 

in the Balkans, to uncovering 

and ending famines, 

to freeing child brides and 

sex slaves, to uncovering 

corruption, and the list 

goes on and on. This is a 

fight worth waging. 

of corruption allegations 

and is widely known in Pakistan 

as “Mr Ten Percent”. 

The announcement coincided 

with the 11th anniversary 

of the death of 

his spouse and two-time 

former Prime Minister 

Benazir Bhutto, who was 

killed in a gun and suicide 

bomb attack during an 

election rally in the garrison 

town of Rawalpindi on 

December 27, 2007. 

China’s ex-Deputy Intelligence 

chief jailed for life over graft 

A 

Chinese court has jailed for life a former highranking 

intelligence official for taking bribes, 

coercive business deals and insider trading. 

Ma Jian, previously the vice minister of the state 

security bureau, is one of the most senior security 

officials to be jailed since the former domestic security 

chief Zhou Yongkang was ensnared in a corruption 

scandal and jailed for life in 2015. 

“Ma Jian’s behaviour constituted the crime of accepting 

bribes, forcing others to trade and insider trading,” 

the Dalian Intermediate People’s Court in Liaoning 

province announced in a statement on Thursday. 

He was also ordered to pay more than $7.26m 

in penalties. The court said Ma, who was tried behind 

closed doors, used his political power to aid the 

business operations of Guo Wengui, a real estate billionaire 

wanted by Chinese authorities. 

The New York-based Guo has published a slew of 

online videos in which he makes sensational allegations 

of corruption in the upper echelons of China’s 

ruling Communist Party. 

The court said it reached the verdict on the grounds 

that Ma had taken a “particularly enormous” amount 

of bribes, and that his collaboration with Guo’s company 

was “particularly serious”. 

Ma had used his position to conspire with Guo and 

to help businesses Guo controlled by using threats to 

bring about illegal transactions such as compelling 

individuals to transfer company shares, the court said. 

Indonesia orders flights to 

steer clear of erupting 

Anak Krakatau volcano 

Indonesia on Thursday raised the alert level for 

the erupting Anak Krakatau volcano to the second-highest, 

and ordered all flights to steer clear, days 

after it triggered a tsunami that killed at least 430 

people. A crater collapse on the volcanic island at 

high tide on Saturday sent waves up to 5 metres (16 

feet) high smashing into the coast on the Sunda Strait, 

between the islands of Java and Sumatra. 

Authorities have warned that the crater of Anak 

Krakatau, or child of Krakatau, remains fragile, raising 

fears of another collapse and tsunami, and have 

urged residents to stay away from the coast. 

The volcano has been rumbling on and off since 

June but has been particularly active since Sunday, 

spewing lava and rocks, and sending huge clouds of 

ash up to 3,000 metres into heavily overcast skies. 

The national geological agency, in raising the alert 

level to the second-highest, set a 5-km exclusion zone 

around the island. 

“Since December 23, activity has not stopped. We 

anticipate a further escalation,” said Antonius 

Ratdomopurbo, secretary of the geological agency. 

A thin layer of volcanic ash has been settling on 

buildings, vehicles and vegetation along the west coast 

of Java since late on Wednesday, according to images 

shared by the national disaster mitigation agency. 

Authorities said the ash was not dangerous, but advised 

residents to wear masks and goggles when 

outside, while aircraft were ordered away. 

Sudan: Journalists strike in 

support of protests over bread 

price 

A 

network of Sudanese journalists has started a 

strike in the wake of deadly protests sparked by 

an increase in bread prices, while opposition groups 

have called for further rallies. 

Angry crowds have taken to the streets in the capital 

Khartoum and several other cities since December 

19, leading to a crackdown in which a number of 

protesters have been killed. 

“We declare a three-day strike from December 27 to 

protest against the violence unleashed by the government 

against demonstrators,” said the Sudanese 

Journalists’ Network, which advocates free speech, 

on Thursday. Sudanese authorities say eight protesters 

have been killed in clashes, but Amnesty International 

has put the death toll at 37. 

The Popular Congress Party, which is part of President 

Omar al-Bashir’s government, says that 17 

people have been killed and 88 wounded in clashes. 

The independent network said the strike was also a 

protest against authorities’ “barbaric” assault on press 

freedoms, including censorship and confiscating 

newspaper editions. Journalists in Sudan frequently 

complain of harassment from the authorities, and the 

African country has a dire rating on international press 

freedom rankings. 

Entire print runs of newspapers are often confiscated 

over articles deemed offensive by the powerful 

National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS), 

which is spearheading the ongoing crackdown on 

protesters.

YOUR LUCK TODAY 

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 

GEMINI: As mercury goes on backward motion today, it is 

important you don’t take things for granted. Watch carefully 

what you agree to do. But this is a good day for lovers. 

CANCER: Better than yesterday. Others will be willing to 

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

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

LEO: Those of you who are more enterprising will have much 

to show for your efforts. The more co-operative you are, the 

better for you. Don’t neglect love. 

VIRGO: Mercury starts going on backward motion today; 

therefore, you will need to re-examine both your personal 

ideas and advice given to you by other people. Be family 

minded. 

LIBRA: Provided you don’t allow others to mislead you, things 

will not go wrong. The more willing you are to take the initiative, 

the better for you. Take your love life more seriously. 

L E I S U R E 

TAKE HEART — ELLA RANDLE 

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye” 


“Shine so brightly that you illuminate a pathway for 

others to see their way through.” -Stacy Maxwell K.- 

See positive character traits in others. Somehow, everyone you 

know inspite of, must have many virtues, such as determination, 

generosity, kindness, patience, energy, grit, honesty, 

fairness, or compassion.Take a moment to observe these virtues 

in others. You could make a list of virtues in key people in 

your life - even in people who are challenging for you! 

- Ella Randle - 

SAYINGS OF 

OUR PEOPLE 

Two ants do 

not fail to 

pull one 

grasshopper. 

~ Tanzanian 

proverb 

By Kola Fayemi 

SCORPIO: This is your day. Although you will need to be as 

secretive as you can, your success will attract others’ attention 

to you to the betterment of your cause. Be ambitious. 

SAGITTARIUS: People who more influential than you will 

be willing to support your cause but you will need to make the 

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

CAPRICORN: Challenges of yesterday will, today, bring you 

good opportunities along your career/business lines to the 

betterment of your finances. Seek supports of powerful ones. 

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

pattern in order to enhance your career prospects. If you 

listeen to your creative self, things’ll work out fine for you. Be 

more loving. 

PISCES: Success is boldly printed on your cards today. Think 

of both immediate and far future while you are savouring 

goodies offered you by mother nature. 

DUDU in “ROLLING HOT” By A.O. OLAIDE 

ARIES: You should not have it tough while trying to win the 

needed supports of others. Take good advice from some of 

your friends who are creatively gifted. 

TAURUS: Your creativity quotient is enhanced today and if 

you demonstrate this within your working arena, you’ll earn 

success and consolidate on your recent progress. 

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING 

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING 

Send your date e and place of birth th to the Astr 

trological 

Counselling, P.M.B 100 

007, 7, Apapa, Lagos 

WHAT JANUARY HAS FOR ME? 

Dear Joshua, 

I have an important transaction to be carried out come 

January 2016. Kindly look into my horoscope and tell 

me what to expect in January. 

Roland, Delta. 

Dear Roland, 

You have three important periods ahead of you between 

now and March, 2016. Thus you are advised to study 

them and make good plans accordingly. 

This is a positive period for you. Your luck will shine. 

Major or good progress will be made, especially through 

MONEY The major challenge here is some people may 

be willing to move you out of where you are now to plant 

their stooge on one hand, on the other hand you may be 

forced or voluntarily embark on short distance journey 

capable to bring you disappointment. The last two weeks 

will bring more challenges at the same time they will 

make you VICTORIOUS in many ways. This is a period 

that will prove both lucky and peaceful. Genuine LOVE, 

satisfaction over youngster and real good luck will be 

yours. Here is a period one can win something like love 

or LOTTERY . Major warning here is you must learn to 

put some money away for raining days coming in your 

immediate future. Yes the raining days are here. HEALTH 

and LAW related challenges indicated. Family issues are 

making you uncomfortable. Practical approach to health, 

your being SPIRITUAL and willingness to play ball with 

those who want high bribery games are important here 

or else they will want to place higher degree of restrictions 

on you, financially especially. Yes you have to be 

more hard working and exhibit maturity. After all your 

efforts if they prove difficult, then you have to leave them 

to their conscience; as they will eventually fail, but you 

must show maturity first. 

VIRGINIA 

HOME & ABROAD 

dadadekola@yahoo.com 

By Lawrence Akapa


Emery backs Liverpool to 

match Arsenal’s Invincibles 

rsenal boss Unai Emery has tipped Liverpool 

A to match Arsene Wenger’s Invincible team 

by going a whole Premier League season unbeaten. 

Liverpool have won sixteen and drawn three at the 

halfway stage as they pull clear at the top of the 

Premier League ahead of this weekend’s clash 

between Jurgen Klopp’s side and Arsenal at Anfield. 

Wenger’s Arsenal team in 2003-04 are the last side 

to manage a whole undefeated season but Emery 

believes Klopp’s Liverpool are showing the necessary 

credentials. 

Emery said: ‘At the moment they are doing and they 

can do it. They are doing it at the moment.’ 

Emery also said that Liverpool are a perfect model 

for Arsenal to look up to as they set about recapturing 

their former glories. 

Emery said: ‘We played three years ago in the 

Europa League final with Sevilla against Liverpool 

and we beat them. 

‘But look at the process and it’s a very good example 

for us. The progression is clear: they were out of the 

Champions League and they are an example for us 

at Arsenal now. We need to be demanding of ourselves 

but we need time and patience is very important.’ 

Salah CLEARED of diving, to face 

Arsenal, City in vital fixtures 

Mohamed Salah will be available to 

face Arsenal and 

Manchester City in crucial 

upcoming Premier League fixtures after the FA 

chose not to take action after reviewing footage 

of his ‘dive’ against Newcastle United. 

The Egyptian forward went down under 

minimal pressure from Newcastle defender 

Paul Dummett just after half-time in their 

Boxing Day clash, winning a penalty. 

Salah will not face any action for the incident 

with Dummett, as the FA say, having reviewed 

the incident, that it did not meet threshold for 

deception of a match official. 

He could have faced an automatic two-match 

ban for tumbling in the box to win the 47thminute 

penalty - which he then scored - in 

Liverpool’s 4-0 victory. 

With those games coming against Arsenal and 

Man City, it would have been a significant blow 

to the leaders as they hunt a first title of the 

Premier League era. 

Referee Graham Scott pointed to the spot after 

Salah crumpled to the floor following a small 

tug on his arm by Dummett, leading to calls for 

him to be banned for simulation. 

However Salah has been cleared by the FA’s 

disciplinary committee, meaning he can play 

•Mourinho 

Trabzonspor want Kabore to replace Onazi 

rabzonspor are desperate to 

T sign a replacement for 

injured Nigeria international Eddy 

Onazi in the winter transfer market, 

according to reports. 

It is all but confirmed that the 

central midfielder will not kick a 

ball again this season after 

undergoing surgery following the 

•Onazi 

Emery also said he hoped the FA would not ban him after he 

accidentally kicked a water bottle at Brighton supporters during the 1- 

1 draw on Boxing Day. 

The FA are investigating but Emery, who sought out the 

fans to apologise, said: ‘I said yesterday my 

apologies. I kicked it in frustration 

and I said my 

apologies. It is one individual 

action. 

‘I kicked it without that intention of hitting 

anybody. I hope they will not ban 

but I respect the 

decision of the FA. It is one 

circumstance 

and action and it was not my 

intention.’ 

in the huge double header for 

Liverpool, who are six points clear at 

the top of the table. 

Manager Jurgen Klopp has urged 

his players and the fans not to get •Salah 

carried away however, despite this 

being a huge chance for Liverpool to 

win their first league championship 

since 1990. 

He said after the Newcastle win: 

‘It is good that we have six points 

more than other teams but that is 

pretty much what we wanted to do 

all the time. 

‘We wanted to create a basis for the 

rest of the season. Now the first part 

of the season is over. It’s very difficult; a 

very long way to go. We know that.’ 

Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez, meanwhile, 

bemoaned the ‘soft penalty’ that was awarded 

to Salah. 

Benitez said: ‘It changed everything and now 

you have to explain why we concede four goals. 

The first goal changed a bit of our confidence. 

‘We know that it is a big difference in everything 

but we have had some games. We made some 

mistakes and paid for that.’ 

Ramos to quit Real 

Madrid if Mourinho returns 

C 

lub captain Sergio Ramos has 

reportedly threatened to 

walk out on Real Madrid if Jose 

Mourinho returns as boss at the end 

of the season. 

Mourinho has been strongly tipped 

as a contender to succeed Santiago 

Solari, who was only placed in 

permanent charge last month. 

The Portuguese, sacked by 

Manchester United nine days ago 

following the Red Devils’ worst start 

to a league campaign in 28 years, has 

previously spent three years in the 

Bernabeu dugout. 

According to Mundo Deportivo, 

injury he suffered against Rizespor 

three days ago. 

According to Karadeniz Gazetesi, 

Trabzonspor will reignite their 

interest in Burkina Faso 

international Charles Kabore, who 

is currently on the books of 

Krasnador in Russia. 

With more than 90 international 

caps to his name, Kabore is one of 

Africa’s most experienced players 

and also holds a French passport, 

having earlier played in France for 

seven years. 

The 30-year-old was the captain 

of the Burkina Faso side that lost 1- 

0 to the Super Eagles in the final of 

the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, 

battling Onazi in midfield. 

The huddle to overcome in order 

to bring the Burkinabe to 

Trabzonspor is that Super Lig rivals 

Besiktas are also interested in his 

signature. 

however, Mourinho’s proposed return to the 

Spanish capital may be blocked by Ramos, as 

the long-serving defender will not stay at 

Madrid if the ex-United boss is appointed. 

Ramos fell out with Mourinho before the 55- 

year-old left Los Blancos in 2013 and recently 

said that Madrid do not need another new 

manager. 

Mourinho won one La Liga title and one 

Copa del Rey during his time at the Bernabeu. 

Ajibade signs for 

Norwegian clubside 

uper Falcons striker, Rasheedat Ajibade has 

S joined Norwegian side Avaldsnes IL on 

a two-year deal. 

The 19-year-old, who has represented her 

country at all levels, sealed the move from Nigeria 

Women Premier League club FC Robo Queens. 

She joins Cameroon’s Gaelle Enganamouit at 

the club. 

Avaldsnes manager Lena Tyriberget believes 

they have snapped up one of Africa’s most 

promising young talents ahead of the 2019 

Toposerien season which starts in March. 

“She is good with ball, is forward-looking in 

the game and has good drive. She is a player for 

the future.” said Tyriberget. 

“When you look at her age and her merits - she’s 

been central to the under-20 team and the senior 

national team, most recently in the Africa 

championship that Nigeria and Rasheedat won. 

“You realise that Rasheedat is a very promising 

Nigerian national team player. In terms of position 

as a player, she is typically either a number 8 or 

10 on the pitch.” 

Ajibade scored once as Nigeria won a ninth title 

at the 2018 Africa Women Cup of Nations in 

Ghana. 

Messi wants Guardiola, Neymar back 

at Barca 

L 

ionel Messi would love to 

have Pep Guardiola 

and Neymar back at Barcelona 

but admitted Paris Saint- 

Germain are unlikely to let 

their star asset leave. 

Neymar swapped Camp Nou 

for Parc des Princes in a worldrecord 

$253m move back in 

August 2017. 

The 26-year-old spent four 

successful seasons at Barca, 

winning La Liga twice and the 

Champions League once, but a 

desire to step out of Messi’s 

shadow is believed to have 

motivated his unexpected exit. 

“I see it as complicated,” the 

Barca captain said in a wideranging 

interview with Marca 

Asamoah Gyan loses millions, 

drags kids to DNA test 

F 

ormer Premier League 

star and Ghana 

Black Stars captain, Asamoah 

Gyan is reportedly broke and 

has just £600 in his bank 

account. 

Gyan, who made 37 

appearances for Sunderland 

after making a £13million 

move to England, currently 

plays for Kayserispor in 

Turkey. 

However, the 33-year-old 

insists he is not being paid 

and claims he has spent the 

millions of pounds he’s earned 

throughout his career. 

Gyan told MyNewsGh.com 

: “My front and back, up and 

down is that money (£600) you 

Serena welcomes WTA ranking 

protection for new mothers 

Egypt favourite to host 2019 AFCON 

gypt, the land of Pyramids 

E is the likely host for the 

2019 Africa Cup of Nations, CAF 

sources have hinted and by all 

indications the rest of the 

continent could be heading back 

to that football crazy nation next 

year. 

The last time Egypt hosted the 

Africa Cup of Nations, the Super 

Eagles finished third; a third 

consecutive bronze medal at 

three straight editions. 

According to sources, CAF is 

ready to rule in favor of Egypt’s 

bid to host the 2019 AFCON. 

After CAF stripped Cameroon 

of the rights to host the 32nd 

edition of the continental 

competition, alongside Egypt, 

South Africa also indicated 

Milan mayor apologises over 

racist chants on Koulibaly 

N 

S 

erena Williams has 

praised the 

introduction of more 

ranking protection 

for new mothers on 

the WTA Tour. 

Players coming 

back from 

childbirth or injury can use 

their previous ranking to 

enter 12 tournaments over a 

three-year period. 

In addition, they will not 

face a seeded player in an 

opening round. 

“I think it’s great,” said 

Williams who gave birth to 

daughter Alexis Olympia in 

September 2017 and 

returned to action in 

February 2018. 

“Women that are 

apoli star defender, 

Kalidou Koulibaly 

was subjected to ‘Monkey 

Chants’ by some fans at San 

Siro as Inter clashed with 

Napoli and Milan Mayor, 

Giuseppe Sala stated that it was 

a disgraceful act. 

Napoli said on their club 

website that Koulibaly was 

subject to “racist chants” during 

the match, without giving 

further details, while their 

coach Carlo Ancelotti said some 

fans made animal noises 

throughout the entire game. 

“Those jeers at Koulibaly 

were a disgrace,” wrote the 

mayor, Giuseppe Sala, on his 

Facebook page after 

Wednesday’s match. 

“It was a shameful act against 

a respected athlete, who 

proudly bears the colour of his 

skin, and also, to a lesser 

. 

“We would love him to 

come back for what he 

means, both as a player and 

for the locker room. 

“Although it is difficult, I 

would like to work with 

Guardiola again,” he said. 

“He is one of the best 

coaches in the world. That’s 

why I would like [him to 

come back], but I’m telling 

you that I see it as 

complicated.” 

Lionel Messi is the kind of 

player who always has an 

objective on the horizon. He 

has been spending the 

Christmas break with his 

family back home in Rosario 

but 2019 promises to be yet 

another year of landmarks 

for the Argentinean. 

see there.” 

Gyan left the Black Cats 

to join UAE club Al Ain in 

2012 after impressing on 

loan. He smashed 123 goals 

in 120 games before a 

lucrative move to Shanghai 

SIPG of the Chinese Super 

League. 

It is claimed the forward 

hasn’t had contact with his 

wife Gifty or three children 

since August and is not 

returning their phone calls. 

Gyan met his wife of six 

years back in 2002 but it is 

understood he has 

requested an annulment in 

order to marry socialite 

Nina Atalah. 

younger can go out there and 

have kids and not have to 

worry about it, and not have 

to wait until the twilight of 

their years to have children, 

and I think it’s a really great 

rule.” 

Williams, 37, was not 

seeded at the French Open, 

her first Grand Slam 

appearance following her 

return, but was given a 

seeding of 25 for Wimbledon, 

despite being outside the top 

32 in the rankings. She is now 

ranked 16th and will be 

seeded for next month’s 

Australian Open. 

The WTA’s rule change 

comes after the organisation 

canvassed the opinions of 

players earlier in the year. 

their intentions to host 

with formal bids 

submitted. 

AFCON President 

Amaju Pinnick explained 

that the Confederation 

would only consider bids 

from countries with the 

ability to host the 

competition. 

CAF will announce the 

new hosts for the 2019 

AFCON on January 9. 

degree, against the many 

people who go to the 

stadium to support their 

team and be with their 

friends.” 

Koulibaly was sent off 

with 10 minutes to play at 

San Siro, as he was given a 

yellow card for a foul and 

then a second yellow for 

sarcastically applauding 

the referee. 

That red card would prove 

decisive, as Lautaro 

Martinez scored a 

stoppage-time winner for 

Inter before 

After the game, Koulibaly 

took to Twitter to send a 

defiant message. 

“I’m disappointed by the 

defeat, but above all at 

leaving my brothers,” 

Koulibaly said.


*BOYS TO MEN .... Francis Uzoho, Henry Onyekuru and Samuel Kalu at the 

wedding ceremony 

Uzoho holds traditional wedding in 

Imo State 

*Rangers players... fresh and ready 

FRANCIS Uzoho has 

dumped bachelorhood 

after his traditional 

marriage ceremony in Imo 

State. 

The 19-year-old shotstopper 

is on a break during 

the festive period and 

decided to use the period 

to tie the knot with his partner. 

Uzoho has become the 

mainstay in the Super Eagles 

goal since he became 

the first choice shot-stopper 

before the 2018 FIFA World 

Cup in Russia. 

Uzoho had two of his Super 

Eagles teammates in 

attendance which included 

Galatasaray forward Henry 

Onyekuru and Bordeaux 

forward Samuel Kalu who 

both scored for their respective 

clubsides before going 

on a break. 

The ceremony was reportedly 

held at Anglican 

Cathedral playground, 

Egbu in Owerri, Imo 

State. 

There was little detail 

about Uzoho’s partner. 

Uzoho who is now a 

household name in Nigerian 

football has been the 

first choice keeper after 

featuring in all three 

group games against 

Croatia, Iceland and Argentina 

at the World 

Cup. 

He has continued to 

ward away opposition after 

the tournament in Russia, 

by featuring in the 

2019 Africa Cup of Nations 

(AFCON) qualifiers. 

Fulham join 

chase for 

Moses 

FULHAM is the late 

s t 

club to be linked 

with out-of-favour 

Chelsea winger Victor 

Moses. 

The former Liverpool 

and Stoke City star has 

been deemed surplus to 

requirements by Blues 

boss Maurizio Sarri. 


Moses was an integral 

part of Antonio Conte’s 

team during his stint at 

Stamford Bridge. 

Moses, Gary Cahill and 

Danny Drinkwater are the 

three most high-profile 

players to have been frozen 

out by Sarri. 

The former Nigeria international 

will be allowed 

to leave in the midseason 

transfer window. 

He has also been linked 

with Crystal Palace, 

Southampton and Burn- 

Christmas break: Rangers players to 

come back stronger-Official 

ENUGU Rangers ex 

pect their players to 

come back from the 

Christmas break stronger 

and better for the season 

ahead. 

Accordiong to Rangers 

International Football 

Club media officer, Norbert 

Okolie players are expected 

to be fresh and 

focused on the task 

ahead. 

Rangers’ management 

released the players and 

the technical crew to celebrate 

Christmas with 

their families and loved 

ones. 

“The break was due to 

the club’s good outing at 

the Confederation of African 

Football (CAF) and 

to ensure the club continued 

its good work in 

2019. 

“We want the players to 

meet their loved ones and 

come back stronger, fresh 

and with a positive mind 

set for the year 2019 challenges. 

“Rangers have a heavy 

schedule ahead of them 

and want to keep pace 

with it as we have the ongoing 

CAF competition, 

Nigeria Professional 

Football League (NPFL) 

and the Aiteo/ NFF football 

matches to prosecute. 

“The players are human 

and needed to see 

their kids, parents and 

well wishers above all receive 

parental blessing,” 

he said. 

Okolie said that the club 

management wants the 

best for the players and 

that the management 

gave the seven days break 

owing to the busy schedule 

of the club. 

“The break would have 

been more but for the busy 

schedule, the players 

have to meet up with heir 

preparations for the ongoing 

continental league 

matches and the league 

which commences on January 

2019,” Okolie said. 

The spokesperson 

thanked the club management 

for its gesture to 

the players and technical 

crew. 

Modric beats Djokovic to win Balkan athlete of year 

CROATIA captain 

Luka Modric was 

named Balkan Athlete of 

the Year yesterday, becoming 

only the second soccer 

player to scoop the prize 

after Bulgaria’s former European 

Footballer of the 

Year Hristo Stoichkov in 

1994. 

Ballon d’Or winner 

Modric won the Champions 

League and the FIFA 

Club World Cup with his 

Spanish club Real Madrid 

as well as being instrumental 

in helping Croatia 

reach the World Cup final 

in Russia. 

He was awarded the 

tournament’s Golden Ball 

Award. The 33-year-old, 

who received 75 points in 

the 46th poll, organised by 

Bulgarian News Agency 

(BTA), beat Serbia’s world 

number one tennis player 

Novak Djokovic, who topped 

the annual poll five times in 

a row between 2011 and 2015. 

Another tennis player, Romania’s 

Simona Halep, who 

finished the year as women’s 

world number one for the 

second consecutive season, 

came third in the poll, which 

is conducted by the state-run 

news agencies in nine Balkan 

countries. 

*Modric 

*Joe Udofia (right) presewnting the Unity Cup the champions 

Joe Udofia Unity Cup raises 

hope for grassroots soccer 

*Teams pocket N4.5m 

THE prospect of Akwa 

Ibom state becoming a 

major football hub in the Nigeria 

received a boost at the recently 

concluded 3rd Joe Udofia 

Unity Cup Football Tournament. 

The month long grassroots 

football tournament for teams 

in Use Abat Clan, Ibiono Ibom 

Local Government Area of 

Akwa Ibom state funded by a 

foremost philantropist in the 

area and Chief Executive of 

Vandrezzer Energy Services 

Limited, Joe Udofia came to a 

close on Wednesday at the Use 

Abat Primary School football 

pitch. 

The tournament which began 

as a talent hunting show 

Boxing meets music as GOtv 

Boxing Night 17 hold 

5-day Polo tournament gallops 

off in Jos 

IN order to consolidate 

on the returning peace 

in Plateau State, the 

NASCO Group Nigeria 

has sponsored a Polo Tournament 

to mobilize and 

involve especially the 

youths from all walks of life 

to compete and share in an 

atmosphere of mutuality 

and ensure the promotion 

and sustenance of peace 

in the State. 

The five days tournament 

has which has participants 

drawn from Polo teams 

across Nigeria is taking 

place at the Hassan Katsina 

Polo field in Jos. 

According to a statement 

issued by Group Corporate 

Communications/ 

piece three years ago with 8 participating 

teams from the nearby 

communities, this year had 

an an increased participation 

from 8 to 15 teams gunning for 

the ultimate N2m prize money. 

In the final match which featured 

the best of soccer artistry, 

the team from Inyang Isong 

community beat last year’s 

champions, Ikot Obio Okon 4- 

1 on penalties after a goalless 

90 minutes of play. Inyang 

Isong who emerged champions 

carted home the trophy and a 

whooping sum of 2 million 

naira, Ikot Obio Okon the runners-up 

received N1.5 million 

naira while the third placed 

team Ikot Amba got one million 

naira. 

THE much anticipat 

ed 17th edition of 

GOtv Boxing Night (GOtv 

Boxing Night 17) holds 

today at the Tafawa Balewa 

Square, Lagos. The 

event, a confluence of boxing 

and music, will feature 

eight bouts and live musical 

performances by Burna 

Boy, Wande Coal, Teni 

Da Entertainer and Daddy 

Showkey. The headline 

bout is the World Boxing 

Federation (Intercontinental) 

super featherweight 

title between Nigeria’s 

Seun “The Machine” 

Wahab and Issa “Peche Boy” 

Nampeche of Tanzania. In 

the other international duel, 

Ghana’s Victor Kemavor will 

confront US-based Nigerian, 

Femi “The Eagle” Oyeleye. 

The domestic scene is represented 

by top stars like 

Olaide “Fijaborn” Fijabi, Oto 

“Joe Boy” Joseph, Rilwan 

“Real One” Oladosu, Nurudeen 

“Prince” Fatai and 

Ridwan “Scorpion” Oyekola 

among others. The best 

boxer at the event will win a 

cash prize of N1. 5million. 

Compliance Advisor, 

NASCO Group Nigeria, 

Haroun Audu, the 2018 

event is aimed to amplify 

the values of love and togetherness 

to bring out the 

best of our shared humanity, 

particularly among the 

young people. 

The statement reads, 

“Over the past four decades, 

NASCO Group has 

consistently sponsored 

and supported the game of 

Polo in Nigeria." 

The sponsorship investments 

in 2018 have 

spanned direct deployment 

of resources to the 

tournament efforts made up 

of trophies, rehabilitation 

and branding of pavilion, 

renovation of horses’ stables 

among others.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2018 

TODAY’S PUZZLE 

Sudoku 

FRIDAY’S ANSWER 

TODAY’S CROSSWORD 

QUICK CROSSWORD 

THURSDAY’S SOLUTION 

How to Play Sudoku 

Place a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two 

of the same number). 

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines 

from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine 

blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no 

number can appear twice in any block, column or row. 

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or 

multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination. 

ACROSS 

1 Puppet moved by 

strings (10) 

7 Opposite (8) 

8 Smell strongly (4) 

9 Greek god of love (4) 

10 Futile (7) 

12 Scapegoat (8,3) 

14 Baltic country (7) 

16 Young horse (4) 

19 Pound (4) 

20 Needy (8) 

21 Branch of mathematics 

(10) 

DOWN 

1 Elk (5) 

2 Pasta dish (7) 

3 Monstrous giant (4) 

4 Late afternoon church 

service (8) 

5 Austrian province (5) 

6 Largest of the Channel Islands 

(6) 

11 One who looks on the bright 

side (8) 

12 Clean the dishes (4,2) 

13 Fetched (7) 

15 Command (5) 

17 Pick-me-up (5) 

18 The first man (4) 

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08027767834; 01-4544821. Abuja office: 7, Dambata Close, Area 7, Garki, 09-2921024. Ikeja office: 73, Awolowo Way. V.I. Office: Murplus Plaza, 27, Sanusi Fafunwa Street. Asaba: 21, Anwai 

Road. Benin City: 4E, Arusa Street. Port Harcourt: 50, Ikwerre Road; Warri: 102, Efurun-Sapele Road. Advert: advertproduction@yahoo.com; E-mail: editor@vanguardngr.com, 

news@vanguardngr.com, letters@vanguardngr.com. Website: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X) Editor: EZE ANABA. Phone: 01-4548355. All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.

28122018 - Killings: I'm for emergency rule in Zamfara — GOV YARI

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