30032019 - Appointments‘ll be on merits, national spread — Buhari

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2 — SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 30, , 2019

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 30, , 2019 — 3

4 — SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 30, 2019
<strong>Appointments‘ll</strong> <strong>be</strong> on merits, national
spread — Buhari
*Ensure religious, ethnic balancing in appointments, CAN tells President
*Calls for adherence to separation of powers
*Says each passing day inflicts anguish in Leah Sharibu parents hearts
By Johnbosco
Agbakwuru
P Muhammadu
RESIDENT
Buhari on Friday said that
merit and national spread
will <strong>be</strong> his guiding
principle in the allocation
of political offices in his
second term.
The President also
assured that every part of
the country will have the
sense of <strong>be</strong>longing in his
second term which <strong>be</strong>gins
on May 29 this year and
that he will continue to
strive for peaceful coexistence
among all
Nigerians irrespective of
their religious <strong>be</strong>liefs.
The president gave the
assurance yesterday when
the leadership of the
Christian Association of
Nigeria, CAN came to
congratulate him on his reelection
at the February 23
presidential election in the
Council Cham<strong>be</strong>r, State
House, Abuja.
On its part, the
leadership of CAN advised
President Buhari to ensure
ethnic and religious
balancing in his
appointments, stressing
that there was no religious
group in Nigeria without
qualified men and women.
CAN also told the
President to adhere strictly
to the doctrine of separation
of powers as enshrined in
the Nigeria’s constitution
and also double the efforts
in ensuring that the only
Christian school girl, Leah
Sharibu who is still in
captivity of the Islamic Boko
Haram group for not
denouncing her Christian
faith was set free.
Receiving the delegation,
President Buhari assured
the Christian leaders that he
was committed to leave
Nigeria <strong>be</strong>tter than he met
it in 2015.
According to him, “We
will continue to strive for
peaceful co-existence
among all Nigerians
irrespective of their
religious <strong>be</strong>liefs. In the area
of allocation of political
offices, our focus will <strong>be</strong> on
merit and national spread
such that every part of
Nigeria will have a sense
of <strong>be</strong>longing.
“We remain resolute in
the fight against terrorism
and insurgency, and efforts
to bring back all those in
captivity and other victims
of kidnappings will <strong>be</strong>
intensified,” the President
said.
The President who
affirmed that his
administration will
continue to address
important national
challenges including
security, economy and
corruption, told his guests
that the outcome of the just
concluded polls
underscored the trust
Nigerians have in the
present leadership in the
Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha with Professor of Law and former Chairman of
the National Human Rights Commission, Prof. Chidi Anselm Odinkalu when
the former visited Umuerem Umuhu-Okabia in Orsu LGA yesterday to commiserate
with the Odinkalu family, on the death of their mother, Dame Nneoma
Anthony Ihunnaya Odinkalu, KSG.
country.
Commending the
important roles religious
bodies have played in the
last four years of his
administration, President
Buhari pledged to
continue supporting
several programmes
anchored by the Nigeria
Inter-Religious Council
(NIREC), geared towards
peace, tolerance, unity and
harmony in our country.
Speaking earlier, the
leader of the delegation
and national president of
CAN, Rev. Dr. Samson
Olasupo Ayokunle, prayed
God to grant President
Buhari “everything it takes
to perform hundred times
<strong>be</strong>tter than” his first term,
stressing that the
organisation had the
success of this
administration at heart.
Rev Ayokunle welcomed
the President’s pledge to
run an inclusive
government in a speech
shortly after his re-election,
noting that the gesture
would give all in the
country a sense of
<strong>be</strong>longing.
The leadership of the
Christian body also called
for ethnic and religious
balance in the selection of
leadership of the ninth
National Assembly.
He said, “Your
Excellency, our advice to
you is to take your
leadership <strong>be</strong>yond party
politics. We were so happy
listening to your speech
after your re-election that
you were going to run an
all inclusive government.
“Having <strong>be</strong>en re-elected
President, you have
<strong>be</strong>come the President of all.
In view of this, we urge
you to see yourself as father
to all by embracing all. We
solicit for inclusiveness
and fairness as you
constitute your cabinet and
appoint worthy Nigerians
to the headship and
mem<strong>be</strong>rship of critical
agencies, boards and
parastatals.
My election, call to service, <strong>be</strong>tter
times lie ahead —Sanwo-Olu
*Gets Certificate of Return
*Reiterates commitment to run all-inclusive government
By Olasunkanmi
Akoni
National Commissioner
in charge of
Lagos, Ondo and Ogun
States, Dr. Adekunle
Ogunmola has urged Lagos
State Governor-elect-
Babajide Sanwo-Olu and
his deputy-elect, Dr Femi
Hamzat to <strong>be</strong> magnanimous
in victory in the interest
of the state.
Sanwoolu, in his ‘Thank
you Message’ after receiving
his Certificate of Return
at the Independent
National Electoral Commission,
INEC, Office,
Yaba, Lagos, reiterated his
commitment to run an all
inclusive government that
would accommodate all
interests.
He said that he would
open his door which will
remain open to everyone
in the state for suggestions,
ideas and advice on
how to take the state to a
greater height, assuring
that <strong>be</strong>tter times lie ahead
for all the residents.
Ogunmola, who was the
former Resident Electoral
Commissioner in the state,
<strong>be</strong>tween 2010 and 2015
gave the task yesterday,
during the formal presentation
of certificates to Sanwo-Olu
and Hamzat.
Ogunmola tasked Sanwoolu
and Hamzat on
good governance, saying
that they should not see
themselves as Governor of
their political party, but of
Lagos State and Lagosians.
He implored them
to discharge their duties
with honesty, integrity and
dedication.
According to Ogunmola:
“I want to admonish you
to <strong>be</strong> magnanimous in victory
<strong>be</strong>cause you are not
the governor of your party
but to Lagos State and Lagosians.
Lagosians are discerning
people, when they
make a choice they know
what they are doing, that
is why they place a lot of
responsibilities on your
shoulder.”
Only new election can save
Rivers — Cole
By Emmanuel Aziken
THE All Progressives Congress, APC candidate barred
in the 2019 governorship election in Rivers State,
Mr. Tonye Cole has lamented the lack of confidence by the
state’s political actors in the March 9 election and called
for a fresh election supervised by heavy security.
Noting the controversies trailing the March 9 election
and the acrimony <strong>be</strong>tween the two major parties involved,
that is the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and the African
Action Congress, AAC, Cole said that there was no way
that an acceptable victor could emerge from the contest.
Cole was, however, silent on his own involvement in a
fresh election in the statement he issued entitled, “A plea
for righteous intervention in Rivers State.”
While calling for a fresh election under heavy security,
he said that would <strong>be</strong> the only way for the true voice of the
people to resonate.
He said:
“If there is one thing that I am certain of, it is that the
entire election of March 9th is totally and completely compromised
from head to toe. There are no results that would
<strong>be</strong> announced today that would reflect the will of the people
in any form or manner.
“There are just as many people who do not trust and will
not accept an election that delivers PDP today <strong>be</strong>cause of
the <strong>be</strong>lief that the umpire has granted unfettered access to
the result sheets and a yeoman’s job has <strong>be</strong>en done on the
collated results that is guaranteed to withstand any scrutiny
through the Election Tribunals or any court of law thereafter
just as there are as many people who will not accept a
result that delivers the AAC <strong>be</strong>cause of the <strong>be</strong>lief that the
election day results were structured to favour them by the
direct involvement of the military as insinuated by the PDP.”
“INEC must therefore declare the entire elections of
March 9th null and void and set out a new date for fresh
elections.
“This time around, there are no distractions left and every
eye is upon Rivers State now. The violent elements can
<strong>be</strong> caged and neutralized so they are ineffective on the day
of election. We have seen this happen. The people can come
out to vote without the fear of intimidation and harassment.
We know this is possible. The electoral officials can
carry out their duties without compromise or fear of terror.
We know this is achievable.
Police stop protest by AAC
supporters in Port Harcourt
*Rivers bans street protests
*APC opposes Wike’s ban
By Davies Iheamnachor
THE police yesterday in Port Harcourt stopped the
protest embarked upon by supporters of the African
Action Congress, AAC, at the office of the Independent
National Electoral Commission, INEC. The policemen
had cordoned off the INEC office in Port Harcourt,
ahead of the planned resumption of collation of
the governorship and state assembly election results.
The protesters were marching to the INEC office to
deliver their protest letter when the police men swooped
on them using tear-gas.
The Rivers State Government had on Thursday placed
a ban on street protest in the state till further notice.
The Commissioner of Information and Communications
in the state, Emma Okah, had in a statement yesterday
said that government has banned political protests
in the state.
Supporters of African Action Congress, AAC, and the
Peoples Democratic Party, PDP however defied the ban
and gathered to stage protest in the state.
AAC supporters, who had gathered very early, had
planned to go to the INEC office to demand immediate
transfer of the Resident Electoral Commissioner in
the state, Obo Effanga, and an outright cancellation of
the election, while the destination of the PDP supporters
was not known <strong>be</strong>fore the police intervened.
Addressing news men, the Executive Director of Electorate
Rights Defence and Education Network, ERDEN,
David Adejola, descri<strong>be</strong>d the action of the police as
barbaric, adding that the police should not have dispersed
the protesters who were peaceful.
Save Rivers from crisis
Adejola, however, urged the Chairman of INEC, Prof.
Mahmood Yakubu, to immediately transfer Effanga
from Rivers State, accusing him of alleged incompetence
and bias.
Adejola alleged that Effanga allowed inclusion of
card carrying mem<strong>be</strong>rs of PDP to make list of Returning
Officers, Presiding Officers and Electoral Officers
for the exercise.
Adejola said: “We in the Electorate Rights Defence
and Education Network (ERDEN) is appealing to your
conscience as a Nigerian and as the chairman of INEC
to please excise the powers conferred on you by the
constitution and electoral Act of Federal Republic of
Nigeria as amended to call, reprimand and stop Mr
Obo Effanga from plunging Rivers State into unimaginable
anarchy.
“The March 9th,2019 governorship election and
House of Assembly election was already planned to
produce a premeditated winner against all known electoral
laws in the country.

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 30, 2019 — 5
Aremo Olusegun Osoba(R )led Ogun State Governor-elect, Prince Dapo
Abiodun(2ndL) to the presidency to officially present Abiodun’s INEC certificate
of return to President Muhammadu Buhari. With them is the Deputy
Governor-elect, Eng. (Mrs) Noimot Oyedele.
President Buhari(R) with Governor-elect Dapo Abiodun, during the courtesy
visit to the State House on March 28, 2019.
From left: Wife of Lagos State Deputy Governor-elect, Mrs. Oluremi
Hamzat; her husband, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; National Leader, All Progressives
Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Governor-elect, Mr.
Babajide Sanwo-Olu; his wife, Dr. Ibijoke and Senator Oluremi Tinubu, after
the collection of Certificate of Return to the Lagos State governor-elect
and his deputy, in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: KOLA OLASUPO.
From left: Lagos State Governor-elect Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his wife,
Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, receiving his certificate of return from the National
Commissioner in Charge of Lagos, Ondo and Ogun states, Dr. Adekunle
Ogunmola, during the presentation of certificate of return by INEC to Lagos
State governor-elect and his deputy, in Lagos, yesterday.
Onnoghen alleges oppression, as CCT insists he has
case to answer
By Ikechukwu
Nnochiri
...rejects his no-case-submission, orders him to open defence Monday
...suspended CJN seeks A-Court’s intervention
THE Code of Conduct
Tribunal, CCT, sitting in
Abuja,yesterday, held that
the suspended Chief Justice
of Nigeria, CJN, Justice
Walter Onnoghen, has a
case to answer regarding the
allegation that he failed to declare
his assets.
Consequently, the tribunal,
dismissed the no-case-submission
the CJN filed with
respect to the six-count
charge the Federal Government
preferred against him.
In a ruling that was delivered
by its Chairman, Mr.
Danladi Umar, the CCT, said
it was satisfied that Onnoghen
has explanations to make
on the allegation that he
failed to declare five foreign
bank accounts he operated
with the Standard Chartered
Bank.
Mr. Umar maintained that
the CJN had in exhibit 6, that
was tendered by FG, admitted
that he failed to declare
his Euro, Dollar and Pound
accounts.
It held that the confessional
statement was enough
ground to compel the defendant
to enter his defence to
the charge.
“The defendant had by
himself and in a written address,
without duress, admitted
that he forgot to declare
his accounts that are maintained
by the Standard Chartered
Bank.
“This confessional statement
is more than enough
to require the defendant to
enter his defence if he has
any.”
The CCT Chairman accused
Onnoghen of attempting
to rely on technicalities
to escape punishment.
He dismissed the suspended
CJN’s contention
that the Standard Operation
Procedure, SOP, of the Code
of Conduct Bureau, CCB,
was not followed <strong>be</strong>fore the
charge was initiated against
him.
Mr. Umar held that the said
SOP had since <strong>be</strong>en abandoned
after it was roundly
rejected by mem<strong>be</strong>r of staff
of the CCB.
He said the SOP was promulgated
by former leadership
of the CCB under Mr.
Sam Saba, “to serve their
personal motives rather than
national interest.
“The SOP was full of contradictions
and was at variance
with financial regulations
and the Procurement
Act. The staff objected to its
application <strong>be</strong>cause it attempted
to give most of the
functions of the Bureau to
only the Board mem<strong>be</strong>rs.
“The present board of the
CCB chaired by Mr. Isa
Mohammed has not adopted
the SOP.
“This tribunal is not bound
by technicalities but by the
interest of justice. The tribunal
will rely on the substance
of the case <strong>be</strong>fore it.
“It is obvious that the defence
lawyer is attempting to
protect the defendant from
receiving the penalty due to
him, by relying on the SOP.
“This tribunal cannot <strong>be</strong>
swayed from delivering justice
to whoever appears <strong>be</strong>fore
it, irrespective of the person’s
status. From the President
to the shoe-shiner on
the street, we are all equal,”
the CCT Chairman held.
He said evidence of all the
three witnesses that appeared
<strong>be</strong>fore the tribunal
and six exhibits tendered by
FG, were “weighty enough
to balance the scale of justice
to call the defendant to enter
his defence to the charge immediately.
“This is <strong>be</strong>cause he has
<strong>be</strong>en tainted so much and so
very badly. Based on the
force of evidence of the witnesses,
the defendant is
hereby ordered to enter his
defence if any.
“The address of no-casesubmission
is hereby discountenanced
and refused,”
Mr. Umar added.
Meanwhile, a mild drama
ensued after the CCT Chairman,
who did not allow two
other mem<strong>be</strong>rs of the panel
to either concur or disagree
with his ruling, ordered the
suspended CJN to open his
defence on Monday.
Mr. Umar refused to listen
to frantic plea by Onnoghen’s
lawyer, Chief Adegboyega
Awomolo, SAN, for the
case to <strong>be</strong> adjourned till Friday
to allow the defendant
to package his defence.
Awomolo argued that the
constitution provided that a
defendant should <strong>be</strong> afforded
ample opportunity to defend
any allegation against
him, saying he would need
records of proceedings of the
tribunal which may not <strong>be</strong>
processed <strong>be</strong>fore Monday.
However, as Awomolo was
still addressing the tribunal,
Mr. Umar stood up and started
moving out of the court
room.
Irked by Umar’s action, the
CJN’s lawyer started shouting:
“ Listen to us! Mr. Chairman,
please listen to us!
Monday is not convenient.
Don’t oppress us! You are oppressing
us. But what can we
say? God bless Nigeria!”
Meantime, in a swift move,
the CJN, yesterday, filed a
six-ground notice of appeal
to challenge the ruling.
Onnoghen, prayed the
Abuja Division of the Court
of Appeal to set aside the ruling
he said amounted to a
miscarriage of justice.
Among other things, the
CJN, maintained that, “the
chairman and mem<strong>be</strong>rs of
the CCT erred in law when
they overruled the No Case
submission of the appellant
in that the alleged petitioner
who wrote and submitted the
petition on which the whole
prosecution is predicated
was never called as a witness
by the prosecution and thereby
rendered his petition a
mere hearsay and this occasioned
grave miscarriage of
justice.”
Earlier <strong>be</strong>fore the ruling,
Onnoghen had demanded
an apology from the Federal
Government for dragging
him <strong>be</strong>fore the CCT for trial
over his alleged failure to
properly declare his assets.
The CJN who was temporarily
removed from office by
President Muhammadu
Buhari on January 25, owing
to allegations against
him, said he deserved an
apology, contending that FG
failed to tender any credible
evidence <strong>be</strong>fore the tribunal
to establish that he committed
any offence that was
known to the law.

6 — SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 30, 2019
TAX HOLIDAY: Appeal Court dismisses NLNG’s
case against NIMASA
By Emeka Anaeto,
Business Editor
THE Court of Appeal,
Lagos Division, yesterday
set aside the judgement
of the Federal High
Court, which had exempted
the Nigerian Liquefied
Natural Gas Limited
(NLNG) from levies payable
to the Nigerian Maritime
Administration and Safety
Agency (NIMASA) under
the NIMASA Act, Cabotage
Act, Marine Environment
(Sea Protection Levy) Regulations,
and other laws of
the federation.
The appeal court based its
ruling on the fact that NI-
MASA, the country’s Maritime
Regulatory Agency,
was not given fair hearing
at the lower court.
Honourable Justice Mohammed
Lawal Garba,
who delivered the judgement,
ordered the return of
the case to the Federal High
Court for fresh trial under
a different judge.
With this ruling it is <strong>be</strong>lieved
that the status quo,
reaffirming NIMASA’s
powers to continue to collect
the levies has <strong>be</strong>en restored.
According to lead counsel
of NIMASA, Mr. Lateef
Fag<strong>be</strong>mi (SAN), the effect
of the ruling is that the Federal
High Court is ordered
to revert to the fundamental
issue of fair hearing
while NLNG continues to
pay the statutory levies,
pending another ruling by
the lower court on the matter.
It would <strong>be</strong> recalled that
the dispute <strong>be</strong>tween
NLNG and NIMASA is
based on the refusal by
NLNG to pay 3% of the
gross freight on all international
outbound and inbound
cargo carried by
ships chartered by NLNG
and its wholly-owned subsidiary
company as contained
in the NIMASA Act
2007; the refusal by NLNG
to pay the 2% surcharge on
cabotage trade undertaken
by its vessels within 200
nautical miles of the baselines
and Nigerian coastal
and inland waters as contained
in the Coastal and
Inland Shipping (Cabotage)
Act 2003; and the refusal
by NLNG to comply
with the Marine Environment
(Sea Protection Levy)
Regulations of 2012 and the
Merchant Shipping (Ship
Generated Marine Waste
Reception Facilities) Regulations
2012.
NIMASA had in 2010
commenced an action
against NLNG, wherein it
sought for an interpretation
of relevant provisions of the
Nigerian LNG (Fiscal Incentives,
Guarantees and
Assurances) Act, CAP N87,
Laws of the Federation of
Nigeria 1990, and the NI-
MASA Act of 2007. In January
2013, the action by NI-
MASA was withdrawn in a
bid to amicably settle the
dispute out of court.
Following the continued
disregard of the provisions
of the NIMASA Act and
other relevant laws by the
NLNG, in May 2013, NI-
MASA sought to enforce
the provisions of the NI-
MASA Act and Cabotage
Act as empowered under
the Act, by demanding payment
of the respective 3%
and 2% charges due from
the NLNG, consequent
upon which NLNG vessels
were detained for non-compliance.
Upon intervention by the
Federal Government,
through the office of the
National Security Adviser
(NSA), an agreement in
principle was adopted, with
NLNG undertaking to pay
up all outstanding levies
and comply with the requirements
of the NIMASA
Act 2007, the Cabotage Act
2003 and other relevant
Regulations at the time.
NLNG made a payment of
$20,000,000.00 (Twenty
Million Dollars) and the
blockade was lifted.
In a surprising twist, the
agency received a pre-action
notice on June 18,
2013, from Counsel to
NLNG, giving 30 days’
notice of their intention to
commence legal action in
accordance with Sections
53(2) of the NIMASA Act.
This resulted in another
blockade on June 21,2013,
during which time various
issues were canvassed in
Court by the parties.
How Boko Haram terrorists abandoned Hilux van, 2
Toyota cars loaded with looted food items in
Michika to escape military onslaught — Defence
Headquarters
By Kingsley Omonobi,
Abuja
THE Defence head
quarters yesterday said
that the band of Boko Haram
terrorists who invaded
Michika community in Adamawa
state during the
week, were on a looting
spree for food and money,
noting that following the
successful onslaught against
them by Special Forces, they
abandoned one Hilux van
and two Toyota cars loaded
with looted foodstuff.
In a similar vein, DHQ
said that its operations
against oil thieves in the
Niger Delta recorded a boost
with the discovery and destruction
of an illegal refining
camp with 18 ovens, 18
coolers, 39 waste pits as well
as recovery of 26 surface
tanks and five pits cumulatively
filled with about
750,000 litres of stolen
crude.
Globacom’s Executive Vice Chairman, Mrs Bella Disu (2nd right) speaking
at the “Digital Economy” session at the 2019 Africa CEO Forum in Kigali,
Rwanda. With her,from left:are the moderator, Eugene Anangwe of TV47,
Kenya; COO of Africa’s Talking, Bilha Ndirangu; CEO of Computer Warehouse
Group, Adewale Adeyipo, and Chief Customer Officer, Safaricom,
Sylvia Mulinge.
Acting Director of Defence
Information, Col Onyema
Nwachukwu made the disclosure
in a statement while
giving an update of several
operations going on across
the country.
He said, “In its relentless
effort to ensure adequate
national security the Defence
Headquarters (DHQ)
has <strong>be</strong>en engrossed in tackling
the menace of terrorism,
insurgency, armed banditry
and sabotage of critical national
economic assets,
through coordinated military
operations across the
country.
“The DHQ has recorded
quite a num<strong>be</strong>r of operational
successes over the week.
“Some of the successes
recorded include, the repel
of Boko Haram Terrorists
(BHTs) attack on Michika
Town in Michika Local Government
Area (LGA), Adamawa
state.
“The insurgents who were
on a looting mission for logistics
had attacked a bank
and some shops in the area,
damaging an Automated
Teller Machine (ATM) and
carting away food items.
“However, the insurgents
ran out of luck when troops
of 143 Battalion and 115 Task
Force Brigade at neighbouring
Lassa in Borno State mobilized
to the area and engaged
the insurgents in a
fierce combat forcing the insurgents
to flee.
“The fleeing insurgents
were again ambushed and
neutralized by Special Forces
troops at Maikadiri Village
in Askira Uba LGA of
Borno State.
“The gallant troops recovered
one Hilux van, two Toyota
Starlet cars loaded with
looted food stuff and motorcycles
from the fleeing insurgents.
“Similarly, troops in Zamfara
State have arrested an
impostor parading himself
as a military officer in Tundun
Wada area of Gusau metropolis
in Zamfara State.
“The suspect who identified
himself as Abdulrasheed
Sylvester was arrested
while dressed up in
military uniform with the
rank of major.
“In order to stem the menace
of armed banditry in the
North Central part of the
country, troops of ‘Operation
Whirl Stroke’ conducted a
raid operation on a suspected
armed bandits camp at
Dogo Gawa, a border community
<strong>be</strong>tween Takum in
Taraba State and Katsina-
Ala in Benue State.
“In a shootout that ensued,
the bandits who were overpowered
by the superior firepower
of the troops fled,
abandoning their camp.
“The gallant troop’s recovered
one locally-made riffle,
one laptop, two cell phones,
SIM cards, ATM cards and
a sum of Four Hundred
Thousand Naira (400,000).
How police killed my husband
— Wife of A-Ibom NURTW
chairman
By Chioma Onuegbu, Uyo
FEAR of reprisal attack has enveloped Uyo, the
Akwa Ibom State capital, following the gruesome
murder of the Chairman,Nigerian Union of Road
Transport Workers (NURTW), Comrade Ubong Udo
Udofia, by angry policemen.
Comrade Udofia, 45, popularly called: ‘Evolution,’
was alleged to have <strong>be</strong>en club<strong>be</strong>d to death by four
Policemen, after trying unsuccessfully to kill him
through direct shooting.
Speaking to some newsmen at their residence at
179, Ikpa Road, Afaha Oku, Uyo, the state capital on
yesterday, wife of the deceased, Margareth, explained
in tears that her husband met his untimely
death during minor argument with a policeman that
led to full blown brawl. Narrating her ordeal, she
said: “I was just returning from the market when I
was called suddenly to witness what happened to
my husband. When I got to the place, my husband
was already gasping for breath until he gave up in
my presence.
“A Policeman had parked his car and was loading
passengers near the Itam Motor Park, when mem<strong>be</strong>rs
of the task force working for my husband accosted
him and directed that he should enter the park
and load so that others would not emulate him.” According
to her, when the task force mem<strong>be</strong>rs demanded
for the car key, the policeman refused.
The car, it was gathered, was pushed into the park
on the orders for the deceased to adjudicate on the
matter.
“My husband was inside another vehicle waiting
for the car owner, not knowing he had called four of
his colleagues, who arrived and immediately opened
fire on him. But when the bullets could not get at
him, they resorted to using gun butts to <strong>be</strong>at him till
he <strong>be</strong>came unconscious.
“Several other policemen attached to Julius Berger,
were called for more reinforcement, and more sporadic
shooting followed that led to people scampering
for safety including the task force officers,” she
explained.
Mrs. Udofia, who lamented over what would <strong>be</strong>come
of her nine children following the death of her
husband, called the Inspector General of Police (IGP),
the state Police Command and the government of
Governor Udom Emmanuel, to ensure justice was
done in the case.
“We have nine children to take care of and the eldest
is just 15 and none has entered the university.
So my appeal is that my husband should not die in
vain <strong>be</strong>cause all the evidence point to deli<strong>be</strong>rate and
premeditated murder <strong>be</strong>cause my husband and the
task force mem<strong>be</strong>rs did not <strong>be</strong>at the policeman.
“All they did was just to direct him to comply with
the regulation of loading in the park and not constitute
road nuisance by loading on the road side <strong>be</strong>cause
touting is illegal in Akwa Ibom.
“Luckily, one of the policemen who took part in the
killing of my husband was trying to escape from the
scene and unfortunately, his identity card fell off his
shirt. It was picked up as evidence on the scene.
Ekiti celebrates Fayemi’s
Appeal Court victory
By Rotimi Ojomoyela, Ado-Ekiti
EKITI people yesterday rolled out drums to
celebrate the Court of Appeal victory of Ekiti State
Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.
Various interest groups took to the streets of Ado-Ekiti
in solidarity procession in major streets of the state capital.
Interest groups celebrating Fayemi’s judicial victory
included mem<strong>be</strong>rs of Organised Private Sector, Okada
Riders’ Association, National Union of Road Transport
Workers (NURTW), Road Transport Employers Association
of Nigeria (RTEAN), Odua Peoples Congress
(OPC), Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP),
among others.
They had marched round the major streets of Ado
Ekiti <strong>be</strong>fore taking their procession to the Government
House amidst drumming, singing and dancing thanking
God for the governor’s victory.
The appellate court in Abuja had on Thursday night
upheld the victory of Fayemi, of the All Progressives
Congress (APC) in the July 14, 2018, governorship election
dismissing the appeal of the People’s Democratic
Party (PDP) candidate, Prof. Kolapo Olusola as lacking
in merit.
The Deputy Governor, Otunba Bisi Eg<strong>be</strong>yemi while
addressing the crowd assured that the victory of Fayemi
at the Appeal Court in Abuja would spur him to double
his efforts to deliver the dividends of democracy to the
people of the state.

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 30, 2019 — 7
Vanguard IWD discourse: Get involved in active politics, participants
task Nigerian women
By Ebun Sessou, Florence
Amagiya & Eliza<strong>be</strong>th
Uwandu
Participants at a
forum organised by
Vanguard Media Limited
have tasked women in
Nigeria to <strong>be</strong> more involved
in active politics as well as
channel their energy to
economic empowerment
rather than singing praises
of politicians.
The forum, tagged
Vanguard International
Women’s Day Round Table,
with the theme,
“Redirecting Nigeria’s
Future; the role of women,”
was held in commemoration
of 2019 International
Women’s Day
This year’s round table
had over 25 women drawn
from various sectors
including politics, business,
manufacturing, maritime
among others and was cosponsored
by Lagos
International Trade Fair
Complex, Radisson Blu
hotel and Bode Adediji
Partnership,
The participants agreed
that the nation had not yet
reached its potentials due to
the patriarchal nature of the
male that has inhibited the
full harnessing of the
womenfolk. They therefore
demanded that Nigerian
women should take active
participation in all sectors
of the economy including
politics, manufacturing;
commerce and industry
and engineering among
others.
Speaking at the event,
Mrs Lucy Omosefe-Ajayi,
Executive Director, LITFC,
said that until women kill
their phobia for politics,
they will not make
meaningful impact in the
country maintaining that
women have <strong>be</strong>en
accorded the opportunity to
participate in politics by the
present administration.
“APC led government has
given women opportunity
by making election forms
free for them. However, at
the grassroot level, some of
them have phobia to run for
electoral positions,
forgetting that they have the
warmth to influence
change.
“Formal education
should not <strong>be</strong> a setback,
rather women should know
that they have enough
mental capacity to make
changes. If women are not
educated, they should
endeavour to educate their
female children so that they
can enjoy the dividends of
political participations”, she
said.
In her contribution, Mrs
Erefa Coker, an
entrepreneur called on
women to constantly
develop themselves to gain
relevance saying “women
should create innovations
and build strategies to
enable them make impacts.
On ways to engage the
women positively, Uju Uzo-
Ojinnaka, CEO, Traders of
Africa, TOFA, said
engagement of women can
only come through
grassroot mobilisation;
expansion of the female
gender and putting women
in key positions in various
sectors.
“Against the notion that
women can not manage key
positions, it has <strong>be</strong>en
discovered that naturally,
women do <strong>be</strong>tter than men
in positions of authority”,
she explained.
For Mrs Kudirat Fashola,
CEO, Kuddy Cosmetics,
women should understand
the rudiments of politics and
take opportunities by
lobbying for positions for
women in order to chart the
way forward especially in
redirecting the future of
Nigeria using women as
tools for positive change.
From left: Ngozi Okafor, Assistant Director, Lagos International Trade Fair
Complex Management Board, Fatima Idris, Principal Trade Officer, Omotayo
Oluwatoyin, Marketing Manager and Chief[Mrs] Lucy Ajayi, ED/CEO, Lagos
International Trade Fair Complex Management Board, during the Vanguard
International Women's Day Tag: Redirecting Nigeria's Future: The Role of
Women, at Radisson-Blu Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. Photo: Bunmi Azeez
Psychiatric Nurse’s Murder: Ugwuanyi offers
N5m reward for information on killers
•Donates N10m to wife, children of deceased Uzo-Uwani scri<strong>be</strong>
In a firm demonstration
of his administration’s
utmost concern and
commitment to
apprehending those
<strong>be</strong>hind the assassination
of the Head of Nursing
Services at the Federal
Psychiatric Hospital,
Enugu, Mrs. Maria
Amadi, Governor Ifeanyi
Ugwuanyi has offered N5
million to any person or
persons with information
on the perpetrators.
Gov. Ugwuanyi made
the offer when mem<strong>be</strong>rs of
National Association of
Nigerian Nurses and
Midwives, Enugu State
Chapter, accompanied by
Joint Health Sector Union
and Association of
Resident Doctors, visited
him at the Government
House, Enugu, to seek his
intervention towards the
unravelling of the
The Nigerian Gas
Company, NGC, has
vowed to continue to
reward its host
communities that promote
peace and embrace
dialogue in the resolution
of their differences.
The Managing Director
of NGC, Mr Babatunde
Bakare, made the remark
at the weekend during the
official inauguration and
handing over of a Basic
Health Centre to the Iraye
Community in Sagamu
Local Government Area of
Ogun State.
Bakare who was
represented by the
General Manager,
Support Services, NGC,
Mrs Mariam Emmanel-
Ate, said the gesture was
a token of its appreciation
and contribution to the
assassins.
The governor who
disclosed that the money
wuld <strong>be</strong> made available
immediately to the State
Commissioner of Police,
Suleiman Balara<strong>be</strong>,
stressed that it would go
a long way in ensuring
that those who
perpetrated the dastardly
act were apprehended
and made to face the wrath
of the law.
Gov. Ugwuanyi
condemned the
unfortunate incident and
promised “to get to the root
of this crime”. He also
commiserated with the
families of the deceased
and her colleagues,
saying: “I am sincerely
saddened by the
gruesome murder of your
colleague. I share in your
grief. It is a solemn
moment for all rightthinking
persons”.
The governor, who
disclosed that he had
made several
interventions to ensure
peace in the hospital, said
he didn’t know that the
crisis in the establishment
had taken a new
dimension.
He promised to do all
that was possible to give
late Dr. Amadi justice and
ensure that such heinous
act does not recur in the
state.
His words: “To tell you
that we are serious, I am
making available the sum
of N5 million to the
Commissioner of Police,
Enugu State Command
for any person or persons
that will provide
information about the
people who killed this
nursing officer.
Embrace dialogue for dispute resolutions, NGC
urges hosts
Government
development of Iraye
Community as one of our
peace loving communities
in Nigeria.
He said NGC would
continue to solicit the
communities’ co-operation
and assistance for peace
and support for its business
growth.
“As a responsive
company, NGC remains
committed to developing a
robust and sustainable
relationship with its over
350 host communities in
the country to enhance
business growth”, he said.
Bakare thanked the
Ogun State government
and the traditional rulers
in Iraye community for
creating the enabling
peace for the project to
succeed.
Responding, Mr Jide
Ojuko Ogun state
Commissioner for Local
and
Chieftaincy Affairs
commended the NGC for
complementing
government’s effort in the
provision of healthcare
services.
Ojuko urged other
Corporate private
organisations to emulate
the NGC in providing
their corporate social
responsibilities to their
host communities.
Also, the Chairman of
Sagamu Local
Government Area, Mr
Olug<strong>be</strong>nga Daniel,
thanked the NGC for the
project and urged the
community to safeguard
the facilities.
He said that Ogun state
government was
committed to providing an
affordable and qualitative
healthcare services to the
people.

8 — SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 30, 2019
BATTLE FOR STATES: PDP rebounces,
gets 14 states, eyes Zamfara, Osun
By Clifford Ndujihe
WITH
the
declaration of
Ahmadu Fintiri of the
Peoples Democratic Party,
PDP, as the winner of the
Adamawa State
governorship election, the
opposition party has won
more states than it did in
2015.
Ahead of the 2019 general
elections, the PDP had 11
governors. The num<strong>be</strong>r will
rise to at least 15 on May 29,
2019 when new governors
and those re-elected are
sworn-in. If the Appeal
Court and Supreme Court
concur with the decisions of
the tribunal and lower courts
on Zamfara and Osun, and
the suspended Rivers
governorship election goes
in its favour, the PDP will
have 17 governors at the end
of the day. Currently, the
PDP is the only party that
produced governors in the
six geo-political zones of the
country.
Conversely, the ruling All
Progressives Congress,
APC, which had 23 governors
<strong>be</strong>fore the 2019 polls now has
21, which may further go down
to 19 depending on what
happens on the Osun and
Zamfara suits.
Fintiri unseated Governor
Jubrilla Bindow, who is the
APC candidate in the
Adamawa governorship
election, which was concluded
late Thursday night.
With Fintiri’s victory, Bindow
is the second sitting governor
that lost out in this election.
The first is Governor
Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara.
Fintiri was speaker of
Adamawa State House of
Assembly and later acting
governor when Admiral
Murtala Nyako was
impeached. His victory is
coming as a Yola high court
dismissed a suit seeking to
cancel the Adamawa state
governorship election.
The suit was brought by Eric
Theman, candidate of the
Movement for the Restoration
and Defence of Democracy,
MRDD.
Theman had dragged the
Independent National
Electoral Commission, INEC,
to the court for omitting his
party’s logo on the ballot
papers.
He asked the court to order
the cancellation of the election
and direct that a fresh poll <strong>be</strong>
held.
But at its sitting on Friday,
the judge, Abdulazeez Waziri,
dismissed Theman’s suit for
“lack of evidence”.
He said the applicant failed
to provide any evidence to
back his claim that his party’s
logo was omitted.
How PDP bounced back
The PDP won more states
by strengthening its hold in
the South-East and making inroads
in the North-East and
South-West.
In the South-East, the three
PDP governors – Dave Umahi
L-R Alaye of Odogbolu, HRM Kabiyesi Oba Adedeji Onagoruwa, with the
celebtrant, Lt. Gen. Oladipupo Diya (Rtd) and elder statesman, Omooba Samuel
Ogundogba, at the Gen. Diya’s 4th Annual Library Lecture Series held at
the Diya's Library and IT Education Resource Centre, to mark his 75th birthday
at Odogbogbolu, Ogun State.
(Ebonyi), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi
(Enugu) and Okezie Ikpeazu
(Abia) retained their seats and
its Candidate, Emeka
Ihedioha, snatched Imo State
from the APC, which was
crisis-ridden.
In the South-West, the PDP
also won Oyo, the
headquarters of the region,
compensating for its loss of
Ekiti State recently to the APC.
Last week, the tribunal
overturned the election of
APC’s Niyi Oyetola as
governor of Osun State and
declared PDP’s Ademola
Adeleke as winner. Oyetola
and the APC have appealed
the verdict. What the Court of
Appeal and Supreme Court
will do is to <strong>be</strong> seen.
In the North-East, the PDP
also added Bauchi and
Adamawa to Taraba that it
has <strong>be</strong>en controlling since
1999.
And in the North-Central,
PDP retained Benue but lost
Kwara to the APC.
The PDP, with the slimmest
of margins, 342 votes,
retained a foothold in the
North-West via Governor
Aminu Tambuwal’s victory in
Sokoto State. PDP may
increase its stakes in the
zone depending on what
the Supreme Court says on
APC candidates in Zamfara
State, including the
Governor-elect, Muktar
Idris, who the Appeal Court
refused to recognize the
primaries that produced
them. If the apex court
aligns with the appeal court,
the governorship, federal
and state assembly seats
won by the APC will <strong>be</strong>
Rivers Collation: Again, PDP accuses
APC of plots to manipulate exercise
By Dirisu Yakubu
The
Peoples
Democratic Party,
PDP, Friday, said it has
uncovered plots by the All
Progressives Congress,
APC, to cause confusion in
Rivers state and scuttle the
scheduled collation of the
remaining results of the
March 9 governorship
election in the state.
This is even as the party
claimed, in a press
statement by its
spokesman, Kola
Ologbondiyan yesterday,
that the APC was planning
to orchestrate violent
disagreements and crisis
at the stakeholders
meeting scheduled by the
Independent National
Electoral Commission,
INEC ahead of the
collation billed for April 2-
5, 2019, “so as to scuttle the
exercise and stall the
announcement of
Governor Nyesom Wike,
who is the rightful winner
of the election.”
The statement noted that
“In order to achieve this
ignoble plot, the APC has
conspired with certain
compromised security
agents to <strong>be</strong> bandying
phantom security report in
Rivers state, as a decoy for
the execution of their ugly
plan.”
It continued: “The PDP
is not unaware of pressure
<strong>be</strong>ing put on certain
security heads particularly,
handed over to PDP
candidates, who came
second in the various
elections.
PDP states
As it is, the PDP states now
are Abia, Ebonyi, Enugu,
Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Sokoto,
Cross River, Delta, Benue,
Taraba, Imo, Bauchi,
Adamawa, Oyo and Rivers
APC states
On the other hand, the
APC states are Lagos, Ekiti,
Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Edo,
Kwara, Kogi, Nasarawa,
Plateau, Borno, Yo<strong>be</strong>,
Gom<strong>be</strong>, Jigawa, Kano,
Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi,
Zamfara, Niger.
Anambra is the only state
not controlled by the APC or
PDP. It <strong>be</strong>longs to the All
Progressives Grand Alliance,
APGA.
the Directorate of State
Services, DSS, asking that
collation of results <strong>be</strong>
stopped.
“The APC should note
that their plot has <strong>be</strong>en
exposed and that Rivers
people will never allow
them to have their way.
Any person pushing such
heinous machination in
Rivers state will have him
or herself to blame.
WAEC “Forgery”: House
writes FG, demands
Obono-Obla’s sack
...As Buhari, IGP, AGF, NBA, UNIJOS ignore
House resolution three months after
The House of Representatives has written to the
Federal Government, demanding it to act on the
House resolution calling for the sack and investigation of
the Chairman, Special Investigation Panel for the Recovery
of Public Property (SIP) and Special Assistant to President
Muhammadu Buhari on Prosecution, Mr. Okoi Obono-
Obla.
The letter to the Secretary to the Government of the
Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, referenced NASS/CAN/
105/Vol. 25/044 was dated 5th February 2019 and signed
by the Clerk to the National Assembly (CAN), Mr. Sani
Omolori and referenced. Those copied for their immediate
actions were the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF);
Inspector-General of Police, Chief Justice of Nigeria;
President Nigeria Bar Association (NBA); Vice Chancellor,
University of Jos; Director-General, Nigeria Law School;
Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other
Related Offences Commission (ICPC); Chairman, National
Universities Commission (NUC); Chairman, Council of
Legal Education; Nigeria Law School; and the Chairman,
Body of Benchers. The CNA noted that “the purpose of
this letter is to convey the Resolutions of the House to you
and to request that you kindly bring same to the notice of
Mr. President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces
and all concerned for further necessary action”.
The letter reads: “The House of Representatives on
Thursday, 20th Decem<strong>be</strong>r 2018, considered the Report of
the AD-HOC Committee on Finance to Investigate the
Legality and Modus Operandi of the Special Presidential
Panel and subsequently recommended that:
“The president should <strong>be</strong> urged to dissolve the panel in
view of the arbitrary use of powers and abuse of Office by
the Chairman; “Code of Conduct Bureau should <strong>be</strong> utilised
to perform the gap that the Panel seeks to fill in the current
anti-corruption drive; “The President of the FRN should
discharge Chief Okoi Obono-Obla of his responsibility as
Special Adviser and Chairman of the Special Presidential
Investigation Panel (SPIP); “The Independent corrupt
Practices Commission (ICPC) should investigate the
allegations of corruption contained in the Audit Report of
the Auditor-General of the Federation on the financial
transactions of the Panel and prosecute the culprits;
“The Law Degree of Chief Okoi Okono- Obla, having
<strong>be</strong>en obtained fraudulently, <strong>be</strong> withdrawn by University of
Jos; “The Council of Legal Education should withdraw the
Law School Certificate awarded Ofem Okoi Ofem (now
known as Chief Okoi Obono-Obla) as it was based on the
degree which he obtained from the University of Jos through
fraud; “The Body of Benchers should withdraw the Call to
Bar Certificate issued to Chief Okoi Obono-Obla; “The
Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) should prosecute Chief
Okoi Obono-Obla <strong>be</strong>fore the Legal Practitioners
Disciplinary Committee; and
“Chief Okoi Obono- -Obla should <strong>be</strong> prosecuted by the
Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and charged to court for
forgery and misrepresentation”.
It could <strong>be</strong> recalled that the House had indicted Obono-
Obla of forgery of West African Examination Council (WAEC)
result following both oral and written testimonies by the
examination body. Whereas the WAEC result (Examination
No. 09403/247 May/June 1982) with which Obono-Obla
obtained his degree in Law indicates that he made five
credit passes, including Literature-in-English, official letters
from WAEC to the House of Representatives dated 11th
and 17th April 2018 and signed by Mr. A. A Okelezue and
Mr. Olu Adenipekun, respectively, showed that he did not
sit for Literature-in-English. Also, in his oral testimony
under oath, WAEC Deputy Registrar, Mr. Femi Ola, affirmed
the allegation, describing the result Obono-Obla’s parades
as “altered”, “not genuine”, and “invalid”.
However, more than three months since the House
adopted the report of its ad hoc committee that investigated
the presidential aide and the SPIP, President Buhari, IGP,
AGF, UNIJOS, NBA, Body of Benchers, Nigeria Law
School, among others are yet to act.
Oko Poly authorities hire
experts to fight cultism
AUTHORITIES of the Federal Polytechnic,
Oko in Anambra State have concluded plans to engage
experts that would assist it in curbing the worrisome cultism
in the institution. The newly appointed Rector of the Polytechnic,
Dr. Francisca Nwafulugo, who spoke during a reception
organized in her honour by the institution’s community
explained that the management of the polytechnic would
continue to demonstrate zero tolerance for cultism in
whatever shape or form in the polytechnic. “We are
already in talks with an anti-cult expert who is
expected to work with a vibrant anti- cult department
in order to put the menace permanently <strong>be</strong>hind us.”
Nwafulugo, who, until her appointment, a chief lecturer in
the department of chemical engineering at the Kaduna
Polytechnic, said her priority would <strong>be</strong> to achieve a polished
integrated educational structure that would make Oko
Polytechnic an outstanding tertiary institution in the country.

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 30, 2019—9
Please, <strong>be</strong>ar with me, I may
step on toes — Ihedioha
By Chidi Nkwopara, OWERRI
The 2019 general elections in
Nigeria, was originally scheduled
to take place last February. This
was however, rescheduled a few hours to
the <strong>be</strong>ginning of the electoral contest, by
the Chairman of the Independent
National Bank Electoral Commissione,
INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu.
“Logistics problem” was largely blamed for
the rescheduling of the initial date for the
general elections. This was how the
gu<strong>be</strong>rnatorial election was moved to March
9, 2019.
The sudden shift attracted divergent
opinions and comments, but the one that
readily comes to mind here, is the one made
by a lady that simply identified herself as
Sheeba.
“Chai! INEC has moved gu<strong>be</strong>rnatorial
election to March. With the level of anti-
Okorocha sentiments in the state, I can only
advice him to <strong>be</strong>ware of the Ides of March”,
Sheeba said.
Today, this can <strong>be</strong> said to <strong>be</strong> prophetic. So,
apart from March 9, two other dates have taken
prominent places in Imo history.
March 11, 2019, and March 27, 2019, will
no doubt remain evergreen in the history of
Imo State, and it’s citizens.
The former date represents the day, the
Independent National Electoral Commission,
INEC, thwarted Governor Rochas Okorocha’s
planned elongation of his tenure, via the
foisting of his son in-law, Uche Nwosu, on Imo
people. The latter is the day INEC reconfirmed
the people’s wish for a new <strong>be</strong>ginning.
With the eventual handover of his Certificate
of Return by the Commission, it <strong>be</strong>came very
clear to Chief Emeka Ihedioha of the Peoples
Democratic Party, PDP, and the citizenry that
power has truly charged hands in Imo.
The anti-Okorocha sentiments started
building slowly but steadily, ahead of the
gu<strong>be</strong>rnatorial election. Apart from the palpable
economic crunch, the level of intimidation,
high handedness, loss of means of livelihood
and properties, as well as the growing menace
of all manner of touts, fines, fees, hunger and
death, were the order of the day!
People kept on enduring the predicaments
slammed on them by their government. They
sustained their individual and collective
redemptive prayers. At the appointed time, the
almost famished people spoke with their
Permanent Voters’ Cards, PVC, and Chief
Ihedioha was announced winner of the poll.
The jubilation that followed the
announcement of the result of the
gu<strong>be</strong>rnatorial election, was simply deafening!
The celebration continued throughout the
night. Virtually all the <strong>be</strong>er parlours kept their
doors open.
People declared free booze in all the joints
and it it kept flowing. Fireworks were fired
into the skies till dawn. People thanked God
for li<strong>be</strong>rating them.
Somehow, the security
agencies did not go to
sleep. Saturday Vanguard
spotted armed policemen
close to the properties
<strong>be</strong>lieved to <strong>be</strong> owned by
Okorocha, his son in-law,
mem<strong>be</strong>rs of his family
and friends.
A police patrol van was
seen in the morning,
parked <strong>be</strong>side a new hotel
in New Owerri (names
withheld). On inquiry, one
of them confirmed that
“our boss asked us to
guard this property”
(pointing towards the
hotel). One thing is
clear here. There’s an
end to everything.
Another issue that
<strong>be</strong>came clear in INEC
Office, where the
Certificate of Return
was issued to Ihedioha,
his
Deputy,
Engr.Gerald Alphonsus
Irona, and the elected
mem<strong>be</strong>rs of the State
House of Assembly,
was that even those,
who were elected on
other party platforms,
eagerly wanted to take
photograph with the
Governor-elect! An
INEC staff (names
Today, this can
<strong>be</strong> said to <strong>be</strong>
prophetic. So,
apart from
March 9, two
other dates have
taken prominent
places in Imo
history
withheld), called it “a case of permanent
interest”.
Prior to this day, some loyalists of
Okorocha, approached the Federal High
Court, Owerri, urging it to restrain INEC
from issuing the Certificate of Return to
Chief Ihedioha.
Not minding the pendency of the matter
in court, and as if they wanted to create
undue tension in the state, the social
media <strong>be</strong>came awash with the fake news
that “Ihedioha had <strong>be</strong>en denied the
Certificate of Return”.
This was even when the matter had not <strong>be</strong>en
heard and a decision taken on it, either way.
However, the Court looked into the suit, it was
thrown out!
Another issue emanating from the
Okorocha/Uche Nwosu enclave is that
Ihedioha did not make the
required mathematical
spread. Again, they appear
not to know that the man
who announced the result
and doubles as the Vice
Chancellor of Michael
Okpara University of
Agriculture, Umudike,
Professor Otunta, is a
Professor
of
Mathematics! Like the
late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe
would say, “history will
vindicate the just”.
Chief Azubuike Nwoke
puts his feelings for the
day succinctly. Please,
hear him:
“In life there is always
a <strong>be</strong>ginning of every
event and activity and
there is compulsorily, an
end. That is life for all of
us. The struggle,
pursuit cum battle of who
<strong>be</strong>comes the Governor of
our great State Imo, has
come and gone.
“Today’s history worthy
of mention. Today it’s
<strong>be</strong>en written in gold.
Imolites know it wasn’t a
child’s play. It was a
battle of the Titans. It was
a battle of the great minds
and people of strength. To
God <strong>be</strong> all the glory that
•Ihedioha
as of this morning, Rt Hon Emeka
Ihedioha was issued his Certificate of
Return in grand style amidst fanfare and
jubilation. It can’t <strong>be</strong> any <strong>be</strong>tter. Lord Almighty
who made this possible, we return all the
honour and glory to your Majestic, Wonderful
and Mighty name.”
For a United States of America based
attorney, Mr. Stanley Ozuzu, the Imo people’s
dream has <strong>be</strong>come a reality.
“Our people should unite now with a view
to achieving our collective, enviable and solid
success. Honestly, today marks a new dawn.
Those in court at any level against Chief
Ihedioha, should please, have a rethink and
drop such cases”, Ozuzu pleaded.
Addressing the victorious candidates, the
Imo State Resident Electoral Commissioner,
REC, Professor Francis Ezeonu, urged them
to <strong>be</strong> magnanimous in victory.
“You must learn to have a large heart to
accommodate all. If the Lord has blessed you
and given you the opportunity to serve the
people, you must aim at serving selflessly and
with distinction. This is the only thing that will
make the people happy”, Ezeonu said.
Responding, Chief Ihedioha explained that
his target is to get Imo State working again.
“I want to assure you that our
government will give every Imolite
reasons to smile again. What we want to
achieve is to institute a procedure, a due
process by which activities will run
smoothly, where we can practice
democracy in the true sense of it”,
Ihedioha said.
While expressing regret that so much
damage has <strong>be</strong>en done to the State, even
as he maintained that expectations were
very high.
“I am very committed to li<strong>be</strong>rating our
State. I will strive to correct the ills in our
State and make things work for <strong>be</strong>tter.
“In the course of it, we will step on
some toes. I want to appeal to those that
may <strong>be</strong> hurt not to take it to heart but
rather <strong>be</strong>ar with us and accept it as a
sacrifice in the rebuilding process”,
Ihedioha said.
In the true spirit of Ihedioha’s style, the
Governor-elect moved mem<strong>be</strong>rs of his
entourage to Assumpta Cathedral, Owerri,
where he presented his Certificate of Return
to the Catholic Archbishop of Owerri
Ecclesiastical Province, His Grace, Most
Rev. Dr. Anthony J. V. Obinna, who also
prayed for him.
OKOROCHA AND
THE PROVERBIAL
HOUSE FLY
By Chidi Nkwopara
Our forefathers may not have had the
opportunity of embracing the Western
style of education, but they had a lot of
wisdom!
Please, take time and ruminate over
the Igbo saying that “a recalcitrant
house fly is often buried with the
corpse “, or “if the ear refuses to hear,
when the head is cut off, it goes with
the head”.
All of them depict wisdom. They
remain true and relevant today as they
were, when the words of wisdom were
coined centuries ago!
Governor Rochas Okorocha, no doubt,
came into office through the collective
will of the people. He <strong>be</strong>came idol of
commercial tricycle operators, artisans
and even pastors.
Okorocha branded the tricycle
operators as “Imo Rescue Pilots” and
the pastors, “Rescue Missionaries”. He
had baptismal names for other groups.
Again, at inception, he would break
protocol and stop along any street in
Owerri, to buy “akara” or roasted corn!
For the citizenry, “this governor is not
like the previous ones”.
Okorocha turned the distribution of
kerosene at the Dan Anyiam Stadium
Complex, Owerri, and the payment of
pensioners, a huge funfair!
The days, weeks and months rolled
by and things <strong>be</strong>gan to change for the
worse. Kerosene was not shared again.
The tankers that brought the petroleum
product to the stadium, parked
sometime at the Ikemba Ojukwu
Convention Centre, where Okorocha
initially moved the Office of the
Secretary to the Government of Imo
State, and later developed wings.
Pensioners, who thought it was
Uhuru when Okorocha came on board,
were thrown away like used tissue
paper. There was no longer the love to
stop and eat akara at the roadside. The
slide continued.
Then came his “dualization of
Owerri-Orlu-Mg<strong>be</strong>e-Urualla-Osina
federal highway, among other alleged
road constructions. Several buildings,
public power supply facilities and
economic trees were felled. No
compensations were paid! This road
has remained unfinished, eight years
after!
In Owerri municipality, the solid
roads and underground drainage
system, built by the Sam Onunaka
Mbakwe administration, were
brazenly destroyed. With the full
support the Army, Air Force and the
Police, the ancestral Ekeukwu Owerri
Market and the New Market were
destroyed. The 10-year old
Somtochukwu I<strong>be</strong>anusi, the only son
of his family, was killed in the process!
This writer had, on several occasions,
told Okorocha during press parley in
his palatial residence at Spibat, that he
would find it difficult to remove the
ancestral market of Nde Owere. Today,
I can repeat what late Dr. Nnamdi
Azikiwe told the late administrator of
the defunct East Central State, Chief
Ukpabi Asika: “History will vindicate
the just”.
Okorocha was all knowing and this
probably explains why many of those,
who came with him at inception, left. Some
in shame and others, unceremoniously. The
list is long!
This was where his problem started. He
never listened to wise counsel, even from
clerics! Before anybody knew it, his acolytes
started doing more damage to his image
and that of his administration.
Stories abound about what his followers
did at Obiri Odenigbo, Assumpta
Cathedral, Owerri, and during a Requiem
Mass at Ngwoma Obu<strong>be</strong>. None of them
thought that the day of reckoning would
come!
His unhidden agenda to foist his son inlaw,
Uche Nwosu, on the rest of us,
appeared to <strong>be</strong> the last straw that broke
the Carmel’s back. People’s resistance did
not mean anything to him. He thought that
his words were final. He forgot his
“ohashierism” and “i<strong>be</strong>riverism” lectures.
Imo people obviously had more than
their fair share of suffering. At the
appropriate time, they showed it with
their Permanent voters Card. Who said
that our ancestors were not wise? Rt.
Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, you are
welcome on board.

10—SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 30, 2019
ELECTION INFRACTIONS:
How women used menstrual
blood to stop soldiers in Rivers
•Soldiers aborted mission to hijack ballot boxes after mysterious incident – Women leader
•Bottle of dry gin poured on vehicles, prayers offered <strong>be</strong>fore vehicles started
•We didn’t eat, bath, sleep for 3 nights to terminate soldiers’ mission – Iyama
By Emma Amaize, Regional Editor, South-
South and Egufe Yafugborhi (Port Harcourt)
ALARMED Nigerian soldiers
were forced to abandon their
mission to hijack ballot boxes
during the March 9
Governorship/House of
Assembly elections when a leader of the
protesting women of Ogu/Bolo
communities in Rivers State, out of
desperation, sprinkled blood from her
drenched menstrual pad on military
patrol vehicles and by some mystical
interference, the engines refused to kick.
The protesting women leader and Vice
Chair, Ogu/Bolo local government area,
Barrister Christiana Tamuno<strong>be</strong>retonari,
confirmed she took off her heavilysoaked
menstrual pad, squeezed the
blood all over Army patrol vehicles and
the drivers could not start the vehicles. It
was mysterious.
Tamuno<strong>be</strong>retonari, the Nigerian
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez had to pour a
bottle of dry gin on the military vehicles
and prayed or rather uttered incantations
<strong>be</strong>fore they started. Following the strange
incident, soldiers left, aborting their
mission to cart away ballot materials.
Ocasio-Cortez is an Amercian politician
and activist noted for her social media
presence and descri<strong>be</strong>d by Time
Magazine as “second most talked about
politician in America.”
She and other women activists shared
their experiences at a one-day
seminar on “Mobilizing and
Raising Women’s Voices against Election
Violence,” in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State,
sponsored by the Foundation for
Partnership Initiative in the Niger
Delta, PIND, and European Union,
EU, facilitated by Academic Associates
PeaceWorks.
The boldness of the heroic women from
Okrika, Ogu/Bolo, Abonnema and others,
who took non-violent measures to stop
soldiers and police to some level from
tampering with votes cast by the
electorate and preserve ballot materials,
necessitated the event.
How G5 mobilized
women for action
Barrister Tamuno<strong>be</strong>retonari, vice chair
of Ogu/Bolo local government, who was
the cynosure of all eyes at the workshop,
said, “When it comes to expression of
female power in our community, it is not
The boldness of the
heroic women from
Okrika, Ogu/Bolo,
Abonnema and others,
who took non-violent
measures to stop
soldiers and police to
some level from
tampering with votes
cast by the electorate
and preserve ballot
materials, necessitated
the event
narrowed to the very young like us. We
have various groups meeting regularly to
strengthen women role in moving our
community forward.”
“Then we have this friends’ circle, the
Gallant Five, G5, which advocates
unifying force around other groups. When
challenged by communal violence, the
Obolorebi, a body of women, who have
attained menopause, comes to the rescue
with inherent powers to avert looming
violence. We <strong>be</strong>long to different political
parties, but we agreed that the overriding
interest during elections was the peace
of our community, peace of the local
government and the state at large.
“On the day of the Presidential
Elections, we already heard what was
happening very early in Abonnema. We
knew there was danger ahead of us and
the Obolorebi mobilized for action. We
ruled that after voting, no female leaves
her unit. You must stay-put, insist they
count votes and winner declared in your
unit.
“So after voting, we heard some
soldiers were coming in their num<strong>be</strong>rs at
the prompting of one political party to
Continues on pg 11

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 30, 2019—11
Soldiers aborted mission to hijack ballot t boxes after
myst
ysterious incident – Women leader
Delta women leaders
Continues from pg 10
hijack the results. We ran to the local
government collation center. A woman
that we had <strong>be</strong>en alerted about came,
brought the army, but they were unable
to invade the collation center.
Successfully, they collated results. For the
results to get to the main collation center
at Elekohia and INEC, we reasoned they
could intercept the men in
transit and hijack the results.
“We (women) went in more
than four vehicles escorted
the results to Elekohia, first
with results for the senatorial,
and to INEC to drop that of
the Presidential and House of
Representatives, that in Port
Harcourt, the state capital.
However, we heard they took
away results for Okrika, our
mother local government area
away.
“We bled in our heart and
communicated to the women
in Okrika to emulate what we
did to ensure affliction did not
arise the second time. We are
glad they listened and the
outcome was in the
affirmative.
“Coming to the
governorship and state
assembly elections, we had to
build more on the precedence
we had set. Some women in
other localities said they
would not come out with what
has happened, but we told
ourselves in Ogu/Bolo, every
woman must come <strong>be</strong>cause
the hijackers would do more
than they did in the
Presidential election if we do
not come out to vote and
protect it.
Captain led military
incursion, rebuffed DPO
The revolt leader further said, “On the
Wednesday <strong>be</strong>fore the governorship election,
military came into Ogu, broke into houses and
arrested several youths, including
Ambassador Best. They pulled him from the
ceiling, broke his head, <strong>be</strong>at up the wife, so
many persons. Our men were molested and
taken away. Some ran into the mangroves.
“We <strong>be</strong>came aggrieved. Women came out
with placards protesting against the military
for disrupting the peace in our community.
The DPO in the locality confirmed appealing
to the Captain, who led the invading soldiers
to let the community <strong>be</strong>.
“We went to the JTF, DSS in the area to
report to them, crying. We marched to the
community square and reminded God of our
plea not to allow politics divide and destroy
our community.
“On Thursday, some military personnel
intercepted RAC agents from different
political parties, who went to escort materials
to the council headquarters, taking 11 of them
away. The resident Army team, unhappy with
the development, got signals from their
commander ordering recovery of those
materials from the unknown soldiers who
hijacked them. They succeeded in recovering
and bringing them down to the community.
“From that point, we gathered at the local
INEC office to watch over the recovered
materials. We ate there, slept there, praying to
God that no enemy comes to take away the
materials. We kept vigil there.
Some thugs attempted breaking into the
INEC office on Friday, we stopped them, we
waited until Saturday morning for materials
to <strong>be</strong> distributed to various wards and polling
units.
“We left on strong note of advice, challenging
every woman to locate their units, cast their
vote and watch the
process till results
for your respective
units are counted
and declared and
escort the materials
and result through
the ward to local
government
collation centers.
Some people were
also party agents.
We did as
collectively
instructed, followed
the results all
through to local
We bled in our
heart and
communicated to
the women in
Okrika to emulate
what we did to
ensure affliction
did not arise the
second time
government area
center where
results were well
determined and
copies given to all
party agents.
“ W i t h
documentary
evidence to show
the genuinely
collated results, we
escorted the INEC
officials to the local
government
collation center
where reports were
<strong>be</strong>ing put together
from various wards.
We then heard that
Army aided by a
politician hijacked
the ones from Bolo wards 7, 8 and 9.
“We concluded that we would not fight over
those wards already hijacked. We said let us
ensure the remaining of the 12 wards were
kept intact. As we were there, six vans full of
Army came, aside the resident military we had
in the community. One of the collation agents
from the collation center now alerted us,
saying they had arrested them, held them
hostage. Do not allow them to come in. They
would hijack everything.
Why we stripped naked,
yelled at soldiers
“We immediately alerted the G5. We
gathered rest of the girls. We said our efforts
for the last four days must not <strong>be</strong> in vain.
Then, we started the chant, ‘we no go gree
oo, we no go gree.’ When those held hostage
inside heard the chant, they were encouraged.
“The Army came up with reinforcement,
one made to run over the human barricade
we had created to bar them from entering the
collation center. We stood our ground, daring
him to run us over.
“Another came down, removed branches of
trees we used as part barricade to start
flogging us. We stayed defiant. Bemused and
tired, one came to me to ask what we wanted.
We said they must not go into the collation
center. Interestingly, some among the soldiers
were whispering to us not to allow them have
their way. Not all of them liked the oppressive
order whoever had instructed them to come,
wanted them carry out.
‘Our intentions are evil’, one had murmured
to me <strong>be</strong>hind their superior’s back.
“Throughout that day till Sunday morning,
we were there, singing, chanting ‘we no go
gree’. It got to a climax, we chorused remove
your clothes. Every woman in the protest
started stripping, some were even removing
their bras. We were yelling at the soldiers.
“You came out from here, your children,
father, mother, came out from here, hitting
at our sensitive area. They started
covering their faces, unable to
<strong>be</strong>hold our nudity.
I called on God to
intervene while
removing my
menstrual pad
“Some were still daring to come
in; I had to remove my menstrual
pad. I was under the monthly
sickness at the time. I removed the
pad, raised it up to God, calling for
His intervention as I sprinkle the
dripping blood on their patrol vans.
Suddenly they were willing to go,
but the cars suddenly failed to kick.
I told them today you would know
that what a woman has in her is more
powerful than your guns and
vehicles.
“I reached for a bottle of gin
around us and started sprinkling on
their vehicles spots I had earlier
splashed my menstrual flow. The
vehicles kicked. They started
wondering, what sort of women were
these? One of them called me; please
give me your num<strong>be</strong>r. I will try to
marry from this wonderful
community. In the process, I saved
his num<strong>be</strong>r on my phone, which now
also stands as an incontrovertible
evidence of the military invasion.
“Now to the trending video scene; this
particularly agitated soldier tries scaling
the fence to jump in for the materials. We
saw and immediately mob<strong>be</strong>d him. One of
the G5 was recording him and screaming
he is an army. He wants to jump inside.
Therefore, we were dragging and pulling
him down. Some held to his scrotum, he
got weak and gave up even with a broken
leg.
“That is the power of a woman. What I
am saying? You are a woman; do not see
yourself as a weakling. The next day,
Sunday, families were cooking food and
bringing to the protesting women
voluntarily. We are heroines of our local
government,” she said.
We occupied LG
secretariat for 3 days,
3 nights- Iyama
Ibiwari Iyama from Okrika, who also
shared her experience, said Okrika women
started the process of securing their votes
during the elections by campaigning for
people to get their voter’s cards, assuring
the people of Okrika that their votes will
count.
According to her, they adopted an
approach whereby they stationed at least
one female youth at each polling unit to
monitor the electoral process. In their bid
to secure their votes while ensuring a
peaceful voting atmosphere, they moved
from ward to ward and to the local
government council only to find out to their
chagrin that the Nigerian Army were
shooting sporadically to scare away the
men.
She continued that the men stayed away
to avoid <strong>be</strong>ing casualties, but the women
waited until 11.00 pm during collation.
Iyama recounted that <strong>be</strong>fore the March 9
polls when they perceived that danger
was imminent from the army, they went to
the King of Ogoloma and other kings to tell
them that all they needed was peace during
that election <strong>be</strong>cause reprisal attack from
their men could <strong>be</strong> disastrous.
A mem<strong>be</strong>r of the King’s council, who
addressed them asked to go home, that
peace would reign, but on their way to the
king of Okochiri, King Michael Ateke Tom,
they found out that soldiers had invaded
his palace.
At that point, the women decided that
they would take charge during the
governorship election. Their experiences
during the Presidential and National
Assembly election were a lesson for them
to come out strong and ensure there was
no repeat of same during the governorship
and state house of assembly election.
The women occupied the local
government secretariat for three days and
nights to safeguard the election materials.
She recommended that a committee of
women should <strong>be</strong> set up to consult with
traditional institutions to sue for peace,
stating that the women present should
constitute the committee headed by HRM
Obi Martha Dunkwu, the Omu of Anioma
kingdom and Dr. Judy Asuni.
Bayelsa experience
Philomena Kanere of Ondewari
community in Bayelsa state recounted
that they had a crisis in 2017 where
two cult factions killed their mem<strong>be</strong>rs.
She stated that during elections,
politicians used the boys to perpetrate
evil.
She said that they decided to engage
community stakeholders by talking to
mothers to imbi<strong>be</strong> peace within their
homes. They had no money but tasked
themselves to talk to women to reach
out to their children, especially the
young ones.
After the programme, they
arranged for the mothers to meet with
the wife of the governor, which boosted
their confidence. They also met with
the men and fathers, encouraging
them to <strong>be</strong> responsible to their
children, after which they met with the
children.
According to her, she and her group
met with the different cult groups, for
about 11 hours. After long
persuasions, they accepted their
proposals for peace among the
different cult groups. Those who were
amputated were placed on salary and
peace returned to the community. She
said that in order to encourage those
who are not violent, they gave awards
to parents and children with certain
gifts.
She happily said that the peace
building process coincided with the
election period; hence there was no
violence during that period and violence
ceased among the different cult groups.G5
live in PH
The presidential and parliamentary
elections in Nigeria held February 23 and
the Governorship and state Houses of
Assembly elections on March 9 were
marred with high forms of electoral
irregularities and violence, ranging from
threats to life, actual death, arson, ballot
box snatching, gun battles and general
voter disenfranchisement.
These issues created tension and voter
apathy, leading to reduction in the num<strong>be</strong>r
of voters. The two frontline parties in
Nigeria, the ruling All People’s Congress
(APC) and the main opposition, the People’s
Democratic Party (PDP) were fingered as
the main perpetrators of the violence that
happened during the governorship
elections, which took the lives of tens of
Nigerians, especially in the Niger Delta.
The presence of the police and military
as alleged within some quarters did not
add to the necessary and normal electoral
process. The invasion of the military and
the federal anti-rob<strong>be</strong>ry squad (FSARS) in
Khana, Akuku-Toru, Okrika and Ogu/Bolo
Continues on pg 12

12—SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 30, 2019
From left: Dr. David Udofia, Manager, Peace Building, PIND, Convener, Chief
Judith Asuni, HRM Obi Martha Dunkwu, Omu of Anioma Kingdom and Rights
Activist, Ann Kio Briggs during the workshop, "Mobilizing and Raising Women’s
Voices Against Electoral Violence”, Port Harcourt, Rivers state
Bottle of dry y gin poured on vehicles, prayer
ers
offered <strong>be</strong>fore vehicles started
Continues from pg 11
LGAs brought a gory aspect to the elections
as security agents shot and molested
people.
In Okrika, there was no election, as
soldiers reportedly hijacked the February
23 presidential results for wards 6, 7 and 8
in Okrika. Young women <strong>be</strong>lieved to <strong>be</strong>
loyal to Governor Nyesom Wike protested
their disenfranchisement at about 3 pm.
After that, they came together and planned
for March 9 elections. On March 7, they
visited the traditional rulers. On their way to
King Ateke’s palace, they learned that the
military had just attacked Ateke’s palace.
They retreated. On Thursday/Friday, very
early March 8, soldiers went to Ogu/Bolo and
arrested PDP mem<strong>be</strong>rs.
The Ogu chair of Wike youth, the LG vice
chair and others came together to demonstrate
on Friday. Friday night the women mobilized
to INEC office in Okrika local government.
The young women brought in older women.
Then about 3.00 am, the military tried to enter
the INEC centre, but the women refused, lying
on the floor to prevent entry.
The election held on Saturday with the
women following the materials to the
designated areas.
After election, the women returned to the
collation centre and stayed until Sunday. The
military wanted to collect the materials but the
women refused.
A source named the woman who recorded
the trending videos of the women singing and
dancing at INEC centre and the soldier
climbing the fence. The woman who took the
video was at the Port Harcourt
meeting.
The G5 leaders came together
in Ogu on Friday morning when
the military arrested PDP leaders.
Barrister Christy is the
spokesperson, but another
woman, Racheal Walter, is the real
mover of the revolution. She is
Racheal Walter. All of them came
to our meeting last week. The
leader of the women is Tammy
Ibibofori
Why we convened
meeting- Chief
Asuni
Convener of the Port-Harcourt
meeting and Founder, Academic
Associates PeaceWorks, Chief
Judith Asuni, in her opening
remarks, said, “The women
played a proactive role in the way
they could not have done if they
were men.
“There is sort of respect and
fear for touching, shooting or
killing women, therefore, they
were ideally placed, we heard
about the attack on King Ateke
Tom just <strong>be</strong>fore the presidential
elections, but they could not
intimidate him. Then on the third
day to the governorship, they went
to his guesthouse to kill and
torture people.
“So we were all thinking, how we could stop
these people from stealing the election
materials. The women came up with a
wonderful solution, their own idea that they
could go sit there peacefully, they would sing,
strip is necessary and they succeeded.”
“You know there are many examples of
passive resistance to non violent reactions to
situations. Think of Marin Luther King Jnr,
Mahatma Ghandi and Nelson Mandela.
Therefore, the women were using same
technique to protect their election. I think this
is a wonderful example of women power.
“It is inspiring to everybody. The challenge
now is to try to put up some sort of action around
it. You have just heard that Rivers elections
will continue in April, so, what we can do
<strong>be</strong>tween now and then to make sure we do
not have repeat oddities.
“There is a great deal of national and
international interest in what has happened
in Ogu/Bolo. People are saying wow, Nigerian
women can do this, prevent the military from
coming to steal materials. We have to think
about how we do this to make sure the next
elections in April would <strong>be</strong> peaceful.”
PIND supports
Asuni’s initiative
Representative of PIND, Dr. David Udofia,
commended participants and encouraged
them to feel free and share their stories to
encourage others. He said that the event
took place <strong>be</strong>cause there was relative peace,
that peace was important for the growth of
any economy.
He reminded participants that PIND had
<strong>be</strong>en involved in Non Violent Elections
(NVE) in past elections like the Edo and
Ondo States
elections among
others. He
mentioned that
PIND works in
two programmatic
areas of economic
development and
peace building
with the two
intertwined.
After election, the
women returned to
the collation centre
and stayed until
Sunday. The
military wanted to
collect the
materials but the
women refused
Omu of
Anioma
counsels
women
Omu of over
700-year-old
Anioma Kingdom
in Delta state,
HRM Obi Martha
Dunkwu, who
presided over the
meeting in her
address, said the
young women
embody the
struggle of the
Niger Delta and
prayed for their
success in all
endeavors.
She performed
the traditional
breaking of kola nut and in summarizing
the entire program <strong>be</strong>ginning from the first
speaker; she said that the num<strong>be</strong>r one
enemy of the woman is the woman,
encouraging women to meet other women,
who have the resources to support them.
She also advised women should desist
from just <strong>be</strong>ing delegates in party primaries,
adding that they should think of a holistic
approach not just for themselves alone, but
understand that the quest for power is a war
and women must go for it.
HRH Dunkwu said media is a strong
institution and humanity should utilize it
to further the cause of the women in their
struggle to emancipate the communities of
the Niger Delta.
Ann Kio Briggs praises Ogu/Bolo
women
Ann Kio Briggs, Convener, Niger
Delta Self-Determination
Movement, NDSDM, who attended
the meeting, said, “What Ogu Bolo
women did is something historic.
Over the critical issues generated by
the 2015 elections, it was stated, and
clearly so at that point that the Army
should have no role to play in
elections.
“No space for the military in
collation centers where votes are
<strong>be</strong>ing counted and results declared.
What the Ogu Bolo women have
done is to strengthen women to
know their rights to determine who
they want to lead them through the
ballot.
“They have shown the rest of the
women how to resist any attempt by
any one, <strong>be</strong> they politicians or armed
soldiers to deny them their franchise
to choose the leaders they want. It is
an inspiration we must not allow to
die, but to rather canvass to spread
to the entire place,” she asserted.
Semenitari indifferent, says
women took avoidable risk
However, former Rivers
Information Commissioner and one
time caretaker boss of the Niger
Delta Development Commission,
Ibim Semenitari, was unimpressed by
the audacity of the Ogu/Bolo women. In
subtle appraisal, she did not hide her
feeling that the women took unnecessary
risk.
Semenitari said, “As women, we are the
largest in num<strong>be</strong>r, we are the ones who sing
and chant slogans the most during
campaigns. Still we are the cannon folders
thrust to the front line <strong>be</strong>cause the Army and
Police will not shoot women.
“How can we <strong>be</strong> sure we will <strong>be</strong> safe all
the time <strong>be</strong>cause when bullets fly, they don’t
ask which party we <strong>be</strong>long or what sex we
are. We lost an innocent, promising girl. People
who died are our sons, daughters, fathers,
mothers, may<strong>be</strong> boyfriends or girlfriends.
“Rather than <strong>be</strong> cannon folders, let us as
women <strong>be</strong>gin to set standards we know are
acceptable. Standards that will not make us
risk our lives as cannon folders. We can say as
women, if elections were to hold, we will not
vote for anyone promoting violence. If we see
signals of violence, we will not accept.”
Politicians turn Rivers to
violence capital of Nigeria
– Livingstone Mem<strong>be</strong>re
Programme Manager, AA PeaceWorks,
Livingstone Mem<strong>be</strong>re, in his analysis of the
conflicts in Okrika, Ogoni and Kalabari,
expressed concern that the APC and PDP have
turned Rivers to the violence capital of Nigeria.
He quipped that in Abonnema, women also
stood to defend their votes like in Okirika and
Ogu/Bolo and there were deaths especially
during the presidential and National
Assembly elections. Several days after that
election, there were several corpses floating
on water bodies, who were victims of electoral
violence.
He unequivocally told participants that
there is proliferation of arms in large cache in
Gokana, Eleme, Kalabari, Khana, Obio/Akpor
and others. He posed a question as to what
will happen after elections due to the
enormous small and light weapons littered all
over Rivers State and other Niger Delta States.
According to him, it is another
empowerment for cult- related activities,
armed rob<strong>be</strong>ry and other forms of social vices.
Livingstone reminded participants that
kidnappings along the East-West Road have
quadrupled during this period and the
increase is due to miscreants who took
advantage of the electioneering process and
its attendant violence.
Sophia Daniel Sonime agreed with him,
saying it is painful that Rivers had <strong>be</strong>come a
spotlight for the wrong reasons.
Inyingi Irimagha, who represented the Civil
Society Organizations, said she observed that
the issue of women protecting their collation
centers started in 2015, but activists took no
notice and strength untapped until the 2019
election when the whole thing played out
again.
She said CSOs did lots of planning prior to
the election without taking into cognizance
the roles security agencies might play, blaming
political parties for failing to recognize the
strength of women within their political
parties. The activist said the elections were
highly militarized <strong>be</strong>cause soldiers got orders
from their bosses.
Ig<strong>be</strong>, Jack eulogize women
His Highness, Anabs Sara Ig<strong>be</strong> said he was
happy to see different women gather to make
peace, <strong>be</strong>cause women are the cradle of life.
He said that women have vital roles to play in
peace building. According to him, when
women stand for something, result is
inevitable. He encouraged them not to
allow politicians use them for their
selfish purposes <strong>be</strong>cause the women are
usually the worst hit.
Special Assistant to the Governor of
Rivers State on Female Youth, Soibi
Ibibo Jack, said that female youths
were an untapped resource in the state.
She said that Rivers State female youths
came out and voted and stayed to defend
their votes and that when it <strong>be</strong>came
critical, she had to lead other female
youths to go out and protest the actions
of the military during the elections in
Rivers State at the INEC office.
She did not hide her pride in the
achievements of the female Rivers youth
<strong>be</strong>cause their actions have put Rivers
State on the global map of peace.
A retired police officer, Mama Rose,
quoting from Genesis 5:2 said in the
Bible, God did not create Adam <strong>be</strong>fore
Eve, but created both on the same day.
She reminded women that every woman
is a man and stronger, encouraging them
to get up and take their place.
Communiqué
At the end of the workshop, the women
also set up a committee of women under
the leadership of HRM Obi Martha
Dunkwu and AA PeaceWorks to
strategically engage traditional rulers
and political leaders in all the states to
put an end to violence in the Niger Delta
region.
They resolved, “There should <strong>be</strong> an
immediate ceasefire on all politically
motivated violence, hate speeches, inciting
statements, and sponsorship of violence in the
region. Anyone contravening this ceasefire
will <strong>be</strong> named and shamed by Niger Delta
women.”
“Government and stakeholders should take
steps to carryout disarmament, reconciliation,
rehabilitation and reintegration of youths and
those that have <strong>be</strong>en affected by violence
during the elections
“Build the capacity of women to fully
understand their civic and constitutional rights
to enable them speak up against violence and
intimidation
“Women should <strong>be</strong> bold to seek for offices
in political parties and governments at all
levels and also <strong>be</strong> engaged in decision making
machinery of government
“Communities of the Niger Delta should
stop celebrating people known for violence;
rather those that have contributed positively
to the development of the region should <strong>be</strong>
identified and celebrated,” the women
declared.
Saturday Vanguard has it on good authority
that following the success of the first meeting,
the HRM Dunkwu-led

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 30, 2019—13
RACE FOR SENATE LEADERSHIP:
Ours won’t <strong>be</strong> rub<strong>be</strong>r stamp
leadership — Sen Lawan
•But I’m not interested in unnecessary fight with executive
•We’ll revisit report on security architecture, restructuring of armed forces
•I’ll support creation special courts for corruption cases
•Let’s talk less about jumbo pay for lawmakers but productivity
By Onochie Ani<strong>be</strong>ze,
Saturday Editor
Senate Leader, Sen Ahmed Lawan,
in a chat with journalists in Lagos,
explains how he would operate if
elected as the Senate President. Among
other issues, he dismisses fears that he
would <strong>be</strong> a stooge of President
Muhammadu Buhari.
Our President and our party
Nigerians freely elected
the All Progressives
Congress,APC, in 2015 at the
presidential, National
Assembly, NASS, and
gu<strong>be</strong>rnatorial levels. Our aim
is to have a NASS that would
work for Nigerians. The
people renewed their faith in
the President and the party by
re-electing them. Those issues
that are so important and
crucial to the life of Nigerians
would <strong>be</strong> prioritised.
We would continue to
deliver to Nigerians those
campaign promises made by
our President and our party.
Those issues that are so
important and crucial in the
lives of Nigerians would <strong>be</strong>
given maximum attention.
Our party campaigned on
three major issues affecting
the country in 2015 and did
same in 2019. The issues
include security, revamping
and revitalizing the economy,
and creation and sustenance
of an economy that works for
everybody. That means that
we would ensure an allinclusive
economy not only for those on
top but also those at the bottom. That is
also applicable to security. We need to
ensure that whatever we would do in
fighting insecurity is the right response.
APC is the majority
There was a time in this country when
we had so many resources, yet there was
little impact on the lives of Nigerians.
That was sometime
ago when another
party was in power. I
There was a
time in this
country when
we had so
many
resources, yet
there was little
impact on the
lives of
Nigerians
<strong>be</strong>lieve that
corruption is the major
bane of development
in Nigeria. We had so
much but could not
save <strong>be</strong>cause of
corruption. We have
little resources now
<strong>be</strong>cause corruption
was condoned to an
extent that we can’t
achieve so much.
When the oil price
was so low, coming
downing <strong>be</strong>low $30
per barrel, this
administration
managed the little
resources. What we
have <strong>be</strong>en able to
achieve is more when
compared to those
years when we had a
surplus.
The reason is, the
fight against
corruption is on.
People have <strong>be</strong>come
fearful. I want to
achieve the target of
<strong>be</strong>coming the Senate
president not to <strong>be</strong>ar the name but
<strong>be</strong>cause we want to make a positive
difference in governance.
We are talking to all our colleagues and
senators-elect. We are not taking anybody
for granted. I personally want to have a
one on one chat with all the senators
asking and seeking their support,
<strong>be</strong>cause I will work with them when I get
there. Therefore, I need their support and
understanding. I do not want to take
anybody for granted.
It might even <strong>be</strong> easier getting to the
office, but it is more challenging staying
in the office to deliver what you are
saying. In fact, we need everybody to
make it work. The APC is the majority,
we are 67 senators, followed by PDP. We
have Ifeanyi Uba of the Young
Progressives Party, YPP.
Activities of government
We will continue to talk to our
colleagues to have their support and
experiences. The ninth Senate will have
the capacity of solving Nigeria’s
problems. In terms of experience, I have
it. There are so many senators, who have
not stayed long but have experience and
I am looking forward to working with
them.
I was in opposition for 16 years, I
headed committees for eight years,
<strong>be</strong>tween 2007 and 2015. There is always
a time when it will <strong>be</strong> appropriate to
support the government <strong>be</strong>cause the
government is heading in the right
direction, and as legislators, we should
support and monitor the activities of
government for service delivery. There
are other times when an issue will come
up and the legislator will say no, this is
not the way to go, we need a <strong>be</strong>tter
method. We would not throw anything
away <strong>be</strong>cause as legislators, our job is to
make Nigeria grow and prosper. But if
any issue requires to <strong>be</strong> discarded, so <strong>be</strong>
it.
Separation of powers
I <strong>be</strong>lieve that NASS must work in a
very cordial manner. I <strong>be</strong>lieve very
strongly that we are by right meant to
work together. While the constitution
provides for separation of powers, there
are other things that separation does not
take care of. There is also the need for
division of labour, such that some persons
perform certain duties, while others
would do the remaining part to ensure
inclusiveness.
We are supposed to provide
intervention that would allow the
government to achieve its mandate. We
are supposed to monitor and ensure the
government is on track. Those checks and
balances must <strong>be</strong> there. I want to see a
relationship <strong>be</strong>tween the government
and legislature that will <strong>be</strong> characterised
by cooperation, synergy and partnership.
And such requires investment. We are
also to carry out oversight functions and
checkmate the excesses of the
government. Whenever we disagree, we
should sit down and discuss to find a way
out to prevent individual and group
interests from overriding national
interest.
National interest
We want a NASS that would not <strong>be</strong>
interested in unnecessary confrontations.
Misunderstandings would occur <strong>be</strong>cause
it is not possible that things would always
work seamlessly. What we are going to
do is to find <strong>be</strong>tter mechanism for
resolving crisis without hurting our
national interest. The APC has
demonstrated the capacity and
willingness to move the nation forward.
For instance, the first thing President
Buhari did was to move the Theatre
Command of the Nigerian Army to Borno.
Those of us in the northeast can give a
testimony of what the situation was in the
area and what it is now. This
administration worked to ensure that
we degraded Boko Haram insurgents. We
need to review our security architecture
in the country but I don’t <strong>be</strong>lieve in
confrontations <strong>be</strong>cause we may not get
the required results. We would work to
see how we can assist our armed forces.
We are going to visit the reports
submitted to us on the restructuring of
the armed forces. On the economy. we are
already doing well in agriculture but the
challenge we have is the creation of
employment. Nigeria has conserved
millions of dollars by stopping the
importation of rice. On anti corruption,
we are fighting it properly and I would
support the creation of special courts for
corruption cases.
Rub<strong>be</strong>r stamp Senate
My antecedents are well known. We will
checkmate excesses of the executive but
I don’t <strong>be</strong>lieve in unnecessary fights. That
does not mean that we would not reject
anything that is against the national
interest. But I want to see a relationship
that works <strong>be</strong>cause when the relationship
<strong>be</strong>tween the legislature and the
executive is not cordial, the people would
suffer. Nigerians need jobs and to
achieve that, it is important for us to have
a working relationship with the
executive. Without that, Nigerians would
not see the meaning of democracy. On
insecurity, we are working on a report on
the reform of the security architecture.
The Police Act has <strong>be</strong>en reformed. On
humongous pay of law makers, I <strong>be</strong>lieve
that the legislature is so important and
should <strong>be</strong> well funded. We need to
provide resources that would make it
function efficiently. I don’t think the issue
of resources should <strong>be</strong> the focus but the
issue of productivity. It should <strong>be</strong> our
major concern. We have to conduct
ourselves with high sense of
responsibility so that we would truly <strong>be</strong>
seen as the representatives of the people.
I am assuring that the ninth senate would
<strong>be</strong> <strong>be</strong>tter than the eight senate.
On insecurity
I <strong>be</strong>lieve that what we need is to have a
security outfit to work for all of us so that
we don’t rely much on the police. The
security issues are so critical today
<strong>be</strong>cause security agencies are not doing
enough. While we need to support the
police with more funding, I also <strong>be</strong>lieve
we have to review the structure. We
need to have a structure that would make
the police function well <strong>be</strong>fore we start
investing more money in them.

14 — SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 30, 2019
New Aviation law may lead
to chaos, stakeholders warn
•Demand urgent review or repeal
Stories by Lawani Mikairu
The Federal Competition and
Consumer Protection Act ,FCCPA,
which was signed into law on
February 5, 2019, by President
Muhammadu Buhari, has <strong>be</strong>en descri<strong>be</strong>d
as having a faulty extra territorial
application as it concerns aviation.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ forum
tagged “Consumer Protection in the
Aviation Industry”, held in Lagos,
experts from the aviation industry
expressed their concerns over some
provisions of the new Act which,
according to them, have the potential to
cause conflict among regulatory agencies
and also jeopardise air safety.
Top of the concerns, as raised by the
Legal Adviser and Head of Compliance
and Enforcement, Nigerian Civil Aviation
Authority, NCAA, Mr. Emmanuel
Chukwuma, was the area of jurisdiction
and oversight as contained in Section 105
of the Act.
The contentious Section 105 states: “In
so far as this Act applies to an industry
that is subject to the jurisdiction of another
government agency by the provisions of
any other law in matters or conducts
which affect competition and consumer
protection, this act shall <strong>be</strong> construed as
establishing a concurrent jurisdiction
<strong>be</strong>tween the commission and the relevant
government agency, with the commission
having precedence over and above the
relevant government agency.”
This provision, according to Chukwuma,
will make the NCAA subservient to the
FCCP in matters of consumer protection
within a jurisdiction that it (FCCP) lacks
the technical know-how to adjudicate over
matters.
The NCAA’s Legal Adviser posed that
aviation is a global business governed by
international bodies such as the
International Civil Aviation Organisation
(ICAO) and the International Air
Transport Association (IATA) which have
provided ample guidelines to all Civil
Aviation Authorities on how to deal with
all issues of passenger infringements.
He maintained that only the CAAs have
a <strong>be</strong>tter understanding of the aviation
industry. That is why they are saddled
with the onus of oversight and regulations
in line with the International Standard
and Recommended Practices as enshrined
in ICAO Annexes.
He added that all the international
regulations provided by ICAO were
domiciled in the Nigerian Civil Aviation
Regulations (NCAR) from 2006 and
amended in 2015. And it was on this
premise that the NCAA has a directorate
of consumer protection which is
mandated to check, investigate and
arbitrate on issues of infringements.
He expressed shock that such an Act has
<strong>be</strong>en promulgated without involving
relevant stakeholders across the value of
all sectors, as he just learned about it two
weeks ago.
“I was not aware of this new law until
two weeks ago, I must <strong>be</strong> frank with you.
And I wonder why such a law would <strong>be</strong>
enacted without involving other
stakeholders. However, I have read
through the Act and I have seen areas that
may <strong>be</strong> expunged or the law <strong>be</strong> repealed.
I am particularly worried by the provision
of Section 105 which says there will <strong>be</strong>
concurrent jurisdiction in the application
of the law but that the FCCP will have
dominant authority over the other.
“And I ask how possible is it to have a
concurrent jurisdiction yet the FCCP will
take preeminence. This will surely create
conflict <strong>be</strong>tween the agencies. As a matter
Aero Begins Flights to Yola
Aero Contractors, has commence flight
operations to Yola , capital of Adamawa
state, by reducing airfare . The airline,
which is repositioning its scheduled and
fixed wing operations as it increases
aircraft in its fleet, marked its inaugural
flight to Yola via Abuja on Tuesday with
high load factor.
The airline’s Boeing 737-500 aircraft
of fact, the new law has a lot of
extraterritorial provisions that have to <strong>be</strong>
expunged. But we will make our concerns
known to the government and the general
public after studying the law,” he said.
He recalled an incident involving Aero
Contractors some years ago when the
airline canceled a flight but failed to treat
passengers well. The CPC (Consumer
Protection Commission) was involved to
adjudicate the matter. At the end, the CPC
charged the airline N20 million as the cost
of investigation, among other charges
ranging from N1000 to N20,000 as
compensation to the passengers. It
<strong>be</strong>came a controversial issue and the
NAPTIP honours Air Peace for fight against human
trafficking as airline decorates es two o captains
ational Agency for the Prohibition of
NTrafficking in Persons , NAPTIP, on
Thursday gave award of recognition to Air
Peace chairman, Mr. Allen Onyema and the
crew mem<strong>be</strong>rs that foiled an attempt to traffic
a three-month-old boy using the airline’s
Lagos-Banjul flight on June 4, 2018 for waging
war against human trafficking.
Onyema assured that the airline would
partner with NAPTIP in the agency’s task of
checking human trafficking, including
providing jobs for victims of the illicit trade in
persons.
Speaking when she visited Air Peace
Corporate Headquarters on Thursday, the
Director General of NAPTIP, Dame Julie
Okah-Donli commended the airline’s flight
and cabin crew mem<strong>be</strong>rs for frustrating
attempts by human traffickers to use the
carrier’s flights for their illegal trade.
She cited the rescue of a three-month-old
boy from traffickers on the airline’s Lagos-
Banjul flight on June 4, 2018 as a feat that had
distinguished Air Peace as an organisation
working vigorously to assist the agency to stop
human trafficking. She confirmed that the
suspects in the Banjul incident, Mrs. Edith
Anthony-I<strong>be</strong>neme and Mrs Emerald Bassey,
had no biological connection to the baby and
failed to provide valid adoption documents.
Okah-Donli said the baby was brought back
to Nigeria on March 19 and was currently
under the care of NAPTIP, stressing that the
touched down at the Yola International
Airport at exactly 6:00 pm to a ceremonial
water salute by the airport firefighters
and excited passengers who lauded the
efficiency of the nation’s oldest carrier,
known for its goodwill and safety record.
The aircraft had departed Lagos to Yola
en-route Abuja on the flight commanded
by the airline’s Chief Pilot, Capt.
Imoleayo Adebunle.
NCAA had to intervene.
Another area of concern was that the
new Act applies to defaulters outside
Nigeria. This means an infringement
against a passenger, whose flight
emanates from Nigeria, will <strong>be</strong> judged
according to the indigenous new law.
This, according to Mr. Anaso Kalu, the
Deputy General Manager, Flight
Operations and Adjudications, NCAA,
was against Article 6 of the Chicago
Convention, which reads contrary to the
recommendation of the new Act.
Other concerns raised by the
stakeholders were that the umpire of the
new Act (FCCP) could comprise mem<strong>be</strong>rs
agency was working with the Gambian
authorities to extradite the suspects. The
agency, she said, decided to honour Air Peace,
its chairman and crew to encourage others to
emulate their worthy examples in fighting
human trafficking.
Okah-Donli said : "This ceremony
represents NAPTIP's determination to
recognise and encourage such feats which
contribute to the stemming of the tide of human
trafficking in Nigeria. We are proud to present
an award to Air Peace Limited and to decorate
the chairman of the airline and those gallant
crew mem<strong>be</strong>rs with ambassadorial medals.”
She urged other airlines and organisations
to learn from the vigilance displayed by Air
Peace crew in checking human trafficking.
Aside Onyema, other Air Peace staff
decorated by NAPTIP were Capt. Isi
Eghoghon, Capt. Sinmisola Ajibola and First
Officer Ayodeji Bode-Thomas. Cabin crew
mem<strong>be</strong>rs decorated with NAPTIP’s
ambassadorial medals included Chioma
Agba, Nana De-Man, Cynthia Ugba, Mojoko
Ewane, Taiye Ab<strong>be</strong>y, Victoria Okpiaifo and
Ngozi Ezeamaka.
Responding after their decoration, Air Peace
Chairman, Mr. Allen Onyema said the carrier
would partner with NAPTIP as part of the
airline’s support for the Federal Government's
efforts in curbing human trafficking in
Nigeria.
He pledged that the airline would provide
jobs for victims of human trafficking as part of
the airline’s effort to assist NAPTIP to
rehabilitate them. He commended NAPTIP for
the recognition, urging other organisations to
support the agency to sustain the great job it
was doing in checking human trafficking.
"NAPTIP has <strong>be</strong>en doing a great job in
curbing human trafficking but we cannot
leave it for government alone. Air Peace will
join hands with you to tackle this menace. We
will help in the rehabilitation of some of the
victims by providing employment for them in
our organisation.
"It is not enough to rescue these victims and
of a special tribunal who could summon
and examine witnesses/documents,
administer oaths and do all the court
proceedings independently.
As it were, the new Act on consumer
protection fails to recognize and respect
the fact that aviation has its regulations
and standards which are globally recognized
and adhered to by all Civil Aviation
Authorities.
And based on the reactions of the
stakeholders, the new law could only cause a
chaotic situation in the industry where such
matters like flight cancellations or delays,
which are common scenarios resulting from
weather or operational reasons, may <strong>be</strong> seen
as infringements by the FCCP and treated as such.
From right; CEO Allen Onyema and airline's crew <strong>be</strong>ing honoured by NAPTIP for fighting human trafficking
bring them back to Nigeria. They should also
<strong>be</strong> rehabilitated and reintegrated into the
society. So, we are doing this to transform their
lives and make them to know that they can
earn money doing legitimate jobs whether
they are educated or not,” Onyema said.
Meanwhile, the airline has elevated two
mem<strong>be</strong>rs of its flight crew to the rank of
captain. Those elevated are Mr. Oluwasegun
Fatonade and Mr. William Devine who are now
captains.
Speaking during their decoration at Air
Peace Corporate Headquarters in Lagos,
Onyema said he was proud that they scaled
the tough tests for “donning the four-bar
epaulette”.
According to him : “I’m one of the
happiest persons today. I take pride in
seeing people grow. We are pro-staff. In our
own little way, we try to ensure that staff
enjoy their time here. Anyone can <strong>be</strong>come
anything they want to <strong>be</strong> here without
discrimination.
“I don’t meddle in matters involving
selection and elevation of our flight crew. It
is strictly on merit. For the flight crew
training team to have adjudged the new
captains worthy of flying for Air Peace, they
really must <strong>be</strong> good. It says a lot about their
quality. The tough tests they passed through
<strong>be</strong>fore <strong>be</strong>ing selected for elevation as captains
was necessary to ensure the sustenance of the
high standards of our flight operations.
“It’s not everyone that was tested that
made it. I urge the new captains to
continue to work hard to sustain the high
quality of our flight operations. The
position of a captain is one that comes with
huge responsibility, but I have no doubt
they will excel in their new roles,”
Onyema said.
Speaking also, Air Peace Head of
Training, Captain Ndubisi Ekwempu,
who presented the new captains to
Onyema for decoration, descri<strong>be</strong>d them
as hardworking and dedicated mem<strong>be</strong>rs
of the flight crew.

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 30, 2019—15
Ihedioha: A clean break from Imo’s past
BY JAMES UDEMBA
Exactly one and half years ago, I had
predicted that equity would <strong>be</strong> on the
side of Emeka Ihedioha and that he
would emerge victorious in the 2019
governorship election of Imo State. That was
in an article I wrote titled “Equity on the side
of Ihedioha”published under the pen name
of Jude Ejiofor in Saturday Vanguard of
Septem<strong>be</strong>r 17 th , 2017.
I based my prediction on the fact that he had
remained steadfast with the battle for justice
in PDP and that the voters and the law of equity
would most likely reward him with victory in
the polls in 2019. I also did mention that he
was well recommended by his wealth of
experience and relatively clean background.
Now that he has won, I cannot but recall
that piece <strong>be</strong>cause I can readily recollect that
in the past 20 years, Imo people have <strong>be</strong>en
grappling with the conundrum of establishing
an interrogative leadership that would stand
the test of both public scrutiny and acceptable
societal norms. This burden which was not
self-inflicted but came about by sheer
circumstance and coincidence left a scare that
tended to question the choice of the electorate
at any governorship election. The concern
<strong>be</strong>came even worrisome as the 2019 elections
drew nearer and the candidates emerged from
the various political parties. Must we travel
this road again, <strong>be</strong>came a refrain as people
feared that history was about to repeat itself.
Mercifully, the election of Rt. Hon. Emeka
Ihedioha as the next governor of Imo State
finally put to rest that apprehension.
Compare the scary Imo scenario with the
situation in Ebonyi State and you will get the
picture clearer. While the people of Ebonyi
State had no trouble in situating those that
have emerged as their governors, the opposite
seemed to <strong>be</strong> the case in the neigbouring Imo
State. People knew Dr. Sam Egwu, a
disciplined lecturer, refined by the Assemblies
of God Church. Chief Martin Elechi, a
technocrat that paid his dues in the Civil
Service and served Igboland in various
capacities succeeded Egwu and people also
knew him. Then came in the home-boy, Engr.
David Nwaeze Umahi, an engineer of repute
as the next governor. Everyone also knew him.
Now juxtapose that with the emergence of
Chief Achike Udenwa as the governor of Imo
State. A relatively obscure Accountant whom
late Sam Mbakwe descri<strong>be</strong>d as <strong>be</strong>ing fit to
occupy the position of a mem<strong>be</strong>r of the House
of Assembly. But at least, some people knew
the man who worked in a construction
company in Port-Harcourt. But did they know
Ikedi Ohakim who came literally from
nowhere to <strong>be</strong>come the next governor? The
answer is no. Did they know Rochas Okorocha
who deceived Imo people by presenting
himself as a Philanthropist, but turned around
to <strong>be</strong>come a tyrant? The answer is also no! That
was the dilemma of Imo people as they were
faced with the choice of electing another
governor in 2019.
For inexplicable reasons, the front-runners
•Ihedioha
in that election also turned out to <strong>be</strong> men
whose background, majority of Imo people are
not comfortable with. Senator Hope
Uzodinma, Senator Ifeanyi Araraume and
Okorocha’s protégé, Uche Nwosu also had
question marks regarding from where they
were coming from. Many Imo people <strong>be</strong>lieved
that had any of them emerged the governor, it
would have <strong>be</strong>en a continuation of the sordid
past which they had grappled with in the last
12 years.
Herein lies the re-assurance in Ihedioha’s
election as the next governor of Imo State. It
is not for nothing that Igbo people often pose
the question to anyone aspiring for leadership:
WHO ARE YOU? The interrogative sentence
is not just for you to introduce yourself. The
intrinsic and underlying meaning simply
seeks to know your background; where you
are coming from. It is this quest to know a man
warts and all that drive the search for a credible
leadership in Igboland. So now, for the first
time in as many as 20 years, Imo people have
found the right answer in the choice of Emeka
Ihedioha as the governor.
It is not that Ihedioha is a saint. Far from it.
But he represents a fresh breath of air from
the odious and sordid past. He is truly the new
face of Imo in terms of integrity and verifiable
background. Above all, he comes into office
with a solid background of experience backed
by tested efficiency and cerebral fecundity.
Indeed Ihedioha could <strong>be</strong> likened to the
boy next door. His childhood friends are
everywhere. His classmates in secondary
schools are everywhere. His course mates
in the university could <strong>be</strong> located in a
matter of minutes. And whatever wealth he
has acquired, the source is well known. For
the past 20 years, he has <strong>be</strong>en with Imo
people. His political career is well known
to all, first as a political adviser to the Vice
President and then as a third – term mem<strong>be</strong>r
of the Federal House of Representatives where
he rose to the height of Deputy Speaker and
Acting Speaker. Within this period also, Imo
people assessed him and found him to <strong>be</strong>
worthy.
It is noteworthy that Emeka Ihedioha has
displayed an incredible level of consistency
and loyalty such that people have often
wondered whether he is actually a Nigerian
politician. He is among the few that have
remained with PDP since inception. The same
cannot <strong>be</strong> said of his opponents in the election
and even his predecessors in office. Many of
them have jumped ship four times over. If
consistency does not equate to
trustworthiness, I may not know what the
name Ihedioha means.
What I do know however is that Imo people
should guard this victory of Ihedioha jealously.
Many religious leaders prayed fervently for
God’s intervention in the political life of Imo
State. In my view that prayer has <strong>be</strong>en
answered in Emeka Ihedioha emerging the
governor. However, the forces of darkness are
not relenting. They are gathering. Even <strong>be</strong>fore
the new governor takes over, there is a gangp
to stop him <strong>be</strong>cause he represents a light in
an environment that was for long enveloped
by stench and darkness. Those who have
<strong>be</strong>nefited from the yahoo yahoo governance
that characterized leadership in the last 12
years are not about to give up.
That is why it is not just enough to celebrate
Okorocha’s defeat. Ihedioha victory calls for
eternal vigilance <strong>be</strong>cause he represents a
clean break from the sordid past. Imo people
must work in concert with the new governor
to chart a new course for the renaissance of
the state especially in its value system and
orientation. Because some people are used
to the retrogressive governance of the past,
they may not easily <strong>be</strong>come new converts
to this reawakening that will define the
tenure of Ihedioha.
Therefore the people must form an army
of support base for the new administration,
especially in the formulation and
implementation of its policies. Both the
religious and traditional rulers owe it a duty
to their followers to preach the new gospel
anchored on truth, probity and
accountability. With the emergence of the
new government, partisan politics, ethnic
cleavages and petty supremacy battles
among the elites must take the back seat.
The sole item on the agenda should <strong>be</strong> the
development of Imo State with Ihedioha in
the drivers seal.
For Emeke Ihedioha, history <strong>be</strong>ckons. The
task is not an easy one. With a battered
economy ravaged by poor leadership; with
a dysfunctional civil service rendered
impotent by corruption; and with a
disoriented populace wearied by failed
leadership, Ihedioha has so much to do
within such a short time. Luckily, he has the
goodwill of the people and history is
actually on his side. Truly this is a new dawn
for Imo State as the people celebrate a clean
break from their <strong>be</strong>tter forgotten sordid past.
•UDEMBA IS A PUBLIC AFFAIRS
ANALYST BASED IN OWERRI
Anambra hospital abandoned after
N25m renovation by govt
By Vincent Ujumadu, Awka
THE Anambra State –owned Umueri
General Hospital in Anambra East
local government area of the state, built
in the 1960s and renovated with N25 million
by the immediate past administration of Mr.
Peter Obi, has <strong>be</strong>come a safe home for rodents
and reptiles due to neglect.
Patients no longer patronize the hospital and
many workers there are asking for transfer to
other functional health institutions in the state.
A visit to the hospital showed that some of
the equipment installed after its renovation
in 2007, had <strong>be</strong>en vandalized, while some
have <strong>be</strong>come obsolete. A security officer
attached to the hospital, Mr. Emmanuel Agbata
lamented that workers posted to the hospital
hardly come to work for fear of attack by
reptiles.
He said: “We are risking our lives in this
hospital. Look at the type of bush in a General
Hospital owned by government. The type of
<strong>be</strong>en in use. In fact, further investigation
snakes and other reptiles that stay around here has to do a x-ray, he has to travel to Awka or showed that the power generator has not
often chase people away and sometimes these Onitsha which are distant places from
wild animals attack people inside the hospital,
even <strong>be</strong>en tasted since it was delivered
Umueri.
“According to him, an X-ray machine that was
to the hospital.
purchased for the hospital four years ago had Also in the hospital, the building “I do not think that what we have here
not <strong>be</strong>en installed and there is no functional housing the power generating set has is still a generator <strong>be</strong>cause I am sure that
x-ray machine around to serve the people of <strong>be</strong>en over -grown by weeds, which was most of the parts have <strong>be</strong>en vandalized
the area, adding that if anybody in the area an indication that the generating set has by those that brought it here <strong>be</strong>cause it
has never <strong>be</strong>en tasted or put to use for
years,” Agbata said.
The state commissioner for health, Dr.
Jeo Akabuike, however said that
government would soon put the hospital
into proper use. According to him,
medical personnel have <strong>be</strong>en deployed to
the hospital , while a new building with
functional facilities has <strong>be</strong>en constructed.
“Efforts are <strong>be</strong>ing made to improve on other
basic medical infrastructure in the hospital and
the dilapidated structures will soon <strong>be</strong> taken
care of by the state government,” the
commissioner said.
It would <strong>be</strong> recalled that Umueri General
Hospital was built in the early sixties through
community effort and was servicing Oyi,
Anambra East, Anambra West and Ayamelum
local government areas <strong>be</strong>fore it was
destroyed during the infamous Umueri-
Aguleri communal war <strong>be</strong>tween 1995 and
1999.
In 2007 the then government of Mr. Peter
Obi constructed three new structures and
renovated older buildings in the hospital
compound and equipped them with medical
facilities.
Although the people of Umueri looked
forward to enjoying the facilities in the
hospital, the enthusiasm was dampened
<strong>be</strong>cause the hospital has not functioned
properly since its renovation.

16—SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 30, 2019
We’ll resist a Senate President
taking orders from the
executive — Abari<strong>be</strong>
•PDP can also sponsor candidate for Senate Presidency
•Elections are over, President Buhari should sign Electoral Reform Bill
By Henry Umoru
Senator Enyinnaya Abari<strong>be</strong> was a former Deputy Governor of Abia State. A very ranking Senator who represents Abia South Senatorial
District, Abari<strong>be</strong> was first elected into the Senate in 2007. He was subsequently re-elected to the Senate in 2011, in 2015 and in the
February 23 2019 National Assembly Election. He is the leader of the South East Senate Caucus and also the Chairman, Senate
Committee on Power, Steel Development and Metallurgy. In this interview, Abari<strong>be</strong> speaks on the militarization of the just concluded
elections, Electoral Reforms, the present Senate and the relationship <strong>be</strong>tween the different arms of government, among other topical
issues. Excerpts:
How do you see the last election?
We expected much <strong>be</strong>tter than what we got
from the INEC. After the 2015 election, even
with the imperfections, we assumed that the
2019 was going to <strong>be</strong> much <strong>be</strong>tter than the
2015 and of course we also assumed that all
the logistics problems would have <strong>be</strong>en
eliminated. It took INEC four years to plan
for the election. They got all the money they
wanted on time and they had absolutely no
reason for what happened ultimately,
except if it was pre-programmed to
postpone the elections in order to put
people off balance and then make sure
that there are two sets of
guidelines for the elections.
In the North, INEC never
cared about the
guidelines of enforcing
the use of card
readers but in
the South, it
insisted
t h a t
those
things
must
count.
S o ,
what
we found,
like most
observers
have also
found out is
t h a t
Nigeria is
the only
place in
the world
where
more people live in the Sahara region than in
the coastal areas. You find more people voting
in the deserts than in the coast. So, when you
have a situation where you get millions of
votes from where there is insurrection and
where nobody is living, it goes to show that
the elections can never, by any stretch of the
imagination, <strong>be</strong> said to have <strong>be</strong>en an
advancement from where we were.
APC National Chairman,
Adams Oshiomhole made a
statement about the winner
takes it all and that apart from
the position of Public
Accounts chairman which is
constitutional, no PDP
lawmaker will <strong>be</strong> a Committee
chairman.
I had cause at one time to
advise him not to <strong>be</strong> so
garrulous in his statements
and I think he hasn’t learnt any
lessons. You don’t choose for
us or determine for us who
<strong>be</strong>comes what in the Senate. I
think <strong>be</strong>cause he has never
<strong>be</strong>en a mem<strong>be</strong>r, he just doesn’t
want to take advice from those
who have <strong>be</strong>en in the National
Assembly. The National
Assembly is not Edo State
where he ran roughshod over
everybody. It’s not a State
House of Assembly. This is the
National Assembly of Nigeria
and the choice of who
<strong>be</strong>comes what with regards to
committee assignment is a
collegiate choice. It’s not a
choice that is made by one
person. Even the Senate
President cannot sit down and
say I give you this or that. It
I had cause at
one time to
advise him not
to <strong>be</strong> so
garrulous in his
statements and
I think he hasn’t
learnt any
lessons
never happens. There is always a Committee
that is called the Selection Committee. The
first thing that is done when the
leadership emerges is that there
will <strong>be</strong> a Selection Committee
and that Selection Committee
comprises of people from
both the majority and the
minority parties and they will
now choose people that will
work within this milieu.
So, when somebody from
outside starts to make
such insinuations, I think that he’s actually
making life very difficult for whoever he is
promoting <strong>be</strong>cause the National Assembly is
an arm of government. So, when somebody
from the Executive arm of government comes
to try to tell the National Assembly what to
do, all that you get is pushback <strong>be</strong>cause what
we will now say is we don’t want a Senate
President that is going to <strong>be</strong>
a wet rag for the Executive.
We wouldn’t want a Senate
president that will just wake
up and <strong>be</strong>come an adjunct
to the Executive that will <strong>be</strong>
going to take orders from
them. That is not good for
the country, it’s not even
good for Adams Oshiomhole
himself <strong>be</strong>cause what we
found out about people like
him who make up these
things is that if tomorrow he
runs into trouble, he runs to
the Senate Committee on
Ethics to make a complaint
and try to ask them to save
him from the Executive.
We’ve seen it happen many
times where people who
were in the Executive <strong>be</strong>fore
and were boasting and
saying all manners of things
but the day they were put
under pressure, the next
things was that they wrote
a petition and asked Public
Petitions Committee to look
into the matter. So, it’s not
even in their own interest to
have a subservient Senate
and no senator will support
the Senate President who
will <strong>be</strong> subservient to the
Executive <strong>be</strong>cause we are not going to give
up our status as an arm of government to the
Executive.
Nobody will do that. I also know that the
judiciary will not do that. The reason we have
our type of democracy is so that one arm can
<strong>be</strong> as a check on another arm, otherwise, we
might as well all go home and let the
Executive <strong>be</strong> everything, including making
laws for us. So, our independence is hard
earned and lessons have <strong>be</strong>en learnt,
including what we went through in the last
four years under this first term of the APC
government. I do not think the APC
government will also want to have the
rancor that they went through in the last
four years <strong>be</strong>cause if you put yourself
under such self inflicted rancor, you are
not going to get any work done. If you are
unable to do that, what are you going to
tell the Nigerian people? I don’t think
Buhari’s legacy should <strong>be</strong> that he fought
the National Assembly for
eight years. History will
not <strong>be</strong> kind. No
matter what they
say, the verdict of
history is always
very necessary
for any man who
claims to <strong>be</strong> a
statesman and I
don’t think that
the APC should
let their national
chairman
continue to <strong>be</strong> as
small minded as
he is.
Will the PDP
sponsor a
candidate of its own?
Why can’t the PDP sponsor a candidate? I
can say that all of us are also consulting. It’s
not only the APC that is consulting, we are
consulting and we are also talking with the
incoming APC mem<strong>be</strong>rs. Some of them are
coming from the House of Representatives,
so they know what we all went through. Some
of them are new, but they also have an idea.
Some have <strong>be</strong>en governors, so they also have
an idea of what type of life they will face. So,
ask yourself a question. You come in as a
former PDP governor and you are hearing
Oshiomhole saying that you cannot <strong>be</strong> a
chairman or anything. Why would you now
want to follow whoever Oshiomhole brings
out and say this is the man?
So, like I said <strong>be</strong>fore, Oshiomhole is demarketing
his party and actually making the
PDP mem<strong>be</strong>rs to think twice about whoever
APC is bringing up. This decision as I said,
will <strong>be</strong> done on the floor of the Senate. Like
Senator Ndume had earlier said, it’s not
constitutional for somebody to wake up and
<strong>be</strong>gin to talk to you from outside and say he
wants to determine what happens in an
exclusive club that the person is not a mem<strong>be</strong>r.
Oshiomhole is not a mem<strong>be</strong>r. Why would you
want to tell club mem<strong>be</strong>rs what to do?
Militarization was one of the issues around
that election, did you have such experience?
We didn’t have such experience in Abia. On
the contrary, the military played their role the
way it should <strong>be</strong> played. But from what my
colleagues have told me in places like Rivers
and Akwa Ibom they just had the military
playing a direct role in the elections, which is
not what they are supposed to do. So, both
local and international observers have talked
about the militarization of the election and of
course we all witnessed it when the
supplementary elections were done in Kano
and Bauchi. We could see how it was deployed
to rig people into power. So, we condemn it
and we totally decry the use of the military in
the manner it was used.
What is your take on electoral reform?
I do not think that the electoral reform is
something that is esoteric. We already had an
electoral bill that was sent to the President
four times. At every point at which he made a
complaint, it was modified to suit him. The
first one was on the question of the sequence
of elections. There was so much hue and cry
and even some people came out to say that
the National Assembly had no such right. But
of course, the courts eventually affirmed the
right of the National Assembly to fix the
sequence of elections. The National Assembly
removed it so that they would not say that
anybody had a vested interest in mem<strong>be</strong>rs of
the National Assembly coming first or so.Then
of course, we now had the issue of the various
amendments, but President Buhari still found
reasons not to sign it, with a nebulous
protestation about some things, saying that
there was an ECOWAS protocol. If we really
want to get it right, we should tell the
President Buhari that the elections are now
over and he now has time to assent to that
bill. So, all those who were telling him that
his election depended on the way it went, now
he has a chance to <strong>be</strong>queath to Nigerians a
much <strong>be</strong>tter experience in voting <strong>be</strong>cause if
electronic transmission was used, then nobody
would <strong>be</strong> talking about anybody going to the
collation centre and manipulating results.
What it meant would have <strong>be</strong>en that results
would have come directly from the polling
unit, all the way to where it was <strong>be</strong>ing collated
without the physical movement that always
led to what we saw in the decision. Remem<strong>be</strong>r
what the Osun tribunal said that INEC’s
copies of the results were mutilated while the
agents’ copies were neat. Since we have a
problem of the human aspect and human
management of the elections, then the more
you can eliminate the human aspect, the
<strong>be</strong>tter the process can <strong>be</strong> and the more
credibility the people can put in the process.
You could just see what happened in the last
elections. Immediately after the Presidential
and National Assembly elections, a whole lot
of Nigerians lost faith in the elections and
didn’t even bother to come out in the
gu<strong>be</strong>rnatorial and State Assembly elections.
The reason they lost faith was that they knew
who they voted for and now having all
manners of figures <strong>be</strong>ing given to them just
told everybody that nothing has changed and
we haven’t learnt any lessons. So, if we can
go through the new Electoral Act, eliminate
part of the human elements, may<strong>be</strong> that will
make our elections good.
How did your party, the PDP fare in the last
election?
I think that for a party that started with 11
governors and are ending up with 17 or so,
that means that the party actually did very
well in the elections. For the party to have up
to 17 governors and did not do so well in the
National Assembly elections, would have also
told you that a whole lot of things went <strong>be</strong>hind
the scene and people were allocated figures
and all that. You couldn’t have amassed such
num<strong>be</strong>rs without having something to show
for it. Some people were merely interested in
making sure that President Buhari was reelected
and they did everything and led the
process. It now <strong>be</strong>came clearer when it got to
the governorship elections. The evidence of
the elections now can also <strong>be</strong> used to prove
such speculations.
Your party’s presidential candidate has filed
a petition at the election tribunal. As a leader
of the party, are you hopeful?
Yes, we are very hopeful that the charade
and the manipulations will <strong>be</strong> ventilated at
the tribunal. Let me say this about the former
President. He always made it known what and
where he stood and I think the candidate of
the people, Vice President Atiku Abubakar
also made it known that if things are fair, I
would not contest. But if clearly you could see
the type of the shenanigans that went on, the
step that he has taken to reclaim his mandate
through the tribunal is a step in the right
direction and all of us are supportive that he
should do that.
There is some of form of politicking already
within the PDP on who will <strong>be</strong> the minority
leader and your name came up prominently.
Ekweremadu’s name also came up, but you
are still silent on that issue.
The question of either minority or majority
leader is left to the parties. The parties pick
who they think is <strong>be</strong>st suited to play the role
for them <strong>be</strong>cause the minority leader’s job is
to protect the interest of their party. The
majority leader’s job also emanates from the
parliamentary system where they call him
leader of government business. It’s actually
to represent government’s view. So, those are
party positions. But the position of Senate
President and Deputy Senate President are
Read more on www.vanguardngr.com

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 30, , 2019—17
•IGP Adamu
•Buhari
•Onnoghen
•Magu
LATEST CORRUPTION REPORT:
Menace to
increase in
Nigeria
•Police maintain lead in practice
•Judiciary rakes in more money from it
•Power, Education, Health sectors also monitored
•Govt’s anti-corruption efforts ‘inadequate, unconvincing’
•Most leaders corrupt, pursue personal interests
By Henry Ojelu
In the last two decades, successive
assessments of Nigeria’s corruption status by
various international organizations,
consistently rated the country among the most
corrupt countries in the world. In a
Transparency International corruption survey
conducted in 1999, Nigeria was rated as the
second most corrupt country in the world. When
a similar survey was conducted in 2009, out of
180 countries sampled, Nigeria was ranked
130 in corruption index. In the latest
Transparency International ranking, released
in 2018, Nigeria is ranked 144. With these
consistent poor rating, Nigeria remains a
talking point on every corruption discussion
locally and internationally.
While there is a general consensus backed
by facts that Nigeria is indeed corrupt, little is
known about its spread among the various
institutions and sectors in the country. For
instance, while the police cut an inglorious
image of an epitome of a corrupt law
enforcement agency, there was no available
data to prove that assertion. This was also the
case in other public institutions perceived as
corrupt. A survey conducted by Socio-
Economic Rights and Accountability Project,
SERAP has however put the issues to rest. The
national survey carried out in Novem<strong>be</strong>r and
Decem<strong>be</strong>r 2018, to assess the state of
corruption in public institutions covered the
police, judiciary, power, education and health
sectors.
The survey titled ‘Nigeria: Corruption
Assessment Performance Survey’ was
published as part of the organization’s
implementation of the Anti-Corruption in
Nigeria (ACORN) project funded with UK aid
from the British people. SERAP however
noted during the official presentation of the
report in Lagos earlier this week, that the views
expressed in the report do not necessarily
reflect the UK government’s official
statement. The 57 page report captured the
views of 2,655 Nigerians across Adamawa,
Kaduna, Kano, Ondo, Lagos, Rivers and Enugu
states as well as the Federal Capital Territory,
Abuja.
Key Findings
The report affirmed that the Nigeria Police
Force is the most corrupt institution in the
country. On the prevalence of bri<strong>be</strong>ry in the
five institutions surveyed, the police Force was
the most adversely ranked. Specifically the
study revealed that for every 100 police
interactions reported by the respondents, there
was a bri<strong>be</strong> paid in 54 interactions. The
prevalence levels stood at 37% in the power
sector and 18% in education, 17.7% in the
judiciary and 14% in the health sector.
The report also revealed that there was a 63%
probability that an average Nigerian would
<strong>be</strong> asked to pay a bri<strong>be</strong> each time he or she
interacted with the police. The likelihood of
bri<strong>be</strong>ry in the power sector stood at 49%. With
the chances of encountering bri<strong>be</strong>ry at the
judiciary, education and health services
standing at 27%, 25% and 20% respectively.
On the share of national bri<strong>be</strong> received by
each of the various institutions under focus,
the police and judiciary had the largest
proportion of total bri<strong>be</strong>s paid at 33% and 31%
respectively. Bri<strong>be</strong>s paid for education, power
and health services accounted for 19%, 10.9
and 5% respectively of all bri<strong>be</strong>s reported.
Interestingly, the report highlighted that
despite the notoriety of the police in recording
most bri<strong>be</strong>s, the judiciary got the biggest chunk
of the money paid out for corruption. The
average amount of bri<strong>be</strong> paid by the
respondents was highest among
those who paid to the judiciary
at about Naira 108,000 (US$
298). All the other institutions
ranked lower on this variable
with N12,253 and 11,566
reportedly paid to the police and
education sectors, and N6,462
and N5,143 paid for health and
power services respectively.
On whether it is possible to get
services from government
agencies without paying bri<strong>be</strong>,
51% of the individuals that paid
bri<strong>be</strong>s to the police and 35% to
the power sector <strong>be</strong>lieved that
was the only way to access the
services sought from the
institutions. The ranking of the
education sector and the
judiciary was less adverse with
16% perceiving bri<strong>be</strong>ry as the
main avenue of accessing
services in the institutions, and
health services recording 13%.
Assessment of FG anticorruption
war
The survey assessed the impact
of President Muhammadu
Buhari’s anti-corruption fight in the last four
years in the education, health, energy, police
and judiciary sectors. It concluded that despite
the fact that anti-graft war is a cardinal
programme of the current administration,
corruption has not abated. In fact, majority of
the Nigerians, whose views were captured in
the report, <strong>be</strong>lieve that in spite of government’s
anti-graft crusade, the level of corruption in
the country will rise “in the coming year,”
rather than reduce. They were also of the view
that government’s anti-corruption efforts are
“inadequate and unconvincing.” They
hinged their skepticism on the fact that
“elections do not result in a different
government,” adding that “most leaders are
corrupt and only pursue personal interests.”
From the analysis of the anti-corruption legal
and institutional framework in Nigeria, the
report identified cross-cutting issues fuelling
corruption in the country. It listed the factors
as follows: lack of political goodwill to
consistently enforce the different anticorruption
laws; inadequate funding for the
various anti-corruption agencies; weak public
support and/or ownership of anti-corruption
initiatives; poor clarity of roles <strong>be</strong>tween various
anti-corruption agencies; and public
perceptions of politicization of corruption
While there is a
general consensus
backed by facts
that Nigeria is
indeed corrupt,
little is known
about its spread
among the various
institutions and
sectors in the
country
arrests and prosecutions.
Recommendations
Following its key findings, SERAP made
strong recommendation on how the issues
identified could <strong>be</strong> handled. Part of the
recommendation reads: “The Federal
government should establish an independent
commission of inquiry to conduct a
transparent, comprehensive, and impartial
investigation into systemic corruption within
the Nigeria Police Force, judiciary, and the
ministries of power, education and health.”
“The Inspector General of Police should
receive and investigate complaints of bri<strong>be</strong>ry
and corruption against police officers filed by
mem<strong>be</strong>rs of the public. The police should liaise
with community leaders and civil society
organizations in regard to incidents of police
bri<strong>be</strong>ry and corruption within the community.”
“The Chief Justice of Nigeria
and the National Judicial
Council should identify and
review all outstanding cases of
judicial corruption and refer
such cases to appropriate anticorruption
agencies. They
should apply the Code of
Conduct for Judicial Officers in
a consistent and transparent
manner, with full respect for the
fundamental guarantees of fair
trial and due process.”
“The Chief Justice of Nigeria
and the NJC should publish
annual reports of all activities
involving the judiciary,
including expenditure, and
provide the public with reliable
information about its
governance and organization,
including the num<strong>be</strong>r of judges
found to <strong>be</strong> corrupt, as well as
ensure that the Chief Justice of
Nigeria and all other judges
make periodic asset
disclosures.”
Human rights lawyer, Mr.
Femi Falana (SAN),
commended SERAP for the
report, which he descri<strong>be</strong>d as a “confirmation
that the masses are united in demanding a
new society where public funds will not <strong>be</strong>
criminally diverted by unpatriotic elements but
channeled towards the development of the
country.”
Renowned professor of International Law
and Jurisprudence, Akin Oyebode said the
report had put the country in the spotlight. He
stated that the conscience of Nigerians against
corruption must <strong>be</strong> sustained if progress must
<strong>be</strong> made in the fight against corruption.
Some of the dignitaries that attended the
launch of the report include France
Ambassador represented by Mr. Blanc
Barllulemy, Director General of Bureau for
Public Procurement (BPP) represented by Barr.
Mrs. Amaka Obinna, Statistician General of
Nigerian Bureau of Statistics represented by
Mrs Lola Talabi-Oni, CBN Governor
represented by Dr. O. E. Olowofeso, Attorney
General of Edo State represented by Mr
George Ntor, Chairman of Code of Conduct
Bureau (CCB) represented by Mr Olusoji Ola,
Inspector-General of Police represented by ACP
Saadat Ismail, Professor Ayo Atsenuwa,
Chairman of ICPC represented by Mr. Japhet
Udeani and Mr Dapo Olorunyomi, founder
of Premium Times

18—SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 30, , 2019
Competence mr.
President, not integrity
By Ernest Osogbue
It has <strong>be</strong>en reported that President
Mohammadu Buhari following the
euphoria of his reelection has <strong>be</strong>en
making statements painting a picture of
how his second tenure would unfold. One
of the statements credited to the president
was that only men and women of integrity
would make his cabinet this time around.
It is easy for me to understand where
the president is coming from; the victory
of the APC which catapulted him to power
in 2015 was predicated on ‘change’,
which presupposed a departure from
the old ways of doing things and a
new dawn as espoused by the wellworn
cliché.
After his inauguration in May 2015
however, the long delay in naming his
ministers, had led to speculations as
to the quality of persons who would
populate his cabinet. Nigerians in
their num<strong>be</strong>rs gathered at different
points in different cities, towns and
villages to debate this expected crop
of young technocrats never seen or
heard of in the corridors of power or
in public office, who would mount
the saddle and transform the nation
for the <strong>be</strong>tter.
Alas, when the president finally
reeled out his ministerial list on
Wednesday Novem<strong>be</strong>r 11 2015, six
months after his swearing-in,
many were disappointed.
There was a silent grumble across
the land as the expected fresh, young
and new faces were nowhere to <strong>be</strong>
seen. Instead, the same old crop of
politicians who had held sway in
previous governments, men who had
<strong>be</strong>en accused of stealing from the public
till in past administrations, persons of
unsavory public persona and others,
were thrust in the faces of Nigerians as
drivers of the much vaunted ‘change
agenda’.
The opposition was quick to jump out
with the ‘I told you so’ arguments, but
Buhari and APC supporters also came up
with a counter argument; that with a
tough no-nonsense Buhari on the saddle,
none of his appointees dare attempt
anything untoward. This argument did not
satisfy the opposition which went further
to dig up dossier after dossier of the
misdemeanors and previous
wrongdoings of some mem<strong>be</strong>rs of the
president’s cabinet to buttress its
point.
For months the issue of governance
was in a<strong>be</strong>yance as the integrity of
some cabinet mem<strong>be</strong>rs was brought
to question. This in the long run led
to questions as to Mr. President’s
integrity; a man known for his frugal
lifestyle, a life devoid of ostentation
and covetousness. The presidents’
supposed integrity was lampooned
and impugned in the media as a result
of the character of mem<strong>be</strong>rs of his
cabinet.
From indications, the above
scenario must have hurt the president
deeply in his private moments and he
must have wondered that his loyalty
to those who helped him achieve his
ambition after several traumatic
attempts may have exposed him to
ridicule and brought his wellmanicured
character to question. He
must have had time to mull over the
issue in the last four years, and
therefore possibly determined that the
2015 scenario must not repeat itself
in 2019.
Before we go further in this story, let’s
ask the question; what is integrity?
According to my dictionary, it is the
adherence to moral and ethical
principles; soundness of moral
character; honesty.
As a byproduct of their position or
image, certain persons are expected to <strong>be</strong>
people of integrity. In this category are
mem<strong>be</strong>rs of the clergy, parents, teachers
and moral instructors. Events around the
country and around the world however,
have given the lie to the above
supposition. The recent jailing of a
Cardinal for child sex abuse in Australia,
the confession to adultery of a prominent
Abuja based pastor, the sex for marks
scandal leading to the jailing of a
university don in Nigeria and the several
parental failures in the moral upbringing
of their children, are pointers to the fact,
that integrity is simply a matter
perception; as position or image has
absolutely nothing to do with the inner
person.
It therefore <strong>be</strong>comes worrisome to see
Preserving the Majesty of Nigeria’s Judiciary
By Sufuyan Ojeifo
Lord Denning, Master of the Rolls once
said: “If justice were to have a voice,
she would speak as the English judge.”
Denning’s compelling submission
underscores the character of the British
judiciary and its philosophical underpinning
of impartial offering of justice. All Britons
are confident that it is the nature of English
courts to dispense justice in its undiluted form.
Perceptibly, that reality contrasts sharply
with the Nigerian condition, which over the
years, appears to have consistently declined,
especially within the precincts of the lower
courts. The Court of Appeal in Nigeria was,
at an intersection, assailed by allegations of
pecuniary interests by mem<strong>be</strong>rs of the
political class in matters of election petitions.
Indeed, the Supreme Court has, over the
years, diligently weighed in on the
side of political stability, peace and
national interest in giving verdicts
in presidential election petition
appeals. The apex court does not
ordinarily admit of judicial activism
without consideration for national
interest.
For instance, there were sufficient
grounds to nullify the 2007
presidential election on the basis
of the petition filed by the defeated
presidential candidate of the All
Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP),
Muhammadu Buhari. But <strong>be</strong>cause
our democracy was still fragile, the
panel of seven apex court justices
that sat on the appeal saved
democracy by a verdict of 4-3.
The suspended Chief Justice of
Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen,
was one of the three justices that
gave verdict in favour of Buhari; the
two other justices were G.A
Oguntade and Aloma Mariam
Muktar. Four justices gave majority
verdict in favour of Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) candidate
and winner of the election, Alhaji
Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.
Justice was dispensed in its
finality to foster the “social
engineering” philosophy of law to
maintain national stability. And,
this fits perfectly into former
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the
United States, Ro<strong>be</strong>rt H. Jackson’s dictum
succinctly describing the Supreme Court,
inter alia, “we are not final <strong>be</strong>cause we are
infallible but we are infallible <strong>be</strong>cause we
are final.”
There is, therefore, a sense in which some
people have thus rationalized a deli<strong>be</strong>rate
move by the Executive arm under President
Buhari, ahead of the just-concluded 2019
general election, to weaken and
compromise the Supreme Court’s capacity
for finality and infallibility of verdicts. But
now that our democracy has taken roots, it
should <strong>be</strong> able to absorb the shocks of farreaching
judicial verdicts by the apex court.
This, perhaps, explicates Executive’s
supposed resort to intimidation of the Judiciary
in the performance of its law-interpretation
function amid the reality that the finality and
infallibility of Nigeria’s Supreme Court have
<strong>be</strong>come so writ large that it
has created eternal fears for
the political class. The apex
court must therefore <strong>be</strong>
rendered tentative in the
performance of its function.
The Executive’s onslaught
against some judges and the
current travails of Onnoghen,
at the Code of Conduct
Indeed, the
Supreme Court
has, over the
years, diligently
weighed in on the
side of political
stability, peace
and national
interest in giving
verdicts in
presidential
election petition
appeals
Tribunal (CCT), for alleged
failure to declare some of his
assets, are specific
validations. In the final
analysis, the overarching
goal, to wit - demonisation of
the Judiciary - as a temple of
corruption, had turned the
arm of government into a
conclave of hesitant judicial
officers. How so sad!
The impression the
Executive and its agencies
had created is that a culture
of bri<strong>be</strong>-taking has crept into
the Judiciary and the nation
is left with the ramifications
of danger or possibility that
judgment, and not justice,
has <strong>be</strong>come a commodity on
display at a judicial bazaar
where the power of
procurement of justice
•Buhari
<strong>be</strong>longs to the highest bidders.
The sad developments have heightened
national anxiety and feelings of collective
doubt about the place of justice in the
philosophical template of social engineering
as an imperative raison d’être of law. When
the Judiciary that is reputed to <strong>be</strong> the bastion
of justice and the last hope of the common
man is allegedly turned into a bazaar for the
highest bidders, it spawns tragedy of very
great proportions.
Perhaps, that was the essential motivation
<strong>be</strong>hind the rash of onslaughts against the
judicial officers (read Judiciary).
Whereas, there had <strong>be</strong>en no love lost
<strong>be</strong>tween the Executive arm and the
Legislature since the inauguration of the
National Assembly on June 9, 2015 with the
former reacting rambunctiously to Executive’s
onslaughts, it would appear the Judiciary, in
its moments of angst, has commendably
shown a great deal of equanimity.
Significantly, in the process, the Judiciary
has tried to instruct the Executive on the
imperative of due process and legality.
Judges are not politicians and, therefore,
not given to partisan interests or guided by
emotions but by facts of the matters. Their
highly fecund but sedate dispositions are
matters of fact.
In the partisan frenzy that has
characterised the interactions <strong>be</strong>tween it
and the Executive arm, the Judiciary has
<strong>be</strong>en self-instructed, so it seems, to take its
destiny in its hands in order to preserve its
majesty through a reinvention of the tragic
wheel to which its reputation has <strong>be</strong>en tied
by the imperial Executive arm by
delivering judgments in line with facts
adumbrated and elucidated <strong>be</strong>fore it.
The Executive and its agencies had failed
to prove their cases against the judges,
whose residences were invaded by the DSS
in search of loot. It was not that the Courts
protected its own. The prosecution could not
prove elements of crime in the monies
allegedly discovered.
As it was in those cases, so it has <strong>be</strong>en in
a num<strong>be</strong>r of recent judicial verdicts against
the governing APC in matters pertaining
to the question of proper conducts of
primary elections and valid nominations of
candidates. In the classical cases of Rivers and
Zamfara, the court had ruled that APC could
not submit names of candidates for all
our president still caught up in this
integrity bubble. Everywhere you look
in our country there is poverty,
infrastructural decay, low
productivity, unemployment,
insurgency and banditry, lack of
innovation and sundry challenges that
require competent hands to bring
urgent interventions and solutions. The
president must therefore come down to
earth and acknowledge that he is
presiding over a country that is home
to the largest num<strong>be</strong>r of poor people in
the world. He must also realize that
pandering to higher ideals is good, but
that a hungry man’s ideals and integrity
most often than not elude him when his
stomach is empty.
The president must close his ears to the
rantings of sycophants who reel out
unsubstantiated statistics showing how
he is the greatest president Nigeria has
had. He must look <strong>be</strong>yond the voices of
those surrounding him, cocooned in their
sheltered lives apparently sustained by
public funds. He must look at the hungry
faces of Nigerians as they surround his
motorcade shouting ‘sai baba’, he must
hear the cries of men, women and
children in IDP camps inside their own
country, he must hear the voices of
Zamfara citizens daily deprived their
lives and property by armed bandits,
same with southern Kaduna where
lives are <strong>be</strong>ing lost daily. He must see
the footage of young Nigerians who
would rather <strong>be</strong> slaves in Libya with
the hope of getting to Europe, than
remain hopeless in their own country.
The president should know that
Nigerians need food on their table,
regular electricity supply in their
homes, medicines in the hospitals.
Christians and Muslims want to live
together in peace and harmony and go
about their lawful businesses
unmolested. Nigerians no longer want
to <strong>be</strong> kidnapped for ransom or rob<strong>be</strong>d of
their property by criminals, in fact,
Nigerians want their country back.
The integrity of the last four years has
not brought solutions to the above
situations. While we apologize to Mr.
President for impugning and lampooning
his integrity previously, we must remind
him that a new tactic would not <strong>be</strong> out of
place. He must realize that integrity is of
secondary value to a hungry person who
has no shelter. It follows therefore, that
what Nigeria needs now, are men and
women of competence; people who can
get the job done, people who know what
to do to stimulate the economy and get
Nigeria bubbling again and put the
smiles back on our faces. For goodness
sake Mr. President, we do not need
Angels and saints in your cabinet, we
need people who can get Nigeria working
again.
elections in both states.
While Rivers’ case filed by feuding APC’s
mem<strong>be</strong>rs had <strong>be</strong>come res judicata at the
Supreme Court, Zamfara’s case is still
bogged down in legal calisthenics. The
Court of Appeal, Sokoto Division, last week
upturned the ruling of the court <strong>be</strong>low that
gave INEC the nod to include APC on the
ballots for the National Assembly,
governorship and State House of Assembly
elections in Zamfara.
The victories of Zamfara APC’s
candidates in the elections have <strong>be</strong>en
upended by the appellate court’s verdict.
They must look to the Supreme Court for a
remedy. But reading through the reported
judgment of the appellate court, I have a
hunch how it may all end.
Can one, at the cautionary level, vouchsafe
a pattern in all these verdicts and the ones to
come? If one considers the verdict of the
Tribunal that declared PDP’s candidate,
Senator Ademola Adeleke, winner of the
Osun State governorship election right
under the nose of the powers-that-<strong>be</strong> in
Abuja, it would appear that the
governing party, cut to the bone, is not in
a comfort zone. But to <strong>be</strong> sure, it is not
that the judges are biased against the
governing party. I think it is just that the
APC has, largely, not <strong>be</strong>en able to prove
its cases <strong>be</strong>yond reasonable doubts and
was therefore imperiled by losses. APC
must thus <strong>be</strong> prudent in its defence in the
presidential election petition.
Over all, I <strong>be</strong>lieve that in the spirit of
self-preservation, the Judiciary, as
typified by courts across board, is
somewhat mentally applying itself and
the law in the determination of all the
cases <strong>be</strong>fore it, not minding whose ox is
gored. That is how it should <strong>be</strong>. It should
not matter whether the Executive arm is
deploying intimidatory tactics or not.
Justice must issue from the Bench
without consideration for party
affiliations, tri<strong>be</strong>s and religions. Justice
must <strong>be</strong> conscientiously bolstered to
henceforth speak as the Nigerian judge
in the appropriation of a fearless voice.
This will preserve the majesty of our
Judiciary.
•Ojeifo, journalist, contributed this
piece via ojwonderngr@yahoo.com

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 30, 2019 — 19

20 — SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 30, 2019
Ini Edo storms
Tanzania for
AWAFFEST
Continues from page 19
In a span of 12 years of her career, it appears she has released
17 singles of her own, most of which were not even promoted
despite the free social media tools available, at the time, to
her. In 2019, Waje’s songs on Spotify received only 7,000 + people
listening, and her You Tu<strong>be</strong> subscri<strong>be</strong>r page was about 6,800+.
Mrs Uduak Oduok, Entertainment lawyer and Co-founder Ebitu
Law Group, wonders what the talented singer has done to leverage
her Facebook fan page of 63,000+ followers, Twitter fan page of
450,000 +, and Instagram followers of 1.3 Million + to turn them
into listening and paying customers?
In a lengthy post on Africa Music Law blog, Mrs
Oduok stated that in her 12 year career, Waje has
released only two studio albums. “The first was in
2013, six years after she first officially entered the
music industry. The second was
released in 2018, five years after
the release of her first album. So
12 years after her career <strong>be</strong>gan,
we are just now getting a
sophomore album, and one that
insists on an RnB genre and
style that her core demographic
in Africa, from her metrics, do
not seem as interested in? It is
of significance that even in the
western market where RnB is
prevalent, the genre is not as
popular as it once was.”
“In the meantime during the
12 years of Waje’s career, she has ventured
into other creative ventures. In 2014, she
delved into acting. In 2016, she was one
of the four judges for the inaugural launch
of The Voice, in Nigeria. She wasn’t really
releasing her own music. In fact, the only
single officially released from Waje in
2016, was cover of ‘Ave Maria.’ This 2019,
Waje just launched a media company,
which presumably she employed to shoot
her documentary.”
“My point is there has never <strong>be</strong>en a true
consistency and focus on Waje’s part in
what got her to the limelight, that’s music.
And for all artists, you can’t say you are
“tired” of music (that is if you as
passionate as Waje says she is) when all
visible objective metrics show a lack of
true commitment to building your music
brand. Intermittent appearances on
television shows, radio, winning awards,
live performances and a completely
inconsistent release of music doesn’t cut
it.”
“If an investor is interested in Waje,
where is the brand consistency to give that
investor the confidence that she will have
a true return on investments when there
is no consistent music output from Waje?
The music is what helps drive an
attraction of investment opportunities,
and diverse streams of income to help
scale her business. If an investor cannot
see it, what is that investor investing in?
Further, what can Waje show an investor
to make that investor have confidence in
investing in her when 12 years later, she
is still at the start-up level of her business
i.e. wearing all hats, overworked, and has
no true operational infrastructure in
place?”, Mrs Oduok wrote.
Meanwhile, in as much as there is hope
for the living, Waje’s career is yet to reach
its dead end. In her 12 years career, the
songbird has accomplished so much that
Why Waje
should
not stop
the music
she has earned so little from her hard work,
which is why she decided on venting her
frustrations and even announced her
decision to quit music. Good enough, some
industry operators are showing interest in
helping to resuscitate Waje’s dwindling
music career. Controversial music
business personality, Ubi Franklin, is
among the stakeholders who have
offered support to the talented singer,
even as many are blasting her for not
<strong>be</strong>ing hardworking enough and also, that
she’s <strong>be</strong>ing stingy towards the publicity of
her craft.
But despite the insinuations, Waje in an
interview with Showtime said she’s still
at the stage where she’s hungry to surpass
her achievements. “I don’t have low selfesteem,
I’m a large cat. The reason I said
that is <strong>be</strong>cause I wanted to descri<strong>be</strong> to you
how hungry I’m to do more every day. If
you have this conversation with Omawumi
she would tell you; we literally sit down to
find out new ways to
interpret my brand. It’s
something we’re
constantly thinking of.
When you get to the
mindset that you’ve
arrived then there
would <strong>be</strong> nothing
more to think. May<strong>be</strong>
after I’ve conquered
the whole world, I can
sit back and say I’ve
arrived. But for now, I
haven’t even
conquered one tenth
of it yet. For now, I’m
still at the stage where
I hunger for more,”
she said. And that’s the
reason, Waje should
not stop the music.
Timaya rever<strong>be</strong>rates at industry nite
FOLLOWING the release of his 7 th studio project ‘Chulo
Vi<strong>be</strong>s’, veteran singer, Timaya was hosted at Industry Nite
for a listening party of the new album. The Hard Rock Cafe,
Lagos, was packed to the rafters on Thursday, as people turned out
en mass to celebrate and support the artiste.
Timaya got the crowd warmed up by performing some of his
greatest hits, and had everyone singing along. The artiste then
followed this with his traditional praise session, <strong>be</strong>fore <strong>be</strong>ing joined
on stage by Harry Song to perform ‘Samankwe’. Timaya then
performed songs from the ‘Chulo Vi<strong>be</strong>s’ album, instantly filling
the room with good energy and excitement. Since its release on
the 8th of February, “Chulo Vi<strong>be</strong>s” has <strong>be</strong>en widely received and
enjoyed massive airplay. Most favoured on the album are the hit
tracks ‘Balance’ and ‘Stoopid’; this much was evident as the crowd
lit up when Timaya performed the songs. To close the show, Peruzzi
performed his single ‘Amaka’. This was Timaya’s third outing at
Industry Nite, and he continues to perform above and <strong>be</strong>yond
expectations of fans. Among the audience were celebrities
including Harry Song, Ycee, DJ Jimmy Jatt, Peruzzi, Korede Bello,
Dprince, Dapo Taburna, King Perry, and Good girl LA . They all
came out to support one of their own.
•Timaya
•Ini Edo
Online auditions democratize the
BBNaija process — Multichoice CEO
..as Dstv, GOtv subscri<strong>be</strong>rs vote for one more Housemate
MultiChoice Nigeria has announced the
commencement of online voting for its
BBNaija online auditions, which held from
25th to 27th February. Contestants were expected to
record a two-minute video of themselves stating why
they should <strong>be</strong> picked to <strong>be</strong>come housemates in this
year’s Big Brother Naija.
The online auditions were an unprecedented move
by MultiChoice Nigeria and a way of giving voice to
the audience, giving them the power to vote a
Housemate into the House.
Ten contestants were selected
from the online auditions and the
voting portal (https://
africamagic.dstv.com/show/bigbrother-nigeria/audition)
opened
last Thursday and DStv and GOtv
subscri<strong>be</strong>rs can vote daily for the
personality they would like to see
in the house from March 21 -
March 31 2019. According to
organizers, voting is open to only
active DStv and GOtv subscri<strong>be</strong>rs
as official voting rules apply.
MultiChoice Nigeria CEO, John
Ug<strong>be</strong> <strong>be</strong>lieves that the online
auditions democratize the
BBNaija process. “The online
auditions are a way of involving
our subscri<strong>be</strong>rs in the decisionmaking
process of who gets to go
into the house. They are the reason
the show remains popular, always
DELECTABLE actress, Ini Edo is currently having a good
time in Tanzania as she attends the maiden edition of
African Women Arts and Film Festival,AWAFFEST, which
opened yesterday at National Museum of Tanzania, Dar es Salaam,
and will run till Sunday, March 31.
The festival is a sister festival to The African Film Festival,TAFF,
in Dallas, Texas, United States, a non-profit organization dedicated
to African motion pictures to serve as a platform for educative
references to African culture and to expose African films to non-
African communities.
Confirming her attendance in an Instagram post, Ini Edo wrote
“ I will <strong>be</strong> live at AWAFFEST from March 29th to March 31st
in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. See you there!”
Founder of festival, US-based multiple awardwinning
Nigerian film maker, Kelechi Eke said
AWAFFEST was not created to segregate women, but
rather, to empower them in the male dominated
industry where a large variety of their quality arts,
stories, and films would <strong>be</strong> celebrated and
appreciated. The festival which is sponsored by his
newly launched ROOTFLIX, a streaming and
distribution platform for festival-qualified films is
held in March, to celebrate the International
Women’s Month.
According to Mr. Eke, Tanzanian TAFF
Ambassador, Yvonne Cherrie Monalisa is
the Director of AWAFFEST. The three days
event is expected to feature series of events
including short film screenings, outdoor art
paintings and cultural display of Arts and
Clothing, musical performances,m fashion
show and symposium among others. The
festival will climaxed with awards
presentation and recognition.
•Kelechi Eke
•MR. John Ug<strong>be</strong>, CEO, Multichoice Nigeria
rooting for their favourite Housemates. Also,
just thinking about the people who turned up
for the physical auditions, we thought to give
them another opportunity. Big Brother is a fun
show and rejigging things a little bit shows
that there is no predetermined script even
though it continues to follow the international
format,” he said. Subscri<strong>be</strong>rs on the different
bouquets are allowed to vote for one contestant
in every voting round. On verification of the
subscri<strong>be</strong>r’s package, the contestant will <strong>be</strong>
allocated points, which will contribute to the
contestants final score. The premium bouquet
carries 100 points, 75 points for Compact+, 50
points for Compact, 25 and 10 points for Family
and Access bouquets. For GOtv subscri<strong>be</strong>rs,
GOtv Max carries 25 points, while GOtv Plus
carries 10 points.

ROTIMI AGBANA
07054964685
rotimiagbana@gmail.com
SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 30, 2019—21
I didn’t burn the
naira to promote my
song- Orezi
When afro-pop music singer,
Esegine Allen, popularly
known as Orezi, unveiled
an artwork meant to promote his latest
song, ‘Born Broke Die Rich’, critics attacked
him for <strong>be</strong>ing unpatriotic <strong>be</strong>cause
he allegedly burnt a N1,000 note
in the artwork.
However, in a chat with Showtime,
the singer who has since remained radio
silent on the matter finally set the
records straight.
“It was an artistic move, a
Photoshop. I didn’t even have any cash
with me during the photo shoot. But
you know people must talk, whether
you do right or wrong. Banji, my manager,
won’t even allow that”, he said.
He also corrected the impression that
the song encourages cy<strong>be</strong>r fraud, ritual
killings or any illegal means of livelihood.
“No, it’s not a song to encourage
cy<strong>be</strong>r fraud, I don’t make such music.
The message <strong>be</strong>hind ‘Born Broke Die
Rich’ is to work hard and smart; telling
the youths that the fact you come from
a poor background should not hold you
back from chasing your dreams. You
work hard so your kids don’t have to
go through what you went through.”
Orezi who still basks in the euphoria
of his big win at the 2017 edition of
AFRIMA, recounted his experience at
the prestigious awards.
“Winning the video of the year award
category at the 2017 AFRIMA with the
video of ‘Cooking Pot’ was a big one
for me. I didn’t see it coming
considering the fact
that there
Ayoola
Oluwafemi
Bix<strong>be</strong>at Music
<strong>be</strong>rths in
Nigeria
Bix<strong>be</strong>at Nigeria Limited, an
entertainment company
headquartered in Calgary, Canada
has expanded its reach to
Nigeria. The entertainment outfit
whose mission in the music
industry is to <strong>be</strong> the one-stop
music platform for everything
music globally recently
launched in Lagos.
In a chat with Showtime, Ayoola
Oluwafemi, Business Manager,
Bix<strong>be</strong>at Nigeria Limited, explained
why the company decided
to extend her services to the
Nigeria music industry.
“Right now, we are on four continents;
Africa, Asia, Europe and
America; you’ll see that when
you go to the platform. We’ve
launched now in Nigeria <strong>be</strong>cause
most of the African artistes
look up to Nigeria; they want to
do what we do. So, we are not
just catering for only Nigeria but
were other
heavyweights
like Wizkid
nominated in
that same category”,
he noted
with nostalgia.
He added that
his desire to discourage
rape,
encourage protected
sex, and
talk about other meaningful
issues inspired the
award-winning song.
“Inspiration <strong>be</strong>hind
the song ‘Cooking Pot’
was basically the need
to create something
meaningful and different;
a song that
talks about issues
like rape, consensual
sex and the need
for people to use
protection (condoms)
if they must
have sex”, he
said.
Slimcase
Orezi
for Africa at large, and also to the
American, Canadian, European,
Asian markets, the Middle East
and everywhere. We are a music
platform for every continent but
we are giving Nigeria more leverage
<strong>be</strong>cause Nigeria is our
country but our headquarters is
in Canada.”
Speaking on the company’s
mode of operation, she said;
“To create a record la<strong>be</strong>l page
and upload songs on our platform
is totally free. We only charge if
you want your song to <strong>be</strong> sold and
the likes. If you are going to
stream your music, there will <strong>be</strong>
an agreement <strong>be</strong>tween the company
and the artiste, or the record
la<strong>be</strong>l that brings the song to us.
Gone are the days when artistes
just want their songs out there
for free. These days they look for
ways to monetize the songs <strong>be</strong>cause
it is their intellectual property.”
Lynxxx
I’ve no regrets <strong>be</strong>ing
born again- Lynxxx
In 2015, popular singer, Chuka Edozien, a.k.a
Lynxxx, revealed that he had <strong>be</strong>come born again, but
many <strong>be</strong>lieved he was only deceiving himself, <strong>be</strong>cause he
would soon regret his decision to dump music for the
bible.
Speaking to Showtime in a chat, the singer
explained why he has never had cause to regret
his decision.
“When God comes into your life, everything
changes, so why won’t I make such a decision?
Heaven is the most important thing to me. God
is the most important to me. You can never experience
God in His full form and regret it. The
Bible says ‘whoever puts his hand to the plough
and looks back is not fit for the kingdom of God’.
So once you experience Christ in His true form
you will understand what you have <strong>be</strong>en missing
in life. I don’t think there’s anybody that can
tell me they have encountered the Holy Spirit
and regretted it. Find that person and I will give
him/her one million naira”, he said.
Speaking about his prolonged absence from
the music scene, he shed light on why he has
<strong>be</strong>en away for so long.
“Yes it’s <strong>be</strong>en a while <strong>be</strong>cause I took some
time off from making music to focus on other
things like business, my new relationship
with God. As a man you have a career
but you also have goals that may not <strong>be</strong>
in line with what you do for a living. So
sometimes, you have to sacrifice and
make time for other things <strong>be</strong>fore going
back to what you are known for.”
He rubbished speculations that his absence
from the music scene may <strong>be</strong> <strong>be</strong>cause
he doesn’t make the kind of music
in vogue.
“I’m not doing music right now,
period. Nothing like popular music
or not, I’m a gifted person that God
has blessed with so many talents. A
lot of people don’t know how many
companies I own. But it’s not my
duty to <strong>be</strong> uploading what I do. God
has blessed me and I’m enjoying
what I do, I don’t have to shout it
to the world. So, let’s try not to
restrict our mindset to what we
know <strong>be</strong>cause as much as we
think we know, we know nothing”,
he said.
People think I smoke, drink, do
drugs, but I don’t- Slimcase
Ever since street
music artiste,
Oluwafemi Oladapo
Oko-Eko, popularly
known as Slimcase
shot to limelight
after a decade of pursuing
his passion for music,
many misjudged him for
an alcoholic and drug addict,
but surprisingly, such
is hardly the case with the
energetic entertainer.
In a chat, Slimcase whose latest
hit, ‘Azaman’ featuring 2Baba, Perruzzi,
Larry Gaaga and DJ Neptune
currently tops music charts
across the nation, told Showtime
that contrary to popular <strong>be</strong>lief, he
doesn’t drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes,
Indian hemp (Cannabis) or
do drugs. “I don’t smoke, drink
alcohol or do drugs I am only a
good actor”, he asserted.
However, he stated that though
he doesn’t take alcohol, it is not a
sin.
“Taking alcohol is not a sin, but
drinking to stupor is a sin.”
Speaking further, he reacted to
criticisms that he is yet to prove
himself a musician worthy of note.
“I am not a musician, I am an
industry hype man with music in
his hands; the first of its kind. The
first street artiste Wizkid featured
and that’s my pride, my Grammy.
I’m an entertainer who can entertain
you even without music. I am
the first industry hype man with
Anyone familiar with music
entrepreneur and record la<strong>be</strong>l
CEO, Motunrayo Anikulapo-Kuti,
daughter of late afro-<strong>be</strong>at maestro,
Fela Anikulapo-Kuti knows she is
not the type to mince words when
she takes on sundry issues in the Nigerian
entertainment industry.
In a chat with Showtime, Motunrayo
who has a few friends in the
music industry explained why it is
so.
“Of all the artistes in Nigeria, I’m
closer to 9ice. All the others are too
proud; they usually look down on
people and if you look down on me
I’ll feel pity for you and also look
down on you. I don’t respect people
who look down on me. But I still intend
working with a few other artistes
who would probably not look
down on me.” She added that
<strong>be</strong>sides 9ice, Burna Boy and Wizkid’s
music, every other music is crap.
“If I’m to descri<strong>be</strong> the kind of music
we hear today, judging by the kind
of music I grew up listening to, I’ll
pick the likes of 9ice, Burna Boy and
Wizkid <strong>be</strong>cause I’ve very limited
blown songs”, he said.
The singer who struggled to
gain recognition on the music
scene for a decade recounted how
he was tempted to quit music
when he wasn’t getting the desired
results.
“Sure, I was tempted to quit every
day. Everybody in the music
industry once had that feeling of
quitting but passion for the art has
<strong>be</strong>en the drive.”
Besides 9ice, Burna Boy, Wizkid’s
music, every other music is
crap - Motunrayo Kuti
A’list artistes that I like.
Speaking further, she explained
why she launched a record la<strong>be</strong>l in
2018.
“Floating a record la<strong>be</strong>l is <strong>be</strong>cause
of my daughter, Ifeniola, from where
I coined the name of the la<strong>be</strong>l, Ifeniomous
Entertainment. I want to
build a platform for her future.
And of course, I think I can
manage a record la<strong>be</strong>l
very well <strong>be</strong>cause
I’m very good
with music; with
my background in
music as well”, she
noted.
Motunrayo

22—SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 30, 2019
By Adetutu Adesoji
08157255559 (sms only)
adetutu.adesoji@gmail.com
Davido brags about
<strong>be</strong>ing num<strong>be</strong>r one
in Africa
Pop music sensation, Davido has crowned himself the king of
music in Africa. The Nwa Baby crooner made this known
while responding to a fan’s question on social media. “Is
@davidooffical the No. 1 African act ? “ “Since!” Davido replied
with certainty, insinuating that he did not just <strong>be</strong>come the num<strong>be</strong>r
one artiste in African but
also, he has <strong>be</strong>en at the
top for a long time.
Meanwhile, the
reason for Davido’s
level of certainty is
not far-fetched as top
chatting hits and
awards to his name
proves that he is
indeed on top of his
game.
•Davido
Divorce rumour:
My wife and I are
cool —IK Ogbonna
ollywood hunk, IK Ogbonna has come out
N to refute the rumour making the
rounds that his marriage to his Colombian
wife, Sonia is in troubled waters. The
popular role interpreter during a recent
interview said he is not divorced as he and
his wife are in good terms. Putting the
controversy to rest, the handsome
actor said: “You are not divorced
until you are divorced, my wife and
I are cool. She is back in Europe
with my son who is schooling
there. My wife got her
business going on
and school as well.
The fact that we are
not probably like
we used to
doesn’t mean
that we are
divorced.”
•IK Ogbonna
Mayorkun spoils self
with multi-million
naira car gift ahead
of birthday
D
•Mayorkun
MW top act, Mayorkun is already on his birthday
<strong>be</strong>haviour as he acquires multi- million naira posh
car ahead of his 25th birthday celebration. According to the
Eleko Singer, he decided to spoil himself to commemorate
attaining the milestone age. He took to his Instagram page
to flaunt the white Mercedes Benz which costs a whopping
35 million naira. “About to <strong>be</strong> 25, sitting on 35million! I
might as well spoil myself a lil! Too grateful,” he wrote.
Three years no
sex, I’m celibate
— Uriel Oputa
ormer Big Brother Naija
Fhousemate, Uriel Oputa
revealed during the week
that she has <strong>be</strong>en celibate
for three years and is still
counting. The reality TV
star made this
revelation on her Vlog
‘Uriel Talks All’. In a
recent post on her
Instagram page, she
tagged ‘3 years no
sex, I’m celibate’ the
cook show host
talked about her
experience of <strong>be</strong>ing
celibate, how
difficult it was at the
<strong>be</strong>ginning and how
she has <strong>be</strong>en able to
remain committed
to her sexual status.
•Uriel
•Daniella
Okeke
Adesua Etomi showers
praises on hubby
•Banky W
and Adesua
ollywood actress, Adesua Etomi took to her
NInstagram page on Wednesday to pen a
heartwarming birthday message to her singer
and actor-turned-politician husband, Banky
W. In a lengthy post that read like a love
poem, the award-winning actress
counts her blessings for having the
Lagos Party hit maker as a life
partner. She wrote; “I shudder to
think of how life would have <strong>be</strong>en
if God didn’t show me, if I hadn’t
seen that you are all I ever prayed
for, my knight in shining armor,
my Thor. Your love is one I have
never seen <strong>be</strong>fore, my heart you
cherish, my <strong>be</strong>ing you adore...”
Adesua Etomi and Banky W tied
the knots months after getting
married on screen in blockbuster
movie, ‘The Wedding Party’.
Curves on
display as
Daniella Okeke
clocks 32
Curvy actress, Daniella Okeke in
her usual fashion has set hearts
racing with sultry pictures as she recently
turned 32. The sexy actress who is fond of
flaunting her massive <strong>be</strong>hind
unapologetically on social media, warned
her followers of a possible heart attack as
she dishes out alluring photos to
celebrate her new age.

Between Bella Disu
and Paul Kagame
•Paul Kagame
Cas Ojo brings Luxury Network
event to Abuja
Following a successful
award ceremony at
Caesars’ Palace,
Bluewaters, Dubai, on February
23, 2019, top private mem<strong>be</strong>rship
club for luxury brands and
companies, The Luxury Network
International, has announced its
next B2B networking event set to
take place on Wednesday, April
17, 2019 at the Wells Carlton
Hotel, Abuja – a proud mem<strong>be</strong>r of
the prestigious Network.
The event titled “Why create
unique partnerships?” will
provide a unique platform to
discuss cross-sector partnership
opportunities <strong>be</strong>tween the
leading luxury companies in
Nigeria. The event aims to
facilitate unique and previously
non-existent strategic
partnerships, that will open new
•Luxury Network events
President of Rwanda,
Paul Kagame and
Executive Vice
Chairman of Globacom, Mrs
Bella Disu held a private
meeting at the 2019 Africa
CEO Forum in Kigali, Rwanda
on Monday. The forum kicked
off with the country’s
president, Paul Kagame and
Mrs. Disu holding discussions
on the use of digital
technology to drive economic
growth in Africa.
The private meeting took place
after the opening session of the
two day conference of policy
makers, business executives and
investors. President Kagame
said Africa’s hopes of achieving
regional integration and
economic growth would not <strong>be</strong>
realised without modern
technology. Disu commended
President Kagame on his
exemplary leadership and the
tremendous success Rwanda
has achieved under him.
The opening session was
business channels, for mutual
business and client development.
Speaking on the new direction,
MD of the Luxury Network
Nigeria, Cas Ojo said, “With
offices in 33 countries including
the UK, France, Monaco, Russia,
UAE, Australia and more in our
global network, we are looking
for the <strong>be</strong>st of Nigeria, to
showcase and engage in
discussion and collaboration
inside Nigeria, and with some of
our other offices in the world’s
<strong>be</strong>st capital cities.”
The Luxury Network’s global
offices have worked with luxury
brands like Porsche, Ralph
Lauren, Sunseeker Yachts,
Bombardier Jets, Bulgari, Rolls
Royce, Cartier, Gucci, Ferrari,
Lamborghini, Aston Martin,
Jaguar, Tiffany & Co., Land
Rover, Barclays Wealth and
Kempinski Hotels.
Juliet Ebirim
08137897935
juliet.ebirim@gmail.com
•Bella Disu
attended by Cote d’Ivoire’s
Prime Minister, Amadou Gon
Coulibaly; Ethiopian President,
Sahle-Work Zewde; Togolese
President, Faure Gnassing<strong>be</strong>;
President of Congo Democratic
Republic, Felix Tshisekedi; Prime
Minister of Rwanda, Edouard
Ngirente and over 1800 leading
decision makers in the public
and private sectors in Africa.
Two years ago, a mysterious,
daring and compelling retro Afro
music artiste, I<strong>be</strong>jii, made his
way into the Nigerian music industry
with the aim of disrupting the trend of
cacophony and lewd lyrics that have
saturated that space.
Last Saturday, the charismatic enigma,
celebrated the uniqueness of twins
at a live concert which took place at
Ethnic Heritage Centre, Lagos. After
hitting the global music sphere with his
third offering in just over a year, 'Tribal
Marks', the avant-garde crooner who
•I<strong>be</strong>ji day show
Dignitaries grace Nineteen
Youth Foundation event
Former Lagos State
Deputy Governor, Femi
Pedro, Nollywood
actress - Bimbo Akintola,
Kayode Ogunleye - HR
Director of Shell Petroleum,
Bisola Runsewe - MD Squeaky
Clean Services, UN
Ambassador - Utchay Odims,
among others, were among
dignitaries present at the
Nineteen Youth Foundation
career day event for public
schools. Tagged “Mind
Empowerment”, the event
which is the first of its kind had
over fifteen public schools and
three-fifty students from Eti-Osa
in attendance.
Participants were educated on
SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 30, 2019—23
the importance of choosing
the right careers and the need
for self discovery and personal
passion. The students were
also charged to pursue their
academics seriously, work
harder, gain exposure, learn
different skills and live above
the status quo.
Nineteen Youth
Foundation is co-founded
by Mrs. Biola Adegbuyi - a
lawyer and entrepreneur;
and Chichi Umeseaka, a
Teen’s Coach, show host
and Special Adviser to Abia
State Governor. The event
was sponsored by Red
carpet hall and supported
by Oyo State Governor
Mo Abudu,
estranged
hubby, re-unite...
Media mogul, Mo Abudu
married her daughter off
last weekend in a glamorous
event that saw dignitaries, celebrities and top
socialites in attendance. Though media personality,
Mo Abudu and her ex husband, Tokunbo have
<strong>be</strong>en separated for years, the duo came together
last weekend, when their daughter, Temidayo had
her traditional engagement.
Posting their photo together, Mo Abudu took to
instagram to appreciate him for his presence at the
wedding. She wrote: “‘... This picture was taken
as our darling daughter Temidee was about to
make an appearance at her
traditional engagement, thank you @Emmanueloyeleke
for capturing this moment for us. LOVE –
JOY – HAPPINESS – That is the look in the eyes
of both of us as we stood there looking on at our
daughter. Toks, thanks to you for <strong>be</strong>ing the loving
and caring
father that
you are”.
The last
time they
were
spotted
together
was at
Temidayo's
wedding
introduction
in A<strong>be</strong>okuta
and also at
their son's
graduation
ceremony
abroad.
•Mo Abudu and ex-hubby, Tokunbo
Fun, stories at
“I<strong>be</strong>ji Day”
has since <strong>be</strong>come a mainstay in the
alternative music sphere once again
proves the range of his talents and
vocal prowess. Born a twin himself,
I<strong>be</strong>jii is aware of the various experiences
that twins generally face,
hence, created an atmosphere of
music, storytelling and unlimited fun
where twins share their amazing
stories with other twins.
Opening the floor was the poetic
icon – Akeem Lasisi who serenaded
the fans with tuneful ewi in Yoruba
dialect. The audience could not get
enough of I<strong>be</strong>jii’s extraordinary art of
skilful storytelling em<strong>be</strong>llished with
folklore, metaphor and vernacular. He
explored traditional Yoruba folk, jazz,
dance, RnB, Juju among other
genres, as Brymo Olawale joined him
on stage to perform his last song of
the night – OmoBuruku.
•Nineteen Foundation during the events

24—SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 30, 2019
•2Baba receiving the fellowship award
HOW TO BEAT WHAT
•2baba
Being the torch-<strong>be</strong>arer for the
new pop movement is a role
I do not take lightly. And I am
honored to have <strong>be</strong>en found
worthy of such noble al<strong>be</strong>it enormous
responsibility.
The past 20 years have seen the
profound development and evolution of
the Nigerian music industry. The
movement that we have today is a result
of a gradual evolution and painstaking
growth process.
WAY BACK
20 years ago, there was a Nigerian
music scene. There was an active
gospel music scene, a juju, Fuji and
highlife scene and an active reggae/
dancehall scene. There has always
<strong>be</strong>en a simmering music scene,
fragmented and of course, not doing
as well as it should do. However, there
was a lot of activity; talent-driven
activity. The years prior to and leading
to the late ‘90s had seen a rising
increase in the incidence of piracy. As
the sound carrying device changed
from vinyl to cassettes, and then to
CDs, it <strong>be</strong>came a lot easier for
bootleggers to mass-produce
copyrighted works and distribute them
illegally. The lack of effective
enforcement of copyright protection
laws and a dysfunctional collective
management system frustrated the
efforts of record la<strong>be</strong>ls, right owners
and forced the flight of major
international record companies and
the closure of many Nigerian-owned
la<strong>be</strong>ls. Sony, EMI and Polygram sold
off their assets and shipped out, while
local players like Tabansi Records,
Premier Music, Ivory Music, Rogers
All Stars, Ossy Affasson and Supreme
Disc had to contend with increasingly
harsh business environment and
declining revenues as the mid-eighties
glided into the late nineties.
With shrinking “majors” and
withering structures, came the era of
rampant piracy and gloom. Music in
my opinion is driven by three pivots -
the artistic, the business and the
spiritual. Music is for the consumers,
the food of love, the balm of the soul,
the soundtrack of life. Music to the
composer, writer, producer and
performer is the release, tranquilizer,
escape and ultimate high. So much
so that even in the absence of business
structure and government protection,
the music will survive and the artiste
will strive. There’s no killing the vi<strong>be</strong>.
It’s IMPOSSIBLE!
So despite the rot we had an active
music scene – active music scene but
not a thriving music industry like the
one we are clearly growing now. What
we met was a scene with mainly talentdriven
activity. People made music.
People performed music basically for
release, self-expression and joy. People
produced and performed music
irrespective of whether there was the
right support structure to promote or
push. More often than not, we made
music not primarily to monetize but
to self-aggrandize.
THE LATE ‘90s
Towards the late ‘90s, the dominant
sound on the mainstream was the
dancehall. We had gradually moved
from roots reggae to the dancehall. If
we were to trace it back a bit, it was
the era of Majek Fashek, Ras Kimono,
Oritz Wiliki, Daniel Wilson and Blacky
and it eventually made way for the
“Ajegunle sound” of the likes of Daddy
Showkey, Daddy Fresh, Baba Fryo,
Father U-Turn and a lot of talents
within that space; particularly the
Ajegunle/Orile axis of Lagos
mainland. They made music that ruled
the airwaves.
There were a few la<strong>be</strong>ls like Ultima
and Felin Records, who despite the
challenges kept promoting artistes and
a few other individuals in the media
and other sectors supporting the
talents in personal or corporate
capacity but it was all largely as side
gigs or passion projects.
Towards the end of the ‘90s, a more
Hip-pop/R & B – flavoured Nigerian
sound was gaining foothold. This
coincided with the birth of
independently-owned radio and later
television stations. Raypower FM,
Rhythm FM and Star FM came afloat
and contributed significantly to the
growth of the movement. This
development changed the game
tremendously. Local music <strong>be</strong>gan to
enjoy a bit more airtime <strong>be</strong>cause these
FM stations, <strong>be</strong>ing more urban music
and youth market-focused, dedicated
more airtime to music generally. The
more local music they fed the
audience, the more they demanded.
The need to satisfy the
yearnings of the
listeners created a
gradual shift in the
balance of power. As
the radio and television
stations multiplied side
by side music shows
and later, dedicated
channels, more and
more local talents
found the platform to
get heard and make
impact.
G R A D U A L
EMERGENCE
Over time, it <strong>be</strong>came
fashionable to hear
Remedies’ Shako Mo,
Maintain’s Nibo Lawa
G<strong>be</strong> Lo, Sunny Neji’s
Mr. Fantastik and
Alariwo’s Yawa Go
Gas back to back on
radio.
So there was the
talent pull and there
was the Media push.
From the mid-nineties
down to say, year
2000, there was such
steady growth in this
area, it virtually birthed
a different music consumption culture
among young Nigerians. Artistes like
Lt. Shotgun, Blackky, Zakky Azzay,
Daddy Showkey, Baba Fryo, Daddy
Fresh, Father U Turn and Lagbaja and
a few others at some point contended
with the likes of Michael Jackson, R.
Kelly, 2Pac, Notorious B.I.G, Snoop
Dogg, Toni Braxton, Busta Rhymes,
Patra and Mariah Carey on Nigerian
airwaves.
DIGITALIZATION: RECORDING
TECHNOLOGY AND MEDIA
The introduction of digital recording
technology simplified the process of
recording music. A decade or two prior,
When “African
Queen” was used
as lead soundtrack
for the Hollywood
film, Phat Girlz, it
gave impetus to
every young
African making
music at home or
in the Diaspora
and showed them
that there were no
limits. Impossible
is nothing
Tuface
present
holds fo
•Tells story of
as first recipie
•Full text of his lec
to record music of
reasonable quality was an
expensive process. Huge
studio space, large
equipment, a band of
session men, rehearsal time
and low margin for error
made analog recording a
cum<strong>be</strong>rsome and expensive
process.
But by the mid-nineties,
with the coming up of the
digital era, studios like
Klink, Digitrack and
Dolphin Studios in Surulere,
Lagos were doing great with
digital music. Popular acts
like Alex O, Edmund Spice,
Ese Agasse, Zaaki Azzay
and others were the main
exponents of the Cubase/
Cakewalk sound. Smaller
and more affordable studios
sprouted in all major cities
and towns across Nigeria. By
the time Pro Tools and Fruity
Loops came through, many
budding stars were primed
to drop monster hits
produced and recording on
a desk in their BQs.
Digital recording
technology prepared the
ground for the revolution
that <strong>be</strong>gan toward the end of the nineties. Five
young producers who would play a pivotal role
in the rise of the new pop sound, Nelson Brown,
El Dee, Paul Play Dairo, Mighty Mouse and
OJB Jezereel had mastered their digital
production and recording tools and were ready
to create sonic magic and perform social miracles
working with other “hungry” talents determined
to birth a new era and change the game once
and for all.
By the time hits started raining from the likes
of Plantashun Boiz, Remedies, Maintain,
Try<strong>be</strong>smen, Sound Sultan, Azadus, Tony Tetuila,
Jazzman Olofin, Sunny Neji, Lagbaja, Eedris
Abdulkareem, Ruggedman, Danfo Driver,
Marvelous Benjy, Lord of Ajasa, Funke, 2face
Idibia, Faze and later, Styl Plus, Nigga Raw, Mo

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 30, 2019 — 25
•2Baba and Annie Idibia
•2Baba delivering
his lecture
•2Baba celebrating
his award
HOLDS US DOWN!
chronicles the past,
and what future
•2Baba <strong>be</strong>ing presented
with a drawing of himself
r Nigerian music
his journey in a lecture after his award
nt of Fellow of School of Music at OAU
ture
Hits, Weird MC, P Square, Naeto C, Sasha P, DJ
Jimmy Jatt, it was clearly the <strong>be</strong>ginning of a new
day for Afro pop. We were listening to, loving and
buying more and more Nigerian music. And people
took notice. Brands and businesses saw the
prospects and more people starting taking active
interest in the emerging industry.
At this point, it is noteworthy to mention the
media personalities and platforms that were critical
to the growth of the sound, movement and industry.
Keke & D1 (Raypower, AIT Jamz), Ayo Animashaun
(Hip-hop World), Emma Ugolee (Top 10
Video Countdown on MBI),
Tajudeen Adepetu (Soundcity)
Kwame (Star FM, Global
Sounds, Nigezie), JAJ
(Rhythm FM), Olisa Adibua,
Grand Master Lee, Cally Ikpe,
Oscar (Galaxy TV), Joke
Jaiyesimi (Music Africa) and
many others. They made Naija
music cool and the artistes took
full advantage of this. They put
out more exciting music which
connected with the audience
and fueled a new-found sense
of patriotism while thoroughly
entertaining them.
Another major catalyst for the
growth of ‘Afro pop’ was the launch
of the 24-hour music channels on cable
television. Nigerian fans turned their
attention from MTV at the arrival of Channel
O and MTV Base simply <strong>be</strong>cause of the
presence of local content. By the time Soundcity,
Nigezie and HipTV transformed into 24-hour
cable channels, the buzzing content hitherto
consumed by Nigerians alone <strong>be</strong>came exposed to
a continent wide audience. This opened the
floodgates to a bigger market with all the attendant
opportunities everywhere from Ghana to Gambia,
from Egypt to South Africa, Cameroun to Kenya,
Tanzania, Angola and <strong>be</strong>yond.
Technology basically changed the way music is
produced, accessed and consumed. Although it has
thrown up a few challenges, it also presented
tremendous opportunities. For the first time in a
while, technology has given us num<strong>be</strong>rs; verifiable
data. It has enabled us to measure performance by
clearly showing sales figures, chart positions and
general market performance and
trends. Technology unlocked music
distribution opportunities through
Caller Ring Back Tunes, download
and streaming. What for a lot of
Nigerian content owners, started as
small additional side has grown to
<strong>be</strong>come the mainstay of the recording
business.
As the num<strong>be</strong>rs grew, the world took
interest. As of today, the Nigerian
music market is by far the biggest in
Africa, in terms of num<strong>be</strong>rs. The
num<strong>be</strong>r of smart phone usage in
Nigeria is high and growing and the
potential is huge. As we speak,
everyone is already or will soon <strong>be</strong> on
ground - Apple Music, Itunes, Music
Plus, BoomPlay, Tidal, Sony, Universal
and many more. And it can only get
bigger.
LIVE!
The growth of the local live circuit
has also played a key role in the
emergence and growth of the pop
movement. The void created by the
demise of major concerts platforms
of the eighties and early nineties
like Lekki Sunsplash, Benson
& Hedges Gold N Tones
and Rothman’s Groove
was filled by concert
experiences and
tours like Star
Music: The
Trek, Intro:
T h e
Independence
J a m
(which offered
Nigeria talents
the platform to
play large outdoor
venues in the UK and
opened the doors to sold out
O2 Arena dates today), MTN
Y’ellow, Glo Rock n Rule, Rhythm
Unplugged, Buckwyld ‘n’ Breathless,
Guinness Concerts, Glo Campus
Storm, Jos Chillin Mega Fiesta,
Industry Nite, OLIC, Phynofest, One
Africa Fest and scores of comedy
concerts all year round which provide
live performance opportunities for
artistes.
These concerts, brand product
launch events and corporate/private
parties provide the bulk of earnings for
pop stars, their support cast, crew and
their families and friends by extension.
There was also the arrival of
television shows like Project Fame,
Idols, The Voice, Big Brother. The
frontiers kept expanding.
Opportunities kept opening up for
song writers, performers, producers
and talent managers. There was a
steadily growing enabling
environment for diverse talents to
come through and establish their own
niche.
INTERNATIONAL
COLLABORATIONS AND AWARDS
Another major development that
contributed immensely to the
global acceptance of the Afro pop
phenomenon was the visibility and
penetration created by the string
of major international awards,
international projects and
collaborations. For that
generation of talents, it was
unimaginable to picture
oneself on a track, concert
stage or award
podium with
global superstars like Wyclef Jean,
Beanie Man, Mary J Blige and later
Snoop Dogg, Kanye West, Rick Ross,
T Pain, Sean Paul, etc .
It was a whole new level unlocked,
a game-changing moment when at
the peak of his popularity, ex-Fugees
frontman, Wyclef with remarkable
wins under his <strong>be</strong>lt from hugely
successful projects with Destiny’s
Child, Shakiru, Mary J Blige, City
High and more came to Nigeria in
2004 to headline a series of Guinness
concerts and requested to have Sound
Sultan, Faze and my humble self on a
track “So Proud to <strong>be</strong> Africa” featured
on his 2004 “Welcome to Haiti:
Creaole 101” album.
When Jamaican dancehall king,
hopped on “Nfana Ibagha Remix”
with Ghanaian Hip-life legend Reggie
Rockstone and nominations and wins
followed at Kora Awards, MTV Europe
Awards, MOBO and World Music
Awards it signaled a new dawn.
When “African Queen” was used as
lead soundtrack for the Hollywood
film, ‘Phat Girlz’, it gave impetus to
every young African making music at
home or in the Diaspora and showed
them that there were no limits.
Impossible is nothing.
And the wins continued. With
awards, collaborations and major
projects – D’Banj, P Square, Ice Prince,
Wizkid, Davido, Tiwa Savage,
Sarkodie, Diamond Platnumz, Casper
Nyovest, Timaya, Patoranking,
Stanley Enow and the list goes on and
on, each taking the music to a whole
new level, time and again.
ENDORSEMENT DEALS
•2baba thrilling the audience
after receiving his award
During my Plantashun Boiz days,
we had secured a brand ambassador
deal with Daga and the experience left
us yearning for more but corporate
Nigeria didn’t appear to fully embrace
the strategic alignment with music stars
to drive youth-targeted marketing until
2005/2006 when two of the biggest (at
the time) endorsement deals were
signed by Guinness and yours
sincerely for Extra Smooth and Cross
River State Government and Sunny
Neji for Obudu Cattle Ranch.
It was soon to start a trend and open
a vista for major revenue for talents in
Nigeria. Subsequent deals followed
with corporate Nigeria and
government institutions, driving
visibility, sales and marketing
penetration. The success of multimillion
naira brands and projects
tapped into the goodwill and fan base
of Nigerian artistes. It did open a few
doors for a lot more people in the
industry. The telecommunications
companies arrived, and artistes got
signed a lot more, and for a lot more
money.
Afropop or <strong>be</strong>tter yet, simply pop is
at one level a genre of music. At
another level, it is a movement; a
cultural revolution that has helped to
reshape the perspective of the young
Nigerian and his or her relationship
with the nation or the continent. It is
at another level, a growing industry
that is providing opportunities for a
wide range of talents ranging from
photographers, graphic artistes, video
directors, producers, sound engineers,
stylists, cinematographers, PR
practitioners, digital marketing
resource and several other
professionals working hard to create
value, earn a living and make a lasting
impact.
Over the last few years, they have
bridged the gap and made it
increasingly difficult to spot the
difference <strong>be</strong>tween locally-made
Nigerian content and foreignproduced
ones. They have made
Nigerian music more marketable
globally. Cover arts, Music files,
Music videos all attained
international standard. And all these
elements are what came together to
form the success of the Afropop as a
genre, and as a movement. So today,
we can say without fear of
contradiction that “we’re global now”.
THE INTERNET
A lot of these developments would
not have happened without the
development of technology in the
internet space as it affects music
distribution and access.
Continues on pg 26

26—SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 30, 2019
Tuface chronicles
the past, present
and what future
holds for Nigerian
music
Continues from pg 25
So what we see today are the fruits of years of
diligent work of a few young passionate and
tenacious people who have taken advantage of
everything that has happened from broadcast
deregulation, media expansion, live
opportunities, to endorsement deals.
MUSIC BUSINESS AND LEGISLATION
In recent years, there has <strong>be</strong>en sustained
engagement <strong>be</strong>tween stakeholders and mem<strong>be</strong>rs
of the Federal House of Representatives Ad Hoc
committee to pro<strong>be</strong> activities of
telecommunications companies set up to resolve
the issue of revenue share ratio. The current
situation sees the telecommunication companies
earning a lot more than the actual content
owners, which in my opinion is unjustifiable.
There have <strong>be</strong>en scenarios where telcos claim as
much as 78 percent of total accrued revenue from
music sale, leaving less than a quarter of the pie
to <strong>be</strong> split <strong>be</strong>tween the aggregator, the record la<strong>be</strong>l
and the artiste and anyone else in the production
value chain. The <strong>be</strong>neficiaries from this anomaly
of course, are not eager to give grounds.
There is no tenable reason Nigeria should <strong>be</strong>
different. There is a global <strong>be</strong>st practice standard
that we should guide the conduct of business
with the music space. We need to constantly
remind aggregator platforms that no matter how
well accepted and popular your platform is, at
the end of the day, it is basically still a distribution
platform. It is a store. When we get to a point
where the person who provides distribution
access is taking home more than 70 percent of
the gross revenue, then it is clear that something
is not right. We hope that sooner or later, everyone
concerned does the needful, and we can
enthrone a system that delivers a fairer deal to
everyone in the value chain.
THE STRUCTURE
The lack of functional structure in the music
industry in Nigeria is a reflection of the state of
the larger society. Gaps in policy position and
ineffective enforcement within the music space
are some of the major reasons the piracy rate is as
high as it is.
The music industry has shown immense
potential to grow and thrive, regardless of the
major of the numerous challenges particularly
the shrinking economy and absence of adequate
support from the government.
I expect the industry to continue to find smart
solutions to some of these issues. We need a
regulator that is <strong>be</strong>tter equipped to function
effectively. There is a lot of work that needs to <strong>be</strong>
done to ensure that the regulatory process is more
effective. But more importantly, stakeholders need
to embrace the task of working with all the
relevant organizations and government agencies
to ensure <strong>be</strong>tter results.
As stated earlier, we have shown tremendous
capacity to deliver great results in the face of
crippling challenges. We can take a few steps
further. The more positively involved the
stakeholders are, the more likely we are to fix
AKA showing off his
Nickelodeon award
•2Baba performing
after the award
what needs to <strong>be</strong> fixed. While it is great to look
after and look out for your personal businesses, it
is also important to spare some time and energy
to get involved in helping to ensure that we
grow the needed structures and create an
enabling environment to operate optimally at
your personal business level.
THE ARTISTES
As I close, I would like to pay tribute to all the
heroes and heroines of the greatly inspiring
Nigerian success story. True leaders and
visionaries, everyone, too numerous to mention.
The architects of the game – talents, la<strong>be</strong>l execs,
media personalities, promoters, managers,
directors, photographers, talent managers, PR
consultants, bloggers, managers, agency
personnel, brand managers, investors, stylists,
ticketing solutions providers, venue owners,
distributors, tech support resource and many
more.
You all have delivered one of the most powerful
gifts to the coming generation – hope and
concrete reason to <strong>be</strong>lieve. You will <strong>be</strong> forever
celebrated.
WAY FORWARD
The Nigerian music industry has shown
tremendous capacity for growth. And one thing
is clear; it can get a lot <strong>be</strong>tter if things are done
right. Another thing to note is that it can get worse.
We can quite easily fritter away the goodwill, and
this moment can easily <strong>be</strong>come a point in our
history when we were on the verge of seizing the
main stage but missed the opportunity.
It is hardly time to celebrate and relax. If
anything, it is time to double our efforts and put
in the work necessary to sort out the issues. We
need to strengthen policy, regulation,
enforcement, engagement and cooperation. We
need to sort out our collective system as a matter
of urgency. We cannot grow a world-class industry
without a world-class collective structure to
support it. The likes of Michael Jackson, Bob
Marley and 2Pac earned millions of dollars posthumously
<strong>be</strong>cause of the existence of functional
rights management systems.
If we get lost in the euphoria of the present
successes, which is but a tip of the ice<strong>be</strong>rg, we
will lose out on getting to where we should <strong>be</strong>.
Also, we need to fix the way the system works.
For every Davido, for every Burna Boy, for every
Teni The Entertainer, for every 2Baba, there is
need for proper business management, proper
road management, proper legal support, proper
branding and packaging resource. Often times,
we pay too much attention to the performer and
the performance. We need to develop capacity.
We need to train managers, publicists, lawyers.
We need to have a system that provides certificate
courses for each of these potential professions.
The legal framework that supports
entertainment in Nigeria needs to <strong>be</strong> considerably
improved. People need to learn to respect their
contracts. We need to see the law resolve decisively,
issues of breach of contracts. We need legal
precedence. The process of dispute resolution
needs to <strong>be</strong> overhauled. If we guide and regulate
conduct, the risk factors will <strong>be</strong> reduced. Investors
will <strong>be</strong> more confident, knowing that their
investments are protected. The entire system
need to <strong>be</strong> properly fixed, for us to progress from
where we are. It is time to roll up our sleeves and
get our hands dirty.
Both South African and Ghanaian
music stars, AkA and
Stonebwoy have emerged as big
winners at the 2019 Nickelodeon Kids’
Choice Awards which took place at
USC’s Galen Center in Los Angeles,
USA, last Saturday.
The Fela in Versace, AKA, who
travelled independently to the awards,
walked the orange carpet at the Los
Angeles event and won the award for
Favourite South African Star. Ghanaian
reggae dancehall artiste Stonebwoy,
scooped the coveted orange blimp for
Favourite African Star.
Tonto Dikeh, Cee-C, Tobi Bakare,
others spotted at 'Living Their
Best Lives' dinner
Last Friday, Amstel
Malta hosted a
num<strong>be</strong>r of stylish
celebrities to a lovely dinner
and of course, an abundance
of the premium malt drink.
From Tonto Dikeh to CeeC
and <strong>be</strong>yond, the event hosted
an array of chic A-listers,
living their <strong>be</strong>st lives.
Also in attendance were
Tobi Bakre, Enyinna Nwigwe,
Timini Egbuson, Linda
Ejiofor, Ibrahim Suleiman
and others.
The elated bunch have, for
the past few weeks, <strong>be</strong>en
living their <strong>be</strong>st lives and
telling the world about it as
Amstel Malta continues to
support Nigerians to <strong>be</strong> the
<strong>be</strong>st version of themselves.
MTV Shuga returns to Nigeria,
set for audition April 4
MTC Shuga stars
MTV Shuga, the award-winning
drama series returns to Nigeria and
seeks fresh talent for the new
season, having <strong>be</strong>en premiered in South Africa
and the announcement of upcoming
campaigns in Cote D’Ivoire and India.
MTV Shuga Naija, is a multi-sectorial
partnership led by the MTV Staying Alive
Foundation and supported by MTV Base
Africa, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation,
the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
and NGOs.
This year’s MTV Shuga Naija TV and radio
campaign welcomes award-winning director
Tope Oshin as producer. Known for setting
the pace for female directors in the Nigerian
movie industry, she has earned accolades for
her amazing portfolio, featuring movies
including, ‘Relentless’, ‘Fifty’, ‘Wedding Party
2’, ‘New Money’, ‘We Don’t Live Here’, and
most recently, ‘Up North’.
The campaign kicks off with open auditions,
which will <strong>be</strong> held on Thursday, April 4th at
the Classique Event Centre, Ikeja Lagos. MTV
Shuga has <strong>be</strong>en at the forefront of attracting
and developing new acting talent including:
Timini Egbuson, Emmanuel Iku<strong>be</strong>se, Bukola
Oladipupo, Helena Nelson and Jemima
Osunde; last season’s open auditions attracted
over 1700 hopefuls. MTV Shuga Naija would-
<strong>be</strong> actors will <strong>be</strong> judged by a diverse range of
industry experts and selected based on their
acting skills and originality.
Speaking on the auditions for the upcoming
series, the Executive Director of the MTV
Staying Alive Foundation, Georgia Arnold
said:
“We are excited to bring back the public
auditions for the new season of MTV Shuga
Naija. Our aim is to continue using relatable
storytelling to educate and empower young
people about social issues like contraception,
sexual health, family planning and genderbased
violence. We can’t wait to discover
amazing new talent to join the MTV Shuga
family!”
MTV Shuga remains the gold-standard
model for use of mass-media as a vehicle to
positively change the <strong>be</strong>havior of young people.
MTV Shuga educates at-risk youth on sexual
health and HIV/AIDS awareness, and also
ensures that this education is followed through
via on-the-ground testing and direction to
health services, with proven impact of demandcreation
among our audience.
Alex Okosi Executive Vice President and
Managing Director, Viacom International
Media Networks and BET International
commented:
AKA, Stonewoy win Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Awards 2019
Alex Okosi, Executive Vice President and
Managing Director for VIMN Africa and
BET International said: “Nickelodeon’s
Kids’ Choice Awards 2019 unites children
across the glo<strong>be</strong> by providing them with a
powerful platform to vote for and celebrate
their favourite personalities.
Congratulations to Stonebwoy and AKA for
their respective wins and for representing
Africa.”
This year’s party kicked off with DJ
Khaled making his way to the Kids’
Choice Awards in style, with an assistance
from friends Kylie Jenner and the Jonas
Brothers. His next-level arrival <strong>be</strong>gan with
a ride in a Rolls Royce Phantom,
followed by a cruise on a luxury yacht,
and a trip on board the “Kids’ Force
One” helicopter <strong>be</strong>fore landing at the
Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards
2019.
The awards also saw some winners
including Chris Pratt, Taylor Swift,
Ariana Grande, Ellen DeGeneres,
Adam Sandler, Ro<strong>be</strong>rt Downey Jr.,
Shawn Mendes, Zendaya, Noah
Centineo, Selena Gomez, Joey King,
Jace Norman, JoJo Siwa, David
Dobrik, Avengers: Infinity War,
Riverdale and DJ Khaled.

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 30, 2019 — 27
Why we supported Nigria’s
Winter Olymics team
By Princewill Ekwujuru
Branding and marketing
play a huge role in the
success of any business and
requires many different
resources. What determines
the amount of resources you
channel towards achieving
your marketing goals at a
flight booking company in
Nigeria?
First and most importantly,
we sell cheap flights to
numerous destinations
around the world. Our
resource allocation depends
on the message that we are
pushing at that moment in
time. When we are running a
large promo, we are firing at
all cylinders versus when we
are pushing our daily deals or
trying to engage with
customers. It is important to
know your objective and
allocate resources in a cost
efficient way.
What campaign would
you say you are most proud
of and why?
I am proud of all our
campaigns to date. This is
<strong>be</strong>cause of the work and
dedication the entire team,
from marketing to finance to
business development to
Operations put in to ensure it
is successful.
There are two campaigns
that stand out for me; first is
when we supported the
Nigerian Skeleton & Bobsled
team in their quest for gold to
the Winter Olympics in 2018.
We partnered with Air France-
KLM to send the 32-passenger
squad to South Korea. Second
will <strong>be</strong> the “Based on
Logistics” sale where for
three days, customers were
able to get a 25 percent
discount on all domestic
flights <strong>be</strong>cause of the
elections postponement. The
travel period was for any
flight in 2019 instead of only
for the elections weekends.
These campaigns mean a lot
to me <strong>be</strong>cause we were able to
ease the financial burden and
stress of the customers
involved, showcase that travel
is more than just a luxury
(people travel for a necessity
as well such as to vote or to
compete), and show that we
are a responsible company
that is more than just about
every day sales but about
giving back in a meaningful
and relevant way where and
when we can.
You have <strong>be</strong>en working for
Travelstart Nigeria as the
Commercial Manager since
2017. What informed your
decision to join Travelstart
and what does your role
within the organization
entail?
I joined Travelstart <strong>be</strong>cause
of the company’s aim to
really make travel simple for
customers and helping to fix
travel in Africa. The entire
company <strong>be</strong>lieves and works
hard to use technology to
improve the flight buying
BukkyAkomolafe- Commercial Manager,
Travelstart Nigeria in this chat with WW spoke
on how the company has <strong>be</strong>en able to sustain its
performance in the ticketing and travel agency industry,
its challenges and the stunts it has pulled. Excerpts.
process and delighting our
customers. I saw the
opportunity to work with
young ambitious go-getter
leaders that use data to
improve process and product
delivery. I lead the marketing
team as Commercial
Manager. My responsibilities
include online and offline
marketing, affiliates, sales
and business development
with strategic partners, and I
work with the airlines to
further promote their deals.
All our hard work will make
us the #1 Online Travel
Agency in Nigeria.
When Travelstart opened
its doors for business in
Nigeria on March 27, 2012,
the barriers to travelling
within and outside Nigeria
were quite high from cost to
unreliability of travel times.
Where did the motivation to
start come from and what
makes Travelstart different
from other travel companies
in Africa?
Travelstart is Africa’s
Largest Online Travel Agency.
Originally from Sweden, our
founder, Stephan Ek<strong>be</strong>rgh
opened the first office twenty
years ago in 1999 in Cape
Town, South Africa. In 2012,
we opened the office in Lagos,
Nigeria <strong>be</strong>cause we saw that
customers had to go through
many hurdles <strong>be</strong>fore getting
the price for a cheap flight.
Travelstart is the solution to
that problem. We relieve the
stress and inconvenience of
booking the traditional way.
No longer do consumers have
to sit through traffic to get a
quote, search the market
tirelessly or wait for a call to
get a price. We <strong>be</strong>lieve that if
you want to travel, you should
just <strong>be</strong> able to book your
flight easily. Travelstart
customers can just visit our
website,
www.travelstart.com.ng, to
search for their preferred
flight, book and pay easily &
securely online. You know life
has enough challenges and we
<strong>be</strong>lieve that booking a flight
shouldn’t <strong>be</strong> one of them. This
great technology, in
conjunction with our vast
inventory, which includes
access to 500 airlines flying
to more than 11,000
destinations worldwide keeps
us competitive.
Within its 7 years of
operating in Nigeria,
Travelstart has <strong>be</strong>en able to
make its mark in the
industry. What would you say
are some of the landmark
achievements during that
time?
Steady and consistent
growth year on year since
2017; even with the
challenges that we faced
along the way. We were able
to get back up and keep
going. We have gotten some
incredible airline deals that
have really differentiated us
from the rest. I remem<strong>be</strong>r
when the Royal Wedding was
happening in England, last
summer, we partnered with
Virgin Atlantic to sell lower
than N280,000 direct flights
to London and an influencer
trip to Windsor, the day after
the Royal Wedding to see
where the Royal couple got
married.
We are a small company
with a mighty reach, we have
a staff strength of close to 50
No longer do
consumers
have to sit
through
traffic to get
a quote,
search the
market
tirelessly or
wait for a
call to get a
price
people, but we are a proof
that, sometimes, you don’t
need a lot of people to <strong>be</strong> able
to execute the work well.
Being part of a team that is
creating a recognizable
brand – when I first joined, I
would attend events and have
to explain who Travelstart is
and what we do. Now, when I
attend events, I am still
explaining but I have many
more people nodding their
heads in recognition as well
as customers coming up to me
to say they buy from us,
giving great compliments
about our service.
Recognition amongst our
peers in the industry has also
<strong>be</strong>en a nice tough.! We have
won a series of awards
including Best Travel Agency
2018 from the Pyne Awards.
Last year, you celebrated
your 6th year Anniversary in
Nigeria by offering very
cheap flight deals and
making ordinary people
heroes in the 6 Days, 6
Destinations campaign. What
should we expect for your
7th year Anniversary
celebration?
This year, our campaign is
simply tagged, Sale-A-Brate”
with us. Because we have
recorded huge wins over the
last seven years, we have
decided to take our time to
celebrate our most important
people, our staff and
customers. Through this
campaign, we will <strong>be</strong>
providing even cheaper
flights to our customers’
favourite destinations from
Emirates Airlines, Air
Namibia, Air-France, KLM
and more. We also kicked off
this campaign with a pre-sale
phase with Etihad Airways.
We are also giving our Day 1
customers lounge and spa
vouchers for use at Murtala
Muhammed International
airport.
Travelstart Nigeria has
direct and indirect
competitors. What strategy
do you have in place to
retain customers who are
tempted to switch attention
to other travel agencies and
remain competitive?
Our overall focus is to run
our own race, not someone
else’s. The market is big
enough for competition but
there will always <strong>be</strong> one
Travelstart. Our mission is to
fix travel in Africa, and we
are doing that one -day at a
time by providing cheap
flight deals, providing good
customer service, keeping our
cost-structure low and staying
relevant with our
communication.
Recently, you were named
as one of Nigeria’s 100 Most
Inspiring Women in 2019 by
Leading Ladies Africa. How
were you able to achieve this
feat?
Simple! I kept my head
down, worked very hard,
remained consistent with my
work ethic and stayed focused
on my personal and
professional goals. From a
Travelstart perspective, I
always had clarity around my
KPIs so I knew what my team
and I were working towards
every day. Most importantly,
in my journey, I wasn’t trying
to <strong>be</strong> anyone else but the <strong>be</strong>st
version of me. Self
improvement is key to me. I
am constantly trying to <strong>be</strong> the
<strong>be</strong>st version of myself every
day.

28—SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 30, 2019
By Sola Ogundipe/08056180112/solazed@live.com
Scientists plan
human head
transplant
Professor Sergio Canavero of
Italy, and Xiaoping Ren, of
China, published two studies
in which they claim to cure
‘irreversible’ spinal cord injuries in
monkeys and dogs.
The papers were published in the
peer-reviewed US journal Surgical
Neurology International
Describing their findings as
‘unprecedented’, Canavero and Ren
say this shows they are ready to
conduct human trials
The two surgeons aspiring to
perform the world’s first human
head transplant claim they have
made indisputable progress
towards their controversial goal.
According to the papers,
published in the peer-reviewed US
journal Surgical Neurology
International, the animals were able
to walk again after their spinal cords
were severed then successfully
repaired.
Describing their findings as
‘unprecedented’, Canavero and Ren
say this shows they are ready to
conduct human trials.
Canavero, based in Turin, said his
studies ‘completely reject’ the view
that ‘a severed spinal cord cannot <strong>be</strong>
mended in any way, a mantra
uncritically repeated over and over.’
Their recent animal studies were
done in China, at Harbin Medical
University, where researchers
across the country have <strong>be</strong>en
pushing the envelope scientifically
and ethically, sending pulses racing
across the world. Until 2018, they
had a candidate - 33-year-old
Russian computer science student
Valery Spiridonov, who has a fatal
muscle-wasting disease.
But Spiridonov dropped out
<strong>be</strong>cause his new wife gave birth to
their ‘miracle son’, which gave him
pause.
Canavero, widely regarded as a
rogue in the Western medical
community, has accused his
European and US peers of
‘patronizing’ China.
‘Western bioethicists needed to
stop patronizing the world,’ he told
the South China Morning Post.
‘Chinese President Xi Jinping wants
to restore China to greatness.’
Biomedical ethicists point out that
there are ‘a num<strong>be</strong>r of problems’
with their venture.
One pertinent one: they will likely
need to obtain the patient’s consent
to <strong>be</strong> killed, which could <strong>be</strong> drafted
•Sergio
Canavero and
Xiaoping Ren
in a similar way as ‘patient assisted
death’ (PAD), or euthanasia -
though that is illegal in China.
But researchers are concerned
that the law won’t get in the way.
There is strong evidence that
Chinese prisoners have <strong>be</strong>en
forced to donate organs.
Writing for the British Medical
Journal, bioethicist Michael S
Dau<strong>be</strong>r said: ‘While these are
certainly serious issues, the real
problem with this picture is with
international regulations: none of
the laws and policies designed to
protect patients and human
research subjects have <strong>be</strong>en able to
stop them Canavero and Ren, nor
are they likely to do so.’
Contraceptive jewelry
adapts transdermal patch
amily planning for women
Fmight one day <strong>be</strong> as simple as
putting on an earring according to
a report published in the Journal of
Controlled Release that descri<strong>be</strong>s a
technique for administering
contraceptive hormones through
special backings on jewelry such
as earrings, wristwatches, rings or
necklaces.
The contraceptive hormones are
contained in patches applied to
portions of the jewelry in contact
with the skin, allowing the drugs
to <strong>be</strong> absor<strong>be</strong>d into the body.
Initial testing suggests the
contraceptive jewelry may deliver
sufficient amounts of hormone to
provide contraception, though no
human testing has <strong>be</strong>en done yet.
A goal for the new technique is to
improve user compliance with
drug regimens that require regular
dosages. Beyond contraceptives,
the jewelry-based technique might
also <strong>be</strong> used for delivering other
drugs through the skin.
Contraceptive jewelry adapts
transdermal patch technology that
is already used to administer drugs
that prevent motion sickness,
support smoking cessation, and
control the symptoms of
menopause, but have never <strong>be</strong>en
incorporated into jewelry <strong>be</strong>fore.
Contraceptive patches are also
already available, but pairing
them with jewelry may prove
attractive to some women — and
allow more discreet use of the drug
delivery technology.
Researchers tested the concept on
animal models, first on ears from
pigs. Test patches mounted on
earring backs and containing the
hormone levonorgestrel were also
applied to the skin of hairless rats.
To simulate removal of the earrings
during sleep, the researchers
applied the patches for 16 hours,
then removed them for eight hours.
Testing suggested that even though
levels dropped while the earrings
were removed, the patch could
produce necessary amounts of the
hormone in the bloodstream.
If the technique ultimately is used
for contraception in humans, the
earring back would need to <strong>be</strong>
changed periodically, likely on a
weekly basis.
The contraceptive jewelry was
originally designed for use in
developing countries where access
to health care services may limit
access to long-acting contraceptives
such as injectables, implants and
IUDs.
Contraceptive jewelry could <strong>be</strong>
appealing and helpful to women all
around the world. The advantage of
incorporating contraceptive
hormone into a universal earring
back is that it can <strong>be</strong> paired with
many different earrings.
A woman could acquire these drugloaded
earring backs and then use
them with various earrings she
might want to wear.
Though transdermal drug-delivery
patches have <strong>be</strong>en available since
1979, testing would <strong>be</strong> required to
determine whether the earring
patch is safe and effective and to
determine whether the concept
would <strong>be</strong> attractive to women in
different cultures.
The earring patch is designed to add
another contraceptive option for
women to make taking
contraceptives more appealing,
hence easier to remem<strong>be</strong>r to use it.
MURDER OF THE DAUGHTER OF ONDO EX-DEPUTY GOVERNOR:
I own no grudge, its her fate to die that way
— Victim’s father •Says verdict rekindles hope in judiciary
By Dayo Johnson Akure
ONDO state former
deputy governor, Alhaji
Lasisi Oluboyo yesterday descri<strong>be</strong>d
the gruesome murder of his
daughter, Khadijat by her boyfriend
Seidu Adeyemi as her fate.
Oluboyo however said that the
death sentence by hanging passed
on the killer by the court” has
rekindled his hope and that of his
family mem<strong>be</strong>rs in the nation’s
judiciary.
Recall that an Akure High Court
had sentenced to death by hanging,
Adeyemi Seidu for the murder of
Khadijat, the first daughter of former
Deputy Governor
Khadijat, a final year student of
Adekunle Ajasin University in
Akungba Akoko (AAUA) was
strangled to death by her boyfriend
who buried her remains in a
shallow grave in his room in Okearo
area of Akure, the State capital,
covered it with rug and slept on the
grave for five days.
Her decomposing body was later
found in his room with her hair and
that of the pubic area shaved off for
rituals.
Reacting for the first to the court
verdict, Oluboyo said in Akure that
he bore no grudge over his
daughter’s murder.
“ I have accepted my fate since
the incident occurred and had left
everything to God <strong>be</strong>lieving that
the girl was destined to die the way
she died. I <strong>be</strong>lieve that it is God
that giveth and it is God that taketh
so whatever happens to human
<strong>be</strong>ings is destined”, he said.
Oluboyo equally descri<strong>be</strong>d the
death sentence passed on the killer
of his daughter as his own destiny
too and prayed that God will forgive
him. He however noted that the
death sentence would serve as
deterrent to other young men who
are looking for money through
dubious means.
Oluboyo who was not present
during the trial of Adeyemi
however said “the verdict gladdens
my heart as the killer did not go
scot-free after he killed Khadijat for
money making rituals.
“The judgement rekindles the
confidence of the masses that there
is judiciary in the country. I made
a pronouncement that what has
happened has happened. I said I
did not have interest in the
prosecution. Despite the fact that I
did not participate in the trial, the
judiciary still did its job as expected.
“This judgement will serve as
deterrent to others. You cannot kill
somebody and just go away free
like that. The boy thought he would
go away with the murder and that
was the reason he did everything
to cover his track.
“This will teach our ladies the
lesson that whenever they are
going out, they should let people
know. It was <strong>be</strong>cause we knew on
time the whereabout of Khadijat
that we were able to get her killer.
“Parents should monitor their
children. If we had not monitored
the movement of Khadijat, the boy
would have gone away with the
murder. Khadijat left school on
Thursday, I was able to know that
she was not in the school on Friday.
“I sent money to her account and
she did not call to thank me as
usual. That was how I <strong>be</strong>came
suspicious. The guy knew that we
were able to trace Khadijat to him
and he <strong>be</strong>came restless after we
asked him about the movement of
Khadijat. He told us that he saw
Khadijat but that she has gone to
Lagos.
“Khadijat was not a wayward
girl, we knew of her relationship
with Adeyemi. It was <strong>be</strong>cause of
this that led to his arrest and
eventual conviction.
“I appreciate the journalists for
the role they played in unravelling
they death of Khadijat.”
Meanwhile, the State Attorney-
General and Commissioner for
Justice, Adekola Olawoye, SAN
has assured that the state would
implement the sentence as the
State has no plan to abolish death
sentence.
Reacting to the court verdict,
Olawoye said that Governor
Rotimi Akeredolu would soon sign
the death warrant of those who
have <strong>be</strong>en sentenced to death in
the state.
According to him, “it is very
imperative for law to take its course,
and that anybody who kills should
also <strong>be</strong> killed. Life is not a property
of anybody, nobody has the right
to take the life of fellow men, except
as allowed and permitted by the
law.
“Even in advanced countries
where they advocate abolition of
death penalty, they still kill people
found guilty of murder. Like the
judgment we heard that somebody
killed his girlfriend, removed her
body parts and buried her in his
room. How do you expect us to
abolish death sentence with that?
This is the rule of law; no
sentiment about it.
The International Federation of
Women Lawyers FIDA in reaction
to the court verdict called on the
state government to start assenting
to death penalties that had <strong>be</strong>en
passed on convicted persons
during criminal trials.
Its Chairperson in the state, Bola
Joel Ogundadeg<strong>be</strong> who said that
the verdict would serve as deterrent
to others asked Governor Akerefolu
to borrow a leaf from the former Edo
state governor Adams Oshiomole
who signed the execution order of
death penalties.

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 30, 2019—29
World’s first living HIV-positive
donor gives kidney for transplant
Surgeons in Baltimore have performed
what’s thought to <strong>be</strong> the world’s first
kidney transplant from a living donor
with HIV, a milestone for patients with the
AIDS virus who need a new organ.
If other donors with HIV come forward, it
could free up space on the transplant
waiting list for everyone.
Martinez, whose HIV is suppressed by
drugs to an undetectable level, first started
exploring donation so she could give her
kidney to an HIV-positive friend who
needed one.
Her friend died <strong>be</strong>fore tests were through,
but Martinez decided to honor him by
donating it to a stranger, who is also HIVpositive.
On Monday March 25, she traveled from
her home in Atlanta to Johns Hopkins
University for the operation.
“Don’t call me a hero, call me the first. I
want to see who comes next,’ Martinez said
She told the Associated Press she ‘wanted
to make a difference in somebody else’s life’
and counter the stigma that too often still
surrounds HIV infection.
Many people think ‘somebody with HIV
is supposed to look sick,’ Martinez, 35, told
The Associated Press <strong>be</strong>fore the operation.
‘It’s a powerful statement to show
somebody like myself who’s healthy enough
to <strong>be</strong> a living organ donor.’
Hopkins said both Martinez and the
recipient of her kidney, who chose to remain
anonymous, are recovering well.
‘Here’s a disease that in the past was a
death sentence and now has <strong>be</strong>en
so well controlled that it offers
people with that disease an
opportunity to save somebody
else,’ said Dr Dorry Segev, a
Hopkins surgeon who pushed for
the HIV Organ Policy Equity, or
HOPE, Act that lifted a 25-year US
ban on transplants <strong>be</strong>tween people
with HIV.
Surgeons planning world’s first
HEAD transplant claim they
repaired ‘irreversible’ spinal cord
injuries in monkeys and dogs—
which they say is proof they can
start human trials.
There’s no count of how many
HIV-positive patients are among
the 113,000 people on the nation’s
waiting list for an organ
transplant. HIV-positive patients
can receive transplants from HIVnegative
donors just like anyone
else.
Only in the last few years,
spurred by some pioneering
operations in South Africa, have
doctors <strong>be</strong>gun transplanting
organs from deceased donors with
HIV into patients who also have
the virus, organs that once would
have <strong>be</strong>en thrown away.
Since 2016, 116 such kidney and
liver transplants have <strong>be</strong>en
performed in the U.S. as part of a
research study, according to the
United Network for Organ
Sharing, or UNOS, which oversees
the transplant system.
One question is whether
receiving an organ from someone
with a different strain of HIV than
their own poses any risks, but so far
there have <strong>be</strong>en no safety problems,
said UNOS chief medical officer Dr.
David Klassen.
Hopkins’ Segev said Monday’s
kidney transplant was a world first.
Doctors had hesitated to allow people
still living with HIV to donate <strong>be</strong>cause
of concern that their remaining kidney
would <strong>be</strong> at risk of damage from the
virus or older medications used to treat
it
Ḃut newer anti-HIV medications are
safer and more effective, Segev said.
His team recently studied the kidney
health of 40,000 HIV-positive people
and concluded that those with wellcontrolled
HIV and no other kidneyharming
ailments like high blood
pressure should face the same risks
from living donation as someone
without HIV.
Martinez, a public health consultant,
<strong>be</strong>came interested in living donation
even <strong>be</strong>fore HIV-to-HIV transplants
She told the Associated
Press she ‘wanted to make
a difference in somebody
else’s life’ and counter the
stigma that too often still
surrounds HIV infection
•Nina Martinez, 35, (pictured)
got HIV from a blood
transfusion at six weeks old in
1983 <strong>be</strong>fore blood banks
screened for HIV. Fortunately,
she lived to 13, when viralsuppressing
drugs were
released. She has donated a
kidney in a world first
<strong>be</strong>gan. Then last summer she learned
that an HIV-positive friend needed a
transplant and she started actively
pursuing it
‘There are potentially tens of
thousands of people living with HIV
right now who could <strong>be</strong> living kidney
donors,’ said Segev, who has advised
some other hospitals considering the
approach.
Generally, kidneys from living
donors last longer, added Dr Niraj
Desai, the Hopkins surgeon caring for
the recipient. And if more people
living with HIV wind up donating, it
helps more than HIV-positive patients
who need a kidney.
‘That’s one less person waiting for
a limited resource,’ Desai said. ‘That
helps everybody on the list.’
HIV is spread in certain body fluids
from a person who has HIV. These
fluids are blood, semen, pre-seminal
fluids, rectal fluids, vaginal fluids,
and breast milk.
HIV is spread mainly by having sex
or sharing injection drug equipment,
such as needles, with someone who
has HIV.
To reduce risk of HIV infection, use
of condoms correctly every time
during sex is recommended. Don’t
inject drugs. If you don’t have HIV,
but are at high risk of <strong>be</strong>coming
infected with HIV, talk to your health
care provider about pre-exposure
prophylaxis (PrEP). PrEP involves
taking a specific HIV medicine every
day to reduce the risk of HIV
infection.
According to the Baltimore Sun, a
num<strong>be</strong>r of medical breakthroughs
have <strong>be</strong>en performed at the Johns Hopkins.
In 2018, a Johns Hopkins surgery team of
nine plastic surgeons and two urological
surgeons performed the first total penis and
scrotum transplant and part of an abdominal
wall on a wounded soldier.
The most common procedures are kidney
and liver transplants, followed by heart
transplants. However, doctors in Baltimore
and elsewhere have successfully
transplanted other body parts from deceased
donors to living candidates.
In 2013, the Hopkins team performed a
double arm transplant on Brendan
Marrocco, who lost both of his arms, as well
as his legs, in the Iraq war when the
armoured vehicle he was driving ran over
a bomb in 2009.
Jerome Hamon received his first face
transplant in 2010, but it needed, to <strong>be</strong>
removed last year after he <strong>be</strong>came ill.
Hamon’s first face was donated by a 60-
year-old. With his second transplanted
face— from a 22 year-old donor—Hamon,
43, joked that he managed to drop a few
decades.
France was also the first country to <strong>be</strong> site
of a face transplant. The procedure has
since <strong>be</strong>en performed several times in
Baltimore.
In 2012, doctors at the University of
Maryland performed the most extensive
face transplant at the time on a Virginia man
named Richard Lee Norris, who received
donor skin from his scalp to his neck, as
well as a new jaw, teeth, tongue and the
underlying muscle and tissue. In addition
to matching his blood type, doctors had to
match his skin color and bone structure to a
donor.
The University of Maryland has pioneered
other transplant surgeries as well. In 2016,
doctors at the University of Maryland
Medical Centre were able to perform a
kidney transplant on a patient with no need
for dialysis—a feat they said was the first
type of procedure in the country.
Also in 2016, Hopkins doctors performed
the nation’s first liver and kidney transplants
from a donor infected with HIV to recipients
also infected with the virus.
It was a triumph for one of the transplant
surgeons, Dorry L. Segev, who fought for
six years for federal approval of the lifesaving
surgery.
In July 2015, an 8-year-old boy from
Owings Mills <strong>be</strong>came the first child to
receive a bilateral hand transplant. Doctors
at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
meticulously took the hands and forearms
from the donor and attached them to the
limbs of Zion Harvey, connecting bone,
blood vessels, nerves, muscles, tendons and
skin.
Some territory remains uncharted in the
field of organ transplantation. Italian Dr.
Sergio Canavero visited Annapolis in 2015,
to speak about his ambition to conduct the
world’s first head transplant. The
controversial surgeon suggested that,
contrary to accepted modern medicine, it’s
possible to repair a severed spine. Some
weren’t so sure.
“There was not much science in his talk,”
said Dr. Dinesh Ranjan, a transplant
surgeon from Lexington, Ky. “This is
something that may happen, but not by
him.”

30—SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 30, 2019
08116759759
Baby boom!
As a nurse in the labor and
delivery unit, the job is
all about supporting a
future mother's needs.
Nicole Gold<strong>be</strong>rg says, "I think
that they tend to feel comforted
and they also tend to find that
it's a common ground <strong>be</strong>tween
us."
The common ground here at
Maine Medical Center, where
the nurses will soon have some
special deliveries of their own.
Nicole Gold<strong>be</strong>rg says, "And
it's just very obvious that we understand
what they're going
through."
There must <strong>be</strong> something in
the water. A baby boom -- nine
nurses -- on one floor -- all pregnant
at the same time.
Lonnie Soucie says, "I don't
think it hit home until we took a
picture and it was on social media
and we were getting all this
attention ((super here kind
quick)) and then it was like whoa
you weren't kidding."
All nine are due <strong>be</strong>tween April
and July but this isn't everyone's
first rodeo.
"No not the same, no."
Rachel Stellmach is on baby
num<strong>be</strong>r four Rachel Stellmach
says, "It's great to talk to everyone.
Troubleshoot and answer
questions too since I'm kind of a
pro." A professional delivery
nurse and an expectant mom
who's <strong>be</strong>en there.
Erin Grenier says, "There have
<strong>be</strong>en times where we've <strong>be</strong>en
the patient. So it's <strong>be</strong>en great to
have each other either <strong>be</strong>ing our
nurse or just <strong>be</strong>ing there for us,
sending us a message, checking
in on us making sure everything
is okay."
After nine months, all nine
nurses will have plenty to look
forward to.
Holly Selby says, "I think
we're looking forward to raising
our babies together. To having
friends, playdates and continuing
the support of having shared experiences
of all having babies together."
The hospital says it's fully prepared
to cover the shifts when all
nine nurses are on maternity leave.
HARD SELL
Doctor evil
ARETIRED fertility expert siblings also came knocking.
who impregnated dozens They had tracked her down on
of unwitting patients social media through an
with his OWN sperm has <strong>be</strong>en Ancestry.com account she created
when her husband gave her
confirmed to <strong>be</strong> father to at least
48 children.
a DNA test for Christmas.
Most of Dr Donald Cline's Her parents, who went to Cline
many offspring have only just for donor insemination, had absolutely
no idea he used his own
found out their true identity - 16
months after the 80-year-old sperm for their sample.
dodged jail.
DNA tests from services including
Ancestry.com have al-
Heather Woock, of
Indianapolis, told The Atlantic ready confirmed at least 48 children
were fathered by Cline -
when a stranger reached out to
her in August 2017 claiming to but the actual num<strong>be</strong>r is likely
<strong>be</strong> her half sibling she just didn't to <strong>be</strong> higher.
<strong>be</strong>lieve it.
One of the first people to discover
that Cline was their dad
The 33-year-old 's mother told
her not to worry until several was Jacoba Ballard.
others claiming to <strong>be</strong> her half She'd known since childhood
she was conceived via sperm
donor and signed up for an
online forum for donor-conceived
children.
Before long she located another
woman who had <strong>be</strong>en
treated by Cline and checked
out her Facebook photos.
Ballard said: "I was like, Oh
my goodness, I think that is my
sister."
One of the women who was inseminated
by Cline more than a
dozen times over a five-month
period also told the Atlantic: "I
feel like I was raped 15 times."
Liz White, now 66, had gone to
Cline's office with her husband
in 1981, and at first found him
to <strong>be</strong> a kind, gentle man. She
later gave birth to her son Matt.
Cline was given a one-year
suspended sentence after pleading
guilty to two counts of obstruction
of justice.
No other charges were filed
against the 79-year-old Clint <strong>be</strong>cause
Indiana law doesn't specifically
prohibit fertility doctors
from using their own sperm.
Cline was charged after lying
to investigators, potentially facing
up to three years in prison
on each count.
The dodgy doc told his patients
they were receiving sperm from
medical or dental residents or
medical students, and that no
single donor's sperm was used
more than three times, according
to court records.
Cline, who retired in 2009, initially
denied the allegations
when he wrote to investigators,
saying the women who filed the
complaints were trying to slander
him.
"Out of fear I acted alone and
foolishly lied," he said during
the hearing with a sometimes
shaky voice.
But he mentioned only the two
women who first filed complaints.
He also didn't discuss
his decision to use his own
sperm in the 1970s and 1980s.
N ENERGY drink
Awhich left a man
with a constant erection
has <strong>be</strong>en
banned by Zambian
authorities.
Power Natural
High Energy
Drink SX was
not marketed as
a sexual aid but
c o n t a i n e d
sildenafil citrate - an
active ingredient in Viagra.
The discovery was made by Ugandan health authorities which has
caused the drink’s popularity to surge.
Despite the ban the drink is still sold in supermarkets and by street
vendors.
The la<strong>be</strong>l on the drink promises to that it “increases libido” and is
an “aphrodisiac” while also vowing to “revitalise the body and mind.”
Revin Zambia who produce the drink have not commented publicly
on the ban.
Vikas Kapoor, the company’s general
manager, told the BBC previously that
to the <strong>be</strong>st of his knowledge the drink
did not contain any drugs.
But tests results announced on
Wednesday revealed the drink contained
Sildenafil Citrate.
Zambian Authorities told Reuters:
“Results from both Zimbabwe and
South Africa correlated with those obtained
from the Foods and Drugs
Laboratory that indicated a positive
presence of Sildenafil Citrate.
The head of the Pharmaceutical Society
of Zambia Jerome Kanyika said
it was “a welcome move but also an
embarrassment to us as a country <strong>be</strong>cause
we had to rely on investigations
by other countries.”
The drink is exported to other countries
such as Uganda, Malawi and
Zimbabwe.

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 30, 2019—31
Lagos socialite, e, Olayink
yinka
Ladejobi marks ks birthda
thday
Lagos socialite and businesswoman, Olayinka
Ladejobi had the pleasure of hosting her
friends to a deluxe birthday bash at her Lagos
residence recently. It was an evening of panache,
superlative reception and classy entertainment.
Adenike Ojejimi hooks
Olawale Moses
The Holy matrimony and wedding ceremony
<strong>be</strong>tween former Miss Damilola Adenike
Ojejimi and Mr Babalola Olawale Moses held
at the Regency Hall, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos recently.
The glamorous occasion was graced by mem<strong>be</strong>rs
of the two families, friends and well-wishers.
Pomp as Oba Elegushi
hosts Elegba festival
The week-long Elegba festival hosted by
reigning king of Ikate land,Oba Saheed
Ademola Elegushi, Kusenla 111 held recently
at the community, situated at Lekki-Ajah axis of
Lagos Island, Lagos. The annual event is dedicated
to Elegba or Esu Elegba which is regarded as the
deity responsible for all good or bad.
Alhaja Olayinka Ladejobi, ak.a. She and Baby
The couple; Mr and Mrs Olawale Moses,.
Walking into Agbo Elegba, Oba Saheed Ademola
Elegushi with Aare Opemoluwa of Elegushi, Oba
Taofeek Adegboyega Akeju, Alahun of Imore and
Ovorie of I<strong>be</strong>she Land.
L-R: Alhaja Abimbola Omotunwashe, Alhaja
Sherifat Olugbode, celebrant and Mrs Folashade
Akinlabi.
The couple, Mr and Mrs Olawale Moses flanked
by the groom's parents, Mr and Mrs Olatunji
Moses.
Oluwo of Ikate Land, kneeling ( L-R): Oba Taofeek
Adegboyega Akeju, Alahun Of Imore, Alayeluwa
Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi, Kusenla 111 and
Oba Ovorie of I<strong>be</strong>she Land.
L-R: Alhaja Modupe Olasanni (Shine Shine), celebrant
and Mrs Keji Atoyeg<strong>be</strong>.
The couple, Mr and Mrs Olawale Moses, flanked
by the bride's parents, Mr and Mrs Olayinka
Ojejimi.
Lord's Achievers Award
Honorees
THE award held on Sunday, March 24, 2019 at
Raddison Blu, Ikeja, Lagos.
L-R: Oba Taofeek Adegboyega Akeju, Alahun Of
Imore, Alayeluwa Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi,
Kusenla 111 and Ovorie of I<strong>be</strong>she Kingdom.
L-R: Alhaji Kehinde Ladejobi, celebrant and son,
Otitoloju Adebayo.
L-R: Seun Abolaji, Dr. Chioma Nwakanma ,
Nkemdilim Begho, Abiola Adekoya, Tosin
Oshinowo, Funfere Koroye and Dotun Popoola.
Opemoluwa Elegushi and other dignitaries at
Agbo Elegba during 2019, Ejiwa Elegba Festival.

32—SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 30, , 2019
bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk
Some children can’t adapt to
foreign education and culture!
Any parent who has never
sent a reluctant ward to the
boarding school would realize
the depth of guilt felt by Jane, a
middle-aged, middle-class
accountant who felt her son, now
21, was ripe to test the waters of
independence. Her son, Jaiye
is a British citizen, thanks to the
son’s father who is also a
citizen. Jaiye had scaled through
his first degree effortlessly and
Jane thought he would gain
more if he were to have foreign
post-graduate experience.
“We found him a good
university abroad, paid his fees,
and I was more than lucky to
have a sister living abroad, who
happily consented to <strong>be</strong>ing his
guardian whenever he was on
holidays from the university,”
recalls Jane.
“A few days after I came home
to Nigeria from settling him in,
the phone rang. It was him. Was
he alright? Did he like life at his
new university? My son
sounded as if a warden had
grudgingly agreed for him to
use the phone. He moaned
about the food, about the
students and about feeling
terribly lonely. I guess it was one
thing going on regular holidays
with the parents and quite a
different kettle of fish <strong>be</strong>ing
marooned in a college amongst
strange faces. I reminded him
that he would soon get used to
it. He was after all a man and
lots of children younger than he
were happily settling into
various schools abroad. His
complaints grew by the months.
He said he was <strong>be</strong>ing bullied
by racists and I assured him it
was a common trait abroad, that
he should just ignore them.
When I eventually went to visit
him, my son was a shadow of
himself. His warmth was gone
and he was more clingy. I was
getting ready to come back after
settling all his needs when he
broke down and started sobbing
bitterly. I quietly bought his
ticket and brought him back. No
one has a right to <strong>be</strong> as unhappy
as he was.
“Two of his siblings are now
abroad and doing well as could
<strong>be</strong> under the circumstance.
Jaiye too has since bounced
back, and is now into his
masters, in one of the
universities here. I guess some
children are more adventurous
than others.”
A while back, there was an
‘immigrant’ story in the foreign
paper about a Nigerian cleaner.
“A woman whose good nature
has <strong>be</strong>en sorely tested of late by
a mugging, a burglary, a
faithless husband and an ugly
business with her senior
daughter who lost all her
domestic appliances in a flatsharing
dispute,” the
report read.
“She came from a large
Nigerian family who are
also large in the area of
the recalcitrant child.
Her junior daughter
would not <strong>be</strong> where she
is today if they were still
in Nigeria. In Nigeria,
her mother would have
<strong>be</strong>en able to threaten: If
you’re not home by 11, I
will summon my
brothers and the whole
tri<strong>be</strong> and they will <strong>be</strong>at
you up,’ and that girl
would never have dared
put a foot out of line. But
the girl came to England
when she was 14,
noticed at once that
physical violence
towards children was
frowned upon; learned
that she could leave
home when she was 16,
and off the rail she
trotted.
“She bought herself a
large truck and <strong>be</strong>gan to
buy saucepans against
the day she could take
off. But 16 came, then
17, then 18, then 19 and
she didn’t move out, but
stayed, and by and
large, pleased herself
about what she did with
her crazy friends. Her
mother didn’t adapt to
English ways with quite
the same speed. She
wanted respect from the
girl whose manners
<strong>be</strong>came increasingly
stroppy. She wanted to
have a say in her life,
but the girl hated what
she had to say. Pretty
soon, they stopped
speaking civilly, then
they stopped speaking,
then the mother <strong>be</strong>gan
to take her meals in her
<strong>be</strong>droom, they then
<strong>be</strong>gan to open each
other’s mail, then to
hide each others’ mails,
then matters <strong>be</strong>came
intolerable. And so the
poor mother notified the local
housing authority that she
was going to evict her
daughter to teach her a
lesson.
“She also notified the local
police <strong>be</strong>cause she said she
didn’t want any bloodshed.
She then changed the locks.
Though the daughter arrived
It’s hurtful to criticise fat people
It may <strong>be</strong> meant as a
friendly advice, but telling
someone they are piling on
the pounds just makes them
delve further into the biscuit
tin. Those who are made to
feel ashamed about their size
are six times as likely to
<strong>be</strong>come o<strong>be</strong>se, a study has
found. Experts say that <strong>be</strong>ing
criticised for their weight
drives those who are already
sensitive about it to comfort
eat. Fear of ridicule may also
mean they avoid exercise.
Researchers from
University College London
said that the o<strong>be</strong>sity crisis
could <strong>be</strong> eased by teaching
people—including doctors—
that it is counterproductive to
In Nigeria, her
mother would
have <strong>be</strong>en able
to threaten: If
you’re not home
by 11, I will
summon my
brothers and the
whole tri<strong>be</strong> and
they will <strong>be</strong>at you
up,’
with a policeman to collect her
<strong>be</strong>longings, and though the
policeman told the mother she
was out of line, she steeled her
heart which was very heavy.
The girl, she says must go
through a little bit of hell so she
can appreciate all that has <strong>be</strong>en
done for her... .”
In Ariyike’s case, it was her
15-year old daughter that was
always reporting her to the
authorities <strong>be</strong>cause she
(Ariyike), was physically
abusive towards her. Since
according to British law, each
child is owed a duty of care by
his parents, no parent dares
starve or <strong>be</strong> cruel to their child.
Ariyike, who now <strong>be</strong>lieved she
was raising a monster asked her
friend’s advice. The friends
urged her to return her
daughter to Nigeria. “To do
this,” recalled Ariyike. I had to
tell the children, (three in all)
that we were all going back to
discriminate against others
<strong>be</strong>cause they are overweight.
They said that public health
campaigns should also avoid
making people feel bad about
their weight. The study
involved almost 3,000 English
men and women aged 50-plus
who were weighed twice, four
years apart. They were also
asked if they had <strong>be</strong>en
discriminated against <strong>be</strong>cause
of their weight.
Examples of this included
<strong>be</strong>ing treated with disrespect—
including <strong>be</strong>ing the butt of
jokes—receiving poorer service
in shops, restaurants, hospitals
and doctors’ surgeries, <strong>be</strong>ing
threatened and <strong>be</strong>ing assumed
to <strong>be</strong> stupid.
Some 5 per cent said they had
<strong>be</strong>en treated differently
<strong>be</strong>cause of their weight—with
the figure rising to 36 per cent
among those who were the most
overweight. The study,
published in the journal
O<strong>be</strong>sity, found that those who
were victims of ‘fat shaming’
put on just over 2lb on average
over the course of the study.
They were also six times as
likely to <strong>be</strong>come o<strong>be</strong>se. In
contrast, those who were not
criticised for their weight
actually <strong>be</strong>came slimmer, al<strong>be</strong>it
by a small amount. Dr. Jackson
said: ‘Our results show that
weight discrimination does not
encourage weight loss, and
suggest that it may even
exacerbate weight gain.’
‘Previous studies have shown
that people who experience
discrimination report comfort,
eating. Stress responses to
discrimination can increase
Nigeria for the final funeral
rites of my mother. Tina, my
recalcitrant daughter was
very fond of her grandmas
and after initially taunting
that I couldn’t make her go;
she finally agreed to come
when she realized all of us
would <strong>be</strong> leaving.
“After the funeral, I told
the other two children what
I had in mind. They never
liked the way Tina always
<strong>be</strong>haved. So, when she
reluctantly agreed to spend
a few days with my younger
sister in Ibadan, we
hurriedly came back to
England, leaving her in my
sister’s care. My sister is a
no-nonsense disciplinarian
and with luck, she would
kick her back into shape. ln
the meantime, I have vowed
not to get in touch with her
until she’s learnt her lesson
and <strong>be</strong>” civil to her parents
and siblings.”
appetite, particularly for
unhealthy, energy-dense
food. Weight discrimination
has also <strong>be</strong>en shown to
make people feel less
confident about taking part
in physical activity, so they
tend to avoid it. People may
not feel comfortable going
to the gym if they think they
are <strong>be</strong>ing judged <strong>be</strong>cause of
their weight’
Previous research has
shown that it is not just the
general public who are
guilty of making the
overweight feel ashamed of
their size. Dr. Jackson said:
‘Studies have shown that
quite a wide range of health
professionals hold negative
attitudes about o<strong>be</strong>se
people and patients pick up
on that bias. Doctors tend to
spend less time with o<strong>be</strong>se
patients. They feel that
treating o<strong>be</strong>sity is a futile
task and many avoid doing
it. We need to find a way of
addressing this during
training, highlighting that
blaming and shaming isn’t
going to help resolve the
problem.’ University
College London, Professor
Jane Wardle said: ‘Our
study clearly shows that
weight discrimination is
part of the o<strong>be</strong>sity problem
and not the solution.’ If you
are aggressive with the way
you put the message across
and denigrate and tease,
you are not going to get
anywhere at all. What you
need is tough love.’

“How satellit
ellite e installation is
improving our social, cultural
and economic lives”
Stories by Moses Nosike
In Decem<strong>be</strong>r 4, 2015 at the
Johannesburg Summit of
the China-Africa Cooperation
forum, the Chinese President,
Xi Jinping announced that
China would implement
satellite TV programmes for 10
thousand African villages and
Nigeria would get 1,000 of the
allocation, it was a news well
received by the Nigerian
government.
For the residents of the
1,000 villages who <strong>be</strong>nefited
from this project, it’s <strong>be</strong>en joy
since the implementation. In
this interview with Nosike
Moses, a teacher and
resident in one of the villages,
Bako Auta, takes a closer look
at the effect of the digital
satellite TV installed in Hulumi
village, a suburb of the FCT.
Excerpts:
What is the major impact of
the satellite TV installation in
your community?
For me personally, having
access to satellite TV is a thing
of joy <strong>be</strong>cause <strong>be</strong>fore StarTimes
implemented the project, we
were almost in the dark. This
access has given me and many
of our people in this village the
Firm charged Nigerians on quality, , durable tyres
for safety
Nigerians have <strong>be</strong>en
charged on the need to
buy good quality and durable
new tyres, against the already
used imported tyres, to guarantee
the safety of their lives and
vehicles on the road.
This was said at the
inauguration of Visco Vis
Showroom at Ikota Bus Stop,
along Lekki Epe Expressway,
Ajah, Lagos.
The showroom would take care
of quality service of Firestone
Tyres and maintenance to ensure
safety of lives and vehicles.
In addition, they were urged
that since there was no gain
without pain, it therefore
<strong>be</strong>hoved on them to go for the
very <strong>be</strong>st quality, regardless of
the high cost, which would give
them the much need rest of mind
and peace, to drive such vehicle,
with utmost confidence at all
times.
These advice were proffered
respectively by the Deputy
Group CEO, Kewalram Chanrai
Group Ltd. Elder Victor
Eburujalo, the CEO, Asahi
Brands Ltd Nigeria, Sole
Distributors of the Bridgestone,
Firestone Tyres in Nigeria, Mr.
Anil Sahgal and the Regional
Director, Middle East and Africa,
Mr. Stefano Sanchini, at the
formal commissioning and
interaction on the event, held
subsequently at the Victoria
Island Lagos Branch of the
company.
Reiterating on the need for
such visit, Mr. Stefano Sanchini
posited that it was very much
necessary to further improve and
positively expand the over three
opportunity to see <strong>be</strong>yond our
four walls and made us see how
things are done by other
cultures in Nigeria and even
outside of the country.
There are many areas of
enlightenment for us through
this project. Many of us here
are also farmers. Sometimes
people watch how farming is
done in other parts of the world,
decade joint cooperation and
partnership among them even as
Nigeria remains the core of such
business expansion and
improvement of Bridgestone,
Firestone Tyres, to further
encourage its immense numerous
clients and customers on the need
for such education and assistance
to fully guarantee their lives and
the vehicles on the road, as well
as the need to positively invest
on the Bridgestone and
Firestones Tyres to confidently
guarantee them, the real worth
for their money.
The Group Deputy Managing
Director, Elder Victor Eburujalo,
reiterated the need for such
cooperation to <strong>be</strong> revitalized,
judging from the honest
transactions <strong>be</strong>tween them and
the high quality of the brands,
which have continually
impressed their numerous valued
appreciated customers,
nationwide.
He therefore pleaded with all
to duly invest on such quality,
durable tyres, against those used
imported, which often account for
numerous avoidable accidents on
our road, owing their cheapness
in price since there is no gain
without pain.
To this end he hinted on the
group’s contributions in such
regards, especially in the
construction of a Gigantic Eye
Hospital at Abuja, expected to <strong>be</strong>
commissioned by President
Buhari soonest as its Cooperate
Services Responsibility (CSR) and
other continued In House
Training Programme for the Staff
and Cooperation with other
numerous Clients, to further
Bako Auta
to improve their harvest and
how to make things easy for
them during the farming
process. I can say that for almost
every area of the life of our
people, there have <strong>be</strong>en a very
positive impact and it is easy
to see.
How has the exposure
impacted on your job?
enhance their skills.
He however, also pleaded with
the leaders in authority to
improve the roads to promote the
longevity of such Tyres plying the
roads and safety of the drivers
and vehicle owners as well.
The CEO Asahi Brands Ltd, a
subsidiary of Kewalram Chanrai
Group Ltd. Mr. Anil Sahgal
profoundly appreciated such
visit, which he rightly posited as
timely to further reinvigorate, the
already over three decades
cooperation and partnership
<strong>be</strong>tween both and to x-ray other
constructive areas of very
meaningful economic expansion
of the business.
Mr. Stefano Sanchini assured
Nigerians of his establishment
determination to stimulate such
vital business growth and
expansion meaningfully,
constructively and gainfully to the
numerous business expectations,
especially in the areas of
assistance, gainfully to the <strong>be</strong>nefit
of all at all times.
SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 30, 2019—33
Absolutely it has. In fact just
recently, I implemented one of
the teaching skills I was
exposed to while watching one
of the educational channels.
Because I have a student who
finds it very difficult to
understand some of the
teachings in class, so I
developed more interest in
trying to help him. One of the
teachings I saw on TV was to
use simple and relatable
scenarios within the immediate
environment for the
understanding of such a
student.
For instance, when teaching
social sciences, I now use
things from within our village
to explain more complex
situations which they may not
underrated and bring it back to
the actual subject matter. This
has made it so easy for such
students in my class to <strong>be</strong>
happy with our teachings.
What is the impact of the
communal viewing center on
residents of the village?
Personally, what I have
observed is that it brings people
closer to each other. This is
<strong>be</strong>cause after the installation
was done for us in 2017, we
would all come together on
some Thursdays or even
weekends and watch movies in
our Hausa language. Very
funny and interesting movies
that entertain us.
It also brings peace to our
community. Some of the movies
we watch have taught about the
impact of violence and why it
is <strong>be</strong>tter to always go for a
peaceful way of resolving
disputes. I think it is a very
good thing that the Nigerian
government and China have
done for us and Hulumi people
are very happy about it.
You will see many children
doing some of the things they
have watched on TV, like
football skills, dancing skills
and sometimes acting. Even
adults in the community also
implement some of the things
they learn from community
viewing. We all like it.
Are there any other
development that this has
brought to your village?
Yes, during the installation of
the satellites, we appealed to
StarTimes to renovate our
primary school, where the kids
go to acquire knowledge
<strong>be</strong>cause of the state of our
school that time. This
renovation was done and since
then the children have <strong>be</strong>en
going to school learning under
<strong>be</strong>tter conditions than what
was there. Although there is
still more work to <strong>be</strong> done in
that area, for now it is <strong>be</strong>tter
than what it was.
I think it has also brought our
village to the limelight. Before
now, many people did not
know about Hulumi village,
even though this village has
existed for many years. Since
after the launch, people now
know there is a village called,
Hulumi and information about
us is now on the internet,
unlike <strong>be</strong>fore.
All our news of what is
happening around the country
and all over the world is now
easy to get. Especially when
there is electricity, I just tune
on any news channel and it is
easy to <strong>be</strong> up to date with what
is happening around the
world. I am more informed than
ever and this makes me very
happy.
I would like to express my
gratitude to both the
Government of China and
Nigeria for not forgetting us in
this project.
Consumers commend
Hollandia Yoghur
oghurt t mixology
A
recent visit to several lounges and bars across Nigeria had shown an
increase use of yoghurt, either enjoyed directly or as a taste-enhancing
mixer. Hollandia Yoghurt Mixology now <strong>be</strong>come a mainstay for consumers
who are increasingly embracing yoghurt and drink-mixing culture as their
taste evolve.
In its 315ml pack size, Hollandia Yoghurt Mixology is convenient and
handy, with a specially designed prismatic shape and an attractive screw
cap that consumers can feel proud to <strong>be</strong> seen with.
A bar manager in Rivers State, Chijioke Silva, who acknowledged the
growing demand for Hollandia Yoghurt Mixology at his bar, said that from
the onset of its launch on the shelf, the brand quickly established a strong
connection with consumers <strong>be</strong>cause of its attractive packaging, great taste,
smooth texture and its ability to bring out that satisfying taste when mixed
with other <strong>be</strong>verages of consumer choice.
“We all know that Nigerians love drink mixes, so it is commendable for a
brand to see that gap and respond with a truly innovative product. I can tell
you that Hollandia Yoghurt Mixology has <strong>be</strong>en a runaway success at my
bar in Port Harcourt and that loyalty has <strong>be</strong>en sustained till date,” Silva
said.
This sentiment was also echoed by Dele Yusuf, a fun loving IT executive
based in Ikoyi, Lagos. Yusuf said that he was introduced to Hollandia
Yoghurt Mixology by his friends during a hangout in Ikoyi.
“Since then I have fallen in love with it. So now, whenever I am hanging
out at the lounge with my friends, I simply mix my malt drink with a pack of
Hollandia Yoghurt Mixology to achieve my desired taste. For me, nothing
can <strong>be</strong> <strong>be</strong>tter than this,” he stated.
Speaking on Hollandia Yoghurt Mixology, the Managing Director Chi
Limited, Mr. Deepanjan Roy said that the company is tirelessly inspired by
the desire to satisfy consumer expectation by churning out value adding
and innovative dairy products like Hollandia Yoghurt Mixology.
“We are excited about the great value and level of satisfaction consumers
have expressed in their feedback on this product. We <strong>be</strong>lieve that as the
positive word on the brand spreads, more consumers would <strong>be</strong> encouraged
to try their favourite <strong>be</strong>verage mixes with Hollandia Yoghurt Mixology to
derive their preferred taste,” he said.
Globacom’s Executive Vice Chairman, Mrs Bella Disu (2nd right) speaking at the “Digital Economy” session
at the 2019 Africa CEO Forum in Kigali, Rwanda. With her, (left – right) are Moderator of the session, Eugene
Anangwe of TV47, Kenya; COO of Africa’s Talking, Bilha Ndirangu; CEO of Computer Warehouse Group,
Adewale Adeyipo, and Chief Customer Officer, Safaricom, Sylvia Mulinge.

34—SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 30, 2019
•Late May
Amadi, Phd
•Late. Dr.
Nnamdi
Ogueche
•Late. Rev.
Fr. Clement
Ugwu
KILLINGS IN ENUGU:
Questions for police
By Emma Nnadozie,
Crime Editor
It came in torrents, like a heavy
shower. In one fell swoop,
three prominent indigenes
of Enugu State were mowed
down in cold blood.
Although, there had <strong>be</strong>en other
pockets of incidents, the climax
was the recent brutal elimination
of these citizens of the state,
brazenly.
First was Reverend Father
Clement Ugwu, Parish
Priest, St. Mark Catholic
Church, Obinofia
Ndiuno in Ezeagu
Local Government
Area. He was abducted
from his parish around
9 pm on Wednesday,
March 13, 2019, shot
and taken to an
u n k n o w n
destination.
Frantic efforts to
locate him failed. His abductors had
demanded N50m, and later reduced
it to N20m.
While church authorities rigidly
stuck by their well known stand of not
succumbing to ransom, they were
also making discreet contacts with
the police to rescue him.
Unfortunately, few days later, the
badly decomposing body of the 42-
year-old cleric was found somewhere
in the bush by some locals who
promptly alerted the church
authorities. The strange discovery
raised many questions. Could he
have bled to death without
assistance, or was he killed instantly
by his abductors? However, it was a
known fact that he was shot by the
abductors <strong>be</strong>fore they disappeared
with him. The body was, however,
recovered and interned immediately
at the priest’s burial ground at the
Holy Ghost Cathedral, Enugu.
Regrettably, a very disappointed
Bishop of the Diocese, Rt, Rev.
Callistus Onaga was quoted as
recalling how he personally visited
the police in Enugu three times,
asking for urgent action to rescue the
cleric only for them to keep
on telling him that they
were “on top of the
situation, and were
closing in on the
kidnappers”. Alas, when
the bubble burst, it was not
even the police that
recovered the body but the
locals. So far, the
police in Enugu have
woefully failed to
either round
•IGP Adamu
Muhammed
up
his
suspected
killers or
come up
w i t h
concrete
efforts
geared
towards
arresting
s u c h
situations.
While the police, like the biblical
Nero fiddling while Rome
burns, another tragic
shocker took place, barely
one week later. Like a
thunderbolt, the brutal
decapitation of the body of
the Secretary, Uzo-Uwani
Local Government Area of
the state, Dr. Nnamdi
Ogueche, 40, by suspected
herdsmen after he attended
a peace meeting at the
isolated Local government
headquarters, Umulokpa,
took the centre stage again.
The father of three and a
lecturer at the Nnamdi
Azikiwe University, Awka,
capital of Anambra state was
reportedly murdered at
about 5pm by suspected
Fulani herdsmen <strong>be</strong>tween
Olo in Ezeagu Local
government Area and
Umulokpa in Uzo-Uwani LGA .
He was on his way back to Enugu,
Enugu is safe, Police spokesman
The Police Public Relations officer, Enugu state command,
SP E<strong>be</strong>re Amarizu, spoke on recent killings in the state.
Excerpts;
Can you give us the true account of recent killings in Enugu
state,. From Police perspective, could you classify who the
killers are and what are their suspected motives?
Yes, we recorded unfortunate incidents of killings in the
command. It is unfortunate <strong>be</strong>cause lives were lost but we
thank God that we have made some arrests and they are
helping us in our investigations.
How true is it that you are shying away from attributing
these killings appropriately?
We are not shying away and we cannot shy away. You cannot
know their motives now. It is investigation that will revel
their motives and even their background.
How can the police re-assure the world that Enugu is crime
free going by what we are experiencing now?
Enugu still maintains its status as the safest and most
peaceful. Those incidents happened to <strong>be</strong> unfortunate but do
not suggest a situation of insecurity or Enugu <strong>be</strong>ing unsafe as
we are still working in partnership with other security agencies
and other relevant stake holders towards ensuring that the
peace and security are sustained and even improved upon.
To what extent are you in synergy with both the state
While the
police, like
the biblical
Nero fiddling
while Rome
burns,
another tragic
shocker took
place, barely
one week
later
after attending the peace meeting
<strong>be</strong>tween the people of Uzo-
Uwani LGA and herdsmen
following unprovoked
clashes recorded in the
area. They were three
people in the hired taxi
taking them back to Enugu
when about five heavily
armed Fulani men blocked
their way, brandishing their
weapons. Reports said
the Secretary and his
friends ran out of the cab
and took to their heels but
while his friends succeeded
in escaping, he fell down.
The murderous herdsmen
were said to have
descended on him and
pumped hot leads from
their AK47 rifles into his
skull leaving blood and
bile.
Notably, the two roads
leading to Umulokpa (Nkpologu)/
government and other security agencies to make Enugu
safer for us all?
What, specifically are the police doing to cleanse the
notorious Olo/ Umulokpa danger spots?
Amarizu : Like I said earlier, we have commenced a
full scale investigation into all the incidents and some
arrests were made and those arrested are helping the
operatives in their investigations and at the end of our
investigations,mem<strong>be</strong>rs of the public will <strong>be</strong> duly briefed
on what the command has done so far. We are
partnering with the state Government,security
agencies and other relevant stake holders to
ensure that peace and security are
continually maintained/sustained .The
command is having a robust relationship
with the state government ,sister security
agencies and other relevant stakeholders
amongst others for a secured environment
in Enugu state and its environs.
What have you also done about the
dangerous and infamous Sambisa Forest
in Uzo-Uwani?
We don’t have Sambisa Forest in
Enugu,we have visibility policing in place
and intelligence led -policing in the state
which offers the platform for proactive
policing.
Continues on page 35
•CP Enugu,
Sulaiman Balaraba

I regret giving out information about my
<strong>be</strong>nefactor to kidnappers —Suspect
By Ifeanyi Okolie
Residents of Shadam Local Government
Area of Plateau State, can now sleep
with their eyes closed, as operatives of
the Inspector General of Police Special
Intelligence Response Team, IRT, have
arrested a notorious kidnapper, Kwane
Matthew, who had unleashed terror on
residents of the area for a long time.
Vanguard gathered that Matthew, who was
said to have carried out several armed
rob<strong>be</strong>ries and kidnappings, including those
of two prominent sons of the area, who are
owners of four petrol stations, operating within
the area, Dipdat and Dandong, was arrested
alongside two of his trusted informants, Jordan
Laguma and Sunana Douglas. His informants
would monitor the movements of his victims
and pass the information to him.
Police sources disclosed to Vanguard that
after gathering sufficient information about his
victims, Matthew, who is a native of Shadam,
would invite mem<strong>be</strong>rs of his gang, who were
mainly armed Fulani herdsmen, led by one
Jagoro Umaru, and they would storm his area
with Ak-47 rifles, abduct their victim and
whisk him into the forest, <strong>be</strong>fore contacting
the victim’s family for ransom.
A source who spoke to Vanguard
on the condition of anonymity
disclosed that Matthew’s notoriety
was well known to everyone within
his community, but no one could
confront him for fear of <strong>be</strong>ing killed.
Matthew however ran into trouble
after his last kidnap operation.
The source stated that after
Matthew’s last victim in Shadam,
known as Dandong, was kidnapped
and released after his family paid a
ransom of N15million, his
community wrote a petition to the
Inspector General of Police, Adamu
Mohammed, who swiftly deployed
his operatives at the IRT, headed by
Deputy Commissioner of Police,
Abba Kyari, to the area to track and
arrest Matthew and his collaborators.
Vanguard gathered that, Sunana
Douglass, a famer and a close friend
of Dandong was the first suspect
arrested by operatives of the IRT
when they stormed Shadam and he
confessed during interrogation that
he gave out information about
Dandong’s location and his movements to
Matthew <strong>be</strong>fore he was kidnapped and that
he also got N1million as his share from the
ransom. He was also said to have assisted the
operatives in luring Matthew out from his
hiding while two other suspects, Jordan
Laguma and Namoo Damsu
were also arrested by the
operatives.
Poverty drove me
into crime —Matthew
When Vanguard
interviewed 29-year-old
Matthew Kwana, he narrated
how he joined the rob<strong>be</strong>ry
gang and he also gave details
of how the gang carried out
several armed rob<strong>be</strong>ries and
kidnapping within Plateau
and Taraba States.
He said, “I am a primary
school dropout <strong>be</strong>cause my
family <strong>be</strong>came poor during the
Jos crisis. I couldn’t feed
myself and I was arrested
then by the police and taken
to prison after I stole a
motorcycle. In February last
year, I met one Jagoro Umaru,
a Fulani herdsman, who
approached me and asked me
to join his rob<strong>be</strong>ry gang
comprising eight mem<strong>be</strong>rs. I accepted
<strong>be</strong>cause I had no job after my release from
We went for an
operation in
Taraba State
where we
rob<strong>be</strong>d some
people who
were mainly
Fulani cattle
traders on
their way from
the market
prison. We went for an operation in Taraba
State where we rob<strong>be</strong>d some people who were
mainly Fulani cattle traders on their way from
the market. We attacked so many people on
my first mission and I was given N60,000 as
my share. I brought information on the second
operation in my community where we
kidnapped a rich businessman known as
Dipdat, who has two petrol stations. I showed
them the house but I didn’t go with them into
the man’s house to kidnap him. They took the
man away on their motorbikes into a big forest
in Bauchi State and three days later they called
me and gave me N1.5million as my share. But
I told Umaru that we have to give some money
to a man known as Jordan who gave me the
information about Dipdat. They sent me
N1million which I gave to Jordan.”
“In Novem<strong>be</strong>r 2018, I approached Douglass
who was close to another rich man in our area,
known as Dandong, who also own two filling
stations. I told him that I wanted to kidnap
the man, I needed information about the man’s
movements and I promised to reward him
handsomely if he could give me the
information that I needed. One week after,
Douglass called and informed me that the
businessman was around and I should come
with my men. I called Umaru to come and
kidnap the man and we took him to Taraba
State. We kept him there for three days and
N15million was paid as ransom. I was given
N2.5million and Douglass got N1.2million as
his own share.”
SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 30, 2019—35
I got N1million from
ransom paid —Luguma
In his own confession, Laguma, who is
married with five children said: “I am into
wood business, but I was arrested <strong>be</strong>cause a
man known as hit man called me to come for a
meeting in Jos and after the meeting, some
policemen arrested me and when I got into
their vehicle, I saw one Matthew and
Douglass and I was asked if I knew them and
I said yes. They asked if I have had any
dealings with them and I said no. Then I asked
Matthew if my arrest was in connection with
the money he gave to me and he said no.
Matthew pleaded that I shouldn’t tell the
police anything about him. So, when we got
to the police station and they started
interrogating me seriously, I told them that the
only dealing I have had with Matthew was
when he came to me and asked about a
businessman known as Dipdat, who has two
filling stations in my area. I told the police man
that Matthew asked me to monitor the man’s
movements and pass the information to him. I
refused <strong>be</strong>cause I have heard terrible things
about Matthew. I later traveled out of our state
and when the businessman was eventually
kidnapped and released, Matthew sent
N1million to me through a man I don’t know”.
I regret giving out information
about my <strong>be</strong>nefactor
—Douglass
43-year-old Sunana Douglass, however told
Vanguard that Matthew deceived him into
obtaining information about Dangdong’s
movement who he also identified as his
<strong>be</strong>nefactor without informing him that he
needed the information to kidnap the
businessman.
He said,”when Matthew approached me
and sought information about my friend and
<strong>be</strong>nefactor Dangdong, he told me that he
wanted to buy diesel from him. Dangdong has
two filling stations and Matthew has a big
generating set that uses Diesel so when he
came to me, he said he wanted someone to
supply him diesel to fuel his generator. I gave
him information about Dangdong to Matthew
<strong>be</strong>lieving he wanted to do business with the
man and I didn’t know that he was planning
to kidnap him. After the man had <strong>be</strong>en
kidnapped, Matthew brought N1million to me
and I accepted <strong>be</strong>cause I needed money to
solve some of my problems. Sincerely, I don’t
know that Matthew was planning to kidnap
Dandong who is my friend and has assisted
me in several ways. He used to give me money
to buy things. I made a mistake by not
informing Dandong when Matthew was
making enquiries about him, I got myself
engrossed with the business proposal Matthew
was putting forward and that was why I gave
him the man’s location on the day he was
kidnapped. Matthew called me and I told him
that I was with the man but I didn’t know
he was coming to kidnap the man. I was
the first person that was arrested and I led
the police to arrest Matthew in his house. The
people in my village <strong>be</strong>lieved that I had a hand
in the kidnap <strong>be</strong>cause they had seen me talking
to Matthew severally and on the day the man
was kidnapped I was with him. They were the
people who alerted the police and they got me
arrested.”
Killings in Enugu: Questions for police
Continues from page 34
Uvuru/Ukpata and 9 th Mile/Ezeagu,
have, for long, <strong>be</strong>come terribly risky to
ply as a result of the menace of the
herdsmen. The precarious situation
degenerated to the death of many
indigenes and non-indigenes of the
area on the hands of gun wielding
Fulani herdsmen who have colonized
the area and nobody seems to <strong>be</strong> doing
anything. In Decem<strong>be</strong>r last year, they
reportedly kidnapped two indigenes of
Umulokpa who were returning for
Christmas. One of them was shot on
the leg during the ugly encounter and at
the end of the day; they collected about
N2m ransom from them. Confirmed
reports said that many indigenes of the
area who were coming home for the festive
celebration suffered untold hardship in
the hands of the marauding herdsmen.
Shockingly, since the brutal killing of
this young man, the police in Enugu have
only succeeded in saying that they are still
after his killers and provocatively
descri<strong>be</strong>d them as ‘hoodlums’. Worst
still they could come out with re-assuring
measures aimed at addressing the wanton
waste of lives and continued abduction at
the Olo/Umulokpa road which for long,
has <strong>be</strong>en a death trap. Tragically, the
road also leads to Ukpabi/Nimbo axis
where the same Fulani herdsmen wrecked
havoc in 2016.
Then, came the bang. This time around,
inside the Coal city of Enugu, gunmen
suspected to <strong>be</strong> assassins struck again
and snuffed life out of the Head of
Nursing Services, HNS, Federal
Psychiatric Hospital, Enugu, Mrs. Mary
Amadi, Phd. The woman was reportedly
about to open the gate to her house at
Federal Housing Estate, near NOWAS
Filling station, Trans-Ekulu, Enugu when
the daredevil gunmen pumped bullets
into her stomach. She was immediately
rushed to Park lane Hospital, located at
the GRA, Enugu by sympathizers after the
assassins fled the scene. But she gave up
the ghost while doctors battled to save her
life.
The victim, a mother of two, was said to
have secured the job with Federal
Psychiatric Hospital, Enugu after a
thorough and competitive examination.
She was known to <strong>be</strong> industrious, hard
working and diligent to the admiration of
the management. No sooner it
happened than police authorities
condemned the incident and later boasted
that they arrested two persons in
connection with the murder, assuring that
other persons linked to the murder would
<strong>be</strong> arrested.
However, the killings and manner of
negligence by the police raise more
questions than answers. It smacks of vile
attempts to stultify public consciousness
to the fact that not just Fulani herdsmen
but hardened killers are on the prowl in
the state. Residents of the area who
spoke with Saturday Vanguard lamented
that tales of one abduction or the other
along the notorious Olo/Umulokpa axis
are now common. According to those
interviewed, many people have fallen
victims to the menace of these herdsmen
either along Olo/Umulokpa axis or
Nsukka/Obimo/Nkpologu/Adani road in
spite of the heavy presence of both the
military and police along the way.
A transporter from one of the
neighbouring communities, Anthony
Okpeja stated unequivocally that the
situation is worse than people see it.
“It is an open secret that we have a spot
notoriously called Sambisa forest” along
that Olo/Umulokpa axis but very close to
Umulokpa. It is like a no-go area for
security agents. These herdsmen, in
their num<strong>be</strong>rs, reside there and they are
equipped with all sorts of sophisticated
weapons. When the former
Commissioner of Police, Dan Mallam was
in charge in Enugu, he gave them a tough
fight. He carried out many operations
personally inside the forest but now, the
situation has degenerated to a point that
nobody is safe. Even the present
Inspector-General of Police, Adamu
Mohammed, in his years in Enugu, made
sure that the excesses of these marauders
were curtailed. What we have on
ground now is sending jitters in the
minds of discerning mem<strong>be</strong>rs of the
public and nobody is happy.
Attempts by those concerned to paint
a picture of peace in the state are
grossly misleading. We are in
trouble and the authorities concerned
should urgently focus attention in
Enugu <strong>be</strong>fore things get out of hand.

36—SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 30, 2019
•Apasa street
•Itire street
Gang war throws Lagos
residents into disarray
•Policeman, seven others killed, petrol station attacked
•We’re no longer safe — residents
By Victor Arjiromanus
The peace and tranquility hitherto
witnessed by residents of Amukoko,
in the densely populated Ajegunle
area of Lagos, has <strong>be</strong>en replaced with fear,
owing to an ongoing gang war among some
youths in the area, which has already claimed
10 lives.
At the moment, helpless residents are
wearing expressions of fear, sadness and
uncertainty, with some shops still under lock
out of fear that owners may lose their wares
to the rampaging warring gangs. Some of the
residents have wondered why the security
agents have <strong>be</strong>en unable to contain the
situation.
The latest fight occurred last Tuesday,
<strong>be</strong>tween Apasa and market street boys, with
sporadic gunshots renting the air. Residents
who have always <strong>be</strong>en on the alert, scurried
into hiding to avoid <strong>be</strong>ing hit by flying bullets.
Text messages were sent to loved ones who
were yet to return home, to remain where they
were, in order not to fall into the rival warrior’s
crossfire.
Genesis of
crisis
Investigation by Saturday Vanguard
revealed that the youths of Apasa, Itire,
Iyatuwo, Ishaga, market street, Mosafejo and
Alaba areaa have <strong>be</strong>en embroiled in a power
tussle for close to two years.
It has <strong>be</strong>come a reccurring event of attacks
and constant killings in these areas, a
situation that has deprived residents of rest
and sleep at night. It was gathered that two
mem<strong>be</strong>rs of the gang were brutally murdered
in Alao and Itire roads in Ojo Local
government Area after a roadside attack last
month.
During one of the fights on Decem<strong>be</strong>r 31,
2018, three mem<strong>be</strong>rs of market street gang
were allegedly killed by Apasa boys. Another
attack was said to have <strong>be</strong>en launched on
Market boys three weeks ago, during which
one of them, (market boy) was killed.
Also last Monday, market boys were said
to have ambushed a mem<strong>be</strong>r of Apasa area
gang at about 6pm. The victim was reportedly
shot and abandoned to die in the pool of his
blood but he was however said to have
survived the attack.
When news of his survival reached market
boys, they reportedly launched another attack
on Apasa, same week. As if that was not
enough, they allegedly attacked a petrol
station owned by a retired policeman, simply
<strong>be</strong>cause it was situated within Apasa area and
reportedly made away with three motorcycles
which were <strong>be</strong>ing refuelled by their owners
as well as an unspecified amount of money.
Also during one of the attacks, residents said
some armed youths stormed Ezeagu street
through a local bridge popularly called
‘kpako’ and stopped at Alao Junction,
throwing the area into disarray . They
reportedly rob<strong>be</strong>d people who were passing
through the bridge of their <strong>be</strong>longings. Shop
owners hurriedly closed up while some
residents fled their homes.
When a team of policemen arrived the
scene, the hoodlums fled in different
directions with one of them making attempt
to hide in a building. But he was resisted by a
resident who claimed to <strong>be</strong> a soldier. He was
lynched by an angry mob in the process with
his corpse dumped <strong>be</strong>side Christ the King
Catholic church, Alao bus stop, alongside
another mem<strong>be</strong>r of his gang who was also
intercepted.
Residents lament
constant attacks, killings
Lamenting the frequent attacks and killings
by these hoodlums, a private security guard,
Kabiru Oniru, said “at least seven persons
have died in the last one week due to the
violent attacks by these hoodlums. Two
persons were killed along Alao Street, two
persons at Ezeagu Street, one person in
A<strong>be</strong>je, and two in other parts of the area. A
policeman was also shot to death by the gang.
“The hoodlums usually stormed rival gang’s
street in broad daylight, in a group of at least
thirty, wielding weapons, attacking anyone
at sight and dispossessing them of phones
and cash. At other times, they would stop
vehicles and attack the passengers without
any reason. During attacks, they would chase
everyone out of the street”.
A local food vendor who was attacked but
preferred not to disclose her identity said “at
about 10am on Tuesday( two weeks ago) the
hoodlums broke into my shop, where I was
selling amala. They carried my
cooler of Amala and soup, and as
if that was not enough, they went
to where I kept money and carted
away everything I had made for
the day”.
Another victim, who gave his
name as Ikechukwu, owner of a
boutique along Itire road said
“during reprisal attacks, shop
owners are usually at the
receiving end. They would break
into our shops simply <strong>be</strong>cause
they were located on the rival
gang’s streets. Whoever tried to
resist them would have their
cutlasses to contend with. Most
times they would tell you to move
out of the area in your own
interest”.
Owing to the attacks on shops
and other business centres in
these areas, some owners have
refused to open for sale for fear of
further attacks by these hoodlums.
A source told Vanguard that,
“businesses are crippling. How do
you expect people to come out and
sell when they know that they will
end up <strong>be</strong>ing attacked and
rob<strong>be</strong>d? In fact, our lives are no
longer safe”.’
When Saturday Vanguard
visited the area on Thursday, some shops
were opened with their owners <strong>be</strong>ing on the
alert.
Police raids
As at Tuesday night when a reprisal
attack was launched on one of the streets,
Vanguard gathered that , policemen from
Divisional Police stations under Area ‘B’
Apapa, were mobilized there, with a view
to arresting those <strong>be</strong>hind it. But the
residents claimed tht innocent persons
were arrested during the raids by the
Police. One of the
At the moment,
helpless residents
are wearing
expressions of
fear, sadness and
uncertainty, with
some shops still
under lock out of
fear that owners
may lose their
wares to the
rampaging
warring gangs
residents, Mr Andrew
Nwankwo, said
“policemen would never
come when the fight was
going on and when they
eventually came they
would start arresting
innocent residents who
were going about their
lawful business. They
should go and arrest the
hoodlums and their
sponsors, so that peace can
return to this area”.
In his reaction, the
Commissioner of Police,
Lagos State Police
Command, Zubairu
Muazu, said efforts were
on to sanitise the area,
adding that the command
would not fold its hands
and allow gang war to hold
sway in the state. Muazu
said he had directed the
Deputy Commissioner of
Police in-charge of
Operations, DCP
Mohammed Ali , to restore
peace in the area, assuring
Lagosinas that the
command was on top of the situation.
•Alao street ( where two
persons were killed )

C
M
Y
K
I
don’t know about you, but I am
just glad that these elections are
about over—we are now at the stage
where judges and senior lawyers can
earn their pay. The expectations had
<strong>be</strong>en high. People perhaps
unrealistically, thought that INEC,
made up of Nigerians, in a Nigerian
milieu, would somehow rise above its
environment and desperate
politicians, to give us smooth, violence
free and impartial elections. But like
Humpty Dumpty, the expectations
suffered a great fall. And the reason
was not that difficult to fathom. No
stakeholder, deep down really wanted
an impartial umpire, or a
straightforward election. Everybody
wanted the umpire on his side. We
only wanted an appearance of
credibility in order to avert bloodshed.
Otherwise, every stakeholder wanted
their person to win by all means, fair
or foul. That was why every process
was subverted; every INEC decision
was questioned. That was why the
rigging architecture was designed and
perfected long <strong>be</strong>fore the actual
elections took place. That was why
INEC itself was infiltrated.
But in spite of the ignoble fall of our
high expectations and the resultant
cracks, many people still bought—
until late in the day—into the dream
of INEC giving us a good election.
We therefore excused the
postponement which should have
<strong>be</strong>en an omen. We excused the
skirmishes. We excused the rhetoric
of the politicians who were
determined to destroy the integrity of
the process. And after the presidential
election took place with minimal
violence, we heaved a sigh of relief.
We stayed glued to our TV. We
watched as the mighty tumbled on
both sides. We saw enough to show
us that a credible trend was evolving.
Perhaps <strong>be</strong>cause we desperately
wanted a credible trend to evolve.
Then all pretences disappeared after
the federal elections. The gloves came
off as the state governors and their
challengers fought bare knuckled. The
polity <strong>be</strong>came more heated; violence
escalated; confusion reigned. The
courts did not help matters. Between
INEC, the courts and the parties
themselves, our minds were twirled
The claim that President
Muhammadu Buhari desires
harmony with the forthcoming
National Assembly was one of the
revelations that came from the getto-know
session with All Progressives
Congress, APC mem<strong>be</strong>rs elected into
the National Assembly last Monday.
The president’s desire for harmony
according to those present at the
meeting was premised on the need
for him to build a legacy that he would
<strong>be</strong> remem<strong>be</strong>red for.
The fact that the president desires
a legacy on the right side of history
is undoubtedly one that must have
reassured genuine patriots and
especially friends of Nigeria outside
the country.
Indeed, no less should have <strong>be</strong>en
expected from the former army
general and commander-in-chief of
the country’s armed forces.
Some critics had sold the narrative
that the 76-year old president was
determined to crash the roof of the
house upon everyone during the
elections.
The quest for a legacy comes
against the background of the
president’s record in the first term.
In that period, a once cult-like image
built upon perceptions of an aversion
to the Nigerian disease came
crashing as the same maladies seen
in previous administrations got the
<strong>be</strong>tter of his administration. The
stand-off with the legislators during
the budget presentation last
Decem<strong>be</strong>r was particularly revealing
of how the Buhari persona had
eroded over his time in office.
The matter was not helped by
outcries of imbalanced appointments,
surrender of governance to cronies
and indeed, the divisiveness that took
Just glad this phase is over
and our heads turned so often that we
no longer knew if we were coming or
going as far as the elections were
concerned.
Only INEC and the courts can tell us
for example, why candidate A in one state
was disqualified for an electoral
infringement while candidate B from
Only INEC and the courts can
tell us for example, why
candidate A in one State was
disqualified for an electoral
infringement while candidate
B from another State with
similar circumstances was not
another state with similar circumstances
was not. Only INEC and perhaps the
parties can tell us why one state was
subjected to supplementary elections
and the other state in a seemingly
identical situation, was not. Or how
many polling units were allegedly rigged
and what constitutes rigging. And
frankly, I have stopped bothering my
head. If there is something called voter
fatigue or election fatigue, then I am
suffering from it. My attitude now is for
the whole thing to <strong>be</strong> over. I am sure I
am not the only one.
Many countries, some bigger than
ours, spend only one seamless week to
conduct and announce results of state
and nationwide elections. We have spent
the <strong>be</strong>tter part of one acrimonious month
on ours only to turn whatever we arrive
hold upon national discourse. It is now
a catchphrase that Nigeria has never
<strong>be</strong>en divided as it is now. Another
saying is that not even during the civil
war was Nigeria more prone to
insecurity than it is now.
So, when the president in the private
session with party men revealed that
he wants to build a legacy, then he
should <strong>be</strong> taken seriously irrespective
of the political differences some of his
traducers may have with him.
Indeed, his utterances following the
election have <strong>be</strong>en laced with seeming
remorse on his failure to achieve set
goals. Such assertions as: ‘I will do
<strong>be</strong>tter,” also point to the fact that the
president did not meet the set goals
he set for himself during the 2015
presidential campaigns.
So within the period of the next four
years available to him, the sincere
desire to build a legacy which
generations born and unborn will
reflect on is the daunting task facing
the president and his handlers.
In years to come, the name that would
<strong>be</strong> mentioned as having built a unified
and prosperous Nigeria or caused the
division of the country in this period
would <strong>be</strong> Muhammadu Buhari. It
would certainly not <strong>be</strong> Adams
SATURDAY Vanguard, , MARCH 30, 2019—37
at to the tribunals since more than 60%
of the result will still end up in court.
It is a reflection of who we are as a
nation that law courts play a more
active role in whoever occupies our
elective positions than the polling
booths. It is a reflection of who we are
that it is only in politics—our kind of
politics—that we are prepared to give
it all it takes, including the shedding
of blood, to win an elective position.
And to pay next to nothing thereafter,
as dividends of democracy to the
people. Anybody who think politics is
about service in Nigeria needs to see
a shrink. Nigerian politics is about the
appropriation of power and wealth.
Both. Not one or the other. It is also
the fastest and safest way to legally loot
the treasury. In Nigeria, we take it as
given that an elective political officer
has to leave office rich. A poor local
government councillor today, is
guaranteed to <strong>be</strong> a multi-millionaire
tomorrow.
Our politics had always <strong>be</strong>en a
winner takes all affair. But the first time,
the statement:‘do or die’ came to <strong>be</strong>
ingrained in our public consciousness
was in the 2003 presidential election.
It was by no less a person than the
outgoing president himself who
successfully foisted an ailing candidate
on the country. In proclaiming ‘do or
die,’ he voiced what we all knew, but
felt was too distasteful and unsavoury
to admit. It was soon to <strong>be</strong> confirmed
by his Mr ‘Fix It,’ another prominent
politician of that era. An era that
witnessed, as a sign of ‘do or die’
politics, political killings right to the
level of the country’s Attorney General.
From that time onwards, our politicians
Buhari’s legacy and Tinubu’s comeback
Oshiomhole, Nasir El-Rufai, Bola
Tinubu or any of the fervent crusaders
presently riding on the wings of the
recent election attainments of the
ruling party.
Given that President Buhari
realizes this, every patriot must
provide him with the needed support
not just to build his legacy, but also
to sustain the country’s democratic
ethos.
It is gratifying that there are quite
a few of those around the president
who have sought to help him in this
regard. The exemplary role of the
First Lady, Hajia Aisha Buhari is
especially noted.
There are, however, quite a handful
of others around him especially in the
party who in seeking to rub it in
against the opposition are
inadvertently soiling that worthy
legacy of presidential decorum that
Buhari should have.
Telltale signs of authoritarianism as
espoused by some APC officials
should <strong>be</strong> discouraged by the
president if only he desires that his
name will <strong>be</strong> remem<strong>be</strong>red for good
years after he would have gone.
It is a reflection of who we are as a
nation that law courts play a more
active role in whoever occupies our
elective positions than the polling
booths
openly and wholesomely embraced and
practiced ‘do or die’ politics. To <strong>be</strong> a
successful politician these days is to <strong>be</strong>
ruthless, manipulative and duplicitous. It
is to take no political prisoner. Whatever
we might say, our politics operates like
Mafia. It is also highly monetised. And it
is state money that should have <strong>be</strong>en used
to develop the country that is <strong>be</strong>ing round
tripped. Everything and everyone is up for
purchase—INEC officials, security officials,
journalists, election monitors, voters and
even political offices. And whatever money
cannot buy, the army of thugs will enforce.
Every successful politician has his own
army of well equipped ‘enforcers.’ It is the
name of the game. But what happens to
these enforcers when elections are over and
their job is done? Some are put on state
payroll to continue a lifestyle of opulence
and impunity. Many are however, left to
their own devices. So with time on their
hands, drugs in their pockets and guns at
their disposal, they hit the streets to terrorise
the rest of us. The whole gamut of terror—
kidnap, armed rob<strong>be</strong>ry, assassination,
blackmail—is their oyster. It must therefore
<strong>be</strong> stated, and loudly too, that the state of
insecurity in the country can <strong>be</strong> traced to
our politicians. The lethal combination of
poverty, drugs and guns which the politician
uses to ride to power is destroying the
peace and security of the country.
Our electoral system needs a massive
reform. ‘Do or die’ politics, has to <strong>be</strong>
completely eradicated. A wholesome
embrace of technology is the answer. The
reward for ‘successful politicians’ also has
to <strong>be</strong> significantly reduced. The time to start
is now. Money, brigandage and guns
should no longer determine who wins
elections. Prayer warriors should no longer
<strong>be</strong> deemed necessary in determining the
survival and unity of the country when basic
reforms would suffice. We got away with a
conflagration this time. But only just. We
should not tempt fate in four years’ time.
In years to come, the name that would <strong>be</strong>
mentioned as having built a unified and
prosperous Nigeria or caused the division of
the country in this period would <strong>be</strong>
Muhammadu Buhari
Tinubu Returns As National Leader
While many have made issues of the
absence of President Buhari at Asiwaju
Bola Tinubu’s colloquium on Thursday,
the president’s birthday greeting to the
former Lagos State governor is
significant. In his birthday message to the
celebrant who turned 67 yesterday, Buhari
hailed him as the national leader of the
party.
Remarkably, the APC, in its Twitter
handle also hailed Tinubu as the national
leader of the party.
The recognition of Tinubu as national
leader is remarkable, given that just after
the president came to power, that
ascription was banished in party
protocols.
This development is contrary to
insinuations from apparently
“mischievous quarters” that Buhari
would ditch Tinubu immediately after the
elections.
GOODBYE
What a trained biochemist as your
correspondent has over the years done
as a purveyor in the political arena has
enthralled even the writer. After several
years ventilating through this medium,
this column under this byline will <strong>be</strong>
rested as your correspondent proceeds
under God’s grace to his NEXT LEVEL!
Goodbye!

38 — SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 30, 2019
N54m airport seizure: EFCC pro<strong>be</strong>s
6 suspects for terrorism financing
*Suspected NGO got N3.2b from sponsor in 3 months
*Presidency alerted on findings
By Soni Daniel, Northern
Region Editor
Four persons, among
them a woman, and
two non-governmental organisations
currently working
in Borno State to provide
‘succour’ to internally
displaced persons ravaged
by Boko Haram terrorists,
have come under the scrutiny
of the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission
for alleged terrorism
financing, conspiracy and
money laundering.
Specifically, EFCC wants
to establish the relationship
<strong>be</strong>tween the four persons
and the two NGOs on one
hand and their relationship
with a cash-dispensing
company, which has <strong>be</strong>en
feeding them with huge war
chest for unstated reasons.
How trouble started
Trouble started for the
suspects when EFCC operatives,
acting on intelligence,
swooped on the
Maiduguri Airport on 18th
March 2019 and arrested a
man and a woman with
cash totalling N54 million.
While the man carried
N45 million, the woman
was arrested with N9 million
cash at the airport,
claiming it was meant for
the payment of grants to
their workers in two Local
Government Areas of Borno
State.
Saturday Vanguard learnt
that the operatives immediately
seized the cash and <strong>be</strong>gan
interrogating the suspects,
who have <strong>be</strong>en found
to <strong>be</strong> engaged by two nongovernmental
organisations
registered and operating
in Nigeria and particularly,
the North East.
Startling revelations
Investigations by the antigraft
agency revealed that
one of the suspected entities
operates 40 different bank
accounts while the other
organisation under pro<strong>be</strong>
by the EFCC runs 15 different
banks accounts with
variegated Bank Verifications
Num<strong>be</strong>rs, BVNs.
Investigations by the
EFCC also exposed one of
the firms as having recently
made a proposal of $7 million
to an international aid
agency but recently received
N141 million from the Millennium
Development
Goal, MDG, office.
Operatives of the commission
also stumbled on how
the sum of N567 million
was wired in 12 different
inflows into its account in
one day, 6th March 2019
from a suspected company
registered as a financial services
provider and foreigners
as directors into the account
of the NGO.
Most shocking to EFCC
investigators was the startling
revelation of how the
same NGO received a whopping
N3.2 billion from the
same suspicious firm <strong>be</strong>tween
January and March
2019.
According to the findings,
all the transfers, which were
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (R), welcoming the Ambassador of Sweden
for Climate Change, Mr Staffan Tillander, during a Courtesy call by the
Swedish Ambassador on Investment in ICT and Transportation, at
the Presidential Villa in Abuja on yesterday With them is Fanny
Nylander.
from the company’s account
domiciled with one of
the flourishing commercial
banks in the country, was
tagged as ‘USD Purchase
Order’ without stating the
purpose.
EFCC alerts Presidency
Apparently suspecting
that the suspects might have
<strong>be</strong>en passing the huge cash
to terrorists, the EFCC has
written to the Presidency to
alert it of the facts it had
stumbled on in the course
of pursuing the N54 million
at the Maiduguri Airport.
In a letter addressed to the
Presidency and dated
March 28, 2019 with reference
No.EFCC/EC/P/01/
620, the anti-graft agency
wrote: “This deals with an
alleged case of Criminal
Conspiracy, Money Laundering
and Terrorist Financing
initiated following an
intelligence report to the
Commission on the 18th
By Omeiza Ajayi
The All Progressives
Congress APC and the
Independent National Electoral
Commission INEC
were Friday locked in an exchange,
following claims by
the party that the electoral
umpire had pre-printed Certificates
of Return for candidates
of the Peoples Democratic
Party PDP in the suspended
elections in Rivers
state.
Director, Strategic Communications
of the APC/
Tonye Cole Campaign Organization
in Rivers, Prince
Tonye Princewill in a statement
alleged that INEC
had prepared the “certificates
in favour of some candidates
in the purportedly
suspended Governorship
and House of Assembly
Elections in Rivers State
which took place on the 9th
of March, 2019”.
However, INEC immedi-
March, 2019 against an
NGO and four others.
“The cash movement of
the total sum of N54 million
through the Maiduguri
airport provides strong
grounds for suspicion of
conspiracy, money laundering
and Terrorist financing.
“Your Excellency, the suspected
NGO has also not
<strong>be</strong>en able to furnish the investigating
team with vital
details on the <strong>be</strong>neficiaries
of the said grant to enable
us cross-check and verify
them. In a letter dated 20th
March, 2019, signed by the
country director of the suspected
organisation it simply
stated that it would require
the approval of her
Donor to disclose or furnish
data on the <strong>be</strong>neficiaries of
the intercepted money.
“Additionally, the director
of operation of the suspected
agency in his written
statement specifically stated
that <strong>be</strong>neficiaries’ data
could not <strong>be</strong> provided to the
Commission “as the donor
for this particular programme
did not authorize
it to share this data”.
“The Office of the Secretary
to the Government of
Borno State has in a letter
dated 21st March, 2019
confirmed that the suspected
NGO is one of the NGOs
working in the State, while
the Ministry of Budget and
National Planning is yet to
respond to the commission’s
requests on the matter.
“It is pertinent to state at
this junction that the commission
is conducting further
investigation on the
suspects in relation to different
bank accounts and
different BVN as reflected
in our findings.
“Your Excellency, investigation
is still on-going and
further developments will
<strong>be</strong> communicated in due
course,” EFCC wrote.
We need $40bn to interconnect
Nigeria by rail — Amaechi
By Ediri Ejoh
The hope for Nigeria’s interconnectivity by rail may
not <strong>be</strong> coming any time soon as the cost of completion
of the project is estimated at $40 billion.
The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, made
this known during the inspection of the Lagos-Ibadan
rail project yesterday. He also assured that the project
would continue despite any Ministerial change.
According to him, “ The ongoing project cannot stop.
The directive of the President, Mohammadu Buhari, is
to link Nigeria with rail. Like I tell Nigerians we need a
little patience <strong>be</strong>cause we need up to $36 to $40bn to
complete the interconnectivity of Nigeria. “When we had
that kind of money what did we do with it? Those criticising
the President should have asked that question. I
guess they didn’t know that there was a time when we
had the money and we enjoyed it through corruption.
“It is very difficult to meet the challenges we are facing
and these challenges can only <strong>be</strong> resolved by funds.
“Also, It is very clear that the project cannot <strong>be</strong> stopped
<strong>be</strong>cause funding comes from China Nexim Bank, and
we have finished paying our own counterpart money so
why would it <strong>be</strong> abandoned? “The good thing about all
of this is that we have won the election and the same
government is trying to finish the project. Even if you
change the minister it is still the same government.”
Asked on challenges confronting the project, the minister
expressed dissatisfaction owing to poor survey, saying
“I was not impressed with what I saw going by the
last inspection. But they are human <strong>be</strong>ings and have
assured me that in one week time they will lay the <strong>be</strong>ams
on the tracks.
“We are having soil challenges. At current level the
contractors will need to replace the soil to enable smooth
operation. Those challenges are as a result of poor geological
survey. It was discovered that the water level is
high. It is not much of obstacle as they just need to
replace the soil. “
On the Cala<strong>be</strong>r rail project, Amaechi attributed funding
as major setback to kick-start project.
Court dismisses suit seeking to
dethrone Oba of Lagos
By Henry Ojelu
Justice Babajide Candide-Johnson of the Lagos State
High Court sitting in Ikeja yesterday dismissed a
suit seeking to dethrone Oba Rilwan Akiolu.
Two mem<strong>be</strong>rs of the Lagos ruling house, Prince Sammy
Adebiyi and Prince Rasheed Modile had filed a suit
in 2017 asking the court to declare that Akiolu’s appointment
and installation as the Oba of Lagos was null
and void.
Messrs Adebiyi and Modile are claiming that Mr. Akiolu
is not entitled to the throne <strong>be</strong>cause he is not a mem<strong>be</strong>r
of a royal family by not <strong>be</strong>ing a direct descendant of
Oba Ado, the first Oba of Lagos.
According to the claimants, only mem<strong>be</strong>rs of the Ologun
Kutere and Akinsemoyin ruling houses are entitled
to the throne. They also alleged that proper customary
rules and procedures were not followed when he was
appointed as Oba in May 2003.
But delivering judgment in the matter yesterday Justice
Candide-Johnson held that the court lacked the powers
to upturn the long established custom of over 200
years for enthroning the Oba of Lagos.
Justice Candide-Johnson held that where a statute has
given jurisdiction to tribunal to adjudicate on, the high
court shall only assume a supervisory role.
APC, INEC bicker over allegations of preprinting Certificate of
Return
•Certificates in circulation are fake — INEC
ately fired back, saying while
it does not print certificates
<strong>be</strong>fore the conclusion of an
election, the purported certificates
of return in circulation
were fake.
Part of the statement reads;
“It should <strong>be</strong> recalled that
INEC conducted the Gu<strong>be</strong>rnatorial
and House of Assembly
elections in the entire
country on the 9th of
March, 2019, Rivers State
inclusive. It should also <strong>be</strong>
recalled that whilst results
were collated, declared and
announced at seven Ward
Collation Centers in Rivers
State in clear violation of extant
Electoral laws and totally
ultra vires its powers under
the Electoral Act (2010) as
amended, it purported to
suspend an electoral process
on spurious and unfounded
allegations. What is
particularly noteworthy is the
fact that it was only in Rivers
state that this kind of electoral
faux pas took place in
Nigeria and furthermore,
that the purported suspension
only took place when
INEC as well as observers
and participants in the elections
had seen that the Governorship
Candidate of the
African Action Congress
AAC, Engr. Biokpomabo
Festus Awara, had taken a
clear and seemingly unassailable
lead over the obviously
preferred candidate of
INEC in Rivers State, Chief
Nyesom Ezebunwo Wike,
current and outgoing Governor
of Rivers State.
“What is most curious and
<strong>be</strong>gging for answers however,
is that while INEC purportedly
‘suspended’ the
Elections in Rivers State, it
nonetheless secretly and in
a manner totally devoid of
even the slightest pretences
of neutrality, went ahead to
prepare in anticipation of the
results it intended to declare,
‘Certificates of Return’ dated
14th of March, 2019, a
time when the process was
purportedly suspended by
the imperial INEC in Rivers
State.
“INEC by its very act of
dating the Certificates of
Return the 14th of March,
2019 has attempted to go
ahead of the electoral process
and even scuttle the
chances of those who may
wish to challenge the process
at the Election Tribunals.
It has by this singular
action further aided and
a<strong>be</strong>tted Nyesom Wike and
the PDP in Rivers State in
trying to subvert not only the
Electoral process but also
any intended Judicial redress
as any and all aggrieved
and dissatisfied candidates
may find it practically
impossible to file and Election
Petitions within the 21
days period allotted by law
for the filing of same”.
INEC fires back
Chief Press Secretary to
the INEC Chairman, Mr
Rotimi Oyekanmi however
descri<strong>be</strong>d the allegations as
unfortunate, saying the
Commission would only issue
certificates of return to
legitimate winners.
“The allegation by the
APC is unfounded. INEC
does not produce Certificates
of Return <strong>be</strong>fore the conclusion
of an election. We can
only issue certificates to the
legitimate winners.
“I have also seen images
of the so called Certificates
of Return on the social media,
but they are fake. Every
authentic Certificate of Return
duly issued by INEC is
signed by the INEC Chairman
personally, but what I
have seen on the social media
are unsigned Certificates
of Return. The source of the
images and those sharing
them should <strong>be</strong> investigated.
It is a deli<strong>be</strong>rate effort to
discredit the Commission”,
he said.

C
M
Y
K
Tomorrow is mother’s day, a day
set aside to honour “the mother
of the family, as well as motherhood,
maternal bonds, and the influence of
mothers in society.” I spent much of
my one-week leave, which ends
tomorrow, with my mother. We ate,
relived old times and threw ji<strong>be</strong>s at
each other. I thoroughly enjoyed my
time with her. When you are lucky to
have an 85-year-old mother in a
society where the life expectancy for
women is about 54 years, you can
only <strong>be</strong> grateful and savour it while
it lasts.
Every mother’s day, this thought
always comes to me. Why should
anybody celebrate his/her mother? Is
it just <strong>be</strong>cause she gave birth to him/
her? Mothers also gave birth to those
children in orphanages; same with
children rescued from bushes and pit
latrines. A photo I saw on Facebook,to
me, explains why mothers should <strong>be</strong>
honoured and celebrated: a mother
returning from the farm on a bicycle.
She had three children with her, one
in front, another on her back and the
third child on the seat <strong>be</strong>hind with
firewood on the bicycle’s rear cargo
carrier. Words and images flew into
my mind: working hard and
parenting simultaneously; endless
love and sacrifice.
Today, many mothers are also
working hard at earning a living, but
they have relegated parenting and
the larger society is <strong>be</strong>aring the brunt
big time. Mothers of old were
industrious, raised children (more
children, as a matter of fact) and
supported their husbands
simultaneously. In agrarian setups,
while the husbands cultivated yams,
the wives cultivated cassava,
vegetables and other edibles. I keep
hearing many of today’s mothers say
that circumstances have changed.
Yes, but the fundamentals are still the
same. Juggling earning a living and
effective parenting are tasks every
mother must master.
Many of today’s mothers are
contented shipping their children to
the boarding house, paying huge
school fees and deli<strong>be</strong>rately or
inadvertently, outsourcing parenting
to the school authorities. I have asked
this question <strong>be</strong>fore. If you, a mother
of four, cannot effectively take care
As seaborne trade increases
shipping across the world’s
oceans increased; ditto the demands for
fuels. But what type of fuel would power
a ship? Ships are the largest machines
on earth.The largest container ship can
carry more than 20,000 containers and
the biggest bulk carriers can carry more
than 300,000 tons of commodities like
iron ore. The largest marine engines
have more than 100,000 horsepower.
Bunker fuel is any fuel poured into a
ship’s bunkers to power its engines.
Deep-sea cargo ships typically burn the
heavy, residual oil left over after
gasoline, diesel and other light
hydrocarbons are extracted from crude
oil during the refining process. Crude
oil contains sulphur which, following
combustion in the engine, ends up in
ships emitting pollutants and other
harmful emissions. The International
Maritime Organisation, IMO, as a
United Nations agency is responsible
for developing and adopting measures
to improve the safety and security of
international shipping and to prevent
pollution from ships.
Last year, IMO mem<strong>be</strong>r states made
firm commitments for a complete phase
out of GHG emissions from ships in line
with the 2015 Paris agreement. IMO
regulations to reduce sulphur oxides
emissions from ships first came into
force in 2005, under Annex VI, of the
International Convention for the
Prevention of Pollution from Ships
(known as the MARPOL Convention).
Since then, the limits on sulphur oxides
have <strong>be</strong>en progressively tightened. A
Study on effects of the entry into force
of the global 0.5 percent fuel oil
sulphur content limit on human health
Submitted by Finland to the IMO
Marine Environment Protection
Committee, MEPC in August 2016,
detailed the human health impacts of
Happy mother’s day
of your children, how do you
expect a school with a few
teachers, house masters and
caregivers, to effectively parent
hundreds and thousands of
students? Parenting is not
outsourceable, you are playing
with fire.
It is not Father’s
day yet, but we
need to talk to
fathers <strong>be</strong>cause
mothers cannot
do it alone
Take time and interact with
youngsters from any school. All
their parents pay their school fees,
but you will hear about those
whose parents are “in their lives
and those whose parents are
not.”Paying your children fees is
good, but not enough. You should
check their school work, go for
open day, attend parents-teachers
association meetings, interact with
the school authorities, keep an eye
on how they live their lives,
discipline, scold, correct and
mentor them when necessary.
Unless you are in your child’s
life, you cannot perform these
tasks.
Why am I focusing on women
as if they marry themselves,
impregnate themselves and
bring forth the children all by
themselves? Isn’t parenting a
joint responsibility <strong>be</strong>tween
husband and wife anymore? It
still is, but we are celebrating
mother’s day, so I am talking to
mothers. Moreover, mothers are
the <strong>be</strong>drock of the home; they
are the last bus stops, the goal
keepers. Once the ball eludes
them, na goal <strong>be</strong> that!
Our society is sick, family
values are fast <strong>be</strong>ing eroded. We
are in trouble and mothers need
to come to our rescue. At this
rate, very little will <strong>be</strong> left in
years to come; indigenous
languages are dying with
alarming rapidity, only the
Hausa language is intact right
now. Cultural values are going,
morality is going? Forty years
ago, who would have thought
that youngsters will kidnap and
rape an octogenarian? Who
would have known that
clergymen will <strong>be</strong>come the main
targets of some kidnappers?
Who would have known that
rituals will <strong>be</strong>come a source of
livelihood of youngsters? But
these are the harsh realities.
These are children brought up
by today’s mothers; children
from rich and poor homes,
children of Christian mothers
and non-Christian mothers.
IMO 2020:Conundrums for refiner
iners s and
ship owners
Sulphur Oxides emissions from
ships globally. Sulphur oxides cause
respiratory symptoms and lung
diseases. In the atmosphere, it can
cause acid rain, which can harm
crops, forests and aquatic species,
and contributes to the acidification
of the oceans.Delay in
implementation of global sulphur
limits from 2020 to 2025 would,
according to the study, would
contribute to more than 570,000
additional premature deaths.
At its 70th session held in Octo<strong>be</strong>r
2016, IMO, decided it will enforce a
new global sulphur regulation on
fuel content, to lower its present
limit. The new IMO, rules governing
bunker fuel quality cap which takes
effect on January 1, 2020, reduced
global sulphur content cap in fuel oil
used on board ships operating
outside designated emission control
areas from 3.5 percent to 0.50 percent
mass by mass (m/m). Expert opinion
is that the world would <strong>be</strong>nefit in the
areas of health and the environment
especially for those living close to
ports and coasts. Most vessels are
expected to <strong>be</strong> using new blends of
fuel oil which will <strong>be</strong> produced to
meet the 0.50 percent limit on
SATURDAY
sulphur in fuel oil. The carriage in
tanks of non-compliant fuel oil is
forbidden unless the vessel has an
exhaust gas cleaning system fitter
or scrub<strong>be</strong>r.
MEPC follow-up action plan will <strong>be</strong>
detailed on at MEPC 74 in May
2019. As many weigh the product
market options and choices to make,
are refiners and ship owners ready
for the lower sulphur limit in fuel
oil? At present, it is convenient for
vessel operators to comply with the
global sulphur content cap on
bunker fuel at 3.5 percent. A ship
which is more energy efficient burns
less fuel so emits less air pollution.
Refiners will have to meet additional
shipping demand for diesel and low
sulfur vacuum gasoil by getting
lighter, sweeter crude and
producing less fuel oil. Some have
called it a punch in the downstream
sector of petroleum. Who <strong>be</strong>nefits
on the long run <strong>be</strong>tween refiners
and shippers on the issues of
sulphur content reduction, fuel
efficiency and reduction in
operations cost? Ship-owners have
a few options to choose from for
them to comply with the regulation,
while refiners are expected to make
Vanguard, , MARCH 30, 2019—39
Something is missing from today’s
parenting; the sacrifice is no longer there.
Parenting involves enormous sacrifices.
Many of us in our 40s, 50s and 60s adore
our mothers, not <strong>be</strong>cause they brought us
into this world, but <strong>be</strong>cause of the enormous
sacrifices they made. They hawked, they
farmed; they worked very hard, but they
also kept an eye on us to ensure we did not
derail. They gave their all to make us what
we are today. Today’s mothers cannot use
work as an excuse. Our mothers worked
just as hard, if not harder.
Some of today’s mothers see marriage as
a 50/50 arrangement. They are chipping in
what they consider to <strong>be</strong> their 50 per cent
and expect their spouses to put in 50 per
cent. But the call to matrimony is a call to
give your all in spite of what your spouse
gives. It is a tough call, but that is what it
is. Mothers should face the home front
squarely. Our society is going down and
the solution starts with fixing the home
front.
Well, it is not Father’s day yet, but we
need to talk to fathers <strong>be</strong>cause mothers
cannot do it alone. Fathers cannot live and
<strong>be</strong>have like the lion king whose only tasks
are impregnating the lionesses and
patrolling its vast territory to ward off
competition. The lion does not participate
in parenting and rarely participates in
hunting, except large preys. Fathers must
<strong>be</strong> involved through and through. We need
to <strong>be</strong> there especially for our boys. We need
to <strong>be</strong> good role models; we need to guide
them into responsible adults. Some
daughters bond well with their fathers. The
fathers need to take advantage of that bond
and influence to help mold their daughters.
Do not bring up daughters who will bring
you shame later in their matrimonial homes.
Fathers can no longer come back from
work and stretch their legs in front of
television, while the wife, who also went to
work, labours alone in the kitchen. If you
cannot join her in the kitchen <strong>be</strong>cause you
are not familiar with the kitchen
environment, guide the children with their
homework. Fathers of young children
should give them their baths while their
mothers are busy with other chores. Your
wife is a helpmate not a slave. Team up with
her and create a great family. At the end of
the day, children <strong>be</strong>ar their father’s name,
not their mother’s. Happy Mother’s Day
to all mothers who are working hard
towards creating a <strong>be</strong>tter society, starting
from the home front.
The IEA say by 2020, the price of fuel oil
is expected to drop in tandem with
demand
changes to refinery configuration and
production in response to market
demand. Refineries <strong>be</strong>coming more
complex can convert residual fuel oil into
more valuable products; but may
compound the glut in gasoline, jet fuel
and naphtha.
Experts say the recently published
International Energy Agency IEA “Oil
2019” report doesn’t suggest the excess
gasoline and other light end products
will <strong>be</strong> mopped up that easily. Demand
growth for gasoline, the world’s most
popular transport fuel, is expected to
slow to <strong>be</strong>low 1 percent a year to 2024
due to efficiency improvements and new
fuel economy standards. This will <strong>be</strong> new
demand from the marine sector and
meeting the compliant fuels demand
from the shipping sector will bring a big
step-change for refiners. Refiners will <strong>be</strong>
challenged to increase global refining
run rates to unprecedented levels. The
IEA say by 2020, the price of fuel oil is
expected to drop in tandem with
demand. This will in turn put pressure
on (fuel oil) cracks and simple refineries
with high fuel oil yields. On the other
hand, it could <strong>be</strong>come more attractive to
modern, complex refineries that have
the secondary units capable of
upgrading fuel oil into higher value
lighter products.

40 — SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 30, 2019
APC, presidency team up to fight Okorocha’s “<strong>be</strong>trayal”
•APC to Okorocha: You are on your own
•Time for brinkmanship is over, let's reconcile – Okorocha
By Emmanuel Aziken,
Political Editor
The ruling All
Progressives
Congress, APC is set to
abandon Governor Rochas
Okorocha of Imo State in
his election dilemma as the
party and the presidency
get to grips on how the
governor played one side
against the other during
the recent elections.
Now vexed that Imo, the
only state controlled by the
party in the South East has
<strong>be</strong>en lost to the Peoples
Democratic Party, PDP, it
was learned that the
presidency and the party
have now come together to
spite the outgoing
governor.
High-level sources told
Saturday Vanguard that
the governor had <strong>be</strong>fore
the election successfully
convinced high-ranking
presidency officials of his
ability to deliver the state
through his son-in-law,
Uche Nwosu.
Governor Okorocha was;
however, last night waving
the peace offering as he
told Saturday Vanguard
that the time for
brinkmanship was over
and that everyone must
now pursue peace.
Governor Okorocha’s bid
to represent Imo West
Senatorial District in the
Senate has <strong>be</strong>en stalled by
the refusal of the
Independent National
Electoral Commission,
INEC to issue him a
certificate of return on the
claim that the result that
returned him was coerced
out of the returning officer.
The APC national
headquarters has now
vowed not to come to his
aid on the claim that the
outgoing governor
blackmailed the national
leadership of the party at
the presidency by helping
to cut off support for the
party.
“The governor had
successfully convinced
very senior presidency
officials that his son-in-law
would win Imo and return
to the party after the
elections,” a high-level
party source told Saturday
Vanguard yesterday.
Mr. Nwosu following his
failure to secure the APC
governorship ticket had
defected to Action Alliance,
AA with the active
collaboration of his fatherin-law.
“They <strong>be</strong>lieved him and
denied us of the needed
support and see where it
has landed us, that the only
state that we had in the
Southeast has <strong>be</strong>en lost to
the PDP,” the source who
was privy to the party’s
move to retain the state
said.
“He blackmailed
everybody <strong>be</strong>fore the
presidency that he has
what it takes to deliver his
son-in-law whom he said
will defect to APC after
winning.
“Because of that some
people in the presidency
started helping him and
gave little or no help to
Senator Uzodinma the
party’s candidate. The
party stood solidly with
Hope (Uzodinma), but
nothing came from the
presidency <strong>be</strong>cause of
Okorocha’s moves.
“But the presidency is
mad at him now that after
all he promised, he failed
even to deliver his son-inlaw
and rather gave the
state to PDP, and that is the
only state we have in the
Southeast.”
“Now both party and the
presidency don’t want to
see him,” the source said
as he admitted that even
though Governor Ibikunle
Amosun did the same
thing, but the influence of
Vice President Yemi
Osinbajo helped to
prevent a loss by the APC
in Ogun State.
Party officials are also
dismissive of claims that
Comrade Adams
Oshiomhole <strong>be</strong>trayed
Okorocha who was the
only governor that
attended the flag-off of the
former’s national
chairmanship campaign
in Abuja.
“By that time he had
already lost out in the
party as Oyegun (John
Odigie-Oyegun, the
immediate past national
chairman) had banished
him and ceded the
structure to his rivals. It
was Oshiomhole that
resurrected him and
despite all the plea to
accommodate his rivals he
kept on saying that he
would win the state alone
and see where he has
brought us to.”
Meanwhile, Saturday
Vanguard has learned of
moves by Governor
Okorocha to take the party
to court to stop his
expulsion. It was
gathered that court
processes had <strong>be</strong>en
initiated, but party officials
contacted on the issue
yesterday could not
confirm whether it had
<strong>be</strong>en served.
Okorocha was
nevertheless calling for
peace yesterday. Speaking
with Saturday Vanguard
through his Chief Press
Secretary, Sam
Onwuemeodo, the
governor said the time for
brinkmanship was over as
he called for peace from all
stakeholders.
“We don’t want to join
issues with the party, by
now everybody must have
known where he or she
made mistakes, and our
voices should <strong>be</strong> that of
reconciliation and whoever
made mistakes somewhere
must have known by now.
“Sometimes we agree to
disagree, and the most
important thing is that God
is on our side. We don’t
have anything against
anybody this is not the
time to fan the em<strong>be</strong>rs of
discord, whatever
mistakes anyone has made
we have allowed God to
take control,” he said.

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 30, 2019—41

42 — SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 30, 2019

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 30, , 2019 — 43

44 — SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 30, , 2019

Vanguard, SATURDAY, MARCH 30, 2019—45
Iheanacho: Leicester
City coach disagrees
with Rohr
Leicester
City
manager, Brendan
Rodgers has leapt
to the defense of his
troubled striker, Kelechi
Iheanacho who has
come under stern
criticisms this season for
perceived lack of
professionalism by his
national team handler,
Gernot Rohr.
Though the Franco-
German still has a soft
spot for the U-17 World
Cup winner judging by
his latest comments
during the international
break, he has equally
<strong>be</strong>en forced to criticize
him and question his
commitment to the cause
due to his struggles at
the King Power this
season.
However, Rodgers has
revealed that much of
that has changed,
stating that the striker
has looked really
determined and hungry
in their recent training
sessions.
According to him,
Iheanacho’s tussle to
break into City’s first
team has <strong>be</strong>en done no
good due to having to
compete with one of the
division’s <strong>be</strong>st
marksmen, Jamie Vardy
who has scored 12
league goals.
“He has shown an
appetite to learn. We
have a culture where
people want to come in
and learn, and I feel he’s
bought into that”,
Rodgers said in
a press briefing.
“It’s difficult for
him, he’s
competing with
one of the <strong>be</strong>st
strikers in the
league, and
unless the
s y s t e m
changes, it’s
difficult to see how
that’s
going to change.
“But he’s a good boy and
when he gets the
opportunity, he has to <strong>be</strong>
ready to come in and make
an impact.”
The 22-year-old has found
the back of the net just once
in 25 Premier League outings
(three assists) this season and
will <strong>be</strong> looking for just his
tenth start if his club manager
decides to hand him a starting
<strong>be</strong>rth versus Bournemouth on
Saturday.
Ninety-five clubs
have <strong>be</strong>en drawn
for this year’s edition
of Winners Golden Bet/
Lagos FA Cup.
Speaking at the press
conference and draw
ceremony held in
Lagos Thursday, the
Vice Chairman, Lagos
State Football
Association, Otunba
Tade Azeez assured
that the 2018/19
edition of the
tournament promises
to <strong>be</strong> bigger and <strong>be</strong>tter.
In his words: “I want
to assure you that this
Iheanacho
WGB/Lagos FA Cup: 95 clubs battle for glory
year’s edition of the
competition will <strong>be</strong> a
success. We are also
making plans to host
the award night which
we were unable to hold
last year due to matters
around the country’s
football.
“So, the award of last
year’s edition is intact
and they will <strong>be</strong>
awarded this time
around.”
The President of the
Nigeria Referees
Association (NRA)
also assured that no
team would <strong>be</strong> treated
Balogun
specially as the FA
expects any team to
win the championship.
On <strong>be</strong>half of the
sponsors, Mrs Peju
Akinbiyi promised that
they are ready to
improve on the prize
money for the top
teams, just as she
informed that teams
will <strong>be</strong> kitted from the
semi finalists state of
the competition.
The competition is
billed to kick off at the
Agege Stadium on
28th of April.
Balogun is Eagles
<strong>be</strong>st defender – Taribo
Former Super Eagles
defence hardman
Taribo West has backed
the decision of coach
Gernot Rohr on to field
Leon Balogun
against Seychelles
and Egypt despite
his lack of game
time at Brighton
and Hove Albion.
Balogun is yet to
kick a ball for
Brighton since the
2nd of February when
he played in the 3-1
FA Cup win over West
Bromwich Albion. The
game brought his
total appearance for
the season to ten in
all competitions
with just 8 matches
left to play in the
league.
The 30 year old
defender
h a s
however
retained
h i s
position as
Nigeria’s
main man
i n defence
and his combination with
William Troost-Ekong
known as the ‘Oyibo Wall ‘
was once again decisive in
Nigeria’s 1-0 win over
Egypt in a friendly game
played on Tuesday.
Super Eagles coach Gernot
Rohr has severally said only
players who are regulars in
their clubsides will <strong>be</strong>
considered for call ups,
something that made him
drop Leicester City forward
Kelechi Iheanacho.
West however defended
the German coach by saying
Balogun for now is still
Nigeria’s <strong>be</strong>st defender
going into the 2019 Africa
Cup of Nations, hence the
need to overlook his poor
form at Brighton and Hove
Albion.
“I really think he is the <strong>be</strong>st
defender we have at the
moment <strong>be</strong>cause he adds
something extra when he
plays. Even the game
against Egypt he was
impressive and didn’t play
like someone who has not
played football in over a
month “, West said.
“Rohr can’t drop him now
but after the Africa Cup of
Nations if his club form
stays same then the coach
will have to make a decision
for the good and future of
the team. For now he is the
<strong>be</strong>st we have”.
Premier League:
Title race’s back
•As Spurs dare
Liverpool at
Anfield
The Premier League is
back for the title run-in
with Manchester City and
Liverpool set to slog it out
until the finish and a race
for the top four bubbling
away just <strong>be</strong>hind them.
City kick things off with a
trip to Fulham earlytoday
while Jurgen Klopp’s Reds
host Tottenham in the game
of the weekend on Sunday.
Elsewhere, one team could
disappear through the
trapdoor depending on
results at the bottom, while
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will
look to celebrate landing
the Manchester United job
by <strong>be</strong>ating Watford at Old
Trafford.
Spurs have <strong>be</strong>en getting
used to their new home
ahead of its grand opening
next midweek against
Palace but <strong>be</strong>fore that they
head to a venue that hasn’t
exactly <strong>be</strong>en a happy
hunting ground. Their last
win at Anfield was in 2011,
one of only two in the
Premier League era, and
they travel north with the
second-worst points tally
(seven) from matches
<strong>be</strong>tween the big six this
season - Man United have
taken six. Liverpool have
collected 13 from such
matches and should <strong>be</strong>
backed to win this one.
Bash Ali: To <strong>be</strong> or not to <strong>be</strong>
By Jacob Ajom
Hate him or like him Ba
shiru Ali, popularly
called Bash Ali remains
steadfast in his self <strong>be</strong>lief.
The former WBF World
Cruiserweight champion
who was 63 last month has
not given up on his desire
to enter the record books as
the oldest boxer to challenge
for a world title, thus putting
his name and that of his fatherland,
Nigeria in the
Guinness Book of World
Record.
“I want to appeal to Mr
President, who has approved
the fight to do everything
possible to see that
the historic event holds here
in Nigeria,” the boxer said
while answering questions
from this reporter during the
week.
Bash has had several challenges
since the plan to enter
the Guinness Book of
World Record <strong>be</strong>gan about
13 years ago. Several assurances
from successive governments
since the Chief
Olusegun Obasanjo administration
are yet to materialise
into something concrete
as no fewer than two Local
Organising
Committees
have <strong>be</strong>en set
up. The first
LOC was set up
by the National
Sports Commission
on Novem<strong>be</strong>r
9th, 2006 headed
by the then
Sports Minister,
Bala Bawa
Kaoje.
T h e
s a m e
committee
was
re-inaugurated
b y •Bash Ali
Kaoje’s
successor,
Barrister
Tammy Danagogo on
January 7th, 2014 with different
mem<strong>be</strong>rs from the initial
committee for the purpose
of organising the
world record fight.
Because of the huge cost
involved in organising the
fight, the LOC sought sponsorship
from two major
partners and other co-sponsors
from the private sector.
The fight was originally
Time is almost
running out for
Bash as the
International
Boxing Union
has given the
Nigerian boxer
a June 2019
deadline for the
fight to hold
projected to attract revenue
to the tune of five hundred
million dollars.
The former Director General
of the defunct National
Sports Commission, Al-
Hassan Yakmut in a memo
to the then Permanent Secretary
stated in <strong>be</strong>autiful
terms the <strong>be</strong>nefits of staging
the World record fight
in Nigeria: “Having considered
the enormous
economic, political and
social <strong>be</strong>nefits this
world Boxing championship
will attract to
the country, I wish to
recommend His Excellency
Mr President’s
endorsement for the
fight to <strong>be</strong> staged in
Nigeria as well as call
on corporate Nigeria
to fully support the event
“Consequently, and having
considered the economic
<strong>be</strong>nefits, His Excellency Mr
President may wish to approve
some take-off grant
for the LOC.”
That was on August 12,
2015. Following the appointment
of Barrister Solomon
Dalung as Sports
Minister and the subsequent
redeployment of Yakmut
to another ministry,
Bash Ali has hit a brickwall.
According to the boxer, the
initial impression the Minister
gave was that of support
as he had pledged the
federal government’s readiness
to create the enabling
environment for the fight to
hold. Dalung spoke when
Ali and his entourage visited
him on his appointment
to acquaint him with preparations
for the fight.
“I must commend Bash
Ali for his courage. There
are many Nigerians out
there that don’t have the
courage to fight their just
cause, but Ali did not relent
despite daunting challenges,”
the Minister was quoted
as saying.
“Suddenly, the minister
changed gear,” Ali recalled,
wondering, “why he has refused
to call for a meeting
of the LOC, I do not know.
And that has stalled the
progress made so far.”
But Bash Ali remains
steadfast. With the new interest
shown in the fight by
the Vice President, Professor
Osinbajo, the pugilist
said everything is working
according to plan. “We have
held two meetings with His
Excellency, the Vice President
and he has given me
assurance, as far as the fight
is concerned.” Ali said.
Time is almost running
out for Bash as the International
Boxing Union has given
the Nigerian boxer a
deadline for the fight to
hold. In a letter dated January
3, 2019 and signed by
the IBU Chairman, Don
“Moose” Lewis, the boxing
body gave June 28, 2019 as
deadline for the fight to
hold.
“Should you <strong>be</strong>fore the
end of of business day of Friday
June 28, 2019 fail to get
your President to keep to
his promise, I have no
choice but to inform the promoters
to move to the next
available contender for the
title.”
Despite that threat from
the IBU, Bash <strong>be</strong>lieves his
time has come. “I will surprise
the world. I am in top
shape and ready for the
fight. If you doubt me, come
watch me train.”

46 — SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 30, 2019
National Institute for Sports:
Bringing back
good old days
By Jacob Ajom
THURSDAY 21 March, 2019
was a special day in the life
of Nigeria’s premier sports
institute, the National Institute for
Sports. In it’s 25 years of
existence, the institute on that day
performed its 7 th Convocation, the
first since 2005. 1,500 students
were conferred with certificates,
diplomas and higher diplomas on
the occasion. It was an event that
restored hope in both the
graduands and the students and
dignity to the school.
For an event that was billed to
start at 10 a.m, the graduating
students satrted poring into the
venue, the NIS Multipurpose
Hall, National Stadium, Lagos as
early as 8 a.m. The students could
<strong>be</strong> seen taking group
photographs in their academic
gowns. Some making final
preparations to ensuring they “It
is a special day. We thought it
would never happen <strong>be</strong>cause
since 2005 that I graduated I am
yet to experience this,” said
Nigeria’s first Olympic medalist,
Chioma Ajunwa.
Ajunwa charged the school’s
management team to improve.
“This is the highest sports
institute in the country that has
produced a lot of coaches that
have contributed immensely to
the development of sports in the
country. Any coach in Nigeria that
did not pass through the school is
not acceped outside this country.
So management ought to <strong>be</strong> up
and doing and don’t keep students
for long periods <strong>be</strong>fore holding
convocation.”
Another graduate, Jumai
Mohammed said, “Today is a
happy day for me and my
colleagues <strong>be</strong>cause we have
waited for so long for this event.
With this convocation, we now
have our certificates and have
something to show that you
actually graduated from this
school. It will enhance our
chances in the labour market,
even outside the country.”
Mohammed was one of the
lucky student who didn’t need to
wait for long <strong>be</strong>fore the
convocation. She rounded off her
programme in 2018. On this she
said proudly, “we were the set
that brought an end to the long
wait. We broke the jinx and
ushered in a new era in the life of
the school.”
Former Bendel Insurance
striker, Mfon Bassey said, after
one’s active days as a footballer it
was only desirable that one
pursued a coaching or sports
management career. “Without a
certificate one is doomed,” the
former 3SC and Nigerdock player
said. That was why he said he
cherished the events of that day.”I
consider this day special in my
life. I came here to acquire
knowledge and it would show in
the way I work and the result will
also prove that the school actually
impacted greatly on me.”
Bassey said government must
try and improve its support for the
school. “Right now they are trying
but the school deserves more. Poor
power supply has <strong>be</strong>en one of the
biggest problems in the school. It
frustrates the students efforts to
read,” Mfon, a 2016 graduate said
Director of the NIS, Dr Eke
Kingdom Chukwudi was the
happiest man to have “broken the
14-year jinx.” He felt proud of his
management team and the
support he got from the governing
board of the school led by Alhaji
Ibrahim Galadima. He was also
appreciative of the contributions
of corporate Nigeria in the
realisation of his major
breakthrough since assuming
office a few years back.
The director looked to the future
with renewed optimism.
Said the Director, “Accreditation
of the institute by the Board for
Technical Edication is in progress
•Graduating students getting set for their convocation
and when that happens, our graduates would <strong>be</strong>
recognised and accepted anywhere they go.”
The director also appealed for improved funding for
the institute by the federal government while also
appealing to the corporate organisations to do more for
the school. “I appeal to corporate bodies to give back
to the society, the excess profits they record annually.
Supporting the NIS would <strong>be</strong> a welcome
development.”
The Chairman of the governing board, Alhaji Ibrahim
Galadima said his board would not rest on its oars as it
was working for a review of the school curriculum in
order to make it more encompassing in the training of
modern day coaches.
On his part, Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung said
he was jinx breaker whose tenure has seen him revive
the country’s sporting traditions. “First it was the
National Sports Festival which could not hold for
several years, we were able to stage a very successful
festival at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja last year,
today it is the NIS holding its convocation after 14 years.
I share the joy of the students and the graduands, some
who have waited for 14 years for this event.
“I must emphasise that we must endeavour to keep
some of these laudable sporting traditions we
inherited..”
He recalled that the NIS came about through an
initial collaboration <strong>be</strong>tween Nigeria and the Institute
for Sports of Germany. It has since <strong>be</strong>en abandoned
but we are going to revisit that partnership agreement,
dust it, with a view to reviving it. We also have an
existing collaboration with the University of
Johannesburg.” He promised that a team will soon visit
South Africa pursuant to revisiting the collaboration.
“I have told the chairman of the governing board that
he has no time to spare. He has to work 24/7 to ensure
this institute works again,” the minister said.
Dalung also said that the NIS would go into
collaboration with friendly institutions of higher
learning in Nigeria in order to enhance its course
content in to achieve their vision to “<strong>be</strong> a first class
institute transforming Nigeria and sustaining it as a
world leader in sports.
Wilder ‘ll only fight Joshua with 50-50 split of purse
DEONTAY WILDER says there is no chance he will
fight Anthony Joshua unless there is a 50-50 split
of the purse.
Boxing fans have <strong>be</strong>en calling for a unification fight
<strong>be</strong>tween WBC heavyweight champion Wilder and
Britain’s title holder Anthony Joshua.
In negotiations until now, the Joshua camp have offered
terms in his favour due to the four-<strong>be</strong>lt champion’s bigger
appeal. But Wilder, 33, insists he is the biggest draw in
boxing and his much-hyped meeting with Joshua will
not happen until the contracts treat them equally.
Speaking to The Schmo, Wilder said: “Loyalty is
everything, it’s the foundation of success.
“How can you do negotiations, a deal, if we don’t know
what the other party is doing?
“Whatever the fight was worth, let’s say $3, and you
give me $1 and he gets the rest of the pot – I’m lowering
my standards. That’s not right to me.
“Like I said, and I’ll say it again, the only way this fight
is going to happen is if it’s 50/50. I don’t care what it is.
• Wilder Joshua
BADMINTON:
18 countries for
Africa Senior
Championships
Eighteen countries will take part in
the All Africa Senior
Championships which will come up
from April 26 to 28 at the Alfred Diete
Spiff Civic Centre, Port Harcourt, Rivers
State.
The Championships is made up of two
separate tournaments: the Mixed Team
Event holding from April 22 to 25 and
the Individual Championship which will
hold from the April 26 to 28.
The 18 countries that have registered
for the showpiece event include Algeria,
Benin, Botswana, Congo, Congo DRC,
Eritrea, Egypt Ghana and Ivory Coast.
Other participating countries include;
Kenya, Mauritius, Seychelles, South
Africa, Togo, Uganda, Zambia,
Zimbabwe and the host country, Nigeria.
The Badminton Federation of Nigeria
(BFN) has commended registered teams
and promised to stage the <strong>be</strong>st All Africa
Senior Championships the continent has
ever seen. The BFN President, Francis
Orbih promised that the country will <strong>be</strong>
ready to host Africa.
Orbih stated, “As part of the
preparations for this competition, the
BFN organized the 1st Rivers Governor’s
National Badminton Championship in
Port-Harcourt in Decem<strong>be</strong>r 2018. The
National Championship provided us
with an opportunity to test-run the
facilities and infrastructure needed to
host the All African Championship.
“We learnt a lot of lessons from the
National Championship, which have
proved very useful in our current
preparations. The Rivers State
Government has <strong>be</strong>en very supportive
in our preparations and with their
continued support, we will <strong>be</strong> ready.”
Rivers State for Sports, Boma Iyaye
noted that the expected level of
participation shows that Rivers State is
still one of the most important
destinations for sports tourism in
Nigeria. “With the kind of infrastructure
investments made by Governor Nyesom
Ezenwo Wike, we are not surprised to
see the quality of countries interested in
coming to the state to take part in the
Championships.
“Rivers State is ready and we are sure
this will <strong>be</strong> the <strong>be</strong>st All Africa Senior
Badminton Championships ever. This is
the promise of the Rivers State
Government to Africa and we are
committed to keeping this promise,” he
added.

Betway excites Nigerian
Basketball fans with NBA
predictor promo
FOR basketball lovers in
Nigeria, Betway is making
the experience of watching and
following NBA games extra
special. The leading online sports
<strong>be</strong>tting giant is rewarding
basketball fans with a promotion
where users of the platform stand
a chance to win cash prizes of up
to N4m.
The NBA Predictor promotion is
an opportunity for Nigerian
basketball enthusiasts to predict
seeding and winner of the NBA
playoff series up to the
Championship finals in June,
2019.
The promotion, which <strong>be</strong>gan on
Friday, 1 March 2019, is now very
popular among young and savvy
basketball fans in the country. For
some of them, the chance to win
big while watching one of the
most exciting sports in the world
is too good a deal to pass on.
Speaking on the promotion,
Harvest of medals for
Team Nigeria
By E<strong>be</strong>le Orakpo
A group of young Nigerians
often neglected and relegated
to the background by society
due to no fault of theirs, were in
far away Abu Dhabi, United
Arab Emirates, writing the
country’s name in gold. Talk of
the rejected stone <strong>be</strong>coming the
chief cornerstone! The 2019
Special Olympics World
Summer Games which took
place from March 14–21, 2019
had 60 athletes and 24 officials
representing the country at the
multi-sport event for athletes
with intellectual disabilities.
They did not disappoint as
they competed in eight events
(athletics, badminton,
basketball, football, table
March 24th, 2019, marked the
first anniversary of Blessing
Okagbare-Ighoteguonor’s
Nigerian and African Record of
22.04sec in the women’s 200m set
at the Wes Kittley Invitational in
Abilene, USA. Her new Record
eclipsed Mary Onyali’s former
mark of 22.07sec set in 1996. What
made Blessing’s feat even more
impressive was the fact that it was
her first race of the season.
Okagbare-Igoteguonor will
surely go into the history books
as one of the <strong>be</strong>st athletes the
continent, and I dare say the
world, has produced. Over the
years, she’s managed to combine
the 100m, 200m and Long Jump,
and that’s certainly no child’s play,
especially when there is a need
to compete in more than one event
at a major championship.
In 2013, she stormed to an
African Record of 10.79sec in the
100m while competing at the
London Anniversary Games
where she defeated the reigning
Olympic Champion at the time,
Betway Country Manager, Lere
Awokoya says “We recognise the
growth in popularity of
basketball, l am particularly
amongst young Nigerians who
religiously follow the NBA. The
NBA Predictor Promo is our way
of connecting with these fans and
rewarding them for their love of
the game.”
Betway continues to reward
Nigerians with mouthwatering
cash prizes through various
features and promotions like 4-To-
Score, Money Back, Book-A-Bet,
amongst others.
The 7th convocation of the
National Institute for Sports,
Nigeria’s premier sports
institute was scheduled for
Wednesday,
March 20,
2019.
tennis, volleyball,
swimming and cycling) and
returned with a total of 33
gold, 21 silver and 10
bronze medals.
A breakdown of the
medals shows that
they won 12 gold
medals each
in
unified
football
a n d
volleyball
events,
f o u r
g o l d
medals in
athletics,
the
two in
badminton, one in
cycling, one in dance and one in
swimming.
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of
Jamaica. Okagbare-Ighoteguonor
had earlier set a new African
record of 10.86sec in the semis,
<strong>be</strong>fore <strong>be</strong>ttering her time to
10.79sec in the final.
Her 100m Record lasted for
three years <strong>be</strong>fore Cote d’Ivoire’s
Murielle Ahoure broke it by the
slightest of margins - 0.01sec,
replacing it with a new mark of
10.78sec.
Although Okagbare-
Ighoteguonor started the 2018
Athletics season on a high, with
her new 200m Record, the rest of
the season didn’t pan out as
expected as she eventually
succum<strong>be</strong>d to an injury, which
forced her to end her season
earlier than she had envisaged.
That notwithstanding, she still
managed to inspire a much
younger 4x100m team to Bronze
at the Commonwealth Games in
Gold Coast, and Gold at the
African Championships in Asaba.
The Delta State athlete has no
doubt faced some disappointing
moments in her career, chief of
which would probably <strong>be</strong> the
London 2012 Olympics which she
approached with such high hopes
but eventually finished 8th in the
100m. There was also the 2015 and
2017 World Championships in
Beijing and London respectively
(she placed 8th in the 100m in
Beijing and occupied the same
position in the Long Jump in
London). She didn’t make the
100m final at the 2016 Rio
Olympics.
However, barring any injury,
Okagbare-Ighoteguonor <strong>be</strong>lieves
she still has a lot to offer as she is
now chasing a World
Championships Gold medal,
SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 30, 2019 — 47
Champions League Tour:
Heineken brings
Puyol to Nigeria
Spanish football legend and Champions League
winner, Puyol will <strong>be</strong> touring the nation as part
of the UEFA Champions League Tour as
presented by Heineken.
The UEFA Champions League Tour will see both the
football Legend and the iconic cup travel to various cities
across Nigeria, from the 16th-18th of April 2019, as part
of Heineken’s commitment to delivering premium
experiences to consumers and football lovers.
The tour will <strong>be</strong> a three day experience that will feature
exclusive encounters in Lagos and Uyo and an
unmissable match to <strong>be</strong> played by select consumers
featuring the Spanish superstar, Puyol.
It’s no surprise that the premium <strong>be</strong>er brand selected
Carles Puyol Saforcada regarded as one of the <strong>be</strong>st
defenders alive as the football legend to accompany the
UEFA Champions League cup when it lands in Nigeria.
Defending Heineken’s choice of Puyol, Emmanuel
Oriakhi, Marketing Director, Nigerian Breweries had
this to say;
“Often considered as one of the <strong>be</strong>st defenders players
of all time, Puyol is the perfect fit <strong>be</strong>cause we wanted to
host one of the world’s <strong>be</strong>st football Legends and also
to give Nigerians the chance to meet him for the first
time here, in Nigeria. We’re excited to <strong>be</strong> creating
premium exciting experiences for our consumers and
we’re sure they’d <strong>be</strong> more stunned as we make other
announcements in the coming weeks.”
Heineken is a leading partner of the UEFA Champions
League since 1994 and the last 25 years have seen the
competition <strong>be</strong>come the most watched club competition
in the world.
WIPO highlights sports investors,
innovators on WIPD
Top sports investors,
brands, broadcasters,
developers and innovators will
<strong>be</strong> on celebration in Nigeria
alongside their global
counterparts come April 26 as the
World Intellectual Property
Organisation (WIPO) focuses on
the industry in its annual World
Intellectual Property Day (WIPD).
The theme of the 2019 WIPD is
“Reach for Gold: IP and Sports” and
the event will <strong>be</strong> marked in Nigeria
with a special recognition/awards
ceremony for institutions and
individuals whose investments and
contributions have helped in the
sustenance, growth and enjoyment of sports,
and a summit on “Intellectual Property Law and
Sports Business.”
The event is <strong>be</strong>ing organised by Friends of the
Creator Foundation chaired by Dr Ogaga Ifowodo in
collaboration with the Nigerian Copyright
Commission, the National Film and Video Censors
Board and the Lagos chapter of the Sports Writers
Association of Nigeria (SWAN).
“It is especially instructive that the WIPO is
focusing on sports business this year. It is in
Two Records down; one more to go for
Okagbare Ighoteguonor
Okagbare
having won Silver and Bronze
respectively in the Long Jump
and 200m in Moscow in 2013. She
also aspires to break the African
Record in the Long Jump <strong>be</strong>fore
she calls time on her illustrious
career.
In an interview with Making of
Champions in Decem<strong>be</strong>r,
Okagbare-Ighoteguonor had this
to say: “I know I still have it in
me, it’s just that this health issue
has taken a lot from me. If I can
get back to <strong>be</strong>ing healthy, there
is so much more to accomplish in
the few years I have left to
represent this country very well.
My major focus right now is to get
healthy again.
“I’ve just <strong>be</strong>en cleared to start
practice which is really good
news. I just want to stay healthy
<strong>be</strong>cause other things are fine.
Mentally I’m there. The African
Games and the World
Championships are around the
corner; I’m still missing a World
Championships Gold medal; I’ve
got Silver and Bronze so I’m still
looking forward to representing
Nigeria and not just <strong>be</strong>ing at a
competition, but medalling as
well.
“I have this goal of breaking the
recognition that while athletes’ performance create
the excitements, investors, sponsors and innovators
play critical roles in the global propagation and in
bringing diverse peoples and cultures together and
supporting them to enjoy sports across societies”, said
the Project Coordinator, Fred Edoreh.
“The event is significant towards strengthening
intellectual property laws to protect sports
businesses, and to appreciate and build the
confidence and continued commitment of existing
and new investors, institutions, brands, sponsors and
persons whose investments and contributions keep
sports going.”
While the organisers are keeping the list of
awardees under wraps, expected as special guests
of honour at the celebration are the Honorable
Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the
Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN) and the
Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung,
alongside top investors, brands and developers in
Nigerian sports, and sports law experts including
Abdukhakeem Mustapha (SAN), President of the
Confederation of Africa Football Appeals Board,
Chijioke Okoli (SAN), pioneer General Counsel of
Team Nigeria and erstwhile Chairman of the Lagos
branch of the Nigeria Bar Association, and Beverly
Agbakoba-Onyejiana, sports business law advocate
and investor.
African Record in all my three
events, which I have already
achieved in the 100m and 200m.
I’m still waiting for that 7.12m in
the Long Jump which I think I’m
capable of. I’m hoping everything
goes well. I’m looking forward to
that as long as I’m healthy and as
long as my body allows me.”
Going forward, the Beijing 2008
Long Jump Silver Medallist says
she will continue to compete in all
three events but would probably
just settle for one event at a major
championship; that would <strong>be</strong> up
to her team to decide, depending
on how she is feeling at the time.
Breaking the continental
records in the 100m and 200m is
no mean feat. It would <strong>be</strong> great to
see Blessing’s hopes of breaking
Chioma Ajunwa’s African Record
in the Long Jump, eventually
come to pass. That is certainly a
tall order, and I’m sure a lot would
ponder on how realistic this target
is. However, I’ve learnt never to
say ‘never’.
Still basking in the euphoria of
the first anniversary of her 200m
record, I wish Okagbare-
Ighoteguonor a healthy 2019 and
hope her dreams come true.

C
M
Y
K
SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 30, 2019
ACROSS
1)American Borough & River (8)
5)Swiss Capital City (4)
7)Greek Alpha<strong>be</strong>t (3)
8)Executive Director for Africa, Federation of
International Basketball Associations (FIBA),
Dr. Alphonse – (4)
9)Ivory Coast “Elephants”Midfielder, Koffi
Christian – (4)
10)L.G.A in Borno State (5)
12)Majority Leader, Kano State House of
Assembly, Alhaji Baffa Babba – (9)
16)Beverage (5)
18)L.G.A in Taraba State (5)
20)Former Ondo State Governor, Chief
Adebayo – (9)
23)Citrus Fruit (5)
26)Ghana “Black Stars”Striker, Jordan – (4)
27)Vice President, Nigerian Union of
Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Wilson – (4)
28)Former Bangladesh Prime Minister, Mrs.
Khaleda – (3)
29)Ethnic Group in Nigeria (4)
30)Country in Asia (8)
DOWN
1)South African Currency (4)
2)Chief Executive Officer, Apple Incorporated,
Mr. Tim – (4)
3)Vice Chairman, Epe Local Council
Development Area in Lagos State, Comrade
Ibrahim Adebayo – (9)
4)American City (5)
5)Ghana “Black Stars” Goalkeeper, Nana –
(5)
6)L.G.A in Akwa-Ibom State (4,4)
11)State in Nigeria known as “The Eastern
Heartland”? (3)
13)Nigerian Currency (5)
14)Former Italian Prime Minister, Mr. Paolo –
(9)
15)Limb (4)
16)Bolivian State (8)
17)South Africa “Bafana Bafanas”Midfielder,
Mondili – (4)
19)Akwa-Ibom State Capital (3)
21)Former Egyptian Prime Minister, Mr.
Mahmoud – (5)
22)Moroccan Capital City (5)
24)General Manager, Lagos State Traffic
Management Authority (LASTMA), Mr. Olawale
– (4)
25)French Department or State (4)
CROSS WORD PUZZLE
SOLUTION TO PUZZLE ON PAGE 40
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