02042019 - Military uncovers arms factory in Benue

INSIDE 

Oshiomhole 

will turn APC 

to minority 

party 15 

— OKOROCHA 

REPS 

5 

SPEAKERSHIP: 

Our plans for 

9th Assembly 

— ASPIRANTS 

Many PDP 

leaders are 

after their 

11 

stomach 

—OBASANJO 

CCT Trial: 

I drove Onnoghen 

to CCB to 

submit asset 

8 

declaration 

forms — Witness 

Nigeria spends N10trn on petrol subsidy in 12 yrs 

19 

VOL. 26: NO. 63777 TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2019 

Military uncovers arms 

factory in Benue 

•Arrests Mauritanian-trained gun maker 

•We condemn gun trading in Benue —Ethnic leaders 

•Unauthorised arms bearers must face justice —State govt 

Unveiling New Access Bank Logo... 

STORY 

ON 

PAGE 9 

We’ve 

increased 

power 

generation 

to 

10 

8,100MW 

– OSINBAJO 

Oando 19 

increases 

PAT by 46% 

to N28.8bn 

— From Left: Mr.Roosevelt Ogbonna, Group Deputy Managing Director, Access Bank plc; Mr. Pascal Dozie, Pioneer Founder, 

Diamond Bank plc; Mr. Herbert Wigwe, Group Managing Director, Access Bank Plc; HRH Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, Emir of 

Kano; Mr. Uzoma Dozie, Pioneer Managing Director, Diamond Bank Plc; Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Former M.D, Access 

Bank plc; Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President, Dangote Group; and His Excellency Ibrahim Dankwambo, Governor of Gombe State, 

at the Formal Launch/Unveiling of the New Access Bank Logo in Lagos on Sunday. Photo: Akeem Salau. 

Magistrates 

take turns to 

share courtrooms 

—Ag. CJN 

4 

Protests rock Kogi 

over Gov Bello's 

plot to remove 

13 

state chief judge 

Senate uncovers illegal 

company floated by Trade and 

Investment Ministry 

Visit to Buhari: 

CAN president didn’t represent 

the church, says NCEF 

See 

COLUMNISTS ERIC TENIOLA 18 YINKA ODUMAKIN 17 

Inside 

2 

10 

Naira 

appreciates 

to N360.60/ 

$ in I&E 

Mr & Mrs 

40

2—Vanguard, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2019 

CCT trial: I drove Onnoghen to CCB to 

submit asset declaration forms— Witness 

•As suspended CJN opens defence, lines up 3 witnesses 

By Ikechukwu 

Nnochiri 

A BUJA—THE 

suspended Chief 

Justice of Nigeria, CJN, 

Justice Walter Onnoghen, 

yesterday, opened his 

defence to the allegation that 

he failed to declare his assets 

as prescribed by the law. 

Onnoghen kick-started his 

defence to the allegation, 

following the decision of the 

Code of Conduct Tribunal, 

CCT, in Abuja that he has a 

case to answer with regards 

to the six-count charge the 

Federal Government 

preferred against him. 

Federal Government had 

in the charge, alleged that 

Onnoghen’s failure to 

properly declare his assets, 

was in violation of section 

15(2) of Code of Conduct 

Bureau and Tribunal Act. 

The Danladi Umar-led 

three-member panel tribunal 

had in a ruling last Friday, 

declined to discharge and 

acquit the defendant, 

insisting that he has 

explanations to give with 

respect to the allegations. 

Federal Government had 

earlier closed its case after it 

called three witnesses that 

testified before the CCT. 

Consequently, sequel to 

directive of the tribunal, the 

embattled CJN, said he 

would also call three 

witnesses to establish his 

innocence. 

In his Evidence-in-Chief, 

the first defence witness, DW- 

1, Mr. Lawal Busari, a driver 

at the Supreme Court, told 

the tribunal that he was the 

one that drove the defendant 

to the Code of Conduct 

Bureau, CCB, the day he 

collected his asset declaration 

form. 

Led in evidence by 

Onnoghen’s lawyer, Chief 

Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, 

the witness, said: “On July 

28, 2010, my lordship called 

me to take him to the CCB 

office at Asokoro. When we 

got there, he collected asset 

declaration forms. After the 

form was given to him, he 

said Alhaji, are you not 

collecting your own? 

“He said, collect it, and I 

did. We came back to the 

office, I filled my own too. On 

November 4, 2010, he gave 

me N200 to pay for the asset 

declaration form. The second 

day, I did my own too and 

paid the cashier N200 at the 

FCT High Court.” 

Though the prosecution 

counsel, Mr. Aliyu Umaru, 

SAN, opposed the tendering 

of the receipt in evidence, he 

was however, overruled by 

the tribunal. 

The CCT chairman 

admitted and marked the 

receipt as an exhibit in the 

trial. 

Continuing his testimony, 

Busari said: “After payment at 

the FCT High Court, we went 

and submitted the form, my 

self and your lordship, at 

Asokoro office of the CCB. It 

is a woman, fair in complexion 

that received the form. I cannot 

remember her name, but she 

received both forms. 

“The form was not 

acknowledged that day. The 

woman said we should come 

back to collect the 

acknowledgment copy.” 

The witness said he, 

subsequently, went back to the 

CCB alone and collected the 

acknowledged form. 

Under cross examination, 

the prosecution counsel 

queried Busari if he was 

reading from a piece of paper. 

Upon the admission of the 

witness that he was indeed 

holding a piece of paper in 

his hand, the tribunal 

chairman, demanded that the 

paper should be brought to 

him. 

After the CCT Chairman 

had read through the paper, 

the prosecution counsel 

requested that it should be 

returned back to the witness. 

Asked who wrote and gave 

him the paper, the witness 

said: “ My Lord I wrote it 

myself. It is my hand writing 

and it contained facts about 

me.” 

Application by the 

prosecution to tender the 

paper in evidence was not 

opposed by the defence 

lawyer. 

It was, therefore, admitted 

in evidence and marked it as 

exhibit 7. 

He described Justice 

Onnoghen as a good man, 

saying he was attached to the 

defendant as a driver when 

he was still a Justice of the 

Court of Appeal. 

Meantime, Justice 

Onnoghen has persuaded 

the tribunal to issue subpoena 

to compel a Director at the 

CCB, Mrs Theresa Nwafor, 

to appear as his second 

witness. 

The proposed witness is 

currently serving at the CCB 

office in Edo State. 

Mr. Umar, therefore 

adjourned the case till 

Wednesday to enable the 

witness to appear and give 

evidence in the trial. 

Awomolo alleges 

interference by 

executive 

Meanwhile, lead counsel to 

the CJN, Awomolo, SAN, 

had alleged interference of 

the executive arm of 

government in the 

proceedings before the CCT. 

In a statement after the 

proceeding, Awomolo said: “A 

situation where the Executive 

arm is the custodian of the 

Code of Conduct for public 

officers, the enforcer of the 

Code of Conduct through the 

tribunal. It is the appointing 

authority of the members of 

the tribunal. In the 

proceedings in the tribunal, 

the executive is the accuser, 

the investigator, prosecutor, 

the witness and the judge, all 

roll together into one. 

“This is unacceptable under 

the constitution that 

guarantees independence of 

the three arms of 

government. There is urgent 

need for Constitutional 

reform. 

CONSUMER PARLIAMENT: From left, Lanre Gbajabiamila, 

Director-General, National Lottery Regulatory Commission; Sen. 

Olabiyi Durojaiye, Chairman, Nigerian Communications 

Commission, NCC; Felicia Onwuegbuchulam, Director, Consumer 

Affairs Bureau, NCC, and Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, Executive 

Vice Chairman/CEO, NCC during the 87th edition of Telecoms 

Consumer Parliament, in Lagos, yesterday. 

Reverting State House Medical Centre to 

clinic, presidential directives —Perm Sec 

By Johnbosco 

Agbakwuru 

A 

B U J A — 

PERMANENT 

Secretary, State House, Mr 

Jalal Arabi, yesterday, told 

the Senate Committee on 

Federal Character and 

Inter-Governmental Affairs 

for the 2019 budget defence 

that the plan to revert the 

State House Medical 

Centre to a clinic, which it 

was the directive from 

President Muhammadu 

Buhari. 

Speaking before the 

Senate committee, the 

Permanent Secretary 

disclosed that “without 

prejudice to what is 

currently obtainable at 

SHMC, the intention to 

revert to a clinic is a 

presidential directive. This 

is to make sure that the 

facility is functional and 

serves the purpose for 

which it was established, ab 

initio.” 

Later, Arabi explained to 

journalists after the budget 

defence that the reversion 

of the centre to a clinic was 

a case of “cutting one’s coat 

according to your cloth.” 

In a statement by the 

Deputy Director, 

Information, State House, 

Attah Esa, Arabi said: “It 

was initially meant to serve 

the first and second families 

and those working within 

and around the villa. 

“The overstretching of 

facilities at the medical 

centre by patients is some 

of the challenges the centre 

have been going through. 

It wasn’t meant for that 

purpose. 

“Nobody was charging 

anyone for any services and 

relying on appropriation 

means we will depend on 

subvention when it comes 

to run the Centre." 

Senate uncovers illegal 

company floated by Trade 

and Investment Ministry 

By Henry 

Umoru 

ABUJA— THE Senate, 

yesterday, disclosed 

that it had uncovered a 

Special Economic Zone 

Company listed for N42 

billion appropriation from 

the 2019 budget proposal 

by the Federal Ministry of 

Industry, Trade and 

Investment. 

The Senator Sabo 

Mohammed (APC Jigawa 

North West) led Senate 

Committee on Trade and 

Investment explained that 

following the discovery of 

the illegal company, it 

became imperative for the 

Senate to reject the N15.633 

billion 2019 budget 

proposals the ministry 

tabled before the committee 

for approval. 

The alleged Economic 

Zone company reared its 

head when the Minister of 

Industry, Trade and 

Investment, Dr Okechukwu 

Enelama, appeared before 

the committee, yesterday, for 

budget defence session, just 

as he presented a booklet 

containing 2019 budget 

proposal for all agencies 

under his ministry. 

Trouble started when 

immediately he presented 

his report, Chairman of the 

committee then referred him 

to item 2 on page 7 of the 

booklet, which has N42.091 

billion budgetary allocation 

for Nigeria Special 

Economic Zone Company 

not known to be one of the 

17 agencies under the 

ministry. 

Responding, the minister 

told the committee that the 

company was established 

through presidential 

initiative and approval 

given to it at cabinet meeting 

in May 2018 

He said: “One of the 

areas that this government 

has focused on is 

infrastructure. The second 

area is industrialization 

and the two have 

something in common. 

“If the government tries 

to do it alone, it would be 

extremely tasking. So the 

President directed that we 

should bring other partners 

that can combine with 

whatever monies we have 

to build world class 

infrastructure which led to 

the establishment of the 

company in partnership 

with other investors.” 

But when he was further 

asked to tell members of the 

committee, owners of the 

company, the minister said 

the Federal Government 

and other shareholders to 

which the committee 

chairman proved him 

wrong. 

According to the 

chairman of the committee, 

a document obtained by 

them from the Corporate 

Affairs Commission, CAC, 

containing information on 

how the company was 

registered, shows that the 

company’s name is 

Nigeria Sez Investment 

Company Limited and not 

Nigeria Special Economic 

Zone Company listed in 

the documents presented 

by the Minister. 

He said: “Ownership of 

the company as clearly 

stated in the document 

obtained from CAC on the 

26th of last month 

designated as Directors are 

Dr Bakari Wadinga, Mr 

Olufemi Edun and Ms 

Oluwadara Owoyemi." 

El-Zakzaky: Blood'll triumph 

over bullets —Shi’ites 

By Luminous 

Jannamike 

ABUJA — ISLAMIC 

Movement in Nigeria, 

IMN, yesterday, restated its 

resolve to secure the release 

of Sheikh Ibraheem El- 

Zakzaky, the sect’s leader, 

who has been in detention 

since 2015, saying blood will 

triumph over bullets. 

Members of IMN also 

known as Shi’ites, spoke 

during the 2019 matyrs’ day 

celebration by the group in 

Abuja. 

Speaking at the event, 

Sheikh Abdulhamid Bello, 

Head of IMN’s Shuhada 

(Martyrs) Foundation, said: 

“We are here to peacefully 

honour our brethren who 

have been killed over the 

years because of their 

spiritual inclinations as we 

have consistently done. 

“However, this year’s 

event, which in the 28th in 

the series, is coming against 

a backdrop of an 

astronomical increase in the 

number of our departed 

heroes, especially with an 

increase of over 50 members 

killed by the elite Guards 

Brigade of the Nigerian 

Army during the 2018 

Arbaeen Trek in Zuba. We 

strongly believe that blood 

will inevitably triumph over 

bullets at the end.” 

Prominent Islamic 

scholars at the event 

include: Sheikh Yakubu 

Yahaya Katsina, Sheikh 

Abdullahi Zango and 

Professor Abdullahi Danladi 

among others. 

The occasion was followed 

by a massive free El- 

Zakzaky protest, which shut 

down parts of the Federal 

Capital Territory for several 

hours, yesterday.

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2019—3

4—VANGUARD, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2019 

I ‘ll do my best for all Nigerians 

in 2nd term —Buhari 

By Johnbosco 

Agbakwuru 

A BUJA—PRESIDENT 

Muhammadu Buhari, 

yesterday, assured 

Nigerians that he will put 

in all efforts to ensure the 

best for the country and her 

citizens when he begins a 

second term in office on 

May 29, 2019. 

President Buhari also 

said that he appreciated all 

those that voted for him in 

the election. 

Receiving the Board of 

Trustees and Advisory 

Council of Gidauniyar 

Jihar Katsina (Katsina State 

Development Fund) led by 

Justice Mamman Nasir at 

the State House, Abuja, 

Buhari said his campaign 

to all states of the federation 

was an eye opener. 

According to him, “Thank 

you for supporting me. I 

assure you that I will do my 

best in the second term. We 

will work for Nigeria and 

her people.” 

The President in a 

statement by his Special 

Adviser on Media and 

Publicity, Chief Femi 

Adesina said the crowd 

that welcomed his 

campaign train in each 

state was more than anyone 

can possibly “induce,” 

attributing the turnout of 

people as an appreciation 

of the efforts of his 

administration. 

In his remarks, the 

Galadima of Katsina, 

Justice Nasir, said the 

foundation returned 

gratitude to God and all 

Nigerians for giving Buhari 

the opportunity to serve 

another term in office. 

“We are most grateful to 

almighty Allah for bringing 

you back for another term 

in office. Our happiness 

and gratitude goes to 

Nigerians for electing you,” 

he said. 

DSS releases journalist, 

Jones Abiri 

ANigerian journalist, 

Jones Abiri, who was 

arrested on Saturday by 

operatives of the 

Department of Security 

Service, DSS, has been 

released. 

The Bayelsa-based 

magazine publisher was 

released, yesterday, from 

the secret police’s detention 

facility in Abuja, his lawyer 

said. 

“He has just been 

released around 2 p.m.,” 

his lawyer, Samuel Ogala 

said, adding that terms of 

the release would be 

disclosed later. 

The men who arrested 

Mr Abiri came in a Toyota 

Hilux truck. He was 

arrested in Yenagoa, the 

capital of his home Bayelsa 

State where he publishes 

his Weekly Source 

magazine. 

The DSS initially denied 

knowledge of the arrest, but 

those who were with him 

insisted the agency was 

responsible. 

No official statement had 

been issued to clarify the 

arrest, which comes months 

after the journalist was 

released from a prolonged 

detention. 

Abiri had been arrested in 

2016 on allegations of 

blackmailing expatriate oil 

workers in the Niger-Delta. 

He denied the allegations, 

but was kept in custody 

until August 2018 when he 

was freed on a court order. 

He sued the agency and 

received damages for N10 

million in the case, which 

has neither been appealed 

nor executed. 

Magistrates take turns to share courtrooms, 

Ag CJN laments 

By Ikechukwu 

Nnochiri 

A BUJA—ACTING 

Chief Justice of 

Nigeria, CJN, Justice Tanko 

Muhammad, yesterday, 

decried what he termed as 

enormous challenges 

facing justice 

administration in the 

country, noting that some 

magistrates take turns to 

share courtrooms. 

Justice Muhammad, in a 

keynote address at the 

opening ceremony of 2019 

Refresher Course for 

Magistrates, held at the 

National Judicial Institute, 

NJI, in Abuja, said he was 

optimistic that the Federal 

Government would look 

into the issue of lack of 

modern court infrastructure 

in the country. 

He urged Judges and 

Magistrates across the 

federation to be patient, 

even as he implored them 

to eschew all forms of 

corruption in the discharge 

of their duties. 

He said, “As Magistrates, 

your appointment and 

powers confer jurisdiction 

on you to try both indictable 

and non-indictable offences 

not exceeding the limit of 

your jurisdictions. 

“It is trite that the greater 

bulk of criminal cases are 

handled by Magistrate 

Courts. It therefore, 

behoves on you to be 

guided by the ever-green 

principle of criminal 

jurisprudence on 

presumption of innocence. 

“By so doing, you will 

instil confidence in the 

public of securing justice in 

the courts. You must always 

remember that the 

overriding consideration in 

all criminal trials is for the 

Magistrates, the prosecutor 

and defendant to act fairly 

and honestly, so that justice 

must not only be done, but 

must be manifestly seen to 

be done. 

“In order to avoid causing 

untold hardship and 

injustice to litigants which 

may be occasioned by 

convicting and punishing 

an innocent defendant, 

you must subject every item 

of facts raised for and 

against the defendant to 

scrutiny. 

“Nothing is to be taken for 

granted, especially where 

the liberty of a citizen is at 

stake. Let me at this 

juncture reiterate that you 

should always adhere to the 

highest standard of 

integrity and moral 

rectitude. It therefore, goes 

without saying that 

corruption in any of its 

forms must be eschewed. 

“This is because it is 

antithetical to the judicial 

process and therefore, 

cannot be allowed to thrive 

if courts must exist. We are 

not unaware of the 

enormous challenges you 

face in your courts, such as 

lack of adequate modern 

court infrastructure. 

“Indeed some of you take 

turns to share courtrooms. 

There is also the challenge 

of security of your persons 

and your Court rooms. 

Despite all these, I want to 

encourage you to be patient 

and be committed to your 

duties." 

Audit reports indict Surveyor-General of multi-billion 

naira contract frauds, theft 

A 

troubling blend of 

questions bordering 

on corrupt practices, 

involving N1.4 billion in 

one case, and theft of public 

assets has been raised 

against the Surveyor- 

General of the Federation, 

Ebisintei Awudu, and his 

office, the OSGF, according 

N1.26trn assets registered with National Collateral Registry 

…20 aircraft registered 

Emma Ujah, Abuja 

Bureau Chief 

A BUJA—Moveable 

assets worth N1. 26 

trillion have been registered 

on the National Collateral 

Registry, NCR, platform. 

They included 20 planes, 

owned by private 

individuals. 

The Registrar of the NCR, 

Alhaji Mohammed 

Mainasara, disclosed this 

while addressing Finance 

Correspondents on the 

activities of the agency in 

Abuja. 

According to him, a total 

of 65,370 moveable assets 

had been registered on the 

NCR’s portal as at March 

20, 2019. 

The National Collateral 

Registry is a databank 

where security interests in 

moveable assets are 

registered for the purpose 

of being used as collateral 

to obtain loans from 

financial institutions. 

It allows borrowers to 

prove 

their 

creditworthiness and 

lenders to assess their 

priority interest in potential 

claims against particular 

collaterals. 

Mainasara disclosed that 

other items registered 

include 17,657 documents 

of title/negotiable 

instruments, 100 boats, 13 

intellectual properties, as 

well as, two minerals 

(undisclosed). 

The rest were: 417 plants 

and machinery, 218 

securities, 13,425 motor 

CONVOCATION: From left—Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof Oluwatoyin 

Ogundipe; Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo; Chairman of the Occasion, Chief Author 

Mbanefo and Pro Chancellor of UNILAG, Dr Wale Babalakin, during the UNILAG 50th 

Convocation Lecture in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: NAN. 

vehicles, 1,582 farm 

products, 1,166 deposit 

accounts and 10,579 

consumer/household goods 

among others. 

The Registrar added that 

630 financial institutions 

had registered on the NCR 

portal. 

He gave the breakdown 

as: 21 deposit money banks 

(DMBs) 552 Microfinance 

banks, four Merchant 

banks, four Development 

Finance Institutions (DFIs), 

34 finance companies; one 

non-interest bank and 14 

non-bank financial 

institutions. 

The Registrar said that 

165,456 debtors had 

registered on the portal. 

They comprised 157,077 

individuals; 735 large 

businesses; 2,279 medium 

businesses; 3,457 micro 

businesses and 1,908 small 

businesses. 

He disclosed that two of 

the registered 

Development Finance 

Institutions attracted 

largest number of 

borrowers registered on the 

NCR portal numbering 

114,894, with financing 

statements of N54.131 

billion. 

Mainasara added that 

21,144 borrowers were 

owing six non-bank 

financial institutions the 

sum of N84,651 billion. 

"A total of 24,318 women 

had been registered on the 

NCR portal with a 

combined registered value 

of financial statements 

against them standing at 

N45.183 billion," the NCR 

boss said. 

to audit documents 

reviewed. 

The audit reports, for at 

least three years, included 

a recommendation that 

OSGF should be 

investigated by the antigraft 

authorities and that 

the Accountant-General of 

the Federation should 

constitute an inquiry into 

the accounts of the office, 

according to a report by 

Premium Times. 

The reports, which 

though are interim 

observations requiring Mr 

Awudu’s explanations to 

the Auditor-General of the 

Federation, detailed 

observed contract frauds, as 

well as disregard for due 

process and accountability 

standards. 

When contacted, Awudu 

said that officials opposed 

to him and desperate to see 

him leave office were 

behind his travails. He then 

declined to comment on the 

allegations raised in the 

reports. 

He said the reports were 

interim and it was out of 

order for him to answer to 

journalists’ questions on 

them as he is only dutybound 

to offer his 

explanations to the auditorgeneral 

of the federation. 

He denied any 

wrongdoing. 

Between January and 

June 2018, according to the 

audit inspection report on 

the surveyor-general’s 

office, questions of fraud 

raised by the auditorgeneral’s 

office involved a 

sum of N1.4 billion, 

including N725.8 million 

reported to have been paid 

to three companies within 

one week without any 

evidence of service or 

contract rendered. 

The three companies 

included Altruinco Services 

Ltd., F.A Kassim Survey 

Associates Ltd., and M. 

Yahaya and Associates. 

According to the report, 

only Altruinco was paid on 

March 22, 2018, F.A Kassim 

was paid in three 

transactions in one day, 

March 27, 2018. 

Yahaya was paid in two 

different transactions, 

according to the report 

delivered in November 

2018.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2019—5 

POCKET CARTOON 

Adeyemi, stressed the 

need for a genuine 

patriotic speaker to lead 

the 9th House of 

Representatives, adding 

that he was prepared to 

rally support for any 

aspiring speaker of the 

House that is prepared to 

ensure timely passage of 

budgets and maintain 

robust relationship with 

the executive to improve 

the fortune of Nigerians. 

ONNOGHEN AT CCT—Suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter 

Onnoghen (Front row) waiting for the resumption of hearing of the case 

against him at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Utako, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: 

Abayomi Adeshida. 

REPS SPEAKERSHIP: Our plans 

for 9th Assembly — ASPIRANTS 

By Clifford Ndujihe, 

Acting Political 

Editor, Henry 

Umoru, Emman 

Ovuakpore, Levinus 

Nwabughiogu, 

Olayinka Ajayi & 

Luminous 

Jannamike 

MAJORITY Leader 

of the House of 

Representatives, Mr. 

Femi Gbajabiamila, have 

more hurdles to scale in 

his quest to become the 

speaker of the 9th 

House. This emerged, 

yesterday, as some 

aspirants, in separate 

chats with Vanguard 

unveiled their agenda. 

One of those who spoke 

to Vanguard on his plans 

is Mr. Olusegun 

Odebunmi, a third timer 

representing Surulere/ 

Ogoluwa Federal 

Constituency of Oyo 

State, who hails from the 

same South-West zone as 

Gbajabiamila. 

Indeed, to get the 

support of their 

colleagues in the ongoing 

posturing for the 

speakership of the 

House 

of 

Representatives, six of 

the 17 lawmakers 

angling for the top seat 

have told Vanguard why 

they are the best for the 

job in separate 

interviews. 

Members-elect, who 

shared their plans with 

Vanguard and what they 

would do differently, if 

elected in June include 

Femi Gbajabiamila, Ado 

Doguwa, Nkeiruka 

O n y e j e o c h a , , 

Abdulrazaq Namdas, 

and Bago. 

They spoke as Senate 

President Bnukola 

Saraki and House of 

Representatives 

Speaker, Yakubu Dogara 

urged members-elect to 

protect 

the 

independence of the 

legislature, adding that 

the National Assembly is 

not designed to work for 

the executive and 

judiciary. Saraki said the 


legislature was not 

negotiable, noting that 

despite the posturing of 

political party leaders, 

the lawmakers, 

themselves, will at the 

end of the day choose 

their leaders. 

Also, the Christian 

Association of Nigeria, 

CAN, has urged the 

lawmakers to ensure 

regional and religious 

balance in the election of 

the principal officers. 

Indeed, the memberelect 

for Idanre/Ifedore 

Federal Constituency on 

the platform of the Social 

Democratic Party, SDP, 

Alhaji Tajudeen 

NASS not designed to 

work for Executive, 

Judiciary – Dogara 

Speaking at the 

opening ceremony of the 

orientation programme 

for members-elect of the 

9th Assembly in Abuja, 

Dogara said the 

legislature was not 

designed to be 

subservient to the 

Executive or Judicial 

arms of government in 

the discharge of its 

duties. 

He said the three arms 

of government are rather 

created to work in 

tandem as partners to 

achieve democratic 

growth and development 

in Nigeria. 

He, therefore, urged 

the members not to be 

deterred by the oaths that 

would be administered 

on them but muster 

courage even in the face 

of adversity and 

challenges to work for 

the country. 

According to him, as 

representatives of the 

people, the lack of 

courage would translate 

to no service for the 

people. 

He said: “Now let me 

say something about the 

National Assembly that 

we may not learn in the 

course of the lectures 

that will be delivered. I 

have said that the 

hallowed chambers of 

the National Assembly 

require people of 

courage. Very soon, we, 

Calls on FG to allocate oil wells to states (1) 

members-elect of the 

National Assembly, 

whether distinguished 

senators and members of 

the House of 

Representatives, will be 

required to take an oath 

of office. 

“But we must always 

remember that our 

democracy is organised 

in such a way that it is 

made to be driven by 

consensus. Where 

consensus fails, it is 

always the prerogative 

of the Parliament or the 

National Assembly to go 

first, in the sense that 

when it comes to bills for 

instance, even where the 

President has vetoed the 

bill, if the National 

Assembly can muster 

two third of its members, 

they can override the 

bill. 

“And so, with regard to 

appropriation, no 

monies will be 

appropriated or spent in 

the absence of express 

legislative authorisation. 

That means the budget 

is the work of the 

National Parliament. So 

this work, of course, 

requires courage. 

“And we must always 

remember that as elected 

members of the National 

Assembly, let us do the 

work of the National 

Assembly. We are meant, 

as the first institution of 

democracy, to work with 

the Executive and the 

Judiciary. It was never 

designed that the 

National Assembly will 

work for the Executive or 

work for the Judiciary. 

“That is the aspect that 

I want all of us to pay 

attention to as we take 

oath as members of the 

National Assembly. We 

should know that it is 

about courage. It has 

been said that internal 

vigilance is the price for 

liberty. If liberty must be 

preserved in Nigeria, 

it’s because there is an 

institution that is 

internally vigilant. That 

institution has always 

been the institution of the 

National Assembly.” 

Why we need a 

patriotic speaker – 

Adeyemi 

Speaking on the raging 

tussle for the 

speakership, Alhaji 

Tajudeen Adeyemi, also 

known as Small Alhaji 

said he was prepared to 

rally support for any 

aspiring speaker of the 

House that is prepared 

Continues on Page 40 

By Bose Adelaja, Ebun Sessou, 

Yinka Latona, Chiamaka Uba 

& Dickson Omobola 

It’s a welcome 

development. I must 

commend those who 

made the calls because it 

will boost the internallygenerated 

revenue of each 

state and will enable state 

governors to pay workers' 

salaries on time without 

excuses. 

In addition, it will 

brighten each state's 

business potentials. 

Mr. Lawal Afeez Lekan 

Activist 

Will the allocation 

oil wells to states solve the 

corruption in the oil 

sector? The core mandate 

is for the Federal 

Government to put the right 

people in the right places. 

Nigerians do not buy 

petrol at affordable price 

because of the price of oil 

at the international market. 

Buhari should drop the 

portfolio of being the 

Petroleum minister because 

he has failed. 

Mr. Ishowo 

Olanrewaju Analyst 

As much as I feel 

such resources 

should be managed by 

the central government, 

allocating oil wells to 

states will boost the 

economy of the states 

thereby making them 

independent of the 

federal government to 

some extent. 

Mr.Oluyemi Fasipe 

Social Media Influencer 

It's better than allocating 

to privileged individuals 

or companies owned by the 

elite. It becomes 

meaningless except such 

allocations to states are 

controlled and managed by 

the communities, the 

working class and the profit 

dedicated to agreed projects 

like free education, health, 

and capacity development of 

citizens. 

If not, corrupt governors 

who diverted bailout funds 

will be richer, more corrupt 

and dictatorial. 

Comrade Adeola, Soetan 

Human rights activist 

The proposal to 

allocate oil wells to 

states is a welcome one 

as it will give the 

federating states a 

measure of financial 

autonomy and cut the 

undue dependence on 

Abuja. 

My caveat is: How 

would the funds be 

managed by the states? 

Mr. Bankole 

Akinwumi 

Public Servant 

The 

proposed 

allocation of oil wells 

to states is a welcome 

development. Majority of 

Nigerians have always 

criticised previous 

governments for creating 

non- productive and 

emergency billionaires 

through allocation to cronies 

and friends. But with this, 

state governments woud be 

self-sufficient and provide 

more needed infrastructure 

for the rapid development of 

the country. 

Mr. Oluwashina Ishola 

Tourism promoter


4th death from mango tree: Police to declare 

teacher who sent him to pluck fruits wanted 

•Students mobilised to mob teachers 

•As Ondo govt wades in 

By Dayo Johnson 

AKURE—THE teacher, 

who allegedly asked the 

late Senior Prefect of Ijo Mimo 

High School, Akure, Temitayo 

Oluwole, to pluck mango from a 

tree, which led to his death, has 

been asked to come out of hiding 

by the police. 

The deceased was alleged to 

have been sent to pluck the 

mango by one of his teachers, 

Mrs Kura, in the school after their 

tutorials Saturday afternoon. . 

Vanguard gathered that the 

suspect whose whereabouts 

How 2 JAMB 

officials were 

almost burnt 

alive inside 

LASPOTECH 

ABUJA—TWO officials of 

Joint Admissions and 

Matriculation Board, JAMB, 

were nearly set ablaze inside 

Lagos State Polytechnic, 

LASPOTECH, yesterday. 

According to Ishaq 

Oloyede, JAMB registrar, the 

officials were attacked at the 

mock centre in the institution. 

He said the two officials 

would also have been set 

ablaze but for the quick 

intervention that saved them 

from the attempted jungle 

justice. 

He said the reason for the 

dastardly attack was yet to be 

ascertained, even as the two 

officials have been taken to 

the hospital. 

He spoke when Adamu 

Adamu, Minister of 

Education, visited some 

computer based test, CBT, 

centres in Abuja during the 

mock examination. 

The registrar said the attack 

took place at a centre in the 

Lagos State Polytechnic. 

He said: “The very first sad 

thing that we noticed was 

that two of our staff were 

almost murdered in Lagos. 

“There was an attempt on 

their lives at the Lagos State 

Polytechnic. For whatever 

reason, they were wet with 

petrol and they were to be 

set ablaze. 

“We have sent a rescue 

team and they took them to 

the hospital. We are still 

looking into what 

happened, but we have 

evacuated our staff from the 

place. 

“We hope that whoever 

attempted that, the law 

enforcement agencies will 

not allow such an assault on 

innocent officials of 

government who went about 

their normal business 

remained unknown after the incident 

is the Physics teacher for the Senior 

Secondary 3 class in the school. 

The threat to declare her wanted by 

Ondo Police Command was timely as 

it saved the disruption of academic 

activities in the school, yesterday, as the 

students mobilised to mob their teachers 

over the death of their senior prefect, 

which they described as unacceptable. 

The death of Temitayo was said to be 

the fourth after three other students 

fell from the mysterious mango tree and 

died after being asked to pluck the fruits 

by teachers in the school. 

Previous deaths, it was gathered, have 

been concealed by the school authorities 

from the public as they always settle 

with the parents of the victims. 

The late Temitayo had last Saturday 

gone for tutorials in the school and after 

the session was allegedly asked by the 

female teacher to help her pluck some 

mangoes. 

Temitayo reportedly slipped on the 

mango tree, fell and hit his head on 

the ground and rushed to three separate 

hospitals before he gave up the ghost 

at Trauma centre in Ondo town. 

Teacher's whereabouts 

unknown 

Speaking with 

Vanguard in Akure, the 

state police image 

maker, Femi Joseph, 

said the command 

would declare the 

suspect wanted if she 

failed to show up at the 

police station for 

interrogation. 

Joseph said the 

whereabouts of the 

female teacher had 

remained unknown 

since the incident 

happened last 

weekend. 

He said the 

Principal of the school, 

Mr Olaoye, had been 

quizzed after he was 

invited by the state 

police command. 

He said; “We would declare the 

female teacher wanted if she failed 

to show up today (yesterday) to 

tell us her own side of the story. 

“The school principal had 

volunteered statement to us and 

we are yet to see the female 

teacher who asked the deceased 

to help her pluck the mangoes. 

“Our detectives visited the 

school and if not for our timely 

intervention the 

students were about 

to mob the teachers. 

“We succeeded in 

calming their frayed 

nerves and 

normalcy had 

returned to the 

school. But we 

are still 

expecting the 

Temitayo 

female 

teacher who 

sent the boy 

to help her 

p l u c k 

mangoes 

before he 

died. 

The police 

Image maker 

said the father 

of the deceased had written a 

statement and that investigation 

had commenced. 

Ondo govt wades in 

Reports had it that the state 

government had waded into 

the matter by instructing the 

relevant authorities to 

investigate the death of the 

senior boy. 

The 

Education 

Commissioner, Pastor Femi 

Agagu, confirmed that the 

Education ministry had sent 

representatives of relevant 

education agencies, associations 

and bodies to the deceased parents 

and the school. 

Agagu assured that the matter 

would be thoroughly investigated 

by his ministry. 

The commissioner, who 

described the death as “an 

unfortunate situation, said 

government would get to the root 

of the incident in a bid to guide 

against future occurrence. 

I've left everything to 

God—Deceased's parent 

The father of the deceased, 

Pastor Bode Adegoke, said that “as 

a man of God I have left everything 

to God. The Ministry of Education 

has taken over the matter so please 

speak with them." 

On when it was likely that the 

deceased would be buried, he said 

that as soon as the Ministry of 

Education is ready. 

Efforts to speak with the school 

principal, Mr Olaoye, were 

abortive as he was said to have 

been directed by the Education 

Ministry not to grant press 

interview. 

EVEN AT THE CORRIDOR OF POWER!: Despite the ban on open grazing by herdsmen in the FCT, 

cattle were captured while grazing at Gate 1, Presidential Villa, Three Arms Zone, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: 

Abayomi Adeshida 

LASG rescues mother of twins, three others from uncompleted building 

By Olasunkanmi 

Akoni & Monsuru 

Olowoopejo 

LAGOS State Government has 

rescued a mother with her twins 

(name withheld), along with her three 

other children after delivery from an 

uncompleted building in Igando axis 

of the state. 

The rescue was sequel to the viral 

video on social media of the mother 

and her children who were helpless 

and in dilemma. 

Commissioner for Youths and Social 

Development, Agboola Dabiri, made 

the remarks, yesterday, while briefing 

the press in Ikeja on the rescue 

mission. 

Dabiri explained that after the 

viral video of the mother and her 

children, the ministry raced down 

and rescued the mother and her 

children who were unstable at the 

point of arrival. 

He said: “We have rescued the 

mother and her five children 

including the twins from an 

uncompleted building. I can 

assure you that they are already 

stable.” 

The commissioner, however, 

lamented that many have taken 

advantage of the issue to raise 

money from residents. 

“Despite rescuing the mother 

and her five children including 

the twins, who were in safe 

custody, pictures have 

continuously been circulated. 

We have gotten several 

messages 

“The circulation of the pictures 

must stop and those using the 

pictures of the mother and her 

children to raise money must 

stop. No one should give money 

as charity to anyone for the sake 

of the children. They are with 

us. We are not asking for any 

donation. The children and their 

mother are now okay.” 

The woman and her children.


How landlady killed my husband with 

juju — Widow •Suspect, children flee 

By Victor 

Arjiromanus 

THE landlady of 16 Adekoya 

Street in Ojo Local 

Government Area of Lagos State 

and her children are on the run, 

following alleged murder of one 

of her tenants, Idowu Oladele, 

weekend. 

The fleeing landlady, Fausat 

Ibrahim, was alleged to have hit 

the deceased with a charm on his 

chest, causing him to slump and 

died moments before being 

rushed to the hospital. 

Late Oladele’s widow, Bose, 

who narrated in tears how her 

husband was allegedly killed, 

stated that trouble started after she 

and her late husband returned 

from a party at about 9 pm on 

Saturday. 

She stated that they left the 

cooler which was used to take food 

to the party, at their door step, with 

the intention to wash them next 

day. 

According to her, ”barely had we 

settled down than we heard 

The late Idowu Oladele. 

bangs on the door. When my 

husband opened the door, he 

found our landlady and her two 

children, Awwal and Zainab. 

“The landlady asked why we put 

our property at our doorstep, that 

every part of the compound 

belongs to her. While my husband 

tried to reply, her son, Awwal, hit 

him on his head. As he turned to 

face Awwal, the landlady used a 

charm to hit my husband on his 

chest. He (husband) started 

jerking and after some minutes, he 

fell and died." 

Fausat Ibrahim, the suspect 

When Vanguard visited the 

area, yesterday, tenants said the 

fleeing suspect had threatened 

severally to kill the deceased. 

According to a tenant, who 

spoke on the condition of 

anonymity: “She has been 

threatening to take his life on 

several occasions. In fact, just 

some days ago, the landlady 

told Idowu that she would kill 

him very soon, because he was 

daring her in that compound." 

Evil spirit manipulated me to sodomise 

teenage boys — Cleric 

By Evelyn Usman 

THE General Overseer of Jesus 

Intervention Household 

Ministry, Rev Prince Ezuma 

Chizemdere, who was arrested for 

allegedly having anal sex with some 

teenage boys in Ejigbo, a Lagos 

suburb and infecting them with 

Human Immunodeficiency Virus, 

HIV, in the process, has blamed his 

indulgence on ‘evil spirit’ 

One of his victims, 16-year-old 

Anthony Shedrack, who discovered 

to have been infected with HIV, has 

reportedly started treatment. 

Vanguard gathered that his wife 

packed out of the house when she 

discovered what he was into. After 

much entreaties from her husband, 

church members and both families, 

she returned home, only to pack out 

again on discovering that her 

husband was HIV positive. But she 

passed on, few months after 

returning to her husband, leaving 

behind two children. 

During interrogation, the suspect 

admitted culpability, begging to be 

forgiven. 

He said: “This is the work of evil 

spirit, with the aim to destroy me 

because I have genuine gifts from 

God. Whenever the evil force comes 

on me, I would be helpless, until I 

have accomplished its mission.” 

The suspect, who was arrested by 

policemen attached to Ejigbo 

division, was alleged to have been 

taking teenage boys, between 15 and 

16 years old, to his apartment, where 

he penetrated them through the 

anus, at the end of which he would 

give each of the boys N2,000. 

But the bubble burst after one of 

the boys reported to his parents, who 

subsequently contacted policemen 

at Ejigbo. 

Explaining how the suspect was 

arrested after going into hiding, 

spokesman for Lagos State Police 

Command, DSP Elkana Bala, said: 

“He has been at large for about three 

months. On March 22, 2009, at about 

1 am, Police laid siege to his apartment 

based on information gathered that 

he often sneaked into the house 

through the back entrance. 

“When he discovered that Police had 

cordoned his house, he hid himself 

in the ceiling for two hours before he 

was arrested. 

“Investigation has it that Reverend 

Pastor Prince Ezuma brought in about 

15 boys into his apartment where he 

forcefully penetrated them, through 

the anus. Some residents revealed that 

the reverend usually washed six bed 

sheets daily whenever he brings in 

little children, suspected to be his 

sex partners.” 

We don’t need alternative 

accommodation, homeless children 

tell FCTA 

By Henry Umoru 

ABUJA—IT was shocking, 

yesterday, at the nation’s capital 

city, Abuja when 130 homeless 

children from the demolished 

orphanage in Kubwa, Abuja, rejected 

the Federal Capital Territory 

Administration’s, FCTA, offer of 

alternative accommodation for them. 

According to the children, it became 

very imperative for them to reject the 

offer by the administration because 

their entire happiness would be 

jeopardised if they are taken to an 

entirely new home. 

The children, who were brought 

with Police escorts to the minister’s 

office, from a temporary home where 

they were assembled after their 

orphanage was demolished last week 

by Department of Development 

Control, turned down the offer. 

Recall that an orphanage with a 

school and a church, known as 

Divine Words of Jesus Christ Church, 

occupied by a widow and 150 

orphans, including infants, was 

reduced to rumbles by bulldozers of 

Department of Development Control 

Rev Chizemdere 

of the Federal Capital Territory 

Administration. 

The demolition took place in 

spite of the fact that the said 

property is still entangled in 

litigation. 

Addressing journalists, 

yesterday, in Abuja after a short 

meeting with the children and 

some officials of Social 

Development Secretariat, FCT 

Permanent Secretary, Mr. 

Christian Ohaa, said that FCTA 

wanted to make sure that the 

children were safe, given 

protection and welfare. 

According to Ohaa, the 

administration did not want to 

create further psychological 

trauma for the children, just as 

he said the administration had to 

concede to the children’s request 

to stay back with their care-giver. 

The permanent secretary, who 

noted that while the children’s 

request will be granted, said the 

administration would ensure that 

the necessary rules for 

administration of orphanage in 

the territory was not breached. 

... with Emma'nKen (08163121378) 

This is what the late Fela 

called 'original suffer head' 

What then would they be 

resolving in the training? 

They want to hear from the 

horses' mouths

8 — VANGUARD, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2019

Military uncovers arms factory in 

•Arrests Mauritanian trained manufacturer 

Benue 

By Peter Duru 

M AKURDI— 

PERSONNEL of 

military spike operation in 

Benue State, code named 

Operation Whirl Stroke, 

OPWS, have uncovered an 

illegal arms manufacturing 

factory in Logo Local 

Government Area of the 

state, arrested two suspects 

and recovered different 

calibre of fire arms. 

Among the suspects was 

a telecommunications 

engineer, who claimed he 

trained in arms 

manufacturing in 

Mauritania five years ago. 

Also recovered from the 

gang were arms 

manufacturing tools and 

firearms at various stages of 

fabrication. 

Parading the suspects, 

yesterday, at OPWS Base in 

Makurdi, Commander of 

the operation, Major- 

General Adeyemi Yekini, 

said his troops tracked the 

gang after a tip-off and four 

weeks of surveillance. 

According to Yekini, 

“about five weeks ago, the 

headquarters of OPWS got 

information from our local 

sources about activities of 

some weapon 

manufacturers operating 

between Ayiin in Logo and 

Ukum local government 

areas of the state. 

'After due diligence by the 

intelligence unit, within 

four weeks of surveillance, 

we were able to track the 

culprits to their location and 

had them arrested. We are 

still on the trail of members 

of the gang who are 

currently at large, but no 

matter how they run we will 

get them.” 

Corroborating Yekini, 

Sector 2 Commander of 

OPWS in charge of Logo 

and Ukum local 

government areas, who led 

troops to arrest the gang 

members, Captain Samuel 

Okenarhe, said but for the 

quick intervention of the 

troops, one of the suspects 

could have been lynched 

by an angry mob in the 

community. 

According to him, “we 

rescued him and he later 

took us to Tinenune village 

in Ukum Local Government 

Area where the two factories 

were located. His other 

accomplice initially ran 

away but he was later 

apprehended.” 

AK-47 goes for 

N350,000, pistol 

for N50,000 

Confessing to the alleged 

crime, Cephas Ati, who was 

arrested alongside Mnsuga 

:Vanguard 

News 

•We condemn gun trading in Benue —Ethnic leaders 

•Unauthorised arms bearers must face justice —State govt 

Terhila, claimed he was 

arrested with two AK-47 

rifles, explaining that he 

started the business two 

years ago when he came 

back to Nigeria from 

Mauritania after he 

mysteriously lost all he had 

to witchcraft. 

Ati said: “l have been in the 

business for about two years 

now. I lived in Europe and 

started this arms business 

when I returned from Europe 

two years ago but I lost 

everything to witchcraft and 

I had to start all over again. 

“I had my training in 

Mauritania. Each of the AK- 

47 goes for N350,000 while 

pistols go for N50,000 

depending on the quality. In 

the two years I have supplied 

a total of 16 AK-47 rifles to 

different clients.” 

The suspect claimed he did 

not own any of the workshops 

“but I know a manufacturer, 

his name is Tavershima 

Vande.” 

We condemn guntrading 

in Benue 

—Ethnic leaders 

Reacting, Chairman of 

Benue ethnic leaders, on the 

auspices of Mdzough U Tiv, 

Omi Ny’ Igede and 

Ochetoha K’ Idoma, Chief 

Edward Ujege, said they 

outrightly condemned any act 

of arms trading and 

manufacturing in the state. 

“All we are seeking is peace 

in Benue State and we may 

not enjoy that peace if people 

are dealing in arms in our 

state. Therefore, we condemn 

any of such acts in our state,” 

Ujege said. 

Unauthorised arms 

bearers must face 

justice—State govt 

Also reacting on behalf of 

the state government, Chief 

Press Secretary, CPS, to the 

governor, Mr. Terver Akase, 

urged that justice takes its 

course in the matter. 

Akase said; “Governor 

Ortom through his amnesty 

programme had insisted that 

Benue State should be rid of 

arms of any kind. Therefore, 

people who are not 

authorised by law to carry 

arms have no reasons 

whatsoever to own arms at 

all. 

“So the government has 

been pushing this narrative 

and if anyone is caught with 

arms, the law should take its 

course because this 

government abhors gunrunning 

by any individual as 

far as that person has no 

backing of the law. 

“So whoever is involved, the 

law should take its course and 

we urge security agencies to 

do proper investigation in the 

matter and let justice be 

served.” 

Sanga LGA boss raises alarm over planned 

protest in southern Kaduna 

TENSION is brewing in 

Sanga Local 

Government Area in volatile 

southern Kaduna of Kaduna 

State as the chairman of the 

local government, Charles 

Danlandi, has accused 

members of an unnamed 

political party of planning 

violent protest in the area 

today. 

But a senior officer of the 

state police command said 

the security services are 

aware of the anxiety in the 

local government area and 

on top of the matter. 

At a briefing in Kaduna, 

yesterday, Danlandi said the 

unnamed political party was 

planning to use religious 

differences to trigger 

violence. 

It will be recalled that 

unknown gunmen last 

month attacked Nandu- 

Gbok village in Sanga Local 


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

The suspected arms manufacturers and some of the recovered tools. 

Government Area, killing 10 

persons and razing over 30 

houses. 

While informing that over 

1,000 natives were displaced 

during the attack on Nandu- 

Gbok village last month, the 

local government chairman 

warned that any protest at the 

moment would negatively 

affect the fragile peace in the 

area. 

According to him, 

information available 

indicated these persons 

wanted to promote religious 

division in the local 

government council, saying: 

“They have prepared a 

campaign based on patently 

false claim that is moved 

against Christians holding 

office in our council. 

"They want to cloak their 

negative activities on the 

guise of protecting me 

against alleged attempts to 

remove me as Chairman of 

Sanga Local Government 

Council by Dr. Hadiza 

Balarabe, Deputy Governorelect 

of Kaduna State. 

“As Chairman of Sanga 

Local Government Council, 

my duty is to ensure that 

nothing and nobody is 

allowed to threaten peace 

and security in my area of 

responsibility. As you are 

aware, we have recently 

been confronted by violent 

attacks in parts of Sanga 

LGA. As such, we must be 

extra vigilant against 

incitement and ethnoreligious 

lines.” 

On the last attack on the 

LGA, the chairman said 

over 1,000 persons were 

displaced, saying the 

council was making efforts 

to ensure that houses burnt 

during that crisis were 

repaired before the rain. 

Anger as Bayelsa oil 

spill commission visits 

ravaged sites 

By Samuel 

Oyadongha 

YENAGOA— ANGER 

and shock trailed the visit 

of the newly established 

Bayelsa State Commission of 

Inquiry on Environmental 

Degradation to some of the oil 

ravaged communities in the 

state. 

The Archbishop of York, Dr. 

John Sentamu-led eightmember 

commission, was 

inaugurated by Governor 

Seriake Dickson last 

Wednesday and immediately 

commenced work with visits 

to Egbebiri and Ikarama 

communities in Yenagoa Local 

Government Area of the state, 

as well as Azuzuama 

community in the deep 

swamp of Southern Local 

Government Area of the state. 

The commission has so far 

held evidence sessions with 

representatives of no fewer 

than 35 communities, 

traditional rulers, 

environmentalists and civil 

society organisations. 

At Egbebiri, chairman of the 

Community Development 

Committee, CDC, Mr. 

Godspower Worikumo, told 

members of the commission 

that the last spill caused by 

equipment failure occurred in 

the community in October 

2018. 

He said the manifold 

operated by Nigeria Agip Oil 

Company, NAOC, spilled 

crude oil for 11 days before it 

was identified by the oil 

company. 

“Our river, ponds and 

farmlands were destroyed by 

the spillage, which lasted 11 

days before Agip responded. 

Since then, our community 

has suffered terrible 

devastation and our means of 

livelihood affected as a result 

of the spillage,” Worikumo 

said. 

The commission members 

expressed shock that an 

attempt to clean up the spills 

resulted in further pollution as 

they saw a pit of fire where 

crude excavated from the soil 

was being burnt and the 

smoke spreading all over the 

community. 

“This is shocking and 

totally unacceptable,” 

Archbishop Sentamu 

lamented, as he scooped raw 

crude from a pond with a 

plastic bucket. 

It was also lamentations at 

Ikarama community as an 

Environmental Monitor for 

Amnesty International and 

youth president of the 

community, Warder 

Benjamin, informed the 

commission that it took a 

minimum of 12 days for Shell 

Petroleum Development 

Company, SPDC, to respond 

to the several incidents of oil 

spills in the community. 

Also at Azuzuama, 

placard-bearing youths 

protested the devastating 

effects of oil spills and 

exploration in their 

community welcomed the 

delegation. 

Monarch accuses 

oil firms’ personnel 

of sabotage 

An environmentalist and 

Ibenanaowei of Ekpetiama 

Kingdom, King Bubaraye 

Dakolo, who spoke to 

journalists after attending 

the evidence session in 

Yenagoa, accused highlyplaced 

personnel of the 

International Oil Companies, 

IOCs, of complicity in the 

sabotaging of oil facilities for 

their selfish and pecuniary 

interests. 

His words: “No oil firm can 

accuse the youths of Niger 

Delta before me because they 

are the cause of the violence 

we are experiencing. Prior to 

oil exploitation and 

exploration, Niger Delta man 

lived in a pristine 

environment with 

tranquillity. 

“Time and time again, 

ocean liners and ships that 

have the capacity of picking 

up at once the entire crude 

oil that comes from Nigeria 

berth at the Gulf of Guinea. 

They anchor there and wait. 

They sponsor young men to 

go and bring crude from 

everywhere around.

10 — VANGUARD, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2019 

We’ve increased power 

generation to 8,100MW 

— OSINBAJO 

By Dayo Adesulu 

L President 

AGOS—VICE 

Yemi 

Osinbajo, yesterday, 

disclosed that the Federal 

Government has 

succeeded in increasing 

power generation from 

4,000 megawatts to 

8,100MW over the past 

three years. 

Osinbajo said this when 

he delivered a lecture 

titled: Nigeria rising: The 

path to prosperity, during 

the University of Lagos, 

UNILAG, 50th 

Convocation Lecture said: 

“On power, we have moved 

generation from 4000MW 

to 8100 MW. But the effect 

of this increase in 

generation has not 

translated significantly to 

better service to the 

consumer. This is mainly 

due to distribution 

challenges. Over 2000 MW 

of power is not taken up by 

the DISCOS for distribution 

to consumers largely 

because of problems they 

experience in collection of 

tariff, but one of the reasons 

for this is the fact that the 

DISCOS have not invested 

significantly in metering. 

“We have now embarked 

on a major metering 

initiative known as the 

Metering Assets 

Programme which involves 

private metering assets 

providers. 

“In addition, the Federal 

Government has, in the 

past 18 months, taken on 

the deficiencies in 

transmission head on 

through the TCN and the 

NDPHC we are completing 

transmission projects all 

around the country. 

“But the more important 

strategy is to decentralize 

power production. So, we 

TAX EVASION: Court issues fresh 

bench warrant against Nollywood 

actress 

By Onozure Dania 

LAdedayo AGOS—JUSTICE 

Akintoye of 

a Lagos High Lagos sitting 

at Igbosere, yesterday, 

issued a bench warrant for 

the arrest of Nollywood 

actress and producer, 

Monalisa Chinda-Coker, 

over a tax evasion charge. 

Akintoye further renewed 

the order for Chinda- 

Coker’s arrest for allegedly 

failing to appear in court 

for trial, since 2017. 

She adjourned further 

proceedings in the matter 

till June 5. 

When the matter was 

called yesterday, neither 

the actress nor her lawyer 

was in court. 

The Lagos State 

prosecuting counsel, 

Babatunde Sumonu told 

the judge that the bench 

warrant had yet to be 

effected. “The bench 

warrant is to continue,” 

Justice Akintoye held. 

The judge had made the 

order for Coker’s arrest on 

January 21, following an 

application by the Lagos 

...Says FG’ll 

diversify economy 

have adopted an off grid 

programme; which means 

that we are encouraging 

private investors to 

collaborate with 

government to build IPPs 

and supply power to willing 

buyers. This was made 

possible by what is called 

an eligible customer 

declaration by the Ministry 

of Power, Works and 

Housing. By this 

collaboration, we have been 

providing power, especially 

Solar Power to economic 

clusters such as markets 

across the country, 

including Ariaria market in 

Aba, 31993 shops, 

Sabongari market in Kano 

13,598 shops, Sura market 

in Lagos 1047. Isikan 493, 

NEPA 256, Gbagi 8778, 

UMBC 2178, a total of 

81691shops servicing 

320000 SMEs. In Lagos 

we recently commissioned 

the Sura market solar 

project; the businesses there 

now have 24 hour power. 

From printers, commercial 

tailors to small chop 

businesses, everyone is 

employing more and 

making more profit.” 

Speaking on plans for the 

next four years, he said: 

“The topic was informed by 

the curiosity of the university 

about what you expect from 

the Buhari administration in 

the next four years or what 

is the meaning of that 

expressionThe Next Level. 

According to him, 

prosperity would be 

attained if we are able to 

address the issues of 

extreme poverty, 

productivity, corruption, rule 

of law, deficiencies in the 

quality of human resources 

caused by poor education 

and health care. 

State Ministry of Justice. 

The state alleged that 

Coker repeatedly failed to 

honour a court summons. 

The application for her 

arrest was sequel to a twocount 

charge accusing 

Coker of failure to file 

annual tax returns and pay 

income tax in respect of her 

company, Monalisa Code 

Productions, for six years. 

It ordered that the warrant 

should continue and 

adjourned till yesterday. 

Count one of the charge, 

marked LD/5712c/2017, 

reads in part: “Failure to 

furnish and file annual tax 

returns for the purpose of 

personal income taxation 

with the Lagos State 

Internal Revenue Service 

contrary to Section 94(1) of 

the Personal Income Tax Act 

2004 (as amended).” 

The particulars of the 

count stated that Coker “of 

Monalisa Code 

Productions, being a taxable 

person in Nigeria and 

carrying on business at 

Lekki failed to furnish and 

file tax returns on your 

personal income for the 

years 2011 to 2016.” 

CONDOLENCE VISIT: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (middle), with late Pa Fasinro’s 

children, Hon. Habeeb Fasinro (right) and Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun (left) during the governor’s 

condolence visit to the family at their Victoria Island residence, Lagos, yesterday. Late Pa Hassan 

Fasinro, the first Clerk of Lagos City Council, died at the age of 99 on Sunday night. 

FATAL SHOOTING AT LAGOS VIEWING CENTRE: 

Three police officers arrested 

By Evelyn Usman 

L police 

AGOS—THREE 

officers, 

attached to the Anti-Cultism 

Unit of the Lagos State 

Police Command have 

been taken into custody in 

connection with the fatal 

shooting of one Kolade 

Johnson, in Lagos on 

Sunday. 

The late Johnson was hit 

by a stray bullet while 

watching a football match 

at 1, Beco Street, Onipetesi, 

Mangoro Bus Stop. 

The policemen, four in 

number, stormed the area 

to arrest a suspect. 

They opened fire on the 

undisclosed person, only 

for a stray bullet to hit 

Johnson. 

As at 6.30pm yesterday, 

the erring policemen were 

still being interrogated at 

the Provost section of the 

Command. 

A visibly angry 

Commissioner of Police, 

Lagos Command, Mr. 

Zumairu Muazu, stated 

that if found culpable, the 

policemen would be eased 

out of the Police Force and 

charged for murder. 

Confirming the arrest, 

spokesman for the 

command, DSP Bala 

Elkana, said: “On March 

31, 2019, at about 5:05pm, 

the Command received a 

distress call that the Lagos- 

Abeokuta Express Way had 

been blocked by some 

angry youths, who were 

protesting the shooting of 

one Kolade Johnson of 1 

Beco street, Onipetesi, 

Mangoro Bus Stop by a 

team of Policemen from 

Anti-Cultism unit. 

“A team of policemen 

from the Rapid Response 

Squads and Metro patrol 

were promptly drafted to 

the scene. The account of 

eye witnesses helped in 

identifying the team which 

fled the scene immediately 

after the incident. 

“Members of the team, 

suspected to be involved 

in the shooting, have 

since been arrested and 

are currently in Police 

custody undergoing 

interrogation. They will 

be subjected to internal 

disciplinary procedures 

and may be prosecuted in 

conventional Court if 

implicated by ongoing 

investigation. 

“Meanwhile, CP Zubairu 

Muazu, calls for calm, 

assuring that justice will 

prevail in this case. The 

Commissioner of Police 

also condoles with the 

family, friends and well 

wishers of Kolade 

Visit to Buhari: CAN President didn’t 

represent the Church — NCEF 

By Sam Eyoboka 

L National AGOS—THE 

Christian 

Elders Forum, NCEF, has 

dissociated itself from the 

recent congratulatory visit 

to President Muhammadu 

Buhari on his purported 

victory at the 2019 election, 

arguing that the visit was 

subjudice as the 

determination of who won 

the 2019 General Election 

is still before the Court. 

A statement signed on 

behalf of the group by its 

president, Elder Solomon 

Asemota, SAN, said the 

group was shocked to read 

in the newspaper that the 

President of CAN, Rev. Dr. 

Samson Olasupo 

Ayokunle, with some CAN 

officials and Christian 

leaders paid a 

congratulatory visit to 

President Buhari on his 

purported victory in the 

2019 general elections. 

NCEF insisted that such 

a victory visit was 

premature and it was 

presumptuous for anyone 

to congratulate President 

Buhari for winning an 

election that is contested in 

Court. 

The statement reads in 

part: “The NCEF wishes to 

state that the congratulatory 

visit to Aso Villa by CAN, 

could not be in the interest 

of Nigerian Christians, 

who daily bear the agony 

of thousands of their 

brethren being killed, 

maimed, displaced and 

marginalized in the Jihad 

launched in the northern 

parts of the country. 

“It is well known the 

indifference of the Buhari 

Administration to the 

murder of Christians all 

over the country. This 

indifference has led many, 

including foreign 

observers, to conclude that 

Late Fasinro was true 

father of Lagos — TINUBU 

By Olasunkanmi 

Akoni 

LLagos AGOS—FORMER 

State governor, 

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has 

described elder statesman 

Pa Hassan Fasinro, who 

died on Sunday as a true 

father of Lagos and a 

committed progressive. 

Fasinro, the first Clerk of 

Lagos City Council, died at 

the age of 99. 

In a condolence message 

to the Fasinro family he 

personally signed and 

released by his Media 

Office, Asiwaju Tinubu 

said 

Fa 

Fasinro contributed 

immensely to Lagos and 

Nigeria as a lawyer, 

politician, administrator, 

legislator, author, and 

community leader, adding 

Johnson. The CP has 

promised to initiate far 

reaching reforms to help in 

repositioning the Anti 

Cultism Squad for effective 

service delivery, 

particularly in areas of 

respect for Human 

Rights and proficiency 

in the use of firearms.” 

the Buhari Administration 

is complicit in the genocide 

that is taking place in 

Nigeria. 

“The action of the CAN 

President, Rev. Samson 

Olasupo Ayokunle, is a 

further confirmation of all 

the protests and petitions of 

NCEF in 2018 querying 

the faithfulness of Dr. 

Ayokunle to Christ and to 

His Church.” 

that he would be deeply 

missed. 

In a statement titled Pa 

Fasinro: A True Father of 

Lagos, Tinubu said: “Alhaji 

Hassan Adisa Fasinro was 

a true father of Lagos. Born 

and bred here, he 

personified the best of Lagos 

and dedicated his life to 

making Lagos a place of 

progressive governance, 

cultural richness and social 

justice for its people. He 

lived and breathed Lagos till 

his last breath. 

“A committed progressive, 

Papa fought to establish the 

rule of law and to give 

Lagosians a democratic 

egalitarian society. He 

believed in the innate 

goodness of the people and 

that democratic governance 

would help our people 

realize their fullest 

potentials."

Vanguard, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2019 — 11 

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

AKANDE @ 93: From left; Former Senate Leader, Senator Teslim Folarin; Oyo State Governor, 

Abiola Ajimobi; and former General Secretary, Nigerian Baptist Convention, Rev (Dr) Samuel Ola- 

Akande, during a luncheon to mark his (Akande's) 93rd birthday, in Ibadan on Sunday. 

Olubadan, Olubadan-in-Council crisis 

worsens •We'll reply appropriately — Olubadan 

By Ola Ajayi 

IBADAN—THE frosty 

relationship between 

the Olubadan of Ibadan, 

Oba Saliu Adetunji, and 

members of Olubadan-incouncil 

which appeared to 

have subsided, resurfaced, 

yesterday, as the latter 

accused the monarch of 

allegedly undermining the 

Olubadan institution with 

illegal practices and 

disregard to the Council. 

The members of 

Olubadan-in-Council, who 

were promoted to beaded 

crown wearing kings by 

Governor Abiola 

Ajimobi spoke through the 

Otun Olubadan, Oba Lekan 

Balogun, after a meeting 

held at Mapo Hall on 

Many PDP leaders're after their stomach 

— OBASANJO 

By Daud Olatunji 

A F BEOKUTA— 

O R M E R 

President Olusegun 

Obasanjo, yesterday, said 

that many leaders of the 

Peoples Democratic Party, 

PDP, are after their pockets 

and stomach. 

Obasanjo said this, on 

Sunday night, while 

receiving PDP leaders from 

South West led by its 

National Vice Chairman 

(South West), Dr Eddy 

Olafeso, at his Pent-House 

Residence inside 

Olusegun Obasanjo 

Presidential Library, Oke- 

Mosan, Abeokuta, Ogun 

State. 

Obasanjo said the party 

needed to purge itself of 

“bad eggs and hypocrites.” 

His words: “I knew PDP 

would lose the election in 

2015 because it was clear. I 

knew PDP will need to be 

rebuilt after losing the 

election. 

“You need what I call 

Monday. 

They jointly described the 

actions of the paramount 

ruler as uncalled for and that 

caution should be exercised 

in order to avoid crisis. 

They alleged that 

Olubadan was destroying 

the system that brought him 

to the throne as a king 

Balogun said: “We want to 

draw the attention of the 

people of Ibadan to some 

irregularities and 

illegalities embarked 

upon by the Olubadan, 

we are members of the 

Olubadan-in-Council but 

we are being sidelined by 

the Olubadan. 

“Against tradition, Oba 

Saliu is running a one-manshow, 

disregarding the 

Council. He appoints 

critical mass of committed 

people, and come rain, 

come shine they are 

committed. With that, you 

can make Nigeria better. 

“You see peoples’ faces 

beautiful but you don’t 

know what each person 

harbours inside of him. 

If you discover a bad 

egg, remove such a 

person. If such person 

has learned his or her 

lessons there can still be 

room to accommodate the 

person. 

“Politically speaking, you 

can’t be my friend if you 

don’t buy into the Nigeria 

project. For me, till death, I 

will continue to push for a 

better Nigeria. 

“I said if you compare the 

two of them (referring to 

Atiku and Buhari); with 

what I know and all I have 

written about the 

incumbent which they have 

decided to cover up, Atiku 

is better than the incumbent 

by far. That’s the point I am 

making. Nobody is perfect. 

“I am not a perfect person. 

Mogajis and baales without 

recourse to the Council. 

Most of the things he does 

are illegal. 

“For instance, the Olori is 

not a member of the 

Olubadan-in-Council but in 

his own case, the Olori 

unilaterally takes decisions 

on his behalf. 

“If Olubadan thinks we do 

not matter, we also can show 

that he doesn’t matter 

without us. He should not 

forget that when he was to 

be made the Olubadan, he 

rose through the Council. 

We, the Olubadan-in- 

Council, made Olubadan 

out of him, he did not make 

us what we are, but we 

made him the Olubadan. 

“The danger of what they 

are doing in the palace has 

I have my shortcomings. 

"If I deny my 

shortcomings, it means I 

am not being truthful to 

myself. But, my 

shortcoming has nothing to 

do with my love for 

Nigeria. It has nothing to 

do with being greedy or 

selfishness.” 

Earlier in his address, 

Olafeso described 

Obasanjo as a loyal, upright 

and committed leader who 

is “ready to speak the truth 

to the power” not minding 

whose ox is gored 

Olafeso said: “We could 

not have done well in the 

last elections in the South 

West without your support. 

Your voice resonates above 

all the lies told in the 

country and you told the 

world what is actually 

happening in your country. 

You decided that you are 

going to stand up and fight. 

There is nothing we can say 

here that would 

compensate the role you 

have played. 

been manifesting in the 

ridiculous action of 

appointing two or more 

Mogajis from the same 

compound, honouring 

people with Mogaji title 

based on friendship as well 

as cash and carry award of 

Baales to undeserving 

people. 

“We are by today’s 

resolution alerting the 

Ibadans both at home and 

in the diaspora of the 

excesses of the palace.” 

We’ll reply appropriately 

— Olubadan 

When contacted, the 

Olubadan’s Director of 

Media and Public Affairs, 

Adeola Oloko said: “We 

want to see what they have 

said after which we will reply 

appropriately.” 

Sugar’s murder: Case now being 

handled by higher authority— CP 

By Ola Ajayi 

Ifour BADAN—ALMOST 

weeks after the 

murder of a member of the 

House of Representatives, 

Mr. Temitope Olatoye, aka 

Sugar, who represented 

Lagelu/Akinyele Federal 

Constituency, the Oyo 

State Police Command has 

said the case is now being 

“handled by the higher 

authority.” 

Though, it was not 

specific where the case was 

taken to, Vanguard 

gathered that case has been 

transferred to the force 

headquarters at Abuja. 

The Oyo State 

Commissioner of Police, 

Mr. Shina Olukolu 

disclosed this while 

Tribunal orders INEC to allow 

Akinlade, APM inspect polls 

materials 

By Daud Olatunji 

AOGUN 

BEOKUTA— 

State 

Governorship Election 

Petition Tribunal, yesterday, 

ordered the Independent 

National Electoral 

Commission, INEC, to 

grant the candidate of the 

Allied Peoples Movement, 

APM, Adekunle Akinlade 

and his party, access to 

electoral documents used 

for the conduct of March 9 

governorship election in 

the state. 

Justice Chinwe 

Onyeabor-led three man 

panel gave the order at its 

inaugural sitting on 

Monday following a motion 

ex parte filed by the 

Akinlade and the party. 

In the petition captioned 

EPT/06/GOV/01/2019, the 

petitioners are challenging 

the victory of the All 

Progressives Congress, 

APC, and its candidate, 

Media Group unveils youths TV in Lagos 

By Kingsley 

Adegboye 

L AGOS—LAGOS 

based Maxima 

Media Group, at the 

weekend, officially 

launched its TV channel 

known as Views Channel, 

a digital platform 

dedicated to promote 

talents in youths by 

allowing them to express 

mPharma wins 2019 Skoll Award for Social 

Entrepreneurship 

L AGOS—SKOLL 

Foundation has rated 

mPharma a recipient of the 

2019 Skoll Award for Social 

Entrepreneurship. 

The Skoll Foundation 

presents the Skoll Awards 

for Social Entrepreneurship 

each year to a select group 

of social entrepreneurs 

whose innovations have 

already had significant, 

proven impact on some of 

themselves through 

various youth programmes 

to be presented on the 

channel. 

Speaking at the unveiling 

of the new TV channel with 

several bouquets, 

Managing Director of 

Maxima Media Group, 

Mr. Femi Ogundoro, said: 

“We want to give young 

people a channel to express 

their passion, irrespective 

the world’s most pressing 

problems, and invests 

directly in the promise of 

even greater impact at 

scale. 

mPharma was awarded 

the honour for pioneering 

the vendor managed 

inventory model for 

pharmacies in Nigeria. 

With the innovation, 

instead of pharmacies 

managing their own 

inventory, mPharma 

sources, procures and 

parading a number of 

suspects at the State Police 

headquarters, Eleyele, 

Ibadan yesterday. 

When asked if there was 

any update on the death of 

the lawmaker, he said: 

“Investigation is ongoing. 

The matter is being 

handled by the higher 

authority and the command 

is still working on the 

available information. 

Information was given to us 

two days ago and we are 

currently working on it.” 

He, however, vowed that 

wherever the killers are, the 

command will get them. 

“No matter how long the 

case may take, the 

perpetrators of the evil will 

be made to face the wrath 

of the law”, he vowed. 

Dapo Abiodun, which were 

joined in the application as 

second and third 

respondents. 

INEC is the first 

respondent in the suit filed 

by APM and Akinlade. 

The Petitioners’ Counsel, 

Mamman Osuman, SAN, 

who appeared with Ahmed 

Raji SAN, told the tribunal 

that the order becomes 

necessary to allow the 

applicants access the 

electoral documents “with 

a view to maintaining the 

petition already filed before 

the tribunal.” 

Among other prayers 

sought were, “An order 

directing the 1st 

Respondent to forthwith 

grant access to the 

Petitioners/Applicants and 

their Solicitors, agents, 

experts and other staff to 

inspect, photocopy, scan, 

pay for and obtain certified 

copies of all documents 

used by the 1st Respondent 

for the conduct of the Ogun 

governorship election." 

of their disciplines. 

“The platform we are 

trying to bring on board 

now is to bridge the gap 

between TV and digital 

such that young people can 

express themselves. 

Passion can be anything; it 

can be music, business, 

fashion or whatever. 

"Our target audience is 

strictly 16 to 35 youths who 

dominate the population." 

finances it for them at no 

cost to the pharmacy. 

While accepting the 

award, the CEO of 

mPharm, Gregory 

Rockson, said: “We are 

honored to see the work we 

started receive this 

acknowledgment from the 

Skoll Foundation. 

''It encourages us to work 

harder in ensuring that no 

patient is denied access to 

high quality medicines 

due to cost or stockouts.”

12—VANGUARD, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2019 

Edo govt closes secondary 

schools over cult clash 

By Alemma Aliu 

BENIN CITY - 

ACTING Governor of 

Edo State, Comrade Philip 

Shaibu, has ordered the 

partial shutdown of two 

secondary schools Ihogbe 

College and Oba Akenzua 

Secondary School over a 

recent clash between rival 

cult groups. 

He said the closure was 

to allow the state 

government, parents and a 

mentorship committee 

brainstorm and provide 

solutions to cult-related 

activities among students in 

the schools. 

Shaibu stated this during 

a meeting he had with 

parents of the students, 

held at the school premises 

yesterday. 

He said: “We cannot 

allow cultism in our 

secondary schools in Edo 

State. We have to stamp our 

authority in these two 

schools. We cannot allow 

rivalry and cult clashes 

among students. That is 

why we have to come in to 

deal with the issue of 

morals. Something went 

wrong and that is what we 

must correct. That is why 

we have set up the 

mentorship committee and 

closed the school to 

investigate the root cause 

of this incident and find 

solutions." 

Emmanuel restates promise to 

establish more industries 

By Harris 

Emmanuel 

UYO—Governor Udom 

Emmanuel of Akwa 

Ibom State has given the 

assurance that the state 

would witness the 

establishment of more 

industries in his second 

term. 

The governor gave the 

assurance at a meeting 

with officials of the Nigeria 

Sovereign Investment 

:Vanguard 

News 

Authority, NSIA, who 

were in the state for a 

retreat, stating that the 

state was the best 

industrial hub given its 

natural and human 

resources. 

He said: “With viable 

gateways such as water, air, 

land and good road 

infrastructure across the 

state, there is no business 

that cannot thrive in Akwa 

Ibom given its serene and 


Rivers election: Wike, AAC, APC fire 

INEC as collation resumes 

•Stop military participation —Wike 

•Wike predetermined to win —APC 

•INEC biased —Awara, AAC candidate 

By Egufe 

Yafugborhi & 

Davies 

Iheamnachor 

PORT HARCOURT - 

Ahead of today’s 

resumption of the collation 

of the results of the 


Rivers State, interested 

parties have expressed 

divergent views over the 

neutrality of Independent 


Commission, INEC. 

While Governor Nyesom 

Wike, governorship 

candidate of the Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, 

expressed optimism in the 

process if the military is 

barred from the scene, the 

candidate of the African 

Action Congress, AAC, 

Biokpomabo Awara, and 

the All Progressives 

Congress, APC who are 

backing him, doubted 

INEC’s sincerity. 

Army should stay 

away —Wike 

Wike, in his remarks at a 

stakeholders meeting 

convened by INEC in Port 

Harcourt, said: “The only 

way you can have a 

peaceful election is when 

the military is not made part 

of it. Let the army remove 

its hands from the election. 

“When the Army goes to 

the collation room, people 

will resist and the soldiers 

will shoot the people. That 

was how violence 

happened. Was there 

violence at the polling 

units? In my political 

career, I have never seen 

what the army did in this 

election. 

“And what stopped INEC 

By Festus Ahon 

A 

S A B A — 

STAKEHOLDERS at the 

Niger Delta Watch, NDW, 

2019 have told the 

Independent National 

Electoral Commission, 

INEC, to stop the use of 

National Youth Service 

Corps, NYSC members as 

adhoc staff during elections. 

Speaking during a 

briefing on the 2019 

election, the people 

stressed the need for adhoc 

staff to be well trained 

from naming officers 

behind all these as they did 

in 2016? Rivers State is 

peaceful. If this area was 

violent, why are they 

drilling oil here? Nobody 

goes to drill oil in a troubled 

area. It is only when it 

comes to an election that 

they could say the state is 

not peaceful.” 

Wike predetermined 

to win —APC 

Spokesman of APC in the 

state, Mr. Chris Finebone, 

condemned what he 

described as the “so-called 

timelines and activities to 

conclude the March 9 


Rivers State. 

“It is a charade well 

choreographed by INEC. 

The ultimate result can only 

be to announce a preferred 

partner and collaborator as 

the winner against the AAC 

candidate, Awara, who was 

clearly in the lead before 

collation was aborted. 

“Whether INEC succeeds 

in its machinations will be 

seen in the days to come. 

Several actions of INEC 

had prepared the minds of 

many that the entire 

exercise was skewed to 

favour Wike and the PDP. 

“For example, where and 

under whose custody were 

VISIT: Minister of 

Education, Malam 

Adamu Adamu 

(middle), with 

Registrar, Joint 

Admission and 

Matriculation Board, 

JAMB, Prof. Ishaq 

Oloyede, during their 

visit to some 

Computer-Based Test 

Centres, CBT, to 

monitor mock 

examination in Abuja, 

yesterday. Photo: NAN 

the result sheets and other 

sensitive materials kept 

since they were not 

returned to the Central 

Bank for safe-keeping? 

“How come Wike knew 

about the 17 LGAs whose 

results had been allegedly 

collated and had posted 

same on his official Twitter 

handle long before INEC 

made the announcement? 

Answers to these and other 

questions will continue to 

hang on the neck of INEC. 

“What is happening now 

is in complete fulfilment of 

the tripartite collaboration 

between Wike, INEC 

Resident Electoral 

Commissioner, Obo 

Effanga ably assisted by 

the Administrative 

Secretary of INEC in 

Rivers, Etim John. INEC 

Headquarters is merely 

leading the plot. 

INEC biased 

—Awara 

AAC candidate, Awara said: 

“We raised a point that 

bordered on the fairness of 

the commission, a point 

about the custody of the 

results and at one point we 

faulted the collation that 

brought LGAs collated to 

17, they ignored us. 

“We have seen that INEC 

is biased. We have it in 

good authority that 

certificates of return have 

already been prepared for 

Gov. Nyesom Wike and 20 

PDP House of Assembly 

candidates and one SDP 

candidate.’’ 

ELECTIONS: Stop using corps members 

as adhoc staff, stakeholders tell INEC 

ahead of time and Card 

Readers made to function 

well at polling units. 

The stakeholders, who 

were made up of the Police, 

INEC, SSS, NCDSC, 

Academia, CSOs, NOA, 

Traditional Institutions, 

IPAC, Observers, Media, 

and others, said the corps 

members were easily 

induced with money. 

Delta State Project 

Coordinator of the Niger 

Delta Watch, NDW, 2019, 

Mr Onajite Esike , in his 

remarks, said some of the 

corps members saw the 

assignment as a means to 

make money. 

He said: “Besides, most 

of them are not computer 

literate and are always 

being compromised with 

gifts as small as ice cream, 

especially when the 

security agents on the 

ground were not enough to 

monitor the crowd.’’ 

Esike recommended that 

"civil servants such as 

teachers who have stakes 

in the election should be 

trained and incorporated to 

handle the assignments at 

the local governments."


L 

O 

K O J A — 

JUDICIARY 

workers in Kogi State 

yesterday stormed the 

streets to protest alleged 

plot by the state government 

to remove the state 

Chief Judge, Justice Nasiru 

Ajanah from office. 

Vanguard gathered 

that Governor, Yahaya 

Bello over the weekend 

instructed the Speaker, 

Matthew Kolawole to 

remove the CJ from office 

through a panel of 

enquiry set up to probe 

him despite High court 

injunction stopping the 

panel from sitting. 

But the Judicial 

workers during a protest 

led by the state 

Chairman of the 

Judiciary Staff Union of 

Nigeria, JUSUN, 

Emmanuel Waniko, 

warned the Speaker 

against carrying out the 

plot. 

The workers displayed 

several placards with different 

inscriptions such 

as “Why are you punishing 

us”, “ Pay us our 

salary”, “Bello you benefited 

from judiciary why 

are you fighting us”, “ 

Leave Judiciary alone”. 

According to Waniko, 

“the union is forced to 

make this call at this 

auspicious time 

following reports 

reaching us on the 

clandestine moves by 

governor Yahaya Bello 

and his directive to the 

Speaker to disobey the 

subsisting order given 

on 13th December, 2018 

by the High Court of 

Kogi State Koton-Karfe 

division, asking the state 

assembly to stay any 

action on the ongoing 

impasse between the 

executive and judiciary 

in the state. 

“We were last paid in 

June 2018 which makes 

it a total of nine months 

today that we are being 

owed our legitimate 

salaries. We are 

therefore upbeat that 

even after almost four 

months that our courts 


Protest rocks Kogi over plot to remove 

State Chief Judge 

By Boluwaji 

Obahopo 

are shut because of the 

ongoing strike, the 

state assembly would 

make itself available to 

further foster another 

crisis on the state 

through this proposed 

K ATSINA— 

WORRIED by the 

series of kidnappings 

and armed banditry in 

the state,the Katsina 

State government has 

moved to beef up security 

in front line local 

government areas of the 

state with cases of 

insecurity and those 

sharing borders with the 

dreaded Rugu forest, 

den of criminal activities. 

The Commissioner for 

Local Government and 

Chieftaincy Affairs, 

Abdulkadir Ahmed 

Zakka donated 10 Toyota 

Hilux vehicles acquired 

at the cost of N181 

million to the front line 

and worst hit local 

government areas in the 

state. 

The affected front line 

By David Odama 

L AFIA—MEDICAL 

services in 

government owned 

hospitals and other 

public health institutions 

in Nasarawa State have 

been shut following a 

commencement of total 

strike yesterday by 

members of the Nigeria 

Medical Association, 

NMA. 

The industrial unrest 

illegal removal of the 

Chief Judge. 

“The executive arm of 

Kogi State must be told 

that JUSUN is resolute 

in its effort to right the 

wrongs been perpetuated 

in the state by governor 

Yahaya Bello. We 

call on the state assembly 

to steer clear of this 

crisis and rather use its 

constitutional authority 

to bring sanity to the 

state by calling the governor 

to order." 

LUNCHEON: President, Association of Industrial Security and Safety 

Operators of Nigeria, AISSON, Dr. Ona Ekhomu (middle), Commodore 

Ignatius Iliya of Naval Doctrine and Assessment Centre, Lagos (right) and 

Group Captain G. A. Bello of Nigerian Air Force Provost Group, during 

AISSON quarterly luncheon in Lagos. 

Kidnapping: Katsina beefs up security 

around border, LGAs 

By Bashir Bello 

local government areas 

include Jibia, Batsari, 

Safana,Danmusa, 

Dutsinma,Kankara, 

Funtua, Bakori, 

Dandume, Sabuwa with 

high cases of insecurity 

ranging from 

kidnapping to armed 

banditry. 

Speaking after 

donating the vehicles to 

the Local Government 

Caretaker Committee 

Chairmen for onward 

distribution to the 

security agencies, the 

Commissioner, Zakka 

said the vehicles were to 

boost patrol and security 

around the border areas. 

Zakka however urged 

the security personnel to 

make judicious use of the 

vehicles and make sure 

they checkmate security 

challenges in their 

domains. 

According to him, “you 

are all living witnesses 

to the insecurity 

affecting these 10 

frontline local 

government areas. 

"Governor Aminu 

Masari is worried about 

the insecurity. He sleeps 

with it and wakes up 

with it.To make sure that 

he assists in curtailing 

the situation in these 10 

local government areas, 

he invited critical 

stakeholders, after which 

he gave approval to 

procure the ten brand 

new vehicles for the 

LGAs". 

Adamawa PDP Gov-elect 

inaugurates transition c'ttee 

By Umar Yusuf 

Y OLA—ADAMAWA 

state Governor - 

elect, Ahmadu Fintiri, 

yesterday inaugurated 

a 65 member transition 

committee to ensure a 

smooth handover between 

the outgoing administration 

and the 

incoming one on May 

29th. 

The committee is 

headed by a retired 

federal Permanent 

Secretary in the Ministry 

of Defence, Alhaji 

Aliyu Sumaila Numan. 

Speaking at the inauguration, 

Fintiri tasked 

the committee to ascertain 

the financial status 

of the state by outlining 

the assets and 

liabilities of the state . 

The committee should 

also clearly determine 

all the contracts 

awarded by the outgoing 

administration, 

their current status, 

amounts paid out, and 

outstanding liabilities 

on each of the contracts. 

NMA cripples healthcare services in Nasarawa 

was sequel to the expiration 

of a three day 

warning strike by the 

state branch of Nigeria 

Medical Association, 

NMA started last Friday. 


NMA in the state had 

last Friday embarked on 

a three-day warning 

strike to make the 

government address its 

demands or face a total 

strike 

A visit to Dalhatu Araf 

Business mogul Adamu debunks 

being detained 

A 

B U J A — 

BUSINESSMAN, Mike 

Adamu has denied being 

arrested by the Nigeria 

Police over a purported 

court order. 

Mr. Adamu, who is the 

CEO of Reform Sports 

West Africa Limited and 

son of Amos Adamu, 

former Director-General, 

National Sports 

Commission, said the 

clarification became 

necessary after a number 

of media platforms 

reported that he had 

been detained based on 

the order of a Magistrate 

Court in Mpape, Abuja. 

In a statement, Adamu 

vowed to pursue the 

matter to a logical legal 

conclusion. 

He stated that "my 

attention has been drawn 

to false online and print 

Specialist Hospital Lafia, 

the state capital, showed 

that most departments 

such as casualty, Out 

Patient, Ante-natal 

among others were 

without doctors 

attending to patients. 

Some of the patients 

with critical cases told 

Vanguard that they were 

being turned back on 

account that doctors 

were on strike and 

nobody would be there to 

He assured that his 

administration would 

pay special attention 

to the development of 

local government 

councils to fast track 

development and 

tasked the committee 

to ascertain what had 

accrued to the finances 

of the third tier of 

government in the 

state. 

Fintiri directed the 

committee to submit 

its report before May 

29th inauguration to 

guide the administration. 

Responding, the 

Chairman of the committee, 

Numan, 

pledged to work to 

turn out a workable 

blueprint for the administration. 

He gave an assurance 

that the outcome 

of the committee 

would be devoid of 

witchhunt, as it would 

be purely Adamawa 

project for the people 

of Adamawa even yet 

unborn. 

media reports 

suggesting to the public 

that I was arrested, 

arraigned and ordered to 

be remanded in custody 

by a magistrate court in 

Mpape Abuja till April 

1st 2019 sequel to a 

petition by NSIL Limited 

pertaining to an alleged 

fraud or against me. 

"It is sad that 

newspapers and news 

platforms that are 

supposed to be medium 

of truth have allowed 

themselves to be avenues 

for peddling falsehood. I 

was never arraigned nor 

remanded in the custody 

of the Police Intelligence 

Response Team, prison 

custody or any other 

custody whatsoever till 

1st April 2019 or any 

other date. 

attend to them. 

They called on the state 

government and the 

leaders of NMA to find 

amicable resolution to 

the impasse in the 

interest of the people 

especially those with 

critical cases. 

Public Relations Officer 

of NMA in the state, 

Dr. Wisdom Ezegbe, who 

led some leaders of the 

association round hospitals 

in Lafia.


FORMAL LAUNCH/UNVEILING OF NEW ACCESS BANK LOGO 

The unveiling of new Access Bank logo, at Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos on Sunday, was witnessed 

by business personalities and who is who in Nigeria. PHOTOS: AKEEM SALAU. 

From left: Mr. Herbert Wigwe, Group Managing Director, Access Bank Plc; HRH Alhaji 

Muhammadu Sanusi II, Emir of Kano; Mr. Uzoma Dozie, pioneer Managing Director, Diamond 

Bank Plc; Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, former MD, Access Bank Plc; Alhaji Aliko Dangote, 

President, Dangote Group and Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State. 

From left: Mr Herbert Wigwe, GMD, Access Bank Plc; Mr Nicola 

Terraz, Managing Director/CEO, Total E&P Nigeria; Otunba Funso 

Lawal; Mr Ronald Chagoury, Chairman, Eko Atlantic City and Dr 

Sam Iwuayoku, Chairman/CEO, Quits Aviation Services Limited. 

Dr Christopher Kolade, Nigeria’s former High 

Commissioner to the United Kingdom and his wife. 

Mr. Jacky Hathiramani, Chief Executive Officer, 

DANA (left) and Mr Wale Tinubu, Group Chief 

Executive of Oando Plc. 

Mr. Tunde Folawiyo, Managing Director, Yinka 

Folawiyo Group (left) and Mr Fola Adeola, 

Founder/Chairman, Fate Foundation. 

From left: Pastor Shyngle Wigwe; Mrs Stella Wigwe; Mrs Emily Aig-Imoukhuede 

and Mr Frank Aig-Imoukhuede. 

From left: Mrs Kemi Ogunmefun, Non-Executive Director, Access Bank 

Plc; Mrs Dere Awosika, Non Executive Director and Dr Olubayo Awosika. 

Mr. Bismarck Rewane, Non Executive Director, 

Independent (left) and Collins Chikebuba, 

Chairman, Kohinnor. 

Mr Ade Bajomo, Executive Director for 

Information Technology and Operations, Access 

Bank Plc (left) and Ernest Ndukwe, former CEO, 

Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). 

Taiwo Iluyomade (left) and Pastor Idowu Iluyomade, 

Senior pastor, RCCG, City of David parish.

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2019—15 

By Johnbosco 

Agbakwuru 

A BUJA—GOVERNOR 

Rochas Okorocha of 

Imo State, yesterday, raised 

the alarm that the ruling All 


APC, might crash out 

before 2023 general 

elections. 

Okorocha who raised the 

alarm while speaking with 

State 

House 

correspondents after 

meeting behind closed 

doors with President 

Muhammadu Buhari at the 

Presidential villa, Abuja, 

alleged that the national 

chairman of APC, Comrade 

Adams Oshiomhole has 

turned the party into a 

regional party. 

He further alleged that 

the abysmal performance of 

the APC in Imo State was 

due to imposition of 

candidates by Oshiomole, 

claiming that the candidate 

fielded by the party in the 

governorship election also 

contributed to the party’s 

woes. 

According to him, “My 

fear now is that APC might 

have a serious set back in 

2023 because the 

Oshiomhole- led executive 

is actually turning APC into 

a regional minority party 

which shouldn’t be because 

of his mistakes. Right now 

in the whole South East, we 

don’t have an APC 

governor.” 

However, Oshiomhole 

reacted to Okorocha’s 

claims, saying APC is in 

safe hands. 

Recall that Okorocha 

contested the February 23 

National Assembly 

election for the Owerri 

West (Orlu zone) senatorial 

seat and was initially 

declared winner of the 

election but the 

Independent National 

Electoral Commission, 

INEC, Returning Officer 

that declared him, Prof. 

Francis Ibeawuchi later 

announced that the 

declaration was made 

under duress. 

Consequently, the INEC 

chairman, Prof. Manhood 

Yakubu declined to issue 

Okorocha Certificate of 

Return. 

When asked whether he 

was at the State House to 

seek the President’s 

intervention over his 

matter, the Imo State 

Governor who has been 

having running battle with 

the APC national chairman, 

Oshiomhole said that he 

met the President to invite 

him to commission projects 

his administration executed 

in the state. 

He said: “I came here 

precisely to discuss with 

Mr President to come and 

commission my projects. I 

have completed the 

construction of a new 

Cargo Airport Terminal, 

Warehouses and cargo 

sheds that are to be 

commissioned. 

“I have also completed a 

new police headquarters 

and also a new prison 

headquarters in Imo State. 

These are federal 

government projects built 

by Imo State government. 

Another landmark project 

is the Justice Oputa Court 

:Vanguard 

News 

Oshiomhole may crash APC 

before 2023 —Okorocha 

...says APC lost Imo guber because of bad candidate 

- the new Imo State High 

Court Complex which we 

have built. 

“So, we have over a 

thousand verifiable 

projects to be 

commissioned. So, I am 

requesting Mr President to 

kindly commission the 

federal ones and see how 

many of the state’s projects 

he could commission. This 

is precisely why I am here.” 

On why his party, the 

APC was not making any 

case for him in his certificate 

of return, Okorocha who is 

chairman, APC Governors 

Forum said: “I won’t be 

surprised because, of 

course, you know the 

imposition we suffered in 

the party. 

“When you say the party, 

you talk about the 

leadership of that party, it’s 

not the party. I don’t have 

problem with the National 

Working Committee of the 

party, I only have problem 

with the chairman of that 

party who took it upon 

himself to do the wrong 

thing against me for just no 

cause and to fight a battle 

that he can never win." 

On whether he discussed 

the non issuance of his 

Certificate of Return with 

the President, he said, “I 

don’t think that would have 

been necessary to do 

because it is a straight 

forward matter." 

“INEC conducted the 

election, the Returning 

Officer declared the results 

and I won only one week 

later to hear that somebody 

wrote a petition that he 

issued that declaration 

under duress. The question 

is where was it? In his 

private house or at the 

collation centre? 

APC in safe hands 

—Oshiomhole 

Reacting to Okorocha’s 

claims, the national 

chairman of APC, Adam’s 

Oshiomhole through his 

Chief Press Secretary , 

Simon Ebegbulem said 

APC is in safe hands under 

Oshiomhole, adding that 

Okorocha is still suffering 

from his own Iberiberism 

after he lost woefully in his 

effort to force his son in-law 

on Imo people. 

“He should be ashamed 

today that he connived with 

the PDP to rig the Imo 

guber election in favour of 

the PDP just because his 

son-in-law lost the 

governorship ticket of the 

APC. Okorocha’s greed 

has destroyed his political 

career and he may not 

resurrect from it. 

“Our candidate in Imo, 

Senator Hope Uzodinma is 

very popular and not a 

political light weight like 

Okorocha who could not 

even deliver himself in the 

senatorial election not to 

talk of delivering his soninlaw’s 

governorship 

ambition. Okorocha used 

the resources of the state to 

work against the APC yet 

he lost woefully." 

Enugu guber: UDP candidate withdraws petition 

from tribunal congratulatory visit to Gov. 

Ugwuanyi at the 

By Chinedu Government House, 

Adonu 

THE 

governorship 

candidate of one of the 

opposition political parties 

in Enugu State, in the just 

concluded general 

election, United Democratic 

Party, UDP, Pastor Donatus 

Madubuike Ozoemena, 

has congratulated 

Governor Ifeanyi 

Ugwuanyi on his reelection, 

declaring his “full 

support” for his 

administration. 

Addressing newsmen 

when he paid a 


CONGRATULATION: Enugu State Governor and Governor-elect, 

Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (left) being congratulated by the governorship 

candidate of United Democratic Party, UDP, Pastor Donatus Ozoemena 

at the Government House, Enugu, shortly after he withdrew his 

petition from the Election Tribunal, yesterday. 

Enugu yesterday, Pastor 

Ozoemena, who was 

reported to have instituted 

a legal action against the 

outcome of the 


the state, disclosed that “I 

have instructed my Legal 

Team to discontinue the 

matter at the Election 

Tribunal with a view to 

working hand-in-hand 

with our governor for the 

benefit of the people of 

Enugu State”. 

The UDP governorship 

candidate added that his 

decision was based on “the 

governor’s art of 

sportsmanship” and his 

belief that “our present 

Governor, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi 

Lawrence Ugwuanyi is 

someone you can also 

trust”. 

Abia wins 2018 World 

Bank Award 

...it’s recognition of our efforts on 

ease of doing business —Ikpeazu 

Abia State has been 

nominated for the 

prestigious World Bank 

2018 Subnational Ranking 

Award organised by the 

Presidential Enabling 

Business Environment 

Council, PEBEC, a World 

Bank assisted council, 

holding this Wednesday in 

Abuja. 

In a letter addressed to 

the Governor of Abia State, 

Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, by Dr 

Jumoke Oduwole, Senior 

Special Assistant to the 

President, Office of the Vice 

President, informing the 

Governor of the state’s 

nomination for the second 

edition of the award, the 

council commended Abia 

for implementing what it 

described as ‘impactful and 

landmark reforms in 2018. 

PEBEC’s letter read: “In 

recognition of your 

immense contribution and 

support towards driving 

PEBEC’s overall reform 

initiatives in 2018, we are 

pleased to inform you of 

Abia State’s nominations 

for the prestigious PEBEC 

Award in the “World Bank 

2018 Subnational Ranking 

Award” category." 


Court frees Wabara of corruption 

charges 14 years after 

ABUJA—A high court 

in Abuja has 

discharged and acquitted 

Adolphus Wabara, former 

senate president and two 

others of allegations of bribe 

for budget levelled against 

them by the federal 

government. 

The two others who were 

set free by the court are 

Ibrahim Abdulazeez and 

John Azuta Mbata, former 

senators. 

The development came 

14 years after the suit was 

filed. 

In his ruling, S.E 

Aladetoyinbo, the 

presiding judge said the 

suit lacks witnesses to 

prosecute the charge. 

He therefore, discharged 

the defendants under 

section 355 of the 

Administration of Criminal 

Justice Act 2015. 

Two other defendants who 

were listed in the suit 

included Garba Matazu, a 

former House of Reps 

member and Fabian Osuji, 

minister of education at the 

Ihedioha appoints transition c'ttee 

By Chidi 

Nkwopara 

OWERRI—IMO State 

Governor-elect, Chief 

Emeka Ihedioha, has 

constituted a Transition 

Technical Committee, TTC, 

with Professor Ernest Ebi as 

chairman, while Dr. Kema 

Chikwe serves as the Vice 

Chairman. 

According to a statement 

signed yesterday by Chief 

Ihedioha’s media aide, Mr. 

Chibuike Onyeukwu, the 

Committee which is 

divided into 12 sub 

committees also has 

Dr.Chinedu Okpaleke as 

Secretary. 

Onyeukwu also disclosed 

that “each of the subcommittees 

has a chairman 

Abia State is listed by 

World Bank, among five 

states in Nigeria making 

strides to improve the ease 

of doing business for 

domestic small and 

medium scale enterprises 

in 2018. 

Speaking on the 

nomination of the state for 

the award, Governor 

Ikpeazu said: “For me, this 

recognition by the World 

Bank through PEBEC is a 

recognition of our modest 

effort to engender a 

conducive environment 

that will help improve the 

ease of doing business in 

our state. Before we came, 

Abia ranked 35 among the 

listed states and their 

improvements in ease of 

doing business. But in 

2018, we were among 5 

states in Nigeria listed by 

the World Bank for 

improvements in ease of 

doing business. From 35 

place to be among the first 

five is huge. Now we have 

been nominated by PEBEC 

which a World Bank 

Assisted Council for this 

purpose. We are grateful to 

God and thank Abians for 

their support, while calling 

on our people to bring their 

time. 

The duo were not present 

in the court in a suit filed 

by the Independent 

Corrupt Practices and other 

related offences 

Commission, ICPC. 

According to the trial 

judge, prosecutors in the 

matter which has been 

pending since 2005 could 

not raise witnesses to 

prosecute the case. 

He said following the 

failure of the prosecutor to 

produce witnesses, each of 

the counsels to the 

defendants also urged the 

court to discharge and 

acquit the defendants 

under Section 355 of the 

Administration of Criminal 

Justice Act, 2015 which 

states as follows: “Where a 

complainant at any time 

before a final order is made 

in a case satisfies the court 

that there are sufficient 

grounds for permitting 

him to withdraw his 

complaint, the court may 

permit him to withdraw the 

complaint and shall 

thereupon acquit the 

defendant.” 

and a Secretary”. 

Chibuike further stated 

that “the sub committees 

included Projects Review, 

Finance Review and 

Funding Initiative, 

Integrated Infrastructure, 

Human Capital 

Development, Good 

Governance, Agriculture, 

Commerce and Industries, 

among others.


MEETING: From left— Chairman of the occasion & Deputy General Manager, NAVAIDS, Anthony 

Onyejiuwa, GM, Electronic Communication, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, Abdulaziz 

Maiwada, National Association of Air Traffic Engineers, NAAE, Lagos chapter Chairman, Anthony 

Nwose, Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers Association, NATCA Deputy President, Alhaji Ahmed Adamu 

Bello, and Aviation Safety Inspector Engr, E.N.G Oragwu,during the Biennial General Meeting, Election 

and Symposium on ‘Cyber security organized by NAAE Lagos chapter in Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele. 

Why we adopted stringent process for 

sim card replacement —NCC 

By Emmanuel 

Elebeke 

ABUJA—THE Nigerian 

Communications 

Commission, NCC, has 

again explained to telecoms 

consumers on why it 

reviewed and made the 

process of replacing lost, 

stolen or damaged 

Subscriber Identity Module 

(SIM) cards more 

stringent. 

The Commission made 

the clarification while 

addressing various servicerelated 

concerns and issues 

Group to Oredo APC: Obaseki's endorsement for 2nd 

by section of APC leaders ‘mere sychophancy' 

BENIN CITY—THE 

Concerned Edo Youths 

for Good Governance, 

CEYGG, has described as 

"mere sychophancy", the 

statement by some leaders 

of the All Progressives 

Congress, APC, in Oredo 

Local Government Area of 

the state, endorsing 

governor Godwin Obaseki 

for a second term. 

The group in a statement 

signed by its Director of 

Publicity, Dr Calistus 

Osamoyi, admonished 

Obaseki to be wary of those 

endorsing him for a second 

term when he is barely 

three years in office, 

asserting that those people 

will "still endorse another 

candidate who give them 

raised by telecoms 

consumers during a 

Consumer Conversation 

Programme, (CCP) hosted 

by the Commission in Lafia, 

Nasarawa State at the 

weekend. 

The CCP is designed by 

the Commission to engage 

telecoms consumers and 

educate them on the various 

consumer-centric initiatives 

put in place by the 

Commission to protect their 

rights and interests, while 

also serving as a feedback 

mechanism to address 

consumer concerns. 

more money as we approach 

2020." 


statement, " it is nauseating 

to read people saying there 

is no vacancy in Osadebey 

Avenue because they want 

to make Obaseki happy. We 

are calling on these party 

leaders to allow Edo people 

pick their governor come 

2020 and not leaders who 

have already compromised 

Ogwu charges Delta govt on abandoned 

Poly in Aboh 

By Elizabeth 

Uwandu 

ABOH—THE president 

general of Aboh 

Speaking at the event, 

Director, Zonal Operations 

Department of NCC, Mrs. 

Amina Shehu, said the 

Commission has found 

that, at times, a subscriber 

may be having issues with 

his or her phone number, 

thinking that it is a network 

issue, but by the time he 

or she discovers what is 

happening, money has 

been fraudulently taken 

out of his or her bank 

account. 

Shehu, who was 

represented at the forum by 

a Principal Manager in the 

and trying to justify their 

pay. 

"We have said it on 

several occasions that people 

should stop distracting 

Obaseki with a second 

term when he is yet to commence 

job at the Gelegele 

Sea Port, Benin industrial 

park projects and the 

200,000 jobs he promised 

Edo people. 

"Besides, APC is known 

Development Union, ADU, 

Ajie Ogwu has called on 

the Delta State 

Government to look into the 

issue of the abandoned 

polytechnic in Aboh, 

headquarters of Ndokwa 

East local government 

area. 

Ogwu made this call 

recently during the 

installation ceremony of 

the new Iyasele (traditional 

prime minister), High 

Chief Charles Ifeanyi 

Odili, a retired civil 

servant. 

The president general of 

the community said the 

opening of the polytechnic 

will show that Governor 

Ifeanyi Okowa has the 

interest of Ndokwa East 

people at heart and as part 

of the technical education 

revolution of the 

government. 

Zonal Operations, Mr. 

Ekisola Oladisun, said 

SIM swap or replacement 

fraud has a lot of issues 

attached to it because, often 

times, a lot of people who 

are not the owners of some 

numbers go to do SIM 

swap at various customer 

centres of the service 

providers. 

“There have been cases 

of fraudulent activities done 

on people’s bank accounts, 

as a result of SIM swap and 

the victims often complain 

to the Commission 

expecting that the NCC 

would compensate them! 

for conducting primaries 

even in states where they 

have sitting governors and 

that is why we see those 

shouting that there is no 

vacancy in Osadebey 

Avenue as jokers. Obaseki 

must merit a second term 

and it will not come through 

these sychophants who are 

professionals in creating 

crisis so they can feast on 

the governor," it stated. 

He also called on the 

government to complete 

the failed portions of the 

Ashaka/Aboh road so as to 

make the road motorable in 

all seasons. 

Ogwu stated that the 

Aboh people will 

appreciate if all the 

abandoned projects in the 

Ndokwa East local 

government headquarters 

are completed. 

He charged the new 

Iyasale to co-operate with 

the Aboh monarch so as to 

attract more developmental 

projects to the town, adding 

that all sons and daughters 

of the kingdom should see 

it as duty to contribute their 

quota to the development 

of the town. 

Speaking earlier, the 

Iyasele promised to do his 

best in ensuring peace and 

prosperity of the kingdom. 

Renewable energy sector receives 

$300m loan boost 

NEW Development Bank and Development 

Bank of Southern Africa will finance the 

project which aims to increase clean energy 

production 

SA’s drive to boost the renewable energy sector 

has received a boost following the signing of a 

$300m loan agreement between the New 

Development Bank (NDB) and Development Bank 

of Southern Africa (DBSA) designed to support 

the sector. 

The NDB and Eskom also formally signed the loan 

agreement for the renewable energy integration 

and transmission project which was agreed on in 

2018. The project is expected to be implemented 

over 15 years from 2018 to 2033. 

Stock Exchange reopens on downward 

trend 

THE equities activities of the Nigerian Stock 

Exchange (NSE) reopened for the week on 

Monday on a downward trend as market 

capaitalisation depreciated by 0.29 per cent. 

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 

market capitalisation, which opened at N11.672 

trillion, lost N34 billion or 0.29 per cent to close 

at N11.638 trillion due to price losses by some 

blue chip equities. 

The All-Share Index declined by 509.73 points or 

01.64 per cent to close at 30,531.69 against 

31,041.42 posted on Friday. 

An analysis of the price movement chart indicated 

that Nestle led the losers’ chart with a loss of 

N130 to close at N1, 450 per share. 

Betaglass came second with N7.15 to close at 

N64.8, while Nigeria Breweries lost N3.75 to close 

at N63 per share. 

Auditor questions Oando’s 

sustainability 

T 

HE auditor of Nigerian oil and gas producer Oando 

Plc has questioned the company’s ability to remain 

in business as it continues to incur losses and struggles 

with a heavy debt burden. 

Oando, which is listed on the JSE and Nigerian Stock 

Exchange, recorded losses of 18.3-billion naira 

(R720.4m) for the year. 

Net profits of Egyptian business 

sector or hit 11.3 .3 bln in 2 yrs - Minister 

COMPANIES affiliated with the business 

sector in Egypt made net profits of EGP 11.3 

billion in the fiscal year 2017/18, with total earnings 

of EGP 18.5 billion reported by profitable 

companies and losses estimated at EGP 7.2 billion 

by the unprofitable ones, said Public Business 

Sector Minister Hisham Tawfik on Monday. 

Delivering the inaugural speech at the 'Influential 

Growth' annual conference, organised by the 

economic newspaper Hapi Journal, Minister 

Tawfik said that his ministry seeks to achieve 

sustainable development for the public business 

sector with a view to making a leap in the profits 

of its affiliate companies. 

The restructuring process of the business sector 

companies chiefly involves training cadres and 

honing skills in order to cope with the ongoing 

industrial development, the minister pointed said. 

He also shed light on the ministry's efforts to adopt 

the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, 

which is meant to plan and manage the resources 

of as many as 70 affiliate companies within 18 

months.

Buhari, Jonathan, Atiku and I (2) 

AFTER the first encounter 

with Dr. Goodluck 

Jonathan on the day the 


empowered him as Acting 

President, I formed an 

impression of him which has 

not changed as I write: he 

should have been a Vicar and 

not a Nigerian politician. 

I came to that conclusion 

when he answered Pastor 

Bakare’s question as to why 

he did not move against 

Yar’Adua’s ministers who 

were misbehaving during the 

power vacuum. 

He in all innocence said: 

“The father of my chief justice 

when I was governor in 

Bayelsa used to say that any 

man that uses more than 20 

per cent of his power would 

become a nuisance to his 

community”. My thought was 

that the man does not fully 

appreciate power politics in 

this demoncrazy where a ruler 

(not leader) has to use 100 per 

cent of his power to be joined 

with the strength of Miyetti 

Allah to bring society under 

total submission. 

A few months after this 

encounter, I discovered that 

Jonathan was not faking it but 

being his real self when he 

made the statement I quoted 

above. 

Nuisance to his 

community 

I had made some scathing 

remarks about him when he 

made the statement I 

referenced last week about the 

National Conference. I ran 

into my late friend, Mr. 

Oronto Douglas in Abuja some 

days after I made the 

statement and was surprised 

when he said to me: “Oga 

read what you wrote about him 

and he didn’t like it. He 

demands an apology from 

you." 

That shocked me to the 

marrows. A Nigerian 

president with DSS, Police, 

DMI, etc, and whose aides 

may unofficially have 

assassins at their beck and call 

is demanding an apology from 

a citizen for a harsh comment 

he didn’t like. 

I told Oronto to tell him I 

apologise for the harsh 

comments but still disliked his 

comments. 

There wasn’t any sign in the 

horizon that I was going to 

back Dr. Jonathan for the 2015 

elections. Having packed it 

up with the Buhari group 

honourably, I was not going to 

have a choice between the duo 

in the following elections but 

for the return to the core issue 

that affects our polity. 

In fact, in between the 2011 

and 2015 elections, the Save 

Nigeria Group I was very 

active in had organised the 

Occupy Nigeria at Ojota in 

Lagos which almost brought 

the Jonathan government 

down. It was one of the most 

powerful moves against any 

government in the history of 

Nigeria after a sudden 

increase in the pump price of 

For us in 

Afenifere, our 

job was cut out 

as the subject of 

returning 

Nigeria to 

federalism was 

very cardinal 

petrol while discussions 

initiated by government on the 

subject were still going on 

around the country. 

A meeting of SNG was called 

in Lagos where a novel 

decision was taken to involve 

prominent entertainers in our 

reaction against the hike in 

pump price of fuel. We had 

popular musicians like Femi 

Kuti, KWAM 1, the late Ras 

Kimono and Dede Mabiaku at 

the planning sessions. The 

first day of the protest drew 

appreciable crowd. By the 

second day the attendance 

became massive. 

By the third day we were 

already fearing a stampede. 

The fourth day became 

something else. By the fifth 

day we had to take a decision 

to let the people go home for 

the weekend so we could avoid 

a major mishap that could 

happen as the crowd already 

grew beyond what we could 

manage. 

There have been talks about 

that movement attracting 

sponsorship. But as the person 

who disbursed all the money 

spent centrally for the five days 

the action lasted, I can say that 

we never spent more than 

N7.5 million for all the days it 

lasted. 

I recall spending quality 

time to put it across to Dr. 

Jonathan when we met at 

Otuoke after he left office that 

the movement was not 

bankrolled from anywhere. 

By early 2014, words were 

already filtering out that a 

National Conference may be 

on the way. As the year 

progressed, Oronto reached 

out on the subject and asked 

for inputs with consultations at 

the highest level. 

The conference eventually 

held for three months in Abuja 

with the best possible quality 

attendance across Nigeria 

with a unanimous report after 

serious give-and-take from the 

disparate forces at the 

Vanguard, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2 2019 —17 

conference. 

some of us is different from 

At the end of the conference what drives jobbers like them. 

the President assured a few of A hollow professor even put 

us who had audience with him in black and white that 

that the reports would be “Odumakin collected money 

implemented to move the from Jonathan campaign in 

country forward. 

2015 to set up a radio station”. 

For us in Afenifere, our job He has been dragged before 

was cut out as the subject of a Lagos High Court to come 

returning Nigeria to and prove the 

federalism was very cardinal. wild allegations. 

It was on the basis of mere Suffice here to acknowledge 

verbal commitment to the publicly the goodness of 

subject that the group Jonathan which differentiates 

supported the candidacy of him from many of the 

General Muhammadu Buhari politicians around here. 

in 2007. This time around we I had applied for a radio 

had a President who already license in 2014 through the 

organised a National NBC and I followed due 

process. 

Conference with reports in our 

hands promising to implement 

it if he returns. There was no 

need for much debate on whom 

to back for the elections and it 

was within that context 

Jonathan became my 

candidate for 2015. I must say 

here that if that situation 

arises again, we would do it 

again! 

For the lousy lot who spew 

the nonsense that Odumakin 

jumped from Buhari to 

Jonathan, they lack the depth 

to appreciate the dynamics of 

the seasons and what drives 

Dear Yinka, 

THANK 

you for 

reproducing the late 

Prof. Pius Adesanmi’s 

presentation. The rest of his 

paper was published online. I 

really condole with the 

members of his family, friends, 

students, professional 

colleagues and the academic 

community for the loss of this 

intellectual giant. 

He has written his name in 

gold in the annuals of history 

and be sure he goes marching 

on like other great men before 

him. 

Please permit me to comment 

on the part of his paper where 

he mentioned you and others 

for doing a “thankless job” 

working with and for those 

who claimed that they came to 

be our liberators, but turned 

out to be our oppressors and 

promoters of poverty in the 

land. 

Let it be said that you and 

Goodness of 

Jonathan 

My application was among 

the several sent to the 

Presidency for signature by 

the Ministry of Information 

under Mr. Labaran Maku who 

resigned before the elections. 

His exit led to the applications 

sent to the Presidency being 

reshuffled under the new 

arrangement. 

It was after Jonathan had 

lost elections and was on his 

way out of the Villa that I 

mentioned to him that I had 

an application awaiting his 

signature. 

He responded that he 

signed some applications that 

day but he would not know the 

names of the applicants. I had 

to check with my contacts at 

NBC only to be told that my 

application was replaced after 

the exit of Maku, though it 

was fully qualified. It was 

then resent and Jonathan 

signed it at a time he expected 

nothing from me as he had 

already lost his re-election bid. 

My station was set up several 

moths after he left office and I 

never collected a dime from 

him contrary to the wild and 

malicious claim of the 

professor that his campaign 

gave me money in 2015 to do 

it. 

To be continued 

FEEDBACK 

Re: Pius Adesanmi: Endless Tears 

others he named have not only 

given voice to the 

voiceless millions of Nigeria, 

but have also done what these 

millions cannot do for 

themselves. Be neither 

discouraged nor weary for 

doing a thankless job in 

standing up for and with the 

masses. 

If your struggles are faced 

with challenges that are 

frightening and you obtain no 

present thanks, do not give 

up the struggles. Do not 

become a sluggard in the 

struggle. 

Remember that those 

who return unkindness for 

kindness shown them will 

plant and harvest unkindness 

in their lives. 

Those who return evil for the 

good done them evil will never 

depart from them. This is a 

natural law. The struggle must 

continue. 

—Tony O. Ekwe. 

C 

M 

Y 

K

18 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2019 

SOMETIMES when the attitudes of 

public sector workers to their 

responsibilities are put in perspective, 

one wonders whether they know the 

purpose of governance. Do they know 

that government and the laws exist for 

the betterment and uplift of the 

average citizen? Or do they think 

government exists only to lord it over 

the people? 

On Tuesday, March 27, 2019 at 

exactly 3.00pm, the bulldozers of the 

Federal Capital Development 

Authority, FCDA, descended on the 

Divine Wounds of Jesus Christ 

Orphanage in Kubwa, Abuja, and 

brought it to the ground. 

The Orphanage had reportedly 

sheltered 150 children, some of them 

only a few months old. In virtually the 

twinkle of an eye, the children were 

rendered homeless. Pictures and 

videos of these hapless kids, their 

foodstuff and belongings littering the 

outdoors, went viral on the social 

media. 

Demolition of Abuja orphanage 

Though the owners of the 

Orphanage claimed the demolition 

took place without warning, FCDA 

Director, Mr. Mukhtar Galadima, 

counterclaimed that the demolition 

was carried out because the owners 

had ignored many “Stop Work” 

notices. 

It also emerged that the property 

was the subject of ongoing family 

squabbles and litigations between the 

widow of the late owner and his family 

members. 

What concerns us more than any 

other thing is the apparent lack of 

empathy and human feeling on the 

part of the FCDA officials over the 

plight of the orphaned children whose 

woes were worsened immediately by 

being rendered homeless. This much 

was evident in the fact that the children 

and their belongings spent the 

night in the open before the viral videos 

brought FCDA officials hurrying 

back to meet with the orphanage operators 

and promising to accommodate 

the children temporarily for at 

least one year. 

The correct procedure should have 

been for the FCDA to get the 

orphanage owners to move the 

children and their provisions to a 

secure place before proceeding with 

the demolition. That would show a 

government with a human face and a 

heart for the plight of these less-fortunate 

minors who have no family 

member willing or able to care for 

them. 

If not for the power of the social 

media, who knows how long the 

children and their providers would 

have languished in great deprivation 

before any succour would come? 

We call on the law-enforcement 

agencies and the relevant Federal 

Ministry in charge of social welfare 

to inquire into this incident and 

ascertain the veracity or otherwise of 

the claim that some of the children 

were not accounted for after the 

demolition. 

We also condemn all acts of 

impunity by some misguided citizens 

who refuse to abide by the laws in 

setting up edifices, as well as 

government officials who engage in 

the callous demolition of people’s 

buildings. 

We must all be law abiding. 

IN 1999, the Independent 


Commission, under Justice Ephraim 

Akpata, spent over N32 billion to 

conduct the 1999 general elections. 

At that time there was no National 

Assembly. The approving authority 

then was the 33-man Provisional 

Ruling Council headed by General 

Abdusalam Abubakar, GCFR. In 

2003, the National Electoral 

Commission under Chief Abel 

Guobadia spent over N60.5 billion 

to conduct the general election. 

In 2007, National Electoral 

Commission, INEC, under Prof. 

Maurice Iwu spent over N74.2 

billion to conduct the general 

elections. In 2011, under Prof. 

Attahiru Jega INEC spent over 

N89.2 billion. In 2015, under the 

same Prof. Attahiru Jega, the 

Independent National Electoral 

Commission spent about N120 

billion to conduct the general 

elections. The breakdown is as 

follows: N4 billion for vehicles, N3 

billion for collapsible ballot boxes, 

N5.4 billion for the review of the voter 

register, N10.8 billion for operations 

(personnel cost requirements and 

cost for registration of voters 

nationwide), N222 million for hotel 

accommodation for state INEC 

commissioners, N3.66 billion for 

logistics and transport, N502.5 

million for training of staff for voter 

registration, N10.3 million for 

printing of voter register, N5.4 billion 

to clean up the electronic voter 

register after election, N155.5 

million for Servicom, N64.78 

million for electoral hazards 

allowance, N222 million for voter 

education, display of voter register 

across the 774 local government 

areas. In October last year, the 

National Assembly passed a budget 

of N242.2 billion for the conduct of 

this year’s elections. Addressing 

members of the National Assembly 

committee, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, 

INEC chairman, defended the 

budget as what would be enough to 

conduct the poll. He said out of the 

N189 billion, N134.4 billion would 

be used as operational cost while N6 

billion was budgeted for feeding 

security officials during the elections. 

He added that N27.5 billion will be 

used for elections’ technological cost 

while N22.7 billion will be for 

administrative cost. 

Aishatu Dukku, chairman of the 

INEC committee in the House of 

Representatives, said the lawmakers 

would be transparent in considering 

details of the budget. “It is important 

for us to approach the budget 

proposal from both process and 

content perspective,” she said, 

adding: “It is only by so doing that 

one can begin to unravel the 

intricacies of the entire range of 

issues involved.” She also said the 

committee hopes the government 

would address issues that have to do 

with election funding “unlike the 

previous budgets that were not 

OPINION 

The staggering election burden 

productive in the entire planning of 

elections”. The commission 

subsequently met with the Senate 

committee on INEC over the same 

matter. At the senate meeting, Prof. 

Yakubu said the increase in the 

budget - as against the N120 billion 

requested in the 2015 elections - was 

necessitated by the increase in 

number of political parties, 

The election burden 

has become too much 

for our economy; we 

can’t continue this way 

registered voters as well as high 

exchange rate. 

The commission has so far 

registered 91 political parties as 

against the 44 that were in place in 

2015. “Also associated with political 

parties, is monitoring of party 

primaries, congresses and 

conventions. There is also the 

processing of nominations. We have 

12,558 constituencies which means 

INEC has to process about 141,778 

nominations. We also have more 

electoral constituencies. Right now 

we have about 68 more 

constituencies and there is also 

increase in the number of registered 

voters. We’ll need to open more 

voting points, engage more ad-hoc 

staff, supervisors and returning 

officers,” he said, stating that as at 

August 11, the commission had 

registered 12.1 million voters. 

In justifying the huge cost of the 

election the INEC chairman, Prof. 

Mahmood Yakubu said in 

December in Abuja that the increase 

in the cost of running the election in 

the country was partly due to security 

and logistic reasons. At a validation 

workshop on the study of the cost of 

elections in West Africa organized 

by ECOWAS Network of Electoral 

Commissions, ECONEC, in Abuja, 

Prof. Mahmood Yakubu said the 

study was part of ECONEC’s twoyear 

Work Plan (2016-2018) borne 

out of the serious concern of all 

electoral commissions in the sub 

region about the spiraling cost of 

conducting elections. 

Prof. Yakubu said: “With every 

cycle, the cost of elections keeps 

rising, making many countries 

unable to fund critical aspects of the 

electoral process as a sovereign 

responsibility. “The ever-rising cost 

of voter registration and the 

compilation of a credible voters’ 

register, recruitment and training of 

electoral officials, provision of 

electoral logistics, election security, 

civic and voter education, 

procurement of sensitive and nonsensitive 

materials, deployment of 

electoral technology, undertaking 

regular engagement with 

stakeholders and handling of preelection 

and post-election litigations 

are enormous.” The task of meeting 

such extensive expenditure has 

increasingly challenged the national 

resources of many countries in our 

region. It is against this background 

that the Governing Board of 

ECONEC inaugurated this study to 

explore what we can do as election 

managers, working together with 

national stakeholders and 

development partners, to find ways 

to reduce the cost of elections without 

jettisoning new innovations or 

compromising the quality, 

transparency and credibility of 

elections.” 

According to him, ECONEC has 

undertaken needs assessment, 

solidarity and mid-term review 

missions to several member states. 

“The objective is for Election 

Management Bodies, EMBs, in our 

sub-region to share experience, 

expertise and even pool resources 

not only with a view to ensuring best 

practice through peer review but also 

in order to reduce the cost of 

conducting elections among our 

member states. Yet in spite of the huge 

amount of money allocated to INEC 

some of the elections were 

inconclusive.” 

In comparison, in January this year 

all the thirty-six states of the 

Federation including Abuja shared 

N173.8 billion from the Federation 

account. If we add what INEC has 

been allocated since 1999 to conduct 

the six elections so far, it will be over 

N617 billion. That amount of money 

is enough to build the necessary 

infrastructure in the country. No 

doubt this our democracy is 

becoming a burden. We are talking 

of a nation without energy, no basic 

infrastructure, bad road networks, 

etc. The election burden has become 

too much for our economy. We can’t 

continue this way.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, APRIL 2 , 2019 — 19 

Nigeria spends N10trn on petrol 

subsidy dismay that fuel subsidy deprive 

By Rosemary Onuoha 

At the backdrop of the 

continued comatose state of 

the Nigeria’s local refining 

capacity, the country may have 

spent about N10 trillion in the 

provision of pump price subsidy 

on imported petroleum products 

from 2006 to 2018. 

A research report by BudgIT, a 

public finance focused Non- 

Governmental Organisation, 

NGO, said this amount came from 

the price shocks in the 

international energy market as 

well as the exchange volatility. 

However, the report also 

indicated that the subsidy regime 

has opened Nigeria’s public 

finance to huge corruption and 

illegal exportation of petroleum 

products to neighboring countries. 

The report titled, “Nigeria’s 

Petrol Subsidy Regime: Dilemma 

of the World’s Most Populous 

Black Nation”, stated: “Nigeria 

currently imports an average of 

91 percent of its daily petrol 

needs, thus disproportionately 

exposing local petrol prices to 

price shocks from international 

factors of production and 

exchange rate volatility. 

“There is a near perfectly 

inverse relationship between the 

fall in the value of Naira and the 

rise in the cost of imported petrol. 

That is, when next the Naira is 

devalued, Nigeria’s subsidy bill 

can be expected to jump.” 

It stated further: “The 

continuation of petrol price 

regulation perpetuates safety 

nests for exceptional forms of 

corruption within the country’s 

subsidy regime. Import subsidy 

creates petrol price arbitrage - the 

differential between the regulated 

price in Nigeria and the high 

petrol prices in neighbouring 

countries - which is big enough 

to incentivise smuggling of 

subsidized products to 

neighbouring border towns.” 

On the implication of the 

adverse development, the report 

stated: “BudgIT notes with 

CURRENCY BUYING SELLING 

US DOLLAR 

POUNDS 

EURO 

FRANC 

YEN 

CFA 

WAUA 

RENMINBI 

RIYAL 

SDR 

DANISH 

RAND 

$94.35 -0.15 

2,305.00 25.00 

$12.36 -0.17 

$68.41 0.83 

$60.79 0.65 

305.95 306.45 306.95 

401.0393 401.0393 402.3501 

343.6736 344.2353 344.7969 

307.2096 307.7116 308.2137 

2.7625 2.767 2.7716 

0.5041 0.5141 0.5241 

423.9944 424.6873 425.3802845 

45.5687 45.6437 45.7186 

81.578 81.7113 81.8446 

424.7504 425.4445 426.1387 

46.0269 46.1021 46.1773 

. 21.0564 21.0908 21.1253 

CBN Exchange rate as at 01/04/2019 

Nigeria of funds needed for 

critical socio-economic 

development as it discourages 

investors, who generally prefer a 

deregulated industry, from 

investing in the downstream 

sector especially in the area of 

refinery construction and 

operation. For instance, the 10 

trillion consumed by the subsidy 

regime is sufficient to construct 

27,000MW of electricity or build 

about 2,400 units of 1000-bed 

standard hospitals across 774 local 

government areas of Nigeria, 

found our research. 

“We equally note that the 

Nigerian masses worship low oil 

prices. More so, the political class 

fears that increases in petrol price 

(and in the cost of living by 

extension), occasioned by a 

deregulated price regime, and 

could become a flashpoint for 

mass uprisings and political 

instability. Nonetheless, we can 

never shy away from the 

opportunity cost of the corrupt 

subsidy regime.” 

Group Executive, Digital and Consumer Banking, United Bank for Africa, Anant Rao (Middle), 

with the 2019 UBA Campus Ambassadors during their unveiling at the UBA Group Head 

Office in Lagos at the weekend 

FMDQ lists Access Bank’s N15bn Green Bonds 

By Nkiruka Nnorom 

FMDQ OTC Securities Ex 

change, yesterday, admitted 

Access Bank Plc’s N15 

billion green bonds for trading 

on its platform. 

The five-year, 15.5 percent, 

Fixed Rate Senior Unsecured 

Green Bond due 2024, is the 

pioneer climate bonds standard 

certified corporate green 

bond issued in Africa. 

The proceeds from the issuance 

will be used to finance/ 

re-finance eligible 

green assets and 

projects that will support 

the delivery of a 

low-carbon economy. 

Speaking at the 

bond listing ceremony 

at the FMDQ in Lagos, 

Ms. Tumi Sekoni, 

Associate Executive 

Director, Capital 

Markets, FMDQ, congratulated 

Access 

Bank for the successful 

issuance, saying 

that the green bond 

would help address 

climate and environmental 

challenges in 

a sustainable manner 

to deliver prosperity 

for Nigerians. 

According to her, 

the issuance of the 

green bonds by Access 

Bank would further 

deepen the domestic 

debt capital 

market by increasing the 

range of investible debt securities 

in the markets. 

Group Managing Director, 

Access Bank, Mr. Herbert 

Wigwe, speaking on the green 

bonds issuance, stated: “With 

our pace-setting experience in 

the mainstreaming of sustainability 

in our business operations, 

we are confident that this 

issue will further help in supporting 

environmentally 

friendly investors to meet their 

investment objectives whilst 

simultaneously supporting the 

bank’s customer towards realising 

growth opportunities in 

the fast-developing low carbon 

economy.” 

Oando increases PAT by 46% to N28.8 bn 

By Peter Egwuatu 

Oando Plc has recorded a 

N28.8 billion Profit-After- 

Tax (PAT) in its audited account 

for the year ended December 31st 

, 2018, representing a 46 

percent increase from the N19.8 

billion recorded in 2017. 

A review of Oando’s results 

shows positive performance across 

most of its financial indices; 

reaffirming the company’s 

concerted efforts and commitment 

to reversing the tide following the 

oil price crash in 2014. 

Analysis of the results sent to the 

Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, 

show that turnover increased by 

37 percent to N679.5 billion 

compared to N497.4 billion in 2017, 

driven primarily by higher oil 

prices resulting in higher oil 

revenue and higher gas prices, 

which led to higher gas revenues. 

In addition, gross profit grew by 

9% to N96.3 billion from N88.1 

billion in 2017. 

The company’s balance sheet 

remained strong with a 46 percent 

increase in PAT to N28.8 billion 

from N19.8 billion in the 

comparative period of 2017 driven 

by higher revenue and income tax 

credits. Its total Group 

borrowings decreased by 11 

percent to N210.9 billion from 

N237.4 billion in 2017, while long 

term borrowings decreased by 23 

percent to N76.8 billion compared 

to N99.6 billion in the same period 

of 2017. 

Since its acquisition of 

ConocoPhillips Nigeria in 2014, 

Oando has embarked on a 

proactive drive to significantly 

reduce its debt and liabilities. 

From a N473.3 billion corporate 

facility in 2014 to N210.9 billion in 

2018, a 55 percent decrease and 

in its upstream business, the 

company has reduced its debt by 

MTN, 

StarTimes 

partner to offer 

subscribers 

special bundle 

S 

tarTimes Nigeria has 

partnered MTN Nigeria 

to offer mobile internet 

subscribers on the network a 

special data bundle for 

StarTimes ‘ON’ mobile app. 

With the video streaming 

bundles on StarTimes ‘ON’ 

App, MTN subscribers can now 

enjoy unlimited entertainment 

and video on demand (VOD) 

service at a cheaper data price 

than any other network in 

Nigeria. 

Speaking on the development, 

General Manager, Data & 

Devices, MTN, Abiodun Ajayi 

said, “With a data bundle of 

N150, subscribers can enjoy up 

to 60 minutes of streaming time 

on StarTimes ON by simply 

sending ST1 via SMS to 131 

while for N400 customer gets up 

to 180 minutes of streaming time 

by sending ST3 via SMS to 131.” 

Also commenting, The OTT 

Director at StarTimes Nigeria, 

Tony Tuo, said that all MTN 

subscribers would also enjoy five 

premium channels that offer 

news, music, religion, movies 

and other entertainment content 

for free on StarTimes ‘ON’, a 

service which users of other 

networks have to pay to gain 

access to. 

According to Tuo, “StarTimes 

‘ON’ currently boasts of 3.5 

million users in Nigeria and over 

12 million across Africa, making 

its partnership with MTN the 

latest in an industry where it has 

become a common trend for 

telecoms and video operators to 

partner towards an effective 

delivery in a market where VOD 

and live streaming is on the rise.” 

70 percent to $260 million from 

$801.6 million in 2014. 

Speaking on the significant 

reduction in borrowings, the 

Group Chief Executive of Oando, 

Wale Tinubu said: “Our asset base 

is delivering strong free cash flows 

as evidenced by a 70 percent 

reduction in our upstream 

borrowings since the closure of our 

landmark acquisition of 

ConocoPhillips’s Nigerian assets 


“The company’s 2018 results are 

further evidence that the 

company’s management team is 

focused on maintaining a strong 

balance sheet, profitability, value 

creation and a business that is 

indeed here for good. The 

company’s third year of strong 

financial performance is evidence 

that the company is back to 

business as usual, thus rebuilding 

stakeholder confidence in the 

brand as a viable business to invest 

in” he noted.


From left: Maureen Ada-Leonard, Education Chairperson, Professional Insurance Ladies 

Association, PILA; Ugochi Odemelam, Executive Director, Marketing & Business 

Development, Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc; Olaotan Soyinka, MD/CEO, Sovereign 

Trust Insurance, and Ose Oluyanwo, President PILA, during the courtesy visit of the 

Association to the Management of Sovereign Trust Insurance at the Corporate Head 

Office in Lagos. 

IFRS9: NSE extends deadline for 

insurers to submit results 

Stories by Rosemary 

Onuoha 

The Nigerian Stock 

Exchange, NSE, has 

extended the deadline for 

insurance companies quoted on 

the NSE to submit their 2018 

financial results, following their 

transition to the International 

Financial Reporting Standard, 

IFRS 9. 

Accordingly, insurance 

companies have up till July 

2019 31st to submit their results 

against the statutory time frame 

of June 30th every year. 

The extension came as a result 

of an appeal by the National 

Insurance Commission, 

NAICOM, to the NSE to give 

insurance companies more time 

to file their results in the IFRS 9 

model. 


Vanguard had exclusively 

reported that many of the 

companies had lamented that 

the implementation of the IFRS 

9, in the 2018 financial year as 

against initial scheduled period 

of 2020 will cause delay in the 

submission of their results. 

However, while reacting to the 

development, Deputy 

Commissioner, Technical, of 

NAICOM, Mr. Sunday Thomas, 

noted that the Commission had 

reached out to the other 

regulators to extend some grace 

period to the insurers. 

Thomas, who spoke to 

journalists in Lagos, last week, 

said that NAICOM also had 

one-on-one dialogue with 

operators and had engaged 

Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) 

of insurance firms in terms of 

implementation of the financial 

model. 

Thomas added that the 

adoption and effective 

implementation of IFRS9 will 

ultimately enhance 

transparency in financial 

transactions in the insurance 

industry. 

Thomas said, “We have 

reached out to the NSE and 

SEC to grant extension to 

insurance companies as 

regards submission of their 

2018 financial results, and they 

have granted one month 

extension to insurance firms 

quoted on the NSE. 

“Operators need to do more to 

incorporate the tenets of IFRS 9 

into their annual financial 

results. IFRS 9 provides 

significantly improved 

information because it 

introduces a structured 

approach to the classification 

and measurement of financial 

assets that reflects the business 

model in which they are 

managed and their cash flow 

characteristics.” 

According to Thomas, many 

Building collapse: NCRIB frowns at 

dependence on govt for compensation 

Nigerian Council of 

Registered Insurance 

Brokers, NCRIB, has frowned at 

the poor attitude of Nigerians 

towards insurance and 

dependence on government for 

compensation after a major 

incident or disaster. 

Executive Secretary of 

NCRIB, Mr. Fatai Adegbenro, 

expressed this position while 

reacting to queries from 

Vanguard regarding the recent 

building collapse in Lagos, 

noting that insurance is the best 

form of risk transfer mechanism. 

Adegbenro said that 

government cannot pay 

compensation the way the 

insurance industry can in the 

event of a disaster. 

He said: “Nigerians should 

imbibe the culture of insurance 

and stop the habit of going cap 

in hand to government anytime 

there is a major incident or 

disaster. In mature climes, 

citizens don’t run after 

government for aid when there 

is an incident or disaster, rather 

they go to their insurance 

companies because they 

believe in insurance and that 

insurers will pay commensurate 

compensation for their loss. 

“But in Nigeria, the story is 

different as people see such 

scenarios as opportunity to gain 

from government. In some 

situations, some people 

capitalize on such occurrence to 

defraud government. 

Unfortunately, victims of 

disasters can’t get 

commensurate compensation 

from government for their loss 

after an incident or a disaster 

because government is not an 

Sigma Pensions Limited has 

reiterated its commitment to 

prompt resolution of complaints 

from contributors. 

The Senior Business 

Development Manager (West) 

of the company, Mr. John 

Igiehon, who said this in Akure, 

Ondo State at a sensitisation 

forum for retirees and 

prospective retirees in Ondo 

insurer.” 

It will be recalled that on 

March 13, a building collapsed 

at Ita Faji, Lagos Island, killing 

20 persons, including school 

children, while more than 40 

people sustained injuries. 

Five days later, another 

building collapsed on 57, 

Egerton Square, Oke Arin, 

Lagos — but this was because 

the Lagos State Building 

Control Agency (LASBCA) had 

engaged the services of some 

contractors to bring down 

houses marked for demolition in 

the wake of the Ita Faji building 

collapse. 

However, another building 

collapsed on Lagos Island, 

bringing to three the number of 

building collapses witnessed in 

that section of Lagos within two 

weeks. 

IFC, Africa Re partner to 

enhance farmers’ access to 

insurance 

IFC, a member of the World 

Bank Group, has signed an 

agreement with Africa 

Reinsurance Corporation, Africa 

Re, to help thousands of small 

holder Nigerian farmers to 

access insurance more easily to 

protect their crops and 

livelihoods. 

Under the agreement, Africa 

Re, a pan-African reinsurance 

company headquartered in 

Nigeria, and IFC’s Global Index 

Insurance Facility will help 

Nigerian insurance companies 

develop agricultural insurance 

products, and deepen their 

index insurance business lines. 

These index insurance products 

will help protect farmers against 

environmental risks such as 

drought, floods, erratic rainfall, 

and other natural hazards. 

companies are already 

complying while some have 

already submitted their IFRS 9 

compliant financial statements. 

He said nine companies 

submitted last week. 

He said, “We have invited the 

companies on one-on-one basis 

where they were requested to 

tell us how far they have gone 

in terms of implementation and 

challenges. The IFRS 9 came 

into the system as part of 

transparency in financial 

transaction. Since the 2008 

crisis, relevant institution and 

regulators across the world 

became concerned about 

transactions within the financial 

services sector. 

and Ekiti states, noted that 

contributors should not hesitate 

in pointing out any problem 

they may encounter in their 

dealings with the company. 

The event tagged “Agenda for 

the Retirees” had in attendance 

over 500 participants from the 

two states who interacted freely 

with the company’s 

management. 

Igiehon said Sigma which was 

licensed in 2005 was preparing 

the pensioners for the future on 

what they should know as 

regards their pensions and be 

able take critical decisions. 

“The main purpose of us 

bringing you together today is 

The Index-based agricultural 

insurance pays out claims 

based on transparent 

parameters like rainfall and 

does not require costly field 

visits to verify losses, which is an 

innovative and efficient way for 

farmers to protect themselves 

against losses. 

Speaking at the signing 

ceremony in Lagos on Tuesday, 

Deputy Managing Director/ 

Chief Operating Officer of 

Africa Re, Mr. Ken 

Aghoghovbia, said; “We are 

excited to be partnering with 

IFC in assisting Nigerian 

insurers develop appropriate 

insurance products for small 

holder farmers. This initiative 

will certainly help move 

Nigeria towards its goal of food 

security and it is in line with 

Africa Re’s mission to support 

African 

economic 

development.” 

IFC Country Manager for 

Nigeria, Eme Essien, said, 

“IFC’s support for affordable 

and accessible agricultural 

insurance will help Nigeria’s 

farmers mitigate the effects of 

climate-related shocks, 

protecting them against 

catastrophic losses and 

unlocking access to finance. 

Developing a sustainable 

agricultural insurance industry 

also requires a strong 

commitment from regulators, 

such as the National Insurance 

Commission, NAICOM, who 

embrace innovation to help 

farmers manage their risks. 

“Farmers with crop insurance 

are also more likely to access 

other financial products, 

including credit, and to invest 

in higher quality production 

inputs. 

Sigma assures contributors of prompt 

resolution of complaints 

Leadway Assurance Company 

Limited has restated 

its commitment to sustaining its 

Corporate Social Responsibility 

to enhance socio-economic 

growth in the country. 

To this end, Leadway Assurance 

has described the Nigerian 

contingent to the just-concluded 

2019 Special Olympics 

World Games in Abu Dhabi as 

true heroes who deserve to be 

celebrated by the nation at 

large. 

Speaking during a reception 

hosted in Lagos by the Special 

Olympics Nigeria for the team 

and various sponsors that made 

the team’s participation at the 

Abu Dhabi event possible, 

to educate our retirees and 

prospective retirees on what 

they should know about their 

pensions so that when it comes, 

you will know what to do. 

“We have been in operation 

since 2005 and we are doing 

our best to give our pensioners 

deserved benefits after 

retirement. We ensure that all 

our books are correct and we 

don’t involve in fraudulent 

acts,” he said. 

Also speaking, the Head 

Business Development Division 

(West), Mrs. Mabel George, 

noted that Sigma wants to show 

that pensioners are still relevant 

in retirement. 

Leadway Assurance restates 

commitment to CSR 

Ademola Ayodabo who represented 

Leadway Assurance’s 

Head of Corporate Communications, 

Olubunmi Adeleye, 

said the team’s total haul of sixty-three 

individual medals in 

eight sporting activities was a 

testament to the irrepressible 

Nigerian spirit. He noted that 

Leadway Assurance was proud 

to be associated with the great 

success story of the team both 

as a sponsor and also for being 

represented on the Board of 

Special Olympics Nigeria. He 

also promised that the company 

was committed to sustaining 

its CSR support for Special 

Olympics Nigeria.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, April 2, 2019 —21 

* Cross section of Oyo women attending antenatal at the Iwo Raod,Primary Healthcare Centre, PHC, Ibadan North-East during a field trip organised by UNICEF recently. 

In Oyo, newborn deaths drop as immunisation increases 

By Chioma Obinna 

THE birth of a live baby 

brings joy in the 

community and ultimately 

compensates the mother 

for her endurance all 

through the nine months 

of pregnancy. But when it 

becomes the opposite, it 

throws the community and 

the family into perpetual 

sadness. 

This was the situation 

some communities in Oyo 

found themselves a year 

ago until the State 

government, community 

leaders, UNICEF and 

other partners through the 

Accelerated Action for 

Impact, AAI, Initiative 

moved in to ensure that no 

child dies from preventable 

causes as well as put in 

measures that guarantee 

that the estimated 334.073 

newborns and 1,670,366 

under 5 children in the 

state reach their full 

potential in health and 

well-being. 

In just six months, Oyo 

has reduced the number of 

unimmunised children in 

three Local Government 

Areas from over 2000 to 

510, all thanks to AAI. 

Previously, statistics have 

shown that in Nigeria, Oyo 

State is among the 15 States 

contributing to nearly 50 

percent newborn deaths in 

Nigeria and the sadly, the 

3rd highest contributor to 

newborn mortality rate in 

absolute numbers in the 

South West. 


Multiple Indicator Cluster 

Survey, MICS, 2016/2017, 

Oyo parades unenviable 

42 percent of newborn 

mortality rate. 

However, as Nigeria 

strives towards ensuring 

100 percent child survival 

through different 

initiatives. In line with 

these efforts, Oyo State 

government with support 

from UNICEF introduced 

evidenced based 

intervention for women, 

children which has 

metamorphosed 

immunisation coverage in 

Ibadan North-East, 

Ibarapa North and Saki 

West Local Government 

Areas out of the six 

identified Local 

Government Areas with 

high burden of newborn 

deaths. 

One unique thing about 

the interventions is the 

involvement of community, 

religious and traditional 

leaders and health workers 

among others. These 

leaders have introduced 

house-to-house 

mobilisation and 

sensitisation in the 

communities while the 

health workers embarked 

on constant outreach 

programmes even in the 

hard- to- reach areas in the 

state. 

Today, in Oyo, it is taboo 

for a pregnant woman not 

to visit the hospital for 

antenatal or fail to 

immunise her children. 

Even Landlords quit their 

tenants who fail to access 

healthcare or immunise 

their children. Community 

members now come 

together to mobilise 

women to use health 

facilities at no cost. 

A field visit to Ibadan 

North-East Primary 

Healthcare Centre, PHC, 

confirmed ws a revelation. 

Community members 

were all full of praises for 

government, UNICEF and 

other partners for saving 

their newborns. 

In some communities 

like Oke-Adu, 

immediately, the National 

Orientation Agency alerted 

them on the death of 

children in the community 

and what needed to be 

done, the community 

leaders began house-tohouse 

mobilisation of 

mothers and children to 

health facilities. “We 

banned Traditional Birth 

Attendants in the villages. 

We resumed house- to - 

house immunisation. We 

took it upon ourselves to 

ensure we monitor 

pregnant women and their 

children. Today, it is 

paying off. Our children 

are no longer dying,” 

Sulaimon Saudah, a 

community birth attendant 

narrated. 

In the words of Chief 

Community Health 

Extension Worker, Mrs, 

JolasinmiAdebola, 

“Through the various 

interventions such as 

counseling and 

awareness, the number of 

women who usually brings 

their children for 

immunisation had 

increased. 

“Usually, we used to 

have 56 women every 

month but today, we have 

over 78 coming to this 

Today, in 

Oyo, it is 

taboo for a 

pregnant 

woman not to 

visit the 

hospital for 

antenatal or 

fail to 

immunize 

her children 

centre alone. For exclusive 

breastfeeding, it has 

increased from 103 to 189. 

The only challenge we 

have is the fact that most 

women no longer deliver 

here since we stopped 

running night services and 

most deliveries happen at 

night.” 

A report made available 

to Good Health Weekly on 

Ibadan North East 

showed 100 percent 

immunisation coverage in 

February, 2019. The 

report also showed that 

there was a decrease in 

neonatal deaths. By 

January, 2018 there were 

four cases of neonatal 

death between 0-28 days 

of birth and cause of death 

was Asphyxia. Today, 

the LGA has also achieved 

100 percent reduction in 

neonatal death. 

The State Immunisation 

officer, Primary 

HealthCare Board, Oyo 

State, Mrs. Eunice 

Nihinlola told Good Health 

Weekly that newborn death 

was commomplace due to 

low immunisation 

coverage, however, 

UNICEF introduced 

different intervention 

designed to save newborns 

and increase 

immunisation. 

“We started with training 

of health workers because 

we had problems with their 

data documentation and 

data analysis, we also have 

issues of how they were 

addressing mothers, and 

the kind of attention they 

were given them then 

which made many of them 

stayed away from the 

facilities. 

“The outcome of the 

training has helped in 

having more mothers 

coming to the facilities to 

have their children 

immunised properly 

against killer diseases and 

it has reduced the number 

of unimmunised children 

from over 2,000 in the three 

LGAs to 510. 

“To address the issue of 

handling of vaccines to the 

hard –to- reach areas, the 

Chairman, Saki West 

provided us with 

Motorcycles to move down 

to hard- to- reach areas. 

From the Local 

government to get to 

Korete, we 10 hours going 

there and back. 

Recalling that religious 

beliefs and ignorance were 

major factors affecting 

immunisation coverage, 

she affirmed that meetings 

with religious and 

traditional leaders have 

paved a way for smooth 

immunisation processes in 

the state. 

“During these meetings, 

we address them on the 

importance of vaccination 

and the need for children 

to get all the 

immunisations including 

BCG to prevent 

tuberculosis, oral polio, 

Hepatitis vaccines, 

pentavelant vaccines, 

pneumococcal vaccines 

and measles vaccination. 

Today cultural and 

religious barriers are 

history. The Imams help us 

when we have issues. 

Corroborating these 

views, the Assistant 

Immunisation Coaching 

Officer for the LGA, Mr 

Ayobami Akinola, 

explained that the number 

of newborns immunised on 

a monthly basis had 

increased from 1,701 to 

1,926 due the health 

interventions. 

Ayobami said under the 

intervention, women are 

being taught proper 

immunisation, exclusive 

breastfeeding and postnatal 

services, among 

others. 

He said to achieve this 

feat, Community Ward 

Development CBAs, were 

also established to address 

the negative belief on 

immunisation and 

encourage the people to 

accept it. 

He said now, they have 

solar refrigerators and cold 

boxes to preserve the 

vaccines before distribution 

to other PHCs in the area. 

Giving insight into the 

various interventions 

during a two-day, media 

dialogue with the theme: 

“Improving Health 

Outcomes for Children in 

Oyo State through 

Accelerated Action for 

Impact.”, the UNICEF 

Health Specialist, Akure 

Field Office, Dr Adebola 

Hassan, said the 

interventions became 

necessary after it was 

identified that Oyo was 

performing poorly in 

newborn health in 

absolute numbers. 

According to her, some 

of the babies die as result 

of ill health after birth and 

so many things can kill 

new born within the 28 

days. She said the 

intervention programmes 

had been having positive 

effects in reducing the 

number of newborn deaths 

in the council area. 

Hassan who noted that 

there are six local 

governments in the state 

with highest infant 

mortality and neonatal 

death in the state was 

optimistic that with various 

interventions by UNICEF 

and the state government, 

the trend was changing.

22— Vanguard, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2019 

*From Left; Head of Export, Andy Jones; Chief Executive Officer for West Africa, Eniola Karunwi and Nabila Muhammed, 

Consultant (Kano), all from Cambridge Weight Plan during a media parley in Lagos recently. 

Imminent cholera outbreak looms in 

northeast Nigeria, NRC warns 


N ORWEGIAN 

Refugee Council, 

NRC, has raised the alarm 

over the overcrowded 

displacement camps 

coupled with a lack of basic 

sanitation facilities and 

hygiene in the North East 

of the country, warning that 

the condition will cause 

another cholera outbreak if 

action is not taken now to 

prevent it. 

It could be recalled that 

in 2018, 10,000 cases of 

cholera were recorded 

with more than 175 

registered deaths. 

Statistics from the 

Nigerian Centre for 

Disease Control, NCDC, 

weekly epidemiological 

report for week 10 in the 

month of March 2019, 

between weeks 1 and 10, 

2019, a total of 323 

suspected cholera cases 

with four laboratory 

confirmed and 19 deaths 

from 14 LGAs in seven 

states were reported 

compared with 1,476 

suspected cases and 33 

deaths from 50 LGAs in 13 

States during the same 

period in 2018. 

In a statement, NRC's 

Country Director for 

Nigeria, Eric Batonon 

warned: "If the camps are 

not decongested and 

sanitation facilities 

improved, cholera will 

inevitably return, and 

vulnerable displaced 

people will bear the brunt 

of the epidemic again." 

Over the last decade, 

northeast Nigeria has been 

affected by cholera on a 

yearly basis. Following a 

rise of violence in late 2018 

forcing over 100,000 

people to flee, 

displacement camps and 

sites are overcrowded. This 

has resulted in a 

deterioration of the living 

conditions and a lack of 

sanitation facilities. For 

instance, 466 people are 

If the camps 

are not 

decongested 

and sanitation 

facilities 

improved, 

cholera will 

inevitably 

return 

sharing one latrine at one 

of the displacement camps 

in the state of Borno, 

according to the 

Humanitarian Office for 

the Coordination of 

Humanitarian Affairs, 

OCHA. 

This is nine times above 

the agreed humanitarian 

standards, which is set at 

50 people per latrine in 

emergency situations. As a 

result of lack of sanitation, 

people choose to defecate 

in the open, exacerbating 

an already vulnerable 

situation and increasing 

the likelihood of the spread 

of disease. 

Batonon said: “We are 

calling for Nigerian 

authorities to provide 

additional land to develop 

decongestion plans and to 

enable the construction of 

new water and sanitation 

facilities. 

“At the same time, the 

international community 

should provide the 

necessary funding to 

respond quickly and 

efficiently so we can end the 

cycle of yearly cholera 

outbreaks in the region." 

US agency endorses 

LUTH cancer centre 

By Stories by Gabriel 

Olawale 

UNITED State Trade 

and Development 

Agency have commended 

Nigeria Sovereign 

Investment Authority, 

NSIA and Lagos 

University Teaching 

Hospital LUTH for 

putting in place 

comprehensive cancer 

treatment centre in 

Lagos. 

Speaking during a 

courtesy visit, Acting 

Director of the Agency, 

Thomas Hardy said that 

the quality of equipment 

and infrastructure at the 

centre gladding his heart. 

“Looking around the 

centre, am very pleased 

with the structure and 

equipment in particular. 

They are of a quality 

standard that meets up 

with a globally acceptable 

standard. I’m very 

confident that the centre 

will impact positively on 

the quality of care provide 

to Nigerians. 

“There was a time in 

this country that the 

whole functioning 

radiotherapy machine 

was not up to three. But 

to see LUTH alone 

having three high 

standard radiotherapy 

machines gives me joy.” 

Hardy, however, 

NAFDAC destroys N2.8bn unwholesome products 

By Gabriel Olawale 

NATIONAL Agency 

for Food and Drugs 

Administration and 

Control, NAFDAC, 

yesterday destroyed 

expired, substandard and 

falsified medical products 

worth over 2.8 billion. 

Speaking during the 

exercise, NAFDAC 

Director General, Professor 

Mojisola Adeyeye said that 

the products been 

destroyed were seized by 

the Agency from 

manufacturers, importers, 

distributors and expired 

products voluntarily 

handed over to the Agency 

by compliant companies, 

Non-Governmental 

Organizations (NGOs) and 

Trade Unions. 

"The estimated street value 

of the products scheduled 

for destruction today is N2, 

675,896,538.20). While the 

street value of the banned 

Tramadol 

is 

N283,500,000.00. 

She explained that the 

Agency has prosecuted 

some importers who did 

not mean well for the 

country. 

"In the first quarter of 2019, 

Mr. Luke Mbah, has been 

arraigned at the Federal 

High Court, Lagos for 

smuggling banned and 

fake 488 cartons of Barcadin 

with Codeine (cough 

syrup), Fake 207 cartons of 

Afrodiac Diclofenac 

Potassium tablets among 

others. 

"One Mr. Madubuike 

Chukwunonye who 

allegedly sold Cough 

Syrup with Codeine to a 

BBC undercover agent in 

April, 2018 was arraigned 

at the Federal High Court, 

Lagos. Another Mr. 

Ebenezer Arimiwem, was 

convicted of the 

manufacture, distribution, 

packaging, labelling and 

processing of different 

brands of Counterfeit 

Cosmetic Products and was 

sentenced to fifteen months 

in prison without an option 

pleaded that they will do 

everything with their 

reach to ensure that good 

initiative of such continues 

in the hospital. 

While conducting the 

delegate round the centre, 

the Chief Medical 

Director, LUTH, Prof. 

Chris Bode said the aim 

was to establish a worldclass 

cancer treatment 

Centre to reduce medical 

tourism. 

“This centre is not just a 

pride of Nigeria but the 

whole West Africa. We will 

guarantee optimal service 

to everybody who comes 

here and our service will 

be cheaper than anything 

you can get anywhere in 

Nigeria or other parts of 

the world. 

“It is a group of investor 

that invest $11 million to 

establish this centre, the 

way forward is for us to 

render good service 

consistently for the next 

10 years and beyond so 

that investor will make 

their money back. 

Bode said the project 

came with a written 10 

years maintenance 

services and the 

equipment, for now, will 

work at least for 10 years 

trouble free and when it 

breaks, it would be 

speedily fixed by virtue of 

maintenance agreement. 

Overweight causes adverse body functions —EXPERT 


NIGERIANS have been 

admonished to live a 

healthy life and maintain 

moderate weight to prevent 

coming down with health 

challenges associated with 

overweight. 

The Managing Director 

of Cambridge Weight Plan, 

CWP West Africa, Mrs. 

Eniola Karunwi who make 

the appeal said that studies 

show that being overweight 

leads to imbalances in an 

individual’s hormones, 

which can affect overall 

health ranging from issues 

like infertility, to improper 

insulin levels, low 

metabolism, reduced 

sexual drive, irregular body 

temperature, abnormal 

sleep cycles, reduced 

appetites and other health 

related issues. 

Karunwi who is a eeight 

loss expert, said that 

without good health it is 

difficult to function in 

almost every area of life, “It 

is therefore important that 

we pursue activities that 

will enhance good health. 

Sadly, many people do not 

recognize that excess 

weight affects the way body 

organs function and instead 

blame it on stress and other 

factors. 

“Without good health, an 

individual will be unhappy, 

spend huge amounts on 

of fine. 

"In 2016, Alh. Yakubu 

Kabiru smuggled a 40ft 

container laden with 1,800 

bags of Green Arrow Fibre 

Mosquito coill N72, 

000,000 into the country 

through the Seme Border. 

He was convicted by the 

Federal High Court, 

Lagos, and a fine of N1, 

050,000 imposed on him. 

Mojisola however thanked 

the judiciary for their 

treatments, and can even 

become depressed. An 

effective weight loss and 

management plan is 

needed to achieve 

balanced hormones and 

consequently, overall good 

health. 

“Cambridge weight plan 

is an effective solution to 

losing weight and 

maintaining it. Not only 

would it improve hormonal 

balance, it will also aid the 

proper functioning of other 

vital organs in the body. 

Following a healthy diet, 

exercising on a regular 

basis and engaging in other 

healthy activities can go a 

long way towards 

improving an individual’s 

continued support and also 

appeal to them to take 

sterner view of 

counterfeiting and apply 

stiffer sanctions to deter 

counterfeiters, because of 

the danger they posed. 

"We are also pleadOMG to 

the National Assembly to 

pass the Counterfeit 

Medical Products Bill that 

will strengthen the 

Agency's fight against 

counterfeiting in Nigeria." 

health”, Mrs. Karunwi 

added. 

The Cambridge Weight 

Plan is a safe, low calorie 

diet plan, and an effective 

weight management and 

lifestyle plan that fosters a 

healthy living. The plan 

consists of meal 

replacement shakes, soups, 

porridges and snack bars, 

which contain the daily 

nutritional requirement, 

whilst rapidly helping you 

burn fat. 

In his view, CWP 

Consultant in Kano State, 

Nabila Muhammed said 

CWP is a lifestyle company 

tassisting men and women 

with weight management 

and maintenance.


WHO launches enriched 

portal to improve disease 

data tracking 

By Sola Ogundipe 

THE World Health 

Organisation, WHO, 

Regional Office for Africa 

has launched a new and 

improved version of its 

online portal, providing 

better access to more 

detailed country-specific 

data relating to Neglected 

Tropical Diseases (NTDs) 

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countries, including annual 

reports, country master 

plans and epidemiology. 

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designed to enable health 

ministries and stakeholders 

to more easily share and 

exchange programme data 

to accelerate the 

elimination of several 

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Medical diagnosis: SYNLAB Nigeria debuts in Calabar 


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R-L: Area Relationship Manager, SYNLAB; Nnaemeka Nwachukwu, Area Operations, 

SYNLAB; Unyime Etura, The Host, Barrister Mrs Onari Duke, former first lady of Cross 

River; and Patience Akaeze, Phlebotomist, SYNLAB during the official opening of the 

facility. 

SYNLAB facility aims at 

delivering top quality, stateof-the-art 

medical 

diagnostics services for 

health professionals and 

residents of Calabar which 

SYNLAB Nigeria 

customers have enjoyed 

over the years. 

The new facility fits into 

SYNLAB’s strategic 

footprint coverage in southsouth 

Nigeria. Earlier in 

the year, the company 

commissioned an ultramodern 

laboratory in 

Gwarinpa, Abuja, to 

expand its reach to meet the 

needs in the northern zone 

of the country. 

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customers, every day for the 

next one week, at the new 

facility in Calabar. The 

facility was declared 

opened by Professor 

Imaobong Ekanem, 

professor of histopathology. 

The Host of the Event, 

Chief Mrs Onari Duke, 

Former First Lady of Cross 

River, Calabar was present 

to receive the stakeholders 

and esteemed guests. In 

attendance was the 

Commissioner for Health 

ably represented by Dr 

Udeme Asibong CMD. 

Also present were; Dr 

Simon Sunday and Mrs 

Briggs, NNPC Hospital; 

Dr Ayuk A.E, NMA 

Chairman Calabar; Dr 

Jenkins Ukaga, Nigeria 

Police Hospital; Dr Ukweh 

Ikechukwu, CMD Arubah 

Specialist Hospital.

24— Vanguard, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2019 

Lassa fever outbreak: 

NCDC confirms 23 new cases, 4 deaths 

THE Nigeria Centre 

for Diseases 

Control, NCDC, 

has confirmed 23 new 

cases of Lassa fever 

including 4 deaths. 

According to the report 

released on its website 

for the week 11th ending 

17th March, 2019, the 

new cases were reported 

from nine states, namely 

Edo with eight cases; 

Ondo with four cases; 

Ebonyi with three cases; 

Bauchi recodred three 

cases; Taraba, Enugu, 

Benue, and Kebbi state 

have one case each. 

Edo state recorded two 

deaths while Benue and 

Bauchi state recorded 

one death each. 

From 1st January to 

17th March, 2019, a total 

of 1,801 suspected cases 

have been reported, out 

of whcih 495 were 

confirmed positive, 15 

probable and 1277 

negative. 

Since the onset of the 

2019 outbreak, there 

have been 114 deaths in 

confirmed cases with 

case fatality ratio in 

confirmed cases is stood 

at 23.0 percent. 

Twenty-one States, 

namely Edo, Ondo, 

Bauchi, Nasarawa, 

Ebonyi, Plateau, Taraba, 

FCT, Adamawa, Gombe, 

Kaduna, Kwara, Benue, 

Rivers, Kogi, Enugu, 

Imo, Delta, Oyo, Kebbi 

and Cross River have 

recorded at least one 

confirmed case across 73 

Local Government Areas. 

In the reporting week 

11, one new health care 

worker was affected in 

Ebonyi state. A total of 

sixteen health care 

workers have been 

infected since the onset 

of the outbreak in seven 

States 

Edo recorded seven, 

Ondo recorded three, 

Ebonyi had two while 

Enugu, Rivers, Bauchi, 

and Benue recorded one 

each with two deaths in 

Enugu and Edo States. 

Sixty-three (63) 

patients are currently 

being managed at 

various treatment 

centres across the 

country. 

Irrua Specialist 

Teaching Hospital(ISTH) 

treatment Centre (26), 

Federal Medical Centre 

Owo (16), Federal 

Teaching Hospital 

Abakaliki (10), 

Nasarawa(1), Bauchi(1), 

Plateau (3), Taraba (4) 

and others(2). 

Following the 

*L-R: Principal Store Officer 1, Opeola Akinpelu; Medical Director, General Hospital, 

Lagos Island; Dr. Ismail Ganikale; Project Coordinator, Health Portfolio, MTN 

Foundation, Enyinnaya Nwokeocha and Chief Matron, General Hospital, Lagos Island, 

Christiana Ogunde at the MTN Foundation’s donation of medical supplies to the 

General Hospital, Lagos Island to aid treatment of victims of the collapsed building at 

Ita-Faji, Lagos Island 

increasing number of 

Lassa fever cases 

reported from several 

States across the 

country, NCDC has 

reactivated its 

Emergency Operations 

Centre,EOC to 

coordinate the response 

TBy Naomi Uzor 

HE Nigerian Medical 

Association, NMA, has 

urged Nigerians to adopt 

health information 

technology system in 

driving health care delivery 


Disclosing this at the March 

Breakfast meeting of the 

Nigerian-American 

Chamber of Commerce 

(NACC), tagged " 

Improving Quality 

Outcomes through Health 

Information Technology", 

the National President, 

NMA, Dr. Francis Faduyile 

said the introduction of the 

usefulness of health 

information technology 

system in Nigeria's health 

systems in medical 

curricula at all levels is 

important. 

"There is need for 

collaboration between 

relevant agencies and 

professional associations 

such as information 

technology, health and 

NMA, PSN, NANNM and 

other stakeholders to 

ensure the full deployment 

Media group tasks governors, stateelects 

on diabetes control 

EWLY elected 

Ngovernors and state 

By Gabriel Olawale legislators has been 

admonished to prioritized 

control of diabetes. 

Diabetes Control Media 

Advocacy Group 

(DICOMAG), , a nongovernmental 

organization, also called on 


Buhari to, as a matter of 

urgency, device concrete 

measures to address the 

current heavy burden of the 

disease in all parts of the 

country to prevent a 

looming epidemic . 

In a statement signed by 

its Director of 

Communication, Mrs 

Yinka Shokunbi, 

DICOMAG says it has 

become necessary to draw 

the attention of the public, 

particularly the politicians, 

to the alarming increase of 

diabetes in Nigeria and its 

attending complications 

and deadly consequences. 

This is because, 

according to the 

organization, no fewer 

than 5 million Nigerians 

are currently living with the 

diabetes and like 

elsewhere in the world the 

number of cases is 

increasing very fast. Citing 

figures from the 

International Diabetes 

Federation (IDF) , 

Nigerians urged to adopt health 

information technology 

DICOMAG disclosed that 

one in every two people 

with diabetes in the country 

is undiagnosed “which 

means the current 

estimated number of cases 

could be double or even 

more. 

This is one health disaster 

Nigeria cannot afford to 

face as we inaugurate a 

new government. 

“IDF describes diabetes 

mellitus as one of the 

largest global health 

emergencies of the 21st 

century, largely because of 

its severe and deadly 

consequences. 

This is a disease that 

affects virtually all organs 

of the body, resulting in 

loss of vision, dental 

problem, kidney failure, 

cardiovascular disease, 

lower limb amputation, 

sexual dysfunction, among 

others, when not properly 

controlled – sadly a 

situation faced by Nigerians 

living with diabetes today.” 

DICOMAG noted that 

while the rapid increase of 

diabetes cases is a global 

phenomenon, especially in 

the developing countries, 

the difference however, is 

that most countries are now 

working relentlessly to 

ensure it does not become 

a major 

Healing Stripes raises hope for patients of sickle cell, kidney 

disease 


INLINE with its 

commitment to bridge 

medical tourism gap in the 

country, Healing Stripes 

Hospital, a Corporate 

Social Responsibility (CSR) 

project of the City of David 

Redeem Christian Church 

of God (RCCG) has 

acquired an apheresis 

machine with the intent not 

only to reduce medical 

tourism but to provide 

innovative care to patients. 

The machine according to 

the hospital's Consultant 

Nephrologist, Debo 

Akinwunmi, is very key and 

efficient to the treatment of 

several ailments in diverse 

area of medicine like renal 

issues, the hospital's main 

focus, neurology (aspect of 

brain and nerves) and also 

haematology (blood related 

diseases). 

Apheresis he said is 

medical technology that can 

be used to remove 

unwanted materials from 

the blood without 

tempering with other 

constituents. 

Akinwunmi explained 

how the apheresis machine 

aid in the treatment of sickle 

cell to reduce the risks 

associated with the genetic 

condition citing that it can 

be used to remove sickled 

to the outbreak on behalf 

of the Federal Ministry 

of Health. The National 

guidelines for Infection 

Prevention and Control, 

as well as Lassa fever 

case management have 

been developed, 

disseminated to States 

red cells and replace with 

normal red cells to ease 

crises and organ damage 

in a procedure called 

exchanged blood 

transfusion, "it is not a cure 

but gives relief for a long 

time." 

According to him, hither 

to now patients were 

referred to England to take 

the produce and recently to 

India, however the 

aquisstion of the technical 

device would reduce all the 

risks associated with 

traveling. 

The Doctor in Charge, of 

the hospital, Dr. Ezinne 

Onyemere commended the 

church for the aquisstion of 

the machine saying it would 

aid in providing advance 

technology of choice and 

precision to patients care. 

She advanced that the 

the machine has the ability 

to perform 10 protocols,but 

the hospital for now would 

focus on three pressing 

one's, ( therapeutic 

apheresis, plasma and red 

blood cell exchange). 

Chairman, Board of 

Directors, Healing Stripes 

Hospital, Pastor Idowu 

Iluyomade said that the 

hospital offers 

comprehensive kidney care 

program with kidney 

health awareness to 

and are available on the 

NCDC website for 

download (http:// 

ncdc.gov.ng/diseases/ 

guidelines) or contacts 

NCDC Toll-free Number: 

0800-970000-10, SMS: 

08099555577 or Twitter/ 

Facebook: @NCDCgov. 

educate people on 

prevention and enable 

those with kidney disease 

diagnose and plan 

appropriate treatment. 

"We hope to continually 

work together to bring 

quality and innovation to 

of information technology 

in the health sector in 

Nigeria. We must 

encourage local capacity 

building in the deployment 

of information technology 

in the health sector. This 

will enhance the 

development access and 

maintenance of the system" 

he said. 

He noted that the role of 

private sector and agencies 

such as NACC in funding 

the advocacy, training of 

health providers, the 

deployment and 

maintenance of information 

technology systems in the 

health sectors can not be 

over emphasised. 

"Today, Health Information 

Management and 

Technology (HIMT) 

professionals must have a 

deep understanding of not 

only the management of 

health data, but also the 

software and systems 

needed to manage and 

analyze data. There are 

many demerits of these 

new technologies use in 

health care deliveries, we 

Patient Care in Nigeria.To 

help streghten our Health 

systems in the most 

practical way." 

must continue to ensure 

patients confidentiality and 

to properly guard the data" 

he stated. 

He said there is therefore 

need to have a stringent 

and detailed legislations to 

control this very important 

technological advancement 

that is imminent in medical 

practice here in Nigeria. 

The President of NACC, 

Otunba Oluwatoyin 

Akomolafe said the topic 

was significant in many 

ways as it is becoming 

increasingly clear that the 

traditional way of solving 

health problems is 

becoming dated so there is 

the need for quality 

investment in information 

technology in the health 

care sector to improve 

healthcare delivery. 

"Effective use of 

communication and 

technology by health care 

and public health 

professionals can bring 

about an age of patient- and 

public-centered health 

information and services in 

Nigeria.

By Naomi Uzor 

The Federal Govern 

ment, weekend, 

said creating a strong 

linkage between agriculture 

and industry is a 

sure way of bringing 

about sustainable growth 

in the country. 

Disclosing this at the 

opening ceremony of the 

40th Kaduna International 

Trade Fair, tagged 

“Consolidating Interface 

between Industry and 

Agriculture for Sustainable 

Economic Development”, 

organized by the 

Kaduna Chamber of 

Commerce, Industry, 

Mines and Agriculture 

(KADCCIMA), the 

Minister of Industry, 

Trade and Investment, 

Dr. Okechukwu Enelama 

said creating a strong 

linkage between agriculture 

and industry will create 

new jobs, improve 

value added, create 

wealth for farming communities, 

improve manufacturing 

output and enable 

the roll-out of infrastructure 

around farming 

communities and industrialising 

the country. 

He said the Federal 

Government has begun 

implementing several 

programs aimed at 

achieving these goals; 

one of these programs is 

the Made in Nigeria for 

Exports program which 

seeks to fast track the development 

of model export 

oriented Special Economic 

Zones across the 

country to promote export-oriented 

agroprocessing; 

the revision 

and rollout of several sector 

policies to promote 

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2019 — 25 

ECONOMY 

FG to create strong linkage between agriculture, 

industry for sustainable growth — Minister 

investment in processing 

of agricultural commodities 

such as oil palm, cassava, 

tomatoes, sugar, 

dairy, amongst others. 

“Also, the ERGP Secretariat 

is pursuing the 

implementation of 70 

new investment projects 

identified during the recently 

concluded Manufacturing 

and Processing 

Focus Labs. These opportunities 

which were identified 

in food processing, 

textiles and garments, 

general manufacturing, 

etc present a great opportunity 

to improve the 

value added to our agricultural 

output and their 

scale is a testament to the 

potentials which exist in 

our economy” he said. 

Enelama said Governments 

remain a key 

ally to all businesses and 

the commitment of State 

Governments is required 

for business to stay the 

course throughout the 

business lifecycles. 

“For instance we rely 

on State Governments to 

provide access to land, 

act as mediators in conflict 

prevention and resolution, 

link local SMEs to 

the supply chains of 

processing companies, 

provide needed infrastructure 

to link farms to 

processing plants and 

markets and overall, provide 

a conducive environment 

for businesses 

and their host communities 

to thrive. I am glad 

to say that we have such 

a partner in the Kaduna 

State Government” 

“ We are focused on 

resolving the challenges 

which remain in our business 

environment. Relevant 

teams across the 

Government are implementing 

various initiatives 

and policies that 

address key areas of concern 

such as the need for 

modern infrastructure, 

power supply and good 

road network across the 

country; improving the 

patronage of locally 

made goods;bridging the 

gap in industrial skills 

and innovation, ease of 

doing business, cost and 

access to finance for 

SMEs, resolving multiple 

taxation, amongst others” 

he stated. The Governor 

of Kaduna State, Mal. 

Nasiru El-Rufai said the 

theme is apt, vital and 

critical because it resonates 

government’s drive 

to revitalize and diversify 

the economy, laying more 

emphasis now on non-oil 

export products and also 

making concerted efforts 

at attracting domestic and 

foreign investors/investments. 

El Rufai who was represented 

by the newly 

elected deputy Governor, 

Hajiyah Hadizat 

Balarabe, said the state 

has made considerable 

efforts to build a conducive 

and great climate for 

business and its doing its 

best to build the human 

capital to support its drive 

for development by establishing 

business support 

centres for entrepreneurs, 

revamping Business 

Training Centre 

(BATCs) all aiming to 

provide skills training for 

youths. 

He said the state government 

is delighted to 

have discharged its own 

part of investment 

needed for proper operation 

of Kaduna Inland 

Dry Port. 

“The dry port is a significant 

federal government 

investment in the 

economic prospects of our 

state. The port positions 

Kaduna as a point of origin 

and destination for 

the export and import of 

goods globally. We believe 

strongly that it is 

only when economic diversification 

is encouraged 

and supported that 

we will be able to provide 

critical infrastructure, 

generate employment, 

create wealth, reduce 

poverty and drastically 

reduce insecurity” he 

said. The President of 

KADCCIMA, Dr. Farida 

Dankaka said the 

Chamber deliberately 

choose this theme to compliment 

the effort of the 

government towards revamping 

the economy to 

drive investments in agriculture 

and manufacturing, 

adding that, it highlights 

the growing interest 

to strengthen the nonoil 

sector especially these 

two key sectors: the industry 

and agricultural sector. 

“ Since its assumption 

of office, the present administration 

of President 

Muhammadu Buhari 

has identified these sectors 

as crucial and critical 

to the growth and development 

of our economy. 

This is against the low 

contribution of non-oil sectors 

to the GDP when compared 

to the oil sector” she 

said. 

She commended the 

leadership of the Federal 

Ministry of Agriculture 

and Rural Development, 

for the unprecedented 

growth witnessed in the 

Agriculture sector which 

UAC appoints Aiyesimoju Group Managing Director/CEO 

Mr. Folasope Babasola 

Aiyesimoju 

The Board of Direc 

tors of UAC of Nigeria 

PLC (UAC) has announced 

the appointment 

of Mr. Folasope 

Babasola Aiyesimoju as 

the Company’s Group 

Managing Director/CEO 

with effect from April 1, 

2019. The Board thanked 

Mrs Omolara Elemide for 

her hard work and dedication 

to the Company as 

Acting GMD/CEO from 

January 2019. 

MrAiyesimoju is a finance 

professional with 

experience spanning cor- 

porate finance, principal 

investing and private equity. 

In the course of his 

career, MrAiyesimoju 

has lived and worked in 

Sub-Saharan Africa’s 

most important economies 

gaining experience 

of the operating landscape 

in the region. He 

holds a B.Sc. (Hons) degree 

in Estate Management 

from the University 

of Lagos, where he was 

awarded a Certificate of 

Excellence in real estate 

development and finance, 

and earned the 

right to use the CFA designation 


He is the founder of 

Themis Capital Management, 

an investment firm 

focused on concentrating 

capital and talent on 

high-potential opportunities 

in Sub-Saharan Africa. 

Prior to founding 

Themis, he worked with 

Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, 

a leading global investment 

firm. His experience 

also includes working 

with the Standard Bank 

Group, where he led 

mergers and acquisitions 

in Nigeria. Mr. 

Aiyesimoju spent the 

early part of his career 

with Ocean and Oil Holdings 

Limited, a principal 

investment firm in Nigeria 

and ARM Investment 

Managers, one of 

Nigeria’s leading investment 

advisory and wealth 

management firms. He 

also co-founded Foodpro 

Limited, a nutritional 

*Heneiken from the stables of the Nigerian Breweries Plc presents dummy 

cheque for all expense paid trip to a winner (centre) to watch the UEFA 

Champions league final in Lagos. 

snacks business focused 

on edible nuts, where he 

currently serves as a nonexecutive 

director. 

MrAiyesimoju first 

joined the Board of UAC 

in March 2018 and is a 

member of the Governance 

and Remuneration 

Committee of the Board. 

Keystone Bank Lim 

ited (the Bank) has 

announced the resignation 

of Mr. Obeahon Ohiwerei 

from office as Managing 

Director/CEO of 

the Bank, and the appointment 

of Mr. Abubakar 

Danlami Sule as 

Acting Managing Director/CEO. 

Mr. Sule’s appointment 

is subject to 

approval by the Central 

Bank of Nigeria. 

A statement from the 

Bank disclosed that Mr. 

Ohiwerei is leaving to 

pursue other personal 

interests. The statement 

further added that the 

Board recognized and 

appreciated Mr. Obeahon’s 

immense contributions 

to the growth of Keystone 

Bank and the visibility 

the Bank had attained 

as a brand in the 

past eighteen months. 

Mr Sule is a graduate 

of Ahmadu Bello University, 

Zaria with degree in 

He was also appointed 

Managing Director/CEO 

of UACN Property Development 

PLC (UPDC) in 

August 2018. In his capacity 

as Group MD/CEO 

of UAC, he will serve concurrently 

as Managing 

Director/CEO of UPDC 

until a new head is appointed 

for the subsidiary 

Accounting. He is a Fellow 

of the Institute of 

Chartered Accountants of 

Nigeria; anHonourary 

Member of the Chartered 

Institute of Bankers of 

Nigeria;a Governing 

Member of the Chartered 

Institute of Bankers of Nigeria; 

and an Alumni of 

both the INSEAD (France) 

and Wharton Business 

School in Pennsylvania, 

USA. He was until his 

appointment as Acting 

MD/CEO, the Deputy 


Keystone Bank Limited. 

Mr. Sule has over 29 

years of cutting-edge 

banking experience with 

competences in Corporate 

Banking, Operations, 

Treasury Management, 

the on going “rice revolution”, 

interventions to 

boost fertilizer production 

and reduce cost 

amongst others. 

“ We at KADCCIMA 

wish to commend His 

Excellency, the Governor 

of Kaduna State on the 

recent commissioning of 

a 30 Metric Tonnes tomato 

processing plant 

here in State last 

month. We also want to 

commend the recent decision 

of the Central 

Bank Governor to stop 

allocating foreign exchange 

to importers of 

textile materials into the 

country. This bold decision 

coupled with plan 

by the Federal Government 

to revive cotton production 

through the development 

of improved 

seed will go a long way 

towards reviving cotton 

production” she stated. 

company. 

Commenting on the 

appointment, the Chairman 

of the Board of UAC, 

Mr Dan Agbor, said the 

appointment of Mr. 

Aiyesimoju as GMD/ 

CEO signifies the company’s 

ambitions, and 

the Board’s determination 

to accelerate the 

process of change within 

the Group. 

Sule takesover as Acting Managing Director 

Mr. Abubakar Danlami 

Sule 

Credit Structuring, Corporate 

Planning, as well 

as possession of very 

strong relationship management 

skills. 

Mr. Sule had also 

served briefly as the 


Sterling Capital Limited, 

the Investment Banking 

Subsidiary of Sterling 

Bank Plc in 2009. While 

at Sterling Capital Limited, 

he was appointed 

by the CBN as part of the 

Executive Management 

team to turnaround the 

fortunes of erstwhile Intercontinental 

Bank Plc. 

He eventually returned 

to Sterling Bank Plc as 

Executive Director in 

charge of the North and 

Corporate Banking.


Stories by 

Kingsley Adegboye 

Arising from the one-day 

roundtable on Legal 

Preparedness for the 

Implementation of the Paris 

Agreement on Climate Change 

put together by the 

Environmental Resource 

Centre, ERC, in collaboration 

with Legal Response 

International, LRI, London, with 

technical and financial support 

from the Advocates for 

International Development, 

A4ID, under the Rule of Law 

Expertise (Role UK) 

Programme, the participants 

resolved to establish a Legal/ 

Technical Working Group, 

LTWG, on Climate Governance 


The group is to comprise legal 

advisers and other technical 

experts from NDC -focused 

Ministries, Departments and 

Agencies MDAs, and other 

relevant government bodies, 

academia, NGOs and the 

private sector. 

The over 40 participants 

comprising lawyers and 

policymakers from government 

ministries and agencies, 

academia, private sector and 

NGOs, converged on Lagos for 

the one day event with the aim 

of introducing and enhancing 

understanding of the recently 

adopted Paris Rulebook to 

expand legal space for 

strengthening climate 

governance in Nigeria, as well 

as getting legal and 

policymakers to champion the 

review and development of 

processes within their 

professional environment to 

improve climate management 

in Nigeria within the context of 

existing and emerging legal 

development. They also 

resolved that the technical 

experts would provide the 

context for the legal experts in 

coming up with the draft 

guidelines/communiqué from 

the roundtable. 

The meeting which had three 

technical presentations by 

resource persons and in-depth 

discussions by participants, 

during the final presentation by 

the UNFCCC Focal point for 

Nigeria, by Dr. Peter Tarfa, 

proposed the establishment of 

a legal working group, LWG, to 

support the Nigerian 

Climate change: Stakeholders advocate 

establishment of legal/technical working group 

Firm opens rental office space for start up business owners 

Against the backdrop of 

globalisation which has 

brought to the fore, the 

imperative of technology-driven 

approach to human activities, 

NIKOY Nigeria Limited, a 

Lagos-based agro-business 

company which specialises in 

grains processing and haulage, 

has inaugurated two innovative 

subsidiaries in Lagos. 

The subsidiaries which are 

ACE Wash N Dry Laundromat 

and Work Hive Co-work Space 

in pursuit of strategic 

diversification programme, are 

to meet the aspirations of 

millennials whose activities are 

technology-driven in all areas of 

human endeavour. 

By the establishment of Work 

Hive Co-work Space, it means 

the days of having your office 

space before you can transact 

government in the international 

climate negotiations and the 

implementation of the Paris 

Agreement. 

Going forward, the 

participants adopted the 

following resolutions: The 

LTWG should undertake 

detailed analysis of COP 

decisions and the legal 

implications for Nigeria and 

provide expert advice, just as 

•Effect of climate change 

business is gradually becoming 

a thing of the past, as it affords 

business startups the 

opportunity to rent a space per 

hour, per day with the provision 

of office facilities in place to do 

your business. 

Both located off Toyin Street, 

Ikeja, while the co-working 

space is believed to ease 

business particularly for the new 

startups and young 

entrepreneurs, the Laundromat 

is powered by latest and 

cheapest technology to make 

laundry services as affordable 

as possible. 

Mr. Olawale Oyedele, 

Chairman, NIKOY Nigeria 

Limited, said at the 

inauguration of Work Hive Co- 

Work that the move was part of 

the effort to diversify the 

company’s portfolio and also 

help millenials in need of smart 

work space. 

According to Oyedele, the 

creation was in response to 

globalisation, which has placed 

Nigerian millennials in dire 

need of technology-driven 

office space. This, he said, this 

new company is set out to 

achieve at reduced cost, adding 

that their corporate 

innovativeness has, therefore, 

brought about the decision to 

float Work Hive 

Dr. Joseph Sanusi, former 

Governor of the Central Bank of 

Nigeria, said the two new 

businesses had been 

established on the pillars of 

integrity, skills, value and 

determination to sustain quality 

services at affordable prices for 

everyone. 

Sanusi urged the Federal 

the LTWG should comprise 

experts with knowledge and 

expertise on topical issues 

drawn from sector-specific 

zones in the country e.g. Niger- 

Delta representatives for gas 

flaring issues; Benue State 

representatives for agricultural 

issues. 

The participants further 

resolved that the formal 

partnership with knowledgebased 

institutions should be 

integrated as part of the role 

players for the review and 

working group, insisting that 

the LTWG should make 

recommendations for removing 

identified legal barriers for 

investments in climate change 

adaptation and mitigations in 

Nigeria, particularly in the 

NDC- focused sectors. 

They said the LTWG should 

Building Collapse: Artisans hail Buhari on 

Engineering Registration Amendment Act 

By Gabriel Ewepu 

Artisans under the auspices 

of Association of Tilers, 

Nigeria, ATN, at the weekend, 

hailed President Muhammadu 

Buhari, over the signing of the 

Engineering Registration 

Amendment Act, 2019, which 

gives constitutional backing to 

Council for Regulating 

Engineering in Nigeria, 

COREN, to effectively regulate 

the sector. 

The National President, ATN, 

Hassan Olanrewaju, who made 

the commendation however, 

lamented the invasion of quacks 

in the construction industry 

which has resulted in incessant 

collapse of buildings and loss of 

lives across the country over the 

years including the recent 

incidents. 

Olanrewaju also stated that 

Buhari’s assent to the amended 

Act was the best decision that 

would strengthen the 

enforcement powers of COREN 

to prosecute any person or firm 

found to have contravened the 

provisions of the Act in a court 

of competent jurisdiction, 

adding that with this 

constitutional backing, COREN 

will instil discipline and sanity 

in the construction industry. 

He said: “We were very grateful 

to receive the news that 

President Muhammadu Buhari 

has signed the Engineering 

Registration Amendment Act 

2019. This is highly 

Government to put incentives in 

place to encourage 

entrepreneurs to establish 

companies in the country and 

create employment to boost the 

nation’s Gross Domestic 

Product. 

Miss Mojisola Oyedele, the 

managing director of the new 

company, affirmed that their 

target market was the millenials 

within the ages of 21 and 24, 

startups and young 

professionals. “The young 

professionals can come to Work 

Hive and rent a space for one 

hour or two, they can also go for 

daily or monthly rate. It all 

depends on the work. All the 

facilities which are obtainable in 

a conventional office are 

available here including 

internet facilities, power supply, 

and furniture,” she assured. 

undertake a review and revision 

of the Climate Change 

Framework Bill 2017 passed by 

the National Assembly with a 

view to ensuring it is consistent 

with emerging issues and can 

facilitate the implementation of 

the NDC, adding that capacitybuilding 

and further training 

would be required for the LTWG 

to enhance expertise of 

members. 

commendable and a step in the 

right direction by Mr. President. 

This will boost COREN’s powers 

to drastically reduce all forms of 

quack activities in the industry to 

save lives by prosecuting those 

found guilty. 

“We in Association of Tilers, 

Nigeria ATN, have been a noble 

and professional organisation 

registered with the Corporate 

Affairs Commission CAC, under 

the Company and Allied Matters 

Act 1990, therefore throw our 

weight behind COREN to sanitize 

the industry.” 

He also lauded the effort of the 

President of COREN, Kashim Ali 

and his team for ensuring the 

amended Act scaled through and 

passed into law by Mr President’s 

assent. 

“We laud the President of COREN, 

Kashim Ali and his dogged team 

to ensure the amended 

Engineering Registration Act 2019 

for the overall safety of Nigerians 

as far as construction is concerned. 

We, as part of this prestigious 

organisation, COREN, support the 

leadership on this new mandate 

as far as the amendment of the Act 

is concerned,” he stated. 

The association also commended 

the ongoing demolition of unfit 

buildings in Lagos State by the 

Lagos State Government, and 

appealed to landlords and tenants 

to cooperate with the government. 

It would be recalled that the 

Senior Special Assistant to the 

President on National Assembly 

Matters (Senate), Senator Ita 

Enang, disclosed the assent of Mr. 

President to the Engineering 

Registration Amended Act 2019 

last Friday to State House 

correspondents in Abuja.


Firm showcases opportunities in real estate investment, unveils 

'New Lagos Homes' 

By Kingsley Adegboye 

Richlife Properties Ltd, a 

subsidiary of Richlife 

Commercial & Logistics Ltd, 

which is into real estate 

development with residential 

estate locations across Lagos 

and Ogun states, has revealed 

that real estate investment is 

the most profitable investment 

with a returns on investment 

ROI. 

It added that smart investors 

always have the foresight of 

where the world is going pertime 

and then position 

themselves to become richer. 

Making the revelation 

weekend at a one-day 

investors’ forum showcasing 

opportunities in investing in 

real estate in Lagos, the 

Managing Director of the 

group of companies, Mr. 

Bankole Oluwasheyi, who 

said this is the first investors’ 

forum to be organised by the 

group, noted that there is 

future in investing in real 

estate because of abundant 

benefits to be derived from 

such investment. 

Richlife boss who said if 

Alinko Dangote, the richest 

man in Africa, is still investing 

and diversifying across 

businesses, asked why won’t 

Richlife continue to invest in 

real estate. 

According to him, the 

initiative to invest in real estate 

will address housing deficit 

currently facing the country, 

pointing out that why 

investors should invest in 

Richlife’s housing projects is 

that “We have over 10,000 

customer base, 16 estates 

across the country, capital 

base of N4 billion in three 

years of the company with 

workforce of over 1000. With 

these achievements of the 

company in just three years of 

commencing business, it 

means we are in a position to 

talk about business 

opportunities”. 

Speaking on importance of 

real estate investment, Mr. 

Uduak Ekpenyong, a director 

in the group, said investing in 

real estate is a win win 

situation for everybody 

including the company, 

investors and even the land 

owners. 

According to him, because 

the real estate company buys 

land in hectares, it will bring 

about economy of scale, 

meaning it is cheaper when 

one is buying land in acres or 

hectares, adding that the 

subscribers to the housing 

scheme will not have problems 

with land grabbers. 

He said above all, the land 

in question continues to 

appreciate in value and will 

have a high return on 

investment ultimately. 

On profitability of investing 

in real estate, Mr. Olufemi 

Awonuga, said apart from profit 

making by investing in real 

estate, other benefits of the 

investment include full control 

of the property by the investor, 

there is an investment for 

every budget, which means 

that whatever your budget is, 

you will have property to invest 

in. 

Awonuga pointed out that 

investment in real estate is 

flexible, it does not require 

special skill to do that, it is not 

too late to invest in real estate, 

it is one of the most profitable 

investments, and a few years 

after investment, you will be 

glad you did. 

Unveiling New Lagos Homes 

which is located in Ibeju-Lekki, 

Oluwasheyi said the estate is 

a 30 acres property situated in 

the strategic and developing 

ASpecial Interest Group 

SIG, comprising 

individuals operating in the real 

estate sector have come together 

under the aegis of the School of 

Estate to address the myriads of 

lingering housing challenges in 

Nigeria. 

School of Estate is a business 

training school that specializes in 

Real Estate and Estate 

Management courses. They 

adopt concepts that enhance 

participants’ knowledge of real 

estate, particularly in Nigeria 

where there is a flexible entry 

and exit into the market. 

Subsequently, as part of a 

triangulation approach to 

scientific policy work on 

challenges and opportunities in 

funding housing development 

projects in Nigeria, a focus group 

session was organised recently at 

the Maryland, Lagos office of the 

school for the group to officially 

commence its activities with key 

area of Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, 

pointing out that the axis is 

the new Lagos as a result of 

the high concentration of 

developments springing up in 

the area such as Dangote 

Refinery which is expected to 

be the world’s biggest singletrain 

facility estimated to cost 

14 billion dollars, Lekki 

International Airport, Deep 

sea port, Free Trade Zone 

and others. 

He said “”This offer is an 

opportunity for you to invest 

and own a piece of the New 

Lagos Homes. After two years, 

the investors gets back his 

principal, 20 per cent interest 

per annum and still retains 

his plot within the estate after 

this two years period 

depending on amount 

invested. N10 million 

investment for two years gets 

20 per cent guaranteed return 

on investment per annum and 

800 square metres plot in the 

New Lagos Homes currently 

valued at N5 million”, 

Oluwasheyi stated. 

FG can’t solve 17m housing deficit alone — Refin Homes 

•Targets 250m houses annually in Lagos 

By Chiamaka 

Uba&Tolulope Oke 

Aleading real estate firm, 

Refin Homes, has 

concluded plans to build 250 

houses yearly in Lagos to 

address the housing deficit in the 

country, saying the Federal 

Government cannot respond to 

the 17 million housing deficit 

alone. The firm said this in Lagos 

at a breakfast event to discuss 

the housing challenges in the 

country, entitled: Create The 

Future. 

The forum was a one-on-one 

interactive session between the 

brand, the media and other 

stakeholders. 

According to the MD/CEO of 

One of Richlife's Estates 

Refin Homes, Mr Olatunde 

Macaulay, the company came 

into the real estate market to 

focus on providing alternative 

housing solutions that add value 

to lives, especially the underserved 

middle to lower end 

spectrum. 

He said: “For over 10 years, a 

17 million housing deficit has 

been bandied around. The 

government cannot handle this 

deficit alone. There has to be 

public/private partnerships and 

other private institutions such 

as ours, must help the 

government in reducing this 

huge housing deficit as soon as 

possible. 

This is our second year. Our 

aim is to build 250 houses yearly. 

School of Estate, stakeholders move against housing deficit 

players in the housing sector in 

attendance. 

Speaking at the event, Mr. 

Gbadebo Adejana of Realty Point 

Ltd challenged developers to 

take the bull by the horn and stop 

waiting for the government to do 

everything while they sit, relax 

and shift blames. 

According to him, the housing 

deficit quoted in 2005 which was 

at 10 million has increased to 

21million according to the last 

statistics quoted by the media, 

stressing that what this means is 

that the sector is not meeting its 

yearly requirement. He said 

instead of hanging everything 

on the shoulder of the 

government, he wondered why 

stakeholders do not go beyond 

discussions and start taking 

actions. 

Mr. Adejana therefore called on 

real estate professionals across 

board start an organisation that 

is self-regulating, and where 

We have houses we are 

building currently. Right now 

we are in Lagos and our home 

assurance scheme is from N1 

million to N55 million”. 

On the tragic building 

collapse at Ita-Faji, Lagos 

Island, Macaulay added that 

it is important for builders and 

real estate firms to follow strict 

guidelines and approvals set 

by the regulatory bodies before 

putting any structure in place. 

According to the company, 

the theme, “Create The 

Future” is a strategic platform 

that calls the attention of all 

Nigerians on the need to plan 

ahead today by putting in place 

modalities that ensure a solid 

roof over their heads. “The 

future is not somewhere 

distant, the future is now, and 

they can project themselves 

and make themselves known to 

the world, adding that with this, 

it would be easier to resolve 

issues within the organisation 

because everyone knows the 

necessary channels to go to, as 

if one arm is not performing to 

its responsibilities, it would be 

easy to know who to hold 

accountable. “It is high time we 

stopped passing the ball 

around and taking actions” he 

said. 

In the focus group discussion, 

participants proposed that 

government should, as a matter 

of urgency, declare a state of 

emergency in the real estate 

sector, noting that some of the 

issues confronting housing 

sector that require urgent 

attention include gap in the 

knowledge-base on project 

financing, the short-term nature 

of available funds, high interest 

rates and a lack of a database on 

we want to sit with Nigerians to 

plan based on your desires and 

capacity to give you the home 

of your dreams” Macaulay 

added. 

Also speaking at the event, cofounder 

of the firm, Mr. 

Kazeem Owolabi advocated for 

efforts to be directed more at 

providing affordable housing for 

the middle and lower classes of 

the society. He said it was 

unacceptable that Nigerians 

work so hard and yet, many of 

them cannot even think of 

owning their own homes. 

He believes that in the long 

term, the Nigerian economy 

becomes the biggest beneficiary 

of a system that makes it easy 

for people to own quality and 

affordable homes. 

funding sources etc. 

According to a policy 

consultant, Mr. Olufemi Omotayo, 

a report has shown that only about 

10 per cent of Nigerians can afford 

housing, insisting that housing 

policies need to be involved to 

bridge the gap. He listed some of 

the problems facing the sector as 

high cost of labour, land and 

building materials which make 

the whole process cumbersome. 

The group noted that prior to the 

dialogue, the literature review 

and survey showed that housing 

deficit had lingered for too long 

in the sector and no one seems to 

be ready to own up to it, pointing 

out that the theoretical framework 

also acknowledged the role of 

government and the organised 

private sector have played in 

recent times to aid housing 

development with initiatives like 

Nigerian Mortgage Refinancing 

Company, Family Homes Fund, 

Mortgage Warehousing etc.

28 — Niger-Delta Voice, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, , 2019 

VOL. 1: NO. 187 TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2019 

DESPOLIATION BY OIL COMPANIES: 

We dwell in river but have no potable 

water, Bayelsa community cries 

*We buy water to drink from the city – Chief 

Jonathan-Kpeli, Azuzuama Traditional Head 

By Samuel Oyadongha 

AZUZUAMA- RESIDENTS of 

Azuzuama, a waterside oil 

community in Southern Ijaw 

Local Government Area, Bayelsa 

State, have cried out that they do 

not have drinkable water and no 

farmland anymore, despite 

residing in a riverside setting all 

because of exploitation by 

multinational oil companies. 

The inhabitants spoke through 

the traditional head of the 

community, Chief Otubo 

Jonathan-Kpeli, when the newly 

inaugurated Bayelsa State 

Environmental Degradation 

Commission of Inquiry headed by 

by Most Rev. Rt Hon. Dr John 

Sentamu, Archbishop of York, 

visited the community and others 

on a fact-finding mission. 

Azuzuama residents while 

conducting members of the 

commission round the impacted 

sites said the visit to the troubled 

communities would further help 

focus national and international 

attention on their many years of 

neglect and suffering. 

We buy potable water from 

the city —Traditional head 

Chief Jonathan-Kpeli, said, 

"The sources of water, which is the 

rivers, have been polluted, no 

potable water to drink except only 

when we buy water from the city.” 

"Oil exploitation in my 

community, Azuzuama, is no 

longer a blessing to our people as 

I am speaking, there are no 

farmlands for us to cultivate. 

"This suffering and smiling: the 

common aliment here is cancer 

and kidney disease. The years of 

pollution has destroyed our 

means of livelihood,” he added. . 

Indigenes back Dickson on 

Commission of Inquiry 

The commission inaugurated 

last Thursday in Yenagoa by 

Governor Dickson has been to 

Ebelebiri and Ikarama 

communities in Yenagoa local 

government area and Azuzuama 

in the deep swamp area of 

Southern Ijaw local government 

area to see firsthand the level of 

degradation and pollution of the 

environment that the very 

existence of the people depends 

on. 

The offensive stench from the 

BAYELSA… 

THE JERUSALEM OF IJAW 

NATION 

•Chairman of the 

Commission, Dr. John 

Sentumau at a spill site 

polluted river and creek leading 

to Azuzuama is one of the several 

environmental challenges 

confronting oil-bearing 

communities in the Niger Delta. 

Indigenes of oil- bearing 

communities in the state, who 

have had to contend with many 

years of environmental 

despoliation occasioned by the 

activities of oil multinationals, 

have thrown their weight behind 

the Commission, which is to 

investigate negative impact of oil 

exploration over the years. 

At Ikarama community, youth 

president, Mr Benjamin Walter, 

described the spills occasioned by 

oil exploitation as worrisome to 

the people. 

Walter said the move by Bayelsa 

Government to investigate the 

harmful impact of environmental 

degradation would go a long way 

to checkmate the wrongs of the 

multinational oil firms in their host 

communities. 

Equipment failure 

Scientific Officer, Bayelsa 

Ministry of Environment, Mr Bob 

Keniyinboh, said that the cause 

of spillage was mainly 

equipment failure of the oil 

company and commended the 

setting up of commission of 

inquiry on the state. 

Gov blasts oil companies 

By Davies Iheamnachor 

PORT 

HARCOURT- 

RESIDENTS of Kwawa, an 

Ogoni oil community in Khana 

Local Government Area, Rivers 

State, have complained that 

they shelter a crude oil flow 

station, yet have no electricity 

and villagers still use lamp after 

more than two decades. 

Women leader in the 

community, Mrs. Ukeria 

Brownson Ibam, who barred the 

position of her people, said, “We 

are surprised at the treatment we 

are receiving. We have a flow 

station, yet we have not seen 

electricity at any time, we still use 

lanterns, we are suffering.” 

She spoke at a media interactive 

meeting in Port Harcourt on the 

implementation of the United 

Women 

HYPREP 

programme 

Nations Environmental 

Programme, UNEP, Report and the 

Emergency Measures in Ogoni 

land, Rivers state, where the 

KEBETKACHE Women 

Development and Resource 

Centre, Port Harcourt, drew 

women leaders from the four 

Governor Dickson while 

Ogoni local government areas. 

inaugurating the Mrs. Ibam further bemoaned, 

commission asserted that “We do not have hospital and we 

the mindless activities of thought that through the UNEP 

the multinational oil firms Report we will get one, but 

in the oil rich state were nothing. We do not have good 

responsible for the high school; we do not know what is 

infant mortality rate in happening in Hydrocarbon 

Bayelsa and the Niger Pollution Remediation Project, 

Delta. 

HYPREP.” 

He said that a UN survey Meanwhile, Ogoni women 

revealed that crude oil leaders who attended the 

spillage causes the death of programme have grumbled aloud 

over 16,000 infants within over the outbreak of strange 

the first month of birth in the diseases, including cancer of the 

Niger Delta. 

skin, following their continuous 

"The Niger Delta use of contaminated water in the 

environment is in turmoil area. 

and the livelihood of the They also regretted that officials 

people in peril because of the do not give women adequate 

insensitive degradation of opportunity to participate in the 

the environment by remediation process, creating 

international oil firms who are critical lapses in the 

driven solely by a quest to make implementation of UNEP Report. 

money. 

'The flagrant abuse of the Niger SPDC not operating 

Delta environment as clearly Ogoni for over 20 years 

shown by available statistical 

evidence, indicated that about 40 NDV investigation, however, 

million barrels of crude oil are showed that Shell Petroleum 

spilled into the damaged Development Company, which is 

environment of the Niger Delta as the operator of the flow station, 

opposed to four million barrels in Yola Prospect, under Oil Mining 

the United States. 

Lease, OML 11, has abandoned 

"The ravages oil production has the flow station and other projects 

reduced life expectancy in in Ogoni land for more than 20 

Bayelsa and other oil producing years because of its peculiar 

states in the Nigeria by ten years problem with the natives. 

below the National Average," he 

said. Continues on page 29 

• Dr. Patience 

Osaro-Ejiji 

Residents of Rivers community 

with flow station bemoan using 

lantern for 20 yrs running 

•Ogoni women scream over cancer epidemic, early 

menopause, miscarriage 

•Leaders blast HYREP for ineffective implementation 

of UNEP Report 

•We keep to UNEP standard – Dr Dekil, HYREP Project 

Coordinator 

• Mrs. Grace 

Nwidee 

CROSS RIVER… 

THE PEOPLE’S PARADISE 

write-off 

health 

The women echoed that has 

failed in carrying out the 

emergency measures outlined by 

the UNEP in the project. 

Speaking, Mrs. Grace Nwidee, 

a native of K-Dere, Gokana local 

government area, asserted, 

“The problem we have today is 

that they have politicized the 

cleanup of Ogoni. They use the 

divisions they have caused in 

Ogoni to suck the money meant for 

the project.” 

“The first thing we wanted in the 

clean up was good drinking water 

and health care system. However, 

they failed us. Until now, we do 

not have good water. The health 

programme they did is not want 

we wanted. 

“We the women thought that 

they would have given us serious 

health attention, but the only thing 

we saw was one day health 

programme, it is not good enough 

for people that have been living 

in oil devastated environment. 

“We are dying of health 

problems, diseases arising from 

drinking of polluted water. Our 

women experience miscarriage 

and early menopause. We need 

intervention of the Federal 

Government,” she added. 

Give us tractors and 

hospitals 

Nwidee said, “For women to 

benefit, they should build good 

hospital for us, provide drugs and 

doctors.” 

“We also need tractors to start 

agriculture in a larger scale. They 

should also train the women in 

how to use this equipment in 

farming.” 

Cancer prevalent in 

Ogoni —Osaro-Ejiji 

A women leader in Eleme local 

government area, Dr. Patience 

Osaro-Ejiji, expressed worries 

cancer plague in the area 

allegedly caused by pollution. 

Osaro-Ejiji said, “In the project, 

women are not carried along 

because they believe it is a man’s 

world, but they forgot that we are 

suffering more. Our crops are not 

growing well again, yet we have 

children to feed.

Niger-Delta Voice, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, , 2019 — 29 

By Chioma Onuegbu 

UYO – SECRETARY, Council 

of Chiefs, Ikot Uso Akpan 

community, Itu Clan, Itu Local 

Government Area, Akwa Ibom 

State, Elder Michael Uko, has 

revealed that it is a taboo in the 

entire clan for anybody to 

slaughter and eat any variety 

of monkey. 

Uko, who stated this at a oneday 

promotional seminar in Uyo 

on the critically endangered 

Sclater’s monkey species, 

locally called “Adiaha Awa- 

Itam”, meaning first daughter of 

Itam. 

Sclater’s guenon, also known 

as Sclater’s monkey and the 

Nigerian monkey, is an old 

world monkey first described by 

Reginald Innes Pocock in 1904 

and named after Philip Sclater. 

An arboreal and diurnal primate 

that lives in the forests of 

southern Nigeria 

The community leader said, 

“Ikot Uso Akpan Itam village is 

blessed with a waterfall that 

empties into a stream (Idim 

Afia). In this stream, you could 

still find trees that provide shed 

to the water bodies and serve as 

habitat for the monkeys 

(guenon) Whereas Itam clan 

generally forbids the eating or 

killing of monkeys of any kind, 

it is only in Ikot Uso Akpan Itam 

village that you could find the 

greatest number of Sclater’s 

monkey in the clan. 

“This could be attributed to the 

presence of our customers and 

tradition of maintaining the age 

long belief system of not cutting 

trees or killing monkeys in 

sacred Ikwat forest, which 

provides habitat for the 

monkeys. Ikwat rain forest 

habitat still remains the biggest 

sacred forest preserved in Akwa 

Ibom state for the Sclater’s 

monkey,” he asserted. 

He noted that the presence of 

the monkey primate species in 

the village was one of the tourist 

attractions in the area, adding 

that residents welcome 

partnership from both local and 

international organizations to 

develop ecotourism in their 

community. 

Sweet and bitter tale of 

THE TEAM 

Emma Amaize - Editor 

Samuel Oyadongha - Yenagoa 

Gabriel Enogholase- Benin City 

Jimitota Onoyume- Warri 

Festus Ahon- Asaba 

Egufe Yafugborhi- Port Harcourt 

Emmanuel Una- Calabar 

Akpokona Omafuaire- Warri 

Godwin Oghre- Sapele 

Harri-Okon Emmanuel- Uyo 

Chioma Onuegbu-Uyo 

Ike Uchechukwu- Calabar 

Davies Iheamnachor- Port Harcourt 

Emem Idio- Yenagoa 

Brisibe Perez- Ughelli 

Theresa Ugbobu- Agbor 

Ochuko Akuopha- Oleh 

Chancel Bomadi Sunday - Bomadi 

Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu- Benin City 

Nath Onajoke, Asaba 

Chijioke Nwankpa, Port- Harcourt 

AKWA-IBOM…LAND OF PROMISE 

ITAM: A’Ibom clan where it’s taboo to kill, eat 

monkey 

•People talk to monkeys and they respond - Elder Michael Uko 

•Why Ikot Uso Akpan Itam is home to Sclater’s monkey 

•Scalter’s monkey 

Scalter’s monkey 

Uko, however, admitted that 

the people were always in 

constant conflict with the 

monkeys over invasion and 

destruction of their farmlands, 

but they still take pleasure in the 

“Today, there is cancer of the 

skin now in Eleme, we are 

experiencing heavy soot and 

rain water in our communities 

is so dark that we cannot even 

wash with it. We expected 

comprehensive health scheme 

monkeys. 

“The monkeys invade our 

farmlands and become pests, 

destroying farm crops and fruits 

that are meant for human 

consumption, leaving the 

indigenes with hunger, 

starvation and poverty. 

are over 30 years of age that we, 

as parents, are still feeding. If 

we fail to provide for them, they 

may go out and join cultism. 

Therefore, there is need to 

engage our youths so that they 

will stop involving in acts that 

will re-pollute the environment 

after cleaning,” she asserted. 

Gender sensitivity 

Osaro-Ejiji confessed that 

SPDC was operating in Ogoni, 

it was very sensitive to issue of 

gender balance. 

She urged HYPREP to emulate 

Shell in the project, adding that 

the 1,200 slots provided for women 

in the four local government areas 

were discouraging. 

She said, “Shell is fairer to 

women than HYPREP, HYPREP 

should emulate Shell, they are fair 

to women, it is in the policy.” 

Ogoni water seriously 

polluted — Kebetkache 

Executive Director of 

KEBETKACHE, Ms. Emem Okok, 

in her address, noted that a study 

carried out by the group showed 

that polluted water abound in the 

area. 

Represented by the Project 

Notwithstanding, we love and 

cherish the monkeys. 

“1t is always a pleasant and 

wonderful spectacle to see a 

monkey sit on the branch of a 

tree, pluck leaves and place it 

on its thigh and weave it in the 

manner that women in the 

village weave rope in response 

to definite instruction. 

“In the village spring and 

farmlands, one could talk to 

monkeys and they respond to 

your directive. You could carry 

cassava, palm fruits, maize and 

other edible crops on your head 

and a monkey from a nearby 

tree jumps and takes some of it 

from your head,” he further 

disclosed. 

UNDP okay with Ikot Osu 

Akpan Itam conservation 

plan- Odele, UNDP 

The Head Sustainable 

Development, United Nations 

Development Programme 

(UNDP) Mr. Muyiwa Odele, 

said his organization was 

impressed with the 

community’s tradition and 

decision on the conservation 

and protection of the monkey 

species. 

“There are about 13 such 

monkey populations across the 

country, but the population of 

Ikot Osu Akpan Itam is the most 

secured and that is why the 

UNDP has invested enough 

resources, assistance in this 

community”, he said. 

My worries —Dr Ebe, RONEL 

Consult 

Managing Director of RONEL 

Consult Limited, a firm of 

environmental consultants and 

biodiversity experts, Dr Isidore 

Akpan Ebe, thanked the UNDP 

and Global Environment 

Residents of Rivers community with flow station bemoan using 

lantern for 20 yrs running 

Continued from page 28 

“We were expecting 

better health scheme for 

Ogoni people, but they 

came to give us 

Paracetamol, this is not 

the kind of health 

programme recommended 

in the UNEP report. 

“We need comprehensive 

health scheme, where the 

process will be thorough. 

They should come and use 

a primary health centre or 

build centre in at least each 

of the local government 

areas so that people who 

are sick can always seek 

intervention.” 

“The only way forward is 

that they should include 

names of women leaders 

that will not compromise in 

bringing what belongs to 

the women to them. 

“We have children that 

Officer of KEBETKACHE Women 

Development and Resource 

Centre, Port Harcourt, Nelly 

Umoren, she said that the meeting 

contributes to creating platform 

for representation of community 

women groups to project their 

voices on issues of 

implementation of the emergency 

measures. 

“One of our key findings 

revealed that as high as 91.5 per 

cent of the respondents indicated 

that public water supply is not 

available in their neighborhood. 

“During the learning and 

exchange visits conducted by 

KEBETKACHE, community 

women, including widows are 

demanding to be consulted on 

their preferred skills before the 

HYPREP planned training of 1,200 

women 

“Some of the women are 

expecting to be given tractors to 

promote their farming activities. 

The women are expecting to be 

included in all decision making 

structures and processes as 

regards the cleanup process,” she 

said. 

HYREP complying with 

UNEP standard —Dr. 

Dekil 

However, the Project 

Facility GEF, sponsors of the 

Niger Delta Biodiversity Project 

for their concerns. 

He, nonetheless, lamented 

that the environment is worse off 

today than it has ever been 

because of high- scale 

deforestation, habitat 

fragmentation, changing land 

use pattern, climate change and 

loss of biodiversity worldwide. 

“It is however, interesting to 

note that despite the 

perturbations going on in the 

tropics rainforest worldwide, the 

presence of the critically 

endangered Sclater’s monkey 

specie (Cercopithecus sclateri) 

in Ikot Uso Akpan Itam in Itu 

local government area of Akwa 

Ibom state has been established 

and documented. 

“We will continue to engage 

the public in a discourse that will 

eventually lead to guided 

tourism and so contribute to the 

economy of the Ikot Uso Akpan 

Itam community, nay Akwa 

Ibom, and Nigeria”, he said. 

Essien assures govt support 

Commissioner 

of 

Environment and Solid 

Minerals, Dr. Iniobong Essien, 

who commended the 

community, said, “It is common 

knowledge that Ikot Uso Akpan 

Itam is a unique and 

outstanding tourism site due to 

the presence of Sclater’s 

monkey.” 

“I therefore wish to 

encourage all managers of 

culture and tourism at the state 

and local government levels to 

make the necessary efforts to 

develop this site in partnership 

with the private sector in order 

to attract both domestic and 

International investors and 

tourists. 

“The state government will 

leave no stone unturned in 

putting in place the necessary 

biodiversity conservative 

infrastructure that will support 

implementation of the ideas 

and efforts of the development 

partners, particularly, the 

ongoing review of our 

environmental laws and 

regulations,” said. 

Commissioner Essien noted 

that monkey, tortoise and 

crocodile are among the few 

fortunate animals that the 

Niger Delta Biodiversity Project 

is assisting local communities to 

preserve in the face of 

increasing threat to their 

survival. 

•Mrs. Ukeria Brownson 

Coordinator, HYPREP, Dr. 

Marvin Dekil, stated that 

HYPREP in implementing the 

project in line with the 

recommendations of UNEP. 

Dekil said during a visit of 

UNEP Representative to Port 

Harcourt that the agency gave 

women opportunity in the project 

and they would have more 

chances to participate, noting that 

the people would get potable water 

alongside the project and 

livelihood restored. 

Niger Delta Voice, 01 - 04-19


N8.7bn Debt: Officials resist bid to seal 

off bank branch 

•We shall commence contempt proceeding —INNOSON 

By Dennis Agbo 

E 

N U G U — 

GUARANTY 

Trust Bank has resisted 

attempt to seal its 

branches by Innoson 

Group of Companies 

which said it has order 

of Fifa to seal the bank 

until the debtor bank 

pays up its debt to the 

company. 

Innoson has, however, 

warned that the bank’s 

resistance amounts to 

contempt of the court 

order and has vowed to 

invoke full weight of the 

law against GT bank. 

In a mild commotion at 

Ogui road branch of the 

bank in Enugu 

yesterday, officials of the 

bank refused Innoson 

and its team of lawyers 

and security personnel 

from executing the seal 

order. 

The drama caused 

panic withdrawals by the 

bank customers who 

could not comprehend 

the imbroglio. 

The bank manager of 

the Ogui road branch 

told Innoson's lawyers 

and security men that 

they should not seal the 

bank and argued that the 

order the court gave was 

execution order to pay 

Innoson it’s money but 

not to seal the bank. 

“The court did not tell 

you to seal our bank, 

what they gave was an 

You're on your own, Ebonyi APC tells 

campaign DG 


E 

N U G U — 

GOVERNORSHIP 

campaign council of the 

:Vanguard 

News 

execution order to pay 

him his money. If they 

gave you order to seal it, 

let us see the paper from 

court which orders you to 

do so. 

“We are not above the 

law. Everybody knows 

that Supreme Court is 

the apex court in the 

land. Once they say it, 

that’s final but we have 

not seen the paper from 

the Supreme Court that 

gave the order and until 

we see that, we will not 

allow you to seal our 

bank,” the branch 

manager said. 

INTER HOUSE SPORTS: From left— Mrs Ezinne Onoh, Proprietress, 

The Brains Premier College, Ago Palace Way, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos; Mr 

Nwogoh Lawrence, Chairman of the occassion and Mrs Flora Umukoro, 

former Chairperson, Parents Teachers Association, at the Annual Inter 

House Sports of college, held within the school's premises, weekend. 

Photo: Lamidi Bamidele 

All Progressives 

Congress, APC, in 

Ebonyi State has 

distanced itself from 

statements credited to its 


The commotion spread 

to town which made the 

bank customers rush to 

the bank to withdraw 

their money. 

Innoson’s head of 

communications, Cornel 

Osigwe, however, said 

that it’s next line of 

action would be 

contempt charge against 

the bank for obstructing 

court’s execution order. 

Osigwe said: “This 

goes to show the 

character of the company 

that we’re dealing with. 

The character of the 

company that has failed 

Director General, 

Senator Anthony Agbo. 

Agbo in a media report 

was quoted to have 

lashed on the 

governorship candidate 

of the APC in Ebonyi 

State, Senator Sonni 

Ogbuoji, whom Agbo 

accused 

of 

masterminding the 

abysmal performance of 

the APC in the last 


the state. 

However, two members 

of the campaign council, 

Aro Nweke and Paul 

Okorie have replied 

Agbo’s statement, saying 

the failure of the party in 

the election is the 

making of the campaign 

DG himself. 

They said the DG has 

no right or power to 

speak for the entire body 

without their mandate. 

“Agbo is the DG of the 

body but not the body. If 

he has spoken and said 

he spoke for himself, 

to obey court judgement, 

the character of the 

company that has 

consistently used 

kangaroo style and 

method as their bank 

relationship 

management to their best 

customers. 

“We’re a law abiding 

company, the writ of Fifa 

execution was carried out by 

the court bailiff through due 

process of the law. We shall 

commence contempt proceedings 

against the branch manager and 

the Managing Director. Nobody 

is bigger than the court in 

Nigeria.” 

that would be acceptable. 

But for him to go to the 

public and make 

statements attributed to 

the council without the 

consent of the body 

actually questions his 

reputation and the role 

he played in what 

actually resulted in the 

poor performance of the 

party,” both Nweke and 

Okorie said. 

They clarified that the 

campaign council met in 

Enugu where the issue 

arose that the council 

should make its position 

known on what 

transpired during the 

election, but that the 

meeting concluded that 

since Agbo mooted 

readiness to prepare the 

statement, he should do 

so after another meeting 

for all members to make 

their inputs and deliver 

same to Senator Ogbuoji 

first and later, to party 

elders before it goes 

public. 

Senate Presidency: APC 

unfair to S-East —Coalition 

of Igbo youths 

By Ugochukwu 

Abaribe 

ABA—The Coalition 

of South-East Youth 

Leaders, COSEYL, has 

said that the All 

Progressive Congress, 

APC, was unfair to 

Ndigbo by refusing to 

zone the senate 

presidency position to 

the zone. 

The group lamented 

that the APC has 

continued to deny the 

Southeast a fair share 

even when the zone 

recorded a massive 

support by electing more 


the House of 

Representatives than it 

did in 2015. 

It urged President 


and the APC national 

chairman, Comrade 

Adams Oshiomhole to 

ensure that the party 

does not deny any zone 

its due in the sharing of 

national positions. 

In a statement signed 

by its President, Chief 

Goodluck Egwu Ibem; 

Secretary, Dr. Igwe 

Kanice and Publicity 

Secretary, Hon. Joshua 

Nnamani, the group 

vowed that Ndigbo 

would no longer allow 

By Peter Okutu 

ABAKALIKI—A pro 

Buhari group, 

Initiative for Demonstrating 

Change in Nigeria, 

yesterday, called on all 


National Assembly to 

support the decision of the 

ruling All Progressives 

Congress, APC, to elect 

Senator Ahmed Lawan 

and Femi Gbajabiamila as 

Senate President and 

Speaker of the Federal 

House Representives 

respectively. 

Speaking to newsmen in 

Abakaliki, the national 

coordinator of the group, 

Comrade Chinedu Ogah 

noted that the contributions 

of Lawan as the Majority 

Leader of the Senate for 

the unity of the country 

projected him as a core APC 

loyaltist and man of the 

people. 

Ogah who delivered his 

Ikwo Local Government 

Area of Ebonyi State with 

the highest votes in the 

South East to President 

Buhari called on all 

members of APC to imbibe 

the party’s discipline to 

sustain Adams 

itself to be relegated to 

the background. 

“Looking at the manner 

in which the APC has 

been sharing its 

position, we make bold 

to say that the party has 

been too parochial. It has 

failed to act as a true 

national party. The APC 

has been unfair to 

Ndigbo. In 2015, the 

APC said we didn’t elect 

a senator who could have 

been made senate 

president. Now, in 2019, 

the APC recorded 

victories in the South 

East . 

"Instead of zoning the 

senate presidency 

position to the South 

East and anointing one 

of the ranking senators, 

the APC is again giving 

reasons. 

“How can the APC 


presidency to the North 

West where it adopted 

Senator Ahmed Lawan, 

leaving out the Igbo 

which is one of the major 

tripods on which the 

Nigerian federation 

stands? We will not allow 

this great injustice to 

stand. There are 

qualified Igbo senators 

from the APC such as Dr. 

Orji Uzor Kalu who has 

the capacity to excel." 

...As group backs Lawan, 

Gbaja for NASS leadership 

Oshiomhole’s legacies in 

the party. 

He maintained that the 

choices of Lawan and 

Gbajabiamila are square 

pegs in square holes for the 

legislative fortunes of the 

country. 

The group urged 

members-elect of the APC 

in the two chambers of the 

national assembly to 

display total loyalty to the 

supremacy of the party to 

avoid the repeat of the 

scenario of the 8th 

Assembly. 

Ogah also called on 

members-elect of other 

political parties to put the 

interest of the country above 

party politics and forge a 

common front that would 

promote cohesion and 

unity in the nation’s 

legislative arm. 

He said: “Ahmed Lawan 

has displayed maturity as 

the true leader that will 

unite the national assembly. 

He is a lover, an intelligent, 

humble and believer in one 

Nigeria. We should elect him as 

the Senate President because he 

has displayed love that he does 

not put party interest above 

national interest.”

Addressing decline of reading culture in Nigeria 

By Kehinde Akinfenwa 

NIGERIA has been rated by 

the World Culture Score 

Index as one of the countries in 

the world with the lowest reading 

culture, while available statistics 

from National Commission for 

Mass Literacy, Adult and Non- 

Formal Education shows that 38 

per cent of Nigerians are nonliterate 

as four in ten primary 

school children cannot read for 

comprehension. Regrettably, this 

adverse development is an 

ominous challenge the country 

seems not to be paying needed 

attention to. 

There is generally a poor 

reading culture in the country. 

The rich literacy history the 

country is famous for is gradually 

been eroded. Once upon a time, 

the country paraded the best set 

of authors and publishers in 

Africa. Then, reading was an 

innate affection for both young 

and old. This reading inclination 

reflected so much on the quality 

of leadership and civil discipline 

that brought pride to Nigerians 

anywhere in the world. The 

downturn in reading and book 

readership actually has a global 

dimension, especially given the 

onslaught of the digital 

revolution. Globally, the influence 

of new technology has altered the 

disposition to reading. Before 

now, schools engaged and 

participated in reading activities 

to enhance the thinking and 

creative ability of students. But 

lack of availability of suitable 

reading materials, absence of 

well-designed reading activities, 

insufficiency of trained staff to 

prosecute reading culture in 

schools and ineffective 

monitoring and evaluation of 

readership promotion 

programmes are constant 

Far away Fayemi 

By Abu Shekara 

PATRICK Ibrahim Yakowa's may 

be the slimmest margin of win in a 

governorship election. He polled 106 votes 

more than his opponent to be returned as 

elected in Kaduna State in 2011. That is 

our democracy and that is the rule. A 

simple majority and the required 

percentage of votes in two-thirds of local 

government areas in a state will suffice. 

In Sokoto State, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal 

nearly broke Yakowa’s record this year. 

With 342 votes, he has won the 

governorship race after a supplementary 

election that was viewed in many quarters 

as unlawful and unnecessary. That, of 

course, matters little now, except with 

respect to the letter of the law, as the recent 

tribunal ruling in a similar case in Osun 

State clearly points to. 

For Sokoto State, that is more an 

academic exercise. Tribunal or not, Aminu 

Waziri Tambuwal is the governor and 

governor-elect of Sokoto State. He has one 

victory now and will most probably secure 

another, if he cares to challenge the 

supplementary election he has just won 

in court for the sake of righting a wrong 

for posterity. In that case, Tambuwal would 

still prevail because he also won the initial 

“inconclusive” vote. 

Someone in far away Kigali, Rwanda, 

however, feels that is not enough. Kayode 

Fayemi, Governor of Ekiti State thinks 

challenges currently affecting 

readership development. 

In Nigeria, reading culture has 

suffered from widespread poverty, 

corruption, ineptitude and a 

dearth of dedicated quiet reading 

spaces like libraries. The decline 

in the standard of education has 

seriously affected reading ability. 

And it becomes harder when you 

have to deal with the many 

distractions and challenges that 

come with being an adult and 

living in a country like Nigeria. 

Perhaps, our socio-economic 

environment is not readingfriendly. 

The daily struggle for 

economic survival provides little 

or no time for people to cultivate 

a good reading habit. Equally, 

high cost of books, particularly 

imported ones, has contributed to 

low readership promotion in the 

country. 

Studies have shown that there 

is an almost symbiotic 

relationship between reading and 

intelligence. The analytical skills 

that provide the ability to 

understand issues and solve 

problems are the product of 

intensive reading. Reading 

regularly is a way to mental health 

which enhances emotional 

intelligence, helps with selfawareness, 

empathy, social skills 

and managing relationships 

more effectively. Reading also 

provides a therapeutic effect and 

inner tranquility, while also 

slowing mental decline. Thus, the 

relationship between reading, 

knowledge acquisition, 

intelligence and personal 

empowerment is crucial for 

economic and societal 

development. A critical mode of 

thinking and human 

development is lost in the 

absence of reading. 

It is, however, cheering that 

certain individuals and 

Tambuwal ought to have done better. A 

thousand votes ahead or more would have 

been more a thing of pride than 342 votes. 

“Ultimately, you cannot win an election 

with 300 votes and take all,” he told an 

African CEOs forum, obviously referring 

to Governor Tambuwal’s narrow margin 

electoral victory, “and the person who loses 

an election with 300 votes gets nothing,” 

he added, in solidarity with his losing APC 

in Sokoto State. "It is a recipe for 

disaster...,” Fayemi lamented. 

The Ekiti State governor, who won 

election into a staggered second term last 

Fayemi is too far away in 

Uganda to learn that Aminu 

Waziri has already extended 

the olive branch to his main 

APC opponent, through an 

open invitation to participate 

in serving the state 

year, would have perhaps rejected his 

victory, if he had a narrow margin on his 

opponent, Ayo Fayose or he would have 

shared his administration with the PDP, half 

and half. 

Fine talk in faraway Kigali to a mainly 

non-Nigerian audience is cheap. He still 

has a chance to practicalise his power 

sharing rationale in Ekiti State. With 

197,459 of the vote to Fayose’s 178,121, 

organisations are making 

concerted efforts to revive 

reading culture in the country. 

The Lagos State government, for 

instance, has been making huge 

attempts to revitalise reading 

culture, especially among the 

younger ones. The state 

government made the annual 

World Literacy Day one of the 

most celebrated in the state’s 

We need to develop 

literate citizens who are 

able to read widely to 

unlock the world 

treasure of knowledge 

and participate in the 

dynamic civilization of 

the world 

official calendar. Also, through the 

Lagos State Parks and Gardens 

Agency, LASPARK, the state 

government has established 

libraries in almost all the state 

owned parks, availing users the 

immense opportunity to read 

while having fun. To further 

improve reading culture and 

empower children through 

books, government introduced 

reading clubs in its parks where 

students meet with Nigerian 

authors on a regular basis to read 

to them and improve their 

reading skills. 

It must be emphasized that the 

interest expressed by private 

institutions in trying to keep 

reading and literacy alive is 

commendable. Over the last 

decade, a number of literary 

prizes have helped in supporting 

Nigeria’s literary circles. The 

9Mobile Prize for Literature, 

backed by the telecommunication 

Governor Fayemi ought to concede 40 per 

cent of his government to his opponent in 

the PDP. 

Fayemi is too far away in Uganda to learn 

that Aminu Waziri has already extended 

the olive branch to his main APC opponent, 

through an open invitation to participate 

in serving the state. The Sokoto State 

governor is no stranger to the inclusive 

approach to governance. Until recently, a 

majority of APC elements were part and 

parcel of his administration, including in 

fact, their governorship candidate, who was 

the deputy governor and commissioner for 

works. 

There is, therefore, no winner takes all 

attitude in Sokoto State, that Fayemi can 

describe as a “recipe for disaster,” unless 

if by that he actually means if the winner 

is not APC. And if the desperation 

exhibited by his party to take over the 

whole country by all means, legitimate and 

otherwise, is anything to go by, the Ekiti 

governor’s worse fear is any political party 

controlling any state, other than the APC. 

It is indeed ironic that Dr. Fayemi, a man 

of intellect, who owes his rise to nothing 

as much as he should to democracy, should 

express such opinion so bereft of the 

democratic principle. Suggesting that the 

winner of a closely contested governorship 

election is a governor of only half of a state, 

is certainly a subscription to pedestrian 

views. For, the mandate given by a little 


company, the Nigeria Prize for 

Literature, sponsored by the 

NLNG Gas Company and the 

Miles Morland Grant, which 

supports authors working on a 

novel for a year are among some 

of the clear-cut interventions 

aimed at improving reading 

culture in the country. 

In February 2018, GTBank 

announced the launch of “The 

Dusty Manuscript,” a contest for 

Nigerian crime and romance 

fiction writers with finished but 

unpublished novels. The top 

three authors from the contest 

were rewarded with a publishing 

contract with Kachifo, one of the 

country’s renowned publishing 

houses. 

Also, as part of her initiative to 

rekindle interest in reading, You 

Read Initiative, a CSR 

programme of GTBank launched 

in 2017 recorded a landmark 

achievement when 40-year-old 

Olubayode Treasures Olawunmi 

broke the Guinness World Record 

for the Longest Marathon Read 

Aloud. The record, which since 

2008 was held by Nepal’s Deepak 

Sharma Bajaan after he read a 

total of 17 books in 113 hours and 

15 minutes, was shattered by 

Olubayode early in 2018 as he 

achieved the feat for 120 hours in 

Lagos. 

Olubayode’s story indicates 

that with the right structure and 

sincere determination, Nigeria 

can build a society of intellectuals 

and educated minds because a 

reading nation is a 

knowledgeable, tolerant and 

violence free society. The culture 

of reading must be activated in 

children from a very young age. 

More books should be procured 

for children than smart phones 

and tablets. Nigerian homes 

need to be fitted with more 

bookshelves and bookcases than 

flat screen TVs and laptops. 

While it is imperative for federal 

and state governments to increase 

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funding in education, they must 

take an active role in resuscitating 

reading habit, refurbishment of 

existing libraries and redesign 

of the school curriculum. We need 

an effective campaign to bring 

back the libraries to our schools 

and communities. Reducing 

environmental noise, which is 

inimical to reading, must be a 

policy imperative for 

governments across the country. 

For Nigerian literary canon to 

develop and expand, private and 

social sectors need to collaborate 

on initiatives that promote a 

strong reading culture in the 

country. Rather than scrambling 

to sponsor events that have little 

or no value to the future of the 

country, private organisations are 

enjoined to redirect their CSR to 

sponsoring campaigns to revive 

a reading culture in communities 

where they operate. 

If reading culture is on an 

irretrievable decline, writing 

profession and the publishing 

industry is at great risk. The 

decline or demise of publishing 

industry is not without long-term 

implications for the 

enlightenment of society and 

human capital development in the 

country. 

More importantly, the absence 

of effective reading ability is a 

barrier to a civilized political 

culture and economic prosperity. 

To attain the socio-economic 

height of our dreams and 

aspirations, we need to develop 

literate citizens who are able to 

read widely to unlock the world 

treasure of knowledge and 

participate in the dynamic 

civilization of the world. It is, 

therefore, essential that policy 

makers with evidence based data 

or information monitor and 

evaluate educational policies and 

literacy programmes in Nigeria. 

•Akinfenwa is of the Lagos 

State Ministry of Information 

&Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja 

more than half of the people is taken as 

mandate given by all the people. 

Fayemi’s belief that a leader returned by 

a narrow margin of votes has no moral right 

to form a government in the exclusion of 

the opposition is way off the cut off mark 

for intellectual engagement in our 

presidential system. The Ekiti State 

governor ought to know that. What 

spokespeople of the APC actually know is 

indeed, becoming a puzzle. The utterances 

of individuals in those quarters are more 

and more indicative of lack of awareness, 

comprehension or respect for due process 

or the rule of law. 

A certain desperation tends to be 

associated with rising profile in APC, 

especially in people previously credited 

with appreciable intellect. And 

personalities such as Fayemi may well be 

the latest victim of this syndrome. His 

geographical distance from the scene of 

affairs may, therefore, have less to do with 

Fayemi’s gaffe on the Sokoto election than 

the general detachment of the APC from 

reality. 

The fact that the survival of their party is 

really merely hanging on a thread, is 

shown in its rejection by Nigerians clearly 

manifests in their past strong hold states 

of Kano, Bauchi, Adamawa, Rivers, Benue, 

Zamfara, Imo, Oyo, Osun and Sokoto. 

* Shekara, a political analyst,wrote from 

Lagos 

C 

M 

Y 

K


YOUR LUCK TODAY 

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 

ARIES; If what you’re doing today’ll depend on tomorrow’s event it’s better 

you’re more careful now. Even things may not go according to your personal 

plans today. Yet it’s important you plan both your immediate and far 

future carefully now. 

TAURUS; If you take to aggression, your ego would be deflated by your 

superior colleagues, but your being co-operative in a civilised way’ll prevent 

trouble 

GEMINI; Those willing to put you to shame one way or the other’ll be 

disappointed with the turn of things today. It’s good to secure support of your 

spouse. 

CANCER; You’ve had enough of fun in the recent times and it’s now time 

you settle down for hard work in order to prevent avoidable trouble. Be 

patient please. 

LEO; Your concentration level and determination are the pillars of your 

success today. Yet you’ll need to respect your senior colleagues and protect 

your image 

L E I S U R E 

TAKE HEART — ELLA RANDLE 

“Not everything that is faced can be changed but 

nothing can be changed until it is faced. -James 

Baldwin- 

When you have inner trust and believe in yourself, it 

means you will no longer want to play the role of victim 

or blame. You will make empowered choices that are right 

for you and truly aligned with your heart and soul in the 

direction of your dreams and life’s purpose. Ella Randle 

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye” 

SAYINGS OF 

OUR PEOPLE 

If you close 

your eyes to 

facts, you will 

learn through 

accidents. ~ 

African proverb 

By Kola Fayemi 

VIRGO; It’s true you’re willing to work harder but you just have to drop both 

aggression and mental arrogance to allow things to roll accordingly. Then, 

you’re accident prone within your working arena. Respect the law and its 

agents today. 

LIBRA; Serious thought may be giving to matters of the heart but it’s better 

you tarry a while. Joint ventures of short duration today may be an invitation 

to avoidable trouble 

SCORPIO; If you back your financial plans with concrete and positive 

actions things’ll go according to your desire. If you fail to realise importance 

of your spouse you would work your way into avoidable trouble; aren’t you 

tired of crisis? 

SAGITTARIUS; Your intelligence, competence and level of concentration 

may today bring you envy, which you don’t deserve within your working 

arena in a negative form but. 

DUDU in “ROLLING HOT” By A.O. OLAIDE 

CAPRICORN; The Moon highlights your Solar second house of money 

which is good but, if you try to buy true love with money, you’ll be disappointed 

AQUARIUS; You will have new confidence and with new supports from 

the powers-that-be, it’s like you are now un-stop-able. But be cautious, 

especially with the veterans within your base of operation 

PISCES; Better days are ahead of you but, you will today need to do away 

with non-productive argument and/or agreement. Try to be more diplomatic 

now. 

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING 

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING 

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

trological 

Counselling, P.M.B 100 

007, 7, Apapa, Lagos 

About my success? 

Dear Joshua, 

I am interested in your Astrological counselling. Kindly tell me 

everything about myself, especially my finance and career; would 

I be rich eventually, if yes what should I do to make it happen 

quickly. 

Akande-Ogun, 

Dear Akande, 

There are indications of financial success for you but you can 

not change what Almighty God Has designed for you talking 

about the timing (the quickness you talked in your letter) Certainly 

however no failure for you 

YOUR CAREER LINE 

Mercury –the planet of education and Accountancy, together 

with mighty Sun at positive angle to planets in Virgo (another 

Accounting Star sign) attracted you to Accountancy profession 

(the academic world). Truly you did not make wrong choice of 

career. 

Money will eventually come along this line but it’ll not be as 

faster as if you take to OIL RELATED BUSINESS. Because 

Neptune (the planet of OIL) was very comfortable when you 

were born. It will not be out of place if you have filling stations 

as time goes by, because you are basically a GAS PERSON. 

Another money spinning vocation for you include writing either 

along your line or for film making industry; it is important 

you exhibit the higher quotient of creativity in your inner-self. 

Yes your dream of becoming A Professor will come to reality. 

Politics is another area you are not looking at now but will 

surely come. 

Venus that was powerfully placed when you were born is all 

about MONEY. Thus you have special ability to make money. 

And as it was at positive angle to disciplined Saturn, you are not 

giving to serious frivolity. One major challenge here is envy by 

others but you will eventually overcome. Another source of challenges 

is your love life which looks not totally balanced. 

VIRGINIA 

HOME & ABROAD 

dadadekola@yahoo.com 

By Lawrence Akapa


INSTALLATION: 

High Chief Charles 

Ifeanyi Odili, new 

Iyasele of Aboh 

(left) and President 

General of Aboh 

Development 

Union, Engr. Ajie 

Ogwu, during the 

installation 

ceremony of the 

new Iyasele 

(traditional prime 

minister), at Aboh, 

Ndokwa East Local 

Govt, Delta State. 

SECURITY: Delta govt extends Navy 

foreshore wall 

the state Executive Council 

By Festus Ahon 

A SABA—DELTA 

State Government 

has extended the landing 

jetty and foreshore wall at 

the Nigerian Navy Ship 

Yard in Warri as part of 

efforts towards improving 

the security of lives and 

property in the state. 

Briefing newsmen after 

meeting, the State 

Commissioner for 

Information, Ogbueshi 

Patrick Ukah, said the 

Executive Council 

presided over by Governor 

Ifeanyi Okowa also 

approved the building of 

C’RIVER: We've no agents, our doors only 

open in court — TRIBUNAL CHAIRMAN 

…Owan-enoh, Usani file separate petitions against Ayade 

By Ike 

Uchechukwu 

C ALABAR— 

JUSTICE Vincent 

Agbata, Chairman of Cross 

River State Election 

Petitions Tribunal sitting in 

Calabar has told politicians 

and their proxies that the 

panel has no agent or 

representative of any sort, 

stressing that anyone 

dealing with any agents 

was doing that at his own 

peril. 

Speaking during the 

inaugural sitting of the 

Tribunal, yesterday on the 

premises of the State High 

Court, with Justice Agbata 

as Chairman, Justice 

Ishaku Kunda and Justice 

Abukakar Bello as 

members respectively, 

Justice Agbata said for the 

avoidance of doubt, the 

tribunal has no agent nor 

representative and neither 

does the tribunal have 

anyone as proxy working 

on their behalf in any 

capacity. 

He said, “I have not 

appointed any agent or 

representative. Anyone 

you are dealing with, 

claiming to be our agent, 

you are doing that onyour 

own peril. We run an open 

door policy and everything 

and anyone that wants to 

approach us can do that in 

the open court and not 

outside or behind. 

“Please, no one should 

try to reach me or any 

member of the Tribunal 

privately for any reason. 

Every concern must be in 

the open court because we 

are here to serve. We remain 

learned friends but there 

will be no private business 

of any sort or coloration at 

all. 

In his remarks, the 

Attorney General of Cross 

River State, Joe Abang, 

who asserted that election 

matters were controversial, 

highly sensitive and 

contentious, urged the 

judges to honestly 

discharge their duties 

without fear or favour. 

He asserted: “You must 

see your appointment as a 

call to greater service to the 

nation. I therefore urge you 

to abide by your oath of 

office by courageously and 

honestly discharging your 

duty without fear or favour. 

Vanguard leaned that the 

Election Petitions Tribunal 

for governorship, National 

and State Assembly have 

received 30 petitions 

including 16 for the state 

House of Assembly and 

House of Representatives 

eight, while they received 

four for Senate and two for 

governorship elections. 

Ecumenical centre for the 

Christian Association of 

Nigeria, CAN in Asaba. 

Ukah said the council 

also approved the 

completion of the 

remodeling of Central 

Hospital, Asaba and cash 

awards to members of 

state contingent to the 

19th National Sports 

Festival. 

Also approved according 

to the Commissioner, were 

the reconstruction of old 

Adeje Road, Adeje in Okpe 

Local Government Area, 

rehabilitation of Delta 

Broadcasting Service, DBS 

and Isho Road, Ubulu-Uku 

in Aniocha South. 

Currency devaluation responsible 

for poor project financing in 

varsities — MACARTHUR 

FOUNDATION 

‘Commence dialogue in 

Ogoniland to end economic, 

environmental crisis' 

Share Intel used in restoring peace in N'Delta, 

Northern youths beg JTF Commander 

By Samuel 

Oyadongha 

Y ENAGOA— 

NORTHERN Youths 

Council of Nigeria has 

pleaded with the 

leadership of the Joint Task 

Force in the Niger Delta 

codenamed Operation 

Delta Safe to share with 

‘Court didn’t restrain NURTW members from 

collecting levies in Delta' 

By Gab Ejuwa 

FOLLOWING 

a 

recent report in some 

dailies that a court had 

restrained National Union 

of Road Transport Workers 

in the 25 Local 

Government Areas,LGAs, 

of Delta State from 

collecting levies from 

members of Otor-Udu and 

Otu-Jeremi Block 

Industries Association in 

the state, the Otor-Udu and 


Industries Association, 

yesterday refuted the 

report. 

It said that only 18 local 

government areas and the 

Ministry of Commerce and 

Industry were restrained by 

the court. 

Counsel to the Otor-Udu 

and Otu-Jeremi Block 

Industries Association, J. 

Sini, told journalists that 

in suit No. OUHC/171/ 

2017, the Otor-Udu and 


Industries Association as 

claimants, prayed the court 

to restrain the defendants 

(18 LGAs and Delta State 

Ministry of Commerce and 

Industries) from 

collecting levies from the 

claimants’ drivers and in 

any part of the state. 

By Gabriel 

Enogholase 

B 

E N I N — 

MACARTHUR 

Foundation has listed 

currency devaluation as the 

underlying factor 

responsible for deficit 

financing globally. 

Country Representative of 

the Foundation in Nigeria, 

Kola Shettima stated this 

while delivering a lecture in 

University of Benin, 

UNIBEN. 

Speaking on 

Programming on 

Accountability and 

Transparency: Implications 

for Management of Projects 

and Programmes in 

Nigerian Universities, he 

By Davies 

Iheamnachor 

PORT HARCOURT— 

THE Ogoni Liberation 

Initiative, OLI, has urged 

the Federal Government to 

open dialogue with the 

people of Ogoni in order to 

end the persistent economic 

and environmental crisis 

bedevilling the area. 

OLI made the call at the 

2nd World Economic 

Submit, a platform to discuss 

issues bordering on 

empowerment and 

development of Ogoniland, 

and graduation of 200 

sister security forces in the 

north, strategies deployed 

in restoring peace in the 

hitherto troubled region. 

They said this would help 

curtail crime wave in the 

northern part of the country 

which is currently grappling 

with the activities of Boko 

Haram and others criminal 

elements. 

President of the 

organisation, Isah Abubakar 

made the appeal yesterday 

in Yenagoa while 

presenting an award of 

excellence to the 

Commander of the JTF, 

Rear Admiral Apochi 

Suleiman. 

Abubakar lamented that 

the spate of insecurity in 

parts of the north had 

become worrisome hence 

the need for the leadership 

of the JTF to share 

intelligence with sister 

security forces to tackle the 

menace. 

He said: “The operation 

noted that “The problem 

is that government policy 

may be in one direction, 

while we as partners may 

be in another direction. 

“The budgetary system is 

often limited thereby 

compounding the problems 

of lack of accountability. The 

challenge of interest rate 

and devaluation of currency 

with diverse protections 

have consequences on 

budgeting which is always 

a major problem generally.” 

He listed accountability, 

transparency, and good 

governance as three areas 

of interventions by the 

Foundation in Nigeria and 

called for a review in 

budgeting processes and 

deployment of technology in 

Nigerian universities. 

youths trained in different 

skills such as liquid soap, 

making, mobile phones 

repair, plastics, among 

others at Bori, Khana Local 

Government Area of Rivers 

State. 

Prince Douglas Fabeke, 

President of OLI, disclosed 

that the people of Ogoni 

were ready for dialogue, in 

order to eradicate poverty 

and pollution from the area. 

He noted that important 

steps have been put in place 

to actualise the 

development and 

empowerment of youths in 

the area by the group. 

of the JTF in Niger Delta 

has actually drawn the 

attention of Northern 

youths. He should share the 

strategies he has used in 

curtailing crime wave in the 

Niger Delta with agencies 

in the north so that the north 

can be safe. 

“The Nigerian economy 

depends largely on 

earnings from the oil and 

gas sector and the task of 

safeguarding the 

infrastructure is 

fundamental to the 

development of the county. 

Also, the role that the joint 

military force has played in 

securing the national assets 

is commendable.’’ 

Responding, Suleiman 

told the youths that the 

Niger Delta environment 

cannot be compared to the 

north saying, “the scenarios 

are not the same and what 

we are doing here (Niger 

Delta) might not be able to 

curb the happenings there.”


Polls: APC probes poor 

outing in Anambra 

By Vincent 

Ujumadu 

AWKA—THE Anambra 

State branch of All 


APC, has set up a 

committee to find out 

reasons for the party’s 

abysmal performance in 

the last general elections in 

the state. 

The party also plans to 

rebrand the branch, 

starting with a summit to be 

attended by Vice President 

Yemi Osinbajo, the National 

Chairman, Adams 

Oshiomhole and the 

party’s only senator-elect 

in the South East geo 

political zone, Orji Uzor 

Kalu. 

Recall that in the 

presidential election, APC 

scored a scandalous 33,000 

votes and did not win any 

seat in both the state and 

national assembly polls, 

despite the array of 

prominent politicians of 

Anambra State origin in the 

party. 

The state chairman of 

APC, Chief Basil Ejidike, 

at the inauguration of the 

committee, which has Chief 

C.J. Chinwuba as the 

chairman and Chief Peter 

Ogbuka as secretary, 

mandated it to find out the 

roles played by every 

stakeholder, including the 

national, state, local 

government and ward 

leaderships of the party, the 

party’s agents in the 

elections, security agencies 

and the Independent 


Commission, INEC, 

during the exercise. 

Ejidike said: “The fact 

finding committee will 

deeply probe what 

happened before and 

during the last general 

elections, which saw our 

party lying prostrate and 

without anything to show 

for its existence and 

participation in the 

elections. 

“Therefore, we want to 

know the roles played by 

members for and against 

the interest and success of 

the party before and during 

the elections. If you succeed 

in your assignment, then it 

means that APC is on the 

path to progress in 

Anambra State.” 

Delta'll witness amazing devt 

under Okowa —UNYM 

By Simon 

Adewale 

THE National President 

of Urhobo National 

Youth Movement, UNYM, 

Mr Alex Idu has 

congratulated Delta State 

Governor, Senator Ifeanyi 

Okowa of the Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, on 

his re-election for a second 

term in office. 

While addressing 

newsmen in Ughelli, Idu 

said that Okowa had 

shown great zeal and 

capacity in the 

development of the state 

since assumption of office 

as governor, stating that his 

re-election is indeed a 

recognition by Deltans for 

Okowa’s deeds that 

delivered the dividends of 

democracy to the people. 

He noted that the 

landslide victory and 

massive vote from the 

electorate in Ughelli and 

Delta State for Okowa is an 

expression of appreciation 

for the numerous projects 

and performance of Okowa 

during his first term; that 

Okowa should accelerate 

the infrastructural 

development and human 

empowerment in 

appreciation for his 

mandate. 

Idu expressed hope that 

Delta State would witness 

amazing developmental 

activities and 

empowerment during 

Okowa’s second term; that 

Deltans have made a good 

choice by casting their votes 

for Okowa. 

Airport road construction: 

FAAN urges air travellers to 

leave home early 

By Samson 

Echenim 

THE Federal Airports 

Authority of Nigeria has 

advised air passengers to 

leave their homes early, 

owing to the ongoing 

reconstruction of the road 

leading the Murtala 

Muhammed International 

Airport, Lagos. 

The airport authority said 

the advice became 

necessary due to the traffic 

gridlock experienced by 

road users along airport 

road. 

"The authority appeals to 

passengers that leaving 

their homes early will 

ensure they get to the 

airport in good time and go 

through all check-in 

formalities with ease," 

FAAN said in a statement 

by its General Manager, 

Corporate Affairs, Mrs 

Henrietta Yakubu. 

While apologising for the 

inconveniences 

encountered by passengers 

due to the situation, Yakubu 

said FAAN had mobilised 

security agencies to ensure 

that the situation was 

effectively managed. 

IMO: PDP vows to probe last-minute 

employments, establishment of new 

institutions by Okorocha 

By Chidi 

Nkwopara 

OWERRI—Imo State 

chapter of the Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, has 

kicked against what it 

called “illegal 

establishments, upgrading 

of institutions, looting of 

government property and 

backdating of 

employments,” by the 

outgoing Rochas Okorocha 

administration in the state. 

The state PDP Publicity 

Secretary, Mr. Damian 

Opara, expressed the 

party’s position in a press 

statement at the weekend, 

in Owerri. 

“The attention of the 

Peoples Democratic Party, 

Imo State Chapter, has 

been drawn to the recent 

pronouncements by the 

outgoing Governor of Imo 

State, Chief Rochas 

Okorocha, concerning the 

purported establishments 

and upgrading of certain 

institutions in the state. 

“They include the 

College of Education, 

Ihitte-Uboma; Imo State 

Polytechnic, Ehime 

Mbano; Imo State 

University of Agriculture 

and Veterinary Medicine, 

Ngor Okpala/Aboh 

Mbaise; Imo State 

University, Faculty of 

Engineering, Onuimo; Imo 

State Polytechnic, Orlu 

Campus (TESAC); Imo 

State College of Education, 

Ohaji/Egbema, and the 

purported appointment of 

heads of these non-existing 

institutions at the twilight 

of his administration.” 

The PDP urged Imo 

people to disregard such 

pronouncements, pointing 

out that “such 

pronouncements have no 

basis in law and may have 

been done in the usual 

practice of the outgoing 

governor, without due 

processes.” 

The PDP further noted 

that just a few weeks to the 

end of Okorocha’s 

administration, “he has 

employed more workers 

than he had ever done 

during the eight years he 

wasted as the governor of 

Imo State”. 

The party alleged that 

Okorocha employed and 

backdated letters of 

employments given to 

individuals who hitherto 

had no service to render to 

the state ministries, 

agencies and parastatals. 

“In one agency alone, the 

managing director 

purportedly employed 300 

persons in the guise of 

doing surveillance duties 

and backdated their 

employment letters. The 

above scenario has been 

going on virtually in all 

g o v e r n m e n t 

establishments across the 

state, including state 

owned tertiary institutions. 

The looting of government 

property has been going on 

daily. Government vehicles 

have been auctioned at 

give-away prices and 

property worth millions of 

naira that belongs to Imo 

people have been carted 

away”, the PDP alleged. 

While viewing the above 

actions of Governor 

Okorocha as “immoral, 

criminal, unwarranted, 

unlawful and laden with 

evil intentions”, the party 

also reiterated that “the 

incoming PDP 

administration under 

Emeka Ihedioha shall do 

the needful by making sure 

that these illegal actions of 

Governor Okorocha are 

reversed.” 

5 IPOB members arrested for 

attacking police station in Anambra 

By Vincent 

Ujumadu 

A WKA—ANAMBRA 

State police command 

has arrested five persons 

suspected to be members of 

the Indigenous People of 

Biafra, IPOB, who 

allegedly attacked and 

burnt a police station in 

Ajali, Orumba North Local 

Government Area of the 

state. 

Those arrested were 

Abuchi Nwogwu (21 

years), Okwudili Nwanne 

(42), Maduabuchi Obia 

(22), Chukwuedozie Orah 

(30) and Ekechi 

Chukwuemeka (30), who 

the police said, all hailed 

from Ndikelionwu in the 

same local government 

area. 

The state Commissioner 

of Police, Mr. Mustapha 

Dandaura, who paraded 

the suspects at the 

command’s headquarters 

in Amawbia, said they were 

nabbed by the police 

Special Anti Robbery 

Squad, SARS, after what he 

called ‘an aggressive 

manhunt of perpetrators’. 

According to the CP, the 

suspected IPOB members 

attacked the Ajalli Police 

S-East group calls for inclusive govt 

By Ebele Orakpo 

C ONCERNED 

citizens and 

representatives of the 

National Eastern Mandate, 

NEM, have called on 


Buhari-led administration 

and the leadership of the 

All Progressives Congress, 

APC, to zone leadership 

positions to qualified 

members of the party from 

the South-East zone, to 

acknowledge their effort 

and also to prevent the 

contravention of Section 

14(3) of the 1999 

Constitution as amended. 

While congratulating 

President Buhari on his 

victory in the last 

presidential election, the 

group noted that more 

easterners voted for him in 

2019 than at any other time 

since 2003. They reminded 

him of his victory speech 

where he stated that he 

would run an inclusive 

government, saying that “a 

committed and loyal 

ranking APC Senator from 

the Eastern zone should be 

considered for leadership 

VISIT: From left— 

Osita Aboloma, 


S t a n d a r d s 

Organisation of 

Nigeria, SON; 

Senator Sam Egwu, 

Chairman, Senate 

Committee on 

Industry; and Senator 

Barnabas Gemade, 

during a courtesy visit 

of the committee to 

SON's laboratory 

complex at Ogba, 

Lagos, as part of its 

oversight functions. 

Division and set ablaze the 

station, three police patrol 

vehicles and other exhibits. 

He also said the 

suspects equally carted 

away three AK 47 rifles 

from the division’s armoury 

and injured the Divisional 

Crime Officer, DCO, who 

was on a visiting round at 

the time. 

Dandaura said that upon 

interrogation, the suspects 

took police operatives to 

their hideout where one of 

the AK 47 rifle with breech 

number KO 358792 was 

recovered, adding that the 

suspects would be charged 

to court after investigations. 

in the interest of political 

unity and stability in the 

nation. 

In a release made 

available to Vanguard, the 

group called on the 

chairman of the 

Independent Electoral 

Commission, INEC, 

Professor Mahmood 

Yakubu, to “resist all 

pressure and ensure that all 

who were declared winners 

(not under duress) by 

INEC are issued their 

Certificates of Return 

without further delay."



OBSEQUIES FOR LATE MRS ODINKALU 

Bishop Augustine Ukwuoma, Bishop of Orlu Catholic Diocese, at the funeral 

mass for late Mrs Odinkalu, mother of Prof Chidi Odinkalu, former Chairman 

of National Human Rights Commission, NHRC. To his left is Rev. Fr. Obinna 

Odinkalu (deceased's son) and Rev. Dr. Ozioma Onyima, Parish priest, St. 

Joseph's Parish, Umuhu-Okabia, Orsu LGA, Imo State. 

Governor-elect of Imo State and former Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, 

Emeka Ihedioha (middle) with Livy Uzoukwu, SAN (left) and Chidi Odinkalu. 

Emeka Ihedioha with Rev. Fr. Odinkalu. 

( T O P ) : 

C h i d i 

Odinkalu with 

his wife, Mrs. 

Iheoma Obibi 

Odinkalu. 

(LEFT): 

Lawrence 

Wilbert, 

President, 

Unity Schools 

Old Students 

Association 

(right) and 

C h i d i 

Odinkalu.


What feminism 

means to me- 

Genevieve Nnaji 

Veteran Nollywood actress, 

Genevieve Nnaji has finally 

joined the league of women who 

have been publicly sharing their 

take on feminism. 

The award-winning actress who 

was a guest speaker at the 

London School of Economics 

Africa Summit said for her, 

feminism is all about human 

rights. 

“My own feminism is just 

human rights. I’m a woman 

who has rights to her own 

choices; I can do whatever I 

want whenever I want. It’s 

just that simple if I were a 

man it would be the same 

thing. At the end of the day 

I was born alone, I’m going 

to die alone, I breathe alone. 

So I definitely have the right 

to how I want to live my life”, 

she said. 

Genevieve Nnaji’s view on 

feminism totally differs from that 

of other female celebrities who 

have embraced it. In the last few 

years, we’ve seen how this very 

sensitive and controversial topic 

has sparked off a lot of 

conversations. 

The last time a female celebrity 

talked about taking a walk away 

from the feminism dream, her 

views weren’t really well 

received by foot soldiers of the 

cause. 

Tiwa Savage joins Burna Boy as Star Lager brand 

ambassador 

•Tiwa 

Savage 

•Genevieve 

Self-styled queen of afro-pop music, Tiwa 

Savage has been unveiled as brand 

ambassador for Star Radler. The announcement 

was made at a special event hosted at Muri 

Okunola Park during the weekend. 

She becomes the first female to be officially 

signed on as an advocate for the beer brand, as 

she joins an elite bracket of superstars to be 

associated with Star. 

Back in January, Burna Boy was announced as 

the first ever brand ambassador for Star Lager and 

the pop star’s unveiling was followed by a 

commercial which earned widespread acclaim. 

Now with Tiwa’s unveiling, fans of the afro-pop 

sensation will be eagerly anticipating the creative 

ways the brand intends to exploit this landmark 

relationship. 

Following the success of Fifty and The 

Wedding Party, Chief Daddy, the much 

anticipated EbonyLife Films production, is 

finally available on Netflix. 

The Niyi Akinmolayan movie which is the 

third EbonyLife Films to be acquired by Netflix 

was third highest grossing movie in Nollywood 

box office history and No. 1 Nollywood film of 

2018. 

To celebrate this feat, Funke Akindele, Ini 

Edo, Dakore Akande, Uti Nwachukwu, Kate 

Henshaw and many other top stars stepped out 

in dashing white outfits for a party at RSVP 

lounge, Victoria Island. 

The Executive Producer, Mo Abudu 

expressed excitement that the African diaspora 

can finally gain access to Chief Daddy on 

Netflix. 

“We are extremely thrilled by this wonderful 

opportunity to bring another great movie to the 

global audience even while it continues its 

spectacular run at the cinema. We are pleased 

by the opportunity that this Netflix partnership 

provides to meet the huge interest in the 

diasporan community in Chief Daddy. Thank 

you Netflix for a partnership that continues to 

afford us the opportunity to tell our own unique 

stories in our own unique way; to bring joy and 

laughter to millions”, she said. 

•Waje 

Waje, Banky W, Falz, others 

task federal government on 

SARS brutality 

By Tolulope Abereoje 

Following the unfortunate 

death of one Kolade 

Johnson in Lagos on Sunday, 

March 31 st , 2019, after he was 

shot by members of the 

Special Anti-Robbery Squad, 

SARS, the ‘End SARS’ 

campaign has officially 

resumed. 

Talk about being at the right 

place at the wrong time, 

Kolade’s only offense was 

going to watch a football 

match when trigger happy 

SARS 

In 2018, Tiwa bagged a landmark 

achievement in her music career when she 

became the first African female to win a BET 

award. 

Speaking at the unveiling, Tiwa expressed 

excitement at becoming the first female brand 

ambassador for the Star brand. 

“Star is a great brand and I’m thrilled to have 

joined the Star family. I’ve always loved the 

Radler brand and it’s an amazing opportunity 

to be the official face of the brand. The taste is 

quite exquisite! The Star brand is all about 

inspiring people to dream for bigger, greater 

things. Every Nigerian is somewhat 

aspirational, and this is a theme I try to imbibe 

in my music. I can’t wait for what the future 

holds with Star as I urge everyone to be on the 

lookout for us.” 

MO Abudu’s ‘Chief Daddy’ makes Netflix 

•MO 

Abudu 

operatives 

allegedly came to 

arrest someone and 

started shooting 

sporadically. 

P o p u l a r 

N i g e r i a n 

celebrities like 

Banky W, Waje, 

Frank Donga, 

Sean Tizzle, 

Adesua Etomi and 

Patoranking have joined 

millions of Nigerians in 

mourning Kolade who is said 

to be the only son of a widow 

and they have in their various 

notes expressed their 

displeasure in the actions of 

uniform men; tasking the 

federal government to do 

something quick about the 

brutality and incessant 

killings meted out on 

Nigerians by the squad. 

“This post is for our leaders. 

We’re tired of hearing about 

victims of police brutality but 

never hearing about the 

criminal, reckless police 

officials being brought to 

justice”, Banky said while 

condemning the incessant 

innocent killings. “We now live 

in fear”, Waje said. “What’s 

the difference between these 

SARS guys and armed 

robbers and assassins?”, Falz 

quizzed. 

How Nigerian 

celebrities wrecked 

my club business 

– Club owner 

By Tolulope Abereoje 

The once healthy relationship between 

Richard Nnadi, owner of popular Lagos 

night club, Escape, and Nigerian celebrities 

has gone sour following the closure of his club 

over celebrities’ refusal to pay up debts 

running into the sum of N120 million. 

While lamenting the painful closure of his 

once thriving nightlife business, Nnadi 

blamed Nigerian celebrities for wrecking his 

business. 

“Other club owners won’t say anything 

because they are still in the business but I am 

out and never going back so I will take this 

for the rest of us that can’t speak. Footballers, 

musicians, big brother housemates, politicians 

and even slay queens. I am coming for all of 

you because April 1st is a day for fools,” he 

blurted out in anger. 

According to the nightlife entrepreneur, the 

highest amount owed at the club is N6.6m 

and those drinks were taken in two nights. In 

a radio interview, Nnadi disclosed that Davido, 

Bobrisky, Falz, Lati (Davido’s personal 

security), Sujimotors are all on his list of good 

customers who never owe. He however 

disclosed that the least amount owed is 

N10,000. 

Speaking further, he stated that he had to go 

public with his ordeal because it had become a 

norm for celebrities to buy drinks on 

credit. He claims to have solid 

proofs including signed receipts 

and screenshots of celebrities 

who are still owing him. 

However, after threatening 

to name celebrities owing 

him, Nnadi revealed that 

some of them have begun 

paying up. 

“Debts are been paid and 

others have been calling to 

make payment plans. 

Hopefully we won’t need to 

drop names because I would 

hate to destroy people’s lives 

the way they feel they have 

slowed down mine,” he said. 

•Richard


Case against Innoson: Our position 

— GTBank 

GTbank has pledged 

to continue to provide 

best-in-class customer 

experience services 

to its valued customers, 

notwithstanding 

Nigeria is moving 

close to a major 

cholera outbreak if urgent 

sanitary measures 

are not put in place at the 

Internal Displaced 

Camps in the North-east, 

the Norwegian Refugee 

Council, NRC, has 

warned. 

The Non-Governmental 

Organisation in a 

statement made available 

to PREMIUM 

TIMES, yesterday, 

warned that if urgent actions 

are not taken, the 

overcrowded camps, coupled 

with the shortage of 

sanitation and hygiene 

facilities will cause another 

cholera outbreak in 

the country. 

The region since 2009 

has been under siege 

due to the activities of the 

Boko Haram insurgents 

who are seeking an independent 

Islamic state. 

The insecurity has displaced 

over two million 

people. The majority of 

the population who fled 

from their homes are living 

in highly congested 

displacement sites which 

You're on your own, Ebonyi APC tells 

campaign DG 


E 

N U G U — 

GOVERNORSHIP 

campaign council of the 

:Vanguard 

News 

Innoson Nigeria Ltd, 

claim against the bank, 

noting that there was no 

cause for panic. 

GTbank in statement, 

said “The attention of 

Nigeria moving towards 

cholera outbreak in IDP 

camps – NRC 

are well below international 

minimum standards. 

They also lack access to 

basic amenities including 

water and latrines. 

This led to a major cholera 

outbreak last year. 

INTER HOUSE SPORTS: From left— Mrs Ezinne Onoh, Proprietress, The 

Brains Premier College, Ago Palace Way, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos; Mr Nwogoh 

Lawrence, Chairman of the occassion and Mrs Flora Umukoro, former 

Chairperson, Parents Teachers Association, at the Annual Inter House Sports 

of college, held within the school's premises, weekend. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele 

All Progressives 

Congress, APC, in 

Ebonyi State has 

distanced itself from 

statements credited to its 


GTBank has been drawn 

statements circulating in 

the news and social media 

in respect of a purported 

enforcement of a 

judgment of the Federal 

High Court, Ibadan, at 

one of its branches in 

Anambra State. 

“The bank as a lawabiding 

corporate citizen 

is taking all necessary 

legal steps to address 

the situation and to ensure 

that no illegal or 

fraudulent execution is 

carried out. 

“It is important to state 

that the judgment allegedly 

in issue is in respect 

of garnishee proceedings 

against the account 


Senator Anthony Agbo. 

Agbo in a media report 

was quoted to have 

lashed on the 

governorship candidate 

of the APC in Ebonyi 

State, Senator Sonni 

Ogbuoji, whom Agbo 

accused 

of 

masterminding the 

abysmal performance of 

the APC in the last 


the state. 

However, two members 

of the campaign council, 

Aro Nweke and Paul 

Okorie have replied 

Agbo’s statement, saying 

the failure of the party in 

the election is the 

making of the campaign 

DG himself. 

They said the DG has 

no right or power to 

speak for the entire body 

without their mandate. 

“Agbo is the DG of the 

body but not the body. If 

he has spoken and said 

he spoke for himself, 

of the Nigerian Custom 

Service board domiciled 

with the bank and not 

against the bank as an 

entity. 

“The bank remains 

committed to providing 

the best-in-class customer 

experience to all 

its valued customers. 

“While we humbly urge 

the public to disregard 

the purported story, we 

also deem it highly imperative 

to feed our customers 

with some basic 

information on the true 

status and essence of the 

case/ruling in question. 

“We promise to keep 

the public informed on 

the status of things.” 

that would be acceptable. 

But for him to go to the 

public and make 

statements attributed to 

the council without the 

consent of the body 

actually questions his 

reputation and the role 

he played in what 

actually resulted in the 

poor performance of the 

party,” both Nweke and 

Okorie said. 

They clarified that the 

campaign council met in 

Enugu where the issue 

arose that the council 

should make its position 

known on what 

transpired during the 

election, but that the 

meeting concluded that 

since Agbo mooted 

readiness to prepare the 

statement, he should do 

so after another meeting 

for all members to make 

their inputs and deliver 

same to Senator Ogbuoji 

first and later, to party 

elders before it goes 

public. 

Senate Presidency: APC 

unfair to S-East —Coalition 

of Igbo youths 

By Ugochukwu 

Abaribe 

ABA—The Coalition 

of South-East Youth 

Leaders, COSEYL, has 

said that the All 

Progressive Congress, 

APC, was unfair to 

Ndigbo by refusing to 


presidency position to 

the zone. 

The group lamented 

that the APC has 

continued to deny the 

Southeast a fair share 

even when the zone 

recorded a massive 

support by electing more 


the House of 

Representatives than it 

did in 2015. 

It urged President 


and the APC national 

chairman, Comrade 


ensure that the party 

does not deny any zone 

its due in the sharing of 

national positions. 

In a statement signed 

by its President, Chief 

Goodluck Egwu Ibem; 

Secretary, Dr. Igwe 

Kanice and Publicity 

Secretary, Hon. Joshua 

Nnamani, the group 

vowed that Ndigbo 

would no longer allow 

By Peter Okutu 

ABAKALIKI—A pro 

Buhari group, 

Initiative for Demonstrating 

Change in Nigeria, 

yesterday, called on all 



support the decision of the 

ruling All Progressives 

Congress, APC, to elect 

Senator Ahmed Lawan 

and Femi Gbajabiamila as 

Senate President and 

Speaker of the Federal 

House Representives 

respectively. 

Speaking to newsmen in 

Abakaliki, the national 

coordinator of the group, 

Comrade Chinedu Ogah 

noted that the contributions 

of Lawan as the Majority 

Leader of the Senate for 

the unity of the country 

projected him as a core APC 

loyaltist and man of the 

people. 

Ogah who delivered his 

Ikwo Local Government 

Area of Ebonyi State with 

the highest votes in the 

South East to President 

Buhari called on all 

members of APC to imbibe 

the party’s discipline to 

sustain Adams 

itself to be relegated to 

the background. 

“Looking at the manner 

in which the APC has 

been sharing its 

position, we make bold 

to say that the party has 

been too parochial. It has 

failed to act as a true 

national party. The APC 

has been unfair to 

Ndigbo. In 2015, the 

APC said we didn’t elect 

a senator who could have 

been made senate 

president. Now, in 2019, 

the APC recorded 

victories in the South 

East . 

"Instead of zoning the 

senate presidency 

position to the South 

East and anointing one 

of the ranking senators, 

the APC is again giving 

reasons. 

“How can the APC 


presidency to the North 

West where it adopted 

Senator Ahmed Lawan, 

leaving out the Igbo 

which is one of the major 

tripods on which the 

Nigerian federation 

stands? We will not allow 

this great injustice to 

stand. There are 

qualified Igbo senators 

from the APC such as Dr. 

Orji Uzor Kalu who has 

the capacity to excel." 

...As group backs Lawan, 

Gbaja for NASS leadership 

Oshiomhole’s legacies in 

the party. 

He maintained that the 

choices of Lawan and 

Gbajabiamila are square 

pegs in square holes for the 

legislative fortunes of the 

country. 

The group urged 

members-elect of the APC 

in the two chambers of the 

national assembly to 

display total loyalty to the 

supremacy of the party to 

avoid the repeat of the 

scenario of the 8th 

Assembly. 

Ogah also called on 

members-elect of other 

political parties to put the 

interest of the country above 

party politics and forge a 

common front that would 

promote cohesion and 

unity in the nation’s 

legislative arm. 

He said: “Ahmed Lawan 

has displayed maturity as 

the true leader that will 

unite the national assembly. 

He is a lover, an intelligent, 

humble and believer in one 

Nigeria. We should elect him as 

the Senate President because he 

has displayed love that he does 

not put party interest above 

national interest.”


Wheelchair-bound Algerian President, Adelaziz Bouteflika (82) who is seen in this recent picture, 

yesterday, agreed to leave office after protests against his fifth term in office 

ALGERIA: President Bouteflika 

agrees to quit before 28 April 

Algeria’s President 

Abdelaziz Bouteflika 

will step down before 

his mandate expires on 

28 April, Algerian state 

media reports. 

The 82-year-old, who 

has been in power for 20 

years, will ensure “continuity 

of the state’s institutions” 

before he quits, 

a presidential statement 

carried by APS news 

agency said. The news 

comes after weeks of 

mass protests demanding 

his resignation. 

As a result, he had 

dropped plans to seek reelection 

for a fifth term. 

The elections have been 

postponed and the government 

has promised to 

organise a national conference 

which would discuss 

reforms to address 

the discontent. Up until 

now, it had been unclear 

when or if he would step 

down, observers say. 

Many Algerians believe 

the octogenarian’s 

health has declined to 

such an extent that he is 

Turkey’s Islamist party loses grip on 

capital after 25 years 

Turkey’s President 

Recep Tayyip Erdogan 

is facing a major 

political setback after his 

party lost control of the 

capital, Ankara, in a 

keenly fought local elections 

battle. 

Preliminary results 

also showed the opposition 

narrowly ahead of 

the President’s Justice 

and Development Party 

(AKP) in Istanbul, the 

country’s largest city. 

The results, if confirmed, 

will be a blow to 

Erdogan, who has dominated 

Turkish politics 

now being used as a front 

by a group of businessmen, 

politicians and military 

officials known as “le 

pouvoir” (the power), 

who do not want to give 

up their influence. 

This group dominates 

the National Liberation 

Front (FLN), which has 

governed Algeria since 

independence from 

France in 1962. 

The protesters are calling 

for the departure of 

not just the president, but 

also an entire generation 

of Algerian political leaders, 

including those who 

would be in line to succeed 

him. 

The majority of the protesters 

are young people 

who are not involved in 

party politics and say 

they want a new system 

of government, not simply 

someone replacing 

the ailing president. 

Last week, Algeria’s 

army chief of staff, Lt Gen 

Ahmed Gaed Salah, demanded 

the president be 

declared unfit to rule. 

since becoming Prime 

Minister in 2003. 

In Ankara, the opposition 

People’s Republican 

Party (CHP) won more 

than 50 percent of votes 

while the AKP trailed on 

around 47 percent, state 

news agency Anadolu 

said. It is the first time 

in 25 years that the Islamist 

party has lost its 

grip on the capital. 

In Istanbul, the result 

was too close to call on 

Monday. According to 

Anadolu, CHP received 

48.79 percent of votes, 

narrowly ahead of the 

Last month, Mr Bouteflika, 

who has rarely been 

seen in public since suffering 

a stroke in 2013, 

also announced a major 

cabinet reshuffle. 

Protests against Mr 

Bouteflika began two 

The Democratic-led 

U.S. House Judiciary 

Committee said it will 

vote on Wednesday on 

whether to authorise subpoenas 

to obtain Special 

Counsel Robert Mueller’s 

full report investigating 

Russian meddling 

in the 2016 presidential 

election. 

Lawmakers will also 

consider subpoenas for 

underlying evidence 

from Mueller’s investigation 

and from five former 

aides to President Donald 

Trump, including White 

House counsel Donald 

McGahn and political 

adviser Steve Bannon. 

The committee said on 

AKP with 48.51 percent. 

Turkey’s Supreme Election 

Council said that 

the results from 84 ballot 

boxes have not yet 

been included in the final 

count as there were 

objections. Both parties 

claimed victory in Istanbul, 

Anadolu reported. 

However on Monday, 

AKP’s Istanbul mayoral 

candidate Binali Yildirim 

said that while opposition 

candidate 

Ekrem Imamoglu from 

the CHP had received 

25,000 more votes according 

to preliminary 

results, he said that over 

300,000 votes were “invalid.” 

months ago after the president 

said he planned to 

stand for another term. 

But people have continued 

to march even after 

he agreed not to stand, 

instead demanding immediate 

change. 

Congress to subpoena 

Mueller report 

Monday that they may 

have documents related 

to the Mueller probe. 

Democrats have become 

increasingly frustrated 

over U.S. Attorney 

General William Barr’s 

plan to share only a redacted 

copy of the nearly 

400-page investigative 

report with Congress. 

The committee will vote 

on a resolution to allow 

House Judiciary Committee 

Chairman Jerrold 

Nadler to issue subpoenas 

at his own discretion. 

The Mueller report describes 

his office’s 22- 

month probe, which did 

not find evidence of collusion 

between Trump’s 

campaign and Russia but 

also did not exonerate 

Trump on obstruction of 

justice, according to a 

four-page summary Barr 

released on March 24. 

Barr said Mueller’s 

team had not found 

enough proof to warrant 

bringing obstruction 

charges against the president. 

Trump and the 

White House have hailed 

the conclusions as a victory 

for the president. But 

Democrats have taken issue 

with Barr’s intervention. 

“Congress, not the attorney 

general, has a 

duty under the Constitution 

to determine whether 

wrongdoing has occurred,” 

Nadler wrote in 

a New York Times Op-Ed 

on Monday. 

Ethiopia plane crash report 

out this week 

Ethiopia did not release a preliminary report 

into the causes of last month’s Ethiopian Airlines 

crash on Monday, as previously expected, but 

may publish it this week, a source familiar with the 

transport ministry told Reuters. 

“Not today, maybe this week,” the source said, 

when asked about the report into a crash that killed 

157 people and led to the worldwide grounding of 

U.S. planemaker Boeing’s top-selling 737 MAX jet. 

The report will be closely examined for clues to 

any similarities between the March 10 accident and 

a Lion Air crash in October, also involving a 737 

MAX, that killed 189 people. 

The stakes are high, with Boeing trying to hold 

on to nearly 5,000 MAX 737 orders; air safety regulators 

facing questions over their scrutiny of the aircraft; 

and airlines and victims’ families looking for 

answers and potentially compensation. 

Liability claims related to the Ethiopian crash and 

737 MAX grounding could be the largest aviation 

reinsurance claim outside of war on record, broker 

Willis Re said on Monday.. 

Separately, Norwegian Air said its chief executive 

Bjoern Kjos would travel to meet Boeing in 

Seattle on Monday. Norwegian, which has 18 737 

MAX 8 in its fleet and is scheduled to take delivery 

of dozens more in the coming months and years, 

said last month it would seek compensation from 

Boeing over the grounding. 

Ethiopia’s foreign ministry spokesman had earlier 

said the preliminary crash report would be released 

by the ministry of transport on Monday. It 

was not immediately clear why the plans had 

changed. Flight 302 from Addis Ababa to Nairobi 

crashed six minutes after take off. Citizens of more 

than 30 nations were on board. 

EU accused of funding 

project in Eritrea using 

‘forced labour’ 

Eritrean human rights activists have accused the 

EU of funding a scheme in Eritrea that uses 

“forced labour”. The EU is backing a road-building 

project as part of its programme to stem migration 

from Africa into Europe. National service recruits 

will be used and the Foundation Human Rights for 

Eritreans (FHRE) says conscripts are “trapped for 

an indefinite period within the service”. 

FHRE has threatened to sue the EU over violating 

its human rights charter. FHRE director Mulueberhan 

Temelso has called Eritrea an “open-air 

prison [where] every person in national service is 

trapped in extremely harsh conditions” 

Officially, Eritrea requires people to undertake 18 

months of national service, but this period was extended 

indefinitely in the wake of the Ethiopia-Eritrea 

war that ended in 2000. 

A 2016 UN human rights investigation said conscripts 

were used as “forced labour”. 

The “widely-criticised practice... has robbed the 

country’s youth of their dreams creating a generation 

of Eritrean refugees”, rights group Amnesty 

International said in 2018. 

Eritrea has said that this is a distorted picture of 

what is going on and has denied that there is indefinite 

national service. The government has not 

commented on what the FHRE is saying. 

There was hope that it would return to its original 

18-month period following the signing of a peace 

deal with Ethiopia last year, but this has not yet 

happened. 

Churchill’s policies to blame 

for 1943 Bengal famine 

The Bengal famine of 1943 estimated to have 

killed up to three million people was not caused 

by drought but instead was a result of a “complete 

policy failure” of the then-British Prime Minister 

Winston Churchill, a recent study has said. 

The study, published in the journal Geophysical 

Research Letters, provided scientific backing for 

arguments that Churchill’s policies played a significant 

role in contributing to the 1943 catastrophe. 

The researchers analysed a soil moisture database 

cover the years 1870 to 2016 to reconstruct 

agricultural droughts. 

The researchers studied six major famines in the 

subcontinent between 1873 and 1943 and concluded 

that the Bengal famine was the only famine that 

does not appear to be linked directly to soil moisture 

deficit and crop failures. 

“The idea was to study the history of droughts 

and famines in India and the factors responsible,” 

said Vimal Mishra, the lead researcher and an associate 

professor at the Indian Institute of Technology, 

Gandhinagar.

Women queue for food in a camp for people displaced in the aftermath of 

Cyclone Idai in Beira, Mozambique. Photo: REUTERS/Mike Hutchings 

Hunger stalks Mozambique after 

deadly cyclone destroys farmland 

Fulai Joaquim has 

enough food to feed 

his 10 children for another 

week, maybe two. 

Then, he says, it is in the 

hands of God. 

A cyclone ripped his 

cassava crop from the 

ground, leaving the roots 

to rot in the field, and the 

floods that followed 

washed away his maize. 

“There have been a lot 

of tears,” said Joaquim, 

45, as he trudged past the 

small plots of land that 

hug the mud and stick 

homes of Nhampuepua, 

also destroyed by the 

storm. “Everyone is hungry.” 

Hundreds of rural communities 

were plunged 

into food crisis after Cyclone 

Idai tore through 

central Mozambique on 

March 14, humanitarian 

workers say. The government 

estimates that more 

than 700,000 hectares of 

agricultural land was 

flooded, leaving many 

farmers with nothing to 

harvest. 

From the air, the kilometres 

(miles) of flattened 

crops look like thinning, 

slicked-back hair. 

More than 750 people 

died in the storm and 

heavy rains before it hit 

Mozambique and two 

other southern African 

countries, Zimbabwe and 

Malawi. Two weeks later, 

as search and rescue operations 

wind down, the 

focus is shifting to feeding 

the survivors. 

Maize imports to Mozambique 

could double 

this year from the usual 

100,000 tonnes, said 

Wandile Sihlobo, an 

economist with the South 

African agribusiness association, 

Agbiz. How 

that might impact prices 

is uncertain. “Food-security-wise, 

it’s been devastating,” 

the World Food 

Programme’s director for 

Southern Africa, Lola 

Castro, told Reuters at 

the airport in the cyclonehit 

port city of Beira. 

“We have to scale up 

fast.” WFP has delivered 

food aid to some 200,000 

Mozambicans and aims 

to reach a million in the 

next two weeks, Castro 

said. But that is not 

enough. Farmers also 

need seeds to re-plant as 

quickly as possible. 

“It needs to be done 

yesterday,” Castro said. 

The storm could not 

have come at a worse 

time, barely a month before 

the main maize harvest, 

the region’s principal 

crop. In countless villages, 

Reuters saw 

households desperately 

trying to dry green, unripe 

cobs salvaged from 

the flood waters. But villagers 

said eating the 

cobs was making them ill. 

In Bebedo, 100 kilometres 

(60 miles) northwest 

of Beira, dozens of families 

came out to see a Russian-made 

helicopter 

land in a cloud of dust, 

carrying a WFP delivery 

of fortified food. 

Within 20 minutes, they 

had carried more than a 

hundred brown boxes of 

Plumpy’sup, a fortified 

peanut paste used to 

treat malnutrition in 

young children, as well as 

white sacks containing a 

soy and corn flour blend. 

It was the second delivery 

that day. The village 

is being used as a distribution 

centre to feed 

neighbouring communities 

— 17,000 mouths in 

all. 

But residents said 

Nhampuepua, an hour 

and a half’s drive from 

Beira, was falling through 

the cracks. The only aid 

that had reached there by 

Saturday was donated by 

a local petrol company. 

Nhampuepua’s suffering 

highlights the scale 

of the task confronting 

humanitarian agencies 

and the government. 

The United Nations 

humanitarian coordination 

agency, which is 

overseeing the disaster 

response, estimates that 

1.85 million people scattered 

across an area of 

3,000 square kilometres - 

roughly the size of Luxembourg 

- were affected 

by the storm in Mozambique 

alone. 

The subsistence farmers 

of Nhampuepua, hardened 

by years of poverty, 

are already replanting 

what they can, using 

cuttings from the uprooted 

cassava plants that 

now litter the village. 

But the land has its 

rhythm and will not be 

rushed, however great 

the need. Only in eight 

months will the cassava 

be ready to eat. 

Until then, hunger is a 

real threat. 

On Saturday, Diniz 

Jeronimo, 28, and his 

family of five shared a 

bowl of plain boiled spaghetti 

for their only meal. 

Their crops were devastated. 

Like most of the 

community, the family’s 

only immediate income 

comes from selling charcoal, 

which takes seven 

days to make. 

On the slow, sandy 

road to Dondo, the nearest 

town, a stream of bicycles 

carried sacks of the 

fuel. Now Diniz is worried 

the price will come 

down. 

At the same time, the 

cost of food has shot up. 

A 25-kilogram sack of 

corn flour that sold for 850 

Mozambican meticais 

($13) before the cyclone 

now sells for 1,200 

meticais, villagers said. 

President Filipe Nyusi, 

who described the storm 

as one of the worst natural 

disasters in Mozambique’s 

memory, said 

during a visit to Beira last 

week that 100,000 agricultural 

tools and 1,000 

tonnes of seed for shortcycle 

crops would be distributed 

to help get farmers 

back on their feet. 

But the devastated villagers 

around Dondo and 

Nhamatanda had not received 

anything as of Saturday 

and were doubtful 

they ever would. 

In Nhampuepua, 

Joaquim said he would 

travel to Dondo that afternoon 

to buy corn flour. 

That would keep his children 

fed for now, at least. 

*Culled from Reuters 

Lawmakers sought to 

break a stalemate 

over Britain’s departure 

from the European Union 

on Monday by trying 

to force Prime Minister 

Theresa May to 

pursue much closer economic 

ties than the deal 

she negotiated envisages. 

After a tumultuous few 

weeks in which May’s 

divorce strategy was rejected 

by lawmakers for 

a third time, despite her 

offer to quit if it passed, 

the future direction of 

Brexit remains mired in 

confusion and acrimony. 

Three days after the 

date on which Britain 

was originally due to 

leave the EU, it is still 

uncertain how, when or 

even whether the 

United Kingdom will say 

goodbye to the bloc it 

joined 46 years ago. 

In a bid to break the 

impasse, lawmakers took 

control of parliamentary 

proceedings and were 

set at vote at 8 p.m. 

(1900 GMT) on four options 

ranging from staying 

in the EU’s single 

market to revoking the 

formal divorce papers to 

avoid a no-deal exit. 

The third defeat of 

May’s withdrawal 

agreement on Friday left 

one of the weakest British 

leaders in a generation 

facing a spiralling 

crisis over Brexit, the 

United Kingdom’s most 

far-reaching policy 

change since World War 

Two. 

May’s government 

and her Conservative 

party, which has been 

trying to contain a 

schism over Europe for 

30 years, are in open 

conflict between those 

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2019 — 39 

British parliament breaks Brexit 

stalemate 

Five Nigerians, who 

allegedly robbed a 

bureau de change in 

Sharjah, United Arab 

Emirate (UAE), have 

been arrested. 

The suspects reportedly 

fled with cash of different 

currency worth Dh2.3 

million (N226,182,000). 


Sharjah police, the men 

barged into the exchange 

and smashed the glass 

barrier between the customers 

and the staff, stole 

the money in multiple 

*Urges May to seek close 

economic ties 

Venezuelan opposi 

tion leader Juan 

Guaido on Monday 

called on supporters to 

continue taking to the 

streets in protest of 

power and water shortages, 

as the government 

of President Nicolas 

Maduro appeared prepared 

to begin a rationing 

program. 

Scattered protests continued 

throughout several 

working-class 

neighborhoods of the 

Five Nigerians captured robbing 

bureau de change in UAE 

By Ebunoluwa Sessou 

As part of efforts to 

strengthen business 

relationship between 

the United States 

of America and African 

countries, especially Nigeria, 

the AGCO Corporation, 

a global leader in 

the design, manufacture 

and distribution of agricultural 

equipment, is 

teaming up with consortium 

of U.S-Nigeria 

Trade Council and other 

partners across Africa and 

pushing for a customs 

union with the EU and 

eurosceptics demanding 

a cleaner break with the 

bloc. 

From EU officials 

watching from Brussels, 

there was one plea - 

make up your minds. 

“A sphinx is an open 

book compared to the 

UK,” said Jean-Claude 

Juncker, European Commission 

president. “Nobody 

knows where it is 

heading. Would like to 

make the sphinx talk 

and tell us in which direction 

they would like 

to go.” 

In the 2016 Brexit referendum, 

17.4 million 

voters, or 51.9 percent, 

backed leaving the EU 

while 16.1 million, or 

48.1 percent, backed 

staying. 

Venezuela's Guaido pledges 

more protests over power, 

water shortages 

*Guaido 

currencies and fled. 

Two employees at the 

exchange were injured as 

they resisted the robbers. 

One of them managed to 

notify the police. 

The Sharjah police coordinated 

with forces 

from Abu Dhabi, Ras Al 

Khaimah and Ajman to 

arrest the suspects within 

48 hours after the robbery 

was committed. 

A top police official said 

the suspects came to the 

UAE on visit visas on 

March 18. 

capital Caracas on Monday, 

with small groups 

of people blocking roads 

demanding water be returned 

after a week of 

intermittent blackouts 

that have left many areas 

without electricity. 

That followed demonstrations 

around Caracas 

on Monday night 

when police fired 

gunshots after residents 

set up burning barricades, 

according to 

Reuters witnesses. The 

oil-rich South American 

country has been hit by 

two waves of crippling 

blackouts since March 7. 

“Every time the power 

goes out, or we do not 

have water, or we do not 

have gas, guess what we 

are going to do?” Juan 

Guaido, the leader of the 

opposition-controlled 

National Assembly, said 

at a rally at the country’s 

Catholic University. “We 

are going to protest, we 

are going to make demands, 

we are going to 

take to the streets of 

Venezuela, because it is 

our right.” 

Guaido invoked the 

country’s constitution to 

assume an interim presidency 

in January, arguing 

Maduro’s 2018 reelection 

was illegitimate. 

He has been recognized 

by most Western and 

South American countries 

as the OPEC nation’s 

rightful leader. 

Maduro, a socialist, 

calls Guaido a puppet of 

the United States who is 

attempting to oust him in 

a coup. He has blamed 

both the U.S. government 

and the domestic 

opposition for “attacks” 

on the country’s main 

hydroelectric facility, 

US-Africa trade and investment summit 

holds on Sept 26 United States, to present 

a continental edition of 

the hitherto successful 

U.S.-Nigeria AgribusinessTrade 

Summit. 

The upscale version 

tagged U.S.-Africa Trade 

and Investment Global 

Summit, USATIGS, has 

as its theme “Expanding 

the Frontiers of U.S.-Africa 

trade and Investment”, 

and holding September 

26-28 in Atlanta, 

Georgia, USA. 

For the past two years, 

the Summit organisers 

have brought together 

business leaders and representatives 

of the Nigeria/ 

US government for a 

yearly gathering in the 

United States, 

Top speakers at this 

year’s event include AG- 

CO’s Senior Vice President 

for Asia-Pacific and 

Africa, Gary Collar; Iyalode 

Alaba Lawson, the 

President of the Federation 

of West African 

Chambers of Commerce 

and Industry (FEWAC- 

CI), Mr. Olufemi Boyede, 

Founder/President of the 

Nigeria Trade and Investment 

Centre in Canada 

among others.

40 —Vanguard, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2019 

REPS SPEAKERSHIP: Our plans 

for 9th Assembly — ASPIRANTS 

Continues from Page 5 

to ensure timely passage 

of budgets and maintain 

robust relationship with 

the executive. 

“Our focus as elected 

representatives at this 

time is a speaker that 

will not only maintain 


House but also someone 

who will give all needed 

support to the executive 

arm of government, so 

that the country can 

move forward. We have 

had enough of ego 

tripping that is 

subjecting Nigerians to 

unfair and needless 

economic hardship. 

“A good number of us 

who share the same 

patriotic view have 

resolved to rally intense 

support that will cut 

across party lines for the 

most patriotic person as 

speaker of the 9th 

House. It is a fact that we 

are first and foremost 

Nigerians before being 

elected to represent our 

r e s p e c t i v e 

constituencies. 

Therefore, any aspiring 

speaker that is known to 

be genuinely patriotic 

and committed to the 

dream of a better Nigeria 

should count on my 

support,” he added. 

We need an inclusive 

leadership – Doguwa 

Ado Doguwa, a fifth 

term member from Kano 

State, who said he had 

stepped down for 

Gbajabiamila in respect 

of the zoning formula of 

the ruling All 


APC, which he said had 

zoned the seat to the 

South West, however, 

noted that there was 

need for an inclusive 

leadership. 

Noting that Kano and 

Jigawa in the North-West 

account for 36 memberselect 

or 10 per cent of the 

360-member House, he 

said the zone deserved 

to produce the Deputy 

Speaker or Majority 

Leader of the House. 

He said: ‘’I am a 

believer in the 

supremacy of the party, 

I think I don’t have any 

cause again to continue 

to bid for the 

speakership of the 

House of Reps. And on 

that note, I will now like 

to remain on standby. 

Just as the speakership 

is zoned to the South- 

West, I now wait to take 

my turn, I now wait for 

the leadership of my 

party, the APC under the 

chairmanship of of 


now let us know what is 

zoned to the Northwestern 

party of the 

country. Of course, you 

cannot run a parliament 

like the Nigerian 

parliament in a divisive 

manner. Each time you 

want to run a parliament, 

you must be all inclusive 

because the type of 

democracy we are 

running is a federal 

democracy. Federal in 

the sense that you have 

different components 

that make up the 

federation. So as long as 

you want to run a 

r a n c o u r - f r e e 

administration in every 

political setting even in 

the political party as an 

institution, even in the 

legislature and the 

government itself, you 

must be reflective and 

conscious of all the 

divisions that we have - 

ethnic division, tribal 

division, you must 

reflect them. You must 

also have to 

accommodate even 

political associations, 

and political alliances 

that we have because 

you cannot run a 

parliament like our own, 

one way, you cannot do 

it; certainly you have to 

a c c o m m o d a t e 

everyone.” 

I will make people 

part of lawmaking 

process —Odebunmi 

Asked his plan for the 

House, if elected, 

Olusegun Odebunmi, a 

third timer representing 

Surulere/Ogoluwa 

Federal Constituency of 

Oyo State, said: ‘’No 

matter the agenda you 

can be thinking of, your 

agenda as a legislator 

must be based on 

conformity with the law. 

What are the major 

functions or duties of the 

legislature? Good 

representation and we 

are here to represent our 

people and I will make 

sure that representation 

is elaborate so that 

Nigerians will know also 

that they have a 

representative 

representing them 

somewhere and there 

will be a periodic report 

on our proceedings. I 

want to base my agenda 

basically on oversight 

functions; we are making 

Naira appreciates to N360.60/$ in 

I&E 

By Babajide Komolafe 

The naira yesterday appreciated slightly to N360.60 

per dollar in the Investors and Exporters (I&E) 

window. 

Data from FMDQ showed that the indicative 

exchange rate for the window dropped marginally 

to N360.00 per dollar from N360.68 per dollar on 

Friday, translating to eight kobo appreciation for the 

naira. The naira however remained stable at N358.5 

per dollar in the parallel market. 

laws for the people and 

I want people also to be 

part of the process.” 

I am nobody’s 

anointed, I will carry 

APC, PDP, others 

along —Namdas 

On his part, 

Abdulrazaq Namdas 

(APC, Jada/Ganye/ 

Mayo Belwa/Toungo 

federal constituency of 

Adamawa State), said he 

was not being sponsored 

by anybody, and 

promised to unite all 

tendencies in the House. 

‘’Truly speaking, 

nobody is sponsoring me 

to be a speaker. I am the 

speaker of the people 

and I have decided to 

come out on my own, to 

tell my colleagues that if 

they want to have the 


legislature, the person 

that will emerge at the 

end of the day to be 

speaker is going to be 

among us and you have 

to concentrate this 

discussion on the people 

you are going to lead. Of 

course, you will also 

speak with your party 

but the thing is that once 

you emerge as speaker, 

everybody will leave 

you; it is how you are 

able to manage your 

colleagues and multitask 

that will see you 

through. 

‘’Whatever we want to 

do, the constitution 

guarantees the 

legislature to have its 

own rules and since 

there are rules guiding 

our activities, you can 

only work within the 

rules. So, there are 

things that people 

outside think that if you 

get elected as speaker, 

you must do certain 

things the way they want 

it. You must come from a 

political party, you must 

take directives but 

subject to the rules of the 

House and you must be 

a Nigerian that has a 

Pan-African view of the 

whole thing. So, people 

will come with certain 

issues from their 

regions, from their blocs, 

from their caucuses, they 

will like to be heard 

because people sent 

them here, you must not 

be seen to be a speaker 

that would be blocking 

people from ensuring 

that they air their views 

and if you do that, your 

leadership may not last 

long.’’ 

I will ensure 

Legislature-Executive 

relations – Bago 

Mohammed Bago, a 

third timer representing 

Chachanga Federal 

Constituency of Niger 

State, said if elected, he 

would ensure a robust 

relation between the 

executive and legislative 

arms of government. 

‘’I have what I code 

named the Bago plan 

which covers virtually 

all the segments of 

government. My first 

strategy is to promote 

OKOROCHA IN ASO ROCK—President Muhammadu Buhari receives in 

audience Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State (left), yesterday, in State 

House, Abuja. 

and deepen a robust 

relationship with all 

arms of government and 

stake holders. Secondly, 

there is going to be 

concerted effort to 

tangibly impact our 

constituents and 

constituencies. I will 

equally work towards an 

independent legislature 

free from rancour. I will 

promote an open and 

transparent legislature 

with legislative support 

for the fight against 

corruption, insecurity 

and revamping of 

economy,” he said. 

I’ll run an inclusive, 

responsive leadership 

—Onyejeocha 

In like manner, 

Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, a 

fourth 

timer, 

r e p r e s e n t i n g 

I s u i k w u a t o / 

Umunneochi Federal 

Constituency of Abia 

State, said she would 

‘’run an inclusive, 

responsive and 

transparent leadership 

to foster harmony in the 

House. “I will ensure 

that as much as possible, 

there’s a conducive 

environment for 

legislative work and 

collaboration across 

party and ideological 

lines. 

‘’First and foremost, I 

will adopt a legislative 

agenda with clear 

framework for 

compliance and 

monitoring. Since the 

7th Assembly, we have 

adopted a legislative 

agenda to guide our 

work. I must say this has 

been a good initiative by 

the House and I hope to 

continue and improve on 

it. 

“I will begin by 

engaging various 

stakeholders to seek 

their input to ensure the 

agenda for the 9th House 

is even more robust and 

promising. I will also 

ensure that there is 

i m p r o v e d 

communications with the 

general public because 

we are in the Assembly 

to represent their 

various interests.’’ 

I am running to make 

life more abundant for 

Nigerians – 

Gbajabiamila 

For Femi Gbajabiamila, 

who was re-elected for 

the fifth time at the last 

election, he wants to 

improve the fortunes of 

Nigerians. 

His words: “I seek the 

office of the Speaker to 

bring our tendencies 

together and unite us a 

country. I seek the office 

of the Speaker to bring 

governance even closer 

to the people. I seek the 

office of the speaker to 

mentor the next 

generation. I seek the 

office of the Speaker so I 

can use the bully pulpit 

to galvanize honourable 

members to make life 

more abundant for every 

Nigerian irrespective of 

tribe, religious 

background or political 

persuasion. There is 

much work to be done by 

way of legislation in 

many areas of our life 

including bit not limited 

to education, health, 

power, infrastructure 

and alleviation of 

poverty. 

“Historically, the 

House 

of 

Representatives was 

established to be the 

people’s House and for 

the People’s business. It 

follows therefore that 

the Speaker must be the 

People’s speaker elected 

to do the People’s 

business and champion 

their cause and in doing 

so fulfilling their hopes 

and aspiration. This is 

the Speaker I intend and 

hope to be and the 

House I intend and hope 

to lead, a people’s 

House.” 

CAN to Lawmakerselect: 

Balance NASS 

leadership across 

religious divides 

Meanwhile, the 

Christian Association of 

Nigeria, CAN, has 

advised incoming 

members of the 9th 


ensure religious and 

regional balance in the 

election of their principal 

officers in both the 

Senate and House of 

Representatives. 

CAN President, Revd 

Samson Ayokunle, gave 

the advice, yesterday, in 

a goodwill message to all 

the newly elected federal 

legislators. 

He said: “We 

congratulate all the 

newly elected members 

of the National Assembly 

on their victory at the 

recently conducted 

general election. As you 

prepare for your 

inauguration, CAN 

urges you to balance the 

appointments of your 

Principal Officers across 

religious divides to 

avoid domination and 

marginalisation of any 

kind. 

Independence of 

legislature not 

negotiable —Saraki 

Insisting on the 


legislature, Saraki also 

noted that the Senate 

has Powers to reject 

nominees, and urged 

President Buhari to 

lobby the legislature for 

confirmation of Ibrahim 

Magu or present 

someone else as a 

nominee for the 

chairman of the 

Economic and Financial 

Crimes Commission, 

EFFC. 

Speaking in Abuja 

during the orientation 

Programme for Senatorselect 

and members of the 

House 

of 

Representatives-elect, 

he noted that as 

lawmakers, they must 

recognise the fact that 

there is the principle of 

separation of powers, 

and they must assert this 

in all ramifications and 

must not allow 

themselves to be cowed. 

He said: “In its 

constitutional role, the 


carries out oversight, 

makes laws and ensures 

c o n s t i t u e n c y 

representation. In 

carrying 

out 

constitutional functions, 

lawmakers must always 

recognise that the 


legislature is nonnegotiable. 

It is an 

independent and coequal 

arm of 

government. Therefore, 

it behoves members of 

the National Assembly to 

lead the way in asserting 

the principle of 

Separation of Powers, 

thus ensuring 

accountability in 

governance. To achieve 

that, it is expected that 

members will carry out 

their duties in a manner 

that commands that 

respect from other arms 

of government as well as 

the people you 

represent.”

VANGUARD, TUESDAY APRIL 2, 2019 — 41 

SENATE PRESIDENCY: Why we're reaching 

out to all our colleagues – Senator Lawan 

•Govs, elders, leaders take over campaign 

By Henry Umoru 

A 

HEAD of the 

inauguration of the 9th 

National Assembly and the 

emergence of the Presiding 

officers, Senate Leader, Senator 

Ahmad Lawan, All Progressives 

Congress, APC, Yobe North, is 

reaching out to all senatorselect 

irrespective of party 

affiliation, to ensure he gets the 

seat now after failing in 2015. 

Answering questions from 

Journalists yesterday in Abuja 

during the orientation 

Programme for Senators- Elect 

and Members of the House of 

Representatives-elect of the yet 

to be inaugurated 9th National 

Assembly, Senator Lawan, a 

major contender for the position 

of number three citizen of the 

country said he was reaching 

out to Senators of the APC, 

Peoples Democratic Party, PDP 

and the Young Progressive 

Party, YPP because the Senate 

belongs to all and not only his 

party, the APC. 

Ahmad Lawan said: “We are 

reaching to all our colleagues, 

regardless of their political 

persuasions after all we are 

supposed to work together. It is 

not just going to be a Senate for 

only the APC members. It is a 

Senate that will consist of the 

APC, PDP, and YPP. Therefore, 

we need everybody to support 

the genuine and laudable 

course of making Nigeria 

By Usman Ibrahim 

AGAIN, the All 


APC is at the verge of 

making another costly 

mistake it made in 2015. 

Going by all 

permutations, the APC 

most likely will zone the 

position to the South West 

and here lies the beginning 

of another fatal error in 

judgement if the right 

candidate is not endorsed. 

Another fostering error is 

the likelihood that both 

Chambers may field 

Muslims as arrowheads. 

If Ahmed Lawan emerges 

as Senate President and 

Femi Gbajabiamila clinches 

that of the House then APC 

is on another failed 

mission. 

In the 6th, 7th and 8th 

assemblies there was a 

balance as Dimeji Bankole 

paired David Mark, the 7th 

was Aminu Tambuwal and 

David Mark and the 

outgoing 8th Assembly is 

Yakubu Dogara and Dr 

Bukola Saraki and there’s 

nothing like a Muslim/ 

Muslim arrangement. 

The Peoples Democratic 

Party, PDP legislators have 

vowed to tow the 2015 

experience by ensuring 

they crown another 

candidate from another 

zone if a likeable and 

•Lawan 

better. I will ensure that our 

administration is able to deliver 

laudable projects for Nigerians 

and the best way to achieve this 

is for all of us to work together.” 

Meanwhile, Vanguard 

gathered that some of the 

governors, elders, leaders and 

stakeholders have keyed into 

the Ahmad Lawan project, and 

are said to be taking the 

campaign to the door steps of 

senatorselect. 

A source told Vanguard that 

the stakeholders are also 

planning to reach out to other 

contenders like former Senate 

Leader, Senator Mohammed 

Ali Ndume, APC, Borno South, 

former governor of Gombe State 

and Chairman, Senate 

Committee on Appropriations, 

Senator Danjuma Goje and 

the former governor of 

Nasarawa State and 

Chairman, Senate 

Committee on Agriculture 

and Rural Development, 

Senator Abdullahi Adamu, 

APC, Nasarawa West. 

Asked to speak on Senate 

Speakership Race: APC navigating 

in circles to get candidate 

•S'West may lose seat for the third time 

•Dogara 

accessible lawmaker is not 

picked from the South West 

zone this time around. 

This is a dangerous signal 

capable of derailing APC’s 

quest to control the 9th 

House. 

In 2011, against all odds 

Aminu Tambuwal truncated 

PDP’s quest to foist a 

female speaker from the 

South West, ACN and PDP 

lawmakers ensured the 

zoning arrangement was 

•Gbajabiamila 

properly rubbished. 

In 2015, APC endorsed 

another South West son of 

the soil, PDP in active 

connivance with some APC 

Reps ensured another 

North East candidate 

clinches the speaker’s 

position. 

2019 is still loading but to 

what direction as the APC 

is still navigating in circles 

as to where its radar should 

anchor its ship. 

It is not the party 

that will determine 

whether there will 

be an election or 

not. By the time we 

announce these 

names, having a 

clear majority on 

the floor, any one 

that wants to oppose 

would have to 

present his 

candidates, backing 

them up with 

numbers. 

President Dr. Bukola Saraki’s 

assertion that public negative 

perception of the National 

Assembly is the greatest 

problem, Senator Lawan said: 

“Well, you know 

parliamentarians all over the 

world are not very popular 

people because we are so 

exposed and we interact much 

more frequently with the public 

more than any arm of 

The APC has a controlling 

majority of 211 while the 

PDP has 111 Reps capable 

of rocking APC’s vote if a 

popular lawmaker is not 

anointed. 

If APC misfires in 2019, it 

will be the third time they 

will be losing the slot 

primarily designed for the 

South West. 

PDP lawmakers both new 

and old are already 

lobbying for a better 

candidate from same zone 

or they will crown another 

lawmaker from their 

preferred zone. 

This is definitely not a tall 

order for APC leadership if 

they can reason beyond 

their nose and right the 

mistakes of the past. 

Navigating in circles to 

pick a popular lawmaker 

should not be problem since 

what they are looking for in 

sokoto is in the pocket of 

Sokoto. 

APC wise up as time is 

fast ticking away. 

* Usman Ibrahim is a 

public affairs analyst based 

in Kano. 

government, but you work hard 

on your integrity and on your 

reputation where you think you 

are not doing things right and 

the public particularly tells you 

that what you are doing is not 

right, you need to reflect and 

look at how you can improve 

and do better. 

“I believe that as 

distinguished senators, 

honourable members of the 

House of Representatives, we 

should conduct ourselves with 

dignity and with respect and 

ensure that we deliver all those 

things that are expected of us.” 

‘’Of course, we are reaching to 

all our colleagues regardless of 

their political persuasion 

because after all, we are 

supposed to work together. It is 

not going to be Senate that is 

for APC but it will be a Senate 

that will consist of APC, PDP, 

YPP and therefore we need 

everybody to support the very 

laudable course of making 

Nigeria better.’’ 

It would be recalled that the 

ruling APC had last week, 

explained its decision to settle 

for Senator Ahmad Lawan as 

the President of the 9th Senate, 

saying it arrived at that having 

consulted widely with all 

stakeholders of the party across 

the country. 

National Publicity Secretary 

of the party Mallam Lanre Issa- 

Onilu who stated this, said that 

the party does not envisage an 

election on the floor of the 

senate to make Lawan 

president. 

The APC National Publicity 

Secretary had said: “All the 

Principal Officers are 

determined by simple majority 

and because Nigerians have 

given us more than what we had 

even in the outgoing 

dispensation, we have enough 

to elect all our officers. We do 

not need a single vote from the 

PDP and in any case, we don’t 

actually envisage any election 

on that day because we are 

going to present our members 

to occupy these positions and 

it is the collective position of the 

party and all our members are 

very experienced politicians, 

who understand what this 

means. When they get to the 

floor, they are going to read out 

the names and if the PDP so 

desire, they can bring a 

candidate and follow that 

candidate with the number they 

have got. So, it will be an 

exercise in futility for PDP to 

nurse the ambition to share 

from what Nigerians have 

taken from them. 

“It is not the party that will 

determine whether there will be 

an election or not. By the time 

we announce these names, 

having a clear majority on the 

floor, any one that wants to 

oppose would have to present 

his candidates, backing them 

up with numbers. So, there is 

only one person being put 

forward and then you have a 

consensus. So, even if there is 

going to be an election it would 

just be a mere formality. We do 

not envisage a situation where 

two APC senators would stand 

as candidates for a position. 

That would only happen if this 

party has not done its 

homework.”

42 — Vanguard, TUESDAY APRIL 2, 2019 

OSUN GOV: Unending dust 

over tribunal verdict 

By Olayinka Ajayi 

TEN days after the Governorship 

Election Petitions Tribunal in 

Osun annulled the election of Mr 

Gboyega Oyetola of the All 

Progressives Congress, APC, and 

declared Senator Ademola Adeleke 

of the Peoples Democratic Party, 

PDP, as winner of the poll, the 

verdict is still raising dust in the 

polity. 

In separate chats with 

Vanguard, some lawyers differed 

on the judgement. Among those 

who spoke with Vanguard are Mr 

Femi Falana, SAN; and Mr 

Malachy Ugwummadu. 

In what was described as a ‘split 

judgement’, the tribunal in its 

ruling, ordered the Independent 

National Electoral Commission 

INEC, to immediately issue Adeleke 

with Certificate of Return, declaring 

him as the duly elected governor. 

The panel agreed that PDP and 

Adeleke established beyond 

reasonable doubt that INEC did not 

comply substantially with the 

Electoral Act in 17 polling units. 

The chairman of the Tribunal, 

Justice Ibrahim Sirajo upheld the 

whole election. However, in the 

majority judgement delivered by 

Justice Peter Obiora, the tribunal set 

aside the rerun election conducted 

on September 27, 2018 for being 

unlawful. 

Justice Obiora held that the poll 

conducted in the seven units is 

unknown by law because INEC has 

no power to conduct it. 

Consequently, over 2,000 votes 

credited to the APC and Governor 

Oyetola by INEC were deducted by 

By Polycarp Nwafor 

Mr. Matthew Ugwueze is a member, 

representing Igboeze South LGA 

in Enugu State House of Assembly. He 

is the Chairman House Committee on 

Education, Science, and Technology. 

In this interview, he speaks on his time 

at the Assembly, the 2019 general 

elections and the reason politicians in 

the state who lost at the polls should 

not subject the outcome of the elections 

to litigation. 

How would you describe your 

outing as a politician and as a 

representative of your people? 

It has been a successful outing and 

I give due glory to God for His mercies. 

Considering my poor background and 

looking back at all that I went through 

growing up, I have every course to be 

eternally grateful to God, the good 

people of Igbo-Eze South, our leader, 

the Governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi 

Ugwuanyi, and the Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, for giving me 

the opportunity to serve and for 

standing by me through and through. 

Is there any bill to your credit that 

you hold dear to heart? 

There is a host of them but to address 

the question succinctly, it would be the 

Amendment of Education Law cap 37 

of Enugu State, which had been 

grossly outdated. We had inherited the 

bill from the then Eastern Regional 

Government when the education 

policy stipulated that all that was to 

be paid by a private school was N20. 

You can imagine how obsolete such 

law had become. So, we worked on 

the law to bring it to the realities of 

present-day Nigeria. 

After you lost re-election bid at the 

primaries and it became obvious that 

you would not be part of the 9th 

Assembly in Enugu, it was surprising 

•Adeleke 

the tribunal, and over 1,000 votes 

said to have been scored by the PDP 

and its candidate were also removed 

from their total votes. 

The majority judgement held that 

the returning officer, Prof. Joseph 

Fuwape, who cancelled the result in 

the affected units for the September 

22 election after the announcement 

had no power to have done so. 

Fuwape maintained that the 

election was inconclusive because 

3,498 votes were cancelled as a 

result of ballot box snatching that 

occurred in some polling units 

during the election. 

The affected polling units were 

Ife North (one polling unit), Ife 

south (two polling units), 

Orolu,(three polling units) and 

Osogbo, one polling unit. 

According to Fuwape, Senator 

Adeleke scored 254,698 votes while 

Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola got 254, 

345 votes. He thus called for rerun 

elections at the polling units where 

results were cancelled. 

The majority judgement after 

deductions of the votes recorded in 

the rerun poll gave Adeleke’s score 

as 253,777 and Oyetola’s as 

253,476. 

ENUGU: 'Why challenging Ugwuanyi’s 

victory’ll be futile exercise' 

that you did not revolt as is 

synonymous with the average 

Nigerian politician. Why did you 

choose to work for your party instead? 

The slogan of our state under the 

current administration is that Enugu 

is in the hand of God. That implies that 

everything about the state and in the 

state is in God’s hands. Therefore, my 

present and political future are in 

God’s hand. So, there was no need to 

revolt. 

To me, it was the will of God. I came 

here with the full realization that I 

would not be a House member forever. 

Inasmuch as I had desired to serve my 

people further, the position is not my 

birthright. So, I give God the glory for 

allowing me, son of a poor farmer, the 

opportunity to serve as a legislator in 

Enugu state. However, as a human 

being, I would not pretend that I did 

not feel bad at the time. 

Then you were later compensated 

with an appointment as Coordinator 

of Gburugburu re-election Campaign 

Organisation for Igbo-Eze South? 

No, no! The fact was that they found 

me worthy to serve in that capacity and 

not that I lost out at the primary 

election. Was I the only one that did 

not triumph at our party’s primaries? 

But to be honest, that engagement 

enabled me to put issues that were 

associated with the primaries behind 

me faster. 

I threw myself into the assignment 

and that was why till now, many people 

are still congratulating me for winning 

the election ignorant of the fact that I 

was not the candidate after all. So, I 

never showed any sign of anger 

because, as I said, someone must leave 

for someone to emerge. So, I would 

continue to work for PDP, to support 

our hard-working governor and my 

people, while leaving tomorrow firmly 

•Ugwueze 

•Oyetola 

in God’s hand. 

The result of the 2019 election 

showed that Igbo-Eze South Local 

Government Area, recorded highest 

votes ever in her history, and 

incidentally, that happened under 

your leadership as campaign 

coordinator; how did you achieve 

that? 

We ascribe all our successes to God 

who gives strength and wisdom. 

However, we did not achieve that feat 

via a one-man show but through the 

collective efforts of our stakeholders, 

especially the Chairman of the council 

area, Hon. Fidelis Odo, who gave us a 

lot of support, encouragement, and 

partnership. We did not suffer any sort 

of interference from him. 

Our NASS members, Senator 

Chuka Utazi and Rt Hon Patrick 

Asadu, as well as Chief Ikeje Asogwa 

and many others, were also 

tremendous in their support to us. 

There was unity of purpose, mutual 

Controversial Minority 

judgment 

However, a controversy ensued 

via the minority judgment, in 

which Justice Ibrahim Sirajo, the 

chairman of the tribunal, held that 

the petitioners, PDP and Adeleke 

did not prove how the noncompliance 

of non-recording in 

the columns of accredited votes 

and account of ballots in the 

result sheets substantially affected 

the final results. 

He stated that even when non 

substantial compliance affects the 

outcome of the election, the tribunal, 

respect, and collective hard work 

throughout the process, and that 

earned us over 38,000 votes, to become 

third in Enugu state vote rating, the 

highest ever in the council area, like 

you rightly noted. 

So, as the campaign coordinator, it 

is a thing to cheer about. But more 

importantly, we are grateful to 

candidate Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for 

making campaign job easy for us 

through his superlative governance. 

We did not have to ruffle feathers to 

mobilize our people because the 

governor had already become a 

household name before the election. 

That was the case in the rest of the 

LGAs. 

So, I use this medium to appeal to 

our people to continue to pray for and 

support the governor. 

Let our people calm down and 

partner with the governor to take our 

state to the next level of peace, 

development, inclusive and peopleoriented 

governance. I appeal to those 

that lost in the election not to distract 

the government with litigation. 

We can only have one governor at a 

time and the future belongs to God. 

The governor’s first tenure was 

subjected to unending litigation which 

was later settled at the Supreme Court 

after over three and half years. 

That was almost four years of 

distraction to the government with 

attendant colossal economic loss and 

deprivation to the state and her 

citizens. Let us not waste our time and 

resources by subjecting the results of 

the election to litigation. This is the first 

time a governor is developing both 

rural areas and the city at the same 

time. Ugwuanyi has touched all the 

17 local government areas in terms of 

infrastructure development, just as he 

is touching all the communities in the 

state via, Visit Every Community, VEC. 

by virtue of section 140(2) of the 

Electoral Act, does not have the 

power to subtract the votes 

affected by the non-compliance 

from the scores of the candidates 

and announce a winner. 

According to him the tribunal only 

has the power to nullify the results 

of the Polling units affected by the 

noncompliance and order a 

supplementary poll. He concluded 

that even if the non-compliance was 

substantial, it was not proved by the 

petitioners. 

Panel being divided is not 

unusual – Falana 

Speaking on the controversial 

verdict, Right activist, Mr. Femi 

Falana, SAN, said that divergent 

decision in a tribunal is inevitable 

saying: “Is that the first time an 

election would be annulled in 

Nigeria? Panel being divided is not 

unusual? The court of appeal is clear 

about that . So it is not unusual. 

Professionally, I have not read the 

judgement yet, as I have been away 

for sometime. So I will have to read 

the judgement before I can further 

make comment.’’ 

You don’t nullify an election 

without declaring a winner – 

Comrade Ugwummadu 

However, President of the 

Committee for the Defence of 

Human Right, CDHR, Barrister 

Malachy Ugwummadu stressed that 

it would be unsafe for the electoral 

panel to nullify the election without 

declaring a winner. Quoting section 

140 sub section 2 and 3 of the 

electoral act 2010 Electoral Act, he 

said: “There is what is called 

consequential order. The effect of 

nullifying an election will be more 

dangerous without a consequential 

order of what happens after that. I 

am referencing section 140 sub 

section 2 and 3 of the electoral act 

2010. If the court comes to the 

verdict. for instance, a candidate 

who was declared winner and 

returned was not qualified as a 

winner, what the court does is to call 

for a rerun. If it on the basis of the 

candidate declared as a winner 

scored the majority lawful votes, 

what the court does in this 

circumstance, is to declare the 

second person the winner. So you 

don’t just nullify an election without 

declaring a winner, that would 

create serious void and problems. So 

the court was proper by the verdict 

made in Osun”. 

“However, the divided verdict the 

tribunal had is normal. In fact, it is 

the beauty of a court system unlike 

what we have in conventional high 

court. The beauty of our judicial 

system is that as the case graduates, 

it moves from magistrate to high 

court, federal high court, to the 

supreme court, the number of judges 

increases. It is because the 

jurisprudence that would be 

expected would be more profound, 

more thorough and better discharged 

when you have up to three or more 

judges dealing with the facts of the 

case. So if you have three, there are 

instances and in most cases where 

they come up with unanimous 

discussions, but there are also 

instances which we have dissenting 

decisions . That is, the decision that 

does not agree with the popular 

decision. whereas he has given his 

decision , it does not mean that that 

is the judgement of the court. It 

becomes the minority opinion. So 

what transpired in Osun election 

tribunal is normal. Before judges take 

a decision, they have a conference 

with the law to review the arguments 

of counsels, they evaluate the 

evidence, come up with there 

reasoning. What the verdict imply is 

that the rule of law does not respect 

any person or political party. whereas 

you are at liberty to force your way 

through, if you do not comply with 

the enabling constitution of the 

country, guideline of the INEC, you 

are likely going to have the 

implication such as this. You may 

have put something on nothing and 

you expect it to stand. So political 

parties must learn and play by the 

rules.”

VANGUARD, TUESDAY APRIL 2, 2019 — 43 

By Omeiza Ajayi 

THE ruling All Progressives 

Congress, APC, has 

dismissed reports of a political 

feud between its National 

Chairman, Comrade Adams 

Oshiomhole and the Director 

General of its Presidential 

Campaign Council, Rotimi 

Amaechi on the position of the 

party in the controversial 

governorship election in Rivers 

State. 

While Amaechi, who is also 

the minister of Transportation 

had influenced a large section 

of the party in Rivers to adopt 

candidates of the African Action 

Congress, AAC, owing to the 

disqualification of the APC by 

the courts from fielding 

candidates, Oshiomhole had at 

the weekend reportedly 

distanced the party’s hierarchy 

from such arrangement. 

However, in a statement 

Monday evening in Abuja, the 

party through its National 

Publicity Secretary, Mallam 

RIVERS: No rift between 

Oshiomhole, Amaechi — APC 

Lanre Issa-Onilu, said there has 

been a futile attempt by some 

partisans to twist Oshiomhole’s 

Blame politicians for 

electoral violence, 

not INEC – Sen Abe 

By Egufe Yafugborhi 

•Sen Abe 

PORT HARCOURT - A 

chieftain of All Progressives 

Congress, APC, in Rivers State, 

Sen Magnus Abe has said that 

it is unfair to blame the 

Independent National Electoral 

Commission, INEC, for the 

culture of violence in the state 

elections, saying politicians 

should be blamed. 

Abe, Senator representing 

Rivers South East Senatorial 

District in the National 

Assembly, in a statement 

through his Media Aide, Parry 

Benson, reiterated that no 

individual can determine the 

future of Rivers State. 

He said: “Politicians do not go 

into elections ready to accept 

the will of the people. They 

have pre-determined results and 

will do everything possible to 

subvert the process to create a 

particular result. 

“If we turn around to blame 

INEC for all the challenges that 

come out of that kind of 

•Amaechi 

disposition toward the electoral 

process, it will be unfair. 

“There is an election that 

comes up every four years in 

Nigeria and every adult in this 

country knows that there will be 

an election in 2019 and those 

who are qualified to vote were 

prepared long before the due 

date. 

“How you reach out to these 

people and organise yourself to 

get the best of the goodwill of 

the people is the 

politics. That is the 

work of the 

political party. 

Where you don’t 

do that and then 

you give 

instructions for 

people to go and vote in a 

particular manner, your 

followers could obey but the 

general population will not. 

“If Nigerians, Rivers people 

want a better state and better 

life, they must come out and 

fight for what they believe in 

and that is what I think we ought 

to be doing. 

“In several places in this 

country, when these elections 

were going on, citizens came out 

and stood their ground and at 

the end of the day, everybody 

submitted to what the citizens 

wanted. 

“The future of Rivers is in the 

hands of Rivers people. They 

need to come together to decide 

what is right and how we can 

make things better in the state. 

It is not something that will 

happen by accident. People 

must come out and fight for it 

and I am ready to be one of 

those people that will fight for a 

better Rivers.” 

•Oshiomhole 

comments on the issue. 

He said: “Our attention has 

been drawn to some reports in 

the media purporting a 

disagreement between the 

National Chairman of the APC, 

Comrade Adams Oshiomhole 

and Minister of Transportation, 

Rotimi Amaechi over the 

alignment of the Rivers State 

APC with the governorship 

candidate of the African Action 

Congress AAC, Awara 

Biokpomabo. 

“It is regrettable that the APC 

National Chairman’s statement 

is being twisted to suit a 

jaundiced narrative. This 

narrative is at best, 

mischievous, pedestrian and 

should be disregarded. The APC 

Chairman’s statement is 

unambiguous as to the effect 

that the APC’s National 

Working Committee NWC 

does not have any formal 

alliance with AAC. This is 

without prejudice to any local 

arrangement that may exist. 

“Both Oshiomhole and 

Amaechi are above the petty 

insinuations being orchestrated 

by a section of the Media. Like 

many leaders of the party, APC 

National Chairman, Comrade 

Oshiomhole and the Minister of 

Transport, Hon. Amaechi enjoy 

cordial relationship and do 

share mutual respect; therefore, 

deliberate misinterpretation of 

issues and statements from the 

party or between the two of 

them would continue to fail”, he 

added. 

Amaechi had in the lead up to 

the elections said the APC will 

throw its weight behind Awara 

Biokpomabo, governorship 

candidate of the AAC in the 

state. 

“This morning, the leadership 

of the party met and agreed that 

we would work with a party 

called African Action Congress 

AAC, while we are still in court 

to reclaim our mandate,” he had 

said. 

Last week, Issa- 

Onilu also disclaimed 

insinuations that 

Amaechi was 

involved in anti-party 

activities, absolving 

the minister of any 

wrongdoing. 

“I will emphatically 

say no because if you 

liken it to the 

situation in Imo and 

or Ogun states, it will 

be wrong. In Rivers 

state, APC does not 

have any candidate and 

as a party, Rivers state 

is very important to 

us. The state has been 

in the hands of 

pillagers for too long. 

“If we have the 

opportunity of working with a 

party willing to abide by our 

principles, then it is within our 

right to work with such a party 

to ensure we free the people of 

Rivers state from the locusts”, 

Issa-Onilu had stated. 

However, speaking on a 

Channels Television programme 

Friday in Abuja, Oshiomhole 

said the party leadership was not 

aware of the arrangement 

between the APC and AAC in 

Rivers state. 

He said: “I have never spoken 

at any forum that we have 

aligned with any party. There is 

only one party (I oversee) and 

that is APC, if there is going to 

be alignment, I will know. 

“I can’t choose to be in the 

know. That has never been 

discussed with me or with any 

of the members of the national 

working committee.” 

PDP candidate rejects result, 

heads to tribunal in Lagos 

By Esther Onyegbula 

THE Peoples Democratic 

Party, PDP, candidate for 

Lagos State House of 

Assembly, Ibeju Lekki 

Constituency, Tari Oba-Oliver, 

has rejected the result of the 

just concluded elections. 

He vowed to challenge the 

outcome which saw Mojeed 

Fatai of the All Progressives 

Congress, APC, declared 

winner at the elections 

Petitions Tribunal. 

Oliver, who addressed 

newsmen at the weekend 

said: “I reject the declaration 

of Hon Mojeed Fatai as the 

winner of that election on the 

grounds that the 

supplementary poll held on 

Saturday March 23, 2019 was 

marred by voter intimidation, 

vote-buying at polling station 

and sponsorship of multiple 

voting by same voters. 

“There was even a skirmish 

involving an INEC official at 

one of the polling stations who 

boldly told our party agents 

who complained of the gross 

irregularities that they did not 

play their game well; and that 

the election was just a mere 

formality because the result of 

•Tari Oba-Oliver 

It is 

regrettable 

that the APC 

National 

Chairman’s 

statement is 

being twisted 

to suit a 

jaundiced 

narrative 

the election was already 

known. 

“We have always been aware 

of the desperation of the APC 

over the years to hold on to 

power in all corners of Lagos 

State whether deservedly or 

not. But that desperation has 

never before been so openly 

displayed as it was on 

Saturday. 

“The people of Ibeju Lekki 

Constituency I came out to 

vote with the intention to echo 

the tiredness of Lagos people 

with the current dispensation 

under the APC. They came to 

do this honourably; they came 

with no intention to soil their 

hands; they came to vote the 

APC out. 

“They would have 

succeeded on a level playing 

ground. But, indeed, the good 

people of Ibeju Lekki for the 

first time witnessed a blatant 

broad daylight robbery of 

their mandate by the enemies 

of democracy.” 

In addition, he said: “We 

came into this race with the 

honest and honourable 

intention to address the decay 

in people representation. 

“We have meticulously 

gathered overwhelming 

evidence of the electoral fraud 

that occurred in the Ibeju 

Lekki Constituency I rerun 

election. And we have decided 

to take a legal action through 

the Election Petitions 

Tribunal. We promise that by 

God’s grace, the mandate of 

the people of Ibeju Lekki 

Constituency 1 of Lagos State 

shall be reclaimed.”


Uzoho bags first 

career red card 

SUPER Eagles goalkeeper 

Francis Uzoho continues to hog 

the headlines for all the wrong 

reasons in Cyprus, with the latest 

being the red card he was shown in 

the ongoing game between 

Anorthosis and Alki Oroklini. 

It was his first match for 

Anorthosis since his well-publicized 

health certificate scandal, which Antonis 

made him miss six successive games 

in the Cypriot First Division. 

Uzoho received the first red card 

in his career after 23 minutes for 

unsportsmanlike conduct and the 

incident occurred shortly after 

Anorthosis scored their second goal. 

The fourth official, Timotheos 

Christofi informed the referee 

that the Nigerian made a 

gesture towards the Alki 

Oroklini supporters. 

The 20-year-old Uzoho had 

received four yellow cards in 37 

matches across all competitions 

prior to today's game at Stadio 

Papadopoulos 

(Lárnaka). 

Uzoho has been cautioned 

once in 13 games for the Super 

Eagles, a dubious yellow card 

in the 47th minute in an African 

Cup of Nations qualifier 

against Libya last October. 

Emery: April will define Arsenal season 

UNAI Emery says Arsenal's 

results in April will define their 

season as they fight for the "big 

possibility" of Champions League 

qualification. 

In 2019, Arsenal have beaten top-four 

rivals Chelsea and Manchester United 

at home, as well as drawing away at 

Tottenham, leaving themselves firmly 

in the hunt for the top four. Emery says 

these "key" performances have been 

crucial in their race for Champions 

League football, but with no games 

against top-six opposition left, the 

Arsenal coach has warned his players 

not to get complacent. Speaking to Sky 

Sports News, Emery said: "In April, we 

are playing in a lot of matches and it is 

the key for our season. 

"We finished very well both in the 

Europa League and Premier League 

before the international break. But in 

each match, we need to give a big focus 

and every player must be ready to give 

their best performance for us. 

Mbappé takes over 

from Neymar, 

Cavani 

PSG’s march to the Ligue 1 

title continues apace and the 

Parisians could have the title 

wrapped up next weekend if 

Thomas Tuchel’s side beat 

•Kylian Mbappé 

Strasbourg at home and Lille, their 

nearest challengers, fail to claim three points 

away at Stade Reims. 

In any case, it would take a collapse of epic 

proportions now for PSG not to lift the Ligue 1 

title for a second consecutive season and when 

the if becomes when, it will be largely due to 

the influence of Kylian Mbappé, who has led the 

side in the absence of Neymar and Edinson 

Cavani in recent weeks and scored the only goal 

of the game in the Stadium de Toulouse to 

maintain PSG’s 20-point advantage over Lille. 

Mbappé has now scored nine times in his last 

seven Ligue 1 games, the same number of 

matches that the Uruguay forward, who is the 

side’s second highest scorer this season, has 

missed with hamstring and muscle issues. In 

three of those games, Mbappé hit the decisibe 

goal. 

Across all competitions this season, Mbappé 

has scored 32 times and provided 15 assists in 36 

games, cementing his place as the hottest 

property in world football at the moment and 

casting the high-profile absences of Neymar and 

Cavani into the shadows. The Uruguayan is the 

club's all-time record scorer and the Brazilian the 

most expensive player in the world, but PSG fans 

only have eyes for Mbappé at the moment. 

• Ahmad 

•Uzoho 

CHELSEA 

manager 

Maurizio Sarri has 

conceded that striker Gonzalo 

Higuain is finding English 

football ‘difficult’. 

Sarri and Higuain were 

reunited in January after their 

2015-16 campaign together at 

Napoli, during which time the 

striker scored a recordbreaking 

36 goals. 

"[Higuain] said to me that it's 

difficult, because the physical 

impact of the defenders here 

is really very strong,” Sarri 

was quoted as saying by Sky 

Sports. “The referees here are 

really very different than in 

Italy, and so it’s another 

football for him, especially for 

a striker and a goalkeeper, it’s 

really very different. 

“I think he needs time, but 

we have no time. So we need 

him at his top level in the last 

two months. We need Gonzalo 

at the top. It’s not easy I think 

to get used to this 

championship.” 

CAF president rubbishes Comoros 

CAS case against Cameroon 

Caf president Ahmad Ahmad says the 

case filed by Comoros at the Court of 

Arbitration for Sport (CAS) asking for 

Cameroon to be kicked out of the 2019 

AFCON finals has no merit. 

Cameroon was stripped of the 2019 Afcon 

hosting rights due to ill-preparedness and 

Egypt has replaced them. 

Cameroon will host the 2021 edition. 

However, Comoros are seeking the 

Indomitable Lions' expulsion from the Afcon 

tournament citing Article 92 of CAF 

regulations. 

According to Article 92: “If a country 

having been entrusted with the 

organisation of the final tournament of the 

Africa Cup of Nations is desisting or the 

tournament is being withdrawn from it, it 

shall be subject, in addition to further 

disciplinary sanctions, to a fine fixed 

according to the following scale: 

Sarri: Higuain finding 

English football difficult 

•Higuain 

Buffon close to new PSG deal 

Gianluigi Buffon is reportedly close to a new contract 

with Paris Saint-Germain, which could take the 

goalkeeper through to 2021. 

According to ESPN, PSG are ready to take up their 

option to extend Buffon’s contract for an extra season. 

However, the broadcaster adds the French giants plan 

to include an option of a further extension, potentially 

keeping him at the club until he is 43 years old. 

The former Juventus and Italy No 1 has made 20 

appearances for PSG this season but was partly blamed 

for their Champions League exit to Manchester United last 

month. 

Varane wants to leave Madrid 

Madrid defender Raphaël Varane has reportedly 

told the club he wishes to leave the Bernabéu this 

summer despite the return as manager of his 

compatriot Zinedine Zidane, who scouted the 25-yearold 

for Madrid when he had played just a handful of 

games for Lens and was instrumental in the signing of 

the future France captain in 2011. 

However, according to a report on Spanish 

television sports program Jugones, Varane is 

disillusioned with the club and will seek a 

“change of scenery” in the summer, 

with Juventus and Manchester 

United keeping a close eye on developments. 

AS understands that Varane is annoyed Real 

Madrid did not lay on any kind of tribute after 

France’s triumph at the 2018 World Cup, which 

was somewhat overshadowed at club level 

by Luka Modric’s Golden Ball and Ballon d’Or 

awards. 

Varane’s contract at Real Madrid runs until 

2022 after he signed a new deal last year and 

he has an eye-watering release clause of 500 

million euros. 

•Varane 

“92.3. Withdrawal notified within one year 

before the date of the final tournament: a fine of 

five hundred thousand (500,000) U.S. dollars 

and a suspension of the next edition of AFCON 

of it’s A national team, without considering the 

concerned edition.” 

But Ahmad has hit back saying Comoros’ case 

does not hold water. 

“They are fourth in their group. Even if they 

believe that Cameroon does not deserve to be 

at the AFCON, Cameroon has just shown on the 

pitch that they deserve qualification. Everything 

must first be played on the pitch,” Ahmad was 

quoted as saying by Radio France International. 

“As for the victory on paper, it really takes some 

irregularities for this to be taken into account. 

Our rules are clear. Clause 92 talks about 

withdrawal. And legally this is not the case. So 

section 92 does not apply. It was CAF who 

decided to postpone the AFCON of Cameroon, 

and make this shift (now in 2021, edition).

Lazio tempt Eagles 

striker, Nwankwo with 

N1.2bn 3-year deal 

ITALIAN Serie A club Lazio 

have started preparing for 

the reopening of the transfer 

window and are working on a 

deal to sign Super Eagles striker 

Simeon Tochukwu Nwankwo. 

According to Sportmediaset, 

Lazio want to add the Crotone 

star to their offensive ranks and 

are prepared to offer him a 

three-year contract in the 

summer. 

The 26-year-old stands to earn 

at least 3 million euros (N1.2 

billion) in wages over the 

duration of the contract if the 

deal goes through. 

The Biancocelesti don’t need 

• John Ogbonna 

Ogbonna Shines 

as Nigeria Claim 

Three Medals In 

Freestyle 

TEAM Nigeria’s Emmanuel 

John Ogbonna won his 3rd 

consecutive continental gold 

medal on the final day of 

competition at the African Senior 

Wrestling Championships in 

Hammamet, Tunisia, while 

Melvin Bibo and Ekereme 

Agiomor each claimed bronze 

medal. 

Fighting in the final 74kg 

category, the former World no 1 in 

the 70kg weight category 

overcame home-boy Maher 

Ghanmi 7-1 to claim the ultimate 

prize. 

In the 79kg class, 2018 African 

champion Agiomor settled for 

bronze after easily beating his 

South African opponent Zander 

Geringer 12-1 via superiority, 

while Commonwealth silver 

medalist and veteran Bibo also 

won bronze with a 7-0 thrashing 

of Senegal’s Blaise Diatta. 

to strike any deal with 

Crotone as the player 

comes off contract at the end 

of the 2018-2019 

season, meaning 

only personal 

terms have to be 

agreed. 

This season, 

Simy has scored 11 goals (3 

assists) in 26 matches in the Italian 

Serie B while his total goals since 

his arrival in Italy three years ago 

is 22 in 75 appearances. 

He played for Portuguese clubs 

Gil Vicente FC and 

Portimonense SC before joining 

Crotone. 

• Nwankwo 

•PEP TALK — 

APC National 

Leader, Asiwaju 

Bola Ahmed 

Tinubu talks to 

Taribo West and 

Joseph Yobo at 

his 67th birthday 

Novelty Football 

Match between 

some ex-Super 

Eagles players 

and Team 

Asiwaju Tinubu 

at Campos Mini 

Stadium, Lagos 

Island on 

Sunday. 

Ikechukwu wins Ist Shaunz 

Pool Classics 

Kerry Ikechukwu has emerged winner of the 1st edition of 

the “Shaunz Pool Classics”, organised by Cuegames 

Limited with support from Dana Air which held at the Shaunz 

Bar & Lounge in Victoria Island, Lagos at the weekend. 

The Pool event which featured a 32-man draw, saw Mr 

Ikechukwu carting home the top prize of N50,000 cash in 

addition to a business class return flight ticket donated by 

Cuegames Limited and Dana Airlines respectively. 

The runner-up went home with N30,000 cash prize and 

business class return ticket also donated by Cuegames Limited 

and Dana Airlines. 

Founder/Country Manager of Cuegames Limited, Mr. John 

Ini Ebiekpi, disclosed that the event is set to hold quarterly, 

adding that his organisation is the first corporate company to 

develop and promote the noble games of Pool, Snooker and 

Billiards in Nigeria. 

Arum: If Wilder hits Joshua 

on the chin, it’s goodbye 

Bob Arum hopes Tyson Fury eventually gets 

the opportunity to beat both Deontay Wilder 

and Anthony Joshua. 

If Wilder and Joshua wind up boxing each 

other before Fury faces Wilder in a rematch or 

Joshua in an all-UK showdown, Fury’s copromoter 

predicted Wilder would knock out 

Joshua. The 6-feet-7 Wilder (40-0-1, 39 KOs) 

arguably is the most devastating puncher in 

boxing, but the 6-feet-6, 245-pound Joshua has 

knocked out 21 of his 22 professional opponents. 

Joshua’s power aside, Arum isn’t confident 

Joshua’s chin could withstand Wilder’s 

exceptional power. 

“Joshua, you know, it remains to be seen,” 

Arum told World Boxing News for a story posted 

to its website, “His chin isn’t the greatest. If 

Wilder hit him on the chin, then it’s goodbye 

Joshua, I think. It remains to be seen.” 

It remains to be seen because Wilder and 

Joshua don’t seem any closer to their muchdiscussed 

heavyweight title unification fight 

than they were this time last year. 


NFF Congress ratifies 

postponement of State FA elections 

An extra-ordinary General 

Assembly of the Nigeria 

Football Federation yesterday 

ratified the decision of the NFF 

Executive Committee of 26th 

January 2019 to postpone the 

elections into the Boards of the 

Football Associations in the 36 

States and the FCT. 

At an emergency meeting (emeeting), 

the NFF Executive 

Committee had decided: 

“That given the various 

complaints that have been 

received and ventilated in several 

fora regarding the ongoing 

electoral processes geared 

towards the conduct of elections 

into the Football Associations of 

the 36 States and the FCT, and 

against the backdrop of the 

nationwide elections taking place 

between February and March 

2019, the Executive Committee 

resolved that the current electoral 

processes in the States be 

suspended immediately. 

“Executive Committee has thus 

charged the NFF Football Reform 

Committee, which composition 

was approved by the NFF 

Congress at its Annual General 

Assembly in Asaba, Delta on 24th 

October 2018, to see the pattern, 

composition and electoral 

processes as one of its major 

Referee dies during fitness test 

The Liberia Football Referees 

Association (LFRA) has lost 

one of its members, Lackey 

Massaquoi. 

The Liberian referee died at the 

Samuel K. Doe Sports Complex 

during a fitness test for referees, 

organized by LFRA. 

The young match official ran 

seven rounds during the fitness 

test but could not continue and fall 

to the ground minutes after 

admitting that he was unable to 

complete the fitness test. 

LFRA Chief Referee Lamin 

Kamara told FrontPageAfrica that 

Lackey was taken to the ELWA 

hospital unfortunately, he was 

pronounced dead upon arrival. 

According to the referee 

association, Massaquoi was a 

dedicated class “D” member of the 

Liberia Football Referee 

Association and is saddened by 

his passing. 

•Pinnick 

assignments in the work of 

recommending a comprehensive 

reform of Nigerian Football.” 

In Lagos on Monday, with all 44 

Members of the NFF present 

alongside the NFF Executive 

Committee, at the meeting held at 

the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria 

Island, Lagos, the decision was 

unanimously ratified after a 

motion moved to that effect by 

former NFF 1st Vice President and 

current Chairman of the Imo State 

Football Association, Mazi 

Amanze Uchegbulam. The motion 

was seconded by Mohammed 

Nasir Saidu, Chairman of the 

Sokoto State Football Association. 

•Lackey 

Mr. Kamara disclosed that 

Massaquoi attended two different 

fitness courses, including a FIFAsponsored 

course which he passed 

but it was surprising for him to fail 

the fitness test at SKD. 

British boxer Ali suspended 

after biting opponent 

BRITISH boxer Kash Ali has had his license suspended after 

he twice bit opponent David Price and was disqualified 

during their fight in Liverpool, in an incident labeled “f*cking 

disgraceful” by the latter. Things turned sour during the all-British 

match-up between Birmingham’s Ali and home fighter, former 

British, English and Commonwealth heavyweight David Price 

when, after having been hit with a heavy shot in the fifth round, Ali 

tackled the taller Price to the ground before taking a chunk out his 

abdomen. 

Ali, who was unbeaten in 15 paid fights going into Saturday’s 

bout, was duly disqualified by referee Mark Lyson and then had 

to be shielded by security as he left the Echo Arena in Liverpool in 

disgrace; he and his team hurriedly made their way to the exits as 

a wave of drinks and missiles rained down from the stands.


Work permit 

kills Awoniyi’s 

Liverpool 

dream 

Former Flying 

Eagles star, 

Taiwo Awoniyi 

said his 

dream of 

playing for 

Liverpool is 

slowly dying 

due to his 

failure to get 

UK work 

permit to play in 

England. 

Awoniyi signed a longterm 

deal in August 2015, 

but he is yet to kick a ball 

for the title chasing 

Liverpool. He is on a fifth 

loan spell outside of 

England with Belgian 

side Mouscron. 

“It saddens my heart 

that it’s been difficult to 

get a work permit for the 

past four years,” he told 

BBC Sport. 

“At the end of the season 

we have to go back to 

Liverpool to discuss. 

Everyone knows the 

importance of the work 

permit and how it works, 

and that you’d need to 

play for your national 

team. 

“If you don’t get a 

chance with your national 

team then it becomes 

Messi is not God, Pope 

Francis tells Barca fans 

For Barcelona fans, 

Lionel Messi is 

‘D10S’, a combination 

of the Spanish word 

for “God” - “dios” - 

with the No.10 on his 

shirt. But Pope 

Francis begs to 

differ. 

Interviewed 

by Spanish TV 

•Awoniyi 

channel La 

Sexta on 

Sunday, the 

p o p e 

praised his 

Argentine 

compatriot 

Messi, but 

said he must 

not be called 

God. 

“In theory, it is sacrilege,” 

explained the leader of the 

Catholic Church. “You can’t 

do it. 

“People could call him 

God, just as they might say 

‘I adore you’, but only God 

can be worshipped. 

“(Saying) ‘He’s a god with 

the ball on the pitch’ is a 

popular way to express 

yourself. He’s great to watch 

- but he’s not God.” 

Pope Francis is known to 

be a football fan, and he is 

difficult to get it. 

“Personally, I chose Liverpool because I would 

love to play in the English Premier League for 

Liverpool. 

“If God says it will happen then it will, 

but if not then I can only go on with my 

life and career.” 

For non-EU players to be granted a 

work permit, they must demonstrate 

they are an international player of 

“the highest calibre.” 

This means they must have 

played in 75% of a Fifa top-50 

ranked national team’s 

matches over the previous two 

years. 

Awoniyi, who helped his 

country win the Under-17 

World Cup in 2013, is currently 

part of Nigeria’s under-23 side 

vying for a ticket to the 2020 Olympics 

football event in Tokyo. 

Chelsea reject Fenerbahce’s 

5m Euros offer for Moses 

•Moses 

Damien Comolli, who 

previously worked at 

Arsenal and Tottenham 

Hotspur, played a key role 

in convincing Moses to join 

Fenerbahce in the January 

transfer window. 

The former Nigeria 

international has been on 

the books of Chelsea since 

the summer of 2012 but it 

appears his future lies 

elsewhere as he is not in the 

plans of manager Maurizio 

Sarri. Moses’ contract with 

Chelsea will expire in 2021. 

Fenerbahce quest to sign Victor 

Moses on a permanent deal from 

Chelsea has been rebuffed by the 

Blues. 

According to reports in Turkey, 

Chelsea turned down the five 

million euros Fenerbahce have 

put on the table. However it 

was gathered that Chelsea are 

willing to let Moses go for a 

much higher fee. 

Fenerbahce’s sporting 

director, Damien Comolli is being 

expected to go to England to meet 

face to face with the Chelsea 

executives and thrash out a deal. 

also a club member of 

Buenos Aires side San 

Lorenzo. 

Two goals from Messi 

gave Barcelona victory in 

Herrera signs pre-contract 

with PSG 

Ander Herrera has agreed a 

pre-contract with Paris 

Saint-Germain and will leave 

Manchester United this summer 

to make the move to the French 

capital. 

Herrera struggled for regular 

action in the early stages of the 

2018-19 campaign, but has 

been a key part of the team since 

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer replaced 

Jose Mourinho as head coach 

•Ronaldo 

the Catalan derby over 

Espanyol on Sunday, 

taking the Liga leaders 

another step closer to the 

title. 

Ronaldo’s return for Ajax 

clash will be difficult —Allegri 

Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri accepts it will 

be “difficult” for Cristiano Ronaldo to return from 

his thigh injury in time to face Ajax in the Champions 

League quarter-finals next week. 

Ronaldo sustained the problem during Portugal’s 1- 

1 Euro 2020 qualifying draw against Serbia last 

Monday and missed the slender 1-0 win over Empoli 

on Saturday. 

But it now seems Ronaldo could also miss the first 

leg of the Champions Leaguelast-eight tie in 

Amsterdam. 

“Ronaldo is working and we hope to have him for 

Ajax, but it will be difficult,” Allegri said at a news 

conference. “We hope he can [play], he is working 

every day. 

“Today’s [Monday] examination is much better, the 

leg is better. There are nine days left until Ajax and we 

have time to evaluate. We must be careful and evaluate. 

“As for Douglas Costa, he’s in good condition and 

should be available for Ajax.[Sami] Khedira has worked 

with the team and could to be there for Milan. 

“Paulo Dybala will be evaluated to understand how 

he is doing with the knock on his shoulder. He will not 

play in Sardinia [against Cagliari on Tuesday] and we 

hope to have him back to face Ajax.” 

Zenith Bank/ Delta Principals Cup: 

Obule emerges championsin dramatic final 

It was a great show of 

football artistry at the final 

of the Zenith Bank Delta 

Principals Cup played at the 

Stephen Keshi stadium, 

Asaba, as Obule Integrated 

School, Sapele came from a 

goal down to defeat Boys 

Secondary School, 

Obiaruku, 2-1 to emerge the 

champions of the third 

edition of the rebranded 

competition. 

Bright Osenene put Boys 

Sec Sch ahead in the 40th 

minute and they were 

looking good for the title only 

for Obule to score two late 

goals to turn the game 

around. 

Prosper Seruemu started 

the revival with the equaliser 

in the 76h minute while 

Jolomi Neye completed the 

come back with the winner in 

the 84th minute. 

Apart from the winning 

prize of N1M for the wining 

school, there was a 

presentation of a new 

hummer bus to Obule by 

Delta State governor, Ifeanyi 

Okowa. 

In his remark, the 

Commissioner, Basic and 

Zidane yet to give 

Hazard move the green light 

Real Madrid boss Zinedine 

Zidane is yet to give the 

green light for his club 

to move for Chelsea 

attacker Eden Hazard in 

this summer’s transfer 


Hazard will see his 

current deal with 

Chelsea expire in the 

summer of 2020 and the 

Belgium international has 

been strongly linked with a 

move to Madrid. 

According to Marca, both 

...as Gov. Okowa donates bus to winner 

in December. 

The Spaniard’s current deal 

with United will expire at the end 

of this season, however, and it is 

understood that the English 

giants are not prepared to meet 

his wage demands of £200,000 

a week. 

According to the Daily 

Record, Herrera has agreed a 

pre-contract with the Ligue 1 

champions as his five-season 

stay with United nears its end. 

•Pope Francis & Messi 

Hazard and Los Blancos are keen for the deal 

to take place, but Zidane is yet to sign off on a 

swoop for the 28-year-old. 

Indeed, the report has claimed that the newlyappointed 

head coach wants to first ‘analyse 

his squad in detail’ to determine which areas 

need strengthening in this summer’s transfer 


Hazard has found the back of the net on 

16 occasions for Chelsea this season, 

while he has managed 105 goals in total 

for the 

English Man Utd 

giants since a 

2012 switch demand 

from Lille. 

Zidane is thought to Kroos, Bale 

have as much as £430m 

to spend on new players for Pogba 

this summer. 

Manchester United will 

reportedly not 

Secondary Education in the 

State, Chiedu Ebie, who also 

doubled as the chairman 

Local O4ganising Committee 

of the tournament expressed 

joy over the successful 

completion of the principal 

Cup. 

“We have worked hard for 

three years to get to where we 

are today,” he said. 

“There was improvements 

on the number of schools that 

took part in this year 

tournament as we have a 

record 756 secondary schools 

playing from the preliminary 

and the two schools that 

played in the finals worked 

so hard to get to that stage. 

“I want to appreciates the 

governor for flying with this 

dream and we are hoping to 

put together a summer camp 

for the best 30 players 

discovered during the 

•Hazard 

consider selling Paul Pogba 

to Real Madrid unless they 

are offered Toni Kroos and 

Gareth Bale in return. 

Pogba is once again at the 

centre of transfer 

speculation after admitting 

earlier this week that he 

would like to play for the 

Spanish giants. 

The 26-year-old’s agent is 

said to have already been in 

contact with Real to get the 

ball rolling ahead of the 

summer, but Los Blancos 

have work to do if they are 

to convince United to sell. 

Spanish outlet AS reports 

that Kroos and Bale are 

pivotal to any chance 

Zinedine Zidane’s side 

have of acquiring Pogba, 

who has returned to his best 

form since Ole Gunnar 

Solskjaer was brought in 

three-and-a-half months 

ago. 

United are said to be after 

the duo to soften the blow 

of losing one of their key 

players, with Kroos 

effectively a like-for-like 

replacement in central 

midfield. 

competition.” 

Lucky Ighade, Zenith Bank 

Plc, Zonal Head, Asaba, who 

represented the GMD/CEO, 

Peter Amangbo, said they are 

happy to invest in the youths 

who are the future of the 

country. 

He however expressed the 

company’s commitment to 

supporting a Nobel cause 

like the principal Cup. 

Meanwhile, Delta State 

has concluded plans to infuse 

sports into the state’s 

education curriculum. 

The governor, Okowa said 

Delta have come to realise 

that sports and education 

works hand in hand and they 

want a sound and healthy 

mind for their students. 

Earlier in the day, Ekpan 

Secondary School, Ekpan 

defeated Comprehensive 

Secondary School, Ogwashi- 

Uku 3-2 to win the bronze 

medal.

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2019—47

Vanguard, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2019 

TODAY’S PUZZLE 

Sudoku 

MONDAY’S ANSWER 

TODAY’S CROSSWORD 

QUICK CROSSWORD 

MONDAY’S SOLUTION 

How to Play Sudoku 

ACROSS 

1 Partly open (4) 

3 Without mercy (8) 

9 Come down (7) 

10 Savour (5) 

11 Devoured (5) 

12 Water ice (6) 

14 Government employees 

(5,8) 

17 Light meals (6) 

19 Leader of a Jewish 

congregation (5) 

22 Jousting weapon (5) 

23 Flagrant (7) 

24 Emphasised (8) 

25 Peruse (4) 

DOWN 

1 Assemblage of listeners 

(8) 

2 Something worth 

having (5) 

4 Absolutely necessary 

(13) 

5 Bury (5) 

6 Oriental (7) 

7 Discard (4) 

8 Edible part of a nut (6) 

13 Helped (8) 

15 Wine seller (7) 

16 In words (6) 

18 Game played on a 

checkered board (5) 

20 Burn fiercely (5) 

21 In addition (4) 

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

of the same number). 

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

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

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

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

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

multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination. 

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