19042019 - CCT axes Onnoghen, to forfeit money, barred for 10 years

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ECONOMY
FG to maintain current forex policy
—Lai Mohammed
MERGER: Access Bank’s loan
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NDLEA 34 March— NBS
17 oil refinery licenses expire, 38 under execution
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VOL. 26: NO. 63790 FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2019
CCT axes Onnoghen, to forfeit
money, barred for 10 years
•Embattled ex-CJN goes to Appeal Court
•FG rehearsed Onnoghen’s conviction — PANDEF
STORY
ON
PAGE 5
Ibori
challenges
his
conviction
at European
Court of
Human
Rights 12
ONNOGHEN IN THE DOCK...
Former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen in the dock at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, in Abuja yesterday.
Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.
Buhari signs N30,000
8
Minimum Wage Bill into law
58 road ALLEGED FRAUD:
projects Justice Ajumogobia
ongoing in re-arraigned, gets
South-East
15
— FG N10m bail
11
COLUMNISTS
EASTER:
Buhari
laments
killings
AZU 36 DONU 17 OWEI LAKEMFA 30
14
FG to
train agrorangers
to
protect
farmers,
investment
— Interior
Minister 13
Naira
depreciates
to N359.3/$
in parallel
market
Mr & Mrs
41

2 — Vanguard FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2019

Vanguard FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2019 — 3

4 — Vanguard FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2019

vanguardnews @vanguardnews @vanguardnews
Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2019 — 5
POCKET CARTOON
NEW NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE—President Muhammadu Buhari signs the
New National Minimum Wage Bill into law in State House, Abuja, yesterday.
CCT axes Onnoghen, to forfeit
money, barred for 10 years
By Emma Amaize,
Ikechukwu
Nnochiri & Henry
Ojelu
ABUJA —The Code
of Conduct Tribunal,
CCT, sitting in Abuja,
yesterday, convicted the
former Chief Justice of
Nigeria, Justice Walter
Onnoghen, on all the sixcount
charge the Federal
Government preferred
against him.
The Danladi Umar-led
three-man tribunal said
that evidence of three
witnesses that testified in
the course of the trial,
were not discredited by
the defendant who was
accused of failing to
properly declare his
assets, as well as
operating five domiciliary
foreign bank accounts.
The CCT Chairman,
Mr. Umar, who read the
judgment, said: “The
prosecution has
discharged the onus
placed on it beyond every
iota of doubt. It is clear
that the defendant was in
clear breach of the code
of conduct for public
officers. The prosecution
successfully established
its case, and the
defendant is accordingly
convicted.”
Handing its sentence
after it declared the
defendant guilty, the
tribunal, ordered that he
is “hereby removed from
office as the Chief Justice
of Nigeria, Chairman of
the National Judicial
Council, NJC, and the
Federal Judicial Service
Commission, FJSC.
“Secondly, the
defendant is hereby
banned from holding any
public office for 10 years.”
The tribunal held that
Onnoghen’s failure to
explain how he amassed
“huge amounts of money
in his accounts,” was an
indication that the funds
were acquired illegally.
It ordered that the funds
should be “confiscated,
seized and forfeited to the
Federal Government.”
Meanwhile, Onnoghen
who appeared unruffled
in the dock while the
judgment was delivered,
declined offer by the CCT
chairman to plead for
clemency.
Mr. Umar had before he
commenced the
sentencing, asked the
defendant if he would like
to make a plea of
allocutus (for mercy), but
Onnoghen simply bowed
his head and told him,
“no comment.”
Earlier before the
judgment was delivered,
the CCT boss dismissed
two preliminary objections
the former CJN lodged
challenging the legal
propriety of his trial.
Umar held that the CCT
had the requisite
jurisdiction to try the ex-
CJN on the allegation that
he falsely declared his
assets, maintaining that
the Federal Government
did not violate any portion
of the law by bye-passing
the NJC, to file the charge.
He said the tribunal was
minded to overrule itself
by departing from the
position it took in a similar
case the government
instituted against Justice
Sylvester Ngwuta of the
Supreme Court.
The CCT held that
Sections 158(1) and
Paragraph 21(6) of the
Third Schedule to
the1999 Constitution, as
amended, was not
applicable in the case
since government did not
charge the former CJN as
a serving judicial officer,
but as an ordinary public
officer that acted in breach
of the code of conduct for
public officers.
“We resolve this issue
against the defendant.
The tribunal hereby
affirms its jurisdiction to
entertain the charge
against the defendant
which is competent.
Though the tribunal is not
unmindful of its previous
decision in the case of
Ngwuta, the tribunal will
not hesitate to overrule
itself in any previous
decision which it is
satisfied was reached on
wrong reasons.
“I agree that we should
do so in this case. In other
words, the tribunal hereby
reverses itself as regards
the case against Ngwuta.
The tribunal hereby
overrules itself in the case
of Ngwuta. The
preliminary objection
lacks merit and is hereby
refused,” Mr. Umar held.
In a second ruling, the
CCT Chairman, said there
was no merit in the former
CJN’s application that he
should recuse himself
from the matter
considering that he
equally has a criminal
allegation hanging on his
neck.
Umar admitted that
though there was a
bribery allegation
levelled against him, he
said the Economic and
Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC, had
in two separate letters
dated March 5, 2015, and
April 20, 2016, cleared
him of any wrongdoing.
He said an initial charge
that was entered against
him was subsequently
withdrawn by the EFCC
on November 8, 2018.
“The issue regarding
bribery allegation against
the chairman has been
resolved by the EFCC. All
the issues raised by the
applicant have been dealt
with without any
ambiguity. The chairman
is competent to proceed
with the case.”
The CCT boss
dismissed as unfounded,
Onnoghen’s contention
that he would not be
granted fair hearing since
the panel is answerable to
the Presidency which was
behind his travails,
insisting “nothwistanding
that the CCT is under the
Presidency, that does not
Continues on Page 41
By Bose Adelaja, Ebun Sessou,
Yinka Latona, Chiamaka Uba,
Dickson Omobola&Tolulope Oke
How can the killing of innocent citizens by Police, Customs be stopped? (5)
THE government
should begin to
punish the personnel for
it. They should be made
to pay fines. The families
of the dead people
should be adequately
compensated. Perpetrators
should be demoted.
They should be made to
face the law and be
killed if need be.
Miss Oladosu Olabisi,
Student
THEY should be
made to go through
proper training on the
use of weapons. Also, a
conducive working environment
should be put in
place for the police. The
salaries of the security
agencies should be increased
to discourage
them from extortion.
Their mental health has
to be checked because it
is dangerous for someone
who is not mentally
stable to handle arms.
Mr. Olanrewaju Akanbi,
Student
THE government
should formulate a
law that would ensure
that any officer who kills
an innocent person
should be killed in immediately.
Furthermore, the use
of arms should be restricted
because the fact
that they are security
men doesn’t mean they
should all bear arms.
Miss Bello Adetola,
Student
THIS act has become
a trend among Police
and Customs personnel.
They kill without
taking into consideration
their first responsibility
which is to safeguard
the lives of the
people. To this end, anyone
found guilty of engaging
in such an act
should be court-martialed
and the appropriate
punishment should
be meted out.
Mr. Omobola Japhet,
Cocoa merchant
THE punishment for
the crime should be
severe. They continue
killing people because
nobody has been brought
to book for using arms
against defenceless people.
The government
should stop treating the
matter with kid gloves.
The police and customs
are becoming notorious.
If nothing is done to the
perpetrators of the latest
incidents, more will
happen.Mr. Olanipekun
Pelumi, Student
LET them be tried at
the court of law and
if found guilty they
should be killed as well.
Is the life of a policeman
or a customs officer
more precious than the
life of other Nigerians?
Killing the offenders
would serve as a deterrent
that would bring an
end to the incessant killings.
Miss Ogundiran Dasola,
Caterer

6—Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2019
Mother kills
daughter
with rat
poison in
Ondo
By Dayo Johnson
AKURE—A
single
mother, identified as
Aina Bello, has reportedly
killed her four-year-old
daughter, Sadia, by feeding
her with rat poison because
she had health challenge.
She was, subsequently,
arrested by detectives from
the state police command.
Police source told Vanguard
that the ugly incident
happened at Iyase Quarter,
Arigidi Akoko in Akoko North
West council area of the state.
She was alleged to had
deliberately fed the sick
daughter with rat poison in
order to kill her.
Sources said “shortly after
the baby took the poisonous
drink from her mother, she
passed away.
Vanguard was informed by
police source that “ Aina
confessed that she
deliberately killed Sadia
because she was fed up with
the bad health condition of
the little girl.
“ She ( Aina) said she had
spent everything ( money)
she had on the sick girl and
there was no improvement.
She claimed that at age four,
the young girl cannot walk,
this informed her decision to
take her (Sadia) life. “
Contacted the police
spokesperson, Femi Joseph,
confirmed the incident and
the arrest of the suspect.
Suspected
cultists
charged with
robbery,
murder of ASP
SIX suspected cultists,
yesterday, appeared
before an Ebute Meta
Magistrate's Court, Lagos,
over alleged robbery and
killing of an Assistant
Superintendent of Police.
The defendants are,
Akinwale Bamido, 25;
Olanrewaju Bamido, 22;
John Matter, 21; Moses
Adeniyi, 23; Shola Olatoye,
25, and Okechukwu
Augustine, 18.
They are facing a fourcount
charge of conspiracy,
murder, robbery and
membership of an unlawful
society.
Their pleas were not
taken.
The Prosecutor, Insp.
Maria Dauda told the court
that they committed the
offences on November 27 at
8.18p.m., at ‘D’ Spot,
Badagry Expressway,
Ijanikin, Lagos.
2 dead, vehicles burnt in Ibadan fuel tanker
explosion
By Ola Ajayi
IBADAN—AS plumes of smoke
billowed from the fuel-laden tanker
at Onipepeye area of Ibadan, the
Oyo State capital, yesterday, many
were seen bemoaning the calamity
that has befallen the area not knowing
the number of casualties.
But when the fire died down, two
people were burnt beyond
recognition, three vehicles and a
motorbike were also consumed by the
fire.
According to an eyewitness, the
truck with 33,000 litres of premium
motor spirit otherwise called petrol
was on a high speed and while trying
to avoid running into a Micra car, the
driver lost control and the truck tilted
backwards, forcing the lids covering
the tanks at the back to open, thereby,
emptying its contents.
The source added that the
inflammable substance streamed
down a link road to where a woman
was cooking with fire under the
flyover, which led to a deafening
sound, followed by a huge pall of
smoke and fire.
Three of the vehicles that were
trapped in the traffic caught fire
instantly. Some motorists who were
stuck in the commotion that followed
the boom struggled to run away. Some
were lucky, while some were trapped
in the inferno.
Eyewitnesses accounts
A woman whose shop was nearby
Scene of the inferno.
said: “We suddenly heard a loud
noise and before we came out,
everyone was running to escape
the fire. It was the tanker that
exploded when it lost control.
The fuel flowed down the flyover
to where a woman was selling
edibles at the foot of the link
road.
“The two people burnt were
trying to run away when the fire
caught up with them. A man
abandoned his car and was
trying to move away when the
fire caught him.”
But another source said: “After
the tanker tumbled and poured
its content, it flowed down the
overhead bridge at Onipepeye,
Old Ife Road Saw Mill side.
Trust Nigerians, they started
scooping the fuel into
containers.
“And while they were doing
this, they were not orderly. So,
something sparked and fire
broke out. You know, petrol is
deadly. It spread to the source
on the expressway and the
tanker exploded.
“The impact of the fire would
not have been that much if
firefighters had come on time.
They came about 40 minutes after.
But, when they came, they were
able to check the fire from
spreading to some areas.
The security agencies were still
trying to put out the fire while the
naked bodies of the victims were
yet to be attended to.
The accident left many
commuters stranded. Motorists
who were yet to get to the spot of
the fire were seen making u-turn
to avoid being trapped.
One American, 4 Greeks, 5 Nigerians arrested on Nigeria’s waters
•Sophisticated weapons, military kits recovered
Suspects and exhibits.
By Evelyn Usman
THE Nigerian Navy has arrested an
American, four Greece and five
Nigerians on board Sea Angel 3 boat,
over questionable dealings bothering
on alleged illegalities on the nation’s
waters within Lagos State.
Recovered from the suspects were
sophisticated weapons and military kits.
The arrest was made during the just
concluded maiden joint military
operation code-named Operation
Junction Rain, initiated by United States
Navy/Coast Guard to deter pirates and
other maritime criminals from operating
on the nation’s water and the Gulf of
Guinea.
Briefing journalists during the
handover of the suspects and the
exhibits to the police, yesterday,
at Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS
Beecroft‘s parade ground, the
Officer in-charge of Tactical
Command, OTC, Commodore
Dickson Olisemenogor,
explained that the arrest and
startling discovery were made
during a search conducted on the
ship.
How they were
arrested
On how the suspects were
arrested, he said: “During the
operation, we interrogated over
100 ships, boarded about 40 of
them and in that process, the
vessels that were suspected to
be carrying out illegal activities
on our water were stumbled on.
“When we interrogated Sea
Angel 3, the captain made us
believe there were only five
Nigerians on board. The boat
was painted Navy colour, which
made us to be more suspicious.
They were also not beaming
their necessary electronic
gadget at sea, which would
indicate their position as
stipulated by the International
Maritime Organisation. So, that
attracted us.
“We boarded it, only to
discover that there were more
than five people on board. There
were five Nigerians, four Greece
and an American. Further search
on the boat revealed that they had
four MI 1 rifles, this is a very
dangerous rifle that can do
anything at sea. There were over
1000 rounds of ammunition and
various military kits too.
“Before now, we have made an
arrest and handed them over to the
relevant agencies but somehow,
activities of these criminals
continued to recur on the sea. So,
this time around we made a
detailed interrogation and search
of ships at sea within the period of
the operation.”
Suspects' mission
The mission of the suspects on
the sea was unknown, as he
informed that further investigation
by the police, which would probe
further, would ascertain that.
Receiving the suspects and the
recovered arms and ammunition,
Deputy Commissioner of Police,
INTERPOL, Alagbon, DCP Tunji
Akingbola, said the outcome of the
investigation would be made
public.
He said: “I have been instructed
by the Inspector-General of Police
to take over all the exhibits and
suspects for further investigation. I
want to assure the public that we
are going to have a discreet
investigation and the suspects will
be brought to book accordingly.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2019—7
Our leader got N5m before Fire Service
boss was released — Kidnap suspect
By Esther Onyegbula
BLESSING Boyo, one of the two
suspects arrested alongside his
colleague, Smart Alfred, in
connection with the kidnapping of
Lagos State Director of Fire Service,
Mr Rasaki Musibau and six others
has revealed that the leader of his
gang, MK, collected N5 million
ransom from the family of the victims
before they were realised.
According to 29-year-old Boyo,
“the leader of the gang, MK, is the
person in control of the
communication with the outside
world and demand for ransom from
relatives of their victims. He hasn’t
given us any money before we were
arrested."
Method of operation
Narrating how they carried out their
operations, Bayo said, we usually
block the roads with woods to prevent
motorists from having a free passage
and when they drive to the point
where the road is blocked they will
slow down and we strike and kidnap
our victims. Usually, we use four guns
during operations.
“MK is also a youth leader in our
community. He was the one that
came to the village in Arogbogo,
Ondo State where he asked me to
come with him. He said he has a job
for me. I didn’t know it was a
kidnapping job. I have never been
involved in it. I am an apprentice, I
work with a wood operator.
“After we kidnapped the Fire
Service boss and the other six people,
we took them to a camp in the bush
where we kept them. Some of the
boys, who worked with MK, cooked
in the camp. We fed the victims with
egusi soup and garri.”
It will be recalled that the Fire
Service boss and six others were
abducted on April 6 at Ketu-Ereyun,
Ikorodu, Lagos State.
However, three days later they
regained their freedom after a
ransom of N5 million was paid.
Parading the two suspects,
Blessing Boyo and Smart Alfred, at
the State Police Command, Ikeja, the
Commissioner of Police, Muazu
Zubairu, said the suspects were
"arrested after a sustained and wellcoordinated
operation by the
The suspects.
command’s Tactical Anti-
Kidnapping Unit, on April 10 at
about 5:30 am in Ibafun along
Ikorodu-Ijebu Ode Expressway,
a boundary community with Ogun
State. Two single barrel guns were
recovered from the suspects.
Investigation is ongoing.”
Police to dock LADOL guard
over killing of Korean
By Gabriel Olawale
FOLLOWING the fatal
shooting of a Korean
employee of SHI-MCI FZE at
LADOL Free Zone on April 8,
the police have resolved to
charge the Nigerian Security
and Civil Defence Corps,
NSCDC, personnel
responsible for the shooting
with murder.
The NSCDC operative also
shot and killed his colleague
also guarding the free zone,
moments before he shot the
Korean employee.
The decision to charge the
gunman to court was the
outcome of a police report
issued by a Deputy
Commissioner of Police in
charge of SCIID, Yaba,
Yetunde Longe, dated April
16, 2019.
The gunman was detained
by guards and employees of
SHI-MCI FZE after the
shooting before being handed
over to the police for investigation.
The police investigation found
out that the gunman, Innocent
Oshemi, shot and killed the
Korean SHI-MCI employee with
his official G5 rifle.
The coroner confirmed that the
victim died as a result of injuries
received from the gunshot,
including ‘penetrating missile
injury to the body.’
He will, therefore, be charged
for murder and the casefile will
be forwarded to the office of the
Director of Public Prosecutions.
Samsung Heavy Industries
Nigeria, SHIN, had at a press
conference in Lagos called for
justice for the family of the victim
in this case.
At the briefing attended by
family of the Korean victim, Mr
Jejin Jeon, Managing Director of
SHIN said: “SHIN would ensure
that LADOL and NSCDC are held
accountable for any organisational
and management failures that
allowed the gunman to carry out
this terrible crime in the LADOL
Free Zone.”
Scarecrow!
... with Emma'nKen (08163121378)
Warri & Sapele no dey take last
Drink
responsibly
this Easter,
Jesus was
not a drunk
VISIT: Bishop of Kaduna Anglican Diocese, Rt.Rev Timothy Yahaya (right)
addressing victims of recent Kajuru killings at Kajuru IDPs camp, yesterday. Photo:
Olu Ajayi.

8—Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 19 , 2019
:Vanguard News :@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058
By Victor Young
& Johnbosco
Agbakwuru
A BUJA—PRESIDENT
Muhammadu Buhari,
yesterday, signed the
Minimum Wage Repeal
and Re-enactment Bill, 2019,
into law, saying
implementation takes
immediate effect.
The National Assembly
had on March 27
transmitted the bill to the
President for assent.
Briefing State House
correspondents, Senior
Special Assistant to the
President on National
Assembly Matters, Senator
Ita Enang, said: “You can see
me smiling on behalf of
Nigerian workers. President
Buhari has assented to the
Minimum Wage Repeal
and Enactment Act 2019.
This makes it compulsory for
all employers of labour in
Nigeria to pay to their
workers the sum of N30,000.
"And this excludes persons
who are employing less
than 25 workers, persons
who work in a ship, which
sails out of jurisdiction and
other persons who are in
other kinds of regulated
employment, which are
accepted by the Act.
“It also gives the workers
the right if you are compelled
by any circumstance to
accept salary that is less than
N30, 000, to sue your
employer to recover the
balance and authorises the
minister of labour and any
person nominated by
Minister of Labour, or any
person designated by the
Minister of Labour in any
ministry, department or
agency to on your behalf
take action in your name
against such employer to
recover the balance of your
wages.
“It also ensures and
mandates National Salaries,
Income and Wages
Commission and the
Minister of Labour, to be the
chief and principal enforcers
of the provisions of this law.
And this law applies to all
agencies, persons and
bodies throughout the
Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The effective date is April
18, 2019, as the president has
assented to. It has been
assented to today (yesterday)
and it takes effect today
(yesterday), except such
other provisions as are
contained in the Act.
"But the enforcement and
the right to start the
implementation of the
provisions commences today
(Thursday), including such
steps that are to be taken
gradually under the
provisions of the Act.”
What is expected
of workers
On what is expected of the
workers, the presidential
aide said: “I want Nigerian
workers to celebrate
President Buhari, to support
BREAKFAST MEETING: Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji
Lai Mohammed (left) and Nigeria's High Commissioner to the UK,
Ambassador George Oguntade (middle), at the breakfast meeting with
investors, business community, lawyers and diplomats with ties to Nigeria,
in London, yesterday.
Buhari signs N30,000
Minimum Wage Bill into law
•Says he expects more commitment from workers
•Law goes into immediate effect
•Labour, NECA laud President
this administration, support
its policies and of course, we
will as a government go out
and march together along
with Nigerian workers on
Workers Day.
"Mr. President will
celebrate with workers and
the Federal Government will
celebrate. This is Mr.
President showing workers
the love he has for them and
we are marching as we will
march with the Nigerian
workers.”
Buhari tasks
workers
Meanwhile, President
Buhari has urged workers to
show more commitments in
their duties.
Speaking after signing the
N30,000 new minimum
wage, the President said: “I
expect them (workers) to be
more committed to their work
at which ever level. I will like
with the cooperation of
Nigeria Labour Congress,
NLC, to look at the economic
situation of the country, the
population, the poor
infrastructure that we are
trying to fix in terms of roads,
rail and power. So I wish
Nigerian workers the best of
luck.”
Labour, NECA react
Reacting, President of
Trade Union Congress of
Nigeria, TUC, Bobboi
Kaigama, said: “We
appreciate Buhari for the
signing. We also
congratulate the Nigerian
workers for their resilience,
perseverance and
achievement of the N30,000
minimum wage.
"However, we plead with
the Federal Government to
hasten the negotiations and
release of template for
implementation as well as
release circular to the states
for implementation.”
Similarly, NLC’s Head of
Information Department,
Mr. Bension Opia, said
NLC commended Buhari for
his assent, adding:“We are
delighted by the President’s
accent. We commend him for
his accent.”
On its part, Nigeria
Employers’ Consultative
Association, NECA,
commended Buhari for his
assent.
Speaking, Director-
General of NECA, Mr.
Timothy Olawale, said:
“Organised businesses wish
to commend the President
for promptly attending to the
National Minimum Wage
Bill as sent to him by the
National Assembly.
"It is an indication of the
passion and concern of the
President for the welfare of
the masses and working
class in particular. We believe
that the implementation date
will be the date of assent.”
Lai Mohammed woos investors, says Nigeria economy’s outlook positive
MINISTER
of
Information and
Culture, Alhaji Lai
Mohammed, said the
Muhamadu Buhari
administration has laid the
necessary groundwork for the
growth of the nation’s
economy and urged
investors to take advantage
of the government’s efforts by
investing massively in
Nigeria.
The minister, who made the
call in London, yesterday, at
a breakfast meeting with
investors, lawyers, business
community and diplomats
with ties to Nigeria, said the
country, as the largest
economy and a political
powerhouse in Africa,
represents a highly attractive
market and investment
partner.
He said: “Not only is our
administration positive about
our economy’s outlook, but
the $5 billion in foreign
investment that we have
secured after the recent
elections signals that you, the
international community,
share our positive outlook and
confidence in the
administration’s policy.”
Mohammed said in the past
four years, Buhari had led the
nation’s economy from
recession to growth through
his Economic Recovery and
Growth Plan, ERGP, in
addition to diversifying the
economy.
“While there is no denying
that oil remains an important
part of the economy, we have
diversified, with real GDP
growth being driven by the
expansion of non-oil
activities,” he said, adding
that the service sector, for
example, is responsible for 54
per cent of GDP and has
become the primary driver of
growth for the economy.
The minister said Nigeria’s
successful battle against
insecurity and corruption had
made the country an advocate
9th NASS: APC North Central
govs endorse Lawan,
Gbajabiamila
ALL
Progressives
Congress, APC,
governors and party state
chairmen from North-
Central geo-political zone,
yesterday, endorsed the two
candidates of the party for
the leadership positions of
the 9th National Assembly.
According to a statement
by Mark Longen, Senior
Special Assistant to
Governor Simon Lalong of
Plateau on Media and
Publicity, the governor
disclosed this while
addressing journalists after
a closed-door meeting of
stakeholders in Asokoro,
Abuja.
Lalong said: “A meeting
of governors and the party
chairmen from North
Central today (yesterday)
resolved to go along with
for transparency and
accountability in Africa, while
further strengthening its
economy.
On the just
concluded polls
On the recent general
election, he said the reelection
of President Buhari
was a validation of the fact that
Nigerians recognised the
change and transformation
that the administration had
brought to the country.
He described as
disappointing and deeply
irresponsible, the attempts by
the opposition to discredit the
election and undermine the
the decision of the party’s
endorsement of Sen.
Ahmed Lawan as Senate
President and Femi
Gbajabiamila as Speaker of
the House of
Representatives for the 9th
National Assembly.
“Since it was a party affair,
our decision is in line with
the wish of the party and
that is why we the
governors and state
chairmen of our party from
the zone are in support of
the decision of the party.”
Asked what the zone will
gain in the power-sharing
formula, Lalong said: “We
are still deliberating. We
have not exhausted the
positions with respect to
zoning. Our decision and
position are only on two
issues, while the rest
deliberations are ongoing.
Assault: Senate seeks
documentation, protection of
domestic workers
By Henry
Umoru
ABUJA—THE Senate
has passed for second
reading, a bill that would
provide for the
documentation and
protection of domestic
workers and employers of
domestic workers across the
country.
The bill, if finally passed
by the National Assembly
and assented to by the
President, will nip in the
bud, cases of assault and
abuse of domestic workers
in Nigeria.
The bill, which passed
second reading, yesterday,
sponsored by Senator
Magnus Abe (APC Rivers
South-East), does not only
seek to protect domestic
workers, but aimed at
protecting employers of
domestic workers, adding
that a lot of workers are
unregistered and not
supported by national
labour laws.
Presenting the lead
debate, Abe explained that
at the end of the day, the
Federal Ministry of Labour
and Employment is
expected to provide
documentation and
protection of domestic
workers as well as
employers of domestic
workers in the country.
Abe who noted that over
the years, the country has
experienced an increase in
incidents of assault and
abuse of domestic workers
by their employers or host,
said they border on slave
labour, physical abuse and
sexual abuse.
Abe noted that there was
also an increase in the spate
of complicity of crimes
committed by domestic
workers mostly in
connivance with other
criminal elements of
society against their
employers or host.
democratic choice of the
Nigerian people, saying local
and international observers
had described the elections
as credible.
‘’We will not be distracted
from our vision and we hope
that the opposition will join
us in shaping a better future
for Nigeria, for the benefit not
only of the people of Nigeria
but the region and the
continent,” Mohammed said.
The event is part of the
ongoing visit of the minister
to the United States of
America and the United
Kingdom to meet with the
international media, opinion
moulders and think tanks.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2019—9
AGM: From left—Secretary, Church Administrators Society of Nigeria, CASON, Pastor Ayo
Daniel; President CASON, Pastor Seyi Oladimeji; Guest Speaker and MD, Custodian
Investment Group, Mr. Oluwole Oshin; Vice President CASON, Pastor Steve Akoni; and
Treasurer CASON, Mr. Segun Shelleh, at the 5th Annual General Meeting held in Lagos.
NSITF Board: Labour battles Ngige over
Kokori’s replacement
•I weep for Nigeria —Kokori
By Johnbosco
Agbakwuru
ABUJA—MINISTER of
Labour and
Employment, Senator
Chris Ngige has said that
the replacement of Mr Ovie
Kokori with Austin
Enajemo-Isere as
Chairman of Nigeria Social
Insurance Trust Fund,
NSITF, Board was
approved by President
Muhammadu Buhari.
This came as the Nigeria
Labour Congress, NLC, in
a protest, distrupted the
inauguration of the new
NSITF boss fixed for
yesterday.
The minister also said
that the cancellation of the
inauguration was due to
security breach occasioned
by the alleged siege to the
Conference Room of
theMinister of Labour and
Employment, venue of the
inauguration by alleged
thugs imported by a labour
leader.
The board of the NSITF
was slated for inauguration
yesterday at 11am, but the
exercise could not hold as
the leadership of the
Nigeria Labour Congress,
NLC, led by Ayuba Wabba
mobilised its members to
protest the removal of
Kokori as Chairman of the
board.
However, a one
paragraph statement by
Rhoda Illiya, Head of Press
on behalf of the Minister of
Labour, stated that the
inauguration was put off
due to circumstances
beyond their control.
It reads: “Due to
circumstances beyond our
control, the inauguration of
the Board NSITF billed for
today (yesterday) has been
cancelled. The
Rice processors to FG: Stop smugglers before
farmers.”
they kill our businesses
Vanguard learned
•As Customs, EFCC plan joint action against smugglers
Soni Daniel,
Northern Region
Editor
A Processors BUJA—RICE
in Nigeria
have cried out to the
Federal Government to
take more urgent and
drastic actions to stop
pecuniary-conscious
smugglers from importing
expired and unhealthy rice
into Nigeria all in a bid to
make quick profit.
The rice processors under
the aegis of Rice Processors
Association of Nigeria,
RIPAN, made the call at a
crucial close-door parley
with the acting Chairman
of the Economic and
Financial Crimes
Commission, Ibrahim
Magu, in Abuja.
Vice Chairman of RIPAN,
Pual Eluhaiwe, who led a
five-man delegation to
brainstorm with EFCC top
officials on how to curb the
menace of rice smugglers,
lamented that the evil men
had by their unpatriotic
activities forced them to
shut down their local
production plants or
drastically cut production.
Eluhaiwe pointed out that
their production had
drastically slumped as a
result of smuggling, forcing
their members who used to
produce and sell at least 10
trucks of rice daily to a
paltry two trucks daily.
“In the current situation
in which we have found
ourselves, we have to cut
down on our staff, close part
of our operations and
inconveniences caused by
this cancellation are most
painful and regretted.”
In another statement, the
ministry explained that the
invasion of the
inauguration venue by
suspected thugs allegedly
hired by labour leaders
manhandled some officers
of the ministry and police
officers attached to the office
of the minister.
The statement warned
that government will not
tolerate a situation where
labour leaders challenge or
vitiate the constitutional
powers of the President over
appointments.
I weep for Nigeria
—Kokori
Speaking at the venue of
the botched inauguration,
Chief Kokori said, “Today
(yesterday), I am very
emotional and want to cry.
I want to weep for this
country. I am proud of you,
my comrades. I have done
manage to keep afloat since
the smugglers have
continued to ship in
expired and unhealthy
rice into the country
through land borders
across the country.
“We have come to EFCC
to discuss with them on the
dangers of rice smuggling
into Nigeria via many
routes in the federation. It
has been happening and it
is getting worse that we can
no longer sell our rice since
January this year.
“It has got to a point that
all Nigerians must stand up
to do something about the
uncontrolled smuggling of
rice into the country, a
dangerous trend that is
directly killing the local rice
production plants and
my best for this country.
When nobody raised his or
her voice against the
military, I did.
“I came out against the
military to fight for freedom
and democracy of Nigeria.
I spent four good years in
one of the worst prisons in
the world, in Bama prison
and in solitary confinement.
In 1997, I was declared a
prisoner of war by Pope
John Paul.
The same year, the
Madibba, Nelson Mandela
also declared me a notable
world prisoner of
conscience.
“I stood for this country
and in all my years of
service, there were
temptations to take some of
the biggest bribe.
"I stood my ground for
democracy and 20 years
into the same democracy,
Kokori is being oppressed
by somebody like Ngige.
What is the reason? The
reason is because Frank
Kokori is regarded as a man
of integrity, a man of
honour and a transparent
Nigerian."
however, that the EFCC
and the Nigeria Customs
Service have drawn up a
strategy to counter the rice
smuggling syndicate,
which had carried out its
nefarious operations almost
unchallenged in recent
months across the country’s
porous borders.
Extra-judicial killings: CSOs urge
Buhari to sign police reform bill
By Ikechukwu
Nnochiri
ABUJA—A coalition of
Civil Society
Organisations, CSOs,
yesterday, urged President
Muhammadu Buhari to
urgently assent to the Police
Bill, saying it would reflect
his administration’s
commitment to improving
policing and public security
in Nigeria.
In a joint statement in
Abuja, the group, led by the
Civil Society Legislative
Advocacy Centre, CISLAC,
commended the Senate for
the passage of the Police Act
Amendment Bill, which
they said would help check
the increasing spate of
extra-judicial killings in the
country.
“This is a significant
milestone in the quest to
reform the Nigerian Police
Force in Nigeria. We
commend the Senate for
this development and urge
the House of
Representatives to do same
Osinbajo didn’t ask me to
drop ambition —Ndume
FORMER
Senate
Leader and frontline
aspirant for the office of
Senate President in the 9th
National Assembly, Senator
Ali Ndume, has dismissed
insinuations that he turned
down Vice President Yemi
Osinbajo intervention to
drop his senate presidency
ambition, saying nothing
can be farther than the truth.
Sen. Ndume said his
recent visit to Prof.
Osinbajo centred on his
routine briefing to the vice
president on the
humanitarian issues in the
North East, specifically, the
Internally Displaced
Persons, IDPs, issues and
situation report on the
orphanage which
according to him, was dear
to the vice president.
In a statement in Abuja,
yesterday, Sen. Ndume
faulted reports that he
rebuffed intervention by the
vice president to step down
for the senate majority
leader, Ahmad Lawan.
“It was a misinformation.
The truth is, it is usual for
me to meet with the vice
president to discuss issues
of common interest,
especially the
humanitarian crisis in the
without delay. We also commend
the National Assembly
for passing the Police
Trust Fund Bill.
“We observe with concern
the recent extra-judicial
activities of some operatives
of the Nigeria Police Force,
NPF and other security
agencies across Nigeria
and we are assured that this
Bill will go a long way to
address some of the
challenges in the policing
framework and practice of
the country.
“There has been a
persistent outcry over some
behaviour of some of our
law enforcement
operatives. The recent
killings in Lagos and other
parts of the country are very
fresh in our memories and
we commiserate with
families and friends of the
victims of these incidents.
We must say, however, that
the killings are a stark
reminder of where we are
with efforts to reform
policing in Nigeria."
North East, of which the
vice president has shown
exceptional interest in
helping out.
“I normally go there to
brief him on developments
in the region, especially the
performance of the
orphanage scheme which
he initiated in Borno State
that is accommodating over
1200 orphans – their
education and welfare.
“And then, we also
discussed general issues
that affect the country as
well as the way forward on
the humanitarian crisis
especially the Internally
Displaced Persons, IDPs,
and not just in Borno State
but also IDPs situations all
over the country.”
Ndume said he has a soft
spot for the vice president
and that apart from his
closeness to the number
two citizen, he also has a
personal relationship with
President Muhammadu
Buhari and holds both in
highest esteem.
According to him, the
insinuation that he was
working against the
presidency’s interest was
incorrect. “I think it is a spin
from a well-known
quarters.
Air Force sets up panel of inquiry to investigate
alleged killing of civilians
By Kingsley
Omonobi
A
B U J A —
FOLLOWING the
insistence by Zamfara State
Emirs and council of elders
that Nigerian Air Force
aircraft attacked and killed
innocent civilians rather
than armed bandits in some
of its raid in the state, the
Chief of Air Staff, Air
Marshal Sadique
Abubakar, has ordered a
high-powered panel of
inquiry to investigate the
veracity or otherwise, of the
claim.
According to the Director
of Air Force Public
Relations, Air Commodore
Ibikunle Daramola, the
panel, which will be
headed by an Air Vice
Marshal (2-Star General),
will work with the Zamfara
State Government as well
as the Zamfara State
Council of Chiefs and other
stakeholders.
He said: “The panel will
start its investigation from
Katsina, the headquarters
of Operation Diran Mikiya,
before proceeding to
Gusau and other relevant
locations in Zamfara State."

10 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2019
ITA-FAAJI BUILDING COLLAPSE:
Panel discovers 283 distressed
buildings across Lagos
By Olasunkanmi
Akoni & Monsuru
Olowoopejo
LAGOS—A month after
a building collapsed
on 63 Massey Street in
Ita-Faaji, Lagos Island,
the State Government
has disclosed that 283
distressed buildings
have been detected
across the state.
Commissioner for
Physical Planning and
Urban Development,
Rotimi Ogunleye
disclosed the statistics
during a symbolic
submission of report by
the panel set up to
investigate the
immediate and remote
cause(s) of the
collapsed building on
Massey Street where 20
persons including
pupils of Ohen Nursery
and Primary School died
with a view of preventing
future occurrence.
The commissioner,
while giving details of
the discovered distressed
buildings, said that 136
buildings were identified
as distressed in Lagos
Island division alone,
while 60 weak structures
were detected in Ikeja
division.
Ogunleye added that
during the enumeration
carried out by Lagos
State Building Control
Agency, LASBCA, 33
distressed buildings
were uncovered in
Badagry division while
29 of such were
discovered in Ikorodu
division and 25 weak
buildings in Epe
division.
The commissioner,
however, urged owners
of such buildings to
urgently come for the
demolition approval
before their structures
cave in.
Panel chairman
discloses fresh
revelations
While submitting the
report, the Committee
Chairman, Wasiu
Olokuonla disclosed that
the investigated building
had more storey than the
number publicly
specified.
He said: “Contrary to
the reports in the media,
the collapsed building on
Ita-Faaji was not three or
two-storey, the building
was a five-storey
structure.”
Olokunola, who
refused to disclose the
committee’s findings and
recommendations
publicly, added forensic
evidences were also
carried out in the course
of the investigations into
the cause of the tragedy.
We’ve provided adequate
security for Easter in Lagos
— Police Chief
By Esther
Onyegbula
L AGOS—THE
Commissioner of
Police in Lagos State,
Mr. Zubairu Muazu,
yesterday, assured the
people in the State of
adequate security
during the Easter
holidays.
Muazu gave the
assurance while briefing
newsmen on the
Command’s activities at
the headquarters.
He said that all the
units, area commands
and divisions were all on
red alert.
He said: “Our
deployments are
targeted towards
combating traffic
robbery and easing the
free flow of traffic across
the State. Our tactical
units are repositioned for
intelligence driven
approach to tackling the
menace of kidnapping,
armed robbery, cultism
and gangsterism.
“Our Rapid Response
Squad equipped with
the state of the art
facilities is more than
ever ready to promptly
and effectively respond
to distress calls/
emergencies in any part
of the state.''
Oshodi - Apapa Exp Way: Truck drivers
attribute demurrage, extortion to gridlock
By Evelyn Usman
L AGOS—THE
perennial gridlock
along the Oshodi-Apapa
expressway, Lagos, seems
to have put all relevant
government agencies at
their wits end, as the traffic
has stretched from Mile 2
to Isolo.
This has further
heightened the already
harrowing ordeals of other
motorists plying the ever
busy expressway, as they
are left at the mercy of
hoodlums who attack them
both day and at night.
Vanguard’s investigation
revealed that the take over
of the route is a subtle
protest by truck drivers over
the huge demurrage
collected by shipping
companies.
A driver, who gave his
name as Gboyega, old
Vanguard that shipping
companies charge between
N24,000 and N45,000 daily
as demurrage on empty
containers.
In order to beat the
stipulated days of return of
empty containers, truck
drivers, according to him,
now deploy every available
device.
This includes paying
officials of the Joint Task
Force and street urchins to
get to the port.
He said: “Before leaving
the port, a huge amount of
money is paid as deposit,
with a stipulated day given
to return the empty
container, failure of which
deduction will be made
from source.”
He, however, lamented
that members of the task
force and street urchins
were extorting them
beyond their limit.
The driver said: “People
put the blame at our door
step as if we are not
Nigerians. But they fail to
realise what we go
through. Every truck you
see moving during the day
time pays between N15,000
and N25,000 to the Task
Force, while those of us you
see on the queue, were
unable to pay.
"Initially, they (Task
Force) said we should park
on the expressway, leaving
the service lane for other
motorists. But at the
moment, that has changed.
You only see trucks on the
major expressway at night.
But you can only park there
after paying between
N3,000 and N5000,
depending on your
bargaining power.
"Atimes, companies pay
as much as N150,000 and
N250,000 for their trucks to
enter into the port to load,
while those of us who hire
trucks, watch and wait
patiently for one week or
more before it gets to our
turn.
“When the Task Force was
launched, it issued an
ultimatum to all trucks to
vacate bridges. But when
you come here at night, from
this Berger Yard (pointing
•Gridlock stretches from Mile 2 to Isolo
•As campaign to scrap Task force begins
•We've tackled gridlock in some areas -— Chairman, Taskforce
PROMO: From left; Head, Brand Management, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc.
Lashe Osoba; Officer, Lagos Lottery Board, Nike Oyebamiji; Head Lagos Office,
Consumer Protection Council, (CPC) Susie Onwuka; Executive Director, UBA Plc,
Liadi Ayoku; Head, FMCG, UBA Plc, Isiuwe Chike; and Mass Retail/Agent Banking
Manager, UBA Plc, Bolajoko Agunlejika at the 2nd Quarterly Draw of UBA Wise
Savers Promo where 20 Savings Account Holders won N1.5m each in Lagos yesterday.
to the bus-stop) to Berger
Suya, you will find trucks
parked even at the foot of
the bridge at night. This is
because the drivers have
paid for the space.
“It is better for
government to scrap the
Task Force, rather than
compounding our
problem.”
Motorists lament
Meanwhile, yesterday,
some motorists trapped in
traffic described their
experience as harrowing.
As if the gridlock was not
enough, some motorist said
they were robbed in broad
day light by hoodlums.
A motorist, who fell victim,
Mr Chukwudi Ndibe, said:
“I was attacked by four
hoodlums at Alaba bus-stop
inward Apapa when I
wound down my glass to
receive fresh air because I
had limited fuel. While one
of them snatched my
phone from the dash board,
the other punched my face
and took my laptop. They
ran under the trucks and
escaped.”
Our efforts at tackling
gridlock — Ex-Task Force
boss
The immediate past
Chairman of the Joint Task
Force, set up by the Federal
Government to proffer
immediate solution to traffic
situation in the state, Rear
Admiral Okon Eyo said
that the Task Force had put
in significant efforts to
address the situation.
He said that success was
achieved in some areas,
even as he blamed the
Oshodi/Apapa gridlock on
some bad portions, among
other issues.
Briefing journalists at a
farewell ceremony to mark
his exit as the Commander,
Nigerian Navy Ship
Beecroft Rear Admiral Eyo
said: “The worst critic will
not say that the traffic
situation is worse than the
way we met it. To some
extent, we have recorded
some progress.”
Highlighting the causes
of the gridlock on Oshodi/
Apapa expressway, Eyo
said: “First, the port is over
bond. It is being committed
to the volume of activities it
was not designed for.
Beyond that, we have the
infrastructure issues. The
roads are bad, the rails are
epileptic among several
other issues.
“We also have problems
with processes. That is, the
sequence of doing things
within the ports. As you all
know, a lot of facilities there
have been concessioned.
But these businesses are
supposed to be conducted
within the frame work and
terms of condition of the list.
But more often than not,
these terms are observed in
the bridge.
"The terminal operators,
the shipping agencies
have seriously abdicated
their responsibilities, they
were expected to have
holding bays where
importers that have
finished with their
containers and need to
deliver them empty,
should go to the holding
bays and drop them
there, from where the
shipping agencies will
organize in an orderly
manner to evacuate those
containers to their ships
through the port. But this
is not done.
Challenging
factor
''Then, as if that was not
enough, they slam huge
demurrage and I tell you,
the single most challenging
factor in managing the
gridlock is the demurrage.
''The demurrage is
operated in a way that
when you take your
goods out and you are
stuck, they give you a
few days of grace , once that
grace period is over, you
start paying some money
and they don’t come
looking for you to pay this
money. They collect huge
deposit before you exit the
port. What they do is to just
keep deducting this money
until most times, they just
exhaust the money , while
the person has not even
approached the port.
“Those truck drivers you
see here are chasing the
port in order to go and
terminate the demurrage.
When they get to the port
after this problem they
have gone through, the
persons who admits them
into the port are the ones
collecting the money.
"In the first place, they
don’t even have any
incentive to open the gate
for you and then in keeping
you outside, they make
more money. I feel those
kind of charges are not
justified. We need to remove
that scourge of
demurrage.“
Blame govt — President,
Association of Maritime
Truck Owners
On his part, the
President, Association of
Maritime Truck Owners,
Chief Emmanuel Aderemi,
said government should be
blamed for failure to provide
a parking bay for trucks.
He said: “Presently, there
is no place that serves as
truck terminal. If
government can create a
place that will serve as truck
terminal, I tell you this
problem will become a
thing of the past.''
“There must also be what
we call automation. By that
I mean inform each truck,
when it is its turn to come.
But the present situation
where trucks are coming
from all parts of the country
without a parking bay, is
serious.''

Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2019 — 11
MEETING: From left: Governor Gboyega Oyetola of Osun State; Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; Osun
APC Secretary, Rasak Salinsile; Chief of Staff to the Gov, Dr Charles Akinola; Representative of Commander,
Engineering Construction Command, Ede, Captain H.B Danfillo, Commander 209 Quick Response Group,
NAF, Ipetu-Ijesa, Wing Comm Kehinde Akinyosade and Osun State Commissioner of Police, Mrs Abiodun Ige,
during the security sensitisation programme for security Stakeholders, at Atlantis Event Centre, Osogbo, yesterday.
STATE OF THE NATION: Nigeria's economy
bleeding, Aare Adams tells Buhari
•Let’s put elections behind us, focus on governance — Fayemi, Kalu
By Dapo Akinrefon
& Patrick Azamosa
LAGOS—THE Aare
Onakakanfo of
Yorubaland, Iba Gani
Adams, yesterday, urged
the Federal Government to
work on policy
programmes that can
alleviate the suffering of
Nigerians at the grassroots.
Adams, who was a guest
at the 2nd annual Public
Lecture of Freedom Online,
in Ikeja, Lagos, said from
all indications, the present
situation in the country
shows that majority of
Nigerians are suffering,
with little or no hope.
While reacting to issues
raised by the Special
Assistant to the President
on Media and Publicity,
Femi Adesina, on the state
of the Nigerian economy,
Adams, who eulogised the
efforts of the publishers of
the online platform, Apostle
Gabriel Akinadewo, said
the platform presents a
better opportunity for him
to tell the president,
through his spokesman,
that he needs to concentrate
on programmes that have
direct impact on the lives
of the people of the
grassroots.
He said: “My brother,
Mr. Femi Adesina has
raised some issues on the
state of the nation, he is
doing his job. However, I
want you to tell the
President that Nigeria is
bleeding. From my
experience so far, I think
President Buhari needs to
attend to some critical
issues that need urgent
attention. Let me use my
personal experience to
buttress my point. I spend
over N13,000 daily on
diesel to fuel my
generating set.
“And that is the situation
across the country. That
shows the power sector is
not working. Another area
that the president needs to
work on is the agricultural
sector. The facts and
figures show that we still
have a long way to go if
Nigeria is to be ranked
among the most vibrant
countries in the world.
From all indices, it is no
doubt that our economy
needs total overhauling.
Though, we have exited
recession as claimed by Mr.
Adesina, efforts should also
be made to revamp the
economy.”
Another guest speaker,
Governor Kayode Fayemi
of Ekiti State, who was
represented by Prof. Akin
Oyebode, spoke on the
topic: Fixing the Economy:
Less politics, more
substance, said Nigeria has
the potential to be among
the most prosperous
nations in the world if right
things were done.
He said: “For Nigeria to
achieve its potentials, our
economy must be
competitive, we must have
a critical policy framework
that can give foreign
investors confidence to
make Nigeria a global
investment market. We
need to develop a lasting
social investment in all
sectors, including, power,
education, agriculture and
trade. We need a
knowledge economy that
can truly translate to what
is obtainable in the
developed world.”
A former governor of Abia
State, Dr Orji Kalu advised
political leaders in the
country to put the issues of
the 2019 elections behind
them and focus on the real
issue of governance.
Kalu said: “I want to
advise our political leaders
that elections are gone, we
should now think about
governance.
“Nigerian politicians
have forgotten about
governance and are still
talking about politics after
the elections. Some people
are already talking about
2023 even when they have
not done anything about
the mandate they got in the
last election.
“There is time for
everything. There is time
for politics and there is time
for governance. This is the
time for governance and
that is what we should
focus on as political leaders
across parties.”
Also speaking, a former
governor of Ogun State,
Otunba Gbenga Daniel
said there was the need for
the country to adopt the
idea of restructuring for
progress.
He said:”The only way
for the system to work is
for us to restructure.
With restructuring, most
of our challenges would
be gone.”
ALLEGED FRAUD: Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia re-arraigned, gets
N10m bail
By Onozure Dania
L Economic
AGOS—THE
and
Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC,
yesterday, re-arraigned
Justice Rita Ofili-
Ajumogobia before a
federal High court, sitting
in Lagos, over alleged
money laundering.
Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia,
was docked before Justice
Rilwan Aikawa, with a
former EFCC prosecutor
Godwin Obla SAN, on 18
count charge of money
laundering and conspiracy
preferred against them.
EFCC through its lawyer
Rotimi Oyedepo alleged
that the embattled jurist
and Obla conspired to
indirectly conceal, procure
and retain the sum
ofN18million, $170,000 in
Diamond Bank account no,
0032091183.
The anti-graft agency
said thatthe defendants
ought to have known that
monies form part of
proceeds of unlawful
activities and its
punishable under section
15(3) money laundering
prohibition Act, 2011.
However Justice Ofili-
Ajumogobia pleaded not
guilty to the charge.
She was granted bail in
the sum of N10 million with
one surety in like sum.
Aikawa ordered that the
surety must have a landed
property in Lagos and must
also not be below grade
level 16 in the Federal or
State Civil Service.
The Judge, also held that
Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia
should deposit her
international passport with
the Deputy Chief Registrar,
DCR, of the court on/or
before 6pm of yesterday
(Thursday) adding that the
DCR should make himself
available to receive same.
According to the judge,
Ofili-Ajumogobia has 10
days to fulfill the bail
conditions or have the bail
revoked.
The embattled former
judge is believed, because
of the Easter Holidays, will
be released to her lead
counsel, Wale Akoni, SAN,
yesterday (Thursday),
should she fulfill the bail
conditions.
Ruling on the second
defendant, Godwin Obla,
who was not present in
court, the judge made an
Order for the Issuance of
Summons compelling him
to appear before the court
on May 15, 2019, for the
purpose of the trial.
Consequently, the
court adjourned the
matter till May 15.
We’ll not tolerate impeachment
of Speakers in our region
— S’WEST LAWMAKERS
By Ola Ajayi
I Chairman, BADAN—THE
Speakers
Conference in Nigeria and
the Speaker of the Lagos
State House of Assembly,
Mudashiru Obasa,
yesterday, vowed that with
the validation of
harmonised standing
orders for lawmakers in the
South West zone, the era of
illegality when speakers of
legislative arm are removed
by minority through
governors will no longer be
possible.
He said this at a meeting
of adoption of the rules
entitled Validation and
adoption of harmonised
standing orders for
Southwest Houses of
Assembly which held in
Ibadan.
The conference, originally
initiated by Development
Agenda for South West of
Nigeria, DAWN, some years
ago had in attendance
Speakers, deputy Speakers,
Clerks, majority leaders,
chief whips and Directors of
Legal Services where the
legislators had
opportunities to brainstorm
on how to move the zone
forward.
The Houses of Assembly
in the six states of the
southwest region; Lagos,
Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti
and Ondo states
UNICEF launches campaign to
support vaccines
By Chioma Obinna
LAGOS—WITH only
57.2 percent
immunization coverage in
Nigeria, the United Nations
Children’s Fund, UNICEF,
will next week launch a
new global campaign to
emphasise the power and
safety of vaccines among
parents and wider social
media users.
The campaign will run
harmonized and adopted
reports to have a common
standing order and house
rules to checkmate
indiscriminate
impeachment of speakers,
house leaders as well as
curb unwholesome
activities in the legislative
arm.
Obasa said: “This is
beyond politics alone but a
way to develop our
democracy in the South
West. Having same rules in
the state Houses of
Assembly in the region will
beautify our democracy
because there can’t be
democracy without
parliament.
“It will also remove the
acrimony that we are
witnessing in the past
where few people try to
remove the Speaker or
change the system in the
parliament. Once we have
conformity in our rules,
nobody can do something
otherwise and get away
with it.
''It will also checkmate
the excess of the
executive in influencing
the leadership of the
houses of Assembly
without conforming with
the provisions of the law
because there is no way
you try to change the rule
of the house without
considering the effect of
such on other House.”
Olowo’s passage a huge loss
— AKEREDOLU
By Dayo Johnson
A the KURE—AS
traditional
burial rites of the late
Olowo of Owo, Oba Victor
Folagbade Olateru-
Olagbegi commenced in
the ancient town, the Ondo
State government has
described his demise as a
huge loss.
Governor Rotimi
Akeredolu, in a statement
in Akure, said: “The
sunshine state has lost one
of its most cerebral royal
fathers who combined
deep intellectual capacity
with admirable traditional
flamboyance.
Oba Folagbade Olateru-
Olagbegi III died at the age
of 77.
Vanguard gathered that
the trees, within the
traditional market, have
been cut off as part of the
alongside World
Immunization Week from
24 to 30 April to spread the
message that together
communities, including
parents, can protect
everyone through vaccines.
In a statement by the
UNICEF, the Chief of
Immunization, Robin
Nandy said: “We want the
awareness that
#VaccinesWork to go viral.
Vaccines are safe, and they
save lives.''
....As burial rites
commences
traditional rites for the late
monarch.
Speaking with newsmen,
the Personal Assistant to
the monarch, High Chief
Niran Osuporu said that the
monarch died Tuesday
night after a brief illness.
Osuporu confirmed that
his traditional burial rites
had commenced according
to the customs and tradition
of the ancient town.
He said: “There was no
restriction on movement as
all processes were
peaceful.”
Osuporu said that the
Oba’s market had been
moved to another location
within the town to signal
the passage of the monarch.
As a mark of mourning,
he said all the chiefs in the
ancient town were
forbidden to put on their
beads.
Also speaking, a younger
brother to the late
traditional ruler, Prince
Shina Olateru-Olagbegi
described the death of the
king as shocking.
Ondo govt mourns
Meanwhile, the
governor, in a statement by
his Information
Commissioner, Yemi
Olowolabi said: “The late
Olowo was a devout
Christian whose reign
ignited a remarkable
revival of Pentecostal
evangelism in the
legendary palace of
Olowo of Owo.

12—Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2019
We’ll partner USAID for increased
wealth creation —Otuaro
By Etop Ekanem
ACTING Governor of
Delta State, Kingsley
Otuaro, has said the state
government will leverage
on agricultural
programmes of United
States Agency for
International Development,
USAID, for increased
wealth creation in the state.
Otuaro stated this while
playing host to Chief of
Party of USAID, Dr Adam
Saffer, and his team, who
visited the state to market
the ‘Feed the Future
Nigeria Agribusiness
Investment, FFNAI.
Delta State is listed
among seven focal states.
The others are Benue,
Cross River, Ebonyi,
Kaduna, Kebbi and Niger.
“As a government, we
assumed office with a
strong promise of
prosperity for all Deltans.
We could only deliver on
the promise by the
economic diversification we
embarked upon. What you
have on your hands for us
fits into our policy thrust
and so we will easily
leverage on it to create more
wealth in the Agricultural
sector of our agenda,”
Otuaro said.
Otuaro also noted that
the state government took
proactive steps and had
already created wealth and
jobs for thousands of
persons through skills
acquisition programmes,
the small and medium
micro credit loans scheme
and empowerment of those
living below the poverty
line.
NAIG tasks FG, oil coys on
Itsekiri host communities
UMBRELLA body of
graduates of Itsekiri
extraction across the world,
the National Association of
Itsekiri Graduates, NAIG
has accused the Federal
Government of aiding what
it termed, oppression of
Itsekiri host communities
and the Niger Delta people,
by oil companies.
National President of
NAIG, Comrade Collins
Oritsetimeyin Edema,
made the accusation on
behalf of aggrieved
graduates of Itsekiri
extraction in a statement
yesterday.
The statement said: “The
Federal Government is
always quick to deploy
military men to harass and
intimidate the locals
whenever they make
legitimate agitations and
the actions affect the
implementation of
Nigerian Content Act in
terms of job recruitment and
award of contracts.
“The NNPC/Chevron
Joint Venture is hiding
under the guise of equal
opportunities to flout the
Local Content Act, averred
that the multinational oil
and gas companies are
deliberately making Itsekiri
best brains unproductive.”
Alleged intimidation: Nobody's
above the law, Edo govt tells PDP
By Gabriel
Enogholase &
Alemma Aliu
BENIN—THE
Edo
State government has
reacted to the allegation by
the Peoples Democratic
Party, PDP, that it was
victimising its members,
insisting that nobody was
above the law.
In a statement in Benin
yesterday, the Special
Adviser to the Edo State
Governor on Media and
Communication Strategy,
Mr. Crusoe Osagie, said the
allegation of victimisation
on the grounds of defection
was baseless.
He said: “We have read
with surprise that the
opposition party said a
chieftain of their party, Mr.
Osamede Adun also
known as Bob Izua is being
victimised by the state
government.
“What they failed to say
is whether the said
member’s actions violated
rules and regulations on
physical planning and
development in the state,
for which he is being
sanctioned."
Conviction: Ibori takes UK to European
Court of Human Rights
By Esther
Onyegbula
LAGOS—A
former
governor of Delta State,
Chief James Ibori has taken
the United Kingdom to the
European Court of Human
Rights in Strasbourg,
France, with the aim of
quashing his conviction by
a London court.
According to the
attestation papers, the suit
was instituted on April 16,
2019.
The theme of Ibori’s
appeal according to the
papers filed by his counsel
is that Britain disobeyed its
own laws in a rush to get
him convicted.
His counsel said:”This
application concerns an
unusual provision of
United Kingdom law: s17
of the Regulation of
Investigatory Powers Act
2000 ,RIPA.
“ It prohibits any
reference, in any
proceedings, to an
intercepted communication
or its contents like an
intercepted phone call in
circumstances in which its
origin as an intercepted
communication is disclosed
or could be inferred.
The United Kingdom is
virtually unique in having
such a provision:
i n t e r c e p t e d
communications are used
routinely as evidence in
court proceedings
throughout Europe and the
rest of the world.’’
In addition, Ibori’s
counsel alleged that the
operation of s17 of RIPA, as
applied in the highly
unusual circumstances of
his case, resulted in a
violation of Ibori’s rights
pursuant to Article 6 of
ECHR.
The counsel added that
Britain’s failure to obey its
own laws has rendered
... inaugurates bipartisan c'ttee on 2nd
term inauguration
every other thing that
followed, including Ibori’s
guilty plea later, defective.
In the appeal papers filed
at the European Court of
Human Rights, his counsel
said, Ibori had pleaded
guilty to criminal offences
but subsequently applied
for permission to appeal his
convictions in light of the
disclosure of new material.
“ It was a highly unusual
note because it provided
information which could
easily identify the source of
the new material on which
the Applicant’s appeal was
based. However, in a
reverse twist, such
disclosure is prohibited in
all court proceedings by s17
of RIPA.
“In response to the Wass
Note, and in an effort to
attempt to comply with s17
of RIPA for the remainder
of the hearing, the Court of
Appeal imposed ‘Ground
Rules’ on the parties. This
Wike suspends 12 LG chairmen
Governor Nyesom Wike
has suspended 12 local
government council
chairmen.
The suspension of the
council chairmen was with
immediate effect.
Wike also notified the
state House of Assembly of
the suspension of the
development.
Wike in a letter to the
Speaker of the House
entitled: “Notice of
Suspension of the
Chairmen of Twelve Local
Government Concil
Chairmen, premised his
action on Section 64 (3) of
the Rivers State Local
Government Law No. 5 of
2018
The letter reads: “I hereby
Serve you notice of the
suspension of the following
Local Government Council
Chairmen for security
reasons for approval and
ratification”.
The suspended Council
Chairmen are that of
Okrika, Emohua, Abua/
Odual, Degema, Khana,
Gokana, Ahoada East,
Ikwerre, Eleme, Andoni,
Omuma and Ogu/Bolo
Local Government Areas of
the state.
The affected people were
suspended for failure to
participate in a state official
function.
By Samuel
Oyadongha
Y ENAGOA—Bayelsa
State Government
yesterday declared a
balance receipt of N3.7
billion as at April ending
2019.
State Deputy Governor,
Rear Admiral Gboribiogha
Jonah (retd), disclosed this
while presenting the
income and expenditure
...inaugurates
bipartisan c'ttee on
2nd term
inauguration
Rivers State Governor,
Nyesom Wike has
inaugurated a multi-party
committee on
thanksgiving, four-year
anniversary and second
term inauguration.
Inaugurating the
committee at the
VISIT: Acting
Governor of Delta
State, Kingsley Otuaro
(left); Dr Adam Saffer,
Chief of Party, USAID,
on 'Feed the Future
Nigeria Agribusiness
Investment'; and Mr
James Ebuetse, Head,
Agricultural Policy
Team, during a
courtesy call by
USAID team to the
acting governor, at
Government House,
Asaba, Delta State.
limited what the
Applicant’s counsel could
refer to in his submissions.
“The applicant submitted
to the Court of Appeal and
submits in this application
that s17 of RIPA, combined
with the ‘Ground Rules’,
prevented him from
properly developing his
submissions before the
Court of Appeal. As a result,
his appeal hearing was
unfair.
“The above is the crux of
the matter. It is the major
plank on which Ibori’s case
rests. Ibori appealed to the
EU Court of Appeal
because a London Appeal
Court refused to interrogate
this submission and
actually ruled that the issue
of what is now known as
“the Wass Note” was a nogo
area. This made Ibori
appeal to the European
Court of Human Rights
because Britain denied
him his rights to fair trial
which is recognised
everywhere in the free
world.’’
Bayelsa posts N3.7bn after deductions for April
profile of the state for the
month of March 2019 in
Yenagoa.
Jonah, who gave a
breakdown of the figures,
said the state received
N13.2 billion as gross
inflow from the Federation
Accounts Allocation
Committee, FAAC.
He explained that the
gross inflow includes
statutory allocation of
Government House, Port
Harcourt yesterday,
Governor Wike said he
involved different political
parties and professional
groups in the committee for
the development of the
state.
He said: “We took
cognisance of various
groups in constituting this
committee. We are no
longer talking about
parties. We are talking about
the development of Rivers
State."
N2.6bn; derivation, N8.4
billion; foreign exchange
equalisation, N1.3 billion;
and refund from other
states, N57.5 million.
The Deputy Governor
added that the first line
deductions from FAAC
stood at N1.5 billion
comprising bond deduction
of N421.5 million and
foreign loans to states N33.3
million.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 19 , 2019 — 13
FG to train agro-rangers to protect farmers,
investment — Interior Minister
•As NSCDC trains 4, 395 on arms handling in Nasarawa
By Bashir Bello &
David Odama
K ATSINA—FEDERAL
government yesterday
said it would soon start
training of Agro-rangers in
efforts to provide adequate
security for farmers,
investors and improve
agricultural investment in
the country.
This came as the
Nasarawa State command
of the Nigeria Security and
Civil Defense Corps,
NSCDC, trained no fewer
than 4, 395 of its officers
in arms handling,
obstacles crossing, range
classification, counter
terrorism and Improvise
Explosives Device, IED.
On training of agrorangers,
Minister of
Interior, Lt. Gen.
Abdulrahman Dambazau,
disclosed this during a visit
to Governor Aminu Bello
Masari in Katsina, while on
inspection of ongoing
federal government
projects in the state.
Some of the projects
include the Civil Defence
Academy, to house the
agro-rangers and the
Nigerian Prison Service
new site in the state.
Danbazau said”we are
here to carry out inspection
of two ongoing projects -
first, Prison transformation,
that has to do with our effort
towards rehabilitation and
reformation of Nigerian
Prison Service. We have
been making efforts to carry
out complete and wholistic
reforms that will do away
with prison overcrowding
and also upgrade the
facilities to meet the
minimum United Nations
standards of the treatment
and rehabilitation of
inmates in our prisons.
“The intention is at the
end of it to be able to have
space for 2,500 inmates. But
so far, we have been able
to complete space for about
500 inmates. So we want to
see the progress and also
with the possibility of
relieving the old prison so
that some of the prisoners
can be transferred to the site
we have completed.
NURTW flags off N2bn vehicle scheme for
members
By Peter Duru
M NATIONAL AKURDI—
Union
of Road Transport Workers,
NURTW, Benue State
branch has flagged off a
N2billion scheme for the
provision of commercial
buses and trucks for
members of the Union.
The scheme being
undertaken by the branch
in collaboration with A-
Gold Ventures, Tagged
‘NURTW Easy Bus
Scheme’ would enable
members of the Union
acquire commercial
vehicles at low prices and
payments made on flexible
terms.
Flagging off the scheme
in Makurdi with three new
buses, the Principal
Assistant National
Secretary of the Union,
Buga Abuul who lauded
the initiative, urged the 41
branches in the state to key
into the programme to better
the lot of its members.
On his part, the State
Chairman of the Union,
Jerome Ukor explained that
the scheme came into being
after two years of critical
study of a proposal by A-
Gold ventures, saying “A
three man committee was
set up in 2017 to critically
look at the proposal and make
appropriate recommendations for
necessary action and after series
of meeting and consultations our
41 local branches found the
scheme laudable.”
The Executive Director of A-
Gold ventures, Mr. Adeyeye
Akanni, said aside availing
members of the Union new
vehicles, the partnership would
“The second, is that we
have the Civil Defence
Academy which we have
decided to locate here in
Katsina. We are using the
academy to train the new
outfit called Agro-Rangers.
We formed the outfit out of
Civil Defence because the
statutory responsibility of
Civil defence is to protect
strategic assets and critical
infrastructure. And we
considered Agricultural
investment as strategic
assets of this country.
Nobody wouldwant to
invest his wealth where
there is no security. So with
our experience of
kidnapping,herders,
farmers conflicts etc, we
thought we must have this
outfit so that we do not
overstretch the Nigerian
police and military.
LAUNCH:From left, Gbenga Fashola, Project Consultant, Terminal 3 Restaurant; Tosin Adefeko,
Managing Partner, AT3 Resources Limited; Bunmi Ajisafe, Chief Executive Officer, Terminal 3 Restaurant
and Lekan Ajisafe, Director, Terminal 3 Restaurant at the press briefing to announce the launch of
Terminal 3 Restaurant & Lounge at Ogudu, Lagos yesterday.
involve the transformation and
modernization of motor-parks in
the state.
Representative of Sterling
Bank, Mr. Akin Abimbola said,
“we are partners in this scheme
because it is laudable and offers
members of the Union the
opportunity to own personal
commercial vehicles and on our
part we have earmarked over
N2billion to finance the scheme
in the state.”
Gov Bello's second term will fasttrack
devt — Aide
By Boluwaji
Obahopo
L declaration
OKOJA—THE
of
Governor Yahaya Bello of
Kogi State to contest for
second term in office as
governor is aimed at fast
tracking development in
the state.
The Director General,
Government House
Administration, Shuaibu
Oricha who spoke
yesterday in Lokoja, said
the governor’s decision was
in line with the demands
of Kogites who had been
yearning to re-elect him in
the November 2, guber
election.
Dr. Oricha said the
governor had matched his
words with action
especially in the area of
civil service reform in the
state amidst other
achievements.
“The coming of Governor
Yahaya Bello to Lugard
House was a divine one as,
since the creation of the state,
the relative peace enjoyed in
checkmating the activities of
criminal is a clear indication will
earn him second term in office.
The administration of Governor
Yahaya Bello worked tirelessly
to win the Presidential, National
Assembly, House of Reps and
State House of Assembly
elections; which is the first of its
kind in the history of the state.”
APC, APP, MRDD challenge
PDP victory in Adamawa
By Umar Yusuf
Y OLA—ELECTION
petition Tribunal
siting in Yola in
Adamawa, has received
three Petitions
challenging the victory
of Peoples Democratic
Party, PDP, governorelect
Ahmadu Fintiri.
The Secretary of the
tribunal, Mr Godwin
Ezenwa, made this
known, yesterday in
Yola.
Ezenwa said All
Progressives Congress
(APC), Action People’s
Party (APP) and
Movement for the
Restoration and Defence
of Democracy (MRDD)
had filed petitions
challenging the victory
of PDP governorship
candidate in the March
23rd governorship
election.
Ezenwa explained that
with the three petitions
that beat the dateline, the
tribunal now has 22
petitions.
He said the petitions
comprised three for
Governorship, two for
Senator, seven for House
of Representatives and
10 for House of
Assembly.
Kwara appoints Bologi new
Etsu of Patigi
By Demola
Akinyemi
G OVERNOR—
ABDULFATAH
Ahmed of Kwara state
has approved the
appointment of Umar
Ibrahim Bologi as the
new Etsu of Patigi in the
Patigi Local Government
Area, LGA, of Kwara
State.
The appointment was
contained in a letter
signed by Alhaji Saidu
Habeeb, the state
Commissioner for Local
Government, Chieftaincy
Affairs and Community
Development and
addressed to the new
monarch.
The letter read: “I am
directed to inform Your
Highness that His
Excellency, the
Executive Governor of
Kwara State, Alhaji
Abdulfatah Ahmed in
exercise of the powers
conferred on him by
Section 3 and 5 of Chief
(Appointment and
Deposition) Law Cap 9 –
Law of Kwara State has
approved your
Appointment/Grading as
1st Class Chief with
effect from April 16,
2019.
“It is expected that the
appointment would
enhance your
performance in the
discharge of your Royal
responsibilities with
greater commitment,
loyalty and dedication.
“ Please accept my
hearty congratulations
while wishing you a
peaceful and successful
reign in your domain.”
Separate LG pension from
others — NULGE
By David Odama
LAFIA— FOLLOWING
the protracted hardship
ravaging the pensioners in
Nasarawa State, the
chapter of Nigerian Union
of local government
employees , NULGE, has
appealed to the incoming
administration to establish
a local government
pension bureau to end
the crisis.
State President of
NULGE, Abdullahi
Abubakar, while speaking
in Lafia, argued that the
establishment of the bureau
would ease the payment
of pensioners and retirees
and check fraudulent
activities in the system.
According to him,
NULGE would work with
the
incoming
administration to resolve
the backlog of salaries as a
result of percentage
payment that accumulated
from 2015 to 2018, saying
“We will seat with the
governor elect after
inauguration to see how
we can come up with a
workable solution to upset
the salary arrears without
any problem.

14 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2019
By Our Reporters
A
B U J A —
PRESIDENT
Muhammadu Buhari,
yesterday, lamented the
unfortunate killings,
kidnapping and violence,
which have characterised
the recent tragic incidents
in some states of the
federation saying “This
should not be.”
In his Easter message to
Nigerians, President
Buhari called for cordiality
and togetherness among
the citizens.
The message reads: “We
must reinforce the bond of
brotherhood and good
neighbourliness that
citizens of a cohesive
country must share. We
must not allow the few bad
elements in our
communities to put
asunder in our communal
tendencies and chords of
unity.
“I rejoice with all
Nigerians, especially our
Christian brethren on the
glorious occasion of the
celebration of Easter 2019.
“Easter is the most
important feast in the
Christian calendar and
represents God’s
redemptive mission over
humanity, the triumph of
light over darkness, hope
over despair and good over
evil.
“The Christian festival
commemorating the
resurrection of Jesus Christ
:Vanguard News :@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058
is also a time to emulate the
virtues of love, sacrifice,
forgiveness, humility,
courage and endurance,
which Christ embodied
and remarkably
demonstrated during His
earthly ministry.
“Let us use this
auspicious season to show
love to our neighbours, and
cater to the needs of the
less-privileged in our
midst.
“Our nation is currently
gripped with gloom over
unfortunate killings,
kidnappings and violence,
as seen in the recent tragic
incidents in some states of
the federation.
“This should not be. We
must reinforce the bond of
brotherhood and good
neighbourliness that
citizens of a cohesive
country must share. We
must not allow the few bad
elements in our
communities to put asunder
in our communal
tendencies and chords of
unity.
“I know from my regular
interactions with security
chiefs, state governors,
victims and members of
communities caught up in
the unfortunate cycle of
violence, that Nigerians are
united against the evil
minority.
“This administration will
do all it takes to adequately
equip and motivate our
armed forces and other law
enforcement agencies to
EASTER: Buhari laments killings
•Wants Nigerians to show love, reject bad elements
•IGP directs AIGs, CPs to ensure crisis free celebration
•Saraki, govs, clerics, others sue for peace
•As Air Peace deploys B777 for Easter operations
enable them successfully
confront these security
challenges. We will not
allow merchants of evil and
death to overwhelm the
nation. Under my watch,
the nation will triumph over
them – terrorists, bandits,
kidnappers and the like.
“On this holy occasion, I
enjoin all Nigerians to
intensify prayers for peace
and security to return to all
parts of the country. I also
urge you not to lose hope
of a brighter and greater
future for the country when
we do the right things in
love. Weeping may endure
for the night, but joy comes
in the morning.
“Once more, I wish all
our Christian brothers and
sisters in Nigeria and
around the world
celebrating the resurrection
of Jesus Christ, a Happy
Easter.”
IGP directs AIGs, CPs
to ensure crisis-free
celebration
Meanwhile, as part of
measures to ensure a
peaceful Easter celebration,
the acting Inspector
General
of
Police, Mohammed
Adamu has directed
Assistant Inspector Generals
of Police and
Commissioners of Police in
Zonal and State Commands
across the country to ensure
crime-free celebrations
nationwide.
A statement by Force
Public Relations Officer,
DCP Frank Mba said: “The
IGP sues for peaceful coexistence
among Nigerians
irrespective of their
religious, political and
socio-cultural leaning in
consonance with the
principles and teachings of
Christ.
“While wishing Nigerians
a happy, fruitful and hitchfree
Easter Celebration, the
IGP enjoins them to be
security conscious and
continue to provide the
Force with useful
information that will assist
to effectively track down
criminal elements in our
society.”
Plateau Police deploys
2,000 personnel
Also the Plateau State
Police Command has
deployed 2,211 of its
personnel to safeguard lives
and property even as the
Command advises citizens
to be security conscious to
avoid losing valuables to
those bent on circumventing
the law.
The Command in a
statement issued by its
Public Relations Officer,
Mathias Tyopev also
assured fun-seekers that
adequate preparations have
been put in place to ensure
they have a hitch-free
celebration.
Saraki, govs, clerics,
others felicitate with
Christians
In his Easter message, the
Senate President, Dr.
Bukola Saraki called on
Nigerians to imbibe the
value of sacrificing in the
interest of the country as
demonstrated by Jesus
Christ whose selfless
service to humanity is being
commemorated across the
world at this Easter period.
In a statement by his
Special Adviser on Media
and Publicity, Yusuph
Olaniyonu, Saraki said: “I
believe that our country will
become better if we all
commit ourselves to selfless
service and making
sacrifices, both at the
individual and collective
level. I also believe that
Christians, like their
counterparts in other faiths,
have spent the Lenten
Season to stand in the gap
for Nigeria in particular and
humanity in general. The
prayers and fasting of
Nigerians have been the
bulwark against all the
centrifugal and centripetal
forces threatening to pull our
nation down. We must not
relent but only need to add
discipline, obedience to law
and more intense patriotism
to our attitude.”
Also, Governor Godwin
Obaseki of Edo State said:
“As Christian faithful
celebrate the sacrifice of
Jesus Christ on the Calvary
this Easter season, I urge
everyone to reflect on the
essence of this day, the
value of giving oneself and
passion for the
downtrodden.”
Kwara gov-elect preaches
selflessness, sacrifice
In his Easter message by
his media aide, Rafiu
Ajakaye, the Kwara State
Governor-elect, Mr.
AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq
said: “This period reminds
everyone of the sacrifice,
selflessness and
commitment of Jesus Christ.
I, therefore, call on
Nigerians, especially
Kwarans, to reflect on the
lessons of Easter and
translate same to everyday
event in our lives.
Lord’s Chosen holds
Easter retreat
Meanwhile, the Lord’s
Chosen Charismatic
Renewal Ministries has
perfected plans to host a
special two-day Easter
programme titled God’s
covenant of peace and
blessing, at its Revival
Ground, Along Oshodi-
Apapa Expressway, Lagos.
The church’s Director of
Public Relations, Pastor
Chidi Louis said the special
programme is divinely
inspired to help bring to
mind the significance of
Easter which symbolizes
the victory of Jesus Christ
over death and which by
extension is the victory over
hopelessness and misery.
Pastor Louis said: “This
weekend as we return to
God with apology for our
sin, peace shall return to all
and the entire country shall
rejoice. There shall be reign
of blessing of peace and
joy.”
Clerics urge Nigerians to
reflect on Christ’s sacrifice
On their part, the Catholic
Archbishop of Lagos, Most
Rev. Alfred Adewale
Martins and his Anglican
counterpart, Rt. Revd
Humphrey Olumakaiye urged
Christians to reflect on the
sacrifice of Christ and His
death on the cross.
Speaking at the Holy
Cross Cathedral, Lagos
during a Chrism Mass
where the Feast of
Priesthood was celebrated,
Archbishop Martins
challenged newly elected
politicians at different levels
to use the positions
entrusted in their care for
the benefit of the people.
He said: “All
Christians must strive
and ensure that the
discipline of Lent which
they have endured for
the past 40 days is not
left aside.”
Also speaking, the Rt.
R e v d .
Humphrey Olumakaiye,
the Diocesan Bishop of
Lagos in his message
described Good Friday as
a historic day because it
brought freedom and
salvation to mankind.
Air Peace deploys B777
for Easter operations
Air Peace airline
yesterday said it will
deploy its wide-body
Boeing 777 aircraft for its
domestic operations on the
Port Harcourt-Abuja and
Abuja-Port Harcourt
routes today and Easter
Monday.
Confirming the
deployment of the aircraft,
Air Peace Corporate
Communications
Manager, Mr. Chris
Iwarah said the airline
decided to deploy its
Boeing 777 aircraft at
Easter to ”give Nigerians
and the travelling public a
taste of the luxury to expect
on our international routes
starting soon. The
deployment of our
beautiful big birds, the
Boeing 777 on our
domestic routes this Easter
begins with our Port
Harcourt-Abuja and Abuja-
Port Harcourt services on
Easter Friday and
Monday.”
Iwarah said: “Although
our decision to deploy our
wide-body aircraft on the
domestic routes has huge
financial implications for
us, we are pleased to
honour our pledge never
to spare anything in giving
our esteemed customers
an exceptional feel of air
travel experience.
“In the next few days, we
will be announcing a firm
date for the
commencement of our
international operations.
We plan to operate longhaul
flight services to
Sharjah, Dubai,
Johannesburg, London,
Houston, Guangzhou and
Mumbai.”
Lagos Mainland
Diocese holds special
Easter Cantata
Meanwhile, lovers of
Christian music are in for
a special treat this Easter
as the Diocesan Choir of
the Anglican Diocese of
Lagos Mainland holds an
Easter cantata on Sunday
28th April at the Cathedral
Church of St. Jude, Ebute
Meta.
The cantata will
feature G. F. Handel’s
“Messiah” and many
favourite Easter hymns.
A combined 250-member
Diocesan choir
accompanied by a 40-man
orchestra, organ and top
soloists will feature in the
progamme, which is
directed by Sir Emeka
Nwokedi.
The programme is
part of the process of
building a strong musical
culture in the
Lagos Mainland Diocese
with a view of
making it a centre for
excellence in church music
in Nigeria.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2019—15
58 road projects ongoing in S-East —FG
…says lack of fund hindering road construction
By Ediri Ejoh
A BUJA—THE
FEDERAL Government
yesterday said it was
committed to reviving
depleted infrastructure in
the South-East, noting that
to this end, it had
embarked on construction
of 58 road projects,
including highways and
bridges.
This was disclosed during
a visit of the Igbo World
Union, IWU, to the Ministry
of Power, Works and
Housing in Abuja.
The Minister of State for
Power, Works and
Housing, Mr. Mustapha
Shehuri, who received
IWU delegates, stated that
“in the southeast alone, we
have ongoing construction
of 58 highways and
bridges. We also have the
Ihedioha seeks Commonwealth cooperation
By Chidi
Nkwopara
OWERRI—Imo State
governor-elect,
Emeka Ihedioha, has
solicited the support and
cooperation of the
Commonwealth Enterprise
and Investment Council,
CEIC, in uplifting the
state’s economic climate
and welfare of the citizenry.
Ihedioha, who was a
guest at the CEIC Office in
the United Kingdom,
reportedly had a high level
strategic business meeting
with the Council's officials.
The governor-elect
explained that he was there
to “discuss areas of
cooperation and assistance
to Imo State by the member
states when he assumes
office.”
He described the
meeting as, “fruitful and
forward-looking, with
expected strategic
cooperation in key areas of
wealth creation,
agriculture, investment
second Niger Bridge
ongoing. Others are the
Enugu- Port-Harcourt road;
Umuahia- Aba road and
the Second Niger Bridge
which I personally went to
inspect.
“I never thought of the
progress achieved in the
project. The contractors had
in one year done almost 40
percent. That means they
can deliver the project in
less than the projected three
years given.
“I want to assure
Nigerians that we are all
partners and we can work
together to deliver the
projects as we all need to
put our heads together and
ensure that government
realizes and delivers on its
wishes and projects.
However, that cannot be
possible unless there is
peace.”
and other critical areas
geared towards enhancing
and developing our
potentials for the economic
development of the state.”
Vanguard equally
gathered that the Council,
which is an investment arm
of the Commonwealth
nations, expressed
commitment to supporting
the state in the areas of
Small and Medium
Enterprises, SMEs,
investment promotion,
agricultural potentials,
e n c o u r a g i n g
commonwealth investors to
the state, and making Imo
an Investment hub, among
others.
CIEC officials at the
meeting were the Chief
Executive, Allan Gemmell;
Director of Operations,
Sean Leno; and Director of
Business Development, AQ
Hamza.
Meanwhile, Ihedioha
has tasked the incoming
members of Imo State
House of Assembly to
He explained that
President Muhammadu
Buhari strongly believed in
investment in infrastructure
to grow the country’s
economy.
He said: “Despite the
crash in oil price when we
came in, the budget for
infrastructure (road alone)
was over N280 billion."
He however, hinted that
the lingering abandoned
projects in the country “can
be attributed to little or no
fund disbursement to foster
projects. Some of the
contractors for some of the
huge projects cannot begin
with N1 billion over N100
billion earmarked
contracts.
“In the past, there are
contractors that have not
been paid for over two
years. We decided not to
“acquaint themselves
appropriately with the real
process of legislative duties
and responsibilities of the
state legislature”.
Ihedioha gave the charge
in London, while
addressing Imo people
resident in the United
Kingdom, who gathered at
Aldridge Academy, Turlock
Road, Tottenham, London.
His words: “I urge
members-elect of the Imo
State House of Assembly to
quickly acquaint
toy with that part and
continue paying while
other sources of fund are
explored".
Speaking earlier,
President, IWU, Dr.
Mishak Nnata, decried the
huge gap in infrastructure
development in the
Southeast.
According to him, “It is
known and established that
the southeast lacks most in
federal infrastructures.
Wayfarers plying federal
roads of that region sing
different songs compared to
the other regions that
enjoyed modern up-todate
highways.
“Observers are worried
that this particular region
may have been tactically
schemed out/excluded
from the current transregional
rail construction
and rehabilitation."
MEETING: From left— Enugu State Deputy Gov, Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo; Gov Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi;
SA to the Governor on Water Resources, Mrs. Felicia Ikpeama; SSA to the Governor, Chijioke
Agu; PDP State Chairman, Augustine Nnamani; Frank Asogwa of Enugu State Water
Corporation; Managing Director, Ovamann Pump Ltd, Mr. Kevin Ifegbuike; and MD of the
Corporation, Chidozie Eze, during a town hall meeting on adequate water supply/inspection
of rehabilitated facilities at Ajalli Water Scheme, Ezeagu Local Government Area, yesterday.
themselves with the
existing rules of the House.
I will inundate them with
executive bills once the
House is inauguarated.
“Right from day one,
upon their inauguaration,
I will challenge them with
certain executive bills to
keep them cracking. It’s
sad that our legislature in
Imo State had been
practically dead in the past
eight years because of the
out-going governor’s
approach that frustrated
separation of powers.”
Why we sacked 5 IMT
labour leaders —RECTOR
By Dennis Agbo
E NUGU—INSTITUTE
of Management and
Technology, IMT, Enugu
has disclosed that the five
executive members of
Academic Staff Union of
Polytechnics, ASUP, in the
institution were recently
disengaged from service
because of the bad records
they accumulated as staff of
the institution.
Apart from that, the labour
leaders were equally
accused of gross
insubordination,
confrontation with
authorities and attempts to
pull down the institution.
Rector of the institute,
Prof. Austin Nweze, who
briefed newsmen
yesterday on the
development, said that
affected labour leaders had
committed academic
offences.
Nweze narrated the
activities that culminated to
their sack to include
rebellions, such as
dragging management of
the institution to anti-graft
agencies, Department of
State Services, the Attorney
General’s Office, Industrial
Court and National Board
for Technical Education,
NBTE.
He said: “The last straw
that broke the camel’s back
was a petition to NBTE, our
supervisory body, alleging
that we have been over
admitting students. It was
written by ASUP through
one lawyer. In the body of
the letter, they said all sorts
of things: that the Rector
has been diverting Tetfund
money, they even wrote
against the chairman of the
council and even the
governor."
Ugwuanyi engages community
leaders on adequate water
supply
E
N
U G U —
GOVERNOR
Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of
Enugu State and governorelect,
yesterday held a town
hall meeting with relevant
stakeholders aimed at
finding lasting solutions to
the problems hindering the
regular supply of water to
the homes and
establishments in the state.
The “all important”
meeting, which was
summoned at the instance
of the governor, in keeping
with his administration’s
renewed vigor to enhance
the wellbeing of the people
of the state through the
sustenance of peace and
good governance,
extracted firm commitment
from the players in the
industry on better ways to
improve adequate water
supply in the state.
Addressing the
participants at the meeting,
held at Ajali Water Scheme,
Ezeagu Local Government
Area, Ugwuanyi said: “The
water sector in the state has
over the years encountered
and is still being hampered
by a number of factors
especially, the fragile
conditions of some of the
existing water projects and
installations as well as
Again, tanker laden with fuel falls in Imo
By Chinonso
Alozie
OWERRI—A tanker
ladened with fuel
yesterday, fell at Methodist
junction, along MCC Road
in Owerri.
This is coming days after
Vanguard reported that
another tanker loaded with
kerosene fell at Hospital
Junction, along
Portharcourt road, where
hundreds of people
scooped the product.
However, Vanguard
gathered that the falling of
the tanker was the second
incident since this month.
An eyewitness told
Vanguard that it happened
about 02:45pm as the tanker
driver struggled to escape
from the damaged side of
the road.
“We thank God that the
owners of the two fuel
stations at the Methodist
junction, especially the
Cocean oil and gas
responded immediately by
calling police officers who
came and took over the
control of traffic along the
road.
“If not, a lot of people
would have started coming
close to see how they can
daunting environmental
and human factors. This is
in spite of several attempts
my administration has
made to revamp the sector."
He added that his
administration recently
invested in the upgrade of
existing infrastructure for
enhanced water production
and distribution across the
state, stressing that the state
government was desirous
of finding immediate stopgap
solutions to the
challenges the sector is
facing currently for
residents to enjoy adequate
and satisfactory water
supply.
Ugwuanyi disclosed that
the stop-gap solutions will
provide water service to the
state until the fifty million
US Dollars loan the state
government signed up
with French Development
Agency, AFD, for
3rdNational Urban Water
Sector Reform Project for
total transformation of the
state’s water infrastructure
is accessed.
The governor further
disclosed that his
administration is on the
threshold of the first drawdown
of the loan for an endto-end
transformation of the
water infrastructure.
steal fuel from the tanker.
I commend the effort of
the police in controlling
the traffic since
afternoon.”
He appealed to the state
government to fix the road,
saying: "You can see the
two sides of the road are
very bad.It is not tarred. Let
the contractor handling this
road come back and
commence work
immediately for the good of
the people."

16—Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2019
TRAINING: From left— Mr. Babafemi Olabiyi, Chief Marketing Officer, Retail and Commercial, OVH Energy;
Dr. Oyet Gogomary, Group Head, External Relations and Communications; CC Hyginus Omeje, Sector Commander,
FRSC, Lagos; Mr. Huub Stokman, Chief Executive Officer, OVH Energy and Mr. Ayotunde Adewoye, Group
Head, Customer Service, during the company's 2019 Truck driver’s training opening ceremony at the OVH
Energy Training School in Lagos.
Lagos community protests planned
installation of non indigene as monarch
•As govt sues for calm
By Olasunkanmi
Akoni
L AGOS—INDIGENES
and residents of ancient
Orugbo-Iddo Community,
Ikosi-Ejirin Local Council
Development Area, LCDA,
a suburb in Ikorodu area of
Lagos State, yesterday,
stormed the state House of
Assembly, Alausa, Ikeja to
protest over alleged plans
to install a non indigene as
the next king, the Olofin
Ijaiye of Orugbo-Iddo
Kingdom.
The protesting group who
claimed it had earlier sent
petition to Governor
Akinwunmi Ambode and
the House of Assembly and
Council of Traditional
Rulers, (Obas), was led by
one of the contenders of the
stool, Prince Lawal
Adeleye.
According to them, “All
the petitions submitted have
been swept under the
carpet and suppressed.”
Adeleye, who claimed to
be the Oba Olofin-Ijaiye
designate, accused some
government officials of
colluding with one Abdul
Adewale to install him as
the next traditional ruler of
Orugbo-Iddo, despite the
fact that the matter is still
in court for determination.
The placard carrying
protesters, barricaded the
road leading to Lagos
House, office of the
Governor and House of
Assembly Complex,
insisting on being attended
to
Ṡome of the inscriptions
on the placards read: "Gov.
Ambode please withdraw
the approval of installation
of Adewale Abdul. Orugbo
is boiling, Abdul is not a
member of our family
Origbo. Adewale is from
Ijebu-Ode Local
Government Area, Ogun
State.
Orugbo-Iddo makers have
withdrawn their erroneous
Obey party leaders on NASS leadership,
APC S-Africa admonishes lawmakers
ABUJA—THE
All
Progressives Congress,
APC, in South Africa has
charged members of the
party in the National
Assembly to obey the party
leadership by voting for the
candidates adopted as
Senate President and
Speaker by the party in the
forthcoming 9th Assembly
for the interest of the
President Muhammadu
Buhari led administration.
The party stated this in a
statement signed by its
Publicity Secretary,
Comrade Sanni David, after
a gala night and dinner,
organised in South Africa to
celebrate the victory of the
APC in the just concluded
general elections.
According to the
statement, the Chairman of
the APC in SA, Engr Bola
Babarinde, commended the
leadership style of the national
chairman of the APC,
Comrade Adams
Oshiomhole, saying that the
reforms he embarked upon
declaration of Adewale
Abdul in writing," among
others.
Speaking with newsmen,
he said the protest became
necessary to avoid
impending crisis in the
area if the authorities fails
to take urgent step to stop
the alleged plans to install
Adewale, who was said to
be a non indigene of the
are yielding positive fruits.
He said: " we are glad
with the reforms going on
in the party. We see a
situation where party
discipline is being
entrenched. No ruling
political party can succeed
without discipline and that
is why we are proud of the
current leadership led by
Oshiomhole.
"So we urge our elected
National Assembly
members to toe the line of
the party when electing
their leadership because
By Festus Ahon
ASABA—THE leader
of All Progressives
Congress, APC in Delta
State, Olorogun O’Tega
Emerhor has expressed
deep sadness over the
death of the former senator
representing Delta
NDDC to complete water projects in Edo
with EU support
By Alemma Aliu
BENIN CITY—THE
Niger Delta
Development Commission,
NDDC, has said it would
complete all water projects
the Commission has
embarked on in Edo State
with support from the
European Union, EU.
This promise is on the
heels of the expression of
reservations by community
leaders on the way the
Commission is carrying out
projects in the state just as
they lamented the huge
number of abandoned
projects in the state.
Speaking at the Edo State
Stakeholders’ Forum
sponsored by the
Commission with the theme
“Peace as a Panacea for
Sustainable Development in
the Niger Delta’, Director, NDDC
Edo State, Dr Akwagaga Lelegima
Enyia said the developmental
agenda of the commission could
only be achieved in a peaceful and
community.
M e a n w h i l e ,
representative of the state
government, Hundei
Kolawole, Director Political,
Office of the Civic
Engagements, urged the
protesters to sustain the
peace and harmony in the
community as the matter
will be addressed
appropriately, without
further delay.
without the party there will
be no candidate especially
when the constitution has
not provided for
independent candidates" it
stated.
Woman leader of the
party in SA, Pastor Mrs
Gladys Adebukola
Adunola, urged President
Muhammadu Buhari to
consolidate on the
achievements made in his
first tenure, adding that
Nigerians are expecting
improved welfare package
in his second term.
Emerhor mourns late Sen
Eferakeya
rancor-free environment.
She said; “Only recently, the
Commission embarked on the
rehabilitation of the Benin –
Abraka road in partnership with
the Edo State government.
Presently, the Commission is
working with the European
Union, (EU) to rehabilitate the
water projects in our communities.
The idea of this scheme is to
build the capacities of the communities
and empower them to
be responsible for the sustenance
of the projects sited in their
communities."
Central Senatorial District,
Senator Adegor Eferakeya.
Eferakeya, a renowned
Professor of Pharmacology
and Toxicology, died on
Monday at 78 years.
Emerhor in a statement
on Thursday, said the
death of Prof. Eferakeya was
a big blow to the Urhobo Nation
considering his contributions to
the development of his native
Okpe Kingdom, Urhobo land that
he represented at the apex level
of lawmaking body and Nigeria
as a whole.
While commiserating with the
Eferakeya family and the Urhobo
Progress Congress, UPU, the
Mainstream APC leader stressed
that the late senator’s death has
created a big vacuum that would
be difficult to fill.
Emerhor also praised the late
Professor for his contribution to
the formation and growth of APC
in Delta State before retiring from
active politics in 2017. Emerhor
prayed Almighty God to comfort
the family and Urhobo Nation
and as well grant the soul of the
deceased eternal rest.
Oil prices steady despite Saudi
export cuts, U.S. inventory
draw
OIL prices were little changed as a drop in crude
exports from the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting
Countries, OPEC’s defacto leader Saudi Arabia
and a draw in U.S. oil inventories supported prices, while
the strengthening dollar and weak equities kept futures
in check.
Brent crude futures were at $71.70 a barrel, up 8 cents
from their last close and near Wednesday’s five-month
high of $72.27 a barrel.
U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were
down 10 cents at $63.66 a barrel.
Saudi Arabia’s crude oil exports fell by 277,000 barrels
per day just under 7 million bpd in February from the
month before, according to data from the Joint Organizations
Data Initiative (JODI).
U.S. crude, gasoline and distillate inventories fell last
week, with crude posting an unexpected drawdown and
its first in four weeks, the Energy Information Administration
(EIA) data showed on Wednesday, which also
helped support prices.
U.S. wins WTO ruling against
China grain import quotas
THE United States won a World Trade Organization
(WTO) ruling yesterday against China’s use of tariff-rate
quotas for rice, wheat and corn, which it successfully
argued limited market access for U.S. grain
exports.
The case, lodged by the Obama administration in late
2016, marked the second U.S. victory in as many months.
It came amid U.S.-China trade talks and on the heels of
Washington clinching a WTO ruling on China’s price
support for grains in March.
A WTO dispute panel ruled on Thursday that under
the terms of its 2001 WTO accession, China’s administration
of the tariff rate quotas (TRQs) as a whole violated
its obligation to administer them on a “transparent,
predictable and fair basis”.
TRQs are two-level tariffs, with a limited volume of
imports allowed at the lower ‘in-quota’ tariff and subsequent
imports charged an “out-of-quota” tariff, which
is usually much higher.
The administration of state trading enterprises and
non-state enterprises’ portions of TRQs are inconsistent
with WTO rules, the panel said.
Schlumberger posts profit drop,
sees international spending rising
OILFIELD services provider Schlumberger NV
yesterday forecast rising international and offshore
exploration spending this year, after posting
a 20 percent drop in first-quarter profit due to weak
North American demand.
The oilfield services sector bellwether said it expects
a 7 to 8 percent increase in investments by oil
producers in markets outside North America, citing
a 20 percent increase last quarter in offshore rig
counts and growing exploration activity in Latin
America, Africa and Asia.
“We still see a fairly decent runway for increased
international investments,” Chief Executive Officer
Paal Kibsgaard said, citing higher new project approvals
and a renewed interest in exploration outside
North America.
Second-quarter earnings per share will be 35 cents,
in line with the Wall Street consensus estimate, said
Kibsgaard. He cautioned seasonal factors would preclude
the potential for exceeding that figure.
France points way for UK shake up of
audit market
TAKING on the Big Four accounting firms will
remain a lengthy and costly challenge for
smaller rivals in Britain despite the regulatory legup
unveiled on Thursday, but France has shown it can
be done over a decade.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has
ordered that Britain’s top 350 listed companies must
hire two auditors to loosen the grip of EY, KPMG, Deloitte
and PwC that individually check the books of all
but nine of those companies.
It forms a package of measures from the CMA aimed
at improving audit quality and restoring trust after accounting
failures at construction company Carillion
and retailer BHS. Though the changes are likely to take
some time to make it into law, joint audits in France have
enabled smaller rivals like Mazars to work alongside
the Big Four and win the confidence of bigger clients.
They also feature in Sweden and Spain, but were
ditched in Denmark due to the higher cost, with estimates
ranging from about 20 percent to far higher.
All stories credited to Reuters

Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2019 — 17
THE
Independent
National Electoral
Commission, INEC, has just
presented a certificate of
return to Barrister Nyesom
Wike.
The certificate is an official
confirmation that Wike, a
Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,
stalwart, won the
gubernatorial election in
Rivers State and is expected
to be Governor for the next
four years.
In Nigeria, it is normal for
political opponents to
furiously cry foul and loudly
allege massive malpractices
when results don’t favour
them; and Wike’s defeated All
Progressives Congress, APC,
rivals - and their African
Action Congress, AAC, allies
- are no exception. They are
bitterly accusing INEC of bias
and bitterly complaining about
Wike’s personality/
performance/methods. And I
totally stand by APC/AAC
folks’ democratic right to
dislike and criticise Wike.
But I wish they’d stop
deceiving themselves and
insisting that they trounced
Wike but are being deprived
of victory by forces of evil. I
wish they’d analyse the
situation more realistically and
understand why they’d have
lost, whether Wike rigged or
didn’t rig!
Sure, some presidential and
guber candidates are widely
loathed on their home turfs.
But most can count on
substantial support from their
people, especially when they
are competing against
“outsiders”.
Which is why President
Buhari was likely to beat any
non-northern candidate in the
North. And why Vice-
President Osinbajo was likely
to beat any non-Yoruba
candidate in Yorubaland. And
why Wike was likely to beat
any candidate who didn’t
come across as indigenous
and appeared to be
representing “outsiders”.
Wike is a conk, down-toearth
Rivers Man who has a
solid grassroots base in his
own right and enjoys
substantial additional support
from Bayelsan-born ex-
•INEC National Commissioner, supervising Edo, Bayelsa and Rivers, Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu (L), presenting
certificate of return to Rivers State Governor-elect, Nyesom Wike
Soft spots
President, Dr. Goodluck
Jonathan and his Rivers wife,
Dame Patience.
The Jonathans, like Wike,
are core Niger Deltans who
are viewed with considerable
affection by millions of natives
of our geopolitical zone; and
nobody who stood against
them would have had it easy.
Even if APC hadn’t suffered
any legal problems and had
been able to field its star
candidate, billionaire
businessmanTonye Cole, Cole
would still have lost in my
If Amaechi
graciously
concedes defeat
and at least
sincerely tries to
reciprocate
reconciliatory
moves, he can add
a lot of value
opinion…because Cole is
more Lagosian than local and
was suspiciously regarded as
Buhari’s representative.
And it’s not like
Muhammadu Buhari is
popular in the Niger Delta!
Anyway, dear Vanguard
readers, if Northern and
South-Western voters are
allowed to have soft spots for
their own kith and kin, why
should South-South voters not
also be allowed to have soft
spots for their own kith and
kin?
Conceding and
reconciling
Wike has, on more than one
occasion since his victory was
announced, held out an olive
branch to his main adversary,
Rotimi Amaechi, ex-Governor
and current Minister of
Transportation. Amaechi and
his camp have coldly rejected
these overtures. I urge them
to put their crushed egos to
one side and do whatever
might improve things for our
state. Most Rivers people are
sick and tired of perpetual
conflict.
If Amaechi graciously
concedes defeat and at least
sincerely tries to reciprocate
reconciliatory moves, he can
add a lot of value.
Buhari’s
revival
At various points during the
presidential election
campaign, President Buhari
looked so tired and sounded
so mentally drained that he
reminded me of my mother
who is ill.
I was particularly alarmed
after watching him and his
deputy being interviewed by
Kadaria Ahmed. He came
across as confused. Some VIPs
who had met him face-to-face
in recent months also said that
they reckoned he was
suffering from cognitive
decline.
The same gloomy conclusion
was drawn by many other
individuals (including APC
loyalists) who said that Mr
President had appeared
befuddled on several
occasions. At the APC rally in
Delta State, for example, he
couldn’t properly identify the
party’s guber candidate.
But guess what?
Mr President suddenly
perked up and seems
absolutely fine nowadays. He
looks healthy and cheerful;
and he sounds lucid.
Good for him! It’s nice for him
and his fans (many of whom
were so worried about him
earlier on this year) that
whatever was holding him
back is no longer holding him
back. The difference between
him a few weeks ago and him
now is almost miraculous.
Let’s hope that he will now
have the energy to take his
duties seriously and focus on
getting rid of the myriad
dysfunctions that are
wrecking lives and depressing
the hell out of many citizens.
He needs to become a firm
but fair and genuinely caring
father of the nation. He needs
to dynamically tackle the
security crises in various states
like a skilled, no-nonsense
military man.
He needs to be stricter in a
positive way and more
consistent morally. He needs
to be less self-centred, less
remote and more sensitive to
public opinion.
He needs to wage a war on
corruption in an even-handed
way and not just spitefully
target opposition people. He
needs to respect the rule of law
and make Nigeria feel less like
a depressing police state.
He needs to make it clear to
VIP miscreants - whether they
are APC, PDP or whatever –
that their destructive antics
will not be tolerated.
He needs to encourage
intelligent debate about
burning issues like
restructuring…which needs to
be defined in a productive way
and doesn’t necessarily have
to be organised in a way that
will put the North at a terrible
disadvantage.
And, by the way, if he wants
APC to be less loathed in the
Niger Delta, he needs to woo
Niger Deltans, not allow them
to be bullied!!!
Responses
To
Donzol2002@Yahoo.co.uk Or
To 0802 747 6458 Or 0811 675
9752. Please kindly note that
unless you specifically request
anonymity, your email or text
message may be published
with your name and contact
details attached.

18 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2019
EASTER bespeaks eloquently of
sadness before joy, pain before gain
and the treasures that are often
cleverly hidden under human
sufferings and tribulations. The truth
is that even joy itself would lose its
value or flavour if there is no struggle
leading up to it.
Christians are taught that following
the fall of man (Adam and Eve) in the
Garden of Eden and the gulf that sin
brought between mankind and the
Creator, God decided to reaffirm his
undying love for man through an
expensive kind of reconciliation: He
sent our Lord Jesus Christ to the world
through the virgin womb of Mary to
be born in a manger.
Jesus’ assignment was to teach the
mysteries of the kingdom of God, lay
down His life to bring salvation to
believers and leave behind a crop of
disciples to preach the Good News of
salvation to all races throughout the
world.
Celebrating Easter responsibly
That assignment, which ended over
two thousand years ago gave rise to
the most powerful and influential
religion in the world today:
Christianity.
Easter is the culmination a series of
events starting with Christ’s 40-day
fasting (Lent) the week of Passion
(triumphal entry into Jerusalem,
conviction for alleged heresy,
crucifixion and death).
On the third Day (Easter Sunday)
He resurrected as long foretold in
many prophecies and eventually
ascended into heaven. Many still find
it hard to believe that God loves them
so much that He was willing to allow
His only begotten Son to lay down His
life for the remission of sins and total
reconciliation with man.
From the sombre mood of today
(Good Friday), Easter will unfold on
Sunday to joyful chants and jubilations
among Christians all over the world.
But Easter has also come to be seen
beyond the core sacramental
observances of the Christian faith.
People of other faiths have become
involved in its residual effects.
In Nigeria (as in many parts of the
world) Easter is one of the major
religious celebrations honoured with
a four-day public holiday.
This gives people of all faiths the
opportunity to travel to meet friends,
families and loved ones. Those who
will not travel will seize the
opportunity to rest and unwind in a
variety of ways.
This is a call for all to celebrate
responsibly. Those driving must stay
away from intoxicants, obey traffic
rules and arrive alive. We must all
remain vigilant, security conscious
and charitable towards our
neighbours.
In every festival there is a lesson.
That of Easter is sacrifice,
reconciliation and renewal. Having
just survived another bruising general
election, Nigerians must commit to
reconciliation across partisan,
religious and ethnic divides. This is
needed to move the country forward.
We wish all Nigerians Happy
Easter!
OPINION
FRSC, pursuit and missiles: What to expect
By Olutayo Irantiola
WE woke up on Friday, April 12
2019 when a Federal Road
Safety Commission, FRSC, van was
said to be involved in a Road Traffic
Accident, RTA.
I was awestruck at the various ways
in which our lives have become
trivialized as those who should reduce
road carnages are the ones leading
commuters to their early graves
because of their ego that took over
reasoning in an attempt to arrest an
erring driver.
The accident has brought up the
memory of the various social media
posts aimed at hoodwinking these
safety officers.
One of such pictures showed officers
who were enjoying themselves at a pub
during work hours. One would ask, if
FRSC officers are enjoying the
afternoon at a pub, won’t they drive
themselves to the office and eventually
to their houses? This ironically
reinforces the message of Don’t Drink
and Drive.
Similarly, there was another picture
in which FRSC officers were seen
moving their wares to another location
in an overloaded van. We, then, have
to ask for the moral justification of
these officers to arrest overloaded
vehicles, especially vehicles trying to
move wares of businessmen and
women who are traveling to the
hinterlands for their lawful businesses.
FRSC officers are usually dreaded on
the road, motorists have known their
typical hideouts on certain roads and
they try to dodge them. Some motorists
usually drive closely behind trucks in
order to escape being flagged down
by the officers.
The unending plight of motorists is
heightened by all forms of paramilitary
outfits on the Nigerian roads- with and
without arms- the Nigerian Customs
Service;Vehicle Inspection Service; the
Nigerian Police Force- Traffic Control;
Rapid Response Squad, Special Anti-
Robbery Squad, SARS; the Federal
Road Safety Commission and the
Traffic Agencies being set up by
various states in the country. It now
looks like a crime driving a vehicle.
With all these encumbrances on the
road, drivers and commuters now have
a daily prayer of being rescued from
the hands of all these forces that lace
Nigerian roads. The way in which they
haunt for commercial vehicles is
limited when compared to the travail
of private vehicles.
In fact, a young person is fortunate
to purchase a tokunbocar, he is a
potential preyand a good source of
illegal income if he defaultsby not
having all the completed documents
of the car.
He would pay through his nose and
he may be dismayed from driving
henceforth if he is not bold enough.
As for commercial vehicles and
trucks, they are typically the
harbingers of death. Whenever it is
being boarded from a motor park or a
bus stop, one normally continues to
pray for safe arrival. However, it seems
like they are usually free from the
pestilence of these forces. One can
comfortably say that the carefree
attitude of the FRSC to these vehicles
and trucks has aided road traffic
We should find
alternative ways to arrest
erring people, just like
the Vehicle Inspection
Service is doing
currently in Lagos
accidents- containers not properly
strapped falling off the trucks; tankers
with bad tyres among others.
The FRSC officials and those at the
upper echelon should be leading the
advocacy for the construction of
motorable roads for Nigerians. If the
roads are in good state, Nigerians
would find it justifiable to have FRSC
carry out their duties. The bad spots
on the roads are major sources of
concern for Nigerian travellers and
these have negatively affected
domestic tourism.
I remember an analogy of a friend
about the FRSC vans which are driven
like snails but when there are vehicles
to chase, they comes alive like lions.
In own thoughts, FRSC should be more
corrective than punitive. We are so
great at punishing in Nigeria, but if a
driver wants to abscond from the long
arms of the law; the officers should let
him be.
We should find alternative ways to
arrest erring people, just like the
Vehicle Inspection Service is doing
currently in Lagos. It is a heinous
crime for FRSC officers to use their
vans to lead commuters into death.
If I am to draw a conclusion from the
occurrence of last Friday, carrying of
arms by FRSC officials will lead to
greater deaths for Nigerian motorists
because the ego of an officer who is
bent on punishing a driver will make
him to become trigger-happy.
However, if there would be a special
unit for the office of the Corps
Marshal, that’s acceptable but they
should never be on the roads. We keep
hoping that the Africanness in us will
give way to how things are done
globally.
We cannot continue to waste lives in
their prime due to the ways in which
our cops handle guns.
There is a need to reduce even the
number of guns on the streets now in
Nigeria as we are not in a war zone.
All the guns that are being brandished
across the country should be reduced
so that our society can be regarded as
a sane land.
•Irantiola, a PR Specialist wrote
from Lagos

Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 19 , 2019 — 19
17 oil refinery licenses expire, 38 under
execution
By Udeme Akpan
THERE are indications
that modular and
conventional refinery projects
are in hard times, as licenses of
17 of the refineries licensed
expired without much efforts by
their promoters to establish them.
Vanguard investigations show
that the execution of the refinery
projects was constrained by
many challenges especially lack
of funds and difficulty associated
in securing competent technical
partners.
In its updated report obtained
by Vanguard, the Department of
Petroleum Resources, DPR,
responsible for the issuance of
the licenses disclosed that the
refineries were targeted to add
additional 665,000 barrels per
day (bpd) to the nation’s refining
capacity, currently put at 445,000
bpd.
The report stated that 15 were
for License to Establish, LTE,
while two were for License to
Construct, LTC, new plants.
Specifically, under the LTE the
DPR document listed the affected
companies including, Kainji
Resources Limited, Eko
Petroleum & Refining Company
Limited, Frao Oil Nigeria
Limited, Epic Refinery &
Petrochemical Industries
Limited, Master Energy Oil &
Gas Limited, Cross Country Oil
& Gas Limited, Grifon Energy
Limited, Sifax Oil & Gas
Company Limited, Capital Oil &
Gas Industries Limited, All Grace
Energy Limited, Green Energy
International Limited, Fresh
Energy Limited, Chyzob Oil &
Gas Limited, Aiteo Energy
Resources Limited and
Associated Worldwide Company
Limited.
It also stated that the
companies affected under LTC
are, Hi Rev Oil Limited and
Amakpe International Refinery –
an Akwa Ibom based plant -
currently at the stage of shipping
CURRENCY BUYING SELLING
US DOLLAR
POUNDS
EURO
FRANC
YEN
CFA
WAUA
RENMINBI
RIYAL
SDR
DANISH
RAND
$89.95 2.90
2,400.00 -20.00
$12.72 0.37
$71.59 -0.03
$63.53 -0.23
305.95 306.45 306.95
399.3871 400.0398 400.6925
345.8765 346.4417 347.007
303.5218 304.0179 304.5139
2.7317 2.7362 2.7406
0.5085 0.5185 0.5285
424.5686 425.2624 425.9563
45.7377 45.8129 45.8881
81.5845 81.7178 81.8512
425.2705 425.9655 426.6605
46.3336 46.4093 46.485
. 21.9036 21.9394 21.9752
CBN Exchange rate as at 18/04/2019
fabricated process units to
Nigeria, which has already been
taken over by Assets
Management Corporation of
Nigeria (AMCON) over bank
loan defaults.
DPR’s spokesman, Mr. Paul
Osu, said in a telephone
interview that some of the
affected companies have applied
for renewal of their licenses,
adding that applications would
be treated on their merits.
However, the document also
indicated that promoters of 38
refineries, out of 45 issued with
licenses between 2015 and 2018
were at various stages of
execution, same stages which
the expired licensees got to and
stopped.
From left: Mr. Benjamin Agili, Managing Director, Royal Exchange General Insurance
Company; Mrs. Ose Oluyanwo, President, Professional Insurance Ladies Association (PILA)
and Mr. Wale Banmore, Managing Director, Royal Exchange Prudential Life, when PILA paid
a courtesy visit to Royal Exchange Plc in Lagos
Prices of rice, others drop in March
— NBS
By Elizabeth Adegbesan
At the backdrop of a
softened food inflation
rate in March, the National
Bureau of Statistics (NBS),
yesterday, said that prices of
imported high quality rice,
agric eggs and tomatoes
declined during the month.
NBS disclosed this in its
‘Selected Food Price Watch’
report for March 2019.
According to the Bureau, the
price of a medium
sized egg decreased
month-on month
(MoM) by 0.74
percent to N41.91 in
March from N42.23 in
February while price
of one kilogram of
tomatoes fell MoM by
6.32 percent to
N240.29 in March
from N256.50 in
February.
Similarly, the price of
one kilogram of yam
tuber declined MoM
by 2.71 percent to
N200.88 in March
from N206.48 in
February.
In its latest inflation
report, NBS stated:
“The composite food
index dropped by
13.45 percent in
March 2019 compared
to 13.47 percent in
February 2019 yearon-year
(YoY). On
MoM basis, the food sub-index
increased by 0.88 percent in
March 2019, up by 0.06
percent points from 0.82
percent recorded in February
2019.”
The food price watch report
reads: “Selected food price
watch data for March 2019
reflected that the average price
of one dozen of agric eggs
medium size decreased MoM
by 0.96 percent to N459.80 in
March 2019 from N464.26 in
February 2019 while the
average price of piece of agric
eggs medium size (price of
one) decreased MoM by 0.74
percent to N41.91 in March
2019 from N42.23 in February
2019.
“The average price of 1kg of
tomato decreased MoM by
6.32 percent to N240.29 in
March 2019 from N256.50 in
February 2018.
“The average price of 1kg of
rice (imported high quality
sold loose) decreased
decreased MoM by 0.68
percent to N361.90 in March
2019 from N364.38 in
February 2019.
“Similarly, the average price
of 1kg of yam tuber decreased
MoM by 2.71 percent to
N200.88 in March 2019 from
N206.48 in February 2019.”
Merger: Access Bank’s loan book hits N3trn
By Michael Eboh & Ediri Ejoh
Access Bank Plc said it
now has the largest loan
book in Nigeria’s banking
industry, at over N3 trillion,
following the successful
conclusion of its merger with
Diamond Bank.
Executive Director, Retail
Banking of the bank, Mr. Victor
Etuokwu, who disclosed this
yesterday in Abuja, at the Access
Bank Business Workshop for
Health Practitioners, noted that
the bank has also emerged the
largest lender to the small and
medium enterprises (SMEs)
sector.
Etuokwu noted that historically,
Access and Diamond Banks were
known to rank among the biggest
lenders to SMEs in the country,
adding that the merger had
cemented the bank’s position as
the biggest financiers of SMEs
and other critical sectors of the
economy.
He stated: “Today, Access Bank
has the largest loan book in the
industry, about N3 trillion. No
other bank has that amount. With
our merger with Diamond Bank,
we have two banks today, who
lend the most to SMEs. Diamond
was a major lender to SMEs, same
thing with Access Bank. Today, we
are the bank that is truly the home
for SMEs.”
Etuokwu called for increased
support for the country’s health
sector, while he added that the
Federal Government needed to be
prodded to invest more in health
FG to
maintain
current
forex policy
— Information
minister
By Yinka Kolawole, with
agency report
The federal government
has said that the current
policy of multiple exchange
rates for the naira is working
well, and as such the
Central Bank of Nigeria
(CBN) is unlikely to change
it anytime soon.
Nigeria has maintained
multiple exchange rates
since currency controls were
introduced in 2015 to counter
the impact of falling prices
for crude oil, which provides
90 percent of the country’s
foreign exchange earnings.
The International
Monetary Fund (IMF) has
long called for Nigeria to
scrap its multiple rates.
Information Minister, Lai
Mohammed, said the current
system, which involves
multiple exchange rates
while the official rate is held
at N306 to the USdollar, was
working well.
He said: “Right now, the
currency is converging
naturally at about N360 to
the dollar. Three years ago,
the same was about N525. I
don’t think CBN is in a hurry
to change this. Inflation is
down and the reserves are
up. We are in a better
position to defend the
naira,” Mohammed told
Reuters.
The tenure of Central Bank
Governor, Godwin Emefiele,
is due to end in June. A
decision on his future is
likely to be among the first
major announcements in
Buhari’s second term.
insurance.
“The health sector guarantees that
people are able to even do business.
It is a sector that tends to well-being.
Any sector that tends to and drive
well-being in Nigerians would do
well. If you are not healthy, you
cannot do business. Any sector that
drives healthy conditions supports
you to be well. This is a sector that
we need to finance a lot more,
needs to be a lot structured. We
need to have a lot more health
practitioners in the country.
“If you look at the ratio of health
workers to population, it is very low.
Effective demand for health, the
ability to pay for health in the
country is quite low. We need to
drive government to invest a lot
more in health insurance. Health
insurance drives the health sector.”

20—Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2019

Vanguard FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2019 — 21

22— Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2019
By Theodore Opara
Weststar, Marcopolo
unveils new Paradiso
1350 bus
W ESTSTAR Associates
Limited, authorised general
distributor of Mercedes-Benz in
Nigeria in collaboration with Auto
Alternative Nigeria Limited, authorised
representative of Marcopolo
in Nigeria has launched the new
Marcopolo Paradisio 1350 bus to
the Nigerian market.
While presenting the bus to the
press and leading bus operators in
Nigeria, Managing Director of
Weststar Associates Limited, Mr.
Mirko Plath, said that the introduction
of the Marcopolo Paradiso 1350
bus model marks a move in the
right direction for bus operators in
Nigeria.
He said,“The bus operators already
have a long standing relationship
with Mercedes-Benz dating
back to the 1950s. The brand
has been a benchmark for their success
over the years hence, their trust
in the brand and in Weststar Associates.”
According to him, the Mercedes-
Benz Marcopolo buses are not new
to operators in Nigeria. He, however,
assured that with the bus,
operators were ready to take their
businesses to the next level, and
pleaded that they should continue
to put their trust in the Mercedes-
Benz brand. He noted that the collaboration
with Marcopolo in Nigeria
has certainly borne fruit over
the years.
Narrating the story of Marcopolo
buses in Nigeria, Plath said that
Mercedes Benz has a long history
in Nigeria, adding that the first
Marcopolo was first launched in the
country in the 80s. According to
him, the Marcopolo stands for safety,
quality, reliability and genuineness
among others.
In his presentation, Weststar Associates
Key Accounts Manager,
Ifeanyi Igbokwe explained the O
500 RSD bus chassis has been carefully
developed for medium and
long-distance applications. According
to him, the chassis has all of
Mercedes-Benz‘s technological
advantages and is a robust and
highly durable chassis that is adequate
for the most severe working
conditions.
“It also provides high comfort to
the passengers due to the integral
pneumatic suspension and a Mercedes-Benz
gearbox (with six synchronized
gears). This chassis is
built to offer top quality and low operational
costs, it is also designed
to withstand 24 tonnes. It offers better
ergonomics to the driver’s top
auxiliary brake which provides an
additional braking power of 30 per
cent and a high ground clearance
level for bad road conditions”, Igbokwe
added.
On the bus USP, Igbokwe said
Mercedes-Benz has a long legacy,
assuring that the new posseses
certain attributes which include: reliability,
easy access for maintenance,
brand aesthetics, better connectivity
features, comfort and safety,
good fuel efficiency, high modularity,
efficient powerful engine
which gives a lasting value, low total
cost of ownership among others.
For the bus operators, he
warned that their focus should be
on: Ruggedness and an absolute
work horse - versatility in terms of
load capacity, easy maintenance,
continuous service with little downtime
as possible, wider service network,
lowest cost of operations for
better returns in business, parts
availability and one-stop solutions.
Defence Ministry, DPR, MTN win Toyota awards
IN a bid to reward its custom
ers and stakeholders for their
support to the growth of the
brand, Toyota Nigeria Limited
showered customers with cast,
brand new car and other valuable
gifts
Ministry of Defence of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria, Department
of Petroleum Resources,
DPR, and MTN Nigeria were
named winners at the recent Toyota
Nigeria Limited, TNL, Customer
of the Year Awards for their
patronage of the Toyota brand of
vehicles in 2018.
In the customers category of
the award, MTN won as the second
runner up; DPR first runner
up while the Ministry of Defence
clinched the overall winner
in that category at the prestigious
‘Toyota Customer Nite
2019 held at the Civic Centre,
Victoria Island, Lagos.’ The trio
were rewarded with cash prizes
of N1million, N1.5 million and
N2 million respectively.
First Bank of Nigeria Plc. was
named the ‘Evergreen Customer
of The Year’ in the award ceremony.
The evergreen award is
for customers that have consistently
patronised the Toyota
brand over the years. As the evergreen
customer of the year,
First Bank which also won the
same award last year, was rewarded
with the latest model of
new Toyota Yaris, valued at over
N10 million.
The Motoring Press was not
left out in the award. Recognised
in the Journalists category
at the award night were Rasheed
Bisiriyu of Punch, Theodore
Opara of Vanguard and Mike
Ochonna of Businessday newspapers
who emerged as overall
winner, first runner up and second
runner up respectively for
their outstanding reportage of
the automobile sector during the
year. Speaking at the event,
From Left; Mrs Temitope Sowande, Head Procurement , representing First Bank Plc, overrall winner
Customer of the Year, Chief Micheal Ade Ojo, Chairman, Elizade Motors, Mrs Taye Ade-Ojo,
wife, and Mr Henry Ade Ojuoko, Head Dealer Development and Special Project, Toyota Nigeria
Limited, during the Toyota Customer Awards Night , held at Civic Center, Victoria Island Lagos.
Chairman, Toyota Nigeria Limited,
Chief Michael Ade.Ojo,
said their customers in particular
have supported them through
thick and thin, adding that the
customers have continued to be
their source of strength and pillar
of support. That support
Ade.Ojo said has made TNL a
force to reckon with in the automobile
industry in the country.
The chairman, however, lamented
the adverse effect of the
nation’s economy on the purchasing
power of the people. According
to him, the last few years
has been tough for the auto industry.
Ade.Ojo said “The Nigeria
economy has experienced series
of crises over the years. The
last few years in particular have
been extremely tough. The purchasing
power of the average
Nigerian has been thoroughly
weakened; this coupled with the
unprecedented surge in prices
of goods and services, has made
acquisition and ownership of
new vehicles extremely difficult
for average Nigerians. This has
inevitably resulted in a huge
drop in sales of vehicles”.
Assuring customers of TNL’s
resolve to continue its customer
friendly approach, Ade.Ojo said
“I want to assure you that despite
the monumental challenges
in the economy, TNL will continue
to devise means that will
enable our customers to continue
to enjoy their preferred auto
brand-Toyota. We will continue
to initiate customer friendly,
business improvement strategies
aimed at making our brand more
affordable. We have continuously
improved our after-sales architecture
in order to give our
customers value for their money.
We are committed to doing
the needful at all times to sustain
the culture of superior quality
and excellent customer service
that TNL is known for”.
Discovery Landmark Edition for
Land Rover 30th anniversary
THE Land Rover Discovery
SUV has been raising the
bar for all-terrain capability and
everyday versatility for 30 years.
To celebrate three decades of adventure
with the ultimate go-anywhere
SUV, Land Rover unveiled
the new Discovery Landmark
Edition.
The Discovery has been the
choice of adventurers and families
since its arrival at the Frankfurt
Motor Show in 1989 and the
new Landmark Edition showcases
everything it means to be a
Discovery, with upgraded standard
features and subtle design
enhancements.
Taking the well-appointed SE
as a starting point, the Landmark
Edition adds the Dynamic Pack,
which includes a more purposeful
front bumper design and Narvik
Black mesh grille and fender
vents. Narvik Black nameplate
scripting on the bonnet and tailgate
is also joined by unique
Landmark badging on the tailgate.
The exterior is also marked
out by a fixed panoramic roof,
front fog lights and signature tail
lights, while privacy glass and
20-inch Gloss Black wheels complete
the modern and contemporary
look.
The interior is available with a
choice of three premium Windsor
leather colourways with contrast
micropiping. A Satin
Brushed Aluminium centre console
and titanium mesh finishers
also set it apart, with the
380W Meridian Sound System,
helping to create a truly firstclass
travel experience.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2019 — 23
FORD has gone further in
the ultra-competitive light
commercial vehicle, LCV, segment
with the launch of the
New Ranger for 2019. The new
Ranger was launched in Pretoria,
South Africa, recently.
Featuring an extensive range
of mechanical, technological,
feature and comfort upgrades,
the new line-up will make the
Ranger an even more compelling
choice amongst workhorse
and leisure-oriented pick-up
customers.
According to Doreen Mashinini,
General Manager Marketing
at Ford Motor Company
Sub-Saharan Africa, SSA,
Region, "the current Ranger
has been a fantastic success story
for Ford in Sub-Saharan Africa,
and is the leading LCV
export to markets in Europe,
the Middle East and the rest
of Africa.
“The New Ranger introduces
fresh exterior and interior
design cues that build on its
‘tough truck’ image, complemented
by the adoption of new
technologies that further bolster
the Ranger’s established
reputation for supreme safety,
convenience and comfort,” she
adds.
The model line-up has been
revised for New Ranger, with
the new XLS series slotting in
above the entry-level Base and
Ford Ranger
Ford unveils all new Ranger
XL versions. The XLS offers
superb value for money along
with an impressive list of standard
features. The Ranger Limited
makes way for an enhanced
XLT specification in
SSA, and the range is topped
off as usual with the exclusive
and luxuriously appointed
Ranger Wildtrak.
Commenting on the New
Ranger, Abiona Babarinde, the
General Manager, Marketing
and Corporate Communications
at Coscharis Motors, the exclusive
distributors of Ford in Nigeria
said “we are excited
about this new addition to our
Ford collections that will certainly
deliver the expected value
in the auto market as this is
expected to delight our numerous
existing customers and
convert new prospects in the
truck segment. Surprisingly,
some of our loyal customers
have already started to make
enquiries on this New Ranger
which is a good signal that this
vehicle will be well accepted
and will do well in our market”.
Continuing the Ranger’s
proven ‘Built Ford Tough’ heritage,
the assertive styling of
the 2019 model delivers an even
more powerful presence on the
road. The latest model offers
the opportunity to provide
greater differentiation in the
series. Accordingly, the frontend
design of the popular XLT
series has been updated to
have a more horizontal feel,
with the centre grille bar now
divided into two, giving it a
more precise and well-crafted
look.
The lower bumper also presents
a sense of solidity and
strength through the centre
beam that runs into the outer
fog lamp areas. With a wider
lower grille the new bumper
complements and harmonises
well with new front end. The
same design execution has
been applied to XL and XLS
variants.
The new Ranger comes in
three different engine options:
The powerful five-cylinder 3.2-
litre Duratorq TDCi engine
continues to lead the range,
delivering impressive performance
and outstanding loadlugging
abilities with a peak
power of 147kW matched to
470Nm of torque.
The reliable and efficient 2.2-
litre TDCi engine remains a
key part of the New Ranger
line-up across the Single Cab,
SuperCab and Double Cab
models. It continues in the two
existing levels: 88kW/285Nm
with a five-speed manual gearbox
for the base-spec models,
and 118kW/385Nm for the more
upmarket versions, available
with a choice of six-speed manual
and automatic transmissions
on selected derivatives.

24 —Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2019
Turkish Airlines promises
transit passengers
opportunities of Istanbul
tour
Turkish Airlines General
Manager, Abuja, Mr
Mehmet Asik, has
promised travellers rewarding
experience on its routes, just as
transit passengers will have
opportunities of visiting historical
places in Istanbul.
Speaking with journalists in
Lagos, recently, Asik said “There
is also the Istanbul Tour for transit
passengers. In this programme,
we take passengers on sightseeing
of historical places in Istanbul and
offer them free breakfast and lunch
before joining their flights. We fly
to more countries in the world than
any other airline, so in terms of
international destinations, we are
number one.
He added that the airline’s
Business Class catering is the
best in the world while the
economy catering is number two.
“We always try to keep the
travel experience in the Business
Class as the best. We have 350
movies in in-flight, we have free
on board WI-FI apart from the
flying Chef who prepares
passengers’ meal on-board, this
is why we have the best catering
in the world.
“We have the corporate club,
which offers benefits such as
discount, incentives and excess
baggage. We also have the Miles
and Smiles where we reward
frequent flyers and loyal
customers.
He added “Nigeria is the
biggest economy in Africa and
Nigerians love to travel. Lagos
and Abuja are among our biggest
destinations in Africa despite the
competition on these routes.
Nigeria is growing and we want
to be part of this growth,” he said.
He said the carrier considers
the Nigerian market very
important, a development that
has made it to work harder to
proffer solutions to infractions
arising from poor services.
Speaking on the Abuja route, he
said “We are so happy to move our
operations to the new terminal, we
are happy to have the very latest
technology in Abuja, it will give us
the best opportunity to handle our
passengers. At the old terminal, there
was no such opportunity for us to park
near the bridge, passengers only use
the bus to connect the terminal on
arrival but the new terminal offers
more facilities”,
Asik then disclosed that the
airline would begin four times
weekly flight from Port Harcourt
to Istanbul soon connecting Port
Harcourt to the rest of the world
through Istanbul.
He commended the fact that
the international airport in Port
Harcourt is new and would
support the airline’s services and
give passengers a world of
wonderful experience.
Ozbek stated that with the new
route from Port Harcourt to
Istanbul, Nigerian students from
the region, who wished to study
abroad could also take
advantage of its Students’
Discounted Fare programme.
Easter: Transcorp Hilton Abuja fetes kids with
‘Eggciting’ time
By Victoria Ojeme
TRANSCORP Hilton
Hotel, Abuja, has
promised its guests and customers
an exciting Easter
Brunch with an unlimited
rounds of goodness spread
across the hotel’s buffet, just
as the kids will be indulged
with the Hilton’s ‘Eggciting’.
Kevin Brett, the recently
appointed General Manager
of the hotel, said “We are
set to create a refreshing and
truly festive experience for
our guests during the Easter
weekend.”
He added that the Hilton’s
‘Eggciting’ is one of the most
fascinating activities for the
little ones, comprising buffet
corner and special Easter
chocolate.
Other exciting packages
for the kids during the Easter
weekend include egg races,
egg hunting egg painting,
face painting and swimming
pool games.
There are also kids club activities,
aerobics classes and
tennis tournament.
Also speaking on the hotel’s
plans, the Public Relations
Manager, Shola
Adeyemo, said “the hotel is
Asik said Turkish Airline has
seen steady and significant
passenger and cargo growth from
2005 till date. The airline, he said,
has grown from a 14 million
passenger per annum in 2005 to
78.5 million per annum in 2018
basing it on the airline’s drive for
safety, customer satisfaction.
He also said that the airline has
grown from 145,000 tonnes in
2005 to about one million tonnes
in 2018, stating that Lagos
houses its biggest cargo
operations in the world with three
cargo flights weekly.
Speaking on fleet acquisition,
he noted that the airline has 336
aircraft, all at an average of 8.2
years old making it the youngest
fleet in the world and has ordered
over 150 new aircraft to boost its
fleet size to approximately 500 in
the next five years.
“The fleet age is very important
to us, Turkish airline fleet is one
of the youngest in the world, the
newer the fleet, the more efficient
it is. We operate to 307
destinations in the world, we
have 336 aircraft in our fleet and
in the next years, we plan to
increase the fleet to
approximately 500”, he said.
promising both old and prospective
guest a festive treat
this season.”
“Beyond the luxury accommodation,
festive dining and
entertainment, the highlight
of the package for the season
is the popular Easter
Brunch . It is a perennial
favourite with the weekend
brunching crowd in the city.”
He added “This year, we
promise our esteemed customers
and guests an unlimited
rounds of goodness
spread across the buffet at
the famous Bukka Restaurant.
“Our customers and guests
can now enjoy Easter Sunday
at interesting discount
off the price of a sumptuous
brunch of specially selected
buffet highlights such as
oven-roasted lamb and hot
cross buns at the Bukka and
Fulani Pool Restaurants,” the
statement said.
Adeyemo also informed
that the hotel’s chefs have
decked up a magnificent
Easter feast that is larger
than usual with all the trimmings,
seasonal favourites
and endless buffet on Nigerian
and continental specialities.
Namibia High Commission opens
Visa processing office in Lagos
Namibia High Commission,
as part of plans to stimulate passenger and cargo
services for its carrier, Air Namibia has opened a Visa
Processing Office in Lagos State, Nigeria to ease the process
of visa procurement for travellers to that country.
According to the High Commission, the visa processing office
in Lagos was opened after enquiries and research that point to
the fact that 60% of air travellers above its Air Namibia reside
around Lagos and its surrounding environment.
The commission is also seeking better partnership with
Nigeria and Lagos in particular for business, education,
tourism as well as other areas of mutual benefits for both
countries.
Namibian High Commissioner, His Excellency, Humphrey
Geiseb said “Our decision, therefore, to open a visa processing
centre in Lagos in partnership with Air Namibia is a strategic
move aimed at easing the burden of having to travel to Abuja
before getting a visa thereby further boosting diplomatic ties
and trade between Nigeria and Namibia and offering choices
and easy access to our highly esteemed visitors and would-be
investors.” “The government is seeking to attract foreign
investors to participate in public-private partnerships (PPP),
particularly in the health, transportation and housing sectors.
A law to facilitate PPP was passed in 2017 and implementation
is ongoing.” He added.
“Discerning Nigerians who love to relax and those willing to
invest can take advantage of the many tourist attractions and
investment opportunities that abound across the country,” he
said.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2019 — 25

26 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, , 2019
Warri Jalsa Tarbiy
arbiyah
ah
Shaaban 14, 1440 A.H.
Recognition of God: A means of salvation
•Why Dangote missed Warri Jalsa
•
JUST after the Fajr prayers, it
became cloudy with a little
drizzle in Warri. Hundreds of
Muslims had gathered at the Mom
Civic Center, along the popular
airport road in the city, venue of
the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat,
Nigeria, the 4 th Eastern Region/
SouthSouth Jalsa Tarbiyah. As if
it was the hand of God, the
momentary showers became the
mainspring for a successful event.
Quality people trooped in from far
and near including non Ahmadis
who according, to them were
endeared to the group by their
philosophy of ‘love for all, hatred
for none’. It was also gathered that
Africa’s richest man, and
chairman of the largest
indigenous industrial
conglomerate, Alhaji Aliko
Dangote who was on the list to
deliver the first paper on: "The
Guiding Principles for Survival in
Business without corruption in a
mono-product economy" missed
the occasion as a result of some
issues on our air travel. Again, it
was gathered that his friends had
put in place a 62 nd birthday bash
for him without his knowledge on
that day. Even at that, as a good
friend of the Jamaat, all efforts to
personally attend the event and
immediately return to Lagos were
frustrated by air travel.
At the gathering, the solemn
Quran recitation of the Quran
(59:18-24), rendition of Qasidah
of the Prophet, and the lecture
were soul lifting. Captivated by the
rendition of the eulogies of the
prophet, the Amir Sahib, Dr.
Mashu’ud Fashola called for a
repeat of a part of Qasidah to the
applause of all in reverence and
glorification of Allah (SWT) and
Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w).
Famous scholar, Dr, Saheed
Timehin fired the first salvo
interrogating the theme of the
event, Recognition of God: A true
means of salvation. Timehin
posited that recognition of God as
spelt out by Islam will create in
the individual a moral
consciousness that makes him see
that his actions have a tansworldly
reference. He develops a firm
belief in transcendental
accountability, stressing
character building through a
functional moral orientation that
assists him to embrace virtues and
shun vices.
He stated that in Islam, the
individual is an executor of the
divine will on earth.
“God consciousness or
recognition of the divine is thus
the missing link between human
systems and socio-economic
behaviour both at individual and
governmental levels. This is why
political analysts, economists and
social theorists are all trying today
to rediscover the missing link.”
In Nigeria today, the socioeconomic
malady has adverse
effect on the power of any Nigerian
to see God all around and has
opaque our inner vision to
recognise God. He emphasised
that even with our devotion, we
can still battle unemployment,
poverty, social discrimination and
other forms of injustice. Thus
recognising Allah’s purpose in our
lives will help in appreciating God
more at all times. We need to know
that sometimes, devotion does
not extricate us from the
aforementioned problems.
According to him, we most often
fall into this error because we
approach God with our reasoning
faculty alone.
The hypothetical questions
then become – In what ways is
recognition of God compatible
with our socio-economic realities
and how can it translate into
salvation from the harsh realities
that plague us?
We claim to know God but we
do not know Him enough to trust
Him. We sing praises, extol His
noble Attributes, chant His names
and supplicate at the feet of His
Majestic Throne, yet our souls do
not accept His Sovereignty and
neither do our hearts believe in
his omnipotence.
Evil acts and corruption
emanate from non-recognition of
God and the long term effect is that
it undermines national and
communal harmony and also
prevents the actualisation of
maximum good for the populace.
Timehin stated that, in truth, the
true recognition of God can only
be achieved by His Grace and this
Grace is tied to the personality of
one man whose life is a total
reflection of Allah’s limitless Grace
and a complete manifestation of
His Mercy. That man is
Muhammad (s.a.w), the legislative
authority in the annals of religion
till the end of time.
He advised participants to be
conscious of every step they take
and keep in view the divine
injunctions at all times.
By the time Dr Timehin finished,
the lecture which lasted 45
minutes had ignited another
round of fire from other speakers.
The Amir of the Jamaat, Dr
Mashuud Fashola enjoined
goodness to all irrespective of
colour, race, ethnic or political
differences even to repay evil with
goodness, adding that the
reformation of man in line with the
design of what God wants man to
be is crystal to the recognition of
God and a means to reaching
paradise.
Dr Fashola said the convention
which is loaded with blessings
such as acquiring religious
knowledge and progress in the
worship of their creator; mutual
brotherhood that will strengthen
the community; benefit from
prayers of the founder, khallifa
and congregation – including
worldly and heavenly blessings;
the elimination of all personal
problems, grief and hardships,
achievement of cherished goals,
full protection for all loved ones,
guidance, spiritual elevation
among others is a great benefit for
all participants as it will help to
reform and redirect them to the
path of God.
Other speakers also took turn to
address moral deficit hanging on
our society as well as pontificating
on the path of righteousness,
moral rectitude at homes. When
a Muslim is ethically right and
morally upright, righteousness
will not only dots his path, but also
elevates him and he becomes
better being, recognising the
presence and authority of God in
all his endeavours. When this
important aspect of faith is
present in one’s life, it is only then
he can have mental equanimity
amidst all the crises of life that
might come his way and though
this achieve the straight path to
salvation. This was the import of
the message.
The business summit which was
moderated by the Cheif Host,
Naib-ul- Amir, Eastern region/
South-south was another
laudable effort towards socioeconomic
development of
participants. The panelists which
included Zaid Abdullah, a well
trained agriculturist; Barrister
Abdulazeez Olatoye; Dr.
AbdulLateef Busari; Alhaji M. A
Bankole, CEO and accomplished
entrepreneur; Dr. Habeeb Yekeen;
retired banker, Economists and
accomplished businessman are
some of the experts with good
experiences in their diverse fields.
They took members through on
how to become successful in
business without losing the touch
of their spiritual life as Muslims.
What people say
Your ideals will bring
peace, tolerance, prosperity
to mankind —Gov Obaseki
The governor of Edo State, Mr
Godwin Obaseki who was
represented by Permanent
Secretary, Ministry of
Agriculture, Comrade S. B. Kadir
commended the efforts of the
Jamaat in propagating global
religious tolerance, education and
provision of social services to
guarantee better living for
humanity.
In his message read by Comrade
Kadiri, the governor said:
“There is no denying the fact that
the values you espouse are very
meaningful in driving the ideal
world of peaceful coexistence,
shared economic prosperity,
globally enlightened citizenry,
religious and cultural tolerance,
security, and enhanced better
living for mankind.
“I am particularly grateful that
the focus of this year’s Annual
Regional Conference is focusing
on very pertinent issues which we
must all keep collaborating to
address.
“We are all aware that there is
currently an enormous challenge
in trying to provide adequate jobs
for our teeming unemployed
youths. The unemployment
challenge remains one of the main
focuses of our administration
which we are assiduously working
to nip with the transformational
reforms we have set on course.
Therefore, we welcome and
regard as very salutary such
endeavours like yours, aiming to
equally address the issue of
soaring unemployment.
“However, I must remark on
your choice of personalities
earmarked to bring the expected
value out of this Conference. Very
noteworthy is that fact that a global
icon of entrepreneurial success,
Alhaji Aliko Dangote (GCON) is a
Continues on page 27
L-R: Guest Lecturer, Dr. Sa’eed Timehin; General
Secretary, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Nigeria, Alhaji
Abbas Iromini and representative of Commissioner of
Police, Edo State, SupPol, Idris Onaido, during the 4th
Eastern Region Jalsa Tarbiyyah in Warri, Delta State.
L-R: Representative of Edo State Governor, Comrade
S. B. Kadir; Amir Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Nigeria,
Dr. Mashhud Adenrele Fashola; Naib Amir Eastern
Region, Dr. Gani Enahoro and Naib Amir South West,
Barrister Abdul Azeez Alatoye at the event.
From left: Mr. Bibhatsu Das (Hare Krishna); Mr Musa
Bello (Director, Christian Association of Nigeria
CAN) and Mr Monday Madukwe (Secretary CAN
Delta State Branch), at the event.
From left: Chief Imam Central Mosque, Warri, the Chief
Imam of Warri Central Mosque, Abdul Rasheed
Ajisafe; Vice President, General Supreme Council
Islamic Affairs Edo Delta State, Prince (Alhaji)
Biliaminu Emeko and Sadr Majlis Khuddam-ul-
Ahmadiyya Nigeria, Engr. Sa’eed Aina, during the 4th
Eastern Region Jalsa Tarbiyyah in Warri, Delta State.

THE Chairman, National
Hajj Commission of
Nigeria (NAHCON) Barrister
Abdullahi Mukhar
Muhammad has reiterated
government’s readiness to
work with business owners
who have shown integrity in
their business dealings.
Muktar stated this during a
meeting with Chief
Executives of Umrah and
Hajj licensed Tour Operators
held recently in his office,
Abuja.
He added that documenting
every contract agreement
properly would help to
diffuse a lot of confusion that
may arise between them and
their clienteles.
The event was organised in
preparation for 2019 Hajj
operations, to offer an
opportunity for the
Commission and Licensed
Tour Operators’ (LTO) to
brainstorm on crucial
matters necessary for the
success of the 2019 exercise.
The Chairman lamented the
manner some of the LTOs
discharge
their
responsibility to their
clients, which leaves much to
be desired.
He reiterated the President
Muhammadu Buhari
administration’s readiness to
support LTOs who are
genuinely prepared to do
business in the best interest
of their customers and for the
image of Nigeria in
particular.
“Government is willing to
help strengthen those
ventures pursuing their
responsibilities with
sincerity.
Again,
documenting every contract
agreement properly is
instrumental to diffusing a lot
Shaaban 14, 1440 A.H.
NAHCON meets licensed tour operator
ors
*Expresses appreciation to IDB
of confusion between you
and your clients,” he said.
Commissioner Operations
of NAHCON, Alhaji Modibbo
Saleh, also restated the
importance of LTOs to render
quality service to their
customers.
He urged them to design
best ways to settle their
obligation to their
customers, adding that the
Commission was ever ready
to listen to both sides in times
of contractual disputes and
to do justice as an arbitrator.
He also charged them to
comply with rules and
regulations of Saudi Arabia in
order to bring sanity to Hajj
operation both from within
and outside the country.
Meanwhile, the NAHCON
Chairman acknowledged
with gratitude, the Islamic
Development Bank (IsDB)’s
grant to Commission.
“The grant, which comes in
form of sponsorship of staff
for capacity building/
training is designed to
facilitate sharing of
knowledge and expertise
between staff of the
Commission and relevant
institutions.
“This is in line with the
bank’s policy of developing
institutions for maximum
productivity
and
i n f r a s t r u c t u r a l
development.
“The Commission is
confident that the
equipment to be supplied
and staff training will
considerably enhance the
progress of Hajj
management in the country,”
he stated.
Lagos begins biometric capturing of
intending pilgrims
THE biometric capturing
of Lagos state intending
pilgrims has commenced
after all.
The exercise which kicked
off onTuesday at Ves Tasheel
House, Abule Onigbongbo,
Ikeja, Lagos, with some
pilgrims from Alimosho local
government area is now in
progress. As at press time, it
was gathered that only
pilgrims who have completed
their payments are called for
the exercise.
The Board Secretary, Mr.
Ishola Rahman reacting to
the development asked
intending pilgrims to visit the
place with their two passport
photographs and original
copy of their International
Passport for the all important
exercise.
He pointed out that
intending pilgrims from
Agege Local Government
who have completed their
payments have been
attended to while those of
Ajeromi and Alimosho are
ongoing.
For orderliness, he stated
that “Pilgrims are to await
phone call from their various
coordinators for their
respective dates of capturing
to enable them obtain visa
for the holy pilgrimage.
In his contribution, the
Board Secretary, reiterated
the need for intending
pilgrims to make haste in the
completion of their
payments in order to fastrack
the travelling arrangements
to the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia.
"Vanguard,
FRIDAY APRIL 19, 2019 — 27
BARKA JUMAH
Doing good builds blessings
How right has life turned out to be that those who
do good infinitely triumph. And the wicked ever
wallow in sadness and the scourge of unending
misery. It's the goodness that we extend to humanity
that perfectly cobble together the broken pieces
of our faith. Doing good anchor itself to purpose
which eliminate greed and ignorance; but build
assured blessings. May Allah gift to each of us inner
peace and the amazing enchantment of salvation.
Happy Jumat.
— Dr. Adewale Adeeyo, OON
Wamakk
amakko, other
thers, donate N1m, motor
orcy
cycles
cles
to graduands of Islamic School
THE Chairman of the Northern Senators Forum and Coodinator,
North West, Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Aliyu
Magatakarda Wamakko and others, have donated N 1,080,000
million to the 43 graduands of Madarassatul Dangaladima Monde
Islamiyya School, Wamakko, Sokoto State.
This is contained in a statement signed by the Special Assistant on
Media and Publicity to Senator Wamakko, Bashir Rabe Mani and
issued to newsmen recently.
Senator Wamakko donated N500,000, All Progressives Congress
(APC), Gubernatorial Candidate, Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, donated
N 215,000, while a former Commissioner in the state, Alhaji
Muhammadu Bello Sifawa, donated N100,000.
Similarly, the member of the House of Representatives, representing
Wamakko and Kware Federal Constituency, Alhaji Ahmed Abdullahi
Kalambaina, donated N 215,000, while his colleague representing
Sokoto North and Sokoto South Federal Constituency, Alhaji Bala
Hassan donated N 50,000 and 43 wrappers.
In the same vein, the Chairman of the APC Gubernatorial Campaign
Council and Katukan Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi,
pledged to settle the one year registration fees of three hundred
indigent students of the school.
The statement added that, Senator Wamakko, who represents
Sokoto North Senatorial District and also chairs the Senate
Committee on Basic and Secondary Education, has donated five
motorcycles to the male teachers of institution, fifty wrappers and
fifty copies of the Holy Qur’an .
He also promised to construct the needed additional structures in
the school, to enable it meet its new standard of a Junior Secondary
School. The statement explained that, each of the 43 graduands
who were all females, got N20,000, a wrapper and a copy of the
Glorious Qur’an. In separate lectures, two Islamic Preachers, Dr
Jabir Sani Mai Hula and Sheikh Dangande Wamakko, admonished
parents and guardians to accord top priority to the education of
their children, and wards.
Recognition of God: A means of salvation
Continued from page 26
prime choice to deliver the know-how in economic and job related
matters, And I trust the other resource persons to equally deliver the
right value-orientation.
“The second focus which makes this Conference very relevant is the
issue of displaced moral values and decadent society. I am hoping that
this Conference will bring about the needed regeneration towards a
societal rebirth.
“Finally, let me once again express our deepest appreciation for the
two-day free medical exercise which you carried out through your
Humanity First affiliate in Ovia South-West Local Government Area of
Edo State in October, 2018. Our administration remains highly grateful
for your wonderful support and the great works you are undertaking in
Edo State and indeed Nigeria in general.
Let us not look at Muslims with hatred — Rev Monday
Madukwe, CAN Secretary, Delta State.
I see the spirit of oneness in all their activities especially their motto –
Love for all, hatred for none. If it is practiced as we have heard here, the
religious crisis we always experience will no longer exist. It shows we
can be one, because we are creatures of the same Great God. So, religious
differences should not lead to hatred. We must be united in our diversity.
The programme is commendable, the goal is commendable. So,
whatever negative attitude anybody has against Islam should be out of
ignorance. It is the same God that created us. Let us not look at Muslims
with hatred, let us look at them with love because we are from the same
creator.
Ahmadiyya expend time, resources to create peace —
Bibhatsu Das (Hare Krishna)
I like the people because they expended time and resources to create
peace among people of different faith. The Muslims are humans; you
have to be human first before you talk about God. You cannot talk about
God when your consciousness is that of animal. You have to be human
first and Ahmadiyya people are on that platform. I congratulate them
and we wish them well.
Hon. Commission, Ministry of Home Affairs, Dr. AbdulHakeem AbdulLateef
(Guest Speaker, middle); from his immediate left, Alhaji AbdulFatah Adedoyin
Popoola, the Branch Manager; Alhaji Mikhail Olawale Sadiq, First Assistant
Secretary; Ustaz Ahmed Adewale, Assistant Missioner; from his right: Alhaji
Bashir Alade Lawal, Branch Manager; Alhaji Akeem Adisa Toluwaloju,
Secretary, Finance and Investment during a lecture organised by Ansar-Ud-
Deen Society of Nigeria, Akoka Branch Lagos, recently
All Muslims are united in Warri—Alhaji Ajisafe, Chief Imam of Warri
All the Muslims including Ahmadiyya are very united here and we
can see from this gathering that we are one and united ummah. Any
time there is gathering of Muslims, people always marvel over our
number because we rally round every one of us irrespective of tribe
whether, Nupe, Hausa, Yoruba, Itsekiri, Igbo, once you are a Muslim,
we are one and the King, Olu of Warri and all Deltans accept us. So, my
advice for Muslims is to continue to be united while we beg the
government to look into the Hajj board with a view to giving opportunities
to some of us.

28 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, April 19, 2019
RAINSTORM IN ONDO: My valuables, clothes
destroyed by rainstorm, 101 year old victim cries
By Dayo Johnson
AKURE—IT was a tale of
woes, anguish and sorrow
across three communities in
Akoko North East and Akoko
South West in Ondo State as
rainfall of over one hour
rendered about a thousand
people homeless.
Owners of the ageing houses
watched in anguish as the
rainstorm forcefully removed
the rooftops of their houses and
deposited them few metres
away.
The affected communities
include Ikare Akoko, Supare
Akoko and Ugbe Akoko.
The devastation was
unprecedented across the
state.
Victims of the devastation
narrated their traumatised
experiences after the incident.
Many of the victims have
relocated to neighbouring
communities where they have
families, while others
squat with sympathisers in the
community whose houses were
not affected.
They called on the state
government and other
government intervention
agencies for lifelines.
As at the last count, reports
had it that houses affected in
Supare, which was worse hit,
has over 500 houses while Ikare
recorded 300 houses whose
rooftops were blown off and 200
other houses suffered similar
fate in Ugbe Akoko courtesy of
the downpour which was
accompanied by whirlwind.
Other structures that were
pulled down include worship
centres, police stations, electric
poles, internet masts, bill boards
amongst others.
I don’t want to die
homeless— Centenarian
Narrating his ordeal, a 101
year old man, who was a victim
in Supare, Akoko, Pa Akin
Ogunyebi described it as
pitiable.
His house, a bungalow, was
destroyed by the rainstorm.
Pa Ogunyebi, a centenarian,
who stays alone in the house
before it was damaged, told
Vanguard that “The rainstorm
destroyed my house. My box
where I keep my valuables and
clothes was destroyed by the
rainstorm. I am very sad and
angry. The rain has not been fair
to me. Where do I go now?
I don’t want to die homeless.
There is no one to help me now.
My wife died some years ago.
“None of my children lives in
the town. I am the only one
staying in this house and my
children are not around. I lost
one of them few years ago
“I am pleading with the
government and other wellmeaning
people to come to my
aid so that I will not be homeless
at my age. I have lost my wife
some years ago and I do not
want to die homeless.”
•Pa Ogunyebi -the 101 year
old victim of rainstorm in
Ondo
My family and I now
sleep outside —Umar
Another victim, a pensioner,
Abudu Umar in Afin Akoko also
had his house affected by the
rainstorm.
Lamenting his ordeal, Mr.
Umar said his family now sleeps
outside their damaged
building.
Umar, 69 years, retired from
the local government service
eight years ago, after serving for
25 years.
He is yet to be paid his
gratuities by the State
Government.
He said: “For over nine years
that I retired, my gratuity is still
unpaid by the state government
making life miserable for me
and my family.
“As I am talking presently, my
family and I have been
squatting with my friends and
sometime sleep outside our
damaged building. Since the
incidence, we have not been
able to stay in our house and
there is no money to repair the
building because I cannot afford
the high cost of building
materials now.
“That is why I am appealing
to Goveror Rotimi Akeredolu to
order the immediate payment
of my gratuity to enable me put
the house back in good
shape.”
My machines have been
destroyed—Murtala,
physically challenged
The rainstorm equally affected
the house of a physically
•Balogun Murtala, the
handicap whose house was
destroyed by rainstorm in
ondo
challenged man, Balogun
Murtala in Supare.
Speaking with Vanguard,
Murtala said: “I am a fashion
designer and my machines
have been destroyed including
clothes given to me by
customers. As a physically
challenged person, it has been
a tough since this incident.
“We are waiting for the
government to assist us to help
us live well again.”
Speaking on the havoc caused
by the rainstorm, the traditional
ruler of Supare Akoko land, the
Olu of Supare land, Oba Adejoro
Adedeji said: “It was a terrible
storm that affected many houses
here.
“It has never happened since
assumed the throne of my
forefathers. Over 80 houses
were affected including electric
poles, and other valuables.
If we are to cost the effect of
the damages, it will amount to
several millions of naira.”
In his appeal to government,
he said: “We have written to the
state governor for assistance, we
have written to our House of
Representatives Members at the
national assembly. Some of them
have sent team to inspect the
houses. The deputy governor
visited here to inspect the level
of damage done and hopefully
the state government will do
something.”
We’ll cushion effects of
incident—Ondo govt
The Ondo State government
has pledged to cushion the
effects of the incident.
Meanwhile, the state
government has sent relief
materials to the affected
communities to cushion their
plights.
The Deputy Governor, Mr.
Agboola Ajayi, who paid a visit
to the affected communities
during the week, described the
incident as a clear case of a
natural disaster.
Ajayi said: “The state officials
of the National Emergency
Management Agency are
already in the affected
communities to ascertain the
damage caused by the
rainstorm so as to ameliorate the
plights of the victims.”
You can’t undermine your
culture and remain
relevant globally — Aare
Adams
By Gabriel Olawale
LAGOS—THE
Aare
Onakakanfo of
Yorubaland,
Iba
Gani Adams has
admonished Nigerians both
home and in the diaspora to
embrace and showcase their
culture wherever they find
themselves.
Making the appeal at the
2019 edition of Wealth
Festival (Odun Aje), in
Agege area of Lagos State,
Adams warned that
abandoning deities and
festivals, amount to digging
grave of culture.
He said: “We cannot
continue to bury our culture
and tradition and remain
relevant in the world. It is
not possible. It is a fact that
we must bring back our
culture and identity. Any
nation that buries its
cultural identity and
traditions buries its history
and that will be distrastrous
for us as a people.
“For instance, Rwanda, as
small as it is, has shown
that planning is not about
By Gabriel Olawale
L AGOS—-MAJORITY
Leader of the House of
Representatives, Mr. Femi
Gbajabiamila has
empowered 210 fish and
vegetable farmers in his
Constituency with skills and
tools that will avail them the
opportunity to care for their
family and contribute to the
development of Lagos State
and Nigeria.
Speaking during the
handover of tools and startup
cash gift to beneficiary,
Gbajabiamila said that the
exercise was in continuation
of his empowerment agenda
programme.
He said: “This
empowerment is one of our
strategies at attacking the
scourge of poverty and
unemployment among our
people.
“Knowledge, as we all
know, is the greatest gift to
mankind and without a
foundation of knowledge,
human progress will be an
arduous undertaking. The
210 constituents underwent
training and were certified as
trained fish and vegetable
farmers and today they are
going home with collapsible
fish ponds, fish feeds, startup
capital, bags of fertiliser,
and insecticides among
how big but how well
focused and decisive
leadership can be. Today,
the country has become an
investment and tourism hub
because the leaders have
collectively said they will
never allow the poor
experience of the past to
determine the greater
future ahead of them. And
true to their words, Rwanda
is on the verge of becoming
one of the greatest countries
in Africa.
“But, here in Nigeria, we
are yet to make up our
minds. And nobody is
asking questions. Have you
ever asked why Nigeria has
remained so poor amid
plenty human and natural
resources?
“We are where we are
today because we have
abandoned our culture. We
are where we are today
because we have abandoned
our history.
“We can only make
meaningful progress as a
race if we go back to our
roots, and promote what is
truly ours. That to me is the
bitter truth.”
Gbajabiamila empowers
constituency farmers
others.”
Gbajabiamila, who was
represented by a Lagos State
House of Assembly member,
Mr. Desmond Elliot, urged
the beneficiaries not to sell
the facilities, but to use them
to earn a living.
In his remarks, the
Chairman, Willbond
Consulting Limited, whose
company trained the
constituents, Ibrahim
Tajudeen said: “Gbajabiamila
is trying to engage people to
set up small scale business.
Most of the beneficiaries are
retired civil servants that are
idle and he has decided to set
something up for them for
their benefits.
“This programme is
anchored by the Nigerian
Research Institute. Through
continuous monitoring and
evaluation, it will be difficult
for any of the beneficiaries to
sell what he or she has got.”
The ceremony was
attended by the Lagos State
Commissioner for Youth and
Social Development, Mr.
Agboola Dabiri; Chairman,
Surulere Local Government,
Mr. Tajudeen Ajide;
Chairman, All Progressives
Congress, APC, in Surulere,
Mr. S.S. Ajao and
Gbajabiamiala’s mother,
Alhaja Latifat.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, April 19, 2019 — 29
By Esther Onyegbula &
Chris Onuoha
LAGOS—THE
rainy
season is just beginning
so has the pains, agonies of
motorists and commuters
plying the Lagos-Badagry
expressway.
There is no end to the
suffering experienced by
people plying the road.
This can be attributed to
the deplorable state of the
road.
Motorists and commuters
have frowned at both the
Federal Government and
Lagos State Government
over their travails on the
road.
Lending his voice to the
deplorable state of the road,
the traditional ruler of Iworo
kingdom in Olorunda local
government of Badagry, Oba
Idris Oladele Kosoko,
lampooned the Federal
Government’s insensitivity
towards the bad state of the
Badagry Expressway and the
plight of users.
The monarch made this
known during the
celebration of his second year
anniversary on the throne.
Oba Kosoko said: “The
condition of the Badagry
Expressway is very
disheartening. This is one
important link road to other
ECOWAS communities in
West Africa. There is a huge
lost of economic activities as
a result of the poor condition
of the road. It is in a terrible
condition. Vehicles
breakdown and loss of man
hour is causing a lot of
hardship on the people. A
journey of about 45 minutes
from Okokomaiko to
Badagry now takes almost
four hours. Now that the rain
is back, we are not sure if the
road will be passable again.”
He, however, appealed to
the Federal Government
“not to be insensitive to
issues like these. They
should declare a state of
emergency on Badagry
Express road. If the
construction work is
suspended, there should be
THE TEAM
palliative measures to fill the
pot holes and make
vehicular movement easy.”
Motorists, commuters
lament
EDITOR: Dayo Johnson
Deputy Editor: Dapo Akinrefon
08023844928 (sms only)
CORRESPONDENTS:
Ola Ajayi
Ibadan
Gbenga Olarinoye
Osogbo
Dare Fasube
(Photo)
Daud Olatunji
Abeokuta
Rotimi Ojomoyela
Ekiti
Monsuru Olowoopejo Lagos
Adeola Badru
Ibadan
•Bad portions of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway
LAGOS-BADAGRY EXPRESSWAY:
We’re going through hell, monarch,
residents, commuters lament
•Flay FG, Lagos govt for being insensitive
Recounting the travails he
goes through daily, a
commercial bus driver, Peter
Oluwaseun, said the roads
are in a terrible state. I left
Mile 2 at about past four this
evening till now I am still on
my way to Oko Afo that is
almost six hours for a journey
that is less than an hour if
Ifon-Orolu Royal Rumble: Ruling House
affirms Magbagbeola as Monarch
*Writes police over plot to cause mayhem
By Gbenga Olarinoye
OSOGBO — MEMBERS
of a ruling house in Ifon-
Orolu, the headquarters of Orolu
Local Government Area of Osun
State, the Olumoyero royal
family, have faulted the claims by
some “disgruntled elements” in
the family that the
incumbent traditional ruler in
the town, Oba Moruf Adekunle
Magbagbeola was not
qualified to ascend the throne
from Olumoyero ruling house
which he has been occupying
since 2008.
A Prince, who doubles as Baba
Kekere of Ifon-Orolu, Prince
Oladepo Akintola described the
said claim as barbaric, primitive
and laughable, warning those
behind the propaganda to desist
or face the wrath of law.
Some people, claiming to be
members of Olumoyero royal
family, had on Saturday took to
the streets to express their
grievances on what they
described as illegal ascendancy
of the throne by Oba Moruf
Adekunle magbagbeola eleven
years ago.
They called on the monarch to
vacate the seat immediately
without further delay, adding
that he was not qualified to
ascend the throne in the name
of Olumoyero ruling house in the
first place.
In a swift reaction, Chief
Akintola, who went down the
memory lane, said none of the
“self acclaimed princes” was a
true member of Olumoyero
family as they have not in any
way contributed to the
development of the family let
alone the entire community.
The Baba Kekere of Ifon-Orolu
said ever since final judgement
was given by the appellate court
and even upto the supreme court
which affirmed the emergence of
Oba Magbagbeola as the
Olufon, these set of people have
been threatened to unseat the
monarch , describing their action
as efforts in futility.
Echoing a similar view, the
Eesa of Ifon-Orolu, Alhaji Gasali
Durodola who frown at the action
of the protesting princes said he
would not hesitate to take
disciplinary measure against
them.
He further explained that none
of the kingmakers knows them,
saying they were not real sons of
•Oba Magbagbeola
Ifon-Orolu as majority of them
could not prove their originality
and they could not be traced to
the royal family that they are
claiming.
Olumoyero writes police over
plot to cause mayhem
Meanwhile, the Olumoyero
Ruling House has written the
police of plot by some
“disgruntled elements” to cause
mayhem in the community over
chieftaincy tussle.
In a letter, the Olumoyero
family said the information at its
disposal shows that the people
had perfected the plan to cause
confusion and make the
community ungovernable for the
Olufon of Ifon-Orolu, Oba Al-
Maroof Adekunle Magbagbeola.
the road was in a good
condition. The Federal
Government and Lagos State
government are deliberately
subjecting us to so much
suffering with their
nonchalant attitude towards
the construction of the roads.
This government is the most
insincere government I have
ever seen.
But the rains are here and
the road has gone from bad
to worse. Now, they have
gone blind and insensitive so
cannot see or feel the plight
of motorists and commuters
who are gradually dying
because of this road.”
For Mr Olajide Joseph, who
works at Liverpool, he said:
“Due to the bad road, I have
to leave my house at Lusada
area by 5am daily so that I
will get to the office by 8am
but because of the state of
this road, I didn’t get to the
office till 10:05am. I spent
five hours on this road going
to work and another five
hours to get back. Because I
left the office by 5pm still
after 10pm I am still on my
way home. This night I have
to sleep at a relative house
in Ijanikin, I won’t go home
because it is too late and
risky to get to my house at
Lusada. Tomorrow I still
have to go through this
nightmare because the
government has failed to be
responsible. “I can’t
remember the last time I
drove my car to work.
Sincerely I am
contemplating buying a
motorbike that is the only
viable option I have for now.”

30—Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2019
Al-Bashir, Bouteflika and
Change in Africa
AS part of international
delegations, I met Omar
Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir thrice
when he was President of Sudan.
At the first meeting, the gate had
opened and there was a land roverlike
jeep with a handful of soldiers.
I had reflected that the State House
seemed lightly guarded. Even
state governors in Nigeria seemed
far better protected. We were
ushered into what I thought was a
waiting room. We chatted and were
waiting to be ushered to the
president’s presence, only for him
to appear.
On those occasions, the
discussions were free flowing and
some of my colleagues appeared
quite familiar with him. On the
third occasion, when I was
introduced to him as the Secretary
General of the Organisation of
African Trade Union Unity,
OATUU, he shook me warmly and
asked what had happened to his
friend and namesake (my
predecessor, Alhaji Hassan
Sunmonu)
He seemed to me a pan-
Africanist of sort who was quite
interested in happenings on the
continent and what groups and
movements can do to solve our
continental problems. I was not
really surprised because he had
been a para trooper in the Egyptian
Army which had been greatly
influenced by Nasserism. Bashir
came across as an African
president who could have been
quite useful under different
circumstances. But his
administration was crowded by
lots of crises, some predating his
government that turned him into
a leader striving to survive and
thereby playing sometimes,
contradictory games.
For instance, the Sudanese Civil
War between the mainly Muslim
North and primarily Christian
South, had begun in 1955 and
ended in 1972 with the Addis
Ababa Agreement. It resumed in
1983 and the Bashir government
had to sign the Nairobi
Comprehensive Peace Agreement
on January 9, 2005, granting
South Sudan autonomy for six
years. On July 9, 2011, a
referendum split the country into
two independent states. It was a
trying period first because the coup
that brought Bashir to power was
on the back of an anti-South Sudan
Independence Movement.
Secondly, most of the country’s
rich oil wells were in the South. It
was partly due to his deft
diplomatic moves that shortly
after the split, he became a
mediator between the two warring
parties in newly independent
South Sudan who had turned the
guns on themselves. Another major
challenge he faced was the herderfarmer
conflicts following
droughts in the Darfur Region. The
quite violent conflict between the
pro-government Janjaweed militia
and the anti-government rebel
groups like the Sudanese
Liberation Army, SLA, and the
Justice and Equality Movement,
JEM, claimed many lives and
displaced nearly a third of the
Darfur population.
In March 2009, the International
Criminal Court, ICC, indicted
Bashir for crimes against the
Darfur populace. The ICC said he
was: "suspected of being criminally
responsible, as an indirect coperpetrator".
The African Union,
AU, rejected this indictment and a
Bashir’s
main undoing
was not
knowing
when to quit
subsequent warrant of arrest, not
only because the ICC did not
provide any conclusive evidence
against al-Bashir and his
government, but it also saw it as a
flagrant intervention in a conflict
the AU and the United Nations had
intervened and taken steps to send
in peace keepers.
President Muammar Gaddafi of
Libya, who was AU Chairman said
the indictment was a type of
terrorism and an attempt by the
West to recolonize Africa.
Ironically, when in 2011, the West
moved against Ghadaffi using
Islamic terrorists and street gangs,
the Bashir government supported
the rebels on the basis that
Ghadaffi once supported rebels in
Sudan.
The same tendency to betray
principled people, apparently in
an attempt to get the West off his
back, had played out in 1994
when Bashir sold out the
inimitable pro-Palestinian fighter,
Ilich Ramirez Sanchez better
known as Carlos the Jackal to the
French Secret Service. The French
kidnapped Carlos in Sudan,
smuggled him to Paris and
slapped three life sentences on
him.
Bashir’s main undoing was not
knowing when to quit. When a
peoples’ revolt broke out in
December 2018 initially
demanding cheaper bread and a
better economy, before snow
balling into a demand for his
removal, the general could not
read the situation correctly. But
“thawra!” (Arabic for revolution)
had come; it swept him off on
April 11.
Abdelaziz Bouteflika, President
of Algeria for twenty years from
1999 until a mass peoples’
movement forced him out on April
2, was a political giant in the
country. In 1962, at 25, he was
appointed the Minister of Youths
and Sports. He later became
Defence Minister, Foreign
Minister, and in 1974, President
of the United Nations General
Assembly. He was also Prime
Minister and had the distinction
in 2002 of ending the quite bloody
Algerian Civil War by roundly
defeating the Islamic terrorists
and ending the state of emergency
in 2011. I was in Algeria a couple
of times, and witnessed a highly
respected President even after he
had a stroke in 2013. At 19, he
joined the National Liberation
Army, the military wing of the
National Liberation Front which
wrestled the country from French
colonialists in one of the bloodiest
wars of the 20th Century.
As Chairman of the AU, he
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successfully pulled off the Algiers
Peace Treaty that ended the
Ethiopia-Eritrea Border War
which claimed 70,000-120,000
lives. He was quite sick in 2005
and suffered a stroke in 2013.
Despite this, he contested and won
the presidential elections in 2014
by 81 percent. Although unable to
run the affairs of state, he illadvisedly
announced on February
10, 2019, that he was seeking reelection.
That was his undoing.
Mass protests brought him down.
Despite these events, Algeria and
Sudan are a few of the best run
African countries we have with a
sense of historical duty,
responsibility to the populace and
a pan Africanist spirit; many like
Nigeria have simply collapsed
into the neo-colonial mode,
swimming along with the dictates
of foreign masters and the tidal
waves they unleash.
The hope is that the middle class
and the masses that have triggered
the tidal waves of change in both
countries, can steer the course and
enthrone genuine pro-people
change so that the revolutions are
not aborted like those in Egypt and
Tunisia. Africa needs genuine,
people-centred, developmentoriented
change. Not the cosmetic
changes with lots of motion
without movement as in Nigeria,
or from frying pan to fire like in
Egypt.
Change in Egypt has been a
monumental tragedy; from a
secular dictator, Hosni Mubarak,
to a religious fanatic, Mohammed
Morsi, to a brutal fascist, Abdel
Fattah El-Sisi who has no
restraints in his rule books. But as
Africa arose from the ashes of the
slave trade and the grave of
colonialism, so shall she rise from
its current tragedies. Change is
natural; its genuine winds shall
blow through our mother
continent.
Some hidden costs of corruption in Nigeria
By Ndidi Uwechue
CORRUPTION can be defined as any
unethical means of acquiring undeserved
gain or advantage. It includes stealing,
fraud, and cheating. Although corruption is
found in every country, some countries are
infamous for it because of the levels and
extent of its practice exhibited therein.
Nigeria is one such country and is
commonly ranked high on any corruption
hierarchy. The terrible state of
underdevelopment in Nigeria yet with an
unaccountable debt profile with officials,
mostly civil servants and politicians, getting
richer through unexplained wealth are
strong evidences of wrongdoing, crime and
corruption.
The more obvious costs of corruption
include the depletion of national wealth,
lack of public infrastructure, high levels of
crime and insecurity, unnecessary deaths
from preventable or treatable medical
conditions, impunity, injustice, mediocrity,
brain drain, hopelessness, and aimlessness,
etc. I now mention some other less obvious
or hitherto unknown but high costs of
corruption.
In Western nations, once retired from the
workforce and having reached the national
pensionable age, the retiree gets a pension
and so becomes a pensioner. Winter can be
a difficult time in old age especially if the
pensioner is suffering from medical
conditions like arthritis, rheumatism, stiff
muscles, etc. Although some parts of Nigeria
may be too hot for a foreign pensioner,
several places would be quite suitable such
as Jos, Warri, Calabar, Port Harcourt,
Obudu, etc. Foreign pensioners who could
decide to relocate to Nigeria would bring
their pensions with them. That is foreign
exchange money that would benefit our
economy!
That is money coming from outside, into
Nigeria. That is “easy money” is it not? The
foreign pensioner would need to either buy
or rent a home in Nigeria. So money for us.
The pensioner would eat food and buy
clothes. So money for us. The pensioner
would need medical care. So money for us.
The pensioner’s children and grandchildren
would come and visit as tourists. So money
for us. Furthermore, the pensioner would
be happy to volunteer as a lecturer in a
polytechnic, college, institute or university,
plus volunteer to teach school children. That
would be awesome intellectual knowledge
and skills poured into young Nigerians, and
available for the Nigerian public!
Imagine it, a foreign pensioner who
worked as a master craftsman now teaching
his great skills of carpentry to polytechnic
students - for free! Or, a foreign pensioner
who was a dental surgeon now passing on
his knowledge to dentistry students and
dentists - for free! Or even a foreign
pensioner who was a great pastry chef now
passing on his delicious superior cakemaking
skills to Nigerians - for free!
Nigeria could market itself as a “Retirement
Country” for foreign pensioners, not just
elderly black people from Europe, the
Americas, and the Caribbean, but elderly
white folk would also be made comfortable
here.
Sadly, corruption prevents foreign
pensioners from living among us. The
insecurity, the chaotic and filthy
environment, the lack of electricity, lack of
public transport, lack of credible medical
care, dangerous roads without pavements
or traffic lights for the elderly and infirm to
cross, the greedy national attitudes towards
people, etc, mean that Nigeria is losing out
on the all round very positive presence that
foreign pensioners would have been to us.
The word “stunted” brings up images of
something that is less than normal, lower in
quality, and stands for undersized, for loss.
Nigeria’s grand corruption produces all
kinds of stuntedness. I am here alerting us
to the presence of national stunted growth.
Stunted growth is caused by lack of nutritious
food especially before and during pregnancy
so a baby is born already stunted in body
and brain development since it did not get
Corruption has made us the
poverty capital of the world
which means we should expect
greater lack, greater
stuntedness, and more citizens
with lowered intelligence and
lower thinking ability
the vitamins, minerals, proteins etc that are
required. By age two if a child is stunted he/
she will have reduced thinking and learning
abilities that will remain throughout life.
Factors that lead to stunted growth are poor
nutrition, poor sanitation, especially open
defecation, as these expose people to diseases
and worm infection, plus malaria
infections.
This is a serious consequence of corruption
so I repeat it. Open defecation, poor
nutrition, and malaria which cause us to be
stunted in growth and stunted in intelligence,
are due to lack of proper sanitation, proper
waste management, and proper health care
services. These are fallouts of corruption. We
need to appreciate just how destructive grand
corruption is! Corruption has made us the
poverty capital of the world which means
we should expect greater lack, greater
stuntedness, thus even more citizens with
lowered intelligence and lower thinking
ability.
We are threatened with the risk of
extinction through being completely
unprepared for the near catastrophic effects
of global warming. Predictions for West
Africa are increased temperatures including
hot nights, severe water shortage which will
also affect agriculture (crops and animals),
manufacturing, and the behaviour of wild
animals, drought, wildfires, disease, and
flooding, especially of low lying areas.
Compounding this is that Nigerians are
having babies at an alarming rate which
means a very high population but no
infrastructure and amenities to cater for it.
With high heat and without enough water,
populations of humans, animals or plants
begin to die out. That means extinction. The
international community began to sound
the alarm on global warming over 30 years
ago. However, corruption sabotages the
success of the fight to alleviate global
warming because the funds needed to
modernise, get into renewable energy,
provide food and water security, etc are
being diverted and stolen.
We are missing out on many good things,
and are facing threats to our survival, all
because of corruption. The solution is
known. We need to stamp out corruption.
We can no longer hope that someone else
will be the “saviour.” Each of us has to act to
save our country from the corrupt and their
corruption. We do so through citizen
participation, social action, and
programmes of social uplift.
• Uwechue, a retired London Metropolitan
Police Officer, wrote from Ogwashi-Uku,
Delta State

Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2019 — 31

32—Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL19, 2019
YOUR LUCK TODAY
By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139
ARIES: BETTER than yesterday. Yet you will need to do away
with whatever can not be placed above board and take your
personal ideas more seriously. It’s important you take love seriously.
TAURUS: NATURALLY you are patient and if you can live up
to expectation things’ll go your way. Your being family minded
will greatly help your cause. Wrong and/or bad advice from
friends should be turned down diplomatically.
GEMINI: THE Moon’s placement favours your being self
assertive. However protection of your image should top your
priority list today. Respect your senior partners and colleagues.
CANCER: STABILITY will become so important to you especially
on financial related issues. Although it’s good to be financially
ambitious, domestic related affairs must not be neglected.
LEO: CAREFULLY watch what is happening within your base
of operation and say no to bad advice. You’ll have more to gain
if you take the initiative. The more friendly you are the better.
VIRGO: MANY of you will operate under pressure due to
refusal of others to give you the needed co operation. The more
willing you are to keep your secrets the better for you.
LIBRA: YOUR matured friends will show more than passing
interest in your well being. And if you take their advice seriously
you will have more to gain. This is the wrong time to consciously
or otherwise encourage misunderstanding within your working
arena.
SCORPIO: UNNECESSARY aggressive approach will not
get you anywhere today but exhibition of maturity on your part
along your career/business line will see you through. Avoid gambling
with love.
SAGITTARIUS: IT’S important you don’t directly or indirectly
insult the veterans within your base of operation. The more
co operative you are the better for you. Learn to keep your family
(and/or personal) secrets.
L E I S U R E
TAKE HEART — ELLA RANDLE
Two kinds of gratitude: The sudden kind we feel for
what we take; the larger kind we feel for what we
give.” – Edwin Arlington Robinson
Make a gratitude list, let people know how thankful
you are for their presence, and count your blessings for
the small things. Put good energy out into the world in
return for all you have been given. Gratitude can go
a long way in reminding us that life involves more than
our immediate surroundings and expands beyond our
everyday. Ella Randle
TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye”
SAYINGS OF
OUR PEOPLE
Between true
friends even
water drunk
together is
sweet enough.
~ African
proverb
By Kola Fayemi
CAPRICORN: WHATEVER anybody thinks or says will not
affect your chance to record success today. This is the wrong time
to engage in fruitless argument at work. Respect your good
friends.
DUDU in “ROLLING HOT” By A.O. OLAIDE
AQUARIUS: TEMPTATION to gamble with money must be
resisted by you or else the loss will be much. And it is wrong to
ignore your love life and/or run away from your responsibilities.
Make sure your image is well protected by you.
PISCES: MIXED trends indicated for you. Those of you who
are more hard working will have positive results to show for your
efforts but if you give in to unnecessary aggression, you’ll be
resented.
ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING
ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING
Send your date and place of birth to the Astr
trological
Counselling, P.M.B 100
007, Apapa, Lagos
Was it on Monday?
Dear Joshua,
I don’t want you to publish my full date of birth and other
identity but I want to know if I was born on a Monday or Tuesday.
I will appreciate it if you tell me how the planets lined up when I
was born an what they mean to my life.
Anonymous, Kaduna,
Dear Anonymous,
You were born on a Tuesday. What you will find here under will
be useful if taken seriously.
YOUR HOROSCOPE DATA
DAY OF BIRTH = TUESDAY
SUN SIGN = PISCES; SUN IN 7TH DEGREE OF PISCES
MOON SIGN = LIBRA; MOON IN 7TH DEGREE OF LI-
BRA
MERCURY IN 4TH DEGREE OF ARIES
VENUS IN 5TH DEGREE OF AQUARIUS
MARS IN 29TH DEGREE OF PISCES
JUPITER IN 21ST DEGREE OF GEMINI
SATURN IN 19TH DEGREE OF PISCES
URANUS IN 17TH DEGREE OF VIRGO
NEPTUNE IN 22ND DEGREE OF SCORPIO
PLUTO IN 17TH DEGREE OF VIRGO
NORTH NODE IN 29TH DEGREE OF TAURUS
SOUTH NODE IN 29TH DEGREE OF SCORPIO
FIRE STAR SIGN HOSTED ONE PLANET, CARDINAL,
FIXED AND EARTH HOSTED TWO PLANES EACH, THREE
IN AIR, FOUR IN WATER AND MAJORITY OF SIX PLAN-
ETS WERE PLACED IN MUTABLE.
PUSHFUL INFLUENCE = 40%
NON PUSHFUL INFLUENCE = 60%
PLANET AT HOME = NONE.
ANALYSIS OF THE HOROSCOPE DATA
No planet at home situation when you were born pointed to a
busy mind with too many ideas struggling for prominent position.
As a result of that you always find it relatively difficult to
take important decision. Luckily for you however planets in air
star signs endowed you with powerful brains you can rely on
while taking important decision.
Although, you have embraced disciplined life style, you remain
emotional person who can not help changing his mind
more often times. Yours is a gentle spirit and soul with the ultimate
desire for love and peace but some other times other people
can force pressure and frustrations on you the way you must re
act. Both leadership quality and Artistic talents are parts of your
special gifts. Major problem is that things may not come as
easily as you expect.
VIRGINIA
dadadekola@yahoo.com
HOME & ABROAD
By Lawrence Akapa

Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2019 — 33
:Vanguard News :@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058
WRPC casual workers urge NNPC to
regularise status
By Jimitota Onoyume
WARRI—NO fewer
than 700 casual staff
of Warri Refining and
Production Company,
WRPC, have pleaded the
Nigerian National
Petroleum Corporation,
NNPC, to regularise their
employment as it
commences fresh
recruitment across the
country.
A statement by acting
Chairman, Akaighe
Dennis and acting
Secretary, Onaodowan
Paul of Uvwie WRPC
Support/Contract Staff
Workers said they were
qualified for the various
jobs they are doing at the
moment.
“We have continued to eke
out our living in conditions
only akin to those of slaves
even though we live as free
men in our ancestral land,”
they said, accusing the
firm of adopting
apartheid policy in the
UNVEILING: From left; Marketing Director, Eat ' N' Go, Amalia Sebakunzi;
Chief Executive Officer, Eat 'N' Go, Patrick McMichael; Artist, Naomi Oladipo
and Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Slum2school, Otto Orondaam at
the unveiling of a painting by Eat 'N' Go to enforce its commitment to enriching
underserved kids in Lagos on Wdenesday. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi.
Youths protest kidnap of mother, aunt of Delta monarch
By Perez Brisibe
P
A T A N I —
HUNDREDS of
youths from Patani town in
Patani Local Government
Area of Delta State,
yesterday, took to the streets
in protest of the abduction
of the mother of the Pere of
Kabowei kingdom, His
Royal Majesty Shadrach
Erebulu, Adou III.
The mother of the
monarch, Queen Elizabeth
Erebulu, was abducted in
the early hours of
By Gab Ejuwa
ABUJA—A
nongovernmental
organisation, Center for
Peace and Environmental
Justice, CEPEJ, has called
on the Director General of
National Oil Spill Detection
and Response Agency,
NOSDRA, to visit
communities and creeks in
the Niger Delta region
conditions of service.
“We humbly ask that the
same measures applied in
previous cases of NNPC
general employment be
applied in this case. It is
Wednesday alongside her
sister, Mrs. Okee Yawoma.
According to sources in
the community, the duo
were abducted at their
homes and whisked away
in two speedboats by a
four-man gang.
Reacting to the incident,
the youths who embarked
on the peaceful protest on
major streets of Patani,
appealed to the state
government and police
authority to establish a
marine police base in the
town to curb the activities
also worthy to mention that
the NNPC has already
captured the biometric
details of its entire support
staff as a prerequisite
process for internal
recruitment.
“However, indications are
of kidnappers who they say
normally whisk their victims
into the creeks.
The protesters led by the
Patani community youth
chairman, John Amgbare,
carried placards with
various inscriptions such
as, “Okowa we are not safe
in Patani,” “We need
marine police base in
Patani,” among others.
Addressing newsmen at
the Patani local council
secretariat, the youth
chairman said: “The spate
of kidnappings in Patani
that NNPC seems to be
deviating from its
previously planned
internal recruitment process
due to the vested interest
of certain highly placed
NNPC executive in
Abuja,” the group said.
and environs is alarming
and embarrassing.
“How can the mother of
the Pere be kidnapped
alongside her sister just like
that? We are asking the
police to be up and doing
in the discharge of their
duties by rescuing the
victims and bring the
culprits to book.
“Also, we want the state
government to partner the
council chairman, Perez
Omoun in finding a lasting
solution to the state of
insecurity in Patani.”
CEPEJ urges NOSDRA to visit N'Delta communities affected by oil
spill
BAKERY Initiatives
Group (BIG), a Dutch
bakery consulting firm, has
trained over 50 bakers’ in
Nigeria.
The
Country
Representative/Chief
Executive Officer of BIG
Nigeria, Mr. Ephraim
Mbanaso, said the training
is aimed at addressing one
vital area of need his
company identified in its
interactions with bakery
operators in Nigeria over
the years which is dearth
of well-groomed and
professional bakers.
On her part, Mrs. Nike
Richie-Ogbodu, Director/
Head of BIG Training, said
affected by oil spill to
ascertain extent of
damages.
National Coordinator of
CEPEJ, Mr Sheriff Mulade
who made the call in Abuja,
said oil spill-related
environmental damages
need urgent attention and
NOSDRA need to know the
numerous oil spills in the
region to enable it
discharge its statutory
obligations to the people.
“We see reasons to
BIG trains over 50 confectioners
the program is in line with
BIG’s philosophy that
identifies well-trained and
grounded people as one of
the essential pillars for the
success of any bakery
business.
For her, the idea behind
the training is centered on
skill acquisition for all
categories of human
resources needed for the
effective and efficient
running of bakery
businesses.
According to some
participants, “I was
introduced by someone
who participated in the
program earlier and I
could not believe that an
redirect the attention of
NOSDRA to several
explosions of oil and gas
facilities, pipelines
resulting to severe
environmental ecological
damages. There are
numerous substandard oil
and gas transportation
facilities that are often
prone to leakage, spill and
explosion. If NOSDRA
makes it a priority to know
the location of such
facilities, it could give
organization can give out
so much in so short a time
without collecting money
but being here today, I have
seen for myself and I am
excited,” said Djebah
Omolara.
Another participant,
Uduak Akpan, simply
described the program as
the best.
In her words: “The
experience and
knowledge gained about
baking various kinds of
products and bakery
business in general within
the one week of the
training is unimaginable.
I was thrilled during the
training.
better responses which include
detection, prevention
and result oriented response.”
He also drew the
attention of NOSDRA to
the preventable incident of
11 persons who died in
2016, from a pipeline
explosion at Agip’s oilfield
in Southern Ijaw Local
Government of Bayelsa
State, noting that it was
necessary to call on
NOSDRA to plan for a
familiarisation visit to oil
spills affected sites,
particularly in the creeks
and interact with host
communities across Niger
Delta.
He called on NOSDRA to
correctly evaluate the
volume of crude and gas
that has been discharged
into the surrounding
environment arising from
various explosions,
leakages, equipment
failures and third party
interference.
“It is also important to
inspect some pipelines
that are due for remedial
maintenance and proffer
solution aimed at
forestalling reoccurrence of
preventable explosion and
spills for the sake of the
environment,” he said.
FG APPOINTMENT: Stop wasting
your time, Udemude tells Isoko
equity group
AN All Progressives
Congress, APC,
chieftain and resident of
Isoko APC Concerned
Group, Prince Gabriel
Udemude, has called on
a political pressure
group, Isoko Equity
Group, IEG, to stop
wasting it time trying to
lobby president
Mohammadu Buhari to
appoint an Isoko
indigene as minister.
Udemude who gave
the advice yesterday in
Oleh, Isoko South Local
Government Area of
Delta State, while
addressing newsmen
over his group’s stance,
said his agitation for Mr
President to appoint an
Itsekiri indigene as
minister was borne out of
Bayelsa varsity honours
lecturers
By Emem Idio
Y THIRTY-SIX
ENAGOA—
professors who have so far
presented inaugural
lectures at the Bayelsa State
owned Niger Delta
University, NDU, from 2007
till date have been honour
by the university authority
at an investiture ceremony
held by the institution.
In his remarks on the
occasion, Vice Chancellor
of NDU, Professor Samuel
Edoumiekumo, described
the investiture ceremony in
honour of inaugural
lecturers of the university
as first of its kind in the
celebration of academic
excellence and in
recognition of, and
attestation of to the
sustenance of the
relationship between the
“town and gown.”
He said, “This investiture
ceremony is to remind all
the honourees that as you
have had the opportunity
to present your inaugural
Mr President’s promise
to the areas with the
highest number of votes
than those with least
votes.
Speaking on the results
of the just concluded
2019 Presidential
election, he said it was
clear that Itsekiri got
more votes than Isoko.
“In Delta South, Warri
South got 10,007, Warri
North 12,774, Warri
South West 43,214, while
Isoko South and North
got 17,681.
“The difference is clear
and I advise the group
to jettison the idea of an
lsoko as minister and
support our brothers, the
‘Itsekiris’ for the
ministerial slot in the spirit
of oneness, equity, justice
and fair play in Mr
President’s second tenure.”
lectures, the university
acknowledges your
contributions through
research activities, to the
development of humanity
in Niger Delta University,
Bayelsa State, Nigeria and
globally, this is the reason
among others, why today’s
investiture is unique in all
ramifications.”
One of the honourees,
Professor Abiodun
Adeyemo, of the
Department of Fisheries
and Aquatic Studies, who
presented the institution’s
21st Inaugural Lecture in
2016, described the
investiture as an honour
and elating, noting that it
was gratifying to be
recognised for one’s
scholarly contributions.
She said: “We are elated
and commend the
university authority for this
honour. In an academic
environment, there is no
higher position than a
professor and that is a
testimony of hard work and
a plus to our career.”
ILLEGAL MINING: Time for FG to
consider calls for restructuring
— ONUESOKE
By Ephraim Oseji
P
E O P L E S
Democratic Party,
PDP, chieftain, Chief Sunny
Onuesoke has said that it is
time for the Federal
Government to as a matter
of urgency consider the
peoples’ call for the
restructuring of Nigeria.
Onuesoke who spoke to
newsmen in Port Harcourt,
Rivers State during a
solidarity visit to River State
Governor, Nyesom Wike
while reacting to
information of Nigeria
loosing over N353bn
annually to illicit mining of
gold and other solid
minerals in Northern
Nigeria, alleged that this
disclosure has finally
confirmed the belief that
Niger Delta oil belong to all,
while solid mineral like gold
and others belong to them
alone.
He stated that If not for the
killings in Zamfara State,
nobody would have told
Nigerians that some
powerful personalities have
been secretly mining the
nation’s gold and enjoying
the proceeds alone without
bringing a dime to the table
for sharing by all part of the
country.
“It is amazing that within
three years, according to the
Minister of Mines and Steel
Development, Alhaji Bawa
Bwari, 18 tonnes of gold
frittered from the country are
worth $1.16bn. At the official
exchange rate of N305/$, this
gives N353bn as the value
of gold that illegal miners
and smugglers shared
without any impact on the
country’s GDP,” he stated.

34—Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2019
Charly Boy takes protest to
Owerri over good governance
By Chinonso
Alozie
O
W E R R I —
HUNDREDS of
Imolites led by Charles
Oputa, popularly known as
Charly Boy, yesterday
staged protests in Owerri,
demanding accountability
in the governance of Imo
State.
The demonstration which
started at 7:35 am at the Imo
State Government House
roundabout ended at
Assumpta Avenue.
Speaking at the event,
Charly Boy described the
protest as demand for the
freedom of the people.
He said they would be
demanding an inclusive
style of governance in the
state as well as
development- based
policies to ensure equal
treatment for Imolites.
Charly Boy further said
Burial
•Late Lolo Mgbeme
LOLO
Mgbeke
Mgbeme, of Amazu
Ebenator, in Orsu Local
Goverment of Imo State,
who died Nov 4, 2018, aged
94, will be buried on
Thursday, April 25, 2019
after a wake keep at
Umumesi Ihu Amaowerri,
Amazu Ebenator.
Lying-in-state and
traditional funeral service
will take place at her
compound by 10:00am.
Reception follows
immediately.
the protest was to create
awareness for good
governance and for the
people to know that the time
has come for them to
actively participate in the
governance of their state.
According to him:”It is a
special day in Imo State as
the people decided to raise
awareness on the effects of
bad governance, inhuman
policies, and the risk of
keeping mum.
“Imo people have
suffered neglect, bad
governance, and various
forms of intimidation.
“This walk is for freedom,
it is about inclusive
government, demanding
accountability, equity, and
fairness from all office
holders at every level in
Imo State. It is expected that
some of the issues raised
ought to be addressed by
the outgoing government.
‘’
ADR, best for electoral
disputes, says Ugwuanyi
By Dennis Agbo
E
N U G U —
GOVERNOR
Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of
Enugu State has stated that
mediation and other forms
of Alternative Dispute
Resolution, ADR, strategies
were best in settling issues
arising from elections in
Nigeria.
He said his government
has embraced mediation as
a system of resolving
disputes because it is unlike
litigation, which is
adversarial and winnertakes-all
in nature.
The governor spoke in
Enugu, yesterday, at the
2019 annual lecture and
reception of newly inducted
members of the Institute of
Chartered Mediators and
Conciliators, ICMC,
Enugu branch, chaired by
Justice C Nweze of the
Supreme Court.
Represented by the
Attorney General of the state
and Commissioner for
Justice, Miletus Eze,
Ugwuanyi lamented that
the current scenario where
pre and post-election cases
choked the courts’ docket
each election cycle in the
country was not
sustainable.
He said: “It is our belief
that there is indeed no
alternative to the
introduction of mediation
and other forms of ADR in
the resolution of electoral
disputes at this stage of our
democratic march."
Enugu State Chief
Judge, Priscilla Emehelu,
represented by Justice
Romanus Odogu said the
adoption of ADR in electoral
disputes would relieve
judges involved in election
petition matters of such
burden.
“As it were, the cases
handled by the Judges in
their respective courts are
at a standstill now until the
petitions are all attended to.
The point is that the ADR
is an inevitable
intervention,” she declared.
Court declares Ebonyi South
senatorial seat vacant
•Orders Sen Ogbuoji to vacate seat immediately
By Peter Okutu
A BAKALIKI—A
Federal High Court
sitting in Abakaliki,
yesterday, declared Ebonyi
South Senatorial District
seat occupied by Senator
Sonni Ogbuoji vacant and
ordered him to vacate the
seat immediately.
Ogbuoji is the first Ebonyi
Senator to suffer such fate
in the country.
A judgment delivered by
Justice Akintola Aluko of
the Abakaliki Division of the
Court held that Ogbuoji by
defecting from the party on
which platform he was
elected to another party
flouted section 68(1)g of the
1999 constitution.
The court also ordered
the Independent National
Electoral Commission,
INEC, to withdraw the
Certificate of Return issued
to the Senator and as well,
conduct a fresh election
immediately to fill the seat.
It also ordered the
lawmaker to refund all
monies be it salaries,
allowances or any other
form of payment he may
have received as benefits as
a Senator from the date of
his defection, to the coffers
of government.
Section 68(1)g says that:
“A member of Senate or
House of Representatives
70% of drugs in Nigerian markets
fake —NAFDAC, NDLEA, NOA
By Chimaobi
Nwaiwu
N NEWI—THE
National Agency for
Food and Drug
Administration and
Senate Presidency: Igbo group
warns APC against marginalising
S-East
By Henry Ojelu
Prominent socio-cultural
organization, Igbo Kwenu
has cautioned the All
Progressives Congress,
APC against marginalizing
the South-East region in the
zoning of principal offices
in the National Assembly.
Speaking during a press
conference in Lagos,
leader of the organisation,
Dr. Chigbo Okoli stated that
any attempt to make the
Igbos to accept Deputy
Senate President again in
the 9th Assembly will be
vehemently resisted.
Chigbo argued that
according to the federal
character provision in the
INAUGURATION: From left, Chairman, Chartered Institute of Arbitration, Nigerian Branch,
Mrs Adedoyin Rhodes-Vivour; Member, Mrs Funmi Roberts; the newly inaugurated Chairman
of Ibadan chapter, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN; Mr Juwon Adenuga; and Chief Niyi Akintola,
SAN, during the inauguration of the Ibadan chapter of the Chartered Institute of Arbitration,
in Ibadan, Wednesday. Photo Dare Fasube.
constitution, since President
Muhammadu Buhari
is from the North, Vice
President, Prof Yemi
Osinbajo from West, it was
only equitable and fair that
the office of the Senate
President be zoned to the
South East.
He said: “In democratic
governance of Nigeria,
federal character law
demands equitable
distribution of offices
among the regions. The
former three regions have
now been changed to six
regions, in which former
Northern region alone have
three regions while former
western and eastern region
have three."
Control, NAFDAC,
National Drug Law
Enforcement Agency
NDLEA, National
Orientation Agency, NOA,
and Christabell
International Organisation,
CIO, have unanimously
agreed that about 70
percent of all the drugs in
Nigerian markets are fake
and substandard.
They also agreed that all
criminalities and societal
ills raving Nigeria are
linked to sales and
consumption of hard drugs
and illicit substances.
In addition, they
observed that production
and importation of
substandard drugs in
Nigeria are major causes of
high mortality rate,
morbidity, and loss of public
confidence in the health
sector.
Speaking during a
sensitisation workshop
organised by Christabell
International Organisation,
CIO, for the Onitsha
Branch of the National
Association of Patent and
Proprietary Medicine
Dealers, NAPMED, the
representatives of the
government agencies and
the organiser said
something urgent should
be done to address the
problem.
Deputy State
Commander, NDLEA,
Anambra State, in charge
of Operations and
Intelligence, Adewumi
Alfred, said the
proliferation, consumption,
and abuse of illicit drugs
are high in Nigeria, adding
that recent report revealed
that about 70 per cent of all
the drugs in the market are
fake.
He said: “In every ten
drugs you buy, there is a
high probability that seven
of them are fake. If that is
not alarming, I don’t know
what can be alarming in
Nigeria, there is also a
further research work that
shows that in the South
East, the number of deaths
as a result of fake drugs is
escalating."
shall vacate his seat in the
House if being a person
whose election to the
House was sponsored by
another political party, he
becomes a member of
another political party
before the expiration of the
period for which that House
was elected. Provided that
his membership of the latter
political party is not as a
result of a division in the
political party which he was
previously a member or of
a merger of two or more
political parties or factions
by one of which he was
previously sponsored”
Justice Aluko in the 71-
page judgement obtained
by Vanguard held that
Ogbuoji, who defected
from the Peoples
Democratic Party, PDP to
the All Progressive
Congress, APC, in 2018
flouted the above section of
the constitution.
The judgement was in
respect of suit FHC/AI/CS/
44/2018 filed by Evo
Ogbonnaya Anegu, Oti
Ama Ude, Uche Richard
Ajali, Una Sunday Okoro
and Simon Ajali Ogbadu
for themselves and on
behalf of members of the
PDP in Ebonyi South
Senatorial District.
They had sued Ogbuoji
and the Independent
National Electoral
Commission, INEC(2nd
Defendant) asking the
court to declare his seat
vacant for defecting to the
APC when there was no
crisis or division in the PDP.
They also prayed the
court to order the 1st
defendant (Ogbuoji) to
refund all monies he may
have been paid to him
since January 2018 when
he defected from The PDP
to the APC.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 19 , 2019—35
:Vanguard News :@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058
I want to rebuild Jos market to generate
money for new wage —Lalong
By Johnbosco
Agbakwuru
A BUJA—GOVERNOR
Simon Lalong of Plateau
State, yesterday, said he was
desirous to rebuild burnt Jos
market to generate enough
revenue to pay the new
N30,000 minimum wage.
Lalong also said the report
that his administration
budgeted N1.1 billion to
demolish the market in 2019
appropriation was unfair and
an attempt to tarnish his
image.
Speaking to State House
correspondents after meeting
behind closed doors with
President Muhammadu
Buhari at the Presidential
Villa, Abuja, the governor
described the report as
worrisome.
According to him, “the
report is not very fair. If you
understand the history of the
Jos main market, you will
understand the passion for
rebuilding that market.
"That market was blown off
years ago and has remained
like that. The market was our
main source of revenue and
I saw it as very necessary to
rebuild the main market to
address challenges of the
state, including that of
minimum wage.
“What somebody saw was
the presentation before the
budget committee and when
he saw N1.1 billion, he said
it is for demolition. N1.1
billion cannot be for
demolition. There are four
components of demolition
and reconstruction of the
market. The person saw one
aspect and jumped into
conclusion.
“The entire process has four
components. First, it has to be
a special demolition and you
know in special demolition,
you don’t bring down the
entire market.
"We have two proposals,
either to bring down the
entire market and start
building new one or carry out
the special demolition and
reconstruction and the
overhaul of the market. There
is the technical aspect, the
consultancy aspect and the
contract itself.
“So, I have asked them to
make everything public so
that people will not jump into
conclusion that we are
demolishing the market. It is
not everyone that can do that
type of special demolition, in
Nigeria it has only been done
either twice or thrice.
“I had to travel to South
Africa to ensure that if we are
going to carry out the
demolition, it must be a very
special demolition.
Otherwise, the next option
was to bring down the entire
market and start rebuilding.
The sum of N1 billion can
build a new market.
“The report is wrong and
whoever is behind it should
get the true facts and he will
see that the entire N1.1 billion
is not for demolition but for
other aspects of the contract
including technical,
consultancy and the
commencement of the
rebuilding of that market.”
Asked if more money was
going to be budgeted for the
actual rebuilding of the
market, the governor said:
“First, we are starting with the
demolition before we move to
other things. Without
technical drawing you will
not understand what I am
saying."
"If you have seen Jos main
market, it is a choked up area
VISIT: From left, Mrs Comfort Eyitayo, 2nd Deputy Vice President,
Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, ICAN; Alhaji Razak
Jaiyeola, 54th President, ICAN being received by Capt. Roy Ilegbdu,
Managing Director, Arik Air and Mr. Oni Olalere, Chairman, Ikeja
District Society of Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria,
IDSICAN, during ICAN president's courtesy visit to Arik Air, at the
Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
UNIUYO VC tasks matriculating
students on hardwork, discipline
By Chioma
Onuegbu
UYO
—VICE
Chancellor,
University of Uyo,
UNIUYO, Akwa Ibom
State, Professor Enefiok
Essien, has advised 8,416
matriculating students for
2018/2019 academic
session to study hard to be
enlisted into the
institution’s Honour Roll.
Essien, who gave the
advice, yesterday, said only
hardworking students, who
achieved a cumulative
Grade Point Average of 4.5
and above at the end of their
course would be enlisted
into the Honour Roll.
Essien, who explained
that the award was put in
place to encourage students
to study hard, reminded
them that attending
lectures in the institution
was mandatory for all
students.
He said, “We have
selected 18 students out of
others on the University
honour roll. These are
students who have a
cumulative Grade Point
Average of 4.5 and above.
You must realise that hard
work pays.
“If you study hard, you
will excel and be among the
university honours roll, and
be honoured some day. It
is our expectation that this
will motivate you to study
hard so that you would also
be honoured.
“Of course, you are here
to learn and I can assure
you that it will be a
pleasurable experience. If
you choose to be distracted
by other factors other than
your main purpose in the
university, the university
will not hesitate to expel
you.”
Rotary renovates Delta school
DISTRICT Governor,
Rotary Club of Nigeria,
District 9141, Mr. Adeyemi
Oladokun, has promised to
stock the library of Dede
Primary School,
Orhowhorun, Udu Local
Government Area, Delta
State, just as he donated 10
truck-loads of sharp sand to
sand-fill the school’s waterlogged
playground.
He made the promise and
donation, yesterday, during
the commissioning of the
renovated block of four
classrooms in the school, a
star project of Rotary Club of
Ovwian, Delta State.
Oladokun noted that Rotary
is about humanitarian
services, saying: “Rotary
build bridges where there are
gaps and we are concerned
with building the future
through provision of
educational facilities
wherever we are privileged
to operate.”
President, Rotary Club of
Ovwian, Mr. Peter
Oghoredafe, in his remarks,
said the club was challenged
to pick up the project because
of poor state of the school.
Chairman of Udu council,
Chief Jite Brown, in his
speech commended
members of the club and paid
tributes to Mrs Okiemute
Oghoredafe, wife of the club’s
president, for personally
adding two classroom blocks
to the existing one renovated
by the club.
26,400 farmers insured by
IFAD in Niger within 4 years
By Wole
Mosadomi
M
I N N A —
International
Fund for Agricultural
Development, IFAD, has
insured no fewer than 26,400
farmers in Niger State in the
last four years.
Programme Director in
Niger State, Dr. Matthew
Ahmed, who disclosed this
while presenting cheques to
some rice farmers affected by
flooding in Katcha Local
Government Area in Niger
State, explained that the
insurance was meant to give
succour to the farmers that
suffered losses during
disasters for smooth take off
in the next farming season.
The director gave the
breakdown of the
beneficiaries as 4,800 farmers
insured in 2015, 7,000 in
2016, 9,000 in 2017 and 5,600
farmers in 2018.
Ahmed, however,
explained that for any farmer
to benefit from the insurance
scheme, the disaster must
have been reported to his
office within 48 hours after it
occurred to enable the officers
visit the farm to access the
damage.
Activist threatens mass action
on insecurity, police killings
By Alemma-
Ozioruva Aliu
BENIN CITY —WITH
the continued killings
across the country by criminal
elements and extra judicial
killings by police, an Edo
State-based human rights
activist and founder One
Love, Patrick Eholor, has
threatened to organise a 10-
million man match against
the government and security
agencies for their seeming
inability to stem the killings.
He also carpeted the
administration of President
Muhammadu Buhari, who
he said was not doing
enough to reduce insecurity,
just as he lamented the
working conditions of men
of Nigeria Police and
demanded their overhaul to
enable them live up to their
responsibility of protecting
lives and property of citizens.
Speaking to journalists in
Benin City, he said: “We
have a problem in Nigeria
and the current
administration does not want
to admit that there is a
problem.
"They are playing politics
with our lives. They have
security apparatus that
secures them but the
ordinary Nigerian does not
have anything that is
unfortunate.
“I did a million man match
before on the state of our
roads, this time, we will do a
10 million man match on
state of security in the
country if these continue to
make sure that this is
stopped.
Old girls target N100m to
replace 140-yr-old Methodist
school building
METHODIST Girls
High School Old Girls
Association, MGHSOGA,
Yaba, Lagos, will tomorrow
pull down the 140-year-old
building within the school
premises in preparation for
the erection of a new structure
in a N100 million restoration
project.
A statement by President of
the association, Mrs. Yomi
Afolabi, said: “Tomorrow,
Saturday, the old structure
will be pulled down and the
Outsource Global expands into UK
OUTSOURCE Global,
Nigeria’s leading BPO
service provider, has
announced its operations in
the United Kingdom at the
recently concluded B2B Sales
Innovation Expo 2019, in
London.
The Sales Innovation Expo
is Europe’s leading
marketing event, connecting
the most proactive marketing
professionals with the tools,
techniques, and innovations
they need to be at the
forefront of the ever-evolving
world of marketing.The event
also provided a platform for
Outsource Global to
introduce its UK Country
Director, Joshua King, to the
UK B2B community.
Outsource Global CEO,
Amal Hassan, said: “We are
excited to offer services to the
UK business community as
they seek to reduce costs
whilst continuously
improving satisfaction for
citizens. The United Kingdom
expansion strengthens our
footprint and reinforces the
drive towards growing our
global market presence.
"The BPO market continues
to evolve rapidly, with new
geographies and capabilities
reflecting the growing
demands of clients who must
balance cost, risk and
performance. With our
vertical expertise and unique
understanding of industryspecific
needs, we are wellpositioned
to help our clients
become operationally efficient
and competitive."
construction of the new one
begins.
“Though we have
memories of the old building,
it has to go down because we
are building modern facilities
for the school.” She thanked
God for helpers in respect of
the project.
Also speaking, Head,
Media Team, MGHSOGA,
Mrs. Tinu Odugbemi, said
the association discovered
two years ago that the
centenary block of the school
had some structural defects.
She said: “The centenary
block of the school is almost
140 years old. So, it is really
an old building and the
students have been moved out
of the building for safety.
“Already, each set has been
asked to contribute N5 million
and the target is to raise N100
million."
On her part, Vice-
President, Fundraising
Committee, Mrs Adetola
Ola, who is of the 79/84 set,
said she was proud to be a
product of the school and that
the values she got from the
school influenced her life.

36 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2019
Buhari must stop NNPC
digging our grave
FORMER Vice President
Atiku Abubakar made an
unpopular statement during the
campaign worth a second
thought. He said if he was
elected president, he would sell
off the Nigerian National
Petroleum Company, NNPC,
even if it would cost him his
life. It didn’t seem anyone was
interested in his life, really. Or
the point he was trying to make;
namely, that NNPC is killing
Nigeria. Atiku, being Atiku, his
remark was overshadowed by
suspicion that the PDP
presidential candidate was
planning another bazaar for his
friends.
But the long petrol lines that
resurfaced in some parts of the
country last week, followed by
panic buying that had NNPC
swearing by the barrel that it
had enough petrol in reserves,
raised again the question of
NNPC’s future. What will
Nigeria do with NNPC?
Every NNPC chief executive
or petroleum minister said they
were running the place in the
country’s best interest. That may
have been true in the days of
Festus Marinho, Aret Adams or
Rilwan Lukman. But God knows
that the place has since become
the ATM of a few. Between Dan
Etete and Diezani Allison-
Madueke (two ministers who
ran the show within roughly a
decade of each other) for
example, billions of dollars
disappeared, most of it into their
private pockets.
Etete awarded an oil bloc to
himself, after transferring about
$1.1billion into his own account;
while conservative estimates put
Allison-Madueke’s theft at
$6billion. In popular culture,
NNPC is the place people go to
if they want to steal, and not
work.
Cash dispenser
The NNPC ATM took an
innovative turn under former
Group Managing Director,
Andrew Yakubu. Like his
bosses, he also claimed to be
running the place in the public
interest. Unlike them, however,
he brought something new to
the office. To ensure that the
ATM was never out of money,
Yakubu modified a block of
houses in rural Kaduna, and
stocked them with $9.8million
cash.
Some of the cash was lifted in
private jets and personally
delivered by top bank managers
for whom Yakubu had used his
position to facilitate
concessionary placement of
government funds. When
anyone says that NNPC is
working in the country’s best
interest, you must ask, how?
Subsidy, that’s one way, isn’t it?
The language has changed
though. Subsidy has become a
dirty word after multiple petrol
price increases failed to deliver
government’s promise of
regular, unimpeded supply or
improved alternative
infrastructure.
It’s now officially called
“under-recovery” – different
words, same difference.
Whatever assurances NNPC
may give about supply, the
public would be foolish to
assume that the current price for
a litre of petrol is sustainable at
N145 per litre. Whether it is
subsidy or under-recovery, at
current market prices,
consumers are paying at least
55kobo less than the actual
All the talk
about subsidy or
under-recovery
cannot make
sense until NNPC
comes clean about
its accounts and
NNPC will not
come clean on its
accounts unless it
is restructured
price per litre. But NNPC, the
current NNPC, cannot look at
consumers in the face and say
it.
Of course, there have been
muted noises from the
corporation that it spends
N774million daily (for
50million litres of petrol
consumed locally) or
N1.4trillion yearly. Never mind
that. The reason why NNPC
would be unable to speak
plainly about its misery is that
in Buhari’s first term, his
government mismanaged the
opportunity to follow through
the steepest hike in petrol
prices in the country’s history
with a fundamental
restructuring of NNPC.
I’m not just talking about
NNPC still being outside the
reach of TSA. Or the turf war
and self-interest that often leave
senior officials working at cross
purposes. That’s bad enough.
I’m saying that any change in
the price of petrol, however
slight or steep, that does not
follow through with
fundamental changes in the
way the NNPC is currently
being run, will fail.
Baby and bath water
The restructuring of the
downstream sector started two
decades ago with government
divestment from the major oil
marketing companies.
Downstream deregulation
continued until 2007 when the
refineries were put up for sale.
But in what amounted to
throwing away the baby with
the bath water, the government
of President Umaru Yar’Adua
reversed the process.
And it’s been downhill since,
with NNPC not just getting back
in play, but actually becoming
a Leviathan. Cheap
government funds were
funneled into building mega
petrol stations, in direct
competition with private
investors who sourced funds at
a premium for the same
business.
Instead of cutting back,
NNPC became even more
deeply involved in the value
chain. It has now become the
sole importer of petroleum
products, determining volume
– including which distributor
gets what – price, and
assignment of jetty. Sometimes
buyers even pre-pay for
products only to be supplied at
NNPC’s discretion.
Since discretion is the cousin
of corruption, part of the cost of
the so-called subsidy is the toll
that beneficiaries have to pay for
doing business with NNPC.
The oil majors have either
scaled back or left the field
altogether. On paper, PPMC, a
subsidiary of
NNPC, has
b e e n
“unbundled”
into three
companies. In
practice,
however, it
maintains tight
control over
depots and a
monopoly over
pipelines.
T h e s e
inefficiencies
cannot, and
will not, be
addressed by
simply topping
up the price of
petrol or
promising to
r e m o v e
“subsidy
gradually”,
whatever that
means.
Follow the
money
J u s t
attempting to
follow NNPC’s
r e f i n e d
products
management
account (one of
its two main
accounts)
reveals, in the
starkest terms,
Anthony
Sampson’s
immortal
words: “All oil
business is
greasy.” When
NEITI, the
country’s
extractive industry
transparency watchdog,
laments year after year that it
has difficulties reconciling
NNPC’s receipts with
payments, this, for example, is
what it means.
We assume that NNPC has
statutory allocation of 450,000
barrels of oil daily. But we don’t
know and cannot even assume
what quantity of this crude oil
is refined in the country, what
is consumed locally or what is
refined abroad. Our refineries
are virtually dead.
So, NNPC determines which
refiners abroad take the crude,
and exercises a malicious lack
of transparency on the volume
exported, the price of refining,
the cost of importing back the
refined products, and how
much really goes into the
refined products management
account. It’s secrecy, uber
alles.
When NEITI said crude oil
swaps between 2005 and 2012
led to losses of $11.63bn, for
example, this is what it means:
the more you look into the
refined products management
account, the less you see. It was
here that Diezani made her kill;
it’s here that those who came
after her and those who will
come after those who came after
her will make their kill. It’s here
that NNPC is digging Nigeria’s
grave.
All the talk about subsidy or
under-recovery cannot make
sense until NNPC comes clean
about its accounts and NNPC
will not come clean on its
accounts unless it is
restructured.
Reputational risk
The reputational risk that
Buhari bears is that he is the
petroleum minister. By the end
of his second term, if he retains
the portfolio, he would have
been petroleum minister for
eight years – the longest since
President Olusegun Obasanjo.
If, for lack of political will to do
the right thing, the NNPC fails
as it will under the present
arrangement, then Buhari will
take the blame squarely.
There is still a window of
opportunity for change. Before
Dangote’s refinery comes on
stream to compound NNPC’s
misery, the government should
hands-off the downstream. It
should sell off the refineries,
reorganize DPR, and break up
PPMC’s depot and pipeline
units by rearranging the assets
into regional clusters, with open
access.
With some of the lessons
learnt from the restructuring of
the power sector and changes
to make the system fit for
purpose, Buhari urgently needs
a roadmap to make NNPC
work for the country.
For too long, the place has
worked for a few who never
quite lack big grammar or the
political clout to make the public
believe that we’re living on
subsidy. Maybe. But the
evidence suggests that these
same elite are the bigger
beneficiaries of subsidy. They’re
digging our grave.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2019 — 37
INAUGURATION:Chairman Senate Committee on Land Transport, Senator Gbenga
Ashafa, President-elect ACOMORAN, Prince Shamsudeen Adebayo Apelogun and
Representative of the Hon. Minister of Transportation (Director Road Transport and
Mass Transit Administration, Federal Ministry of Transportation) Dr. Mrs Anthonia
Ekpa at the inauguration of elected National Working Committee of the Amalgamated
Commercial Tricycle and Motorcycle Owners, Repairers and Riders Association of Nigeria
(ACOMORAN) at the Women Development Center, Abuja,yesterday.
AWARD:Delta State Commissioner for Information, Patrick Ukah (right), yesterday
in Asaba received the Outstanding Media Leadership Award in recognition of his
outstanding information management of SMART Agenda which has enhanced good
governance and sustainable development in Delta State from Asaba Post News-Wire
(Online) publisher, Mr. Emeka Okonta Okelum.
PRESENTATION: From left, Adegbola Abudu; CEO Capricorn Digital, Salami
Abolore ; CEO Riby, Segun Akerele;EFInA Board chairman, Laure Beaufils; Deputy
British High Commissioner, Fehintolu Olaogun; CEO of Credpal, Esaie Diei, CEO
of EFInA, Oluwole Ogunwande; CEO of Smart Teller, Faith Adesemowo; CEO of
Social Lender at the EFInA $2M Fintech Grant presentation in Lagos.
Abdullahi Adamu, winner of Vlisco Mother's Day special phone-in programme on
Vision FM Abuja, receiving his gift from Tito Olorunduro, Vlisco Store Manager
Jabi Lake Mall, Abuja.
L ECONOMIC AGOS—SOCIO-
Rights
and Accountability
Project, SERAP, has sent
a Freedom of
Information request to
Chairman, Code of
Conduct Bureau, CCB,
Dr. Muhammed Isah,
urging him to use his
“good offices and
leadership position to
urgently provide
information on specific
:Vanguard :@vanguardnews :@vanguardnewsNEWS HOTLINES:
Onnoghen: SERAP seeks details of
asset declaration of presidents,
govs since 1999
LAGOS—LAGOS State
Governor-elect,
Babajide Sanwo-Olu,
yesterday, unveiled an
inauguration committee
that will usher in his
administration on May
29th, 2019.
Sanwo-Olu, in company
of his deputy, Obafemi
Hamzat, presented the
committee members at his
campaign office on
Awolowo Road in Ikoyi.
In statement by media
officer to the Governorelect,
Gboyega Akosile, the
committee is chaired by the
Director-General of
Babajide Sanwo-Olu
Independent Campaign
Group, ICG, Tayo Ayinde;
while the Lagos State APC
Women Leader, Mrs.
Jumoke Okoya-Thomas
and George Osifeko will
serve as Vice Chairmen
respectively and Mrs. Titi
Oshodi will act as
secretary.
While unveiling the
inauguration team, the
governor-elect said the
committee is mandated
with a responsibility of
organizing a smooth
programme that will usher
in his administration.
The committee is also
billed to reach out to
Nigerians in corporate and
political sectors,
stakeholders and various
interest groups locally and
By Princewill
Ekwujuru
details of asset
declarations submitted to
the CCB by successive
presidents and state
governors since the return
of democracy in 1999.”
SERAP is seeking ;
“details of asset
declarations by
successive presidents
and state governors
between 1999 and 2019,
including details of
declarations made
May 29 inauguration: Sanwo-
Olu appoints c’ttee members
By Olasunkanmi
Akoni
‘Afrocet fair to attract 70% foreign
investors’
LMontgomery,
AGOS—AFROCET
in
collaboration with
Advertisers Association
of Nigeria, ADVAN,
yesterday, said that its
planned Nigerian Food
Event food, drink and
hospitality fair scheduled
for October 2019 is
expected to attract over 85
exhibitors; of which 70
percent will be foreign
organizations seeking
invest opportunities in
internationally to grace the
swearing-in ceremony.
Sanwo-Olu urged
members of the committee
to co-operate and work
diligently in achieving their
mandate.
He also tasked the team
to streamline their activities
with the plans of the
outgoing government and
work with security
agencies to have smooth
transition.
In his remarks, Ayinde
assured the governor-elect
and his deputy of the
committee’s readiness to
organize a seamless
swearing-in programme.
He said: “I want to assure
your excellencies that
sitting before you are
highly experienced men
and women who have
contributed tremendously
to various industries. I can
attest to their individual
capacity to deliver on the
terms of reference of a
smooth inauguration
ceremony.”
Other members of the
committee include:
Obiageli Onu, Funke
Bucknor Obruthe, Alhaji
Abdullahi Enilolobo,
Kamal Salau-Bashua,
Olatunji Disu, Kappo
Emmanuel, Bolaji
Durojaiye, Olabopo
Odiachi, Bimbo Onabanjo,
Ajala Rasaq, Taiwo
Abiodun, Ayiri
Oladunmoye, Gboyega
Akosile, Lanre Adeyinka
and Sesan Daini.
Nigeria.
Speaking at the press
briefing heralding the
maiden edition of the
B2B fair in Nigeria,
Regional Director West
Africa for Afrocet
Montgomery, George
Pearson, said: “The
cumulative exhibition
will encompass three
key industry segments to
bring together qualified
stakeholders and key
industry members. The
fair will not only cater to
businesses operating
within the food industry,
but with the inclusion of
two other incorporated
exhibitions; the NFE
immediately after taking
offices and thereafter,
and for those who have
left public offices, at the
end of their term of
office. Information is
also sought on the
number of asset
declarations so far verified
by the CCB and the
number of those
declarations found to be
false and deemed to be in
breach of the Code of
Conduct for Public Officers,
by the Bureau.”
In the FOI request
dated 18 April 2019 and
signed by SERAP
deputy director
Kolawole Oluwadare,
the organization said:
“While we welcome the
judgment by the Code of
Conduct Tribunal on
Justice Walter
Onnoghen, we now
urge the CCB to extent
its mandates to enforce
constitutional provisions
on asset declarations by
public officers to cover
elected officers and to
vigorously pursue the
prosecution of any such
officers who use their
powers either as
presidents or state
governors over public
funds to enrich
themselves.”
SERAP said: “While
judicial corruption is
bad, the level of
corruption involving
many politicians since
1999 and the entrenched
culture of impunity of
perpetrators is equally
appalling. Publishing
the asset declarations of
elected public officers
since the return of
democracy in 1999 to
date would improve
public trust in the ability
of the Bureau to
effectively discharge its
mandates. This would in
turn put pressure on
public officers like
presidents and state
governors to make
voluntary public
declaration of their
assets.”
and the Nigerian
Hospitality Event.
“The fair will also host
over 85 exhibitors,
70percent which will be
foreign organizations
seeking viable investments
in Nigeria, will see not less
than 2,500 visitors in
attendance to the event.”
In addition, Executive
Secretary, ADVAN, Ediri
Ose-Ediale, expressed
the association’s
excitement in
collaborating with the
organizers to expose
Nigeria and Nigeria
companies to foreign
companies
investors.
and

38 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2019
OKWANDU
I, formerly known as Miss
Okwandu Esther Uchechi,
now wish to be known as
Mrs. Agbenyadzi Uchechi
Esther. All former documents
remain valid. General public
please take note.
KALEJAIYE
I, formerly known as Miss
Kalejaiye Adejumoke Dorcas,
now wish to be known as Mrs.
Ogunnaiya Adejumoke Dorcas.
All former documents remain
valid. General public please
take note.
EPHRAIM
I, formerly known and called
Ephraim
Magret
Oghenemaro, now wish to be
known and called Mrs.
Obikoru Margaret
Oghenemaro. All former
documents remain valid.
General public please take
note.
UFUOMA
I, formerly known as Miss
Joan Emejor Ufuoma, now
wish to be known as Mrs.
Alagha Idowu .U. Joan.
Former documents remain
valid. General public please
take note.
ORUOSAH
I, formerly known as Miss
Letticia Ifeyinwa Oruosah,
now wish to be known as
Mrs. Letticia Ifeyinwa
Okorie. All former documents
remain valid. General public
please take note.
O’KENNA
I, formerly known as
O’kenna, George Kingsley,
now wish to be known as
Obiekwe, George Roosevelt
Kingsley. All former
documents remain valid.
General public please take
note.
ESE
I, formerly known as
Erhima Ese, now wish to be
known as Erhima Stephen.
All former documents
remain valid. General
public take note.
GODDEY
I, formerly known as Joy
Goddey, now wish to be
known as Olodi Joy Eremena.
All former documents remain
valid. General public please
take note.
ODU
I, formerly known as
Miss Odu Stellamaris
Chibuzor, now wish to be
known as Mrs. Agwai
Stellamaris Chibuzor. All
former documents remain
valid. General public please
take note.
OGWU
I, formerly known as
Miss Marian Ogwu, now wish
to be known as Mrs. Marian
Nwabunwanne Chukwuma. All
former documents remain
valid. General public please
take note.
CHIDOZIE
I, formerly known as
Chidozie Kenneth, now wish
to add Amadi, to be known
as Amadi Chidozie Kenneth.
All former documents remain
valid. General public please
take note.
OSUAGWU
I, formerly known as Miss
Osuagwu Elizabeth Chizoma,
now wish to be known as
Mrs. Chukwuma Elizabeth
Chizoma. All former
documents remain valid.
General public please take
note.
ADEBAYO
I, formerly known as Adebayo
Opeyemi Funmilayo, now wish
to be known as Ogedengbe
Opeyemi Funmilayo. All
former documents remain
valid. General public please
take note.
MARK-UDE
I, formerly known as Mark-
Ude Mark Ngozi, now wish
to be known as Ude Ngozi
Mark. Former documents
remain valid. General public
please take note.
EGBE
I, formerly known as Miss Egbe
Deborah, now wish to be
known as Mrs. Gbagolo
Avwerosuoghene Deborah. All
former documents remain
valid. General public please
take note.
OHANAZOEZE
I, formerly known as
Ohanazoeze Joy Chinenye,
now wish to be known as
Ohason Joy Chinenye. All
former documents remain
valid. General public please
take note.
DOMINION
I, formerly known as Ziregbe
Collins Dominion, now wish
to be known as Ziregbe
Onovakpo Collins. All former
documents remain valid.
General public take note.
OKOME
I, formerly known as Miss
Testimony Tessy Okome,
now wish to be known as
Mrs. Testimony Gbise. All
former documents remain
valid. General public please
take note.
IKENYE
I, formerly known as
Miss Ikenye Christiana
Chekwume, now wish to be
known as Mrs. Onyenwosa
Christiana Chekwume. All
former documents remain
valid. General public please
take note.
UMUEZE
I, formerly known as
Miss Umueze Nneka Sylvia,
now wish to be known as
Mrs. Afe Nneka Sylvia. All
former documents remain
valid. General public please
take note.
GABRIEL
I, formerly known as Gabriel
Chioma Favour, now wish to
be known as Enukaora Favour
Chioma Paula. All former
documents remain valid.
General public please take
note.
OSHARIKENI
I, formerly known as Miss
Osharikeni Evelyn, now wish
to be known as Mrs. Umukoro
Evelyn. All former documents
remain valid. General public
please take note.
OLUBOKA
I, formerly known as Omolola
Christiana Oluboka, now wish
to be known as Omolola
Christiana Adeniji. All former
documents remain valid.
General public please take
note.
OGUJI
I, formerly known as Oguji
Sunday Chinaza, now wish
to be known as Chukwuma
Sunday Revival (Chinaza).
All former documents remain
valid. General public please
take note.
AWAKAN
I, formerly known as Miss
Olabisi Awakan, now wish to
be known as Miss Olabisi
Abogun. All former
documents remain valid.
General public please take
note.
CHRIS
I, formerly known as Chris
David Dogara, now wish to
be known as Dauda Mairabo
Dogara. All former
documents remain valid.
General public please take
note.
EGEDEGBE
I, formerly known as
Egedegbe Queen Akumoere,
now wish to be known as
Trakiriowei Queen
Akumoere. All former
documents remain valid.
General public take note.
OGHENEWOGAGA
I, formerly known as Miss
Oghenewogaga Ewoma
Marvelous, now wish to be
known as Mrs. Emotimighan
Ewoma Marvelous. All former
documents remain valid.
General public please take
note.
EYEWUMI
I, formerly known as
Miss Tuoyo Ruth
Eyewumi, now wish to be
known as Mrs. Eyituoyo
Ruth Omorode. All former
documents remain valid.
General public please take
note.
OKAFOR
I, formerly known as
Miss Nkemdilim Loveth
Okafor, now wish to be known
as Mrs. Nkemdilim Loveth
Dike. All former documents
remain valid. General public
please take note.
OKPALA
I, formerly known as Okpala
Chika Clare and Agazie Chika
Clare, now wish to be known
as Izunwanne-Agazie Chika
Clare. All former documents
remain valid. General public
please take note.
ENANG
My name was wrongly written as
Enang God’swill in my Diamond
Bank Plc account, instead of Enang
Effiong God’swill. I now wish to be
known as Enang Effiong God’swill.
All former documents remain valid.
Diamond Bank Plc, Access Bank Plc
and general public please take note.
AJOFOYINBO
I, formerly known as
Ajofoyinbo Adebamiro
Adetoro, now wish to be
known as Adebamiro Adetoro
Obafemi. Former documents
remain valid. General public,
take note.
CHIZOBA OD
I, formerly known as Okafor
Chukwuagozie Chizoba, now
wish to be known as Okafor
Chukwuagozie Marvin. All
documents remain valid.
General public please take
note.
EKE
I, formerly known as Eke
Onyinyechi Ngozi, now wish
to be known as Oyelade
Onyinyechi Ngozi. All former
documents remain valid.
General public please take
note.
UCHENNA
I, formerly known as
Uchenna Obinna Favour, now
wish to be known as
Ehiwarior Destiny
Uwariekachukwu. All former
documents remain valid.
General public please take
note.
BASSEY
I, formerly known as Miss
Bassey Roseline Ndiyo
Imaobong, now wish to be
known as Mrs Ekpadamrophe
Roseline Ndiyo Imaobong. All
former documents remain
valid. General public take note.
AYERE
I, formerly known as Miss
Ayere Omoyemwen, now wish
to be known as Mrs.
Osatohanmwen Naomi
Omoyemwen. All former
documents remain valid.
General public please take
note.
ISICHEI
I, formerly known as
Miss Pauline Maria
Emeliemuwa Isichei, now
wish to be known as
Mrs. Pauline Maria
Emeliemuwa Jibunor. All
former documents remain
valid. General public please
take note.
OBI
I, formerly known as Miss Obi
Ogechi Blessing, now wish to
be known as Mrs. Akabuo
Uchenna Ogechi Blessing. All
former documents remain
valid. General public please
take note.
EMEKA
My name was wrongly
written as Nneli Emeka
Thomas, instead of Nneli
Chukwuemeka Thomas,
which is my correct name. All
former documents remain
valid. General public please
take note.
MAKOJI
I, formerly known as Miss
Lami Makoji, now wish to be
addressed as Mrs Lami Ojo.
Former documents remain
valid. General public take
note.
OHIRI
I, formerly known as Miss
Ohiri Violet Somadila, now
wish to be known as Mrs.
Ononiwu Violet Somadila. All
former documents remain
valid. First Bank Plc and
general public please take note.
CHIGBATA
I, formerly known as Chigbata
Maryann Ogechukwu, now
wish to be known as Oramulu
Maryann Ogechukwu. All
former documents remain
valid. General public please
take note.
OSITADE
I, formerly known as Miss
Khaleelat Omobola Ositade,
now wish to be known as Mrs.
Khaleelat Omobola Omotayo
Omo-Owo. All former
documents remain valid.
General public please take
note.
ISAH
I, formerly known as
Suleimon Omeiza Isah, now
wish to be known as Suleimon
Hassan Musa. All former
documents remain valid.
General public please take
note.
ONWUEGBUCHULEM
I, formerly known as Miss
Onwuegbuchulem Loveline
Ngozi, now wish to be known
as Mrs. Ugo Loveline Ngozi.
All former documents remain
valid. General public please
take note.
EHIBOMHEN
I, formerly known as Miss
Ehibomhen Winner
Enosakhona, now wish to be
known as Mrs. Winner
Obominuru. All former
documents remain valid.
General public please take
note.
NDAH
I, formerly known as
Miss Ndah Patricia Nkiruka,
now wish to be known as
Mrs. Egbe Patricia
Nkiruka. All former
documents remain valid.
General public please take
note.
UZOKA
I, formerly known as
Miss Uzoka Amadeus
Nwabuaku, now wish to be
known as Mrs. Osuya Amadeus
Nwabuaku. All former
documents remain valid.
General public please take
note.
FRANCISCA
I, formerly known as Onochie
Francisca, now wish to be
known as Onochie Vivian
Ogor. All former documents
remain valid. General public
please take note.
EPHRAIM
I, formerly known and called
Ephraim Kingsley Peter,
now wish to be known and
called Obikoru Kingsley
Peter. All former documents
remain valid. General public
please take note
ORIKEZE
I, formerly known as Ehianuka
Lucky Orikeze, now wish to
be known as Ehianuka Lucky
Onyekachukwu. All former
documents remain valid.
General public please take
note.
ABIODUN
I, formerly known as Raji
Abiodun, now wish to be
known as Roji Murtadha
Gbadebo, Former documents
remain valid. UBA bank and
general public should take
note.
MALI
I, formerly known as Mali
Adisat Kehinde, now wish to
be known as Malik Fausat
Kehinde. All former
documents remain valid.
General public please take
note.
ODUBAYO
I, formerly known as
Odubayo Oluwasola Sarah,
now wish to be known as
Mrs. Ikpide Oluwasola Sarah.
All former documents remain
valid. General public please
take note.
AYAOGE
I, formerly known as Miss
Ayaoge Elizabeth, now wish
to be known as Mrs.
Elizabeth Ayaoge Nathan. All
former documents remain
valid. General public please
take note.
WILLIE
I, formerly known as Miss
Iboro Eno Willie, now wish
to be known as Mrs. Iboro
Fred Inyang. All former
documents remain valid.
General public please take
note.
OWAKWE
I, formerly known as
Miss Owakwe Evelyn, now
wish to be known as
Mrs. Kenneth Evelyn. All
former documents remain
valid. General public please
take note.
OTOBO
This is to confirm that Onyi
Philips Otobo and Nwabuisi
Philip refer to the same person.
I now wish to be known as Onyi
Philips Otobo. All former
documents remain valid.
General public please take
note.

OMOBAH
I, formerly known as Kessy
Ajirioghene Omobah, now
wish to be known as Kessy
Mabuyaku. All former
documents remain valid.
General public please take
note.
BENSON
I, formerly known as Miss
Faith Elohor Benson, now
wish to be known as Mrs
Faith Elohor Idjuku. All
former documents remain
valid. General public please
take note.
OKONKWO
I, formerly known as Miss
Okonkwo Onyinyechukwu
Dorcas, now wish to be known
as Mrs Enekwechi
Onyinyechukwu Dorcas. All
former documents remain
valid. General public, banks and
all concerned institutions
should please take note.
INAH
I, formerly known as
Minobloh Ibiang Inah, now
wish to be known as Minobloh
Kingsley Ojeikere. All former
documents remain valid.
General public please take
note.
ONOMAKPOME
I, formerly known as Miss
E r o m e d o g h e n e
Onomakpome, now wish to
be known as Mrs
Eromedoghene Hart Ashiedu.
All former documents remain
valid. General public please
take note.
ARIKEWUYO
I, formerly known
as Arikewuyo Kaosara
Omolabake, now wish to be
known as Quadri Omolabake
Oluwatosin. All former
documents remain valid. The
general public, please take
note.
OKEREKE
I, formerly known as Okereke
Ifunanya Jennifer, now wish
to be known as Okereke
Jennifer Loveth. All former
documents remain valid.
General public please take
note.
OGHENEFEJIRO
I, formerly known as
Edafemuno Blessing
Oghenefejiro, now wish to be
known as Edafemuno Blessing
Godspower. All former
documents remain valid.
General public please take
note.
OMOBAH
I, formerly known as Pedicter
Edoka Omobah, now wish to
be known as Pedicter
Champion — Kpateghe. All
former documents remain
valid. General public please
take note.
UKPEMIEBRE
I, formerly known as
Ukpemiebre Roseline
Emebabayerinni, now wish to
be known as Edeyan Roseline.
All former documents remain
valid. General public please
take note.
MOMOH
I, formerly known as Miss
Momoh Odion Blessing, now
wish to be known as Mrs
Aigberadion Odion Blessing.
All former documents remain
valid. General public, banks and
all concerned institutions
should please take note.
MBATUGOSI
I, formerly known as
Mbatugosi Chika Darlinton,
now wish to be known as
Mbatugosi Chidozie Florentus.
All former documents remain
valid. General public please
take note.
ONWUEGBUSI
I, formerly known as Miss
Marian Nkem Onwuegbusi,
now wish to be known as
mrs. marian nkem smart. all
former documents remain
valid. general public please
take note.
WISDOM
I, formerly known as Wisdom
Peter, now wish to be known
as Wisdom Peter Ebor. All
former documents remain
valid. The general public,
please take note.
ENDURANCE
CHANGE OF NAME
EMEMERURAI IZ EJENAVOHME GODSPOWER
SUNDAY UDEGBUNAM
I, formerly known as Nita I, formerly known as Gimaku I, formerly known as Akua- I, formerly known as Sunday I, formerly known as Miss
Uzuazo Ememerurai, now
Owei Tamaraukuro
Ejenavohme Moses, now wish
Edet, now wish to be known
Udegbunam Chinyere Mary-
Godspower, now wish to be
Justina, now wish to be
wish to be known as Mrs. to be known as Moses
known as Paris as Sunday Edet John. All known as Mrs Ikeji
Nita Uzuazo Ojeiwa. All Omowhigo Gimaku. All Tamaraukuro. All former former documents remain Chinyere Mary-Justina.
former documents remain former documents remain documents remain valid.
All former documents remain
valid. General public please valid. General public please General public please take
valid. General public please
valid. General public please
take note.
take note.
note.
take note.
take note.
JOHN
MOMOH
OKOGBE
GBISE
NZE
I, formerly known as I, formerly known as Miss I, formerly known as Okogbe I, formerly known as Gbise I, formerly known as Miss
Godsend Oghenekaro John, Momoh Zainab, now wish Oghenekaro Uyoyou Jerry Ejovwo, now wish to Chinelo Jennifer Nze, now
now wish to be known as Dr to be known as Mrs Sadiq Juliet, now wish to be known be known as Osiobe Jerry wish to be known as Mrs.
Godsend Oghenekaro
Momoh Zainab. All former
Ejovwo. All former
Godsend. All former
as Ewuku Uyoyou Juliet.
Chinelo Jennifer Nwaiwu. All
documents remain valid. documents remain valid. All former documents remain documents remain valid. former documents remain
General public please take General public please take valid. General public please General public please take valid, general public please
note.
note.
take note.
note.
note.
I, formerly known as Agbodo
Endurance, now wish to be known
as Agbodo Gloria. All documents
bearing my former name still remain
Valid. General public, Diamond Bank
(now Access Bank) and all relevant
authorities please take note.
EMUEMUKORO
I, formerly known as Miss
Rita Emuemukoro, now wish
to be known as Mrs Rita
Imasuen. All former
documents remain valid.
General public please take
note.
UKAGWU
I, formerly known as Joy
Onukafor Ukagwu, now wish
to be known as Joy
Izuchukwu Ngadi. All
former documents remain
valid. General public please
take note.
AKPODE
I, formerly known as Miss Agnes
Akpode, now wish to be known as
Mrs. Agnes Ebareki. All former
documents remain valid. General
public,Nursing and Midwifery
Council of Nigeria and Hospital
Management Board Delta state, and
all concerned institutions should
please take note
OMOJERO
I, formerly known as Miss
Omojero Lucky, now wish to
be known as Mrs Leleji
Lucky. All former documents
remain valid. The general
public, please take note.
ORODE
I, formerly known as Miss
Winnifred Nakpodia Orode,
now wish to be known as
Mrs. Winnifred Nakpodia
Okoro. All former documents
remain valid. General public
please take note.
OJOVBO
I, formerly known as Miss
Edesiri Ojovbo, now want to
be known as Mrs. Edesiri
Efetobor, all former
documents remain valid,
general public and to whom it
may concern please take note.
OVIRUO
I, formerly known as Queen
Oviruo, now wish to be
known as Queen Sorhue. All
former documents remain
valid. General public please
take note.
ETUK
I, formerly known as Miss
Etuk Nseobong Augusta, now
wish to be known as Mrs Tene
Augusta Nseobong. All
former documents remain
valid. General public please
take note.
TUNRAYO
I, formerly known as Miss
Ajekigbe Fatimo Tunrayo,
now wish to be known as Mrs
Oluseye Ajekigbe Fatimo. All
former documents remain
valid. General public please
take note.
OBADA
I, formerly known as Miss
Obada Emuobosa Juliet, now
wish to be known as Mrs
Ugbegoro Juliet Emuobosa. All
former documents remain
valid. General public, banks and
all concerned institutions
should please take note.
IGBOGBO
I, formerly known as Miss
Igbogbo Erica Oritsegbemi,
wish to be known as Mrs.
Obodoeke Erica Oritsegbemi.
Also all documents bearing my
former name still remain valid.
General public please take
note.
OLOFE
I, formerly known as Miss
Olofe
Feyisikemi
Funmilola, now wish to be
known as Mrs Owolabi
Feyisikemi Funmilola. All
former documents remain
valid. The general public,
please take note.
ACHONU
I, formerly known as Miss
Achonu Ijeoma Judith, now
wish to be known as Mrs.
Uchechukwugeme Ijeoma
Judith. All former documents
remain valid. The general
public should please take note.
TONY
I, formerly known as Miss
Tony Ebiere Judith, now wish
to be known as Mrs. Tony-
Emgboukuro Ebiere Judith. All
documents bearing my former
name still remain Valid.
General public and all relevant
authorities please take note.
OBRIKOGHO
I, formerly known as Miss
Obrikogho Oghale Blessing,
now wish to be known as Mrs
Chadu Oghale Blessing. All
former documents remain
valid. General public please
take note.
ODJUGO
I, formerly known as Miss
Blessing Oghenetega Odjugo,
now wish to be known as Mrs
Blessing Blessing Oghenetega
Ojobo. All former documents
remain valid. General public,
banks and all concerned
institutions should please take
note.
OLOGBOSERE
I, formerly known as Miss
Judith Osaro Ologbosere, now
wish to be known as Mrs. Judith
Osaro Anyirah. All former
documents remain valid.
General public, banks and all
concerned institutions should
please take note.
UCHE
I, formerly known as Mrs. Uche Ibe
Nkasiobi Nonyelum, now wish to be
known as Alamba Nkasiobi
Nonyelum. All former documents
remain valid. Medical and Dental
Council of Nigeria (MDCN) and
general public, please take note.
ADEMIDE
I, formerly known as Quadri
Ayomide Ademide, now wish
to be known as Quadri
Babatunde Ayomide. All
former documents remain
valid. The general public,
please take note.
UWAZIE
I, formerly known as Miss
Uwazie Nkechinyere Judith,
now wish to be known as Mrs.
Ohanaka Nkechinyere Judith.
All former documents remain
valid. The general public
should please take note.
MBAH
I, formerly known as Miss
Mbah Ogechi Joy, now wish
to be known as Mrs Simon
Ogechi Joy. All former
documents remain valid,
general public please take
note.
FOR ADVERT PLACEMENT VISIT TRINITY MALL,
BESIDE ZENITH BANK BALOGUN BUS STOP,
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ISLAND LAGOS
VANGUARD, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2019 — 39
INEC fixes
Ajeromi-
Ifelodun
supplementary
poll Apr 27
By Olayinka Ajayi
LAGOS—FOL
LOWING the
order of the
Federal High Court sitting
in Abuja, the Independent
National Electoral
Commission,
INEC, has fixed April
27, 2019 for the Ajeromi-Ifelodun
constituency
supplementary
election.
INEC declared the
election of Ajeromi/
Ifelodun Federal constituency
election result
inconclusive following
the cancellation of the
election in 71 polling units
on account of violence
and over voting.
In a statement, INEC
spokesperson in Lagos,
Femi Akinbiyi stated:
"The declaration was
made at the Federal
Constituency Collation
Centre, Ajeromi/Ifelodun
Local Government
Area Office of the Commission
in the presence
of leaders of Political
Parties, candidates and
their agents.
"The election became
inconclusive in compliance
with the margin of
lead principle where no
candidate emerged
clear winner as a result
of the cancellation of
election in 71 polling
units affected by violence
and over voting.
“Consequently, April
27, 2019, has been fixed
for a supplementary
election to conclude the
election in the affected
constituency areas.”
According to the
statement, the election
is to hold in 71 polling
units with 43,660 registered
voters.
It will be recalled that
seven states were affected
in supplementary
elections after the
February and March
2019 General Elections
in the Federation. The
Ajeromi /Ifelodun Federal
Constituency election
is the last in the
series of supplementary
elections.
The Resident Electoral
Commissioner, REC,
urged electorate in the affected
Constituency to
conduct themselves in a
peaceful manner to ensure
the success of the election.

40— Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2019
Edited by:
Prince Osuagwu
08050498513
princeosuagwu@gmail.com
GADGET OF THE WEEK
I-N-C-R-E-D-I-B-L-E
Lenovo Smart Clock knows your agenda
By Juliet Umeh
IF you want a smart clock
that is great at waking
you up and still perform
other functions at home,
then Lenovo smart clock is
your choice.
The clock is Google
assistant-powered device
that can tell you the time,
play music, control other
connected home devices
and still tell the weather,
among other functions.
Beyond Bluetooth
connectivity, the device
features a gentle wake-up
mode, which means that 30
minutes before your alarm
goes off, the clock face slowly
gets brighter, and if you have
smart lights connected to
your device, those slowly
brighten as well.
When the alarm goes off,
hit anywhere on the device
once to snooze. Also, hit it
twice to turn it off entirely
and it launches into your
customized routine.
There is a USB port on the
back to plug your phone in
and a microphone on/off
shutter.
The gadget is cute and
adds to the beauty of any
bedroom. It is encased in a
gray nylon cloth fabric and
features a rectangular screen.
The device tapers along the
NEWS
top from the front to the back,
giving it a smaller profile
despite the four-inch screen.
According to Lenovo, it
decided to keep the smart
clock without a camera so that
people won't have to worry
about anyone seeing them
while in their bedroom and
that also means that the
device doesn't support twoway
video calling.
GEEK ‘N’ TEK
Online dating: Think before clicking the 'Ýes'
button
By Juliet Umeh
SINCE the advent of
internet, online dating
has been on the increase.
However, there are those
who go into it with dubious
intentions.
They feign romance fand
lure unfortunate victims to a
love affair that would hurt at
the end.
The online dating
scammers are well educated
and are heartless as they
look forward to profiting off
victims who are lonely or
have complicated love
experiences. They are
ready to steal the victim’s
heart and money. Although
there are stories of many
who met their spouses
online, the risk of getting
hurt in online appears high.
However, risk is part of life.
But should anybody wishes
to take the risk of online
dating, there are some
precautions:
*Be diligent: When your
online suitor is becoming too
nice, dont be carried away.
Take it slowly and ask a lot of
questions. Watch out for
inconsistencies that might
reveal an impostor.
*All that glitter is not gold:
Some profile photos of these
love scammers appear
glossier than the hollywood
stars. Check the profile
photo, using Google’s
“search by image” feature. If
the same picture shows up
elsewhere with a different
name attached to it, that’s a
With the mission of
powering prosperity for Osun
businesses through trade,
thousands of farmers and
their wares have so far been
accomodated in the platform
for free.
Ajé has a large base of
trusted and quality local
farmers and suppliers from
Osun, connecting them to
buyers across Nigeria and
beyond. The goal is to
provide a trusted platform
to facilitate trade securely
and seamlessly for
sign you're dealing with a
scammer.
*Be wary of flirtatious
andoverly complimentary
emails. Paste the text into a
search engine and see
whether the same words
show up on websites
devoted to exposing
romance scams.
*Respect your instint: Cut
off contact immediately you
begin to suspect that the
individual may be a
swindler. Don't gamble with
a swindler.
Osun producers get online gateway to global trade
By Juliet Umeh
OSUN State local
farmers have been
handed an online gateway
to showcasing their products
in the international market.
This is as emerging online
marketplace for locally
sourced goods, Aje,
launches in the state.
The online platform helps
farmers, traders and artisans,
sell their goods with ease to
millions of buyers across
Nigeria and beyond.
thousands of buyers and
sellers.
Offering products ranging
from home/office furniture,
food items such as organic
farm fresh vegetables,
tubers, fresh fruits, locally
processed essential cooking
oil, organic seeds and
grains amongst others, Ajé
is poised re-define the
marketplace by
democratising access to
market linkage for micro
businesses often excluded
from traditional
marketplaces.
Kidney transplant: I didn't want to make
public my health challenges again
—Leo Mezie
AILING actor, Leo Mezie
is currently feeling bad
that he's bothering Nigerians
again with his health
challenges. Left for the actor,
he would have preferred to
return to his maker quietly
than to embark on another
fund-raising campaign after
By Benjamin Njoku
his two kidneys recently
collapsed again.
Mezie about three years
ago miraculously survived
kidney disease. Recall that
Apostle Johnson Suleman of
Omega Ministries, Auchi,
Edo State, had facilitated the
actor's medical trip to
London in 2016, and while
receiving treatment there, the
actor was advised not to go
for a transplant. An advice he
welcomed wholeheartedly as
he returned to Nigeria and
has since been diligent on his
treatment.
Sadly, the handsome actor
is down again with a severe
kidney failure.
WG visited the actor at a
specialist hospital in Ilupeju
area of Lagos, during one of
his dialysis sessions,where he
narrated his pathetic story.
According to the actor, he
started battling the ailment
again since April, last year.
His condition became
critical, after he could no
longer afford the money for
his dialysis, which is
N45,000,00 per session.
“Before I was doing it three
times a week, and when I
couldn't sustain it, I changed
it to twice a week and later,
once in a month or in two
months.”
Wizkid set to feature on
Beyonce’s forthcoming EP
NIGERIA’s music
sensation, Wizkid
is due to feature on Beyonce’s
forthcoming album.
According to the leaked
tracklist, Wizkid is set to
feature on a song titled
“Younce Riddim.”
Just yesterday, Beyonce
had the whole world talking
when she released a
40-track live album,
“Homecoming” which
has since topped the
iTunes chart.
It is also speculated that
Beyonce combined her
star power with some other
music heavyweights
like Nicki Minaj, Rihanna
and her husband, Jay-
Z on the forthcoming EP.
Fans are still celebrating
Davido’s revelation
on music producer, Kiddominant,
who is set to
•Beyonce and Wizkid
also produce one of the
songs on the US singer’s
“As at December, I was very
sick. I collapsed a couple of
times before kidney disease
examination was conducted
on me, where it was
discovered that the remaining
function had already packed
up I could not continue the
dialysis session. Then I was
warned that I cannot stay
without undergoing dialysis
therapy about three sessions
a week. Otherwise, any crisis
may not be able to be
reserved,” Mezie narrated.
Worse still, Mezie said he
couldn't even afford to observe
his diet again as well as his
medication. This situation,
however, led to the collapse of
the only functioning kidney,
and brought him back to his
old state of health.
The actor, said he's living at
the mercy of his family
members, friends and
colleagues in the movie
industry. He narrates: “I
needed help and my family
was on top of it. Though they
were struggling to meet up
with my medication, feeding
and dialysis. They were doing
it in turns to sustain me. My
elder sister was travelling
around the world meeting
reputable NGOs. One of the
NGOs responded in New
Jersey while the other one
responded in Abuja. We were
on that before Chioma Okoye
contacted me.”
forthcoming album only
to receive the information
that Starboy (Wizkid) will
also feature on the album.
Burna Boy announces date for release of new
album
BURNA Boy has had
an exceptional run
for a little over a year
now, exceeding himself
with each new release
and each new project.
This year alone, he has
released four videos, one
song, and one EP. Crowning
all of that, he made
his Coachella debut early
this week. All of this is
exactly why the title ’African
Giant’ is extremely
apt for his forthcoming
album.
Contributors and executives
from record labels,
radio, Spotify, YouTube,
the film and media industry
and clubs converged
at a private location
in Los Angeles, California,
for an early listening
party of what
many described as “Burna’s
best album yet”. In
true Burna Boy style, the
listening quickly turned
into a house party as
guests got caught up in
the music.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2019—41
vanguardnews @vanguardnews @vanguardnews
NEWS HOTLINES
018773962,
08052867058
OPERATION PUFF ADDER—From left: Commissioner of Police in Enugu
State, Mr Suleiman Balarabe; representative of Enugu State Government,
Mr Sam Ogbu-Nwobodo; Igwe Greg Ugwu; Head of Nigeria Policing
Programme in Enugu State, Mr Solomon Akpanufot; and Chairman of Police
Community Relations Committee, Mr Dominic Ezema, during the launch of
Operation Puff Adder, in Enugu, yesterday. Photo: NAN.
CCT axes Onnoghen, to forfeit
money, barred for 10 years
Continues from Page 5
mean that it will bow
under the whims and
caprices of the Presidency
or fail to decide cases
brought before it
dispassionately.
“All judges of courts of
superior records are
appointed by the
President, including
Chairman and members
of the CCT. That does not
reduce them to agents or
appendages of the
President,” he held.
However, Justice
Onnoghen, through his
lawyer, Mr. Okon Efut,
SAN, gave a hint that he
would appeal his
conviction by the CCT.
Although the former
CJN declined to speak to
journalists, his lawyer, in
his reaction, insisted that
the judgment was in
breach of the fundamental
principles of natural
justice, equity and good
conscience.
He alleged that the
verdict
was
premeditated, adding
that the CCT had on
January 23 when it
granted the ex-parte
order President
Muhammadu Buhari
relied upon on January
25, to remove Justice
Onnoghen from office as
the CJN, revealed its
position on the matter.
He said: “The journey
has ended today because
everything that has a
beginning must have an
end. So this day, we have
heard that the Chief
Justice of Nigeria has
been convicted and
sentenced. The
conviction is out of order,
it is unconstitutional. It is
a breach of fair hearing
because before this day,
on January 23, the same
judgment had been
passed before now,
removing the CJN
Naira depreciates to
N359.3/$ in parallel market
By Elizabeth Adegbesan
THE Naira, yesterday, depreciated to N359.3
per dollar in the parallel market.
According to naijabdcs.com, the live exchange
rate platform of the Association of Bureaux De
Change Operators (ABCON), the parallel market
exchange rate rose to N359.3 per dollar yesterday
from N359 per dollar on Wednesday, translating
to 30 kobo depreciation of the Naira.
However, the naira yesterday appreciated by 13
kobo in the Investors and Exporters (I&E) window
despite a 59 percent decline in the volume of
dollars traded.
Data from FMDQ showed that the indicative
exchange rate for the I&E window dropped to N
360.29 per dollar yesterday from N360.42 per
dollar on Wednesday, translating to 13 kobo
appreciation for the naira.
The volume of dollars (turnover) traded on the
window yesterday declined by 59 percent to $
265.59 million from $651.57 million traded on
Wednesday.
without a fair hearing.
“So it was a fait accompli;
it was premeditated, a
judgment that had been
passed before today. So,
today’s judgment is just a
formality and we hold the
view that the tribunal has
not only breached the
constitution of Nigeria, it
has breached the
fundamental principles of
natural justice, equity and
good conscience.
“It has not only been
able to pass judgment, it
has convicted for an
offence that was never
charged and this is an
erosion of the
fundamental principles of
our constitution. Until
some questions are
answered, for instance,
why is it that the due
course of justice was not
allowed to flow? Why was
judgment passed on
January 23 before today,
removing the CJN? Why
is it that today, even after
the CJN had tendered his
notice of voluntary
retirement and the NJC
has taken a position, why
is it that the tribunal has
gone ahead to pass a
judgment in total
disregard of the
independence of the NJC,
in total disregard of the
powers of the Senate in
this matter?
“We hold a view that the
tribunal in reversing itself
in the case of Ngwuta, has
breached the principles
that hold us together.
“This is a sad day in our
nation’s democracy and
we know that all is not
over with this matter. The
wheel of justice grinds
slowly but surely. This is
not a matter that will end
here. We shall avail
ourselves of all the
processes, the hierarchy of
the judiciary and we know
that the judiciary will
redeem itself even though
seriously battered and
bruised. The judiciary will
do justice. Justice has not
been done today, but it will
surely be done tomorrow.
If not by the tribunal, but
by our God. Justice will be
done by our God,” he
added.
It will be recalled that
the tribunal had last
Monday, reserved
judgment on the matter
after the Federal
Government and
Onnoghen adopted their
final written arguments.
Whereas Onnoghen
urged the tribunal to
discharge and acquit him,
insisting that the Federal
Government failed to
prove that he committed
any offence that is known
to the law.
On the other hand, the
Federal Government
asked the CCT to convict
and impose maximum
punishment on the former
CJN, contending that it
successfully established
that he acted in breach of
the code of conduct for
public officers in the
country.
The Federal
Government had in the
charge marked CCT/ABJ/
01/19, 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.
It further alleged that
the ex-CJN who was
suspended from office by
President Buhari on
January 25, operated five
foreign bank accounts,
contrary to the code of
conduct for public officers.
However, in opposition
to his trial, Justice
Onnoghen, queried the
validity of the charge
against him, stressing
that FG violated
established judicial
precedents by not
allowing the NJC, to
firstly investigate the
allegation against him,
before it rushed the matter
to the CCT.
He argued that failure
to channel the petition
against him, as well as
the outcome of the
investigation that was
purportedly conducted on
assets declaration forms
he submitted to the CCB,
to the NJC, rendered the
charge invalid.
More so, the defendant
urged the CCT to abide
by a subsisting Court of
Appeal decision in
Nganjiwa vs Federal
Republic of Nigeria (2017)
LPELR-43391, to the
effect that any misconduct
attached to the office and
functions of a judicial
officer, must first be
reported to and handled
by the NJC, pursuant to
the provisions of the laws.
He maintained that only
after the NJC had
pronounced against such
judicial officer could
prosecuting agencies of
the Federal Government
proceed to initiate a
criminal proceeding.
Justice Onnoghen drew
attention of the tribunal to
its judgment that
quashed a similar charge
against another Justice of
the Supreme Court,
Sylvester Ngwuta, on the
ground that the NJC
ought to have been
allowed to look into the
matter before the case was
filed.
He stressed that the two
judgments were yet to be
set aside by the Supreme
Court.
Aside challenging
powers of the tribunal to
try him, Onnoghen, said
he was afraid that he
would not be accorded
fair hearing by the
tribunal which he
described as an
appendage of the
Presidency.
He insisted that he was
entitled to fair hearing by
an independent and
impartial tribunal, under
section 36(1) of the 1999
Constitution, as amended.
The defendant argued
that the CCB which
recommended his trial,
the Attorney General of
the Federation who is
prosecuting him, and the
tribunal itself, are all
answerable to the
Executive Arm of the
government.
Onnoghen appeals
conviction, says
CCT has no
jurisdiction to try
him
Less than eight hours
after his conviction,
Onnoghen, through his
lawyer, Chief
Adegboyega Awomolo,
SAN, filed an appeal
before the Court of Appeal
sitting in Abuja,
contending that the CCT
had no jurisdiction to
entertain the matter, let
alone reach a decision in
the matter.
The embattled former
CJN, in 16 grounds of
appeal, is contending that
the CCT erred in law
when it dismissed his
application challenging
the jurisdiction of the
tribunal, noting that as at
the time the charges
against him was filed, he
was a judicial officer and
not subject to the
jurisdiction of the CCT.
Onnoghen in the
appeal, further argued
that the CCT chairman,
Danladi erred in law
when he refused to recuse
himself, following
objection raised about his
likelihood of bias and thus
occasioned miscarriage of
justice.
On one of the grounds
of appeal, Onnoghen
argued that the CCT also
erred in law when it
convicted him on count
one of the charges, for
failure to declare his
assets and liabilities, even
when the essential
elements of the offence as
charged had not been
proved beyond
reasonable doubt.
He is subsequently
praying the court to
among other things, set
aside his conviction by the
CCT and discharge the
order of forfeiture of asset
made by the tribunal.
FG rehearsed
Onnoghen’s
conviction
— PANDEF
Reacting to Onnoghen’s
conviction, PAN Niger
Delta Forum, PANDEF,
umbrella body of
traditional rulers, leaders
and stakeholders of the
coastal states of Niger
Delta, said it was
shameful that Federal
Government severally
rehearsed his conviction
before the CCT,
performed the hatchet
man’s job, yesterday.
National Secretary,
PANDEF, Dr. Alfred
Mulade, told Vanguard
on phone that what would
have shocked Nigerians
was if the CCT found
Onnoghen not guilty
against the wishes of the
system that wanted him at
all cost.
He said: “Justice
Onnoghen’s conviction
had been rehearsed
several times over by the
Federal Government and
this is known to all
Nigerians, who cared to
think that it is a
predetermined outcome.
“Even the trial at the
CCT culminating into his
conviction is a sad
commentary. It has only
shown the level to which
the authorities have
bastardized and relegated
the Nigerian judiciary, the
last hope of the common
person.
“Too bad, the way and
manner Onnoghen was
hounded, harassed,
embarrassed, demonized
and criminalized by the
Federal Government,” he
added.
We’ll react
formally— PDP
The Peoples Democratic
Party, PDP, yesterday, said
it will react formally to the
CCT judgement on the
retired Chief Justice of
Nigeria, CJN, Justice
Walter Onnoghen,
National Publicity
Secretary of the party,
Kola Ologbondiyan has
said.
Onnoghen was
dismissed by the CCT
yesterday, in a judgment
by its chairman, Danladi
Umar, who also barred
him from holding any
public office for a period
of ten years in addition to
forfeiture of cash in five
accounts he failed to
declare at the CCB.
“We will react formally,
that’s for sure,” the
publicity scribe said even
as he reiterated the
support of the party in the
fight against corruption.”

42—Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2019
By Samuel Oyadongha
The confirmation that the next
governorship poll in
Bayelsa will hold on
November 2, this year, by the
Independent National Electoral
Commission, INEC, has sparked
off permutations on the likely
successor of Governor Seriake
Dickson.
The ruling Peoples Democratic
Party, PDP, and main opposition
All Progressive Congress, APC,
are upping their games in
readiness for the battle for the
soul of the oil rich state.
The PDP has been the dominant
political party in the
predominantly riverine state since
the return to civil rule in 1999 and
has prided itself as the party that
produced the first Ijaw man as vice
president and president of the
country and as such deserved the
continued support of the Ijaws.
Though the PDP won five of the
eight National Assembly seats, its
dominance was fiercely
challenged by the APC which
clinched three positions among
them former President Goodluck
Jonathan’s East senatorial district
and Southern Ijaw federal
constituency, the biggest council
area with enormous voting
strength, an indication that the
coming governorship election
could swing either way.
Political pundits in Bayelsa where
politics is the main industry and
everything revolves around Creek
Haven believes that the outcome
of the November 2 poll will be
determined by the popularity and
acceptability of the candidates
fielded by the PDP and APC.
They argued that the imposition
of candidate by any of the parties
could spark a flurry of defections,
and realignments that could spell
doom for the affected party.
It will be a delicate balancing for
the ruling party considering the
array of candidates reportedly
eyeing to its ticket. There is the
also the Jonathan and Dickson
factor in deciding who flies the
PDP’s flag.
Aware of the tricky task ahead, the
PDP, on Monday, held an
expanded state executive council
meeting and warned its members
against any act capable of robbing
the party of its “deserved” victory
in the coming elections.
The meeting which had in
attendance Dickson; his deputy,
Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John
Jonah retd; the party chairman,
Moses Cleopass; and other
prominent members ratified the
reports of the disciplinary
committee set up to review the
activities of some of its members
during the last general elections.
A statement by the Director of
Strategic Communication,
Governor’s office, Chief Nathan
Egba Ologo quoted Dickson to
have warned memebrs against
anti-party activities. He stated
that for Bayelsa to maintain her
position as a stronghold of PDP,
there is need for members to put
aside their differences and work
for the success of the party in the
coming election.
APC lacks structure –Dickson
Dickson disclosed that in the
coming election the party would
be contending against the Federal
might including security agencies
and the opposition party, APC
which he said has no structure in
the state.
His words: “There are two
systems that will clash again in
this governorship election. The
Sylva
Okara
Alaibe
BAYELSA 2020: Contenders and
pretenders for Dickson’s job
state system which I lead with our
teaming supporters and the
federal system that will be
deployed in this election. As a
result, the old way of playing
politics must change.
“Bayelsa is a stronghold of PDP.
We are going to prove that again
with our voters’ cards in the
forthcoming governorship
election. We cannot be
intimidated by heavy presence of
security operatives and political
thugs. They failed in the past and
they will fail again this time
around.”
Dickson who commended the
activities of some of the party
faithful during the last general
elections said their efforts would
be adequately rewarded.
The APC, on the other hand will
not be under intense pressure as
the PDP since everything about
the party revolves around Chief
Timipre Sylva, a former governor
of the state who from his body
language is also interested in
contesting the November 2
election.
Likely contenders for
PDP ticket Timi Alaibe
Though the former Managing
Director of the Niger Delta
Development Commission,
NDDC, has not publicly indicated
interest to contest the
governorship election, he
remains one of the most loved and
experienced personality being
tipped for the exalted office.
Alaibe, it would be recalled,
contested for the PDP ticket in
2003 and was prepared to
challenge for the ticket in 2007
Erebor
Dickson
Okoya
but was prevailed upon to
withdraw from the race as
Jonathan went on to win the ticket.
However, Jonathan was later
elevated as the vice presidential
candidate of the PDP thereby
paving the way for Sylva who
came a distant second in the party
primary that could have been a
two way horse race between
Jonathan and Alaibe if he had
defied the decision of the then
power brokers in the party not to
contest. He moved to Labour Party
and later the APC where he
For Bayelsa to
maintain her position
as a stronghold of
PDP, there is need for
members to put aside
their differences and
work for the success
of the party in the
coming election.
contested the cancelled 2016
governorship primaries of the
party before being wooed back to
the PDP where many believe he
rightly belong.
The former banker is believed to
have the requisite war chest and
wide contacts to prosecute a
successful election. He is also
considered to have the support of
the people due to the plethora of
projects executed in rural
communities of the state and other
parts of the region during his stint
Maciver
Okoko
Igali
at the NDDC as well as his role
the presidential amnesty
programme for Niger Delta exagitators.
It is however left to be seen
whether the incumbent governor
or former president Jonathan will
be disposed to his ambition if he
chooses to throw his hat in the
ring. But the fact that his
Kolokuma-Opokuma local
government area has not
produced a governor since the
advent of democratic rule may
count in his favour.
Keniebi Okoko
Okoko is a scion of the famous
academician and minority rights
activist, Prof Kimse Okoko,
former President of the apex Ijaw
socio cultural organisation, the
Ijaw National Congress, INC. The
young Okoko is a renowned
entrepreneur/industrialist. An
indigene of Obunagha in Yenagoa
local government area of the state,
who seats atop a multi-billion
naira investments in the oil and
gas industry, is seen as a fresh air
to the politics of the state. He is a
trained economist and political
scientist from the University of
Port Harcourt and Carlton
University, respectively.
His coming from Yenagoa LGA
which like Kolokuma-Opokuma
that has never produced the
governor of the state may work in
his favour.
So also is his philanthropic
gestures. He is known to have
paid fees for indigent students up
to the tertiary level, and provided
books and other instructional
materials for schools. During the
2018 destructive flood he doled
out hundreds of million naira to
get relief materials for badly
affected communities.
Okoko believes that one of the
biggest problems confronting the
state is not necessarily lack of
money but poverty of the mind.
“Bayelsa as a whole needs to focus
on education. Mental poverty is
worse than financial poverty. If a
mind is not developed and
equipped, a man cannot give
what he does not have.
“Our people are not completely
exposed to good education
systems. Our people are not well
travelled like other tribes. The
Ijaw man is determined to
succeed, if you give the Ijaw man
the right playing ground, he will
perform, I can assure you,” he
said.
Reuben Okoya
Reuben Okoya is a trained
architect and a close associate of
former President Jonathan. He
was the Coordinator of Abuja
Metropolitan Management
Council when Jonathan held
sway at the presidential villa.
Though the Ekpetiama-born
technocrat has not officially
declared his intention for the
plum office, he is believed to be
the main sponsor of the group,
Campaign for Development and
Democracy in Bayelsa, CDDB,
which has been galvanising
grassroots support for him.
Bolade Igali
Igai, a former ambassador and
retired top civil servant, is an
indigene of Enewari in Southern
Ijaw local government area of the
state and a respected personality
in the diplomatic circle. The
former Secretary to the Bayelsa
State Government is also an ally
of Jonathan and is believed to
have the ears of the latter. He is
also a familiar face at the corridors
of power in the state. His council
area, it was that produced the first
civilian governor of the state in the
person of late Chief Diepreye
Alamieyeseigha, a factor that
could count against him.
Stephen Erebor
A former majority leader of the
Bayelsa State House of Assembly
is perhaps the first aspirant to
indicate interest to succeed
Dickson as Governor of the State
in 2020.
The interest, according to Ereboh,
was borne out of the need to
improve upon the achievements
of previous administration in
infrastructure, agriculture and
purchasing power of the people of
the state.
Ereboh, who served in the State
House of Assembly in 2003 as the
member representing Southern
Ijaw Constituency I, told
Vanguard that his interest in the
Bayelsa governorship race on the
platform of the PDP is to improve
the fortunes of the people.
His words: “I am not new to
governance. I believe in quality
governance and continuity. Any
successive government needs to
improve and develop what others
have achieved. It is called
renewable development. There is
the need to improve on the quality
of education, agriculture and
other infrastructure provided by
the present administration. And
even add new ones.
‘’These are decisions that will
improve upon existing
achievement and not bring it
down. Look at Bayelsa, we have
lands for agro-business. Bayelsa

Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2019—43
By Levinus Nwabughiogu
How would you react to the
adoption of Gbajabiamila
as your party’s sole
candidate for the speakership?
I am not aware that the party
endorsed him. From what we
gathered from members-elect
who attended and my reading of
the report of the dinner as
reported by the newspapers today,
I think that what happened was a
poorly choreographed political
attempt to sell the candidacy of
Gbajabiamila. I said this because
the members-elect who were
there quoted Mr President as
saying that he did not expect Mr.
Chairman to go that far; that what
he expected was for the different
zones to meet and decide on
which area and he left it at that.
So I do not think that is an
endorsement by the party.
Was Bago present at that dinner
on Tuesday?
No he wasn’t.
Was he invited?
I guess he was but he was out
of town.
Before now, has the party called
all the aspirants to the
speakership position together for
consensus?
If you are talking about meeting
members elect, say before the
induction, yes. But calling those
who are interested in the office of
the speaker or deputy speaker, I
am not aware that Bago has ever
been invited to any such meeting.
Wasn’t Bago privy to this
meeting because it would be
assumed that given his ambition
he would have been there?
It was only a dinner, it wasn’t a
party meeting. There is no party
meeting that ever holds outside
the party office. The President
wanted to fraternize with
members-elect and so, they
arranged a dinner and he couldn’t
make it back to town, there was
no other reason.
If the President was quoted that
the chairman went too far, does
that mean that the president
himself was unaware of that
endorsement?
In fact, we suspect that they
tried to ambush Mr President into
the anointing of a candidate. The
further question to ask would
probably be, at what meeting did
the national caucus decide on this
adoption, on the zoning first, not
to talk of the micro zoning? The
party has different strata, the
party is not just the National
Working Committee, NWC. There
is a national caucus which
comprises Mr President, the Vice
President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, the
APC National Leader, Asiwaju
Bola Tinubu, APC governors, BoT
members and some other party
should not only be known for oil
but should also be known for
improved Agro-businesses. What
is needed is to develop more
infrastructures, provide amenities
with security. Oil and security go
hand in hand. Before you know it,
lots of auxiliary companies will
come up.”
But his being a native of
Amassoma, home town of late
DSP Alamieyeseigha, the first
civilian governor of the state may
count against his ambition if the
issue of zoning is anything to go
by.
Kemela Okara
Although, he has not publicly
NINTH NASS: Buhari was ambushed in
Gbajabiamila’s endorsement – Ogene
•Says no retreat, no surrender in Bago’s ambition
Hon. Victor Afam Ogene was the deputy chairman, House of Representatives Committee
and media and publicity in the 7the National Assembly. He is currently the spokesman of
Hon. Mohammed Umaru Bago who is a speakership aspirant for the incoming 9th Assembly.
He told reporters in Abuja that by adopting Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila as its preferred choice
for the office, the All Progressives Congress, APC may have paved the way for a chaos in
the party, and insisted that Bago is still in the race.
•Hon. Ogene
stalwarts. To our knowledge, no
such meeting has ever been
called to discuss the issue of
zoning, not to talk of micro
zoning. So, we would be
interested to know who moved the
motion for zoning, who seconded
it, who moved a follow up motion
for micro zoning and who
seconded it; who voted for and
who voted against.
Does that mean your campaign
organisation is forging ahead
despite what has happened?
Of course, the anointing of a
candidate does not stop other
candidates from running. If I
remember vividly, our National
Leader, Bola Tinubu, in August
2016 during the run up to the
Ondo primaries, came out to
support a candidate, Olusegun
Abraham and another candidate,
Dr Tunji Abayomi challenged him
as attempting to foist his
candidate on all of them and he
issued a public statement saying
that as an individual, as a leader
of the party, he has the right to
stand with any candidate. I think
you cannot approbate and
reprobate at the same time. We
reserve the same right to run for
the election and we are forging
ahead.
Are you aware that APC
National Publicity Secretary,
Mallam Lanre said that they
wouldn’t want that kind of
scenario playing out on the floor
of the House?
I don’t know what scenario you
If justice,
fairness and
equity come to
play, then we
might as well end
up with one
candidate but that
one candidate
must be produced
on the basis of
equity and justice
ambushed in the villa, what
exactly do you mean?
Going from the report we got
and what we read in the papers
about what transpired, if Mr
President has said that ‘my
understanding is that the zones
should come together, Mr
Chairman you went far,’ what far
is he talking about? And he said
that in response to the name of
Gbajabiamila.
So if your principal is going
ahead with his ambition; aren’t
you concerned that if both
candidates from the same party
eventually stand for this contest,
the opposition might decide to
leverage on that?
No, the opposition is not going
to leverage. We have conventions
in addition to the rule books. The
constitution which is the grand
norm talks about federal character
in section 14 that there cannot be
preponderance of persons in any
agencies, arm of government, no
preponderance from a region,
tribe or religion. So, how can you
coerce lawmakers into law
breakers even before they get
sworn in? What are they going to
be sworn on? How can you get
them to break the provisions of the
constitution even before they
begin their work? So, that is going
to set the stage for a chaotic
house.
What does this unfolding
scenario portend for the APC in
the National Assembly, the
House of Reps in particular?
From the way things are playing
out, some people insinuate that
they see 2023 in the picture and
we wonder: our party has just won
a second tenure and even before
the take off of President Buhari,
some other people are thinking
ahead towards 2023 but they have
not probably factored in the God
factor into play. Why not deal with
the situation at hand instead of
thinking of how to plant persons
in different positions in
furtherance of an ambition you
don’t know whether you will
realise or not?
Some people have factored in
the religious card into the whole
thing, arguing that the President
is a Muslim and the senate
president at the end of the day,
probably is going be a Muslim
and now whether it is
Gbajabimila or Bago, it is going
to be a Muslim. Where is the
equity there?
Not too long ago in recent
history, the doctrine of necessity
came into play. What it simply
means is that if you find yourself
in certain uncomfortable
situation, what do you do? You
make the best of what you have.
You could remember a time in this
country, we had a Muslim-
Muslim ticket – the Abiola-
Kingibe ticket and people voted
for them. If the members are not
raising the issue of religion, then
I don’t think that it is religion that
should divide us.
The North-Central you are
talking about is also being
placated with the deputy
speakership by the APC. Aren’t
you going to accept that?
We are not going to consider that
for the simple reason that we
would like to know the criteria
used in arriving at the South-
West. So the quest to be speaker
by Bago does not rest solely on the
foundation that he is from the
North-Central, that is the first
major plank because for 20 years,
they have neither produced the
speaker nor the deputy since
1999; so it is a legitimate demand
founded on the need to redress a
seeming imbalance that has held
sway over the years. But secondly
and more importantly, Hon. Bago,
a three-time member is as
qualified as any other person to
lead the House. When it comes to
the National Assembly, it is not
about the number of years you
have spent. By our rules once you
are a returning member you
become cognate and you can be
anything, hold any position and
he is returning for the third time.
In realising this ambition, do
you have the vote, the support of
the other members of the APC and
of the opposition?
If we do not have the support,
we would not be where we are.
We have the support certainly
from the new members-elect,
from returning members, from
across the aisle. And for you to be
speaker you must have the
support of a majority of members
on that floor.
If at the that at the end of the
day, all the party’s organs settle
for Gbajabiamila and ask every
other candidate to withdraw from
the race or face sanctions, what
would your man do?
I don’t think the party would do
that, the party cannot stop any
member from contesting. They
could appeal and if the party has
germane reasons why they think
Mr A or B should not be the
candidate, we would all consider
that across the table.
BAYELSA 2020: Contenders and pretenders for Dickson’s job
indicated interest in the
governorship race, the name of the
serving Secretary to the State
Government is repeatedly being
dropped as a likely successor to
Dickson. He is a lawyer and is
believed to be a close ally of the
governor.
However, he may have to contend
with forces within his party who
see him as being too elitist and
straight forward in his approach
to issues.
A former Commissioner for Trade
and Investment, Okara contested
the governorship election in 2012
on the platform of Action
Congress of Nigeria, ACN, but
lost to Dickson. His being an
are talking about. We are talking
about APC members here.
Nobody is more APC than the
other, and everybody contributed
to that victory. In fact, if politics is
about the dispensing of
patronage, in Niger State alone,
the margin of victory for President
Buhari is more than the margin of
victory over the PDP in the entire
South-West. So, why would you
reward a zone that got less than
even one state, Niger where Bago
hails from? So if the national
publicity secretary said the party
does not want that scenario, we all
do not want the scenario. If justice,
fairness and equity come to play,
then we might as well end up with
one candidate but that one
candidate must be produced on
the basis of equity and justice.
Don’t forget also that the deputy
national publicity secretary of the
party did say that the North-West
has Mr President, the South-West
has Mr Vice President, he hails
from Ogun state but he does his
politics in Lagos, in fact from the
same senatorial district as Hon.
Femi Gbajambiamila. So,
assuming without conceding that
the position should even go to the
South-wWest, there are five other
states in the zone with members
from the APC. Why must it be
micro zoned to any individual?
This is not a party of an
individual. It is a party of several
individuals.
When you say that it does
appear that Mr President was
indigene of Boumodi in Yenagoa
local government, an area which
has never produced a governor
might be to his advantage.
Joshua Maciver
An ex militant leader from the
deep swamp of Southern Ijaw
council has left no one in doubt
about his desire to replace
Dickson. He has since set up his
office complex along the Isaac
Boro expressway with his
posters donning the sprawling
duplex structure and being
pasted at strategic locations
within the state capital and its
environs.
For the opposition APC, the field
is not as crowded as that of the
PDP, a development that might
work in its favour.
Timipre Sylva
Though he has not publicly
made known his interest for the
governorship race, he is
nonetheless believed to be
nursing the ambition to return to
Creek Haven come 2020. Sylva,
a former governor on the
platform of PDP is today the
leader of the APC and has strong
control of the party. He was
forced to leave the PDP and take
solace in the APC after he was
denied his constitutional right to
vie for a second term in 2012.
An APC chieftain who spoke
anonymously said he is
confident that his boss, Sylva
would grab the party’s ticket as
no aspirant will be able to
withstand his influence and
financial power at the party’s
primary.
Sylva has indeed proved that he
is not a neophyte in the politics
of the state as he led his party to
outwit Jonathan and the PDP in
their traditional stronghold in
the East senatorial district to
clinch the senate seat and also
snatched two House of
Representatives seats as well as
four seats in the state assembly.
The APC can no longer be
dismissed with the wave of the
hand as a party not on ground
as claimed by the ruling party.

44 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2019
Spanish legionnaires carry a statue of the Christ of Mena, in the rain outside a church during a
ceremony ahead of the Mena brotherhood procession during Holy Week, in Malaga, Spain, yesterday.
REUTERS/Jon Nazca
In unflattering detail, Mueller report reveals
Trump actions to impede inquiry
SPECIAL Counsel Rob
ert Mueller’s report on
his inquiry into Russia’s role
in the 2016 U.S. election described
in extensive and
sometimes unflattering detail
a series of actions by
President Donald Trump to
impede the probe, raising
questions about whether he
committed the crime of obstruction
of justice.
Thursday’s release of the
448-page report after a 22-
month investigation was a
watershed moment in
Trump’s tumultuous presidency
and inflamed partisan
passions ahead of his 2020
re-election bid in a deeply
divided country.
Democrats said the report
contained disturbing evidence
of wrongdoing by
Trump that could fuel congressional
investigations,
but there was no immediate
indication they would try to
remove him from office
through impeachment.
Mueller built an extensive
case indicating that Trump
had committed obstruction of
justice but stopped short of
concluding he had committed
a crime, though the special
counsel did not exonerate
the president. Mueller
noted, however, that Congress
has the power to address
whether Trump violated
the law.
“The conclusion that Congress
may apply the obstruction
laws to the President’s
corrupt exercise of the powers
of office accords with our
constitutional system of
checks and balances and the
principle that no person is
above the law,” the report
stated.
Mueller, a former FBI director,
also unearthed “numerous
links” between the
Russian government and
Trump’s campaign, but concluded
there was not
enough evidence to establish
that the campaign engaged
in a criminal conspiracy
with Moscow in its election
meddling.
The report, with some portions
blacked out to protect
sensitive information, provided
fresh details of how
the Republican president
tried to force Mueller’s ouster,
directed members of his
administration to publicly
vouch for his innocence and
dangled a pardon to a
former aide to try to prevent
him from cooperating with
the special counsel.
The report noted that some
Trump aides did not carry
out some of Trump’s demands,
including the one to
fire Mueller.
“The conclusion that Congress
may apply the obstruction
laws to the President’s
corrupt exercise of the powers
of office accords with our
constitutional system of
checks and balances and the
principle that no person is
above the law,” the report
stated.
Mueller, a former FBI director,
also unearthed “numerous
links” between the
Russian government and
Trump’s campaign, but concluded
there was not
enough evidence to establish
that the campaign engaged
in a criminal conspiracy
with Moscow in its election
meddling.
Debate over future Notre-Dame spire fuels
French divisions *Temporary wooden cathedral proposed
PRESIDENT Emman
uel Macron might
have hoped he was striking
a note for modernity
and openness in announcing
an international competition
to design a new
spire for Notre-Dame cathedral,
but he may have
opened a can of worms instead.
There was already debate
about whether his
goal of rebuilding the
church by 2024, when Paris
hosts the Olympic
Games, was overly ambitious,
but now he’s unsettled
those who would prefer
to return the national
symbol to just how it was.
“Since the spire wasn’t
part of the original cathedral,”
the Elysee Palace
said in a statement, “the
President of the Republic
hopes there will be some
reflection and a contemporary
architectural gesture
might be envisaged.”
Computer-generated pictures
online included ideas
for a soaring glass needle
to replace the 91-metre
(300 foot) spire, which was
added to the cathedral in
the mid-1800s, replacing a
Medieval one that was removed
in 1786.
But that appears to be too
much for many French,
especially those with a traditional
or Catholic bent.
In an online survey conducted
by conservative
newspaper Le Figaro,
more than 70 percent of the
35,000 people who responded
said they opposed
any contemporary
style design.
Francois-Xavier Bellamy,
a 33-year-old philosopher
who will head the right-ofcentre
Les Republicains
party list in next month’s
European Parliament elections,
said Macron’s government
lacked humility in
suggesting a modernist rethink.
“We are the inheritors of
patrimony, it doesn’t belong
to us, and it’s important
therefore that we hand
it on in the way that we received
it,” he told Reuters
Meanwhile, officials said
a temporary wooden cathedral
should be built in the
shadow of Notre-Dame’s
famed towers while the
building is being repaired.
North Korea wants Pompeo dropped from talks
*Tests tactical weapon
NORTH Korea said on
Thursday it no longer
wanted to deal with U.S.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo
and that he should be
replaced in talks by someone
more mature, hours after
it announced its first
weapons test since nuclear
talks broke down.
The North’s official KCNA
news agency quoted senior
Protesters converge on
Sudan defence ministry sit-in
to demand civilian rule
HUGE crowds joined a protest outside Sudan’s
defence ministry on Thursday to demand that
the country’s transitional military council hand power
to civilians, a Reuters witness said.
The crowds were the largest since former President
Omar al-Bashir was ousted a week ago and
the military council took over, with hundreds of thousands
packing the streets in the centre of the capital
by early evening.
Protesters chanted “Freedom and revolution are
the choice of the people” and “Civilian rule, civilian
rule”, and waved national flags overhead.
Activists who have been holding a sit-in outside
the defence ministry compound in Khartoum since
before Bashir’s ouster had called for a mass protest
on Thursday to increase pressure on the council.
It comes after an opposition coalition called this
week on the military to establish a civilian-led ruling
council with military representation, as well as
a civilian government.
The council has said it is ready to meet some of
the protesters demands, including fighting corruption,
but has indicated that it would not hand over
power to them.
The Khartoum sit-in was the culmination of 16
weeks of protests triggered by a worsening economic
crisis in Sudan, leading to the ouster and arrest of
Bashir after three decades in power.
EASTER: Pope tells
prisoners at foot-washing
rite shun inmate hierarchy
POPE Francis has washed and kissed the feet of 12
prisoners at a traditional pre-Easter service, telling
them to shun any inmate hierarchy structure or law of the
strongest and to help each other instead.
Thursday’s ritual in a prison in Velletri, outside Italy’s
capital Rome, marks the fifth time since his election in
2013 that Francis has held the service, which commemorates
Jesus’ gesture of humility towards his apostles on
the night before he died, in jail.
Francis’ predecessors held the traditional Holy Thursday
rite in one of Rome’s great basilicas, washing the feet
of 12 priests. But to emphasise its symbolism of service,
Francis transferred it to places of confinement, such as
prisons, immigrant centres or old-age homes.
The pontiff told the inmates that in Jesus’ time, washing
the feet of visitors was the job of slaves and servants.
“This is the rule of Jesus and the rule of the gospel. The
rule of service, not of domination or of humiliating others,”
he said.
South Africa faces escalating unrest if
ANC doesn’t reform, opposition says
SOUTH Africa faces escalating unrest if the gove
r n
ing African National Congress (ANC) party retains
power in next month’s election and fails to introduce
major reforms, the leader of the country’s biggest
opposition party said on Thursday.
In the most hotly contested election since the end of
apartheid in South Africa, President Cyril Ramaphosa is
hoping to reverse a slide in support for the ANC, which
has won every general election since Nelson Mandela
swept to power in 1994.
Ramaphosa, who replaced scandal-plagued Jacob
Zuma as ANC leader more than a year ago, has cast
himself as a reformer but has been hampered by party
infighting.
“If nothing changes radically now by the ballot box, ...
there will be more protests, and then who knows?” Mmusi
Maimane, head of the Democratic Alliance (DA) party,
told reporters when asked whether South Africa faced a
violent future.
foreign ministry official
Kwon Jong Gun as warning
that no one could predict
the situation on the Korean
peninsula if the United
States did not abandon
the “root cause” that compelled
North Korea to develop
nuclear weapons.
The statement came shortly
after North Korea said leader
Kim Jong Un had overseen
the testing of a new tactical
guided weapon, which
KCNA said had a “peculiar
mode of guiding flight” and
“a powerful warhead.”
It was the North’s first
weapon test since talks in
Vietnam between Kim and
U.S. President Donald
Trump in late February broke
down over conflicting demands
by North Korea for
sanctions relief and by the
United States for North Korea
to abandon its nuclear
program.
Still, acting U.S. Defense
Secretary Patrick Shanahan
told reporters at the Pentagon
that it was “not a ballistic
missile,” appearing to
play down concerns.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2019—45
Organise yourself: Make a Menu Plan
Forgetfulness or
confusion as to what
food to prepare for
the family can be a big stress
in the home. This happens
particularly when the
children are in session at
school and you have to
prepare their breakfast and
also pack meals for them to
take along. The stress to give
the family variety of foods can
lead to confusion when the
parents realise that they
keep giving the children the
same meal everyday.
Another major source of
stress for most women is
realizing close to dinner time
that nothing was planned
and as homemakers, you can
not give excuse that you
don’t know what to give to
your family.
With a meal plan, you will
know what and when you
would be cooking; this
drastically reduces the
anxiety and uncertainty that
comes with trying to figure
out what to make for the
family on the spot. Even on
days when you are late or
away from home, your
husband or older children
will have a blueprint to
follow and you can be worry
free for the most part.
As Homemakers, try to get
your life in order. Let
forgetfulness and
unnecessary stress be a part
of last year. Be organized and
ready for whatever life
throws at you!
All you need to do is make
a Menu Plan and set your
mind to always adhere to it.
This is because many make
Menu Plan and don't follow
it. When you follow it, it will
save you a lot of money, your
family will not only be
healthy, you will also have
rest of mind and escape
unpalatable health issues
that come with stress.
With a meal plan,
you will
drastically
reduce the
anxiety and
uncertainty that
comes with trying
to figure out what
to make for the
family on the spot
AS homemakers, do
you know that there
is an agency of the Lagos
State that is tasked with
the role of protecting
consumer rights? The
agency is called Lagos
State Consumer
CONSUMER WATCH A place that makes you plan ahead
Protection Agency
LASCOPA
The Agency was
established sorely for the
rights of consumers on
both good and services.
They are to ensure the
safety and satisfaction of
consumers and ensure they
get compensated from the
effects of harmful products
or services. They are also
saddled with the role of
eliminating hazardous and
sub-standard products
from the markets in
conjunction with other
relevant stakeholders.
The good news is that the
agency already has
dedicated court for quick
justice against persons
who market hazardous
products and to help
consumers to get
redress when their
rights are infringed.
So, what are your
rights as consumers?
Keep a date with
Homemakers next week
for more information.
Items Prices Items
Prices
Items Prices
Basket of Tomatoes
N8,000-10,000
A bag of Pepper (Rodo) N 5,000- N7,000
A bag of Long pepper N6, 000 – N7000
A bag of Onions (white) N18,000 – N20, 000
A bag of Onions (Red) N15, 000- N18, 000
50kg of long grain Rice N14,000 - N14,500
A derica of long grain Rice N230 -N250
50kg of short grain Rice. N13,000 - N13,800
A derica of short grain Rice N250
A crate of eggs
N1,000-1,100
A bag of Olotu beans
N14,000 -N38,000
A bag of Oloyin
N15,000 -N20,000
A bag of Yam Flour (Elubo) N63, 000- N69,000
A bag of Garri (Yellow) N5,000-8,000
A paint bucket
N400
A bag of Ijebu Gari N5,000 - N8,000
A paint bucket
N500
25 Litres of Vegetable Oil N12,000- N13, 000
10Litres N4, 500-N4, 700
25 Litres of Palm Oil N10,800-N9,000
5Litres of Palm Oil
N2,200 -N2,500
Salt
N50-N200
Noodles- 70g N1,900- N2,200
Spaghetti (1packet)
N180-N200
Macaroni(1packet) N180-200
Semovita (10kg) N2,800- N3,000
Pampers (cartons of 8) N3, 400
Seasonings
N100 – N500
Tomato paste (2,200g) N1200-N1500
Tomato paste (Medium) N550-N700
Tomato paste(small)
N150-N350
Tomato sachet (a roll)
N230
Pack of toilet roll (48pieces) N1500-N1,800
A Satchet of milk
N25-N50
A Sachet of beverage
N40-N50
Toothpaste
N50-N300
5 Litres of Kerosine N1,100
12.5kg. Cooking gas N3, 700
Yam (1 tuber). N400- N1,000
Ugu Leaf (a bundle) N3, 000 – N4, 000
A dozen of tied Ugu Leaf N7,50,
Moin-Moin Leaf (a dozen) N800-1,000,
1 pack- N150
Carton Titus ice Fish N19,000
1 Carton of Kote ice fish N14,500
1 Carton of Sawa iced Fish N10, 000, 1Kg-N600

46— Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2019
Kidnapping: Kalu
relocates family to Lagos
Super Eagles
attacker Samuel
Kalu has moved his
family after his mother
survived a kidnap ordeal
back in March.
Kalu who plays for
Bordeaux of France
coughed out a ransom to
free his mum, Ozuruonye
Juliet Kalu after a week in
the kidnappers den.
“Kalu decided to
relocate the family to
Lagos after the ugly
incident that saw his
mother kidnapped for
several weeks in Aba,” a
source said.
“The family has still not
recovered from that shock
and for their safety he has
now moved them to
Lagos.”
FIFA WWC:
Odemwingie backs
Super Falcons to
cause upsets
Peter Odemwingie,
former Super Eagles
striker and FIFA ambassador
for the Women
World Cup billed for France
in June said the Nigerian
team can cause some upsets
in France.
The Super Falcons are in
group A with hosts France,
Korea Republic and Norway
who are highly rated
above the African Champions,
but according to
Odemwingie, with good
preparations the Super Falcons
can go beyond the
group.
“No doubt they have a great
record on the continent but
they have a tough group in
Okocha set for Bundesliga
legend Tour in Nigeria
StarTimes and Bundesliga have
said that former Suer Eagles
captain and Nations Cup winner,
Austin Okocha will headline the next
Legend Tour starting on April 25 in
Lagos as part of the Bundesliga Legends
Tour to Nigeria.
Okocha, a former Bundesliga star
will take part in the three-day visit to
Nigeria along with other Bundesliga
representatives to interact with
Bundesliga fans, StarTimes subscribers
and to promote the league among
Nigerian youths and football lovers.
During the tour, Okocha will visit the
Little Tigers Academy in Lagos, to
inspire and motivate the youngsters at
the Academy who aspire to be just like
him, in a country where millions of
young people have an interest in
football. Okocha is also billed to be
hosted by award winning radio and TV
sports pundits in Lagos.
Other activities during the
‘Bundesliga Legends Tour’ will include
media interviews, a Facebook live-chat
with football fans, training session with
the MFM Boys of the Nigeria Premiere
League and a visit to SOS Children’s
The ordeal somehow
affected Kalu’s
performance for his club.
According to the Super
Eagles coach Gernot Rohr.
“ He suffered a small tear
as he was eager to come
back. But with the fatigue
accumulated by the anxiety
for his mother and the
sleepless nights, he suffered
a relapse,’’ said Rohr to
French regional newspaper
Sud Ouest.
‘’He came back to take
care of his family, he found
them a house in an isolated
and safe place and moved
them.
‘’Bordeaux have shown a
lot of understanding and
have been reactive to help
him.’’
Norway, France the host
nation and of course Korea
who are also a decent side
in the women’s game.
“But we all know football is
a game of inspirational
moments. We have great talents
in the squad already and
on our day we can be unstoppable
so I believe there is
definitely a chance for
them,” Odemwingie.
The Super Falcons are in
billed to play in the Group
B of the Women’s WAFU
zonal tournament billed for
Cote d' Ivoire May 8- 18.
They will play Burkina
Faso, Niger and Mali with
the first and second placed
team from each group progressing
to the semifinals.
Village’s Nigeria in Lagos.
The Bundesliga legend will also
interact directly with fans and on
Saturday, April 27 during a Fan Fest
scheduled to host Bundesliga fans.
There, fans will be able to watch the
Borussia Dortmund versus Shackle FC
and FC Nurmberg versus Bayern
Munchen matches. Live entertainment
with DJ SBU, give-aways, youth soccer
tournaments, food, drink and much
more will also give fans a taste of the
Bundesliga experience.
Speaking on the tour, Okocha said: “I
am very proud to be associated with the
Bundesliga many years after I stopped
playing professionally. Till date,
Bundesliga fans continue to enjoy quality
football in the league by talented
players, many of whom are from Africa,
playing quality football and showing the
fans ‘Football As It’s Meant To Be’. He
added that the highest number of goals
in any European top-flight league comes
from the German Bundesliga, describing
the packed stadiums during matches as
“electrifying” – it’s not difficult to see
why so many African fans love the
Bundesliga’’.
Joshua to
know world
title opponent
next week
Anthony Joshua will receive
confirmation of his world title
challenger in the “early part of next
week” with an America-based
opponent viewed as the ‘ideal’
choice, says Eddie Hearn.
The unified world heavyweight
champion will press ahead with his
planned US debut at Madison
Square Garden in New York on
June 1, live on Sky Sports Box
Office, after Jarrell Miller was
refused a boxing licence following
an adverse finding from a drug test.
Miller has protested his
innocence and will await a B-
sample, but promoter Hearn has
drawn up a shortlist of alternative
opponents for Joshua, and expects
to make an announcement in the
coming days.
“Obviously it’s a fight in America,
so from our point of view, we would
like an American challenger
really,” Hearn told Sky Sports
News. “I don’t think it will be
Dillian Whyte.
“You go through the list: Luis
Ortiz; Adam Kownacki; Michael
Hunter; Manuel Charr; Agit
Kabayel, the European champion
who beat Derek Chisora.
Rohr expects Kalu to
be fit for AFCON 2019
Samuel Kalu is battling to be fit for the Africa Cup
of Nations in Egypt after suffering a relapse from
an injury which he has nursed for two and half months
according to Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr.
Kalu is yet to play for Bordeaux in the past three
weeks and he is not close to returning for the team
due to the injury set back, which according to Rohr,
became worse after he tried to force his return to action
in a league game against Monaco on the 9th of March,
a game he ended up playing just 29 minutes.
The Franco-German coach revealed that
Kalu’s family issues, particularly when
his mother was kidnapped for ransom
also aggravated the injury as the 21
year old didn’t sleep for nights in his
bid to secure the release of his mother
from her abductors.
He rounded up by saying he is however hopeful
that the forward will play for Bordeaux this season
and also prove his fitness on time for the Africa Cup of
Nations because he is a very important player to the
Super Eagles.
“It’s an elongation at the limit of a small tear. He
wanted to resume a little too fast , so he forced it and
with the fatigue accumulated by the anxiety for his
mother who was kidnapped, he had sleepless nights
which further aggravated the injury,” Rohr said.
“Bordeaux has shown a lot of understanding and
have been helpful to him. The injury halted his
progress but I am sure he will bring something more
when he returns because he is also key to our plans
for the Africa Cup of Nations “.
Unmissable Match: Puyol's
team thrash Okocha Shine
Shine Bobo 5-2
Former Champions
League winner and
legendary international
footballer, Carles Puyol,
who is in Nigeria as part
of the UEFA Champions
League Tour presented
by Heineken®, played
an Unmissable Match
Tuesday as Captain of the
Chairman team against a
Shine Shine Bobo team
led by Austin Jay Jay
Okocha at the Godswill
Akpabio stadium in Uyo.
The game which lasted
an hour, saw the Puyol
led Chairman team beat
Okocha’s Shine Shine
Bobo, made up of ex-
Nigerian internationals,
current NPFL
wavemakers, Akwa
United players and select
consumers 5-2.
With fun moments like
directions from coaches,
the Finance Director,
Nigerian Breweries, Plc,
Rob Kleinjan and the
Marketing Director,
Nigerian Breweries, Plc,
Emmanuel Oriakhi, the
game saw all the players
and 30,000 fans treated
to an hour of exciting
unmissable moments.
One of the most exciting
moments was when
Okocha scored from a
well-taken free kick to
level scores at 1-1.
GOtv Boxing Night 18: We've made
adequate security plan – Alumona
Flykite
Productions,
organisers of GOtv
Boxing Night, have assured
boxing fans coming for the
18th edition of the show of
adequate security.
GOtv Boxing Night 18,
which holds on Sunday at the
Indoor Sports Hall of the
Obafemi Awolowo Stadium
in Ibadan is expected to draw
a large number of dignitaries
and boxing fans.
Speaking in Lagos
yesterday, Jenkins Alumona,
CEO of Flykite Productions,
explained that the huge
number of fans expected at the
show imposes the
responsibility of making
premium security
arrangements in and around
the venue, as it had been done
everywhere the show had held.
He stated that security is the
most important factor in any
undertaking, the reason
Flykite Productions has made
it the top priority.
“No use holding an event
where the fans are not safe.
We have always prioritized
security and we know the
venue very well. This will be
the third time it is hosting
GOtv Boxing Night. Among
our partners is KSquare
Security, the country’s
leading security firm, which
has tonnes of experience in
mega events. We are also
working with government
security agencies to ensure
fans and their belongings,
including cars, are safe. The
arrangements are as tight as
they have always been. Not
once have we recorded a
breach since we began in
2014,” he said.

Vanguard FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2019 — 47

Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2019
TODAY’S PUZZLE
Sudoku
FRIDAY’S ANSWER
TODAY’S CROSSWORD
QUICK CROSSWORD
THURSDAY’S SOLUTION
How to Play Sudoku
Across
1 Excellent (5,5)
7 Put in order (7)
8 Vagrant (5)
10 Contended (4)
11 Abroad (8)
13 The capital of Portugal
(6)
15 Current (6)
17 Ignore (8)
18 A smaller amount (4)
21 The devil (5)
22 Nonsense (7)
23 Searcher for minerals (10)
Down
1 Smithy (5)
2 Circle (4)
3 A dozen (6)
4 Able to read and write (8)
5 Thai (7)
6 Wonderful (10)
9 Expert (4,6)
12 Young geese (8)
14 Jumper (7)
16 Container for
liquid (6)
19 Senior (5)
20 Final (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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